#i have so many more (not just of yunli but still more of yunli i love her sm) but image limit makes me sad

[stxrquotes]

yunli text posts ft. yanqing

masterlist

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[minart-was-taken]

The wild references to Finland in Honkai Star Rail

Hello, in this post I'm going to go over the various references to Finland in Honkai Star Rail (Also touching a little on HI3) and explaining them the best I can so that non-finns can understand how hilariously delightful they are.

_

Starting with a funny one: Welt Yang.

The man is canonically 1/2 finnish, 1/4th chinese and 1/4th german according to sources I dont understand.

The way this is represented in Honkai Star Rail comes in one intentional form and one that may be an accident but I love it anyway:

1.

Welt's given name is Joachim Nokianvirtanen, a name that is utterly hilarious to a finn like me. Why? Well Nokianvirtanen is not a surname anyone here would ever have. Virtanen is a real surname, but for some reason Mihoyo decided slap Nokia in the front of it??

The name translates to "Nokia's rapids." Which adds to the funniness because yes Nokia is an actual place in Finland and not just the brand, but it is also very much the brand.

(Also Joachim is not a finnish name even if many finns are christian.)

This is the equivalant of naming an american character Jesus McDonaldslake.

2.

Welt's hair colour! A lot of people imagine blond and blue eyes when imagining a finn, but that's not actually accurate to the statistics. The most common hair colour here is in fact "Maantien harmaa." Translating to country road grey. Sometimes they leave out the word grey or replace it with blond. The colour is known as dirty blond or pale brown in english speaking countries 👍 This is less funny and just a cute detail.

_

Secondly we'll be going over Sampo Koski, a man many know to have a very finnish name.

BUT FIRST Fun backround info: I didn't know Sampo was in this game when I first started playing, so when he showed up and suddenly dropped finnish words at me I was utterly jumpscared.

Finland is very rarely referenced in media outside of our country, so most of us are NOT used to hearing anything about our home in media.

Furthermore there's actually a meme about this very thing that everyone in the country knows: Torilla Tavataan. This translates to "Lets meet at the marketplace" which is referring to the idea that when something massively cool happens we should gather together and celebrate.

The finns REALLY want to be acknowledged by the wider world lol

Anyway back to Sampo. His name is actually something I could totally see a real finn having, although his first name is a little out there.

Sampo is an item from finnish* mythology that was forged by a super capable smith with the help of his whole village. The item is golden with multiple spouts that produce valuable things like flour, gold and I believe... salt? You can find more about the item online.

Koski meanwhile means a river rapid. Uhm, lotsa water themed names here, huh!

Nothing that funny going on with his references to be honest. I can even say the voice actor did an amazing job pronouncing his name correctly.

_

Yunli's companion quest!

This is the newest batch of references I've ran into, but if I or anyone else finds more I'll be updating this list :]

In Yunli's companion quest we meet... Paavo. His name is Paavo--

This NPC introduces himself as a traveler from far away who's come to deliver a sword from his homeland back to the Xianzhou where it was originally forged. Here's why he made me giggle uncontrollably every moment he was on screen.

1.

Paavo is considered kind of a joke name, very comparable to naming someone Bob in america. The way NPC's referred to him sounded like "Mr. Bob" to me. It was so funny

2.

He is from the PLANET KALEVALA?? SAFlJ LJ ???

Kalevala is the national epic of Finland* and tells stories such as the one of Sampo's creation. The title does refer to setting of the story, but it is still weird to hear it as a name of a planet lol.

3.

Our food is really repetitive u right Mr. Paavo

4.

Paavo explains the sword he has come to deliver is called Miekka Kivessä. This is the finnish translations of "The sword in the stone." he proceeds to then explain the legend of the sword in the stone, which. It's not a finnish legend. We've never had a king, yet alone chosen them with a sword-- Not even in myths. Kalevala's highest ranking guy in the mortal realm is Väinämöinen who's an old wise man.

Also he says Miekka Kivessä wrong but that's to be expected, very funny, and also I admire the effort to at least try and make it sound natural.

5.

Finally, he later reveals his last name-- Which, why are we refering to him as Mr. Paavo if he has a last name...? Oh well! Mr. Paavo's last name is Kalastaja, which translates to Fisher. This is not a real last name in Finland. The english equivalent of this man's goddang name would be something like Mr. Bob Employee.

_

Since you've made it this far I assume you won't mind me rambling a bit more. I'm personally psyched to see Finland mentioned in non-finnish media and love the wonky but genuine attempts to include us!

I think considering how many weebs there are in Finland who've come up with illogical "Asian names" to sound cool online, it's only fair we got the same treatment back :P I hope they'll keep delivering and I'd love to visit planet Kalevala one day.

_

*It's worth noting Finland is a colonizer of the Sami people, and a lot of their culture has been annexed without any care or respect towards them.

Finland was also under colonialism itself for hundreds of years, and our myths have been largely lost to time with only some information left. It's super difficult to tell what is finnish mythology and whats the Sami people's mythology.

That's a fact that's deeply important to remember when discussing things like this, and I hope that the people reading this consider looking into how to help the indigenous people of the nordic region. Thank you.

[razorblade180]

The Grand Bet!

March: Dan Heeeeeng! Can you make dinner tonight?

Dan Heng: You didn’t eat with your masters?

March: We cut training short today. But get this! I bumped into master Yunli on the way here and she confessed her and Yanqing have Cloud Knight business to discuss at his. I would’ve loved to try his cooking!

Caelus:Ah, so you weren’t invited.

Stelle:You two would probably eat his budget.

March:Like you aren’t any different!? I wouldn’t eat that much. Surly less than someone like Jing Yuan.

Dan Heng:Oh, he’s joining as well. That means it’s possible all the Generals are.

March:W-Why? I just said Jing Yuan because why wouldn’t he be there?

Caelus:Why would he be?

March:Because……why would he miss a home cooked dinner? I know he’s busy but eventually he’d go home to at least leftovers.

CSD:…..

March:Why are you looking at me like that?

Caelus:March, Jing Yuan and Yanqing do not live together. Yanqing has his own residence.

March:Really?! All by himself!?

Dan Heng:He gets paid a lieutenant’s wage. He can afford an apartment easily.

March:Well that’s weird! Yunli didn’t mention that at all. I think I even mentioned how fancy the general’s house might be. She could’ve spoken up!

Stelle:Or she was fine with you being wrong.

March:So what, they’re having a dinner together? I wouldn’t tease her about that. Is it that embarrassing?

Dan Heng: What do you think is going to happen?

March:Eating and talking! Maybe someone will say something ridiculous. I guess it could be a date. That explains not inviting me.

Caelus:If that’s the case-

Stelle: Why not go to restaurant instead of his place? For Cloud Knight matters of all things!?

March:….*red* I don’t like what you’re implying!

Caelus: You mean the truth?

March:Not my adorable masters!

Dan Heng:It adds up. Neither of them seem like the type to be okay sharing a kiss in public.

Stelle:Dan Heng, nobody needs an entire apartment for a single kiss.

Dan Heng:…But they’re responsible.

Caelus:Now since when does that matter around a crush?

March:I refuse to hear you slander them. They’re far too awkward to get passed a dinner and a movie.

Dan Heng: That is Jing Yuan’s disciple. A kiss is on the table.

Stelle:I think you’re both wrong. March, your masters are totally making out. I do believe they’re responsible, but not that responsible! 20,000 credits on it.

March:Well I know them better and I think you’re wrong! 25,000 on just a dinner plus confessions!

Dan Heng: I’m sticking with kiss.

Caelus: Make out session.

Stelle: You can’t steal my-

Caelus:AND….they will be dumb enough to leave evidence. Somehow, some way, they are going to mess up.

Stelle:…Can we be one team?

Caelus:Oh now it sounds appealing!? We split it 60/40

Stelle:55/45! I’m broke. I will do your chores too.

Caelus:Fine.

Dan Heng:If you’re both wrong then you pay March and I 50,000 credits each.

March:Oh I love these odds!

Stelle and Caelus: Deal.

xxxxxx

The next day came quickly. The four stooges all waited in the training garden as Yanqing walked in.

Yanqing:Ummm did I get more students? Wasn’t expecting so many faces this morning.

Stelle:We had nothing else better to do so we thought we’d hangout for a minute.

March:Where’s master Yunli? You both usually race here to try teach your swordplay before the other.

Yanqing:Oh, um she’s probably a little busy. It’s not long before she goes home after all.

Dan Heng:It is getting close to that time. I could imagine her trying to make the most of her time left now that things are getting calm,

Yanqing:That does sound like something she’d do. *rubs head*

The stooges:(He’s holding out on us.)

March:Oh! I almost forgot. You two had dinner last night. Did it get well?

Yanqing:..It was fine. My cooking was criticized but she still ate two plates. We got through Cloud Knight business pretty quickly. Sorry I couldn’t treat you as well.

March:Water under the bridge. I’m amazed you two got along well enough. I thought I would hear another fight.

Yanqing:We don’t always fight.

Caelus:Then what’s the bruise on your neck?

The boy immediately went to adjust his collar, only to realize it was still perfectly in place. Suddenly, his body froze as he felt mortified. How’d he fall for such a bluff!? March and Dan Heng felt their wallets start to hurt while Caelus and Stelle gained a grin that might as will belong on Aha.

Stelle:What’s the matter Yanqing? You look pale.

Caelus:Kindly pull down your collar and we will go in peace.

Yanqing:You all made a bet, didn’t you?

Dan Heng:If it makes you feel better, March and I thought highly of you both.

Yanqing:I’m so sorry.

March:Nooo! *drops to knees*

Stelle:For clarification, you didn’t didn’t…

Yanqing:*red* Of course not! We aren’t dumb!

Stelle:Yeaaaaah! I expect my credits handed, not wired.

Caelus:*pats Yanqing shoulder* I don’t think they’re arguing with the results. Don’t worry about the collar.

Yanqing:Thank you.

Dan Heng:So, where’s Yunli exactly?

xxxxx

Lingsha:Medicine that removes bruises?

Yunli: *in Yanqing’s clothes* Yes. That’s all I require.

Lingsha:��.

Yunli:…..Please don’t tell grandpa.

Lingsha:You have my silence. I’m just a little annoyed I now owe Jing Yuan and Feixiao 50,000 credits.

Yunli:YOU MADE A BET ON ME!?

Lingsha:In confidence, and you failed me! Just like that, they got the money back from the medical bill! *sends money*

xxxxxx

Feixiao:And that’s why you’re the Divine Foresight! We drink tonight!

Jing Yuan:Please, I’d rather not pay property damages with this. I’ll give you my share if you don’t drink until you’re home.

Feixiao:Deal!

Jing Yuan:…Was this your endgame?

Feixiao:Perhaps. Don’t worry. This goes towards a good cause.

xxxxx

Moze:How’s it feel?

Jiaoqiu: *holding cane* Natural. It’s pretty remarkable actually. How much was it?

Feixiao: *smiles* It was basically free.

[loafyall]

Aged up yanqing and yunli, Yunli becoming taller and being like 6'3 while yanqing is like 5'11

Future Xianzhou!!

Fu xuan is currently the general after jing yuan's death.

But his death was not being mara, But by an assassination from the Sanctus medicus by a dangerous enemy called Shangū, He died in front of yanqing.

His last wish was that Yanqing would live a happy and long life..

Well..

Yanqing started to mask his emotions behind a smile which he puts on everytime. Following a path of vengeance to avenge his mentor's death, he'll do anything to kill shangū.

Anything.

Yanqing is still a lieutenant and The new sword chapion although.. he shares his title with Yunli due to their so many tie in battles so people decided to make them share the title.

Yanqing carries a fan around, (like y'know the fan Tingyun has? Yea that type of fan but a different colour.).

Sushang is a respected cloud knight known for her strength is is quite cold.

Well, one of the reasons might be her Best friend, Guinaifen's death as she was a short-lived species anyway.

Sushang doesn't like yanqing and maybe never will, the only time they interact is only for work related purposes. Or if Jinglian and jingli try to make them talk with the others.

Speaking of jinli and jinglian, They are two twins who are actually niece and nephew of shangū But well, they've never met him, And They know their mother's and their Other siblings (they had two more siblings btw) death was by shangū. Jingli is a girl who uses a spear while jinglian is a boy who uses a sword, Both of their weapons were picked by yanqing.

Jinglian is usually trained under yanqing, While Jingli helps Fu xuan or bailu if they need anything, Otherwise, she also trains with yanqing and jinglian.Being trained under a sword champion who's a lieutenant is cool isn't it?

Qingque is somehow not being a door guardian and continues her work in the divination commision, Although she still slacks off and tries to Sushang or Yanqing for boba but most the time it's a no

Qingque is most of the time with sushang, Getting boba or anything except working.

After the death of huaiyan, Yunli is the general of the zhuming and visits the Luofu usually for meetings or anything like that.

Yanqing and yunli have somewhat like a shinobu and giyuu dynamic (Yanqing is Shinobu guys.) But by what General Fu xuan says, Yanqing and yunli enjoy talking to eachother.

(They mostly gossip I'm sure for some reason)

Yunli stole one of Yanqing's swords and he doesn't know about it at all.

Yunli is taller than yanqing. She is 6'3 and yanqing is like 5'11.

Bailu.. hasn't grown much, Like she's old but doesn't look like it.

Bailu hangs around with whoever she finds its either jingli or jinglian anyone.

NOT SO FUN FACTS :

few weeks after jing yuan's death Yanqing lost all his emotions for months until he started to pratice fake smiling. It worried fu xuan alot. But she didn't show it.

Yanqing was 16 when jing yuan died.

Fu xuan promised jing yuan at his grave that she would take care of yanqing and made sure the boy went the right way.

Everytime yunli and yanqing meet, It either is a conversation about how jingli and jinglian are doing or....

Just them roasting eachother. Respectfully.

Qingque tries to make sushang and yanqing friends again, But well it fails terribly,

Sushang ends up saying harsh words to Yanqing and yanqing can't snap because of reputation and ends up staring at himself at the mirror with instructive thoughts for hours.

Yanqing wants revenge on Shangū for killing his mentor who he considered as a father.

Huaiyan's death was when he got a disease and died after a week he got it.

Guinaifen died when she was 89, after Living a long and happy life with her best friend (wife.) sushang.

Yukong has passed away by old age.

Well that's all future hcs for today! Wait,

I forgot about Jingliu!

Jingliu is there, hiding in the shadows, Jingliu and yanqing have met many times.

Either a battle or just talking.

Huo huo is aged up and still a scaredy cat but is a bit Brave now(because of tail)

[struggling-jpg]

Yanqing and Yunli Appreciation Post

Keep Reading cut due to 2.4 spoilers~ (also relatively long-ish post)

These two bounce off each other so well! As a writer, it feels so satisfying to see their characters shine through the quest and the event in the way their interactions highlight them. So I'm gonna use this space to ramble about it!

My previous post pretty much talked about it already, but Yanqing!!! My son!!! I was quite worried that any potential arc for him would be shoved down the road or to the side due to the scale HSR has, but the game's been actually holding up to his ongoing arc. As a result, at least to me, he's come through as one of the best written/developed characters on the Xianzhou so far.

The nature of the length of the updates lets what we get in previous quests settle in for a long while, and considering the mentioned of flow of time in-game, Yanqing's had the time to think and develop as a person. The fact that so many players have had their view and opinion of him finally turn around in this quest is a testament to that. We get to see more facets of him, as in, doing his job and the responsibilities of doing so, and how his insecurities are mentioned in a main quest for all to see. He's constantly referencing others and his past encounters. You can tell that Jing Yuan raised him with his manner and approach to things, which is highlighted by the contrast to Yunli (will get to that soon).

His position as a child soldier has made him mature faster, be quiet even when he's been wronged (filial piety/saving face (aka thank you person on Reddit who makes the banger character Yanqing (and other characters in general) appreciation posts)), take a step back and have to be able to read the room (though, reasonably, he doesn't catch on all the time), and much, much more. The fact that other official content has described him as being more worried about diplomacy and all that. He doesn't have the luxury to be as carefree or brash for someone his age.

There's a lot to unpack there still, even with the development he's had now and that's good! If the Hoyo writing team was wild enough, it'd be cool to see them address the grayness of his role and Jing Yuan's mindset in raising him as he did (We love Dad-Yuan and he loves his son dearly no question, but it'd be so interesting to explore his flaws/mistakes in this perspective!).

Now onto Yunli.

I'm saying straight off the bat, I'm irritated by her!

And that's a good thing!

Her being annoying or bratty or irritating doesn't automatically make her a badly written character! She only would become one if they don't do anything with her, and HSR most probably will, and she should be given the same room to develop in her own arc.

She acts like her age, and she doesn't have the same pressures as Yanqing does. Just like how you can see Jing Yuan in Yanqing, you can see Huaiyan in Yunli, if anything he says is to go by. She's tempremental and outspoken to a fault, and based on the way how quickly Huaiyan relented when she talked back, you can tell that Huaiyan isn't as strict/stern with her to give her a sense of being humble.

I had this thought that she's technically what the general fandom viewed Yanqing as initially, and I'm not saying that as a 100% thing, by the way. But like by some traits and the vibes. She, of course, has a lot more nuance that will be explored at one point or another.

But back on topic, she's a foil. They represent two different approaches and lifestyles and can clearly learn from each other. Her inconsideration of the fact that she's on the Luofu but enforcing Zhuming practices (which I noticed people were upset by, and same; which I imagine is the point), her bluntness to no matter who she's talking to—there's a lot to work with here.

Just like with their swordplay, Yanqing could learn from her mental strength while Yunli can learn from his focused speed and defense. He can learn to regain a more firm grasp of his recently found purpose while she can learn to mature and take in her surroundings and be more thoughtful in that front.

Another interesting note is that where we are with Yanqing currently is in the middle of his arc, we've had the time to see him take a long route of struggle to get to this point, exacerbated by irl players views of him. He's in the middle of his growth and we've had since 1.0 to get to know him. But with Yunli, she was introduced very recently, so we're technically at the "beginning" of her character arc. In a way, Yunli now highlights how far Yanqing has come and changed, and in a way Yanqing now is a potential show for the arc that Yunli can have (not being the exact same as him of course).

I think the idea with these two is that they develop to be more balanced. Balance is such an important thing, especially in Chinese culture (Daoism (Yin-Yang), etc.), and 2.4 has shown how much potential they have to make for amazing character arcs.

It's cool that while they have such similar base traits, they're so different from each other. Calling Yunli a female Yanqing or Yanqing a male Yunli is simply outright incorrect. Their backgrounds, upbringings, ideals, swordstyles, perspectives, and positions in life are so distinct. I'm looking forward to their futures!

[artheresy]

Okay so this is a topic I definitely will get more into later

But I find it very interesting how Yunli's relationship with Huaiyan is likely a direct result of him attempting to learn from his past mistakes with his apprentices and what that could say about those previous dynamics

And just how severely Huaiyan, despite his age and experience, is still making many mistakes with his choices, both in the form of habits that might have been present with the previous and flawed choices he might be making with those past mistakes in mind like an attempt to change that doesn't quite land

But I'll probably elaborate on that later, maybe tomorrow maybe later this week! I esp want to talk about his and Yingxing's potential dynamic

[revserrayyu]

2.5 trailer thoughts

I usually keep all my thoughts together for the story events, but I'm far too excited thanks to a certain character to contain all my excitement, so.. allow me to fangirl about the new trailer from today's livestream a little bit.

(there's really no spoilers but i'll kindly put everything below since it'll be a lot of chatter anyways)

Starting off with how bestest boy Luka is here! Not exactly sure how he hopped planets.. but I'll speculate about his arrival later. I do remember reading some people bring up a npc in the Shackling Prison who mentioned seeing a dude with a metal arm, but I never imagined it to be our boy and that he would actually physically be here!

I'm still a tiny bit bitter he never showed up during any main story mission, though it makes sense since he was released after the events of Belobog happened, so any time he's mentioned or we catch a glimpse of him makes me happy. Letting him get his own side event during this 2.5 patch too will be nice for him too!

I'm so fond of him and I'm always surprised how many people just don't care for the guy. I can understand how he could be a bit forgettable or not an impressive unit though, since I don't even have him built up either despite all the instances I told myself I would.

I know some people aren't fans of his design either, but c'mon, he's cute! Look at this buff, cheerful man with those pretty blue eyes, piercings and little ponytail! Aahhh.. he's precious to me.

Time to add Luka to the 'beat up Yanqing' squad alongside Blade, Jingliu, Dan Heng, Yunli and whomever else I'm forgetting. I hope our favorite boxer knocks his lights out.

Now for the spectators! I didn't notice her while first watching the livesteam, but Topaz is here! With Numby on her lap too, of course. And I was gonna assume that perhaps that's how Luka managed to arrive on the Xianzhou, courtesy of the IPC and their many connections, but then I remembered Topaz was just in Penacony.. so unless she went back and forth between planets then who knows how our boy ended up here. We can always guess the Express picked him up too. I dunno.

We even got Hook cheering on her fellow Moles member! Hard to miss Svarog there too though I wonder if Clara is with him and perhaps we just don't see her in this shot? I wanna say he trusts her enough to be on her own but then that brings up why would he even leave her side in the first place and not keep watch of the Underground, unless Svarog decided to join just to support Luka. That would be a nice little form of respect carried over from our boxer's mission. And Lynx which naturally leads me to question where Serval and Geppie could be right now. I can't imagine Gepard would be fine with having Lynx travel all the way to a new planet when the guy gets stressed out about her simply venturing into the snow plains during her job. Serval on the other hand.. yeah, she's totally let Lynx travel. But I'd still much rather see all the siblings around more! I miss them terribly! I'd love it if there were more Belobogians in the crowd that we just didn't get to see yet but I'm thankful we even get a few and learn that they're finally able to venture away from their cold, icy planet and experience new places like this.

And lastly we have the most handsome man in all of space and Qingque who is undoubtedly avoiding work. The two of them did actually meet previously during that silly hotel checkout event in Penacony so it's fun to seem them be friendly still.

Yeah, okay, so here's where I start to go crazy over our Lacking General more. What a surprise, right? I mean, how could I not after seeing her storm into battle whilst riding a ship like this??

At first, I also didn't notice it was Yukong who said the "Feixiao, the ports of Starskiff Haven are crawling with wolf-like creatures. They're moving fast," lines. My excitement for Feixiao clearly took priority. (I am curious why she bothered to say wolf-like instead of Borisin though? If Yanqing knows about them then surely Yukong knows what they are, right?)

Even if it's just a quick cutscene, I'm so thrilled for us to finally see Yukong fight! We've heard enough of her pilot days so something as simple as this is great, though I'd love to see her fly again too.

Feixiao coming in hot to aide her war buddy, still looking badass as ever, let's gooo!

Ma'am do you know how amazing you are??

She told Yukong to "Hold them back, I will be there immediately" and she definitely kept her word! Even using her follow up attack, or something visually similar to it.

That grin… oh god. I would willingly stand on the other end of her gunblade in order to see that prideful smirk of hers. (also never realized that pattern on the inside of her jacket before. that's pretty neat.)

*Mandatory screenshot for me to giggle and kick my feet to while I obsess over how beautiful her design is* tee-hee~

Okay so for this bow and arrow shot, there could always be the chance that this style of bow is standard and that all military personal use them, but since we don't see that many archers, I'm gonna blissfully assume she's borrowing Yukong's bow here. I was kinda amazed to see Feixiao capable of wielding a bow and arrow too, considering she's already mastered her gunblades and battleaxe, but hey, it just adds to her talent. It makes more sense after seeing that teaser of her upcoming myriad video though.

Ohhh buddy.. I know our lady experiences Moon Rage but I wasn't expecting her to go off quite like this!

Not only is she strong as fuck already but she's gonna end up as a boss fight too? Brooo.. that's insane. I love it. I pray she gets an awesome battle theme.

Now while her condition is certainly a big problem, I don't think she just decided "hey let me go insane at this very moment" and gave into it willingly. I'm sure she's gained a certain amount of control over it throughout the years, so my assumption coupled with her statement of her "lacking in worries" leads me to believe that something or someone (aka Hoolay) forced her into this state..

.. because hot damn, she looks positively possessed. It's such a simple detail but the red ring around her eyes is so effectively chilling, like you know you're in danger when you see her like this. I love this shot of her, honestly. I'm not gonna straight up say that Hoolay is controlling her somehow either, but more like Feixiao lost control of herself. What would get her to snap? I dunno, perhaps any bad news surrounding Jiaoqiu. You know, her right hand man who's supposed to keep her in good health. He wasn't spotted anywhere in the trailer, so who knows what happened to our master chef.

Huaiyan can be heard saying "Merlin's Claw, you have betrayed the alliance," but with how deep Feixiao's hatred is for Hoolay and the Borisin, I have my doubts about that. Of course, we could've all been played for fools and the two could actually be acquaintances of some sort, but it still wouldn't make sense to me. The only similarity these two could possibly bond over is Hoolay's line of them both being "monsters that were born for war and die for war."

I'm not saying I wouldn't love an evil Feixiao, since I do have my fair share of villains, but yeah. Anyways, obligatory screenshot to make me swoon even more.

Also I haven't a clue about what this light is or who or what it's coming from either but I for sure thought it was gonna wipe out our General the first time I watched the trailer..

only for her to just.. ignore it completely. Or re-direct it ever so slightly away from her. Either way, I'm impressed.

Naturally the trailers go by real quickly and are never in story sequence order so I could be totally wrong about this, but I wanna assume Feixiao regains control over herself during the fight to take down Hoolay? If her normal eyes and confident grin are anything to go by anyways.

After hearing bits and pieces about how Jingliu was the one who originally defeated Hoolay, the master of ice does indeed show up again for the upcoming patch! Oohhh I'm so excited. I wonder if Jing Yuan had anything to do with her sudden appearance considering she was locked up on another ship. Imagine if we get to see her and Feixiao team up in order to take down the beast? Oh my god, I think I'd pass out if we get such a scene!

It may just be this one screenshot, but her expression doesn't really seem like she's accepting an alliance with Hoolay. Still feels like there's some anger there to me. Maybe distrust. But nothing close to joy or calm. Or this scene could just be an illusion. Who knows.

Wouldn't it be grand though, if all of this was sorta planned? To get this close to Hoolay but instead of siding with him (because why on earth would Feixiao do such a thing) but to figure out if the war head is truly capable of providing a cure for her condition like Jiaoqiu hoped? Or perhaps she's just getting close to him to get her revenge in a sort of 'keep your friends close but your enemies closer' sort of way, yeah?

Many ideas and many days left until we get our answers. One thing is certain though: we need Jiaoqiu back at her side please, like now! Sir, please come back and calm down your General!

[almea]

I finished the 2.5 story and I enjoyed it overall, although it didn’t hit me quite as hard as Penacony did. I think maybe that’s something to be expected with a Trailblaze Continuance vs a Trailblaze Mission. I don’t know, I just cried so hard at the end of Penacony, both 2.2 and 2.3, lmao.

Truly my favourite thing is that they seem to be giving Stelle more voice lines during the story that aren't just internal dialogue. It is my dream for them to continue giving her more and more voices lines so she can really be an actual character.

It was a little surprising for me when I realized how little Stelle did in the story though. I think she just went to investigate Stargazer Navalia with Yanqing and Feixiao, found Moze in Exalting Sanctum with them, and then was fighting the borisin in Aurum Alley with Moze. I did like how she mentioned her not being at the Skysplitter to help fight Hoolay when she’s talking with March at the end. It doesn’t bother me a ton when Stelle doesn’t have a lot to do in a specific story, I love how often they used the perspective swapping in the story so we could see what was going on with everyone, because she’s always around so it doesn’t feel too bad if she’s a little out of focus once in a while, but it kind of sucks for Moze that I don't think he got any really big moments since he has less chances to be relevant. I wish they had made him and Stelle finding a nearly dead Jiaoqiu an actual scene instead of just text so we could get a little more out of Moze, but it is what it is.

Jiaoqiu’s little trick with poisoning Hoolay by poisoning himself being foreshadowed with his comment about the green peppers was pretty cool, but I’m curious about whether it was intentional that it could have also been a little foreshadowed in March’s training event last patch since in his route there was some talk of Lingsha’s blood having special properties because of her having consumed so many medicines over the years. idk it was the first think I thought of when I realized what he did.

I've grown pretty fond of Yanqing over the course of the story. He’s just so earnest and I think his childish, competitive side coming out with Yunli is very cute. And I really love the relationship that has developed between him, March, and Yunli. It’s so sweet that Yanqing and Yunli are both so proud of March and she’s also so fond of her two little masters. I really hope we get to continue seeing more of their interactions in the future.

This does not stop me from being like, stay the fuck away from my pulls. He's already at fucking E4 and I still don't have Gepard.

March, Yanqing, and Yunli fighting a berserk Feixiao was soooo good. I really loved Yunli attempting to just fucking grapple her when she's so much smaller than Feixiao. It really adds to her feral cat energy. It’s very sweet, in a weird way, that Feixiao put her faith in these kids and fully believed they would be able to hold her back and keep her from causing too much destruction while she was rampaging. Especially because we later find out that Fu Xuan left Jing Yuan a prediction that they should trust the younger generation.

I thought it was funny that during the story March was like "If I had known we could use other weapons, I would have brought my bow with me" and then she just fucking summons it in the cutscene when they’re fighting Feixiao. Sometimes I think about the logistics behind the way they summon their weapons in cutscenes and I should probably stop trying to make sense of it because it really does seem to be governed by Rule of Cool. Seeing her preservation ult in a cutscene was so fun though. A while ago I was thinking about how cool it would be if was ever a cutscene where Stelle switches between her paths in the middle of a fight by switching her weapon and March ended up getting to do it before her and it was just as cool as I thought it would be.

I loved March just clinging to Feixiao's leg in the cutscene when she regains control of herself. She's just trying her best to help. And I’m just very proud of the three of them for managing to not get fucking obliterated by a general. It was also very cute seeing them support Feixiao and helping her stand. I don’t know, they’re just all good kids and I love them.

I don’t have a really concrete reason for it, but I just really like Feixiao. It may just be my weakness for hot, strong women, but she’s just so cool. I love how strong her resolve is, strong enough that this is the first time in the story that we’ve seen someone other than Stelle draw an Aeon’s gaze, and that she seems as devoted to Jiaoqiu and Moze as they are to her. She also has SUCH cool cutscenes. The one of her using Yukong’s bow to fire a a giant arrow all the way to Aurum Alley because it would have taken to long to get there to help????? Hello???? Who let her be so cool???

I really am looking forward to seeing more of her in the future and this plotline she has of trying to restore Jiaoqiu’s eyesight. And also seeing the repercussions/benefits of her swallowing the crimson moon.

It’s like a little funny to me that Jiaoqiu is blind now just because it doesn’t matter anymore that his eyes are always closed, he wouldn’t be able to see with them open anyways.

When Lingsha was announced and I saw she was a Vidyadhara, I was like. My opinion on her is 100% going to be based on how she treats Bailu because I love Bailu very dearly and every Vidyadhara that’s introduced is going to be judged by whether or not they’re nice to her. So I'm really happy to see that she appears to be very kind to her and Bailu likes her enough to call her sister.

I think it's so sweet that Dan Heng is always asking for Bailu’s opinion. He’s so protective of the rest of the Astral Express crew and it seems like that protectiveness has extended to Bailu and it makes me so happy every time it comes up. I hope they get more into Bailu being sick of being used as a puppet and wanting to leave soon because I too am sick of the way she's disrespected in universe. Let Dan Heng bring her on the Express with him. I would also accept Lingsha protecting Bailu and helping her have more freedom since she’s the new Cauldron Master. I don’t know how much pull she actually has, but I can dream.

I'm so sad that they sent Fu Xuan away to a different ship for this story arc because I miss her!!! Let me see her!!! I still think she had the coolest intro cutscene in the game and I couldn't not love her after that. And because she's been carrying my ass through everything since she's the only limited sustain I have lmao.

God, I am so excited for Ruan Mei potentially being a menace on the Luofu. Like, girl, what have you been up to? Did you do anything fucked up to Tingyun? Aren’t Himeko and Welt supposed to be delivering fossils to you? Why are you on the Luofu? Oh but maybe they’re the ones who brought her to the Luofu. I need answers!

When Tingyun started talking, I was just like, oh no, this is going to be the end of the story for this patch, isn't it? And then it was!!! And next patch is just Rappa, and from her character intro thing I assume we’re going back to Penacony, so who knows when this Tingyun plotline is going to pick up again.

[lesbianwright]

I remember meeting Misha.

He was a bright-eyed, dream-filled youngster and, looking back on that part of the story, I can think of so many other characters I would have loved to see Misha interact with. Arlan, Clara, Yanqing, Yunli, Lynx, Luka, and more: they keep adding kids with big dreams and a deeply rooted sense of duty to this game.

But Misha will never pet Peppy with Arlan, and he'll never talk gizmos and gadgets with Clara. He won't compare the dreamscape of Penacony to the ships of the Xianzhou with Yanqing and Yunli. He won't go exploring with Lynx. He'll never learn to throw a punch with Luka.

All of these other characters will gets to grow up. Misha won't.

Arguably, a version of Misha already grew up and lived out his life. But for a long time our version of Misha didn't know that. And I know he accepted this truth with grace, and perhaps wasn't a real person to begin with.

But I still carry my childhood self around with me. It's very Yellowjackets of me, sure, but -- don't we all?

It's complicated, is what I mean. And maybe Misha's story is big enough for both peace and grief. This is, after all, a couple of paragraphs I'm writing out in the dark hours of the morning, not a painstaking philosophical exploration. But there's something a little too real about wanting to change, and grow, and leave ... and having to come to terms with death, actual death, instead.

Penacony pulled so many fake-outs and allegorical deaths out of its hat that I sometimes forget that someone really did die there. And we'll never get texts from Mikhail and his companions. I suppose that's what Misha's character was meant to do: to humanize Mikhail, and make his life and death personal to the trailblazer and to us. To let us hold the value of Mikhail's life in our hands in the form of Misha, who wanted so badly to grow up and see the universe. When Pom-Pom wails in Himeko's arms, we know who our conductor is crying for.

I just find it a little too close to home.

"I feel like I'm getting closer to my dreams!" :: MISHA

[ladyartemesia]

this ask is for namjoon and yunli :))

for yunli, when did you start noticing namjoon?

for namjoon, have you ever felt differently for yunli when you were younger?

Yunli’s Answer:

“I really idolized Yoongi when we were growing up. I was always chasing him and tagging along everywhere. He and Namjoon weren’t close yet because everything between our clans was still pretty fresh back then...”

Yunli smiled, letting the treasured memory play through her mind.

“One day—when I was about six years old—Yoongi was called out to help our grandfather with the horses, We were selling a few geldings to Kim clan so it was a big deal.”

She chuckled and shook her head.

“I was far too young to be there, but I was angry that only Yoongi got to go so I followed them instead of going to school that day.”

Goddess I was so spoiled.

“The whole thing bored me after about five minutes. I ended up wandering off to play near the stables... And honestly everything would have been fine but... one of the horses got loose and ran straight for me. It would have killed me too—I’m sure of it...but—”

Her eyes took on a soft faraway light.

“There was a boy—a beautiful boy...He ran over and pulled me out of the way—took a kick for me as well...”

Yunli could still see him charging toward her—could feel his body crashing into hers—even after all these years.

“Namjoon’s always been the hero type I suppose. He broke his arm, but by saving me he managed to heal a lot of the bad blood between our clans. He and Yoongi were allowed to become friends and they became inseparable almost immediately...And I was always there—chasing after both of them.”

A first rate pest probably, but they were surprisingly patient with me.

“I’m not sure when my child-like adoration turned into something more, but when I was twelve I decided to tell him—for some ridiculous reason—that he was going to be my mate someday.”

She shuddered from the residual embarrassment.

“Looking back I probably made him so uncomfortable. He was eighteen and I was just a kid... But he was very kind considering the circumstances... He ruffled my hair and told me in no uncertain terms that he was going to be the Luna’s mate...so he couldn’t be mine.”

He broke my heart.

“I cried and cried that night...”

And many nights afterward.

“But I never got over him. I never stopped wishing he would choose me.”

Namjoon’s Answer:

“Min Yunli was an absurdly adorable child. She’s always had just about everyone wrapped around her finger and I was no exception. But...”

He rubbed the back of his neck reflexively.

“When she was about twelve or thirteen she told me she wanted to be my mate someday... Obviously she was just a little kid so I was pretty firm with her about it. She was my best friend’s sister and a child and that is exactly how I saw her—the only way I saw her.”

Namjoon sighed heavily.

“I knew her crush on me never really went away, but I honestly never gave it a second thought... not until the Night of Lover’s Moon. Only two days before her eighteenth birthday and when I caught her sneaking out in the moonlight...”

Even now—years later—his chest still tightened with the aftershocks of that moment.

“She was suddenly the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen... The little girl was gone, but she still looked at me the same way... like she’d give me anything I asked for...”

And suddenly I wanted to ask. To beg even.

“From that moment on she became... a real problem. One that just kept getting worse the more I tried to ignore it.”

He laughed, rubbing his hand idly over his chest.

Over his heart.

“I never stood a chance.”

[baoshan-sanren]

Chapter 30

of the wwx emperor au I’m thinking of calling Lan QiRen’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week oh god it’s only gonna get worse

Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 Part 1 | Chapter 8 Part 2 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 Part 1 | Chapter 15 Part 2 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22 Part 1 | Chapter 22 Part 2 | Chapter 23 | Chapter 24 | Chapter 25 | Chapter 26 | Chapter 27 | Chapter 28 | Chapter 29

They watch the lanterns from a rooftop terrace.

The inn itself is large and lovely. The front faces the main road, which crosses YiLing east to west, leading directly to the Immortal Mountain. The back opens into an enclosed garden, the tallow trees awash in autumn colors, hiding whatever unsightly neighbors may exist beyond their red-gold canopy of branches. It is difficult to fully conceal the haphazardness of YiLing, but the designer of the inn had cleverly used the landscape to obscure as much of the town as possible. One could easily imagine, if occupying the rooms and balconies facing the garden, that no such thing as overcrowded winehouses or street markets could exist in its vicinity.

In short, it is not a type of place where the Lan Sect would ever attempt to secure lodgings, nor would XiChen ever walk into its front halls of his own volition.

Nie MingJue has no such reservations. The innkeeper’s insistence that the terrace can only be accessed by the guests of the inn falls on deaf ears, and is soon completely silenced by Nie MingJue’s contemptuous glare. A simple glint of gold is enough to make XiChen’s Lan Sect uniform invisible. In moments, they are both personally escorted to the roof of the building.

The terrace is not large, and they are not alone. XiChen tucks himself into a corner overlooking the street, MingJue’s bulk easily blocking him from the sight of other patrons, preventing any unwanted attention. The towering mass of the Immortal Mountain is a black, indistinct shape to the west, a silent guardian watching over YiLing. The first lanterns are always released from the Emperor’s palace, and they seem to have arrived just in time to see them rising from a pitch black void between the earth and heavens, resembling handfuls of fading stars hanging low in the sky.

XiChen had assumed that YiLing may prove itself less disordered when seen from above, the way one can only see a large pattern from a distance. He is wrong. There truly is no sense or structure to be seen in its layout. Not a single street is free of someone shouting their wares, intricate roof ridge decorations arch next to weathered tiles that had long needed replacing, stubborn maples grow wherever they can find a spot of dirt and a flood of rain water.

He has not yet decided if he is pleased or disappointed by the discovery, when lanterns from YiLing follow those released from the Immortal Mountain, painting the town in light and color, chasing the darkness away. XiChen has seen the Lantern Festival many times in Gusu, twice during an unplanned stay in MoLing, and once during a particularly long Sect Leader conference in LanLing. The LanLing Jin grandiosity is difficult to match anywhere in the Empire, but XiChen has never seen so many lanterns at once, transforming night into day, hardly a slice of sky visible between them.

The parade traveling the street below them swells, loud and cheerful, the sheer profusion of chaos and noise impossible to ignore, even with such an impressive light show directly above them.

XiChen turns to MingJue, intending to ask if YiLing truly holds a different procession each night of the festival. The idea still seems extravagant to him, even if it is the Emperor’s birthday. But MingJue is looking at neither the lanterns, nor the parade below, his attentive gaze and half-formed smile focused entirely on XiChen.

XiChen forgets what he had meant to ask, and looks away again, his face heating.

They are standing close, to keep their distance from the other spectators gathered on the terrace. It is only a handful of guests, their voices indistinct murmurs, easily drowned out by the clamor from the street.

XiChen does not like feeling flustered, especially in the presence of strangers.

“Sect Leader--“

“You have asked me to call you by your name,” Nie MingJue says, his voice low, “and I have obeyed. But no matter how many times I ask, you will not do the same.”

XiChen folds his hands in his sleeves, to keep them steady and out of sight. The only sources of light on the terrace are the small, paper lamps decorating the inn roof, and even they only cast a reddish, muted glow. XiChen fervently hopes that their glow is faint enough to conceal the color in his cheeks.

“It would be improper,” he says.

Even as he speaks, he inwardly cringes at the absurdity of the words.

How hypocritical of him, to call such familiarity improper. Did he not allow the man to hold his hand whenever he wished? Had he not welcomed each advance with a smile? Can he not still feel the press of Nie MingJue’s palm on the small of his back?

And yet, regardless of how imprudent all his earlier behavior may be, he must draw a line somewhere. If not for the sake of propriety, then for the sake of his own sanity.  

"Would it be less improper if I were to speak plainly of my admiration?”

Oh, XiChen thinks, breath leaving him in a rush.

Although this is something he had long suspected, to have it spoken out loud, to have it confirmed in such direct fashion, seems to be more than he had been prepared to handle. How can something be so thrilling, and yet cause so much confusion and misery?

“Even if you were to speak plainly,” XiChen says, struggling to keep his voice firm, “You would still be the General of the Emperor’s army, with duties to perform and a Sect to lead. And I-- I would still be the future leader of the Lan Sect. We should not speak of impossible things.”

“This is your only objection? Not my temper or disposition, but the circumstances of our individual positions?”

Mortified, XiChen imagines that his face must be as red as the lamps decorating the roof.

“You are being rather bold,” he says, “but I have found no other cause for disapproval.”

Nie MinJue falls silent. XiChen returns to watching the parade without truly seeing it, the trembling agitation in his chest refusing to settle.

Unexpectedly, he feels guilty, as if the circumstances which prevent him from speaking just as directly are somehow of his own making. The General of the Emperor’s army may bestow his admiration liberally, and he may do so as boldly as he pleases. Ultimately, Nie MingJue has nothing to lose. A small bit of lost pride in having to face rejection can be nothing to someone so highly esteemed. But XiChen, destined to lead a disgraced Sect, can never be so bold. The small bit of dignity he possesses might be pitiful and tattered, but he cannot put it aside, regardless of his heart’s desires.

A flash of white in the crowd is a welcome distraction, but even so, it takes him some time to recognize the Lan Sect robes, and even longer to realize why the sight of them is so jarring.

It is only one set of robes. One single disciple moving through the crowds, when uncle had been more than explicit in his instructions. They are always to travel in pairs, regardless of circumstances. There are a few places in the Empire where a lone Lan disciple may pass unscathed, but YiLing has never been one of them.

“XiChen?”

“I think something is wrong,” XiChen says, “that is Lan YunLi, and he should not be here. Not this late in the evening, and not alone.”

“Come,” Nie MingJue does not hesitate, “let us catch him before he disappears.”

[stxrquotes]

hello welcome to the silly

silly text posts masterlist

what follows under the cut are mod’s headcanons that will run rampant through quotes and memes and things i might make🦧also here’s some ships i like and stuff

all quotes containing any ship content will be tagged as !stxrship , so if you dont want to see any ship content block this tag!!

be warned before clicking readmore that i am afflicted with a the overexplains disease which causes me to be deeply incapable of brevity (im autistic)

the theory that dr ratio is a worm of the elation/he’s a masked fool (i am very inclined to believe he has not been let into the genius society precisely because he is aha’s mole sent to infiltrate it because it would be funny. but nous is a smarty pants)

herta and silver wolf play gamepigeon (they are engaged in an ongoing wordhunt battle)

yanqing and yunli also keep up their rivalry with gamepigeon (or whatever the equivalent of gamepigeon is in the honkai universe. i refuse to believe they dont have some kind of app that lets you play games over text)

fu xuan swears so much when she’s mad

qingque is a gifted burnout kid (not even really a headcanon, it’s pretty much true, i just dont know how many people read character stories lmao)

ASTRAL EXPRESS SUNDAY ??? PERCHANCE ?? STELLARON HUNTER SUNDAY ???? (idc if he wont be a stellaron hunter, that brief era where we all thought he would was so fun even though it didnt make sense and i think we should still enjoy the idea that he almost was one)

stelle’s in-game replies seem more chaotic and reckless than caelus who, while he still has plenty of silly raccoon energy, tends to be more gentle than her. dont get me wrong hes got plenty of the same potential for social havoc but there are genuine differences depending on which one you picked, which is very silly. so yeah stelle is a little more loudly unhinged; caelus is still plenty unhinged just a little sneakier about it. like for a second you think hes normal but then its like ah. no he was weird all along. stelle is just a lost cause i think she’s an uncontrollable toddler and i love it .im saying all this as someone who uses caelus, this is just something ive observed and heard from others. so, often i will take this into account when choosing which trailblazer is in a quote depending on which i think it would fit better :)

[things-i-think-and-junk]

I love almost every character in Zhen Huan and I really like to rewatch it, but two characters really make it difficult for me. On the whole, it’s a really well done drama and the character of Zhen Huan is not as passive as other CDrama protagonists (though there are moments where it seems like she’s making a martyr out of herself.) It helps Sunli is absolutely wonderful and mesmerizing.

Duan Fei and Meizhuang continue to be too good for all that palace drama and deserve the best of everything. Even the antagonists, I can really get into because they’re sympathetic in different ways and the message of this is about how they are banded together in a way, trampled on by the same system.

I really wish though that I could find something entertaining about Huanbi and 17th Prince. Huanbi has her moments and she redeems herself from her earlier betrayal, but so many of her later actions come across as petty. Her entitlement is also a bit off putting. Anlingrong has entitlement too, but it’s both pitiful and insight into her motivations. Huanbi, she just kind of seems like a spoiled brat, which I know is part of the point, but it’s not fun to watch.

Yunli is just bland. One of the things Yanxi really had going for it is Fuheng was well fleshed out and changed in a number of ways. He still had his flaws like his temper and his lateral thinking, always staying in the past and never moving forward, which he is reminded of several times. Yunli is too perfect. If he has a flaw, it hasn’t come out yet. I thought at first it might be that he is impetuous, but all of his moments with the Emperor, where the Emperor lays traps for him, he quickly thinks of ways to sidestep the trap and appear harmless. He doesn’t have a temper, he’s not selfish or conceited in any way. He’s just presented as the perfect mate and that’s it, the one every one wants.

The Emperor is also an antagonist in a way, but he’s compelling in the same manner the Empress is. Though I say he has more likeable moments and some of his motivations are kind of logical. I mean, his paranoia about his concubines does seem justified if they are all scheming in some manner to bring down one or the other. His suspicions of several of his advisors are definitely warranted.

This turned into a rambly post, but I guess this drama brings out a lot of thoughts. I like it, I just wish that the Yunli and Huanbi were more enjoyable.

[ladyartemesia]

the alpha 👀 mister min yoongi how do u think will be your relationship with your mate?

He sighed.

“Honestly...between you and me I’m beginning to wonder if she’s still out there. Because of the Change wolves find their mates relatively young.”

A sad smile stole over his face.

“I always imagined that she would make me laugh. Someone who I could rely on... relax with... It never occurred to me that—”

Yoongi shook his head.

“Humans mate much later than we do. I’m beginning to envy them. If my mate is in this pack then she still hasn’t gone through the Change yet... An age gap like that is uncommon ...and they all look so young...”

He ran his fingers through his hair.

“My mother and Yunli have begun to hint that I should find a beta who smells compatible. There are many strong and intelligent beta women in our pack...”

Long delicate fingers traced a mindless pattern on the table as his eyes took on an oddly hopeful light.

“I just can’t shake the feeling that she’s is out there. At this point she might be nothing more than a dream... but I can’t bring myself to let go of her... Not yet.”

P. S. If this broke your heart, you can read the preview for Alpha Yoongi’s story, Season of the Witch, here.

[ladyartemesia]

Thank you so much 🥺❤️👉👈 now I'm back again 😁

I'm just waiting for the alpha chapter where joon and yunli get exposed to yoongles. waiting for the tea 👀

I love the whole series and i have a few more questions 🥺

It seems like in the au, the wolf society is pretty much detached from the human species. How is the relationship between them? Do they co-exist or are they rivals? I remember Jimin tried to hide his identity in Seoul, to his mentor. If humans and wolves are okay with each other, why does he need to hide the fact that he's a wolf?

Where is hoseok's mate? 🥺

Is the elders' council really approve of their new king? Despite he's chosen by the goddess, it does seem like him being the only alpha in his clan and still being the chosen one is a blow in the ego of the other clans.

So, male alpha= somewhat rare, female alpha= almost non existent, male beta= jimin's dad and many others, female beta=same lol, female omega= rare? male omega= almost non existent?

This one is for your muse, yoongi- buddy, the little red riding hood is getting chased by a big bad wolf 💀

Hello again lovely. The tea is indeed coming and I promise it will be piping hottttt 😉

1. I explain all about how wolf society relates to human society here.

2. Jimin wasn’t really hiding his identity. He just wanted to be treated like a normal student. Wolves are bigger than humans, but Jimin was on the smaller size for a wolf so he looked pretty average in terms of height and size. It is still pretty hard for a human to spot a wolf if they aren’t shifted. That’s why he was surprised when Taemin could.

3. You won’t find out much about Hoseok or his mate until Jungkook’s story. They are the primary side pairing in that particular tale.

4. The elder’s council is 100% on board with the new Alpha. They may have been skeptical before the fight, but after witnessing Jimin lay out Namjoon they are fully behind him now. The other clans may be salty but the Silver Fang pack has always been highly favored of the goddess (as evidenced by the presence of the Luna) and they are devout people. The identity of the goddess’s champion is quite clear. They will not question it even if they are a bit disappointed that it wasn’t one of them.

5. In terms of designations, here is the rarity:

Betas (any/all genders): very common—most wolves are betas—about 85% of a pack’s population.

Alphas (male): significantly less common—about 9% of a pack’s population.

Omegas (female): uncommon—about 6% of a pack’s population.

Male Omegas and Female Alphas: basically unicorns— <1% of wolves world-wide.

[ladyartemesia]

Out of curiosity do you think jimin would ever compel the luna for her safety or what not.. I guess like in an emergency situation? Because I for one cannot imagine him using it for mundane things bc it seems like a really harsh think to endure. Dhdb but also hypothetically how would the luna react if jimin were to compel her in like a safety scenario, bc I also don't see her wanting to sit locked away somewhere considering how she almost attacked people bc they were near jimin post alpha fight with namjoon 😩😩 also feel free to ignore if you've already answered or it spoils the plot djdn my mind is just like this story go into so much depth for my small brain to handle... OM WAIT what would happen if another alpha were to compel the luna im assuming it would work as usual unless the alpha were to have a weak compelling strength... ok I'm leaving now djd

No don’t leave! I like questions! I welcome them!

Ok so. First off—just want to reestablish that these are not humans and that the rules and expectations (etc.) of their world are different.

1. Jimin would definitely compel the Luna for her safety—or for the safety of others—basically if he deemed it necessary. He did once already when she attacked the elder’s council members.

2. The command isn’t harsh to endure—not even for another alpha—if you are willingly submitted to the wolf compelling you. It’s like a chain of command thing. This is a pack so those dynamics are important. It’s not about being told what to do. Pack social structure relies on the chain of command but it does not VALUE any one in the chain more or less. All three designations are valued equally and are seen as having vital roles to play in pack society. Abusing an alpha command is a serious crime. Like EXTREMELY serious. It is a tool to facilitate pack wellness and aid in leadership—it is not to be used for personal gain or to cause harm.

2. In an intimate sense the compel has some beneficial implications. Alphas can use the compel to help their mates (or children) to sleep, to calm them in frightening or tense situations (which can be mutually beneficial because the alpha might still be scared but if they can ensure the omega is clearheaded then it helps both of them), and even to aid their focus. This type of interaction is done consensually. The command can also be used consensually in sexual situations. As previously mentioned it is impossible to compel sexual acts without the consent of the compelled. It physically cannot be done. This phenomenon is called the “sword of the goddess” because it is believed that even the attempt to do so will bring a curse upon you.

3. In a broad leadership sense the alpha command streamlines many things in combat scenarios. It is also good for settling disputes. Humans may see this as slightly autocratic but pack society relies heavily on the alphas to maintain order. That is their purpose. It is the role they serve. Their abilities aid them in leading their clans and families or groups or whatever. Betas and omegas are capable of being leaders, but many times they...just don’t really care to be. They more often excel as invaluable advisors and strategists. The Luna is a clear exception however. She is born a leader.

4. A lot of these dynamics rely on trust. Abusing an alpha command is an almost sacrilegious offense. You cannot just use it to get your way or exert control over another person. When this happens it is a serious crime and the punishment is severe.

5. An example in the story of alpha command being used really well is when Tae subdues Yunli when she is about to run into the circle. Her instincts were out of control. He saved her, but he didn’t overstep his bounds. Wolves are more volatile in general than humans. The command—especially when given by The Alpha—can often bring focus and calm to a situation where emotions are running high. You will see a bit of this in the coming chapters.

6. The society is not matriarchal or patriarchal really and it’s not really *ruled* by alphas in general. An Alpha and a Luna hold equal authority and rule as a unit. Most leadership positions are undertaken jointly by mated pairs regardless of gender or designation. The chief of the elder’s council is always a beta or an omega and the other council members must include one beta, one omega, and one (non-clan leader) alpha from each of the clans (if available—not all clans have all three—though all clans have betas).

7. (Added later because I forgot to answer it) 🙈 Another alpha would not dare compel the Luna (outside of her father when she was a little girl) and if they tried it probably wouldn’t work. Lunas are very special and hard to compel in general.