#wait one more thing to add to the copium

[endiness]

this is such a copium crack theory lol, but like. what if the show uses toussaint in place of kovir. like, they both do kind of have similar qualities in that they're rich nations and that they're neutral when it comes to the war. so, like. what if instead of dijkstra going to kovir for help, it's radovid that goes to toussaint. y'know, at the same time jaskier is there. and then radskier. 🤪

[fullmetal-scar-simping]

You know this isn't even going to be a deep and thoughtful ask like all the previous asks, but I just need to chime in and say that every time I think about mangahood Ishval, I just know that shortly after the end of the manga there will be an Ishvalan War of Independence type event.

Like to me that was the only I could reconcile the ending of the manga/09 anime; and while fmab is the Elric Brothers' story (well really it's actually Ed's story and Al is also there because we all saw 03 and know what the real Elric Brothers' story looks like), my mind keeps straying towards Ishval and I just have this gut feeling that there will be another war because I cannot see a future where Ishval will ever be fully incorporated into Amestris without More Violence. They really are so ethnically, religiously, and surely even linguistically different + the painful history between them that a true union will never be possible

And Miles/Scar shippers this is when we rise up and pray that Mr Copaganda's third eye opens🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Also I'm SO sorry because I know you're an 03 enjoyer and consequently think less about the political landscape in 09's Amestris (good for you btw; I am not happy being stuck here and honestly desperately need to rewatch 03), but it genuinely baffles me how people fail to make a connection with Amestris' fifty billion border conflicts + Ishval = Amestris' is the local Imperialist

Speaking as a Briggs enjoyer, I just have to sit there and shut my eyes when they talk about how it's sooo important to stand strong against Drachma because every evidence points to Amestris being the instigator fhsjhdjd

Add to that Amestris' border wars with Aerugo (who supplies Ishval with weapons for seven years as a means of conducting a proxy war) and their skirmishes with Creta and the outright genocide they committed in Ishval and the only conclusion I can draw from this is that Amestris is at fault every single time, which makes it very difficult to sympathise with sad war criminals when they serve a country that's harassing no less than four nations😭😭😭

I love Scar's brother, I do, but his whack optimism in the face of annexation and imperialism is exactly why you can't just study STEM without at least taking a few classes in world history and ethics dhsndhns

Scar meanwhile was the star student in AP Religious Studies, and one can only assume history as well based on clergymen's traditional role as record-keepers, and that's why he was able to correctly assess his people's situation and went after state alchemists - Amestris may have denied him the chance to get a Master's degree in theology, but they'll never take away his critical thinking skills and Bachelor's in History😤

(They didn't have to because Arakawa did that for them😭😭😭 I literally just ignore the second half of his arc in mangahood and just world-building Ishval in my head as a form of copium because nobody else in this fandom will provide😔 I've actually seen more people draw half-Ishvalan Elric Brothers to avoid handling full Ishvalan Scar the way he is presented at the start of the series😑)

Anyway, I do apologise for rambling!!!! And thank you again for all your thoughtful responses to my asks🙏🏻

Ramble away my friend! I'm no better at restraining myself lol. Sorry for the wait in replying to yet another excellent ask tho. 🙇‍♂️

The political landscape in mangahood is a major reason why I don't fuck with this side of the series. (Not the only reason, but a damn big one.) That being said, it's fun to actually dissect it and mull things over with folks who can actually look at mangahood with a truly critical eye. So no worries, no worries, I'm enjoying this ask!

--

An Ishval War of Independence is damn near inevitable, agreed. The ending for Ishval is just straight-up terrible, but like so many aspects of mangahood's epilogue it's sold as if it's a satisfying conclusion to such a weighty issue. The Amestrian military being fully invested in rebuilding Ishval should have sent alarm bells off in everyone's heads, but no no, the military is its own protagonist and we ought to see this as a character making reparations. It's totally not a soft-takeover of Ishval and total colonization if the heads of this project are a pair of Ishvalans, right? /s

There's no way that the state overreach, the acquisition of wealth generated in the rebuild that siphons to the military itself (let alone investments made on a burgeoning economy they're set to rig), and the establishment of the rule of law that will certainly carry Amestrian standards and codes won't tip off returning Ishvalans that this is just another form of occupation. If autonomous Ishvalan councils or looser associations of Ishvalans outright reject the military's aid or presence, what do we realistically think will happen from there? Having a pair of tokenized countrymen doesn't smooth over tensions as well as imperial-colonial forces often think it does. And there's no way Amestris just up and leaves on command of the people it's imposing itself onto.

Ishval should have been released from Amestris' grasp entirely. Funds and resources could have been sent in as part of a reconciliatory effort sans military/state presence, so that the Ishvalans have what they need to rebuild at their own behest. Amestris should have no say or active participation whatsoever.

And it will never not be completely out of character for Scar to agree to act as a liaison between the Amestrian military and the Ishvalans. That shit makes no damn sense. He already did too much for Amestris, all so that the same core (human) imperial governance can remain. (Amestris certainly wasn't ending any other occupations or breaking apart as an entity to allow autonomy of the lands it coalesced into one over its ~400 years of development.)

I like to think that it would take one moment for Scar to snap out of his bootlicker phase, and it would be finally witnessing a fully sighted-Mustang. He would just have to ask Marcoh, whom I have no doubt would stupidly and callously reveal how the future leader was healed. And he'd go rogue once more, though I would imagine with greater tact and in coalition with a rising Ishvalan liberation front. He could feign his continued obeisance to Amestris, act as diplomat, and feed that intelligence back to Ishvalan networks.

Something will break the faux peace eventually, such as actions that are seemingly sporadic rising in frequency against the state. Miles would either catch on by his own observations or be given the opportunity to finally align with his people. As much as I see him attempting to report back to the Armstrongs (since he's much too loyal to them, plus they're definitely a benefactor of this military rebuild; their lineage's wealth derives from a military nobility and philanthropy is no less colonial and financially sound). But I leave it to you Miles/Scar shippers to sort that man out how y'all see fit. 🫡 May the power of back blowouts cleanse the nationalism from his heart

"[B]ut it genuinely baffles me how people fail to make a connection with Amestris' fifty billion border conflicts + Ishval = Amestris is the local imperialist," it's incredible, isn't it? We're even discouraged from making the extremely obvious connection in canon. The show will literally reveal the creation of Amestris from a tiny central point that slowly radiated outwards into its present circular formation and no one sits there thinking "Hold up. How did we accrue all of this land? Who were the people living here before becoming amalgamated into the burgeoning quadrants of this nation? How many Ishvals did it take to make our 'glorious' country?" The characters don't think it and neither do the fans lol. I recall Ed early on musing how bloody conflicts have been consistent since Bradley came into power and like. I can see a lull in war campaigns and skirmishes while the state and Father were grooming new viable candidates for the Wrath stone, but really Ed? Do you think this is a disturbing new phenomenon in Amestris' sordid history? Really?

Amestris' major neighbours do make me wonder though. Given their geographic sizes, I have my doubts that they aren't any less imperialist. (Given how this region of the world is broadly Europe-inspired, and much of Europe is a collection of colonial-imperial forces.) Drachma especially, given its enormity. Which isn't to say that Amestris would be any less antagonistic towards them and wouldn't expand its borders into Drachma territory if Father et al thought it useful. Of course expansionism would need to be roughly radial as its always been, so that necessitates further incursions into Aerugo, Creta, and the seeming no man's land that is the entire desert to the East. (Would Xing see such a land grab as a power play in their direction? Perhaps.)

Even without attempting to swallow hunks of land and people from Drachma, Creta, and Aerugo, continually agitating them for those blood seals is part of the game. So yeah, Amestris is the core instigator in so much bloodshed that leaving it mostly intact and with a change in military governance doesn't bode well for anyone. Let alone feeling any sympathy for soldiers and war criminals in the Amestrian military for willingly getting involved. Again, the Ishvalans and all other occupied peoples will quickly catch-on to this false start to a "better, reformed" nation.

People can say what they will about the Sacred Star of Milos, but I did like its portrayal of both Amestris and Creta vying for Milosian land, and how both imperial powers shunt the Indigenous peoples into the bottom of the canyons that make up the land. It hints that no, imperialism does not stem from homunculi usurping the rule of a nation (can't usurp what a homunculus created to begin with, but mangahood seems to forget this key fact). Human beings create societal systems that are the bedrock for empire building. Creta, Aerugo, Drachma, hell Xing aren't massive nations run by homunculi who want to become gods. They're governed by people who wish to maintain and expand their own power. Aerugo waging proxy wars with Amestris by supplying the Ishvalans with weaponry while denying Ishvalans escaping the massacre refuge shows that Amestris isn't the only bastard empire who use entire peoples like disposable pawns.

But I digress. Certainly hearing Olivier bloviate about the significance of Briggs to protect Amestris is yawn-inducing. Just a nationalist from a wealthy military family who sees Amestrian power and aggression as a proud way of life. No doubt the Briggs platoon sees Drachma as an evil invader without any self-awareness. Even if it's imperial nation vs imperial nation, I'm not shedding tears for the Amestrian side lol (and both can burn lolol)

Oh Scar Bro, why did they make you a bastion of bizarrely positive vibes while gunfire, fire, and bombs rained down on your long occupied people? "Whack positivity" lmfao real, real. I get different people handle atrocities in their own ways, but ???? Guess having cracked the code on why Amestris is arranged the way it was, and having developed the insignias for wielding alchemy that is in-tune with the planet's energy made him extra jazzed that everyone could be free.

Still comes across as a metatextual rebuttal to Scar's pain and fury.

(I like Scar Bro too, rest assured.)

That's a good point regarding Scar's academic/clergical background. He would no doubt be an excellent student/bearer of knowledge, likely learned in numerous subjects given his years of monkhood. When not training his fighting skills or body, he had to have been studying not only Ishvalan theology but the culture, its history, politics, and the natural sciences. His background in the clergy would make him quite the asset for restoring lost documents, life ways, knowledge, and passing down these lessons to future generations. He'd absolutely lend himself to the more back-breaking labour too, because this man would work himself to the bone for others.

Amestris may have denied him the chance to get a Master's degree in theology, but they'll never take away his critical thinking skills and Bachelor's in History😤

(They didn't have to because Arakawa did that for them😭😭😭

hsgvskehdhxbdndkslmfaooooo 💀💀💀 Yeah, I uh. I too wanna ignore what Arakawa and friends do with mangahood Scar's arc because that shit suckssssssssss. Our babygirl is too smart to cowtow to so much pro-Amestris nonsense. Love your tactic of focusing instead on world building Ishval, especially without centering the goddamned Elrics in all of it. I really find that drive to side-step the racism and racial privilege they have in canon by making them mixed Ishvalan just so distasteful. They won't address especially Ed's canon racism but they'll pretend like he too suffers like the Ishvalans in their fanworks. Making some Ishvalan ocs would be preferable, if focusing on Scar and other canon Ishvalans is apparently too high an ask for these fans. 🙄

(Have you seen some folks theorize Riza to have some distant Ishvalan heritage, just because her eyes are a bit ruddy in colour? Sounds like another attempt at imbuing the pain of an ethnic minority into the racial majority characters without actually engaging with these topics whatsoever. Also reeks of "How juicy would it be if the genocider was genociding their own people," which is 😒)

Anyway, Scar would absolutely turncoat on Amestris and aid in Ishvalan liberation, but this time fully embraced by his people and without having to be the sole bearer of direct violence too.

[nono-uwu]

Ons chapter 135 thoughts!!

Spoilers duh (also very long post. Lmk if I should add the read more cut)

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- KAGAMI I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD IT IN YOU TO GIVE CHESS AND HORN MORE SCREENTIME BUT THANK YOU ANYWAYS

- I am so glad that the whole digestion thing is more symbolical bc... that inital wording really threw me off lmao

- on that note, the immagery of the dead trees with the bodies sticking out of 'em... very creepy and on point, I think it's neat

- they actually adressed Crowley forgetting them! Wowzers (side note she looks hella adorable. My little skrunkly)

- ouugh the dynamic... where was it earlier? It seems so much more casual than during the Nagoya arc (probably just wishful thinking on my part lmao)... idc how give us more of this

- "you two were my first servants", LORE CRUMBS! I guess.

- wait so, they're still becoming demons? But isn't that a form of reincarnation, the thing Ferid is specifically trying to stop? But he's also devouring them... to absorb their power I guess? Since later on Ferid mentions now being more powerful after devouring Crowley (I'll get to that asspull later)

- Also Horn looks a teensy bit weird with the new artstyle but she's still super pretty 🫶 be my wife pls

- So, 16 year old Ferid is inside himself as his 'true self'? I assume that because he got the idea to stop reincarnation when he was 16 and hasn't changed his mind since (never let 16 year olds make big decisions in this world, it only leads to disaster)

- the skrunkle part 2. Also I doubt being digested like that feels good in any way. And with how slow it's supposed to be, yikes.

- I have a theory (aka major amounts of copium): Yuu will bust in and save Crowley because of 'fAmiLy' and also save Chess and Horn since they're family by association

- No one can reach Ferid, eh? And then Corwley's voice reaches him. Kagami and his queerbaiting amirite

- However Ferid then snags Crowley and ig he's on the priority list of getting devoured. Probably bc he's the strongest vampire Ferid has eaten. Cannibalism as a metaphor for love and devotion or whatever, except it's very literal and I doubt there's any love beyond 'u and interesting critter dude' from both sides

- Ok here's my major nitpick with this chapter: KAGAMI STOP BREAKING AND BENDING YOUR OWN FUCKING WORLDBUILDING AND POWER SYTEMS. Until now it was established that a vampires strenght is dependant on 1. their rank (as in who's blood turned them) and 2. their age. But now appearantly Ferid can eat vampires and absorb their strenght? If this was some universal but very difficult thing for any vampire to do, then I wouldn't be this salty. Also one of my favourite things about Ferid as an antagonist was, that power-wise he was on the weaker side. Despite being 'weak' he was still a major threat. He made up for his lack in actual fighting power with smarts and immaculate planning. But now he's another uber-strong genius. C'mon we already had Shikama and Rigr for that department. Bleh.

- now for the Yuu / Rigr and co confrontation, it's fiiiiine. I guess. At least Shikama is still somewhat of a formidable threat. Not to the major characters obviously but yk, it's something.

- rip Basteya. You showed up, slayed for a little and died.

- Kirsten still looks fugly as hell lmao

- so do Ulrich and Roger

- So, who will be faster: Shinoa in absorbing Shikama or Yuu in saving him? My bet is on Yuu purley bc he's supposed to be the main character but ig we'll see next chapter

- KRUL!!! AND THE BAT THING I FORGOT IT'S NAME

- sadly no Ferid / Krul brawl this chapter but yk what makes me excited for next chapter

- my guess is that now Krul is Ferids next target to be chomped. Hopefully she will beat his ass. Like when she first appeared. Ahhh the good old times

- 'A big fan of yours... M'lady Queen' lmao. What's next Ferid, will you put on a Fedora? Bro that last panel ain't it. Fuckin Sebastian of black butler wannabe 💀

[phxntomhives]

Welcome to my sideblog

That has most likely become my main one. But idk how to change main and second one. So yeah. So if you see @phxntomhives-98 it's still me. I just don't know why sometimes I can't switch accounts and sometimes I can.

I will try to keep this blog mostly related to Kuroshitsuji and twst but who knows what I will like next. From memes (mostly repost because I am not that funny) to theories you can find anything here.

I am not spoiler free BUT I try my best to protect the new fans and hide things under the cut. Unfortunately, I am human, so you may run into spoilers, I am truly sorry.

I am 25, she/her pronouns, INTP. I would love to get to know more people in the fandoms I am in, but eeeh my social skills are lacking. So feel free to hit my dms, I don't bite I promise. I am trying to make more moots/mutuals pls

Here most thing you can find me posting about/comments etc (under the cut because it became long ops)

Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler

Sebaciel shippers do not interact. I will just block and move on. If you see me liking one post tagged like that it's because I am stupid and I don't always read the tags, pls let me know and I will fix the problem.

Now that the important part is over: I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE NEW SEASON AAH. The Weston College arc is my favourite so I am very happy and it feels so nice to see my children here :3

I am up to date with the manga as well, so if you need to cry with someone, I am here. Sobbing.

My fave is Ciel, and Lizzie slander shall not be tolerated (half joking, you are free to dislike her but I am ready to fight at any time to defend her).

A couple of things you may want to check? If you are bored???

New manga chapter comments under: #Phxntomhives Kuro manga yapping

Analysis/theories

"The Parade of Battlers" song analysis

Finny grew up (chapter 211 spoilers)

Short analysis of the GFantasy May cover

The unlucky fate of the P4

Silly theory of the cricket's ending dance

Edgar sure is very much unlucky when it comes to life decision...

About Lizzie's anger (reblog theory)

Chapter 209 crack theory (to welcome denial)

Short analysis of Bluewer talking to Ciel during the Midnight party (from a reblog)

Short analysis of Undertaker's GFantasy cover

Headcanons

P4 headcanons

My kuro AU, kuro AU pt 2

Gregory scream headcanons (kind of angst)

Pandora Hearts

Very new to the fandom and I understood like half of it. Anyway it's beautiful and you all should read it! Come cry with me!

Here some fresh thoughts after I read the last chapter

Headcanon to hurt my soul

Vanitas no carte/The case study of Vanitas

Up to date with both anime and manga! And not so patiently waiting for each update. I miss them, I hope for a new chapter soon.

Twisted Wonderland (JP SERVER)

Up to date with main story and eons behind with the events ops. No I do not know japanese, tho I am trying to learn, but I started the game when that was the only version avaiable and I will not start again on eng server sorry. (Technically I have started but I had no more space on my phone and one had to go)

If you are curious about what I think about the story check #phxntomhives twst yapping (because I plan to type a lot and refuse to keep updating this list it's supposed to be pretty after all)

Theories

Events are canon. Part 2: wish upon a star.

Silver gets a title copium.

Tokyo Aliens

READ IT LEGALLY. FOR FREE. HERE I TELL YOU HOW.

WHY IS THERE NO FANDOM IT'S SUCH A NICE STORY. PLEASE GIVE IT A CHANCE.

I AM LIVING OF HALF A POST AND FANMADE TRANSLATION. HELP.

Parallels between Tokyo Aliens and Negai no Astro

Spoiler/Analysis from scans: chapter 41, chapter 42, chapter 43, chapter 44, chapter 45, chapter 46, chapter 47, chapter 48, chapter 49, chapter 50 (After I added these I basically took over the tags plsssss)

Dr stone

It's appearing more on my feed so I had the feeling I had to add this lol. I love it dearly, I finished the manga and I need to catch up with the anime. I am extremely worried about the rumored (?) new volume that is coming ngl

Negai no Astro

Damn, I am hooked.

Parallels between Tokyo Aliens and Negai no Astro

Aaand honestly many more, feel free to ask! If it helps, here is my not updated because it takes forever MyAnimeList! But I probably missed many of them so really, just come and ask.

I may drop some suggestions to read too sometimes, here they are

Suggestions for you <3

Why you should read Merry Marbling

If you like Negai no Astro or Tokyo Aliens PLEASE CHECK THE OTHER SERIE MENTIONED.

[kimakento]

i’m going to add it into one post because i don’t wanna clog the dash for others ^^ @deutoplasm

yeah!!!! i mean i think it's pretty likely he does some dance cover soon (copium) but who knows. not jams though that's for sure lmfao...

i really hope he does, but by solo projects, i mean more of things like acting!!! ren’s one of the only ones who hasn’t been in any movie/shows by himself which is vv unfortunate bc he’s really talented at it tbh

omg hold up i'll have to watch it some time soon 🙏 will report back once i have. but don't expect too much omfg i have also have a severe ini folder and hi!jo1 backlog...

vv valid because that happens with me.. not w hi!jo1 bc i’ve finally caught up but with inifol because a hundred eps is so much 😭 i’ve watched eps here and there and i’m trying my best so far i’ve really loved the court one it was so hilarious (rihito + yudai are such a funny duo) i also loved nishi too

but do tell if you’ve watched the laposta behinds yet !!

jo1 should actually go to the same place ini did for their haunted house ep and do it too. please lapone as a halloween special or smth

wait … that should actually happen.. i’m not sure if you’ve watched jo1 house but keigo did it for his debut pledge and it was the most hilarious thing ever T-T ruki being a scaredy cat, while ren was litr unfazed the whole time and rlly did NOT care

i think lpn should make a halloween special like that

YUDAI IS SUCH A FUNNY GUY his mcing in the sport part of ini school was so fun. his energy is fantastic. love that guy

usually i gravitate to the members with the best humour/personalities similar to mine LOL yudai is a vv cool guy his mcing 😭

SHO oh my god idk i go into a mildly fugue state whenever i see him he's sooooo. sooooooooo

this is about the realest thing i’ve heard all day

mildly unrelated but what music do you listen to? what are your favourite songs atm??

i listen to jpop my playlists are full of it LMFAOO excluding the lpn groups, i do like psychic fever, &team, 48/46g but you can see that in my about me so i don’t wanna talk TOO MUCH about those

i like alt rock, jazz and pop?? i do listen to hiphop a little and i’m a HUGE rnb fan (jrnb too)

excluding those i like artists like beabadoobee, laufey and the band bôa

my favourite songs currently are;

i. beaches — beabadoobee

ii. starlight — jo1

iii. let’s escape — ini

iii. draw+ing — dxteen (i’ve been streaming this like crazy)

iv. where do we go! — ayumu imazu

v. for jasmine — bôa

what’s your favourite songs?? and what music do you listen to im curious

what's your favourite? i'm obligated to make you a tag too now!!!!

aww tysm :] i don’t really have one but if i had to choose it’d be 🎧

[noficbyhalves]

Malik in "this isn't copium, the fireball was intentional":

Because Malik's life was a series of compounding disasters, the cabinet door stayed shut, shaking violently and spewing thin smoke. When his foot hit the mark on the floor, the cabinet let out a blood-curdling scream.

At the very least, Malik had expected it, and the choked gurgle it morphed into as it slowly faded away. The last noises Kadar had made before the curse had torn his throat out, the ones that played on repeat in his nightmares. He held his wand loosely in a clammy grip and waited.

Something was starting to drip out of the bottom of the cabinet, a thick dark liquid pooling on the floor. It took several moments for Malik to realize it was blood, and the cabinet's door was bowing because of it. He didn't dare look away, but the further the door warped the harder it was getting to breathe.

The door crashed open under the pressure, and a body tumbled out, hitting the floor with a wet, meaty smack. Malik couldn't let his hand shake, couldn't show the nausea coiling in his gut. The phobodendron hadn't shown him Kadar, no. He didn't need to check the corpse's unseeing eyes, had recognized him from the second he saw the tousled brown hair, the moment he saw his face before it had impacted the stone floor. It was Altair's body laying on the floor in front of him, in a pool of his own blood, because why wouldn't he be? Might as well add to the list of people Malik had catastrophically failed. Haven't you done enough, why does everything have to be a fight. There wasn't enough air.

His blood was roaring in his ears when he finally dragged his eyes away from Altair, up into the yawning void in front of him. And there was Kadar, finally, one bloody hand wrapped around where his throat should be. His brother was still upright, looking far too small, shuffling forward and reaching out to where Malik was frozen in place. "Help... why won't you-" Kadar rasped, with vocal chords mangled by magic.

It wasn't really a conscious decision. Between one moment and the next his arm had swung up to point his wand at the grisly display. Dead in the eyes of what had to be the phobodendron, because Kadar's eyes looked wrong in a way he couldn't really place. (Or maybe he was just dead, and Malik was losing his mind.) Malik wasn't even sure if he had said anything, over the deafening sound of his own shaky breathing. A gout of flame engulfed the phobodendron regardless, and it shrieked an unearthly noise as it burned.

Malik wrenched himself away, the professor's voice buzzing in his ears but not registering as words. With a flick of his wrist, his things packed themselves away in his bag before he reached his seat. He snatched it off his chair without breaking stride, heading directly out the classroom door. Malik got two floors away before he had to sit down on the moving staircase and try not to dry heave.

[If you want to see more skies, please consider following! If a post has Malik with an apostrophe more than once it gets hidden from the tags for some reason :/]

[sun-marie]

I finished BG3 for the second time last night, and I have many spoilery thoughts about it (including PICTURES) so I'll put them under a cut. BG3 spoilers ahead, be warned!

I enjoyed the ending a lot more than my first playthrough (even Karlach notwithstanding, since this was the first time getting her sick Avernus ending). My first time I felt a little left out to dry by how it felt cut-off with no epilogue, but now that I saw that coming I enjoyed it more for what it was, if that makes sense! Though epilogues would still be nice, especially if there the same level of quality as Karlach's Avernus ending (but honestly I'd be fine with a slideshow too)

I have also made my peace with Ruathym becoming a Mindflayer. I don't think he wanted to do it per say, but I do think it suits him, and I'm cautiously optimistic in believing the game on him being an unprecedented mindflayer who may still retain himself and his soul. Plus it adds a really tasty tragic twist to his character, especially being in a romance with Lae'zel. Both Zephyr and Ruathym's romances have the potential for tragedy, but Gale's is seen ahead of time by the characters in the story, making it more satisfying to fight against it, while there's no way any of the characters could anticipate Ruathym having to become a mindflayer to free the prince of his lover and save the world, so it's more satisfying to lean into that dramatic irony. Plus, like, he lived in the Underdark anyway, and I don't think animals would shy away from him? So he'll be okay in the long run, I think. (Copium? Undoubtedly.)

I would really like to see like epilogue slides for the characters. If I wasn't romancing Gale I'd have no idea his plan was to go back to Waterdeep, and I had to look this up but if you romance Halsin he tells you he's going to start an orphanage! Why is that romance-exclusive information?? And like Shadowheart and Astarion are left out to DRY, people have already mentioned it before but there's no way the party would just let Astarion run off like that without following him. And if you let Shadowheart's parents die, there is zero follow up on what her plans are after all this. So idk, I know Larian said they're working on the ending, and I'm looking forward to it.

I would enjoy the ending much much more though if it actually worked. Like, I had to reset the game multiple times bc it just refused to render

Like idk I know it's a big game and my PC isn't the newest, but it's not ancient either and some people are playing this on their laptop for crying out loud!! I shouldn't be dealing with this level of graphical issues. (The same issues were cropping up during Gortash's coronation btw, which is what made pics for my mod such a pain to get). And while I do mod my game, I can't believe the mods I have are enough to cause this 😭

So, that kinda put a damper on things, but the *content* of the ending, I mostly like! It does feel very epic, and I appreciate that it was challenging but not impossibly difficult. It's also very satisfying to see everyone again, almost teared up when Rolan and Barcus Wroot gave their support to me! They were just That One Grumpy Tiefling At The Grove and That One Gnome We Saved From A Windmill, and look at them now!! ahhh that was really good.

And while I think it still needs to be extended, I do actually like the immediate nature of the goodbyes. Wyll and Karlach have to go to Avernus now, Astarion needs to get out of the sun now, and Lae'zel needs to leave for her people, and Ruathym is a Mindflayer now. It gives the ending an appropriately bittersweet note. We won, but we still lost people, even if we may see them again. It all happens so fast because the tadpoles died like *snap* that.

I loved this game, and I like this ending. I'm going to make myself wait before I replay it (bc this one of those games I want to be playing all the time), and when I do I want to see if I can squeeze one more oc or one more romance in there. I don't really do AUs, which include other playthroughs with different protags, and I'm not a huge fan of having a pc for every romance option, but I think between the options that are free (Halsin, Shadowheart, Wyll, Karlach, Astarion,....Minthara(?)) somebody could pair up! Even if it's after the events of the game lol. So I'm kinda tossing around the idea of a Wyll origin playthrough and finding who he'd romance, but idk yet, we'll see 👀

[ryonello]

🧤

[hungnitan]

Teyvat Interlude or should I say Fatui Harbringer Teaser (lol) get uploaded at official Youtube channel !

So yeah they're basically reveal all harbringer we really need to know for longest time eventhough some still wearing mask but Dottore basically gonna appear at Sumeru so just Capitano still hidden don't know maybe he's just shy like Kalpas lol

Tbh I thought it's just a normal table until someone pointing

Let's talk a bit about these info and leak so far :

Long long time ago leakers said "not all harbringer are playable" so I think it's safe that we can cross that elf Pulcinella for reasons we all know (lol) tbh I can't imagine hoyo makes him playable as they're known for racking money as much as possible but he's feature in Teyvat prologue... Well let's see someday~

But after thinking again it's fit for him to become our guide at Snezhnaya (well I mean featured chara from Teyvat prologue are our guides right). He sounds like the most good person based on Tartaglia voiceline while everyone at Harbringer are evil to the core(lol), I won't suprise if it's him not Tartaglia the one who guide us to Morepesok (or meeting Tartaglia families) later !

It's moreless 99% true Dottore gonna be playable, it's just we don't know when maybe at or after Sumeru (and we know him a bit from manga). Let's see if he gonna meet Collei there~

I keep looking at comment "Pantalone pretty similar to Baizhu". Well, maybe just similar design like Diona Dori but we can't cross that possibility since it's pretty sure there's a reasons why Baizhu still not playable and even talked about Changsheng lore...

To add the info in Pale Flame lore it stated that Pantalone doesn't have a vision so maybe he's using delusion or something else if he become playable...

Despite her talk, I love Arlecchino design ! She sounds... regal maybe ? But based on Tartaglia voiceline she seems easy to switching side, just my speculation maybe when we're arriving at Snezhnaya some unexpectable harbringer gonna betray Tsaritsa and join us (for unknown reason I think Tartaglia isn't include there, he believe in Tsaritsa more than us thought)

The first time I think when saw Columbina from video thumbail is "don't tell me Sushang exp !". Yeah she's not having zoom scene but she looks like Sushang or Nuwa Fuxi exp ugh I can't difference them

Pierro is some minor players want to be playable characters type (lol) I remember asked my irl friend about what kind of character you want to playable ? Then she said old man with beard and loli male. For her cause I hope he can playable hahaha

This just a speculation but I think Sandrone gonna appear at Fontaine (she really suitable there)

From all harbringer the one I really want to see is Capitano (additionaly Pulcinella but in the end he's just an elf lol) since saw Tartaglia voiceline leak and unfortunately he hide his face (lol). I really hope he's playable even Tartaglia himself acknowledge his strength so won't makes him playable kinda arguable right plus he's Sesshomaru JPN VA sir ! Making him just a NPC pretty laughable right~

The hum-hum part melodies Columbina (I assumed ?) sung really similar to current event Griseo theme song🤣

PS : Hype are good but don't forget most of these hot & beautiful people won't become playable for at least we're entering Fontaine or more (lol) so don't do any copium things like blowing your head because of waiting too long~

[the-resurrection-3d]

well. the zackrays won.

I don’t think I need to add anything to this picture, I mean...

The manga definitely feels more in the direction of “they really ran away together,” given the final shot of bloodless knife and the window smashed inwards -- and obviously I expected that to be the case, given how the manga has treated their relationship. I’m going to assume the question of how Zack got his scythe back is gonna be the same answer as how Ray has his knife, aka bro shut up who even cares. 

wait how tf did he stomp through the bars on the windows. 

also the blood. always the blood. 

I do find it interesting that the manga showed Ray having a very public mental breakdown after being ripped away from Zack, when I distinctly remember being super cautious about having her show “”””too much””” emotion in my own fic. Then again, the manga is definitely a lot more emotive in general, which is one of the things I like about it over the anime. 

(Looked back over the anime’s ending and they had Ray say “please kill me” instead of “I want you to kill me,” which I hate but whatever no one cares but me.) 

The ending has always been weird as fuck for me, but then again, I do quite literally read/watch AOD for the metacomedy I’ve projected onto it rather than the actual “story.” Which makes the suicide reading of the ending all the more jarring, even if I agree with it. Obviously this ^^ above is the ending that fits more with the emotional arc of the characters, but there’s just so much intentionally wrong and unanswered about it that I can’t help but feel like the author is making a sly dig at readers and at Ray for being on copium. There’s something so dark and empty about it, but again, no one on this blog knows what I’m talking about nor cares, lol.)