#cunning cinders

[adarkrainbow]

Madame d'Aulnoy wrote a LOT of fairytales. 24 in totals (and her fairytales ranged from three times to nine times longer than your usual Grimm tale). So if you want to start somewhere, I can suggest to you the handful of madame d'Aulnoy's tales that were the most famous and renowned - her "best-sellers" so to speak, that were huge successes and fairy classics throughout the 18th and 19th centuries (and even up to the mid 20th century for some).

The Blue Bird (L'oiseau bleu)

The Doe in the Woods (also known as The White Doe, The Hind in the Woods, La biche au bois)

The White Cat (La chatte blanche)

The Beauty with golden hair (La belle aux cheveux d'or, also translated as "The fair one with golden hair")

The Yellow Dwarf (Le Nain Jaune)

Cunning Cinders (Finette Cendron)

This is truly just a tiny fragment of her work, 6 tales over 24, but these six remained great successes and well-known references until the early 20th century (as opposed to some of her fairytales which fell in obscurity as early as the 18th century).

[yandereunsolved]

What are your thoughts/headcanons for Self Aware Addam and Jacaerys? I think they are so handsome and neat, plus they seem like theyed be less of a threat, you know?

hmm...

Here's some quick thoughts on them.

Yandere self-aware Addam is less of a threat then some of the others we have covered. It also depends if we are working with his book or show counterpart (both is also an option).

Book Addam is much quieter and cunning. He is loyal to you till the very end. He won't undercut show Addam's chances, but he is jealous. Book Addam shows his self-awareness in small ways. He'll manipulate the text to sing his praises of you — and he's willing to kill anyone he isn't a fierce ally with in his word for your support. He is a subtle yandere. You won't see the bloodshed or the aftermath. The stains will still stay on the books pages till they burn to cinder.

Show Addam is more-experienced. He is older and a more viable option. (If we are going by canon book age and not aged up Book Addam then you do not want to be catching a case.) Not to mention you are able to physically see him. Show Addam is a bit more coy. His relationship with his dragon is more estranged than Book Addam's. So Seasmoke is almost more of a yandere than Show Addam is. Seasmoke is willing to show how twisted Show Addam's love for you is. Seasmoke almost doesn't listen to his rider. They know you are real and they are in their own reality. It's just that Show Addam isn't quite sure bow to grapple with these emotions yet — his dragon is more than willing to make up for that.

Yandere self-aware Jacaerys... again it depends on if we are talking book/show/or both. In the case of both — they are willing to work together, surprisingly. They are aware of your existence and their existence. They are territorial and only trust each other to protect you.

A lot more bloody than either Addams.

I have more thoughts on yandere self-aware Jacaerys. I just don't want to spoil too much. 🤫

I'll probably do headcanons for them later. It would be an interesting add on to the premise. ʚɞ

[rachetmath]

Fuck it we going to make this short. Jaune is the Odyessus of RWBY. 

Don’t believe it. Let’s do this.

Exhibit A: Pyrrha and Athena

Both are smart. Have won tournaments. Both wield a spear and a shield as primary weapons. They both have taught someone how to fight. Even giving praise to them sometimes. Even though Atheana is immortal it still doesn’t change their similarities. 

Exhibit B: Jaune and Odyessus

Both characters do not fight well. They are cunning. They will do whatever it takes to win. Even through underhanded tactics. And they are both hated by the world. Don’t believe me.

Exhibit C

Odysseus and Jaune were trapped on an island for years. Bedding outside forces to escape.

Exhibit D

Both lost friends and allies due to the said allies not listening to them or doing their own thing. 

Oh and those underhanded tactics;

Exhibit E

Jaune cheated into Beacon despite not nearly being on anyone's level. Then we have Cinder who he…

Yeah, we know he is willing to kill this woman by any means.

Or how was willing to steal from the Atlas military?

Despite the holes in the plan it still worked out in the end.

Then when Jaune, Ren, and Yang were captured, Jaune used the war to go get Oscar and when the dust settled they got away.

And though it hurt him he still killed Penny and more lives were saved for it.

And using the leaves to separate the Cat from Neo.

Then Odysseus;

 Using Moly to fight Circe

Uses wine on Cyclops to put it to sleep and stabs its eye. 

Sacrificing his crew to save himself and others.

And finally, dress as a beggar to kill Penelope’s suitors.

And this four. Not counting the other things he’s done to win.

My point? Trust me, when I say, Jaune is the smartest character in RWBY. He is the MVP of the show. The biggest factor. He is the Oddyssus of the show.

Also, if there is going to be volume ten involving Jaune, then Gillian, Jax, and probably Tyrian are dead. Gillian’s semblance is to drain aura away from her opponents. She’s also cunning, and if she is willing to pull any tactic, she will make her dreams come true by all means. Jaune, who has amplification and has been fighting for years, not only counters her semblance but is equally as devious as her.

And then Jax's semblance involves him taking your will- Dominating your soul through suggestion in the mind. Jaune who already survived the Ever After, is one place that messes with your subconscious the most.  Has more experience at using a sword. And has a stronger will than Jax does.

And Tyrian…. Yeah, we all know I want a Jaune vs Tyrian fight. Let’s not be surprised. 

I’m not saying the fight will be easy… but I’m just saying… Jaune got it.

[neosgifs]

Can I request a Hellbirds (Raven & Cinder) board? The board you make is so romantic. Thank you so much if you making that.

"you know... i've heard so many stories about you, raven. they say you're a cunning leader. that you're strong, that you're clever... it's a shame that they're wrong."

hellbirds board for anon

♡♡♡ ♡♡♡ ♡♡♡

[opalharkness]

My favroite reoccurring theme in RWBY is victory. I think about it constantly. (By the way I'm typing out most of these quotes from memory)

"Take heed there will be no victory in strength" is said by Salem in the opening monologue of the show and it practically begs the audience to ponder the question. If victory will not be achieved through strength then what will bring victory? Every character that has tried to achieve victory through strength fail. Cinder is always defeated when she relys on her strength and not on her cunning. Ironwood failed because he was a very Might is Right type of person.

Ozpin in that same opening monologue says this "Perhaps victory is in the things that we have long forgotten, things that require a smaller more honest soul" which clues the audience to look for victory in things that aren't grand or overly complicated. That even the simpliest of things or people can achieve something special. Something that Salem agrees with in the last episode of volume 3.

This theme is also present in the songs.

"Victory is in a simple soul" - This Will Be The Day

"Strength will not bring victory" - Divide

And my personal favorite one "Victory's in trust and kindness" - This Time.

I'm sure there are other examples of this but these were just the ones I remembered. While yes this theme of Victory not being achieved through strength was the writers way of foreshadowing the fact that Salem can't be killed. Therefore traditional displays of strength are useless against her. However it is also a really good way of exploring how humanity can reach its goals and what that even means.

[asexxxualauthor]

So, my brain did not shut up at all last night, so I’m gonna go ahead and subject you to the horror I created instead of sleeping that is D&D-accurate(-ish) Ruby Rose

First things first—the caveats. What do I mean by accurate(-ish)? Well, in order to truly build Ruby to be the utter nightmare that she is, we need to accept a few…house rules.

Rule 1) All characters start with a bonus Feat. This is a carry-over from D&D2024, and is to help flesh out the character beyond their basic race and background feats.

Rule 2) All RWBY characters start with an Epic Boon. This is a stand-in for Semblances, as reading through them shows they really are just Semblances codified for D&D.

Rule 3) Weapons and Features can be adjusted for rule of cool. If something isn’t supposed to work that way by the rules as written, but it’s cool as hell, it’s now the rule.

Now, with those three little rules out of the way going forward, let’s talk about our lovely little Red Reaper~

First things first—if we’re going to make Ruby, we have to prioritize speed above all else, because speed is the name of the game with her. Because of this, we’re going to be a little cheaty and make her a Tabaxi—or at the very least, give her the Tabaxi’s Feline Agility so she can double her walking speed. Along with that, we’re going to give her the starting Feat of Mobile, so she gets a +10 to that speed, and then the Epic Boon of Speed, which gives her an additional +30.

Which means at Level 1, Ruby has a base Speed of 70ft, 140 with Feline Agility.

We can get faster, though, because that’s just the base stats—let’s talk about Classes now. After doing a bit of analyzing and planning, I came to the following build: Fighter (11), Monk (2), Rogue (2), Warlock (5). The way I argue this is Fighter/Rogue is Ruby’s base class during Beacon, before getting Warlock when she awakens her Silver Eyes, tapping into that Celestial Patron. She picks up some hand-to-hand training in Haven for Monk, some additional levels in Warlock as she learns to harness her Silver Eyes, and then everything else is Fighter.

So, now that I’ve said my piece, what does this do for Ruby? Well, by taking two levels in Monk, she can get Unarmored Movement, which adds another 10 feet to her speed. And with two in Rogue, she gets access to Cunning Action, which means she can take the Dash action as a Bonus Action on each of her turns. That means, with just those four levels, Ruby would have a base Speed of 80ft, Dash of 160ft, Double-Dash of 320ft, and FA Speed of 640ft. And if she could get her hands on some Boots of Speed? 1,280 feet traveled in only six seconds.

That’s 145 miles an hour.

Suffice to say we’ve got the speed-side of Ruby’s design down, so what’s the rest of this for? Well, the other half of her whole shtick—killing Monsters. As a Celestial Warlock, she’d have access to spells like Sacred Flame, Guiding Bolt, Daylight, and Eldritch Blast—Thunder Step, Misty Step, and Spider Climb for mobility—and Hold Person for Cinder in particular. She would also get Invocations, such as Armor of Shadows, letting her cast Mage Armor at will whenever, so a constant 13 + Dex, and Eldritch Smite, to really pump the damage into her attacks.

But with Warlock (5), you can get an extra nasty feature—and for this, we must remember Rule 3.

Because at Level 5 Warlock, and with the Pact of the Blade, you can get Thirsting Blade, which lets you attack twice, instead of once, on your attack action. Now, according to the rules as written, Extra Attack features do not stack on each other—to which I say bullshit. If the rules didn’t want me to break the game, they shouldn’t left the window open to begin with—and besides, it’s technically not Extra Attack, but something else. Ergo, it’s allowed, at least in this hypothetical bullshit Ruby D&D build world.

So, with Thirsting Blade, you get an Extra Attack. With Fighter (11), you get two Extra Attacks. That means a total of four possible attacks on the Attack action—eight if you pump an Action Surge into it. But that’s not all, because we also have Feats! With Great Weapon Master (and with a scythe that huge of course Ruby is a great weapon master), if you crit or kill on an attack, you can use your bonus action for another Extra Attack. And as Champion, that crit potential goes up from 5% to 10% every roll. So that’s a potential of five attacks a turn—nine if you’re very lucky—and with Polearm Master, you’re guaranteed it with the butt-end attack!

All this, from a girl moving faster than a car on the freeway, and able strike and dash off without provoking any opportunity attacks at all.

And so there we have her—Ruby Rose, Level 20 Huntress. I will admit to a bit of stat fibbing on my part, but only so much as bumping up stats—it felt wrong to me for her Intelligence to be lower than a +1 considering how gifted she is, and I put Wis at 13…because that’s what you need for Multiclassing into Monk. Also, while Scythes (Glaives) use Str for attack and damage, I did go ahead and override the features so they used her Dex instead…because, honestly—tell me that doesn’t look Dexy as shit!

…I did keep her Str at 16 as an extra argument for why she’s so Dexy with a heavy weapon if need be.

But that’s Ruby! Any questions?

[mayor-mclikeme-please]

There was a question on the Star Wars Subreddit “Why was Palpatine so obsessed with the Death Star?” And I wanted to share my thoughts with the esteemed scholars of Tumblr.

I think it speaks to Palpatine’s limited imagination and the Sith dealing in absolutes.

*For the sake of clarity, because the writing of this line is trash, Sith dealing in absolutes means they can only see things in a strict binary. Light/Dark, Life/Death, Power/Weakness Etc.*

Palpatine has shown little to no interest in the more esoteric teachings of the force beyond lengthening his own life span to the point that he is a poorer version of himself by story’s end.

Perhaps this is because of how easily Plagueis was dispatched despite his proclamation of force mastery. Palpatine must not have been impressed by how useless it was in preventing his simple act of assassination. Note how all of his apprentices were relatively limited force users. Maul using the force to enhance his athleticism. Vader relying largely on force chokes. The exception is Dooku because he was a Jedi, yet is still shown to rely largely on his dueling ability. A heavy focus on what is practical and direct versus mystical and scholarly.

Palpatine’s grand design to maintain power is to just kill whoever crosses him because that’s what power is to him. Like Anakin trying to master death by killing bugs in the Phantom Menace rough drafts, Palpatine so fears death that he tries to master it by being a death dealer.

Even though Sith ghosts exist, they are never shown (to my mind whilst writing this) to be in support of Palpatine’s agenda. Because Palpatine embarrasses them.

While the Sith approve of cunning strategy, they’ve been shown time and again to value wisdom and knowledge of the force, even more. Palpatine did not challenge his master to a duel in order to prove himself the stronger. He does not use the force to break his chains, he uses low cunning and political shenanigans to engineer a state of emergency to seize power. But once he has power, all he can think to do with it, is develop the same weapon over and over again.

Operation Cinder is another example of this pathology. To him the worst thing to do is inflict death and if he is dead, then he’ll want the whole galaxy to die with him.

Does he change in the newest trilogy? Yes and no. No, in that his chief concern is again extending his own life by whatever means. No, in that his doomsday weapon again is simply to make mini death stars now using Star Destroyers. The one change he does make is to utilize an adept force user as an apprentice. I propose he was planning to transfer his consciousness into who ever struck him down be it Ben/Kylo or Rey. That Rey utilizes his own force lightning to kill him indirectly shows that some of those Palpagenes made their way through after all. Palpatine utilized a knife to kill his master while he slept is now killed by the one force ability he made his trade mark.

[spectralpixelsredone]

Yang Xiao Long and Cinder Fall as Foils in RWBY

In RWBY, Yang Xiao Long and Cinder Fall serve as compelling foils, with shared traits that highlight their contrasting motivations, moralities, and character arcs. Their similarities in appearance, temperament, and abilities underscore their differences in purpose, relationships, and growth, making their foil dynamic a rich exploration of heroism versus villainy.

Similarities

Physical Attractiveness and Deceptive Intelligence:

Both Yang and Cinder are portrayed as strikingly attractive women, with designs that emphasize their charisma and presence. Yang’s vibrant blonde hair and confident demeanor contrast with Cinder’s sultry, commanding elegance. However, their appearances belie their intelligence. Yang’s tactical growth, especially post-Volume 3, shows her strategic depth (e.g., outsmarting Adam in Volume 6), while Cinder’s cunning orchestrates the Fall of Beacon, manipulating systems and people with precision (e.g., rigging the Vytal Tournament).

Hair-Trigger Tempers:

Both characters exhibit fiery tempers, reflecting their elemental motifs. Yang’s anger often stems from protectiveness, such as when defending Ruby or reacting to threats against her team (e.g., her rage against Adam after he harms Blake). Cinder’s temper, however, is rooted in ego and entitlement, flaring when her control is challenged, as seen when Jaune nicks her mask in Volume 5, prompting her to impale Weiss out of spite.

Loss of an Arm:

Both lose an arm in pivotal battles, symbolizing physical and emotional trauma. Yang’s arm is severed by Adam Taurus during the Battle of Beacon (Volume 3), marking a turning point in her character arc. Cinder’s left arm is destroyed by Ruby’s Silver Eyes in the same battle, replaced with a Grimm arm that enhances her power but increases her vulnerability. These losses tie their narratives together, highlighting their resilience but divergent paths.

Fire Motifs and Elemental Powers:

Fire defines both characters’ aesthetics and abilities. Yang’s Semblance, "Burn," allows her to absorb kinetic energy and amplify her strength, often accompanied by fiery visual effects and glowing red eyes. Cinder’s Semblance superheats objects, typically into obsidian weapons, and her Fall Maiden powers emphasize fire-based attacks (e.g., fireballs, flaming swords). Their glowing eyes—Yang’s red and Cinder’s yellow with flaming streaks—visually reinforce this shared motif, symbolizing their passion and intensity.

Skilled Physical Combatants with Snarky Demeanors:

Both are formidable action girls, excelling in close-quarters combat. Yang’s brawler style relies on punches and her prosthetic arm, while Cinder demonstrates versatility, fighting barehanded with punches, kicks, and Grimm claw swipes (e.g., her bar brawl in Volume 3). Their snarky dialogue adds flair to their interactions—Yang’s playful jabs (e.g., calling enemies “buddy”) contrast with Cinder’s condescending taunts (e.g., “little bird” for Qrow).

Mentorship Roles:

Both act as mentors to younger characters. Yang nurtures Ruby, her younger sister, with a protective, maternal bond, guiding her through challenges. Cinder manipulates Emerald, using her as a tool, fostering loyalty through abuse rather than care, as seen when she slaps Emerald for questioning her (Volume 3, Chapter 7).

Complex Maternal Relationships:

Both have strained relationships with maternal figures. Yang was abandoned by Raven Branwen, who was emotionally distant but not physically abusive, leaving Yang to seek connection with her father, Taiyang. Cinder endured physical and emotional abuse from her adoptive stepmother and later Salem, shaping her cruel worldview. These experiences inform their approaches to relationships and power.

Determination as a Double-Edged Sword:

Both exhibit fierce determination, but it manifests differently. Yang’s persistence drives her to overcome trauma and grow (e.g., adapting her fighting style post-Volume 3). Cinder’s determination is toxic, fueling her obsession with power and leading to self-destructive choices, as Watts critiques in Volume 8. Her refusal to learn from failures contrasts with Yang’s adaptability.

Differences

Motivations:

Yang’s core drive is to protect her loved ones and fight for justice, embodying a hero’s selflessness. Her actions, like risking herself for Ruby or Blake, reflect this (e.g., confronting Adam to save Blake in Volume 6). Cinder, conversely, craves power and control, aiming to steal all Maiden powers and serve Salem’s destructive agenda. Her ambition to be “strong, feared, and powerful” (Volume 3 flashback) prioritizes personal gain over others’ well-being.

Treatment of Subordinates:

Yang’s protective, familial bond with Ruby and Team RWBY fosters mutual support and growth. She encourages Ruby’s leadership and risks her life for her teammates. Cinder, however, treats subordinates like Emerald, Mercury, and Neo as disposable “assets,” demanding obedience and punishing failure (e.g., slapping Emerald, betraying Neo in Volume 8). Her abusive leadership starkly contrasts Yang’s nurturing approach.

Moral Alignment:

Yang is a hero, fighting to protect Remnant from threats like the Grimm and Salem’s forces. Her moral compass drives her to prioritize others’ safety. Cinder is a villain whose actions—such as orchestrating Beacon’s fall or murdering Pyrrha—cause chaos and suffering. Her sadistic tendencies and lack of empathy (e.g., reveling in Vale’s destruction) cement her as Yang’s moral opposite.

Character Growth:

Yang evolves significantly, overcoming her recklessness and emotional vulnerabilities. Post-Volume 3, she learns to temper her anger, becoming more strategic (e.g., outsmarting Adam by exploiting his Semblance in Volume 6). Cinder remains static, her ego and lust for power leading to repeated failures (e.g., losing to Raven in Volume 5, failing to secure the Winter Maiden’s powers). Watts’ tirade in Volume 8 highlights her inability to learn, contrasting Yang’s growth.

Combat Style and Power Source:

Yang’s combat style is raw and personal, relying on her Semblance to absorb damage and amplify her strength, reflecting her emotional resilience. Her Atlesian prosthetic arm integrates seamlessly with her fighting style, enhancing her punches. Cinder’s power is external, derived from stolen Maiden abilities and her Grimm arm, which grants versatility but makes her vulnerable to Silver Eyes. Her reliance on external sources contrasts with Yang’s internal strength.

Prosthetic Limbs:

Yang’s Atlesian prosthetic is a “good” prosthetic, fully functional and tailored to her fighting style, symbolizing her recovery and adaptation. Cinder’s Grimm arm, an “evil” prosthetic, enhances her ability to steal Maiden powers but is unprotected by Aura and vulnerable to Ruby’s Silver Eyes. It also appears to consume her body, reflecting her corruption, unlike Yang’s prosthetic, which empowers her.

Self-Destructive Tendencies:

Both struggle with self-destructive tendencies, but Yang overcomes hers through growth and support from her team. Her anger once made her predictable (e.g., her reckless charge against Adam in Volume 3), but she learns to channel it strategically. Cinder’s self-destructive streak—driven by pettiness, sadism, and power lust—leads to repeated failures, as Watts notes in Volume 8. Her inability to self-reflect makes her her own worst enemy, unlike Yang’s journey toward self-awareness.

View of Self and Ambition:

Yang is content with being herself, seeking adventure and connection rather than dominance. Her confidence is tempered by humility and a desire to protect others. Cinder’s “I Just Want to Be Special” mantra reflects her insatiable need for power and validation, driven by her abusive past. Her entitlement, as Watts critiques, contrasts with Yang’s grounded self-acceptance.

Taunting Style:

Yang’s nicknames (e.g., calling enemies “pal” or “buddy”) are playful and lighthearted, reflecting her camaraderie. Cinder’s diminutive taunts (e.g., “little bird” for Qrow, “girl” for Neo) are condescending, emphasizing her superiority complex. This difference highlights Yang’s warmth versus Cinder’s cruelty.

Foil Dynamic

Yang and Cinder’s foil relationship underscores the dichotomy between heroism and villainy, particularly through their shared fire motif and contrasting motivations. Yang’s fire represents passion, protection, and resilience, burning brightly to uplift others. Cinder’s fire embodies destruction, ambition, and self-destruction, consuming everything in her path. Their shared traits—beauty, temper, combat prowess—amplify their differences:

Hero vs. Villain: Yang’s protective instincts and growth into a strategic leader contrast with Cinder’s power-hungry sadism and static arrogance. Yang’s victories come from teamwork and self-improvement, while Cinder’s failures stem from her ego and betrayal of allies.

Internal vs. External Power: Yang’s Semblance draws from her inner strength and emotions, symbolizing her self-reliance. Cinder’s reliance on stolen Maiden powers and Grimm enhancements reflects her dependence on external validation and power, which ultimately weakens her against Ruby’s Silver Eyes.

Response to Trauma: Both suffer significant trauma (losing an arm, complex maternal relationships), but Yang heals through support and self-reflection, while Cinder’s trauma fuels her destructive entitlement. Yang’s prosthetic empowers her; Cinder’s Grimm arm corrupts her.

Relationships: Yang’s nurturing bond with Ruby and Team RWBY contrasts with Cinder’s abusive manipulation of Emerald and others. Yang’s loyalty fosters strength, while Cinder’s betrayal isolates her, as seen when she loses Salem’s trust.

Additional Context from the Document

Cinder’s Vulnerability: Cinder’s Grimm essence, enabling her to steal Maiden powers, makes her vulnerable to Ruby’s Silver Eyes, a weakness Yang doesn’t share. This ties Cinder’s power to her downfall, unlike Yang, whose Semblance enhances her resilience.

Cinder’s Past and Rhodes: Cinder’s care for Rhodes, her mentor, mirrors Yang’s love for Taiyang, but Cinder’s betrayal of Rhodes (killing him after he tries to arrest her) contrasts with Yang’s loyalty to her father. This highlights Cinder’s corruption versus Yang’s integrity.

Combat Versatility: Both excel in unarmed combat, with Yang using her prosthetic for powerful punches and Cinder showcasing acrobatics and Grimm claw swipes. However, Yang’s style is straightforward and honest, while Cinder’s is deceptive, often hiding her full power (e.g., abstaining from Maiden powers in public).

Conclusion

Yang Xiao Long and Cinder Fall are compelling foils whose shared fire motifs, physical prowess, and traumatic experiences highlight their opposing paths. Yang’s journey is one of growth, loyalty, and heroism, using her fire to protect and inspire. Cinder’s path is one of destruction, ego, and villainy, her fire consuming herself and others. Their contrast illustrates the series’ themes of resilience versus corruption, selflessness versus selfishness, and the power of choice in the face of adversity.

[howlingday]

Cinder: YOU! HAVE SEX WITH ME, ARC! MAKE ME INTO YOUR NEFARIOUS QUEEN NOW!

Jaune: (Tied up) Um... Can we start as friends first?

Cinder: ...Friends? YOU WANT TO START AS FRIENDS?!

Cinder: ...

Cinder: D-Do you mean it? You'll be my first ever friend~?

Jaune: (Looks at her flaming death sword, Looks at her sinister "too angry to die" aura) Um... Yes?

AND THUS, CINDER FALL WOULD ALWAYS AND FOREVER BE REMEMBERED AS QUEEN CINDER THE STRONG, CUNNING, AND TRUE FRIEND OF JNPR!

Cinder: ALRIGHT, FELLAS! NEXT ROUND IS ON ME!

JNPR: (Cheer) CIN-DER! CIN-DER! CIN-DER! CIN-DER! CIN-DER! CIN-DER! CIN-DER~!

Her tale is told to all the future generations of RWBY, serving as a reminder that even the most evil and sinister of hearts can be made just a bit less cringe... through the power of friendship. And sometimes, everything will work out just fine.

[bestworstcase]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the moment Cinder gets the memo as to Salem caring about her will be hilarious. Or heart rending. Also it clicking for everyone else in the cast.

And chop another comparison up for Yang and Cinder. Raven is rather bad at being a mother but there's the untested "Only one save" rule/Raven's priorities versus Yang's life. If you're right that Salem will have to choose between the Crown and Cinder and chooses Cinder...

i want to see how far this escalates before salem manages to choke out the words honestly and without any obfuscation because within a matter of months it’s gone from telling cinder to be careful at haven, to exploding all the windows in a furious panic when she found out cinder would have to face off against ozma to get the lamp, to dropping everything to rush to atlas with a zillion grimm, to razing vale to the ground in a bid to force the vacuo coalition to attack her with the sword because having a zillion grimm in atlas did nothing to actually diminish the danger a rival maiden poses to cinder.

the closest she’s gotten to saying how she feels is “you deserve so much more than i’ve given you” and she had to torture cinder first to ensure cinder wouldn’t believe her. and cinder is going to be fighting to wring every mile she can possibly get out of the inch salem gave her. the trajectory is salem getting pushed by cinder being hurt over and over and over until she hits a breaking point and the facade shatters. and i want so much to find out what her limit is.

bc cinder is very cunning and can smell weakness like blood in the water. if she hasn’t already put together that she can squeeze concessions out of salem by endangering herself she’s bound to figure that out sooner rather than later. and what then?

[adarkrainbow]

Here is an illustration of "Cunning Cinders": Finette bringing food to her fairy godmother.

[falleri-salvatore]

If Jaune actually were to go villain, he would be not be an omnicidal maniac; he would be an absurdly overpowered yet well-intentioned tyrant....

He would have the ambitious persistence of Cinder... The inhuman resilience, endurance and sheer overwhelming power of Hazel... The manipulative and vindictive cunning of Salem... The self-destructive selflessness of Ozma... The unyielding and unrelenting determination and conviction (read: stubbornness) of Ironwood...

...and to top all of the above: an undying body as well as an eternal soul that both evolved beyond humanity due to overuse of Aura Amp pretty much making them transcend into becoming superhuman. In other words, he has acquired both of Salem's (cannot die by old age or illness and instantly regenerates any damage inflicted to him and instantly regenerates any spent Aura) and Ozma's (even IF his body is somehow destroyed, his soul will still persist and, unlike Ozma, he can actually choose which vessel to possess as his next body) forms of immortality naturally and by accident instead of as a curse (because it would not be Jaune Arc if he doesn't get double the suffering than the previous Big Good and Big Bad)... He can be beaten, but not by strength, nor underhanded tactics, nor by outsmarting him, and definitely NOT by outlasting or out-stubborning him. He can only be defeated by making him acknowledge that he needs to rest and to finally trust that people under the yoke of his well-intentioned tyranny won't all suddenly die without him.

[differentdragonpeanutknight]

Ranking the Ninjago seasons on my own stupid opinion Pt. 5: Amazing Work

Everyone knows how this goes by now, so onto next placement:

9. Master of the Mountain

Asked me a few years prior, and I would put as the best season, simply by how they gave us a good portrayal of Cole's characters. But I grew trough my opinions as the years. It's the best season? No, not from a long shot, but it's really endearing how well put Cole is in all of this. Sure, the other ninja are not the best version of themselves, but they're not supposed to be. All of them play their roles significantly well, but Cole is the one supposed to shine this time. Wu also plays a good part, and even Vangelis is a mid villain compared to the rest of the Ninjago's hall of villainy, he serves his role well. And don't get me started on the side characters of this season. Yes, the genckle and the munce can be a little exhausting to deal with, but Vania is such a sweet person to have around, and the upply are a fun group that goes well with Cole and Wu. Definetely one of my favorite batches of side-characters.

I just wish we could have see more of Shintaro as the place itself... We were robbed of that 🥲

8. Rise of the Snakes

The kickoff of this show, and what a way to begin things! We have a bit of world building with the Serpentine, a lot of backstory for Wu and Garmadon, the introduction of Lloyd to the cast, and each member of the team has their time to shine in here. Of course, some more than others *cough cough* Kai and Zane. But all of them receive a lot more to themselves. Maybe Cole and Jay's episodes aren't the best at picking things that already exists for them, but ooh Kai and Zane's role in this season is amazing. Zane's story, especifically, it's one of the highlights of the early show, everyone agrees on that. As for the villains, the Serpentine gimmicks are pretty cool, and Pythor is a icon in Ninjago's hall of villainy. So yeah, this season is pretty good, saving the...dated script.

7. Possession

The worldbuilding in this is so great to me! We have the integration of the 16 Realms, more about Wu, more about the past, and a lot of good interaction between the characters to booth. This season has a lot of good moments, we have Kai being a good brother to Lloyd, Cole turning into a ghost, Lloyd turned into a hostage by the villains, the growth of Nya's character in a whole and the new role she gets put into the team, the introduction of Ronin into the cast, and his story is amazing to watch trough; and the character of Morro as well, who plays his role really well. My only complain is that this is the beggining of the end for Zane and the constant nindroid jokes.

6. The Blood Moon + The Tournament of the Sourceress

Okay let me start with this by saying that this season is not perfect. At all. Not one of them is. But I need to get out of the way the flaws this season has. Flaws that came from how Dragons Rising is structered. Because the two packs of episode we got are mostly disconnected from each in vibes, atmosphere and feelings. And that's because we have two events instead of the usual single event uniting the two halves of the season. This makes a lot of characters besides the main important ones feel... sidelined in a way. We barely had any moment with the new elemental master, we barely had anything involving the Wolf Clan. Cinder was underutilized for sure, some plotlines didn't have the proper screentime to unfold.

But I can't lie. Lloyd, Arin, Sora and Ras were just amazing troughout the entire 20 episodes. The heroes struggles, not only with themselves, but with each other as well, gave us a lot for them. And Ras was a really cunning villain, as always. Yes, the highs of this season are REALLY high to me.

5. Sons of Garmadon

This is a complicated one. It used to be my number 1 pick, but things changed and here we are. Not gonna lie, I see this as the breaking point of the show. At this point, you have to decide if you're fully commited to the silly lego kids show or not. And this is the season for it. We have a more grounded set for a change. A biker gang leaded by a bunch of punks, the animation received a boost in quality, the Ninja team received their redesigns from the movie, and harumi was (mostly) a really interesting and human villain.

But then, we also Dragons and Onis throw into the mix and a ceremony to revive especifically the bad side of Garmadon XD ( I LOVE THIS SEASON, I PROMISE).

So this is it for now, so... Until the last part! ^^

[djdjakko]

Godrick The Blackflame Maiden

It was said that once there was a lord of no renowned, he was neither strong nor powerful with at most a minor claim to the golden lineage.

This small lord was known as nothing more than a runt of his litter. Where other demigods had blessings and cunning he had merely an ember of ambition.

With time these embers would be fed and nourished by his decrepit hands till the day when this minor spark of ambition would grow to an all consuming black flame which devoured this feeble lord in its might.

This lords castle was left in cinders with only a serpent beast guarding its gate. No trace of the lord was ever found within his castle.

For those desperate souls who have felt these flames of ambition it said that the spirit of this lowly demigod can be called upon to aid oneself.

[strqyr]

choice. destiny. worthiness. i'll take her. i will take... what is mine. and take... what is mine.

pyrrha asks cinder if she believes in destiny. cinder says yes. and despite everything that has happened since, she still does. the fall maiden. the maiden of choice.

"so... the destiny i chose for you has arrived." "you chose nothing. this... was a gift."

did cinder choose her own destiny, or was it chosen for her? it was not a gift—not a direct one, at least—, that was something else: "if ruby rose has learned to harness her gift, then you must take care to protect yours. there's only so much i can do to aid you."

"so i will take... what is mine..." gifts are not taken, they're given.

"you can't just be deserving, you have to be worthy!" "you're not just worthy of such power. but i am." except vernal never was the spring maiden. hm.

"you can't just be strong, you have to be smart!"—you need to be both; "you know, i've heard so many stories about you, raven. they say you're a cunning leader, that you're strong, that you're clever... it's a shame that they're wrong." they weren't so wrong, though. deserving, maybe raven doesn't think that, but... maybe she's worthy of them, still.

the maiden powers... they're a gift. something to be worthy of. two for two. can they be your destiny? or is that a foolish endeavor: it's not destiny, it would be a grave mistake to think so. every choice is ours and ours alone. this hasn't all been mapped by fate, this is the future we create.

no. destiny doesn't play a role here, i think. for cinder, it's a concept centered around getting all the maiden powers, but. cinder answers pyrrha's question after she's fully the fall maiden. a choice she made, to become the maiden of choice. a future she created for herself.

a gift. being worthy. a choice. three for three.

[leothetraveler]

minor spoilers for one AC6 ending

you were warned.

so we all know that the Fires of Raven ending says the planet was declared a dead world.

it was DECLARED a dead world. not confirmed to be one.

so me and my brother thought: "what if some survived? sealed off as none dared land on the planet anymore? would they know they aren't alone?"

"and how would they remember the events centuries later?"

answer: it devolves into myth, legend, and religion.

the corps are remembered as cruel gods that fought over Rubicon. Ar'cubis, Trickster God of Cunning and Lies, with their Ves'spears. swift assassins that cut down all in their path. Ba'am, War God of Might and Power and his Redduns, who subjugated their enemies through sheer might alone.

the Xylem is remembered as a motherly goddess, who power was stolen to light the fires.

the RLF and it's forces are venerated as protectors that tried to defy the dark gods by invoking an ancient and uncontrollable power. Even sending one of their own to infiltrate and learn form the enemy, the warrior know as Rusty, who in the end gave his life trying to save them all.

the PCA's name is lost to time, but their actions are remembered as the assault of an emotionless and unyielding Lord of Order who attempted to avert fate and bring an end to the war by force.

and then, off course, there are the not so pleasantly remembered.

Hand'ler, the deceiver, who drove the dark one on the path that led to Rubicon's burning. Cinder, the betrayer, who aiding in the burning of her own world and people with her spirit familiar, Chatty. and of course, the dark one themselves. the one who's symbol is forever remembered as an ill omen of ruin and destruction.

Raven, who burned the world to ash. who slayed the gods and their legions, led on by Hand'ler with the promise of wealth and glory. who slaughtered their way to the stars, only to set them ablaze.