#ajax & cyrus

[thewhizzyhead]

how genderbending the warriors (2024) is done not for the sole sake of "bad-assery"

okay here we go feminist ramble time for our newest chick on the block: warriors. now i'll be honest, prior to listening to the album, when i first heard that the warriors main girls were originally dudes in the movie and the novel, i thought that the decision for the genderbending, in lmm's perspective, were from the following: 1.) girl power move in like a very basic meaning of the word "bad-ass" 2.) simply a twist on a cult movie about big gang bros loved by the film bros, and 3.) a way to have the schuyler sisters back together gjfkdfldf

but when i read more about warriors and its development and how lmm took inspiration from the gamergate controversies of 2014-2015 aka among the peak of gamerbro misogyny campaigns, that's when i realized that Oh Shit Is Serious - because adapting a story about a group being framed and targeted and harassed for something they are accused of doing without any substantial proof other than a man screaming "THE WARRIORS SHOT CYYYYRUUS" with 21st century misogyny campaigns in mind makes the theme of fighting back a lot more complicated and a lot more resonant, going beyond just marketing a cast you can call "badass"

take the hurricanes' quiet girls, for example. the hurricanes (concept album version) is the only gang that lets the warriors off the hook and with a stern warning: quiet girls don't make it home. here, the hurricanes berate the warriors for not saying shit or attempting to defend themselves from accusations they know well aren't true. THIS MESSAGE IN PARTICULAR is what stays and influences ajax, fox, and swan til the very end of their stories.

literally one song after this does ajax show how easily she resonated with the hurricanes' lesson by finally sticking with her gut and actually choosing to fight back against both the baseball furies AND against the sleazy undercover cop. the latter encounter is one of the instances that really solidifies the recontextualization of the story because in the OG movie, ajax (a dude) WAS the sleazy fuck up harassing a woman in a park - and now with the literal character switch, ajax goes from being just a rebellious gangbro dude bro into someone whose want to fight is warranted. such a want to fight is seen in fox seeing as fox is the first to comment on the quiet girls scene and that, in the concept album, she is the one that instigates the rumble against the police in union square - saying that she is sick of being afraid of them and their 'fuckin powder blue' colors (also notice how she is the only warrior that really does say fuck the cops i think that's cool BUT I'LL TALK ABOUT FOX MORE NEXT TIME)

to a less obvious extent, swan also gets the receiving end of this recurring theme - by the album's finale, the usually violence-averse caution-first interim leader becomes a lot fiercer in protecting her crew. but perhaps among what i consider to be the biggest recontextualized change in the feminist sense is MERCY and her motivations to join the warriors in the first place. according to the wiki, her attraction to swan and the warriors and um seeing the orphans as wimps is what led her to switch sides BUT IN THE CONCEPT ALBUM, mercy's motivation to become a warrior is deepened, rooted in admiration rather than attraction - wanting to be like those women who hold their head up high. and again, we see this in Sick of Runnin' when she takes part in the rumble, finding her bravery within their ranks as they fight back. here, mercy becomes less of a swan tagalong and more of someone that wants what the warriors have: pride.

of course now that i type this out i realize that warriors is not based solely on the feminist rhetoric as with their theme of hope amidst adversity, the story is more intersectional and rooted in community struggle and wanting for more than that. but nonetheless, i genuinely believe that the twt filmbros arguments on why the genders should not have been changed in the first place just for "woke" points is kinda like,,,very shortsighted because not only does the narrative of women narrowly escaping unwarranted accusations actually fucking fit, but the act of learning to fight back amidst all odds - be it that of disbelieving, predatory men or the power of oppressive pigs - stays resonant for women yesterday, today, and the days to come.

ultimately, warriors (2024) is not solely a tale of female badassery - rather, it is a tale of the need for such "female badassery" in the face of past and present realities, which is why it somehow fucking worked.

[ataraxixx]

some various guys

[techmomma]

momo:

momo: what flavor? tb: smoothie.

[iwant-fuitgummi]

"i am totally normal about genshin impact" i say. my google doc falls out of my pocket. you see that i have given every single playable character a full name and have done research into the naming conventions of other countries to do so. i hit you with a hammer and run

[asthedeathoflight]

I have too many wips already but hmm... Rembrandt time loop au....

[rembrandts-spraypaint]

R.I.P Cyrus, you would've loved post-Beatles John Lennon

[roadkillgodfather]

Lioden!Ajax is now in the game!

And he's pregnant with 4 cubs after using a GOP and lion meat!!! If he gives me a lethal or a hybrid I'll cry. I'm gonna ibf him tomorrow so I can have Jasper/Ajax Valentine's Day babies :)

[simonisferal]

not you again “ scaramouche x male reader “

episode ten: this is NOT the USA miley cyrus was partying in 📖

warnings: vulgar language, mentions and consumption of weed and alcohol, mentions of suicide and self loathing, one sex joke, y/n is kind of a bitch

notes: i listened to the demons 😐 sorry skibidi rizzlers. i didnt have a sigma day

500 words

You groan. ‘That asshole.’ You turn off your phone and put it back in your pocket.

You shouldn’t have even considered picking it up. All he does is brag nowadays. You can't seem to maintain a proper conversation with him without the guy spewing out some bullshit. You'd say it was just like him if you didn't know him before.

You shouldn't think of him anymore, especially since you won't see him again but you still had a lingering feeling of guilt.

Your trance was put to a stop as a familiar voice called out to you.

“Y/N!” It was Tartaglia. He wore a weird combination of a Hawaian shirt and jean shorts that barely covered his knees. “Hey, I haven’t seen you in a while.” You would’ve burst out laughing if you weren’t so confused.

”Childe? What are you doing here? I thought you were back in Liyue.”

The ginger shrugs before Diluc and Kaeya both come out of a very expensive looking house. The walls were painted a cream color and it looked like the place had three stories. The root was carefully bricked and the bushes surrounding the land were beautifully trimmed and watered.

The sudden realization that you were possibly the only penniless person there (besides Venti) came you to. ‘What the fuck.’

Kaeya spoke up, “He got kicked out of summer school for fighting a guy named Xiao. My sweet brother, Diluc, was so charitable and is letting him stay here until summer is over.” He had a small grin on his face as Diluc let out a groan and crossed his arms, displaying fake annoyance.

”Seeing how Kaeya is so adamant on Ajax, I figured I could do him a favor… Though I’d rather not hear anything suspicious in the manor’s bedroo—”

”Woah!” Tartaglia interrupted him, waving his hands around and becoming a little louder as if to drown him out. “Diluc! Some things are better left not said, ‘kay?” He had a sheepish smile on his face.

Diluc scoffed. “It’s my house.”

Kaeya interrupted, “It’s also mine.”

”You don’t pay rent.”

”And you don’t do your bed.”

”You—“

 “We should go inside! Y/N hasn’t seen the Dawn Winery yet, right?” Childe, as if begging you to go along, wrapped his arm around your shoulder. You stiffen a bit, he’s gotten slightly taller from what you recall, but agree.

”Yeah. I’d like to see it.” You weren’t too sure if you should be talking formally or not, seeing how fancy the house—or ‘manor’ was.

Kaeya and Diluc shared a look but, nonetheless, invited you in. They began to walk with you following them but Ajax stopped you.

He looked both ways before handing you a small bag. “Here. Take this.” It wasn’t anything big, just a chocolate brownie. “Uhh, thanks?” You took it a little too fast for his liking.

He looked at you with a raised eyebrow. You could see the gears turn in his head. “Oh! Y/N, dude, it's an edible.” Tartaglia explained.

Oh. You ignore the fact you forgot what such a thing was. You open the bag cautiously, scared it might alert the FEDs or something. “Why would I need one?”

”Did you look in the mirror when you left? You’re a mess.” He looked concerned and your heart sank a bit.

”Don’t worry about the weed though, it’s only like six milligrams, I think.”

You took a bit out of it. It didn’t taste bad. ”You think?”

”Yeah… I’m not a knower.”

masterlist - prev - next

taglist: closed!

@furiscara, @fisbred, @shutingstar, @terapung, @scaradooche,

@cherimu, @thystarsshine, @zoropookie, @justyoureader, @kazumiku,

@heusalettle, @khisuko, @neversore, @liuaneee, @popcorn-milk,

@yangbbokari, @swivy123, @featuredtofu, @pookiemax, @academiq,

@notrsz, @mercy-not-merci, @kiekole, @pwaap, @vxcmx,

@vamxpi, @yourfavoritefreakyhan, @b2tr09, @ell1e2010, @moonslie04,

@allaboutiknowthatyoubeingdead, @somnium-kiss, @crxwned-mxnarch, @jad3-n, @emptydinner-plate

[desmon1995]

I finished to most of the Spotify album and both LMM and Davis talked about the casting and some other things.

Both agreed that the story could really only work through a new lens if the cast were largely women otherwise it would just be a regurgitation of the film/book.

Jasmine Cephas Jones and Amber Gray were essentially the first two Warrior members that they already knew that they wanted.

LMM said that Jazzy has a natural cool persona and is actually from Brooklyn and she has a lot of range with her voice.

Davis said that Amber essentially shaped Ajax because of how gruff her voice is and they both said that it was a nice contrast to Jasmine having a more laid-back kind of voice.

Julia Harriman was pretty much chosen because her range is incredible just like Jones so the two would harmonize incredibly well together

I didn't know this, but according to Lin, Kenita Miller was actually the original Eliza Hamilton during the off stage version and she recently won like a award for her recent Broadway show, so the two wanted her to play Cocohise.

Anessa Folds what's next and she essentially was mentored by lmm and became one of the newer additions to his improv group freestyle Love supreme.

Eisa thought that she had a powerful voice and could command the others because of soulful her voice is.

Pippa basically shaped the way Fox would be developed because of how strong of a performer she is which encourage both Davis and Miranda to get creative when rewriting Fox.

Sasha Hushings was picked because not only is she incredibly energetic and a flower child, but she is a professional stepper which influenced Davis want her as cowgirl.

Gizel Jimenez was already a part of a Davis play prior to working with LMM on tick tick boom and she sort of stuck out as a prodigy to both of them so they thought that she would fit as the Renaissance woman of the Warriors.

Also, interesting tidbit to show just how versatile Anessa is as a performer.

Originally, in demo track she played both Cyrus and Cleon before they sent it to Lauryn Hill

[specific-dreamer]

i’ve been thinking about this all day but @dallasgallant gave me the courage to actually put it into words and post it but. consider a warriors au. except i’m really just drawing parallels so the warriors story happens the exact same just with the outsiders characters

i can’t decided if dally or darry would be swan.

which also begs the questions who’s cleon. “swan was cleons number 2” it makes me want to make darry cleon and two-bit swan. (because as much as he’s the resident joker we know he’d step up and be serious when he has too)

but also if i wanted to go off of canon id make darry cleon because cleon dying can be represented by him going soc

and dally would be swan not because he’s the number two but because he’s the one i think is most likely to step up and immediately get them to safety after everything

but also the backstory of cleon finding swan and naming her (i’m going off musical warriors but ykw they’re rly close so it don’t rly matter) and bringing her to the gang is so darry finding dally and claiming him core

(darry collects strays more than anyone else in the gang send tweet)

i’ll think harder on this later omg

you guys have to walk with me on this one okay.

cyrus might just be randy or cherry

WALK WITH ME cyrus trying to get all the gangs to have peace, work together and all that. randy and cherry finally understanding how fighting isn’t doing jack shit and they ought to stop

when i’m more awake i’ll grab my book and expand on this but im cooking here omg

anyways

ajax is steve 🧍🏾‍♀️

“i’m sick of running/i’ve got to f’s for yall: fuck around find out” tell me that’s not steve

fox is pony simply because they’re both the youngest. there are other better reasons but that’s the main one

idk if i want bob to be luther or just some random guy.

if i wanted to lean into history and keep it time period accurate it’d be some random guy

rembrandt might be johnny

can’t explain it but it feels right

two-bit feels like a mix between cochise and cowgirl

i also can’t explain that but alas

and idk who soda is help :(

[whatcannotbesaid-shallbewept]

"This is The Sound Of Something Being Born" (But What?)

Like anyone else who's listened to it, I just can't stop thinking about Warriors.

It's a dense work, and while the genderswap is probably my favourite thing about it, there's two other things about the story that I'm obsessed with. "This is the sound of something being born", and the song Same Train Home.

I've done my post on the genderswap so consider this Part 2 of my "favourite things about The Warriors" meta series.

But while the Genderswap is important to Warriors it's not the main thesis of the story.

While "This is the sound of something born" definitely is the thesis. It's in the first song, and the finale line of the last song. It's the mic-drop moment that ends the album. So what's being born exactly? And what do I have to add to this thesis?

It's important to pay attention to who says that line. Firstly, it's the guest rappers on Survive The Night. Then it's Cleon in Finale.

Cleon is definitely the heart (or soul?) of the story - she's the one who believes in Cyrus, the Warrior who has the highest emotional stakes in that dream being destroyed.

But Cyrus' dream isn't what Cleon is talking about in the finale. So... what?

Eisa Davis has already said what's actually being born in the final song... it's Hip-hop.

She calls the album "a love letter to the origins of the Hip-Hop". You can look at the plot through a lense of the Cyrus truce "enabling the the cultural conditions that created hip-hop". Like the real gang truces did in the 70s.

That's why the guest rappers are the first ones to say "this is the sound of something being born".

I basically agree with @thewhizzyhead that Luther killing Cyrus made peace between the gangs impossible. That dream is firmly dead.

The Gramercy Riffs even admit this themselves. In the end, they break the peace. In their words "Fuck the truce, and do what's right."

By the finale, the album admits that peace isn't a sustainable goal anymore. Hell, it's not even worth it. Guys like Luther need to be stopped, and peace isn't working.

And this is where I go a little bit feral because... thats what RENT says!! And like Lin Manuel Miranda, I fucking love RENT.

One of the final lines of act one of RENT is - "The opposite of war isn't peace, its creation".

Which is almost exactly the same as Warriors' final thesis. Destruction, peace, creation.

Luther wants blind destruction, Cyrus and The Riffs want peace but fail, and in the end Cleon declares - "This is the sound of something being born"

Now that's always been a great line from RENT, but not really one that the story focuses on.

Jonathan Larson was a very political writer, only really writing charged satire before RENT. But I wouldn't really call RENT politically charged . (Partly due to his editors asking him to change things)

A lot of people have praised the ending of Warriors for being hopeful - and it very much is hopeful.

But it shouldn't be? Right?

If you look objectively at the situation - Cyrus is dead, Fox and Ajax are gone, Luther destroyed any chance of peace, and you know. They're still a gang dealing with things like poverty and police violence.

Over the course of Warriors nothing actually changes for the better. In fact, things are probably worse.

The situation is hopeless - but for some reason, the characters aren't. And the narrative rewards them for this.

You see, RENT ends in the exact same way. Things get worse - some of them die, relationships get ruined, most of them don't achieve their dreams. They still all have death sentences over their head, they're still poor. Everything's the same.

But one single thing changes.

Mimi, after a indirect suicide attempt, survives. And afterwards, she wants to live.

That's the triumphant moment the show ends on. RENT is a very optimistic show, and this is how it justifies all that optimism. With just one small, insignificant thing, like hope.

The same happens with Cleon. Things get worse, but Cleon still has hope.

This is what the line "The opposite of war isn't peace, its creation" actually means. It's another example of RENT's optimism.

It's blind optimism that doesn't really make logical sense - but it ends up being proven right anyway. In a very metatextual way.

Some of the characters in RENT probably don't even survive much longer after the final song - but Mark managed to record a lot of their lives in his documentary.

The film that plays in the final moments of the play, is also subtextually - the musical RENT. Something was lost, but something was created too. RENT didn't just create itself, but half a hundred other culturally relevant musicals. Some of which you may already know - In The Heights, Hamilton, Warriors.

Watching the musical RENT over and over, you get a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. A story loops back in on itself. It's the same with Warriors.

Eventually the birth Hip-hop happened, and then Warriors. It's own self-fulfilling prophecy. This is the sound of something being born.

[thewhizzyhead]

warriors 2024 and the art of giving meaning to struggle

alrighty ramble time: let's talk about luther and how he managed to fuck up NYC for good. if luther were like i dunno lex luthor, i'd say his move to destabilize gang relations in nyc is a very fucking calculated move because i really do have to give credit to him in actually achieving the goal he set out for himself because his decision to kill cyrus,,,,aka the one that organized the "Please No Gang Fighting" summit that aimed to unite everyone against the bigger baddies of NYC,,,essentially fucking killed any and all chance of such a peace summit and unity initiative from ever happening again. because, like, after seeing a beloved and seemingly untouchable leader be murdered in front of all of you despite explicit instructions to Not Bring Weapons, would you even risk witnessing that chaos again in another summit? would you trust that forming a united force work after such a tragedy? is there even a possibility of finding trust among other NYC gangs if someone among their number killed your very hope? so yea knowing how the movie ends with just the gramercy riffs saying that the warriors (with two dead people and one arrestee in tow) are off the hook because someone else witnessed luther killing cyrus,,,the original ending is actually quite hopeless when you think about it in their shoes. in the words of movie swan himself in the movie, is what they end up with all their night of sleepless fighting and struggle is worth? hence, i now really see why warriors (2024) decided to make what I consider to be the 2nd biggest diversion outside of the genderswap: making cleon live - because otherwise, the warriors' struggles surviving the night can be said to be struggle for solely struggle's sake.

in the musical, cleon is an astute believer in cyrus and the future cyrus envisions for all of NYC - thus, she becomes the harbinger of cyrus' hope in the form of still breathin' and somewhere in the city. her being alive doesn't detract from the widespread tragedy faced by the NYC gangs - i still really believe that no matter what, luther effectively killed their one shot at true unity and trust - but in cleon's own words: "What do you do when they kill everything you believe in? Give it meanin." the decision to keep cleon alive is warriors (2024) counteractive measure at the absolute shithole luther placed NYC in because in her message of keeping the dream alive despite situations that are, realistically speaking, impossible to wholly recover from, gives their struggle meaning, purpose, and direction - the end goal being hope. that theme of hope despite and in spite of adversity now becomes evident on as to why we are made to be invested in the warriors' journey home and their subsequent growth. in mercy's decision to leave the orphans for a place of belonging and pride that can make her finally hold her head up high. in ajax's and fox's decisions to retaliate against their pursuants among sleazy old men in blue. in swan's persistence in getting the rest of her crew home alive despite still reeling from the loss of her leader and her fellow warriors. all attribute their own reasons to why they resist and rebel because they ultimately hope for something fucking better. ultimately, warriors (2024) exists because of the want to give more meaning to struggle in the form of hope amidst hopelessness. in the movie, the warriors find their meaning in the sweet simple bliss of survival - in making to coney island's sunrise. but in the album, another meaning is emphasized among not just the warriors, but the marginalized communities of NYC in general: their meaning of struggle goes beyond surviving the night - because they carry on and carry forth the dream of one day having a city where they all come home alive. because after all, isn't the formation of grassroots rooted in resistance - and isn't resistance born out of the want and hope for something better?

[untitledesquire]

I think that the different tone in the ending of the Warriors film and album are reflective of a significant change in the way that we as a society conceptualize gangs and the reasons for their formation.

The film presents a very pulpy, almost comic-book like depiction of gang culture. They dress up in ridiculous outfits and don’t seem to have any ambition or desires outside of menacing people and causing pain. They have a radio station set up to spread their news and have giant convocations in prominent parks.

This has never actually been how gangs operate, but it is reflective of the way that gangs were viewed in the 60s and 70s, especially in NYC. They were a threat to society made up of antisocial criminals who simply cause pain for its own sake and love doing crime.

The album however seems to take a deeper dive into the ways in which the warriors have been failed by society and the reasons that gangs form. The film makes a couple passing references to the warriors’ case worker and to them not having much, but it doesn’t really provide depth to it.

The album makes a more deliberate effort to cotextualize the warriors, like with Swan having been homeless before Cleon found her, or Ajax facing sexist harassment and looking to protect her gang more than to cause random violence.

While I’m not an expert, gangs generally form as a response to a lack of security, economic opportunities, and stability in communities, often caused or exacerbated by discriminatory city planning and ghettoization. They form as an attempt by member of a community to stabilize and protect their community, even if it involves criminal activity. While I don’t think anyone will say that violence committed by gangs against other gangs or civilians is good, we have a much more nuanced understanding of why it happens now that makes it difficult to paint gang members in the same way that the film does.

The end of the film is bleak and dismal, a statement on the futility of this kind of violence and the pointlessness of the entire ordeal. The album however ends on a more optimistic note of the Warriors and Riffs fighting to realize Cyrus’s dream, which in the album is specifically tied to safety for the gang members and a reduction of violence instead of purely the acquisition of power.

[techmomma]

Tiberius always was good at finding weak spots.

[iwant-fuitgummi]

my headcanons for genshin characters' full names (plus some canon ones lol) ^-^

Travelers:

Aether Sirius Viator

Lumine Spica Viator

Paimon Alycone Merope

Mondstadt:

Albedo Erich Kreideprinz

Amber Ida Hasenkamp-Xia

Astrologist Mona Magdalena Megistus

Barbara “Barbie” Liselotte Pegg

Bennett Anselm Mallory

Dahlia Bram Batz

Diluc Bastian Ragnvindr

Diona Dafni Kätzlein

Eula Babette Lawrence

Fischl von Luftschloss Narfidort

Jeanette “Jean” Elke Gunnhildr

Kaeya Rivaan Alberich / Ragnvindr

Klee Käthe Kessler

Lisa Fiorella Minci

Michael “Mika” Clemens Schmidt

Noelle Petra Desroche

Razor Rolf Minci

Rosaria Karoline Nacht

Vanda “Sucrose” Anneliese Hertz

Varka Johann Bahl

Venti Detlef Daiber / Barbatos

Liyue:

Bai Chongyun

Cai Yanfei

Dai Yaoyao

Ding Xiao

Fei Xingqiu

Hu Tao

Huang Zhongli / Morax / Rex Lapis / Deus Auri

Lei Beidou

Lu Xinyan

Luo Ganyu

Luo Shenhe

Luo Xianyun

Mao Xiangling

Xue Baizhu

Xue Qiqi

Yan Yelan

Yao Ningguang

Yip Gaming

Yun Jin

Zhuang Keqing

Inazuma:

Arataki Itto

Kaedehara Kazuha

Kamisato Ayaka

Kamisato Ayato

Koizumi Chiori

Kujou Sara

Kuki Shinobu

Naganohara Yoimiya

Nekoba Kirara

Raiden Ei / Beelzebul

Raiden Shogun

Sangonomiya Kokomi

Shikanoin Heizou

Shikanoin Sayu

Takeishi Gorou

Thomas Oskar Rothschild / Akatsuki Thoma

Yae Miko

Sumeru:

Al-Haitham ibn Jamir ibn Zaid Sader

Candace bint Hamza ibn Ahmar Asim

Collei bint Tighnari ibn Zayd Habib

Cyno Cyrus Bamoun El-Hafez

Dehya bint Kusayla ibn Malek Hashim

Dori Yildiz / “Dori Sangemah Bay”

Faruzan Azimi

Imai Kunimitsu (Wanderer)

Kaveh Roshan

Layla Yildiz

Nahida Ijaz / Lesser Lord Kusanali / Buer

Nilou Golshan

Sethos Cyrus Bamoun El-Abdelfatteh

Tighnari ibn Zayd ibn Kyree Jubran

Fontaine:

Charlotte Benoîte LaFramboise

Chevreuse Cosette Caideux

Clorinde Maëlle Archambault

Emilie Rose Lavande

Freminet Corentin Snezhevich

Furina Regine Babineaux / “Furina de Fontaine”

Lynette Veronique Alarie-Snezhevna

Lyney Valentin Alarie-Snezhevich

Marion Devereaux Neuvillette

Navia Reine Caspar

Sigewinne Elyna Arquette

Warren Gaultier Wriothesley

Natlan:

Chasca Rivas

Citlali Xahuentitla

Iansan Kẹyinde

Kachina Nanatzcayan

Kinich Canek

Mavuika Whakatāne / Haborym

Mualani Ka’aukai

Oluwatoke Kọlade

Xilonen Nocelotl

Fatui (pretty much all of these will change as the game progresses):

Ajax Klimentovich Melnik / Tartaglia

Ceylse Aurelia Valerian / Columbina

Cosette Margot Bourreau / Sandrone

Crepus Arnfried Ragnvindr / Brighella

Jin Chaoxing / Pantalone

Peruere Genevieve Snezhevna / Arlecchino

Raiden Kunikuzushi / Scaramouche

Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter / La Signora

Rurik Vadimovich Vorobyev / Pulcinella

Ulrik Agnar Ingolf / Pierro

Tatiana Snezhevna Agapov / the Tsaritsa

Tlacelel Itzcuintlan / Il Captiano

Zandik Nazeri / Il Dottore

Hexenzirkel (again, will change):

Alice Thekla Kessler / "A"

Anya M. Andersdotter / "M"

Astromancer Barbeloth Oda Trismegistus / "B"

Inessa Ivanova Nikulina / "J"

Nicole Reeyn-Ragnvindr / "N"

Octavia Campana / "O"

Idun “Gold” Rhinedottir / "R"

NPCS!!!

(I HAVE A CLEAR FAVORITE NATION)

Mondstadt NPCs:

Adelinde Nett

Adelram Kreideprinz / Durin

Anna and Anthony Heilbrunn

Charles Schenck

Callirhoe Dupuis

Chloris and Flora Diefenbach

Cyrus Laukkanen

Donna Fenimore

Draff Kätzlein

Edith Rayne / Dr. Edith

Ella Musk

Ellin Sheridan

Elzer Boivin

Eury and Nimrod Poirot

Glory Taggart

Godwin Cross

Grace Kappel

Herrik Huffman

Hertha Bonamy

Maeve Livingstone / Dr. Livingstone

Margaret Winfrey

Marjorie Brightwen

Mellan König / Decarabian

Neven Gale / Dvalin

Patchi Driscoll

Patton Schüttmann

Sara Küchler

Siegfria Knochenmus

Timaeus Kloet

Vennessa Aguilar

Victoria Strohkirch

Vile Gagnon

Wagner McGowan

Liyue NPCs:

Gao Haixia / Beisht

Gao Shui / Osial

Huichen Guizhong / Haagentus

Mao Chaoxiang / Chef Mao

Mao Guoba / Marchosius / God of the Stove

Qui Tianlong / Azhdaha

Yi Nuo / Havria

Inazuma NPCs:

Arataki Takuya

Hinoyama Enjou

Raiden Makoto / Baal

Sumeru NPCs:

Amun Al-Ahmar / Deshret

Lilavati Trygve Alberich (post-marriage)'/ Lilavati Kartik Mishra (pre-marriage) / Kaeya's Mom

Nabu Malikata

Parisa Rukkhadevata

Fontaine NPCs:

Alouette Désirée Dupont / Egeria

Elynas Arsène Auclair

Fanchone Océane de Fontaine / Focalors

Remus Berceuse Adagio

all melusines (aside from sigewinne) have the surname "Auclair"

Snezhnaya NPCs:

Aleksander Klimentovich Melnik

Andronika Klimentevna Melnik

Anton Klimentovich Melnik

Teucer Klimentovich Melnik

Theodor Klimentovich Melnik

Tonia Klimentevna Melnik

Khaenri'ah NPCs:

Anfortas Asgeir Alberich

Caribert Alvar Alberich

Chlothar Flosi Alberich

Dainsleif Olan Asketill

Halfdan Munin Lien

Trygve Einar Alberich / Kaeya's Dad

Vedrfolnir Asketill / "the Sinner"

[kailoraurelius]

📣📣📣 AND ANOTHER THING ABOUT SWAN, I shout into my empty room. @sun-mo0nshine reblogged my post about Swan being the baddest bitch and said they love the way Jasmine says, "Swan". And I have a headcanon about it that idk maybe y'all would like?? So here it is lol. Sorry it's monsterously long.

We all have animatics in our heads, I'm sure. Or full stage or cinema productions or whatever. We're picturing it as we listen. I have a full stage production in mine. There's a few parts that are questionably possible with today's technology, but whatever. It's entertaining and gets me through very long hours at work sometimes.

POINT IS, in my head, Swan almost never smiles. She sounds nearly bored the very first time she says her name in Survive the Night. But we know her better now! We know she was worried even then!! And all the girls are saying their names in ways that seem to match how they'd be feeling in that moment.

Cochise, vibey, positive. Shown by her share of the lyrics in the rest of the song, because she's the one that sings about Cyrus holding the crown and wanting to see what happens with Cleon.

Cowgirl, more excited and rambunctious, down for a good time. That one is simple lol.

Fox, short and fierce. She's already trying to show she's tough in the first moment of her in this. You can hear her lifting her chin when she fuckin' says it.

Cleon, the loudest and most open voice of all of them. Representing basically her whole character in her intro. She is the one that believes fully in Cyrus and is open to her dream.

Ajax, just above monotone, a little extra emphasis on the "s" sound. It feels a little darker, even snake-like for a moment. Not to say she's a snake by any means, but she is ALMOST an antagonist for her own crew throughout—questioning Swan over and over, picking the fight that ends up taking her away—and this bit of darker voice and imagery kinda hints at that to me.

Rembrandt, always saying her name in two parts, the last syllable usually leaning more toward her feelings. (For example, the first time Mercy adds herself to the Roll Call later, Rembrandt speaks after her and there is very clearly a ???? In the middle of her name and an annoyed emphasis on the T at the end, like she's thinking, "who is this bitch? It was MY turn next.") And in this first Roll Call, her voice seems to fall somewhere between Ajax and Swan's vibes. Not as worried or displeased, but in between. Which makes sense because she is the one that echoes Ajax when she openly questions the plan throughout this song.

NOW. Swan. Worried. Monotone. Mind elsewhere, on what the future is about to bring them. I do not picture her smiling in this.

In Warriors' Cypher is the first time we hear some brightness in her voice, but even then she's talking about "peace so far" and stating that she has everyone's backs if that changes. She's STILL worried, even while they're fooling around and having fun. I do picture her almost exasperatedly laughing at the others' parts or smirking at Cowgirl's line, but not full on grinning. She's still focused on her worry, but she's allowing the bit of fun. And, in If You Can Count, I do see her starting to smile as it seems like the peace is going to be a real, lasting thing.

But, as Swan later says in A Light or Somethin', everything goes wrong from then on. Cyrus, running for their lives, the Turnbull ACs trying to kill them, the track fire. In Track Fire and a Phone Call, everyone is again kinda goofing off. Blowing off steam, razzing each other. But Swan is serious and stern. "When we get there, that's when we've made it." No smiling. She's too focused on protecting her crew.

Then we get to Orphan Town and THIS is where I think Swan's first full, genuine smile would come in. Again, she's worried, she's strategizing. The Orphans are taking some convincing. Swan and Fox start their flirting, where I imagine she would have a placating smile on, at least. Then Mercy comes in.

And I think Mercy amuses Swan. I think she comes out, singing about the Orphans, saying "Witcha hand on your BCACK" and, in my head, Swan laughs, startled into amusement, then quickly hides it so Sully won't turn on her. Then Mercy turns on her.

She starts demanding Swan's vest and this is the first and only time in the album that we hear Swan sound a little dumbstruck. That "What?" absolutely sounds like 0.0 She recovers, offers to try and get Mercy one if she helps them through, and Mercy says she wants the vest off of Swan and what do we hear? A laugh. A small one, entwined with her, "No chance" but a laugh. The only amusement we hear in Swan's voice until A Light of Somethin'. So yeah, I think Swan finds Mercy ridiculous and unhinged and kinda hilarious. Still though, I don't see a full-on smile happening here.

But then everything goes sideways, Swan defends Mercy, Sully changes his mind about letting them pass, and Swan decides to blow their shit up. They start putting together the molotov and it's when Swan calls for a piece of fabric and Mercy offers it up that I see the smile happening. The line "Let's make their world a little brighter" is the brightest we've heard Swan's voice be. In my headcanon, feature film, stage adaptation, I see Swan asking for the fabric and Mercy jumping forward to offer it up and Swan, startled again into amusement and gratefulness, fully grins.

I think it goes away very quickly as she focuses on her task and puts back on her leader face, but I think that quick look is when Mercy starts falling.

Back to everything is hard and sucks for a while. Swan is busy trying to ignore Ajax and Mercy's beef and protecting her crew. Her sole focus is getting them home. Then they lose Ajax and she has to lead the cops away. Mercy goes with her and they end up alone.

Which brings us to A Light or Somethin'. We know Swan was likely freaking out inside. Her Warriors are out there somewhere and she can't help them, can only hope they're waiting for her at Union Square. Ajax is gone, Cleon is gone. So she's quiet as they walk through the tunnel, understandably. But, again, Mercy manages to amuse her. You can HEAR the amusement in her voice. She laughs, saying Mercy won't like initiation. She is playful when she says, "Well, you split from the Orphans, are you loyal?" It's a legit question, but it's said with such a lighter feel. You can tell Mercy has broken through the stern, stoic face she's been putting on for just a moment. I think this is the closest we get to another real smile before the Finale. Not the full blown grin I picture in Orphan Town, but a smile nonetheless.

And when Swan rejects Mercy, her voice drops back down to that more monotone, worried voice we're used to. Except it also has a bit of a rasp to it now. A pain. She doesn't want to be pushing Mercy away. Desperation and agitation fill the rest of the song and then it's, once again, everything sucks and we're running. They lose Fox.

And I feel like there's a smile after the kiss in Same Train Home. It definitely feels like there's a few in the Finale, when Swan says "Anyone sick of runnin", when she tells Mercy she's a Warrior, when Cleon shows up, when Swan and Mercy sing "When I am with you" together.

But I think the only full, unguarded or untinged with sadness/worry, grin is in Orphan Town. When this woman Swan doesn't even know shows up and startles her into genuine happiness she wasn't expecting to find anywhere. Much less on the run for her life.