#selves more than their carefree love

[justaz]

this got longer than i meant it to so im putting it under the cut

merlin and morgana watching arthur and gwen be The Couple in camelot. they are heartbroken, jealous, and tired- no, exhausted. they've arthur and gwen for years and fell madly and hopelessly in love with them (respectively). however, they care for the both of them and if they’re happy together then merlin and morgana will simply bite their tongue. besides, its not like their feelings are reciprocated so there’s no use in stirring up trouble.

but the pain eats away at them until they are shadows of their previous selves. merlin is quiet and demure while morgana’s lighthearted snark is growing harsher and harsher. it comes to a head when morgana makes a scathing remark to merlin about his feelings. before, her comments had been directed at others, arthur more often than not, but never toward merlin. they were in the same boat so why would morgana target him?

but she did and things get a little tense. then merlin finds a spell and shows morgana and the two of them, utterly exhausted and desperate for an end to their agony, agree to take part in the spell together. merlin concocts the potion and they both down it. the next day, merlin and morgana are as happy as can be. it was a startling 180° from the morose and downtrodden duo they had been not even twelve hours before to the happy, on cloud nine, nothing is wrong with the world people that hummed as they danced around the castle

merlin and morgana exclaim to one another how freeing it is to not feel such a heavy burden of unrequited love. they mention how easy it is to breath. how they haven’t been this happy and carefree in years. of course, like everything else, there comes a price

to be rid of feelings like love, the opposite feeling would take it’s place. a lot of people believe the opposite of love to be hate, but it is in fact indifference. it starts off slow where gwen makes inside jokes that morgana cant remember. then it moves to them having trouble remembering arthur and gwen’s names. then their memories begin to rewrite themselves to remove arthur and gwen from their minds. eventually, they roam the halls, arm in arm, without even a glance at either arthur or gwen bc they cant find it in themselves to care about these two random strangers. who would?

arthur and gwen go to gaius who has already noted their odd behaviors and has been looking into it. the rest of the knights join them in gaius’s chambers bc they had also noticed how weird they were acting. lancelot is quiet and brooding until arthur pushes him to confess what he knows.

lancelot tells them how he fell for gwen the first time he had come to camelot. she flushes and arthur seems upset but lancelot continues. he tells them all how despite, or maybe because of, his love for gwen, he let her go to be with arthur bc she was happy with him. he hesitates and gwen encourages him. lancelot mentally apologizes to his two magical friends and spills the beans. he explains how morgana has loved gwen for years and how merlin has loved arthur for years. the three of them had bonded after arthur and gwen were engaged about how much it hurt watching the person you love be happy with someone else.

slowly, he pulls out a vial filled with glittering, dark red liquid - dark like blood. he hands it to gaius and explains how they had come to him a few days ago with that and said how it would cure his pain. it would wash away his love for gwen so he wasn’t crushed under the weight of it. he says he never took it bc he didn’t think it was right but merlin and morgana had already taken it. he wasn’t sure what the side effects were going to be until he saw them that afternoon.

gaius finds what the potion is and explains how it did in fact wash away their feelings of love for arthur and gwen and with the absence of love, indifference took hold. he wasn’t sure if their missing memories could be attributed to the indifference or if the spell took to wiping the memories to prevent the love from regrowing.

arthur and gwen are quiet, guilty and upset that their closest friends were going thru such turmoil and they weren’t aware at all. leon clears his throat and asks how to cure them. gaius grimaces and read the book a bit more before responding that a counter potion would do the trick, it would neutralize the previous potion by bringing back their memories and feelings. arthur is quick to agree but gaius interrupts that once the counter potion has been administered, everything will come back at once. everything.

they question him and he explains that every memory, every word spoken, every touch, and every feeling from the past 7+ years will run through them at the same time. considering they’ve been dealing with unreciprocated love and watching the one they love be with someone else for the past couple of years, it wouldn’t be that farfetched to assume that they would look and sound like dying animals. suffice to say, it wouldn’t be pretty.

in spite of the guilt and fear in arthur, he insists that they have to bring merlin and morgana back. he doesn’t want to put them in pain but he cant just let them wipe themselves away and continue on with his life as if he didn’t just lose his best friend and sister. they spike merlin and morgana’s wine with the potion and, as gaius predicted, merlin and morgana both drop to the floor, screaming and crying in pain, pleading with anyone to make it stop and take the pain away.

gwen hides her tears in elyan’s shoulder, arthur uses his long taught skill of being an Emotionless Prick of a Prince his father taught him to not cry. the tears stay in his eyes and do not fall. a few minutes later, merlin and morgana are both catatonic on the ground, limp and staring at nothing. their breathing is slow, so slow they almost appeared dead.

lancelot and gwaine help merlin up and take him to his chambers while leon and percival do the same for morgana. no one mentions what happened and merlin and morgana stay locked in their rooms for two days before being able to get up out of bed. they aren’t back to their shadow selves from two weeks prior, nor are they the happy go lucky duo from the past few days. instead, they are slow and quiet and barely even there. they’re barely even people anymore. simply going through the motions.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

I know I'm just dreaming, but I am having hope of seeing Crewel in his NRC era being released as a Chapter 7 card. Or maybe slightly100-years-ago-ish younger Crowley? Having faculty cards are making me dream of seeing their past selves in Chapter 7 and also their cards...

Yeah, I think based on the lack of staff inclusion in Idia’s video presentation + power balancing reasons we probably won’t visit the dream of the staff and wake them up. (I talk more about the concept there!) A shame, because it would be really interesting to see!

I know student!Crewel is a popular one (y’all love the wild types, lol) but I’d personally be interested in seeing young Trein. Like… did he always have the resting bitch face as a teenager too? How did he meet his wife? And make a familial contract with Lucius? Could we see his daughters? There’s a lot of ground to cover there.

It might also be interesting to see Vargas’s past, since we went to a completely different school and could give us more world lore. Sam’s dream could also be informational since I believe he travels a lot and has connections all over to get his goods.

… Would Crowley really have been that different 100 years ago, seeing as how Lilia doesn’t seem to have visibly aged for a few hundred years? Maybe his personality may have changed, but I’m not sure of it myself 🤔

I want to point out that this idea hinges on the idea thaf the pasts of the NRC staff are their “happiest times”, and I don’t think that’s always the case. An adult could yearn for the carefree days of their youth, but I get the sense that they’re also quite satisfied where they are now. I guess it’s probably easier for Malleus and his magic to manifest things based on the past and present rather than the far-off future though… He’s not exactly accepting of the concept of things “moving on”.

Related to the idea of there being alternate staff cards, there’s a theory circulating in the JP fandom!! It states that since the names for Crowley and Crewel’s cards include “ver” (as in, “version”), it could signal future Crowley and Crewel cards but different outfit variants. Some examples OP brings up are Crowley’s silly book 4 vacation get-up and Crewel’s monster costume from Vargas Camp 2. It should also be noted that the use of “ver” occurs in Rollo’s card too. If this theory is correct… 👀 Mayhaps…? But make of that what you will! It’s not a guarantee, just fan speculation.

[pianokantzart]

In older Mario cartoons, Mario is oft characterized as idealistic and carefree to the point of being a bit careless, whereas Luigi (especially in The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach) tends to be more grounded, to the point of being a little cynical. The 2023 movie takes a different route (which I appreciate!) but I could see Mario and Luigi changing to be more like their cartoon selves overtime. Maybe Mario gets so confident with his brother by his side that he feels he doesn't need to be so serious on adventures and can fully embrace the fantasy (up until his loved ones are in danger, then he's all business), while Luigi gets comfortable enough with his new life not to be scared all the time but realizes Mario needs someone to keep him from floating off into the clouds.

I really like this, actually.

Mario has finally found his stride in a world where he truly belongs. He's ecstatic to the point that he becomes a little caught up in the thrill, and the additional reassurance of having his brother by his side allows him to get overly confident.

Meanwhile, Luigi is adjusting in the opposite direction. He's been fine with casually following his big brother's lead for most of their life, but now that death/injury is a regular threat he finds himself needing to step up and take the reins more than he'd like.

I've noticed one or two people (understandably) complain that Luigi in the movie relies on his brother too much, but I for one see it as a golden opportunity for character development.

[alexxncl]

‼️NIGHTBRINGER LESSON 40 SPOILERS‼️

masterlist | all lessons | season 2 | season 3 | lesson 39 | lesson 41.1 | lesson 41.2

the end of an era (season 2)

normal and hard spoilers

oh baby :(

see every time i remember how sheltered diavolo is it makes me hate his father that much more. he grew up with everything in the world, but practically nobody to share it with.

diavolo had to have been smart enough to have caught onto the reason behind mephisto's attachment to him at an early age. he might be dense, but he's not stupid. even if he and mephisto did end up becoming really good friends, diavolo knew early on that their proximity was for business and royalty purposes only, and that friendship and a genuine relationship was second to their professional relationship

i feel like this is why he initially thought of the brothers as treasures in regard to status rather than as people, and the mindset shifted to seeing them as treasures in regards to the relationship he formed with them. he wanted genuine connection, but forming a professional connection before a genuine relationship was so deeply ingrained in him that he defaulted to it without even realizing it

...he can't be fucking serious

GET HIM OUT I BEG

he would've done this regardless of the option we picked during the angel's trial i hate it here...can't he take a class or smth instead of experimenting on us

i'm gonna kill him /j

i'm a whore in the game so i technically date everyone at once. but why does he NEVER say i love you back ????? not even in the first game ????????

like ok you're a time demon who shouldn't get attached to anyone and you choose to stay unattached bc you'll lose everyone anyways blah blah blah but at least indulge me a little bit 💔

SOBS UNCONTROLLABLY I LOVE THEM

i feel like they know this is their last goodbye yk? obviously barbatos does, but this feels very, very final on their part. maybe it's a different version the feeling they have when they go into mc's room, like they can feel mc being pulled away from them physically

what if the end of the lesson or the story in the hard part of the lesson is them portalling back to their timeline and the brothers getting a glimpse of their alternate selves? and then everything clicking into place after mc leaves?

the fact that simeon has as many doubts about his father's intentions as lucifer and his brothers did really solidifies my belief that he wanted to, in the worst case, fall with the brothers. and if he didn't fall, he'd at least have begged for answers as much as lucifer did before the war. he was demoted after the war for helping the brothers in canon, and i feel like he still beats himself up about it because of the side he chose. him and raphael both, but raphael is better at hiding it

(i have a whole post about simeon and michael before the war here)

i've said this about a million times but...

the brothers ever 🫶🏽

they're such shitheads but also extremely concerned i love their dynamic sm

SEE I TOLD YOU ‼️ HE MASKS HIS FEAR WITH ANGER (even though i'm pretty sure this was confirmed in canon in the og game and in nb s1)

him admitting that he was scared though? putting his pride aside and actually talking about his feelings for once? this is proof of how much he trusts mc, how much he loves and cares for them, even if he can't explain why the feelings he holds for them are so strong

it also shows that he's thankful to have someone who will care about and protect his brothers as much as he does, and some of the weight of the "oldest brother" mantle has been lifted. it allows him to be vulnerable and at least a little more carefree, which is why he's seen joking and laughing with his brothers so much more often in the later lessons in comparison to season 1 and early season 2

i feel like i'm SUPOOSED to reach bc why would he phrase it like that ??? i don't think he knows...but he's really intuitive

or maybe this was a way of the devs using him to unofficially-officially send us off and into our original timeline. idk. i'm reaching but they made me

THEY DID NOT

oh i'm really gonna cry...they took what we wrote in season 1 and showed it to the boys

i COMPLETELY forgot we even did this 😭 god i'm gonna cry i love this game sm

I KNEW NO TIME PASSED THANK GODDDDDD

i don't think i'd be able to handle it if the same amount of time passed across realms

i also think this is why they emphasized "time soup" so heavily, you can be put anywhere at any time as if nothing had changed

...i can't believe it's over

...for now at least

well time to read the HDD story and catch up on devilgram

[pursuitseternal]

“Something:” an update to “Our Blood is Thicker,” 🐦‍⬛💞🦇a little something for the Anniversary of BG3

Ascended Astarion x Cordehlia (Tav) | T | 1.6K

Summary: One year since she found her betrothed in her path, Cordehlia reminisces with heartache and happiness in equal measure.

CW: mentions of their past griefs and traumas, nostalgia

Previous Ch | Ao3 link | Masterlist

One year… a full year since that nautilus crashed, a year since she found her once betrothed elven lordling in her path. Had it been only a year since her heart rent itself apart at finding him again and let their love stitch it back together?

It had also been a year, then, since her life hung precariously in the balance, a life and a love deemed worthy of seven-thousand and seven souls to be his eternal bride. The passage of time had taken their hopeful, youthful Star Elf selves and broken them, refined them, and made them into the adamantine weapons of power they now were—The Ascendant and his Consort. It was days like this, when the summer heat was unbearable along the Sword Coast that she longed most for the emerald foliage and canopies of the Yuirwood.

She longed for the carefree playing in streams and knolls, in mud and sunshine. She missed his violet eyes and her star-kissed silver ones, those long nights of pleasure on the mossy banks of the forest, the feeling of their warm bodies moving more fluidly than the streams just beside them.

She missed their parents, the wizened, knowing smiles her father would give, even the subtle looks of approval his mother, the High Lady, would sneak her way when they were alone.

In all her decades of darkness, pursuing countless foes and splashing herself in their blood, she never once felt homesick. Love sick, yes. Grief stricken, yes. But it wasn’t until his love for her thawed the chill of her hatred and pain that she remembered home.

And now, she lived in a luxury not of her own heritage. Her skin was cold and her teeth were sharp. Her heart no longer raced with the pleasure he coaxed from her still, and it didn’t rap against her ribs in battle or flutter nervously when Astarion smirked at her. It was probably for the best that their past was nearly as eradicated as their own hopes for a life among their people.

She knew their village had left, that everyone journeyed to other reaches of Faerûn or other realms after the death of their High Lord and Lady… their murder in the City and the ultimate decimation of their line had been exacted.

They had been robbed of their rulers, their line… and their prince. Astarion.

It was all pain that should have been so easy to forget in their palace gardens. Leaning against the great oak tree at its heart, she sat with her skirts fanned, a book on her lap. This late summer sun warmed her too much; even back home, she preferred the cool caress of shade.

Not like him, her love, her lord. He stood near her, gazing down into the pond that collected the bubbling streams of water from the fountain of pure gold. Opulently, impeccably dressed, his silk jacket and pants caught the breeze making that cream, pearlescent material shimmer in the sun. But the gold and silk, the water or the sun itself, none of it was as radiant as him. His fearsome, handsome reflection no doubt shined up at him at his feet, that rakish tilt of his brows, those full, smirking lips rippling and paling in comparison to their original.

He was magnificent, glorious…. Ruthless to his enemies and adoring to his Bride.

The Vampire Ascendant.

It was a far more intimidating title than a mere elven High Lord. Astarion traded in being a prince for the mantle of a Vampire Lord, his ancestral manor now overshadowed by the walls of the Crimson Palace. His wealth was uncountable and ever-growing, untold powers at his command, gifts from the hells and magic beyond what any of the undead should wield.

It was what he deserved after centuries of suffering. But…

What she wouldn’t give for a blanket spread on their mossy bank in the forest, a single bottle of Ithbank to pass between them, the filtered sun above the foliage kissing their naked skin. She closed her eyes, letting the bark of the oak score into her skin through her waif-like dress. The scents of the forest, of nature, came back with instant recall, that soft gurgle of the fountain barely different in pitch from the stream in the glade where Astarion had taken her—

“Cordehlia,” he breathed her name, lips brushing her right ear. A warm hand on her cheek turned her face into his as her crimson eyes fluttered open once more. “My love,” he purred so tenderly, the warm pad of his thumb caressing the gentle arch of her cheek.”Tell me, what do you desire?” his voice was low, a gentle rumble in his chest as he poured all his love down their bond. “What can I do for my dearest?”

“It is nothing,” Cordehlia smiled softly; pulling him to sit beside her, so close their bodies flowed nearly seamlessly from one to the other. “Just thoughts of…”

“Home,” he interrupted. A subtle smirk tweaked his mouth just enough to show a fang. “It’s been a year, you know, since we defeated the Brain…”

His lips whispered against hers. And she whispered back. “A year since I found you on the beach and nearly trussed you up to gut you, you mean…”

“Oh,” he laughed with a husky giggle, “feel free to truss me up any time just to relive it, my love.”

Cordehlia sank her fangs in his bottom lip, making him laugh properly. “Be thankful I let you live long enough to fall back in love with me.”

Astarion broke from their kiss. Where she expected to see that impish glint, that rakish smirk, Cordehlia only saw purity, sincerity. Love. “I am thankful. Everyday,” his words so quiet, even her keen hearing struggled. “Come,” he stood swiftly, pulling her gracefully to her feet. “There’s… something I’d like to show you…”

Making their way inside, they hurried down corridor after cooridor. That nostalgia only deepened. Memories flashed of how these halls festered in darkness and rotted with wickedness under Cazador. She could still smell the dank of the dungeon, still recall the pain of that bastard’s bite as he tried to kill her…

A year ago. A year that passed faster than a blink of an eye. If time was nothing to her existence as an elf, it was less than nothing now that she was undead.

Now that she wandered the bright scarlet and golden halls of their palace. Now that she held the hand of her Sire, their hearts beating as one as his Bride.

She smiled at the word. Bride.

Feeling her thoughts, Astarion paused at the threshold to their rooms. “Oh yes, my Bride, don’t think I didn’t get you a little something to commemorate our union.”

“Always one to spoil me,” she shook her head, leaning in to taste his kiss once more. A sly smile twisted his lips as they pressed together.

The door creaked on its hinges, opening to reveal their bedroom, bathed in blue green light from their windows. Their sanctuary.

Her gaze instantly settled on the box on their bed, a small wooden chest. A nod of his head, a sparkle of childish delight in his crimson eyes, Astarion pulled her closer to it.

Eager fingers lifted the lid, and Cordehlia’s undead heart burst as if it had stopped beating altogether.

A shining silver war helmet, plates once cracked were soldered back together. Intricate designs of feathers spanned the sides, and a great eagle’s head rested on the crown of the helm. She would recognize it anywhere. She had polished it countless times as an elfling, wearing it in their home to pretend to play soldiers and war… a merry laugh coming from the chair by the fire as he watched on…

“Father,” she choked, her musical voice cracking with grief. “Oh, Father,” she breathed again, reverently stroking the eagle feathers and face that was their namesake, Aquillae. Eagle. That same name shined, etched into the back of the armor: Cassius Aquillae, The Great Eagle. Her eyes leaked the tears she could no longer keep at bay, and two warm arms embraced her from behind.

“Halsin found it,” he explained. “With the Shadowcurse lifted, all manner of relics were found. But he searched with great care for anything of your father’s.” A small laugh sounded in her ear. “My idea, of course. Don’t give the Druid any more affection or credit than he deserves, my love.”

A wet laugh was his reward for his possessive, bratty humor. As always. Astarion reached for the helmet, lifting it out to reveal two more pieces that instantly struck her in the gut.

Sharp pains of grief again. A bright silver locket, inlaid with golden leaves, and a small teal ring, that crest of its signet shining brighter than the gold it was made of. She didn’t need to look closer to know it was a heart and two daggers slicing cross-crossed through it, a pattern of little stars speckling its background.

The Ancunín crest.

His voice was heavy, his own throat bobbing against the back of her head as he reached around to caress the pieces. “Mother’s locket and Father’s ring… I found these in one of… his… vaults in the Counting House. The trophies claimed from Mother and Father’s murder.” Tenderly, he set the helmet back in the box, closing the lid silently. Then, he pulled her stiff, suffering body into his warm embrace. “Those aren’t my gift, don’t you fret.”

“I should hope not,” she forced a aggrieved laugh. “Still it is… good to have pieces of them, their bodies never put to rest,” she whispered into the cream silk of his jacket.

“We are about to correct that,” he smiled into the top of her head, breathing in her scent, wildflowers and moss. “We are going home.”

[misteria247]

Future Rise Leo seeing Future 12 Leo and Future 03 Leo. Seeing how his future in an alternate universe or timeline could have been.

He sees Future 03 Leo, who's been blinded and scarred and who's had a falling out with his two of his brothers and the last one has just disappeared into thing air despite his best efforts. How Future 03 Leo seems more bitter and tired than the present 03 Leo who doesn't carry it with him.

He sees Future 12 Leo, who's been mutated twice, with his body large and full of mutagen from a bomb that had ended up killing one of his brothers and who had caused the other two to become separated. How Future 12 Leo carries this guilt and who has the eyes of a man who once was lost in madness. So different from the present 12 Leo whose not experienced it.

Future Rise Leo looks at them, these future variations of himself and then he looks at their present selves, the three who haven't experienced the horrors that they've faced. Who haven't experienced the Krang completely wiping them out, or the Shredder and his army winning the battle for the city. Who in a way are innocent to just how horrific the world can truly be.

And then Future Rise Mikey seeing Ronin Mikey, and Future 03 Mikey and Future 12 Mikey. Seeing how he could have ended up in another timeline or universe.

He sees Future 03 Mikey, who's the leader of a rebellion, his arm taken from him and his innocence and youth snuffed out by the harshness of the world. Who's lost all three of his brothers. How Future 03 Mikey seems much more grim and serious than present 03 Mikey who's more cheerful and carefree.

He sees Ronin Mikey, who's a wanderer and a disgraced ninja. Who's had his entire family slaughtered by their greatest enemies. Who's full of nothing but rage, guilt, despair and an unrelenting wrath fueled need for vengeance. How Ronin Mikey is a complete stranger to the present Mikey's who are recognizable and chipper.

He sees Future 12 Mikey, who's somewhat lucid and small and frail. Who's lived in isolation for several years, waiting for the phantoms of his brothers to come and see him again when a bomb had torn them all apart. How Future 12 Mikey's scarily similar and yet different from the present 12 Mikey who's been surrounded by loved ones.

Future Rise Mikey sees these younger turtles and sees just how bright and innocent they are. Who haven't experienced the twisted cards that life could deal them. Who haven't experienced a family being brutally murdered by the Shredder's clan or a bomb tearing up their world as they know it. These younger turtles who haven't had the most important things in their lives be torn away from them.

These two turtles see these variations of themselves, see how they could have ended up and they can't help but feel bitter. Because even in different times and places, their futures don't seem to get any better.

It makes Future Rise Leo and Future Rise Mikey wonder if this is their destinies. If this was the unavoidable outcome for people like them, doomed to forever fight and suffer and lose everything they hold near and dear.

It's a cruel joke, the way the world has woven their lives.

[robloart]

I watched the begins≠youth show a couple days ago. I was too busy to talk about it but now I have down time and kind wanna go over some stuff. (I pirated it for the boycott obviously and bc the platform Hybe released it on is ass backwards and weird)

I was kinda concerned that I wouldn't get emotionally invested with the story without BTS there but I really liked it so far. It hits the emotional beats really well. The actors are really good and do a good job bringing their own individuality into their performance while also emulating some mannerism of their respective members character. Enough that I'm reminded of BTS but not too much that makes it feel weird or uncanny.

They changed some things but not too much so far. I think the way the BTUniverse was presented made it much easier to adapt it into a series. But also made it so some characters are just too devoid of their respective members personality. Such as Dogeon. He doesn't feel like Namjoon to me and his actor doesnt resemble him at all I feel like the other actors even just slightly resemble the members but not him and I really don't like it. But What we know of all their characters is only their adult selves after what happens in high school tho so I forgive it but he's the only one I had trouble really vibing with bc of that.

I don't know if theyre gonna include the supernatural elements into the show it seems like it might be a crime drama murder mystery where they deal with extenuating circumstances of their daily lives while investigating the past and how they may be connected with each other. Their was a lot more emphasis placed on yoongi mothers death and what may have lead to it than in the original BTU.

I like the direction but I would have loved the supernatural elements more than just another murder mystery HS drama.

Jins character (hwan) really pissed me off at first but it was intentional ofc. The actor does a good job. His character is quiet and contemplative but cute when he wants to be. Loved the moments between his character and Namjoons (Dogeon) I'ma namjonist at heart and BTU was giving namjin hard ASF.

The actor for hobis character (hosu) is a master at emulating his mannerisms and even the inflection in his voice and his dialect. It was amazing how I immediately knew who he was while I kinda struggled for the other characters until I realized they still had the same last names as the BTS members 💀. Hes cute and acts as a mediator for the group like jhope sometimes does irl. The actor does a good job of balancing hobis sunny personality and his quiet suffering with his trauma and disorder. I think his narcolepsy might still be munchausen's disorder like in the og.

The actor for taehyungs character (jooan) really matched his carefree and playful nature of both his character and taehyung. His smile and facial expressions really remind me of taehyung. He reminds me of how tae portrayed his character in hwarang. They took away his sister so idk if tae(jooan) killing his dad is gonna be something that happens since his sister's abuse was the motivator for it. Again I think it's bc they may have taken away the supernatural time travel elements.

I was worried about yoongis character (cein). I was really hoping they didn't portray him as one dimensional. Just angsty sleepy and quiet. The same way some army's portray yoongi in fanfics sometimes. But I like that they included how cute loud and mischievous he can be with bursts of energy. How reliable and loyal he is. How he cares for ppl with actions instead of words. I think Cein's personality resembled yoongis the most out of any other character and their respective member. The one thing I ABSOLUTELY hated was the implication that yoongi or his character would be uncomfortable with queerness even as a joke. Mr tongue technology himself?? I don't think so. They can miss me with that bullshit.

Haru being a unisex name just like Jimin is so cute. I like Jimins character his actor is really good and nailing the more serious scenes. His story along with yoongis(Cein) was the most compelling to me so far. I like how his trauma is portrayed and even the stigma around it. I like how they put him in charge of the decorations and cake for Cein's birthday like Jimin used to do irl before the company sorta took that over. I don't remember Jimin(haru) having an older brother but fuck him and his mom and dad.

Like I said before Joons character (Dogeon) bothered me the most. He's poor and sad and that's really all there is to him rn and it kinda sucks. The actor doesn't remind me of namjoon at all. His performance is good but the writing for the character is just a bit weak. They also make him more law abiding than he was in the BTU. He acts as a voice of reason to tehyungs (jooan) mischief but I don't really remember him being like that. But again the BTU didn't explore their highschool days THAT much.

Jungkook character (jeha) is adorable. the actor is a minor so I hope ppl take that into account when talking about him and his character. His home life isn't as bad as it was portrayed in the BTU but I think the abuse he faces will obviously escalate. I like the dimension they added to his character. I'm ready to see where this goes for him.

I screamed when I saw Jung sungil as jins(hwan) dad. Very good choice. I loved him in the glory but I'm so prepared to see him as a villain. Also the actors from beyond evil playing jungkooks(jeha) older brother.

Very interested to see where this trail goes with yoongis(Cein's) mom. If Hwans dad did actually SA her and what lead to her death. I was surprised they included that detail. I also have a feeling that Hwan's dads weied issue with Hwan having friends may have something to do with Cein's mom.

There also seems to be a culminating revelation of how the boys were involved in Cein's mom death. They kept showing flashbacks of each boy when some building exploded. I thought it was yoongis suicide in BTU but then they showed both where Cein was during the explosion so it was some other fire and not the fire that namjoon dies in (didn't relaize how many fire related deaths was in the BTU) bc I believe that takes place later when they're older and if they changed that fire to fit the lack of super natural elements then it still wouldn't fit bc jooan doesn't know who Cein is at the time of the explosion. So it must be the fire yoongis mom dies in if not then idk.

Honestly just really looking forward to seeing where this all leads especially if they've excluded the time traveling.

The show also gave me this weird sense of sad nostalgia for hyyh Bangtan. I cried a little seeing them interacted with such simplicity especially Cein's bday scenes bc I was just heavily reminded of BTS and really miss them.

[romchat]

Cinematography of Falling in Love: Fake It Till You Make It (Ep. 6)

How do you film the complicated process of two characters falling in love?

When we talk about our favorite romantic scenes, we often point to the role of great acting or writing in creating that magical feeling all romance fans crave. But cinematography, the art of visually capturing stories through a camera, can also be a powerful tool in conveying that heady but scary feeling of falling in love.

I think a great example of this is the Chinese drama Fake It Till You Make It (FITYMI).

Set against the cutthroat world of Beijing's Central Business District, FITYMI is a story about finding authenticity and connection in an otherwise pretentious world. The show follows two professionals, Tang Ying, an ambitious attorney, and Xu Ziquan, a successful investment banker, as they navigate the social challenges of their high-pressure jobs. Ying and Ziquan constantly pretend to be more sophisticated and carefree than they truly are, and the show uses their characters to offer incisive commentary about the ways modern life forces us to compromise our sense of self in order to "make it."

It's this context that makes FITYMI such a compelling romance: despite the masks Ying and Ziquan wear in their professional and personal lives, they ultimately learn to show their true selves to one another and fall in love. And it's through the show's subtle use of composition, shot size, and camera movement that we not only see but feel the tentativeness with which Ying and Ziquan cultivate this connection. It's a messy mix of one step forward and two steps back, and the show’s cinematography beautifully matches the characters’ gradual shift from a flirtatious and tender yet largely undefined relationship to one of committed love.

I don't think any episode demonstrates this dynamic more clearly than Episode 6.

Scene 1: "When I Felt Tempted By You"

Something that I appreciate about the show's cinematography is how it treats Beijing as a secondary character. Even when focusing on our two main characters, FITYMI often uses wide shots with deep depth of field, allowing us to clearly see the hustle and bustle of city life in the background. These shots help communicate the loneliness and societal pressure always present in our characters' fast-paced lives.

Because of this, let's pay attention to how this urban background appears or disappears when Ying and Ziquan are shown spending time together.

In this scene, we see Ziquan impulsively call Ying after a difficult day at work. He's leaning against the wall in exhausted defeat, the cityscape in the background dominating the other two-thirds of the frame. He's at a low point in his career and feels isolated by his industry colleagues.

Ying knows him well enough to recognize his mood so she offers to meet and commiserate.

We can see their closeness by the immediate cut to a close-up shot with both characters similarly aligned on the left side of the frame.

So when he rejects her offer, the camera quickly reframes and pans around Ying to the other side, signaling her shift in mood.

When Ziquan gently asks why she stopped talking, there's another cut to a medium shot of Ying against a busy street backdrop. They've stumbled upon a sore spot in their more-than-just-friends relationship.

In describing the dating landscape of FITYMI, Director Li Mo has noted that in this world there is:

"An unspoken self-preservation, the fear of being seen truly, the fear of kindness being mistaken for weakness, and sincerity being seen as foolish. Within these layers is the lonely soul of the city, bearing weariness and fatigue with nowhere to vent, craving sincere relationships yet unwilling to open up due to the fear of being hurt." (translation via /u/lollipopdeath)

Ying obviously wants to be an emotional support for Ziquan and yet she's wary about being seen as the weaker one who fell in love first. She begins to retreat as an act of self-preservation and the camera language loses the intimacy of those initial shots.

Ziquan hears the disappointment in her voice and steps into the center of the frame as if sensing this is a critical juncture in their relationship that he must be fully present for. Note how the blurriness of the cityscape background creates a lot of negative space around him. He no longer cares about the outside world; all that matters at this moment is Ying.

Slightly teary-eyed but unable to fully articulate his feelings, he reiterates that he just wants to hear her voice for a bit.

But tired of the games, Ying takes a deep breath and then drops a bomb:

"Forget about that. Let's talk about us. Do you want to know when I felt tempted by you?"

What I love about this moment is that it's a moment of extreme vulnerability but shot from a slightly low angle, giving Ying a sense of empowerment. Low-angle shots can alter the power dynamics within a scene because the upward perspective highlights the importance or magnitude of a character's actions. Asking this question is incredibly brave of her, confirmed by Ziquan's shocked and overwhelmed face.

But when Ziquan doesn't immediately follow her confession with one of his own, Ying once again retreats. Hurt, she claims she was just joking to entertain him and that they can continue being friends. The camera pans and her bitterly smiling face fills the frame as if to build herself up after that blow to her confidence and pride.

The scene eventually ends with a devastating wide shot, Ying but a small figure on an empty bridge. She is still a lonely soul of the city.

Despite the numerous tender and romantic moments they had shared in previous episodes, Ying and Ziquan have firmly placed their masks back on.

Scene 2: "You're Waiting For A Worthy Rival"

Later that episode, Ziquan asks Ying out for dinner and she reluctantly agrees.

As usual, they effortlessly banter about life and love, the scene cutting back and forth between the two as they trade verbal volleys over the hotpot. Their chemistry is undeniable and you can see both reveling in the fact that they've found their intellectual match.

At one point, Ziquan begins talking about the importance of rationality in love, and Ying fires back:

"No matter how time changes, there's one thing that makes women really thrilled. If there's a man who loves her with full passion until he loses himself, until he'd die for her, until he becomes a fool, then that woman would be thrilled, you know?"

Eventually, they settle on the topic of Ying's failed first love.

Like in the previous scene, the show uses increasingly intimate close-up shots to convey the quiet vulnerability of the moment. But this time, there's a dream-like quality to the conversation: the background actors suddenly disappear and the shallow depth of field and spotlight lighting remove any remaining worldly distractions.

Unlike their previous dates that happened against the backdrop of Beijing's busy nightlife, here it's like they're in a world of their own.

As if thinking of Ziquan's earlier rejection, Ying ruefully describes how her first love taught her an important lesson:

"I swore to myself that I'd never enter an uncontrollable relationship nor become the fool who overestimated her charm in love....I should find a rich and cool old man so I won't really be in love. I'll get by with him. When he passes away, I'll inherit all his fortune and enjoy my life in his villa."

Placed in the center of the frame, she speaks directly into the camera and we see a series of emotions play across her face. It's the most revealing she's been about herself with Ziquan.

When he pushes back on the idea of her marrying without love, Ying jokingly asks "Are you jealous?"

Ziquan reluctantly shakes his head but admits:

I've never been so deeply loved by a girl. I'm not jealous--I'm super jealous. Tang Ying, you're not looking for someone out of your league. You're waiting for...a worthy rival."

His close-up matches hers in its composition.

This time, he also took off his mask.

BONUS: shout out to the funniest zoom-in of this entire show.

Seems like Ziquan is well on his way to acting like a fool in front of Ying.

[reinathevocaloid]

How KinnPorsche's Episode 6 Uses The Pastoral Genre To Add Depth And Tragedy

While I have only recently watched the entirety of KinnPorsche, I think I have seen enough fandom content already to fairly confidently say that episode six is often considered one of the best if not THE best episode of the show. It is personally one of my favorite episodes too, along with episode 10. Besides being a major turning point of the series and the true start of Kinn and Porsche's romantic relationship, it also has the excellent symbolism of the cuffs, which physically represent how Kinn had been forcefully keeping Porsche by his side (since Porsche was forced to work as a bodyguard). So, by releasing the cuffs, Porsche was given the freedom to choose to stay by Kinn's side instead of being kept there like a bird (or Phoenix lol) in a cage.

But, while all of these factors have certainly contributed to the long-standing power of episode six, I believe they're not the core reason why people can't stop making gifs, mvs, artworks, fics, and more based on the episode. Something about the episode keeps people coming back to it. A certain tragedy that reverberates throughout the show and makes the season finale more bittersweet than it would've been without it.

Instead of its place within the narrative or its symbolism, the strength of episode six lies within its genre: the pastoral.

For those who don't know, the pastoral genre refers to artworks that represent an idealized version of rural life. In most pastoral works, urban life is seen as a corrupting force, and people can only be healed by going to the countryside and reconnecting with nature. Though this genre is extremely old, plenty of modern works still use this trope. For example, plenty of rom-coms have the protagonist move to a small town from a big city. Besides finding love, the protagonist of these rom-coms is often able to rediscover their true self, which was lost while they were dealing with the stresses, duties, and craziness of the city. Another example of this genre is farming sims like Stardew Valley, which has the player control a farmer that is burnt out by the city and finds a better life in the country.

Although it wasn't their choice, Kinn and Porsche still end up moving from the city to the country in episode six. Similarly to all those rom-com and video game protags, the setting allows the two of them grow closer and fully fall in love. Since their stresses, responsibilities, duties, and roles are left behind in the city, they are both able to reconnect and show their innermost selves. For the first time ever, Kinn and Porsche are truly free, and it shows not only in their carefree happiness but also in their honesty. It's because of the rural setting that Kinn and Porsche finally share their childhood dreams, deepest emotions, and darkest fears.

But, unlike those rom-com protags and video game farmers, Kinn and Porsche cannot stay in the wilderness. One of the most well-known examples of pastoral fiction is Shakespeare's As You Like It, which primarily follows the duchess Rosalind. Similarly to Kinn and then Vegas in later episodes when he moves with Pete to the safe house (which could also be seen as an example of pastoral fiction and also leads to the VegasPete romance), Rosalind and her cousin, Celia, are forced to move out into the countryside after Rosalind's uncle usurps the court. Before leaving, Rosalind meets and becomes infatuated with a poor man named Orlando, who is only poor because his older brother won't give him the money and education he deserves, after he won a fighting tournament (the parallels between Kinn/Rosalind and Porsche/Orlando!!!). While Rosalind is living in the wilderness disguised as a man named Ganymede, Orlando also ends up living there, and the lack of pretenses and social hierarchies leads to the two characters fully falling in love. Like most pastoral narratives, the reprieve from their life in the duchy allows them to find happiness.

But, in the end, this is only a temporary respite. As a twist on the typical tropes associated with this genre, Shakespeare uses As You Like It to point out that the responsibilities left in the city will still remain there even if you leave for a period of time. Eventually, Rosalind and the rest of the court, that also ended up in rural countryside over the course of the play, must go back to the city and resume their duties. Their important political positions make it so they can't stay even if they wanted to.

Like Rosalind, Kinn must go back to the city and resume his duties as the mafia head, and, like Orlando, Porsche must also go back to the city because he wants to stay by Kinn's side. Though the experience has made both the characters stronger (Kinn chooses to trust again and allow more of his inner self to shine through, and Porsche is more resolute and less naive about what's going on around him) and their relationship has truly blossomed, they are never able to reach the same level of carefree happiness that they had while lost in the wilderness because of the pressures around them.

After seeing and experiencing how happy Kinn and Porsche could be, there's a certain note of tragedy that reverberates throughout the entire story that wouldn't have been felt as strongly without the existence of episode six. From the first episode to the last episode, Korn succeeds in keeping Kinn and Porsche in a cage of responsibilities and bloodshed. Even as they have a seemingly fun party on a boat and sweetly pledge their lives to each other at the end of episode 14, it's hard to forget that the main antagonist has won and that our two leads are still trapped by the narrative. Though they are not struggling as much as Kim and Chay, they still have not reached a truly happy ending. This contrasts with Vegas and Pete who have managed to escape the narrative, which is represented in a meta context by literally having their resolution after the credits, and thus have the happiest ending out of the couples.

Though it would still be possible to see Kinn and Porsche's ending as somewhat tragic even without episode six, the episode allows the audience to truly witness everything that Kinn and Porsche had to sacrifice. Everything that they have lost. And that makes episode six an incredibly raw and unforgettable part of the story. (And is probably one of the many reasons why many of us are still hoping for a season two someday lol).

[desmondsprettyface]

Okay here's what I can't stop thinking about tho- and I genuinely can't decide if this is genius and deep or just Riverdale embracing its core wilful ignorance of its own plots-

the WHOLE finale was Betty and Jug reminiscing on 'the way it used to be,' specifically referring to the love triangles, the football, the milkshakes, and the general childhood innocence that makes high school drama seem so important. BUT THAT'S NOT AT ALL WHAT HAPPENED AT ANY POINT IN RIVERDALE!! 👏THAT'S👏 WHAT👏 HAPPENED👏 IN 👏THE 👏COMIC👏 THAT THIS ADAPTATION IMMEDIATELY AND WILDLY DEPARTED FROM AT EVERY TURN!?!!

So the question is: What life is this finale actually reminiscing on? When Betty says "I wish I could go back to the way it was..." is she really talking about the first season of Riverdale? OR is she talking about the genuinely innocent character she was in Archie Comics before Riverdale made her a trauma-stigmata serial killer cult member FBI agent kidnapping survivor sex addict?

The generous reading is that the real finale of "Pop's Eternal Narrative Heaven" is not that they're trapped in Riverdale forever. It's that they finally escaped Riverdale (CW 2017) and made it to the wholesome world of Archie (Pep Comics 1941).

It's specifically in the way Jughead talks about this projected simplicity especially around Pop's that just never existed. You're reminded of that when Jason opens the door to the idyllic world as if to say, "Welcome back! Remember when everything was fun and simple? Because I don't! Because I was already murdered by my father by episode 1! This has never been real in Riverdale!" He's the gatekeeper to the original Pep Comics world not just because he was the first to die in Riverdale, but because his character is more anchored to the carefree milkshake plots of the early 80s issues from whence he originated.

Of course modern Archie Comics have developed along wildly diverse and often dark plot lines, as any comic book still going after 60+ years would. In that sense, Riverdale isn't that far off much of its more recent source texts. But Riverdale has made a point of cordoning the dark plots off from the characters' experience and recollection as the series wound to a close. This disconnect is evident in the unsettling way they all casually chuckle at the horrific details in Archie's poem about the stuff that actually did happen to them. It's like he's recounting something portrayed about them in a comic book instead of the other way around.

I interpret Archie's poem as a kind of metatheatrical catalyst for the Riverdale characters to leave those adapted selves behind as a story about them instead of their "real lives" so they can return to their core selves as Pep Comics characters.

Which perhaps makes the whole thing one big metaphor about post-traumatic dissociation? Anyway, ending on Jughead at the typewriter as he places them all back into their original comic book diegesis fulfills the dream he was deprived of when no one met him at Pop's after graduation. In a show ostensibly about the Archie Comics but which immediately skipped past the low stakes wholesome high school drama straight into murder, it took a main character removing himself from the narrative and rewriting it himself to get them all to the 'real' Pop's where which milkshake they're going to have really is the most pressing matter. In that sense, Riverdale has traced a reverse trajectory in adaptation where characters with little more than hair color, pearls, and a silly hat anchoring them to their namesakes spend 7 seasons working their way back to their source text.

[aspiringwarriorlibrarian]

Really though, what would an “ascended” Team RWBY look like? My guess, more like their pre-Beacon selves if they hadn’t met each other.

Ascended Ruby would probably go back to being sheltered, yes, but she would also avoid friendships like she did at the beginning, before Beacon. Getting attached to people hurt her when she lost her, so let’s throw that out and fight alone. It doesn’t matter if she’s good or happy, just look at the Red Prince. What matters is she’ll fulfill her purpose of fighting forever and ever. It’s better right? You can just be a Huntress. Who wants to be Ruby?

Ascended Weiss would be the same girl who went to school a continent away to avoid the Schnee name, then immediately started dropping it when she wanted things or to try and pull something over others. Selfish, entitled, controlling. Probably someone very similar to her Nightmare version from Ice Queendom.

Ascended Blake would be the girl who grew so disillusioned with the Faunus cause that she ran from it entirely. A girl who will “do good” without thinking of how or why. What is “good”? What is “right”? It gets in the way. Better to just be a human and turn a blind eye to everything complicated.

And Ascended Yang is the girl who not only doesn’t need Raven, but never searched for her for the first place. Why bother with those complicated emotions and family? Why bother with your pain from being a mother too young? Just forget all of that, have two arms again, be the carefree party girl you wish you could be rather than all that strength and love and grief and triumph that you actually are. Why bother with joy or beauty when there’s sadness attached to it? Just throw it all out and live shallow.

[des2dream]

Winx Club Hot Take 5!

I adored The Pixies ever since they debuted in Season 2. I love their designs, I love their names, I love how they contributed to the story and world-building (mainly in Season 2's case), and I love their relationship with The Winx. The idea of having our main fairies have a special bond with these little sweethearts was such a cute idea! Especially with their dynamics. Bloom was bonded with Lockette (The Pixie of Portals) and while Bloom is outgoing, headstrong, and a little hotheaded (insert fire-related joke here), Lockette is shy and a bit of a scaredy-cat. Musa was bonded with Tune (The Pixie of Manners) so Musa's carefree personality contrasts with Tune's conservatism. Flora was bonded with Chatta (The Pixie of Gossip) and because Chatta's loud personality and endless speaking helps Flora come out of her shell, it helped her confess her feelings to Helia. Stella bonds with Amore (The Pixie of Love) who adores Stella while being elegant and poise (the features Stella thinks she has). Techna bonds with Digit (The Pixie of Nanotechnology) who brings out Techna's louder emotions such as excitement. Lastly, we have Piff (The Pixie of Sweet Dreams) who is a baby. While being bonded with Aisha, she brings her comfort by staying near her and is able to chase her nightmares away. The Pixies were great additions to the series and it's cute that they got their own spinoff show, PopPixie!

Then.....Season 6 rolled around! Now, Season 6 had come out around the time Winx Club was approaching it's 10th year anniversary and that meant bringing back a lot of nostalgia but also missing the point of why that nostalgia mattered in terms of the characters. Back in Seasons 2&3 and maybe 4, each of The Pixies had their own personalities and charm to them that complimented their bond with The Winx. Now, Season 6 made The Pixies all act similar to each other which diminishes their bond and when one of the Pixies does show more personality, it flanderizes their former selves. I also have to address the elephant in the room that Digit and Tune straight up got REPLACED by two pixies from the Poppixie series despite the fact that they CAN be seen in The Pixie Village later on during the season. So that means Musa is now supposedly bonded with Cherie (The Pixie of Weather and apparently the richest pixie) and Techna is now supposedly bonded with Caramel or Cara for short (The Pixie of Super Strength). I don't have anything against Cherie or Cara but I wish they had a better opportunity to shine rather than being known as the new girls who replaced two fan favorite pixies. I believe the spinoff does them more justice than Season 6.

I love The Pixies, but they also deserved better! They're so precious!

[themagdalenaotiende]

Task #001 — Personality

MBTI: ENFJ-A (The Protagonist)

People with the ENFJ personality type (Protagonists) feel called to serve a greater purpose in life. Thoughtful and idealistic, ENFJs strive to have a positive impact on other people and the world around them. These personalities rarely shy away from an opportunity to do the right thing, even when doing so is far from easy. ENFJs are born leaders, which explains why these personalities can be found among many notable politicians, coaches, and teachers. Their passion and charisma allow them to inspire others not just in their careers but in every arena of their lives, including their relationships. Few things bring people with the ENFJ personality type a deeper sense of joy and fulfillment than guiding friends and loved ones to grow into their best selves.

Enneagram: One

Ones are defined by their belief that everything must be in order, and by their feeling that they must always be "right." They show great commitment and determination to improve conditions that they find need improvement, and they are forward in encouraging others to improve their performance, too. At their core, Ones are the “model children” of the Enneagram world⁠—dutiful, responsible and perfection-seeking. At the same time, they are idealists, in the sense that they believe they know exactly how to perfect the world and they wonder why others do not see it. Many Ones proselytize about the one true set of rules; the one true course of action; or how things "ought" to be. They are often drawn to positions of teaching, advocacy or inspirational leadership where they can share their vision and seek to reform the world. As teachers, they are creative, exemplary and motivating.

Four Temperaments: Sanguine

The sanguine personality is characterized by a cheerful disposition, lively energy, and a generally positive and optimistic outlook on life. Sanguine individuals tend to be highly social, extroverted, and enthusiastic, often possessing a contagious sense of humor that makes them the life of the party. They are usually creative, imaginative, and tend to be very entertaining. Sanguine individuals are also spontaneous and can be seen as impulsive at times. They have a tendency to live in the moment, which often leads to them being adaptable and flexible in different situations. They tend to be more interested in the present than in future plans or consequences. This trait, however, can also lead to difficulty in maintaining focus, staying organized, and following through on tasks. Moreover, sanguine people are often charismatic and are able to influence and inspire others with their vibrant energy and contagious enthusiasm. Their natural ability to create and maintain relationships often leads to a large network of friends and acquaintances. On the flip side, the sanguine temperament may lack depth in the analysis of situations and can sometimes take things too lightly, even when seriousness is required. This can lead to a tendency towards forgetfulness and disorganization. Their desire for social acceptance and fear of rejection can also make them overly sensitive to criticism. Overall, sanguine individuals are warm-hearted, buoyant, and carefree, bringing lightness and joy to their environments and interactions. Despite their potential challenges, they have a unique ability to rebound from disappointments with their resilient optimism.

The Allignment System: Lawful Good

A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. He combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. He tells the truth, keeps his word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished. Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion. Lawful good can be a dangerous alignment when it restricts freedom and criminalizes self-interest.

Love Language: Quality Time

Your Love Tank overflows with Quality Time. You prize undivided attention from others. Spending meaningful and uninterrupted time together profoundly impacts your emotional world. Whether it’s in deep conversations or sharing experiences together with a loved one who is fully present and engaged, Quality Time conveys that you are a top priority and deeply loved.

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Virgos are always paying attention to the smallest details and their deep sense of humanity makes them one of the most careful signs of the zodiac. Their methodical approach to life ensures that nothing is left to chance, and although they are often tender, their heart might be closed for the outer world. This is a sign often misunderstood, not because they lack the ability to express, but because they won’t accept their feelings as valid, true, or even relevant when opposed to reason. The symbolism behind the name speaks well of their nature, born with a feeling they are experiencing everything for the first time.

[doctornilaybailey]

𓂀 𝙱𝙻𝚄𝙴 𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙱𝙾𝚁 𝚃𝙰𝚂𝙺 𝟶𝟶𝟷 — 𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻𝙸𝚃𝚈.

"What we do in life, echoes in eternity." ~ Maximus Decimus Meridius, Gladiator (2000)

📜The Meyer's Briggs Personality Test: 𝙴𝙽𝙵𝙹 ~ 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚊𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚝

ENFJ (Protagonist) is a personality type with the Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Judging traits. These warm, forthright types love helping others, and they tend to have strong ideas and values. They back their perspective with the creative energy to achieve their goals.

People with the ENFJ personality type (Protagonists) feel called to serve a greater purpose in life. Thoughtful and idealistic, ENFJs strive to have a positive impact on other people and the world around them. These personalities rarely shy away from an opportunity to do the right thing, even when doing so is far from easy.

ENFJs are born leaders, which explains why these personalities can be found among many notable politicians, coaches, and teachers. Their passion and charisma allow them to inspire others not just in their careers but in every arena of their lives, including their relationships. Few things bring people with the ENFJ personality type a deeper sense of joy and fulfillment than guiding friends and loved ones to grow into their best selves.

📜The Morality Alignment Test: 𝙻𝚊𝚠𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝙶𝚘𝚘𝚍

A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. He combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. He tells the truth, keeps his word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished.

Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion.

Lawful good can be a dangerous alignment when it restricts freedom and criminalizes self-interest.

📜The 5 Love Languages Test: 𝚀𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚃𝚒𝚖𝚎

Your Love Tank overflows with Quality Time. You prize undivided attention from others. Spending meaningful and uninterrupted time together profoundly impacts your emotional world. Whether it’s in deep conversations or sharing experiences together with a loved one who is fully present and engaged, Quality Time conveys that you are a top priority and deeply loved.

📜The Four Temperaments Test: 𝚂𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚎

The sanguine personality is characterized by a cheerful disposition, lively energy, and a generally positive and optimistic outlook on life. Sanguine individuals tend to be highly social, extroverted, and enthusiastic, often possessing a contagious sense of humor that makes them the life of the party. They are usually creative, imaginative, and tend to be very entertaining.

Sanguine individuals are also spontaneous and can be seen as impulsive at times. They have a tendency to live in the moment, which often leads to them being adaptable and flexible in different situations. They tend to be more interested in the present than in future plans or consequences. This trait, however, can also lead to difficulty in maintaining focus, staying organized, and following through on tasks.

Moreover, sanguine people are often charismatic and are able to influence and inspire others with their vibrant energy and contagious enthusiasm. Their natural ability to create and maintain relationships often leads to a large network of friends and acquaintances.

On the flip side, the sanguine temperament may lack depth in the analysis of situations and can sometimes take things too lightly, even when seriousness is required. This can lead to a tendency towards forgetfulness and disorganization. Their desire for social acceptance and fear of rejection can also make them overly sensitive to criticism.

Overall, sanguine individuals are warm-hearted, buoyant, and carefree, bringing lightness and joy to their environments and interactions. Despite their potential challenges, they have a unique ability to rebound from disappointments with their resilient optimism.

📜Western Zodiac Signs: 𝙻𝚎𝚘

Element: Fire

Color: Gold, Yellow, Orange

Quality: Fixed

Day: Sunday

Ruler: Sun

Greatest Compatibility: Aquarius, Gemini

Lucky Numbers: 1, 3, 10, 19

Personality Traits

Strengths: Creative, passionate, generous, warm-hearted, cheerful, humorous

Weaknesses: Arrogant, stubborn, self-centered, lazy, inflexible

Leo likes: Theater, taking holidays, being admired, expensive things, bright colors, fun with friends

Leo dislikes: Being ignored, facing difficult reality, not being treated like a king or queen

People born under the sign of Leo are natural born leaders. They are dramatic, creative, self-confident, dominant and extremely difficult to resist, able to achieve anything they want to in any area of life they commit to. There is a specific strength to a Leo and their "king of the jungle" status. Leo often has many friends for they are generous and loyal. Self-confident and attractive, this is a Sun sign capable of uniting different groups of people and leading them as one towards a shared cause, and their healthy sense of humor makes collaboration with other people even easier.

Ruled by the Sun, Leo worships this fiery entity in the sky, quite literally as well as metaphorically. They are in search for self-awareness and in constant growth of ego. Aware of their desires and personality, they can easily ask for everything they need, but could just as easily unconsciously neglect the needs of other people in their chase for personal gain or status. When a Leo representative becomes too fond and attached to their achievements and the way other people see them, they become an easy target, ready to be taken down.

The story of the Lion always speaks of bravery. This is an animal fearless and impossible to challenge, hurt or destroy, their only weaknesses being fear and aggression towards those they confront. Living in a cave, a Lion always needs to have one, nesting and finding comfort in hard times. However, they should never stay there for long. With their head high, they have to face others with dignity and respect, never raising a voice, a hand, or a weapon, bravely walking through the forest they rule.

📜Celtic Tree Zodiac Signs: 𝙷𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚢 ~ 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚞𝚕𝚎𝚛

Among the Celtic tree astrology signs the Holly is one of regal status. Noble, and high-minded, those born during the Holly era easily take on positions of leadership and power. If you are a Holly sign you take on challenges easily, and you overcome obstacles with rare skill and tact. When you encounter setbacks, you simply redouble your efforts and remain ever vigilant to obtain your end goals. Very seldom are you defeated. This is why many people look up to you and follow you as their leader. You are competitive and ambitious even in the most casual settings. You can appear to be arrogant but in actuality, you’re just very confident in your abilities. Truth be known, you are quite generous, kind and affectionate (once people get to know you). Highly intelligent, you skate through academics where others may struggle. Because many things come to you so easily, you may have a tendency to rest on your laurels. In other words, if not kept active, you may slip into an unhealthy and lazy lifestyle. Holly signs may look to Ash and Elder signs for balance and partnership.

[neerons]

Hi ! I wanted to ask. What do you think the MBTI personalities of MK characters are ?

Kazuomi screams ENTP for me.

Yuzu is an INTJ but I feel like he is also an INTP. Maybe an INTX ?

Kei seems to be an unhealthy INFJ.

Boss is an introvert for sure and more of a thinker than a feeler, but I can't tell what his functions are.

MC is INTJ as a spy, but her real personality might be INFJ.

Hi! That’s such an interesting ask, thank you.

First of all, I have to say I don’t know much about the MBTI personalities and only did the test a few times for fun before. I remember doing it while acting as if I were Kazuomi once, and I think I had gotten the ESTP one for him back then.

Kazuomi - ESTP

“ESTPs are energetic thrillseekers who are at their best when putting out fires, whether literal or metaphorical. They bring a sense of dynamic energy to their interactions with others and the world around them. They assess situations quickly and move adeptly to respond to immediate problems with practical solutions.”

ENTPs, from what I've read, were described as being more focused on the future than the present moment? I think Kazuomi would be different since he's more the type to enjoy living in the present moment without necessarily thinking of what's to come. He’s very carefree. But there are other traits of this personality that matches Kazuomi though, so I understand why you would assign him this personality. I’ve read the other personalities that could fit Kazuomi to compare, and I think that a lot of them have similarities but if I had to choose, I would assign him the ESTP personality more easily since it seemed to fit him more in my opinion. He’s a very carefree person who loves to have fun and even live in dangerous situations to feel alive, which is why he loves games where he doesn’t know who will win or lose because it brings him that thrill. He radiates charisma and is always the center of attention, whether he wants it or not.

Kei - INFJ

“They tend to be excellent listeners and are good at interacting with people which whom they are emotionally close and connected. While they care deeply about others, INFJs tend to be introverted and only willing to share their "true selves" with a select few.”

I’ve checked out a bit of the other 15 personality types’ main qualities, but I was still at a loss so I asked a friend and they helped me understand more about the INFJs and INTJs. I started reading some reviews about them, and INFJs did seem to fit Kei’s character a lot (highly perceptive about other people, feel things deeply, have a very deep inner world, interest for the human mind/psychology, can get lost in their own thoughts, etc…). Of course you are right to say he’d be more of an "unhealthy" INFJ. His life as an orphan shaped his personality a lot and it had a lot of impact on how he views the world as an adult. INFJs were described as hard to get to know unless they trust they can confide in you, and I think that side of him is very enhanced. It’s obviously a defense mechanism, but he’s more difficult to read. Of course, he’s very good at reading others and often trusts his own intuitions. He’s the only one to have figured out a lot of things about the MC in a short time, including some of her very hidden feelings and some sides of her real personality, in his Season 1.

Yuzuru - INTJ

“They are innovative and creative, working relentlessly until they have achieved their definition of success. They believe they can achieve the most challenging goals and master any subjects that matter to them. (...) While this is a strength of the INTJ personality, this natural determination and steadfastness can quickly become perfectionism which might take a toll on their personal lives outside of work.“

Strict with themselves, can have trouble being patient with emotional or impulsive people, is very logical and self-assured, strives to create what he imagined in his head at all costs. The INTJ personality does suit Yuzu a lot. I’m not sure what INTX means, but I assume it potentially means he’s versatile between INTJ/INTP? But I do like to think INTJ could at least be assigned to him. It seems pretty spot on. Yuzu has a very organized lifestyle, he tries to be as healthy as possible, but when he creates things, he often forgets to care for himself as he needs to work with the inspiration he has in the moment. He became like Jun when she’s crafting something. Yuzu also has a tendency to neglect his relationships for the sake of his work, and he can be very stubborn when it comes to achieving his creations. Learning that he has someone like MC that he can rely on must have helped him a lot to be more flexible with other people.

Seiichi (Boss) - ISTJ

"ISTJs are practical and no-nonsense, and rarely call attention to themselves. Their clothes and possessions tend to be chosen based on utility rather than fashion, and they have an affection for the classics."

I had a lot of trouble finding something perfect but I think that personality type suits him the most out of all the Introverted and Thinker types? What I focused on was the Boss' sense of justice, his dislike of crowds, as well as his methodological approach when working. ISTJs seem to enjoy having a regular and sustainable routine. Aside from his work as a spy, the Boss does have his very own routine when he can live as himself. I also don't think it's bold to assume that he likes rules as they help maintain safety and fairness for people. I believe this is also why he doesn't particularly like Kazuomi since he loves to break rules. ISTJs are described as liking simplicity and being practical (in that sense, Yuzu is pretty similar to this too). He can take on any persona, so his style being simple in reality does make a lot of sense. He might find it reassuring to just be himself with no extravagance when playing a different persona. Having a classic style naturally makes you stand out less, which is helpful and needed for his work too. ISTJs are also very loyal and committed to their relationships, and actions speak louder than words for them, which is how Boss acts with MC. He has trouble making time for himself and having hobbies, since his work takes most of his time. He doesn't have the luxury of being this way due to his position, so I think MC being there for him helps him relax and find some flexibilty in his life.

MC - ENFJ

"ENFJs are typically energetic and driven, and often have a lot on their plates. They are tuned into the needs of others and acutely aware of human suffering; however, they also tend to be optimistic and forward-thinking, intuitively seeing opportunity for improvement. The ENFJ is ambitious, but their ambition is not self-serving: rather, they feel personally responsible for making the world a better place."

She follows her intuitions, and is often right about them. She doesn't like interpersonal conflict. She's magnetic, altruistic, mystical. She has charisma, passion, and often is a leader in social groups. You mentioned INFJ, but if I had to choose, I’d say she’s more of an extrovert. Due to her job, she sometimes needs her alone time to unwind and respond to her emotional needs but for me, she’s more of an extrovert usually. I’d say the times she likes to be alone don’t reflect her actual personality and makes her an introvert, since she was known as pretty much the popular girl in school, and she also can be outgoing pretty much all the time without feeling exhausted for this reason alone. Unlike the Boss, she’s the center of attention (on missions and in her personal life). She has her "me days" every month to relax and be alone, but I think it’s more of a consequence of her lifestyle while working as an agent. She just needs this day to go back to "herself" and enjoy her hobbies. However, I think this aspect of her personality (Extrovert/Introvert) can be arguable. You also mentioned she could be INTJ as a spy, but I personally think she doesn’t change her personality when she’s a "spy", only when she acts as a different persona, and then again, she could be any type of personality if that were the case. I think she’s pretty much like everyone. When she’s at work, she’s professional and is hard to read (especially with the Boss, since that’s kind of their banter), and when she’s at home or with people she’s friends with, she’s just without any filter.

Again, I could be wrong about these! I tried my best since I’m really not knowledgeable when it comes to this, but it was interesting to see how well the personalities could fit to the characters

Thank you for the ask ❤️

[mollysunder]

Does Ekko ever get sad whenever he compares himself to his alternate timeline selves? Some are living in Zaun without a Silco to tear their lives apart. Some are living a priviledged life, carefree and unbothered. There are even ones that don't live in Zaun, they live in worlds completely different from his own. Some a little slower paced with lower stakes at risk, only a few are even harsher than his own.

At least in every timeline he's never not surrounded by his friends... just never the same combination. I imagine he'd feel relief to know somewhere across time his friends are alive and happy, but he would come to realize that in these worlds they aren't friends the same way, he has a different inner circle (whose own lives are usually in danger) to rely on while they're in the background.

I don't think Ekko's the kind of person to put a lot of value on the divinity of destiny, too much of life relies on taking action for that to be true. Still to see people and friendships in his world that matter to him so deeply to not exist, should at least be affecting. Things that seemed like unshakeable facts in his world aren't true in others. The are timelines where he shines like a star, Zaun has long been independent, and times where Vi and Jinx aren't sisters.

People like Vi and Jinx, attached at the hip with a love that feeds oceans, at best hover around the spheres they occupy when they manage to exist in the same place. Jinx pops up across the timelines more often than he finds himself, sometimes she's happy, she has friends, even has a little ambition. There are worlds where they exist together, but not as friends, and there's no Silco to blame, just time and distance.

Does he ever get frustrated to never know for sure what went wrong? Why he had to lose his friends? Throughout the timelines he can't tell what's a constant and what's a variable. Did the other Ekkos face the same wall? Some must be infuriated as he is? Or are other Ekkos' willing to accept their losses (or lack thereof) to avoid exacerbating the precarious nature of their existence? What futures do they sacrifice to keep the ones they have around?