#jelzorz

[raayllum]

DVD commentary for:

“Was your love for my father just not a big enough motivation, then?” Ezran sneered, setting the box down. He was tired of the damn thing. “Cause I really don’t see how you love my father and betray him like that. Lie to him—steal from him!” He looked up, then, furious.

Viren blinked slowly in the dim light, and Ezran waited, glowering eyes demanding an answer.

Each time he said something like this or threw a barb Viren’s way, he expected the man to close off and ignore him. Tell him to get out. It wasn’t as though Viren had ever been particularly warm even in Ezran’s even younger youth (perhaps he had been when Callum was young, not that Ez would know) but he’d never been open, either. Most days Ezran didn’t even make Viren hold the truth crystal anymore.

Yet Viren always answered, eventually. Maybe dying and coming back to life really had done a number on him. Or living in the dungeons was just humbling in a way he’d desperately needed.

“Dark mages have a certain disposition to them,” Viren said, voice soft with recollection of his mentor perhaps. Another who’d been gone even before Ezran’s birth. “We are constantly weighing things. The sheen of a feather, the length of a bone, the heaviness of a heart, animal or otherwise. One life for another, or many. Or many lives for one. Sometimes our scales become lacking.” Viren smiled ruefully. “When Harrow told me he had chosen Lady Justice’s blindfold instead of the swords or the scales, I told him he was a fool. But I was the most foolish in the end.”

“You, a fool?” Ezran surmised. “That seems about right.”

“I weighed things incorrectly, each time,” Viren said. “It is not so easy to see the truth when it could tear apart all you hold dear. All that you’ve sacrificed. At a certain point, I had to prove that Harrow wasn’t right because I couldn’t bear to be wrong, or admit that I was too swept up in the past. I thought he had betrayed him first, so I thought I was right in betraying him. I did not see how you could move on without just ignoring it.”

Ezran picked up the box for something to do, keeping his eyes stubbornly on it as he went through the final steps. He refused to meet Viren’s quietly prying gaze. He was the king, the interrogator here. He wasn’t about to put up with whatever bullshit Viren was going to spew. The box clicked open. He didn’t want—

“Where is your brother, King Ezran?”

“He’s not here,” Ezran said roughly, snapping the box shut again. “Isn’t that enough? He’s—he’s off saving the stupid elf you imprisoned.”

It was Viren’s fault that the egg had been stolen and the assassins had come to the castle. It was the elf’s fault for slaughtering his father when he knew the egg lived. It was Viren’s fault for imprisoning the elf and setting this whole thing in motion.

If Ezran had found the elf in the castle dungeons, he might’ve bore his grief better, seeing a real person’s eyes. Rayla could’ve taken him away and Ezran never would’ve had to deal with it. Callum neither. Maybe Rayla never would’ve left.

But no. Viren and the Moonshadow elf just had to have his father’s blood on their hands, a red that Ezran couldn’t unsee no matter how hard he tried.

“No wonder you are so incensed,” Viren remarked.

Ezran got to his feet. “I am not—”

“It’s natural, Your Majesty, to feel angry. Especially when someone takes something from you. Or they break your trust.”

“Do not counsel me,” Ezran snapped, “you are not—”

“It’s hard,” Viren said, rising. His chains rattled around his wrists. “When someone makes a choice we cannot understand. To leave. When Soren left—”

“Callum is nothing like Soren!” Ezran burst, and he threw the empty box on the ground. One of the sides popped off. Viren’s eyebrows rose in alarm, but Ezran wished he looked more perturbed—scared, maybe, even—as Ezran glared at him. “He’s far too much like you, ” Ezran spat.

Then he turned on his heel and left, slamming the door behind him.

So there's a few different layers here:

Ezran has been wrestling with Callum's 'betrayal' and difference of opinion since Ch4 — the following scene in Ch10 — and having Viren at the castle exacerbates this, of course. Callum, like Viren, stole Ezran's seal, to free the elf (the problem) that Viren imprisoned (caused). This absence leaves the high mage position open, and Ezran needing Viren's help to open Kpp'Ar's box causes him to rely on Viren in ways he would've on Callum if Callum had been there. So the similarities between the two are already being heavily conflated in Ez's mind (if Viren could love and betray his father, then Callum can betray but still love him).

And in this way Viren is a very good outlet for Ezran's anger. Ezran has all the power in the situation (literally, physically, etc) and he has something Viren wants, so Viren has more inclination to be on his best behaviour / agreeable. Doesn't mean he's not snarky or frustrated, but that to me was why Viren is like being Honest about things he normally wouldn't be (+ all his character development in canon s4 and s5, particularly with Terry and reflecting on his own choices).

Viren's speech about weighing lives is also what Viren has consistently done in canon, and while it harkens back to Harrow (which is also supposed to put internal pressure on whether Ezran is being a Just king or not) it's also very evident set up for CHET in later chapters as well as the heart weighing ceremony Callum and Rayla participate in later this same chapter.

I also always like writing Viren and Ezran scenes in the fic because Ezran is a good embodiment of all of Viren's more grievous failures — this Ezran is angry and grieving largely the way Claudia (who Viren wants to save) is, he has the immense loyalty of Soren which of course stings, and Ezran is a stand in for Harrow for Viren as much as Viren is a stand in for Callum on Ezran's end of the things. They're both channeling and expressing a lot of their feelings towards other people in their dynamic with each other, but at the same time and largely with awareness that they're doing so, and it's a lot of fun to play around in.

That, and I'll never let my "Viren is Ezran's godfather" headcanon go, and he would've cared for the boys once upon a time, so him now being someone who can offer counsel / advice and it won't be terrible is also fun, even if Ezran doesn't want another high mage to tell him that he's wrong.

And while it wasn't intentional re: a comparison, thinking on it now, I think it says a lot that when Callum compares Terry to Ezran in Ch6:

Callum cursed under his breath and, patience suddenly snapping, Terry cried, “If you’re going to be so against our choices, then why give Claudia another tool, huh, by saving me? Why save me at all—” “Because you remind me of my brother!” Callum burst, chest heaving. “And we left on bad terms, and... I’ve had enough senseless violence and death to last me a lifetime. Is that a good enough answer for you?”

It's a reason for Callum to extend compassion / second chances and act very much like himself, but also very Ezran-y (the Ezran Callum loves and remembers most fiercely, but is confused about why that side of his little brother seems to be gone). Versus here, Ezran's assessment that Callum is like Viren is a reason to destroy things, leave, and express anger.

+ bonus Ezran's assessment of "fool seems about right" for Viren is a parallel to Rayla's assessment of Callum being a fool in 1x05 ("she might've called me a fool!" "yeah, fool seems about right") and a reference to Callum and Viren being The Fool in Tarot (to me).

Only time will tell where each of these bond / relationship threads go. It's not for a while now but the broyals reunion will be Interesting to say the least

[lovelysheree]

@jelzorz peekaboo

Soren and Opeli~ bc they deserve fanart 😤

Just a cute walk through the garden. (Also more to come probs)

[lunanightriderofthecove]

Since you can't buy fanfiction as actual books I started a project of binding my favourites myself back in January. During my training to become a librarian I spent a few weeks in the library's bookbinder workshop and learned everything I needed for this project. The steps I didn't remember were helpfully provided by the internet.

So far I finished 5 books, with another 17 stories ready to be formatted and then printed.

If you're interested, the photos and details are under the cut. But: this is no manual on how to do it, just a post about a little bit of the progress and the finished products.

Alright, if you're still here, I guess you want to see the photos.

The only picture I took of the sewing process. That part was honestly the most fun.

Trying out the fitting of the cover before glueing it on.

That's what the book looks like before I glue on the cover...

... and after the glueing. (No, this is not the same book. As I mentioned, I made 5 😆)

Since I don't have any other way to do it I wrote the title and, if the space was enough, the author on the spine.

The same book finished. I'm in love with the paper I used for this 😍

And here are all 5. The marble effect fabric was definitely worth the money. It looks even prettier irl 😍

Can't wait to continue with the others, but need to get a few more materials first.

If you're interested, here's the full list of the fics I bound so far, including links to the stories:

Out of Time by @zuppizup

A Snowfall Kind of Love by @jelzorz

Ichor and Blood by im_too_tired_for_this

A Dragon Kiss always ends in Ashes by purplejaguar326156

Looking for a Way to break in by @thosefiveadoraburrs and @raayllum

I'll update this whenever I'm working on the next one.

[rayllum-weekly]

Rayllum Week 45

Meta

I am Near, I am Here: Rayla, the Moon, and Love as Presence by @kradogsrats

Graphics and edits

Ocean Arcanum Poem edit by @sorinethemastermind

Hadestown - Promises gif set by @celestialowlryx

I’ll spare you from everything edit by @raayllum

The Dragon Prince + text posts (part 22) by @celestialowlryx

Sharpest tool AMV by @amys-books27

RAYLLUM S6 MEME: little moments by @raayllum

Eurydice, Sarah Ruhl edit by @raayllum

Hadestown - All I've Ever Known gif set by @celestialowlryx

S6 Rayla + loving Callum by @raayllum

Leola gif set by @celestialowlryx

You said I'm the love of your life edit by @raayllum

RAYLLUM S6 MEME: [1/6] looks, 6x05 “moonless night” by @raayllum

Fanart

Rayllum fan art by @otomesakura20

Comfort by @temerity14

Rayllum meme art by @tategaminu

Magic and Warrior by @viola1698

A moment of quiet by @temerity14 - Added

New Fanfic

Lullaby ficlet by @starwberryshenanigans

Book date ficlet by @zuppizup

Moonstrider pup ficlet by @zuppizup

Running hot ficlet by @zuppizup

Eye-crusties by @parsbooks

put your feet in the river, and swim by @a-very-sparkly-nerd

195a by @jelzorz

Up-dated Fanfic

The Lavender Inn by @dargorian

In the Shadow of Betrayal: Chapter 10 by @temerity14

Deathly Power: (4/4) by @sorinethemastermind

I’ll Give You My Life (From Now Till Forever) by @thatartiststudios

A Dark Alternative: Chapter 17 by @zuppizup

Hello Satan: Chapter 16 by @estelleraixx

Something Worth Fighting For: Chapter 18 by @konmaao3

Downtime's Up - Chapter 21 by @numptypylon

[its-leethee]

Sorpeli fanart inspired by @jelzorz's absolutely gorgeous fic (and extended 'verse) The Fruit; because this ship and this fic deserve more attention:

"There's plenty more, they won't miss out." Soren grins at her, handsome and easy and lopsided, the sun like gold in his hair. He's been taller than her for years, but it's still a shock sometimes. "Here." He tugs her hood down before she can argue and sets the flowers in her hair, petals soft against the silver of her circlet. "Pretty."

[sorinethemastermind]

Is this a Sorpeli phone wallpaper? Yes... yes, maybe it is.

I blame @jelzorz and their fics.

[thatartiststudios]

Sorpeli AMV | Love You in My Mind - Brynn Cartelli

Hallelujah, the day has come! Just wrapped this up in a few hours and I couldn’t be more happy, and it’s all thanks to 6x08 really. Without it, I wouldn’t have had anywhere near enough footage for this!

This is for @raayllum and @jelzorz, and any other Sorpeli fans out there!

Oh this makes me so happy you don’t even know

[nothingmorethanageminiboar]

I feel super-duper-duper mentally drained, so all of these lovely people can have a virtual hug!!

@blutopaz15 @zuppizup @jelzorz @jennazed @no-cinnamon-for-synonym @arnieb95 @ac0531 @shiramoonshadow @sapphofinch @heroesandmasterminds @iwillhaveamoonbase @acronymking4tdp @bleachfreak21 @imminent-danger-came @ripple-rapple

And anyone else who would like a hug, may have one as well~!!

[kazisgirlfriend]

Viren, TDP, and Narcissism

The Dragon Prince has never shied away from depicting mental health issues.

First we had trauma as manifested by magic.

Then we had anxiety as manifested by magic.

Then we had a look at PTSD and depression in Through the Moon.

Which got me thinking, what sort of other mental health issues has TDP been portraying all this time?

Then it sorta hit me, after re-reading one of the show's novels and @jelzorz's rather brilliant fic here (seriously, go check it out), that the show had been exploring a mental disorder that is extremely popular as a character trait, but rarely discussed in fiction - narcissism.

Narcissism (or Narcissistic Personality Disorder) is one of the more common personality disorders, so it's kind of surprising that it is so widely misunderstood. Usually, people don't seem to have a lot of interest in narcissists outside of demonizing them, and in shows they often make great antagonists (or even fun protagonists) without exploring this inner psyche much more beyond that. So it's natural that narcissism is also explored in TDP as well.

If the title wasn't a dead giveaway, what I'm trying to say is Lord Viren is a narcissist.

I should probably preface this with a couple things. First, I'm not saying that Viren is a psychopath. Psychopaths don't really care what other people think of them, while narcissists are constantly preoccupied with how other people see them. Narcissists deeply crave validation and respect from others to feed their egos and self-worth. Narcissists also don't have a problem telling right from wrong; quite the opposite, in some ways narcissists are not only able to tell right from wrong, they for the most part want to do right because of their desire to be liked or at least as seen as important.

Viren doesn't qualify as a psychopath, but in re-reading his POV and rewatching key scenes from the show, Viren quite easily meets the official definition of a narcissist. His desire for recognition, even and especially in high-stress situations, reaches alarming levels. His love for his children is genuine but it's clear he sees them mainly as an extension of himself.

More importantly, of the nine signs of narcissistic personality disorder, Viren meets a,uh, breathtaking number of them. Namely all of them.

A grandiose sense of self-importance

Viren kept his gaze steady. It seemed the other rulers had not doubted his lie. They accepted at face value not only that Ezran was alive, but that Viren had been made regent. And why wouldn’t they accept it? In a more rational world, it would be true, and the council would have entrusted me with the leadership of Katolis.

Book 2: Sky - Chapter 17 "Summit at the Pentarchy"

Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited power, influence, or success 

For once, can't these imbeciles treat me appropriately? Maybe when I save them all from Xadia I'll be greeted with greater respect. "I suppose 'Welcome Lord Viren' would have been too much to ask," Viren said.

Book 2: Sky - Chapter 17 "Summit at the Pentarchy"

A belief that they are special and can only be around people who are important or special

They all want to meet with you. They think of you as the leader of Katolis. Viren could barely wait for the meeting. These leaders had only seen him on the sidelines. But he knew all about them.

Book 2: Sky - Chapter 17 "Summit at the Pentarchy"

A need for excessive admiration

Was he really ready to give his life for thousands of regular citizens? People he didn't know and would never meet? But on the other hand, he would be remembered forever as a hero. "I can help," Viren said to Harrow.

Book 2: Sky - Chapter 19 "Heart of the Titan"

A sense of entitlement

Viren’s face went white with rage. He’d come here with the best of intentions, prepared to give his life, and the king was too stubborn to even listen. He curled one lip up. “Oh, are you sure you wouldn’t prefer ‘Your Royal Highness’? Or ‘Your Esteemed Inimitable Majesty’ perhaps?” Harrow didn’t deserve the loyalty Viren had been prepared to offer.

Book 2: Sky - Chapter 9 "Viren's sacrifice"

Taking advantage of others to achieve their own ends

A lack of empathy

“Ohhhh. Yes, who wouldn’t have a problem with dark magic?” Viren sneered. “It’s clever, it’s brilliant, it’s practical. You are too stubborn to make use of the tools that are available to you. It will save your life, just as it has saved the lives of countless others.” “It’s a shortcut,” King Harrow snapped back. “We may not pay now, but we will pay the blood price eventually.” “Now you’re starting to sound like her,” Viren said with a smirk.

Book 1: Sky - Chapter 5 "The Letter and the Serpent"

Envious of others or believe that others are envious of them

Arrogance of otherwise haughty behavior

Viren laughed derisively. Such a question could only come from an ignoramus. He looked at the other council members and shook his head, trying to bring them into his confidence.

Book 2: Sky - Chapter 2 "The Breach"

Viren's narcissism drives his central flaws. His hunger for personal recognition eclipses his concern for collective welfare, even when Katolis faces catastrophe. His children become conduits projecting his ambitious legacy rather than cherished loves unto themselves.

However, unlike most shows, TDP doesn't use Viren's narcissism to demonize him. Instead, the show threads the needle by making Viren both villainous and sympathetic as a result of narcissism, since it's both the reason he does awful things but also his shield from the perception of vulnerability and worthlessness.

It's important to remember that narcissists are not only capable of self-loathing, it is often a key part of their condition. That grandiose sense of important mentioned earlier is often a thin veneer hiding feelings of shame, self-doubt, and self-hatred. Obsessive self-loathing is a form of narcissism.

But the show lays bare these vulnerabilities, letting us see his internal struggles to do right constantly brush against his emotional needs that never seem to be met. He walks right up to the line of doing something noble...

...and then shirks at the last minute.

However, just because Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a chronic, lifelong condition doesn't mean that narcissists are incapable of change. And indeed, Viren hits a breakthrough in the most recent season.

One element of narcissism is that they love extremely conditionally, and see their loved ones (particularly their children) as an extension of themselves. Indeed, Viren does "love" his children in this way, particularly Claudia, who he sees as people he can mold into his own image. Unfortunately, for Claudia, this seems to have Gone Horribly Right.

But in the end, Viren recognizes his own behavior and breaks out of it. He sees how pushing Claudia to be like him - to be an extension of himself - has brought her to ruin.

While it's fun to watch characters who are blind to their own faults and lack of self awareness, it is equally rewarding watching Viren reach this moment of clarity. Most narcissists are oblivious to the harm they cause others (since hurtful behavior is just collateral damage to having their emotional needs met), but Viren now realizes the harm he has caused Claudia. Witnessing Claudia’s self-destruction, his conscience awakens to recognize his culpability for exploiting her for his own ego.

Treating her downfall as his personal failing is a real breakthrough for him. Which is why it makes sense that, once Viren reaches this level of awareness, taking a principled, noble stance against his own personal interests quickly follows.

Anyway, those are just my takes on this deep, complex character. If you made it this far, thank you for reading!

[raayllum]

Cube Hostage Exchange Theory, for Real This Time

Intro

A few days after Through the Moon came out in September 2020, I made a throwaway theory post about a potential Rayllum reconciliation scenario in which Rayla would be taken captive / threatened by the antagonists, and Callum would hand over the Key of Aaravos in order to save her life.

In the almost four years since then, the theory has blossomed into much more than it started as, largely due to people's amazing art and fic inspired by it, and by the enthusiasm it's been received with, and for those things I will always be eternally, deeply grateful for.

The theory (henceforth CHET, an acronym coined by @jelzorz) has likewise gone through many metas (some of which will be referenced and linked to here when applicable), 20+ pages alone on my blog, with surprising leaps in popularity and plausibility, and multiple variations, both within the theorizing space and within canon itself (5x08, you will always be famous).

There's also been many moments of doubt.

As much as everything seemed to make sense even as Rayllum's post-TTM reunion went on, there was still so much left that was perpetually speculative. We didn't even know if Aaravos would want his cube back, which was one of the theories' many lynchpins, and TDP loves to be subversive (within reason) and throw curveballs I never saw coming, like Terry's wonderful existence or Sol Regem's swerve to attacking Katolis. I've speculated alternative uses for the Key to high heaven (as Aaravos' missing heart piece, a key to the Star Nexus or realm, the key to his prison, and sometimes all three simultaneously as a power up he needs to free himself and wreck celestial havoc). The closest I got to was it being a literal key and related to something Aaravos would want/need back, and indeed a power up, and that he did need a quasar diamond to get out of his prison and that one was in the staff and not also in the Key. Not bad, but definitely missing some marks.

That is to say that there could still be curve balls or swerves, and a theory isn't set in stone as happening until it happens. After all, I've been fully prepared to pack the theory up and for it to not happen three times now (going into S4, particularly S5, and S6). When the S4 finale did indeed have a hostage exchange involving Rayla and Claudia and a boyfriend, I chuckled and figured we might not repeat a plot beat like that again; when 5x08 did it twice, I was overjoyed at getting the exact irony of "Callum literally frees Rayla while chaining himself further to Aaravos' will" that I'd always wanted. 5x08 was, and is, enough for me; if S7 never takes it further, I'll still be pleased as punch.

However, after four years of hemming and hawing and going into seasons preparing for curveballs... I'm pleased to say I finally don't have any doubt.

And here's why.

Sections:

Background

The Cube and the Game Motif

Neon Lights, Narrative Set Up and Pay Off (6x03, S6)

The Knowledge Motif Thread Detour

Tests of Love (Leola, Chaos, and Love)

Alternatives (no possession, third path, Rayla handing over the cube, etc)

Conclusion

Background

First, a little background. Any relevant information in the metas listed below will be summarized / explained / alluded to accordingly for your benefit, but it is a good luck at 1) how the theory has evolved over time and 2) will be drawing in relevant aspects from said metas when discussing season 6.

Previous proper CHET metas include (in chronological order):

The Original Theory Post / Meta (Oct 2020, post-TTM)

Rayllum and Rayla's Weird Consistency with the Key (March 2022, pre-S4)

Rayla's Duality as Callum's Salvation and Destruction (Aug 2022, pre-S4)

CHET: End of Days (Nov 2022, pre-S4)

Opposing Cube Symbolism in 2x08 (Dec 2022, post-S4)

Here's How It Can Still Win (Dec 2022, post-S4)

Aaravos and Rayla as Callum's Two Paths (May 2023, pre-S5)

Shorter post-S6 meta

Things that are useful to our meta here ultimately, however, with a couple of S6 updates in later sections are

THE GAME MOTIF

This refers to a repeated visual and verbal literal and metaphorical motif running throughout the series. Although not exclusive to him, 90% of the time the Game Motif is in relation to Aaravos. It is most prominent when discussing the Key of Aaravos in arc 1 ("This is the game room. Cube should be in there" / "It's a glow toy" literally / "Are you practicing magic or are you losing to Bait at a game of rolly-cubes?") with one 'throwaway' line from Viren to Aaravos in 2x08: "What game are you playing at?"

This then took on a much more prominent focus in arc 2 thanks to the pawn intros and lines from various characters, such as Zubeia's assessment that "We had to beat Aaravos at his own game," Viren's reservations that "I believe Aaravos may be toying with us," Ezran's "His pawns are working to free him even as we speak."

Much of this has been rather set in stone for a while now (one of the TDP's shorts did, though, excitingly link Aaravos' test of love to the game motif, with the line "They aren’t games. They’re tests") but S6 did add some very exciting overlap with Aaravos' game and dark magic, which is fitting given that the two are deeply intertwined: "Because you're too good for dark magic, now? You had a lifetime to play with your toys, and now you decide to hide them away and destroy them?" (Viren to Kpp'Ar about the staff, 6x06.)

We also see occasional overlap with this motif and the stage motif ("You've played your part well" in 6x08 to Sol Regem / "Aaravos chose as his instruments..." + "You will perform acts of love so unforgivable..." in 4x04) as you can play a game, and play your role in a theatrical performance. Or in Callum's case, as a puppet who is "destined to play right into" Aaravos' hands.

PRIMAL STONE FORESHADOWING

As Callum discusses in 2x02 directly, he broke Claudia's stolen primal stone on purpose (not by accident) because he had "a good reason". The comparison later on in the same season, then, that the whole world is like a giant primal stone, and Callum's tendency towards breaking things (specifically magical objects) we well as the emphasis on "breaking the cycle" therefore felt like setup. It also felt particularly apt given Aaravos' wish expressed in Patience that:

I have not seen the stars in centuries. But when I see them again—when the stars are forced to look upon me, their dark brother—they will know how I have waited. And when everything they have built lies shattered, I will savor their fall from the sky.

S6 also affirmed this by associating the primal magic that Leola 'gave' to humans the "first step in a long spiral towards Callum," and what that might mean for Callum, someone who is uniquely a primal mage and has used dark magic. The fact that Aaravos and his key (remember that game motif) are associated with the book of / primal magic as well as dark magic reinforces this duality further.

Who better to shatter the Cosmic Order and known world for the worst better than the boy who is already shattering it for the best?

LIGHT AND DARKNESS

The cube and Aaravos are associated with both light and dark, not only in design, but in magic systems. Aaravos and dark magic are routinely related to darkness ("because I have followed a dark path" / "the darkness and corruption will overwhelm you" / "and my favourite, the human mage, already tainted by darkness" / "in darkness, gaze upon a fallen star"). This is fairly straightforward, as Rayla represents literal light (which we'll get to in S6 in a moment) that heals Callum's broken spirit and rescinds Aaravos' control over him. Note, for example, the way she's shrouded in light in clear opposition to Aaravos' mirror right next to her, with Callum facing ahead towards both of them.

However, it's not that simple, because light can also be seen as a bad thing, such as the possession eyes, Karim's desire to "return the light/sun" to his people, the cube-moon opal's light on the Bridge of Darkness in 4x07 leading to danger, dark magic turning your hair white, and most notably, the way the pawn becomes a literal glow toy in the 4x04 / 5x08 pawn intro.

The light of the cube — perhaps the light in general — is not going to be exclusive in playing into Aaravos' hands. In the mirror-Rayla screenshot, for example, the path towards Rayla is embodied by the shadow she casts on the floor (similar to how regularly Claudia is portrayed in Viren's shadow in S6).

And, speaking of light...

RAYLA AS CALLUM'S PATH, SINGULAR

As speculated pre-S4, Rayla represents light, truth, and love in Callum's life. This was then canonized in 6x06. Post-S4, it seemed overtly evident that Rayla was being set up further to represent a path in opposition to Aaravos. She would save Callum from being Aaravos' prey, she was the Light and reminder of agency to Aaravos' Darkness and stripping of agency. "What if I'm on a path of darkness?" "Then take another path, dummy." This was, of course, all in line with the previous light-darkness and game motif described above. Rayla couldn't, and won't, kill Callum permanently after all if at all, so she has to save him instead.

However, it was also pretty clear following S4 and especially S5 that the razor's edge between salvation and destruction, as embodied by Rayla being the reason he was in Aaravos' clutches in the first place (getting him the cube, being his motivation behind doing dark magic), would eventually merge. Her love would ultimately save him, but it would destroy him first.

This has, of course, been their pattern throughout the series: Rayla comes into his life, causing him to turn/destroy his relationship with Claudia and put him in danger, but she's also what pushes him to do magic for the first time; he follows her off the Pinnacle at great risk to himself, but his love for her helps centre him enough that he can save them both; she is the reason he does dark magic (twice), but is also what fixes his broken spirit during the star-light trial ritual.

Because she's not just the other path in opposition to Aaravos. She is his path, singular.

If you're interested in more of this, I'd recommend my one about the layers of Rayla being Callum's One Truth in greater detail, as well as general speculation of their arc in S7, some of which will be referenced/summarized here as well.

With all that out of the way, let's get into it

The Cube and the Game Motif

Anyone who knows me knows that the Game Motif is my favourite motif in TDP (which is saying something) and that said motif has been a long standing cornerstone of CHET. This is mostly because, as noted, in arc 1 the Game Motif existed almost exclusively with the cube down to its introduction.

CALLUM: This is the game room. Cube should be in there. (1x04)

CALLUM: Last night you thought the cube was just a worthless toy. But now we know— RAYLA: It's a glow toy. (1x05)

The Game Motif was also associated with Aaravos sparsely in arc 1 ("What game are you playing?" Viren demands in 2x08, and never receives the answer / "Well played. She will be a valuable asset") and magic itself ("Is this a guessing game? Just do it!") although to a lesser degree. There were also nods to the imbalance of power in Xadia, with Harrow noting, "Entire armies have crumbled and fallen like toys before [Avizandum]. How can we hope to kill such a godly creature?"

Then, as noted in arc 2, the game motif went from being associated just with the cube to being associated with Aaravos outright, both verbally through dialogue and literally in the pawn intros. This is what I call a motif expansion, where something moves from subtext to text. It is somewhat similar to a merger, where two previously separate associations are brought into being one in the same. This is initially how the cube operates, since the game motif is ongoing whereas Callum's statement of "You wait here, however long it takes, I'll go find a key" in 1x04 is only made foreshadowing in 2x06 when he learns it's called the Key of Aaravos.

2x07 takes this further, though, with this dialogue exchange:

CALLUM: [Holding the cube] What do you think this thing is, anyway? He said it was a key, but a key to what? RAYLA: Are you practicing magic, or are you losing to Bait at a game of rolly-cubes?

For example, here we see the Key analogue/association and the game motif be linked together. TDP does this a few more times with Aaravos' key becoming associated with light (4x04/5x08), destiny dark magic (2x08, 4x04), secrets/mysteries (2x07, 2x06) and more. A lot of this is, of course, because Aaravos is likewise associated with all these things, and the Key is tethered to him and his plot line / motifs and associations.

The game motif does exist outside of the cube's associations — Ezran's pattern of hide and seek represents his childhood innocence, his tendency to run and hide when things get hard, and him shedding both these patterns as they attempt to find

The most interesting thing that S6 did on this note, then, was make the game motif associated not just with magic, but very specifically with dark magic:

VIREN: Because you're too good for dark magic now? You had a lifetime to play with your toys, and now you decide to hide them all away or destroy them? (6x06)

Why am I screaming about this, you may ask? Well, the Staff of Ziard is about as synonymous with dark magic as a thing can get in TDP. It too belonged originally to Aaravos, and became a cornerstone in his grand plan, at least of getting out of the prison.

HARROW: It belonged to an elven wizard in Xadia, the Archmage Aaravos, a master of all six primal sources. (2x06) IBIS: If you seek to return that staff to its true owner, you pose a greater danger to the world than I can allow. (4x03)

So the Staff is a toy, and dark magic, and belonged to Aaravos, and used in his plans, brought directly to him by Viren (indirectly) and Claudia (directly). And the Key is also referred to as a toy, is also in the possession of another pawn, and has also been hidden and/or 'should' be destroyed. A knowledge of primal magic, at least in terms of how it manifests in creatures/locations, is also required in order to be a successful dark mage.

So not only is Aaravos and the key tied directly to the game motif, but through Viren's exchange with Kpp'Ar, so is dark magic. In many ways, this takes what was subtext — dark magic is what allows Aaravos to puppet and manipulate people such as his pawns, and keep the Cycle (his game) going, even if he's not what directly started it (that was the Cosmic Order/Council) — and makes it text. Aaravos' toys are toys ultimately because of their tethers to magic, typically dark magic as well, and his objects of choice, such as the Staff or the Key or how he puppets his pawns, are not exceptions. (There's potential for primal magic as well, of course, but it's currently not as direct).

We also know, thanks to Arc 2, that the Key and Staff are more similar to one another than we might've thought in terms of their purposes in Aaravos' plan. I'd speculated in the past that the Staff and/or the Key held quasar diamonds that Aaravos needed for some power-up purpose; the Staff had the diamond needed for his body contingency plan, and the Key is needed for his primal book to operate and presumably be found, so that he can be at full power.

Furthermore, we have a pattern of dialogue about the Key / game motif eventually becoming literal. The cube is called a glow toy, and then in the pawn intro is revealed to be a literal glow toy; Callum says "what if it's magic?" in 1x04 and we discover that it opens up a book of all primal magic; it's foreshadowed loosely as a key, and it is a key; Rayla asks if Callum is losing a game, and he's embroiled in Aaravos' game as a pawn. Callum will win eventually, of course, as will everyone else... but he has to lose, really lose, first.

After all, every other line regarding the cube has come to fruition other than three:

"This is the game room. The cube should be in there" and "I'll go find a key" from 1x04 have both come back around. "It's a glow toy" from 1x05 ended up being true as well, with the cube flashing a bright light in Callum's pawn intro (and even the cube being included in the pawn intro). The Key's secrets are things Callum is currently investigating (6x02) and will likely fully discover in S7, possibly leading him to Aaravos' book or something else near Elarion and the thematic culmination of the Mystery of Aaravos. Callum's notice that the key seems to be glowing differently in 1x09 is revealed to be true because of the Moon Nexus. Rayla's line in 2x07 about losing the game to Bait is true in 5x08 as he practices magic (both dark and primal) in order to save her from being literal bait, even if that means taking a step closer to Aaravos and 'losing' the game. I expect Callum's assessment of "No good can come from it" (4x07) will ultimately be untrue if it helps him study primal magic ("What if it's magic? [...] I just have a feeling this cube thing can help me"), and Rayla's decision of "Let's go get your cube" is likely going to be true by the end of S7, with Callum reclaiming ownership completely this time.

So let's talk about the three lines that haven't come to fruition yet, because they paint a pretty apt picture:

So in the biggest notion of currently untapped set up, Rayla after being the first to declaring the damn cube a toy says "I hope it was worth it to you putting everyone's lives in danger." The thing is that this it's not like this line doesn't work in context, it very well does; someone could've gotten hurt and Rayla was nearly killed. This is also a sort spot for her because she'd just done the same thing in 1x01, putting her troupe in danger, so of course she's extra (somewhat fairly, somewhat unfairly) miffed at new mage boy repeating her mistakes as well.

Games (and chess) are all about patience, exchange, and sacrifice. We know now that the cube is something powerful, why it is, what it unlocks, and why Aaravos has the incentive to want it back (which as stated was an assumption before).

But the fact remains that the game motif has been tied to the cube to the start and continues to be. Callum's test of either playing into Aaravos' hands and coming back from it (the option that I lean towards) or outright rejecting it again cannot be fulfilled until the cube pawn intro has come full circle.

So let's talk about

Neon Lights, Narrative Set Up and Pay Off (6x03, S6)

As you can garner from this meta and any of my previous ones that have touched on this theory, there were a lot of assumptions that had to go into it. I had to assume, prior to season six, that Aaravos would even want the cue back. I had to assume, prior to season four, that the Rayla-Aaravos Callum-Viren foils thing was happening on purpose and that Rayla would be put in opposition to Aaravos as the light to his darkness. I had to assume, prior to season five, that S4's emphasis on people doing terrible/misguided things for love through characters like Rayla, Terry, Viren, and Claudia would eventually become a mainstay in Callum's arc 2 character arc.

I had to assume, prior to season six, that the story would eventually be inclined to put Callum in a scenario where he'd have to choose between Rayla and the greater good so directly. After all, while I was confident post-season 2 onwards that, if put in a situation with Rayla and/or Ezran's life on the line, Callum would always do dark magic, that was ultimately a characterization basis. Yeah, I could think that he would go there, but the story was under no condition to go there from a Plot standpoint, ie. assembling the story and plot line so that Callum would be faced with that kind of choice again. They could choose to not explore that aspect of a potential character arc, leaving it technically unknown. My characterization predictions in these scenarios, then, have been routinely consistent, but whether the plot itself would cooperate was entirely up in the air, with some plot evidence existing due to TDP's love of exchanges, trolley problems, and hard choices.

Then 6x03 happened:

To say that I cried/cheered would be an understatement.

This, of course, doesn't necessarily mean that Callum will do what I think he'll do, or that it'll play out in the manner I'm imagining. It does seem blatantly obvious, however, that S7 with the season's synopsis emphasis on sacrifice that both Callum and Rayla will face the choice of whether to sacrifice the other, one after each other: Callum first — as he must do dark magic again in order to be possessed — and then Rayla, tested and finally choosing not to sacrifice something to her, saving him back as a result.

But furthermore, I lost my fucking mind explicitly because it's not just a question of "will you sacrifice me or yourself" (which we know isn't a real question for either of them) but "will you sacrifice me or the world (greater good)" which is exactly what I've wanted for both of them all along. For Callum to put Rayla first the way that he always has, and for Rayla to (subsequently) put Callum first as a sign of growth/character development. (This also ties into Rayla's whole thing in s6 of taking the lessons Callum's taught her about how to love and implementing them with him in turn or with others, but that's a meta for another day.)

Now, there are alternatives that there could be / ways to get around the 'greater good' slice of the pie, which I'll talk about later under the Alternatives subheading.

For now, I just want to assert the narrative set up and potential we have so far in a plainer way:

The Knowledge Detour

We know that Aaravos wants the cube (6x09) and we know he knows that Callum has it (4x04, 5x08).

The game motif and key motif have been directly related to dark magic (2x07, 2x08, 4x04 "play right into my hands," 5x08, 6x06, etc).

The Key itself is also related to secrets (2x06), the secrets of primal magic (2x01), and thereby knowledge / answers to the 'Mystery' of Aaravos.

This is also related to the idea of knowing too much or having too much knowledge being dangerous (which you can read more about here, although it's pre-S6 so it doesn't touch on everything presently that it could have).

After speaking with Rayla, Callum tries and fails to give up the cube to assert his own destiny / that 'destiny is a book you write yourself' (4x07)

Callum, like Rayla, will be forced to make a choice between the greater good and his loved one. He will choose her even if that means sacrificing himself on top of the world, and she will save him (symbolically refusing to sacrifice herself).

[Gestures to the rest of the cube / key foreshadowing]

I also want to talk a little bit more about mystery. I touched on it here in a previous meta (Rayllum's potential S7 arc through the lens of S6), but there's an emphasis in S6 on mysteries versus love, with love winning.

I would tell you that the vast mystery I travelled the world to find was contained in you all along. (6x03)

Those few short years with Leola were the most meaningful. Pondering the deepest mysteries of the universe could not hold a candle. (6x09)

Both of these sentiments are similar and apply to Rayla and Aaravos directly: she wanted the security of knowing Viren was dead only to return home to the one thing she wanted ("the best thing I ever had: you"). Likewise, Aaravos had the best and most meaningful years of his eternally long existence when he was with his daughter, where his study and pursuit of magic / universal mysteries ultimately paled in comparison. While it is ordinary parent behaviour as well, Aaravos being away from Leola because of his key and book upon the moment she's taken has layers, as well as how he torments Sol Regem specifically with a mystery concerning love:

We see 4x01 establish two mysteries for Callum that run throughout the rest of the arc thus far. The first is the mirror ("What secrets are you hiding?") which is a stand-in for Aaravos, and then Rayla, even once she returns ("I don't know how to feel about Rayla, either").

These threads run in parallel throughout S5 and S6 (Rayla specific one only here). In season 5, Rayla kicks off both Callum's desire to discover how to kill Aaravos (5x01-5x05) and his new understanding of himself in the Ocean arcanum through their relationship (5x01, 5x04, 5x08). In many ways, S5 is him realizing that he will always be there for her, no matter what the cost — even if that means taking a step closer and making himself more vulnerable to Aaravos.

In season 6, Callum is grappling over the Starscraper / Nova Blade as well as worries of how Rayla will respond to his dark magic use. He worries that Aaravos will use him: "I don't know how, but I'm afraid he... he's gonna use me." The mystery he does solve within the season, then, is suitably what is his one truth — what does he know, without a shadow of a doubt, beyond and above anything else? If S5 is Callum realizing he will always be there for her regardless of anything that's happened or could happen, then S6 is him realizing that Rayla will always be with him (regardless of whether she's physically there or not) and will come back to him.

The reason I'm tangentially emphasizing this is because Callum is a knowledge seeker, inherently — he wants to learn magic and he wants to use magic, and that has always been one of his greatest strengths and weaknesses (ie. going out into the Storm, being unable to throw the Key away). The Mystery of Aaravos through figuring out the Key's secrets will be just about undeniably important, and while Callum might not get obsessive about solving it, the Key still represents that curiosity and desire to Know—the mystery he's chasing and has continued to chase about the world. Knowledge or love (giving up magic to save Zym and Rayla by proxy), and on occasion ("How did you—?" "Cause I love you, Rayla" / "To love is simply to know this") both at the same time, just as Rayla's arc has routinely centred on the push and pull and occasional reconciliation of love and duty.

Rayla's advice in 4x07 made him nearly throw the Cube away, or give up that Knowledge seeking quest. This doesn't mean that Callum should give it up entirely (I've said this in many places, but I think by the end of S7 Callum will likely have the Key and Book as his own rather than Aaravos', paralleling his reclamation of himself and his identity) but the current framing of 4x07 begs the question of "What would you give it up for?" What would you sacrifice this knowledge or curiosity for? Because we know, typically, curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge isn't enough for Callum; he won't "risk his life for magic" (2x04) and views that as being an idiot, but he'll launch himself off the Pinnacle. He'll do things for love that he won't do for magic; he'll be motivated to find knowledge and walk down those paths because of love. Just curiosity, typically, hasn't been enough.

Speaking of which, let's talk about

Tests of Love (Leola, Chaos, and Love)

The game motif and its connection to other aspects of the series—the stage motif (Aaravos and Callum's bowing / "destined to play right into my hands"), dark magic ("You had a lifetime to play with your toys and now you hide them all away or destroy them" / "I'm afraid Aaravos is toying with us")—and indeed the concept of tests ("We all want peace and we all want love, but violence tests us" / "They aren't games, they're tests") had always felt conducive to Aaravos' character, thanks to his statement in 2x09:

You tried to win over the other humans with loyalty and friendship, but they ignored you. Those who fail tests of love are simple animals. They deserve to be motivated by fear.

Even before S6 aired, this statement already made sense—while Viren was motivated by his quest for power and importance, and that was what Aaravos seemingly preyed on, when at the core of it was Viren's desire to be loved and to matter:

I am having some trouble getting people to listen to me. To hear the importance of what I am saying. [Who are these people?] They are kings and queens, the other leaders of the Pentarchy. (2x09)

[To Harrow] What? No, that's not what I'm saying. Please, listen— (1x03)

It is everything to me, to know that I mean something to you. To know that I matter. It's all I ever wanted. (5x02)

Aaravos was able to give them something they wanted very badly. (4x04) / Search your heart. There is something you want very badly. (2x09)

Aaravos' entire manipulation of Claudia has also been based around love—encouraging Viren to lie to her so she wouldn't break away from him and subsequently preying on her desire to keep her family together, dangling Viren's life like a carrot in front of her for two years, pushing her relentlessly on a 30 day limit, and then telling the tale of his daughter to help her perform a spell (the same spell that Callum is doing miles away) literally out of love by letting her connect it to her father.

We see where this mindset came from, of course, in S6, with Aaravos bargaining for Leola's life on the basis of love/compassion, and then to die in her place, both of which being refused. The Cosmic Council failed his test of love, and now he's out for revenge no matter the cost, as Terry says:

Maybe this started out as a story of love, but along the way, it got twisted. He isn't doing anything out of love. He's doing it for revenge.

We also know that the parallels Rayla already has to Leola are just going to be continued into S6 further.

We also know thanks to S6 that the Cosmic Council considered humans having primal magic to be "the first step in the long, slow spiral to chaos." Callum then having multiple arcanums and presumably one day going to continue to spread primal magic to more humans is definitely something they're going to be apprehensive about. Callum reclaiming the Key and Aaravos' book alongside his own identity/agency would make a lot of sense, but that reclamation is only really possible if those things were stripped away to begin with... and it's likely only one thing could strip away those things from him: the lengths he's willing to go through for love, and how love can also bring him back (much the same way Claudia's love for her family doomed her, and will ultimately likely save her).

Callum, you're the 'Destiny is a book you write yourself' guy. No one can control you or make your choices for you. (4x07)

See? So long as we protect each other, so long as we love each other, you can never control us. (5x08)

To love is simply to know this: the tides are true as the ocean is deep. (5x01, 5x08)

Love can save and destroy us, much like how Rayla is the reason Callum took (and may take again) a path of darkness and also lead him back to light (hopefully with help from Ezran). No matter how corrupted or broken, no matter what you've done before, you can be saved and can fix things and at the very least make amends.

Furthermore, if killing Leola for her mercy was what broke Xadia, saving Rayla (and her mercy) will be thematically what helps fix/save it—and also means she can save Callum afterwards, too, since he's the Hope of Xadia and changing the magical scales.

With this basis in mind, let's look at:

Alternatives

For the sake of posterity, the exact events I'm laying out in the above theory is something that looks a little like this:

Rayla is injured and/or dead / on the verge of death somehow

Aaravos (or Claudia) promises Callum can save her if he hands over the Cube

Callum does so and in turn receives the dark magic knowledge he needs to save her

He does the dark magic, and Rayla is saved

Callum is corrupted / possessed and leaves with Aaravos

This lets Ezran and Rayla come together to get him back and resolve any loose ends from their Big Different Feelings about Runaan from earlier in the season

Although Callum did play into Aaravos' hands, he will break free and live beyond Aaravos' perceived use for him, and help defeat him

Now let's talk about alternatives:

Callum doesn't get possessed

This is the only one I'm gonna rule out directly, as I don't think it's likely given the amount of set up and that S7 is Book 7: Dark. You wouldn't have Callum bring up the promise either in 4x07 or again in 6x03 if you didn't want Rayla to be faced with that choice, so he has to get possessed. That at least means a major risk of playing into Aaravos' hands, even if those plans aren't taken to fruition.

Callum gets possessed but not through dark magic use

I've seen positing that Callum could get tainted by dark magic again if he was exposed to the Lux Aurea corruption from a creature or something. I'll also toss one in, which is that perhaps you could be hit with a spell of dark magic of some kind, and have it seep into you—if not from Claudia then maybe Aaravos. Both of these options would fit to me if Callum was pushing someone (Ezran, Rayla) out of the way as that still provides an active choice. It just being happenstance because the characters were randomly attacked in a dangerous area doesn't sit right with me and the show's emphasis on choices and agency even when it would be possible and easier for characters to be more blameless, so I think there will be something along a choice rather than it just being entirely random / Callum's agency being entirely removed. Otherwise, we'd be back entirely to where we were in S4/S5 where he was tainted and open to possession no matter what through no real fault of his own (prior to 5x08); S6 giving him a clean slate also gives him agency about whether he's corrupted or not, and I think it'd be less effective if that agency wasn't utilized.

Aaravos doesn't get the cube

While nothing but canon itself (as it could pleasantly surprise me, and I'd reassess) could change my mind regarding "if Ez or Rayla were on the line, Callum would give Aaravos the key/whatever he wanted to save them" from a characterization basis, that doesn't necessarily mean the plot is going there. For example, I could see Callum just taking the dark magic deal, and then the race is on for Rayla to try and stop a corrupted Callum from delivering the cube to Aaravos. It'd have high stakes, he'd still have some faith that he could make his choice without dooming everyone because she's there to be his safety net, and it'd bring the "I hope it was worth it to you putting everyone's lives in danger" about the cube back but on Rayla's end, as she was the speaker and Callum is worth it.

Rayla gives Aaravos the Cube

I'll admit a set up scenario for this leaves me scratching my head a bit—would Callum be possessed, but Rayla had the cube for safekeeping, and she hands it over so Aaravos would release him? which isn't too dissimilar from some of the central scenario of what I've proposed—as well as it taking away from 1) Callum's agency in breaking free from possession, ironically, and 2) the Cube being his item, not hers. That said, I do expect Rayla to choose Callum over just about everything this season (including possibly the surefire safety of the world) and for the season to do the legwork to get her there from a character development standpoint, so it's not out of the question. It just currently seems unlikely.

Callum doesn't pick between Rayla or the greater good, and has a third path instead

This one is interesting to me, mostly because I'm not sure how it'd fit into the season pacing wise. As stated, I think Callum has to get possessed in the season, as that plotline has too much buildup to get dropped. I suppose that could mean something like 1) he's corrupted through other means (see bullet point number two), 2) Rayla + Ezran saves him from possession, and 3) afterwards, he's presented with a choice between her and the greater good? That could take us to the finale where he's able to find a way through Aaravos' machinations to avoid making that choice, but it does mean until that moment Callum has had little to no agency (and therefore little to no character development) in our final season of the arc. That could reflect the possession plotline's lack of agency, even if it doesn't feel quite congruent with S6 handing Callum back his full agency, but... shrug emoji?

To me, the clearest third path between not sacrificing Rayla or the greater good would be "Callum sacrifices himself in order to take down Aaravos" which could mean unlocking a super dangerous arcanum he might not come back from (Stars would probably fit best there, but Sun or Moon too?) OR doing dark magic to defeat Aaravos; the latter in particular would be a strong Viren parallel to 6x08. We would get the self sacrifice and corruption slant, but it would be without the actual possession part, even if his corrupted form would be undeniably dangerous. It would mean that Rayla is saving him without risking much else, though, which lessens the impact of her arc. This first arcanum avenue would work for a finale, with the dark magic avenue being reserved for mid season (7x04 to 7x07) as a possibility.

If there any alternative theories or ideas you've seen or have that I haven't addressed here, feel free to send them in or leave them in reblogs/replies (I definitely could've missed one, or misrepresented one)—so long as you're earnestly presenting one, and not just wanting to see it debunked because you think it's stupid and/or that people who like it are silly or foolish.

Conclusion

So, in conclusion, CHET as fully and currently posited:

Explains hy the cube is in Callum's pawn intro

Furthers set up with the cube and game motif (+ others) throughout the show

Explains he'll be corrupted and how the possession plotline will come into play

Deepens the series' theme of exchange (i.e. bringing Zym home in return for peace) and transaction (dark magic)

Culminates the setup from 4x07, 5x08, 6x03, and 6x06 in particular

Reaffirms Callum's struggle with losing his sense of self amid dark magic use and Aaravos' hold on him with literally losing himself

Allows Callum to reclaim the cube alongside his own identity once he has broken free

Develops his relationship with Rayla, as well as Rayla and Ezran's dynamic

Culminates Callum's arc in exploring Arc 2 (and the series') main theme of "love can destroy you, yes, but it can also save you" / arc 2's focus on reconciling dualities, as discussed

And I think that's about it!

If you made it through all of this—or indeed have enjoyed this pet theory for any of the 4+ years it's existed—thank you for reading and engaging with it! It was crazy to me after S5 and especially S6 that it was still on the table rather than being decidedly demolished, and I'm excited to see parts / pieces likely come to fruition in S7!

[jelzorz]

Also hey it's me jellyjay but in consolidating all my socials to jelzorz, hey y'all

[manawari]

When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💖

Thank you for the tag, @griddle-cakes 💕

1. The Dragon Rider And His Guardian

→ I know that there are a lot of people who ship Jack Frost from the "Rise Of The Guardians" and Hiccup Haddock from "How To Train Your Dragon", but then me and my aroace psyche decided that they'd look great as best friends who see each other as brothers. Plus, Jack Frost and Hiccup are two of my comfort characters! Another reason why I like this fic so much is that this is the longest fanfiction I have ever written — 22,449k words and still remained as my longest fic that I could call as my masterpiece. I made sure to focus on every character development, as well as Jack and Hiccup's development together as the main dynamic or pair, and I was satisfied (and still am) that I managed to go beyond and ended it the best way I knew.

2. Infinite Leveling in the Tombs

→ this is a multi/crossover fic between three manhwas: Pick Me Up (Infinite Gacha), Solo Leveling, and Tomb Raider King. Before, I used to imagine SL and TRK in one universe, but when I got into PMU(IG), that was when I knew I had to merge these three manhwas together. I saw a lot of similarities in Han, Jin-woo, and Joo-heon — I like the vibes they have with one another back when I was writing this one-shot. So, I dedicated days in writing this fic, more or less, it had somewhat become a self-indulgence. At first, I genuinely thought this will beat "The Dragon Rider and His Guardian" in its length, but I stand corrected and accepted that no other fic of mine can steal its place HAHA! Anyways, this fic had been a rollercoaster and seeing how the characters go well with one another like it's natural, it made me proud<3

3. Nurtured Flowers In The Fields Of Dolor

→ it started with a simple aesthetic and a small snippet, ended with a full fic. Even though it didn't follow the original myth, I focused the plot based on Jinhae's personalities. What I love about this fanfiction is that I get to witness how descriptive I can get with each paragraph and fit the dialogues into the atmosphere. From Jin-woo believing that he was only Death and "love" was never possessed by him, nor could he possess it, to him learning to love Hae-in as his wife and his Queen. I truly enjoyed writing when it came to death and life, the contrast between them and how they connect at the same time. Part of it felt like I had created my own lore too.

4. The Shadow Knight

→ the sole purpose of this fic is that I wanted to write fight scenes that's all 😂

5. Man. . . Or A Monster?

→ this is that one fic where it crushed me to the very bone. No other fic of mine had done that before until THIS ONE. I went all out and gave Jin-woo a bunch of traumas, even making him fall for Hae-in and learn how to love beyond the darkness within him — only to rip him away from her in a bittersweet way. Yes, Hae-in is his home, but what's a home if it is disastrous? Jin-woo left for the sake of everyone, especially for the sake of the person whom he loved the most, and for his own good too. I love that I made his character deep enough to make me feel strong emotions.

Tagging— @i-bring-crack @zuppizup @jelzorz @ everyone else who would like to participate!!

[lunanightriderofthecove]

Sieh dir das an … 👀

Hey Sorpeli Shippers, look what Pinterest thought I might like 👍🏻

@raayllum @jelzorz

Yes, I did think of you two specifically 😆

[bayalexison]

Tag Game

Tag 9 people you'd like to know more.

Tagged by the lovely @insomnikat-mused! Thanks so much! Also probably not going to tag 9 people fyi.

Last song: Pokemon Masters EX's version of the Pokemon Battle Tower music lol Currently watching: Pokemon Horizons weekly and slowly SpyxFamily whenever one of my friends stream it Currently reading: Going through fics for Dimileth Googgles. I haven't read a proper book in a while haha Current obsession: Persona 5 and FE Engage. I know I'm late into the Persona 5 scene, but I played P5 Royal the last couple months and had a blast. FE Engage I know it gets some bad rap for not having worldbuilding and characterization like FE3H, but to be honest I feel FE Engage has been criticized a bit too harshly by that comparison. Some of the FE Engage characters have hidden depths and ahhh Alfred!

Tagging (no pressure!): @sonjajade, @jelzorz, @dpsisquared, @slam-dunkrai, @dynadratina, @itsmoonpeaches, and anyone else that wants to do this!

[thatartiststudios]

02.

Ficlet requested by @jelzorz I've actually been sitting on this for a while, debating on when to post it, so I'm glad to share it! And I know it's a staple in the Sorpeli fandom to have Opeli give up her High Cleric position, but I just really like the idea of them getting to be together and still have their respective roles

As the morning light filtered through the stained-glass windows of the chapel, casting gentle hues across the floor, Opeli knelt in quiet reverence, her voice a soft murmur as she finished her prayers. The chapel was still and serene, save for the faint rustling of her robes as she shifted.

Soren, having stirred awake to find the space beside him empty, had quietly followed her trail to the chapel. He lingered at the entrance for a moment, observing her in the tranquil setting, his heart swelling with affection.

He moved closer, his footsteps soft against the cold stone floor. The faintest creak of the floorboards was all it took for Opeli to become aware of his presence. As she rose from her kneeling position and turned to face him, a smile blossomed on her lips.

“I was wondering where you went,” Soren said, his voice warm and gentle. He reached out, taking her hand and lacing their fingers together.

Opeli’s smile grew as she looked up at him. “I wasn’t gone that long, you know.”

Soren’s smile widened as he leaned in to kiss her forehead, just beneath her circlet. “I know. Still missed you.”

Opeli rolled her eyes playfully, though there was a soft fondness in her gaze. “You better restrain yourself,” she said with a teasing lilt, “We’re in the presence of the Saints, love.”

Soren chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with affection. “I promise, I’ll try to behave.”

They stood there for a moment, simply enjoying each other’s presence. The calm of the chapel provided a perfect backdrop for their intimate exchange, allowing them to savor these quiet moments together amidst their busy lives.

Opeli squeezed his hand gently, a silent acknowledgment of their shared life and the balance they maintained between their duties and their love. “I’m glad you came,” she said softly. “It’s always nice to start the day with you.”

Soren’s gaze softened, his heart full as he looked at her. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

With a final, tender squeeze of her hand, he led her toward the exit, their fingers still entwined. As they stepped out of the chapel into the crisp morning air, the coolness brushed against their faces, contrasting sharply with the warmth of their shared embrace. The early light cast a golden glow over the town, highlighting the quiet beauty of the waking streets.

Opeli, having completed her morning prayers, removed her hood, allowing her hair to fall freely. The simple act of shedding her cleric robes’ hood seemed to lift a weight from her shoulders, making her more relaxed and at ease.

With a contented sigh, she wrapped her other arm around Soren’s, leaning her head gently against his shoulder. Soren responded by pulling her a little closer as they strolled through the empty streets. The world around them seemed to slow down, the hustle and bustle of daily life still a few hours away.

[kazisgirlfriend]

I wanted to share that, since being falsely accused by raayllum and jelzorz of trolling, I've been receiving harassing asks and death threats one after the other over just a few hours.

Due to this I've decided to turn off the ask box and take a break from Tumblr for a while. I was deeply shaken by some of these threats, and I need some time to focus on my well-being.

I appreciate the positive connections and experiences I've had in my brief time here, but for now I believe that stepping away for a bit is the best decision for my mental health.

Thank you to those who have shown support and kindness. I hope to return when I feel ready.