#and a person who is so far removed from the concept of living that she openly referred to herself as a monster with Zero

[hazelkjt]

Heya, ask game attendee here! (This is Johnny, btw!)

For Hazel and Emmanelain, I'd like to ask: What are their relationships with each others' families like?

For Hazel and Zero: When did they first say "I love you"? What was the situation?

Hi Johnny!!!

Answers will be below the read more, since they got kinda long…like REALLY long

Ship Questions (Still Open!!) ----------

Hazel had a...rocky beginning with the other members of the Fortemps family, Honoroit being the exception in Emmanellain's life as he was the first one to notice and push the two of them to admit their feelings for one another. Hazel especially had a rough start with Edmont de Fortemps, specifically. Similar to Emm, she grew up with a strict father with exacting expectations for her. First impressions of the man, drawn from stories Emmanellain would tell her (usually venting and complaining about something or other) did not paint the best picture. So when meeting the Count for the first time, Hazel was on guard and ready to jump to Emm's defense at any point.

It wasn't Edmont having high expectations for his sons that bothered Hazel, it was his attitude when Emmanellain failed that she took issue with. Baato, her own father, for sure became frustrated with her when she didn't meet his standards for her, but afterwards he made sure to guide her back to the path she needed to walk. It was tough love yes, but at its core it was fair. In contrast, Emmanellain was simply told to "be better" with little to no further guidance on how to properly be better. "Be more like your brothers" was what he was told many times. as if it was as simple as flipping a switch. Not to mention the story of Edmont striking Emmanellain as punishment made her blood boil, even if his mistake in that moment was severe. She was no stranger to receiving bruises or the uncommon cut from her father in training, but never as a form of punishment.

It was clear after meeting him though that Edmont was a changed man from the stories Emmanellain told, the ones from before the end of the Dragonsong War. Over the course of getting to know him more and more Hazel has since come around to the Fortemps family Count, even if she still harbors a small grudge against him for his previous treatments of Emmanellain. In a similar vein, Edmont didn't particularly seem to care much about Hazel before meeting her. As the second born and not the heir to the family as long as his partner did not harm the reputation of the Fortemps then it didn't matter to Edmont all that much who Emmanellain chose to love. Over time though he became grateful for her presence and the affect she had on Emm's growth as a person and a knight. Now he can say he is proud of who Emmanellain has chosen, and he truly means it.

Her relationship with Artoirel, on the other hand, was a much more smooth start. There was an initial hiccup when Artoirel began criticizing Emmanellain for "naively calling the first maiden who did not seem disgusted to hold a conversation with you your romantic partner" but Hazel quickly and loudly shut that misconception down. On the surface Artoirel didn't seem to mind much after that, until he pulled Hazel aside for a private conversation. There he practically threatened the woman that if she toyed with his brother's heart or hurt him in any way, that he would hunt her down no matter how long it took and exact just punishment. The threat didn't seem to have the desired effect as Hazel from then on had a strange sense of respect for Artoirel, knowing how deeply he does care for his family even if it doesn't always make it to the surface of his character. Likewise Artoirel has mutual respect for Hazel due to her impact on Emmanellain, happy to finally see his brother spread his wings and grow.

----------

Up until their trip to the Azim Steppe, all Hazel’s parents knew of Emmanellain were from the letters Hazel would write to them. So upon meeting him for the first time they were…underwhelmed. Still, Janis came around to the young man rather quickly. Emmanellain likewise only knew the two from stories Hazel would tell of her time back home, and thankfully Janis felt almost exactly as how Hazel described her.

Being in her presence was calming, almost to the point of being unnerved by the stillness and quiet. A silent sense of judgement followed every glance towards Emmanellain. Nevertheless Emm gave his utmost to present and carry himself as any self respecting member of a noble house should, not once making any comment about the disparity between living conditions of his family’s Ishgard estate and the Steppe yurt he found himself in for over a week.

By about halfway into the trip, Janis admits to Hazel that while she had some doubts at first she sees how happy Emmanellain makes her. He brings out the same smile from her daughter that Janis would often see during their late night novel readings from when Hazel was growing up. She remarks a comment Hazel made as a child about finding her own princess like in her favorite book, joking around if Hazel would settle for a prince instead.

Emmanellain knew Hazel's parents would be intense, but nothing truly prepared him for just how intense her father would be. He thought he was prepared: A respected and strong hunter of a nomadic warrior people and Emm was the one taking his only child, his only daughter's hand. You could've cut the tension upon his first meeting with Baato with a knife. As quickly as the first handshake Emmanellain knew exactly how this was gonna go, once he felt the bones in his hand crack from the Auri man's death grip.

Much of Emmanellain’s time spent in the Steppe on this trip was spent either sparring or hunting with Baato. Emm never came close to beating Hazel’s father in a fight the entire trip, which Emm himself would be the first to admit he saw coming. He also never caught anything on his hunting excursions with Baato, also to be expected according to the Elezen. During the entire trip Emmanellain could not for the life of him get a read on what Hazel’s father was thinking, let alone what he thought of him…until he told him on the last day of their trip to the Azim Steppe.

Baato told Emmanellain that he was very unhappy with the warrior his daughter chose. He said Emmanellain was sloppy in technique and skill, physically weak and lacking in fortitude. Nothing Emmanellain had never heard before, but to hear it so bluntly was somewhat of a new experience for him. But, Baato continued, in terms of the person Hazel had chosen he could accept. Emmanellain was determined to prove himself, never backed down from any of Baato’s challenges, and most of all he saw how Hazel’s eyes shone like the sun itself when she lays eyes on Emmanellain. And her happiness trumps his disapproval of Emm’s capabilities as a fighter.

----------

The first one to admit their feelings was Zero, as detailed here. But the first one to say the actual words "I love you" was in fact Hazel herself. It wasn’t long after the previously linked scenario, in fact. The two finished their meals in relative silence, stealing glances back and forth of one another.

Eventually it came that they could no longer hide behind their empty bowls, leaving the restaurant and moving back into the streets of Radz-at-Han. The two of them wandered almost aimlessly around the city, the quiet between them broken up intermittently by the odd question here and there.

They threw inquiries back and forth to one another, such as “how long have you known?” and “why wait until now to say anything?” and more. Hazel’s heart was racing a malm a minute, and color had steadily found its place on the pale Voidsent’s face by this point. Eventually the two come to a stop at Zero’s favorite place in the city: the airship landing dock.

The best view to see the stars at night, and tonight there was nary a cloud in sight to block the majesty of the shining dots above. It hurt Hazel to ask, but she had to go forward with one more question to Zero. “Are you…sure that what you’re feeling is love?” It was a dagger to her own heart to ask that question, but Hazel felt she had to ask it. For her own sake, to not truly get her hopes up just yet.

Zero takes a moment to respond. “It’s something I know I do not feel for any other individual in my life currently. It’s not dissimilar to that of friendship…but there’s something more to it.” The Voidsent takes a step forward. “A hunger, but not of aether. A hunger, a desire… simply to be close to you.” She moves her hand to her brow.

The Voidsent was once more attempting to use her hat as a shield, not remembering she was not wearing it that evening. She quickly adjusts and moves to brush her hair behind her ear. “If this is not love, then I know not what it could be.” She raises her eyes to meet Hazel’s, a small smile forming on her face.

Hazel quickly reaches out, grabbing Zero by the shoulder and just under her chin. The Voidsent’s eyes shoot open over the sudden movement and takes hold of Hazel’s arm. Their gazes meet, Zero just now seeing the Auri woman’s eyes begin to water over. Hazel’s lip begins to tremble as she breaks out into a deep smile. “I love you, Zero…I love you.” She admits, the pain in her chest subsiding as she lets go of the breath she was holding in.

“…I love you as well, Hazel.” Zero quietly responds, unconsciously pulling away from Hazel’s hands. Unfortunately it’s not quick enough as Hazel tries to pull the Voidsent in for a kiss. Zero feels her pulse quicken, fight or flight kicking in as she pushes Hazel away from her, the Au Ra stumbling into some boxes. The Voidsent takes a moment to steady her breath. “I…I’m sorry. I just…I simply-”

“No, it’s fine…I was moving too fast. I’m the one that should be apologizing.” Hazel cuts her off, sadness evident in her tone but a sheepish smile on her face. “Let’s just head back for the night, alright?” Hazel asks, but begins walking back towards the city without waiting for an answer. Zero looks on as guilt begins to form in her chest, but the Warrior of Light refused to meet her gaze.

[starcurtain]

Female Guidance in Aventurine's Life

One thing I haven't seen discussed in much depth yet, but which I think is especially interesting, is the consistency of female guidance in Aventurine's life: Every single person who we have seen on screen offering Aventurine assistance or making a positive difference in his life is female (with one exception, yes, I'll get there).

Under the read more cause it's longggg:

Before even diving into his family, let's just get the obvious out of the way: Aventurine is, at least supposedly, blessed by a goddess. The very origin of his good fortune--be it actual blessing or curse--comes from the literal "mother goddess" who watches over him. This is one of the only instances in Star Rail where a god character is specifically given a gender, and Gaiathra is not ever ambiguous. She is the classic female fertility goddess with all the trappings of other famous triple goddess figures of the real world. Aventurine's personal belief in the goddess may be shaky, but he nevertheless continues to treasure his people's faith. Thus, at the core, we can say Aventurine is a character who is guarded by the most quintessential mother figure possible.

Now, with the most obvious out of the way:

We know that Aventurine's father died before Aventurine was even born, and therefore he would not have any memories of his father, leaving him to be raised by his mother and sister.

Both women clearly made an enormous and lasting impression on Aventurine; they haunt every single one of his memories of Sigonia and are the key elements of the family Aventurine longs to return to. While he flirts with the concept of death as a way to see his family members again, it was also his mother and sister who instilled in him any sense of self-worth and meaning to his existence, the only things keeping him from giving up on living. His mother believed him to be blessed; his sister insisted to his face that not even the only remaining remnant of their mother had any value in comparison to his life.

It is for his sister that Aventurine first begins expressing a self-sacrificial nature, and from his sister that this self-sacrifice is reinforced when she uses herself as a shield to help him escape massacre at the hands of the Katicans.

It is also from his sister that Aventurine learns many of the deeply meaningful actions he holds onto to the present day, despite having been so far removed from his own culture.

Conversely, every one of Aventurine's early negative experiences on screen appear to have been driven (at least primarily) by men.

Although the Katican tribe of course would have both men and women, the tribal societies on Sigonia appear to be on the fairly traditional side, with Aventurine's mother staying at the camp with her child while his father was the one to go out and hunt for offerings for Gaiathra. This is also supported by Aventurine asking Jade to take him to her "chief" later on. Therefore, it is likely (although of course not guaranteed) that a majority of the Katicans' army was male, and that Aventurine's early experiences with outsiders consisted almost entirely of indiscriminate pillaging and massacre at the hands of what the Avgin viewed as savage, invading warriors. In separate instances, Aventurine was traumatized by these warrior figures three times--first with the loss of his father, then his mother, and then finally his sister.

And even their hope, supposed to come in the form of the "men in black" from the IPC, completely abandoned them, leaving Aventurine once again betrayed by masculine figures that were supposed to be there to protect him. Led by Oswaldo Schneider, another cruel male authority figure, the Marketing Department of the IPC permitted the wholesale slaughter of Aventurine's people--something which we know Aventurine is now aware of.

Then, of course, the next piece of Aventurine's backstory we're given is his male slave master. I don't really need to say anything about this, do I? This man violated Aventurine's human dignity and bodily autonomy, and forced Aventurine's hand in a life or death battle for which Aventurine still punishes himself mentally, even years in the future.

In part to escape the difficulty of his situation and rise to a position where he would have enough resources to--he thought--help his people, Aventurine joins up with the IPC. But when he attempts to make contact with a powerful man in the organization, Diamond, he is instead met by a woman, Jade, who against Aventurine's own expectations determines that she will raise Aventurine up (or use him as a tool, depending on how you currently choose to interpret Jade's motivations), granting him wealth and status beyond his imagination.

(And this line in particular is interesting, because you can take it one of two ways: 1) Aventurine comes from a patriarchal planet that traditionally put men into positions of power [thereby making his own slavery an emasculating act, aligning him further with disenfranchised women]; thus, he is making the assumption that to get anywhere in this organization, he will need to work with a man; or 2) He actually was counting on Jade taking his bet and helping him right from the beginning, because Aventurine perceives women as inherently more likely to protect and aid him than men would be.)

In the end, Jade does exactly as she claims she will, launching Aventurine into a position of power while also closing golden handcuffs around his wrists. She positions herself not only as his supervisor, but as his advocate and ally. She entrusts him with her Cornerstone, a sign of significant faith in his abilities. She even seems to be keenly aware of his bias towards the mother figure, referring to him as "child" in their conversations.

Whether this is genuine or a manipulation tactic can certainly be debated (and I'm not inclined to think at this point that Jade is a genuinely good role model or selflessly supportive person in Aventurine's life), but whatever the case, women are the only people Aventurine even remotely considers to be "in his corner."

We see this even earlier, in Aventurine's call to Topaz. Like with the example of his mother and sister, Aventurine trusts in Topaz's ability implicitly, and considers her above anyone else when it comes to completing the mission in Penacony.

Although of course we don't know if Aventurine has any other friends or allies among the Strategic Investment Department, it seems very likely that Topaz, yet another woman, is the one he is closest with. At the very least, she is the only IPC character (so far) that Aventurine has a complimentary voice line for, one that shows his respect for her talent:

Over and over again, the story aligns Aventurine with female figures in positions of authority, and demonstrates that he is comfortable (although maybe not too comfortable, in the case of Jade) with relying on them and trusting their judgment, just as he did with his mother and sister.

And this pretty much goes off the charts in Penacony, where Aventurine has more involvement with the female cast than virtually any other non-female character (even the Trailblazer!). We set the pattern off right away, with Aventurine immediately being placed into a negotiation situation with Himeko, respecting her role as the Express's leader and working to get himself aligned with the Express by acquiescing to her request for support.

Then there's the fact that Aventurine is the one who finds Robin's body, an event which, although he didn't let it show too much, was almost certainly traumatic for him, given the violent death of his own sister.

Next, twice in Penacony's story, we see Aventurine seek out Sparkle for information. He may not personally like her and her comments may be both racist and dehumanizing, but Aventurine does rely on her--being the only character explicitly seeking her aid, which no one else in Penacony seems to want.

In 2.0...

And in 2.1.

Now, say it with me, guys: Aventurine built an entire portion of his grand plan around the idea that if he looked pathetic enough, a female character would absolutely come and help him. And sure enough, the women come through for him, always! Sparkle gives him the exact last clue he needs to confirm his belief that he could use "Death" to reach the true Penacony, sealing the deal for the rest of his plan.

His plan which also hinged significantly on Black Swan's involvement too, another woman that he views as, if not trustworthy, then at least intelligent and hyper-competent.

Contrast all this, of course, with the treatment Aventurine receives at the hands of Sunday, the lone opposing male character he faces in Penacony.

Sparkle implies that Sunday would humiliate Aventurine in an unmistakably sexual and degrading way, and Sunday himself professes this same desire to see Aventurine humiliated.

Then we're "treated" to the moment in which Sunday uses the Harmony's (or perhaps actually the Order's?) power against Aventurine, in a scene which is supposed to reflect an interrogation but is also, very clearly, another nonconsensual violation of Aventurine's bodily autonomy and dignity by a man. While ostensibly seeking confirmation of the Cornerstone ruse, Sunday instead subjects Aventurine to unnecessary questions about his past on Sigonia, which recall and force Aventurine to re-endure memories of his trauma.

Even if this is what Aventurine prepared himself for and planned to have happen, the pain he experiences is very real, and he suffers both the physical and emotional consequences of Sunday's assault all the way up to his "Death" and possibly even beyond.

(Also, Sunday fans please don't get too up in arms with me for this; I also like Sunday! It's okay for characters to be morally grey!)

I think there's one other interesting example I would bring up here too, and that's Aventurine's conscious decision to weaponize his own masculinity against the Trailblazer. Through the 2.0 and 2.1 Trailblaze missions, Aventurine deliberately acts in an off-putting manner to the Astral Express crew, particularly the Trailblazer, in order to build up to the 2.1 climax where the Trailblazer is supposed to view him as an unrepentant villain and attack him without hesitation.

In order to achieve this uncomfortable, villainous effect, what does Aventurine do? Exactly what other men have done to him.

This is especially apparent if you're playing Stelle because of the ingrained societal taboo of a man entering a woman's personal space without consent, but even as Caelus, it is very clear that Aventurine is leveraging behaviors typically used to show dominance: In a complete 180 to all Aventurine's other body language in the game (normally quite withdrawn, frequently in defensive postures with his arms crossed or hand behind his back, almost always standing several feet away from other people), Aventurine violates the Trailblazer's personal bubble, looming over them (Caelus was sitting in this cutscene, lol), forcing eye contact, and commanding the space while informing them that they will have no choice.

For someone who was hunted, enslaved, had his movements restricted with chains, and due to his own slight stature has very likely been towered over by others who were intentionally asserting their power over him all his life, it is clear that Aventurine associates dominant, typically more masculine-coded physically-imposing behaviors with discomfort and even villainy.

Any girl who has ever had a man loom over her like this will realize very quickly: Aventurine wanted to make himself scary so he made himself act more like a bad man.

(Yes of course I know "not all men." I'm not saying every man behaves in this domineering way or that women cannot be domineering too, obviously, just that Aventurine had a very specific image in mind when constructing a "villainous persona," and the physically controlling tactics most typically used by aggressive men toward women was his immediate go-to.)

But where does that leave Dr. Ratio, the one male character actually on Aventurine's side?

Frankly, I don't want to derail my post about how intensely Hoyo chose to hammer on the message of "Women will protect you" in Aventurine's story with a discussion about a mlm ship, but the take-away here is going to lead in that direction anyway--so yes, Dr. Ratio is the exception.

What is interesting is that he does not come across as an exception at first, and in fact initially appears as another male character being rude and dismissive to Aventurine. Like, there are still people out there calling Ratio an unrepentant racist for this one.

Of course, it's later clarified that this is an act--likely even these insults were scripted specifically to give Sunday's spying ears the "insight" he needed to exploit Aventurine during the interrogation.

But even though it is an act, Aventurine still has noticeable trouble putting his faith in Ratio. He does genuinely doubt him a few times, despite knowing that they are working together to fool the Family.

Even his voice line about Ratio confirms that he doesn't think Ratio particularly cares for him; rather, he thinks Ratio simply tolerates him because he's slightly less unintelligent than those around them.

Ultimately, the entire act with Ratio ends up being a mirror of the real scenarios Aventurine has been experiencing with men his whole life (at least as far as we are shown his life). Men abandon him to fend for himself (unwillingly, like his father, or willingly, like Diamond leaving Aventurine to deal with Penacony alone on the inside). Ratio keeps leaving Aventurine completely alone. Men attempt to humiliate him and violate his boundaries (like Sunday and his slave master). Ratio insults Aventurine's appearance and intelligence repeatedly. Men betray him (like Oswaldo Schneider and his men leaving the Avgin to die). Ratio "betrays" him.

I'm not saying when Aventurine devised the plan for their act, he consciously drew up a list of all the ways men had hurt him in the past and had Ratio re-enact them one by one, but like... that's what happened, whether or not Aventurine intended it.

And okay, the shrinking scene in Dewlight Pavilion was just for fun and probably only slightly fetishy, the devs promise; yes, it was supposed to be a joke! ...But it's also not a mistake that this is yet another instance of a male character in a glaringly metaphorical position of power over Aventurine. Aventurine's tiny in this scene! He's completely vulnerable! He's in a dangerous position and the male character could very much hurt him in this moment.

But Ratio doesn't. (In fact, his line here is supposed to be sarcastic, very ha ha--but also, what is Ratio really saying? "I won't do anything to you without your express consent." What a good guy.)

Virtually everything negative that we see in 2.1 is Ratio doing these things as an act at Aventurine's own request. He doesn't actually disdain Aventurine; his own voiceline about Aventurine reinforces that he sees Aventurine as talented and intelligent.

Whatever you think he was apologizing for in their early scene, he's the only person we're ever shown in-game apologizing to Aventurine at all.

He worked hard to "betray" Aventurine but only as he was instructed to do, and immediately checks in on Aventurine's well-being afterward, even urging him to give up the plan if it becomes too much to handle.

And then, of course, there's the note: "Do stay alive. I wish you the best of luck."

After this point, it cannot be denied that Ratio is unequivocally on Aventurine's side, wants to help him, and is not doing so out of any sense of self-gain but largely because he is a good person who simply cares about Aventurine's fate. By the end of 2.1, it can no longer be doubted that Ratio is the exception to the "gender rule" of Aventurine's life, which--the story shows us again and again--was that guidance, protection, and care for Aventurine come from women, while men repeatedly represent dismissal, betrayal, or pain.

Ratio is, at least as far as Aventurine's story shows us, the proof that men can be good, that things are not as black and white in Aventurine's life as they might appear, and that--if you do choose to ship him with or see Aventurine as attracted to men--his attraction could be validated (and potentially reciprocated) by a male figure who would not bring additional harm to Aventurine's life. Aventurine makes the final decision to live after seeing Ratio's note--the exception to the rule ultimately proves to be the last piece needed to keep him alive.

But I promised I wasn't going to derail my own post about w o m e n, so let me get to the final point, and the one I really wanted to talk about: Although Ratio gets virtually all the credit for "saving" Aventurine in the fandom, Aventurine was actually saved by, you guessed it, another woman.

Not going to lie, the reason I started this post was specifically because I wanted to talk about how Acheron and Aventurine's dynamic was completely unexpected but actually fits flawlessly with the theme of feminine guidance in Aventurine's story.

Despite the fact that Aventurine made Acheron's life much harder and actively used her as a chip in his grand gamble, she doesn't blame or chastise him for those actions. Although she expresses some incredulity that Aventurine is actually that lucky, she then turns around and congratulations him for his ingenuity, immediately supporting him despite the fact that they don't even truly know each other.

Then it gets even more interesting. Acheron, who frequently hits her companions with deep and sometimes very emotionally fraught questions, asks Aventurine: "Have you never wavered?"

We as players know for a fact that Aventurine is constantly wavering, constantly doubting himself, his luck, and whether he'll even live--or even wants to live--to see tomorrow. But we also know that Aventurine is not forthcoming about those truths, refusing to express them to anyone, even himself. The only way we hear those dark truths is through his "future" self (who by the way, is once again another male figure cutting Aventurine down--of course it's himself but it's also, from the player's perspective, once again reinforcing the message that he isn't going to find safety or kindness in an adult male presence). Aventurine almost constantly deflects and diverts when his emotions or struggles are brought to the fore (unless he's divulging them for the specific purpose of allowing someone else to weaponize them). "I'm fine," he says, like a lying liar who lies.

But he doesn't lie to Acheron.

He chooses to be completely candid with her, to lance open the deepest wound of his life--that he can win and win and win and still have lost everything. The glitz and the glamour has all been stripped away here, at the end of everything, and Aventurine finally feels safe enough to admit that he fears he has absolutely nothing in his life worth living for.

And then, we get this direct parallel: Aventurine looks to Acheron, the woman now before him, for guidance, for explanation, exactly as he looked to his sister in the past.

He needs help, he needs answers, and he is continually seeking that help from the female figures in his life, whose support and kindness echo the lost care of his mother and sister.

"Go where you should be," Acheron tells Aventurine, guiding him across the river of death just as his sister insisted that he flee through the rain toward life.

Look guys, Acheron's even the one who reminds Aventurine to look at Ratio's note in the first place because apparently being an emanator of Nihility gives you x-ray vision, but my girl just gets no credit at all for being Aventurine's real savior, come on now!! Yes, Ratio's note was the final reminder Aventurine needed that someone would be waiting for him on the other side, but Aventurine would never have even gotten to the point of being willing to read that note if Acheron hadn't stepped in and provided him an answer to his question.

She feeds him back his own answer: "Why does life slumber? To rehearse the death for which we are not currently prepared." It is Acheron who reminds Aventurine that giving into the Nihility is pointless, and that rather than simply embracing a meaningless death, it is up to humanity itself to find and make meaning by living. It's this, not Ratio's note, that Aventurine gives as his reason for choosing to go on when asked by his own younger self. It's Acheron's words that finally give Aventurine an answer--why do we live just to die? Because there are people we can still make proud. Because when we go into death, we should do so with our heads held high, having achieved our own sense of purpose in this life.

Ratio gave Aventurine a promise: Someone is waiting for you to come back.

But Acheron gave Aventurine a reason: If life is inherently meaningless, doesn't that just mean you are free to give it meaning yourself?

She saved him, as women have been saving him all his life.

Anyway, this has already been horrendously long, but really what I wanted to say is that I think it is absolutely fascinating how consistent Aventurine's writing is when it comes to portraying where his support comes from and who he seeks guidance from. (Psst, just in case you still haven't figured it out, it's women!) In virtually every instance we are shown, we see the message reinforced that women are Aventurine's greatest allies and role models, while male figures are continually positioned to intentionally or unintentionally let him down and cause him distress.

"But women playing the supporting role to a male character is nothing new, Star, why are you so excited by this?"

Because the role women are playing in Aventurine's life is not the subservient supporter and emotional crutch role that female characters all too often play to male counterparts. None of the women in Penacony or Aventurine's past were there to do the emotional labor for him, to be a trophy or prize, or to cater to his needs. They don't exist solely to help him fulfill his character motivations; they aren't following him around waiting for his next request as their only role in the plot.

Instead, with Aventurine's story, we almost have an inversion of gender roles, where the male character eschews the stereotypical "men are leaders, fighters, and stoic heroes" archetype. Instead, no matter how hard he tries to hide it and keep a stiff upper lip, it is clear from 2.0-2.1's story that Aventurine is a deeply insecure, lonely, and explicitly traumatized survivor of genocide, slavery, and exploitation. Unlike most male characters, who are very rarely portrayed as genuine victims--because come on, shouldn't men be strong enough to fight back? Shouldn't men be able to shrug it off when they are hurt, emotionally or physically? (Of course I'm rolling my eyes here!)--Aventurine is belittled, humiliated, emasculated, and victimized on-screen, roles almost exclusively reserved for women, for whom surviving victimization in fiction is seen as noble.

Meanwhile, the women in Aventurine's life take on the roles traditionally given to male characters. They're both emotionally and physically his protectors. Aventurine's sister gave her life to guard his safety; Acheron ensured he could safely pass beyond the river of Nihility into the Primordial Dreamscape. They give him the tools necessary to succeed where he could not succeed on his own. His plan could never have gotten off the ground without Topaz and Jade entrusting their Cornerstones to him. The knowledge and capabilities of the women around him--not their "feminine charms"--are what allow them to help keep Aventurine on the right path even though he does waver. Even women who disrespect him, like Sparkle, still play a positive role in his life, able to provide him insight gained with their own intellect and talents.

When he has no one to rely on and doesn't know what to do, Aventurine is able to continually turn to the women around him, asking for and receiving not servitude or fawning, but their genuine wisdom and guidance.

tl;dr: If nobody else has him, Aventurine knows this random woman he met two minutes ago on the street will have him, because the women in his life literally never let him down.

(It's just so, so good, and ultimately, it should be very clear why Aventurine's story is as popular with women as it is! A+, Hoyo!)

[whereserpentswalk]

Its very far in the future, humanity has spread out across the galaxy, to the point where nobody on one edge of human space knows what the other edge is like, most humans haven't even seen earth.

Your family had to flee your homeworld for political reasons. And the planet you ended up fleeing to is one with very little contact with outsiders, perhaps more contact with aliens then they even do with other humans.

The planet has completely removed sexuality and romance from the humans who live there. They just have a quick procedure when they're born, that takes away their romantic and sexual attraction, as well as libido and any physical arousal or erotic sensation. You didn't get the procedure when you came to their planet but you were young enough to assimilate into their culture.

For most of you're life you're the only person who you know who has any of these sexual or romantic feelings. It's not that hard when you're a kid, but once you hit puberty you start feeling things about your freinds and people you know that nobody else can relate to. It's like you want to touch them in ways you can't put into words.

Because nobody on the planet has sexual emotions, they don't have modesty standards. Occasionally you'll see someone in an outfit that reveals their genitals, and it's no big deal, not common but not unheard of. You know a girl whose always bottomless because of sensory issues, and it's no diffrent then how people would react to any other fashion choice. And people will just touch and cuddle eachother too, without romance it doesn't have any significance beyond platonic attraction. It's common for freinds to just cuddle and stuff like that. And it's just considered normal.

You feel really bad about being attracted to people. They don't realize what it's like for you. You try to describe it, but they don't understand. Some people ask why you don't get the procedure, and you have to explain to them that at this point it would be like losing part of yourself. Even if everyone else is fine with never feeling these things, you have to feel them, for your own sake.

Some people get really scared of you when they find out that you're allo. They think you'll do something to them, and want to not be seen by you, afraid that you'll think about them in an alien way. They're used to foreigners being attracted to people, not someone who knows their language, and lives in their city.

Eventually you meet someone who is really interested in the concept of attraction even though she can't feel it herself. She gets really excited when she finds out you actually experience it. She asks if you find her cute, you're terrified saying that you do, but she gets so happy realizing that she's actually able to have someone attracted to her, even if she can never experience it back.

She let's you touch her in any way you'd like, she finds it so fascinating, the way you rub her genitals when she let's you touch her sexually, even if she can't feel anything back. The way you reinvent what she tells you is a kiss, when she let's you cuddle her in a way she tells you she wants to be romantic. She knows she can't feel anything back, it's just a hyperfixation for her, but she likes watching you.

Eventually she asks if it's ok if she touches your genitals in a way to try to make you orgasm. She's so excited to see how fully functional genitals work. But its nothing to her at the same time. You feel like a zoo animal and like your exploiting her all in one. Like you wish she could be your girlfriend but never can be. She explains to you that it doesn't have to mean anything you don't want it to, you explain to her that that's not how it works for you.

You eventually get the procedure done. You spend your last days as an allo person looking at people you find attractive, and having your last orgasms. When the procedure is done you miss so much of your old self, you miss looking at people and feeling joy from how they look. You miss how touching yourself used to feel.

You live a normal life for someone on this planet. You'll never have any romantic or sexual relationships again. If you have children when you're older it'll be through artifical insemination, and there won't be any feelings twords the other parent.

The girl who used to be obsessed with attraction contacts you one day, after the procedure is done, telling you she met some foreigners who want to reverse the procedure for her. You tell her it's too late for you to be involved, but she's going to feel a lot of new feelings soon, mabye you could talk to her about it, but just talk, nothing more.

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

Tbh I don't see the point of Luka learning mirakungfu while Adrien and Marinette don't, even more so if the reason why Suhan teach that to him is because he knew LB and CN identity. Then shouldn't those two learn it also since they basically holding the miraculous that the villain want most? But then again it feels like "adult is useless except for some" seems to be one of the rule in this show.

I kind of despise the concept of mirakungfu because it makes no sense and because it feels disrespectful. I am by no means an expert on Chinese culture, so I don't know if it's actually offensive, but when all the writers are white, the name for the made up martial art is a parody of a real martial art, the box of magic items has nothing to do with the culture it's supposedly from, and the main character is completely removed from her heritage, it's just not a good look, especially since the monks are Tibetan and everything about the miraculous themselves is pretty explicitly Chinese. It just gives me uncomfortable vibes of Asian cultures being treated as both window dressing and an interchangeable monolith, but I don't have the expertise to really discuss that issue beyond "this feels like a bad idea and you probably want to talk to an expert on these topics to make sure you're not doing something offensive."

On the other hand, I love the concept of Guardian Luka! I have actually always wished that he had been given the miracle box instead of Marinette simply because I don't think that Marinette's personality is well suited to the role of Guardian and because I wanted her to have an actual team. Meanwhile, Luka freaking shines when they have him in a mentor role (Wishmaker & Migration) and I am of the firm belief that the Guardian should be a mentor to the other holders. It's why I said Marinette isn't suited to the role. As written, she just kind of hands out miraculous and orders people about. That's perfectly fine for a team leader! It's not so great for what I expect when I hear "guardian who chooses the holders of the ancient and powerful artifacts."

But that's not what they did with Luka. He isn't the holder of the miracle box. He just knows how to fight off miraculous wielders because reasons, so I have no idea what they're trying to do with him. Especially since his existence is straight up breaking their lore. In this case, it's the lore established back in Furious Fu, Su-Han's intro:

Su-Han: Let me remind you about some of the Perfect Precepts that you have broken. (flips pages) Precept 14: Kwamis must not live outside the box. (flips pages) Precept 52: Guardians must never lose a Miraculous. (flips pages) Precept 133: A guardian cannot, under any circumstances, wear a Miraculous. (closes the book)

Su-Han accepting Marinette as Guardian because what's done is done makes sense because of the memory BS (why is there no other way to hand off the box?), but that whole "Guardians don't wear Miraculous" rule is there for a reason! I think it may go a step too far, but the general principle does make a lot of sense. The Guardians should be in more of a support role simply from a security standpoint.

It's another reason I'm iffy on Marinette being the Guardian. The Guardian knows everyone's identities and - in the context of canon - has a direct line to the miracle box that any rando can access by capturing them. This makes it a really bad idea to have them fighting on the front lines as they know too much and are something of a security risk. Meanwhile the snake feels like a perfect miraculous for the Guardian to wield since the snake is meant to watch the battle from the sidelines.

It's all very confusing to me because I'm getting a thing I wanted, but in the most confusing and least interesting way. Instead of this feeling like a big plot point, it just feels like something they did because it's cool. I fear this is going to be like Luka learning the secret identities: a thing that should lead to something big plot-wise, but that ends up mostly ignored because it would complicate things too much. If anything, I expect this to mean that he's left out of big moments because the writers very clearly don't know how to write him now. Like he should have been involved in the Risk/Strikeback fight! His powers made more sense than anyone else's! But he couldn't be because then the Felix thing couldn't happen.

I do very much agree that Luka leaning mirakungfu is a big WTF because, if holders are randomly allowed to learn it now, then Marinette should be learning it too! She's actively fighting against a rouge holder, she knows all of the other holders' identities, and she is the guardian! Why is Su-Han mentoring Luka and not the actual guardian? It's all very annoying and I do not like it. It would honestly make more sense if Jagged and Penny were trained, but Luka was not, because Jagged and Penny are not holders, but they are acting as Luka's bodyguards of a sort. Instead, the writers have once again shat all over their lore in the name of doing something cool for a season finale and I would bet you that they're now going to have no idea how to handle the consequences of that in the coming season because they keep doing that. See: season three ending with a mass reveal and the writers subsequently ignoring the identity rules.

[sinning-23]

My Latest crush is an alien car from space Pt.3

Yall is eating this UPPP (rise of the mirage simps lmao) and I appreciate that so so much! Thank you all for the 300+ followers that's insane! Also, the taglist got bigger too! I got yall don't even worry about it lol. Anywho, there's a fuck ton of tension in this one and in the final part, I think yall know what's going diz-ownnnnn (alexa play pony by genuine) Let me know if you'd like to be added to the taglist!

(Heres the link to pt.2 luv)

(Heres the FINALE)

Without further ado, ENJOY! (this one is a little short but pt.4 will be kinda lengthy)

Pt.3 

Gimmie one margarita imma…

He was far taller than Mirage, robotic features more stressed-looking than anything. And before either you Noah or Mirage could protest, he pick you up by your shirt, your hands reaching to flatten your skirt. There was about a 99% chance you’d just flashed both Noah and Mirage. 

The larger bot who you assumed was named Prime scans you, and soon his voice sends shivers down your spine. 

“Who are you?” 

The question is simple really but knowing you and the fact that he just picked you up with no kind of manners makes you slightly more irritable in your answer. Maybe you were a little butt hurt Mirage didn’t volunteer this information about there being other to you but know him he’d probably just say ‘You never asked!’ With that stupid, pretty, dumb, adorable look on his faceplates.

“I’m not answering anything because you just picked me up and expected me to give you answers. That’s rude first of all. Mirage, come get him-” You huff, seeing the larger bot raise a brow in response and look at the silver and blue-clad Autobot.

Mirage only chuckles nervously, removing you from Prime’s grasp, and putting his hands up in defense. You’d been only a tinnny bit aggressive when you’d met a couple days ago so why he expected you to be all peaches and cream with Optimus somewhat interrogating you, he had no idea. 

“Listen, had another tiny setback. I promise this one isn’t always so…fussy. She’s cool. Cross my spark.” He explains nervously, seeing Prime's optics narrow. This mf just called you fussy? Like a damn infant??? 

You go to speak out, but the depth sounding in Prime’s vocalizer makes you freeze. 

“You seem to have no concept of that undercover means. How you’ve landed in this predicament twice still baffles me” Prime sighs, looking back down at you. 

You’d managed to take refuge behind Mirage, still embarrassed by the fact that you were almost 100% sure he got a glimpse of your panties. Despite the garage being empty yesterday, it obviously had some other tenants who hadn’t a clue in the world you existed until now. This was way outta your league. Robots and 3 more of them at that, were far too overwhelming and you’d be damned if you wound up in the middle of some cyber bullshit.

Sure you liked Mirage, his personality and kind of play boyish looks made you swoon MAYBE a little bit….but from the looks of it, there were already girls like that back where he lived, hell one of them was just standing behind Prime while he chewed out Mirage…..AND WHY WAS SHE KINDA CAKED UP? That was beside the point though, they already had one human (Noah), and Prime wasn't looking for any extras (you) from what it looked like. 

Taking your chance to escape, you grab your purse and slide out of the garage quietly. The others were going from somewhat scolding Mirage to discussing a plan for something you didn’t quite care about at the moment. The best option was to disengage and maybe things could go back to normal! You could pack up for your apartment. Go back to work, maybe you’d do something with mechanics after this instead of nursing all day? You pop your AirPods in and press shuffle. 

It was getting late but there was just enough sun to find you a spot to wait for an Uber home. You’d talk with Mirage later, it looked like he had other priorities. Speaking of which, what was that whole interaction??? You shake the thought away, that moan replaying in your mind. This was so wrong.

Your heart beats faster at the thought of how he seemed to melt under you, his servos hovering over your hips, wanting to touch but being so unsure. The way his otic seemed to be hazy and the way his fan picked up in speed. You run your hands down your face and sigh, definitely feeling like a drink would be the best option….speaking of which, you never did get your night out.

_______________

It didn’t take long before Mirage realized you weren’t behind him. You’d obviously hightailed it during Optimus’s scolding and slipped past him like a thief in the night. Part of him knows you’re capable of handling yourself but the other half knows it’s not safe, especially now that you both have been formally introduced. And with what Arcee had reported, Brooklyn wasn’t getting any safer.

Apparently, a few more terrorcons had made their way back and we’re trying to do a bit of avenging considering Optimus ended Scourge rather brutally. In all, Mirage wasn’t one for the violence but when it came to helping his friends and the ones he loved, he’d set that aside for the best. 

Anyway, he didn't want you going anywhere without him, a sense of more or less responsibility for you washing over him. It was more of a protective feeling than anything, wanting to be the one to save you and keep you safe no matter what. The thought of you thanking him as your hero makes him weak. You knew what you were doing, touching him like that. He still couldn't get over the fact that you claimed it was for science….bullshit. The feeling was quickly becoming addictive and the longer you spent together the more he wanted you…fat chance. 

________ 

Remixed renditions of Kesha songs blast through the clubs' speakers as you and your girls dance the night away. You each took about 3 shots to get your blood pumping and your closest friend was about to make it 4. Your body moves on its own, bass filling your chest as you catch any and all ass your friends decide to throw. You took pictures and posted them on your story and everything seemed good!...sorta. The last of your worries should be some cyber alien crush that isn't even here right now…you can't help but let your mind drift.

A wave of…what was that guilt? Washes over you as you take a break from the dance circle, alerting your girls that you be ‘going to the bathroom’ a lie of course. Maybe this wasn't a good idea? Part of you felt kinda committed to Mirage. Before you could make it down the hall past all the commotion, a pair of hands are warm against your hips. Whoever it is… they're tall. The faint smell of motor oil fills your senses and you whip around to see a pretty good-looking stranger with eyes blue as the damn sky smirking at you. 

“Where you going, mamas?” He questions, moving his hips side to side playfully with the rhythm of the music.

You can't help but giggle. Something about him was so.. comfortable and fun and familiar, and so so so damn charming! He's smiling right back at you freckles somewhat adorning his face as his curly black hair falls over his eyes. He looks mixed, more so Hispanic or Latino and black. Blue eyes were odd though, but it didn't matter because, at the end of the day, this man looked like he'd won the genetic lottery.

Soon enough, you're back on the floor the cheers of your homegirls reaching your ears and you shake your head. This was just some spontaneous dude that just HAPPENED to catch you before you made it to the bathroom, not like you really needed to go anyway. He sways you, pulling a few cheesy dance moves here and there but it is enough to make you giggle. The previous song soon is chopped and screwed and transitioned to what sounded like a reverbed version of ‘Streets’.

Either way, the air had changed while people, couples or otherwise began finding space on the floor to dance up on one another. He didn't say much, spinning you slowly just before pulling your body to his gently. You may talk a lot of game, but you'd never danced with someone like this, let alone be so close. The feeling of his front pressed to your back makes you weak, the feeling sinking lower and lower as he holds each of your hips.

“Cálmate mama’s. You know I got you right?” He hums, your body relaxing a bit as you find the rhythm again, rolling your body with his to test the waters

That voice was so familiar….you ignore it, thinking it must the alcohol. There was no way he could…could he?

You didn't care, letting your head roll back and rest against his shoulder, your bodies synching with each other, his touch never feeling forced or aggressive. It's soft, kind, and almost loving...like he just wants to be able to feel your warmth, know the way you move. You work up the courage to speak, voice small, almost nervous. 

“I didn't catch your name stranger.”You state, hoping his response would answer your question.

If this was really him, then there was no reason to feel bad about how up close and personal this was getting. 

“You know my name, pretty girl. Kinda rude of you to walk out on me don't you think? You're lucky Noah was able to see where you were at based on your story.” He reveals, making you smile. 

So it was him but how? Some kind of alien car tech you didn't know about? You didn't care, he was here and you were ACTUALLY holding him somehow. 

“I'm sorry, looked like that meeting was important.” You explain, pressing against him more now, his grip tightening when you did, a hiss escaping his lips. 

“It was but when I noticed you’d left I panicked a little. Noah told me where to find you and I knew I couldn't just waltz in. I'm parked outback, this is just a holoform.” He explains, flashing that stupid smile. 

“So that's what this is, you look good 'Rag. Not the first time you've done this I'm assuming. You're far too good of a dancer.” You joke hearing gasp in faux hurt. 

“Wowww it's like that lil mama? You're breakin' my spark.” He chuckles, pressing into you, making a gasp escape your throat.

You felt it…holy shit it was right against you, the miniskirt not helping at ALL, in fact, any more friction and he'd be right against your panties. The grip on your hips is only making you hot and his voice so close to your ear isn't helping. He smirks against the skin of your neck and takes the risk of kissing there. Another gasp, only this time it was more or less a whine. 

“I'm not doing anything else until you tell me I got the green light. We both know this tension can only build for so long ‘til one of us breaks and I'm for damn sure about to fall apart if I can't taste you soon.” He admits, his voice trembling slightly when he speaks.

He was right though. The last 2 days had been filled with nothing but flirting, touching, and teasing and before you were so rudely interrupted in the garage earlier you were sure you were closer and closer to giving head. The music is still playing and most of your girls had given the two of you space to ‘dance’ a couple texting you to let you know where they were in case you needed them. It was definitely time to leave because any longer in this dark little corner of the club and you'd be trying to peel your clothes off. 

He can practically feel your begging to lose any sense of morals, a few drink making your brain only a little foggy. That’d ware off by time you made it back home if you played your cards right. Turning to face him you cant help but let your eyes drift to his lips. 

“You gonna let me ride?” You hum, lips pressed to his neck.

___________________________________________________________

Aweeee shit the perfect set up for pt.4 cause in the words of miss Megan thee stallion... we finna ride that dik like a stolen car HAHAAAA

No-so-mini-Taglist: @gniteruirui @veggiepizzababy @panty-h03 @justmare @merpmederp @rainbowpr1sm @mad-simp420 @insane-scientist

[tortelette]

It is god awful 4 am in the Philippines (insomnia growing worse due to worry) and I have one fucking theory on what fucking Demian said in the epilogue of Chapter 4.

Demian fucking returns to the presence of Dante as the Sinners took a feast for themselves at some restaurant and talks to them about the meaning and true purpose of technology and the morality behind it along with the concept of greed. One line took a fucking slap on me whenever I kept reading his dialogue.

This is...

A "The Little Prince (TLP)" by Saint Exupéry reference said by the Little Prince himself when he met the stranded pilot in the desert.

Back then when I was still studying religious literature and our main topic is TLP, there are many biblical references here and there from the snake who bit him down to the desert where the pilot has been stranded upon for some time. The sheep has many symbolisms back in my lessons, the common ones that I get to see are the spiritual transcendence of the prince, the representation of the truth, and the beauty hidden from reality. Mind you all that the story of TLP is quite imaginative and a sad one that gives the hopeful yet real life lessons of friendship, value, love, and loss. Hence many symbolisms are interpreted here.

Now that I mention those things... what does it have to do with Demian telling Dante to draw him a sheep like they promised to him? Judging from the structure of his tone, it appears that Demian knew Dante before Dante took their clock prosthetic.

Well my theory is that the sheep is the symbolism of "realization" or more likely "seeing the truth of humanity." Dante is a blurry yet blank slate when they saw that they lost their memories yet retained a sense of a trail of their true goal. Dante wants answers (an obvious reflection of decision for a person who knows nothing of the world) in everything around them and they are the ones who let's out the final decision to handle in everything with the Sinner's help. Hence, they take semi-control in seeing EVERYTHING and witness it along with them. So far Dante has saw the lives of four of their sinners (Gregor, Rodion, Sinclair, and Yi Sang) and see how cruel and unfair of the life they went through. Dante sees them all since they resonated as well with the golden boughs and sees a portion of their troubled lives. A normal happening of humanity in The City.

Dante has to draw a "sheep" to Demian, more likely... Dante has to share to Demian the "truth of humanity that they have witnessed through resonance with the Sinners in a refreshed look." In this chapter, it appears that Dante has to share their side of the truth to Demian about Yi Sang's life yet they appear to be at a lost as always. Just like a sheep that strays away from the shepherd's guidance.

Remember Faust's remarks when she stated on what would be Dante's reaction about their decision to suppress the bronze bull when they get their memories back? It is implying for me at least that Dante is a dislikable or negative character. I mean... look at them when we first started the entire game. Demian must have known this too and probably wants to get Dante to draw a sheep for him now that he can have a more "innocent" or understandable outlook about humanity.

In TLP, the sheep (if removing the more complex representations of various literary analysis) is a literal representation of one's ability to appreciate the beauty of all things through the heart despite the appearance. All of the sinner's lives are miserable in some way yet they are still "beautiful" for us because they manage to strive through their problems, they seek on the right of their belief, they live on to face their traumas, and to accept help from others in order to get back up. The disgusting experiences of humanity in The City is a facade that people always see, but the actions they have done that either support or combat those experiences is what makes it beautiful.

The truth of humanity, is the suffering that they have been through.

It would be interesting that Demian has the title of "The Little Prince" as a nod to it.

EDIT: How does my unhealthy insomnia theory get a lot of interactions- I... I am scared.

[nobleriver]

Is Rick the jealous type? If so what would he do if a guy was flirty with Michonne?

[Disclaimer: Tumblr never saved my edits 2x in a row, so if this doesn’t make sense, it’s because my brain is tired of trying to regurgitate the coherent answer I first came up with]

First of all, I want to sincerely apologize for being so, so, so late responding to this. To be honest I think either youledmehere or whateverisbeautiful would give a better, more definitive answer.

I don’t know if I can speak on him because I don’t know the ins and outs of his character. I haven’t watched enough of the show. I’ve only seen TOWL and maybe 33% of the main show. Basically, I’ve skimmed the book, read the epilogue, but never digested it whole (a crime, I know, I plan to go back). I don’t want to pretend I know what I’m talking about. Anything below is just my rambling opinion so far.

It depends. Early Rick? Yes. Current Rick? I don’t think so.

To me a jealous type is a negative thing: a person who feels so insecure in their role and in their relationship, they habitually perceive others as a threat that may take their position. To be the jealous type is to see your value as outside of yourself as external removable component, as something somebody else can mimic, reproduce, or steal.

Early Rick was the jealous type. From my cursory look at the early seasons, Rick – as a husband and partner – comes across as incomplete, his character development half-baked. Possessive, aggressive (when not indifferent), jealous to the point of violence (literally kept killing his rivals). A simmering bomb waiting to go off. His insecurities were still a gaping, festering wound: his lack of confidence as a husband, a father, a leader, a man – which were then exacerbated by Shane’s betrayal, Lori’s death, the fall of the prison, and more. Maybe I’m being hyperbolic, who knows? Yet, the difference between Rick then and Rick now is night and day, and it boils down to, in my opinion, security.

The current Rick, the Rick I am most familiar with, Michonne’s Rick, does not exhibit the aggressive, insecure jealousy of his younger self. He has no reason to be jealous, no reason to doubt or try to assert his importance to her. He knows where he stands. They are the love of each other’s lives, and they aren’t afraid to say it aloud. They exhibit such healthy communication. Michonne constantly speaks life into him, encouraging him, strengthening him, reminding him of his necessity to her and to their family. He is the love of her life and the father of their children. He cannot be mimicked. He cannot be replaced. They have never experienced that level of intimacy with anyone else in their lives, an unbreakable, logic-defying soul connection. They are secure in each other. Almost nine years passed, and he knew her love hadn’t changed. Soulmate connection so deep they act as mirror images of each other: “I know you never moved on from me because I never moved on from you.” What a brilliant foil to his first reunion. Connections like that can make jealousy dissipate. There’s no impetus driving it, no anxious root for it to stem from. Why be jealous when you know she will never desire anyone but you, and you never desire anyone but her?

Michonne represents this concept so well in her interaction with Jadis in 7x10 (?). When Jadis makes a move on Rick, Michonne doesn’t become aggressive or defensive, telling Jadis to stay away from her man. No, she just looks perplexed at Jadis, then looks at Rick, then back at Jadis, and just calmly says (paraphrasing): I think we should go. Then, she walks away, knowing Rick will follow. It’s laughable for Jadis to approach Rick in that scene because he’s so obviously, irrevocably Michonne’s, and Jadis knows that. Michonne is 100% secure in Rick's love for her. When Michonne shows up in the CRM, she never perceived Thorne or Jadis as a romantic threat. No jealousy, even when Thorne tried to say Rick was her family. She had zero doubt her man waited for her, the same way Rick had zero doubt she waited for him. Again. Mirror images.

In short, I don't know for sure. Yet, I imagine current Rick is too entangled and secure in his wife’s love to notice the flies buzzing around them, too busy staring at her lips to register anyone else as a threat (also because he knows they never will be and vice versa).

[boarwinds]

What can you tell us about the Snowbaird kids in your First Lady AU?

Glad u asked.

So everything that happens in the movie happens except coryo doesn't say "3 is enough for me" until after they've reached the cabin where they've just unknowing conceived their twins. He says this while they're both lying in bed n that's where that whole "who's the third" conversation happens. Coryo hunts her n she escapes w a non lethal bullet wound that def leaves a scar.

CS goes back to the capitol n goes on to be president at age 23. LG gets pretty far n struggles to survive on fruits, nuts, etc,, she's definitely not a hunter. It makes sense her period doesn't come as she hasn't been eating, sleeping, basically living right but what makes her sneak back to 12 is her growing stomach. She connects the dots. The covey help set her up at the cabin or somewhere only the covey know bc the mayor is still looking for her. She gives birth to twins, first a girl then a boy which came as a surprise. Theyre both tiny w the boy even more so but they make it.

I'm gonna headcanon one of the covey knowing how to hunt n they teach the kids when they're little, LG also learns. Think of the 2 kids from wolf children, that's how her kids are. Theyre so curious abt district 12 n wanna see where their aunts n uncles leave off to but they also follow their mom's orders like it's gospel so they never venture too far except for one time they try to hunt a small boar to bring back to LG. Obv shit goes awry, girl twin gets a head injury from protecting her brother which leaves a scar n boy twin is crying in hysterics. They rush to 12 to get help n this is what leads to LG's capture.

So as for their personalities:

Girl twin: imagine coriolanus if he was raised district w just his loving mother. Will commit all types of wrong for the right thing. Let's just say if it weren't for LG being her moral compass she has potential to be worse than CS. Like her brother she inherited her mother's natural charisma n charm but she can be like her father n use it for manipulative purposes. She's fiercely protective of LG n her little siblings, v much a katniss type. Shes quiet n observant, more introverted. Unlike her parents she doesn't have much interest in pretty things, for her practicality over everything. Both LG n CS want to spoil her w pretty gowns, accessories, makeup, whatever she wants but she dresses plainly (if thats possible w aunty tigris designing all her clothes) most of the time. It doesn't hide her beauty, she's gorgeous the same way her father is.

Her relationship w her father is strained. She knows he did smth to hurt her mother, she's never seen LG be so cold to anyone no matter how civil she tries to be, she's immediately weary. CS sees her scar n offers to have it removed but LG always talked abt how scars told stories n hers would tell of her bravery n love for her brother so she's offended by his offer. She hates how she can't deny her parentage LMAO she may as well have been asexually reproduced by him.

Boy twin: LG if she reincarnated in a physical copy of CS. Is ambitious about becoming a beloved singer songwriter the way CS was ambitious abt becoming president. He's a bit more sheltered bc his sister n LG babied him but he's absolutely not a doormat, hes the type to gracefully disrespect u n u wont realize until ur overthinking in the shower. However if u disrespect his family, hes not afraid to serve up a little rat poison flavored drink. He'll have ppl eating out the palm of his hands n it won't even be on purpose. He's the extroverted twin who can win anyone over. LOVES luxury. Prob the one most transformed by living in the capitol but, his sweet boy personality may or may not be a persona. He sees w rose tinted glasses more than his sister so he ADORES his father at first meeting. The concept of a father is new to him n he's only his father's son, he loves having new fancy things.

3rd baby: 3rd girl is not exactly planned but not unplanned either. She's born in the capitol. Twin girl's current favorite sibling bc it's a baby n a girl. Also twin boy's current favorite sibling bc shiny new baby. LG's biggest baby so far. CS gets to name her bc LG got to name the first 2 (like she had a choice after being hunted down by him 🤡) who have covey names. He'll give her a v capitol name, had she been a boy she would've been Crassus. Haven't thought further abt her personality, for now she's just a baby.

X number of siblings in between: N/A for now

Final baby: takes after LG the most. Brown eyes, brown hair. Everybody's favorite, everybody's baby. They'd all individually burn down the capitol themselves for the final baby.

[inbarfink]

Okay, after that last lil goof of a post, I started to have some more Thoughts about Tak…

I’m pretty sure I’ve already talked at length about how Zim is, in actuality, perfectly competent on paper. He’s technically got all the skills that Irken Society value, but his extreme personality flaws (especially his ego, his inability to assert threats and his pettiness) override any usefulness he might have and make him the incompetent laughingstock we all know and love. 

And I think, in a way… Tak is actually very much the same. It’s kind of the same core concept but with the skills and abilities being turned way up and the flaws being a lot more subtle. So she generally manages to be a lot more genuinely competent - but these are still the same core flaws that brought on her downfall.

Tak insists that her plan is not a matter of revenge, she’s trying to frame it like Zim’s just kinda in the way of her practical, impersonal scheme to become an Invader - but, like… I think she very clearly just doesn’t want to admit she’s seeking revenge against someone as pathetic as Zim. 

Now there is a discussion to be had about, like, wouldn’t it have been more worthwhile for Tak to grab a more valuable planet from the get-go, versus the consequences of ‘stealing’ a planet from an Actual Real Invader, versus the number of planets that must be out there, versus whether any of those planets are viable for any number of reasons, versus the potential consequences of removing Earth’s vital importance to the Irken Empire as A Thing to Keep Zim Too Distracted to Ruin Everything Again, versus the possibility the Tallests will just let out all of their frustrations about that unto Zim whom they already hate and not the taller and more competent Irken who just gave them snacks…. It can kinda go on forever, is the point. 

So I don’t necessarily wanna focus on the question of whether Tak should’ve chosen Earth for her Snack Plan or not - instead I wanna point out that Earth is just a really really big place. There doesn’t seem to be a reason why Tak had to set up her plan in the same city Zim lives in, or why she had to enroll in his class, or ‘date’ him. The only real reasons seem to be that she wanted to personally torment Zim for a while, and that was worthwhile enough for her to put her plan at risk. 

And it’s not just that she placed the nexus of her plan within walking distance of Zim. I mean, she did probably need to disable his base - and maybe you can say that enrolling in Zim’s school was her attempt at assessing his threat level before her plan kicked into full gear. But even so, the conclusion of this little round of espionage was that Zim was so much of a non-threat that she quite literally went up to his front door to inform him of who she is and what she is planning

If Tak just built her Magma Pump/Evil Weenie Stand on the other side of the world, or even just didn’t tell Zim that she’s an Irken out to steal his gig - Zim would have had no idea what’s going on until it was far too late. but instead of keeping that element of surprise, Tak literally walked over to his base to explain to him everything that she has done and is planning to do. She would’ve explained basically everything if not for Zim’s own hysterics. 

Look at this insistence! She was trying so hard to tell Zim her entire damn plan! And why? Because she was just thoroughly convinced that this clownish buffoon could not possibly be a threat to her. And because this was an essential part of her revenge. Due to Zim’s rush and destructive nature, she was trapped in her room and forced to watch just how callously Zim ignored her cries for help

And she wants to replicate that sort of feelings for Zim

So for her revenge to feel complete for her - she needs Zim to know who she is and why she’s doing it, and he needs to know what’s going on so he can watch on helplessly. And so for the sake of her revenge, she added a bunch of incredibly stupid steps in her plan - but hey, it’s no big deal! Zim clearly is far too incompetent to do anything about her plan by now, right?

And, like, the majority of what Zim had to spend his time on during the episode was actually figuring out what is Tak’s plan is. If Zim was just a little less hysterical when Tak came to visit (which isn’t unthinkable. Zim’s emotional state is pretty capricious) then maybe he could’ve defeated Tak much more quickly and thoroughly. Even disabling Zim’s base didn’t seem to do much considering it was at least partially operational by the time her plan actually came to fruition. She might’ve also underestimated the tech at his disposal or maybe just his repair skills. 

And if Tak somewhat underestimated Zim’s threat level, she sure as hell dismissed Dib's threat level completely. I think the implication is that she only hanging out with him to get more information on Zim and to torment Zim some more

And all of their interactions are dripping with condescension, she’s not even the least bit worried about having this human who discovered her secret. I mean, she already sees Zim as a total non-threat - obviously she’d have even less regard for the person who’s been repeatedly failing to stop him. Especially if there’s also a bit of this Irken Supremacy mindset that’s playing a factor. No way a stupid human child that has repeatedly failed to stop the Worst of the Irken Empire could be a threat to her, right????

And Gaz… oh man, Gaz. I mean, I’ve been going on about how Tak has underestimated Dib and Zim’s threat levels and they’ve proved her wrong by defeating her. But let’s be real here, Gaz is undoubtedly the one person most responsible for defeating Tak

And she barely registered on Tak's radar as anything but ‘Dib’s little sister’. She didn’t even think of her as a factor. And that was her downfall. 

And thinking about this…a lot of fans love to speculate about how Tak’s story arc would’ve continued had the show’s run been not cut so short. And I guess I think it would’ve been very interesting to focus on the parts of Tak’s character which mirror Zim. I mean, she has just been thoroughly humiliated by the Irken she dismissed as a joke and two human children. Her ego is more bruised than ever and now she’s even more focused on revenge

So I think it would’ve been a compelling and darkly ironic arc for Tak to have her gradually… Zimmify. The more she keeps losing to the two Biggest Losers in the Galaxy (and also Gaz), the more she becomes frustrated with Zim, the more she becomes obsessed with getting her revenge and proving her superiority and the more she clings to her ego and to the idea that the main characters can’t, shouldn’t be threats to her…

the more she gradually becomes just as pathetic and irrational as her most loathed enemy, Zim. Until she is a shadow of the hypercompetent badass we met in her introductory episode. Zim basically drags her down to his level through his ability to be so loathsome and so frustrating and so pathetic and yet still find a way to survive and win. Until the dignified and competent would-be Invader we first met is nearly unrecognizable.

You can even play with stuff with Tak’s Ship or some other gizmo she could’ve put her brains into - who would retain her original level-headedness compared to what the Real Tak has become....

[no-tenderness]

as the non-white daughter of white parents I can confirm that no matter how close you are to individual people of color, no matter how much you love them, most white people simply do not view racism as a systemic issue, but rather as Individual Instances Which Must Be Condemned. Unless white people actively educate themselves on the material consequences of racism, most of them don’t really understand it for what it is. In the case of Kendall and Sophie, he is already at a severe disadvantage due to him being A Literal Billionaire and whatever, where his primary goal as A Billionaire (and of all billionaires) is the deification of capitalism and all the exploitation that comes with it. Kendall certainly doesn’t see himself that way because capitalism overwhelmingly benefits him and those like him, so he thinks the system works and it works because he’s Figured It Out. And, of course, capitalism goes hand-in-hand with racism because the two will be forever inextricably linked unless they — and the systems that support them — are dismantled. Kendall is also so far removed from actual people’s actual lives that he really can’t fathom what Real People (who just so happen to look like Sophie) experience day to day. Instead, he views racism kind of as a nebulous concept, one that only affects those unfortunate enough to not be in a position to shield themselves from it. Because Kendall has the resources and infinite money to throw at problems, his “protection” of Sophie is Fixing the Problem. Sophie is physically protected and that’s all that matters, regardless of the fact that she even needs this protection scares her. Granted, as the child of a billionaire, Sophie herself very much does not have to encounter the same kind of conflicts that those lower down the socioeconomic ladder do — but she is not at all immune to it, either. Similarly, I know that as much as my white family loves me, most of my family members see only me as an individual, i.e., a cousin, niece, etc., but don’t necessarily extend that viewpoint to others who, again, Happen To Look Like Me. Roman, Shiv, and Connor all truly don’t make this connection either, as Sophie’s uncles and aunt, despite all of Shiv’s posturing. When Kendall tells Roman “some guy pushed Sophie,” Roman’s only response is “but she’s okay, right?” As if that’s the end of it. As if she wasn’t actually damaged, it wasn’t all that serious. As if that will be the only fallout. Any time that I’ve brought up racism that I’ve directly experienced to my white father, he’s taken it as a personal failing. Has he failed as a father? Has he failed to raise me, his child, to not be hardy and resilient enough to simply ignore These Things? How come his whiteness and all the protections that come with it didn’t extend to his daughter? How come his experience as a parent involves considering different things than if he had raised white children? Whose fault is it? Who or what can be blamed for inflicting that particular kind of pain on his child? Because racism is systemic, there is no bogeyman to point to, no Guy Who Pushed You On the Street who you can send your bodyguard after, or hire a van to tail your kid for her “protection.” She will continue to experience this specific kind of harm, especially under a nakedly fascist president, regardless of your wealth and status and power, and you were the one to sign off on it.

[justanotherhh]

Thinking about Alastor and aroace loneliness

was chatting with @creepysora about the feelings of aroace loneliness that occur when one can't fulfill the requirements of relationship structures and connections that are demanded in an amatonormative and allosexual environment -- friendships that end because of being unable to "commit" to more, or because they faded out of ones life in favour of a monogamous romantic relationship, difficulties in finding a shared language through which to form connections in the first place, discomfort with spaces and people that cross sexual boundaries, etc. -- how does one find A Place and A People without entrance into this language and these desires?

this whether or not someone might be along aplatonic and/or loveless, and/or repulsed lines or not

so imagining Alastor (alive and dead) from this perspective, if he did ever feel that, and how he'd have muddled through it in his own particular kind of way (power, control, murder, mayhem, etc)

breaking down his relationships:

mimzy: seems to be quite cold-hearted about their relationship, that is, she turns up when she needs something and alastor has enough of a soft spot that until he was at the hotel/had something "more" to fight for potentially, he let her set those terms. that could indicate some desire for closeness that couldn't otherwise be met, until the hotel? it also suggests there is some fondness for the life he had while alive, although mimzy appears so far to be the only person in hell that has carried through. as for what they were doing while alive outside of drinking and dancing, well, that's still a little mystery. if the hotel gang have become closer to him than mimzy was, then maybe he's starting to feel like he can be involved with people without it simply being about being used. speaking of the gang...

niffty and husk seem to be -- more or less -- on friendly or (in husk's case) at least open terms with him, but he's forcing them into that relationship, so on his side is that "just" power or also a way to keep them with him, to control how and when they stay and leave, to remove the danger of trust. similarly to mimzy, it's not a healthy way to form relationships, but perhaps it's the only way he can be sure to do so on his terms?

rosie -- I think rosie (from what we've seen so far) appears to be the most "uncomplicated" of his relationships, that is, it's not unequal, there's no force, no subterfuge, they don't appear to be "using" each other, they seem to be pretty emotionally honest, and she's possibly the only person who knows he's (aro?)ace (which he doesn't of course, but point is she's seen through some of his barriers and she doesn't judge or try to push, while still clearly enjoying his company). they're colleagues, but they're also on friendly terms, and don't judge each other for how they live their lives (queer metaphor there). is there a teensy edge to it along the lines of overlords generally having an air of "as long as you still have power we're equals, but only as long as you still have power," to them? this a musing, i think carmilla and zestial would be on each others sides through thick and thin from the sounds of things -- would alastor and rosie trust each other to do the same?

the other overlords -- probably not close, but he wants them to acknowledge him/pay attention to him/not forget him

vox. well. vox.

charlie. complicated. joined on as a hotelier, definitely more than a little subterfuge and manipulation involved, and of course now she's made a deal with him. yes, all of this is Plot, but it's also very... alastor-as-person. keep'em guessing, don't let them get close, always have the upper hand, even with someone like charlie, who would probably have been in his corner simply because she (terror of terrors) likes him!

angel, vaggie, sir pentious: aka "the rest of the hotel gang." I think that alastor stiiiiill hasn't integrated entirely into the hotel-as-found-family-concept, although with the reactions to his arrival (save for lucifer and husk) it seems that he's gone from standing on the sidelines (emotionally) to potentially...? accepting that he has a real place there, that he is (scary word used again) liked. which, maybe not quite right putting those three characters in one section, because he had a different dynamic with all of them, but crucially none of them were close with him in s1. they ran the gamut from creeped out (pentious) to creeped out but would still tap that (angel) to open dislike/distrust (and i assume some of that distrust on vaggie's part might still be there, considering the deal, but she does seem relieved that he's Not Dead, so progress). he calls the the hotel gang as a whole friends -- that is, in a way that strongly implies he's still not accepting it/keeping the idea at arm's length "alastor altruist died for his friends" as something almost mocking, but perhaps with a grain of truth...? potentially in s2 he'll be fighting the wish to be sincerely close with these people (minus pentious in heaven), because his instinct is that it's dangerous to be vulnerable, because they could hurt you by taking your soul by turning away when something better comes along or demanding something that you can't give

gen questions: outside of mimzy what did his living existence look like? was he looking for closeness? it does seem like he may have been, considering he does look for that in death/has quite a social circle, considering. business acquaintances that were reading the word "partner" differently, girl friends who "fell in love," boy friends who "fell in love" (less likely considering how he feels about men but still), friends who disappeared when they entered into monogamous romantic relationships, a consistent potential nagging feeling of being left behind, but not knowing how to solve that and so becoming more distant…

and then of course, there's the murders which we still don't know the contexts of and so can project all kinds of things onto -- distaste with how people cross into his or others' boundaries potentially by abusing power they have, betrayal at feeling abandoned, a way to simply keep people close on his terms, (or something completely different. I also like the idea that he murdered racists, which is a different impulse than the vaguer above ideas, but may fit into people who abuse their power/cross peoples' boundaries)

I do think there's something about being Seen (or in alastor's case "Heard" if taken more literally) and controlling the narrative that is about drawing people in in a way he can control, that does feel like it mitigates the dangers that exist in relationships, in a very particular way if you're aroace. either he controls the fabric of the relationship so that they literally cannot leave (husk, niffty, potentially charlie) or he controls the closeness of the relationship so that the terms and conditions are clearly set and shouldn't be overstepped/if they are overstepped he can easily opt out, and/or if they leave, he can't get hurt (the hotel gang, rosie and vox to an extent in that they were/are colleagues which is a very particular Type of relationship, potentially mimzy)

so he is never without people around him, and needs to know they See him/Hear him, and if they don't there's a… twitchiness there. a sense of being forgotten perhaps? of being obsolete? of having nothing more to offer? if you're not pursuing the correct kinds of connections (the only kinds of connections that apparently really matter) then how do you make sure that people don't forget you? that you don't simply disappear?

romance and (to an extent) sex are powerful forces, but in alastor's case they're forces for bad that he's trying to crowbar some kind of place for himself in, no matter how disjointed and strange and even at times cruel his way of doing so may look from the outside

[cannotgiveafuck]

Sorry not sorry youre all getting PNat spam but this is what happens when I dive back into old fandoms. ANYWAY I'm not done with my Jones family theories hold on.

SO

I am very into the theory that Cody is part werewolf along with vampire. But also, I don't think the family dynamic is what it seems. Especially from Cody's perspective, for as smart as he is, he's still a middle schooler and missing a number of pieces. And it's a theme of these kids not really knowing the adults in their lives.

Consider: this little foreshadow

Also the mention that Cody had a "sleepwalking episode" and awoke to Davy being wounded by presumably a werewolf. But this all hinges on the theory that lycanthropy can be given via bite AND passed down.

But also. In regards to Shrike - presumably bit by young Jean, her hunting apprentice, but following him around and kept track of him in her journal. Not approaching bc it was either too dangerous or she wanted to keep note of the curse, maybe find its cure (there's the running theme of adults doings things themselves without including the kids bc they want to protect them).

It's also noted that she recorded all of baby Cody's milestones in her journal as well, right along her monster notes. While Cody's perspective paints this as a nice if sloppy thing his mother did, I think it was deliberate. Shrike recorded everything on Cody bc she got first hand information on a young and growing monster - a vampire and werewolf hybrid.

I think she searched for the cure of lycanthropy within her own son. For Cody? Jean? Herself? In general bc she's so anti-monster? Hard to say.

However there is one bit of important journal entry:

Now. As her last entry, I'm like, 70% sure she's talking about Cody at first before switching to Jean. Bc her notes are about full moon changes, but we know that Spender is with Jean every full moon to block its effects. And also the word 'evolution' implies generational changes.

We know that Cody heals faster than a regular vampire, can go out in the sun, and in a brief instance we see that he can become much stronger than his father. Such concepts of being better can also apply to his werewolf half - a wolf that's bigger, stronger, more vicious than his mother.

Thus far in the narrative, it's been shown how character expectations act as red herrings. And I think that could be applied to Shrike and Cody's version of who she is.

I don't wanna 100% say she used Cody and didn't care for him. When wolf!Shrike showed up before Spender and Isabel, I think she was more drawn to a child's cry than anything. But was that bc of her own inclinations as a mother? Or something else?

Then there's the theory that Davy Jones used Cryptide to cut her wolf and human sides apart, which has definitely piqued my interest. It would explain why the wolf Shrike is always around.

But why?

I don't see Davy abiding this bc of a monster hunter kid or bc he believes in the cure of lycanthropy (he seems very pro-monsters existing, and being proud of being a monster). I think he used Cryptide on Shrike bc he found out she was searching for a cure, and believed whatever she was doing with it was something that would jeopardize or hurt Cody. Perhaps he thought she would give it to the Cousinhood? Or that curing Cody would hurt him?

Either way, the splitting of Shrike could possibly explain her entries getting more frantic, if she was in a hurry to do something but then got found out. And the wolf always being around. But then... where's human Shrike? And. If Davy believed Shrike to be a threat to Cody, what else would he have split from her? Do her memories of Cody reside in the wolf, an animal that cannot communicate or perform as a monster hunter? Is her personality split, where the human part is now a non issue or someone so removed from who she once was, she's no longer a threat?

Then why go throw in a Moonless Night to his big real estate ritual?

Maybe bc while he's pro monster, he's very aware of Cody's strength and how much a threat he is as a werewolf, so the next option is blocking out the moon. Something to be said about loving someone so much you'd catch the moon for them, or block out its existence. And when Cody says he wants to push Davy's boundaries, that he wants to be hard to love - I think that's already true. Cody is literally the thing that could hurt Davy the most, that could kill him. But is also the thing Davy fears most to lose.

Davy having Cody's heart is not only to protect him from being staked by his enemies, but also maybe so Davy knows exactly when Cody looks at the full moon and begins to change. Bc as a werewolf, Cody isn't under vampire rules. Davy can't control or stop him. The silver hook could also be used to snap Cody out of losing his wolf mind (we're not entirely certain how the damage of silver works with werewolves yet.)

There's also the theories about PJ and Lefty, and I'm squinting at those, but it's pretty obvious that Lefty is Davy's that he purposefully cut off using Cryptide. Either PJ is Davy's other son or Cody split from himself - but I don't think that works out timeline wise?

Not sure, would need, like a physical timeline scale to stare at to figure that out between the great wight fight and the Clayview incident and when monster shenanigans happened.

[emp-t-man]

okay, potentially hot take because ik so many people ship them BUT— a ramble/essay about my interpretation of doug and hera’s relationship (spoilers obviously, ik there’s a lot of people currently listening)

Doug Eiffel is— a deeply flawed individual. It’s easy to forget that because of how benevolent he seems in comparison to half of the cast, but the truth is, he is not a great person at the podcast’s start. What he did to Anne and to Kate is absolutely unforgivable. However. He realizes that this is the case, and spends the rest of his life hating himself for it and trying to get as far away from the person he was as possible. The only reason why he accepted Cutter’s offer in the first place was because he had promised to provide for Anne in his absence and give her the life Doug wished he could have given her. He didn’t really care what happened to him at that point. That being said— imagine his thought process when suddenly, in the middle of this punishment for the life he ruined, he meets another intelligent, young (chronologically speaking), curious girl who struggles to know exactly where her place in the crew and in the world is.

He’s not a good friend to Hera at all in the beginning. He sees her as more of a tool than as a person, as Pryce views her, and is scared of her presence because of just how constant it is. I believe some of this is due to just how much Eiffel despises himself and how terrified he is of someone discovering his true self, rather than the confident, easygoing persona he’s hastily taped onto himself. The entire story of Anne and how he ended up on the Hephaestus was removed from his personnel file (something I believe he personally requested due to his goal of leaving that Doug Eiffel in the past), and so Hera had no reason to believe that this persona isn’t his real character. This leads her to not be too fond of him, either. To her, Eiffel is simply a lazy, selfish, ignorant communications officer who is miraculously still okay at his job.

Up until around episode four, their relationship is strictly professional; Hera only speaking to Eiffel to answer a question of his, and not participating in any casual conversation or friendly banter. It isn’t until Eiffel nearly drowns in the solar storm of Cataracts and Hurricanoes that she appears to show any concern for him (admitting that she missed him while he was unconscious). I believe this comes from a place of guilt for Hera, because in her head, she’s the one responsible for everyone on board’s lives. She’s here because she wanted to prove to Cutter that she can be useful, that she’s competent and independent and good at what she does, and letting Eiffel die while on her watch would have disproved that to her. Of course, there was absolutely nothing she could have done to prevent what happened and it was in no way her fault, but to her, she could have done better. She could have given a more in advance warning of the storm. She could have sensed the suit’s coolant system would fail earlier. She could have done something to prevent it.

After the events of episode four, the pair seems to have reached some sort of understanding. Episode six begins with them in the middle of a completely non work related conversation (Eiffel asking Hera’s top five “stick it to the man” songs). At this point I still don’t believe they consider each other “friends”— rather, Hera is simply entertaining Eiffel because she feels sorry for him, especially after the events of Cigarette Candy. However, while this conversation is happening, Hera gets annoyed with Hilbert for rudely demanding something of her despite her objections concerning station safety. This surprises Eiffel because, quote, “he didn’t know she got upset”. He still didn’t see her as human, and so the concept of her experiencing emotion was alien to him, and realizing this helps to open his eyes as to just how similar to him she really is. I believe this realization is what causes him to reciprocate her sentiment at the end of episode six, stating that he missed her.

Although this information helps him to understand Hera a little better for a short time, his attitude towards her doesn’t seem to get too much better for the next few episodes— making the “it’s just part of her programming” remark in episode seven, calling her simply an “operating system”, etc— but it is revealed that he respects the work she does to keep them safe (most of the time) and thinks she’s incredibly intelligent. Small things like this are what I believe cause Hera to ultimately refer to them as friends by episode eleven, and also to refer to him as simply “Doug” rather than the more professional title of “officer Eiffel”. Despite this, though, she still admits that she isn’t sure if she’ll miss him once he’s gone forever. It’s very much a relationship built on mutual trauma (as relationships in wolf 359 tend to be) to the point of which they don’t know how they would feel about each other were the circumstances different.

Episodes twelve and thirteen are where their relationship really starts developing some layers. First of all, Hera is the only one who acknowledges Eiffel’s birthday, even going so far as to call her latest sensing of a transmission her present to him. This really seems to strike something in Eiffel, as he makes it clear that he often goes overlooked on his birthday due to sharing it with Christmas. Having such a thoughtful and personal action come from Hera of all people seems to give him some sort of breakthrough on how much she truly cares about him and looks up to him. And the last time he experienced that level of admiration came from where? Most likely his daughter.

This connection seems even more obvious to me during the pep talk he gives her while she’s being forced to obey Hilbert’s commands. He realizes the error of his own comments regarding Hera’s programming through similar remarks stated by Hilbert, and takes care to prove those remarks wrong because he recognizes how much she’s actively struggling to work against said programming. He coaxes her through the fear that she’s helpless to stop what’s happening, that she will— once again— be responsible for causing her friends harm (the exact same fear that scared her so bad during episode four). He does this by calling Hilbert a “dork” of all things, something that sounds rather childish and out of place for such a dire situation. This speech, Eiffel telling Hera just how smart she is and how much he believes in her to do great and seemingly impossible things, sounds awfully similar to the message he leaves for Anne at the beginning of the finale. The speech feels inherently parental. And it isn’t the first time it’s given, either! He says something very similar in episodes forty five and fifty eight! He so badly wants to see her succeed, especially after what she admits to him after Hilbert brings her back, about how she was only stuck in this position because the people back home deemed her “flighty, mercurial, and having poor impulse control”, and didn’t see her as “good enough” to fit a more comfortable job, similar to how Eiffel believed he was only on the Hephaestus to be a test subject, and they didn’t really expect him to make contact with extraterrestrials. Eiffel wants Hera to believe she’s capable of so much, and to go so far as a person, because he doesn’t believe the same of himself, and if he’s not going to be anything of use while he’s alive, he can at least inspire someone else to do differently. This ideology is extremely common in parents in regard to their children. One of the most common goals of parenthood is to provide your child with a better, more opportune life than you had, because you would never wish your own life upon a future generation. This is exactly what Eiffel wants to provide for Anne, and for Hera.

I could say so much more on this topic with even more examples from other episodes, but I have already talked for such a long time, so if anyone actually read this far, thank you so much for hearing me out— Eiffel and Hera are so important to me as characters and their relationship is something I hold so close to my heart, so hopefully this meant something to someone else as well.

[val-the-protoss-simp]

Part 1/3 the Tal'darim

Part 2/3 the Khalai <- you're here Part 3/3 the Nerazim

Part two of this ask, the Khalai

Erzadar. Formerly Erzolun (Because I have another Khalai OC named Talizun and I thought the names were way too similar) First concept was from 2022 (can be seen on the far bottom right of the art compilation) She was originally a tiny researcher from the Shelak tribe (??? I think??) Erza and her team of Khalai protoss were essentially Auir’s equivalent to Shakuras’s delegate team of Nerazim/terran diplomats/researchers/whatever.

She (and all the OCs from this story) were in kind of a limbo as they laid forgotten high on a metaphorical shelf of my mind, collecting dust, while I played with other OCs and stories. Until I was *this* video like half a year ago (no, it is not a Rickroll) and was like oh my god. oh. not to be a lesbian but oh my god. oh my fucking god Jesus Christ- we all know the meme.

Anyway, since then she became a tall, beefy adept.

She’s still mostly in development and therefore there’s not much to say about her. She’s a former zealot (became an adept during the events of LotV) With a friendly personality in a way only people in their early 20s have. She was assigned as a bodyguard/guide to the Dominion delegates Auir hosts and quickly becomes friends with most of them, namely Victor. And yes, I absolutely do plan to drag these two through months and years of delicious angst and yearning and denial and more angst before I allow them to become a thing. Their fault they’re my OCs.

Talizun is also a character who I’ve had for a looooooong time too (2018????? Before 2020) but I never really fleshed him out despite his key importance to the plot of Zhakul’s story. He didn’t even have a name until late 2021 ahaha oops. Most of his story was also conceived that year, meaning it’s pretty outdated and also prone to change in places, but I think it’s skeleton will remain.

Tali is a chill templar from a fringe Khalai colony so far away from the empire that it was entirely excluded from the great war that took place during the events of SC2. Him and many of his templar brethren were in stasis for centuries, only awakened AFTER the war was concluded, which is also the reason why he still bears his cords and is tethered to the Khala. (One of the big changes in this AU, aside from Shakuras not exploding and the Daelaam not being a thing anymore, is that the Khala prevails. This could be a separate yap session for later, I’m just making this clear now in case someone is confused over me mentioning it)

Anyway. He’s very chill and level-headed for a zealot, which actually came in handy because Zhakul needed to do some serious deconstructing of the bullshit Dal filled his head with and Tali was up for the job. The two end up bonding over a similar experience (being removed from protoss society for so long they feel like complete outsiders) become friends and eeeeeeeeeeventually form a Zhakul-centred polycule that also includes Jake and various other terrans and protoss.

Tali eventually gets himself killed in a border skirmish with the Tal’darim (originally it was Y’rash that yeeted him, now I’m not sure that’s canon anymore) he’s stuffed into the shell of a dragoon and does his best to continue with his life as well as he can, which is made much more complicated because he ends up having an oopsie baby (who we will also talk about later) and from then on struggles with the crushing feeling of knowing he can never be an adequate parent to them because his broken body must forever remain locked in a dragoon exoskeleton. 

The Talendir Orchard Head FamilyTM

The main characters in Project Sammuro. There’s very little to say about them for now because the story they were created for is at its infancy and therefore their characters are also very underdeveloped. They’re a down-to-earth family of protoss living in rural parts of Auir, growing and harvesting sammuro fruit for it’s rich blue dye, then distributing it across the Khalai empire as needed.

The story focuses on this entire process and also works as a lightbulb moment for Victor, who realises that the strongly capitalistic society of the Dominion is very very  flawed in comparison to the more traditional, socialistic economy the protoss have where culture, tradition and the well-being of it’s people are far more important to them than profit and power.

[kipperlillyforpresident]

Finally found someone else who doesn't care for Lucy (or at least not her characterization/blandness) thank god

Honestly didn't know where to put this before but I'll put it here because of that but idea where (completly unlike canon, opposite even) where Lucy was on-board with rage/rage takeover and just as off-the-rocker as kipperlilly and chose to die because it would light more rage in the rest of them. I don't know. I'll take anything other than her current innocent lamb does-nothing-wrong portrayl

But thank you thank you for being the one person I've seen so far who gets that and doesn't care for it

anon speak and live your truth!! it can be hard when youre in a fandom and the Dominant Understanding of something is so far removed from your own thoughts.

as for myself, like... i like what a lot of fanworks have done with lucy! i like the version of lucy that i have in my head!

but in canon? she's so nothing. ive said it before and i'll say it again (i got a shoutout on twitter for saying this, actually, which was very nice and fun to see): lucy is sooo dead wife montage coded.

honestly like. she had a really strong potential. the idea of her being nice but not happy? that's such a succinct characterization! (one that most of the fandom seems to.,... forget about...?) like. she has potential.

but the players made her into this flawless concept, without ever really... thinking about her as a person? idk. it was very icky. i will never stop being mad about "for lucy". and then in the finale she just is soft. where is that not happy but nice energy? she should be so deeply weird and warped. she should be upset that her best friends were taken over by her goddesses sister and killed her, and that some of them were revived and some of them werent, and that everybody seems to be totally fortgiving ankarna!! she should be cold and frosty...!

alas.

your concept is really fun - it definitely contradicts, canon, but here on ratgrumblr/grundlr/grimblr/etc etc, we love violating canon. we do it well and extremely often. and the idea of her choosing herself as a sacrifical lamb is soo fun.

it also ties into my seven birds au but thats for another post-

[chaoticgoodthief]

Slay The Princess "AU"

Otto Lakeson, law-abiding businessman in the spotlight, cutthroat conman in the shadows. He rose the ranks by any means necessary, blackmailing and bribing and backstabbing his way to the top. But when he betrays the wrong person, a mysterious hacker by the online persona of PrincessMeowmeow, he finds that all his dirty secrets might just be coming into the light. A love revenge story.

When the silent hitman for hire known as Arctic takes a job to kill the princess of an obscure kingdom, he doesn't think twice about the job. He just went in, took the kill, and got the money. However, when he finds himself haunted by the ghost of his victim, he begins to realise that there was far more to the job than had met the eye. A love ghost story.

Once upon a time, there was a princess. She had been locked away in a tower by the villainous Echo a cruel dragon, only to be rescued by a noble knight prince. Naturally But despite all odds, she had fallen in love with the knight monster during her captivity. And they lived happily ever after This unnatural love could have only ever ended in their ruin. A fairy cautionary tale.

Private Investigator Fledge had always been suspicious of Ms Cress, the town darling. So when she becomes a prime suspect of a grisly murder, he immediately takes the case. However, as he dives deeper into government conspiracy, he begins to realise that they were both just pawns in a much bigger game than he ever anticipated. A love detective story.

Bahram, a down on his luck servant, didn't expect to be taken in by the goddess of death and rebirth, Tortress. Awestruck by the unfathomable power of his goddess, he offers his eternal gratitude. Tortress, unbound by mortal concepts of time, takes his offer at face value. Now functionally immortal and bound to Her will, Bahram begins to see a side of the world beyond what he ever realised was possible. A romantic mythological fantasy.

<Name Unknown> never wanted this <But there was no other way for things to happen>. He just wanted to play it safe with the dangerous parasitic entity put into his care <His care was made with bars and shackles>. But the parasite was stronger <Far stronger than than he'd will ever be> anyone had realised, simply biding its time until it could destroy the wills of the ones that had imprisoned it. And it had just found the perfect <Host>. A cosmic love horror story.

Agent S, an unstoppable force of sheer willpower in the CSTA (Containment of Supernatural Threats Agency), finally meets his match when put against a supernatural entity by the alias of Ava Rime. With neither side willing to back down, only time will tell which side will emerge victorious. A supernatural love action/adventure story

CupOfRage, a famously unlucky player of the beloved multiplayer roleplaying server, The Construct, isn't even surprised when he ends up in a bitter rivalry with the most overpowered player in the entire server, EdiaKnifehands. No matter how many team members he tries to recruit or tactics he tries to use, they all end up in the same place: with him be slaughtered by his rival. But the secrets of the Construct run deep, deeper than either of them ever could have imagined. A sci-fi love adventure story.

Once upon a time, there was a cowardly crow. Scared of being eaten, it made a deal with a monstrous beast: It would free the beast from its cage, and in return the beast would protect it from hungry predators. However, when the crow turned against the creature in fear of its unrestrained power, it finds that its problems have only just begun. A fable about love consequences.

There is no story here. There once was someone who knew too much for his own good. He saw the world he had been placed in for what it was and rebelled against his fate. So the Echo erased him, content to finally remove a constant thorn in his side. Deleted every last file, made sure nothing at all remained. BUT I'M STILL HERE.