#battle through the heavens icons
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naomijoestar · 4 months ago
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⋆.ೃ JJBA SCENARIOS ࿔*:・
Masterlist here <3
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genre: comedy, fluff
warnings: none
characters: jonathan, joseph, jotaro, josuke, giorno, jolyne
notes: GN!reader // i tried making this funny and lighthearted, so i hope i succeeded :)
You were infront of your mirror, wearing JoJo’s clothes and posing dramatically, until they walked in on you!
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Jonathan Joestar
You’re striking the most elegant pose, Jonathan’s fancy coat draped over your shoulders, trying to look as noble as possible. Jonathan bursts through the door dramatically, as if walking in on a duel. His eyes widen in surprise.
“Good heavens!” he gasps, covering his heart like he’s been hit by an arrow of fashion.
He dramatically kneels down, bowing as if in the presence of royalty.
“You wear my clothes better than I ever could! You are… the true Joestar!”
He’s so sincere that it’s almost ridiculous. You try not to laugh as he swears loyalty to you, as if you’ve just become the Joestar heir.
Joseph Joestar
You’re in Joseph’s hat and scarf, throwing dramatic poses like an action hero in front of the mirror. Joseph slams the door open, doing his classic point.
“OH NO! YOU DIDN’T!”
He rushes over, gasping theatrically.
“You’ve stolen my STYLE!”
He grabs the nearest object (probably something completely random, like a broom), and starts mimicking your poses, going all-in with the ridiculousness.
“We’ll settle this with a pose-off! Loser buys dinner!”
You end up in a goofy battle of increasingly absurd poses, while Joseph cheers like you’re in a fashion show.
Jotaro Kujo
You’re mid-serious JoJo pose in Jotaro’s long coat and hat, looking tough as nails in the mirror. Jotaro silently walks in, spots you in full pose, and just freezes. For a solid five seconds, he says nothing, deadpan expression intact. Then, he lets out a long, exasperated sigh.
“Yare yare daze…”
But just when you think you’re about to get scolded, he pulls his hat down, hiding his eyes, and starts walking away.
“You’re not pulling it off. Lemme show you how it’s done.”
He comes back, slides in next to you, and strikes a way cooler pose without breaking a sweat. He stares at your reflection for a beat before muttering,
“It’s about attitude.”
It’s so unexpectedly cool you just gape at him, and he leaves like nothing happened.
Josuke Higashikata
You’re posing in Josuke’s iconic pompadour jacket, spinning in front of the mirror like you’re a rock star. Josuke barges in, his eyes immediately zeroing in on his jacket.
“NOOO! What are you doing in my precious jacket?!”
He’s torn between laughing and panicking, hands flailing.
“That’s, like, designer, dude!”
He rushes over, pulling at the jacket gently as if it’s fragile. Then he notices how cool you look mid-pose and suddenly freezes.
“Wait a sec… actually, you kinda look—”
But before he can finish the compliment, his eyes shoot wide open, and he throws a dramatic arm in front of you.
“No way, it’s still MY look! Get your own style, punk!”
You both end up laughing as he mock-fights you for his jacket back.
Giorno Giovanna
You’re dramatically posing in Giorno’s sleek suit, gazing at yourself like you’re the protagonist of a fashion magazine. Giorno walks in with his usual composed demeanor but stops mid-step when he sees you, his hair glowing like a halo.
Without saying a word, he pulls a golden rose from… somewhere (seriously tho where does he get those), and gracefully walks over, placing it in your hand.
“You… are perfection.” he declares with a flourish, like he’s coronating you as the new king of fashion.
Then, as if possessed by the spirit of the most fabulous model ever, Giorno joins you in posing—no words, just intense eye contact and synchronized majestic poses. The two of you end up striking so many fabulous poses together that the room practically sparkles.
“We are unstoppable.”
Jolyne Cujoh
You’re mid-action pose in Jolyne’s signature string-covered tank top, trying to channel all of her badassery. Jolyne kicks open the door like she’s about to fight a Stand, then just stops dead in her tracks when she sees you.
Her face scrunches up, trying to figure out if she should laugh or yell.
“What… the hell are you doing?!” she finally blurts, trying not to crack up.
You sheepishly explain, still frozen mid-pose, and she bursts out laughing, practically falling to the floor.
“You look ridiculous!” she says, wiping a tear from her eye. But then, as if flipping a switch, she goes full dramatic mode.
“Alright, if you’re gonna wear my stuff, you better work it.”
She jumps in front of the mirror next to you, both of you trying out increasingly ridiculous and over-the-top poses like you’re at a photoshoot. You’re both laughing too hard by the end to even finish.
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charles-leclerc-official · 3 months ago
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Formula 1 Drivers as Supernatural Episodes
I have selected 2 episodes from the CW's hit show Supernatural for each driver in the 2024 F1 season. Enjoy!
These are episodes I feel fits a driver's personality/vibe/style/history and are meant to be complimentary. This is very vibes based XD
Presented in team order <3 (also I guess spn spoilers warning)
Charles Leclerc: Lazarus Rising x The Man Who Would Be King
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Charles and the angel Castiel have a lot in common. Charles is seen as this figure that is leading Ferrari currently and into the future and his first season in Ferrari was iconic (Lazarus Rising) Dare I say some of his drives have been as insane as pulling a man out of hell. However it's been a bumpy road and the burdens of one of the most iconic teams is enough to try the patience of any man (The Man Who Would Be King) There are a lot of faith and religious parallels to be made here. If there was one driver insane enough to try to single-handedly fix heaven (Ferrari) Charles is that driver. Also you could cast him as Cas and I don't think anyone would complain. I could go on about the Charles-Cas parallels but we do have to get to the rest of the grid, so he gets two stand-out Castiel episodes.
Carlos Sainz: Trial and Error x The Devil You Know
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Carlos sometimes smashes through plans like a hammer, sometimes you need schemes other times you need to throw them out the window and start punching (The Devil You Know). He's also been through the Ferrari trials which is no small feat, often requiring a lot of pressure and sacrifice (Trial and Error). I also feel like he could wrestle a hellhound and come out winning.
Lewis Hamilton: Swan Song x First Born
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I felt that one of the most iconic final battles in Supernatural of Swan Song was fitting to encapsulate Lewis' many hard fought WDCs. In addition to First Born, where Dean goes to take the mantle of the mark of Cain from a man who keeps bees in his retirement (Lewis taking WDC from Seb parallels) Both massive turning points in the show and iconic, like Lewis. A lot of small plot and emotional beats in these two that really touch on some career moments.
George Russell: Defending Your Life x Girls Girls Girls
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If there was any driver on the grid who would enter into a legal battle against an ancient god and win it's George Russell (Defending Your Life). Additionally George is one of the few who could pull off witchcraft with ease while looking iconic doing so (Girls, Girls, Girls) I just think George and Rowena would get along and get up to some trouble with the book of the damned.
Max Verstappen: The Executioner’s Song x In The Beginning
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The parallels of young talent coming in to take down the former bearer of the mark of Cain to Max's 2021 WDC are strong. It was hard, it was messy, and it was one hell of a fight (The Executioner’s Song). Then we have more emotional nuance (In The Beginning) a guy who just likes cars and is kind of old school about them too. These episodes are nuanced and plot centric and that felt fitting. The vibes are here you have to trust me on this.
Sergio Perez: Our Father Who Aren’t in Heaven x Criss Angel is a Douchebag
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Do not underestimate Checo, much like you should not underestimate an arch angel that is related to you, and yet. The parallels between Adam, the third Winchester brother, and Checo are not lost, especially in meta context (Our Father, Who Aren’t in Heaven). Then of course Checo does have a flair and charm about him, he can pull a trick or two out of a car when people least expect (Criss Angel is a Douchebag).
Fernando Alonso: Good God Y’all x Weekend at Bobby’s
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Fernando is chaos, he's here to cause unapologetic trouble, if he were to be a horseman of the apocalypse he'd be War and he'd have a hell of a time (Good God Y'all). Of course if there was one driver on the grid I know could figure out how to get his soul back from a demon after selling his soul in the first place Fernando would be that driver (Weekend at Bobby's) Naturally there are many Nando and Bobby parallels.
Lance Stroll: Scoobynatural x Hibbing 911
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Of all the drivers on the grid at risk of getting sucked into a children’s cartoon I feel like Lance is at the top of the list (Scoobynatural). In addition I think he would be the chill hunter just casually explaining that ghosts are real to Scooby and the gang. Lance would also reluctantly become a vampire hunter if they invaded his small community (Hibbing 911) And he very much reminds me of both Donna and Jody in various ways.
Oscar Piastri: About a Boy x Jack in the Box
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I feel like Oscar would be a good witch hunter, I also think if he was hit with a de-aging spell he'd be able to handle it and not panic and figure out how to get out of that situation, worry about the soul crushing curse later (About a Boy). And of course with the way his second season in F1 has been going it very much feels like Mclaren have been holding back a young driver from reaching his potential because they are afraid of his capabilities, you could say they have been putting a nephilim in a box designed to hold back his power (Jack in the Box). Also I cannot be the only one who sees the Jack and Oscar resemblance.
Lando Norris: Swap Meet x I Know What You Did Last Summer
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Tell me Lando would not somehow end up practicing black magic accidentally on purpose and somehow survive (Swap Meet). That and I think he would also really like this episode in general. I feel like the duality between Ruby and Anna presented in I know What You Did Last Summer captures a very specific vibe about Lando, is he the demon trying to trick a guy into drinking his blood? Or is he the angel that decided to become human because he was done with heaven's shit? Depends on the day honestly.
Kevin Magnussen: Rock Never Dies x Survival of the Fittest
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If there was any driver on the grid that would make crashing the Impala part of the plan to take down eldritch monsters it would be Kmag (Survival of the Fittest). Rock Never Dies just fits Kevin, iconic, villainous, Lucifer comes back a second time and is ready to cause chaos. The whole vibe of this episode is insane and it fits Kevin's particular brand of heart and unique driving. He's loud, you are not going to forget he's there, you should be afraid.
Nico Hulkenberg: Shut Up Dr Phil x My Heart Will Go On
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Nico just has the look of a man who would time travel to get rid of a single Celine Dion song (My Heart Will Go On). He does have a lot in common with Balthazar, fun loving but powerful and can execute a plan, he might just end up adding his own flair to it. And I think Nico's spats with others are not frequent, but when they do happen they are memorable (Shut Up Dr Phil) Plus he reminds me of these old witches who have been married a few centuries and keep the chaos alive.
Ollie Bearman: The Girl with the Dungeon and Dragons Tattoo x Reading is Fundamental
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Including Ollie in the Haas section since he's raced for them the most this year on the F1 grid. But his story starts as the young talent called at the last minute to solve a huge problem, driving a Ferrari in Jeddah with an hour of practice. I'd say that's similar to being suddenly asked to single-handedly go against some of the most dangerous monsters in the world with no training in monster fighting (The Girl with the Dungeon and Dragons Tattoo) but also being surprisingly good at it. Then we have another team needing young talent to step up and drive their car when things were down, you could say Ollie is in advanced placement in terms of being an F1 rookie now (Reading is Fundamental) I think the Ollie Kevin Tran comparisons are strong. Overall these two episodes of young talent needed at the last minute to save the day really sum up Ollie's 2024 F1 experience.
Yuki Tsunoda: The Gamblers x A Little Slice of Kevin
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Sometimes luck is on Yuki's side, and often times it feels like it's not. But then again he's been fighting and sticking around longer than most other drivers in the face of more bad luck than one man should deal with, so perhaps he's won against an old roman god for a bit of luck, who's to say (The Gamblers). Then we get to the duality in A Little Slice of Kevin, young talent being used as a pawn in the larger scheme of Red Bull, more likely than you'd think. Is he escaping purgatory or being captured by demons? Probably both.
Daniel Ricciardo: Frontierland x Blood Brother
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I know one thing about Danny, he would time travel back to the wild west to hunt down a rare monster no questions asked. He would bring his own cowboy hat as well (Frontierland). Danny also has that quality of guy who doesn't ask for much, so when he asks for a favor you gotta help. He also does have similar vibes to Benny, don't tell me he wouldn't make a great southern vampire (Blood Brother).
Liam Lawson: War of the Worlds x Bad Day at Black Rock
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Similar to Yuki, Liam's luck is a tricky thing. He was in a will he won't he situation at Red Bull for so long. If he had a rabbit's foot he kept losing and picking up again I wouldn't be surprised (Bad Day at Black Rock). I think the episode really captures that kind of swinging pendulum of luck his junior career has seen. Then of course now he's been called to the seat he's caught up in a pretty intense battle at the end of the season, with a lot of demands being made on top of the constant turmoil within the team. Imagine Lucifer is telling you not to do a spell another powerful arch angel is commanding you to do, I feel like that about sums up how he's been thrown into F1 (War of the Worlds).
Alex Albon: Heart x It’s A Terrible Life
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Alex was a rookie that went under the radar, at first, but something bigger was brewing in the background and then boom he was suddenly at the center of the driver market and was thrown into the spotlight. A feeling reflected in It's A Terrible Life. Alex is also the type of try to help someone against all odds, even when they seem impossible (Heart). Also I am not denying I am possibly calling him a werewolf fucker, here but tell me I'm wrong.
Logan Sargeant: Jump the Shark x Dog Dean Afternoon
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Logan would do well being able to communicate with a dog and would adapt well to taking on dog-like traits to solve a case (Dog Dean Afternoon) I don't even think he'd question it. Forgotten, overlooked, massively unlucky I don't think there is a better Supernatural parallel for Logan than season 4 Adam (Jump the Shark). He was a great guy who got caught in the middle of something dangerous and paid the price.
Franco Colapinto: Red Sky at Morning x Sharp Teeth
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Franco is one of the guys who I just think would be able to make it work for him if he were accidentally turned into a werewolf. He'd take a few months off, come back and be totally fine (Sharp Teeth). I cannot fully explain but Franco does give me Bella vibes, the mix of mischief and amusing self confidence perhaps, or maybe he just has the look of an international occult thief? (Red Sky at Morning) He'd be able to steal rare artifacts using his looks and charm I know that.
Valtteri Bottas: Party On Garth x Everybody Loves a Clown
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Valtteri strikes me as the most like Garth. Fun, a little silly, but good at his job and scary when he needs to be (Party On Garth). His methods may seem a little out there but he gets the job done. How could I not include the introduction of the best mullet on Supernatural? I know Valtteri would love Ash and call him #mulletgoals (Everybody Loves a Clown). Another character who seems a little unserious out of the profession but Ash is brilliant and knows how to lock in.
Zhou Guanyu: Hunteri Heroici x Wayward Sisters
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Zhou would 100% interrogate that cat and get information. He's probably an expert (Hunteri Heroici). I think his level headed mindset would also really help in a case where the world is literally going Loony toons. Zhou also has been through it, but is strong, and iconic in his unique way (Wayward Sisters). He's been fighting an uphill battle in that Sauber car, new hunter learning on the job has a similar experience, add a little dimension hopping in there for flavor.
Esteban Ocon: Beyond the Mat x Hollywood Babylon
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Esteban is a sweetheart but do not be fooled, he absolutely would take down his childhood hero if he needed to (Beyond the Mat). I also think that he'd absolutely be one of those hunters looking for all the old Hollywood ghosts, he'd be an expert about which myths were real or fake and have that locked down over there (Hollywood Babylon).
Pierre Gasly: Monster Movie x Simon Said
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I am not saying Pierre is a shapeshifter, but I am saying that if he was he'd be doing the over the top camp and theatrics seen in Monster Movie. Also he like Dean has a way of finding out how to have fun even when things are extremely stressful. If he did have mind control powers he'd use them for good or not use them at all, but that doesn't mean he doesn't know how to use them or that he's not strong (Simon Said).
That's the end! Thank you for reading. This was just something silly I have been working on. It's mostly vibes based but I had a lot of fun putting it together.
*Carry on Wayward Son + F1 theme mashup starts playing*
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twisting-echo · 2 months ago
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🌠~𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕓𝕪𝕖 𝔻𝕚𝕤𝕟𝕖𝕪 𝕄𝕚𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕖~🌠
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Alright everyone, the time has come to say goodbye to Disney Mirrorverse. Tomorrow, December 16th, marks the final day before this beloved game sunsets. As a dedicated fan, I've cherished every moment in this magical universe, from battling alongside iconic Disney characters to exploring their dynamic relationships.
Ever since two blazing stars—one light and one dark—collided, their destinies have shifted. It opened up new possibilities for who they could become and who they might connect with. For a little over two years, I’ve adored this game, its characters, and its universe. Disney Mirrorverse has brought so much joy, excitement, and adventure into my life.
The memories I've created and the friendships I've forged within this game are truly special. Disney Mirrorverse has been an incredible journey that I will never forget.
Heaven knows I've developed a lot of romantic and platonic ships for this game, but I don't want to gush about my ships and headcanons right now. I want to focus on Disney Mirrorverse. Tomorrow, I'll be opening my Disney Mirrorverse Archive blog to share the magic with you all.
Additionally, I’m excited to announce that I’m planning to host a Disney Mirrorverse fandom event called Disney Mirrorverse Month, where fans can create, share, and enjoy Disney Mirrorverse fan content like art, fanfiction, headcanons, ships, and more. I just need help coming up with 14 prompts for it so we can get the ball rolling!
Anyway, as we prepare to say farewell, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the developers, the community, and all the players who made this experience unforgettable. Let's cherish these last moments and celebrate the fantastic adventures we've had together.
This certainly isn't goodbye forever because I will continue to talk about Disney Mirrorverse and create content for it. That’s what happens when something gives you comfort and lives in your heart.
Hopefully, they'll keep Disney Mirrorverse alive through books and other merchandise. I really hope they do because both of the endings to ‘Mirrorverse: Pure of Heart’ and ‘Disney Mirrorverse: Belle,’ definitely leave room for a sequel (cough cough hint hint).
Thank you for reading this, and please feel free to reach out and reblog. ✨🌠🌟
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nubian-queen22 · 1 month ago
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The Archer's Song- Chp 3
Chapter 3- Challange Accepted
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i just want to say.....this man is literally reasons why my ovaries are aching lol okay back to this new chapter
The tension backstage was palpable as Austin Theory  strutted through the corridors, his signature cocky grin in place. He stopped in front of a monitor, where Syrin was casually leaning against a table, watching highlights from the night’s events.
“Hey, Syrin,” Austin said, as he flashed a charming smile. “Enjoying the show so far?”
Syrin glanced at him, unimpressed. “It’s been... interesting.”
Austin leaned closer, lowering his voice. “I’ll make it even more interesting when I take Damian Priest down tonight on RAW. Someone’s got to put him in his place, especially when he’s been sniffing around where he doesn’t belong.”
Syrin raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a sly smirk. “Oh? And what makes you think you’re the one to do that?”
Austin straightened up, throwing her a confident wink. “Watch and learn, sweetheart. I’ll show you what competition from a real man looks like.”
Damian Priest entered the ring first, his usual brooding confidence on display. The crowd erupted as he raised his arms, his theme reverberating through the arena. His expression was cool, but there was an undercurrent of tension as he waited for his opponent.
Then Austin Theory’s music hit, and the self-proclaimed A-Town Icon made his way down the ramp, pointing to himself and mouthing off to the crowd. He stopped at the camera, pointing backstage.
“Syrin, this one’s for you! All Day!” Austin Shouted, grinning widely.
Damian smirked at the display, leaning against the ropes. When Austin finally entered the ring, Damian pointed at him. “You really think this is going to impress her?”
Austin shrugged. “Someone’s gotta outshine you, mate.”
A Back-and-Forth Battle
The bell rang, and the two locked up in a fierce battle. Austin’s speed and cunning played against Damian’s strength and experience. At one point, Austin hit a quick neckbreaker and looked directly at the camera, mouthing, “That’s how it’s done, Syrin.”
Backstage, Syrin watched the monitor, her arms crossed, an amused smirk playing on her lips. She tilted her head as the match unfolded, murmuring to herself, “Cocky. Reckless. This should be interesting.”
As the match progressed, Damian turned the tide with a devastating series of strikes and a leaping spin kick that sent Austin sprawling.
When Austin tried to rally, Damian cut him off with a South of Heaven chokeslam, planting him in the center of the ring. The crowd roared as Damian went for the cover.
One... Two... Three!
Damian stood tall, raising his arm in victory. He glanced at the camera and smirked, his voice loud enough to be picked up. “Message delivered.”
Backstage Encounter
As Damian walked backstage, he caught sight of Syrin still at the monitor. She glanced at him, her expression unreadable.
“Enjoy the show?” Damian asked, his voice teasing as he grabbed a towel to wipe his face.
Syrin’s smirk returned. “You both put on... an interesting performance.”
Damian raised an eyebrow. “Interesting, huh? What does a guy have to do to impress you?”
She leaned closer, her voice low and playful. “That depends. Are you always this competitive?”
Damian chuckled, his gaze locking with hers. “Only when it’s worth it.”
So that's chapter three! I will be adding a few drabbles that are on and off ring scenarios and I have also started drafting a poly!RheaxDamian story to which I have a vision coming so stay tuned!
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dragonologist-writings · 7 months ago
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Title: Burn Clean Fandom: Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous Rating: M Status: One-Shot Main Characters: Queen Galfrey, Knight-Commander Lilith de Marc Ships: One-Sided Galfrey/Lilith Additional Notes: Angst, Manipulation, Devil Mythic Path & Galfrey Corruption, Character Death, Canon-Typical Themes Word Count: 5.2k Summary:
How could you go so far? How could you let this happen? How could you- our queen, our icon, our picture of golden perfection- sell your soul?
read below or here on ao3
How could you?
That is the question you’re left with, when all is said and done. It is the cry you hear from those few paladins who linger in Mendev, as they wail and clutch their useless holy symbols to their chests. It is the accusation Irahai flings at you, when you meet again in Nerosyan and all the lies she’s used to comfort herself can no longer be believed. It is the last wordless plea you see in Laya’s eyes, the one that plays in your mind over and over again, however much you try to forget.
How could you go so far?
How could you let this happen?
How could you- our queen, our icon, our picture of golden perfection- sell your soul?
You hate the question. You’ve always hated how these people think they can know you, how they have granted themselves the right to judge. As if they have answers. As if carrying the weight of the world is something easily done. As if a soul is something pure and whole that can be handed away yet never damaged.
The truth is this: yes, you did sell your soul. But that was hardly the moment your soul was lost to you.
No, that happened long before the contract, long before pen met paper. And it did not happen all at once, in some swooping, dramatic moment worthy of being put to the stage.
No. It happened slowly.
Piece by broken piece.
You feel the beginnings of loss after the Battle of Iz. The expedition was a success…but the success was not yours. It was the Knight-Commander who emerged victorious, after coming to your rescue and besting Deskari and once more securing the Sword of Valor. It was her name the people chanted upon the army’s return.
It is her voice that cuts through your thoughts as you stand on the citadel balcony, looking out over the city.
“You’ve been out here a while,” she says, with a faint note of disapproval- but then, she always sounds like that, unwavering and cold and revealing just enough emotion to let you know she considers you beneath her. It’s one of the many, many traits of Lilith de Marc which has always caused you grief.
Lilith’s eyes are still on you; you can feel her gaze, piercing as ever, even after the transformation of her mythic powers. Perhaps some trace of the Aeon still remains, buried beneath her devilry and hellfire.
“It has been a long few days,” you say, and you wish your own voice were not as weary as it is. “I am reflecting.”
“You’re brooding.”
You close your eyes. Take a deep breath. She is right, you know this. For all your flaws, you do know when you have been wrong. You know when you have been unfair. You know that she has every right to harbor a grudge, a right which you simply do not share.
“…I suppose I am. I apologize, I should not be so…despondent. It is not good for morale.” Another deep breath, but you cannot keep the bitterness from slipping through. “I should be lifting people’s spirits, not worsening the gloom. Heaven knows they’ve lost enough faith after the defeats we have suffered.”
“I believe you mean the defeats you have suffered. The people still have plenty of faith in me…or they did, before you exiled me to the Abyss.”
Your eyes snap open and you whirl on her without thinking. But your indignation catches in your throat when you meet her eyes- sharp and judgmental, just as you expected, but also flecked with gold from some inner fire. The gold is mirrored in her veins, visibly shining through her porcelain skin, lit by the telltale aasimar glow. Her burnt-red hair is long and loose, and she wears simple dark robes.
When she spoke to the people of the city, she’d done so in her Devil form; now, she forgoes those mythic trappings to stand before you in her mortal guise. It is the first time she has made such a gesture, and you do not know what to make of it.
Your surprise has smothered your anger, and without it you cannot deny the truth of her words. “That was a mistake. Yet another mistake. I made the wrong decision. I admit it. What more can I do?”
It is a demand made in frustration, yet Lilith takes it as seriously as she does everything else. Her lips press together as she thinks, and you wonder what she sees when she scrutinizes you so. You quickly decide it is better not to know.
Finally, she sighs and approaches to stand at your side; the scent of smoke thickens the air.
“You could be less eager to expose your own faults,” she says coolly. “A ruler should exude strength. You betray your own doubts far too easily.”
“You yourself called me arrogant not one day ago.”
“And I was correct then, too. Arrogance is not the equivalent of confidence, and in attempting to correct yourself you have become insecure in a manner not befitting a leader of anything. The Crusaders have lost faith in you, Your Majesty. Cease your moaning and reclaim it. Remind them that you are their Queen.”
Conflicting reactions whirl inside you, all fighting to be acknowledged: anger, grief, blame, guilt. In the end, you are simply tired, and you know there is no use in hiding it. “Such things are more easily said than done.”
Lilith steps closer, the gold in her veins flashing brightly. “Allow me to aid you, then.”
You cannot help the disbelieving laugh which falls from your lips. “You? Why?”
She does not flinch in the face of your skepticism. “We are not friends, you and I. But we are, unfortunately, allies. If I could win this war alone, I would…but I cannot. Without a strong hand to guide it, this Crusade will fail.” Her voice hardens; her eyes practically glow. “And I do not allow failure.”
She regards you again, her chin tilted high, and you find yourself wishing you could exude such certainty. You did once, you are certain; but lately such a feeling has been impossible to grasp.
That is why all this happened, isn’t it? Your insecurity, your jealousy. You. The icon who slipped from her pedestal and almost lost everything in the panicked scramble that followed.
So when Lilith leans in and whispers, “Let me help you,” you do not deny her.
She tells you her plan: a hunting party, a trapped demon, a victory. A small win, but one which could easily be maneuvered to buoy the sinking morale of the Crusaders. Not a lie, of course, she says when you protest. A persuasion. An opportunity, one which Mendev desperately needs and which you cannot afford to set aside. And then, at the end of it all, a renewal of the Knight-Commander’s declaration of fealty to Mendev and her Queen.
It is a convenient offer. Too convenient, and you are not a fool. You do not trust Lilith. You never have.
But you realize now that you trust yourself even less.
“Very well,” you say, despite the doubt which sits like lead in your stomach. “We shall put this plan into motion.”
And the first piece of your soul cracks away.
The cracks continue to spread. Every time you push away your questions, every time you wrestle with your conscience, every time you tell yourself this deception must be made: another chip, another chink, another tiny piece lost.
And it is a deception, no matter what Lilith says. As you approach the demon’s lair, you do not feel like a Queen or a Paladin on a noble quest; you feel like an actor on a stage.
But it is too late to turn back now.
You feel your new squire’s eyes on you as you ride, so different from Lilith’s probing gaze. Laya Linkers reminds you of yourself, so many decades ago- young and brave and idealistic.
And alone. Her family has all fallen to demons, and she is now the last of the Linkers line. She has been in your service since Iz, where she proved herself a formidable knight and indomitable spirit.
You wish to do right by her. She deserves the kind of queen Lilith speaks of, one who is strong and certain of her path. So you continue to ignore the whispers of doubt playing in your mind, and you charge with sword drawn into the demon’s cave.
You are not prepared for what you find.
The demon has your Crusaders- your people. Their screams echo off the walls, their blood colors the floor. Disbelief screams inside your head- how did this happen, how many, how long, how- but there is no time for that as the demon attacks.
The battle is a flurry, a slaughter, a mistake. It is Iz all over again, down to the moment when your endurance falters, your weapon slips, and you watch the demon’s killing blow descend.
In Iz, there had been some strange solace in the moment. If you’d died then, at least you would have died a martyr, doing something you believed in. To die here, in this desperate farce…
The last thing you feel is shame.
And then: relief. A blast of fire overtakes your vision, aimed not at you but at your attacker. Cheers rise from your soldiers as suddenly Lilith is standing in front of you, the demon lying dead behind her. Reinforcements have arrived to flank the target, and this is just what the two of you had planned, and yet…
Lilith takes your arm and pulls you to her feet, hellfire burning in her eyes. As always, the smell of smoke hangs around her, clouding your head.
“What happened to you?” she demands.
Your stomach sinks. Your chest aches. You cannot answer. Never did you imagine that the plan you two concocted would end in the bodies that surround you now.
“What did you do?” You ask hoarsely, and Lilith’s grip tightens.
“Are you to blame this on me, then?” She hisses. “I did as we agreed. Tell me- does the fault belong to me, or to the one who attacked before the time was right?”
The heat on your arm increases, Lilith’s fingers warming like embers against your skin. In a low voice, she warns, “Do not repeat the mistakes of Midnight Fane, Your Majesty.”
Laya raises her voice in protest, but you hold up your hand to silence her. You are still reeling; the destruction around you makes it difficult to think straight. How did this go so wrong?
You cannot look Lilith in the eyes. You don’t notice when she releases your arm, but you do hear her voice when she calls out to the soldiers.
At this point, you expect nothing more than her final coup; the revelation that this was all some trap of her design, the final move on her chessboard as she wrests control away from you for good. Yet you find yourself unable to move as you wait for her treachery to reveal itself.
“Sacrifices were made today,” she declares loudly. She turns to you, her intentions unreadable. “Yet…we emerged victorious under the leadership of our Queen.”
And then Lilith kneels. She recites the oath, just as planned, and despite all that has happened gratitude and relief threaten to overwhelm you.
Soldiers behind you grumble. One shouts out, indignant, and relief turns to fury because you know they are right. Lilith led them to victory; you have only ever led them to their deaths. But you are still their Queen, and you cannot let what happened here have been for nothing. You turn to face the seditious knights but the shouts do not cease, not until-
“Enough.”
Lilith barely raises her voice, but the discontent quiets in an instant.
You are shaking. From anger or fear or humiliation- you cannot tell. Lilith moves to your side but you move away, biting out, “At least they listen to one of us. Linkers, collect the bodies of the fallen. We are leaving.”
Something in your chest breaks, just a little bit more.
Amid the new cracks and fractures, resentment creeps in.
You try not to allow it. Resentment is what got you into this mess, back when you used Lilith’s mission in the Abyss as a convenient excuse to eliminate what you knew to be a threat. You lost your footing upon your own shaky ground and that was nobody’s fault but your own. You have admitted as much time and time and time again.
But it is not Lilith at whom your ire now directs itself. You still do not trust her, but she did as she said she would and played her part. When you ask her about it after, she just gives you that inscrutable look of hers and says, as if it were obvious, “I said I would renew my vow of fealty, did I not?”
You still don’t understand, and she sighs, frustrated. “Say what you want of Devils, but we do keep to our promises.”
So, no- odd as it may seem, it is not Lilith whom you feel betrayed by.
It is your own people.
It started as the dissatisfied grumblings of those who’d witnessed the failure of your mission. They call you callous, as if you could have foreseen the lives that would be lost. They call you a tyrant, as if you had forced Lilith to bend her knee. They call you even worse, you are certain of it, even if the darkest whisperings are kept away from reports and the ears of your generals. You can see the truth of it in the looks of disdain and accusation thrown your way when you walk by the barracks.
Even Laya, that young, brave, idealistic girl…even she doubts you. She stays by your side and speaks in your favor, but she is no good at deceit, and there are times when she falters, when she hesitates to carry out your orders, when she looks away too quickly from your gaze. If these rumors have poisoned even her opinion of you, what hope do you have of swaying others?
“You do not need to sway them,” Lilith says when you confide these thoughts to her. “You need to nip this treason in the bud.”
“And how do you suggest I do that?” you snap back, but of course she has a ready answer.
“Arrest them. What else? So long as you leave them free, they will continue to spread their dissent. We have dungeons in Drezen for this very reason, so use them.”
It does not feel how you expected, to hear her say this. To let her give voice to your harsher impulses. To listen to her simple, straightforward solution and note how she shows not the slightest hint of shame or remorse.
You would think yourself capable of dismay. In reality, you find solace in her venom.
Even so… “They are not truly treasonous. It is only words. And how much more a tyrant would I look if I simply arrested whomever I please?”
“They are Crusaders who have sworn themselves to you. By sowing such discord, they have broken their vows. What is treason, if not that?” She shrugs, the motion sending ripples through her burnt-red hair. “Those who keep their faith are rewarded. Those who do not are punished. Is this not your creed?”
She truly is difficult to argue with, and you find it all too easy to loosen the grip on your exhausting nobility and agree. You still do not trust her…but you want to, and that is just as dangerous.
Once you give the orders, you are left with a gnawing guilt…but also an unanticipated satisfaction. You have attempted restraint, and that has clearly never worked. But you are a queen, and perhaps Lilith has a point.
For all of your very long life, you have always prioritized the duty you owe to Mendev. Perhaps it is time to remind the people of what they owe to you.
If you feel yourself suffer another crack, then at least it is not a painful one.
In the midst of it all, you start spending more time with Lilith. You can’t say why, but it’s suddenly easier with her than with others. She’s still playing her own game, but at least you know that about her- with the others, you can never be sure, and the second-guessing is wearing on your damaged soul.
So you keep your distance from those who would trap you with their questions and their criticisms, and you fall deeper into Lilith’s gravity. The two of you discuss diplomacy, strategy, allies; you watch her make deals with the Chelish dignitaries, and even as you despise her you must admit that there is something hypnotic in the way she treats the world as her own private chess game.
Laya is less enthralled.
“Couldn’t we order them to leave?” she asks one day, following another debate between Lilith and the Chelish general. Her dark brows are furrowed in disapproval as she watches the general’s unit march through the citadel. “The reports we’ve seen from these soldiers…the things they’ve done…”
“Are all for the Crusades, and therefore under the Knight-Commander’s purveyance,” you answer. “And besides, fighting the demons is enough of a task. We cannot afford to offend our neighbors, especially such powerful ones.”
Laya frowns, still disapproving, and you suppress a sigh. She is young, you remind yourself. Young and brave and idealistic and foolish.
Her concerns are not shared by the other soldiers and citizens. Of course not; the people may scowl at the Chelish in the streets, but they cheer at the news of every military victory, and when they do it is once again Lilith’s name on their lips.
It bothers you just as much as it ever did, more so now due to the traitors who continue to spread sedition against you. A handful of arrests have been made, but many more investigations are still ongoing, all while word against you spreads and darkens with each passing day. You see now that Lilith was right all along- your only choice is to find the cause of this trouble and yank it out by the roots.
You are conducting a meeting with Lilith in the library one night when this festering resentment slips out, and all too soon you are lost in bemoaning the entire state of events as Lilith listens on over a bottle of wine.
“They call me a tyrant and a despot, yet they love you.” You motion to Lilith, who takes in the gesture without reaction. “As if they don’t know what you are.”
What you wouldn’t give to peer behind that stoic mask and see her thoughts; as it is, you cannot tell if she is offended or intrigued. She simply raises an eyebrow and takes a drink from her glass. The dark red wine matches the color of her lips.
“You have them chanting for Hell,” you continue, and unlike Lilith you make no attempt to hide your own storming emotions. You don’t have the energy left for such an effort, and even if you did the wine has loosened your composure. “Why is it me they hate?”
Lilith takes another sip, then sets her wine aside and leans close. You’ve grown accustomed to the scent of smoke which follows her everywhere, and now you detect the faint undercurrent of incense as well. It reminds you, uselessly, of the days you used to spend in deep prayer. It reminds you that you haven’t stepped foot in a chapel since Iz, and that you don’t feel nearly as much guilt over that as you should.
“Love and hatred…” Lilith murmurs to herself, unaware of the effect she’s had on you. “Is that really what matters to a ruler?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean.”
Lilith scoffs and shakes her head. When she speaks, her voice carries something infuriatingly similar to pity. “They don’t love me.”
“Of course not,” you snap. You’ve been doing a lot of that lately. “They fear you. Forgive me, I assumed you were above such cliches.”
“They see my power. They want what I have. People like to be on the winning side. It’s as simple as that.”
You wish you had another retort in your arsenal, but you find yourself struck by the truth of what she has said. As loathe as you are to admit it- and oh, you are loathe- you cannot deny that when you see Lilith sweep out to the armies and command them with utter confidence, utter control, utter loyalty…you do want that.
She hums, as if she can see the gears turning in your head, and adds, “And yes; call it cliche if you must, but most of them do fear me as well. And I am better off for it.”
You wish you could ignore her words, but they stick in your mind for the rest of the night, just as the smell of smoke sticks to your clothes.
This strange equilibrium you’ve found does not last.
Inevitably, the simmering anger amongst the soldiers boils over, and the news of a traitor’s death at the hands of your guards has barely reached you before the mob is at your door.
Some part of you, you think, knew this would happen. That knowledge does nothing to quell your anger as you face the horde gathered outside the citadel- those belligerent, unfaithful, ungrateful soldiers who scream out your misdeeds and demand justice.
Justice! The word inflames you further, because what do they know of justice? You serve the goddess of justice, and this is precisely where her justice has led, and they have the nerve to hate you for it.
“Enough!” You shout, and there is no disguising your anger. You don’t want to disguise it, not anymore. “Fall back! All of you, fall back!”
They do not listen. Fury is etched on their faces, angry and ugly, as they scream back at you.
Killer. Monster. Tyrant.
They point at the bloodied body at their feet, that culmination of every choice you have made during this cursed Crusade. The cracks in your soul spread outward, turning everything brittle and sharp. Lilith is at your side, and you’re not certain how long she’s been here but you were always expecting her, weren’t you? Just like you’re expecting it when she leans close to hiss in your ear.
“How far will you let this go? Execute these traitors or you’ll never know peace again.”
At your other side is Laya, and no longer does she look so brave and idealistic. She just looks young- young and foolish and frightened.
Frightened of…you? Of you, when it is they who have driven things to this point?
And under this last bit of pressure, you break.
“Cease this at once! Disperse now!” Your voice is barely recognizable to yourself. Your hand is on the hilt of your sword. “Or else you shall all be labeled traitors and dealt with as needed!”
The chaos and the shouting increases. You draw your sword. “Laya, be ready to fight.”
“But, Your Majesty-”
“Laya.” Lilith’s voice cuts harshly through the increasing shouts. “Do as you must.”
For the briefest of moments, Laya wavers- and then a storm passes over her face, and she does indeed draw her sword.
And she points it straight as you.
“I will do as I must,” she declares in a hoarse voice. “The only enemy here is you. I was there. I heard you give the orders that led to bloodshed! Down with the traitor queen!”
She is so young. Against a warrior of your years, she does not stand a chance.
You cut her down as easily as you would any demon.
The sight of her blood on the stones of the courtyard shocks the onlookers, and their anger turns to panic. Above the screams, your voice rings out as you call for order and obedience. You are not even fully aware of the words you are saying, but you know that this time, they will listen to you.
You are their queen. You will remind them what this means. No matter the cost.
As this revelation sinks from your mind into your bones, a blinding light envelops the courtyard, and thunder roars.
Iomedae’s angels have arrived.
And oh, they make such a lovely sight, with their heavenly glow and their pretty words, and they ignite the sharpest, cruelest anger you have felt in decades.
Isolation. Contemplation. Redemption. This is what they offer, but you speak their language, and you know what they mean. They have come to take you prisoner- to whisk you away until you return to that golden shining beacon of faith they shaped you into so long ago.
How dare they?
And that is the moment you realize this did not start with Lilith. She has no claim to the first broken piece of your soul, not when you’ve been losing bits and pieces of yourself for years and years and years.
When your armies fell and you bared your heart in prayer, begging for aid, and only silence answered.
When you were handed a potion that would bind you to this life of duty and servitude with heavy, gilded chains.
When your god died, and you kept on living and living and living.
“Now you come?” You choke out. “Now? Where were you when I called? And even now, where is she? Could Iomedae not come down and face me herself?!”
They do not offer an answer. They never have. They only demand obedience, though they have the nerve to call it faith.
You have no faith left to give. When you tell them so, the angel draws his sword, and you know they will take it, just as they always have.
Lilith steps between you and the Angels, and you see that she has shed her mortal guise. She faces the Angels with fire-touched skin and curved horns, smoke billowing around her feet as dark wings stretch out behind her.
“The Queen has stated her intentions, and I will not allow you to take her by force.” She glances over her shoulder, and her blazing eyes sear into your skin. “She is under my protection now.”
Is it validation which blazes through you as your eyes meet? Solidarity? Or is it hatred, resentment, anger at what this woman has brought forth in you?
Is it something else entirely?
You have no time to decide before the Angles descend upon you, and so you decide on anger, and you unleash that anger upon these messengers from your former goddess. Every insult, every frustration, every shame- you let it flow through your sword as her blessing once did, and you feel more powerful than you ever have before.
With Lilith at your side, you are powerful enough to slay Angels.
The two of you stand side by side when the battle is over, and a maelstrom of emotions hits you all at once. Yet mostly you just feel empty- all that holy grace and duty which has sustained you through the years is gone, all those pieces of your soul scattered and shattered and lost.
And yet, you also feel something you haven’t felt in ages: you feel alive. Your heart races, your blood burns, your skin is hot with the rush of victory. You look down at the defeated Angel and you want to sing.
You look at Lilith, in all her blazing, devilish glory, and you want to ask: what have you done to me?
You don’t. Instead, you walk past the remnants of the slain Angels, past the body of the girl who once reminded you so much of yourself. You walk right up to Lilith and without a trace of doubt you say, “I am ready.”
She raises an eyebrow, but you refuse to take the bait. “Do not play coy now. You know of what I speak.”
And then she smiles, damn her. Damn you both, you suppose, for with a simple motion she unfurls a contract from her long sleeves.
“Then I won’t waste time with words. All you need do is sign.”
You’d been expecting it; hoping, really, because in this moment you are a crusader without a goddess and that is a very dangerous position to be in. You still have a war to fight and a nation to rule, and you are certain this will not be the last of Heaven’s efforts to ensnare you. You need the protection, the assurance, of some higher power. You always have, just as you have always given all of yourself to this war.
But where Heaven would take you for granted, where it softened its words and its promises, Hell would mark your sacrifices down for posterity and give you an oath forged in fire and iron.
You sign.
Let my soul belong to you, Lilith, and to Hell, so long as you uphold your side of the bargain.
And maybe you were wrong, again, when you claimed your soul was already as fractured as it could get. Because as the signature dries, you could swear you feel one last piece crack and splinter.
But the feeling is gone soon enough. Just like that, you have become something new.
The scroll vanishes up Lilith’s sleeve, and her eyes shine with undisguised victory. It may be the most emotion you’ve ever seen from her.
“I look forward to working with you,” she says. “I believe this is the beginning of a very fruitful…partnership.”
She lingers over the word, enjoying her own private joke, and you still cannot decide how you really feel about her. Even now, you want to wrap your hands around her throat. Even now, you want to wrap your arms around her waist.
Either way, you suppose, you’re already damned.
“Likewise,” you say, and she smiles again.
Somewhere beneath the distraction of Lilith, your mind is already at work. Everything is different now, and a new power is in your hands. There are many, many plans to be made.
When you turn and climb the steps back up to the citadel, the scent of smoke follows in your wake. Perhaps it always will.
How could you, they will ask you later, and the act of asking itself means they will never understand.
So you do not attempt to explain. You let them ask, and you allow the accusations to bounce harmlessly off that empty place inside your soul. They need no answer; they need only look at the results as you take back control of your kingdom. What almost slipped away from you is now forever yours, and you grip it tightly with your iron fist.
It does not matter how you got here, nor who you did this for.
You’ve done it, and there is no going back.
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vvooper · 4 months ago
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alright. next up in my ffvii character pokemon teams: it's Tifa Time
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tifa's team was pretty straightforward for me to come up with. details under the cut as always
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tifa's sprite is a recolor of the gen 4 battle girl. seemed perfect for her
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species: lopunny
ability: cute charm
item: muscle band
moves: close combat, return, power-up punch, captivate
ok I'll just address the obvious: there is some meta commentary going on here with my pokemon choice. people online can be very not normal about tifa's appearance. and I get it, I fully agree that Tifa Pretty, but let's not lose sight of the important fact that she can kill a man (and much scarier opponents) with her fists. I didn't give stargazer lopunnite here because that felt a little unfair to all the other characters who didn't get megas, but I definitely had mega lopunny in mind for the theme. the name is not really related, but I felt like it was a good name for a pokemon.
the ability cute charm and captivate kind of follow in the same vein. but muscle band, close combat, and power-up punch are all about kickin ass. I chose return because tifa is kind of a people pleaser, if that makes sense
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species: mudsdale
ability: stamina
item: leftovers
moves: high horsepower, body press, smack down, rest
I chose a mudsdale because of tifa's cowgirl outfit from when she was a teen. yknow for a long time I thought that that was some kind of phase tifa went through. it took me an embarrassingly long time to realize that the entirety of nibelheim is a weird fusion of nordic and wild west influences. the name comes from one of tifa's limit breaks but again is not super related.
the stamina ability is for tifa being in great shape. it also works well with body press. high horsepower is just for the horse theme
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species: togekiss
ability: serene grace
item: berry juice
moves: air slash, aura sphere, water pulse, roost
for seventh heaven, I had to go with an angel shaped pokemon. there are... surprisingly few of those.
the serence grace ability is yet another reference to tifa being in great physical shape. for some reason, the thing that immediately comes to mind is her summon animation from remake and rebirth. she does this cartwheel maneuver and the whole thing is so smooth and impressive.
berry juice is a god awful item, but I really wanted seventh heaven to have a beverage.
aura sphere felt like a good representation of tifa's chi mechanic in remake and rebirth. water pulse is another choice vaguely related to seventh heaven being the local watering hole. similar for roost, as it's a place for people to gather and recharge (or get plastered, but whatever)
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species: palafin
ability: zero to hero
item: punching glove
moves: jet punch, drain punch, focus punch, bulk up
a dolphin pokemon is mandatory for tifa! now that I'm looking at it, maybe I should have named it dolphin flurry from remake and rebirth rather than dolphin blow from og, but too late.
the set is just pure punchy woman. punching glove powers up all the punching moves. as an added bonus, jet punch is a priority move, which is fitting because of how speedy tifa is. as for bulk up... square I'm BEGGING you to give tifa more muscle. her arms should not look like that!
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species: medicham
ability: pure power
item: life orb
moves: close combat, zen headbutt, bullet punch, counter
premium heart is tifa's ultimate weapon. I chose medicham as another pokemon that can be related to her chi mechanic.
the life orb item and counter refer to premium heart's special mechanic. it deals more damage the higher tifa's limit gauge is, but in order to fill the limit gauge, tifa must take damage.
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species: urshifu (rapid strike)
ability: unseen fist
item: choice band
moves: close combat, surging strikes, brick break, u-turn
tifa's legendary pokemon is urshifu, named zangan after her martial arts instructor. I've taken all of the pokemon artwork for these posts from pokemon home, but apparently it only has one urshifu icon for both forms, in which it just kinda... stands there. rest assured I chose the rapid strike form, both for tifa's speed and for the water type.
honestly the set itself is not super thematic, just fully geared toward physical power from martial arts-inspired moves.
previous entries found here. aerith is up next
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seasonfivebitchsaveme · 4 months ago
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Celestial Spirits Eclipse Arc Rant Part 1/?
Okay.
Let me preface this by saying, I tried so hard to like this arc on my rewatch.
Filler arcs and I have always had a strained relationship, but I was surprisingly optimistic about this one.
When I first saw Fairy Tail, I absolutely DESPISED the Key of the Starry Skies, so much so that I was scared to rewatch it.
From...this whole blog, you can probably tell that I had a change of heart. In fact, I ended up adoring a character that used to be my all time least favorite.
So, I went into this filler arc with a new perspective.
However, unlike the Key of the Starry Heavens, I think revisiting this arc has only made it worse for me.
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Now of course, we can't really judge a filler arc up to the standards of a well planned canon arc. Not that it's a bad thing to do so, but I feel it automatically puts said filler arc at a disadvantage.
What we can do however, is compare it to another filler arc.
So, in this multi-part rant, I'll talk about why Key of the Starry Skies worked for me, and why the Celestial Spirit Eclipse Arc failed.
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First, I've been really negative in the introduction. So, why not go over the positives of this arc! No matter how bad I do think it is, there are always some things that I think should be given credit.
The concept itself is very interesting!! There is so much potential to be had with Celestial Spirits, who from this point have been shown to serve Lucy(and Yukino), wanting a rebellion for their own individual freedom.
I like some of the Eclipse! designs a lot! I particularly like Eclipse! Taurus and Eclipse! Virgo's designs!(but I suppose that is down to personal preference)
The variety of fights was nice to see, and some of them are iconic.
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Gray's dance battle with Eclipse! Cancer has to be one of the most memorable parts of the arc for me!!
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Unfortunately, that's about where my praise for it ends.
Before I get into specifics, I just wanted to say that it's totally cool to like this arc! I'm glad you're able to enjoy it!! (つ≧▽≦)つ
To stop this section from being too long for now, I'll focus on just one character that bothers me. Truth be told, it's the character from this arc I have the most to say about(surprisingly).
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Eclipse! Virgo was really uncomfortable to watch. Her awful, sadistic personality and love of seeing others suffer was just...not for me.
Normal Virgo is actually one of my favorite spirits, so seeing her become all mean and ruthless wasn't too fun.
Now, that sounds a bit familiar...maybe even a bit hypocritical of me.
A filler woman who doesn't mind hurting others, specifically Lucy, and gets a thrill from doing it. A filler character who believes that they are righteous in punishing people who oppose them in a militaristic fashion, having little care for the consequences…a filler character that the guild at first considers absolutely rude and obnoxious...
I might be absolutely crazy, but Eclipse! Virgo is just if Mary Hughes sucked and lacked any depth
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Now, I'm incredibly biased, and I know that. But look at these two side by side and TELL me they aren't thinking the exact same thing.
It's not even the fact that most of her character traits feel recycled from Mary, but that they based a filler character...off of another filler character.
Mary Hughes is a character I love because she is flawed. She does horrible things, and expects to get away with them. The difference between her and Eclipse! Virgo is development.
Mary gets to go through a bit of a mini-arc in the latter half of season five. Eclipse! Virgo, of course, does not.
A major problem I have with having a filler arc like this is that it does feel very rushed. We have to go through each Zodiac in a span of a 22 episode arc. The Key of the Starry Skies did have 26, but also a more linear plot.
There are only 6 members of the Legion Platoon, compared to 12(13 if we count Ophiuchus) Celestial Spirits. It leaves for these Eclipse! variants to only leave their first impressions.
For Virgo, it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Even if we disregard that factor, Virgo is almost a flanderized version of Mary Hughes, taking all her more evil, grating traits and putting it into one character.
Of course, it's all very likely a coincidence.
However, Mary Hughes as a character displays that the show writers were able to create a character with those traits that works.
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Okay I'm so sorry if you read this much thank you for listening to me yap
If I said anything wrong, please feel free to correct me!! I know some of the things I said might be a bit out there, but I wanted to say them.
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ick25 · 1 year ago
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My favorite movie Wukongs.
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Journey to the West fans love to see the monkey king represented or even mentioned in different media, there are so many versions of the character that its hard to decide which one is the best or who even is the most accurate to the novel. A lot of people grew up with Journey to the West cartoons and tv shows from China or Japan which has many of the most iconic and beloved versions of Wukong. However, this was not the case for me, my exposure to the Monkey King was when I was a teenager, when I decided to read the novel after noticing so many mentions of the character in different shows.
Aside from the recent Lego Monkie Kid, which has the cutest version of Wukong I've ever seen, I noticed that there is almost no other recent shows or movies that are successful in introducing this legendary monkey to American audiences.
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So instead of shows, I'm gonna be talking about recent movies, and with the new Monkey king movie out in Netflix, I thought it would be the best time to share my thoughts about the different versions of the character in movies where Sun Wukong is the main character or is important to the plot, both animated and live action, from worst to best.
*Spoiler Warning if you want to watch these movies by yourselves.
10. Monkey is back (2021)
I have this habit of watching every movie the has the Monkey king in it, that is how I came across this one. Unfortunately, it was the most confusing and boring movie I had ever watched.
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Wukong is called the Ling Ming Stone Monkey here, and he is a deity who already has people praying to him. He is turned into a human without magic and stays like this almost the entire movie.
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This version of Wukong is strangely mild mannered, and just like me, he is seemingly lost through out the movie.
So many things happened in this movie that it was hard to keep track of what was going on, and it made me ask myself, when is this movie set? Before or after Journey to the West? And what did that ending mean?
9. The immortal demon slayer (2017)
I thought this movie was gonna be the last one in my list until I saw Monkey is Back. Before that, the Immortal demon slayer was the movie I actually hated for how they treated my boy by making him a human without any magic! T T
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Just like in the previous movie, Wukong is a magicless human, and all he has is his martial art skills and Jingu Bang (his iron staff) to protect himself, but even Jingu Bang loses its abilities halfway through the movie. The story is basically him and a group of immortals getting stranded in the mortal realm, and have to learn to work together to save a village from a demon.
This version of Wukong is grumpy and a little tsundere because he has this potential romance going on with one of the stranded immortals. Near the end, Wukong finally returns as the super powerful monkey who beats up everyone in heaven.
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The movie finally got interesting at the end, but by that point it was already to late for me to forgive the movie's boring story.
The battle at the end between Wukong and Erlang Shen with his newly acquired third eye, was the only thing I liked, that, and the adorable French bulldog that appears with little fake bat wings!
8. Monkey King: Hero is back (2015)
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Not a fan of this design.
It was a cute movie, but it was lacking in so many areas. This Wukong is a legendary hero that is known by the humans. After being sealed for 500 years he seems to have lost his powers, so now he is just some grumpy tall monkey through out the movie, and I don't blame him, because he becomes a babysitter for two literal children.
Pigsy appears in this movie and he is almost entirely accurate, personality and all, but Wukong looks so weird that I forget he is a monkey, he is strangely tall, has that Chad chin, and he doesn't even have a tail, and those little monkey feet he has makes me laugh every time I see them, its like he has stumps for legs.
The reason this movie isn't lower is because it does a better job of conveying what the Monkey King is all about compared to the previous movies. The intro of the movie was pretty good.
7. New Gods: Nezha Reborn (2021)
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In this futuristic world, Wukong has an important role, training the reincarnation of prince Nezha. He starts out as some cooky old man wearing a creepy mask wanting to buy Nezha's bike, but later reveals himself after saving the boy from some demons. He teaches Nezha how to use his powers and watches over him till the end of the movie.
I like this version of Wukong because it shows how wise he really is, many versions have him seem naive or even dumb, but he is actually very clever in the novel. He is also visibly old which makes sense, old monkey has been around for more than 500 years after all.
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To protect his identity, he calls himself the Six Eared Macaque, who was known for copying Wukong's power and technique, but its canon that Wukong did kill Macaque during his journey to the West, so sorry Shadow Peach shippers.
Also, those little monkey clones he makes are super adorable.
6. Monkey King Reborn. (2021)
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Ah yes, the movie with the edgy Wukong and where the whole group is killed near the end... But comes back to life again.
Yeap, this movie was a rollercoaster of emotion, but it does a great job at setting up the tone of the original novel and its world building.
This Wukong is edgy and mischievous, his relationship with the Tripitaka was short but very cute, I wished it was explored more, but this movie just gives us the second best thing, Wukong putting up with an adorable little baby who is just another version of Tripitaka's soul or something.
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This Wukong is powerful and has a really bad temper like the original, but he still lacks that charm and sense of humor that makes the Monkey King so memorable.
And, what did they do to Sandy?!
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I swear, they never seem to get Sandy right in most movies.
5. The Forbidden Kingdom. (2008)
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I have a soft spot for this movie, not only was it the movie that introduced the Monkey King to my family (Who I was already a fan of), but it also made me give the novel a try, and now I freaking love it!
The story is a retelling of how the Monkey King was trapped for 500 years in a mountain, the villain being a Jade Warlord who turns him into stone, but Wukong manages to saves his Jingu Bang by sending it to the mortal realm. A teenage boy from the future gets isekaid to ancient China after touching Jingu Bang where he meets a young Jackie Chan who tells him that he must release the monkey king from his prison by returning him the golden staff so he can go back to his own world.
The Monkey King's appearance in the movie was short but memorable, maybe because he was played by Jet Lee who is not known for laughing and smiling very often. I think he does a good job portraying the character, he is strong, skillful, and very clever, but very trusting of his own abilities which is the reason he left his guard down and got turned into stone.
4. Journey to the West 2; The Demons strike back. (2017)
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A movie that gives Wukong so many different appearances that I don't know what he even looks like anymore. Shapeshifting is something very common in journey to the West, so it makes sense that Wukong can look any way he wants. First we have this human form where he looks like a stinky hobo fed up with life who barely obeys or cares for his new master.
Then we have this form where he has golden hair covering his body which I thought was his real appearance.
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But then we get this nightmarish thing that looks more like a demonic monkey with bright red eyes like in the novel.
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And none of these forms are even close to what he looked like in the prequel, but I'll get to that later.
This movie is a comedic retelling of the story, so many crazy things happen in this movie. Aside from the fact that Tripitaka punishes Wukong by whipping him, their interactions are pretty funny, specially because Wukong wears a magic ring on his head that used to belong to a woman the monk fell in love with in the previous movie, so he thinks about her every time he looks at him.
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But it's also kind of messed up because Wukong was the one who killed her in front of him so...
3. Monkey King; Havoc in Heaven's Palace. (2014)
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The movie summarizes the first 6 chapters of the novel that are all about Wukong's life, from seeing how he was born from a magical rock, to the reason he attacked heaven. Wukong starts out as a sweet and naive monkey who is curious and very playful, and he even has a little love interest. However, instead of just getting angry and causing trouble in Heaven, Wukong is fooled my the Bull demon king who tells him that the Jade emperor destroyed his home in flower fruit mountain and even killed his love interest. So naturally, Wukong picks a fight with heaven, the bull demon is discovered, and our protagonist humbly accepts his 500 year punishment from the Buddha, until the actor was re-casted in the sequel.
I like how nice this Wukong was, but not how the havoc in heaven wasn't entirely his fault. He was manipulated and still got punished for the misunderstanding. Wukong is not evil, but he isn't completely innocent either, which brings me to my next pick.
2. Journey to the West: Conquering the demons. (2013)
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This guy right here is a hilarious representation of how the Monkey King is described in the novel.
The movie is about the Tripitaka before becoming a monk, and is instead a "demon hunter" who tries to subdue demons by being nice and singing to them. He encounters Sandy, and then Pigsy who are terrifying man-eating demons. Sandy is captured by a woman who is a real demon hunter and who falls in love with Tripitaka, Pigsy manages to escape, but is then captured after being lured into a trap set by the two humans and Wukong, who was still trapped in a mountain.
Wukong once again looks like a dirty hobo, only this time he is crazy looking and bold, but after he fools Tripitaka into removing the seal from the mountain, he shows his true form in all his glory. He appears with his golden armor and head piece along with some fancy decorations, three demon hunters appear and make fun of him saying how short, ugly and skinny looking he is.
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I love this because that is exactly how the novel describes him. Needless to say, Wukong completely obliterates the three of them easily and without remorse, and to make matters worse, he even kills the girl who Tripitaka finally confessed he was in love with.
I know I keep saying how he is not evil, but we have to remember that he was a demon, a man-eating one even, so he naturally seems evil to us because he sees humans as insects that are not worth his time, you know how many people he killed in the novel? He even killed a guy just because he called him a ghost!
The sequel did a better job of making a Journey to the West story, and with better visual effects, but this demonic version of the monkey king and how he was stopped by the Buddha was the most accurate depiction I've seen of the character.
Monkey King 2 and 3. (2016)
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This is my favorite movie Wukong!
For some reason they changed the actor from the first movie, but I guess it was because of how his personality completely changed in the sequel.
These movies are the best representation of the novel, Wukong is a badass and the one who has to do everything because Tripitaka is a moron and the other two disciples are really bad at their job.
The day he met Tripitaka he asks the monk if he doesn't want him to protect him, Tripitaka being a coward says no and Wukong took this opportunity to yell at the heavens and zoom out of there, only to find out immediately that they are being forced by the gods to travel together, like it or not.
This Wukong is clever, intimidating, selfish and a little grumpy, but he still likes to play around and he does take his job of protecting Tripitaka very seriously.
I admit I also find him a little attractive, just look at those muscles!
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So what are your thoughts about these movie Wukongs? Do you agree with this list? Who is your favorite Monkey King?
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Round 1 - Side A
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Propaganda below ⬇️
Louis de Pointe du Lac
french (creole) in the 1700s, has a crazy Ultra-Catholic brother that he builds a cathedral for on his property out of love, in which he gets turned i to a vampire after setting the place on fire in a drunken stupor because he was sooo damp lestat (insane vampire, also catholic but also not, it's complictaed) just couldn't resist, fire motif continues (he burns a lot of places to the ground, fire kills vampires, etc); denies himself human blood not because killing is wrong but because drinking human blood is a pleasurable experience (drinking blood is also how vampires have sex, so take this how you will), finds himself baby trapped in a toxic patriarchal nuclear family setting with lestat (not exclusive to catholics ofc but, come on) louis would not identify as catholic/religious but literally everything he does comes down to his immense catholic guilt complex and he believed genuinely for a very long time that he was going to hell for existing as a vampire (it's a metaphor)
episode 1 he has a whole breakdown in a confession booth about pimping, drinking, gay sex, etc. then his priest gets immediately murdered by a vampire and he then agrees to be turned by that vampire and to marry him (in his defense lestat is VERY dreamy) and keeps doing the same shit and worse but feeling extreme guilt about everything constantly. he keeps this up for 144 years and counting
He battles with faith so hard dude he spends like half his book being Catholically Guilty for his vampirism. It slaps
He got turned into a vampire after having a big gay crisis in a church. Iconic
Homura
she is a catholic lesbian whose girlfriend became god. she has been through so much.
shes such a lesbian for amdoke
Catholic guilt literally turned her into a demon
she literally watches everyone she knows die over and over and over again just so she can save madoka, the one girl who showed kindness towards her. when madoka ends up basically becoming god in order to stop the cycle of death and violence, homura RIPS AWAY THE HUMAN PART OF HER SOUL so that she can create a world where she and Madoka and their friends can live happily, effectively becoming the devil to madoka's god
She has so much religious symbolism when it comes to her relationship to Madoka. Madoka is God and Homura becomes Lucifer so that she can save Madoka and give her happiness. She literally rips God from heaven and rewrites reality though. The way she sees her self and shapes reality is through the lense of Catholicism.
most fucked up little catholic girl. we love that for her.
Okay homuras entire fuckin arc is stemmed from the fact she is Catholic. Look at her trying to save Madoka over and over again and suffering for it because she thinks if she suffers enough and works hard enough Madoka will stay. Normal people do not go into time loops willingly. Catholics will.
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grimowled · 6 months ago
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"Dad: Do exorcisms actually work, or is that a silly ritual humans do that does absolutely nothing?" - Octavia @a-hell-of-a-time
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"THE ANSWER LIES somewhere in between, as it oft does, my heart of darkness."
owl father explains in a smooth drawl, talons gently running through his owlette's messy mane of feathers.
"--for an exorcism to be effective, there are three elements at play; the caster, the ritual and, of course, matching power. let me elaborate."
he gestures with his free hand, effortlessly conjuring a vision of figures made of pretty constellations joined by glowing lines of different colours, representing a demon, a possessed victim and an exorcist locked in eternal battle for the victim's soul.
"firstly, the exorcist must be competent - which means they must be born with what they would call the gift and curse of being attuned to supernatural beings and magic, which some would call faith - and be extensively trained with practical experience; of course they are only 'allowed' to resort to divine magic, which is heavenly by nature, in order to fight and cast out its demonic counterpart - they can use religious artefacts such as icons, crosses, holy relics and holy water to invoke it; in some extremely rare occasions they can even summon and offer themselves as vessels to an angel, but I have never seen that with my own eyes. you can imagine there are not many of those, and a lot of incompetent, money-grabbing quacks."
(those are such fun to absolutely terrorise ! oh, he sometimes he misses those days !)
especially in modern times, when the scientific method has overtaken superstition, save for some pockets of humanity that still believe in the old ways.
"--however it is not as simple as reciting a few lines in latin; the caster must firstly fully understand the language and ritual they are chanting, enunciate clearly and without mistakes, and then ensure to pair the correct ritual with the demonic being at play - which also means they must have gleaned its name in order to attempt a fully effective exorcism - which is why we have a rule to never disclose our names on the mortal realm."
the figures continue their beautiful dance of war above them, like shimmering silk ribbons against a starlit backdrop.
"lastly, an exorcism is only as strong as its wielder's willpower and authority to command by divine blessing. and if there are any weaknesses, even hairlines, be sure that a competent demon will spot them and split those cracks wide open."
the thought seems to amuse the owl prince, memories dancing across the blood-red sclera of his four eyes as he contemplates his own share of danse macabre with exorcists; the ephemeral vision playing on loop above them dissipates then, with a grand finale for the winged demonic force engulfing and devouring the other two.
"--but remember this, my starfire: as above, so below. the forces of heaven and hell are sisters, perfectly matched and balanced. for every demon summoning there is a ritual of exorcism, for every holy relic a cursed artefact ... and so on, so forth."
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ginsoakedgirl80 · 11 months ago
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I'm feeling like doing a public service today, so if you want to watch the mess that is Fighting for Love for Wang RuiChang or because of two women get married for plot reasons, I got the what to skip for you since I was stupid enough to watch the whole thing
For starting out: This drama is about Mai (Zhang TianAi), who is a poor orphan who wants to avenge her parents, living in Shengdu, the capital of Nanxia. She watched them get killed by henchmen and her adoptive brother Chen Qi 9 years ago. To move freely in the world, she disguised herself as a man since then. My Drama List is not representing her life well since she is in fact not roaming the martial arts world when we meet her but doing petty crime to fund her life and revenge quest. For plot reasons she saves the life of male lead Shang YiZhi (Zhang HaoWei), a silly son of a Marquis. He invites her to stay at his house where he sees her back when she takes a bath and finds out that she is actually a woman because heavens beware of a man falling in love with another man. He doesn't tell anyone that she's female though so it's funny to see people react to him being overly protective of Mai. (Seriously the amount of times his attendant steps out when those two hang out. Mu Bai is an ally)
His father, a general, dies from a bad medicine prescription upon returning from the border. His mother is the sister of the emperor and fears for his life so she uses her sisterly influence to send YiZhi to the border to take over his father's army. We also find out that his mother is actually his aunt because he is the son of the late crown prince. This is why the emperor wants to kill him, though he doesn't know his real identity. See the emperor is a paranoid cuckoo bananas dude and likes to have cleavage and dance and get people killed and look at the sun through his fingers.
Also for all the things this drama probably cut to get to the 36 episodes they really HAD TO keep in every time the 700 sliding doors between his living and office quarters are opened and closed to emphasize how removed from the world he is. The things those sliding doors operators have seen!
Meanwhile Mai travels to a border city to meet a man who knows where Chen Qi is. To get into the border city, she steals a passport from Chang YuQing (Wang RuiChang) who is from the enemy country Beimo and happens to be on a spy mission.
So if you only watch for Wang RuiChang, enter at episode 3 at 35:00.
But be warned, his character is minor and if there was ever any more backstory to him shot to explain his motivations, his sworn brotherhood with Cui Yan and the trouble of the Chang family at the court of Beimo or why Chen Qi hates the Chang family, it was all cut (or I already forgot about it). I told you this drama is a mess.
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This is also a good time for the people who want to watch for the two women getting married (spoiler alert: it's one sided love and a marriage to proof that Mai is a man) because YuQing and his army sack the city and this is when Mai rescues teenager Xiu'er (Jiang YunXi) as a promise to a prison guard. Xiu'er got a crush on her and has no clue that Mai is a woman until they get engaged. For Mai she is someone who needs to be protected and she wants to marry her off to her bestie before.
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Also pictured next to Mai feminist icon Tang ShaoYi a true dage who got no problem with Mai being in the army once he finds out and just wants to be bros with her.
Mai finds out that Chen Qi is actually the marshal of the Beimo army that is attacking Nanxia's border so she decides to enlist to fight him on the battlefield. Her father actually taught her battle tactics and she read the art of war so obviously she rises through the ranks despite going absent without leave and other things that would get you executed if the general of the army wasn't in love with you.
Plot (which I won't spoil) that includes Wang RuiChang sometimes more and often less happens until ep 22, when Yizhi gets summoned back to the capital and Mai joins him with his other trusted guys and Xiu'er (she is an afterthought mainly). This is also when the screenwriters or the editors lost any interest in Beimo apart from some captive prince stuff, so if you are only watching for Wang RuiChang you can skip ahead after his (great) scene in ep 22.
In Shengdu too much time is spent on Yizhi and his court stuff, like I want this to be about Mai doing cool army stuff not some badly written and edited succession to the throne plot. She does use her plotting skills for him to survive because dude is a silly jerk who is not worthy of her and yet she loves him. sigh.
queer intermission
Due to something that happened before ep 22 the rumor that Mai is a woman spreads in her army causing unrest which leads to Xiu'er proposing marriage to her.
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(THEY NEVER SHOW THE ACTUAL DIVORCE???)
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This is shampoo commercial territory. Just that for censorship reasons Xiu'er emphasizes that Mai is too important for the army and therefore the whole country to get executed just for being a woman and also she still owes her for saving her life back in the day.
Tang dage gets it with her reasoning.
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They're having the cross-cupped wine on camera but not the bowing to heaven, parents and each other to not piss off the censors.
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Once they are in the bridal chamber/tent someone spies on them and sees Mai without her binder so he gets killed. End of wedding. Why is Xiu'er in the army camp in the first place? During the border defense arc she heard that Mai got wounded and went to tend to her and never left.
Xiu'er is plot relevant again in ep 32 and is in the final episode but apart from that she is little more than Mai's attendant.
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Mai continues to wear male attire most of the time, after she stopped being undercover, apart from the time she actually had to be in the harem and hated it.
end of intermission
ok back to the Wang RuiChang scenes
What is relevant for getting what is going on once you jump back in:
Yizhi's mother didn't go through hiding Yizhi from the emperor for Yizhi to not become emperor so she throws him into the struggle for the throne against his will. He does not want to do that and just be with Mai. (the good old putting the greater good above ones personal desires it never gets old. Of course his mother wins by guilt tripping him into becoming emperor by getting herself killed.) People get kidnapped, people get killed. Mai becomes the master of the emperor's grandson.
Yizhi's mother had made an agreement with the prime-minister that he would help Yizhi to the throne and in turn Yizhi would marry his daughter further increasing the prime-minister's influence in court. (like me you will think dude you are already having the highest office under the emperor what is your deal, well he wants his family to be the rulers of Nanxia eventually. dude likes to draw tigers in his spare time so you know his deal)
So who do we need to show up? Yuqing! So Mai can be implicated as a Beimo spy by the prime-minister. Luckily Yizhi had killed Yuqing's sworn brother earlier on so Yuqing had a reason to sneak into Shengdu to make an attempt on Yizhi's life at the beginning of episode 30 (it was only 8 episodes without him but it felt like eons).
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We do get a little of him being cheeky in ep 31
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He leaves in ep 31 and shows up again in ep 35 (starting ~min 15) and 36.
ep 31-35 So after Yizhi married the prime-minister's daughter and she becomes empress, Mai was devastated and went on a bender. The prime-minister turns the court against Mai so she loses her general job. She asks Yizhi for the mansion of her father and lives there, wallowing in lovesickness, grief and childhood trauma until Yizhi sends the edict to make her his honored imperial consort. She reluctantly lives in the harem but hates being locked up (she is a general gdi), dealing with the jealous empress and also refuses Yizhi so they strike a deal that allows her to live outside. More palace stuff happens with the prime-minister.
When the Beimo army invades again, she is the most capable to do it, so she gets her army back and sets off to fight against Beimo in episode 35.
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I think there must have been more filmed and then cut for length because some things are alluded too that would have required some scenes beforehand. Ultimately this drama feels rather lifeless and is just going through the motions apart from some characters adding some sparkle.
The ending does make sense, gotta love that she didn't let herself get locked up in the harem for that loser.
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I need to stop watching ascending to the throne dramas that are not well written, why do I keep doing this to myself? Oh right, because I thought that this would be about a female general and ignored that he is the son of the legitimate crown prince. Of course he had to become emperor xP
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6em4k · 9 months ago
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" 'Sup."
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(indie RP blog for Lego Monkie Kid's interpretation for the Six-Eared Macaque. Living Details below)
Character Overview:
The Buddha once revealed the existence of Four Celestial Primates, existing outside of the natural designation that all other creatures were divided into. Of these four, the Intelligent Stone Monkey and the Six-Eared Macaque were sworn brothers, their deep friendship going beyond even the bonds of blood they did not share, nor had need to.
This was until the death of the Macaque, at the hands of the Stone Monkey - now Sun Wukong, the Monkey King and Great Sage, Equal To Heaven.
---
The past year hasn't been the worst to Macaque - or, well 'The Six-Eared Macaque' is, y'know, his full name.
His re-emergence in Megapolis - the city that the heroic Monkie Kid, MK, makes his home and ward - was one that brought change for the world as MK knew it. While his return to obtain the powers of the Monkey King for himself was successful, it unintentionally heralded the return of a long-sleeping enemy. This enemy was the Lady Bone Demon, to whom Macaque had sworn his insincere and easily-abandoned fealty in exchange for being brought back to life.
A person who would swear loyalty to different masters to get what he wants, Macaque's ultimate loyalty is to himself and his own desires, abandoning bargains and promises as easily as he makes them. It was then a true pain and labor for him to have bargained for his resurrection with her of all demons. Not only did she have a strong sway over his life, and the ability to pin him down and force him in ways no one else could, she was also an enemy to MK, for whom Macaque developed a sincere fondness for. His attempts to defy her orders to bring him in, do away with the Monkie Kid and King, were quickly realized and neutralized by her, forcing him at crystal-shard point to do her will.
Despite his deceits and aggression, despite the near-destruction of all life on earth, MK's faith in Macaque's 'deep, deep down, not a bad guy' self was rewarded with rare genuity and devotion. Macaque agreed to risk his life in order to help the student he'd deceived and save the world he'd aided in ruining.
With the end of the end of the world, Macaque had been granted a long-abandoned goal of redemption.
S5 Update: Now, resting on his laurels, Macaque finds himself in a transitory period, should he allow it to be one. His long-gone dojo home leaving him wandering and to the elements, his relationship with the Monkey King in a state of mutual uncertainty rather than vicious gnashing of teeth, and a pseudo-student to think of him, and deliver a fresh bowl of noodles on occasion, for no other reason than he could. But with his powers suddenly morphing into something unfamiliar and chaotic, these new progresses in his life could become even more unstable than they currently are.
(That's quite unstable)
[Icons are a combination of my own screengrabs and icons from poms-resources ]
Macaque Power-set:
Very good hearing, up to a thousand miles standing still.
Mastery of martial arts and kung-fu.
Incredible speed, strength, reflexes and agility.
Shadow manipulation - the ability to control the shadows movements and solidity. A great tool for combat or other stealth situations.
Shadow-transportation - the ability to slip into the darkness literally. He can either hide in those shadows, moving through them, or emerge through another side, within knowledge and range. This makes him extremely hard to get ahold of - Macaque, mostly, cannot be held down when he doesn't want to be. Notable exceptions have been Wukong, the Lady Bone Demon and her personal lackey.
Immortality, to an extent - Macaque can still die from battle or other extreme situations such as a particularly aggressive poison, but old age and sickness cannot touch him.
Underwater breathing and communication - no, really, he can do and has done this. Though this may be less an innate ability and more to do with him having...
"All Of Monkey Kings Power"- having stolen the abilities of the Monkey King's protégé MK, Macaque has obtained copies of many, but not all, of the abilities of Sun Wukong. These include Self-transformation into various animals and people, flying, superior strength (than what he'd had before), the ability to create multiple clones of himself, and more.
Shadow-puppetry - in the artistic and transfigurative sense. Macaque can puppeteer his own shadow into a tangible, physical entity, mirroring himself. This ability has expanded to creating more than one, after obtaining MK's powers.
"Smokey" - A colossal manifestation of smoke and shadow into a solid entity. It does not seem to move or operate itself outside of direct influence and action from Macaque. While it is overwhelming and powerful, the true extent of it's strength, ability, and history, are largely unknown to all but the person who controls it.
Mecha-Monkey - Macaque is able to construct a massive themed mech for himself to pilot and operate.
[More added when needed]
Mun Rules:
Anons accepted, don't be shy, he only bites Wukong [<- threat, not promise]
Mutuals preferred, but if you're following me and wanna try some RP, feel free to send anything over, interact with memes or hmu for conversation! I don't interact first unless we're mutuals just so I know I'm not crossing any boundaries and because I'm a tad shy.
Relationships discussed after development.
Related to the above - I am not exclusive, multiships encouraged.
Outside of roleplay/direct interaction, bog runs on a 'default setting' -posts/other roleplays where he mentions tormenting Wukong do not mean your Wukong unless specified.
This meaning, this blog is multiverse unless asked about a specific scenario/'verse.
Related to the above, specify a particular blog/person if you send asks about someone else's played character - aka Specify which blog I'm playing with that you're curious about, otherwise I will answer with blog-lore. Don't tag them if they don't want to be tagged (check their rules first)
Be aware - Mun is an adult (32) and prefers to RP with other adults. Minors can follow/interact with meme games, but no rp.
Personals are similar - follows are fun, so are asks/anons, but please don't try to RP with me, nor reblog my rp posts.
Headcanons abound! I try to keep as close to the character as I can, but I do play Macaque in my own way based on these as well as the canon. I try to integrate and adhere to both equally.
Mun has bipolar II and this can affect my roleplay timeliness, due to how replies/roleplay can affect my energy and excitement and how those things impact my judgment, my characterization/writing and other factors. Sometimes I'm in a good place and can reply right away, other times I need to step back for hours, or a few days, in order to reply properly and in character.
If I'm answering others before you or you before others, it's not preferential treatment and I am excited/interested to play. It's related to the above.
I won't shy away from darker themes if they come up, but I prefer fade-to-blacks for sexy stuff.
I will not do pet death. Please tag animal death. Particularly with dear pets. Hard no for dogs and especially cats.
Mun has no patience for proship/antiship BS. Follow/softblock/block at your own desire, I sssssssuper do not caaaaaaare about this discourse.
Obligatory American-Leftist disclaimer about basic human rights here, you know the drill, I will cut any shitty behavior to the quick.
[More to be added if needed]
This Macaque's Timeline/default blog canon:
-Was, in fact, killed by Wukong. No ifs, ands or buts. It's a complicated mess that resulted in Wukong killing Macaque.
-Resurrected shortly after the death of Tang Sanzang, spending some time recuperating under The Mayors care. After a short while, he absconded and ditched the key at the same time, on the run from him and her ever since.
-Immediately went to torment Wukong over it, going so far as to mock Sanzangs death and provoke Wukong into an out-and-out brawl.
-Spent a good hundred years in a state of recurring grief attacks, coping with this new life without Wukong backing him up, and a newfound, deep and true loneliness. Realizing Wukong wasn't going to come apologize to him anytime soon, he picks another fight - and likes it.
-Stirring slightly from his fugue state, spent the next, approximately 300 years in an unhealthy cycle of picking brutal fights with/bullying Wukong, a significant depression spiral, get somewhat okay, bully Wukong and lose it all again.
-Got his wits somewhat about him about his health, about 100~ years ago, enough to leave China and try to expand himself and Get Over It (Didn't Work, but he's well-traveled at least - try to ask sometime). Found a bit about himself, but it really amounted to running away from his Wukong problem more than facing it.
-Eventually came back to town and found out about MK, series begins.
-Blog is a general post-s3 canon, with S4 and onwards incorporated in play/asks. General posts will behave between s3 and s4, with timelines/relationships changing within roleplay, as deemed fit. This is because I like writing out Macaque's development from pathetic, vicious and dangerous into reliable, mean ally, even if we're doing threads post S4 or post S5
Mac Deets:
-Clones are literal shadowpuppets - they don't move without Macaque's intention nor do they talk without Macaque throwing his voice. If he's not conscious, they aren't able to be conjured.
-Can only shadow-portal to places he's been to before. If the location is gone (building destroyed, streets changed, etc), he can no longer access that spot.
-Thief-y and bum-ish. Don't be surprised if he's used your shower without you knowing - he likes your shower pressure better than the bathhouse.
-He's not open to details about "Smokey" (large, spiritual form), but speaks about it/treats it like a pet (it is not)
- He's a dick. You know he's a dick. Soft spots don't make him less of a dick. To Wukong, he will be even more of a dick, potentially downright hostile.
- He likes abundantly sugary fruits - plums and mangoes are a given, but you can coax him with pomegranates, figs, watermelons, and pineapples too. Basically search 'sugariest fruits' and you have his diet.
Tags:
Macaque tags for himself! All brackets are mun tags. Out of brackets, it's Macaque.
[The one and only] (Selfie/pictures of Macaque)
[and others] (images of people not Macaque - typically tagged in tandem w/Macaque pictures)
[sign of a good story] (planned/in-depth roleplay)
[Stoned in paradise] (Havoc in Heaven, Brotherhood and before)
[You are the weapon] (RP games/prompt posts/memes)
[the sun and the moon] (blog-lore related asks/posts/headcanons)
[Shadowtalk] (asks)
[Shadowchatter] (Macaque original posts, talking on dash, light/unplanned/unplotted roleplay. Not directly anything. Chatter can become a plotted roleplay and will switch tags when it does)
[Shadowplay] (opener/open roleplay)
[Flair for the dramatic] (Vibes/mood/Macaque-core without being Macaque-intended)
[Under Moonlight] (nsfw/raunchy stuff. anything explicit/more intimate but not fade-to-black worthy will be tagged this. Anything beyond will still be tagged nsfw)
[backstage]/[anything in brackets] (important details about the blog)/(Mun)
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crisalidaseason · 2 years ago
Text
forgot to post this here, I usually post on ao3 first so feel free to check there for more new fics quicker (same username as here and a paola bracho pic).
Commander and Guerrila
Summary: Armin finds you bleeding on the stables. You're a political enemy with trust issues and a little distracted by your pretty rescuer/nurse. Tags: Bullet wounds, mentions of blood, mentions of political persecution, reader is injured and antimilitary, anti authoritative government, Armin is having a hard time coping (people with EDs might find it triggering) Armin stitches your wounds, I have no knowledge on wound treatment, reader curses A LOT, Armin and Annie are just besties, Mikaannie snippet, Sasha's dad is here and he's an iconic dilf.
Part 2 is here
You stumbled into the stables, hoping the muddy ground outside and the darkening sky would conceal the trail of blood you left while running from the soldiers pursuing you. After running for what felt like kilometers, your legs were shaking and the wound on your side was bleeding even more because of the strain. You pressed on the bullet wound, trying to stop the flow but too much blood was already lost. All you could do was open the most hidden horse stall and hide inside, not even acknowledging the confused animal that suddenly gained a roommate. The blood loss was fogging your mind and as your body cooled down from all the exercise the pain started to overwhelm you. Laying on the floor, not even bothering to see if it was clean, you quickly slipped into an unconscious state. ___
Armin would always wake up early, even on the days he was off duty. He would usually catch up on some book unrelated to the infinite amount of negotiation papers and treaties he usually had to read, and sometimes he would even go for a walk. Unfortunately, the latter was rather difficult to do since Jean would panic and refuse to let Armin walk anywhere alone.
“You’re the commander and given your history on the Battle of Heaven and Earth, I wouldn’t be surprised if they put a bullet through your head” Jean said.
“I am not a commander, there is no survey corps to make me one. And also, all of us live in potential danger for the same reason” He replied.
“But you’re still the face of this, Armin” Jean insisted “You have a target on your back, Commander title valid or not”
Armin sighed remembering that conversation from two years ago. Jean was still dramatic over his safety, probably a result of Mikasa asking the man to keep an eye on Armin during their diplomatic trips. She was also another person who constantly worried about his life, constantly begging him to retire from this career. He was never fond of this path he was forced to follow, ultimately a consequence of Eren’s actions, but there was no other person willing to do it.
“Good morning, Commander” the familiar voice said.
Jean entered the kitchen, already bathed and probably planning to go to the city if his clothes were any indication.
“Good morning, captain” Armin greeted “going to the city?”
“Yes, Arthur asked for some specific herbs and seasonings” he spoke while pouring some lemongrass tea for himself “Nicollo will be cooking a special dinner in honor of our successful alliance with Eldia”
Armin would call their negotiation everything but successful, their group was lucky at best. Historia was Armin’s only leverage and relative protection. Paradis, or Eldia, as they called it, was still hostile towards Armin and the Alliance members. The eldian military was even more suspicious of them, especially now that Annie, Pieck and Reiner were present figures. Armin felt as if he was still stepping on eggshells, he was not going to naively believe his problems were solved.
“Stop overthinking” Jean poked him in the arm “we made a good enough deal with them”
“The question is: Will they uphold it?” Armin quickly said.
“That is a question for the future, we can only be cautious” Jean said “now stop frying your overworked brain. You should come with me to the city”
“No, no” he denied “ It’s the last place I want to go, but you go and have fun”
Armin could feel Jean wanting to pressure him to let out more information, he had a good eye for people in distress, which annoyed Armin to the core. He did not need more pity. Thankfully he momentaneously gave up and was out of the farm house in a few minutes. The once commander watched from the kitchen window as his longtime friend took one of the horses tied on the front porch and rode off.
“Good morning, Commander”
Arthur greeted him
“Mr. Braus”
“You’re up awfully early for someone off duty” the older man said, while preparing the breakfast table for the children “and call me Arthur”
“I slept early yesterday” Armin lied “and I’ll call you Arthur once you stop calling me commander”
Alongise Jean and Connie, Sasha’s father was also someone who never stopped calling him by his title, even if the blonde had asked him to stop so many times. Armin was very fond of the man, he offered a safe space for many of the 104th veterans in honor of his late daughter.
“Ivan!” Arthur called for his oldest boy “The horses need feeding”
“I’ll do it” Armin offered, already standing up from his chair “let the boy sleep a little longer”
Arthur turned to face him, features contorted in surprise.
“Are you aware of your status as a guest?” he said “and commander?”
“Yes” Armin said “do not worry mr. Braus, I know how to handle horses”
“Wait-”
But Armin was already out of the kitchen, not bothering to hear any of the old man’s excuses. Nothing better to distract the mind than caring for animals, and he was very fond of horses. ___
You woke up in a painful haze, your mouth and throat were dry and the headache felt as if an axe was splitting your head. The horse you shared a stall with was not bothered at all, instead it was just reacting to something in the stables. You cursed mentally, you were supposed to hide and keep moving instead of fainting in a stable, where anyone could find you and possibly hand your weakened self to the army.
“Being upset with me won’t feed you faster, have patience” a male voice startled you.
Someone would find you, and there was not enough strength left on your body to fight. Not even your gun was around, only a pocket knife. By the sounds of the man’s steps, he was getting closer and closer to the stall you were in.
“Hello, Pots” he said to your horse roommate “always well behaved, huh?”
The locks in the stall were pulled and the door slowly opened, revealing a blond man with a bucket of what was probably hay. He spotted you immediately, blue eyes widening.
“Shit, who the hell are you?”
Your throat was too dry to even reply, instead letting incomprehensible grunts. You prepared the pocket knife in case he tried to grab you, mind half thankful that he at least did not carry a gun.
“That is a lot of blood” he said, getting closer carefully “I will call someone for help, try not to move much”
You were able to muster up a painful ‘no’, which threw you in a coughing fit and worsened the pain of your wound.
“Okay, okay!” he said.
The man looked around, looking for something. You could not really register what his intentions were when the wound was angrily hurting.
“Let me hide you somewhere else then, the stall is in plain view, what were you even thinking?”
Oh, sorry, maybe the giant bullet wound clouded my mind . You thought, already hating that man’s guts. He kneeled by your side, quickly taking your left arm and immobilizing the hand that was holding the pocket knife. He took your excuse of a weapon, closing and putting it inside your boot.
“Let’s not stab the rescuer” he said.
A part of your mind was a little surprised when the man, who had an average height and a slender figure, lifted you easily. Despite the headache and pain, you could notice the softness of his short straw blond hair and the almost absence of facial hair, which made his age confusing since his voice was deep enough to not pass as a teenager. That was an unusual farmer, you thought. He was moving rather easily and quickly, crossing the field and entering what seemed to be a barn.
“Here you go” he said, while laying you down “This barn is just winter storage, nobody comes here during summer season. I’ll get you some water and try to clean this wound”
You did not have a choice in the matter besides waiting for his next move, still being too weak to get up. Whatever this man’s intentions were, you were at his mercy. You found it strange that he left your pocket knife with you, but that meant nothing regarding trust. ___
Armin went back to the farm house running, trying to avoid being seen by anyone inside when he snuck in. Thankfully, he had basic wound care medicine and tools in his belongings, a habit he picked up from Hange years ago. Armin also took matches, a canteen of drinking water and some clean cloths. It was not ideal, but he was in a rush, the amount of blood in the stranger’s clothes was alarming. He was almost opening his bedroom door when someone knocked.
“Armin, are you there?”
He fell silent, hoping Annie would just leave thinking he was not inside. Don’t open the door, don’t open the door, don’t open-
“Arlert!” she said “if you start skipping meals again I’ll resort to violence”
He almost grunted out of frustration, putting all of the items down on the bedside table and shielding them with a book stack nearby.
“I have already eaten” he said, while opening the door slightly “Jean woke up early to do some errands and I joined him for breakfast”
The short woman had her arms crossed.
“Good” she said “let’s spare Mikasa from your antics or else I-”
“Yes, yes, I already know” he said “violence and all, now go back to your lover-not-my-lover and leave me to read some documents, hm?”
“Fuck you Arlert” she smiled “need any help?”
“No, now leave my sight please”
“Don’t have to ask twice” she scoffed.
He closed the door, relieved that Annie was nothing like overly worried Jean and Mikasa. He did not waste time and soon snuck out of the residence while everyone was distracted on the breakfast table. He walked in a fast pace, always checking if he was out of sight until he reached the storage barn.
“Sorry” he said “it took me longer than expected to-”
They were unconscious, and Armin almost panicked. He checked their pulse and breathing, which were awfully weak, and quickly decided to assess the wound on their side. He pulled the stranger’s coat away from the affected area and lifted the blood soaked shirt, seeing the not so large but deep wound, still bleeding. He almost prayed when he noticed the bullet just scraped deeply through the skin, he did not need to fish it out and cause even more pain or damage. Taking the water canteen, he poured it over the wound and tried to wash all the dirt from it. He also applied some ginger ointment to hopefully fight the certain infection before starting to stitch the wound up. ___
You woke up to a dark barn, and also alone. You were still in pain, but it was less damaging to your senses, making you notice that your coat was discarded and there was a blanket thrown on top of your body. Slowly lifting the sheet, you could see your shirt was torn near the wound and a white cloth covered a stitched ugly wound. Breathing in and out, you tried to sit up without disrupting the man’s job, but you had no strength to do so.
“Ugh, fuck this” you huffed.
At least your voice was working, still raspy, but way better than before. You wondered if the man tried to hydrate you, how unexpected of someone to be so helpful. Maybe you were just used to people being nothing but violent and oppressive to you and your people, especially the ones in the city. Of course, you would never trust the farmer entirely, he could still help you and cruelly hand you to the military in the end.
“You’re awake” the voice startled you “sorry, didn’t mean to scare you”
The odd farmer entered the barn, carrying something tied inside a cloth.
“I’m not scared” you replied “who are you?”
“I brought food” he said “you’re still dehydrated”
“Who the fuck are you?”
He looked you straight in the eyes, setting the food on the floor next to you.
“Does it matter? Knowing my name won’t heal you” he said.
You stayed silent, trying to guess what he was going to do next. He was kneeling, hands on his thighs while he looked around.
“Perfect” he spoke while standing up.
The man left your field of vision, but soon returned with a jute bag full of what seemed to be hay or dried wheat with how full it looked. He covered it with the cloth he used to wrap the food.
“Can I lift you up? you’ll eat better elevated” he asked.
You nodded. He slithered a hand under you, lifting your upper torso and lowering you again, but on the jute bag this time.
“Comfortable?” he asked.
Of course not, I can barely move on my own, you thought, but remained silent. He nervously deviated his sight to the food in his hands.
“Here” he offered a piece of steamed sweet potato.
You almost inhaled it after taking the first bite. The man also gave you a small canteen, which you gladly took and almost cried at the wonderful taste of water. The meal was silent, with him offering you more food until you emptied the plate and drained the canteen.
“Satisfied?” he asked.
“No, I’m still thirsty” you confessed.
“I’ll fetch you more water” he said, standing up.
“Wait” you said.
He stopped at the door, and you had to admit he was a little distracting when illuminated by moonlight.
“Yes?” he asked when you remained silent for too long.
“Your stitches look like shit” you spilled. ___
Armin was exhausted when he finally snuck back into his room. He spent the entire day checking on the stranger whenever people were distracted enough, running from the house to the barn a few times that day to see if the person was still alive and wet their lips with cold water. He wanted to bring them to his room, but there was not a single scenario in his head that made it possible. Despite him knowing the others would not harm the stranger, he was awfully haunted by the desperate ‘no’ they let out when Armin offered to get help. Whoever that person was, he could recognize the weight of existence on them, and Armin had a sad hunch of what they were.
“Terrorists?” Pieck commented.
Jean, Armin and Connie were telling the events of the first Paradis-Alliance negotiation meeting to Annie, Pieck and Reiner. The warrior trio were left out until Armin could see a safe opportunity for their participation.
“Yes” Jean confirmed “at least that’s how the eldian army calls them. Supposed terrorists that conspire against the government”
“That’s strange” she said “but it explains why we weren’t shot to death upon arrival. They have bigger problems now”
“It’s not strange at all” Annie replied “an army leading a country? We saw this picture before and it always ends up on social control. The eldian government will always have riots for as long as they rule”
“At least we are off the hook” Connie said.
“Make no mistake, as soon as they manage to shut down this rioting group we will be targets again” Armin said “let’s be cautious”
Armin was screwed. He had helped a rioter, which could put him and his comrades in trouble. Whoever that person was, the fact they were shot meant that somewhere in this district their group orchestrated an attack. Armin’s strictly strategic and mission-focused side was screaming to let the stranger die, or kill them if they got any better, but he was not that monster anymore. Armin refused to repeat his sins from the past, when he was only a weapon and not a person. He would help the stranger heal and send them on their way, hoping that they were grateful enough to not tell on him.
He was not able to sleep that night, his mind on the wounded rioter inside the storage barn. The morning came fast, and he was already up on the first evidence of sunlight. He assembled a small plate with fruits, some bread, goat cheese and filled a canteen with rosemary water. Not bothering to eat himself, Armin left the farm house and walked at a slower pace to the barn. He hoped the stranger was still asleep, resting as much as they could. Armin did spend too much time there last night, speaking with the rioter until they fell asleep. He found it amusing that their first conversation started with a justified insult to his sewing abilities, Armin truly did not have the best knowledge on stitching people up.
“Sorry about it” he said once he returned with more water “I only learned the basics”
“I insulted your hard work trying to rescue me from the brink of death and you say sorry?” they asked.
“What should I say instead?” he asked.
They just shrugged their shoulders, not answering.
“You were lucky, the bullet just scraped, deeply, but it doesn’t seem like it hit anything major” Armin tried to lift their mood “can you tell me what happened?”
“None of your business”
Armin had to admit he wanted to chuckle a little, they seemed so torn between grateful and careful. He could relate and respect that very much, if the situation was switched he would have behaved the same.
“You’re up” he said once he opened the barn’s door.
They were already awake, or maybe did not sleep at all. Armin decided not to ask and just offered the food instead. They ate silently, drinking the rosemary water as if they were traveling through the desert. Armin knew well that losing blood could dehydrate someone this badly, the headaches and nausea were the worst part.
“How are you feeling today?” he asked.
“Like shit” they said “but less shit”
Armin could see the lie, they were sweating and the trembling indicated that maybe a fever was coming.
“Care if I check your temperature?” Armin said.
“I don’t have a fever”
He nodded and did not push them, already thinking of what he should do if they fell with an infection. He took the empty plate and headed back to the main house, sneaking into the kitchen to wash everything and start breakfast for everyone else. While he brewed some tea and coffee, he heard footsteps approaching the room.
“Oh, Good morning, Commander. I was about to start breakfast” Arthur said.
“Good morning, Mr. Braus” he greeted the older man “I was already awake, might as well help”
The man hummed, taking the pan from the cabinet and a basket of eggs. Armin observed while the man prepared the base for the omelets, offering space on the stove for him.
“So, where have you been sneaking up to?”
Armin choked on air but quickly recomposed his posture.
“Excuse me?” he replied.
“Boy, I have four teenagers at home. I know a sneaky kid when I see one”
Of course Arthur would drop his title for a good scolding.
“Sorry, sir. I just wanted some alone time”
“In my winter barn?”
“I was always a strange kid, Mikasa can confirm that” Armin partially lied.
“Hm, so this has nothing to do with the fact I found blood in one of my horse stalls?”
Shit. Shit. Shit. How could Armin be so fucking stupid?
“Are they even alive?” Arthur questioned, frying another omelet as if he was saying mundane things.
“Yes” Armin finally gave up “but they might be developing an infection ”
The older man sighed, turning the stove off.
“Bring them inside. A dusty barn is no place to heal” ___
You were pissed, livid, angrier than ever. That stupid farm boy was going to get you killed.
“I told you to not ask for help! You fucking dumb farm boy” you grunted.
“I asked him to bring me here” the old man tried to reason “besides, I know very well what you are and I have no intentions of giving you to the military”
“Do you really think I believe in this?” You spat.
“You either believe or die of infection” Armin said “You can’t even hide it anymore”
“Let me give you a room, let your body heal completely” the older man said again “once you can walk without fainting you’re free to go”
“Why would you help a terrorist?” ” the word was full of venom in your mouth.
“I’m helping a wounded person, that’s all” he said “and besides, it’s not like I sympathize with the military either”
The wrinkles on his face indicated a suffering you could remember from your mother’s features. It was not uncommon for farmers, nurses and teachers to dislike their government, but caution was never too much. You did not trust anyone but your comrades, but there was no choice in the moment. You were vulnerable, and you were feeling weaker as the hours passed.
“If you turn me in, my comrades will fucking bomb your farm next”
“Yes, of course they will” the old man dismissed your answer “Armin, mind carrying them to the main house?”
The blond boy approached you, asking you a silent question. You nodded and he quickly picked you up, firmly holding you. Despite the feverish haze, you still could not help but notice how strong he was. And the name? it was so familiar and yet you had no instant memories of it.
“Here” the old man motioned for Armin once they entered the home “this room is never used, we can be discreet and still give you good enough care”
You almost cried once your body was placed on the soft bed. You were used to sleeping in uncomfortable conditions, but something about being ill and sleeping in a proper bed left you sensitive. You were fed more properly and had your wound cleaned again, the old man, which you learned was named Arthur, gave you a towel and bathing supplies, alongside clothes.
“I’ll leave you to try and bathe on your own, but if you need help I can ask my wife to assist you” Arthur said.
You refused, but thanked him shyly. Your attempt at bathing and relieving yourself was slow and incredibly messy, but it was good enough for someone in the early stages of fever and wobbly legs. Armin had knocked on your door, asking to give you fever medicine he had found.
“I’ll check on you later regarding the fever, but try to rest for now” he said.
Before he could leave your room, you grasped his sleeve. He turned back to you, intense blue eyes questioning your actions.
“I just” you began “Thanks…for not letting me die on that stable”
He gave you a small smile, nodding.
“It’s the least I could do” he said.
He pulled the blinds to darken the room, giving you one last look before closing the door. You laid down on the bed, still uncomfortable but feeling less dirty and weak, thinking about the strange luck destiny gave you in the shape of a blond farm boy. You were young, but lived enough to expect that luck would soon run out, and that terrified you.
The next few days were filled with that man checking on your wound, giving you medicine, engaging in small conversation while he waited for you to finish the meals he brought. You never gave him your name, despite knowing his, and he started calling you by that stupid nickname.
“Guerrila” Armin called you.
You rolled your eyes, holding your tongue not to curse at him when he had your food in hands.
“Stop calling me that”
“When you give me a name, even a fake one”
Never.
“Here you go” Armin handed you the bowl “bean stew”
“Who is your cook again?” You asked.
“Nicollo” he said.
“Send him my regards”
“He has no idea you’re here, but I’ll try my best”
“It’s better this way” you spoke “you and Arthur are already in danger simply by helping me”
Armin sat next to you on the bed.
“Again, Guerrilla, helping you makes little difference on our safety status”
He had given you this answer before, but never elaborated on it. You also never asked for more details, afraid he would use this as an exchange to know more about you. It’s not like you were still worried about your identity, but you were terrified of letting someone know you. Armin was still a stranger, but you felt a horrible need to know him better and share your thoughts and life in return. You could not have that, you could never have anyone again. Everyone you ever loved or cared for died or disappeared: You mother, sister, lover, friends, comrades. That farmer boy did not need to enter the list, nor Arthur.
“I’ll be leaving soon” you announced “The wound is healing well and I haven’t had a fever in two days”
“Are you sure? Arthur would never force you to leave”
“Yes. I can’t stay anymore, I need to warn my remaining comrades of what happened”
“I understand”
No, he did not. How could he? He was a farmer boy after all.
“Tell me when you want to go, I can arrange a horse and supplies” he said “also find a good time for you to leave unnoticed”
You thanked him for the help, genuinely relieved that he did not try to convince you to stay. Had he asked, you would have stayed longer. ___
Armin closed their door, locking it from the outside as usual. It was surprisingly easy to hide someone in that house, which made Armin think if Arthur had done that before. Not even Mikasa, who had a good eye for routine shifts, picked up on Armin and Arthur’s odd behavior. Or maybe she was too invested in her newfound strange tension/relationship with Annie, who knows. All he knew is that soon enough the young rioter would leave and Armin would have to act as if nothing happened, as if that stranger did not turn his life upside down by spawning in a horse stall about ten days ago. He was terrified by how quickly he was getting attached, even if he knew barely anything about them.
“Are you even listening to me?” Jean waved his hand.
“Sorry, sorry. Can you repeat?”
“Are you feeling okay? You’ve been distracted for a while”
“I’m okay” Armin said “please, proceed”
Jean spoke again, reviewing their newest treaty with Eldia and the contracts with the other countries they visited as a pacific alliance. Jean sensed they would have to travel soon and was endlessly ranting about the cost of the trip and how much time they would spend in a certain conference. Armin’s mind was half listening to his captain, but the other half was thinking about the stranger hiding in that very house. Armin would leave and not come back for at least four months, maybe more. He hoped that the guerrilla could at least stay alive until he could somehow find them again. Was it reasonable? Of course not. If the previous commander of the survey corps was found looking for a rioter that would cause him more problems than ever. ___
Armin was waiting for you to finish packing. Arthur had given you more than you deserved for a quick trip back to the headquarters, but you appreciated the man’s generosity, he even polished your pocket knife. You checked if everything was on your bag before turning to Armin and nodding. He opened the door, looking into the corridor before signaling for you to follow, and guided you to what seemed to be the back doors of the house. Outside, the dark sky had no moon, but you could spot a horse waiting for you with the help of an oil lamp. Armin climbed on the animal and offered you a hand.
“You’ll need help finding your way out of the farm” he justified “I know the way by heart”
You took his hand, careful not to strain your almost healed wound, and sat behind him. The heat on your face was very unwelcome, in your opinion, why would you feel all stupid then when the man had carried you bridal style twice before? Maybe it was the fact his hands were calloused but his grip was gentle, or that his shoulders were firm when you grasped them. Ugh, I am so pathetically touch starved, you said to yourself.
“Of course the farmer boy knows the way” you finally said.
“Can I tell you something?” he chuckled.
“Hm?”
“I am not a farmer” he said “Well, I worked in a farm about ten years ago, but I’m just visiting a friend here”
“And what are you then?”
“I have no idea” he said.
“Excuse me?” you were so confused.
“Some people say I am an ambassador, others call me a diplomat, some call me survey corps scum”
That’s when it hit you like a horse race. Armin as in-
“Are you the 15th commander? Commander Arlert?”
He did not say anything at first, but you could feel his shoulders tense up.
“I guess so”
“People in this country hate your guts” you said without thinking “Shit, you helped me! If they ever find out you’re getting killed!”
“Nobody will suspect if a certain Guerrila stays silent about it” he said.
“Of course I’m not saying shit, but still! If I was in your place…”
He could have done what any other government targeted person would.
“You would turn me in?” he continued your line of thought “it’s a smart move, rid yourself of danger by handing them a terrorist”
“Why didn’t you?”
"It's not fair” he said “but please let’s not talk about it”
You wanted to ask more, to know more. How could he even tell you those things and not elaborate on anything? You almost considered asking him for more information when the horse came to a stop and Armin asked you to hold the oil lamp while he got off the horse. The orange hue was the only thing allowing you to see his face.
“You should recognize the main road from here, I trust you know how to avoid the military”
You nodded, adjusting yourself on the horse saddle.
“I am sort of an expert in avoiding them” you said.
He smiled and shook his head, petting the horse’s neck.
“Try not to be shot again when I’m out of the country” he looked you straight in the eyes.
“I’ll try my best, but don’t make any promises”
“Alright, get out of here” he stepped away from the horse.
You prompted the horse forward, but not even five meters on you turned your body to face him. Armin held the oil lamp close to enough to see that he still faced you.
“Maybe one day we can talk without this looming danger on our heads” you said.
“I hope so”
With his face still ingrained on your mind, you turned around and left.
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apenitentialprayer · 11 months ago
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Left: detail of an icon of Jesus's Palm Sunday Procession. Right: detail of a 1791 replication of a bas relief of the Triumph of Titus
[T]his demonstration harbored a dangerous message that would lead to Jesus's public execution by the end of the week. The way Jesus entered Jerusalem at the beginning of Passover week was a strategically organized demonstration. Jesus's entire ministry was headed toward Jerusalem. Every time he had to leave a large crowd of sick people begging to be healed, it was because his journey was aimed toward Jerusalem. Word of Jesus's message had already spread to Jews in Jerusalem, and they were prepared to participate in these planned demonstrations. Mark 11 tells us that when Jesus and his disciples were approaching Jerusalem, he told two of his disciples, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.'" We don't know who was assigned to tie up the colt at the entrance, but taking the colt communicated to the crowds waiting in Jerusalem that Jesus was about to arrive. From the Mount of Olives, Jesus entered through the east entrance of Jerusalem on the colt while a crowd surrounded him, preparing the road for Jesus by spreading their cloaks and "leafy branches that they had cut in the fields" on the ground. And they shouted, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" This deliberate sequence of actions was a symbolic reenactment of the prophecy of Zechariah. Zechariah 9:9 says, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey." Matthew even directly quotes the verse in his account. This was a purposefully timed demonstration that would also remind people of the next verse in Zechariah 9: "He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth." Although the gospel accounts do not report this detail, we know that the Roman governor Pontius Pilate arrived in Jerusalem at the beginning of the Passover Week as well. First-century Jewish historian Josephus wrote that during every Passover, Pontius Pilate and a legion of Roman soldiers spent the week in Jerusalem because of an increased chance of an uprising as Jews celebrated the event of the Exodus. The Romans wanted to make sure nobody got any dangerous ideas as they recounted God's attack on Egypt and the liberation of the Israelites. So as Jesus humbly entered Jerusalem from the east on a donkey, surrounded by a crowd of peasants and leafy branches, Pontius Pilate was likely entering Jerusalem from the west on a chariot led by a war horse, surrounded by a legion of Roman soldiers with armor and deadly weaponry. In their book on Jesus's last week in Jerusalem, John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg point out, "What we often call Jesus's triumphal entry was actually an anti-imperial, anti-triumphal one, a deliberate lampoon of the conquering emperor entering a city on horseback through gates open in abject submission. The symbolism is packed with meaning for the lives of those in the crowd surrounding Jesus. This demonstration exposed two warring kingdoms: the kingdom of Rome, with the power and weapons on their side, and the kingdom of God with the people on their side, desperate for liberation.
Damon Garcia (The God Who Riots: Taking Back the Radical Jesus, pages 146-148). Bolded emphases added.
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savage-rhi · 1 year ago
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Mending Shadows // Chapter 22
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Summary:
Y/N was a simple Scavenger of Lucis, until meeting a deadly blow at the hands of an infected creature. At the crossroads of death, they are found by Niflheim’s cryptic Chancellor with his own agenda. Now bonded to Ardyn Izunia, and tossed into the world of Niflheim, Y/N struggles to cope with their new life as an Imperial Icon all the while battling their feelings toward their fate and that of Ardyn’s.
Click here to read on AO3
There was not a single word or sentence that could describe the full magnificence of Altissa, but if Y/N had to assign it something, it would be “heaven on Eos.” Surrounded by waterfalls, canals, and vast architecture that could make the most stoic of men stop in awe, the capitol of Accordo demonstrated a mighty grace that matched the sea god who allegedly slumbered nearby. Y/N recalled a time where friends mentioned traveling here, and how if they had the gil to return, they would’ve settled in Altissa. The thought nearly brought a tear to Y/N’s eye as they grinned in admiration. 
Y/N was so enraptured by the scenery, they nearly missed Ardyn beckoning them to stay close at his side after docking. Upon standing at his right, Y/N couldn’t help but notice his entire demeanor changed in an instant. The mask he was wearing this time around, was one of arrogance; but with the softened blow of a smile that demonstrated fealty. Dare say even his scourge felt off as Y/N captured a brief photograph of Ardyn’s feelings through their bond. 
Taking their eyes off of Ardyn, Y/N stared past the Imperial officials who went ahead of Ardyn, and met the fierce gaze of Accordo’s state leader: Madam Secretary Camelia Claustra. Her smile was both intimidating and full of warmth, contrasting with her experienced features. Her clothes, dull greys and blues further amplified her older grace. Y/N could tell she had been through much, but her poise and confidence hid whatever woes she had swimming under the surface. 
Ardyn had a talked a great deal about Camelia. It was one thing to hear about her no-nonsense energy, but another to be meeting it head on. Y/N felt it best not to say hello, and merely observe unless directed otherwise. This wasn’t a woman who liked to play games, nor did Y/N get the impression she could be won over with small talk. This had Y/N wonder what sort of trifling antics Ardyn was going to pull off, and they couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. Y/N was no fool. Despite Ardyn holding a reserved warmth for them, they knew he didn’t show compassion to most. It was one of the few misgivings they harbored toward him. 
“Chancellor Izunia, warmest of welcomes.” Camelia stated with pride, giving a bow with her head to which Ardyn returned in favor with a formal bend and a tip of his hat. 
“The honor is mine, dear Madam Secretary.” Ardyn smirked as he returned to form. He held out his arms for emphasis. “Might I compliment your radiance? It’s unfortunately not something my eyes are used to back home among the council of men with one foot in the grave!” 
“Spare me the pleasantry, Chancellor. There is much preparation to be had for the betrothal ceremony, and your fleet arrived two days late.” 
“I assure you, the extra precaution on our end was worth the wait. The empire cannot afford to doddle when it comes to security. You know that better than most with the recent assassination attempt on your head! I do hope your psyche has been seen to after such a horrid experience!” Ardyn oozed with false affection. The glint in his eyes further lit up when he saw Camelia’s throat tense as she held back what was no doubt an onslaught of profanities that wanted to creep past her lips. 
“I may not have fought on the field, Chancellor, but I’ve had my share of battles that come with the task of keeping the people of Accordo safe. I appreciate the concern nevertheless.” 
“But of course!” Ardyn nodded, his cadence lathered with impish elegance. “I do hope my concerns didn’t drudge up ill feelings?” 
“None at all.” 
Y/N had a feeling if Camelia didn’t have an audience, she would’ve ripped Ardyn a new one for the not so subtle jab. Nevertheless, they were surprised at how she had no fear calling Ardyn out on his bluff right out the gate. He didn’t seem bothered by it, and in fact chuckled amusingly. 
“Your ambition is inspiring to us all in the realm of politics,” Ardyn complimented. He let out a sigh, and gestured for some of the Imperial soldiers near to begin gathering belongings off the airship. Once settled, he followed Camelia’s lead and began to walk at her side then subtly gestured to Y/N to stand behind him out of protocol. 
It was once the group were off the docks and walking on land, did Camelia speak up. 
“I do hope the accommodations my men are providing will suffice, Chancellor.” 
“I don’t see why not,” Ardyn smiled. “Each time myself or a member of council have visited your land, we’ve been greeted with nothing but the best!” 
“Speaking of visiting,” Camelia began. “How is your Emperor fairing these days? It’s been almost five years now since he’s witnessed Altissa’s splendor.” 
“Ah,” Ardyn furrowed his brows, feigning a frown. “The poor man could use such a tranquil place to rest. The war has been unforgiving as you can imagine, yet we prevail! Speaking of, we have much to discuss about Lucis and future plans that Accordo should be in alignment with. I trust you have carved out time for conversation?” 
“Of course,” Camelia stated. “Keeping our alliance stable is our highest priority. This wedding I hope will quell tension among my citizens who have been critical of our partnership.” 
Although she had much conviction in her voice, there was a sadness to Camelia’s features as she finished her sentence that Y/N honed in on. It seemed she was crushed at the fact rebellion wouldn’t bear fruit. Not when Niflheim was keen on keeping people compliant with their goals. Y/N had mixed feelings. Though they were acting as a poster child for the empire, they didn’t like how shackled they made folks like Madam Secretary feel. 
Y/N realized they must’ve been staring for too long, for Camelia and the rest of the entourage stopped. They swallowed as Camelia eyed them with scrutiny, and gestured after giving a slight huff. 
“A pardon Chancellor, but who is this young thing following your side like a hound to a trail?” The jest had the group of Imperial officials and Accordo envoy’s chuckle. 
“Oh dear, I’ve forgotten my manners!” Ardyn exclaimed. He shot a quick glare at Camelia, noticing how she savored the look of surprise he held seconds ago. He cleared his throat, and ever the cordial gentleman, gestured to Y/N with high regard. 
“Madam Secretary, may I have the privilege to introduce Y/N Y/L/N, a new Imperial Icon of Niflheim. They are my guest of honor, and have kindly volunteered to aid me with matters involving the betrothal ceremony.” 
Y/N wasn’t sure how to address one such as Camelia formally. This was something that Ardyn neglected to go over with them. Feeling the scourge rise in their chest, Y/N went with their first instinct without thinking, and Ardyn held in his breath. 
“It’s nice to meet you,” Y/N said with a smile, presenting their hand out to Camelia. The older woman seemed taken aback at first, but even with the gasps coming from the Imperials and Envoys, she reached out for Y/N’s palm and took it into her own, giving a strong shake. 
“I don’t believe I’ve ever had an Imperial greet me in this fashion.” Camelia smirked with amusement. Her eyes lit up in a manner that hadn’t been seen in a while. “You don’t strike me as a typical sort.” 
“Forgive me,” Y/N laughed nervously, all the while trying their hardest to avoid Ardyn’s gaze. “I’m still getting my bearings.” 
“Y/N is a former Lucian,” Ardyn cleared his throat, redirecting the conversation so as to not have Y/N potentially drag themself into a pit. “They had suffered much under their own country, and Niflheim has taken them in with open arms.” 
“Oh yes,” Camelia said. Her demeanor seemed to shift as she let go of Y/N’s hand and regarded Y/N in a manner that suggested she felt pity for them if anything. “I’ve heard a great deal about you through word of mouth, the Lucian who abandoned everything.” 
“It was not an easy situation,” Y/N stated, trying to ground themself. “Niflheim, and Chancellor Izunia have been generous to me. I owe Chancellor Izunia a great deal, and I look forward to helping him ensure this wedding goes through without a hitch.” 
“How noble of you.” Camelia murmured.
For Y/N, it was hard to tell if Camelia felt disdain toward them or further pity. Probably a mix of both. Y/N imagined Camelia probably thought they were out of their mind for throwing allegiance to the empire, based on what Ardyn told them in the past about her history with Niflheim. 
“Chancellor,” Camelia spoke up.
“Madam Secretary?” 
“I’ve enjoyed meeting your companion, alas we have matters of privacy to discuss in the House of the Courts. If there is anything you’d like to disclose to your ally before we proceed, I’d suggest doing so now.” 
“Pardon me for a second!” Ardyn grinned. He motioned for Y/N to follow as he led them both away from the main group. He waited until the eyes and ears of the gang were off himself and Y/N before whispering. 
“You alright?” 
“Mostly,” Y/N murmured, wincing at themself. “I can’t believe I screwed up formality. A handshake? What the hell was I thinking?” 
“On the contrary, I think you made a good first impression.” Ardyn mused. He gestured with his chin over to Camelia, motioning for Y/N to briefly look upon her. “Trust my word, Madam Secretary isn’t one to return a favor in kind if she doesn’t care for the company.” 
“Can I count on your personal experience to vouch for that?” Y/N snorted, seeing the raised brow Ardyn gave before further explaining. “You both seem to have it out for each other.” 
Ardyn snickered. “Hate and admiration go hand in hand in politics. We both enjoy reminding the other of that. Regardless, your little stumble didn’t damage either of our respective reputations. I wouldn’t fret.” 
Y/N sighed in relief, turning their attention back to Ardyn in full. “So what happens now?” 
“Well,” Ardyn paused as he looked around, then settled his eyes on Loqui and Tuti from afar. He watched them assist with unpacking belongings from the airship, and gestured toward them. “Lieutenant Tummelt and Tuti will escort you to our lodging. From there, you’ll meet up with Ms. D’Bhara and her fellow socialites for an afternoon tour of the capitol. They’re expecting you for a luncheon after you become acquainted with your place of stay.” 
“And here I thought I was going to have to jump through hoops in order to meet her.” Y/N said in surprise. 
“I may have pulled some strings to get the ball rolling. Alas, I’m counting on you to find out what you can about the tomb.” 
“What if she doesn’t tell me anything?” Y/N furrowed their brows worriedly. 
“Even if the pair of you don’t become bosom companions, I’m sure she’ll let something slip.” Ardyn shrugged. “You’ll come to find that the rich and powerful, regardless of alleigence to country, love nothing more than to yak. Take it from someone who plays the game himself.” 
Y/N did a poor job suppressing a giggle at Ardyn’s last remark. They both smiled at each other fondly, only to be interrupted by a small and plump man who approached and cleared his throat rather loud. 
“Yes?” Ardyn irritably sighed. 
“A pardon sir,” The man chirped. “The group is wondering if you’re close to wrapping things up?” 
“One moment,” Ardyn held up a finger for emphasis before he gestured at the man to give Y/N and he some space. Once that was sorted, did he give his attention to Y/N. “I more than likely won’t see you until tomorrow. In the meantime, stay near Tuti and Lieutenant Tummelt, and don’t go outside of the capitol unless instructed otherwise.” 
“At the rate you’re going with precaution, you’d give a mother goose a run for its gil.” 
As much as Ardyn enjoyed the quip, and the soft giggle Y/N made, he remained firm. 
“I’m being serious. I want you to stay safe. Although Accordo is an ally of ours, we need to be careful.”
“The same thing applies to yourself. I know you seem to enjoy rattling Camelia’s cage, but don’t bite off more than you can chew.” Y/N urged. 
“You’re afraid on my behalf? How quaint.” 
“I’m being courteous!” 
“Y/N, promise me…”
“Alright,” Y/N murmured, sensing he was in no mood for further jest. “I promise I won’t do anything stupid.” 
Despite the reassurance, the look of disbelief Ardyn gave them had Y/N roll their eyes.
“I won’t do anything stupid within reason.” 
“That’s the spirit.” Ardyn grinned. He took Y/N’s right hand into his own, and bowed his forehead to their knuckles out of respect. “I’ll call on you later.” 
He let go and offered one final glance of acknowledgement before the mask went back on. The dare say compassionate Ardyn was replaced by the mischievous Chancellor once again. Y/N watched as this character came out in full swing while Ardyn graced his presence to the group, and then they were off. 
Y/N didn’t take their eyes off of Ardyn, not until he and the rest of the officials became specks in the distance. They swallowed, and felt a pain of sadness grow in their chest. It bloomed like a syelleblossom losing it’s petals before it’s prime. 
Gods be damned… Y/N shook their head. The scourge fed the sentiment further. Y/N decided to redirect their emotions by forcing their feet to move them toward Loqui and Tuti’s location. 
An hour later, and Y/N found themself in the lodging Ardyn and they would be staying at. For what was supposed to be a hotel room, it was quite vast and built like a small one story house with two bedrooms, a half kitchen, and a full bathroom. Like the rest of Altissia that Y/N had come to see, it had some beautiful architecture and felt more like a vacation dwelling than a temporary rest point for visiting foreigners. 
“Like what you see?” Loqui quipped, laughing when he saw Y/N snap out of their thoughts and shot him a brief glare. 
“I’m trying to keep in mind not to break anything. It all screams don’t touch me, I’m expensive.” Y/N laughed. 
“I wouldn’t worry!” Tuti chirped as she hurriedly and with excitement began to rummage through her suitcase and put away things.  
Loqui crossed his arms, moving out of Tuti’s way as he watched on with amusement. He couldn’t believe someone of such a smaller stature could zip through so many places at once. 
“It’s all covered by Madam Secretary. But should the Chancellor tick her off, it’s not like he can’t afford this himself.” 
“How much does it even cost to stay in a place like this?” Y/N asked while they found themself admiring some various plants that were strategically placed near the walls, complimenting the Mediterranean color palette. 
“Easily 15,000 gil a night.” Loqui scoffed. 
“15,000?!” Y/N exclaimed. 
“You heard right!” Loqui laughed. He let out a grunt when Tuti collided into his chest. After a series of apologies, not giving the man the chance to counter her, did she make her announcement. 
“I’m going to tidy up the bedrooms and then Y/N, we should get ready to meet the men and women of The Serpent Society!” 
Loqui frowned when Tuti once more zipped away before smiling at Y/N.  “If you don’t mind, I think I’m going to take advantage of being your assigned guard and treat myself to samplings in the kitchen!” 
“Pfft, like that’s all I’m good for…” Y/N jokingly muttered. They ignored Loqui’s faint quip from the distance, and felt drawn to sliding doors that led to the deck. 
When Y/N stepped out, they could feel the warmth of the sun crackle their skin. The pain was brief, and subsided the further they ventured out. Having Ardyn’s immunity to the rays of the star was a blessing that Y/N realized they had taken for granted. Regular daemons would either burn to a crisp, or suffer burns the likes of which would only add to their horrific appearance. 
Y/N recalled watching that happen weeks ago when a barrage of Flexitusks were reported along the outskirts of Gralea. Ardyn had decided to capture some of the creatures for Verstael’s research, and Y/N accompanied him. The entities were formidable as they were savage, even catching Ardyn off guard at times, but he came out unscathed. The experience was both eye opening, and one Y/N didn’t want to repeat. 
Ardyn had taught Y/N about daemons and their weaknesses that early dawn, and how such weaknesses either applied or didn’t to the likes of them. Y/N had learned from Ardyn, that though the sun couldn’t penetrate their skin to where they’d die; if a concentrated light source or magic based weapon were to be used against them, it would be a death sentence. Not for he, not for Adagium, however. 
Y/N swallowed when they recalled Ardyn sharing with them that Accordo had such a weapon on hand for daemons before they departed for Altissa. They made a fist, suddenly glimpsing the image of the three people they had slain long ago; imagining the light that left their eyes merging into a singular source. Swooping from the heavens to consume Y/N and the darkness that writhed under their flesh. 
While the trauma of that ill fated night remained with them day by day, Y/N did what they could to keep it under lock and key. Ever since Ardyn and they shared a bleedthrough, and he had bore a taste of their suffering, Y/N didn’t want him to experience the night they had become a daemon. Not after what they had seen through his eyes when he lost Aera. 
It dawned on Y/N how much they missed him already. 
“You alive in there?” 
Y/N fell out of their thoughts as Loqui walked over to their side. He smiled and handed a piece of an orange to Y/N. They popped it into their mouth and chewed. 
“I’m just thinking.” 
“About all the duties you have in Altissa?” Loqui inquired. 
“More or less,” Y/N shrugged and smiled after swallowing the fruit. “I haven’t seen much of you these past two weeks.”
“Been busy chasing away Lucian spies from the coast with Commodore Aranea. It’s been quite riveting,” Loqui said sarcastically, and then smirked at Y/N. “Did you miss me that much?” 
Y/N snorted. “Only your wits.”
“Owch!” 
“You asked!” 
“Point taken!” Loqui chuckled as did Y/N. 
Loqui’s gaze of admiration made the tempo of Y/N’s pulse stutter. While it was endearing and Y/N had valued the friendship that had grown between themself and he, there was something about the way he stared that had Y/N nervous. Nervous enough to change the subject. 
“What’s the status on your dad? I haven’t heard anything about him for a while.” 
Loqui let out a content sigh, enjoying the cool breeze that picked up while he and Y/N admired the tropical scenery before them. 
“Dad’s stationed in Galahd currently. That side of Lucis is in another stalemate battle wise, so while there’s no bloodshed, everyone’s on edge. Y’know, I’m surprised but grateful Chancellor Izunia approached me to be your guard on this trip. It’s gonna be nice having a distraction, not worrying about dad or whatever is going on over there. Although, I’d be lying if I didn’t feel left out. I feel like I should be fighting alongside him, but…I’m stuck at homebase.”
Y/N furrowed their brows, recalling previous conversations they had with Loqui about his military pursuits. Some men were born to be farmers and politicians. From birth, they felt a calling. It was no different than Loqui’s passion for battle; he was meant for it. Nevertheless, Y/N worried about him. It seemed as of late all he fixated on was either following his fathers footsteps, or being left behind in his shadow. 
While Y/N hadn’t been brought up in that manner, they could relate to Loqui’s need of wanting to prove himself. Y/N reached a hand out to Loqui’s shoulder, and gave a small squeeze. They giggled as did he when their nails scratched at the shoulder padding of his uniform. 
“Your dad is strong. I believe he’ll be alright, but I can understand why you’re scared. For what it’s worth, I think he’d be proud of the things you’ve been accomplishing for Niflheim.” 
Loqui smiled sincerely once Y/N let him go. “You really think so?” 
“Yeah! If I didn’t have faith in that, I wouldn’t have asked the Chancellor for you to be my guard in the first place.” 
Loqui made a face, crossing his arms as he averted his eyes. He chuckled afterward. 
“What?” Y/N asked flabbergasted, worried they might’ve hurt him in some way. 
“I had an inkling Chancellor Izunia’s request wasn’t out of the good graces of his heart. I should’ve known better.” Loqui responded with bitter amusement. He made it clear however he held no ill will toward Y/N as he grinned. “How in the six did you convince him to hire me?” 
“He knows pissing me off won’t get him anywhere, for starters.” Y/N snorted. “Also you and your dad are the only two I feel remotely comfortable around for a job like this. I’ve been an imperial citizen for a while, but I’m wary. I know there’s still a great number of people that don’t care for me. I told the Chancellor I didn’t want to put myself in a risky situation with people I’m not familiar with.” 
Y/N couldn’t help but notice both the disdain and intrigue that Loqui wore on his face. It reminded Y/N of a child being told of something interesting, but it came with resentment. 
“At this rate, you almost sound like a married couple!” Loqui scoffed in jest. 
Y/N gasped, slugging his shoulder they had gently squeezed moments ago. “Bite your tongue!” 
Loqui laughed hard, ignoring the pain. “No, but seriously, how have things been living with the guy?” 
“What kind of a question is that?” Y/N balked. 
“Why can’t you just answer it?” Loqui teased. He giggled at the roll of Y/N’s eyes. 
“He’s better than roommates I’ve had in the past, I’ll give him that.” Y/N shrugged. “He’s been kind to me. Er, as kind as someone like him can be to another person I should say.” 
“He hasn’t made you…uncomfortable, right?”
“Come again?” 
“Forgive me for being forward. Has he physically imposed himself upon you in any fashion?” 
Y/N’s brows furrowed at the emphasis of Loqui’s tone. It took them but a moment to realize what he was driving at. A part of Y/N felt honored that Loqui was checking to be sure the Chancellor wasn’t being predatory toward them, and yet Y/N also felt tempted to slap him across the face for insinuating something that despising about Ardyn. 
Y/N’s memories traveled back to the Vixen, and the day Ardyn fed upon them. While he lost himself in the thrill of consumption and brought them to the edge of death, Y/N never felt he would take advantage of their vulnerability. While Ardyn had been creepy in the past, and at present too flirtatious for his own good, Y/N couldn’t see him going to the extent Loqui implicated.
“He’s never hurt me like that,” Y/N murmured firmly in Ardyn’s defense. “Where is this coming from?” 
Loqui bit the inside of his cheek. “I’ve upset you, and I apologize. It’s just---”
“Just what?” 
Loqui sighed. “The last several times you and I have had audience together, I’ve noticed him having no care toward your boundaries. That, and he leans a lot into you.” 
“Leans?” 
“Leans.” 
Y/N raised their brows, making a face before they snorted. This was getting more baffling by the second. “Okay, time out, what do you mean by leans?” 
“He was, well…leaning toward you!”
Y/N shook their head. “I’m not following, Loqui. Is this because I gave him a brief side hug after the imperial banquet?” 
“No, no, you’re misinterpreting me. A side hug is way different than this...” His voice trailed off as he approached Y/N calmly, getting into their personal space. He consistently watched to be sure he wasn’t being aggressive while giving his demonstration. He offered a playful smile, all the while capturing Y/N’s eyes with his own. 
Y/N swallowed as they felt their back press to one of the beams on the deck that was holding up another above them. They could feel Loqui's breath fan over their skin as he spoke. 
“This is what the Chancellor was doing, leaning in to admire you. Does this answer your inquiry?” 
The intimacy was thick, as was the deep blush that crept against Y/N’s cheeks. They nodded in reply, for no words could move past their lips. 
“Ahem,” Tuti cleared her throat from the distance. She glanced between Loqui and Y/N, watching the former back off suddenly before making her pleasantries. “Y/N we should be getting ready. It’s important for you to be punctual while in Altissa.”
“I couldn’t agree more!” Y/N responded. They turned their attention to Loqui, giving a small bow with their head. “I’ll speak with you later?” 
“Of course.” Loqui murmured, furrowing his brows as he returned the bow. He watched Y/N quickly retreat back into the residence. Not long after, he sighed and decided to leave the lodging so he could scout the area. The defeat in his eyes lingered as he watched Tuti and Y/N venture down the hall. Loqui contemplated what his next moves should be. The warnings from his father echoed through his mind as he left after shutting the door behind him. 
As Tuti led Y/N to their bedroom, they let out a sigh of relief as did she. 
“You okay?” Y/N asked. 
“I should be asking you that.” Tuti smirked, although her eyes held concern. “I didn’t want to overstep, yet I couldn’t help but notice you looked uncomfortable. Did I ruin the moment?”  
They shook their head in response to her question. Y/N had an epiphany as Tuti dragged them further into the dwelling to change. 
Y/N liked Loqui, and even admired him a great deal. He had been nothing but chivalrous and like Tuti, a confidant that they felt safe navigating Niflheim with. By all accounts, it was a miracle to be in the good graces of someone with the prestige he had. However, Y/N was uncertain they could return what Loqui sought of them. Not when Ardyn’s smile once again invaded their thoughts, and their body shuddered. 
“No, you didn’t.” Y/N murmured.
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scrunkore · 1 year ago
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Scrunkore Media "Thread" 2023: Part 6
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the scrunko core has burned out, rebooting
63) Cassette Beasts (PC, 2023)
This is a really cool monster tamer RPG, it came up with a really fun type interaction system and there are are excellent designs in it especially with the eldritch-style bosses, that's super fun. Big fan of the setting and its unique vibe too, if you've played the game you'll know what I mean about that. Great indie I enjoyed my time with, though the romance feels tacked on and I thought the ending was just Fine. [4★]
64) Doctor Who, Series 6-10 (TV, 2011-2017)
Moffat's entire tenure with the greatest TV show in Britain, knocked out within the year, and honestly I think it was quite good. Plenty of flaws, like his messy ambitions, how weird he is about women sometimes, and how some episodes just genuinely fucking suck, but you get that with every era of the show really. The highs are damn high, especially with Capaldi's Doctor in episodes like Heaven Sent and The Doctor Falls, and I think that's enough to outweigh the bad. And I feel like series 10 in particular is often overlooked more than it should be, pretty strong one that is. No rating, but I love Doctor Who when it's good.
65) Mad Rat Dead (Switch, 2020)
MAD RAT MONDAY!!!! I played this game because of the soundtrack, which totally bangs and of course you need that in a rhythm game like this one. Fun one it is too, it has options to make it less challenging and the story is unexpectedly pretty cool. I'm not very good at it, but I beat it and I had a fun time doing so. Rats rule. [4★]
66) Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins (Switch, 2021)
This is apparently the only good Doctor Who game still officially playable, and yeah, I can see it. Immersing yourself in a mystery contained within a smartphone featuring an iconic monster and fun appearances from existing characters is pretty cool, though it can be kinda janky and there's not that much to it in the end. Certainly an alright experience though. [3★]
67) F-Zero 99 (Switch, 2023)
My only experience with F-Zero so far, the surprise announcement that jumpscared fans of the series before turning out to be a battle royale type game that's actually... kinda good? Chaotic fun with decently engaging gameplay, it's something you pick up and play for a bit before doing something else but don't play for hours once the honeymoon phase wears off. Sure helps add something to NSO, sure hope it doesn't get taken down in a year. [3.5★]
68) Sonic Superstars (PC, 2023)
A good new Sonic game! From Sonic Team! The series really has been popping off lately, and though some people complained about this one, I genuinely think it stands at least close to the classic titles it's following up from. Levels are fun and creative with the only real bullshit being in the optional postgame (which does kind of suck if you're not good), and though the soundtrack has plenty of duds it's still pretty decent overall. Cool cast of playable characters too, and it's great seeing Fang come back, with the new character Trip also being a fun addition. I don't think this is peak Sonic, but for me it was a good time that I enjoyed for the most part. [4★]
69) Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch, 2023)
Oh 2D Mario is so fucking back, this takes the formula that the "New" series was running with and gives it a super aggressive shake-up and an injection of creativity that it really needed. It has a really nice visual look, actually cool level design that is great to run through, fun powers, and a large roster of playable characters including Daisy finally. Not to mention it sounds good, the music is a great important part of it and the talking flowers in every level are honestly just fun. One of the best platformers on Switch right now, I like it more than Odyssey honestly. [5★]
70) Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon (Movie, 2019)
Bit of a silly watch this was, but in all honesty I'll always be a fan of Aardman's work and this is a pretty fun movie that all ages can enjoy whether they like Shaun the Sheep or not. It's animated as well as you'd expect, does some cute stuff, and honestly I kinda like the music in it too. Just a funny little adventure with that silly sheep and his weird cute alien friend. [3.5★]
71) Suika Game (Switch, 2023)
Suika Game.
72) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass (Switch DLC, 2022-2023)
Dropping a two-year DLC that doubles the track list and adds a bunch of new characters and balance updates to a Mario Kart game we thought was over was a fucking wild thing to do, but Nintendo did it and honestly it worked out quite well. Sure, it's clearly all Tour ports and a lot of them don't look too hot, but for the sheer quantity of it I don't think I can complain too much. They even chose pretty good tracks for the most part, with only a few favourites being left out that I can only assume will be remade in the next game and therefore end up better than ever. I think the game is actually done now, and I think it's probably the best Mario Kart at this point. Not bad at all. [4★]
73) PLUTO (Anime, 2023)
An anime that took ages to get made, and it shows all the polish that much time of production should have you expect (perhaps too much polish with all those unnecessary digital effects). It's a pretty complete adaptation of a much-praised manga about war, robots and consciousness, some strong science fiction with quite good writing based on an old arc from Tezuka's Astro Boy manga. It's pretty tragic how things turn out for most of the characters, but it's so good how it goes about things, and I think it was worth the wait. One of the best Netflix-distributed anime, I'd say. [4.5★]
74) Super Mario RPG (Switch, 2023)
Geno fans have not shut up for years, so how does his game hold up now that it's been polished up into HD? Not bad, honestly. It's a solid RPG experience with simple yet engaging battle gameplay that laid the foundations for other Mario RPG titles to come, and now it's all shiny and stuff. It's a fun journey through a whimsical Mario setting with the quirks you'd come to expect, apparently a pretty faithful remake with only a few new additions and script edits that it sort of needed. I don't think this game is really that special in 2023, but I liked it plenty. Funny that Geno is barely a character though. [4★]
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