#sage speaks with elise

[sageedwardsxo]

"I don't quite follow." Sage gave Elise a puzzled look. "I feel so left out on everything, please like dumb it down just a bit for me." She laughed. @elisevdw

[essycogany]

Rare But Not So Rare Sonic Moments

Flaws

This may get controversial.

I welcome anyone else’s view point on this topic. If you don’t agree I’m okay with that. Just because I have a different perspective doesn’t make what I think right or wrong. You don’t have to change your mind. Whatever your opinion is, I respect it. Besides, it’s fun to have different views on something we both love. It gives us a way to see different sides of the coin.

Disclaimer: I’m a person who didn’t grow up with this franchise and only recently got into in early 2022. I have no biases towards any version of this character. Making my opinions about his characterizations mixed.

By the way, I’ll only use Sonic games as examples (for the most part) because this analysis would be too long if I talked about other medias.

In short. Most of his flaws do stir into different medias as well. To be honest, Sonic’s other variants aren’t as different as some may think, but that’s my hot take.

Times The Blue Blur Messed Up

Riders: Sonic lunched Amy along with Eggman into the air with his wind abilities. While knowing Amy’s safety would be at risk. Then left her. Which was the reason she was so angry and aggressive afterwards. He didn’t ever apologize either.

06: Exchanged a chaos emerald for Elise even after Tails warned Sonic not to.

Unleashed: Was distracted by taunting Eggman.

Sonic: “Well, this is new. Showing remorse Eggman? If you played nice, I wouldn’t have to break all your toys.”

Then became the Werehog. All because he wanted to boost his ego.

Secret Rings: Shahra used Sonic to collect the world rings for Erazar Djinn. Even though it should’ve been expected because she said, “They use to work together.” Ended up not being true.

Black Night: Was tricked into helping Merlina who wanted to create a world that would last forever.

Lost World: Tails once again tried to warn Mr.Impatient about the conch in Eggman’s hand, but kicked it anyways. Then warned Sonic about another trap, he didn’t listen, ended up getting the fox captured instead.

Frontiers: Accidentally helped free The End despite Knuckles and Sage’s suspensions. If his friends, Eggman, and Sage didn’t help him…..Well, it’s in the villain's name.

Side Note: In Secret Rings, Black night, and Frontiers Sonic was rude at points.

Sonic Sassiness

Sonic Sassiness Part 2

Sonic’s Overall Flaws/Mistakes

Some may be from his general characterizations throughout his history.

Sonic rushes into things without a second thought. (Impulsiveness) Sonic can be too reckless, brash, or not take situations seriously.

He’s impatient. (Which was his core trait since his idle animation in Sonic 1)

He doesn’t listen to his friends warnings. Sonic can be too cocky at the wrong moments. He causes or contributes to world ending consequences. The blue blur can also be too trusting and naive.

Sonic doesn’t worry about his own physical or mental state and internalizes his emotions. He isn’t able to express himself very well. Therefore doesn’t put the right words together when speaking sometimes.

Sonic can be stubborn and a bit of a jerk.

Sage: “You are short tempered and short sided.”

And that’s about it. If I missed anything, feel free to let me know.

My Thoughts

A few of these can be seen as Sonic’s strength and weaknesses. Like his willingness to harm himself if it means to save his friends.

The reason Sonic never learns from his mistakes in the games is because he gets away with them. Which is not a good or bad thing per say. (Besides Sonic Riders. There’s no excuse for that.)

The stories never really given him an arc. But I don’t think Sonic’s a perfect or flawless character. If the examples I’ve shown are evidence of anything.

I’d say he’s static, but not consistently. Most static characters I’ve seen rarely stays static anyways.

I also don’t believe Sonic himself thinks he’s perfect. Sonic probably thinks he doesn’t have to change because he’s so sure he should be able to manage things without issue. Everything does eventually go his way. Why should he change?

I do understand Sonic influences people, but why can’t there be a balance? It’s been done plenty of times with other characters. In books, movies, and tv shows. Animated and live-action.

Movie!Sonic in Sonic 2 inspired both Knuckles and Tails. Helping them better themselves with advice and encouragement. While also going through his own arc of growing up and being responsible.

Tails:“You’ve inspired me. To leave my village. To find you and help you on your mission.”

Despite him learning how to slow down and plan things out, Prime!Sonic also inspires the different variants of his friends. Thorn, Dread, and Nine. Helping them grow into becoming better people.

Even in Unleashed Sonic was at his most mature, but it was only after his cocky attitude got him into trouble. So, yes. Inspirational characters can have flaws.

I’ll just say this

Everyone has their own views on how Sonic should be characterized, drawn, played, voiced, animated, and showcase.

It’s fine if you don’t like a curtain interpretation of a character, but to say the character (Especially if they weren’t very consistent in the first place) isn’t acting like themselves now, it’s really hard to argue what self there is to come back to. Because even in the games there are so many different selves for these characters in their own canon universe. From Classic to Adventure, Unleashed, Colors, and Frontiers. (If that makes any sense)

It’s hard to find one place to be in because Sonic’s been in too many places at once. He shouldn’t be held down to one characterization if he’s already been all over the place from the beginning of his existence.

AKA Sonic’s first two shows ever. TAOSTH and SATAM. In both shows Sonic had flaws as well, but never learned from them. Which means he’s been like this from the start. Like everything else about this franchise, his personality is an ongoing experiment that’ll probably never be solved. And I kind of love that. Even if it can be stressful and has it’s own up’s and down’s

All of these unique stories from the games, comics, tv shows, and movies people grew up with are what made this franchise so popular. This is the main reason I became a Sonic fan. Because I learned so much about characterization from this franchise and how to love the different variations of its characters. Finding an appreciation for each of them.

Conclusion

Everyone’s opinions are valid at the end of the day. At least we all have a version of this character we can love and appreciate. Whether you agree or not I’m grateful you’ve made it all the way to the end. You’re a trooper!

Stay Creative! 💜

[noh07]

updated list of mixed name ideas (nov 5, 2024)

in this list, there's any type of names (mostly for english-speaking people though): typical first names, noun names, mythology names, etc.

i sorted them into three categories: androgynous, feminine and masculine.

if you have more ideas of names for trans folks, writers, etc, just lemme know! (Can also be not-so-cool names for the writers, we need them for the asshole side characters :3)

i will update the list every time I have a lot of new name suggestions. you can always find the newest list under the tag #updated name list on my profile, which is currently this one.

(alphabetical list with 712 mixed names under the cut)

--- androgynous ---

Addie/Eddie

Aki

Alex

Alexis

Alli/Allie/Ally

Am/Em

Amethyst

Ares

Ari

Artemis

Ash

Asher

Aster

Azure

Basil

Beluga

Bennie/Benny

Bermuda

Bev

Beverly

Billie

Blair/Blaire

Calypso

Caramel

Cat

Cave

Celeste

Charlie

Chrissy

Coco

Crimson

Crow

Diamond

Edie

Eli

Ellori/Ellory

Emerald

Emerson

Emi/Emmie/Emmy

Evie

Finn

Forest/Forrest

Frances/Francis

Garnet

Gem

Goldie

Gray/Grey

Hayden

Hunter

Indigo

Jackie/Jacky

Jade

Jamie

Jess

Jessie

Jupiter

Lark

Lenny

Lori/Lorie/Lory

Lou

Louie

Mag

Maggot

Mars

Mauve

Max

Meadow

Mercury

Mika

Miko

Mizu

Moss

Neptune

Noah

Nori

Nyx

Ollie

Onyx

Opal

Paris

Quinn

Rafa

Rain/Raine

Raven

Reg

Remi

Remu

Robin

Rocky

Ronni/Ronnie/Ronny

Sage

Saturn

Shilo/Shiloh

Silver/Sylver

Sky/Skye

Snow

Val

Venus

Vin

Vinny/Vinnie

Wilson

Wither

--- feminine ---

Abby

Abigail

Adelaide

Adeline

Agatha

Aileen/Eileen

Aimee/Amy

Alana

Alena

Alessia

Alexa

Alexia

Alexandra

Alice

Alissa

Alli/Allie/Ally

Alura

Amalia

Amber

Amelia

Amelie

Amethyst

Amity

Andromeda

Anela

Angela

Angelina

Angeline

Angie

Anika/Annika

Anisa

Anita

Anna

Ann/Anne

Annie

Anastasia

Andrea/Andreea

Antheia

Arabella

Artemis

Ashley

Astra

Atlanta

Audrey

Aurora

Autumn

Azura

Bailey

Becky

Bella

Belle

Beluga

Bettie/Betty

Beverly

Billie

Brenda

Brie

Calypso

Candace/Candice

Caramel

Carla/Karla

Carmen

Carol

Carolina

Caroline

Catherine

Celeste

Celestia

Celina/Selena/Selina

Celine/Selene/Seline

Charlotte

Christina/Kristina

Christine/Kristine

Claire

Clara/Clarah

Chloe/Chloé/Cloe

Cindy

Cissy

Cora/Corah

Dana

Daniela/Daniella

Danielle

Dalia/Daliah

Daria

Darla

Debbie

Debora/Deborah

Delilah

Diamond

Diana

Dianne

Dora/Dorah

Dorothy

Eburia

Eclipse

Eda

Elena

Eleanor/Elenor

Elisa/Eliza

Elise

Elizabeth

Ella

Ember

Emerson

Emery

Emi/Emmie/Emmy

Emilia

Emilie/Emily

Emma

Esme

Esmeralda

Euphemia

Euphoria

Eva

Evie

Evelyn

Felicia

Fenya

Finya

Fia

Fiona

Francisca/Franziska

Freya

Fuchsia

Gaia

Georgia

Gina

Ginny/Jeanie

Hanna/Hannah

Harmony

Hazel

Heather

Hecate

Helena

Helene

Hera

Hestia

Holly

Hope

Iana

Irena

Irene

Iris

Isa

Isabel/Isabelle

Isabela/Isabella

Ivonne/Yvonne

Ivory

Ivy

Izzy

Jade

Janice

Jasmin/Jasmine

Jenna

Jennifer

Jenny

Joelle

Joelina

Jolene

Julia

Julianne

Julie

Juliet/Juliette

Juniper

Kaia/Kaya

Katarina/Katharina

Kathy/Katy

Kelly

Kira

Lana

Lara/Larah

Laura

Lauren

Laurel

Lavender

Lena

Leia/Leya

Levina

Levinia

Lia

Liana

Liara

Lilac

Lili/Lilli/Lilly/Lily

Lilian/Lilien

Lilith

Lisa

Liv

Livi

Livia

Liz

Lizzie/Lizzy

Loanne

Lola

Lorelei

Lori/Lorie/Lory

Louisa/Luisa

Louise/Luise

Luce/Luz

Lucy

Luna

Lydia

Maggie/Meggie

Meg

Madeline

Maira/Myra

Mara/Marah

Margaret

Marge

Marla

Marlene

Maria/Mariah

Marie/Mary

Marina

Mauve

Melanie

Melissa

Mellie/Melly

Meryem

Mia

Michelle

Milly

Mina

Minerva

Minnie

Miriam

Mona

Monica

Naira/Nyra

Nancy

Natalia

Natalie

Natasha

Nellie/Nelly

Nessie

Nina

Noelle

Nora/Norah

Nori

Nyx

Oliv/Olive

Olivia

Ollie

Paris

Pascale

Patricia

Paula

Peggy

Penelope/Pinelopy

Penny

Petunia

Philippa

Pia

Pippa

Polly

Poppy

Queenie

Ramona

Rania

Rebecka

Regina

Robin

Rose

Roxana

Roxanne

Ruby

Safira/Saphira

Sandra

Sara/Sarah

Sari

Serena

Silvia/Sylvia

Sofia/Sophia

Sofie/Sophie

Stella

Stephanie/Stephany

Tara/Tarah

Tatiana/Tatyana

Tess

Tessa

Tia

Tiana

Tina

Valerie/Valery

Vanessa

Vela

Venus

Vera

Veronica

Victoria

Viola

Violet/Violette

Viona

Vivian

Viviana

Willow

Xandria

Xenia

Yana

Yasmin/Yasmine

Zehra

Zoe/Zoé/Zoey

--- masculine ---

Achilles

Aiden

Aion

Alex

Alexander

Amon

Angelo

Angelino

Anthony

Anton

Arcturus

Ares

Asher

Audrey

Ben

Benjamin

Bennie/Benny

Benson

Bill

Billie/Billy

Bob

Bobby

Brendan/Brendon

Brian

Bruno

Calvin

Carl/Karl

Chad

Charles

Charlie

Chase

Chester

Chris

Chrissy

Christopher

Conan

Damian

Dan

Daniel

Dave

David

Davon/Devon

Dionysos

Don

Donald

Dorian

Dylan

Elia/Elijah

Elio

Eliot/Elliot/Elliott

Emerson

Emilio

Erion

Evan

Felix

Fred

Freddie/Freddy

Gian/Jan

Gus

Hannibal

Harald/Harold/Herald/Herold

Harry

Hendrick/Henrick

Henry

Hunter

Ian

Icarus

Jace

Jade

Jack

Jackie/Jacky

Jaden/Jayden

James

Jamie

Jasper

Jay

Jeremy

Jerry

Jimmy

Joe

Joel

Joey

John

Johnny

Jona/Jonah

Jonas

Jones

Julian/Julien

Julius

Jupiter

Justin

Kevin

Lance

Larry

Laurence/Lawrence

Lee

Lenny

Leo

Linus

Logan

Lori/Lorie/Lory

Louis/Luis

Louie

Lucc/Luke

Lucas/Lukas

Luigi

Marc

Marco

Mario

Mars

Max

Mercury

Michael

Mickey

Mike

Milo

Nathan

Neptune

Nick

Nico/Niko/Nikko

Noah

Noel

Oliver

Ollie

Orion

Paris

Pascal

Patrick

Paul

Pete

Peter

Philip/Philipp/Phillip

Ray

Raymond

Reg

Reginald

Regulus

Remi

Remus

Rick

Ricky

Rob

Robbie/Robby

Robin

Ron

Ronald

Ronni/Ronnie/Ronny

Rubeus

Sam

Sammy

Samuel

Saturn

Sean/Shaun/Shawn

Sebastian

Simon

Sirius

Stephan

Steve

Steven

Theodore

Thomas

Tim

Timmy

Toby

Tom

Tommy

Tony

Valentine

Victor

Vince

Vincent

Wilson

Yan

Zach/Zack

Zeus

If you want me to add meanings, origins, etc., just tell me ^^

[real-fire-emblem-takes]

Honestly, one of the "best" parts of Fates' writing is that it's bad in so specific ways that there is just enough good stuff there that it gets people thinking about ways in which it could be better. For example, here are some of my own ideas:

Anankos, the Rainbow Sage, the Nohr Dragon and the Hoshido Dragon were siblings like the "modern" Nohr/Hoshido siblings, and the Nohr/Hoshido dragons were female. Those two and the Rainbow Sage sealed themselves into a human form to put off the madness that inevitably befalls dragons in old age, but Anankos didn't

Anankos eventually went mad because of course he did, and went on a massive rampage across the continent, only to be stopped by the combined efforts of his siblings and their respective human allies/partners. Valla gets flung into a seperate dimension sorta thing because of it, and Anankos gets super duper sealed away, first in the way that he can't leave Valla, and then in the way that he is sealed away within Valla

A Lot Of Time passes and Valla + Anankos get either forgotten or are erased from people's memories, but Anankos eventually manages to break free from his seal within Valla... but the one keeping him in Valla, no such luck. The people of Valla can leave, and his influence and power can extend beyond Valla, but he physically can't leave Valla

So, next actual change: Iago and Yukimura are both from Valla and servants of Anankos instead of Generic Evil Henchmen #1 and The Most Forgettable Playable Fates Character (which is saying something). Both are trying to corrupt the respective rulers of Hoshido and Nohr enough despair so that they become a suitable vessel for Anankos, who can use their distant familial connection to get his mind into their bodies and leave Valla that way

Speaking of respective monarchs: Sumeragi's first wive, Ikona is still alive, and the queen of Hoshido even in the present. Corrin also still ends up outside of Valla, but Mikoto gets yoinked back right after she gets Corrin outta there

The whole Corrin getting adopted and kidnapped stuff still happens, but both sides believe that they are Corrin's blood family due to some Magic Mind Manipulation™ from Iago and Yukimura. Corrin's not vital to Anankos' plans, but hey, can't hurt to have a potential backup vessel, right?

About halfway through Conquest, Corrin turns against Nohr together with Camilla and Elise who are already with them, they basically join forces with the rebellion in Cheve, and by proxy, Scarlet, and manage to break Garon out of his mind control a good ten chapters before the game is even over

But, there's still a perfectly good Hoshido to ruin, and so Yukimura gets to work on Ikona, who's also susceptible to that shit, especially since Iago had to flee and seek refuge in Hoshido

In Birthright meanwhile, Hoshido just doesn't get to be the Magical UwU Peace Kingdom, and their relationship to the people under them is similar to how it is between Nohr and say, the Ice Tribe. Speaking of which, Flame Tribe rebellion

In Birthright's ending, Ryoma abdicates the throne and lets Hinoka become queen because he thinks he doesn't make a good ruler

Endgame for both Birthright and Conquest sees the siblings of the side you didn't pick get pulled into the whole mind control/Being Influenced deal, and they form the last line of defence for Garon/Ikona. To get to the chamber where the respective monarch has sealed themselves, you only need to kill three of the four siblings, and it's your choice who it is! Chances are that the remaining siblings may not have the best view of Corrin afterwards, though.

Conquest has Garon join as playable in the endgame, Birthright has Ikona join in the endgame, Revalation has both of them join. Also, they have supports with each other there.

.

[haggishlyhagging]

The queer elision of heterosexuality and homosexuality as sexually—and hence politically—equivalent or interchangeable is not as radical as queer theorists would have us believe. It was Kinsey's (1948) famous invention of the "heterosexual-homosexual continuum" (borrowed in part from Freud's theories of innate bisexuality and polymorphous perversity) which set the stage for a wide-spread dissolution within psychology of any specific differences between lesbians and heterosexual women (see Kitzinger: 1987). The presentation of lesbianism and heterosexuality as equivalent betrays the underlying liberalism of queer theory—a liberalism which negates both the political force of lesbianism as a refusal of the heteropatriarchal order, and the radical feminist analysis of heterosexuality as the key site of women's oppressions. As the meanings of heterosexuality and homosexuality become blurred within a fantasy world of ambiguity, indeterminacy and charade, the material realities of oppression and the feminist politics of resistance are forgotten:

It is difficult . . . to acknowledge the divided self and engage the pleasure of masquerade while at the same time fighting a strikingly antagonistic legal and social system for your health, your safety, your job, your place to live, or the right to raise your children (Henderson: 1993, p. 123).

In sum, then, the "transgressive" impulse of queer theory manifests itself at least as much against feminism as against heteropatriarchy. Such aspects of the queer movement render it less a symptom of the "defeat" of, and more an indication of the growing "backlash" against, feminism, particularly radical feminism (see also Parnaby: 1993; Miller and Harne: 1995). Pleasure is prioritised over political analysis, and lesbian concerns, in particular, are frequently rendered invisible. As radical feminists, we need to resist the incorporation and depoliticisation of our agenda by the queer movement. We must not become part of the queer backlash.

Bibliographic References:

Kitzinger, Celia. (1987). The Social Construction of Lesbianism. London: Sage.

Henderson, Lorna. (1993). Justify Our Love: Madonna and the Politics of Queer Sex. In Cathy Schwichtenberg (Ed.) The Madonna Connection: Representational Politics, Subcultural Identities, and Cultural Theory. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.

Miller, Elaine and Lynne Harne. (Eds.) (1995). All the Rage: The Backlash and Lesbian Feminist Resistance. London: The Women's Press.

Parnaby, Julia. (1993, Summer). Queer Straits. Trouble and Strife, (26), 13-16.

-Sue Wilkinson and Celia Kitzinger, “The Queer Backlash” in Radically Speaking: Feminism Reclaimed

[sonthesheep]

Satisfied

felix Escellun X GN! Reader

pronouns used:They/them

Hamilton AU

THIS IS ANGST!!!!!! Jdjsjdhwjdh plus word vomit i just wanna get this out of my system

Gold trim, Fancy wine and the smell of arrogance in the air floated onto a big room of elite people whom had their heels on the dance floor sweeping themselves to the music of violin.

It's the winter ball for the finest people, in a manor the known escell mirun and florian aguis lived.

Felix as the only son of the hosts, weren't as delighted to attend such lavish events but he stood in the ballroom full of unfamiliar faces feeling yet kinda out of place.

women and men from high born families are offering him a dance, trying to win him as if it was a competition on who's going to take him by the hands.

"Good grief, this is the last straw I'm getting out of here" The lad said to himself, feeling the presence of the nobles highly overwhelming

He took a deep breath as he strides out of the venue to take a fresh breath of air, away from the these people whom named elite but never even once he saw someone who caught his eyes.

as he walks away from the loud music, he helped himself by having him welcomed to florian's garden, it was the place which he always saw intriguing and looking at the plants his father took care of will always be enough to take him out of the royalty chaos.

the moon beams down strongly this night, and as he moves forward he caught his gaze onto you, who slightly jumped due to his presence.

"HI!"

the moment then suddenly turned magical for his sight, he thought he never saw you around nor have been familiar by your presence but one thing was for sure you had him captivated.

he admired you in which seemed to me a split second but in his eyes everything went in slow motion.

'I'll never forget the first time I saw your face I have never been the same, Intelligent eyes in a hunger-pang frame and when you said "Hi", I forgot my dang name set my heart aflame, every part aflame'

This is not a game'

"weren't you supposed in the ballroom?" despite being stunned intimidating words came out of his mouth 'fuck' he muttered to himself as he slightly bit his bottom lip in unreadable embarrassment

"Sorry i really don't know if i wasn't supposed to be here but these nerium oleander caught my attention" You said with the most apologetic voice ever but keeping yourself away from the flower

"You know about them?" he asked very surprised, it was a flower which can only be identified for those who knew what it is capable of.

"Oh i do!! I'm just surprised to find them here

they are very rare and is one of the most poisonous flowers found existing i just never knew I'd found them in this place" You gave him a gentle smile as you fixed your posture, offering him a handshake

he took you by your hands, he was as breath taking as he looked he gently shook your palm as he introduced himself

"My name is felix escellun"

"Y/n" you replied

"I never really saw you around here, where's your family from?" He asked as he wondered from what royal's you belonged to.

"I'm just a messenger from one of those families in the ballroom, i never really seemed fit to be there but they still took me here. But that's unimportant when i become one of the greatest warriors in this place, I'll make a name for myself!" You said with a glistening sparkle on your eyes, and hunger ready to take on everything

'So this is what it feels like to match wits with someone at your level, What the hell is the catch?

It's the feeling of freedom, of seein' the light It's Ben Franklin with a key and a kite You see it, right? '

your conversations lasted in long minutes, both fascinated by the things you shared to each other the way you were both unsatisfied and wanted more in life, more than what everyone tell you to be.

you have the same outlook in life, the same want for change everything was said equal agreement as if harmony existed when both of you met.

the conversations went sweeter as the moments pass by, you were subtly flirting and though he pretends not be affected his cheeks say otherwise. The comfort is amazing, it was like everything is meant to be there.

felix observers your features attentively, how you thumb away your hair carefully and way your voice change as you speak of the things you love truly.

if only he could take you away from the place you're in, far away from everyone to protect you just because you deserve it and he'll be happy to see you fluttering your wings and fly.

"You really have a wonderful home! I felt like romeo and juliet somehow met here as their love story was told" You said all, cheery with your cheeks touching your eyes as you smiled.

"Maybe ours could start here too"

you said with a slight blush on your face, you knew it was an embarrassing line but you took your shot anyways.

"Page one opened" Felix replied with a smile ghosting his lips, he felt like it was too good to be true but his feelings lingered, it was his first time meeting you but you took him places he's never been before through all the things you've made him feel in one night.

He decided to take you inside of the hall, hands intertwined together as he offered you a dance it you were both having a great time, and familiar figure walked by the two of you and greeted

"Who is this person felix? they're ethereal"

Scylla, His sister said, her stance was elegant and everything about her is of finest goods.

Felix saw a different glow onto his sister's face, something he never saw before.

"This Y/N, Y/N this Scylla my sister"

"Sister? You're just as majestic scylla! if It takes being in a war for us to meet then it would've been worth it" You complimented.

"I don't wanna be rude to my brother here, but would you mind if i take them for a small dance!?" Scylla smiled with a sly smile on her face

'this one's mine' she whispers, but felix gave an annoyed snort in disbelief

'you wish scylla'

Despite the small banter, felix lets you dance with her sister who took a liking to you

it was a wonderful night but he realizes the most important things throughout the night.

it was already time for you to go, He kissed you knuckles goodbye as he looked at you

"We'll meet again that's for sure" felix smiled as you wave him goodbye

"I'll be back here again!"

A year has passed and crowds cheered onto the moonlight, fancy decorations painted same the tall walls where the ball once happened, golden trims of fabric greeted the newly weded couple whomst hold the most genuine smiles on their face.

familiar faces flooded the ball room, eyes all fixated to the stars of the night, it's finally time to reminisce how sweet their first meet was, and as the visitors applauded sage lesath stirred up the crowd to welcome another important guest

"Alright, alright

That's what I'm talkin' about

Now, everyone give it up for the maid of honor

Felix Escellun"

The crowd shouted louder through his presence, hands clapping and glasses clinking in celebration, Felix smiled as he raised a wine glass on his left hand.

"A toast to the newly wedded partners from a brother who's happy for the union and hope you provide!"

he smiles yet the hint of bitterness tickled his cheeks, he looked onto your eyes with regrets but it was masked up with his facade

"I've never seen scylla with such passion in her eyes before you, you bring the best of my sister i knew she'd be right for you. Writing the first letter for both of you to bond deeper is something i never regret doing"

"May you two always be satisfied"

His gray eyes then sparkled with tears ready to gush down any moment from now, not because of joy but for the choice he made, To let his sisyer be happy, and let you go onto her arms now as her wedded partner.

It was the hard choice to make, the jealousy in his heart tugs as he fantasize how would it have been if he just didn't give you up, but he knew scylla has never been this genuinely happy even once in her life before you.

everything flashes on the back of his mind, his responsibilities as the heir, and everything in his shoulders he wanted you, he really did

and this is the only way he could have you in his sight.

'and i will never be satisfied'

THIS IS THE MOST PAINFUL SHIT I'VE WRITTEN I'M- KSHSISHDUW I CANNOT THIS WILL HAVE A PART TWO FOR REDEMPTION!!! I'M CRYING

[fatesdeepdive]

Entry 56: Found Family Imperialism

Class Profile - Songstress

Azura’s personal class and this game’s version of the dancer class. Weak in battle, but has the ability to make other units attack twice. Its design is just Azura’s design, which as I’ve said previously is great. Songstress can’t promote and instead can level all the way up to forty, learning four skills along the way. Luck +4 does what you’d expect. Inspiring Song boosts the speed, skill, and luck of units Azura sings for, making her an even better Support unit. Voice of Peace lowers damage enemies deal to allies and Foreign Princess repeats this effect, while also adding extra damage dealt, to enemies from another nation.

Class Profile - Villager

A class used by Mozu and some green units you have to protect in certain chapters. Wields lances, has awful bases and even worse growths. An absolutely terrible class with one benefit: the skill Aptitude, which gives a 10% boost to all growth rates and makes Villagers usable, with a bit of grinding. I’d like to note that Aptitude received a nerf from Awakening, where it gave a 20% boost, which results in Mozu being a lot less useful than Donnel. Their other skill, Underdog, boosts Hit and Avoid when their opponent is higher level than them. Villagers can promote into either Merchants or Masters of Arms. The generic villager design, while plain, works for the class’s theme.

Class Profile - Samurai

This game’s version of the Myrmidon class from past games and the Hoshidan counterpart to the Mercenary class. Wields swords, can promote into Swordmaster or Master of Arms. Has great speed and skill. Learns Vantage, which allows the wielder to always attack first if their health is below 50%, and Duelist’s Blow, which raises avoid when attacking. The simple Japanese outfit with armbands and a metal headband is fine, although the fact that female Samurai don’t wear pants is ridiculous.

Conquest Chapter 9: Another Trial

After finding out about Moron's success, Garon laughs maniacally about how the Moron's next mission will be even more agonizing. When Moron comes to speak with Garon, Garon says that he's proud of them and welcomes them back into the royal family. Iago brings up that Moron had help and demands Moron be executed for defying Anankos's will. Elise says that going along was her idea and that Garon will have to kill her too. Xander says the same. You know, I don't remember the Hoshidans ever discussing which of their siblings they should murder. Glad I chose to betray them.

Garon decides against killing all of his kids, making him eligible for father of the year. Garon then sends Moron to conquer Notre Sagesse, which Hoshidan soldiers are passing through on their way to invade Nohr. Moron, who is fine with annexing a neighboring nation and probably killing thousands of people, agrees to this mission.

Before Moron leaves, the siblings talk about how they love each other and exchange playful insults. Xander tells Moron to visit the rainbow sage, who gave Xander and Garon their power. While traveling to Notre Sagesse, Moron's squad passes through fort Dragonfall, which is occupied by the Hoshidan army. It's odd, the Hoshidans actually seem more competent without Moron.

Moron, nervous about fighting the Hoshidans, charges into the fort. As the battle begins, the player is shown two people being held captive by the Nohrians: Nyx, a young girl they grabbed because she's a little girl wandering around a battlefield at night, and Azura, who mumbles something about how she's destined to be a stranger in all lands.

If you talk to Nyx with Moron, they tell Nyx that they'll protect her and take her home to her parents. Nyx explains that she isn't a child and that her family abandoned her because of her dark magic. Moron offers to let her join their found family because they know what it feels like to feel alone. Nyx gladly joins an imperialist army on its way to conquer another nation.

Nyx

A Dark Mage who looks like a ten-year-old girl. Don’t worry about the child marriage and child soldier problems, though, because she’s actually an adult woman who just looks like a small child! Which makes skimpy clothes and other characters having sex with her stop being pedophilia. Personality-wise, she seems really bitter about being treated like a child, because Conquest needed a version of Hayato. Her design would be fine if she wasn’t the obligatory sexualized small child every JRPG requires. Her personal skill, Countercurse, damages enemies who hit her with magic.

This chapter has a Dragon Vein you can use to massively damage all units in a certain area. I didn't get to it until after I'd already killed all the enemies in the map, so I used it to injure my own units so I could grind levels for Elise. The boss of the chapter, Haitaka, is capturable. 

Haitaka

A Spear Fighter who captured Azura. Only appears in Conquest and is a bit of a throwaway character. Has a big nose. Also comes with Rally Defense and Strong Riposte, which makes him a decent capture target.

Killing Haitaka doesn't end the map, it ends when you seize a random spot in the middle of the map, so I spend a few minutes having Azura sing for Moron to give her EXP. If she dies at the end of the game, this is the reason why.

After the battle, Azura explains that she was banished from Hosdhido for being Nohrian. Somehow, despite the crown prince and head of the military disagreeing with this decision, Azura was still exiled. Azura then joins Moron so they can combine their powers to end this senseless war. Friendly reminder that Moron is currently leading an invasion of a neutral territory, actively increasing the size of the war. Azura's kinda dumb. Then again, everyone in this game is.

Moron introduces Azura to Elise, who Elise assumes must be a long-lost sister given that Azura's a Nohrian princess. Azura doesn't correct Elise. A reminder, as revealed in Birthright, Azura is only Garon's stepdaughter and thus shares no blood relation with the Nohrians.

Anyway, it’s Support time

Support: Corrin/Arthur

C: Arthur returns after beating up some ne'er-do-wells attacking a village, getting hit by multiple carriages, and beat up by a town militia mistaking him for a thief.

B: Arthur works as a taste tester for a charity and gets food poisoning. After he says he's going to go help put out some fires, Corrin advises him to dose himself in water so he doesn't burn to death.

A: Arthur attempts to soak himself at the river, trips in, is dragged away by the current, and is beaten down by sticks and rocks in the current. Arthur brushes off this pain, saying that it just made him stronger.

S: Arthur attempts to propose. It does not go well.

Review: Arthur’s Supports are always fun because Arthur keeps a happy attitude, even as he is treated as the world’s punching bag.

Support: Nyx/Silas

C: Silas asks Nyx how old she is and Nyx reveals that she's actually a lot older than him and doesn't age because of a curse. Silas vows to break her curse.

B: Silas buys a totally real cure from a not suspicious at all apothecary. It doesn't work.

A: Silas buys Nyx a disgusting tonic made from dragon feces. Nyx explains that the curse cannot be lifted by a potion and reveals that, when she was young, she lost control of her magic and killed many innocent people, becoming cursed in the process.

S: Silas marries Silas and vows again to cure Nyx's curse. Nyx reveals that a soothsayer told her about Silas marrying her long ago.

Review: Not bad. Getting some hints at the origin of Nyx’s curse is interesting and I hope it is explored in later Supports.

Support: Elise/Odin

C: Elise finds Odin sleeping. Odin makes up some story about him testing out dark magic to view the netherworld, which just confuses Elise. Odin admits that he was actually just sleeping. 

B: Odin talks to himself about random bullshit. Elise compares him to Garon. Odin claims that he possesses dark power branded into him by demons. Elise takes him seriously and Odin admits that he's full of shit.

A: Elise does an Odin impression while hanging out with him for fun. She also calls him cool, which is probably the only time anyone has ever said that about Odin.

S: People start talking about how much Elise and Odin are hanging out. Odin jokingly suggests they get married. Elise says she loves him but Odin insists he isn't worthy of her. They get married anyway.

Review: This one is decent. Elise, being childishly naive, actually taking Odin seriously is interesting, but there isn’t much to this one besides that.

Support: Azura/Niles

C: Niles asks to speak with Azura. Azura says no because Niles makes dirty jokes. Niles promises to be good. Not once do they actually talk.

B: Niles says that he and Azura are similar because of their horrible upbringings and reveals he was abandoned as a child and lived in the gutter before Leo hired him. Niles explains that his meanness and Azura's aloofness are both defense mechanisms to keep others at a distance.

A: Niles says that the two of them are like porcupines and struggle to make friends.

S: Niles proposes. Azura objects because they'll hurt each other if they get too close. Niles says he wants to be with her, even if it's from a distance.

Review: This one is on the verge of being good. Niles gets some backstory and it gives good insight into him and Azura’s personalities. Unfortunately, too much of this Support is just Niles expositing him and Azura’s emotions.

So I guess that’s the end of this update. Now I suppose I’ll go play whatever chapter comes after Chapter 9.

Wait a minute...

Oh fuck, I’m screwed, aren’t I?

[thegracelessfaceless]

If you are still doing matchups,, I'd be interested in a creepypasta one. I'm coming over from Elise blog.

So my name is Shay, I go by Whiskey because it's a preference in liquor on my end. I go by they/them pronouns, AFAB and I'm bi and omniromantic, I do have an mild preference for men or masc aligned people. I'm a Libra sun, Virgo moon and Aquarius rising. I'm also introvert (INFJ-A) and I'm constantly sleeply. I do have C-PSTD, Bipolar II and GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder).

I'm Caucasian/White and I stand at 5'9. I have celtic and Danish heritage, My family where vikings. I'm really tall and legs double the size of my torso, as in my thighs are as big as my torso in length, same with my calves. I call myself spider legs because of that. I have this natural like wolf cut going on that is this dark green with my roots be my natural dark chocolate brown hair. My eyes are hazel with gold flecks that shift in color which I found out is normal for people with hazel eyes. I paint my nails black a lot because I find the color pleasing. My build wise is like a rectangle like shape with broad shoulders. I'm pretty strong and I'm proud of my strength. I'm currently starting to get into shape and lose weight so I have fit shape but not like over for. Just the right amount of fat over my muscles. I have a lot of stretch marks,, mostly around my waist and my biceps. I call them my stripes or lighting marks. I have plans to get snake bite piercings and wear like the ring ones in them. I'm getting an tattoo soon that is like this and then I want a burning match tattoo on my color bone. My ears are piercing and I like wearing fake gauges, spirals and then the ratings that have the dangly stuff and cuffs with them. I also wear like those stereotypical hot topic chokers. I wear a lot of long sleeves and skinny jeans, I do like ripped skinny jeans. I also love flannels and black boots like doc martins or converse.

I think you can assume by the statement of me liking whiskey I am the rebellious sort which is true. I have drank a bit and tried weed, I don't do it anymore tho.I have been told if people don't know me and see me from afar I'm intimidating to approach. Even being spooky and intimidating, I promise I'm just a big softie. I usually assume the mom friend of the group with my friends. I always worry about them and make sure they take care of themselves. Sometimes I do it so much I forget to take care of myself. I'm really gentle and compassionate, along with being extremely empathetic. I can be stubborn and bit judgemental at times, mostly working off first impressions myself when getting to know each other. I have an hard time being insertive and putting my foot down with my boundaries, scared to lose people even if the hurt me. I'm an introvert through and through, liking to watch from the back and observe the way things go on around me. I do my best to be an optimist because I can't see the point in see everything wrong in this world, it helps me to see the good. I love going on adventures with my close friends and love being a chaotic bastard with them. My dnd alignment is chaotic neutral and I'm Hufflepuff. I do live by the saying do no harm but take no shit. But I won't hesitate to fight someone for the right causes.

I do always constantly look like I am going to funeral of some sort because I own nothing but black. The color makes me feel really comfortable but it's not my favorite color. My favorite color is green but I like sage green, forest green, mossy green, etc. The earthy greens are my favorites. I have a love for the forest and woodlands, finding a sense of home in the woods. I do love archery and something I'm definitely going to be picking up along with playing the drums. I also smoke herbal cigarettes as well as alternative to smoking.

I often get called a cryptid and at this point, I am just one. Cryptidcore, Midwest Gothic, and Pacific Northwest Gothic are my favorite aesthetics. I have a huge love for cryptozoology (the study of cryptids), parapsychology (the psychic phenomena and other paranormal claims), original creepypasta stories and to be honest anything like spooky and creepy. I want to be a mortician and I'm attending school for that. I also really love the dark, especially if I have some good music blasting through my earbuds. I am a sucker for long road trips and seeing things, filling the adventure heart I have. My favorite animals are coyotes and I also like horses. I like to write a lot as well.

Okay, first off, you sound so cool?! Like we should talk more 😃.

I match you with...

Hₑᄂₑ𝚗 ₒ𝚝ᵢ𝘴/ Bᄂₒₒ𝚍y Pₐᵢ𝚗𝚝ₑᵣ

(Not my art, unknown artist. Contact me with credit info!)

Helen gets the they/them pronouns. For the longest, the thought he was a weird girl. Then he had body dysphoria for a long time, and then he came to terms with his identity.

Helen is a Virgo to your Libra. Virgos admire Libra's clear mindedness and their drive for balance in all areas.

However, Virgos can have some trust issues. Just be there and patient with Helen. He'll get over those hurdles eventually.

Helen gets being an introvert, being one himself. He never had many friends growing up, his only close one being killed by bullies who then tried to blame it on him. Helen would be perfectly content if you two were the last people on Earth.

Helen loves how you look, like you're just 'classical' beautiful? He loves painting your eyes, trying to get that perfect mix of green and gold.

He recites Robert Frost to you because your eyes remind him of this poem:

"Nature's first green is gold/ Her hardest hue to hold/ Her early leaf's a-flower;/ but only so an hour./ Then leaf subsides to leaf/ So Eden sank to grief/ So dawn goes down to day/ Nothing gold can stay"- Robert Frost "Nothing Gold Can Stay"

Helen would enjoy painting your nails for you, maybe even painting little designs on them if you'd like

Helen would be so supportive in your fitness journey. He just doesn't want you to feel like you have to lose weight to please him or anyone else. He thinks you're perfect just how you are, just like he'd think you're perfect 50 pounds overweight or 50 pounds underweight.

Helen loves your stripes. Whenever you feel self conscious about them, he reminds you that the things that make a person attractive are groupings of flaws that work well with each other to make a beautiful face

OR

He tells you how the Chinese fill in cracked china and pottery with molten gold because the cracks make the piece more beautiful since it has more character.

Helen would love to design tattoos for you

He thinks it's sweet that you're Mom Friend™, but he's not going to let you drive yourself into the ground taking care of everyone else. So, now, you can't lift a finger around Helen. He waits on you hand and foot

He'll help you learn to be more assertive and stand up for yourself and what you believe in. He'll help you set boundaries and limits and he'll help you enforce them. One of his more important lessons is that you have no room in your life for people who hurt you, use you, or make you miserable.

Anyone that hurts you will be subjected to The Wrath of Helen Otis™

I feel like Helen wasn't a huge outside person before meeting you.

But between pictures on your camera roll of you and your friends' adventures and just listening to the way you speak about the Great Outdoors? He's intrigued as hell now and goes on a nature walk with you on an easy forest mountain trail, nothing too challenging or taxing.

And suddenly he just understood everything you'd been talking about.

A special activity he likes to do just the two of you is this: you think of and describe to him a cryptid and he paints it following your description. Then he listens to any stories or folklore for that cryptid.

Its normally exactly the way you pictured it in your head (it's actually pretty uncanny).

Thinks it's cool that you're going to mortician's school. He's always been interested in medicine, but can't tolerate all the patients. But a mortician... They do medical things and have the quietest patient that are just so agreeable! What a genius career path (seriously, I'm on a wait list for an interview with the coroners office (Low turnover rates 😑)

Helen also likes playing in paint worn you (but I'm thinking that deserves a whole post of its own)

Helen also likes to paint while you write (sometimes he paints you writing about him painting). Its beautiful, really. Just two people who love each other enjoying their hobbies together in companionable silence 😍

[playlistcenter]

what are some songs/artists/albums that u think r super underrated/underappreciated??

oh god, i could go on forever! but i’m gonna start by listing a few of them by monthly listeners!

if you want more, always feel free to dm me! the artists listed probably make up about 1/10 of my library so lmk if you want more!

less than 1,000 monthly listeners: ábi, abra taylor, aela kae, ariana celaeno, claire lomulder, grrl pal, katie miel, lurosae, swimming pools. 

1,000 to 10,000 monthly listeners: aces, amadelle, aria wood, azee, azusena, bad, the buoys, c h yl e r, chickpee, duvv, eeva, elki, foxgluvv, fritz, fyohna, girl., grace lightman, g y l s, grayson, hbd, holander, hunjiya, irah, japanese heart software, jinka, kaye, kingsbury, kristina bazan, laraw, mood robot, pennybirdrabbit, perish, pip the pansy, pllush, pom pom squad, pscila, rén with the mane, roseau, shel bee, shenna, shikoswe, skip skip ben ben, skirts, snow culture, soot sprite, sumif, sweater curse, the trp, violet sands, wolfy, zuri 

10,000 to 25,000 monthly listeners: a l l i e, akine, alali, alice gray, amy guess, bella coppola, bosco, cry club, egoism, ellie rose, emi, emily rose, ever, fluxx.world, ili, jenna holiday, little mood, maddie barker, maris, marnie, moon bounce, myzica, näm, navvi, nola wren, nyne, r e l, sahara beck, sälen, saturn 17, small crush, softee, sølv, summer cannibals, tragic sasha, twin theory, vi, von grey, wrenn, yucky duster, zealyn, zoey lily 

25,000 to 50,000 monthly listeners: anna straker, aunty social, b o k e h, blaise moore, carrie lane, cassidy king, cassie marin, caveboy, chelsea lankes, chloe mk, claudia bouvette, denitia and sene, dennis., doolie, dylyn, elise trouw, emm, eza, femme, gabby’s world, gems, grae, hapi, i m u r, ian sweet, imbi the girl, laoise, liyv, love you later, lucy mason, mai.la, marg, néonhèart, nisha, olivia o., pnk fme, rainsford, reyna, rivrs, sage charmaine, sainte, so below, sophia black, su na, tara carosielli, ts graye, yosie 

50,000 to 100,000 monthly listeners: abbie ozard, bailey baum, bien, cayetana, colette lush, elita, elliot lee, happy sometimes, honeyblood, jackie hayes, jades goudreault, jessi blue, kaina, kelsy karter, knower, kudu blue, lpx, mauwe, maylyn, me not you, michi, monica riskey, monogem, nite jewel, oston, party nails, pretty sister, rachel chinouriri, ratboys, sarah skinner, satica, stalgia, tacocat, tanerélle, toopoor, trella, uffie, yeule, zuzu

100,000 to 250,000 monthly listeners: 100 gecs, alayna, alpine, ängie, bad bad hats, banoffee, blonde maze, bones uk, brika, camp cope, cehryl, chinah, cray, cruel youth, daniella mason, dizzy, dresage, erthlings, great grandpa, jaie, jeffe, kinokoteikoku, laye, lil halima, little boots, lucy daydream, luna shadows, lunar vacation, many voices speak, michelle, milk & bone, mimi bay, moonzz, nakala, raffaella, sasami, sir chloe, teamarrr, violet days, whenyoung, winnetka bowling league 

[budugaapologist]

hear me out

in light of rumors about the next ac game being vikings, i was thinking back to the viking sage i made last year. and im still gay! so i still want a butch juno fucker to play as! and i know ubisoft has like a 95% chance of not doing any of this, but hey a dyke can hope!

so, crossdressing butch female playable protagonist thats more of an anti hero (like edward was) thats beefy not skinny like kassandra, evie, aveline, shao, aya, elise, mary, anne, lydia, etc, thatd be nice if she was closer to xenia. and if youre like "but most women become more lean and skinny when they become muscular!" FUCK YOU! people have different body shapes! not every fucking woman becomes skinnier when they work out! maybe this protagonist likes food!! your hollywood 'muscle' can kiss rin nakai, donna moore, and jill mills' asses!!

now while this body shape may not be "flexible", i dont really recall any of the assassins doing extreme gymnastic shit (even then, katelyn ohashi, bitch), just climbing and jumping off stuff, and if you think that its "unrealsitic" to be doing parkour when you arent lean muscled (which is stupid because exhibit jacob/adéwalé/bayek) i think its unrealistic for ezio to be parkouring in revelations AND that its unrealistic to survive any of the jumps in ac, but no, youre right, fantasy should cut off at women having diverse body shapes.

i also think if she is a sage, she would want to cover her identity, like wearing an eyepatch over the gold eye, since as edward pointed out, its the eyes that mark the sage.

maybe she doesnt have long hair like basically all the other female characters?? she could have an undercut and tiny braids like mary had, and, if she is pretending to be male, she can have hair like these:

ALSO if we're having a viking game next, why not try giving her some tattoos like these:

i think its unfair the playable ladies of ac dont have any tatts to speak of (select outfits for kassandra do not count obviously since they arent permanent like edward, bayek, adé, and jacob), shout out to mary and rhona though

granted ive wanted a character like this for a long ass time, so i have put in a lot more thought than ubisoft in designing this kind of character, but i think its time we had a female character that didnt fall under the same shit the female overwatch characters fall under. i think its time we had a female character that is different looking!! goddammit!!

[sageedwardsxo]

"I know evelyn is very happy now that she knows who her daughters are. Have you talked to her about it since the news broke?" Sage asked. "I've been working more than anything, but that seems to be the only thing I do."

"It's even bigger now with my biological parents actually being Evelyn and Hal's Dad. Not only that, Hal and Stella are my half-siblings too." Elise rolled her eyes as she told the other woman all about the new information she learned about herself. "That's true! Tell me, how have you been doing? We haven't talked much since we shopped together."

[writtingfiction]

*falls from the ceiling* *wheezing* 1920 AU... but Xander! *jumps into the nearby window* Oh Yeah! Make him as a mob boss or somethin'

A-anon!! Are you alright?! I hope you haven’t hurt yourself.(,,꒪꒫꒪,,)  But on the other hand I’ve come to deliver! You didn’t specify exactly what you wanted in the 1920 AU, other than Xander being a Mob Boss per say. So, here we have Mob Boss Xander who constantly worries.(*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑

pairing: No real pairing, just a big old worried Xander

words: 2.1k

Now, Xander was a kind man with a strict hand. However, there are moments where his patience is tested. Corrin was often the testing the limits of his patience, as carefree and youthful as she was. She couldn’t help but test the boundaries of what she could do. Wondering about town on her own, sneaking out of the house late at night and it did not help that a friend of hers, Silas, would help her out.

He sighed heavily at the sound of giggles and hurried whispers. If they were trying to be quiet, they weren’t doing a very good job. Xander turns the corner to see Corrin and Elise going completely silent upon seeing and giving the widest of smiles. They were planning something. He gives them a raised brow.

“Hello Xander.” Corrin says joyfully. Elise quickly joins the greetings, waving to her brother.

“Good evening, girls. Something you plan on doing this evening?” He asks. The girls look to each other, a sparkle in their eyes before looking back to him.

“Yes, planning a quiet stroll through the garden is what we were thinking.” Elise speaks, nodding sagely.

“Either that, or we were planning of going into town with Camilla to do some shopping!” Corrin added. Xander felt relieved, at least they weren’t thinking of sneaking out.

“I see but do remember the Hoshidan clan is on high alert and they will pull dirty tactics against us when they can.” Xander said seriously. He couldn’t afford a repeat of what happened to their father, gun downed and left for dead. He sees the shift in their attitudes, but it doesn’t put a damper on their high spirits.

“Of course, Xander. We don’t want anything to happen to each other after all.” Corrin said and he feels like he can trust her. For a moment he forgets how much she hates being constantly watched. He forgets that she hates being shackled down. For a moment, he trusts her to do the right thing and bring Camilla, Silas or even Felicia with them.

“Good.” He gives them a small smile. “Please don’t forget to dress warm and bring Camilla with you if you do leave the house. The nights are getting colder.” The girls give him a nod before he continues on towards his office. He felt a little relaxed, knowing that they will do the right thing.

So, when he sits at his desk and looks over the paperwork. Pen etching the ink onto the paper, his thought doesn’t waver to how worried he is about them. He doesn’t think that one of them will get hurt, he doesn’t think that they’ll be frolicking through the streets without a care in the world and instead thinks about if they’re enjoying their walk. Whether it’s in the garden of the house, making those garlands Elise loves so much. Or perhaps, they’re walking through the lively streets, Camilla and whoever by their side as they laugh.

His little trance of running his pen along the paper is interrupted momentarily when he reorganizes the papers on his desk, to realize that he was done. He nods to himself, grabbing a few papers here before taking them with him as he leaves the room. He’ll drop the papers off with Laslow before joining his sisters in town if they were there and not in the garden.

Upon seeing Camilla talk with Laslow, there wasn’t much of a concern. He interrupts their time with an apology and a quick hand. The papers are delivered, and he hopes that the girls are still in the garden. However, before he can leave, Leo walks in and asks for Corrin’s and Elise’s whereabouts.

“Have you checked the garden?” Xander says, nonchalantly. A frown appears on Leo’s lips.

“I’ve checked the garden, their rooms and practically everyone room in this house. Even their retainers don’t know where they are.” Leo says frustrated and it makes Xander’s blood go cold. Their retainers are still here?

“Oh my, they must be in town still.” Camilla said, placing her teacup down. “I saw those girls practically skipping down the road in their cute dresses.”

“Was anyone with them?” Xander asks, clenching his fists behind his back.

“When I asked them about that, they said they were meeting Silas in town.” Camilla said. Leo had a confused look on his face.

“…I just saw Silas and he didn’t know where they were, much less Corrin.” There was a moment of silence, before Laslow spoke up.

“Do you want me to round up the retainers, sir?” His voice was quiet.

“Immediately.” Xander’s voice rang through the room. Laslow was the first one to move, followed by Xander. Camilla let out a sad sigh.

“Oh dear, will she never learn?” Camilla says sadly, rising from her seat. Leo frowns.

“Even with the high alert, she’s still pulling these things off…” Leo says, turning around and going to back to his room. Knowing Xander, everyone was to get ready very quickly.

It took another 15 minutes before everyone was ready, gathering by the entrance gate. Xander slowly boiling over with anger. He knew she shouldn’t have trusted her so blindly; he should have made sure that there was someone with them. Why weren’t their retainers with them anyway? How did they even manage to sneak by everyone and tell such lies so easily? He lets out a frustrated sigh, and the murmuring from the retainers goes quiet. He looks to them all, a heavy glare towards his sister’s retainers more specifically, before he opens his mouth to speak but a shout interrupts him.

“XANDER!!!” It’s a shrill scream. He turns on his feet, a hand on his gun but his eyes widen at the sight that greets him. Corrin is carrying Elise in her arms, there’s red staining Elise’s dress on her abdomen and leg. Elise is in pain and the tears are a clear sign of that. There’s blood on Corrin’s dress as well as she comes closer, he doesn’t know if it’s hers or Elise’s. He can tell that she ripped parts of her dress to put a makeshift bandage on her younger sibling.

Xander barks orders and the retainers burst into action. Laslow, Peri, Niles and Beruka run past Corrin to see if anyone dared to follow them. Jakob, Felicia, Effie and Arthur, with extra care guide Corrin back into the house into the infirmary and for once, Xander can only see red. There’s a fiery rage that’s burning inside him. He thinks for a moment that he should join Laslow and the rest but goes against it. He isn’t in the right mindset, and it wouldn’t be the greatest of ideas to confront Corrin about this.

He tries to even his breathing, thinking on the positive side, thinking that their back in one piece. He tries to focus on the part that they’re alive. He tries to focus on the part that they’re now safe. His heartbeat slows down a little, he’s calming down but it’s not quick enough. There’s still that seething rage that he had been deceived, no, his entire family had been. There’s still that lick of anger rising when they left the house knowing that they’re on high alert. It’s still raging when they should have known and were hurt in result. He’s angry that they were hurt, and he wasn’t able to protect them but, he’s glad they’re alright.

He waits in his spot a little longer, letting the cold air help him cool his raging self. The cold air feels nice against his burning skin, but it makes his lungs hurt. He doesn’t know how much time has passed when Laslow and the small crew return. They report good news that they chased down the assholes that dared to hurt his family.

“Was it the Hoshidan Clan?” He asks, an underlining anger waiting to pounce. He sees the exchanged looks among the retainers.

“No, Sir. They seemed to be a different faction from the Hoshidan Clan. Even though they tried to frame the Hoshidan Clan for the incident.” Niles reports. Xander’s anger fades even more, he’s more confused now.

“Were you able to find anything out?”

“Even though they were wearing Hoshidan colours, their emblem was on their weapons.” Beruka says, handing a dagger over. “We are not able to tell what it means, Sir.”

He takes the dagger and glares at the emblem on the pommel. It takes a moment before he can say he truly recognizes it. It was the symbol of Anankos. It was a very old but remembers it from the ancient stories his father would tell him when he was younger. He remembers the brief time he would tell Corrin about them as a bedtime story, but that was a long time ago.

“I see.” Xander stares at the dagger a little longer before addressing the retainers. “I want you to set up a perimeter around the area. Take turns and make sure, no one enters or leaves the premise unless they have strict orders to do so. Dismissed.”

They leave without another word and he’s left to his own devices once again. He’s relieved that it wasn’t the Hoshidan Clan, but having a new enemy still bothers him. He thinks back to his Father’s assassination and all the odd loose ends but shakes it off. He leaves to head inside; it was a getting very cold.

--- --- --

The next time Xander sees Corrin was later that night, sitting on the floor by the infirmary. There were a couple bandages on her arm but that was the extent of her injuries compared to her sister who was in worse condition. Her white dress was stained red and ripped, he notes the black sash she usually wears with it is now gone. He feels a heavy weight against him upon seeing the glassy look in her eyes as she stares ahead at the wall in front of her. Too lost in her own thoughts to have realized he was there.

“Corrin…” He calls out gently and her head snaps in his direction. Looking up at the man standing in front of her. He sees so many emotions pass through, surprise, guilt, shame, and sadness before she looks down towards her toes. Pulling her knees towards her chest tighter than before. “It’s not comfortable to sit on the ground.”

“…I know…” She said quietly. Silence blankets them for a moment as she doesn’t budge from her spot. Xander frowns and he moves to sit beside her. It doesn’t pull a reaction out of her, but he speaks.

“She’ll be alright, Corrin. You were quick to react, and I heard you did a good job making the makeshift bandages.” He says lowly. He tries to point out the things she did right despite the situation, knowing that pointing out what she did wrong tonight will not help. Xander knows she’s probably tearing herself apart, reprimanding herself for being so careless.

“…Just because I did react quickly and got her back safely doesn’t change the fact that I got her hurt. I should have never convinced her to go alone with me. I should have taken someone with us!” Corrin explodes, emotions bursting one after another like fireworks. Hot tears fall down her cheeks. “But I didn’t, and Elise got stabbed. What if they had a gun, Xander? We’d both be dead.” She turns and he can see the unsaid message; why aren’t you angry at me?

“Corrin.” He says gently again, trying to calm her. “The night may have gone awry, but after some thinking, I’m just glad that the two of you are back in once piece and safe for the most part. Elise will heal from her wounds and I’m sure you’ll take the events that happened tonight seriously and refrain from such behaviour in the future.” Xander gently pulls her into a hug, holding her tightly as she continues to cry.

“Of course, Brother…!” Corrin sobs in response. Holding on tightly, not wanting to let go anytime soon. Xander rubs slow circles on her back as he holds her. His anger towards Corrin and her behaviour had settled as he walked around the garden thinking and wondering, trying to be rational and not think too emotionally. He didn’t want to say anything horrible to her, and he’s glad he took that walk in the garden. He much preferred this outcome compared to what could have been. She knows what she did wrong, she doesn’t need him to repeat what she did wrong. So, he stays silent, hoping to offer some comfort but also guiding her and helping her to learn from her mistakes. After all, it’s all he wants to do.

[itgetsbetter-ff]

Chapter 1 ~ Wake Up Call

**6 MONTHS EARLIER**

Andrea Dominique

“MA!!!!!! CAN YOU COME GET THE TWINS PLEASE!!!!!” I screamed while I was in the bathroom,

My little brothers were bothering me while I was in the bathroom, they were 8, and absolutely annoying.

I heard my mom come into my room, and yell at the boys, “Micah and Major! Why are you bothering your sister!”

They both mumbled, but I didn’t really pay attention. “Go find your father somewhere! and get away from your sister’s bathroom.” She scolded

“Yes ma’am.” and they ran away.

I let go a sign of relief, until I heard a knock at the door, “Nique, hurry up with whatever you’re doing, we have to drop you off at to see your mother, and then we have family dinner tonight.”

I opened the door, and stood my mom in front of me. Technically, my step-mother but as far as I’m concerned she is my real mother. Giselle Cartier.  

By the look on my face, she knew I wasn’t too keen on the idea of my plans for the rest of the day.

“Look, Daddy and I don’t want to take you to see her, but until you’re 18, that’s the deal, twice a month.” She smiled, empathetically

“I know, but family dinner, like the whole family?” I grimaced

She laughed, “Yes, the whole family. Now get dressed sweetie.” She kissed my head and left.

I sighed sitting on my bed, now if it was just my family, I would be fine. But everyone? That’s not something I look forward too.

Now, we have my family:

My daddy is Dominic, My Mom is Giselle, My older brother is Dominic Zacharie Mason, My little sister is Adrianna Madison, My twin little brothers are Dylan Zane Micah and Dorian Zacharyah Major.

My Aunt Elizabethe, my mom’s sister, and her daughter Zoey Kaliea.

My Aunt Olivia and Uncle Jeremiah and Their kids, Marie, Maurice, and Aiden

My Uncle X and his ex wife my aunt Kamryn, with their kids, Kamani, Kamari and Xavier III

My uncle Rakim and his wife my aunt Rosie and their son AJ

My aunt Lei

and last but not the greatest, the most two horrible people in my family, my own older sister Angelique Marie and my aunt Liv’s daughter Sage Elise.

You’d think, I would get along with my own sister, but I haven’t and I never have.

“NIQUE!! IT’S TIME TO GO!!!!” My daddy yelled.  

“COMING!”

~

You’d think visiting my birth mother in jail would be the worst part of my day, but it truly wasn’t.

My real mom is Alexxandra Kaitlyn Rossi. My full name is Andrea Dominique Rossi Cartier. and I prefer to just be called Dominique Cartier.

The reason she’s in jail, is because she shot and almost killed my father, aunt and brother, while killing a judge, and 2 officers. She got pregnant with me to get my dad away from my step mother. But we see how that all worked out.

My real mom hates my step mom and vice versa. Whereas, I adore my stepmom, And sometimes, my real mom prefers Angelique over me. and I cant stand my sister.  So as you see we don’t have the best relationship.

Sitting in the car, Maddie whispered to me, “Nique, you okay?”

I nodded my head, “Are you worried about Angel?” She asked again

I shrugged, “ I would just rather she not speak to me, but you know how that goes.”

Maddie just nodded, “Well let’s hope she’s not on 1000 tonight.”

“Let’s hope.” 

~

Sitting at the table, everyone was talking and laughing, enjoying everyone’s company. I was sitting by Zoey, or as I call her Lea, we are the same age, 16, and our birthdays are a few months apart, with her being older. She’s literally my best friend.

We were talking about school and the latest party coming up, when Angel and Sage walked in, as late as always.

Angel went around the table giving hugs and hello to everyone at the table except me. Sage did the exact same thing, only she said hi to me. And just by my luck, the only two chairs available were across from Lea and I.

“Angelique.” My father scolded.

“Yes daddy?” She said batting her eyelashes at our father.

“Angelique Marie, stop. Say hello to your sister.” He said  

“I did Daddy, I said hello to Maddie.”

Lea whispered under her breath, “Here we go again.”

That’s when Aunt Lizzie gave her a look, and she instantly shut up.

“It’s fine Daddy, she doesn’t have to speak to me. I’m okay.” I said, trying to smile, but it was totally fake

“Angelique.” My mother said sternly, Angel knew not to play with Mommy.

Sighing, she turned towards me and grimaced. “Half-breed, how you doing?”

“I’m great bitch, how are you?” I replied back while looking at the menu

Before she could even say anything back, my mother slapped the table and scared the both of us.

“Andrea, how are you?” She asked again, she knew that name makes my skin crawl

“I’m fine Angelique, how are you? By the way, Katie says hi.” I smirked.

The way she looked at me, I knew I was going to pay for that, but she knows the name Andrea pisses me off, just like the mentioning of my birth mother pissing her off.

Everyone around us, was still talking, but Angel and I just death glared at each other.

God, can tonight just be over with? 

Marie

After dinner, we all went over uncle Dominic’s and Auntie Gi’s house. I always loved their house and being around them. I was the only girl cousin my age, Mason, Maurice and Aiden were my age, but they all had each other. It wasn’t the same as Sage and Angel or Kaliea and Dominique. Hell, I had Mani and Mari, but they stayed secluded to themselves most times.

“Marie, what are you doing?” Aunt Lei asked

“Nothing, just chilling, how about you?” I asked

“Nothing,”

“Aunt Lei, can I ask you a question?” I quizzed

“Sure, Honey.”

“Do you think that Sage will ever be that mean to me, like Angel is to Nique? You and Mommy have different dad’s and y’all were best friends.”

“Honey, I can’t speak for Sage, she’s your big sister.”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t hang out with me, like she use to. She’s 25, I’m only 20, She hangs out with Angel, more than she does with me.”

“Well, for a long time, it was just Sage and Angel, then came everyone else, they’ve been Best Friends since diapers. But if it’s bothering you that much you should talk to her about it. Okay?”

“Yes ma’am” I sighed,

That didn’t really help but okay.  

“What’s the matter?” I heard Reese say,

“Nothing,” I spoke quickly

I knew that if Maurice knew I was upset, he would tell Aiden and they would confront Sage and tell my parents. I don’t need that right now.  

I’m the oldest of both Maurice and Aiden and they act like I’m the most fragile thing in the world. Okay, am I the most sensitive, yes, but I don’t always need protection from my little brothers. or my cousins. or my parents.

“What’s wrong Ree.” Aiden asked

I looked at the both of them, you would think they were twins instead of me and Maurice, I rolled my eyes.

“Nothing. Why aren’t y’all with Mason, somewhere not bothering me.”

“Mason is arguing with his bitch, again” They both said, looking annoyed as hell.

Shit, I was annoyed, and I’m the sensitive one. Courtney is one annoying bitch. Literally no one likes her in the family. I’ve heard my auntie Gigi tell Mason, that if he ever got her pregnant with her grandchild, she would kill Mason and tell God he died. This girl literally rubs everyone the wrong way. and the fact that Courtney isn’t her real name cracks me up.

“You know if Aunt Gigi finds out that Treasure La’Quasia is here, she will have a fit.” I giggled.

“Bro, Don’t let Angel, Maddie or Nique hear you say that name, cause you know all three of them will go off together.” Aiden laughed

I shook my head, “I guess”

 Mason 

“Courtney, I’m going to tell you one more time, stop hitting me bruh.” I was seriously getting annoyed with her, I took her hands and slightly shoved her away from me.

She knows today is family day, and she wanna start this shit TODAY! While my whole ass family is in my house, like my mom, sisters and cousins won’t beat her ass.

“NO FUCK YOU MASON!” She yelled pushing my head yet again

“Who the fuck this bitch in your phone!” She yelled at me

“Bruh, you act like you’re my girlfriend …….. you bugging my nigga.” I sighed.

She’s yelling at me, for no reason. Courtney acts like she’s my girlfriend, when she’s not. I don’t take her out on dates, I just call her when I want them cheeks. The fact that she met my entire family was strictly by mistake. My maw maw saw her ONE TIME, and then let her stay for the whole day. When I tell you I was salty as fuck. I was salty as fuck. Now she always want to come over and start shit with me, I don’t even have a girlfriend.  

“Who is she Dominic Zacharie.” She said smartly

“I don’t know Treasure. Since we using first names” I spat back

“MY NAME ISN’T TREASURE!” She screamed.

“Can you please shut the fuck up. My WHOLE Family is in the house! You know if my Ma or sister catch you out here, that’s your ass.”

I saw the fear come across her face, and she quickly removed it for a strong exterior.

“No one scared of your fucking sisters.” She spat

I chuckled, She know damn well she scared of Angel and Dominique, she slightly scared of Maddie too. Listen, I understand being scared of Angel, she scares me majority of the time. I also understand Dominique. Angel fought Domi so much that she taught her how to fight. But being afraid of my 12 year old sister Maddie, that’s what cracks me up.

“Oooooooooh, you know you not supposed to be here.” Major said

“They bout to whoop your ass,” Micah said

Before I could even say anything to stop the terrible two, they both screamed.

“ANGEL, TREASURE OUTSIDE WITH MASON!”

Aw, hell here we go.

Angelique

I was on the balcony in my old room, on FaceTime with my nigga. I missed him, but him traveling all the time kinda put a damper on our relationship. You know him being famous and all.

I was all in my own world, when my daddy came to talk to me. So, I had to get off the phone with bae. The way he looked at me, I knew this was about Andrea.

“Daddy, please, I don’t want to talk about this right now.”

“I don’t give a damn. You need to be nice to your sister, Your mother and i didn’t raise you like that Marie.”  

I knew he was serious when he called me Marie,

“But Da-“

“But nothing. She’s your little sister. Just like Maddie. Just like Mason, Major and Micah are your little brothers.”

“The only difference between Maddie, Mason, Major and Micah, and I versus Andrea. We have a mother that is Sane. Her mother is the reason why you have to walk with a cane some days or why Mason’s right arm gets in excruciating pain when the weather changes or when Aunt Liv gets Migraines to the point she can’t even see.”

“But you cant blame Dominique, for her mother’s actions.”

“Daddy, I saw you get shot, and I saw Mommy crying over you. I tried to run to catch you before you fell. I saw you in a coma, I saw you fall every time you tried to walk. Because Andrea was born, mommy took us and left for 2 months. I can never forgive that.”

My daddy sighed, “Could you at least try to call her Dominique. You know she hates Andrea.”

I rolled my eyes, “I don’t know why she’s named after you in the first place. We all have M’s for Middle names, or A’s and D’s/Z’s  for first names. Angelique Marie, Dominic Zacharie Mason, Dylan Zane Micah, Dorian Zacharyah Major, and Adrianna Madison. She’s an Odd ball out.”

“I didn’t name her, her mother did. and she’s not named after me, she’s named after DJ.” He said softly

“And What was his name Dominique Maurice Cartier II,  Who, I BELIEVE, is named after you, so point invalid, daddy.” I giggled. “You know I got his name tatted on my wrist.” I smiled brushing the ink.  

 That’s the only thing Mason, Andrea and I have in common. The same matching tattoo of our brother’s name in honor of his memory. 

“I know, and that put you in a great mood with her for awhile, and a terrible one with your mother.” He chuckled

“Can you at least please try for me Princess?” He quizzed

“I can try, but I cant make any promises”

“Thank you.” He said kissing my forehead, then he got up and left.

No, I have never like Andrea, Not since we were little. I didn’t play with her, I didn’t claim her as my sister, nothing. It might seem childish, but I didn’t view her as my sister. She came from a monster. A demon and I don’t fuck with half-breeded, demons or even real demons.  

I left the balcony, as it was getting too cold, and I looked around my room as I went to go pee in the bathroom that connected to my room. Teenage me had some good ass taste. I had to fight mommy so she wouldn’t change my room into Maddie’s or even Andrea’s. but I’m glad that it’s still a place, where I can come and relax with my family.

After i finished using the bathroom, and I washed my hands, I went to dry them  and I saw a pregnancy test in the trash.

I picked it up with toilet paper, and it read positive.  

Before I could even think about what do next, I heard Major and Micah

“ANGEL, TREASURE OUTSIDE WITH MASON!”  

I wrapped the test up and hid it in my purse, grabbed my hair tie off the dresser and zoomed downstairs because I know I’m about to hit this bitch.

~~~~~~~~

By time I hit the front door and walked on the front porch, my mother and aunt was standing out there. They knew if I got too close, I was going to knock her the fuck out.

I spoke calmly, “Treasure, why are you here? I told you what would happen the next time I saw you didn’t I?”

“Bitch, shut the fuck up.” She spat

I nodded my head laughing while tying up my hair, “See, there we go with that bitch word again. I told you about that last time, didn’t I?” 

“Angelique, she isn’t worth it.” My Aunt Liv said

But that went in one ear and out the other. I was ready to dead this hoe. Why my brother decided to fuck her? I don’t know but, she was too disrespectful for my taste. I saw Andrea and Maddie sneaking up on the sides of her, while everyone was paying attention to me not getting to her. Big mistake

“Bitch, you’re not going to hit me, you can’t even get to me!” She yelled again  

I nodded my head, while she was talking all that trash. Cause I knew that Andrea or Maddie was gonna knock her the hell out. They know how to fight because of me.

“But I can” Andrea said, and snuck the bitch and she was on the ground.

Everyone turned around, and that’s when I ran and beat that bitch ass.  

~~~~~~~~

After the fight was over, and everyone calmed down and left, I helped my mom clean up everything and settled the house. By time we finished it was about 2 in the morning, there was no way in hell I’m driving all the way to Sage’s and I’s apartment.

“Mommy, is it okay I stay the night? I’m tired.”

“That’s fine I don’t care. Behave yourself Angelique.”  

I sighed knowing what she meant, “I’m just going to bed. I promise.”

She nodded her head, and we turned off all the lights and turned on the alarm, and went upstairs  

“Night Honey.” She yawned as she walked into her room

“Night mommy.”

I walked into my room, and just collapsed on my head. I took off my shoes, socks and pants. Reached in my night stand and pulled out my extra bonnet and charger, tied up my hair and plugged up my phone, and snuggled up in my King sized bed.

I was damn-near sleep, when I heard commotion in the bathroom. Hearing her say “Where is it? Where is it?”  I rolled my eyes,

“I promised mommy, I would behave myself. I don’t know why they joined our rooms together by a bathroom.” I mumbled to myself  

I got up and opened the door to the bathroom, and Andrea jumped  

“You scared me!” She said

I rubbed my eyes, “Why are you on the floor, making a shit ton of noise.”  

“No reason, I’m fine Angelique. Go back to bed please” She sniffled

I took a closer look at her, “Why are you crying? and why are you digging through the fucking garbage.”

“No reason,”

I shook my head, and went to close my door, when I remembered my purse. I went over to it, and got the pregnancy test out of it, going back to the door.

“Is this what you’re looking for?” I say to her, handing it to her

While she was kneeling on the ground, she took the test out of my hand cautiously, closed her eyes, took a breathe and then looked at the test. She instantly started crying.

“Andrea-“

“PLEASE STOP CALLING ME THAT!” She screamed

“I’m just trying to help!” I yelled back

“Help how Angelique! What are you going to do, tell Mommy and Daddy. Make you look like you’re the ‘Angel’ that everyone thinks you are! Exile me even more because Giselle isn’t my real mom and Katie is!!! I’m pregnant! Are you going to call me names because you know I cant do anything about it!!!”

“An-Dominique, no, I wasn’t, You’re 16 years old” I said  

“I know how fucking old I am Angelique.” She snapped.

“Fine then, I’m going back to bed. Good Luck with that shit.” I said turning around, going back into my room.

She started crying harder than before and wrapped her arms around herself, “Gigi… please. I’m scared.” she whispered

I stopped in my tracks, she hasn’t called me that since we were little, I forbade her from doing so. 

I knew she was desperate and serious when she said it to me.

“I’m 16, pregnant, Daddy and mommy are going to kill me. I don’t know what to do.”

I turned around and came back into the bathroom, I sat on the floor and decided to hug her, and she backed up at first.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to give you a hug.” I rolled my eyes

I tried again, and she instantly hugged me back and started bawling on my shoulder.

I just continued to hug her and rub her back until she cried herself to sleep.

[kinnoth]

So... It's canon then, that you just go and become Napoleon's personal attack dog after Elise dies. Bc Arno, probably moreso than any other proceeding protagonist in this god forsaken franchise, has neither the hardness nor brightness nor even the personal drive to find his own way in the world. Someone's always having to rescue him from himself, or else he will simply stall into stillness and never move again.

Jesus Christ what fucking craven fucking writing this game is. There is absolutely no true conflict, either internal nor external l, to speak of

Arno is purely reactionary, makes no decisions to bring forward any sort of progress or change, and doesn't even have the autonomy to make any bad decisions to be remarked upon. He needs nothing, he wants nothing, he is beholden to nobody, and the only emotion that ever appears to register in him is abandonment. The assassins discharge him, Elise disowns him, and he drinks himself to a standstill until somebody moves him again.

Anybody else would have gone rogue, would have worked to reprieve himself, would have tried to prove some sort of worth to any of the parties that declared him worthless. Even motherfucking nihilist assassin Ed kenway went on a drunken, meandering suicide attempt after he gets Jim killed.

The only thing that Arno seems to crave is obedience, orders to follow, someone to lead him, somebody else to give him purpose. He isn't even like Altair, another man who craves obedience, because Altair was at least trying to prove his obedience, his usefulness, his ability to contain himself to be what his handler wanted him to be. Arno is purely tangential. If he were a female character, we'd be up in arms about it.

This isn't even to touch on the whole premise of the fuckin meta plot! We're supposed to find and retrieve the remains of a sage before the Templars get to them! Oh nevermind, his bones are too damaged to even be useful to the Templars, they wouldn't even bother looking for them! Guess we just wasted 10 hours of everybody's time!

Fuck what a piece of shit

[gascon-en-exil]

I Liked Fates Before It Was Cool!: Revelation Part 2

Prologue

Opening Chapters

Revelation Part 1

Chapters 13-19, in which everyone’s going to Valla even though half of them suck.

Chapter 13

Hey look, Hoshidan scum!

Ok, meme comedy done. This is in my opinion the first really strong chapter of Revelation, with satisfying gameplay, escalation of the threat posed by Valla, and some good character development. It’s an utter tragedy that it takes place against the literal backdrop of Cyrkensia’s ruined opera house, but I can (mostly) live with the destruction of my favorite setting in Fates when it’s so effective at getting results. Azura still gets to sing here after a fashion, and although there’s no cutscene to go with it the results of this particular show do a good job of subtly foreshadowing that Azura and Mikoto use similar pacifying magic from the same source.

After Kaden and Keaton are done lampshading why the party always runs into shapeshifters in Cyrkensia, it’s time for Corrin to step between Xander and Ryoma as they left them back in Chapter 6 - at each other’s throats in a conflict ultimately engineered by Anankos. It’s a good demonstration of what the war between the two nations would look like without Corrin’s intervention, and the crown princes’ characters logically follow from their behavior as antagonists in the other routes. Xander is resolved that Corrin is a traitor and merits only death, whereas Ryoma is more hesitant to accept Corrin’s choice and, unlike in Conquest, willing to listen to their stated motivations when he’s not on the verge of death. Ryoma’s mellower outlook may be attributed, oddly enough, to the strong intimation that he’s got something going on with Scarlet, something I completely forgot about until I replayed this chapter. I don’t blame myself for doing so; in an Avatar free-for-all dating game romances between the other playable characters are naturally going to get short shrift in the story, and it doesn’t help that Birthright doesn’t suggest this relationship at all even though it’s the one route where both characters to survive to the end. And...yeah, there’s that part, but that’s for a bit later. It’s interesting to imagine how the different circumstances of Revelation could have encouraged Ryoma and Scarlet to grow closer in Revelation than they do in Birthright, though realistically it probably just boils down to Corrin not being there for most of their time together.

In any case, Ryoma shares what he knows about the Rainbow Sage - odd how the fourth person to visit the Sage is still Xander on this route when in the others it’s unsurprisingly the opposing older brother - and Corrin and co. are off to follow the path of Conquest 10 and 11. At least there’s no sequence-breaking teleport books this time.

Chapter 14

This time I’m not focusing on the cutaway to Garon and co., because his obvious gloating has reached such alarmingly stupid levels that I have nothing more to say about it. The payoff, such as it is, to that plot thread is still a few chapters away anyway...as is the appearance of Iago and Hans, who have yet to do much of anything on this route and yet get to appear as bosses at a plot-critical moment. Boo.

Let’s talk about unit balancing instead. Elise shows up with her she’s-legal-we-swear panty shot, and one look at the stats of her and her retainers showcases another glaring problem with the gameplay of Revelation. From this point onward, there’s really no point in training any of the numerous unpromoted units the game throws at you, because there’s no time to raise them up to par unless you do a lot of grinding. This is one instance where Revelation’s similarities to FE10 are more superficial than they first appear, because 

1) when compared to just one route of Fates Radiant Dawn is a much longer game, and in fact at 43 chapters still holds the record for the longest individual story campaign in the series. Revelation’s pacing and design suffers terribly from the requirement that it cover the same number of chapters as the other routes.

2) Radiant Dawn also has a massive roster (second largest in the series behind New Mystery) with several units who come behind the level curve, but they’re spread across the course of the game rather than lumped into a span of a few chapters. Examples vary from earlygame recruits just a bit behind (Meg) to underwhelming midgame units (Kyza and Lyre) to a bonus run Est type in lategame (Pelleas). 

3) and most notably, units in FE10 are divided into separate armies with different resource pools until lategame. While the balancing between those is infamously unequal, this setup almost requires that you train more units than you’ll ultimately be sending into endgame, giving even the lesser ones a small chance to shine.

I imagine that the design philosophy behind Revelation is that the player would be expected to spend a lot of time grinding on this route to get its numerous unique supports and raise a much larger army. It seems intended for a slower pace, particularly as this also helps with building up the castle base when you’ve got duplicates of most buildings to upgrade. I still don’t care for it though, because I don’t feel like taking that extra time to raise an oversized army and because some of the recruitments continue to be unexplained in story. Why would two border guards join in the invasion of a foreign port? Revelation doesn’t know or care, but it’ll make you run your new underleveled healer to both sides of this large map to recruit them regardless. At least Elise is mounted....

Chapter 15

Seriously, look at this. These two join in the same chapter, what the hell. This isn’t even mentioning that these are also some pretty random recruitments. Shura is awfully nonchalant on hearing that Corrin got his revenge for him, and Nyx has no more reason to be here than she did in Conquest 9. With her it really feels like the writers had a great (if highly fetishistic) concept for a character and came up with a plausible backstory only to find that there was no way to fit her into the plot, so...here she is. On a related note, Nyx is the only first generation character other than Gunter to outright not appear in one route, and at least there’s an explanation for Gunter’s absence in Birthright. Her presence really is just that random.

Before doing the write-up for this chapter I read back over what I’d written for the Sevenfold Sanctuary in the other routes. The gameplay of the Revelation iteration offers nothing really to speak of, lacking either Conquest’s class and skill-themed rooms or Birthright’s power jump. The Rainbow Sage uses an alternate old man sprite initially to make it less obvious that he’s repeating the same trick he pulled in Birthright, but his exposition at the end is worth the trolling for finally confirming that he is indeed a dragon and giving us the obligatory Fire Emblem name drop. Fates’s cosmology reveals itself to borrow mostly from Jugdral of all places, though I’ve never yet seen anyone try to piece together the scattered hints of worldbuilding to link the twelve dragons of the two settings. I’m certainly not going to attempt it, because even with divine weapons and draconic-blooded families in the mix there’s remarkably little to conclude definitively that the First Dragons of Fates are/were the dragons that appeared to Jugdral’s Crusaders. My pet theory aligns it a bit more with Tellius because of certain other observations about Fates’s setting and because something is going to have to connect the dragon laguz to the rest of the series’s lore eventually.

Chapter 16 + 17

I’ve been pretty down on Revelation thus far, and at first I was fully prepared to rip into these two chapters in similar fashion...and then I finished playing through them and changed my mind. If I had to pick one moment from FE14 to represent in miniature the beautiful mess that is this game, with all its inventive concepts and missed potential, its stirring emotional moments and lazy copouts, I would choose these chapters. In spite of everything they nail the very best of what Fates offers on an emotional level, and as a midgame climax they land almost as well as the Branch of Fate lands as an establishing moment.

And yet there’s so much wrong with them! Hans and Iago have never been flatter or more inconsequential antagonists; note that before this point in Revelation they’ve done nothing aside from knock Gunter off a bridge and use an illusion to piss off the Wind Tribe. The Ryoma/Scarlet angle is abruptly dialed back to the friend zone, presumably to make it okay for the Avatar to bone them, while Hinoka abruptly joins in the action after having been forgotten about for eleven(!) chapters bar one throwaway mention in Chapter 13. Xander and Leo’s apparent betrayal of Nohr has little bite to it even from Iago as Garon might as well not exist by this point, and their retainers fail so hard as backup I almost always just send them to a corner to wait out the battle. Speaking of which, the trend of underleveled units reaches its zenith, here where maybe four of the eleven units obtained in these chapters can reasonably be used without grinding after this point. It’s even worse than the torrent of garbage units the Archanea games throw at you, because at least those sometimes come with nice stuff in their inventories (hence the “Free Silvers” tier jokingly used on some of the DS tier lists back when those were popular). And to cap it all off the ticking timer that’s been running from Chapter 7 up until this moment, of the skies over Hoshido and Nohr switching as the moment that the portal to Valla will close, makes no sense either (meteoro)logically or narratively except to add unneeded urgency and entice a few of the characters to the Canyon. For that matter, since Revelation appears to take place in the same time frame as the other two routes it’s baffling that this bizarre bit of worldbuilding goes unmentioned in them. Wouldn’t it be kind of a big deal for Nohr to get a normal sky every few decades, and for Hoshido to get a bad one?

But somehow despite all that when the Nohrian brothers show up in Chapter 17 and the music switches to “A Dark Fall” (quick aside, but one thing I love about Fates as a whole is its soundtrack) I fully got what the developers were going for, and to see all the royals finally interacting with each other - something sorely missing from Chapter 6, if you recall - and calling a truce to face whatever awaits them in Valla together just sealed that feeling. The Hoshidan and Nohrian contrast to these two chapters followed by a scene of Corrin’s families united for the first time really sells the main draw of Revelation, even if for some of them the buildup to that moment was rushed (Takumi, Camilla) or just not there at all (Hinoka). Yeah, it comes with the distinct aroma of Avatar-centered plotting like everything else on this route - as Ryoma actually points out in Chapter 16, funnily enough - but even though some of the particulars are undercooked and most of the circumstances are downright silly I can completely get on board with this group of people in this moment banding together to, uh, jump off a bridge before an interdimensional portal closes because the sky is changing color and...ugh, never mind.

Chapter 18

I will say this for Valla: I really enjoy its visual style, a sort of supernaturally-ruined pastoral idyll that resembles nothing like the world above. It also helps that it’s not tied directly to any real-world cultures like Hoshido and Nohr are, and its nods to Middle Eastern, Indian, and exclusively in localization (I think?) Greek cultures come across in the series’s more typically understated fashion. Of course that otherworldly quality lends itself to more frustrating map mechanics, so it’s not entirely a positive. This one isn’t so bad provided you’re fielding a bunch of royals to activate all the Dragon Veins - and really, it’s not as though the player needs another excuse to use them to the exclusion of almost everyone else.

But of course the big moment of this chapter is Scarlet’s death. The bit with the flower is a painfully obvious hint to recall when it comes time for the reveal of her killer, but nevertheless the sequence does well despite that and some awkward staging with battle models. What doesn’t work quite as well is the reintroduction of the Ryoma/Scarlet angle just to add more punch to her death...completely ignoring the possibility that Corrin might be married to either of them (and Scarlet just undergone what had to have been one of the most hyper-accelerated pregnancies in all of fiction, if you want to be really sadistic). Because of their earlier buildup this may be the most egregious example of Fates needing to ignore its own support mechanics for the sake of the main plot. In any case, if Corrin didn’t shack up with one of them the scene after the chapter is pretty solid. I consider it comparable to Lilith’s death scenes on the other routes, since she also dies taking a hit for Corrin, but as the circumstances are less random and Scarlet actually gets most of her characterization outside DLC it’s much more effective overall.

Chapter 19

Enter the strange child with the oversized forehead. At least it’s not immediately obvious that’s he’s evil, I guess?

It’s interesting to note that the Valla chapters are structured almost as a route unto themselves, having to establish a new set of characters previously unseen in Revelation and not seen at all in the other routes. Although in terms of gameplay they function more like an extended endgame in the vein of Radiant Dawn’s Tower of Guidance, bizarre architecture and all. I’ll be talking more about Anthony and Arete and the others later on, but I wanted to note the setup for when I talk about it in the next post. 

The intro to this chapter also delves into a bit more of Fates’s cosmology, specifically its deified dragons. Xander asks what only Iago thought to question in Conquest, namely why Garon would worship Anankos and not the Dusk Dragon, only to get the obvious but still technically necessary reveal of Garon’s true nature. I do like that the First Dragons are vague enough in their presentation that I could believe either that the Dawn and Dusk Dragons are just different interpretations of Anankos or that they’re all separate entities. As I recall however this is somewhat muted by the knowledge that the emotional payoff re: Garon is going to be rather muted when it finally happens, so this really is just more vague worldbuilding. 

Oh, right, the chapter. It’s Conquest 15 with a bigger party and entirely too many items drops on the optional path. Why the developers think the player needed so many items thrown at them in a game with no durability and a route with no shortage of funds I’ll never know.

Next time: Revelation Chapter 20 - Endgame

[outlawgossips]

give us your other ot3s! we've heard enough about sage rio and leo

my biggest ot3 right now is probably serghei, his salmon puffs and mai ! speaking of a dream threesome, though, i think mikaela, cassandra and elise could run this town to the ground if they wanted. i know i would let them run me over any day !