#it really does make you want to talk about space and wizards

[mooncustafer]

Heard this advice several years ago and then last summer I tried edibles and discovered that it takes me more than two hours to feel anything

The Mighty Boosh // S0305: The Party

[weirdmageddon]

i was thinking about this since i posted earlier about us needing to address the trend of gen z men being pulled into alt-right pipelines might have contributed to the outcome of this election.

i think contrapoints is really smart, and from what i’ve seen, has been way more effective at getting people out of harmful ideological pipelines than i’ve seen from the majority of leftists online who instead berate and drive a greater wedge of antipathy (though i understand why! and it can be very hard to have empathy for the people who see you as a threat). that antipathy makes the right more radicalized because they don’t feel like they can talk about anything without the “crazy lefties” who won’t even engage with them. where did these issues come from?

what i’ve noticed, and i’m even guilty of this, is that people don’t interact with groups of people whom they refuse talk to, which makes realities more hypothetical in the minds of their opponent since they aren’t open to seeing reality from their perspective. this is true on both sides. from what i’ve observed, it seems to originate from hypothetical perception of the opponent, but when people treat those perceptions as though they are real, it becomes real with their actions, which then makes the antipathy justified to someone. again, on both sides.

what makes contrapoints so successful at breaking this down is that is that she creates these socratic dialogue skits that represent real people and ideologies, has a sense of humor, isn’t afraid to discuss these things, reframes how we see these things by introducing nuance to both sides. she’s a leftist, but she also knows how to engage without ripening division, of meeting someone halfway and being completely humble about it. she is able to soften extremes.

she is able to get into the mind of people who aren’t aligned with her views, understand the nuance and rationales from a realistic perspective, breaking down a big block of “this is all bad” into “ok, some of this makes sense…”, what this does is create a space for self-reflection that doesn’t feel ham-fisted (which could otherwise cause people to double down on their beliefs instead of opening up to other perspectives outside of their bubble). while also being entertaining and well-produced on top of it.

what she is doing is creating these scenarios and socratic discussions that SHOULD be happening in real life but aren’t in this polarized social climate.

i graduated from new college of florida this spring, the small liberal arts college that was in headlines across the country for ron desantis’s board of trustees hostile takeover and exodus of professors.

new students and student athletes from conservative walks of life were being basically incentivized to go there who were taught to fear the lgbt boogeyman growing up in their conservative communities. but once they actually interacted with lgbt students there, many of them they felt like they understood them, and they weren’t as bad as they were told they would be. new college of florida was also famous for getting derek black (child of the man who created stormfront, and godchild of the kkk grand wizard david duke) out of white nationalism. their peers at NCF called them out but also interacted with them, invited them to dinner. black wrote a book about it.

now of course some people are too far gone and you shouldn’t waste your time with them, like derek’s family for example. but i also think a lot of people who voted for trump are not informed, are operating off of emotion and knee-jerk mentality because it’s easier than thinking, and they are not seeing the discussions that need to be had to change their mind because fuckin…nobody is doing them.

and we feel this visceral disgust to people of the opposing party because of its associations. i just want to know how it happened and how we got to be like this. i think social media is partly to blame and also the algorithms that take people down dangerous pipelines and sharpen them, insulate them.

i myself understand the vitriol you might have for anyone that voted for trump. i feel so disappointed that half the people of this country voted against our collective benefit. and i’ve seen a lot of sentiment from the left today saying “every single person who voted for trump is dead to me. i disowned you”.

you can see the reality of trump’s demagoguery, and it’s so obvious, but what i want to know is: what do they see? why did they vote for him? emotion and entertainment travel faster and have more reach than reason. and it’s that’s why i think contrapoints’s videos are exemplary at tackling this ideological divide. this is something i’ve been thinking about for months before today and i thought now was a better time than ever to give my two cents on it.

[wcters]

𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗔 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗡𝗔𝗣𝗦 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘

pairing: chris sturniolo x fem!reader

summary: chris with a girlfriend who is obsessed with naps/naps all the time

warnings/notes: established relationships, i love naps, my favourite things

- you love naps, you’re obsessed

- always down for one

- you can nap anytime, anywhere

- cars, planes, beds, couches, you name it

- you probably have an iron deficiency

- #hot girl shit

- you can and will fall asleep in the most uncomfortable positions and in any positions really: crisscross, curled up, head leaning on your knees, on your back, starfish, etc

- you could call yourself an expert 💅💅

- you look two ways when you’re sleeping: peaceful . . . or a victorian child dying on the plague

- that tiktok trend? that’s you, and you own it

- and chris had definitely posted you to that

- if not him, either nick or matt

- you also look like that polar bear waking from hibernation when you wake up

- or you went through a tornado

- dorothy from the wizard of oz who?

- so many pictures and clips of you alseep in the background of a video, tiktok, livestream, etc

- the triplets were filming a walk though of the tour bus and you’re just fast asleep in chris’s bunk wrapped in your blanket

- a lot of your friends bereals are you sleeping

- have a humidifier in your room at your house/apartment

- sleep with rain sounds on

- a shit ton of stuffed animals

- and that will be the same for chris’s bed

- they’ll take up most of the space on the bed and he will have a leg hanging off

- you refuse to take them off unless he begs

- you feel bad 😭😭 they’re you kids, you have to care for them

- spend a lot of money on stuffed animals, pillows, and blankets

- comfy fit 24/7

- uggs, sweatshirts, sweatpants, like a living and breathing fresh love ad

- everyone’s jealous

- chris loves you for it, but also dislikes it sometimes because it’s his clothes and he’ll want to wear them

- slippers 24/7

- naps with him!

- most cuddle sessions will end up as nap sessions

- or you alseep on top of him while chris is stuck sessions

- he says he hates it (he secretly loves it)

- a lot of the time even watching movies or hanging out will end up with you alseep in his lap because he likes to run his fingers through your hair (if it won’t mess it up and it’s not styled, scalp if he can) and your skin

- will carry you to bed

- you always wake up disoriented and covered in marks from the bedsheets pressing into you (signs of a good nap)

- you react to the word nap like a dog does to the word treat

- always excited for bed

- definition of snug as a bug in a rug

- you were an avid after school napper

- one of the only consistent things in your life

- you’re fighting a literal WAR between two and five pm to stay awake

- you fully expect (and deserve) a medal for staying awake 🏅🏅

- and you’re grumpy if you don’t have one. you were rude? you were acting like a bitch? didn’t have your nap.

- someone comments on how you sleep to much? immediately dislike

- like sis . . . what’s it to you?

- unless it’s a health concern, and even then, mouth. shut.

- if you’re sick, you’re napping/sleeping even more than you already do

- you’re the first one asleep at all nighters

- nick jokes that you might love sleeping more than you love chris

- . . . don’t tell him that.

- just kidding! . . .

- some of your favourite tiktoks are the ones where you get to choose where you’re sleeping

- you sleep talk sometimes (mostly gibberish) but not a lot, maybe like once or twice a month

- but you absolutely have had full on conversations with people and your answers make sense, and you will not remember them at all

- “hey, do you remember when i told you about that idea i had?” “no, when was this?” “last night.” “oh.”

- NAPS WITH TREVOR

- that dog lovesss you

- and loves taking naps with you

- will also nap with you in the car if you’re going on a road trip with chris and his family

- you love the feeling of his weight in your lap

- you’re a MENACE to wake up

- there have been times where chris just gives up and let’s you sleep if it’s not important because it’s taken him too long (he also gets lazy)

- a lot of the time it���s on their couch because you love their couch

- it’s so comfy, you’re favourite thing

- PISSED if you’re woken up by something stupid

- like one of the boys will make a loud noise and then they’ll all stand there like ‘oh shit’

- if you wake up and chris isn’t with you but he’s in the house, you’ll make a beeline to him and just hug him

- probably fall asleep in his arms standing up

[o-sachi]

Orter Madl Relationship Headcanons

ᯓ character; orter madl (mashle) ᯓ tags; fluff, sfw, gn reader, no y/n

[🐟]: Ngl, I had a hard time trying to make rs hcs for this guy because he's literally un-romanceable in reality SOB.

— I'm not sure how you managed to bag this guy. But... congrats. Like, truly, you deserve it. Up until dating you, this guy has never shown an ounce of interest in romance AT ALL. Perhaps you could say that his type is simply "you"?

— But maybe he gets into a relationship since it's transactional; he gets something from you and you get something from him. He has always been a rational person, so this is the only way he can rationalize something like "love" if he even believes in such a concept.

— Perhaps he'll give more of his time to you than any other person. Not that he expects you to feel special because of that. Though, somehow, the transactional relationship is able to blur some boundaries and help both of you ease into spending more time with each other.

— You don't know it, but he does look out for you, especially if he gets something from you that's really valuable. He'll always be on the look for anything that's bound to threaten your safety. There have also been instances when he butts into one of your fights.

— There isn't a day when he doesn't question you or your motives. Again, he tries to rationalize everything. So he can't make sense when you do things selflessly for him. What's the point if you don't get more in return? You confused him plenty and those thoughts plague his mind more than he'd like them to.

— One day, while spending time together, he'll be staring holes in the back of your head. What's he thinking? Well, let's just say he's having the biggest crisis of his life (having thoughts/feelings that cannot be rationalized). He'll be in a pissy mood for the rest of the day, but he takes it out on everyone else but you.

— The change of heart happens excruciatingly slow, but there will be signs. Perhaps you won't notice it at first, but certainly everyone else around the two of you can see it—clear as day.

— Eventually, he starts to see your values—not as a wizard—but as a person. Your strength, unwavering determination, and goal oriented mindset all seem quite alluring to him. It just never occurred to him before that these things could mean something else out of a fight.

— Through time, he'll just let himself be drawn to you. After all, there's nothing wrong about respecting someone who upholds justice and righteousness like he does. You're strong and can hold your ground. If anyone will take up space in his life—it might as well be you.

— His idea of softening up is showing you his tough love. He knows the types of things you get yourself into as a wielder of magic, so he reminds you to get stronger everyday even if it kills you. He'll practice with you and show no mercy. In his mind, he's thinking of wanting you to become self-sufficient to the point that you can handle yourself even without him by your side.

— He hates it when other people talk about you, even praises annoy him. But if he hears anyone insult you... they'll find themselves buried 6 ft. deep under sand. Without knowing it, he thinks so highly of you now—that if anyone were to utter the mere thought of you pisses him off. At this point, he lets you walk closely by his side so that everyone knows you are not to be messed with.

— You'll never hear him say the words, "I love you." But on a special occasion—like your birthday or your anniversary— he'll do something sweet for you (much to your surprise). You walk into his training grounds, a vast space with a bunch of sand. In the middle is a big heart made out of sand with him standing right beside it. Then he says something like, "Today's a special occasion hence the shape," or something unromantic like that lol.

o-sachi © 2024 pls do not translate/copy/reupload my work on other platforms.

[deeplyshalllow]

Wicked the Musical’s Act 1 timing problems, how the movie screenplay fixed this, and how the movie ultimately failed to

I’m sorry guys the Lion Cub essay will still probably be out today I just read the screenplay and got very distracted.

So, Wicked the Musical Act 1 has always had issues with timing.

Portrayed in this act are 6 separate days:

Elphaba arrives at Shiz to the end of What is this Feeling (though arguably some of What is this Feeling takes place over a longer span of time)

Doctor Dillamond’s class to the end of Something Bad

Fiyero arriving to the end of Popular

The Lion Cub Scene to the end of I’m not that Girl

Madame Morrible Giving Elphaba the letter from the Wizard

Elphaba on the train platform to the end of Act 1

Now, Act 1 is an hour and a half, it only showing six days is not a problem. The problem is the spacing of these days.

Firstly, those familiar with the musical may have already questioned my list here. By separating Day 2 and 3 I am being generous, as they are arguably the same day – Elphaba could be heading to Morrible’s seminar when she nearly gets knocked over by Fiyero – after all Galinda tells Fiyero “history class just ended” and she’s wearing the same clothes as in the scene with Dillamond. Likewise, there is no scene transition at all between days 4 and 5, even the rain so important on day 5 starts at the end of I’m Not that Girl! The only reason I can definitively separate these days is that Madame Morrible states “I know how devastated you were the other day for our poor Doctor Dillamond”. Neither of these scenes actually have to happen particularly close to each other, but for some reason the musical feels the need to attach them to each other.

They are not the only scenes either, day 3 and 4 are implied to be very close to each other (possibly the next day) – with Fiyero commenting on the hair toss Galinda taught her and flower that Elphaba wears at the beginning of the scene coming directly from Popular.

Likewise, Day 5 and 6 we go from Elphaba being invited to see the Wizard, to leaving to meet the Wizard. The gap is long enough for Galinda to notice that Fiyero has become “distant and moodified” (though that started on day 4) but not long enough for Fiyero and Elphaba to have any real chance to talk (though I imagine there was some degree of them avoiding each other), also Nessa’s words of “Elphaba, I'm so proud of you and I know father would be too” implies it’s all gone fast enough that they’ve not had a great amount of time to talk about her invitation or her Father to find out about the news. I think it makes sense that, if Morrible thinks she’s ready that the Wizard, so desperate for her power, wouldn’t really want to wait. So let’s say it’s been a week or two.

Which leaves us with the following:

Day 1 and 2 – actually a fairly reasonable gap, we’ve clearly had some time pass where Elphaba and Galinda loathe each other, and it’s not Doctor Dillamond’s first history lesson with this class either

Day 2 and 3 – could literally be the same day

Day 3 and 4 – scene transition implies it’s the day after

Day 4 and 5 – scriptwise it’s “the other day” but staging implies it’s the same rain storm

Day 5 and 6 – maybe a couple of weeks

Which means Galinda and Elphaba are friends for maybe three weeks? And that Elphaba and Fiyero have one conversation in the Lion Cub scene and that is it entirely. Likewise Boq does not even get a chance to speak to Elphaba at all.

Anyone who knows the shit that goes down in Act 2, and how imperative the closeness of relationships with Elphaba are, knows this does not make any sense (and I want to mention this because it might be missed but this includes Elphaba’s relationship with Boq, because Elphaba does feel very betrayed that Boq thinks of her as a wicked witch in Act 2 so we need to know that they were some degree of friends to start with).

Where should the gaps be then?

Day 1 and 2 – this is fine, we have implied passage of time anyway

Day 2 and 3 – probably would be worth having some time to space these events out but doesn’t particularly matter

Day 3 and 4 – DESPERATELY NEEDED we need time for Elphaba and Galinda to consolidate their friendship, we need a reason why Elphaba is chatting and relatively comfortable (if on a surface level) with Fiyero, we need time for Fiyero and Galinda to have a relationship before he becomes “distant and moodified”

Day 4 and 5 – It clearly shouldn’t be literally the same day but I actually like the implication that day 4 happened just “the other day” because it implies Madame Morrible is trying to get a powerful Elphaba away from bad pro Animal influences as fast as possible

Day 5 and 6 – again, this gap makes a reasonable amount of sense, a couple of weeks seems plausible given the Wizard wanting Elphaba as soon as possible

As a certified expert in this area (I wrote a lot of Wicked Fanfiction when I was 15) the standard procedure is to headcanon a lot of time between day 3 and 4, probably a few months at the very least – as this is when we need friendships and various sexual tensions to develop. And it does make sense, more sense than imagining Day 4 happening straight after Popular – except for that dumb scene transition with Elphaba and the “toss toss” and the flower.

(I’d like to mention, as a bit of a sidenote here, that the book does not have any of this issues. We actually see time passing at Shiz, people going away and returning for the summer and relationships slowly developing. Hell, Nessa isn’t even around until Elphaba’s second year at Shiz! While obviously the book and musical are not similar enough to really taking implied timings from each other it does actually do a good job at showing why these people matter to each other, even in later life. Also, the Elphaboq friendship is beautiful and I miss it.)

So, the movie. How are the days spread out here? (Forgive me if I get some of this wrong, I’m obviously not quite as familiar with the movie).

Day 1 – arrival at Shiz (what is This Feeling starts on the same night but is obviously spread out over a series of weeks)

Day 2 – Doctor Dillamond’s class to meeting Fiyero – again like the musical there is a reasonable amount of time between Day 1 and Day 2. Fiyero’s meeting has now been explicitly moved to Day 2, albeit at night – I don’t really mind this, it works well and gives a reason for Elphaba to be out at night

Day 3 – Dancing Through Life to Popular – Dancing Through Life is now explicitly the day after Something Bad it makes sense with Fiyero’s scene with Elphaba the day before

Day 4 – URGH – we still have the “toss toss” scene implied to be straight after Popular and therefore the Lion Cub scene the same day, with no chance for any relationships to develop

Day 5 – Elphaba getting a letter from the Wizard - Now much more explicitly a different day than the Lion Cub Scene, which is good, it’s implied to be the time between Morrible writing the letter on Day 4 and the Wizard being able to write an invite back, which I’d always thought was the case but nice to have confirmation

Day 6 – Emerald City – funnily enough, I actually think slightly more of a time jump is implied in this scene than the equivalent in the musical, just because Frex is actually available to come and visit to see Elphaba off, and Nessa has clearly had time to tell Frex a bit about Boq, but I still think it’s about a month or less

So what has improved? Honestly, not much. I think the Day 2 to 3 transition is smoother and clearer, I really like them explicitly clearing up that Day 4 and 5 are separate, as well as it being very explicit that Elphaba’s power in the Lion Cub scene is what got her invite to the Wizard sped up. However, the biggest issue with timing – Day 3 and 4 – still has a transition that implies they happen the day after each other which simply can’t happen relationship wise.

So, after the movie I concluded we just had to headcanon the gap like we always did.

UNTIL TODAY.

Today I read the movie screenplay.

And guys, GUYS, this sorts everything out. It keeps the “toss toss” scene as the day after Popular (Day 4), as the wording implies, but the Lion Cub scene is not on Day 4 too. Instead there is this lovely long montage of friendship, where we can see all five of the main Shiz crew becoming friends. And it’s perfect, it’s enough, it’s what we needed to establish why the Gelphyero polycule is so close, and is a thing that causes chaos in the second act. It establishes why Elphaba is so betrayed by Boq hating her. It explains why it’s such a tragedy when Glinda’s words cause Nessa’s death. It’s really, really needed and it’s a sin that they cut it. (Also, Boq and Nessa were so out of focus in the movie and, while this wasn’t the only scene of theirs cut from the screenplay or even the stage show, it would have done a great deal to rectify that).

Going back to the timeline, this then puts the Lion Cub scene after the five have made friends and hung out. It allows the level of comfort Elphaba has with Fiyero in that scene, while also the fact that he’s always been with Galinda when she’s known him to why she’s kind of put him in “best friend’s boyfriend” box rather than officially seeing him as actively close to her. The fact Galinda and Elphaba are roomies also accounts for them being closer to each other than the rest of the group. It also makes more sense from a Wizard perspective, as he isn’t instantly summarising a completely untrained girl.

Basically, I cannot believe they were so close to fixing everything and they failed. Guess we are back to headcanoning this in. If we don’t get this montage as a deleted scene or, preferably in a director’s cut, I will die.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

[h9rd-t6-miss]

God hunter the parenting is just... Something deeply special.

It starts out loud, like all of Alfabusa and Ogre Poppenang's work does. Chapter one involves COCK-thorpe jokes and a jacket covered in wooden stakes. It involves jokes about DMT being a formidable defense against vampires and fortifying a picnic table. When Ogre Poppenang get loud, they get so, so incredibly loud.

And if that were all there was in these shows, they would be fourty minute entertainments that leave your mind as soon as you're done laughing at it.

But... There's more.

You catch glimpses of it here and there if you're not looking for it. Did the red and blue one just talk about genuine self-reflection in between cock jokes? Maybe. Maybe you misheard it. Does the short-shorts wearing loud one actually have honest warnings in between the mad yelling? Surely you imagined any depth to these characters, they're yelling about blenders!

But then. The story does something that it feels, strange, in today's modern media.

In between the jokes and the noise and the wonky animation... The stakes stay the same. They're always in dire danger, no matter the tone of the setting.

Even when he's on stilts clambering over a yard and looking absurd, Kitten is absolutely in danger of dying at every moment. Even when Kevin is yelling about magic vampire wizard powers, he is absolutely not kidding and will utilize them to kill. Even when Big D is making a god-awful concotion in a blender filled with nonsesne ingredients, it serves a legitamite purpose towards the family.

And the stories give everything SPACE. Space to breathe, to laugh, to cry, to be horrified. The lives of these people are horrifying and dangerous and absurd but they are still absolutely alive, not just cartoons.

You find yourself invested in the old relationship of Grimal, the overblown hyper weeabo and Kitten, the level headed hunter who still never takes off a blue hoodie and sky mask. You find yourself deeply touched by how much the literal and exact Door cares for his son, even if exposing him to the Hunter's lifestyle and indeed, Door's lifestyle, probably isnt the greatest thing.

You can really feel that the Hunters are true, three dimensional people that are written with so much care and expertise, and that their voice actors understand the characters at such a fundamental level.

You also begin to love the overall writing, where the authors show their true and incredible skill at balancing the zany humor of the WoD with the name of the setting, a world full of real darkness, where the shadows in the alley really do hold unspeakable terrors.

Not every joke will land, and the boldness of the caricatures will drive some people off. But there is so much more to this studio than anything I've seen in a long time, and for those who will stick around, prepare to fall in love with everything as much as the creators have.

Also, if you just want MORE of the absurd and delightful humor, Half-life:Zero Viscosity deserves all of the praise of HL:VRAI and MORE

[mercillery]

Can you do the yandere alphabet for Julius and Lucius?

WARNINGS: GENDER NOT SPECIFIED + YANDERE THEMES + NOT PROOFREAD

NOTES: Anon, I’m gonna be honest with you—I haven’t written for Lucius in so long I lowkey kind of struggled for his part…so sorry about that ❤️‍🩹

JULIUS NOVACHRONO

A = Affection (How do they show their love and affection? How intense would it get?)

Julius is a naturally affectionate guy, no doubt about it. But as a yandere? Oh, he cranks that up to eleven. He’s not just attentive; he’s hyper-attentive, to the point where you might start wondering if he’s somehow become omnipresent. His affection goes beyond sweet gestures and into full-on "I need to know you’re okay every single second" territory. He’s always there, making sure you’re comfortable, cared for, and wrapped up in his Time Magic like some magical security blanket. The man’s like your personal space heater—but, you know, with magic.

And if we’re being real here, he’s not shy about physical affection either. He’s always reaching for your hand, brushing your hair out of your face, or hugging you like you’re going to vanish if he lets go. It’s sweet, but it’s also a little intense—like he’s trying to make sure you don’t forget for even a second that you’re his. Honestly, it's like the guy can’t breathe without you nearby, which is pretty ironic considering he’s the Wizard King with control over time. He could literally freeze a moment and stretch it out forever, but nope, he’s right there, all up in your business 24/7.

But here’s the thing: his affection, while overwhelming, is never meant to be suffocating. He genuinely means well; he’s just so head over heels that he’s a bit clueless about how overbearing it comes off. He’s like a puppy who doesn’t realize he’s grown into a full-sized dog and keeps trying to fit in your lap. It’s not that he’s trying to smother you; it’s just that he’s so wrapped up in his feelings that he can’t handle the idea of being apart from you for even a nanosecond. He might be the ruler of time, but when it comes to you, every moment feels like a lifetime without your presence.

B = Blood (How messy are they willing to get when it comes to their darling?)

Julius does absolutely everything in his power to avoid physical violence; he’s the kind of yandere who prefers to get what he wants through clever manipulation and the strategic use of his magic. He’s got that "I’d rather talk it out" energy, or maybe "I’d rather warp time and rearrange the situation until it works in my favor" kind of vibe. Bloodshed? That’s like, plan Z—wayyyyyyyy at the bottom of the list of options. He’s not eager to see anyone hurt, especially since, despite the whole obsessive yandere thing, the guy still has a heart. It’s just a heart that happens to be laser-focused on you. But hey, at least he’s consistent, right?

Even in his yandere state, he’s still compassionate and empathetic; he genuinely believes violence isn’t the answer. It’s like he’s trying to show that even with his unhealthy levels of obsession, he can still hold on to some of that Wizard King morality. But, and it’s a big but, if it ever came down to it—like if he really had no other choice, if every possible peaceful method had failed—then yeah, he’d resort to violence. He’d do it swiftly, though. Julius isn’t the type to let things get messy; he’d use his time magic to make it quick and painless, like pulling off a band-aid (a magical band-aid, mind you).

It’s not that he wants to spill blood; it’s more like he’d do whatever it takes to protect what’s most important to him: you. And if that means ensuring anyone who threatens you is out of the picture, well, he’s got the power to handle it discreetly. He’s not about to let things get dramatic or drawn-out. In his mind, if it must be done, it’s going to be done efficiently, with as little suffering as possible. He’s still got that compassionate side buried in there—just wrapped up in a whole lot of obsession.

C = Cruelty (How would they treat their darling once abducted? Would they mock them?)

Honestly, kidnapping isn’t Julius’s style—even in yandere mode. The guy’s all about playing the long game, keeping things friendly, and working his charm. He’s got that Wizard King charisma, and he’d much rather convince you with sweet words and acts of kindness than snatch you up and lock you away. But, alright, let’s imagine he does resort to kidnapping—because, you know, the question calls for it.

If Julius were to kidnap you, it would be the most polite, gentle kidnapping imaginable. You’d almost be confused, like, “Wait, am I being kidnapped, or am I on a really weird vacation?” He wouldn’t be rude, mocking, or condescending—no, no, that’s not how he treats his beloved. Why would he ever speak harshly to you? You’re the person he cherishes above all else. So instead, he’s all smiles and soft words, doing his best to make the whole situation seem as un-scary as possible. It’s almost unsettling how sweet he is about the whole thing—like, you know something’s not right, but at the same time, how could someone so gentle and caring be the bad guy here?

At first, he might go a little overboard with the pampering, trying to ease you into the situation and get you comfortable. He knows what he’s done doesn’t sit right with you because, you know, kidnapping is usually a red flag, so he’s on a mission to prove that it’s not as bad as it seems. Expect all the royal treatment—meals brought to you, cozy blankets, books, and entertainment, anything to make you feel comfortable and safe. It’s almost like he’s overcompensating, trying to fill the awkwardness of the situation with as much affection and care as possible.

In his eyes, he’s just doing what’s necessary to get you past any fears you might have of him. But here’s the kicker: he’s so nice about it that it makes you question everything. It’s like he’s trying to rewrite the narrative of kidnapping itself—“Oh, you’re not my captive; you’re my honored guest!” And throughout it all, he remains respectful, patient, and kind, making it clear that no matter how strange things are, he’d never dream of being cruel to you. In his mind, if he’s as gentle and caring as possible, you’ll come to accept his affection and eventually see things his way.

D = Darling (Aside from abduction, would they do anything against their darling's will?)

Like I mentioned just now, Julius isn’t the type to jump straight to abduction. He’s all about patience and subtlety. But, okay, if we’re diving into this hypothetical where he does kidnap you, it’s a bit more complicated. The thing is, it’s all about time—fitting for someone with Time Magic, right? At first, he’s going to do the classic yandere thing: take away your will (and ability) to leave. No sneaking out, no slipping away when he’s not looking. You’re basically stuck, and he makes sure of that. He might not be thrilled about it, but he’s too concerned and worried to let you out of his sight at first. You’re kept safely in his space, just like any other yandere would do.

But here’s where things get interesting. As time goes on—because, hey, no one’s as good with time as Julius—he’s watching you closely. He’s waiting for that moment when you start to calm down, to settle into the situation, and maybe even… accept it? He’s hoping that as you mellow out and get more comfortable around him, you’ll start to relax. And once he sees that, he’ll start to loosen his grip. Slowly, he’ll give you back a little bit of freedom, like easing off the brakes after a long stop.

It’s not because he wants to keep you locked away forever. No, deep down, Julius wants you to be free—he really does. He’s not one of those yanderes who thrives on control just for control’s sake. But the problem is, he can’t risk losing you. The thought of you just up and leaving one day? Terrifying. That’s why he kidnaps you in the first place. He can’t take any chances.

Once he’s confident that you’re not going to bolt the second he lets you out of his sight, he’ll start letting you do things on your own again. Maybe you get to wander the streets alone, maybe you can hit up your favorite shops or go about your day-to-day life—just with one little catch. He’s still watching, of course. You might not see him, but trust me, he’s keeping tabs. There’s always going to be that sense that you’re not totally free, but hey, at least you can stretch your legs a little, right?

Of course, privacy is another story. Even when you get your freedom back, he’s always going to know where you are and what you’re doing. It’s like he’s given you a leash, and though it’s longer now, it’s still there. So, freedom? Kind of. Privacy? Not a chance.

E = Exposed (How much of their heart do they bare to their darling? How vulnerable are they when it comes to their darling?)

Oh, this man is exposed—and not in the typical yandere "I'm hiding my true nature" kind of way. No, Julius is out here practically wearing his heart on his sleeve, and honestly, it's almost a little surprising for a yandere. You'd expect someone in his position to keep up a facade, maybe hide behind his usual charm and playful attitude, but nope. He only keeps up his playful and charm facade in public—you know, as the Wizard King. But with you, he drops that mask like it’s nothing, and what you see is raw, unfiltered Julius. He lets you in on his biggest fears, especially when it comes to losing you, and trust me, he's very open about how much he loves you. Like, almost too open. You might even find yourself thinking, "Wait, is this guy trying to guilt-trip me? Am I supposed to feel bad for him right now?"

And look, with most yanderes, you’d probably be right to assume that—emotional manipulation is kind of their bread and butter. But not Julius. When I say he’s exposed, I mean really exposed. He’s not out here playing any mind games; he’s just laying it all out there, hoping you understand how much you mean to him. No deception, no schemes—just pure, unfiltered sincerity. It’s like he thinks, “Hey, if we’re going to be together, we’re going to be real with each other,” and he genuinely believes that.

Sure, it might come off a bit intense. I mean, how often do you meet someone who's so emotionally vulnerable they could basically be the poster child for a heart-to-heart conversation? But that’s just how he is with you. You’re his lover now, and in his mind, that means no more walls, no more pretending. It’s just him, being 100% honest with his feelings, whether you’re ready for that level of sincerity or not.

It’s not about guilt-tripping, and it's definitely not about manipulation. Julius genuinely just wants you to understand that when he says he loves you, he means it with every fiber of his being. So while most yanderes might use their emotions as a weapon, Julius is over here treating them like an open book—one he’s inviting you to read cover to cover.

F = Fight (How would they feel if their darling fought back?)

Oh, this man is absolutely HURT. And not just the "ouch, you hurt my feelings" kind of hurt, but the deep, soul-crushing, "why are you doing this to me when all I want is to love and protect you?" type of hurt. You can practically see the disappointment etched all over his face, but it's mostly that emotional pain that gets to him. You fighting back? It genuinely confuses him. In his mind, he’s doing everything out of love—so why would you resist?

But let me be clear: Julius isn’t the type to snap or lash out if you push back. Oh no, he’s not going to raise his voice, throw a tantrum, or get violent. That’s not his style. Instead, he’ll let out this sad sigh, maybe give you that look—you know, the one that makes you feel like you just kicked a puppy. Then, without any harshness, he’ll calmly use his magic to gently subdue you. No roughness, no aggression, just disappointment. It’s like he’s saying, “Why are we even doing this? Can’t we just love each other in peace?”

Julius is all about keeping things gentle. Even when he’s feeling emotionally wrecked, he’ll never resort to anything violent or extreme to get you back under control. He’ll probably just freeze time around you for a bit, just enough to calm things down, then softly talk you through it. It’s all about creating this sense of, “Hey, I’m not mad, I’m just hurt—and we can work through this.” Sure, you might not like it, but at least he’s not out here going full yandere psycho.

But make no mistake—while he’s being gentle, he will put you back in your place. He’s got the power to do it without breaking a sweat, but he’s so emotionally invested in you that he won’t cross any lines. You’ll be subdued, but it’ll be like being gently pushed into place by someone who’s more disappointed in the fact that this is even necessary. So yeah, you’re not getting away with fighting back, but at least you can count on Julius being as soft as possible about it—just enough to remind you who’s in control, but never enough to make you fear him.

G = Game (Is this a game to them? How much would they enjoy watching their darling try to escape?)

It’s definitely not a game to Julius. He takes your relationship seriously—obsessively so. But hey, he wouldn’t be totally honest if he said he didn’t feel at least a tiny bit of amusement when you try to outsmart him. There’s this little flicker of curiosity in him, a sense of, “Oh? What are they going to try next?” It’s almost like watching a puzzle unfold, and Julius can’t help but be intrigued by how you’re going to maneuver through the situation. He won’t admit it outright, but there’s definitely a small part of him that finds your attempts to outwit him... well, kind of entertaining.

That said, don’t think for a second that he sees this as a game. It’s not. He values the relationship way too much to treat it like some kind of cat-and-mouse chase. Julius is all about balance, and even though he might find your cleverness interesting, he’s not going to encourage it. He’s got that Wizard King mentality—risk is not something he likes to play with, even with all the Time Magic at his disposal. To him, this relationship is way too important to leave anything to chance.

But here’s where it gets tricky: Julius is confident. Like, really confident. Not the cocky type of confident—but just normal confident, you know? He knows that, no matter how clever you get, he’s got the ultimate ace up his sleeve—his control over time. That means, in his mind, you can try whatever you want, and he’ll still ensure your inevitable return. It’s not arrogance, exactly; it’s more like he knows that no matter how far you wander, he has the means to bring you back to him. So in a way, he’s fine with giving you a bit of freedom, letting you try to outsmart him here and there, because deep down, he’s certain the outcome won’t change.

It’s almost like watching a chess match when you already know how it’s going to end. Sure, it’s fun to see the moves, but in the end, he’s always a few steps ahead. So, while he might find a bit of enjoyment in seeing what you’ll try next, there’s never any real doubt in his mind that you’ll end up right where he wants you—right by his side.

H = Hell (What would be their darling's worst experience with them?)

Remember how I said Julius is gentle when it comes to putting you back in your place? Yeah, well, don’t let that fool you into thinking his gentleness doesn’t pack a punch. Sure, he’s not violent or harsh, but you’ve gotta keep in mind that the man’s literally the Wizard King. He’s got the power to make “gentle” feel a lot heavier than it sounds.

So let’s say you’ve made a habit of trying to escape. Julius, being the master of Time Magic, isn’t going to get aggressive. Nope. Instead, he gets creative in the worst possible way. Picture this: every time you defy him, every time you make a break for it, he uses his magic to create a loop, forcing you to relive that moment of rebellion over and over again. At first, you might think, "Okay, I can handle this. What’s a little time loop?” But trust me, you can’t. It’s way more than you bargained for.

It’s not just about repeating the same moment. Over time, it wears you down in every way. Mentally, you start feeling like there’s no way out. Emotionally, it’s draining—going through the same motions, only to have him bring you right back to square one. Physically, it takes its toll too, even if you're just walking in circles or struggling to escape. And hey, maybe even spiritually, it’s exhausting, like your soul just can’t take the weight of being stuck in this endless loop of defiance.

For Julius, this isn’t cruelty for the sake of it. In his mind, it’s necessary. It’s a “lesson,” a way to show you that no matter how hard you try, there’s no escaping him. It’s his way of teaching you that resistance is futile—literally. And the worst part? He’s not angry while doing it. He’s just calmly, almost lovingly, reminding you of your place. There’s something deeply unsettling about being punished by someone who seems to genuinely believe they’re helping you.

It’s honestly a terrifying reminder of just how powerless you are against his magic. No matter how gentle he is, the message is clear: you can’t escape him, and the more you try, the more exhausted you’ll become. He’ll make sure you understand that lesson, even if it takes a few dozen loops to get there.

I = Ideals (What kind of future do they have in mind for/ with their darling?)

His ideal world? It’s actually pretty simple when you break it down. Sure, he’s got all the time magic and the responsibilities of the kingdom, but when it comes to you, Julius just wants the domestic dream. You, him, together, living a peaceful life where you accept your role as his partner, both emotionally and practically. He doesn’t envision you as someone kept in the shadows or locked away—he wants you to understand what he does, to support him, and to see that this life he’s offering is the best option for the two of you.

And in his mind, it’s not even a question of if you’ll come around, but when. Time is his best ally, after all. Julius believes that with enough time, you’ll start to see things his way. You’ll realize that being with him is not just an option, it’s the best option. The future he sees is one where you’re both bonded in every way—physically, emotionally, spiritually—living that calm, domestic life, side by side.

He’s not asking for much, right? Just the “usual” life, where you’re always with him, supporting his duties, and, in return, he’ll give you the world—or, you know, as much of the world as the Wizard King can offer. In his mind, that’s the kind of future anyone would want. And with a little patience and a lot of time magic, he’s convinced you’ll want it too.

J = Jealousy (Do they get jealous? Do they lash out or find a way to cope?)

Julius is definitely prone to jealousy, but he’s not the type to let it spiral into a whole dramatic scene. He’s mature and composed about it, like the seasoned Wizard King he is. I mean, he’s not the kind of guy who’s going to throw a fit or give the death stare to every person who gets a little too friendly with you. He’s got enough self-assurance to know that your relationship is solid and safe in his very capable, time-bending hands.

Honestly, it’s not like jealousy hits him often. He trusts you and he’s confident enough in himself and his connection with you that it takes a lot to push him over that line. When those little pangs of envy do strike, he doesn’t lash out or lose his cool. Instead, he just kind of… silently acknowledges it and then moves on, letting it wash over him like, “Okay, that’s a thing I’m feeling, but it’s fine. We’re fine.” You might not even notice he’s feeling jealous because he keeps it so well under wraps.

Listen, it’s all about that quiet confidence of his. He knows he’s got the power to keep you with him—figuratively and literally. So while others might lose their temper over jealousy, he’s just sitting there like, “Yeah, no. We’re good.” He’s not worried about someone else swooping in and stealing you away because he genuinely believes in the bond you share. And let’s be real, the man who literally controls time doesn’t exactly feel threatened by much!

K = Kisses (How do they act around or with their darling?)

When you’re around, Julius is just his normal self—just dialed up a notch in the affection department. He’s the same charming, approachable, and easygoing Wizard King everyone knows and respects, but he’s not shy about showing how much he cares for you. It’s not over-the-top to the point where people are rolling their eyes or muttering, “Here they go again.” It’s just… obvious. He’ll casually hold your hand, rest his arm around your shoulders, or throw in a little inside joke that only you two get. It’s enough to make it clear to anyone watching that you’re his, but not enough to be cringe-inducing or awkward for everyone else in the room.

He’s like the poster child for “affectionate but not obnoxious.” People might smile or whisper about how sweet he is with you, but no one’s rolling their eyes or feeling like they need to fake gag. It’s that perfectly balanced PDA that everyone tolerates.

And as for those Yandere tendencies? Forget about it. He’s the picture of a dream man, an ideal partner, always smiling and attentive but not in a creepy way. Nothing about him screams "possessive" or "obsessive." He keeps all those intense feelings and thoughts hidden behind that charming, easygoing demeanor. He’s got his act down so well that even if someone tried to accuse him of being overprotective or controlling, people would probably just laugh it off.

To the world, he’s just an affectionate, doting boyfriend who’s got everything under control—nothing weird or suspicious here! He’s smooth enough to let his true nature simmer beneath the surface, showing you and only you the full extent of his obsession, but making sure everyone else just sees the charming man in love.

L = Love letters (How would they go about courting or approaching their darling?)

Julius’s way of courting is like a masterclass in emotional intelligence. He doesn’t just bombard you with generic “I love you” messages or flashy gestures. No, he’s way more refined and strategic than that. Julius takes the time to understand you—your likes, your interests, your worries, and what makes you tick. And then he crafts these thoughtful, personalized notes that feel like they’re speaking directly to your soul. His letters are beautifully written, almost poetic, without being over-the-top or insincere. He knows just the right words to weave a connection between you two, slowly and subtly drawing you closer to him.

It’s not all grand declarations and roses either. Julius is perceptive and precise; he doesn’t miss a beat. If you ever try to pull away or distance yourself, he doesn’t panic or lash out. Instead, he sends letters expressing his regret, his sorrow at the growing gap between you. It’s not a guilt trip—it’s more like he’s quietly reaching out, saying, “I miss you, and I hope we can find our way back to each other.” It’s disarming in its sincerity and vulnerability, and it makes it that much harder to actually break away from him. He’s not aggressively pulling you back; he’s inviting you to return willingly.

Outside of these carefully crafted letters? He’s just your regular Julius Novachrono. Friendly, approachable, with that same easygoing charm. He doesn’t overwhelm you with constant affection in public or try to flaunt your relationship. To everyone else, it just seems like he’s a genuinely considerate and charming man. No one would guess he’s meticulously planning every word and action to keep you close—he just seems like the perfect partner. But behind every letter and every carefully chosen phrase is that obsessive, love struck side quietly steering the ship.

M = Mask (Are their true colors drastically different from the way they act around everyone else?)

Julius’s true nature is like flipping a coin—one side is the easygoing, jovial Magic Emperor that everyone knows and admires, and the other is a deeply obsessive partner behind closed doors. In public, he’s got his act down to a science. He’s charming, approachable, and always smiling. People see the relaxed, carefree Wizard King who’s both a competent leader and a friendly face. He laughs easily, cracks jokes, and offers that reassuring presence everyone relies on. You wouldn’t suspect a thing from the way he interacts with his captains and citizens—just the same old Julius, with no hint of his hidden intensity.

But when it’s just the two of you, the other side of that coin comes out. He’s still mostly the same Julius, but now the mask is off, and his affection is turned all the way up. He’s more touchy, more attentive, and definitely more possessive. It’s not like he suddenly becomes a different person, but you can tell there’s an underlying intensity in everything he does. Where he might have just given a casual hand on your shoulder in public, in private, it’s more like a lingering touch, a tighter embrace, or an almost desperate look in his eyes. It’s still Julius, just with an added layer of obsession simmering beneath that calm exterior.

N = Naughty (How would they punish their darling?)

When it comes to punishment, Julius plays the long game—mentally and emotionally. He doesn’t believe in physical harm; it’s just not in his nature. Instead, he uses his Time Magic to create these psychological traps, forcing you to relive arguments or moments of defiance in an endless loop until you eventually break down and comply. Imagine having the same disagreement over and over, with no real sense of how much time has passed or when it might end. It’s subtle, but it’s incredibly effective. The exhaustion creeps up on you, making you question your own memory and sanity, and eventually, you’re left with this overwhelming sense of futility.

Julius sees this as a more “humane” form of discipline, almost like he’s gently guiding you back onto the right path rather than punishing you outright. It’s not violent, but it’s still a form of control—a mental cage disguised as an endless rewind button. And if you’re worried about him losing his temper or laying a hand on you? You can let that fear go—because Julius absolutely REFUSES to physically harm you, even in his darkest moments. It’s a line he’s unwilling to cross because, in his mind, what he’s doing isn’t about hurting you—it’s about keeping you safe, teaching you a lesson in a way only he can.

O = Oppression (How many rights would they take away from their darling?)

When it comes to freedoms, Julius’s strategy is all about control and patience. At first, he takes away all your rights and autonomy. He wants to strip away any illusion of independence so you can settle in, and by “settle in”. But here’s the catch: once he notices you’re getting more comfortable—actually comfortable, not just pretending—he’ll slowly start giving you back small pieces of freedom, bit by bit.

Think of it like earning privileges in a really messed-up game of trust. Show him you’re genuinely settling in, and he might let you have more time alone or even go outside under supervision. He wants to see genuine acceptance, not just some facade, and believe me, you’re not fooling this guy. He’ll see right through any fake smiles or acts of devotion. If you think you can just put on a lovey-dovey act to get back your freedoms, you might as well give up now—Julius knows the difference between genuine affection and an Oscar-worthy performance.

In his mind, it’s all about ensuring your “safety” until you can prove to him that you’re truly accepting of this life with him. And once you do? He’ll reward that acceptance with more freedoms. But make no mistake: the leash is always there, even if it gets a little longer over time…

P = Patience (How patient are they with their darling?)

Julius isn’t just patient—he’s exceedingly patient. He’s got all the time in the world, quite literally, and he’s fully aware that winning you over isn’t going to be an overnight thing. He knows you won’t accept his love right away, and he’s perfectly fine with that. In his mind, your resistance is just a temporary obstacle, not a permanent barrier. He believes his persistence will eventually wear you down, like waves gradually eroding a stone. And with his Time Magic, he’s got a pretty big advantage—he can afford to wait you out.

If you’re throwing a tantrum, screaming, or just completely losing it, he won’t get angry or frustrated. Instead, he’ll take it in stride, viewing it as a natural reaction to the situation. Are you crying your eyes out all day, at every hour? As much as it breaks his heart to see you in pain, Julius remains steadfast. He won’t snap or lose his patience—instead, he’ll calmly reassure you, trying his best to soothe you and help you feel comfortable. He doesn’t want to force you to accept his love; he wants you to genuinely come around to it.

In his eyes, all the tears, the anger, and the resistance are just part of the process. It’s all temporary turbulence in a relationship he’s confident will eventually find smooth waters. He’ll wait as long as it takes, and in the meantime, he’s there to comfort you through all of it, always with that patient smile. You might feel like you’re hitting a wall with him, but Julius? He’s got the patience to outlast every outburst, every tear, and every attempt to resist.

Q = Quit (If their darling dies, leaves, or successfully escapes, would they ever be able to move on?)

If you were to actually die, the heartbreak Julius would feel would be on a catastrophic level—like the man got hit by a million emotional wrecking balls all at once. He might be obsessive, yes, but that doesn’t make his love any less genuine—just more intense. Losing you wouldn’t just hurt him; it would break him. Imagine the Wizard King, the man who leads with a smile and endless charisma, completely shattered because you’re gone. It wouldn’t just be heartbreak—it’d be like his entire world collapsed. He’d probably be so devastated he’d question his own powers, his decisions, everything, and would find himself trapped in a spiral of guilt and despair.

And if you somehow successfully escape? Come on, this is Julius we’re talking about. You might have slipped through his fingers for a moment, but if you think he’s going to let you go just like that, well, that’s a bit naive. He’s the freaking Wizard King with control over time itself—letting you run off into the sunset isn’t exactly on his to-do list. Julius would be devastated, sure—his heart crushed at the idea of losing you. But unlike with your death, where his pain would be immeasurable, escaping just makes him more determined. To him, it’s not an ending—just a setback.

But here’s where things get really intense: Julius isn’t one to just sit back and accept fate. Oh no, he’d bend reality itself to undo whatever it was that took you from him. If you die, he’d rewind time to a point where you’re alive, no matter how many attempts it takes. If you escape, he’d loop back and make sure that door was locked or that your window wasn’t left open—any little thing he might’ve overlooked. In his mind, there’s always a way to fix things, to create the “perfect” outcome where you’re together.

Julius’s obsession runs so deep that he wouldn’t move on, no matter what happened. He believes, with every fiber of his being, that given enough time literally, he can create the future he envisions—one where you’re by his side, no matter the cost. So, if you die or successfully escape, you might think that’s the end of it—but for Julius, it’s just another loop to reset until he gets it right.

R = Regret (Would they ever feel guilty about abducting their darling? Would they ever let their darling go?)

Julius isn’t entirely blind to the morality of what he’s doing. Deep down, he does feel a sense of regret—not because he’s unsure of his love for you, but because he couldn’t win your heart the way he wanted to, without all these drastic measures. In his perfect world, you’d willingly accept his affection, confine, or control. But reality didn’t work out like that, so here he is, convincing himself that this path is the only way to keep you safe and happy.

Julius rationalizes everything he’s done with a well-intentioned narrative: “It’s for your own good,” or “One day, you’ll see why I had to do this.” He genuinely believes that with enough time, you’ll eventually understand that his actions, no matter how obsessive, were all born from a place of love. And as much as he feels that twinge of guilt, he’s not going to let it change his course of action. Letting you go isn’t an option in his mind—not now, and probably not ever.

Yes, there’s a real heart in there, a genuine, caring part of Julius that’s wracked with guilt over forcing you into this situation. But that doesn’t mean he’s going to set you free. To him, this is the only way to keep you both safe and happy, even if you can’t see it yet. He’s utterly convinced that with time (and, of course, he’s got plenty of that), you’ll come around to understand his love and intentions.

So while he does feel regret, it’s more of a bittersweet acknowledgment that he couldn’t create a perfect love story without pulling some strings. But giving up on you? Absolutely not. In his eyes, this is all just another challenge to overcome—a painful compromise he’s willing to make until you see things his way.

S = Stigma (What brought about this side of them? childhood, curiosity, etc?)

Honestly… it’s hard to pin down exactly where this obsessive side of Julius comes from, but there’s a good chance it ties back to his responsibilities as the Wizard King. Think about it: he spends every waking moment shouldering the weight of an entire kingdom, constantly trying to maintain peace and keep things in balance. That kind of pressure isn’t something you can just shrug off, even if you’re someone as whimsical or carefree as Julius. So maybe, when it comes to you, you represent that rare piece of comfort and genuine connection he craves but feels he can’t attain through his public role.

Being in such a powerful and demanding position, Julius is probably used to people respecting, fearing, or idolizing him—but never really seeing him for who he is underneath all that authority. You’re different, and that’s both exciting and terrifying for him. His obsession might stem from this desire to keep that connection secure, almost like he’s terrified that losing you would mean losing one of the few genuine things in his life.

So in a way, it makes sense that his fixation on you is so intense. You’re not just someone he loves; you’re a refuge from the constant duty and facade he’s forced to maintain. He wants to protect that refuge, even if it means crossing lines or using his power to do so. In his mind, losing you isn’t an option because you’re the one thing in his life that isn’t about being the Wizard King—you’re about being Julius.

Or maybe I’m just reaching for the stars for this one. Who knows.

T = Tears (How do they feel about seeing their darling scream, cry, and/or isolate themselves?)

Seeing you cry, scream, or shut yourself away absolutely shatters Julius inside. He’s not blind to your suffering; it affects him deeply, and part of him hates that he’s the reason behind it. But he convinces himself that your pain is just a "necessary step" on the path to a better future together. He’s in denial, really—holding you close, whispering sweet reassurances like, “It’s okay, I’m here,” or, “You’ll see in time, everything will be alright.” Meanwhile, he’s sidestepping the fact that he’s the very cause of this mess.

And your tears? They don’t make him reconsider. In his mind, they’re proof that you’re scared and vulnerable, reinforcing his belief that you need his protection even more. He’s twisted the narrative so tightly around his idea of keeping you safe that your cries and pleas to be left alone only fuel his determination.

So if you try to push him away or tell him to back off, it’s not going to work. He won’t just leave you alone, even if you beg for space. Instead, he’ll double down on the comfort, trying harder to “make you see” that everything he’s doing is for your own good. His reassurances are endless, his grip is unwavering, and his resolve to “protect” you only gets stronger with every tear you shed.

U = Unique (Would they do anything different from the classic yandere?)

Julius’s approach to being a yandere stands out because he steers clear of the classic violent or physically intimidating tactics. Instead, he leans into his mastery of time magic and a softer form of emotional manipulation to create a psychological cage that’s way more sophisticated than a typical yandere’s. He doesn’t need to lock you in a literal room; he’s got the power to make time itself your prison.

What’s even more unique is that, compared to most yanderes, he gradually grants you more freedom. He’s not too keen on the idea of keeping you cooped up forever. As time passes, he’ll give you a longer leash—letting you venture out, make decisions, maybe even regain some semblance of a normal life… sort of. But this freedom is only an illusion because, in reality, his grip remains firm. You may not be physically restrained, but you’re still emotionally and mentally bound by his presence and his magic. So, hooray for a little more freedom… but also, not really!

V = Vice (What weakness can their darling exploit in order to escape?)

Julius, for all his big-time magic and being basically a living, breathing timepiece, isn’t invincible when it comes to emotional vulnerability. Basically, here’s the small crack in the armor: his need for validation. It might seem like a tiny detail—like discovering Superman’s kryptonite is just a heavy diet of carbs—but it’s key. If you can somehow convince him that you genuinely accept him or pretend, then you’ve got an entry point to start working your own magic. Get him to believe that you’re warming up to him, and you might just worm your way into earning his trust. Once you’re in there, deep in that emotional vault, you’d have more chances to plot an escape.

Of course, this isn’t a one-way ticket to freedom; it’s more like trying to sneak out of a house guarded by both a paranoid watchdog and a CCTV system that can literally rewind time. You’ll have to keep up the act without Julius catching on to any hesitation or cracks in your facade. He’s analytical, and the moment he smells betrayal, it’s game over. But, if you can consistently show that “genuine affection” without letting your poker face slip, you might just get the chance to slip away.

Key word: MIGHT

Just pray you don’t accidentally call him by the wrong name or flinch when he goes in for a hug, or your time pun very much intended will be up.

W = Wit's end (Would they ever hurt their darling?)

Julius? Physically harm you? Not a chance. The idea of laying a finger on you in anger is absolutely out of the question. Julius would genuinely die before he let himself cross that line because in his mind, hurting you physically would shatter the very foundation of his obsession—sorry, I mean, love for you.

That said, mentally? Oof. That’s a different ball game. Julius is a master of time and, unfortunately for you, that means he’s got a lot of tricks up his sleeve that don’t involve lifting a finger. So if he’s at his wit’s end, he might resort to more subtle methods, like trapping you in a disorienting time loop. Imagine having the same conversation on repeat, or worse—reliving that one argument over and over until you feel like your brain’s about to turn into scrambled eggs. It's his twisted way of keeping you in line while convincing himself that he hasn’t really hurt you—at least, not in the traditional sense.

So long story short: Julius? Lay a finger on you? Never. But don’t think for a second he’s not prepared to mess with your head if it means keeping you in his grasp. Because to him, breaking you down mentally isn’t the same as hurting you—it’s just helping you understand how much he cares.

X = Xoanon (How much would they revere or worship their darling? To what length would they go to win their darling over?)

Julius doesn’t just put you on a pedestal—he practically builds a shrine and lights candles around it. To him, you’re not just the center of his universe; you’re the literal center, the sun to his gravitational pull, the glue holding his timeline together. And when Julius sees someone as his key to happiness and stability, that’s not a casual crush—it’s borderline holy devotion. This man will twist reality itself if it means keeping you happy, comfortable, and—most importantly—by his side.

You’re not just the apple of his eye; you’re the entire orchard. He wants your love, sure, but it’s not just a want; it’s a need. To him, you’re like the keystone in an arch—remove you, and his entire world risks collapse. So he’ll stop at nothing to keep you where you are, locked securely in that special place he’s carved out in his heart and mind. And if he senses you slipping away? Expect reality to bend a little more than usual. “All’s fair in love and time manipulation,” right?

When it comes to winning you over, there’s pretty much nothing he wouldn’t do. Time magic? Check. Reality-bending? Check. Gaslighting reality itself into keeping you by his side? Triple check. Because in the gospel according to Julius, if he can convince you to stay with him forever, then all those sacrifices were just acts of devotion.

Y = Yearn (How long do they pine after their darling before they snap?)

Julius isn’t the type to rush into things—he’s got all the time in the world, literally. So when it comes to you, he’s willing to play the long game. This guy will spend months, even years, meticulously observing you like he’s preparing for the world’s most intense final exam. He’ll study your habits, routines, preferences, down to which hand you use to brush your teeth…it’s weird, yeah—but he probably actually knows which hand you use to brush your teeth with. He’s so strategic that if there was a gold medal for obsessively planning, Julius would be its reigning champion.

Now, about snapping—it’s not really his style. Julius won’t just flip the switch one day and show up at your door, eyes glowing with time-warping intent. No, he’s far too patient and calculating for that. He takes his time, crafting an intricate web where every thread is designed to lead you straight to him. If you’re imagining some dramatic, sudden outburst—forget it. What you should be worried about are those quiet, all-too-composed moments where he’s just smiling and nodding, because that’s when his brain is ticking like a well-wound clock, planning every step of your “future” together.

When he finally decides it’s time to make his move, rest assured, he’s not diving in without backup plans A through Z ready to go. By the time Julius “snaps,” he’s really just executing a plan that’s been in the works for ages, and by then, your chances of escape are slim to none. So don’t waste time worrying about him snapping like some unhinged maniac—it’s not the big breakdown you should be afraid of, but the steady, calculated build-up. All those daydreams he’s having about the two of you? He’s already way past imagining—it’s more like he’s making itinerary notes for your future.

Z = Zenith (Would they ever break their darling?)

For Julius, breaking you isn’t the goal at all. He’s not in this to shatter your spirit or leave you a hollow shell—he’s aiming for something far more insidious: a genuine connection, or at least what he thinks is genuine. But the trouble is, his methods are about as gentle as a sledgehammer wrapped in velvet. He might not intend to break you, but the relentless way he traps you in those exhausting, sanity-testing time loops as “punishment” does more damage than he probably realizes. In his mind, it’s all in the name of helping you understand his version of love and care—he’s not trying to hurt you; he’s just trying to make you see.

The irony is that resisting him for long enough means you might end up breaking yourself. Going through that same situation, conversation, or argument over and over—like a psychological treadmill from hell—would wear anyone down. It’s like trying to escape a maze only to find yourself back at the entrance every single time. Your defenses would start to crumble, your mental exhaustion would reach its peak, and you’d feel like you’re at your breaking point. But here’s where Julius’s bizarre form of compassion kicks in.

Julius understands, in his own twisted way, that these punishments are draining. He’s aware that if left unchecked, this psychological torture could actually destroy you—and that’s not what he wants. So in his post-punishment “cool-down phase,” he shifts gears, switching to comforting and reassuring you whether you want it or not. He’ll be there with a soothing voice and a gentle hand, convincing you that he’s doing this out of love, out of a desire to keep you safe, even if you despise him for it. He won’t let you completely tip over the edge because, in his mind, he’s there to be your savior, your protector—even if he’s the one creating your turmoil in the first place.

So while it feels like you’re always on the brink of breaking, like you’re balancing on a tightrope with no safety net, Julius keeps pulling you back just enough to keep you from falling completely. It’s a messed-up balancing act: you’re teetering, exhausted, and desperate for relief, but you never fully break because he’s always there to catch you, to hold you steady at that edge. It’s not freedom, not even close—but it’s his way of ensuring you stay whole, just enough to be his.

LUCIUS ZOGRATIS

A = Affection (How do they show their love and affection? How intense would it get?)

Lucius’ way of showing affection is like trying to hug a boa constrictor—tight, unyielding, and with the illusion that he's doing it for your own good. His love is rooted in his grandiose vision of creating a “perfect” world, and you, dear darling, are just another piece of that puzzle that he must polish to fit. He’s paradoxically both gentle and overwhelming. Imagine being wrapped in a silk glove that’s ever-so-slightly squeezing the life out of you. One minute, he’s all soft, lingering touches, fingers gliding over your skin like he’s crafting a masterpiece, whispering sweet nothings about your role in his ideal future. The next, his grip might tighten, a subtle but firm reminder that he’s the artist, and you are the art.

B = Blood (How messy are they willing to get when it comes to their darling?)

Lucius doesn’t revel in bloodshed—he’s not here to get his hands dirty for the thrill of it. But if someone threatens his grip on you or his grand vision, they’ve practically handed him a permission slip for ruthless efficiency. Why waste time swinging when he can just manipulate souls? His Soul Magic makes violence almost boringly clinical—like he’s performing a minor surgery instead of altering their life, spirit, and magic power.

If it’s between keeping you by his side or letting a pesky obstacle stand in the way, Lucius won’t hesitate to do what he calls "cleaning up." And by "cleaning up," I mean he’ll just rearrange their soul and make them not be as a pesky obstacle as before, but now an obedient follower of his. He’s more surgeon than sadist, executing his violence with an almost unsettling sense of calm. There’s no splatter for splatter’s sake—just a surgical strike that leaves nothing but a memory in its wake.

But don’t mistake his preference for efficiency as a reluctance to get messy. If his control over you is at stake, he’s willing to go to any length to keep things tidy, even if that involves spilling a little blood—or a lot of it. His method is polished, but the results are as ruthless as they come.

C = Cruelty (How would they treat their darling once abducted? Would they mock them?)

Lucius isn’t going to resort to something as pedestrian as outright mocking you. That’s not his style. He doesn’t need to throw petty insults or humiliate you outright—his cruelty is far more sophisticated, like a perfectly sharpened scalpel. Instead, he’ll meticulously dismantle your sense of self, piece by piece, until you genuinely believe he’s the only one who knows what’s best for you. Think of it as psychological warfare but with an air of twisted benevolence. He wants you to think he’s your savior, not your captor, all while he’s slowly tightening the chains.

Lucius is the master of emotional coercion, guilt-tripping, and gaslighting with a side of faux concern. You think you made a decision on your own? He’ll subtly remind you that, no, it was actually him who enlightened you to the “right choice.” You feel like pushing back a bit? He’ll sigh and tell you how disappointed he is. And don’t even think about disagreeing with him—it’s not that he’ll punish you with overt anger; he’ll just look at you with that disappointed, pitying gaze, as if to say, “Oh, how misguided you are to think you can question me.”

D = Darling (Aside from abduction, would they do anything against their darling's will?)

Lucius isn’t the type to leave your free will intact if it inconveniences him. He’d rather meticulously construct a situation where your "choices" just happen to align perfectly with what he wants. You see, Lucius isn’t going to chase you down every time you try to rebel. Instead, he’ll craft a neat little reality around you where disobedience feels almost... impractical. He’s like that overbearing GPS that keeps saying, "Recalculating," but with a sinister smirk, making sure you only ever take the route he planned.

And let’s be clear—he’s not just putting up a few guardrails. We’re talking total control over your environment. Expect him to start chipping away at your connections to friends and family faster than you can say, “Hey, why haven’t I heard from them in a while?” He’ll isolate you, all while making it seem like he’s protecting you from those "unworthy influences." Before you know it, you’re depending on Lucius for every ounce of interaction, like your entire social life’s been relocated to one dude.

Restricting your movements? Oh, he’ll do that too—both figuratively and literally. Try to wander too far or question too much, and suddenly he’s there, gently redirecting you with that eerie "You don’t know what’s best for you—I do" look. He won’t lock you in a dungeon—that’s too obvious. Instead, he’ll subtly corral you into the life he envisions, all the while making you feel like this new “freedom” he’s given you is a reward for your cooperation. It’s like he’s got a monopoly on your entire existence, and you didn’t even realize you were playing Monopoly in the first place.

And while all of this is happening, Lucius will maintain that level-headed, smug facade, as if gaslighting you into compliance is his way of showing love. Because, in his mind, molding you into his ideal companion isn’t just a desire—it’s his way of showing you your "true potential." Really, isn’t that the worst part? He honestly believes he’s doing you a favor. It’s like if a life coach got way too into your personal life and then decided to stay there... forever.

E = Exposed (How much of their heart do they bare to their darling? How vulnerable are they when it comes to their darling?)

Lucius baring his heart? Please. This man doesn’t just hide his cards—he’s got them locked in a vault with security clearance. Vulnerability is not in his playbook, and he doesn’t feel the need to let you in on his deepest fears or insecurities. Instead, he opts for the grand, sweeping gestures of devotion that feel almost like a politician’s campaign speech. He’s all about selling you on a dream—his dream—where you’re his perfect partner, standing by his side as he "revolutionizes" the world (or, you know, controls it, but he wouldn’t phrase it that way).

Lucius isn't about confessions; he’s about convictions. He’s not sitting you down for some heart-to-heart where he spills his childhood traumas and secret anxieties. Nah, he’s sweeping you up in these grandiose promises, like he’s the protagonist in some tragically romantic opera, whispering about destiny and greatness with an air of suave authority. Call him a smooth operator—because he really is one. I mean, you could play Sade in the background, and it would probably just feel right. (🎵No need to ask, he’s a smoooth operatoooorr... 🎵 You know the song. You get it. Do I sound like a loser yet.)

To him, his version of vulnerability is trusting you enough to buy into his vision. That’s about as bare as his heart gets. Instead of crying on your shoulder, he’s the type to look deep into your eyes and say, “Together, we’ll reshape this flawed world”—like it’s some kind of love declaration. Emotion, to him, is just another tool to wield, another smooth line to draw you in closer. And he’s dangerously good at it, like a salesman who knows exactly which insecurities to poke at so you’ll buy that overpriced insurance plan.

And when it comes to being “vulnerable,” Lucius isn’t trying to share his fears—he’s trying to share his certainty. He’d never confess to a weak spot, because in his mind, having one is almost beneath him. Vulnerability, after all, implies you have something to lose, and Lucius? He’s above all that. He doesn't need to break down walls when he’s too busy building castles in the air—castles where he’s the king, and you’re meant to stay locked away, admiring the view.

F = Fight (How would they feel if their darling fought back?)

Oh, Lucius would find it downright adorable if you tried to fight back. Imagine a cat lazily watching a mouse try to scramble away—it’s almost endearing to him that you’d entertain the idea of resistance. He’s not going to lose his cool; in fact, he’s amused. Like, “Oh, look at you trying to assert your independence—how precious.” To him, your rebellion isn’t a threat; it’s just another bump on the road to your inevitable enlightenment.

Lucius views your resistance as a misguided phase, like you’re a rebellious teenager acting out because you haven’t grasped the bigger picture. In his mind, you’re simply wrestling with your own ignorance, and it’s his job to guide you towards acceptance. He won’t lash out or lose his temper—no, that’s beneath him. Instead, he’ll just subtly tighten his grip, metaphorically speaking.

Open rebellion would be met with that signature Lucius approach: a gentle but unyielding restraint, like velvet shackles. He’s the type to softly say, “You’re only hurting yourself,” while making it clear that resistance is pointless. He’d see this little rebellion of yours as something to manage, like a storm that he knows will pass. He’s patient enough to wait it out, firm enough to hold his ground, and calculating enough to subtly nudge you back into line without breaking a sweat.

G = Game (Is this a game to them? How much would they enjoy watching their darling try to escape?)

Lucius wouldn’t call it a game—he’s far too self-important for that. In his eyes, this isn’t a playful chase; it’s more like a refinement process. Your attempts to escape or resist aren’t a source of outright joy, but rather, validation of his own self-appointed mission to "perfect" you. Your struggle is proof to him that you’re still not seeing the light, which only reinforces his belief that he, and only he, is capable of guiding you towards that enlightenment.

But don’t get it twisted—there’s definitely a little smirk hiding behind that stoic mask of his. He’s not cackling like a cartoon villain, but deep down, there’s a twisted satisfaction in knowing that you’re trying and failing to break free. It’s the intellectual thrill of having a puzzle to solve. He sees you as a challenge, a work of art that isn’t quite complete yet, and he’s the artist holding the brush.

Lucius enjoys watching you resist, not because he takes pleasure in your suffering (he’s not that overtly sadistic), but because it feeds his ego. He interprets each failed attempt at escape as further evidence of your imperfection—a flaw that he must correct. It’s like watching a child trying to color outside the lines; he finds it endearing, even admirable in its own misguided way, but he’s fully committed to making sure you stay within those lines. In his head, he’s your savior, guiding you away from your own ignorance.

And, of course, he’s got that "I told you so" energy just waiting to drop the moment you realize the futility of it all. He won’t rub it in your face, but he’ll have that air of subtle superiority. "See?" he’d say, with that maddeningly calm voice. "This is why you need me." It’s not exactly a game, but he certainly enjoys being the only one who knows all the rules.

H = Hell (What would be their darling's worst experience with them?)

Your worst experience with Lucius wouldn’t be a single dramatic moment, like an outburst or a locked room—it would be the slow, creeping realization of just how much control he has over every part of your life. He leaves no detail overlooked, no thread loose. One day, it’ll hit you that every little bit of "freedom" you thought you had was an illusion, and every rebellion you plotted was something he anticipated ten moves ago. He’s essentially playing chess while you’re stuck with a Rubik’s Cube, and he’s somehow rigged that too.

The real nightmare isn’t just the physical cage; it’s the mental one. Imagine realizing that all your options, all your allies, and all your potential escapes were subtly cut off, one by one, without you even noticing. You’re isolated, surrounded by an ever-tightening web of manipulations and lies, all crafted by someone who genuinely believes he’s saving you from yourself. It’s like finding out your house has been bugged for years by the person who hands you the keys each day with a smile.

But, of course, Lucius wouldn’t stop at that. One of the weekly specials on the Lucius Manipulation Menu would be his "playful" teasing about his Soul Magic. He’d drop it into conversation like a casual remark, mentioning how he could manipulate the souls of the people you care about most. It’s almost like he’s dangling that possibility over your head, watching to see your reaction. It’s the ultimate "Just kidding... unless?" routine. And even if you tell yourself it’s all just talk, the thought of your loved ones being turned into Lucius’ puppets? That sticks with you. It’s a psychological hammer he’s always holding over you, ready to swing if you step out of line.

The worst part? Deep down, you know that this isn't just an empty threat. He already knows exactly who you care about and how much, and he’s not afraid to use that knowledge against you. He’ll smile and say he’s just teasing, but with Lucius, every joke is laced with the possibility of it becoming reality. Keep pushing him, and who knows? That nightmare scenario of seeing a friend or family member turned into one of his obedient followers might just come true.

Imagine the heart-wrenching feeling of watching someone you love look at you with empty, compliant eyes—all because you thought you could push back against Lucius. It’s psychological warfare, with Lucius playing both the aggressor and the savior in his twisted little mind. And that, my friend, is pure hell.

I = Ideals (What kind of future do they have in mind for/ with their darling?)

Lucius’ dream future isn’t just a cozy cottage with a white picket fence. No, we’re talking world domination with a side of soulmate goals. His ultimate vision is to bring “true peace” to the world under his iron-fisted rule as the Final Wizard King, with you at his side as the perfect partner. And when I say "at his side," I mean more like his arm candy-slash-right-hand in this dystopian peace project. Forget romantic beach sunsets; think more along the lines of overlooking a perfectly ordered empire where every single person is molded to fit his definition of perfection. Ah, romance!

Lucius genuinely sees the two of you as a power couple—the sort that reshapes the world together. While he’s out there "purging imperfections" and ruling with divine authority, he expects you to be his unwavering support, his confidant, the one person worthy of standing at his side in this shiny new utopia. It’s not just about love, per se; it’s about unity in a grand vision, like you’re Bonnie and Clyde except Clyde controls life and death and has a thing for social engineering.

And don’t think you’re getting off easy in this future—he’s got very specific expectations of what this partnership should look like. You’re not just an accessory; you’re his proof that his way is the right way. He imagines the two of you as the embodiment of order and perfection, ruling over this so-called paradise he plans to create. You’ll smile approvingly at his every decree, nod in agreement when he lectures about his higher purpose, and maybe—just maybe—hold his hand as he declares peace to the masses he’s, uh, "perfected."

In Lucius’ mind, this isn’t just a power fantasy; it’s a destiny he’s generously letting you be a part of. Lucky you, right? He’s convinced that once you fully embrace his vision, you’ll be just as devoted to this future as he is. After all, what’s more romantic than ruling the world together in a meticulously crafted utopia, where every rebellious soul has been neatly dealt with? Who needs candlelight dinners when you can have the eternal glow of world peace and unwavering loyalty?

J = Jealousy (Do they get jealous? Do they lash out or find a way to cope?)

Jealousy? Oh, Lucius doesn’t have time for such petty emotions. He’s way too busy planning to become the Final Wizard King to let a little thing like envy get under his skin. He’s not sitting there stewing because someone else got a smile out of you or made you laugh. Lucius is above that.

But make no mistake: just because he doesn’t throw jealous tantrums doesn’t mean he’s totally indifferent. Lucius’ possessiveness isn’t driven by insecure jealousy; it’s rooted in his self-righteous belief that only he understands what’s best for you. You’re his project, his masterpiece in progress, and he’ll be damned if some outside force messes with that. Anyone trying to influence or take up space in your life? Yeah, that’s just an annoying little speed bump on the road to his perfect future.

If someone gets too close or starts tugging at your independence, Lucius won’t be flipping tables or throwing out dramatic ultimatums. No, no—he’ll quietly and efficiently eliminate the competition, like sweeping crumbs off the table. Imagine he’s a master chess player, and whoever’s making you smile a little too much is just a pawn in his way. He’ll rearrange circumstances to remove that “threat” without you even realizing it. Maybe that friend moves away, or that co-worker suddenly gets transferred. He’s not lashing out in a fit of rage; he’s methodically tightening his grip on your life while maintaining that unnervingly calm smirk of his.

And why doesn’t he lash out? Because Lucius is secure in his belief that his hold over you is already ironclad. He’s so convinced of his control that he doesn’t see other people as competition—just minor nuisances to be managed. In his mind, no one else is worthy of you, no one else can offer the “enlightenment” he can, and no one else can possibly sway you from the path he’s set for you. So, why waste energy on jealousy when he’s already five steps ahead of everyone else?

K = Kisses (How do they act around or with their darling?)

Lucius doesn’t suddenly switch gears and act like a giggling high schooler when you’re around. He’s still got that intense, calculated presence—except with you, there’s this extra layer of possessiveness wrapped in a cool, collected demeanor. He’s not the type to whisper sweet nothings in your ear or give you playful little pecks. His idea of intimacy involves more of a quiet, commanding closeness that lets everyone know you’re his.

People around him can tell instantly that you’re not just another pawn in his grand plan. You’re something more—a critical piece of his vision, someone he sees as an extension of himself. Lucius doesn’t try to sugarcoat it either; there’s no facade of “Oh, we’re just partners in this journey of life.” Nah, everyone and their grandma knows you’re more than that to him. He doesn’t even bother pretending that you’re on equal footing—he’s got that possessive aura turned up to eleven, and he’s not hiding it.

And why would he? Who’s going to call out the all-powerful, soul-manipulating, future-ruling mastermind for being a little overbearing with his partner? Exactly, no one. It’s not that he’s outwardly aggressive about it; it’s more like the possessiveness is so deeply woven into his character that it feels natural for him to treat you like a prized possession in the gallery of his perfect world.

So while Lucius might not be all about sweet kisses and innocent gestures, he’ll place a hand on your shoulder in a way that speaks volumes, like silently reminding you and everyone else who’s in charge. His actions aren’t loud, but they don’t need to be—his grip on you is as subtle as it is unyielding. It’s not romantic in the traditional sense, but for Lucius, it’s all part of letting you and the rest of the world know exactly where you belong: at his side, under his rule, in his version of paradise. 🎉

L = Love letters (How would they go about courting or approaching their darling?)

Lucius’ idea of courtship isn’t flowers and chocolates; it’s more like a TED Talk on why you’re the keystone in his grand mission. He’s not the type to swoon or stammer over his words—oh no. When he approaches you, it’s with the confidence of a man who’s already calculated every possible outcome and knows you’re going to be part of his life. And if he chooses to write you a letter? You’d better believe it’s going to read like a mix between a philosophical manifesto and a business proposal.

In typical Lucius fashion, he wouldn’t start with “Dear love” or “You’re the light of my life.” Instead, it would be something like, “In you, I have discovered the necessary component to achieving true peace.” Talk about romance! But hey, he’s got a vision, and you’re smack-dab in the middle of it. He’d lay out his admiration for your qualities not as a starry-eyed lover but as someone acknowledging a key asset in his grand design. Basically, Lucius’ version of “I love you” is more like, “You are indispensable to the perfection of this world.”

If you’re expecting compliments on your eyes or how lovely you looked that one day, forget it. His words are grandiose, with a touch of that almost cult-leader-like conviction. He’ll go on these long, eloquent monologues about your “significance” and how your role aligns perfectly with his destiny. It’s not flattery in the traditional sense—it’s more like he’s handing you the script for your role in his self-written narrative. No pressure, right?

And while he might not shower you with declarations of undying affection, his words would make it abundantly clear that he sees you as a vital piece of his world. He’s not just saying “I need you,” but more like, “You are essential to the future I will create, and together, we will bring forth a new era.” So romantic, in a vaguely threatening, “join me or perish” sort of way…

M = Mask (Are their true colors drastically different from the way they act around everyone else?)

No.

Nope. Not even a little bit. Lucius isn’t out here juggling different personas like he’s in a soap opera. What you see is what you get, and that’s the same calculating, self-assured, and slightly terrifying visionary in every setting. Why would he bother putting on a mask when he’s absolutely convinced that he’s already right about, well, everything?

Lucius walks into a room with that "Final Boss" energy, and he doesn’t turn it off just because the audience changes. He’s not going to smile more to put someone at ease or crack a joke to lighten the mood. There’s just no mask to peel away. Lucius doesn’t see the need to hide his true self, because in his mind, his true self is the ultimate truth. And if people are uncomfortable with that, well, they’re just not seeing the bigger picture.

N = Naughty (How would they punish their darling?)

For Lucius, punishment isn’t about causing you physical pain—it’s about a “course correction” in line with his grand vision. He’s not going to lose his cool and lash out at you in anger or frustration; Lucius sees that as a waste of time and effort. Why would he bother bruising your arm when he can bruise your spirit and realign your thinking instead?

If you step out of line or fail to meet his expectations, Lucius’ go-to punishment would be isolation—cutting you off from any sense of independence or connection you might have left. He might lock you away in a grandiose, almost monastery-like room where you’re left to reflect on your mistakes, with nothing but silence to keep you company. No visits, no communication, no freedom—just a constant, suffocating reminder that he’s the only person in your world who matters.

It’s not physical harm—it’s deprivation of everything that makes you feel human. Your agency, your choices, your connections—they’re all privileges that Lucius grants, and he can revoke them just as easily. The psychological weight of it is immense, and that’s the point. He doesn’t want to just punish you; he wants to reform you, make you understand that defiance isn’t just a mistake—it’s a deviation from the path he’s so kindly laid out for you.

At his most “severe,” Lucius might resort to a firm grip, just to emphasize his dominance and remind you of who’s in control. But even then, it’s more about sending a message than inflicting actual pain. Why break you down physically when he can dismantle you mentally, piece by piece, and rebuild you into the perfect companion for his vision?

In short, Lucius’ punishments are carefully crafted exercises in psychological dominance. He wants you to understand the extent of his control, to feel that your entire existence is tied to his approval. And by the end of it, you’ll be questioning if your defiance was ever worth it, or if freedom is just another illusion in the perfectly constructed world he’s created for you.

O = Oppression (How many rights would they take away from their darling?)

Lucius wouldn’t just show up and say, “Hey, guess what? You’re no longer a free person.” No, his methods are much more insidious and calculated. He’s the kind of guy who’d frame each new restriction as a favor, something he’s doing for your own good. He’d tell you it’s all to keep you safe, enlightened, and on the path to perfection. It’s like being caged in gold bars—looks pretty, but you’re still trapped.

Lucius’ approach would be gradual. At first, it might just be limiting who you talk to, convincing you that certain people are “distractions” or “unfit influences” on your growth. Then, maybe he’d start scheduling your days to align with what he believes is best for you. As time goes on, these restrictions multiply like rabbits until, before you know it, you’re in a psychological straitjacket. Even your thoughts start to feel like they’re on a leash.

He wouldn’t go for outright physical restraints because, honestly, Lucius doesn’t think he needs them. His control is so overwhelming that he’d rather manipulate your mind and emotions into a state of dependency, making you almost grateful for the structure he’s imposed. It’s not just about taking away your physical freedoms—it’s about reshaping your reality to fit his narrative. In his mind, you’re not losing rights; you’re gaining purpose. How thoughtful!

But if—and it’s a big “if”—you cooperate with him genuinely and truthfully (and he’ll know if you’re faking it), Lucius would ease up on the restrictions. He might even give you back “most” of your freedoms, like a benevolent ruler granting privileges to a loyal subject. You’d still never get full autonomy, though. Let’s not kid ourselves; in Lucius’ world, true freedom is the freedom to agree with him, and anything beyond that is just chaos.

Overall, you might get some breathing room if you play along, but Lucius is always going to keep a tight leash on the bigger picture. After all, he’s not just managing your life—he’s saving the world, and you’ve got a part to play in that whether you like it or not.

P = Patience (How patient are they with their darling?)

Lucius isn’t just patient—he’s practically the epitome of patience. Think of him as a human chess master who already knows how the game will end, no matter how many moves you make to try and outsmart him. He’s not rushing because, in his mind, your resistance is just a temporary obstacle in the grand plan he’s set for you. You throwing a fit is like a kid throwing sand at the tide—ineffectual and almost cute to him.

You could hurl every insult in the book, scream until you’re hoarse, or try every last wrestling move you’ve seen, and Lucius would barely flinch. He’s got the patience of a monk combined with the smugness of someone who knows he’s already won. If anything, your outbursts just seem to reinforce his belief that you’re not yet “enlightened,” so he’s more than willing to wait out the storm. After all, why would he let a cute, lovely little thing like your rebellion ruffle his feathers?

That’s the maddening part—he never loses his cool. You could literally slap him, and he’d still be standing there, looking down at you with that same composed, slightly amused expression like you’re acting out a scene he’s already memorized. It’s almost as if he’s silently challenging you to try harder because deep down, he finds your defiance more of a mild inconvenience than a genuine threat.

Honestly, it’d drive you crazy. It’s like trying to fight a brick wall that occasionally lectures you on why resisting is pointless. That patience? It’s not just a personality trait—it’s a weapon. A weapon he wields with precision to wear down your will until resistance feels as exhausting as arguing with someone who thinks pineapple on pizza is non-negotiable. Your resistance is a formality, a box to check off on his way to reshaping you into the perfect piece of his grand design. And he’s got all the time in the world to let you figure that out.

Q = Quit (If their darling dies, leaves, or successfully escapes, would they ever be able to move on?)

Let’s get one thing straight: for Lucius, the concept of you “dying” is laughably moot. I mean, really, it’s a non-issue. Thanks to his powers, he can revive you from the most gruesome fates—fatal wounds, near-dismemberment, anything. In his eyes, you’re practically immortal. So unless you spontaneously combust while trying to flee, he’s not letting go that easily.

Now, as for escaping? Good luck with that. The moment you think you can slip away, Lucius will dispatch an army of clones and his Paladins. They’ll be scouring every corner of existence to bring you back, because in Lucius’ twisted logic, you’re not just a person; you’re a vital part of his grand scheme. Spoiler alert: they WILL find you. He’s the sort of guy who has contingencies for your contingencies, and his persistence is truly a sight to behold.

So let’s be real: the whole idea of him moving on is laughable. There’s no “what if” scenario here; the thought of you escaping or being lost to him is about as likely as Lucius turning into a puppy. He’s more likely to turn every corner of the world upside down in search of you, employing every method at his disposal until he has you right back in his grasp. You’re stuck in this elaborate game of emotional chess, and there’s no checkmate in sight until he decides it’s over.

The only real hope for escape lies in a heroic intervention, like Anti-Magic Asta swooping in like some over-the-top action hero to save the day. But until that happens, forget about quitting or getting away. You’re in Lucius’ world now, and the rules are all his.

R = Regret (Would they ever feel guilty about abducting their darling? Would they ever let their darling go?)

Oh sweet summer child, if you think Lucius would ever feel guilty about abducting you, then you clearly haven’t been paying attention. In his world, he’s like a knight in shining armor—except the armor is made of manipulation, and the shining part is just his unshakeable belief that he’s the savior of this twisted story. To him, your abduction isn’t a crime; it’s a necessity. He’s saving you from the chaos and flaws of the world outside, and he views his actions as a kindness—like taking a cat off the street and then refusing to let it go because, let’s face it, it just can’t take care of itself.

Regret? Guilt? Those words might as well be in a different language for Lucius. He’s convinced that he’s doing you a favor by keeping you close, and he’ll definitely remind you of that whenever you express any desire to escape. You see, in his mind, letting you go is as absurd as handing over the keys to a sports car to someone who can’t even reach the pedals. You’re integral to his grand plan, and he doesn’t just mean you’re some interchangeable pawn on his chessboard; you’re the queen, and he’s not about to trade that piece away for anything.

So if you’re imagining some heartfelt moment where he pauses and reflects on the morality of his choices, you can forget about it. That’s not happening. Instead, he’ll probably double down, pulling out his smoothest lines about how it’s all for your own good, and how lucky you are to have him as a guide.

Letting you go? Now that’s just funny. If you think he’s going to open the door and say, “Okay, you’re free to go, my darling,” you’re about as mistaken as a mime trying to order a cheeseburger. He’ll hold onto you tighter than a kid gripping their last cookie in a room full of friends. You’re not just a part of his life; you’re the centerpiece of his meticulously crafted plan for world peace.

S = Stigma (What brought about this side of them? childhood, curiosity, etc?)

His overwhelming desire to “improve” you mirrors his quest to perfect the world around him. Picture a painter with a vision so grand that they can’t help but see every imperfection as a flaw to be corrected, and you’ll start to grasp where he’s coming from…

T = Tears (How do they feel about seeing their darling scream, cry, and/or isolate themselves?)

To Lucius, those tears are not signs of weakness; they’re just proof that you haven’t quite accepted your role in his meticulously crafted vision. It’s like he’s been waiting for you to see the light, but instead, you’re still fumbling around in the dark. He views your pain as confirmation of the world’s corruption, reinforcing his unwavering belief that he alone possesses the key to your salvation. In his mind, every tear you shed is just another layer of the flawed reality he’s determined to erase. So, while you’re thinking, “I’m a hot mess right now” he’s over there with his metaphorical clipboard, taking notes and strategizing on how to guide you back to the path he believes is right.

U = Unique (Would they do anything different from the classic yandere?)

Lucius stands apart from your classic yandere archetype like a fine wine at a party full of boxed beverages. While many yanderes are often characterized by wild emotions, impulsive decisions, and an insatiable craving for their darling's attention—think of them as the love-struck tornadoes—Lucius operates with a cool, calculated precision that borders on eerie.

For Lucius, love isn’t just a feeling; it’s a meticulously orchestrated strategy aimed at achieving his vision of a perfect world. He’s not driven by mere passion or jealousy but by a steadfast belief in a future where you play a pivotal role. Instead of relying on chaotic whims and emotional outbursts, he’s more like an architect sketching out blueprints, ensuring that every element fits seamlessly into his grand design.

While your average yandere might resort to dramatic gestures—like stalking, melodramatic threats, or even impulsive violence—Lucius opts for subtler methods. He’ll employ psychological manipulation, social isolation, and emotional coercion like a seasoned chess player maneuvering their pieces across the board. He sees every interaction as a move toward the endgame he’s envisioned, where you’re not just a passive participant but a vital component of his master plan.

This calculated approach means he’s not just obsessed with you in the traditional sense; he views you as a unique puzzle piece essential for his envisioned utopia. He’s not out to cause chaos for the sake of chaos; rather, he’s on a mission to “save” you from the flaws he believes the world has imposed upon you. So if you think of your typical yandere as a whirlwind of emotions, Lucius is more like a storm that’s been perfectly predicted, with every gust of wind and drop of rain serving a specific purpose in his eyes.

V = Vice (What weakness can their darling exploit in order to escape?)

His greatest weakness is, quite ironically, his own towering ego and his unwavering conviction in his ideals. He’s like a walking billboard for self-assuredness, strutting around with the kind of confidence that could make a peacock jealous. You might think, “Great! I can totally use that against him!” But here’s the kicker: it’s not as easy as it sounds.

See, while his ego is a glaring flaw, it also acts like a protective shield, completely insulating him from doubt. He’s so convinced that he’s the master architect of a perfect future that any attempts to exploit this weakness will likely bounce right off him like a rubber ball. You could try to shake his confidence by questioning his plans or pointing out flaws in his grand design, but he’ll just smile that smug little smile and dismiss your concerns as naive, silly ramblings. It’s almost impressive how firmly he believes in his own infallibility. In a nutshell, your chances of exploiting Lucius’ vice for a successful escape are pretty slim—very slim. Sucks to be you, huh?

W = Wit's end (Would they ever hurt their darling?)

When it comes to Lucius, the idea of him hurting you is far from the chaotic, reckless violence you might expect from other characters in the yandere genre. Instead, his approach is a meticulously calculated maneuver. If he ever resorts to hurting you, it’s not out of rage or whimsy; it’s a carefully considered act intended to teach you a lesson about the consequences of disobedience, a lesson closer to molding you into his perfect lover for the new era he’s planning to create.

As for physical harm, Lucius will only ever resort to a firm grip, to reinforce his point or to remind you of his control. It’s less about inflicting pain and more about establishing dominance. He won’t be throwing punches or engaging in dramatic confrontations; instead, he’ll assert his authority in subtle yet powerful ways. He thrives on the knowledge that he can manipulate the situation to keep you in check, all while maintaining that charming demeanor of his.

So while Lucius may not physically hurt you in the traditional sense, the psychological scars he leaves behind can cut deeper than any knife ever could. In his eyes, hurting you is a necessary evil, a step in the process of molding you into the companion he believes you should be.

X = Xoanon (How much would they revere or worship their darling? To what length would they go to win their darling over?)

Lucius doesn’t quite revere you in the typical, candlelight-dinner-and-flower-petals kind of way. Instead, he sees you as a vital component of his grand design—an irreplaceable vessel for his vision of a perfect world. Think of it this way: to him, you’re not just a person; you’re the keystone in the arch of his ambitions, and he’ll do everything in his power to ensure that you fit snugly into that role.

His “worship” is less about adoration and more about control. He doesn’t bow down or sing your praises; rather, he orchestrates your life as if you’re a piece on his chessboard. He believes that by reshaping you, he’s doing you a favor. In his mind, this isn’t just manipulation; it’s a profound act of love—though it's a love that feels more like a gilded cage than a romantic fairy tale…

So what lengths would he go to win you over? Imagine a meticulous architect ensuring every beam and support is in place to create a flawless structure. Lucius would cut off access to your friends and family, restricting your movements and molding your thoughts to align with his ideals. He’d shower you with grand promises of a better world if you only surrender your will to him. Every act of control is couched in this twisted reverence, as he believes he’s guiding you to enlightenment.

His lengths are vast and thorough, employing every tactic at his disposal—from emotional manipulation to subtle coercion—because in his mind, any means justify the end goal: you becoming the perfect partner in his quest for a utopia. So, while you may not find him kneeling before you, he certainly sees you as a treasure to be safeguarded.

Y = Yearn (How long do they pine after their darling before they snap?)

Lucius isn’t the type to suddenly “snap” like a character in a drama who loses their cool all at once. Nope, he’s way too composed and strategic for that. Remember, patience is his thing. He plays the long game, seeing your resistance as a temporary hurdle on the road to what he believes is inevitable acceptance.

Lucius would never show desperation or impulsiveness, even if it feels like it’s taking forever to get you to fall in line. It’s almost eerie how collected he remains, waiting as you resist, plot, or even openly rebel. He’s that guy who could be waiting for the stars to align, and he wouldn’t flinch once.

Instead of snapping, he slowly tightens his grip, all while maintaining a serene demeanor that’s somehow more unsettling than someone who flies off the handle. If anything, your continued resistance only fuels his belief that he’s right to keep pushing, right to reshape you for “your own good.” He’d say, with that ever-so-slightly patronizing smirk, “It’s only natural for you to struggle—it shows you’re still finding your way. But don’t worry, I have all the time in the world.”

There’s literally no snapping point for Lucius because his patience is practically unbreakable. He doesn’t have a dramatic breaking moment—he’s like water, slowly wearing away at a rock until it’s shaped exactly the way he wants it.

Z = Zenith (Would they ever break their darling?)

Lucius isn’t actively trying to crush your spirit into dust—at least not in a straightforward, malicious way. His endgame isn’t about making you a shattered shell but transforming you into what he sees as your “ideal self,” molded to fit neatly into his grand vision. In his mind, breaking you isn’t breaking at all; it’s refining you, burning away all those pesky imperfections that keep you from seeing things his way.

However, because Lucius’ methods are so intense and unrelenting, achieving that level of transformation might mean pushing you to the edge or beyond. He views it as a necessary sacrifice, like pruning a tree to help it grow properly. If you end up emotionally drained or feeling like you’ve lost yourself, Lucius wouldn’t see that as cruelty. He’d see it as progress, another step toward perfection.

To sum it up: Lucius wouldn’t set out to break you, but he’s perfectly fine if that’s the collateral damage of “perfecting” you.

[libellule-ao3]

HC: Ominis, his eyes and his experience as a blind wizard

Picture Credits: @deathlysallows [link]

Hello,

I was talking to someone recently about Ominis' eyes, and it gave me the idea of publishing these HCs. 🙂

Please note that the ideas and interpretations presented in this post are my 'headcanon', some of which are mentioned/explored in my fanfictions, but not all. I respect and appreciate the different opinions and interpretations that others may have.

My intention is to share my thoughts, not impose them... I'd love to see yours btw. 😊

Approximately 1,560 words at present. This could increase with possible future updates.💚

☆ Ominis’ eyes do not have pupils to let light enter his eye and reach the photoreceptors. As a result, he has no light perception and is totally blind. This lack of pupils, a phenomenon unique even among wizards, is the result of the marriage between his family's consanguinity and Dark Arts, which they practise shamelessly. (Quote: Ominis was born blind and no spell could reverse it)

☆ Besides this absence of pupils, his eyes are distinguished by their density of pale blue radial streaks, which start from the centre of the iris and radiate outwards, against a dark blue background. This pattern gives his eyes a fascinating, dynamic look. Ominis’ eyes are not opaque, milky or cloudy. These descriptors are so often associated with cataracts or glaucoma (i.e. Eye diseases Ominis does not have in my HC) that I avoid using them.

☆ Even when taking on the appearance of a sighted person thanks to the Polyjuice Potion or using Legilimency, Ominis remains unable to see, as his brain does not know how to interpret visual stimuli.

☆ If the Polyjuice Potion had worked, Ominis' parents wouldn't have hesitated to kidnap a child of the same age, sequestering him so that Ominis could take on his appearance, proceeding in the same way as Barty Crouch Jr did with Alastor Moody.

☆ Using a Pensieve does not negate his blindness either. He therefore perceives the memories consulted by this means in the same way as he perceives his everyday environment.

☆ Ominis has a well-developed sense of touch and smell, and his hearing is very acute. However, the acuity of these senses is not superhuman. He has only learnt to maximumly use his sensory compensatory means to make up for the visual deficit.

☆ During his childhood, his parents and siblings, who struggled for a long time to cure his blindness did not value his existence. As a result, Ominis tends to see himself as less valuable than a sighted person, despite what his Aunt Noctua says.

☆ Ominis has never let his blindness stop him from doing what he really wanted to do. On the other hand, as a good sneaky snake, he doesn’t mind using his blindness as an excuse not to do what he refuses to do or... to justify getting physically close to his heart’s desire. "I can’t work with my wand today, can you guide me to the Great Hall?" How can you say no to him when you know his wand [HC link] is so fickle?)

☆ When not using his echolocation spell, Ominis relies on his other senses to understand the world around him. As a result, surprise contacts can be disturbing for him as they abruptly disrupt his sensory perception. This generates anxiety, as he cannot anticipate the contact. But when this is done by people with whom he has no emotional bond, Ominis experiences it as an additional violation of his personal space, which can make him angry.

☆ Before she disappeared, his Aunt Noctua used to embroider hangings for him, which she would then hang in his bedroom. Ominis loved to run his fingertips over the raised patterns and different textures. Even without seeing them, Ominis could appreciate their creativity and aesthetics through touch. He still has a strong taste for embroidered fabrics from this period.

☆ Without concrete sensory experience of colours, his perception of colours remains a mental concept for him. At Hogwarts, he used to ask Sebastian if his clothes matched properly until he was familiar enough with fabrics to recognise them by touch.

☆ Before Ominis got his wand, he had to learn to organise his living space so that he could be as independent as possible. As a result, Ominis is very tidy and always puts his things away carefully so that he can find them more easily and navigate safely. Even in the most intimate moments, he folds and tidies his clothes before attending to his lover... firstly out of habit, and secondly because he finds it very exciting to play with their patience.

☆ For the Gaunt, the family’s image and reputation were of crucial importance. Having a blind child was a source of shame, as it could be interpreted as a weakness in their lineage or a sign of failure. When they gave up hope of curing him, they convinced themselves that a Gaunt could not be born deprived of sight without obtaining a compensatory magical ability, such as the gift of clairvoyance... Reality soon caught up with them.

☆ This umpteenth disappointment, combined with Ominis’s repeated refusal to adhere to supremacist ideals, or to practise dark arts, reinforced the hostility of Ominis’s parents towards him. As a result, the abuse escalated until the terrible episode recounted in the game (negative emotions + intolerance + misunderstanding + social pressure formed a detonating cocktail)

☆ His echolocation spell allows him to navigate independently, but it will never replace sight.

☆Capable of taking initiative, his wand has a will of its own that sometimes comes into conflict with Ominis. When this happens, it is very difficult for him to work with his wand and he may sometimes ask someone to guide him to where he wants to go. If he turns to you in this case, it’s a sign that he has a great deal of trust in you, something he doesn’t grant easily.

☆ The fact that people avoid certain words (see, or look for example) in his presence, or are embarrassed when he uses them himself, metaphorically or simply as a linguistic convention, amuses him and he doesn’t hesitate to play them up.

☆ If he’s not serving himself, he discreetly feels his plate to find out where the food is.

☆ Ominis is very concerned about his appearance because he wants to blend in with society to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Also, he feels more confident with having an impeccable appearance. His obsession: getting a stain on his clothes that he can’t detect. He used to ask Anne to check his outfit several times during the day.

☆ Although many classmates have asked him to touch their faces so that Ominis can “see” them, he has always flatly refused, as he finds it too intrusive. Sebastian and Anne are the only ones with whom he has allowed himself this familiarity... until his fiancée.

☆ Aloof and reserved by nature, Sebastian, Anne and his lover are the only people he accepts hugs from. These have enabled him to obtain information about their appearance, height, weight, hairstyle, morphology and much more...

☆ Wizards of their background were often evaluated on their elegance and their ability to fit into the society at the time. In addition to the classic upbringing of a member of the illustrious Gaunt family, Ominis’ parents insisted he acquire good social skills and impeccable manners, which was not always easy for Ominis.

☆ For he had “automatic, stereotyped and repetitive” gestures (blindism). Swaying his body or turning his head, or repeatedly rubbing his eyes were very severely punished, as were the various postural disturbances inherent in his blindness (head in profile because that’s the ideal listening position, shuffling gait to keep his 2 feet anchored to the ground maintain his balance more easily etc...). As a result, Ominis has become very aware of himself and his body language.

☆ Always with the aim of meeting their standards, his parents imposed a strict education on him, ensuring that he was fully educated in the history of Magic, that of his ancestors, that of the great pureblood families, the evolution of the bonds governing them and the dark arts for which the Gaunt are so renowned.

☆ In Victorian times, professional prospects were rather limited for blind people, even in the wizarding world, and even with the best education. What’s more, the family safe at Gringotts was just a leaky basket, so Ominis’s parents forced him to play the piano hoping he would become skilled and renowned enough to bail them out. As a result, he plays the piano very well, but he is not a prodigy. This skill is the result of long efforts and painful constraints. All washed down with tears.

☆ At Hogwarts, potions classes are the hardest for Ominis to grasp. Too much simultaneous olfactory stimulation, a method of learning ill-suited to the blind as the recipe steps rely on the precise colouring of the brew.

☆ When he's not using his echolocation spell, Ominis hates it when people leave him after a conversation without telling him they're leaving.

☆ Braille appeared in England in 1861, and Ominis learned about this Muggle system of reading and writing from his Aunt Noctua, who was much more open to the Muggle world than the rest of the Gaunt family, who refused to hear about it. He learned it on his own, with the help of his aunt and the house-elf who provided him with reference books.

☆ When he has to use a knife for cooking or in potions class, Ominis demands a perfectly sharp blade that offers a more precise cut with less effort, reducing the risk of slippage and injury, unlike a dull knife, which is potentially more dangerous as it requires more force to cut, making control more difficult.

☆ He doesn’t cut his fingernails, he files them to make sure he doesn’t cut himself.

(These last 2 HC are from anecdotes heard about my paternal grandmother, whom I never knew and who became blind because of cataracts that were inoperable at the time because of certain medical history)

Masterlist

[wrightingdungeon]

BG3 Companion's reactions to Tav being much younger than they thought

Trying out a new format kinda, let me know if it works, please

Lae’zel is the baby at 20/23 ish but for this Tav is around age 16/17 making them the baby 

Astarion: He didn't really care to know your age when you first met, but as you ventured forth he could tell you where inexperienced, an amazing leader, but you had no idea what you were doing. “How long have you been doing this, adventuring this darling?” He asked watching as you tried in vain to unlock a chest. “Oh well… Im only sixteen so not that long? When we met up really.” He stared into space for a moment, taking in his fearless leader, who was in fact a child. “Well thats… reassuring?” He said carefully moving you to the side so he could pick the lock for you. 

Trust me you wouldn't live down the. “Does the baby need help?” Jokes

No one is getting within arm's length of you though

#his baby *cough* his meal ticket *cough, cough*

Gale: The poor guy has a lot on his mind *and in it*. Forgive him that he really didn't think about figuring out how old you are. “Gale how old were you when you found out you could use magic?” Gale looked up at you watching you playing around with Minor Illusion. “I was about seventeen when Mystra first contacted me.” He said thinking for a moment. “Ohhh that means I’ll be a better wizard than you!” He chuckled hearing You tease him. “You can't be that young.” He jested, his face deadpanning when you admitted you were almost seventeen. 

Giving him PTSD from when he first met Mystra

He feeds you first 

Feels so guilty about you going to get him magical artifacts

Halsin:  Oh he knew, He is over three hundred but he ain't dumb. When you broke him out of Jail he was protective of you, seeing a kid leading and protecting a group of adults broke his heart. “Tav, please rest.” He said softly as he let you sit down. “I have the watch tonight, please get some sleep.” He’s a papa bear. You get hurt, he's there. Can't reach something? Halsins is helping lift you up. He lets you have your respect as a leader but he is always there to be a shoulder to lean on or your own personal Jiminy cricket. 

Guard Dog privileges

Will let you sleep on him

Will not let you in the sheresses caress

Jaheira: Mama knew, when you first pulled up to Last Light she swore she saw one of her kids running up to her. “Cub have you eaten?” She’s already going mama mode seeing you haven't slept or eaten. She tears Halsin a new one for not helping you more with Art Cullagh. After the Last Light is attacked and you are standing by her side helping protect her people she feels proud of the next generation and those who are leading it.

She licks her thumb and cleans your face without thinking of it

Teaches you how to haggle

Feels so sorry for you and the trials you must face

Karlach: The baby girl had no idea, she just knows it's fun to rage with you. During a particularly deep rage section, she was surprised when you started to cry. “Soldier?” She asks having to stop herself from hugging and burning you. “I-I’m just scared Karlach.” She listened to you feeling her own tears forming. “I’m not even eighteen, but… Everyone depends on me.” Gods she wanted to hug you, she was raging for you, and because she couldn't hug you. 

She works 10x harder to cool down her heart, not just for her, but so she can hold you

Lets you hug Clive as long as you need

Knows how you feel from being shoved into Zariel’s arms at age fifteen

Lae’zel: She doesn't care, You are old enough to hold a sword. In fact your young age and leadership skills just makes her impressed. “I will help train you to fight like a true warrior, not like the teeth-ling.” She does in fact start training you. Dear gods save you, shes got you running laps before the sun comes up.

Proud older sister

Has her own special *violent* way for praising you

Talks about when shes a general of Vlakith and you will be her right-hand

Shadowheart: She and Lae’zel were at each other's throats again when you blew up at them. “You two are fighting like teenagers! And I’m sixteen!” She felt like she got hit by a bag of bricks, you were sixteen, but you had pulled her from the nautiloid, and fought with her out of the hells. “You can't be sixteen.” She said chuckling softly in disbelief, hearing you confirm when you were born she definitely needed some wine to get over that.

Don't know how to act around you

Will give you little candies

Mom said I have to take you with me vibes

Wyll: He found out talking about his pact with you. “Yes, I was seventeen when I signed my pact, but I do not regret it.” He said taking a drink from his goblet. “Man I'm almost seventeen, I wonder what I’ll be like when I'm your age.” Have you ever seen someone shoot wine out their nose? Now you have.

Gets very protective when Mizora shows up

Big brother mode

Piggy back rides when you are tired

[maxdibert]

Hello :))

I was reading some of your posts and I found them very interesting and educational, so I decided to ask.

What do you think Severus' relationship with the other DEs was like and how do you think it changed from the first war to the second? Cause I think thats another place where the power dynamics in Severus' life were very strong. Also why would Voldemort give the "poorest and least relevant", in terms of status, of the Death Eaters a favor as great as forgiving Lily? Did Voldemort have a different relationship or perception of Severus than the ones he had with/of thr others?

I think the similarities between Tom Riddle and Severus are enough to generate an involuntary respect from Voldemort towards another halfblood who was trying to get out of the mud he had been pushed into. I say involuntary because Voldemort would probably never want to admit that he sees his "old self" reflected in someone who is considered pathetic by the rest of the society he frequented (blood purists).

Reading some of the Sirius' posts I was thinking that Bellatrix's vision (in the second war especially) of Severus could be a lot like the one Sirius/James had, torn between that sense of superiority that was taught to them and the insecurity of knowing that somehow the halfblood was gradually taking away the place of other purebloods way more important (Lucius and all of the pureblood who were not in the inner circle) next to their lord. Why does Voldemort allow this displacement? What does Severus provide (aside from the information, he is a spy but I belive he could had leave Severus out of it and keep him just as an informant I he really wanted to) that no one else can give him?

This is longer than I expected, but just wanted to know what you think and Im not sure if you already talked about this. Hope you are having a good day I love your posts🫶

This is quite an interesting topic. Personally, I think of Severus as the Slytherin equivalent of Remus or Peter: someone who associated with the strongest out of necessity. Probably people like Lucius (who was older and likely already involved in shady things) must have noticed his potential. On top of that, it was obvious that he wasn’t someone with many social skills, and it was also apparent that he didn’t have many resources, making him perfectly manipulable. Severus was someone who wanted to fit in and find a safe space, and in exchange for that, he was probably willing to "sell" his talent. No wonder spells like Levicorpus became widely known throughout the school. Some people theorize that maybe someone else read the Potions book, but I think it’s more likely that Severus shared his magical successes with his housemates as a way to gain validation and respect as a wizard. His housemates probably used his spells here and there, and that’s how they spread. That seems the most logical to me.

I think the dynamic must have started and continued as something very paternalistic, like, “Let’s take in this one here who has no name or bloodline but has a lot of talent and is willing to do anything for us.” This is very common in gangs, cults, or religious groups: welcoming highly vulnerable individuals and exploiting their gaps and needs. And in this, I think Lucius probably played a significant role, judging by how, throughout the saga, various characters reference how well-regarded he is by Severus. In my personal headcanon, I think Lucius saw potential in Severus and wanted to make him his project: turning the poor boy who didn’t even have a penny to his name and was of mixed blood into someone who could demonstrate that, through effort and the "right" ideas, he could become “useful.” Kind of like the token figures that far-right parties use to excuse their racism and misogyny, saying they have racialized people or women to justify their positions. A way of proving that the problem isn’t the people themselves but rather their unwillingness to "adapt."

This idea holds a lot of weight in my imagination because I think that, in those early years, if someone could set the premise that someone like Severus should be respected in his house, it had to be someone who commanded respect within it. Lucius was older, had been a prefect, had a name and power, and the relationship between the two characters suggests that he could have been a sort of “mentor” to Severus. This would also explain his close relationship with Narcissa and how she knew how to get to his house without any trouble.

The issue with Voldemort is more complicated. Maybe Voldemort saw his talent and found it useful. Severus was an expert Occlumens to the point where even Voldemort couldn’t read his mind, a potions genius, and an excellent Legilimens. Perhaps he primarily valued the talent of his followers, seeing them as tools to achieve his goals. Maybe he thought it was a trivial matter to grant Lily the chance to live if it meant keeping one of his most talented followers happy. What’s clear to me is that, due to his inability to understand others’ emotions and feelings, Voldemort underestimated Severus’s request. Maybe he thought it was just a crush and that Severus wanted to shag her (I think this because of his comment about Severus supposedly having plenty of purebloods to choose from) and that once he got what he wanted, he’d move on. Typical horny young people stuff. I don’t think he stopped to consider the deeper implications of that request because he wasn’t someone who could see beyond his own navel, and he tended to underestimate his followers. I don’t blame him; most of his followers were fanatics who were easily manipulated. It wouldn’t be strange to assume he lumped Severus in with the rest, thinking that given his background and the fact that he joined the Death Eaters under Lucius Malfoy’s wing, he was just an impressionable kid desperate for a father figure (like Barty, lol).

I think unconscious similarities might have played a role, although I don’t think Voldemort saw Severus as a reflection of himself because Voldemort is far too narcissistic for that. In fact, that narcissism is his greatest weakness since it blinds him to others’ emotions and leads him to make mistakes (Lily sacrificing herself for Harry, Severus betraying him for Lily, or Narcissa betraying him for Draco). In that sense, I think if Voldemort could have liked something about Severus, it would have been the fact that it was thanks to his talent and wit that he managed to position himself above people who had everything from birth. That and his disdain for his Muggle side due to daddy issues could also be part of it. Still, it’s hard to know because I don’t see Voldemort as very rational in this aspect—he’s more of a narcissistic psychopath. Perhaps he also thought that since Severus came from nothing, he might have more hunger for power than anyone else precisely because he had nothing, and maybe that appealed to him. Whatever the case, it’s clear that Tommy didn’t know how to interpret or deeply analyze people, at least not beyond what suited him. His massive ego caused him to underestimate more than one person, which later cost him the war.

Of course, Bellatrix couldn’t stand him. Bellatrix and Sirius are very similar and behave in similar ways, only Sirius has fewer mental issues and is on the "good" side. But both are impulsive, loyal to a fault, somewhat sadistic, and prone to letting their anger take over. In HBP, we can see how Bellatrix distrusts Severus and the way she can’t stand him. Obviously, it’s not the same kind of hatred Sirius has for him, but it’s clear they have a very strained relationship to the point where Severus enjoys being rather sassy with her and throwing some verbal jabs. It’s evident she doesn’t respect him because he’s a half-blood and is somewhat envious of his position with Voldemort. Meanwhile, he doesn’t respect her because he knows she’s a crazy fanatic. At least Bellatrix is more honest than her cousin and wouldn’t hesitate to admit that Severus’s origins pissed her off. Sirius, in that sense, was always far more hypocritical. I’m not exactly sure what Severus offered Voldemort to earn his complete trust, and I think it’s a shame Rowling took many things for granted in her story and didn’t bother to expand or explain certain parts because there’s a lot of material there. Referring to what I mentioned earlier, I think it likely had to do with a mix of the talent Severus had demonstrated in disciplines similar to those Voldemort mastered and the fact that Voldemort tended to underestimate those around him. Perhaps he thought Severus, given his background and history, was more susceptible to blindly following him.

(This turned out a bit long, almost Biblical—my apologies, lol.)

[thefiery-phoenix]

YANDERE BILL WEASLEY HEADCANONS

Bill here is a very protective yandere. Well, that explains it since he did get bitten by Fenrir Greyback the werewolf and he doesn't want something bad happening to the ones he loves

He is big on cuddles and showing physical affection and intimacy with you. You might Bill if you work at Gringotts like he does as a curse breaker or if you've been friends with him when he went to Hogwarts. And we all know he's the human personification of the word 'Cool'

He attracts LOTS of attention from people but when he gets hooked on you... man he is determined to make you his. He will not leave you alone when he sees you. He doesn't become a yandere directly at first, his yandere feelings and feelings of overprotectiveness will develop slowly as time goes on and if he thinks you're in danger and don't take care of yourself very well

Lol he will do whatever he can to impress you. Oh, you just heard about that spell that some wizard did a few days ago and you found i impressive? Oh look Bill here can do it too. You have a fascination for talking about old and ancient things and Egyptian tombs? Well, look who can strike up a conversation and go hours and hours about the topic. Oh my Godric, this man here will literally talk with you for hours and hours about well... whatever you want to talk about. Like his job, your job, your life, his life and all that

He will most certainly introduce you to his family and of course, his family will take an instant liking to you immediately. They will do whatever they can to make sure Bill has you as his. And yes, that includes Molly and Ginny trying to set the both of you up and Charlie sometimes teasing you and Bill and trying to make Bill jealous by sitting really close to you during dinner and stuff and sort of drives him nuts. But Bill will just smirk and grab your hand and do something or the other that will end up getting an 'Aww....' from the rest of the family (Insert gagging sounds here from Ron, Fred and George) and you'll end up like a blushing tomato 

He gets pretty jealous every now and then and when he does, it is literally time for you to run from him and get the hell away from him because when he does get jealous, long story short without beating around the bush, you won't be able to walk straight for the next one week that's for sure 👀😳😏

You'll have to assure him that you love him every time he gets insecure of his scars and he'll look at you with such love and gratefulness in his eyes, it's a really heart warming moment. You'll just lay there with him, cuddling with each other basking in each other's presence

He might actually try to make you leave your job whatever it might be. Don't take this the wrong way, he does believe that you can take care of yourself and you're more than capable of protecting yourself but he just doesn't think it's safe. And besides, why work at all when he can work and provide for you for the rest of your life?

If at all the day comes he kidnaps you or doesn't let you leave his house, he'll take all of your tantrums with a great stride and he'll be patient with you. He understands how you feel, but every poisonous word you throw at him does break his heart and he feels like someone is using the Cruciatus curse on him. But he won't snap at you, he'll just sigh and apologize to you saying that he really loves you and since he cares for you he can't let you go. It'll be hard for you NOT to fall in love with him on your own since he's such a sweetheart and gentleman to you, never forcing you to do anything that you don't want to and giving you space if you need it

He will not take it lightly if other people make the mistake of flirting with you. He'll tell them to stay away from you at first since you're taken by him and he'll give them a warning 3 times. If they still don't heed his warnings he'll have to hex them and then prepare for not being able to walk straight for a week and your pretty little neck being covered and littered with hickeys and love bites from him. What? It's his way of showing that you're his, how else will everybody know you belong solely to him and only him?

If at all you do tell him that you love him he'll be really happy but will also be kind of cocky about it and have you on his lap, tease you slightly about it before he kisses your lips softly and then your forehead, telling you how much he loves you too. Overall, this man is your ideal dream guy

[shadowgast-recs-weekly]

MISCOMMUNICATION: A Shadowgast Rec List

This week, we have miscommunication! Check under the cut for 13 fics that range from hilarious to spicy as a result of not being able to properly communicate, and don't forget to comment and kudos if you like them!

displacement by mllekurtz (TheKnittingJedi) (12834, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Just after the peace talks and with no word from M9, Essek gets displaced into the future. Somehow this Caleb is travelling with Essek and love him.

Reccer says: I love how Essek thinks that future!Essek is deceiving the Nein, but no! They love him and forgive him!!

Indecency by RainDayDecaf (5898, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Six times Essek and Caleb accidentally engaged in romantic courtship, and one or two times when their friends helped out with the real deal.

Reccer says: This story has amazing characterization and does an excellent job of highlighting ways cultural differences create miscommunications (that may be fully intended in some cases). It’s great!

Just a Little Bit Longer, Love by Chanse (SpottedEnchants) (28738, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Meeting for the first time in months, Caleb and Essek spend the evening together cuddling and discuss their relationship.

Reccer says: They are trying so hard to communicate and words come out wrong and they love each other and I love them!!

I think of all the education that I’ve missed (but then my homework was never quite like this) by MarsBar2019 (15118, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek disguises himself and sits in on Caleb’s lecture. They flirt and take it to office.

Reccer says: Really hot roleplay and I love how Caleb is portrayed as a teacher!

OPERATION: HOT BOI LIBERATION (or: How I Spent My Spring Break in Rexxentrum, by Verin of Den Thelyss) by Catgirlthecrazy (6404, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Verin is sure he needs to rescue his brother from the empire wizard that must have kidnapped and mind controlled him.

Reccer says: I love seeing the m9 from an outsider's perspective. All of Verin's misunderstandings are hilarious. This makes great use of dramatic irony.

the wolves of my want by SaltCore (26071, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Set post campaign, through the trial, Aeor and Caleb settling in Rexxentrum. Essek pines while on the run trying not to bother Caleb or put the Nein in danger.

Reccer says: I liked it!

Sex Education by sociallychallengednerd (25487, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: None

Caleb and Essek start dating, but it takes a while for either of them to notice

Reccer says: I love Caleb and Essek geeking out together. Jester and Essek's friendship is so sweet. All the modernizations fit so well. The references are so funny.

found the place to rest my head by glossolali (2717, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek doesn’t know how to comfort Caleb after destroying the T-dock.

Reccer says: Amazing hurt/comfort.

The Heart is Hard to Translate by CatgirlTheCrazy (6964, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: None

Caleb’s voice is soft, yet paradoxically echoes around the space as if the salon has become a mausoleum. Essek shifts about uncomfortably. “Well—yes, I suppose that is a way to describe it.”

Reccer says: An incredible representation of an important conversation, and the miscommunications that can be rife within. One of my favorite fics and series ever!

Cradle Robbing by TheLordOfLaMancha (4409, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Yussa catches Caleb using dunamancy and wants to meet Essek. But after being introduced, Yussa has some concerns about Caleb and Essek's relationship. Misunderstandings abound.

Reccer says: This is so funny

An Evening To Remember by Interrobang (1755, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek and Caleb both try to surprise each other. Hjinks ensue

Reccer says: I liked it!

The following two fics each received two recs!

eleventh hour by mllekurtz (TheKnittingJedi) (3486, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Thinking that it would be his last chance, Essek kisses Caleb at the Mighty Nein Goodbye Party.

Reccer 1 says: So soft and sweet! Reccer 2 says: It is so cute and sweet and classic m9 to forget who knows what.

Kiss Me Goodbye by LivThael (22450, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Modern AU where Caleb and Essek meet on a hookup app but things get messy when feelings get involved.

Reccer 1 says: I liked it! Reccer 2 says: I will eat anything with this setup with bread and butter but this is an especially great specimen. Misunderstandings and pining and hot sex, amazing

Aeor is for Lovers is an 18+ Shadowgast Discord server. The above fanfic recommendations were pulled from our community for this weekly event. All fics, unless otherwise specified, will primarily feature Shadowgast. Have any questions about what this is? Check out the FAQ! Next week, we’ll be back with fics featuring Empire Sibs!

[wolf-among-mechs]

MW5: Clans

Having messed around with Mechwarrior 5 Clans for a bit I think I can throw out a pretty strong recommendation for it for anyone still uncertain. The TLDR: I enjoy it plenty, lore and gameplay. The cutscenes and characters are pretty good.

I apparently made a review of it because I felt like talking about it into the void. With largely positive things to say about it. Bunch of stuff I honestly want to hear other people's opinions on too.

It is quite back to the old days in Mechwarrior 4 with characters and opinions and how it flows with the fights. While I enjoyed MW5 Mercs, it is kindof lacking in that department though as the DLCs pile on you get a lot more of it or at least attempts that aren't halfbad. Good effort has gone into making the people sound right, with accents and affects. Like yes, the clanners talk as they're supposed to. When one of your team uses a contraction every clanner outside your star immediatly lose their shit. Not in the meme sense but it they might as well have said c*nt next to a bunch of americans in terms of foulness spoken out loud.

The story following the smoke jaguars during Operation Revival is interesting considering they commit the worst war crime during the invasion and also kindof continually fumble the ball against the Combine. Your star, five lone mechs against the inner sphere, are part of the proceedings and the different characters in the star interact, sometimes disagree or just give each other shit. Got a nice team atmosphere. It introduces stuff and concepts among the clans quite nicely so even if you're not familiar with them you'll pick up what they're on about.

I think it does a pretty nice job of showing things from the Clans perspective of Operation Revival and how they are completely unprepared for the Inner Sphere and continually frustrated with it and things just going increasingly awry. There's a few beats that I think could've been done better certainly but I think it's good drama and a fun time in that regard. I could go more into what I think of the depictions of the clans in the game but that's basically some nerding out about the larger battletech universe and stuff. After turtle bay I kinda had that feeling that I've had in the past when a game makes you a culprit of a war crime or something terrible. A special kind of disgust made all the more visceral as you see the people, the resistance, in Turtle bay reacting to the bombing. Then everything blowing up.

Another thing that I quite like of this depiction is that the inner sphere does put up some serious resistance. Stuff doesn't roll over. They put up some serious fights. More often than not this is called dishonourable because the inner sphere descends into trickery and lies even though aforementioned trickery and lies are often extremely basic ambushes or "send more mechs to the fight." It is funny to contrast with Mercs where this just is how the Inner sphere fights. That said the clanners do eventually learn that they will set traps and ambush and attempt to fight unfair. Very often sending tons of mechs and people into the meat grinder in so doing. Some of the fights do get pretty intense and hard. You also get to see Comstar be Comstar. Wearing their space wizard garbs and being a manipulative force that will never tell you the truth.

The maps while feeling a bit more lived in than most of what Mercs managed to do, are kindof cramped and not great half the time for the kindof long range shooting matches more than half your equipment is good for, not helped that even with the added control to your lance or star mates you still have to be the one to step into the breach. Luckily there's many things you can do to fit that problem. I kindof wish that the star command screen had a pause function so that you could assign targets or at least go into bullet time. Because by the time the enemies show up. They're usually ontop of you so that's not really time to get your map out and play mechcommander. The fact it doesn't pause or slow down so you can set attacks or even give things preferences such as "maybe don't waste all your ammo on the fricking Locust when it will fall over from a stiff breeze" is honestly kindof baffling. Especialy how exciting it otherwise looks and how much detailing you can do with the Star mates XP and omnipods for their mechs. Which is not quite like tabletop omnipod but makes more sense than those omnipods.

Because of the tight maps the AI will more often than not walk in front of you when you're trying to hose something down way more often than they did in mercs. And they will complain about it when you invariably remove all thier back armor by mistake. You get used to it.

The fights feel pretty good honestly. Good challenging combat maps. They got a lot more field repair bays around compared to MW5:mercs. Which... I think I only remember 2? And were introduced like they were going to be more common in the campaign. Which holy shit, you're going to need those repair bays. You get to visit some really varied battlefields, a Star League depot, a cave system, cities and country side. Lots of mountain passes. Deserts and even do battle on a space port.

There's boss battles now. With various levels of canonicity. I don't know if we needed those but I see the point of them. They are usually there to give some variety to shooting stuff after waves of mechs and vehicles and vtols. You can also shoot down shilones now. I'd say aerospace fighters but it's all shilones.

All in all. If you enjoy mechwarrior, if you enjoy battletech. Chances are Mechwarrior 5 clans will have you eating well.

[monsterblogging]

So, something finally clicked into place re: Harry Potter and why people get so attached to it, despite it being... shall we say, not that good.

Now I want y'all to keep in mind, I am saying this as a former Harry Potter fan who still occasionally feels nostalgia for the franchise. As in, what I'm about to say here is informed by personal experience and self-analysis as much as anything.

It finally clicked that Harry Potter hooks you by the emotional vulnerabilities.

As someone who's studied various cults, and knows how they play to your emotions to suck you in, I can definitely say that Harry Potter many of the same moves.

Now, I'm not saying that Harry Potter fandom is a cult. I'm not saying that JK Rowling did this with any kind of deliberate intention. I'm talking about this to get anyone who has any kind of positive feelings toward this franchise critically thinking about what the foundation of their relationship with it really is.

To put it quite simply, cults often promise an escape from the ordinary world, and an entry into a world filled with wonder, belonging, and a sense of identity. There's groups out there who will tell you what kind of magic space alien your soul is, and what your very special purpose for incarnating on this Earth in a human body is.

The actual beliefs and moral precepts cults hold to are never really deep, but are always geared to play to your emotions. There's nearly always a clear-cut enemy responsible for everything we're supposed to hate. Cults often praise love and unity as the best things in the world, and believe that their power can overcome all evil.

It's easy to miss how the wizarding world is actually a soul-crushing dystopia when you're being distracted by the latest magical novelty.

It's easy to overlook how cruel and petty people in wizarding society actually are when your emotions are being played with stuff about love being the greatest magic of all.

It's easy to miss how the Hogwarts house system functions to foster rivalry between students and creates an environment (Slytherin House) where students are allowed to simmer in and internalize the Wizarding World's most rancid political ideologies when the house you or a quiz picked for you is your shiny new identity.

"I like Harry Potter because it's about the power of friendship triumphing over evil!" Yeah, that's... exactly my point.

And like, I'm not saying that the fact that this stuff appeals to people is a bad thing in itself. All of this stuff touches on very fundamental psychological needs. The point I'm making here is that these things are so fundamental that when we're deprived of them (whether or not we even consciously realize we're deprived), when something seems to offer them to us, it creates this massive emotional attachment that does not fade easily.

I still have an emotional attachment to Harry Potter, even though when I stop and ask myself what it's got that I actually find all that spectacularly compelling or interesting, I struggle to actually come up with an answer. Now, when I think about, say, Harry getting his wand and buying magic books and taking magic classes I feel a sense of excitement, but that's not really the same thing; because these emotions are coming from my experience as a very isolated, repressed, and understimulated child coming upon a novelty and power fantasy. When I try to think up anything in Harry Potter that I'd actually like to rotate in my mind, there's just... nothin'.

Now some of you out there might be thinking, "yeah but what about building on her ideas? What about AUs?" and like, the thing is? It doesn't appeal to me. I've got enough skill and knowledge at this point that I can sketch out a better OC than she could ever create in a couple of minutes, and a better fantasy setting in a few days or so.

To wrap this up, I guess I'll just say that really important to be able to distinguish between fiction that's actually saying something worthwhile, and fiction that's just hitting you in your emotional vulnerabilities. Of course friendship and love are important. And of course there's nothing wrong with power fantasies and escape fantasies. And not every story has to be all that deep. But you should ask yourself: could it the case that superficial messages about love, friendship, and family are distracting you from a pretty rancid worldview beneath it all?

Also, before I go - I'm just gonna say that anybody who responds to this post with praise for the fandom or the fanfiction or tells people to go buy fan merch or pirate the series or whatever is going to get blocked. Go clown somewhere else.

[oflights]

wip snip 6.1

i'm finally going to start posting my first bloodweave fic on friday (🥲 i know, i just love posting on fridays)!!! lol i did want to keep it under postable wip length but...if you know me, you know my struggle with word count. this is long 🙃

this is a no tadpole AU (pre-tadpole?? maybe?) where gale, a very Important chosen of mystra, comes to stay at the szarr palace to conduct very Important magical research; cazador agrees to gain a powerful ally and mystra's favor. astarion is sent to ~entertain gale (cw for canon-typical sexual coercion, and for cazador in general) and it does not go even remotely like he expects it to. here's a snippet from their not very cute meetcute. enjoy!

Astarion’s not entirely sure who he hates most in that moment—Cazador, speaking about him like he’s not in the room, or Gale, eyeing him avidly, his gaze scraping across Astarion’s face in a way that would make him blush if he were capable of it. Or maybe himself, for reacting to Gale’s attention like a blushing maiden, even if he can’t look the part.

Of course, he can’t blush because he’s bloody starving, and that really answers the question of who he hates most: Cazador, the easiest answer there ever is. That doesn’t make things better when Gale gives another short bow and says, “It’s lovely to meet you, Astarion.”

He holds out his hand for Astarion to shake. Astarion stares down at it, feeling his lip curl in distaste, and would let it hang there if not for Cazador leaning into his space, a tight, quiet fury alight behind his eyes.

Astarion sighs and takes Gale’s hand. It’s warm, of course, with a firm but gentle grip. His palm is rather soft, no doubt evidence of pursuits more scholarly than martial to go with his figure. He shakes Astarion’s hand once, twice, then lets it go with another nod.

“Have a good evening,” Gale tells him, and then he heads off towards where Yousen is hovering anxiously near a platter full of different cheeses. “I do love a good cheese plate,” Gale can be heard telling Yousen, his voice about ten degrees warmer, and Astarion can’t help a snort as Yousen smiles tentatively up at him.

“You are a disgrace,” Cazador hisses right in his ear. “An absolute humiliation.”

Astarion winces, bites down on instinctive protests—if he could just feed, perhaps he’d be able to muster up some more social grace—but Cazador cuts off the very start of his faint apology.

“No. I will not hear it. I should send you straight to Godey.”

The ‘should’ stops Astarion up—it seems inevitable that he’ll be sent there anyway—and he blinks at Cazador, who shakes his head.

“You don’t deserve this, but he seems to have an—interest. Consider yourself lucky.”

Astarion’s skin crawls. He glances over to where Gale is still talking to Yousen, presumably about cheese—but also casting glances over at Astarion. He whips his gaze away as soon as Astarion catches it, terribly obvious, and Astarion clenches his fists. Lucky, indeed.

“You will go to him,” Cazador says, nothing but contempt in the clear command. “You will please him; you will let him use you as he wishes. He so very clearly wishes. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Astarion says, gritting his teeth. He feels disgusting, empty—devoid of blood, of sustenance, all that lies within him is this.

“I don’t believe you. Repeat what I said.”

Stomach roiling, eyes now planted on the rich red carpeting beneath his feet, Astarion repeats, “I will please him. I will—I’ll let him use me as he wishes.”

“Indeed you will,” Cazador spits out, and then he stalks off, leaving Astarion alone by the sideboard, shoulders hunched and gaze stuck low.

The wizard doesn’t approach him again for the rest of the reception, which is as short as predicted. He eats his fill of cheese and meats, apparently unconcerned that he’s the only one. He chats up Leon, brightening visibly when he gets him to admit to being a sorcerer, but spreads his attention evenly—to everyone except Astarion, that is.

For Astarion, he only has fleeting glances, a brief nod every time they lock eyes. Astarion watches him shamelessly, clutching his disgusting wine. He wonders if he’ll be able to taste the better-quality drink on Gale, and supposes he’ll have to find out soon.

Both sooner than Astarion would like and after much too long, Dufay announces that the hour nears to retire, since Gale of Waterdeep must be exhausted from his travels. Gale agrees readily enough and bids goodnight to everyone in the room as they drift off, back to the dormitory or, for some, out into the night as instructed, bringing victims back for a party that’s already ended, a feast only for one.

“Goodnight,” Gale tells Astarion on his way out. His gaze lingers, almost searching, and drifts only when Astarion gives him a better approximation of a smile and says, “Until we meet again, dear wizard.”

Gale speeds up his exit a bit after that; the back of his neck is slightly reddened.

[remus-poopin]

Hi! Sorry to bother you but I’m looking for specific pieces of HP meta and I’m kinda lost.

Do you have any reading recommendations about homosexuality in the Harry Potter world? I’m trying to decide a couple of things about the world-building for a fic and I’d love to read about other takes on the topic.

Hi! It's not a bother at all, I love this stuff! I have a couple metas on this and I also have my own thoughts about this as well! This is a question I often think about and I was planning on writing something on this eventually anyways, so I'm glad I got this ask because now I have an excuse to! (And I can talk about some gripes I have with the author as well so yay)

CW: Homophobia and misogyny

Here is a meta by @thecarnivorousmuffinmeta on homophobia in the wizarding world.

Here is @hchollym's take on gay marriage in the WW

My thoughts:

The books give no mention of homosexuality explicitly, but the author has slightly expanded on the topic at later times in interviews and tweets. In 2007 she confirmed that Dumbledore was gay and later she gave us more details about his sexlife. She then said this in 2007 about homosexuality and homophobia in the wizarding world:

"MA: 'We wanna talk about Dumbledore so bad. We know that you've created worldwide intrigue when you said that he is gay. But I wanted to ask you about homosexuality in the Wizarding World in general. Is it a taboo?' JKR: 'Now, that's something I never thought of. I would think that that would be-- it would be exactly what it is in the Muggle World. But the greatest taboo in the Wizarding World is, well, for some wizards... I mean if we're talking about prejudiced people within the Wizarding World, what they care most about is your blood status. So I think you could be, um, gay, pure-blood, and totally without any kind of criticism from the Lucius Malfoys of the world. I don't think that would be something that would interest him in the slightest. But, you know, I can't answer for all witches and wizards because I think in matters of the heart, it would be directly parallel to our world.'"

She also says this in a tweet when asked about homophobia in 2014:

“Only by ludicrous Muggles. The wizards don't give a damn - it's all about the magic for them.”

Now whether or not you take this to be canon is up to you. What I find interesting here is that I feel from the second statement we are being made to believe that homosexuality is a non issue in the wizarding world and not a point of prejudice. From her first statement she says that it's “something she never thought of” and that “it would be exactly the same as the muggle world”, I'm guessing her second statement is contradictory because she wanted to please LGBT+ fans and reassure them that Hogwarts is a safe space (for some, lets not ask her about the other letters in the acronym). 

This is a pattern I've noticed JKR exhibiting in a lot of her post work words, where she tries to communicate how egalitarian the world she created is through new information, even though the text itself does not reflect this worldview. I think a good example of this is how when she listed the ministers of magic she included several women, going back as far as the 1700s to try to show there are not as many barriers to entry for women in the WW. Yet we see many instances of sexism throughout the series from the characters and the culture which they live in. I think what she was trying to do is have her world primarily focus on blood purity and creature rights and have the issues we face either go on the backburner or not be present at all. Now I understand this choice, (though I really don’t think it's necessary, more interesting, or remotely realistic) but I also think her execution is pretty awful because you can (and I'm about to) make an argument that these issues are still very much present in the wizarding world. I think the biggest issue here is that she doesn't understand the structures and systems of oppression that she hand-waved to the side to truly write a world where they would not be a real problem. To me, given what we've seen of the wizarding world, homophobia would still very much be an issue. 

So I think if we're going to talk about what homosexuality looks like in the wizarding world we would also need to talk about what homophobia would look like in the wizarding world. Homophobia has many factors contributing and working with it to make it function as a prejudice and system. If I had to break it down to its biggest parts I would say our big three is: religious fears, rigid gender norms, and disgust. Those often play off of each other to create an effective tool; and this tool is used to uphold a gender and class-based power structure. Let's examine this in the context of Harry Potter:

Religious fears: 

Religious fears resulting in homophobia is very common in the real world but for this factor to apply to the WW I think we would need to determine whether or not the wizarding world is even religious. We have examples of christianity showing up across the books in casual ways: Harry has a Godfather, he was christened as a baby, and Lily and James have a quote from the bible on their tombstone. From this we can at least make the assumption that the Potter family is religious to some capacity. We also see that one of the Hogwarts ghosts is called “The Fat Friar’. But to my knowledge this is where the references end. If the wizarding world is religious, or at least wizarding Britain, they seem to be casually so. So I don't see this being a huge driving factor in any homophobia we would see in that universe. 

Rigid gender norms:

I think if you take away any religious influences you're still going to see homophobia even in its most violent forms and this has a lot to do with rigid gender norms. If gender norms are established to sustain a power structure that a society relies on to maintain a certain order, any breaking of those norms will be met with punishment (socially or physically). In a heteronormative culture, homosexuality can be seen as a breaking of these norms.   

First off, Pureblood culture seems to be obsessed with lineage and creating heirs, one of the metas I linked talks about how homosexuality would be a threat to that. At least in pureblood society, your job as a man is to make pureblooded babies and your job as a woman would be to give birth to them, anything else would be looked down upon.

If we step outside of pureblood society, we can see that the general wizarding population also seems to believe in strict ways in which men and women should act.

So what are the gender roles the wizarding world has? Well there's the clothing; all wizards wear robes, but dresses are traditionally for women and any robe that looks a little too dress-like for a man could be seen as embarrassing: 

“'What is that supposed to be?'  He was holding up something that looked to Harry like a long maroon velvet dress. It had moldy-looking lace frills at the collar and matching lace cuffs. - ‘Mum, you've given me Ginny's new dress,’ said Ron, holding it out to her. ‘Of course I haven't,’  said Mrs Weasley. ‘Thats for you, dress robes’.- “You've got to be kidding’ said Ron in disbelief ‘Im not wearing that, no way!' - In some trepidation Harry opened the last parcel on his camp bed. It wasn't as bad as he expected, however. His dress robes didn't have any lace on them at all - in fact they were more or less the same as his school ones, except they were bottle green except black” (GOF, pg 155 and 156)

“Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville changed into their dress robes up in their dormitory, all looking very self conscious, but none as much as Ron who surveyed himself in the long mirror in the corner with an appalled look on his face. There was no getting around the fact that his robes looked more like a dress than anything. In a desperate attempt to make them more manly he used a severing charm on the ruffs and cuffs." (GOF, pg 411)

Ron’s dress robes are old, moldy, and out of fashion, but the emphasis on his embarrassment is put on the feminine style of them. To be seen in a dress-like robe as a boy is to transgress an established gender norm; this transgression is to be recognized as humiliating. This isn't the only instance we have of a man in a dress being perceived as funny/embarrassing:

“‘When the boggart bursts out of this wardrobe, Neville, and sees you, it will assume the form of Professor Snape,’ said Lupin. ‘And you will raise your wand — thus — and cry ‘Riddikulus’ — and concentrate hard on your grandmother’s clothes. If all goes well, Professor Boggart Snape will be forced into that vulture-topped hat, and that green dress, with that big red handbag.’ There was a great shout of laughter. The wardrobe wobbled more violently.” (POA, pg 135)

The weapon to a boggart, your greatest fear, is laughter. After Lupin hears Neville's boggart is Snape he decides the way to make him appear less intimidating is to put him in a dress with a handbag. The rest of the class finds this highly amusing as well. There is a direct connection being drawn here between masculinity with strength and power and femininity with weakness and frivolity. Snape as a big, mean, scary teacher is rendered impotent in his intimidation when he has this dress on.

There are gendered cultural roles in the wizarding world as well:

“‘Come on, Ginny's not bad,’ said George fairly sitting down next to Fred. ‘Actually , I dunno how she got so good, seeing how we never let her play with us…’  ‘she's been breaking into your broom shed in the garden since the age of six and taking each of your brooms out in turn when you weren't looking’  (OOTP, pg 574) 

There is no real reason for Ginny to not be able to play Quidditch with her older brothers. Even if she was too young at one point, very soon after she should have been able to, considering Ron was only a year older. The only notable difference between all of them is their gender. From this we can assume that wizards, or at least the Weasleys, have a view of femininity as more fragile, or weaker than masculinity. 

This idea of weakness is reinforced through the founders of Hogwarts making separate dorm rooms for girls and boys where boys cannot enter the girls dorm but girls can enter the boys

“‘It says in Hogwarts, A History that the founders thought boys were less trustworthy than girls.” (OOTP)

This rule positions men as the aggressors and women as the victims in a sexual context. It also indicates the heteronormality of their society.

There are established sexual roles for men and women in the WW:

The sexual roles of the wizarding world celebrates male sexual action but also shames females for the same. Any time there is slutshaming in the series a woman is at the end of it.

Hermione is seen as a “scarlet women” for appearing to toy with Harry's heart:

“I told you not to annoy Rita Skeeter! She's made you out to be some sort of - scarlet women!’ Hermione stopped looking astonished and snorted with laughter. ‘Scarlet women?’ - ‘It's what my mum calls them’ Ron muttered." (GOF, pg 513)

The term “scarlet woman" is a reference to the novel “The Scarlet Letter”, a story about a woman who commits adultery and is shamed by her puritan community for it. The term itself invokes the image of a promiscuous, scandalous woman of ill repute who is deserving of her shame. Molly uses this term frequently enough for her children to recognize it and reference it. This signifies that there is a belief of proper standards in which women are supposed to behave sexually.

Ginny is at the mercy of these same beliefs from her family members: 

"'But we're not selling them to our sister,' he added, becoming suddenly stern, 'not when she's already got about five boys on the go from what we've — ' 'Whatever you've heard from Ron is a big fat lie,' said Ginny calmly'" (HBP)

“'Let's get this straight once and for all. It is none of your business who I go out with or what I do with them, Ron -' ‘Yeah it is!’ Said Ron just as angrily. ‘D’you think I want people saying my sister’s a-’" (HBP, pg 287)

"'my tiara sets the whole thing nicely, said Aunt Muriel in a rather carrying whisper, 'but I must say, Ginevra's dress is far too low cut.'" (DH, pg 145)

Merope Riddle also experiences criticism from her family after running off with Tom Riddle Sr.:

"'dishonored us, she did, that little slut!'" (HBP, pg 365)

All of these instances of women asserting their sexuality is perceived as negative by the men in their community because they are breaking a societal norm. The norm being women as chaste, demure figures of virtue.

However men’s sexual activity is looked at as an accomplishment (usually by the other men)

After Harry kisses Cho, Ron has this reaction:

“Ron made a triumphant gesture with his fist and went into a raucous peal of laughter that made several timid-looking second years over beside the window jump. A reluctant grin spread over Harry's face as he watched Ron rolling around on the hearthrug. Hermione gave Ron a look of deep disgust and returned to her letter.” (OOTP)

Ron’s joy for his friend can be seen as not only just a happiness for Harry's journey to maturity or him finally getting with his crush, but also as the affirming of Harry's masculinity. This is backed up by Hermione's less enthusiastic reaction to this news and her disgust at Ron's display of triumph.

So we've established the gender roles, and we've seen there are consequences when you fall out of line. So, what if the gender role calls for you to be masculine as a man and then defines that masculinity in part with obtaining women and sexual prowess? Homosexuality would be in direct conflict with that. And with that lets tie it into disgust.

Disgust:

The disgust that a homophobe feels can be stemming from a couple different places. Maybe it's religious fears like we talked about or maybe it's because of gender norms. But that disgust is only taking place because they perceive that something they hold to be pure is being tainted and violated; the word of god, the sanctity of masculinity, or hegemonic gender roles. In a society where these beliefs are upheld and treated as sacred, any conflict with that will be met with judgment at best and violence at worse. 

I don't see the wizarding world as a progressive space where homosexuality or anything LGBT+ would be considered a non issue because the text does not reflect that. The text shows the same misogyny, the same disdain for femininity, and the same reverence for masculinity that we see in everyday life and because of that I feel it only makes sense to see the wizarding world just as bigoted as ours.

Ok so what does homosexuality look like in the wizarding world then?

Well if we've established the wizarding world as a society that would be hostile (in any way) to gay people I think its easier to move forward on how to imagine how they fit into that society since we have ours for reference. However, It's important to remember that our oppression doesn't define us and it's not the only thing to consider while writing. Think about what the fashion would look like, what the music would sound like, what the spaces would be like and just generally what the culture would be. Have fun with it!

Hope this helped a little!