#him trying to be sooo normal about this

[trentcrimminallybeautiful]

literally just. cannot stop thinking about s1 trent getting kissed absolutely senseless by ted

[shakingparadigm]

what is the theory that ivan manipulated the event where till and mizi met the wagyein?

It's not a theory, actually! It's confirmed that Ivan orchestrated the whole event. The true reason as to why however is still unknown. The information provides more context to this scene, though:

During the earlier times of ALNST the most rational explanation for this scene was that Till ran after a flower crown (presumably Mizi's) and Ivan followed him in out of curiosity. Now we know that Ivan was conveniently just standing there because he was waiting.

Side note, I find it heartbreaking (and maybe a little funny, sorry) that Till most likely didn't notice Ivan in this scene. That's just like him, isn't it. Always too busy running after Mizi while Ivan trails behind, an ever-present shadow.

I'm not sure how Ivan manipulated the circumstances for both of them to end up there, but it is confirmed that everything was intentional. What strikes me most is how they describe this particular scene:

I can't copy down what they said word-for-word (Patreon info), but they described Ivan watching "creepily" as Till and Mizi are faced with danger. We know that Ivan was familiar with the Cerberus wagyein beforehand, enough to touch its teeth and even to rest himself inside its maw. To Ivan, the wagyein is not dangerous, but to Till and Mizi, it could be. Ivan prepared the wagyein, led them there, and watched "creepily" from afar as Till fell on his knees, seemingly injured.

The closest I can get to making sense of Ivan's "scheme" is that he wanted to see how other children would react in a dangerous situation. Ivan's always been an observer, after all, and he's learned to survive by copying the more "normal" behaviors of his peers. This situation occured when Ivan was still young and had not yet developed his more charming mask, so perhaps he staged this encounter to study a situational response, to learn and mimic the emotion of fear. And what better subjects for the experiment than two of the most expressive and reactive humans of their batch? It helps that he was already fixated on Till beforehand, too. I think Ivan became irreversibly obssessed after this incident, especially since it's framed as a turning point in Ivan's life, comparing Till to the stars.

This is just my attempt at an interpretation, though. It could very well be for another reason. He most likely chose Till and Mizi specifically for personal reasons, not just for reaction. I'm still not sure on the purpose behind the whole thing.

The team wanted to capture Ivan's "dark emotions" through the shot of his stalking, which could relate to his more sinister intentions. His gaze can be read in a few different ways, though. Curiosity, interest, fear, etc. Maybe that's why they decided to redraw the shot in ROUND 6.

I think this better sells the feeling they were trying to convey.

[maxdurden]

the raw power of gorgug and kristen synchronized second hand embarrassment is unspeakable

[ajastu]

Ok but i want to kind of talk abt what led me to thinking of that last art right. this isn't gona be like, a proper analysis or whatever, just something i've been thinking about for a while that i want to finally word properly. But.

I love Davrin so much. And i love how layered his character is. Like, the man cares. So much. He has a lot of love in his heart. He also tries to pretend so hard that everything he does is out of practicality n not because he Cares So Much.

When you first meet him, he already clearly has a trusting relationship established with Assan. He says he's 'just the bodyguard', but Assan runs up to him immediately when called and nuzzles into him. He already listens to him! Maybe not 100%, but he does. He trusts Davrin. Not to mention the fact that he named the little guy.

Also the griffon nest you can find that is just FULL of mostly nug carvings that Davrin made.

But it's not just Assan. He calls out some of the other griffons by name and takes the time to reassure them when you find them locked in the cages. You will not convince me that he wasn't the equivalent of the Cool Uncle to them. When they get taken, his reaction is not that of someone who is 'just the bodyguard'. It's a reaction of someone who Cares.

He doesn't let himself really acknowledge it, though, because of the whole warden thing. He has convinced himself that he is, first and foremost, a man with a Duty and an expiration date.

The problem is. He fails step one pretty much IMMEDIATELY. He's just in denial about it.

And like, he doesn't really like talking about his feelings openly. He either deflects or avoids it until someone nudges him enough to talk about it. After Weisshaupt, he's, understandably, not doing too well. He lashes out at Lucanis during the table talk, and later you find him back in his room, working silently. He doesn't even reply to Rook at fist when they speak to him.

And then when he does, the floodgates open. This is a pivotal point, i think, in his character development. He's lost, he doesn't know what comes next. He fully did not expect to Be There. He built himself up to this Big Sacrifice, and when it doesn't work out like he thought it would, it gives him a Crisis. Rook points out to him that hey, he DOES still have a purpose. It's just different than "die fighting darkspawn". It's a purpose he has to actually let himself Live for. I feel like this is the point when he lets himself open up to the idea that he might just be more than a simple bodyguard to Assan.

And it genuinely helps him. He even admits that Lucanis did a good job at Weisshaupt. I'm pointing this bit out because, like...I think it shows his complicated relationship with letting himself Feel Things.

I don't know if i'm making sense rn, i just. Love him a lot.

There's a lot more to talk about, but this post is already long, so I'll jump to the end. If you romance him, in the pre-tearstone cutscene, you find him Chopping Wood. Classic sign that Davrin Is Having A Lot Of Feelings He Doesn't Know How To Process.

However, this time he's more open about it, seeing as he...pretty much immediately tells Rook what it's all about.

If you decide to joke with him about it, he immediately goes This Is For Real. I'm Being Serious. He actually wants to talk about it, even if he didn't plan to, at first. He doesn't deflect this time.

also, a brief aside, i fucking love the laugh he does if Rook commits to being a clown about it. He sounds like he's questioning why THIS clown, of all people, is the one he fell for.

and also, i love the...inside jokes forming in their relationship. First its the hunting metaphors while flirting, then its 'u gonna chop more wood?'. Genuinely adore that

ANYWAY back to it.

He's been opening up!! He's letting himself get attached!! It's the worst time for it, because they could very easily Die, but at least they talk about it.

And once Rook is back from the prison, they don't really talk about the time they were missing. The final romance scene feels a bit silly at first with the magic trick n all, but I think it makes a lot of sense.

His voice cracks just a bit when he says ''you're back''. If you choose the dialogue option where Rook is shaken or the 'am i back?' option, he's firmly reassuring to them.

also this. 🥺

From how the dialogues go, it really seems like...I don't want to say Davrin is avoiding talking about the Possible Bad Scenario. It feels more like he refuses to dwell on it, or to let Rook dwell on it.

He acknowledges it, but also, Rook is back.

Again, Davrin has a lot of love in his heart. He is also a man of action and conviction. If he decides to commit to something, he does so with no reservations.

ALL THAT IS TO SAY. I think he would be having a very bad time while Rook is missing, but i also think he would do everything in his power not to let it show. If he breaks down about it, it would be in private, and only because he literally cannot hold it back anymore. He would find Assan in their room and it would become the Last Straw at some point. You know?

He doesn't talk about missing Rook. Instead, he talks about Assan missing them. Which isn't necessarily a lie, but it also sounds like...a roundabout admission. A way to talk about it without talking about it. I know this dialogue abt Assan happens regardless of whether or not you romance him, but here i'm talking about the romance route specifically, so.

But it's not because he doesn't want to admit he cares, not anymore.

It's because he refuses to dwell on it.

TLDR i don't know how coherent this post ended up being, but my point is, DAVRIN IS THE MAN OF ALL TIME. He sings to animals in his care. Hes writing a monster manual while carving each creature he plans on talking about. He also carves sososo many nugs. He has beef with an author who's been dead for ages. He has a complicated relationship with his feelings, but commits to them fully once he lets himself admit them. He cares. He has a lot of love in his heart. And i love him so so so fucking much.

[pineappical]

father and son

[demonstars]

Dream begging the universe for George to like Florida but when he felt like it didn't happen he was trying his best to let it go

[vodid]

ill be seeing tf one tomorrow (technically today since its 2 am) and will most likely post about it. i will be using the tags "tf one" and "spoilers" for filtering purposes so you have been warned. i'm super excited !!!

[solidcarbon]

may i leave you with zariman men and slight verge of psychosis

[windupaidoneus]

elian is easily my worst rep character solely for lying for 10+ years about his gender identity because he was trying to keep cullen's affection for him from origins to inquisition. CULLEN

[microwaving-tesilid-argente]

chapter 256 fueling my ailette/hestio(/tes) delusions, thank you for the food!!!!!

[s-ccaam-era-crepe]

im really happy I have the relationship I have with my siblings ngl

[warupiposaru]

Something really funny that's occurred to me is the way Joe talks about Maccie is like she's some catastrophic event that happened to their family "I can't believe she's been here that long." / "Everything's been different since she was born" / "Everything changed." / "She changed everything."

And it's just rlly funny to me. I want to up the dramaticness of his words at some point. And anyway, he's talking to the Samurai/Ronin for the first time and I'm wondering the impression he's getting lmao

Joe is certainly expressive to me, but only when he's given the chance. And I think w Ronin, he just started letting a lot of stuff out bc thus guy is gonna go on his way anyways.. but then he's like wait!!! Actually let me go?? For a little? (Platonic yearning so bad)

Ronin like 》^. "I suppose.. Alright, curious karate man, I'll accompany you a little longer."

Or something I'm messing around UGH

[reanimatestar]

been playing a lot of amarantus recently <3

[pennamepersona]

it's so funny that apollo has like, some kind of magical powers, bc he is otherwise the most Just A Guy character in this whole series

[avatardoggo]

I HAVE FEELINGS FOR A BOYMAN

[orcelito]

Ykno I think it's kind of funny how some people r so against sharing that they're into any fan stuff ever with Anyone they know irl. Then there's me. I'll tell my friends. I'll tell my family. I'll tell my COWORKERS. That I write fanfiction.

Like it's rly not that big of a deal I don't think. I like my funny little guys and I like to put them into situations. It's pretty normal.