#[ very proud of himself for Being Culturally Considerate ]

[silentwalrus1]

Jango laughs for the first time in 15 years when Alpha-17, completely fed up with Obijuan’s metaphorical psychic whispering, cups his hands and leans down and bellows in his ear IS THERE FUCKING ANYONE EVEN IN HERE

I like to think about what if the Kaminoans just, fucked all the way up and made the clones telepaths on purpose.

Kamino is in the Rishi maze, the equivalent of total buttfuck nowhere. This is like a cattle processing plant in rural Montana manufacturing an order for Shenzhen as outlined by a third party intermediary from Monaco who keeps contact with neither production nor “client” and nobody’s first language is Basic. Jedi are like, totally psychic right? Right. Psychic army for psychic clients, sounds right, checks out. There are whole ass telepathic alien species out there, some of which are also Jedi. Why would they want NON-psychic clones. Get it done, Tally Ho or Nala Says or whatever her name is. Chop chop.

Cue like seven years into production and the Kaminoan project leads are starting to get some… inklings…. that maybe some of the deliverable specs were perhaps not so much well-researched as based off cross-galactic hearsay some underpaid analysts pulled off space reddit. This is a business, okay? You’re not gonna make profit manufacturing two million units of fucking anything if you treat it like a luxury product, but especially not if the product has goddamn childhood development & socialization needs. Of fucking course some shit maybe slipped through the cracks. What are we supposed to fucking do now, Lama goddamn Sue sir, tell the Jedi or the pickled fucking Sith that oopsie woopsie, we got the specs wrong half a decade in and have to start over again?

No. No we are not. We are going to lie our fucking semi-aquatic asses off, is what we’re gonna do, and so will you clones if you know what’s good for you. NONE of you are fucking psychic, and you never were. Got that? Understood?

Fast forward to Jedi pickup D-Day and every time anyone with a lightsaber gets within aural biosystem of choice distance the clones immediately start loudly and dutifully Having Conversations.

Hello Commander Sir, It Is I, Trooper McSoldierClone, What A Weather It Is Today, Ha Ha? Over. Yes Indeed McTrooper One Two Three Four, I Am Agree, Now Here Is An Order To Follow Which I Am Vociferously Giving You, Acknowledge Orally, Over. Every clone making rock-hard sweating eye contact like don’t fuck it up as they mentally chant encouragement and script notes and jeering performance feedback at each other. Cadets trooping to fucking speech practice to learn speaking out loud with all the enthusiasm and skill of the average white suburban Floridian teenager taking their fifth mandatory Spanish 1 class. The jedi are like damn these poor asylum grown freaks are so unsocialized and uncomfortable around us, Their Owners, this is so tragic and horrid and unfortunate and meanwhile every clone standing silently in formation is mentally spectating the 400-person telepathic tetris team sport they invented with the same vibes as a football world cup back alley street party complete with official & unofficial betting pools and expert panel commentary

[heartburiedingreece]

This photo is so special to me, like it involves so much lore. Any cultured person will be able to tell you this is from that one press con where Michael and Seb prank Nico by putting the mic right up to his mouth BUT that's way funnier when you take into consideration the dynamics. Seb being Michael's golden boy and Michael borderline bullying Nico, especially around this time. The parallels between Nico and Seb. And then Sebs face. So proud of himself. So smug. Seeking Michael's approval. Also he's just very cute.

[yuurei20]

Concerning the Vil-Epel drama: I'm from a Scandinavian country and even here we have dialects. I haven't heard them myself, but my mom has and she says they are literally impossible to understand and you need a translator to speak with them. And it's not a bad thing- we don't say those people are less than or anything of the sort- it's just like holy cow we cannot understand anything they're saying, how are we supposed to communicate like this (especially when they understand us since our dialect is the 'base' dialect). If anything, it's funny because of how a dialect can make the same language not understandable, and also disappointing/frustrating that we can't talk to them because we literally don't know what they're saying. So to me it seems like part of the reason Vil wants Epel to not speak in his dialect is simply so people can understand him better and so people can actually communicate with him. We've seen in the Harveston event (if I remember correctly) that the others have no clue what Epel says before they jump the gap, and they need to ask his grandma to translate. That's an example of how if he didn't remove his dialect people would not know what he's saying. I don't think it has anything to do with negative connotations towards the dialect (I bet Vil would encourage it if they were in a situation where it would be beneficial/welcoming), but rather Vil trying to teach Epel that it's not about hiding your dialect/culture, it's about being considerate to those around you to have them understand you (like how you pointed out his granny changed to polite speech when talking to the NRC boys). Don't you think even granny would have at some point taught Epel that? (Although not in the same manner or extremity as Vil).

There seems to be some discourse going on of which I was not aware!

Thank you so much for your perspective!! It is very interesting and informative and wonderful to know!

Yes, it does seem strange that maybe no one warned Epel about interacting with people outside the village, but maybe they did!

This gets into conjecture because we have nothing in-game to confirm either way, but it might be possible that they just assumed he would pick it up through personal experience, or he just wasn't able to make the connection between their warnings and what real-world experience would be like.

Marja herself has no problem with adapting to the time/place/occasion, but as Epel is still a child with limited exposure to people from other cultures, we are watching him experience this learning process in real time!

In a way, Epel's experience at NRC could maybe be interpreted as Vil encouraging him to be more like his grandmother :> Epel was likely aware that the older people in the village adapt their speech patterns when necessary, but maybe never made the connection about exactly why?

He knew it was polite, but when early-Epel shows up at NRC, he is already in fighting mode: he has no interest in being polite, which he might have seen as making concessions and, thus, a weakness.

Bullied his whole childhood for his appearance he decides he is going to set the record straight from day one at NRC so that people know not to mess with him, and then Vil comes in.

It seems like it all connects to Epel's arc as he learns that you can be conscientious of time/place/occasion (like his grandmother), but still be proud of your heritage and strong (like his grandmother).

And you can be beautiful (like Vil), but still be strong (like Vil).

(Because Vil is Vil his wording has a lot to do with the importance of beauty, but the more I think about it, the more it seems like Vil is just trying to prepare Epel for life in a society.)

There is an ongoing theme with Epel that we see in Book 5 and Halloween where he gets jealous of people who can do things that he can't, so he doubles down that he is right and they are wrong in order to make himself feel better about his shortcomings.

That might also tie in to his frustration with Vil's restriction of his dialect!

He has more difficulty expressing himself without it, so rather than do what Vil is trying to get him to do and work on it, by Book 5 he is still doubling down and insisting that Vil is the problem, not himself, despite how he was raised watching everyone around him do exactly what it is that Vil is saying he needs to do.

I really appreciate everyone's introspection!! The more you think about it, the more interesting Epel, his family, his relationship with Vil and his circumstances become! :> He is living through his own, personal coming-of-age story before our eyes!

[elexuscal]

Okay, so back in like, 2011, I wrote the first two chapters of a Young Justice daemon AU fic. Didn't get very far, since I didn't actually know how to Find fandoms then, and it's probably languishing of ff.net somewhere, which even back then wasn't doing so hot. Frankly, since most of the cast were teenagers, I don't even think I got to the point where most of them had settled and I got to pick their daemons.

But. But there is one pick I remain pretty proud of, even a decade later: Batman's daemon.

Because there was a lot of considerations in it. Like, for the characters with super powers, I can just give their daemons the same super powers. It's a lot more viable for Wonder Woman to go around with a horse when her horse can also fly.

But no. Batman is a character in closed quarters urban environments, and famously, does a lot of scaling buildings and gliding between them. So his daemon needs to be relatively small, able to flight and/or climbing (or be able to be tucked away so that's no longer an issue). Already a lot of the obvious options are out.

And you know what would be great for this? Genuinely? A bat.

Like; nocturnal, echolocation, able to fly, obviously the aesthetics are on point. Even says some interesting things character wise! Like if we use that interpretation of young Bruce being afraid of bats, it had fascinating implications if his soul literally settles on that. And then you have the fact that while bats are usually depicted as very intimdating in western culture, they're really social animals, and Bruce adopts strays like it's an addiction... It genuinely makes sense!

Except. Except. Batman's alter ego has the highest profile of allll the DC heroes. Clark Kent can get around having a dog daemon, even one that kinda looks like Krypto; do you know HOW many people have dog daemons? But bats stand out. Do you think a bat fits the vibes of Brucie Wayne? Do you think no one would maybe get suspicious and go HEY.

So. Okay. Iterate. Small mammal; nocturnal; gliding...

It's an open question what Batman's daemon is. Some people swear they've seen a mastiff manifest from the shadows, or a vampire bat suck out a goon's blood. More claim Batman does not even have a daemon; that truly, he is undead, a vampire himself. There are even embers of the Justice League who have served with him for years and never seen hide nor hair of his daemon.

Meanwhile, on Good Morning Gotham, Bruce Wayne waltzes onto the set, his sweet daemon in a pink bow waving at the cameras...

[Image ID: a small possum posed half-concealed behind a branch. It is white with grey markings around its very large eyes. It has large eyes and ears with a vivid pink nose.]

How many jokes do people make about the sugar daddy Bruce Wayne with his sugar glider? A lot. But don't worry. The pair take it in good stride.

[lesbianrobin]

3 and 4 for the Eddie-Chris road trip fic?

hiii thank you for asking!!

3 talk about a deleted scene that didn’t make it into the final cut.

ok so. not Quite a deleted scene but originally i was going to write the overnight stay + day two of their road trip out in more detail. i had this whole thing where eddie was gonna bring chris to the wigwam motel in holbrook (the town they stop in to see the dinosaurs + stay overnight) because it's like a very classic kitschy route 66 thing and he's Trying to make this fun for chris. and i was gonna have him like awkwardly trying to explain like harmful cultural stereotypes to a six year old etc because i love making eddie sweat And i think it could be a good demonstration of like him kinda struggling with figuring out how to be a Good Parent while trying his best. but the more i researched the motel i realized that the doors to the bathrooms + the bathrooms themselves are very tight and narrow and might be difficult for christopher to easily move around with his crutches which is Absolutely something eddie would think of and take into consideration. and as a white writer i didn't really want to include something like racially insensitive and potentially uncomfortable for people in a fic that was meant to be primarily fluff. so i nixed the wigwam motel.

i also condensed my original plan for day two of the road trip because it was starting to feel very repetitive and boring so i ended up skimming over it a bit. my justification for this is that chris was Also getting bored and he's tired and this whole road trip thing is way less fun and enchanting on day two.

4 talk about a headcanon or side plot that didn’t make it into the page.

ok so i kinda blew these on the last question but. the primary thing is that eddie feels fucking Insane on this trip like he's never been so simultaneously thrilled and terrified in his whole life. he is budgeting this thing down to the dime and he's broke and stressed and part of him is convinced that he's making a huge mistake and his parents are right that he's gonna drag chris down with him. but at the same time he feels free in a way he never has before. he loves being with chris, he loves feeling like he's in charge of his own life, and he's proud of himself for taking a big swing. there are a Lot of conflicting emotions happening for eddie that chris doesn't Quite pick up on because he's just too little to really get it yet. i was gonna make eddie's financial anxiety a bigger part of the fic (have him busting out his little budgeting notebook more frequently) but once again the fic Was intended to be mostly fluff and i figure there were probably moments where eddie did pull out his budget but chris wasn't really paying attention due to being six years old.

OH and chris did not notice this but eddie plugged his 3ds in to charge before they went to bed and in the morning before he woke chris up eddie arranged his 3ds and his crackers and some tissues in the seatback pocket for him <3

[louisupdates]

All Of Those Voices review | Louis Tomlinson documentary will surprise even the cynics among us

WHYNOW

Teddy Coward | 22 Mar 2023

2010 was The X Factor’s peak. Not only did it see the show’s highest average weekly viewing figures, raking in a peak of 19.1 million viewers for its final, but it also involved a list of names that have become embedded in British TV history. Cher Lloyd, Rebecca Ferguson and, of course, Wagner, the barmy Brazilian from outer-Brum; it was a year that seemed to match a genuine degree of talent with a light-heartedness.

And, of course, it brought together five baby-faced teens who would go on to produce not just the show’s most successful act but one of the most popular boy bands this country has ever seen: One Direction.

Yet because, with The X Factor, what was once pop cultural cache has nowadays become merely pub quiz fodder (the show last aired in December 2018), that snobbishness towards 1D still lingers to this day – despite the many awards its leading light, Harry Styles, picks up as a solo artist.

All Of Those Voices, the new documentary from Charlie Lightening (whose prior credits include the award-winning Liam Gallagher: As It Was and The Paul McCartney Project), reminds us that at the heart of the manufactured, Simon Cowell-orchestrated world One Direction once operated in, lie real lads. And one of those young men, Louis Tomlinson, is relatable, honest, and has overcome more than his fair share of struggle under a public spotlight.

The film’s best attribute – and the way it achieves it – is how it’s shot. It’s not so much fly-on-the-wall as it is captured with considerable trust between artist and filmmaker. At one stage toward the end, Louis and his crew joke about the seeming lack of a barrier between each other, and this feels like it was extended to Lightening, too.

As such, Tomlinson is forthright about his sense of having no control over his own (let alone One Direction’s) destiny for at least the first two-and-a-half years of the band. He casts himself as the band’s thinker in a rather shrewd creative light by telling us he’s most proud of being the member with the most songwriting credits.

But another strength of the film is that it doesn’t dwell on Louis’ 1D days. Granted, you can’t tell his story as an artist by ignoring it, but its inclusion merely paints a backdrop of what’s to come, most usefully starting the narrative arc of someone at a loss, personally and creatively, when the band announced their split in late 2015.

From here, Louis begins to build, pensively smoking and staring into empty space like any self-respecting existentialist as he contemplates life as a solo artist. Then, tragedy hits. His mother, Johannah Deakin, with whom he had an exceptionally strong relationship–mainly because of an absent father growing up (which struck a particular nerve with me) – passed away in December 2016 after her battle with leukaemia.

Replays of an X Factor performance Louis gave that very same week, spliced with personal testimony from the present day, remind us of the public gaze he was under during an exceptionally challenging period.

Meanwhile, the tragic death of his sister Félicité in 2018 is discussed in less detail but adds to the image of not just an artist but a man beset by loss, still keeping his head afloat. (A moving discussion with Louis’ grandmother provides insight into the keep-calm-and-carry-on spirit of the whole family).

These make the high points feel all the more gratifying – and there are plenty of those. From the release of his long-awaited debut album Walls in 2020 to his triumphant, Guinness World Record-setting livestream during the pandemic and his subsequent return to a global headline tour, it’s safe to say his artistic trajectory is a pretty sharp incline throughout the film.

But whereas some pop personalities might make that seem like an irksome inevitability, the setbacks Louis Tomlinson faces and, crucially, his authentically affable charm mean you end up rooting for him. Do you have to be a fan of his music? Not at all. Can you still admire the way his personhood is portrayed? Of course. And this film captures that in abundance.

Of course, Louis’ mass of fans will love it. That much is a given. But for a purely personal tale, even the most cynical among us would struggle not to find something from All Of Those Voices. Indeed, we’ve come a long way since the fakery of The X Factor.

[writing-whump]

Character meta - Sortinghatschats

Based on the sortinghatschats system that describes the why and the how of characters and is the best personality system I know. For more info check out @wisteria-lodge and @sortinghatchats

Isaiah

Isaiah Wolfson is a bird primary. No other primary is this good in designing a completely new personality to go with a new system and this is exactly what Isaiah did, when he left his family at 18. He was eager too follow his father's system, his pack's system, until he witnessed it falling down. He saw the worst from his father, the double face, the masks, the paranoia and control, the abuse. Isaiah saw him at his lowest and he covered for him, cause he didn't want his brothers to know.

This brought him an existential crisis though. Cause obviously his father's system was flawed and so was his. Leaving gave him space to find himself, or rather, to completely rebuild himself. He gathered information. Studied psychology to learn more about the human psyche, to understand his own issues, his own confusion. And then it built into fascination. He got new role models, new work, new thoughts and figured out new codes for himself to live by. To be someone he can be proud of.

This new system led him to really embrace his badger secondary. Very untypical for a wolves, who like to posture, who need to have clear power ranks before they are capable of functioning in one room with others, who have their insistent shadows reflecting their deepest desires, raw, ruthless and always, no matter the rationality of it.

But Isaiah's method is caretaking. He bonds with people, offers help, considers their needs, remembers names. He bonds and community builds, throwing himself at young wolves, problematic cases. Seeing a person, he can't help but be kind and considerate. This is something he can only afford because of how insanely powerful and well-trained his shadow is. He gets respect for his power and skill - and that's how he gets away with acting out for character. Being polite, nice and kind, because he wants to. Because he can put people in place if they take it as a weakness.

His emphasis on politeness and good manners, on being gallant and well-dressed, orderly and systematic are all expressions of his smooth courtier badger wanting to be respectful and pleasant to people. And it works, cause man, this guy has contacts. He knows someone, who knows someone, who will help out. He doesn't live in packs or whole communities, he doesn't need it, but when he starts calling in for favours, the city bend itself over for him to fulfill his wish.

It's ironic Isaiah got to deal with an abusive exploded lion badger (his goal of keeping the pack strong is everything and he is willing to sacrifice everyone for it with a very sly badger secondary including the general opinion in his favour) for a father and a glory hound lion for a brother, only to meet and fall for Seline. Seline Silverstein, a proud loud lion primary.

There is steady certainty in how she trusts her instincts, her gut decisions and feelings. She doesn't do anything she absolutely doesn't want to do, following her dream as a cultural studies student and researcher at the university. She believes in being responsible for your own happiness, she has a clear goal and purpose and follows it.

Her outspoken morals, her inability to be silent, the need to provoke and challenge people when something doesn't feel right get her into trouble frequently. True to her primary she is very willing to go against the flow, her friends, people around her. Society won't pressure her away from what she feels is right and she backs it up with research. And she isn't loyal to people or sides either, she follows thoughts. Idealist to the core.

So when the family situation with her brother being a spoiled little brat as a wolf and using his puberty and wolf shadow as excuses made the situation unbearable, she didn't have qualms to move out. She isn't sorry to not belong in any witch coven or wolf pack, if they can't lower their pressure of her being a nice, soothing little witch. The classic role would be a very gentle, caring, tolerant female to calm the wolf tempers in the pack. Thanks, but no thanks. And even though this provokes and irritates the wolf society around her, she values her independence and he beliefs too much to back out.

The lion sometimes gets covered by a very strong and passionate bird secondary though. Seline researches, plans, strategizes and analyses. She is a prepper for all kinds of situations. The tendency to prepare is too much at times, the way she researchers every new skill, verifies information, reads herself into discourses before getting onto something.

Very fitting little bird secondary for her research work. A lion goal and determination followed by a meticulously prepared bird? She is a force to be reconed with, no matter her gentle sweet appearance.

Now as for the pairing, Seline is very attracted to Isaiah's thought out intellectual bird thinking. Isaiah has everything reasoned out, overexplains his tiniest beliefs and habits and Seline digs that stuff. She just loves to reason and think and she likes to back her feelings with clear evidence and eloquent thoughts and loads of reseach, true to her bird secondary. Bird Isaiah is an ideal intellectual sparring partner for her.

Matthew Blackwell has a very straightforward snake lion sorting. The lion secondary is very loud and direct, goes with his tough guy persona and angry wolf image. He has his temper issues and a very blood knight kind of passion for fighting. It's just fun for him, like a sport or a game. Getting into boxing and running really helped him find a good outlet for it instead of just causing him trouble.

The snake is more subdued and living in a rather neutral zone. Matthew didn't have people in his corner for a long time, and with no snake circle he relief on his agressive lion instead. Finding Isaiah, befriending Seline, getting a sort of maybe pack with them was a key moment for him. Now his snake is adopting people and though he is sometimes awkward in caring for them as well as he would like out of sheer inexperience, he is getting there. Maybe even on the way to built a useful badger secondary model for the caretaking required around his people who are strong and yet havr vulnerbilitied he can cover for.

And Matthew is a sweet marshmallow inside who will put his people above everything. He is the only loyalist in the trio, with Isaiah and Seline being idealists. As long as he fits Seline's felt goals and Isaiah's built system of how the world works, it's a stable combination.

Hector Wolfson is a double lion. Very intense sorting. His lion primary has a very Badger like flavour, influence of how he had been brought up in the pack. Duty, greater good of the whole, community. He accepts and tries to follow this, but inside he is a loud glory hound lion in it for himself, for acknowledgement of his strength, his leadership, him being the best.

Hector struggled with the idea that as the second oldest brother Isaiah had a stronger claim to succeed their father for the leadership of the pack than him. Not to mention that catching up to Isaiah was difficult on its own, but Hector never stopped trying. He worked his butt off in training, control, education. For how arrogant, ambitious and self-centered he is, there is lots of hard work, skill and determination to back him up. Lion willpower, let me tell you.

Hector never recovered from Isaiah abandoning what he considered his greatest goal and honour. Isaiah basically spit on what had been unfairly handed to him by leaving the pack instead of leading it. Hector should be happy about this, now he will most likely be the successor. Except Isaiah's reasoning doesn't make sense and Hector now never got to defeat him in a fair fight. He will never be able to prove he was better and more suited, when Isaiah doesn't consider his life long goal worth the fight. It angers him to no end.

Add to this the lion secondary that likes to power through, kick down doors, burn down bridges and say everything directly...not effective in schemer politics of the wolves, but very much so in getting respect and recognition for power and posturing alone. Wolves respect him. Not to mention his double lion has a very inspiring leadership quality to it. Lions are intense, loud and easy to make people follow them.

At the same time his lion secondary isn't destructive or aggressive to the point he couldn't fulfill his obligations. At civilised wolf parties and strategic meetings, Hector can keep his cool and insult people in a very polite measured manner no one can dispute. He cuts the pleasantries and talks around it short and gets things moving. No-one said lions couldn't be polite. They are just very direct and no nonsense about it.

By the way, his second in the pack, Delaney, shares the double lion sorting. Idealistic, goal-oriented, steady in her determination and very on par with Hector's direct approach.

The Wolfson trio (Hector has brown eyes though) is rounded up by a double snake youngest brother. Arnold "Arnie" Wolfson really got an unfortunate hand. A human brother in the family, he wasn't interesting for his father's ambitions and was left out of lot of the wolf pack business and power struggles.

Arnie has that air of shameless self-worth and self-interest of a young snake though. He likes fun, joy and the pretty things in life. He is here to enjoy himself. And he doesn't care about politics. The most he cares about other than himself is his tiny circle. The pack doesn't matter to him as a whole, he doesn't feel obliged to it. Isaiah and Hector are his people, and he wants them back and nice to each other. That's it. Where Hector can't forgive Isaiah for betraying their common goal and can't move past this to try to understand or figure out his mysteries, Arnie just longs to get back to his brother and reconcile. Isaiah can betray them or leave them or do incomprehensible stuff for wolf standards, but he is Arnie's person so he will be forgiven and given the benefit of the doubt. Arnie, in contrast to Hector, wants to understand, wants to find out, wants to get along.

His secondary is a playful snake. Arnie likes to tease, lie, push and change strategies in the middle if they don't work. Silver-tounged with mischief in his eyes, he enjoys the freedom of his humanity. He might not matter for the wolves, but he knows them and their etiquette enough to play at whatever situation to turn it in his favour. While wolves are busy figuring out ranks and fighting off their shadows, he will design the positions and talks to support his agenda. Quick on his feet and sneaky and very much enjoys it. Sonny Carter is a double snake as well - it's just very handy for charming behind the scene schemers.

Rip has a very obvious Lion secondary. He is instinctive, acts before he thinks and how he feels and he has that inspiring quality of buldozering lions who throw themselves at things as a solution.

A lot less obvious is his badger primary. Rip thinks in groups and wants to belong, but because of the abuse from his father and losing his family because of him, he basically kicked himself out of his own community. Even though he doesn't trust people and doesn't think he can be part of anything anymore, he still creates a role for himself with the strays, protects younger wolves, keeps the street strays off radar and big conflicts to not attract bigger pack's attention. This is something he feels like doing.

Rip has a strong sense of justice, that's why I first thought he might be a lion primary. But it's just a very strong felt primary. His sense of justice is about what's best for the weakest person and for the overall community. He is always aware of his role, what he can offer and who he can burden, in relation to others. Isaiah and Rip understand each other well, because of Isaiah's incredibly badger flavoured system. He recognises the values in Rip, although Rip is actually the actual badger here.

...

Isaiah - Bird with strong badger flavoured system/Badger

Seline - Lion/Bird

Matthew - Snake/Lion with a Badger model on the way

Hector - Lion/Lion

Arnie - Snake/Snake

Rip - Badger/Lion

Dylan - Snake/Badger

Shawn - Badger/Snake

Roy - Lion/Badger

Liliana - Snake/Snake

Mr Wolfson - exploded Lion/Badger

Delaney - Lion/Lion

Sonny - Snake/Snake

Caleb - Lion/Snake

[blazingstaro]

DotS: Knights of the Stars file #01 — King Orpheus Nightfall

Name: Knight King Orpheus Nightfall Age: 2,000 yrs (Adult Dream Puff) Rank: Knight King; 5-Star General Star Warrior; Former Puff Chief

Legendary, extraordinary, selfless and bold are but a few words that can hope to describe this pillar of modern society. His love for the Galaxy and her people was more vast than the stars she adorns, and it showed in his great sacrifices throughout his life.

King Orpheus was responsible for paving the foundation and building the very structures the Star Warriors now house themselves within— both figuratively and once literally—, nevertheless is the father of other aspects of current Galactic culture.

This small Puff was a bridge between several kingdoms in his era, and brought people and mystical creatures together in harmony. Born into a dark age, bleak, hopeless, and suffering, he was taught from an early age by his father, King Wulfric (a gen 1 Dream Puffball), to be a beacon of light in their struggling time. Orpheus took life by the reins and pushed against the grain to establish a greater peace among people across the Galaxy.

Orpheus was most renowned for his juxtaposition between ferocity and loving compassion. Stern, firm-fisted, yet led with a gentle heart. To his enemies, he was an unstoppable force; to his allies, a cherished friend and brother in arms. His name struck fear in his adversaries, and even the foul Warlock, Nightmare, had a level of healthy respect for this tiny, yet mighty warrior.

He was fun, charismatic, considerate; a proper gentleman and a true chivalrous knight. And, apparently somewhat of a flirt, but never got serious with anyone according to the few still-living friends of his.

King Orpheus was many things: a leader, a friend, a brother, a father, a healer. There's no question as to why King Orpheus is among the most beloved figures in history. He befriended those who society shunned or mocked. This Puff went out of his way to seek the meek so that he may give them the strength to rise up against their demons— both figuratively and literally.

Orpheus was also left handed, though trained himself to be ambidextrous for combat purposes exclusively.

His hair was a legend of its own too, for no comb nor brush could ever hope to tame it. Like that level of curly that doesn't quite curl enough, yet won't straighten either. Just pure wild, and he refused to cut it any shorter than it was. Arthur says he always intended to try some sort of wild Viking style braid, but never had the time to try due to how stubborn that mane was.

One could suppose the 'do matched the owner quite well. Orpheus' will was unbreakable, and his stubbornness was the key to his survival in many instances.

There's apparently a spectacular story behind his facial scar, but none can really recall it. What is sure, however, was how proud he was of it. Something about being his first glory trophy or rather? None could be too certain, as the story is different between sources.

About 800 years ago, a rogue and sinister monster slipped its way onto Homeworld. Orpheus, understanding the danger this posed for his entire species, challenged it on his lonesome. He stood his ground to buy both his people and his teenage son enough time to escape with their lives.

It was the greatest fight of his life, and a tremendous struggle for even he, at about 1,200 years of age and experience, had little match against. Had it not been for his tenacity and the sacred blade that was his proud companion, history would be immensely different.

According to old stories, he suffered severe injuries during the fight, and was seeping with the beast's signature paralyzing poison. He willed through it long enough to see the fight to its conclusion, though could not hold consciousness much long afterwards.

His final words to Arthur were for him to take on his crown and lead their people in his absence. The boy followed his father's wishes, and continues to do so this very day.

Much mystery remains to be fully investigated regarding this tragedy. Homeworld wasn't so easily breeched at that time, nevertheless such a monster would've been easily spotted approaching the planetoid. There are many things that don't add up. Nevertheless more mysteries on top of that, as many former residents say his memorial sanctuary on Homeworld closing to the public without reason some 500 years ago.

King Arthur has yet to make any statements pertaining to the exact event, and seems to be withholding details. He knows something we don't. It's incredibly difficult to get an audience with him these days too... More to follow as we dive deeper into the Knights of the Stars files...

[eularin]

@oh-no-its-bird

Within this AU, I think it's unlikely that Sasuke will have a redemption arc bc Izuna would never support it. For Izuna, Sasuke doesn't have to redeem himself for anything. Konoha has always been a mistake. It's more likely that Izuna will fill Sasuke's head with all the reasons why he should never return to Konoha (that is, if the village is still standing). I doubt Naruto will be able to convince Sasuke, Izuna has a silver tongue and very valid arguments. I can imagine him saying: "Why do you have to redeem yourself? It was Konoha who oppressed us, killed our family and stole our Sharingan! They are the ones who should redeem themselves; ask for our forgiveness and make amends! See, they are not doing any of that! They are forcing you to bow down to them!" Then Team Taka leaves under the pretext of redeeming themselves but in reality they are escaping through the front door. 🤫shhh no one knows that Izuna took Madara's Rinnegan and has plans to use it.

Want to know more about this? I'll tell you! Technically the Rinnegan belongs to Izuna (he gave his eyes to Madara before he died) so he's just taking back what's his. Izuna is totally the type of person with a grudge. He gave his eyes to Madara with the promise of protecting the Clan and annihilating the Senjus. Guess what Madara actually did? (He had his reasons, okay? There were Uchihas defecting; his people were losing faith in him and he had to think about the civilians, the elderly, the orphans and the widows. Madara couldn't continue the war like this) - but Izuna isn't taking this into consideration. He's pissed about everything. So he takes his brother's Rinnegan and says he'll do what needs to be done.

After convincing Sasuke that Konoha will always be shit, Team Taka leaves and bam! Dimensional Travel! Oh the Rinnegan is truly so OP. Izuna loves it. He's so, so proud to be an Uchiha. (Uchihas are totally demigods, that's Canon!)

Then they show up somewhere back in the Warring States period. Now here's a plot point. Izuna could arrive after his counterpart dies and take his place (and use his new powers to annihilate the Senju; see aniki this is how you do it) or he could go further and kill Butsuma before he has any children (then no Hashirama or Tobirama will be born, how wonderful), or he could send Hashirama to the desert dimension and let the Senju jubokku dry up, or to the fire or ice dimension. All of these options sound great for Izuna. While Tobirama... oh well. it's got to be something really creative to make him suffer. Izuna is still thinking about how to get revenge on him. Anyway, I can think of many more, but that's it for now. Izuna is having his brain working overtime for several other possibilities – (don't forget, he's still an Edo Tensei. He'll live forever and will have plenty of time to raise the Uchiha and annihilate his enemies)

Somewhere in the background Izuna is distracting his brother so he won't miss (or pity) the Senju. Maybe Izuna supports the idea of building a village (without Senjus). Madara will surely be too busy to watch Izuna's schemes too closely. (The silly older brother does whatever his precious little brother wants.) Sasuke is surrounded by relatives who like him. It's not the same as having his first family back, but at least it helps heal his wounded heart. The grandmothers of the clan dote on him, the girls still smile and blush around him (but at least he's not being harassed so it's not so bad), he trains with other Uchihas his age, hears a lot of stories about the clan and immerses himself in the culture he was deprived of knowing and living. The rest of Team Taka is there, causing chaos and complaining about prehistoric life without technology, but they are happy to be together.

omg this was long :c

Fic where, in practicing to get edo tensei right, Orochimaru uses Izuna as a test subject and tries to substitute DNA to make it work, using Suigetsu's bc like it's extra flexible or whatever bc shape change

Edo tensei mermaid Izuna locked in a tube somewhere in Oro's lab,,

He's SO mad about it and has literally no information ab what's going on at all bc hes locked in a fucking tube !!

Bonus points if Orochimaru doesn't even specifically know who he is

They unearthed him w the rest of the founders on a whim but bc no one really requested him specifically, the body just kinda sat there and eventually got mixed in w the rest of the Uchiha corpses, till Orochimaru requests an Uchiha corpse and they shrug and send him over

He still has Madara's eyes too (left alone either by oversight / or bc they decided not to pull them before he got mixed in w the other bodies, who had by then already gotten scooped of their eyes so they assumed he'd already been harvested)

Ok but like. No one even tells him what happened/where he is/that madara made the village. Why would anyone?? The only one Izuna sees regularly is Orochimaru, and he doesn't know those facts would matter??

Izuna doesn't even know what Konoha IS, he isn't gonna recognize the name

From Izuna's perspective, he died in his bed and then BOOM. Tank time.

Orochimaru might tell him it's been some years since his death (thinking he died in the massacre) and even if Izuna doesn't believe him bc like, enemy, enemy territory, he sure as fuck probably won't be thinking "Ah yes it's been decades since my death and my brother went against my dying wishes to make that village"

Tho he might get nervous and start picking up those cues when he sees the tech

Oro mentions offhand that the Uchiha were all killed and Izuna immediatley assumes the Senju won the war and loses it

He'd figure it out eventually obviously (probably after being set free, most likley by Sasuke w Suigetsu) But he'd also probably keep that to himself, bc like, enemy territory n stuff

Mermaid shapeshifter Izuna terrorizes the shinobi world,, Sasuke doesn't know what he just unleashed.

Ok actually but like. Suigetsu's shape-shifting but bc Izuna has a fire chalra nature, make it liquid fire shape-shifting. Fuckin, fire mermaid Izuna. He has an awful time retaining his form and actually for the first chunk of time, him being in that tube is genuinley just for the best. He keeps turning into liquid fire with no real solid body and can't put himself back together for hours.

Izuna hears his brother is still alive and running Akatsuki and is so down to clown till he realizes THATS NOT HIS FUCKING BROTHER HOW DARE YOU USE HIS NAME

Anyways oh my god Izuna on team Taka,,

He and Sasuke would be SUCH a dynamic actually, they look alike so much?? Sasuke doesn't recognize him but he's clearly a close relation, so there's some mystery there. Sasuke is like super shaken by finding a member of his clan and Izuna, by that point aware that apparently the rest of his clan is dead, is sticking to him like GLUE. Sasuke is bitchy little brother coded and Izuna understands this is probably karma bc he is also bitchy little brother coded

They probably clash a lot, especially bc both are expecting to be in charge here, but ultimately I think they'd get along better than Sasuke does most people, and there's also that bonus vulnerability of like. Izuna is an older Uchiha boy who's trying to brother him (with a noticeably different brother-ing style to Itachi too) and Sasuke has been alone for so, so long.

Sasuke accidentally calls him nii-san then promptly has several break downs about it

Suigetsu and Izuna either get along ALARMINGLY well or they hate eachother. I think I wanna go with the first bc it sounds more fun. They couldn't talk to eachother in the tanks but they could still see eachother, so maybe they kind of developed some sort of code to communicate?

They are "cause problems on purpose" friends. They're also "wdym I can't kill him???" *looks of genuine confusion* buddies. They're giving Sasuke the biggest headache actually, someone stop them. If you leave them to "take care" of a problem, there will be carnage.

Also, like, Izuna literally has Suigetsu's DNA in him. That's a thing.

Mmm maybe some complex thoughts ab how Izuna has effectively become a bloodline thief against his will (the ULTIMATE taboo for shinobi from his era) and he's like, actually fucked up about it.

Running joke where they refer to each other as cousins, could be funny. They argue over who's the bastard child (it's Izuna obviously but he won't just take that title lying down)

Izuna is like, in his 20s, and Karin is around 16 or 17 at this time I think?? She definatley has a bit of a crush on him (which helps take the edge off Sasuke) but like, he's not acknowledging that beyond patting her on the head. She'll get over it eventually. (Sasuke hides behind Izuna when Karin is trying to flirt w him and Izuna absoloutley laughs at them both)

Izuna is actually really impressed w Karin's sensing abilities specifically. I think he'd be a bit on edge around her at first, bc Uzumaki -> Senju ally. But he'd quickly assume she's a deserter (he has no idea the Uzumaki are pretty much wiped out rip) and becomes cautiously chill after a minute or two (also when he first escapes, he REALLY doesn't have the luxury to pick and choose his allies. He's instantly attached to Sasuke and cautiously fond of Suigetsu, and Karin seems to have Sasuke's trust at least, so he'll keep an eye on it but otherwise trust Sasuke's judgment)

Izuna and Karin besties arc where they paint eachothers nails is a must. I love the take that Izuna is really into fashion n stuff and he and Karin should like, trade hair tips or smthn. Karin knows modern soap brands where as Izuna bought his soaps from clan vendors who no longer fucking exist, so like, it's definatley helpful.

Karin is the only one of them to have any real hint of where tf Izuna came from (tho even she doesn't have the full details) it'd be cool if she was the one to figure out more details ab his general mystery— maybe something about her chakra sensing gives her a hint as to how old he really is?? Or she finds the paper trail that hints towards the bodies being mixed up???? Idk but she deserves to have an "aha!" moment

Also Izuna's medical knowledge/standards are NOT up to modern and Karin is so mad about it, she's giving him hella lessons on first aid n shit and he's very, very interested in all this free medical knowledge

I know the least about Jugo so bear with me on this one pls— I think Izuna would find Jugo to be pretty fascinating as a person actually. He enjoys tentatively poking him with sticks, and comes to genuinley like him as a person (when he's calm) pretty quickly

Also cats love Izuna so he gets bonus points from Jugo bc of that, they can bond while petting Izuna's contracted cats or smthn idk

Yeah I really don't know much ab Jugo so that's all I have to offer sorry

Ok let's backtrack a bit, back to Orochimaru ->

Fun scene towards the very start of the fic, where Izuna still has no fucking clue what's going on, but recognizes Orochimaru as a member of the Orochi clan. He says as much, and Orochimaru has to pause.

No one's mentioned his clan to him in years. They haven't been relevant in Konoha since Orochimaru was born— even before that, they were barley relevant. Izuna should not know who they are.

(The only reason he does know is bc they had a neutral to positive relationship w the Uchiha back in the warring era, and Izuna had visited them once before)

Immediatley, Orochimaru is squinting at this guy. He's giving Danzo a ring asking who exactly he got sent over, but Danzo doesn't actually have anything to offer him??? The paperwork is a mess and there were a LOT of Uchiha. He's not registered as a shinobi tho.

Hmmmm.... ok.

Orochimaru is suddenly aware there's some kind of mystery here now, which is dangerous for Izuna. Izuna is, again, in enemy territory, and he's able to pick up on the fact that Orochimaru doesn't actually know who he is. This ofc means that HE sure as hell won't be telling him.

Maybe he bares his teeth and sarcastically says he's the second coming of Uchiha Madara (not even that big of a lie when u think ab it)

Pivoting time ->

Izuna is listed in the data books as like, being equally as talented as Madara and I think we should talk ab that more actually

I love Tobirama but he really did get him by surprise

Izuna just got cocky and taken by surprise!!

HE DIDNT EVEN GET COCKY HE JUST LOGICALLY DIDNT EXPECT TOBIRAMA TO FUCKING INVENT TELEPORTATION

Then he went down in the history books both in canon and out of it as the weakest of the 4, that's so tragic

Izuna gets mermaid edo tenseid and (once people know who he is) everyone is like "Ok well at least he's uhh. The weakest of the 4 right?? I mean tobirama killed him when they were like only 19/20 so we'll probably be fine???"

Then he just fucking bodies them all bc hes a nightmare actually AND on whatever special test trial edo tensei steroids they gave him

Izuna is fueled on rage and spite and he's full up on both

Imagine he gets the full story of everything that happened while he was dead too, like.

Ok so Madara goes against his EXPRESS dying wishes and makes his village. (what the fuck!!) Then backs out (yay!!) but in an awful way that effectively fucks over the entire clan for years to come (nii-san what the FUCK)

Then gets literally backstabbed by Hashirama (HE FUCKING TOLD YOU!!! WHAT DID HE FUCKING SAY!!!!!)

Then the Uchiha seem to thrive and like. Ok. He's still mad about it, but at least something... kind of nice came out of it.

THEN BOTH THE VILLAGE AND MADARA'S(?????) SCHEMES KILL THEIR ENTIRE CLAN

Izuna is SO mad at literally everyone, holy shit. The only one safe from his rage is Hikaku, god rest his poor, poor soul

Actually, I think it'd be funny if Izuna was like, indescribably extra awful mad at everyone— but then is like. Normal mad amounts at Tobirama, who was a bitch but at least didn't seem to carry on a personal fucking vendetta against the Uchiha like EVERYONE ELSE INCLUDING FUCKING MADARA FOR SOME GODDAMN REASON

Izuna is going like, "FUCK you, FUCK you, OH, EXTRA FUCK YOU—" then squints at Tobirama and goes "...fuck you." Then goes back to screaming

To be clear, Tobirama absolutely contributed to the end of the Uchiha, but like. A) it'd be funny, and B) at least his seemed slightly less on purpose than literally everyone else

There's also I think a difference of like. Izuna never expected Tobirama to suddenly turn around and be pro Uchiha

Where as everyone else (again, including his brother!!) Was like. A genuine betrayal

Tobirama fucking over the clan was never a surprise

He never pretended to be on their side (like Hashirama lowkey did)

Tobirama vs Izuna but it's them getting to relive their rivalry where as Izuna vs literally anyone else is emotionally charged as hell and filled with demented screaming

Leaving it there for now, I might actually try to write this one but who tf knows

[disregardcanon]

okay so here’s some owl house meta: i LOVE the statement that the owl house is making on childhood. so often in culturally christian media the depiction of childhood is this state of innocence that we all get kicked out of. you are a WORSE person because you’ve grown up. if you stayed a little child and followed like a little child then jesus would love you more.

so much of the owl house is about king maturing. in a lot of ways, he starts the show off as a brat. he’s a funny adorable brat! but he’s... a brat.

he’s not considerate. he’s very possessive of eda and luz’s time and attention because they’re his people and he has that inflated sense of importance that’s implied to be from being a titan. he steals the work that he and luz spent so much time on together, changes the ending, slaps his name on it, and then takes all the credit. and he doesn’t understand how that’s hurt luz until after it’s already happened and he has to apologize and figure out how to fix it.

king is a bit of a brat, but he’s not any special type of bad. he’s a kid and kids don’t really understand a lot of things about how the rest of the world works. that is my favorite person and my big feeling and how dare everyone not cater to it?

but king spends a lot of the show growing into being the kind of person that luz and eda are so proud of. he figures out how to let luz go. he figures out how to embrace his relationship with eda as a son but still hold on hope of finding his bio dad. he learns that he does not, in any way shape or form, actually want to be worshiped. that’s weird! why would lilith do that! i just want to be... baby. i want to be adored for being me. i want to help my friends! i want to make my big sister proud!

being a titan might have seemed like a dream come true in the first few episodes for him. he probably would have thrown himself a party with his burger king crown and declared himself ruler of the boiling isles. but now he understands that it’s a nightmare scenario, other than being powerful enough to help people.

and... he does whatever he can to help now. he talks alador blight into going against odalia with them. he seeks out the collector to talk him into saving them from the spell. and the collector might not really be evil. maybe he is. maybe that’s what we’re going for, but he might also just be a kid who hurts people because he thinks it’s fun and doesn’t understand how else to be.

so now we a character that resembles a beginning of the show king but with the  unspeakable power he thought he wanted because the collector is a kid with godly power and no one to guide him. maybe the collector is a foe to defeat, but i think that he’s going to be an ally to befriend. he is a child, and children can (and do) grow.

i think that king is going to do one of the things that he admires most about his big sister: turn an enemy into a friend through kindness and understanding

[psychewritesbs]

Jujutsu Kaisen 157: Megumi needs and Yuji is needed + the power of friendship trope

I decided that, while I cannot avoid sharing manga spoilers (mostly because I don’t want to since I am keeping up with the manga), I would avoid sharing leaks. So I’ve been holding back on posting about chapter 157 until today wondering what I wanted to say about the subject. 

First, chapter 157 has got to be one of the saddest chapters in JJK so far and it hit me in the gut almost as hard as the chapter when Mechamaru says goodbye to Miwa (I honestly didn't know I was a Mechamaru x Miwa fan until that chapter).

Second, as a Megumi fan, my favorite panel in chapter 157 was, of course, when he bows down and asks Kirara to listen to what they have to say. It felt so earnest and painful at the same time.

The reason Megumi doing a dogeza bow is a big deal is because this level of bowing is loaded with symbolism.

From what I understand, dogeza is equated to “begging”, thus denoting a certain level of desperation. 

But dogeza also sends the message that the person bowing is both ashamed to ask for help, AND, being aware of that shame, are still choosing to bow as a way to tell the other person that they do not care about their self-image as long as the act of bowing accomplishes the bower’s intention.

Truly an act out of desperation.

Now, I could be missing some cultural nuances here, but that’s my understanding of dogeza. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if I’m missing some important detail about dogeza.

Looking back, this panel actually reminded me of Yashiro from Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai doing dogeza on behalf of his love interest, Kageyama.

Yoneda Kou, like Gege Akutami, is a very talented artist in their ability to portray emotion through their art. 

But back to JJK.

This whole interaction between Kirara and Megumi struck me because it clearly depicts both Megumi’s desperation and conviction to save Tsumiki.

Let’s not forget that Megumi wasn’t one to ask for help just prior to the Shibuya arc and would always choose to rely on himself for the most part. Which makes his emotional and psychological growth all the more impressive. 

Despite the growth he achieved in terms of his power up, how incredibly smart he is, and manifesting a Domain Expansion, by bowing, he is basically telling Kirara “even though I easily defeated you, I am not strong without you. I need your strength.”

Megumi’s true growth is thus his ability to put aside his trust issues in favor of his greater goal: Saving Tsumiki. 

In other words, he needs others to save his beloved sister.

WHICH brings us to Yuji’s growth. 

Third, Yuji went from typical Shonen Protagonist's larger than life aspirations, to a humbling down as a result of everything that took place during the Shibuya Arc. 

But what I loved most about this change in Yuji is that he sees himself as part of something bigger. He is now needed as opposed to him fulfilling his own needs by saving others.

It’s like before he had a grandiose idea of what saving others would do for him, instead of taking into consideration what saving others would do for them. 

Now that he has done quite the opposite of saving people thanks to Sukuna’s rampage, he’s come back down to the real world and realized that saving other people has nothing to do with him. To put it in “spiritual” terms, Yuji recognized he’s a “channel” for the greater good, not the executioner of the greater good.

Seriously, Gege Akutami loves breaking down Yuji’s ego through really cruel and painful experiences. But it is precisely because Yuji is so naive that he needs this kind of Psychological growth.

Yes, it’s heartbreaking Yuji sees himself only as a “cog” (it feels as though he only sees his worth as utilitarian), and yet, this change in perspective shows just how much he’s matured. 

So where Megumi desperately needs help and is not ashamed to admit it, Yuji is desperately needed and is proud of the fact-to the point that he would challenge Hakari by asking him about his place in the machinery.

This is, quite arguably, the best play on the “power of friendship” trope that I’ve seen and I’m here for it. Although not a pairing I personally ship, I can see why the fandom loves Megumi x Yuji x Megumi. 

Megumi and Yuji have an incredible bond bordering on bromance that many of us wish we had in our lives. Relationships like that are not easy to come by and are always to be cherished, especially if you are a victim of trauma the way many of the characters in JJK are.

Other honorable mentions: 

This chapter really cemented the fact that I like Kirara as a character. Gege Akutami is very good at bringing characters to life, even seemingly minor ones

As with everything JJK, it’s all about the character dynamics, and I am really loving Kirara and Hakari’s dynamic

Ah! Feels good to get all of this off my chest.

So what did YOU think?!!!! 

I love chatting with others about JJK, so don’t hesitate to share your thoughts.

[windblooms]

hello!! can i request love language hcs for the tall boys? (diluc, kaeya, childe, zhongli)

headcanons below!  how they show their love + how they like being loved in return. 

CHILDE : acts of service / quality time.

childe finds the time for his family despite his job: he regularly sends letters to his family in snezhnaya, and even nearly jeopardizes the respect of his subordinates to protect his brother.

underneath his fox-like pretense is a man who keeps his promises.  he goes to extreme lengths to prioritize his loved-ones, so i can see him showing his affection through acts of service.

childe always wants to show you that he’s always thinking of you, that he can take care of you.  he shows his support for you through traditionally domestic actions.

hungry?  he’s already preparing food for you before lunch time.  tense after a long day out?  he’s got dinner covered too, plus some willing fingers to rub against your back for a massage.  craving a hot bath?  he’ll draw one for you too, lightly kissing your cheek and carding his fingers through your hair.

“don’t worry about it.  you’ve worked hard, and i want my darling to rest.”

the best way to convey your adoration for him would be through quality time.

he gets giddy just listening to you talk about date ideas.  for childe, hearing all the thought you’ve put into supporting your relationship reaffirms that you’re just as invested as he is.

it makes him feel that you want to be around and enjoy activities with him, that he’s someone who’s company you crave and find solace in.

it indirectly reaffirms that he’s looking after you properly as well.

DILUC : quality time / physical touch.

arguably one of the most withdrawn characters in the game, diluc doesn’t allow people into his heart easily.  it’d be more feasible to kill four ruin guards in a minute than force oneself into the barrier he’s chosen to put between himself and others – a barrier that he’s involuntarily put up due to his tumultuous past.

because of this, i can see him reinforcing his connection with his partner through quality time: as an individual who has had his loved ones distanced through factors out of his control, after finding security and companionship with a partner, his commitment will be most evident in how he sets aside personal time for them.

deep conversations aren’t necessary.  just you and him in the privacy of your room, talking about your day and what you have planned for tomorrow, or discussing mondstadtian politics off-handedly, with one or two sly quips from him, as a hearth flickers against the wall.

his desire for exclusive time with you somewhat blends in with his hidden affinity for physical touch.

it doesn’t have to be a lot.  simple hand-squeezes reassure your tangible presence next to him.  when you embrace, he finds the fit of your body against his comforting, like puzzle pieces slotting together.  or even just your hand on his shoulder as you walk by his work desk, checking up on him.

your touches reassert that you’re there for him, that he can always come home to you, and that you will always be his home.

“there’s no time like the present.  the days are becoming shorter . . . but that just means that i’ll have to spend each one with you.”

KAEYA : words of affirmation / physical touch.

kaeya, having a penchant for pretty words, is accustomed to prying whatever reaction out of bystanders that he so chooses, whether it be complimentary or underhanded.  for this  unconventionally insightful  suave bachelor, it’s a no-brainer: he’ll show his love through words of affirmation.

there’s something cute about being obvious in your relationship.  openly referring to you through pet-names in public, such as babe, or more jokingly, snowdrop; encouraging your accomplishments and often (un)intentionally praising your achievements in the presence of his coworkers.  he’s always proud of you, and wants others to know about your capabilities and his affections for you.

it’s just – hm!  endearing to see you flush with pride at his affirmations, as if you believe in his words and in his faith.

physical touch would be how kaeya prefers receiving love in return. 

just as how he’s there for you verbally, it eases him when you find security in him as well.  cuddling together on the couch, with limbs nearly tangled as you both giggle at each others’ antics.  pecks on the nose, or teasing squeezes of forearms. 

physicality requires trust, and your interactions tell him that you’re comfortable with him, that you’re both intimate.  

“it’s getting a bit chilly nowadays.  oh?  come over to me, unless you’d like me to cuddle up to you instead on this dreary, frigid – hey!  no need to be coy, babe.”

ZHONGLI : quality time / gift-giving.

he’s still got a lot to get used to about being mortal – well, about as “mortal” as an archon can ever be.

there are things that he’s still not entirely familiar with.  while he can spout cultural customs and trivia like a parrot, there are still human interactions that he can’t quite understand the sentiment behind.  

quality time will convey your investment to the connection the both of you share while he’s still adapting to mortal culture. 

travel coast to coast with him.  collect herbs and document sightings together while he witnesses the evolution of liyue from his time as a god.  listen to what he says about the land, how he recalls how it once looked, and the memories he’s tied to the soil. 

“this could have been yesterday’s liyue.  a tour guide?  well, that’s not neces – oh, you were referring to yourself.  indeed, i’d treasure your company very much.”

show him the things about liyue that you love.  while not needing to be formal presents, gift-giving will pronounce your consideration for his interests and display your attunement to his learning.

it could be a flower you had found, still planted in the ground, that reminds you of something.  words are the best gifts for a man such as zhongli, where his search for knowledge and stories are boundless. 

perhaps there’s a waterfall that holds community significance.  while zhongli might be able to tell you of its inception, only you can enlighten him on the sentiment behind it.

he’s always learning, with you as his teacher.  this is your liyue, and he’d love to hear its tale. 

[rubykgrant]

(some of this extends into the big story-line I started working with the characters a couple years ago, and some is based on stuff from the actual series that gave me ideas)

Church; (I have him come back in a synthetic human body, created with a DNA sample from the Director) he is SHORT and CHUNKY~ His eyes are sort of steely-gray, but when one of the Fragments are "vibing" (fronting) with him, they will have a little shine of color (like iridescent pigeon feathers). He loves the fact that he can actually eat food and taste it with his own mouth, so he gets into cooking and baking (he also likes to smell the onions as he chops them). He is indeed Jewish, but hasn't had much of a chance to really explore what that means, so he finds some Jewish culture groups, and eventually invites his friends to celebrate certain holidays with him. He still talks like a rude little smart-mouth, but he catches himself in the middle of doing considerate/comforting things for his friends, and can't stop (he gets embarrassed when he's caught CARING, but he's also secretly proud of it). Likes having "spa days" in which he lets Donut wash/style his hair (with a shave if he needs it), while telling him Red Gossip (he also listens to Kai, while she reads him magazines and talks about famous people she hates, they have the same kind of mean sense of humor)

Tucker; he's a shameless flirt, but he doesn't know how to respond if somebody genuinely flirts BACK. He collects lots of different movies/books to share with Junior (some of it is stuff he remembers from when he was a kid, and some are things he missed out on, so they both get to enjoy it together). While he was an only child, he had lots of cousins, and was awkwardly in the "middle" of everybody- way older than the younger ones (babies and toddlers when he was 13), and way younger than the older ones (in their 20s and 30s). It kinda makes him crave attention (and when he's around people like Grif, he gets to be a little-bro). Tucker is a manlet short king, and is also somebody who looks like he could still be 19 even into his late 30s. Not only is he good at dancing, he's good at teaching people to dance. He's always wished he could have been in a food-fight, like he's seen in movies. When he gets through his own issues with confidence/insecurities, he's actually VERY intuitive when it comes to being a leader and solving problems. He has pierced ears (usually just wears small studs, some look like little gem stones). Plays hand-held games while taking baths, he hasn't dropped it yet, this is fine

Caboose; the Moon city where he was born actually had a "plan" for how long people were supposed to wait until having children... Michael was a very early surprise that nobody was ready for, so he was the oldest kid on the Moon. He's actually had better luck with dating than most of the others. He knows how to cut his own hair, but he likes asking his friends to help with it, just as a nice bonding activity. Sometimes he wears his armor for certain events/holidays (he just decided that if you dress up in a "costume" for Halloween, you can do that for every holiday, and Caboose likes to go as Caboose), and he's actually really good at entertaining people/interacting with kids, and he usually gets invited to be in parades or hang out at carnivals. He usually doesn't like wearing long sleeved clothes unless they're loose/soft material. He makes and wears different little beaded bracelets, and shares with his friends (Church gets the most). From his point of view, Tucker and Church need his help, he can tell it is hard for them to admit when they care, and Caboose will lovingly bother them so they don't feel lonely (from their point of view, they want to make sure Caboose doesn't feel rejected anymore, so all of them have an unspoken agreement of- "they need my help"). Has a jar full of marbles, and he named them all

Kai; she used to get really bad tangles in her hair as a kid, and her big bro had to help find some good cream rinse to help with it. She has always dyed her hair occasionally, but never really knew WHY color it was, she just like seeing different streaks and such... more recently, Donut has helped her pick out colors so her hair has a gradient (her dark-brown, to gold, to yellow). She also usually keeps her hair back with a braided-ribbon headband. Once when she was a kid, she and her bro were separated in different foster homes, and the family she was with wanted to "forbid her from seeing Dexter"... one night, Kai literally dumped EVERYTHING out of each food/soap/paint container in the house in retaliation (she got to see her brother again~). She loves the "reject treats", like black licorice and candycorn. Has a dozen different blogs for the same sites, because she keeps forgetting her passwords and different e-mails, so she just keeps making new ones. Has trouble keeping her focus on one project, but finally finds a niche getting an entertainment business for different kinds of parties going (she also started a night club and a costume shop). Paints her nail polish on WAY too thick, and then peels them off as one big chunk

Wash; he's struggled a lot with feeling like a loser, having anger issues, trying to be Mr Serious, and reacting to bad situations with rather EXTREME negative behavior... he's better at recognizing all this now, and has embraced his dorky-side. He loves old-school cartoons, and will subject his friends to marathons of Care Bears movies. When Donut started volunteering at an animal shelter, Wash happily offered to help care for and socialize "problem cats" (he keeps them until they're ready to be adopted... except the ones he really bonds with. those are his forever). Goes to farmer's markets with Doc, and gets into arguments with people who think taking honey from bees kills them somehow. Was a little skater boy as a kid, and also had a punk phase. Eventually lets his hair grow out long, and keeps the beard. He's very good at reminding OTHER people to have a decent sleep schedule and eat a variety of different foods, but when it comes to taking care of himself, he'll run on 3 hours of sleep and eat macaroni-n-nothing as his only meal. His fashion sense is kind of "comfortable beach vibe" and dad sweaters. He collects music soundtracks from movies he likes

Carolina; used to be one of those kids who took EVERY dare, even if she got hurt. Got kicked out of a few private schools for being a "problem child". Unlike other agents, she had not been recruited for Project Freelancer... her father kept trying to hide it from her, and not allow her any access to a mysterious secret project. Carolina had to literally infiltrate it and steal files to learn more, and after that, it was impossible to ignore her skills, so she became part of the program. She really is a red-head, but her natural color is more of a carrot-orange (she used to dye it fire engine red, but now she has it a little darker, and cut it short). She's an enabler when it comes to Church's ego, and encourages him during his rants. Will keep adding one stick of gum after another, until she's chewing the whole pack. She and Sarge both have scars on their knuckles from literally PUNCHING SO HARD, they tore through the inner padding, and scrapped against the armor from the inside. When she and Epsilon were having their solo-adventure, he would sometimes feel it when she had a nightmare, and try to help her "redirect" them into a more pleasant memory. She is secretly an anime nerd

Tex; (similar situation with Church, in a synthetic human body based on a DNA sample from Allison); she's considerably taller that Allison, with a thicker body-build (not and identical clone), and ironically resembles a grandmother Allison had, who Carolina also takes after. Gets really into decorating for Halloween. Purposefully messes with people at carnivals and fairs, pretending to be timid, and then cleaning up with prizes at game booths. Does the same thing to hustle random people in arm-wrestling, and she SLAMS them. Buys fancy scent-boosters for her laundry, she likes when it smells really fresh. She's a total channel-flipper when she watches TV. Often wears all black outfits, but insists she's NOT goth. She likes going to motorcycle racers, both dirt track and ice bikes. Eventually finds that she enjoys gardening (flowers, and also various vegetables/herbs/fruit). Hospitals kind of freak her out when she's there alone, of it seems too empty/quiet. Her favorite flavors are dark chocolate, and fruit like pomegranate/fig/cranberry. Loves horror movies... and also horse movies

I need everyone's takes, headcannons, character analysis or whatever on blue team like right now.

I need to fuel the raging obsession.

[averagemagienjoyer]

May I request sinbad as a significant other? If it's not too difficult that is ☺

Ah, my first request! Thank you so much for giving me a chance to write! ♥ And of course, I'll do my best to provide the content! 😌 Since no gender or pronouns were specified, I'll do GN! reader. Hope you don't mind!

CONTENT: Headcanons Sinbad x GN! Reader (FLUFF; SFW+NSFW under cut) - I think it would be very difficult for Sinbad to fall in love. He's a womanizer after all, and he knows he's got game. He just isn't as attached romantically-wise. So when he falls in love, he falls hard. I'm talking "Sometimes I wonder if I deserve them" type of hard.

- The moment he'd come to realize that he cannot deny his feelings for them, he surprisingly begins to be more responsible. It would seem as if he's trying to not think about it. He doesn't drink as often, he doesn't go to red light districts, he doesn't skip work as often. He subconsciously tries to better himself so that he'd be a potential good partner.

- He'd very smoothly confess, though. Sinbad would've asked for them to join him on a night walk, before holding their hand as his honey-sweet words captivate them. He manages to confess without any issues, but inside? He was nervous he'd be rejected. He's the happiest man alive when he isn't, though.

- He would definitely try to save some time of his busy day to spend it with them, preferably alone. If he can't squeeze in the time, he'll just ignore signing a few papers to spend it with them instead. Ja'far doesn't really appreciate this.

- He keeps himself composed, but can feel distressed inside sometimes. Despite him being confident in himself, he wonders if he's being the best version of himself to his significant other. Sometimes he loses sleep over this even, and will ask them if they're happy with him in the dead of night. They always comfort them about this, so he ends up going back to his normal self. Still, like anyone else, sometimes he has his bad days.

- Will give them gifts rather often. From jewelry, clothing, as well as the most beautiful flowers, to more personalized gifts that cater to their interests, their hobbies and even their culture as well. He will just have to look at something and be reminded of his lover for him to buy it for them.

- Don't take this the wrong way, though; he may spoil them with gifts, but he doesn't rely solely on materialistic items to keep them happy. Sinbad isn't dumb. He knows that a relationship would work best with affection as well, whether it be physical or verbal. He's a man to do both, too. They want him to say how much they love them? He will. They want him to touch them? He can provide that. He doesn't shy away from PDA either. He's proud of his significant other, after all!

- Sinbad would be absolutely delighted for them to be apart of his daily activities, even if by a small fraction. Whether that be by them being apart of his generals, of them going with him on diplomatic jorneys as his attendant or just by simply bringing him a cup of tea and asking how work is doing. He is very grateful that they'd show such support in his dream.

- He absolutely adores when his significant other plays with his hair, or just has their hands running through his hair overall. He can just feel his muscles relaxing and his worries of the day just melt away with their touch. Bonus points if they hum a song to him. He just feels like everything will be fine, and if he could, he'd like to stay like that forever.

- Will definitely consider proposing to them. Sinbad is absolutely sure they're the love of his life, and he'd finally begin to ponder over all those times Hinahoho had pestered him about finding a life-long partner. He'd consider doing so after having had spent the whole day with them, where he'd then take them to a private area in one of the Sindrian beaches. The sea is a very important part of his life, and since he'd be about to make another important choice in his life, he didn't think there was a better place to do it. Between us, he's planned this over his head over and over to make sure it'd go perfect.

(NSFW BELOW CUT!!! So beware!)

- He's experienced of course, but will not judge them if they aren't. If I'm being honest, it'll just boost his ego to know he's going to be the one to show them all the wonders of love making.

- Yes. There is a difference. Sinbad would qualify their sex as making love, and not just sex. Ever since falling in love with them, the act of sex by itself seemed to lack something. Deadass, the experience of doing it with them has changed the game for him. Not only do they satisfy their carnal desires, but there is an emotional bond to strengthen the meaning of the act. He's in pure bliss whenever they get it on.

- He's generally a gentle partner who goes slow, making sure they are being attended to properly. He likes to flavor the moment before building up speed in the last few minutes. Sinbad may be a horny bastard, but he's still a considerate partner.

- Loves to be in charge, but the idea of his partner doing so makes him very excited. Most of the times it's Sinbad taking the lead, but once in a while he makes sure to let his lover take control as he sits back and lets himself enjoy the show.

- Loves receiving pleasure, but, again, his pride just gets that rush whenever he's the one giving. The way they moan as he goes down on them, as well as the erotic faces they make, never fails to get Sinbad as turned on as he could possibly be.

- They better be prepared, because this guy has the stamina as well as the hornyness of a sex god. He will literally be excited with having round after round until his lover falls to the side completely exhausted. He will not stop until they're fully satisfied either, because god damn it will he make sure they've released all the tension in them!

- Loves to finish on their face, as well as on their chest. The sight simply is exhilarating, to see his lover panting deeply as his cum is just all over them.

- Will be completely down to try new kinks in the bedroom. He doesn't judge. After all, the adventures in the bedroom shouldn't stall! They have to keep things exciting, and he's more than happy to know they'd want to try something new with him.

- Aftercare with Sinbad is something that seems out of a dream. The man is a true gentleman. He'll make sure his partner his satisfied, before helping them clean up. After that, it's either a shared bath or they fall asleep, tangled into one another.

[that-blue-vault-dweller]

Companions react to sole getting that big ass projector at red rocket working and finding some movies? Get out the popcorn!

Ooh, I really like this!!! However, I couldn’t remember if there was a projector at Red Rocket, and I wondered if you meant Starlight Drive In because I’m not sure if there was a big, clear wall to display the film on at Red Rocket. I assumed Starlight Drive In, but if you want me to go back and fix it to Red Rocket, I definitely can. Just shoot a message in my ask box or comment. 😊

Thank you for the request, and I hope you enjoy!!! 💙💛

Cait - Is surprised at the fact that she actually has it going. When she hears the news, she jokingly asks if F!Sole can put on a horror movie. F!Sole easily arranges Cait's request, and Cait is absolutely shocked at how realistic everything on the screen looks. Of course, she's only once seen an actual movie and it was about a talking dog. In fact, though she would rather die than admit it, she is somewhat terrified by the end of the film and she is jumping at every shadow.

Piper - Is absolutely thrilled and is immediately asking F!Sole to pull out some movies to watch on the big screen. F!Sole gladly complies, and the both of them watch one of the movies that came out just before the bombs. Piper is absolutely enthralled the entire time, and she hardly speaks as she just watches. She has never had the privilege to see actual TV or a movie, so it is the most amazing thing she has ever witnessed and actually leaves her speechless. When it is finally over, she suggests that they do this again on another night so they could show Nat.

Curie - Is practically bouncing when F!Sole first tells her and she asks if they can watch a movie immediately. Unfortunately, she has to wait until sundown, and by then, she has picked out multiple movies to watch, all of them piled in her arms. Every single one of them are feel-good movies intended to make the viewer cry, and Curie is indeed blubbering by the time they finish binge-watching. She makes sure to clap and hoot for the actors and actresses as if they could actually hear her.

MacCready - Is honestly shocked, but is a little skeptical about whether it will actually play any film. F!Sole asks him to go find a movie he would like to watch, and he brings her a movie about the Silver Shroud. To his excitement and pure joy, the movie actually plays and he is just staring at it with his mouth hanging open like a child watching its favorite show. He is positively bumfuzzled by it, and he is totally in love.

Deacon - Asks her if she is absolutely sure that she has the projector working correctly. When she says that she is one hundred percent certain, he asks her if he can ask some of the other Railroad folks to come and watch with them. She agrees, and that very night, there are several Railroad members there undercover. Even Desdemona came to watch. By the time it is all over, everyone is very impressed. Deacon wastes no time in bragging and telling everyone that if they wouldn't have taken his word for it when she wanted to join, then they'd never get to enjoy all this.

Codsworth - Is ecstatic with the fact that F!Sole has managed to bring a major piece of Pre-War culture back to life. He is there with her every step of the way, feeling such overwhelming emotion when he sees the movie start on the big screen. He places a pincer on her shoulder, squeezing gently as he quietly tells her how proud sir would be of where they are now.

Hancock - Is very pleased and quite interested in the entire idea. He even asks if she thinks she could get another one going in Goodneighbor. He thinks it would be valuable tourist attraction and that it could boost morale for his citizens. However, in the meantime, they just spend some time together as they watch a movie about revolutions and dystopian societies. He is utterly in love and has officially declared himself a huge fan of the young heroine starring in the movie that gave everything for the love of a sibling.

Danse - Is utterly fascinated, and is quickly asking to watch a movie. When she asks for a particular genre, he very sheepishly and quietly asks if they can watch a Western. She, of course, complies and they are soon enjoying stories of the Wild West, a world completely lost now that the bombs have fell and the years have passed. He is excited as can be throughout the entire movie, barely containing himself as he jumps a bit when gunfights erupt and horses run toward the viewer.

Preston - Believes her wholeheartedly when she says she has the projector going. As a direct result, he invites as many minutemen that are willing to come so they can see the wonderful work their general has done. When F!Sole puts on a movie, everyone is amazed, but none moreso than Preston. He is in absolute awe of the movie, but particularly, he is admiring his general for being so incredibly talented.

Valentine - So many memories are immediately washing upon him about drive-ins and all manners of things. He asks her if there are any mystery movies stored around the place, and she gladly pulls out the first one she finds. They both sit there together, only partially listening to the movie as they mostly spend time discussing old stories of their past drive-in visits before the bombs.

X6-88 - Is very impressed, but expresses his wish that the screen should be used as a manner in which to offer informative briefings and whatnot. F!Sole asks him to sit and give a movie a chance and he begrudgingly complies. However, when he actually does sit down and watch it, he is pleasantly surprised and he finds himself deeply invested in it. However, he would sooner die than admit to it.

Dogmeat - Does not totally get it, but he is very glad that she is so excited. He stays by her as she fishes through a box and pulls out something oddly-shaped. Soon enough, there is a movie playing on the giant screen and he is just staring. He barks at different scenes when it looks like it's coming toward him and F!Sole. He evens runs directly up to the screen, sniffing at it. It looks so real, and he wonders why he can't smell the people in the scene and just smells a dirty old screen.

Strong - Does not really understand, so she just puts on a movie for the both of them. As soon as it comes on the screen, he is shouting and freaking out because somehow these humans have grown even bigger than a super-mutant and its honestly scaring him a little. However, he starts running toward the screen, aiming to do his best to smash. Therefore, she has to hurry to him and make him stop. Needless to say, she doesn't watch any more movies with Strong.

Maxson - When he finds out, he is considerably impressed. He questions if she is comfortable with sharing the find with the rest of the Brotherhood. When she agrees, he asks several Brotherhood operatives to come with him to watch a movie there. When it is over, they all applaud her greatly, and he tells her that she has done an excellent job. He also asks if she could possibly get another one going for solely for Brotherhood use.

Sturges - Spends a moment to discuss with her about the technical aspect of how she managed to get it going. As soon as that is out of the way, he asks her if they can put on a movie and watch it. She gets everything set up, and they both enjoy a good movie. It is unlike anything that Sturges has ever seen, and he enjoys it greatly, being sure to tell her what an amazing job she did with getting it going again.

Glory - Remembers seeing some movies played in the Institute, but she has never actually had the ability to stop and watch one. When F!Sole tells her that she has got the projector going, Glory raises an eyebrow  and asks her if she is aiming on watching something. F!Sole affirms this, and she asks her to watch something with her. Glory agrees, pretending to be not so enthusiastic, but she is very much closely watching the film when it comes on. When they are sitting there together, Glory very quietly offhandedly states that she was punished if she was spotted looking over the human's shoulders at the TVs at the Institute. She is very thankful to finally have a good experience to associate with a television.

[d-criss-news]

Darren Criss Suits Up In Francis Libiran For His Christmas Soundtrack, A Very Darren Crissmas

It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas.

Following the success of Masquerade, Darren Criss is extra prolific in the music department this year as he is set to spread Christmas cheer with the release of his holiday-themed album, A Very Darren Crissmas.

While it can be greatly argued that all things considered, it doesn’t quite feel like the holidays just yet, especially in the strictest sense of Filipino culture, it is beginning to sound a lot like Christmas for sure. Just like clockwork, the spirit of the season was soundtracked by the likes of Mariah Carey, Jose Mari Chan, and of course, the good ‘ol classics, the onset of the ber months immediately felt warm, nostalgic, and even for a little bit, joyful. Whether it be more traditional or pop-laced, or if you are a fan of the holidays, there is something comforting about carols and songs particular to Christmas, so much so that for the longest time, musicians find some sort of success when they release yuletide-themed music. Joining the bandwagon, or dare we say, the sleigh, is Darren Criss, as he is set to release A Very Darren Crissmas.

“It really was only a matter time,” writes Darren Criss on Instagram ahead of the release of A Very Darren Crissmas. “I always knew that if I ever made Christmas album, it would have to be much more than just a collection of songs you already knew.” True enough, following the reveal of the holiday compilation tracklist, there are a few standards, but in a prolific effort, the originals stand out more, featuring self-penned tracks and interesting collaborations (Adam Lambert, Evan Rachel Wood, Lainey Wilson). “With songs you know, songs you don’t, songs you thought you knew…and songs you never knew you needed,” as the teaser of the tracks says, this musical undertaking is not only carefully thought of, but close to his heart as well.

Taking On Christmas Cheer

“I’d want it to be a journey through songs that not only had a personal significance to my life, but also a unique introduction to songs folks had never heard before, and a re-introduction to a few they might think they know—but have never considered differently,” Darren Criss further expands on the premise of A Very Darren Crissmas. “Every eclectic choice led this album to feel astutely true to its namesake: a very, indisputably, ‘me’ Christmas.”

Making it even more unique to himself and his definition of the holidays, the album art features Darren Criss as different members of his own family. With nothing more Christmas-y than that, the award-winning actor, musician (who also just recently released, Masquerade), and OG StarKid is seen in a very holiday image where he is dressed up as his late father, his mother, his brother Chuck, and his younger self. Sitting by the piano holding out a plate of treats is present-day Darren Criss, suited up in robe-like formal in marsala brocade by Filipino designer, Francis Libiran.

Always loud and proud about his Filipino roots, Darren Criss has been known to honor his heritage whenever possible. Whether be in interviews, part of his characters (see: Hollywood, The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, and Trese), and fashion, there will always be a nod to the Philippines. In fact, this isn’t the first time he is wearing a Filipino designer.

Ever since they got connected at the 76th Golden Globes in 2019, the two artists have struck a creative bond. From The Outstanding Filipino Americans virtual awards show, the premiere of Aladdin in Hollywood, and most importantly, the reception following his wedding to Mia Swier, Darren Criss always found the perfect occasion to wear a bespoke Francis Libiran piece. The latter was the most special as they collaborated on the design elements on the piña barong tagalog with Pintados tattoo-like details to hero Cebu, the hometown of his mother, Cerina.

Raring And Ready

For A Very Darren Crissmas, a more refined and rich take on the holidays was the main consideration of Francis Libiran for the wine and gray silk brocade suit of Darren Criss. A fresh take on the traditional suit, the precision of menswear relents to the graceful curves of the lapel that extends to a nice bow, in the spirit of gift-giving, of course. “The patterns used on the suit are elegantly unorthodox, highlighting a part of him who daringly embraces the beauty of being different,” details the Filipino designer in our interview. “Here we are, absolutely humbled that Darren decided to wear us for his Christmas album.”

As if echoing the vibrant visual of A Very Darren Crissmas and the Francis Libiran suit in particular, the lead single of the musical exposition is equally bold and considered. Realized in a rousing big band orchestration, Happy Holidays/The Holiday Season is more than enough to shift your mood and slowly get into the swing of the season. Indulging in the cheer and the charm of Christmas, Darren Criss is raring and ready to redefine his holidays, dutifully inviting you into his family for a very Darren Crissmas.

Was Darren Criss hands on? How did the creative process go, despite the pandemic?

We basically presented him with style options, and then he gets to pick which one he prefers to wear. The great thing about him is that he is so open to experiment with different styles or color combinations, so it wasn’t difficult to work with him. Due to the pandemic, all of our consultations are conducted virtually, so if we need to clarify anything with Darren’s team, we discuss it online.

What were the inspirations that were worked on for this particular look?

The inspiration behind the wine and gray silk brocade suit was a combination of muted elegance and sharpness of character. It was basically Darren in a nutshell: he is a star that shines so brightly every time he delivers a performance, but he is a grounded person who never shies away from his roots.

What is it like working and collaborating with Darren Criss, especially with A Very Darren Crissmas?

Working with Darren never felt like work, actually. He is an easy person to talk to, and like I’ve said, we’ve already established a friendship. Our working relationship is mutually beneficial through our support for each other. I’d be very happy to collaborate with him in his future events soon!

A Very Darren Crissmas by Darren Criss is set to release on October 8, 2021 wherever you stream music.