#Rountables

[arabiclanguageday]

Arabic – the Language of Poetry and Arts.

 On December 18th; The celebration of World Arabic Language Day 2023 will be held from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. This year’s commemoration coincides with the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of Arabic as one of the six UN official languages. To pay tribute to the poetic and artistic brilliance of the Arabic language, UNESCO will bring together researchers, academics, youth, and heads of international institutions. The UNESCO organizes round table discussions and cultural performances. Applicants to the Prize for Arab culture must have contributed significantly towards the development, dissemination and the promotion of Arab culture in the world.The winners of the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture will be announced. The event will serve as a solid platform to delve into the discussions on the Arabic language's influence on shaping knowledge, societal transformations through poetry, and its impact on the arts, while fostering cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. The Roundtables within this initiative will center on:

Philosophy and Poetry: The Contribution of Arabic Poetry to Knowledge Shaping and Social Transformations

Arabic Language and Arts: Broadening Scopes of Cultural Diversity

‘Arab Latinos!’: The Arabic Imprint in Latin America and the Caribbean

Side Event: Additionally, as part of this initiative, a side event will be organized to reflect on the initial outcomes and highlights of the forthcoming publication focused on the role of Arabic in social inclusion and its preservation within the Arabic-speaking communities of Europe while promoting their integration into host societies. To register, please click here

[ladyjuquia]

I still think about Summer Tristan…

[sscorpiiio]

another endearing thing about pedro is that you KNOW he knows their work. he’s watched it alone in his jammies at 9:30pm, breathlessly laughing and murmuring things out loud to the tv, completely engulfed. he appreciates the art and the people that make it. he never misses a “i just wanted to tell you how much i appreciate you” moment.

[indiemovies]

ngl i supported kaz brekker even when i thought he did bury that little kid alive

[swallowtail-ageha]

for the character ask meme!! fia - 12. What's a headcanon you have for this character? boc - 9. Could you be roommates with this character? roderika - 2. Favorite canon thing about this character? quelaag - 25. What was your first impression of this character? How about now? lady maria - 27. FREEBIE QUESTION!!

Fia- 12

Oooh i think she was p much an orphan. Not even one abandoned in the temple as a baby just one face in the mass of sea urchins on the streets, probably the kid of a prostitute who also died when Fia was vry young, and this is why she is also that devoted to being a deathbed companion. The whole cult is heaven compared to a life in the streets :)

Boc- 9

Easy answer which is absolutely yes! Quiet kind guy who is rather tidy and polite. Heaven on earth honestly

Roderika- 2

Her arc again she is so tragic to me :(. She went from being suicidal to finally finding her place again and then decides to essentially commit suicide by staying in the roundtable hold because hewg gave her a purpose and family and you have taken that from her. The contempt in her voice when she says "are you here for spirit tuning" after you burn the rountable hold always breaks my heart :(

Queelag- 25

First impression: i was actually kinda feverish/delirious and already burnt out from blighttown so when i met her i just lost my shit in the laughing hysterically way and after killing her didnt have many more thoughts

Now: uuuuh i need a whole family drama about the fall of izalith. She loved her sister so much i will always have a soft spot for her ;-;

Lady Maria- 27

I will admit its past 1 am and my brain is kinda fried atm so i might get the meaning of freebie question wrong like is it something a la "op makes up a question not in the game and answers it?" Because if so i am just going w "what made you latch onto this character" and i am gonna reply with "both banger character design and incredible introduction". Obsessed w how she haunts the narrative of the entire game

[glimeres]

" Listen, this musical was about alcoholism. Deep, dark alcoholism. And a love story, but riddled with this third player, right? So it wasn’t for everybody. I knew that it wasn’t the most commercial thing. It was an art piece, and I was so proud of that, actually. And we’re lucky that it had a space on Broadway for even a minute. But what killed me is that I felt like the population that needed it — us all being the daughter or having had that mother or knowing that father or whatever it was — I was worried that we hadn’t reached them. I sometimes worry that the business can be very formulaic, especially in how we sell things. And I was concerned that we weren’t reaching the audience, the whole new generation of sober-curious people, and people that don’t usually come to theater, or whole organizations that thrive and survive on sobriety or that need to have the conversation constantly or to see themselves in a story.

We were being told to sell it as a love story. We were deceiving people as they walked in the door, and I’m saying this out loud because it was one of the most painful parts of the process for me — to be doing that much, to be giving that much of my heart, and being so satisfied by the performance, and then I would literally have someone every single night come and see it and say, “Oh, I had no idea it was about alcoholism.” I jumped back on social media when we got the closing notice and started trying to promote the show, sweating, just to get more people in front of this beautiful piece of work. And I felt sad and angry because there was a time when that wasn’t your job as much; your job was to do eight shows a week with all your heart. But it felt like, “Gosh, I should have been more of an influencer. I should have been having things on the sidewalk [like Hamilton did].” And I started to get desperate because when you work on something for 20 years, and you know how special it is… But then you have to check yourself and say, “It’s special to me, and that doesn’t always translate to special to the larger community.” But it’s painful. When you’re in something that means the world to you, and it’s closing, it’s heartbreaking because it feels like a death."

Kelli O'Hara talking about the early closing of "Days of Wine and Roses" in the annual The Hollywood Reporter Tonys Rountable

[lowbudgetmovie]

who would yall pick as the new rountable host?

[gastlygallows]

Promised Tribulation

Chapter: 1/2 (AO3)

Pairing: White Mask Varré/Reader, White Mask Varré/Finger Maiden

Rating: 🔞

Words: 2,000

Warnings: All the violence and gore you can expect from an Elden Ring fic, Greater Will influence/brainwashing and its implications, etc.

Notes: Pre-canon, canon compliant, this obviously won't end well, smut in next chapter but some teasing here c:

Summary:

Fate would have it that you are Varré’s finger maiden.

It is your lot in life to be the conduit for the Grace that guides him and perhaps you were chosen for this task because there is nothing else for you in the lands you once called home.

Entering the Rountable by his side for the umpteenth time, you are reminded that it could be worse. There are less and less Tarnished each time you visit and of those remaining Grace has begun to abandon them once again. Or even worse: their maidens are dead.

Varré wipes his bloodied dagger across his pants leg and tucks it into his pocket.

There are those who hunt Tarnished, but maidens are easier targets and to kill a maiden is to sever any paths of lordship. 

“What a dull atmosphere,” he observes with an equally dull tone. Those who no longer see the guidance do not say it outright, but you can sense it in the way they sit with their shoulders slumped and an expression befitting a funeral.

As you gleam over the downtrodden sitting at the center table, underneath the golden glow that has forsaken them, a streak of fear stabs your heart.

Varré puts a hand on your shoulder, pulling you from your thoughts and smearing blood onto your robe. “My little lambkin, you need to convene with the Fingers, yes? While you do that, I must consult with Sir Gideon. When you are done, we’ll rest here for the night.”

He leaves you to it, the blood fresh and damp against your shoulder. You’ve long since grown accustomed to the scent of iron, so much so that it almost smells sweet now. An acquired taste. It no longer makes you flinch to assist him on the field in his pursuits of “mercy”, holding still the head of his “patients” on your lap so that they may be put out of their misery efficiently.

Following his instruction has become second nature to you. Sometimes, in the back of your mind, you wonder if you were always like this or if this part of your nature is a symptom of divine subservience.

It is no matter, you remind yourself.

All that matters is seeing to it that your Tarnished ascends to the throne of Elden Lord and ushers in a new era of peace.

The Fingers await with instruction.

* * * * *

As is customary, you shut the doors behind you when entering the chambers of the The Two Fingers for their reunion with a maiden is something that not even their Tarnished may witness.

No sooner than you lock the door does Enia call you by name.

“It has been some time,” she says. “My child, I am grateful for your safe return. The Greater Will is merciful.”

You politely bow. “Thank you, mother. The journey has been ever challenging.”

“So long as your journey is not cut short, no matter how long, there is still the promise of your victory ahead.”

Approaching her, the fingers–those giant, grotesque towers of half rotten flesh–begin to furl and move their tips to and fro.

The crone startles with a gasp. “My, my…quickly, show me your fingers.”

With your palm outstretched towards her, she hums in deliberation and shakes her head. 

She lowers her voice. “Child, this is most dire. Though grace flows through your veins ever still, it is your Tarnished that threatens to stray from the Greater Will.”

“Varré? N-No, there must be a mistake…”

Have you missed something? You try to play back the last few days with him, but nothing strikes you as unusual.

Your mind begins to melt into a trance, your vision blurring, and the Greater Will envelopes your attention. Fear begins to erode away like sand in the wind. What did you ever have to feel so frightened of?

Here, you are safe. 

“Listen…the Fingers speak. ‘The Tarnished Varré, who dons the white mask and a blade of concealed bloodlust, is fit to become the Elden Lord should only he reach for the first Great Rune. But his heart, forever bound to your own, beats with a doubt that echoes through your very breathing.

“‘The Tarnished of the roundtable dally, their faith diminishing, and their Grace lost with their resignation to idle about for fear of their lives. They harbor no gratitude for the immortality bestowed upon them. But Varré…that fear doth not linger. Yes, he may ascend to the throne with none other than you by his side.

“‘Go, fair maiden, and realign the heart of your Tarnished. Proceed to Stormveil Castle and lay claim to the rune of Godrick.’”

Slowly, you withdraw your hand, placing it over your heart in an attempt to steady yourself. It’s beating so loudly you can hear it between your ears.

You exhale a breath you hadn’t been aware of holding. 

“I…” You struggle for words.

Could it all be true? That Varré has the potential to become the Elden Lord?!

Of course it must be true, you correct yourself, mindful of the Fingers’ presence.

“Go now, child,” Enia says with urgency. “The Fingers have spoken. Your Tarnished is your charge and it is up to you to see this destiny to fruition.”

* * * * *

Varré is waiting for you outside of the doors as you exit, leaning against the wall as if he were trying to eavesdrop but you both know good and well that these walls are solid.

“There you are, lambkin,” he says casually. “There has been a change of plans.”

“Oh?” You tilt your head quizzically. “I thought we were sleeping here. I need to talk to you about something.”

“Our services are needed elsewhere. There’s a Scarlet Rot breakout in Mistwood that requires our attention. Let us assess the situation, perhaps treat just a few patients that most direly need our help, and then retire for the night.”

You stare at him with your mouth in a straight line, feeling tired enough that you wish to rest now but also too tired to argue. “...Fine.”

“I knew your compassionate heart would understand, my dear.”

Although you can’t see his face, you know he’s grinning. How long has it been since you gained this sixth sense to decipher an expression from only his words and tone? And so how is it that you never noticed his growing doubts about your mission?

You extend your hand towards him. “To the Grace site near the Third Church of Marika, then?”

He takes it, giving your wrist a firm squeeze. “Ah, sometimes you read my mind.”

You are beginning to doubt that.

* * * * *

Surrounding the church is the stench of burning flesh.

It’s the first sensation that grabs your notice as the two of you fade into the area; you’re still clasping his hand, as you often do when traveling via Grace. A Tarnished at the Roundtable, who has since disappeared, swore to Queen Marika that his maiden had been snatched from him at a site of Grace. He’d said the trip had rendered her so dizzy that she fell out of the light and into the claws of a Bloody Finger waiting in ambush.

Perhaps it wasn’t true, but it instilled such a fear into you that even now you step closer to your Tarnished.

You hug his forearm, taking solace in the firmness of his muscles, as your eyes adjust to take in your surroundings.

A bonfire of the freshly deceased lights up the young night, setting a generous distance between the main road and the forest. The road is blocked off, however, by armed war surgeons donning the same masks as Varré.

Further in the distance is a stained, torn medical tent that’s been set up to service dozens more than the makeshift bedding will allow.

They’re no doubt riddled with the rot, their collective cries of agony like a shrilling song from a macabre fairy tale. You reach into your pocket to pull out your telescope and get a better look. 

A man broken out in red hives is trying to crawl out of the tent, only for one of the surgeons to stomp on his hand and grab him by the collar of his rags. He’s slung back into the perimeter like trash.

You sigh, passing the telescope to Varré.

“My, my,” he notes eagerly. “What a predicament we have here. It looks like some of my old colleagues are already taking action.”

“Varré,” you whisper. “I don’t want to get infected. Perhaps I should…sit this one out?”

“Nonsense, lambkin, you won’t get infected.” He returns your telescope and fetches from his satchel a few Preserving Boluses.

You take one look at the clumps of moss and quickly shake your head.

He grabs your hand and drops them into your palm. “Come now, they don’t taste that badly.”

“I’m so tired of eating gross things…”

“How about this: I’ll eat one with you. Deal?”

You don’t answer him as you already know it isn’t negotiable.

He takes a bolus and turns his mask slightly sideways, just enough to give you a full view of his mouth. 

He’s smirking. “Now, then.”

Slowly, Varré parts his lip and sticks out his tongue–ugh, he’s such a tease!--and places the mossy sphere on top of it. He’s always had such sharp canines, you think absently, watching as he chews the bolus once, twice…his throat flexes when he swallows and lust stabs your chest.

This certainly isn’t the time!

All too soon, he readjusts his mask and secures the collar. His eyes are fixated on you once again behind a wall of ivory. “Your turn.”

Taking a deep breath, you straighten yourself and stare at the smoke in the distance. 

If you look at him right now, you’re sure to fall further into lecherous thoughts.

How unfair that he can make you so wanton!

You tilt your head back, shove the boluses into your mouth all at once, squinting at the uncomfortable feeling of fuzz against your tastebuds.

Biting into them overwhelms you with the taste of dirt, your saliva turning it to mud and the earthy flavor is just too much! This is horrid!

“Nuh-uh-uh.” Varré can see that you’re about to spit it out and is behind you in an instant, his gloved palm covering your mouth. His other arm wraps around your waist, pinning your back against him. You writhe and shake your head, whining from your throat, making no earnest effort to escape but to make your displeasure known.

“There’s no need to be so dramatic,” he says, almost laughing. “Just swallow it!”

“Mmnph!”

You buck your hips against him, earning a pleased hum; your ass bounces against his hard-on.

“Don’t make me punish you.” He pushes back, his fingers squeezing your waist through his gloves, and you wish he’d do it again.

You wouldn’t mind it if he wants to shove you to the ground and fuck you right here in the church. 

You swallow.

“Good girl.” He withdraws his hand from your mouth, trailing it down your arm and rubbing it soothingly. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

His breathing is heavy. 

You can feel his chest rising and falling. He isn’t letting you go yet.

Varré is deliberating. If you were to push him a little further, maybe turn around and wrap your arms around his shoulders, push your breasts against his chest, you could seduce him and–

And guide him to Stormveil Castle. Forget this pointless folly.

Oh, right, you still need to talk to him.

You shake these foreign thoughts away.

“N-No,” you answer meekly, despite the lingering aftertaste.

It’s making you drool, it's so terrible! You decide to focus on that instead.

You wipe your tongue against your sleeve, ignoring that it’s stained with dried up blood from who knows which “patient” earlier today.

“Good.” He lightly pushes you away from him by the small of your back, clearing his throat. “We’ll finish our…other business later, if it pleases you.”

“It would,” you assure him, peeking over your shoulder impishly and noticing that the blood he’d smeared on it earlier has left a handprint. 

[oneknightstand-if]

How would the gang react to MC being (the rountables version of Ushiwakamaru from FGO)

Like they catch MC coming back from some where covered in blood and holding a katana in full armor like is clearly an armor from the roundtables knights mixed with samurai armor before saying finally got rid of our tail before falling back with a splash into a river to wash away the gore still on them.

How they'd react depends entirely upon what part of the plotline has been reached. If this is during the first book of One Knight Stand while civilization still exists and people are unaware of the demons and the fae... that ain't gonna go over too well.

Merlin: (repeating themselves from Chapter1-7) I feel I must remind you that civilization and all its lawful peculiarities is still functional at this time.

Adrian: WHAT. THE. *&%*

Arthur: *still too asleep to be taking part in this conversation*

Percy: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Perfectly normal.

4̸0̷4̸ ̵E̴r̸r̵o̴r̴ ̸N̵o̶t̷ ̵F̶o̸u̴n̵d̴: *still too busy trying to kill you to take part in this conversation*

Cassandra: *someone really wants to be arrested it seems* I see... perhaps you wouldn't mind going into exact detail regarding what just happened here?

Gwen:

Vivian: *still too Sealed Away to be taking part in this conversation... not that she'd care*

Lorelei: *someone is getting a weapon pulled on them right now*

Broderick: *pretty sure he's hitchhiked two states away at this point*

[jestersloverre]

MIDST ROUNTABLE AT 7PM PST TODAYYYY

[bballlvr8]

i think p living in the same house as drew’s mom and her son had some influence on how she acts and speaks and i think she just heavily invested in basketball culture hence the aave.

miss girl said in an nil rountable that “you have one group that don’t know nothing and another group that dont know nothing and just a whole bunch a people that don’t know nothing.” she was dead serious too i’m sorry after i heard her use “nothing” instead of “anything”i realized girl is not not faking anything that’s just how she speaks

yeah! paige has been that way since i’ve started tuning into her. To newer basketball fans they think she’s cosplaying but i knew that was never the case because it just seemed too authentic lol.

[ladyjuquia]

Sir Tristan is truly the coolest Knight of the Round Table!

[katyspersonal]

Roderika and Nepheli are really cute as a ship imo. I love how Nepheli mentions her in one of her dialogues, meaning that they at least interacted at some point. I know it's a small detail to base a ship around, but I do think they might be very neat together. What are your thoughts?

It IS a cute ship! I have not seen it very often, actually but it is probably because all two of my ER mutuals reblog either Finlenia or Yura x Eleanora sdfhfd I am sure it exists somewhere, because Nepheli acknowledging Roderika is very good at perceiving spirits "unlike her" not only implies having interacted, but also points out how they are different. I really love ships in which characters are 'opposites' in a way that complete one another, whereas being similar at their core, big fan. And? They are fitting the description! Nepheli is a strong, tough warrior that points out she can't even feel the spirits, let alone see them, whereas Roderika is naturally drawn to them and good at spirit tuning whereas having "never held a sword in her life"; but at the same time they are both sensitive and vulnerable emotionally while trying to be strong! Roderika says she is 'just a coward' for being scared of the idea of her limbs being cut off, Nepheli says she is 'pathetic' for being heartbroken about her father betraying her... There is just something similar to this, the whole vibe of having enough emotions but not being "weak" for that I keep trying to grasp (because I LOVE it).

🦅 Nepheli though rolls into blaming herself for Gideon being the worst father ever, as if she "failed" him and it served her right, while also hesitantly seeing through his injustice, and I feel like Roderika would be the one to recognize this pain and detrimental effect Gideon can have on psyche of even very strong and level-headed people and try to approach her about it? They DID interact, right. Roderika IS anxious and hesitant, but also has very good intuition for good and evil it seems, so Nepheli's strong appear as this... barbaric, no-bullshit warrior would not intimidate her. She'd see Nepheli's kind and good heart beneath it even before once talking to her! Basically, I feel like their talk happened from Roderika having been concerned, in the 'Sorry if that's not my business but do you need to vent' manner!

🎐 In fact, the contrast between Nepheli's "he betrayed me and killed and oppressed the weak but it is probably my fault... right" vs Roderika's "I sense very bad vibes from a person all the opposite way in the Rountable who is not even physically here" feels like a nearly-comedic potential for me! x) Roderika is good at identifying the bad guy, when Nephelis is good at taking the bad guy down! I just imagine Roderika being like "Get 'em, baby!" in the duo, sending Nepheli to obliterate the bastard with her axes fsdhdf They could've done so much combining their strenghts and compensating for each other's weaker points hahaha. Dangerous duo (in a good sense)

🦅 They are THE "She asked for NO pickles!" meme and you KNOW it, lol

🎐 Lowkey sad though that this ship doesn't have enough 'breathing room' within canon: Nepheli gets her spirits lifted up because of a bird spirit ash and not Roderika (sure she'd credit her for help and not only Tarnished otherwise) and is always off to travel, whereas Roderika is pretty much glued to the Roundtable... It is all videogame mechanics restrictions. SO yeah, we need an Elden Ring anime where useful NPCs do not have to be area-restricted and after Roderika feels more qualified, she and Nepheli can become wandering girlfriends that get a lot of adventures and appear to help Tarnished when it is plot-convenient x) (for some reason, all my suggestions for more interaction boil down to 'if ER/BB was an anime, ...')

🦅 Roderika is rather eloquent, when Nepheli is a woman of a few words, so I am sure they fall for the dynamics of 'wall of text vs just listens and smiles' too! Nepheli would not understand all that many of Roderika's interests personally and she is not the type of an ethusiatic listener that asks many questions or always has something to add, but, she would remember every single think Roderika shared and care about it (some times, even more than Roderika herself). Nepheli is a type of a partner to remember a thing Roderika said 'casually' like months ago, or get her something she mentioned liking as a gift.. Roderika would not really know how anyone is able to navigate in how many things she's sharing so easily :')

🎐 Nepheli might be really stoic person, actually, capable of swallowing so much grief and loss and get up after everything that happens to her, but Roderika would sorta get through this attitude. Like, Nepheli would absolutely LOSE it if someone hurt Roderika. I feel like Nepheli might even worry a little upon realizing that with all the friends lost in battle or slain by enemies she had to grieve in a lifetime, losing Roderika would actually destroy her. She'd wonder if her identity as a warrior gave a crack for that one, at first! It is just scary to get so 'open', when a warrior must be self-sufficient and prepared to lose friends and comrades by default! And love is a bit... different. But I think the girls would be capable of communicating about it, and Nepheli would accept that she found someone to hold as dear as to have her life (mentally) depend on them... Not without insisting that Roderika gets at least SOME training in battle, so she can stand for herself IF Nepheli can't be near. Be an archer or a wizard if she can't hold meelee weapon at least!

🦅 Going back to Nepheli having her perception blurred when the enemy is not apparent, with Roderika having intuition for bad vibes. I imagine if Nepheli mentioned Gideon's friend, Seluvis, Roderika would be instantly able to reveal to her that "hey, that actually was a creep behavior"... They have a base for accidentally uncovering bad experiences (if not traumas) Nepheli never even realized consciously yet still took psychological damage from, and getting through them together. There would be certainly a bunch of cans of worms upon how Gideon was raising her, but not just that. "It was emotional abuse / creep behaviour" are the WORST realizations, but also with a right person it could help to heal some things that were bugging you for years but you just.. could not point out. I also imagine Roderika would be the one and only person that ever saw Nepheli cry - from one of such talks..

🎐 I think Nepheli actually holds Roderika in higher regard over the fact that Roderika is anxious, and can even be very cowardly and undecisive by her own admission, yet finds resource within herself to forgive her weaknesses and "atone" for indecisiveness by being useful otherwise. Nepheli would normally condemn the trait of giving into fear and hesitating when something important should be done (which I imagine is Roderika's consistent flaw and not just 'I am scared of being literally chopped to pieces because it is a normal thing for Soulsborne NPC to say' sdfhfhdfsdh). But Nepheli could see the internal struggle and wish to still persist, flaws or not. THAT mattered. She was quick to respect this attitude; in fact, she DID find it comparable with someone realizing they are not physically fit for melee fight and opting out to help in other ways, as healer or archer or something.

🦅 I am kinda diving into Psychology TM a lot here, I just think ER characters are written with particularly a lot to work with (Martin was that your effect? xd). But as for RELATIONSHIP-relationship, they both can't be less interested in sex. Undecided whether they're asexual or just 'too into spirituality / battle to care', probably both of these, but yes, overall it is just hugs and kisses. I just can't help but imagine their mutual attraction being mostly 'god I would LOOK the hell out of you' xd I think Nepheli would really like to hug Roderika, not only to share affection but sometimes because it is her emotional support spirit-tuner x) But Roderika is more 'kisses' person. She especially likes giving cheek or forehead kisses.

🎐 Overall, I think they are doing QUITE healthy and good for people that did not have real relationship experience prior? Nepheli was just not the type to take it further than blushing when she'd see a pretty girl and.. that was it. Well, maybe a couple of times, when she was little, she'd try to "flirt" by slaying a scary monster and bringing it's claw/tooth/etc to the girl she'd try to court, which they really did not get xD I picture Dolores being around and that little Nepheli would ask her what she was doing wrong... Dolores would say that it was a "perfect" way to flirt but the girls were just too young to get it yet, and Nepheli was too ahead xddd Roderika would attempt relationship as a teen a couple of times, and quit both of them upon hesitating and estimating she was not good enough for that person. Low self-esteem was hitting her harder in younger age. What I am saying is that sometimes when the first 'real' relationship only happens in adulthood, there are plenty of conflicts to wade through as people don't know what to do... but these two I imagine clicked naturally, and things went rather swell?

_______________

Thank you for an ask! Sorry it took some while, I tend to be sorta slow at the answers ъ_ъ"

[hunter-beholder]

Verses —

Traveling Companion;

Before D's time of retirement in the Rountable, far more active in his pursuit of weeding Deathroot, and for some time, accompanied by Spellblade Rogier, beneath the wing of the Beast Clergyman, Gurranq. Excursions through catacombs and the stagnant waters where Mariners lurk.

Tarnished;

Whether the twins are Tarnished or not is unclear, so this could be an exploration of that possibility; perhaps Devin having a maiden or other who guides him to the Roundtable, as Darian follows in his twin's footsteps with an intent of killing Fia. Darian remains unscathed from the grasp of death whereas Devin is less fortunate, Darian has seen his brother die time and time again. In order to prevent such from occurring, he retains possession of the soul while Devin remains dormant.

Those Who Live in Death;

Post-questline, following the failure of their purpose, the twins are recycled through the tainted roots of the Erdtree, rising from the dead as the very thing they swore to destroy. They are entirely cast from their Order, while being utterly disgusted by what they have become. With no soul to share, both twins are conscious, finally standing together, speaking to one another, and it is then they realize they are practically strangers to one another.

Yesterday;

Before the Shattering, when the twins bathed in the golden rays of Leyndell. Young Darian is a knight's squire, training to one day take their place. A seedling of jealousy is planted within Devin, who was not nearly as qualified for squireship as his brother. Perhaps Darian bumps into Rogier, a potential prisoner of war?

AUs—

Bloodborne;

Part of the fanatical partition of the Healing Church's Executioners. Their unwavering loyalty to Logarius could be entirely real or parasocial depending on the timeline organized. There could also potentially be themes of beasthood and general blood-drunkenness to explore.

[sapphire-weapon]

I think maybe Capcom said "Leon and Ada fall in love more naturally" is from RE 2 Remake Rountable video on Youtube when they discussed about the kiss scene. They specify that in OG, both of them fall in love too quickly, and they think it's weird.  So for them Leon and Ada should have more interactions first. The exact thing they said is 原作に急にお互いを好きになりすぎてておかしいって話しになったんですよね。もうちょっと順番があるだろうってね. Since I understand Japanese, the way I take it is they realized how rushed and unrealistic they make Aeon relationship in OG RE2, so they want them to have more "steps/order" (順番) before both of them falling in love. They translate 順番 as interactions in the English translation tho.

so let me understand this correctly

the RE2make devs literally say on camera that leon and ada fall in love too quickly in OG

but the kiss in remake happens earlier in the story than the kiss in OG does

so the RE2make devs are basically confirming that the kiss in remake is disingenuous/manipulative and NOT a kiss of true love or affection

am i getting this right?

i don't speak japanese but i'm pretty sure that's what's happening here

[velvet-apricots]

Dolores the Sleeping Arrow for bungo 😴😴😴

Ah Dolores, a character hardly anyone give love to because her lore consists of one single item description, and not everyone reads those. i myself am at fault too of not giving her enough attention, but I do love her, and i do love what little content she has. Anyway, her lore states that she knew Gideon, was his close friend (probably his only friend), was also his critic, and that Seluvis turned her into a puppet, and that is why Gideon hates his guts.

This seemingly small piece of lore caries a lot of weight, and makes a Gideon Ofnir lover like myself go absolutely nuts and conclude that the man we meet in the game is the way he is because she is gone.

I used to flip flop a lot on her relationship with Gideon but now I pretty solidly lay in the "yeah they were a couple" territory. She was his friend, sure, but he loved her dearly, enough that her words actually mattered to him. I think she was his link to a kinder version of himself, the one who told Nepheli he would never let the weak be trodden upon.

With her gone, he had no one telling him to do and be better, and so he began to see everyone as little more then puzzle pieces to move about, or as mysteries to unravel. Any close connections he had to others quickly fell apart, until the most he can muster is to tell the player to maybe NOT turn his foster daughter into a puppet, and applogise for the trouble she causes you once you make her the Lord of Stormveil.

Dolores is probably one of the most important minor characters in the game, purely due to this fact. I'd say on a similar level as Vyke. her "death" was a contributing factor to the decline of rountable hold, and I often wonder if perhaps Gideon's obsession with Miquella is for the unalloyed gold, a desperate hope that it would save her.

But now he just wants to know where Miquella is just to know. Because now that's all that really matters to him.