#Aegir answers

[rattlesnakess-den]

Hey Rattler have you or your blue buddy ever had a pet before? Im curious bc I have two dogs and I thought Id ask (horses dont count)

-🦈

Rattler? That's gotta be a new one- Blue buddy? Eggy did ya steal my laptop.

SHHHHH You weren't supposed to tell him >:(

I told ya to stay in bed. That wound ain't gonna heal if ya keep stressin' it.

Oh boooo hooo. Anyway yeah! I had some cats when I was a kid! Well, I kinda just fed the local strays and they accepted me as their leader buuuut- and Rattle had all kinds of animals, right?

Yeah yeah. Lived on a ranch, 'course we had us some animals. Had a dog too. His name was Buckett. We named 'im that cause it's where he'd sleep instead of his own bed when he's a puppy.

AWwww you never told me that part, thats so cute-

Eggy. Go back to bed.

>:(

[kc5rings]

Little known fact that the question “What is the preferred lube among Sankta?” does actually have a correct answer

The more you know!

[coffehbeans]

Hi!!! :D A5 for any OCs, and then B6 and B7 for the g/t ask game?? :3c

Hiii Eliza! Thanks sm for the asks! <3

Ok, for A5 I thought about doing for multiple ocs ahsuas, so here we go!

A5. Your characters favorite way to be carried/carry someone?

Juhren: He's not a very big giant so usually humans are the size of his hand or bigger, so he usually prefers to carry them around with both hands cupped around them. Gotta keep them safe and steady as much as possible. Juhren doesn't really act like this when he's trying to appear threatening, though...

Sunflower: She doesn't like feeling restrained by a giant hand, so riding on shoulder is the best thing for her, freedom of movement even if it's a little challenging to balance herself.

Ethan: After he reached his full size he feels so awkward carrying people he'd rather not carry them at all. Everyone is so small it makes him feel stressed out, but in extreme cases he'll prefer to carry only one human with an open palm. Although his hand has space for more than one human, he'd rather not.

Aegir: He likes to pinch a human with his thumb and forefinger, makes it easier to observe them and turn them around. Of course, he has no idea how terrifying this is for them lol

Caytlin: She prefers to sit down on Aegir's open palm. Although it's rare for him to stop himself from fidgeting her around, to her dismay ahsush

Alaric: He cups both hands around them. He does so with Estelle, and he can't see himself carrying another human in a different way. It's safer this way and makes him feel more at ease.

Estelle: She prefers to have cupped hands around her, makes it easier to not see how high up she is and she doesn't have to deal with the scary eyes of other giants staring at her.

That was a long one, sorry ahsush

B6. A trope you’d like to see more of

I said it once and I'll say it again, growth! It's soo very unusual to see g/t fics with growth in it. We see a lot of shrinking, but almost never the other way around! I'm trying to change that, as y'all can see with my fics, but it feels lonely at times ahssuh the best part about a character turning giant is The Fear of Being Perceived TM, afraid of yourself and of others, not because you're weak but because you're so big and strong you can't trust yourself - HHHH It's so good!

Another trope that I wanted to see more of is accidental city rampage! Really wish it was more common. A giant dealing with being stranded in a city full of panicking tiny people while they try their best not to knock things around, it's such good tension!

B7. Least favorite trope/aspect of g/t?

Shrinking. Ashush yes I know, I'm the number 1 disliker of shrinking in the g/t community. Everyone seems to love it, and I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't. The loss of power and vulnerability that comes with it is just too much for me to handle. It's not comfort for me as it is for everyone else, it actually makes me feel uncomfortable and anguished somehow? Idk why, but I simply hate the idea of becoming so tiny and helpless.

That connects to another least favorite aspect of g/t: tinies being useless. Yeah, a hot take. But I don't like it when g/t fics make the tiny depend on the giant for everything, or when they're under control of a giant. It's simply uncomfortable. I like the idea of tiny people finding agency and power despite their disadvantages, and not the other way around. It simply rubs me the wrong way.

Well, that got awfully long ashussh hope you don't mind, Eliza! I tend to ramble a lot ashushs

Thanks sm for your asks! I loved answering them <3

[askferdinandvonaegir]

Hello, Sir Frederick the Wary! I admire you sooo much! Still love setting fires?

Setting fires? Never in my life have a set a fire! Considering you called me Frederick rather than Ferdinand, I am inclined to believe that you are mistaking me for someone else.

[dragonsarecats]

What you say might be true for the Blue Lions but not for the Black Eagles? SS existence show how functionally the Black Eagles aren't loyal, they can all turn against her in a way that goes beyond not exactly following her like some Deers with Claude. But focusing on Edelgard point of view, she certainly doesn't take for granted loyalty, she think most people will go against her once the truth is out ( it's often brought up, be it in dialogue like Dorothea support or her behavior like the deep suprise when you support her in the Holy Tomb, hell there's even way she constantly ask if Byleth is they're sure they want to follow her consistently throughout the route ) and even with her ally she remain cautious ( the most obvious is her behavior towards Shez, but remaining in house you have the moment when she hide what happened in Arainrhod for example ): just like Claude learn to trust in VW, so does Edelgard in CF. "Having a group of people one can rely on" is also a fundamental theme of CF, that's Edelgard arc with the Black Eagles strike force and Byleth.

And it's normal: Claude has trauma around trust, and so does Edelgard. Claude was an outsider and a kid growing in a situation of deep rivalry, his situation was so dire he was under treat of assassination; and he end up in country which he still has a lot to learn about and where people hate his very origin ( very angry at how people dismiss how horrific Claude past is, and how much it affect him by the way ). Edelgard lived through political turmoil where her father was betrayed in a political coup, then she was herself directly betrayed by a person she trusted, her uncle, ending up in a situation no one should ever have to live through. Ever once she's out, she's under the abuse of a shadowy group that have manipulated major event in she shadow and who can litteraly take people face. All while learning the most influential institution of Fodlan is hiding the truth.

( And Ferdinand isn't loyal? On Edelgard point of view he's the son of the man who betrayed and used her father, and a man who deeply support the system. On Ferdinand point of view you have him constantly doubting Edelgard at the beginning of CF, one of his first line after the Flame Emperor reveal being "As the next Duke Aegir, should I follow Edelgard into battle?"... Felix is miserable when you recruit him elsewhere, but Ferdinand not so much? And it makes sense looking at Adrestrian politics and how he isn't Edelgard childhood friend unlike Felix with Dimitri )

Previous answer here

Okay, so once again, I need to reiterate that when I discuss themes and characters in fire emblem three houses, I am always doing so in relation to how the narrative and gameplay framework go together. I've said it as a joke, but Jeralt is a prime example of how this works and how narrative and gameplay roles really affect each character.

So to that end, I really don't think you can say Ferdinand isn't loyal. No one is loyal in this game save for Hubert and Dedue (as various church people are recruitable and thus by metrics we're using, not completely loyal, although Catherine has a similar situation to Hilda, I think). They can't be loyal because they have to be recruitable.

You also have to keep in mind that you recruit people pre-war. They literally just transfer into different homerooms. No one is recruited with the initial intention of not going back to their home territory after they graduate, lol. But the academy phase is all about developing bonds within the class and with the professor and when the war goes down--well, they all weight their bonds and their loyalties and chose the former, save for a few exceptions (Lorenz, Ashe, etc. Characters you recruit and have to "recruit" again after defeating them with Byleth post time-skip).

That is to say, again, Byleth is the fulcrum on which this universe spins, both narratively and in game. Three Hopes proves it.

Characters need to be recruitable, and so everyone's loyalty is suspect.

Which is why I don't think your Silver Snow argument holds much water? I don't mean that disrespectfully, just that I disagree with your interpretation of what this means. Edelgard and Claude are exceedingly similar in several ways, and are often directly compared in both their routes in their ideals and differing methods. They also have similar trust issues, but again, are vastly different.

Edelgard has always had someone her age she can rely on. She has always had the same person, in fact, in Hubert. Claude does not; he does not have an official retainer for a reason. Edelgard desperately wants to trust people--even in Verdant Wind, she's filled with longing towards Byleth when they've comparatively barely interacted. Claude and Edelgard deal with their trust issues in different ways; Edelgard longing quietly to have a hand reached out to her, and Claude longing to reach out a hand that won't be smacked away. It's why his speech when they defeat Nemesis is so important.

I don't think Edelgard takes loyalty for granted at all--sorry if that was unclear. I don't think Dimitri does either. I don't think they can considering their pasts. But they take for granted this respect that's naturally given to them as leaders, that Claude visibly has to fight tooth and nail for. There's a reason people are constantly hounding over Claude's secrets but not Edelgard's when in my mind she's far more suspicious in her respective route. However, I think on the surface, Claude thinks they take these things for granted. They have loyal, unswayable retainers, noble connections formed in childhood, rivals who they dispute with who don't literally seek to take their power, and just a general respectful air granted upon them that he doesn't.

When it comes to Silver Snow, again, I don't really think that can be compared to what happens with Claude. Without Byleth, Claude loses members of the Deer. This is entirely different to Edelgard losing the Eagles because they are loyal to Byleth. Byleth's charisma and ability to earn the trust of people despite her inherent oddness (even to distrusting people like Hubert and Claude, because again I don't think Edelgard is inherently untrusting) is a feature, not a bug. Edelgard feels so betrayed in Silver Snow not just because her house has left her and she trusted them but because her teacher has turned against her and taken the house with her, an echo of what happened to her father.

It's just. They have very different situations going on, lol? Silver Snow is less a commentary on how people leave Edelgard and more an expansion on the recruitment function--people will, when push comes to shove, chose the bond they've cultivated with Byleth over the bond with their Lord. Without this interference, Edelgard doesn't lose any of her people. They're loyal.

And yes, that includes Ferdinand, lmao.

Each house leader deals with dissent in a different way. Edelgard ignores it, Dimitri tries to placate it, and Claude engages with it. Edelgard and Ferdinand's arc is about him learning to stop comparing himself to her because she is his better; not in their current world, but the world she wants to create, a meritocracy. Her abilities surpass his and he grows to respect that. In Verdant Wind, when confronted on the bridge, he mentions how he feels like he's the only one who can properly advise Edelgard (likely in part to how he thinks Hubert isn't critical enough of her and does whatever serves her best).

He might disagree with her, but he believes it's his role to guide her, and frankly, it is, narratively. Edelgard doesn't show distrust of him because of what his father did, but rather, exasperation. She and Ferdinand may not be childhood friends, but they did grow up together, and she's been used to him doing this since they were children, as she mentions. Any doubt Ferdinand has about following Edelgard is less about his personal feelings for her, in my opinion, and more about what he's supposed to do as someone in his role. "Do I support her as the son of the prime minister?" Not Edelgard as Ferdinand, but an Emperor and her future advisor.

[iturbide]

31 and 32 for the 3H ask game!

What is your favorite pre-timeskip character design or outfit?

I honestly really love Mercedes' pre-timeskip design, between her long hair with the striped bow and the shawl that captures the softness of her character, she just has such a charming design that really stands out among the cast of students.

What is your favorite post-timeskip character design or outfit?

Dorothea. In spite of the metal on skin and the essentially open back, I absolutely love the red, black, and silver color palette and just her outfit overall. I also really like how dark the color scheme is, overall, which I think provides a nice hint at her post-timeskip mental state.

(also honorable mention to the fact that all the Golden Deer together basically make a rainbow, I love seeing them on the screen together)

50 Questions for FE3H

[neriyon]

I've kinda wanted to talk a little about other ocs so this should be nice for that. Opinions will be only about Hawu'li, bc listing all ffxiv ocs would make this even longer than it already is.

Doctor Riri (Arknights Doctor oc) - Probably yeah? Riri is way more overworked and tired than Hawu'li but I feel like he'd like how this weird feline would do his best to cheer him up. Maybe they can take a nap together and exchange tips on how to keep their tails nice and fluffy. Or maybe Riri can give Hawu'li some tactical tips for his next primal fight.

Seele (Arknights oc, Riri's close friend/bodyguard) - Absolutely! Seele might be completely mute but he wouldn't mind listening to Hawu'li talk. They both like similar stuff and would eat snacks together. Hawu'li might get tiiiiny bit intimidated seeing tiny "hyur" (Seele's like, barely 150cm) beat things up with just his fists but he's seen enough lala monks to not question it too much.

Enli (yup, another Arknight's oc, also friend/bodyguard) - Kinda, but Enli needs to take some breaks from this "feline who talks non-stop". Hawu'li would also pester the poor man for treats continously if he ever learned about the lateran desserts, and possibly be really, really curious because it's not like you meet angels every day on Eorzea.

Kuroto Hirose (originally Bleach oc, later adapted to general oc) - Hawu'li is actually kinda really vaguely based on Kuro so I'd say they'd do well together. Both have strong morals and want to help/protect others, and both have jobs that consist of travelling and dealing with various threads (WoL / shinigami respectively). Kuro is a lot calmer and they both come from very different backgrounds (Kuro having an aristocrat upbringing), but I think they'd befriend eachother quickly and like, watch movies together while talking about their interests. Or about keeping their companions out of trouble (Kuro's bf is a bit of a troublemaker) They are also both tied to "light" element.

Kohaku Sakurai (another Bleach oc, yay) - I honestly would never wish for anyone who values their life and sanity to meet Kohaku. That man can and will make you into research project if you show literally anything that gets him interested. He'd lock Hawu'li up somewhere and do endless testing on Echo, Hydaelyn's blessing and various other things. Hawu'li would be so afraid of him and just bolt it out of there the second Kohaku get's his caffeine crash.

Bonus: Kuro's zanpakuto spirit Tsukiakari - he'd hit on Hawu'li so hard, get frustraited with this cat's denseness and just flat out kiss him. They are also both purple

[randomnameless]

If I may,

There is a civil war in Adrestia, or at least an uprising, it's basically the plot of Silver Snow (without civilians... so is it really a Civil War?), a bunch of nobles rebel against Supreme Leader, side with a third party, and then return to Adrestia to get rid of her.

Now, as for Adrestia in itself proper...

Doylist wise : it's because the devs never gave a fuck about it, because the Empire is just designed as this old decadent thing Supreme Leader rules over to conquer Fodlan.

Watsonian wise : It's never explained, but Nopes highlights the issue pretty well about the former nobles siding with Supreme Leader... and some who don't.

Ludwig (Aegir sr) even wonders, in his last moments in SB, why were Leopold and Waldemar given the chance and opportunity to join her side in her Fodlan conquest, but he wasn't given the same opportunity, even if Leopold and Waldemar sided with him during the Insurrection to depose Ionius.

Hell Varley, who was close to Aegir (so close that they planned to marry their heirs!) was spared and still had a role to play in Supreme Leader's Adrestia, when Aegir was jailed/executed (just like Vestra Sr!).

Is it because of the experiments? And yet, in FE16, Supreme Leader accuses Aegir and his "gaggle" of nobles, which would of course include Leopold, Waldemar and Grégoire!

Why do Bergliez, Hevring and Varley get a pass and a chance to side with her, but Vestra and Aegir are put down?

The only difference from FE16 is Varley - he is put under House arrest in FE16 since there's no Southern church subplot - so with this in mind, I could have seen some subplot where Aegir Sr tries to raise an army, but for all of the reasons @fantasyinvader invader mentionned, it wouldn't have been successful.

Bear in mind Hubert also does his "Hubert quotes" threatening to target "loved ones" when a BE peep fights against him, so with this, Leopold being in charge of the army and being as corrupt and as much of a weatherwane as Acheron himself, civilians being conscripted/starving in Adrestia and Agarthans running free (+ whatever happens to make people turn into Crest Beasts) if there would be a civil war in Adrestia I'd just see it as some rebellion/guerilla thing, but to raise an army within Adrestia?

Mmh... Tough chance.

That's why the ones who want to "rebel" leave Adrestia to join someone else to fight against her, iirc, wasn't SS called in japan the "Empire route", aka, Adrestia's route?

Sure, it's Billy's route, but in the end, it's the one where Adrestians revolt and rebel against Supreme Leader, and are assisted by the Church.

@maelor321

There's an answer for that, and it ties into how Edelgard is supposed to be a tyrant.

Edelgard convinced Count Bergliez to join her, under the promise of awarding him control over the Alliance territories according to Flower. As Minister of Military Affairs, Caspapa is said to control all armies in the Empire that are not under the direct control of the Emperor and is said to be a man who inspires great loyalty in his troops. As such, the armies that the other nobles may have could turn on them when he says to join Edelgard. From what we know, Edelgard was able to bring the corrupt nobility of the Empire to heel (minus Caspapa) likely because of this, and from there arrested any who didn't support her, stripping them of their power, lands and titles while telling the rest they can keep theirs if they support her. And, of course, the commoners are conscripted to fight with those who resist put to death.

This is what the devs her path leading to hadou, the path of supremacy or military rule, means.

We also have Hubert doing Hubert things, having even people Edelgard says to spare assassinated in his supports. This continues on into his endings, where he's said to put down any threat to her from the shadows which the Englist team translated as him putting down rebellions post-war.

It's noted though that this isn't enough to maintain order over all of Fodlan. Edelgard pledges to continue to work with Thales post-war until things calm down, that conversation hinting at something that was actually downplayed in the translation. Post-war, according to Caspar's endings, the Imperial army begins military expeditions which means (since the military is very precise with it's wording) they are conducting missions in those countries. It's considered a form of invasion, and what's worse is that the Japanese doesn't say they are "sometimes reckless" like the English does. It's "often out of control." And circling back to TWSITD for a second, the Byleth/Constance ending reveals that they pilfer Agarthan magic techniques (aka blood Magic) and technologies during the shadow war and use it to maintain the "peace" of Edelgard's rule. Meanwhile, the Empire takes over the Church of Seiros, restoring it in such a manner that Mercedes refuses to join it (instead, she looks after those hurt by the war in defiance of Edelgard's ideals). And then there's the propaganda.

Edelgard's path isn't the hardest outside of ignoring the red flags. She just says it is.

[kharla-k]

Ulpianus and Path of Life is really interesting, fascinating to me, among several reasons, but specifically detailing here is because despite being one of if not the most ardent supporters and defenders of Aegir; he cannot trust it, and so too can it not trust him.

Almost all of the confrontations Ulpianus has with the cast of Stultifera Navis and Path of Life have been fraught with tension and cold glances. Despite being members of the same military, the same army that barely emerged from a slaughtering alive, Gladiia severely mistrusts him. And, from her perspective, for good reason; she can make a difference, her and her comrades with their overwhelming physical strength. Being told to not assist Aegir as it sinks is just being told to let it die, and he can't explain to her that Aegir itself needs to be held at an arm's length.

He's essentially an open criminal that's to be arrested on sight in Milliarium, and only barely gets away with this because he leverages and burns the trust, however limited, that he built with Secunda and Gladiia, but the interaction with the former ends with a threat...

...And the latter with coming to blows.

Unfortunately this situation will only worsen as his approach to finding answers become more desperate and depraved, embracing the seaborn more and more to find answers, to find some path forward.

I can only hope and trust that his overwhelming determination and conviction can continue to guide him through such a veritable maelstrom of peril.

[totallynotsarkaz]

I’m so curious about what Skadi’s regular job is but I can’t read the new event! Is she just a regular mechanic or is it something specific?

short answer, not your regular mechanic, but this! this damn orca is a top engineer/technician that maintain an entire city's lights just by herself. isn't that so cool!!?

long answer :

From recent Aegir event, said by Skadi herselfー

"Back then, I was indeed the best engineer of the Infrastructure Management Department, and I can take care of a whole city's underwater lighting system by myself alone."

while her daily casual life as one is further explained in her IS3 Memory #3ー

Skadi works alone on the lights installed on the seabed, far away from the cities. Thanks to the help of Ægir equipment, she is able to maintain the ones in this entire area by herself. As long as the reliable array remains undamaged, she can lie down in her mobile habitation unit, listening and singing along to her favorite song. This leisurely life will last as long as she wants, as long as she submits regular reports on her weekly resupply trips back to the city. Skadi does not think too much about anything else. She does not have to worry about money, about socializing, about her health. What is there to worry about?

[cotharach]

🎄"Flayn! you must be wary, there have been mistletoe laid out like traps as of late!" Ferdinand came prancing in, looking about the hallway with comical wariness. "I can only imagine what Professor Seteth must be feeling right now... a delicate young woman such as yourself is so susceptible to the trappings of festive romance!" while he was vaguely aware that Seteth's protectiveness (respectfully) bordered on stifling, Ferdinand couldn't help but be presumptuous himself.

"i've been getting better at spotting them. my eagle eyes can see one right there!" he rolled his wrist dramatically before pointing out a set of speckling reds and leafy green hung from the roof. "and there!" pointing at the pillar, he paused for a moment for enhanced gravitas. "...behind the pillar, of course."

"i certainly won't take them down, since it's all in good fun, but..." they walked and talked, letting the faint sun fold beams of light between the hallway pillars. their silhouettes followed playfully along, trailing together under the scarce winter sun. "oh, let's not walk there, lest you wish for..." oh, nevermind. he was going to manifest it at this rate.

"have you been having fun this holiday? mistletoe aside, aren't all the celebrations so endearing?" his laughter jingled. "i've been up baking treats to complement holiday tea-sets, so i may be considerably more sweet, ha h--"

a roudy group of students thundered towards them, holding up lines of streamers and Seiros banners. loud, clamorous laughter erupted from their group, as they bullheaded their way down the hall. "look where you all are--!" he didn't even get a chance to finish his sentence, before Ferdinand dodged their ongoing mob, Flayn in his arms. "agh! those utter buffoons..."

he nearly broke into the bushes, but forcefully stomped a foot down before his face met branches. "Flayn...! Flayn, are you alright?"

there was a mistletoe he missed, snagged on some lace that 1) he had laid down earlier on some bushes 2) definitely did NOT have mistletoe earlier.

mistletoe! (accepting)

Laughter comes out of her mouth gently, like the twinkling of a chime. Half-amused, half-huffy—she does not think there could be a man quite as protective as her brother, yet here the Aegir finest is, acting like a wonderful contender. She would prefer her companions not to mimic Seteth's ways, but admits that it feels somewhat endearing coming from him. He had a sincere quality that she believes she can trust.

"Worry not, Ferdinand. I have my own ways of circumventing these mistletoe traps that you speak of." she says, referring to the pack of sun-dried fish in her pocket.

"Still, I am appreciative of these eagle eyes of yours." she means it sincerely, following his lead as he steers them clear from the mistletoe, "Perhaps it would please my brother to know that I am in the company of such a polite young man!"

That is her hope, at least. Though she knows that the more likely scenario involves fewer pleasantries and more arduous talks. Still, Ferdinand has been acting very kindly thus far—were this an opera, he would surely be the knight, and she would be the damsel under his care. Surely even Seteth could approve of his noble sentiments?

"I have been enjoying myself, yes!" she answers as she continues to trot beside him, eyes cast up toward him and away from the walkway. Her first mistake. "A holiday tea set sounds most intriguing... if you should need some help with the baking, perhaps I could extend—Ah!"

It's a scene that happens all too quickly—a veritable flood of students flush out the walkway, stampeding the grounds. Ferdinand maneuvers himself out of their way... and takes Flayn in his arms as he does.

...Oh

She can hear the way his heartbeat races—or was that her own? She cannot tell the difference. Never has she found herself so close to someone before, enough that she would mistake them for herself. It's a feeling most strange... yet not uninvited.

They find themselves amongst the bushes, knees sunk into the leaves. Flayn, in her shock, does not answer Ferdinand immediately, instead taking a few more moments to bask in his arms.

Her second mistake. Goddess... perhaps she ought to take a long bath after this.

"I am quite alright, Ferdinand. You..." she is breathless when she finally speaks, lacking her normal eloquence, "You saved me! You truly have sharp senses. I do not know how I could possibly thank you! Or... perhaps I do."

Shifting her position, she wriggles about in search for her usual fare of dried fish—only to find they have fallen out of her pockets the midst of their... ah, tussle. Flayn searches for them, on the ground, within the bushes, but finds only the very mistletoe they had worked so hard to escape.

She might have laughed, had she not already been so out of breath.

"Oh, how unfortunate. I had so hoped to give you some fish! But it seems to have been displaced during that whole fiasco. Perhaps I should..." Green eyes look up at Ferdinand, then back to the mistletoe, then back up to Ferdinand. She purses her lips, finding it strange how they tremble so terribly.

No... No! Her mind shall not be home to such thoughts—not until she is sufficiently distanced from her brother, that is. Extracting herself from Ferdinand (with a small prick of disappointment), Flayn rises to her feet, brushes away the leaves at her skirt, and gives the young noble a smile—hoping that he would ignore the furious shade of red that her face now sports.

"No, nevermind! I shall simply have to repay you some other time. Thank you for walking with me, Ferdinand. I shall be on my way to class, now. Best of luck with your endeavors! Farewell! Good-bye! Ta-ta!"

Then, Flayn walks away, the pace of a speeding horse powering her boots. Her heart has not yet eased its racing, nor has the stubborn warmth from her face left its spot on her cheeks. If she manages to fall asleep tonight, perhaps she would dream of an opera—with a sunset-haired knight and his green-haired damsel.

[randomnameless]

Rewatching Shez's supports with Edelgard, it kind of irritates me that Edelgard looks upset after Shez points out that the average farmer probably hates her for the war. Like, ma'am you knew this would lead to mass death and a lot of people not being fans of yours, and considering Hubert also points out the Edel's policies are meant to benefit nobles who give her money and troops and keep down the commonfolk, she shouldn't be surprised by this answer. Shez even softens the comment by saying "you must have a good reason" but it's like Edelgard can't handle hearing any kind of real criticism from people she respects (or claims to). I think it's another player-pandering thing, can't have the Lord be mad at you, but it just makes Edelgard look like a thin-skinned whiner who can't handle the harsh criticisms that her actions are going to bring her. At least when she went on about "her path of blood and death" in 3 Houses she seemed to have some sense of "yeah people will hate my guts." Idk it probably comes down to the developers being scared to have someone truly criticize Edelgard without pushback.

That supports irks me for other reasons lol, basically the fact that Barney points out how water is wet (something Supreme Sailor Fuku apparently missed, as you noticed) but within 1 convo they completely drop that plot line and get along with her plans because, eggtivation means that someone as bland as Barney - who could represent common sense - must also be drowned under liters of Hresvelg Grey.

Imo, it's not "your lord cannot be mad at you", but again and again with the Fodlan games, "no one can be mad at Supreme Leader, not even you(r self insert character)".

FWIW, FEH got her writing right - faced with contradictions and criticism, Supreme Leader ragingly storms out of a conversation when the characters aren't from Fodlan and thus cannot be eggtivated (or when the Fodlan team isn't writing them?).

Given how her Nopes' Big B's support basically has her say "you're either with me or against me", no wonder why criticism, at least in Nopes, is something unknown for her, hell, Ferdie must behead his father to demonstrate times after times that he and House Aegir aren't her enemies - in a way, even with the twist they added (let's ally with those icky disgusting beasts to get rid of uncle, and THEN we will free Fodlan from their scaly grasp!) Nopes wrote Supreme Leader to be even more uncompromising and more bull-headed than ever, if in Houses she had a modicum of self-awareness (she's still the Adrestian Emperor though!), in Nopes it's written away.

[coffehbeans]

For you Sinking Ships stiry world, after reading your lore tidbits, do mers from different seas have different like physical appearance?

Hii thanks for the ask!

They do! Tbh I don't have a clear idea of how they'll look like yet (only a few personality ideas for three of the heirs) but I want to make their appearance based on local marine life found in that specific sea. And that applies to their culture and society too, maybe some inspiration from the countries around those seas? I have so many ideas but nothing is really defined x,D

But I'll definitely make more content for the mers in the future, so look forward to that!

[civilight-eterna]

OOOOOH.. any of the hunters + irene breeding kink for request

(because you're a goated polyshipper like me...you get laurentina/irene/skadi sandwich. love and kisses)

...

Perhaps Irene's time with the Abyssal Hunters had neutered her fears in a way that others had not experienced. She has always been one to speak her mind in the first place, and when she observes-on multiple occasions!-Skadi dismissing herself from a talk with Laurentina the moment Irene arrives, she begins to wonder at it. Laurentina's musical giggles and the barely-masked scowl it incurs from Skadi sit Irene with the all-too-familiar sense of having things unsaid about oneself in thinly-veiled secret.

She's been singled out before, during her studies. She should be used to it.

But perhaps, she expected a little better of her newer peers.

So she steels her resolve and confronts her directly, on a whim, in the corridor.

"Skadi. You have been avoiding me, and I would very much like to know why."

"I've been avoiding you because I want to get you pregnant."

A beat.

"E-Excuse me!?"

This time, Laurentina is the one to excuse herself. She grins and hoists the hem of her skirt with a sweeping curtsy and a mirthful smile, dipping around from Skadi as she exits the conversation-

Or at least, she tries.

"Y-You! You stay put-you're, you owe me some explanations too-" Irene fumes, her face burning hot, still reeling from Skadi's blunt remark.

"Oh my, such an aggressive little birdie today. But I don't think staying would be very wise of me-"

Irene did not think it possible for Skadi's face to ever entertain an expression that could plead for mercy. And yet, that is exactly how she looked as she turned her gaze to Laurentina with haste.

"Please."

It takes Irene aback to see her ask so plainly, even though saying things plainly is what she knows her for.

Laurentina smiles and acquiesces, much to Skadi's visible relief.

"Then let's take this conversation somewhere more private, shall we?"

...

"-It's something of a leftover gene with our less-Aegir side. It's quite troublesome, especially for a certain Orca that says things as she thinks of them." Laurentina finishes the explanation, mercifully succinct, and without too much teasing.

"It's frustrating," Skadi's voice is tense, cutting in sharply, "I don't even have the anatomy to make it happen. But it aches all the same."

"...I see." Irene wonders whether it was the best idea to have this conversation in Skadi's room, in full view of the bed.

Not out of any concern that something would-happen. She just thinks-

How awful it is, to be without control over one's body. How painful, to have to resist those urges, to constantly expend energy in such a way.

And...

How flattering, that all this time, what she'd mistaken for being made fun of in secret had turned out to be admiration, even if it were only because of some physiological response.

What should she even suggest?

"Is there nothing I can do to help?..."

Irene doesn't realize she's wondered it out loud until she glances up and sees Laurentina hide a smile behind her hand.

"Or-I mean!" Irene's face warms instantly as Skadi regards her, "It-doesn't need to be me, if you don't want-"

"I do."

"Excuse me?"

"I am attracted to you. You bled two weeks ago. You're fertile-"

"H-H-How do you-?!"

"Sharks can tell." Skadi answers her outburst calmly. Laurentina's smile is wider, if a little guiltier for it. "And-"

"I-I'm-" Irene's mind reels, feeling like she's reacting to each point in halved time. She doesn't even have the chance to be outraged or indignant-it's all just shock.

Skadi closes in, her presence slow and calm, like she's come to some determinations about her in the last few minutes on her own.

"-Willing. Aren't you?"

Skadi's hand closes around one of Irene's, and she brings the back of it against her mouth.

Irene has been aware of her shorter stature for some time. In general, but especially compared to her new colleagues. She beholds Skadi with quietened awe, the sleek angles of her cheekbones, the texture of her lips against her fingers, the velvet-steel look in her eyes.

"Y...Ye...s."

"But I would break you apart." Skadi says seriously, "Even without something to put inside of your-"

"Aa-ah-! I get-I get the jist!"

I'll die if I hear another word of this!

Laurentina, her fingers curled beneath her chin, tilts her head and shares her musings.

"Suppose you just...went through the motions until you were satisfied? I could help."

"Help how?" Skadi's brow furrows.

"Relax, no need to be so territorial! You said as much yourself-you'd break her apart. If I were beneath her, to counterbalance you, you should be able to really cut loose."

"I wasn't being-"

"I know. But it's cute when you get flustered. Right, little birdie?"

"I-It's no laughing matter. Skadi is in considerable pain, no? And this is-"

-Sacrilege, if the church ever caught wind of this arrangement-

"-fine with me. I just want you..."

Irene trails off, glances up into Skadi's eyes. Back down again.

"...to feel better."

...

It's not wrong to help someone who is hurting. Surely, there were-contingencies, for this sort of thing.

Irene knows very well there are not.

But there should be. It's not the church's fault they had no way to conceive of all of the ways in which her people might suffer, when the scriptures were written.

She rapidly realizes that there is absolutely no justification she could offer, to herself or any higher power, for as to why she agreed to be held down against Laurentina's supine form as Skadi doubles over her and grinds, hard, between her legs.

But she soon becomes more concerned with more mortal matters.

All of Skadi's weight is anchored into her hips, and she ruts into Irene through their clothes like she's chasing her very bones. Laurentina writhes beneath her, rolling her between them, easing the worst of the pressure, but the sensation is suffocating.

Her hands scramble for Skadi's shoulders, and she can feel Laurentina's thighs pressing into her backside as she cocoons her with her body.

"Hhhah, you're close?" Laurentina coos, and Skadi groans into Irene's neck, closing her between them like a vise-

My...ribs are going to crack, Irene thinks numbly, and her head dips back over Laurentina's shoulder as a strangled cry rumbles out of her chest, She's going to break every bone in my body, if this keeps up-

Skadi's hand clutches her suddenly beneath the knee, hiking it up as she grinds closer, harder than before.

"S-Skadi, you're, g-going to kill me-!"

Those must have been the magic words, because Skadi's voice pitches and her entire body shudders, rolling with the aftershocks as she slumps over Irene, breathing hard. Something in her was sated, Irene can tell that much.

She's breathing hard too. There's a little too much humidity between her legs to all be sweat, and she pants, desperately-

"-It's, it's hot-"

"Take these off next time then." Skadi's voice is slightly muffled over her shoulder. She doesn't move a muscle.

"N-Next time?!"

"Mmhm."

Laurentina's hands are drifting, silky-soft, beneath her skirt, pressing and poking at her thighs.

"Oh, see." She hums as Irene winces, "I don't even have to see here to know that she's all bruised up."

Irene whimpers, and Skadi nuzzles her, just below her ear.

"...Sorry. Really."

"D-Don't worry. Just save your strength."

"Mmhm."

It's funny. Irene thinks. Anyone else, I would expect to say something about the obvious divide in our abilities, would point out how strange it is for someone like me to tell her what to do. But she doesn't sound disingenuous at all.

"You too, brave little birdie." Laurentina's legs tremble beneath hers, and she takes a shivering breath that makes Irene wonder how she managed to take on everything at once. "Not even my finest clay can withstand such pressure-you're truly a resilient medium of your own right." Laurentina's dexterous fingers slide up around Irene's shoulders, gently kneading them, releasing tension, "That being said, you'd probably appreciate a slightly...softer touch? I promise I'll be careful with you while Skadi sleeps it off."

Irene sighs, tilting her neck into the touch.

She has nothing to say for Skadi having fallen asleep already-she'll be joining her soon.

[astranauticus]

stultifera navis rerun AKA thinking about Iberia hours again because a lot of the Iberians have such fascinating relationships with the concept of home but specifically Thorns and Lumen are eating at my brain. like where do you call home when the place that is your home Just Fucking Hates You? Elysium's rewinding breeze specifically makes a point to hammers home how differently Iberia treats its Liberi and its Aegir

(which is especially interesting since this comes right after a conversation where Purestream commented on how despite Leizi being a high ranking government official, there are still some experiences that are universal for all Yanese people - because the experience of what Iberia itself is like isnt universal for all Iberians)

But all that being said, Thorns also straight up states that Aegir is not his home, and yeah, how could it be? How could a place you've never been to, never truly known, ever be your home? How could it ever feel like a home?

so where do you go when the place that you are from hates your people and the place your people are from is completely unfamiliar and alien to you? Thorns' answer at the end of the conversation with Aya is: my home is where i chose it to be. my home is where there are people I care about and people who care about me

in the complete opposite direction, Lumen's oprec asks: why do you still stay in a place that wants you gone? because the people of Gran Faro like Jordi well enough but when push comes to shove, they will want the only Aegir in town gone

and yet, when Rald the messenger offers him a chance to leave Jordi turns him down and when he's forced to escape Gran Faro after the people there literally try to send him to his death (or worse) at the hands of the Inquisitors he keeps trying to go back because like everyone in stultifera navis, Jordi is clinging to his own dreams of a golden age

but the shape of that dream is unique to every character and for Jordi, his dreams are deeply, inseparably bound to the Eye of Iberia, the legacy his parents left behind

and it's this dream of becoming someone great, of bringing about that golden age that his parents devoted their lives to help create that ties Jordi to this nothing town because despite everything, despite the mistrust of the townsfolk and the hostility of the Inquisition and the danger from the ocean, he simply cannot leave it behind

(or, because i personally dislike the official translation,)

"I just see this place as my home"

so yeah. not sure what overall point i was trying to make here i'm just. deeply in love with these stories about chosing what is and isn't your home, of saying you will not call a place your home because it has given you no reason to or saying you consider a place your home even though it has given you every reason not to. deeply unwell about them <3

[rafent]

as the festivities swept across Garreg Mach, the Black Eagles' finest noble found himself partaking in a time-honored tradition—one that celebrates the warmth of camraderie and the strengthening of bonds. it was a moment to reflect on the journey thus far, the barriers overcome, and the converging paths that took them towards a single star.

"Professor Rafal, good day to you! may the starlight shine over you." Ferdinand caught up to him, a skip to his step as he finally caught him after combing meticulously through the halls. just beyond the pillared halls, snow piled up like admiration. "thank you. It isn't often that a man of your caliber takes such care in teaching us how to handle an axe. do you know, I practice thrice as hard because I resonate with your refined blade-hand and the core strength you exact on the field. I am glad we are on the same side."

"in the meantime, I, Ferdinand Von Aegir, come not as your student, but as a festive envoy. I thought of you as I prepared this gift, down to the very last detail."

inside, he will find a wrapped bag filled with sugared chestnuts and vanilla dipped cocoa beans. a fabric yuzu flower was attached by the stem with decadant lace, all handpicked by yours truly. "may you have a lovely Yuletide! the year may be coming to a close, but I am gladdened by the fact I will see you in the upcoming year, too."

Whatever joys that humankind might purpose from the garish exhibitions of decorations and behaviors were little understood by the dragon. One unable to attach any of their same exuberant fondness to the winter season and—most notably—to its crowning event. Yuletide, a word spun tall and wide with few ears unhearing and even fewer eyes deemed unseeing, Rafal curved a frown as he skirted another conspicuously Mistletoe-hung doorway strung in its name. The masses truly did not let up in their sea of foolish preoccupations. Even so, perhaps time would tell of an outlier; an island; a head not quite as misguided as the rest.

Curious notice of an incoming 'festive envoy' paved way to more. Appetizing confections paired with appealing visuals meant that even a critical eye as Rafal's found much to its appreciation. A fact heartily relayed in both his puffed chest and the imperious slew of its pushed out words.

"A gift in tandem with thanks? Well! I see you are one who grasps the proper way of conveying one's regard. How refreshing." —and deserving. That the other's lavish gratitude for his talents numbered among the first of its kind was surely blasphemy for such a commendable purveyor! He nodded, whether directed at the young man or to himself an answer little clear. "Words are one matter, but your meticulous offerings speak of true substance. If the spirit of festivity has compelled you to produce them, then I suppose not everything of this Yuletide is so disagreeable."

Ferdinand Von Aegir. The avid nature of the particular student before him wasn't wont to go unnoticed, but Rafal had undoubtedly overlooked his rare quality of character until now - that which helped one to identify the people supremely worth appreciating.

No less than proper acknowledgement was in order. "I believe I shall remember your fine selection, Ferdinand Von Aegir. To savor all the details you have perfected is only natural. And a happy Yuletide to you also—know that I do not say so lightly."