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pepsiiwho · 3 days ago

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THE PENULTIMATE CASSDEL POST

Okay. I’ve been talking endlessly about this ship so I felt it was only right to do an in depth breakdown of why this ship is better than any other— ever— and should compel you as much as it does me.

Some slight warnings for below: (mildly) toxic relationship dynamics, self hate, passive suicidal ideation, (very very mild) ship bashing in regards to Junahdel, canon compliant racism, complicated difficult people living complicated difficult lives

If you read nothing else in this massive post, read this:

“CassDel” is the ship of my OC, Cassius Ethoka, and Metaphor Refantazio’s Fidelio Magnus. If you look for ships where two flawed people who deem themselves past redemption or happiness find just that in each other, you’re in the right place. If you look for a slow burn where one falls first (Cass) but the other falls harder (Fidelio), then you’re in the right place. If you like extreme height differences (her 6’3 to his 5’), you’re in the right place. If you love fake-dating relationships and undercover romances, you’re in the right place. If you love office romance and coworker drama, you’re in the right place. If you wanted more Mustari rep in the game (and honestly, who didn’t—) you’re in the right place. If you love hot girls with scars and problems, you’re in the right place. If you look at Fidelio Magnus and want him to be loved and cherished, regardless of his disability, personality and general moral failings— you’re in the right place.

And this, is the pitch:

“CassDel” is the ship between the stoic, Mustari assassin ‘Cassius Ethoka’ and the pragmatic, Paripus trusted general ‘Fidelio Magnus’. Cassius and Fidelio are coworkers, sporadically meeting aboard Louis’ gauntlet runner over the course of 3 years. In the time since their first meeting, their tepid working relationship continues to sour with each subsequent interaction and Fidelio finds himself hating the woman more and more with every moment spent in her company. Miraculously, though no one knows this, Cassius doesn’t hate Fidelio at all. Worse, she totally loves him. Shit.

Well. If that didn't scare you off, keep reading.

BUT WAIT, WHO IS SHE?

Cassius Ethoka is a disinterested assassin for hire working as a contractor under Louis’ banner. Unlike the Magnus brothers, Zorba and any other of the accompanying men rallying under Louis, she offers no fealty to him nor wears his colors or emblems, but does work to further his efforts in the kingdom. She works primarily with specific, hand picked targets; being given jobs by Louis and Zorba interchangeably. Because of her contractor status, she isn’t held to the same standard as anyone else on board, doesn’t live on board the Charadrius but similarly isn’t protected by Louis and his banner should problems arise (not that he’s protecting anyone anyway). So, should she be caught and something happen, Louis is ready and willing to deny any claim to her and the acts she’s committed.

On a hierarchical level, Cassius is above the general riff-raff of Louis’ army (soldiers, basic skilled workers) but below Louis and his cabinet (Magnus Brothers, Zorba). Junah and Glodell seem to be… little more than figures of entertainment to Louis, or at the very least they aren’t seemingly doing anything, so they aren’t on the list here. Louis has a few different contractors working for him, each doing different things that don’t pertain to Cass at all, but of all the contractors she is the closest to him (professionally) and is allowed the most freedom. She doesn’t answer to anyone but Louis, admittedly no one is trying to give her orders anyway, but technically if Zorba or the Brothers gave her an order she’d have to follow it.

Cassius works primarily in discretion, in regards to both critical/important targets (a very notable figure, a heavily armed figure, etc) for clientele and high body count jobs (10+ people to be targeted at once). She works not only to kill the targets but to keep her own involvement and especially her employer's involvement hidden (as assassins are known to do) and that takes time. She’s worked in the industry long enough and done enough that she’s not struggling to find work. She’s quite picky about the jobs she takes, so her work as of late has been considerably less ‘evil’ than it used to be.

What a normal “job” timeline looks like for Cassius goes as follows: The job is agreed upon and she sets out to begin her research and tracking. This varies depending on the target(s), but can take anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks. Any given job will be 70% tracking and prep compared to the relatively simple 30% killing. Her ideology in regards to her work is that, ideally, by the time she's making contact with any given target it's already too late. Such extensive planning and preparation is how she keeps unrelated casualties to a minimum. She spent years being sloppy, killing anyone in her way. She’d like to avoid doing that again if at all possible.

HER TEAM

Cassius works, physically, alone. She does the research on all targets and clients alone and takes it upon herself to keep as few hands in the pot as possible, to slim the chance for error. But, she can’t focus so entirely without some help in other more frivolous aspects of her life. Thankfully, she’s been lucky enough to find a perfect crew of three highly competent craftsmen:

Adoration “Dora” Bell, an albino Paripus serving as the gauntlet runner’s driver and crew’s in-house doctor. Dora grew up with Cassius and has been with her the longest, and considers themself to be her closest confidant. Cassius thinks of them as a younger sibling and the only reason she’s kept herself alive this long. They’re incredibly territorial of most things: the runner, the cockpit, their tools- their Cassie- it’s just their nature. Their relationship mimics that of Fidelio and Basilio.

Becquerel “Que” Lance (@penismansupreme), a Paripus engineer serving as the gauntlet blacksmith and weapon master. Que creates all the specialized weapons Cassius commissions for her work and lives on board part time out of the year on a lease of exclusivity. He gets to travel and see the world and Cassius gets expedited orders. Win-Win. Blows something up on board once a week, at least, and keeps things lively onboard as the beating heart of the group.

Cairos “Cai” Mercator (@quill-and-paper-cranes), a half Paripus/half Ishkia tailor serving as the crew’s seamster and designated ‘normal one’. Cai originally worked under Louis’ banner in the lower rungs with the rest of the army men. Where they fought, he fixed. After putting up with a years worth of abuse from his superiors, coworkers and surrounding soldiers, Cai found himself disillusioned with the dream Louis sold to the men behind him. Because of his skill Cassius finds him and they begin working together.

But enough of that. I know what you really want.

THE ROMANCE

So, let me preface this by saying you can— of course— ship anything you want. You don’t need a good reason to like something or find something particularly compelling. Yada yada yada.

Junah and Fidelio as a ship doesn’t work for a few reasons. The biggest being the fact, in a weird twist of fate, they’re too similar and, as I see it, their relationship falls into a nasty feedback loop. Here's what happens.

For Fidelio, because he adores Junah and idolizes her, doesn’t tell Junah how he feels > Junah will then, eventually, overstep and upset him (consciously or not) > Then in response he, rightfully, begins to resent her and hold this slight against her (consciously or not) > Fidelio then gets mad at himself for even caring and remembers he will never get better then Junah and doesn’t deserve her in the first place (doesn’t deserve anything good even) > He can’t mess up a good thing so, because he adores Junah and idolizes her, doesn’t tell Junah how he feels > rinse and repeat to infinity.

For Junah, because she wants to connect with Fidelio, she shares the depths of her issues/trauma > Fidelio, trying to relate to her, attempts to console her in a way that helped him; that of ‘you went through shit, move on’ (unknowingly undermining her feelings and trivializing her feelings) > He comes off as dismissive and Junah is hurt and begins to resent him, not wanting to share anything anymore > Naturally, she begins to wear her perfect mask since he can’t handle her true self and manipulates him (consciously or not) > This makes her feel guilty and she decides to try, again, to connect with Fidelio by sharing the depths of her issues and trauma > rinse and repeat to infinity.

On a personal level, I feel that any relationship with someone who readily manipulates your feelings on purpose to elicit a reaction in their favor is no relationship you’d wanna be into. I love Fidelio more than Junah so as such I don’t want to see him going through that. I also don’t think Junah sees Fidelio as anything more than, at best, a friend and at worst an especially sympathetic fan. She didn’t seem to really see him until his death. And in this world, he’s alive so she never had to deal with that. They still have to develop an equal relationship.

She can’t love him right, but he sure as hell can’t love her right either. It’s a lose lose. And they both deserve better.

I understand why Junah is the way she is with the brothers, and I think she’d be a worse character if she wasn’t manipulating them, but that doesn’t change the fact it makes ME sad.

Also, Fidleio’s feelings for Junah feel distinctly …. Unreachable. It feels like a celebrity crush you’d never get to act on or, maybe the sort of crush you have on a fictional character. She was never supposed to be reachable, never supposed to be someone to actually be loved by Fidelio.

Thats where Cassius comes in. She is everything Junah isn’t. She’s quiet and big and imposing and scary and not particularly pretty and doesn't sparkle or glitter or invoke anything past fear and discomfort. The only screams she hears are screams of fear not awe. She's never been wanted past a need for measured, pointed violence. If Junah is… everything, Cassius is no one.

But being no-one allows her to be human (hahaha). And that is far more obtainable and approachable.

I genuinely have too much thoughts about these two to reasonably condense it right now, I’m genuinely trying quite a lot and failing considerably but here we go.

Cassius is worn and weathered and has gone through the same things Fidelio has. In that, they understand each other. She's as morally bankrupt as he is, having hurt others to ensure the safety of her family. She’s lost everything, put herself second at all times for the continued prosperity of those around her. The only difference between their situations is that Fidelio got an out in the form of a lord; a cause to believe in— something to soothe his conscience. Cassius never got that lucky.

They both hate themselves, don’t value their lives past what they can do for the people around them. In each other they find a safe haven where they’re understood. They think similarly too— the past informs but doesn't need to define the future. Move on, get stronger and stop lingering in your weakness (is this healthy? No. is it theirs, yeah).

Unlike his current crush, Cassius doesn’t play emotional manipulation games. For one, she's toeing the line of functionally mute so she can’t play word games to twist Fidelio up. She's upfront and forward, clear and says what she means. She has neither the social graces nor interest in dancing around subjects. It’s remarkably refreshing once the hurt wears off. An early portion of their … courting dance… is her constantly reiterating a basic truth. She wants him.

That's the most compelling part of them, to me. Her want. I don't think it would be too OOC or far fetched to say that Fidelio is probably unwanted. He’s short, a product of his disability, he’s difficult and mean and emotionally constipated. Trauma aside, he’s not an easy guy to love. And she knows this and wants to anyway. Over and over and over again she constantly reiterates in plain common— “I want you. Problems and all. Everything about you makes you… you”. That unwavering reassurance never stops. He comes to love that about her, the easy access and truthfulness.

…… Also the, uh. The whole. Big sexy lady who can hold Fidelio like a teddy bear’ thing doesn’t hurt. Admittedly.

And that is the. long and short. Anything else has to be found by either asking me directly or reading their Fics. I hope to see you all there <3

#metaphor refantazio #fidelio magnus #the funnies #cassius ethoka #my art #oc x canon

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pepsiiwho · 11 days ago

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I've been making myself super sick at the thought of Fidelio and Cassius being active parents for the last like month, and I feel that my only recourse is to further examine their relationship to their children, lest I melt like the wicked witch under the scrutiny of Dorty’s probing little stare. So because they have so many fucking kids, it must be easy to loose track and sort of see them as little more then a collective; their little gaggle of kitties and puppies. So, ofc, I thought I would give them a family tradition of each parent spending a weekend with one child once a month, undisturbed, so they can keep in contact with their kids. What this looks like is, typically, Cassius will take the first weekend of the month and Fidelio the last (and vice versa, it varies). Considering there's 7 of them, it takes up most the year and merely repeats as needed, lmao. Here is a list of each child's preferred events with each parent, in order of oldest to youngest child. Enjoy insane indulgences.

Bernadette, Bernie, is the oldest daughter and by nature falls into the role of having to child-rear as she gets older. I refuse to let MY Cassius and MY Fidelio be the sort of parents to be so neglectful or so miserable they'd retroactively or openly parentify their young daughter and curse her with this gaggle of siblings to raise. But, even though they're doing their best and really are great parents, generally, the nature of having 7 children is that of having to let them self govern past a point. It's just an unavoidable evil. So our darling Bernie is left to care for the offshoots when a child is being given priority (sick, hurt, otherwise just more important in the moment) and she's usually happy to do so, as she knows it's just a given being the oldest.

(A conversation about the selfishness of two people who are so distinctly unfit to be parents having that many kids— especially mixed kids in the metaphor world of all places— can be had another day. For now, just enjoy the ooey-gooey yummies of happy family time)

But because her attention is always on her sisters + Teddy, she misses being the child. She hasn't been their 'littlest girl' in... A very long time, and any trip with her parents needs to allow her a chance to be young and irresponsible.

I, admittedly, don't know exactly what this looks like all the time.

I think Fidelio is really touchy about his darling Bernie and feels horrible more often than not for the responsibility he's forced on her shoulders. He remembers vividly what raising Basilio all alone was like: the isolation, the fear, the lack of privacy and the lack of self. She isn't a parent— not yet thank god— and isn't expected to be as responsible as Cass or Del, but the point still stands regardless. For his daughter to feel even a quarter of what he felt for all those years is a failure on his part and he hopes to remedy it when he can (the sentiment is shared and echoed by Cassius as well, ofc, as this is the nature of being orphans who had to raise someone else at too young an age).

Fidelio wants nothing more than to let her be as stress free as possible. I think this shows itself by traveling to a different city for the weekend, their home in Altabury perhaps, and letting her just do whatever she wants in the snowy city. Go shopping for new pelts to fashion into a cloak or coat, one she won’t have to share with Lydia or hear Arabella bitching about? Of course darling, it’s yours. Buy the expensive sweets she usually can’t have because if it can’t be shared it isn’t worth the trouble? Whatever you want sweetness. That cooking class she couldn’t take because the triplets thought it would be boring and three against one is a fool's errand? Sounds like a great idea! A blank check and time being seen and heard and made a priority by her father is a gift and without fail the quiet but calm Bernie is left in tears at the consideration her father gives her…. He’d pluck the moon from the sky for her but thank GOD, she hasn’t asked for it yet.

And besides, he enjoys getting to get away from work with her, as his family is the only thing that can get him to walk away from work and the King’s never ending shit shows he has to audit and keep in line. He’s always there for her, of course of course OF COURSE— but having his undivided attention to share anything bothering her (most things) is delightful. She already feels very othered in her family— she looks like neither parent, sharing no features of note (no third eye, no Mustari traits period, no folded ears, no pink complexion, no caramel skin. Nothing to prove she wasn’t found off the street or worse, a bastard. The thought keeps her up at night��.). She just misses her father, his affection and time spent with him and just him. She’s a daddy’s girl— sue her.

(insert sound of me vomiting out my own tears as loudly as possible)

With Cass, it’s much of the same but also a degree of trying to better understand her mother and emulate her. She thinks of Cass as a hero figure: so capable and put together. She wants to be so unflappable, so unbothered by any and everything. She’s yet to figure out how to be so unbothered but she’s getting there. The two of them go up to Altabury and spend it shopping or cooking together, or well Bernie cooks and Cass watches helplessly and tastes whatever is made happily. On these trips they’ll sit by the fireplace in their pajamas and Cass will tell Bernie of her life, the stories she struggles to share with anyone else; the moments of doubt and fear and hate. It's an attempt to be relatable, to be human and not a deity on the parental podium. It’s… difficult, but she tries nevertheless because she knows how much Bernie needs this. How different she feels, that can’t be allowed to fester more than it already does. Any chance to reiterate that— “no, you’re mine and I’m yours and you always will be”— is always going to be worth the discomfort of laying herself to bare. Cassius is at her most talkative with Bernie, swapping worries and whispering to her as she cards fingers through her hair as it snows silently outside. Ugh. they're soooooooooo. Whatever.

Lydia, their worst child by a long shot, is a trouble maker thats never satisfied. Shes a creative who lacks a suitable outlet and, worse, genuinely just likes to see people struggle. She’s scary and sadistic and across the board a wicked girl. Yet, her mommy and daddy love her to death.

Lydia struggles with boredom, finding the people around her tiresome and repetitive (which leads her to make entertainment for herself in the form of fucking with people tirelessly) but in a weird contradiction she prefers to spend her time with her parents in some secluded part of the world. She wants to be with them, in nature, and try to tap into something deeper. Something honest and real and gritty. They go hiking or climb up a mountain or something and she enjoys getting lost in the woods with her mother, amazed at how Cass has never once gotten left behind. She writes in between their treks and reads to her mother, sharing ideas and what plagues her creatively. Cass is remarkably helpful but even if she wasn’t she listens and enjoys every second.

Fidelio knows his daughter can’t be tamed and he’s known this since she was a child (little tike climbs onto and over and under EVERYTHING and cannot be contained in any meaningful capacity) but he’s always terrified seeing how athletic she is even now, especially now. She’s never mellowed out. But he goes with her, doing his best to keep up and is thankful she keeps him in shape. She never smiles more then when they reach the top, their goal whatever that is this time, and how he grumbles in pain but does it anyway— every time. Because he adores her, of course.

This is already like 1500 words, so I’m gonna write the rest tmw and add it. Ily ocs mwah

#the funnies #fidelio magnus #Cassius Ethoka #Bernie #Lydia #Ethokakin #my babies..#my writing

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pepsiiwho · 3 months ago

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Cassius and Fidelio children!!!

Here's their (currently unnamed) children! 6 perfect little girls and one darling little boy <3

ill draw all of them at some point

#the funnies #metaphor refantazio #cassius Ethoka #fidelio magnus #i see you

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pepsiiwho · 3 months ago

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“Sorry Bas,” and with a nod Fidelio turns towards Will “me lord. My lady’s under the weather right now, no sense pushin’ her up the hill to any party”

Will tuts, understanding if not disappointed. Basilio loved Cassius, of course he did they were family now, but the bond those two had formed seemed oddly close for two people that met relatively recently. If it were anyone else, Basilio would worry. With Will, that was just par for the course. It helped, naturally, that Cassius hardly viewed other men as much past set dressing compared to her husband. “Should I send someone out for her?”

He waves the idea off, smiling “‘s no point. She’ll bounce back faster than anything. She’s scary like that, nothing sticks to her long”

“She gonna be in shape for your birthday?”

He scoffs “going on 5 years together and I haven’t convinced her to skip a birthday celebration for me yet. Come hell or high water she’ll do something, sure as shit that”

“And you’ll love it” will adds uselessly

“And I’ll love it” Fidelio agrees.

)))$

“Del another?”

“You’re supposed to be happy for us you dickhead—“

“I’m Over the moon! But gods, you gotta get off the poor thing, you’re insatiable—“

“y-you’! It ain’t ME, you ass! I want a bigger family, sure but …” Fidelio looks away, blushing “You don’t see how she acts … I’d give her the fuckin ‘ Sun if she asked. A baby is light work in comparison”

#the funnies #metaphor refantazio #sorry for ruining the tag with these two but bloxk me if it’s annoying #I see you first #Cassius ethoka #fidelio magnus #I’m trying to decide if he keeps his last name … I feel like he wouldn’t #he has no real alligence to it #and Bas elevated it to royal status so yk it isn’t going anywhere they made history #Mr ethoka #he wears it well #tho cass would kill a bitch to be Mrs Magnus #sobs sobs

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pepsiiwho · 3 months ago

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Some Cassius/Fidelio HCs bc I think… I like them

- it’s a very classic case of “she fell first but he falls harder”

- both too protective of the other to be anything else then overbearing. Thankfully their partner isn’t normal so the insane baby hating is romantic not borderline restrictive and stifling. (“You need to wear this at all times so I can track where you are and your resting heart rate :)” “… you care about me enough to wanna know my location?” <- he is swooooning so hard)

- Cassius uses extreme and, frankly weird, methods of wooing Fidelio including, but not limited to: passive stalking, witness intimidation, copious gifts, blatant honesty, evidence tampering, and murder

- Fidelio is very clingy, yet still private, and it’s always a coin toss which side will win. If they’re being all sappy and in love together in a common space or library or lounge or something, if someone walks in who he’s comfortable with or doesn’t hate, he will continue to be clingy, while trying to seem unmoved or bored. Similar to his brother the tail gives him away everytime. She doesn’t rlly where they are or who’s watching when they’re together. She’s completely shameless.

- for such a volatile person, del doesn’t really fight often. He can’t bring himself to yell at her and Cassius isn’t the yelling type anyway. She’s more avoiding when things are bad. Del has to make her open up and share what’s bothering her.

- they spend more time apart then together and Del is always more irritable when Cass is there (“why the fuck are you botherin’ me? My lady’s waiting’ make it quick”) … in the inverse he is at his most agreeable consistently right before she’s gotten there and right after she’s left, still on the mental high of his gf loving on him (“… let’s take an early lunch… m’tired. You’re all dismissed”). Cassius’ behavior to strangers goes unchanged. Still as scary as usual

- by nature of living around squalor and people just trying to survive, Del has a passively low opinion of women. This initially turns him off from Cass, assuming she’s purposefully manipulating the men (Fidelio) around her with her (gorgeous, tantalizing, perfect ?) body and looks. He comes to learn, eventually, she’s wholly unable to use her body for her devices as she finds it repulsive in such a defined way she doesn’t know it’s affect on the ppl around her. At first this realization is baffling but by the time they’re committed to each other it’s genuinely making Del insane

- in an ideal good end, newly freed from their service to Louis, the two of them open a lounge/library by day and club/tavern by night in Grand Trad (or wherever the brothers grew up) and serve meals from Cassius’ tribe in Altabury. Del manages the place and performs often (playing a multitude of instruments and singing ofc) and Cassius is the research help and book acquisition-er(?). They are horribly in love with each other. Bas, before ascending to the role of king consort, works in the place as well as a chef on and off between street rehabilitations and his own fledgling romance.

- Cassius calls Del “Pet”, “Dee” “Fi” “Muca”.

- Del calls Cassius “Lady”, “Heart”, “Cass” (he defaults to more possessive monikers as pet names. Me/my girlfriend, me/my woman, me/my heart)

- Cassius loves all Fidelio’s scars and thinks he’s so handsome and strong. They’re proof he survived and he’s stronger for them. Del hates her scars, angry at a world who’d subject her to such nightmares. That said, he thinks she’s a perfect piece scars and all

- both of them horribly bitey and possessive. Bad combo. Hickies for days

- Del needs words of affirmation but speaks in acts of service. Cassius needs acts of service but speaks words of affirmation and gifts. They hear each other well

- would have either 1 child or 10, no inbetween. They’re like rabbits.

Group opinions:

Zorba: doesn’t understand the appeal of Fidelio at all, but thought their wedding was very pretty. Thinks they’re both pitiful for ignoring their duties to Louis to find time to fall for each other

Glodell: he thinks Cassius, while scary and intimidating, is too good for Fidelio on account of how distinctly not mean she is to Glodell. She’s also quite good with hector. He’s happy for her, vaguely. He cried at their wedding.

Louis: has no real opinion, for as opinionated as he is. He doesn’t think much of Cassius at all past an appreciation for how thorough her work is. More than anything he’s glad and proud his best friend found someone to love.

Basilio: he’s so happy it’s like not even worth detailing. Just know he’s their biggest supporter by a long shot. Asks for nieces and nephews as often as possible

#the funnies #metaphor refantazio #fidelio magnus #Cassius ethoka #oc x canon #I love them so bad #I see you first

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