#there's a reason i picked him over dimitri

[randomnameless]

I forgot Saint Cichol's day :(

Fodlan AU :

Back when they were still kids living in Zanado, kid!Rhea gifted Cichol a stick figure drawing for his 1200th birthday, of them holding hands with a book for a bedtime story with some blurr that was supposed to represent Macuil in the background.

Cichol kept that drawing when he left Zanado to "explore" Enbarr, and forgot to remove it from his travel bag.

(let's say it was preserved with magic so the ink and the paper wouldn't fade over time)

After Nemesis' party, the drawing was what he thought to be the only memento he had left of his kid sister.

Returning to Garreg Mach, he put the drawing in his drawer, and once a mortified Rhea asked him what the crap he was doing with that "old stuff".

"It is just an old present."

Rhea believes he's teasing her and she doesn't like it at all, she learnt how to draw since that time! Maybe she can give him a new drawing for his next birthday?

(but then she feels like dirt : she cannot draw them together anymore, between his 1200th birthday and now, she ruined his life, made him a widow, made him lost his powers and is the reason why his daughter is convalescent! Maybe, deep inside, Cichol really hates her?)

Maybe a portrait of him and Cethleann would be better, but now that she thinks about it, she saw him talk to Manuela, maybe she can add her? But if she adds Manuela, she must add Hanneman, and Billy too, has a professor, but also, as a member of their family! And yet, she knows Catherine will be upset if she is left out of the portrait, adding Catherine also means adding Shamir, and she can visualise Flayn holding Cyril's hand while Alois would be in the background and...

Billy thus pops up after having waited 180 seconds behind the door of her office, to make their rapport, without hearing anything and spots her writing something? Or not?

Having never drawn anything before, because Jerry's picked lifestyle isn't suitable for children to draw, Billy is fascinated by the simple act of "drawing", and wants Rhea to teach them how to, before realising they didn't have anything planned for Seteth's birthday, isn't it Saint Cichol's day? Maybe he'd like a fishing rod? Or some flowers?

Rushing to meet Flayn, they ask her what he would like, only for Flayn to say that anything Billy will have picked would please him, especially if it's a handmade present. This is why she Mercedes graciously accepted to help her bake biscuits for his birthday (but she frowned when Flayn suggested to use fish stock to flavour them).

A bit lost, Billy wants to give a personalised letter to him with the flowers and fishing rod, and inspired by Rhea, they try to draw, but the result isn't satisfying. Maybe their students would know how to draw?

Supreme Leader brags about the famous "Hresvelg artistic skills" passed down since the dawn of the Empire, but Hubert makes her reconsider using her time displaying her talents to a mere mercenary turned professor.

Dimitri wishes to help, but since his days as a kid, he gave up on drawing anything on paper since he was afraid he would break any quill, but he remembers he played a lot with Felix back then, drawing their favourite knights in the snow (Felix calls him a moron and denies having wasted his time like that).

Claude pretends he doesn't know how to draw - fully aware that maybe his technique would betray his Almyran heritage - but tells Billy that Ignatz might help them... only for Billy to mention how Ignatz's current drawing reminds them of Rhea, and Ignatz being a bit embarassed because he was painting a portrait of Saint Seiros.

When Seteth receives his presents, he got a bottle of alcohol, several new quills, a pair of dices (if the bottle came from Manuela, who gifted him a pair of dices?), some sort of handrest to help him after hours of paperwork, a new lamp, edible biscuits shaped like lions (is Flayn subtly telling him she wants to spend more time with the Faerghan students?), an enormous flower bouquet with a happy birthday letter with what is supposed to be a cat (?), a new fishing rod and a portrait of his colleagues and family, save for Rhea herself.

Thanking everyone - even if he still told Manuela that no, they aren't going to finish her bottle in one night but he'll accept sharing a drink with coworkers - he makes sure to pat Rhea's head, when they're alone, to thank her personally. As expected, it annoys her and she calls him senile.

But isn't she the one who forgot to draw herself? She came a long way from her "stick figures" era, but she forgot the most important : them holding hands.

Rhea promises she'll think about it the next year, but then Flamey rings.

[yanderefarm]

Ello! It's me again, just decided to speak again lol

So, do you have a favorite? If yes, why? Just curious

-Silent anon, maybe 🔇?

not very silent of u *squint*

i have a favorite!! honestly like it does change in ranking a little bit depending on the day. like some days id put noemie or nephite at 7th or 2nd depending on my mood. thats not to say i hate any of them or anything. obviously i love my lil guys.

but my favorite is ajax

surprise

he became a character bc i was day dreaming about the foundations of his story and i just loved the idea so much but he is very catered to me and my tastes. i try to make him more widely appealing for y'all too but he is still like so self indulgent.

he lets you live with him rent free. he's incredibly strong, enough so to pick up over 400lbs and carry it around. he loves fat people. he's into my favorite horror movies. he's covered in tattoos and piercings. he's violent and possessive but also cute. even the little things like the reason why he can't keep a roommate is because he does porn and it's too loud making it the only immediate downside of living with him.

originally in the beta of his story he pressures you into sleeping with sable because he says you can't know you're really gay until you try to sleep with a woman. but I changed it because i knew not everyone reading would be gay, some people might be bi and pan. originally he's a lot meaner and horrible and toxic because like that's what i like. like in the beta sable lives and he puts her in the basement and you find her a week later after hearing her screaming. she's very injured and as you're trying to save her ajax comes back home and starts blackmailing you into sleeping with her again. like. yeah. he's more fucked up in my original daydreams and i have a really soft spot for him bc of that.

sidenote actually it was the personal aspect that made me decide not to bring dimitri here. his story is also really fucked up and messy with a reader that is a lot more specific. having to try and sand it down to make it more widely appealing would have made him not fun anymore. with ajax it was fine because the reader's character didn't matter that much but dimitri it does.

[dpsisquared]

As a fellow Dimileth shipper: I present Dimileth for the shipping ask game.

*cracks knuckles* In this essay I will... Lol no I'll try to stay on topic here.

1. What made me ship it-- so I'm sure I've said this before but I played FE3H knowing absolutely nothing. I was all set to pick Edelgard until Dimitri's humble little intro of himself won me over 100%. What made me start to ship him with Byleth was their conversation when Jeralt died. His earnestness in that cut scene is one of my favorite fictional interactions of all time. *gags self to move onto next question*

2. Favorite things about the ship-- it's a mix of in universe and out. The fandom is really kind and welcoming, and the art and fanfic are AMAZING. It makes it fun to ship them and create for them. In universe, Dimitri's unintentional flirty lines, the way he and Byleth compliment each other (Byleth has trouble expressing their emotions and Dimitri struggles holding them in), their shared terrible sense of humor. Pre timeskip, Dimitri really helps Byleth grow as a person, the result being post timeskip they then have the skills to help him through his difficult period. I just think that's really beautiful, how they lift each other up.

3. Unpopular opinion-- I'm not sure there can BE an unpopular opinion on Dimileth 😅 I mean from syrupy sweet to unhinged slasher, your people are out there lol. I guess an opinion that guides my interpretation of them that I don't have much reason to say out loud very often is that I consider them both queer in similar ways. Dimitri as (VERY)demi/pan and Byleth (m/f or nb) as gray-a/bi. So a little piece of me dies inside every time someone calls them "painfully heterosexual" or something like that 🥲

[fromwhenceucame]

Round 2 of my favorite characters as warrior cats lets go — Sylvain, Claude, and Dimitri edition

Once again I throw logic out the window for actual cat markings/colors/whatever because I design based on vibes and I was only able to work a crest onto Sylvain (the red around his eyes resemble the two parts of the gautier crest) but I did try very hard to get the other two to have theirs (Dimitri gave me a stupid amount of trouble to get vibed right).

I knew I needed to put a heart on Sylvain for Sylvain reasons, and I thought it would be delightful if he only had it on one side — his other being just dark… I also really wanted to include black on him since his class outfits usually use black and red annnnnd the cat breed named after Gautier is a black and white cat.

Meanwhile, Claude is highly inspired by wyverns in the game. The lighter brown is basically wherever it would be on a wyvern, and the fact of his stripes are mostly from the Reigan tabby but also resembling the layered(?) look wyverns have… the scales, basically, with white stripes being used for more prominent scales (sort of, mostly because his wyvern is white and I needed to include it but he looked wrong with white stripes). His ear tufts represent wyvern horns/antlers, or they represent deer antlers! His tail and spots are deer-like, too.

And Dimitri !! He needed to be big and fluffy; and, he needed to have a mane with rounded ears like a lion so that’s the bulk of my ideas. The black part on his back is like the fur cloak he has post timeskip and his toes being black were just because I thought it would be neat 👍

I have been thinking about fe3h warrior cats in the back of my mind for over 2 years apparently, and it’s so easy to say we have Eagleclan, Lionclan, and Deerclan… that’s why those are the three clans. Maybe this world works a little differently, too, and the church is a band of clan cats who are always in contact with Starclan (allegedly) and therefore partially govern all the clans… Wolfclan also exists, but it’s not a real clan — it’s a band of rouges or loners who are doing their thing led by Yuri

Starting with Lionclan life, sometimes I remember that Thunderclan had a succession way back in the day with Oakstar to Pinestar and that is how Lambert wanted it to go before ~tragedy~ and I don’t know if it was Rufus or someone else who takes over afterwards but I do know that when Sylvain was a kit, a part of him really wanted to be a medicine cat but he never went down that path… though he does know a lot more about herbs than your average warrior! Good for him. At somepoint when it’s time for the timeskip, Dimitri disappears for 5-12 moons (I think 60 moons would be the 5 years but that feels too long for cats), becoming a rouge wandering the clans’ territories and picking off mostly Eagleclan like your unfriendly neighborhood cryptid. Eventually he’s normal again and not doing that, reclaiming the leadership position.

And with Deerclan I have not as many thoughts for I am not sure what makes the most sense for Almyra to be. Maybe something closer to the tribe? I do not know. What I do know is Claude came from there and got to be in the clans for a good long while, quickly rising to the rank of leader by the time the timeskip passes. I feel like Deerclan would be extra not happy about him simply showing up if that’s what goes down, so I support it happening. Kind of like how Tallstar makes Onewhisker the deputy on his deathbed, but it’s Claude’s grandpa doing that to Claude.

And I have a lot of name ideas for fe3h life !!

When I initially thought of names for specifically Lionclan/Faerghus, it was as if they were from Riverclan so the names on my mind have a very Riverclan-based scheme… but I really like some of them. Like “Shellrain” for Sylvain, I think it’s so fun if the name actually sounds like their real name. I needed to put “Rain” in as the suffix for Sylvain for that reason.

I think Lambert, who could be “Lightbass” or “Landbass” depending on how far you want to go with the names sounding alike, would name Dimitri “Lionkit” when he’s born. Then he can become “Liontrout” or “Liontree” again, depending on how far you want to go. Though, maybe his name is “Lionshade” “Lionshadow” or something else suspicious because it would probably be Rufus (who is Runfur because that is the closest I can get to it being Rufus) or someone else who doesn’t support him naming him at the time… unless warrior names are given out by the church group… hmmmm…

Regardless, I’m again not sure what Almyra is in connection to the clans, but Claude definitely has two names, and in the clans he goes by “Deerclaw.” Claw is the best suffix ever if you want to make a word that sounds like Claude (just like rain) so it has to be it, and “deer” is a very obviously accepted prefix for the clans. I don’t know what his original name should be yet, however.

And that’s all I got, but I have one more pair to contemplate (Aventurine and Dr Ratio) in the coming days before I start digging deeper into the other cats so stay tuned \o/ yippie

[fantasyinvader]

One of the takes that persists within the Western fandom is that Edelgard is supposed to represent “freedom”, her route being the only one where Byleth decides for themselves whom to fight for. I've talked in the past how asinine this is, how it discredits the choice to pick either the Deer or the Lions by saying that because Byleth doesn't fight against Rhea in those routes they don't have free will.

The thing is though, this is all because of the translation as Edelgard is supposed to represent the path of supremacy, otherwise known as hadou which I'll be referring to it as because it is annoying to type out path of supremacy over and over again and people would be upset if I abbreviated it to PoS. Likewise, Byleth's personal class is called Nirvana in Japan, which is also known as the path of liberation in Buddhism. I'll start with Byleth.

In Eastern philosophy, such as Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism, there's a great emphasis put on self-control but this self-control frees you as well. Now, this might sound contradictory but it's pretty simple, it's the usual trope of not letting your emotions rule over you. Only by keeping your emotions control can you really live free. In terms of Nirvana, it means being free of the three flames/poisons; attachment/greed, delusion/ignorance/foolishness and aversion/hatred.

Owing to the symbolism of referring Dimitri to as a boar prince, since delusion/ignorance/foolishness is symbolized by a pig, it means that Dimitri's route is about freeing him from that flame/poison. The Lion would symbolize the power of the teachings of the Church, how as the leader of the Church Byleth can lead Dimitri back to the light.

Speaking of poisons, aversion/hatred is symbolized by serpents, much like TWSITD have the obvious snake thing going on representing how their hate-boners for Sothis, the Nabateans and really any non-Agarthan is their flaw. Serpents, however, are considered different than dragons, which symbolize enlightenment. Since Verdant Wind focuses more on the influence of the Agarthans, and the games link Claude to the usage of poison, and how Claude rides a wyvern which I doubt would count as a dragon due to it being more of an animal, it seems that Claude is supposed to be linked to the poison/flame of hatred with the Agarthans being an example of what Claude could have become if he wasn't freed from it (at least, before Golden Wildfire existed). The Deer then represent Claude accepting the teachings of Sothis, owing to the ones that are carved on the base of the Buddhist empty throne alongside the lions.

Meanwhile, Greed/Attachment is represented by a bird (a cock, to be specific), but it's not an eagle that lies at the top of the throne. It's a garuda, enemy of snakes representing the spreading of Buddha's teachings. From a Houses perspective, it would mean fighting the Agarthans, removing their influence over Fodlan and once again spreading the teaching of Sothis. It would also mean that owing to Silver Snow being Byleth's route, not allowing their attachment to Edelgard to cloud their judgement. Meanwhile, eagles are often compared to the Asura, beings that reside in Agartha, for how they fly way up high and look down on others. It's comparing Edelgard, someone who Verdant Wind says has been manipulated by the Agarthans, someone who decided to act based on information given to her by her father who Hubert says was a puppet of the Agarthans, to the likes of the Slithers themselves. In the Japanese script, her path is referred to as the animal path by Dimitri, implying that it's a path of ignorance where the innocents suffer. Meanwhile, what makes humans special in Buddhism isn't their race but their ability to have reason and act humanely rather than based on simply instinct or impulse.

That is how Silver Snow, Verdant Wind and Azure Moon all represent freedom, all of these paths end with Byleth still having access to their Nirvana class and it's powers. Flower, on the other hand, was referred to by the devs as the CONQUEST route, it's the route where the player's attachment to Edelgard, their ignorance towards Fodlan, and/or their aversion to Rhea and the Church ultimately conquer them leading to them fighting alongside the people they were previously fighting against.

According to the devs though, Flower is about having different beliefs from the rest of the game. Ultimately, Edelgard's views are based on her being indoctrinated by the Agarthans and the world she's trying to make is based on their beliefs, just like when they used Nemesis as their puppet king. However, these beliefs are not meant to be a good thing as the devs also confirmed they created Fodlan to support Silver Snow's story, and how because of the beliefs of Flower the player is left to wipe out anyone who stands in their way.

Then there's the devs saying that Edelgard is supposed to represent hadou. Hadou is mentioned in both by Claude in Verdant Wind when he faces Hubert, saying he will put and end to Edelgard's hadou. The english translation put this as “military rule.” The other instance is Edelgard's Japanese S support, where she says she has walked the path of hadou but will now walk another path together with Byleth. The english... says she walked a solitary path. But when you look at the Japanese line and the game's links to the Mandate of Heaven, it's basically saying that you supported hadou, you supported a non-benevolent leader or a dictator.

See, hadou is made up of two parts, the ability to use the power of the government to force your rule on the people as well as the use of violence to do so. We have in the game itself Edelgard invading the continent, removing anyone who doesn't support from power all so that she can end up consolidating power to remake Fodlan as she sees fit. Her rule is based on her increasing her own power, and if anyone else wants power they have to play her rules. This goes against the likes of Taoism and Confucianism, which say that the government shouldn't meddle in the everyday lives of the people. If anything, their job is simply to maintain order. So Edelgard violently conquering the continent, forcing her beliefs on everyone while eliminating those who resist, that's why Edelgard is supposed to represent hadou. It's saying that she hasn't been the benevolent ruler Dimitri would have been as the savior king, and the endings to the route make it clear that despite her words in the S support she doesn't change her ways.

She still took all the power for herself, power enough to make everyone else do what she wants them to do. That's what hegemony is all about, having dominance over others through various forms of power and influence. The fact that Caspar's Japanese endings involve the Imperial army conducting missions in other countries or, hell, Edelgard freeing Brigid based on her terms which can eventually lead to Petra moving back to Fodlan as a sign of “friendship,” Edelgard doesn't stop at Fodlan either.

The fun thing is that Edelgard wants Byleth to refer to her as “El,” which was the chief god of the Canaanites, had the title of “Malkandros” meaning “King of Men”. We also know him as Molach, is identified with the Greek god Kronos, Considering that sacrifices of Molach were known as “passing through the fire,” and how TWSITD say they want Edelgard to purge the surface, burning even the gods themselves. It would explain the blood magic, the human sacrifices and Edelgard's willingness to sacrifice as many people as needed in order for her to win. Silver Snow and Azure Moon say she's trying to replace the Goddess Sothis with herself, and considering the devs did say they built Fodlan to support Snow, you get the idea. She even takes control of the Church to spread her messages. It's making Edelgard out to be some form of dark, evil god emperor or mankind, or at least what she could end up being should she win much like how the Agarthans were viewed as gods by those who followed Nemesis.

And on top of that, the scene where Byleth pledges their services to her is titled Path of Thorns, A Christian referrence, meaning a path based on the sin of sloth. That Byleth failed to carry out some duty, namely opposing hadou by stopping the villan Edelgard. It's Edelgard's final boss theme, Apex of the World, that plays during the final map of Flower. It's just more evidence that the worldbuilding was done for Silver Snow, the game isn't meant to condone Edelgard's actions. Not when her own route is identifying her as the final boss that the heroes should have defeated. All because the player instead decided to serve her based on the likes of the three flames/poisons.

And it's so baked into Edelgard's character, alongside her manipulative nature, that the English tranlsation couldn't really erase it. Not when she's shown to be a liar, it just stands out more because of the contradictory her text is. She frees the people... while Hubert murders people who oppose her from the shadows like the CIA. And she's still identified as a hegemon through Byleth's ending title, Wings of the Hegemon. And there's all kinds of lines that linking Flower to the other routes, like Hanneman revealing she still uses Crest Beasts or a NPC saying there's unrest in the Empire by those who oppose the war (Snow reveals that those who resist being conscripted are executed instead).

The world was built to support a route based around Nirvana, liberation, while rejecting the route that leads to conquest and hadou. Edelgard does not represent freedom, that's just her sales pitch. The game is morally aligned with Snow, it's not morally ambiguous for there to be three routes where the player leads the Church and their allies against Edelgard and one where the player rejects this being referred to as a path of thorns. Likewise, would the game damn players simply for deciding to support Claude or Dimitri over Edelgard? Of course, this also ties into how Edelgard is supposed to come across merely as a cute girl at first who happens to be heir to the empire, her being the Flame Emperor rather than the house leader with hidden darkness or a fake smile is meant to be a twist.

Really, Treehouse mischaracterized the fuck out of Edelgard, yet despite this the whole reason we even check the translation is because people accused them of making her out to be more of a bitch and looking worse than the Japanese text. Funny how that worked out and what it ended up revealing, is not? Hell, even their attempt to change Cornelia's dying words backfired because it makes it sound like Edelgard is just a fucking idiot being controlled by TWSITD in order to kill Rhea. That Edelgard merely does the work of the bad guys before she has her henchsimps fight them, while Edelgard supposedly ends up being a benevolent leader working to free the people... while we still get endings about how her rule being hadou with putting down rebellions, censoring the arts, sending off her army, spying on the people and such.

It's likely that Treehouse wanted her to be their Dany... but it turns out she was Dany at the very end of GoT. And it definitely feels like they couldn't hide it as much in Hopes either.

[fireemblems24]

Golden Wildfire Ch 14

Almost done guys. I can stick with it.

STORY

Oh no, The Empire is in danger. Anyways . . .

They're all shocked Edelgard is asking for help because she's putting her in debt to them.

Haha, they're considering just leaving her there and letting the Empire die. Lorenz came up with it. Based.

I know Claude will go bail her out, which is really stupid for a guy who claims he wants to end the war.

So . . . how does killing Rhea and sparing Edelgard cause the least amount of bloodshed? I knew that's what was going to happen, but it makes no sense. Claude even admitted he knows that Edelgard doesn't give a shit, she wants to conquer Rhea or no Rhea.

I really fail to see how on earth this is ending in 2 chapters. Unless Edelgard is so grateful to Claude she just gives up her ambitions? And Dimitri is equally OOC also suddenly gives a shit about what Claude thinks??

I've actually LOVED how they're written Edelgard and Dimitri in Hopes so far, and if GW ruins that with its shit writing I'm gonna be pissed.

Edelgard better not turn into some soft sissy who is all "oh, you saved me, Claude, now I'm going to play nice and make big eyes at you! Now that Rhea's dead and you did something nice, I'm going to give up the most core part of my character." Double gross if it's implied that she's flustered by his good looks.

And Dimitri better not not be pissed off that Claude invaded him for no reason and be like "You were so right, I wanted Rhea gone this whole time, thank you for saving me from her, please ignore Sylvain stewing in the corner, he'll just get over that you murdered his dad, just like I suddenly don't care how you murdered my citizens!"

If that happens, I'm calling this Claude's bizarre fanfic where he thinks his masterminded Edelgard and Dimitri so hard that now they're both hard for him no matter how OOC that makes them or how stupid Claude's been this whole time.

CAMP/SIDE MAPS

Haha, Shamir doesn't want to help the Empire. She wants revenge against them for the war with Dagda lol.

I don't think Holst has had an interesting thing to say in this entire game.

Oh yeah, I forgot. In GW and SB we're saving Bernie's father and helping him maintain religious power. Only in AG is he the enemy we're replacing. I swear, did nobody look at this and wonder if they made the Blue Lions unambiguously the only good guys?

Haha, right after I wrote this, some NPC was like wtf are we doing putting an Imperial noble in charge of the Monastery and religion?

Meanwhile, Lorenz is like, if we just let Edelgard die, the war ends right. But they must go save her because they're former classmates! For, like, a month! And Claude's like, Dimitri is too. And then crickets. I swear to God GW is borderline self-aware of how reaching and desperate the writing is to have Claude want to join the "I want to suck Edelgard's toes" gang for no logical reason.

Ouch, someone just compared Claude to Hubert. Like, I love Hubert, but he is NOT someone I want to be compared to.

I forget how boring GW is to play. Lorenz takes no damage from anything, so I just mash buttons. He isn't particularly strong either, so he's not nearly as fun to play as Dimitri and Hubert are with their ridiculous strength and magic stats, respectively.

So if I ever replay GW (lol, sure /s), I would def not pick Lorenz again. Lysithea seems like a way more fun character more suited for my play style but she's too far behind with class unlocks and etc . . .

Haha, Shez is like "if I ended up on another side, they would've been suspicious of my powers and thought I was an enemy" - side-eyeing Edelgard and SB.

Lamo, where did Claude get the idea that the church doesn't like people from other places or that aren't religious? Last time I checked, they didn't care?

Lamo, Shez is saying she might just leave Claude when the war ends. Same, Shez, same.

I had to fight Gustave :( And after that Sylvain :(

Guys, I'm feeding Claude recipes he dislikes. I've run out of supports to grind this round so . . .

I did the same to Holst too, because fuck you too, Holst

I'm giving my merc whistle to Lorenz. He basically did everything this route. And ohhhhh, he's right in front of Claude and Hilda too, haha. That means they're going to watch me give Lorenz a present and none for them.

And now to dump every stat boost on Lorenz too. I literally use no one else unless I absolutely have too. Hubert and Dimitri will get the same treatment. Probably also the 2 getting my merc whistle too. Which is hilarious since Hubert is pretty openly hostile to Shez.

SHEZ & CLAUDE A

It's funny. In SB, no one trusts Shez. In GW, Shez doesn't trust Claude. In AG, Shez . . . yep.

Wait, whut? Shez is like "we need to end the church to end the war." And Claude is like "right, because they they can try something again." My brother in Sothis, what the fuck? Did he just forget that Edelgard started the war? Rhea didn't do shit.

Also, didn't Claude say earlier he knows the church is just an excuse for Edelgard to make a land grab? Did he magically forget that?

SHEZ & BALTHUS B

Don't remember if I saw this yet.

Balthus wants to make a bet on battle. Shez doesn't want to.

Balthus likes to live on the edge and adding a bet makes battle more fun. Shez disagrees.

SHEZ & HAPI B

Still don't remember if I saw this or not. But it's another support about Shez's mysterious origins that go absolutely no where.

And I have a strong suspicion that we won't actually learn anything about who Shez really is unless her mom is like Arundel or something.

I think I may have seen this before. But Shez has more than one support like this so . . .

CLAUDE & MARIANNE A

Weird. They only have 1 support and its A.

Marianne gets a letter that implies that he wants Marianne to rule House Edmund and she's intimidated by it.

Claude shares that he worries too.

Claude says Marianne needs more resolve.

Sorry, that was boring as fuck.

CLAUDE & LYSITHEA A

Lysithea has a message from her father, who's taken maybe the worst beating in this game.

Her father doesn't want to complain, but to thank him for ending TWSITD chaos.

Poor House Ordelia really does get the shit end of the stick.

Claude is worry that Lysithea works too hard.

Lysithea doesn't really listen.

CLAUDE & LEONIE B

Their only support.

The crops of the territories that are at war are suffering because armies are trampling fields.

Common people are mad at Claude because of the battle making them starve.

Glad this game is acknowledging, even a little, how it's poor people who get screwed over the most when nobles bicker.

Leonie admits she could care less about this war. Which just make her not being in AG (so far) weirder. Since she's probably one of the one who cares the least.

This is more interesting than I thought it was going to be, because it's about how the commoners suffer in war, and how Claude needs a common born perspective. So that makes Edelgard the only one who never asks common born people what they want - and the one thinking she has the right to decide everything for them.

CLAUDE & CONSTANCE C

Claude is interested in Constance's experiments

Constance invented a spell that can change hair color and style, which Claude wants to use to escape but not to be her first test subject

She gives him a hard and sharp style, like literally - he complains, she's not happy

I don't know if she turned it back or not, if she didn't I'm tempted to not view their B so Claude is stuck with silly, awful hair for his final chapters because then his looks will match his clown behavior

HILDA & IGNATZ B

Hilda doesn't recognize Ignatz without his glasses on. So . . . she's an idiot?

Ignatz is basically blind without glasses, yet forgot where he put them. So . . . he's an idiot too?

Hilda thinks he's hot without his glasses. I . . . question her taste.

IGNATZ & HAPI C

Hapi finds his sketch book and there's a picture of her with cats in there, and she's disturbed that someone drew her without telling her

She figured out that it's him

She's mad he lied, but liked the picture

And . . . the Chicago Carolina game is more entertaining than that was (who may be the 2 worst teams in the NFL, for those who don't know)

SHEZ & IGNATZ A

Aw, that's sweet of Ignatz. He's like, we talk too much about me, talk about you!

And Shez teases him about a crush, lamo.

Shez only has 2 dream options: I don't know or easy going mercenary life

Ignatz asks Shez to be a bodyguard ones he's done being a knight and going after his dreams

Shez says she'll charge a lot lamo

Claude & Constance B

Oh, right, the hair magic stuff.

Constance doesn't appreciate his lack of enthusiasm

She turned his hair frizzy and uneven, lamo - like a bird's nest, and honestly, deserved Claude, you've sucked this route

He has a beard too

LORENZ & IGNATZ A

Their only support, weird.

Lorenz didn't make much of Ignatz when they meant, but now is impressed.

The improvement it because Ignatz is painting in his free time, helping his mental health

Lorenz feels bad because he realizes Ignatz wants to be an artist, not a knight, like he assumed

Ingatz is still grateful towards Lorenz for giving him a purpose after the school closed and he felt directionless

RAPHAEL & MARIANNE B

Bummed they only have 1 support. I like their chain in Houses.

Marianne can't get a horse to the stable bc it's sick (the horse told her, Raphael doesn't seem to care that a horse talked to Marianne)

Raphael offers to get the horse to the stable by putting it in a cart

He lifted it, Marianne is impressed, but now her horse can get the medicine and rest needed

Dumb horse ate bad fruit, honestly, accurate, they're all secretly pigs in horse-shaped bodies

Raphael . . . also eats rotten food. So, I guess Dimitri has competition for who has the most iron stomach

See, this was cute too. Marianne just feels naturally open with him

RAPHAEL & LEONIE A

They're out of arrows and surrounded by wolves

I think Raphael beat them back with her bow

He credits her for making such a strong bow (it didn't break)

So now Leonie will keep making bows until there's one Raphael can't break, and Raphael will keep working on muscles so he can keep breaking them

MARIANNE & YURI B

Oh, God, Yuri's always so mean to people in the beginning of support chains. I wonder how on earth this is going to go . . .

Yuri takes her off guard and asks questions, which just makes her more guarded and feel judged.

Marianne assumes he hates animals and herself. Because she saw Yuri glaring at her once. Girl, you have issues, but I love you.

Understandably, Yuri's a bit confused.

Marianne keeps assuming things are her fault and apologizing, and Yuri keeps getting more and more annoyed until she runs off.

A lot of this support felt pretty random, but let's see where A goes.

MAIN BATTLE

This battle is titled . . . salvation. You know, that may be the most clever bit of writing in GW so far (as in the ONLY clever writing)

Haha, Edelgard is surrounded by the Kingdom and Rhea.

Even Holst is like, are you sure about this Claude?

I really don't understand the logic of rescuing Edelgard if Claud doesn't want war. Like, Claude acknowledged that Edelgard only used Rhea as an excuse for expansionism. He knows she's just going to find another excuse for war, so all he's doing is making her enemies weaker.

Ok, that's enough. I forget that applying any sort of logic to this plot line is pointless.

Cut scene is cool though. Lamo, is this like the 5th time Edelgard needed someone to rescue her in this game? She looked really pathetic in cut scenes in this game. Like, I don't even like her, and I'm annoyed because one of the things I did like was her being a bit of a badass, not always needing saving from Shez, Byleth, from assassins all the time, etc . . .

Guys, there's a save Monica side quest. Should I just . . . not? You know what? I'm going to have fun with this. I want to see what happens.

Fuck, Ingrid appeared :(

And now they want me to save Bernie's dad. This chapter is really "rescue the most fucking annoying characters" and "kill the best ones."

Thank FUCK, she retreated this time. I wouldn't been livid if they made me kill her twice for no reason.

OMG, again, lamo, Edelgard is useless this chapter. She keeps getting caught. That's the 3rd time in 1 chapter she's needed to get her ass saved by Claude and co.

Now I have to fight Dedue :( He's better not fucking die. This route isn't worth it. Edelgard called him Dimitri's most loyal retainer though.

Oh, thank God, he retreated.

Now I'm going to have to fight Dimitri, I'm sure :( I'm really fucking glad Lorenz can't take damage. I'd be shitting myself otherwise. He better retreat too.

Why can't we let Edelgard die, Claude? Wouldn't that fix all the problems?

Oh, Rhea! Fighting Rhea will actually be a little cool, since you never get to see her or use her.

Dimitri retreated at least.

WTF Claude? "I'm just determined to see what the world would look like without you." Idk, maybe Almyra??? The writers really gave Claude nothing with that line lamo.

Took Rhea out. She retreated too.

Now Byleth is here and I think she's dying for good this time. Feel a bit bad about not recruiting her. Claude doesn't deserve Byleth's support on this route, but she doesn't deserve to die either.

Cut scene time. I wonder what's considered more cannon, recruiting Byleth or not?

Also, isn't it thematic that you kill Sothis on routes where you oppose Rhea and side with Edelgard?

Arval's way too happy about this, lamo. Shez is bummed. Honestly, I think I ship Shez with Byleth the most.

Edelgard was so lame this chapter.

Claude tries rubbing it in Edelgard's face that she owes him, and she threatens not to honor the debt. Like, Claude, my boy, if this person is willing to turn on you because you teased her . . . that isn't an ally you want, but whatever.

Claude is like, can we not destroy Faergus. Edelgard's like, no.

"We never spared a thought for Dimitri's motivation." Uh, how about "stop killing my people you bloodthirsty idiots." Also, not surprised. These two really are idiots. They can't fathom why Dimitri's . . . defending himself.

Claude sounds so pathetic in this chapter. He's like, sooooo desperate to be like, remember I did you a favor, Edelgard, remember! Like she gives a single shit, lamo.

x

[starres-stuff]

Day 2- Horizon FFXIV Write 2024

Horizon: The limit of a person's mental perception, experience, or interest.

“A gil for your thoughts” 

The voice had come out of nowhere shaking Dimitri from his trancelike state and turning his head where he found the emerald green eyes of his mentor, Xixa, staring back at him. 

“I didn't even notice your approach” The Duskwight offered a warm smile. Xixa was very skilled at this, even when the days were dark and dismal as they had been lately. 

“He thinks of you too, you know, Sonny.” Xixa patted his forearm and then let her hand rest on it while she kept talking. “I know why he is mad at you, a little bit torn on it since I don't think it is a reason to stay mad for a Moon, but at the same time if I had a life like he has I'd have been mad too.” 

Dimitri sighed softly, eyes lingering on the Viera's face, he always wondered how old she was, she certainly didn't look any older than her mid-twenties but the way she spoke made it sound like she had lived for centuries. “I don't think this place is for us anymore and I don't just mean the Shroud. I mean Eorzea in general.” 

Xixa fought to show no emotion regarding this. She enjoyed having both men around, they had been through a lot together, and the lump in her throat reminded her she cared a bit too much about both of them these days. “There is still tomorrow, Sonny. When all hope for today has run out, and we think there is nothing left. We just have to remind ourselves that tomorrow is a new day and we can try again. Just got to believe in what you want and who you love. They wouldn't be there if they didn't still feel the same for you.” 

Dimitri raked a nervous hand through his hair then gazed out towards the meadow full of flowers she had found him sitting near. His first intention was to come here to paint the beauty of a now encroaching Shroud fall but as soon as he had his easel set up and his paints mixed he found himself wishing Laurent was there to share it with him. 

“I keep having dreams of leaving this place Xixa. There is nothing left here, everyone I knew is gone. Vi has her life to live and I find myself lonely for company and friends. It is just not the same anymore, I hardly know anyone besides Qih’a but his head is in his own set of clouds.” biting his lower lip he looked towards the ground, he felt awful thinking the way he was now.

“There's always hope on the horizon. Sometimes we can't see it, sometimes we think it's over and it's not. The thing is we have to learn to love without expectations. We can put it out into the world, let it be there but people aren't content with that. They want someone to pick it up and then send it back. When all that matters is that we put ourselves out there, to begin with, we tried to connect and it's a start.” from the basket she had been carrying with her she pulled out a Pixie Apple, its bright red and waxy skin catching the light as she held it out to him; her features filled with understanding and compassion. It was his favorite fruit and she knew it too. 

“I tell him I love him but he doesn't say it back.” The forlorn notes in his voice were as strong as they were heartbreaking, but he reached for the offered apple, picking it gently from Xixa’s hand and holding it in his own. “I don't know if we will make it through this time, I fucked up.” 

A tsk noise came from the Viera then and her free hand flicked a finger or two at his long ear. “Oh hush with that. It is a matter of perception. He comes home to you every day, words are words, Dimitri. I can spin you a pile of Chocobo shit in a single breath and mean none of it. He still loves you but you need to listen with your damn heart and soul instead of your ears. He speaks to you all the time, even if it is just handing you an apple like I just did. It's your favorite, those are the things you want to hear, which means someone paid attention to the little things.”

It was these words Xixa would leave him with this day for soon after she spoke them, she squeezed his arm and kissed his cheek then departed the meadow to continue with her day, and as the Sharlayan found himself focusing on her unsolicited advice and suddenly finding an urge to fill the canvas in front of him with his art. 

[cielenruine]

yoinked from neffi! thank you

Celebrating TOA and the people who contribute to make our group what it is.

Repost, don't reblog. Only fill in what you feel comfortable sharing!

Happy anniversary, TOA! Here's to many more years spent together.

Name: Kuno

Pronouns: He/Him

Birthday (no year): 8/29

Where are you from? What is your time zone? Georgia! EST

How long is your roleplay experience? A little over a decade

How were you introduced to roleplaying as a whole? Google Plus Black Butler Rp that turned into rping literally any series I got into including fusing them most of the time

How were you introduced to TOA? Dewy :3

Do you have any pets? Two hamsters named Grahammy and Daryl

What is your favorite time of year and why? (Season, holiday, general period) Winter, hot coco and blankies is a combo unbeaten

What is your IRL occupation? University student majoring in art

Some interests and things you like/enjoy? I’m boring I just do whatever occupies my time the most interestingly

What non-Fire Emblem games do you play?Splatoon, FFXIV, MGS:PW and PP. EXVS: Maxiboost On, HSR, and Arknights

Favorite Pokemon type & Pokemon: (I have not played much pokemon) Water and Garchomp

Tell us some funfacts and trivia about yourself! (Optional bonus challenge: if you filled this out last year, try not to repeat what you said back then!)I have spent well over 1k on gundam figures despite only getting into the series in 2020

How did you get into Fire Emblem? I played heroes here and there beforehand, but I went to Texas to join a friend for locals and he had the game so while he was off at work he let me borrow it and then the night after the tournament, a bunch of the guys we were playing with gave me $80 to buy the game +dlc

What Fire Emblem games have you played? Heroes, Warriors, 3H, and 3hopes

First & Favorite Fire Emblem games: Warriors, 3 Hopes

List your 5 favorite Fire Emblem characters across the series! Jakob beloved, Lambert, Dimitri, Rhea, Flayn

Who was the first character ever to make you go “ooh I like this one in particular” and why? Can be any context and reason! Dimitri, give me a guy with issues surrounding both chivalry and his father’s will/legacy and I am easily swayed

Any Fire Emblem crushes? 😳Lambert there will never be another man like you

If you’ve played (or are familiar with) the following games, who was your first S support? Who would you S support nowadays?- Three Houses: Flayn, probably no one honestly, Byleth gives their love to everyone equally in my heart

If you were a Fire Emblem character, what would be your class and stats? Would you be playable? Paladin and put that luck and charm in the gutter

If you were a Three Houses character, what would be your affiliation? Unafifiliated Faerghan citizen obsessed with the history of the place

If you were an Officers Academy student, what would be your boons, banes and potential budding talent? Boons: Reason, Swords Banes:Faith, Authority

If you were an Engage character, which nation would you originate from? Brodia what can I say I am nothing if not predictable

How do you pronounce TOA? 🤔separate letters

Current TOA muses: Matthias

Past TOA muses? N/A

Who was your first TOA muse? If you no longer have them, can you see yourself picking them up again? Matthias :3

Do you believe you have a type of character you gravitate towards writing? Fathers who’s actions can be taken as morally dubious and children of said fathers who struggle with whether to follow in their footsteps or not

Do you have characters or types of characters you don’t think you can handle writing, but wish you could? I don’t think I could handle a genki character but I’d love to try some day

What kind of scenes, situations etc do you believe you enjoy writing the most? (If you filled this out last year, has this changed in any way?)The moments in between action where the characters reflect on themselves and have a heart to heart with one another,

Do you have any scenario in mind for your muse(s) that gets you thinking “man I hope I get to write this one day”?I would love to write Matthias at his current age tapping back into the whimsy he had before his wife and kid died

Favorite TOA-related memories?I doubt I’m ever going to forget Matthias and Edelgard tying with each other during All Aboard

Present or past tense?Both at the same time. (Past more so)

Normal size text, small text, no preference?No preference really

Got any potential muse delusions to share? 😉 Mayhaps….a Dedue or Annete….mayhaps…

[dilemmaontwolegs]

Dusters & Diamonds {2}

Dimitri Belikov x fem!Badica!reader Summary: You cross paths with Dimitri for the first time since losing Ivan. Warnings: alcohol WC: 3k

Part 1 || Part 2 ||

Ten Years Later - St Vladimir’s Province The Royal Oak became claustrophobic as more Moroi poured into the bar and you could hardly move on the dancefloor with the bodies pressed so close to you. Downing the shot in your hand, you revelled in the burn of the strong liquor before shoving your way through the crowd and out into the searingly bright daylight. 

You hissed as the sunlight immediately began to heat your skin and stumbled towards the shadows offered across the street where you cowered, hoping a taxi would pass by to take you home. 

“Bad-bad-Badica, Cinderella forgot her crown,” Ronny Lazar sang as he swept from the bar in search of you, the diamond and emerald encrusted tiara you had been wearing hanging from his wrist as he twirled it around. 

“Cinderella lost a shoe, Ronald,” you correct with a roll of your eyes as you took it from him and placed it back on your head. Anthony would not be pleased if you lost the heirloom in a drunken haze, not even if it was for your birthday. 

“Eh, same thing.” He huddled into the shade beside you and pulled a pair of sunglasses from his pocket, slipping the designer piece over his eyes. “Human fairytales are so boring, could they really not come up with something more creative?”

You stole the sunglasses off him before moaning as they immediately eased the irritation in your eyes. “They did, but it was too close to the truth that we had to erase it.”

“I did not come out here for a history lesson,” Ronny groaned. “Come have another drink, it’s not even noon.”

You gave him a push back into the sunlight so he would cross the street without you. “Not tonight, but you have fun.”

Knowing the heat would only grow more intense while your shadow space decreased, you began to make your way through the cobblestone streets and back to the townhouse that had been left to you with your inheritance. Every few blocks you passed a group of partiers club jumping from one to another and you listened to their laughter and songs as they clung to one another. 

You wanted to be able to sing and laugh too, but it felt wrong.

Thoughts tangled in your head as you walked along that you didn’t notice the doors to The Wee Hours, a dhampir club, open suddenly. You jerked back to avoid a painful injury but the quick movement sent the tiara tumbling from your head and slamming to the pavement. 

“Fuck,” you swore as you awkwardly bent down in your little black dress and high heels, trying to pick up the small diamonds that had broken free from their settings.

“Y/N?” a familiar voice asked, only it had grown deeper over the years, and you peered up the tall length of the body before you. 

You bolted upright as you realised it really was Dimitri and you automatically searched around him for Ivan, only to remember you would never see him again. Your face fell at the empty street and you saw the same pain reflected in Dimitri’s eyes as he buried his hands in the deep pockets of a long black duster he wore over black jeans and a black t-shirt.

His hair had been cut shorter than it used to be, no longer reaching his shoulders, and he looked exhausted beneath the five o’clock shadow along his jaw that had sharpened with adulthood. There was no sign of the boyish features he had once had.

“I haven’t seen you since…” his words drifted off as neither one of you wanted to hear the words. Ivan’s funeral.

“Yeah, well, not much reason for me to visit St Constantine’s anymore, Guardian Belikov,” you muttered as you fingered the diamonds in your palm to keep your hands busy. “Have you seen Eloise and Alexei?”

Dimitri smiled a little at the mention of Ivan’s son but shook his head. “They moved to a commune and I got assigned here, to Princess Vasilisa Dragomir.”

“A commune?” you frowned. “She was married to a royal, she should be in a province.”

Dimitri’s lips pressed together and he ran a hand through his hair before rolling his eyes at you. “Don’t be naive, Y/N, she’s still a young and healthy dhampir. The moment she refused to hand Alexei over to the academy and become a Guardian, they sent her to the communes as punishment.”

You immediately shook your head, hoping there had been a mistake, but after the strigoi attack at St Jude’s Academy you had seen the politics turn nasty despite trying to avoid it completely. The council was beginning to pressure more dhampirs into becoming Guardians, something Ivan had been passionate about stopping. 

“The communes are for bloodwhores and breeders, why didn’t she just do what they wanted?”

Dimitri’s nose wrinkled in disgust and you found yourself 16 years old and back at the Academy on the receiving end of that disappointed look. “My mother and sisters live in the communes.”

“I didn’t know that,” you said as you dropped your gaze and ran your hands along your bare arms as they burned in the sun.

“The communes are for dhampirs who want to raise their own children, be a family. They should have a choice, and that’s what Eloise chose.” His voice had softened and the sun was suddenly gone from your skin as he laid his duster over your shoulder. 

“You should visit them,” you said as you pulled the jacket closer and inhaled the rich scent that clung to the leather. 

The corners of his lips turned down and it was his turn to look at his boots. “The last time I took leave…it didn’t end well.”

You flinched as you remembered the nasty words you had spewed at him when you found out Ivan had died. Dimitri was one of the best guardians around and you had told him that Ivan died because he wasn’t there. It was no wonder he thought you were a terrible person, you were. 

“If it’s because of what I said, I’m so sorry, Dimitri. I was hurt and angry, but that’s no excuse for being a horrible person,” you said wholeheartedly, surprising him as he looked up from his combat boots in shock. 

“I don’t think I have ever heard you apologise for anything,” he admitted with a crease forming between his brows.

“I’m trying this new thing, you know, like not being a ‘psychotic bitch’.”

His lips tipped up with an amused smile and he tilted his head to the sun, enjoying its warmth like only a dhampir could. You hadn’t realised there were hints of auburn in his hair when the sun hit it right but then again you never really saw him in the midday sun or spent long enough around each other even when Ivan visited. You thought he was too serious and he thought you were spoiled. 

“I never called you a bitch,” he corrected before looking down the empty street. “I think all the taxis are busy with the celebration, you’ll be waiting all day at this rate.” He looked at your short dress again, his eyes lingering on the line of your legs before they disappeared beneath the material that clung like a second skin and he cleared his throat, forcing himself to look in your eyes as he realised where you were. “Why aren’t you with the royals?”

The tiara in your hands shimmered as you shifted on your feet, the heels not comfortable for walking any distance in. “That’s not really my scene anymore,” you confessed as you chewed on your bottom lip, your fangs peeking out. “I made my escape as soon as I could, not that anyone noticed.”

“Where are your Guardians?” 

You laughed at the question before realising he was serious and the humour died out as you placed the broken tiara back on your head. “The council has a very good memory and the consequences of my youth still shadow me now. They consider me a low priority and that’s fine by me.” Elemental magic danced around the tiara until you wore a crown of flame and shrugged your shoulders nonchalantly. “I have my own protection.”

“Tasha mentioned training with someone when she visited in the fall, you could get in a lot of trouble for that.”

You winched at the thought of Tasha and the scars she now held after her sister turned strigoi and attacked her. “She was always pestering me to teach her but I was so self-absorbed I didn’t even try. Maybe if I had, then she wouldn’t be…” your words died off with a sigh.

Dimitri stepped closer and you had to tip your head back to hold his intense eye contact. Ten years had seen him grow broad shouldered and strong, and even by Moroi standards he was tall as he towered over you in your heels. “Can you please put the fire out?”

You smothered the flames and his biceps tensed against the cuffs of his t-shirt before he reached out and enveloped you in a hug. You froze at the foreign feeling. No one but Ivan hugged you and you had been perfectly fine with that. But now, a heat filled your chest as you inhaled the cologne on his skin and after a moment you relaxed into the embrace.

“It’s not your fault,” he said as he ran his palm in soothing circles across your back. “It was the strigoi who attacked.” The way he said it made you wonder how many times he had told himself that after Ivan was killed.

“Why are you being so nice? I thought you hated me,” you murmured as the touch of his hands lingered long after he pulled away. “You should hate me.”

“I did, for a long time,” he said reluctantly.

“But you don’t now?”

He laughed softly and shook his head. “No, I don’t hate you. Ivan talked about you all the time, about how you were before your parents died. I guess I can kind of see it now. You can be…soft.”

“He never did know when to keep his thoughts to himself,” you said with a sigh. “Shame he never got to see this miracle. I’m not sure he would actually believe it, I’m not sure I believe it.”

Dimitri gave a wide toothy grin that muddled your thoughts and you licked your suddenly dry lips. Those amber eyes of his followed your tongue and your breath hitched as his pupils blew out to chase away the colour you had grown fond of looking at.

The liquid courage lacing your blood had you step closer as his hands reached for you, pulling you flush against him before curling around your waist to hold you as his lips brushed softly against yours.

There was such restraint to his touch, like he was worried you would break or perhaps that you would change your mind. Restraint was not what you needed. You moaned against his lips and buried your hands in his hair, tugging the longer strands at the top in an attempt to spur him on.

Never in your wildest dreams would you have thought you would ever kiss Dimitri but now that you had tasted his lips you wanted more.

His hands trailed down your back and over the curve of your hip before he froze and pulled away. There was a hungry look in his eyes and his lips were swollen as you imagined yours were but he put distance between you anyway.

“It’s uh getting late,” he muttered uncomfortably as he looked at the sun creating the sky.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,” you apologised as your face heated and you looked at the ground. “Probably made you hate me again.”

“Hey,” he interrupted the internal scolding you were giving yourself as he tipped you head back with the tip of his finger. “I was just surprised, but I wouldn’t have kissed you back if I hated you.”

His smile was teasing and you realised he wasn’t as stiff and serious as he had been in school, like he had grown comfortable in his own body and knew just how good looking it was too.

“Is that what that was?” you teased back. “I’ve forgotten already, maybe you should remind me how it went.”

Dimitri’s smirk grew and he traced the line of your jaw with his warm fingers before he caught your chin between his thumb and forefinger, holding you in place as he lowered his head to yours. “I like this new you, princess.”

“Don’t call me-” He cut you off as he crushed his lips to yours, the taste of liquor on his tongue that fought for dominance while he backed you further into the shadows until your back pressed against the wall. You broke away breathless and the stubble of his beard burned your neck as kissed his way over your racing pulse. “Princess.”

“If the crown fits,” he murmured against your skin before pulling away as the doors crashed open again.

The dhampirs nodded their heads respectfully at Dimitri as they stumbled past, ignoring you completely not that it was a surprise. Most of the royals held themselves in a higher regard over the non-royal Moroi and dhampirs, and when you were younger and immature you were centred firmly in that lot too. It didn’t matter how much you had changed personally, you were still a royal and that was all you would be seen as.

Straightening up, you started to pull Dimitri’s duster off but he caught it and covered your shoulders once more. “You’ll get burned.”

“I don’t live that far from here and I know how attached you are to this.” Ivan had given it to Dimitri as a graduation gift, the day they found out they were assigned together.

“Then at least let me walk you home.”

Walking through the streets with Dimitri at your side was a stark contrast to the last time he had been here. Less than a year ago it had been Ivan walking along with you, telling you how Eloise’s pregnancy was progressing and the work he was doing to get the dhampir more rights. Dimitri had kept well away, taking the far guard position.

“I never thanked you, for protecting Ivan all those years,” you said, breaking the comfortable quiet of the vampiric night.

“He was a good friend and a better Moroi so it wasn’t duty or obligation that made me want to be his Guardian. That probably doesn’t even make sense,” he said as his cheeks flushed.

“I get it,” you reassured him with a hand on his arm, the muscles beneath your palm flexing at the touch. “Damien, uh, Guardian Blake, used to say that too. It was family.”

Damien was one of your parents’ Guardians and a constant presence in your life from the moment you were born. He had died defending them but his sacrifice was fruitless in the end as the strigoi killed your parents after he fell.

“You cared about him,” Dimitri confirmed quietly. “We figured you just hated all of us at the Academy.”

You tipped your head back and laughed before covering your face with an embarrassed groan. “God, I was an idiot. I foolishly thought if I didn’t care about anyone else then I wouldn’t get hurt again.”

“You were young and lost the people you loved most, I think you can be forgiven,” Dimitri stated seriously as he pulled your hands away from your face.

“You have to say that, you go to church every week.”

“You could always come and repent too,” he said, a smile teasing at his lips when he saw your nose scrunch at the offer.

“No thanks.” You gave an adamant shake of your head and rubbed at the skin on top of your hand though the wounds had long since healed. “The High Priestess has it out for me. What I don’t understand about all that stuff, is if God gave me this gift,” you said as you cradled a small flame in your palm before extinguishing it with a closed fist, “why do I get punished for using it?”

Dimitri looked afar as he pondered the question before shrugging. “Come on Sunday and ask her yourself.”

“I already asked her,” you scoffed. “Do you know what her response was? She burned an Old Moroi compulsion ward onto my hands that stopped me from using my magic until it healed.”

“That’s…does the Council know about this?” he asked with a commanding tone you hadn’t heard from him before.

“I don’t know, but I’m not the only one she’s punished. Just a few weeks ago I saw Victor Dashkov’s daughter with the same burns after she attacked a royal.”

“Mia defended a dhampir that was being threatened,” Dimitri said with a side glance as he began to walk once again.

“Attacking a royal is still treason no matter how noble the reason, even if they deserved it.” You had no doubt the second cousin of Ivan needed a good throttling but it wasn’t worth being exiled over or executed. The few interactions you had with Jesse Zeklos at royal functions always left a sour taste in your mouth and the urge to scrub every inch of skin he hungrily leered at. “But I am glad she didn’t get a more severe punishment.”

He seemed surprised by the admission and you wished he wasn’t. It made you feel like a monster.

Moving to St Vladimir’s was exactly what you had needed at that point in your life ten years ago. It had taken a few more years of maturing before you made use of the fresh start but finally you began to be someone you could actually look at in the mirror.

The ghost of your past self still haunted you, especially when ex-students of St Constantine’s Academy came to the province and avoided you. Just like it was haunting you now with that look of disbelief on his face.

You were going to show Dimitri how much you had changed.

[flames-unicorns-and-sentryguns]

Blu team headcannons - heavy

Note: I have two different backstory ideas for Demoman so until I Pick One I'm pushing his back again. I'll Try to get his out soon because it is one of the backstories I have more or less fleshed out.

His placeholder name is Dimitri because I am bad at picking names.

The oldest of three brothers. His parents fell sick some years ago so he had to be the bread winner. Younger than Red Heavy and had to drop out of college to earn money.

His second youngest brother/ the middle son is trying to balance Caring for their family and earning money to help with expenses.

Their youngest brother is in college and they're working on making sure he finishes.

Blu heavy knows he Has a very important task that only he can do so he doesn't complain. Or rather he doesn't let himself complain ( out loud).

Enjoys cooking and learning how to cook different dishes.

Was shocked by the whole respawn machine but it allows him to accept the whole killing and getting killed as Not as much of a Danger/ treat the job as a weird sense of stress relief.

Also enjoys exercising because he can just Not Think about whatever troubles might be in his head and just focus on what he's doing.

will sing to himself in privacy but absolutely will not in front of others. Idk if cassette players are a thing in this time period but I like to think he's got a small collection of them.

Misses the time when his brothers were younger and the general carefree nature of childhood. Will sometimes get nostalgic about stuff, see something and think about how one of his brothers would have loved it. Wants to brings his family over, his family is split on it.

He worries about them every day and dreads the day he finds out his parents have passed.

I feel like he would find sheep amusing for some reason. Just look at their faces and the fact you gotta Shave them.

for those wondering what his relationship with Blu medic is, it's not as intimate as their red counterparts but he does find his presence comforting. They both talk a lot outside of work. Genuinely curious about his work- it's good to be friends with the doctor. And blue medic asks stories about his past.

[theeangeltimes]

Vampire Academy Books 1-3 Re-read Thought Dump

For the past several months, I’ve been working my way through a re-read of one of my favorite book series, Vampire Academy.

I first read it four years ago when I was 14/15, so it’s been a loooong time and I’ve forgotten quite a bit of it. Plus, now that I’m older and more intelligent/perceptive/critical, my opinions have changed quite a bit and I’ve picked up on more subtle things in the story this time around. In this blog (for my own sake, lol), I’ll be sharing some of the new stances I’ve developed on aspects/characters in the first three books of the series, Vampire Academy, Frost Bite, and Shadow Kiss (as those are the only ones I’ve re-read thus far). AND THERE WILL BE SPOILERS, so beware!

── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──

• Lissa + roselissa’s friendship kinda fvcking suck.

I’ve never been the biggest fan of lissa and she honestly kind of always rubbed me the wrong way, but during my first read I never really thought too much about it and could never put my finger on what exactly it was that bothered me about her. But now I know!

Their friendship just feels so disproportionate in the sense that it feels like Rose would and has done literally EVERYTHING for Lissa, but Lissa wouldn’t do the same. Like Rose is literally training to spend her future dedicated to Lissa and risking her life to protect her. She also took Lissa away from the academy, putting her herself in jeopardy to keep Lissa safe AND even let Lissa feed off of her while they were out in the human world by themselves despite that being seen as utterly degrading by their society. And let’s not forget how she knew that Lissa’s use of spirit was wreaking havoc on her mental well-being and would probably drive her to insanity or even suicide, yet she let Lissa keep on using it just because it made her happy…

But when Dimitri was left behind in the cave after the mission in Shadow Kiss, Lissa wouldn’t even tell Rose that she would at least ATTEMPT to heal Dimitri or bring him back to life even though Rose was distraught and begging. And then she had the nerve to get mad at Rose when she found out that she and Dimitri had a relationship and Rose didn’t tell her about it. Like, what???

And there’s other ways she’s rubbed me the wrong way but I won’t mention them because I feel like I don’t have enough proof to truly support my argument, but I’m still right! ☝️

Lissa is also just sort of a bland character. And I normally like quiet kind smart girls, but there’s just something that falls flat about her for me.

And speaking of the bond…

• The use of the bond was a very clever storytelling device. So while I do find it mostly annoying, I also appreciate it.

• Adrian is a fvcking CREEP!!!

I truly, TRULY, do not understand how I liked or even felt bad for Adrian at all when I first read this series. He’s a creep, and the way that Lissa (see? another reason why Lissa sucks) and Richelle Mead try to gaslight both us the reader and Rose into thinking that deep down he’s some great guy pissed me off so much. And it makes me feel insane when I look at how the fandom as a whole tends to love him and defend him and act like Rose is this major evil bitch, because HOWWWWWW???

It’s bad enough that he is constantly flirting with Rose since she’s underage, but even if she was a grown ass woman, it would still be gross; Rose tells him over and over again to leave her alone and stop flirting with her, and yet he persists. And also makes sexual comments to/about her. And always tries to ~playfully~ coerce her into giving him physical contact like hugs. And also bugs her in her dreams even though, once again, she tell him not to. Like there’s no way she can escape his creepy ass and nobody steps in for her to tell him to fuck off and leave her alone. It’s blood-boiling to me.

And, spolier: from what I can recall, more layers of shittiness are added to his character as the series progresses and even more are added in Bloodlines (unpopular opinion, but oh well). The only good thing that mf has done is fund rose’s trip to kill strigoi Dimitri.

And speaking of her getting money from Adrian…

• I genuinely do not feel bad for Rose asking Adrian for money.

Like why in the world would I care that a woman does something kind of bad to her harasser? Especially when she’s a teenager who’s in a terrible space mentally?

The whole exchange reinforces how Adrian is a total creep. As I previously mentioned, Rose was not only in mental/emotional turmoil due to Lissa’s use of spirit, but she was also reeling from Mason’s passing, the strigoi attacks and their casualties, and Dimitri turning strigoi. And yet he was still bugging her about dating him.

• The dhampirs (especially the women and girls) are greatly oppressed and thus far no one has even really acknowledged that except Ambrose, and he doesn’t even truly relay just how bad their oppression is.

The Moroi (as a class) exploit the physical abilities of dhampirs and more importantly the fact that the dhampir race cannot go on without Moroi and coerce them into dedicating their entire lives to being their guard dogs. The only other choices that dhampirs really have when they’re adults other than becoming guardians is to become “blood whores,” single mothers who live on communes (which is pretty much always conflated with being a blood whore by most people in their society), or being alone and vulnerable in the human world.

And it’s completely normalized (the primary way that dhampir a are reproduced, in fact) in their society for Moroi men to have casual relationships with dhampir women, impregnate them, and then leave them to raise their children on their own while they go and settle down with a Moroi woman instead. PLUS, guardians having serious romantic relationships is looked down upon, so those are pretty much out of the question.

And what makes it worse is that they can’t even liberate themselves from Moroi completely unless they’re willing to have the dhampir race die out completely since interaction with humans is not a real option.

To make matters even worse, Moroi could have been fighting alongside dhampirs to protect themselves from strigoi, and the fire users can very easily kill strigoi without even coming into physical contact with them, but no. The moroi were too damn lazy and thought of themselves too highly to do so. Which is why I’m glad that Moroi have started advocating for Moroi to begin fighting as well and that becomes a big theme throughout the novels.

• Moroi (as a class) are evil oppressors, continued

The whole feeder system is very flawed and exploitative, in my opinion. The fact that we briefly see in the books a few times that the feedings cause a mental deterioration for the feeders after a while is the main reason why. In Shadow Kiss, the way that rose and Christian were sitting there calling Alice (the elderly feeder who seemed to be experiencing some sort of psychosis) ~craaaazzzyyyyyy~ yet Christian still proceeded to feed on her definitely made me side eye him.

Surely there could be a more humane system put into place, like age/service limits for feeders or something.

*side note: I don’t think we ever figure out how Alice knew about how the strigoi were coming? I could very well be wrong though, I’ll have to see if Richelle provides answers in the following books.*

• Despite how outspoken and confident and strong and brave Rose may be, she has ZERO self-preservation or self-worth when it comes to herself and the dhampir race as a whole.

To see her repeatedly talk about how it was both her and every other dhampir’s duty to protect and prioritize Moroi and become guardians and repeat that stupid “they come first” mantra and dedicate her entire life to training just to protect her friend has honestly been painful. Like, girl, STAND UP!!! None of you were put on this planet just to give up your life and be 24/7 bodyguards to some people that likely see you as inferior to them!

However, I do think this aspect of her makes her character more real and complex. Rose may seem like a rebel to the people around her because she often gets into trouble and is sassy and ran away, but in reality, she isn’t one at all. Her worldview is actually quite traditional. She has internalized all the norms in her society without a second thought and doesn’t begin to see things differently until she starts interacting more with the world outside of St. Vladimir’s and is upon the brink of adulthood. She even says herself “Why was everyone suddenly challenging something that I’d held as absolute truth my entire life?” in Shadow Kiss.

I’m very excited to see how both Rose and her world continue to evolve and grow with the next three books. I don’t remember the society and characterization of these books being so rich and complex, Richelle Mead did an amazing job creating a compelling and thought-provoking world. So while I may not think that these books are literary masterpieces like I once did, I appreciate them in a new, deeper way.

[giggly-squiggily]

The Gentlest Of Bulls (Fire Emblem: Three Hopes)

Heyo! Guess who wrote a Fire Emblem fic and completely forgot about it? This gal!

Okay but really- it wasn't so much I forgot about it but more so I forgot I never shared it. This is for the lovely @gladdygirl18! It's been a hot minute since I've touched anything Fire Emblem related but I hope y'all enjoy this little ol' fic!

Summary: Felix makes it a point to carry Dimitri to bed- literally. Sometimes antics occur.

It started off as a joke. Kinda.

When Dimitri gave Felix the more-or-less official title of “right hand man”, the first thing the newly promoted soldier did was throw him over his shoulders and lug him to bed. If asked, Felix would give various reasons why he did it.

“It’s the middle of the night; you’d probably get lost.”

“It’s training- people get stronger carrying others.”

“You’d be in here forever moping- at least mope where you can sleep.”

“Stop asking questions, boar prince.”

Before long- it became a habit. If Dimitri lingered too long in his thoughts all alone, if he was training himself to near exhaustion, if he was starting to slip and forget to take care of himself; Felix was right there to pick him back up- literally.

“Felix, while I appreciate the gesture- I can walk back myself.” Dimitri was once again being carried piggyback style- his toes just grazing the dirt path beneath feet as Felix hiked him up further. He was grateful for nightfall- there was no one to bear witness to his burning face as Felix stubbornly refused to put him down. “I promise I’ll make it to bed.”

“You said that last time, and then I found you by the river.” Felix sounded a tad breathless- was Dimitri too heavy? “I’m this close to locking you in for the night, but knowing you, you’d probably bust the door down in your sleep.”

“That was years ago! I couldn’t help my sleepwalking!” Dimitri protested, feeling his ears start to burn. Even embarrassed, he couldn’t hide the laugh in his voice as the memory took shape in his mind. A young prince, so dazed he didn’t bother opening the door properly- he just walked right through it.

“Yeah yeah, just like you couldn't help breaking that one sword when you were nine?” Felix rolled his eyes, affection warming his annoyed tone. “You were like a bull in a china shop back then. Some say you still are- how many needles did you break learning to sew?”

Dimitri didn’t retort with words. Instead, his hand reached out to squeeze Felix’s side, mid-ribs. The swordsman jolted with a yelp, nearly dropping the blonde on his ass. “Don’t you dare- Dimitri!”

“What? Too bullish for you?” Dimitri was grinning- he could hear it in his voice. The hand squeezed again, lighter this time and far more ticklish. “Come now- don’t tell me my right hand man is as frail as fine china.”

“Shut the hehhell up!” Felix grunted, trying to retain his balance while the other continued his game, fingers pressing into various parts of his ribs with gentle pressure. “If you keeeheep dohoing that I’ll droohohop you in the stahahables!”

“That’s all the way on the other side of camp. You can certainly try.” Dimitri’s hands wormed their way up to Felix’s armpits, making him properly stumble. “But I can’t say you’ll make it all the way there.”

“Dahahahmnit you bohohoar, Stahahahp!” Falling on his front, Felix twisted and turned, trying to ward off the other’s hands as Dimitri sat comfortably on his hips, thumbs pressing into the centers of both arms. “Yohoohohohu’re a pahahahhahain!”

“And you’re too ticklish to be sassy. Don’t think I forgot about this one spot.” Dimitri’s hands dropped to Felix’s waist, squeezing. That earned him a rather embarrassing squeal. “Or this one.” He reached back and skittered his fingers against Felix’s thigh, nearly taking a heel to the head. “And of course- this one. I believe this was Sylvain’s favorite.” He ran a finger down Felix’s spine, slowly with just barely any pressure. The Swordsman arched with a squawk, his laughter near silent at each new touch. “Your back has always been pretty bad, huh?”

“BOOOHOHOHOAR, ENOHOOHOHOUGH!” Felix cried, cheeks red and eyes wet with mirth. His laugh faded in and out with each new prod and scribble, and he pounded a fist into the ground; hoping it would alleviate the feeling. “THIS IS EMBAHAHAHARAHAHAHSING!”

“Am I a bull in a china shop?” Dimitri asked.

“OF COHOOHOHURSE YOU AHHAHHARE!”

“Wrong answer.” Fingers came back to his spine, muting his laughter once more.

“Wanna try again?” Dimitri asked as he moved his hands back to Felix’s sides, squeezing beneath his ribs. The swordsman buried his face in his hands, trying to muffle the sound while his arms pressed tightly to his sides. “Hm?”

“FIIHIHIHNE, YOHOOOHOHUR NOHOHOHOOHT!”

“Not what?”

“A BUUHUHUHULL IN A CHIHIHINA SHOOHOHOP!”

“What am I then?” Dimitri traced fingers against Felix’s neck, making him shrink up and wheeze.

“DIHIIHIIMA STAHHAHAHAP!”

Dima. The blonde felt his heart tighten at the old nickname. Felix hasn’t called him that since Glenn died. Releasing him, he sat on Felix’s left, watching the other gasp for air as he curled in on himself.

“Yohohohu freaking suhuhuck.” Felix groaned, going to glare. “Whahaht the hell are you smihihihling about?”

“Nothing. I just…I miss this.” Dimitri nodded, gesturing between them. “I missed playing with you like this.”

“Whehere not kids anymore.” Felix’s response was automatic, but he didn’t sound firm. If anything, he let himself melt into the grass- strands of black hair falling into his face from where they escaped his ponytail. “We’re in the middle of war.”

“I know that. I just…I guess it’s nice. To forget about it all for a moment.” Dimitri tucked a knee against his chest, resting against it. “I know I shouldn’t be. As their king and leader…”

“Shut up. I don’t need you getting all weepy on me.” Felix reached out and flicked his leg- the move useless against Dimitri’s armor. “I get it. It was…nice. It felt like before.” There was a new flush on Felix’s cheeks, one that made the blonde smile. “I guess I don’t mind moments like that from time to time.” Then he glared, cutting through the moment briefly. “But if you ever tickle me again, I’m gonna cut your head off clean from your shoulders.”

Anyone else would have cowered in fear. Dimitri only laughed. Before long- Felix was laughing just as hard, their voices carrying through the abandoned campyard.

Thanks for reading!

[randomnameless]

FE 25 :

Uwu:(...) I question the way in which our society is designed. No matter what strength a person has, it is the station he is born into that controls his destiny. And you cannot control where you will be born. Do you believe that a person of low birth should simply endure the curse of his station? I think not. If you are stronger than those around you, you should benefit from your strength. This is why I will use my strength to remake this world. Class and rank will not matter. Human and sub-human will not matter. The strong will possess everything. The weak will submit to their will. Is this not the meaning of peace? A subhuman: Are you saying that the lives of those without strength have no value?

Uwu : If after all of this you believe the weak will still be weak, that is only because they are too used to relying on others instead of on themselves. A barbarian and potential subhuman lover : There are those who cannot live without their faith... and those who cannot go on once they have lost their reason for living. Your path will not be able to save them. It is the path of the strong, and so, it could only benefit the strong.

Uwu: That is the natural order. The only way for the weak to survive is to cling to the strong. Our discussion is over. Tell me, frail little bird who cannot fight; which do you choose? Submission? Or death? A subhuman: …Life proffered to me by your hand is something I would never accept! A barbarian and potential subhuman lover : (...) I finally understand…what you believe is right.

The context is different, Dimi has a special background with Supreme Leader and is her step-brother, so it makes sense trying to reach for her and at least try to understand what is going on in her mind, than Reyson, a frail and weak laguz by birth, trying to understand and reach out for Ashnard.

But are we really supposed to think Dimi's reply here is pretty different because he personally knew his Ashnard? Or because he isn't a weak and frail thing by birth, like Reyson, so he isn't as angry or as passionate in his replies?

I know this scene plays a role in Dimitri's arc - he tries to reach out for her (hand) when he earlier only wanted to end her life, because he isn't driven by revenge or vengeance anymore and wants to save people, even Supreme Leader.

So this convo is less about Supreme Leader and more about him.

And yet, imo, this always felt sort of wrong, because while Dimitri cannot do a thing for the people who are already dead (killing Supreme Leader won't bring them back, he has to think about the living now and not to avenge the dead) - Dimitri is still talking to someone who gave means and opportunities (and fodder!) to Izuka to create Feral Ones thus most likely knows there is a Gritnea Tower around, started a war and killed thousands, was involved (as far as he knows?) in the brutal killing of his family and has pretty biased views on Laguz.

Of course in the following scenes and maps, he resolves to put an end to the war thus defeat her, and we know Supreme Leader refuses his mercy and prefers to die - but the way this development is frailed is not a straight up rejection of her POV or her so called "IdEaLs", but it's framed as a tragedy because Dimitri couldn't "save" her.

No, kill that, it's even worse :

We have no choice but to destroy each other… Such is the destiny we were born to.

Now this fight - aka Dimitri wanting to put an end to Ashnard's war - is the result of fate, and not the will/choices both parties made to reach that point (which is, in a way, hilarious, because he mentions just after his line her "iron will", so pick your horse Dimitri, is this war the result of fate/destiny, or is it due to Ashnard's "iron will"?).

Ultimately, the themes and arcs of both games are different, so it's no wonder that the solution each Lord(s) offer is different - Elincia wants to avenge her parents and justice for her dead countrymen, Reyson wants to have the right to exist even if he is a weak thing by birth, Ike is out of the loop / Dimitri wants to accept Supreme Leader and "save" her because vengeance and justice drove him to a wall and got his close father figure killed, Dimitri now wants to protect the living, even Supreme Leader herself (or at least he tries).

So even if Ashnard and Supreme Leader share the same dubious ideals, keep a lizard in cage/captivity, used feral ones and started wars - the reaction to them is different, because the Lords have different character arcs and development.

That being said, even with all his character development, would a post-Rodrigue death Dimitri who, idk, is warped in FE9's Tellius, after befriending Laguz, witnessing racism, seeing Gritnea and the "wildlife experiments", witnessing Daein's army ruining civilians, learning about Lillia, Rajaion, etc etc, would that Dimitri still have reached his hand out to Ashnard upon his defeat?

If we want to stay in Fodlan, a Dimitri who befriends Nabateans (who reveals themselves to be Nabateans!), learns about the Relics, learns about Supreme Leader's goal to free the world from their existence because their race isn't allowed to have power over humans, seeing Gritnea or at least still giving fucks about the humans who were painfully transformed in Demonic Beasts (and maybe solving the question about who are they made from, random Adrestian civilians or war prisoners?), reacting to Ferdie's paralogue, learning about Rhea's zumba lessons in her 5 stars resort, etc etc, would this Dimitri still have reached his hand out to a Supreme Leader whose core belief (or least one of them) is Nabateans shouldn't be allowed to live in Fodlan, and Faerghus and Leicester should never have existed and should return to her?

Of course the game makes it so that we will never learn the answer to that second situation, because Hresvelg Tea and whatnot, but if we want to stay true to his character arc, then AM!Dimitri would still have reached out for her hand.

A Dimitri who becomes the kind of ruler Elincia is after her arc in FE10... wouldn't have at all.

[gladdygirl18]

To Get the Boar to Sleep

Here is my part 2 of this incredible fic written by the equally incredible if not more so @giggly-squiggily! Your fic was so cute, I had to write a part 2 to it! Enjoy!

Summary: After constant nights of dragging His Majesty back to bed, Felix gets fed up with doing this almost every night. So, to make sure Dimitri stays put, Felix comes up with way to get His Majesty to sleep.

Word Count: 1569

Even in the middle of a war, you can always find room to breathe; however, after constant nights of hauling His Majesty’s exhausted butt to bed when his mind and body wandered, Felix was sure he was going to pass out if he had to carry Dimitri one more time. Still, it was worth it if it meant his friend was getting some sleep.

However, on this fateful night, Felix was finally fed up with Dimitri’s “wandering mind and body.” The silver moon glittered against the navy sky with stars dancing around it, shining just as bright as the lunar sun. The Shield of Faerghus had found His Majesty near the stables, admiring the sleeping stallions. The moon shined down on him like a silver spotlight, making his armor shimmer in the luminous light. The young duke groaned before walking up to his restless friend.

“Dimitri.” Felix called out.

The young king turned around and smiled when he saw his right-hand man.

“Oh, Felix. It’s just you,” Dimitri said.

“Of course, it’s me, boar,” Felix jeered, “Who else would be up this late to haul your butt to bed?”

Dimitri sighed as he averted his shield’s gaze.

“I… am sorry,” Dimitri said, “My mind just-”

“Wanders,” Felix finished as he leaned against the wooden fence, “I know.”

Dimitri smiled softly as he copied his friend’s posture, grateful to have someone like Felix understand his feelings.

“So, what brought you here this time?” Felix suddenly asked, “The last time I found you, you were at the training grounds, reminiscing about the times you, me, and Glenn used to train.”

“It is for a similar reason,” Dimitri chuckled, glancing at the sleeping horses, “Remember all the times you, me, and Glenn used to ride horses through every valley across Faerghus?”

Felix chuckled and nodded softly.

"How could I forget?” Felix asked, “You would always want to race.”

“Ridiculous!” Dimitri spat, “If I recall, you were always the one who would want to race, not I.”

Felix rolled his eyes as he straightened his posture.

“Whatever,” he said, “Come on, boar; it’s getting late. I want you to sleep so I can sleep.”

Dimitri sighed as he straightened his posture, nodding to his kingdom’s shield.

“Yes, perhaps that would be best.” Dimitri said.

Before Dimitri could take a step, Felix picked up his king in a bridal style.

“I don’t fully trust you yet to walk back to your quarters on your own,” Felix said, “You’ll probably wander off somewhere else. This time, I have a plan to help you fall asleep and to keep you from wandering,”

“Oh? And what might this plan be?” Dimitri asked.

“You’ll see…”

After hauling His Majesty to his private quarters, Felix set Dimitri on the ground and helped him out of his armor. Soon, the young king was reduced to a black long-sleeve shirt and pants.

“So, how will you help me fall asleep and ensure I won’t wander again?” Dimitri asked, genuinely curious as he sat on his bed.

Felix scoffed before removing his cape and gloves. He tossed them to the side as he walked up to his king.

“U-Uhm, Felix?” Dimitri began, “What’s with that look on your face?”

Felix’s face had a sinister smirk with a dark shadow cast over his eyes.

“I’ve grown tired of constantly hauling your royal butt to bed almost every night,” Felix growled, pushing Dimitri onto his back, “But now, I’m going to make sure you stay in bed and stay asleep.”

The young duke straddled his king and stared into his sky-blue eyes. Dimitri sank into the mattress, shifting under his kingdom’s shield’s gaze.

“W-What are you gonna do to me?” Dimitri asked, panic clear in his eyes.

Felix’s grin couldn’t get more sinister.

“Payback…” he growled.

Then, the young duke started digging his fingers into Dimitri’s sides, causing the young king to flinch hard at the sudden touch.

“F-Felihihix! This is absuhuhuhurd!” Dimitri giggled.

“Oh?” Felix questioned, “Was it absurd to do this to me a couple of nights ago?”

Dimitri giggled softly as his friend tickled his sides. The young king tried to latch onto his friend’s wrists, but Felix quickly moved his hands behind him and started squeezing the young king’s knees. The sudden touch made Dimitri yelp and kick out his legs.

“No, nohohoho!” Dimitri cried, “Felihihihihix! Cehehehease this at ohohohonce!”

“Sorry, Your Majesty, no can do,” Felix said, “I’m not stopping until you’re so tuckered out that you won’t even have the energy to wander around the camp.”

Dimitri growled through his giggles, trying to kick away Felix’s hands from squeezing his kneecaps.

“Enohohohough! Hahahahaha!” Dimitri giggled, “Felix, stohohohohop!”

“Yeah, it’s going to take Dedue to stop me by the time I’m through with you.” Felix deadpanned.

The young duke grinned before skittering his fingers back up Dimitri’s ribs, causing the young king to throw his head back and let out deep, handsome giggles.

“Felihihihihix! Nahahaha!” Dimitri cried, “I-It tihihihihikles! Hahahahahehehe!”

“That’s the point, boar,” Felix said as he rolled his crimson eyes, “You’d know what would happen if the others found out if I beat you to a pulp.”

Dimitri’s giggles escalated in volume as he heard Felix’s joke.

“Felix, plehehehehase!” Dimitri begged, “Make it stohohohop!”

“Only if you promise and apologize to stop wandering around the camp for hours on end and making me have to lug your royal butt to bed every night,” Felix said, “Oh, and you’ll have to promise to sleep more as well. Do that, and I’ll stop. Does that sound fair to you, boar?”

When Dimitri didn’t respond, Felix groaned and shoved his hands under his friend’s arms. Handsome belly laughs spilled from the king's lips.

“NOT THEHEHEHEHERE!” Dimitri laughed, kicking out his legs, “FELIHIHIHIHIHIHIX! AAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

“I’m surprised you’re still ticklish here, Dimitri,” Felix mused, “Actually, I’m surprised you’re still ticklish in general. And here I thought you’d grown out of it by now.”

“YOU’RE ONE TO TAHAHAHAHALK!”

Felix scoffed at His Majesty’s sass and started clawing at Dimitri’s armpits through the thin material. Dimitri threw his head back and let out a cackle as he tried to latch onto Felix’s wrists.

“FELIHIHIHIHIHIX! NAHAHAHAAA!” Dimitri cackled, “G-GET OHOHOHOUT! HEHEHEHAHAHA!”

“Not until you promise and apologize,” Felix said, “Until then, accept your fate, Your Majesty.”

Dimitri twisted and turned underneath his friend, laughing his head off. His legs flailed behind the young duke, ignoring the constant kneeing his back was receiving.

“Knee me in the back again, and I’ll make this a thousand times worse.” Felix warned over his friend’s laughter.

Dimitri growled through his laughter as he tried not to kick Felix, not wanting the tickling to get any worse than it already was.

“F-FEHEHEHEHELIHIHIHIHIX, PLEHEHEHEEEASE!” Dimitri begged, “MAKE IT STAHAHAHAP! IT TIHIHICKLEHEHEHES SO BAHAHAHAD!”

“Do you promise to stop wandering around for hours on end?” Felix asked.

“YEHEHEHES, I PROMIHIHISE!”

“Will you finally get some sleep?”

“YES, I SWEHEHEHEAR! HAHAHAHAHA!”

“Are you sorry for making me carry you every night?”

Felix could’ve sworn he saw Dimitri’s smile grow wider at his question. The young duke growled before clawing at the space between Dimitri’s top rib and armpits, causing the young king to yelp.

“OKAY, OKAHAHAHAHAY!” Dimitri laughed, “I’M SOHOHOHORRY! I JUST WANTED TO SPEHEHEHEHEND TIME WITH YOHOHOHOHOU! HAHAHAHAHAHAAA!”

When Felix heard this, he immediately stopped, leaving the young king breathless.

“Y-You what?” Felix asked.

“I-Ihihi just wanted to spehehend time with yohohu,” Dimitri panted, “W-We’re always working throughout the dahahay, and the best way to meheheet with you is at nihihight.”

Felix felt his heart swell with happiness.

“Is that why you’re always wandering at night?” Felix asked.

“Mostly,” Dimitri answered, “I do think about the past before… it happened; times like these when it was just you and me.”

Felix didn’t need to ask what “it” was; he knew perfectly well what his king was implying.

“And Glenn?” Felix asked.

Dimitri smiled and nodded at his friend. Felix grinned before ruffling his king’s golden-blonde hair. Dimitri giggled and playfully swatted away his friend’s hand.

“Alright, time for you to get some sleep,” Felix said, climbing off his king, “I better not find you up and wandering around the camp, or I’ll have to tire you out again.”

The young duke grinned as he wiggled his fingers toward his king, chuckling when Dimitri flinched.

“I will try and get some sleep,” Dimitri said, “For my sake.”

Felix chuckled before picking up his cape and gloves. After slipping on his gloves and cape, Felix made his way out of his king’s private quarters.

“Goodnight, Felix.” Dimitri said sweetly.

Felix stopped and glanced at his friend.

“Yeah,” Felix said with a smile, “Goodnight, Dimitri.”

The young duke left Dimitri’s quarters and slipped into the night. Dimitri watched his right-hand man walk away with a soft smile, chuckling at the ghost tickles that still lingered. If Felix is a man of his word, maybe Dimitri would wander the camp late at night again, but not tonight. Getting tickled death by the young duke definitely exhausted him.

When Dimitri’s blue eyes closed, a warm smile spread across his face as he dreamt of him, Felix, and Glenn having tickle fights with each other when they were younger. Though the death of Glenn will always be a heavy burden on the young king’s heart, he was lucky enough to have one of the Fraldarius brothers still around.

[kah-hoa]

Which character you like at first but eventually they got obnoxious and took too much screen time?

In an ironic twist of fate I think Edelgard's flaw as a character is because there isn't MORE to her.

When I first bought Three Houses I actively wanted to pick Edelgard's route so I went with Black Eagles, but I ended up getting the Silver Snow route by accident because I didn't freaking know that you needed to unlock rank A support with Edelgard and quite frankly the story didn't give me much of an incentive to get it either.(For reasons that I will disclose better later)

After finding out how to unlock the route and playing it I grew to absolutely despised her character. The writing for her route was short, bare bones and atrocious. No wonder a lot of people thought it was an inclusion added at last minute because the execution felt utterly sloppy, specially when compared to Dimitri's and Claude's route.

I will put my thoughts on my impression under more because BOY is my rant long and spoilers I guess:

Going back about the support bit, when I said that there was no "incentive" to seek it it was because in the main story her bonding with the MC is nonexistent. Her screen time is spent with her acting shady and secretive as fuck. There's no heart to heart, no events nor any story build ups to speak of to make it believable for either side to trust each other. You could even argue that it causes the opposite effect with how unnatural their interactions are around each other.

Specially during the MC's lowest moment in which, MY GOD, Edelgard was absolutely insensitive and tactless by basically telling them to "get over it" after it was emphasized that it was the first time the Protag's emotionless self was expressing/experiencing sorrow because of their father's death, which was, by the way, INDIRECTLY HER FAULT!!!

Why you ask? Because she helped the one to be his killer to infiltrate the Institution.

She never apologizes about it btw nor it's ever addressed by the plot as something they should talk about which I find absolutely infuriating because it makes the death of their father feel so POINTLESS and wasted writing potential.

Siiiigh.

And the problems don't end here.

I don't mind stories where the character has to get their hands dirty if it's made blatantly clear that it was a "necessary evil", which her alliance with the "Those Who Slither in the Dark" does not feel like it.

TWSITD doesn't make any significant contribution story wise to justify Edelgard borrowing their power to fight the "Worse Evil"(And aguarbly TWSITD feels like the bigger evil regardless of your stance on Rhea) and the collateral damage/casualties they inflict in their wake seems not worthy it.

(Which includes, again, the needless death of the MC's father.)

The tone dissonance between her actions and its gravity is also... Appalling.

She plunged the whole continent in war. There were a lot of casualties, confirmed and implied by the very nature of war itself, innocents were dragged in this conflict and yet none of her classmates have anything to say about that. They are so peachy and cheery in Crimson Flower route that it makes it feel more like a school trip outing than the continent engulfed in war.

(Also, they fall under the same problem with the MC's interactions in that, her retainer aside, they have absolutely no believable reason to follow her.)

Compare that with Azure Moon when the characters act believably uncomfortable around Dimitri because he's acting like an irrational beast and it's clear that they follow him more out of a sense of duty as their liege than the belief that he's doing the right thing until his character development hits.

Now where was all of this in Edelgard's route? Why was that not an option to make her work for it? To face head on their misgivings towards her actions and earn her classmates loyalty?

Oh right, Teeheehee~ Let's have a scene of Edelgard being embarrassed for having a drawing of the MC.

UUUUUUURRRRGHHH.

For real man, Claude and Dimitri have a lot of scenes where they confide on the Protagonist or have an arc that culminates in their development and Edelgard gets a SINGLE throwaway scene?

And on topic of the different routes, I know they wanted to have split routes with different amount of lore drops between them for replay-ability value and to sell the "different perspectives" angle but to have her route lacking so much in context compared to the others hurt Edelgard's case even more because It's already bad enough to have her make an alliance with shady punks that give no visible benefits whatsoever for all the horrible mess they cause in their wake, but to have her lack critical information? That just makes her look super incompetent and ignorant.

(Not to mention how anticlimactic the ending of her route is because it's the only route we are not given the chance to face TWSITD)

Edelgard was done super dirty. What a waste of a character with incredible potential. :/

[eternitas]

Lou, I think you alr know who I'm sending this for 🤣🤣 Ava and Dima, let's goo!!!

If your character had a breakout show/film/comic, what would the plot be? Who would be in their supporting cast?

What do you think the fandom for your character would be like? Are they a fan favorite, a love to hate villain, derided for whatever reason, or something else?

Ava: Be honest. What song is playing over an AMV/tiktok of scenes between your character and their love interest?

Dima: If your character isn’t designed for shipping/isn’t interested in shipping, how hard does fandom have to mangle them to make them shipping material/open to a relationship?

Ask Meme

Thank you so much for sending these in these are so incredibly fun to answer! I know Dima isn't exactly "known" to the public but it's still so much fun to talk about him! I might actually just post his profile after all who knows!

This got quite long so I put it under a read more!

If your character had a breakout show/film/comic, what would the plot be? Who would be in their supporting cast?

Ava Oooohohoho, so I am that kinda loser that likes to imagine videos to music when I am out and about. You know what else I love? Ono Kenshos voice, who is Kuroko Tetsuyas VA and also my voice claim for Ava (considering he used to have Kuroko as inspiration and it fit so well). Ono Kensho has a few pretty cool songs and imagining them as insert songs in a movie is an absolutely fantastic way of spending my time. I have def thought of all four Squad 4 members having a solo movie each, which ofc includes Ava. In it Ava finds a letter adressed to his brother on his desk (Ava and Ser often clean up Squalos desk, because he tends to take over work that isn't his and then they yank it to do it for him). It's a challenge letter to a swordsmaster showdown. Ava, being a bit of a hothead sometimes, goes to accept the letter, which obviously was a trap. ( @dontknow-willaddlater Asari would def make a cameo bc ofc that idiot would fall for it). To be quite fair I haven't gotten through WHY or what exactly the trap is, only that def almost ends in a massacre and ofc Squalo and Squad 4 move out to help Ava picking up Yamamoto, Ryohei, Tsuna and Gokudera along the way. And while as series MC Tsuna still gets the last last hit, Ava gets the final battle. And since I've mentioned it: this is the insert song because I am a loser

Dimitri I think Dimitri is the type of character that tends to blow up and be super popular. But unlike the main cast I doubt it would be a movie, more like an inbetween OVA that maybe highlights how Dimitri and Rena met and become close. Maybe a very specific instance of him saving and protecting her. I also could see Dimitri be very popular in Drama CDs. Even if he doesn't appear often, he would likely have a really popular and talented VA and there are enough small stories where he can be added to. But he probably mostly gets shown with either Gokudera or Rena, maybe even Sergey as those are the people he has most likely interactions with, though having him be paired with unlikely people like maybe Ryohei would also be interesting.

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What do you think the fandom for your character would be like? Are they a fan favorite, a love to hate villain, derided for whatever reason, or something else?

Ava Ava would be a fan favourite, but def also for that reason victim of uwu babyfication. Too many such cases, but Ava would def have the people who hate Lorenzo for being "abusive" and being harcore Yamava shippers and those who treat him like rice, because uwu baby small bean, when Ava is so much more. Def also people who dable into sharkcest and it makes discussing the dynamic between Ava and Squalo all the more complicated. Overall though he would be liked I believe. Features a lot in fillers and other media, def often in collaborations. I though however also think there is a very very vocal small part that can't stand him, because he is an "uwu small bean baby" ("Stop calling me that.") and makes everything unserious. He is so obnoxious, has only his tea and sword gimmik and is as deep as a puddle! No substance! Fucking cracker! You'd def not be able to go into his tag without all kinds of ship art. He's also a fave when it comes to drawing new "draw your blorbo in this" challenges. I could also see him stirr up gender drama, considering he does the whole crossdressing killer thing, but I'll leave it here.

Dimitri Definitely Hibari type fan fave in my eyes. It's that devotion, that emotionless non chalant side of him and the soft spot he has only for Rena. Also def always drawn and portrayed very pretty and elegant. He is a hearthrob and every small Dima lore is being eaten up. Def has some of the most requests on imagines blogs. Also v big with the yandere girlies. Also could see him as the mole in collabs and artworks. You know how the Varia are always in pictures even though-- WTF ARE YOU DOING THERE? SIR? Yeah that would happen a lot with Dima I believe. Lurking in the shadows to not be seen? Nah not with the merch staff. There is definitely a very vocal part that would be really upset over his fate in the Cosmos Energy Arc, and when he reappears in the Flame Children Arc its one of those "oh tumblr crashed" days, because all the girlies go fucking ham over him being back WITH A HAIRCUT TOO.

~~~~~

Be honest. What song is playing over an AMV/tiktok of scenes between your character and their love interest?

Ava Oh boy you ask me this when I JUST tried to write some LORAVA and had one single song on repeat all the time. I am unfortunately not every versed when it comes to music especially newer, but when it comes to Lorava I could see Kiss Me Slowly and for the weebs One Of Repetition, I can't really think of anything for other ships with him.

~~~~~

If your character isn’t designed for shipping/isn’t interested in shipping, how hard does fandom have to mangle them to make them shipping material/open to a relationship?

Dima I don't think imagines blogs or selfshippers are ever deterred from a character being canonically unavailable for them. It would definitely cause stirr among people, because he is canonically aroace and it could spark some "aroace erasure" discussions. I think he'd still be shipped by some people with Rena, Dera, Sergey and Anatoli (yes really, Renas dad and his superior), but some just enjoy that there is a character who can have meaningful relationships without it being sexual or romantic. Some argue that after the Lock Release in the Flame Children Arc he might have changed to being grey or just highly demi but since there is no confirmation it's definitely not widely accepted. (Personally the idea that someone would write Dima as putting anyone else over Rena makes me almost cringe, because he'd never, that is just not his character. He is the Hayato type, his one person of protection and respect is always top priority, sorry.) But yeah I could still see people trying their hardest to make him shipable.