#i just think there needs to be a discussion on how big a role grief is for her

[bokettochild]

I cannot BELIEVE no one told me we had an update!!!!!

Anyways, here's my favorite bits as always, because I need to SCREAM about this one!

The rupee acquisition!

I love how JoJo included that traditional *item acquired* pose that all the Links do, and gave it a reason in the comic (Wind insisting he hold it up is just so fun)

Sky's comment though, "don't spend it all in one place". Isn't that a line you get in Skord when you acquire rupees? The cute little easter eggs here are so fun!

I also really love how Legend is taking an instructional role here, both with Wars and the champion!

While also letting his veteran show

and I love that the rest recognize that! Wild calling Legend "an expert" and actually listening to what he has to say, even if he doesn't agree with it.

I also super like the panels of Twilight's interaction with Legend here

Very eldest and middle sibling discussing the youngest child, and I love it. It reminds us that, even for all the cuteness we got between them in the last arc, Twilight still sees Legend as too rough around the edges, enough that it borders on bullying when it comes to some of the rest, and he's trying to curb that. And Legend is LISTENING, because (as I've said a thousand times) Legend respects Twilight and values his opinion. Twilight is his big brother too now and Legend, while still being himself, genuinely seems to care about his opinion.

Twilight's just tense in general, although why, I think is mostly because of Time's sharp scolding in the last update. Even though he's snapping back at the younger ones, he's not very happy to be snapped at right now, and he's eager to get out from under Time's watchful eye.

Time and Warriors

Because while he feels e has grounds to correct Legend for telling Wild what to do, Warriors straight up subtly scolding his protege is different. And the difference is that Legend and Wild and Twi had camaraderie (see Dawn p.3), they're brothers, but Wars is approaching this as a commander, a captain, and Twi doesn't appreciate that. Warriors isn't their leader though, but he's taking that role anyways. (Old habits die hard, I'm sure)

I mean, we all knew Wars was going to confront Wild sooner or later, but I'm glad he was so calm about it. Twilight's ruffled feathers (fur) is more from Time being overbearing, I believe, so it aggravates any slight annoyance Warriors might present.

Even despite some of our suspicions earlier, I like this bit here. Wild was a soldier once, and the captain is very much the image of what he would have worked with before. JoJo mentioned wanting to play with that dynamic, with them bothering having military background, and I think this is that training (hundred years ago though it was) kicking in and making the champion defer to the man who outranks him (as far as they know). Granted, they all call Wars "Captain" but this felt pointed.

I do love Four acting as the word of wisdom here, advising Time, just like he does Twilight, as to the best way to handle a team. it's a reminder that he's done this before, and he knows how teamwork can be, but also that sometimes you need space and working together means working in different areas.

Anyways, here's a couple bonus things that make me happy!

Bunny stance!

(shh, I know he's making a point by stepping on Wild's toes, let me have this)

Wars being so freaking pretty! Dear Hylia help me! (Is it wrong I understand Cia a bit now?)

Wind being the youngest sibling who is Done With Your Chatter

A competent boy being competent (and not as experienced as Ledge, but pretty darn close (if you've played both their games you know))

Showing off items! (I can hear the little ✨da nana na✨)

And of course, I love Time being a tired, overprotective parent (he looks like my mom here, good grief!)

[callsigns-haze]

Loves Haze

Eris x Rhysand's Sister!Reader

Summary: When the finally memory hit, the acknowledge of Eris and Y/N being alive only started a new legacy.

*can be read alone but serves as a sequel with my series Memories fade

Back to beginning

Summary: Y/N wakes up from the dead, overwhelmed by confusion and grief, learning about her miraculous revival and Eris' survival, breaking down in tears as the nurses comfort her. She prepares to reunite with Eris and face their new beginning.

Lock it in

Summary: Y/N and Eris solidify their bond through an intimate meal, leading to a passionate night that deepens their love and connection. In the quiet of their cabin, they find solace and joy in each other's embrace.

Right part

Summary: Eris and Y/N bask in the serene night, discussing their future children under the stars, their love and dreams intertwining in the tranquil embrace of their shared future.

Morning surprise

Summary: Eris and Y/N share an intimate morning, deepening their bond and reflecting on their future together. Afterward, Eris tenderly cares for Y/N, emphasizing the depth of his love and devotion.

Baby Spark

Summary: YN and Eris welcome their newborn son Finna into the world after a long and arduous labor, solidifying their bond and vowing to give him a life filled with love and joy. Despite their hidden existence, their family's strength and unity shine through as they cherish the beginning of their new life together.

Lucky

Summary: Y/N and Eris experience their first night home alone with their newborn son, Finna. As they navigate the challenges of soothing their baby, they share playful moments and deep affection, ultimately finding comfort in each other and the new addition to their family.

Not like him

Summary: Eris juggles his responsibilities as a leader and a new father, struggling with memories of his cruel upbringing. Overwhelmed by self-doubt, he fears becoming like his father, Beron. With the support of his advisor, Borra, Eris finds strength in his bond with his son, Finna, and reaffirms his commitment to his family.

Ace of the aces

Summary: Eris wakes up alone, realizing Y/N has taken their son, Finna, out for the morning. As he starts a fire and picks up a book, he drifts back to sleep. He wakes to Y/N and Finna returning home with a new hunting hound puppy, bringing back memories of his own twelve hounds from childhood.

Little guard

Summary: Eris attempts to put Finna down for a nap, only to have Ace bark in protest, showing his desire to stay close to the baby. Eris and Yn watch with affection as Ace settles into his role as Finna's protector.

An outburst of a spark

Summary: Eris and Y/N discover their son Finna has powerful magic after a dramatic outburst, leaving Eris panicked and uncertain. Together, they resolve to support and guide Finna, reaffirming their bond as a family.

When the stars fall

request: I feel like we NEED to see how do they celebrate starfall as a family! I would die to see Eris with baby Finna trying to make everything perfect for Y/N as she definitely misses starfall with her brother. I feel that Eris would do everything to make it perfect!!!

Baby traitor

Request: I would love to see Finnas first words and I think it would be hilarious if his first words would be the dogs name instead of dada and Eris just loosing his mind lol

Another?

Summary: During a late night adult time a big statement is dropped

The gain of loss

Part 2

Summary: Y/N and Borra venture into Valkyrie ruins to find training scrolls for Finna, only to encounter the Inner Circle and feel a sudden, intense pain in her lower abdomen. Borra quickly winnows them back home, where Y/N faces the unknown cause of her pain, determined to protect her family.

Rest now my love

Summary: Eris cares for a bedridden Y/N, ensuring she rests following their recent loss while balancing the needs of their baby, Finna. Amidst their struggle, they find solace and strength in their unwavering love and support for each other.

Happy 1st spark

Summary: Finna turns one and Eris and Y/N need to make it special

So he did it?

Summary: Y/N returns home after a difficult visit to the healer, burdened by the news of how magical force fields had impacted her pregnancy and her diminished chances of conceiving again. Eris greets her with concern and support, creating a moment of quiet solace as she prepares to confront the heavy truths ahead.

Puppy litter

Summary: Eris discovers that Ace, their loyal hound, has fathered a litter with a pregnant female dog. They decide to name the dog Charlie, and Y/N introduces their one-year-old son, Finna, to their new family member. Despite Finna’s adorable attempts to say Charlie’s name, Ace remains fiercely protective of his new companion, signalling the start of a new chapter for their growing family.

Happy birthday Star

Summary: Y/N's birthday has came upon the household and Eris and his son will do everything to make it perfect

Water Baby

Summary: Eris and Y/N enjoy a perfect day by the lake, playing with Finna

Goodbye

Summary: Y/N struggles with the emotional weight of leaving Eris and Finna for a year of intense training, leading to a tearful and comforting night in Eris's arms.

Loves separation

Summary: Once they are separated the family finally understands its worth

Welcome home

Summary: The family is finally back together

Round two Baby

Summary: Eris and Y/N confront their fears and embrace hope as they learn of Y/N's new pregnancy, vowing to face the challenges ahead together.

Sequel

Tagging some who may be interested:

@callsign-magnolia

@kmc1989

@hardballoonlove

@senawashere

@hookslove1592

@marvel-molly

@lucky7rosie

@daughterofthemoons-stuff

@lilah-asteria

@crossfandomslut

@pit-and-the-pen

@inky-sun

@the-sweet-psycho

@why4anne

@bunnyredgirl

@rcarbo1

@pandabiiissh

@adalia-jaycee

@marvelsmylife

@swiftie-4-lifes-stuff

[archiveikemen]

Jace Main Story: Chapter 1

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

Read this before interacting

I think he’s like a flower — a gorgeous, bewitching flower that gives off a sweet, pleasant fragrance. 

That charming smile of his made heads turn, drawing them in and making them addicted to it. With love from others and lust as its fertiliser, the flower blooms more beautifully than ever. 

The flower’s heart, however—.

What kind of true feelings, known to none, are hidden behind that smile? 

…

The next day, my fate took an unexpected turn. 

I urgently applied for a paid leave and spent all morning packing my belongings. Right now, I stood in front of a condominium building with a huge luggage in hand. 

(I was told that I only had to bring myself, but I thought I should at least bring the bare minimum of my daily necessities. Even so…) 

(This condominium gets even more impressive the more I stare at it. Is it really okay for me to live here from today onwards…?) 

My resolve that should’ve been hardened felt like it was starting to waver. In my mind, I thought back to the Chief’s cold voice during our phone call in the morning.  

(Applying for leave right after that happened… of course the people at the company will have lots to say.) 

I got a heavy feeling in my chest, but I decided to shake it off and avoid brooding over it. 

(This is for the sake of my presentation! I should give it my all!) 

…

Sakura: Heya, you’re here. 

Sakura-san welcomed me inside with a big smile. 

Rina: Good morning, Sakura-san. I look forward to working with you from today on! 

Sakura: It’s good to see you’re full of energy. I look forward to it too, good luck. 

Rina: Okay! 

Sakura: Let me take you to your room right away. Come with me. 

…

I was brought to a guest room with a spacious living-cum-dining area next to it.

The room was well furnished with glamorous furniture, even the curtains and wallpaper looked luxurious. It was much larger than my own place. 

(This looks like a high-end hotel.) 

Rina: Would it be alright for me to use such a gorgeous room? 

Sakura: Surely. It’s unoccupied anyway. 

Sakura: We’ll leave the talk about your job at the office for another day. Now let’s discuss your role of being a housekeeper.  

Sakura-san gave a simple explanation of my job scope as a housekeeper. 

In this condominium, each room seemed to have its own designated housekeeper. 

The other housekeepers would also clean the common living room and bathroom. 

Sakura: You’ll be assigned to Jace’s room starting from today. I suggest getting to know him better first, it’ll make your job easier.

Sakura: For the sake of your presentation, you have to build a trusting relationship with him. Given how he is right now, he probably won’t pay attention to what you want to say. 

Rina: Indeed… you’re right. 

Sakura: Also, I believe you already understand this, but please don’t tell your company about this. 

Sakura: This is purely a special arrangement made for you, so there’s no need to inform them. 

Rina: Understood. 

(It’s finally starting…) 

Nervousness ran through my body. 

… Just then, the door to my room was casually opened.

Jace: Sakura-san? Are you here? 

Ivy: Huh? You’re… 

The two people who came in were Jace-san, the topic of our prior conversation, and Ivy-san. 

Jace: You’re Aegis-chan from yesterday. Wow, you really came.

Sakura: Hey, learn to knock. 

Ivy: Ah, sorry. 

Jace: I was looking for Sakura-san and didn’t expect this girl to be here, it couldn’t be helped. 

Sakura: Good grief… she’ll be using this room from today onwards, so be careful next time. 

Jace: Hmm, so this is Aegis-chan’s room. 

Ivy: She seriously became our housekeeper… 

Rina: Once again, it’s nice to meet you all! I’m Kawanaga Rina. 

Ivy: Nice to meet you too. I understand this is hard for you, but do try your best. 

Ivy-san gave me a calm smile. 

Jace: Nice to meet you. You’re so tense. Relax, take it easy.

Rina: No, that won’t do. 

Jace: Haha, so serious~

(… He looks kind of aloof to me…) 

I was a little confused by Jace-san’s personality. He seemed more frivolous than friendly. 

Sakura: Jace. Starting from tomorrow, Kawanaga-chan will be your room’s designated housekeeper. 

Jace: Hmm… is that so?

Jace-san narrowed his eyes and whispered while peering into my face. 

Jace: In that case, I should get friendlier with you. 

Rina: …! 

With his voice as sweet as honey and perfect smile, this man looked like a breathtaking work of art. 

Standing before me again, it was like he had some kind of magic in his eyes and voice. 

I was so bewitched by him, I couldn’t move — as though my heart and soul had both captured. 

Jace: What’s wrong? Could it be… you’ve been mesmerised by me? 

Rina: N-nothing of the sort… 

Jace: Fufu, cutie. 

Ivy: Oi, Jace. Stop that. 

Sakura: Stop wasting your pheromones by spreading it everywhere you go. 

Sakura: This isn’t what I meant by letting you interact with her. I’m just telling you to NOT try anything weird on her. 

Jace: Of course I know that. Right, Aegis-chan? 

(You must be kidding me.) 

My face was burning up from the embarrassment of getting that flustered because of him. 

(I’m starting to get a little uneasy about being this person’s designated housekeeper…) 

Seemingly having caught on to what I was feeling, Sakura-san gave a wry smile. 

Sakura: Well, because this is exactly how this guy is, you might have a hard time… hang in there. 

Rina: O-okay. 

Sakura: Ah, right. One more thing. I have a favour to ask of you that involves Jace. 

Rina: A favour? 

Sakura: I was hoping you could keep an eye on Jace. The location of this room is perfect for doing that. 

Rina: Eh!? What do you mean by “keep an eye on him”? 

Apart from the main entrance, the penthouse had a sub-entrance that could also be called the “back door”. 

That door was right smack in front of my room. 

Sakura: If you’ve done your research on exe Creed, you should know what kind of person Jace is. 

Rina: Yes, more or less…

Jace from exe Creed… he was said to be in-charge of sexy and visuals in the group. 

(He’s so beautiful, he even has the nickname of “Perfect Face”.) 

In the self-produced group exe Creed, he was also responsible for anything related to art. For example, deciding on the make-up looks for their songs and designing the stage outfits. 

(He’s also the ambassador for a few famous western brands. Really impressive.) 

However, his remarkable works aside, he has another nickname given to him by the general public. 

“Scandal Maker”.

Rumour has it that he’s had countless romantic partners, and it appears that he had many issues involving women before he became a member of exe Creed. 

Sakura: This guy has an incurable bad habit of hooking up with women. 

Ivy: He hasn’t changed one bit since the beginning, even though he’s been told a gazillion times to stop this behaviour… 

Sakura: No matter how I tried to convince him, he never stopped sneaking out at night to fool around with women. It’s really getting on my nerves. 

Jace: Could you guys not talk about me right in front of my face? That’s my personal life, it’s irrelevant. 

Ivy: Oh really? I’ll have you know that you’re not the only one affected by this problem.

Sakura: Given exe Creed’s current status, creating scandals is strictly forbidden. … That’s where you come in. 

Rina: Don’t tell me, what you meant by “keep an eye on him” is to… 

Sakura: Correct. I want you to make sure Jace doesn’t sneak out at night. 

Sakura: To leave this place, you have to use either one of the two entrances. 

Sakura: My room is next to the main entrance, so I can keep watch from there; but I can’t see the sub entrance. 

Sakura: Therefore, I’m leaving the sub entrance to you. Please really keep a VERY close eye on Jace to stop him from being up to no good! 

Rina: You want ME to surveillance Jace-san!? 

Sakura: I’m not asking you to sacrifice your sleep for it. I just think that your presence might work as a deterrent for him. 

(Isn’t this way too ridiculous? I wonder if this is also part of a housekeeper’s job.) 

(I’ll definitely oblige if it is, but…) 

I had tons of questions and no idea how to respond. 

Ivy: Eito, you’re having one of those absurd ideas again… 

Jace: Hmm, so that’s what Eito-san’s thinking. Using Aegis-chan to tie me down?

Jace: If that’s what you’re going to do… I’ll come up with my own ways to go against it too.

Rina: Go against it? 

Jace: Yeah. First of all, I’ll win Aegis-chan over and have her side with me. 

Jace-san suddenly held my hand with a bewitching yet fearless smile on his face. 

Rina: P-please let go. 

Jace: Eh— why should I? 

Option Chosen: Because it’s embarrassing.

Rina: Because this sort of thing is embarrassing…

Jace: Are you not used to it? You’re so cute. 

Jace-san turned to leave the room while still grabbing my hand. 

Jace: Let’s get going then.

Rina: Wha— 

Sakura: Where are you taking her? 

Jace: To my room. The two of us need to deepen our relationship. 

Rina: !? 

Ivy: Oi, Jace! What are you planning!? 

Sakura: Did you even listen to a single thing I just said? I warned you not to try anything funny. 

Ivy-san and I were shocked, and Sakura-san was dumbfounded, but Jace-san responded with an unashamed grin.

Jace: What weird ideas are you all getting? We’ll only be discussing work-related matters. 

Jace: Since Aegis-chan will be in-charge of my room, don’t I have all sorts of things to explain to her? 

Rina: T-that’s true, but… 

He made a fair point, so I had nothing to say about it. 

Jace: Then let’s go. 

And just like that, I was dragged out of my room by the hand. 

Ivy: This guy, oh my goodness…! Will that girl be okay? 

Sakura: Uhh… she’ll have a hard time, but she has to get over it somehow. 

Ivy: … What on earth are you expecting from that girl, exactly?

Sakura: I’ve told you before, didn’t I? I hope to see a change in exe Creed. 

…

Jace: Come on in.

Rina: Pardon me. … Wow. 

(It looks luxurious like I expected. Very sophisticated too.) 

Every piece of furniture and decoration brought out his personal style. I could never design a room like this. 

On top of that, an alluring fragrance that suited Jace-san filled the room. 

(As expected of exe Creed’s visual representative…!) 

While I admired the room, Jace-san placed his hands on my shoulders from behind. 

Jace: Like it? 

Rina: Yes, it’s a gorgeous room. It looks like a pain to clean, but I’ll do my best. 

He spoke while leading me further into the room,

Jace: I don’t know about the other guys in the group, but I super welcome you here. 

Jace: In any case, I prefer having a girl as cute as you clean my room. 

Jace: If ever those guys say nasty things to you, feel free to come to me and I’ll comfort you. 

Rina: No, it’s fine. I won’t ask you for that much. 

Jace: Ehh, don’t need to be shy. 

Jace: After all, you’re my room’s designated housekeeper… so we’re not strangers anymore, right?

… I snapped back to my senses when I was made to sit on the bed. 

The high-quality spring mattress bounced. I looked up to see his face dangerously close to mine. 

His eyes held the same bewitching light as before. 

(I have a bad feeling about this…!) 

By the time I realised, it was too late— Jace-san already had his arm around my shoulder, holding me tight. 

Rina: Um, aren’t you going to explain about the room…!? 

Jace: I will. But before that… I want to chat with you a little more. 

Before I could refuse, I was already drawn in. 

Rina: W-what are you doing? 

Jace: Fufu… I said I was going to win you over, didn’t I? 

He reached out his long, slender fingers and cupped my cheek.

(I have to resist him.) 

I thought so, and yet I found myself unable to move. The sweet fragrance in the room grew stronger, enveloping me. 

Jace: Don’t turn your eyes away… look at me. 

His sweet, breathy voice sent a shiver through my body. His shapely lips were so close, they could almost touch… 

Rina: ………っ

(If this goes any further…!) 

[nonbinaryspy]

Meta: Titania and Knightly Devotion

My favorite way to read Titania is that in spirit, she never stopped being a knight. When Ike brings up her past as a Crimean knight, she isn't particularly pleased it's being discussed, and alludes to having a lot to worry about. Still, her Tellius Recollection profile says that "she is not ashamed of bearing the title of 'Paladin.'" Meanwhile, Greil and Elena's past gives a good indication of what Titania might have meant about her worries.

Back when Greil killed Elena and the villagers, and had to flee Gallia with his children—one of whom had amnesia and the other of whom was only a little older than a toddler—I've always assumed Titania went with him. It's stated in the Tellius Recollection book that she has been with the company since its inception, but IIRC, we don't know anything about this time from her perspective. What did she know about the medallion? How must she have felt, learning what Greil had done, when Elena was also her friend? Did she mourn Elena privately for Greil's sake, as she would later try to contain her grief for Greil?

Regardless, leaving the knights to join this broken family was a big decision. She doesn't seem to harbor any ill will toward the royal family or the knights, even getting defensive of them in chapter four while debating how Daein's invasion will turn out. Her choice demonstrates great loyalty to Greil. She certainly admires many things about him—his strength, his love of his family, and his values, which she shares. Those values contain arguably the main difference between her life now and her time as a royal knight.

As the Greil Mercenaries' captain, she helps people regardless of their status rather than focusing on serving the royal family. She serves Crimea and its common good with as much dedication as any knight, but she is able to do it in a more direct way than a knight perhaps would, without the trappings of politics. However, her Tellius Recollection profile lists her likes as justice and honesty, very knightly virtues. One of her design notes even says that "traces of her time in the Crimean Royal Knights remain." I imagine this is referring to elements of her visual design and her proper bearing, but I think it goes deeper.

Parts of the plot emphasize sacrifice as an ideal of knights, while also questioning it when Elincia refuses to let Geoffrey sacrifice himself (A post about this is absolutely coming soon, btw.). Titania, in deciding to follow Greil, sacrificed whatever her old ambitions had been as a knight. She continues to focus on taking care of others while hiding her own feelings. Even when Greil dies, she mourns him in private while working to keep the company together. Though Ike suggests that Titania loved Greil, it seems to have been a selfless love, not one where she looked for anything in return. That said, unlike a knight who might be expected to die for their liege, she lives so she can continue to support the mercenaries. This is even shown in one of her retreat quotes, where she initially intends to sacrifice herself for Crimea as one of its knights would, but withdraws at Ike's command:

Titania: Urgh! Ah… …I can still… …can still…fight… Ike: Stop it, Titania! That wound could kill you! Hurry up and retreat! Titania: For Crimea… I must… This war hangs in the balance… I cannot withdraw… Ike: No, that’s why you have to withdraw! I need you alive! We’ll be all right! Believe in us! Titania: I understand…Ike. And I’m sorry.

Just as Titania is too important to the plot to succumb to permadeath in PoR, she is too treasured within the group for her sacrifice to be accepted.

Titania has many roles within the group. She's a mother figure to Ike and Mist, of course—this is especially apparent in her Mist supports, where she's particularly doting. She tries to get Mist to relax, helps her with chores, goes shopping in town with her, buys her a dress, and even compares her own role to Elena's while offering herself as a confidant. If she left Gallia with Greil, then she would have literally been with Ike as long as he can remember.

But she's also a mentor who helps Ike finish his training after his father dies, and an advisor who guides him in both practical and moral concerns. She represents his conscience throughout the game. Even her Rhys supports feature her expressing concern that Ike may be tempted away from the ideals his father represented re: helping others regardless of reward, though she becomes certain that won't happen. She's Greil and Ike's second in command who they can trust to put in charge due to her calm demeanor and steady ideals.

But if you think of her as almost treating herself like Greil's knight, then doesn't that cast her relationships with Ike and Mist in the same light? She protects them. She supports them without question, and puts her faith in Ike to lead the group on a virtuous path. Despite having very personal relationships with them, she remains formal, stoic, and chivalrous, like a proper knight, rather than fitting the image of a rowdy mercenary. She's been with Greil for far longer than she was a Crimean knight, but she truly earns the title of paladin.

What really sells me on this reading is her A support with Ike, which I'm going to include in its entirety because it's one of my favorites:

Ike: Titania? I wish to thank you. Titania: W-what? What’s with all the formality? Ike: There’s no guarantee that any of us will see tomorrow, and I want to tell you this while it’s still in my head. Will you listen? Titania: Um… All right, but…what’s with you? And what have I done to deserve your thanks? Ike: You have done much. You helped my father build this company. He had lost his wife and had two young children to care for… I wish to thank you for that. Titania: …Oh, Ike… Ike: I’ve taken everything in my life for granted, and it was all possible because of you. My thanks is far too late in coming. Titania: It’s not necessary, Ike. What I did, I did because– Ike: You loved him. Didn’t you? Titania: …!!! …Um… Ike: Perhaps I’m wrong. Regardless… I stand here alive today because of you. And I still want to thank you for it. Had you not lent a helping hand, I would most likely be dead. And my father’s life cut short as well. You helped to keep him alive until the Black Knight brought him down… You made his final years happy. Thank you. Titania: Oh, Ike… …I don’t… …Sniff… …Sniff… …Sniff… Ike: Unlike my father, I lack both experience and strength, but… I’m learning. Please, keep aiding and supporting me. Please… Titania: …Sniff… Of course… Of course I will, Ike.

This conversation demonstrates Ike's thoughtfulness. He acknowledges everything she's done for him and expresses his gratitude, and even guesses at her hidden feelings. It shows the considerate person that he's grown into, in large part due to Titania's influence. In a base conversation, he even finally opens up about the night Greil died, a traumatic moment that Ike has not shared with anyone, because he feels she deserves to know. This helps her come to terms with her grief.

What's relevant about their support here, though, is his formality. Given the presentation of Titania as a motherly figure, and the fact that Ike is even calling out her feelings for Greil, one would expect him to behave more personally here, a step more casual compared to their professional relationship. But instead, he becomes more proper than he is in even meetings with politicians. It's almost like he's recognizing the princely role he plays in her life—the person she's sworn to follow, protect, and advise. That gives him a sense of duty to ensure she's properly appreciated, and that he has properly entreated her for her aid. It's certainly not a role one would expect him to be happy taking on, but maybe that's what happens when the only mother figure you remember is a gallant former knight. Either way, I'm glad her dedication at least gets the recognition it deserves.

[deramin2]

Critical Role is posing a big question about free will in fantasy creatures. Even in Exandria's deliberately less essentialist setting vs. D&D's traditional settings, the Feywild is a fairy tale land and it's denizens are more bound by their natures.

So how much free will and agency does Morrigan have? She claimed Fearn in one of her dark bargains. She kept Fearne safe but imprisoned in her realm and separated from her parents. Fearne is upset at her parents for staying away and not raising her, but Morrigan did that.

However, Morrigan didn't directly treat Fearne cruelly in any other way. She genuinely loved & doted on Fearne. Fearne had a wonderful childhood she cherishes every moment of. It's only looking in from the outside that we have to question how fucked up that caregiver situation is.

Fearne and her parents are victims of Morrigan's nature. But they also love her and forgive her. Both generations of Calloways fled back to Morrigan when they needed safety, protection, and a place they loved that is also part of that nature. They love her. She loves them. They're family and they look out for each other.

Fearne came to Morrigan for serious emotional crisis help in the time it most mattered and Morrigan genuinely helped them. In a terrifying, dramatic, entertaining for her (and us) way, but she did help. Morrigan is a Tragedy Enjoyer™ superfan, only for real life and she can donate to the stream to get the outcome she wants. She just loves watching people make fools out of themselves and suffer awkwardly. Which Bell's Hells did for her very willingly.

So is it Morrigan the Fate Stitchers compelled nature to make everyone she makes deals with suffer? Or is that just really enjoyable for her but if it's entertaining and enjoyable to help people she absolutely can and will do that. Does she always take when she gives? I think the answer is way more compelling if she has free will and we're seeing some of the few exceptions.

So now Chetney has made a deal to be the most famous toymaker ever. All he has to do is bring her a piece of the god-eater. Chetney did not discuss what happens if he fails. He also didn't necessarily need to be famous for his toys. If Bell's Hells succeed and Chetney upholds the bargain, Morrigan might be satisfied and make him famous for heroism. Which might be infamy more than adoration and be a curse all on its own. If he fails maybe she deliberately makes sure he's never remarkable and easily forgotten (Chetney's worst fear). I'm less afraid of her getting him killed because we've seen she likes to keep her victims alive. She makes them living topiaries in her garden. Or she sets them up for constant failure and then watches them flounder as her shows. But I she could still change how he's known if he incidentally dies. (Maybe differently depending on his Bell's Hells fulfills his bargain for him.)

Same with Orym. If Morrigan helps them (he still has to call on her like Percy's pact), Orym serves her. He might become ward like Fearne was with guard duties. He lives in her domain or where she sends him, and he lives in this freaky place with his best friend. Which isn't much different than what he did in and for Zephrah. Except his home is full of so many ghosts it's hard to be there anymore, even though he loves it and the people there. He's been on the road for years unable to settle down in his grief. His "price" for her is that she gives him a place where he has to settle down. Where he's loved and not alone, even if it's not the same. Like Fearne, the reading where this is a tragic sacrifice for Orym is from the outside in. From inside the restrictions come with a lot of benefits. Orym's Fearne's best friend. Morrigan doesn't have to take anything he isn't relieved to give up. Or so he thinks. Maybe his tragedy is that he'd start losing touch with Zephrah over time, like Fearne lost to her parents. What if that's what he thinks he wants so he can be someone new that isn't stuck in the past? Disappearing from his loved one's lives the way Will and Derrig did. But alive and maybe thriving with what feels like a new beginning and a different but happy ending as Fearne's friend.

Travis and Liam are also making a bargain with Matt: Matt sets up dramatic consequences, good or bad, and Travis will get to act out this super interesting story. Chetney's story is about a guy who wants fame so much he makes a huge gamble on his abilities for it. Could be the next Shakespearian tragedy where a hubristic guy makes terrible decisions chasing huge bets into the ground and destroying his own life and many others in the process. Could be the next Lord of the Crossroads.

Liam gets to ask both Matt and the audience if this is a tragedy of the moral chaos of the Feywild. What's a tragedy from the outside might not be one on the inside. Fate and Fate Stitchers are fickle that way. Nana Morri could show nothing but love and affection for Orym and it gets told as a terrifying fairy tale warning against Morri. That's a story that often doesn't get told, but there's so much inherent angst to it. (Which let’s be real Liam is also a Tragedy Enjoyer™ like Morri.

But either way Travis and Liam get to explore what that looks like and how it affects his OC. This is what roleplaying thrives off of. That's what makes it fun. Players, GMs, and dice all being unpredictable in constrained ways that drive the narrative forward, not always to good ends but interesting ends is what makes TTRPGs a compelling medium. The cast have repeatedly said they always enjoy taking the risk and playing out the consequences way more than the things they held back on. They said at the beginning of this campaign all bets are off. Matt's set some high stakes and big red buttons in front of them (even when he warned about the consequences up front).

This is emotional Roller Coaster Tycoon and it's unclear if the players are creating an effective roller coaster that scores high points, or one deliberately designed to crash in new and exciting ways just to see what happens. That breaks so many rules of narratives made for an audience but is totally normal in home-play if all the group consents to it. (Definitely something you need buy-in for from everyone before you play because if someone is expecting epitomized heroic play and gets that they're not going to have a good time.) Perhaps that's also why some audience members aren't vibing with this as much as previous heroic campaigns whereas I who greatly enjoy media like The Lighthouse, Uncut Gems, Torch Song Trilogy, and Dead Esther am having a grand old time. (Just a taste difference.)

Am I scared the characters aren't going to get a happy ending, yeah sort of. This could easily turn into EXU Calamity. But I love the territory they're exploring, the questions about human (and hag) nature they're exploring, and the importance of subjective experience. I have absolutely no investment in how the events ultimately pan out. Blorbos were meant to be tormented. It's important for their enrichment and mine. Is Morrigan going to fuck them over? Maybe, maybe not. But it is going to be a really interesting story either way. And really at the core of it, a really interesting story is what Morrigan likes most.

[stupidrant]

Angrboda's line/scene that's typically viewed as a heartwarming father/son reference for Kratos/Atreus - when she says that Atreus "cares for his dad so much he can't conceive of a world in which he'd let [Kratos] get hurt" - is in fact extremely important for Atreus and Angrboda's relationship development as well. And for highlighting how healthy their dynamic is and how respectful and delicate Angrboda is towards Atreus's experiences, regardless of what the prophesy says (which she grew up to consider her only lifeline and purpose).

In this scene Angrboda makes sure to not in any way invalidate his feelings or lead him to believe she considers them "stupid", as Atreus originally suggested. Instead of being patronizing, she places the focus on how admirable she thinks his love for his father is (which parallels what she said earlier during their heart to heart talk about parents when she mentioned her own late father having felt guilty he couldn't protect her).

Then she distracts herself from the therapeutic self expression activity (painting) she engages in, abandons it and goes on to cater to Atreus's emotional needs. Helping him feel better, giving his mom's marble to him and encouraging him to not push his father away because of grief or fear of potential loss (and opening up about her own loss of both parents). All of that (as we discussed before) despite the fact that Angrboda had just gone through a yet another painful and traumatic experience of being rejected and belittled by the only family she had left (Gryla).

And when Atreus says his view of the prophesy and "a bunch of stories with endings already written" is different from the one she came to believe and that he's determined to challenge it Angrboda accepts it and lets him go. Even though as far as she's concerned - and as she directly states in a moment of particular vulnerability and openness - she believes that with Loki/Atreus gone her part in world's history AND his life is over.

Atreus in turn, even knowing he has to leave her for now, promises Angrboda that he is "going to see her again" - thus placing the focus on his own personal choices rather than on the prophesy or what he thinks about her or his role in it. Before that he tried to convince Angrboda her part "is as big as she wants it to be". But he quickly realized that for a person who's just gone through stress and has had a narrative that she isn't and would not be important imposed on her for years (including just minutes before by her own grandmother) big pretentious speeches about the meaning of life hold less value than small but encouraging actions and genuine reassuring words.

For her part, Angrboda doesn't ask absolutely anything of Atreus, doesn't make him promise to remember her or meet up with her again. She accepts his free will and goes off on her own to carve her independent path and look for marbles, instigating their future interactions in the process but preparing to give Atreus space from her if that was what he wanted (like when she sneaked up on him and Fen but quickly inquired whether they were "having a moment", offering to go and let them be).

That's an actual healthy basis for romantic relationship and a true strong female character, with agency and full measure of self expression in every area. Rather than a "Strong Female Character TM" who isn't even allowed to express her feelings to a boy she likes without being framed as a slave to her hormones or ~~ desperate for love. Which is what modern media has been presenting to us for over a decade under the guise of "feminism". All the more reason Angrboda/Atreboda are as refreshing and revolutionary as they are.

They're relationship surprisingly starting off really well is amazing <3 she always makes sure he's okay and he always suggests an alternative route for her to go/way of coping. All of that with their honesty and respect with one another that i love so much just makes it all the more better 🥺

[ilikekidsshows]

What do you mean Adrien need more respect can you elaborate more because it wasn't the only time I see you said it

The way I see it, 'Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir' made a mistake in the very way the show is designed: they constructed a setting where everything hints at Adrien being a main character or at least a secodary character, but he's actually not. The show basically lies to the viewer about what to expect when it comes to Adrien's character. And I tend to have a pretty big beef with shows that lie to me.

The show is called "Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir", Adrien's father is the literal main villain of the series, all the minor villains have a personal connection with him and his family has a long history with the Miraculous items. Meanwhile Marinette is just some girl from a bakery next to the school he goes to. The show's very story engine, the construct that creates the stories told in it, puts a lot of weight on stuff connected to Adrien when it comes to the superhero action, while Marinette's story engine connection are her feelings for Adrien, which generate the romantic comedy plots.

All the lore in Miraculous revolves around Adrien. You'd think that this would mean that Adrien would have a vital role in uncovering this lore as Marinette is the one who saves the day. You'd think Adrien's nearest and dearest being villains would be delved into some more since it's such a recurring thing. But none of this happens. Instead the show goes out of its way to make sure that anything that should be about Adrien and how he feels about it, is made to be about Marinette and how she feels about it.

Adrien discovers the Miraculous grimoire in his home, but the episode goes out of its way to make sure Marinette gets her hands on it and is the one who gets to meet Fu and become his student, while Adrien is left out on the lurch. Marinette is the one with an arc of realizing just how evil Gabriel is as she grows past her idolization of him, which might be building up to her being the one of the heroes who figures out he's Hawkmoth first. Marinette is also the one invested in Chloé's failed attempt at becoming a hero, while Adrien's feelings on Queen Bee are never brought up.

Season four ruined Adrien's relationships with every single character who isn't Marinette or Plagg and I think the only reason Plagg was spared is because they literally can't remove that relationship from the show. 'Rocketeer' exists solely so that Adrien won't tell Nino about him being Cat Noir, so that Adrien doesn't get a confidant like Marinette gets in Alya. This makes it so that Adrien will have less screen time to talk about his duties and life. The point is to make sure Marinette has more screen time.

The fallout of Marinette and Luka's relationship ending is depicted from Marinette's perspective, to show how she's getting by after the breakup. The fallout of Adrien and Kagami's relationship ending is depicted from Marinette's perspective as well, to show how she's feeling about Adrien and Kagami breaking up. We still don't have a single scene of Adrien and Kagami discussing their failed relationship outside of the breakup scene, which they absolutely had to include. The writers don't actually want to write about Adrigami, it only existed to make Marinette angst for the dramatic season three finale.

The way Nino and Kagami get removed from Adrien's support network is solely because the writers don't want to write about Adrien's relationships. They only care about writing about Marinette. I'm not saying this lightly. This is a consistent pattern in the show. The same happens in any situation where Adrien has a strong emotional response to something, and the writers sideline Adrien's emotions by having Marinette be even more upset by it or by giving Marinette something worse to deal with.

In the New York Special, Adrien kills someone and quits. This grief is sidelined in the narrative to focus on Marinette having an emotional breakdown about not being there to help Paris and then later angsting about Adrien quitting. The matter is resolved not by dealing with Adrien's grief, but by him coming back for Marinette's sake. The Cat Blanc timeline is not important for Adrien's character, despite the point of Akumatization being character development, it only exists so that Marinette can be upset about it. We know this because Adrien never finds out about it, while Marinette gets nightmares about it. In season four, Adrien gets pushed aside by Marinette constantly, and he is understandably hurt by this and quits. The episode then has him "learn" that Marinette needs his emotional support so much that he should come back and cater to her needs and ignore his own. In 'Destruction', Adrien once again Cataclysms someone, and once again the writers shoehorn in Marinette being upset about not being able to fix it. The best Adrien can manage on his emotions being taken into account by the writers is a few seconds of getting equal screentime with Marinette's.

The season four finale is what makes this writing bias obvious when the part in the story where Adrien was logically supposed to discover just how much Marinette had been keeping from him gets pushed aside by Marinette having an emotional breakdown about Félix tricking her and stealing all the Miraculous. The writers' priorities seem to be that Adrien's feelings on anything don't matter, only Marinette's. Whenever Adrien is justified in being hurt, the writers hurt Marinette worse so that they can ignore him and focus on Marinette instead. They also constantly keep information from him that the other characters should be giving him while not calling out these characters for keeping very important information from him. The important thing about said information control is that it’s always information that Adrien would do something about or have strong feelings about. It’s another sign that the writers don’t want to write about Adrien.

(This paragraph has been edited for more accurate information on the episode ‘Emotion’. The previous misinformation got mixed up because of a spoiler so now this post is accurate and spoiler-free.) The season four finale pivoted Félix into the role of the primary villain in Miraculous after Gabriel. However, in season five, Marinette gets top billing in the episode where he is convinced of the error of his ways, not his cousin Adrien, who Félix has wronged in every single one of his appearances and whose feelings about that this episode is supposed to address. The writers only allow Adrien to have his say once he’s been missing for most of the episode/Marinette has had enough screen time. The sidelining of Adrien and Félix interactions in favor of Marinette content is more on the whole "not allowing Adrien relationships outside of Marinette" thing they've been pushing since season four. Any relationship Adrien has only gets the minimum possible amount of screen time. It’s also part of a different pattern of Marinette and her feelings still getting focus in episodes that should be about Adrien, his family and his feelings, since we also had the episode with the anniversary of Adrien’s mother’s death have another confession attempt from Marinette and ‘Gabriel Agreste’ shoehorned in an entire Marinette subplot. The only time this series had a genuine Adrien-focused episode was when he and Kagami broke up, which I already stated was something the writers just couldn’t resonably exclude. 4% of this show’s episodes deal with things to do with Adrien, but only 1/4 out of those episodes puts focus on Adrien over Marinette.

Mariette’s romantic relationships in this show are really lopsided as well. We all know that it's a gender role cliche for women to always do the emotional labor in a relationship and to offer comfort, but Miraculous "solves" this one-sidedness by reversing it. Marinette's love interests are her biggest emotional support. Every finale has either Adrien or Luka swooping in to comfort her while she's having an emotional breakdown. Even Cat Walker is presented as a romantic option through having him swear emotional labor to Ladybug. Meanwhile Marinette never has to comfort her love interests because they're very skilled at hiding their emotions. This might be another symptom of the writers just not wanting to focus on characters other than Marinette, but I have seen that even progressive people in terms of women's issues tend to balk at the idea of men seeking out emotional support and comfort. Marinette and Luka breaking up the instant Luka needed more emotionally from Marinette does lean towards this former bias since Luka is allowed to have emotional needs as long as he doesn't ask Marinette to help with them. But, regardless of the reason for it, the end result is that Marinette's love interests are more emotional support dispensers than equal partners. The writers don't want Marinette to have boyfriends, they want her to have servants who cater to her needs, because she’s the main character and her boyfriend is her prize that she wins in the end.

This show has no respect for Adrien as a character. It seemed like he was set up as the secondary main character, only for him to be consistently treated as nothing more than Marinette's love interest. The writers only write as much about him as they absolutely have to. The fact that Adrien is also an abuse victim whose story is strictly about how little control he has of his life makes this all even worse, because the writers are actively removing any control he might have on the narrative as well. They're not doing this for the sake of theming, because then they would focus on his feelings about this. It's all for the sake of not having anything derail from their singular main lead. Adrien is a prop for Marinette, not his own character. And I’m too invested in Adrien’s character to be cool with this.

The thing about any of this is that if it was just any one of these matters alone, or even just a few of them, it wouldn’t be such a big deal. Nothing is perfect, after all. But it’s this much stuff, and I’m sure this isn’t even all of it. It’s not only a consistent pattern, it’s a constant pattern, and it’s made me lose my patience with this show. It’s obvious these problems aren’t going to be mitigated, because they aren’t problems, it seems to all be on purpose because it keeps getting worse. Maybe it’s backlash at those Toxic Adrien Stans who want Adrien to be the main character in Marinette's place, so the writers diminish his role to drive home the point that he’s supposed to be Marinette’s support and will never usurp her role. The reasons don’t matter, all that matters is that the end result is my favorite character being treated like garbage.

[idsfantasy]

Okay so, head up, I think your videos are cool and I respect the effort and work you put into theories. I also understand not every theory is going to be actually reflective of views, instead following different roads of logic to see what seems the most likely.

But the big reason why I think robot people being in the games is such a reviled concept by so many people, is that it feels like a lame twist that doesn't really accomplish anything and doesn't really go anywhere. And part of that is the source material it comes from. (Warning: long and emotive analysis incoming)

In the actual Fourth Closet book Charlie being a robot isn't handled well. She's written as a mostly normal human person with internal emotions, struggles, and thoughts only to be completely discarded because she's "not real". As soon as it's revealed, she immediately kills herself and Elizabeth with no narrative buildup, and the only possible resolution is a cliffhanger ending that is never fully explained and left up to speculation. We don't really feel the weight of this on anyone, except possibly John, who never discusses it with anyone and never actually ponders what that might mean beyond feeling bummed the girl he wanted to date is dead and also not human. It also gives Circus Baby a very needlessly convulted backstory for the sole purpose of having her run around in a humanoid form and double down on the henchwoman characterization introduced in FFPS.

It doesn't even really explain much beyond a few strange lines and wonky plot threads, it's a thing that happens and despite Charlie being a protagonist she doesn't really get to react to this.

Sammy is completely dismissed as a concept despite it being such a big deal in TSE and TTO and the whole point of Charlie's arc of acceptance and grief. And we get one line saying he's actually alive... and living with the mother Charlie herself mentions talking to in the past. It's a mess.

The only character who is made more intresting and given more weight by this reveal is Henry. Because it changes perception from "flawed man struggling with mental health but ultimately a very loving to father" to "all the above but also with those flaws much more prevalent and damaging". It's fascinating because what he does is incredibly messed up on so many levels, yet entirely understandable. Henry in the novels is a straight up antagonist, not a villian, and not actively malicious, but someone very poorly coping and causing harm by proxy. And that's reflective of a lot of people who are understandably struggling and need support, but at the same time refuse help and find themselves sinking deeper while their loved ones feel helpless. It's deeply tragic, and leaves Henry being a much more nuanced character, mainly because of the fact Charlie doesn't know quite how to feel about him. When she's still allowed to have thoughts, at least.

The whole point of the Charliebots is that grief and loss can make vulnerable people susceptible to delusion, and how that effects the children around them. Both the Charlie-bot and Circus Baby are shaped around trying to conform to a grieving parent who wants them to fill a role that at a certain point, they simply can't. The moment Charliebot stopped living past the age of three, she simply wasn't reflective of that real little girl anymore. She was someone new, based on the hopes and dreams her family had for her. The Charliebots are so so intricately linked to this theme, that I really feel removing the idea of androids from it is kinda insulting to the whole premise.

William blatantly says he couldn't build robots like that, Circus Baby is build upon a failed experiment her modified for his own use, even the Twisteds were implied to be a joint effort. He also simply didn't see his kids in the same way, I truly don't believe he would drive himself to that same point of delusion for kids he just doesn't love.

I've seen some fanauthors right really compelling narratives around these ideas, but they simply aren't in the actual texts. To approach something purely logistically is to deny to narrative and emotional potential of it.

Yes, it's 100% possible. I don't doubt Scott might try to do it. But that doesn't make it impactful. So if he doesn't want to engage with the premise outright, and doesn't say it outloud, then why should I care either? If he's not going to committ to the idea and explore it, then neither am I.

Glad you generally like my videos! And I understand that perspective, but I disagree. Honestly, I think robot people works great thematically for the modern era.

Ithink part of the interest with Charlie being a robot is that she's a robot, but she IS alive. She's not the original Charlie, but because of Henry's emotions she has her own soul.

With William, his goal iirc wasn't to create a human *looking* robot. His goal was to find a way to create that same spark of life that Henry did, but he wasn't able to. Elizabeth was the closest but she's still an actual human soul inside a robot.

When I suggest that robot people are present in the modern games, I don't think they were made out of love, and I don't think they have that artificial soul that Charlie in the books had, hence the connections to CC and Elizabeth. Heck, we know for a fact that there are robot people present in Tales, so why would that be impossible in the games? The issue wasn't making a human looking robot, it was giving said robots life.

Just because we can't see the end goal at the moment doesn't mean there isn't one. Additionally, assuming Scott isn't going to engage with the premise or saying it out loud is probably something to steer clear of. After all, the main evidence I use for Gregbot isn't the weird vision or him looking like the Crying Child, but the wall code in the Sister Location room that describes Gregory in SB to a T while also saying "I built the breath they hunt drawn to life not real still keen" etc. That seems pretty "out loud" to me given the obscurity of most things in these games tbh.

So I do think Scott has committed to the idea. That's why there are 3 robot people in Tales. That's why there are 2 Vanessas. That's why there's the wall code in SB. To me, it seems as though the themes of Help Wanted and onward are highlighting where the line is drawn between the real and the artificial, the virtual and genuine. And imo, having characters who blur the line between the mechanical world and the real and the spiritual adds pretty well to that whole theme. We just haven't seen everything play out yet since we're only partway through the arc.

I understand if you disagree, but I think writing it off as something to consider would be the wrong move personally. Hope you have a nice day :D

[lunarubra]

Life update

This past week has been incredibly tough for me, and I'm using this blog to vent and release the sadness, frustration, and grief I've been feeling. It's like therapy, but cheaper.

If you'd rather skip the heavy stuff, feel free, I don't want to bore no one. And I fell this might be a long one.

Lately, life has been intense both at work (I teach at a language Gymnasium) and in my personal life. I'm already stretched thin trying to balance everything, and then unexpected things happen that make me feel silly for thinking my own issues are significant.

Just two days ago, one of my students tragically passed away. The weather had finally turned nice, and he and a friend went for a bike ride. He lost control and fell down a steep slope at the side of the road.

After teaching him for two years and seeing him and his classmates every day, I can't help but feel a sense of responsibility. While I'm not their parent and I'm not much older than them, most of the time, I feel more like an older sibling than a professor. Even though I sometimes jokingly refer to them as a "herd of dunderheads," they mean a lot to me, and I deeply care about them—they are my kiddos. It's tough witnessing his classmates' reactions to what happened; they're devastated. Despite wanting to support them and be there for them, I find myself at a loss for big speeches or grand gestures.

I'm well aware of the larger issues in the world, but this loss really shook me. Returning to work afterward felt daunting, and even though I discussed it with friends and colleagues, it almost feels like old news already.

Teaching often feels like an uphill battle. You see so much potential in your students, but then they hit the teenage years and start doing the same silly stuff you did at their age, which brings a smile to your face. You try your best to support them in a world that isn't always kind to young people, encouraging them to appreciate the beauty around them and stay connected. And let's not forget, you still have to actually teach them something—it's your job, after all, not just babysitting. Balancing all these roles can feel like a constant struggle, but those moments when you really connect with them, when you witness their growth and development—those moments are pure magic.

Maybe that's why this loss hit me so hard. I saw so much potential in him, and now it feels wasted.

On top of everything, my partner got accepted to a prestigious hospital in Sweden for her specialization in pediatric surgery. I'm incredibly proud of her and fully support her dream, but her leaving means big changes for us. Maybe because of the recent loss or maybe just because it's been a rough time, I find myself slipping into old thought patterns that scare me.

Right now, I'm feeling sad, overwhelmed, and at my limit. I'm not sure how to handle it all. I think I need to start therapy soon, although it's not easy finding a good therapist here in Italy.

So, if you notice I'm not as active as usual, that's why. I already wasn't very active, but if I'm even quieter than usual, I apologize. I just don't have the energy or enthusiasm right now. It feels like I'm avoiding dealing with what happened.

Monday is the funeral, and I don't know how I'll be afterward. I'll probably take a break from blogging and writing for a while.

To my friends here, I always appreciate your messages and your support. I might not be super responsive, but I value each and every one of you. <3

[vwritesaus]

how do you think Anna and her parents relationship will be post Christopher death? And if you think Gabriel and Cecily will have a strain on their relationship toward each other due the loss of a child

~

this is such an interesting question, and one i've been wondering about myself for quite some time. thank you for sending it in, anon!!

i think anna would still be close with her parents. we see that relationship in every exquisite thing and i don't think it would change here. if anything, i believe christopher's death would bring them even closer together. it would be a challenge for sure, making the same old jokes and expecting christopher to be there to laugh or question them with profound logic only to be faced with silence, or looking over at the place at the table where he would have once sat and finding it empty (ow). but they would overcome it together.

not to mention alexander. he's only a child when his big brother suddenly goes away, and while shadowhunters are used to death from a young age, blahblahblah, he'd still feel the loss and not understand it properly?? it would be extremely taxing for anna and gabrily, especially once alexander starts having tantrums because he just doesn't get why christopher isn't there anymore. i imagine they would come up with ways to a) handle those tantrums and b) strategies to help alexander overcome the confusion and handle the loss while still being able to remember his older brother as he grows up. i don't think anna would leave that to her parents alone, even with her and ari going to india at the end of chot. she'd be in frequent contact (in my opinion, anyway. and i reckon ari would have something to say about it too).

as for gabriel and cecily's marriage...

i base this off a couple i know irl who lost their eldest daughter to an aggressive illness that ailed her for most of her teenage and young adult life before she passed away.

there would be a strain at first and both of them would find it extremely difficult to talk about christopher with each other. they would comfort each other, yes. they will cry with each other, yes. but the way they deal with and experience grief is very different (and i touched on this a little bit in the latest chapter of my fic dear christopher). gabriel would want to talk about it, and he strikes me as the type to process his feelings through discussion. cecily normally would too, but in this situation? she completely shuts down. gabriel would be at a bit of a loss but is respectful, and cecily wants to find in herself the will to talk about it, but her mind and body say otherwise.

that said, they would talk about it with other people. gabriel would run to gideon, and cecily to sophie. given their families grew up together, it's impossible to assume that they all don't have a very close relationship with each other. their children certainly had close relationships with one another. thomas and christopher is self-explanatory. we also see how close anna and thomas are in canon (that one scene in choi where thomas sneaks out and anna catches him in the act lives rent free in my mind fr), and anna with eugenia, which would have extended to barbara too. i also believe they're close with their aunts and uncles (thomas and cecily, for instance).

not to mention the fact that gideon and sophie get it. they lost a child too.

gabriel and cecily would talk about christopher, and gideon and sophie about barbara.

also will would definitely be a huge support. cecily wouldn't need to say much to will for him to understand (even though he'd love for her to open up to him fully), and despite their differences when they were kids, he would look out for gabriel too. gabriel and will's friendship is another kettle of fish that i won't delve into here, but it would certainly play a huge role.

and i don't think the marriage will fall apart. it's definitely a changed marriage, but it wouldn't fall apart. they have alexander and anna, and a huge family support network, as i mentioned above.

losing a child has a ripple effect on a relationship, and it's those first couple of years that are the most horrible. and it's not something that will ever go away. with the irl couple, every year around their daughter's birthday and death anniversary, they leave the city. they travel the country as a means to deal with the crushing loss. i'm not saying gabriel and cecily would do that, but it's certainly something they would feel.

they'll argue. they'll cry together. they'll have sleepless nights. they'll raise alexander together. they'll keep an eye on anna together. they'll reminiscence about their son alone or with their family members. they'll spend time apart while being in the same house. they'll be glued to each other's sides. they'll shut down. they'll be silent. they'll become stronger. they'll never move on exactly, but they'll learn how to handle the loss and live with it, because christopher, though no longer with us, will not be forgotten </3

[missezri]

Small Defence of Kristina in Young Royals - Season 2 The Redemption Arc

For part one please see it here.

Also, these are all my own thoughts and interpretations. Season 3 could prove me all wrong.

Season 2 is a bit of a redemption arc for Queen Kristina, who while still is no Sarah Nelson or likely to win any LGBTQ+ Mother of the Year awards, is far from the villain that she was in Season 1.

The first time we see Kristina in Season 2, she is pleading to speak to Wilhelm. For someone controlling and calling the shot weeks ago, Kristina is rather submissive here. She isn’t coming into his space. When Wilhelm closes the door, she only talks through it and doesn’t make any attempt to open it. Wilhelm doesn’t lock the door, you see what looks like a key in the door, she can very easily open it and talk but she doesn’t.

When Wilhelm finally does call her, Kristina first looks shocked and surprised. After all, this is Wilhelm reaching out when he’s been continuing to ignore her calls and texts. This quickly gets shattered when Wilhelm actually talks. But I am going to pause here for a moment because, we see a new important character here, Jan-Olof Munck. He is the one that is going to become the villain and the representation of The Crown. In this role, only Kristina held Season 1, in Season 2 however, we will see her step back from that role. But, we will come back to him.

For this conversation however, I feel this is the moment that Kristina finally realises the extend of Wilhelm’s anxiety and (possibly mixed in too) grief over Erik’s passing. She is hearing up close and personal a full panic attack, and her reaction makes me wonder if this is the first time it has happened, if she noticed before. I would reckon she hasn’t, especially with her own disappointment and grief in Season 1. With Jan-Olof now in frame, Kristina can step more into the role of mother than Queen. Although, sometimes it takes Wilhelm asking before the Queen drops completely.

So, the next day we have Kristina taking action because clearly some intervention is needed for Wilhelm. I can see from Kristina’s perspective how removing him from school at first seems like something Wilhelm may go along with. Just months ago he was sending messages begging to come home. And I am sure there are other motives too like training Wilhelm up to take the throne, but for me, this conversation is one of the most important moments of the series.

While Wilhelm says she only wants him to leave to not see Simon because of the scandal and that she forced him to lie. While I do agree that yes, Wille likely felt very much forced to say what he did at the time, I also can see the logic behind Kristina’s words here. No one should be forced to come out. Kristina would have done a lot better voicing this before the video, but she’s probably had her own reflections. As seen by the news coverage, it is a big deal for a member of a royal family to potentially be gay/queer (the media would likely just jump to gay).

I am sure there is a part of Kristina that was hoping this would be some phase, but she is realising I think that her son’s relationship was a lot more. She is also saying this not in private. She is on a plane of other people, who while are likely loyal to the Crown, are hearing her make her own stance. Kristina is stating that she is supporting her son.

And yes, she does bring up the “When you are 18′” discussion, which again I don’t think there is necessarily done with ill intention. Wilhelm’s behaviour hasn’t been very mature as of late (refusing to speak to his mother for weeks, calling up and making demands). Clearly, Wilhelm needs some time to mature and work through things before he makes any rash decisions. I can understand this from Kristina’s point of view as she knows whatever he decides, it is going to play on the world stage and he will need to be ready for that. Getting Wilhelm into therapy is key to that. (And well done Boris by the end of the season).

When Kristina meets with August to let him know about the Royal Court’s plan to make him Wilhelm’s “backup” if he is not able to handle the pressure, she lets August know right off the bat this was not her idea. We the viewer gets to see that Kristina too is trapped in some ways by the machine of the Royal Court and the Crown. While Kristina protected August at the end of the last season when he leaked the video, it becomes more clear that she only did so to protect her son (and yes, by extension the Crown). 

If Kristina didn’t have her own title, I don’t think she would have a problem with Wille being queer, and this conversation cements it. It isn’t Kristina who asks if August is straight, it is the Royal Court who asks. Kristina makes it very clear that this backup plan is only if Wilhelm cannot do it, but until then she is going to support her son. As while August attempts to charm her, she never shows any sort of support in this conversation.

This line I find interesting when Kristina is explaining how August has been put forward has his replacement, not only for the speech but perhaps as King. And Kristina is very clear, this is not her desire or plan, it is the Royal Court. She’s been forced into this. Erik’s death has meant that there is only one person after her to succeed or Sweden will have to rework its government, which is a bit dramatic the country would survive, but again legacy is something Kristina is concerned about.

Why I want to point out this line though, is Kristina seems to be voicing what has been Wilhelm’s problem with the monarchy thus far, it is a punishment. You cannot freely act but have to constantly think what wider impact your actions may have. Choices are few and far between in Kristina’s position.

Kristina didn’t make the decision about Simon’s song, Jan-Olof did. She didn’t put forward August to replace her only son, the Royal Court did. She didn’t want Wilhelm to come out before it was his choice or he was ready. 

She is just in damage control dealing with it all.

So, in the end, I don’t think Kristina is the villain of Young Royals. She is a character with many different slides and flaws. She is far from a perfect mother, but she is also trapped in the same system that Wilhelm is too. We know Ludvig was not her first love either, she had to sacrifice that for the Crown.

The real question is going to be what she does in Season 3 with the news out. Wilhelm could have easily thrown Kristina under the bus by stating her part in why he initially denied the video. But again, she isn’t the villain, the Crown is.

That is my defense of her. I liked her a lot more in Season 2 and I better found I could understand her. But these are just my thoughts, feel free to agree or disagree.

[bibururokku]

Tysm for your time doing the matchup, my dear birthday buddy!!! You really spoiled me with the addition of the one-shot!

Although I can’t say I didn’t see this result coming, I was certainly in denial over the possibility. I swear Kaiser puts me through four stages of grief as a character because he’s so commonly agreed upon as a red flag, and I know we share similarities. This matchup was like the final nail in the coffin for me to resign to the fifth stage of acceptance because this seems to be an unavoidable fate at this point LOL

My unfiltered thoughts/reaction is UTC, btw. i just formatted it a little for a bit of organization. I don't recommend you or anyone else to read through it because it's chaotic, but if you or anyone else wants a laugh or is really curious, then go for it??? I just did it for fun because, by the time I actually saw and was able to read through this, I had just gotten back from an event and was absolutely tired and thought it’d be funny to see my exhausted, long-winded thoughts wwwww

—Oh! oh, no... it's Micha. I'm screwed; Denial is not just a river in Egypt, ueueue...

Pardon granted, but also, wdym by “who are you?”??? huh???? Www, but thanks for the compliment ig, wwww

Ah, my pretentious vocabulary has prevailed again

Idk about unique, but I'll take it www

Really? One specific line of text in my yappuccino led to this???

Oh there's no other match, okay www

Yeah, I guess so wwww

OTL

I'm like that one line from Hercules rn: "They think 'no' means 'yes,' and 'get lost' means 'take me, I'm yours.'" LOL

I might end up hating him a bit? Oh, you have no idea wwww; Well, hate might be too strong of a word. Dislike, maybe? I mean, I don’t actually have a problem with Kaiser; I just don’t like how similar we are. Now that I think about it, though, he might hate it too and even more than me, LOL. After all, sharing similarities means we share weaknesses—vulnerabilities, which is a big no for both of us! LMAO, but as ppl, when it comes down to it, yeah, I would wwww

Ehhhh, human relationships are supposed to be complex by nature, so I don’t think this is much different, even if it’s is more complicated than usual, which it probably is, wwwww

Yeahhhh, Kaiser in a simple relationship doesn’t sound like Kaiser, lol. Maybe once he is at peace with himself and years of his relationship, but as he is now? Absolutely not, lol

Not the Ness mention wwww; This poor guy can’t even be dismissed from his emperor’s service in peace… Not that I don’t contribute to that lack of peace either,,, Eh whatever, this is about Kaiser, not him, lol! Though this reminds me that Kaiser likes to be seen as an enemy or smth by other ppl, so I might’ve dug my own grave into this one by admitting I’m not fond of him 💀

“Absolute misery” what lovely words to use when discussing potential relationships 😂

Well, he’s not wrong; Humanity is a clusterfuck, so I don’t blame him wwww

Hmm, not really. Two can play at the game of manipulation.

That’s true; of his 19 years of existence the guy has like what? 4? 5? years of experience with other people, the poor guy is probably still a bit overwhelmed by the complexity of people and is trying to navigate it the best way he can like a literal child.

I see your point,,, unfortunately, wwww

Oh????

So it was my empathy that was my downfall 🤦‍♀️

👀???

Actually, I like that. It matches well with his character, especially because of the meaning of his name. If he’s god’s chosen emperor, a role that often comes with the title of being the father of an empire, it’d make sense and would only be natural if his partner would be the mother of his empire.

Oof.

Wait, no, the addition of the pun here is actually so big-brained with his character rn, bc he’s like a rose bush that needs to be deheaded. He needs to get rid of those faded flowers of his past to encourage growth and new blooms so he can keep being healthy; otherwise, the old blooms will rot and infect the new blooming flowers, making the entire bush susceptible to pests and diseases. 

Hold up, isn’t that what he’s doing in his current arc???? He got rid of the spent flowers that were Ness, the freedom of his football/soccer, and the comfort/security of his current position in Bastard München in order to grow… Holy shit, am I cooking something with this rn???? Wait, does this mean he’s actually kinda healing in his own way right now??? 🤔🤔🤔

I knew my biting words would come back to bite me one day, but not like this!!!! Wwww, but yeah, that shit doesn’t really work on me. At most, he’d get points for being a prick– pun intended. 

…So literally me, especially when annoyed??? 😭😭😭😭

This is both true and funny to me since it really doesn’t take much to pick him apart, but given his background, childhood, and social norms, it makes sense how he was able to get so far with his facade without getting caught; Unfortunately for him, Blue Lock isn’t a place that adheres to the social norms that helped him maintain his mask wwww

That comparison makes me think he’d probably hate me, too, tho??? wwww

I mean, tbf I think that goes for most ppl wwww

Oh, this description wwww

Ideal??? Me??? Idk about that man. Someone recounted to him in the same light I am is probably going to be a real pain to him, maybe even a literal nightmare. Also, the trauma of his past with no examples of healthy relationships and the fact that he has feelings of being unloved probably make it difficult for him to picture such a thing, hence why one of his desires is to be loved in general. He’s not in a position or space to think about ideals. Besides, he wants to become someone who can’t be defined by the impossible, so nothing should just be ideal for him because if he isn’t going to be defined by the impossible, then everything he imagines should be attainable by his own hand as long as he works for/towards it.

No, I’m pretty sure that’s his brain trying not to implode when it’s up against someone who essentially challenges the very core of his values and modus operandi as a human.

Yeah, this sounds more like he's issuing a challenge to see who is the better one between us and which of our methods of function is more effective wwwww

I can see it; I’ve also realized there is some symbolism that I can apply to our relationship, too, which is… something

Makes sense, given everything he was deprived of since he was young

Ngl, I got shivers just imagining the intimacy of that moment

Inch resting...

Oh, oh my, not the *cough cough* wwww

Yeah, I'm sure he can relate; maybe not in the same way, but still—

😭😭😭😭

That makes sense actually; it's basically just another defense mechanism of his

Well, one can see why

I’m aware… 🤡🤡🤡

LOL, in my defense, as I was writing, I just thought the more detailed, the better bc it's easier to get more accurate results, which led to that specificity wwww

Not sure if they'd be good sparks, but those behaviors will definitely create sparks; Then again, the occasional argument, bickering, and conflict can lead to a stronger relationship by establishing common ground and compromises, which this relationship definitely needs to be built upon. I do understand him and why he acts the way he does, so I can overlook some projecting, but he’s still gonna need to compromise to make this work unless he wants to recreate his parents' relationship with me wwww; He can be like his father all he wants like that, and I can play the role of his mother and skedaddle away bc I tolerate some traits less than others and he can go be a stereopticon if he wants to project so much 😒😒😒

This relationship is really going to be something, isn't it? wwww

Oh definitely.

We can bond over shared trauma!!! Oh, and interests, too wwww, though I don't think the relationship will get very far if we don't do the first one /hj

I'd give you a prize like people do for those scientists if I could, but I don't think I have the credentials for that wwww

...I'm listening..? Reading?? Idk. I'm paying attention! wwww

Awwweee, I might feel a little bad depending on what these acts of service were, but it's ok; it's the thought that counts!!! That's also very true now that I think about it, and very sweet... am I actually being convinced rn? wwww

Yeah, that too, lol

Ness mentioned part 2 wwww; Ngl idk if Kaiser really does this intentionally bc it's not like he really knows how to do anything else with others with his background, but I get it

Not sure about missing it since he never got it, but yeah, I get what you mean

It’s like how medicine can actually be poison depending on dosage no?

Hnnnggg... I'm in this picture, and I don't like it; I really outted myself with this one, huh? 🤡💀

Why does this lowkey give me a heart attack??? wwww me and my art is like Kaiser and that soccer ball, lowkey, he's kinda always had that ball with him; I always sorta had my art with me. He poured his everything into the ball, and I poured my everything into my art. It's kinda scary. I wouldn't mind if he read through one of my finished works; it's polished and completed, filtered and processed. He can find glimpses of my mind with the bits and pieces of my heart if he looks carefully, and I'm prepared to give it out. If he managed to stumble upon and pick up an unfinished WIP or my notes and research??? dhbfjhernjgtn I'm screwed. Everything is raw and unprocessed; my entire heart, mind, and soul are gonna be on display for this guy to see and they say an artist can tell what kind of person another is based on their art, so if he were to see that I might die a little on the inside. Just a little bit. ueueue

He didn't get much growing up, so it'd make sense for that to be where his taste lies, idk how to translate it directly in English, but as my parents have told me: "the taste from childhood/the taste of memories is the best." and given his childhood I'm sure he was out there making simple and basic dishes for himself

Oh, that's...

:((((

Wait, what if he gets extremely sick??? If he reaches the point of needing to rely on someone for his health because he was that unwell, then what? ...wwwww why is that my first thought and concern? 

Nuuuu!!! :((((

It's okay if he gives it back; we can save it for later or smth if it helps him ueueue 😭😭😭

Ok, but opera and museum dates would be so much fun??? But also, not him showing up to the performances, I'm gonna have the relationship boundary talk of my life if our relationship isn't in a secure place;;;;; Hopefully, he misses the ones with certain setlists, LOL. Wait, he's in the back? Tall ppl in the back and short ppl in the front moment. I hope I spot him before the end tho; otherwise, I'm gonna get jumpscared 😂😂😂

Actually, yes, take me away, plz small afterparty with the two of us over the big group gathering any day!!! Also, quality time together, let's go!!! 💕💕💕💕

Ok, Elsa, just bc you're numb inside and the cold doesn't bother you doesn't mean you should stop taking care of yourself on the outside... I ruined the moment with that, didn't I? wwww

Micha would probably be so done with me for that LMAO

HELP, he's actually having a standing man emoji/"he's just standing there... menacingly!!!" moment. WWWW, what is he even doing?  wwww ahhh jealousy??? ok, fair enough wwww there's no way I wouldn't make fun of him for that tho, sure it's my moment, but that doesn't mean he can't establish himself closer; we're equals, after all, it's not like my presence will dim just bc he's there esp at an event where ppl are just geeking out over stuff it can't be helped if it's for him to contain his jealousy tho. I think I'd actually like and prefer him to be closer ngl, scary dog privilege for some of the weirdos who show up at times like, "Sic 'em Kai-kun!!!!" wwww

Yeah, that's very cute and endearing of him ngl

Opposites attract! Though very physically, in this case, LOL

Ueueue it's the 35 cm height difference for me; also, this makes me realize that we have like,,, the standard manhwa depicted couple height difference LMAO

Haha, most people who are into MBTI tend to be surprised about this, but after getting to know me more, they usually come to realize it that this is the case, so it may just be how I choose to present myself wwww, but also 👀👀👀

I'm taking notes 📝📝📝

Omg, a one-shot too??? Lemme just... 👀👀👀

:(((((( well, now I feel like an asshole for what I said earlier about his parents' relationship ueueue... wwww ik he's not real, but I'll still apologize to his fictional ass for being a bitch lol; Now that I think about it, that's very fitting of us, though, huh? the bastard emperor of roses and his biting bark bitch of an empress lmao

hdbjfhrjg tysm for that??? wwww anyways, I'm glad you enjoyed writing the matchup!!! Despite my apprehensions, I promise I'll give Micha all the love and affection he missed out on and deserves, even if some of it is tough love to help him blossom LOL

Also, eyyyyyy b-day buddies, let's gooo!!!

BLUE LOCK MATCHUP + ONE SHOT — @bibururokku

Your match is...

— Michael Kaiser

✦ Pardon, but who are you? What’s with this amazing bio and incredible personality?

✦ The first thing I thought when I read your bio was, wow, the vocabulary!

✦ I love reading people who have a unique writing style. You can tell there’s depth behind it, that there’s life experience.

✦ Also, the way Kaiser came to mind, as usual, shook me a little because it was reading a very specific line in your text that suddenly made his entire character take over my thoughts, and I realized this bio could only belong to him.

✦ Conclusion: there’s no other match for your profile.

✦ It’s almost like he directly whispered to me, “This one’s for me.”

✦ And the more I read, the more I confirmed: yes, this is for him.

✦ There were also details that made me smile because I thought, “Hmm, if I put Kaiser in her path, she might actually end up hating him a bit, right?”

✦ But that’s what makes the relationship interesting and human: that it’s full of complications, that it’s not easy, that you have to fight for it.

✦ I can’t see Kaiser settling for a simple relationship where everything is easily won. It wouldn’t be worthy of his character.

✦ On the contrary, the harder it is to obtain, the more he’s the type to persevere. You can already see it on the field when he bluntly tells Ness that he no longer wants the freedom of his football because he thrives under restriction.

✦ In other words: in absolute misery.

✦ And what represents a greater misery for Kaiser than human relationships?

✦ You might think, “No way, the guy is a pro at psychological manipulation!”

✦ But to me, he studied psychology precisely to blend in with the human crowd, to understand it, and then to manipulate it. Probably because, at his core, he grew up isolated with his father, didn’t see many people, and couldn’t grasp social norms. You can see for a long time that he struggles with others, that he even fights when someone offers him something because violence is the only form of communication his father taught him.

✦ He knows how others think, but in a mechanical way. Like learning a concept by heart and regurgitating it as learned. Deep down, he doesn’t grasp the essence of it. It reminds me of that part in your bio: “I treat most like a business partner, so in that sense, I am pretty closed-off and predictable; I’ll give basic respect without letting personal feelings interfere.” It’s an automatic, learned behavior for dealing with specific social situations. Deep down, you’re not like that, but it’s simpler, and it works.

✦ All this to say that I think your existence plays a major role in this whole play.

✦ Oh yes, the passage that directly made me think of Kaiser is this one: “As for motherly, I’m just the type of person who likes to care for and nurture others, which I suspect stems from me having to mentally mature quickly due to a difficult childhood, so if I’m fond of a person, I want to make sure they’re alright and have support in all aspects as I didn’t get that.”

✦ For me, it speaks for itself.

✦ I always thought that what Kaiser needed, besides a few sessions with a therapist, is a general detox where he could purge all the evil that’s been eating away at him since birth, and that the only cure is the sincere affection someone could give him: a mother’s love.

✦ The one he never had.

✦ It’s hard to imagine Kaiser in a healthy romantic relationship because his view of humanity is so skewed, but I think that by starting a healing process, everything in him could blossom — pun not intended, of course, given his affinity with roses...

✦ At the same time, I think one has to be able to handle the responsibility of a relationship with someone as psychologically unbalanced as he is, and for that, besides having thick skin, you need the temperament to match. “Funny and sassy probably go hand-in-hand with the things I say since I’ve got quite a mouth on me, which is surprising for peers and acquaintances who see me with friends. It’s fluent in sarcasm and doesn’t mince words, which can be amusing.” I think when he meets someone (typically Isagi), Kaiser tries to establish dominance right away to secure personal safety — that is, to ensure the other doesn’t dominate him first. It’s a typical defensive mechanism.

✦ On the other hand, I think he can quickly be destabilized by someone who doesn’t falter in the face of his attempts at dominance. Someone who responds, who stands up to him, and who even manages to challenge him in areas where he usually feels comfortable.

✦ And you see it multiple times: the stronger Isagi becomes, the more he gains the upper hand over Kaiser, the more the latter is completely shaken because all his certainties crumble, and that’s when we start to understand who he really is. You have to slip into his cracks to see him in his most human, hidden aspects.

✦ He clearly resembles that bully in the schoolyard, who’s quite pleased when everyone bows down to his reign but gets scared when a teacher comes to grab him by the ear and put him in his place. A bit like with Noa: Kaiser despises him to the core but doesn’t challenge his status in the hierarchy.

✦ Kaiser, with his very complex psychology, could be a real challenge for you.

✦ “an ‘elegant strength’ about me due to my ‘intelligence and talent’ that I ‘carry all so gracefully’” Oh damn. So much power and beauty…

✦ “I’d make for a good lawyer since I’m very persuasive as I make good arguments and am good at playing semantics and twisting things in my favor thanks to those traits.” Someone skilled with words… Someone who knows how to stand their ground and defend their opinions… Hmm. Could I have stumbled upon our German emperor’s ideal?

✦ (Honestly, I can hear Kaiser melting over a description like that)

✦ (The attraction of the challenge, meeting someone of his caliber…)

✦ I’m quoting a few details from the things you like that clearly connect with Kaiser: “acting, documentaries, flowers, floriography, food, learning, music, psychology, reading, researching, social studies, symbolism, traveling.” All these keywords fully evoke me Kaiser, really, these are exactly the interests I imagine for him. Damn, I’m so glad I received your description.

✦ To me, he’s a man who presents himself with a lot of elegance and distinction but who deep down prefers very simple things, whether it’s in terms of food (we learn this in the pages of the latest released volume) or even in the small pleasures of life.

✦ I even wonder if he would let you touch his tattoo, from his jugular down to his biceps, then the tip of his elbow, forearm, and the back of his hand.

✦ (^ his ultimate love language, in my humble opinion.)

✦ (Especially since I think his neck is a very sensitive area for him, both for the worst and the best reasons *cough cough*)

✦ OH, speaking of physical contact. I was particularly struck by your testimony about the experiences you’ve had. I won’t go into details since this post remains public, but: “dislike: unsolicited physical contact.” That and the whole part where you explain it to me really resonated with me, and I’m sure it would have resonated with Kaiser too.

✦ Honestly, it gave me chills, and I even felt a wave of sadness because it could so easily echo within him as well. I mean, in the deepest parts of him. His entire childhood was built on the unhealthy relationship of violence he experienced with his father; he grew up with beatings as the only form of affection. It’s acknowledged by the manga that he inflicts pain on himself as a traumatic response to his past.

✦ In my understanding of his character, he can’t stand being touched, and this is one of the reasons he paradoxically allows himself to touch others and cross boundaries without any shame, like he does with Isagi, grabbing his chin and then his wrists during their first meeting. Kaiser attacks before being attacked.

✦ Deep down, I think even a simple caress on his skin deeply unsettles him, possibly provoking sudden violent reactions that no one could have anticipated.

✦ He resembles you.

✦ (Another thing regarding your dislikes; I’ve rarely read dislikes as specific as yours in the bios I read for matchups) (Quite funny, I won't lie)

✦ “Behaviors I’m not fond of in a person are abusive, controlling, impatient, inflexible, obsessive, possessive, prejudiced, tactless, uncooperative, violent and volatile.” This is the part that made me smile and think, “This will create sparks between these two.” These are traits Kaiser exhibits at various points in the manga or that I can perfectly imagine him displaying in a relationship with someone. Obviously, most of them are consequences of his traumas, which he projects onto others. It reminds me of the moment when he admits he wants to be the “father who inflicts suffering on others on the field.” He’s repeating a behavior he experienced in the past.

✦ Someone once told me, “Children are mirrors: they reproduce everything they see, hear, and experience.” And it’s true.

✦ Daaamn, there are so many things that match!!!

✦ I’m as excited as a scientist who’s just made the discovery of the century AAAAARGH

✦ (I’ve noted down plenty of little details to create connections with Kaiser, no worries)

✦ "My love language(s) are quality time and acts of service." "If I were on the receiving end, though, I'd probably prefer quality time and physical touch." It's funny because I think Kaiser has the exact same love languages, in the same order. That is, he comes across as the king who has all the servants doing everything for him, but with someone he genuinely cares about, he'd be the one to offer acts of service. The same goes for you, which doesn't surprise me given your backgrounds: letting people touch you is actually the ultimate proof of your love. It's such a sensitive and intimate thing for you both that you can only imagine it as the purest expression of your feelings for each other.

✦ Wow, that's beautiful.

✦ In my opinion, Kaiser does everything he can to protect his inner self from others, even Ness, who’s been closest to him these past few years, doesn’t truly know his deepest motivations and wounds (at least, that’s how it seems to me). So someone like Kaiser, who works hard to keep emotional distance from others... can only become obsessive once he falls for someone. It’s inevitable. It’s like the reins have been loosened, like a hungry beast has been set free. To me, Kaiser is starving for affection, and he needs it so badly that once he gets a taste... he won't be able to turn back.

✦ It becomes addictive for those who’ve missed it the most.

✦ And that can be just as dangerous as it can be the start of healing; it’s all about the right dose and timing.

✦ "I’m also extremely touch-starved" I don’t need to say more. I know you understand exactly what I’ve explained about Kaiser.

✦ Now, a little compilation of common traits with our German prodigy: "I also tend to write one-shots that fall under those genres since I like them." Without saying he writes fanfics or anything, I think anything related to creating a character might really captivate his attention. I can totally picture him sitting in his chair in the evening, wearing a bathrobe like we saw in the video room, reading your script, the pages you've written about your characters and universe. He’d do it very carefully in complete silence, with his glasses on and one knee crossed over the other. He’d silently turn the pages, and if he had nothing to say at the end of his reading, it’s not because it left him indifferent: I think it would keep turning in his mind, eventually deepening his interest in other people’s art. In your art.

✦ "The same goes for my other hobbies, like baking and cooking." I don't see him as extraordinarily talented in the kitchen, and his current appearance might suggest he enjoys fine dining: but nope. As I mentioned earlier, I think his culinary tastes are actually the same as when he was a child, and he loves the simplest dishes. Family meals... Oh wow, a good beef stew. A fondue!!! A Sunday barbecue at noon in the summer...

✦ A turkey on Christmas Eve.

✦ The symbolic evening of his birth...

✦ Now, I’m not sure he’d be very expressive because I think his relationship with food is a bit peculiar, especially when someone offers him something—like cooking for him. So I think it would take a lot of time and effort for him to finally accept tasting your dish. Not because it disgusts him, quite the opposite—the delicate smell of smoked meat would make him crack—but because he doesn’t know how to accept kindness from others.

✦ And you know what? I can totally see him being moved to tears by tasting a warm, delicious meal cooked just for him. He wouldn’t show it, he’d try hard not to show anything, but the expression in his tear-filled eyes would say it all.

✦ (Though he might eventually give his dish back due to the overwhelming emotions, but I promise: he loved it.)

✦ "Dancing and singing are covered by the clubs I’m in, and since I picked them, I’m satisfied with them, especially when we perform and make covers." In the category of more specific hobbies, I think he might eventually enjoy opera and museums (culture and art in general), and also come to watch your performances. He’d probably start in the back, discreet, a bit withdrawn from the crowd. And then he’d be the first to applaud you at the very end, you know, and that would prompt everyone else to clap along with him.

✦ He’s proud of you, and you leave the room together. He’s planned something and insists it’s just for the two of you. He’s never liked crowds or groups; he prefers small gatherings where he can focus on the one person who truly matters to him.

✦ The kind who’d wrap a scarf around your neck because it’s cold. You’d comment on it, and of course, he’d reply, "The cold? I’m used to it. I don’t feel it anymore."

✦ "There’s also cosplaying, but I only do it for conventions, meetups, and photoshoots with friends. But there are time and financial restraints, so it’s much less frequent." He might come to see you, not necessarily standing directly in front of your booth but watching from afar. Watching people line up at your stand for autographs and photos, maybe gritting his teeth or furrowing his brows because there’s a hint of jealousy. But he’d never interfere because he knows it’s your moment. His moment will come later.

✦ And the fact that he puts himself second is a sign of his devotion in itself.

✦ "For appearance, I’m honestly built like Hoshino Ai" Honestly, I can totally see Kaiser preferring people with a physique that’s the opposite of his, meaning shorter people with dark hair and a somewhat innocent look, but who have a strong personality.

✦ "from the way her body physically looks down to her height of 4’11” or 151 cm" Hehehe, shall we talk about hugs between 151 cm and 186 cm?

✦ "Lastly, my MBTI is INFP-T" (I won’t lie, I was a bit surprised by that MBTI, I thought you’d be something else) Kaiser is really hard to type due to his unique childhood, which, in my opinion, forced him to develop cognitive functions that he didn't have in order to survive. These functions are called “shadow functions,” and according to Carl Jung’s theory, they shouldn’t be developed at all in someone whose cognitive stack doesn’t include them. I have my own idea of Kaiser’s type, which is nothing like what Personality Database gave him, and I think it’s the most complementary to INFP.

✦ "my enneagram is 4w5" It’s commonly accepted that Kaiser’s is 3w4. You both share the 4, which in his case is a wing. This means that his 3, which represents the achiever profile, is supported by the 4, the profile attributed to the individualist. When combined with the 3, the 4 makes Kaiser someone who is motivated by achieving success while asserting who he is through his work. This is exactly what we see when he seeks to develop "a shot that defines me" and when he wants to be recognized for his work. There’s a strong identity quest in Kaiser’s relentless journey, and this is represented by his 3w4 enneagram. We can also see it throught the "wholistic restrictive ego" that Isagi describes in chapter 267.

✦ Well, because you both inspire me so much, here’s a little one shot.

Content warning: angst, self-harm, hurt/comfort.

The room was dark, silence hanging like a heavy shroud. It was late, and a bad dream had pulled you from sleep. In the bed, an immense coldness lingered. Your hand groped blindly. You could hear the sheets crumple under your grasp. The place beside you was empty.

This was usual.

And because it was usual, you got up, rubbing the corners of your eyes with your fists. Then you slipped out of bed, pulling on a robe before heading downstairs to the living room. There a light was on.

The TV was on but it was strange, you didn’t even hear the sound because all your senses were focused on the figure on the floor.

"Michael!" you cry out.

He was slumped on the floor but not asleep. Your first instinct was to approach, drop to your knees to lift a hand... Then you remembered not to touch him unless he gave his consent.

"Michael, look at me..."

There was something around his neck. His own hand, clenched like a vise. His breathing was short and erratic. A clammy heat battled across his forehead, down to his temples. The sound from the screen continued to crackle in the background. His gaze lifted to it, revealing the replay of an old match.

"It’s... the first one I saw." his murmur barely escaped his throat. "Before I started playing."

His grip gradually loosened on its own. You watched, helpless, worried.

"It was Christmas Eve, I was on the street. There was the store window. A sports shop."

"Micha..."

"I saw a vision of my father."

He slowly straightened up on his knees, his palm wiping away the sweat clinging to the roots of his hair. You moved to brush a few blonde strands behind his ear, always careful not to touch him directly.

"Fuck..." his head tilted back, exposing even his Adam’s apple. "It’s been a while."

"Is there anything I can do?"

His blue eye landed on you.

"...Nothing."

"Alright. Then tell me when..."

"There is. Hold me."

Your heart began to pound harder in your chest. A fire ignited within you. Your arms opened to welcome the one who let himself fall against you. The tattoo encircling his throat seemed to emit a faint scent of roses. You inhaled its fragrance, wrapping your arms completely around Kaiser.

"Like this. I... feel okay." His face nestled into the curve of your neck. His warm breath settled there. "You’re not leaving, right?"

"I’m here."

"You’re here."

A word about your match: You’re the sexiest Hollywood couple of all time, hands down. I absolutely LOVED writing this matchup, thank you so much. Give Kaiser all the love you can; I'm convinced he has so much to give too. He just needs time to blossom...and love.

And OH MY GOD I see on your blog that you were born on 10 December like me????

© TIGREBLVNC 2024 | AUGUST '24 MATCHUPS EDITION.

[aquariusshadow]

Hope Mikaelson: Grief and Criticism on the Writers

TW//Grief

Alright. I feel like I really need to preface this with three very important points.

1) I have a very personal connection to grief and it's still incredibly recent and that grief has it's own level of trauma associated to it. No more details are necessary.

2) By no means am I claiming my experience with it is the same as anyone else’s or worse, or better. It is morally unethical to police anyone else’s experience with grief. That is not at all the goal of this post.

3) I am simply using my own understanding of grief to understand Hope's character and apply criticisms and defenses where I think they deserve.

--

First of all. Hope's actions this past episode need to be called out. They cannot be excused with a slap on the wrist and if next weeks episode glosses over her actions then there’s a problem. Hope willing let Lizzie and Josie nearly die (and herself) to save Landon is really screwed up and how she got Josie to try and help her was a bit questionable as well--which I’ll get to later. But, something I can do is try and understand what the attempt is for Hope's mentality when it comes to Landon.

I've been seeing a few posts saying Hope is irredeemable and butchered. And...well, I partially disagree.

The reason I say 'partially' is because I think the writers can easily take Hope in the direction where she can be irredeemable. And, given how shitty the writers have been going about characterization and storylines, I say that the concern has strong logistical basis (and it's a concern I have myself).

But here's where I respectfully, 50% disagree.

Something about Hope's character I think has been consistent enough is her grief. I think people need to keep in mind about grief is that its not a straight line. It crops up in ways that you wouldn't even imagine or recognize. It's overwhelming and blinding and there's a desire to numb it with something strong enough to overcome it if it's not dealt with properly.

To me: that's what Landon is to Hope. Blinding emotion Hope clings to in an attempt to either numb or push down the hurt she feels.

I would like to think Landon could be the key for her accepting her grief and moving on and Landon could represent hope for new life in the future, but there has been no hint of that in the recent episodes.

This is evident in some of the biggest criticisms of Handon. Landon is the one that always needs saving. Hope wants Landon to be completely out of the way and not try and help her because the thought of her losing him is crippling and they don't have a proper heart to heart understanding to try and work through it together.

Especially since, she keeps watching Landon die. Over, and over, and over again.

To the girl who's biggest fear is loosing the people she loves because of what happened to her parents, Hope is continuously reliving her trauma multiple times with little to no guidance to overcome it.

So when you have episodes like the therapy box trying to get through to Hope that she needs to let go, work through her issues, etc, and she rejects it and there's instances in episodes after where she continues to regress and when characters, Lizzie, attempt to clue Hope in that her perception on Landon is a "blind spot" in a negative way, there’s a lot of cause for concern that Hope is at a point where she could be irrational when it comes to Landon.

Which is present in her actions this past episode. All criticisms against Hope are valid and I agree with most of them this from this episode. It was not okay for her to try and use Josie, who's overcoming her own issues from being Dark-Josie, to try and find Landon, and risking both her and Lizzie's lives when it was clear they were about to die. It's also a bit concerning she seems to ignore concerns about monsters coming back to the school, funded by Klaus, everyone's home, would be a very dangerous thing.

But because she's blinded by everything I stated above. I can see where her head is at even though there's concern.

Here is an area where I think Hope's characterization with her grief is either inconsistent...or proves my point that Hope might be a bit too irrational overall.

Hope Mikaelson s1 and s2 would not let Josie and Lizzie Saltzman die or get close to it. That has been proven time and time again. The Saltzman Twins are two people Hope cares so much about, the idea she would be willing to let them die for Landon is very confusing because...you would think the idea of loosing the Twins would also be completely devastating for her too and that would also be something that plagues her mind (hell MG, Kaleb, Alaric, etc at least on some level). Furthermore, we had an episode in season 2 where Hope actively chose to save Lizzie and Josie, over Landon.

Overall, my point that I will end this on. If this is handled properly, this could potentially be the peak to Hope's grief arc overall when it comes to Landon and everything else. Even though I said Hope's actions need to be called out, that doesn't mean I'm flat out angry with her portrayal in the previous episode. Honestly, I'm watching a girl who's in a long term battle with grief and the writers don't seem to know how to get her out of the intense areas that are contributing to her "Landon Obession" etc and have her grow into herself outside of Landon. Aka...the writers seem to be completely out of their element when it comes to this subject, which isn’t surprising.

Hope's arc this season being only about Landon is poor writing, but, there's substance present that I would like to think is underlying the fact that there is more going on than just Landon even if the writers are shit at showing it.

Hope’s pain is not an excuse to make decisions that actively hurt other people. But her grief does allow for an insight onto what I THINK the attempted goal is for her character.

[xmaruu11]

my ideal ending for cBeeduo as an Story writing student

QUESTION: ideal ending for them? based on closing off their character arcs and whatnot

I BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE

Okay, I think Tubbos arc should end first than Ranboos, mainly cuz most of his growth as a character is done already and it will give Tubbo the opportunity to be on the server building, do semi lore if he wants to, but like,, be more free of his character you know? (this pains me to write)

What I would give to Tubbo is proper healing, a proper way to deal with Grief and a healthy relationship with Death. Because even though he was talking to cAimsey, he was definitely projecting his relationship with death at her (both are the Angel of Death in some way)

To start off, he needs to have a messy path to healing, he needs to go back and fourth in the steps of grief, cuz that's how it is, it's messy and it will never be on a straight line. He needs to heal and come forward and ask cAimsey for forgiveness, and prove that he is actually sorry.

After that, I think he would help to try to revive cRanboo, but he can't help him directly without putting him in more danger. So he will feel kinda useless, and that's when we drop the big guns. Tubbo is able to forgive anyone, except himself. I've already discussed before how Tubbo is a character full of self hatred and how he sees himself as a not good person because of all his trauma. And I think this plays a full role on the fact that he never forgave himself for all the events in all the past seasons, mainly season two and everything relating to New LManberg til Disc Finale

He needs to realize he was a kid that was put under so much pressure and he did anything he could, he held so much for so long, so much weight he never had to even feel. And I think that weight never left him, it's still heavy on his shoulders, on his neck, on his mind. He needs to learn that he is a good person deep down, he is deeply traumatized and dealt with so much pain and responsibility he shouldn't have dealt with. He was, and he still is, just a kid, like it or not. I mean, biologically, our brain isn't fully developt until we are 21, if you want actual biological facts.

Tubbo's arc should be about forgiveness and trust. I mean, it was always about it, his character is always touching those points and I think his story should end with him knowing how to put his foot down, knowing how to make himself be heard, and not having to lose himself in the process (he is still a kind hearted person who sees the good in everyone, but this time, he isn't taken for granted or people take advantage of that good heart of his). Which he already did with cWilbur, Techno and Eret. I think he needs a conversation with Quackity, and he needs to apologize to Aimsey. But again, most importantly, he needs to forgive himself. That's the only way he will be able to finally move on and heal.

Ranboo's story still has a lot to go, at least in my opinion (I'm sorry Ranboo, you did this to yourself). After the revival, I would love for him to have his full memories, and this time, his arc is to make amends with his flaws and his mistakes, and the fact that he cannot please everyone, no matter how much he tries. He needs to realize as well that he fucked up, a lot, and even though he had good intentions, he ended up hurting the ones he loves in the process and that he was never called out for that, and he needs to be responsable for the damage he has done. No matter if its old or not. I think he needs to make amends and take responsibility of his past. And even though he has shown to feel regret I don't think he ever expressed it to the people he ended up hurting, this is mainly for the fact that he is afraid of confrontation and he doesn't want to face some truths. But that's something he will have to do if he wants that.

Part of me also want's Ranboo to learn about his enderman side, to learn about what he is and where he comes from. But not as a way of like "I finally feel complete because I know who I am" but in a way of "I don't need to know where I came from, to know who I am, because I am what I make of myself and not what I was born from", you know? I mean this has nothing to do with him or his story, but I just like the idea of that self security. Of that he can trust on his judgement on himself, and he feels safe and complete with who he is. I don't know, just a thing for me.

And when it come to cBeeduo, I said it before, I need them to take a break from each other. They clearly love each other and would do anything for the other, but they are constanly keeping secrets from the other (mainly Ranboo to Tubbo, again I will shake Ranboo like a maraca, this is a threat), and they never tell eachother anything cuz they are btoh afraid of confrontation and hurting eachothers feelings. BUT GOD THEY NEED TO TALK, Tubbo needs to yell at him, he had it coming and Ranboo needs to open up about everything. Realize that he can trust Tubbo and that they are a team, that they can rely on each other and that the other is capable of protecting themself. They need a break to learn and heal by their own accords. Cuz even thought they are so good for each other, they also cannot depend their entire healing process on another person, and that person being a traumatize teen ager as well. They need to learn by themselves and heal, that way once they are back together, they can be stronger than ever. They can learn to rely on each other and be truly happy and feel safe.

Cuz that's what cbeeduo is and will always be, they are a safe place for each other. They are eachothers safe and happy place, a place were they can feel protected and be themselves. And I think they are actually one of the healthies relationship in the server, and they both deserve happiness.

They mean so much to me. I think I have skipped a lot, but god its 1 am and I been typing for 40 minutes i think..

[stainedglassthreads]

I think I know what kind of theme and overall message Genshin Impact is trying to go for. 

Over a year ago, before Inazuma came out, I wrote a post discussing how all the Archons so far had had strong themes of grief, humanity outgrowing the need for them. The grief theme holds very true with Ei and Nahida. For Ei, the death of Makoto lead to a long period of depression, which she’s only now starting to move forward from. Said depression is the root of a number of her mistakes that went on to create problems for Inazuma and Teyvat, such as the abandonment of Scaramouche and the manipulations of the Fatui. (And if not for the Sacred Sakura, even worse things may have come to pass.) 

As for Nahida, it’s not so much her own grief. Rather, Sumeru’s grief for Rukkhadevata casts a long shadow over her. Because she can’t be a perfect replacement for Rukkhadevata, it’s led to her being overlooked and neglected, developing a host of insecurities about her abilities to be a good Archon and protect what few followers she has, let alone all of Sumeru. She’s not allowed to be her own person and properly grow into her role, because she fails at immediately and flawlessly replacing what was lost. 

While Ei needs to learn how to move on from Makoto, the people of Sumeru, namely, the Akademiya, needs to learn how to move on from Rukkhadevata. 

Now we come to the Aranara worldquest. The various World Quests, including Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual, A Company Vanishing Into the Deep, and Dream Nursery, have told us far more about the Cataclysm than any Archon or Character Quest. Furthermore, a very strong theme of memory has been threaded through each of these World Quests, being the most prevalent in Dream Nursery, which features the Aranara, whose power and fluency in the human language directly scale with memory. 

Aranara seem to have a particular philosophy about memory. Old, bad memories should be forgotten. Precious, happier memories should be made to replace them. But friends are more important than memories, because you can always make new memories with those friends. From A Company Vanishing Into the Deep, and from Alphonso at the very end of Dream Nursery, though, we get perhaps the exact opposite philosophy: to never, ever forget the Cataclysm, because it’s still an ongoing calamity. Grow up and see what the world has to offer, but never forget the darkness you’ve experienced. 

It makes it even more poignant then that the Aranara word for the Abyss, Marana, seems to translate to ‘the memory of death.’ 

The Aranara advocate for healing by letting go of bad memories and making new ones. But both the Fatui and the Abyss Order cling onto their traumas, grief, grievances, and grudges. The Tsaritsa and the Abyss Twin both want to seek vengeance against Celestia. But while Celestia may not be blameless either in this conflict, I don’t think they’re the big bad anymore. 

I think the Abyss is going to become the main antagonist. And I think the story is going to require the Tsaritsa and the Abyss Twin to... I don’t wanna say forgive and forget, because I still don’t know what EXACTLY Celestia’s sins were. But I think they’re going to need to learn to move on from their grudges. Anger can be constructive, but clinging to it can be toxic. And I think that’s what the Abyss is-- the toxic and corrosive force of clinging to grief and anger. And so long as the Tsaritsa and the Abyss Twin keep causing so much destruction and collateral damage in the search for rebellion and redemption, prioritizing old memories over the people they swore to protect, they’re just going to continue to empower the true threat-- the Abyss. 

Related past analyses, for full context: 

My analysis about the Archons and grief. 

Analysis of Fatui mindset from A Company Vanishing Into the Deep. 

[ectonurites]

question for you because you’re one of the only people i know of who has any idea of the batfam timeline: by the time the red hood shows up in titans tower to flex on tim, have tims parents been murdered/left comatose yet? ik jack doesn’t die until later (isnt it close to when red robin run starts?) but im not entirely sure how the timeline of tim’s parents & young justice adventures line up with jason’s return to gotham (other than. he shows up that one time at the tower)

I know I’ve had a similar question before but I can’t find the post dbdhshs SO let’s do this again.

The tldr answer: Tim’s parents are both dead before Under the Red Hood when Jason makes his presence officially known in Gotham. But worth noting Jack (and Steph too) had died very recently in-universe at that point.

Let’s attach some dates and issues to what I think are relevant events to explain it in a bit more detail. Just for ease/consistency i’ll be using cover dates here, which are about two months after the date published.

Tim’s mother Janet is killed and his father Jack becomes comatose in the story Rite of Passage, in Detective Comics #618-621 (July-Sep 1990)

Jack is awake and well enough to go home, (using a wheelchair for a while) in Batman #480 (June 1992)

Jack begins seeing physical therapist Dana Winters in Robin #12 (Dec 1994) to help recover from his injuries

Dana and Jack have begun a romantic relationship that is revealed to Tim around Robin #21 (Oct 1995)

Since you mentioned Young Justice, let’s establish that the team begins with Young Justice: The Secret (June 1998) and JLA: World Without Grown-Ups #1-2 (Aug-Sep 1998), with their own comic starting shortly after in Young Justice #1 (Sep 1998)

Not 100% relevant to the stuff we’re talking about here but worth noting, No Man’s Land occurs effecting like all the Bat books in 1999-2000.

Jack and Dana get married in the Robin 80-Page Giant (Sep 2000)

Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #1-3 (July-Aug 2003) causes Young Justice to dissolve.

Teen Titans Vol. 3 #1 (Sep 2003) launches with the YJ kids on the new team.

Jason initially shows himself to Bruce & kinda slits Tim’s throat during the Hush storyline in Batman #618 (Oct 2003). However this initially was written as Clayface in a disguise and that’s what the Bats think happened here, years later it was retconned in Batman Annual #25 (May 2006) to actually be Jason at first who secretly switched places with Clayface midway through the conflict.

Jack finds out Tim is Robin during Robin #124 (May 2004) and confronts Bruce about it at gunpoint. In Robin #125 (June 2004) he forces Tim to quit.

Stephanie steps into the role in Robin #126 (July 2004), but she is fired at the end of Robin #128 (Sep 2004) which then sets off the big messy chain of events called War Games.

War Games is an event across Bat titles in 2004, important for what we’re discussing here is that the main event ends with Steph’s death (later retconned to be fake, but at the time it was written this was real) in Batman #633 (Dec 2004)

In this same timeframe, the 2004 DC event Identity Crisis is also occurring. Jack is murdered by Captain Boomerang in Identity Crisis #5 (Dec 2004)

According to the War Games epilogue in Batman #634 (Jan 2005), Jack died only days after Stephanie did- thus War Games and Identity Crisis apparently in-universe occur within the same like, week.

Dana needed to be hospitalized due to her grief over Jack’s death, so she begins to reside in a hospital in Blüdhaven. This is why Tim also moves there, as explained via flashback in Robin #132 (Jan 2005)

The Under the Red Hood storyline, Jason’s official return to Gotham to cause problems for everyone, starts in Batman #635 (Feb 2005) so immediately following War Games.

The Teen Titans book gets a bit out of sync timeline-wise with stuff going on for Tim around War Games, but things start getting closer to lining up again by this point afterwards. During Teen Titans #20 (March 2005) Tim is shown grieving over his father’s death that just occurred.

I think it’s worth noting the whole ‘Conner gets controlled by Luthor’ storyline (a crossover more officially referred to as Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Insiders) occurs between things here in Teen Titans #24-25 and Outsiders #24-25 (July-Aug 2005)

The Titans Tower incident in which Jason breaks in to beat the shit out of Tim then takes place in Teen Titans #29 (Dec 2005)

I’m not gonna list timeline stuff out in as much detail after this point bc it’s not particularly relevant to what you asked but just a few things worth mentioning/clearing up:

Under the Red Hood ends at the same time as/overlapping with the bigger DC-wide event Infinite Crisis in 2006 (both books show the destruction of Blüdhaven, that’s the easiest place to see how they connect timeline-wise).

After Infinite Crisis, there is an in-universe timeskip event across all of DC’s books called One Year Later also in 2006 (with the exception of 52, a weekly book that shows what happened during the missing year).

Red Robin (since you brought it up) doesn’t start until a while after all that- it begins in August 2009 as part of the Batman Reborn revamp of Bat titles. This is in the aftermath of the Battle for the Cowl event in May-June 2009, which occurred as a result of Bruce’s apparent death at the hands of Darkseid during the Final Crisis event in 2008-2009.

I hope that helps clear things up? The timeline of things for the Bats (and just DC as a whole) is messy and confusing and at plenty of times contradictory, so trying to make sense of it is always a… wild time.