#Atsalí cotw

[piece-of-cheese]

I’ve been re-reading a bunch of manga chapters because of the ReverseAU I’m writing and I just remembered something I have noticed before.

It is no secret that I really like Atsalí as a character, so I really have to point out something about his character design which I really like!

Upon closer inspection, it is visible that Atsalí‘s eyes are rather fragmented. They don’t look like how Abi Umeda usually draws eyes, at least. Now, considering that Atsalí has a strange warped and metal-like sound to his voice when he speaks, which is a side effect of excessive Sárka consumption, it can be assumed that his eyes are also a symptom of that. And I really do think that is the case, but there is another reason aside from the world building aspect that I like about them.

Before the Empire was destroyed, Atsalí is established as this rather important political figure in the Empire. As the General-Governor, he is closer to the Emperor than most. Despite that, he does not follow all of the rules dictated by their system. As we are told by Orca, he distributes Sárka to family beyond third degree relation, which is illegal. Aside from when it harms his own family, he does not seem to rebel against the system —or find loopholes— at all (at least before the Emperor decides to sink the country.)

It’s because he is very much aware that he is a privileged member of society, so even though he actively disregards one of the rules set by the Empire, he does not stop to think longer about how their system might be flawed. Because, for the most part, he and his family are comfortable. He obviously has the smarts to know that something isn’t quite right about the way they live, as we see some small signs of it (like recognising that the quality of life is dropping in the Empire for the people of the lower classes) but he does purposefully turn a blind eye to those things. He does not realise that by turning himself blind to the bigger issues and even playing into the system will end up harming his family in the long run, instead of securing them a place in the sun.

So, essentially, I really like how the character who purposefully turns away and „blinds himself“ in order not to have to look at the Empire‘s bigger flaws for his own benefit has these fragmented eyes that look like they would be hazy to see out of. Eyes that he has because he consumes something his status allows him to have excessively.

[piece-of-cheese]

In honour of this meme by @commander-orca, which (I’m assuming) is about two years old now:

It continues:

[piece-of-cheese]

Hello COTW fandom, guess who wrote over 12k words?

It's me!

Writing over 12k words for a niche fandom with two characters in the focus which aren't even all that popular? Absolutely! Even if it's just for my own personal entertainment.

Maybe someone here can enjoy it.

The main focus of this fic is exploring a potential friendship between Kalamári and Atsalí, but it also includes some Itia, Orca and Kannavi related feelings. Also, grief.