#of course i had to draw fubuki like that

[kuroeko]

bundle up for the cold with a great deal from a soft spoken salesperson!

#inazuma eleven #fubuki shirou #saw this absolute legend of a seller at an open air market dressed exactly like this and selling suspiciously cheap puffer jackets #like down to the wolf ear muffler #of course i had to draw fubuki like that

[batneko]

Can you believe I've been drawing the Undead Kingdom AU for three years? I sure can't!

But since I actually remembered in time to prepare something this year, I present to you an AU of an AU:

Squire Beauto

(in which Amai never gave in to the curse, never reinvented himself, and yet finds himself on a remarkably similar path) rated: T for swearing and innuendo words: 12,317 tw: bullying, light bdsm, religious baggage

"Come on, Dogface! We're burning daylight!"

This was not, in fact, true. The sun hadn't even fully crested the horizon, and the one the knights called "Dogface" had been up since long before. He ate, bathed, and dressed alone, then woke the young squire to serve breakfast to the knights and pack up the camp.

Now he finished loading the last pack on the last horse, hitched his own bag over his shoulders, and followed the rest of the group. Unnoticed, the crows followed him.

The tallest knight (a bit shorter than Dogface without his boots) shifted his armor as he walked. “You left my straps too loose again. We're not all as porky as you, Dogface.”

The other two knights chuckled, though both of them looked heavier than Dogface. Fighting in full armor took a lot of brute strength, and most knights tended on the stocky side. The fact that Dogface was being singled out for his weight said far more about the speaker than it did the target.

There was a pause of several seconds. Dogface wore an old-fashioned bucket helmet that completely covered his head. No expression could be seen, and when he spoke there was nothing but polite subservience in his voice. “I see. I won’t do that next time.”

They kept walking, the crows kept following, and Psykos kept watch through their eyes.

“They're all the way from R Kingdom,” Psykos said, keeping her eyes on her crystal. “You can tell by the accent, bunch of hicks.”

“Why would knights from R Kingdom come here?” Fubuki asked, leaning over her shoulder. Her hand was cool even through the fabric of Psykos' dress.

“The usual,” Psykos said. But she added, quietly, “They prayed before their meal.”

“Oh.”

More than one religion decried the undead as unholy. Only a few decided that meant all undead should be unilaterally wiped out. Psykos would have expected more hymns and solemnity if that was what this group was really after, but she was sure they wouldn't have traveled so far without believing they were on a mission from their god.

“Will you sing for us, Squire Beauto?” the young squire asked. So that was the older one's name. Now she could stop thinking of him by that ridiculous nickname.

“Yeah, Dogface,” the tallest knight said. “Give us a song.”

If he chose a hymn, Psykos would stop observing now and rally the army.

Beauto didn't audibly sigh, but his shoulders (already stooped) rose and then slumped. After a moment, his voice came from behind the helmet.

Not a hymn. A ballad. One of those old ones about jealousy and betrayal and murder. Squire Beauto sang with a strong clear voice – a tenor, unless Psykos missed her guess – and he was good. Ballads weren't designed to strain a singer's talents, but he nailed every note. Psykos would have paid money for this.

“They brought a bard?” Fubuki asked. She couldn't see through the crystal as well as Psykos could, but the sound carried.

“No, that's a squire.”

“He missed his calling, then.” She straightened up. “Shame if we'll have to kill him.”

“I know.”

***

They reached the castle shortly before noon. There had been one stop for rest and food an hour earlier, but "rest" applied only to the knights, of course. Beauto and Atama were expected to serve them just like always. As soon as Beauto sat down for a moment he had Sir Kakato barking at him, "Come on Dogface, don't be so lazy!"

It was always the same. If he sat, he was lazy. If he ate in front of others, he was a glutton. If he slipped up even slightly in keeping himself and his clothes spotlessly clean, he was a slob.

It was better now, with the helmet, but the knights still knew. Kakato still knew.

So Beauto was tired and hungry and ready to kill someone when he arrived at the castle of the undead king. It was almost disappointing when there was no one to try and stop them.

"Doesn't look like much," Sir Onaka said.

Beauto didn't agree, but he knew what he meant. "I doubt this was the main palace," Beauto said. "I think that got destroyed when the last prince cursed the country."

Onaka stared at him for a few seconds, and Beauto added, "Sir."

Kakato clicked his tongue. "Mind your manners, squire," he said. "Your behavior reflects on me, remember?"

All the more reason to ignore propriety, Beauto thought, but it wasn't true. Nobody had ever blamed Beauto's behavior on anyone but himself. He even got blamed for things he'd been nowhere near. He even got blamed for getting attacked.

“I know, Sir Kakato,” Beauto said. “I will be mindful.”

They entered the castle by the front doors. There may have been a side or back entrance once, but the ground around the castle had risen up in jagged points, blocking off all but the face of the building. It wasn't built to be defensible but it certainly was now.

The entry hall was wide, tiled in cracked slate covered with random carpets. Sir Onaka drifted to the side and pulled aside a curtain, whistling at the painting behind it.

It was a hunting scene, deer running across green hills. No part of the country looked like that now.

"Gold frame," Onaka said.

"Look at this," Sir Tsume called from the other side.

She'd found a small table with a basket full of flowers and a vase waiting to be filled. The staff must have fled without finishing their tasks when they heard knights were coming.

Sir Tsume picked up the vase. "Porcelain," she said, tapping it with a fingernail, "the good stuff."

The three knights exchanged glances. Beauto did his best to ignore them.

"Let's split up," Tsume said. "Do a little… scouting."

Beauto was instantly disappointed; Tsume had the most level head among the three of them, and he'd been hoping she'd stop the others if they suggested the same thing.

"Works for me," Kakato said, grinning.

"Figure out what to grab on the way out, and we'll meet up at the throne room."

"I'll take the squires, you two stick together?"

"Works for me," Tsume said, and Onaka nodded.

Beauto said nothing. What was the point?

When the group found a doorway they made the split; Kakato in the lead, Squire Atama sticking close to him, and Beauto with his hand on his sword hilt bringing up the rear. They walked for some time without encountering any people, living or dead. Occasionally they heard footsteps fading into the distance, occasionally they encountered a locked door, but mostly it was hallway after hallway.

They must have chosen the wrong direction, because the doors themselves got less and less ornate the further they walked. These were the areas where the servants traveled, the part of the castle where work got done.

Beauto was intimately familiar.

“Nothing,” Kakato said, and spat on the floor.

It was stone tile, with mismatched carpet runners in the center of each hall. If his spittle had hit the carpet Beauto may very well have slugged him, damn the consequences.

“Let’s go back,” Kakato said, and Beauto followed without a word.

They took a different path this time, back into the palatial part of the palace. Here, the carpets were coordinated and embroidered - though Beauto noticed they seemed very worn. Old, then. Cleaned so often their colors had faded and fibers had begun to wear away.

The wall hangings (and there were many) were newer. In a large building like this there were often drafts no matter how many fires were lit, and thick fabric trapped heat. It helped that they were beautiful, rich velvet, made from silk in the old style unless Beauto missed his guess. He found himself reaching out as they passed to touch a particularly charming drape embossed with stylized wheat, only remembering to pull his hand back a moment before his fingers reached the fabric. He was always lectured when he dared to put his hands on anything expensive. As if he would dirty it by his very presence.

Funny. If the kingdom was full of undead, why did they work so hard to keep the castle warm?

A scream ripped through the air, and Beauto had his sword half-pulled before he’d fully turned. Kakato was only a second behind him, shoving him aside as he sprang into action.

Except… there was nothing there. No one, living or dead. Just Beauto and Kakato.

Just Beauto and Kakato.

“Sir, where’s Atama?” Beauto said.

“What?” Kakato’s head whipped back and forth. “I thought you were watching him!”

“I-” He’d been distracted. Lost in thought and dreams of luxury. “I didn’t-”

“Fuck,” Kakato said. Vulgar as ever. “Well it’s too late for him. Let’s find the others and kill that monster they call a king. That’ll be a fitting tribute to Squire Atama.”

“He’s not dead,” Beauto said through gritted teeth. “Not until we’ve seen a body.”

“He’s a goner, Dogface! There’s no point!”

Beauto snapped his sword back into its sheath. “I’m going to have a look.”

“Fine, it’s your funeral.” Kakato waved one hand as he turned. “We’ll get all the glory for wiping out that monstrosity, and you’ll lose whatever chance you had of finally getting knighted.”

Beauto stopped.

He clenched his fists, his jaw, his whole body so tight he was certain he was trembling. Right now it was just the two of them. If he were to beat Kakato to a pulp - or less - no one would ever know it was Beauto. It would be blamed on the undead, doing what everyone expected of them.

He heard the clank of Kakato’s armored boots walking away, unbothered, probably barely even remembering what he’d said. He certainly didn’t seem to think about any of it before he spoke. He couldn’t know how much it rankled, every single day, to serve a knight a year younger than him.

Beauto stepped forward, in the direction of the scream.

Atama wasn’t far. Almost as soon as Beauto set foot in the last servant’s hallway they’d left, the boy ran straight into him. He came away with a scratch on his chin from Beauto’s old layered plate armor, but otherwise seemed unharmed.

“What’s wrong?” Beauto asked. “What happened?”

“There was a skull!”

Beauto stared at him. He was grateful every day for the helmet that hid his face, but never moreso when he was sure he couldn’t keep his expression neutral.

“That’s all?” Beauto said. “This castle is overrun with undead, of course there are skulls lying around.”

“It wasn’t lying around, it was on a stake!” Atama said. “I just- I just turned a corner and there it was!”

“Probably marking a room where they keep bodies for resurrection or something,” Beauto said. “Seriously, that was enough to make you scream? Weren’t you already prepared to face things like that once you heard where we were going?”

“Well, I was, but…” Good, at least he wasn’t panicking anymore. “This place just looks so… normal, you know? It looks like the castle back home.” He frowned a little. “But they have nicer stuff than we do.”

“It’s easy to have nice things when you have no qualms about robbing graves,” Beauto said. “Come on, let’s find the others. Sir Kakato was afraid you might be dead.”

A small lie, a white lie, but it didn’t count because Atama didn’t look like he believed it for a second.

They walked side-by-side this time. Beauto enjoyed feeling like a reliable senior squire for the few minutes it took to find their way back, and then he led the way with his mood sinking step by step. It was easy to find the throne room - just like Atama said, this castle was very much like the one back home. And besides, a throne room should never be difficult to find. The whole point was showing off the liege’s splendor.

Even if it wasn’t easy, they would have found it quickly. The sounds of fighting and swearing echoed down the halls.

Both squires took off running, passing through the massive double doors and into the empty space. Beauto felt cold the moment he stepped inside. For a split second he thought it was dark magic, but then he noticed the room lacked carpets or drapes aside from two on the dais that held the throne itself. It was wide open, all stone, not even furniture aside from that single tall chair.

And in front of him, locked in combat with Sir Kakato, was the undead king.

He was about average height (Beauto noted the click-clack of heeled boots and amended that) a little under average height, with the cropped short hair of a soldier and the shadowed eyes of an insomniac. If it wasn't for the bloodless pallor of his skin Beauto would have taken him for a living human, and a rather handsome one at that. He certainly didn't dress like a king. Then again, maybe the knights had caught him in the middle of changing. Beauto couldn't think of another reason his shirt would be half-buttoned like that.

He fought wielding a massive sword, hardly more than a slab of metal with a handle, and he moved far more gracefully than someone encumbered by such a weight should. Unnatural strength, no need to rest or fear muscle strain, a being that existed outside human limitations.

As Beauto watched, the undead king brought his sword down so hard it cracked the blade of Kakato’s, then swept the knight’s legs out from under him with a kick. One-handed, the king picked up Kakato by the straps on the back of his armor and tossed him on top of the other two knights, already lying prone on the floor.

Beauto shrugged off his pack and threw it to the side before drawing his sword. It was smaller than the king’s; a hand-and-a-half sword, a “bastard” sword as Kakato liked to remind him. Lighter than a broadsword but stronger than a short sword. Against an unarmored human Beauto would always have the advantage.

“Take care of them,” Beauto snapped at Atama. “I’ll take care of him.”

He was surprised to see the undead king smirk as Beauto charged him. “Cocky, aren’t we?” the king said.

They met, blades crashing together. The weight was intense, just as Beauto had been afraid of, but he was a better fighter than Kakato. With the king’s attention on his sword, Beauto leaned back and kicked the man square in the gut.

Even with unnatural strength, a body reacted to that. The king made an undignified noise as his breath escaped him, and stumbled backward, giving Beauto just enough time to swing again and cut deep into the side of his neck.

Blood burst from the wound, spurting over the king’s ridiculous ornamental shoulder armor, turning into a fountain as Beauto pulled his sword free. For perhaps a tenth of a second Beauto thought he might have won, but the blood stopped as quickly as it started, and aside from the fresh coat of red the king’s neck looked good as new two-tenths of a second later.

“Damn,” Beauto muttered.

“What did you expect?” the king said with a laugh.

He had… a nice laugh, actually. Deep, warm, with the merest hint of gravel to it.

“I’ll just have to keep trying,” Beauto said.

They clashed again, blade hitting blade, Beauto grateful for his armor more than once, and the king only taking a split second to recover every time Beauto hit one of his openings. When you healed that quickly you must not need to learn to guard your vitals. Beauto was almost jealous.

It only went on for a few minutes. Real fights were like that, not like the theater where actors both in the duel and observing it could deliver full monologues while wooden swords knocked together. A real fight was quick, and messy, and you didn’t have time to think of anything other than not getting stabbed in the liver. That was why knights trained for years to be able to battle on instinct instead of thinking about every move.

Beauto wasn’t a knight, but he’d trained more than any of them. And he’d been getting into fights (that is to say, preventing himself from being beaten) for even longer.

He felt himself slip, and he saw the king’s massive sword swing into his cone of vision, and all he had time to think was -

Why couldn’t it be my face?

The sword hit his side, where the layered armor didn’t cover, and the shock of pain sent him stumbling. It didn’t feel like he’d been cut, but he was wounded now, and the king would easily be able to take advantage of that. The fight was as good as over.

As he shifted the weight of his sword to his other side, he heard a creak of what sounded like door hinges.

It was foolish, but he couldn’t stop himself from looking. Beauto saw the double doors pulling shut, Kakato on one side and Tsume on the other. When Kakato saw Beauto’s head turned in their direction, he smiled suddenly and shouted, “You got this Dogface!”

Then the doors were shut, with all three knights and one squire on the other side of them.

“What?” Beauto said. It couldn’t be. They couldn’t have really just abandoned him, could they? Anyway, what idiot would make doors to a throne room that locked from the outside?

He ran to them and pulled on the handles, the wood creaking but refusing to open. It felt not just locked, but barred.

“What…” Beauto said again. “What idiot makes doors to a throne room that lock from the outside?”

“Oh, we put that in after we took over,” the undead king said, conversationally. “For, y’know, this type of thing.”

Beauto glared at him, though he knew he couldn’t see it. “Trapping people?”

He grinned. Something about it made Beauto’s chest feel tight in the way usually only novels did.

“Yes,” the undead king said. “Trapping prey.”

He was bluffing, Beauto realized immediately. He hadn't killed any of the knights, and Beauto hadn't even been cut by a direct blow from his sword. But the knights wouldn't have known that, not even Sir Tsume. They locked him in here with an undead thing, believing that it would kill him.

"They took my bag…" Beauto realized. He'd dropped it inside the doors, and now it was gone.

They'd left him to die and made sure to salvage his part of their supplies.

“Wow, seriously?" Beauto heard the king say. "What assholes. You need better friends, sir knight."

"Wrong on all counts," Beauto said through gritted teeth.

"How so?"

"I'm not a knight, I'm a squire," he said. "And they are not my friends."

"A squire?" the king repeated. "Aren't they usually- You're not one of those super tall teenagers, are you?"

"I'm twenty-four!" Beauto said, letting his exasperation bleed into his voice. What was the point in hiding it now? It was that same thought that led him to admit, "I was this tall by the time I became a squire, though."

He was sure that was the only reason he was finally chosen. It was embarrassing to have a page the size of a grown man, especially since guests kept assuming he was a footman or guard. The seneschal must have bullied Sir Hana into it. He was a senior knight, he barely needed any help anyway, but once he'd gotten used to looking at Beauto he did actually bother to teach him. Beauto would always be grateful to him for that.

“You're probably telling the truth,” the king said, thoughtfully. “That's too specific of a number to be a lie.”

“If I was lying I'd tell you I was thirty,” Beauto said.

The king laughed, a more genuine one this time. “But that's weird, isn't it?” the king said. “Aren't most squires teenagers?”

“Not all,” Beauto muttered.

“Apparently not. What did you do that they won’t make you-”

Beauto turned, sword in hand, and charged once more at the undead king.

The man barely managed to block his strike. That big blade of his almost worked better as a shield than a weapon, but if Beauto had him on the defensive that was a good thing. He'd caught his breath, and he knew now that the king didn't want him dead. There was no reason not to fight until he couldn't move.

He took advantage of his greater speed, especially now that he didn't have to worry about leaving openings. The king could do little more than dodge and attempt to block Beauto's relentless assault. An assault he didn't want to end too quickly. When would he ever get another chance like this? To fight to his heart's content, to hurt someone as much as he wanted with no consequence?

He kept his attacks to the king's extremities. A slash on the arm, a deep cut on the thigh, watching the king's face as he flinched each time, though never for long. Beauto actually managed to cut through a finger, though the leather of the king's glove held enough that Beauto could see the flesh knit back together.

Beauto drove him back, toward the dais where his throne sat. As expected, the king tripped on the first step, and that was enough for Beauto to knock the sword out of his hand, kick his feet out from under him, and pin him to the floor with a boot on his back.

For a moment Beauto didn't move. Neither did the king, though his breath came in wheezes. Beauto knew, from experience, that it was difficult to get out of this position. If the one stepping on you used any weight at all (and Beauto did) you couldn't just roll out from under them. It was hard to grab onto something in the middle of your own back, and what would you do with it if you could? Not to mention the pressure compressing your lungs and making it difficult to breathe.

Beauto brought his sword down, hovered the blade next to the king's face, and pressed the tip against his cheek until he turned it enough to look up at him.

“What are you going to do?” the king said. He was flushed from exertion, making him look more alive. “Cutting my head off won't kill me. Stabbing me in the heart won't even slow me down.”

“I've got no reason to kill you, but I've got nothing left to lose either.” Without shifting his weight, Beauto carefully sheathed his sword. “We're both stuck here until your people or mine open that door.”

Then he bent forward and retrieved the knife he kept tucked into his boot. He couldn't help grinning at the way the king's eyes widened when he saw the flash of metal.

“You are at my mercy, your highness,” Beauto said, keeping his voice cool despite the way his heart was pounding. “And I am not a merciful man.”

The king bit his lip. Beauto had been expecting the blood to drain from his face, but if anything he flushed a little more.

“Okay,” the king said, “but you can't get mad if I get a boner about it.”

Beauto startled, and instinct had him press his heel harder into the king's back to keep him in place. The king let out a breathless noise that didn't sound entirely like pain.

“What?” Beauto said. His voice was low, in that way that usually made people recoil from him. He cleared his throat to try again, but the king was smiling.

“Does it ruin it for you if I enjoy it too?” he said. “Sorry to say I'm actually desperate enough that almost anything you do with that knife is going to be fun for me.”

Beauto brandished the knife again, a glint of light off the blade seeming to reflect in the king's eye. “You like this?”

“Knifeplay's not my favorite but I do like it, yeah.”

Beauto swallowed.

He shouldn't ask, but... he couldn't stop himself.

“What's your favorite, then?”

The smile widened into a grin. “I like it hands-on. I like hair-pulling, slapping, choking. Mostly I just wanna be picked up and used like a toy.”

Beauto had to swallow again. He almost dropped his knife, he wanted so badly to immediately try something from off the king's list.

But he couldn't. This wasn't an invitation, it was a conversation. One in which he currently had all the power. The novels he read (they were easy to find, though the quality was a crapshoot. His best luck had been at the brothels Sir Kakato thought it was funny to drag him to – they often had erotica lying around for inspiration. Since none of the entertainers wanted to meet his eyes, it was easy for Beauto to tuck himself into a corner of the lounge and read while he waited) often crossed that type of line, but he knew they were fantasies. This... this kind of arrangement, it had to be negotiated beforehand.

“How did you know?” Beauto asked, quietly.

“That you’re into this too?”

Beauto nodded.

“The way you fought. You dragged it out, you hurt me instead of disarming me. You were enjoying yourself.”

“I’m sorry,” Beauto said.

“Don’t be sorry for having fun. I was too.”

“No, I… I’m sorry for taking my anger out on you, instead of the people that deserve it.”

“Apology accepted.” The king shifted beneath his boot. “Now that that’s in the open, how about letting me up?” He grinned again. “Or don’t, and do that thing with your heel again.”

He couldn’t have stopped himself. Not even with a blade to his throat. Beauto pressed the heel of his boot against the king’s back, digging the edge into his spine, and the king gave a soft gasp.

Dear god, Beauto had never been this turned on in his life.

“What’s your name, anyway?” the king asked, still breathless, a little teasing. Was this… flirtation? It was a tone that Beauto had heard before but never caused.

“Beauto,” he said. “What’s yours? Everyone only ever seems to call you ‘the undead king.’”

The flirtation (if that’s what it was) quickly disappeared. “That’s because I don’t have one. I was numbered, not named.”

Beauto barely managed a “Wh?” sound.

“They call me the undead king for a reason. I’m not exactly dead, but I’m certainly not a human. I was made in a lab by a necromancer. I’m nothing but an experiment that happens to be able to walk and talk.”

Immediately Beauto pulled his foot off the king’s back and stepped away. The king was frowning as he sat up. He had hooded eyes that exaggerated the expression, like red coals peering out of the shadow of his brow. If Beauto hadn’t already seen through him he may have been afraid.

“Disturbing, isn’t it?” the king said.

“This person made you but never bothered to name you?” Beauto said. “Of course that’s disturbing!”

The king looked surprised, for some reason. The frown fell away and he blinked up at Beauto. “Isn’t it?” he said, distantly.

“What a piece of shit,” Beauto said firmly.

“He was,” the king agreed. “Still is, probably.”

“He’s still alive?”

“Not if I ever see him again.”

Beauto nodded. He had enough practice in his helmet that the bottom of the face shield no longer clanked against his chest plate when he did. “They say the best revenge is living well, but what’s the point if you can’t rub it in their faces? Drag him before your throne and order your knights to kill him, let him see you’ve got loyalty and respect. Let him die knowing what a fool he was.”

The king’s eyes were slightly widened, but he was smiling again. “Is that a fantasy you’ve had?”

Beauto tilted his head. “No?” he asked, confused by the question. It was just logical, wasn’t it?

“No?”

“No, it’s not. Why?”

The king laughed, shaking his head. “You know, I think I like you Squire Beauto. I really do.”

Behind his helmet, Beauto smiled.

“Speaking of which…” The king, still sitting on the floor, leaned back against the bottom step of his dais. He smiled up at Beauto, something like heat in those strange red eyes of his.

His body was relaxed, his posture casual, and as Beauto looked at him he - without looking like was doing anything other than getting more comfortable - spread his thighs.

The king wore his trousers very tight.

“Did you want to step on me again?” he asked. “Or… something else, maybe?”

Beauto swallowed. His heart was pounding, his blood rushing so loudly he almost couldn’t hear his own response.

“That's... an option?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Beauto, knowing he must look like an idiot, pointed at his chest. “Me?”

“Yes,” the king said. He didn't roll his eyes, which Beauto took as a good sign he meant it.

“I’m your enemy. I was sent here to kill you as a monster. And you'd... lay with me?”

“Absolutely,” the king said. “My standards are not high right now.” He hesitated, and added, “Do you think I’m a monster?”

“No…” Beauto said, though he was sure the king heard the doubt in it.

The church taught that the undead were not truly the dead come back to life, but demons inhabiting their bodies. Putting them down was the righteous thing to do. And though Beauto didn’t believe anymore, not really (a loving god wouldn’t allow children to be cursed before they were even conceived), it was difficult to forget something you had known as a “fact” for most of your life.

“Maybe,” Beauto admitted. “But my standards aren't high either.”

The king laughed, and reached out a hand to beckon him. Beauto took a step forward. And another. And, gently, pressed his boot against the king's thigh, forcing his legs even farther apart.

“What are you going to do to me?” the king practically purred.

Beauto had never heard that actually done before. He'd read it in novels, seen actors on the stage try it, but he'd never heard it in a voice that wasn't performing. This... right now...

This was real. This was happening. He might really, really, lose his virginity. Beauto had all but given it up for a lost cause – no one would want him with this face, and his body wasn't much to speak of either. And if he managed to survive until he didn't have this face any more, what were the chances merely being average-looking would find him a partner either? At least he could hire company then.

But right now... someone wanted him. Someone hadn't seen his face, and Beauto was fairly sure he could bluff his way through this encounter without having to remove his helmet. If the king actually preferred to be treated like an object, keeping a barrier between them shouldn't be that big of a deal.

It could happen. It could work.

Trying to hide his trembling, Beauto pulled off one glove and leaned forward to grab a fistful of the king's hair. The smile never budged.

“I want you,” Beauto said. He meant it to be the beginning of a sentence, but nothing came to mind. He was so excited he was feeling light-headed.

“You've got me, baby,” the king said. As Beauto tugged at his hair, the king's eyelids fluttered in pleasure and he let out a soft moan.

Holy shit, was it normal to get dizzy when all your blood rushed to your dick? Some of those novels had been pretty stimulating, but he'd never felt like this. The strength was even going out of his fingers with how hard it hit him.

No, wait.

Beauto stumbled, putting both feet back on the floor, hoping it would keep him upright. His vision slid sideways and he saw the king, brow wrinkled in concern, reach out for him.

He hit the ground on his already-injured side, and then everything went black.

***

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

Her king had grabbed Psykos by the shoulders and was shaking her. Considering she was a witch and quite a bit older than him, the responsible thing to do here would be to remain calm and allow him to get his aggression out before asking why he felt it.

Instead, Psykos kicked his shin until he let go.

“Ow!”

“Ow first! What do you mean what's wrong with me?”

“Why did you have to cast a sleep spell on the room? Why couldn't you just leave well enough alone?”

“You were in there with one of those asshole knights!” Psykos gestured at the now-open doors to the throne room, where the enchanted knight was laying on the floor, right next to the dais.

“So what? You could have come in the side door to check first!” The servant doors were used by everyone now that the castle inhabitants lived communally, but people who didn't live there never considered there might be an entrance that wasn't huge and extravagant.

“Why? This is standard procedure.”

“I know, but-”

“You're immune to most magic, so if I cast a sleep spell everyone falls over until we can run damage control.”

“I know, but-”

“But what? I shouldn't do what I've done a dozen times? I shouldn't try to help you?”

“Help me?” the king repeated. “You just coc-”

He stopped. His eyes looked off to her side, and about two feet down.

“Co... cost me a chance to get along with somebody!”

Psykos glanced back, and confirmed that Isamu was standing there ready to help. He gave her a confused smile when she met his eyes, and she patted his shoulder.

“It's okay Isamu, we're just talking. Did you get the prisoners situated?”

“Yes, they're in that wine cellar that we emptied out because the king is trying to quit drinking.” Isamu smiled at him so brightly it even hurt Psykos to look at. “We're really proud of you for doing that!”

“Yes we are,” Psykos agreed. “See? We show our appreciation when you do things.”

The king took a breath, then slowly reached up and pressed his fingers to his temples. “Reminding me of all the wine we threw away is not helping...”

“Sorry,” Psykos said.

“Sorry,” Isamu said.

"But," Psykos continued, "did you really want to get along with somebody like that? Somebody who came to kill you?"

"Not the first time," the king said, and tapped two fingers on the side of his neck. Psykos scowled and made sure her collar was tugged up high enough to cover last night's bite mark.

"Trust me, I was watching them, those knights are assholes."

"He's not a knight," the king said.

Psykos looked, closer this time, at the figure laying on the floor. He was wearing only partial armor, an old-fashioned breastplate made of layered metal plates, and an even older bucket helmet. And he was on his back, flat, with his arms straight at his sides. Very unlikely he'd fallen that way naturally. The king must have repositioned him.

"The squire," she said. "The one they called-" She cut herself off. What was his real name? "Bureau?"

"Beauto," the king said.

"Beauto. Right. He was…" He was the one they were all being assholes to. "He seemed all right."

"And you just knocked him out right when things were getting good." The king rubbed his hands over his head, curling his fingers into his hair. "Shit, he's going to think it was a trap. Think I was buying time, not…"

"It's my fault," Psykos said quickly. "I'll apologize and explain everything if you want."

The king looked up.

"The spell will last about an hour, let's put him in a guest room so he knows he's not a prisoner as soon as he wakes up."

"You think?" the king said.

He looked so hopeful. This was more than just a cockblock situation, the king really liked this guy.

"I'm sure," Psykos said.

After all, she'd seen his face. He couldn't have a line of prospective lovers knocking down his door. If a king - undead or not - was interested in him, Beauto would be a fool to say no.

***

Beauto woke in bed. For a moment he was disoriented, feeling like he'd been dreaming something completely ridiculous. He reached out for his helmet, like he did every morning he spent in the barracks, hiding his face as quickly as possible before any of the younger squires woke up.

His hand met nothing but more bedding. Soft, plush mattress, smooth fabric. This was not his bed.

The castle. The king.

Beauto jolted upright. The curtains in the room were open, sunlight streaming in, unimpeded by either curtains or the face shield of Beauto's helmet.

"Shit!" He covered as much of his face as he could with one hand and fumbled for the edge of the bed. Who took it? Why? The king hadn't seen, had he?

"Oh hey, you're awake!" The king stood up from a chair in the corner. He was smiling, nearly as bright as the sun, looking Beauto right in the eye.

Beauto threw himself backward and covered himself with the sheet.

"What's wrong?" he heard the king ask.

"Why?" Beauto demanded. "Why did you take my helmet, why?"

He could feel himself choking up. This was foolish, it was just sex, he'd known it was never going to happen for him.

"Why? Why?"

Why did he feel like crying? Why did this upset him so much?

"Okay, okay," he heard the king moving around the room. "I wasn't supposed to, I guess? I'm sorry. Is this a religious thing, or…"

"Why would you do it?" Beauto said. Begged. "I don't understand, why couldn't you just- just- Why?"

"You were knocked out, we wanted to make you more comfortable while you had to lay there."

"We?" Beauto repeated. "Who else saw?"

"Uh, a couple of guards? Hana and- Shit, I can never remember Ami's dad's name."

"Three people saw me? You saw my face?"

"I'm really sorry, I didn't know I wasn't supposed to."

Beauto could see the shadow of him moving, between the sheet and the window. The king was close, too close. What did he want? He couldn't want what he'd wanted before.

"Here's your helmet," the king said, his shadow holding something out.

Beauto stuck one hand out of the blanket, and when metal touched his fingers he whisked the heavy object under the covers with him to safety.

Only once he was sure he was hidden did Beauto pull the sheets off his head.

"Where's the rest of my armor?" His clothes were intact, only his armor and boots had been removed. Ugh. Undressed like a doll.

"Over here." 

Through the eye slits in the helmet, Beauto saw the king gesture at the same corner where he'd been sitting. There was an armor stand there, a real one, looking naked without more than the random pieces Beauto was permitted to wear.

He turned away from the king, making sure his tunic hem was pulled down and his trousers were pulled up before climbing out of the opposite side of the bed.

"Do I have permission to leave?" Beauto asked, trying his best to maintain what dignity he had. His voice was still shaky and thick with snot.

"You're not a prisoner," the king said, sadly. Of course he'd be disappointed. "I'd like it if you stayed as a guest, but that's entirely up to you. No hard feelings here, I promise."

Beauto didn't believe it but he didn't dare call it out. He hadn't lied, the king had never asked to see his face, but realizing he'd nearly slept with someone who looked like Beauto must have felt like dodging a cannon ball.

"What happened to my… traveling party?"

"They were caught trying to loot the castle. The rule around here is that anyone's allowed to challenge me to a fight, the rest of the residents and staff will get out of the way, but stealing isn't something we can tolerate."

"At least let me take Squire Atama," Beauto said. "He's only fifteen, he hasn't had a chance to know better."

"What?" the king said. He shook his head. "You can take all of them, we don't want them, I just meant my political advisor cast a sleep spell on them and tossed them in the wine cellar."

Beauto blinked. He hadn't quite shed any tears, but his eyes still felt tired. "Your… political advisor?"

"She's pretty good at manipulating people so it was as good a title as any. But she's a witch if that's what you mean."

"Why the wine cellar?"

"We don't have dungeons or anything. It's an enclosed room with nothing in it at the moment, and the only door is at the top of a narrow staircase so we've got the advantage if they try to break out."

"You don't have dungeons," Beauto said, flatly.

"No. I think this castle used to be a fancy hunting lodge."

"What do you do with all the other knights that try to kill you?"

"They usually fight themselves into exhaustion and then we toss 'em out."

Beauto shook his head. No wonder so many rumors had spread about this damned kingdom and the "monster" that ruled it. They kept letting their enemies survive! Let them leave humiliated and carrying a grudge!

"I'll tell them we lost," Beauto said. "I… won't tell anyone about what-" No, the king wouldn't even want Beauto to acknowledge what had almost happened. "I'll go," he said, quietly. "I won't come back. The knights won't talk about me when they tell this story, they never do. No one will ever know I was here."

Beauto had been standing there with his face turned down, no desire to see the look at the king's expression when Beauto alluded to their near-tryst. Would it be anger? Disgust? Fear? He'd gotten all three before, and in every combination.

"I'm sorry," the king said. "It wasn't a trick, I swear. I didn't want Psykos to knock you out."

"I know." But he must be glad for it now. He'd probably give her a raise.

“You can ask her yourself!”

“There's no need.”

“Can you tell me why people shouldn't see your face? Or is it a personal thing.”

In surprise, Beauto looked up at him. The king's expression was… confused. Concerned. Not a trace of disgust.

“Why would I want anyone to see it?”

“Because… it's your face?” The king's brow squiggled like one of those flat-faced dogs.

“And now that you've seen it, do you still want to bed me?”

“Yes?” the king said.

“You see? That's why-” Beauto stopped. “What did you say?”

“I- I said yes?” the king said. “I wanted you when as far as I knew you had no face, why would seeing you make me feel different?”

He tilted his head, as if Beauto were an abstract painting he was trying to figure out. Beauto was very glad he wasn't being seen at the moment, because his mouth was opening and closing like a goldfish as he tried to process what he'd just heard.

Yes. The king said yes. He still wanted him.

It couldn't be possible.

“That can't be possible,” Beauto muttered aloud.

The king's expression changed, smoothed out, his eyes widening. “You really believe that,” he said. He shook his head. “Holy shit, who hurt you?”

Beauto gave a mirthless huff of laughter. “Everyone?”

Over two decades of memories hit Beauto all at once, and he sunk back down onto the edge of the bed.

“Everyone,” he said again. “No one has ever seen my face and not been put off by it.”

He heard the king's voice behind him, and felt the bed sink as he sat on the other side. “Really? I mean... it's not that I don't believe you, it's just... Are you sure?”

Beauto would be angry if it was anyone else, but there was nothing to gain for the king to jerk him around like this. Nothing but sick sadistic pleasure, and Beauto knew what that looked like from both sides. This wasn't bullying, this was ignorance.

“You said it yourself, didn't you? You asked what I'd done that I still haven't been made a knight. The answer is... be born like this.” Beauto smiled to himself. He had to smile, or he'd start screaming. “I've been a squire longer than I was a page, now, but that was a long time too. No knight wanted the ugly kid to strap on their armor for them.”

“But... but that's...”

Beauto turned. His helmet slits weren't wide enough that he could see the king unless he pulled one leg up on the bed and brought his whole body sideways. He was surprised to see the king had done the same, leaning toward him across the mattress.

“The knights... Well, you heard them. You know what they call me.”

“They're assholes,” the king said. “Who cares what they think?”

“Everyone thinks it. When you look like me, people are happy to jump to the worst conclusions.” Beauto had to avert his gaze again. "And… they're not entirely wrong. You know what I am. What I like."

“Nobody gets to choose what they're turned on by,” the king said. “Being an asshole is a choice. Every time.”

“You make it sound so simple,” Beauto said.

“It should be simple! It shouldn't have to be hard to expect basic human decency!”

Beauto looked up, and saw the king wince.

“Sorry… I think I'm projecting a little here.”

“Ah.” Of course, someone visibly undead would have faced even worse than Beauto ever had. And the king had been made this way, he said. He was never an ordinary human.

But it rankled, somehow. Being compared to something that never should have expected to be accepted. Beauto was a victim of a generations-old curse, he wasn't a monster like the king.

He said none of this out loud, having learned a long time ago that thoughts like that would never be rewarded.

“You’re right,” Beauto said. That was usually a safe bet, although he’d already forgotten what they were talking about.

“Damn right I’m right,” the king said, full of confidence. And then added, “What were we talking about?”

In spite of everything, Beauto laughed.

The king smiled at him, all warm eyes and soft lips. It still felt like Beauto would be thrown out of this bedroom at any moment, but he couldn’t help enjoying the view.

“You have an amazing voice, you know that?” the king said suddenly.

“Yes,” Beauto said, bluntly. That was the one thing he’d refuse to accept insults about. “I’m a singer. I was in the church choir for all of my childhood, and I’d have liked to do it for a living, but I was… gently discouraged from following that path.”

The king shook his head. “It’s the world’s loss.”

Beauto smiled. “Well… maybe in six years.”

“What’s in six years? Are you on a squiring contract?”

“That’s not a thing,” Beauto laughed. “No, it’s the deadline for the curse. That’s why I look like this, my bloodline is cursed.”

The king blinked a couple times, and his wispy brows drew together in confusion. “You’re cursed?”

“I think- I hope that’s why people react the way they do. That it’s magic and not human nature making them turn against me as soon as they get a look.” Beauto sighed. “But I doubt it.”

“We can solve that!” The king sat up straight and clapped his hands together. “I have a witch!”

Beauto did not succeed in stopping the king from calling his “political advisor” into the bedroom. Nor did he stop the woman (she looked mid-twenties but mages could sometimes extend their lives through unethical means, and her clothes were several decades out of date) from rattling off half of a rehearsed apology before the king stopped her.

“I explained all that,” he said. “He's cursed, Psykos.”

The king had at least had the foresight to move them to chairs, but there were only two in the room and the king had - of all things - elected to perch on the tea table between them instead of calling for a third. It was strange, but having him there as a buffer made Beauto feel more at ease.

“How so?” the woman, Psykos, asked.

The king turned to Beauto, waiting for him to explain, and Beauto allowed himself a sigh. He'd explained this so many times in his life that he'd gotten bored. How could you sum up a lifetime of suffering in a few sentences?

“It's my whole family. The firstborn is always born hideously ugly, no matter what their parents looked like. At twenty we gain shapeshifting powers, but if we use them we'll die in ten years.”

“Well that's some bullshit,” the woman said, as if Beauto had described something no more serious than a rude encounter at the pub.

“I’ve managed to hold out for four years, two months, and thirteen days.”

“Let's see,” the woman said.

She reached out for Beauto’s hand, and he automatically flinched back.

“I'm sorry,” she said, more gently. “If it's on your bloodline I'll need to touch you to get an idea. If I can see your face it'll be even easier, since that's that part it affects the most.”

Beauto didn’t move. Her words made sense, but he hadn’t willingly taken his helmet off in front of another human in over three years. Why would he, when all it did was destroy any favorable impressions they might have?

She wouldn’t be able to break the curse. No one could, no one had, not in at least three generations of searching. The king might not mind Beauto’s face, but the king was undead. Maybe the curse didn’t affect him in the same way.

“If it makes a difference, I’ve already seen you without that thing,” the woman said.

Beauto shrunk back further. The king said that he and two guards saw him, but he hadn’t said anything about this witch.

“When? Why?” Beauto demanded.

“I can see through the eyes of some animals, so it’s part of my job to keep an eye on any new visitors to the area. Your traveling party was suspicious, and I checked in on you several times over the last few days. I saw you getting ready before the others woke up.”

Beauto winced.

“I saw the way they treated you,” she added.

The ever-familiar anger began to well up within him. Of course she had. Of course. It was bad enough he’d been exposed literally, why not figuratively as well? At this point he could strip and feel less naked.

Fuck it.

Beauto pulled his helmet off and threw it across the room. He heard it bounce off the bed frame and rattle along the floor, coming to a rest just out of the corner of his eye. He glared at the woman’s face, and saw, just as he’d expected, shock and disgust twist her features.

“Oh that is nasty,” she said.

“I told you!” Beauto snapped. He tried to get up, but the king leaned over and grabbed his hand.

“No, come on baby, hear her out.”

“Why?” he said.

“That’s not what she meant.” The king turned to her and hissed, “It’s not, is it?”

“No!” the woman said, raising her hands quickly. “I just haven’t seen a death curse that detailed before.”

Beauto felt his brow furrow, before remembering his bare face and trying to compose himself. “Yes, I said it was deadly.”

“Not deadly,” the woman said. “A death curse. Meaning it was powered by death.”

Beauto sunk back in his seat. “Someone… killed someone to curse my family?”

“Maybe,” she said. “But that’s difficult as hell. This looks to me more like the caster died.”

“H… how?”

“Hard to say whether it was suicide or they were already dying. But either way, this is what they did with their last breath.”

Beauto shook his head. Whatever was showing on his face, it made the king take his hand.

“What did my ancestor do to this person?”

“Whatever it was, it wasn’t worth dooming their whole family,” the woman said. “Don’t dwell on it.”

“No, I…” Beauto covered his mouth with his free hand.

He could picture it. A handsome bully, tormenting someone for their looks until that person felt they couldn’t go on. But they’d get their revenge, oh yes, they would make that bastard pay. They would make his grandchildren pay. None of them would ever forget what it was like to be the easy target.

He’d do the same thing in their place.

“Don’t dwell on it,” the king repeated, softly.

“I’m not,” Beauto lied.

“I can try to break it,” the woman said. “But this kind of magic is thorny. It’ll take me years to unravel, maybe a decade or more.”

Slowly, Beauto raised his head. “But you can do it?”

“I can, if you can wait that long.”

Years… He had six years left before the curse broke on its own, but if he could shorten that even a day he would go for it. And if it was longer, then… Then it wouldn’t matter, really. But if she could break it for him, she could break it for others.

“I don’t intend to have children, but I’d certainly like to remove the possibility of passing it on, just in case.”

“You don’t want kids?” the king said. There was just a bit too much interest in his tone.

“I didn’t think anyone would ever want me for a partner, so I haven’t considered it,” Beauto said.

“You have any experience with ‘em?”

“Kids? Yes, I have three younger half-siblings. We’re not close but we got along well enough.”

They were the only people - the only ones before the king - who had never been disgusted by him. They’d known Beauto for their entire lives, so perhaps that canceled it out.

The king nodded, as if filing that information away.

Beauto felt the corner of his mouth begin to rise. “Don’t tell me you’re considering a relationship with me. We’ve known each other for an hour.”

“Hey, it’s just good to know! If you hated kids I’d know not to get attached.”

“You’re undead, can you even father children?”

“Hell if I know,” the king said. “But I’ve already more or less adopted one and I’m not ruling it out for the future.”

Across the table, the woman cleared her throat. “So… Are you considering staying then, Sir Beauto?”

Beauto flinched. “Squire. I’m a squire.”

A moment later, her words filtered in.

“Wait, what?”

“Come on, Psykos,” the king said. Beauto noted he was blushing, a little bit of life once again returning to his bloodless cheeks. “That’s a lot to ask.”

“I thought you liked him.”

“I- I do, but you can’t ask a guy to move in on the first date. Even if it’s just an invitation to join the kingdom, what if he thinks-”

“Yes,” Beauto said.

What did he have waiting for him back home? Six more years of humiliation, a king who expected three knights to overthrow an army of undead, a family who would rather forget he’d been born. His little siblings would only miss the solstice presents he brought them and his mother refused to talk about her first marriage at all. He only went to church anymore because knights were expected to be faithful, and he had to be better than perfect if he ever wanted that title. Why keep it up? Why keep fighting for respect he’d never get?

He would never have to see or speak to that damn Sir Kakato again.

“You want to stay?” the king said, sounding surprised, but happily so.

“I do,” Beauto said. “Though preferably not as a kept man. I think you’ll be disappointed by my skills anyway, I was bluffing earlier, I’m a virgin.”

“That was bluffing?” the king said, even more surprised this time. “Damn, you’ve got a natural talent then.”

“Okay I’m leaving,” the woman said, smoothly rising from her chair. “You boys have fun, I’ll have Isamu draw up the citizenship papers.”

“Yeah yeah.” The king waved her off, not taking his eyes off Beauto’s face.

His bare, helmet-less face.

Nervously, Beauto reached up and tried to straighten his hair. It was a futile effort, as always, not to mention the helmet making it worse. There would be weird creases and split ends and sometimes it got tousled so much it looked like a bird’s nest.

But despite looking like that, neither the king nor his advisor had shown any disgust. Beauto thought Psykos had, at first, but the rest of the conversation she was looking at him dead-on with nary a blink. Did they… really not care?

“Wait,” Beauto said as the woman reached for the door handle. “The curse. Did- can you see how it works?”

“Yes,” the woman said. She tapped the frame of her glasses. “I’ve got these enchanted, otherwise I’d need a blood sample. Why?”

“People have been treating me like…” Beauto trailed off. “Well, like you saw. It’s been like that all my life. I wanted to know, is it- is it the curse? Does it make me look inhuman? Does it cause people to be repulsed by me?”

He dared to look up as he waited for her answer, and he hated how much pity he saw in her eyes. “No. I’m sorry, Sir Beauto, the curse is purely physical. It seems like you’ve just spent your life surrounded by assholes.”

Beauto pressed his lips together, and nodded. “That’s what I thought. Thank you.”

It was what he’d thought, but not what he’d hoped.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Psykos said. “Goodnight.”

It was late afternoon, judging by the light coming through the windows, but the king’s advisor expected they would be occupied for the rest of the day.

Beauto swallowed.

The door shut, the king looked at Beauto expectantly, and Beauto found himself saying what he was thinking for the first time in years.

“I hate people.”

“Oh.”

“Everyone I’ve ever met.”

“Okay.”

“My life changed so much after I started wearing my helmet. I got it on my first mission outside the country, and everything was different. People didn't shy away from me, shop clerks actually greeted me...”

“They didn't before?” the king exclaimed.

“I don't know if... I'm frightening, maybe? I look like people think a thug should look. That, or... maybe they can tell I hate them. All of them.”

“You've got the right to,” the king said.

“I hoped it was the curse. I didn’t believe it, but I hoped. Now that I know for sure… I really hate them.”

“I’m sorry you went through that,” the king said. He’d still been holding Beauto’s hand this whole time, and now he squeezed it.

“Even my own grandfather. He was a preacher, and in his sermons he used to use me as an example of hardships his family faced. Say that god sent me to test them.”

“What the fuck,” the king said softly.

“I actually didn't mind that. I think I thought it gave me purpose.”

“Seriously, what the fuck?”

“I don’t feel that way anymore, don’t worry.”

“Good, because… Good.” The king shook his head and squeezed a little harder. “R Kingdom’s dinky, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s even smaller than here.”

“I hate to say it, but if everyone you've spent time with knew you your whole life, already thought of you as a target, maybe it was the location that was the problem?”

“Maybe,” Beauto said. “It’s a nice thought. But if I am going to stay here, I… I’d prefer to keep wearing my helmet.” He glanced at the king, who met his eyes without hesitation. “At least in public.”

“We can get you a new one. Hell, if you don’t mind armor that was died in, we can get you one for every day of the week.”

The old helmet had probably belonged to a dead knight too. “As long as it’s been boiled clean.”

“Then you’re staying?” the king asked, hope and warmth in his voice.

He kept asking that. Almost as if the king expected to be left behind at any moment.

A thought occurred, and Beauto nearly smiled. “I want to stay, and I want to spend the night with you if you’ll let me.”

“Hell yes.”

“But I’m still a little worried about my traveling party. If they think you’ve killed me, they might hold a grudge.”

“Okay,” the king said. “So you want to see them off?”

“Yes,” Beauto said. “I would very much like to see them off.”

Mid-morning, the three knights and one squire were dragged back to the throne room. The king waited on his throne, flanked on one side by his witch (now decked out in even-older-looking clothes, though the black dye had held strong), and on the other by a knight in full plate armor (with a black finish that had been hastily applied and still smelled faintly of chemicals).

Beauto thought to himself, standing on the dias, that looking through the visor slits of his new helmet at Sir Kakato cowering on the ground was very nearly as satisfying as last night had been. Whatever their treatment during their visit to the wine cellar, the knights now looked thoroughly dejected.

But not scared. Not yet. At least one of them was smart enough to know they’d be dead already if the undead king wanted to kill them, and would have explained it to the others. So they were beaten, but not broken.

“You come to my castle,” the king said, slowly. “You try to kill me. You spit on my floor. You steal my things.”

The knights didn’t say a word, though Atama looked at Sir Onaka as if expecting something. Kakato fixed his eyes on the floor and hunched in on himself, trying to look smaller. Like all bullies, he turned into a coward when faced with someone he genuinely could not beat.

“You are all very lucky. Luckier than you can imagine,” the king said. “Because despite your best efforts, I’m having a good day.” Beauto could hear the smile in his voice, and he was sure it was a wicked one. “So I’ll be letting you go on your way, with bodies and belongings intact.”

Relief washed across the whole party’s faces. But Atama glanced at Sir Onaka again, and then the other two, and finally spoke up.

“Um, sire, is it… May I ask what happened to our other companion? Squire Beauto?”

“Ah, yes.” The king smiled again. “He kept me very well entertained.”

Atama went pale. Beauto almost felt bad about it, but even the boy had looked down on him. Assumed the worst, like everyone else. Bragged about the fact he would surely reach a knighthood before “Dogface.”

But he was only fifteen, and Beauto remembered being fifteen. He couldn’t be too angry. The boy still had time to grow.

“Is he…” Atama swallowed. “Sire. What can I tell his family?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” The king glanced at Beauto. “Tell them his adventure stopped here.”

Under his helmet, Beauto chuckled.

The king sat up and clapped, and two undead soldiers brought the knights’ supplies into the throne room, dumping it all unceremoniously on the floor.

“Take what’s yours,” the king said, and the knights and Atama quickly scrambled to their feet.

They picked up their packs, loading bags onto already-encumbered shoulders. Atama must have helped all three back into their armor that morning. He’d tightened Kakato’s straps too much and the knight’s clothing was bunching around it. He would be uncomfortable all day.

Beauto smiled.

The king leaned over, and whispered, “Which one?”

“Blue,” Beauto said. His bag was the largest by far.

The king raised his voice. “I said, take what’s yours.” He snapped his fingers and pointed, and Beauto strode forward to snatch his bag from Atama’s arms as if following the order, and not that they’d discussed this beforehand.

Atama skittered away from him in fear. “I just- I thought-”

“It is ours!” Kakato exclaimed. Of course he found his tongue when trying to steal something. “If my squire is dead, his belongings belong to m- us!”

Beauto ignored him, keeping a tight grip on the straps with one hand, and letting the other rest on his sword hilt.

“And our maps are in there, and most of our cooking stuff!”

“Give them the maps,” the king said. “We want them to be able to find their way out.”

Beauto nodded, enjoying the way his new helmet fit so well he didn’t have to worry about it sliding. He pulled the maps from the side pocket and handed them over to Atama. Kakato couldn’t read one and the other two wouldn’t take orders from each other, not even if it was just directions.

He turned, planning to hand the bag off to one of the soldiers, when behind him he heard Kakato say -

“Dogface?”

Maybe it was the sword. Beauto hadn’t replaced it along with the armor, he still had his hand-and-a-half sword sheathed at his hip. Maybe it was body language, and Kakato actually had paid enough attention to his squire over the last year to learn the way he moved. Or maybe it was that the black knight hadn’t needed to ask where the maps were in such an overstuffed traveling pack.

Whatever it was that gave him away, Beauto was caught.

Fuck it.

He took his hand off his sword and backhanded Kakato across the face, hard enough to send him sprawling. One of the undead soldiers stepped forward and took Beauto’s bag, leaving him with both hands free to grab Kakato by his breastplate and haul him to his feet. There was a red mark on his cheek and a shallow scratch that wasn’t even bleeding, but Kakato was wide-eyed and panting with shock.

“If I ever hear that name out of your mouth again,” Beauto hissed, “I will see to it your jaw needs to be wired shut. Understand?”

Kakato gaped at him, mouth hanging open like a fool. After a second he seemed to realize the irony of this, and snapped it shut.

Beauto let go of him, making sure to shove him just enough that he stumbled into Onaka, who moved out of the way rather than steady his fellow knight.

“Go,” the king said, his voice raised to carry. “Leave my kingdom while I’m still in a good mood. If any of you have half the brains of your former squire, you’ll never return.”

The knights didn’t wait on propriety, moving as soon as the door was open and already beginning to nudge each other and whisper in the hallway outside. Beauto saw Atama glance back, stunned, his eyes fixed on Beauto’s black helmet.

Beauto said nothing. Whatever conclusions Atama decided to draw were his own business.

The doors shut, the king sighed and slumped in his throne, and then one of the soldiers looked at Beauto and asked if he was okay.

Beauto nodded.

“Did he call you that all the time? What an asshole.”

Beauto nodded again, and let out a sigh of his own. “It’s over now.”

“Yeah, that’s right, forget about them,” the soldier agreed firmly.

Beauto would have to learn his name. He seemed nice, and if Beauto was going to stay he would need to get along with others. And a man with a gaping hole where his nose ought to be had no room to judge Beauto for his looks.

Maybe that was why the king and Psykos hadn’t reacted much. Being surrounded by walking corpses surely gave you a much higher tolerance for unpleasant visages.

The click-clack of two pairs of heels heralded the people in question. Beauto and the soldiers snapped to attention in unison.

“I hate that,” the king said. “Psykos, I hate it when they do that.”

“I know you do,” she said, soothingly. “All right, I’ve got to go keep an eye on those assholes to make sure they leave the country and don’t set any fields on fire on the way out.” She glanced at Beauto. “Want me to have the crows shit on them?”

“No,” Beauto said. “Atama would be the one to have to clean it off.”

“Fair enough.” She waved as she flounced off, wavy hair flowing behind her.

How did she make it look like that? Was it magic or could Beauto actually do something about his rat’s nest?

The soldiers trooped off as well, returning to their usual duties. They still had their army training, but the way they spoke to Beauto and each other was far more relaxed than the soldiers Beauto knew from home.

His old home, that is.

Now alone in the throne room, Beauto followed the king back to his throne. He glanced around, making sure he hadn’t missed someone, and turned away from the doors before lifting his visor.

“Are you okay with this?” the king asked.

“It was my idea, my king.”

“Yeah but… you could have gone further.”

“Would you have let me?” Beauto asked, with a smile.

“If you thought they needed killing, I’d trust your judgment.”

“That’s a mistake. I think I’m less merciful than you are, sire.”

The king tilted his head and looked up at Beauto. His eyes were blood red, but already Beauto found the color more fascinating than disturbing.

“But you didn’t do it,” the king said. “You let them go, you didn’t even beat the shit out of that one guy.”

“I couldn’t do that,” Beauto said. “I’m a knight, and you’re my liege. My behavior reflects on you.”

The king smiled. He was so handsome that if Beauto hadn’t spent the entire previous night defiling him, it would have been hard not to hate him.

“Does it?” he said softly.

“Of course. This is my home now. Even if we tire of each other, it will still be my duty to protect this kingdom and its king. And that includes our reputation.”

The king crooked a finger, beckoning Beauto closer. “You can guard my reputation,” he said warmly, “as long as you keep calling me a slut in private.”

“You are a slut,” Beauto said. “It’s not slander if it’s the truth.” He put his hand on the arm of the throne and leaned over the king’s body, lowering his voice to a near whisper. “But only I’m allowed to say it.”

The king’s eyes lit up, and he tilted his head back, welcoming Beauto as he went in for a kiss.

A few days ago Beauto thought he would die a squire and a virgin, and now he could kiss a king whenever he liked. If this was a dream he hoped he never woke up.

The door slammed open and Beauto jumped back, pulling his visor down over his face. The young boy Beauto had seen in passing this morning ran across the room without waiting for permission, and stuffed a stack of papers into the bewildered king’s arms.

“Horses!” he said, as if that explained anything. “I gotta go, the sables got out!”

“How the- Isamu!”

The boy kept running, out the side door behind the drapes.

“Isamu!”

As that door too slammed shut behind their visitor, the king sunk down in his throne and groaned.

“Is it always like this?” Beauto asked, amused.

The king grumbled something incoherent.

“Do you want help?”

Wordlessly, the king held out the papers for Beauto to take.

It turned out to be a list of items they needed to get the stables resupplied. No part of the list actually mentioned horses, but Beauto had done most kinds of chores around a castle before and he knew what went where.

“I’ll take care of it,” Beauto said.

“Wait, really? Can you?”

“Sure, this is simple. Why did the boy give it to you instead of the stablemaster?”

“We don’t have one of those.”

“The castle seneschal then.”

“Isamu is the seneschal.”

Beauto was quiet for a moment as a lot of things he’d noticed began to make sense. Though the castle was large and they’d gone to effort to make it comfortable for all the inhabitants, and everyone respected the king and his authority, no one seemed particularly organized. Even the armory had been unlocked and unguarded when Beauto went to pick out his new armor.

“You need me,” Beauto said.

“I do,” the king agreed, no hint of innuendo in his voice for once. The situation may be even more dire than Beauto suspected. “Oh gods, I really do.”

Taking that as blanket permission to act on his behalf, Beauto set out. With his new armor and his old sword and a long night’s worth of aches and bruises that he wouldn’t have given up for the world. For now his job was just shopping and scrounging, but he was trusted now, truly trusted. Piece by piece Beauto would take the power that trust gave him and turn this kingdom into something to be proud of.

He hummed as he walked the halls, an old ballad about love and loss and the faithful getting their just rewards.

Beauto was a traitor, technically, but right now he felt very rewarded indeed.

#undead kingdom au #opm au #batfics #zombiemask #amazomb #amai mask #sweet mask #zombieman #psykos #child emperor #fubuki

[play-on-skinners-box]

Others have already been furrying the Raincode characters and doing a phenomenal job, but when I would peruse Danganrompa fanart I really liked seeing different and wildly varying interpretations for the characters' animal choices and now it is my turn, my GOD GIVEN DUTY TO PROVIDE IN THE GENISIS OF THE RAINCODE FANDOM, FOR THE HONOR OF THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE ME.

For all of them I used their pose from the artbook renders. I'll say it's to keep them recognizable but that is actually a lie I'm just lazy.

Secretary Bird Halara:

Halara I did first and they were the one I was most jazzed to do because I love them dearly. I made them a secretary bird and I think it's a PERFECT fit. Ahem allow me to rattle off. Secretary birds are birds, so doomed by the narrative to have to stay away from cats, they are predatory birds and of course Halara would be at the top of the food chain. Speaking of predetory birds, secretary birds are known for their ability TO KICK VENOUMOUS SNAKES TO DEATH, AND THATS JUST TOO GOOD A FIT. They also have plumage that I could easily shape into Halara's kinda smooth swoopy hairstyle, and face markings that could be sort of representative of their glasses! I think the drawing for them is probably the weakest out of the group just because as I went along I improved and started to translate the human designs in less one to one ways, plus the pose Halara has in the artbook doesn't fit perfectly to the really big wing hand things. I still enjoyed making it because H A L A R A N I G H T M A R E but I'm honestly kinda sad at how lackluster it is compared to Fubuki and Viva who got the most interesting details and texture work. NEVER DO YOUR FAVORITE FIRST IT'S A TRAP.

Guinea Pig Desuhiko:

With Desuhiko I was going back and fourth between a few rodents, I just think he kinda looks like one and already had those pikachu cheeks. My first scetch made him a hamster, and while it DID look like him, it felt a little too... Indistinct. Desuhiko's probably my favorite design in the cast just because he looks so distinctive and has a short stocky bodytype I really really love and makes my character designer brain happy, so I swapped hamster for guinea pig. While the guinea pig face doesn't look like him quite as much as the hamster, they are very interesting and distinctive looking which I loved a lot more even with a bit of accuracy sacrificed if that makes sense. Also there are Guinea pigs with spikey wild fur that make it so I could just kinda give him his actual hair and still have it make sense. Guinea pigs are also the perfect size and shape to be thrown like a large softball and out of all the Master Detectives Desuhiko looks like he'd be the most sadisfying to chuck across a room.

Fish Fubuki:

Fubuki was really hard just because it's difficult to anthropomorphize a fish in the same way as a mammal or a avian cause of their structure. She might look a biitttt more like a fantasy creature inspired by a fish than just a fish but she's charming enough I don't completely mind. I got some SOLID advice and looked at some Splatoon NPCs characteristics to try and make her more appealing. So why fish? I got it as a suggestion that I ended up really liking because fish are notorious for their bad memory, live in tanks their whole lives(Fubuki is the definition of sheltered), and they have fins to mimic the shape of Fubukis cloak and hair. I used beta fish for reference, they don't really fit her but just being a fish was good enough for me and at that point I was prioritizing looks. She doesn't even really look like any specific species like the other three to be honest. She's defiantly the outlier of the group but that's fine, she can be special in her own unique way like always. Got a little lazy with making the hair look all that fin-like, but it's kinda the main event of her human design so I wanted to keep it as true to that as possible but looking at it now I think its tooooo copy and paste looking. Her furry design IS my brothers favorite out of the batch so that's gotta count for something!

Flying Fox Bat Vivia:

The vampire looking man was always gonna be a bat, I am but a slave to the whims of fate. I made him specifically a flying fox because they're the largest bat species and therefore can loom ominously. Vampire bat would have been fun too, but they have more of a squished bastard energy that doesn't really fit Vivia. Bats also are known for their weird sleeping habits, ala upside. Viva isn't sleeping upside down or anything like that but he DOES snooze in some weird places so I think comparing him to a bat in multiple aspects is very apt! His drawing and animal design is probably my favorite, I really like the wings, and the bat feet are super weird I loved doing those. I did have trouble incorperating his hair, flying foxes have pretty smooth heads, but they do have sort of a mane thing going on so I tried to put some of his hair texture and shape there instead. Sorry I did not give him is edgy edgy hair cut, I too love it very much but it was simply not to be. I did try to mimic it's vibe with the patterning on his head though, an illusion of his bangs.

I'm very happy with this lineup overall, they're some neat little designs if I do say so myself! I might do more but I have the chronic problem of not being able to sit still for a long time to do a BUNTCH of guys again(though for the record I would make Seth the most delightfully storm drain gutter looking creature). I also kinda wanna do Makoto and Yuma cause someone suggested a REALLY good idea for them, but the concept for Makoto with this idea would be more of an involved design that I wouldn't be able to use all of his normal outfit for so it'd probably take longer than average.

TLDR: Furries amiright?

#rain code #raincode #halara nightmare #desuhiko thunderbolt #fubuki clockford #vivia twilight

[orange-orchard-system]

Kicky kicky ball games and wolf fursonas – why you should vote for Fubuki Shirou

As the @plural-bracket has officially opened polls, I need to make some propaganda for one (1) wonderful little soccer boy, because Fubuki Shirou is precious and deserves the entire world. Also shout out to our friend Ako who helped us make this.

So, who is Fubuki Shirou? And why should you vote for him?

Fubuki Shirou (hereafter referred to as Fubuki) is the semi-official name for a system of two headmates: Shirou and Atsuya. They're popular characters in the Inazuma Eleven franchise, a video game, manga, and anime franchise that centers around a bunch of kids playing soccer/football games that range in intensity from "just a relaxed game played for fun" to "the world is in danger and for some reason a game of kicky kicky ball can save it".

Shirou and Atsuya have a rough relationship when they're first introduced, especially considering that they hide their plurality from the rest of their team. They both have their issues and tend to clash over how to go about solving them, especially when it comes to their trauma. However, over the course of the story – especially following the reveal of their plurality to their team – they learn to work together and smooth out their relationship.

Also, he gets a wolf hissatsu (super soccer move) and it symbolizes the end of his character arc. In other words, there's a magic wolf that represents his character. So basically, his character arc resolved with him becoming a furry and making himself a wolf fursona.

Depending on the translation, installment in the franchise, and even which specific lines you look at, the origins for Fubuki's system differ. The original anime, for instance, leans towards a psychological traumagenic origin, while the games leave it up in the air, and evidence can be found for both psychological and spiritual origins – and even a few lines that suggest that no matter whichever way you interpret it, Atsuya might be a created headmate. Which means that depending on how you look at it, Atsuya is either a factive of Shirou's (the core's/host's) brother, or his brother's spirit possessing Shirou after an early death, and either way he might have been created or summoned by Shirou – but again, all this is convoluted across several different installments, lines, and translations, so it's really up to your personal decision on what to believe and headcanon. And honestly, we stan a skrunkly with the most confusing origins known to mankind.

Fubuki doesn't fall into the plural serial killer stereotype! Which is a very low bar, but for the record, he does clear it.

In the games, there's an entire mechanic that allows Fubuki to switch between Shirou and Atsuya whenever you set up the players of the team.

The bathroom seems to be Fubuki's favorite place to deal with his issues, because he's had a grand total of five on-screen breakdowns there in the original anime.

He wears his scarf – a memento of his original/physical brother – even when it's way too hot out for that.

He's canonically a Chad. There's a running gag in the anime that whenever they're lost, Fubuki easily gets multiple girls offering to help him out without even trying. In fact, there's a not insignificant chance that he's oblivious to this trend, and just does not realize his Chad powers.

This one is more of a fun fact, but his Japanese VA also voiced Light Yagami and will voice Mario in the upcoming Mario movie!

If all of that was a lot for you... TL;DR: fan favorite characters (for good reason) from a niche sports anime go through a character arc about learning to work together as a system, making friends who accept their plurality along the way. And also using sports magic to fight against the most ridiculous cast of opponents you've ever seen, like a team full of nothing but fake aliens.

I can and will make more propaganda for these two fellows as needed. Prepare for at least one drawing of these two, because they are my absolute favorite skrunklies!

Vote for Fubuki!!

#plurality #pluralgang #actuallyplural #actuallymultiple #plural system #fubuki shirou #fubuki atsuya #front soup.txt #inazuma spoilers

[the-nysh]

Fubuki is pretty but I don’t like her hairstyle. If she grew it out a bit in a way where it gently cascaded down her head and curled prettily around her the base of her neck, she would look more gorgeous. Have you noticed that despite Fubuki being the most modestly/ plainly dressed character in OPM she is still so sexualised.

When it comes to her hair, I keep thinking it's longer than it really is, but when you actually reference it, it falls flush with her chin/jawline area, a bit shorter instead of being more shoulder-length, which is what I'd usually expect. :O And depending on how it's styled, it makes the difference between looking like a cute & clean bob cut (left) and....hanging like loose strips of tape (right).

The 'tape-like' look isn't quite as flattering (it could frame her face better), but it's kind of a hereditary trait she shares with her sister (just like their similar eyes), whose tufts of hair curl vs Fubuki's tufts that fall more loosely. So they do have a common theme going on that makes them instantly recognizable as siblings. I do think Fubuki's hair could be a tad longer (at least, that's what my brain keeps thinking she should have) to flow more elegantly around her shoulders.

But as for her outfits....

Which is your favourite outfit worn by Fubuki? Including the ones she wore on manga volume/ chapter covers and extra illustrations? Can you explain why as well?

It really makes all the difference when Murata references actual women's fashion vs.....going for his usual vacuum-sealed fabric. :P Of course he loves to accentuate her voluptuous curves even underneath her fully clothed, modest coverage, but instead of looking uncomfortably tight and undersized in all the worst chafing areas (ulp) giving her actual seams, breathing room, and proper support more like what an actual women would naturally wear, is what actually looks far more flattering on her. (References are important!)

Anyway, my favorite pattern comes from her Floral Lace dress, and my favorite fit/cut on her (most flattering to her shapes) is the Vietnamese Ao Dai dress.

The black Floral Lace is suuuuper fancy, woo - that even Murata came up with several other designs for it, and was very indecisive how best to dress her in it. It’s such a meticulous pattern he drew by hand, and I can clearly see how much he loved it (cause I love it a lot too - it really boosts her elegance and she looks fabulous in it) but I also understand why he had to scrap it too, as that would have been too much work to repeatedly draw her in that for the entire MA arc!

So going for the more minimal design that’s also most visually appealing to her best curves - ooh I really love that Ao Dai on her. The little dip in the collar, the diagonally angled seams on the sleeves (nice), the snug but roomy - very important!!! fit over her breasts (yes this looks far better referenced) and the side slit over her hip (+bonus window) are very flattering shapes and lines. Elegant and functional. And to top it off with....actual pants(?) whoa! or maybe another underskirt - either way it’s a very fresh, streamlined, and comfortable look on her that I think she should wear more often. (And speaking of more traditional wear, the game gave her a Chut Thai outfit where she looks like a goddess, so she can rock those traditional clothes - show her off in more of those please!)

As for bonus interesting design elements, ONE gives her these....glove-like thumb thingies that feel like a fancy esper theme she shares with Psykos (also note the similar collar ONE gives her like on the above dress) so I think they’re neat (maybe even a little sporty?) :D

For more outfits I would like to see her in - just put her in a full dress suit complete with a tailored jacket and business pants to really accentuate her domineering strong girl/mobboss vibe. (Maybe combined with some embroidered white/gold floral lace patterns here and there against the black or dark forest green fabric for additional points of interest.) Cause she could totally rock that look too.  

#opm #fubuki #anonymous #replies #long text post #interested in more fubuki thoughts eh :D #i love seeing her in the floral lace and traditional wear #but i would LIKE to see her in a full dress suit to be extra fancy

[freyayuki]

Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia Lunafreya Nox Fleuret Banners

The Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery story chapter event just started in the Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia (DFFOO) mobile game. This story chapter event came with 2 banners.

Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery Banner 1

The Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery banner 1 features the following chars and their weapons:

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret from Final Fantasy XV - 15cp, 35cp, Ex, LD, Force or FR, and Burst or BT

Lion from Final Fantasy XI - 15cp, 35cp, Ex, and LD

Basch fon Ronsenburg from Final Fantasy XII - 15cp, 35cp, Ex, and LD

Lunafreya is the latest and newest playable char to be introduced in DFFOO. Already have everything on this banner except for all of Lunafreya’s weapons.

Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery Banner 2

The Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery banner 2 features the following chars and their weapons:

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret from Final Fantasy XV - FR only

Ultimecia from Final Fantasy VIII - 15cp, 35cp, Ex, LD, and BT

Seifer Almasy from Final Fantasy VIII - 15cp, 35cp, Ex, and LD

Yang Fang Leiden from Final Fantasy IV - 15cp, 35cp, Ex, and LD

Have everything on this banner except for Lunafreya’s FR, Seifer’s Ex and LD, and Yang’s LD.

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret from Final Fantasy XV Costume

As part of the release of the aforementioned new story chapter, Lunafreya’s extra costume is now available for purchase with real money for a limited time.

Lunafreya’s costume features her with her long hair down. She’s also wearing this flowing white dress that appeared “during a certain scene in Final Fantasy XV”.

Lunafreya’s regular outfit and her costume both look really good. It’s nice to see her with her hair down, and her long, flowing white dress looks really beautiful.

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret from Final Fantasy XV Stickers

Aside from an extra costume, stickers for Lunafreya are also now available for purchase using Dissidia points.

Already bought some of these stickers but I ran out of Dissidia points so wasn’t able to get them all at once. As soon as I have enough points, will buy the rest of Lunafreya’s stickers.

Thoughts about Lunafreya Nox Fleuret from Final Fantasy XV

I like Lunafreya Nox Fleuret from Final Fantasy XV (#ad). I was really pleased when she was first announced as a playable char in the Japanese version of Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia. Couldn’t wait for her to come to the English or Global version of the game.

Even back then, was already planning to pull for her. So was even more pleased to find out that she’s a really good char. She’s considered to be a meta support.

She can heal. She can battery. She provides really good buffs and auras. She can imperil enemies and enchant the party with the ice and water elements. 

She can also give her allies instant and free turns. She can even quickly charge the force gauge. There’s more, of course, but you get the point.

Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery Banner 1 Multi-Draws Results Part 1

So I was all set to pull for Lunafreya’s entire kit with gems. Was gonna fully build her and max her out. Couldn’t wait to use her. Really glad she’s finally here. 

Also can’t wait to play and read through the story chapter that features her but decided to pull for her first.

Currently have 1193120 gems on hand. Willing to go all the way to the pity for all of Lunafreya’s weapons but really hoping it won’t come to that.

Here are the results of all my multi-draws on the Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery banner 1:

My first multi-draw gave me a gold orb, which turned into 2 golds - a dupe of Basch’s LD and my very first copy of Lunafreya’s 35cp.

Lunafreya’s 35cp is called Alba Umbra Staff (XV). Its affinity ability is called Longstanding Promise. This boosts her Frigid Fubuki ability.

This is the first weapon that I was able to obtain for Lunafreya. So getting this also automatically recruited her to my party.

Pleased to have gotten my very first Lunafreya weapon although I do wish that dupe LD had been Lunafreya’s instead.

My second multi-draw on this banner gave me a gold orb which turned into 3 LDs. It really sucks that not a single one of those LDs belonged to Lunafreya. Instead I got 2 dupes of Lion’s LD and 1 dupe of Basch’s LD.

My third multi-draw gave me dupes of Lion’s 15cp and Basch’s 15cp. Meh.

The fourth gave me a gold orb which turned into dupes of Lion’s Ex and Lunafreya’s 35cp. Ugh. Wish that Lion Ex had been Lunafreya’s instead.

The dupe of Lunafreya’s 35cp is useful in helping me limit break my first copy but I don’t really need it since I can just use Power Stones or Weapon Tokens to do that. So I wish I could have gotten another one of her weapons instead.

My 5th multi-draw gave me a gold orb which turned into dupes of Basch’s 15cp and Ex. Meh.

The 6th gave me a gold orb which turned into dupes of Basch’s LD and Lunafreya’s 35cp. Argh! Why do I keep getting Lunafreya’s 35cp? Where are the rest of her weapons?

Also, it really sucks to get a gold orb only for it to turn out to be a dupe LD and/or Ex.

My 7th multi-draw gave me a dupe of Lunafreya’s 35cp. Again? Seriously?! Ugh. How come my pulls on this banner are so bad? I’m on my 7th multi-draw and have yet to see hide nor hair of Lunafreya’s 15cp, Ex, LD, BT, and/or FR.

My 8th multi-draw gave me a gold orb which turned into a dupe of Basch’s LD and my first copy of Lunafreya’s 15cp.

Lunafreya’s 15cp is called Moon Staff (XV). Its affinity ability is called August Oracle. This boosts her Energy Heal ability.

It’s nice to get a different weapon for Lunafreya but I wish this had been either her Ex, LD, BT, and/or FR instead. Because I have so many Weapon Tokens that I can use to easily exchange for multiple copies of Lunafreya’s 15cp and 35cp.

I can get her Ex too using Ex Tokens although I’d rather not do that because these Tokens are very rare. I can use Burst Tokens to get her BT which I don’t mind doing.

But what I can’t get without having to pity Lunafreya’s banner are her LD and Force weapons. I need 300 G-Tokens in order to exchange for her LD and 400 G-Tokens to get her Force weapon. Her Burst will cost 500 G-Tokens while her Ex will also cost 300 G-Tokens.

My 9th multi-draw gave me a dupe of Basch’s 35cp. Argh! This is so frustrating. What’s with all these crappy pulls? Sigh.

My 10th multi-draw gave me 2 dupes of Lunafreya’s 35cp. Ugh. By now, I must have enough dupes of these to be able to fully MLB my first copy without having to use a single Power Stone.

My 11th multi-draw also gave me 2 dupes of Lunafreya’s 35cp. WTF? This is like some kind of joke. Where are the rest of Luna’s weapons? Why do I keep getting copies of her 35cp? Enough is enough.

My 12th multi-draw gave me a gold orb which turned into dupes of Basch’s 15cp and Lion’s Ex. Ugh. So sick and tired of seeing dupes of Basch’s and Lion’s weapons.

My 13th multi-draw gave me a gold orb which turned into dupes of Basch’s LD, Basch’s 35cp, and Basch’s 15cp. Lunafreya weapons, doko da?

I’m 13 pulls deep in this banner and yet I still haven’t seen any one of Lunafreya’s Ex, LD, BT, and/or FR. I now have 260 G-Tokens here and at this point, it’s looking very likely that I’m gonna have to pity one or possibly even more of the weapons that I’m still missing for Luna.

The “more” bit is what’s troubling me. I don’t want to have to pity 2 or more of Lunafreya’s weapons. One weapon is already more than enough. If I have to pity more than that, it’s really going to deplete my gem stash which I don’t want to happen.

I can Token Lunafreya’s BT. I can do the same for her Ex although this is definitely gonna be a last resort. But there’s no other way to get her LD and FR so I really need to get these weapons from this banner, preferably without having to pity both.

Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery Banner 1 Tickets Pulls Results Part 1

Decided to stop pulling with gems for now so I can try my luck with tickets. I’m hoping that either Lunafreya’s LD or FR will show up in one of my 10-draws then I can just pity the other with gems.

It would also be really nice if her Ex and/or BT would show up on one of these draws too so I can save my Tokens.

Currently only have 297 tickets on hand. Aside from the usual bronze and silver trash and a few gold dupes here and there, also got the following notable pulls:

2/10, came from a gold orb - dupes of Basch’s Ex and Lion’s 15cp

2/10 - dupes of Lunafreya’s 15cp and 35cp

Man, getting really sick and tired of seeing Lunafreya’s 35cp. Wish I could get copies of her other weapons too.

Was down to 247 tickets when I got a gold orb which turned into -

My very first copy of Lunafreya’s Ex! Hell, yes! So happy to see this. At least my Ex Tokens are safe. Now if I could just get her other weapons too.

Lunafreya’s Ex weapon is called Diamond Rod (XV). Its affinity ability is called World Purification. This gives her the Diamond Dust Ex ability.

Aside from Luna’s Ex, this 10-draw also gave me a dupe of Basch’s 15cp. Meh.

Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery Banner 1 and Banner 2 Tickets Pulls Results

After a couple more 10-draws on the Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery banner 1, decided to try my luck on banner 2 as well. Maybe I’ll be able to get Lunafreya’s FR from said banner. Plus, at least I’m also missing a couple of weapons there.

So I started alternating my tickets pulls between both banners. Got the usual bronze and silver trash and gold dupes. Even got a few 10-draws that didn’t give me a single gold.

Here are the results of my more notable 10-draws for both banners:

One of my 10-draws on banner 2 gave me a gold orb that turned into my very first copy of Yang’s LD. Nice.

Yang’s a DPS who deals decent enough damage. He does a follow-up attack every time someone moves, which is nice but I already have other chars who can do that.

Plus, Yang doesn’t even have a Force weapon yet. He doesn’t have a BT yet either so not really sure I’ll bother to use him for endgame fights. Still, it was nice to finally get my first copy of his LD.

Another 10-draw on banner 2 gave me a gold orb that turned into my very first copies of Seifer’s LD and Seifer’s Ex. Nice.

Seifer’s Ex is one of the few that I’m still missing so really pleased to have finally gotten my first copy.

Seifer’s a debuffer who deals decent enough damage. He can also delay with his LD.

He’s been powercrept by now but he does have a good Call. IIRC, he inflicts debuffs and delays enemies with his Calls.

Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery Banner 1 Multi-Draws Results Part 2

After a few more 10-draws, went back to the Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery banner 1 and started using my gems again.

My 14th multi-draw gave me a gold orb which turned into dupes of Lion’s 15cp and Basch’s LD.

My 15th multi-draw gave me dupes of Lion’s LD and Basch’s 15cp. Argh! Why do I keep getting the wrong LD? Why do I keep getting these useless dupes?

Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery Banner 2 Tickets Pulls Results

After those crappy multi-draws, went back to tossing tickets on the Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery banner 2.

A gold orb gave me a dupe of Yang’s Ex. Actually pleased to see this because Yang’s Ex gives an A Sphere that raises its user’s ATK and MAX BRV by 10%.

After a couple more 10-draws, I was soon being greeted by the sight of a Burst orb.

It’s really nice to see a Burst orb but - argh! Why’d it have to show up when I’m pulling on this banner? Why couldn’t I have gotten this on banner 1 instead?

I already have Ultimecia’s Burst so getting a dupe just means I can sell said dupe for 5 Burst Tokens.

That’s nice and all but I’d still prefer to have gotten a new Burst instead. Besides, don’t even have any plans to upgrade Ultimecia’s Burst to BT+ 3/3. Man, I really wish I’d gotten Lunafreya’s BT instead. Sigh.

This 10-draw actually gave me 2 dupes of Ultimecia’s Burst, 1 dupe of Seifer’s 15cp, and 1 dupe of Yang’s LD.

Ahh, this would have been a really great pull if these weren’t all dupes. To think this could have been Lunafreya’s BT and LD instead.

Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery Banner 1 Tickets Pulls Results Part 2

After getting Ultimecia’s BT, went back to the Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery banner 1. Because it didn’t seem like I was gonna be able to get Lunafreya’s FR from banner 2 anytime soon.

Plus, since I already got copies of Seifer’s Ex and LD and Yang’s LD, the only thing I’m missing on this banner is Lunafreya’s FR. So I thought it better to go back to banner 1 where I have a shot at getting all of the weapons I’m still missing for her.

A gold orb gave me a dupe of Lion’s LD. Then another 1 gave me a dupe of her Ex.

Man, this is really so frustrating. If only I could get at least 1 copy of Lunafreya’s LD, BT, and FR.

Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery Banner 1 Multi-Draws Results Part 3

By now, I have 300 G-Tokens on the Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery banner 1. Decided to go back to using gems on this banner, hoping that Lunafreya’s LD, BT, and/or FR will show up before I get to 400 G-Tokens.

Here are the results of the rest of my multi-draws on this banner:

My 16th multi-draw gave me a gold orb which turned into dupes of Lion’s 35cp and Lion’s Ex. Meh.

My 17th multi-draw gave me a gold orb too. Was expecting to get the usual Lion or Basch Ex or LD and so imagine my surprise when what showed up at the very end of this pull turned out to be -

My very first copy of Lunafreya’s Burst weapon! Hell, yes! Super pleased to see this.

Lunafreya’s Burst weapon is called Fortitude (XV). Its affinity ability is called Lend the Chosen King Strength. This gives her the Coronal Spark of Life Burst ability.

This multi-draw only gave me Lunafreya’s Burst. Now have 340 G-Tokens on this banner.

My 18th multi-draw on this banner gave me a gold orb which turned into dupes of Lion’s Ex and Lunafreya’s 35cp.

This pull also gave me the message that “Gil will exceed maximum that can be held. Excess gil will be lost”.

Welp, looks like I now have 9999999 gil on hand. I think this is the first time I ever got this message while pulling on a banner.

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret's Weapons and Armor Part 1

After getting that message about my gil, decided to pause on my pulling spree for a bit then start enhancing and maxing out Lunafreya’s weapons so I can try to lower my gil stash even just a bit.

Was able to fully MLB Lunafreya’s 35cp without having to use a single Power Stone. Got to do the same for her 15cp thanks to getting a lot of dupes via my ticket pulls.

After that, I spent the Power Stones needed to MLB Lunafreya’s Ex. Then I spent the Book and 3 Ingots needed to Purple her Ex or get it to Ex+ 3/3.

Then I bought her first armor, Lunafreya’s Pendant (XV), and spent the resources needed to max it. Afterwards, bought her next armor, Oracle’s Gown (XV), and maxed that out as well.

Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery Banner 1 Tickets Pulls Results Part 3

Doing all of that helped to deplete my gil stash a bit. So I went back to the Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery banner 1. 

Tried my luck with tickets again. Was really worried that I was nearing 400 G-Tokens and yet I still haven’t seen either Lunafreya’s LD or FR.

A couple of 10-pulls later, I got a gold orb which gave me one of the weapons I’d been hoping to get.

Yup, that’s right. Just got my very first copy of Lunafreya’s LD. Finally! And hell, yes! Super pleased to see this. At least now I don’t have to worry about what I’ll do if I get to 400 G-Tokens and still don’t have either Luna’s LD or FR.

Lunafreya’s LD weapon is called Trident of the Oracle (XV). Its affinity ability is called Truth of Heart. This gives her the Awakening LD ability.

This 10-draw only gave me Lunafreya’s LD. The rest were all bronze and silver trash. Was down to 67 tickets when Lunafreya’s LD came home.

Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery Banner 1 Multi-Draws Results Part 4

After getting Lunafreya’s LD with tickets, went back to using gems on the Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery banner 1. Now have 360 G-Tokens on this banner.

I’m hoping to get Lunafreya’s FR before I get to 400 G-Tokens but it’s fine even if that doesn’t happen. Now that I have the rest of Lunafreya’s weapons, can just pity her FR then finally be done with this banner.

My 19th multi-draw on this banner gave me a gold orb which turned into dupes of Basch’s LD and Lion’s 15cp.

My 20th multi-draw on this banner gave me a gold orb which turned into dupes of Lion’s LD and Basch’s 35cp.

And that’s it. Now have 400 G-Tokens on this banner so this pulling spree is finally over. I’m now down to 1093820 gems. Oof. Lunafreya really cost me a lot of gems and tickets.

Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery Banner 1 Token Exchange Shop

The Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery banner 1 Token Exchange Shop contains the following items and the cost to exchange for said items:

Lunafreya’s BT - 500 G-Tokens

Book of Ruin’s Miracles (used to Realize a BT to BT+ 0/3) x1 - 400 G-Tokens

Lunafreya’s FR - 400 G-Tokens

Lion’s LD - 300 G-Tokens

Basch’s LD - 300 G-Tokens

Lunafreya’s LD - 300 G-Tokens

Lion’s Ex - 300 G-Tokens

Basch’s Ex - 300 G-Tokens

Lunafreya’s Ex - 300 G-Tokens

High Power Stone (used to limit break a Force weapon; 4 is needed per limit break so you’ll need a total of 12 to fully MLB a FR) x4 - 300 G-Tokens

Book of Ruin’s Mysteries (used to Realize an Ex weapon to Ex+ 0/3) x1 - 200 G-Tokens

Power Stone (used to limit break 15cp, 35cp, Ex, and LD weapons; you can also use 20 to create 1 High Power Stone) x4 - 100 G-Tokens

Spent all of my G-Tokens to finally get my very first copy of Lunafreya’s FR.

Lunafreya’s Force weapon is called Aurora Rod (XV). Its affinity ability is called Hydraean. This gives her the Furious Spray Force ability.

Honestly, not really all that fond of the name Furious Spray. Wish they gave Lunafreya’s FR ability a different name. The same could be said for her Frigid Fubuki ability.

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret's Weapons and Armor Part 2

Now that I have all of Lunafreya’s weapons, it was time to go back to fully maxing out everything that belongs to her.

Bought Lunafreya’s High Armor, Dress of Reminiscence  (XV). After maxing it out, spent the resources needed to upgrade it to Blue.

Then I spent the Power Stones needed to fully max out Luna’s LD.

After that, I turned my attention to her Burst weapon. Leveled it to the max then spent the Book needed to Realize it to 0/3. Afterwards, spent the 3 Ingots needed to Green Lunafreya’s Burst or get it to BT+ 3/3.

Didn’t have enough High Power Stones on hand so had to make use of a lot of Power Stones in order to fully MLB Lunafreya’s FR.

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret from Final Fantasy XV

Got Lunafreya to Level 90 and Crystal Level 90. Bought her Bloom Stone. Completed all of her Boards and Force Enhancements.

Also spent some time farming the co-op that came with the Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery story chapter event to get a lot of Lunafreya’s Eidojas.

Fused these Eidojas in search of the perfect Artifacts for Luna. After a while, managed to get the following Artifacts for Lunafreya:

3 ATK 108 with Blood of the Oracle Up★★(While Oracle active: raises party’s INT BRV, ATK by 5%)

3 INT BRV 170 with Blood of the Oracle Up★★

1 ATK 108 with INT BRV 170

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret Spheres

After that, started thinking about what Spheres I would equip to Lunafreya. Her Sphere slots are A, C, and D. Ended up equipping Lunafreya with the following real Spheres:

Jecht’s (from Final Fantasy X) Critical Base Attack Up Shorter A Sphere

When dealing critical hit: • Raises own INT BRV, ATK by 10% for 3 turns

Had to Purple a dupe Jecht Ex to get another copy of this Sphere.

In retrospect, after using Lunafreya in a few battles, I kinda regret this now. Shouldn’t have bothered to Purple a dupe Jecht Ex for her.

Lunafreya has skills that get stronger and better the higher her INT BRV is. But the ATK stat isn’t really that useful for her. Sure, she can deal decent enough damage but, at the end of the day, she’s primarily a support. Her damage is nothing when compared to an actual DPS.

Instead of giving her a Sphere that raises her ATK and INT BRV stats, should have gone for one that increases her MAX BRV and INT BRV. 

Have a couple MAX BRV and INT BRV up Spheres because most chars want Spheres that boost their ATK. So these MAX BRV and INT BRV and other such Spheres are just rotting in my inventory. Should have equipped one of these to Luna. Ah, well. What’s done is done. It’s not really that bad anyway.

Maria’s (from Final Fantasy II) HP Heal Base Attack All Shorter C Sphere

After recovering HP: • Raises party's INT BRV, ATK by 5% for 3 turns

Lunafreya’s a healer so this Sphere will nearly always be active.

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret’s (from Final Fantasy XV) Weak Attack All Longer D Sphere

When attacking target’s weakness: • Raises party's ATK by 5% for 6 turns

Lunafreya enchants the party and imperils enemies with the ice and water elements so she and her allies will almost always hit for weakness damage.

Now my Lunafreya is as complete and fully maxed out as she possibly can be. Well, except for the fact that she doesn’t have an Ultima Weapon. She doesn’t really need one though since she’s not a DPS.

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret in Shinryu Quests

Shinryu quests (level 300) are currently the hardest kind of fight in Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia.

I’ve been able to try out Lunafreya in a few Shinryu quests and she did really, really well. The hype she got is well-deserved. She truly is an excellent support and buffer.

But, as aforementioned, her damage isn’t that good. It’s fine though since she isn’t meant to be a DPS anyway.

Absolutely no regrets in building her and maxing her out. She cost me a lot of gems and tickets but it was all worth it because I do like her and she is really good. I hope to be able to use Lunafreya for as long as possible.

Also, I really like the animations of Lunafreya’s skills and abilities. She even gets to summon Shiva in some of them.

Her Force partner is Rydia from Final Fantasy IV. Their force animation isn’t that bad but I wish it could have featured them summoning different espers or something.

And I still don’t like the name of Luna’s force ability. Furious Spray just sounds so - lame or meh, I guess. Would have preferred a different name.

Thoughts about the Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery Story

I’ve started playing and reading through the Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery story chapter and it’s pretty good. Warning for possible spoilers for the aforementioned chapter.

I enjoyed seeing Lunafreya, and I'm glad that she's featured in this chapter. But I wish we got more. I wish part 1 of this chapter was longer and I wish that I got to see more scenes featuring Lunafreya.

It feels like she spent most of this chapter just being nothing more than a puppet of Ultimecia from Final Fantasy VIII. I wish she'd been able to do more instead of just spending a lot of scenes being confused and following Ultimecia's orders.

I like how the other chars acknowledged how powerful Lunafreya was but I do wish we'd seen more of that power in action. I want to see more of the power of the Oracle.

Heck, Luna didn't even get to summon Shiva or something. Even when Luna was under Ultimecia's command, she hardly got to do much of anything before she was being rescued by the good guys.

They kept talking about how powerful Lunafreya is and how Ultimecia wants her because of that power but we didn't really get to see it. The most we've seen was Luna casting barrier shields and such.

I also liked how Lunafreya and Noctis Lucis Caelum from Final Fantasy XV got to talk more in the end after her memories had been restored. But I wish she got to interact with him and the rest of the Final Fantasy 15 cast some more.

On a side note, it wasn’t until I took the above screenshot that I noticed that Lunafreya is actually wearing a golden ring. In fairness, this wasn’t that surprising since the lower halves of everyone’s bodies are usually hidden by the dialogue textbox.

I really like this attention to detail though. I suppose this must be Lunafreya’s wedding ring since this chapter outright mentions that she and Noctis had gotten married after they reunited in the afterlife.

Anyway, I'm hoping to see more of Lunafreya in part 2 of this chapter. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem likely since part 2 appears to be centered on the Final Fantasy VIII cast.

Conclusion

So, what about you? Did you pull on either of the Act 3, Chapter 9, Part 1: Vanishing Scenery banners? What do you think about Lunafreya Nox Fleuret and all the other chars featured on these banners? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions by leaving a comment below or by reblogging or replying to this post.

Notes:

screenshots are from my Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia game account

#dissidia final fantasy opera omnia #pulls for these chars: #lunafreya nox fleuret #seifer almasy #yang fang leiden #basch fon ronsenburg #ultimecia #lion #final fantasy 15 #final fantasy 4 #final fantasy 8 #final fantasy 12 #games #final fantasy 11 #dffoo gem pulls #dffoo banner pulls #dffoo ticket pulls #dffoo #gacha games

[pridewhatpride]

ok so I read your view on GX rivalshipping and how things would get messy when johan shows up because I was curious about another GX rivalshippers opinion, and holy you and I have the EXACT same thoughts.

Ive went on and on about how manjoume as a rival (and as someone who could have had the ability to support judai) was tossed aside as soon as johan shows up + turned into the comedic relief chara and nobody ever really knows what the hell im talking about LOL. a big thing for me is just how DIFFERENT that would be for manjoume as well? in the seasons before johan shows up judai is so clingy towards him, always busting into his room and being in his personal space...

then mr. buff arms big smile shows up with his frilly lilac blouse and homo dragon and suddenly judai is like. smitten. which like youve pointed- out who could blame judai? johan is hard to hate and hes kind of perfect in every way. I always imagine what that would do to manjoumes self esteem in particular, because as we all know it IS a bit fragile at times, especially when it comes to being the best he can be.

I think having johan around would make him feel absolutely insignificant not only as someone who LIKES judai, but even just as judais friend. is he really so horrible at being a support that judai needs a stranger to lean on? even though he never asked for judais help much, is he really such a burden when he needs to be saved? why is judai acting like hes never been able to connect with manjoume, who can also see duel spirits, before? whoever said opposites attract obviously havent seen judai and johan! thoughts like that.

I could go on and on but I dont want you to have to read my 2746373 word long ask about them. id love to hear any thought or analysis you have on GX rivalshipping because its my favourite and the shippers are so rare, so I encourage you to post them whenever you feel like it!

Dear anon.

You can't ever know just how happy receiving this in my inbox made me. I can't fully express how grateful I am at the simple fact that you read my long rambles and reached out to me. I respect your anonimity if you want to keep it, but honestly, DM me whenever, if you want to. I think I'd like to talk to you if you're comfortable with it? I really do want to read your "2746373 word" essay on them. For the rest of my life.

I might get a little personal in terms of my view on this, so just... be aware.

The thing is that the way Manjoume is cast aside is just... a big fear of mine. "Sure, we might be friends now, but I'm not all that good and you know it. You won't mean any harm by it, but you'll find someone you like better and I'll be alone again." That kind of line of thought is probably something that goes through Manjoume's mind? He doesn't really... have friends outside of Judai. Maybe Fubuki. And Daichi? Except he disappears into nothingness very quickly. But that's it. And he certainly had none before that: just lackeys who pretended to like him because he was rich and perceived as promising. He lost that and suddenly found himself isolated.

It's nice to think that he bonded with the other members of the gang, but... he didn't. Shou certainly never really stops disliking/making fun of him. You could say it's meant as like... friendly teasing. But it doesn't read that way because there is nothing to indicate actual affection. Kenzan, Aster and the transfer students just... barely interact with him? Like have they actually ever spoken to eachother? I doubt it. Ryo is just the admirable upperclassman. Again, barely any interaction. Asuka is... a mess I don't want to get into, but again, she would probably file a restraining order if she could.

So yeah. Manjoume has one friend and the taller and cooler guy just kind of takes that away. Of course Johan is not aware of this! He wouldn't have been able to do much to change it, either way. It was Judai's own choice and that's what hurts the most, to me.

If shifting the focus and making minor changes to canon is something you like to do, here's a thing I think about a lot. "Teardrop", the Season 3 opening, except it's what Manjoume feels when seeing Judai's suffering and desperation. You know.

As you hang your head and smile, a single tear lands on your cheeks

You pretend to be strong, but underneath You’re hiding sighs; your smile is cloudy It sticks into me Like shattered glass

It’s OK to talk about the pain in your heart

Your smile Has always saved me You can cry now I’ll stay here with you

I can't bring myself to blame Judai or Johan for it, but I think Manjoume- if he'd been written like an actual character past a certain point- would have been quite devastated by this.

As you said, it's not just being abandoned, it's also being indirectly told that he was never truly someone worthwhile, that he is little more than extra weight. What of his supposed status of equal rival and all that? Nothing. Judai is just... on a different level than him. So Manjoume is simply left to stagger behind in a desperate attempt to chase after greatness. He wasn't good enough for his brothers and Judai stood up for him. But in the end he wasn't good enough for Judai either.

I like to think that Manjoume made an effort to get along with the others. He just didn't quite know how and couldn't just... switch off his more prideful persona. And he ended up paying quite the steep price.

I know I'm extra melodramatic when it comes to my favourites, but it's something that bugs me. I understand why the manga decided to approach Manjoume's character in a completely different way and it's the reason why I like to read Manjoume's personality as a mix of manga and anime canon. I really have to mention this- how can one even pretend that the writers gave a shit about Manjoume when they joked about how stinky he was in a scene that could have been... emotional in some way. Judai frees Manjoume from the influence of the Society of Light by reminding him who he really is (I don't want to talk about Kenzan being too strong to be manipulated because that is fucking stupid and besically the equivalent of saying "ahah, the light got you because you're not strong willed enough @ Asuka @ Manjoume. Get rekt"). And like... great! They are actually showing off how much they care for eachother as friends despite the rivalry! But no. Judai ends up basically saying: "You smell and your coat has stains on it!" and Manjoume's just: "Oh yeah, I'm goth I hate wearing white, nvm."

... I swear someone on the writing team looked at Manjoume and went: "Let's bully him!" Ugh ;; Can you tell I'm hyper biased towards Manjoume yet?

This was hilarious to read, by the way: "mr. buff arms big smile shows up with his frilly lilac blouse and homo dragon"

But yes, this mess is now officially over. I will be spouting gx rivalshipping nonsense left and right because we were robbed of their dynamic and I'll never get over that. Also I really want to draw them, so that helps.

Ending this post by saying that this ask made me feel like I didn't waste time writing all that, that someone can get something out of it. I'm really glad.

#ygo #yugioh #ygo gx #yugioh gx #manjoume jun #jun manjoume #chazz princeton #judai yuki #yuki judai #jaden yuki #gx rivalshipping #marry me platonically anon #i will kill for your happiness

[fubukiswifenoimnotjoking]

💎

Ooo, fun facts or trivia! This one is super hard bc I feel like every mega OPM fan already knows the trivia and I’d just be preaching to the choir, but I’m gonna think on it!! Might have to result to personal opm facts u know?

1. I first found out about OPM when I saw a commercial for season one on adult swim and thought it looked really creative and funny

2. It’s my second manga ever! I tried reading Sailor moon but only got two volumes in bc I hated it :/ was too girly and convoluted to me

3. My pop got volume one for my 13th birthday! I remember unboxing it and being like :0 it was a Halloween b day party too 😏😏

4. A few months after I started opm I drew Saitama’s face in sharpie on a craft egg and he was my first OPM toy/figure(?). Still have him somewhere! I tried to draw Genos too but his face was too squished

5. I have a dvd of season one that’s just the normal edition and a bootleg af version with the OVAS that my uncle got from god knows where. The OVAS are only in Japanese tho :/

6. I have a miniature cottagecore house for my Sai and Genos nendos!! I’ve talked a little about it before but never posted pics for it bc tumblr kept messing it up. I’ll try to show it soon tho! It’s got an overhead light, oranges and orange leaf wallpaper, tiny pictures of fubuki, Garou, Mumen, etc, hanging pots, fake moss on the outside, windows, Keith haring art, tiny teacups, a picture of saitama punching Nick Wilde that I got off tumblr (I’ll try to link it if I can find it) and so much more. I just now thought of putting up some gay flags in there, like why haven’t I thought of that before?? I’ll prob put up and mlm flag for Genos and a demi flag for Sai bc that’s how I hc them. I’m very proud of the house and I’m always adding onto it :) OO and I like to pose my nendos every now and then, tho I’ve posed them so many times that I’m running out of ideas 😭

7. I have a really cute lanyard I got years ago at a comic con that I never wear bc when DO you wear a lanyard? Wore it recently tho bc I was bored. Its got Sai Genos Tatsu Mumen and fubuki on the strap in chibi, they’re so cute.

8. Including posters, official Murata art, fan art, my art and posters, I have 10 opm things hanging around my room. It’s unhealthy I know 😃

9. I started with the manga, watched s1 of the anime then s2 when it came out years later and finally decided to check the wc after. If you had to make me choose, I’d choose the manga. I love the webcomic but the manga is more solid (not completely of course) and just more fun to read. Tho the webcomic IS fantastic don’t get me wrong, ONE is a great artist. The anime is pretty good, I’m still sad they had to cut s2’s budget but I love it anyway. THO I HATE HOW THEY TRANSLATED THE SAITAMA SAVING EVERYONE FROM CENTICHORO SCENE BC THEY TOTALLY DIDNT GET THE DRAMATIC LOVESICK LOOK ON GENOS FACE AND THE SURPRISED LOOK ON SAITAMA LIKE THAT SCENE WAS SO ICONIC AND THEY FUCKED IT I—sorry. Still upset.

10. I used to hate Tatsumaki Amai and Suiryu! Suiryu is still on thin ice bc he gives me such arrogant fuck boy vibes. Tatsumaki has grown so much in the current arc and even the arc before it and I just love her so much, even if she’s mean. Amai is a sick but he’s loveable and an interesting one you know? Especially bc of the webcomic. Used to get annoyed by Fubuki but now I’m in love with her LOL

11. I straight up thought Sonic was a girl until I watched the dub and heard his voice 💀

That’s about all I can think of! Sorry if this totally isn’t what you asked for, just a little lost on how to talk about fresh trivia u know? Thanks for ur ask tho :)

#opm #one punch man #opm asks #fubuki #genos #saitama #genosai #mumenrider #tatsumaki opm #speedosoundsonic

[blairflannigan]

I found out a lot of pixiv artists like to put Fubuki in dresses and considering drawing guys in dresses was a big hobby of mine back in high school, I immediately had to jump in on it. And of course it didn’t feel complete without Ryo.

#yugioh #yugioh gx #fubuki tenjoin #ryo marufuji #atticus rhodes #zane truesdale #ygo gx #my art #gx #IF YOU TAG AS CR/SSDR/SSING I WILL STAB YOU

[gofancyninjaworld]

A village’s worth: cast size of OPM

I was mentioning to @loopielupie​ that one thing ‘mad cyborg’ theories all had in common is that they all served to shrink the number of people involved. Sometimes dramatically!  But I’m not here to talk conspiracy theories. Cast size is a big thing in stories, with small central casts the rule. I was thinking that it’s easier to write about a starship going across the galaxy than it is to name every member of its crew.  

Why mention this? I have finally finishing logging every recurrent character from the main chapters of the manga thus far.  Recurrent characters, so monsters that appeared, rampaged and died aren’t included (sorry Boros, sorry Kabuto).

So far, there are 160 recurrent characters in the OPM manga.  There are some as yet unnamed characters I’ve not included.

The interesting thing is that they’re distinctive.  I usually struggle to remember more than 8 - 10 people in a story, but OPM characters tend to come easily to me. Seriously, toss me numbers between 1 - 160 and I’ll reply with who they correspond to.  You’ll be hard-put confusing them.   Somehow ONE is wielding a crazy number of characters without them dissolving into a red-shirted mosh pit of people.

Example: nos 40, 74, and 112  are Charanko, Sludge Jellyfish, and Amahare respectively.

Dunbar’s number

160 happens to be very close to Dunbar’s number (150), a number that the anthropologist Robin Dunbar came up with as the theoretical maximum number of people that a person is actively close to at any given time (the range he posited is between 100 - 230). [1]  While not a hard and fast rule, it’s round about the size of a small village, the average person’s Christmas card list, and is also around about the size that an online community or IRL club can be self-regulating. 

Of course, out of 160 recurrent characters, not all of them are alive right now. 27 are very firmly dead right now. Several have no further relevance to the plot, like the SuperFight contestants (yes, a few we’ll probably see again in a different context).  And some will be retired.  Nevertheless, ONE is keeping in play an awful lot of people.

That’s nice, but how the heck is ONE doing it?

At this point in time, I don’t know!  Correction, I mean I do have an idea, but there’s a lot more for me to understand still.   Here’s what I’ve gotten so far.

1. Very strong visual and personality characteristics.   Murata may be a godly artist, but ONE’s visual design is exceptional.  Even when he’s just sketching out characters for Murata to adapt, that a character has a unique look comes across.

from chapter 82: just because it’s ‘only’ a sketch doesn’t mean that every character in the panels isn’t instantly recognisable.

Murata has definitely taken this lesson to heart, like when he draws some of the HA executives having come to Z-City to see this Saitama guy in person in chapter 29.

Even though none of them are as yet named, we can spot all of them in chapter 79.  And they are the easiest characters to present as faceless functionaries.

most of these guys are not on my list (no names).  Yet, there’s no question they’re individuals.

Additionally, characters are their own people.  They each have their own voice.  For example, the nameless executive with the pointless mustache we see explaining to his compatriots the reason behind promoting Saitama to B Class is to force him to show whether or not he’s a fake.  If he’s the real deal, then he’d have no trouble in withstanding the rookie-crushing attack that was sure to come from Fubuki.  In chapter 79, that same guy is considering what the Monster Association’s strategic aims might be.

Even when they share characteristics with others, they way they put it together is unique.   And who shares what is often surprising: for example, Fubuki and Bang both have in common a stronger older sibling who thinks they know better.  The way characters see their world is unique.  Their understanding is different, they remember the same event differently, their responses are different.   It all helps add up to believable characters.

2.  The camera moves. So, other than logging who was who in the story, I was also looking at what role they were playing in any given chapter -- were they front-and-centre, playing a secondary role or just somewhere in the background?  I’m still thinking about how to represent that nicely!  

What I learned was that there is a central cast in OPM.  But. Just because they’re the central character doesn’t mean that they get the spotlight at all times.  ONE has no shame in moving the focus off them for extended periods of time -- if what we need to know is how Suiryu feels about heroes, then that’s what we’re going to know, even if it takes 50 pages (it actually evolves over 250 pages).   But, when he’s done, the camera moves on.  Ruthlessly.  

Because he makes time for characters, and allows them to be the heroes of their own stories, it’s easy to get quite fond of characters you would normally not think twice about. As well as to miss them when the focus is whisked away from them. It’s a big world and a lot is happening, we can’t linger.

3. We remember little; we recognise much.   Our human capacity to remember specific details is quite limited.  However, our capacity to recognise what is familiar and make linkages is enormous. ONE appears to be using that capacity. He doesn’t try to tell us everything there is to know about any given character.  I’ve written before about ONE writing characters by accumulation, that is, coming back at later time points to add a bit more to what we already know about a character [Link].  Many characters appear as background figures well before we have reason to know who they are, but at least they’re not total strangers.

In often coming back to characters, even if it’s only as a passing mention, he helps to cement who various characters are in our minds as well as remind us of who is doing what where.  Mentions do double duty in that they also tell us something about the person doing the mentioning.  E.g. we learn much about how much respect Darkshine has for his fellow hero when he roll calls the ones who’d have turned Garou into shish-kabob had he met them. 

Wrapping up for now

So, so far what I’ve got is that he makes it easy to tell one character from another.  He makes them the hero of their own stories, which he gives them time to tell.  He often comes back to characters to build on them.

I’ll be back to dive into just how ONE makes a village full of characters work.

Bibliography

[1] Dunbar’s original research paper:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/004724849290081J?via%3Dihub  This article is behind a paywall. However, a more layman-friendly read can be found here: http://www.lifewithalacrity.com/2004/03/the_dunbar_numb.html

#OPM #meta #long #ONE #character building #writing #not sure how he gets away with it

[heroes-writing]

Hello Holly, may I request your jealous headcanons of Genos, saitama, sonic, and a character of your choice? Except it’s their s/o that gets jealous/clingy. Thank you and keep up your amazing writing 💕

Thank you!~ Hope you enjoy!

Word Count: 1435

Genos:

-For a s/o that gets easily jealous he’s nonplussed abouteven the most ‘territorial’ of displays. Hugging his arm, trying to escort himaway from a situation, or talking to him after the fact about their worries–He’ll go along with it easily, and will be quick to pick up on his s/o’s discomforta lot of the time. His expression will change when around people who areannoying his s/o so he can be colder and more unapproachable.

He WILL try to calmly explain to his s/o that there is noreason to be jealous, and in some cases, he’ll even refer to the personinciting his s/o’s jealous feelings in a blunt/rude manner.

“This stranger?”

-The flirtatious fan in question balks-

“I would barely consider them an acquaintance.”

-The unlucky one to be referred to that way? Probably Fubukilol-

“But I love you, (Name).”

He’d had his eyes firmly on his s/o as he says this.

-To help his s/o he’ll try to give them consistent remindersthat he adores them OR be more forward with PDA when out on the town. This willusually be an arm around the shoulder, and it may just turn into a habit if hiss/o enjoys it enough. He would rather like walking around with them tucked beneathhis arm.

-Just like when he thinks Saitama is doing anything unsavory,he will turn a blind eye. A particularly jealous s/o that’s being clingy willget no stern rebuff from him (unless they’re putting themselves in dangersomehow).

He would understand that he as a lot of fans, and a s/o thatgets clingy as a kind of defense mechanism would have his deepest sympathies.However, if he can’t drive home to them that he will be eternally loyal tothem, he will be at a loss. He’ll take it as if he’s doing something wrong incomforting you, and he may ask Saitama on how to move forward.

-Clinginess is kind of hard to maintain around a guy likeGenos. He’s always on the go, so if can keep up with his pace, there’ll be nostopping you. A common (and cute) sight would be the two of you racing aroundtown (likely for Saitama) but your hand would be firmly clasped in Genos’s!

Saitama:

-Would be mostly confused, but at least a little flattered?

At first, the prospect of his s/o being overprotective of himwill amuse Saitama to no end, but he’s never had someone be jealous or covetousof his company or attention before… It will be something that he’d graduallyget used to.

-He’ll be very laid back when his s/o gets clingy. If thatmeans they suddenly have him strapped in a hug, are pressing their cheekagainst his, or are on his back—whatever. His neutral expression will be comicallyserene. He can get a little annoyed if the situation isn’t good for such antics,but if the desire to be close is mutual he’s incredibly chill and effortlesslyreturns those little affections.

If that mean’s he just gestures to get on his back, he’llgladly give them a piggyback ride and eat up the kisses they give him as theywalk home!

-He’s the kind of guy to sit back during tense situations so hecan watch it all play out. If that means he finds himself in a dilemma where hiss/o is having a spat with someone, he’ll kind of come back to himself andintervene if it’s getting too heated.

He’ll kind of escort his s/o away, and afterward he’ll be like,“Hey, there’s no need to get so worked up about me…” It’ll be a self-depreciatingcomment, but he really means to save his s/o trouble and the effort.

-If he must press a kiss to his s/o’s cheek or rub betweentheir shoulders to comfort them or display his attachment, he will do so withouta second thought. His bluntness is a good buffer between him and any unwantedsuitors though lmao. He also would have this uncanny ability to just hyperfocus on his s/o and ignore anything else. Saitama would rarely let hisattention stray from his s/o if they desperately wanted it.

Sonic:

-He’s the one who finds it hilarious and is the one to teasehis s/o in retaliation.

-Sonic knows he’s sexy and desirable by many kinds of people.Either from his looks alone, or because the subtle call of danger is too temptingto ignore. It’s a joke for him, and he’s haughty about this fact. He’s keenly awareit could get on his s/o’s nerves, but he can’t help but mess with his love.

“You want to keep me all to yourself, (Name)?” Then he’llinitiate a game of some kind.

In Sonic’s case, it’s might work to your advantage to be onthe clingy side. (Not in any overbearing way, of course.)

But to draw his attention in an earnest way would be all tooeasy. Smothering him with genuine affection will knock him down a peg, and he’llhave no choice but to rub the back of his neck and grumble an apology. Not onlywill it make his s/o feel good to sneak him away for kisses, he’ll be smug whenhe makes the return to the scene with his s/o in tow.

- If someone is purposefully trying to piss his s/o off bytrying to act chummy with him, he will show that person that he doesn’t appreciatethat kind of ploy, and if they know what’s good for them, they better walkaway before he get’s mad.  

- As a stubborn and slightlyjealous person himself he would take a lot of pride in his partner, and hewould know where they’re coming from if they get jealous. He understands it’s abouthaving control and romancing a man like him is a challenge in and ofitself. Sonic is not the most sensitive but making his s/o happy makes SONIChappy, and he would do his best to be as affectionate as he can.

ZOMBIEMAN:

- So we know S class heroes have a looooot of fans. While theopm world seems rather polite and most people leave heroes alone, there isstill the chance where strangers can catch Z-man out on the town with his s/o.

They’ll ask him to sign all sorts of things: figurines, T-shirts,collectable memorabilia, body parts. Then there are the incessant questions,or the occasional requests for pictures where his s/o has to awkwardly standoff to the side… ;w;

Zombieman understands this can’t be pleasant to deal with. Afterseeing his s/o’s expression fall, or their silent plea to leave. He is the typeof guy to immediately tackle a situation head on and start righting wrongs.

He would be miffed if a fan couldn’t read the mood– andwhile Z-man’s polite, he would put on a stern face and use his imposing statureto its greatest potential. He’d tell most people to kindly leave them alone orto straight up “Buzz off.”— After getting out of the situation he’d try hisbest to cheer his s/o up in any way he can. Usually he’d refer to them by thepet name he’s given them, “Babe”, “Doll”, or the short rendition of your name.He’d likely pet at your cheek sweetly, before pulling you under his coat for a warm side hug.

- If his s/o has had a past relationship where cheating was amajor factor in their current worries, he is a surprisingly affectionate andblunt man. Moving forward he tries to make his feelings for his s/o clear and meaningful.He’d make a habit to invite them into his arms for long embraces and willalways kiss them firmly on the forehead in greeting or in goodbye. Whenever henotices them feeling lonely or unsure, he’ll try his best to praise them orcall them more often.

-There are also times where he is clingy himself! (although he’d hate it to be described as that)

After a long mission, he can be gone for weeks, and when hereturns home all he wants to do is sink into the softer side of life. Z-man anda clingy s/o would be nigh inseparable for at least a week or so while he getsnew weapons made or arranges travel to a different side of the country. Hewouldn’t mind hanging out at his place or at theirs, as long as they can betogether for the max amount of time.      

#genos #saitama #sonic #zombieman #opm #one punch man #opmheadcanons #opm headcanons #headcanons #fluffy #Anonymous

[beneathtreemomo]

Victorious AU

So I’ve been thinking of messing around with a Victorious AU that’s similar to the Burlesque AU I thought of around a year or so ago in that It’s basically a massive modern au with all my OCs involved somehow. And as I recently got a new phone that comes with a pen and has a drawing section in the notes, I figured I’d draw the OCs that star in the AU! Some of them don’t look as they normally would, though, because they had to be turned into fully-human characters! At most that means their teeth or eyes have changed. I’ll eventually do a headshot for all my ocs, but these were the ones I wanted to do for now. Here we go!

Ashton Fairweather: Dancer/Stunt Double, Junior (3rd year)

Ashton is homoromantic asexual & is crushing on/ eventually ends up with Kenny McCormick, a singer in their grade. His mom used to teach dance at the school. He prefers ballet and pole dancing and is vice-captain of the cheer team. He and Jasper used to be dance partners.

Jasper Wells: Dancer-> Songwriter/Guitar player, Junior (3rd year)

Jasper is homoromantic demisexual & is in a polyamorous relationship with Adrien Agreste, an actor/piano player in his grade, and recently graduated guitar player/singer/songwriter Luka Couffaine. Jasper starts off as a dancer at the school, but after a certain incident that completely destroys his vocal cords & affects his breathing, he turns to writing songs and playing guitar. He and Ashton used to be dance partners. His friend Neeks is trying to help him dance again.

Yoru Yukimura: Dancer/Actor, Junior (3rd year)

Yoru is demiromantic asexual & eventually ends up with Shirou Fubuki, a singer/songwriter in his year. He’s new transfer student to the school and he has an odd knack for being able to read people with ease. His singing isn’t amazing but it’s enough for him to pass classes. He still dances after his leg gets injured, but it’s harder and he can’t do as many hard-core dances. Partners with Shirou for pretty much everything involving performances and hates how protective Natsume, his older brother, is some times.

Natsume Yukimura: Actor, Senior (4th year)

(first I’d like to offer apologies for his face looking a bit weird, my hand didn’t agree with me that day) Natsume is bi and currently stuck between crushes on his best friends Haruka and Toshiro. He is Yoru’s older brother and pretty protective over him. He's a good actor, but no one really knows why he goes to a performing arts school when his passion is clearly baking. He’s also great in the make-up courses thanks to his skill at decorating cakes.

Neeks: Dancer/Singer, Junior (3rd year)

Neeks is demiromantic/demisexual & in a sort-of-romantic relationship with Plagg, a dancer/actor in his grade. It’s complicated. No one knows Neeks’ real name and he’s sort of like Jasper’s big brother after Jasper’s incident. He is working with Jasper to help him get back into dancing. He and Plagg are dance partners and his singing isn’t half bad. Adores wolves more than anything.

Haruka Hamasaki: Singer/Costume Designer, Senior (4th year)

Haruka is straight & one of Natsume’s best friends. She doesn’t have a crush on him yet but they’re super close and eventually date in college. Her passion is costume designing and she’s the best in their grade. She’s also a pretty good singer, but she prefers the costume department. Is like the mother of the group and can always be found either doing something or helping someone out.

Hurricane Lantern: Mermaid Performances/Singer, Senior (4th year)

Hurricane is demiromantic/demisexual & crushing super hard on his best friend Tyler Ridgemount, an actor/ director in their grade. Hurricane got into the school via singing but his true passion is mermaid performances. He practically lives and breathes swimming and is captain of the swim team. At some point his relationship with Ty becomes strained and he decides to put his heart on his sleeve one last time before they graduate. He doesn’t plan to stick around after graduation.

Koray Storm: Actor/Tech Theatre, Senior (4th year)

Koray is demiromantic homosexual & crushing on Yuusei Fudo, an actor in their grade. He spends more time on the tech team than he does acting but he doesn’t mind. He’s a bit of a troublemaker but has a heart of gold. Spends his free time riding around on his motorcycle and visiting the local orphanages.

Hiraku Kurosawa: Tech Theatre, Senior (4th year)

Hiraku is demiromantic asexual & eventually crushes on his friend Yuusaku Fujiki, a singer/guitar player that’s a sophomore (2nd year). He got into the school by acting but told the teachers flat-out that he really just wanted to work in the technical theatre department. He’s always tinkering with things and can be found covered in oil and grease outside of school. He works at his dad’s mechanic shop and is close friends with Koray. His older sister went missing a few years ago, and this year the case has finally taken a dark turn.

Drakon Silverstar: Actor/Singer, Senior (4th year) 

Drakon is panromantic demisexual & freaks out the second he starts crushing on his friend Varian, a singer/actor/tech theatre kid who is also a freshman (1st year). He likes to joke that he’s half dragon and can often be seen with gold and blue stripes in his hair. Sometimes he’ll even wear contacts w/ dragon pupils and fake fangs. He’s close with the others but sort of became Varian’s support pillar after Varian had a difficult falling-out with his friends and actually helps them reconcile! Puts friendship before crushes every time and has a strained relationship with his family.

#victorious au #MTS Ashton Fairweather #CNT and WotM Jasper Wells #Yukimura Yoru #Yukimura Natsume #Yukimura Haruka #Hamasaki Haruka #CNT and WotM Neeks #Hurricane Lantern #koray storm wamscd #kurosawa hiraku #drakon silverstar

[m-0-ths]

working on some more worldbuilding stuff!! these guys are all the right hand/second in command of one of the faction leaders. also yes i reused that drawing of yvette, i felt like it worked well for this Empress Hime's second in command: Fubuki Aorawa. Fubuki is a powerful medium, being able to communicate and even control the spirits that roam the ocean floor. she can predict the future to a small extent and control water thanks to said spirits. similar to hime, she's quite cold, serious and not very expressive but she has a lot more of a short fuse compared to her. her main role is keeping the spirits in order and being a teacher for hime's son. Demonic princess: Yvette Yvette is aeron's daughter and the leader of his army. despite her acting very cheerful and child-like, she's not one to be messed with out on the battlefield, a single roar of her true form is enough to make the entire demonic army follow her lead. of course, aeron still treats her like his precious little princess and spoils her to no end.  lady Gaia's right hand: sir marzipan. Marizpan is a genetic experiment, tossed aside by his creator. Gaia saw potential in him and couldn't get it over her heart to leave him out on the streets so she took him under her wing. thanks to this he's by far the most loyal of all the faction leaders companions. he's the commander of the nature faction's naval fleet and in charge of mentoring new knights. he's stern and on the grumpy side but he does show his emotions to those really close to him (pretty much only lady gaia and any lovers he had/will have) helios' puppet: Sebastian. (the only fully new character from this batch woops) Sebastian is one of the various living dolls created by helio's research team. he was specially made to be both a loyal servant and a nearly unstoppable fighting machine. like the other living machines made by the angels, he can't show much emotion and will listen to every command his master gives him.

#moth's art #oc #ocs #original character #orginal characters #monster girl #monster boy #monster girl oc #monster boy oc #furry #anthro #stingray #anthro cat #chimera #anthro chimera #demon girl #demon #demon oc #knight #living doll #anthro fish

[silverfae16]

Thoughts/Review: Beyblade Burst ChouZ episode 41 (Poor, poor Hearts)

I have been WAITING for this episode ^^ ...That doesn’t mean elements of it didn’t hurt. (I’m pretty sure Babby!Hearts’ expression matched mine when I saw the preview for this ep) Warning, this one is a tad longer than my usual, and may or may not be a bit more rambly. (This is a bit late because I went back to uni this week, plus it took longer to write)

Spoilers ahead, so under the cut we go~

So this episode was as good as I hoped it would be--it was feelsy, gave us backstory on Phi and Hearts, and provided us with a nice hook for the remainder of the season, as well as giving Aiga some more motivation to fight Hearts.

Fun little moment at the start: What looked like a recap part was just Hearts and Evel rewatching Hearts’s fight against Aiga. What I loved about it was the whole realisation from the audience, “wait a second, where’s the Aiga-narration. Why is this recapping a battle from a couple episodes ago.”...and cut to Evel and Hearts watching it. Just something I liked personally (although the light-hearted start to the episode was a lie ;_;).

Also this moment during training was good ^^ When a character visualises their desired opponents, you know things are getting serious.

So we get the backstory pretty early on in the episode, and let me just say, I have been trying to put together all the pieces of the puzzle and I’m still lost. The flashback here indicates that Phi and Hearts have been on Earth since they were children...which conflicts entirely with the “backstory” we got from Phi in episode 13 (yes, way back then). In that episode it was implied Phi had only recently landed on Earth by way of meteor, so that got the fandom scratching their heads. But this episode indicated Phi and Hearts have been on Earth since they were children, so now I’m just ????. Unless the fact that they were apparently left to their own devices in the Dead Gran was supposed to indicate that there was something odd about them, like the fact they didn’t originally come from Earth. But that would make me question how Phi and Hearts’ “dad” found them... This episode answered like 50 questions but created 500 more :|. 

Also revealed in this flashback is the confirmation that Phi was always an asshole to his brother. See, we knew there was something up, since the bros were never seen together, and Kyle not knowing who Phi was during the Bey Queen arc made it clear  Hearts had not even entertained the idea of letting Kyle know about Phi. And I understand sibling teasing/rivalry (being an older sis myself), but that was just plain cruel. You could tell that Hearts was being playful and just trying to enjoying himself during that football match, while Phi was playing for keeps, as it were. 

(On a side note, whoever did the voice for Younger!Hearts did a really good job in making it clear babby Hearts was adorable and innocent, nothing like his damaged older self :/)

We also get the moment Phi and Hearts get their beys in this flashback, which if the scene with the twins playing football together didn’t tell you Phi is an asshole, this next scene will.

See that face? Aside from it being a face I never want to see on a young child, that face came because all Hearts did was pick a bey first, and Phi being the bully that he is demanded Hearts hand Hades over. Even after the butler intervenes and points out that there is in fact another bey (Phoenix) there, you could see Hearts in the background, still holding onto Hades like he was scared he was gonna lose it. (Ie Phi is a petty POS)

On a side note, did anyone else think that Hades was more shiny here? (I think this was another visual cue that the twins would try to go for Hades over Phoenix). Also why didn’t “dad” just put the beys in separate boxes and tell butler to give the appropriate box to its kid :v Then we would have avoided this mess. 

Cut to Hearts after having Burst the infinity beys, when Phi finally enters. There’s something about Hearts’ frightened(?) expression that lets you know the pain from their childhood years has not gone away. Made even better when Phi announces that 1) he came to play and 2) came back to “punish” Hearts for taking away Phi’s “toy” (Aiga).

So after this bit, we randomly cut over to Beigoma, where we see that Aiga is understandably not handling the whole Phi-breaking-Achilles thing well. Remember, before this, he had been so scared that something like that would happen (since it happened to Laban), it partially fuelled his succumbing to impure/false resonance. So for it to actually happen will have still been a blow. Fubuki even mentions it’s trauma for him, hence he’s understandably having nightmares about it happening again. Just because he has ChouZ Achilles doesn’t mean his previous fear about beys breaking will go away. It’s a big deal, y’know? Of course, Naru then interrupts, mentioning something about “bad news”(?), and that’s when we get whisked off to the gym to watch Phi vs Hearts. Oh boy. 

The battle commences, with the goal being one Burst Finish. And as it progresses, with draws being common, we see a strange thing happen: Whatever connection Hearts had with Hades, is beginning to weaken. Why? Well...

That might be the cause of it. See, Phoenix is draining Hades’ energy--and thereby, draining the resonance Hades had with Hearts. Hearts even notices he doesn’t feel the resonance pains anymore at one point. 

Also, interestingly, while Hearts goes into resonance in each battle (like Aiga did when he was having issues with his resonance), Phi only uses resonance the once--in the final battle. And I guess the reason he did that was to completely overwhelm his brother, since this happened when he used his final special move:

Ow. This wasn’t the end of the pain train for Hearts this episode, by the way, either, since Evel goes and betrays him to team up with Phi after this (I talk about why that’s a big deal here, since this post is long enough as it is). It’s understandable that the fandom kinda melted after this episode aired.

Aiga reacts to Hades breaking since, y’know, “been there done that got a new Beyblade in the process” thing. And understandably he’s pissed at Phi again. Oh boy.

Also that thing up there is Dead Phoenix’s avatar, from the looks of things. Nice...

Overall: Really good ep, very painful, sets up Phi as the big bad, and gave us reasons to hug Hearts.

Next week is apparently a training filler ep, but I feel like we kinda need it after this week ;_;

See ya~

#silver talks #beyburst things #beyblade burst spoilers #beyblade burst #beyblade burst chouzetsu #plot+pain = long ep post apparently #I seriously hope we see Hearts again at some point #He was such a fun character

[higuchimon]

[fanfic]  Knight One

“What?” Yuusuke wasn’t entirely certain that he’d heard Juudai’s question correctly. Of all the questions that he could have heard, why that one in particular?

Juudai nibbled on the bread he’d picked up from the draw bread options. Even after being graduated for five years, he enjoyed that, it seemed.

“I asked, would you be my Knight? One of them anyway. I need three total.”

Yuusuke shook his head, though he wasn’t really saying no. He just didn’t understand what he’d heard. “What do you need knights for?” He could get to the other question after that: why him in particular.

“Because I can’t go everywhere and do everything,” Juudai pointed out. “I talked to Yubel about this and Yubel agrees that I need some help.” He grinned, a sudden sharp spark in his eyes. “Actually I think Yubel wants to be sure that I don’t wear myself out. And that I have time for them, too.”

Yuusuke hadn’t ever been formally introduced to Yubel. He’d heard about them, of course. No one who associated with Juudai on any sort of regular basis could avoid knowing about Yubel. But now he wondered what it was Yubel and Juudai did, and decided that he wasn’t that interested in finding out.

“Some help doing what?” He also knew something about what Juudai did. He helped people. He frequently traveled to the other dimensions and helped them there as well. Darkness could, after all, go anywhere and everywhere.

Juudai fiddled with the bread, worrying off a little piece of it. “Doing things. Helping. There are lots of people who need help, you know.” He lifted his gaze to meet Yuusuke’s, and for the first time, Yuusuke could feel exactly how old Juudai’s soul was.

Old. Ancient. Beyond counting.

“My Knights would get some abilities from me. Like being able to travel. And for the ones who can’t already, they’d be able to speak with Duel Spirits.” A grin flashed now, one that banished the extreme age and weariness from his face. “Fubuki-san’s going to love that, if he says yes. I bet Kaiser will, too.”

Yuusuke perked up. “You’re going to ask them?” The idea of being associated with his two oldest friends again sent happy thrills all through him. They’d spoken frequently since his return, but sometimes the mundane matters of life interfered, preventing them from talking for days at a time.

This might change that. Maybe.

“Yup. See, I sort of have to ask people who have a connection to some kind of darkness. Cause that way, my power can infuse them. Not everyone can do it.”

Yuusuke frowned. That sort of made sense. But another thought crossed his mind. “What about Johan-san? Couldn’t he be your Knight?”

“Nope. I said not everyone can.” Juudai set the little piece of bread he’d worked away onto the ground and Pharaoh started to sniff it. “Johan’s going to be picking his own Knights anyway.”

Yuusuke’s fingers twitched for a heartbeat. “He is?” As surprised as he was, the idea of Johan being like Juudai in some fashion...well, didn’t surprise him at all. If he strained himself, he could remember the feel of Johan’s mind, back during their duel. There had been such a sense of light.

Well. Light. There was a difference. A very big one.

Juudai nodded. “I have a feeling I know who he’s going to ask.” A quick shrug followed. “But I’m asking you now.”

Yuusuke watched as Pharaoh ate the bread. Was bread even good for cats? He trusted Juudai wouldn’t do anything to hurt him, at least not on purpose.

So do I trust Juudai enough for this?

He breathed in. “What do you mean by helping?”

“Do what I do. At least where you can. Find people who can see spirits and help them figure out what it means for them. Find people who can’t and help them bond to their spirits even without that. Help spirits who are new get cards.” Juudai leaned back against the tree they sat underneath. “There are some new ones coming out. President Pegasus is developing a new summoning method.” He grinned. “I’m not sure if he’s doing it because of the new spirits or if they’re coming out because of the new method, honestly.”

Yuusuke tilted his head. “New method?”

Juudai didn’t look at him. There did seem to be a faint hint of worry in his expression, though. “It’s being called Synchro. I-I need to keep an eye on it. So I also need some help so I can.”

In the five years he’d known Juudai, Yuusuke hadn’t ever heard him sound even the faintest worried until now. What did he know that no one else did?

Probably more than I can imagine. As he’d just had a reminder of, Juudai wasn’t entirely human, and that had nothing to do with Yubel being a part of him. He’d never been entirely human. He just hadn’t always known it.

But he was still human enough to need help. Human enough to care. Human enough to ask for help.

“How long is this for?” Another question held itself behind his lips. He didn’t think that he could have been picked just because of the mistakes he’d made when he was a teenager. At least he hoped not.

Juudai smiled. Like before, Yuusuke could feel how old he was with that smile. “The rest of your life. Probably the rest of all your lives.” He kept on playing with the bread in his fingers. “There’s a lot I can’t describe. Not with words. But you’d understand it if you were my Knight. Because I’d be able to show you. Once you’re all picked, anyway.”

Yuusuke started to say something, to ask once again why him, when Juudai’s eyes met his, and instead of the mismatched gleam of Yubel’s, this time Yuusuke saw shimmering gold.

“I’ll tell you if there’s anything in particular that I need you to do. But most of the time you three would just wander around – like I do. It’s not going to be easy. Living like me isn’t easy for me. But it’s the best way that I know to do what I have to do.” A laugh that didn’t match his eyes, or even come close to it. “And I hate the thought of being tied down, anyway. I’ve got all this power and I have to do something with it. I’ve believed that since I was seventeen. But there’s too much.”

Yuusuke swallowed. He’d heard about Juudai’s stint in Dark World. Fubuki and Ryou made sure that he knew. But never had he seen eyes like that before, or felt the taste of power like he did.

There really was only one answer that he could give. He could feel the faint whisper of Honest’s presence in the back of his mind, agreeing. Honest had never liked the concept of Darkness, but this was a different kind. This was something – and someone – meant to help and heal, who was asking for their help.

“All right. I’ll do it.” The more he thought on it, the more he knew this was the right thing to do. He’d done something sort of like it before, finding people who could see spirits and trying to help them. This would be a lot the same. At least he hoped.

Juudai nodded. Then he reached out a hand and Yuusuke took it automatically.

The moment that he did, he had time only to be aware of Juudai’s skin touching his, the full weight of the hand in his, and then darkness flowed through him.

He’d had something like this happen once before. As then, he’d accepted it freely and willingly, but there were so many differences now. Now he did this to help others, instead of trying to flee from his own fears. Now the darkness that crashed into him wasn’t the way of sealing him off from others and removing him from their memories, but the way of filling him up from the inside out, finding all the little cracks and chips and nicks inside of himself and letting him know that he was accepted in a way that he’d never thought that he would be.

Accepted by the primal darkness, that knew everything about him and gave him more, that opened his eyes and his heart and his mind even more so than had happened five years earlier.

When Yuusuke could see again, he found he stared up at the stars. What were they doing there? It had been mid-morning when Juudai walked up to his apartment door and asked if he wanted to have a talk. But there were the stars, glittering bright at him.

Juudai leaned over him. “Awake?”

He could hear a difference in Juudai’s voice this time. Most of it was the same. What was different was something that whispered underneath it, the soft call of the shadows. He breathed in and tried to push himself up. So seemed to be succeeding.

“I think so.” Everything seemed to act as it would when he was awake. Though wasn’t there more… something? He didn’t think that it was light. But he could see, nevertheless.

He rubbed at his eyes, trying to understand. Juudai chuckled at him.

“That’s one of the perks of being my Knight. You can see in the dark, like I do.” Juudai patted him on the arm. “You’ll be all right. It’s just going to take some time to adjust. Don’t worry, I’ll be here. Once you’re ready, we can go talk to Fubuki and the Kaiser.” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “I guess he’s still Hell Kaiser. I should ask him that.”

Yuusuke nodded, though it was more because he wasn't sure of what else to do than in total agreement. He took a long look around. They were still where they’d been, the little copse of trees behind his apartment building. He even recognized one of his neighbors walking by. But said neighbor didn’t even look towards them.

Juudai leaned over. “They don’t see us. No one’s going to see us until I want them to. I figured you could use the time to rest.”

“Oh.” Yuusuke murmured, trying to piece his brain together. Everything seemed the same and different and he had no idea of what he needed to do next.

“Rest, that’s all.” Juudai said. Yuusuke glanced at him; was Juudai reading his mind? “Sort of. We’re connected now. The same thing’s going to happen to Fubuki and Hell Kaiser. Yubel says that there are ways to put up shields, though. We’re going to work on that later.”

Yuusuke nodded again. His head spun in clumsy circles, though he didn’t think he was dizzy in the way that he thought would lead to pitching face forward onto the grass. He closed his eyes and breathed in. Doing that seemed to steady him.

Juudai brushed his hand against Yuusuke’s. “Let me know when you’re ready to go. The sooner we get this done, the better.”

“It is?” He could now feel something coming from Juudai, a worry that he hadn’t felt before. It wasn’t his; it was clearly Juudai’s. And he wanted to know why.

“There’s things we have to do before you guys go out on your own. I want people to know that you’re my Knights.” Juudai’s smile said volumes. “And that’s going to be fun.”

Yuusuke wondered what Juudai’s idea of fun was. He thought it wouldn’t be all that long until he found out.

“It won’t be. I think you’re going to like it.” Juudai’s smile sliced harsh and sharp. “I know some people who won’t though.”

“Who?” Yuusuke tugged the word out. His tongue wasn’t quite working with him, but he made it speak regardless.

“You’ll see. First we talk to Fubuki and Hell Kaiser. Well, first you have a drink.” Juudai held out a thermos. “You’ve been out for a while.”

Yuusuke stared at it, uncomprehending, before he reached for it. Part of what his problem was, he suspected, was that his throat was dry. This would fix that. Then they could get started on what came next.

And whatever that was, he could hardly wait to get to it.

The End

Notes: I have had this idea for ages. Can you guess who Johan's Knights will be?

#fanfic #higuchimon writes #ygo gx #yuuki juudai #fujiwara yuusuke #series: king's knights

[the-nysh]

Ah, so Viz’s vol19 is finally out, and I had a few notes flipping through it!

First up, there’s no special extended dust jacket cover or insert art to make up for it like in the Japanese one. Even Murata’s beginning author note has the diagram explaining how it works for the 3 volumes, but it’s also lampshaded by saying ‘the Japanese covers are special.’ So welp, that’s Viz for ya by simplifying and cutting out features... There’s also no new original art for the character page (it’s the same reused panels and only slightly modified from vol18’s) or the fictional disclaimer page (previous vol had a cute one with Tareo holding the sign but now it’s blank with only text…)

The vol begins where the last Hot Pot chapter split off last volume (ending at Garou), resuming back at the HA for their raid strategies (excluding Genos and Bang) and soon returning back to Saitama’s apartment for the actual hot pot shenanigans. The split chapter (and vol) have been retitled: “All My Cabbage.”

Highlights from the hot pot scene include: how Murata draws everyone’s hands with different ink styles, so each one is distinct. :O The familiar competitive carnage over ‘Master’s Meat.’ Kuseno happy he gets to see different sides of Genos, and Bang asking Saitama where he went wrong with his philosophy for training pupils at his dojo. :’) And of course, Genos being so high-strung and stressed, he snaps at everyone (especially Fubuki) who mildly inconveniences Kuseno or Saitama, to the point he accidentally snaps at Saitama too! Damn, Genos. :’D

Omg that’s 3 times he directs his ire towards Fubuki here; he can’t stand her.

Next major highlight resumes back to Garou with his textbook BIG DAMN HEROES moment busting thru walls to Tareo’s cries for help and annihilating monstrous child predators on the spot! Wooo! 8D He even took a stab wound to the gut just to go for the kill for that, oh my.

Oh? This panel removed the gray toning and now has different bolder inking.

We also get the 4 redrawn Garou pages with some new classic Murata shots of him like this:

But my fav is finally seeing this redrawn page translated:

“(Because) I’m a monster.” :’)) Ohh that sullen mantra where he keeps having to tell himself that... (Very different from Royal Ripper’s delivery of the line.) But I also like it particularly for how Tareo’s question’s worded, because that’s just…🥺

...Wait Viz, what. For mowing down some hallway monsters and when he’s about to literally eat an arm, what does that even mean. It’s such an odd fluffy choice of words for him to say here.

Whoa Viz, WHAT?! I mean, I’ve seen translations where it’s to replenish his blood or put meat on his bones, but saying it like that (flesh hungry) just makes him sound like...a zombie or something. D: Welp that’s some tonal whiplash and he’s certainly disturbing the kid without trying.

Ah, and here’s how they worded the tsundere scene. Where he clearly reacts, but denies how he cares and awkwardly deflects why he even came there in the first place. (Claiming it’s just for revenge huh...) When (yes he does care, and lol yes he did help Tareo) all other evidence proves otherwise. :P Also hilariously, Garou then immediately proceeds to help/escort/protect him in the scenes right after this, despite all his attempts to avoid/deny it. Garou pls. 

Yaaay. :D (Also another fun tidbit, but for the character page and back cover story summaries, Tareo’s described as not simply the boy who likes heroes, but rather, ‘the boy who admires Garou’ instead. Ahh cute. :’3) 

Course, further shit hits the fan once Rover (lit. translated as Pochi) intervenes.

And whew;; that’s some pretty harsh tact. It’s the same ‘what do I care’ wording as the previous tsundere scene from before (oh and hey, now he admits he saved Tareo’s life too), but this time, Garou’s gotta be purposely mean so Tareo runs away from him with the chance to escape, all while Garou jumps in leeroy jenkins style to distract Rover as the SACRIFICIAL DECOOOOY!!! (Even yelling at Rover like, ‘Nuh-uh! Keep your eyes on me!’) 

Ahh! The cola line’s still immortalized! 8′D (Same deal for him, as he thinks it’s the end among his final thoughts, but he still pops back with the will to go on~)

His ‘sit’ command to Rover has an additional ‘sit, doggy’ to it...which is another case of Viz somehow wording things fluffier for him again... (Similarly of note, but every time shit happens they’d have Garou exclaim a rather vague/mild ‘uh-oh..’ Just let him say shit like the dub would have done!)

Soon he drops in to meet Psykos Gyoro-Gyoro, and...

Nice. It’s been several times now the MA’s tried to butt in, assuming they know what he wants or what’s best for him. His NO should be resoundingly clear!

*reels back* Whoaaoa yikes! D8 Oh god, it’s practically the same thing that Royal Ripper said to Tareo! Oh my god, Psykos is a predator too! Abort abort!!! (Immediately before this she also admitted to abusing many humans/monsters.)

Meanwhile, Viz can hit some lines well, but other times they’ll loosely translate things like this (brace for it):

....scchhh;; Ugh yeah, no. That’s a miss. I knew they’d shoot themselves in the foot for over-simplifying Metal Bat’s fighting spirit concept before, cause now for the actual call-back it just sounds lame calling it that. Anyway, Garou’s got his own strength of will/fighting spirit here for resisting Psykos’ psychic powers.

Also, the badass ‘spiderman’ pose is translated as “so it’s hunting time!” which is...not bad. (Could be cooler like ‘the hunt is on’ versions I’ve seen.)

Ah, and these panels were redrawn. Now she snaps her fingers and the ceiling’s eye patterns glow to transform the room for Orochi.

The battle vs Orochi proceeds (Garou calls it facing first a dog monster now a ‘worm boss’) and ooh, this page is good! :D

...But this panel’s another lol for a random literal ‘gasp.’

...OHHHHHH!!! She calls Garou pure of heart! 8′D Omigosh yes, I was waiting to see how this would be translated! Also calling out those internal contradictions of his (which are quite apparent) and eyuauah, her sinister plans to brainwash him;;;

The volume ends here where Saitama opens the manhole, and parking Garou for now until he awakens next time!

For the bonus chapter, we hilariously get a Saitama going meta with his head stuck in fiction while ignoring reality~

(Some interesting things he says about the protagonist and antagonist tho, oho!)

#opm #garou #commentary #long post #oh whoa this got pretty long so it continues under the readmore #tonally viz kinda went all over the place for some of garou's lines #they can land hits well while missing others...so welp it's fun to see what they choose and compare with fan translations #(they don't have him swear like the dub would do so hhhh;;) #also yay psykos called garou pure of heart!!! :'D