#jest talks about persona

[sleepydeprived]

A Chance for Redemption

—A mysterious high school student appears out of the blue, bearing the face of the late Martha Wayne and puzzling even Gotham’s greatest detectives.

[chapter 2]

| Platonic!Yandere!Batfam x Reader

The Batcomputer hummed with activity, casting an ethereal glow on the somber faces of the collected vigilantes. Five figures stood in a semi-circle, their eyes fixed on the screen.

"It seems we have an unexpected addition." Bruce, the one who called for their presence, broke the heavy silence.

The images of the young high school student continued to linger on the screen. Bruce's gaze drifted to Damian, the youngest among all of them, whose narrowed eyes betrayed a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

"What nonsense is this, Father?" The young boy’s voice cut through the air.

Bruce spared a glance at the stoic faces of his other sons, each processing the revelation in their own way. Dick's expression held concern, and Tim seemed lost in thought.

"She is a potential blood relative, a daughter,"

Hearing Bruce’s explanation, the rest stayed in a deafening silence. Silence in which did not last long as Jason was the first to break it with a cynical smirk.

"A long-lost daughter? You sure know how to keep things interesting, Bruce."

The man in question’s jaw tightened, a hint of frustration flashing in his eyes. "This is no time for jests, Jason."

The youngest of the bunch crossed his arms. "This is preposterous. We need evidence, not some blurry images claiming to be family."

Bruce, torn between the skepticism that fueled his vigilante persona and the yearning for a connection lost in the echoes of tragedy, took a deep breath.

As the initial shock settled inside of Dick’s inner turmoil, he stepped forward, his eyes meeting Bruce's with a hint of understanding.

"Alright, what’s our next move?"

Returning his gaze to the screen where the same haunting eyes looked back at him, he answered,

“We can’t disrupt her life until we have concrete evidence.” Looking back at the faces of his sons who looked back at him expectantly, he continued, “For now, we observe.”

Through the symphony of slamming lockers and loud chatter, a figure clothed in the infamous Gotham Academy’s prestigious uniform navigated through the school halls, a mysterious aura surrounding her.

Her demeanor was an ironic mix of grace and clumsiness, her backpack swaying with each step. Unbeknownst to her, the school’s surveillance cameras tracked her every move and captured her interactions with fellow students, the footage easily accessed by those who were over taken by curiosity.

Being one of the said individuals, Damian Wayne—who fortunately goes to the same school as the said girl—observed his potential sister from a distance. His piercing gaze followed her, skepticism etched in his features.

Nothing extraordinary.

She seems normal enough. Too normal to be considered a Wayne.

As she approached her locker, Damian skillfully maneuvered through the crowd, ensuring a safe distance. He observed her interactions; the genuine smile that adorned her face, and the unintentional charm that seemed to draw people toward her.

The boy had attempted to interact with her at least once, yet couldn’t bring himself to think of a topic to talk about, as the girl was as much of a mystery as the shadows that cloaked Gotham City.

The school day continued, each passing period carrying the young girl further into a world where her identity remained a mystery, and her every move became a piece of the puzzle for those who watched in silence.

[thestarkerisobvious]

Demon Lover

art by the always-amazing @starker-sorbet

Demon Lover

Rated NC17

It was moments like these that College Student Peter Parker was so grateful he didn’t have a dormmate.

And only partially because that meant he didn’t have a bunkbed.

Because if he DID… well… that meant he’d be having to take it doggy-style on the floor… a thought that made Peter smile to himself.  

“What’s so funny?” the jock grumbled, pulling away (again?!) and Peter looked back over his shoulder with a sweet, winning smile.  His hook-up, who had been all swagger and bold talk at the frat party, was suddenly nervous.  Possibly because Peter’s ancient dormhall creaked and groaned in a way that seemed particularly menacing tonight.  Mr. Jock had even mentioned the rumor that this particular hall was haunted, but Peter had dismissed that with a mention of the age of the building (and a very quick shedding of clothing.)  

“Just so glad you’re here, handsome,” Peter said gently, pushing his ass backward toward Mr Jock (who’s name might have been Hugh?) 

“Now how about getting back to work?” he added coyly, and Mr. Jock seemed to take the hint.  As he groaned in pleasure, Peter smiled all the more.  He was getting better at this.

His first few college hookups had been marred by his awkward shyness, and even by his all-consuming need to please.  This led to weekends spent with equally shy, equally awkward lovers who, while educational, simply didn’t satisfy.  (Plus they always wanted to hang out afterward, for deep & meaningful talks about sexuality or possible relationship-building activities or at least repeat-hookups.   Peter was interested in neither.  Peter was interested in experience.)

And experience was the best teacher.

Just like tonight.  He had developed a sweet-but-frank persona, a way of talking to his nightly conquests, both the kind-of-nervous and of-course-I’m-not-nervous types, that both put them at ease and  kept things moving at the pace he enjoyed.  The persona was one-part authentic and two-parts act, but it seemed to work most of the time.

And it seemed to be working now.  

“God you’re a horny little piece of ass,” Mr. Jock jested, grabbing Peter’s narrow waist with two huge hands, his fingers digging to Peter’s white flesh hard enough to leave bruises on a normal person.  Peter shivered at the thrill and spread his legs even wider, dropping his head and arching his back, moaning in need.  He didn’t care if Mr. Jock made fun of him for it now (or talked about him later.)  He was too hungry to care.  He whimpered involuntarily at the first sweet burn of penetration.

And then yelped involuntarily and bowed his back.  Damn this boy had no finesse.

“Okay, okay, let’s try that again…” Peter said quickly, breathlessly, trying to smile and soothe and readjust and keep their two bodies connected all at the same time.

A task that was not made easier when his framed Valedictorian certificate, and his framed Science Fair medal of honor and his framed acceptance letter all slipped off the wall simultaneously and went crashing to the floor.

“Nonono its fine, don’t worry about that…” Peter gasped, reaching behind him to take Mr. Jock’s hand, probably too tightly (dammit it was so hard to do this and remember his super-strength at the same time!)  “Damn thumbtacks never work, just do it like this,” he breathed, shamelessly moving his hips and his ass backward, trying to show this dumb ox how Peter wanted him to use his dick.  Fortunately, even this dumb ox had a sense of rhythm.  Moving with Peter he seemed to get the rhythm right (even if he couldn’t get the angle right to save his life.  Maybe math nerds would be better at this, Peter mused.)

It worked.  Maybe-Hugh grabbed Peter’s hips again in that bruising grip and started thrusting mercilessly and Peter stopped thinking altogether.

For just a few moments, it was perfect.  Those demanding hands.  That demanding cock.  Feeling full and controlled and taken.  

He was far stronger than Mr. Jock, of course.  As huge and broad-shouldered  as Maybe-Hugh was, Peter could have pinned him down with one hand.  And that just made it better, somehow.  Being powerful and willingly handing that power over, completely, to another man.

Of course, that other ‘man’ didn’t know how strong Peter was.  Hell, that other ‘man’ probably didn’t know Peter’s name.Peter distracted himself by sneaking a peek back at the powerful body behind him, all broad shoulders and smooth muscles and sweat.  Tonight’s conquest was huge and beefy and rough… also pretty dense, but Peter had learned not to be picky about hookups.  Especially ones that smelled as manly, as salty as this one.

And god just the sight of those sweating, straining muscles was turning him on beyond measure.  If only Mr. Jock would lean over his back just enough for Peter to feel the drops falling onto his back… but changing their position only a tiny bit might end the perfect rhythm of thrusting and Peter wasn’t about to risk it.)

Peter closed his eyes and opened up his senses.  Not the enhanced kind that let him know what people were eating in the dorm rooms down the hall (GOD he was so glad the rooms right next to him were empty.  It was hard to be quiet when you were getting a good fucking) but brought all the sensory input from this single room in to super-sharp focus.

The scent of sex and salt and urgency filled his nostrils and his brain and made him so very, very glad he had gone through all the trouble of convincing Mr. Jock back to his room.  And the body heat… even though it was only the boy’s legs pressing against the backs of Peter’s legs…  it was like being burned by an oven.  Once again Peter grinned with gratitude, this time about the excellent thermostat that controlled the temperature in his room.  Keeping it just a hair above comfortable (and then swearing it was broken and there was nothing he could do about it) made sure that his partners sweat, and right now his current partner was sweating beautifully.  It filled the room with the heady, sweet perfume that made Peter’s head swim.  If only it were possible to get pounded from behind AND keep his mouth attached to that warm, moist skin… maybe Mr. Jock wouldn’t mind a few tender, lingering kisses against his neck or chest after the sex was over.  Not every lover did. 

Peter loved the taste of human male skin, but if he couldn’t get a taste, he would certainly enjoy the aroma.  He arched his neck, raising his head, breathing in the moment, letting his senses record everything.  The beautiful scent of two human bodies working together, the constant, steady vibration of the bed moving against the wall, the throaty moans of the boy behind him…

“Gonna’ fuck you to death… I’m gonna leave that hole busted open from my dick…”

Peter ducked his head quickly before Maybe-Hugh could see him roll his eyes.  

Sometimes he wished he could turn his hearing off completely.

But now Maybe-Hugh was whimpering with a high-pitched, needy urgency that told Peter his perfect moment might already be over.  He turned his head to say something… maybe not something completely people-pleasing, maybe to actually speak up and ask for Maybe-Hugh to slow down a bit, to try to draw out the moment, even for a few seconds longer…

…then Maybe-Hugh reached out and grabbed Peter by the left arm and yanked it backward.

This sent Peter sprawling face-first into his own bed.  Which was not a bad sensation by itself, but sent Peter’s ass into a right-facing slant which meant Maybe-Hugh’s dick went in at a painful angle.

Peter yelped.

Then the lamp at the night table flung itself into the air and across the bed, clipping the other boy across the face.

Maybe-Hugh screamed.

                                              —————————–

“It’s okayit’sokayit’sokay it’s nothing!!” Peter pleaded, reaching out as Mr. Jock jumped up from the bed, looking frantically around for his attacker.  “You just knocked the lamp over, it’s okay…

“It’s okay!” Peter said louder, not the other boy but to the room in general.

“What the fucking fuck was that?!” Mr. Jock finally managed, not even noticing Peter’s hands on his, trying to pull him back onto the bed.

“You just knocked the lamp off the night table… it’s not expensive it’s just from the goodwill store…”

“It went flying across the fucking room!”

“Well you were being really vigorous dude…”  Peter smiled, or at least tried to, fighting to find that tone again, the tone that would make his partners relax… to keep them in the mood… or at the very least, keep them in the room. 

“You were amazing… and pulling me face-down on the bed was hot… you just gotta keep it at a 180 degree angle and…”

“What the fuck is wrong with your dormroom, man?!?!”

“Oh come on, baby, you were so close!” Peter begged, trying to smile and look soothing, all at the same time.  Come on…”

He moved up to his knees and risked flinging his arms around Mr. Jock’s neck, letting his hands dangle behind the large, square head delicately.  “I promised you my ass was tight, and wasn’t it?  You were so close… come on baby… just because you broke my lamp doesn’t mean we have to stop…”

“Dammit they told me not to go with you, they told me this damn place was haunted…”

“My dorm room is not haunted!” 

Mr. Jock looked down at him, surprised.  But people always looked surprised when Peter raised his voice.  He had quite an unexpected tone when he was trying to keep things under control.

Peter wasn’t sure if there was any point in trying anymore, but still, he tried.  Mostly because they had only been at it for about seven minutes, and it had taken twice that long just to talk Mr. Jock into wearing the damn condom.  For an city boy, Mr. Jock sure hadn’t been too informed about safe sex.

“Hey… come on… are you really going to let some stupid, inane Tri-Delt ghost story keep you from getting laid?  Seriously?” He joked, softening his tone the tiniest bit, but not letting go of his lover’s hands, still pulling him back onto the bed.

“Now get back over here and get back to it!” he said, semi-playfully.  It seemed to work… they were moving back onto the bed in any case.  Mr. Jock’s eyes were wide, but he seemed to be obedient.  Especially when Peter turned his back and pressed it against that hard, muscular (sweaty!) chest, hooking one arm behind them both and combing his fingers through his lover’s sweat-soaked hair.  

“You just broke my lamp,” he teased, grinding his body against his lover’s suggestively.  “The least you can do is finish what you started…” 

“You spooky little shit,” came the growl from behind him.  “I’m going to fuck that candy-ass until your knees bleed…”

The lamp exploded.

                                        ———————————-

Peter continued to argue.  He might have pulled it off - in addition to super-strength and extra-sensitive hearing he also had a an uncanny gift of persuasion.  He might have even convinced the panicked boy for a few minutes longer - yes, said boy’s discarded shirt currently flying around the room but Peter had managed to keep his arms around Hugh’s neck and thus his face pointed it the opposite direction.

 But then Hugh caught a glimpse of the aerial laundry show in the mirror and it didn’t matter.

Then the heavy rotary phone on the other night table began ringing and Peter gave up.

It wasn’t a normal telephone ring, because of course it wasn’t.  It was a long, terrifying continuous wail, loud enough to drown out the stammering and swearing as Maybe-Hugh frantically yanked on his pants and attempted to retrieve enough of his clothing to escape.  “At least you’re not trying to yank the cord out of the wall,” Peter muttered, mostly to himself, as he sat, defeated on the bed.  The last lover who had done that in an attempt to make the phone stop making the ungodly noise had just found that it made the phone ring louder than ever…

…which, come to think of it, was probably how Peter got the reputation of living in a “haunted dorm hall.”

“You forgot your shirt!” he called out half-heartedly as his panicked hook-up ran out the door, slamming it behind him.  Not that it mattered.  Apparently Maybe-Hugh had decided that pants and shoes were enough to make his escape.

Peter signed heavily.  He waited.

Finally, the phone stopped its clamor.

Finally, the windows stopped rattling as the walls ceased to vibrate.  One by one, the floating laundry dropped, item by item to the floor.  

They even piled themselves right next to the hamper.  

Still Peter didn’t speak.

The thrift-store lamp meekly lifted itself up from the floor and floated, humbly, back to its original position.  Peter leaned over to one side to let it pass.  It was still hopelessly broken, but he said nothing.  

It wasn’t the first broken lamp he had to deal with.  That’s why he got them from goodwill in the first place.

He sat with his mouth closed for some time.  Forehead creased.  Considering carefully.  The silence filled the small dorm room.

Finally, he spoke.   

“Tony, we have to talk.”

[p3ta]

For the ask game - you have anything for Fuuka?

Of course I have some for Fuuka! P3 spoilers ahead.

Send me any character here.

favorite thing about them

Her bad parents.

Hear me out.

Specifically, the way her bad parents are shown to us and how it impacts here.

Fuuka is defined by many events in the story, but one of my favorites comes at the end of the spring semester. On 7/18 where SEES are officially introduced to Ken (beyond Junpei and Yukari talking to him at the shrine), Natsuki runs out as asks Fuuka if she'll stay to study with her.

Natsuki recognizes her situation, but also how this early in the game Fuuka has conveyed to her that the dormitory is her "home" home. It's different from her normal poor conditions, where it's shown Natsuki is running out to buy her more time away from her parents.

There's also another element at play. Due to her ostracization, she might be the person who bonded the quickest with the idea of SEES as not just a job, but a group of friends.

But what makes it is Fuuka's response.

Even though Fuuka vastly prefers the Iwatodai dorm, it doesn't have to be an excuse. She likes being around Natsuki. You don't see a home life used for that kind of character beat often, at least not in such an implicit manner.

It's realistic. A mature, subtle moment of storytelling that I appreciate. There's a lot of Persona characters with parental issues, but Fuuka's are by far the most "show don't tell" of the bunch. You can still derive intent, but it isn't hamfisted.

Fuuka alludes multiple times to her poor home life due to her parents' expectations of her. Persona 3 is a game about dealing with what life throws at you. Despite the fact that Mitsuru could throw her weight around and have the cops or the school or someone intervene for her, they don't. Fuuka takes it on the chin without complaining. She's eager to move into the dorms and be of use, even as Yukari expresses how she shouldn't have to.

I think it's a fascinating microcosm of how the game represents societies and how we – in particular, women – should conduct their lives.

And ultimately, Fuuka is okay. Her hobbies and life revolve in affairs outside of her family's influence. In having common friends she's able to come to peace with how she views herself without compromising her identity.

least favorite thing about them

It's kind of hard to pick. I'll admit, I tend to be a capricious player and insult my team as I play. Fuuka catches the brunt of this but it's in jest. It's hard to think about something I genuinely dislike. Maybe her blushing sprite?

(Side note, this screenshot is from the Let's Play Archive's FES run and this is way too late to be efficiently talking to Fuuka. You've got Mitsuru in two months, hurry up! Jokes aside, not a fan of Dragonatrix's playthrough. If you're going to read one, I recommend My Life is a Goddamn Mess.)

Wait. I do have an answer.

Her FES video. Or the video they first gave her in FES and has been in every subsequent version. What a waste of a characterization moment. It's supposed to be a masturbation joke too, which is weirdly placed. I say "weirdly", but all the girls' tapes are sexualized in some manner or another. I guess what makes it different from maid dress Yukari for me is that hers was around a specific event in-game and Fuuka is concerned with. . . losing weight. For their beach trip. It's not as cohesive? And she's a stick. It hits the right amount of ick for me.

favorite line

Okay, okay, okay. I cannot find a screenshot at hand, but this is a Reload exclusionary experience. When Fuuka levels up, she cuts in like a jump scare. When you get this for Oracle, however, she says something to the gist of:

"I've unlocked a new ability. Um, I don't know what it does. . ."

That's it! That's the game's explanation for an ability that absolutely will get you killed. And you should try and use it like she suggests later. Doing a cursory search you'll find mass gamer hatred for this which, in my book, is practically an endorsement.

brOTP

Fuuka & Junpei!

Look at Junpei go. He's two for two so far. These two are sweet for a number of reasons, but I like that even though earlier in the game Junpei seems exclusively concerned with her looks, her body, and her cuteness, in December they come together as friends while making their decision. I like how Junpei admires her strength and can verbalize aspects of her growth that she can't give words to.

Likewise, Fuuka gives me the impression of not have many male friends. Her bond and solidarity with Yukari and Natsuki appear to paint a portrait of the person whose company she enjoys. Brash, yes, but also distinctly feminine. But her empathy for Junpei and his respect for her as well as her strength gives her a solid bond outside of her comfort zone! I can imagine Junpei pre-P3 never picturing he'd have a female friend and be satisfied with that. Post-P3, I could see the two living out in the countryside as neighbors. I think that'd make them both happy.

OTP

Fuuka/Natsuki.

Natsuki Moriyama my beloved. She's one of my favorite non-party members in the game, which is saying a lot because she doesn't even partake in a Social Link.

I practically consider her half of Fuuka's character. If any human couple in Persona 3 is getting married (or spending the rest of their lives together) it's Natsuki and Fuuka. They'll reconnect. For how much Fuuka likes tech, it wouldn't surprise me if they talk on Skype every day until they're able to reunite.

They're also another excellent theme microcosm; relationships enduring throughout life's circumstances.

nOTP

Fuuka/Mitsuru.

I'm particular with Mitsuru's relationships and I am not a fan of the power dynamic here. I think I've seen them together once, and the more popular nOTP is Fuuka/Shinjiro, but they're fine. The idea of it is literally Big and Small's cooking fiasco. Shinjiro's dead, anyway. Mitsuru (I believe) likes women, and she appreciates people who are useful.

It's like a pushover Andy and Miranda Priestly from Devil Wears Prada. Not for me.

random headcanon

Fuuka would be one of the best adjusted after the game. She's also the third poorest member of SEES.

She was close to P3 Hero, but she has bonds outside of SEES and doesn't want to prolong the fighting. Fuuka, I feel, is eager to return to a normal life because she's acknowledged her own power outside of combat. She doesn't enjoy being support, but she's the only one who can. She's also deeply connected and loving of life and its various forms, like the plants she tends. She'd be wounded and it would define her high school experience, of course. I'm not concerned for her though. Again, she has Natsuki and seems content with the world around her.

As far as the poverty, I like thinking about the dynamic on display between how the richest members of SEES act (Mitsuru and Yukari) interact with who I see as some of the poorer ones (Shinjiro, Junpei, and Fuuka). She makes herself small, she's ever apologetic, and she views her own skills as something belonging to a collective. It adds a nice flair to her character.

unpopular opinion

She's the best navigator but not because Rise or Futaba are annoying. I've seen a lot of ironic and then post-ironic love of Fuuka, but it tends to include bashing the other support characters. This is especially prevalent with people who ship Fuuka/P3 Hero. I've seen the claim that she's the least sexualized? Which is a wild claim for any female character in one of these games, there's a reason the writers have Junpei comment on her in her swimsuit and her FES recording is the way it is. She's simply a different type of appealing than the others.

song i associate with them

That's Fuuka Navigator Track #3 - ペルソナ! Oops, this isn't a character one, it's a literal piece of game music. Since it didn't survive the jump to Reload though I feel like I can put it here.

I played the game in reverse order so this isn't Persona 1 music to me. This is Fuuka's grinding in Tartarus solo jam.

favorite picture of them

Don't make me pick between sprites! I'll cheat and pick two: her neck out portrait and her silly one.

Fuuka had some of the best portraits ever. A modern style's too polished to do it justice.

Thanks for the ask! I had more to say than I initially thought. Despite Reload's popularity, I'd still consider her underrated.

[general--winter]

Could we please get general relationship headcanons for Ann from Persona 5?

author's note: Ann my beloved. My best friend in the whole wide world. I see a lot of myself in her actually, if I wasn't so reserved lol. I bestow upon you the headcanons. Please, enjoy and thank you for the request!

rating: general

fandom: persona 5

pairing: ann takamaki x gn!reader

warnings: mentions of objectification of women's bodies

word count: 671

summary: What would Ann be like in a relationship?

Oh gosh Ann, I love her with all my heart. There’s a reason her element alignment is Agi (fire), she’s a passionate and driven woman who will stop at nothing to see her way to her goals. So, I imagine that when her mind is set on pursuing someone romantically, she would be the one to pull out all of the stops, but only if she’s already comfortable around them. Perhaps as a friend or acquaintance she has a positive history with, that she can trust. I definitely don’t think she would want to be in a relationship before being friends with someone, just to make sure their vibes are proper.

Chocolate on Valentine’s Day? She’s suave as all hell about it. Flowers? Any time you meet up to hang out, she’ll sneak to the florist and get you a single rose (or whatever your favorite flower is when she figures it out). A nice night out? I’d imagine once her modeling career takes off, and why wouldn’t it, she would treat you to a delectable and fancy all-you-can-eat buffet and take you on a walk through Inokashira Park.

Her love language is acts of service and gift giving, these two especially going hand in hand. She loves to do things for people, to show them that she cares about them through what she does. That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t also appreciate a good gift though. Perhaps buy her that makeup collab set she’s been talking about all month? Or the new album from her favorite band that just came out? Just to show you listen to her and care about her interests as much as she cares about your own!

Despite her forward nature when pursuing a romantic interest, she’s pretty shy about physical contact. The first time you hug her, she’s stiff as a board and takes a minute to relax into it. You initiate your first kiss together, and it flusters her beyond all belief. This stems from her negative experience being objectified as a model, especially as a woman with traditionally Western features (naturally blonde hair and blue eyes) in Japan. She definitely has to be eased into it very gently, and reassured consistently along the way that you’re not there just for her physicality, but for her as a complete person. Either way, she’s not really touchy-feely, but if your love language is physical touch, I guarantee you that she will do her best to make sure you feel as loved as you make her feel.

I think the Phantom Thieves would all really enjoy your presence when you’re introduced to them (if you don’t already know them), except the way you make Morgana bicker way too much. If it is your first time meeting Ann’s friends, their opinion is incredibly valuable to her; she trusts their instincts as much as she does her own. It would be best to make a good impression! Especially with Shiho too, I imagine that she’s Ann’s personal shadow defender and will hurt you if you do anything to Ann. (Don’t let the kind and outgoing facade fool you after her recovery from depression, Shiho can and will throw hands for Ann for playing such a huge role in saving her life.)

Overall, day-to-day with her I imagine to be very exciting and fun. Ann is always down for an adventure to the beach or the amusement park to spice up the day, but she’s more than content staying bundled up inside or just hanging out at Leblanc all day with you. Her personality is unpredictable and she can have an incredibly short temper, but overall it's usually in jest. It’s easy to tell when Ann is being sarcastically pissed off for comedic effect or when she’s really angry by the tone of her voice. She’s incredibly impatient, and you catch yourself teasing her until she’s incredibly flustered and “enraged” about her overreaction to the crepe stand’s wait times. She secretly enjoys it, not that she’ll ever admit it.

[velvetwarfare]

while my fever lowered a bit I wanna talk about the differences between my bb girls long post ahead

I differentiate them by both icon border and by referring the default to Betty whereas COS is Bethanne ✨

𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘

- A humanoid strand of vampirism. She was willingly turned by an ancient vampire in an effort to save the Leathe townsfolk better, growing tired of her squishy, mortal body and watching her family constantly die around her.

- LARP based. More crack shit friendly. Lighter themes.

- Stats ✨

- Shavali (homebrewed version of Vistani). Slavic-Romanian. Speaks mainly Russian.

- Victorian gothic aesthetic. Feminine lean. Can dress androgynous, prefers dresses and makeup more. Very elegant and fanciful, likes to douse herself in jewelry and wine to feel more uppity (PTSD from her past).

- Her backstory consists of formerly being a bard in Al’Hazir, practicing jests and crude humor only to earn extra coin rather than produce her own content due to the rich despising how light hearted it was. Because of her poverty and lack of home as well as family, and due to her intense desire to survive no matter the odds, she unwillingly changed her entire persona to fit her boss’ needs. Eventually, she went mad with how many times she had to strain and break her true self in order to just live, and came across the last performance for Deity’s Eclipse (Halloween). Seeing that the richer folks could afford prosthetics and costumes, Betty was only left with a dingy vampire cloak and begging for any sort of fangs. Being denied and told if she fucked up her performance in front of the neighboring city’s higher ups, she’d be cast outside to die in the winter, Betty resorted to shaving her canines into fangs herself with only a nail filer. This proved to be foreshadowing for when she became a true vampire — nobody telling the difference due to her canines having already been shaped to be fangs.

- Melancholic, pessimistic, has an awful view on humanity. Covers it all up with crude humor as a defense mechanism. Severe BPD. Doesn’t know how to take shit seriously because she has been masking for literal decades. Secretly VERY empathetic and gets attached easily from loneliness. Mentally incapable of not being a downright bitch with sharp sarcasm 90% of the time (ingrained defense mechanism). Wants her own children but can’t biologically create one as an undead so she’ll just adopt any fucking person she deems worthy LOL. Pansexual, no lean. Likes to sleep around. Does not give a shit about social normality.

- The Forgotten Realms brought out her serious side though — blood magic and becoming a sort of general and all to a bunch of Skaven. She’s very much used to violence and death due to this. Doesn’t bat an eye at bloodshed. Isn’t opposed to it either. Just don’t ruin her carpet or attire.

- H.arley Quinn, H.ormone Monstress, and S.pinel coded.

- Noel’s Lament as a theme song. Memory by Cats is her human theme.

- Easy to ship with. Easy to interact with. Very laid back and flexible.

𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄

- An unwillingly turned vampire spawn with a heavy strand of animalistic Nosferatu (beast-like spawns turned from a beast of a vampire lord, the most severe and fatal out of all the covens. usually, people don’t last long as this version of undead due to how it wrecks the body and mind. those who live are absolute killing machines.) . Lived in a very healthy vardo and settlement before they were slaughtered by her vampire lord.

- DnD (Curse of Strahd) based. Dark themes present. Both controversial and touchy subjects. A grim turn on the default Betty.

- Vistani and highly spiritual, doesn’t care for the Gods (they both share that tbh). Speaks in Patterna and Romanian. Has Celtic traditions. Was never a city folk, she has 0 idea how to socialize with people, was raised off the grid.

- Stats and bio ✨

- Very androgynous. Muscled as fuck. (see s.triga or k.arlach) Literally just wanted to be a pretty princess before her body got disfigured and cursed as all hell. Extremely insecure over her appearance due to the looks she always gets from people (unwillingly intimidating). Barbaric and vintage vampire aesthetic. War paint. Envies other vampires for looking more normal and humanoid. Her wild shape is corrupted as well — to be a giant bat beast just like her vampire lord. Dreads how monstrous she is, just wants someone to find her pretty again.

- Bethanne grew up in a decently small sized vardo and settlement before being turned. Mama Andreá, a small elderly woman, was a psychic who ran a traveling business where she would read fortunes and read people’s souls. Catarina was her elder sister who taught her how to read nature and defend herself in the dark forests. Florin was her younger brother, who she mainly raised when Andreá fell ill. They all made up who she still is today — and without such humane love, Beth would have fell complete victim to the fatal strand and turned fully into a beast. Any souls that Noctus takes will never rest in peace due to his curse — and Bethanne is prophesied to be the one to behead him and set all the souls free due to escaping from his grasp and actively fighting the strand that’s always trying to corrupt her body.

- Pessimistic tendencies, but tries to stay optimistic for the sake of her party and hope to lay her family to rest by killing Noctus (her vampire lord). Any modern reference goes right over her head. Any social aspect goes right over her head. She is so fucking confused by society, I swear to god. You’re going to have to teach her everything normal. She knows how to read and write though, she loves to write poetry to vent. Excellent crafter, made all the toys for her vardo. Excellent at weaponry and archery. Knows tarokka. Was given a deck by Cassandra (Strahd in disguise as a Vistani woman, but no one knew it was her at the moment) as well (on request, but she already knows how to use it due to Mama Andreá having been a literal psychic who dealt with fortunes and divinity.) Humanity treats her like shit out of fear due to all the undead attacks, but she still loves humanity and continues to protect them despite her reluctance to. Highly and openly empathetic but has sarcastic tendencies. Usually pretty stern and serious, exhausted 25/8. Literally dreads her own existence because of how tiring it is to live with the curse and constant death around her. Everyone she’s loved so far has fucking died so she firmly believes her existence is a curse in itself that causes anyone who gets close to ultimately die. Is petrified to love. Wants to be loved so bad it’s ridiculous.

- When I fucking tell you she is HELLBENT on the hero complex. Not only was she forcibly turned, forced to leave her vardo at the City of Judgement, got this heavy ass prophecy shoved into her arms, and gets the nastiest backlash from the living just for existing as a vampire spawn, and having everyone she loves die around her, she believes that saving her loved ones and setting the souls free will be enough proof that she’s fucking worth something other than misery and failure. It’s not going well LOL this is COS everything goes wrong. She protected her first love interest until the very end until he caught feelings for her then got straight up kidnapped by one of the main antagonists — where he’s been actively tortured and experimented on slowly in an unknown location. She just found out about Cassandra and her true identity and is about to beat her ass silly for forgetting her Vistani ties but then she’ll try to save her ass too. It’s even worse because Vistani are so built on this foundation of acceptance and love and these two were originally two innocent Vistani women who may have even known each other in the past before getting entirely DESTROYED by vampirism and status. They both have the WORST mental health and PTSD too rest in pieces holy shit

- Hates violence but will instigate it over a short temper. Jokes about needless violence just to be a cunt with her weirdly dry sense of humor. Verbally harsh as hell and dangerously outspoken. Her intimidation comes from both her tongue and appearance. Has made a kid shit his pants before, and that was actually unintentionally JGHFHCVCH ,, has told a God and a devil to go fuck themselves, regrettably told Cassandra on their first meeting to fuck off because she was in a real shit mood at the time and Cass was joking about the fates not telling her if Beth would be tall or short (she’s 3 inches taller than Beth and Beth apologized later on and said she’s a train wreck to which Cass just stares at her and asked if the only reason she wanted to speak to her was to say she’s a train wreck and followed it up w it’s obvious you’re a train wreck and Beth just dead panned and asked her if she’s always such a cunt I fucking LOVE them LMAO) , has threatened an ENTIRE FUCKING AREA OF ROYAL GUARDS with her axe because one of them was being racist and threatened her party’s safety, threatened Ireena’s fucking brother too because he was just as bad as the guards and she HATES authority. Vaguely threatened the council of Ravenloft for corrupting Cass in conversation only. probably will threaten them in person honestly, especially if it’s just a group of pompous dudes. she hate hate HATES men in power — and so does Cass LMAO these two are going to be HORRIFIC

- Low key C.armilla coded, M.erida, K.arlach, A.lucard, and E.da coded.

- All the Saints of Notre Dame theme. The entire Brave soundtrack. Any Celtic or Viking song. Skål by Fuimadane.

- Not that hard to ship with, she’s just heavy baggage and looks like a monster for the most part so not many people cared to ship w her.

[ericspeartree]

Hey all, here are my creativity test results. Think there's some work to be done! Here are some design preferences and prejudices too:

Design Preferences: 

Subversive Film - I am absolutely crazy about movies. I won’t sit here and try to argue that there’s one kind I love more than any other, because I’ve seen so many that I can find one from any genre that I absolutely adore. Still, I have extra respect for movies that push the boundaries of what can/should be done in film. I love any film that goes out of its way to defy the medium and any established rules of filmmaking. Within these terms, I’ll mention a few favorites: Mulholland Drive (2001), Pierrot Le Fou (1965), Persona (1966), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), and Gummo (1997) stand out above many others to me. If I had to pick a favorite genre, it’d probably be horror, but if it ever comes down to movies I’m ready to talk all day about them. 

Sample Heavy Music - I adore the art of sampling. Few things give me as much of a genuine rush as when I’m listening to an album and I recognize the origin of a sample used in a song. My favorite album of all time is “Since I Left You” by The Avalanches, an album under the Plunderphonics subgenre that is made up of between 900 to 3,500 different samples, depending on who you ask. It is an album full of lively, danceable tunes that I cannot recommend enough. Other artists I love for their sampling abilities are Daft Punk, DJ Shadow, the Beastie Boys, MF DOOM, Madlib, Earl Sweatshirt, and Boards of Canada. 

Varying Kinds of Literature - I would hesitate to call myself well read, but I do try my best to read as much as I can. I think the novel is one of the most powerful mediums, since it can be formed in any way the author sees fit. It is truly a playground for creativity and I’ve found great pleasure in many kinds of literature, so I’ll name a few writers and works I love: Cormac McCarthy (Blood Meridian, All The Pretty Horses), Flannery O’Connor (Wise Blood, A Good Man is Hard to Find, Good Country People), David Foster Wallace (Infinite Jest, Good Old Neon), Thomas Pynchon (Inherent Vice, Gravity’s Rainbow), and Toni Morrison (Beloved). I think what I love most about these writers/works is how much they all utilize the flexibility of the novelistic form to create worlds and characters that could not be rendered in any other medium, or at least would be very difficult to. 

Design Prejudices: 

Minimalistic or Overly Plain Branding: I know many people generally despise the concept of branding as a whole, but I think I’ve pretty much come to terms with its universality. I often find that I grow attached to some kinds of branding, particularly logos, which upsets me even more whenever companies go out of their way to “rebrand” to some minimalistic junk. I understand the need (or perceived need) to appear modern/sleek/cool but to me there is nothing cool about something that looks like it can belong to any old brand. Some entities who I believed have changed their branding for the worse over the years: Pringles, Snapple, La Liga, Firefox, and Google. God forbid they do anything to the Coca-Cola logo. 

Clothing With the Brand Name on It: This one is real specific. I won’t pretend that I have a clue when it comes to fashion; my method for getting dressed every day is to wear whatever happens to be at the top of my drawer. Still, I find that I simply refuse to buy any clothing where the brand’s or store’s name is just blasted onto the front of it. The worst for this are places like Hollister, Aeropostale, even some of the hype-beast luxury brands, but special mention to Gap because I didn’t think I could hate 3 plain letters on a hoodie so much. 

Sitcoms About Nice/Overly Dumb People: Full disclosure, I have a dark sense of humor (within reason, obviously). I find that what makes me laugh in comedy is people acting completely awful. Think shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Veep. It works best because it shows the absurdity of life and the situations that arise from it. That’s why so many other comedies simply don’t work for me; they’re too focused on being nice that they just end up feeling toothless and milquetoast. I won’t name the shows I don’t like out of respect (it’s hard to write and direct!) but it’s something that always gets on my nerves. 

[kerflooey]

@bloodymabel : ‘i just want you to know that this is really nice’

The night had been … what it had been. A night to be talked about, certainly. And remembered. He knows he should be feeling something. Not to say that he isn’t feeling anything, he just knows that it’s not the right, human, decent thing to feel. A man had died, twice, and the most raucous thought crossing his mind is will my name make it on the papers when they print about this tomorrow?

As the three of them rummage around his apartment, he tells himself that anticipation could be a way to cope with the shock. They’ll get interviewed about it; they have to. Legally and show-business-ly. How far could he stretch that actor-director bond? Ben wouldn’t be around to contradict him.

They could’ve talked on the phone for hours, him being the gentlest mentor of a lost artist striving for his first true raw performance. They could’ve talked the greats together, Ben’s compliments and his placing him, Oliver Putnam, up there with them being so humbling.

Mabel and Charles chatter about the more … haunting implications of the whole thing. Podcasting about it again seems like a given, and for once he's glad not to feel like the sole driving force behind that production. Don’t get him wrong, it’ll be a great addition to what he will have going on … and he’ll have a lot going on. Would a documentary on the play’s continued production, as a means to honor its former star, be way too much?

Charles leaves eventually (old man!), and being left alone with her makes him realize Mabel might not exactly be feeling the right thing, either. Her intense, Nancy Drew persona is one of the many great things about her, but even he can admit she’s immersing herself far too intensely, far too soon. It’d be less worrying if they were already at the point in the investigation where things get juicy, but …

He doesn’t know how to be comforting. He’s usually comforted. The best thing he can do is pick up one of those tiny boxes of apple juice (who knows where it came from, or how long it’d been there) and offer it to her. He takes his sit back next to her, making a little jest out of scooting closer.

‘I just want you to know that this is really nice’

  "Pah, don’t mention it." – it’d been the last thing on his cupboard.  

A silence settles in. She doesn’t fill it, prompting him to sincerely (sincerely!) ask, “are you sure you’re okay, kiddo?”

[wellness-life-natural]

Bill Clinton's Humorous Jab at Trump Steals the Show at DNC

Previous President Bill Clinton carried a hint of levity to the Vote based Public Show (DNC) with a diverting comment about his age contrasted with previous President Donald Trump. In his discourse, Clinton kidded, "I'm as yet more youthful than Donald Trump," drawing chuckling and praise from the crowd.

The Age Variable

Bill Clinton, brought into the world on August 19, 1946, is for certain imperceptibly more energetic than Donald Trump, who was brought into the world on June 14, 1946. This implies Clinton is around two months more youthful than his conservative partner. By energetically bringing up this reality, Clinton displayed his mind and capacity to associate with the crowd through humor.

The Force of Humor in Political Talks

Clinton's joke filled in as a reviving break from the serious idea of political talk. Humor is an important device out in the open talking, as it connects with the crowd and give the discourse more significant and engaging. Clinton's capacity to make individuals giggle has for some time been a vital piece of his public persona.

Refining Legislators

In reality as we know it where legislators are many times seen as far off figures, humor assists with adapting them. Clinton's joke reminded the crowd that considerably previous presidents can have a comical inclination and partake in a decent chuckle. This appeal assists with building compatibility among government officials and the general population.

Bill Clinton's Tradition of Humor

Bill Clinton has a long history of involving humor in his talks. Whether it's an energetic comment or a smart jest, his capacity to make individuals chuckle has forever been a fundamental piece of his public persona. His jokes frequently mirror his practical character and his capacity to interface with normal individuals.

The Meaning of Light Minutes

In the frequently serious and high-stakes universe of governmental issues, light minutes like Clinton's joke are critical. They give a break from the force, permitting the two lawmakers and the overall population to pause and rest and partake in a snapshot of levity. These minutes help to help us to remember the human side of our chiefs and the significance of giggling in our lives.

Conclusion

Bill Clinton's silly poke at Donald Trump during his DNC discourse exhibited his getting through mind and capacity to associate with the crowd. In this present reality where governmental issues can frequently be serious and troublesome, minutes like these help us to remember the force of chuckling and the significance of settling on something worth agreeing on. As Clinton's joke illustrated, humor can be an incredible asset in political talk, assisting with diffusing pressure, construct compatibility, and pass on messages in a more satisfactory manner.

FAQ

1. How old are Bill Clinton and Donald Trump?

Bill Clinton was brought into the world on August 19, 1946, while Donald Trump was brought into the world on June 14, 1946.This makes Clinton inconsequential more youthful than Trump, by around two months.14, 1946.This makes Clinton barely more vigorous than Trump, by near two months. imperceptibly more energetic than Trump, by about two months.

2.     Why is humor significant in political addresses?

Humor is significant in political addresses since it connects with the crowd, deliver the discourse more important, and assemble affinity among lawmakers and the general population. It likewise gives a break from the serious idea of political talk and assists with refining legislators.

3.     Has Bill Clinton involved humor in his discourses previously?

Indeed, Bill Clinton has a long history of involving humor in his talks. Whether it's a lively comment or a shrewd jest, his capacity to make individuals giggle has forever been a fundamental piece of his public persona.

[snowymuses]

Name: Lucille Constance Lark Alias: Soundless Spirit, Alabaster Woman, Lulu, Lili, Lucy Species: Spirit Height:5'3 Age:(3)25, physically 18 Birthday: “Birth” day: December 22; Actual: July 23 Gender: Female Orientation: Bisexual Hometown: Burgess Village Occupation: Spirit of Air/Sound FC:IA from Vocaliod Human FC: Reina Izumi

Conjures notes to speak. Otherwise is mute

Loyal center

___

Lucille was born in a small village where every year it snowed. She was playful and always took tricks in jest. Despite her age, she never married and instead spent her time with her friend, a local boy who loved pranks as much as she did, if not more.

One night, the boy didn’t come back home. Her friend’s sister had to tell her about how he fell through the ice. It was that night, Lucille fell sick.

Crude medicine was not affecting her. First, she lost her voice. Then, she was slowly slipping into the next life. She prayed that she could live, just so she could find her friend. To make the children smile and laugh again, just as she once did. She promised her voice to the glowing moon. She promised if he would let her live, she would sing for every child she could.

She did not make it through the night.

Instead, she was brought back as a spirit. Her dark black locks were turned to a snowy white, and she retained her warmth from when she was human. When she realized she still existed, she tried to cry out in joy–But nothing came from her. The Man in the Moon was not able to give her voice back. Instead, she was sent to live in the nearby forest, to wait until someone would believe in her.

However, the true tragedy lay in the fact that spirits nor humans could see her. She was enveloped in silence and her form was invisible for many years.

Lucille tried her best to make connections with the humans, after failing time after time with spirits. Most walked right through her, but she could see some of the children who would hear her spirit, even if she couldn’t talk. Some of them would say there was a silent melody upon the wind, and those who heard her heart, she knew she could posses, for a short time.

She never uses the bodies for anything wrong, but to merely help herself to be believed in, instilling a song she would sing when she was alive in her host. She brings hope and music whenever she can, before leaving the hosts to return to her silence.

After a hundred years or so, she realized that her hold over air allowed her power to form parchments or 'notes’ that communicate for her. They bend to her will, being a part of her magic and her entire being. However, if she makes too many at once, she can end up hurting her spirit and starts to become unseen again.

She has made a few friends, even with her silence. Due to the few believers she has, she has grown in power and can now be seen by spirits. After three hundred years, the silent spirit is ready to play once again.

________

Currently three verses stand for Lucille. More may be added. 

Start Again Verse: Lucille has just become seen, has no believers whatsoever. Little to no power, her only friend is the Wind. (No Tag)

Progression Verse: ‘20 years later.’ Lucille has gone past the time of her most beloved believers, they growing older and forgetting about her. She travels the world once more, gathering believers of all ages, visiting Jackson and those she knew prior every so often. This will be her usual verse unless otherwise specified. (V: Seen) 

Modern Verse: Link to description of verse is here (V: Modern)

A spin off to this is her progressing Persona 5 (Royal) verse.

[torntruth]

" Of course I am right. " Roxana returns almost immediately, barely a pause after Kassandra's own words. A playful jest she does best with Kassandra. Most of the time she simply does just have a light heart, especially with conversation, but it's with Kassandra where it happens the most. Because Kassandra is also right. Love is a powerful motivator ... and it comes in so many forms, but at the center -- it's all love.

Roxana disappears down the steps to the kitchen / dining room where the couple are sitting yet again. He's just rubbing his wife's back, doesn't stop as he asks about Roxana's friend, and there's something in the kindness of that gesture and those words that make Roxana's nose wrinkle. She thinks it's absolutely adorable, actually. So adorable she had to fight against dropping her warrior persona and feeling like an innocent child for at least 2 seconds. See, now that's the type of kindess that is pleasantly contagious. She also just genuinely likes them asking about Kassandra ... and she can't quite explain why. Maybe it's simply because she likes talking about Kassandra. Either way, she finds some bread and jerky.

Then heads back upstairs after telling them Kassandra is fine, all she quite says until she also knows Kassandra isn't extremely paranoid [ valid, though ] about being talked about or her condition known. She just sits down in the pillows next to Kassandra again, holding out the jerky and bread. Things far more filling than fruit. Hopefully it's not too much.

Most of what Kassandra did these past years was for and out of love. Trying to find her mater, trying to save her brother, all of this to stop the cult that tore her family apart. And stopping the tournament because she didn't want to fight Roxana? Love. Love was a more powerful motivator than all the money in the world. And she had felt deprived of it for so long that she would fight to the death to keep it.

But, it is that fight to the death, to end the cult, that reminds her she can't bask in this morning forever. She has to start regaining her strength, she has to let Roxana help her regain that strength. Otherwise, she'll never stand a chance. They took a year from her, her freedom, her mind, her strength. They took her brother. She'll get strong once more and she will destroy every last cultist if it is the last thing she ever does. She'll make sure of it.

"They think power is a substitute for love. But they're still empty inside. They don't know what we have." At the risk of sounding cheesy, there is no power stronger than love. It could inspire greatness and bravery. And Roxana was right. They are a family, her, Barnabas, Herodotus, Myrrine, the crew. Every last one of them, family.

"But you're right, I should eat something." She says, letting Roxana get up.

[cursed-elo-images]

I’ve listened to the song I tagged in my recent post.

If anybody sees this post and hasn’t seen the post I’m referring to, and has NO idea what I’m talking about, I drew something cursed you can find on my blog and the song I’m referring to is “Confusion” by of course ELO.

It’s not one of my most favorites, but it’s a really good one.

Well, I think I just ruined the song for myself. (half jokingly)

While I said the above phrase in jest, there is some truth to it.

But first, I must mention my backstory.

The Backstory of the One and Only, cursed-elo-images Herself

My relationship with ELO started in March 2020. This was right before lockdown, and a parent of mine showed me a copy of ELO’s “greatest hits all over the world” CD, and we decided to play it in the car. I did like them, but I didn’t really listen to them much that month (really just a little bit of Elton John and some David Bowie too who are also good), but I decided to in April that month. I fell in love with them. I did however discover them in 2018 but didn’t feel like trying them out since I wasn’t into classic rock during that time besides Queen, since I listened to a few vocaloid songs. I also had “Don’t Bring Me Down” stuck in my head in late 2019, for some strange reason, but again didn’t feel like trying them out at the time, since I just liked Queen then. (Also a very good band, and I should also mention I stopped liking vocaloid music in early 2019 and Queen was what brought me back to classic rock)

Since then, I’ve listened to this band a lot, usually during the spring-summer because those seasons I find “enhance” the experience, I suppose it’s to invoke the nostalgia I felt when they first touched the neurons in my ear canals. I have went on a hiatus in 2021 though, because I temporarily replaced them with British rock band Sweet, which are arguably MORE underrated than them, but came back to ELO since… not to slander Sweet but, ELO is just more interesting and sensorily pleasing. I wasn’t really interested in the members, just the music. This lasted from 2020 to March this year. I did try to memorize the members of the band last year, but again I wasn’t really into the fandom, I just liked them as background music/shoving their music into my ears whenever I feel like it, which was a lot, but not on the same level as me immersed in David Bowie’s many personas and the fandom side of THAT.

I don’t know what got me interested in drawing ELO members or reading fandom posts about them, but here I am. I love being this way, and it gives me more people to be interested in so I take this as a win. They just have that adorkable charm to them.

Why I’m Obsessing over ELO’s Confusion

Now the context is out of the way, let’s discuss why I’m obsessing over their “Confusion” song. Like I previously mentioned, I liked the song to listen to sometimes, and to use as background music. Yes, even when I was blissfully unaware of the members and the fandom, and the future that was to come of me drawing the most bizarro cursed nonsense shlock (affectionate) regarding the band. It’s a nice song, detailing the (in my interpretation, yours might differ) confusion, shock, and sadness one feels after breaking up with their significant other. However, I, being the equally cursed weirdo that I am, decided to use that song for the dreaded (affectionate) Melvyn bread train doodle. Why? Because that was the theme of the drawing. Did I need to add the song? No, but I thought it would be funny and look cool. Then when I clicked on the Spotify link I heard a snippet of the song and I unfortunately applied the lyrics to the drawing, implying that the band lost… Melvyn’s… human(?) form and became that cursed abomination (affectionate) and have their feelings about it.

Now, instead of being at peace with their music (specifically Confusion) I am now going to think of that drawing every time I listen to it. Just great (lightheartedly sarcastic).

[jestdrabbles]

I hate silent protags, but especially for the persona series because it robs us of genuine character interaction between our main character and the others. Playing the game at face value, you can assume Akira is a guy who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty if it means saving someone in need, but he’s also more of an observer than an active participant in his daily life. He eavesdrops a lot, doesn’t get involved in club activities like past persona protagonists, and a lot of his body language indicates that he’s a bit awkward despite his confidence in the metaverse. Take away his party members, and the victory screen no longer shows him strutting and confidently calling everyone along but instead shows him shyly rubbing the back of his neck and averting eye contact with the camera.

But then you have to pay attention for the rest of it. Morgana mentioning that his hands shake when he writes his name, the fact that he repressed the memory of being arrested even though it’s glaringly obvious to the player who Shido is from the very beginning, Morgana mentioning that Akira doesn’t eat well, really factoring in how many part-time jobs he has as well as how many tasks keep him busy from morning to night as the leader (seriously, it’s no wonder Morgana’s always nagging the poor kid to Stop and Sleep), his competitive spirit that comes out when you really take a look at his dialogue choices, the fact that he sleeps on a thin mattress on top of crates, etc. etc.

Spin-off material like the manga and anime offer more insight to his actual characterization, but I just wish we had that in the base game. It wasn’t really until looking into those other sources that I started to genuinely feel something other than “oh, this is my son” for the character and really got invested in his story as an individual who goes from being seen as a dangerous burden for everyone around him to the legendary trickster that shoots the god who dealt him this hand in the face.

Royal did give us something that the base game never did, and that was further exploration of his personal regret in not being able to save Akechi. It’s not up to the player to decide if Akira cares about him because Akira will wish for Akechi’s life no matter what. He carries his glove with him in his pocket every day, as implied that he still has it in his pocket months after it was given to him. The game never tells you outright “Akira is still grieving,” but if you care enough to pay attention, you can start to understand just how heavily this weighed on him, likely in the original version of the game, as well. And who could he have spoken to about any of it? His friends didn’t like him, there was no body, no funeral, no grave, and no professional available to him had any idea what the metaverse was, so he could never be entirely honest about what he’d been through.

And speaking of professional, Royal also introduced Maruki as the school’s counselor who should have been able to notice Akira’s troubles throughout the school year but decided to accept Akira’s mask of stability and write him off as being stable enough to instead listen to his own problems. I love that disaster man, but he really failed this kid. I still don’t quite understand how he found out about what happened to Akechi considering he was no longer working at the school at that time, nor had he been in contact with Akira at all, but the fact remains that he could see the grief in Akira enough to know what his wish would be had he ever spoken it aloud, and still there was no real effort to reach out and help him truly process any of it. Obviously Maruki was the antagonist at that point and rather than help anyone through their trauma, his answer was to let everyone forget their pain in favor of a happy dreamscape, so there’s no reason for him to offer any helpful advice. But still. He’s the only adult with knowledge of the metaverse and at least a root desire to help others, and even he couldn’t help Akira.

This has gotten away from me, but my point is that Akira went through a lot that year. Even if the game paints it as a fun thrillride, it’s also obvious these experiences were traumatic, and there’s no way he won’t be affected by the things he did and saw for years. Especially since he has no one looking out for him, and he has no reason to feel as though he can actually open up about anything. But we don’t get to really see that. We don’t get to see the cracks in his mask in favor of mostly silence and the occasional dialogue option that’s only a few words. It’s implied that he can hold lengthy conversations (seriously, how many times does Akechi mention how meaningful their talks are and how insightful Akira is), but we don’t get to experience it. It’s a shame, and I wish we’d stop with the silent protag/self-insert approach to games like this because it doesn’t make it more immersive. If anything, it disconnects you from the actual events taking place.

[westwingsolo]

"Green? I never thought about green like that before..." Was he going to add more of the color to his wardrobe? Maybe, probably. He honestly thought about adding more color in general now that he could see it in much better light. Though he wondered if he could actually incorporate more color without people wondering the reason.

Alex couldn't help but smirk and Henry's jest. The Prince was actually okay. And it made sense that his outward persona would have to be as plain and boring as possible, never stepping out of line to keep the crown happy. But here he was, standing in front of him with what was an actual personality. "And I guess I can tolerate your boring, British propriety..."

Alex let his smirk soften a little and went around to grab a water bottle from the fridge. "I guess we should head to bed... you know.. long day tomorrow. " He was fairly tired, even if he knew that he wouldn't fall asleep right away, but he needed to at least try to seem alert to keep the media off his back. "We can talk... if you want... about this whole... soul mate thing tomorrow..."

They didn't get much time to talk in the morning, Shaan kept them on a very strict schedule. They also didn't have a moment alone, Henry's PPOs and the secret service always around them. There was an easiness between them that wasn't there the day before, and he wondered if Henry noticed it, or if it was just a figment of his imagination. But the kids seemed to enough the two of them, and the way they easily bounced off each other, bringing smiles to the young faces that really deserved more.

They were about to leave when they finally got a moment alone, though being thrown into a supply closet because there was a possible threat was not how Alex thought they were going to get a moment alone. "Henry? Jesus Christ, Henry are you ok? Look, I know it's tight here but you have to get off me..." Alex tried to move, flipping around but it just made Henry fall back on top of him between his legs. "Ok... next time take me out first, will you?" It was a poor attempt at humor, but he couldn't help the unfiltered, nervous reaction to his life being possibly in danger.

"No. I've been gay for as long as I could remember. Are you?" Henry asked quietly after he glanced up. Alex was surprisingly not white, but the grain of white was more greyish when he saw nothing but black and white. Now he saw the soft tones of his skin. A tannish beautiful color. Diaz was handsome in his own right. He secretly wanted to know if his curls were as soft as they looked.

"It's fine. I understand more than anyone." Still being fairly silent about things, he knew what it meant if Alex liked woman too. Bi sexual. Which wasn't a bad thing. Just made his dating pool wider.

"I guess I can tolerate your Americanness a bit longer." He was making a point to tease him. "Oh great. I don't think I could bare another minute." Fox grinned at him as rolled his eyes at the others jest. It felt good to just be himself for once. Not having to act like the stuck up prince he was told too.

"Thank you and you look good in green too." Noting the green in his jammies. "I didn't realize I did until I saw the color. I do like it. It's soothing."

[ancient-day]

Maruki’s wiki really does remind me how tragic this all was.

“He is a torn and grieving man who was the only person in his own ideal reality who wasn’t happy himself.”

[jan-uinely]

.

[agentrouka-blog]

Do you think Myranda's questioning of Alayne about Baelish's penis is more to do with her trying to suss out that the relationship between Petyr Baelish and whoever this girl calls herself Alayne isn't that of a father daughter but has sexual connotations to it. I have seen people interpreting it as her having the hots for Baelish but I think it's more to do with her trying to gather more information about the type of relationship between Baelish and this strange girl he calls his daughter. Following this, she tries to talk about the North and Castle Black having a boy commander maybe in order to narrow down where this girl Alayne comes from?

I would agree. These questions are entirely inappropriate to ask a daughter about her father, but we were explicitly told that Myranda is shrewd and "plays the merry fool", so this kind of absurdly rude question is a great way to throw someone off balance.

Myranda spends the entire trip playing up the outrageous overfriendly gossip persona, always right before or right after dry remarks that hint at her actual astute political inclinations.

I would venture to guess that Myranda already knows that Alayne is Sansa, or the remark on Jon Snow would not have played out the way it did. What news does she feed her?

Political news about Littlefinger's matchmaking and alliance-building - Alayne is informed and in LF's confidence.

Riverrun and the wars. - Carefully neutral reply.

New High Septon. - No reaction at all from the "religiously raised" girl.

Ned Stark's bastard - DING DING DING DING

Harry the Heir - someone a Gulltown girl has never heard of...??

Myranda's own marriage and its scandalous end - something a Gulltown girl has never heard of??

Marillion the murderous monster - no reaction at all

LF's marital future - surprise, so no plans

LF's physical attributes - awkward discomfort

Amid all of that constant little proddings about Sansa's maidenly virtue - absolutely checking if she is Littlefinger's mistress, as well as his ward. Whether or not he controls the heir to Winterfell the same way he controlled Lysa is extremely relevant. Her impression on that front is likely satisfactory: Sansa is innocently blushing up a storm every second sentence when she's not building romantic scenarios for Mya and Lothor.

The interrogation is ended when Sansa and Myranda collaborate to get Sweetrobin safely over the stone saddle bridge. It seals Myranda's impression of Alayne: Brave, beautiful, innocent Sansa Stark.

Sansa reveals so incredibly much to Myranda. She can puzzle out that Sansa is obviously not a Vale native but the heiress to the North, that she is posing as LF’s bastard daughter - implying familiarity and dependence - but is not his mistress, making her emotionally independent. She doesn’t even consider the option that Littlefinger might want to marry her himself or to the heir to the Vale she never knew existed (meaning he is keeping her in the dark about some plans), but Sansa is privy to certain of his political schemes to do with the Lords Declarant, meaning she is bright enough to follow politics in general and holds some of his trust. Sansa Stark personally cares about her real father’s bastard, as well as Mya Stone, and is clearly invested in the health and safety of her cousin the Lord Robert, she has a gentle nature and can rise to the occasion in a frightening moment. She’s innocent enough to blush frequently, to be scandalized by sexual innuendo, unlike someone like Margaery who exchanges bawdy jests with a Kettleblack boy, meaning that Sansa is both “unblemished” as a marital prospect AND not a practiced and self-satisfied liar or manipulator. 

Myranda is looking at a picture-perfect exile princess and she’ll find the best way to make use of her.