#stars coining

[oceanic-stars-system]

Reality Checker

A Reality Checker is a headmate who fronts to give an unbiased viewpoint on internal and external situations, as to avoid the stress of beating around the bush. They are not afraid of confrontation or of hurting others' feelings and instead are focused on the reality of the situation.

[nomohmoss]

didn't expect kaeya to get an expy

[swedenis-h]

Aww… anyway! (X)

[hazelnootnut]

Achievement - Strike A Pose! See all of Loop's poses when conversing with them.

Something silly for you guys before I get into the nitty gritty stuff of the AU. I'd like to think that if Loop was a Siffrin from the start, they would get silly with it. After all, Siffrin knows that they're him, so might as well bother the alternate you as much as possible!

[aeb-art]

[Heads or Tails?]

hey, i made up a complicated and heavily conditional craft skill for my post one hat au loop :) i'm gonna describe the skill below, but if you wanna see both what their other craft skills are called and the wip for this, here it is.

Loop calls out to a party member. If the guess is Heads, Loop will attack and if the guess is Tails, Loop will buff that party member.

If they guessed heads and it lands on heads, Loop will attack a single enemy with a powerful attack of the craft type of who they asked. If they asked Mirabelle, it defaults to a scissors attack. This is worth two jackpot points.

If they guessed heads and it lands on tails, Loop will fire a normal attack that deals neutral damage, has a lowered Crit Chance, and gives no jackpot points.

If they guess tails and it lands on tails, Loop will buff that party member's ATK and Luck for three turns and buff their Crit Chance for one turn.

If they guessed tails and it lands on heads, Loop will buff that party member's DEF for three turns, but will also inflict Slow for the same amount of time.

[ilovedthestars]

A thought I’ve been having: While it's important to recognize the long history of many current queer identities (and the even longer history of people who lived outside of the straight, cis, allo “norm”) I think it's also important to remember that a label or identity doesn't have to be old to be, for lack of a better word, real.

This post that i reblogged a little while ago about asexuality and its history in the LGBTQ+ rights movement and before is really good and really important. As i've thought about it more, though, it makes me wonder why we need to prove that our labels have "always existed." In the case of asexuality, that post is pushing back against exclusionists who say that asexuality was “made up on the internet” and is therefore invalid. The post proves that untrue, which is important, because it takes away a tool for exclusionists.

But aromanticism, a label & community with a lot of overlap & solidarity with asexuality, was not a label that existed during Stonewall and the subsequent movement. It was coined a couple decades ago, on internet forums. While the phrasing is dismissive, it would be technically accurate to say that it was “made up on the internet.” To be very clear, I’m not agreeing with the exclusionists here—I’m aromantic myself. What I’m asking is, why does being a relatively recently coined label make it any less real or valid for people to identify with?

I think this emphasis on historical precedent is what leads to some of the attempts to label historical figures with modern terminology. If we can say someone who lived 100 or 1000 years ago was gay, or nonbinary, or asexual, or whatever, then that grants the identity legitimacy. but that's not the terminology they would have used then, and we have no way of knowing how, or if, any historical person's experiences would fit into modern terminology.

There's an element of "the map is not the territory" here, you know? Like this really good post says, labels are social technologies. There's a tendency in the modern Western queer community to act like in the last few decades the "truth" about how genders and orientations work has become more widespread and accepted. But that leaves out all the cultures, both historical and modern, that use a model of gender and sexuality that doesn't map neatly to LGBTQ+ identities but is nonetheless far more nuanced than "there are two genders, man and woman, and everyone is allo and straight." Those systems aren’t any more or less “true” than the system of gay/bi/pan/etc and straight, cis and trans, aro/ace and allo.

I guess what I’m saying is, and please bear with me here, “gay” people have not always existed. “Nonbinary” people have not always existed. “Asexual” people have not always existed. But people who fell in love with and had sex with others of the same gender have always existed. People who would not have identified themselves as either men or women have always existed. People who didn’t prioritize sex (and/or romance) as important parts of their lives have always existed. In the grand scheme of human existence, all our labels are new, and that’s okay. In another hundred or thousand years we’ll have completely different ways of thinking about gender and sexuality, and that’ll be okay too. Our labels can still be meaningful to us and our experiences right now, and that makes them real and important no matter how new they are.

We have a history, and we should not let it be erased. But we don’t need a history for our experiences and ways of describing ourselves to be real, right now.

[goldcleaver]

Phainon will fail Nikador's trial.

Let me explain;

TLDR; Phainon will fail the trial as Nikador will reject him. However, he will be chosen by Kephale to lead the people of Amphoreus to victory. The coreflame of Nikador will instead go to an unwilling Mydei.

Soooo, Phainon is off on a big adventure trying to claim Nikador's divinity after surrendering their coreflame to the Vortex of Genesis since the ambassador of the prophecy doubts his strength of will. I'm here to tell you that he will fail this trial in some shape or form.

Throughout the trailblaze mission, Phainon proves on multiple occasions that he worries about those he cares about constantly. Obviously, the best example of this is how desperately he wants to help Mydei fight Nikador. When he's denied, and sent to discover Nikador's weakness instead, he spends the next couple of hours in-game yapping about how much time they're wasting. He's worried out of his mind, and the rest of the cast picks up on it all the time.

Not only that, but he doubts himself. Something troubles him ahead of surrendering the Coreflame to the Vortex, which both Castorice and Dan Heng notice. He seems to have no qualms about admitting it, but he clearly can't shake whatever it is making him falter. 

While there is nothing explicitly stating what he's worrying about, the possibilities are endless. Prior to being chosen by the prophecy, Phainon was fuelled by his desire for vengeance, described by Castorice as being a "hollow shell". She questions whether or not his new mission takes priority over his desire for revenge. Similarly, Mydei says Phainon's fear holds him back, and that his resolve must be toughened if he is to withstand whatever Nikador throws at him. Phainon evidently wears his heart on his sleeve, and it's a very troubled heart.

What this shows is that Phainon is not ready to dedicate himself entirely to the fight, which Nikador demands. Nikador uses extreme violence to extinguish strife and war to maintain the balance of Amphoreus, which currently doesn't quite line up with Phainon's character. He is more inclined to using violence as a way of defending and protecting people.

Now, that's not to say that Phainon has nothing to do with Nikador at all. He seems to be a figure the people can rally around and follow into battle, much like Nikador. However, I don't think this is enough to see him through his trial.

So, while Phainon will be rejected by Nikador on account of his fears, he will instead be chosen by Kephale.

Phainon is the Deliverer. This isn't just a silly nickname given to him by Mydei - it's his role in the story of Amphoreus. When he has overcome his own struggles, he will lead the people and the Chrysos Heirs through the crisis and towards a new dawn. In Aglaea's own words;

Now, what exactly she means by this is unclear, but it gives me an uneasy feeling. The only miracles we have seen so far have all involved looking back in time, which Phainon currently cannot do. However, Aglaea's words are eerily similar to those describing the legend of Kephale's return in the Tides of the Basin. Here, Kephale leads the people to victory against the black tide, which seems more fitting for Phainon's character.

So, Phainon will be chosen by Kephale, whether that means receiving their Coreflame or assuming their identity, or perhaps he already is Kephale, in his own way.

This is not only conveyed to us textually via foreshadowing within the story itself, but it is also communicated via visual design. Phainon's design is positively littered with Kephale's symbol and other sun-related imagery.

I can spot at least 12 instances of Kephale's symbol or sun motifs in his design. That's no coincidence. In comparison, the only real reference to Nikador is the fact that he wears white, which Nikador also does, according to the information provided via the Tides of the Basin.

But if Phainon won't get Nikador's divinity, then who will?

Well, the game basically shoves the answer in your face; Mydei. He's the prince of Castrum Kremnos, he has some manner of bloodlust, and he has no reservations about using violence as a means to an end. On paper, he's the perfect candidate, which Phainon states to Aglaea. However, Mydei has refused the Coreflame. He has done so implicitly, as well as explicitly, to both Phainon and Aglaea. He doesn't want the Coreflame, nor the divinity that comes with it, because he's afraid of leading his people down the same dark path as his predecessor. Seemingly, the only reason he wanted to deliver the final blow to Nikador was for bragging rights.

Thus, something has to change drastically for Mydei to not only be offered the Coreflame, but to accept it. What this will be, I have no idea, but it will start with Nikador spitting Phainon back out without making him a demigod.

And if that wasn't enough to convince you; they are literally associated with these Titans in-game:

In their respective entries in Amphoreus' Saga of Heroes, Phainon is depicted with the symbol of Kephale, whereas Mydei is depicted with Nikador's. Whether this is an oversight on hoyo's behalf or a not-so-subtle attempt at foreshadowing, we will likely never know, but it's interesting food for thought.

Now, this isn't some earth-shattering revelation, nor is it some super deep character analysis, but it will be super interesting to see Phainon's story unfold. His character development has the potential to be some of the best stuff hoyo has ever written if they manage to pull it off. 

[guided-by-stars]

Everyone always talks about Twohat, but nobody talks about Onehat...Of course it's less narratively satisfying, but I think it's fascinating anyways.

Since Onehat and Twohat are set at the same time, Loop hasn't vanished just yet. They're probably hiding in the tree, watching as all of this happens. They never trusted Siffrin enough to leave their own silver coin for them to take, but Siffrin gave up one of the most sentimental object he owned, one that reminded them of their shared homeland, in a ritual also from their homeland, to give Loop something to remember him by.

When Loop asks you to guess what they are, one of the options is "A ghost?" if you pick that, they say that the Favor Tree is their grave. Siffrin leaving a coin on the roots of the Favor Tree mirrors that. They truly understand each other. What was Loop thinking, watching that?

[false-savior]

we are going to beat you to death

au by @ashleys-doodle-corner

[justanotheryellowsoul]

Change

Get it? Because it's pocket change? But it's also Loop staring at their reflection because that isn't who they are anym

[oceanic-stars-system]

Truecrimexenorole

Truecrimexenorole is a xenorole where a headmate's role is best described by or is somehow related to true crime.

[cherrydoll39]

Usakumya coin purse (2016) and kamikaze girls book by novala takemoto

[kazumist]

THE WAY YOU LOOK AT ME .ᐟ

✩ — includes: aventurine x gn!reader. fluff. no cws. wc: 359. idk aventurine is probably still in denial abt his feelings in this i think. you could interpret this in any way you like tbh LOL. i grew a soft spot for him after finishing the recent penacony quest and had a huge revelation in the car that this song (the title of this post) really suits a guy like him imo. or maybe im just delusional who knows?

Aventurine couldn’t seem to grasp why you tend to look at him with such a loving gaze.

There’s just something in the way you look at him—like he’s safe. Accepted. Loved, perhaps. It’s been so long since he felt loved—he practically only had himself, even when he had the IPC by his side. However, when you came crashing into his life, maybe that was when things started to change.

The fact that Aventurine liked to gamble with his very own life didn’t shock you. Nor scare you. And it certainly didn’t make you distance yourself from him. But he still doesn’t get it. Why? Why do you look at him like that? Why do you look at him like he’s the only thing your eyes would choose to focus on? Like he’s the only one you’d care to look at?

Calming, soft, and full of admiration. Those were always the things that Aventurine could notice whenever he looked you in the eye. It scared him at some point because he wasn’t used to this at all. But as time went on, he just grew to accept it. If he could freeze a moment in his mind, it would be the second your eyes met his. Because that’s when Aventurine feels like he could let his guard down, at least for a moment—when he’s with you. He would stop the clock if he could, for that’s all he wanted to feel.

(To be safe in your presence is the last thing he asked for, but he wouldn’t ask for anything more.)

Sometimes, he tends to wonder. How could a simple look in the eye have such an effect on him? Surely there wouldn’t be some scientific explanation behind it (and he doesn’t even bother trying to ask the doctor about it either). Well, he doubts he will get an answer right away. He doesn’t know how or why he feels different in your eyes. Nonetheless, all he knows is that it happens every time.

Aventurine never understood why you would choose to look at him with such emotions swirling in your gaze, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

[hazelnootnut]

ACT 2 "You're... me?" "That's right, stardust!"

You know I've been drawing Loop as their Siffrin form so much that it's got me thinking. I've read and seen so many fics and artworks of Loop eventually getting back to looking like their old self, but I don't think I've seen any so far of Loop already being a mirror copy of Siffrin. So uh, yoink?

ISAT AU where the game plays out the same way (plot-wise at least) but Loop looks like Siffrin the whole time and while Siffrin is extremely perplexed that there's another him, he's still gotta accept their help because how else are they supposed to escape the loops? Good ol' Loop is here to help, helpful friendly Loop!

Siffrin is going through it still but Differently.

[wanderlust-in-my-soul]

“It was an intense embrace, no awkwardness, no holding back, the kind of hug two people can only achieve after long intimacy, but anyone can give in an instant to a stuffed bear.” ― Ada Palmer, Seven Surrenders

To My Star 2

A Boss And A Babe

Minato Shouji Coin Laundry

You're My Sky

My School President

Don't Say No

Semantic Error

The New Employee

History 2: Crossing The Line

Gaya Sa Pelikula / Like In The Movies

Favorite hugs (Part 3/?) as part of my favorite bl-tropes collection, as always in no particular order.

[aeb-art]

i was trying to figure out what nicknames loop gives the party post-canon and @therenaissancedungeonmaster helped me brainstorm! i started tearing up making this one ngl