#i'll write more some other time

[afurtivecake]

The first thing about Riko that explains the kind of person he is is that he's a Moriyama.

You know how Jean has that, "I am a Moreau. This is what I'm for," internal monologue he uses to persuade himself that everything that has happened to him has happened for a reason? To me, Riko has basically the same thing, except his internal monologue says, "I'm a Moriyama. I was born to rule," which he uses to justify everything he does and everything he goes through.

He's been taught from the beginning that being a Moriyama MEANS something. Moriyamas are without equal, born to command respect and rule over man. They wield all that power and so they have certain responsibilities. The biggest responsibility they have is the loyalty and behaviour of those beneath them. It's their responsibility to make sure their subordinates understand their power and know their place.

Riko sees it in how the main family acts and he sees it in how Tetsuji treats Evermore and the Ravens as his personal domain to rule over with absolute power. But the only thing Riko has to rule over is the court, so long as he plays. The only thing Tetsuji allows him to have control over is playing exy. So it's not enough that he be just and exy star; he has to be the best. He has to be unquestionably at the top of the sport and he has to make sure that no one ever even thinks they can threaten his position. That's the only way he can come close to the Moriyama ideal within the tiny puddle he's been given to rule over.

Tetsuji has all of Evermore and every single Raven, Riko included, bow down to him using a combination of brutality, fear and psychological tactics. to exert complete control over them. It's not just his right to do that; it's his responsibility as a Moriyama to solidify his control over his subordinates. Riko, Kevin and Jean have it drilled into them that is their duty to discipline the people they are responsible for and to make sure they know their place.

I imagine Tetsuji impressing upon Riko while he was growing up that, because he is a Moriyama and because Kevin is his responsibility, it's his duty to keep Kevin in line and to punish him when necessary. He might even have harangued Riko about how if Kevin falls behind or steps out of line, it's his fault for being lazy and ineffective with his discipline. (And then he'd beat them both to drive home the message and to show Riko 'how it's really done'.) If he can't even control a single child, how can he consider himself a Moriyama.

As for how he is to gain that control and obedience, well, that's where Riko lucks out in a way. The methods he's learned from his uncle examples are physical and psychological violence and it just so happens that those methods align well with his natural sadistic inclinations. (I mean, I assume it's his natural inclination though it's hard to tell. Heap enough trauma onto someone for long enough and it becomes hard to differentiate which parts of them are caused by trauma and which parts are their personality. I say this because sadism doesn't automatically doom a person to violence.)

So essentially you have a situation where 1) Riko feels he has to prove he is a Moriyama, 2) beating Kevin and Jean into submission is part of what being a Moriyama is about, and 3) it just so happens that hurting people is in his wheelhouse, and is really fun and personally satisfying for him.

Makes for a pretty fucked up person already. But actually, it's not as if Tetsuji went out of his way to make Riko like that. As far as Tetsuji was concerned, all Riko needed to know was how to play exy and how not to be a complete embarrassment for him in front of the main family. He brought Riko up with the Moriyama values he knew. Being a person, an actual human being, just wasn't anywhere on the list of requirements Tetsuji had for him.

You know how Jean has moments where he thinks, "if I'm not a Raven, who am I?" Well, to Riko, if he isn't a Moriyama, then what is he? Riko HAS to be a Moriyama because there is no other option for him. If he isn't a Moriyama, then he is nothing and nobody, with nothing to live for.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

MDZS Severance AU: Get me out of here.

[koinotame]

idolatry

word count: 3.1K content warnings: unhealthy relationship dynamics, half self indulgent reader insert fanfiction half character study, unreality, religious undertones, possession is discussed abstractely, hypothetical harm to reader, the yandere is subtle but it's there

summary: you've somehow been reincarnated into a version of genshin impact where all the playable characters are self aware and seem besmitten with the player. the problem is that they can't make up their minds about whether you're their player or not...

a/n: aether vs your many fake fans

the flow of time has never felt steady to aether. despite how important it was to humans wherever he and his sister have traveled, there has always been a disconnect from it for him. You disappearing for months at a time is nothing out of the ordinary. time flows the same with or without You. like the sea's waves, it recedes and pushes. when he's used as a vessel by You, weeks can pass by in the blink of an eye and hours can feel like years spent in Your embrace. years have passed since You first started possessing them, and yet it's only been a couple of months at most. nothing moves forward in Your presence, nothing stays in stasis in Your absence.

so when he suddenly truly understands how humans experience the passage of time during another one of Your disappearances, aether immediately knows something is wrong. filled with dread and a harrowing heaviness deep in his gut that something has happened he can never take back, he finally understands what it means to be desperate for more time. have You abandoned him at last? has he not been enough, not quick enough to uncover this world's secrets and find his sister as You desired? finding you, clearly not from this world and trying to backtrack when you call him by his name—aether, his name, not Your sacred name he has been passing off as his own ever since Your arrival in teyvat—before any of Your other undeserving, fanatical vessels do seems nothing short of a miracle to him.

overjoyed at not having been abandoned after all, he clings to you and promises to protect and guide you through this foreign world—this time not as Your vessel, but as your first and most devoted follower. he doesn't need to be his own person, not when he can exist within the context of you.

paimon is less convinced. aether has turned even more immoderate and unnerving ever since your appearance, and she's not a fan. she… kind of understands. how important You are to aether, to the many others You've met through them during their journey. but does he—do any of them—really need to devote their entire being to You? she doesn't mind you, as a person, she really doesn't. but she doesn't like what You as a concept do to aether.

these days, she barely feels like she's part of the group, the one she formed with aether what seems so long ago, anymore. your arrival has completely overshadowed her presence. where she was previously part of a duo with her travel companion, she feels like little more than an afterthought now. she misses him. he calls her silly for it. she has only ever known him through Your command, so there isn't anything to miss. he's the same as he has always been. she just doesn't understand because You never graced her with Your embrace, and now that you have seemingly lost that ability perhaps she will never understand.

she says nothing, but she finds herself a little glad. better to never experience Your embrace, whatever that means, than lose herself completely in devotion to someone who clearly wants none of it.

the first archon they approach with you, venti, is apologetic but firm in the notion that aether is simply confused. he can understand how aether came to the conclusion, desperate and unused as he is following Your disappearance, but Your presence is simply unmistakable. he bids the two of you farewell amicably, but you find it impossible not to notice the difference in his demeanour afterwards when you run into him around the city. his smile is deftly crafted and practiced, his voice level and fingers steady as they pluck the strings of his lyre, but something about his eyes betray his own growing desperation.

if even aether is faltering like this, perhaps You really have abandoned them this time…? if he shows You how well mondstadt is faring, how much they've rebuilt and grown and thrived since You helped him quell dvalin's anguish, will You be proud of him and return? even if not to him, at least to the city? will You ever have Your vessels dance in the city square's fountain, or make the hike up the skyfrost nail to gaze upon the beauty of the unabating grey and white landscape again?

over time, even venti wavers and starts seeing what aether has seen in you. it is equal parts acceptance and desperation that drives him to you, to the one Your faithful traveler has placed his belief in, to feel Your embrace again, even if it can never be the same as it once was. he survived thousands of years without Your grace, to fold for it now that he knows what Your benevolence feels like is nothing short of shameful. the thought gnaws at him all the while until it has consumed him whole. in the end, he has not grown at all; still that little wind spirit desperate to not lose another he holds close. somehow, when you hold him, he can't seem to mind.

while the two of them have never discussed the matter of You explicitly, aether is perceptive enough to realise zhongli is one of the most reverent of the whole… of any of Your vessels. you called them cast without thinking the other day, whatever that meant. of Your cast. so he goes to him next, telling him that You've made Your way to this world permanently, that he's found You. his first instinct is anger, anger at your lying, anger that aether, who You have blessed with Your presence more than anyone else, who You picked as Your primary vessel, would fall for such mockery. aether was astute to not bring you along when he announced this, or perhaps you knew and chose not to yourself. it matters not. he knows he has proven himself to You, that the real You would never hesitate to reveal Yourself to him. instead of expression his righteous fury, he does his utmost to reign it in. if anything, this works in his favour. he almost feels sorry for aether, wrapped so tightly around the pinkie of a fraud.

upon meeting you properly, he realises perhaps he misunderstood the situation a little. zhongli isn't a fool (when he's not blinded by momentary rage, at least), he can see how uncomfortable you are with the whole situation. while you are not blameless for continuing this facade, aether has deluded himself and cast You aside entirely on his own—and when You finally grace them with Your real presence, zhongli is certain aether will be the first to fall from Your grace. that drunkard too, falling into temptation out of loneliness like that, will get what's coming to him.

until then, all he needs to do is keep his distance and stay as he is, as Your most loyal and dedicated devotee. until then, all he needs to do is send the two of you off. there is no need for him to get violent, not when Your punishment will hurt aether all the more. he thought he was long past such childish emotions, but he supposes that even now You breathe new vigor into him.

you shy either away from visiting inazuma entirely. seeing how the previous archons have reacted to you, you have little doubt that the raiden shogun would be the first to get violent. it's a dilemma you would rather avoid altogether, if possible. just in case. maybe your worry is misplaced, but… aether, of course, can never deny You, and the raiden shogun, of course, would meet your expectations without a proper thought.

the puppet has learned since, but much of the framework of logic she used to enact the vision hunt decree and rule over inazuma in the past several hundred years remains and is hard to completely make away with in such a short amount of time. imposing ei's will on a whole nation is wrong, but arresting and doing away with someone making a ridicule of You is a completely different thing. ei remains a little more hesitant, but even she cannot bring herself to completely disagree. You are the pinnacle of eternity, of control, of life—for some mere human to be impersonating You is unacceptable. hearing the traveler, Your closest companion, has put his trust in you would give her a bit of pause. he was right last time, so maybe this time as well… but then it was You who was right through him, not him in and of himself.

ultimately, your instincts would have turned out to be correct, and she buries herself in her plane once again, leaving the shogun to continue cleaning up inazuma. on her own, she imagines herself meeting You—the true You—and what it would be like to welcome you to her nation in earnest. she wonders if You would be proud of her.

nahida knows You immediately. she is the archon of wisdom, and weak as she may be, that title is not for nothing. your presence feels a bit differently from how it did when there was much more distance between You and her, but it pushes and pulls in a similar way. she doesn't feel she needs to, but should it come to it, she could always take a quick peek at your thoughts… and she would just get confirmation that she was right from the start. now that she's free—largely by virtue of You and the traveler—her word has much more weight than before. sumeru will always welcome You with open arms. if you prefer to live more privately, she understands that. but know that you can always come to her. for anything. she really, really means it.

it's only a small, selfish part of her, and she doesn't like thinking this way or how the other archons, the ones who should recognise You right away, are treating you, but a tiny part of her deep down finds herself feeling almost proud that she's the only one to recognise your grace. whenever you're around, she finds herself spending all of her free time with you. she wants to hear everything—your thoughts, your opinions, which weather or meal or nation you like better, your experiences, your home world, what it was like handling your vessels, everything and anything you deem fit to share with her. from how you indulge her, she's glad she also seems to bring you a similar comfort to the one You give her.

she wonders if Your embrace feels similar to when she possesses others' bodies. the warmth and absolute serenity that overtakes all of her senses when You control her can't compare to anything else. it's nice to be in at the helm of herself too, of course, especially with her newfound autonomy. but if You were to offer her that comfort permanently, she wouldn't be able to turn down Your offer.

when furina looks at you, she sees a reflection of herself. she might not recognise You, but she cannot bring herself to disdain someone in such a similar position to herself. she cannot imagine that You, kind and benevolent and goodhearted as You are, would want her to be cruel to you. whether that is her genuine belief or an attempt to redeem herself to You, after deceiving not only Your vessel but also You directly, does it matter?

Your presence has been a fairly recent entrance in her life, but she has been hearing about You for hundreds of years. she cannot remember a single conversation she ever had with her mirror self that did not feature You as a point of dialogue, of ambition. with only her and You to cling onto for hope for five hundred years, the only natural outcome was to develop such a strong faith and dependence on You. perhaps not as fervent as some of the other… archons, but not something that should be underestimated. Your presence in fontaine, even if through the traveler, had given her renewed hope at the time. as soon as she saw him for the first time, she knew.

your presence is… completely different. there's hints of You—likely residue You've left in the traveler—but not much else. she cannot believe in false idols, she tells the two of you, but she will see about providing some lodging for you. even if the traveler—even if aether is wrong about this, his service to fontaine deserves some merit, so she's sure this can be overlooked. it's what You would want, she hopes to herself. and if she finds herself seeking you out more and more, what difference does it make? when you smile so sweetly at her and praise her for holding on for so long, that you're proud of her, her resolve cracks.

neuvillette has always known of You. it is only when the traveler shows up in fontaine with Your presence in tow that he understands with certainty that You do exist, that he truly understands how wonderful Your warmth feels even at a distance and in these circumstances. You take Your leave for a while, and he thinks he is alright with that. even just knowing Your comfort so intimately (because this is already so much more than most are permitted), however brief, is enough for him. perhaps his returned authority also has an impact, but he is certain it would not have felt this invigorating without Your help.

and then You return, and he finds himself actually understanding what it means to be embraced. no sooner is he experiencing what it feels like to be whole for the first time before he finds himself in sumeru's desert, where he remains stranded for a week. Your presence fades until his punishment—for what, he remains uncertain—is complete, but Your hold on him does not, and something keeps him in place there the entire time. You do not use him much after that. he cannot deny Your judgement, even if he does not quite understand.

he learns of your arrival in teyvat through chance, by way of some opera gossip which happens to mention that furina has found herself a close friend. when he catches a glimpse of you… he cannot say he feels Your presence. none of you breathe a word about the subject to him, and it is only much later he learns of what you're hiding. if Your every loyal furina and Your first and most important vessel recognised You when he did not even so much as suspect it, where does that leave him?

of course childe would recognise You. that piece of the abyss that clawed its way into him so deeply it will never separate from him again would recognise You anywhere, even should ajax not. long before your current descent, he recognised Your strings of control much earlier than most of Your other vessels did. while he's never really given much thought to whether others have recognised You as well, he noticed the way Your presence lingered on aether in particular right away.

it's part of what drew him to the traveler in the first place—what's so special about him? why not childe? why did this outlander get to be Your vessel and he didn't? has he not proven himself enough for You? his mission aside, he felt a more personal disdain at the traveler. after he embarrassed himself in front of You and the truth came to light, he tries his hardest to redeem himself to the traveler. to You. so, naturally, when Your favourite little traveler comes to him with You in tow, he recognises You right away, as he always has. he's a little bitter, if anything—why did it take aether so long to come to him? does he not trust him? is he controlling You and Your actions? or—and he tries not to think about this too hard—is it You who doesn't trust him?

it doesn't matter. You're here now, and he's here for You now, and he'll do everything in his power to help You. You won't have to be alone any more, he promises, You won't have to hurt any more. nobody will harm You, ever again, not when he's here now. (he ignores how aether has easily stopped any harm from coming Your way so far without his help.)

it is you who thinks to approach albedo. the link is weak, but as soon as aether shows up at his makeshift lab in dragonspine with You in tow, he knows. it's as if he has no other option than to recognise You, however faint Your aura has become, as if there was never another possibility. it makes sense—after all, he was made for You. so were all the others, in a way, as was the whole world of teyvat, but not in the same way his master crafted him for You. to appeal to You. to be used by You. to find out the truth about You, though it's possible she just left him with that mission (to find out the truth about "the world"—You are the world) to keep him busy after she threw him away when he did not yield the results she was searching for. it doesn't matter. he's found You now, and he can't let you slip away. especially not to Your other, faulty vessels, those who couldn't recognise You at first glance.

thankfully, you seem fond of the area of the mountain and don't mind staying. you even take interest in his work, though you seem to not enjoy the constant sketches and pieces of art he produces of You for you as much. it's not the same as when You fill every molecule in his body and bend it to Your whim, but this is also nice.

one day you ask him about alice; she's been to different worlds, so you wonder if he could ask her about her methods. you seem hesitant, and you waited specifically until aether had left to collect some food for the next couple of days. it's a logical choice, Your favourite vessel would not take Your request well. albedo can't find it in himself to either. even if it's you asking, he cannot just let You leave, not after all this time. he promises you he will ask, but is honest when he tells you alice might take a long, long time to pass by mondstadt again, so… in the meantime, let him know if there's anything he could do to make Your stay here in teyvat more comfortable. anything at all. You're going to be here for some time, after all.

[ashen-char]

dating anora mikheeva hcs 🔞

ship: anora mikheeva (anora) x gender neutral reader

notes: a mix of nsfw and sfw so 🔞

✦ ani doesn't talk about the club much when she's at home. she wants to just chill with you, have a space where she doesn't have to even think about that

✧ at most, ani complains about the schedule, about how diamond's on her ass about perceived client-poaching. the creeps and weirdos? they don't deserve her attention, not when she's with you

✧ whenever you're curious to visit, she shuts it down fast. she likes that you don't know what her work persona is like. likes that (besides the fucking irresistible clothes she brings home) you haven't seen any of it

✧ with you she's free to be anora. your girlfriend, sometimes clumsy sometimes making ill-advised decisions. always going with her heart rather than needing her guard up

✧ ani doesn't mind doing personal strip teases for you though. but she makes sure to make them nothing like what she does for work. with you, it's foreplay, no money, just to see that desire in your eyes that's all for her

✧ and she feels secure knowing that you don't view her as a piece of meat or a sex object. she can show you her latest choreo idea and you wouldn't escalate things, knowing there's a time and a place for those things

✦ anora is passionate and expressive, wearing her heart on her sleeve and not afraid to show you the depth of her feelings

✧ which is why she fucking hatesss when someone's fake and not upfront with her

✧ whenever you're avoiding questions or are hiding something, she's on you like a hawk, making you spit it out so you can deal with it Together. whatever it is

✦ you catch her humming russian lullabies to herself, and when you ask her what it is, anora gets frustrated with herself because she doesn't remember why she knows it, or the words

✦ anora is a hopeless romantic. love at first sight, soulmates, call her naïve but she sees no issue in dreaming about that once in a lifetime love. she'll never regret striving for it (even if it gets her in situations that she does end up regretting)

✧ as such, your girl is a sucker for romance movies, especially anything to do with disney (pirated of course, fuck big corporations) and will make you watch them with her over and over

✦ ani hoards jewelry, especially whatever you give her. cheap, flashy, whatever. she likes being able to wear them and think of you

✦ BIG reality TV fan. the drama makes her feel like her own life is calmer in comparison plus she loves shitting on the weirdo dudes with the HQ girls

✧ ani swears that if she ever got cast on a reality show, she'd be the fan-favourite or the villain Easily. and she's a-ok with either as long as people have fun watching her

✧ competition shows, talent shows, whatever the ones following one family/cast are called (like bling empire or kardashians), she'll watch anything.

✧ ani gets overly invested into reality TV couples and she especially loves to get you hooked on them. such a sense of pride when you finally admit that yes, you actually were eavesdropping and yes, you wanna know what they're arguing about now

✧ big soft spot for underdog characters (especially if they're old or have a sad backstory) and she gets irrationally angry or even upset for days if they get eliminated

✦ ani gets easily attached to cheap stuffed animals she wins from claw machines and refuses to throw them away even when she's made a pile that makes it hard for you to navigate the bedroom

✧ and let me be clear, she is NOT good at these claw games. she blows way more money than it would've cost to just buy the toy in the first place. but it's about the thrill of the win!

✦ ani has a sharp memory for faces and names, a skill she picked up from working in HQ

✧ and your girl? she holds a grudge. she'll remember she hates someone from an incident years ago and refuse to go back there, even if she forgot what words were actually exchanged

✦ anora always goes to the nail salon and treats herself to a mani-pedi, every two weeks

✧ it makes her feel more like herself, more put-together, more like a person. if she doesn't have at least nail polish on, she'll complain to you that she feels all naked

✧ she tends to go for bright colours or sparkly decals, to lighten up tough days

✦ anora refuses to cry in front of people, but you know she's a softie. she says she doesn't mind you knowing, for whatever reason, because she's alright feeling vulnerable around you. you're a safe space

✧ the first time you ever saw her cry was when her birthday rolled around and her mother sent a very heartfelt and sweet birthday message - basically saying that she wished she could be there, that ani should come visit soon, that she misses her baby girl

✧ she's a big animal softie too. she especially has a soft spot for stray cats and always stops to feed them if she has extra food. if vera wasn't so allergic, ani would sneak all of them home

✧ ani tells you about how as a kid she wanted a pet so badly that she was at her best friend's house 24/7 to play with their dog. and she'd offer every weekend to give him a bath, take him on walks

✦ ani loves amusement parks, not for the rides but for the feeling of being surrounded by excitement and energy

✧ especially a theme park. she's not the type to get embarrassed that it's "for kids", she'd definitely start up conversations with the mascot actors and take heaps of pictures

✦ ani makes playlists for basically everything, every mood, vibe, or situation she's in

✧ the one she puts on all the time is "main character energy"

✧ the habit started because she likes making her own dance mixes, but it creeps into your personal lives as well. she insists on having the AUX cord if you go on a road trip, for example

✧ and you know her sexy times playlist is hot as fuck. whenever she hears any of them on the club on the radio, she thinks of you and sends sexts about how she wishes you were there right now to deal with her sudden arousal

✦ her favourite position used to be riding, either cowgirl or reverse. she liked how it let her control the pace, the angle, and the depth

✧ plus it showed off her dancer's flexibility. she could lean back and arch her spine, roll her hips sensually, using her core strength to grind her clit against your pubic bone in just the right way to drive you both crazy with desire

✧ the power and control of straddling you and riding until you both reached their peak... that's a common fantasy for ani

✧ anora loves the proud feeling that blooms in her chest when she's bouncing on you and she watches your face contort with pleasure. all because of her. the sight is so fulfilling for her

✧ she knows what she likes. her most mind blowing orgasms is when she's setting the pace and making sure you're hitting the spot

✦ but with you, she's grown an appreciation for more intimate positions. the ones that used to make her feel too vulnerable and she thought she disliked. turns out she just needed the right person to try it with

✧ now, ani loves being held close and wrapped up in your arms as you take her from behind, spooning her. it reminds her of lazy mornings where you can't get enough of her, because you just need her that early

✧ plus she loves loves loves the neck kisses you sneak in that way, or how you reach around to mess with her clit

✧ it feels so much more intimate and sensual when you're pulling her body flush against yours. she always gasps so prettily when you slowly rock into her

✦ anora loves overpriced coffee shop drinks, even when she complains about how much they cost. she gets so many vanilla and caramel shots in it because she's got the world's biggest sweet tooth

✧ speaking of her sweet tooth, you learned early on in your relationship that the easiest way to get her to forgive you or to go along with plans is to promise a sweet treat

✧ she's too lazy to go grocery shopping with you? maybe there's a bakery with the best bear claws right across the road. accidentally raised your voice while you two were play-arguing? nothing a slice of cake can't fix

✧ you seriously wonder how she's never had a cavity when half of her diet is sweets and vape smoke

✦ as much as she loves new york city, ani daydreams about running away to a small town but never does because she knows she’d be bored in less than a week

✧ but during pillow talk, she paints such vivid images to you about what it'd be like to live there together, in a little cottage where you two are self-sufficient

✧ solar panels and water tanks, of course. some chickens in your yard to collect eggs for breakfast every morning. a swing hanging from a big tree where you two can push your kid

✧ anora is a dreamer, constantly envisioning your future together

✧ the details and specifics change day to day, but what she does know is that the life she wants to build is one with you by her side

[tethys-the-aquatic-sea-godness]

Sarevok's situation with Rieltar and the Iron Throne

There's a lot of room for guessing the details of Sarevok's life in the Iron Throne, but you have the outline of his situation. It's not as good as one might expect for the son of a leader, and it's vital in shaping his character. Sarevok becomes who he is because of his past and current situation. He's a character with depth, nuances, ambitions and motivations, not a flat, cardboard villain planted on his throne in an underground sewer, waiting for the murder race of 1492 DR.

This got way too long, you've been warned.

Because Baldur's Gate 1 has been out for so long, you tend to forget that Sarevok being the greater mastermind of the evil plot is a twist in the story. From the prologue, you know about the 'ominous figure', but not who he is, and it falls in the background when you get into the iron crisis- a crisis that has nothing to do with Gorion's ward. Sarevok is the foster son of Rieltar Anchev, a leader within the Iron Throne. It's a criminal organization where Sarevok is a member, but not a leader. It should be a cushy position, but it isn't. Let's see why.

First, let's recall the setting of Sarevok being adopted by Rieltar:

Sarevok is a homeless, orphaned child. He describes himself as an 'urchin', meaning he likely resorted to stealing and other mischief to live on the streets.

Rieltar is a wealthy man, a 'higher-up' within the Iron Throne, a mercantile organization with shady practices, a gang of sorts, closer to bandits than merchants.

I don't think I need to spell out how dodgy the whole thing is.

How Sarevok gets adopted is left up to the player, but a few things are certain. Sarevok is part of a vulnerable population, while Rieltar is of the upper class. Sarevok has no person nor structure to turn to should he need help. As a child, he entirely depends on Rieltar. Hunger, thirst, housing, clothes, other material needs and various threats that comes with being a homeless child, all of this gets taken care of if Sarevok stays with Rieltar. It's priceless, and a child wouldn't think past no longer being cold or hungry. Sarevok is affiliated to the Iron Throne from a young age, when he couldn't decide otherwise.

Sarevok is not a leader. it's his foster father, Rieltar, who is the leader of the western branch of the Iron Throne. The 'chief of operations'. He has two co-leaders with him, Brunos Costak and Thaldorn Tenhevich. Sarevok is the commander of their mercenary forces of the region, one of Rieltar's officer. Compared to Rieltar's own status, Sarevok's role is minor. There isn't as much nepotism going on as you might expect from a criminal organization passing off as a legitimate mercantile group.

The first time Sarevok is mentioned, he's a passing name in a letter found in the bandit camp, not a master mind- and that's how it was supposed to be.

Tazok, I have noticed that your shipments of iron have slowed of late. It is imperative that we receive another ton of ore. Step up your raids, and get a shipment to our base in Cloakwood within the next week. We need to stockpile as much ore as possible before our ultimatum is given. Also, Sarevok wants to know what has happened with the band of mercenaries. Have they been killed? You had better ensure that they have been, as Sarevok will not take kindly to any other news. Davaeorn

It's the first hint you get that he isn't like the rest of the Iron Throne. His own focus is more on the mercenaries disrupting the iron plot, more than the plot itself.

One interesting thing here:

"You had better ensure that they have been, as Sarevok will not take kindly to any other news."

-> Davaeorn is threatening Tazok with Sarevok, but Davaeorn himself isn't worried. Davaeorn could be nervous that Sarevok, son of the big boss, may cause him trouble if he doesn't get what he wants, but he isn't. No reason to think Sarevok is anything more than another Throne member.

After defeating Davaeorn, you find letters on him from Rieltar himself. In one, Sarevok's role and title are clearly stated:

"Davaeorn, Our plans go smoothly. Sarevok has arrived from our headquarters in Ordulin. He brings news from our superiors; they are pleased with our progress so far. I plan to place Sarevok as the commander of our mercenary forces in the region. He has already sent his subordinate, Tazok, to the Wood of Sharp Teeth to take command of the forces located there. Things go apace here in Baldur's Gate. We have placed our first agent among the ranks of the Seven Suns trading coster. Rieltar Flamerule, 1367"

It's not said in the letter that Sarevok is Rieltar's son. He is going to be named commander of the mercenary forces of the region. It's a new title, so I'd say his previous rank was equal or lower.

During your first stay in Baldur's Gate, you discover Sarevok is the foster son of Rieltar Anchev. Being the son of a wealthy man explains how Sarevok manages to get within the noble circles of the city for his popularity campaign, which I talked about in another post. Here's one interesting thing I got from this:

"From what I've heard, the new man with the Iron Throne, Sarevok, is an unmarried man."

-> He's considered new, however, the story starts in Mirthul (May) 1368, and from Sarevok's diary and another letter, you know he's been in Baldur's Gate in 1366, went back to Sembia at some point, then returned in Flamerule (July) 1367. That's two years on and off the Sword Coast and almost one full year on it, not to mention he's been in the Throne since an early age, but he's seen as new.

Sarevok's presence may not be public because he's working with the bandits, however, not knowing about Rieltar's son is common. Yeslick Orothiar is a companion who moved to Sembia where he met Rieltar. He pretended to befriend Yeslick, then tortured him to learn the location of the Cloackwood mines. Yeslick was in Sembia, and he doesn't mention Sarevok, or recognizes him when he comes to the party under a false name. So it's not just in Baldur's Gate, even back in Sembia, before Sarevok was commander, Rieltar doesn't mention his foster son— or the fact that he has one.

It can be explained by how Rieltar and other higher-up of the Throne see Sarevok, both his capacities and how far he can go. One telling example is during the Candlekeep chapter. Gorion's ward is going after Rieltar, the big bad at the time. You can go to Rieltar with the advice of 'Koveras', who tells you Rieltar is defenceless and this is the perfect time to kill him. He even gives you a nice ring to protect you. If you start digging through Koveras' dialogue, you might find something's odd with him and decide you don't want the ring. Joke's on you, it won't change a damn thing. Don't be too quick to laugh at Sarevok for only switching his name backward to change identity, it worked on Charname and their whole party (also worked on me when I was ten and had a pikachu face during the reveal).

Rieltar is a lot quicker to catch up than Charname though.

"Koveras! Who is Kove... of course. It seems I taught my son all too well. Well, my young pups, you've been set up to be used as dupes. Koveras does not want what's best for you, but rather what's best for him."

-> There's a brief moment of outrage before Rieltar realizes who Koveras is. The realization doesn't anger him more, it makes him calm down. He doesn't see Sarevok as a threat. It's unlikely he thinks Sarevok's plan goes beyond killing him, when it's in fact much more elaborate than that. Other Throne members straight out of Sembia underestimate how dangerous Sarevok is.

Here are a few more examples:

"She seemed surprised that Sarevok had taken control of this regional base. He is thought of as an upstart"

Kalessia: I have been sent from Sembia to determine why this branch of the Iron Throne has floundered [...]. Valdis (Charname): Why not ask Sarevok? He seems to be the one in control now. Kalessia: Sarevok? That upstart? Then the rumors I have heard are true. Our regional leaders here are dead and Sarevok has assumed their roles. Such arrogance! No doubt he has a hand in their demise, I'll wager. [..]

-> The outrage these criminals feel toward Sarevok's, well, criminal actions against them will never not be funny to me. Kalessia calls Sarevok an 'upstart'. She doesn't sound any more worried than Rieltar was, she sounds pissed that he would dare to do this. Also, she thinks he participated in the demise of their leaders, not that he orchestrated the whole thing. As if he isn't capable of it. I will stress this again, but Sarevok is the foster son of a high-ranking member of the Throne with wealth and influence. Yet, they talk about him as if he's of low rank. Somehow, I don't think the Iron Throne is a progressive organization that thinks wealth and social status shouldn't determine an individual's worth.

Later, inside the Undercity, you come across more people working for the Iron Throne. You get the following dialogue from two dialogue paths.

"We've been sent to hunt down Sarevok. Seems as if he went crazy and started murdering all who got in his way, including Rieltar, and the Throne don't take too well to having their high-ups killed."

"He doesn't seem that skilled at making friends. I am Rahvin, in the employ of the Iron Throne. My companions and I have traveled from Sembia to learn what has been happening to our operation in Baldur's Gate."

They're off to kill Sarevok. Just like that. Like he's just another guy with a bounty on his head. The twist of BG 1 is not only realizing Sarevok is the true antagonist, it's realizing Sarevok is not just a brute working for the Throne, he's a major threat to the Sword Coast and far from stupid. That's something characters who only know of Sarevok what is known in Sembia and have just arrived in Baldur's Gate don't realize. He has overthrown the entire leadership of the Iron Throne in the region, almost got the whole leadership of Baldur's Gate as well and they're simply going to 'hunt him down'. The way they talk about him is also telling:

"Seems as if he went crazy and started murdering all who got in his way"

-> He's talking about Sarevok as if he was a dog who went rabid, not someone who actively orchestrated the downfall of his employer.

"He doesn't seem that skilled at making friends."

-> Sarevok had the entire city eating out of his hand, he was about to be lawfully elected Grand Duke. Sarevok is skilled at making friends, when he needs them— and, when he has the right background to make the right friends. For example when he's known as the foster son of a wealthy business man without anyone knowing anything beyond that, like in Baldur's Gate. Something that's more complicated in Sembia, where people around him would already know he used to be a penniless urchin until Rieltar adopted him.

When you encounter characters working for Sarevok, rather than characters he works for, you get a different image of him, one that's closer to what you encounter in the game. There are two kinds, first, the zealots, those who already worship him as a new god.

"You have breached an inner circle, fool. There are no hired lackeys for you to bribe here [...]. We are servants of Sarevok and Sarevok alone, selected by hand to protect his destiny. [...] His will... be done!"

"So it has been decreed, so it shall be done. So orders Sarevok!"

-> Sarevok doesn't know how to make 'friends' in the strict sense of the term, but he knows how to be charismatic. He got servants to worship him before his actual godhood. These followers aren't part of the Throne, Sarevok independently recruited them to be his first faithful. Which is smart, considering gods in Forgotten Realms get stronger with more fervent and more numerous followers. Sarevok is planning ahead so he already has worshippers when he's a god.

If you played SoD (which is mid writing wise, but has good moments), you'll find that Sarevok's charisma struck again with other nondescripts fanatics.

"S. and I had a long talk last night. Everything he says make so much sense."

The other group of people are Sarevok's own underlings. These are mercenaries he recruited who are unaffiliated to the Iron Throne and only answer to him. You get interesting dialogue from Diarmid.

"Not a terribly original alias to be sure, but who is going to tell him that? Sarevok is quite used to getting his own way, and I gather subtlety is something that doesn't quite come naturally to him. He doesn't have the patience for it, though his mind is amazingly tactical. Certainly this made him perfect for organizing the Iron Throne's mercenary forces, though I doubt his superiors would say so now, what with his plot to have them killed. Such is the trouble with hiring highly motivated people. As underlings we can safely serve, but woe to those in a position he desires."

-> Is Diarmid scared of Sarevok? Yes. Does he respect him? Also yes, which increases the 'fear' part, I think.

Diarmid is a mercenary who's been working with Sarevok for weeks, maybe months. What he knows of Sarevok is surface level, but it doesn't match what other characters, who've been around Sarevok since Sembia know of him. Here are how different visions contradict each other:

"She [Kalessia] seemed surprised that Sarevok had taken control of this regional base." VS "[...] though his mind is amazingly tactical. Certainly this made him perfect for organizing the Iron Throne's mercenary forces [...]" / "Such is the trouble with hiring highly motivated people."

"Seems as if he went crazy and started murdering all who got in his way [...]" VS "[...] I doubt his superiors would say so now, what with his plot to have them killed." / "[...] woe to those in a position he desires."

Characters within the Throne are not supposed to know about Sarevok's plans, but they all react as if his behavior is an anomaly, they're blindsided. Yet, these plans match what Sarevok's mercenaries know of him: "have a tendency to only give information on a need-to-know basis"; "notoriously impatient"; "quite used to getting his own way"; "subtlety doesn't quite come naturally to him"; "his mind is amazingly tactical"; "highly motivated"; "woe to those in a position he desires"; "wouldn't sully his hands on those he didn't deem worthy of personally killing".

The Sembians's reaction is more understandable when you read the following letter, written by Sarevok to Rieltar. Sarevok's tone isn't what you would expect from him.

Father, I received your letter, and I can assure you that the mercenaries led by <Gorion's ward> will no longer trouble our operations. I have dealt with them personally. Before dying, they were most forthcoming in their revelations. It is as you had surmised: They were agents of the Zhentarim. I am also writing to tell you that I cannot attend the meeting at Candlekeep. Some problems have arisen with the Chill and the Blacktalons. They have had trouble working with each other, and I am needed there to smooth over any dissension. I am sorry that I will not be at your side. Sarevok

This letter reads like a dutiful son from start to finish. It's also a pack of lies from start to finish. Everything he says goes along Rieltar's own opinion, to placate him. The perfect son and officer, committed to his role. And it works, since Rieltar doesn't suspect Sarevok until he's told of 'Koveras'. You can assume the dutiful, uncompromising tone of the letter was the front Sarevok presented to Rieltar, and to other members of the Throne.

Reading Sarevok's diary, you see this is a front he has to present. Remember how Sarevok was named commander of the mercenary forces by Rieltar? Well, he wasn't even supposed to be part of his foster father's project.

"I have expressed interest to my 'father', and he has promised to include me within the operations along the Sword Coast. He mentioned Mother in our conversation: how I wasn't to be unfaithful to him as she had. He made it clear that I would suffer her fate if I was."

-> What a lovely father-son relationship. Anyways, if Rieltar had his way, Sarevok wouldn't have been commander, he would've left him in Sembia. Sarevok had to ask to be given a role. You'd expect the son a wealthy man to have a prime spot saved for him in his big project.

The next part of the excerpt is, in my opinion, the core to explaining the dissonance between what people from the Throne perceived of Sarevok, and what he's truly like. Rieltar threatens Sarevok, and that shows what this 'father-son' relationship really is about. For those who don't know, Sarevok's foster mother, who to this day doesn't have a canon name, was 'unfaithful' to Rieltar. It might be she cheated on him, but since it's never stated clearly, you could go with something else. Like trying and failing to kill her abusive husband, for example. As a punishment, Rieltar strangled her with a garrote in front of Sarevok when he was young.

Rieltar doesn't just threaten Sarevok, he reminds him of his place, which is the same as his mother. It's my guess that this is why he murdered her in front of Sarevok to begin with, so he would learn his place as a 'family member'. Someone Rieltar has complete authority over, including a right of life and death.

Sarevok brushes off the threats, but he does that as an adult and experienced fighter who is already planning to kill Rieltar and crush his operations. He wasn't always in that position. For the urchin Rieltar adopted, this threat wasn't 'weak' or 'hollow'.

This would explain why, despite being the 'foster son' of a wealthy and influential member, Sarevok is seen as an 'upstart' without a place in the upper ranks of the Throne. Because he is not his son to them, he is the urchin 'sponging off' Rieltar.

Another piece of the journal gives a little more information.

"The fool still insists on calling me his son, and for now I will let him. He assumes that I am loyal to him because he raised me."

-> Rieltar is confident in Sarevok's loyalty because he raised him. He provided for him and considers that should make Sarevok loyal no matter what. Even though Rieltar adopted Sarevok, their social classes are still very distinct. He's the one with the money and Sarevok should be grateful he spent some on him. 'Son' isn't an affectionate term (if the death threat above didn't make that clear), it's the reminder of what Sarevok 'owes' Rieltar. It would explain why Rieltar rarely mentions him. He has a debtor, not a son. When he discovers his plot to kill him, Rieltar says Sarevok wants 'what's best for him'. He knows why Sarevok wants out of this situation— he's the one who created it. Hence the threat. The devoted front is something Sarevok has to show, to ensure his own safety and the success of his plans.

Now I will go into a more 'grey' territory regarding a bunch of things that can't be checked with canon but are worth considering because of the situation:

First, does Sarevok have money? Rieltar does, yes. Sarevok works in the same group at a lower rank, he's both Rieltar's 'son' and his employee. As a commander, he likely has allotted money, but that's not his gold, that's for his job. Chances are he either doesn't get paid because he's working 'for the family' and that's another thing to be grateful for, or he does get money for his work, from Rieltar. Either way, Rieltar is the one who has control over Sarevok's finances. It's a good way to restrain him, and ensure his loyalty, since he won't get far without gold. Sarevok lived on the street before, he has ambitions, it's unlikely he's willing to rough it out again and be a homeless nobody. Rieltar surrounds himself with people he has control over, like his co-leaders: Brunos is dumb, and Thaldorn is a coward. They defer to Rieltar, who likely has an easy time controlling both. Having Sarevok at an officer position allows Rieltar to keep a leash on him, which fits his pattern.

Second, Sarevok has two genuine relationships that we know of. One was with his foster mother, and the other with his lover, Tamoko. If he had any real connections while living in the streets, they'd have ended once he joined Rieltar's household. Growing up, he'd be surrounded by people from the Iron Throne. The lowest in ranks would be under Rieltar's authority, and those of higher rank would only see the urchin Rieltar pulled out of the gutter. It's likely there were few children his age or anyone he could trust and build a relationship with. His connections are to characters he works for, and those who work for him. He's isolated, he doesn't have allies. That's another way for Rieltar to restrain him. There's the uncertainty of what 'unfaithfulness' means to Rieltar. Does Sarevok having someone he cares about gets in the way of being the devoted son Rieltar wants? Would the threat he makes on Sarevok's life include anyone important to him? It's possible. It would make any relationship Sarevok could have a weakness, which would impact how he views them. I would imagine he'd fight any feelings he developed for Tamoko before giving in, and he wouldn't introduce her to the man who murdered his mother. Having any attachment in this situation becomes a drawback.

Third, could Sarevok leave the Iron Throne if he wanted? Criminal groups rarely offer retirement. He's been involved since Rieltar adopted him, he's been working with them for years, and likely knows the group's inner workings well. The Throne is a criminal organization that wants to keep a legitimate front. With everything Sarevok knows, it wouldn't be smart to let go of him. Unless it's off a cliff. He's probably not an isolated case either. Youth with nothing to their names and no better options are easy to recruit and make good underlings.

Recap and conclusion:

Sarevok was pulled from poverty at a young age by Rieltar, a wealthy man who's part of a criminal organization. Through the murder of his wife, he's shown that he gives himself total authority over his family, and will harshly punish any form of rebellion. Growing up with Rieltar, Sarevok was affiliated to the Iron Throne from a young age and became another member. All that time, he remained under Rieltar's thumb, acting the part of the loyal son, while not showing anything that might cause suspicion. It's no surprise Sarevok charmed the city of Baldur's Gate when he has been fronting his whole life for Rieltar and the Throne, downplaying his ambitions and capacities. He doesn't appear as the true antagonist until late in the game, when he turns on the Iron Throne. They're blindsided and unable to fight back, while Baldur's gate is ready to name him Grand Duke. It's a victory on every front. He outsmarts the entire Iron Throne, the leadership of Baldur's Gate, he has the city eating out of his hand, he believes he's on his way to become a god. He used the organization that used him, got revenge for his mother's murder, his years of abuse, and had the nobles at his feet. He failed the godhood part, but he beat odds stacked against him. The urchin from the streets of Sembia rose higher than anyone ever thought possible.

It's important because Sarevok's situation connects to a game's theme and to his misbeliefs. One of Baldur's Gate theme is that your choices matter more than your nature- which is the direct opposite of one of Sarevok's own misbelief. He is convinced his nature as Bhaalspawn predestines him for violence and destruction. The most telling example is in ToB during dialogue if you're trying to change Sarevok's alignment.

"And do you believe I have another choice?"

"After… after all you have been through? With the taint in your soul, you still believe this?"

If you reply positive, you wreck his world enough to make him speechless. And enough to trigger his alignment change. It's a deeply rooted belief, one that affects how he interacts with the world around him, and it's directly connected to his past. Sarevok is also convinced he needs the ability to dominate others, hence his quest for power.

"I… don't understand. What is the use of power if you do not carve out an empire for yourself?"

Sarevok grew up first in the streets, where he was prey to all manners of dangers. Then, he was in a brutal and callous household where his freedom and his life were conditioned by his obedience. It's not said how long he's been working for the Throne, but likely as soon as he could fight. Growing through this, violence would be an everyday part of Sarevok's world, and of himself. He views the world through that twisted lens, where the strong crushes the weak. Learning he's a spawn from a god of murder would cement that belief by giving meaning to that violence. Sarevok isn't a wealthy, privileged man greedy for more power, he's someone from an impoverished background who only views his relation to others and the world as either having others at your mercy, or being at the mercy of others. And he's been the one preyed on for a large chunk of his life. By seeking power, he ensures control not only over his own life, but over other people's lives, because if he controls them, they can't control him.

Sarevok was shaped by his environment, which allowed him to survive, but also messed up his adult life. He has no genuine relationship, they're all transactional. Cythandria, who will brag about loyalty, is with him for wealth, power and sex. Sarevok knows that, he's with her for similar reasons. They're intimate, but their self-interest comes first. Winski Perorate is 'loyal' because he's getting his divine glory by proxy through Sarevok. They follow Sarevok because they get something out of him and he keeps them around for the same reasons. Tamoko is an anomaly in this, because Sarevok caught feelings. Feelings he wasn't equipped to handle because they couldn't fit with his mindset. That's the core tragedy of their relationship, it was doomed from the start, even without the game's events. Tamoko loves Sarevok without wanting anything from him but his company, and he cannot believe that. I made a post about them, and I do think he leaves her because the taint would push him to kill her if she stayed, but I also think it's easy for the taint to manipulate Sarevok, because he's predisposed to believing the worst. Being with Tamoko required effort, because it challenged Sarevok's mindset. Her betrayal confirmed it: he let someone get too close without check and got stabbed in the back.

While Tamoko didn't fully understand Sarevok, she's the on who sums up the situation best:

"You had Gorion to guide you did you not? Sarevok had no one. He draws his strength from his hatred, from the thought of rising above those he knows to be inferior."

In BG 1, Sarevok doesn't fail because he's weaker than Gorion's ward, he's more powerful when you face him, but he's holding on to misbeliefs that make him the puppet of the taint, whereas Charname is master of their own choices, harnessing the taint or rejecting its control. But there is nothing about Charname's nature that is superior to Sarevok and vice versa. The one thing that separates them is the past that shaped them.

Sarevok's story is tragic. He doesn't become a ruthless man because of his nature, but because he was young, alone and poor. Those around him exploited that. His situation gives nuance to his character, enough to make you feel for him. Even when he's only the antagonist, he has depth, and ToB further improves his writing, making a point to show his duality and his struggle to change, to uproot himself from the soil he grew up in. Sarevok never is a one-dimensionnal character, not as a villain, and not as a companion.

[wilting-fl0wer]

The only correct form of caltam, as far as i am concerned

[welcometogrouchland]

I understand that literature nerd Jason Todd is kind of overblown in fanon compared to it's actual presence in canon (a few issues during his pre (and post?)crisis Robin tenure that highlight it) BUT consider that I think it's hilarious if the unhinged gun toting criminal has strong opinions on poetry

[deimostes]

FUCK TWO DADS, WHAT IF SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG HAD TWO MOMS

(au of an au; penumbra lives and of all the things i could do, i make her and rosalina kiss)

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Get Souped!

[theredcuyo]

You see, i keep thinking about fics sending characters back in time and how they just fix everything and they're sweet and i love them but also

There's things you just can't change, you know?

How would a 8 year old fucking stop a traffic accident on the other side of his city, not even the country they're in

How does a child prevent someone somehow from getting an illness that will kill them, both psycological and not

I'd love a story where yeah, they fix what could be fixed but stomp into walls that just couldn't be prevented, not having money for the doctor, personalities that just won't do as they wish, people forgetting or ignoring a kid's advice, someone that needed more than a few words to turn away from certain paths

And i don't mean it in a "Destiny finds a way" type of thing, they can do stuff, they really can, but somethings go far, far away from their capabilities

[gingermintpepper]

In light of my recent Asclepius and Apollo musings, I feel like it's the perfect time to post this, actually.

How do you build a human being? 

Bold question. Foolish question. But a question it is all the same. 

The memory of his father’s consternated expression is still bright behind his eyes, that unusually furrowed brow, the tension in his gentle jaw. He didn’t falter in his setting of Asclepius’ broken shin, hands perpetually steady and sure, but he hesitated for a conspicuously long moment as though reluctant to give an answer. In this body, he resembled Orpheus something fierce. The same flaxen curls of his hair, the same delicate eyelashes that stand stark against the dark brown of his skin. Often Asclepius wondered if his elder brother was nothing but a body built to suit their father’s preferences. The subtle wrinkle of skin around their eyes when they smiled was the same, and the steadiness of their hands, the soothing power of their presence. 

And Orpheus did not bleed like Asclepius did. The blood in Asclepius’ veins were as red as any human’s, any mortal’s, but Orpheus seemed not to bleed at all. Even when he’d suffered the same fall down the crumbling cliff as Asclepius had. Even when his skirts had ripped and jagged stone sliced into his shanks. 

Even so, Orpheus was unmistakably alive. His eyes were rich with grief fresher than any blood spilt from the worst of Asclepius’ wounds, his counsel too, was tempered with the wisdom of a life well lived. So even at the apex of his most perfect, inhuman beauty, Asclepius never once doubted that his brother was a human being. Just that he was more divine construct than flesh and blood. Just that their father had built for himself a son that would not break as easily as all the others. 

His father stayed silent for so long that Asclepius assumed it would be one of the million questions that would go unanswered. Then, just when the last of his bandages had been wrapped - 

“A human body is easy to build,” he’d had that faraway look on his face as he spoke, like he was speaking to the horizon. Or a version of Asclepius that was not quite here. Such things happened from time to time. “Any flesh would do. From men, or animals, or even monsters. Any flesh would do.” Their gazes had locked then, and Asclepius would never forget the flecks of gold which swirled in his father’s blue eyes, the weight of divine words rattling at the boundaries of their mortal apparatus, “But the breath of life, a living soul? That is beyond your means as a mortal man. You ought never seek it.” 

(Asclepius would remember these words when he revives a man for the first time at the age of nineteen. He’s surprised to find that his father is wrong for once. Souls are easy to source when they’re already eager to return to their mound of flesh.) 

[sunciv]

noone (and i mean noone) will convince me that this:

wasn't followed by some intense makeout

[mishy-mashy]

Lucky timing for me that I get back into Black Clover (specifically over Nacht, Morgen, and the Grey Deer), right before the manga updated with 3 chapters around Nacht, Morgen, and Yami

Was working on an old fic to do with the Grey Deer, but anyway, things to note that are canon:

Nacht seems to suck at magic sensing

He's got a record of not sensing something or someone is there unless it's right in his face and he can see it himself.

When we first see him in the manga, investigating in Dante's room, Nacht didn't notice the Dark Disciple behind him until they said something.

(Ch. 246)

He wouldn't just let someone see him and think 'Oh, nothing will happen here' as he senses them. Nacht couldn't let anyone see him do this. He actually mentions he acted "audaciously" here, but I don't think being caught was ever on purpose.

This was someone directly behind him. Nacht is supposed to be undercover and on high-alert for himself, but couldn't recognize a guy was behind him until they spoke up. This guy wasn't trying to sneak up on Nacht, either; they noticed him, asked what he was doing, and immediately picked a fight

Maybe Nacht was just focusing on reading the papers before dealing with that guy? But he didn't react until the guy spoke up. He could've just dealt with the guy and continued reading his papers. No one noticed the blatant scream either.

(Ch. 246)

Look at that. "Husssh". It was immediate silence right after Nacht dragged him.

And it's not like his reaction was only after the verbal threat. The Disciple already had his grimoire out. And grimoires are an important magic item that boosts magic capability and such, so it's not like the grimoire has no presence.

(Also the Spade warriors are quick to fight and all, but eh)

It's not just the instance with the Dark Disciple, either. Nacht couldn't sense powerful demons just a few paces away from him (Lucifero and Adramelech).

(Ch. 317)

Did everyone just have a slip in mana sensing? Did they not notice the whirling storm right above them?

Nacht was with the Black Bulls, turned his head away, and happened to see Adramelech (the devil sitting on a rock). That's when he noticed the guy; the others had Adramelech speak up before they noticed, at which point Lucifero showed up and flattened them.

Nacht just saw them. He didn't sense them. He just happened to turn and walk that way, probably intending to have gone to Yuno to bring him to Loyce for a reunion.

And when Dante was still kicking and using his Body Magic to regenerate himself, Nacht watched the guy go down and went, 'Alright, he's done now'.

(Ch. 294)

Nacht didn't sense the fact his mana was working to regenerate himself? (Luck didn't either, but it's Nacht I'm focusing on here)

Nacht has a history of being bad with sensing magic. There are instances it could've blown his cover or cost his life, but he was lucky each time

Being a sensor for magic is uncommon, but Nacht missed a soldier right behind him. Said soldier belongs to a Kingdom that believes in absolute strength.

(On the point that the others didn't sense the devils or Dante either—I'm going to consider it being for the sake of the Plot™. But I still think Nacht is bad at magic sensing, even if it can only exist as an HC later on)

Morgen and Nacht are twins, with different birthdays

Nacht is older, born during the nighttime of April 30th.

Morgen is younger, born during the morning of May 1st.

Morgen and Nacht look like their mother

(Ch. 286)

That smile they both have? Genetic.

It's hard to see because her eyes are shaded, but it's the same closed-eye curve smile. Their dad's eyes are a bit droopy / flat, but Nacht and Morgen both have narrow, slanted eyes.

They got their mother's facial features, smile, and probably hair too, since their hair is silky and long. Look at their long hair, and how their mother puts it in a bun; the twins' hair grows fast, and has always been longer than others'.

(Ch. 286)

Not as cohesive of a panel, but look at them.

The twins got their mother's smile, her eyes and long lashes. Even the nose and chin, and her face shape and jawline.

Nacht and Morgen are girly in appearance, and they look just like their mother.

(Volume extra)

Nacht is a damn troll.

I know we get a few examples of this already. He might look like Morgen and try being a good guy, but this is still someone who got on like a room on fire with Yami, and still does at 29 years old.

His shared spell with Yami is called Children's Playground.

When he brought Asta to fight and subdue Liebe, he waited until Asta stepped onto the summoning circle and just sprung it on him, knowing all he had to do was say "Summon".

(Ch. 266)

When he came back from near-death, the first thing he did was trade remarks with Yami like children, going "No u" "No, YOU".

When Asta commented on Nacht's similarities to Yami (something that Nacht KNOWS and acknowledges himself when Yami saves him), Nacht gets a shaded smile and strings up Asta with his magic

When facing off against a devil with Yami, there's a parallel shown of them when they were kids, cutting to near-30-year old adults. And they just say, "Shall we play with him?!"

Y'know, one of many examples of Nacht actually just being a big kid that still likes causing trouble.

(Kind of?) Black Bull robes seem to have changed after Nacht became frequent in the squad

I could be wrong since I haven't looked at their robes in a while, and don't want to go back and forth to check at this point (tacking this point on after it's already queued), but weren't the robes shorter before?

After Nacht becomes a common part of the Black Bulls as their vice-captain, the squad robes got longer, right? Nacht made his own Black Bulls robe a lot like the one he wore at his debut, but it's darker, covers the body more, and has the logo blatantly on it.

I'm at the image limit, but when Nacht agrees with the Black Bulls that they're going to look for Asta, some of their robes look upgraded to the longer cape look? I could be remembering wrong, but if the robes are different, I'm betting Nacht had a say in it. The new robe is literally a version of what he wears everyday

[uncanny-tranny]

Everyone says it's an honour to eat to a youtuber's video, but to a guy like me, it's an even greater privilege if I'd do my T shot to someone's video

[cluescorner]

I cannot imagine being a Damian stan right now. You've got both Zdarsky's bullshit (where he clearly doesn't give a shit about your boy) and The Boy Wonder (where Juni Ba clearly gives so many shits about your boy) coming out on the same day. The whiplash must be insane. I hope y'all get some nice warm soup for your efforts jfc