#while the red rose represents beast

[peculiarbeauty]

my entire blog: red roses

also my belle: white rose enthusiast

[daddyhausen]

inspired by @plentyoffandoms bc i just HAD to 😫

｡ ･ : * ˚ : ✧ ｡ 「 MIDNIGHTS AT THE BLOOMING ROSE 」 ｡ ･ : * ˚ : ✧ ｡

「 MASTERLISTS 」 | 「 AEW MASTERLIST 」 | 「 HANGMAN ADAM PAGE MASTERLIST 」

「 COMMISION INFO 」 | 「 LIKE MY WORK? BUY ME A COFFEE — KOFI — DXDDYHXUSEN 」

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「 SUMMARY 」 — the sherrif of a crime ridden western town pays visit to his favourite saloon girl during the midnight hours

「 WARNINGS 」 — 18+ [ MINORS DNI ], handjob, sex work, sexworker!reader, sheriff!hangman, vaginal sex, penetrative sex, unprotected sex, internal cumshots, vaginal creampie, male + female orgasm, multiple orgasms, squirting

「 WORD COUNT 」 — 1.8k

「 PAIRING 」 — fem!reader x hangman adam page

「 GENRE 」 — smut

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「 TAGLIST 」 — @cosmoholic13 @legit9thlunaticwarrior @thewrestlingbitch @omg-im-such-a-masochist @adamjf @wardlow @alexisquinnlee-bc @sammiejane22 @im-just-a-mississippi-girl @omegasluvbot @melissahausen @writtingrose @drummergrl1310 @unoficialy-married-to-ace-austin @bonehead-playz @cherrytheeredheadmamaclaymore @crowleysqueenofhell @romanreigns-supreme @janetreader @thenerdybaker523 @sunshinevirus @nicoleveno14 @rubyred1980 @igncrxntripley @ripleyswhore @embermdk @thepalaceofmelanie @violetmacher @seeingstarks @kennysbadkitten @darkangelchronicles @ripleyswife @selena-tyler-564 @auburnwrites @biforrollynch @harmshake

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「 COMMENT IF YOU WANT TO BE ADDED TO THE TAGLIST 」

all was quite along the roads leading into town. the red dirt scuffed at his horse hooves. the animal kicking up mud and gravel in a tired fury. it represented the hangman’s predicament rather fittingly. he was tired, body worn from hunting criminal scum all evening. his bones ached, muscles sore and sensitive. all he needed was a bath and a good fuck to tie him over.

as he made his way through town, the silence of the countryside dissapated. his ears filled with the rambunctious laughter of drunken patron from the local bar and brothel. the gleeful squeals of whores getting their fill of cock. one, a blonde leaning out the window, bare chested, moaning into the midnight hair with ravenous pleasure.

the cowboy hitched his horse out front. the blooming rose saloon had become a second home as of late. the scent of malt liquor and cigar smoke offended the animal’s nostrils. the beast let out a small huff and grunt in response. adam, with a frustrated and tired sigh entered

the wooden saloon style doors parted around his imposing figure. so much so that patrons stopped and stared at their sherrif for a second before resuming their frivolous activities. hangman was greeted by the sight of whores lining the velvet couches, naked and spread, men devouring the with reckless abandon as they moan and pled for orgasm. those men who’d consumed too much liquid courage, passed out in more secluded corners of the brothel while the women they payed for their troubles grinded and bounced on their now flaccid cocks.

“ah glad to see your finally back, sherrif” that farmillair trans atalantic accent graced the cowboys ears.

that voice could only be recognised as madame toni. the platinum blonde akin to that of a showgirl, so glamorous and poised. she was the owner of said establishment, and always took care of the girls under her employment. her and the hangman had developed a sort of friendship over the years

madame toni noticed the cowboys sullen eyes and tired features. how the blood had not yet dried against his skin. it was not his. his body bruised and sore, small welts began to swell when his skin was exposed.

“rough day?” she questioned rhetorically, pouring the cowboy a shot of whiskey he’d regularly ask for.

hangman gave a small nod, downing the shot in quick succession the the burn of the liquid was something he welcomes

“is she here?” was all adam could muster through a dry and hoarse throat.

madame toni offered him a gracious smile with a nod.

“oh don’t you worry. go upstairs get yourself cleaned up. i will send mariah to fetch her for you”

adam slid a ten dollar bill across the bar to pay for the extra services. toni shooed him away playfully, snapping to retrieve the attention of her second in command, miss mariah. the young blonde whizzing away to find you, wherever you could be

adam made his way upstairs. taking a left, making his way to the bathhouse. he opened the door steadily, the room lit with slow burning candles, the scent of lavender and wildflowers filled his nostrils, a welcoming scent to the bloody iron and gunpowder he was used to. he kicked off his boots, quietly stripping himself of his clothing, leaving them by the door, far to impaired to fold them on the stool that had been provided for such a thing.

he noticed that the wooden tub had been pre-filled for his arrival, the water still steaming slightly. he gave a soft, hearty sigh as his naked flesh met the warm water, letting it encapsulate his aching frame. he gently began washing his shoulders. the sting of an old, yet not fully healed bullet wound made him wince slightly.

the door opened slightly, a soft feminine voice graced his ears, it was undeniably yours.

“glad to see you’re back in once piece” you lulled softly in his direction.

his pupils blow with adoration as he peered up at your still clothed frame. you did not even need to be naked for him to be completely enamored with you. the white cotton of your sleeves rolled up to your elbows. the skirts of your dress soft and light. the colours were kept minimalistic. soft greys and blues yet they complemented your skin perfectly.

he gave a soft hum in response, too tired to speak at the moment. you joined his side, kneeling to the left of him. beginning to daintily trace the scruff of his beard. the blond wiry strands tickling your fingers

“i missed you…” you hummed gently beggining to massage his shoulders. feeling him relax into your touch. adam let out a soft sight in contentment. you knew in your profession there was no room for love. especially with clientele, yet yourself and adam developed a bond that was more intimate than just sex alone.

he yearned for you when he was away, could not wait until he see you again next, he had the money to be able to get you out of a job like this, to marry you, start a family with you, give you everything your heart desires. yet you remained, feeling not worthy of such a lavish life, you did not want people to look down on your beloved for marrying a common whore such as yourself. it would bring shame to him in the eyes of the townsfolk.

he hummed again in response to your confession, simply taking the back of your palm and kissing it sweetly, sighing in relief as you began to shampoo his hair. the aformentioned lavender scent soothing his worries momentarily.

“i missed you too…” he finally confessed after what felt like forever, feeling a pang in his gut that he didn’t mention it sooner.

your hands slowly began to roam down his arms, grasping the strong muscles of his biceps before trailing upward again. this time across his broad chest, lingering against his stomach as you leaned in slowly.

“well…” you began. a seductive tone in your voice, lips dangerously close to his.

“you don’t have to miss me anymore”

with that you kissed him, rather passionately, feeling him melt into the kiss. his hands freed from the water, cupping your cheeks and smoothing the soft flesh with his battle-worn thumbs

“i want you…” he hummed against your lips through a flurry of moans

“i need you…”

his please became more greedy, more selfish as he kissed you deeper. playing with the soft strands of your freshly washed hair, the locks feeling like silk against his fingertips

“you have me…i’m all yours” you spoke in between breaths and his frantic kisses

hands leading down his torso towards his hardened cock, still fully submerged under the warm water. you grasped his cock in your right hand, slowly beginning to pump his engorged shaft, the tip of his cock red and swollen, desperate for your touch.

“oh fuck darlin’” he grunted, breaking the kiss, oh how he missed the sensation of your touch. he’d grown so used to rubbing one out alone, in secluded tents in the wilderness while on manhunts that he’d become so sensitive to another person’s touch.

adam revelled in the feeling, gripping the edge of the tub until his knuckled burned bone white. his breath became ragged, uneven with pleasure, bitting his lip to suppress the loudness of his moans

“easy cowboy…” you cooed, stroking his cock from base to tip, feeling him throb thickly in your palm.

“fuck…you don’t know what you do to me doll…”

“oh i know, sir. trust me i know how much you enjoy my touch”

adam’s cock twitch at how you replied to him with such formality. having normally referred to him by his name or the cliche “cowboy” never with sherrif or some other type of honourific. still he enjoyed having some power over you, even if is was through formalilites. adam’s breath grew increasingly ragged, his cock swelled and pulsed against your soft palm.

he muttered out a string of curse words his cock so needy for release, giving one final curse of pleasure before spilling over in your palm. his cum sticky and thick, globs of white clinging to your fingertips as your pried your hand out of the water, licking your fingers clean.

“strip” he commanded, trying to regain his breath as he stepped out of the tub, adoring the way you were able to shed your body of the numerous skirts and pedicosts with ease.

adam’s body still dripping with wetness, not that he or yourself cared as he pulled you close to his chest. his cock grinding against your plump ass. chest pressed frimly against your back as he began to grope your pillow breasts in his large palms

“god, i need to feel that pretty cunt wrapped around me…” he groaned, placing hungry kisses to your neck

“you make my cock so fuckin’ hard darlin’”

and his words were definitely evident. his thick cock, erect and pushing against your flesh

“adam…please” you whimpered, eager for him to fill you like he had done so many times over

he probably holds the record for the most fucks in the brothel. he guided you towards the tub, having you brace yourself against the edge of it, grasping the wood as he peppered kissed down your back. his cock slipped into your slick cunt, instantly feeling the lovely stretch of your walls around his size

“oh adam!” you gasped, feeling his cock begin to move at a vicious pace, the sound of wet skin colliding was nothing short of mesmerizing

“oh fuck, doll. that pretty little cunt is always so tight for me”

he hummed through gritted teeth, bottoming out as he succumbed to the delicious pulse between your thighs

“admit it sweetheart, no other man fucks you as good as i do”

you could only respond in a mix of soft whimpers and moans. adam tugged at your hair, pulling your head back so he could gaze upon your fucked out features

“answer me” he remarked sternly, adoring the way with each thrust he had your mouth hung open with pleasure

“y-you’re too good sir. so much better than other men! oh fuck!- adam you fuck me so good!”

your shines were enough to send him over the edge. his cock swelling with orgasm again. your tight walls clenching around his engorged shaft. milking him of his hot cum.

“you want me to cum in that pretty little pussy of yours? fill you full of my seed like the good whore you are?”

“yes! please adam! please give me all of your cum!”

your begs sent him to heaven. his cock twitched one final time. painting your walls white with his seed, he pulled out rather quickly for your liking, intervening your orgasm ever so slightly, putting the tip back in and then exiting again. you juices leaking down your thighs in intervals, the same with his seed. you collapsed onto your knees beside the tub, breathless and cum-filled.adam joined you, kneeling behind you, arms around your waist. peppering sweet kisses to your shoulder blades and the tops of your shoulders

“god, darlin’ i love you so much”

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[kitkatopinions]

"Blake's TRUE color is purple, the black was only ever because of Adam" Friend, if that was the case her name wouldn't literally mean black. You guys were watching the color show originally centered around color where the color oriented team rwby who had names with the first initial of their color made by someone who was so particular about color that he almost made all dust red just so he didn’t throw off Weiss's color scheme. You really think that if Blake's TRUE color was always meant to be purple, she'd be named Blake?

Also, people only ever offer Blake 'breaking away from Adam' and 'getting healthy and confident' as reasons why the writers are acting like she's purple now, but like... Blake hasn't been with Adam at all during the course of the main show. She was completely disillusioned with him, she was against the things he did, she was standing up to him, she was calmly articulating the way she felt about him, she was making friends, learning to trust, went on a date for God's sake, all within the first three seasons. And the backsliding that happened because of the fall of beacon was dealt with and left her more confident than ever, reunited with her parents and Ilia, 'reclaiming the White Fang' from him even though that was a badly done mess, etc, all prior to reuniting with Team RWBY by the way. Killing Adam in volume six was completely unnecessary to Blake's journey of healing and actually logically would've made her backslide again, and as I've said before, Blake turning into a meek flinching passive person trying to manage her partner's temper and hiding behind said partner when her seventeen year old teammate raises her voice makes it seem like Blake is actively LESS healthy than ever before.

People literally only say that about "purple is really Blake's color, the black is just Adam" because they're unable to see Blake outside of Bumbleby and use Adam as a fallback hatesink for anything she once was that contradicts it. Also I want these people to stop calling their ship bumbleby and find something purple and yellow to call their ship, like LarryBoy or something. Also Also I want them to stop singing Red Like Roses, because "Black the beast descends from shadow-" Oh ADAM that must mean ADAM because Blake's color isn't black! /s

Also the same can be said for Weiss. "White was the Jacques color, blue is really what Weiss's color really is" A. Her name means white. B. You’re telling me that in V4 at the height of when the writers want you to think Jacques is so cruelly controlling her, she's wearing that dull gray-ish blue dress and absolutely no white, and that wasn’t meant to be symbolic at all? And when she leaves she puts on the wide white belt, and you thought that... What, meant that Jacques still had a hold on her or something? Also, C. I could be wrong, but doesn't Nicholas Schnee who the writers are billionaire simps for and Weiss admires and calls a hero ALSO wear tons of white? If Weiss is shedding Jacques (represented by white) and embracing the True Blueblooded GOOD Billionaire Schnee name (blue) then wouldn't old Nick Schnee be decked out in blue?

And legitimately, the writers might've randomly decided while writing V6 that Weiss's color should be blue and Blake's color should be purple and THEY might have come up with those same dumb excuses, but they're not good excuses and I absolutely DO NOT believe that Blake's color being black and Weiss's color being white was originally meant to 'show us they weren't being their true selves' or that they were 'getting held back' and so on and so forth. Every time I see people say that, I roll my eyes so hard.

[midnightmah07]

Info about Rosantée — a made up dorm from RSA based on Belle (Beauty and The Beast)

disclaimer: rosantée is a dorm I decided to create with the help of @viilpstick for our RSA OCs; she was also the one to make the dorm emblem<33

Name (by @viilpstick): Rosantée [rose + enchantée (enchanted)]

Based on: The Fearless Princess (Belle)

Values: bravery and knowledge

Official colors: orange/yellowish orange and blue

Theme: red roses

Housewarden: Isabelle Desroisiers

Vice Housewarden: Adeline Rosique (by @viilpstick)

Dorm background

Other students:

Poppy Cosette (twisted from Little Red Riding Hood; by @justm3di0cr3)

Lucie Dechandelle (twisted from Lumière; by @mhedusard)

Fauna de Lis (twisted from the enchanted rose from B&B; by @shinysparklesapphires)

Audette Plume (twisted from the featherduster from B&B; by @localanimeidiot)

Lucien Feu (twisted from Lumière as well; by @localanimeidiot)

Aurélius Bruntemp (twisted from Cogsworth; by @localanimeidiot)

Daria Olympia (twisted from Athena; by @cecilebutcher)

Others can be added in the future!! The more the merrier!!<33

Rosantée is a dorm similar to Heartslabyul and Pomefiore in terms of strictness. Most students of this dorm are extremely book and/or street smart and with Isabelle as their housewarden they hardly ever fall behind and repeat a year. Isabelle never lets her dorm members slack off but is always willing to give a helping hand, understanding that some have more difficulty in studying than others.

The students in Rosantée excel at both studies and sports, some of them good enough to be a part of RSA's Spelldrive team. Rosantée is often looked down upon for their aesthetics — somewhat of a mixture between Pomefiore and Diasomnia — and for having a small and fragile looking housewarden, but this dorm should not be judged by its cover as it's often more fierce than it seems.

Their dorm is a big castle similar to Pomefiore's, but while it's well taken care of, it can often be scary compared to other dorms because of their multiple gargoyles, — and grotesques, thank you for the distinction, Malleus — baroque inspired architecture and for being placed in a forest that gives it a somewhat gloomy and dark look.

Rosantée's theme is a red rose, being seen in their dorm uniforms and actual red roses being placed at the dorm's castle at diverse places. Red roses are said to be a symbol of a curse The Fearless Princess was able to break a long time ago.

The dorm also has a big library, distinctive place for big banquets which happen often to represent The Fearless Princess usual banquets at her own castle — Be Our Guest reference — and a huge ballroom; The library is a common place used for each student to study and to spend time together, think of it as a common room.

There’s also a place called “west wing”, a tower on the left side of the dorm but Ambrose LXIII forbids the entrance of anyone there. The headmage says that that place contains a curse and whoever goes in there will get a horrible punishment for it. Rumors have it that Adeline's family made the curse. Isabelle is responsible of not letting anyone in there, however she herself has an immense curiosity to know what lies in there. More info about Rosantée and the West Wing in specific can be found in my friend's story event here!

Since we're getting female characters into this school the dorms are separated between the two genders, the left side being for girls only while the right side is for boys only. Isabelle and Adeline have a copy of all the keys given their status as housewarden and vice.

Added information: similarly to Heartslabyul which has flamingos and hedgehogs, Rosantée has a little doggie called Pax!

More information about the dorm may be added and/or changed in the future as I discuss with my mutuals about the subject! Ty for reading this far<3

[aspoonofsugar]

Blake's Animus Journey

The animus/anima is one of the 4 archetypes that describe the development and function of the human mind (according to Carl Jung, at least).

They are:

The Persona - What a person shows to others, the part of the self they wear as a mask

The Shadow - What a person hides from others and themselves, the repressed part of the self

The Anima/Animus - The feminine side of a man and the masculine side of a woman, the complementary part of the self

The Self - What the person is, as a whole, the sum and combination of all other archetypes

RWBY uses these ideas in many different ways. For example, each girl embodies 1 specific archetype:

Yang is the Persona - She is "more than meets the eye", which is the whole point of this archetype. The persona is what's worn on the sleeve and shown outside. Yang's whole character is built on her projecting multiple personas (eye-candy girl, badass fighter, pun loving himbo) to hide her vulnerability. This is also why she is linked to light, which is symbolic of this archetype.

Blake is the Shadow - She is "the beast that descends from shadows" and her own semblance is called Shadow. The shadow is what isn't shown, both negative and positive. Blake initially runs away from her mistakes and hides herself. Her story is about facing Adam (negative part of the shadow) and growing confident enough to reveal her true self (positive part of the shadow). Her "beast" symbolism ties into this because "inner beast" is another way to call this archetype.

Weiss is the Animus/Anima - She is queen and knight, Snowhite and Prince. The animus/anima is about reconciling opposites, which is the heart of Weiss's story. She is "the grandaughther of a hero and the child of a villain", she is a Huntress and the Schnee Heiress. She can hold her own in a fight and wears frilly clothes. This archetype is conveyed also by her avatars: the Arma Gigas symbolizes her masculine part and the Queen Lancer is the integration between the feminine and the masculine.

Ruby is the Self - She is both the microchosm and the macrochosm. The self encompasses all the other archetypes, so Ruby has her own story, but her story ties with that of the world. She is her own person, but she also deals with everyone's burden. This is why Red Like Roses is a song about her team. This is why every trailer quote can be applied to Ruby herself. The Ruby/RWBY duplicity symbolizes exactly this archetype.

That said, the RWBY girls deal with all these archetypes. This is because by integrating them one reaches self-actualization, which is the main objective of the characters and of the series, as a whole.

Blacksmith: True balance finds its own equilibrium. It only requires love and the patience to see things through in the end.

So, Blake represents the shadow, but her arc also deals with the persona and the animus. In particular, she needs to let go of her dark and anti-social persona (the ribbon), so she can show everybody how good the shadow can be (her Faunus heritage). In order to do so, though, she also needs to grow more active and this happens thanks to her integrating the animus.

THE ANIMUS AND ITS STAGES

The animus/anima is linked to 3 ideas:

activity/passivity - the animus (masculine) is linked to proactivity and energy, while the anima (feminine) is associated to passivity and self-reflection

mind/heart or logos/eros- the animus symbolizes mind (logos) and ideals, while the anima represents heart (eros) and emotions

romance - a mature animus/anima leads to healthy and deep romantic bonds

So, the integration of this archetype is basically a person obtaining the traits they lack (active/passive and heart/mind) by growing mature enough for a long-lasting love story. Because of it, narratives often convey this psychological process through (usually) romantic relationships, which bring out the desired attributes.

This is the case for Blake, as well. Our cat girl needs to develop her animus (activity + logos/mind) and goes through a journey, which follows 4 stages. All are linked to different archetypal figures:

Tarzan: man as physical power

Byron: man of action and romance

Lloyd George: man as a professor or orator

Hermes: man as a spiritual guide

By going through all the stages, Blake becomes a full fledged individual and grows mature enough to be in a healthy and balanced relationship:

Blake: When you've been at someone's side for so long, after a while they become a part of you. But that's just it, they're only a part of you. Don't forget about the rest.

But how do these stages fit Blake's story? Actually, they are pretty easy to find because 2 factors make them obvious.

Each stage is linked to a specific character

Blake shares a song with all these characters

Bonus - the songs actually follow the right order :P

FROM SHADOWS - ADAM (TARZAN)

From shadows, We'll descend upon the world, Take back what you stole. From shadows, We'll reclaim our destiny, Set our future free, And we'll rise. And we'll rise.

Tarzan is the "stud", who protects the woman and is linked to physical strength. Adam embodies exactly this:

In the Black Trailer he is introduced as an incredibly effective fighter, who takes the lead in his and Blake's fight against the robots and even saves Blake physically. This fits his ideology rooted in violence:

You'll see I'm their hero I'll be lionized I have the strength to do what's needed Unify our people with no compromise Champion the truth until they recognize Lead them to salvation and regain our lives

Blake starts the story by Adam's side and this means 2 things, when it comes to her animus:

She depends on Adam's perceived prowess

She believes the faunus/human conflict can only be solved with strength

In other words, she is passive and her ideology is simplistic and radicalized. This last point fits very well a person who still has to integrate with her animus:

The animus is like an unconscious mind. It manifests negatively in fixed ideas, unconscious assumptions and conventional opinions. A person unconscious of her masculine side tends to be highly opinionated—animus-possessed.

Blake is initially animus-possessed, which is narratively conveyed by her relationship with Adam being abusive. Adam manipulates and enslaves her to the point Blake can't leave and is caught in her partner's dangerous mindset. Her growth lies in separating herself from Adam and finding her own path.

Your hopes have become my burden. I will find my own liberation…

This quote has a double meaning.

It is about Blake finding her personal freedom and growing into her own person (active)

A person’s animus becomes helpful only when she can tell the difference between her inner man and herself.

It is about Blake finding her own ideals when it comes to the faunus/human conflict (logos)

A person must constantly question her ideas and opinions, measuring these against what she really thinks. If she does, the animus becomes an inner companion who gives her enterprise, courage, objectivity and spiritual wisdom.

These two sides are interconnected in Blake's arc, which really starts with her saying goodbye to Adam:

And it keeps going with her meeting Sun, her Byron.

LIKE MORNING FOLLOWS NIGHT - SUN (BYRON)

Go where you need to Know I won't leave you I'll follow you like morning follows night You can run 'till your pain's through One thing I won't do Is let you go alone to face the fight

Byron is the wanderer who accompanies the woman into new excting adventures. This description is perfect for Sun, who is introduced as a stowaway who loves exploring the world:

Moreover, the literal definition of the second stage is man of romance and action:

“I’m more a man of action,” Sun said. “Actions speak louder than words.” (RWBY: Before the Dawn)

Thanks to Sun, Blake grows more assertive:

In the second stage, analogous to the anima as Helen, the animus possesses initiative and the capacity for planned action. He is behind a woman’s desire for independence.

This is conveyed in their 2 major fights:

Blake and Sun vs Torchwick in volume 1

Blake and Sun vs Dragon in volume 4

In the first fight, Blake takes action to confront the White Feng. She investigates the robberies and discovers how much the organization has degenerated. In the second fight, Blake faces a giant Grimm to protect a ship. In order to succeed, she is forced to work with others, despite her stubborness on being alone.

What is more, the 2 battles are the result of Sun following Blake, when she runs away from a teammate. Both times, Blake is fleeing a conflict:

She runs from Weiss, who is linked to the human/faunus divide

She runs from Yang, who is linked to the consequences of Adam's abusive relationship

And yet, Blake is only superficially running away. On a deeper level, she is facing parts of her past, so that she can come back stronger. On the one hand she confronts the White Feng in volume 1. On the other hand she goes back to her family in volume 4. Sun stands beside her in both situations and encourages her to open up and lean on others:

Sun: So… have you told your friends any of this?

Sun: You can make your own choices, sure. But you don't get to make ours. When your friends fight for you, it's because we want to. So stop pushing us out. That hurts more than anything the bad guys could ever do to us.

At the same time, Sun helps Blake develop her ideas in regards to the faunus:

Blake: Sun… Are you familiar with the White Fang? Sun: Of course! I don't think there's a Faunus on the planet who hasn't heard of them. Stupid, holier-than-thou creeps that use force to get whatever they want. Bunch of freaks, if you ask me! Blake: I was once a member of the White Fang.

Blake: That's not the point, Sun! We asked to be equal, to be treated just like everyone else! Instead, we were given an island and told to make do. So we did the best we could. We came together and we made a home where any Faunus could feel welcome. But this island, this town, will always be a reminder that we're still not equal. That we're still second-class citizens.

Sun is a faunus like Blake, but he is also different in the sense he is mostly ignorant on the history of faunus rights and movements. This means he has somehow of a simplistic vision, but also that he challenges Blake to explain herself. In other words, he helps her nurture her logos and ideals. This may be why they share a conversation about words:

Blake: No, it's okay. Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself, "They are the personification of this word"?

After all, logos literally means word other than thought, so this scene symbolically ties with Blake's inner animus growth. Specifically, it marks a shift in Blake's mentality. Initially, she links others to fixed words. Still, with time she realizes people are not so simple:

Blake: At first I thought Adam was "justice", then I thought he was "passion". But over time, I realized I was wrong. He wasn't any of those things. He was "spite". Not "hatred", not "rage", "spite". He won't accept equality, only suffering for what he feels the world did to him, and his way of thinking is dangerously contagious. That's what worries me about Ilia. She's not like Adam, not yet at least, but I don't know how long that will last.

Blake leaves her black and white vision behind and embraces complexity. This is why Sun remains indefinite:

Sun: What am I? Blake: Jury's still out on that one, but I'm leaning towards "earnest".

Blake and Sun's relationship is a transformative bond, which keeps challenging our cat girl and helps her change. In this way, she finds a new inner determination to move forward:

Blake: I'm going to try and help her the way you helped me. You showed me that sometimes you need to be there for a friend even when they don't want you to be. I was drowning in guilt and fear, I tried to push you away, but you didn't give up on me. And I can't give up on Ilia. It's about time I saved my friends for once.

THIS TIME - GHIRA (LLOYD GEORGE)

This time The ways of the past we'll get over We'll climb Enlighten a new state of mind And now I'll stand with you shoulder to shoulder Out of the ashes a new flame ignite Rise up from shadows and into the light We'll stand undivided Our futures aligned A new brotherhood This time

Ghira is the only one of Blake's 4 animus, who isn't a romantic interest (obviously). Still, he fits because Lloyd George is the professor or orator:

In the LLoyd George stage, the animus is the Word personified, appearing as a professor, clergyman, scholar or some other authoritarian figure.

Ghira is Blake's father and mentor. Not only that, but he is also an inspiration Blake repudiates when she follows Adam. So, our cat girl's healing journey naturally brings her back to him:

Blake: I should have left the White Fang with you and Mom. I should've listened to you, and I'm sorry. (turning away) I'm so, so sorry. Ghira: Blake, it's fine. We never held anything against you, and I never feared you would fail. The only thing I ever feared was that you would fall down the wrong path, and I am so proud to see you haven't

Ghira's immediate forgiveness is key for Blake reforging herself. She has hurt and left him, but Ghira doesn't hold it against her. He even highlights Blake's bravery in coming back and facing her mistakes. He answers Blake's shame with pride and shows people can forgive a loved one's mistake. This helps Blake with her twisted self-perception.

Moreover, Ghira is extremely important when it comes to Blake's ideals. After all, he is the founder and previous leader of the White Feng and the one who brings Blake up to be passionate about faunus right and political activism. By reconciling with him, Blake also reconciles with his ideals:

Blake: We're not going to destroy the White Fang. We're going to take it back.

She vows not to destroy the White Feng, but to make it as it used to be, better even. In other words, she vows to follow in Ghira's footsteps and to surpass him. And she delivers:

Blake: Humans didn't do this. We did this: Faunus. We did this to ourselves. We are just as capable of hate and violence as the humans, but I don't think any of us would jump at the chance to point that out. So why are we letting Adam do it for us?! By doing nothing and staying silent, we let others speak and act in our place. And if we're not proud of the choices they make, then we have no one to blame but ourselves. This is the message that Adam Taurus will bring to the world if no one stops him. But we can stop him!

Volume 5 opens with Ghira failing to make a speech and it ends with Blake succeeding. She inspires her people and finally finds her personal answer and belief-system:

Blake: You have to understand that all of you are looking for simple answers to a very complicated problem. And I can't give that to you. I don't know how to make hate go away, I don't. But I know that this kind of violence is not the solution. I understand that to ask you to leave your homes and protect Haven Academy is asking you to put your lives at risk. But that's what's at stake. So I'm going, and I'll stand by myself if I have to.

This is true also on a personal level:

Saber: Huh? You're just going to forgive her? After everything she did?! Blake: I am.

Ghira: She's learned a lesson that evaded me until I was much older: That there is strength in forgiveness.

Blake forgives Ilia, just like Ghira forgives her. In this way, she also fully forgives her past self and moves forward. And her new found passion, hope and determination spread all around. To both Ghira, who starts a new movement and obviously to Ilia, who is saved in two ways:

Ilia: I still don't feel like I deserve the freedom you and your family granted me. Blake: Well, you're going to have to get over it, Ilia. Saving Haven had a huge impact on how Faunus are seen in Mistral. Now it's up to you all to take the progress and keep running with it. Ilia: Right. The White Fang may have been a failure, but with your father starting up a new movement, I've got more faith than ever before. Thank you, Blake, for everything. I wish you didn't have to go.

She is given freedom and she finds a new motivation in Ghira's new group. Her finale mirrors Blake's state of mind after Haven. She is a new person, ready to enter her finale stage of animus development.

NEVERMORE - YANG (HERMES)

Nevermore Nevermore You'll torture my heart and my head Nevermore Nevermore Will I be afraid Nor will I run away It's behind me Freedom is finally here You may have taken the lead but I'll even the score You won the battle you won't win the war Not now and Nevermore

Hermes is the highest stage of the animus and the incarnation of spiritual meaning:

The animus mediates between the conscious mind and the unconscious. He is a messanger and a helpful guide.

Blake: I'm not sure there are many good options left for any of us anymore. Keeping secrets, taking lives? It makes you wonder how far we're gonna have to go to keep doing the right thing. Yang: Blake. Yang: We did… what we had to do. Blake: I know. But next time, I wanna make sure we don't have to, and I can tell you, ambushing a Huntress who's just trying to help isn't an option I'm thrilled about choosing. Blake crosses her arms, and her cat ears completely fold over. Yang: Then, maybe we shouldn't.

Sexuality for a person with such an animus is imbued with spiritual significance.

As shown above, Yang fits this archetype. As a matter of fact, she and Blake are opposite, so they balance each other out, both when it comes to macro issues and in their personal relationship.

Their confrontation on how to deal with Robyn in volume 7 is a perfect example of this:

Yang: Do you… Do you think we should've told Ironwood about Salem, before he put so much on the line for Amity? Blake: Sounds like you do. Yang: I trust Ruby, but I think he deserves to know what he's stepping into. We all did. Blake remains quiet, her cat ears folding over a little. Yang turns and looks at her. Yang: You don't agree. Blake: Look around. The embargo, the military presence, the restrictions on assembly. He's a bit prone to overreacting. Yang: Yeah, hard to argue with that. Still, he didn't have a lot of good options.

The girls disagree on what is better to do. Blake thinks they should prioritize the stability of Atlas and Mantle, at the cost of lying to Ironwood. Yang instead believes Ironwood as a person has the right to know what he is really fighting against. In other words, Blake thinks about the macrochosm and Yang about the microchosm. This is important because it is just another way the bees are complementary. In order they are:

dark (Blake)/ light (Yang) > shadow/persona archetypes

feminine (Blake)/ masculine (Yang) > anima/animus archetype

macrochosm (Blake)/ microchosm (Yang) > self archetype

In other words, they complete each other when it comes to all the major archetypes. It is from these differences that an enriching balance is found. And the compromise they come up with in Atlas ties into it. They trust an individual (Robyn) hoping it will lead to a more stable situation in the whole Kingdom.

At the same time, this equilibrium between opposites can't be found without a proper inner balance, which is the result of the girls' individual development. When it comes to Blake especially, she has to:

Find her own personal answer to the faunus/human rift

See and accept others in all their complexity (light + shadows)

This last point especially ties with the animus journey, which is about seeing a partner as an individual with both flaws and strengths. This fits Yang in particular:

Blake: And I'll protect you. At this, Yang's eyes widen and her expression turns into a frown.

Adam: Heh, do you really believe that? Or are you just trying to scare me away so you won't have to die trying to protect her?

The major conflict upon Blake and Yang's reunion in volume 6 is that they struggle to symbolically reconcile the feminine and the masculine, the damsel and the knight. The answer is that there are not such specific roles in their relationship:

Blake: She's not protecting me, Adam. And I'm not protecting her. We're protecting each other.

They are both damsels and knights, beauties and beasts. Yang is the embodyment of strength in Blake's eyes. Still, she is also a person with her own vulnerabilities. And Blake is ready to accept all about her.

The same goes for Yang too, who is able to defeat Adam specifically because she never loses sight of Blake. She knows who Blake really is and is ready to embrace her as a whole:

Bumbleby's fight against Adam is the moment they affirm their own complementarity and willingness to see each other as wholes. The bridge scene in volume 9 is a top off and confirmation of this wish.

Blake: I… think, you're an extraordinary person.You're… always the first to lighten a situation. You act bravely, when you're afraid. You do what you say.

Yang: Even when they (people) hurt you. You never give up. You know what matters to you.

They can see the beauty in each other and also accept the other's beast:

Yang: I like that you've never been intimidated by me. Even when you didn't like me all that much. Blake: I was a little wary of people in general. Yang: But you never gave up on them.

At the same time, they reach the platform and so symbolically unity because once again they are complementary. Blake is mind (the result of her animus integration). She's got "a really good brain" and eventually figures out what they have to do to move forward on the bridge:

Blake: Maybe it's… saying things we never said. To each other.

Yang is heart (the result of her anima integration). She is the one who starts complimenting Blake first and opens up a path for them. Eventually, she is the one who starts the confession and shows vulnerability, leading them both on the platform:

Blake: (in thought) I think we're already falling. (turns to Yang) Just, say it, Yang. Yang: I think I love you.

There they unite, which marks Blake's final step of integration with her animus.

BEAUTY AND BEAST (THE ANIMUS AND THE SHADOW)

This was a short summary of Blake's arc through the anima/animus lens. One final thing to add is that this specific way to interpret her story also fits with her fairy tale: The Beauty and the Beast.

This story can, in fact, be read in 2 different and complementary ways:

It is the story of how an individual can combine light (beauty) and shadow (beast) into one harmonic unit > persona and shadow

It is the story of 2 individuals, one encarnating the masculine (beast) and the other the feminine (beauty), who forge a strong relationship and find balance > anima/animus

This is really Blake's arc in a nutshell, so it is really fitting she is the RWBY embodyment of Beauty&Beast!

[warpcorp]

TF2 Mercs as the Crane Wives Songs/An Analysis of All the Mercs

This one is going to be a long one, but as is customary with my fandoms, I will be assigning characters songs from the Crane Wives discography. I won't be going lyric by lyric explaining why it relates to the character as it will make the pacing and general setup of this post awkward, I'll just highlight the lyrics that matter.

I will be sticking to their canon personalities. I will be avoiding as much fanon interpretation as possible, and will be avoiding shipping content & common headcanons. It's nice to re-engage with canon media as a nice refresh for interpretations and headcanons.

SCOUT- Take me to War

Take me to War is about anger and fighting. As a child, Scout found himself last to fights and oftentimes had to watch from the sidelines as his brothers got to fight. And he didnt. He was too small. But being small had an advantage, he was able to run.

I've earned myself a reputation/ That my bark is much worse than my bite/ But I keep snapping at Goliath's hands/ With all of my tiny might

This first stanza summarizes Scout, I feel, quite well. Scout talks shit, he's small and can't follow up with the shit he talks, but he talks shit nonetheless.

Dress me in red and throw your roses/ And I'll rankle the beasts with words/ It's a graceless dance of epithets/ We learn to make someone hurt

Scout doesn't look all that scary, that unassuming, but he's tough as nails and despite being cowardly, will stand and help when needed.

All of the words I've swallowed/ All of the sharp things I've kept in my mouth/ I am always bleeding out

This lyric specifically highlights how sometimes words can be more cruel than actions. The mercs all throw insults while on the battlefield, but remember that Scout is the closest thing to a normal boy on that battlefield. He can take literal assassins and killers head on- despite being so young and "normal." We can assume that his sharp tongue would translate quite poorly in normal conversation as being surronded by the mercs sort of. Fucks up your personality.

I'll be the sweetest thing to ever scare you/ Give me a fight I can't resist/ Give me something to break with my fists/ Take me to war/ Oh, honey, I dare you

Scout is a sweet, welcoming small town Boston boy with a heart of gold. Underneath it all, is a violent and teasing killer who, much like his teammates, enjoys violence and hurting people. I feel like this is something that's underutilized when it comes to Scout. He's so young, has a family and future and yet is so easily turned to violence. Take Scout to War, he dares you.

SOLDIER - Little Soldiers

No, I didn't just choose the song because of the title. I struggled immensely when it came to Soldier. I had a general idea, going in, of what everyone's character song will be. With Soldier? The Crane Wives songs deal with deep character incatracies and such, Soldier lacks that, at least on the surface. This song, I feel, represents the friendship he has with RED Demo. His loyalty to his friend and his love for him. This song has the word love in it, but I want to avoid any shipping content in this analysis so it's accessible to everyone. Love can be platonic.

On the broken backs of all the words we spared/ Like little soldiers in the trenches/ It was a march we made towards ruin and despair/ But we held hands all the while

Being forced to kill your best friend over and over is difficult. Fighting, sparring, on the battlefield, yet close friends and confidants outside of it. Holding hands with someone who killed you, it's cruel in a way. For two friends to have to kill over and over. Yet, they continue this friendship despite it all.

Beneath the table you would offer up my bones/ And all the dogs would lick your fingers

How are you supposed to badmouth your best friend? He's supposed to be your enemy, offering up all the parts of your friend that hurts, and you have to be fine with everyone believing you hate him.

We didn't give up, we wouldn't dare surrender/ It was an honest loss

Despite the Administrator forcing them apart, they'd never surrender their loyality to one another. They're loyal to each other before her.

PYRO - Daydreamer

Like I said, I'm trying to stick to canon as much as possible. In canon, Pyro is not that... well, complex. I myself have many headcanons for them, but canon only. Daydreamer is a song about someone who gets stuck in their own head quite a bit, which suits Pyro and their Pyrovision.

Two steps forward and one step back/ I’ll take a one-way ticket anywhere/ It’s not over, this is only a setback/ We’ll just have to move a little bit faster now, faster now

Pyro is two steps forward, one step back. They do something amazing, then do something childish. They balance a fine line between absolutely insane and genius.

Daydreamer, you’re falling behind (falling behind, falling behind)/ I’ll get there in my own time

Pyro... isn't really sure nor is aware of what's going on. And you know what? It works for them. This one is far shorter than any other due to the length of the song being short and not having stuff to analyze as Pyro is rather simple. And sometimes simple is good.

DEMO - Keep you Safe

I knew I wanted to do this song as soon as I reread Demo's backstory. Keep you Safe is about waiting and regrets. One thing Demo is good at is waiting. Waiting for the perfect time to strike or waiting for his parents haha. Demo was abandoned as a kid, and was done so because he needed to hone his skills on his own. Honestly Demo had one of the worst childhoods, killing his parents and losing an eye is not an easy thing for any kid. No wonder he's an alcoholic.

When I was a child/ My nerves ran wild/ When I watched my friends/ Rise to the tops of the trees/ With the risk of fall I never climbed at all/ Every day I told myself “I’m not ready”

Demo felt safer creating bombs, he rather create than socialize. He was never ready. Demo had a shitty childhood and prefered to wait out the dangers instead of engage.

My daddy always said/ “Nothing worth doing comes easy”/ Time is not your friend/ Time is not your remedy

His parents believed in toughing it out. Believed in fighting and believed in working hard, to the point that it was borderline neglectful and absusive. (Again, abanonding your child so that he could find his skills on his own is fucked up). Demo learned the hard way the world is not kind, and sometimes you need to take action. This one is shorter, but I struggle a lot trying to talk about Demo without delving into my headcanon and personal intpretation too much. I'll cut this one short.

ENGINEER - Canary in a Coal Mine

I struggled A LOT with Engie. I reread all his story as much as I could but could not find a matching song, so I had to stretch this to fit quite a bit. Bear with me. I chose Canary in a Coal Mine because of his relationship with the Administrator, and how she would be just about dead without him.

You and I are friends of empty graves, black air and black, black lungs/ Am I the only thing that keeps you safe when the light is gone?

The Administrator is essentially an empty grave with black lungs, has been through a lot of shit. He is the only reason she is alive, he's and his knowledge is the only reason the war continues. Without Engie's ability to create, there wouldn't be anything. He's the only thing keeping her safe when the light is gone.

Feed me promises, keep my heart well/ I'll sing you songs until the darkness does recede

With promises of clearing his "old debt", he's willing to do whatever to feed his god complex. I apologize for the short one this is, I struggled heavily with him much like I did with Pyro.

HEAVY - Hard Sell

Heavy is the anchor in his family, he's always been a protector and always been the worker. When he was younger, maybe he wondered if things would get easier once he got bigger and stronger. Heavy uses his strength to protect by being violent.

I'm trying to make something of myself/ My better days, I go buy the hard sell/ But I feel like I'm working with barbed wire and moth wings/ 'Cause I can't really get a hold of many things.

Maybe as a child, Heavy had to put a lot of pressure on himself to grow. On Genius lyrics, a summary reads:

"The narrator is trying to improve themself in an aggressive matter, but they’re too rough on themselves, making them feel fragile. In being so hard on themselves, they feel like change is unobtainable."

What we do know about Heavy is this: Heavy has always had to fight and protect. He's probably had to grow up early, and he's tough on himself. To be stronger. To protect his sisters and family. He cares about them more than anything and is willing to push himself to do anything for them. This can also be interpreted in the sense that he works extraordinarily hard, physically, to protect people. Pushing himself past his bodily limits, as seen in End of the Line.

Is it me? Is it really just me?/ Does everybody have it together or are we all pretending?

I don't think Heavy is perfectly mentally sane, but he has to be essentially a calming anchor around him or they'd probably also fall apart. The rest of the song repeats mostly, but that's the reason I chose Hard Sell for Heavy.

MEDIC - Ribs

Medic is an interesting character to me. I knew I wanted to do this song due to the religious themes in it (as he talks to satan), and also because of the general themes of innards. KEEP IN MIND, THIS TALKS ABOUT THE AMORALITY OF MEDIC. I AM NOT SAYING HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT HIS TEAM, HE DOES. But he is also amoral.

Marrow made a wife of Eve/ But no one gave up a rib for me and mine/ My hearts did expose to the elements/ Calloused and untouched by a man's design

Medic isn't a man of god, he's not pure or holy. He's untouched by morality and what is good or bad. He's pure, unadulterated curiousity and mania. His heart was exposed to what we can assume is the worst of humanity, and thus all morals were thrown out the window.

Oh, my ugly organs/ How lucky we are

Whereas one may pity Medic for his insanity and lack of moral compass, he sees this as an absolute win. He's lucky he's untouched by innocence.

Oh, my savage empire/ How lucky we are/ Never to be moved by the words of a liar

He's reinstating he's once again lucky for being a dealer with Satan rather than god. He knows God won't be able to give him what he wants, Satan? Satan can. Satan will. He will become immortal one way or another.

The dark doesn't frighten me/ I chose to close my eyes/ It is mine, it is mine/ The night doesn't frighten me/ I chose to let it thrive/ It is mine, it is mine

This lyric really is why I chose Ribs. The dark, evil and inhumane parts of himself is not something he chooses to hide, to close away and deny. He embraces that part of him that others may urge to hide. He is not afraid of his evil, Medic chooses it. Sometimes we forget how demented Medic is. He betrays everyone to join TFC, he brought Sniper back to life, he DECAPITATED BLU SPY AND LEFT HIM IN A FRIDGE WHILE ALIVE. Medic is evil, he's cruel and merciless but in a way that is so honest and open and endearing that exudes confidence and choice.

SNIPER - The Wolf

Sniper, I knew very early on as in media he's compared to a Wolf quite often, and the themes align well. Sniper struggles quite a bit with proving he's not a crazed gunman. That he's 100% sane and is rather a calculated killer. He's aware he's a bad person and sort of embraces it in a sort.

I am not a builder/ I’m much better at blowing things down

Sniper is a person who destroys. Destroys heads and lives specifically. He's aware of this and embraces it through his unconventional career choice.

I am not a tempest/ I light torches in my sleep/ I have gasoline in my veins/ I am always burning, burning, burning

Sniper is destructive, he's a controlled fire of sorts. A killer, but not an insane one but that intense passion he has for his job, seen through his voicelines, burn despite the controlled aspect.

I am a falling axe/ I am a sharpened knife/ I am a poison asp/ I am a risk to your life

Sniper is a highly dangerous man and a bad person, a wolf in sheeps clothing of sorts as he's not that dangerous looking. On the inside, he's a cold heartless killing machine, at least when he's on the job.

Can it be/ Can it be easy for once/ Cause I’m no good at being kind to myself/ Or anyone

This part will be making a few assumptions: we can guess that Sniper has some sort of insecurity as having your parents constantly berate you for your job probably stings. Especially when you love them more than anything. Wanting to crave that approval so so badly, yet struggling so much to connect with people as he's on the job 24/7. He's not kind to himself- or anyone else. He's a prowling beast looking for his next kill, not some schoolboy making friends.

A single video made me fall in love with Sniper as a character and its because of his relationship with his parents. It's eight years old but holds up to this day. Here.

SPY - Empty Page

This is the reason I made this post. Spy is, and will always be, a nobody person. He doesn't have a stable identity due to his career and even when telling his son that he is his father, he can't show his face. Being a spy has mental health repercussions when it comes to your identity, and this has always fascinated me about Spy.

I’m just a ten cent copy/ Of people far more advanced than me/ Every thought that I’ve ever had/ Could be ripped from a magazine

Instantly, you can tell why this song is Spy. Spy is a ten cent copy of people, he's a copycat, a liar. He literally steals the identity of people to play a role, he isn't a person. He's a blank canvas to LITERALLY project onto!

Cut me a path, and I will follow it/ Draw me a line, and I’ll avoid it/ I’m nothing if not obedient

Spy is an obedient worker who will do anything and everything he's told to... again. It's Spy.

I am an empty page/ A muddled shade of paint/ I am a light that’s burning out

Spy is an amalgamation of all the people he has had to be in the past, he is an empty page, he is a color of paint that in unique because he's people clipped together from magazines. Spy isn't a person, he doesn't even have a name. He is JUST. A. SPY.

Years of imitating mastery/ Only made me a better thief

Again. He's an imitation of people who he's needed to be. Despite him maybe being the main reason I made this post, this song is so straightforward and blatant in why it's Spy, I can't add a lot of commentary.

BONUS: SPY & SCOUT - Never Love an Anchor

Never Love an Anchor, despite the dozens of animatics and popular belief, is not about romance. It's about family. The romantic interpretation is so.. upsetting since the song literally cannot be romantic due to some lyrics but whatever. Anyways, Spy's POV to Scout. I know I said I would only highlight the important lyrics, but this one is a special case.

On some level, I think I always understood/ That these hands of mine were clumsy, not clever/ And I tried to do the best that I could/ But try as I might, I couldn't bring myself to hold you

Spy has hands meant for lockpicking and killing, not holding a child close and making a family. God did he love Scout, but he couldn't dare look his child in his face knowing that beneath the facade of a father, he was an empty shell. Spy has hands meant for murder, not creating.

It's a secret I keep tucked inside my chest/ With this heart of mine that's guilty, not remorseful/ There is love that doesn't have a place to rest/ But it would have buried you if it had settled on your shoulders

Spy will never tell Scout the truth. He cannot, will not or will ever be able to because of his cowardice and for Scout's safety. He doesn't regret leaving, he knows it was for the better, but god does he feel so much guilt and shame for leaving. For being a Spy. He would've gotten Scout and his family killed if he stayed with them, and he didn't want to have to bury his own child. If he loved, he'd hurt.

There are times when I still wonder about you/ You are someone I have loved, but never known/ And you'll never see the reasons I had/ For keeping my claws away when they were close enough to hurt you

He sees Scout everyday, seeing the son he never had become a boy strong and agile. He wants to know about Scout, he wants to be there, but can never tell him why he couldn't hold him. Why Spy had to leave.

I am selfish, I am broken, I am cruel, I am all the things they might have said to you/ Do you ever think of me and my two hands?/ And wonder why they never soothed your fevers?/ And wonder why they never tied your shoes?/ And wonder why they never held you gently?/ And wonder why they never had the chance to lose you?

Spy is a bad person, and he hoped Scout wouldn't end up the same. It's not too late for Scout to turn his life around. But Spy doesn't have that right— the right to act like a father. He never held Scout, never raised him, never took care of him, never taught him. Never helped him. He never had a chance to lose his son out of fear of losing him. It was a lose lose situation, but at least this way Scout isn't dead.

God. This song.

BONUS: PAULING & THE ADMINISTRATOR - The Moon Will Sing

The moon will sing a song for me/ I loved you like the sun/ Bore the shadows that you made/ With no light of my own/ I shine only with the light you gave me/ I shine only with the light you gave me

Pauling's entire being is centered about the Administrator and it's incredibly sick and codependant. Pauling is nothing without the woman who gave her everything, so she will have to work endlessly to make her happy, right?

Ending Thoughts

Woo! That was a long one. It took 5 days to write this all due to me rereading all the source medias several times. I hope you enjoyed this, please leave your thoughts on this. I like to reread the source medias of my fandoms at least once a year to refresh my headcanons and such. This was that.

[diamondcrownacademy]

DCA Info Part 66: Dorm Leader 3rd Edition Redesigns (Part 2)

View Part 1

Much like their Dorm Fairy companions, the girls also got redesigned! The reason being is that Phoenix felt she was making them look to simple. So she chose to once again redesign them, only this time, designing them to cater more to their preferences and personalities, as well as matching the aesthetics of each Disney Princesses' respective movies.

📚 Rozeline Pierrette

Rozeline's new ensemble was created to represent both Belle and Beast. As well as being an ensemble that looks conservative or old school, not caring for aesthetic outfits and just picked an old pattern from the dress book. Her now unkempt hair is dark brown with a single white streak.

Rozeline's ensemble consists of a muted navy blue long puff sleeve bolero jacket with gold trim with the collar having gold circular roses and the sleeves having white cuffs. She also wears a yellow maxi skirt with muted navy blue and gold trim. For footwear, Rozeline wears a pair of black and white heeled Oxford shoes with gray leggings.

Rozeline accessorizes with a black veil that covers her eyes attached to a muted navy blue bonnet with gold trim, pale yellow roses and black horns, a white ruffle tie, a pale yellow rose brooch with a muted yellow gem brooch in the center and pale tan ribbon with gold trim, a gold belt with ribbon detailing, black gloves and a muted gold crown ring with a yellow jewel on her right index finger.

🏝️ Vidya Nazari

Vidya's ensemble is meant to be a fusion of both Aladdin and Jasmine's respective ensembles, with the top portion taking inspiration from Aladdin's Prince Ali persona. The purple sash was a gift from Kalim and not only serves as a reference to the Magic Carpet, but also reference Kalim's hometown.

Vidya's ensemble consists of a black tunic worn underneath a bedlah top with off-the-shoulder straps with gold accents and matching salwar pants with a gold V-shaped waistline with an opening below the knees and gold trim. For footwear, Vidya wears a pair of curled shoes that are muted navy and feature gold soles and accents.

Vidya accessorizes with a pale gold tiara with a blue diamond-shaped jewel in the center, a pair of blue diamond shaped jewel earrings, a gold choker with blue diamonds, gold shoulder pads with hanging gold threads with a blue diamond brooch in the center, a gold bracelet with blue diamond jewels, a purple sash with floral and swirl designs and gold trim, a gold waist chain with blue diamonds, gold rings above her shoes and a pale gold crown ring with a blue jewel on her left index finger.

🐲 Jinlong Esi

Jinlong received a very notable redesign, now resembling more of an eastern dragon while also possessing turquoise horns, off red nails, three pointed toes with red claws, and a red tail with teal spikes and gold underbelly, the tail also has copper colored fluff at the tip. Jinlong's hair is now in a single ponytail.

Jinlong's ensemble consists of a navy blue martial arts tunic with gold trim, a maroon collar with teal circular gems attached to gold tassels and maroon cuffs with gold detailing. Underneath the tunic is a pair of blue-green pants with gold trim. For footwear, Jinlong sports a pair of navy blue sandals with maroon detailing and straps.

Jinlong accessorizes with a teal earring on her left ear, a pair of oversized turquoise bracelets, a maroon belt with gold trim and designs with a large circular gold brooch with a turquoise gem embedded in the center, and a gold crown ring with a maroon jewel on her right index finger.

🐻 Elu Sorrel

Elu has a slightly more muscular physique due to being a hunter while her ensemble looking more modern and much like Allison and Jinlong, offering more mobility. To avoid making her look to similar to Leona, Elu's braids were moved to be around her ears (though not shown in the picture above).

Elu's ensemble consists of a tan sleeveless turtleneck tunic with baggy pants that include fringes worn underneath what appears to be a brown corset with the bottom having fringes and a dark teal corset with various pale red diamond details and pale red threads. For footwear, Elu wears a pair of light tan boots with teal and white straps and fringes near one of the ends.

Elu accessorizes with a brown cloak with a white trimmed fur hood with the bottom featuring a teal and red diamond design and fringes, a pair of gold goggles, pale red arm bands with teal beads, a brown necklace with red and teal beads with a brown brooch with an orange gem embedded inside and teal, white, red feathers with red beads, brown gloves and a pale gold crown ring with an orange jewel on her left index finger.

🐸 Perrine Bousquet

Perrine ensemble bears some resemblance to the flapper dress that Tiana wears at the end of The Princess and the Frog, while also wanting to match the aesthetics of the 1920s. Perrine's hair is now a golden blonde curly bob cut and she now has green eyeshadow.

Perrine's ensemble consists of an off white green tinted blouse worn underneath a pastel green dress with the top portion resembling a blazer, with green lapels and cuffs. For footwear, Perrine wears a pair of green pumps, a style popular with working women in the 1920s as they featured minimal decorations and were less expensive than trendy strap shoes or lattice pumps.

Perrine accessorizes with a green cloche hat with a light green satin ribbon with a yellow flower with green leaves and a green circular gem in the center, a silver necklace with a green gem pendant, a yellow flower brooch with green leaves and a vine as well as a silver circular brooch with floral detailing and a circular green gem in the center, a pair of pastel green gloves and a silver crown ring with a green jewel on her left index finger.

[chibi-celesti]

EXEC_ZENVA=RYUSSE >> FLEUR_CITY, Part 2: Departure

~Twisted Tonelico~

~Night Raven: Mirror Chamber~

It was early dawn at Night Raven College. All students that were chosen to go were all accounted for, their bags packed and ready to go. While many were caught off by Malleus’s sudden announcement of being given an extended Invitation by Noble Bell’s very own Student Council President, they were all still excited for this trip. Some of them for educational purposes, others were more curious about what made this Arcane Trip so special.

As soon as Meryu and Grim had arrived, everyone minus Deuce, Epel, the prince himself, and his retinue were surprised about them traveling as well. That was, until Meryu explained their situation to them. “Ah, so it was your doing,” Riddle said, glaring at Grim and disappointed by his actions.

“Please be easy on him, Mr. Riddle. He was already chewed out by the Doctor.” Meryu reasoned. “Besides, I don’t mind going. I just wish it was done without him being a troublemaker again.”

The Red Rose Tyrant relented on correcting the dire beast, and instead chose to congratulate them on tagging along. “It is a pleasure to accompany you, Melenas-san.”

“Likewise, Mr. Riddle.” She then gave the Fae a quick glance, and smiled. Happy to see him invited to something by another. And the same city nonetheless.

“The old coot is really letting you go?” Idia questioned her. “You know what’ll happen if you do, right?”

“I do, Mr. Shroud.” She said firmly.

“And all the more reason for some careful planning in advance!” Crowey suddenly appeared behind the Ignihyde Housewarden, making him shriek and rush to hide behind Azul and Jamil.

“Oi! What’s with the Jumpscare, Headmage?!”

Both second years were annoyed by the otaku’s behavior. “Please refrain from using me as a shield, Idia!”

“What are you talking about, sir?” Ruggie asked, tuning them out.

“As some of you are no doubt aware, Ms. Melenas is a…delicate case.”

“The term you’re looking for is Glass cannon.”

Rook agreed. “Oui. Sa beauté et sa magie sont aussi puissantes que fugaces. Yet, you are allowing her to go?”

Crowley began his explanation. “After some discussions and planning, we managed to make an exception that allows her to travel safely on this trip. She has been christened with a song that will allow her to temporarily allow a special host to be her Source of Life.”

“Her [Ar Tonelico], right?” Silver said, to which the Headmage agreed.

“Ms. Melenas, if you may please,” The girl bowed quickly and began to sing to the Dark Mirror. Her tuning with the Artifact summoned the being within and they began to perform as one. Their performance caused the mirror to begin glowing brightly.

Once the song had ended, the Mirror remained glowing. It's light ready for the party to go across. “We're all set!” She announced.

“Splendid!! Take care everyone! And don’t forget that I do not mind any inquiries you’ve gathered from this trip.” (In other words, he was bribing them to buy a souvenir from the City.)

It was Prof. Trein’s turn to give the students a warning. “Remember, students. You all represent Night Raven College. and all its glory. Any trouble you cause will reflect poorly on the school. Understand?”

“Yes, Prof. Trein./ Yes, Sensei.”

And with that, everyone proceeded into the Dark Mirror, traversing beyond the borders of Sage’s Island, and opening up a part of the world yet to be seen.

~Fleur City, Noble Bell College: Lecture Hall~

The moment their feet had touched the ground and the light dimmed, the NRC group had arrived to the infamous Noble Bell College: The hosts of this Arcane School Trip. The Hall was huge, almost as if it were a Cathedral’s prayer Hall rather then one dedicated for scholarly purposes like at NRC. Massive stained-glass windows shined down the early mid-morning sun’s rays, coloring the room. Everyone was awestruck by the beauty of it all.

Meryu was the first to voice her feelings. “Wow! I��ve never seen something so, so…”

“Beautiful?” Malleus finished her sentence.

“Yes.” She blushed.

“This place is ginormous!” Grim exclaimed. “I can barely see the ceiling!”

From far away, a young man no more than 18 years of age and his two trusted aides were making their way to greet them. The uniforms for Noble Bell differed vastly from NRC and its rival school. While the aides wore simplified versions of the uniform donned in maroon, black and purples, his stood out to showcase his status as the Student Council President of Noble Bell: He wears a tricone robe that stops by his calves, with heeled shoes with his coat also sporting some curtain like fabrics on the back. Unlike his peers who wear berets, his cap was more akin to an old 15th design, and it appeared that some type of soft, purple scarf draped from the back of it. Underneath his hat was white hair cropped very short.

His emerald eyes, judging them every single Mage of Night Raven, hardened in disgust at the sight of the High Prince of Briar Valley himself. ‘Such vile creatures. All of them.’ He thought to himself. But the moment his eyes laid onto the magicless Prefect, he felt his heart freeze at the sight of her. No words would do any justice for this boy to describe her beautiful and other worldly form in his mind(makes sense since she was said to be from a world without magic). Shaking away those musings, he stepped forward to introduce himself to their ‘guests’.

“Greetings, everyone. It is a pleasure to meet Night Raven College’s finest students,” He said. “I am Rollo Flamme, the student Council President of Noble Bell College. It is wonderful to meet you all.” He extends his arms in a welcoming gesture.

Prof. Trein comes forward to introduce himself. “It is our pleasure as well. We look forward to seeing what your school and the rest of Fleur City has to offer. I know I’m happy to visit this place once again.”

Again? Mr. Trein came here before? Meryu wondered as the professor proceeded to introduce each student by name. Some shook hands with Rollo, others exchanged verbal pleasantries with him instead. As he came to both her and Grim, the latter had boasted his name and place as the ‘Greatest Mage in the making’. Rollo had humored the dire beast before finally facing her. “Hello. I am-”

“Meryu Ptrapica Melenas.”

“Oh,” She didn’t expect him to say her name before she did. “Y-yes. Nice to meet you, Mr. Flamme.” She finished with a bow.

“Please. There is no need for that, Melenas-san,” He said to her as she slowly rose herself upright. Her doe eyes staring at him with a naïveté-like charm stirred a spark of heat in his soul. “It is my pleasure to meet you.”

“Psst! You see this, Deuce?” Epel asked, leaning close to his friend.

“Yeah. His tone changed very quick when speaking with Meryu-san. When he spoke with us, he sounded almost like he was tired and disinterested,” he whispered back.

“Why d’ya think it is?” The spade shrugged his shoulders.

“Whispering is very rude, boys.” Rook said behind them. They both shouted in surprise, scaring Idia in the process and causing him to duck behind Silver and Sebek. Their actions didn't go unnoticed by everyone else in the room. Many sharing looks of confusion, disappointment, or curiosity at the outburst. Embarrassed, the two first years apologized for their rudeness.

Rollo cleared his throat. “Now, then. These two are my most trusted assistants. Our Vice President, Anthony,” He waves his hand to the brunette. “And our aide, Lothaire.” He does so again but to the one with brown hair. “When they heard they would be meeting with students of an esteemed academy such as yours, they stopped everything and came as quickly as they could to greet you.”

Both boys spoke about their excitement and joy of meeting everyone. Compared to the older boy, these two were much nicer and welcoming to their guests. It was a bit odd, not going unnoticed by a few in the group.

Their newest acquaintances offered to escort them to their temporary rooms during their stay and they accepted. Deuce leaned back over to Epel again. “Whatever the reason is, we should try to warn her about Flamme-san. Just in case.”

“Yeah. Wouldn’t wanna get on Doc’s bad side again,” They left their discussion at that and followed behind the others. They exited the Lecture hall part of the College, Rollo explaining their school’s history, with Anthony and Lothaire adding additional information as well.

“Mr. Flamme. Your campus has a calming aura, and is thriving with such beautiful flowers and plants,” Meryu admitted. “Are they the school’s doing?”

“Yes and no, Melenas-san,” Anthony answered. “Our city takes pride in its flowers, so both the staff and the people all took part in cultivating them! However, our students also help in taking care of them as well.”

Her eyes shined in amazement. Balancing her familiar in her arms, she went into her school bag(careful not to drop any of her supplements) and pulled out her Ghost Camera. “May I…”

The Vice president laughed. “Go right ahead! We love for visitors to capture the beauty of our school!” He watched as she took photos close of some flowers within the passing courtyard. She even caught some Noble Bell students milling about the place near them, too.

The White haired boy covered his face again with his handkerchief, staring at the girl lovingly before putting it away again. “Our school may be small and not as well known as Night Raven, but we do hope you all are willing to indulge nonetheless.”

“Thank you. Your hospitality is quite delightful,” Malleus complimented him. The prince himself was pleased so far with the trip so far, he didn’t even seem to mind some of the bizarre, harsh looks sent his way from Flamme too much.

“Again, it tis our pleasure, Draconia-san.” Odd. He said that through gritted teeth…Why is that?

They continued their walk closer to the school and then were introduced to the historic figure that Noble Bell pays tribute. A single statue was smack dabbed in front of the building depicts a old, wise man on his horse. His appearance gave off an aura of authority; that he is determined to cast judgement on the guilty to ensure order like the Queen of Hearts, but much, much more impartial.

Looking at him, Ruggie spoke about how the man would scrutinize him if he were to just sneeze, almost mistaking him for a king.

Grim, from his place in his tamer's arms, curiously pointed at the statue. “Who's this guy?”

“This is the Righteous Judge,” Rollo said, his heart filling with pride.

“Righteous…Judge?” Some members of the class were confused by the name.

Riddle helped explain some pieces of his importance to the familiar. “He's an important historical figure. It says so in the history textbooks.”

“That's correct, Rosehearts,” Prof. Trein added. “The Righteous Judge is a prominent figure of Fleur City. You could say, he is just as vidal of an admirable figure like the Great Seven themselves.”

“Precisely. Thank you, Prof. Trein,” Rollo was beaming with pride, eyes focused on the statue before facing everyone again. “It was said to have brought order at a time where criminals and thieves run amok as well. It's thanks to his actions that everyone in Fleur City holds him in high esteem. The students of Noble Bell likewise seek to emulate his honorable conduct.” Most of the group now educated on the Judge’s heroic exploits were in awe of him. Having new found respect for the pious man of legend.

*DING, DONG*

The sound of a bell’s toll sung in the area. It came as a surprise to everyone, and the third year Iginhyde wallflower once again hid within his peers at the sound. “What was that?!”

“Is there anything your not scared of, Senpai?” Jamil looked at him, chuckling at his cowardice.

“Ah, that. What you all hear is the [Bell of Salvation],” Rollo explained.

There’s that name again. “Bell of Salvation?”

“With a name like that, it sounds super grandiose.”

“A name that is well deserved. This bell is an incredibly unique and valuable magical artifact. It has been a part of our school for generations.”

Hearing the importance of such a historical artifact tickled Malleus’ fancy. “I can tell you seem to cherish it, Flamme. Is it comparable to Night Raven College’ Dark Mirror?”

“Most definitely,” The professor told him. “Many arcane academies possess magical aritifacts. Those artifacts become emblematic of their school.” He closed his eyes, thinking of blissful nostalgic days. “It has been many years since I’ve last heard the Bell of Salvation myself.”

Azul looked at him astonished. “You’ve been to this place before, Professor?”

“I have. My wife and I came here for our honeymoon. I remember it at if it were yesterday.”

…

“Grim? Mr. Deuce? Mr. Epel?”

“Hmm?/ Yeah?” They turned to their friend who poked at their shoulders.

“Doesn’t that name sound familiar?” She said quietly.

“What name?”

“[Bell of Salvation].”

“Whatcha mean by that, Mi-” It took them a few minutes to understand her meaning. “Wait! Headmage Crowley said something about that before we came here!”

“Is it possible this Bell he told us is the same one you’re connected to?!” Their friend nodded at their hypothesis. “Think we’ll get to see it?”

“We can take you to go see it for yourselves, if you all wish to,” Lothaire offered.

They all then left toward the towering pagoda connected to the school. The way to reach such a precious treasure was ascending countless flights of stairs. The first few were fine for everyone to climb up just fine. But as they continue their ascend...there were some…exhausted casualties of the stairs. *Cough* Azul and Idia *Cough*

The Octavinelle Housewarden was breathing heavily, his legs feeling like jello. “How..many..stair…cases…are in…this tower?!”

His club member, close to passing out himself, agreed.“Why…is there..no Working ele…vator?! This place…sure could…use one!”

“There should be some broomsticks at this school. We could go back and grab them for you guys,” Epel mentioned.

Meanwhile, two people-Ruggie and Jamil- just looked down and laughed at their classmates' despair. “Aw, Epel. That’s just cruel,” The Viper said.

“Knowing how they struggle in flight class, it definitely won’t end well for them,” Ruggie snickered, continuing to walk ahead of them.

Idia silently wept, knowing he won;t be getting much help from anyone. He looks up where the rest of the group walked up the steps without any issues. Then, his eyes focused on one person in particular. “Oh, if only someone could help us up. Maybe someone who could lift me up when I am down.” He whined hoping they would hear him.

Sadly, his prayers were not answered. “Nope.”

“Huh?” He squeeked when he felt his arm being pulled by a very annoyed Deuce.

“She’s not falling for that again, Senpai,” He said, carrying half of the otaku on his body up the rest of the way.

“Come, Roi des poissons! We must make haste!” Rook added, lifting Azul with help from Epel.

“W-wouldn’t be nicer if Meryu just helped us out?!”

“She can’t. The headmage told her not to.”

“Eh?!” Azul and Idia(mostly the latter)were hoping they were hearing things. “What do you mean Crowley to her not to!”

“This is the first time we’re hearing of this,” Riddle said in shock. “Why is that?”

“He doesn’t want anyone else to know of her powers, remember?”

“Other than STYX and the whole school, no one knows what Meryu really is, and he doesn't want anyone else in the Fleur City to know.”

“... Makes sense. Not many people remember, let alone know what the heck she’s singing half the time.”

“It may be less of the language and more of her powers,” Silver pointed out. Given what all the oddities her powers bring, it’s still too soon for the world to know the presence of Song Mages/ Reyvateil again.

They dropped the subject and continued onward, finally making it to the summit of the edifice where everyone else waited for them. With a dramatic flourish of his hands, Rollo showed them his school’s pride and joy. “Behold before, the Bell of Salvation.”

~EXEC_ZENVA=RYUSSE >> FLEUR_CITY-Tes Biron~

[kagrenacs]

Analysis of The Soft Doctrines of Magnus Invisible

Recently Douglas Goodall released a follow up to his lore text The Soft Doctrines of Magnus invisible, this is an attempt to analyze the text. You can read it here

I: The Source and the Serpent

It's clear this section is about Auri-el and Lorkhan creating the worlds, mentioning Auri-el as creating the 'twelve' presumably the twelve worlds of creation. Lorkhan creates the 'twenty-two', which brings us to thirty-four. The next paragraph mentions the 'Thirty-six and The Hoard That Never Rests. These numbers don't add up, however thirty six is likely a reference to Lorkhan, the Scarab, as mentioned in Sermon 29.

The Thirty-Six are still Eight and One, twice removed, even if man and mer no longer recognize the quarters.

This line seems to link the 12 worlds to the nine divines, indicating their creation by proxy of Auri-el and Lorkhan.

An additional thing I find interesting is the mention of the twelve and twenty-two existing under a starless sky, as the stars haven't formed yet. This seems to indicate to me that this current Kalpa (or series of them) may be different, actively binding the spirits to Nirn rather than allowing them to move freely, otherwise the Magne-Ge wouldn't have fled yet. This idea is further supported by this line:

We are slaves to the star-clock, which beats faster in every age. Only the drummer can stop the beat.

Indicating the beat of time seems to be moving faster.

II: Enantiodromia

This section is about the enantiomorph, with roles of power switching between two people.

Every hero is an image, a reflection, a tone played on the tightest string between the ur-mirrors of sky and sea. False heroes are the shattered reflections of the jailed jailer; a three-headed beast gnashing its own throats.

This line may be about Shezzarines. False heroes as shattered reflections of the jailed jailer- Lorkhan and the incarnations of his souls. A three-headed beast gnashing at it's own throats seems to be Talos.

Mer came down from the sky. Men rose up from the mountain. The god of mer climbed to the stars. The god of men descended into the ground.

This discusses the schism between the gods of men and mer. Anui-el ascends, leaving behind the Aldmer. Lorkhan descends, dying like his subjects and leaving his heart within Red Mountain.

Only the shape-taker's respiration emptied the arc for the thief's eye.

UESP labels shape-taker as Trinimac and the thief's eye as Arkay. Together these two gods contribute to the Nordic god Orkey, the god who reduced the lifespan of the Nords by six years. Taken literally this line seems to indicate Trinimac's exhale allowed for Arkay to steal time from Lorkhan and his people. @tindomizel gave a really interesting idea that Lorkhan's murder allowed for the creation of death, that I quite like, and perhaps carried over to his people.

Magnus and Sithis are tears to the prior world and the next. When they meet the prisoner, the story ends.

Taken with the subject of this section, Magnus and Sithis are presented as two sides of the enantiomorph. My interpretation is Magnus represents energy and creation, while Sithis is the necessary death of things.

The Magna-Ge expand as the Earth Bones diminish.

This line is incredibly eerie. My only thoughts here are Earth Bones are diminishing as people manipulate them, or the towers. But what this has to do with the Magna-Ge I'm not sure.

III: The Roads

In my interpretation, this discusses the roads individuals follow as they live their lives. The first paragraph here discusses a road of violence, fire and swings, that pilgrims and children walk. It seems to be living a simple, peaceful but difficult life/

The second road is shorter, filled with dishonest labour, paved with gold, trodden by the feet of giants and glued by the slime of forked tongues. It's destination is despair. This road seems to be the road that kings and lords walk, trodding on others, enslaving others, living as a large presence.

The road of beauty never reveals the grey veil to it's followers. This is a road of living entranced by the lie, and not seeing reality for what it truly is. Interestingly it is said to be unwalked by heroes, who perhaps have a better semblance of what the world really is.

The longest road is filled with pestilence and disease. This seems to be the road of a natural life, living and then dying by failing health.

The final road is not walked. The wretched gather up their ghosts and go. This seems to me to be the road of life after death.

The doors are stuck, the curtains drawn, the constellations firm, the planets unerring in their courses. Twelve and One have an illusion of movement. Twenty-Two and One have an illusion of choice. Only the Serpent slides.

The numerology changes here, with twelve worlds and one (referring to the constellations), and Twenty-Two and one. Bringing us up to 36, the number of Vivec's lessons.

The doors are stuck, the curtains drawn, the constellations firm, the planets unerring in their courses. Twelve and One have an illusion of movement. Twenty-Two and One have an illusion of choice. Only the Serpent slides.

The Twelve and One are the stars, giving the illusion of movement in the sky. The Twenty-Two and one are possibly Lorkhan's spawn, indicating his children live predestined lives as mortals. Only the Serpent is free to move through time and fate with ease.

Hue is governed by momentum. As much as manifold Meridia loves the Blind, even orphans cannot change their color.

This seems to further confirm my belief that Meridia is one of the Star Orphans. Leaving her ultimately still a daughter of Magnus, even if she is a Daedric Prince.

IV The Tower

The Tower is the first word, spoken by the second. Indicating Lorkhan's observation that the tower forms the letter 'I'.

All who find The Tower are infected with tyranny. Some succumb. All who find The Tower are condemned to transcendence. Some succumb.

This line seems to indicate the dominance a person must possess to speak the word 'I' and recognize oneself as ruler of the world, without equal. Yet doing so allows one to recognize the power of CHIM and alter the course of the world irrevocably.

V: _

This section is a cipher, when deciphered, it discusses things one ought not to worship. Not to look at the moons, the towers, the wheel and the grey, or the jailer. Instead look to the invisible, who is earlier mentioned as Magnus, despite his flawed love. Which ultimately wraps this up as a text intended to worship Magnus.

[isleofdarkness]

This is all assumptions but...

Rose Red is Red Riding Hood, isn't she? That's why Snow, of all people, adopted the Big Bad Wolf's children, right?

But who is their biological mother? Is it- is it Rose Rose...? I wouldn't be too surprised considering what the Big Bad Wolf represents in the fairy tales he's in and the obvious predatory metaphor in Little Red Riding Hood. How old is everyone, again?

Or are they from "The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats"? They are seven children after all and apparently, there's a version where they're kids instead of goats.

I honestly just want to know everything about the Nolan family, lol.

-Dante.

Rose Red is Red Riding Hood, yes. And this is gonna get kind of messy.

To start, Rose Red and Snow White are both 43. As the Nolan... seven-tuplets are seventeen, that would put Snow and Rose at 26 when they were born.

Snow White is the mother. Now, let me explain.

Under the wicked stepmother (Grimhilde,) the kingdom was a very unsafe place for magical creatures such as Bigby (the Big Bad Wolf.) He was starving. That doesn't excuse his actions, just explains them. We all know how the story of Red Riding Hood goes. He survived that and the grandmother (Rose and Snow's maternal grandmother,) took pity on him, recognizing his actions as those of a desperate boy, and took him in. Bigby was thirteen at the time, only a year older than Snow and Rose, and he quickly became part of the family despite the earlier issue.

Two years later, the whole Snow White thing happens. For the record, Florian is also fourteen at this point. He is not twenty, he is fourteen just like Snow White. Because this was "old" times, where people got married young, the two did get married at sixteen and joined their kingdoms. But they couldn't have heirs. Why?

Florian is a trans man.

This didn't bother either of them. They figured that, when the time came, they would just adopt an heir. But then, when they were twenty-three, Beast tried to take over their kingdom. They managed to keep him from annexing them but, unless they had a biological heir, they knew it wouldn't stick. Beast wouldn't recognize an adopted heir as having a claim to the crown. So, to keep their people safe and their way of life alive, they needed a biological heir. An heir Beast would need to believe was the biological child of Snow White and Florian.

Bigby looked a lot like Florian, and he was really the only person Snow could trust with this. No strings attached, they'd just go right back to being friends. Which they did. Of course, Snow managing to have six babies from one pregnancy kind of raised some eyebrows, but she insisted that multiple pregnancies ran in her family, which they did, and kept insisting that was why until people left her alone. Now, instead of one heir, she has six- Winter, Blossom, Ambrose, Therese, Darien, and Conner.

(Of course, unbeknownst to her, there was a seventh who would come to name himself Ghost, but Snow didn't know about him for a while. He died during delivery and the midwife chose to hide this from Snow. But that's a story for another time.)

So, to recap

Red was twelve in Red Riding Hood and is forty-three now

Snow was fourteen in her story, sixteen when she got married, twenty-five when she got pregnant, twenty-six when she gave birth, and is forty-three now

Florian was fourteen in Snow White, sixteen when he got married, twenty-five when Snow got pregnant, twenty-six when he became a father, and is forty-three now

Bigby was thirteen in Red Riding Hood, fifteen when Snow became queen, seventeen when Snow got married, twenty-six when Snow asked him for that huge favour, twenty-seven when he also became a father, thirty when he got sent to the Isle, and forty-four now

The six are seventeen now and yes, they know who their biological father is because they also know that Florian is trans. Florian and Bigby are both their "real" fathers. They get two dads and a mom.

Ghost is ageless because he is a ghost, but he identifies as the same age his siblings are.

I am really sorry if this makes zero sense.

[watasemasaru]

Tell me about Twisted Wonderland? How is it?

It's a visual novel where the concept is popular disney villains, but ikemen. The premise is Yuu (that's like the place holder name for you 🫵🏻 the player, you can obviously name urself whateves) are not a magic user, you're not even from this place, but somehow you've been summoned by the dark mirror and ended up in Twisted Wonderland, specifically Night Raven College. Currently the story is broken down into books and we navigate school life while also dealing with an issue of students (the villains) overblotting. Which they used too much magic and their emotions have tainted them.

Night Raven College is an all boys school of arcane arts (magic) and is divided into dorms that represents the The Great Seven (since these are "twisted" versions, the villains are seemed as benevolent). Each dorm has a house warden and a vice warden, usually the house warden is the one who is the specific iteration of a villain. Each student has a special spell that is unique to them as well!

Heartslabyul - this dorm embodies the Red Queen's strictness

Riddle Rosehearts - house warden and like the Red Queen, has a penchant for following the rules. His signature spell of Off With Your Head.

Trey Clover - based off a club card soldier, he's very mild mannered and a Riddle's childhood friend. His spell is Paint the Roses.

Cater Diamond - a diamond card, he's ur social media jargon magicam posting buddy. His spell is Split Card

Ace Trappola - he's one of your two main besties. He's the Yosuke to your Souji, Ryuji to your Akira. His spell is currently unknown

Deuce Spade - your other bestie and the more meat head of the two but a good egg (his mom is also soft butch and hot awooga) his sig spell is Double Down!

Savanaclaw - students here are representative of The King of Beast's Tenacity

Leona Kingscholar - Prideful and a little arrogant, he is easily jealous. He is snarky and a bit of a slacker (like any good cat tbh) His signature spell is King's Roar

Reggie Bucchi - a hyena beastman and the vice warden. He's a little impish and a trickster. His spell is Laugh With Me

Jack Howl - a wolf beastman who is very earnest and adheres to the hierarchy but not so much that his sense of justice goes to the wayside. His spell is Unleash Beast

Octavinelle - a dorm founded on the compassion of The Sea Witch

Azul Ashengrotto - the iteration of Ursula, he's intelligent and knows every loophole, a little Saul Goodman to be had in Azul. He's also rather fond of making money. His signature spell is It's a Deal.

Jade Leech - vice warden and a eel merman (Jetsam). He is has the disposition of a butler...but watch out, he's just as intimidating as his brother. His spell is Shock The Heart

Floyd Leech - the overtly chaotic mirror twin of Jade. He loses interest in things quick but easily excitable if something catches his eye, big ADHD energy. His spell is Bind the Heart

Scarabia - a dorm founded on The Sorcerer of the Sand's Mindfulness

Kalim Al-Asim - house warden who is not actually supposed to be a student, but his father bought him in with a large donation to the school. Kalim was insistent to attend when Jamil was accepted. He's unbearily positive and kind to the point of toxicity. His unique magic is Oasis Maker

Jamil Viper - is the better student and mage, but is Kalim's attendant, it would be "inappropriate" for him to be housewarden. He is calculating, careful, and aloof. His spell is Snake Whisperer.

Pomefiore - founded on The Fair Queen's tenacity.

Vil Schoenheit - the fairest of them all, he's an actor that people love as much as one loves an idol. He's beautiful and can be a little snotty, but he's kind when it's needed. His unique magic is Fairest One of All

Rook Hunt - based on the huntsman from Snow White he's an eccentric individual and French™. His ultimate desire is to find all different kinds of beauty. His spell is I See You

Epel Felmier - like his name, he is the poison apple. Epel is at odds with his fair appearance and what he views masculinity to be. He's a country boy and has a thick accent, but Vil encourages him to hide it. His spell is Sleep Kiss

Ignihyde - founded on the King of the Underworld's diligence

Idia Shroud - the arrogant but self deprecating weeb version of Hades. Idia is your typical gamer/anime trope character. He has a desire to be free and more outgoing but usually caves in on himself. His unique magic is Gate to the Underworld

Ortho Shroud - the humanoid younger brother of Idia. He's cute, charming, and polite and always trying to get Idia to come out of his shell. As it stands he has no signature spell.

Diasomnia - founded on the Thorn Fairy's spirit of nobility.

Malleus Draconia - the iteration of Maleficint. Because he's a fae he essentially has time blindness and is usually late or not at a housewarden meeting. There's a loneliness to Malleus because other students are so intimidated by him. His prize possession is a tamagotchi like toy. His spell is Fae of Maleficent

Lilia Vanrouge - old man in a cute guy's body trope. He's plucky and full of wisdom that belies his youthful looks. It said he is the iteration of Maleficint in her dragon form. His unique magic is Far Cry Cradle

Silver - a second year and bodyguard of Malleus who falls asleep at the drop of a hat and is beloved by animals. He was raised by Lila who found him in the woods. His special spell is Meet in a Dream

Sebek Zigvolt - the other bodyguard and an overzealous loudmouth (my stupid son). He is single minded (Malleus) and refuses to engage with anyone unless it's to berate them for not giving Malleus the proper respect. He tends to call the students around them humans (derogatory) despite being half-human himself. His father is a dentist and his mother, a fae, helps out. She's a tooth fairy lol. His special spell is Living Bolt

I love it, despite the fact it IS a gacha game as well as a vn, and never ever spend actual money on the damn thing their pity is a joke lol. It's better to just save your gems and keys for your favorites and call it good (I save for Sebek, Floyd, and Rook). You take lessons to level up your cards, exams to earn books to raise the card's spells, play twist tunes, and once you're in Idia's book, some retro game style mini games. There's also a little guest room at your dorm, Ramshackle, that you can invite a character to and design the room as you see fit!

[arlechinav-blog]

Interpreting the Stories of Romulus & Remus Through Ovid

This is going to be long but I promise that it will also be interesting. I'm going to use an English translation of Ovid's Fasti, Books 3 & 4, to make it easier for reading. You can read the whole thing over on Theoi. I'm just taking excerpts to keep this just a touch shorter than it otherwise would be but reading the whole thing together will provide you with more context. The thing to remember through all of this is that Ovid is clever and he leans heavily on what was common knowledge in his time. As such, he doesn't come out and translate himself for you...

"Languid she rose, nor knew why she rose so languid, and leaning on a tree she spake these words: “Useful and fortunate, I pray, may that turn out which I saw in a vision of sleep. Or was the vision too clear for sleep? Methought I was by the fire of Ilium, when the woolen fillet slipped from my hair and fell before the sacred hearth. From the fillet there sprang a wondrous sight – two palm-trees side by side. Of them one was the taller and by its heavy boughs spread a canopy over the whole world, and with its foliage touched the topmost stars. Lo, mine uncle wielded an axe against the trees; the warning terrified me and my heart did throb with fear. A woodpecker – the bird of Mars and a she-wolf fought in defense of the twin trunks, and by their help both of the palms were saved.” She finished speaking, and by a feeble effort lifted the full pitcher; she had filed it while she was telling her vision. Meanwhile her belly swelled with a heavenly burden, for Remus was growing, and growing, too, was Quirinus."

In this scene, Silvia the Vestal Virgin has just become pregnant with the twins by the god Mars. She dreams of two palm trees, which is meant to be a bit of foreshadowing because date palms are the sacred trees of Artemis & Apollo--another set of sacred twins with deep connections to lycanthropy traditions in the context of the Roman month of February. Red is also the color of both Mars and Artemis, and Artemis is also the Phoinix--a creature that will rise again in holy fire after its death. Artemis will also assist in the birth of the boys, tying it all back together neatly. Her uncle is the current king and he will seek to murder the twins to secure his own line, which is implied by the chopping of the palm trees. Doing this will offend the god Mars. The woodpecker and she-wolf will try to protect them and succeed. This is a divine prophetic vision that Silvia has.

" When now two heavenly signs remained for the bright god to traverse, before the year could complete its course and run out, Silvia became a mother. The images of Vesta are said to have covered their eyes with their virgin hands; certainly the altar of the goddess trembled, when her priestess was brought to bed, and the terrified flame sank under its own ashes."

Ovid assumes that the reader knows that fire is used heavily in death rituals to drive away the dead. Silvia is a Vestal Virgin, a tender of the holiest fire in Rome. Ordinarily an upright torch signifies life, the first light a child sees when born is represented by this holy fire. Life is the opposite of death. So when the most sacred fire in Rome burns down beneath its coals... that is seriously significant. Also a bit of foreshadowing because the events of the twins' lives will lead them to becoming half alive and half dead, half mortal and half god.

"When Amulius learned of this, scorner of justice that he was (for he had vanquished his brother and robbed him of power), he ordered the twins to be sunk in the river. The water shrank from such a crime, and the boys were left on dry land. Who knows not that the infants throve on the milk of a wild beast, and that a woodpecker often brought food to the abandoned babes? Nor would I pass thee by in silence, Larentia, nurse of so great a nation, nor the help that thou didst give, poor Faustulus. Your honour will find its place when I come to tell of the Larentalia; that festival falls in December, the month dear to the mirthful spirits."

Amulius is the uncle King and he does not want rivals to his throne. He killed his brother, Silvia's father, and that fratricide automatically makes him the worst of villains. Now he moves to murder more family members because he is scum. Because he rejects the babies, they won't bear the family name and they won't be acknowledged as living beings.

River water, running water, represents the journey to the underworld in some cases--it really depends on the context in which it is used. The river refuses to murder the babies, meaning that they don't cross over yet. But the river does bring them to the She-Wolf, which begins their transformation into something other than human. Ovid assumes that readers know that drinking the milk of another person will make you also that person's child. To the point that milk-siblings were not permitted to marry. Drinking the milk of the She-Wolf will make these children officially half-wolf and therefore half-dead. Wolves symbolically represent the spirits of dead warriors. So not only are they half-dead... they are also set on a path that will make them great warriors.

Larenta is a figure that has survived to the modern day as St. Lucia, and Larentalia survives as the very creepy feast of St. Lucia. That hadn't happened yet as Ovid was writing so his Larenta was the human-ish woman who found and adopted Romulus & Remus and raised them back into human society. A Larenta who may also have connections to an Artemis-like goddess of transformation and monsters. I'll have to do a separate blog post on Larenta & St. Lucia, there's too much to unpack there.

"Thrice six years old was the progeny of Mars,"

I don't know if it is relevant but with Ovid peppering everything with massive amounts of symbolism, I feel like mentioning here that:

3 + 6 = 9

3 x 6 = 18 (which is 2 nines)

It might be a bit of a stretch but it was something I noticed. Number symbolism often plays a major role in Mediterranean life. 9 is frequently used as the number of transformation, specifically in lycanthropy traditions, which is why it stood out to me.

"Amulius fell, pierced by the sword of Romulus, and the kingdom was restored to their aged grandfather."

The boys set right the wrong that was done to their grandfather, Silvia's father. Making peace between the dead and the living.

"Mars was the god to be revered by Latium, for that he is the patron of the sword; ‘twas the sword that won for a fierce race empire and glory."

Naturally, they made their dad the most important god in their new society. Ovid was being a bit of a stinker in driving home this historical point. By his time, the chief god rank of Rome had been given to Jupiter and the hierarchy of priests was being rewritten to reduce the influence of the hereditary old priesthoods (the Flamen). Supporting the traditional role of the Flamen was a political move and it probably wasn't well received when Emperor Augustus got wind of it--which may be why Fasti was never completed and Ovid was sent into exile.

"If you would convince yourself that the Kalends of March were really the beginning of the year, you may refer to the following proofs: the laurel-branch of the flamens, after remaining in its place the whole year, is removed (on that day), and fresh leaves are put in the place of honour; then the king’s door is green with the tree of Phoebus, which is set at it; and at thy portal, Old Chapel of the Wards, the same things is done; the withered laurel is withdrawn from the Ilian hearth, that Vesta also may make a brave show, dressed in fresh leaves. Besides ‘tis said that a new fire is lighted in her secret shrine, and the rekindled flame gains strength."

Not directly related to Romulus & Remus but I would like to point out that by going into such detail as to why March is the old traditional beginning of the new year cycle, Ovid is also telling us that February is the month when the year itself dies. This provides a bit of support for some of the other posts I have made about February, the twins, and the symbolism of the Roman wolf cult.  March was the opening of war season and it was also the beginning of the agricultural cycle--of which Mars was closely tied to through his marriage to Ceres. As the sons of Mars, this means that Romulus & Remus had symbolic roles to play throughout the full year--February and March especially.

Now we are going to switch over to Book 4 of Fasti, starting at the 807 mark on Theoi.

"Already the brother of Numitor had suffered punishment, and all the shepherd folk were subject to the twins. The twins agreed to draw the swains together and found a city; the doubt was which of the two should found it. Romulus said, “There needs no contest. Great faith is put in birds; let’s try the birds.” The proposal was accepted. One of the two betook him to the rocks of the wooded Palatine; the other hied at morn to the top of the Aventine. Remus saw six birds; Romulus saw twice six, one after the other: they stood by their compact, and Romulus was accorded the government of the city."

In this part, Ovid establishes that the origin of the Roman people come from shepherd stock. This establishes links to goat-based pastoral traditions that form some of the oldest Roman rituals, combining both Sabine and Etruscan practices. Mars' mother, Juno, was based upon the Etruscan/ Sabine goat-milk goddess Uni--whom I mentioned in another post. Birds are also associated with prophecy and, once again, that Artemis-Larentia-St. Lucy like goddess of transformation.

The brothers are trying to figure out who should be the leader of their people and the decide to perform a bird-based divination. Remus is always depicted as the brother destined to belong wholly to the underworld. The number 6 has many meanings, two of which are disaster or death. Not as bad as 13 BUT 6 is also a lesser number to 12, which is the number of perfection and wholeness. Remus is made to to be simultaneously the death brother and the lesser brother to Romulus.

"Glad at the augury, the citizens laid the foundations, and in short time the new wall stood. The work was urged on by Celer, whom Romulus himself had named and said, “Celer, be this thy are; let no man cross the walls nor the trench which the share hath made: who dares to do so, put him to death.” Ignorant of this, Remus began to mock the lowly walls and say, “Shall these protect the people?” And straightway he leaped across them. Instantly Celer struck the rash man with a shovel. Covered with blood, Remus sank on the stony ground. When the king heard of this, he smothered the springing tears and kept his grief locked up within his breast. He would not weep in public; he set an example of fortitude, and “So fare,” quoth he, “the foe who shall cross my walls.”

Aw, poor Remus. Doomed from the start. In this story, Romulus' hands are not stained with the blood of his own brother and thus Romulus maintains his purity and connection to life. That is Celer's only purpose. Remus crosses the wall and is killed for it. Remus was always meant to be the dead brother and Remus' descendants were always meant to symbolize death. Remus crossing the wall here is also death crossing the wall to invade Rome and that can't be allowed to happen, not even in jest. Not even from your own kin. There are several dance-based rituals in Rome that took place this time of year that pitted stand ins for the two brothers against each other. Remus' place in those rituals is to represent the death of the fields while Romulus' purpose is to secure the safety of those same fields. The brother love each other and are both important but only one can live.

" Yet he granted funeral honours, and could no longer bear to check his tears, and the affection which he had dissembled was plain to see. When they set down the bier, he gave it a last kiss, and said, “Snatched from they brother, loath to part, brother, farewell!” With that he anointed the body before committing it to the flames. Faustulus and Acca, her mournful hair unbound, did the same. Then the Quirites, though not yet known by that name, wept for the youth, and last of all a light was put the pyre, wet with their tears."

In this we see the funeral of Remus and the love his family still had for him. Also, this is why the dead do not like fire.

"On that day, as I was returning from Nomentum to Rome, a white-robed crowd clocked the middle of the road. A flamen was on his way to the grove of ancient Mildew (Robigo), to throw the entrails of a dog and the entrails of a sheep into the flames. Straightway I went up to him to inform myself of the rite. Thy flamen, O Quirinus, pronounced these words: “Thou scaly Mildew, spare the sprouting corn, and let he smooth top quiver on the surface of the ground. O let the crops, nursed by the stars of a propitious sky, grow till they are ripe for the sickle. No feeble power is thine: the corn on which thou hast set thy mark, the sad husbandman gives up for lost. Nor winds, nor showers, nor glistening frost, that nips the sallow corn, harm it so much as when the sun warms the wet stalks; then, dread goddess, is the hour to wreak thy wrath. O spare, I pray, and take thy scabby hands from off the harvest! Harm not the tilth; ‘tis enough that thou hast the power to harm. Grip not the tender crops, but rather grip the hard iron. Forestall the destroyer. Better that thou shouldst gnaw at swords and baneful weapons. There is no need of them: the world is at peace. Now let the rustic gear, the rakes, and the hard hoe, and the curved share be burnished bright; but let rust defile the arms, and when one essays to draw the sword from the scabbard, let him feel it stick from long disuse. But do not thou profane the corn, and ever may the husbandman be able to pay his vows to thee in thine absence.”

This establishes the role the Quinctiliani  (descendants of Romulus) play in the agricultural cycle. As the husband of Ceres, Mars protects the fields. This is physical and warlike in some instances, but also spiritual and ritualistic, as in this case. The robigo, or red spot, reference relates to a type of plant fungus that could wreck an entire crop. This prayer is intended to divert the plant plague from the soil and leaves onto implements of iron, transferring the red spot into a red rust. Mars was a protector of the fields first and a warrior second and this prayer reinforces that idea very much. Stating clearly that is it preferable for a sword to stick in its sheath from disuse rather than for the grain to be profaned with illness.  

[trident-dragion]

Red Dragon Archfiend + Flamvell

A lot can be said about Red Dragon Archfiend. It represents Jack Atlas's burning soul, and is a (for the time) modernized version Blue-Eyes White Dragon. It's one of the very first staple Synchro Monsters, and remained as such for years, especially in Dragon Decks. Seriously, there are Dragon Ruler lists that played Red Dragon Archfiend. And, most important of all, it's my personal favorite card! So naturally, while I play it in every Deck possible, I still wanted to give it a spotlight for itself, a Deck fit for a King. Red Dragon Archfiend is designed to force the game into a more aggressive state, as all of your Monsters must attack lest they be destroyed, and the opponent's efforts to defend are thwarted as Red Dragon Archfiend destroys all of their Defense Position Monsters upon attacking. You cannot passively deal with Red Dragon Archfiend, it demands your immediate attention regardless of which side of it you're on. Unfortunately, Over the Nexus is dramatically lacking in almost all of the Red Dragon Archfiend support that would come later, making the prospect of building around it difficult. Since I used Dragunity as the basis for Stardust Dragon, I thought Flamvell would be a fitting core for Red Dragon Archfiend. The idea is pretty straightforward; prepare the Graveyard for a big Rekindling activation to make explosive Synchro plays. But this version of the Deck is made to enable not just Red Nova Dragon, but also Red Dragon Archfiend/Assault Mode. This powerful upgrade expands Red Dragon Archfiend's destructive force to all other Monsters on the field, regardless of Position. This can prove bothersome for you, as it means your own Monster keeps clearing your own board, but this is why I chose Flamvell as the base of this Deck. Because it so easily Summons Level 8 Synchro Monsters, your Red Dragon Archfiend can often be accompanied by Stardust Dragon, and Stardust works very well with Red Dragon Archfiend/Assault Mode. What you do is attack with both Red Dragon Archfiend and Stardust Dragon, then play Assault Mode Activate to upgrade RDA to RDA/AM and attack with that as well. This triggers RDA/AM's effect, which you negate with Stardust Dragon to destroy it. This triggers RDA/AM's other effect; if it is destroyed, it brings back the original Red Dragon Archfiend from your Graveyard, which can then attack again. Red Dragon Archfiend DOES have a couple specific support cards, but they're hard to use. Red Screen is a decent floodgate that can be traded for a level 1 Tuner in your Graveyard, which is helpful for setting up Red Nova Dragon. Crimson Fire is also in the game, but... there's a bonus for using it. It's so hard to use, and so unlikely to be good, that the game recognizes you activating it as an achievement. So instead, I play Falling Down, which is basically Snatch Steal if you control an Archfiend Monster. With how ubiquitous Red Dragon Archfiend is, it's hard to really emphasize it with a specific Deck, but hopefully this is satisfactory for my fellow RDA fans. Here's the list: MONSTERS (20): Assault Beast x3 Flamvell Archer x1 Flamvell Baby x1 Flamvell Firedog x3 Flamvell Grunika x1 Flamvell Magician x3 Glow-up Bulb x1 Laval Lancelord x1 Neo Flamvell Origin x3 Plaguespreader Zombie x1 Red Dragon Archfiend/Assault Mode x1 Summoner Monk x1 SPELLS (10): Dark Hole x1 Falling Down x1 Foolish Burial x1 Mind Control x1 Monster Reborn x1 Mystical Space Typhoon x2 Rekindling x3 TRAPS (10): Assault Mode Activate x1 Call of the Haunted x1 Dimensional Prison x2 Mirror Force x1 Red Screen x1 Solemn Judgment x1 Solemn Warning x2 Torrential Tribute x1 EXTRA DECK: Ally of Justice Catastor x1 Black Rose Dragon x1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier x1 Colossal Fighter x1 Exploder Dragonwing x1 Flamvell Uruquizas x1 Goyo Guardian x1 Red Dragon Archfiend x3 Red Nova Dragon x1 Scrap Dragon x1 Stardust Dragon x1 Thought Ruler Archfiend x1 Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier x1

[elevatorladylady]

Critical Reread - ACOTAR Chapter 6

Join me on a reread of A Court of Thorns and Roses

Chapter 6

Feyre gets a bath.

“What wretched power did they possess to make their lands so different from ours, to control the seasons and weather as if they owned them?”

I'd be curious to get more of an exploration on this idea. Are the high lords bending the will of the land? Does the magic balance out with having all of the seasons represented? What would happen if a high lord just didn't want to use their power to create a perpetual season? It would be really interesting if the land itself chose the season, even though we know it's tied to the high lord.

“Only a fool would run with no food, no strength.”

This is what I tell myself every time I try to convince myself to exercise.

“If misfortune forced you to keep company with a faerie, you never drank their wine, never ate their food.”

It's like SJM wants us to know that she does know the lore, but is actively choosing to exclude most of it from the world building.

“This beast was not a man, not a lesser faerie. He was one of the High Fae, one of their ruling nobility: beautiful, lethal, and merciless.”

I still struggle to believe that she knows the difference between any fae races when 95% of info she has on faeries is inaccurate. And really, do humans consider every other kind of fae "lesser faeries" too?

“That promise to my mother, cold and vain as she was, was all I had.”

Again, you'd think the idea of her family dying of starvation would be enough without the asinine promise.

“The Treaty’s summons led me to the mortal. I gave her safe haven.”

Is the Treaty's summons a real thing? If it is, why wouldn't it work to magically protect humans as well? Cause they mention several instances of the fae crossing the wall to attack humans, but humans don't have any recourse for when that happens.

“Perhaps he wore it out of solidarity.”

I looove the idea of Tamlin wearing a mask in solidarity with Lucien. Tam definitely would if Lucien felt self conscious about his scars.

“Well,” the red-haired one seethed, “now we’re stuck with that, thanks to your useless mercy, and you’ve ruined—”

What does it ruin? Am I forgetting something? Isn't actually what they were hoping for by sending Andras out there? Maybe it's all for show?

“While these faeries also looked human, save for their ears, I’d never learned what the High Fae called their servants.”

How can she tell a High Fae from "lesser fae" if they both look human with pointy ears? Are the high fae just prettier? Also, it'd be pretty cool if they had actual names for the different races of fae instead of just calling them all lesser. Feyre still uses the term as high lady and damn does that seem racist as hell.

“A bit fancy, but I didn’t complain when I donned the white shirt, nor when I buttoned the dark blue tunic and ran my hands over the scratchy, golden thread embroidered on the lapels.”

I want some fan art of Feyre in this outfit.

“I was too young to remember much before my father’s downfall.”

Didn't we establish that she was 11 when they lost their wealth? The narrative treats this as though she was 5/6 when she lost their wealth, but there is a huge difference between the two ages.

[draconicocelot]

:O!!!! shaved ice and bouquet for the oc meme ask? :D

thank you whispycas, i appreciate it sm 🍧 SHAVED ICE - do they still have any objects from their childhood? what significance does it have to them? what would their reaction be if they lost it? Viper: sylvia has a keychain that her brother got her when they were kids, its a metal snake which inspired her to pick her nickname in their mc. she would be devastated if she lost it, especially when she was separated from the rest of the group and didn't know if they even made it out of the horde fight that split them apart Zaveth: he doesn't keep many possessions with him, since he travels often and only keeps his favorite weapons close Amira: she keeps her badge around from when she got accepted to her first academy job in texas, and while most of the silver color rubbed off it still means a lot to her. if she were to lose it she wouldn't be that upset, but it is a nice memory to think about Blair: she doesn't have anything from her childhood since she was taken to mobius so early on, plus she is used to going on missions so often that she doesn't stay in her room often (wouldn't have a place to put it) 💐 BOUQUET - create a bouquet for them! what do those flowers mean? are any of the flowers their particular favorite? Viper: thistles ksfsds (in actuality pyrenean violets, because they can look as if they are completely dead then come back with a few drops of water, representing how much she has been through and that she still fights back - and the zombie theme of the game she is from), also snapdragons (since they look like snakes) Zaveth: he would mostly have a mix of brightly colored jungle flowers (to represent the biome he often explores), as well as marigolds (for their resemblance to the sun) Amira: mostly red roses (for her hair and rose being her step daughter) and green calla lilies (for their beautiful shape and green for her eyes and ethans jacket color) Blair: ghost plant (because of the color and how ghostly they look - matches the stem theme), black bat (the black and white combination is her style and the creepy factor of how the flowers look), and light blue hydrangeas (for the color matching her eyes and adding a beauty and the beast element)

[reconstructwriter]

There is something about Dark Disney princesses that is just so intriguing. Disney princesses represent heroic femininity – triumph with beauty, kindness, encouraging others and of course true love. Qualities that are both admirable and confining given their cliche lack of agency. So to have the princesses break out of those qualities, take their independence is for them to break free of the female stereotype - but also free of those virtues into something darker...

Sleeping Beauty: surrounded by both roses and thorns wearing dress and armor and wielding a sword soaked in blood, she's at once beautiful and deadly. Who did she kill? It looks almost like she took the place of both the male hero and the female villain. She has the thorns that Maleficent summoned framing her but the armor and weapon of the prince! So maybe she did them both in!

Rapunzel: I like the Medusa elements of her hair now as snakes, the reptilian emphasis of her animal buddy, that flower that blessed her turning dark, petals curling (dying or rotting?). This looks like she got tired of mommy’s confinement but instead of running away she grew fangs and bit back. But perhaps in denying her kidnapper the use of her gift she corrupts it. Or vice versa.

Cinderella: also used a spot of murder. It’s subtle. A knife clutched behind her back. A blood droplet tattoo beneath one of a watch (maybe time ran out). The broken necklace dripping pearls on the floor. Her loyal rats have needle and thread in paw, helping with the dress – a perfect powder blue for a prince’s bride…save the gem hanging from that choker necklace like a drop of blood!

Aerial: is probably the creepiest to me. She has the prince’s skeleton (or half of it) in her lap. She’s leaning in for a kiss. To me this recalls all the stories of sirens luring sailors to their deaths and she is swimming just above a pile of treasure and skulls! I can't tell exactly what she did or who all she killed (everyone?), except clearly she embraced her undersea heritage to its creepiest!

Beauty: if the last one was the creepiest this may be the most wholesome. The beast at her feet suggest the curse was never broken but the blindfold, gag, chains etc. show a level of trust to put himself in such a position. Seems to show that even cursed forever doesn’t mean they can't both find a perfect match. If this isn't their true love its at least true complimentary kinks!

Elsa: really looks like she took the worst lesson from the Mother of Dragons, but with ice powers. The cold throne is as forbidding as one made of swords and the ice dragon threatening winter on anyone who displeases her gives her an even more threatening tyrannical look. Elsa is someone who embodies the worst of power and clearly cares only about keeping it by any means necessary.

Snow White: now this really suggests she killed the villain only to take her place. One of the skulls might be the Queen’s and the broken mirror suggests she fought against the queen. She's still surrounded by animals in an echo of her sweet self, but more traditionally witchy ones, the friendly forest butterflies in the bottle. The poison apple may be for her prince…or her successor!

Mulan: Is my favorite and the reason I reblogged but the implications may be the most horrifying! The blood-dipped sword red and ghost of Mushu suggest she murdered one of her family’s ancestral guardians!? Or at least bound him to her sword. The mix of feminine and masculine makes her look like a war Empress ready to conquer an empire - or maybe take one back. Awesome!

Tiana: clearly took the opposite lesson from the movie, down to emerging from her traditional dress in a green pinstripe suit reminiscent of the money she’s stepping on. Everything from the frogs shining her shoes to the paper tucked beneath her arm and even hairstyle shows a woman stepping into material success. While there's no murderous suggestion, she loves only money.

Merida:  suggests the movie truce didn’t work so well and lead to an inter-clan war. The bear looks to be her mother (I hope?) but having failed to break the curse, she shares a similar fate with the last bear. At least they have each other for company in this cursed existence even as they’re both consumed by war and death – considering the skulls, scars and war paint, that's their new fate!

Bad Girls Club by Xin Yingzong