#Xander is the King of Nohr

[almoststedytimetravel]

If you respond to an lgbtq headcannon with "Herm but they have a cannon child where did they come from?" I am going to hit you with a car.

[asha-mage]

Playing through Conquest the other day and I had a cascade of realizations.

UPDATED: to explain myself (a little)

[little-devil-art]

[The Lady of Dusk with her Lord of Corruption]👑💙

(‼️My MC Alice‼️)

This drawing was inspired by “La Belle Dame sans Merci“ by Frank Dicksee.

More like a “Royalty AU“ but make it TSL and Fire Emblem. To be fair, this is Alice‘s Consort of the Nohrian King Attire, as well as her Crown so it‘s actually a little Fire Emblem x Obey Me thingy again. Since MC Alice is from the Kingdom of Nohr, I thought it would fit. Or I just wanted to make myself suffer by drawing Lucifer‘s TSL Outfit. It was a fair try tho- DW ALICE DIDN‘T CHEAT ON XANDER SHHHHH-

[emblemxeno]

I know Azura and Corrin get a lot of flack for not having shown the orb to the Nohrian Royal but ... weren't they supposed to conquer Hoshido either way ?

Pretty much.

Hypothetically, showing the orb to the other siblings and successfully getting them to fight against Garon relies a lot on unrealistic occurrences going their way:

1) The siblings believing Corrin and Azura are telling the truth. Elise would probably believe them, but wouldn't have the power to stop things by herself. Camilla could go either way in terms of believing, but ultimately she cares more about not dying. Xander and Leo though? Good fucking luck lol.

2) The siblings believing the orb isn't a trap or a falsehood. Leo only entertains this aspect in BR because he was beaten before Azura gave it to him. The other three literally can't use it, so even if Leo does, if he isn't convinced that the orb isn't a Hoshidan trap, why would the others go along with it?

3) The siblings getting over their fear of Garon to fight back. Even when the truth is on the throne in front of them, the siblings aren't gung-ho to kill their dad. Even after all the things he put them through, it's not easy cuz he was their fucking dad and to expect them to flip the switch is to expect poor writing. It's only when Xander inspires them that they're able to do so, and Xander is the hardest one to convince.

4) Having the power to effectively do anything. Azura comments that half of the Nohrian royal army is loyal to Corrin, Xander and Leo, and the other half is loyal to Garon, Iago and Hans. She says this in chapter 23, 8 chapters after the orb is relevant. Safe to say, there wouldn't be enough manpower to rebel against Garon at that point.

5) Doing something that's effectively believable to the player. When the orb comes up, the war has been underway for a while. The Cheve rebellion has been put down, with Scarlet, Orochi, and Reina dead. The Cyrkensia townsfolk are in danger. Corrin has crossed blades with the Hoshidan army more than once. Realistically, what could Corrin's group do to Garon, that also takes into account the war going on? Joining Hoshido isn't an option (and shouldn't be one cuz that defeats the purpose of joining Nohr in the first fucking place), especially when Ryoma is the way he is and Takumi is already possessed. And you'd have to be an idiot to think that Hoshido will just sit on its hands while Corrin rebels against Garon, as if they wouldn't take advantage of the opportunity to take all of Nohr out in one fell swoop. There's precedent for this already, with Hinoka, Ryoma, and Takumi willing to use Nohr's negative reputation to their benefit.

Do you guys know the Rhetorical Triangle of persuasive writng? It's ethos (showcase of author authority through citing of sources or taking care to establish a base argument), logos (building up a logical audience), and pathos (appeals to audience emotions). Most storytelling is persuasive. For your story not to be utter dogshit, you need the central theme/argument to be believable, the logic of a story's circumstances and context in order to believe it, and the emotional weight to get the reader to care and invest in it.

The above "solutions" to the orb issue, would sacrifice the ethos (Corrin sticking to their path, the Nohr siblings being consistently written) and logos (not having the power to start a rebellion, Hoshido canonically taking advantage of Nohr's internal troubles) established in Conquest before chapter 15, in order to maybe satisfy the pathos of some of the audience. I say maybe and some because only a fraction of the fandom has this double-think thing going on where they hate that Corrin gets worshipped and followed for "no reason" but also that Corrin should be totally believed and, in fact, followed earlier to topple the king while there's a war going on. Another subsection also hates Corrin for being a "spineless, whiny coward" so those people might also like this alternative better.

But again, that's a fraction of the total. What about the rest? How would they feel about this change in this story? How can you guarantee that they'd care when you've sacrificed two other major persuasive tools to possibly achieve one for a small and annoyingly persistent group of wannabe story writers? It'd look amateurish and erroneous, not to mention the script's prose in the English versions is already scuffed thanks to Treehouse.

The only thing left for them to argue would be "well, they shouldn't have added the orb in the first place, because it just results in these questions being asked" which... okay! Yeah! In the grand scheme, it doesn't serve anything more than getting Corrin, a character known for his trust, to trust Azura's word. But that kind of critique is useless, cuz it boils down to "well this story should've been better", which can apply to every damn story in the world, and has been said about FE stories in the past. Robin's fake Gules plan was the magic orb of Awakening, same with the blood pact in Tellius, same with effectively every villain dialogue in previous FE games (like Ursula in FE7) that betrays what their ultimate goals are, same with the Turnwheel, Divine Pulse, and the Time Crystal in the future FE games, and countless other examples. At some point, you gotta roll with the punches and accept what the game is trying to tell you, rather than deride it constantly, cuz eventually you'll just hate everything in every story.

Hell, why do you think people say FE stories have never been good? Not cuz they're actually bad, it's cuz people refuse to set aside their biases and faulty evaluations/expectations in order to appreciate what the writing is doing in the grand scheme. It's a lame excuse more than it is a meme, IMO.

[kumeko]

A/N: For the Grandeur @camillafezine! Between the 3 routes and FeH, there are so many what-ifs for Camilla that I had to explore them all. And lots of obligatory Nohr Sibling angst/fluff.

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In another life, Camilla becomes a queen. A temporary one, perhaps, one that is only a stand-in, but a queen nonetheless. Xander lies ill in his chambers, a terrible wound on his chest incapacitating him. Their father is dead, the war is over, and Nohr is looking for a leader.

Camilla had never wanted to be that leader. Not even at the height of battle between mistresses, the jockeying of children as each of the king’s consorts vied for favour. Yet the duty falls on her nonetheless, as heavy as the robes on her back. She stares at her reflection in the mirror and finds a stranger looking back. The ermine-trimmed cloak, the sleek armour, none of it resembles her usual battle-attire in the least.

“This doesn’t look right,” she mutters under her breath. Long sleeves hide all but her hands, and she feels vulnerable without her trusty axe by her side. It feels even odder to just wait in this side-chamber, away from her family. Camilla’s coronation is in an hour, all the preparation is in place, and her younger siblings are no doubt rushing about, making sure nothing is forgotten.

Or perhaps it is just Leo who is rushing about—Elise and Corrin are no doubt tending to Xander, confident their perfectionist brother has it all under control. She should be out there with them, not hidden away until she’s called.

“What doesn’t?” Selena asks, reminding Camilla once more that she isn’t entirely alone. Resting a hand on her hip, the red-haired retainer scowls. “Did they apply the make-up too heavily? I told you I can do a better job than them.”

Camilla chuckles. At least this feels normal. She turns to where Selena stands, guarding the window. The grumpy pout is absolutely adorable and she feels her tension slip away. “I’ll keep that in mind next time, darling.”

“You better,” Selena huffs. From the corner of her eye, she studies Camilla before reluctantly admitting, “It’s not terrible.”

At the door, Beruka grunts and averts her gaze. “You look good.”

As rare as it is for the assassin to stand openly, it’s even rarer still to hear a compliment. Their shyness is even cuter than their sulking. Camilla wants nothing more than to pull them both into her arms and squeeze them, but it is almost time to go.

“I am glad you both approve,” Camilla replies, smiling brightly at both of them. Leo once told her she had no restraint; if only he could see her now. She cups her cheek and sighs. “If only you both wore dresses too.”

Beruka shudders immediately. Her reply is curt, as sharp as the blade she wields. “Assassins don’t wear dresses.”

There is nothing in that response about Beruka hating the idea. Camilla saves that information for later.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Selena hunches over and moans, “I would have, but I can’t do guard duty like that.” After a moment, as though realizing the implications, she straightens up and adds, “Not that I don’t want this duty.”

“Oh?” Camilla taps her chin, her long nails lightly scratching her skin. Perhaps she should look into battle dresses. They could be made in time for Xander’s coronation.

A shiver runs down her spine, a doubt entering her mind, but Camilla refuses to entertain it. Xander will recover. He will be crowned. He will be fine. If she thinks otherwise, she knows she’ll crumble.

Outside, she can hear nobles entering the grand cathedral, chittering like the crows and harpies they are. Most of them do not want her in this position: Leo is the second favourite after Xander, even more so for the flexibility they perceive in him. Elise is an easily manipulated choice and Corrin doesn’t exist in their eyes. Camilla is known for her blood thirst and beauty, and she has heard enough rumours about the madness they fear from her. No, it is the men the nobles look to.

It’ll be satisfying to see their faces when she steps out.

There’s a knock on the door. Camila swallows inconspicuously. “It’s time.”

Beruka nods and opens the door before slipping through it to secure their exit. Meanwhile, Selena stalks over. “One second.”

Camilla holds still, watching in curiosity as Selena readjusts her cloak and the sash across her chest. Her fingers are meticulous and battle-scarred. Not for the first time, Camilla wonders just what sort of life her retainer has led.

Just what sort of life she’ll return to, if given the chance.

Camilla isn’t certain she’s ready to say goodbye yet. She wasn’t before the war and she definitely isn’t now, in the midst of an uneasy peace. “You’ll tell me when you’ll leave, right?”

“Of course, I promised.” Selena pouts as she brushes imaginary dust from Camilla’s shoulders. “You don’t believe me?”

“I do.” Camilla smiles softly, squeezing Selena’s shoulder with a gloved hand.

“Good.” Selena grins unabashedly, surprisingly honest for once. “Though, I really hope I won’t have to go for a while. I want to see your reign myself.”

“You do?” Camilla stares at her retainer, surprised. “Why?”

“Yeah, I…” Catching herself, Selena flushes a bright red and averts her gaze. “That is…I…you’ll make a good queen.”

And then, she all but runs out of the room.

A good queen. Camilla isn’t sure she has it in her. If she ever had it in the first place. Still, there’s at least one person who thinks otherwise.

Camilla glances at the mirror again. She was not raised for this duty but she will master it all the same. She will keep her family together, her country in one piece.

In another lifetime, Camilla’s reflection stands a little straighter, ready for the weight of the crown.

-x-

In another life, Camilla abandons her duty. She takes the crown, as cool as her brother’s corpse, and drops it immediately. It is not a weight she wants to bear. It is not a weight she can bear.

Her body’s already crushed from the grief of losing both Xander and Elise in a single night. No longer does laughter ring in the hallways, no longer does lamp light spill out of the study at late hours. Her family shrinks until it is three, and then two.

The weight of hatred is just as heavy as grief and is no less binding.

The only light she has is Leo—King Leo, now, and Camilla clings to his hand like she’s drowning. The crown looks too big on his head, the robe still needs adjusting, and for a moment, all she can see is a child playing dress up.

“Xander would be proud,” Camilla murmurs, gently brushing his hair out of his face. “You’ve grown so much these past few weeks.”

To his credit, he doesn’t flinch, though a flicker of pain flashes across his face. Leo clenches his jaw. “I would rather he be here than me. This…this wasn’t how I wanted to beat him.”

This isn’t how Camilla wanted to overthrow her father either. If she had stepped in earlier, if she had done something before it got to this point, would things have been different? When would that have been? When Xander faced Corrin? When Elise left to bring Corrin into the castle? Or earlier still, when Corrin abandoned them for Hoshido, when her father ordered Corrin’s punishment, when her father first started to veer into darkness?

It is too late for what-ifs.

She is still full of them.

Her vision grows blurry and Camilla blinks quickly as she tries to keep her composure. She is tired of lying in bed, her days and nights blurring into the colour grey. Even if it is only for today, she wants to be herself again. She wants to be there, in the present.

Leo touches her hand lightly. When she looks at him, he gives her a small smile and taps his collar. “It’s not inside out today.”

She stares at him. To think, he’s consoling her now. Just when had he grown so mature? Camilla forces a smile as she straightens his robe. “I guess you don’t need my help anymore.”

“I do.” Leo clasps her hands immediately. His eyes are serious, even though his ears are red with embarrassment. “I always do. Now, more than ever.”

For a moment, Camilla’s reminded of a conversation they had months ago, when Leo quietly admitted he wished she’d dote on him more.

And now, he will be the only one she’ll ever dote on.

“I’ll be here,” she promises, her smile more genuine now. A bittersweet warmth fills her. Camilla leans forward, pressing a kiss on his cheek. “I’m always here for my darlings.”

Pensively, Leo asks, “What about…Corrin?”

“No.” Camilla immediately rejects the notion, the idea. She steps backward, her hands cold as they fall limply to her side. At one point, that name had meant everything to her. At one point, she couldn’t go an hour without thinking of their younger sister.

Now it’s enough to send her stomach churning, bile rising up her throat.

And Leo, the boy who taunted Corrin, the boy who teased her, is the man now protecting her. “She didn’t intend—”

“I don’t—I can’t…” Words fail Camilla and she covers her lips with a hand. Forcing herself to breath in through her nose and slowly out her mouth, she makes herself calm down. “I just…”

“I shouldn’t have asked.” Gently, Leo embraces her, his hands patting her back. Before, he had never been one for affectionate gestures. Now, she finds herself on the receiving end more than the giving. His hand had clasped hers while she wasted away on her bed, depression eating away at her core.

“No, it’s…” Camilla buries her face in his cloak, the ermine trim tickling her skin. “It was cute how you used to hold grudges over everything.”

“I still do,” Leo replies, his hand still patting her back. He’s taller, his shoulders broader, and she isn’t sure if she just never noticed or if his new duties gave him a growth spurt. “Odin ruined my favourite cloak yesterday, and he’s still making up for it.”

Camilla chuckles wetly. “Try not to be too hard on him. He’s cuter when he makes mistakes.”

“I don’t think he can be cured.” Leo sighs. His voice quiets. “I just don’t want anymore hate. Especially with Corrin. It’s not forgiveness just…I’m tired of fighting.”

 It sounds like forgiveness. Camilla wishes she had the strength. Corrin’s eyes were full of heartbreak when she’d apologized for Xander’s and Elise’s deaths. Somewhere in Hoshido, she must be crying too.

Somewhere in Hoshido, her other family is comforting her.

Camilla has never thought of herself as a bitter person, but it fills her all the same now. Leo’s warm in her arms, but all she can think about are the two people missing from this hug, the four arms that should be wrapped around them now.

“Even then,” Camilla murmurs. “I just can’t.”

-x-

In another life, Camilla attends a royal funeral in Hoshido. She watches two sisters mourn over their brothers, their grief shattering the younger one. Corrin mourns too, for the family she never knew, for Hoshido’s late queen caught up in their father’s schemes, for the life that she had lost.

In another life, Camilla watches the tears of strangers with a twinge of sympathy, but no regrets. Her family survives and that is all that matters.

-x-

In another life, Corrin lets go of her Nohrian family. She reaches for her long lost Hoshido brother, never looking back as they sweep her away into parts unknown.

In another life, Camilla’s heart breaks and then hardens. She had long known that Corrin’s place had never been in Nohr, that she was meant for something different, something special. It was easy enough to see with how their father treated her, this lost princess that neither Xander nor her could determine the origins of. Their father called her daughter, and they accepted it as fact.

And now, they are paying the price for their ignorance.

There is rage in her, like fire, like lightning, like the claws and teeth of her wyvern. Camilla has never known what is to hate, truly, until this moment. Not even when her mother pitted her against her siblings, not even when her father requested darker and darker missions of her, had she ever felt a hate like this.

“I want to come too,” Elise says, clutching her staff as she stands in the middle of Camilla’s room. To her credit, she doesn’t let her voice tremble. While she is the youngest of the siblings, she’s an adult nonetheless, one raised and ready for war.

Camilla has never felt a fear like this. It grips her heart with icy claws. Corrin is gone. War leads to death. And for all of Elise’s strength, she is not a fighter. There is no hesitation as she says, “No.”

Elise stiffens, expecting the response. She sets her jaw, her hands gripping her staff tighter. “Why not? I can fight too!”

“It’s too dangerous, dearest,” Camilla replies easily. It is not a lie. It is not the truth. She reaches down and strokes Elise’s soft hair. Her sister’s black ribbons were a birthday present three years ago, her dress last year’s, and Camilla can only see the tiny baby she vowed to protect.

Her sister pouts childishly up, her cheeks still chubby with baby fat. “That’s why I have to be there! I can protect everyone. I can even heal!”

The stubborn streak runs deep in their family. Camilla keeps her smile. “I’m sorry, Elise, but I can’t let you go to the front lines. You understand, I hope?”

There’s a grumpy exhale as Elise averts her gaze. After mulling over it for a moment, she brightens and chirps, “Then what about the medical tent?”

It’s a reasonable suggestion. A good one, even. Camilla discards it all the same. “No, dear. You have to stay here.”

“But why?” Elise grabs her hand tightly, confused. “I can help!”

“I…” Camilla cups Elise’s cheek, brushing her thumb across her baby soft cheeks. There is a hole in her chest, a black void that she doesn’t want to grow any bigger. Corrin escaped her arms, but she refuses to let anyone else do so. And if she has to clip a few wings, then that’s what she’ll do.  

Camilla wraps her arms around her younger sister, pulling her in for a tight hug. “Please. Just for today. I’m worried.”

“Sis…” Elise sighs before hugging her back. “Finneee. I’ll stay. But next time, I’m fighting right next to you.” She looks up, determined. “I can protect you too.”

“Next time,” Camilla agrees. Camilla lies. She’ll have to find another excuse. Her gilded cage cannot open again. Part of her wonders if she can get a fine, gold chain made, if she can slip it around Elise’s ankles so she doesn’t sneak into the slums like she’s prone to do.

-x-

In another life, Camilla takes Azura’s hand. As a child, she knows intimately of loneliness, of alienation, of all the feelings one has while watching from afar. No one notices or acknowledges Azura, whether it’s their father, their siblings, or the competing consorts. Maybe they see competition. Maybe they see a weak girl, one easy to disappear.

Camilla sees a friend. She takes Azura’s hand and clasps it tight.

When tragedy strikes, when Hoshido and Nohr take up arms and hostages are kidnapped, Camilla is taken with Azura. Even in danger, Camilla refuses to let go of her people. Though she doesn’t know how to wield her axe yet, she still has her strength and loyalty.

The Hoshidan queen and chief tactician hardly know what to do with not one, but two Nohrian princesses. The whole thing is a mistake, but Nohr will not return Corrin and so Hoshido cannot give up their hostages. The games royalty plays are the same regardless of what side of the border they’re on. Nobles of all stripes only care for how they can use the two girls and how to torment them otherwise.

The children, however, are different, and in them Camilla sees a glimpse of what her family could have been. There is no contest for the throne, no pitting of heirs in a battle of the fittest. Instead, the siblings work together. Instead, despite their loss, Sakura reaches out with shaky hands, Ryoma gives a firm hug, and Hinoka a begrudging smile. Only Takumi glares and ignores them, but Camilla finds that adorable anyways.

In this life, Azura doesn’t know loneliness. Camilla refuses to let her. The walls she keeps up between herself and the Hoshidan royals shatter with a single swing of Camilla’s mighty will.  Years pass and memories of Nohr are replaced with green grass, clean air, and sun-like warmth.

Now an adult, Camilla stays still as she watches Azura tug her kimono, trying and failing to cover her ample cleavage. With a soft sigh, Azura reluctantly gives up and steps back. “I am afraid I cannot adjust it any further. It’s not…”

Azura trails off meaningfully and Camilla chuckles. Her bust is not made for an outfit like this. Neither are the rest of her curves and that is why Takumi always looks away, scandalized, or Ryoma offers her his heavy cloak whenever they make formal appearances.

“I like to think of it as a new style,” Camilla says cheerfully, twirling around. Her kimono loosens even more with the movement. Ignoring Azura’s soft groan, she reaches onto their bedroom dresser and picks up a gold earring. “Your dress looks lovely, darling. You just need this to finish it properly.”

Azura shakes her head, mirth filling her voice. “You never tire of dressing me up.”

“Of course not.” Camilla beams brightly. “I love pampering those I love. And you deserve it.”

“So do you.” A familiar shadow crosses Azura’s face and she bites her lip. “You should be in Nohr, with your siblings.” She rubs her wrist anxiously. “Your youngest sister doesn’t even know your face.”

“She does not know yours either,” Camilla replies softly. It is just like Azura to forget herself.

“That’s fine.” Azura shakes her head. “You weren’t even the target of the kidnapping, and they…they didn’t know me regardless.”

They had argued this before. They will argue this in the future. Camilla grabs Azura’s hands, clasping them tightly in her own. “I couldn’t, wouldn’t, let you go alone. I don’t regret it.”

Azura stares at her in disbelief. “Don’t you miss your siblings?”

“Every day. Every minute. And one day, I will return to see them.” Camilla intertwines their fingers. “But I love my new family too.”

Azura gnaws her lip. “But—”

“No buts,” Camilla interrupts, settling the matter once and for all. “I am quite happy with my life. Aren’t you?”

There’s a soft sigh and Azura hangs her head. Quietly, she admits, “Happier than I was there.”

It’s a sad truth. Camilla holds out the earring. “It’s only here I see your smile. So please don’t talk like that, dear.”

In another life, Camilla doesn’t know Corrin. She barely knows Elise. But she does know Sakura, Hinoka, Ryoma, Takumi, and Azura. She knows a mother’s warmth and a kind home and she is all the richer for it.

-x-

In another life, Camilla comforts a grieving, distraught Corrin after Azura’s disappearance. They fought a war together and still Camilla does not think much of the blue-haired girl, not even enough to feel a small pang of what could have been.

In another life, Azura is remembered as a traitor by the Hoshidans, a nobody to the Nohrians, and it is only Corrin who grieves the loss.

-x-

In another life, Camilla and Xander do not hesitate. They are loyal to the bone, their family the most important part of their life. Despite the cruelty their father teaches and their mothers practice, the Nohrian prince and princess are shaped by their love for their siblings. And it is out of that love that they turn their blades on their father, cutting him down before all that’s left of the warm man they once knew are memories of a tyrant.

Elise and Leo are asleep in their rooms, unaware of the treachery underfoot tonight. The guards turn a blind eye, lulled by the promise of a better tomorrow, a better Nohr. Inside the expansive throne room, Camilla sets down her bloody axe with a dull thud. She leans on it, panting.

Nearby, in the very center of the room, lies their father’s broken, cooling body. Xander stands in front of it, staring. There should be tears neither of them are shedding. Perhaps it’s the shock.

“It’s done,” she finally says, breaking the silence.

“So it is,” Xander agrees, not looking at her. His posture is abnormally stiff. Camilla knows who he is, the distance he’s forced onto himself in order to lower their father’s guard. It was a role they needed while waiting for this moment.

Now the moment is gone and there is no longer any need for the ‘cold princeling’. Camilla forces her weary limbs into an awkward shuffle. When she reaches her brother, she pulls him close until their foreheads’ touch. She doesn’t have to see his eyes to know the guilt within. “This was the right thing.”

He’s still looking at their father’s body. His reply is textbook perfect. “That doesn’t mean it was right.”

“That distinction only matters to you,” Camilla replies evenly, weaving her hand through his hair and massaging his scalp. It works; he relaxes at her soothing touch. Smiling, she adds, “And that is why you will make a great king, dear.”

“Father—Garron was one.” Xander trembles, tiny earthquakes revealing the heart of his problem. “Who’s to say I will not end up the same?”

“I do, darling.” Camilla pulls back and squeezes his shoulder. “I’ll keep an eye on you.”

He doesn’t look convinced. “Will that be enough?”

“You doubt my strength?” Camilla raises a brow.

Xander flinches. “No, that wasn’t—”

“Besides, Leo will also be there. He has to chase you adorably, after all. And Elise will keep your heart safe. And Corrin—” Camilla cuts herself off, recalling the newest member of their family.

“Corrin…” Xander’s expression darkens, remembering how Garron had presented her to court after her kidnapping. “She shouldn’t be here in the first place.”

It’s true. Camilla doesn’t like it nonetheless. Something dark, possessive curls up within her. She doesn’t like that either; it’s something Garron would feel. Maybe she’s the one who takes after him, his tendencies waiting within her to spring out.

His blood is cooling on her hands. She doesn’t need to learn another lesson on obsession.

“We’ll send her home,” Xander decides. “An exchange of hostages.”

Briefly, Camilla remembers the blue-haired princess. Asura? Ashura? Another addition to the family either way. If only she could keep both girls in Nohr. “Do you think they’ll agree?”

Xander hesitates before nodding. “I believe it was just Garron who was stalling the peace talks.”

“I see.” Camilla reaches down, picking the blood-splattered crown off the ground. She rubs it with a sleeve, wiping it clean. In the flickering torch light, it gleams red.

“We’ll make things right. Here first, and then abroad.” Xander smiles wanly before ducking his head slightly at her silent request.

The crown slips onto his head too easily. “I know you will, dear.”

If there is anyone who can uphold such a lofty promise, it’s him.

-x-

In another life, Garron lives and Nohr wins the war. Camilla knows only of blood, of pain, and how to inflict it on others. To her regret, it’s a lesson Elise, Leo, and Corrin have now learned too. Villages burn, people die, and whether it is loyalty or fear, none of them are able to turn on their father and stop him.

Camilla tries not to think of how long it’s been since she’s seen anyone smile.

-x-

In another life, there is peace. Nohr and Hoshido do not fight. Garron died by Corrin’s hands; there could not be peace otherwise, their father too far gone to return to the kind man from their memories. Camilla doesn’t mind. She can’t mourn someone who they’d lost long before he’d breathed his last.

Corrin spends her days flitting between her families, between Nohr, Hoshido, and a lost kingdom of her own. A lost power of her own. A family of her own.

Yet, still she comes when they call. Today, that call is at the beach. Xander is holding Elise’s hands as he tries to teach her how to swim, while Leo hides under an umbrella with his book. It won’t protect him for long but it’s cute that he tries.

Camilla stands at a distance, watching them all. Even now, in this time of quiet and serenity, a single fear runs down her back. Something could shatter it. It might even be herself; despite all reassurances that they’re safe, Camilla finds it impossible to let go of her family.

Sometimes, she fears her love is too much, too great. That her parents’ darkness is her own.

“What are you doing here? Is something wrong?” Corrin asks, stepping onto the hot sand next to her. From the corner of her eye, Camilla spots Jakob running over with an umbrella. Sometimes it feels like she shares the same mind with Corrin’s loyal retainer.

“Nothing, dearest.” Camilla smiles as she pats her sister’s hair. “I wish I could have a painting of this. Maybe next time.”

“Then we’d have to stay still for hours. Elise would complain.” Corrin chuckles, dismissing the idea. “We’re supposed to have fun at the beach, not in a painting.”

“That’s true.” Camilla wonders how long they’ll be able to do this, how long it’ll be before Xander’s and Corrin’s duties keep them further and further away. “How long will you stay?”

“I’d like to say as long as I want but…” Corrin grimaces, her expression gaunt. It’s the same expression Elise has when she looks at her studies. “Well, I can’t run away for too long, but hopefully a few days. I don’t want to go back to that fortress, but things were a lot simpler then.”

Sometimes, Camila wishes the same. There was no need to share Corrin, back then. Elise still didn’t know the darkest truths of their kingdom. “If you need help, just let me know.”

“That’s just what Xander and Ryoma told me too.” Corrin laughs as she squeezes Camilla’s hand. “You let me know too, okay? We’re family, after all. You don’t have to shoulder things by yourself anymore, you can share it with us.”

It’s a truth Camilla knows already, but it sounds more real when Corrin says it. “We are family.”

“Of course.” Corrin leans her head against Camilla’s arm. “Always.”

Always. Camilla likes the ring of that.

In another life, Camilla is happy.

[randomnameless]

Yeah, the argument that "oh Hoshido is completely pure and good while Nohr is completely corrupt and evil" is complete bs and falls apart once you analyze the information you're given throughout Fates, especially in Birthright and Conquest.

Hoshido takes little to no interest in the issues of neighbouring countries once their usefulness is at an end, to the point of Sumeragi refusing to shelter Shura and other Kohga refugees after Mokushu conquered it, just because he wouldn't benefit from helping a now-destroyed nation; Dehumanizes the fuck out of their opposition, with even the royal family being raised under the assumption that the vast majority of Nohrians are inhumane, cowardly beasts who attack other countries for fun and pleasure instead of out of necessity, as is the truth, with things getting so bad that the general populace starts killing anyone in Hoshido who has even the slightest connection to Nohr, with Haitaka going rogue and forming a small platoon for the sole purpose of kidnapping, torturing and killing Azura (with that plot point being conveniently erased from the localization, with Azura claiming that she was the only one targeted in EN); Is so misogynistic that Mikoto and Hinoka were only allowed to take the throne due to the male heirs being either too young or dead to do so themselves, with multiple of the female playable Hoshidan cast having suffered through sexism in the military in the past; And is hypocritical af when it comes to what makes them any better than Nohr in terms of their behaviour on the battlefield, doing the exact same thing Garon did to Sumeragi by ambushing both him and Corrin while they were minding their own business, only to have the gall to call Zola dishonorable for ambushing them in return.

Nohr has it's issues, like the massive resource disparity caused by the nobles and soldiers getting what little food the country has for themselves while the commoners are left to starve (solved by the end of every route thanks to Leo and/or Xander) and it's history of invading and conquering other nations due to being too proud to ask other nations for help with their resource issues (also solved at the end of every route, with Leo or Xander taking pride in the fact that the two countries will be having much better and more open cooperations between them from then on), and is ultimately more morally at fault than Hoshido when it comes to the war, since they're the agressors, but it's also a genuinely better country than Hoshido in a few ways, most notably it's people being much more open and trusting of foreigners by default, with them happily accepting Shura into their midst despite also gaining nothing from doing so, and most Nohrians having no real preconceptions against Hoshidans and being much more respectful of them than the other way around: women are also, generally, much better treated in Nohr, with few to none of the female playable Nohrians having had any issues relating to gender discrimination in the military and being free to choose what they want to do with their lives without fear of being shunned for breaking away from their expected societal roles.

Thinking that Fates in any way portrays Hoshido as solely good and Nohr as solely bad implies a heavy misunderstanding of it's story and themes imo.

(Also, yeah, idk wtf the anon was talking about with "oh Birthright is just a more simplistic version of Shadow Dragon's good blue units destroy evil red units and bring peace to the world story"; an entire chapter of that route is dedicated to showing how rough the average Nohrian has it and how they still band together and overcome adversity by living in the underground, Ryoma's character arc is to understand and soften up to Nohr, ultimately deciding to share Hoshido's surplus resources with it once he's crowned king, multiple of the Nohrians Corrin fights are portrayed in a sympathetic light, and Xander and Elise's deaths are meant to be the emotional high points of the story lol)

(Also also, Ryoma himself never knew that Nohrian land was infertile and it's commoners were suffering prior to reaching Nohr and being told as such by Silas, with him vowing to share food with the country as soon as the war was over once he found out; the Nohrian monarchs prior to Garon were too prideful to ask Hoshido for help and tried to solve all their problems by themselves and the Hoshidan monarchs prior to Ryoma didn't give a fuck about what happened outside of their own country, causing Nohr's resource shortage to only get solved by the end of Fates, though it is likely that at least one Nohrian monarch swallowed their pride, asked Hoshido's monarch for help, and got told to fuck off; no real proof of that tho)

Oh thanks!

Yeah, in general both Nohr and Hoshido are flawed, in different ways, but flawed nonetheless!

Hoshido's extreme isolationism leads them to, not understand why Nohr feels obliged to attack them (but then Mikoto makes her special "and they don't want to fight anymore!" magic, so what happens to the Nohrians who are affected by her magic? Are they killed, or do they return to Nohr or... what?).

FE, in general, always tries to have some sort nuance, not the kind that would excuse imperialism or declaring a war, but it often took the time to explain circumstances that led to the war, so the blue lord doesn't repeat the same mistakes as his forefathers.

Imo, that's why in FE1 we learn about Medeus' motivations and why Jugdral's Travant is so well liked. Zephiel even gets a prequel!

It's never as clear cut as "red empire is evil and invades for shit'n'giggles and blue lords saves the world", or at least, it never was.

[nowis-scales]

Ryoma Birthday Headcanons

I definitely did not almost forget to prepare any of these in advance because I forgot that April 31st wasn’t a thing, haha… noooo, who would do that? I’m sorry Ryoma. You’re still my 2nd favourite Fates character, I’m just busy. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this year’s round!

‣ Honestly, after the events of Revelation, he’s a little embarrassed that his first act as king (without being directly coronated, of course) was to declare war. For one thing, Hoshido is a country of peace. Very few kings during their reigns opened them by starting a war. For another, the problems with Nohr that drove them to battle were half the fault of a [REDACTED] working behind the scenes to worsen relations, and the other half were his fault for being ignorant. Thankfully for the most part people talk about his efforts to bring food to Nohr and end battles more than they do his tendency to start them, but it does make Ryoma more weary of how he handles conflicts afterwards.

‣ A lot of people believe that Ryoma is just naturally good at everything and never fails or has embarrassing moments. No. The man is actually just really, really good at a poker face, and it tends to convince people. No, that clang you heard was not him knocking his dessert spoon off the table, Prince Xander. You must be imagining things. The fact that his dessert spoon is now gone must surely be a coincidence, and likely evidence of another visit from a cute, pig-tailed prankster named Elise. Ryoma genuinely does fail fairly normal, but he has just learned to roll with the punches and keep going, and he has found that most of the time people will just believe him. Of course, this can only make it more embarrassing when there’s no way he can convince anyone that he didn’t misjudge the doorway’s height and bash his head, because there’s a bruise forming already. He just turns a little pink then.

‣ For someone who wears red a lot and is heavily associated with the colour, his favourite is actually blue. He doesn’t mention it much because he still does like red, but he finds the colour very calming. If given the opportunity to dress himself in casual clothing, it’s usually the colour he will go for the most, and he usually does for a deep, midnight blue tone.

‣ Contrary to popular belief, he and Mikoto did not have a magical mother-son connection. They genuinely liked, loved, and respected each other, but after losing both of his own parents, Ryoma tended to try and keep his parental figures at arms' length after that. Mikoto, loving mother that she was, always tried to connect with him anyway, but they weren’t as close as many people believe. A lot of that comes from the fact that he showed immense support for her at the beginning of her reign, calling her “Mother” and taking her opinions and advice very seriously. He genuinely did grow to think of her as his mother and would sing her praises all day long, but in the end their bond wasn’t similar to that of the ones she had with Sakura or Takumi. They relied on each other a lot politically and socially, but emotional connections could be sporadic. It’s why Yukimura’s choice of words for their connection is “cordial”.

‣ I imagine one of Ryoma’s first political moves is to change the succession order to being just by age, rather than age and gender. He does this as a way to honour Queen Mikoto’s memory, as she was living proof of the power of an influential female leader. It’s considered quite the controversial move, but we all know our boy can be manipulative when he wants to be — so when people try to question him, he will always asks them if they’re insinuating that Mikoto was anything less than perfect. Do they think they could have done better than her, if they were to walk in her shoes? They tend to shut up quickly after that.

‣ I’ve mentioned that I think Ryoma probably doesn’t believe too much in the “women are inherently inferior to men and need to be soft and delicate” idea on the surface, considering he was raised by and is deeply bonded to four (or five, considering Corrin’s gender) strong women, but I think he definitely still has a problem with understanding that protective paternalism isn’t helpful. He’s very absorbed in his expected gender role as a man, to the point that he doesn’t really even consider how patronizing he comes across. He genuinely thinks he’s helping and doing something good, because his one main job in life has been protector. He’s not thinking about how unfair it is to assume that the women in his life need his back-up or can’t handle things, he just thinks he’s being chivalrous.

‣ Not a morning person, mostly because he's a really bad sleeper. Total grumpy grump. He’ll get up when Saizo or Kagero wakes him, but he’s not happy about it. In fact, for the most part they’re very uninvolved in his morning routines because he wants them to stay out of the way. Just give him the clothes and he’ll fuss with his hair and they’ll all be presentable in a bit. Until he’s had his coffee for the day, don’t talk to him. In fact, unless you’re bringing his coffee for the day, don’t talk to him.

‣ Speaking of Ryoma and his terrible sleep schedule, I like to think he is also a 3 a.m. snacker. And not just like, a small snacker — heavy snacks. The reason he knows how to cook is at least partially because he needs to cook his own 3 a.m. meals. His sleep schedule is so bad and his eating schedule isn’t much better. He gets wrapped up in whatever he’s doing and then suddenly eight hours have passed, and all he’s had is a cup of tea. So he goes out to search for and prep midnight eats. Admittedly, he’s a little embarrassed that he does this — especially because, per Revelation, Xander won’t. stop. catching. him. (“Listen — if you would like a helping of beef curry, just ask instead of skulking around in the dark in such a manner!”)

‣ Kinda prefers not being called by his royal title when he can help it. In the Japanese version of Birthright, he actually tells Scarlet to call him by his first name when his identity is revealed (approximations because I am working from memory here, but… ENG: "You may simply call me Lord Ryoma", JPN: "Ryoma is fine"). For close friends, Ryoma will often just ask people to call him by his first name. The title is fine and everything, he cherishes it because it is representative so much and it is technically a gift from his parents, but there’s a certain ease that comes to talking to people without it. It’s like the equivalent of actually being able to let it go for a little bit when his friends don’t feel the need to call him “lord” and “milord”. Honestly, he’ll even allow cutesy nicknames, too… but they do make him a little embarrassed. He’ll never get used to Camilla calling him by her variation of pet names. Just Ryoma is fine, why does she insist on things like ‘honey bun’? (The answer: she likes that it makes him flustered.)

‣ Of all of the Hoshidan royal siblings, it is the most difficult to make him cry, but let it be known that it is not as difficult to make him cry as you think it might be. Still pretty hard, but certain things can and do get the water works flowing. He just also tries rather viciously to deny the tears, so by the end of it when he finally does start to cry, his face is usually quite pink and he’s really trying to hide behind his hair. He finds crying really embarrassing and tries to avoid doing it in public at all costs, but is more likely to allow it if it’s for happy occasions. Like if one of his siblings was getting married? Then it’s okay to be a little glassy-eyed. They’re worth it.

[honeydots]

For the ask game- Xanlow 30 and 33

OTP ask game

maybe i should just put all of these under a cut at this point

30: Pet names? Yes or no?

laslow 100% yes. i think he's a man who says darling, lover, my dear. perfect. my love. dearest, even. i can imagine him using babe in a modern context too LMAO and goofier ones i think he could use jokingly at xander just for fun. but i think when laslow starts using them it's very notable to xander. the first time he calls him lover.... agh........ ;A; xander.... okay had you asked me this like half a year ago i probably would've said not really but ive been warning up to it lately. "my love" or "my dear" or POTENTIALLY something like "dove" would be cute. i don't think he uses them nearly as often as laslow does, and i think they're usually reserved for more intimate moments (but not necessarily always?). im always iffy w pet names bc sometimes its hard to make them work. but i think there ARE ways to make them work w these two, it just needs to be like. correct? lol. if u have ever seen me use a pet name in a fic know that i most certainly agonized over it LMAOO

33: What is their wedding day like?

WEDDING DAY SOBS SOBS SOBS okay well.... for one thing i do think laslow is a bit of a wreck. anxious to be in front of all these people, anxious to do well in a culture so unlike his own, anxious for what's to come after marrying a king. i think he'd also have a melancholy about him. his friends aren't all there. even if odin and selena are around, i really think the consequences of staying in nohr will weigh on laslow for like. ever. i don't think he'd be able to shake some of the sadness and loneliness. and on a day like his wedding, i think it'd be on his mind. EVEN STILL!! i think he'd be faced with a lot of joy, too. especially once he's with xander and they're celebrating. laslow probably voiced some of his anxieties leading up to the wedding, so it's not like xander doesn't know that he might have some trouble. and i think he'd do what he can to make him comfortable. xander is probably also very nervous. we know he has a lot more anxiety than he seems to, and a royal wedding isn't going to be without its fair share of stressors. i think his siblings would be trying their damnedest to make sure things run smoothly, and probably have to keep reminding xander that it's *his day* and he doesn't need to be in charge of everything, just this once. he's a little antsy!! i think it goes well, tho. laslow probably does cry and its VERY embarrassing. of course they dance together. i like to think peri helped to make some of the goodies and pastries that're served, too. and afterwards i think that a lot of the stress and sadness melts away, and they're filled with a lot more giddiness and excitement. they're married :) !! and then honeymoon in cyrkensia or something HEHE

[synergysilhouette]

Things I'd want for a "Fire Emblem: Fates" remake

I haven't played a ton of FE games, but I really loved Fates for it's characters and branching storyline. The community gives it WAAAY too much hate. One person told me that it's a minority of people who don't like it, but it's a LOUD minority, making it seem like a majority of people hate it. That said, the discussions I've had (and gatekeeping I've experienced) have inspired me to make some of my own changes to Fates if it ever got remade. I wonder if you'll agree with any. I know some of these are MAJOR changes that results in this feeling more like it's own game, but I hope you still take them into consideration, anyway.

1. Nix the amnesia story--It only existed for gameplay purposes to teach the player how to fight. Story-wise it's not important for Corrin, since they don't remember Nohr and thus it feels as new as Hoshido, so it completely defeats the born with/raised by concept. Just allow us more time to enjoy/interact with Nohrians and Hoshidans each in order to make it a more convincing story with a conflicted protagonist, plus it helps to flesh out the characters. Considering 3H and "Engage" allow you to explore environments a bit more, that should be a given. I feel like the amnesia plot only works in the "Birthright" route since Corrin would be kidnapped more recently and it'd make the royal family the main villains, and less sympathetic.

2. Have more support-contingent branching storylines--In "Fates: Birthright," Kaze dies at some point if you don't have his A-support conversation with Corrin. If you do, he becomes Corrin's retainer. It'd be fun if socializing with the characters (ie Azura, Silas, the royal family) had more weight to it, story-wise. It'd also be cool if you could carry over your save data from the opposite game and if you have A-supports with Ryoma, Elise, Takumi, and/or Xander, you can potentially save them. But that may be pushing it…

3. More same-sex supports (with kids)--Allow for Corrin to reach same-sex S-supports with Silas, Azura, Jakob, Felicia, and Kaze, given that they all join you in every route. Plus and the royals and Flora should also be allowed to be romanced in their respective routes and "Revelations." I feel like that should be a given. And allow us to keep our kids rather than off-screen offspring as mentioned in the epilogue. It feels unfair to remove their kids from the main story.

4. (Possibly Defeats the Purpose) Make it clear that Corrin isn't related the the royals--This is mainly for romantic reasons, but maybe have Mikoto as a woman who became a noble in Hoshido, with Sumeragi treating you like one of his children. It's also revealed that when Corrin was kidnapped, the Nohrian siblings were too young to know they weren't their sibling. Plus the Nohrian siblings being half-siblings does nothing for the plot, especially since they look alike (Leo and Xander have blonde hair, Camilla has purple, and Elise has blonde and purple hair).

5. LET THE PARENTS SURVIVE! Maybe it's because of parent death fatigue in "Engage," but I'd like for Sumeragi and Mikoto to survive, and let us see Ganon as a good king before he is curropted and dies. Plus giving Corrin dreams of Anankos would be awesome.

6. Remove the Awakening connection--It's only mentioned in some support conversations and doesn't fully impact the story. I see why it's a nice nod to the game that brought the franchise back to light, but still. Asugi looks like Gaius and Rhajat looks like Tharja, but apparently they're not the same person, so it can be the same with Laszlo/Inigo, Odin/Owain, and Severa/Selena. Maybe if we had a couple more characters from "Awakening" and it coming into play for the main storyline, it'd be a different story.

7. Give more life/information on Valla--If we're going for this "secret, Atlantis-like Kingdom," make it a trapped, isolated paradise that Anankos governs, giving this Fire Nation-type of nationalism so the inhabitants want to reclaim Nohr and Hoshido for themselves. They've already conquered Nohr, explaining the aggression towards Hoshido following Ganon's corruption. It'd be fun if you could recruit/interact with characters from Valla in "Revelations."

8. Fix up the Deeprealms and it's drama--In the game, they're convenient alternate dimensions/worlds that age the kids up quick at different rates, and most of them are ignorant of their heritage and birthright (no pun intended). In my rewrite, this is simply ONE alternate world that the children are sent to, and they age proportionately; the younger ones were just taken from the Deeprealms earlier. Plus it's something that's seen as "off the radar" and a world Anankos hopes to conquer after the main setting in the game. Along with this, all of the parents visit and involve themselves with their kids, rather than the children feeling like their parents ignored them or kept them in the dark.

9. Open World like in "Engage" and "3 Houses"--It'd really help to explore the culture more and expand the world so that the consequences feel even more severe.

[runicmagitek]

Someone to Lean On: Chapter 6 (Silas/Corrin - Fire Emblem Fates)

Windmire housed more than Nohr’s royal family. The city was also home to bandits and thieves—even Faceless, in recent times. Families warned their children to never play on the streets unattended. Merchants rarely conducted business there, unless they preferred back alleys and shady dealings. Windmire’s infamy lasted for generations; Silas recalled countless horror stories from his parents as a child and witnessed them first-hand as a knight.

Five years since he departed Castle Krakenburg, he recognized nothing.

Fresh cobblestone lined the clean streets. Folks crowded merchant stalls and flooded shops of all varieties: restaurants, jewelers, bakeries, tailors, workshops, and more. And there were children—children!—running together, their laughter as welcoming as the summer breeze.

What happened, though? Obviously something. Silas pondered on the catalyst that reformed Nohr, starting at its core. Maybe during Xander’s last year as king, he made progress in his vision for a better Nohr. Or was this Corrin’s doing, either from her own volition or upholding her late brother’s dreams?

As much as Silas longed to explore Windmire amidst its renaissance, his attention was required elsewhere. Every other block featured postings about the upcoming tournament—only two weeks away. Silas followed the directions to the base of operations: a repurposed tavern outside of the arena. Dozens swarmed the vicinity, no doubt warriors choosing to fight for Corrin’s hand in marriage.

The very ones he needed to kill in order to win.

[read more on AO3]

[lululeighsworld]

writing attacks for FE Art Scuffle's June 2024 event: Part 2!

blossom (387 words) -Though the storms of fate may encroach, in this quiet moment, there is only just the two of them. A vignette depicting Sumeragi/Mikoto's wedding day set before the events of FE14.

someday (2,524 words) -Benevolence, grace, and encouragement. These are the things Azura's young heart holds dearest as she learns to dance amongst the waves. A love letter to the Vallite royal family.

persistence (590 words) -The magic Arete imbues her song with is no longer enough to abate the curse plaguing Nohr's king. There remains one last hope to quell his suffering. Garon/Arete Vampire AU.

dawn's mosaic (2,709 words) -The short holiday that Hoshido's new king and queen planned for themselves will be remembered as the one with never ending surprises. Post-Birthright Ryoma/Scarlet fluff.

service (632 words) -Never let three summoners get their hands on strawberries, ice, and a maid dress. The Crown Prince of Nohr can tell you why. Comedic!

Sleep, my darling, night is falling (1,070 words) -It is late. Corrin is tired. Her baby is crying, she can hear, from the nursery the next room over. Post-Conquest Xander/Corrin navigating the seas of parenthood.

[folternis]

"Welcome back, Niles," Leo greets warmly, expression for once unguarded. It's a relief, having one half of his retainers again at his side.

(He need not worry about the archer, yet Leo cannot help but wonder what trouble Niles will land himself in without someone there to break his fall.)

"How is Nohr? Flourishing under Xander's leadership, I presume?" There's no trace of mockery in his tone. Nohr deserves a king who loves her.

"Ah, before I forget--I also heard your wife arrived recently. Should either of you need anything, please let me know."

niles is ever-pleased to see that leo is still here. he dislikes being away from his side ( that place where he belongs, near liege-friend-savior ) but sometimes needs must. niles is more than happy to be the one sent away if it means he can better acquire what he needs in service to the younger of nohr's princes.

"nohr is doing as well as you expect, milord," he says, nodding. for once his easy smile is not present, and in its place is a more sincere expression, one of contentment rather than play-acting at amusement. it's good to finally be able to pass along good news more frequently than bad.

he isn't well-suited to peacetime, but that doesn't mean he's not happy with it.

"your brother is a spectacular ruler—i'm happy to report that all is well."

he brightens just a little at the mention of his wife. it's a subtle expression, his visible eye widening just a touch, but it's likely one leo would know him well enough to pick up on. then he blinks and it's gone.

"i'll keep that in mind. but you know, it's not your job to see to anything i need, is it?"

[little-devil-art]

[Café Sesam] 👑⚔️☕️

(‼️OC x Canon‼️)

A continuation of my Modern AU where Xander is a Barista. While I don’t know what to make of Alice, I thought maybe she could be a journalist who researches about the past (And finds out that Xander is a descendant of the late King of Nohr) or an Art Historian, who analyzes the old Nohrian/Hoshidan Paintings!

Sesam is my headcanon Name for Xander’s Cabbit. There’s no meaning behind it, the name seemed cute and it’s been kept since 2017.

[chevaleri]

Over the years, he has contented himself with knowing there are some people he may never see again. Life's path does not always intersect with those he holds most dear; so he continues forward with a smile, enjoying whatever he's doing and whoever's doing it as his side.

He never loses the hope that perhaps a day may come where he will again see a long-lost friend. This Academy has a peculiar way of bringing back those lost faces.

Laslow hides a yawn behind his hand as he enters the professor's lounge. Classes mercifully start later today, and he'd taken full advantage by sleeping in. His jacket hangs off his shoulders; he hadn't yet bothered to properly put it on. The dishevelment adds to his charm!

"Good morning!" He chirps, smiling at the few people milling about the room. A rather imposing figure gives him pause. Their back is to him, but there's something familiar about the hair--

"Milord Xander?"

his voice is enough.

it is enough to send a surge of adrenaline through the king, jolting through his stomach and blossoming into his chest. eyes widen, fixated on the calendar, mouth slightly agape before he seals it once more into a thin line. it has been a long time.

xander is imposing. muscular, strong, a figure that stands on the frontlines and a tone that does not request but demand respect. long has it been since he has raised it in genuine intent ( that is to say - to cut, to slaughter, to pierce a path through that is both clear and safe for his people to walk ), and yet all the same the habits of war had not ebbed from his being. to those who saw his back, they would see nothing but the sturdy and stalwart figure in which he always is.

and which, he always will be. it was laslows departure that came, and left, and the forgiveness he vowed to present him with never had to arrive - it was long since presented in the hypothetical denouement of their relationship. spoken in ' what ifs ? ' in the privacy of campgrounds ( or was it his quarters ? or was it the garden ? it had been some time since , and yet xander recalls the conversation with grand clarity. laslow , who he had chastised for his troubles , he remembers it well. the surroundings did not exactly matter ).

( and yet, he does remember the day in which he departed. the frost of the air and the bite of loss, but the seasons changing and the return to peri. )

( she cried. xander did not. )

( he knew that it would be the last time he saw laslow. and that was okay, so long as he abided by the sacred vow of simply living. )

( ah, laslow kept his vow. . . dutiful retainer, albeit removed. )

slowly does he turn around to meet his gaze, a nod of acknowledgement and a pace towards him.

"so you have continued to draw breath, laslow," and yet, he still speaks to him with the same tone he always did - that of familiarity, that of a friend. not the rigidity he usually is host to, or the forced eloquence of nobility in a nohrian court. "i see you've followed my wishes even in my absence. well done."

but, laslow was no longer his retainer, was he? the lines were no longer neatly arranged and organized as xander always liked.

"but you did not need my forgiveness for your disappearance. i was rested to know you were likely alive," and he assumes there is awkwardness from laslow, one in which he concealed under his fine-tuned smiles and charismatic gestures. "and though nohr misses your company, i am sure fodlan will cherish it in equal amounts."

xander never tried to track him down. he had once vowed, a long time ago, in their earlier conversations - and yet, it had dawned on him in the latter that such was not the wishes of his companion. it was moreso the painful wounds of his formers retainer torn anew, seeping with blood he never wanted to bleed in front of others.

". . . and from your rather relaxed appearance," he sighs, but the faintest of a smile perks on his lips. "you seem to be cherishing fodlan just as much."

usually, he would tell laslow to present himself better. to look the part of a retainer. but for now, he will rest on such a statement, as a grand exception in the scheme of things.

but, it was still strange to see laslow now. "as we stand, you and i are equals," and he wants to ask him if hes still his retainer. there is a mass in his throat that refuses to settle, an instinctive desire to request laslow comes home-- no. back. he does not know if nohr is his home, and yet he hopes laslow found a degree of warmth in her cold from the people he had met. ". . . i . . ."

he doesn't say it. face changes, and he changes the track of what he was going to speak.

"am glad to see you well."

[elder-sister]

Okay so!

Hoshido is very peaceful, and prosperous. But also isolationist and racist

Nohr is a land in eternal night, and with few resources, forcing them to Conquer other lands, starting a war with Hoshido who refuses to trade with them. It doesn't help that an unknown (until you play the third route then you find out) killed Nohr's good king and slowly turned him into a brutal, bloodthirst tyrant.

While many of the Nohr characters who aren't recruited are obviously evil, I do think things are a bit more gray.

And also, Nohr's worldbuilding is interesting

Plants grow via moonlight, most cities are underground, the castle is in a hole. The place is militeristic, the history of the royal family is VERY interesting, the flora is bioluminescent, it's just cool

Nohr survives by conquering nearby lands such as the Ice Tribe, Notre Saggesse, and Cheve

Even then, those places are small. And have a tendency to rebel

Also, Conquest is more difficult. Units level up slower, you need to buy DLC for grinding, and it's harder and more expensive to get items. The map designs are also some of the most difficult yet fair in the series. Birthright is very Easy

Also, Nohr's music is pretty Celtic, with instruments such as bagpipes.

Hoshido is heavily Japanese inspired

And oh boy. The royal family of Nohr...

I feel bad for them. So very bad for them. They are the reason I can't play Birthright because I don't wanna hurt them ;-;

Yeah the Hoshido siblings lost their dad and Corrin but oh boy that's NOTHING compared to Nohr.

And also the Hoshidan royals, specifically Takumi and Hinoka, are racist

Nohr had a Queen, Katerina. She had a son with King Garon. Xander. And then she died. Now at this time, Garon was a loving father. Then, the concubines wanted power. They used their children for this. Hundreds of them forced to kill each other, or play the roles of political pawns. This lasted years. During this time, Garon remarried a woman named Arete, a foreigner with a daughter named Azura. However, throughout what would be called the Concubine wars, with so many of his children dying, he grew cold and callous. And eventually the whole mysterious guy killing and secretly puppetyring him thing happened.

Only 5 kids remained.

Xander, Camilla, Azura, Leo, and Elise

All very traumatized.

Xander constantly facing assassinations, Camilla made into a weapon for her mother, Azura being picked on relentlessly and the guards turning a blind eye, Leo forced to be a pawn and outright stating in a support that his mother didn't love him, and Elise was too young to remember, but she was never around for good guy Garon.

Then came Corrin's kidnapping and Azura's kidnapping.

And when they met Corrin, their new sibling, they became EXTREMELY close. They only had each other.

But they are effected. Xander hides his feelings for the greater good, Camilla is so violently protective and attached to people if she leaves she freaks out, Azura honestly got the best out of this because the Hoshidans saw her as "one of the good ones" Corrin was isolated and longed for the outside world, Leo has a massive inferiority complex, feeling his not good enough, not worthy, and strives to make his siblings proud even when they already are, and Elise takes it upon herself to make sure everyone is happy.

Even their retainers aren't as close to them as they are to the siblings. Niles broke in with a group of thieves and when they abandoned him and Leo confronted Niles, he begged for death, intriguing Leo enough to spare and hire him. Beruka was hired to kill Camilla, so Camilla hired her for more money to be a retainer. Laslow, Selena, and Odin are actually Inigo Severa and Owain from Awakening and are thus incredibly secretive. And Peri loves killing. Elise has the best retainers with her best friend and a Justice loving man.

ALL OF THIS BEFORE THE GAME EVEN STARTS!!!!!!!!!

Every trauma thing stays the same except Corrin. I mean her first experience outside the Northern Fortress is being a commander in a war so...

Also, headcanon ages (during the game)

Elise is 16 (Japanese Version has her as a child and she's written like one but she is called an adult once in the English version so I'm going with 16 as a comprise), Leo is 18, Corrin is 20, Azura is 20, Camilla is 22 and Xander is 25. But the ages are just headcanon

Oof that was... uh. Something? /pos

[feifheadcanons]

Xander's hair will turn completely grey from stress at age 35, should he become King of Nohr.

Laslow: I think grey hair is quite becoming!

Xander: Another word and your funeral will "becoming" up soon.