#patho 2... i never saw that as plausible

[nerdkiller]

what's your fave headcanon for the reactions of their family/other characters to learning abt khanpella marriage imminent?

HELLO ANON TY FOR ASKING 😃😃

Well FIRSTLY I think overall the Kains are against it or neutral while Vlad Sr. is generally for it but still not totally supportive... Vlad Jr. is only as supportive as he has to be in any situation but actually heartbroken and so so sad 💔 boo hoo

Victor appears... hmm... not enthusiastic? I think he *wants* his son to start behaving more and Capella will likely make that happen once she takes the reins, but still Khan wouldn't be acting in or motivated by his family's (esp Nina and Maria's) interests. Which Victor is against as a Utopian who is obv biased to his daughter's success. So i suspect his attitude is more measured n complicated. Georgiy, i think, isn't even really concerned- i think he's thrown in the towel when it comes to his family, he's done all he thinks he could have done, his life is at its end no matter the ending. He might even be for it, as he does seem to feel threatened by Vlad Jr.'s presence- i think he is less concerned about Nina or Maria's wants, or the Mistress rivalry, than Kaspar (as a Kain heir) & his overall success as a cornerstone of power. Whether he supposedly moves across the River figuratively or literally or none of the above, as long as that is met, he's fine. It's not like there are many options anyway.

Maria on the other hand is highly against it. Like so against it that this canonically becomes the basis of the new Mistress rivalry in Classic. Maria has no reason to seriously reckon with Capella until the marriage plot- which is nevertheless an inevitability for a dozen reasons- and she mentions their relationship as happening even in the Utopian ending, notably near her projected death. Nobody takes Khan's betrayal seriously enough! I could literally write a whole post about this & i likely already have and just forgotten. Maybe i will again. Anyway i think this is roughly the same case in Patho 2, as Khan mentions his sister harassing him about the Tower there too*

Vlad Sr., i think, is for it for business purposes- i don't think he'd be happy to have Maria make his son submit to her, or give the Kains that advantage. He's a pragmatic person, although i think he's still strongly male-biased. He accepts his daughter's decision bc she's smart & generally acts within his business interests, even if she is only concerned about maintaining soft power, but i think he knows how to make the loss of his daughter not touch his empire (as in, P2 said Capella would inherit nothing). She'd be marrying up, so he wouldn't lose anything. It's complicated. As for how he views Khan, i think he respects the brutality and spine Khan exhibits that his own son doesn't (& there's a whole other post on this), but he might also view that as a threat, depending. It would be interesting to see play out, esp as Capella breaks away more from her father's plans in 2.

Vlad Jr is an interesting case. In Classic, he's the one to tell Clara that it was actually the parents that first arranged Capella and Khan's marriage, before all parties backed out due to the 2 butting heads when they got older. There's so much we don't know when it comes to Vlad. I think he loves but still heavily distrusts his sister, knowing their plans will diverge. Unlike Khan, who would wedge himself between his sister & Capella, Vlad tries to flee. I joke that he and Khan would be funny to see talk, but i also feel like he wouldn't naturally align himself to Khan/Capella's plans. But he'd certainly be super fake to his face and not complain. I have a feeling he has a low opinion of Khan anyway, as he's not someone easily used (or very loyal to his own father), he's unpredictable, & an obstacle in his way. And rude. Probably Vlad will still try to make it happen with Maria regardless, at least in 2- as for Classic, we know he learns of the marriage & immediately wants to get out of Town. Which is funny in a way.

[grelleswife]

Top five anime’s?

It’s quite challenging to restrict myself to just five, but I shall do my best!1. Death NoteThis was my “starter series,” without which I might never have ventured into the wonderful realm of anime and manga. I am fascinated by detective stories, moral ambiguity, and Faustian pacts, so it is little wonder that I took an instant liking to Death Note. Even after multiple viewings, the psychological cat-and-mouse games between L and Light still rivet me. The brilliant, inscrutable, unconventionally attractive, probably autistic and oddly endearing sleuth L currently ranks as one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. Although Death Note has its fair share of plot holes, messy writing (particularly in the second half), and unabashedly sexist portrayals of women, its depiction of complex ethical dilemmas and the battle between two formidable intellects make it worth a watch or five. I recommend the English dub; Alessandro Juliani’s L is pitch-perfect.

2. Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan)It may be a mainstream anime, but this is one of those rare shows that doesn’t merely live up to the hype but rather exceeds it. In brief, the anime depicts a bleak, violent world in which the remnants of humanity must live ensconced within the protection of massive walls in order to avoid being devoured by giants known as titans that mysteriously appeared several generations ago. When the outermost wall is breached, protagonist Eren Yeager can only watch in horror as his mother is eaten alive by one of these monsters, a tragedy that fills the fiery young boy’s heart with a thirst for vengeance against all titans. However, what could have proven to be a stale shonen story became a work of immense depth and power in the hands of mangaka Hajime Isayama, and these attributes translated beautifully to the anime. In addition to gorgeous animation and an electrifying soundtrack, this show also stands out for its character development. Almost all characters of narrative import are vibrantly human, with painful backstories and plausible, nuanced growth as the series progresses. Attack on Titan’s graphic depictions of violence and pathos-laden storyline are not for the faint of heart, but it is a must-see for any anime fan. Again, I prefer the English dub, mainly because of Levi’s and Hange’s voice actors.3. Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler)Specifically, the first half of season 1, Book of Circus, Book of Murder, and Book of Atlantic.I refuse to dignify the non-canon dumpster fire that was season 2.Don’t let the lascivious fujoshis scare you away; despite its unsavory reputation, the portions of the anime that adhere to Yana Toboso’s gorgeous manga are excellent. Though a mere child, Earl Ciel Phantomhive bears a heavy burden as the Queen’s Watchdog, responsible for keeping Victorian England’s sinister underworld in check. Luckily, he has the aid of his ever-faithful butler, Sebastian Michaelis…who just so happens to be a demon with whom the young nobleman has contracted in order to find and exact vengeance upon the unknown perpetrators who murdered the boy’s family and sold him to a diabolical cult. The series is called Black Butler with good reason– there are many dark and disturbing elements to the story, from the bloodcurdling child abuse depicted in Book of Circus to gory fight scenes with zombies in Book of Atlantic. However, the compelling characters, fire OPs and endings, and (in the more recent adaptations) beautiful animation keep me coming back for more. The complex nature of Sebastian’s relationship with Ciel, which simultaneously encompasses and transcends the dynamics between parent and child, servant and master, and predator and prey, is a glorious trainwreck from which you can’t tear your eyes away. Yet again, I have a preference for the English dub here– J Michael Tatum’s Sebastian is the stuff of legend, Brina Palenica’s Ciel is spot-on, and Daniel Frederick’s Grell Sutcliff restores my soul (to my ear, his voice acting beautifully suits a transgender woman who has not yet been able to fully transition). That being said, I’ve also taken a shine to the Japanese sub; Daisuke Ono’s voice has a gentle yet subtly sinister quality that suits this devil wrapped in silk quite well.4. Watamote (No Matter How I Look At It, It’s You Guys Fault I’m Not Popular!)This slice of life anime chronicles the hilarious yet heartbreaking misadventures of Tomoko Kuroki, an otaku who desperately attempts to curry favor with her high school peers in spite of debilitating depression and anxiety. Watamote is one of those shows that makes you hurt while you laugh as you watch Tomoko, time and time again, prove to be her own worst enemy as her blunders cause all her schemes to backfire. To an uncomfortable extent, I saw quite a bit of my high school self in her. If you struggled with loneliness, social isolation, and/or mental illness as a teen, I would highly recommend this show. It doesn’t exactly have a happy ending, but it’s strangely addictive. Plus, Tomoko’s Japanese voice actor is precious, and the OP is epic.5. Bungou Stray DogsMix a wide array of supernatural gifts, a plethora of literary references, and a vast cast of aesthetically pleasing characters, and what do you get? BSD! Chock-full of meaningful messages on overcoming past traumas, fighting against the inertia of despair, cultivating a sense of self-worth, and redemption, this anime does full service to Asagiri’s ongoing manga. From the zany suicide enthusiast Dazai Osamu to the weretiger/cinnamon roll Atsushi Nakajima, you’re bound to fall in love with at least one of the members of the Armed Detective Agency as they use their magical powers to fight against forces of crime and corruption that threaten their city. Excellent soundtrack, lovely animation, and characterization that progressively deepens, especially during the second season. I’ve only seen this subbed and thoroughly enjoyed it!Thanks so much for the ask!