#i don't have to figure out what my ideal form of government would look like because so many marxist authors have already written about this

[mityenka]

it's kind of insane to me how people write things like that. marxism was not invented on tumblr during the last 2 years. like oh you know there's this book actually.... and this other book....

[everand1r]

To the salon!

(Some) Twisted wonderland boys x Barbie (gn) reader.

Reader isn't based off of any specific barbie so I kept it vague. (Gn) No features are mentioned. Some are Platonic and some Romantic but you can view it either way really. These are mostly imagines? Hcs? Crack fic? idk but lemme know if I missed anything. These were pretty fun to do I might do more

Characters: Riddle, Deuce, Epel, Azul, Sebek

Transporting to a new world is something you are used to, you've been on many adventures and have gained many skills and degrees along the way that starting anew isn't a new experience. Although living in a rundown dorm isn't ideal, It just needs a little shaping! You've built stuff before you've got this. Oh but you'll need a new wardrobe too! No way can you wear one outfit all the time! I guess there's no time like the present to put them skills to use!

Riddle

• He thinks your style is cute, and admires how you always look stunning and pristine everyday without fail.

• Although you look a little TOO pristine at times, he gets confused on how you can run a mile in gym and not break a sweat, meanwhile this boy is probably gasping for air. When you explain you were an Olympic track star back in your world he has to try not to side you

• He kinda thinks your lying about your careers and all you've accomplished

• He greatly underestimates your intelligence until you barge into heartslabyul one day in your bright pink suit and a big smile on your face

  "Ace! Deuce!" You yell into the living area, the pair looking up at you from where they were studying. "Prefect, need I remind you of yelling inside?" the red head sighs. "Ah sorry sorry! I'm just so excited I had to come share!" "Is it about your trial today?" Deuce asked. "Trial....?" Riddle mumbles, slightly confused. He had no idea what you lot were talking about, but knowing you it was probably some crazy- "Yes I won my first court case today!" ......What? Court case?

"My Client was wrongfully accused of stealing and I helped them find justice! I'm so glad my skills as a lawyer can help others in this world." You boldy exclaim, chest puffing up. "Tell us all about it." Ace said turning to you fully.

Riddle sat back, tuning you all out. This boy was at a loss for words. You, a Lawyer??? How is that even possible? You're a Freshman... but Riddle recalls the time you set an Olympic World record for figure skating, and the time you hacked into a Government network using nothing but the school library computers. Maybe you being a Lawyer isn't so unrealistic after all.

Deuce

• Deuce always thought you were gorgeous and admirable, not that he would tell you that! He's too embarrassed

• It's kind of obvious though, with the way he never takes his eyes off you as you talk to him, he's got this lovesick gaze on him it makes ace roll his eyes

• Being friends with you from the beginning of the school year, he's used to you and all your skills, you still manage to surprise him from time to time though. Like creating a new life form from the potions in potionology should not be possible and yet here you are...

• Although that's what he admires about you, how you've accomplished so much at a young age. As an aspiring honor student he looks up to you. Admiration that's all it was, nothing more haha...

  When deuce got your message to come over to Ramshackle, he certainly wasn't expecting to see you arguing with a rooster and a big chicken coop in the back of the dorm. When did that even get there? "George please! just get back in the coop, everyone else listened to me!" George clucked at you, clearly not listening. "Ugh we're gonna be here forverer- Oh! Deuce you came!" You grin, diverting your eyes from the big chicken to the boy standing outside the fence. "Well don't just stand there come on in," Snapping out of his daze he goes through the fence and meets up with you. "Is this what you wanted to show me?" He asks. "Yup! I was a chicken farmer back in my world and i've just missed growing my own foods so I decided to start one here,"

You strech your arms out, signaling to the land around Ramshackle. You clasp your hands together with a soft grin on your face "I know how much you like eggs so I thought once my chickens lay some, we could make some egg dishes with it!"

   Admiration??? No no no, this boy was in Love!

Epel

• Before Epel offically met you he had seen you around, kind of hard not to with you being the most stylish person in NRC, you kinda stick out

• Although he only really got a good look at your style once he stayed at Ramshackle for the VDC.

You would come down every morning with a new oufit, hair and makeup done to a tee, he wonders if your closet is just limitless and how you have so many clothes and accessories.

• You blackmailed Crowley

• Ngl he probably thought you were one of those -prim and proper, freaks out at getting dirty- kind of person.... at first

• On the weekends when you don't have to stick around with practice, you would leave in the morning and come back later on and talk about your day at dinner, and you would always say the most insane shit Epel has ever heard in his life

"What do ya mean you discovered a new life species?" Epel glares at you from your vanity mirror. You shrug, continuing your nightly routine. Epel was sat on your bed, listening to you recount what you did today.  "Oh you should've seen it! It was a new bird species with the most gorgeous feather pattern, It took a couple of hours to find them out in the Savanna but it was so worth it." In the Savanna? You didn't look like you went to the Savanna. With your colorful outfit and perfectly manicured nails, and those glossy lips... Ugh! Epel shook his head. Just what is he thinking? But as he looks up at you, fully turned around, he can't help but notice just how stunning you really are.

Azul

• He doesn't really like you so he thinks

• But he's kinda intimidated by you, like most others in the school he underestimates you until he tried to take Ramshackle from you

• He was NOT prepared for you to list off all the shady and bordering on illegal business practices he was doing. How did you figure him out so quickly?? Did you also run a business perhaps?? the answer is yes, you do.

• You don't like his methods and try to talk to all his potential clients as you are fim beilever that if you put your mind to it, you can be anything! No need to sign away your powers or voice. Azul, clearly, does not like this and so there's just this mutual little rivalry between the two of you, although you do respect each other to some degree

Azul could feel his eye twitch, he has been going back and forth with you on this matter he's starting to falter. You two currently sat in the VIP room of the Mostro lounge. He's been trying to get you to sign this damn contract so he can take up your dorm. You, on the other hand are stubborn and refuse to give up the dorm you spent so much time renovating! He's beginning to wonder if it's even worth it at this point, maybe he can extend his business elsewhere... No! He's gotten this far he's not about to back down, but as he glances at you with your arms crossed and cute pout on your face, grim sitting next to you mimicking your stance... Azul feels as if he's gonna be here all night.

Sebek

• He didn't really think much of you for a while

• Sebek had more important things to worry about which is why he didn't pay attention to you until you pop out from behind Coach Vargas at Vargas camp, donning a military uniform and little yellow visor glasses, exclaiming how your gonna be the one in charge to whip up all those boys into shape.

• Sebek always thought he was prepared for any physical activity, after all he is a bodyguard in training.

• So imagine his surprise when your god forsaken training regimen has him fighting for air! HIM! The bodyguard to a prince! He never thought he would hate the sound of a whistle but by the seven can you stop blowing that damn thing?!?!

• Oh he needs a break...

  Sebek sat near the river, reflecting on the events of today when the sound of footsteps from behind bring him out of his thoughts. "There you are Sebek!" you exclaim, stopping right next to him. "I've been looking for you, gosh you are hard to find," He raises an eyebrow, "Looking for me?" He repeats. "Mhm! I wanted to ask you about today, Many of the other students struggled to keep up, but you were way ahead of the rest. I was curious about what you do that keeps you so fit." The half fae smirks, his already massive ego growing even more at your little observation. No way was he gonna let you know that even he had a bit of trouble with your hellish training.

"Well if you must know, I am a royal bodyguard and I must be physically fit if I am to protect my Liege." Your mouth gapes a little, "A royal bodyguard?? Wow no wonder you were able to keep up! The workouts I planned today were easier verions of the ones I gave back in my world, I wonder if I should make them even easier." You sigh, "Being a military commander isn't easy work." You nodded to yourself, currently lost in your own little world as you think of different workouts to give.

Huh???   Military commander?!

[fantasyinvader]

L'État, c'est moi – Attributed to Loius XIV

I am the senate – Emperor Palpatine

I feel that this is a core part of Edelgard's character, that she views herself as the state.

First off, Edelgard is identified as a hegemon. Hegemony is different from your typical evil empire, though still a form of imperialism, and even predates feudalism by over a thousand years. Considering that Edelgard wants to put the world back the way it was, this could be intentional on the creators part as it signifies that Edelgard's government is based on even more ancient history, but even in Japan during it's feudal era it was a hegemony where vassal lords pledged their alliance to the Emperor (ancient China as well). It's even still used today by critics of world superpowers like the United States.

In hegemony, the idea is to use soft power to make people want to be your friend. You bring them to you, you attract them, and then you use that attraction to dominate them and make them your puppet be they nobles, states or even countries that are supposed to be independant. Hard power, military force, is reserved your those oppose you.

Worth noting that the Japanese name of Edelgard's route is Safflower, a flower that symbolizes attraction. Edelgard's weapon Aymr features the Crest of Maurice, tied to the devil arcana suggesting people allow themselves to be corrupted by voluntarily being around some devil figure, which would also mark her as an Antichrist figure as well as it's also known as the Crest of the Beast. This would also tie into the Buddhist symbolism surrounding the Nabateans, with Edelgard meant to attempt to try and sway Byleth away from enlightenment with her failing to do so being represented in Byleth's flag, the save icon for Silver Snow and the game's actual Fire Emblem according to the devs.

As a hegemon, Edelgard tries to attract people to her side. She has the Agarthans believing that she'll grant them the salvation they seek, the commoners believing that they can elevate their own status through her reforms, while the nobility will hold onto their lands and titles if they support her, and for the player she tries to go the route of being the love interest. She generally tries to make herself out to be the lesser evil in light of what she is an accomplice to as well. She makes her reforms out to be the only thing that can save Fodlan, but various media make it clear she doesn't know what form her reforms will actually be.

All she does, in the Japanese script, is increase her own power.

But here's the other part, hegemonies use hard power against those who oppose them. Coercion, indoctrination, sabotage, or just plain brute strength all work here. And we see this in Hubert's endings, where any threats to Edelgard's rule dance with the Bert in the pale moonlight, while he also spies on those same people to find those threats. Freedom this is not. But the fact is, to be an enemy of Edelgard isn't simply to belong to the Church, Alliance or Kingdom. As she puts it in Hopes:

I've set out to unite all of Fódlan. I've started a war over it. That means destroying any who oppose me and protecting all who stand with me. If you believe in me and share my ideals, I will never abandon you.

This sums up hegemony quite well to be honest. But look at what is said here. If you don't stand with her, she'll destroy you. If you don't believe in her or share her ideals, she will abandon you. This war is so that she might unify Fodlan, while earlier she talks about how devoted she is to her ideals. Hopelessly, in her own words. But this also means that if you don't believe in what she believes, it'll be taken as a sign of opposition and she'll destroy you like we get in Hubert's endings. She also conquers through direct military force, her army said to kill anyone who doesn't surrender to them as they take no prisioners. We also have both Houses and Hopes saying she conscripts people to fight as well, with the former saying that those who resist are killed.

Yet, Edelgard makes herself out to be benevolent. Also, if the farmers are upset at Edelgard taking their farmhands for her army... yeah, they're not going to be going up through the ranks. Ditto the commoners who opposed the war.

Edelgard is reshaping society based on her own beliefs. The nobility aren't meant to serve their people, they're meant to serve her. The Church is meant to serve her. Those who serve her will be rewarded, those who oppose her face their own destruction. And this is Edelgard representing hadou, a leader who rules for themselves rather than for the people. And we know from interviews that Hadou, the path of supremacy or military rule, is what her path is supposed to lead to.

But if you think about this further... this is Edelgard copying the Agarthans. We know that they gave power to Nemesis and the Elites, with notes indicating that they viewed the Agarthans as gods with Nemesis's genocide of the Nabateans being a holy mission from them. We also know that Nemesis persecuted his power, likely to remove Nabateans beliefs at the behest of Thales, and people followed his example rather than rebelling against him. But at the end of the day, Nemesis was a bandit drunk on the power he had been given, while the Agarthans paint this era as one where the world was ruled by humanity... and they believe surface dwellers aren't human. They made Ionius their puppet, and had him pass on their version of history to Edelgard which inspired her to act while expecting to still work with Edelgard once she conquers Fodlan and kills Rhea.

The Agarthans view themselves as the hegemon, Edelgard their puppet but as Cornelia notes when dying in the Japanese text, they are really dancing to Edelgard's tune.

Plus, there's the FEH comic again where Edelgard talks about finding more puppets, while Hubert refers to Ingrid, Felix and/or Sylvain as tools to use against their families in Flower.

Edelgard is a would-be puppet master, and the game paints rejecting her control as the good option. Of course the game is going to constantly try to make her look good, because that's what she's supposed to be on the surface, a waifu that may attract players to her cause. But at the same time, when we get to really know her as per Verdant Wind's moral, we clear up the misconception and are expected to see her for the tyrant she really is. Because, like Seteth says, Edelgard isn't your normal tyrant. It's through this that she can get people to betray their countries, forget the injustices she's visited upon them, and ultimately die for her.

Edelgard is a hegemon with a crunchy hadou-flavored core. That is her character.

[train-fans-anonymous]

Ok so you ask really good questions that kind of slip my mind when info dumping, so I collected some questions you had and I'll try my best to do some form of answers. I'm honestly getting really into this and might end up making a whole thing for this o_0

"I would’ve expected sleeker, smaller frames" (in context to ideal frame size/height): understandable, and I've seen that a lot in fan content for TF honestly. My reasoning behind it was that they want to look strong, but not that they were built for it. Basically to not look like they do too much labor or anything, but being to small or slender would be not a safe for their internals and it could make them look weak (the upper class don't like that, they want to be strong but not too strong)

"did they have blasters integrated BEFORE the war?": in short, yes. Blasters were a thing that mostly active duty enforcement/military or the likes had, although it's not all that hard to make one out of your own frame parts if you feel so inclined. Separate weapons are very common in the inner circles of the upper class, they will often get a new weapon as a gift to show of that they can afford that kind of non-bodily accessory. Characters like Swindle would sell mostly to upper class and middle class bots who were limited in what they could/would do to have a weapon.

"I wonder what the ratio of mechs in castes is (what’s the biggest caste, how does this impact the average?)" I haven't figured out how I want to organize the cast system just yet, but there are a lot and some even would have sub-castes. The largest class of castes (ie, upper class, middle class, lower class) is the middle class followed by lower class and upper class having the least. The middle class consists of mostly working class bots and low ranking officers, Orian is technically middle class but he's close enough to count as upper class (the laws and regulations say otherwise thou). The average is the way it is because of just how large cybertron is, making its birthed working casts the largest group.

Also random thing I wanted to add about government bots. If a mech has a high enough position of power or can see things that the government would rather not the majority see, bots will get government brandings on their palms & digits. It's practically like a fingerprint for government bots.

I do ask a lot of questions don’t I? 😅 I’m REALLY REALLY excited were you with your ideas. I like your idea of showing superiority through physical superiority, looking stronger to represent their strength and higher status. (Could also be interpreted as looking down on those who are lower than you, or could also be like “the higher the hair the closer to god” mentality, love the different ways this can be viewed) Blasters before the war… mm. I’m glad this is another thing they had because it’s also a show of power, your comment about mechs getting them on their own interests me too.

It reminds me of these things from KO’s toy bios. And brings a whole new meaning to it. The caste things is very interesting and I can see why middle class would be highly populace. I’m invested in how you write the different castes, with Higher class mechs choosing to have things like weapons and bigger builds to show their strength vs mechs who were built that way. Higher class bots would def have branding in unique places, I haven’t considered much on the hands but I love the idea. There’s a variety of meanings behind hands however it can be seen as a symbol of authority and I think this shows in that if you were to deal with a high class mech, you’d likely have to shake their hand, where their insignia is proudly on display. It’s not on display like how a bot who joined to fight for the cause would have it (like on their chests for everyone to see) instead it’s like an invitation, a reminder of what they support and who they go against.

[purpleprey]

Chapter 3: Drown the Mirage

I fell back from the bank of the lake in shock. I let out an audible gasp that attracted the attention of Elysium and Cosmic, who came rushing to my side. Elysium began to help me sit up, wondering what was wrong, and I pointed a shaky finger to the water, unable to form the words to describe what I had just seen. Cosmic cautiously walked over to the lake and, in an exact imitation of me, fell back with a gasp. Now I was worried, since I had assumed he'd been here before since he took us here so confidently, but seeing him scared must mean it's bad news!!

"Sorry," he started, standing back up, "that gets me everytime." He laughed awkwardly. Oh.

Next, Elly walked towards the lake. However, she did not fall backward with a gasp, which honestly would have been more appropriate. Instead, she fell forward and into the lake. SHIT! MY LIFELONG FRIEND ELYSIUM FORGING!! I pushed Cosmic Tomorrow off me and scrambled to the water's edge. As terrified as I was that this ‘water’ could be saliva, I decided to dive in and save my lifelong friend Elysium Forging. But as I got into a professional diver’s position, I caught my reflection, which now showed the image of Elly. She wasn't ugly or anything but it was still extremely off-putting.

When I finally overcame my discomfort and dove in, I was met with a horrific sight. There was Elly. Behind her was a ghostly figure, holding my lifelong friend up like a puppet.

"You dick-face!! Let her go!!" I spoke clearly, despite being fully submerged in the thick, thick water. I'd trained for a situation like this.

The dick-face in question did not let Elly go, but merely hissed at me. You know me, I hate violence, but I launched myself at the figure to grab its neck with both hands, and miraculously, despite it looking like nothing more than an apparition, my hands did in fact grab it. So I tried to choke it out, but nothing happened. Next, I tried to punch it, but it hurt my hand more than it hurt the spectre. This frustrated me, since things like this usually worked out for me, but now I was running out of oxygen and I really didn't want the salivary water in my mouth. So, I did the only thing I could think of: I grabbed Elly by the hand and swam strongly to the surface of the saliva pool. As I swam, I looked behind me, only to see the spirit-like thing still holding onto Elly, which didn't seem ideal.

The three of us managed to make it back to shore. I then tackled the spirit back into the lake, leaving Cosmic to resuscitate Elly. Before I crashed back into the lake, I heard Cosmic yell out "YOU!" In an accusatory tone, as if he recognised the spectre, but I had no time to go down that rabbit hole, as I had to defeat the spirit and fast.

The spectre and I slowly sank to the bottom of the lake, hands around each other’s throats, and I noticed that it was somehow breathing in oxygen and I knew what I had to do. I groaned reluctantly and pinched the mirage’s nose closed and with my other hand, grabbed it's face and kissed it firmly on the mouth. Now I wouldn't say it was sexy or anything, since I was simply doing my duty, but…

… It did the job. The spectre flailed violently and I held on as tight as I could. As I practically stole the air from its spirit lungs, the spectre grabbed my face, but not to return the sentiment, instead I suddenly saw my life flash before my eyes. I wasn't dying, I don't think, but the ghost in an act of malice began to show me my worst, most traumatic memories.

Here they are (in chronological order):

My first day as a Boy Scout

The time I spilt hot coffee on my computer

The death of my entire family

When the teacher mispronounced my surname (it was an insult on my family)

The time I was shoved into a pool fully clothed

The confiscation of my viper by the US government

When I stubbed my toe on my dresser

Vegas

When a bat flew into my house and I couldn't get it out (it may have been rabid)

The time I was chased home by a magpie in September (it was imported)

When I was strip searched at the airport

When I forgot to study for my prostate exam (imagine my shock when I found out what it was)

Vegas again

The last time I was kidnapped and waterboarded

Girl scouts

When I had to kill my new friend in New Mexico

When I woke up during my surgery

The death of the giant Viper

I could scarcely hold back my tears as they began to dilute the thick water, but I held onto the mirage as it stopped moving entirely. As I let it go, it floated upwards gently before evaporating entirely into the lake and I couldn't stop myself from scream-sobbing until I passed out under the lake.

I woke up to the face of Cosmic Tomorrow hovering above me. I screamed even as I awoke since my heart was so broken from what I saw under the surface of the lake. But Cosmic slapped his hand over my mouth to silence me as he looked at me with bright eyes.

"Obsidian, you did it! You drowned the mirage!" I breathed a sigh of relief, overjoyed that I had drowned the mirage.

Cosmic helped me to my feet, and I suddenly remembered Elly almost drowning, just like the mirage. I turned to ensure that she was alright. She was still unconscious, just like she was when the spectre had her in its clutches but she was still breathing steadily.

“Elysium was cursed by the lake mirage” Cosmic informed me mournfully. I wailed in agony. I grasped Elly’s cold WET hand in sorrow but that's when I noticed that her hand was a lot colder than usual. Not like she was dead, but like she was freezing like a human ice block. Deadass. This must be the curse!

I turned and grabbed Cosmic by the head and began to shout at him.

“You have been here before, haven’t you? You knew about this lake, and this curse, and you said nothing! You little botanist bitch!” Cosmic writhed and thrashed but my grip on his head was too strong as he wailed.

“Please, Obsidian! I meant nothing by it!” he sobbed “I know we can break the curse! I'm just sure of it!!!!”

I threw Cosmic back. He stumbled a few steps, almost landing in the lake, but stopped just short of it.

“I know a place...” he said, tentatively brushing his orange hair behind his ear. “Please take Elysium and follow right behind me!” he added. He then began to walk away from the lake at a brisk pace. I quickly scooped Elly up and then ran to catch up with him. Just as I thought he was about to disappear into the trees that surround the interdimensional clearing, he suddenly stopped, turned around and started running full speed at the lake before leaping into the water. The water that was thick, as I previously stated. Thick water. I dropped my head and my jet black hair fell in my face; it was still very wet from being in the thick water. I then ran and leapt into the lake to follow Cosmic.

It was dark under the water, but I already knew that from having already been in the lake, so it was a while before I spotted Cosmic who was steadily sinking downwards into the deceivingly deep lake. I was kind of worried he'd passed away on impact or something, but no, I could tell he was still with us since he was gripping his little straw hat to prevent it from floating up and away from him. I pinched Elly’s nose shut and covered her mouth (with my hand, not like how I defeated the water ghoul) so that she would not be breathing in any more of the thick, thick water.

We continued sinking for around twelve more minutes, before everything went bright and we began to float up at a very rapid pace. I was pretty stressed out at this moment, but looking at Cosmic, he seemed entirely calm (which for someone like him is kind of unusual I GUESS), but before I knew it, we had entered what I could only assume to be a different (still thematically water based) dimension.

[worrywrite]

For the past week and a half now, I have been using the same brain teaser to get myself to fall asleep.

I call it the Midas Problem.

It's far less intellectual than it sounds. In fact it's rooted in one of my dumbest what-ifs that I linger on constantly.

You see, that question of "if you you had a super power, what super power would you have?" lingers in my mind rent free at almost all times. Not because I don't have an answers, but because I want that answer very badly. It's shapeshifting, and depending on how you rule that sort of ability would work, it's probably the best super power you could have.

But, anyway, my ideal version would look like this: without necessarily needing to know the science of a change, a good shapeshifter would be able to assume any animal, plant, or mineral form without losing their sense of self. Partial transformation would be achievable and simple, though I admit there's no rejecting the constant of mass. Different "save states" could be set. And as long as the shapeshifter eats enough (or absorbs enough) matter, they can assume almost any form. And some days, I think that, perhaps, the ideal shapeshifter can also change the way other things looks too by partially absorbing them, changing them, and then setting them loose.

The more the mechanics of the ability get laid out, the less pleasant it sounds. But the facts stay there. If I were a shapeshifter, I'd turn my hand into solid gold, retract the pain receptors there, cut it off, and grow a new one.

And this is my problem now: how do I turn that gold into money that I can use?

This is the Midas Problem. What is the most "legal" or "secure" way to exchange supernaturally acquired wealth for legal tender?

Because it needs to have taxes paid, otherwise the IRS is gonna find you, and then the rest of the government is going to find you, and the next thing you know you're a government military project. But also, if you get mingled up in hard crime and money laundering, then you're doomed to limit your social circle and (at least I would) become extremely anxious and paranoid despite being incredibly powerful. The Midas Problem also seeks to avoid becoming, essentially, a monster that just goes about and breaks into places where they want to be and takes things they want and doesn't need money.

And figuring this nonsense out is how I get to sleep at night. Because it's kind of impossible.

[script-a-world]

Submitted via Google Form:

How can I design a fantasy government especially if culture drastically differs from real life? Vocabulary, duties, how people are chosen, hierarchy, division of land and governors, and anything that may be government-run?

Tex: Base it off the fantasy culture, more or less. Government is in itself formalized communication, dispute resolution, and resource management. It is in some ways also the peak of what a culture considers efficient decision-making that is both long-lasting and appeasing to as many people as possible (feel free to throw wrenches into the idea for things like racism, etc). Figure out what your culture has decided are important enough subjects to delegate Official People to, and then figure out what they don’t want in terms of parameters (i.e. do they want to be taxed on different plants in their yard, and how extensive do they like postal routes).

It’s going to be a mish-mash, coordinated in some areas and disparate in others. Don’t worry about that bit, because it's the flaws that make it realistic, and gives narrative room for characters and different plots to develop.

Utuabzu: Government structures are shaped by a couple broad factors: culture (they reflect the biases and ideals of the dominant culture at the time of creation), history (government structures tend to be pretty conservative and old rituals, titles, conventions and terminology often hang around long after they lost any practical utility*) geography (a structure that has to govern many disconnected areas such as islands or mountain valleys is usually going to be less centralised than one that governs a single wide flat river valley) and wider context (states tend to imitate stronger, more prestigious or successful peers**).

So, working off that obscenely long sentence, my recommendations are as follows: firstly, consider the purpose being served in your story. If you need the government to be elected in some way, account for this. If this is just worldbuilding for fun or for a game setting or something, though, you can ignore that part. Next up, you need to have a rough idea of the ancestral culture of the dominant/founding group of the state. What were their basic values? What did they believe? Did they seek consensus through assemblies or did they have a divine monarchy? Then you can play around with their history. Consider how the state expanded and evolved over time, and what other states, cultures, philosophies and religions it came into contact and entered into dialogue with. If at some point the neighbouring nation was extremely powerful, it would not be unreasonable for reformists in your state to adopt some of their structures, complete with (slightly mangled) titles.

Looking for inspiration, Wikipedia is your friend. It has great long lists of titles and government forms, from unitary autocracies to confederal direct democracies and everything in between, usually with examples from which you could borrow some names. A quick skim through the histories of states like the Holy Roman Empire or the Venetian Republic or any given Chinese dynasty should give you at least some ideas. But don't be shy to look at more unfamiliar states like the Aztec Empire, the Majapahit Empire, the Mamluk Sultanate or the Sokoto Caliphate for other ideas. The 5000 years or so of human history is a wonderful resource to draw from in this regard because people have tried so many different forms of government, in so many cultural, technological, philosophical, geographic and diplomatic contexts. No matter what you come up with (barring something that relies on scifi tech or magic to function), chances are there's been at least one society that did something similar at some point.

*eg. During the election of the Speaker in Westminster-style parliaments, they are theatrically dragged to the chair because in centuries past being the one who had to tell the monarch that Parliament said no was not a particularly coveted position.

**eg. Japan adopted a British-style parliament and cabinet structure during the Meiji Restoration because at the time the UK was the undisputed superpower, and generally when setting up or reforming a government structure people look to either the past or to the most relevant hegemonic power for inspiration.

Feral: I second both Tex and Ubuabzu and would just like to add…

King, warlord, and chieftain all very different connotations despite often serving the same governmental role. However, choosing to give your sovereign that plays essentially the same role a title that is a completely made up word, like “xvat” or something, because you want to prove that it’s from a different culture is going to confuse and frustrate a general audience. Choose the titles that are closest to the context and connotations you need to convey and don’t stress too much about perfect matches; if it’s necessary to the story, you can always provide details that will help the audience grasp how this king’s position is just slightly different than the concept they have from the real world. 

[thevindicativevordan]

You really have done a good work on your takes on the Superman rogues. There are interesting and very original ideas than at the same time are really in the coherence of the characters. Not always I agree with you, but I congrat on how you have worked your ideas. Now, considering this, how would you create a list of enemies for Supergirl? In the CW series they practically stolen all of Superman enemies to give Kara something to fight against. Supergirl really lacks of her own rogues gallery.

With a Rogues Gallery you typically want a mix of villains who are physical threats and villains who are mental or ideological threats (and of course some that are both). For Supergirl you need to figure out what her status quo should be, what her long-term goal is, and what kind of themes do you want to explore with her that you can't do with the rest of the Superfamily. Then you can make or revamp Rogues to act as threats, roadblocks, or alternate paths to her goals. Love the idea of Kara forming a lunar colony from Future State and I'd still love a Supergirl run that makes that the focus, her building it and overseeing it. With that in mind here's some (not all of them) of Kara's existing Rogues I'd want to use for such a run:

The Worldkillers

Great fit for Kara to face living embodiments of Krypton's sins, given that she's the one born and raised on Krypton. Kara's idealization and nostalgia of Krypton running up against the rather unpleasant reality of the planet at it's worst adds some thematic weight to their fights. Plus they look cool and aren't connected to anything of Kal's which is a big plus. I would tie one villain of Kal's to them, but I'd also straight up give him to Kara in recompense for doing so. Given their role is destroying/conquering worlds, them showing up to torch Kara's new home on the moon feels like an obvious way to demonstrate how her old home is a threat to her new one.

Reactron

Reactron was badass in the Pre-Flashpoint era. Did a better job of living up to his potential than Metallo ever has, I have to concede that. You'd basically be starting over from scratch with him since I don't think he's reappeared post-Flashpoint, and New Krypton is not one of the stories that got recanonized given the state of Kandor. Think it's worth bringing him back all the same, he's a psycho who hates aliens and enjoys killing them, a simple and straightforward motivation that works. Given Kara in my eyes should be far more cynical about humans than her cousin, Reactron is the villain to trot out for when you want to have Kara see her worst beliefs about human nature confirmed. In my ideal take I'd use him as the one that finally pushes her to bail on Earth and start setting up that moon colony. Afterwards he's the muscle of the human forces who want Kara off of "their" moon.

Simon Tycho

Was this guy meant to be a revamp of Psimon? He sure looks like the Young Justice take on Psimon although maybe that's a coincidence. Anyway he's a pretty clear cut Lex Luthor expy given he's a bald genius with an interest in aliens, but his mutations and powers help differentiate the two. Originally he paid world governments for the right to experiment on any extraterrestrial objects that landed within their borders. Maybe write him as Kara's competitor on the moon, in response to an alien setting up shop on Luna, Tycho gets a ton of discreet funding from governments to set up a humans-only lunar settlement, and also has a hidden goal of sabotaging Kara's colony? Can't imagine there wouldn't be some Earth governments that are nervous about aliens colonizing the moon, what if it was used as the launchpad for an invasion of Earth? Tycho as the pro-human villain who brings some interstellar geopolitics sounds like a fun way to flesh him out into a stronger villain for Kara.

Dollmaker

Pre-Flashpoint Dollmaker was great (New 52 Dollmaker not so much). Guess he needs a new name now since a Batman villain has his old one and those guys take precedence. Modelmaker? Plaything? Putting the name issue aside, I'd write him as the darker side of the outcasts Kara has gathered. Not everyone who was kicked out of their society was undeserving of being a pariah. Some have deep-seeded issues and Dollmaker is one of them, with him eventually taking the role of voice for these more violent members. Pre-Flashpoint his father, the Toyman, basically rejected him and never showed him any affection or attention, and his mother abandoned him after taking him away from his father. Compare how Kara feels ignored and overlooked by Kal and by humanity who more readily accept her cousin and nephew as their heroes and I think you could create interesting stories. Dollmaker is the vengeful side of Kara given free reign, the urge to lash out at a world that neither wants nor welcomes you.

Bizarrogirl

Straightforward as can be, all the other Superfamily members have Bizarros (I'd argue Lex is Steel's), this is Kara's. Plus the Sterling Gates storyline was really great, highly recommend check it out. Maybe use Bizarrogirl as an outcast from Bizarroworld who is unable to fit in with Kara's lunar colony either, and turns against it in anger? Basically if she can't find a home there she doesn't want anyone else to find one either.

As for villains I'd just straight up swipe and give to Kara to be hers exclusively from both Superman's Rogues and others?

Amalak

Another cool Kurt Busiek revamp of a Pre-Crisis Superman Rogue, sadly forgotten after Busiek left, Amalak's home world was conquered by Krypton during an imperial phase. Burning with a hatred for all Kryptonians, Amalak became a bounty hunter and a space pirate. Still could easily fit into Kara's Rogues Gallery in the present day, just make it so the World Killers were the ones responsible for subduing his home planet, makes for a nice way to tie Kara's Rogues together. Amalak getting hired to launch raids on Kara's new home, taking slaves and supplies, seems like an organic way to lay the groundwork for them to meet and face off. I want an alien group adversary (maybe bring back The Circle?) to oppose Kara's colony for accepting alien refugees and runaway, similar to how some human governments would dislike her for taking in their outcasts. Amalak could be their "face" until Kara is able to uncover the identity of his backer.

The Eradicator

Eradicator is the one Rogue of Superman's I mentioned connecting to the Worldkillers, and giving to Kara as her Rogue. Pairing him with Kara makes more sense to me, both of them prefer Krypton over Earth, and feel alienated from Kal because of how he's "gone native". Have Eradicator push Kara to turn her colony into a New Krypton rather than allow it to be something new. Eradicator should be the temptation of toxic nostalgia for Kara, the desire to believe everything was better in the old days, and that Krypton is what she should attempt to recreate. Revisit his ability to "posses"/merge with Kryptonians like he attempted with Kal, he bonds with her after orchestrating events to push her into accepting him, then starts subtly influencing her in ways she's not aware of until she's almost changed completely. Like the Venom symbiote yes, that's what I'm going for.

Dominus

Much as she's tried to suppress it, Kara often harbors jealousy of her cousin, envying his greater degree of comfortability with living amongst humans, and she's jealous of Jon taking over for Kal as the main protector of Earth. Dominus is someone who went mad with jealousy after his own loved one surpassed him to ascend to greater heights of power and responsibility. Connection between the two is obvious, if Kara ever gives in to her darker emotions towards her cousin and nephew, she could end up turning into a villain just like Dominus did. Make him her equivalent to Mxy, the reality warper with petty goals and dreams.

Indigo

Indigo is a character that feels like a natural fit for Kara to interact with in the same way as Lena Luthor is. "Daughter of Brainiac vs. Last Daughter of Krypton" is a natural match-up. I do want to reconfigure Indigo to be a more thematic foe for Kara in terms of revamping her background a bit to service that goal. Brainiac creating a Trojan horse is a great concept, I'd just tie that into his world collecting more. Turns out there are many "Indigos" seeded throughout the universe. When Brainiac finds a civilization that shows potential but isn't yet advanced enough to be worthy of collection, he sends an observation unit to merge with one of the dominant sentient life forms and act as an unknown agent. Via injecting a host with nanomachines, the observation unit can slumber within the host until ready, passing on to offspring the host has or infecting others should the host not reproduce/be killed. These agents are utterly unaware of their true nature until their unconscious programming judges the civilization advanced enough for collection upon which a transformation occurs. Nanomachines in the sentient reshape their body and mind into a combat unit who can summon Brainiac for collection and also sabotage a world's defenses.

I would make this a new Indigo, one from a world that became advanced enough for collection and triggered the nanomachine activation in the host. Indigo's world managed to destroy itself before Brainiac could arrive to collect it, and with the death of the planet Indigo's programming ended and she recovered control of her mind and body. Now she's arrived at Kara's colony in an attempt to make a new life for herself, but she's keeping her past a secret. Indigo fears that were Kara to discover the truth, Kara would exile her due to the risk Indigo still poses of summoning Brainiac, and Indigo isn't willing to leave until she can find a way to "cure" herself of Brainiac's brainwashing. What she wants is access to the Fortress of Solitude where she hopes that by studying Superman's data on Brainiac, as well as access to Kryptonian technology, she can create a virus which will sever Brainiac's controls over the machines inside her and allow her to keep the upgrades without risking a loss of control. Knowing that the directive to observe a civilization until it's advanced enough for collection is still in effect, and fearing what could happen if Kara's colony crosses that threshold, Indigo covertly sabotages the colony's advancement at various points to keep it at a safe level for her while also trying to win Kara's trust.

In terms of themes both Kara and Indigo are defined by their male counterparts. Kara exists in Kal's shadow and struggles to metaphorically be her own person, while Indigo literally belongs to Brainiac and is desperate to safeguard her independence. Focus on that and I think Indigo could be a great Rogue for Kara.

Rogal Zaar

I know everyone hates him but there were some hints of potential, and he's no worse than many other Superman Rogues. Make him the "Doomsday" equivalent to Supergirl, he already looks it in terms of appearance, and the two of them have an interesting tie given she wielded his axe for a while (with said axe feeding on her anger). Rogal was a "hero" of a sort, serving the Circle as their agent, and Kara served as a hero of Earth for a while. Both ultimately grew disillusioned with the ones they had served, both struggle with intense feelings of rage, and Rogal also has been hinted at being tied to House El by blood. Originally I suspect he was going to be Kal's half-brother, but that's not happening anymore. Instead why don't we make him a product of a distant ancestor of the Els, a bastard half-breed that was cast off during Krypton's imperial days, and left behind on a planet to fend for himself until he was discovered by the Circle.

Rogal is a more extreme version of what Kara sees herself as: the forgotten and overlooked El family member. Team Rogal up with Amalak, maybe Rogal is the one who recruits Amalak, and have the two of them work together to destroy everything Kara is attempting to build because of their hatred of Kryptonians, and because a powerful organization desires it and is funding them. Ultimately Amalak finds out about Rogal's heritage and betrays him, causing a blood feud between the two which takes the pressure off of Kara for a while as the two battle it out (while still attacking her individually).

I've got some thoughts on a few others, but just some scattered ideas at most. Kara's got some cool Rogues, and there are Rogues who could make good foils for her, but unless DC can embrace Kara being the one who isn't at home on Earth, I don't know if she'll ever really grow into her own. Likewise her Rogues aren't going to stand out if they're just copying the basic Superman plot only against Supergirl. Optimistically Kara will get something after King's mini is done, either another mini or a spot on a team, and I pray we get to see her interact with some of the Rogues I listed again soon.

[demonslayedher]

Hello! I don't know if you've been asked about this before but I love your analysis and reflections and I'd love to know all your thoughts about Zennezu if you don't mind 👀⚡🎀 Thanks so much for this blog!! 😊💝

Thank you again for your patience, as well as your comments on my fics and stuff in the meantime (even on Bird Fic, kya~ thank you <3). All my thoughts, hmmmmn…. Well, clearly I am a fluffy ZenNezu shipper and ship-content creator now, but I sure didn’t start that way. This may be long and rambling and mixed between analysis and personal taste. (Actually, it turned into almost 4000 words.)

So. First a little background. I usually am not much of a shipper. The very few OTPs I have all ended in horrific tragedy, and when romance is a big focus of something I’m otherwise enjoying I usually end up not paying much attention to it in favor of all the other elements I like. This is so much more the case when you can tell they’re going to wind up happily ever after. So what happened to make me so soft and fuzzy about the Kimetsu ships, when I otherwise usually don’t have an appetite for happy fluffy romantic endings?

Three major factors: 1. I’m obsessed. 2. I love these characters and want to see anything and everything about them. 3. Romance wasn’t actually a big element at all in canon, so it left me with an appetite and curiosity for it.

Even though I figured from long ago that ZenNezu would be end game, initially I was somewhere between indifferent and put-off. As much as I love Zenitsu, and I acknowledge that Ufotable the added the “run around and chase Nezuko” bit and removed the part with Zenitsu adoringly talking to Nezuko through her box, and as much as he can be defended for being lonely rather a pervert, the fact still stands that his level of appreciation for girls makes the characters around him uncomfortable. His most cringe-worthy lines at the Butterfly Mansion are all straight from the manga, and even though he was easily one of my favorite characters by the end of my initial watch of the series, I was very put off by his “girls are all queens” surface-level comments and more disturbing pleasure he took in the presence of girls (especially when he could physically interact with them), not to mention his pathetic introduction bothering a complete stranger and displaying that he doesn’t actually take girls’ feelings into consideration.

All this made me inwardly groan, feeling bad for Nezuko, figuring they were going to wind up together because she’s a saint who can find the patience to deal with someone like that, as he clearly wasn’t going to be desirable to any of the rest of the female cast. Enjoying the series well enough despite this, it didn’t bother me terribly much, pairings happen, whatever, I have a history of ignoring them. But one day, well and deep into caring about this whole cast like they’re all my children, I realized something. Isn’t… isn’t it cute how they both get their strength from taking naps? W-wouldn’t it be cute to see them innocently take naps together? Naps to protect each other? Oh. Oh-h-h-h-h. Oh dear. Oh no, it’s cute. Oh no. OH NO.

And that was how my warming up to this pairing started, it very quickly grew into “I love these children and I want them to be happy, being with Nezuko will make Zenitsu very, very happy, I love seeing him happy, happy Zenitsu” but was still a little reserved about Nezuko. Zenitsu was going to make her happy, right? It wasn’t just going to be a case of Nezuko having gotten fond of him over the course of everything they’ve been though, he is actually going to be her taste and make her heart go “kyun” right? Oh Nezuko, oh saintly Nezuko…

Let’s take a moment to pause here and think chronologically, though, as well as analyze their personalities and tastes. Neither of them are particularly picky, we can start there. Aside from fussy busy-bodies like Aoi, as long as it’s a girl, any girl is Zenitsu’s type. He’s desperate, and he’s painted the whole of girl-kind in pretty similar, not always realistic rosy colors. Even though he’s been used and abused by so many girls in his past, it’s his desire to believe that each new one he meets will fit that rosy imaginary color he paints over them that he chooses to let himself be duped, because he really is that lonely. I’ll give him that, sure, he’s a healthy young man with an interest in physical touch, but his dream in Mugen Ressha gives a good indication of what he’s really looking for: companionship, someone who likes spending time with him, someone who will find him useful and believe in him and look to him for protection, someone who likes him enough to spare him the physical intimacy of simply holding his hand. This is all an extension of what Zenitsu desires as whole, hoping he can better himself enough to be reliable and valued in general. Picturing it in the form of a significant other is one very vivid way to focus all those feelings, resulting in that rosy ideal which Zenitsu probably knows in his heart of hearts is too good to be true. That’s why he probably doesn’t think he’s ever going to find it, and therefore why he’s all over any slightest chance of attaining it.

My gosh, if being abandoned over and over isn’t enough, the fact that none of the girls he dated in the past were ever willing to even hold his hand hurts so much.

Nezuko, though, grew up in a secure family with a good relationship to observe between her parents. She probably always envisioned growing up to be like her mother, the quintessential “good wife, wise mother” (a phrase coined later on in the Taisho period to idealize the traditional roles of a woman). She cooks and cleans and sews and the first fanbook even tells us she was good at using an abacus, so she can handle family finances like a pro. Her traditional values probably made her tastes pretty standard, hoping for a reliable protector, but also someone who might be as kind as her father and her brother. But as for what makes her heart go doki-doki? The extra comic at the end of volume 3 tells us that she does long since have a type, it’s a person who’s like a Hisha.

Hisha: a chess/Shougi piece that can move an unlimited number of spaces in horizontal and vertical directions, and is crowned a dragon when it enters enemy territory.

So, yes, this is the part where we all smile and point at Gotouge and say, “I see what you did there, Wani-sensei.”

I find this reassuring; it tells me that Nezuko can find her heart squeezed at how cool Zenitsu is instead of just coming around and liking him because she was flattered by his affection and learned to see how nice he is and stuff. There are plenty of nice Demon Slayers who are strong and cool protectors, but that ZING that Zenitsu has (when he’s asleep) is something that can make her heart race. I’m all for this. I hinge so much of my ZenNezu feelings on this Hisha comment.

The second fanbook states that Nezuko initially had trouble sorting out her memories, and because Zenitsu gave her two such different impressions, it felt like memories of two different people, but over time the memories overlapped to form one complete person. We could say that she and Zenitsu had two first meetings.

Initially, when she was in the box, her little demon heart did go doki-doki; it was the first time a boy besides her brother had protected her, so even though Oniichan is Number One in her heart for the general duration of canon, this encounter was sure to leave a flattering impression. However, when they met face to face that night, he was just some confusing dandelion yelling and screaming about weird stuff, and then he was just a confusing (and possible bothersome) dandelion wanting to hang around her and give her flowers and stuff. It’s anyone’s guess just how “there” Nezuko was at this stage, as she does seem to gain back more of her own will and thought processes over the course of the series, rather than being guided by very, very simple rules to govern her behavior.

Zenitsu feel in love at first sight, and the second fanbook tells us he asked Tanjiro about her human personality, seeing as she wasn’t fully there. He was initially doubtful that anyone so perfect as Nezuko could exist and figured Tanjiro must had been biased and therefore exaggerating, but can we blame Zenitsu for being a smidge guarded? He’s been let down a lot, after all.

We know from Taisho Secrets and side novels that Zenitsu spent a lot of time with Nezuko during their long recovery at the Butterfly Mansion. Even how much more thought we see Nezuko display in the Train arc, she probably underwent a lot of mental development in this time, and my guess is that due to how much he interacted with her, this is probably when Zenitsu went from being a strange dandelion to a strange companion. She probably focused more on the goldfish and the pretty flowers (which he did take her to see!) and any flattering mention of her brother, though. Zenitsu, I’m relieved to say, seemed to genuinely care about what would make Nezuko happy instead of selfishly assuming something like “she likes me too, she wants to marry me.” But knowing Zenitsu, he probably assumed that her willingness to spend time with him was an indication of being willing to talk marriage once she was more herself again, though.

Let’s pause here and put on our Oniichan goggles, though. Early on, Tanjiro has to insist to just about everyone that Nezuko is still her own person with her own thoughts and feelings. Being a demon has taken a lot of her freedom to act on her true nature away from her, but he knows she’s still in there and he treats her like an equal human being. He had to watch over and over as people see his sister and only think, “demon.”

And then there’s his friend Zenitsu, who looks at her and thinks, “girl. Girl! Girl. Girl. Sweet girl, adorable girl, best girl in the world.” And maybe that’s a little bothersome, but yes, someone gets it!! Someone understands! Even though Tanjiro’s initial concerns are keeping Nezuko from being bothered by unwelcome advances, as long as Zenitsu is willing to respect that Nezuko is not entirely able to speak for herself now, he seems pretty approving of Zenitsu (provided Nezuko decides she likes him back). I’d like to think there was an unspoken promise between bros on what boundaries to follow. Besides that, Tanjiro believes in Zenitsu a lot more than Zenitsu believes in himself, so Tanjiro probably wasn’t worried about the “strong protector” role a future husband should fulfil. Or at least, Tanjiro doesn’t seem concerned once he gets to know Zenitsu, he’d have rejected Zenitsu flat-out on that first meeting. Zenitsu, you are so lucky Tanjiro is so forgiving.

However, for as much as Zenitsu sees Nezuko as “GIRL!! Girl, girl, girl!”, he’s still got his rosy vision that conveniently clouds out any disturbing realities. She is, after all, a demon.

This is something Zenitsu never actually had the chance to struggle with, and I would have really liked to see him challenged by that reality a bit more. He never witnessed Nezuko’s berserker mode, nor did he ever see her struggle to keep from eating someone, he wasn’t even awake to watch her fight like a violent animal/angry toddler on the train. Had there been a scene of Zenitsu forced to face how terrifying she had potential to be, it would had really sold his commitment to Nezuko specifically, instead of only Nezuko as his most likely girlfriend candidate.

On the train, Nezuko has the good fortune of seeing another side of Zenitsu, getting one hell of a doki-doki moment. As she’s gaining more self-awareness back, it probably made those doki-dokis more complex too. While I understand there wasn’t a good opportunity to fit in the pace of the story, I love that Taisho Secret of her concerned about him before he wakes up. Instead of him just being that boy who shows her pretty things and says nice things about her Oniichan, this is when he starts becoming something a little more unique among all the people whom little demon Nezuko has bet and who have been nice to her.

In the months that follow, we don’t get much deviation from this slow development. Zenitsu’s feelings toward Nezuko don’t really change at all, but there’s another thing about this ship: neither one chose the other over anybody else. They sort of just came together, Zenitsu gets hooked on one girl at a time, but what if someone had come along with an interest in him? At what point would he had given up on Nezuko? Probably pretty quickly, if someone was serious enough about him. It wouldn’t have been a break up either, since he was still in the pursuing stages (might be more of a break-up conversation with Tanjiro, who had been tacitly supportive).

Actually, for most of the remainder of the series, the affection that Nezuko and Zenitsu build for each other is done when they’re apart, dwelling on their thoughts of each other. For Nezuko, we see this come out after the Swordsmith Village arc in her sunlit elation to see him again, and her efforts to greet him. She very clearly recognizes him and is happy to see him, a big difference compared to how she was more elated by the sight of a fishbowl before. In Zenitsu’s case, this deepening of his affections and running away with his thoughts and feelings results him declaring once and for all, this is her. He’s found her. This is the girl who he will be committed to his whole life, in his heart she is already his wife.

When human!Nezuko is gaining her memories back, her first impressions are of the boy showing her pretty things and giving her flowers, someone who probably has a crush on her, rather than thinking back to someone who she may have had a crush on. (Those cool impressions probably hit her later, I’m assuming, given the stress of the moment.) Romance is not immediately on her mind, though she does quickly recall having friendly affection for this boy for has always been so sweet to her. And Nezuko, handling his surprising level of affection gracefully, helps Zenitsu off the battlefield while he’s in terrible pain (though she probably was too, my poor girl, that fight with demon!Tanjiro was so rough). But honestly, not only is she probably too overwhelmed by everything to think much about romance, but she probably doesn’t take Zenitsu very seriously initially. She knows he’s got a tendency to overexaggerate, and it’s nice that he’s so sweet to her, but since he acts all fluffy and silly around her she probably thinks he’s not being that serious either. Furthermore, she’s got a lot of people to suddenly care about, Zenitsu has a lot to contend with for trying to get special attention. Hell, Zenitsu was probably awake and causing a racket while she was frantic with worry that comatose Giyuu might die. While she did remake Jiichan’s haori to fit Zenitsu’s later, see spent her time in the hospital mending Giyuu’s haori (Nezuko, baby, doesn’t your hand hurt though!?). While Zenitsu was swept up in happy “Nezuko is human now, we’re totally gonna get married” feels, he probably didn’t even notice that he was only one slice in a very big pie of memories that Nezuko suddenly found in her lap and had to slowly chew and digest.

So… this brings us to the extra post-canon comic in the second fanbook, which I initially did not like very much back when it came out in February. I’ve come around a lot to it, but what really hit me at first was “oh no, Nezuko really is only going to accept this marriage because she’s a saint, he’s not being desirable at all.”

But, treating it with a little more patience and sympathy for Zenitsu… he’s just gotten what he’s always wanted, of course he’s going to stop striving a bit and get blissfully carried away in it. And Nezuko, the ever sweet, isn’t going to stop him.

Some of the other commentary in the fanbook states that Zenitsu, for a time, found himself terrified of how girls could be sweet to his face while hiding their true thoughts about him. But, finding that Nezuko was not at all two-faced, he nearly “died and went to heaven” as the exaggeration goes. He doesn’t like to work hard in the first place (but does, because it will make people like Jiichan proud), so getting away with being spoiled is too big of a temptation to resist. Nezuko is sensitive to what makes the people around her happy or uncomfortable, so she never makes any request of Zenitsu. She’s so grateful to have their new little family that her happiness is everyone else’s happiness, she doesn’t really desire a heartthrob romance, even if being a wife and mother is an eventual goal. And, without being under any pressure to make someone proud, Zenitsu gets swept away and indulges.

Thank you, Tanjiro, for putting a stop to this.

He’s still rooting for Zenitsu, since this is his friend and he knows it would make his friend happy to wind up with Nezuko, but he’s setting himself up for failure, or setting Nezuko up to be cheated out on a good match at this rate (if she were to accept out of being nice). Very, very thankfully, Zenitsu responds well to pressure. By this point Nezuko has gotten so used to sweet but indulgent Zenitsu that he seems she totally accepted that his Hisha side didn’t exist anymore, if it even existed in the first place.

Good for Zenitsu asking for her response a year later (when they’d be getting to the legal marriage ages for the Taisho period anyway), he knew he still had shaping up to do to earn her affection. And Nezuko probably needed time to build some admiration for him again, since the doki-dokis were so gone. Even if he couldn’t use that super cool Thunder Breath anymore, it would probably catch her attention to see him strive again, to put effort into being manly, specifically for her. It wasn’t just the Thunder Breath that gave her doki-dokis, it was the Hisha knight-like attitude too, whether asleep and acting on his inner potential, or awake and bravely defending her based on his own goodness and faith.

I hope that in their married life, Zenitsu will retain that sort of manliness in being a provider for her, even he does get indulged a lot at home.

Now for how this plays into some of my fanwork and headcanons:

You know how I said all my OTPs were tragedies? Yeah, I love a good dose of angst. I did start writing a single-scene fic one time of injured Zenitsu desperately trying to cover Nezuko from the sun while waiting for Tanjiro to find them, and in Nezuko’s panic about the sun she starts losing her self-control over her appetite, and Zenitsu is forced to confront that the girl he loves could very easily kill him. I never finished it, though, and it was embarrassingly self-indulgent.

For my big favorite AU of a monster fanfic, I did add more ZenNezu on the massive edit, because by this point I just enjoy ZenNezu so much that I wanted more of it. But!! What I really like about working with it in this fic is that there’s a conflict: Demon!Tanjiro. In this canon divergence, Human!Nezuko and Zenitsu get to interact more than they ever did while she was a demon, and they both already have affection for each other, but the lingering fact that Tanjiro is technically their enemy gives me some tension and angst to work with.

Yes, I wrote a One Shot of Zenitsu and Nezuko as fresh new parents, but it was a bit of a dark dive into Zenitsu’s feelings of inadequacy. But domesticity comes with some inevitable fluff anyway, and likewise it felt embarrassing indulgent, and I can’t write fluff without a little bittersweetness. M…maybe the reason I’m not a shipper is because I’m easily flustered???

I’d like to think that Zenitsu got a desk job that he worked hard at because he wants to be a provider, and Nezuko does find his hard work attractive. I headcanon it was at an electric company, because hahahaha, electricity. I’d like to think he had a long career in that company (and although his colleagues know him for having a bit of an extreme personality and being obsessed with his wife, they sometimes catch glimpses of a very, very strong side of Zenitsu—like, scarily strong), and that when he’s old and retired in the Postwar Economic Miracle, he buys a fancy camera to take pictures of Nezuko (instead of “say cheese” it’s “Thunderclap and Flash!”), and he takes Nezuko to Paris because that’s the romantic thing to do. Also, I don’t like moustaches as a rule, but I totally approve of old man Zenitsu having a fluffy moustache.

World War Two, though… I’d like to think that if his job had him in the city, he was extremely reliable when it came to protecting his family in case of bombing. I’d also like to think that this was when the Kamado family moved to the city, because Nezuko was worried about Kanao and her nieces and nephews, so Zenitsu made sure they were all together. Inosuke might had taken the opposite route and taken his family to the mountains to shelter out there in the wild.

AAAAHHHH, listen to me being so self-indulgent with headcanons, I pride myself on sticking close to canon in my fanwork, I will never produce this, AAAAHHHH, I’m embarrassed~~~~I---I’m not a shipper! No! I don’t have a shipper’s bone in my body! Who needs romance, it means nothing to me, I don’t get swept up in happy fantasies about young newlywed Zenitsu and Nezuko, really I don’t, I take what canon gives me and I stick with it, I’m here for bromance and comradery and fights to the death, I—I don’t need disgusting fluffy feelings, ew, ew, no, really-----ahhh, too flustered, too flustered, too flustered, no, no, no, no, no, no, WHEN DID I BECOME A SHIPPER, nnnnnnnnhhhhjjjj

Which is all to say that Zenitsu and Nezuko as a pairing really grew on me, even though it is essentially a fluffy happy pairing that only got surface-level interaction and was never seriously challenged. It’s got some shadows lurking in there, especially diving into Zenitsu’s heart, but in general this was a slow build-up of mutual affection between two characters with pretty simple desires of their own, and most of all, a desire to see each other happy. That makes it a good comfort ship.

And they’re both are sleepyheads, hNNNGGGHHHhhhhHHHHHHHHHHH