#strong riposte (ic)

[cutestrival]

In the aftermath of the destruction brought to Garreg Mach's doorstep, Shamir finds herself reverting back to even the most basic of survival instincts-- and first on her list is to take stock of everything that the stragglers have managed to compile in the way of supplies. They certainly don't have access to the same arsenal that they did before, and the fact of the matter remains: if there's no forays out to acquire more food, water, and first-aid items… then their inventory will dwindle quickly.

The flickering of flame on her torch is all that remains to light the darkness of a winding corridor lined with various wooden crates; not many, not enough. Her lips thin as she walks past each other, the lids cracked open to reveal that there's hardly anything inside in the way of useful contents.

A shiver runs up her spine as a presence behind her immediately alerts her to the fact that she's not alone-- and there's zero hesitation as the mercenary spins around on her heel. Shamir's already torn her hunting knife from its sheath on her thigh, and she tosses the torch to the side as she lunges forward to slam into the silhouette not far behind her. There's time for caution and time for initiative; judging by the fact that they just suffered a vicious defeat, she can act first and ask questions later. When she knows her safety (and the safety of others) is secured.

The two of them tumble to the hard ground, a grunt coming out of her as she straddles the waist of her assailant. The sharp edge of her trusty knife rests against the side of their neck as more of a promise than a threat, and the blade presses just hard enough to send a stinging sensation. Her free hand remains to pin one of the other's arms down, and Shamir leans forward far enough to make sure that they aren't going anywhere without a fight.

But… realization quickly dawns on her that this isn't one of the creatures she fought at the monastery. Despite that, however, she doesn't loosen her grip.

"What're you doing sneaking around here? Not a great idea to remain in the shadows when everyone's on edge, you know."

While kicking around dust is absolutely what she wants to do, Selena obviously can’t be seen looking so lethargic. And so, in a pursuit for mild entertainment, she makes the rounds of their dingy little bunker, taking stock of this and that. For the most part, it’s just moss and mold. The sound of lids rattling atop crates down a dark corridor does spark her attention, though.

Someone’s moving in the dark. Rummaging for supplies? Or, an intruder? Her eyes strain in the darkness to no avail. She sets one step forward,

and that’s as far as she gets, immediately tackled and dominated in a whirl of blades and paranoia. A yelp manages to escape from under her captor. Winded, flushed, and infuriated at her failure, she coughs up her lungs and tries to make sense of what’s happened.

“What the hell…What’s…what…” What’s wrong with you? The knife at her throat makes grave a situation where she might once have told someone off. The numbness that pervades her arm at her shoulder is familiar, and frustrating; it's the embarrassment of losing a duel. Meaning, surely her assailant is an ally, surprised…? If it were an enemy, surely Selena would already be dead.

Whatever! That wasn’t even fair…

!“Wait, wait,” she coughs, searching the dark hair hanging over her for any humanity. “I’m Selena…from Garreg Mach. I’m a student…” The prick of the knife once again forces her thoughts to trail. With the last of her energy, she faces forward (upward?) and seethes, “...stupid!” She writhes on the cold stone, trying to wiggle out of her captor’s clutches. “And anyway, what were YOU doing, sneaking around, huh? I should have my lady rip you to pieces for trying to steal supplies! So let...me…GO!” But for all her struggling, her pinned arm and surprised tackle keep Selena stranded beneath her.

[cutestrival]

I'm fuming even just READING this. When will people learn to mind their own business! UGH! I used to have a problem like this, but I quickly developed a remedy for annoying, ignorant fools like that. Plant your heel firmly, then kick with your other leg straight up at their groin. If they're still insistent on your company, the best follow-up you should grant them is your knee.

SERIOUSLY PISSES ME OFF. Call me

This guy has been meeting me after my office hours for a week now, begging me to go to lunch with him. How do I tell him I'm not interested and that I think his headband looks dumb, in a way he'll understand?

.

[cutestrival]

Her steps are wobbly as she approaches, the half finished drink not her first of the night. New year, same reliable friends and allies. Camilla was determined to show her love and appreciation for all who had served in Nohr.

She was of course, especially appreciative of the retainers who served her.

"Selena darling." She smiled as she pulled her darling retainer close. "A very happy new year to you, and many more to come." Gently Camilla cupped the girl's cheeks and placed a bruising kiss upon her lips.

Her lady’s taste smothers her, the gentle sweetness mixing with her usual scents, vanilla, and rose, and comfort, resting everlasting atop her skin. With the way her face is captured, Selena can’t help but want to give in once more, and let Camilla do what she wills with her. But the contact is short, and leaves as swiftly as it came. Selena’s wanting, now checked at the door, leaves her impatient for more.

It’s impulsive, it’s stupid, maybe she’s tipsy or maybe she’s touch-starved, but as her lady sets her free, Selena raises herself on her tip-toes, her still-puckered lips hoping, yearning, praying. She teeters, and fingers reach for Camilla to keep her upright, but none find a mark; balance now properly lost, she flails backwards…

only to be caught by one strong arm, resting at the small of her back.

Her face properly flushed now, from more than just a sip or champagne, she hangs precariously at her lady’s whims. There is no fear in her eyes, not for lack of trust, no; there is only her one more desperate wish. Her face burns, her exhales scald.  

“K-kiss me again… I didn’t catch that last one.”

[cutestrival]

Camilla smiles as she places the last present in front of Selena's door. She did NOT go overboard at all. Just a few fine clothes, some chocolate, very good wine, wonderful warming face masks...

She maybe went a little overboard... But it was fun going overboard on someone's birthday!

She left the wonderful pile of presents in front of he darling retainer's door and walked away with a smile on her face, knowing that Selena would be pleased with everything Camilla had gifted her.

Having to attend class on her birthday didn’t mean much to Selena. After all, it’s not like the Shepherds nor the Nohrian royal guard had holidays for reasons as menial as that. But still, it didn't stop her being a little grumpy traipsing back to their dorm room. She stomps up the stairs.

Another year gone, huh… Selena was at least glad not to spend it alone this year. She didn’t exactly have many confidants who would throw her a party, or anything - nor did she expect any gifts. If little else, a quiet evening with some nice food and drink would do her soul much good, she thinks, climbing the final stair and noticing a large commotion in the corridor before her room.

Wait…in front of MY room?

Her pace picks up, confusion beginning to prick at her expression. A small mountain of boxes and items had somehow piled themselves in front of her door. She recognized a few of the packages: high-end makeup, expensive clothes, foreign chocolates. Her eyes wander over the treasure trove, curious; until she alights finally upon a bouquet of roses. A smile creeps across her lips, then flowers, blooming genuine delight across her face. 

It had been a long day - a long year, even. Even still, her lady had not forgotten. She'd celebrate a little, then: for her.

[myreia]

wip whenever

tagged by @galadae and @coldshrugs, thank you! 💖

tagging @bearlytolerant, @thevikingwoman, @impossible-rat-babies, @hylfystt, @allaganexarch, @birues & @roguelioness.

I'm lost in an Echo scene from Chapter 5, Aureia's family sucks. ✌️Stormblood spoilers-ish.

Laughter hums on Elgara’s lips and she returns to her paperwork with smooth, controlled movements. Kallias has always been easy to rile up. It is his greatest weakness—and it is easy to exploit.

“That possessive streak will be the end of you,” she says, tutting lightly. “Go about it then, if you’re so inclined. You don’t need my permission. I’m sure the legatuses would be overjoyed to hear of the death of the Warrior of Light. Perhaps if you offer them proof, they would even reward you.”

He snarls under his breath and bites his tongue, his riposte contained.

“Or does the thought give you pause? Do you fear, perhaps, that you aren’t strong enough? Is that why you’ve come here, crawling back to your mother, riddled with doubt and uncertainty?”

“I don’t doubt, I—”

Elgara sets her pen aside and rises from her chair, unfurling to her full height. She towers above her son, casting a long shadow across the observation deck’s floor. “Kira has something you don’t,” she says. “She has had it her whole life, it is what made her unique. Special. An asset. Your father and I sought to tap it, but we did not have the knowledge or the foresight to understand what we were dealing with. But Aulus mal Asina did. He was a visionary. And someone must continue his work.”

Red. Blue. Red. Blue.

The lights cycle, flashing over Elgara and Kallias, casting them into darkness. The solider inhales once more, her breath as sharp as ice. She presses herself against the door, gazing inwards, her form unnoticed in the shadows. A shiver ran down her spine at the mention of Aulus’ name. She recalls him, of course she does. She remembers his youth when she met him near two decades ago, bright-eyed and intense, speaking theories dismissed by his superiors as fanciful dreams at best and psychosis at worst. It was he who first spoke of Echoes and Resonants, of gifting the Garlean people the ability to control aether.

She recalls what he did to Krile. What he did to Fordola… and Zenos, too.  

How his life ended, screeching about data and souls with his dying breath on the floor of the Ala Mhigan palace. Forgotten and abandoned by the prince he had devoted himself to.

His research, as he called it, should have ended there.

Inside the observation room, Elgara approaches her son step by dreaded step. She may be no soldier, and yet she engulfs him. Outmatches him. Outwits him. Kallias is no small man, and yet compared to her imposing height he is so small. So insignificant.

“Don’t you see, Kal?” she says, her voice low and strangely soothing in its intensity. The voice of someone who can lull others into implicit trust by the sheer power of command and self-assurance. “Kira is a liability, but liabilities can be exploited. Her usefulness to Garlemald has not ended. You wish to kill her; I will not doubt your thirst for vengeance, it is more than understandable. But think on it. Kill her and we lose her forever.”

He grunts, the panicked sound strangled in his throat. “Have you forgotten what she’s done, mother? What she—”

“Shh.” She arrives before him and places a hand to his chin. It’s a gentle gesture; on anyone else it would be caring. But on her it is empty, a gesture of inspection and observation. “Capture her and our opportunities are thrown wide. We can reclaim what we have lost, you and I. Theorzen will be a name to be respected; no longer will it be spat upon like the rest.”

He closes his eyes, his expression still.

“You deserve more than the lot you have been given, Kallias. And she can gift you the strength you deserve to carry. The skills and talents that should have gone to you. A transference. A replication. A Resonant of your very own, one derived from the Warrior of Light. With it, you can have your vengeance. With it, you can outmatch even Zenos himself.”

His eyelids flutter and he grimaces, lip curling back. Then he crumples into her and clings, shoulders shuddering with the aftershock of silent tears. In this moment, there is no sign of the operative and the spy. In this moment, he is a child coming home.

It makes the soldier’s blood boil. Lost in her anger, she slips and cracks her forehead against the door, helmet banging against the glass. Her vision blurs red and her knees give out from under her. When she finally clears her vision, she finds herself huddles on the stairwell floor, looking in as Elgara enfolds her son into her embrace.

A spike of jealousy flares in the pit of her stomach. Unwanted. Unneeded. Unexplained.  

She curses her inability to do anything but observe.

Elgara cradles him, a hand resting against the back of his head, stroking his matted hair. “Bring your sister to me, Kal,” she croons. “Bring her to me and I can make it happen. I wish for it to happen. It should have been you all along.”

Kallias stills. His expression hardens, his lips pressed firm together. Slowly, one by one his fingers lift as he loosens his grip. The danger and the malice return, blazing bright in his red eyes. “No,” he breathes.

[cutestrival]

The moment he takes the ring on his finger, Selena is confident she's got him hook, line, and sinker. Looking up at him once again, she finds a mischievous a grin to blindside him with. She knocks his hand away.

"Oh, knock it off! Great Tree Moon's fools, dipshit!"

“Laslow, I…” Selena brushed her bangs from her eyes nervously. Her eyes flitted away from any chance at eye contact. 

“Ever since we were kids, fighting in that wasteland… we’ve lost and found each other again and again.” She gulped down her thumping heartbeats. “And I think…”

Her cheeks were completely overtaken in crimson. She offered forth the same ring that Laslow had given her years ago in Ylisse. A token of a friendship that she now wanted to be much much more. She cupped his gloved hands in her own, and gazed deeply into those sparkling eyes that had captivated her so long ago.

“I’ve always loved you. Oh Laslow, won’t you take care of me until the end of our years?”

This cannot be happening.

Selena, the ice queen of his heart, staring lovingly into his eyes? Naga, who put her up to this!? Laslow swallows, cheeks burning a matching red. She kept the ring all these years? He's touched, truly, but he didn't think she'd carry a torch for him this long--

(Wait, didn't he see her and Lucina together just yesterday? He knows what interacting with a crush looks like!)

He accepts the ring as if in a daze, weighing it in his palm. It's all a joke, right? Part of the spirit of the day?

(He doesn't know why it still stings, a knife-cut just deep enough to remind him it's there.)

Mustering up a silly smile, he slips the ring onto the pinky finger of his left hand. Holding it up, he admires the way it glitters. "My, darling, dearest Selena! How my heart leaps for joy at your confession. But of course I will be there for you, until the universe itself collapses!"

If the words sound strained, he hopes she doesn't notice.

[sorcadh]

For this project, Bobby Baker transformed the Acme Housing Association prefab that she was living in into a week-long sculptural installation that housed an edible family of five: mother, father, teenage daughter, son, and baby. 

Assembled from cake and adorned with icing, biscuits and other baked goods, the family members could be encountered in rooms throughout the house: the baby asleep in her cot, the son in the bath, the teenage daughter listening to the radio in her parents’ bedroom, the father slumped in an armchair in front of the television. The mother was the only mobile member of the family who moved throughout the house but was more often found in the kitchen, where visitors could enjoy a cup of tea from her head, or other soft drinks, and have fresh snacks from compartments in her abdomen. Against a backdrop of walls and surfaces covered in newsprint and magazines, and decorated with icing sugar, Baker performed as hostess. She offered food and encouraged visitors to consume, and thereby dismantle, the family.   

Bobby Baker: ‘For the first time I decided to dispense with the problem of deciding what to wear…I would always adopt a more neutral garb, in the form of a woman’s overall. I liked the fact that it was neutral and yet deeply complex in the ways in which it could be read. Also, it was my conscious female riposte to Joseph Beuys’ macho fishing waistcoat and hat.’ 

Her own work has drawn repeatedly upon domesticity and motherhood, demanding that the viewer see work that usually goes unacknowledged, and has celebrated the apparently mundane or distressing in funny, inventive and exuberant ways.

[raeynbowboi]

The Character Forge: How to Play as Link in DnD 5e

Link is without a doubt one of the most iconic heroes in fiction, which is why I’m excited to work on this build of Link. Now, of course Link has a long history of games where he’s had a wide variety of skills and abilities. So, for this build, I wanted to focus on his most recurring skills and items, and try to find DnD items with similar effects, if possible, to fill out his arsenal. Link is a multi-talented young man who has a talent for many skills, weapons, and items. He’s extremely flexible in what he can work with, and that was a primary focus of this build: to broaden his abilities as much as I could.

The Makings of a Hero

Hylians are clearly some kind of elf. You could make Link a Human or Variant Human if you want, but if it looks like an elf and it hyaas like an elf, chances are it’s an elf. There are a lot of kinds of elf he could be. Hylians are closely connected to the gods and think highly of themselves, so High Elf is a strong possibility. But Link is also something of a wilderness expert, so he could be a Wood Elf too.

Link is clearly good, but where on the goodness scale is a little less clear. He is a champion for goodness and light, so he could be Lawful Good, but he’s also jokingly famous for breaking into random houses and smashing random pots to steal people’s hidden money, so he could fall under Chaotic Good. And that divide could also make him Neutral Good.

As for background, that also tends to differ between game. Sometimes he’s a simple villager, a rancher, a farmer, a knight, an amnesiac foreigner. He’s so inconsistent that it’s better to just give him a background that covers the skills he doesn’t pick up from his build. Top contenders for Link’s background would be Outlander, Knight of the Order, Soldier, Far Traveler, and Folk Hero.

Skills, Abilities, & Items

Weapons      -Longsword      -Shield      -Bow and Arrows      -Bombs      -Slingshot      -Boomerang      -Greatsword      -Club      -Spear      -Magical Rods Skills      -Horse Riding      -Mounted Combat      -Dungeon Crawler      -Puzzle-solving      -Weapon proficiency      -Fighting Maneuvers Famous Items      -Triforce of Courage      -Master Sword      -Hylian Shield/Mirror Shield      -Hero Bow      -Ocarina of Time      -Power Bracelet/Golden Gauntlets      -Zora Tunic/Mermaid Suit/Zora Flippers      -Roc’s Feather/Feather Cape/Hover Boots/Glider      -Hookshot/Longshot      -Gale Boomerang      -Wind Waker      -Pegasus Boots/Pegasus Seeds      -Biggoron’s Sword      -Fire Rod      -Fire Arrow/Lightning Arrow/Ice Arrow/Light Arrow      -Ball and Chain      -Fierce Deity Mask

Get to Class

Fighter     Arcane Archer     Battle Master     Cavalier/Knight     Champion     Monster Hunter     Scout     Sharpshooter

Paladin     Ancients     Crown     Devotion     Heroism

Ranger     Hunter     Monster Hunter

Rogue     Inquisitive     Scout     Swashbuckler

Stats & Proficiencies

Honestly, Link was hard to stat balance at first. I figured his best stat should be Constitution to correlate with a late-game number of heart containers. Link needs to be able to take a serious hit, and he spends most of the game getting a bigger health bar for just that very reason. Aside from Constitution, nothing really stood out as more important, though Intelligence and Charisma can get the shaft a bit, as Intelligence covers mostly book-learning which Link isn’t really known for, and largely in part to being a mute, aside from dancing in the Subrosia dance hall or playing his Ocarina, Link isn’t exactly great with Charisma-based skills. That’s not to say he’s really bad at anything, though. Link is a real Renaissance Man, as he’s good pretty much everything. Which means he shouldn’t have any negative modifiers. But Link is also not the pinnacle of strength, durability, or insightfulness. He needs items to perform feats of great strength, speed, or stamina, and wouldn’t get very far without them, so he’s also not going to be the max in any of his stats either. Rather, he’s going to be competent in Intelligence and Charisma, and fairly good at everything else.

Proficiencies:      Acrobatics      Animal Handling      Athletics      Insight      Investigation      Nature      Perception      Stealth      Survival

Link’s New Toys

    -Bag of Holding     -Triforce of Courage (Banner of the Krig Rune)     -Mastersword (Dawnbringer)     -Hylian Shield (Shield of the Hidden Lord, Shield +3)     -Mirror Shield (Repulsion Shield)     -Hero’s Bow (Oathbow)     -Golden Gauntlets (Gauntlets of Ogre Power)     -Zora Tunic/Mermaid Suit (Cap of Water Breathing, Cloak of the Manta Ray)     -Gale Boomerang (Storm Boomerang)     -Hover Boots (Boots of Levitation)     -Pegasus Boots (Boots of Speed, Boots of Striding and Springing)     -Fire Rod (Necklace of Fireball)*     -Fierce Deity Mask (Mask of the Dragon Queen) *There are items like the Wand of Fireball and the Staff of Fire, but both items require the holder to be a magic user, which Link is not.

Name: Link Race: High Elf Background: Outlander Alignment: Neutral Good Class: Monster Slayer Ranger (6)             Battle Master Fighter (10)             Inquisitive Rogue (4) Base Stats:      Strength: 16 (+3)      Dexterity: 14 (+2)      Constitution: 18 (+4)      Intelligence: 10 (0)      Wisdom: 16 (+3)      Charisma: 10 (0) Saving Throws:      Strength: +9      Dexterity: +8      Constitution: +3      Intelligence: 0      Wisdom: +3      Charisma: 0 Combat Stats:      HP: 200      AC: 15      Speed: 30      Initiative: +2      Number of Attacks: 2      Proficiency Bonus: +6      Passive Perception: 19      Dark Vision: 60 feet Proficiencies and Expertise:      Acrobatics (Rogue)      Animal Handling (Ranger)      Athletics (Outlander)      Insight (Ranger)      Investigation (Ranger)      Perception (Elf)      Survival (Outlander) Skills:      Acrobatics: +8                 Medicine: +3      Animal Handling: +9        Nature: +6      Arcana: 0                         Perception: +9      Athletics: +15                   Performance: 0      Deception: 0                    Persuasion: 0      History: 0                         Religion:0      Insight: +9                        Sleight of Hand: +2      Intimidation: 0                  Stealth: +8      Investigation: +6              Survival: +15 Condition Resistances:        Charmed Immunities:        Sleep Racial Feature: Elf        Elven Weapon Training: Proficiency with Shortsword, Longsword, Shortbow, and Longbow. Ranger Feature: Fighting Style      Archery: Add +2 to attack rolls for ranged weapons. Ranger Feature: Favored Terrain      Forest     Grassland Ranger Feature: Favored Enemy      Monstrosity      Fiend Fighter Feature: Fighting Style      Dueling: Add +2 to melee damage rolls when using 1 one-handed weapon. Fighter Feature: Superiority Die      5 (1d10s) Fighter Feature: Maneuvers      Disarming Attack: spend a superiority die to force your target to make a Strength saving throw. On a failed roll, it drops 1 item of your choosing.      Feinting Attack: spend a superiority die as a bonus action, and select a target. You gain advantage against that creature and add the roll of your superiority die to your attack damage if you hit the target creature.      Parry: As a reaction, reduce melee damage you take by your dex modifier + the roll of a superiority die.      Precision Attack: add the roll of a superiority die to the damage roll of a melee attack you made.      Riposte: When an enemy’s attack misses you, you can make a counter attack, and add the roll of a superiority die.      Sweeping Attack: Use a superiority die to cause your melee attack to hit a second creature within 5 feet of your first target. Add your superiority dice roll.      Trip Attack: Use a superiority die to force a large or smaller creature to make a Strength saving throw. on a failed save, that creature is knocked prone. Spell Slots:      1st (4)      2nd (2) Link’s Spellbook      Cantrips True Strike      1st Level Cure Wounds Hunter’s Mark Wild Cunning Protection from Good and Evil      2nd Level Find Traps Actions:      Action Surge: take an extra action once per rest.      Primeval Awareness: Spend a spell slot. For 1 or 2 minutes, you sense the kinds of creatures within 1 mile of you, or 6 miles in forests and grasslands. Bonus Actions:      Cunning Action: Dash, Disengage, or Hide once per turn.      Second Wind: Regain 1d10+10 HP once per rest. Features, Traits, and Feats:      Archery Fighting Style: Gain +2 on attack rolls with ranged weapons.      Dueling Fighting Style: Gain +2 on damage rolls when armed with a single one-handed melee weapon.      Ear for Deceit: Any roll of 7 or lower on an Insight check against lying becomes an 8.      Extra Attack: You get two Attack actions.      Eye for Detail: Perform an Insight or Investigation check as a bonus action.      Favored Enemy: Deal +2 bonus damage to Monstrosities and Fiends. Gain advantage on Survival checks to track Monstrosities and Fiends, and Intelligence checks to remember information about them.      Fey Ancestry: Resistance to Charmed effects, immunity to magical sleep.      Hunter’s Sense: As an action, choose a creature within 60 feet. You learn the creature’s damage immunities, resistances, and vulnerabilities. Can be used 3 times per long rest.      Improved Combat Superiority: Your superiority die become 1d10s.      Indomitable: Reroll a failed save once per long rest.      Insightful Fighting: As a bonus action, make an Insight check against another creature’s Deception check. If you succeed, you can use Sneak Attack against the creature even without advantage for up to a minute. Doesn’t work if you’re disadvantaged. Wears off if you target a new creature with this feature.      Know Your Enemy: If you spend at least 1 minute outside of battle observing a creature, the DM will tell you whether the creature is superior, inferior, or equal to you in any 2 of the following stats: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, AC, Current HP, Total Class Levels, or Fighter Class Levels.      Natural Explorer: Favored Terrains are Grasslands and Forests. While in your favored terrains: double proficiency bonuses for INT and WIS checks you’re proficient in, difficult terrain doesn’t slow your party down, always alert for danger, can move stealthily at a normal pace when traveling alone, find double food when foraging, and when tracking anything, you can tell how big they were, how many there were, and how long ago they passed through.      Sharpshooter: Attacking from long range doesn’t disadvantage ranged attack rolls, ranged weapon attacks ignore half and 3/4 cover, and you can -5 on a ranged weapon attack roll to add +10 to the damage roll on a successful hit.      Slayer’s Prey: As a bonus action, pick a creature within 60 feet of you. Add 1d6 damage to the first attack you make against that creature.      Sneak Attack: Add 2d6 to damage roll when you have advantage, or another enemy of the target is within 5 feet of it.      Thieves’ Cant: You can articulate covert messages in casual conversations.      Trance: Trance for 4 hours instead of sleeping for 8.      Wanderer: You have an excellent memory for terrain and don’t need a map. You can remember where to find settlements, foraging spots, and geographical landmarks. You can always find enough food and water to sustain yourself and up to 5 more people provided the land can provide food and drinkable water.

I’m sure there’s some who will disagree with my picks, but I optimized a build around looking for enemy weaknesses, having a ton of proficiencies, and having a wide and varied arsenal of weapons at Link’s disposal. If you’d build Link another way, tell me what you’d do different. Who do you want to see me make next? And as always, I look forward to seeing you again at the Character Forge, where heroes are made.

[cutestrival]

The ‘thunk’ of a dagger hitting the wooden wall behind Selena is the only indication of Shamir’s presence— the accuracy is uncanny, considering the fact that it sailed right past the girl’s head.

There’s a small card hanging from the handle, tied carefully in place, the writing far more refined than you’d initially believe.

“It’s a hunting knife,” Shamir finally speaks, arms crossed over her chest. “The pattern on the hilt is one you’d commonly see from leatherworkers in Dagda. It’s cured and woven in a specific manner for more durability and a better grip.”

The smallest hint of a smirk graces the mercenary’s lips, raising a hand to wave before continuing on her merry way without much further explanation.

The card that dangles reads:

“Maybe this’ll help you put up more of a fight the next time you decide to sneak up on me.

Happy birthday.”

The wind that scares her, as the dagger sails past her nose to its mark, might as well be a hurricane, the way Selena yelps, jumping backwards, hands flying to her face. She looks around wildly for her sneak attacker - how ridiculous! The words that reach her ears do little to settle her stomach, narrowed eyes turning angrily towards the mercenary.

“What is wrong with you?” Gods, that scared the shit out of me. “I don’t care how good this knife is, I could’ve…” Selena’s eyes trace Shamir’s silhouette as it retreats into shadow, and her surprise becomes fury. “G-get back here…!” she wails; but really, chasing someone down was about the last thing she wanted to do, shaken as she was. 

With an exasperated sigh, she turns to the wall pierced by this so-called “gift”. Affixed to the hilt is a small note, and Selena tugs at it impatiently. Unfortunately, she’s far from happy with its contents.

“GODS DAMN IT!” she roars at the innocent wall. That stupid mercenary thinks they’re oh, soooo much better than me, huh? Selena spits at the ground. Why even give her a gift today? It’s not like that pushover knows it’s her birthday, of all things. 

Ugh. She pulls the knife from the wall, twirling it in her fingers as she wanders back to her room. Her cheeks redden with further frustration, with a final realization. No kidding, it’s a good knife too…

[wu-sisyphus-gang]

Motion Sickness Chapter 93

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(Winter POV)

Training with the new powers was harsh. It was an inconcrete thing. Where one might normally run laps to build up speed or stamina or lift weights to grow stronger the powers of the maiden were transcendental.

The training still took a great deal from you, as though you had been running laps or lifting weights, however. It left me exhausted and it left me weaker than normal. I had a long way to go until I reached the power of a fully realized maiden like Fria had been.

As far as I was aware even Cinder Fall had yet to master her powers. Though she had an additional helping of them being both fall and spring.

My heels clicked down a street nearby to the academy leading up to where my small apartment was. It was a cozy thing with spartan furnishings. It was so unlike the manor I had grown up in. The military lifestyle suited me after the years I spent as a child under my father.

To my father everything had to be extravagant. He needed it that way. I was different. I thrived off of the bare minimum.

There was the sound of footsteps behind me on the dark street. I turned around. There was a woman standing there.  She was nearly as tall as I was in a dark crimson dress. She had an eye patch over half her face with dark hair and a glowing ember eye. I recognized her at once.

This was Cinder Fall.

I pulled my weapon on her and she let out a short terse laugh. She summoned her own weapons to her hands. Swords made of glass, one in each palm. Just like her profile described.

I split my scimitar so I, too, had a weapon in each hand.

"So quick to arms? I just have a couple questions for you," her voice rang out melodic.

She hurled a mote of fire at me and I slipped behind a corner, into an alley that lined the street. The explosion rocked the side of the building I pressed my back against.

"This is Special Operative Winter Schnee I nee-" my scroll was blown out of my hands.

"None of that." Cinder strode up on me with a bow in her hands now. She shot my device out of my hands with an explosive arrow. It rocked my world a little and I was sent tumbling down the alley and away from the bigger street.

She inhaled deeply through her nose like she was smelling the conflagration. Fire roared up from behind her and she slammed me into a wall. She held me there with her weapons in sword formation once again.

I was a hair taller than her but she was incredibly strong. I pressed forward with my weapons, swinging one in each hand and she deftly blocked it with narrow twists of her wrists.

Her eye glowed with the power of a maiden burning away at the corners.

She summoned lightning. It crackled down onto us both and she whipped her weapons at me and it struck me high. I summoned a glyph behind me and darted forward on the magic in a landing attack.

She met my strike to the side and lashed out with a kick that caught me in the gut.

"Now about my questions…" she trailed as she prowled towards me like a tigress. "Where is the winter maiden, Winter Schnee? Is it you now? I wonder?"

I summoned a glyph at my back and launched myself again towards her. I slashed twice at her low, high then I brought forth dust from my weapon and swept fire at her. She ducked underneath the fire and came at me with both her weapons in diagonal fierce cuts.

I managed to block them all then I jumped off the wall and back-flipped away from her and hoped to gain some space.

She kept on top of me. Prowling forward she sliced at me with her weapons. I blocked one off to the side and deflected the other away from my face before I slashed at her stomach and caught her by the red aura there. She stuttered back a step.

"Well aren't you more than the General's plaything," she laughed at me.

I reared back and stabbed my weapon into the ground and brought forth another glyph. Snow white Grimm masked birds flew forward at Cinder Fall and buffeted her. She slashed through them and I let up after a few got through and harried her. I summoned a great Beowulf from nothing and it lumbered towards Cinder.

Cinder examined it contemptuously before she cut her way through it with a wave of fire.

She twirled her weapon around her and fire emanated forth. It spun around her like a dancer's ribbon before she struck out with it and I only just managed to flip out of the way of the blaze.

I came down on her with both my weapons and I cut at her diagonally then horizontally then diagonally with both of them. She only met my strikes while backing up steps to give a little ground in the tight alley. It was a touch claustrophobic for my tastes and it was only getting hotter as Cinder reved things up.

She flew at me, leaving a blaze behind her on the ground as she did. She came at me with narrow slices and sharp thrusts. Then she hovered in a tight circle around me and kicked me in the back of the head.

I fell to the ground and looked up at her. Some of my maiden powers must have flared up because she whispered. "It is you."

There was no use hiding it. There hadn't been at any rate. This was a win or lose fight for me. I couldn't afford to keep more cards in reserve. I had already nearly exhausted my maiden powers, though, with my day of training with them. I was already bone tired and nearly at my limit. Only the rush of adrenaline kept me going at the moment.  

I slashed towards her and summoned a wall of ice along the sides of the alley with dust. Spires poked out towards her from the sheet of frigid material.

It hardly slowed her down even having been caught up in it. She attacked me with more fire and the alleyway was filled with hot steam that burned my eyes and made me cough.

There was a flare of lightning as she approached me and she swung her weapon towards me and there was a zap that caught me in the center of my mass.

It tossed me down the alleyway and sent me rolling. I picked myself back up to my feet in time to meet a wild slash of glass sword. I held it at bay with my stiletto in my left hand and took a swipe at her with the scimitar in my right. It only met air as she ducked at followed it with a swing of her own weapon in her right hand.

I met it with my stiletto again. Then she took a slash at me with her free weapon. I was forced to block with my scimitar.

She flipped in place, bringing both weapons down on me and I blocked them with an 'x' of my own tools.

She kicked me in the stomach and made to summon more fire. It swirled around her in an inferno as she stepped towards me. I felt my aura burning off of me from the heat. She swept both her weapons at me and the fire followed.

Nowhere to run or duck in the alley I was forced to shield myself with glyph as best as I could. It shattered like glass and the heat raced over me.

I summoned a glyph behind me and darted over her, then back over her with another swipe. Then another in a blitz of attacks that made me shed aura like rain but it was worth it for the three clear slashes I landed on her own aura.

I made to do it again, after all, if a strategy is working, then why change it? I launched myself towards her and made for another swing but she got bodily in my way and I ended up tackling her down the alley and back out into the open street.

I slashed my blade at her and wave of lightning emanated out of it. It raced over her body and made her shudder from the force of it. It left her smoking. I saw my opportunity and slashed deeply into her aura with first the stiletto then the scimitar.

I tore out deep red chunks of energy from her body and made her scream in rage. Cinder summoned a dagger into one hand and brought it down on my head. I only narrowly dodged to the side.

She summoned her swords again and came sweeping at me with three fast blows that spun her in a circle. I blocked the first two but the last caught me across the stomach.

One little moment stood out to me as I was pushed back. One simple thing. I was probably going to lose. And if I did… when I did… the power of the winter maiden could not go to Cinder Fall.

I took my weapons and I cut at her in a rhythmic pattern. Low high low. High high low.

Cinder blocked them all with a sly smile on her face. Her grin only widened as she counter attacked with raw fire in a flare that sent me scuttling back across the street.

My own control over the maiden's powers were so much less refined and they were worn down after a day of using them hard for the first time.

She swung her weapons at me and there was a zap of lightning that crackled down her arms from her body and further into her weapons then out at me.

It shocked me and I felt my body convulse and falter. My aura hardly defended me as low as it was. It hurt a great deal.

She flew at me with flames behind her and I barely raised my weapons in time to match just one of hers. She shoved me all the way back into a brick wall. My head cracked back against it harshly and then she went and tried to sweep one of my legs out from under me. Only fleet footwork kept me up right.

Then I was forced to block her other free glass sword with my smaller stiletto. I pushed back against her for a moment before she faded back and caused me to fall forward. She tripped me and hooked the hilt of her weapon behind my neck and threw me to the asphalt. She kicked me in the side while I was down and I rolled with it to get back to my feet.

I pushed both palms down into the asphalt and picked myself up. She was on me with a wild swing of her glass sword. I deflected it and riposted with a thrust of my scimitar.

She parried it easily enough. I stuttered back a step and summoned a glyph and using dust I sent a hail of ice shards her way. She summoned fire hot enough to melt them and turn them to steam. I kept the hail going a moment longer but quickly ran out of usable dust long before I made progress through her wall of fire.

I was losing. I was losing badly and I wasn't sure I could turn this around at all. It had been a bit like fighting Cloud Strife who had bodied me as well. This was just the edge that magic provided a competent user.

I was slowing down and I would probably lose long before help arrived to bail me out.

This was grim. None of my training had prepared me for the moments before I was about to die. How could it? I'm not proud of it but I panicked a little. All my analysis was screaming at me that these were my last seconds of life and if it wasn't these seconds it was going to be the next ones.

She summoned more fire and I dived to the side to avoid being immolated. I tried to clear my mind and rationalize but that was just leading me down a dead end road. I was about to die. I was about to die. I was going to lose and I was going to die for it. Cinder was just more dangerous than I was. Even at my best I wasn't sure I would be able to defeat her and I wasn't coming into this at my best.

I had a duty though. I had a job to do. I was still going to protect the maiden powers. Cinder wouldn't take a third one today. But who to choose? My brain was stunningly calm in its analysis of candidates compared to the panic I felt regarding my own imminent death.

There was Penny of course. Penny would do well. She was a wonderful person, perhaps even a friend. But it wasn't enough. My thoughts kept being drawn back to Cinder as she flew at me again and cut at me with her weapons. I stepped back blocking both.

I needed something more to anchor myself as I died. Least I be reminded of my attacker and the powers go to Cinder. Something more than a possible friend. There was really only one candidate at the end of the day.

My last thoughts would be of my little sister. It was the right choice. I knew it in my heart. It was strong enough as well. Strong enough that my thoughts never left Weiss as I stared Cinder in the eye and blocked her lightning fast slashes.

I fell back some more and her left arm just extended in Grimm blackness and chased me with her sword. I blocked her unearthly strength three times in a half second. Then she hurled another note of fire at me and dived across the rough pavement.

Still my thoughts were on my baby sister. Would she be up to the task at hand? Maybe. I prayed so. She would have all the support that I did to succeed. But was I just dooming her to die from the same woman that was attacking me now? Maybe so as well.

But she was committed and strong. She had a powerful team of friends to support her. She could get through this. She had as good a chance as anyone else I could bear to name as my successor.

"You Atlas types are all the same. Hoarding powers. You think it won't leave the rest of us hungry." Cinder prattled as she advanced on me again with three berserker cuts. I only blocked the last, the rest cut deep into my aura. "And I refuse to starve."

She pressed forward into me.

"Give it to me," she demanded. I wouldn't. My thoughts never left my baby sister. It had a certain resolve to it that I'd never managed to place at any other point in my life. It had no true point of comparison. It was a singular focus.

I fought back with a fury. I swung at her in a triage of blows that she neatly blocked with an unconcerned smile on her face. The total bitch.

I fought back like I was about to die. I swung for the fences and for Cinder Fall's head. She kicked me back a half step and chased with a swipe at my arm that knocked me and cut me open. The wound made me cry out as it tore my flesh.

I had nothing left. I was completely empty. This was it. This was the moment. She swiped my weapons to the side hard enough that I could hardly hold on to them.

She bent backwards and thrust forward. Then she stabbed me through the chest. I choked on air and I could feel my left lung filling with blood where she stabbed me. I could feel her sword part my ribs. The cartilage shattered.

She followed it with another slash across my throat. I dropped my weapons and reached for my neck vainly. Blood flowed over the wound and I couldn't breath through the slice in my esophagus. I choked helplessly on the gore. The pain was distant compared to my inability to breath and my sudden lightheadedness.

I fell to my knees still choking.

"Give it to me," she purred again. The last words I'd ever hear.

I didn't. I thought of my little Weiss.

Then I slipped my mortal coil.

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-WG

[adrinoir]

Adrigami has some issues

Well, I had fun writing all the love square ships. Now it’s time to tackle a couple of the ones outside of it (finally).

First ✨Adrigami✨

How it started

Of course Adrien was taken aback by her in Riposte. She totally beat him in that fencing challenge.

My god, what is this face he’s making? LOL

Then he tries to chase her down, but is unsuccessful .

And he later figures out her family is world famous fencers.

After the akuma in Kagami is destroyed, Adrien talks to her and thus their friendship begins.

Cuteness

I like when they’re eating ice cream together. I like when they go to events together. Good and wholesome.

How these two are alike

I would say it’s easy for Adrien and Kagami to get along because they have similar relationships with their parents in how strict they are, and similar interests such as fencing. Plus, they’re both sweethearts.

So, it’s nice that they have each other to relate to on that personal level.

It’s cute and good, however, this isn’t enough for them to go off of to keep a relationship.

How these two are different

There’s definitely a strong difference in personality. Adrien is more soft spoken and Kagami is very up front about everything.

This is problematic.

Kagami 100% knows she likes Adrien and has no issue expressing her feelings for him. I feel like this is why a good chunk of the fandom doesn’t like Kagami, because she’s open and honest....and she likes Adrien. (Although I personally have no issue with her.)

She has told Marinette she shouldn’t hesitate and the reason she got that date in the ice rink with him is because Adrien knows she likes him. Kagami is definitely a bit jealous (but that’s fair), although she has clearly been wanting to have both Marinette and Adrien as good friends at the very least.

Admittedly, these three have one of the cutest friendships ever.

However, Kagami being this way isn’t going to be a good balance with how Adrien is. Adrien definitely likes her a little bit, but still doesn’t know what he wants and teeters between her and Marinette/Ladybug. It isn’t fair. His indecisiveness doesn’t mesh well with Kagami’s strong, decisive personality. She even told him that his indecisiveness is hurtful, when she felt the moment was right and she tried to kiss him, but he stepped back.

I speak from real life experience when I say I dated a good friend who seemingly liked me, things were good from the very start, but this person kept feeling unsure about the relationship. I was very upfront with this person about everything and knew how I felt about them. But, they weren’t like that. They were very much indecisive and wishy-washy, and the relationship failed because of that one-sidedness.

I feel the same would happen with a relationship between Adrien and Kagami. It would start well but then fail because Adrien isn’t 100% sure of his feelings for Kagami.

Final thoughts

1) These two are cute but too different personality-wise to have a healthy romantic relationship.

2) However, they aren’t a complete flop because I feel like they still make really good friends. They have a perfectly good platonic relationship. (Kagami also really likes having Marinette as a friend which is really sweet.)

3) Marinette/Ladybug and Adrien/Cat Noir are end game anyhow. So no matter what, it won’t last, even if you do like them together.

[gale-gentlepenguin]

Was there any lead up to Lukanette? adrigami had Adrien and kagami becoming friends then growing closer, but Lukanette was like... Marinette meets Luka, Luka plays guitar for her, then says he loves her the next week?

Okay, I am going to get mad in depth on this so we can get down to it.

Adrien and Kagami

 First met in Riposte, Started off as rivals, then blossomed into respect and Adrien thinking Kagami was kind of cute. The episode prefaces this point and the Intro is done well.

The SECOND TIME Kagami is shown is in Frozer. By that time, Kagami has feelings for Adrien and Adrien tries asking her out. That was not a lot of build up at all. This almost comes out of nowhere. There was no middle episode for them to develop as more then friends before this. Season 3 has much more episodes with this development (Animaestro, backwarder, Oni-chan, Desperada,) Honestly when looking at Adrigami, Frozer should have happened in Season 3 so that the development at LEAST made more sense.

Now in Frozer they make claims that they had grown closer at the time and Adrien was pretty much using this as a chance to get over Ladybug. Being real honest, it is not a good episode and the sudden shift in the relationship between the two seems to come almost out of nowhere. Season 3 at least gives some more physical examples of how the dynamic grew. So its at least more understandable. 

The show did a lot of Tell don't show in season 2 with Kagami and that sucked for the dynamic. But at least by the season 3 finale it at least makes more sense.

I would go more into depth on this but this is more about the later couple, so this was just to set a baseline.

Now lets get to 

Marinette and Luka:

Lets start with Captain HardRock. (I will push through my absolute hatred of the episode and give it to you straight) Luka’s introduction sucks. Marinette meets him, he says a comment, she thinks it was rude, then he plays guitar and its suddenly better. This does improve later on in the episode with Luka saying and doing things for Marinette, like hiding her from the akuma and asking about her well being, which is a good way to show the character as caring. But I just hate how everyone type casts marinette in this. Alya is suddenly all like “Oh looks like you got another boy your in love with” and the f***ing compass metaphors. It was like people were telling Marinette what she was feeling for Luka as opposed to her saying what she was feeling. So the episode ends with her, Split between two boys. Just so suddenly?

Next appearance of Luka, this is what I like to call the Inverse of Adrigami. While Adrigami had an interesting intro and a lack luster second appearance. Lukanette comes out strong in Frozer. Luka is listening to Marinette vent. Showing that the last appearance gave Luka a more positive relationship. Not so much Love interest as, a good friend she can confide in. Luka helps her out at the Ice rink, letting her have fun when she should be feeling miserable. (Yes I hate this episode more then anything but I can at least acknowledge they did a good job with Luka here) So Marinette finding herself more interested in Luka here makes more sense.

Now the question here is the matter of episode order, Did Desperada come After silencer or before.

If Silencer came before Desperada, then that makes sense on Why this seems more sudden. Because by this point, Marinette is starting to exhibit that blush/ nervous stammer she does with Adrien (granted it only happened once or twice in silencer, and it could be debated that it was because she was caught off guard.) She is suddenly a regular that hangs out with the band, enough that she is designing costumes and supporting them? It just feels super sudden, but as mentioned before the show does a lot of telling instead of showing. Silencer had akuma Luka confess unintentionally and then perfectly say his confession word for word when he wasn't akumatized. So he must have been practicing that. Luka could have had these feelings since Frozer, as that little sad bit when he encouraged Marinette to go after Adrien. Plus, if Silencer came before desperada, then Luka got shafted SO MUCH HARDER. Boy confessed and everything only to get dismissed by Marinette. Like If I WAS Luka I would been like. “Wow, okay I see where we are” and go for another girl.

However, I actually think Silencer came After Desperada, with Marinette growing closer to Luka, her and other friends all chilling on the house boat, it would make an easier leap to how Marinette would be hanging out with just the band in a later episode. Plus it shows Luka and Marinette’s relationship developing as Adrien and Kagami’s does. So this would help push Marinette to seeing Luka more romantically. Which would then explain her more Blushy antics in Silencer.

It also gives some leeway in Felix, where Luka basically said “If Adrien doesn't go after you, I will totally take a crack at ya” as if to say, once I know there is no chance of Adrien and you getting together, I am totally ready to date you. You can look at that anyway you want. Some people call it sweet, and that he is letting her clear up her emotions, I think its kind of insulting to Marinette. Its like saying, ‘you aren't worth fighting for,’ but thats only one way of taking it.

So depending on episode order, Luka and Marinette’s relationship development can at least make some sense.

But really the love rival development is lacking and everything would have been better if they hadn't just shoehorned this in.

[cutestrival]

The flash of light blinds her through her eyelids. Selena throws up a hand in front of her face, and her swing clanks against the light, clacking dully. Surprised, she stumbles back, blinking the spots from her eyes, her arm aching with the aftershock of the disconnected blow. There was nothing so hard that could have caused her sword to shake so badly. Then what…? As her vision blooms color again, she takes new note of the sword she grips so tightly. Its scarlet hilt, and bloodied pommel give her a good hint, though.

There’s no way I accidentally picked out that cursed sword when I was leaving my dorm, right? Regardless, there’s no time to think too hard about it. Her other blades already blunt from the onslaught of the past few days, not to mention left aside by the campfire from her last shift, she simply had to work with what she had. And hey, if Maria’s magic had been blocking her sword, then well, she could’ve been saving her life. Hell, she probably already did. Part of Selena wants to turn a second, shout her gratitude over the battlefield, but, well. There was still an ugly mug in front of her that was begging for a slice of her double edged blade.

With one swift thrust into where she hoped the thing’s shoulder to be, and a sickening crunch to boot, her victory was declared by a wounded growl and a keeling over of large proportions. Selena glances at her sword, only a little terrified. But, she feels no wound nor pain, and turns to her savior. “You saved me, yeah? Thanks.” She manages a wink in Maria’s direction.

Her optimism doesn’t last, another lumbering idiot baring its fangs from the darkness of the cave. She sighs; but instead of picking her side back up from her side, she instead looks around for someone to take up her position. 

Alas, the first she sees is that Hoshidan buffoon. 

She remembers him poking fun at her at the beach a few moons ago…there’s no way she could let him handle things. Seeing the light casted from his hands, she sighs, though: surely he’ll be useful here, Hoshidan or not. Here goes nothing. She looks around for a rock to throw, before realizing with horror that perhaps, just this once, an insult probably wouldn’t help right now. Not when their lives are on the line.

“Hey, over here! Come on, you can do better! Give me all you’ve got, just a bit longer, okay? We need you!” She just hopes he doesn’t conflate her attempt at inspiration with her usual goading. She turns away from him, her face burning. Whatever.

nothing is mended under the sun

#TOAEPIPHANY2025 || Week 3: Combat [Team 11]

[fl-eragon]

New (i think) Mariharem idea

So, I don't know if anyone else has done this, but what if we took the Mariharem idea and turned the anime up. So, everyone, except Adrien (at first) cause shenanigans, eventually is part of the Mariharem, but Marinette doesn't notice any of them cause of her pursuit of Adrien.

Nino already had a crush and is a founding member

Alya quickly develops a crush on her new friend as well, joining Nino once he finds out. They get together while in the cage because they start talking about all the things they like about Marinette, then move on to each other and realize "if she wants to focus on Adrien, we might as well get something out of it" and get together, but constantly hint at Marinette that she can join whenever

Chloe isn't nearly as bad as in Canon, simply cause she has a crush on Mari and doesn't know what to do, and the only frame of reference she has is her parents failed relationship and the rivals to lovers trope, so she's trying to get Mari's attention using that trope.

Sabrina supports Chloe all the way because she has a crush on Chloe (they later get together) but admits that she wouldn't say no if Mari ever asked her (for what Chloe never got a clear answer on).

Nathaniel of course had his crush, but moves on to Marc. He still harbors feelings though, so still in the harem, and Marc tags along because, while not personally interested in Mari, he completely understand why others are and is fully supportive of everyone

Ivan and Mylene owe their relationship to Mari, and have both admitted to having a crush on her

Alix is Demi and so is only attracted to a few people, Mari managing to be one of those few for a variety of reasons

Kim loves everyone, big boys got a big heart

Max is completely wowed by her skill in gaming, her determination, and her willingness to help, and begrudgingly admits he has feelings for her

Juleka has only had two crushes, Rose and Mari, which wasn't helped when Mari helped her get together with Rose. Rose on the other hand loves freely and, second only to her girlfriend Juleka, loves Mari most of all due to how kind and helping she is to everyone. They agree that Mari could join them if she wants

Luka has heard all about how wonderful Mari is from Juleka, so when he first meets hey, he understands immediately and is head over heels for her, but is able to keep it cool while around her. Juleka teases him about his reaction after she leaves though

When Kagami first sees her in Riposte, she isn't impressed, but after getting to know her, she finds these strong urges to love and protect her coming out even against Adrien. She basically becomes a Yandere, but nobody gets hurt because Marinette is able to reign her in, plus Chloe isn't a threat and I'll be changing Lila completely. (Gabriel might not survive after identities come out but that's neither here nor there). She doesn't know why but she feels many of the same feelings for Ladybug as well, which Ladybug quickly realized after making her Ryuko. Her plan didn't even come into play against Ikari Gozen

Lila still lies a little, but it's just small things that wouldn't warrant concern, as she realizes that most people at the school have high connections and do what she typically lies about, so she lays low in order to try and find a way to get everyone's attention, but finds that by doing so and being more honest, people still like her, and like her slightly more then when she was lying. She also basically becomes a Tsundere for Mari, so Mari doesn't quite get why Lila is mean to her, but gets flustered when she stands up for herself. Everyone else had realized and messes with her.

Mari still can't speak to Adrien, so he had his whole idea that she doesn't like him, but he definitely likes her, so he isn't going to push himself, but she seems to be comfortable with Chat Noir, so he flirts so the time. His attention is divided between LB and Mari.

At one point, Chat Noir and Alya both get the impression that Ladybug also likes Marinette, but is shy about it, so they try to support her as much as they can, Chat even making remarks that LB, him, and Mari could all be in a relationship, if she wants to.

End goal is to give Mari as much as she deserves, with all her classmates love and support, as well as a lovestruck musician and yandere fencer. Even those in relationships pursue Marinette and shower her in love, but until she learns about the Mariharem, she only things everyone is being great friends with her.

The Mariharem had weekly meeting and a group chat to discuss how amazing Marinette is and how to shower her in more love and support. There is friendly rivalry in who shows Marinette more love and support. Adrien isn't added at first because no one realizes he likes her, but as soon as he confesses, he is invited and joins immediately. There were shenanigans when Alya tried to add CN and again with LB. CN showed up to a few meetings

She also has her wonderful Uncle Jagged and Aunt Penny who help whenever they can, and Aunt Clara who will sing her praise whenever she can and almost exclusively gets her designs from Marinette.

Gabriel and Audrey are fighting to hire her, both presenting her work opportunity after opportunity and all the contests she can join. This leads to less akuma's as Gabriel is focusing on Mari more often.

With Natelie acting more like Adrien's mom, she and Gorilla help Adrien eventually realize Mari does like him and help him get her to be more comfortable around him. They fully support the two of them, as does Gabriel once he finds out

At this point, almost everyone can get their normal ice cream at Andre's or a Marinette themed one. Whenever Marinette goes, he basically is like "well, you could have (Adrien representation) but you honestly have your choice of any flavor"

Mari's main relationship at the end is with Adrien, Luka, and Kagami, but she goes on dates with everyone else occasionally, and will flirt with any of them, especially those who get flustered easily (looking at you Chloe and Lila, who by the way came clean of her small lies because of Mari and is still a massive Tsundere)

Once Mari realizes the full extent of the Mariharem, everyone kicks it up a notch in their attempts to give her their love and support, because now she isn't oblivious and will realize what their intentions are.

Kagami is unsure of the rest of the Mariharem, but as long as they aren't hurting her and are supporting her, and no one is getting between her and Mari (Luka and Adrien are fine since Mari has convinced Kagami she can like them and still give her all the love she need) Kagami doesn't mind the others flirting or the occasional date, but she gets very defensive about Mari very easily

[into-september]

Party Crasher

While the rest of the fandom is presumably flipping out over the NY special, those of us relying on Disney Channel dubbing schedules running months behind will have to live with the re-runs until we can be bothered hunting it down, and today happened to be the only episode I hadn’t seen yet. Speaking of the dumbass comedy which makes me love this show and all. 

 - It’s sad that I’m honestly a bit surprised to find that they remembered Wayhem’s VA. (Mr. Banana hasn’t got the accent from “Kwamibuster”, though.) His and Adrien’s friendship is really sweet and I so hope he’ll be around in S4 too

 - Gabriel is “going to Tokyo” and I instantly start low-key shipping him with Kagami’s mum for no other purpose than hilarity. This is not entirely without precedent, because I probably have a fifteen hundred word essay in me about my feelings on Gabriel/André (the mayor, not the ice cream man). Which I mostly ship because god damn does Adrien deserve a positive, loving parent 

- Ivan might be incapable of lying but the episode running straight after this one was “Puppeteer II” and Nino, you are not one to talk 

- World championship of bad excuses indeed. Props to Nino for supplying one for Kim, who didn’t owe one to anyone 

 - Anyway Gabriel’s little beekeeper outfit while harvesting butterflies is excellent

 - I don’t know what I love most - that Adrien keeps his bathtub always ready with rose petals and a rubber duckie, or that Kim spends most of the party snorkelling in it. How can anyone hate this show. 

 - The Grand Piano released from the floor by scoring at the basketball hoop is a strong contender there. As is the joy with which all those teenage boys greeted it. 

 - Of course Max runs enough hardware at home for the question of power supplies to be a topic about which he is learned and can wire into digitally???? I guess in a universe where macarons and now also hot dogs can be split clean in half by hand

 - I’ll admit to having lost some of the dialogue but that sounded to me like someone suggested Gabriel had a personal nuclear reactor installed

 - I love how Marinette starts out playing detective FOR JUSTICE and slips into “but why aren’t I allowed that’s so unfair” the moment she realises what is going on

- The Mulan-joins-the-army energy is strong 

  - That scene between her and Fu is a homage to “it is I, LeClerc” and you cannot convince me otherwise

 - Please consider: Tom Dupain at Adrien’s party. Everyone else is there for good or less good reasons, so what’s keeping him?

 - Thank you Thomas Astruc for giving us Chloé using the mayor of Paris as a make-up doll. And the fact that he ran around around like that in relative public. 

 - My favourite minor character is the fireman man. He’s so lowkey funny in both “Despair Bear” and “Riposte”.  

 - It says so, so, so much about the Agreste home that Gabriel is shocked and appalled to register JOY, PURE JOY happening in his house. I mean, he’s got a history of personally bullying others to get them upset and ripe for akumatisation. But expecting everyone close to him, his teenage son included, to spend their days in misery? Lord allmighty, what a piece of human garbage. 

 - Gorilla ships Majestia/Hawk Hero and clearly I don’t know how that goes yet but it’d be the best thing ever if his “now kiss” game was foreshadowing (yeah yeah I know this is MLB Ladybug’s accidental confession to the pharmacy lady was probably the best they could get away with. let me dream)

 - I like Chuppu and I like King Monkey’s transformation music and his chaos is excellent. We were robbed by this being his only episode

 - One of the biggest mysterious of this ‘verse: how does Adrien Agreste know how to clean. That little scene with Marinette and Nino was cute, though. 

 - I cannot stop thinking about the how Gabriel had to spend that weekend skulking around his own home like some ghost. Sneaking into the kitchen at night to eat. Keeping track of Adrien and Gorilla before flushing. Probably sleeping down in his secret lair. 

 - Unless I’m forgetting something, this is the first episode where Ladybug goes down and stays down for the entire battle until it’s time to de-evilise. The only other time I remember her being taken out by an akuma at all is in “Desperada”, and all those times are second chanced instantly. 

[cutestrival]

The girl’s hiss thrums a chord against her ear, and Selena faces forward at their enemy. The circumstances of the battle were beyond her, frankly; something about retaking, and preventing, blah blah blah. It was all normal wartime things, far above her pay grade. What wasn’t above her duties however, are the series of foes that mar her vision, and are clearly prime for knocking down. Just as she eyes them, sizing them up, light strikes through her vision, chilling the air around her.

So much for the girl’s heads up.

Selena doubles over, clenching her abdomen. Oh, those mages would absolutely get it now! She calls forward, sword pointed tersely at their foe. “You think that’ll slow me down? Think again! Come on!” She pushes off her heel, dashing forward, her sword poised to barrel into the closest member of the opposition. Dimly, she’s aware of allies close by, inclusive of the soldier in red and the quiet girl, closing in with her.

PLAYER PHASE 2  Player Unit 10 attacks Enemy Unit 2 [Roll: 4d10+4] (10, 6, 4, 1=25) vs (6, 5, 5, 2=18)  All allies in Player Unit 10 lose 0.5HP.  All enemies in Enemy Unit3 lose 1.5HP.  Invader 1.5/3HP  Invader 1.5/3HP  Invader 1.5/3HP  Invader 1.5/3HP  Ena 2.5/4HP  Selena (FE14) 2.5/4HP  Sara 2.5/4HP  Lukas 2.5/4HP

@spinnerofhope

Raise Thy Sword

Epiphany Finale, Cathedral | Unit 10