#jellal deserved better

[yamishika]

The Real Flaws in Jellal’s Redemption Arc : A Breakdown

This is a topic I don’t see discussed much in the community, and I’ve had a lot of thoughts on it for a while. I wasn’t sure how to put them all together, but at this point, I’d rather just lay it all out and see where it leads.

So, Jellal.

Let’s talk about him.

I’m going in—no holds barred.

A controversial but valid take : Jellal Fernandes’s redemption arc in Fairy Tail is a mess—not because he doesn’t deserve redemption, but because the execution constantly undermines itself. His atonement is passive, his agency is stripped away, and worst of all, the narrative can’t even decide what his sins actually are.

The result? A redemption arc that feels hollow, repetitive, and ultimately wasted.

And no, this has nothing to do with Erza’s perspective. The flaws in Jellal’s redemption exist entirely within his story.

Let’s break it down.

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1. Jellal’s Redemption Feels Passive, Not Active

A real redemption arc requires action. The character has to do something to prove their growth and atonement. But Jellal’s entire post-redemption existence is spent wallowing in guilt rather than taking meaningful steps toward redemption.

• He constantly isolates himself.

• He avoids forming real relationships.

• He treats suffering as the only way to atone.

That’s not atonement. That’s self-flagellation. The fact that he feels bad doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t help anyone. Redemption should be about making things right, not just feeling sorry.

What Should’ve Happened Instead :

Instead of self-imposed exile and moping, Jellal should have been actively working to undo the damage he caused. He should have been using his skills to actually help those he harmed rather than just punishing himself in silence.

-

2. His Redemption Feels Hollow Because the Narrative Keeps Changing His Crimes

The biggest problem with Jellal’s redemption arc is that we’re never given a clear, consistent answer about what he’s actually atoning for.

• If Jellal was brainwashed, why is he acting like he committed those crimes with full agency?

• If he did have some control, why isn’t that explored in more depth?

• Why does the story fluctuate between “he was a helpless victim” and “he must punish himself forever”?

His guilt is inconsistent. One moment, he’s written as a victim of Ultear’s manipulation, completely absolved of responsibility. The next, he’s treating himself as irredeemable, despite the fact that he wasn’t even in control of his actions.

So which is it? Is he responsible, or isn’t he? The narrative refuses to commit, and that’s what makes his redemption feel hollow. You can’t have a compelling redemption arc if the story won’t even define what he’s being redeemed for.

What Should’ve Happened Instead :

Pick a lane. If Jellal is a victim, then his arc should be about reclaiming his agency, not punishing himself. If he did have some control over his actions, then the story should explore that moral conflict rather than sweeping it under the rug.

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3. Crime Sorcière Was a Step in the Right Direction… Until It Wasn’t

For a while, it seemed like Fairy Tail was actually setting Jellal up for a solid redemption arc. Crime Sorcière was the perfect solution—it allowed him to work from the shadows, dismantling dark guilds and actually making a difference.

And then… that got taken away from him.

Why? Because the story decided that Jellal’s entire character should revolve around guilt and self-sabotage. Instead of allowing him to build something meaningful, Fairy Tail yanks away his purpose and throws him right back into exile.

It’s frustrating because this was the perfect setup for his redemption. Crime Sorcière gave him agency, direction, and a reason to move forward. But the story took that from him, just so he could keep playing the role of the miserable sinner.

What Should’ve Happened Instead :

Let Jellal actually stay with Crime Sorcière. Let him commit to the cause instead of running in circles with his guilt. The idea of a rogue mage dismantling dark guilds from within had so much potential, but Fairy Tail threw it away.

Or, if Crime Sorcière’s dissolution was inevitable, then give him something of a similar accord—something that keeps his efforts alive and shows that, even with the odds against him, he continues striving to change for the better.

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4. The Hypocrisy of Recruiting Oración Seis

Let’s talk about the biggest contradiction in Jellal’s so-called redemption: Crime Sorcière inducting Oración Seis.

• If Jellal is so consumed by guilt, why does he think he has the right to recruit criminals who actually chose to do evil?

• If he truly believes he’s irredeemable, then why does he get to decide that they are worthy of redemption?

• Unlike him, Oración Seis were not brainwashed. They acted on their own free will. How does he see himself as worse than them?

It makes no sense. If Jellal truly believes he’s the “sinless sinner” who can never be redeemed, then his logic falls apart when he extends redemption to others who were far more culpable.

It’s hypocritical, and it completely undermines his whole self-imposed guilt complex.

What Should’ve Happened Instead :

Either Jellal accepts that redemption is possible for himself or he doesn’t try to force it on others. You can’t have it both ways.

-

5. Wasted Potential for a Post-Redemption Role

Jellal is one of the most intelligent and powerful mages in the series. He has tactical knowledge, combat prowess, and leadership skills. He should have been a key figure in the battle against dark forces.

Instead, he’s reduced to a wandering tragic figure with no real direction.

• He could have been an informant or strategist.

• He could have helped dismantle corrupt systems within the Magic Council.

• He could have worked from the shadows to prevent future Towers of Heaven.

But instead of actually doing something with his redemption, Jellal is left with nothing. He has no agency, no drive, and no lasting impact. Fairy Tail strips him of every opportunity to turn his past into something meaningful.

What Should’ve Happened Instead :

Let Jellal use his past experiences to actively prevent future disasters. Let him be a force in reshaping the magical world instead of keeping him stuck in a loop of self-hatred.

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Final Thoughts: Why Jellal’s Redemption Arc Really Fails

A strong redemption arc should :

• Clearly define the character’s sins.

• Show them taking active steps toward atonement.

• Give them a meaningful post-redemption role.

Jellal’s arc fails on all three counts.

• His crimes are inconsistent—sometimes he’s guilty, sometimes he’s a victim.

• His atonement is passive rather than active.

• His redemption arc strips him of agency instead of giving him purpose.

And none of these flaws have anything to do with Erza.

Jellal’s redemption should have been about Jellal. Not Erza’s perspective. Not Fairy Tail’s approval. Him. But the story refused to commit, leaving his arc feeling hollow and wasted.

Before anyone jumps to conclusions—no, this isn’t an anti-Erza take. The flaws in Jellal’s redemption have nothing to do with her. My issue is with how the narrative fails him as a character, independent of her presence.

And with that, I’ve said my piece. Jellal’s redemption had the potential to be something compelling, but instead, it was a fragmented mess that robbed him of his agency and clarity. He deserved better writing, plain and simple.

Jellal Fernandes had all the makings of a phenomenal redemption story. The series just didn’t follow through.

What do you think? Would you have wanted to see a stronger, more active redemption arc for Jellal? What changes would you have made?

Let me know what your thoughts are 💭

[captainuranium543]

lot of characters who deserved better in ft and they are number one on the list

[beargyufairy]

‘Cause you kiss me and it stops time

And I’m yours, but you’re not mine

[shinpikurage]

You think your life is hard?

Try being a Fairy Tail fan that doesn't like Gruvia, Nalu and Jerza!!

[itefi-n-ferlet]

Gosh! I LOVED THE EPISODE SO MUCH I WATCHED WITH MY GRANDMA LIKE 10 TIMES!! 😭😭😭 But one thing that makes it even better is seeing all the loved the Flirty battle its getting. Thank you!🥺🙏💙❤️

I was so worried bc last week I saw several post hating that this was going to be animated next 😭 But now Im only seeing a flood of positive reactions & Im so happy bc even if this was silly, Jellal & Erza deserved some silly funny moments too, they cant always be full of angst.

This comedic part shows that the relationship has advanced, they advanced as characters, they are not entirely bond to their tragic and dramatic past, they are healing and moving forward even in those silly ways and I totally love that! 😭😭😭

..

[fairytail-whathesays]

hiiii, i love basically all of ur takes, its so validating knowing that you're not the only one hating on jellal, jerza, elfever, etc while being down 4/shipping cobra/laxus. if u want, can u give ur opinion on cana/lucy and ur fav wlw ships in fairy tail? u can answer it in one post idc if its long, answer one question, or split it into 2. have a good day!

Sure! Anything for a fellow Cobraxus shipper!

Cana/Lucy:

It's more vibes than a ship I'm diehard into but I like it more than NaLu or any other wlw Lucy ship--they have actual chemistry and a basis for some drama with the shared daddy issues. Lucy definitely deserves someone as down to earth as Cana and when every other woman in Fairy Tail is Legitimately Insane, it's an easy ship to root for. I really like that Cana is flawed while still interesting as a character and her partnering up with Lucy is one of the best partnerships of the Tenrou arc.

Other WLW ships that I like in Fairy Tail include:

ErzaJane is a crucial, time-honored ship rising on a thermal column of thick BST and contrasting personalities. Knight vs. Demon. Red and white. Sweet versus serious. Aesthetically it's a 10/10.

SoraNerva, also a color contrast and attitude contrast, is like if you took the above and mixed in more knives and evil women. Angel and Minerva is easily my favorite WLW ship of Fairy Tail and I'm very sad it doesn't see more attention. Just the vibes alone are deadly good. One names after powerful spiritual beings close to God, and the other named after a Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare. I finally nutted up and wrote something in this direction.

In similar veins, I achieve serotonin boosts from the ships Ultear/Kagura and Ultear/Minerva. Again, I love evil women and I love women with swords. Ultear and Minerva have this time/space dichotomy thing going on and both being women that back up a lot of power with a strategic approach, while Ultear and Kagura are both women driven to make war by the unforgivable crimes committed against them. If, like me, you're willing to ignore Ultear being the one that possessed Jellal (because it was really stupid), it's even better.

Chendy is a wholesome teenage girl ship and is the only valid Wendy ship for obvious reasons.

On the topic of other WLW ships I have thought of or which have at least popped up on my radar:

Lucy and Yukino (Lukino?), Meredy and Juvia, and Aries and Juvia are all ships I've considered before and am open to.

[lisannastraussisanangel]

Do you have any Meredy and Ultear headcanons ? Their mother daughter relationship is one of my favorite things about the anime but both characters and their relationship are criminally underrated !!

They deserved better! Ultear should've got her redemption arc and lived happily ever after with her daughter!

Meredy uses Ultear's last name on official documents. She never said anything to Ultear about it but she's pretty sure Ultear knows

Partners in crime (literally), those two are always scheming. Nowadays it's playful villainy tho

Meredy can get away with anything. She hits Ultear with those puppy dog eyes and its all over

Ultear still feels really guilty about what she did to Meredy and wants to make it up to her. Meredy tells her that helping people and becoming a better person is all Ultear needs to do to make it up to her

That is one of the main reasons Ultear turned good. She wants to be a good role model for Meredy and make up for all the hurt she's caused her

Ultear is bad cop. Meredy is good cop. Unless it is against Jellal then they are both bad cop

Meredy is a hugger and Ultear is very much not. It usually results in Meredy chasing her around desperately trying to love Ultear

Ultear is literally so proud of Meredy. She can't believe how genuinely happy and good Meredy has grown up to be

Meredy used to make Ultear mothers day gifts back when they were evil. Ultear had yelled at her to stop after the first time she was gifted one

Meredy still made them every year. She saved them instead of giving them to Ultear, hoping one day Ultear would change her mind and want to celebrate

When they started Crime Sorciere, Meredy gifted Ultear all the hidden gifts and Ultear sobbed. She cherishes every gift from Meredy now

Even after her death, Meredy still takes the time to leave Mother's day gifts on her grave

Ultear is absolutely terrible at domestic stuff. She can't cook and is awful at chores (she lit their laundry on fire once trying to dry it faster) so Meredy tries to take over but Ultear insists on doing it because she's supposed to take care of Meredy

Meredy has gotten in the habit of redoing all of Ultear's chores in secret. Imagine Ultear turning around while cooking and Meredy quickly seasoning the food before Ultear turns back

Ultear wants to take care of Meredy so bad but that girl is mega independent. Meredy always says it's Ultear's fault for raising her that way

[nocentis]

Are you happy with how your favorite canon muse was portrayed in canon?

✧ ┆ Accepting.

Yes and no.

I think Jellal was treated better than most by FT's standards. He wasn't a part of the main crew and thus had fewer instances of being boiled down to a joke/otherwise demoralized. For being a tertiary character, his arc was executed well in terms of:

Showing who he was before the possession link & manipulation.

Showing how deeply those things affected his personality and morals.

A rare case of "amnesia turns the bad guy good" being tolerable (which I personally headcanon as him returning to his baseline personality and moral standing once the possession link was broken.)

Jail. Deserved.

Fully owning up to the impact he had on countless lives, accepting that he will never deserve forgiveness from so many people, and still choosing to dedicate the rest of his life to preventing others from falling into the same trap he did.

Having him actually face most of the people he directly impacted and not make excuses for himself. He didn't try to explain himself or show how much he'd grown because he understood that, to them, none of that mattered. I could actually go on and on about this forever.

On a more superficial level, I also just really appreciate the sincerity of his character in later arcs.

However, there are plenty of scenes that I pretend do not exist for my own sanity:

Ryuzetsu Land & every other scene that involves him acting like a horny teenager around Erza. Sits wrong with me. Also, he's 27-28 years old for most of those scenes. Have some decorum. Act like you've seen a tit before, guy. You're embarrassing me.

Nuking the Oracion Seis during their battle. I stand by my assertion that the fight was more or less unavoidable. I don't see a world where OS wouldn't have attacked him. However, I think he should have stayed on defense for the entire fight and only aimed to protect himself/nullify. Sema was overkill and felt icky. He could've gotten his point across without dropping a star on them. Crushing his own eyes was sick, though I wish there would have been some kind of permanent repercussion for it, otherwise it feels like a hollow sacrifice. Still contemplating adding consequences for this to my main verse (corneal scarring or something similar).

Neinhart fight was fine up until, "Here and now I shall commit just one more sin." NO. Sorry. I understand that it was for emotional impact and he was acting out of grief and rage, but NO. I'm not buying it. I'll have to articulate my thoughts about this in depth another time.

Jura vs Jellal was robbery. We could've had more of Jellal using Mystogan's magic & instead we got Jellal being a very silly goose. Weird time to get competitive, my guy. It's hard for me to buy that he would nearly blow his own cover & potentially get FT disqualified (and likely much worse) over a matter of personal pride, only to then forfeit in a much more humiliating fashion than just. Y'know. Losing because he's using magic he only had roughly a month to train with. Comic relief, I know, but that only works if it's actually funny.

August stomping on his head. Only because that's my son. I'm obliterating August with my mind.

Every time he gets nerfed via concussion. There's enough trauma in that head. I promise.

I'm sure there are other things that aren't coming to mind at the moment.

[chidoroki]

Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest EP17

aka: tee-hee~ ship go brrrrr

At least that new star dress mix was able to damage one of the tree golems.. just one though, which is of course the downside of Lucy not being able to maintain said form for long.

I love seeing Juvia fight but the pokemon trainer in me can’t help but think "not very effective" with her water attacking literal trees. Bad type match up indeed.

Cliche or not, the reaching out of the hands and just missing saving the other is so nice.

“Don’t worry about Juvia!” “Can I even do that?” Eehehe.

“Human.. what is this girl to you? Is it strength? Is she your strength?” “That’s right. She’s my strength to live.” HELL YEAH BOY! He said the thing with his whole chest and proudly!

I can’t even blame our girl for overheating y’all, that was so sweet to hear after all this time.

“Juvia, let me borrow your body.” “Yes, do as you please!” Her mind is totally in the wrong place but go ahead and live your dreams girlie.

There’s something so unbelievably funny to me about getting bashed in by a giant ice hammer that’s sporting a goofy smile on it.

Let’s go unison raid let’s go~

Gray is blushing so damn hard trying to avoid Juvia’s cute attempts to make him say those words to her again.

Awww, the head pat, the “I’m glad you’re okay,” the way they’re so close with both of ‘em blushing.. my heart is incredibly happy.

“Nice work, Gray and Juvia!” “Must be the power of love.” As if we couldn’t make it even more obvious, HA.

I love how Brandish is just chilling, completely unbothered and eating her treats while the whole town gets destroyed.

Oh yeah, Gajeel is gonna have a blast going huge.

“But I sense Jellal’s magical energy. I must go.” “Your boyfriend can take care of himself.” “My.. what?! Wha.. no … we’re not like that.” Not yet anyways. I swear we better see some happy pairs at the end of all this.

Ultear sweetie, you deserved so much better but glad to see you again!

“Live for her. That should be your new way forward now. You’ll be okay.” She returned for a minute, didn’t say much but made every word count.

“You shall be judged by the seven stars! Grand Chariot!” Ah, a sight for sore eyes. Why you so amazing Jellal, huh?

[scarletbellatrix]

@sinshckled sent: ❝ i love the feel of your hair between each of my fingers. ❞

THE CONVERSATION THEY HAD WAS overwhelming. The repressed feelings she had under lock and key burst out like a dam, her emotions overflowing. All that pent-up grievance and yearning are out in the open. But even as they unearth everything, the resolution won't come to them simply. It's not a murder mystery or a puzzle that can be solved overnight. They are real, raw, deep emotions that need to be processed properly. They owe themselves the patience and the grace.

        After everything she had told him, she runs out of words to say. All she can do is stand in front of him and tremble, completely stupefied, tears prickling her eyes. A body as durable and strong as hers finds it difficult to take in the myriad of mixed feelings that hits her. Any attempts to speak only ends up with her choking on the words as a sob threatens to rise in her throat.

        Their gazes meet, and an understanding comes between them. Jellal looks as speechless as her, and somehow, the similarity of their state comforting.

        The two of them are wrapped in silence. Not the usual awkward, uncomfortable taciturnity, between them. But rather, a stillness that enlightens and connects their hearts. They hadn't come up with any resolve, but there's this assurance that, no matter what happens, they'll be okay. They'll figure it out.

        What's next will make them or break them, but it's something they both need. It's either a closure or a new chapter together.

        Jellal's hand tenderly reaches for her hair, and she moves closer, letting his soft fingers to caress every strands. Leaning into him, the reaction is atavistic. She's always been naturally drawn to him, and it hasn't changed even after all the time they'd spent apart. It's a simple gesture, but with their shared history, they both know how intimate, meaningful, and deep this is. ❝I love the feel of your hair between each of my fingers.❞ His words break the silence between them. The statement is out of the blue, but it means everything to her. It evokes a significant memory they'd shared together.

        Their first meeting at the tower. It had been the worst place she had ever been in, the uncertainties terrifying her. She had been scared and alone until she had met the blue-haired boy with the brightest smile and eyes. He was a light in the dark. A beacon of hope. The worst was yet to come, but his presence made it bearable.

        He had given her a last name: Scarlet. The color of her hair. The lack of surname had always made her feel like she was nothing—irrelevant, unimportant, just an abandoned child at the village. But in that moment, she had finally felt that she was something—that she could be something. It ignited her hope and added color to her monochromatic life.

        ❝You've told me that I've brought you hope and guided you to the path of light.❞ She's finally able to form something coherent. Tears cascade her cheeks as she allows herself to cry. ❝But you've—you've done the same thing for me. You had—the moment you touched my hair—and gave me my name.❞

        Erza had imagined a better life for the both of them. A peaceful life in a universe where the Tower of Heaven and the enslavement never happened. They deserved better. Better than the cards they were dealt. However, it would mean the two of them never meeting and knowing each other, and that would be a bigger tragedy.

based on the FIVE SENSES prompts || accepting

[usagirln12003]

Mavis Vermillion: Hogwarts AU

Mavis Vermillion was a Pureblood witch that was born on the 23rd of June 1953 and started attending Hogwarts on the 1st of September 1964, being sorted into Ravenclaw House.

She had a Beech wand with a Unicorn Hair core.

Her Patronus was a fairy.

Her favorite subject was Care of Magical Creatures and her least favorite subject was Potions.

She was one of the Ravenclaw Prefects of her year and later Head-Girl.

Mavis is kind and protective of her loved ones. She cares, guides and protects them whenever it's possible. She seems to be quite cheerful as she's smiling and happy most of the time. Mavis can also be quite carefree and reckless, and this side of her is shown when she allowed Jellal Fernandes to participate in a Duelling Tournament, as long as it improved their chances of winning, despite the fact that if anyone found out about the ex-worker of the Ministry of Magic and escaped convict, it could be disastrous to the school.

Mavis is quite playful and to a certain degree, childish. She even left St. Mungos just to cheer on Hogwarts in the Triwizard Tournament, solely because she was bored in the hospital. She seems to be indifferent to certain things. For example, when Mavis felt a malicious force coming from a few Slytherins, she was not especially worried. Though playful, she can be quite serious at times. When it came to winning the Triwizard Tournament, Mavis cast aside her smile, adopting a serious persona in which she stated she would lead Hogwarts' champion to victory, taking charge and giving out orders.

Mavis was once given the epithet Raven Tactician, as she led her team to many victories thanks to her exceptional skill in making strategies during battles. However, Mavis can miscalculate a strategy every now and then, and upon learning one was a failure, she usually doesn't take it well.

Among one of her most noticeable quirks is that Mavis adores being barefoot. Out of comfort, she shuns shoes and chooses to always wander around barefooted everywhere she goes, and to emphasize this conspicuous habit, she is often shown at the perspective of her feet. It is a combination of traumatic events she endured at a young age and her own preferences that caused her to develop the habit. During her childhood, she was abused by her foster father Zeeself, who made her give back the one pair of shoes he bought for her after he decided she doesn't deserve them, then threw them away when his daughter refused them, forcing Mavis to go without footwear. During her time at Hogwarts, she grows so accustomed to her lack of shoes that even when she has freedom to use shoes again, she absentmindedly forgets to wear them. When Zera notices this and scolds her, Mavis cheerfully replied she feels better barefoot. She has apparently embraced the habit wholeheartedly, as she has not been seen wearing shoes since this incident.

Another noteworthy element of her innocent and gentle nature is that she entertains a belief that angels may exist, after her parents mentioned their existence in a fairy tale back when they were still around. As a result, this eventually inspires her with the name for her book, and is at the core of many of the principles and values it and the vast majority of the students at Hogwarts now have.

For a time, Mavis lost her kindhearted, outgoing, and innocent demeanor. Upon discovering a prophecy that predicted that she would give birth to the sons of one of the darkest wizards of all, she becomes a very frightened shell of her former self, driven to despair and madness. In this state, she starts exhibiting the concentric red eyes that Zeref has, and spends over a year in seclusion, far removed from anywhere she could possibly destroy innocent lives. Consequentially, Mavis's appearance goes from pure yet elegant to badly broken and disheveled. She becomes so hopeless that she tries and fails to end her life through starvation, but, upon seeing how Zeref is suffering from the prophecy just like her, she finds new hope through feelings of empathy and love, resolving to find a way to make sure the prophecy doesn't become true.

However, after she and Zeref gets sent back in time where they eventually have their second son August, with them also being put into a age-less sleep for years until she wakes up again, she regains her original good nature and cheerfulness in response to losing her memories about the prophecy. However, there is a noticeable change in her behavior towards seriousness, because of a combination of lingering darkness, guilt, sadness, and regrets hanging over her as she worries about the consequences of her past, the future of Hogwarts, and the wizarding world.

[yamishika]

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I wish Jellal was allowed to be angry.

Not just sorrowful.

Not just self-sacrificing.

Or self-punishing.

But furious at what was done to him. At the life he lost. At the way he’s expected to carry the weight of actions he wasn’t fully conscious of, with grace and silence.

He’s always shown as composed in his guilt, patient in his atonement—which is admirable. But sometimes it feels like it’s flattening him into a symbol of repentance, and erasing the complexity of what he endured.

He was a child. He was manipulated. He bled, he hurt, and he was twisted into something he didn’t choose.

He lost YEARS of his life in containment, upon containment, upon containment.

Years he’ll never get back.

Jellal is one of the characters who objectively suffered the most in Fairy Tail, but the narrative rarely lets the audience sit with that. His pain is shifted away, reframed through others, or skipped over entirely.

We never really get to see him process it on his own terms.

I guess what I’m trying to say is: I don’t want Jellal to be a parable.

I want him to be a person.

Let him feel what was done to him. Let him process that he was wronged, too—that he’s not just someone who caused pain, but someone who experienced it, deeply. It’s not about removing accountability—it’s about letting him grieve and exist outside of guilt.

He doesn’t need to be calm and noble all the time. That’s not healing. That’s just another kind of silence.

Let Jellal scream. Let him ask why. Let him mourn the life he never got to live—not as a villain, not as a saint, but as someone who deserves that emotional space.

I have a lot of thoughts on Jellal and how his character was handled, and I already have a breakdown/long post coming up which tackles another topic but I might make one for this sentiment too.

But as of now, I just needed to get this part off my chest.

Thank you for listening.

[fairytalk]

Hiro Mashima’s deplorable shtick

Topic of today: Wendy Marvell and Rule 34

As we know Wendy is a main cast member in fairy tail. She is frequently posted with Team Natsu and treated as an icon, which in itself is not a problem. The main issue arises from the publicity that comes with the trope of being an older character while still having the appearance of an underage child. Wendy canonically speaking is 400 years old, which is why artist including Mashima and Ueda get away with fetishizing her character. This gives other artists the ok to draw her under rule 34 soliciting her in a sexual nature. Mavis vermilion is in a similar predicament of age dysmorphia, the difference being that Mavis does not age but is treated like the much older wiser person that she is even as an apparition. Wendy however does age, but still has a youthful appearance because of the time bubble. She just doesn’t get treated the same way Mavis does because it isn’t clear that Wendy is from a relative time period and isn’t a spirit like Mavis. In the beginning Wendy was posted as being only twelve years old and was treated as such, from her appearance to other characters treating her as if she were the younger naive sister. Comments are thrown around about her growing into her clothes, or protecting her sight and hearing from mature situations such as; loke talking about sex, nudity of numerous characters, and even just talking about being in the same bed. They allow her to drink alcohol after all the fuss of protecting her “innocence”, but when things start to pick up in battle she is treated as a full fledged adult again . She deals with healing the heavily injured or fending off enemies that are triple in size compared to her physically small stature. Which in continuously being mocked and pointed out. Speaking of her stature, one of Mashimas infamous gags is to write about her chest size. It does nothing to drive the plot and even if it is a joke it comes off as creepy and derogatory. In one instillation of this moment about her being young and small during the Tartaros arc, pedophilic implications of Mest Gryder ( come on even his name feels like an arbitrary choice) being interested in young women appears as the main cast is shrunken down from a spell that was cast on Erza. He is blushing and appears during the statement of Jellal saying he is ‘not interested in little girls.’ This moment is also backed up by Mest being flustered again (during the Alvarez arc) while he sees Wendy and Carla helping children find there parents. He refers to her as an “angel”. It’s not set evidence of him enacting on any of his strange behavior but it is clear that Mashima used these moments as some nasty satire to make light on a serious topic like pedophilia, only for him to cover it up as if Mest and Wendy have a friendly close relationship, when really Mests subplot relied on him gaining his memories back after being inclined to erase them. Wendy being the one to help him get accepted back into the guild. It pushes the line between friendly admiration and uncomfortable attraction.

It is conclusive that Mashima should have the resources to help him write better story plots, he has bitten off more than he can chew coming up with Edenz zero, Ft100yq, illustrating characters for a game, as well as the recently released manga Dead Rock. Fairy tail is probably his most well known work and what boosted his career after Rave master. It deserves a better conclusion and more care and consideration put into the characters he created. It would not only lessen his workload, it would also help refresh the characters that we would like to see elaborated on considering they are important to his story.

[littletail]

little!juvia fighting with her sibby little!jellal over the toys and they start going at it physically. then jellal starts crying because she bit him. (juvi is a biter) . gray puts her on early nap time and no dessert as a timeout . then erza is giving jellal lectures as usual while treating his bite. them they eventually apologize

Erza and Gray sat at the dining room table in Erza’s place. It was a slow day for them and their Littles, so they used the time to sit and chat with each other regarding anything they could think of. Their day, the Littles, anything.

However, the quiet is often not meant to last.

“So, how’s-” Gray was cut off by some loud arguing coming from the main room. “Oh boy..”

“Let go of it!”

“No, it’s Juvi’s!”

“Oh great..” Gray murmured, rubbing his face. “I’ll go see what they’re fighting over this time.”

He walked out into the hallway, following the sounds of fighting coming from the main room. He was already preparing himself for the loud barrage of excuses, the claims that the other deserved a timeout, and the inevitable complaints when Gray takes the toy away.

He was not prepared for Jellal to suddenly let out a pained cry.

Gray sped up his pace, making it to the room in record time. The first thing he saw was Juvia and Jellal latched together, with Juvia biting Jellal’s arm.

“Juvia Lockser!” Gray snapped. “What has gotten into you?!” he exclaimed as he pried the two of them apart. “We do not bite!”

“He took it from Juvi!” she exclaimed, pointing at him accusingly. Gray gave her a look and she withered slightly under his gaze, “H-he..”

“Does that give you the right to bite him?

“N-no..”

Gray glanced up, watching Erza hurry into the room to kneel next to her sobbing Little. She cooed quietly and held him close as she examined his arm. “You’re not even bleeding. Shh.. It’s okay.. Oh, my poor boy..”

Jellal whined, burying his face in his Caregiver’s chest. Erza picked him up, swinging him gently, “Let’s go get you cleaned up, Baby Boy,” she kissed his temple.

“As for you,” Gray picked up Juvia, “You’ll be getting an early nap today. And you’re not getting any dessert after dinner later.”

Juvia whined.

“None of that. I expected better of you. We both thought you two could have been trusted alone for a few minutes, but apparently we were wrong. I had hoped you two grew out of this fighting over a toy phase..”

Juvia rested her head on Gray’s shoulder as he carried her into the nursery, placing her into the guest crib that Erza had set up for playdates. He tucked her in, then slipped her pacifier into her mouth.

“Sleep well, Raindrop,” he smiled softly. “We’ll talk more when you’re awake.”

Juvia whimpered quietly, prompting Gray to comb his fingers through her hair. “I’ll be back in an hour to wake you up,” he said, then pressed a kiss to her temple. 

She buried her face into the pillow as she curled up under the blanket. With that, Gray stepped out of the room. He walked into the main room, spotting a still distraught Jellal sitting on the couch, averting his eyes as Erza lectured him.

“What have I always said about taking toys from other Littles? You have to ask, Baby..”

“I-I did!” Jellal exclaimed, wiping his eyes with a sniffle, “B-but she said n-no..”

“In that case, you need to respect that and find something else to play with. What have I always said about taking things that aren’t yours?”

“Th-that it was rude..” Jellal admitted, tucking his head into his shoulders.

“That’s right,” Erza said. “For this, you’ll be sitting in timeout. Once you’re done, you’ll be sitting with me for the rest of the day. Once Juvia is awake, the two of you will apologize, and there will be no more playing for you today.”

“Sounds fair to me. The only thing you two will be allowed to keep today will be your comfort plushies, but everything else is being taken away,” Gray stated.

Jellal sighed, lowering his head further, “O-okay..”

“Alright. You know the drill. Corner time, twenty minutes for fighting with Juvia,” Erza ordered, pointing at the timeout chair. Jellal puffed his cheeks out, but did as he was told, not wanting to find himself in further trouble for arguing.

“I thought they had gotten over this fighting over a toy phase. I also hoped Juvia got over this biting phase but it looks like we’ll need to have another talk about that,” Gray said, glancing at Jellal as the Little pouted in the corner.

“We’re also to blame for leaving them. The next time we do one of these playdates, we’ll be there to keep an eye on them,” Erza said, crossing her arms.

“Yep..” Gray sighed, lowering his head slightly.

Once everything was said and done, Juvia was woken up from her nap and taken to the living room, where she was sat across from Jellal.

“Are you two calmed down now?” Gray asked. The two Littles nodded.

“Good, now you two need to apologize to each other,” Erza stated. The Littles looked at each other hesitantly, before averting their gazes. Nobody said anything for a long moment until Jellal murmured, “S-sorry…”

“For..?” Erza prompted, sitting next to him and placing a hand on his shoulder. Jellal inhaled, then said, “Sorry for.. trying to.. take your toy..” 

“Juvi sorry for.. for biting you..” Juvia said, wringing her hands.

“What do we do when someone’s trying to take from us?” Gray asked. Juvia slowly lifted her head, “Tell Papa.”

“That’s right! What do we not do?”

“We don’t bite..” Juvia said, placing her hands in her lap. “Exactly,” Gray smiled.

“And Jellal, what do we do when we want something?” Erza prompted. Jellal sighed, “We ask…”

“And when we’re told no?”

“We accept it.. and stop pushin’..”

“Good boy,” she ruffled his hair. He giggled happily.

“As we said before, there will be no more playing for today, and the playdate is over,” Erza said. Both Littles sulked.

“But we can try again next week,” Gray said. “We’re not going to stop the playdates over a spat. We just expect you two to behave next time, okay?”

“We will,” the two synchronized.

[itefi-n-ferlet]

🌌 Jellal 🌌

I wonder if he does this all the time he is in a hotel? Sits by the window, watching at the sky. I wonder if being surround by 4 walls makes him feel a bit "trap", a bit less "free"? As we know how much freedom means to him & how most of his life he has being a type of slave...

Probably staring at the sky allows him to feel better, less lonely..., watching at the stars... the ones that gave him his magic. I hope that in near future he gets the company he deserves, the scarlet company he dreams... 💙❤️

Btw, I want to be that window and reflect his beautiful face!!! Im jealous of a window... 😭❤️💙

..

[hoicacti]

I need to talk about Fairy Tail or I'm going to explode

Some spoilers ahead. Not for 100 Year Quest or the latest season though

So:

Episodes 31 and 32 of s1 are my favorites so far (have been since I was a kid. This opinion might change as I haven't seen the latest season or 100 Year Quest). I love "the power of friendship" stuff. Lucy literally trying to force Loke into the spirit world and forcefully close his gate. Lucy gaining the attention of the Spirit King and giving him a piece of her mind because she loves Loke and he is her friend, even if he avoided her before then

I find it hilarious how different Loke is before and after becoming Lucy's spirit. Before he actively avoided her and literally ran away from her, but after he literally projected "I love you lucy" into the sky

I love Natsu's smile so much

Look at it!!!

He is adorable and I love him. I need to rustle his hair and give him a hug

Natsu and Erza's friendship!!! Ugh I love it so much and I am so glad I'll get to see more of it

I do love myself a reoccurring villain but not like this. How many Jellal's are there?! (Not actually annoyed)

Wendy! She was my favorite as a kid, alongside Natsu. I walked into my parent's room one day while they were watching Fairy Tail and she was on screen. I stayed and watched for awhile with them. Eventually I learned the name of the show and fell in love with it. Wendy dragged me into Fairy Tail, basically lmao. Now it's the 100 Year Quest that's dragging me into it again

I'm rewatching Fairy Tail so I can better understand the newest season and the 100 Year Quest

The few ships I have:

Nalu forever. Little me shipped it before even knowing what a ship was and I still do

Now, this one is a hear me out

Igneel x Gildarts

Hear me out!!! ... I have nothing to say. I just like it. My thought process that formed this is similar to KuniBram. Gildarts is a father figure of sorts to Natsu and Igneel is Natsu's dad. What if they kissed? It would look a bit funny considering Igneel is a gigantic dragon but oh well

I kinda want to make fanart of them, but I'd like to establish myself as a nice and chill person in the Fairy Tail fandom first before showing off my rarepairs

Would this count as a crackship?

I'm not a fan of Lissana's dub voice acting

I have so many headcanons

Natsu had trouble adjusting to society and learning social conventions and he finds so many stupid so he ignores them. He was raised by a dragon, what did ya expect

(dragon therian natsu) cough cough, who said that?

T4T Nalu!!! Transmasc Natsu, transfem Lucy! They're both het. Although, Lucy has experimented with girls before saying they aren't for her

Lucy's dad may be neglectful, but he ain't transphobic!

Lucy wants a pet cat but says that Happy is good enough. Happy is miffed by this because he isn't a pet. Lucy is just worried about it having no one to take care of it while they're gone on long quests, or worse, die on one

Lucy and Levy regularly go on girls days together

Speaking of Levy! I love how she basically has two cheerleaders, they deserves it

I keep on using she/they for Levy without meaning to. The pronouns chose themselves

I love Fairy Tail so much

Despite being a Nalu shipper, I'm not a truther and wouldn't be as compelled towards the ship if it happened in canon. Dunno why ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I love the amount of friendship in Fairy Tail