#conniving/trickster characters can be some of the most fun characters ever and this is how you do it? ugh

[constantvariations]

Rwby V9C2. This time i decided to put all my thoughts down as i watched the episode (i know most folks do this as a massive series of reblogs. No thanks lol)

You know its gonna be a gr8 episode when the very first line is a disingenuous trope aware quip. No wonder at the new world, no anxiety about how to get home. Nope! Just... bland disinterest. Did Joss Whedon join crwby?

I hate Little so goddamn much. Idk if yall read that one teaboot post where they talk about their hatred of Olaf from Frozen but I am reaching that level of irrational fury

As much as I like the uses of sweat drops and pop animation and frustration speech bubbles because they're delightful anime visual tropes... it's wayyy to late to be introducing those now. This would be like adding farting unicorns to The Walking Dead after half the cast was eaten. Again. Once more, I am asking what the fuck the tone is supposed to be here

Why is it called the Ever After? Wonderland rolls off the tongue way better and makes more sense for the name of a new world/dimension/whatever

So glad to be getting the exposition on the girl who fell through the world now instead of any organic weaving into dialogue prior. I love getting my information shoved down my throat all at once

I do actually like them discussing the tale. Different takeaways from the same story are always fun. Wish it could've lasted longer, I really want more conversations between these guys that aren't always directly about the plot

Okay, Weiss's doubts are good to hear. Sound like a lot of the stuff we've been saying, which may or may not be on purpose. Strange she doesn't mention her family at all, though, just the downfall of Atlas. Would've been really interesting to hear her thoughts on her parents and brother

Little needs to die. Now.

Weiss going back and forth between freaking out about the impracticality of their situation and taking charge when impracticality occurs is jarring. Maybe it's the smaller nonsense she can handle and not the big, abstract stuff? Guess we'll see

"I've always wanted to be long, but I'm still small." That's the funniest thing crwby has written in the last 5 seasons and it goes to the worst character. Typical rwby lol

Yang is absolutely intolerable in this auction bit. Knowing she's in a strange and illogical world, her first instinct is to be a cop? I've seen children act less petulant than her. Also, any item bought is probably more easily stolen from the buyer than the racoon, so why isn't that even on the table right now?

Did these idiot townsfolk really not know the gimmick? He's been at this long enough to be immortalized in a fairy tale, and I highly doubt there's enough space in Wonderland for him to never visit the same place twice. Unless everyone's memories get reset after a certain point, they should damn well know the coon is a con

Also that sword looks like it should be in Halo. Guess old habits die hard

Not this fucking Scooby Doo shit again. Can these characters stop interacting with the loop de loop sections before I throw my computer into the sun?

Wait that's Penny's sword? It's ugly as shit why you gotta do Penny dirty like that again

I find Ruby's expression of depression to be highly unbelievable. The excuse for so long has been that she's been hiding her emotions for the sake of everyone else, which is a fair enough point, but now there's not even a token effort. No obviously painful smiles, no jokes she breaks partway through, no overcompensating by hyping up too much. Ruby might as well be the goth girl at the top of the skyscraper from the All Star Superman comic for all the characteristically realistic depiction of depression she has

It worked well enough when she was alone and didn't have to fake for anyone - which is why everyone was so excited for Ruby to finally be free to break - but that was nipped right in the bud, and nothing has grown in its place. It's just... disappointing

[dendrite-blues]

For a relatively short exchange, this scene is jam packed with characterization for Loki. 

It’s also our first reliable look into what Loki was like before Thor 1. Not as described by others, but first hand and from his own mouth. I think that deserves a closer look, to see what we can learn about Loki and how he thinks.

This scene is significant because it tells us what Loki’s personality is like when he’s not running for his life. It tells us who he was before his trauma and what his core beliefs are underneath those layers of humor and bravado.

Better yet, since he’s alone we can assume that every line in this scene is presumably true, or at least Loki believes it to be true since he has no audience but himself. 

The dialogue centers mostly around the statement “You deserve to be alone, and you always will be.” I’m not going to focus too much on the “alone” motif since I already dedicated an entire meta post to it.

What I think is more interesting about this scene is actually the looping, and the stages Loki goes through in trying to deal with it. There’s a lot of really interesting character traits on display in that progression.

Loop 1: A Warm Bath and Glass of Wine

The first loop entails Sif lecturing Loki about cutting her hair, kicking him in the balls, and storming away. Loki kneels on the floor and he gives us this great line:

“A bad memory prison? How quaint. Some punishment. I remember exactly what I did after that. I went and had a nice, hot bath and a glass of wine, and I never thought about it again. Because it was just a bit of fun.”

So we can take this to be Loki’s default reaction to pain and criticism. When put into an unexpected conflict without any forethought or outside influence, this is what he says/does.

1) Downplay the damage/threat. How quaint. 2) Dispel/soothe the emotion. Nice hot bath. 3) Minimize the impact. Never thought about it again. 4) Deflect responsibility. Just a bit of fun.

Keep those in mind as we move forward, since we’ll be using them to make sense of what else Loki says in this scene.

Loops 2 and 3: Okay, Sif, Hang On

This bit is about Loki realizing just how bad his predicament is.

L: Okay. Okay, Sif. Hang on. S: No, you hear this. You deserve to be alone... And I always will be. L: Alright, I get it. Listen. You are a reconstruction of a past event created by the organization that controls all of time. So you need to trust me and you need to help me escape. Yeah? S: Pathetic. (she kicks him again) L: (winces and groans)

As we all would expect from him, Loki’s first impulse is to try and talk his way out of it. What he says to achieve that goal is pretty revealing though. Because he doesn’t try to ease Sif’s upset by apologizing or explaining or offering to magic her hair back. 

Any of these would have been more likely to save his nads in the given circumstance, right? The present threat is Sif, and she’s mad about what Loki did to her hair. But Loki doesn’t really see that. Rather, he treats her as a means to an end.

“So you need to trust me and you need to help me escape. Yeah?”

To me, that choice reveals something of a blind spot Loki has to the feelings of others. Even if he doesn’t actively like hurting people, he does prioritize their problems below his, and quite shamelessly. And at least on his first impulse, he doesn’t seem to feel much remorse or empathy for them.

Usually in fanon we attribute this callousness to his trauma. He’s learned that no one can be trusted and no one cares, and so he doesn’t allow himself to care for others. 

But between his Loop 1 sentiment of “It was just a bit of fun” for an event which caused real hurt to Sif, and his Loop 2/3 behavior of “you, stop being mad and help ME” I think it’s reasonable to say that selfishness/low empathy are traits Loki possessed pre-trauma.

Loop 4-????: Happens Off Screen

It’s unclear how many times Loki loops while the camera is following Mobius, but the implication is clear that it was been many, many repetitions. Somewhere in this his denial and deflection must break, because we come back to a much humbler, more pleading Loki.

The Final Loop: I Crave Attention

S: You conniving, craven... L: Sif. Sif. S: ...pathetic worm. L: Please, please, no more. Please, I beg you. I'm a horrible person. I get it. I really am. I cut off your hair because I thought it'd be funny. And it's not. Uh... I crave attention... because I'm... a narcissist. And I suppose it's... It's because I'm scared of being alone.

HOOO BOY, so this is quite a tough bit to analyze. There’s a lot of interpretations you could make, and a lot of topics to delve into. For the sake of focus, I’m going to ignore the narcissism question. That one really needs an entire post, and I want to focus on something else here.

That being, Loki’s way of processing conflict/punishment.

I’ve always found it strange how Loki takes such pride in being called a liar and cheat when he simultaneously has this chip on his shoulder about how nobody likes him. 

Those two traits don’t seem to play well together, and I always scratched my head over how they coexist in his character. If he wants people to be nicer to him, maybe he should stop antagonizing them? Yeah?

Well, here we’re finally given a clear reason. Loki craves attention, he hates being alone. So how does he avoid it? Pranks and mischief. 

Fair enough.

But then, if all his pranks lead to this outcome--outrage, retaliation, insult--why doesn’t he ever learn? How is it that after 1000 years of this behavior, he hasn’t found a better way to get the attention he craves? 

Loop 1: Downplay, dispel, minimize, deflect. He accepts zero accountability for the impact of his actions, and doesn’t think at all about how they affect other people. Just a bit of fun. I had a hot bath and a glass of wine, and never thought about it again. 

The only reason he reaches the level of self awareness on display in the Final Loop is because the looping forces him to contemplate his actions and the impulses within him that lead to that behavior.

This is projection on my part, but to me he acts as though this kind of deep reflection is a new thing for him. He sounds like someone sharing a revelation that he’s just had about himself. We’re being shown that Loki is a man of action. He will always move forward if he can, possibly because looking back to so painful that he can’t bring himself to do it.

Circling back around to the pride Loki has for his knavery, let’s suppose that he’s been on this negative reinforcement cycle since childhood. He’s always acted out to get attention, then received retaliation and insults for it, and then pushed the bad feelings out of his mind with creature comforts and mental gymnastics.

What happens over time, when you’re being constantly told that you’re a pain in the ass and no one likes you? Most of us would take it to heart, but Loki doesn’t. He has a big ego, big enough to resist that constant barrage of hate coming at him.

So how does he marry these two conflicting realities? 

He turns it into an identity, the God of Mischief. 

In his head, Loki excuses himself of blame by shifting the culpability to his moniker. It’s not that he’s immature and petty, he’s just a “trickster.” It’s in his nature to cause trouble, so he can’t help it. You wouldn’t dangle a steak in front of a tiger and blame the tiger for striking, would you? And if other people can’t take a “joke” then that’s not his fault, that’s on them for not having a sense of humor. It was just a bit of fun.

Here we see the union of these two halves of Loki, the lonely ice runt and the mischievous scamp. (And a little bit of the original Loki who Thor accused of being incapable of growth!) 

By refusing to think about others, and excusing himself from responsibility, Loki successfully preserves his self worth and insulates himself to most of the negative emotions he experiences.

Pain, embarrassment, and grief aren’t pointless emotions though. They are vital feelings that serve to regulate our behavior, and that push us to conform to the ways of our social circles. Without them, we annoy and upset others. Be annoying for long enough and you will eventually find yourself, well, alone. As Loki is.

Thus “Mischief” is a self-defeating loop, and Loki is just as caught in it as the cell Mobius trapped him in.

In order to be free of both traps, Loki has to stop running. He has to take a deeper look at himself and realize how much he is getting in his own way. The entire scene is one big parallel between these two “loops.” Pretty neat, huh?

Sadly these kinds of thought loops are really difficult to break, they’re buried so deeply in our personalities and habits that we usually don’t notice them until life forces us to address them.

The cell is Loki’s wake up call, and thankfully he does seem to rise to the occasion. He tells Sif quite clearly what his problem is, and he does it with beautiful, painful honesty.

Which is why it’s so fucking awesome for Mobius to acknowledge that, and to finally give Loki a taste of positive attention. 

You don’t deserve to be alone. I believe you can be anything, even something good. Whatever you two did, it was powerful enough to bring this whole place down.

It’s a beautiful scene. Well written, meticulously acted. The clarity of vision in the pacing and shot selection, it’s really something special.

[bloody-wonder]

Thank you for answering my ask....If you don't mind me asking (again), who are your top 10 favorite characters from all of the books (fiction) that you've finished? And why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before....Thanks...

thanks for asking! i love making lists and rankings so this is some awesome enrichment for me :D i didn’t manage to come up with a definitive top 10 favorite bookish faves list but while i was thinking about it i realized that almost all of my faves can be sorted into certain archetypes so instead i will break down those archetypes, explain why i like them and highlight one or two characters in each of them that i do consider to be my all time faves :))

*i’m sorry but this is gonna be mostly a sausage fest bc female characters who embody these specific archetypes are few and far between🤷‍♂️

**i will only mention what book the character is from if you can’t find it out by googling

***the obligatory disclaimer: i don’t condone any of this irl, fiction and real life are different things etc etc. most of these guys are horrible people so it’s a good thing they’re fictional and can’t hurt you and the staff i say about them is just dark humor and sarcasm etc etc🤡

****some are not from books but i had to mention them

welcome to my evil blorbo empire! >:)

nasty incel, thinks he deserves to get the girl, murders people about it: the phantom, severus snape, frollo, father konstantin (the winternight trilogy), joe goldberg, heathcliff (don’t remember if he actually murders anyone but otherwise he fits). disgusting irl, fascinating in fiction. this one’s probably the most controversial on this list and i have psychoanalyzed myself for a long time trying to understand why i’m drawn to reading about these guys. the answer probably is that i find relatable wanting something which you don’t deserve and which can never be yours and can vicariously live out the dark fantasies of obtaining it by any means no matter how vile. “be mine or you will burn”. as i grew older and learned about misogyny, objectification, male gaze an so on, i learned to enjoy this kind of stories more critically but still an obsessive friend-zoned maniac makes me go👀 it’s especially fun if he has something else going on as well: the phantom’s shtick for example is the whole tortured monster genius thing and what i love about snape is his,, let’s call it dedication lol. seriously the guy never moves on, it would’ve probably been better for everyone including himself but nope. he said i’m gonna stay right here in this puddle of anger, guilt and self-loathing and make everyone around as miserable as i am. relatable.

queer swashbuckler, trickster, possibly outlaw: francis crawford of lymond, captain jack sparrow, lock lamora (not queer. yet.), seregil i korit, yan wushi (technically not a swashbuckler but a wuxia equivalent maybe?), savonn silvertongue (the magpie ballads), robin loxleigh (the gentle art of fortune hunting - the regency era equivalent), eugenides the thief (not sure about this one yet). i love adventure stories, i love queers with swords, i love sassy conmen, i love gay evil wizards. lymond fits several categories on this list but i feel like this one describes his archetype the best. won’t say much more about him, he’s the love of my life💖 jack sparrow is not a book character but i couldn’t leave him out of this bc he’s the first character i was ever obsessed with and even now he would definitely make my top 5. you may ask how is he queer and i will tell you to rewatch the potc trilogy with an open mind and behold his vibes🙌

slytherclaw schemer, conniving politician, often mean bc people are stupid: the entire lannister family, laurent of vere, sherlock, dr house (both are from tv shows but had to include them bc they’re the embodiments of the douchebag ravenclaw archetype which i love), the littlefinger, margaret lennox (the lymond chronicles), jin guangyao, shen jiu, phil burbank (he’s kinda a mix between 1 and 3, definitely doesn’t want a girl tho lol), tom irwin (the history boys), milady de winter, seiji katayama, marquise de merteuil, aramis, bai rong, john childermass. brainy is the new sexy. reckless bravery is out, thinking ten steps ahead and manipulating people is in. sure, this isn’t very nice of you but don’t worry bc the narrative will assign you a gryffinpuff friend or love interest who will love you no matter how mean you are to them😁 (unless you’re the antagonist, then ofc you don’t need friends). maybe there’s something to be said about being kind and patient irl but fiction is for living out the fantasies of being the smartest bitch in the kingdom who makes people scared and horny. laurent is the epitome of this and i have already talked about why i like lymond jr at length (1, 2). and tyrion lannister has a tragic love story and daddy issues to boot, so as someone who has a tender spot in her heart for cripples, bastards and broken things i just couldn’t walk past. in this category we also finally have some ladies who have done nothing wrong ever and i love them😌

queercoded murderous sociopath (basically 1 but queer): tom ripley, hannibal lecter (queercoded in the show), xue yang, the mystery protag of gentlemen and players, graham reid malett, henry winter (the secret history), oh sangwoo (i do think he’s straight, it makes the story juicier), yoon seungho, dorian gray. listen, my tastes are depraved but they are also classy. this is about the quintessential queer experience of not knowing whether you want to be them or to be with them and solving the dilemma by beating them to death with an oar and drowning the corpse in the sea. or pushing them off the roof. or blinding them. or eating them. or breaking their legs. lol by now you must’ve realized i have lots of bottled up rage and zero social skills and take to characters who help me channel this condition into fictional psychosexual stabbing. i don’t think there’s a *fave of all time* in this group of fucked up guys but if i had to choose their union representative it would probably be xue yang. either you can fix him or he stabs you and sleeps next to your corpse for eight years, it’s a win-win👍 

feral bastards & drama queens, mostly not straight either: andrew minyard, neil josten, kevin day, wei wuxian, howl pendragon, yashiro (twittering birds never fly), jinx, henry “monty” montague, boris pavlikovsky, francis abernathy, cardan greenbriar, aiden kane, the gentleman with the thistledown hair. *takes all of the aftg mcs, slaps the feral drama queen label on them*😅😅 anywho. kevin’s personality is probably the most similar to mine and neil might be my favorite pov character but andrew joseph minyard is an Experience. i can talk forever about why his story and canon characterization is important - as i did two years ago, you can still find those asks on my blog - but the reason why andrew would probably take a spot on my top 10 is bc he’s just so. entertaining. to observe. much like laurent or lymond or jack sparrow he’s larger than life and steals almost every scene he’s in. he’s smart, he’s funny, his dialogue is just exquisite, he’s seemingly effortlessly competent and at the same time so relatably apathetic. neil’s the protag of aftg but andrew (who, ironically, hates the game) is the soul of it. these books just wouldn’t be the same without him and my life certainly wouldn’t either😌

“not good enough”: jiang cheng, theon greyjoy, robin stewart (the lymond chronicles), aaron minyard, the hound, rodion raskolnikov (certainly wasn’t good enough to get away with murder hehe). always overlooked, always second best, always in someone else’s shadow... the only remedy - stabbing people.. lmao but seriously isn’t this the most relatable shit? feeling acutely that you’re not the protag of this story but an unremarkable side character at best or a secondary villain at worst😒 all of these guys are neat and their anger at not getting enough pets and treats is very amusing but the real star of this category is definitely uncle sourgrape aka jiang cheng. his story just hits different bc it’s about the biggest aroace fear - your bestie promises you will be together forever and then elopes with his crush (well he also kinda dies and gets resurrected in between but that’s not important! it’s not about him!!) and then you find out that all this time he’s been doing what’s best for you and so you don’t even have the right to complain that he broke his promise. and everyone acts like you’re evil bc you refuse to forgive and live love laugh >:( maaan did jc & wwx just destroy me😭 i don’t think i’ve ever encountered a non-romantic fictional relationship so ripe with tragedy and insurmountable conflict. can’t even talk about it anymore here have this post and this character study fic😢

she's a heinous bitch and she can step on me: marthe (the lymond chronicles), madam yu (she can step on me twice), attolia, claire zachanassian, captain zamira drakasha, daenerys targaryen (not a bitch in the books. yet.). finally, a ladies’ corner👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏻💅 there’s very few specifically female character archetypes i like bc even nowadays, although women are hardly a minority in fiction anymore, the archetype of so many of them is just “token girl”🙄 or “love interest”🤮 progress has been made but i have yet to encounter a female lymond. speaking of whomst - marthe, the light of my life, the apple of my eye. dorothy dunnett tried to *spoiler* only to *spoiler* *spoiler* (katie, this is for your benefit😅). anyways, if you’ve read this far and know any fictional ladies who would fit one of the above descriptions please tell me how to find them👀

neurodivergent king (gender neutral): lan wanji, jean baptiste grenouille, murderbot, jahir seni galare, peter gordon (the power of the dog), mr norrell. this one’s pretty new! i’m still exploring this side of myself but i’ve become really interested in characters who interact with the world in ways different from the norm. this is obviously a very mixed bag bc these guys share no traits except for being nd in one way or another but that happens to be what i like about them and find interesting or relatable: grenouille’s unchecked obsession with his special interest, lwj’s trademark poker face and brevity of speech, jahir’s touch-aversion, murderbot’s... everything. also, funny how all of them are either queer and/or killed people. they do have more traits in common after all😅

nlog (affectionate): brienne of tarth, felicity montague, jude duarte, vasya (the winternight trilogy), tatyana larina, sophie hatter (turned herself into an old lady, other girls don’t do that), naomi novik’s heroines. we don’t stan “femininity” in this house. some “femininity” is okay but if a girl isn’t a heinous bitch i like when she has “masculine” pursuits or “male coded” character traits or in some shape or form doesn’t perform the kind of female gender identity the society wants to see. looks like nowadays women online are reclaiming the other girl “slur” and embracing femininity but this is my personal preference🤷‍♂️ no all time faves in this group either but ngl nothing will make me connect to a ya heroine faster than saying that she doesn’t like dresses and baking😅

depressed, byronic, tortured by the ghosts of the past: eugene onegin, most gillian flynn heroines, athos. tbh nothing better and nothing easier to incorporate into your story than a brooding character with a dark past. they’ve seen some shit, they’re tired of life and honestly aren’t we all? lol this positive message concludes my shamelessly long post thanks for reading

[land-of-classpects-and-analysis]

The Witch Class Analysis

Witches are one of the most well-known and recognizable figures across countless pieces of mediums of media. From the tales parents tell their children in the dark to frighten them, to the pieces of art depicting old, ragged women in dark dresses, pointed hats, and whose skin is boiled and green. They are something that has been around for centuries, though often are left to either be whispered about in hushed tones or written into the skins of trees with the finest of ink. Witches are those who have a reputation for being ruthless, conniving, tricky people who only exist to bring torment and loss to others. They are the voices who sing so lovingly from the darkness of the woods, luring away the yearnful hearts of adults and the curious minds of children. They are the ones who live where no man dares to tread, whether it is in the darkest of woods or the marshiest of bogs. They defy all odds, as well as go against every last expectation the society they are born into. Witches live to be rebellious, to be their own person, and to achieve what cowards are far too afraid to even imagine. Do not think for a second that the Witch Class is exempt from any of this stigma, either, as the people, characters, and fanbase themselves have proven that Witches are still those highly polarized figures. Many have heatedly debated as to whether those attached to the Class of Witch are good in their intentions, or if there is always another motive at foot - if they are serving and bringing everyone along towards a higher purpose.

If you think the easiest solution is to merely walk up to a Witch and ask them what their intentions, motives, and/or reasoning is, then you are someone who will be sorely mistaken. As bubbly as a Witch’s personality may be, they are still people who value their privacy from time to time. For some Witches, it is a fun game of surprise when they reveal a part of their personality no one else had ever suspected for them. However, for others, it is often a type of dagger hidden within their boot - and if the need so arises, the Witch is one with such an agile spirit that their foe won’t even have time to blink before that dagger has flown its way at the foe. Witches are not capricious, though; quite the opposite, really. While some may try to claim that Witches are unpredictable, their identities ever-shifting and inconsistent, this is rarely ever the true case. The fact of the matter is that when a Witch is not talking to others, they allow themself to become lost in their thoughts - their own mindscape - wherein they will be plotting their next move, rehearsing what to say next, how to respond and continue whatever their situation is in that moment.

Witches are those who enjoy making plans, just as much as they enjoy daydreaming about the end goal of all their efforts. A Witch may daydream about overthrowing the unjust government they are in, and how they will be recognized and loved as a hero for countless years to come afterward. No matter how outlandish a Witch’s daydream or goal in life may seem, there will often be no way to ever properly talk a Witch down from even attempting to achieve their dream. In fact, it is often wise to try and not stop a Witch from doing anything, as it will often only lead to one being put onto a long list of grudges - something Witches can be quite infamous for having. A person could try to preach from sunrise to the darkest of dusks to a Witch as to how unlikely, or even impossible, their dream is; however, this will only often make a Witch dig in their heels and attempt to find even more ways for them to make it come true. Although Witches are not miracle-workers like that of a Time-bound, they are still those who often manage to prove that there is no such thing as impossible. There are no rules or laws to a Witch, but rather just simple barriers, obstacles, and suggestions put forth by those far too afraid to step out of their comfort zone.

As mentioned earlier, Witches are those who often have large personalities - especially ones that dip a little more into the extreme level than anything. There is very little one can do when a Witch is in such a mood, even if that extreme feeling is one of negativity. If one seems to find themself in the presence of a Witch at their worst, or at least seemingly slowly descending into such a state, then chances are it would be far wiser to give them the space they need until all negativity has subsided. Even for the most bleeding-heart individuals who may wish to try and help a Witch who is struggling emotionally, do not be far too surprised if you are met with gnashing teeth with venomous, hissed words slithering out from between them. Indeed, a Witch at their worst is never a pleasant sight, for when a Witch has truly gone off the edge there is often very little someone can do to bring them down from such an elevated state.

Now, this may make you confused, or even question how this can be possible. After all, Witches are more often than not kind-hearted people, if only slightly trickster in their jokes and japes and may occasionally jostle a few elbows here and there. While that is true, this is often because one has only seen the very surface of the Witch themself. It isn’t that Witches hide who they are really out of any malicious intent, but it is more often so that they can gain the trust and attention from others, perhaps even going as far as to make a friendship or few with those they meet over time. The reason why Witches often put on these facades of joy and kindness is that they are often afraid as to how people will perceive them - especially if it is in a negative fashion. If one wished to go deeper, one could even say that a handful of Witches are even afraid of themselves and/or what they are capable of when it comes to their extreme bouts of negative emotions. Chances are that most, if not all Witches have one or few people they have hurt in some fashion, whether it is directly or indirectly. When one becomes friends with a Witch, it should most certainly always be kept in mind that there may be days, or even weeks, at a time where there will be the potential of becoming harmed by the Witch you so dearly love and care for. 

For those experienced in the way of Witches and how they may act, these occasional bouts of intense emotions are merely another facet in their life and relationship with the Witch. However, what these people may also be just as quick to announce is how truly devoted a Witch can become to any type of relationship they find themself within. Due to the fact they are often brushed off or viewed through intimidated, skittish glances, the Witch is someone who most likely has some rather tough luck when it comes to relationships - or even maintaining them. Nevertheless, though, it can be seen time and time again that Witches are those who are more than willing and ready to throw themself into all crooks and crannies of companionships they may encounter in their life. Which is to say, when a Witch falls, they fall hard - platonically, romantically, or otherwise. As hectic and nasty a Witch can be when they are in a rather negative mood, their good, more positive moods can oftentimes be just as boisterous and rowdy - if not more so. A Witch’s personality can often depend on what they think of a person - how they perceive them - but even if you are to find yourself on the naughty list of any Witch, chances are that some of them may allow for you to try and redeem yourself to them. Do not mistake this as them fully forgiving you for any harm or grievances you may have put them through, however, as Witches are most definitely ones who can hold grudges until they day they die. If there is an afterlife, then it may be quite likely they will continue to hold on to such feelings, as well.

On the outside of a Witch’s life and social circle, Witch’s can often present themselves as rather mysterious figures of an unrecognizable nature. As outward and bubbly as a Witch may show themself to be, their personalities are still ones that could arguably fall into a type of metaphysical uncanny valley. It’s easy to see that there is always some subtle force causing them to act and look the way they do, and as such, many outsiders may be quick to go about and label a Witch as two-faced, deceptive, or any other nasty trait. Although there most definitely are Witches out there who put on these loving and caring facades to trick others, there will be just as many Witches who merely are hoping to play the game properly so as to win the ultimate prize - friendship, companionship, and, ultimately, love. While their semi-obvious facades may be off-putting to others, more often than not will Witches find themself in the true traveling company of souls left with great weight on them, who have their own demons not yet conquered, and who may eventually give the Witch a taste of their very own bitter, twisted medicine that the Witch occasionally delivers to others. As dedicated and loving as a Witch may present themself to be, this is something that can often land them in hot water. Oftentimes when this happens, it is simply best for those in support of the Witch to allow things to unfold with little to no outside influence. As hard as Witches are known to fall for those who show them love and care, they are just as capable of falling like that of a nuclear bomb - and when they hit the Earth after falling from their Cloud Nine, it is often a good idea to find the nearest bunker from the emotional fallout about to happen. No one involved in such a travesty can escape completely unscathed.

However, do not mistake these moments of destruction as a hint to the Witch’s powers. For it is the Witch that has the powers of being able to manipulate their Aspect, or manipulate through it - oftentimes in an Active manner. This power, along with their personalities and facades, is often why Witches are judged and scrutinized by the people in their life. There are many ways in which the powers of a Witch can manifest, whether it is with their Aspect or not. As quick as Witches are to put on their bubbly, unassuming facades so as to gain the trust of those around them, they are just as quick to try and use their words, the emotions of others, their very own actions and goals to manipulate the world and people around them. For better or for worse can easily depend on the Witch and what their exact goal in mind is, but nevertheless, if the Witch ever so wishes to gain something they want or execute a plan they have in mind but are missing one crucial person or detail, it is highly likely they will find one way or another to twist and squeeze it out of the source it comes from. People may fear any Witch they encounter in life, but it depends on what they exactly fear in regards to the Witch as to whether that fear is well placed or not. For instance, it is not the uncanny facade of the Witch one should fear, but rather how easily a Witch could get away with any terrible act of violence if they so pleased. 

None of this is to say that all Witches should be feared - goodness no. What has been written and stated here is merely to highlight how truly powerful Witches can become, whether they are aware of this or not. Granted, they will never become anywhere near as powerful as a Page could become, but they still are figures that one should always think twice about, especially if any plans would involve double-crossing or harming the Witch. Witches are smart and clever people, perhaps far more than even they may believe. They are the ones who are naturally equipped with their Aspect, and they are well aware as to how they should go about using it to their advantage. Depending on the Aspect, this can be seen in the form of, say, a Witch of Rage being able to twist or win any argument by becoming overly aggressive - oftentimes in a physical or otherwise intimidating behavior that will show itself to be a pattern in the Witch of Rage’s life. However, it could also come in the form of a Witch of Mind who merely uses all of their skills in philosophy and grand-thinking to prove how others are wrong, that they know what they are doing, and also how to create and execute the most perceivably brilliant plan out of anyone. Witches are not to be trifled with or oftentimes even questioned in what they are aware of, even if their plans or actions are morally questionable at times.

When it comes to their friends, Witches will often use their powers to try and aid, help, or even benefit their friends - even if it means bending the rules of their Aspect or whatever environment they have been placed within. Life has felt like a near-constant uphill battle for the Witch, and as such, it should be of no surprise that they are often the ones who will be more than willing to try and make things far easier for those they love and trust. These acts of heroism and spoiling will often be accompanied by the Witch’s rebellious nature - as they are often ones to simply sit down and shut up when ordered, commanded, or even threatened to do so. With this rebellious nature, it may come to some surprise that with the powers of a Witch, they are often known to weaponize their Aspect to its utmost greatest capability. This can often be observed by a Witch manipulating their Aspect - twisting, turning, folding, molding, shaping their Aspect into whatever they want it to be. A Witch of Light could manipulate their Aspect so as to prevent important, life-altering information from falling into the wrong hands. On the same note, though, they are also someone who could turn that information into a source of insecurity, destabilizing the very foundation of the group they find themself within. If a Witch saw it better to make their Aspect into a source of chaos and anarchy, it will be a tough time trying to convince them otherwise. 

Even seemingly harmless Aspects such as Space, Life, Hope, Breath, and more could become some of the most devastating forces in a group of players - if only because something - a broken heart, a false truth revealed, betrayal - a switch being flipped inside the Witch brought them to go and manipulate, to change, their Aspect into something it never should have been. Witches are powerful players for they have just as much power and capability to be the most powerful allies one could ever make, yet are often only a few missteps - a few more shoves - away from falling off the deep edge and becoming some of the most foreboding, dominating entities one could ever imagine. After all, Witches are the ones who often feel their emotions in great extremes rather than a subtle gradient. One other thing to keep in mind when it comes to the Witch’s powers of manipulating their Aspect is that it can come in one of two forms - a Witch can either manipulate the external instances of their Aspect, changing the properties, make-up, form, source, target, what have you. On the other hand, they could manipulate it on a far more internal level, and it should not be surprising to be told that this does mean the internal nature of the Witch themself. If a Witch cannot use their words to get what they want, to change the course in which they seek to mold into something different, if someone is far too stubborn as to not listen to the Witch - then there will be very little one could do to prevent the Witch from reaching into one’s own mind, heart and soul, and pulling them into a dance of strings and puppeteering. Witches are not fools, they are not capricious, they are not flighty. A Witch is always fully aware as to what they are doing, and what they want out of every step they take, every word they say, and every gesture they make. Witches are aware of themself and who they are - who they want to be.

As for the power of being able to manipulate through their Aspect, this is a skill that often takes far more practical, along with a personal, active approach than the Witch may like. After all, there will always be the kind-hearted Witches - the ones with a far higher moral code than others. However, the ability to manipulate through something as bold and rigid as one’s own Aspect is quite possibly the strongest power a Witch could ever acquire. In order to manipulate through their Aspect, the Witch must allow themself to become fully engrossed in the ins and outs, flaws and perfections, ups and downs of their Aspect. They have to fully dedicate themself to their Aspect - become one with it - if they are to ever wish to manipulate through such a core part of who they are. For some Witches, this task will be of no big deal - especially if they have an Aspect that seems far more “practical” to approach and manipulate through. Of course, that means there will be just as many Witches - if not more - who will find countless struggles in their journey to unlock this power and become fully aligned with their Aspect. Although they will never be on the same level of embodiment as their counter-part of Heirs, or of the Master Classes, the power that will come with this process is often enough to justify the trials that the Witch will inevitably have to go through. As for what these trials entail entirely often depends on the Witch and their Aspect, but the end game will forever be the same.

Once the Witch has become one with their Aspect and knows all of its angles, perspectives, and properties, they will finally be able to manipulate through it. This can once again be a far more personal, internal means of manipulation, as well as an external - perhaps even metaphysical - approach. As for the internal approach of this power, this could come with the Witch being a near master with their words, as well as their actions. While before they had a fairly good chance of being able to prove a point or win over some people with their words, these Witches are almost guaranteed to get their way in any situation they find themself within. These are the Witches whose Aspect often revolves around people than anything else, though more importantly how their Aspect affects the people than anything else. By being able to manipulate through such Aspects, the Witch could quite easily sway the minds and opinions of even the most stoic, rugged minded of people in their life, perhaps even going as far as being capable of convincing others that their entire identities and philosophies are wrong and flawed. 

As for the Witches who have the Aspects that reflect a far more metaphysical and/or external factor, they are the ones who could be argued to embody the role of a puppeteer than anything else. They are the Witches who pull the strings from behind the curtain, orchestrating all that they can from within - or rather through - their Aspect. It is because of this under-the-table method of manipulation that their actions often go unchecked, unquestioned, or even unnoticed. By the time anyone may come to realize who is the one to have built up the crescendo of a song they find themself within, it will always be far too late as the Witch is allowed to wander off before any consequences can come knocking on their door. It could be argued that these are the Witches with the most corrupt, twisted, or even shallow morals out of any of their fellow wicked siblings, but it once again truly comes down as to why the Witch would do these actions - what their motives are. In a way, it could be argued that, if one were to present a question that embodied the entirety of Witches, it would simply be one question - “Why?” Granted, if one wanted to dive deeper into a far larger question, perhaps it would show itself as “What is their motive”, “Why are they doing this”, or “What is their end game”. Nevertheless, though, one thing is for certain: there is simply no way to know when it comes to a Witch.

Witches are a Class that has quite a split audience. They are those who are loved, adored, and admired by their fans and friends, and yet they will often have just as many, if not more, people who will hold great scorn and fiery judgment for them. Whether it is because of the fear of uncertainty, the discomfort that comes from their uncanny overly joyous attitudes, the opposite in regards to how explosive and loud their negative emotions can be, or their occasionally gray and questionable morals, the Witch is one who undeniably will have collected a few rivals and enemies throughout their life. Nevertheless, the Witch is one who will try to hold their head up as high as they can while still being mindful not to accidentally look down at people past their noses. As rambunctious and rebellious Witches can be at times, and how they may fail to contain their composure when put under a lot of emotional and/or mental stress, it could be argued that most Witches are simply people trying to do what they feel is right - both for themselves and the people they care for. 

Having a Witch as a friend may appear to be both a blessing and a curse at times, but it could never be discounted that when one has a Witch as a brave and loyal ally, it is often best to always follow in the Witch’s footsteps. Which is to say - always looks on the brighter side of things, even when the world, or even friends have turned around and hurt you in one way or another. The Witch may be a polarizing figure to have in a group, and yes, they most certainly will bring trouble to the table every once in a while, but they are still the people who have seen and experienced what it means to be an outcast - to be different and judged by the rule followers in society. Although their powers may sound scary, and their words may occasionally hide daggers and venom within them, the Witch will always be someone who has a passionate soul, and a kind heart ready and willing to dish out countless love to those in need, and those they deem fit. A Witch is one who will always remain loyal unless proven wrong in their placement - so hold on tight to any Witch you may know and may even have the privilege of calling them a friend. Hold on tight and treat them right, for as kind and caring as a Witch can be, the warnings of their vicious and cruel nature should never be taken too lightly, either. Witches are no fools, after all.

[prolificpoisons]

Character Bio - Jovilanni Nightblade - The Prolific Poisoner

Basic Information:

Full Name: Jovilanni Nightblade Nicknames/Titles: ‘Jovi’ - Prolific Poisoner - Conniver - Lovely Lush - Titillating Trickster - Soap Aficionado - The Duplicitious Dame - “Legit Snack”  Gender: Female Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Age: Adult Race: Sin’dorei Class: Cozener Face Claim: (For now) Zooey Deschanel / Adriana Lima

Character Appearance:

Hair: Ebony - Black as Pitch Skin: Pleasantly Sun-kissed Eyes: Emerald Green Height: 5’4” Weight: 118 lbs

Markings (Scars, Tattoo's etc): A few nicks and bumps as far as scars go, nothing maiming or noticeable disfiguring. No tattoos as of yet, though she has an interest in getting some! Are you a tattoo artist? She would probably love to see your work! Her ears are pierced, but she is also open to more of those as well! Body modifications (within reason) are a more than welcomed idea by her. Physical Features: She is a small statured woman, standing at a meager 5’ 4”, and she tends to be drowned in a crowd. However, should one get a good look at her, they will find her just as striking as her more prominent ilk. Pitch cascades of ebony flow past her shoulders in tamed curls, framing her sun-kissed face, and causing a complimenting contrast. Emerald hues, almond in shape, are most often the feature most prominent, and certainly, the most readily visible. Most of the time, a well fitted black leather mask rests snug over the lower half of her facial features. However, there are times when the full visage is revealed, showing a face blessed in beauty much like the Sin’dorei that surround her. Her lips are a supple shape and pink in natural hue, complimented well by the flush her liquor dabblings leave on her cheeks. Her frame, though small, is lithe and toned, trained, but seemingly inexperienced in deep throes of battle. She often favors leathers, well tailored and cared for so that they move well with her actions; silent, and effective.

Personality:

General Happiness: She is almost always happy! The only time she isn’t are the times that the liquor isn’t flowing, as it leaves her feeling a bit withdrawn. Overall, she is a bubbly person to be around, enjoying fun and good conversation. Social Level: While Jovi loves being social, she is not always the most socially adept. There are times where she can be too blunt, too open, or just quiet. It really depends on how she feels about her company/what she wants from them. Optimistic/Pessimistic:When it comes to herself, Jovi is ever optimistic. To the point that some may call her egotistical. She thinks she is the god's gift to azeroth, even though, in reality, she is nothing exceptional. The only thing she is truly exceptional at is business, and turning a profit from seemingly nothing. Positive Personality Traits: She is fun, bright, witty, and overall, a fun person to be around. Not only that, her confidence can be seen as contagious, sometimes bolstering even those around her. She is usually happy, and almost never causes a fight. She is loyal to those she deems true friends, and once one is on that roster, she would give them the shirt off her back. Negative Personality Traits: While she hardly sees it as a negative, her reliance on liquor and other recreational drugs is a crutch. She can be oblivious sometimes, as well. Not only that, she is perplexed to most of the graces of romance. While fully capable and wanting of love, Jovi really has no idea how to go about it anymore, resulting in a slew of one night stands and friends with benefits. Even when someone shows blatant romantic interest, if it isn’t explicitly spelled out, she probably won’t catch it. Misc. Quirks: Bluntness, a wrinkle of her nose, cheeky smiles, and laughter when nervous. Religion/Philosophy: Jovi is her own god and savior in her eyes, and she treats herself just as such. Likes: Liquor, Gin, Whiskey, Rum, all manners of alcohol. Thistle, mana dust, ok, all recreational drugs, really. Gold, she loves making money. People! She loves making new connections and cohorts. Alchemy! She has a natural affinity for it, and it is the sole skill she works on honing. Favorite Foods: …… Liquor! But really, she loves food! One would be hard pressed to find a food item that she wouldn’t willingly shove in her face. Favorite Drinks: …..LIQUOR! ALL THE LIQUOR! Do you see a trend yet? It is her main food/drink group to sustain off of. Also, tea. Sometimes a girl just needs something -other- than alcohol. Favorite Colors: Purple and Green Dislikes: Uptight and rigid sorts of people. She feels there is always room for a little fun in life. Despite being a drinker, she can’t handle the sound of gagging from others. It triggers her to do it as well. And… spiders. Cause there isn’t a more pure evil in the world. Hobbies: Alchemy! She loves -any- and all kinds of alchemy or the science of mixology! She loves talking to new people! More friends means more connections, and more aces up her sleeve should she find herself in a pinch.

General Character Info:

Relationship Status: Single Sexuality: Straight Place of residence: Undisclosed. More often than not, her home is the city of choice that evening. A slew of new rooms at whatever local inn there is. Place of Birth: Ghostlands Occupation: Cozener Group/Guild/Clan affiliation: Wolves Trading Co. Enemies: Whatever authority governs her city of the day. Most often, the Silvermoon Guards. They always wanna be in her business. Wealth Status: She is wealthy enough to live comfortably, though one would hardly call her ‘rich’.

Character Abilities and Proficiency:

Favored Weapon: Her words! Of course, if things get heavy, her body is laced with small knives and weaponry. Hardly ever needed, as she is a runner, not a fighter. Weapon Skill: Meager, at best. She hardly seeks out fights. Only when cornered with no escape will those daggers come out swinging.| Magic Abilities: None. Much to her disdain, Jovi has never had any magical affinities, despite her trying. Magic Strengths: Zilch. In her dreams, perhaps.