#let me be clear I'm not opposed to him being a traitor

[atydblack]

trouvaille

regulus black x slytherin!reader

masterlist

this is part one of an ongoing series! think there will be 3 parts in total <3 no cws as this is gonna be pure angst

Being James Potter's younger sister inquired a lot to live up to. James was the perfect Gryffindor student who succeeded in all his classes, exuded confidence with his every word, had soulmates for friends and an even better girlfriend.

You, however, were almost the opposite.

You were sorted into Slytherin in your first year and although they tried their best to hide it, you could see the disappointment in James and his friends eyes as you walked over to the Slytherin table. Your parents were still accepting but there was some clear favouritism in the family, no doubt. You did well in classes however didn't ever see yourself becoming a prefect like James or being top of any classes.

You sat in potions next to your best friend, Lara. Her straight blonde hair and bright blue eyes opposed my black curly hair and dark brown eyes. You had always been jealous of her, she was the type to catch everyone's eye when she walked into a room while you just trudged in behind her.

"Do you have idea what this question means?" Lara asks you, huffing slightly as she rested her chin in her hand.

"You really think I'd have the answer if you didn't?" You joked. You glanced up at Slughorn who had started dozing off behind his desk and you smirked. "Look."

Lara mirrored your smirk and you both dropped your quills on the desk to turn around and start talking with your friends instead.

"I'm bored out of my mind." Lara groaned to your other friend Freya sat behind you.

"Slughorn says if we don't get these all finished, he's gonna give us all detention until we get them done." Freya rolled her eyes, but you could clearly see that she'd almost finished.

"Have you got the number to 42?" You asked her with wide eyes, trying to sway her in to letting you copy her. "And 43, 44, 45... and the rest?"

"Merlin your voices are retched." A voice came from a couple desks to your right, none other than Enoch Wilkes. He was a tall boy with sleeked back greasy hair and a superiority complex due to his family heritage.

"What's your problem, Wilkes?" Lara shot at him.

"I'm trying to actually do my work but all I can hear is Potter's squeaky voice in my ear." Wilkes replied with a grunt.

"She's just as unbearable as Saint Potter except dumber." Icarus Nott joined in from next to him.

"What did you just say?" You spat, standing to your feet and making your way over to them with your wand gripped tightly in your palm, willing to do anything to stand up for your older brother. There was a third boy sat with them, Regulus Black.

Regulus had always been quiet, however he never failed to be part of the horrid Slytherins who gave your house a bad name and thought they were elite causing them to look down on everyone else. He had only made a few sly comments in past years, but everyone knew his thoughts on muggle blood.

You were also a pureblood, but would never allow yourself to feel any prejudice towards anyone else.

You couldn't deny that Regulus was attractive. He looked a lot like Sirius... however his facial features were softer. His dark black hair fell onto his forehead effortlessly and his green eyes complimented his pale skin.

"You heard me." Nott mocked you, not moving from his seat. You had gained a small audience as everyone's head turned towards you.

"What an embarrassment having a Gryffindor blood traitor for a brother." Wilkes joked, not backing down. "At least Black had the right idea and cut his off, what's stopping you from doing the same?"

"Y/N, sit down." Freya begged from across the classroom, not wanting to get either of you in trouble. "He's not worth it."

"You have no idea what you're talking about." You smirked, holding up your wand and pointing it right at him.

You were closest to Sirius out of all your brothers friends. He had moved in with your family two years ago after he left his family and you'd always been there for him, especially during everything that happened with his brother Regulus. Regulus was clearly a lost soul, strung along on the same ideologies as his parents however he would send letters to Sirius every once and a while but continued to act like he didn't exist at school.

"Leave it, Wilkes." Regulus muttered. Funny this is the first time he had ever attempted to stick up for you and it was only to save his own back.

"What's she talking about, Black?" Nott glanced at him, but Regulus' eyes were set on yours as you stared each other down. You knew you would never actually say anything to expose Regulus as doing so would only hurt Sirius too, but you could sense how scared he was that you'd open your mouth.

"She's a freak." Wilkes chuckled. "Just like her brother."

This sent you over the edge as everything turned red. You dropped your wand to the floor and quickly punched Wilkes square in the nose.

"Olive!" Lara shouted from across the classroom.

You felt a pair of strong arms pulling you back as you attempted to go in for another hit.

"What on earth is going on?!" Slughorn announced and you all froze. You turned around to see it was in fact Regulus' arms that were holding you back and a brush grew on your cheeks. "Black, Potter - sit down at once!"

You both complied, with a guilty expression you made your way back over to your desk and your friends gave you an apologetic look.

"I expect to see you both after class." Slughorn continued.

"But sir-!" Nott shouted, attempting to stick up for Regulus.

"I don't want to hear it." Slughorn quickly cut him off earning a scoff from the boy.

The lesson felt like it took hours to end but you felt slightly ill in your stomach when everyone else was packing up to leave but you and Regulus sat firmly in your seats.

"We'll be in the great hall; I'll save you a seat." Lara smiled at you before her and Freya took off out the classroom and to dinner.

"Both of you have detention with Filch every night after dinner starting tomorrow." Slughorn mumbled, uninterested. You scoffed as you were way too used to detention with Filch now.

When you were dismissed, you quickly stood to your feet and attempted to leave ahead off Regulus to avoid any awkwardness. You began walking down the corridor, ready to rant to James about what had occured.

"Potter!" Regulus called from behind you. You stopped in your tracks and turned on your feet with a confused expression on your face. He approached you slowly and timidly before speaking. "I-uh. I wanted to thank you for not saying anything about Sirius and I."

"I didn't do it for you. I did it for Sirius." You mutter before turning back around and leaving him there dumbfounded.

You reach the great hall and make a B line for your brother and his friends. James smirked at you as you approach him with a sour expression on your face before sitting in between him and Sirius, your green robes standing out in the sea of red.

"What's up with you, Y/N?" Sirius smirked before patting me on the top of your head.

"I've got detention again this week." You huff, crossing your arms and leaning them on the table.

"How do you manage to get yourself into so much trouble?" Lily quizzed you, a humorous look on her face that mirrored the rest of the group.

"She takes after me, that's why." James joked but you only rolled your eyes in response.

"Yeah, apart from the brains." You sigh, leaning your head on Sirius' shoulder. You glanced over at the Slytherin table and quickly caught eyes with Regulus, who must have been staring at you. You kept eye contact for a short moment before he turned his head and acted like it never happened. You furrow your eyebrows and listed your head once again. "At least I'm the better-looking sibling." You continue, causing everyone to laugh.

"Keep dreaming, kiddo." James rolled his eyes.

"Go on then, what did you do this time?" Remus questions you.

"I punched Enoch Wilkes in the nose during potions." You say smugly causing everyone to laugh once again.

"I would advise you that violence isn't the answer, however we can make some exceptions for people like that." Remus smirked.

"Tell me about it, they're horrid." You scoff before stealing some food from James plate. "No offence obviously, Sirius."

"Go ahead," Sirius chuckled. "I had to endure it for most of my life."

[liketwoswansinbalance]

What if Evil Rhian and Evil Rafal interacted? Give me a good show, boys. 🍿

Note:

Expect violence and all-around ugliness.

Also, thanks for the prompt. This was a fun one!

⸻

Rafal: The one thing I can agree with Vulcan on is that we should've kept the name: The School for Evil and Good.

Rhian: What.

Rafal: You heard me. Clear as a death knell. Vulcan should've killed you while he had the chance. Instead I'm bedeviled by you, a foul nuisance spawned from "Vulcan's stithy."

[To clarify: In his Shakespearean insult, Rafal is now referencing the mythological, Roman god Vulcan, not Vulcan of Netherwood.]

Rhian: Well, you're a raging egomaniac, for someone who thinks himself the finest puppetmaster in the Woods despite being inadequate when set next to me.

Rafal: As if you're not one. And such language from the so-called Ever. Dean 'Headache' would blush.

Rhian: All right, let's say I descend to your wretched level, if only to vanquish you: you left me in the Doom Room, to rot!

Rafal: If you weren't a traitorous snake, I wouldn't have left you. Besides, you went behind my back to the Kingdom Council to frame me! To launch a war campaign against me without a jot of forewarning. I should have done worse while you were still vulnerable, hanging there, numb.

Rhian: And yet, I overheard you say to Midas that your aim was to take over all the Woods? What say you to that, devil brother? If I win and take over, I'll string you up by your vocal chords.

Rafal: [derisively] That's anatomically impossible. You're new at this, aren't you?

[Rhian lunges for Rafal, and they get into an all-out duel to the death, executing remarkable feats of arms, considering the pitiful weapons they're armed with.]

⸻

[During an intermission afterwards:]

[They are black and blue, battered and bruised all over, sustaining minor cuts, each gasping for his breath, and they are seated on chairs, beside one another.]

Rafal: I should've brought my poleaxe, or even a halberd, so I could fracture your skull properly. Strike out the brains and dash them on the floor. [shakes his head.] Would've been great fun to ram a longsword through your ribcage, too, had I brought it along. [He twists his letter opener around idly.] This meager, little thing isn't suited for thrusting; it barely did any damage.

Rhian: [nursing a long, open slice on his forearm] I think you did enough with that letter opener. [He sheathes his dagger.] Though, someone should've died, even if you failed to shear me in two. What gives. What's the matter with us?

Rafal: [glances over at the Storian] Looks like someone or some thing wants us alive to provide the entertainment. I'm not opposed to trying again though. Why don't we? I'd love to rip out your heart. It's not as if it's getting regular use anyway.

Rhian: And I wish to wreak the same harm upon you, with your tongue besides. I hate hearing that grating voice. So monotonous. You could be a punishment for others in Hell where you belong. Your lectures are torture enough.

Rafal: Well, you won't have to hear me much longer. Not that you ever listen. Your dismembered ears will make excellent trophies of war. I could have them plated with gold—gold on the outside, rot on the inside, just like your tainted soul. [He smiles to himself, satisfied, and then, fishes through his jacket pocket and finds a long piece of thread in a clump, trying to untie it, so he can use it to garrot Rhian, or at the very least, choke him effectively enough.]

Rhian: And I'm sure your bones would make a lovely tea set, once they're pulverized. [Rhian reaches over to clock Rafal upside the head with a book.]

Rafal: [leans out of reach, rolling his eyes] Child's play. [He shoves Rhian off his chair and that devolves into a second fistfight on the floor, more vicious than the first, in an all-out brawl as they forgo all dignity.]

Rhian: At least I have HONOR! [he bellows to stall Rafal, while attempting to summon his dragonfire.] I'll scorch you like I would a snowman!

Rafal: [raising his voice as he throttles Rhian in the neck, punctuating every sentence with a punch] You? Honor? You're the least honorable man I know. At least my Evil's out in the open, for all to see. Everyone knows I use underhanded means. Everyone knows I'm a two-faced backstabber. And they rightly take precaution and obey me. [spoken through his teeth with a clenched jaw.] My Evil's a publicly-acknowledged fact. Can't say the same about you, you who went to the Kingdom Council, who indelicately skirts around Ever customs despite claiming to be one. Which makes me the "honorable" one, by your twisted definition.

Rhian: How dare you— [as he rakes his nails across Rafal's face, drawing blood that clots immediately due to their self-healing, as per the original oath, leaving shallow, stinging wounds that knit themselves right up.] I will outlast you!

[Don't ask me how they can still heal despite breaking their oaths. The Storian derives sick entertainment from mindless repetition and senseless, brutish violence. That's why.]

[And, the Storian doesn't bother to write because this is a regular occurrence with two Evil twins—it's unworthy of a tale, infighting not balance. And so, the Pen just watches and waits and watches...]

[firestorm09890]

FUCK what I said about the majority of significant changes to dialogue in Re:CoM being to adjust Axel's characterization, the most egregious change is actually this

(GBA CoM)

(Re:CoM)

if I had to guess, the reason for this change was because in GBA CoM, The Superior was a spooky, unknown being at the head of this Organization we had very little knowledge on, and for Vexen, the guy who runs his mouth constantly about how much better he is than the others, to be terrified of him, he must be some pretty scary dude. But then after kh2 we know him, it's Xemnas, he's very dramatic, he likes to talk to the moon, and the effect of your mind filling in the gaps about what "The Superior" must be like is gone. So it wasn't really necessary anymore, right?

(rest under cut because it's long)

Except... the way they changed it is so weird. In the GBA version, what's happening is pretty clear:

Marluxia tells Vexen that his project is a failure

Vexen demonstrates that he does not give a shit about Marluxia's opinion

he does care very much about The Superior's opinion, though, and Marluxia uses this to blackmail him into eliminating Sora- an action which is nonsensical, as the entire point of what they're doing needs Sora alive, making it clear to everyone in the room that he is deliberately sending Vexen to die

and then after that, when Vexen shows up to fight Sora, he goes "if you want to fight me for real you've gotta do it in the memories from the other side of your heart lol bye" and Sora goes "huh? other side?" and then it cuts to a scene on the top floor:

and then this gets more into subtext but here, Vexen has realized he's totally fucked and his only hope is to mess directly with Marluxia's plans (well, they were the Organization's plans, but it's pretty obvious by now Marluxia's abusing his power for his own purposes) by giving Sora more information than he should know. This does get the traitor gang worried enough to send Axel to go kill him (as opposed to just letting Sora take care of him, which was presumably the original plan)- he very specifically cuts Vexen off to keep him from saying too much (this is retained between the original and the remake)

Anyway, what happens in Re:CoM sort of follows the same order of events, but everything is changed slightly in a way that just makes things more confusing.

Marluxia tells Vexen his project is a failure and Vexen demonstrates that he doesn't give a shit about Marluxia's opinion, as before

Marluxia threatens Vexen with a weapon, rather than threatening to tell the Superior

this, notably, does not seem to faze Vexen very much. he continues to run his mouth while having the scythe pointed at him.

Xemnas is still leveraged- Marluxia points out it was the Superior who entrusted him with the castle

...even though reasonably Vexen would already be aware of this, and has still demonstrated that he has zero respect for Marluxia despite it

the lines about betraying the Organization being a capital crime are retained, probably because it's super relevant later, but then that line of thinking is abandoned in favor of Marluxia and Larxene just taunting Vexen instead

The part where Marluxia says "do it. you won't" could be seen as a sort of threat... if not for Axel's line: "You give a challenge like that to Vexen and he'll seriously want to eliminate Sora." It frames it all as though Vexen went to fight Sora out of some sort of pride.

And look, Vexen may have a temper and a superiority complex, but he's not stupid. They're obviously baiting him. Plus, what happened to him seeing himself as above the others and countering things he doesn't like with "well actually I'm higher ranked than you and also you're an idiot"? Is he that insecure in his fighting capabilities? I could deal with characterization changes doing him dirty if it didn't also make no sense in the context of the plot.

So now we have Vexen going to try to kill Sora, something that really makes no sense to do, out of pride. What was the purpose of sending Sora to Twilight Town? Also pride, over the fact that he managed to get that information? Giving the writing the benefit of the doubt, I could say that these nonsensical actions can be explained as evidence that Nobodies can have hearts and people with hearts do strange and rash things, but that just feels like a reach, which is bad because what they had in GBA CoM worked perfectly fine and made sense without any reaching for the "idk emotions make you do strange things" explanation.

It continues. After Vexen gives Sora the Twilight Town card in Re:CoM and Sora wonders about what the "other side" means, this is that version of the conversation the top floor members have:

...what? "If Sora disappears, that would mess up the Organization's plans"? what are you worried about? the only reason Sora would disappear is if Vexen killed him. there's no way they think Vexen being in Twilight Town would give him an advantage, right? they know he's a pathetic fighter. "Vexen has clearly committed a treasonous act against the Organization" HOW? HOW IS IT CLEAR? they don't express any worry about Sora learning too much, up until Axel says "I came to stop you from talking too much" when killing Vexen- and that being there makes it seem like they were worried about Sora learning to much, but if that's the case, why would they replace the perfectly serviceable lines in the above scene? it's just... baffling that they would want to lean into the narrative that Vexen going to kill Sora (which he'd been goaded into doing) is the problem here, because it just makes so little sense compared to what it was originally.

once again giving them the benefit of the doubt: Marluxia's real plan was to take over the Organization, and he saw an easy way to pick off one of the members, so he took it. the motive for stopping Vexen doesn't actually matter.

buuuuut it's the same as with Vexen earlier. Marluxia may be too self-absorbed and power-hungry to notice Axel is scheming against him, but he, too, is an intelligent man. he's plotted for a while, getting into Xemnas's good graces in order to be put in charge of the Castle. this is incredibly sloppy for him. I guess it could be said that getting so close to his goal would make him sloppy, but again, if they'd just left things the way they were in GBA CoM, I wouldn't even have to be saying this

in conclusion: GBA Chain of Memories' intra-Organization strife subplot is so tightly woven with calculated moves on all sides that Re:CoM changing certain things without taking into consideration the consequences makes certain parts of the plot fall flat and become far more confusing than in the original story

[kyogre-blue]

Don't worry, I'm not exactly burning through the chapters here.

I think I might actually just stop doing monastery things. If I leave the team in their current promotions, then their weapon ranks don't matter (on Normal, to be clear), which by extension means their motivation doesn't matter. And I don't really have all that much pressing need for Renown either. So maybe just explore once a month and then seminar or rest for the other weeks... It would be nice not to have to engage with this boring micromanagement simulator.

Re: the whole "church divided fodlan to weaken humanity" thing, if you want to be charitable, this can be interpreted as actually being what the Agarthans did (since Pan is supposedly an Agarthan plant of some sort??), and that's why unifying Fodlan is Good Actually. But obviously the execution here is way off. I'll complain about it separately later.

Re: Edelgard situation, I could accept that Byleth feels invested in her even if I don't, but even that aspect is so underplayed... Even if it's because Edelgard never expected you to side with her because you're ambiguously a dragon person... that's boring? That's really boring! Listen, I watched Naruto and Sasuke be stupid about each other for a decade straight as a formative media experience, I don't expect quality, but I at least expect DRAMA

Don't even get me started on the bold dev statements about the three house leaders being supposedly based on the FE4 concept of old school friends ending up as enemies. These guys are not friends, and you can't play the idea for emotional beats if you don't bother setting it up despite wasting 30 hours on that time period.

As for who is lying to who, in SS you can unlock the Ferdinand/Lysithea (i know) paralogue, where they basically tell you another version of the Insurrection, rather, they give a more nuanced POV about Duke Aegir, the former Prime Minister, than the one Edel always gives... Again, the games never do anything with this, but given how Edel was able to forgive and ultimately turn the other conspirators (Caspar's dad, Linhardt's dad) to her side, but had Aegir Sr immediately arrested, I guess she and her dad really don't like Duke Aegir. Why? Whoever knows.

I got a version of this one on VW, not sure if they're different. It's an interesting point that Edelgard really goes after Duke Aegir but it seems like this might be just because she couldn't get him on her side. She gets three of the houses to work for her outright, gets another's wife to step in and take over for a similar result, and kills the fifth, so that just leaves Ferdie's dad, and presumably they were just looking for a convenient way to arrange his death.

The fact that they rebelled against her dad ten years ago but now half of them just go "yeah, sure, let's give this potentially very vengeful young woman all this military power, surely this cannot go wrong" is... lol, I guess. Ferdie's dad had enough common sense to not agree, I suppose.

There's mention of her meeting up with Caspar's dad ahead of time, at minimum, so it's not like this was a last minute shakeout where she took them by surprise and they had to make their choice real quick.

But tbh, the main focus of that scene was the Flamey reveal - Edel might be their Emperor, but she is also the figure that has been trying to kill them (and killed peons+Jeralt) for the last year - so maybe the game thought that those characters (the BE members) would of course fight against the Flame Emperor, regardless of their identity? And if they were truly on the Flame Emperor's hitlist or opposed Edel's plans as the Flame Emperor, they are already opposing the Emperor, thus already traitors?

tbh I always forget what the Flame Emperor even does. Do they do anything... when did the characters even find out they exist... I swear, the Flame Emperor only appears to the characters themselves like twice or something. Not exactly an impactful and threatening figure.

The Church had no say in the Crescent Moon War (the War where the Alliance became a thing) and... in the DLC, you have a novel set in the early days of the Empire where "northerners" being torn apart by wild beasts was a spectacle for wealthy Adrestians. Sure, it's a novel so it might not totally be close to reality, but you just have to wonder why this was left here... Faerghus started a war of independance, killed defeated the Emperor of that time but, instead of marching on Enbarr, asked to be recognised as a country, and the CoS accepted it.

lmao, nice bit of detail

The devs gave an interview in early 2020 about it, Rhea doesn't only want Sothis back because Sothis is her mother, but first and foremost, she wants Sothis back because Sothis is the Progenitor God :

Kusakihara: Actually, in the beginning cutscene, there is a one-cut of Sothis looking down, and it was for that, a character design sheet for her was needed. As for Rhea’s tenacity, there is actually stuff that was written that did not make it in. For Rhea, Sothis is not just her mother, but also the Creator, and therefore she has goals beyond just wanting to meet her mother. This is the foundation of Rhea’s mind/heart

Oh, nice. This is really interesting. It does kind of suggest that Rhea would not necessarily consider it a failure state that Byleth comes out on top in the Sothis fusion dance.

I always found the timeline toward the end of WC to be a bit odd because Rhea only really cranks up the sus-ness after you've already merged with Sothis, so it's not like sitting on a throne or whatever will do much to you. There's no actual danger and her being ambiguously ominous is completely fangless as a result. But if Rhea was always aiming for "god" and not necessarily Sothis, then... well, she basically got what she intended, especially in the cases where you end up ruling over Fodlan at the end.

The true winner: Rhea. I can accept this.

OK, onto SS choice and the timeskip!

Due to when they let you save, I've actually played into the very start of the war phase, so I'll just say it here. I was kind of disappointed by how limp-wristed the whole Edelgard situation is? I expected some more "join me and we shall rule Fodlan" kind of thing, but Edelgard is very neutral and almost disinterested about it. Oh, you're not joining her? Oh well.

The Byleth relationship with Claude is rather detached because he has so little stakes in Fodlan and keeps hiding his actual background and motives for so long, but like the tradeoff is that they have no actual beef or conflict and just cooperate well. I kind of thought Edelgard would be more emotionally charged in some way and she... isn't really? Post timeskip, they go through the motions of starting a sword fight, but then just kinda... stop and... part ways... Not sure if Edelgard's rather under-played delivery is part of the issue. I'm not saying her voice actress is bad, but she doesn't really sell the character imo.

Anyway, I am as ever unimpressed by Edelgard.

Live blogging notes:

Edelgard going to Enbarr to be crowned is a secret.

Man, her dad looks very ill. The implication of her dialogue is that it's because of the "burden of the throne" but eeeeeh

Normally, the archbishop should act as a witness to the ceremony, though iirc the original JP script just had "bishop"...?

"By the covenant between the red blood and the white sword"

Man... Both Hubert in their support and Ionius IX here frame it as Edelgard being "stolen away to the Kingdom" but like, no, her mom took her there? And from what I understand, Edelgard was perfectly fine there. The real issue was when Thales posing as Arundel brought her back. But it seems that Edelgard doesn't actually remember that stuff, so are they purposefully lying to her?

It seems like Ionius IX saw his children experimented on. Edelgard mentions seeing him clench his fists until they bled.

Edelgard's first act: putting Duke Aegir in his place and basically imprisoning him in the palace (?)

Ionius IX and Edelgard both keep referring to how the fate of Fodlan is in her hands now, which is kind of lol given that she's technically only taking over one of three countries in Fodlan.

Oh, interesting. In GD (and I believe BL), you fight the Flame Emperor in the Tomb and then break their mask, revealing Edelgard. But here, Edelgard walks in as herself from the beginning and willingly reveals her identity.

Her wehehe evil henchguy states clearly that they're here to take the Crest Stones, and also the bones. Oh boy!

It's interesting that Edelgard can't just order her classmates to stand down. She's their Emperor, so by disobeying her, they're functionally all traitors. In general, I'm surprised we do battle with her initially and only choose whether to side with her after being ordered to kill her directly.

Despite what I kind of expected, Edelgard never really tries to recruit you and isn't at all surprised that you stand against her. Ngl, I expected a "join me and we can rule the galaxy together" pitch. Kinda disappointed...

Yeah, all the BE kids are like "so what if she's the Emperor, we're just gonna do our own thing" but without actually confronting what they're doing. (Update: Hubert at least obliquely threatens Ferdinand if you attack him, with "you have people you care about in the empire, right? think about what'll happen to them if you stand with the Church")

Edelgard's big speech is like "Church wants to rule Fodlan!" and "Church split up the empire to make kingdom and alliance, all to set us against each other" which, I cannot emphasize enough, doesn't really come across as an issue when there's no major history of conflict between the nations. The only actual post-independence conflict was the Hrym-Ordelia business which barely gets mentioned and is also the Empire's own fault... The gold and extravagance thing is just nonsense too.

Oh, lmao. Seteth says that Edelgard "demanded her own father relinquish the throne" but like... I was at her coronation. They either got lazy copy-pasting dialogue from other routes or assumed you'd totes side with her if you saw that scene.

The tone Rhea and Seteth take in regard to the "progenitor god" is a bit weird because Rhea in particular fluctuates between clearly considering Sothis her mother and her loss as a very personal one, and speaking of Sothis as her goddess and a much more detached authority figure.

Ferdinand says that half of the six big noble families declared support for Edelgard. Hubert's dad was assassinated, Bernie's dad is under house arrest and his wife is siding with Edelgard in his stead, and Ferdie's dad his been stripped of his PM position, his rank, and his lands.

Huh, a bunch of the church units auto-recruited.

You can recruit Hilda here, though I don't have enough of... probably axe ranks.

Dimitri has mysteriously come to the conclusion that Edelgard is responsible for Duscur. The month before, his explore dialogue was about how he hasn't been sleeping.

Anyway, time to kill off some children. I want no one coming to the promise day.

It is unexpectedly hard. Normal mode is so easy you have to be trying to lose on purpose, and even then it's hard to do.

The battle starts with the enemy already within the walls (Outer Wall on the map location). The Church is holding out for reinforcements that come in through the left and right entrances, but they are first taken by Imperial forces (Death Knight on the left, Hubert on the right), which have to be cleared out.

There are "Onagers" (basically catapults) that archers can use to fire in the town and "Fire Orbs" that mages can use next to the monastery inner walls.

There are two Winged Demonic Beasts with the Imperial forces. They have creepy masks and hold "Pointy Art(ificial) Crest Stones" which are "artificial Crest Stones with a distorted shape, produced in the Empire." They have enormous wings that are even a barrier ability (lol) and are noted as being very swift.

Rhea's class is Archbishop, she's using the Sword of Seiros (which is also mentioned in the class description lol) and Seiros Shield (interesting point: halves monster damage). She's got A in sword, reason, faith, and leadership, B in fists, but nothing in axes or bows, and only a D in lances. Her abilities include Sacred Power (gives boost to allies and lowers damage taken) and Charm. Walking buff point, I see.

After we repel them, Edelgard sends in the reserve troops and signals Arundel (Thales). (He comes in with more Demonic Beasts and also attacks Byleth and Rhea with dark magic... in his real form lmao, wonder if anyone noticed how their commander changed out for another dude somewhere along the line.)

I saw this before, but why does Claude fight with a sword in cutscenes? Sword here and sword in the Fort Mercius scene against Nader too. Also, funny that he and Dimitri are hanging out together for some reason.

Note that Byleth swings and extends the Sword of the Creator with enough force to shatter a Demonic Beast's mask and bodily throw it off the Immaculate One. Like, dang... those things are big and heavy??

[bookwyrminspiration]

I am in love with all chaosified characters. Actually wait I lowkey wanna see if anyone has chaosified Gethen, was he already Chaos?? I don't know

Anyway I found the chaos Alden post! You can read it here

All I know about Gethen is that his vibes give me long hair, Sophie seems to think that he's the Real Villain™, he's Power hungry, he was bit by a dog and wore spandex, and that he should be very mentally unstable because of lumneria

-Heathen

This fits with everything I know about you as a person. I personally prefer more...logical chaos? That sounds like an oxymoron but I mean like chaos where you can find the thread and see how it all works together, and then it's chaotic and also horrifying because the chaos is so much bigger than you and you can see a part of it making sense and it's suddenly not so different from you.

Also I don't think anyone has chaosified Gethen! He's not been very present in the story so he mostly slips under the radar, but he could be important later. He isn't really chaos right now, but I'm certain that won't stop you. Right now i don't remember his hair length, but he was bit by a dog and dressed like a jogger. As for the mental stability...well really it's anyone's guess we haven't seen him in a while--hence Sophie being like hmmm we should pay attention to him. He's one of the people we have a name for but don't know the motive of. Like Trix.

I'm gonna put my response to the linked Alden post under a cut because it got long!!

But now back to the Alden thing! Reading through that whole post was a little oaigoin because so much of it just is not convincing to me. I won't comment on all of the points but:

there's the mention on the search for Sophie, which I've discussed before. It's for the plot and also relates to his personal guilt over the situation because he feels bad for what he's done and wants it to be worth it, I don't think it's because he's trying to manipulate her or steal her from the Black Swan or anything

Both Alden and Della believed the best of Alvar because he's their son and they saw him through rose colored glasses. And they came to accept later that they were wrong to believe in him. Alden never wanted to believe he was a monster, and that's reasonable. No one wants that for their family! It's an understandable thing to deny and I don't think it's indicative of Alden being secretly evil.

Yes Alden had a relationship with Alina at one point--which he ended specifically because they weren't a good fit for each other. A past relationship with someone now unpleasant doesn't make him suspicious. And I don't think a theory about Fitz being a beguiler or Alden having an affair could make him a traitor. If it was a conscious choice on his part it reflects badly on him as a person, but it doesn't necessarily make him a traitor

He wasn't searching for Sophie under orders, he was defying the council because the council told him to dismiss it but he thought they were ignoring something important (they were). He did it because he thought it was right and also because of guilt, not to be evil

Nobody could light leap into Everglen because they were a security suggestion from Luzia, possibly to make it seem more normal when she added the same gates to her home to hide the troll hive. they weren't Alden's idea. It is mentioned by Sophie several times that it's weird he has them, I concede. But the gates have now been taken down, so there's also that

Honestly i think he hasn't been outright attacked because he's a side character. He's not important enough to the main plot, despite being important in the elven world. Attacks against him are against reputation of his family, which matches more with their presence in the elven world.

Della specifically told us why he didn't join the Black Swan in Neverseen. He wanted to, but they both decided that he would be more useful if he continued working for the council--same as when Grady resigned from the nobility in Everblaze and Alden was willing to do the same but they both decided it was better for him to stay as someone on the inside. And we hardly see him since then, so it hasn't been revisited. But he's said he's proud of his family for being in the Black Swan, and I think he'd decide to join if given another chance now that they're working more closely with the council. We could also ask why Grady and Edaline aren't in the Black Swan either (as far as I can remember), as Sophie--the moonlark--is their daughter and they're involved in a lot.

Just because he would be useful to the Neverseen doesn't make it more likely to happen.

Alden didn't perform the mind break (Quinlin did), but he was the one to go after him and accuse him and testify against him, which was a legitimate thing to do! Alden believed that Prentice was a traitor and danger to the elven world and as such it was his duty to protect their world from him. Prentice was given several chances to prevent the mind break via sharing his secrets, and Alden was only following the law trying to keep their world safe. He didn't know what Prentice was standing for or the deeper meaning of it all, he was trying to protect their world. Also! There's the whole thing about Alden feeling so guilty over the situation and what he'd done that his mind shattered from guilt! He clearly regrets it now that he knows what it was really about.

I know the concept is super appealing to a lot of people but it really feels like we're grasping at straws trying to justify things. There are some good points and questions, like why he was denied a spyball and why the council wanted Della to keep an eye on him. But the arguments so far really don't feel convincing to me.

There's already a traitor in the Vacker family, Alden almost entirely serves purposes to move the plot forward, and has repeatedly aligned himself with the Black Swan since discovering their true motivations and beliefs. it's taken him some time to come around to, but that is entirely normal! that's how people work

everyone is of course still welcome to think of him differently and continue to try and put clues together, but I am going to need a lot more convincing, solid points before I start to seriously consider him in a different light

[battlemageserioth]

Jim's interrogation awaiting his trial, 4

In a surprising twist, Jim has willingly given himself over to the Council. I suspect he plans something, but holds no proof. I will question him, and use an Orb of Recording to transcribe our conversation. I hope it will be fruitful.

J=Jim

S=Serioth

_________________________________________

S: Here's your cell.

J: Those are your quarters. [Light chuckle] People might talk.

S: Very funny. It's the most secure place I know. Even if you somehow still had your Council member credentials, only mine can open the door. Or the windows.

J: I'm not going to jump.

S: You won't walk out either. This is it. No more tricks. You will be judged by the Council.

J: Yeah, yeah, you got me. Can't cast a single necromancy spell. I'm just the tax guy now.

S: You won't let that go, uh?

J: No I won't. It made the way you see me way too clear. But the worst part of it is that I was the Council's tax guy. I spent weeks in my tower, so you guys could have everything in order, and mess it up even more. Never again.

S: It's a noble cause. Serving the Council is much more noble than being a traitor.

J: Don't make me laugh. The Council only cares about power. There's nothing noble about it.

S: Power for everyone's protection.

J: Power for power. You can see it just as well as I can. The Council has the worst flaw a wizard can have. Hubrys. It tries to expand where it doesn't belong, and crushes anyone who dares oppose it.

S: The Council is necessary!

J: No it's not! It pretends to be. I've met plenty of wizards doing just fine outside Council juridiction. Plenty of worlds have their own governments, and they regulate magic just fine themselves, so tell me, why do we need a Council?

[Silence.]

J: ...why are you looking at me like that?

J: Serioth?

S: I cast my first battle spell when I was ten.

J: Wh... What?

S: I lived in a world that had not yet been visited by multiversal travellers. We were not in contact with the Council, or the multiverse at large. My familly were farmers, and I was probably going to become one. Magic as a whole had been sealed away from our world millenias ago by the gods themselves. We never even dreamed of the bounty of a Druidic Harvest, and never had constructs working for us. We were happy, though. We worked the fields, with the rest of the village. My father told me stories of his travels, from his youth, before bedtime. My mother taught me how to craft a bow when I was eight. I still keep it, as a reminder. It was a simple, quiet life.

Then, the Veil was breached.

Someone entered entered our world, and broke the sigils in the process. Magic dawned on our world like a sunrise at midnight. And it dawned in fire. Every single one of us were suddently bursting with mana, as it penetrated every ounce of matter in our world. The leaves glew with energy, the ground pounded at the rythm of a gigantic, beating heart and the stars started forming engravings in the night sky, dancing a mesmerising ballet. It was glorious. Then it became a nightmare.

Raiders descended on us like vultures on carrion. They all wielded powerful magic that they could not control. It wasn't just us, though. Our world drowned in war. Every single sentient being had suddently become a living weapon, and chaos broke out the second the first spell was cast. And the things they did... I saw flesh turning into buzzing wasp nests. Fire erupting from someones hands and spewing back into their fingers, burning them from the inside out. The skies went red, fire and screams were everywhere. I defended myself the best I could, then I ran. I wanted to run until I could no longer smell the burning flesh, but I eventually passed out.

This is what happens when magic goes unregulated. Never again.

J: ...Serioth, I...

S: Good luck on your trial, Jim.

[Door closing.]

_________________________________________

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[liptonsbabe]

Chains of a family [B.W]

Bill Weasley x Grant! reader

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4

Summary: Molly thinks that Bill’s and the reader relationship is a mistake so she wants them apart from each other. Bill’s against his mother wishes and he find a way to drag the reader into the Weasley family officialy

Word count: 1.9K

Warnings: none

A/N: Hi! Part 4 of this thing lol. I’m so happy that you guys like this story. It’ll have like 20 chapters or so, i’m still deciding that so yeah, that’s pretty much the thing. Btw, from now on chapters will be more interestings... i hope so lol. Again, english not my mother language. Please let me know if something’s wrong. Aaaaaand if you want to be tagged in the next chapters tell me and i will add you! Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Arguments

The rest of the afternoon passed as normal as the days before your arrival. Arthur Weasley made sure of it. Even if Molly attacked you with her dagger gaze when you and Bill hugged each other after you were done with dessert.

You didn’t know what Mr. Weasley had talked about with his wife while you were taking a shower, however, you noticed the tension rising from their bodies after you sat down at the table next to Bill and saw an annoyance sign on Molly’s lips. Her temple was frowned, reminding you of your own mother's gestures. Those flaming eyes, cleft chin, and pinion lips. Both women contract their features too much when they were upset and in your distress, you knew that they must not be disturbed.

The last thing you wanted was to hurt a marriage as solid as the Weasley's. More than once you heard your mother talk about it with your nanny making a powerful emphasis on how Molly and Arthur were able to carry out their marriage even if their economic conditions were precarious and the war was on their heels. They were an envied couple. Few dared to expand the family as much as they did without money in their pockets and spreading their progeny like a plague. No one was surprised, not even your mother, not when her marriage to Evan Grant was merely for financial advantage. Now Arthur and Molly looked upset, too upset for your understanding and you just hoped they could get along soon.

You weren't sure you deserved the sacrifice Bill's father had made for you, yet a flame of hope lit up in your chest. If Mr. Weasley started to trust you that was a good sign for others to do as well, right?

The afternoon continued as normal, seeing how Bill's plans to distract you from the fervent harassment of his mother was marred by the twins intervention. They had just finished a new product for their store and needed a good taster to certify the quality of their merchandise. It was a bad idea, he told himself, because twins were just a disaster and you didn't know them well enough to deny their good-natured pretensions.

"Be kind!" He yelled at them as Fred and George pulled you into their. Bill exhaled, pleading that his brothers wouldn't bother his girlfriend more than his mother already had.

Before taking you home, he thought about the pros and cons of your stay in the burrow. His conclusion was based on the fact that his entire family welcomed Harry Potter with open arms, so you didn't have to be the exception. He knew the difference in conditions in which his theory developed, yet he put his trust in the good judgment of his family even if the Grants' past left much to be desired. Bill didn't talk much about you with his mother, in fact, your presence at home was the last of his worries, the real problem came at the time of joining the Order of the Phoenix, would you be willing to fight against your relatives even if that mean betraying your own blood? Bill hope you will

Coming downstairs, Bill found his mother storing the leftover food in the fridge while the dishes soaked in the sink. Then he watched her clean each plate with her bare hands, no magic. William knew his anger was real.

"Want some help with that?"

"I'd love to, honey, thank you," his mother answered without looking at him. Bill raised the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows, dipping his hands into the tide of water and bubbles that flew across the kitchen. Molly was silent, drying the dishes and flying them to her place in the display case across the kitchen. Bill cleared his throat doubtfully "It never hurts to help, much less when I have so many things to do before the rest of the Order arrive"

"Don't worry, I'll help you with that too."

"Perfect"

"Mom, can we talk?"

"About what?

"You know what," Bill clicked his tongue, passing her the last plate from the sink to continue with the spoons. "(Y/N)..."

"Your father has scolded me enough about that girl, I don't need you to do it too"

"I wouldn't if you had a little consideration with her."

"More consideration?" Molly asked in a squeak. Bill shook his head. "I'm letting her stay at my home!"

"Our home, mom, ours," he corrected, drying his hands with a cloth. "This house also belongs to my dad, my brothers, and me. It's the burrow, a family property, not a secret club where some people can get in and others cannot."

"You know what I think of her"

"And you know I don't care." Molly looked scandalized at her son. She didn't understand what he had seen in someone like you or what you had given him to come out and defend you as he did "I don't ask you to love her, but at least you have to try...

"Have you ever wondered what will happen when she betrays us?"

"That's not gonna happen"

"You're very sure of that, William"

"I'm convinced, Mom. You don't know her like I do and, you know what? I see that wanting to talk to you was a mistake"

"Moody thinks like me," Molly stopped him when Bill was ready to go upstairs. The woman clung to the railing watching her son standing in the first step out of the kitchen "(Y/N) Grant is a danger to the Order"

"Really? Like Mundungus Fletcher? I beg your pardon, mom, but if there is anyone who represents a latent danger to the Order of the Phoenix, it's him and yet you have assigned him for the mission tonight"

Molly's lips parted and if it weren't for the fact that Bill knew her mother too well, he might think the woman was about to throw herself on the floor in a tantrum. Still, she clenched the bars tightly, her brow furrowed, and the redness on her cheeks washed over her forehead.

"William!" Don't talk to me like that!"

"I wouldn't if you had a little more respect for my girlfriend."

"Don't you understand? I care about you! For all of us!" She snarled angrily. "Having a Riddle in this house..."

"A Grant, mom, (Y/N) is a Grant and that's not the same." Bill descended his steps, approaching her mother, returning that angry look that she had inherited from him. It was a strange sensation. A dyad of emotions between joy and fear where the composed emotion was guilt. He had never exploded that way with his mother, but Molly hadn't behaved that way with anyone either "His grandfather is Lord Voldemort's half-brother and his brothers are all Death Eaters, what does it matter? (Y/N) is not. And when do we judge others by where they come from? If so, we could start with half of us. Being a Weasley is equivalent to being a blood traitor"

"William!"

Molly's face went from fury to shock to fury again. Bill's eyes were twinkling and Molly swore she had never seen any of her children this angry, or worse, this determined.

"What would you have done, Mom?" Bill questioned taking his mother by his arms in an attempt to make him feel her despair. Molly opened her eyes, scared. "When your family tell you not to accept dad? When your brothers object to your engagement, just 'cause the Weasleys have long been considered blood traitors?"

For the first time that day Molly's mind went blank, Bill guessed, rewinding the memories of how difficult it was for the Prewetts to accept the marriage. Bill pleaded silently, but pulled away from her when his mother gave no indication to be a little more respectful with you.

"We aren't like that. We don't separate people by where they come from, we hug them" Bill resumed his way towards the stairs, stopping a couple of steps up, turning to take a look at Molly's stunned figure "As you did with Hermione, Remus and Harry when you and Dad became his godparents after Sirius died. (Y/N) is no different"

"She will turn her back on us when the Order fight the Grants. That moment will come and you know it"

"Don't worry, i'll make sure that doesn't happen"

"She is not part of this family"

"That can be solved very easily," he said and the smile he wore gave her a terrible chill down her spine. "Because I'm going to ask her to be my wife."

Molly's gasp was the only thing Bill heard before climbing the stairs and heading to the twins' room. He always respected his mother a lot and even thinking of opposing to her wishes was inconceivable, but your well-being was something that was involved and Bill couldn't just let her mother control his life at her will. Maybe the mistake he made was not telling his parents the truth about you from the start or, in that case, mentioning that the woman he loved was the fucking niece of the strongest fucking dark wizard of all time.

Bill Weasley rubbed his face as he reached the twins' door. He no longer had to torment himself, it was done and the only thing pending at the moment was to get Harry out of his uncles' house, take him safely to the burrow and find the courage to do what he told his mother he would do.

Would you agree to marry him? He hoped so and if not, he wouldn't pressure you. You were young - even a little younger than him - and it would be understandable if you refused to tie your life to someone else's from one moment to the other. The war progressed every day and if you were going to do it, you would do it as soon as possible.

Loud laughings brought him out of his thoughts to observe you and his brothers sitting on the floor, right in the center of both beds, laughing at each other and touching your faces. From the doorway Bill can't see the full painted room, however George's face showed a rather abstract mural full of bright colors when he felt the presence of his older brother. Fred did the same showing his face in the same situation and then you turned to Bill, still laughing and your face smeared with paint. It seemed the twins had created a paint bomb in millimeter pills, that explode when you put a little bit of pressure. You tried to clean yourself with the sleeve of your sweater but you spread the paint even more. Fred and George laughed and so did Bill.

His heart swelled with love as he saw that at least someone in his family - besides him and his father - had hope in you. God, he may have even cried with happiness.

Bill never understood how a sunshine as beautiful as you was never accepted in your entire life.

Tags:

@purple-vodka-99

@vampirestrawberries

Thanks for the 100 followers!❤

[oof-big-oof]

ACOTAR and Setups Part II: Tamlin and Rhysand

SPOILERS: ACOTAR series (and Macbeth too ig)

Part 1: Feyre

In "Macbeth", Macbeth and Banquo are narrative foils to each other. While Banquo is loyal to the king and uses language of growth and imagery of nature when he speaks, the traitor Macbeth's words are full of references to destruction, fire, and unholy happenings. Foils are not just good ways to explore character traits, but also excellent for setting up conflicts and exploring the thematic concerns of the world.

I think it's safe to say Tamlin and Rhysand are foils. They have opposing imagery (spring, flowers and sun for Tamlin, winter, snow and night for Rhysand) and always stand in opposition to each other when it comes to Feyre's narrative, switching in and out of being the "bad guy" and the "good guy". But the way this is handled is .... eh.

I'm going to look at shifts in Feyre, Tamlin and Rhys that work of this foil - and try to look for when and how they were set up.

1. Feyre's shift - TW: discussions of abuse, mental health issues

In the first book, Tamlin is a source of protection and love for Feyre. But by the second book, Feyre is not only struggling with her PTSD but has begun to realise that life at the Spring Court as a dolled up accessory might not be for her. By the end of the book, she has found her place in the Night Court - by Rhysand's side. And honestly? Go girl! Go live up to your potential!

The problem arises with how this is done - that is, Sarah J Mass never does the brunt work of showing us why Feyre cares. It is plausible she is motivated by a desire to protect the human lands, but we never actually see that. There isn't a moment where she realises she needs to work for a greater good, or a moment she realises that she needs to protect those more vulnerable than her - instead, the narrative has her tolerating abuse until she finally has had enough.

Which is great. I have got to admit that I really like the explicit rejection of a happily ever after storyline for Feyre because it took away her agency. But we get this radical shift in character motivation from wanting to be protected and comfortable with those she loves to desiring agency and understanding of herself in two lines:

"The girl who had needed to be protected and who had craved stability and comfort... she had died Under the Mountain"

and

"I didn't know how to go back to those things. To being docile"

hhhhhh. I mean - if you have to say it that explicitly, you're already doing something wrong. But also, why? We never see Feyre struggling with herself in her new body, and wondering why she does not want the same things as she did when she was a human, never see an impetus point for when her desires shifted.

But honestly? I don't mind Feyre's arc. I think it's a bit confused and lacks clarity or intent, and as a result, it is harder to root for her because you don't quite know what she wants, but I think it's still quite good. Where I really have problems are with Tamlin ad Rhys.

2. Tamlin - TW: discussions of abuse, mental health issues

I am not a fan of Tamlin's arc. You could argue that it is part of the thematic message of the series: that things are not as they seem. Tamlin is the wolf to the savour to the abuser, Rhysand is the "most beautiful man " Feyre had ever seen to Amarantha's monster to Feyre's eventual mate. But - the constant twists are unnecessary, more importantly, they and have little to no foreshadowing and just seem like retcons- making it seem as if they are there to keep the audience guessing rather than genuine plot progressions. This becomes even more obvious when the series abandons its core theme of "appearance vs reality" altogether, and as a result loses a lot of its cohesion: a direct consequence of having a bad setup.

His reason for doing the abusive things he does is conveyed to us in two lines, in the same monologue that Feyre's motivation is:

"Tamlin had gotten his powers back, had become whole again - become that protector and provider he wished to be"

Sure. He was much more powerful than Feyre when they first met, so I am having a hard time buying it is the return of the powers that his making him act this way. We know that his actions come from a genuine desire to protect Feyre - this is the guy that was willing to sacrifice his life multiple times and the future of his entire court to keep her safe. The only justification we have left then for the way he acts is that his PTSD, borne out of the trauma and torture he underwent and watched Feyre undergo changed him in some way.

This is why the endless villainizing of Tamlin makes me really uncomfortable. While it is true that the abused can become the abuser, and figuring out how to help them while protecting yourself is something that absolutely needs to be discussed and explored - the way it is done with Tamlin is horrendous because he is never given a chance to heal. Instead, he is thrown from plot point to plot point, an eternal punching bag for the Inner Circle and others to seem morally superior in front of.

And his treatment of Feyre is just weird. If he's so concerned about her safety - why does he not wake up when she has nightmares? Is he instead trying to pretend like everything is okay - if so why does he give Feyre an escort of guards? If his core motivation is protecting Feyre at all costs - why does he lash out at her?? And the text really tries to tell us how to feel about him in this regard, but it doesn't do it very well. For example, take the scene where Tamlin says "There is no such thing as a High Lady". Feyre a second before expressed her desire not to take on any responsibility, and Tamlin responded with this - and the text really makes us want to hate him for it, but all you can see is a person who is perhaps not the best at reading subtext trying his best.

In conclusion - Tamlin's shift to the villain of the narrative is hamhanded and underexplained, making it hard to genuinely hate him, and further confusing the narrative.

3. Rhys the foil gets the girl - TW: discussions of abuse, sexual assault mental health issues

Rhysand in the first book is interesting - he clearly has a heart and a soft spot for Feyre but is also a schemer with dubious motives that drugs and sexually harasses Feyre. There are places in the set up where we understand he cares - but never where we can begin to see he might be a genuine paragon of virtue.

And I will address this more in my post on ACOMAF, but the point I am trying to make here is: we are told through the constantly opposing imagery that Rhys and Tamlin are wolds apart - but never actually given examples of how. Rhys is said to be different from Tamlin because he respects Feyre's choice - but he drugs her in a bunch of weird scenes (that serve no clear narrative purpose by the way - like what was he trying to achieve? why he couldn't he just let Feyre in on that part of the plan?) and withholds information from her about life-threatening situations. Rhys is said to pull less rank - but we multiple times see others defer to him, especially in later books, and never actually see rank being enforced in Tamlin's court with his treatment of Lucien (many times described as his partner, and openly questioning him) and later Ianthe. Rhys is said to have less archaic laws in opposition to Tamlin's Tithe - but he abandons the Court of Nightmares to the monsters who rule it, and never takes serious actions against the Illyrian people who clip of women's wings, and a lot of Tamlin's idea of racial superiority and general superiority just come completely out of left field in the middle of ACOMAF.

Both of them are problematic - it's just that the text tells us to root for one, without actually showing us how one is better, or setting up any clear ideological difference between them. And that cheapens Feyre's character shift and lessen the efficacy of the foil - turning it into Feyre hopping from one lover to the other with little to no character consistency and no nuanced exploration of the theme of the series or trauma.

[goldenkamuyhunting]

I'm genuinely afraid for Ogata right now. He's suffering from blood loss, is probably not in the most healthy mental state and Sugimoto is beyond the realm of pissed at him. I think he's in some dire states. Not to mention that Tanigaki and Tsukishima don't really care for him and Koito has more animosity towards him than originally perceived. I don't know where he fully expects to go or what to do. I probably wouldn't worry normally but we've already lost two established characters.

You’re right, undoubtedly his situation isn’t good.

If it can be of some comfort I think he’s not really suffering of blood loss, as the blood we saw running through the operation was likely a small amount...

...not meant to affect him seriously.

The doctor said he doubts he’ll survive due to weak breathing and low blood pressure...

...but I would say it’s a lie as if he really had low blood pressure low enough to put his life in danger he wouldn’t be able to stand and clearly he couldn’t threaten a nurse or steal Koito’s gun.

Weak breathing can be faked but you can’t low your blood pressure on your own and to a point a doctor would judge your life in danger.

Since the doctor managed to operate him without killing him in the process he has to have some level of competency to realize if a patient is about to die or not.

As we see Ogata can stand and move on his own, my best bet is the doctor lied on his physical condition so, hopefully, he’s not in such a terrible state as the doctor makes him to be.

We saw in the previous chapter his wound was likely infected, hence the swelling... 

.... though now he looks much better and he’s likely under local anesthesiaso he’s not feeling the pain for his wound (when he speak he opens his mouth oddly, which is a sign of how he doesn’t fully control the right side of his face).

But well, what’s true is that he had been just operated and being up and running after it may be not so good. He can’t have 100% recovered, especially if we have to believe he’d been assumed to be unconscious for around a week (and therefore he wasn’t feed or he was feed liquid food) because, if the others had believed him to be conscious and capable to speak, they would have questioned him, instead Sugimoto implied they still have to do it.

So, I think Ogata isn’t at his full potential, he’s likely still very weak (though adrenaline might compensate for a while) and I wouldn’t want to be him when the anestethic will stop working but he’s not in such desperate physical conditions.

What worries me more are the circumstances in which he is.

He knows that Tsukishima and Koito have no love for him and wouldn’t mind to kill him, especially Koito.

Tanigaki also has a really poor opinion of him even though Ogata tried to kill him only under the assumption Tanigaki murdered Tamai and Co and later saved him (Tanigaki doesn’t know him at all yet decided he couldn’t be a partisan).

Sugimoto made clear even if he saved him it was all for Asirpa and that once the matter of not making Asirpa responsible for Ogata’s death is out of question and he has questioned him he would very much like to kill him and be done with him.

Asirpa poor child is likely still very much traumatized and, so far, she has kept away from him and Shiraishi is likely busy as well with copying with Kiro’s death.

So yes, Ogata has no allies in the Japanese group, actually two people in it would very much to shoot him down and be done with him the other two, although not so bloodthirsty, won’t hesitate to shoot him if need were to arise.

Staying with them is not an option as they would want to force him to reveal info Ogata might not want to reveal and then either kill him or hand him back to Tsurumi who’ll have him killed for desertion.

I don’t know very well what’s going on with the doctor, the only sure thing seems to be Ogata doesn’t view him as a ally as first he knocked him out and the threatened him to kill the nurse if he didn’t obey.

So yes, Ogata has to escape... but I’m not really sure how.

When the group believed he was about to die, Sugimoto tried to kill him before he would die for the wound caused by Asirpa.

Now Sugimoto, Tanigaki and Shiraishi are out to search him believing he should be close (they’ve no idea how much) but likely aren’t going to search him far. Also they’ve a dog, Ryu, who can easily figure out Ogata never moved from there.

Koito is on the ground and Ogata has retrieved his gun but, to do so, he had to let go of his previous hostage and get close to Koito, close enough Koito could attempt to attack him.

Ogata can’t really shoot at Koito without attracting everyone’s attention, his best option would be to either knock him out or drug him.

Still, even assuming he were to do so I don’t know where he could go from here. Sugimoto and Co are bound to return back.

Ogata can’t go far and, when the boys will remember about Ryu it’ll be a short work to find him.

So unless someone will help him out or Ogata has some secret yet genial plan I can’t even figure he’s in a terrible situation and his escape attempt only made everyone angrier and even more willing to kill him... but well, considering they were already willing to kill him first chance they got, probably it makes no difference on the great scheme of things.

Still, I like to think it’s not Ogata’s time to die.

After all he isn’t the one getting a flashback, that one is Koito, Ogata’s past and motivation still mostly hidden to us. As it’s unlikely someone else knows it and can reveal it after Ogata’s death (like instead happened for Wilk) he can’t get killed until we know.

Basically Ogata is protected more than by weapons, by a plot armour that dictates a character has to explain himself before dying.

There’s also a lot of symbolism, like the fact that Ogata was seated in Matthew’s place in the last supper’s parody.

Or that the loss of his eye can be tied to Matthew 18.9 “And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.”

Or the loss of his rifle which implies how he’ll stop sniping people (even though he remains perfectly capable to shoot well enough).

There’s also to keep into consideration that, if Asirpa’s kindness hadn’t affected Ogata, it would mean her kindness was a wasted effort, giving out a message that supports Wilk’s view about how one shouldn’t hesitate to kill...

and cut away excessive kindness.

If we go by this belief though, it was all right for Ogata and Kiro to kill Wilk, as he was a liably and, potentially a traitor and Asirpa’s idea she shouldn’t kill, no matter what, comes out as wrong.

She should stop feeling unnecessary sympathy and shoot her enemies down as Ogata said she should do.

Personally I like to think that’s not the message Golden Kamuy wants to give, that it’s not encouraging a young girl to start murdering enemies.

I want to think Asirpa’s compassion will be her best asset and weapon, opposed to all the soldiers the others can command.

Long story short I think if Noda really were to wish to kill Ogata he would have to be rather careful in how he’ll do it or he’ll risk to transmit the wrong message... and that therefore Ogata won’t die killed by Sugimoto and Co because he was trying to escape. Still, we’ll see what it will be.

I’m not Noda so I don’t know what he has in mind and I can be wrong but I like to hope. Let’s hope together, okay?

Thank you for your ask!