#they are illogical with respect to their setting. they don't fit.

[vermillioncrown]

just read ch. 7 of tpac! the whole time i was like "timmy, no." and then i was like "korvin no!" i mean, looking from the outside, stalker tim drake would definitely freak out korvin, but reading the chapter in tim's pov, it makes him sound so reasonable. and i could say the same thing about korvin when i read his pov in ch. 6 and how there's a reasonable thought process there. im not blaming korvin, but looks like he just escalated the situation, and im worried what tim and korvin end up doing.

love the moment tim concluded that korvin must be his replacement, and he seemed to have just went "ok. alright. makes sense. i'll be professional." it's genuine, but it also sounds like he's compartmentalizing there for a bit.

also, for the rest of the chapter, i was just going, "oh my god, just talk. someone tell stuff to someone! maybe, idk, ask?" while also cackling. the tendency of not telling people who care about you about stuff you probably should is very much a bat thing, i'll say.

gotta say tho, if i only had this chapter on tim's pov to base on, it wouldve looked to me that korvin fits in perfectly with the bats' in terms of a lack of communication skills. or is this just a mind game he's instigating? the usual paranoia? what was going on his head when he went for the flight reaction at the sight of tim as robin? and then pulling that usb stunt.

like. what kinda vibes has korvin been getting from tim for him to get to this point?

i shall answer morning (?) you and then later you (second ask)

=

yep thank u for seeing that if you take each pov as is, both tim and korvin may be squirrely in different ways but they both come from a rational starting point (which is what makes their particular type irrationality a slippery slope and super fun to write)

(and something to be mindful of irl, i'm def prone to anxious spirals but have the energy of a dried-out slug so i just ride the spiral to the end until it's so irrational that i go "lol okay there's a higher chance of a meteor striking my apartment dead on, calm down bitch" to myself. korvin has a lot of energy)

and tim wrt potentially being replaced "i guess so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ hahaha" he is definitely compartmentalizing and rationalizing

(i don't want to get into uwu tim sadboi territory bc i feel that's a slippery slope to take, but bro's not okay. it takes a type of childhood, parenting, and enabling to make tim drake.

but i hope readers can catch hints of that in his pov)

no one's fucking talking lmao who does that??? (real adults with emotional and social competency)

(people who aren't terrified of being vulnerable 🙃)

but like, think about it. if you're constantly trained to have a secret identity and always around people that do the same...you get used to not talking. very bat, like you pointed out. + so much more going on; someone left a very insightful comment on the chapter that had me kicking my feet in the air 🥰🥰

and yes, the final bit you've pointed out--to tim, this is like standard fare bat mindgame shit. or what the fuck is going on with this kid??? who reacts like that, to that extreme???

this will resolve next chapter, so hang on until then 😏 please do continue to speculate because 1) it's fun and 2) i really don't write things by accident (my writing's already bloated--i do a lot of excising and editing to keep to the point)

rereading tpac ch. 7 with a clearer mind than i was in the morning earlier.

i gotta say, one of the best things i love about your writing the most is how wonderfully flawed you write the characters. tim drake is a character i adore and it's a compliment when i say i wanna punch him in the throat with the way you characterized him. it's so fascinating to see korvin from the direct pov of someone korvin doesn't know well yet, like with dick's pov and with barbara, back to how he was before they bonded, and especially with someone young like tim and also tim being tim.

which! ofc they would clash terribly for the first time! ofc tim "no sense of personal boundaries" drake would simply absolutely rub korvin "hates being perceived" kwan the wrong way in the most vehement way possible.

anyway, ya. tim deserves that a little bit in the end, and im excited to see where the tim-korvin dynamic is gonna go from here.

first off, i just wanna say i'm super flattered and appreciative of you (and other readers) actually giving this much attention to the fic. i joke it's not homework but like, you're having fun, i'm having fun, there's a bit of substance going on 🤭 a little puzzle, a little treat

and then another thank you 😭😭😭 because that's the goal with my characters. i want them to be believable and coherent in their own perspectives, which means traits and behaviors that are strengths can be recontextualized as flaws (and vice versa). not really into strict "this is always positive" "this is always negative".

(a big running theme in all my fics + something you can't avoid with SI fics is "a whole person is defined by both the internal and external". you have your core, but you must also be perceived)

i'll take the way you want to punch tim (lovingly) in the throat as a compliment! i want that! he deserves a bit of bullying! i just get sad when ppl get actually mad-mad at him because...bro's just trying his best but playing the wrong game with the wrong pieces lmao

his view of korvin also goes back to your previous asks about how'd they interact, and the answer is "depends on the context of how they meet and their relative social place to one another". tim's much older than korvin in whfagt and those are extenuating circumstances, so that's a very different interaction vs...this lol.

HAHA yes, you got it in one on how tim rubs korvin wrong. you'll get the other side next chapter.

(another theme with SIs is "get perceived, idiot", so korvin's getting dragged kicking and screaming into that. eventually. might take a whole sequel.)

you're excited to see, and i'm excited to show! in my other fics, the SI has the luxury of fucking off and stepping away from powder keg social interactions (kinda), but not korvin. so it's finally reasonable for me to write the most batshit (pun intended) insane character dynamics i can imagine

(if i wasn't so tied into my metacognition, there would have been plenty of places in my other fics i could have gone off the rails like readers wanted/expected. but that's not how i work.)

[nat1vibes]

inspired by @manygalaxiesinone [disgea characters / classes i'd hang out with if they were real]

Nippon ichi verse characters and whether we'd be Friends/Rivals/Enemies if i was a Competently strong demon in the respective game(that was added for the rival/enemy part) (Assume i'd be 2/4 or 3/4 of the mc's power(with exeptions for Soul nomad and makai)

Tis a long one.(SPOILERS FOR ALL GAMES!)

Makai senki disgaea:hour of darkness

Laharl: Like most characters. Frienemy, not Flone but not Etna either. I'd probably be looking for a job at his palace and be kind of a mix of Fenrich but with Etnas playfulness towards him

Etna: Frival. We would tease laharl. But i would get in the way of her plans as much as i could when it came to mess with him too much

Flone: Friends! She would be curious of my morality like she is with any demon, but she could see i wasn't evil

Gordon: Idk, honestly i might kill him

Tsusday: lil buds (not if i kill Gordon)

Jennifer: friends. (not if i kill Gordon)

Kurtis: Warry of me for the most par. Not enough interactions

Mid-Boss: He could probably 4th-wall break and know i 4th-wall break. he doesn't mind me much.

Lamington: Hate him, if the theories for his identity are real. We are NOT buds anymore.

D2 extras

Sicily: I'd just be nice to her. Shes just a kid

Xenolith: Idk what my stance to him would be. But we would be enemies ultimetly.

Disgaea 2: cursed memories

Adell: Friends. We would bud heads. but not enough to be rivals. In setting maybe i could fit as an other pureblood demon like him. He wouldn't like how i don't mind the world turning into more intresting demons.

Rosalin: Wouldn't interact much her, don't wanna be a 3rd wheel

Tink: i'd kill him

Yukimaru: Friends! nin nin!

Fubuki: Enemies but if we fought, maybe with respect

Director: i'd be very annoyed by him

Axel: i'd play as a Dark hero fan. But still beat him up, maybe make up a pretend rivalry. But in Axel mode i'd rl wanna help him with his family

Taro: THE TAR-MASTER. Super cool guy, I'd hype him up

Hanako: Take the demon child away!!!!

Future Demon lord Hanako: We'd vibe

Zenon(fake): i'd call him phony

Masked man and woman: if i heard them in their death quotes i'd be angry they abandoned Adell.

Disgaea 3: absence of justice!

Mao: Enemies but in the same party. Kinda rivals, but i'd hate his guts. We would probably have a history of being gaming rivals.

Raspberyl: I'd be in her delinquent group!

Almaz: BEST BUDS. Ok i'd want that. But friends for sure. I'd like watching him get braver. And be the end a true hero. I'd try to uplift his spirits when everyone around him is too batshit.

Sapphier: Shes too illogical for me. I'd probably just make her mad sometimes

Mr. Champloo: i'd be just as preplexed about him as everyone else

Master Big Star:i'd wanna beat him up more often than not

Salvatore: Friends! more like i'd play along with her orders

Disgaea 4: a promise unforgotten

Valvatorez: i'd probably join his party through the auditions the DLC characters did. Not on good terms, but i don't know why. It would be one sided from my part

Fendrich: He wouldn't like that i don't love his lord.

Fuka: I'd try to make her think her dream is a dating sim more than she already does. Not only with me. I'd try to stage happening with all the other intrests too.

Artina: I wouldn't care what kinda saint she was back then. Now shes an annoying thief!

Desco: Best final boss. i'd hype her up like taro! I'd love to give her magichange a spin if she let anyone else than fuka.

Emizel: My boy. My pure baby, I'd be full mama bird mode

Genjuro: I'd kill him for being a shitty father

Primeminister Hugo: I'd kill him for being a shitty father

Disgaea 5: Allience of Vengeance

Killia:I'd wanna be his Lize until they are reunited. I'd want to make him accept himself. I'd also love his cooking and wanna train in the ultimate demon tech too. And idk, sence all members should be an Overlord(kinda) Idk, i think it would be cool if initially i was the new Cryo Overlord after him that ran away to find him. Damn going full fan boy kinda?

Seraphina: I'd be ''that bitch'' And remind her of her place. And that ''her mans'' ain't her mans at all.

Usalia: Lil trauma kid. I'd wanna be the positive infuence Seraphina wasn't.

Red Magnus: Rivals kinda? Friends? Kinda the same budoffery he has with zeroken.

Zeroken:i'd be pretty dismissive of him at the start. But he would win me over latter.

Christo: Respect the healer. And the OVERLORD OF A CERTAIN GIANT. I'd buy difrent kinds of demon horn tiaras and switch his with them when he is not looking

Lize: Respect to the Lv1 matriarch.

Goldion: We chilling. But i'd have some grudge on him after learning the whole deal. Like i'd expect him to have done more. But then again he was wounded.

Void: I'd be creeped out by his sisconing. And at post game i'd wanna force him to Give Alma ice back to Killia. (we know he can hold more than one overload too, coz he had both Tyrant Revellio and Marjoritas Overload-be we madevoid give it back to her)

Marjorita: I'LL NEVER FORGIVE HER PLIP.

(now for other games i'll just do those i remmember, i've only played phantom brave yet)

Witch and the hundred knight

Metallia: I don't think we would get along. But she'd be a good damn broom

Phantom brave

Marona: You'll go no further. For her sake I will not fail! FR lil girlly needs more people positive to her from the start of the game. I'd probably be an other chroma initially feeling bad for a small child being alone in danger all the time. but then get whraped up in the plot

Ash: We woud get eachother. Marona small, Must protec. be pretty cool if phantoms could actually posses humans. Maybe if a contract or consent was given. a living confine could happen? If so that's a mad cool fusion

Castile: she a good kid

Castiles parents: I get them, but i hate them a little bit.

Canary: I'd kill him

Walnut: I pitty the guy :(

Raphael: he cool... But in a shojou manga type way. So i wouldn't trust him.

Soul Nomad and the world eaters

Revya: I'd be down for whatever route thei'd be

Gig: Best pals. Would bribe him with hotpots all the time

Danette: Idk. Probably she would find me annoying for agreeing with gig so much

Makai Kingdom

Zetta: He is the bad ass overlord. I would probably be nothing more than a peon in his army

Pram: i'd wanna be her friend. But she probably wouldn't see anything fun on my future.

Petta: Shes cool, i'd follow her

La Pucelle: Tactics

Prier: Rival demon hunters

Overlord Priere: I'd be sad to see her like that. I'd wanna be the ''i can fix her'' character but can't

[bumblingbabooshka]

Tuvok says that Vulcan children are very well behaved and have a lot of emotional control by the time they’re ~elementary school aged which makes sense but also makes me want to see what a Vulcan toddler or kindergartener acts like since they can’t be reasoned with as well (can’t really meditate) + are babies and also brimming with near irrepressible violence/emotions.

Vulcan toddler is just quietly accompanying their parent along on an errand. They stop and point to a toy of some sort and ask politely if they can have it. Their parent explains that they have enough toys at home. The toddler immediately throws the tantrum of the century. Just turns into an absolute wild animal in their rage. Other Vulcans are just like “aaa I remember when my children were that age” but any aliens around are like “oh my god is that thing OK??” I imagine even older Vulcan children would have issues with emotional control given that they’re also children! Though they’d of course know they needed to control themselves and behave...sometimes you just slip up. Vulcan children are playing together harmoniously. Then one breaks the established rules of the game. “I made contact with your arm. You are now the chaser.” “You did not make contact with my arm. I dodged your attempt.” “You dodged unsuccessfully. I made contact with your arm.” “I did not.” “You are cheating.” “I believe you are the one cheating.” And an adult has to rush over as one pounces on the other and they both begin screaming and clawing at each other’s eyes. The rest of the children are watching with interest or perhaps grabbing implements to assist their friend.  Little lapses in emotional control would probably be common until they reached like....highschool age. I can imagine an eleven year old Vulcan hearing they can’t sleepover a friend’s home and immediately shattering a vase before apologizing and cleaning it up.  It also seems like bullying would be very prevalent on Vulcan. Spock is canonically bullied frequently and it seems natural that Violent, Extreme Emotions in teenagers would lead to that kind of behavior which isn’t outwardly unacceptable (like crying, laughing, etc) but still satisfies an illogical desire towards cruelty and establishing dominance.  Vulcans schools probably have so many ‘Bullying Is Illogical’ seminars that do nothing and everyone makes fun of behind their teacher’s backs. Two Vulcan teenagers bullying each other, trying to see who has the more emotional reaction. If you cry or get mad you lose. Only babies cry and get mad...seems pretty illogical(cringe).  Vulcans seem to be very focused on respectability so I’m sure that as bloodthirsty teens there would be a lot of accusations and rules...if you hang out with X then Z,H and Y won’t talk to you. If you apologize too soon then they might accuse you of behaving too emotionally and gossip about you...if you don’t apologize at all they might accuse you of behaving too emotionally and gossip about you. It’s very stressful. Tuvok also said when he was a teenager in that one flashback that he was ready to fight over the girl he had a crush on (saying he’d “issue a challenge” or something) so I’m implementing that into my personal understanding of Vulcans...like adults do NOT want these kids to fight but amongst other teens they’re like:  “Seynar is my boyfriend.” “I disagree. He sat next to me during meditation three times this week.” “Only because I was absent.” “Then he is fickle and will be mine soon enough.” And then they challenge one another to a secret duel after school. Dueling to the death is very cool and grownup v_v (teens rarely die from such duels though bc either the other teen stops or someone told an adult). It makes sense to me that teenagers with violent urges would fight one another in a way that they consider acceptably adult. (mimicking the marriage ritual thing or even pon farr...romantic and cool.) Imagine being a teen Vulcan and your crush starts hinting that they have another person who might be interested in them....hmmm.....and you know you’re gonna have to duel for them or lose em. Such is life. Vulcan teens seem like they’d either date a lot (emotional whims) very non seriously (because they’re all betrothed) or date not at all because they’re gonna get married to their betrothed anyway. Loving someone other than your fated match is probably a pretty big trope in Vulcan romance stories...or maybe the opposite? Like someone bad tries to steal your heart but you remain resolute and return to your fated match as is logical. Anyway all this to say that I think Vulcan children and emotional control is something that’s fun to think about. Especially regarding how Vulcan children would act around adults vs other children. Vulcan child to adult: I will do my best to get along with my sibling. (2 seconds later once mother has left)  Vulcan child: You may play with the red toy. If you play with the blue toy I will harm you. Bodily. Meanwhile their older sibling is rolling their eyes like ugh....threatening violence is for babies....now to prepare for my logical and very adult duel for the love of my life whom I have known for three months. v_v

[aphrodite-would-be-proud]

Anon said: I hope I'm not too late to slip in a request! I was actually hoping for a more platonic request with Miche? Just how he would help out a new cadet on his squad or something... Maybe there having a hard time fitting in now that there on a section commander squad or even worried about an upcoming expedition. Miche is one of my biggest comfort Characters and I'm such a shy person lol...I love you blog by the way, it's such a comforting place...🥺

Miche reassuring you that you're enough.

{Miche & reader | tw:none | platonic, comfort | canonverse}

{ "The Interior of the Palm House on the Pfaueninsel Near Potsdam" 1834 by Carl Blechen 1798 - 1840 }

No one can deny that the survey corps had a...certain reputation between the people, for being ruthless, unhinged and not a place for someone hoping for a future.

Their leader is known for gambling with human lives, their strongest has a criminal history record and their most intelligent, does experiments that would put medical student dropout Frankenstein himself to shame.

In short, you'd be crazy for walking there with your own two feet and expecting a crumb of compassion.

You don't go looking for fish in the desert.

You've heard it all, those sayings people keep reciting like a broken record whenever you'd bring up joining the survey corps.

"You'll just end up titan food"

"Why do you want to throw away your life?"

"God your poor family…"

And despite all of that, you still marched on, despite everyone who told you to quit.

Not only did you join and stayed alive for so long, you've even managed to climb the ranks in record time.

So fast in fact that you were assigned to join a section commander's squad after a very successful titan capture mission that earned you a pat on the back from Erwin.

Being pulled from your friends and moved to a new place where you were surrounded by veterans who've been in their positions for 10 years or more, was quite sudden and shocking.

One thing that should've eased your nerves, was the fact it was squad Miche you're being put into.

Anyone in the survey corps can tell you that in comparison to other squads, this was the most...friendly per say, since they prioritised teamwork and coming back alive over everything else, knowing together they're much stronger and willing to protect each other no matter what.

While yes they did have their quirks, it was almost nothing in comparison to Levi's strict hygiene rules and Hange's workaholic routine or Erwin's unreadable intentions.

And yet, you felt unease at the whole situation.

You were clearly "that new cadet" in this old group of close-knit people, almost standing out even.

You wanted to prove yourself, you've done it before to all those people so why is it any different now.

Maybe...because they are actually experienced soldiers this time, and not strangers living in blissful ignorance inside the walls.

Maybe because you feel the growing burden of expectations set on you for being the newest person in the squad, and being put there by none other than the commander himself which would raise some eyebrows if you couldn't deliver.

Uncertainty and doubt began pooling up inside your mind, making you second guess decisions and overthink actions.

And it's not like the squad members were leaving you out, no in fact they were doing their best to include you.

….maybe even too much actually, it didn't help that all of them were outgoing people, it was overwhelming.

Nanaba was an unofficial stand in caption when Miche wasn't around. Having a confident yet compassionate personality made her protective of her teammates, almost like a big sister, earning her a lot of respect.

So much in fact that it would unintentionally intimidate people out of approaching her

Gelgar was a strong believer in Miche, loyal to a fault almost. Yet he wouldn't say no for a chance to relax and grab a couple drinks, being friends with so many people came naturally to him with his mellow personality and overall friendliness.

Maybe a bit much too friendly? That personal boundaries were often crossed without him realising it. 

Lynne was a good balance between the two, she was considerate of others feelings...even so much in fact that she tended to sugar-coat almost everything.

Thomas and Henning were close with each other, both serious and determined. But maybe because they were so used to each other that dealing with new people became...strange, for conversations with them resembled an awkward dad attempting to check on you but not actually putting much effort to understand.

Meanwhile, you were a reserved and shy person.

It was a miracle that you managed to get a group of friends in cadet training that stayed with you throughout the years, but now after being transferred it was all turned to dust.

You have to start again, meet people again and talk to them while wondering if they actually like you or are pretending to be nice because they don't wanna come off as rude-

On top of that, Erwin seemed to keep an eye on you after your last mission, silently conveying the trust and expectations he's putting your way, to not fail him and show you're worthy of this special treatment.

It was too much, too overwhelming and draining.

Dread and uncertainty loomed in the corners of your mind, only metastating in size as the date for the new expedition was announced.

To add fuel to the fire, apparently everyone seemed almost...excited or nonchalant for going out there again, like this is a mere walk in the park as they began making preparations and training.

Were you the only one that felt nervous? Oh god.

Your legs felt like they were weighted down by stones as you stared at the large board in front of you, a white sheet signed by the commander announcing next week to be the date of the expedition, several names listed below for who'd be required for service.

Your name was at the top, even with a line underneath it. The fact it was in cursive didn't make it any less gut-wrenching.

The chatter of people around you, discussing the plans and joking with each other, began blurring out at the back of your mind.

The weather seemed colder as shivers ran down your neck. A rolling feeling in your stomach making your throat tighten, your own voice inside your head was the only noise you could hear.

All those thoughts and worries creeping from underneath the dark corners that you've been pushing them into all this time, like a swarm drowning you in their "what if" and skepticism, full of doubt and illogical pessimism for worst case scenarios.

Thoughts that aren't even your own joined them, ones you never had and knew weren't true and yet amidst the storm it was hard to tell the real from the ones passing through.

You know you're capable, so why…

Are you capable?

Yes…

but are you really?

...

And how are you even sure?

Before it could pull you deeper into that hole of despair, something snapped your attention back to reality, a hand nudging your shoulder. 

"You really didn't hear me huh." The voice came from behind you, a tall figure stepping closer till you were in his shadow.

Miche looked at you with a tilted head, his lips pressed into a thin line as his eyes bore into you like he's attempting to guess what's going inside your brain.

You've been too lost inside your mind you didn't notice that you were the only one left standing in front of the board.

From the way Miche's shoulders fell after reading your expression, eyes softening after glancing at your name on the sheet, he was quick to catch on.

Before you could say something to save your face after being caught in this state by none other than your new captain, Miche just told you to come with him, making sure to walk beside you، protectively staying close that no one on your way would interrupt.

Passing the corridor leading to his office, you gave him an uncertain glance as he simply gestured for you to continue walking for whatever unknown place you're headed to.

Soon enough the buildings and stone streets faded the further you went on, grass and dirt roads taking its place.

It wasn't a long walk per say, but more of a secluded area that took both of you some turns in seemingly shady alleyways to reach.

You couldn't hear the horses or soldiers walking anymore, only the soft flowing of the nearby river.

The tall grass barely reaching below your knees, some ladybugs crawling on top of the scattered daffodils in-between, the closer to the river cliff you got the taller it became.

The first thing Miche did, wasn't explaining to you why you're here, or what exactly he was after.

No, he barely said a word even, only taking in a deep breath as the wind had the courtesy of pushing his bangs back, eyes finally in clear view now.

Gaze meeting yours, he gave you a nod, a gesture to do the same thing.

You reluctantly took a deep breath.

He smiled.

Both of you sat by the river, he gave you his jacket to sit on.

As the silence grew between you, even while it wasn't the uncomfortable kind, it was clear he was struggling to phrase something, the right words just not coming to mind.

Turning his body towards you, he finally said, "how about i just..listen, let it out.".

It wasn't easy, you can't just pour out your heart to your superior.

Not to mention the military wasn't a place for weakness, could you really openly admit to your worries?

Well, yes you could, because it isn't weak, it takes great strength to face something scary and admit to it.

It's strength that got you this far.

How could you ever mistake vulnerability for weakness?

Keeping true to his words, Miche didn't interrupt you as you slowly opened up about what's been troubling you.

He patiently listened, occasionally humming for you to go on whenever you'd lose track.

And by the end of it, after you poured out all your frustration, sadness and worries, it felt...like a weight lifted off your shoulders.

Miche looked at you with understanding in his eyes, as if he himself has been in this exact same position years ago.

...and maybe he was, considering his behaviour wasn't what's socially common, he would've definitely stood out back before he had the respect of being a captain.

He isn't a man of words, for actions spoke much louder.

That's why he became more attentive from that day on, offering to help you train, giving you a smile whenever you passed by and sitting near you whenever his squad were gathered so he'd ask for your opinion on plans or simply share looks whenever they began joking with each other.

He didn't attempt to make you change, instead he made changes to accommodate you.

You're part of the team and he made it clear.

And while he couldn't give reassuring words, he certainly gave his time and energy, paying attention to you, reading your moods and listening whenever life becomes too much.

Maybe he saw his past self in you, and wanted to give you all the comfort, attention and care he wished for back then.

Even if it was mere hugs and shoulder pats that he could offer, he knew small things can make changes overtime.

For him, it's not getting rid of your stress that he was attempting to achieve, no, for life is full of stress.

Instead, he wanted to offer you ways to deal with the stress, to acknowledge it as it is and be heard, to be understood.

Because while stress will pass either way, it didn't mean it had to pass painfully.

You weren't alone, he made sure of that.

Maybe he got too attached, maybe someone might say he's giving you special treatment, maybe Erwin would give him a backhanded comment every now and then.

But since when did Miche pay attention to these things? 

Well...he can't deny he might be giving you more break days than the other Cadets, larger food portions and even most of his time.

But he won't justify himself to anyone either, he doesn't have to.

Because after all, there really isn't any ulterior motives behind his actions, they were as simple as they came.

It was pure genuine care, the type that makes someone want to protect a person and watch them grow healthy.

The type that made him offer you a thumbs up after each training session, a proud smile on his face for how much you're learning.

Maybe some slight teasing about how if you keep this up, you might even replace him as the second strongest one day.

And while he said it with a joking tone, the hopeful pride-filled look on his face told a whole nother story.

you're not sure if it was a joke or a promise.

[0aurelion-sol0]

The importance of the number "3" in SNK.

(This is my second meta so please be gentle with me.)

You might think this meta or theory might be a little bit of stretch but I want to do it anyway because I think there is an interesting pattern with this number throughout the series. It is either something something intentional, the favorite number of Isayama or nothing particular.

But I don't so let's get into it.

Trios.

Throughout the series, there has been an important number of groups composed essentially of three people.

They are even right now in the story, three important trios.

The classic one, the E.M.A trio. ( Eren, Mikasa and Armin.)

The veteran trio. ( Hange, Levi, Erwin.)

The warrior trio. (Reiner, Annie, Bertholt.)

And even Jean, Sasha, Connie are a trio.

They essentially all are a big part of SNK and represents each of them, an important of SNK's narrative.

The E.M.A trio is our first and main trio of the series, they represent friendship and even family to some entent in the face of war and conflict. It is also a trio especially built around the relationship about each other. They are also the basis for many of the other trios out there.

The veteran trio is literally about veterans and how they face their responsabilities against war and themselves, they are with the warrior, an extremely tragic trio built around the importance of carrying your dury to respect your fallen comrades even at the expanse your own health. They are essentially a representation of our own veterans who went through war and hell. They are also what the E.M.A trio could become if they become veterans just like them.

The warrior trio. They are a parallel and a mirror of the E.M.A trio. Their relationship aren't the best, they are child soldiers and essentially are a representations of the dangers of war. They are also the other side of the coin and represent the contrast that has largely changed the story.

Each of these characters reflects in another character from the E.M.A trio.

Eren reflects in both Reiner and Hange.

Hange through their obsession with titans and sometimes extreme violence as shown during the uprising arc and even lunacy in her suicidal approach mirrors Eren sometimes. They are both extremely strong willed. But Hange is also what Eren could have been if he grew up in a different environment. They are also extremely androgynous.

Reiner. I don't think it needs an explanation. You can find plenty of other metas out there about how they mirror each other. They are the hero of two different worlds. Isayama has made an interview about how he is the main character now in the manga during the Marley arc. It is also to be noted that their both suicidal. They also have a strong driving force that can push people to follow them. Their character design are also contrary to one another.

It is also good to note that Hange almost killed Reiner during the Shiganshina arc. Perhaps representing or foreshadowing an older Eren confronting Reiner.

Mikasa is reflected in both Levi and Annie.

Levi. Of course I don't think there is an explanation do here. Ackerman. Heavy and important connection to someone else. Strong characters. Very cold and closed people. He is a representation of what Mikasa could be if she lost Eren. Just like he lost Erwin, Mikasa could potentially become like him after losing Eren. Their character design are very much alike and they are both extremely muscular.

Annie. They mirror each other through how different they are to one another. They have a few common aspect. They are in a relationship that is impossible to one another. Annie - Armin, Mikasa - Eren. They are both excellent fighters. They both are cold but care for their loved ones. However Mikasa is a natural born fighter or atleast one that became a fighter through natural ways. Whereas Annie has trained with her father to get there. While Annie runs away from conflict, Mikasa isn't afraid of it as most her life has been built around it. Just like Reiner and Eren, their character design are also very contrary to one another.

We can also note that Annie killed the whole squad of Levi and fought against both him and Mikasa at the same time and that both of them have fallen asleep and dissapeared for a long period of time, at least in the manga's publishing of the chapter.

Armin reflects in both Erwin and Bertholt.

Again with Erwin, there is this representation of what he could become or what he wants to become. We know Armin has always been against his revival and doesn't think he can live up to the commander. They are both extremely smart and have very good results in their strategy and military operations, they both aren't scared to sacrifice themselves.

Bertholt. They both feel weak. They both feel useless. They both use the same logic in some kinda way. They both have hidden talents. They both have a hidden monstrous side in them. They were and are the Colossal Titan. They both have "romantic feelings" for Annie. However, Bertholt doesn't have the same strategic skill as Armin, he even needs people to tell him what to do sometimes. Their character designs are extremely contrary to one another. Armin is bubbly, small and blonde haired. Bertholt is stone faced, tall and black haired.

Erwin and Armin were at the center of Bertholt and their own fates. The Serum event changed the manga. It is only fitting that his parallel gets the Colossal Titan.

If we now look at Jean, Sasha and Connie...

Eren is what Jean can never become. Jean doesn't have the same power or should I say mentality to be able to kill those children in Liberio. No matter how cool he thinks Eren is. He will only have what Eren has failed to use : empathy. And the not-so-much rival of Eren, is in the traditional sense of shonen, the one who respects him the most. Mikasa "loves" Eren and Jean loves Mikasa but she doesn't have the same feelings back just like Eren.

Sasha is what I think Mikasa could have been if she had a family and who she was before losing that family. They have the same moment of definitive action which overcome their insecurities. Sasha facing off against the titan which threatens Kaya, Mikasa killing the man who killed her parents.

Connie's illogical breakdown when he tried to sacrifice Falco is what Armin fears, the feeling of wrong that is inside of him, the feeling of not living up to Erwin. The man who he sees as always putting logic over emotions something that didn't happen when he was revived. The fear of one day responding with emotions rather than logic and will then confirm he was not the right choice.

Historia's trio.

Historia has three different people in her life representing something important to her.

Frieda = Family

Ymir = Love

Eren = Friendship

But they also represent many of her dualities in her development.

Frieda = Selflessness/ Inaction

Eren = Selfishness/ Action

Ymir = Pride

It is very interesting that one of the most complex character of SNK whose themes still rings true today has this particular set of three people who defines her or at least helps define herself. She then must have some importance to what is going on right now.

Three groups.

The latest arc has been a war in all the sense of the word with three groups fighting for supremacy.

The Jeagerist, nationalistic organisation and fascistic of the oldest Eldian King's ideology we know. Led by Eren Jeager and Floch Forster with the help of Marleyan Volunteers, Zeke Yeager.

The Marleyans, colonialist, genociders and fascists fighting for the supremacy of Marley and the genocide of Eldian. Led by Theo Magath with the Eldian Warriors.

The Eldian Army ( Survey Corps at most. ) built around the patriotic values of the 13th Commander of the Survey Corps Erwin Smith or the Survey Corps at large. Against the genocide, the euthanisation and hopes for a peaceful and non-violent future. Fights for Freedom and Humanity. Led By 14th Commander Hange Zoe.

So there is atleast a definitive pattern here. Maybe it's all a coïncidence or a stretch.

But I have more.

So let's pass some of them right now.

_________________________________________

There are nine titans. 3 x 3 = 9.

The Eldian Military has three branches : The Survey Corps, The Garrison and the Military Police Brigade.

The soldiers use an equipment called the "Three" Dimensional Maneuver Gear.

They can use three weapons : Swords, Guns and Thunder Spears.

There are three titans that attacked Eldia : The Colossal Titan, The Armored Titan and The Female Titan.

In Shiganshina, three titans were actively on the opposite side (not counting Pieck as she barely fought unlike Liberio and The Attack on Eldia by Marley.) : The Beast Titan, The Armored Titan and The Colossal Titan.

This resulted in three groups :

Eren and Armin vs The Colossal Titan.

Levi and Erwin and the rest of the Survey Corps vs the Beast Titan

The 104th and Hange vs The Armored Titan.

The 104th has lost three main characters that were on their side eaten by titan: Marco, Ymir and Bertholt.

Eren has lost three who formed his family : Hannes, His Father and His Mother.

There are three commanders from the Survey Corps that we know who have died. Keith Shadis, Erwin Smith and Hange Zoé.

There are three warriors who attacked Shiganshina with Marley : Reiner, Pieck and Porco.

There are three walls.

There are three royal families.

Ymir Fritz has three daughters.

Eren has three titans : The Founder, The Warhammer Titan and The Attack Titan.

We have only seen three Ackerman fighting: Mikasa, Levi and Kenny.

Titan Shifters have 13 years to live.

Erwin Smith is the 13th commander of the Survey Corps.

We have only seen three nations physically: Marley, Eldia and the Middle Eastern Alliances.

Only three nations plays a significant role in the story: Marley, Eldia and the Azumabito's nation.

The Manga has been divided into three different period.

1. The Fall of Shiganshina to the Female Titan Arc.

2. Clash of the titans to the Return in Shiganshina.

3. The Marley Arc to the War for Paradis Arc.

Now let's look at the page cover of volumes.

Volume 3 shows us our first look at a titan shifter.

Volume 1,2,3 act as a representation of the E.M.A trio.

Volume 1 = Eren

Volume 2 = Mikasa

Volume 3 = Armin.

Volume 13, volume where the Uprising Arc start. The most important arc of the manga in terms of this thematics still relevant today.

Volume 23, volume where the timeskip happens and shows us the other perspective of this manga.

Volume 30, shows us Paths and The founder Ymir.

Volume 31, Future Memory of Eren seeing Mikasa facing the Colossal Titans.

Volume 32, Possible Hope, the Alliance happens. Marley and Eldia helps each other to save the world.

_________________________________________

There is still more. My first meta has been about how SNK's afterlife is real.

This makes up for three different dimension.

The Living World.

The Afterlife

Paths

_________________________________________

The Anime also followed that pattern with:

The Third Opening.

Literally called " Shinzou wo Sasageyo " taking the catchphrase of this manga and making an anthem about it while also having many subliminal message about the story.

The Third Ending.

It spoils the whole manga and the origin of the story. It reveals the three daughters of Ymir and is the creepiest thing ever put out in this world.

_________________________________________

Now for the last point. Yes there's more but It's the last one I promise.

We need to take a look at every chapter who has a three in it. And we can see that in every single chapter something very important happens.

_________________________________________

Chapter 3 : Presentation of the three branches of the Military, of all the characters and return of the Colossal Titan.

Chapter 13 : End of Trost Arc, A possessed and uncontrolled Eren Yeager, " I'm willing to be the butcher " while we are being shown an untamed Attack Titan. Possible Foreshadowing of the last Arc with a Possessed Eren Yeager, Mikasa fighting titans and saving people and Armin trying to get Eren to his senses.

Chapter 23: The First appearance of the Female Titan and our first look at the possibility of another Titan Shifter. Also our first look at Ymir Fritz appearances in the form of the female titan as she was a woman herself and because there is no male titan.

Chapter 30-39 : Foreshadowings left and right about what lies inside the wall. The Warriors and about the existence of Marley.

Chapter 33 : First appearance of the Colossal Titans inside the wall.

Chapter 43 : The Clash of the titan begins. The Armored Titan is revealed with the Colossal and fights with the Attack Titan.

Chapter 53 : Our First Look at Frieda Reiss and the powers of the Attack Titan and the Founder.

Chapter 63 : Eren and Historia learns the truth about Grisha Yeager. He's the one who killed her family and sister Frieda Reiss. Historia is confronted to a choice.

Chapter 73 : We return to Shiganshina and establishes our main trio's thematics.

Eren = Rage.

Mikasa = Pride.

Armin = Hope.

We also learn how Eren started to know he wasn't free, through Armin's eyes and passion of the outside world.

Chapter 83 : The Serum Event or Serumbowl start. Levi fights with Eren and Mikasa to choose who will get the spinal fluid and eat Bertholt, the Colossal Titan. Armin or Erwin, who is the right choice ?

Chapter 93 : Marley Arc, Zeke pressures Marley to go and attack Eldia, something they didn't want to do which will result in the festival, the attack on Liberio and the retribution for Liberio and the Rumbling. Reiner prepares Falco for their dark future.

Chapter 103 : The Liberio operation is a sucess. The Warhammer is taken, the port is destroyed and Zeke is retrieved.

Chapter 113 : Zeke And Levi fights, Zeke start his operation to euthanize Eldian. Levi is defeated by Zeke putting him out of the action for a short time.

Chapter 123 : The Rumbling is starting. All Eldians see Paths and hear Eren's speech. Mikasa question her perspective of Eren.

Chapter 130 : The Rumbling has finally arrived in Marley. Eren's motivation are slowly being revealed and deconstructed. Historia reappears after a long period of time.

Chapter 131 : The effects of the Rumbling happens. Horrible death for Ramzi and his friend. Ymir Fritz appears. Eren and Armin connect through Paths. A partial answer to "that sight" is revealed.

Chapter 132 : Floch Forster dies bringing an end to the Jeagearist. Hange Zoé dies making her the third commander of the Survey Corps to die. The afterlife is revealed, the plane takes off and our heroes goes to see Eren.

_________________________________________

Again, it's a pattern. I don't know if this is something important or a way of Isayama showing he likes the number three. I don't have a definitive idea as to what this could mean but there is something to dig here.

This leaves us on a interesting and ominous note.

The chapter 133 is right in the corner, if my theory is right. Something important is going to happen.

We've hit our lowest point in the series and the Jeagearist arc has officialy ended. What is going to happen now ? Well...

The possibilities :

1. Historia's pov. It has been a long time, we've asked of her. And it's also been a long time her attitude has made no real sense. At least character wise, she has regressed like every character and it's intentionnal on Isayama's part. She must have some importance.

2. Levi's pov. We've got Armin's, Hange's and Mikasa's. But we don't what he really thinks about all of this of Eren's change.

3. Ackertalk. Levi and Mikasa needs to talk about it. They need to go through this for their development.

4. Levi and Armin talk about his choice to save him over Erwin. They never really got to talk face to face about it. They need this closure and now that Armin is the commander, he needs Levi support the most.

5. Possible talk with Annie about what she did to them. If she ever got on the plane with the kids, I think Annie needs to be confronted with that.

6. Possible new about how or where Zeke is ?

_________________________________________

Whatever it is, we're entering the final phase of this manga. This chapter is going to set up the final plot points of the story and now, more than ever, our characters are going to face their biggest challenge.

[lionesshathor]

tried my hand at text-based RP. enjoy this spock and mccoy banter!

Spock:

Whoever "borrowed" my padd will return it by the end of the day, or I will turn the ringer on full volume, for a full 24 hours

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

alright, alright! I'm returning it now! lordy, I had no idea the ringtone was set to "bananaphone"

never getting that song outta my head now

Spock:

It was Jim's idea as a way to insure it was returned promptly

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

ugh, figures

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

definitely works

now excuse me while i staunch the bleeding in my ears...

Spock:

It could be worse, his original suggestion was the "baby shark" song

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

oh, that's not much worse

i always learned that song differently anway

Spock:

I forgot, you have a daughter. She enjoys it?

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

not that much anymore, she's just discovered "the song that never ends"

and its sequel, "i know a song that gets on everybody's nerves"

Spock:

My sister enjoyed the never ending song

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

michael? haven't heard from her in ages

and for god's sake, don't put anymore earworms in me

*grump grump*

Spock:

If you took up my offer to learn meditation they would not be able to get stuck in your head

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

I'll do that when you admit to actually having an injury before falling flat on your face

Spock:

I was pushed

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

mr. "tries to walk out of medbay during surgery"

you were BLEEDING PROFUSELY

a grasshopper could have pushed you over

Spock:

I was referring to the incident on the planet, we have already discussed the fact that the anesthesia had an effect on me. I did not walk out on purpose, I was hallucinating

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

really? did your perfectly meditated brain fail on you?

next you'll be telling me that "bananular" is a word

Spock:

When drugged, yes, it can fail. I am not a machine

Bananular?

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

as in, "bananular phone"

did you even listen to the song when you let Jim pick your ringtone?

Spock:

I let Jim pick, to make him stop complaining so I could finish my work

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

you know what, next time you call me illogical, ill just say BANANULAR

Spock:

It is technically not my ring tone, it is an alarm to make people return my padd

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

*facepalm* oooof course you did

let me guess, your actual ringtone is on a frequency only those pointed ears of yours can hear

Spock:

No? You have heard my ring tone, it is currently in the hall of the goblin king....

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

doesn't ring a bell

do you mean mountain king?

Spock:

Yes

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

hmph. don't even know your earth music right

Spock:

I am man enough to admit my mistakes

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

now "tenessee stud" is a real classic

Spock:

Stud?

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

...do i need to explain what a stud horse is to you?

its a song about a man and his stallion

they ride around on adventures in the ancient west

Spock:

That is the premise of most songs you recommend

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

because theyre GOOD

respect the classics!

Spock:

Classic like "save a horse ride a cowboy" ?

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

oho! when did you listen to that one?

did you hear "she thinks my tractor's sexy" perchance?

i still have my "save a horse, ride a tractor" shirt somewhere

Spock:

I listen to all your recommendations when I have time. They are.... interesting

Jim stole that shirt

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

he did WHAT

Spock:

He wears it to bed regularly. I highly doubt you both have one, therefore he stole it

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

that sonuva-

MY SHIRT

did he swipe my "not everything in Iowa is flat" shirt too?

or my Georgia peach shorts?

Spock:

I do not know about the shorts, but the flat shirt he does have, he bought matching "booty shorts"

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

...well, the joke does fit him better

he always had bigger pecs

BUT IT'S STILL MY SHIRT

also since when did it have a matching booty shorts set?

last time in cedar rapids i didn't see anything

next time you see him, tell Jim that the iowa shirt is meant for women

see how he reacts

then get me a replacement

for BOTH

Spock:

He may have gotten them from the replicator. I give you permission to steal your clothes back, do not open the drawer in the closet, it is broken, and jim will notice someone else has been in there

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

how could i open a broken drawer?

Spock:

When opened it will not close unless you do it at an angle. It is difficult for me, and jim.

Spock:

Also, do not go when jim is there

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

let me guess, he's hiding somehting in there?

a secret stash of gummy bears, maybe?

that jim always had a sweet tooth

Spock:

No, I do not believe there are sweets in our room. You forget, jims diet is something we both agree on

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

do we, now? this could be an historic occasion

Spock:

We have agreed for years on this

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

us? thinking alike for year?

i need a drink

Spock:

We agree on many things

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

*spits out drink*

*cough cough*

ugh

if you're gonna get nasty, i'm gonna leave

Spock:

Nasty? We both enjoy salad.... you told me last week

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

I enjoy a good slaw. what you eat is cattle feed

Spock:

Cattle would be poisoned by my regular diet

Leonard "Bones" McCoy:

of leaves? i doubt that

get yourself a corn dog or something on a bun

honestly, you're so gaunt and lanky

you need something that will really stick to your ribs

Spock:

The spices are poison to most earth creatures

[thebigoblin]

Reincarnation AU, go! <3

Hiii <3

Reincarnation AUs is one of my fav tropes tbh. So thanks for the ask!

Putting this under the cut because this got long... this might be a not!fic at this point lol.

[send me an au and i'll write headcanons!]

Okay, so I'm setting this in the canon 'verse, sort of. CA: TFA happened, but Bucky didn't survive. (So Civil War never happened because the Winter Soldier wasn't Bucky).

(Also, in this AU the Smithsonian does not have Bucky's pictures. The pictures and drawings that were available, Steve had kept them somewhere private, and after the ocean-deep-dive Peggy and the other Howling Commandos made sure that Steve's and Bucky's privacy was respected. So, Bucky's face is unknown to the world, but not his history. Aka what canon MCU has told the world: Steve's best friend and blah blah blah. Bucky was more than that though).

Bucky is a SHIELD Agent. He doesn't really know why he became one, but something in his gut settles whenever he's out there saving the world. It's like he's honoring someone (even though he has no idea who; he grew up an Orphan, he has no living relative to make proud and all his friends are his co-workers).

Bucky and Sharon are good friends. They were assigned a mission together once, and they haven't parted their ways since.

Agents don't generally mingle with each other in their personal lives, but Sharon and Bucky are built different: Sharon takes Bucky to her Aunt Peggy one day, maybe it's because she needs that emotional support. (As socially awkward as Bucky is, he's also a good friend, so it's not an illogical decision). When Peggy sees him, she can't believe her eyes. (This is before 2011). She starts babbling stuff, like she knows who he is, even before Sharon introduces them. She calls him Bucky, Steve's Bucky. Bucky is astonished to hear her say his name, and he is confused. Who the hell is Steve? Sharon thinks she might have told Peggy about Bucky; they dismiss her words as incoherent babbling.

2011 happens. Captain America—Steve Rogers, someone Peggy knew personally—is pulled out of the ice, and it's all over the news. Sharon is assigned the task of keeping an eye on Steve, and she has strict orders to not let Bucky and Steve interact. A direct order from Director Fury.

Bucky is curious. He wants to meet this Steve. He's seen him on the news, he's seen him fighting the aliens in New York, and there's just... something that makes his skin itch, like it's begging for a touch long-forgotten, and nothing Bucky does can erase that itch. Staring at Steve's gorgeous, gorgeous face works though, even if a little.

After Steve knows who Sharon is, Sharon is unassigned from the task of watching over him. Bucky sees his chance.

This is the 2012 Avengers: Everyone is okay with everyone, they're a family, and it's all good. They live in the Tower.

Bucky manages to somehow come inside the tower 5 times; none of those times are when he meets Steve in person. But sixth time is the charm.

Steve gets his personal belongings from Fury, after Peggy dies. She'd left it to Fury, and Fury gave it to Steve.

Steve is grieving. It's clear in the hunched set of his shoulders, as if a weight has been added to them, as if someone used to share that but doesn’t anymore. Can't.

Everyone leaves Steve alone when he's in a mood. (He's always been an angry guy. A little too loud, a little too harsh. The only good, calm thing in his life was Bucky, but he's... he's not here anymore. And Steve tries, he tries to be better, but it's too hard).

But when they meet. It's such a relief, to both of them. To see each other, right there, not just as a part of a regularly thought, cherished memory, or in the glare of the television, but as a real, tangible thing, person.

Bucky doesn't remember his past life. He doesn't remember Steve stuffing his shoes with newspapers, or the weekends spent curling in their little apartment together, in their small bed that could barely fit Bucky; but he remembers, too. Just not in the normal way. It's not crystal clear, but he feels. He remembers feeling an exasperated fondness for someone, remembers the affection of time long, long gone, of love that matured as two boys did: Steve says having Bucky back is enough, more than enough. Bucky feels like he's failed Steve.

Steve tells Bucky stories of their time together. Sometimes, Bucky will say things that he'd said the first time; Steve would still, unsure; were his memories mingling with the present, making him see, hear things, or was this just... genuinely Bucky? His Bucky? And Bucky, he'd still too, caught up in the inner storm of I did something wrong- should I have not said that- Steve hates me now- and that's when Steve would relax, laugh, and tell Bucky he'd said the same thing back then.

Tony and Bruce are a mess. They keep trying to prove that Bucky can't be that Bucky (Bucky's uncanny ability to read Steve, his "feelings" and several other things beg to differ), that no way do the two Bucky's look exactly alike (Steve shuts them up with his collection of pictures and drawings), and that this isn't just scientifically possible.

Thor is simply delighted. He keeps talking about soulmates, and about stories of true lovers finding their way back to each other no matter what; stories of defiance of time, death, universes and whatnot come up, and Bucky and Steve always somehow manage to look delighted, unbelieving, shy, and in love, all at the same time.

Okay, that's it 😂 I can't think of more stuff lol. Hope you liked it?? Also please someone write me this au right now i beg of you

[maevelin]

I know you don't consider anything beyond tvd season 4 finale canon, neither do i. But we have to admit there was still a fuckton of oocness going on in the first 4, but especially the 4th season. Do you think it was realistic of klaus to be afraid of silas to the point of not even trying to defeat him, to gain back the title of most powerful immortal in existence? Is it realistic of klaus to admit defeat in any situation when faced with the... truly undefeatable foe? Like silas, makael, etc.

I mean, i believe you're the expert on klaus' character, you, out of the entire fandom, truly understand his personality, get where he's coming from, i say this sincerely. So is klaus the kind of person who would be willing to serve some higher power or being, if only out of self preservation and for the sake of those few he loves? Or would his ego (let us admit it is bigger than Alaska) not be able to handle even just the thought of servitude?

--- 

i believe you're the expert on klaus' character, you, out of the entire fandom, truly understand his personality, get where he's coming from, i say this sincerely.

So -fair warning dissertation ahead- it has been quite a while since I have written a TVD meta over a character but I still stand by TVD Klaus for the most part. He has been one of my most favorite characters in general (up to a point in canon). So I will always be bitter and salty for the treatment he got and by that I mean the treatment he got in TVD because I literally don’t care about TO Klaus in any kind of a way and I am actually one of those fans that when I heard that they killed him in TO I was actually “finally they took him out of his misery.”

All that been said I am remembering a time when by the time S4 of TVD finished when I was 100% certain without any shred of doubt that TO would demolish Klaus’ character and it would collectively be a mess. I still remember how adamant I was on that and how people acted as if I was crazy or something. Back then I had gotten quite a lot of hate even from the Klaroline fandom because I was irrationally negative. 

What people didn’t understand back then was that my negativity was based on two objective things. Because yes subjectively I can be a petty bitch and an asshole but I can take a step back and recognize reality for what it is. I was a Klaus fan first and foremost. An Original groupie after that and a Klaroline fan after that. I wanted a spin off about the Originals. The Originals had outlived TVD by leaps and bounds and in the hands of capable writers their spin off could have turned out to be probably my most favorite show to date. But in the end TVD and TO became a dead land of wasted potential. Because talented writers to carry the weight of TVD and of the Originals were nowhere to be found. And the two things that showed that to me was A. The backdoor pilot that established TO’s identity and premise (Kol was dead, Hayley was the lead, Rebekah had no place in that episode and was practically a guest, Klaus kept crying and mumbled nonsense and Elijah was incredibly OOC and the show was based on the concept of a pregnancy that many people believed it to be a hoax but nonetheless that was what set the Originals on course and let us face it....Julie Plec does not do subtle. The only twists she can think of is killing characters for shock value from which most of them she will bring back and plot wise she basically spells everything out so what you see is what you get. Julie Plec believes the viewers are not intelligent beings so she treats the plots she gives accordingly) AND B. The entirety of S4 when it came to Klaus Mikaelson.

Julie Plec had time to prepare the spin off. Months. To plan, to organize and the best she could do was what she showed in S4. Klaus was meant to have his own spin off and instead of the plot paying tribute to that they had to reduce him into a mess to make him fit in a parody of a show. S4 showed exactly how the spin off was going to be. I didn’t stop watching TVD because the Originals left or I didn’t have Klaroline anymore. I stopped watching because S4 was atrocious and ridiculous and it took one of my most favorite characters of all time and turned him OOC. 

Because YES there weremany OOC cases in season 4 of TVD which I consider to be one of the weakestfrom the seasons I have watched (S1-S2-S3-S4). It was a mess. JP took over buthad no creative vision and she didn’t care for the characterization. She onlycared to manipulate the story to the point where she could make the transitionto the spin-off. Which I would understand if this was a smooth transition orshe did it to avoid the plotholes but we all saw how she was like “ho ho nature’sloopholes”. She retconned everything. She didn’t care for the genre. For the established mythology. For the lore. For the characters. How can someone expect a writer to be able to write a decent show when she has no respect for the characters? None whatsoever? She was unable to even create a clear plot to drive the storyforward even in the expense of characterization. And this was not me reading between the lines. This was as clear as day.

Klaus wasOOC in many instances in S4 really. His intellect suddenly took a nosedive.Damon checks his phone records for example and Klaus doesn’t react. He didn’t even coverhis traces. Klaus the paranoid Hybrid that had always been steps ahead fromeveryone and was so overly suspicious that had lived for decades as a reclusewithdrawn from the world while having a cult worshiping and fearing him! Klaus just glared at Damon was fine with it. 

Elena andJeremy kill Kol and Klaus sheds a tear and barely blinks at their direction. All that with the spin off coming along and just a few episodes before the backdoor episode aired. Sure he threw a tantrum screaming some threats but then was like let bygones bebygones. The man that hunted Katherine for half a millennia and killed her family in retaliation for her not becoming the sacrificial lamb to his slaughter. But all of the sudden Klaus that was obsessed with his family let it go and even saved Elena and Damon in 4x23 without asking anything in return. Klaus Mikaelson did that while he was about to get his own show about the Originals sans Finn, Kol (that had such a devoted fanbase), Mikael, Esther buy hey at least we all had Phoebe Tonkin signing first before Joseph Morgan for the leading role while we have seen how much people adored Hayley right? Not to mention that she signed for the spin off before we saw Hayley on our screens. As the lead! Because you know a show much have a female lead and it is not as if they could get Rebekah being their female lead right? It is not as if this was a spin off about the Originals right? Right.

So Damonand Elena had the plot armor of the protagonists.Which is a cope out because stories don’t write themselves. Julie Plec is the head writer so she is responsible for what happens in the narrative. If she can’t give the pay off to the storylines SHE creates then why create them in the first place? Write something else.

But then it was not just Damon, Elena, Stefan, Jeremy and I don’t know who else was it? It was a constant theme.

 Hayley betrays Klaus and Klaus doesn’t kill her. Instead he gets to have sexwith her out of nowhere. And I would not mind half as much as I did if it was not so contradictory to Klaus’ character. Not the having sex part. But everything else that was disregarded to make this happen because Julie Plec had a baby fever mania. We are talking about a thousand years obsession that defined Klaus’ character. We cannot rationalize Klaus’ character as we would with a human. He had lived a thousand years and breaking his curse and creating his army was the very premise of his character in its core. The only goal he had for centuries was to break his curse and create hybrids. That was how he entered TVD and how his character was defined. Anyone getting in the way of that and he would kill them and everyone they have ever met more so if they would use his obsession against him manipulating him and tricking him into doing what they wanted and taking all control from him. More so if that created a chain of reaction that ended to his brother’s death. Those may not correlate completely but in Klaus’ mind certainly would. Then to top all that will more stupidity Klaus the insane manic control freak learns about Hayley expecting an impossible spawn and it is a situation that involves witches that are his enemy and…Lo and behold Katherine Pierce that is an arch nemesis of his is involved too and Klaus does not doubt the validity of the claim they are making with the chucky bun Hayley – the most trustworthy person he had ever met- is cooking in her oven. Sure that makes so much sense. But it didn’t matter. None of that mattered because in her mind Julie Plec had to get to the plot point she wanted and for that to happen nothing else mattered. Logic, consistency, any reason at all. How could people expect the spin off to make any sense when for making it happen in the first place all elements that made the Originals what they were had to be erased and deleted? You can’t get something illogical and expect to find logic in it or to make it logical when this is where everything had to be based to begin with. Like can we think about this for just a hot second here? We were about to get a show about the Originals that in order to happen the writers turned the Originals OOC and had to change them so to transition them to THEIR OWN SHOW. What was the point of making a spin off about the Originals (title and all) if you are going to alter them to something unrecognizable? That’ what the fans fought for? That’s what they wanted? No. But what the fans wanted didn’t matter in the end. 

And then let us get to the whole Silas’ mess. Doppelgangers here there everywhere. The big fuck you to the narrative that ruined both TVD and TO for me at once. It really made S2 of TVD pointless. It made the Originals seem like idiots. What was the point of Elena being the doppelganger and Klaus waiting for a millennia and chasing Katherine for centuries if there were available doppelgangers in every corner in every generation and year? What was the point of the curse and the moon curse, of all that intricate planning and of everyone working for Elijah and Klaus and being on the look out when it was practically raining doppelgangers every second day? How much of an IDIOT do you have to to be when everyone fears you and you have limitless resources, time and power and yet you miss THAT? Julie Plec took control not even a year after Kevin left and in one fell swoop she destroyed years of plot, mythology and narrative for no reason.

Klausfearing Silas would make sense. For many reasons. Being fearful does not mean being submissive. In Klaus’ case it means that he would get back on arms. One he does take pride at being the most powerful creature on earth. He would not allow anyone to take the mantle because that would mean he would be in danger. But also one defining trait of Klaus’ persona is that he is paranoid to a fault. Hissurvival goes above anything and everyone. This was why he was trying to createa Hybrid army in the first place. He didn’t want to be alone but he also wanted to be on the winning team. Creating his hybrids was intertwined with Mikael. It was defining him. Klaus wanted to create his own race. To get to the top of the food chain. To not be an abomination. To make all the pain he endured for a thousand years worth something. To take vengeance against Mikael. To not be the “boy” his father hunter and his family saw as the black sheep. To shame his father’s legacy. To be the bastard that became a King. The kind of King that creates his own supremacy world wide. To redefine nature. To become the patriarch of his own legacy and not be ashamed for his bloodline anymore. To be proud. To shield himself from his enemies. To makehimself untouchable. Unbreakable. To win the war without having to go to war.For his enemies to fear him so much that they would tremble only at the mentionof his name. Klaus has displayed fear in the past. Especially when it came toMikael. So what did Klaus do when he faced a weakness? He carted his siblingsinto coffins and withdrew himself from the world where no one would find himand plotted and bought time. He used his brain. He became unreasonably affectedby paranoia. Everyone else became collateral damage.

Klaus had asuperiority and inferiority complex all at once. He would not serve Silas buthe would try to find a way to not be backed in a corner. Back up plan for theback up plan. He would manipulate, he would lie, he would beguile, he wouldthreaten, he would use magic, violence, he would seduce witches to his bidding,he would ally himself with the devil if he had to, he would use Silas to getwhat he wanted making Silas believe he was using him, he would outsmart thevillain and be the better villain. Klaus in S2 was perceptive and a force ofnature that had survived for a thousand years by being several steps ahead. He was astrategist and a nightmare. Klaus in S4 was admittedly an idiot. The onlymoments that made a lick of sense was when Klaus massacred his hybrids andlater on after Kol’s death he admitted that he always planned to get the cureand kill everyone else when he would have his hands on it because he only usedthem as pawns so to get the cure himself and stop anyone from using it againsthim. After the way his hybrids plans had ended (which made no sense to end so abruptly but I digress) Klaus was ready to clear theboard and destroy anyone that destroyed his dreams. And that meant anyone thatstood in his way. Which was of course all words and no action or pay off.  

But whatmade no sense even with Klaus’ obvious brain damage in the end is that Silaswas planning to drop the veil and release the other side. Now Klaus in S2 wouldsee the coin from both sides. One side would be a chance to bring Kol back but theother? The other would have him running for the hills. He would find ways tothwart Silas’ plans. Because the other side breaking down meant that everyoneKlaus had ever killed, torture and mistreated would return with a vengeance.More importantly Esther and Mikael would return. That was motive enough forKlaus to arm himself and go against Silas. To become paranoid once more. Toburn the world if he had to so to stop his parents and especially Mikael from returning. Klaus was hunted by Mikael for a 1000 years. He was terrified ofhim. That terror and the daddy issues ran deep into a limitless void for Klaus Mikaelson. More so killing Mikael was a personal victory, the ultimate triumph, forKlaus and there would be no universe in existence where Klaus Mikaelson wouldallow anyone to take that away from him.

And whatdoes he do? He goes to New Orleans and forgets all about Silas and thepossibility of his father returning from the grave. In what world would KlausMikaelson ever do that? In what world would Klaus throw a tantrum about beingKing of a mere city and needing an heir (seriously....) when his worst nightmare was about tobe released again and the only thing that stood between his worst nightmarecoming to life was the Mystic Fall gang? It made no sense whatsoever. There wasnot even a shred of characterization that was left in Klaus by the time season4 came to an end. They literally gave him a lobotomy to create a spin off NOONE WANTED because the one EVERYONE WANTED was the one Julie Plec never wanted.

And mindyou they were preparing the spin off ever since the summer before S4 started.They had time to organize and give a plausible story. But the only thing theycame up with was a baby fever that demanded Klaus to be brain dead in order towork out and of course had to kill Kol after having him mention New Orleans (insult to injury!) because he was too dark for a mature adult diaper show about… the Originals. A so dark series where in Julie Plec’s book Klaus had to stop being the villain to get his own show. So he had to be contained and become domesticated. Because Julie Plec has certain archetypes of characters she works with. The logical thing to do with the Originals was to take Klaus as the villain he was and in the way he was loved by the fans and make him a more nuanced villain and the villainous protagonist. There was no need for any kind of redemption. If it ain’t broken why fix it? Just dig deeper into the layers and relish in the opportunities the genre provides. The Vampire lore gives countless examples of how this works. Dracula, Lestat, etc. This is still the horror genre. There was no point for baby redemption nonsense but that seems to be Julie Plec’s ultimate fantasy and truly she obviously doesn’t care or understands this genre.

And thenthere were people asking me why I was not giving TO a chance and was so sure itwas going to be a mess and I was like…really? Like REALLY? Where have you beenduring season 4?

[tumblezwei]

1. Jaune not knowing what aura is wouldn't negate his desire to be a Huntsman. He would still admire them for their bravery and skills, as well as envy his inability to live up to his warrior ancestors legacy even without the existence of aura. And Pyrrha wouldn't find it suspicious because...why would she? Sure, someone not knowing about aura would bring into question how qualified they were, but she's Pyrrha, and who knows, maybe his local combat school just didn't bother to teach him about his semblance. It's a little contrived, but it's not that illogical.

2. It's not like they intentionally designed it in-universe to be such a faulty system. Looking at it from an outside perspective, yeah, it's a plot device, but they give plenty of in-universe justifications for why it is the way it is. Just because it was explained in a WOR why satellites don't exist doesn't mean the writers were scrambling to find a reason for the CCT towers to be so flawed. They just weren't able to fit it in to the show, whether through lack of skill or time. Plus, people are still able to communicate locally with their own kingdom's CCT tower, they just can't contact other kingdoms. And what do you mean pulling it out of your ass??? It's incredibly obvious that fear and suspicion is exactly the reason Salem targeted the tower at Beacon. Of course it was deliberate??? It's almost like the antagonist of the story had a plan to cause discord amongst the kingsoms?? Just because you can see why it's set up this way from an outside narrative perspective doesn't make it a plot hole or an illogical event.

3. The Maidens were given their power because Oz, overwhelmed with the evils of humanity and the fruitlessness of his task, was given a glimpse of hope and true selflessness in the form of four women that probably reminded him of his daughters. So he gave them the last of his power in hopes that they would use it for better things than he was able. It's a little callous to call them replacement goldfish imo. But I'll give you the inheritance and the "keys to the relic doors" bit. I can justify them with a bit of twisting, but the Maidens were a last minute addition in volume 3, so the writers actually did have to scramble to give them a narrative connection to the relics, which had already been planned. Although I also think that Cinder and Raven inheriting the Maiden powers works pretty well for their respective character arcs, and the rules being set up the way they are doesn't make them getting those powers illogical. Once again, just because you can see the outside narrative, doesn't mean the existence of lore that explains an action is a plothole.

Something I noticed about RWBY is that a few of the more illogical things in-universe just exist for plot reasons.

I only have a few examples.

1. Jaune not knowing what Aura is. Out of Universe/Narrative-wise, Jaune fills the role of the “average” guy, like the audience, who doesn’t know this world and needs to have someone exposit to him, and therefore the audience, how this world works. BUT, this also makes you wonder from an in-universe stance, “How could he want to be a Huntsman if he doesn’t now what Aura is? Why doesn’t Pyrrha find this suspicious? If She wasn’t feeling nice then Jaune would’ve gotten splat from being launched off the cliff.” And even then it makes no sense, because this is the ONLY time Jaune is used as the “Guy who knows nothing so we need another character to exposit for him”. Every other time world building has happened it was with an entirely other group of people.

2. Th CCT Tower. Everyone in the FNDM agrees that the whole “If one tower goes down all of them don’t work” shit is stupid. Why the fuck would you design a communications system like that? But out of Universe they needed to set that up (via the World of Remnant on it) so the bad guys could do their big evil plan and divide the world. If everyone could communicate after the Fall of beacon then they would’ve been able to talk things out and explain shit. But keeping everyone radio silent with each other allows for fear and suspicions to rise (This of course is me pulling stuff out of my ass because this wasn’t stated in any RWBY canon but it seems like that is what they are implying). Also the fact that this happened in VALE which, according to the World of Remnants on the individual Kingdoms, seems to be the “BEST” Kingdom out of them all (Not a god-forsaken desert, no massive criminal underground, and not in the freezing tundra) I can’t help but feel like this was deliberate

3. The Maidens. The way the maiden powers work is that upon death, the power will transfer to whoever was last in that Maiden’s thoughts, unless she is too old or it is a guy, then it is random. After seeing Ozpin’s big flashback we saw the four daughters and immediately assumed that he made the Maidens to be replacement goldfish, as we had already assumed he was connected to the old wizard in the story. This rule allows the villains to obtain the Maiden power and do evil shit, but then you ask “Why would Oz make it THAT easy for evil people to gain this power? Seems like a massive lack of foresight” Also, WHY make the Maidens the keys to the Vaults holding the relics? Did he ever plan on using them himself? Why not just make no key so Salem NEVER has the opportunity to get her hand son them? He should’ve given the Maiden powers the “Transfers into a similar soul” rule like his own reincarnation, minus bringing the past soul along with the power. That keeps the power out of enemy hands. But it has the current rule so people like Cinder and Raven can get BS magic.

Just because something sounds cool doesn’t mean you should put it in. ESPECIALLY if it makes no sense in-universe.