#cf rambles

[unfilteredrealities]

Hey Google , how to not beat yourself up for being chronically ill and how to still be compassionate with yourself when it’s very hard to do so? 😭

[localratwithcowboyhat]

Ahw what’s this, the Human nervous system what a silly lill guy look at him. Look at him CAUSING ME SO MANNY FUCKING PROBLEMS

[cfcreative]

After your biggest self indulgent headcannon with the famed moon lesbians, I've wanted to ask you about your personal headcannons when it comes to the characterisation of both Aylin and Isobel.

In my experience in playthroughs, I feel like I got Aylin's character down pretty well. Bold to the point of recklessness, unyeildingly loyal to the ones she loves, loud and unapologetic but deeply rage full and stubborn.

But I'm pretty stumped on Isobel. I've tried getting extra dialogue from her before she's reunited with Aylin but I just feel like the one scene isn't enough.

What do you think about her character?

Oh, wow, my first ask! And about Aylin & Isobel, of all things. Genuinely delighted by this development.

(DISCLAIMER: I’ll never declare myself an expert on these characters. My reads on them are based on a healthy knowledge of writing, tropes, and speculations spinning off of personal experiences. Unless Larian has put it in the game or game related materials, it’s all headcanons. Cheers!)

I'll put a TL;DR up front (or my "thesis statement" if you want to get academic with it). Isobel and Aylin make each other "more human" primarily by being opposites in the way they express themselves. Aylin is bold, fearsome, and brash. Isobel is composed, sensible, and calculating (while “calculating,” tends to have negative connotations, I'm more leaning into it in a "she's a planner where Aylin is a do-er" way.)

I do hope you’re ready for a ramble, because I have been working on this on-and-off all day.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is Isobel was raised in a house in mourning.

The kind of epic grief Kethric would have gone through upon the loss of his wife would have forever altered the way he acted towards Isobel, beyond making sure she was raised as a Selûnite per Melodia’s wishes. The Kethric we’re presented in game is a fairly controlled man. He's unlikely to be the kind of person who would show his young daughter how deeply his sorrow wounded him; he'd keep his weeping behind closed doors. What distraught adults forget is that children understand and see way more than they're given credit for. Young Isobel would be acutely aware of her father’s pain, and the fact that he hid it. She was a child coping with her own sorrow, and would have looked to her father's example of how to deal with it: she'd learn she was allowed to care deeply, but she could not present that to others. Melodia's death also likely motivated Isobel to become a powerful cleric relatively quickly—a powerful enough cleric might have been able to heal her mother, might have spared her and her father this agony.

The Thorms, being a family of power and privilege in Reithwin, would have been treated by most of the people around them with formal manners, which would be isolating for a child. Everyone in Reithwin would frame Isobel as Kethric Thorm’s beloved daughter, a child without a mother, the devotee of Selûne. They would treat her with respect tinged with pity, never really knowing her... which would be even more isolating.

That's why Isobel is struck by Aylin so immediately (you know, aside from Aylin being a tall blonde sculpture of a woman). Every one of Aylin’s emotions are BIG and outward-facing. Most people approaching “The General” or “The General’s Daughter” would default to near ceremonial conduct. Dame Aylin wouldn’t see the need! Aylin cares strongly about justice, and defending the weak against the wicked, and everyone knows that about her in ten minutes of meeting her, tops. Aylin is passionate and sincere in that passion. Isobel would have been drawn to that, despite the fact that her upbringing still dictates composure.

You can also witness the emotion/composure contrast in the way Isobel reunites with Aylin after Kethric is finally dead. Aylin falls to her knees, picks Isobel up, spins her around. Isobel is overjoyed, but also more reserved. Her emotions are not in grand gestures but in the trembling of her voice—she’s trying to hold herself together.

(If you haven't seen it, there's a Devnote that specifically states that Isobel's delighted by Aylin's demanding people shove off and let her do unspeakable things to Isobel in private. Isobel scolds her angel for acting that way in public, but once those two are alone...)

This is where I circle back on “calculating.” Because it's not just in reuniting with Aylin that Isobel has had to hold herself together. She's been doing that for months....

Imagine yourself in Isobel's position before the start of the game. One moment you’re in your comfortable, warm home, trying to work out how to reconcile your devoted father and your angel, the two people dearest to your heart. Then you blink… and open your eyes in a cold, dusty tomb. It reeks of death. So does your father, who is telling you your beloved is no more. His lips are curling up in an ever-so-slight smile as he delivers the news. The sheer confusion and panic most people would feel in that moment would be overwhelming.

Isobel could have panicked and fled, but that tomb is filled with bones and Kethric is now the Chosen of Myrkul. Where Aylin would charge in and through, inherently trusting her own strength, Isobel would need to craft a plan. Maybe she would play on her father’s emotions until she found herself in a position to run. Maybe she prepares haste or hold person under her breath, or unleashed a well-timed "turn undead." In any case, Isobel is able to pull herself together and escape in such a way that her father cannot follow. She finds a familiar place and sets up a bastion of protection there. Rather than fleeing the Shadowlands altogether, which is what most people would have done, Isobel starts gathering information. She needs to know what happened to her, her family, and her lover. She needs to know why there’s Sharran magic literally everywhere. She is alone, trying to piece together a confusing story she was part of, and somehow the driving force of after she was killed.

Harpers arrive to deal with the threat of Kethric Thorm like they did a century before. Jaheira would have been a legend even when Isobel was a child, but Isobel makes the very conscious choice not to tell Jaheira her true identity. She doubles down on that when Tav and their companions come through... unless they have proof of who she is beforehand. (In this way Shadowheart and Isobel are hilariously in contrast: the Selûnite is a much better secret-keeper than the Sharran.) So I think that all covers "composed, sensible, and calculating" with regards to Isobel, but when writing from her PoV I think you would have a very rich inner dialogue in line with the ideals Aylin outwardly expresses: Isobel wants to comfort and protect the weak, she's loyal to the ones she loves, and feels strongly and deeply. Once she and Aylin are together again, Isobel's presentation shifts. Where Isobel is a grounding force for Aylin (thinking about how Isobel would have had to explain to Aylin why she was upset Aylin went on a month long walk without warning), Aylin pulls Isobel out of that carefully crafted shell of hers (thus my statement re: making each other "more human.") I haven't yet written any (complete) fan fiction for these two but this fic on A03 (fair waring: it's smutty!) really altered my thoughts as to what Aylin and Isobel could have been like prior to Isobel's untimely death. While I love to joke about Aylin ALWAYS TALKING IN ALL CAPS, there's something to be said for writing her along the lines of a courtly knight-errant. Aylin worships Isobel in a way people worship Selune; she's Isobel's most fervent devotee. Isobel is swept away by love at first sight, but still needs to navigate her father's delicate emotions and her own responsibilities. I firmly believe anyone writing anything in the timeframe of the game or beyond it needs to consider their past, even if they have no plans of writing anything of the sort.

I could probably go on for another um... 13 or so paragraphs (😅) but it's proooobably better if I wrap this up. I hope this gives you some things to think about, and helps a bit with whatever you're working on!

[calamari-inari]

Me drawing a crack ship that I like and is scared of being perceived: I must accept that I'm drawing this for me alone and no one will understand them as I much as I do

A day after posting: *somehow converts people to crackship religion*

[jennmakesitweird]

I'm tired.

I used to have energy. I used to be productive. I could make a big 'to-do' list and take pride in checking off each item as it was finished. Now getting more than one thing done per day is a huge accomplishment (and will likely mean I'm extra exhausted tomorrow).

I used to be creative. I could spend hours at my computer writing or designing. I had creative hobbies, too, DIY-ing things. By December 1st I'd have dozens of handmade gifts ready to go for the holidays. Not this year. Now I can spend - at most - an hour doing any one of those things before everything becomes a jumble and my brain seizes up and taps out. (Only one thing per day, though! Don't want to over-exert myself!)

I used to get up early. I would exercise: daily yoga, walks, roller skating. Now I sleep as long as I can. I drag my aching body out of bed and hope that maybe today it won't be too bad, that I'll be able to move around without pain. I'm exhausted by 8pm.

This isn't old age.

This isn't menopause.

I can't work. I can't enjoy life anymore. I see everything that I loved about my life - about ME - slipping away. I want to be silly again. I miss my sense of humor. I don't want to lose these worlds and stories and fantastical ideas I've had rattling around in my brain. I don't want to lose hope.

This is chronic illness, I guess. Chronic fatigue. Fibromyalgia. Long Covid. Whatever they want to call it. All I know is that it's breaking me.

I'm tired. And I'm sad. And I want my life back.

[its-coda]

All of the ghost trick merch i made for myself!!

[crows-of-buckets]

Finished my crimson flower run I'm gonna sob this route means so much to me I LOVE FIRE EMBLEM THREE HOUSES

[clover0101]

IM POSTING EVERYTHING TODAY SORRYY... I just got my milgram CF copy and everyone's work is so amazing I am actually moved because it's so precious, I am happy that many talented artists and writers love this series. I often forget about it due to all the drama you can see online but it's beautiful to see these kind of things

[pangyham]

GAH LONG POST..

xingqiu and chongyun have insanely good potential for angst my god. xingqiu in particular is so fun to think about in the context of chongyun. what do YOU know about chivalry boy

thinking about how he and hu tao kinda operate on similar notions of justice and all that shmick except hu tao is more strictly averse to disrupting the Natural Order (incredibly vague and generalized concept rn sorry) whilst xingqiu sets his principles more arbitrarily. chongyun's presence somehow foils a lot of his notable character traits. gestures hands vaguely in the air but sth sth hu tao would not approve of xq's moral infractions

perhaps im just reading too deep into this but shrugs ill admit something's changed in Me the last 2 years and coming back to xq and cy has me like. scratches head now hold on im not entirely sure if i even like the way xq treats cy. its kinda one of the main points of their dynamic- the whole.. pranking this oblivious guy who i really adore etc. but its deeper implications leave me a little unsatisfied and a little troubled (?).. in the long run i personally dont really see anything substantially appealing about their (leaning towards romantic in this context) relationship other than like ?? the tropes that mhy imposed upon them. they were created as a compatible Duo ykwim. they reference each other a lot in their lore and even in-game but.. idk maybe i just view them separately instead of a joint unit that anaylzing them individually revealed a lot of crevices and cracks in their ship that's built upon their mainstream appeal

but anyway i've thought a lot about them as a duo and is it nuts to say i like them as a romantic ship but if they were unrequited. i can see them working out but it necessitates a complete subversion and reconstruction of xingqiu (chara development basically LOL) on my part that i would totally invest myself in but im not entirely sure how to execute it

i like xingqiu a LOT as a flawed character. i wouldnt go as far as to say hes toxic, just very conflicted and insecure. hes a fun character to think about. re: the hu tao bit i mentioned above, i think they would have a really fun, witty, and transformative friendship

but anyway. yes i like xq and i still like xy. theyre just a bit more complicated now aha. im still capable of enjoying fluffy ship dynamics but lately ive been in a Character Study Mood ... mmm.. ive yet to organize my chongming thoughts

[unfilteredrealities]

Struggling with Psoriasis since I am 2 years old is a different kind of hell I do not wish upon anyone not even to my enemies.

Each goddamn year when winter season hits my body decides to go BRRR in Flare.

Each summer my body partially decides ok let’s be sort of ok and let’s heal but not completely so she can’t wear short pants in summer due to deep rooted shame.

I got bullied in school being called a “contagious Monster” due to my Autoimmune Disorder.

I have trauma still from that to the point I can’t wear short pants because I’m too ashamed and scared that people would not want to be around me anymore.

I see people stare at my legs whenever I wear flowy pants in summer that when a gust of wind blows it reveals my legs and they will stare.

Im chronic in pain and agony and fatigued due to my body constantly fighting against itself against its own skin. Its 24/7 growing too much skin as if it feels pressured to change my whole skin layer not every 7 years but faster 😭

Be kind to people who have skin issues they can’t control.

Be nicer. Don’t be an ass.

[mixed-up-metaphors]

unfortunately i will not be explainign this either

good luck following along, numbering the parts barely helped lol (also my handwriting is a disaster)

[errordient]

Decided to do a small series of headcanons for the combo club kiddos since it’s disability pride month!! Starting off with Flip!

Flip has bpd (borderline personality disorder) along with ADHD. He’s bisexual (but in denial), was born intersex but identifies as a man, also transmasc, uses He/They pronouns, needs a cane for long distances due to chronic fatigue (ME/CFS) but doesn’t use it because he’s afraid of what people will think which ends up causing him to collapse often and get scolded by Gaster. But eventually he accepts he needs it and even decides to decorate it with ‘metal’ stickers.

Flag meanings: Highest to lowest

Transmasc - people who identify with a masculine gender identity or expression, regardless of their assigned sex at birth

ITM/XTM - Transitioning from intersex to male; a transmasculine born intersex or assigned intersex at birth (AXAB/AIAB)

Bisexual - being sexually or romantically attracted to both men and women, or to more than one sex or gender

Flip by @/askcomboclub

[prismisshort]

HI, IT IS I-

what do sunny and moony like to do together in their free time?<3 (including eclipse!)

Not sure if you meant to ask this on the blog or not, but ! ill answer it anyways :] with sun and moon on their own, literally anything to them is spending time, talking, doing their jobs together, even ranting about the staff with eachother. sun and eclipse, eclipse is more layed back, and doesn't talk as much as the other two, they just like sitting their with them, or giving gifts [which is one of their love languages] moon and eclipse, is about the same, but moon likes cracking alot of jokes, or just pranks. eclipse enjoys pranking him back. [sun isnt a big fan of them LMAO and just all of them together? just anything really, they all enjoy relaxing together after hours, cuddling and watching movies. note for ppl who dont know my au [THIS IS NOT TSAMS!]

[dazzlerazz]

I should play CF again with a fresh clear head just to see if I actually like it without fandom bullshit clouding my mind

[crows-of-buckets]

Fire emblem three houses is so funny like why are all the knights so irresponsible about their students. "Oh we though Monica ran away to home-" NOBODY CHECKED??? THE OCHS FAMILY IS MENTIONED BY SEVERAL OTHER CHARACTERS DID NO ONE WRITE A LETTER. WHAT.

[ididit-allofit-foryou]

MY NEW MUSCLE RELAXERS CAME IN FUCK YES I HOPE THIS HELPS IM SO TIRED OF PAIN !!!!!!