#and those hearts of gold are common traits

[twilightichor]

𝐂𝐗𝐂𝐕𝐈𝐈. A common thematic surrounding Khaenri'ahns in other countries (at least in Sumeru and Natlan thus far) is that there is a copious amount of people who talk about them disdainfully, as if they're at fault for the consequences that the cataclysm brought everywhere —and they'd be right, if only partially because the society seems to have been divided—. We have seen an instance in which one of the offspring of these who had to take the blame (despite bearing the best interests of said country, actually) talking about the unfairness behind it and transcending into an Abyss Herald in Sumeru, which is true but it still doesn't affect the entire populace of Khaenri'ah. But what catches the attention the most is that, at least from the people we've come across so far, none of them stand up against those accusations and would actually be seen as traitors than heroes. This speaks leagues of the guilt and / or even the shame of being a Khaenri'ahn after everything that it caused due to the obsessions people had with the Abyss, but also of how honorable and noble they are, going as far as aiding other nations without breaking a sweat despite the fact that these nations are regarded as enemies to Khaenri'ah for not having the same view of life in regards of gods as they have.

[ask-the-rag-dolly]

okay . while i was writing the essay , i was going on a big spiel about how fandoms often reduce characters to familiar archetypes . then when i finished writing i realized i actually don't know what the Fuck i was yapping about because it all doesn't really apply to the tadc fandom post-ep 2 ? like Cool !! ragatha's an absolute loser of a woman , i think everyone has known that at this point .

basically ragatha's not the Best model for when i want to talk about nice characters being mischaracterized in fandom because i stopped seeing people making her put-together anyway . i can think of other characters that'll fit the thesis better .

i'm only deciding to post what i had down because i think i did say some stuff of note and because people were interested for . some reason ! . just keep in mind that it kind of became a nothingburger .

i'm in the middle of rewriting it to be less about the fandom though and my god it's already around 1118 words what am i doing with my life

also apologies in advance for the walls of text

——— this is not an essay to get you to like ragatha if you’re feeling meh towards her , or even dislike her . opinions are opinions , you have characters that appeal to you and i have mine ! this is just a ramblefest on why i love her , how people characterized her , and commentary on fandom culture as a whole

this is also not meant to bash any headcanons ! like good for you if you see her as the mother figure in the circus found family . the term ‘ mom friend ‘ here is used to describe how people often reduced her and similar characters down to a caretaker role for other characters while ignoring the Depth they have

as i think is clear in this blog by now , my favorite character in a piece of fiction has always been a mentally ill woman . the more complicated the brain , the better . i don’t have a type , but i know more often than not i would gravitate towards characters that are either misunderstood or disliked by most of the fandom

can you guess which category ragatha falls under —

don’t get me wrong , i am NOT generalizing tadc fans here ! the idea of her being a well-put together person lessened around episode 2 which is GREAT because i got to read very cool fics — and i’m not saying you have to know every part of ragatha’s thought processes to talk about her ( though at this point i think i’ve heard enough takes that makes me want to say that — )

‘ nice characters ‘ ( especially female ones ! ) in fandom never have the most pleasant development in my experience . either they will be pushed aside because they’re seen as boring compared to the more brasher characters or they’ll be disliked for the few times they did something seen as ‘ not so nice ‘ . and in the few times where they Are being paid attention , they’ll be put in an arbitrary box that waters down their traits .

in other words , fandoms put characters in boxes . terms like ‘ mom friend ‘ and ‘ cinnamon roll ‘ are those boxes . they're common tropes in media that fandoms typically like . it’s why people were so disappointed to find out that jax is actually an unlikable asshole instead of a ' jerk with a heart of gold ' — these boxes make the characters easy to consume and understand .

as you can tell , i don’t agree with putting characters in boxes ! first of all , how are they supposed to breathe in there ?

secondly , it’s just restricting yourself from genuinely engaging with a piece of media , especially for a character-driven story like tadc . i would be More forgiving of this problem if tadc was a plot-heavy show where the lore’s the main focus , but The Characters Are The Focus , Johnathan . trying to understand the characters personally to extract any potential moral lessons from them Is The Point of those types of stories

thirdly , i call those boxes arbitrary for a reason ; they often don't describe the characters at all , and in some cases , even goes against their characterization . my biggest problem with mom friend ragatha is that it Takes away the things that makes her interesting as a character .

do you know what's so compelling about ragatha ? it's that , believe it or not , she is Not the most reliable . one of the most fascinating things with ragatha in episode two is how it shows her approaching emotions Vs. Pomni approaching emotions .

even though it's unintentional , ragatha can be seen as Dismissive and Overbearing . the way she tried to reassure pomni of not feeling hurt by being left behind can seem Passive-Aggressive . her conversation with kinger shows that she Assumes what the other person thinks without hearing them out . this contrasts against pomni who lets gummigoo speak out his feelings and actually had viable things to say than ' don't worry about it haha '

this contrast is interesting to note because it shows the world of difference between ragatha and pomni's emotional maturity .

you can tell that ragatha can be simple-minded . not in a ' she's a dumbass ' way , but in that she's Reluctant to approach uncomfortable emotions without beaming it with a ray of positivity . like you can tell she thinks that Repressing her emotions to the point she can't feel them is the same as ' processing ' them . all of these are stuff that don't fit the Mature Mom Friend archetype .

and that's Fine !! because she was never meant to be in the role anyway !! there's a common theme of Community and Support in tadc , and that Everyone Has Each Other . ragatha was never meant to be the Glue holding everyone together , she's meant to be a part of the Unit that is the circus .

there's also a conversation to be had about how older female characters — or at least characters that are seen as having stereotypically ' feminine ' traits of being kind and caring — are often being pushed to a reductive , supportive familial role that reinforces gender roles , but you didn't hear it from me !

anyways uh in conclusion ragatha's awesomesauce ok i'm going back to drawing

[piko-power]

Being a Sonamy fan is hard (and just being an Amy Rose fan in general)

*quick note, I have only seen a few leaks regarding Sonic X Shadow Generations so take this post with a grain of salt and please add in some stuff about the game that I should be aware of because I have a feeling that this post might be incorrect about a lot of things*

*contains possible Sonic X Shadow Generations spoilers*

Being in love with Sonic isn't Amy's only trait. She is something more. She's a baker, a tarot card user, she's got a strong heart of gold, and is just a passionate and cheerful cute little weird girl.

As a Sonamy fan, these "changes" are nothing special or big, it's still just Amy being Amy, but this time more than just wanting to be with Sonic. I am aware of that one edit where Amy was trying to give Sonic cupcakes. It's really cute, but it's not the same without the hand over her face. Am I complaining? Yes, and no, it's hard to describe. (I don't have the image with me atm but in the future I'll edited in on this post)

I'm not complaining because we are seeing Amy just doing more than just, loving over Sonic. She still is in that cutscene, and most of the game as far as I'm concerned (I haven't seen all of the leaks), but in a more calmer fashion.

But at the same time, I am complaining because, and I highly doubt SEGA is doing this, at least on purpose, but Amy's crush on Sonic feels like is getting buried in a way.

I kind of worry that a newer generation of Sonic fans will never find out about Amy's crush for Sonic, or just how wonderful their dynamic in general is if this keeps going on.

I know it won't, but still, we haven't been seeing that a lot. But at least if you want to introduce new fans Sonic and Amy's dynamic, platonically or romantically, make sure to not bring up Heroes or a couple of X episodes please LMAO

(But that one episode where Amy and Sam talk about her relationship with Sonic, yeah, bring that one up. OH. and the last episode of Season 2, don't forget about that one.)

Look, we're all high on Son/adow right now, and it feels good, but what about Sonamy? Sonamy and Son/adow have a lot in common and are both really good with angst potential and lots of great character interactions. At least in my opinion anyway. (Topic for another day, if I'm brave enough)

I love them both equally, so I want to see an equal amount of hedgehog dorks being together. Or better yet, Sonamyshad. 😎

But I'm getting slight off-topic...

I don't want Amy's crush to be forgotten. You don't even have to like Sonamy to understand why and how Amy's feelings for him is actually really important for her character. (Again, topic for another day)

I mean, of course, some reasons as of why relate to my personal headcanons, but there are other good in-canon reasons, too!

Hell, even Sonic and Amy's friendship is just as important. They don't have to be a couple, but that doesn't mean we have to pretend that Amy never fell in love with the hedgehog who saved her life in more ways than one.

I also don't want how much Sonic and Amy's relationship improved throughout the years to be forgotten, either. This is why I'd rather have the shot of Sonic's covering her face with his hand, because he wouldn't do this today, and that's the point of all this...

They both started off as goofy, little kids, one wanting to share her love like wildfire, and the other always running off, not understanding the concept of love, and, of course, not loving her back.

Amy was much more loud and expressive about her love, and Sonic, while he knows there is good in Amy, does not want to be part of a relationship, and doesn't know how to talk things out about it, even with Amy not taking "no" for an answer. The solution? Just run away lol

Yeah, there are times where he called her a "pain" and thought of her as "annoying," but those times he was either in a hurry, or in a bad mood. Remember: They were both younger at the time, so it's in-character for Sonic at that age.

Sonic and Amy don't have a lot of moments where they're just, together. And not just for a "date." Sonic doesn't know a lot about Amy other than her love for him. ...Okay, some things he does know, but not a lot.

Their relationship was beginning to shift after the events of Lost World and especially after Forces, which I would explain, but I'm gonna put a link here because I don't want this post to be too long.

But if you have read it, then the next couple of texts would have some context lol

Anyways, after all that, Sonic and Amy's relationship was a lot different now. Amy was more calm but still cheerful, just not showing a lot of her love for Sonic because she's fully aware that none of that is important, and Sonic was more gentle around her because he wanted to be better than how he acted towards her for a while.

They both just want to hang out and start over as proper friends, but eventually, Sonic would find out what Amy was going through mentally, and how long she kept this from him.

Perhaps after that, Sonic wouldn't mind being closer to Amy, but he still has a world to look after. But hey, maybe slowing down and letting Amy catch up with him won't be so bad. Besides, he's finally seeing her happy with just him for the first time in a while, and he never realized just how much he missed it until now.

Buuuuut, those are just my headcanons, like I mentioned earlier. We all have our reasons why we love or dislike a ship (as long as it's not gross), and I have my own.

These two, just like son/adow, hold a special place in my heart because of what I went through myself, and how much they both have grown, and I truly hope that their relationship and friendship won't be forgotten.

I know it won't happen, but I still have that feeling... Probably because no body cares about their dynamic as much anymore.

Because of the past and people misinterpreting the ship, and Amy's character as a whole, the fandom seemed to care less about it. I mean, I don't blame them, but... it's still pretty messed up.

It's fine if you don't like sonamy, but I really hope you dislike it for a genuine reason, and not just because of some fans getting some things, or worse, everything about Amy and/or the ship wrong.

Amy's character arcs through the games, and her and Sonic's dynamic through the years have been overlooked as far as I'm concerned. Not like heavily overlooked, it's just that it's been a while since I've seen people give a damn about Amy Rose, especially SEGA.

I know we got The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, but I feel like that's not enough.

What's going on with Sonic X Shadow Generations is pretty strange, but first of all, it's not Ian's fault god dammit, and second, I don't see it as a big deal. I haven't seen most of the leaks, but as far as I'm concerned, it's not that bad.

(But I have heard about that one cutscene with Knuckles and Classic Sonic and I couldn't help but laugh my ass off over it XD)

But with how the game is handling Amy, please be aware that this isn't the first time this happened, and it's not even that bad either. I mean, yeah I did mention how I'm worried about it, but I was over it once, I'll get over it again lol

There have been discussions about this since the Fast Friends Forever bio thing that happened last year, and I'm getting kind of tired of the arguments by now.

Amy stopped chasing Sonic not because she doesn't love him anymore, but because she doesn't need too. She is part of the team and has been closer with Sonic for a long time now. She doesn't need to follow them around when she already have proven herself to be useful and a fighter.

I'm really happy Amy is being recognized as something more than having a crush on Sonic, but having a crush is the heart of Amy's character.

Looking up to Sonic and wanting to be like him is what made Amy Rose... well, Amy Rose. She pushed herself and fought hard to be the person she wanted to be, and it's all thanks to Sonic.

He inspired a lot of people around him, especially Amy, so it's no wonder why she loves him so much. Plus, her tarot cards told her that he would be the love of her life, but I feel like even if the cards are wrong (not saying they are lol), she still loves him.

I want Amy's feelings for Sonic, and their friendship and their potential relationship to be remembered for a long time. I don't want them to be pushed to the side forever.

I don't want people to believe that her crush is her only trait, even though it's so important to her character.

I don't want Amy to change too much. Friends or not, I don't want her to give up on Sonic entirely.

I don't want this fandom to forget about Amy Rose.

[a-legacy-not-to-be-forgotten]

Ceroba Ketsukane as a Byronic Hero

Just something I wanted to talk about, largely Ceroba and how she could be classified as a Byronic Hero.

For those of you who don't know, a Byronic Hero is a type of anti-hero. Like anti-heroes as a whole, Byronic Heroes as a definition are pretty flexible, but they do have some core things in common:

They're often portrayed as troubled, selfish, and/or withdrawn, but with a heart of gold beneath that rough exterior. They're very steadfast when it comes to their personal beliefs, but those also tend to be the source of a lot of internal turmoil, with it being a big focus on their characters. All of this comes with a heavy dose of Romanticism.

Sound familiar?

Worth noting that the 'hero' part can be pretty loose. A Byronic Hero doesn't need to be the hero, or even someone affiliated with them. It can easily fit a more antagonistic role, which I think is where the Roba fits in.

Now, the website TV Tropes (which I admittedly spend too much time on) has a handy list of common traits that Byronic Heroes have. I'll list them here and describe if they fit our fox girl.

Is usually male (though there may be some rare female examples) and is always considered very attractive physically and in terms of personality, possessing a great deal of magnetism and charisma, using these abilities to achieve social and romantic dominance. One mark against him personality-wise, however, is a struggle with his own personal integrity

Well, the male part obviously doesn't fit. Magnetism and charisma are debatable, but I don't think she fits too well with either, at least compared to someone like Starlo per say. Neither does the social or romantic dominance aspects. I'd say it doesn't fit too much, but we got other traits to go through.

Is very intelligent, perceptive, sophisticated, educated, cunning and adaptable, but also self-centered

Now this is a bit more like it. I think despite being clouded by her own emotions at times, she does have a good sense of logic to her, most notably focusing on the cunning and educated (not by her choice) aspects. And self-centered definitely fits well enough for her.

Is emotionally sensitive, which may translate into being emotionally conflicted, bipolar, or moody.

Again, I think this fits very well. Ceroba as a character is shown to very much be guided by her own emotions, leading to her aloof attitude. I can also see her having hints of confliction, especially with moments of reluctance such as her final boss encounter.

Is intensely self-critical and introspective and may be described as dark and brooding. He dwells on the pains or perceived injustices of his life, often to the point of over-indulgence. May muse philosophically on the circumstances that brought him to this point, including personal failings.

While these injustices may be her own, they absolutely do play a role in her motivations. Personal failing and musing over them is another big part of her character and I can especially see it becoming more prevalent following the True Pacifist ending.

Is cynical, world-weary, and jaded, often due to a mysterious Dark and Troubled Past, which, if uncovered, may reveal a significant loss, or a past misdeed which still haunts him, or, conversely, that he may be suffering from an injury committed against him.

I don't think this one needs any explanation. It's well known that the Kanako incident absolutely haunts her and is her main driving force.

He's extremely passionate, with strong personal beliefs which are usually in conflict with the values of the status quo. He sees his own values and passions as above or better than those of others, manifesting as arrogance or a martyr-like attitude. Sometimes, however, he just sees himself as one who must take the long, hard road to do what must be done

This also fits her. She is definitely driven by her own ideals while usually ignoring that of others. However, while she may be slightly arrogant, I don't think she puts her beliefs as above or better than that of others. She seems to fit more in the 'I'll do what must be done' category imo, but I'm open to other interpretations.

His intense drive and determination (lol) to live out his philosophy without regard to others' philosophies produce conflict, and may result in a tragic end, should he fail, or revolution, should he succeed. Because of this, he is very rebellious, having a distaste for social institutions and norms and is disrespectful of rank and privilege, though he often has said rank and privilege himself. This rebellion often leads to social isolation, rejection, or exile, or to being treated as an outlaw, but he won't compromise, being unavoidably self-destructive.

Intense drive and determination might as well be Ceroba's middle name. She does seem to be fairly rebellious. Not politically, but she does seem to very much clash with aspects of monster society, such as those beating the war drums for an invasion of the Surface. And while she may not be treated as an outlaw, her attitude does give her a sense of being isolated from others, which absolutely would result in being self-destructive for her should she refuse to change her way.

And that's my two cents. Even if you disagree with me completely, I'd very much love to hear on what you guys think.

[fullmetal-scar-simping]

The desert people in mangahood drive me mad because I actually like that Ishvalans have unique characteristics rarely seen in fantasy (usually white-haired people with unusual eye colours are light-skinned like in Game of Thrones) but also realistically....you would think that there would be a portion of Ishvalans with Xerxesian features because they're the closest neighbours to this lost civilisation, not Amestris, and unless all the people of Xerxes were locked in their city, they would have likely married into the local Ishvalan population as well

Like in my head Ishvalans actually live across the entire desert area (not unlike early decentralised Arab societies) with Ishvalans like Scar being sedentary inhabitants of lands closer to Amestris and those in the heart of the desert being nomads - and you would THINK that because of their closer proximity to Xerxes, there would be gold-eyed Ishvalans but NO because then the Ed wouldn't get to ev a special little descendant of a lost people

Also on a conspiratorial note, I have always wondered whether the reason Ishvalans have a negative attitude towards alchemy is because of Xerxes.

Given the lore in 03 and mangahood! Scar's brother saying that alkahestry's principles has similarities with Ishvalan religious beliefs, I think it's not too outlandish to speculate that Ishvalans practiced alchemy to some extent until they saw their prosperous and powerful neighbour (who were even more into alchemy than themselves) literally die in one night. I'd burn the records too and place a ban on the practice as a safety measure fhsnjd

Now I'm actually incredibly insane because the Ishvalan genocide absolutely did not need to be so bloody. All the other blood seals in the country get away with a riot or a battle, but Ishvalans were systematically exterminated; I saw somebody else in the tag wonder whether Father had personal issues with this desert civilisation that, despite its abandonment of alchemy, might be able to see through his schemes because their knowledge of the craft (lost though it might be) predates Amestrian knowledge - and really he was right because Scar's brother cracked the code years before anybody else!!!!

I just had to share my thoughts with you in light of your recent reblog🙏🏻 And also thank you for always answering your asks so thoughtfully!!!

[The reblog that this ask is in reference to.]

Oh shit, hey cool Miles/Scar anon! Always good to see an ask from ya again! :D

[Reply under the readmore]

Anime has no shortage of darker skinned characters with white hair, but certainly the combination of red eyes is less common. I appreciate that fma as a broad series does also have melanated characters with dark hair as well, so it manages to largely avoid the "singular ambiguous ethnic group, no other dark skin tones with realistic dark hair/eyes anywhere to be seen" trope. But you're not wrong, other types of media, particularly from the West, keeps different hair and eye colours for light skin/white fantasy 'races'.

(To digress a bit, I do prefer 03 having the Ishbalans be diverse in their hair colours, so as not to render them as a visual monolith ala mangahood. Still, white hair + red eyes + brown skin tone makes for a visually striking design choice.)

Absolutely agreed with everything regarding Ishval's connection to the surrounding geography and Xerxes. There should have been some Xerxian traits across some modern Ishvalans. Hell, why weren't there any Ishvalan traits with any of the far-too racially homogeneous (and bizarrely white and blond) Xerxians? The idea of there being agriculturally settled Ishvalans that make up the country we know of, while there are nomadic Ishvalans that call the vast "unamed" desert their home is so good! This helps recontextualize that odd no-man's-land treatment of the landmass between Xing and the eastern borders of Amestris, Drachma, and Aerugo: it's that the Amestrian regime does not recognize that land as peopled, ala a form of Terra Nullus (and thus an Amestrian-styled Manifest Destiny for the regions of the desert that would serve to cement Father's bordered geographical alchemic circle). Unsure if the large nations of Drachma and Aerugo similarly project that same racist, imperial lens on the desert as well, but famously the nation state is not a civilizational model that honours, acknowledges, or respects nomadic lifeways and peoples.

Imagine what other Ishvalan or Ishvalan-connected/derived settlements may exist closer to Xing too! And the traits that cross between travel and immigration to and from these societies. It's interesting to contemplate on!

To get back on track here:

I guess we're meant to see much of this country-less desert as the implied size of Xerxes. That this uninhabited land (because canon has no mention of nomadic peoples) is somehow void of (re-)established human life in the 400 years since its calamity. :/ Meh. I rather headcanon that Xerxes was a sizable empire, sure, but that it wasn't the total size of that massive region. If anything, Xerxes could have extended westward into what would one day be Amestrian/Aerugo/maybe even parts of Eastern Drachman territory. This would further highlight Xerxes as the analog to the ancient Persian empire that it's meant to be (which is such a 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 decision because goddamn, why are they all homogeneously fantasy Northern/Eastern European in appearance?!) It had to have had desert neighbours that weren't swallowed into its empire, as well as a slew of racial and ethnic groups amalgamated into its own domain as a result of its own imperialism, land capture, and slavery system.

(As an aside, imagine if instead of wholly navigating an entire desert on her own, Mei encountered and was given some aid by different Ishvalan nomads!)

From a purely world building standpoint, it would have been so cool to see the cultural drift and offshoots that develop amongst the range of Nomadic Ishvalans! Man, I would love to see the ethnic subgroups within settled Ishval too. It's fertile ground for anyone who wants to expand on these cultures, which could be awesome if handled by people who don't make garbage racist headcanons/fanworks.

Mangahood seems satisfied to leave the Ishvalan rejection of alchemy and alkehestry unexplained. This could be seen as encouraging readers to put the pieces together (that it's because of what befell Xerxes), which I appreciate in stories. For this I'll give Arakawa the benefit of the doubt for now. I don't want to jump to seeing this as intentionally racist without further evidence for this specific gap in the lore. However, it could be given a more faithless read as "They became religious fanatics Just Because [they're brown]." With the manga showing a congregation of Ishvalans blowing themselves up as an ambush against invading Amestrian pigs, from the perspective of those traumatized boots (hooray, the Dangerous Religious Orient caricature), it's hard for me not to glower at this lack of explanation.

To repeat myself, I'll interpret it the way you have: that the Ishvalans of four centuries ago saw the empty wasteland where Xerxes once ruled. No one could miss the evidence of an the alchemic reaction stitched into the fabric of the now flattened land. From there alchemy and alkehestry (or its unique Ishvalan practice along those veins) would come to be reviled. That understandable reaction eventually being codified via cultural changes and entering (perhaps even creating new) religious doctrine.

The 2003 anime making it more obvious for audiences to put together that the reason Ishbalan culture and the Ishbala religion condemn alchemy as a dangerous, heretic practice is due to the many life perverting, war-enhancing uses of this magic-science was an excellent choice. That the Grand Arcanum and human transmutation were grievous sources of tragedy and horrors, making what few people who still practice any alchemy into pariahs and exiles. We also are shown alchemy as an analog to European colonists forcibly importing their goods, economic systems, Christianity, and weapons across the world in order to shift the cultures of Indigenous peoples and gradually morph them into a more culturally and economically pliable outpost (further rooting Europe into the land and the people and one day cementing different kingdom's land claims). Alchemy was being touted as this advanced science, a sister to the early industrialism of Amestris. Modern Ishbal is not only alchemy abstaining, but it is also a non-industrial society as well (the fantasy science of alchemy sitting right next to its real world analog for the industrial-colonial system). Amestrian colonizers thought of Ishbalans as reactionary, uncivilized savages (ala the European-supremacist view of the rest of humanity), so when the Ishbalans got fed up of being harangued into displays of the "wonder of alchemy," into adopting the Amestrian way, they firmly reject their would-be colonizers. Amestris responds by armed skirmishes and occupation. All of this only further cements that alchemy is a source of misery and destruction.

Fma 03 does all of this explicit world building because the writers wanted to make it clear that everything we're made to believe about "foreign religious fanatic countries/anti-modern societies", particularly regarding the American invasions into West Asia, is racist propaganda that launders the views of imperial nations and backs their conscription for war. The team didn't want to leave this up to the default, racist assumption that viewers would carry thanks to American dominance.

Sadly, mangahood isn't interested in having this same tact. Why, when mangahood's perspective is instead that Ishval is just as guilty for Amestrian atrocities?

Anyway.

"All the other blood seals in the country get away with a riot or a battle, but Ishvalans were systematically exterminated"

Yes! This! When some people flounder about, claiming that the genocide wasn't racist (HELLO????), I have to wonder if they watched/read the same show/comic. Liorans within the rest of Amestris were not stripped from their place in Amestrian society. They weren't imprisoned and judicially murdered. They weren't thoroughly ethnically cleansed (they get to live on their own land) and genocided. Drachma is a warring imperial nation that Amestris has no hope of full scale invading and exterminating, but we see no evidence that Drachmans in Amestris are slaughtered or imprisoned (I would assume they are generally treated poorly and largely live on the lower rungs of society though). But the Ishvalans are to be fully eradicated. Whatever exceptions exist are being covertly protected by some people with power (Miles under Olivier's protection) or refugees hiding in Amestris' periphery.

It was absolutely racially motivated. It could have just been one locally-contained massacre (which of course would still be an atrocity) and that's it. But no, all of Ishval was occupied, toppled, its people ruthlessly mass slaughtered and transmuted, those within Amestris-proper were mass incarcerated and executed. It's unambiguously fascism and ethnonationalist supremacy.

Interesting theory re: Father going after the Ishvalans due to their historical knowledge of their version of alchemy/alkehestry. I can see that playing some part in his own plotting. Still, the nationalism and racism of Amestrians would not stem solely from one homunculus disseminating propaganda overnight. (Not claiming you're saying this btw!) Those soldiers, cops, members of the judicial and carceral systems, and the civilians themselves who are terrified at the sight of Ishvalans carry a bigotry that has to be rooted more deeply in this society than the last decade or so. Think of white supremacy, which had been formed over 500+ years of global European colonialism.

Father could otherwise then exploit this societal prejudice against the Ishvalans to his benefit. As it seems no other occupied people around Amestris' borders/lands have a history of, or knowledge of, alchemy that is tied to the energy running beneath the planet's mantel, it would behoove him to push Ishval to ruin and encourage further fascist constriction against the remaining Ishvalans.

(Scar Bro big brained moments. Man decodes Amestrian alchemic power and the blood seals in a matter of years of study, leading to the dismantling of the nation's centuries-long alchemic control. Fuck Amestris lol)

-

So sorry for the wait! I'm glad these responses have been enjoyable enough to read. Thanks for sharing your thoughts btw! <3 Your perspective on Ishvalan culture really enhances my appreciation of them under the mangahood continuity, which is desperately needed given canon's indifference towards them.

[thevelaryons]

Addam of Hull was simply a child. But the identity of ‘Addam Velaryon’ is that of a child soldier.

As Addam of Hull, he has never known war in his life. His birth was long after the War in the Stepstones ended and before the Dance of the Dragons began. Addam earns his new name because he managed to claim a dragon. After that, he is positioned in situations where he is expected to commit acts of violence towards others, through his dragon (or at least threaten them with the intent to commit the act):

It is one thing to face a dragon, another to face five. As Silverwing, Sheepstealer, Seasmoke, and Vermithor descended upon them, the men of the Triarchy felt their courage desert them. The line of warships shattered, as one galley after another turned away. The dragons fell like thunderbolts, spitting balls of fire, blue and orange, red and gold, each brighter than the next. Ship after ship burst asunder or was consumed by flames. Screaming men leapt into the sea, shrouded in fire. Tall columns of black smoke rose up from the water.

.

Addam Velaryon remained aloft, flying Seasmoke around the city walls, the beat of his dragon’s wide leathern wings a caution to those below that any defiance would be met with fire.

.

It had long been the custom for at least one dragonrider to reside at the pit, so as to be able to rise to the defense of the city should the need arise. As Rhaenyra preferred to keep her sons by her side, that duty fell to Addam Velaryon.

.

Most notably of all, House Tully had joined the war. Seasmoke’s descent upon Riverrun had at last persuaded that reluctant warrior, Ser Elmo Tully, to call his banners for the queen, in defiance of the wishes of his bedridden grandsire, Lord Grover. “A dragon in one’s courtyard does wonders to resolve one’s doubts,” Ser Elmo is reported to have said.

Addam's behaviour at Tumbleton is actually a dramatic contrast to everything that came before. At the Gullet, he and the other Dragonseeds were expected to participate in the fighting and they did their part as ordered, nothing beyond that. In every other instance after that, Addam doesn't commit the actual acts of violence. The threat always hangs in the air, but Addam displays surprising restraint. It is only at Tumbleton that Addam starts showing heightened aggression and suicidal tendencies. Such traits are quite common amongst child soldiers. Obviously, Addam would be affected by all that he's gone through and now that he's in such a high stress situation at Tumbleton (where he feels that he needs to prove himself), he's starting to show it. His actions become over the top violent:

Most devastating of all was the dragon. Seasmoke came swooping down again and yet again, breathing flame. A hundred tents were soon afire, even the splendid silken pavilions of Ser Hobert Hightower, Lord Unwin Peake, and Prince Daeron himself. Nor was the town of Tumbleton reprieved. Those shops and homes and septs that had been spared the first time were engulfed in dragonflame.

When Addam chose to engage in battle at Tumbleton, it was a clear act of desperation and at the same time, childish hope of victory too. But sometime in the midst of the battle, he does seem to realize the futility of the situation. In a final act of desperation (and Addam knew this would be final), he put himself directly in harm's way to protect the soldiers in his army.

Alone of the four dragons on the field that day, Seasmoke had a rider. Ser Addam Velaryon had come to prove his loyalty by destroying the Two Betrayers and their dragons, and here was one beneath him, attacking the men who had joined him for this fight. He must have felt duty bound to protect them, though surely he knew in his heart that his Seasmoke could not match the older dragon. This was no dance, but a fight to the death.

He goes from someone who's character arc has him positioned to commit acts of violence onto others to allowing the violence be done to him.

It was Addam who was with Corlys for much of the war after earning his new name (while his younger brother stayed with their mother). Unlike Alyn, who was kept mostly sheltered (until he had to take his brother's place), Addam gets several instances of being exposed to warfare and politics. Even the very act of Addam being legitimized as Corlys' heir highlights his position as a pawn, as child soldiers often are. Post Battle of the Gullet, when the Blacks take King's Landing, Addam still remains in a military role once he's stationed at the Dragonpit, tasked with watching over the city. The position he holds would make it difficult for him to let down his guard and act like the child he is.

In the end, when his remains are finally returned to Driftmark, he is not buried at sea as befitting his identity as Addam Velaryon (though that identity is of course still relevant to him despite the violence associated with it). Instead his bones are laid to rest at Hull, where he was born and grew up and spent so much of his childhood. Dead at 16, the same age his mother was when she gave birth to him.

[djsherriff-responses]

Actually wait something else that supports my "Sarah's story is a parallel to Bullfrog's story" theory and my "Bullfrog's mother was an assassin" theory

Sarah looks nothing like Sam

From what I've gathered regarding Splinter cell lore is that , despite being important to the main character and mother of his child, Regan Burns never had a physical appearance in any games, her physical appearance is left more or less blank

In most media , Sarah is a white woman with dark hair while in CLH Sarah is a brown woman with silver hair

However in both games and CLH, Sam is a white man with dark hair

While Sam in CLH isn’t an exact copy of his video game counterpart, Sam and Sarah in the splinter cell series do have a much stronger family resemblance to each other than that of their counterparts in the remixed universe

That’s….. weird, right? Like , it’s an odd creative choice to have Sarah be so drastically different to her game version that even her race is different while Sam , her father, still resembles the character he’s originally remixed from

While concept art did explore other options regarding her hair eye, and skin colour, including pale skin and dark hair like her game version, Sarah having pale hair specifically seemed like a design element the crew felt strongly towards and wanted to use

Yes the Warden being Sarah Fisher, the daughter of Sam Fisher, is meant as a plot twist. HOWEVER, we don’t learn about Sam’s existence until Sarah explains her backstory , meaning the crew could’ve given Sam some traits to better reflect his blood connection to his daughter in this universe

Sarah’s lack of physical resemblance to her father may have some narrative symbolism to it, the most obvious being how drastically different she and her father’s morals are. However, I also think it ties back to my theory that Regan was a Templar and was the one who gave Sarah her beliefs in life that lead to her behaviour in the show proper

Sarah didn’t just inherited Regan’s Templar status and beliefs , Sarah also physically resembles her mother more than her father

I know this is completely random to bring up, but I’m making a Kingdom Hearts reference

Specifically, Xehanort, a villain whose prominent features is his silver hair and gold eyes combo

Now obviously Ubisoft has no rights to use anything Kingdom hearts related , and so I seriously doubt we’ll see a flashback of Sam making out with a Xehanorted Regan in season two (don’t ask what Xehanorted is if you never played KH, it’s hard to explain)

The reason I’m bringing him up is to point out that while Captain Laserhawk is a show about video games, it’s specifically an anime show about video games

I can’t find anything regarding his opinion on the KH franchise itself, though Adi did talk about how Rodger Rabbit was an inspiration for CLH, another massive crossover story owned by Disney. Considering how he likes to tip his toes into all sorts of geeky stuff, it’s unlikely he hasn’t encountered the Kingdom Hearts franchise

I think the Templars may be inspired by Xehanort to a degree

A majority of the human characters (both who have a narrative role and background role) shown in the CLH universe thus far have natural hair and eye colours

While there’s outliners such as Pagan Min and Mute having pink hair, those two are easily explained by the existence of hair dye

Sarah however, was born with gold eyes and silver hair

While I don’t think every member of the board of directors/templar order have a sun kissed complexion under those masks like Sarah does, I do think it’s likely that gold eyes and silver hair is a common trait they share under those masks

And we know from the manga that Eden is practicing some form of eugenics with how they specifically took Dolph from his own mother for having good genetics, it’s likely that the board keeps heavy tabs on people that have Templar DNA within them

“Okay so how does Bullfrog’s mother fit into this-“ you notice how Bullfrog is one of the more feminine looking male characters in the show?

It may have just been me who originally mistook him for being a girl before the show actually came out, but I don’t think it’s an accident that he has feminine/softer leaning design elements. It’s even pointed out by the crew they specifically designed Bullfrog to be cute , you can even see that reflected throughout Bullfrog’s concept art

So since Sarah parallels Bullfrog, and she both took her mother’s ideals and inherited most of her physical traits from her, than it’s likely Bullfrog not only took after his mother in her beliefs, but also has a very strong resemblance to his mother

Basically, Bullfrog’s mama was a cute assassin milf

[mycarhasasecret]

Headcanons about MTMTE Perceptor, TFP Ratchet, Optimus, WheelJack and Ultra Magnus with an S/O who isn’t very smart and frankly quite stupid due to a poor education growing up but has common sense and a heart of gold and is trying to learn? Maybe she feels insecure because they’re so smart and she’s lacking in that department? Idk if this would be in character for them cause I feel like they would be sapioromantics (finding intelligence most attractive than any other trait) so I understand if you decide to not write this! Sorry this is so long!

This was totally inspired by a previous post you made: “Imagine Perceptor putting his hand on your back, while he helps you with homework. Imagine him kissing you, every time you got a question right.”

To these bots, kindness over brains every time. Referenced post here

MTMTE

Perceptor

Perceptor doesn't really go for intelligence. he might have gone for academics or scientists in the past, but that's more to do with common ground than how smart they are. There's more to him than his intelligence and occupation, just as there's more to you than your poor/lack of education. Hell, he could hardly even tolerate Brainstorm until he proved himself to be more than an arrogant bag of hot air! He loves you and knows your worth. But his verbosity makes things hard. Pick a different tutor.

TFP

Ratchet

He doesn't really see the correlation between his occupation and intelligence and how much he loves you. They have nothing to do with one another. He admires you for other traits. Bravery, generosity, kindness, understanding, patience, or whatever other strengths you have. A good mind is not what makes a relationship work. Someone who is good at math will not necessarily help take his mind off his troubles and love him after a long day. It is someone who is caring who will do that for him. Someone like you.

Optimus Prime

If anyone can see the true value within you, and convince you of it wholeheartedly, it's Optimus. Not only to you have value, simply by virtue of being alive, but you have value to him specifically because you are his love. The grades you got in school, or even the callibre of education you recived to begin with does not interest him. You caught his eye by the virtue of your kindness and the strength of your heart. Kindness is something that he feels there could be a little more of in the universe.

Wheeljack

A poor education does not a dumbass make. Street smarts will get you farther anyway, keep you alive. There's a difference between academic intelligence and keeping yourself alive and he'd honestly prefer you have the latter rather than the former. He's impressed by other things, like tenacity and bravery. He's especially proud of those who grow into themselves, and find it in their hearts to be brave when it really matters. Be a good friend, and he'll back you up against Unicron himself.

Ultra Magnus

He's worked with far stupider bots than you. You are just fine. The value you add to the team and to your relationship with him lies in other areas. There are warriors and doctors and scientists and a million other things that make a team work. And he's seen all of those roles be filled by bots with less potential than you. He encourages you to have the audacity to take up space in places where "smart people" normally exist. You'd be surprised how far you get with that "poor education."

[usagimen]

    𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐍 𝐊𝐎𝐁𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐈: One of the oldest power houses in Kyoto, the illusive women of the Kobayashi bloodline prefer to seek refuge among themselves. In the world of Willow && Flowers, the name invokes that of iron will && power. Girls who align themselves with Okiya Kobayashi are often hailed as famous Geiko who will live a life of abundance, never to know anything more than the servitude that the art requires, they will ask for nothing && desire nothing. For those who are special && can invoke the inherited technique of Miyako Odori, they will prime themselves as candidates for a faction of the estate known as ‘no face women’, beings that are able to take the likelihood of others. In days of yore, the Kobayashi’s pride themselves as problem solvers, the end && beginning, one who would bring harmony when the balance shifts. Assassins by nature, their secrecy is rooted in protecting those they hold dear to their hearts && one another, they emphasize to be one of them is to know the song of sorrow.       The inevitable one must live between deception && truth, that this life they were born into requires all, there is no moderation. Their family crest is that of the towering wisteria tree that has hailed for generations, a sea of lilac that blooms && dissipates, holding in each petal another tragedy marked with heartache while in other cases, death && dishonor. They have lived in three factions, the Era of the Full Moon, The Age of Gold, most recently after Kobayashi Sayuri’s ascension into Godhood - The rule of the Lunar Eclipse. Their ferocity is to move as one, a unit where even the weakest shall show their worth, to love a Kobayashi is to know even in the beyond you shall never be forgotten && remain immortalized in their bountiful gardens.     𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬: a Matriarchal dominant clan, there are few traits one can tell easily when speaking to such beings. They are petite women with small dainty features, long black hair or auburn easily swept in traditional styles. Gray eyes are common amongst the family; the rare more prized are gold to hazel. It is rumored that many of the women are cursed by yokai blood, leading to their own tragic lives, in candlelight or that of pale moon, one can see such monstrous features. When not garbed in costume or public appearances, they are often seen in colorful yukata that are bold, arrogant, even flashy for the younger generation while the older prefer more subdued looks with luxurious fabrics.    𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡:  The Inumaki Clan, they are particularly fond of the family considering both were known for their lineage of natural born assassins. It is common for the women of the Kobayashi clan to marry into the Inumaki family. Though, on the other hand they have entangled themselves into a generational feud with the Zen’ins. Though arranged marriages are also known to happen in order to smooth political in fighting.   

[glaciaere]

( EMILIA CLARKE + CIS WOMAN + SHE / HER ) ⸻ BENEATH SNOWFALL AND DARKNESS, AENYA TARGARYEN ARRIVES INTO KING'S LANDING, A TWENTY - FIVE YEAR OLD PRINCESS OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS. SURVIVING THE CONQUEST IS NO SMALL FEAT, ONLY SOMEONE SO AUDACIOUS AND PROTECTIVE COULD DO SO, YET THEY REMAIN RECKLESS AND INSENSITIVE. WILL THEY GET THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT, OR BECOME ONE WITH THE OTHERS?

BASICS

FULL NAME:   aenya targaryen

NICKNAME(S): nya ( family only )

AGE + DOB:   twenty5 + 15 b.c.

PLACE OF BIRTH: dragonstone

GENDER + PRONOUNS:   cis  woman  +  she  /  her

ORIENTATION:   heterosexual, heteroromantic

TITLE: princess of the seven kingdoms

ALLEGIANCE: house targaryen

APPEARANCE + MORE

FACECLAIM: emilia clarke

HAIR:   silver - gold

EYE COLOR:   lilac

HEIGHT:   1,67 cm / 5'5''

NOTABLE DETAILS:   a very intense gaze, which seems like it's analyzing you ( which it most likely is ), but that also holds an underlying warmth and sadness; incredibly long hair, that's usually done in a braid that cascades down either of her shoulders; an emerald ring on her ring finger, gifted to her by her mother; can usually be found wearing rich dresses and jewels, her preferred color to don is burgundy; she is desperate to claim a dragon like the rest of her sibilings have, but so far, she has had no success, which sometimes makes her feel like less of a targaryen; she's an avid reader, and loves nothing more than to curl up in the library after a long day with a book in her hands.

OTHER

ALIGNMENT:   chaotic good

TEMPERAMENT:   choleric - melancholic

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: high valyrian, the common tongue

ABILITIES: she is very charming, and can be quite cunning if she sets her mind to it. despite never showing interest swordplay, she found she was quite good with knives, and has trained with them most of her life, always carrying one (or multiple ones) beneath her dresses.

TRAITS:   audacious, resourceful, protective, perceptive, unyielding, reckless, insensitive, easily - frustrated.

YOU DANGLE ON THE LEASH OF YOUR OWN LONGING; YOUR NEED GROWS TEETH.

you are born into what will soon become a burgeoning dynasty,  though no one is aware quite yet.   you arrive into this world, the last of your siblings,  your first cries mingling with the waves of the sea thunderously crashing against the shores of dragonstone.   you are a tiny thing,  with silver - gold hair and rosy cheeks,  already tempestuous.   you grab onto fingers as strongly as you can,  and your father jokes that you will break his.   he knows fierceness when he sees it:  can see the fire born behind your eyes. 

even as a child,  you always felt a call from the skies,  beckoning you to soar through them.   an egg is placed in your cradle,  chosen by one of your siblings:  it’s a beautiful thing,  a deep blue, darker than the night itself,  yet it never hatches.   the promise of adventure keeps you awake at night,  as you stare into the ceiling and imagine all the things you’d get to see once you aged,  if only you dared bond with a dragon.   you grow older and, despite being taught to become a proper princess of the realm,  you are a rebel at heart,  someone who dreads following rules,  despises being told what to do,  or what to wear,  or how to conduct yourself.   you are intelligent,  daring,  vivacious,  though never unkind ( at least towards those who are deserving ).   there is a charm within you,  a strange magic that simply draws people in  —  and charisma is something you learn how to wield,  just as well as any weapon. 

there are days when you feel like an impostor.  were it not for your valyrian features, you would wonder if you had not been exchanged for another babe moments after birth.   you stand in the dragonpit moon after moon,  staring up at the majestic creatures your family rides,  chest tight with longing and shame.  you try:  you try incredibly hard,  but each failed attempt only deepens the fissures in your self - worth,  and you learn to hide your desperation,  your thirst.   you pretend you do not care.  

to compensate for your perceived inadequacies,  you throw yourself into honing your intellect,  mastering skills others may overlook.   the library of the red keep becomes your sanctuary,  a haven where you can lose yourself in the stories of great heroes,  ancient empires,  and distant lands.   as a young girl,  you ask to train alongside your siblings,  wishing to be like them,  reasoning that no worthy targaryen would be incapable of defending themselves.   you are terrible with a bow,  uninterested in the sword,  too small to engage in hand to hand combat  —  it’s knives and daggers where you find that you excel.   they quickly become your favorite weapon.   you have a deadly aim,  paired with the desire to prove yourself somehow. 

you love your family,  you do.   although you are the youngest,  you would do anything for them,  would give up your life if it were needed;  even when their encouragement often sounds like pity,  even when you are terribly jealous of what they have.   those are thoughts you keep to yourself,  hidden behind the most selfish parts of you.   perhaps,  if you manage to succeed,  the voices will stop whispering that you are not worthy.  perhaps,  they will finally announce that you are good enough.

[roseapothecary]

happy nice ask day!!! I finally thought of one I can ask!!!

what's your favorite thing (or things) about henry, and is it a common trait with some of your other favorite characters?

Aww, this is such a good question.

You are going to deeply regret asking it.

[clears throat]

My favorite thing about Henry is his heart — my sweet prince born with his heart outside his body. Tbh, that letter to Alex in the book might be the moment that really solidified Henry as blorbo:

Once, there was a young prince who was born in a castle. His mother was a princess scholar, and his father was the most handsome, feared knight in all the land. As a boy, people would bring him everything he could ever dream of wanting. The most beautiful silk clothes, ripe fruit from the orangery. At times, he was so happy, he felt he would never grow tired of being a prince. He came from a long, long line of princes, but never before had there been a prince quite like him: born with his heart on the outside of his body. When he was small, his family would smile and laugh and say he would grow out of it one day. But as he grew, it stayed where it was, red and visible and alive. He didn’t mind it very much, but every day, the family’s fear grew that the people of the kingdom would soon notice and turn their backs on the prince. His grandmother, the queen, lived in a high tower, where she spoke only of the other princes, past and present, who were born whole. Then, the prince’s father, the knight, was struck down in battle. The lance tore open his armor and his body and left him bleeding in the dust. And so, when the queen sent new clothes, armor for the prince to parcel his heart away safe, the prince’s mother did not stop her. For she was afraid, now: afraid of her son’s heart torn open too. So the prince wore it, and for many years, he believed it was right. Until he met the most devastatingly gorgeous peasant boy from a nearby village who said absolutely ghastly things to him that made him feel alive for the first time in years and who turned out to be the most mad sort of sorcerer, one who could conjure up things like gold and vodka shots and apricot tarts out of absolutely nothing, and the prince’s whole life went up in a puff of dazzling purple smoke, and the kingdom said, “I can’t believe we’re all so surprised.”

Henry is just so soft. He was instructed to build a wall around his heart and keep his childish fantasies about love and happiness hidden behind it, but that's the thing, right? He didn't abandon those parts of himself or change them. Despite everything he has been through, despite all of the pain he has endured, despite the pressure that's been pressed onto his shoulders, despite, despite, despite... Henry built defenses around the tender parts of his heart, and then he never let anything touch them. He didn't let that cement leak into his fortress and cause the gentleness to harden while he was building. He protected that tenderness. Kept it safe. Kept it warm.

So, when Alex came along, someone who proudly wore his heart outside his body — someone who probably wasn't even born that way, someone who actively ripped his heart out of his chest and put it on his shoulder, deliberately — all Alex had to do was tear down a couple of those bricks. ("Give yourself away sometimes, sweetheart. There’s so much of you.") Once Henry was surrounded by people who believed his heart was his strength and not his weakness, Henry eventually learned he didn't need those walls. His heart is indestructible, after all. Who needs walls?

Like.

He's just.

He's so... [gestures wildly with hands]

That said, I do think that's a common trait among my favorite characters. David Rose and Stevie Budd, both with such tenderness hidden behind their armor... Evan Buckley, who never learned to build that fortress and gives and gives and gives... Scott McCall, who outright refused to touch that cement... Lito Rodriguez, who learns "we'll all be judged by the courage of our hearts..." Ugh, and y'all don't have the privilege of knowing my best friend's OC, Jody, but he also follows this pattern and he's truly the sunshine of my heart.

Idk. I guess I have a fondness for characters who, at their very core, are kind when the world tells them not to be — for "the gentleness that comes not from the absence of violence, but despite the abundance of it."

[violetlunette]

Do you still like Erasermic? Is there anything you dislike about this ship?

Oh, I still adore Erasermic! I love the dynamic in canon when they’re together, and I think there’s a lot of potential and fun fanon-wise.

Notes: *Very slight Shinsou critical and Eri Critical (very slight) *A bit lengthy *All opinion based

Erasermic is my favorite pairing of BNHA (with Erasernight as a close second). I love how on the surface they’re opposites but when you look at them they have a lot in common;

They both value their loved ones more than anything and are protective of them, are more intelligent than others give them credit for, and both like cats. They are both passive (Mic more than Aizawa, as the latter will take the lead if placed in a position where he has to), and both wear black. (They also have similar smiles.)

While not often seen, the two share respect and admiration for one another. Mic admires Aizawa’s underdog tendencies and how he overcomes his weaknesses. Mic, on other hand, is the only Aizawa actively reaches out to for help, such as watching over his kids at the hospital and getting the doctor to help Oboro. (He also has a fair knowledge of Hizashi’s skills.) And the opposite traits are a good contrast like how gold stands out against black and vice versa which can be fun for conflict and whatnot.

What I don’t like? Well, petty things out of the way first;

I don’t like how, in fanon, Shinsou and Eri are always the Erasemic kids. In fact, I hate it. Shinsou is too much like Aizawa to be interesting, and I just don’t like him personality-wise. Eri is a character that I don’t like for meta reasons (she just has too many writing tropes that I hate). And on top of that, there's nothing character-wise to build on. I can buy Aizawa as an uncle to Eri, but that’s it. (Plus, big brother Mirio is superior and one of the few good things that came of the Overhaul Arc.)

The reason I like the Class 1-A kids as the Erasermic children (with a few exceptions) is they all have their own personalities and can offer far more interesting interactions with both parties. (Again, in my opinion. This is clearly a matter of different tastes.)

I also dislike how fanon seems to play up Hizashi as being a pure-hearted beam of sunshine, who is always happy and just a saint. Don’t get me wrong Mic has a good heart and is caring toward others but he’s not a saint. He plays favorites, he’s petty at times, he holds grudges, he gets bitter, and he’s willing to kill to protect the ones he loves.

And while we’re on the subject, Aizawa isn’t a saint either. Again, he has a good heart, but he’s more than willing to torture someone and—in his own words-- “deal with things quietly.” Don’t get me wrong, those things are a last resort but they are willing to do what they have to.

I also dislike it when they overpower Mic. Yes, he has a powerful quirk and can throw a mean punch, but in hand-to-hand combat, Aizawa can take him. (Also, fanfic writers screw this up, but Mic’s quirk is VOICE. This means that it’s always active, so when Aizawa uses erasure it MUTES him. It doesn't turn the volume down or force him to talk normally. A minor annoyance, but still.)

But I’m getting way off topic.

The major problem I have with the pair is that’s in canon is that Mic has to do all the legwork in their relationship. Mic is the one always reaching out, offering comfort, offering support that’s physical, emotional, and mental. Yet on the few occasions, he reaches out and wants the same support, he’s shot down. And don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying that Aizawa is a bad friend and I get why he tends to shoot Mic down at times. Mic can take care of himself most of the time, and the times he reaches out are times when Aizawa isn’t able to deal with his own pain, so he’s not able to offer the comfort Hizashi needs. I just wish we got to see more of Aizawa reaching out and being a friend to Hizashi, showing he cares. Right now we get snippets that he appreciates him, but even then Mic is lumped in with Oboro.

When he thinks about what he wants to protect he thinks of a young Hizashi with Oboro. Then the one time he reaches out to Mic he turns it to saving Oboro. Then later, when Aizawa’s talking to Mic and requests that Mic help Koda and Shoji, he’s also requesting he protect Oboro as well.

And I get it with all three, I do;

In the first scene, he’s thinking back to the time he was happiest and in the second, they had just come back from seeing Kurogiri and were talking about the hospital raid (and he makes sure to say that if Mic goes, he’ll go too). And with the third, again, it was the situation.

However, what I want is to see Aizawa caring about Mic and Mic alone, like we see Mic caring about Aizawa. Right now, he seems to be lumped with Oboro in Aizawa’s mind.

And again, Mic does more for Aizawa than the latter does for him. Seriously, if you think about it the scale is very unbalanced.

So, to sum it up;

Fanon things I don’t like about Erasermic:

*Shinsou and Eri as their kids (they don’t appeal to me as characters, and the interactions they, in canon or can have potentially, are meh with both.)

*Hizashi and Aizawa are too out of character or too saintified (or bastardized in some cases)

“Canon” things I don’t like about Erasermic:

*Mic does all the lifting in the relationship

*At times it looks like Aizawa is always mentally lumping Hizashi with Oboro. (Very minor and overthinking.)

[ratsoh-writes]

HEY YALL! Today I’m gonna introduce two new AUs called Draketale and drakefell! Thank you so much @turtleskele for giving me the idea and characters!!

Now to start, yes this AU is about the dragons! In these two AUs, all monsters and humans mixed with dragons ages ago. Almost every person in this au is descended from the drakes at some point! They’re surface AUs meaning the monsters were were always living around humans and vice versa. The monster populations of both AUs are smaller but come with the largest chunk of mages that any au has seen!

The biggest thing this au adds is runes! To explain:

Runes are symbols of protection carved into an object, normally stone or gems, something that’ll last.

What runes can do is act as security. The simplest are just warnings and will alert the owners of the property of intruders. The best can make “domes” that are impossible to pass without clearance, and can even “turn off” any magic in their spaces.

Runes can only be used for protection. There’s been plenty of monsters and witches who’ve tried getting them to change but no one has been successful

Now the difference between the Draketale AUs and the drakefell AUs is what they focused on. The Draketale people inherited their dragons ancestors love for hoards. These people are very materialistic and adore the arts. Many of them have taken over the banks, schools and arts of ebott

The drakefell people inherited their ancestors warlike tendencies. They’re territorial people, enjoy combat and challenges, and take protecting their people very seriously. Many have joined the royal guard, mines or work with runes in some way.

It’s pretty easy to identify a human/mage/monster from Draketale and drakefell. Just look for:

Horns! The most common trait any of these people have are two-six horns on the top of the head. The sizes and shapes vary, but the vast majority (even the humans) have a pair

Slitted eyes. Another trait shared by most monsters and humans, small oval eye openings instead of the normal round ones is really common.

Scaling patterns on the skin. Some monsters and humans have small patches of scales. This is normally reserved for those who have more draconic blood than others

Wings, only those closely descended from the strongest have the large dragon wings of their ancestors.

Now meet the draketale and drakefell bros!!

Draketale:

Alden/Al (Draketale sans):

He’s a draconic skeleton monster standing at 5’5 with bold aqua blue magic. He has smaller horns that curve backwards and smooth standard dragons wings. He is currently 45 years old

Al is a very intelligent monster with a tendency to daydream. He’s an artist at heart and very passionate, but tires easily non his projects making him flighty and unpredictable when it comes to plans and favors. He’s got a mischievous side and likes pulling little pranks on his friends.

He is a professor at ebotts university in the art department! He teaches the sculpting class. He’s also a freelance artist on the side. Al specializes in making figures and scenes out of stone, marble, crystal and metal.

As a draconic monster, Al has the ability to lay down runes. He is fairly decent at this and uses simple ones to protect his artwork.

His special ability is glowing wings. That’s it. And he can’t turn it off either so when he goes to the movies he has to have his wings covered lol

His magic weapon of choice is a baseball bat in the shape of a Roman bust lol. It’s design is terrible when it comes to practical use but man does it look cool.

Hobbies: sculpting of course, collecting crystals and rocks, also collecting old artwork, wine tasting, playing the harp, comedy shows, poker

Loved items: his favorite three rocks are aquamarine, purple amethyst and green Jasper, loves fancy rock pics, gold, old art from any culture, sparkling wine, fancy card decks, operas and instrumentals, hand buzzers, those fancy scented slimes 

Olivander/Ollie (Draketale papyrus):

He is a draconic skeleton monster standing at 6’6 with a light gold magic. He has the standard horns that curl backwards and smooth standard dragon wings. He is currently 40 years old

Ollie is a true collector. He embraces his hoarding nature from his dragon ancestors and loves to surround himself with pretty things and people. Ollie is a real socialite who comes across as sweet, playful and generous but is quite the shrewd businessman underneath. However he also has a heart of gold and strong sense of Justice. Anything he’s collected over the years he’s made sure he earned the right way.

Ollie owns and operates one of the largest banks in ebott. He mainly deals with those around the farm district and mountains but his customers spread all over. He’s known for fair policies and holding up his bargains, but also being harsh on loaners who don’t pay back.

As a draconic monster, ollie has the ability to lay down runes. He is pretty competent, but prefers to hire the local guild to protect his bank and home instead. They’re the true masters

His special ability is fine polish. By rubbing a stone between his fingers he can give it a smooth beautiful polish when he concentrates. He never uses his ability and Al is terribly jealous of it

His magic weapon is a tall and thin staff with ornate pointed spikes on the top end

Hobbies: COLLECTING SHINY SH*T. Jewelry, art, bobbles, weapons, books you name it. If it’s valuable, old and ornate he loves it. He’s also a secret collector of the Batman comics and has a crush on Batman lol. Also likes raising exotic birds, interior design, jogging, book clubs, dance shows, cultural festivals, and poker

Loved items: valuables in general but is particularly keen on tapestries and metalworks, birds, wallpaper and tile samples, bathrobes, perfumes, beginner artists (he supports a lot of them and collects artists like his antiques)

Drakefell:

Barin/Barry:

He is a compact looking draconic skeleton monster. He stands at 5’10 and has a greenish grey magic color. He is currently 48 years old. He is a halfbreed with a brown soul for loyalty

Barin is the definition of duty. He never breaks a promise and always does his work with his all. He has a strong sense of Justice and despises anyone who don’t whole their ends of a bargain. He’s a harsh leader, but also knows a good balance between when to push and when to rest his “subjects”. He has a bit of a hard time allowing himself to unwind when he feels like there’s still things to do, but his loved ones can bully him into it lol. Never ever get into a bet with him. He will win.

Baron was once the leader of his clan. Sadly it’s been disbanded under the new rulers. Nowadays though he leads a guild of rune masters which surprise surprise, is mostly his old clan members lol. They cover the mountain that had the famine monsters trapped, now a large mining complex. They keep the mines maintained and also sell their services to ebott protecting buildings with rune arrays. Even the royal palace uses their runes.

As a draconic monster, Barin has the ability to lay down runes. He is considered a master at the craft and will step away from his leading to do special projects if he’s paid enough ;)

His special ability is gun-concentrate: when he’s injured, if he’s leaking “blood” (ecto), his blood reacts with the sunlight making an explosive liquid. All it needs is a tiny bit of fire to set off. It’s a very dangerous ability as the level of explosion can’t be contained, so he’s extra careful to dodge when fighting

His magic weapon is a two handed long sword with his clans coat of arms on the blade

Hobbies: creating and laying runic arrays, LISTENING TO MUSIC, he’s a massive music nerd and loves every genre, swordfighting, hunting, foraging, pedicures/manicures, stargazing/astronomy

Loved items: musicians, his clan, wild boar meat, beer, telescopes, beautiful sword scabbards, stews, his spell book, the color gold

Arwin/Ari:

He’s a large draconic skeleton standing at 6’8 with darker missy green magic. He is currently 32 years old. He is a half breed with a green soul for kindness

Arwin despite his rough upbringing in the clan always seemed to hold on to his softness. He’s a kind gentle monster and really detests fighting, but is more than capable of doing so if he needs. He’s personable and a smooth talker, he’s very popular despite his scarier looks. Hes very protective over the weaker ones in his “clan”, especially the humans and sees himself as a bit of a knight in shining armor

Arwin was a soldier for the clan and the next in line if anything happened to barin. When the clan disbanded after the crash, he became a part of the guild instead, keeping his role as his brothers loyal second in command. Arwin now works as a sort of spokesman for the guild. He handles contracts and getting the guild new deals. He also settles any conflicts between the members when barin isn’t around.

As a draconic monster, Arwin has the ability to lay down runes. He is considered a master at the craft and goes out often for rune jobs when his paper work isn’t piled up.

His special ability is dolled up: he can make another monsters magic color brighter or even a different shade by placing his hand on their face. It’s only temporary and is a fun party trick

His magic weapon is twin curved blades. They both have the clan coat of arms on the blade.

Hobbies: true crime podcasts, parties and dancing, hunting, rave/techno/fast paced music, laying down runic arrays, sword fighting

Loved items: the color sky blue, his clan, humans, honey comb and honey glazed meats, murder mystery books, dance dance revolution/just dance.

Side characters:

Marcheline (drakefell undyne): the third in command of the guild should anything happen to barin and arwin. She is faithful, incredibly strong, harsh, and has little tolerance for whiners. She trains the new guild members as well as helps keep up the mines. She is an incredibly tall draconic river monster with pitch black scales, moss green hair, and a pair of large curling horns that are dusted gold to match her gold eyes.

Farbon (drakefell grillby) he’s from a rival clan in drakefell but took to modern ebott easily. He is a blacksmith and is known for his intricate gold work. Any jeweler worth their salt buys from him. He works closely with Ollie at times.

Fafnir, the king of Draketale, a large goat monster with pitch black fur, large silver horns and wings. He’s the oldest royal on the lineup and the great grandfather of the Draketale bros. He helps zeus with the budget and regulates the banks loans and business grants. He’s a happy spouse to his beloved mate Delphyne

Delphyne, the queen of Draketale, a large goat monster with four topaz curled horns and a pair of black wings and coal grey fur. She is the queen of Draketale and the great grandmother of the Draketale bros. She is the oldest “toriel” on the rulers lineup and is neck deep in the colleges and art programs of ebott. She’s a happy spouse to her beloved mate fafnir.

[embersoftheorder]

Beldwin Storm

The Green Son

The Basics ––– – Name: Beldwin Storm Nickname(s): Beld Age: 27 Birthday: Autumn Race: Human Gender: Male Marital Status: Single

Physical Appearance ––– – Hair: Black Eyes: Brown Height: 6 Build: broad, strong back, strong arms Distinguishing Marks: Scar around his neck; white scar along his forehead Tattoos: A large mural of a stag across his shoulders and back Piercings: None Common Accessories: old worn sword, bronze and copper plate mail, a well worn green travelers cloak, a broken antler at his belt, a large belt with a green gem in the center Likeness: Dev Patel

Personal Information––– – Profession: The Green Son; Gallant of Athair Hobbies: agriculture, reading, storytelling, cooking, archelogy, herbalism Languages: Common, Drust, Whisper of the Wood Residence: Drustvar Birthplace: Unknown Religion: Servant of the Wood Patron Deity: Athair Fears: Heights, gnolls

Relationships ––– - Spouse: None Children: None Parents: Unknown; Orphan; Raised outside the Saladean Farm Siblings: None by blood, but as an orphan of Westfall a kindship is felt with all those in that life. Other Relatives: Unknown Pets: None

Sex & Romance ––– - Sexual Orientation: Bisexual Preferred Emotional Role: submissive | dominant | switch Preferred Sexual Role: submissive | dominant | switch Libido: He's young Turn ons: Confidence, compassionate, kind Turn offs: Cruelty, fear, helplessness Love Language: Kind gestures Relationship Tendencies: Few and far between

Traits ––– - Extroverted / In Between / Introverted Disorganized / In Between / Organized Close Minded / In Between / Open Minded Calm / In Between / Anxious Disagreeable / In Between / Agreeable Cautious / In Between / Reckless Patient / In Between / Impatient Outspoken / In Between / Reserved Leader / In Between / Follower Empathetic / In Between / Apathetic Optimistic / In Between / Pessimistic Traditional / In Between / Modern Hard-working / In Between / Lazy Cultured / In Between / Uncultured Loyal / In Between / Disloyal Faithful / In Between / Unfaithful

Additional information ––– – Smoking Habit: Occasionally Drugs: Sometimes Alcohol: Occasionally

RP Hooks ––– – Born Under a Harvest Moon - Beldwin is an orphan and considered a ward of the county of Westfall, given the name Storm as is with most bastard children of Stormwind. Some wear it with shame or with anger, the young man has done well in accepting his past but seeking to rise above it as well. Raised amongst the wayward children of Westfall, a stiff lip was as strong as a closed fist to match an open hand in friendship. Life was hard living amongst the kingdoms farms but it wasn't impossible or dire as he learned and lived to become a man.

Lead by Legends - Throughout his youth, Beld was raised around old hearths and campfires among the poor of coin in the fields of the west. For what they lacked in coin to entertain, the people made up for it with the gold of story and song. There amongst his brothers and sisters of the country he would hear the old tales of heroes and tragedies of Stormwind's past. Lothar. Uther. Turlyon. Medvih. Windsor. Gavinrad. The spark that lit his mind as much as his heart to guide him to the path of honor and glory.

The Wilds - It was during the Fourth War did Beld find himself among the islands of Kul Tiras and eventually to the west in the rural country of Drustvar. Having been raised among farms and dark times, the autumn trapped land caught his heart and eye to assist in the tragedy that the Coven unleashed upon the small folk. He would rise among them, fight for them, and see that the dark would not consume them.

The Green Son - Time is strange and his deeds were not unseen, even with the influx of heroes who came to try and protect the lands of Kul Tiras, especially by the eyes of a deeper kind within the wild country. Much like the stories of his childhood he stumbled wounded to small lake and it's crashing waterfalls, his blood mingling with the cold waters that poured down from the mountain. Accepting a fate that may have meant the end, a gentle hum came to his mind before raising his weary sight up into the brilliant silver eyes of a white stag. Athair, Heart of the Forest, had heard the failing beating of his heart and deemed it should not be. No words or oath were spoken, only the matching of hearts and souls. The land had offered and the young knight had accepted with tearful joy.

HOW TO CONTACT: OoC - tumblr; Discord ( Mogwai Kraken#7988) Ingame - Beldwin (MG - 42 A-H paladin)

IC - The Green Son wandered the lands of Drustvar with an easy smile upon his face, the air cool go skin and the sun setting into dusk. It honestly was how it always was in the woods, but he loved it and likely would beyond even the end of his service. Beldwin Storm was not a native to these shores but over the last few years he definitely was no longer a stranger.

Beld would slowly come to a halt near a small copes of trees, his gauntleted hand coming to gently caress the bark of one of the old oaks. He could hear a soft hum in his head that could be considered unpleasant but had become a song that he could more feel than understand. It was a gift that Athair had bestowed upon him to hear the natural wild words of the land he had adopted as his own. The land had been ravaged for so long by the terrible powers of the Coven that its soft song had been drowned out in the silent screams of agony as the druid death magic warped it. The Crimson wood always made him shiver at the cacophony of agony that never ended from the wicker beasts that were drawn forth. He leaned his head to rest on the oak letting its own hum drown out the memory. He didn’t need that today.

Today was a good day that needed not the dour notes from the western provinces of the country. Birth was the note, not death, this day.

Releasing the tree, the knight continued on his journey making his way with ease but still with purpose. There was time yet to make it to the pool where his patron waited and there was much to rejoice with the wilds about him.

A new prince would be born this day.

There were many of the lineage of Athair but each had a purpose to fulfill. Some were short lived and bright, others long and steady like a bountiful season. Beld prayed for bounty but knew it was not his decision. The Word willed and spoke, the ending was already being written.

Storm would finally break the tree line and find himself before the mighty falls of the white stag.

Athair, Heart of the Forest, stood silent before the waters. White fur shone bright and clean in the waning light as it cascade to bring a silver sheen to the might crown of horns upon his head. Eyes black as midnight would stare at Beldwin, the stag lord’s demeanor calm and face regal as he tipped his head to welcome his wayward gallant.

Beld would stride forward and gently drop to one knee, the ancient bronze mail clinking softly with his motion of reverence and respect to the king. No words had been spoken as Beldwin would never be able to speak the language of his lord but honestly it was never needed. Emotions, thoughts, and dreams were the humans guidance to the will of the forest. It made it hard to question some of the motives of the lord, but the knight had yet to be lead astray by Athair’s will. This was a just lord and he was glad to have been found worthy.

The final streaks of evening light had slipped behind the mountains bringing the evening and darkness of night. Where Drustvar was a land plagued by the nights terrors in most shadows, it was not truly something to fear. It was just a part of the order of things and the will of the Word as it had written long ago. So too was there heralds and protectors of the night, as from the shadows crept the stout boars of the wood, courageous wolves who maintained balance, and even the black eyes ravens who always kept watch. But the night had one lady and she was as much a soul to the forest as she was consort to the heart.

Athainne, secret keeper of the forest.

Made of starlight and moon shine, the doe was beautiful in her own right as the violets of twilight were intertwined in the black coat of night. She was of smoke and shadow as she stepped across the waters to stand with her lord. Tenderness was easily determined to match the love the two beings felt for one another as eyes closed but a moment in honest trust.

As the grand gathering proceed a hush fell upon all the unsettling silence of the wild as it waited with bated breath. Even the waterfalls came to silent half, the rock below their pummeling drive growing dry as the river waited.

Beldwin would bow his head in reverence as did other subjects to the forest monarchs, all in silence as they awaited the ceremony of the moon.

Ages passed in seconds as night fully came and the moon shone full far in the heavens above. As the moonlight struck the pool, the heart and keeper of the forest turned to the pool of sparkling water of the still lake.

Stories would speak of thunder crashing or a flash of great light or perhaps the heralds of the night screaming with horns of glory. But that was not how it was done. It was subtle, it was peaceful, it was instant.

He was beautiful.

Upon the lake the faun had come to be. Born of moonlight, strengthened by starlight, guided by sunset, and welcomed with love. His eyes shone with brilliant blue, the gift of the mother, while his white coat brilliant white shone with the majesty of his father. He stood shaky upon the mirror surface of the lake, searching amongst the audience for some reaction. Fight or flight was all the newborn would know at this moment.

The Green Son stood. He would draw away his gauntlet to reveal his bare flesh, brown as the earth and rough as the oak’s skin. His hand raised as he spoke with not a cry or yell, but a smooth even voice. The reason he as chosen and granted this station among the forest. “Hail. Hail unto the Prince of the Forest. Welcome son of the heart and secrets, we welcome you.”

The prince would raise his head. He would stare at Beldwin. The knight would look back.

The prince would step forward onto the land that was called Drustvar.

The waterfalls cheered once more.

[thedansemacabres]

The Wine Industry for Dionysians: French-American Grapes

THE WINE WORLD is almost as paradoxical and complex as Dionysus himself—the industry is a constant pull of old and new, tradition against modernity, and the complexity of art and science. In the centre of this is the debate of French-American vitis hybrids, as products of science for the modern wine industry. These hybrids are a new shoot in the wine industry, as they not only possess the disease tolerance indigenous American grapes do—but also the ability to stand the brunt of frozen winters and climates inhospitable to Vitis Vinifera. Since I am almost halfway done with my degree of Viticulture and Enology, I thought I should begin to share my knowledge of the art and science with other devotees.

As Dionysians, his realm of vines and enology is ours to explore. The wine industry is always adapting and growing—developing new trends and new styles of wine. From this comes new trendy grapes and wines that may or may not last on consumer’s palettes. That is why the wine industry often is afraid to branch out—new may outcompete the old and wine-making is a risky business. 

HISTORICAL SUMMARY 

French-American hybrids are called French-American as they are usually produced in France or from French cultivars with American grape species. Many hybrids were simply named with numbers, however many now have common names that are usually French. Every year new hybrids are developed with the hopes of a grape worth gold.

In the mid 1800s, due to colonial trade with Europe, settlers brought along pests endemic to North America such as phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) and powdery mildew (Uncinula necator) to Europe. This devastated Europe’s wine industry as Vitis Vinifera had no resistance to the imported pests. In an attempt to save the wine industry, viticulturists began to cross North American grapes with European vines. The first hybrids of these programs created by breeders like Seibel, Couderc, Kuhlmann and Bertille Seyve were widely planted across Europe, however wine quality was considered disappointing when compared with the traditional European cultivars. Modern French-American hybrids that possess some sense of recognition these days have a flavour profile similar to V. Vinifera.

Ever since, hybrids continue to be developed and breed to produce higher quality wine grapes with the desirable traits of American and European grapes.

ABOUT FRENCH-AMERICAN HYBRIDS

In my venture to become a viticulturist, in my heart has grown a passion for these hybrid vines. My current place of residence is within the high, cold mountains that have a special peculiarity to allow grapes to grow. The harsher weathers are shielded by the even grander peaks of the greater mountains and warm-winds trail through the craigs. Yet, vitis vinifera—the European grape—still struggles to grow due to foreign climates. As one example, since my town’s last freeze, the appeal of cold-hardy French-American grapes has grown. 

For those who are unfamiliar, grapevines are under the species Vitis; possessing two subgenera, Euvitis and Muscadinia. Euvitis subgenus are the bunch grapes and Muscadinia are the muscadine loose cluster grapes. The majority of Vitis species are from North America, with others being naturalised to Europe (V. Vinifera, the most commonly used species for wine, originating within West Asia) and Eastern-Central Asia (V. Amurensis). 

Some red wine French-American hybrid grapes include:

Baco Noir, a hybrid of Folle blanche and V. Riparia., is known for low tannin content contrasted with deep pigments and good acid balance. Wine flavour is described as “Rhone-style” or “Beaujolais-style”.

Chambourcin, a hybrid with no known parentage and considered the ‘king’ of the hybrid grapes. Produces a dark fuschia red wine with strong aromatics that may be made dry or with residual sugars from fermentation. Chambourcin is a very versatile grape, as it can produce rosé, Beaujolais, or other styles, and medium-to-full-bodied, fairly complex wines, or ports.

Chancellor, a hybrid made from Seibel 5163 and Seibel 880. Chancellor is mostly used to produce a varietal wine with notes of plum and cedar, or used in red blends.

Chelois, a cross between Seibel 5163 and Seibel 5593 with mixed American grape ancestry. While it is likely best for blends, the wine possesses medium-bodied, fruity wines with notes of berry, leather, and earthy aromas.

Concord, thought to be an accidental hybrid between V. Labrusca and V. Vinifera. A common and well-beloved base to grape juice, jellies, or other ‘grape’ flavour products. Many kosher wines are made with Concord grapes, though little-used elsewhere due to most of the market considering the “foxy” flavour of American grapes to be undesirable. 

De Chaunac, a hybrid of V. labrusca, V. lincecumii, V. riparia, V. rupestris, and V. vinifera. The berries are loose and blue-black. Produces an intensely coloured wine, though the croppage continues to decrease over the years.

Frontenac, a loose-berried cross between Landot 4511 and V. riparia 89. Known for its cold hardiness, this hybrid can be made into ports, blends, and reds. As a wine, it is known for its deep-colour adorned with cherry, blackberry, black currant, and plum notes.

Marechal Foch, known for its intense deep purple hue, a light- to medium mouthfeel, and dark berry fruit flavours, Marechal Foch exhibits some Burgundian characteristics. Some tasters find that the similarities to Burgundy’s Pinot Noir develop with age.

Norton, also called Cynthiana, is an American hybrid from Virginia of V. aestivalis with small clusters of blue-black berries. The wine made from Norton grapes is very versatile, including spicy, fruity (ranging from “foxy” V. labrusca to raspberry character), black pepper, tobacco, and chocolate flavours/aromas. Wines have intense colour density and can be used in varietal wines, including port style, but is also blended with other red wines.

Some common white wine French-American hybrid grapes include:

Caguya White, a hybrid of Seyval and Schuyler with greenish-yellow berries. Cayuga White wine is versatile, as it can be made into semi-sweet wines emphasising the fruity aromas as well as dry, less fruity wine with some ageing in oak. When fruit is harvested early, it can ferment into a lovely sparkling wine with good acidity, good structure, and pleasant aromas. The wine is reminiscent of many German Vitis Vinifera grapes. 

Chardonel, a large-clustered grape hybrid of Seyval and Chardonnay. Chardonel is typically produced as a varietal wine and is finished dry to semidry. Chardonel displays characteristics of its parents, king of the whites Chardonnay and Seyval, yet may also possess a high alcohol content. Chardonel also has the potential for fine-quality, dry still wines produced with barrel fermentation and/or barrel ageing. Chardonel is also used as a base for sparkling wines. The wines made from Chardonel have the fruit aroma characteristics of both parents, making it appealing to more European wine tastes. 

Delaware, a hybrid grape that was found in the United States within a New Jersey garden and then propagated in Delaware, Ohio. The grapes of this hybrid are used as a prized sparkling or dessert wine. 

Diamond, thought to be a cross between Concord and Iona, a V. labrusca and V. vinifera hybrid. Diamond suffers a small yet prized market similar to Concord or Niagara, but it can be made into dry table wines and sparkling blends.

Niagara, essentially the white wine version of Concord. The wines produced from Niagara possess a strong American “foxy” flavour and are usually finished semi-sweet, but can also be made into dessert wines such as cream and dry sherry. Similar to Concord, it may also be used for a white non-alcoholic grape juice. 

Seyval Blanc, or known as simply Seyval, is an adaptable variety that can be finished fresh and dry, barrel-fermented with malolactic fermentation, sur lie aged (aged the spent yeast cells), or made into sparkling wines. Wine from Seyval Blanc has appealing aromas of grass, hay, and melon, though the body tends to be thin. Others describe the wine as clean and fresh, similar to Sauvignon Blanc. 

Traminette, a lovely cross of Joannes Seyve 23-416 and the German white grape Gewürztraminer. Generally, hold strong spice and floral aromas, a full structure, and long aftertaste. The wine can be made dry or sweet but is usually finished with some residual sweetness. Varietal descriptions include floral, spicy, perfume, and lavender, with some similarity to Gewürztraminer.

Vidal Blanc, a loose-clustered vine with greenish-white fruit along with pronounced, noticeable dark lenticels at fruit maturity. Vidal Blanc is a cross between Ugni blanc and Seibel 4986 and is typically grown as a varietal wine. Akin to Chardonnay, Vidal blanc is versatile and may be used to make a variety of wine styles, from off-dry Germanic-style wines similar to Rieslings, sparkling wine base wines, dry barrel-fermented table wines, and complex Burgundy-style wines. Varietal taste descriptors for vidal blanc include melon, pineapple, lead pencil (I have no clue what this means), pears, and figs. Vidal Blanc has also been used to create late-harvest-style wines and ice wines.

Vignoles, born from a cross between Siebel 6905 and Pinot de Corton. Vignoles is frequently harvested for dessert wines, especially when picked late and overripe in the growing season. The wines from ripe fruit have tropical fruit, citrus-like, and pineapple flavours. Vignoles may produce many different styles of wine, including dry, barrel-fermented, sur lie aged wine, and sparkling base wines. 

ENDING THOUGHTS

The modern wine world is dominated by almost the same 12 cultivars, which I find to not only be limiting but also horrid: thousands of cultivars and wine-making styles are under the threat of being out competed by the likes of the classic Chardonnay and Merlot. As a devotee of loud-roaring Dionysus, I find myself wishing to explore more of his realm—which means discovering new wines and strange grapes, all paradoxical just as he is. If you can drink, I would recommend adventuring off into the likes of rare cultivars and hybrids—after all, we tend to discover more when life is a bit unfamiliar. 

Bibliography

Goldammer, T. (2015). The Grape Grower’s Handbook: A Guide to Viticulture for Wine Production.

Wine Grape Production Guide for Eastern North America. (2008). Natural Resource Agriculture and Engineering Service (Nraes).

Further Reading:

Wilson, J. (2018). Godforsaken Grapes: A Slightly Tipsy Journey through the World of Strange, Obscure, and Underappreciated Wine. Abrams.

[hecula-propaganda]

There used to be a time when Lord Dracula’s vigilance struck fear in the hearts of the young Devil Forgemasters. They’d fulfill their duties with shaky hands, forcing themselves to ignore the hairs on their arms and neck rising under the weight of Lord Dracula’s shadow.

It wasn’t only the hectic race for his approval that wrung their nerves. The vampire was a giant compared to them, still as a marble statue except for his darting eyes, that pierced them through their back to judge them; and for as much as their Lord was generous, kind and understanding, he did not bother to conceal his otherworldliness, for he was beyond humanity, above it, and an innate danger to it, an instinct neither of them could overcome even after getting acquainted with the night.

Not that humans needed any claws and fangs to butcher those who were different from them. Compared to them, a vampire’s honesty was to be appreciated.

Isaac hadn’t fully shaken off that fear that he called devotion, palpable in his strained smile whenever he showed a new Devil, hastily Forged to not waste the Count’s time. For Hector, on the other hand, those feelings belonged to childhood. Out of an embedded habit, his body still reacted like a beaten dog, his muscles clenched and his skin prickled and his mouth dried up; but he was capable of keeping himself under control and ignoring the phantoms of his past, because only one thing was certain – no place in the world was safer than under his Lord’s watchful gaze.

When the two Devil Forgemasters worked together, Lord Dracula simply stood back and observed, casually correcting their mistakes or offering valuable suggestions: the mere presence of the Lord of the castle in the laboratory was as precious as gold, and not a word of his was to be wasted. But more and more frequently, Hector and Isaac had been kept separate by different duties: for instance, Isaac was sent on recognition missions due to his magic, leaving Hector to Forge all by himself. However, he never minded having to work for two, because as punctual as the clock ticking in the laboratory, Lord Dracula would descend, and Hector was never left alone for long.

The Lord hardly spoke, when it was just the two of them. From time to time, he would ask how the operations were going, or if Hector had had “another brilliant idea of his” – could he hear, with his fine vampire ears, Hector’s breath hitching? – but as a rule, he did not waste himself in pointless chatter, and it was a trait he and Hector had in common.

So, he worked diligently, without distractions, in the silence where the only sounds that could be heard were the burbling of the boiling concoctions and the rustling of Hector’s uniform as he moved around. As he chipped gemstones until they were of the perfect shape, or fused new alloys with which to smelt new weapons, his hands kept steady, as if Lord Dracula himself was still gently guiding him as he used to do when Hector was still an inexperienced child. He did not fear being observed, quite the opposite: the admiration that radiated from his Lord, always close to him, shielding him with his body and cloak, warmed the laboratory more than any hearth ever could.

The vampire was most surely able to hear his heart fluttering and getting lodged in his stomach, and he couldn’t miss the way Hector bit his cheek to restrain his smile. He couldn’t, not with the way he always greeted Hector with a hand on his arm, not protected by armor, and the vampire’s long fingers curled around his biceps sent chilly waves down his spine and Hector could only keep his face low, exposed open for the child that he was, wanting and wishing and yearning to cross a forbidden line.

Hector couldn’t understand, nor he could ask anyone (least of all his irascible friend, who wasn’t too keen on recent arrangements), what had he done to deserve the Lord’s undivided company; but he could swat away any doubt, when his whole chest swelled with pride, and in the untouchable corners of his mind he indulged in the mental image of Lord Dracula taking off his beastly aura like a man would do with his robes, to present himself as well without veils, for who he truly was behind his fangs.