#richard x asbel x cheria

[tales-of-vesperia-headcannons]

Not a Vesperia post

You cannot play or watch Tales of Graces and tell me that Richard isn't gay. Richard, the gayest prince, literally died in wall bridge, and Asbel saying "stay with me" was what basically brought richard back to life and even in the skits before, richard and Asbel are so gay for each other but Asbel is just a confused bisexual that he doesn't even fully realize his feelings for both Cheria and Richard.

Oh yeah and there the skits where Pascal pretty much knows how gay they are

It's fantastic, the reply value on the game is so good. Especially growing up with it vs. Rediscovering it now

[tumblezwei]

Tales, 13 and 15!

13. Most shippable character

Oh fuck uuuhhhh Velvet. That's what happens when you're a tsundere toward every single one of your party members, all your ships become enemies to lovers.

15. Favorite poly ship

Asbel x Cheria x Richard

Asbel has two hands and Richard being alone makes me sad

[idiots-of-ephinea]

Cheria: "This is my husband, Asbel."

Cheria: "And this is Asbel's boyfriend, Richard."

[mewnia]

One piece of art done with trying to get out of this block! I decided “Hmm it’s been a while since I drew Graces.”

It’s technically a redraw from this old drawing I found!

[straycrisp]

secret santa gift for @herosubs / @snowswepts !!

[seleniahanabira]

[AC] Tales of Costume QR Masterpost

[Will be Updated - for Animal Crossing games compatible with the QR code system; in New Horizons, these can be obtained by downloading the Nintendo Switch App, activating NookLink and scanning in the QR codes]

Tales of Phantasia

Mint

Arche (Halloween)

Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon X

Dio

Mel

Tales of Destiny

Leon

Tales of Destiny 2

Reala

Tales of Symphonia

Masterpost (Lloyd, Colette, Genis, Raine, Kratos, Zelos, Sheena, Regal, Presea)

Masterpost (Colette, Lloyd, Kratos)

Lloyd (Formal)

Colette (Formal)

Colette (Beach)

Colette (Cheerleader)

Colette (Christmas)

Presea (Little Madam)

Seles

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

Emil

Emil (School Uniform)

Marta

Marta (Cheerleader)

Tales of Legendia

Mimi

Tales of the Abyss

Masterpost (Luke, Tear, Guy, Natalia, Jade, Anise, Asch)

Masterpost (Luke, Tear, Guy, Natalia, Jade, Anise)

Masterpost (Asch, Ion, Legretta, Sync, Arietta, Largo, Dist)

Fon Master Ion

Sync the Tempest

Luke (Formal)

Guy (Formal)

Jade (Butler)

Natalia (Princess)

Anise (Halloween)

Tales of Hearts

Kohaku, Ines

Beryl, Kunzite

Tales of Vesperia

School Uniforms (Yuri and Flynn)

Patty

Yuri

Yuri (various outfits)

Masterpost (Yuri, Flynn, Estelle, Rita, Karol, Raven, Judith, Patty)

Schwann

Alexei

Yuri (Halloween)

Rita (Waiter)

Rita (Halloween)

Patty (Great Pirate Successor)

Patty (Beach)

Tales of Graces

Asbel (shirt)

Asbel (Dress)

Asbel (Child)

Asbel (Christmas)

Hubert

Hubert (Child)

Cheria

Richard

Richard (Child)

Pascal (School Uniform)

Sophie (School Uniform)

Sophie (Lolita)

Sophie (Raincoat)

Tales of Xillia

Jude (Shirt)

Jude (Dress)

Jude (Christmas)

Alvin

Leia

Leia (School Uniform)

Elize

Elize (Alt Colours)

Elize (Christmas)

Elize (School Uniform)

Elize (Halloween)

Milla (Christmas)

Milla (School Uniform)

Tales of Xillia 2

Jude 

Ludger (Rollo Hoodie)

Ludger (Alt Colours)

Ludger (Chef)

Julius

Victor

Elize (Alt Colours)

Elize (No Jacket)

Masterpost (Elle, Ludger, Ludger Variation)

Tales of Zestiria

Sorey

Mikleo

Epilogue Mikleo

Mikleo Variation

Rose

Edna

Edna (Alt Colours)

Various

Presa (ToX), Luke Variation (TotA), Ludger Variation (ToX2) x2, Raven Variation (ToV)

Sophie (ToG), Alt Milla (ToX2), Elle (ToX2), Natalia (TotA), Reala (ToD2), Elize (ToX2)

Rutee (ToD), Chat (ToE)

Reid (ToE), Sophie (ToG)

Richard (ToG), Meredy (ToE), Alt Milla (ToX2)

Various incl costumes from Phantasia, Destiny 2, Symphonia, Symphonia: DotNW, Legendia, Abyss, Vesperia, Graces, Xillia/2, Zestiria, Link, Radiant Mythology, World

Update 1: 20/3/2020 23:10 GMT [Zestiria, Phantasia, Vesperia + Xillia/2 Add-on] Update 2: 21/3/2020 13:45 GMT [P, P:NDX, D, D2, S:DotNW | Multiple Addons]

[machinequeen4]

Fic rec bingo list!

I thought I’d fill out this fic rec bingo card, posted by @lightveils on Twitter!

It sort of turned into the History of MachineQueen in Fanfiction. All you unsung heroes who write and publish fanfic, I love you and remember your names.

Recs for Fire Emblem Fates, Fire Emblem Three Houses, Yu-gi-oh, Doctor Who, RWBY, Ace Attorney, Tales of Graces follow!

1. A fic you love without knowing the source material

Undone - codenamecynic, Dragon Age II, E rated, Fenris/Female Hawke, multichap 135k words

https://archiveofourown.org/works/482156/chapters/838851

I know nothing about Dragon Age and can’t remember why I decided to read it. TV Tropes maybe?  From what I can tell it’s the events of the game with additional sex scenes. Hawke is witty, Fenris is a tragic broken bird, I was sold.

2. A fic with a premise that shouldn’t work but it does

Trial and Error - undieshogun, Fire Emblem Fates, T rated, Subaki/Takumi, multichap 15k

https://archiveofourown.org/works/6890677/chapters/15719992

Not so much a premise but a ship I wasn’t convinced on. But it had Subaki in it so I gave it a try. It’s really cute - Subaki tries to teach Takumi social skills, much to his annoyance. 

This line alone is gold star characterisation:

"I couldn't tell you why Tsubaki has taken such a liking to you, but I do know that any time he wants to befriend someone, it's because he sees in them something he lacks."

3. A fic you’ve reread several times

Gratitude - GoldenThreads, Fire Emblem Three Houses, T rated, Hubert/Ferdinand, multichap 8k

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20344273/chapters/48239686

The writing style is so beautifully layered that I find new meaning every time I read it. The scene where Ferdinand offers a hairpin for each story Hubert tells is gorgeous, one of my favourites to reread. 

4. A fic you still remember many years later

A Song I Think I Heard Before - Scribbler, Yu-gi-oh, T rated, Mai/Jounouchi (Joey), multichap 40k

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5924028/1/A_Song_I_Think_I_Heard_Before

My favourite Mai fic. This gives her a backstory with Dartz based villainy and recontextualises her relationship with Jou (Joey in the dub, most YGO authors used the JP names to distance themselves from 4Kids’ added cheese). I was on tenterhooks waiting for each new chapter. It’s got real emotional depth, capturing Mai’s cynical nature perfectly. Also I still think about/use the phrase bumblefuck in the morning. 

5. A comfort fic

just a little stuck on you (you’ll be on me too) - flowermoons, Fire Emblem Three Houses, T rated, Hubert/Ferdinand, one chap 33k

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21875707

This brings the cast of FE3H to the modern world and drops them into reality TV show The X Factor. There’s no war or death angst, just a singing contest. I grew up with The X Factor on TV on a Saturday night so this was a delight. Like me, the author is cynical about reality TV which makes the fic even more engaging. Ferdinand mourning his long hair after he cuts it and Hubert running round London looking for him really made my day. 

6. A catharthic fic

Long and Lost - Windian, Tales of Graces, M rated, Richard/Asbel, multichap 36k

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5357546/chapters/12372899

Listen game, you can’t spend 40 hours having the protagonist’s motivation as ‘save Richard’ and then pull a no homo on me! In this fic Asbel dutifully marries Cheria only for the whole thing to collapse in on itself when he realises he’s in love with Richard after all. The snow storm scene is something I’ll always remember.

7. A fic you’d like to print and put on your bookshelf

Revival series - MyAibou, Yu-gi-oh,  T rated, multiship, many k

http://fanfiction.net/s/2681684/1/Revival-Prologue-Paradox

This is split into multiple parts and has another multipart followup. A continuation of Yu-gi-oh Duel Monsters with shipping and very decent original characters including villains. My polarshipping heart is in love with this scene on the clifftop in part 2 chapter 11 - a slow dance to the sound of the waves to help Mai remember she isn’t alone *melts into a puddle*

8. A fic you associate with a song

Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been - darkrunner, Yu-gi-oh, rated K+, Mai/Jou, multichap 9k

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4445992/1/Who-I-Am-Hates-Who-I-ve-Been

It’s titled after a song. This was one of the first fics I ever found, read and loved. I was way too shy to review but I loved this author dearly. Good old angst & hurt/comfort with a happy ending. A happy ending for Mai was all I wanted haha!

9. A fic that inspires you

Patience, Ponies and Pastries - GoldenThreads, Fire Emblem Three Houses, T rated, Hubert/Ferdinand, multichap, 27k

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20722859/chapters/49231019

A shipping fic where the two characters being shipped spend most of the fic apart! This author is so good at characterising the pair, there are treasures hidden throughout. I never thought reading about horses of all things could make me so emotional... 

And this passage from Ferdinand’s point of view:

As long as Hubert did not truly reject such affection, did not throw him in the stocks for his bleeding heart, then he did not require reciprocation. He required that Hubert be cherished, and that was that.

10. A fic that brought you on board a new ship

Marik and Bakura Go To Censored Town - Little Kuriboh, Yu-gi-oh, M rated, multichap, 24k

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6954805/1/Marik-Bakura-Go-To-Censored-Town

I spent most of my Yu-gi-oh fandom life wishing there were more fics about Mai and tended to avoid the big slash ships. However, Yu-gi-oh Abridged’s strongest pair were always Marik and Bakura. When I read this fic I realised yes, Marik being an idiot and Bakura being the straight man (not literally) makes this ship sing.

11. A fic you wish could be a movie

Denial & Deception - Bohemienne, Fire Emblem Three Houses, M rated, multichap, 74k (incomplete)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20895731/chapters/49671050

The setting of Derdriu is so lushly described that it would make a wonderful movie setting. Additional points for the masked ball chapters! 

Hubert and Ferdinand infiltrate the Leicester Alliance using a fake relationship. It goes as well as you might expect. There is comedy, there is romance and the whole thing makes you want to smack Hubert round the face with a fish. 

12. A fic that led to you making friends with the author

Past Future Continuous - HermitsUnited, Doctor Who, T rated, multichap 20k

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4917490/1/Past-Future-Continuous

We are not in contact anymore but we shared a love of Donna Noble. This shines through in all her alternate season 5 fics! 

13. A fic you’ve gushed about IRL

Festering Under Your Skin - Bohemienne, Fire Emblem Three Houses, M rated, multichap 52k

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20465312/chapters/48559553

My poor gf had to put up with me going on about this one. Lady Edelgard is dead and Ferdinand is a Blue Lion who spares Hubert. All of this is played for maximum dramatic potential. Special marks for the scene where Ferdinand accidentally poisons himself with Hubert’s coffee. So brilliantly in character for both of them. And excellently foreshadowed earlier in the fic where an imprisoned Hubert keeps asking for his coffee... 

14. A fic you associate with a place

Heart of Defiance - battlemage15, RWBY, M rated, multichap 150k

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7896874/chapters/18038116

I downloaded this to my phone and read it on the top deck of the number 6 bus as it bumped along the country roads of deepest Devon. I was on my way to job interviews in the city and the trip was 2 hours long. The fic itself is a Yang centric shonen power fantasy that goes to pretty dark places. 

15. A fic that made you gasp out loud

Blood and Ink - ShowMeYourFury, RWBY, M rated, Cinder/Ruby, multichap 45k

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11754595/1/Blood-and-Ink

This fic is ruthless with Cinder’s villainy. Every time you think she can’t go any further, she does. I love it. 

16. A fic you found at the right time

Forward - Lyricanna, Fire Emblem Fates, not rated, multichap, 34k (incomplete)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12747516/chapters/29075913

I love the concept of this fic so much. Subaki is selected to be a Hoshidan ambassador in Nohr and gets lumped with Niles as a guide. Neither is having a good time. There is a plot going on involving kidnapping and asassination that forces them to work together. 

17. A fic that you would read fic of

The Obligatory Hot Spring Scene - Scribbler, Yu-gi-oh, T rated, oneshot, sub 1k

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6368612/1/The-Obligatory-Hot-Spring-Scene

Written as though the characters are actors and canon is a TV show. I love this concept and would read more in a similar vein

18. A fic that made you laugh out loud

Surrender To Your Peace - spiralpegasus, Fire Emblem Three Houses, M rated, Sylvain/Felix, one chap, 11k

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20757260

“This is very unfortunate,” Dimitri says with a frown. “As the leader of this mission, I will take full responsibility and use the Swamp Bedroll.”

One does not simply sacrifice themselves to He Who Saw The Bottom Of The Earth And Lived with such a cavalier attitude. “You know your guilt complex doesn’t actually have to extend to sleeping in a gross swamp bag,” Sylvain tells him disbelievingly.

“I agree, Your Highness,” Dedue says, setting He Whose Stench Haunts The Dreams Of Man down on the ground with a delicate sort of distaste. “None of us need use this… bedroll.” He says bedroll the same way he says food when it’s Flayn’s turn to cook.

19. A fic with a line or two you’ve memorised by heart

one sentiment enlightens to another - newamsterdam, Fire Emblem Three Houses, G rated, Hubert/Ferdinand, oneshot 6k

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21074840

Ferdinand rolls his eyes. “Of course I do, Hubert. I remember very well. I just— well. Perhaps I’ve overestimated you.”

Hubert, who has spent the better part of the past few weeks believing he constantly underestimates Ferdinand, bristles.

Not the exact lines but I always keep this in mind when writing the ship. I think these hit on the fundamental misunderstanding between the two characters. Hubert is only human, not some all powerful hero/villain. And Ferdinand isn’t stupid just because he’s honest and emotional. I think the two of them have trouble getting their heads round these concepts!

20. A fic that gave you butterflies

Ataraxia - Windian, Tales of Graces, T rated, Cheria/Pascal, 13k

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7828981/chapters/17871247

"I want you," Cheria tells her, and the night catches like a rubber band. Her hands are in Pascal's hair, Pascal's arms around hers, her mouth on hers. Their kisses are sloppy and messy, noses knocking against one another, but it's everything and it's nothing at all like kissing Asbel.

When they break for air, Pascal tells her, "You don't know how long I've wanted to do this, Cheria."

Cheria asks, "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I dunno Cheria, because you were gonna marry Asbel, maybe?"

It stops her in her tracks. Voice low, she asks, "What am I going to tell him?"

Pascal cups either side of her face. Kisses her, so hot and hard that Cheria's left seeing stars, clinging at the strings of Pascal's swimsuit like a shipwrecked sailor to a spar.

"Screw it. Think about it in the morning. For once in your life, do something you want."

21. A fic that embodies something you value in life

The Truth About Love - MistressAkira, Fire Emblem Fates, T rated, Niles/Subaki, 2k

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036081

This fic is experimental in style - the author descrbes it as a soliloquy. The sentiment I take from it is that love is compromising, inconvenient, illogical. Yet it’s still something beautiful and something worth fighting for.

22. A favourite AU

Mobius - SirTeateiMoonlight, Xenoblade Chronicles, T rated, multichap, 17k

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17845748/chapters/42111473

Melia finds a copy of Xenoblade, plays it and knows exactly what’s going on in the story. She uses this knowledge to her advantage. It’s a slippery slope. By the end of the story she’s mercilessly torturing Lorothia against her brother’s wishes. 

23. A fic you’ve stayed up late to finish reading

Dirty Sympathy - ideny, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, M rated, Klavier/Apollo, 130k on AO3 not sure on kink meme

https://bludhavens.livejournal.com/88397.html?thread=41790541#t41790541

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1075868/chapters/2160789

I stayed up reading this until 4am and for some reason (probably tiredness) confessed this to my not-yet-gf. She cites this as one of the moments she fell for me!

It’s a dark fic in which Klavier and Apollo are both in abusive relationships with villains. They concoct a plot to implicate the two of them in criminal activities to escape and fall for each other along the way. 

24. A fic that made you feel seen

i knew you were trouble - Magepaw, Fire Emblem Fates, M rated, Niles/Subaki, 8k

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19314568

First of all the title is one of my favourite songs. Second of all the dialogue is everything I want from the Niles/Subaki ship. Third Subaki’s pegasus makes her presence known. Fourth there is a gory battle scene and hurt/comfort gone wrong. And fifth, a happy ending. 

Niles had to turn away, hand pressed to his mouth, before his own blush betrayed him. This was too good to last. This had to be the most embarrassingly vulnerable moment of his entire life, and of course the entirety of the Nohrian and Hoshidan military combined had to be there to see Niles go soft. 

[mcalhenwrites]

A-16, B-9, C-8, D-5, E-3, F-9, G-22

Thank you for the ask!A-16Favorite Kid CharacterMao is my favorite, but following him: Elize, Anise, Sophie, and… does Lambda’s flashbacks count to add him to the list?B-9Favorite Found Family(haha you know me well!)Oh, I’ve got a couple of found family dynamics I really love. One is the Xillia party, with Rowen taking an almost grandfatherly affection to Elize and Leia, and Alvin finding a place among everyone, and Elize giving him that sweet kiss on the cheek and telling him that she’ll be his friend… The other is from Graces, where I half-heartedly OT3 Asbel with Richard and Cheria or just have him single (I don’t have any diehard Asbel ships tbh so I’m rather loose with him and actually prefer him single)…but Asbel being Sophie’s dad, and in an AU, Lambda’s dad. I think he’d take good care of those two. Asbel x dadisms is my true ship!C-8Favorite Plot Twisttbh I never pay attention to these much, so this is a tricky one… But I think I can list one that stands out to me.Finding out in Regulus Knoll that Farah wasn’t truly responsible for the events in Rasheans. I think that hit me hard. D-5Favorite BuildingOhhh this is tough only because I keep thinking immediately of all the places in Fennmont! I love the shop hub, Orda Palace, and Talim Medical School. Oh, and the hotel is nice. The interiors and exteriors of all the homes in Nia Khera, too! The spirit artes used to decorate the outer parts just make it so gorgeous and rustic, and the insides really feel like the kind of inviting place where - if you ever found yourself lost and stumble into some random village - all the townsfolk will make a space for you to eat and sleep among them and it would be homey. :)Oh, and I love the palace in Kanbalar, it’s absolutely beautiful inside. The same goes for all Auj Oule inns, as well. They’re fucking gorgeous, from the textiles to the light fixtures. I’m in awe each time I go inside of one.And the mayor’s house in Hamil! I feel like I could live a very rustic life out in a place like that, and be pretty happy!(Yes, these are all Xillia, I think it has my favorite architecture out of all the games!)

E-3Well this E3 was fantastic, I got all the things I wanted from itFavorite Mystic ArteJade’s Indignation hits high, but he’s completely knocked out of the park by Max’s Elemental Master. That shit is so ridiculously funny in English, I spammed the heck out of it for kicks. “ELEMENTAL… BWHAHAHA!” Jade’s is just impressive in another, less goofy way. :’DF-9Favorite openingTales of Innocence! Specifically not the remake! “Follow the Nightingale” with those visuals was amazing… I loved it so much.Some worthy mentions: Eternia, Zestiria, Graces, and Rebirth!G-22Favorite Halloween costumeOh, this is tough. Meredy, Rita, and Jude all come to mind!I think Rita’s #1 though, simply for nailing my favorite Halloween aesthetic

[soulstokedrolando]

Tales of Graces f?

let’s talk about tales games!

best girl?

Pascal!

best boy?

Malik, but I like Richard a lot too.

any ship/s?

Asbel/Cheria is pretty cute. I like Asbel/Richard too.

favorite part of the game?

It’s been a few years since I played, so I don’t remember a whole lot unfortunately. Oh, but this entire segment is just…amazing.

opinion on the mascot character (if applicable)? 

Does Graces have one? I’m not remembering anything.

opinion on villain/s? (in the least spoilery way)

I think he’s really interesting, and I like how the whole thing with Asbel develops.

main team of 4, and who did you play as mostly?

I think when I played it was Asbel, Cheria, Pascal, and Malik for the most part. I played as Asbel, because I usually just play as the main character. 

favorite town/city/area?

I like Barona. Having trouble remembering anything outside of the major cities/towns.

favorite or most used arte?

According to my game data, I used Frost Breaker a LOT with Asbel.

favorite music track?

There are a couple; x, x, x

favorite monster?

Don’t really have one that I can remember.

[altruisticandsadistic]

tales of fandom

SEND ME A FANDOM AND I’LL TELL YOU:

Character I first fell in love with: My lovely waifu Pascal.  Because she’s too perfect in every way.

Character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Jude tbh.  I didn’t like him when I first played Xillia.  But he grew on me as the story went on.

Character everyone loves but I don’t: Oh frick um um um… Sophie.  There are so many that love her but I’m just indifferent.

Character I love but everyone else hates: Is there really a character that everyone hates?  Idk.  I really can’t answer this one.

Character I used to love but don’t any longer: Dezel.  I loved him at first but as the story makes you grew to loathe him.  Zaveid was a better replacement by and far.

Character I would kiss: Umm… Pascal, Cheria, Milla, Rose, Lailah, and Eleanor.  Maybe Velvet if she doesn’t kill me first.

Character I want to slap: Hubert, Richard, Leia

A pairing I love: Clockwork Elements (I love Ludger and Milla so sue me) and Demon Heart (it’s what I call Velvet and Eleanor)

A pairing I hate: Asbel x Sophie, Alvin x Leia

[tumblunni]

Bunni continues to watch an LP of Tales of Graces, and bunbni continues to get increasingly frustrated at how Richard x Asbel isn’t canon, especially with how we have pascal CONSTANTLY bringing up LGBT stuff as ‘lol joke’, and now she’s even literally pointed out how asbel and richard are being intentionally written ‘lovey dovey’ and ha ha isnt it so funny and totally only in the plot for the sake of the funny and just.. god... I’m glad that the tales series eventually progressed enough to have canonical gay characters in the most recent few games, but DEAR GOD it sucks to go back and see this stuff. This isnt even one of the worse games about it! This is just kind of a frustrating case of characters being written with a huge amount of chemistry and it not being followed up, and like.. at least the stupid ‘gay joke’ character is someone else so we dont have to hear that shit unless she butts into their conversations. But still its REALLY FRUSTRATINGLY SAD that Richard is this big intimately plot-linked deuterogonist-turned-foe character and it would have enhanced the story SO MUCH if they went with romance for this plot, and seriously if they werent gonna do it could they at least stop teasing it for ‘funny’. *sigh* And seriously much as I like and sympathise with Cheria as a character, the ship of ehr and Asbel comes out of NOWHERE at the very end of the story. I mean, they do give it more development in the bonus postgame epilogue quests, apparantly, but thats a little too late! The only fuckin clue we had that this was gonna happen is literally just But She Is A Girl And He Is A Boy. And the fuckin ‘love’ plot just makes me really really sad for Cheria. its fuckin... ‘oh i had a crush on him when i was ten but never mentioned it during that flashback to me being ten, he never recipricated, then we never spoke to each other for 7 years and my entire ‘love’ plot is me being depressed about that and asbel not recipricating anything at all for 99% of the plot til he suddenly flip flops at the last second’. And this is just such a weird tertiary plot thats taking up screentime and kinda denying cheria from having an Actual Relevant Plot in the prologue section. Everyone else has some vast character development and tragedy and being forced to become an enemy of asbel even though they were once friends, she just gets to be tsundere stereotype cos the dude didnt magically read her mind and know she liked him, and even now she wont just TELL HIM. Plus seriously fuckin SEVEN YEARS and everyone is now a completely different person! there is no chemistry with the new asbel and the new cheria, aside from ‘i kinda liked him back when we were all different, and im just assuming he’s the same instead of getting to know the new him’. And seriously cheria’s personality ISNT EVEN TSUNDERE, she just suddenly turns into it whenever a ‘love’ scene appears.. and.. like.. GOD... EVEN PASCAL pacsal fuckin INTRODUCED hitting on women endgame result: shipped with a man all she gets is every woman she ever hits on finding her gross and repulsive and Ha Ha Jokes and then guess what’s also funny- her showing no interest in the man who loves her, yet somehow we’re supposed to want him to ‘win her over’ in the end. And again, I dont even dislike the guy who’s being the vessel for this bad romance plot, so its DOUBLE uncomfortable to see him acting this way all of a sudden and just.. major cringe of sympathy for both characters and seriously HOW IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY? guy confesses his love to someone in a big poetic speech and she doesnt get it, laughs it off and leaves. Funny? no. Sad? yes. And at the same time I feel sad for her too cos if she doesnt wanna date him she doesnt wanna date him, geez! it just sucks that theyre protraying her as ‘comically oblivious’ to men instead of even getting to make her own clear choice in the matter. Yet it still comes off as OBVIOUSLY SHE WOULD SAY NO since all we’ve ever seen her do EVER is ‘comically’ hit on LIKE FIFTY WOMEN AND NO MEN. You could have at least portrayed her as bisexual, yo?? And how is she supposed to be oblivious of flirting when she’s always doing it?? this isnt how lesbians work! and just.. gah GAHHH “You don't need to suffer like this, Richard. All of your fear and doubt...let me bear it for you. That's why I'm by your side, after all. I need you to keep on. That's the only way I can be saved.” "How will that save you?” "Being your sword is a kind of salvation. I don't have a place in this world, but your hope gives me hope.” And then!! now!! the latest update!! LITERALLY SAYING IT!! “ He's such a kind man. It's the trait I love most in him. “ stop. i’d rather have you not saying it, than you saying it with no intent to actually make it anything more than a fucking joke.

[mcalhenwrites]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with seeing a platonic relationship between Ignis and Noctis because they’re childhood friends. I agree platonic relationships can be just as strong as romantic ones. For me, romantic relationships have always been flimsy, and I’m all about platonic bonds. That ties heavily into one of my concerns about SGH, which I’ll mention below, after I continue my thought process. It’s all fair and understandable, except... I remember this argument all the time with Sorey and Mikleo, too. And while that might be fine and dandy, it’s been difficult to filter out which comments come from fellow queer people (and some do!) who might just be uncomfortable with shipping childhood friends (which is fair!) or anyone who relates to it because they’ve got a platonic relationship that’s like it (also fair) and which ones are from a homophobic source. And it was so bad with Tales because “oh no you can’t do that to childhood friends!” but so many canon and fandom ships in Tales are HETEROSEXUAL CHILDHOOD FRIENDS. But that was never the problem. Veigue x Claire.  Lloyd x Colette. Asbel x Cheria. Reid x Farah. Senel x Shirley. Senel x Stella. In the case of Veigue and Claire? Raised by the same parents. And while my memory of Legendia isn’t too sharp, I keep thinking Senel was absolutely seen as Shirley’s older brother (and Stella’s, too)? Like...those aren’t even childhood friendships, exactly, as much as foster siblings. (Disclaimer: I don’t mind some of those ships. I’m sure - of course - that people will think I’m a Richard/Asbel shipper and I’m not, I don’t mind art of any Asbel pairings but if I’m honest, I don’t ship him with anyone. Or, as I jokingly say: Asbel x Dadisms. That said? I like Veigue x Claire as both platonic/siblings and romantic; it depends on the depiction but it can be pretty cute. I don’t really have active Rebirth ships. Haha.) I do not see much with Jude x Leia, but even that’s a ship. And childhood friends is not the reason given for the dislike; the fact that it directly interferes with Leia’s character development is! Hell, that’s actually the reason it’s one of my NOTPs. And yeah, you don’t hear me say that often for a reason. I’m either a multishipper or indifferent, and I try not to talk about my NOTPs too much, because I don’t really want to make people feel wrong about their ships and fear I might?  But the controversy over Sorey x Mikleo? Oh boy. Suddenly people had to rise to the occasion to defend the intergrity of platonic relationships! Why can’t boys just be friends?  They’re raised knowing one is human, the other is a seraph, and while Gramps raised them both, I am still pretty sure this was a case of “village raises the children” - which is something I really loved about this game, despite all my issues with it. (And honestly, I am not too pleased that anyone who didn’t like this game for any reason is called “homophobic” because apparently you can’t critique bad storytelling and themes that make you uncomfortable like “death is a mercy” and still like Sorey x Mikleo. So not like there hasn’t been some bullshit on both sides.) I wanted to explain my feelings about that, because it’s so difficult to always know, and sometimes I’m a little nervous. I have a lot of thoughts about why I like Ignis x Noctis, and if the straight people can do this childhood friendship to lovers shit, why can’t some of us interpret it? It’s hard for me to imagine having a relationship with any of my friends that is as deep as I see this ship. And yeah, I will have my own interpretation of events. Everyone does. :) And yeah, I’m worried sometimes about platonic relationships not getting recognition, and I have a book with two boys who meet in their teens where...well, let me explain? One of my concerns about publishing SGH is that Ambrose and Thaddeus never get together. They do not see themselves a brothers at all, though. They’re something closer than that, but they are not romantic. I worry people will think I’m queerbaiting with these two. But uh. Let me continue on. Ambrose is pansexual. He’s been giving me genderfluid vibes for fucking ages. But it’s not stated in story too well (hoping to edit some of that in) because he can’t even place it? In his world, there is no term for it. He dates another girl. They have a conversation about how they’re both not straight, not 100% gay either. (I think Evelyn’s a lesbian except for Ambrose, and again...I don’t see him as cis.) It is canon that Ambrose dates another guy later in the story, because these two have an open relationship. Thaddeus is pansexual as well. I think he honestly finds another person with disabilities similar to his, and that happens to be a woman.  And then there are so many other gay and lesbian characters in the story, but that would be going off track. So while these two meet at 14, are raised in a house to think they’re foster brothers, they don’t see themselves as brothers. Or lovers. They live together the rest of their lives, though, and it’s a platonic closeness that is important to me. That’s why I can’t exactly go, “Oh, it’s wrong to see this as platonic!” I’m also not going to fault anyone for them shipping or not shipping them. (No one will ship anything, because I’m a hack of a writer, but this is just trying to give an example.) I absolutely will scream about how much Ignis and Noctis love each other. I have feelings about how it’s mutual. Strong feelings.  And I understand that not everything is romantic between childhood friends, but again: it does give me a sour feeling when I see habitual hatred of it for f/f or m/m ships but seldom for f/m ships within fandom circles.