#the one character that can't make a rash decision but makes many rash decisions in the process of abstaining from the larger one

[therighthandofvengeance]

Yes, Delenn started a war. Yeah, that's objectively bad. But do we really think that EarthGov would have given anyone the courtesy of asking about why they killed a significant (political) figure before committing massive violations of the Geneva Convention?

Obviously we shouldn't condone this behavior- but let's at least give it some perspective:

It's literally her first day on the job. she just finished her internship the night before

she's been trained for this role and this role alone, her life experience is limited at best and nonexistent at worst

her mentor just died -> that's essentially going from training wheels on flat and even ground, with a helmet to a unicycle on a mountain during fire season... uphill

nobody really cared about what she said until 20 minutes ago when she became One of Them

there were four other members of the Grey Council that were pro-war, she didn't decide to go to war by herself

[akimojo]

"Is it because of how differently it (Final Fantasy XIII) handles female characters compared to earlier games?" YES you are so right about this!! The main cast is majority female and the fact that each female is an individual vastly different from each other with multiple dimensions and layers to their character is probably why people shit on it. Plus if you look at the males in the group, they are FAR from the typical brooding male FF protagonist and yet still unique and nuanced in their own way. People didn't like that the characters broke the molds/archetypes/tropes that many of the FF games follow. And that's why the FFXIII cast stands out so strikingly to me personally.

And they're not just deep characters, they're allowed to have major character flaws that actually lead to negative consequences! Not to mention that their personal goals and motivations do NOT revolve around men

Even well-written female characters from other ff games (like yuna for example) don't have any traits that men would generally find unappealing in a woman, they don't challenge male players at all

And then in comes lightning, who starts off so toxic and poisonous to the people around her, acting violent toward male characters and making rash decisions that require you to think about why she does what she does, and the male-dominated fandom hates her

And don't even get me started on vanille and fang because their bond is at the foundation of ff13's story, but it's somehow the one aspect that I've seen haters sweep over the absolute most. Which is very strange considering most people can recognize how important zack was to cloud, or tidus to yuna, or rinoa to squall, or locke to celes, etc

Now that there's men going around wildly misinterpreting tifa's and aerith's friendship as them actually just fighting over cloud, you really gotta wonder if they just didn't care about fang and vanille because their relationship had nothing to do with a man lmao. And you just can't fully understand ff13's story without understanding how important fang and vanille are to each other, just like how you can't understand lightning without taking into account her struggle between self-preservation and the love she has for serah

I don't like to cry sexism over assumptions, but it's pretty hard not to do that when such a huge chunk of ff13 haters are men that insist the characters are one-dimensional, like?? how can anyone be that wrong?? Especially when the ff games they praise have some of the most one-dimensional female characters in the entire franchise (sorry ff4 but your handling of rosa is atrocious), but of course that doesn't matter because hey! The dudes need a love interest to sit there and look pretty for them!

[andreal831]

Can we please stop pretending Klaus is some Machiavellian genius?

I get the show is always trying to tell us he is a mastermind, but there are so many more clever characters who actually set up long term plans to achieve their goals (Lucien, Celeste, Katherine). What did Klaus ever do that was ever strategic or showed any superior intelligence? If anything his intelligence was severely stunted, he was a thousand years old and still acting like a teenager half the time. He made rash and impulsive decisions and they worked out sometimes. They had just as much of a chance of blowing up in his face. This doesn't make him smart. If he wasn't so indestructible, he wouldn't have been so lucky.

Throughout history, we constantly see Elijah having to remind Klaus not to draw attention to them. All he has to do is stop being a serial killer or risk bringing the one man he is terrified of to town. You would think it would be easy, yet he is unable to control himself. At no point do we see him ever preparing to confront Mikael. He only runs from him. He could have created an army to trap Mikael or befriended witches. But no, instead of coming up with a plan, they all just run. Not much of a master strategist. The fandom loves to say it was stupid that Rebekah called Mikael to New Orleans yet doesn't want to talk about how stupid it was for Kol and Klaus to go on a killing spree which they knew would attract Mikael. And he does this not once, not twice, but repeatedly in every flashback we see, all the way from the first flashback in 1001 to the last in the 1950s.

Speaking of the 1950s, what great strategic plan was it to tell Elijah he buried their siblings at sea? He isolated the one family member he had left while Mikael was hot on his trail. This turned Elijah against him and what did Klaus do? Did he come up with a masterplan? No. he ran and body jumped.

Klaus' strength isn't his intelligence but his durability and his psychical strength. Which is why he was so determined to break his curse. He needed to be stronger than everyone, including his siblings. But what did any of that get him? Tristan and Aya at least built a cult and created weapons that could even take down Originals. Yet Klaus wasn't able to come up with any plan to take down Mikael?

We see Elijah tell Klaus that Klaus 'built' New Orleans, yet we never see any indication that Klaus is politically minded. In fact, in season one, he is in charge and a war breaks out in large part due to his scheming. He is constantly killing political leaders (the mayor, the mayor's son, the witches' leaders, every faction head, etc.) and then is surprised when they can't find peace and everyone is against him.

The only time Klaus had a long term plan that actually seemed clever was the lie about the sun and the moon curse. Not only did it take them nearly a thousand years before it actually worked, but he wasn't even the reason it worked. He was tricked by Elijah and literal teenagers. Elijah tricked him to get him to MF, the MF gang tricked him into believing Bonnie was dead, and then he fell for that exact same trick and believed that Elena was dead.

Throughout the shows and even flashbacks, people act like Klaus is this great strategist. And maybe he is compared to the children he is targeting. But when you put him up against his equals (Lucien, Mikael, Dahlia, etc.), he doesn't compare.

Celeste and Genevie were manipulating Klaus left and right in season one. In the short '9' months he was in New Orleans, he destabilized it so much that Hope nearly died. She only survived because of Marcel. They only got her back because of Elijah and Hayley. In fact, Klaus' plan to bring Hope back before they were ready is what drew Dahlia back so quickly, leaving them unprepared to face her.

Klaus wasn't responsible for Mikael's first death. He got lucky that everyone else (the children he was targeting) came up with a plan to trick Mikael. Mikael's second death was simply overpowering him, no outsmarting there. In fact, Mikael would have killed Klaus if his family hadn't saved him earlier.

Yes, he 'tricked' Dahlia into believing he betrayed his family, but this wasn't a trick. He actually did betray them. He murdered Gia and turned Elijah against him once again. He is unable to scheme without actually hurting those close to him and alienating the people trying to help. He lies that he killed Aiden, again another time he just jumps on the first opportunity he sees, and by doing so, he alienates all of their allies and endangers his family. The only reason they end up beating Dahlia is because of Esther. They all would have died based on Klaus' plan. Sure his idea to curse Hayley did technically save her life but he didn't do it for that purpose, he admitted he did it to punish her. There was no long term scheme. He hadn't thought through how it would impact Hope or even what he would tell his daughter as she got older.

Then in Season 3, Lucien had Klaus on his knees before his big brother and big sister swept in to save the day. Even taking down Tristan was thanks to Cami and Freya's plan. He had to be saved from the Strix by Hayley, Marcel, and Stefan. They have their big Thanksgiving dinner where they confront the three, but all it does is show that Lucien, Tristan, and Aurora had out schemed the Mikaelsons. The only thing the Mikaelsons could do was overpower them and threaten them.

In Season 4, Klaus hardly does anything and Season 5 Klaus is an absolute mess. You're telling me this legendary strategist couldn't save his daughter and her mother from a hundred year old vampire? He couldn't figure out a way to find her? In the seven years they were forced apart, he wasn't even trying to find a way to reunite his family? He wasn't a strategist, rather he waited for events to happen and then reacted impulsively, hoping it would work out. His plans are all based on emotion and vendettas, not strategy or intelligence.

Yes, he is Machiavellian in a sense that he has nearly no empathy and will do whatever it takes to get what he wants, but he lacks the cunningness to be truly Machiavellian. Instead he is just a narcissistic psychopath.

[slow-burn-sally]

My Favorite Characters with ADHD

Again, these are only my opinions.

Jeremy - The Secret Of NIMH. Come on. Look at him. He is a combined-type ADHD boy if ever there was one. Distracted, clumsy, impulsive, I bet the writers either had ADHD, knew someone who had ADHD, or had a child with ADHD.

2. Newton Geiszler - Pacific Rim.

Also impulsive as fuck, a class clown, obnoxious, yet obnoxiously smart, and somehow still charming as fuck. He reads very ADHD to me. BB. Forgive me for using the meme gif. It's just so good.

3. Rose Nylund - The Golden Girls

Who doesn't love Rose? She's friendly, sweet, fun, creative, horny, and hilarious. She also can't remember anything for more than five minutes, and is the human equivalent of a small, cute dog who bumps into things a lot by accident. I love you Rose. Long live Betty White.

4. Sherlock Holmes (The Jeremy Brett Granada-Holmes).

I actually think Holmes may have had both ADHD and Autism, but really, Brett's Holmes is bombastic, impulsive (seeing a trend), able to hyperfocus at the speed of light. Overshares, blows up friendships. Cannot keep a clean flat. Hyper as all get out. Think about it.

5. Nadja of Antipaxos - What We Do In The Shadows

She's a hot mess. Distracted, forgetful, intensely interested in some things, and cannot be bothered to give a flying fuck about other things. Out of sight, out of mind. She's probably also AuDHD actually, but for the purposes of this list, I will draw your attention to her many impulsive and rash decisions surrounding her emotions, and her over the top RSD. She's so beautiful, help.

6. Jonathan Strange - Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.

Oh my god such an ADHD boy! He cannot sit still, and he has no patience for rules or regulations. He's self centered, impulsive (hello!), running off on the King's Roads, and drinking mouse juice to make himself go mad on purpose. Failing at four careers before finally becoming a magician by absolute accident. I love you Johnty. Never change.

7. Cornelius Hickey (or whatever his real name is) - The Terror.

He's impulsive (aye-oh!), makes sudden, rash decisions, is prone to flashes of anger, has off the charts RSD, and though he manages to hyperfocus on sabotaging the expedition for his own needs, he still makes a lot of careless mistakes and fucks it up royally. Too bad one of his hyper-focuses wasn't "learning about ships". I love you Hickey, you adorable bastard. How is his hair always so good?

8. Back to JS&MN for Christopher Drawlight.

Christopher Drawlight cannot sit still to save his life. He's always being charming, chatting people up, and making social connections, both real and fabricated by himself. Only sometimes, he loses track of which lies he's told, and to whom, which gets him in a lot of trouble. His hyperfocus is social status, and he can't let it go, even at the bitter end. He's really one of my favorite characters, even if he is a horrible person. This goes for both book and show Drawlight, by the way. Both top notch. Both ADHD as fuck.

9. Dory - Finding Nemo.

I mean... do I have to say anything else? I don't think I do. I love Dory so much. I relate so, so much. Inattentive ADHD Fish Sister.

10. All versions of Doctor Who, but Tenant is becoming iconic, and I love him, so let's go with number 10!

Just an all around hyperactive ADHD guy. Fun, creative, adventurous, risk taker, IMPULSIVE (it doesn't end). But really, all Doctor Whos feel ADHD to me. There's something capricious and clumsy and dreamy and jumpy about all of them.

[stromuprisahat]

I think Zoya was a good soldier overall, not quite there as a leader but as a soldier, she was essential enough for Aleksander to want to manipulate her. He doesn't just employe 4-5 the post powerful grishasTM, he has an entire army at his command so him wanting Zoya who is strong physically (power wise) and also is herself good at manipulating people too to be on his side is a smart decision really.

Gods, I really have to disagree with all of this.

She wasn't a good soldier, since that one is expected to obey without questioning. Decision making is their superior's job. Show Zoya disobeyed on the skiff, book Zoya while hunting "her" amplifier. In both cases she was jealous of Alina enough to "magically" attack her at training grounds, although soldier should recognize another's strategic importance. What if she cracked Alina's skull in some unfortunate way? Dead Sun Summoner, and useless amplified Squaller offended that daddy doesn't love her the best.

I'd also love to see that manipulation. Sure, she "remembers" the Darkling told her the exactly same sentence he told Alina, but to be fair- she's lying about other stuff too, and why would he tell an ordinary, albeit promising, Squaller they're going to change the world?! How many of those did he meet in his long, long life?! Nah, Zoya's re-writing other events (slaughter of "Second Army") we had the chance to witness, of course the man she was looking up to just HAD TO notice her too! The girl has daddy issues so grand her next target is a fucking dragon. And unless LB retcons the hell out of it, Zoya should pay for her lack of growth by her own body and mind.

The Darkling is also described to be constantly on the move, while Zoya was about a year out of school, and stationed at the Fold. Not much contact if you ask me, and even when studying in Little Palace- how likely is it that Aleksander will make more time for Zoya than the fucking Sun Summoner?! He talked to Alina like once a month max., and most of those were a combination of unplanned meeting and him being happy to run away from his nagging mother. I know people like to throw around the word "manipulation", but a good one-on-one manipulation requires time and contact. Especially if you want to be certain of the result.

I also cannot remeber a single example of Zoya being good in it?! She's about as subtle as a rock through a glass window, she can't even fake being interested in negotiations with people she doesn't like! How is she supposed to act sneakily and hide her true intentions in such a delicate matter?!

If you asked me why did the Darkling "favour" her, he saw powerful Grisha with strong need to prove herself, able to gain enough skill to be worth officer training. Time would show her best use in practice, but so far she's too rash for leadership and too careless for closer cooperation. The Fold was a safe option. Her enemy is pretty straightforward- volcra, if anything. I also wouldn't risk her near the front or borders in general, and certainly not anywhere near more "delicate" positions. I certainly wouldn't call her "essential". That was Ivan. Genya even. Likely other characters we've never been introduced, because we've never seen his side and inner workings of an actual Second Army.

[urlocallesbiab]

thinking about dirk and farah parallels... i think what's similar between them is that the thing that makes each of them special, their powers (holistic detection and one-woman-army skills) are something that they haven't picked for themselves, that was forced upon them from above (dirk is an angel of the universe's will, and farah is her father's daughter), was demanded they cultivate to unreachable perfection to the (dis)pleasure (dissappointment, disgracre) of their father/-figure (try again, svlad; try harder, farah) — but also it is something they reclaim, and accept, and make theirs within the bounds of the agency. dirk can't help who he is but he chose calling himself a detective, and farah can't help who she is but she chose to open a detective agency. dirk finally has people who can keep him company on inevitable adventures, farah finally has people who appreciate her hard work and skill. they do not change their natures, but instead find — build — a space where they can be accepted; celebrated, even. loved.

there's a post by generalized-incompetence, about how todd's character growth goes along the "take control of your life" message of the show, and farah's along the "you can't control everything" one; repentance vs acceptance. and i agree! i think the two of them as dirk's friends represent the two halves that he, as the story's protagonist and thus the embodiment of everything, must try and balance within himself. it's about the complementing influences, inspiration vs assurance; and i think dirk really is a good influence on farah. being around him helps her accept both herself — feel needed, wanted, validated, accomplished, stretch the muscles she's spent her whole life building — and also the world around her. farah is (less now than at the beginning) a control freak, and every misfortune, big or small, she perceived as a personal failure – she's responsible for people she loves, they depend on her, if patrick gets hurt, if lydia gets hurt, it's her fault, her fault, her fault; she must be in full control of the situation! but with dirk she suddenly finds that she cannot. if he is meant to survive, he will be miraculously saved, and if he's meant to come to harm, he will be bizarrely wounded; dirk moves along a path in the sky larger than life, and farah can only hope to grasp at it, not reign it in. the best she can offer is support; the best she can offer is her best, not perfect. if she is to stick by dirk, the wild, godawful, unpredictable, incomprehensible, incredible dirk, she is to accept that she can't control everything. and so she does. it's not an easy change (the time travel was hard to fit into her worldview, and she still struggles — is still on her path), but a necessary one: she is, after all, one of the imperfect, free, wonderful freaks.

that she makes dirk happier is obvious: he is but a fountain of love, and it spills out of him freely with every bob of his head. but it's important to me to remember that he, too, makes farah happy, genuinely and deeply. there are many opinions in this fandom — about as many as there are fans — on who farah is, what does she want, how does she feel about the agency, and what does the future hold for her; i, personally, am a firm believer that she belongs at the agency. she still has to figure herself out, of course, to complete her arc and grow into herself, unbidden by expectations and blooming (and that's a whole another micro-essay unto itself, so let's table it for now); but joining, funding, opening the agency wasn't a rash decision, or a stepping stone, or a burden — it is a place where she can be, is free to be, wants to be (herself). a place she carved out for herself and her people: a freak hub, where she's the second-in-command freak. i think she's as much glad to be there, and instrumental to "there" existing at all, as todd is. in general, i view all three of them as integral, inseparable, experiencing equally intense affection towards each of the others (even though the flavors may vary from romance to queerplatonic bond to friendship (in that order: brotzly, todd&farah, dirk and farah; yes, i am rather predictable)), supporting equally strong and meaningful relationships. the three of them are a little family, and they all love each other very much :3

[tododeku-or-bust]

Patrochilles: Head vs. Heart. Who is more likely to follow their heart? Who is more likely to follow their head?

One hill i will always die on is that Patroclus is generally very emotional, that he makes decisions straight from the heart quite often (and very many of them are rash!)

TSoA examples include: ditching everything to run his scrawny ass up a mountain at odds with a goddess despite having zero idea if Achilles would even be there, chasing him to Scyros with almost zero context, saving Briseis in the beginning, going after Briseis at risk of Agamemnon and Achilles' wrath to save her again, begging Achilles to take his armor, going in further into battle, up the wall, and...well

Iliad examples: cursing Achilles out for leaving the Greeks to die when they need him, accepting Achilles' plan to wear his armor, leaving the beach despite being warned not to, going deeper into battle in a warriors bloodlust, and... Well

It's a core character trait of his lmao. Shit, loving Achilles despite everything he's done is a heart decision 🤣 cuz boy! Even in Hades, his depression is rooted in his misery, but he does not want to keep drinking from the Lethe bc he values those memories.

Patroclus serves as an empathetic heart (in the story, of his relationship in general) and because of that, we assume that he's the more "logical" when in reality he's just more considerate than Achilles. Did that make sense? I feel like i might have lost my point lmao, but i know i had one.

Achilles is not stupid. He isn't. He made fairly cohesive arguments, they just weren't in line with what a "good soldier" (who would question nothing of authority, no matter how corrupt) would say. However, we don't remember those as much as we remember the explosive consequences of his extremely poor decisions made in his emotion. So he's still very much a heart person, but i just want to throw in the opposite opinion of before, which is that he's not all heart no head.

(I like to think of Odysseus, whom we all deem the smartest one, and yet even HE made a HEADASS choice to brag using his government name 🤣 it doesn't take away from his general intelligence, it just...was so illogical lmao)

In summary, in my opinion!! Both heart people in different ways, i can't make the choice I'm sorry 😅🤣 I hope you enjoyed this essay though 🤣🫡

[woelfin-sheeps-clothing]

Just found your blog after popping into the J&D tag for the first time in a while and you're doing FANTASTIC work for this tiny fandom, especially with Dark Jak and Jaxter content! Us fans are getting FED :D

Hi there! I'm so sorry that I've taken this long to reply. Your message absolutely made my day when I received it, thank you so, so much! Believe me, I'm also getting a great deal of enjoyment out of all the Dark Jak art I've been making too. 😆

The Jak and Daxter fandom could not have come into my life at a better point in time. What started as me glancing up at what my husband was playing on the PlayStation gradually evolved into a very profound appreciation for the story and the characters, as well as the crucial chunk of videogame history Jak and Daxter became a part of. I absolutely fell in love with Jak's character come Jak II and watched a lot more closely when my husband started to play. I loved how he had a lot of moments of rash decisions and impulses and selfish behaviors, and the way he'd watch Daxter when Daxter was speaking with the edge of his lip curling up ever so slightly. He very much reminded me of myself when I was being a very difficult teenager and butting heads with just about everyone in my life. 😂

I'd fallen into a weird art rut I couldn't get out of, between being tired all the time and a lot of nonsense at work that was beginning to become nonstop (still is, if anyone wants THAT story), to the point I wasn't really happy with anything I was making, my progression as an artist was stalling, and I flat out was just not creating much of anything anymore. Then one day I got the weird urge to draw Dark Jak being sassy, and for the first time in a while I found that I couldn't put my tablet down. I just had to finish. I was excited to be done with chores because I wanted to get right back to working on the piece. I found myself learning new art tricks and falling in love with lineart and cell shading again and not feeling compelled to have a more painterly style. And then when I was done? All I could think of is "I gotta do that again". There was no waffling for three days on some half baked sketches, no avoiding creating because I'd inevitably be stuck. I knew what I wanted to make, and I knew how I was going to make the next one better with all the things I'd learned in the first one.

It's been exactly a month since I finished that first piece, and for the first time in a long while I can look back and see how much I created, be it simple sketches or a fully fleshed piece. That hasn't happened to me in such a long time that the past month kinda feels like a fever dream. But it's helped put me in a better mental state to start trying to build a new portfolio again, to start setting things up to become more freelance than in-house. It's also changed how I view my engagement.

Is it fun to get a bunch of notes? Of course. But now when I post a JnD piece, what I'm looking forward to is not the numbers but the comments, reading all the wonderful and silly tags people leave for me. It makes me so incredibly happy, and it put me in the orbit of a lot of other wonderful people in this fandom. I've gotten to see so much wonderful and fun art from others in this fandom too, and read many absolutely awesome fics made by the same people. It's been so freaking cool to me to have this more one-on-one interaction with folks that I never got with other fandoms. When I make stuff, not only is it making me happy to make it, but in the back of my mind I'm also going "I can't wait till x sees this!"

Sorry if this got way too TMI or drawn out, but please let me say with all of my heart thank you @whisker-biscuit , and thank you to everyone else's who's left fun comments and tags on my stuff these past few weeks. This has made the start of the year so unbelievably incredible to me in ways I didn't foresee, and I'm very thankful for it. I'm hopeful about my artistic future in ways I have been in a while, and it means the absolute world to me.

[carica-ficus]

Review: Mages & Mechanisms

Author: Devin Harnois

Date: 04/08/2024

Rating: ⭐⭐

_________________________________________________

During the summer, I got the chance to finally get to some books I downloaded during the stuff your kindle days. "Mages & Mechanisms" caught my eye pretty much instantly, primarily because of its incredibly unique premise that sparked my curiosity. Well... Aside from that, it turned out to be quite disappointing.

The story follows Leander who holds a little shop for mechanical animals. He is an expert builder, but his delicate work doesn't bring in the profit that it should. One day he comes across Jak, a traveling mage who decides to help him out and bring life to his creations. Soon enough, their work gains popularity and they are called upon a baroness to make a giant, mechanical dragon for her. This task will put their workmanship to the test, as will their budding relationship, but both are willing to take up the assignment because they can't afford to pass out on it.

The plot idea truly piques one's interest. It is easy to get immersed into the world, as a lot of attention is given to the steampunk inventions that make the setting unique. Mechanical animals, hot air balloons, intricate fashion and lavish, exciting parties all provide a beautiful addition to the experience of this novel.

Unfortunately, the cultural elements of the worldbuilding fall through. The author sets up a precise depiction of societal norms and rules, specifically the differentiation between classes and the general viewpoint on queerness, but shrugs them off in order to further develop the story and relationship between the characters. Leander and his family are a part of a working class, but throughout the story they never experience any real pressure when integrated into high society.

Furthermore, while Leander is cautious of his relationship with Jak, his fear of discovery is treated with a sense of antipathy. Even though he has the right to worry because, as Harnois himself insinuates, he might be ostracized for his queerness, a lot of the tension in his romance originates in his refusal to admit he is in love with another man. It seems as if he is at fault for expecting the worst of people who love him, when in reality he has all the reason to worry. He is risking his family's safety, his fortune, his work and his life by being in a relationship with Jak, and he is almost pressured to come out.

Jak, on the other hand, is played off as a laid back, promiscuous man who has never needed to face the consequences of his actions. While he has dealt with many difficulties throughout his life and has his fair share of unresolved traumas, his past is brushed aside for the sake of becoming an entertaining counterpart to Leander. Jak's experience of the world is given much more significance, compared to Leander's, and his emotions are amplified through his assertive, and dominant personality. While this is supposed to paint Jak as a positive influence on Leander - guiding him toward a bigger freedom and challenging him to take a leap of faith - his rashness is disquieting and feels coercive, instead of supportive.

Jak's and Leander's relationship bears many faults - from stereotypical archetypes and dull personalities to frivolous fights that fail to create a sense of true tension - but the most notable one might be that there are no consequences for their actions. This problem spreads out throughout the whole novel and its plot. The author constantly reminds the reader of the sacrifices the characters need to make and the potential negative outcomes of their decisions, but they never come to fruition.

Granted, this book might be categorized as a "cozy fantasy" with its instant love, perfect ending and sweet characters, but the worldbuilding of it insinuates that the reality of it should be much darker. Leander and Jak's relationship is met with cheers, even though the society is painted as very close-minded, the baroness offers them everything they have ever dreamed of and most of high society is friendly and welcomes Leander's family with no prejudice, even though they are depicted as a lower class, and so on. It is not that happy endings and positive outcomes are bad or should be unexpected, the problem is that the tension created by unfavorable and malevolent conditions completely falls through, and, subsequently, the worldbuilding as well. The reader is told they should worry for the characters, but their distress is never realized to its potential.

On the other hand, its low stakes and lighthearted writing made it a perfect, quick summer read. I might not have liked this book, but I can also admit that if I was younger, I might have found it more enjoyable and entertaining. Still, as it is, "Mages & Mechanisms" just wasn't the right choice for me.

[spectrumos]

I'm so glad to see stuff like this.

My OC, Zephyr, seems to represent my love, and.. also pity, of this world and it's characters. My sorrow at all that's happened.

So few of these people are pure evil and... I want to comfort them all.

I look at Marika and Radagon and Rennala and I just... I want so badly to understand what Marika was feeling when this decision was made. I find it quite difficult to believe she didn't feel guilt over it.

Pitting those two against each other or killing one of them in a post-canon fic always makes me so sad.

I want to be there, for them both, and Rennala.

Miquella's behavior is as disturbing, pitiful, and intriguing as it is beautiful, ironic, tragic... I look at the charm as a representation of his lack of trust in others. The world disappoints him at every turn. His naturally childish worldview may give way to rash behavior.

When he speaks of embracing the whole of it and redeeming the original sin... in the method he chose, the destruction of his very self! I want so desperately to take that burden.

Zephyr has killed so much, surely that's enough sacrifice. Even if it can be considered wrong.

It had to be worth something.

As I've written this, I've considered the commonalities of pity and love. the desire to befriend someone and ease their burdens. Or to embrace the whole of them.

I think... I can sometimes seriously struggle with parsing and parting these two pairs of feelings. But they're still there, and they're valid.

I think... Zephyr represents desperation the most. He's "looped" through this journey many times, learning as much as he can to find some way to not have to sacrifice the welfare of someone he loves over another.

Or... Sometimes slaughtering the world for its strength. Far... Far too many times.

It's been insanity and depression. Nihilism, misanthropy.

Even rejection of reality itself.

But he can't die... Not really.

So these feelings can meet their end, or turn into new ones. Because time can't heal all wounds, and by Marika he knows that.

But it can heal some, it can bring new perspectives, new feelings to have. Even new people to meet, a few times, even in other lands.

But... his feelings always go back to love and desperation.

(I had written some short scenes last night that would be at the bottom of this post, but I was unhappy with them when I woke up. I spent a while trying to edit them, but I've given up. I might start fresh, or get back to work on Zephyr's main fic.)

I LOVE people shipping their tarnished OCs with canon characters! I LOVE seeing art of tarnished OCs x Canon! I LOVE OC x Canon! HELL YESS! I LOVE seeing people having fun and creating scenarios! I LOVE IT!!!

[loregoddess]

Since it's still too soon for me to send Fòdlan asks... Alear, Veyle and Yunaka for the character ask game?

love that we sent each other the same characters...

cut for length and some spoilers for late- and end-game stuff

Alear

First impression: Like many, I thought the design was uh...interesting. Kinda silly. I didn't think the art was bad or anything, it's just, there was so much high saturation red and blue. Pepsiman to the max. Otherwise I had no strong interest or hopes for their characterization bc on average I am wildly neutral on protagonists even when they aren't avatar-esque characters.

Impression now: Hoo boy, do I love Alear something fierce and this hit me out of nowhere like a train bc I was not expecting Alear's writing to be so good, and just. Damn, Alear's one of the most characters of all time, love them lots and lots, probably my personal favorite FE protagonist honestly. Still can't believe the hair was plot relevant.

Favorite moment: Oooh, there's lots, but I really enjoyed the post-Ch10/11 scene where like, Alear looses everything they thought they needed to fight Sombron, but then Lucina gives them the pep talk and like, of course it's Lucina, the girl who has faced similar hardships, who knows what it's like to have to keep fighting against impossible odds, and like, Alear realizing that no wait yeah they have their friends and they might find help in Solm, and that initial burst of resolve to keep trying was just, I dunno, a really good midpoint both for the game's story arc, and for Alear's personal story arc... I ALSO really liked the scene post-reveal of Alear being a Fell Dragon where Alear literally just, sits and talks things out with the others instead of making some rash decision by themself, bc like, I know miscommunication or otherwise lack of healthy conversation makes for drama and all that, but it's actually so refreshing and interesting to have a character make the decision to talk things out instead and like, mmm, I absolutely loved that scene.

Idea for a story: I'm not much of an AU person, but a Lumera Lives AU might be interesting if only bc I'm not partial to the "self-sacrifice to save another" trope like, I know "I'd die for you" is a popular phrase right now for showing affection or love, but I find that willingness to die a bit concerning, and there's something really powerful about "I'd live for you" as a way of expressing love that I don't think gets explored enough. So maybe like, Lumera lives, but she has to go into a deep sleep to recover or something, and Sombron tries to mind-control her in Ch25, like how he did with Veyle with the crown, and after you free Lumera she's regained enough strength that she could be a last-minute recruit for the battle against Sombron, as it would be really cool to see her interactions with Alear after Alear's character development and growth (and Emblemification), as well as with Veyle and the other Lythos characters. A fic exploring that, as well as the post-game setting would be interesting. I'm probably not gonna write it bc I like coming up with ideas more than actually doing anything with them, but it's fun to think about.

Unpopular opinion: All positive opinions about Engage are unpopular opinions, but anyhow, Alear's writing is fantastic actually. Also I think Alear is the first and (so far) only time that FE has used an "avatar-esque" protagonist well, bc Alear has a firmly established personality and doesn't actually act as a true self-insert (since there's no customization outside of the name and gender appearance, neither of which are important to or affect the story), but still allows the player that sort of link into the game by letting them choose a gender appearance. Like, don't get me wrong I like the other avatar characters, but something about the execution didn't work either as an avatar or as a story protagonist for me for each.

Favorite relationship: Love, love, love Alear's familial relationships with Lumera and Veyle, and later Nel and Rafal, but I also love how much Alear kind of adopts everyone into their family in some way or another as well, like Alear turned the Somniel, this place of austere worship and divinity, into a place that's like a second home for basically the entire army plus the few random civilians who runs the stores.

Favorite headcanon: It's sorta implied in canon that Alear will literally just sleep all day if someone doesn't wake them up, but I think once Alear is awake they can also stay up for much longer than humans can without getting tired. However, Alear enjoys sleeping enough that they don't actually do the staying up thing that often and no one realizes it until some freak incident where Alear's awake for like a week solid, and then sleeps for a week afterwards.

Veyle

First impression: I came in knowing sort of vaguely what her arc was bc I spoiled myself on part of the Engage stuff, but I wasn't wildly interested or disinterested in her as a character.

Impression now: LOVE HER, she's so sweet, her story's actually way more tragic and hopeful than I was expecting it to be, and she's great, she's wonderful, I hope she gets all the nice things in life bc she deserves them.

Favorite moment: Oh, when she's able to break through the mind-control helmet, and forcefully take her own body back from Sombron's control so she could revive Alear, that was such a chilling scene to watch and it was so cool to see her finally take her own life back for herself. Like, she has this strength of heart that comes from how kind she is and then to see that strength manifest in literally being able to oppose even Sombron's most powerful magic, like damn I was so proud of her even as I was watching the lowkey horrific scene of Alear becoming a Corrupted play out.

Idea for a story: Ever since you mentioned a fic idea for Veyle rebuilding Gradlon I've wondered what that would look like, it's such a cool concept. Also, if there were potentially other dragon survivors who had gone into hiding who sought out Gradlon and Lythos after Sombron was defeated, how Veyle would interact with them, like, I dunno that would be interesting to explore. It'd also be cool to explore her potential relationship with Lumera (branching off from the Alear fic idea above).

Unpopular opinion: For all the criticism Engage gets, I haven't seen Veyle catch too much flack and that's nice honestly. I guess...I know a lot of people wanted to see Alear and Veyle turn into dragons, but I'm actually fine with them not being able to do that? Like it works for the narrative theme of questioning what it means to be a fell or divine dragon, and the idea that fell does not equal evil and the inability to transform does not make one a defective dragon feels relevant to both Veyle and Alear.

Favorite relationship: I love her familial relationship to Alear and how she's so excited to have Nel as a sister in their supports, and I'd like to imagine that excitement at having new siblings extends to Rafal as well. I think her relationship with Mavier (esp. her insisting they be friends bc she doesn't want a retainer or a worshipper) is nice too, and I love how invested she becomes in connecting with the various people in the army (I still want to know the results of her spicy food eating competition with Diamant).

Favorite headcanon: Like Alear, Veyle has a habit of giving people small gifts like pretty rocks or flowers that reminded her of whomever. Also, once she eases into a normal life routine a bit more, she likes to host parties or larger gatherings so she can be around a lot of friends in peaceful times and have lots of happy memories to cherish.

Yunaka

First impression: I thought her design was cute if a bit unusual for FE (esp. with the stars in her hair), but I wasn't sure what to think otherwise at first.

Impression now: Oooh, Yunaka's great, one of my top favorite characters for sure. I love the dichotomy between the peppy and lighthearted mask she puts up against how casually she drops these darker "definitely used to be an assassin" lines in battle. Plus she's such a mess, and I mean this in the best way, but like, where she's at in her life is a mess, she's trying to break away from being an assassin, she has no frame of reference for what is "normal", she doesn't quite know what she actually wants to do, she's terrified of people learning the truth about her but she also seems kind of relieved anytime they do, she's so incredibly complex while also being the fun girl who drops likes like "hiya papaya" and "zappy". She's just amazing, I love her so much as a character, we need more characters like her.

Favorite moment: Oh hmm, she has a lot of good supports, but I thought it was really incredible how she decides to open up to Alear in their supports about her past, but like, on her terms and because she chose to share this information. Like, I really enjoy her supports with Citrinne and Zelkov as well, but Citrinne sort of forces Yunaka to explain her past, whereas Zelkov's able to pick up on it bc he's also a former assassin, and in both cases Yunaka doesn't get to choose to reveal this thing about herself that she's trying to keep secret. I also really liked her supports with Alfred for this reason, bc while Yunaka thinks she's going to have to explain everything for them to be "actual, real friends", Alfred makes is very clear to her that he doesn't care at all about her past and is fine with only knowing the person she is now, on her terms, and he has no reason or need really to know more than who she is now, which was just like, really sweet (and very Alfred given that he's also keeping secrets).

Idea for a story: Hmm, maybe something exploring her life before joining Alear? Something post-game, following her travels and how she eventually figures out who she is and wants to be and becomes comfortable as that person (yes I'm ignoring the ominous ending card) and what she eventually settles into would be interesting as well.

Unpopular opinion: Something something about how people say Engage has less complex characters, and how Yunaka disproves that (well, there's plenty other characters I could cite, but I could literally write an essay on Yunaka she's got so much stuff going on). Also I think Yunaka is probably one of the most complex characters from the recent games, and she's also miles more interesting, complicated, and well-written than most of the women from 3H (no shade intended for the 3H ladies, they're great too, but some of them are pretty standard in terms of the FE women with one-key characterization).

Favorite relationship: Love her friendship with Alfred, and friendship or romance with Alear, and I think her relationship with Citrinne turns out really interesting too. Love that she and Zelkov just start hanging out as a way to sort of heal from the trauma of being assassins in their youth. Also her supports with Goldmary were incredibly good and I like to think the two remained friends. Basically Yunaka having friends who accept her for who she is and allow her to grow and become who she wants to be are Very Good, and I want her to have the best. Oh, and I know they don't interact in the game, but I think she'd get along really well with Veyle, especially since Yunaka didn't choose to be an assassin and her entire childhood was ruined bc of it, and she'd see Veyle who's also had a shitty childhood but still has some childhood left, and be like, "Yeah, I'm gonna make sure this girl's life is good from here on out."

Favorite headcanon: Her ending is unusually ominous and I like to Ignore It (inset meme image of Yunaka and Sonya shaking hands over a caption reading "FE woman with more than one personality trait ominously vanishing in their ending card"). I like to think that after her time as a street performer she travels the world doing random good deeds (helping out at Zelkov's orphanage, being that Really Strange Guest in Goldmary's classes, hanging out with Citrinne and helping her navigate how to better help the commoners, maybe even sometimes going and scaring a bunch of ruffians causing trouble to stop causing trouble bc while she's put the assassin life behind her, she can still be scary enough to get some troublemakers to reform their ways, so on and so forth). And I think she does eventually figure herself out and find a place she can call home and live out a happy, quit retirement.

[devilmayfamily]

He Keeps Me Up

5!Dante x Male!Reader NSFW, MDNI There is no plot, shame on you for thinking there would be This is a long one and I don't just mean Dante ;)

The pub was packed, loud, and smelled strongly of all the alcohol being poured and drank throughout the place. His spot sat at the bar gave Dante the best view to watch everyone around him and keep an eye on the door. He wasn't planning on leaving any time soon but it was nice to be able to see the exit in case he needs to make a quick getaway.

The half-demon was nursing a rum and coke, his second favorite drink after a good old-fashioned beer. He only ever drank rum and coke however when he had something on his mind he really wanted to forget about or if he just really wanted to get wasted.

He took a moment to look around before taking a sip of his drink. As he set the glass down, his heightened senses noticed the door opening. The legendary devil hunter turned slightly to look at who had entered.

Walking in was a much smaller figure than the room had already seen. If his demon senses didn't tell him otherwise, Dante would've thought the person was no older than 18. The figure walked over to the island Dante sat at, taking a seat a few chairs down from the devil hunter.

You weren't surprised that the bartender asked for your ID. You knew you looked much younger than your age, your smaller stature not helping any. You weren't complaining, however. Your size has gotten you into and out of some helpful situations over the years.

You thanked the bartender for your drink, taking a small sip before turning to look at the crowd around you. Having just moved into the area, you were excited to get out there and meet some new people and what better way to do that than go to a local pub?

Not really. You and Dante had a thing for little role play in the bedroom. It spiced things up and was great for welcome home presents when Dante got back from long missions.

Dante took a moment to take in all your features. For a male, you only seemed to be 5'7, not short by any means but definitely shorter than him. Your smaller figure definitely had the devil hunter reeling and at this point, he wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or his demon instincts.

Dante downed the rest of his drink before making the rash decision to move closer to you.

You turn, hearing the shuffling of the man to your left coming a little closer. You smile up at him as he sits down next to you, turning now to face him.

"Well hello," you greet the man.

"Hi," Dante replies.

There is a brief bit of silence before you chuckle. Dante tilts his head, confused by your action.

"I knew I was funny but I've barely done anything yet," Dante chuckles.

"Sorry, I'm just amazed they let you old timers out this late," you tease, covering the fact that you almost broke character.

Dante smirks. Two could play at this game.

"Shouldn't you be in college or something?" he asks.

"Why? Got a thing for guys who are barely legal?" you ask.

The two of you stare at one another for a moment before smiles spread across your faces.

"What's your name?" you ask him.

"Tony."

"Y/N."

"Tell me Y/N, why's a cutie like you doing here alone?" Dante asks.

You shrug, taking another sip of your drink. "New city, new people to meet," you reply.

So you weren't from here. That intrigued the devil hunter more.

"You gonna show me the town old timer?" you ask.

"Well, I can't let a little thing like you get lost out here. Too many people here will want to snatch you right up," Dante replies with a wink.

Even as a blush spreads across your face, your features remain calm. You reach out, pushing some strands of hair out of Dante's face. He leans into your touch, maintaining eye contact with you.

"You want to get out of here?" you ask.

"You don't mind going home with an old man like me?"

You smile, leaning in and placing a kiss on his cheek. "I think I can handle a big boy like you."

You lean back, sliding off your stool before slowly walking away from the bar. You turn back to Dante, giving him a wink before making your way out of the crowded pub.

The red devil sat there stunned for a moment. No man, or woman for that matter, has ever gotten him that flustered in the few seconds you two spent together. He quickly gathered his senses, following after you out of the pub.

You hadn't gone far, slowly making your way down the sidewalk. You turned to see if the handsome man you'd just met was really gonna follow you and to your delight, he was.

Dante caught up to you, wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling you in close. "I thought I told you not to go by yourself?"

"Sorry Daddy, I just really want to go home now," you reply, an innocence coating your words like sugar.

Now you really had him worked up. Dante's grip grew slightly tighter with a new urgency flooding his veins.

"Well then, why don't we get you home?"

The two of you make it to your small one-bedroom apartment relatively quickly, Dante practically being dragged by you back to the apartment complex.

"Eager aren't we?", Dante teases.

"Well, when a handsome guy like you comes up to me at a bar it's hard not to be," you reply.

Dante chuckles, following you inside. He walks in, taking in the cozy-looking place as you shut the door behind you. Dante could smell your scent everywhere and it was becoming intoxicating for the devil. However, the half-demon could smell small bits of other people in the room too, which wasn't all that odd considering the members of DMC liked to stop by every once and awhile. However, the scent of his brother caught him, making him snarl into the empty space.

"What's wrong, big guy?" you ask.

Without a word, Dante walks over caging you in between him and the door. He leans in, burying his face in your neck. Through his demon nose, Dante can smell Vergil over you.

To prepare for tonight, you hung out with blue devil all day. Though the older twin would rather stay out of your shenanigans, he didn't mind your company the last two days. He let you drape yourself all over him for the day while he got free food and attention for a few hours. You'd repay the man later seeing as things were going well here.

Dante growls, the scent of his brother filling his nose. The animalistic sound sent shivers down your spine. Vergil was definitely getting a worthy repay.

"You've been with him all day," Dante growls.

The roleplaying going out the window now as Dante lightly nipped at you neck. He found were Vergil's scent was the strongest and bit down hard, a small trickle of blood seeping out. You gasped in surprise, not expecting such force behind the bite but it quickly turned into a moan as Dante licked and sucked on the wound.

"You know I don't like when you show him more attention than me," Dante says.

"I had to prepare some how," your reply.

"Silly bunny," Dante says.

He nips at the wound, making you whimper as he kept it red and irritated. He also pushes his knee in between your legs, hands gripping your waist as he slowly rocks you back and forth against him.

You grip the fabric of his shirt, both pushing and pulling the male away and towards you. Dante only leaned in closer, growling as you tried to push the stronger male off of you.

"Stop bunny, unless you want this to turn out worse for you," Dante warns.

While you knew Dante would never intentionally hurt you to a terrible degree, the thought of him being rough made you weak in the knees. Before you could catch yourself, you lean fully onto Dante. He chuckles as he holds you up.

"Aww, does my bunny want that?" he asks.

You nod, your mind slowly fogging as Dante slowly palms you through your pants.

"Sweet thing, tell daddy what you want bunny."

You only whimper, trying to create more friction between the two of you. Dante chuckles, picking you up and carrying you away from the door. You instinctively wrap your legs around his waist. You kiss along his neck, finding that sweet spot and biting down. Dante groans, hand gripping your waist.

"Ok bunny, I hear you," Dante says, carrying you into your bedroom. He lays you down on the bed, you whimpering at the loss of his heat from you.

"It's ok bunny, daddy just has to get you ready first."

Dante runs both hands up and down your sides, light touches gracing any skin poking out from underneath your clothes. He leans over you, smiling before pulling you into a kiss. You instantly wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him in closer and deepening the kiss.

A hand pushes your shirt up as Dante trails kisses down from your lips to your chest, leaving hickies in his wake. He pulls the shirt off of you, throwing it somewhere in the room, as he trails down towards your pants. He glances up at you, smirking seeing the dazed look on your face.

He hooks his fingers into the belt loops, lightly tugging on your pants. Dante chuckled seeing you whine, trying to push the piece of clothing off of you.

"Someone really wants daddy's attention tonight," Dante says. "Such a shame you spent all day with his brother, daddy would probably be all over you right now."

And Dante really wanted to be all over you right now. Spending a week away was already torture for the demon but to come back and smell his brother all over you was much worse.

The twins weren't beyond sharing, they could be nice to one another once in awhile but Dante wanted to be the one with his scent all over you, not Vergil.

"Please," you whine. "Please daddy, I'll be good I promise."

"I don't know bunny, you seem to like disobeying me," Dante replies.

He slowly pulls your pants down, taking your boxers with. Dante can't help but run a finger from the base of your dick to the angry, pink tip. You buck up into his touch, whining for even the slightest bit of attention.

"Such a needy bunny," Dante teases. He leans down, kissing the tip earning a gasp from you. You bucked your hips up once more, Dante chuckling as he moved back.

"Daddy please," you beg.

"You want daddy's attention bunny?" Dante asks.

You quickly nod, making Dante smirk. You watched as he removes his shirt and pants, crawling back over you. Dante moves to sit between your legs, pulling you closer to him. He wrapped a hand around the base your cock, slowly stroking once, twice.

You whined, bucking up into his hand. Dante, with his free hand, softly pushes you down, holding your hips in place.

"It's ok bunny, daddy's got you," he says.

"Daddy, please," you whine, as Dante continues to slowly stroke your dick. Dante only smiles, slowing his movements even more.

"Fuck you," you curse the demon.

"You'd love to wouldn't you?" Dante asks.

You look up at the man. You were about to curse at him once more however Dante had other plans. Without warning, Dante slowly pushes himself in, a gasp leaving your lips as all anger you once had for him dissipated into pleasure. He leans down, capturing your lips in a kiss as he slowly pushed in.

"I fucking hate you," you say once the two of you part.

"Oh you do, do you?" Dante asks. "That why you were all over Vergil?"

"I think I'd rather be all over him right now," you say.

You watched as something animalistic took over the red devil. He pinned you down, pushing the rest of his length in. You moaned, gripping Dante's hands to ground yourself in some way.

Dante's paced was immediately fast, the devil barely giving you anytime to adjust as he pounded into you. Everything became a haze from that moment on. You were barely aware of what was going on, pleasure clouding all your senses.

"Did he fuck you this good? Huh?" Dante asks. "I can't imagine he did."

You only moan in response, unable to form any real words.

"Come on bunny, tell daddy who you really belong to."

He slows his movements for a moment, however kept the hard thrusts against ur prostate. "Tell. Daddy." Each word followed by a hard thrust. You moan with each one.

Dante leans down, licking up the side of your neck before biting down on the mark he left earlier. You gasp, legs wrapping around his torso pushing him closer to you.

"You! You daddy! I belong to you!" you reply.

"Good bunny." Dante sits up, pushing your legs to your chest before returning to the bruising pace he started with. His hands grip your waist, keeping you in place.

"Fuck bunny, always so good for me." Dante grunts. His movements were starting to slow a little signaling that he was close to coming undone.

Dante pulled you up so you were sitting on his lap now holding you up against his chest. You wrapped your arms around his neck as he continued to thrust up into you. Dante buried his face into your neck, biting down to muffle his own grunts and moans as you practically scream with the amount of pleasure coursing through you.

"Daddy, I'm close," you whine, fingers pulling on his hair at the nape if his neck as he kisses up to your ear.

"I am too bunny, cum for daddy," Dante says.

With one final thrust, you both collapse into one another.

"Fuck me," you sigh.

"Again already?", Dante asks.

You lightly smack him, both of you laughing at the other.

"Ok, hold on a second love." Dante lays you back down, slowly pulling out of you. You whine at the new empty feeling. You feel the bed dip a little before the sound of feet hitting the ground.

"Where are you going?" you whine.

"I'm getting a towel bunny, I'll be back," Dante says.

You give a dramatic sigh, smiling at Dante laughing as he walks out to the bathroom. A few seconds later the red devil comes back in with a damp hand towel, cleaning the two of you up. Once done, he throws the towel into the dirty clothes hamper near by before crawling into bed with you once again. Dante curls up next to you, pulling you in close before pulling the blanket over the both of you.

"This was a good way to come home," he says.

"I'm glad you liked it Tony," you reply.

Dante tickles you, causing you both to laugh as you try to tickle him back. Once you come to a truce and calm down, Dante rests his forehead against yours as he pulled you back in for cuddles again.

"I am going to get you for hanging out with Vergil all weekend," Dante says.

"Oh you love it don't even lie," you reply.

Dante only smirked, kissing your forehead. You snuggled in closer to the demon man, letting sleep finally take over.

[jiangwanyinscatmom]

For the character ask game: so in which Wrong Way do you like LXC here?

Haaaa... where shall I start for Lan Xichen?

Well, within the actual work itself I think he is lovingly written, and I think the work itself stands to show his love for his sibling is very realistic as not all siblings can get along very well, without necessarily understanding every single thought the other may have. He is doting and protective, yet he doesn't try to be overbearing as many other siblings within the work. He does let Lan Wangji decide as he wants for himself, even if at points Lan Xichen comes off a bit condescending. But, in my experience older siblings, as loving as they can be, can be thoughtlessly condescending even if they have best interest at heart. I just can't have it in me to think the worst of him and his love for his brother.

I also don't think he ever expresses true disdain for anyone, frustration yes, but he like many others only have their side of a story to try to make sense of things. His words to Wei Wuxian while cruel, are not something I personally think, weigh on Wei Wuxian. Like Lan Xichen said if no one else said a thing, it would always be frustratingly ambiguous between his brother and Wei Wuxian. And sometimes, a sibling's protection of their own gets the better of them when all they have seen from their point, is just their beloved sibling being played with. And I am sure plenty that have had siblings have unfortunately said things in their defense that they would not want to hear said to anyone.

He isn't some grand all knowing secretly devious man, he's just someone soft, who unfortunately is too trusting of the world and the people he chose to call friends. I can not fault someone for wanting to see the best in someone who really is not all that good. After all, this is exactly what happened to Wei Wuxian himself when it came to Jiang Cheng, and even he still tries to tell Lan Wangji that Jiang Cheng is just a brat, and to pay his nasty words no mind. It is not a coincidence that these two confrontations happen back to back, where Lan Xichen's trust in Jin Guangyao is finally broken, and Wei Wuxian admits to himself that the only thing that can be done between himself and Jiang Cheng, is to act like all has been repaid and move on.

And he is very privileged in ways, that is an unfortunate part of the world, but it also isn't a condemnation or should be used against anyone. He has already begun to pay for his own blindness and is EXTREMELY aware of what he failed at by the end. It is why he demands for the truth from Nie Huaisang as yet again, and still, he is in the middle of half information with no way to truly understand the full story. He is surrounded by liars and cheats, I would be tired of that as well, if I was that trusting.

As for the fandom side of thing, well, from what I said above, they either white wash him as being smart, perfect and extremely savvy which he is not. Or, paint him to be as manipulative if not more than Jin Guangyao or even in cahoots with him, simply for him wishing to observe in his own ways before making a rash decision. And when have rash decisions in this story ever pay off? There are consequences to all, it just depends on the severity throughout it. And condemnation is not exactly something this work promotes for the simple and naive. Naivety is just meant to be sad, as well as something to be seen as exploitable by the worst in the story. Do not condemn the naive for the ones that are willing to commit the actual evil.

[vierune]

I admit I was rash to assume you or anyone in this post were being infantilizing towards his character and I do apologize. However, I do think that on a basic level, assuming someone doesn't really mean the words that they say when they speak of what they want is rather by definition treating them like a child who doesn't really know what they want. So forgive my assumption, but it's based on that basic principle that saying someone doesn't truly mean what they say is the way one would treat a child who doesn't know what they're saying.

You are free to your interpretation and your own feelings as I am free to mine. The only reason I tend to dislike these sorts of posts is because I feel all they ultimately serve to do, in practice (by which I mean, by the rest of fandom, not necessarily you or the OP) is make them feel as if they've done something wrong in their game choices and make moral assumptions. But I suppose you nor the OP can't be blamed for how the current fandom climate behaves and I apologize for the assumption as well.

You are allowed to have your interpretation, of course, and I am allowed to have mine, and I maintain that I believe Astarion means what he says when he says he's alright with polyamory with Halsin and does not ever bring up regret over it later.

As for future DLC, I think it would be a bit silly to have him go through an entire story arc with you and Halsin by his side and then for him to suddenly decide he regrets being in a polycule. Pragmatically it would be a bad decision on Larian's part simply for how many players it would upset. So I don't see it happening.

MAN THAT REALLY COLORS THIS RESPONSE IN THIS CONVERSATION SO DIFFERENTLY FOR ME

[sandrockbandit]

it's 1am time for assorted logan thoughts. spoilers

• tbh the reveal of his Backstory startled me all sorts because i had taken him to be a more deliberate agent of chaos than he ended up being. i Really was here for Evil Cowboy...

• ... but what you end up getting is just kinda sad. not even exclusively tragic? it almost felt pitiful in a way. this character exists as he does because of a dumb rash series of well-intentioned decisions. there was no rhyme or reason to it and no one wanted it, no one is happy with the way things turned out, including him. i really want him to get therapy, man. im fond of him in an irate kinda way

• i think exploring his character re: culpability would be a really fun thing to write. not necessarily redemption - that doesn't quite suit him i think. that may be my personal fatigue with Redemption as a popular concept though it might actually suit him very well

• but bc by all accounts, one of the people left most hurt by what he did is logan himself. howlett was well-respected and liked, but many spoke of him in terms of how mercenary he was; no one was as dependent on howlett or loved him as much as his son. he wounded himself a lot for his fear and desperation, both with the loss of his father and the loss of his place in sandrock

• bc logan is irrationally sentimental! he throws it all away to get to his dad and pins up a child's drawing close to the bed like it means something and puts his all into solving his people's problems and

• .......... hm. prequel anakin...

• he doesn't strike me as. particularly experienced. i don't think he's fully mastered any of his skills quite yet but he's getting there. he really Feels like a young man who's lost his way and is still knocked off-kilter and suppressing grief and who is also really defensive about it

• but he's acting the part as best he can. boy is playing the part of purposeful rogue like his life depends on it

• logan pre-tragedy is described w words like "polite," "kind of ornery," "goodie two-shoes" - honest if a little aloof and an all-around decent man. probably a little harder to see that w the crimes and all but, like, he's still got basic manners. that "good day" before bailing was a little iconic imho

• i make the jokes abt it but definitely he was good enough at what he does to warrant justice offering him the deputy hat! that doesn't mean much though bc justice also gives the player honorary deputy status for, like, no reason. and he promoted a cat.

• i do imagine that logan has a keen eye for logistics and stealth and casing areas. boy keeps slipping into town and causing a ruckus and leaving immediately. he Chooses to be loud but the fact that he knows how to avoid traffic-heavy routes on town speaks to a cleverness on this front. he's well aware of how to be lowkey i just think he does not want to

• also the fact that there were a ton of books in his room - far more than i would imagine being strictly medical texts - speak to him being an avid writer or reader. is the boy an arthur morgan chronicling type or an adventure story aficionado? who knows

• but he is sure willing to take a crack at Anything that matters to him with everything he's got, including medicine

• circling back to Culpability it's so clear that he can't handle shouldering all the blame and he's still trying to take it out on the town like. the thought process. he must be a heck of an unreliable narrator. many thoughts. many thoughts ,

• also only vaguely related but when qi was out here diagnosing logan despite not being That Kind of Doctor in true tiktok fashion that was really funny. what gives qi

• if i ever were to get to the point where i can make an animatic i would want to do one with logan to a stanza or two of The Pantheon (Ain't Gonna Catch You) from bastion. they ain't gonna hear you, son, don't care 'bout what you done indeed. okay bye

[crucible-memes-4-salem-teens]

i nearly forgot! but something in me made me remember to make this post.

why i really like the "mean teenage girl*" character type: a summary

(*not to be confused with the "mean girl", which i'm not fond of. also "mean" in this context means something closer to tough and also resilient and outspoken)

for starters, i just want to say: in real life, "mean" teenage girls are some of the best people to be around if you want your worldview challenged: they are incredibly opinionated and usually have many reasons for their attitudes towards the world. this also applies to their fictional counterparts.

so. we've all met a mean adolescent girl before, haven't we? and if we don't think we've met them, chances are, we were/are that girl. today i want to give a few reasons why that character type is one of my favorites.

~*~*~*~

let's look at a prime example of the "mean teenage girl" that everyone here is or should be familiar with: abigail williams. or at least the version of her that exists in the crucible.

i think we can all agree: she's pretty mean. she says and does kind of awful things over the course of the play. as a person/character, that makes her pretty unlikable and even (in some people's opinions) downright awful. but as a narrative tool? absolute gold mine.

the fact of the matter is this: based on the storyline she is given (being orphaned at a young age and taken in by her uncaring uncle + being used by an older man while she was vulnerable), it is completely reasonable for her to be as angry and aggressive as she is. her small world is completely shattered and pulled from under her; it's no wonder she acts out in the way she does.

beside that, however, she is bold. she is unapologetically herself, and does not let the confines of her position as parris's niece/ward stop her from making it known that she is displeased with the world she has been thrust into without her consent.

she's clever, too. she may be rash, but what teenager isn't? abby knows what she wants and how to mastermind a plan to get that, even if it means burning bridges and destroying fragile accords. her motivations and methods may seem to be juvenile and a bit unreasonable, but because of who she is, she doesn't see it that way. (also, really, it's more that she lost her metaphorical safety blanket, which is traumatizing for anyone of any age)

so much has already been taken from her; why can't she do the same and take from others?

granted, there is a time when this goes too far and she does devolve into the "mean girl" trope (ex: her aggression toward betty and mary): granted, that is part of the narrative and not her as a character. she does not actually make these decisions. the actions seem in character, though, simply because we have already established her to be a mean teenage girl. therefore, this decision seems somewhat ambiguous.

her vulnerability in combination with this combativeness are weaponized to make other (equally innocent) characters ultimately suffer great loss.

all of that to say, because of the ambiguity in her actions and characterization, i find it hard to completely like abby as a character, though i do like the character type she fits into (in my opinion) and am slowly coming around.

~*~*~*~

moving on though. if you'll allow it, i'd like to discuss a character y'all might be less familiar with who also embodies this archetype fairly well, though she is not from the crucible. i decided to include her in this post mostly because i think her portrayal is a time where this character type is done correctly and i want to emphasize what i like about her/this trope when it's done right.

she is a character i lovingly call my daughter and hold a lot of strong feelings about (if you're familiar with my original posts on my main, i talk about her family a LOT): the lovely franziska von karma (karuma mei) from the ace attorney (gyakuten saiban) series.

so, basically, she is a very different character from abby, but that's not what i'm particularly focused on. what i'm more concerned with is the similar character type.

again, if you're familiar with her actions within the canon of the games, she's very mean and does not hold back when it comes to her opinion of things/people. she can be haughty and even just rude.

however, it is quickly realized that underneath that tough exterior is a young girl who has been hurt and whose world has been flipped upside down. sound familiar?

but the thing about franziska is this: her goal is not retribution for herself (though lord knows she deserves it), it's the desire to avenge a loved one and their honor. so her meanness almost seems more noble in this way, if that makes any sense. it may still seem selfish and immature, but there's this element of selflessness and genuine care underneath.

so why do i like her/this version of the mean teenage girl trope better? because she gets to be multifaceted and not a one-dimensional antagonist in the way that abby is framed by the narrative of the crucible. it's less of a character thing and more of a writing thing. it's a weird decision in my honest opinion. (then again, the play was written in the 50s during a particularly tense part of history.) i guarantee it, had the crucible been from abby's perspective, there would be less demonizing of her.

~*~*~*~

in closing, part of the reason i like this trope is that these mean teenagers are not mean just for the he[ck] of it, they have deeper stories and motivations for their actions*. but, that can be taken and framed in a way that makes them appear flat and just terrible. however, that is not a reflection of the characters, just the writers behind them.

i like this trope because these characters take a world that is not kind to them and say "screw you" right to its face, and they are allowed to do that without changing themselves from being outspoken and strong-willed. i think that we should strive to create more characters like this, who are very vulnerable but tough and know how to defend themselves but may still be misguided in their attempts to do that. i think we should write more mean teenage girls.

(*this is not intended to frame trauma or past hurt as an excuse for hurting others, it's to illustrate that there can be more to these characters' motivations than plain angst and aggression.)