#help why does human aaravos look like that

[elf-callum-human-rayla]

| The Dragon Prince | Season 7 |

Pt 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

[raayllum]

Trailer Breakdown time

Important notice: There will be spoilers from 7x01 mentioned as well from NYCC as well as screencaps that were previously released. Read ahead at your own risk!

So what a trailer am I right?

For this meta I'm gonna divide into sections in terms of episode order (largely 7x01, 7x02, and speculation to the mid season point) and then also talk about voice overs / clip placement from previous seasons when I think it's relevant. Let's go!

What we know

These shots of Callum and then Ezran and co. touching down in Katolis, as well as the vision Ezran has of his parents (which the fact he's seeing like that rather than how they actually were, sitting on the thrones side by side, is life ruining let me tell you) are all from 7x01, "Death Alive".

We know thanks to 7x01 that Runaan is arrested and everyone goes to the Banther Lodge to set up a temporary camp / plan their next moves, hence a makeshift council meeting (which Ezran having the throne brought with him... baby boy really isn't doing well). So it seems the following screencaps are all from 7x02.

We can also place this Callum and Rayla handhold at the Banther Lodge by the bridge outside.

They are probably (for whatever reason) conspiring/deciding to free Runaan and leave, leading to this scene with matching sky / colours - Soren and Rayla squaring off before Ezran arrives with more guards.

He might let them go or try to hold on, but they successfully flee / get away. I could also see Rayla and/or Runaan stepping in like "I'll stay behind, you go to the Silvergrove" (and if Rayla offers, that might melt Ezran enough to let them leave). Either way, I think Ezran's conversation with Aanya on the Banther Lodge bridge will either influence the choice(s) he makes here if it's before, or reference this crossroads if it comes after before we leave the Banther Lodge for the season.

We also know from 7x01 that Aaravos wants a Moon primal stone and to likely corrupt the Moon Nexus in order to invert life and death, destroy the Cosmic Order, and bring about eternal night. It seems likely Claudia and human Aaravos will achieve these aims by the mid-season point-ish. After 7x01 they have to go to the Puzzle House to get the map to the Garden of Innocence with unicorns, and they will likely require Terry's Pure Heart (my interview with Aaron Ehasz) to read the map to get them there. If 7x02 is "pure heart" that could be a nice parallel between Callum-Rayla and Terry-Claudia about a willingness (or lack of) to help and why.

From there, it's all speculation, so let's get into it.

What we can speculate

So first things first, we get Claudia and Human Aaravos at the Moon Nexus doing the Nexus inversion, presumably, and bringing people / creatures back from the dead. One looks rather like Ziard and brings up a staff, which Aaravos takes.

We also know this is earlier on in the season because Claudia's har is more white. During the spell, we also see Soren, Terry, Allen, and what seems to be Aanya holding a dead / unconcious Lujanne on the ground. It seems both Soren and Terry are running to stop her, though I don't know what Allen is doing (maybe holding back Ezran for some reason, if Ez is there).

Then we have more of the dead coming out, including a dragon that almost squashes Soren but does not have a rider, so it's not the same (assumedly) as before.

Later on, we see more creatures crawling out of the water at what seems to be the Nexus, since it's bordered by the same walls as the lake.

We also see Aanya and Ezran surrounded by the dead at the Valley of Graves (hi Sol Regem skeleton), but the moon doesn't look as... corrupted / taken as it does at the Nexus shot, so this could be happening in the early stages of the spell. Then Ezran could send Soren, who gets there too late, and who knows how fast Aaravos can travel on his own.

There seems to be some kind of confrontation between Ez, Aanya (hi exploding fire arrows), and Aaravos at the Valley of the Graves either way.

Since like I said the Moon isn't in the right spot, I'd wager the Ez-Aanya fight here is from 7x03 or 7x04, with the Moon Nexus inversion in 7x04 or 7x05. In the same timeframe, Rayla (and Runaan + Callum?) is going back to the Silvergrove and being put on trial.

The little tiny mushrooms here and in the section with her and one of the fallen assassins makes me think that rather than just standing around and talking, there could be an underwater dream-like portion to the trial as well. Something like "You touch the assassin and get blood on your hands (literally)" because they love their on-the-nose symbolism.

So I don't think the screenshots here are Rayla getting injured... Yet.

Now onto the harder to speculate sections, or what I like to call

What the Fuck is Going On

It seems, since Callum and Ezran learn that, "Aaravos is back. He wants to bring about eternal night. He's unleashed the spirits of the dead" (Callum) that the kids regroup and plan for what to do next. This could be 7x05 or 7x06. The trio (broyals / Rayla and Ezran) reconcile maybe from the Runaan fall out, with Ezran asserting that, "We have to be ready. We have to build our defences." (This could also be where Callum's line as a "the three of us have been through a lot together. We'll get through this, too" comes in as a parting goodbye before the group splits, as well as Callum's heroic rallying speech that is very reminiscent of 3x08: "There is a way out of this. With good people doing courageous things. Doing what's right!").

This "building our defences" could mean that the trio splits up to go get allies from prior seasons, like Rex Igneous (Ezran and co. shot) and Akiyu. They could also be fetching sun crystals for Aanya's arrows.

We see Callum defending an unconscious Akiyu (by the water) and Runaan (just under his tunic flare). His ice spell seemingly responds to Claudia's fire spell, and she has more white hair and is standing likewise near water. So it seems we'll get a Callum Claudia duel face off sometime in the mid to late season!

It also seems that Claudia's Laurelion dragon-scale necklace is just a dragon-scale, but gives her the super armour / fire power-up.

At some point we also meet up with the Sunfire elves, not just at their ruins / make-shift camp, but at the Sunforge palace itself, since Khessa's throne is in the background in these shots with Rayla. The purple background and Phyrrah also indicates that Soren and Corvus are in the same area.

Presumably, they've gathered all their allies (end of 7x08?) and are preparing for their final attempt to defeat Aaravos (and free Callum?). And Callum is going to get possessed, so when do we think it's happening?

Well, if the gang is travelling to get allies, Callum (and Rayla - and maybe Ezran or others?) have gone to get Zubeia perhaps from the mushroom mage. While there, shit goes down, and we get this shot of Callum (presumably from 7x06-7x07):

While the cube is angled the way it was in Callum's dark magic dreams, I don't think this is a dream. The background doesn't match up with previous, we've never seen this form of corrupted face for him with his eyes not black, and he has a white streak, which was never present when dreaming of himself as Aaravos' puppet last season.

I also don't think Callum is going to do dark magic to coin Aaravos (at least not for the initial corruption). Not only is it a little wonky pacing wise, it's a bit too clean, as it takes away the #1 threat Callum is scared of when it comes to doing dark magic. While he of course doesn't want to be corrupted at all, it was primarily the fact the corruption would make him Aaravos' puppet that scared him. It's also a bit too thematically contradictory for Aaravos to be successfully defeated in a 'bad way' rather than in a good way (teamwork, etc) nor does it work with the 6x03 set up for him and Rayla, but that's just me.

That all said, the fact that the trailer highlights his parallels to Viren and Claudia not just once, but twice (god bless that "however dangerous, however vile" and another "I would do anything for you") and through Kosmo's 6x06 voice over ("If you ever do dark magic again, the darkness and corruption will overwhelm you") makes it pretty clear that even if it hasn't happened here, it will happen in the season eventually. I don't think i have much to say on this plot beat / characterization that I haven't been saying for, well, the past 4 years, cause if you know, you know! (And I'll probably do a post just screaming about this + the cube later anyway.)

We also have some misc screencaps that could go about anywhere (Terry running, him + Aaravos and Claudia in the woods with the flying primal stone? Seeker or guider?) even if I do think they continually point towards Terry defecting this season.

Conclusion

If I missed any screencaps or you have any questions feel free to send them my way in my askbox! What do you think is going to happen and what are you most excited for this season?

[luniviravosshipper]

Oh my gosh, we’re going to see Aaravos shapeshift? Hell yeah!

We better get to see some funny references back to Human Rayla with Human Aaravos.

Also, I’m very excited about this little thing.

Not only does this make my little Viravos shipping heart happy to see Aaravos continue to talk so much to Claudia about Viren, but also there’s a lot of questions that this is raising for me.

Like, it’s really interesting that Viren is supposedly still not fully dead yet.

Last time when he was in that state, where we saw him in the Through The Moon graphic novel after he was pushed off the Storm Spire, I thought it was out of the result of unfinished business or something along those lines. And, looking at how much people are talking about how this episode basically confirmes the notion that Aaravos is unable or unwilling to lie, there isn’t really a reason I can see here for Aaravos to make this information up. Even if this is a simple ploy to get Claudia to trust in him more and that he will be doing something to help bring back her dad, Aaravos apparently confirms prior to sharing this that he actually isn’t even able to bring him back another time anyways. Or at least, from what I can assume, not until his entire plan is completed to bring the rest of the dead back to the living. But maybe Viren not being fully dead is the whole reason he can’t bring him back, even though that doesn’t seem to align with earlier with how he was able to revive him because he sounded like he was in a similar state to the one he’s in now.

Anyways, I’m mainly just really interested in what all of this means on a thematic level. What is the purpose in keeping Viren so close in distance to the characters in the series, quite literally by having him in between life and death, after everything the show runners have said about Viren’s arc being concluded back in season 6?

I mean, I don’t think they’re trying to extend Viren’s story more than they already have. There might be an ulterior purpose behind this writing choice here, like wanting to explore more of Aaravos and Claudia’s relationship and its progression by using Viren’s death as a tool. But I don’t see why he can’t be written to be fully dead in order for the writers to still be able to do that.

If Viren’s arc has already been concluded, shouldn’t he be allowed to finally rest in peace? He chose to sacrifice himself, he reached the revelation of his life that his purpose is to serve others, so why is he still bearing the burden of what happened in death?

And surely, the traumatic impact of this death isn’t comparable to the first one which happened so suddenly.

So… what does this all mean?

[requiem-rose]

So! Thoughts on season 6 (this will be out of order): 

Re: Rayla’s family: the fact Rayla could save two people but knew her mom and dad would rather pass on together than be without each other is both *chef’s kiss* and T.T Plus out of the three elves trapped, the one who was saved was the one who ‘deserves’ it the least…*double chef’s kiss* 

Claudia was so close to changing her ways, it was painful to watch. 

Glad Callum told Rayla about using dark magic again before they got back together. And Rayla is more concerned about how using it hurts him rather than it being the wrong thing to do <3 

Kosmo being able to see possible paths the future can take! That’s kinda linked to my whole ‘multiple realities’ theory! I’ll take it! Also, on that note, Kosmo, buddy, I get not telling Callum the truth before having him all fixed up, but after???? THAT’S KINDA CRUCIAL INFORMATION TO KEEP TO YOURSELF. 

CALLUM’S BIRTH FATHER LORE! A poet named Damian who was chronically ill but in Sarai’s words ‘the strongest man she ever knew.” 

Viren didn’t have to trap K’ppar in a coin to get the staff and save Soren, he only did it after K’ppar threatened his position as High Mage…

No offense, Lissa, but the spell wasn’t actually so horrific (not as horrific as I thought it was gonna be, anyway) If all he needed was your tears, why not just give them? I mean, I suppose she thought with what Viren looked like he did something truly vile and she didn’t want to be complicit, but…

Viren physically manhandled Lissa! And then she left! Can’t blame her, but WHY NOT TAKE YOUR CHILDREN WITH YOU?

I knew Viren blamed Soren for Lissa leaving. Jackass.

Feel like Callum and Rayla won’t be able to keep their promises to each other: Callum won’t be able to choose the ‘greater good’ over Rayla, and Rayla won’t be able to kill Callum if he ends up corrupted—which, let’s be real, he’s going to end up getting corrupted. They wouldn’t have Kosmo drop that warning if it wasn’t going to become relevant later on. 

Rayla is Callum’s deepest truth! Awwwwwww. Interesting how she is both the reason he started ‘walking the path of darkness’ and the reason he was able to get off of it (for now)! Which leads me to hope that if/when Callum becomes corrupted in S7, Rayla will be the one to save him. 

KATOLIS WAS DESTROYED! NOW THAT IS TRULY AN EXAMPLE OF A STORY’S DARKEST HOUR. 

Haha, Sol Regem abandoning his followers was NOT a surprise. Him aiming his ire at Katolis was, though. Was there something he had against that kingdom specifically or was that just the closest human kingdom he could get to before he succumbed to his injuries? 

The prejudice towards humans really irks me. From Karim to Sol Regem to the Startouch elves themselves…

Rayla and Sarai parallel with the behemoth and magma titan!

Rayla singing! RAYLA SINGING! 

Now we know what put Aaravos on his path to villainy but we still don’t know what his endgame is. Like, we get why he wanted Sol Regem to suffer, and why he hates his fellow Startouch Elves, but what does he hope to accomplish? 

Poor Leola…She was just a child and they sentenced her to death. And the way she died was just brutal. And for what? Because she helped out humanity? HOW DOES HUMANITY HAVING MAGIC CREATE CHAOS?  

Leola wasn’t an actual unicorn! It was just a nickname from her father cause of her horn! 

Aaravos truly does not give a shit about the collateral damage his revenge has. 

AARAVOS IS HUGE. Not surprising, in all honesty, but wow. 

The Merciful One wasn’t so merciful after all! Eh, kind of expected that. 

Claudia freed Aaravos! So…how is Callum going to play right into Aaravos’ hands, then? Is he part of Aaravos’ actual plans for the world, and not just for getting out of his prison? 

Season 7 cannot come quickly enough. I need answers, I need resolution, and I need them now! 

Viren cut out his own heart rather than take Soren’s. Good.

[zestirial]

WHO IS THE BEST DAD RESULTS !!!

( 3 MONTHS LATER...)

AND THE WINNER IISSSS...KING HARROW !!

A king who, compared to some, takes care of his people! A lovely father, who tried to be a real father to Callum. A husband with a thirst for revenge against a haughty dragon who took his wife away from him, while they were on a mission to save two peoples...

A king with a human heart who recognizes his strengths and weaknesses.

First place is rightfully his!

AND SECOND PLACE GOES TO... ALL FOR ONE !!

Although its existence is still only theoretical, that hasn't stopped DFO from achieving a promising second place haha!!!

The love between father and son in this relationship is just wooah, and I think you've noticed it too from all those votes...

Why did you move from a traditional apartment to a lambda one?

Why did you make Izuku look like a no-alter to the garaki doctor?

Does All for One love Izuku possessively, like his brother ?

Is this why he grew up with Inko? Has Inko ever suspected anything???

How did All for one react when he realized that Izuku had the One For All?

Answer on December 4 for the 60 mystery pages... :)

FOR THIRD PLACE... ISHIGAMI BYAKUYA !!

This father truly dedicated the rest of his life to helping his son, whose awakening was not even certain!

He had an unshakeable faith, but above all a mind of steel.

He built a village, counted 1,000 accounts so that knowledge wouldn't be lost, and searched for granite...!

In short, a dazzling father, shining like one of those many stars in space.

FOURTH PLACE GOES TO AARAVOS!

The most beautiful? The most magnificent? The most admirable to look at? Who knows?

But he's the biggest evil manipulator and destroyer I've ever seen.

Although it's justified, it's still a hot revenge...

But never mind...WE SAID NOT CHILDREN 🫵

His daughter was just...purity incarnate, too sweet for this world of bullies (eh dragons?!).

( +Bonus...)

FIFTH PLACE GOES TO FUJITAKA KINOMOTO!

So this is the biggest greenflag I've ever seen.

He knows how to cook, he goes to work, he gives an incredible amount of love to his children, and still bears the heavy weight of losing his wife.

And he's so cute too-

My hat's off to him!

A surprising sixth place goes to him...I nominate Todoroki Enji.

Well, he's neither my favorite character, nor one I hate.

But he's got good development, even if it took him a long time to come to terms with himself.

It's easy to say I'm sorry and forgive me, but he took it too far.

Unfortunately for him, his past mistakes have caught up with him.

SEVENTH PLACE GOES TO VIREN!

This character took us through all kinds of emotions, but mostly negative ones.

Over a hundred people died because of him, and he pushed Claudia to the other side...but.

This is one person who managed to make us cry at the very end.

From the reason that pushed him down the path of black magic, to his last regrets and thoughts...but most of all, his last heroic salute.

It has, for me, one of the best development and awareness.

Soren couldn't forgive him, and we all understand his choice.

He wasn't a good father, and nothing can take that away.

Urhhmm.... Tucker haha...

I'm not even going to explain why it reached the last place-

Right.

In short, he mixed up his own DAUGHTER and his dog to make a chimera. ( Pardonnn)

SOOOOO Are you happy with this ranking? Have the characters earned their places?

I would have liked to see Viren instead of Endeavor, to be honest. 🫠

At least he didn't beat them and leave INDEED marks.

I'M TOO HAPPY WITH THE DFO PLACE HAHAHAHAH 😆✨✨❤️

[bittrlys]

THE GOOD

Viren and Harrow scene

CRAB SHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Young Viren

Viren selfcest (<- stream of consciousness note that I stand by, he needs to learn to love himself)

Aaravos and Viren had a baby <3 (I like that this twist about the child to save him only works for people who weren't already joking about this being their lovechild all last season)

The heavyhanded diaogue is lol but its nice to see Viren's internal journey ("DAD I'M FOLLOWING IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS" guys you really could have just shown that. But I guess Viren is literal even with his metaphors. I forgive him.)

Viren zoned the fuck out half the season still the best part of the show. But like I love the sense of crushing realization and weight of his thoughts. King of thinking <3

Nice to see Claudia also getting to do cool complicated things

Viren and Claudia literally carry the dramatic weight of the series on their shoulders -tm my friend

I appreciate that Terry continues to be down to clown

This blood elf assassin is hot ♥

I like the water elf design the coral horns are cool (and he looks like a Critical Role character)

I always love pirate towns so that's cool! And some brief actual intense stakes with the pirate captain.

Aaravos. FULL STOP. Like 10 lines of dialogue and he served with them all!

"If you see Claudia again tell her I said ..... hi" hahaa

THE BAD

The Rayllum (what was Callum even apologizing for?? Rayla just genuinely does not seem to like him.)

Janai immediately pivots in her belief because only villains are allowed to stick by their reasonable positions which oppose the desires of the main characters

Again, what changed Tidebound Tina's perspective and made her help them??? Characters will truly just change perspectives in a second if they're meant to be 'good' and not defy the main characters

Ezran is so entitled. Rayla is like oh this boat is a bad idea he's immediately like "WE NEED THAT ONE!" and then proceeds to get them all nearly murdered by pirates for some tadpoles and does not apologize at all.

That being said it seems the show just isn't that interested in Ezran or Rayla

Would it have killed them to include a scene showing why Rayla decides to show up and save the day in finale? She has no arc.

I understand the conclusion that Callum came to with ocean magic but I don't believe his process of getting there.

Can Janai do her damn job all she's ever shown doing is hanging out in her pyjamas pining and being in love. Tied with Zubeia who just hangs about talking about her husband and son all day.

THE UGLY

STOP WITH THIS DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS SHIT (why would the Archdragon of the Ocean give a damn about a human ruler? But like Oh! We Have To Respect A King!)

They show up to the library with only FIVE HOURS TO SUNSET instead of idk camping outside the city until the next dawn and coming in then. And then leave directly at sunset instead of giving themselves like an hour of wiggle room. Unreal!

They can't even let these entitled main characters even THINK Amaya died for their arrogance Like they can't even feel guilt about it for five seconds.

What's the point of having a deus ex machina dragon you insert in every scene to save their asses (god I need Zubeia dead) if she's just going to stand there and do literally nothing while Amaya is attacked. Rewatch that scene camera never cuts to Zubeia's face to even show her idk considering it? Being unable to help? Just get rid of this dragon already she weakens the plot to an absurd degree.

Zubeia surviving. Full stop.

Thunder killed off this group of elves for the crime of uhhhh doing weird blood rituals? Moonshadow elves (Thunder's personal hit squad) do blood rituals. Thunder just loves massacring any group of people who defy his tyranny.

It's surreal that Xadians NEVER comment on the humans in their midst like the show will not draw attention to the fact that humans are othered + marginalized. It perpetually feels like the writers are backtracking on lore they previously established because they don't want to make Xadians look bad.

Like I can believe a criminal port is full of all elements but this happens elsewhere in Xadia. Even the Archdragon of Ocean doesn't address the fact that Ezran is a human.

But it's not like the differences between humans and Xadians aren't noted because humans (like Amaya) still have to constantly grovel for Xadian approval + forgiveness. Like for WHAT. Should Amaya have to apologize to Rayla anymore than Rayla should apologize for coming to assassinate a 10-year-old Ezran in season 1?

for fucking tadpoles?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Callum, Rayla, and Ezran are UNSYMPATHETIC protagonists they literally will never face any consequences for any of their actions. Nothing really goes wrong for them -- they're always saved from trouble and they get everything ultimately handed them. They are supremely privileged, entitled people. Meanwhile Viren and Claudia go through 19 layers of hell just trying to get 1 thing done.

Overall I'd say it was better than season 4! 👍👍👍

[sorcerous-caress]

Hi hun I figured I'd send this over if you're not busy and see what you thought! I'm sure I'll post officially but I've still got a lot of works to transfer first and got too excited! 

I got inspired by your Human Kink stuff and Riff's request so this is super self-indulgent but I still hope you enjoy it!

I don't have a lot of experience so I thought you'd be the best person to go to if anything seemed off. I'm still figuring out genders, and classes but this was what I came up with. I'm bi with a male lean and I may go reverse harem style cause I'm weak for those in otome, but also female tieflings are really hot so we’ll see how the wind blows 🤣

My only experience atm is the little of BG3 I've played and Critical Role, where I'm currently up to Campaign 1, Episode 19 so I looked up a lot and hope it's accurate. Unrelated, but every time I think of Drow I can't help but picture Aaravos from The Dragon Prince. Not technically a Drow but he's that world's version of a kind of dark elf if I'm remembering right. His deep, sultry voice does not help. Come to think of it, he was probably the one who made me realize I had a thing for Elves even before BG3 came out. 😅

Tried to put a gif here but the ask broke both times I've tried to and this is now my 3rd time reformatting 😭 If you look him up you'll see what I mean and why he reminds me of the way you portray Drow- very smirky arrogant, similar appearance and such!

Human Kink DND Party

Human Bard

Nadton Aleanmtor(“Cunning/Darkness” Male Drow Rouge) 

Ivelran Galamaer (“Starwhispher” Eladrin) Wizard

Eya (“Pandaemonium” Tiefling) Fighter

Hookt(real Changeling name) Vesper (fake Human name) Artificer 

Valtir (Aasimar Cleric)

“You shouldn't have that; give it back!”

Your pulse rabbited against his hand and the Drow laughed, cooing into your ear, relishing the way you shivered. You looked so pretty like this. He had his hand around your fragile throat, holding you steady against the tree while he whispered into your ear from behind. 

“Shh shh shh, little Human. You don't want the rest of the camp to hear, now do you? Think of what would happen if they found out~”

You freeze, biting back a whimper.  

“You read it? That was private-”

“Should've done a better job of hiding it then. Under your mattress, little Human? You couldn't even string together a simple invisibility charm? Clearly it didn't matter much to you if I saw.”

He felt the way you swallowed and his grin turned to a knowing smirk. 

“Don't you worry. It'll be our little secret, for now. I rather like the idea of being able to make you whine and squeal for me and me alone with such a pathetic little weakness.”

He hissed on the word pathetic and chuckled at the way you twitched and squeaked at his breath on your ear. 

“What's wrong, Human? Too ticklish for your own good?”

You were already giggly from anticipation.

“Please dohohon't say it!”

He cooed in mock sympathy, and the fingers around your neck began to tap, making you try to pull his hand away. His grip held firm however and you gasped as his other hand pinched at your side, rushing to grab his other wrist for all the good it did you. 

“How precious you are like this. You whined and complained oh so often about wanting to be treated as an equal- but that was all a farce, wasn't it? You truly wanted to be here, to be teased and tormented into submission by someone greater than you.”

That annoyed you, and you opened your mouth to snap at him, swallowing back your giggles with difficulty in an attempt to be taken seriously. 

“You're wrong; you'll pay for-hnngh!”

You squealed as his left hand wrapped around your side, squeezing ticklishly. His right hand loosened, and he began tracing patterns into your neck. 

His voice was raspy with a dark warning. 

“Oh I really wouldn't talk back if you know what's good for you dearest. You can, I'd relish the excuse to put you in your place, but I'm afraid you're much too sensitive for such idle threats.”

“You don't have to do this. Please. Just pretend you never found it!”

You squirmed more vehemently and he finally released you, letting you stumble away to glare at him as he sauntered out from behind the tree, stopping momentarily to pick up your diary from the forest floor. 

“I could, but why would I? You're so much fun to toy with, and now? I have even more ammunition. I only read the first chapter so to speak, there's so much more fun to be had after all. Why spoil it for myself?  Let it never be said I don't even the playing field, even with a Human.”

He tosses your diary in the air and you fumble to catch it, hugging it to your chest as you manage to grasp it with a sigh of relief. When you look up you can't help the way you backup a step instinctually, but otherwise hold your ground, refusing to let your glare waver as he hovered over you.  

“Nadton. What do you want now?”

He smirks, crimson irises alight with amusement. 

“I just wanted to offer you a piece of advice. Get a stronger lock this time, yes? I do so relish a challenge. I'm looking forward to what other dirty little secrets you've written for me~” 

A flash of teeth and his laughter had your face burning in angry embarrassment as he left you, white hair swaying behind him as a breeze blew through. 

You didn't plan on giving him access again, perhaps Vesper could create a lock? He could be playful, but you didn't think he'd break your trust and his Artificer knowledge may prove beneficial. Ivelran too, was an option. Despite his currently quiet demeanor, given he was in his Winter season, you trusted him too. He'd never liked Nadton and had strongly disagreed on allowing him to join your party but you felt too bad for him not to- given the shape he'd been in at the time.  His pride hadn't allowed him to ask you for help, and he told you to fuck off when he’d caught the concern in your eyes, but you just couldn't leave well enough alone. He may be able to whip up a more magically based protection.  

Now? He didn't leave even when you asked him to. He followed you everywhere, and was a ruthless bully. Kept you all alive, though. He'd saved all of your lives on many an occasion. …Even if he only saved you so he could boast about his talents and how dead you'd all be without him there.  

You'd just have to prove him wrong, that's all. Let's see how weak he thought you were when he couldn't break the lock, or detect it in the first place! With a determined nod to yourself you headed back to camp for the night, trying to get what little sleep you could. 

Hope you've been well and are excited for the New Year! Still fighting off this sickness but I'm heading down to North Carolina to spend time with family early on Friday. Hope this wasn't too cringy, I know it's really self-indugent 🫣

-S

Good food good food

I like how you gave them distinct names and personality. It was really good to read! Thanks for sharing <3

I say go full self indulgence really. All art is cringy by nature. You are writing a story, you have characters, motives, a setting and an end goal. It's as real and as valid as any other story.

Because the self-indulgence part is subjective to the reader really. Someone like me would be over the moon for finding a story like that, i would happily stay up all night to read about the human and their companions.

To other people it depends on their tastes. Every jar has its lid and every story has its target audience, no one can really decide what counts as a story and what doesn't, only the author who wrote it.

People have a tendency to belittle smut writers, to overlook smut or kink based stories as just glorified porn. As if sex is something that lowers the value of art.

They're stuck in their worlds of sterile and sensitised arts, where everything has to be clean or only have majorly liked kinks but "oh never actually call them kinks because we are normal you see, unlike the other non-normal people with their weird niche interests."

Because even critically claimed stories do have hints of their creators' kinks or interest, it just flies over most people's heads. Or it's so widely spread that people forget it's even a kink anymore cough softcore-hetro bdsm cough.

On the opposite side, children media also gets belittled for not having things like kissing or cursing or sex, as if those things give meaning to art and without them the art is for babies and shouldn't be consumed since it has no mature themes.

It's really hypocritical, isn't it? They don't want too much sexual content or niche kinks because then it's a porno, but if there is none at all, then it's considered immature. It's completely subjective yet they think they get to decide what belongs in art and what doesn't. As if even the smallest of things can't be art like the way electrons orbit a nucleus isn't art.

Because smut and sex is just...sex. it doesn't have a higher or lower meaning. Your story doesn't benefit from having it, and it doesn't suffer from the lack of it.

It's a tool like any other you can use in your story.

Think of it as eating a cake, maybe some authors will use it as a metaphor for something else, a power play maybe.

While other authors include it because they genuinely like cake and want to write a story about the different cakes their characters get to eat.

Some authors don't like cake at all themselves, but still write or read about their characters eating cake because they find it interesting or would like to explore it in a setting away from themselves.

Some do like cake but never put it in their works. Maybe they just rather their characters eat pizza or clean a kitchen or move the plot along rather than eat cake. Even if the author can be someone who is very open about their love for cake, doesn't mean their story has to have it.

And there are ones who don't like cake and don't write about it.

There are also ones who know cake is not appropriate for their demographic or customers. Maybe it's based on cultural differences or maybe because their demographic is too young and shouldn't be reading about eating it yet.

So, really, please don't think less of your story because it's based on a kink, so many works are, it's just not mentioned in public. If you don't want to tag it as such, then it's fine, but I think forcing people to acknowledge its true nature will make them have a new look on stories.

Also it filters out any reader who holds these ideas from reading your work. Even tho I mostly post light themed works, i still keep dark content in my bio because I don't want people who abhor or look down on these things to read my works.

[mnemonicpneumaticknife]

I've had some thoughts about The Dragon Prince, specifically about dark magic and its origins.

Originally I planned on going through it again (again) to look more closely at each use of dark magic, but that didn't happen. I'll probably watch S1-4 again when S5 comes out.

So first, we don't really get told what dark magic is, just what it does (magic, corrupts people that use it) and where the power comes from (living things).

I have a theory that it wasn't always a corrupting, life sucking force. And also that Aaravos was imprisoned with dark magic.

We're told Aaravos had mastered all the primal magics. We see humans (mostly Callum) use primal magic from other sources, such as primal stones or certain gemstones. So even among mages with access to one primal source, they've had ways to access other forms of magic for a long time. You'd think there would be a way to combine them... but there isn't. Not one anyone but dark mages use.

We haven't seen the dark magic nexus, if such a thing exists. I think it does, and, like the sun nexus, it's been corrupted by Aaravos. That he was able to corrupt the sun nexus so easily suggests he's already familiar with corrupting a nexus.

So my thoughts are, that dark magic wasn't always about sucking the life out of things. That it was once used to combine different forms of magic (and still is). Consuming another living being isn't necessarily bad. Some of the magical things we see are plants. Some of the dark magic reagents we see don't necessarily have to come from a creature that's been killed (or killed just for magic). Taking more than the land can sustain is a choice. However, the level of corruption a dark mage experiences doesn't seem to correlate to where the magic came from.

The corruption seems most evident when a dark mage is doing something they're not familiar with or when deeply emotionally invested in what they're doing. Callum doesn't know what he's doing and is attempting to do the right thing when he does one dark magic, and it puts him in a coma while leaving lasting corruption. The visible progression of Claudia's corruption happens when she's trying to heal/resurrect her family members. We see Viren's corruption become visible when he exerts himself. I'm only familiar with the show, but the wiki says the reason (from the novelization) Lissa and Viren split up is she resented and feared Viren after he used dark magic to heal Soren. Seems like something pretty bad would have to happen to make her feel that way if it saved her son's life.

Then, when Aaravos uses Callum like a puppet, he knows all of Callum's deepest insecurities and how to manipulate him. If Aaravos is the source of the corruption, it would make sense that the more invested someone is in what they're using dark magic for, they'd give Aaravos more insight into their mind (and thus more corruption).

That brings me to the sun nexus, and why Aaravos corrupted it. While it did advance Viren's goals, I think that was secondary. Aaravos was very pleased with himself, and he knew the sun nexus was how corruption was purged from mages.

Now, eliminating a way (or the only way) to purge corruption would be very helpful to Aaravos but I think it goes beyond that. I think the sun nexus was an important part of how he was imprisoned in the first place. Specifically, it was the thing that kept him from getting out.

The level of secrecy taken about Aaravos's prison seems unnecessary. Especially when they had the key and could have disposed of it. Unless the people imprisoning him had good reason to hide the prison from themselves. For example, if they had to combine magics, and the only way to do that was dark magic.

If everyone (or just some/one person) involved in imprisoning Aaravos had to be corrupted, either as part of the ritual or to lure Aaravos into a false sense of security, then it makes sense they would take every precaution to avoid him learning how to escape before they could go to the sun nexus and be purged of corruption.

That would explain why not only does no one know where Aaravos's prison is, the key was also just sitting around in a box and not, say, destroyed or, if that's not possible, buried under a magma flow. Nobody knew, because if anyone knew, Aaravos would know. Centuries later, there's just a bunch of rumours. Even the key itself seems like an unimportant trinket (to Rayla). (King Harrow might have known more than he said in his letter to Callum. It's not like he'd have spelled it out if there was a chance of Viren getting ahold of the letter)

This also means if/when he escapes, he can't be imprisoned again the same way, not until a new uncorrupted sun nexus matures. Even if every precaution is taken (again) he'll know enough and have enough corrupted people to get out long before corruption can be removed.

[obsessedwiththedragonprince]

Se4 ep4 thoughts

First of all, i just realised Ibis's message reminds me very much of Kingsley's patronus in HP and the Deathly Hallows saying the ministry has fallen😂

Random but I don't really get why Ezran has a telephatic connection to Zym? Like okay he can talk to animals which includes Zym(which I too don't really know where it came from but ok) but does this connection add anything besides being an deus ex machina at the end of book 2? And then they couldn't just write it off so it just shows up randomly? Idk myb it leads somewhere and i hadn't gotten there yet.

Human-elf argument? Is it to show they aren't ready to truly accept one another? Where's this going?

Why does Ezran going with them solve anything? Like it's a gesture of good will but he can't really help them fight Viren. He can just die and then Katolis will be without a king. Myb just I dunno, send your High Mage with them? It's a gesture of good will and he can actually defend himself. And isn't an eleven y/o! Opeli get your head on straight!

I really like the cook but he comes in at most random moments? Like I think brown sludge tarts can wait my friend.

Oh so others are coming. Kinda makes sense.

Damn architect i get where ur coming from but have a heart! Why doesn't he take his mother's spirit flame out of the camp?

Love how much Callum cares about Bait. Even tho he's just endangering him.

Ohhh we're getting Aaravos backstory!!

Wait how long do elves live? Aditi is Janai's grandmother right? And this was hundreds of years ago. I love how they couldn't just talk about who'll ascend the throne. Do you even get that many benefits from it?

Young human girl? Looks like some ancestor of Katolis leaders. And was that before dark magic and banishment of humans? Cause otherwise why did she even know about this? The cube!! Thousand years??? Do all elves live this long or just Great Ones(who are they btw?)

What exactly was Aaravos's goal with causing all these crisises? Now ig it's getting free but what about before?

New transition i love: Aaravos still shown whispering when it switches to Claudia to show how he's manipulating her.

Omgg is this a Viren - Terry bonding moment is see in the near future??

Oh fuck off Viren. Just. Fuck off. Like I didn't think it would be all sweet and this but at least something? Get a grip?? Idk if u read my post for ep3 but i imagined Viren would myb find some new respect for Terry after learning what he did but no.

Shit shit shit stupid architect woman why would u do that!? I feel so bad for the elf i started crying😭 honestly his voice actor really convinced me of his anguish and it makes the whole scene(same with Janai when her sister died these actors are doing a fine job) did the whole bucket just turn to ash? Damn. Why doesn't it happen to humans tho? Bucket more flammable? I like that he immediately regrets burning her even if she was in the wrong, but honestly the animation doesn't sell it as much as the voice actor would i think. Why is there no gasp or sth?

Are they hinting Aaravos could turn his attention to Callum? I mean he'd certainly be interesting as a human who knows an arcanum.

Damn. I mean we knew Aaravos was powerful but a being from the heavens? Dragons combined couldn’t risk a confrontation?

Okay that scene talking about the magical prison has me more and more convinced that my far-fetched thought was right and the cube is the prison lmao. Like it looked like sth tiny? Idk.

They found Ibis's body! With blood mysteriously gone but ok. If we're being honest Zym should prolly be more attached to Ibis than Ez cause he spent way more time with him. But he wasn't a MC so tough luck. Where's Callum? Oh they're late. Idk why but in my mind Rayla was riding with Callum and Soren.

Viren's hesitating! I mean I get it if magic got me killed I wouldn't be so eager to pick it up again.

Dragons can do magic? Huh.

What the fuck is he doing to Callum? I mean possession was my first thought but. Couldn't he have done it before to anyone? I mean he prolly didn't want to reveal what he can do while still in prison before he was ready.

Damn for whatever reason I love him talking to Ezran. Ig it shows sth but i don't have the brains right now to figure out what.

Bait being moral support to Soren so cute!!

I love how he blew them a kiss and broke the mirror lmao. Drama queen.

[ofekma]

I am having a lot of troubles with accepting Claudia as a villain.

You see, a good villain is a person who with different choices could have been a good person, but simply chose the wrong actions.

A good villain is a person with agency.

Of course, a good villain can also be manipulated, misguided, used. But they still need any sort of agency if we want to accept them as a villain and not as just a puppet.

Claudia doesn’t have nearly as much agency as the show wants us to think she does.

The first and most major problem: dark magic.

look at this picture, she couldn’t have been older than eight at that time.

The show made it clear for us that dark magic is Always Wrong No Matter What (which I have a lot of issues with, but I’ll get to them later), with even Callum’s soul being ‘tainted with darkness’ as Aavaros says in season four, after using it one single time and then swearing off this for good.

So has Claudia had any chance to not head down The Evil Path, even before we first met her? or was she always destined to do so?

Why can’t we just blame every single bad choice she made on the magic that ‘corrupted her soul’?

We can’t even blame her for using dark magic at all, because of how early she was introduced to it.

Also, if dark magic being evil is an undeniable fact of life, you would expect humans to catch on to that at some point? instead of it being just some regular skill you can choose to learn. Especially after it got them kicked out of their homes and locked away from every other magical creature all those years ago. Because in general most humans want to be good right? so you’d expect them to catch on the fact that it’s evil and just ban it.

But it was so normalized that even Katolis’ own advisor was openly using dark magic.

Unless it’s not as evil and corrupting as we are told it is.

Callum didn’t think that it was evil when we first meet him, only after getting it hammered to his skull by Rayla and the moon illusionist elf that it was wrong, we see his aversion of it the next time he meets Claudia.

Claudia herself had no reason to stop using dark magic throughout the show. She didn’t believe it was evil, and she was convinced that the only people who thought it was were elves and dragons, who simply didn’t like the idea of humans having any sort of power. She hasn’t seen any proof of that being ‘evil’ until way into the middle of the show where Viren started using it for doing shady stuff openly in public, and at this point Soren told her that she already changed for the worse.

So, at this point, where Claudia starts helping Viren in his conquest and sees him killing sun elves and stuff, she is already corrupted by dark magic. Is that a villain with agency?

Now, let’s look at the second point in Claudia’s lack of agency:

She is being manipulated.

When we first met her, she was 16. She was a minor looking up for her father and biased towards him, to think the best of him, to trust him.

And he and the Aaravos who was ironically manipulating him at the time, used this for their advantage.

Soren broke free of Viren, but he was told to do a horrible thing, got gaslight and neglected.

It’s easy to see that your father is messed up actually when he tried to make you kill two children who were your childhood friends (kinda), lied about doing that and proceeded to dismiss you and ignore you.

Well, not easy, it’s never easy to break out of an abusive relationship, especially with your guardian who you crave the approval of, but easier than when it came to Claudia, who he didn’t let see his true face until she was in too deep.

Claudia’s main character motivation is to keep her family by her side, which makes it even harder for her to leave. It’s important that she didn’t choose to leave Soren, he left her. Once again, Claudia refused to choose between her loved ones, so the choice was made for her. Once again she stood powerless as her family split.

And then? and then her father got killed. The only person who didn’t leave her died.

Claudia was all alone...

Wait no, not alone. She had company!

The main villain of the show that apparently has been pulling the strings and causing every single bad historical event ever.

Claudia was what, 17 at that time? And has just lost every single person she had.

Is that what you call a villain with agency?

And I doubt that she could have just came back home, both because that villain told her that there is a way to get it all back, and because what kind of a welcome would she even have home?

As forgiving as Ezran is, she’d likely sit in jail.

Rayla was looking for Viren despite the guy being very much dead, being desprete for revenge (because apperenately killing him wasn’t enough), what would have happened if she would have found Claudia next to his body?

I don’t know for sure, but my guess is that she won’t just let them be, She’d still want her revenge, and since Viren isn’t her for her to take it on, she’d likely take it on Claudia herself, who’d likely want revenge too because this girl took her father from her. blah blah “cycle of violence” as the show calls it.

Point is- the only person who was looking for Claudia did not have any good intentions for her. Callum, her childhood friend who was in love with her, spent those last two years thinking only about Rayla. Because I guess that since he got a new gf Claudia doesn’t matter anymore.

Soren, her brother, seemingly never bothered to look for her after the final battle, if he even thought about her at all. He had the duty of guarding Ezran and that was more important than what his traitor of a sister did, right?

When does he start thinking about her?

Once he concluded that she must have been the one to try to free Aaravos.

desperate, you say? I wonder why is that. So at least you already realize that she isn’t doing so swell right now.

Then the next time they meet, Soren proves that he still cares about her by shielding her from the impact of a fall after her bag gets caught in a branch, and that’s wonderful, but it came after two years of Claudia having no one, so no wonder that he couldn’t talk her out of freeing Aaravos.

Well, not no one, she has Terry now.

I don’t know when they met but this guy is the single reason why she isn’t completely off the rails yet. Someone by her side to love her and support her. Someone who would even kill for her, and she’d undoubtedly do the same.

Some people theorize that she is going to sacrifice him to get her father back for good, and that’s not out of the realm of possibilities, but the fact that she gave Rayla the coins with her family after he showed dissapointed in her shows to me that she cares about him and his opinion of her.

With Terry, Claudia gets to goof off and be free, like she’s been all the way back in season one. With Terry, Claudia is more herself than she is with anyone else.

It’s enough that one person had her back she needed it most, for her to still have light in her.

"Some light in her?” you may ask, “the girl must have done horrendous things in order to literally bring Viren back from the death”

That is a good point, but also:

1. wanting your father back is a pretty understandable motivation tbh, so whatever she did it wasn’t out of malice, or revenge, or power hunger, it was grief and loneliness.

2. we don’t even know what she did.

We are neither told or shown any of this. Yes, there is a boot in the corner of one shot, and yes, it was likely horrible and included killing sentient creatures due to what other dark magic spells seemed to cost, but this is all speculations. Am I just supposed to accept that she’s irredeemable now when I don’t even know what she did to get to this point? Terry at least knows some of it and he seems accepting, and the guy called her out on being cruel with the coins, and cried himself to sleep after he killed someone, so at least we know that it wasn’t horrible enough to make him leave her.

And another important aspect to show is that Claudia isn’t only willing to sacrifice other creatures for her loved ones-she sacrifices herself too.

When Soren and Viren look at her with worry after she struggles to stand, breaths heavily and her hair turning white, she brushes them off.

“the only important thing is that you are better now.”

she says.

Dark magic isn’t a fast, easy shortcut the way the show paints it as, it’s a sacrifice. A sacrifice both from the user and from the creature needed to preform it, and it’s a sacrifice Claudia is willing to make for her loved ones. A sacrifice she pays a visible toll for and we all know that sooner or later will catch up to her and cost her a lot of her health. Claudia knows it, too.

A sacrifice the protagonist trio is always saved from having to make.

Let’s start with the easy one- Ezran. Ezran is a human. Ezran can talk to animals and has a telepathic connection with the dragon prince. Why?

If it’s explained somewhere, I missed it. He was just born like this.

This is a really cool power that fits his ability.

But it’s also unexplained (as far as I know).

He has this power because he just does. Same way that elves and dragons just have magic.

You know who else has an unexplained ability? Callum!

Who just has sky magic now! because...protagonist reasons!

Because....idk, apperenately not a single human being in history has ever wanted to do primal magic as hard as he has???

So he basically breaks the established laws of the universe to have an easy path where he doesn’t have to sacrifice anything. Heck, he can even fly now. Only some rare master sky elves can learn how to do that and even that takes time, but Callum once again just Does It with the power of wanting it hard enough!

This way we can give out protagonists what they want and have them have super cool powers without having to get their hands dirty by the Evil Magic.

And Rayla.

The first time she met the two brothers, she chased Callum over half the castle trying to kill him, thinking he was prince Ezran. She then discovered who her true target was and while being caught off guard by how small he is, didn’t seem any less determined.

The reason why she ended up not killing him is that they conveniently ended up at the location of the dragon egg, giving Rayla a third option where she’d be able to get out of killing a child without having to go against everything she was taught. (and then of course she got to actually know and care for the kid, so any thought about killing him flew out of the window).

Then she has her ribbon that would have gotten tighter and tighter til she lost her entire arm because of that choice. But she was saved out of having to face the consequences of said choice because we can’t have one of our protagonists lose an arm! that would be horrifying! so....baby dragon magic! because dragons can just do that now, I guess. No explanation needed.

Good guys don’t have to play by the rules. Good guys don’t have to face the consequences of their actions. Good guys are rewarded by the narrative on the premise of being Good.

When Claudia had to face hard choices she didn’t have a sudden third option that would let her not lose anyone or not get her hands dirty.

Her first hard choice was who to go with as a child, she couldn’t choose so the choice was made for her. Claudia would have lost a parent regardless of what she done.

The second hard choice was to choose Soren or the dragon egg. She chose Soren of course, because her defining trait has and will always be loyalty to her family, but the plot didn’t reward her for this. Soren was alive, but he was paralyzed from the neck bellow, and if she wanted to have him back her only choice was to kill a baby deer to get the needed magic.

Do you think that she wanted to kill this baby deer? She adores cute things and she even apologized to it before doing that. That doesn’t seem like someone who has a disregard for other living creatures.

But since the show didn’t give her a way where she could heal her brother without getting her hands dirty, she had to make this choice. Again- a choice that affected both her soul and her health.

The third choice was between Soren and Viren. Claudia refused to choose. Not only that the show didn't give her a way to keep both, she ended up without any of them because one left and the other died.

Claudia did not get protagonist privilege.

Claudia is surely not innocent, she has done a lot of bad things. But is she a villain? or just someone who came from bad circumstances and had to make hard choices, some of which she got wrong?

If our main characters faced both similar choices AND real, lasting consequences for said choices, would they really choose better than she did?

But it’s been clear since way before season four that Claudia is going to get much worse, regardless of what I have to say about this.

Claudia has been destined to decline since the moment she was introduced.

Just look how sinister she seems in her concept art.

Besides, the story would not WORK if she won’t fall into the dark side. Not while being made as a cautionary tale about the damaging effects of dark magic. Not after allying herself with the villains of the show, and actively work to release the most dangerous one. Not when being willing to cross more and more moral boundaries in order to get what she wants.

It was predetermined from the moment she was introduced.

There would be no conflict without her moral decline.

And yet, it pains me seeing the girl who at least used to be sweet, compassionate and kind, who’s primary motive is to protect her family and keep it together, who has the same curiosity and hunger for knowledge as Callum himself has, going down this path.

[knightsandjedis]

Season 5- everything is getting wacky

Warning, the ramblings shall commence and this post is spoilerish, you've been warned. Just completed watching the newest season of The Dragon Prince and I can say that Season 5 was definitely a major improvement over Season 4. I liked Season 4 but it just felt condensed? Not the right word I'm looking for but the plot felt smaller in scale compared to Season 3 (which still remains the best in my opinion at least.) Love the world-building in this show because it's nice to see all the different cultures and unique individuals that live in these different territories. While I thought there was a stronger plot this season there were some things making me hesitant or made me scratch my head. All the characters are great even the ones that infuriate me (Janai's brother can bug off).

First off, why does Viren's vision of Claudia walking into the bloody water look like something out of Berserk???? I was wondering if Femto from the Eclipse episodes of Berserk was going to pop up somewhere in this vision because of how scarily similar the world appeared (Don't look up Femto or the Eclipse if you don't like gory or EXTREMELY dark stuff, it'll give you nightmares ). And I love Claudia and mourn the dark path she's on I still kinda want to see her transition into a major Dark magic user. There is such potential with her as a villain and it seems the production team keeps flirting the line of her crossing into the point of no return but are hesitant to push her full on into a villain role. She's more of a lackey and it kinda makes me sad because I would love to see how her fully embracing dark magic and how it will influence those around her. Basically, Viren needs to step back for Claudia to move forward which might be the new plot developing soon. Also, love Terry but he's kinda holding her back, too. His character helps to humanize her and he's a cool guy, just wish they do more with him as the story progresses.

Viren is a great villain and his nightmare visions show the complexity of his character but it feels like it's time for him to move on so other characters get moments to shine (or darken sorry Claudia but I want you as a major player when it comes to villains). Seeing the affection he used to bestow on Soren makes you tear up, I wonder if he'll apologize to his son before passing on? He owes apologies to both but Soren was made to feel unloved and unwanted. With Viren's passing, I would prefer to see Claudia go on a path of vengeance for her father passing. It felt frustrating for Viren to basically just be a mummy that everyone has to tote around, his plot-line is over and the production team is being wishy-washy about killing his character. They're hinting Viren might be departing soon but Aaravos may have other plans which leads into my next segment.

I love Aaravos, he's such a compelling character and I know the team states he's not a villain but he's still not someone people want to mess with. Sadly, I think he should have been introduced later in the series since everything is starting to feel like padding in the buildup. There's several great story-lines happening in the newest seasons but they just feel hollow occasionally since people are wanting this unique, extremely powerful elf that even makes dragons tremble to finally be released to see how his presence changes the world. (Why the heck was the Water Dragon not given more screen-time???? Entirely different topic but I wanted to learn more about her).

More to add on Aaravos' influence, I know some people want Aaravos to have a thing for Viren but I'm not feeling it. He's playing that man like a puppet, Viren has an inferiority complex and Aaravos has been saying just the right things to make Viren dependent on him. He wanted a puppet to get him out of his magic prison and Viren- and all his supporters- played right into Aaravos's hand. The mockery in his voice when he tells Viren to kill "our child" makes me shiver, he's not being affectionate he wanted a backup plan since Viren showed he still possessed love for his children in an earlier season. Claudia is a wild card while Viren is more easily controlled hence why he may keep him around. The one credit image of Viren with Aaravos and "Sparklefly (whatever Claudia named him)" is creepy. Viren looks uncomfortable and like someone whose fed up with everything the elf has done to him. There's no love between the two, Viren wanted someone to acknowledge him as someone worthwhile while Aaravos needed a tool and finds Viren amusing. Everyone has their preference but I would have preferred King Harrow to have been his love interest if things were different and no betrayals happened. Plus, there was an underlying romantic tone in the vision that didn't make me buy the whole "we're brothers" thing. Maybe the team will give Aaravos and Viren something to work with that makes the relationship less toxic because all I can see is a manipulator toying with the perfect puppet. Plus, Aaravos looks so amused while looking at the Viren chess piece in his hand in the opening. Like he's been a fun piece to play in the puzzle.

Why do Ezran and Zim feel like extras in a story that's focused on "The Dragon Prince"??????????? I know Aaravos is the main threat but why has their plot importance been reduced? They don't even feel like main characters anymore just cool sidekicks. It was great to see older characters return though, Nyx can be a pain but I adore her design and personality. Kinda want to dress up like the Huntress with the pink tips and red nails for Halloween, so freaking cool!!! And Soren, you share the role of being the heart of the team with Ezran. Hoping Elmer makes more appearances, not sure why but I love the big crab guy. Is Aanya coming back? Lots of things to look forward to and this show keeps you on the edge of your seat, can't wait for more to come!!

[raayllum]

ALRIGHT, time to talk about the poster in lovely HD.

First things first, I want to talk about these two ladies (?). The upper one closer to the moon looks more like an elf, and is gazing down at the second, closer woman. I've seen people speculate Ziard due to the hair, but none of this usual clothing appendages are there, so I lean towards a new character, and possibly being the human Aaravos had a special connection to. We see what looks like the arches of the Moon Nexus framed behind them, which was the case both when Rayla went through the portal in TTM and when Lujanne used historia viventum to show Callum the way things looked before. Souls of hate and love, maybe?

We see other Moon symbols throughout the posture sure as archangel lunarises, which seek out Moon magic (1x01) and can be used in illusion spells (2x03, 3x09). We also see the enchanted lotuses from 3x03, though for what purpose is unclear (more on that later).

Moving down, we have a fully celestial, quite happy Aaravos. He's in full flourish and clearly using Moon magic for someone, as begetting the moon behind him, though whether he's constructing lotuses or channeling energy into his Key (perhaps making it able to sense Moon magic) is unknown. While the lotuses in 3x03 were occasionally different colours, the deep purple here makes me think of dark magic. If he is channeling his cube, perhaps he's taking moon energy from the lotuses (or moths) surrounding him to put inside.

I don't think I need to scream much further than I already have about the Moon rune glowing on his Key and having it displayed with his usual star symbol (rune cube foreshadowing symbolism my beloved). This bodes well for theories in which 1) Callum goes too far and does something knowingly risky to free the Moon fam for Rayla's sake or 2) does something risky to help Aaravos to protect Rayla's life, each subsequently to being possessed and/or playing into Aaravos' hands. Thank you goodnight.

Then we have the book, which is deeply fascinating. It seems like a very Moon book, the fragments framing it similar to the ones we see on the lotuses and possibly evoking one of the archangel lunaris' flying around. It wouldn't surprise me if the book contains a variant of Deep moon magic of some kind, whatever that would look like. The crescent curved moon is also similar to the symbol we see on Aaravos' poem page for the Midnight Star in show (2x08). I do wonder why each side of the book looks so different though, with no actual visible moon in sight besides the tiny gemstones and the crescent moon, the other side being entirely dark (which, to be fair, is pretty moon-y).

We also sort of but don't quite see Aaravos' famous chest piece, though it is a-glowing. Whether it glowed all the time pre-Fall we just don't know, as the only time we've seen it glow/be filled in is 2x09 when he's channeling magic through Viren, but who knows. It does mean that the cube is even older than his banishment and that if it does hold his chest piece, it was placed after (if it's tangible at all, which has always been one of the biggest questions).

This is perhaps the weirdest thing that I am the most interested in, as alongside his crown and bangles, this is the biggest design difference between Aaravos in-show and out. In show, both in his mirror and even 'pre-Fall' (aka the timeline for the 1x01 shot is probably a lie anyway), Aaravos' hip thingy is a lot more simplistic.

However, Aaravos does have all his flowery (and I mean that literally, it looks like petals) adornment in his concept art.

The fact they have a lotus flower flair to them always felt interesting but ultimately like a coincidence, but perhaps not. Either way as pictured below, it seems like he's either constructing or dismantling the lotuses, which is Eyes Emoji either way.

The most... surely metaphorical / abstract portion of the poster, though, is I'd imagine the very bottom. I hesitate to read into things too literally (one of the S5 posters had Finnegrin's ship being blasted with lightning and Domina watching the waves, and while she featured in the season and played a role in Finnegrin's aims, the scene itself as portrayed did not come fully to fruition) so I'm gonna go with a more symbolic read, just as as disclaimer.

Lastly we have these two figures. I'm assuming the one in white is an elf and betting on young Aaravos or Leola, though it could be someone else connected to the Moon arcanum (the elven daughter who vouched for exiling rather than eliminating humanity?). The red and black shadow figure feels far more sinister (blood and stardust, anyone) but if you lighten the shadows, you get something even more... interesting, shall we say.

Rather than standing up straight, this figure almost seems to swoop down with a draconic like claw and a face that reminds me the most of Sir Sparklepuff's features, honestly, perhaps boasting a similar kind of blood (Viren's) and star (Aaravos) and dark magic (the staff?). It is also clearly moving toward the more humanoid figure on the bottom right, which gives a "corruption is reaching / coming for / offering things to you" sort of vibe.

[meganwasbored]

The Dragon Prince Thoughts Season 4 Episodes 3 and 4

Episode 3

-he’s really pretending to read a black page in a book just to not look at her

-you’re telling me callum was really able to fall asleep after all that?

-so you had this in your back pocket but instead you went with “hey”

-with her bare hand?? that love right there

-she’s gonna be gone when he wakes up AGAIN??? girl where are you even going

-soren being soren

-i hope we get to hear zym talk someday because i’m thinking about all the possibilities for what his voice might sound like and all of them are hilarious

-if the passageway is opened by a dragon sized button why are there human sized stairs leading down into it

-ibis’s timing is always impeccable

-i love how bait is there for literally everything like he even had his own seat at the council table i wonder if it was like this when bait was harrow’s pet

-ok everything else that went wrong today was an accident but the painting was definitely sabotaged something strange is going on here

-claudia pulling a jafar

-an eleven year old just gave that speech

-IBIS DID NOT JUST DIE TAKE THAT BACK

-THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING RIGHT NOW

-CRYING

-OMG HES ALIVE DOES THAT MEAN HES GONNA MAKE IT???

-NOOOOOOO

-RAYLA WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING HERE THIS IS NOT THE TIME

-WOAH HE CAN DO THAT THATS SO COOL BUT ALSO HE JUST DIED THIRTY SECONDS AGO SO IM HAVING SOME VERY MIXED FEELINGS

Episode 4

-UHHHHHHHH WHY IS CALLUM IN THE SPARKLY PLACE NOW

-oh you can already tell that ezran is gonna be their marriage counselor from this point on

-zym hiding like 8 year old me getting picked up from my friend’s house

-viren contributing absolutely nothing like dude they could’ve done that while you were still dead

-WHAT DOES THIS MEAN

WHY DID IT CUT TO THIS AFTER SHE SAID THAT

-i love opeli so much but why is she so insistent that ezran leaves?? like i’ve never seen her smile so much in any other scene?? she just found out the world is once again in danger and she’s happy??

-OMG DO YOU THINK SHE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PAINTING

-stop it megan now you’re just grasping at straws

-why is ezran so chill about literally everything like rayla randomly shows up after two years of nothing and he’s just like “of course you’re coming hop on”

-also rayla apologized to ezran the second she saw him but she hasn’t bothered to apologize to callum??? as in the one she actually wronged??? and she’s expecting him to be cool with that???

-girl you could’ve just asked him if he can go start the flame a safe distance away from camp?? like can you at least try to come to a compromise?? this is why y’all were thrown out in the first place

-this is foreshadowing if i’ve ever seen it and i DO NOT LIKE IT

-Luna Tenebris is such a cool name like that alone tells me how awesome she was

-“a young human girl uncovered a great secret of history” and yet she’s not important enough to remember her name?

-my question is what does aaravos get out of all this? why did he start doing this in the first place?

-Terry buddy if anyone can help claudia at this point it’s you i’m sorry you even got dragged into this

-“I have always been willing to do anything to protect my family, however dangerous, however vile” oh so that why you told soren that it doesn’t matter if he died and tried to use him as your guinea pig for the weird demon-hulk-soldier spell?

-SAYS THE MAN WHO HAD A PANIC ATTACK ABOUT A LITTLE MOUNTAIN

-OH I REALLY REALLY DONT LIKE WHERE THIS IS GOING

-my question is why would they write “in darkness, gaze upon a fallen star” on the mirror like that just makes aaravos sound like a savior or something

-you’re really scared of a little spell? why don’t you take your own advice and get a grip?

-HE CANT BREATHE WHY ARE YOU ALL JUST STANDING THERE HELP HIM

-OH THE CREATURE IS WORSE THAN I IMAGINED

-HE CAN SHATTER THE MIRROR???

-SERIOUSLY HIS SOUL CAN GO OUTSIDE OF THE MIRROR HE CAN POSSESS PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE MIRROR AND NOW HE CAN SHATTER THE MIRROR??? HAS HE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS???

[kay-jay-self-shipping]

Nicknames

Here are the nicknames my F/Os have for my OCs and vice versa!

Orochimaru

Orochimaru's Nicknames for Kaede: Firecracker (Inspired by the fact that she can burst into flames and the flames spark against her skin before she ignites. Also, she has a bit of a firecracker temper.) Kaede's Nicknames for Orochimaru: Snake-Eyes (Self explanatory.) Orochi-sama (The shortened version of his name for affection, and the -sama as a Japanese honorific meaning Lord. So Lord Orochi.)

Lotor

Lotor's Nicknames for Ziera: Darling (Simple Affectionate term.) Dearest (Another Affectionate Term.) Treasure (He calls her this before she escaped Tylyrio, and it stuck.) Renzo (Her original name before she lost her memories, he's the only one who can call her that.) Ziera's Nicknames for Lotor: Love (Simple Affectionate Term.) My Prince (He was a prince.) My Emperor (He is an emperor.)

Mereoleona

Mereoleona's Nicknames for Lucia: Luci (Shortened version of her name.) Ice Queen (She can both control ice and acts as cold as ice, so this nickname stuck between the friend group.) My Wife (Literal and a little possessive, since Lucia is part of her pride.) My Mate (Another reference to Lucia being her partner.) Captain (She's the captain of the Aqua Deer, it's a form of praise.) Lucia's Nicknames for Mereoleona: Mereo (Shortened name. Previously it was Leona, but as you'll see later, that had to change.) My Wife (Literal.) My Lioness (She is part of Mereo's pride and proud of it.) Captain (Uses it in a teasing way, since Mereo swore she'd never step up as a captain, it's also a term used in pride that Mereo was able to overcome her hatred for the title to avenge her brother's injuries.)

Piers

Piers' Nicknames for Thorn: Thorn (It's her stage name, and therefore a nickname.) My Champion/Champion (While she lost the championship in the semi-finals, he sees her as a champion for getting that far and achieving her dreams.) Trouble. (She gets into any sort of trouble at all times, he had to call her this once, and it stuck.) Thorn's Nicknames for Piers: Superstar (She called him this when challenging him to a battle and it stuck.) Music Man (She teased him with this name when he offered to help her after she moved into her new home.) Hun (A mostly-british term of affection.)

Leona (This is why Mereo is Lucia's main nickname now, lol.)

Leona's Nicknames for Danika: Raven (She's quite literally a Raven Fae.) Little Raven (Her original name was Lilith in the story so little was a good name for her since it can be shortened to lil' in both cases, but even after I changed it to Danika, this nickname is too good.) My Pillow/Pillow (He uses her as a pillow for his naps.) Danika's Nicknames for Leona: Leo (Shortened version of his name.) My King (He wants to be a king so badly, that she made him the king of her heart and world.)

Aaravos

Aaravos' Nicknames for Nymera: Nymph (The first three letters of her name. It's cute alright. XD) Starlight (Not sure if he uses this one or she does.) Archmage in the Making (It's her dream.) My Lovely Little Hybrid. (Affectionate term to comfort her on the fact that he is the only one who doesn't care if she's human or elf and loves her for being who she is.) Nymera's Nicknames for Aaravos: Starlight (Once again, unsure who uses it.) My Constellation (He looks like the night sky, this needed to be a thing.) Shooting Star (A reference to a one-shot I made where they watch shooting stars fly across the sky.)

Rumple/Gold

Gold's Nicknames for Cecilia: Cecil (Her fake name but shortened.) Zelda (Her real name which she doesn't use anymore.) The Grimm (Before confession, her murderous alias.) My Wife (After Marriage.) Mrs. Gold. (After marriage.)

Cecil's Nicknames for Gold: The Dark One (His true self.) Gold (Before confession, his fake name.) Rumple (After confession, his real name shortened.) My Soulmate. (Doesn't use it often, but does use it when she needs to drill into his head just how much he means to her.)

Vax'ildan

Vax's Nicknames for Kadorya (Her true form:) Ryah (The shortened version of her real name.) Cupcake (He says this because it's cringe and she blushes because of it.) Tiny (She's shorter than he is, despite being a literal high elf.) Princess. (This originated from her other female form, but it fits so he uses it.) Peach. (Uses this on both female forms, but uses Handsome for her male form.)

Vax's Nicknames for Kado (Her male form:) Handsome (Affectionate term.) Tiny (Messing around, Kado is taller than Vax.) Big Man (Flirting usually.) Vax's Nicknames for Lhynn (Her alternate female form:) Princess (She's a little snooty in this form, it fits.) Your Highness (Sarcastic usually.) Peach. (Affectionate term.) (Used on both female forms.)

Kadorya's Nicknames for Vax: Vax (Shortened version of his name.) My Thief (He's quite literally a thief that stole her heart.) Romeo (Just messing around with this one, lol.) Gorgeous (She still doesn't understand why this term is mostly used to compliment women.) Prince (This originates from her other female form, but it stuck and she likes it.) Kado's Nicknames for Vax: Sexy (Flirting.) (Ryah uses this as well.) Short Stuff (Messing around, he's taller than Vax.) Vax (Obviously his name.) Romeo (Just messing around with this one, lol.) Lhynn's Nicknames for Vax: Prince (To collaborate on his Princess name for her.) Thief. (She uses this to tease him and it's practically universal, but Kado doesn't use it because he's more for the flirty obvious nicknames.) Gorgeous (Doesn't care for the gender bias, he is quite literally gorgeous in her eyes.) Romeo (Just messing around with this one, lol.)

Okay, that's it! Hopefully, I didn't miss anyone, lol! I love these nicknames, but some of them need serious workshopping! If you guys have any ideas, let me know!

[colonelpancakes]

Continued!

This show is so goddamn pretty.

Okayy this has officially strayed into the realm of creepy. The fact that they don't know how long they've been dancing and aren’t phased at all by the fact that their daughter is now like a full decade older than she was when they last saw her is. unsettling to say the least. Also very concerning.

Ohh, I am so fucking nervous right now the dread is quickly becoming all consuming.

Cosmic justi- OH MY GOD THAT SCARED ME.

Tf do you mean she’s not innocent? She’s like eight. That’s a baby.

OH? Wait, so did she connect one of them to an arcanum? Can Startouch elves do that? I don’t think they’re implying she gave them dark magic so. Is her entire crime literally just. Letting a human use primal spells? Leave my girl alone, she did nothing!

Ohhh… Aaravos putting his arm around Leola and stroking her hair… Leola covering her ears… Sweetheart, darling. I want to protect this girl so badly and I just know the show is about to use that fact to break my heart.

Also, again, the way Aaravos is animated here is so damn good. He’s so expressive and just. Ough. Respect for the freaking animators.

“There is a witness. The Dragon Prince himself. Anak Arao.” Ahhh so there’s the history. I see why Aaravos had it out for him now.

“She must pay the price.” No, I am entirely on Aaravos’s side here, that is a goddamn CHILD. Children are going to break rules! Especially if they don’t understand those rules and ESPECIALLY if they’re doing it to help their friend! That’s just how children work!

Also, Leola hiding behind her dad… Ough…

Ough. Oh my god my heart. I. Something about Aaravos defending the innocence of an action done out of love and the fact that the spell needs to be cast with love and the fact that that’s his daughter and he loves her so much. I don’t know man, I don’t have words right now, I just. Oh my god this show is going to break me.

So it does seem like Startouch elves are all Timeblind, assuming that they’re talking about humans using dark magic. That makes sense, I had wondered about that in The Starscraper. If Skywing elves can become Timeblind by connecting to the stars, then it makes perfect sense that Startouch elves, who are born with a powerful connection to the stars, are also born Timeblind.

HOLD UP, THE PUNISHMENT IS DEATH??? YOU’RE TRYING TO GIVE THE DEATH PENALTY TO A NINE YEAR OLD BECAUSE. BECAUSE WHAT, SHE WAS NICE TO HER FRIEND? PEOPLE.

Oh my god, Jesus Christ. Uh. Hm. Sir, that is a child. That is a baby. Even if she did do something wrong, punishment for a misdeed should be like. A time-out or something not the goddamn death penalty. Why the fuck are these people in charge of running the universe?

Ohh… Aaravos… Fuck. I. Oh my god. Sweethearts… The fact that, without hesitation, he is fully willing to give up his entire immortal existence if it means his daughter can live in his stead… I will not lie, Aaravos here is reminding me extremely of my own parents and it’s making me very sad. (To clarify, my parents are fine and in fact watching this show with me, just, him sacrificing himself reminds me of them. Something about unconditional, undying love, especially from a parent just punches me in the gut, man.)

YOU! There you are! I’m ninety percent sure now that it’s just a coincidence but I still think they look like Sarai. Also, while I was looking at the credits of Episode one, I realized that’s the Merciful One and remembered that tweet where the creators confirmed that they use they/them pronouns so. Apologies for misgendering them in my first liveblog post. Because of the way tumblr works when it comes to reblogs I can’t really go back and edit the post to have the correct pronouns but, uh, I’m aware now. Whoops. Anyways, diversity win! The immortal being attempting to sentence your small child to death is nonbinary! Wooh…

FUCKERS. MOTHERFUCKERS. THAT’S NOT WHAT HE WAS ASKING FOR AND YOU KNOW IT. THAT. IS. AN. INNOCENT. CHILD. In any given scenario, if you are given a choice to either kill a child or not kill a child. KILLING THE CHILD IS THE WRONG OPTION.

I think Aaravos should be allowed to kill god actually. I think we can give him this one.

“It was rescued? By who?” “Me."

Rayla’s little smile!! She’s finally getting to share the person she’s become with her parents! She’s finally able to see them be proud of her for everything she’s done!! My girl 🥹🥹🥹

“This is where we said goodbye before you left. And this is where we’ll say goodbye again.”

Oh… Oh, honey… I am going to cry.

Ough, Rayla’s voice actress, the little tremble in her voice, the desperation. Let my girl have her parents please… She deserves to be able to hug them again. I understand why she’s letting them go but… Oh my god. I’m so sad.

I am so sad right now. Ough. Look at themmm.

NOT BABY RAYLA REFLECTED IN THE POOL… Oh my god I’m sobbing. I. I love her so much, frick. Oh…

Oh honey… Oh love… I am so bad at not crying during goodbyes, oh…

Oh, he is so fucking angry. Rightfully so. Also, poor fucking Leola. She’s just hiding behind her dad while a council talks about how they’re going to kill both of them, what the fuck. My girl does not deserve this.

OH MY GOD HE WAS QUOTING THE COUNCIL ELF??? OUGH. That adds a new layer to that line.

“But in that moment, I chose to live and my life took on new purpose.”

Ough. He’s literally choosing to live out of spite. He can’t save his daughter so by god is he going to avenge her. Fuck…

Leola… Honey… Oh my god, fuck. This is a scared child. I. Oh my god.

Ough. Oh my god. Fuck. The way he tries to comfort her before she dies, to make her just a little bit less scared during what’s going to be her last moments by telling her that she’s going somewhere peaceful… Fuck. Okay this show is actually destroying me oh my god.

“Even if you can’t feel my loving arms wrapped around you, you will feel me holding you in my mind and with my heart.”

The way that this is so reminiscent to what Sarai tells Callum in season two…

“To know something truly and deeply you must know it with your head, hand, and heart. Mind, body, and spirit. I love you with all of myself, and I always will.”

Oh my god. What if I just died right here right now huh? What if I just cried myself to death. Fuck. Oh my god.

YOU DIDN’T EVEN GIVE THEM FIVE FUCKING MINUTES.

I'm out of images noooo

Continued in reblogs again

Watching The Dragon Prince Season Six Part Nine: Stardust! The time has come to see if Rayla will make it out of this season with the most parents. I hope so

Under the cut as per the usual!

Hey, the quote from the beginning of episode one! I wonder if we’ll find out more about him and that other Startouch elf given that he’s quoting them now.

Ohhh. Okay. I was entirely convinced that the quasar diamond was another fake. Whoops

Oh, Claudia, honey… 🥺

Skafjlk Something about Aaravos just suddenly showing up next to Claudia so that he can shush her is so funny to me. I think it might be Terry’s face.

HUH? EXCUSE ME??? That was not something I expected. Aaravos has a kid?? Hello?

Darling!!! Oh, honey. She looks so sweet!!! I love her already.

I am also already feeling immense dread because Aaravos is talking about her in the past tense and she isn’t here in present day. “Had a daughter” oh god. Something bad is going to happen to the baby isn’t it. I am not ready.

Sweethearttttt. Oh my god, the way that you can hear the love in Aaravos’s voice as he talks about her… It’s not an emotion don't think I could have pictured on him before this episode but it's so tangible, the voice acting in this episode is incredible. This episode is going to murder me isn’t it.

Also, I like how the terms he's using to describe her could also easily apply to Claudia whom he's trying to get to empathize with him. To connect her own love for her father to his love for his daughter.

Okay, this might be me reading into it but. The way his daughter's hands are held in this picture looks a lot like the way I flap my hands when I stim. Is Aaravos’s daughter maybe neurodivergent? Either way, I love her already, she’s so sweet.

Give Aaravos’s VA an award. The RANGE this man has, spanning from threatening to playful to right here where it’s so soft and sad and full of love for his daughter.

Also, the adoraburrs!!! Look at her!!!

…I am remembering vividly that response from the writers when someone asked if the Startouch child in the intro was a younger Aaravos and they responded that the child was Leola. Oh no. And again, the fact that Aaravos is talking about Leola only in the past tense… I am not ready for this episode oh no. NOTHING HAS EVEN HAPPENED YET AND I’M ABOUT TO CRY.

Also, the animators always do such an amazing job with Aaravos’s expressions. I just. Oh…

Callum, buddy, I don't think you're helping.

Oh, Rayla, honey… I might be wrong but I think that’s the first time Rayla has actually verbally acknowledged Runaan and Ethari as her parents. I know she’s called them her family before but I don’t think she’s called them her parents.

“Those coins will guide you. Each coin contains a fragment of a soul. On the other side, the rest of the soul longs to be whole again, for it cannot pass into death incomplete.”

I like the clarification of what the coins actually do to a person and why they’re worse than death. Because they don’t allow the spirit to achieve peace by passing on or allow them to continue their life, they trap them in between life and death. I also really like that they’re bringing back the stuff from Through the Moon.

Callum… I love them so much oh my gosh. He’s so nervous for her…

They're so sweet, I love them!!!

Ough and the fact that, to get her family back, Rayla has to dive into the lake despite her fear of the water.

OHH NOO I am getting Through the Moon flashbacks, Runaan??? Buddy?? I wonder if it’s a side effect of being in the coin? Are Rayla’s bio parents gonna be like that too?

While the corruption obviously isn’t great, I must say, I like the curly hair on Runaan.

RUNAAN. NO. No killing Rayla. Bad Runaan.

Rayla, honey...

Petition to give Rayla a break.

Oh, they’re dancing. Interesting. Maybe it's some kind of trance that Rayla needs to break them out of? Like there's a different challenge for each soul that she needs to overcome? I don't know, something definitely feels off.

Ohh… The way Claudia looks up at him, she's so enraptured in the story.

Baby!!! Baby girl!!

OH??? It looks like each side unlocks a different arcanum and a different version of the book, intriguing…

I wonder if there’s something particularly special written in the book or if it’s just a tome of knowledge of the arcanums. Rayla did originally think the cube was a piece from a children’s game, maybe in a way, she was right.

SKjafslkjf. Leolaaa. I love mustache Aaravos so much. And it’s so humanizing seeing such a different side of him. To have a moment where he’s not some all-knowing mysterious arch-mage but just a father with a young daughter who likes to poke fun at him sometimes.

Oh no!! Kiddo!

Aaravos being so gentle with the little kid…

Ohh Aaravos definitely knows whoever took Leola and by the look of it, he does not like them very much.

Also, I’m curious who the golden dragon was, that’s an interesting detail.

Continued in reblogs!

[ben-talks-art]

Why I like Xanatos

"Oh, reason not the need, father... I wanted it, so I took it."

This might sound weird but of all the reasons to like Xanatos, the one that intrigues me the most is that he just might be one of the happiest characters I've ever seen.

Something that I like to think about whenever I look at a character is how much their actions are helping them achieve joy in life and how they respond to that.

For instance, John's choices bring him a lot of misery but he always try to blame others around him for it and try to get them to change instead of working on himself, Ramses and Catra on the other hand just live in denial trying to pretend they're not miserable so they don't have to change who they are, while people like Spider-Man and Percy Jackson just try to laugh at it and keep going despite the misery.

Xanatos though... Xanatos is never miserable. He's a man who already discovered the thing in life that brings him joy, that being, using his wealth and wisdom to mess around with things and people around him. He's basically a grown kid with the intellect and maturity of an adult and the whole world is his toy house.

While some characters usually grab me by their relationship with tragedies, Xanatos grabs me by his ability to be immune to tragedy.

Doesn't matter if he is at the top of the world or at the bottom of a prison cell, Xanatos always knows how to make a situation turn out in his favor.

The guy's also very dangerous. If something seems fun to him, he'll do it, no matter who may suffer for it.

He kinda feels less like a villain and more just a guy whose goals just so happen to clash with that of the heroes, so much so that whenever his goals match that of the heroes he is always more than happy to cooperate with them as if they were all good life-long friends (he even asked his mortal enemy to be his best man at his wedding).

This is honestly a good example of the difference between a villain and an antagonist. He isn't a sadist that enjoys hurting others, he doesn't want to rob a bank so he can get rich, take over the world and enslave humanity, or take revenge on someone who wronged him... He just wants to feel joy, and he's just so freaking good at it, he's so good at knowing how to have fun with any situation he's in.

Someone like Aaravos always looks like he's having fun too, but that's mostly because he's constantly watching things go as he planned it. I think Xanatos could literally be picking up trash on the beach and he would still find a way to enjoy it somehow.

And what I find it really interesting is that once he decides to build a stable life with his wife and son he completely stops doing anything villain-ish, basically saying that having a family is the most fun he could be having right now.

Xanatos isn't just a character that I love to like, he's also a character that I really respect! I WISH I could know how to enjoy life like he does, never caring too much about the things I lose and always looking at what I still have and what I can still achieve!

Favorite character list>>