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chaozsilhouette · 3 years

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Turbulent Beginnings

This forms the opening act to Macaque’s story, showing just how different his and Wukong’s early lives were and why he took Wukong’s disappearance so hard.

The idea Macaque was born from the wind was inspired by @animemoonprincess. And yes, I am a shameless fan of Macaque originally having white fur. The angst is just too perfect.

Brace yourselves, this isn’t going to be pretty. I am essentially shoving our boy through an emotional meat grinder.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

On a remote island, a day’s travel from China’s eastern shore, a massive hurricane raged as it had since the beginning of this world. The surrounding storms fed into it as its winds carved stone. No life had dared blossom on its soil out of fear of a painful demise. The merciless storm drank deeply of the waters of the sea, draining all aspects of potential and life before casting it aside. Not even curious spirits were spared.

Various deities had wondered why such a storm existed or why the Jade Emperor allowed such a dangerous presence to continue unchecked. Most believed that since the hurricane was stationary and prove no threat to the established order of the world, it was not important.

One day the hurricane vanished. As though it had never existed. Or rather that it had been transformed into something else.

It was the night of a new moon and with the hurricane gone, the island experienced its first cloudless sky. The only one to witness the momentous occasion was a monkie with pure white fur and six ears. Minding his manners, the nameless monkie bowed to the four winds in greeting.

The newborn proceeded to spend his days searching the island for something. Some clue as to the reason behind his birth. He could hear strange voices and words he didn’t understand yet at the same time could. He knew he wasn’t the only creature alive, so why was he alone?

For food, he walked his way through a cave system towards the sea, where he enjoyed the fish that were drawn in through the whirlpools and the mussels that clung to the sharp rocks. He grew to savor the taste of life, even though there was a part of him that craved something different.

Almost forty years passed before he mustered the courage to leave everything he knew to seek out those voices. He gathered all the driftwood and rope that had drifted onshore over the decades, fashioned it into a makeshift raft, and sailed towards the closest source of voices.

His voyage was actually pretty boring once he cleared the whirlpools.

The only exciting part about it was when that strange fish tried to sink his raft. It was bigger than any fish he’d previously seen with a mouth to match. Didn’t mean it survived past the first blow. Taking a bite Macaque wasn’t sure if he liked this fish. The muscles were tough and the flesh was rough on his tongue. He didn’t particularly like the taste. But there was enough to feed him for a full day.

In the end, he chose to eat a third of the fish’s muscles along with its heart before tossing back into the water.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Docking on dry land was an experience that would haunt him for years.

At first, he was filled with wonder at the sight of buildings and new creatures riding rafts far bigger than his.

When he stepped onto shore the whispers began.

The creatures, who he later learned were called humans, were pointing out his ears. They acknowledged his obvious intelligence. He heard them grip wooden instruments tightly. It was as if they expected him to do something.

No one made a move against him. No one approached him, but he could tell he wasn’t wanted. Everywhere he turned he saw eyes that cursed his every existence.

He didn’t stay in that village for long. In his mind, satisfying his curiosity wasn’t worth being stared at as though he was the source of all evil.

Demon.

That is what they called him. Was that what he was?

He didn’t know, but he didn’t like it.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

He aimlessly wandered the countryside for far too long.

The first act of kindness he received was from a couple who could not have children of their own. He stumbled upon them by accident, but instead of the normal fearful expressions he’d come to expect they greeted him with genuine smiles and an offer to join them for dinner.

They took him in and treated him like family. He became the son they always wanted. They taught him how to properly speak and how to walk comfortably on two limbs. They blessed him with a name.

They were kind and nurturing. In another world, they may have been called bodhisattvas. But sadly, due to them being ordinary mortals, his time with them only lasted four decades.

He buried them with love but grew resentful of his weak emotions.

He learned what it was like to have someone welcome him home after a long day. He learned to savor the taste of a mother’s home-cooked meal. He enjoyed having a father figure who was willing to teach him old military tactics. He experienced friendly competitions to see who could paint the most accurate portrait of a flower they saw earlier that day. It was everything he never knew he craved and then it was gone. Leaving him with an empty home and a broken heart.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Nearly fifty years later he joined a band of traveling performers.

Their natural oddities allowed them to see who he really was and welcome him into their party. With their compassion, he was granted the opportunity to heal. He learned that despite the group’s large size, very few of them had any direct blood relations. What made them special was how they created their own family and turned what many called strange into something beautiful. Out of respect, he delved into the world of entertainment, found he had a natural talent for it.

When he took the stage people assumed he was in costume, but that didn’t matter. The applause of the audience was a gift he cherished. The sheer passion this family expressed through every second in life warmed his heart beyond words. They were just what he needed to bring him out of his depression.

Alas, it was not meant to stay.

One night their camp was ambushed by a group of demons. They were nothing special, hardly worth mentioning. But for him, back then, it was a fight he never imagined. He could easily handle human bandits, so could his family, but never had he traded blows with a small army of his fellow demons. With the rising of the sun, Macaque stared at the cruelly bright sky covered in blood. All around him bodies lay scattered, life essence soaking into the ground. Despite being tasked with fighting off nearly five dozen demonic opponents he managed to survive with barely a scratch, but he was alone. Again.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

He tried to change things by sticking to his fellow demons. At least they lived longer.

Somehow that ended up with him becoming the apprentice to a demon healer for almost a century. She was a cold-hearted bitch with a heart of gold. Meticulous in her work, masterful in deduction, and short-tempered with the foolish. She gave everything to her practice and expected the same from him. It was bitter work, but he found it fulfilling. The knowledge that he now possessed the ability to restore others to peak condition settled some unknown part of his soul.

Of course, they would have visitors who wished to take advantage of her skills or steal the medicine. Between the two of them, they protected their clinic, but they weren’t always together. While she may try to hide it, she wasn’t the strongest demon out there. Apparently, the entire reason she got into medicine was to uncover why she was so weak. Centuries of research turned up nothing, but it did make her incredibly skilled at using poisons with her knives to compensate.

One day after he returned from gathering ingredients, he pulled back the door to find the shop in disarray, five unknown bodies slowly dying of extensive blood poisoning, and his master bleeding out from her severed arms. She always said she had no intention of entering Naraka alone.

Guess she kept her word.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

The cycle repeated itself over centuries. He would experience a brief window of happiness only for it to be savagely stolen from him, leaving him to mourn and curse his weak heart.

The small glimmers of kindness humanity showed him only made him curse their race even harder when he couldn’t walk into a village without being harassed. The humans who had proven stronger were sadly a rare breed. He was rare to encounter one a century and often they perished at the hands of their kind rather than by demons.

There were times when the ignorance had gotten so bad he’d taken to traveling with a constant glamour, disguising himself as an average human. Whenever he was in the presence of other demons, he allowed his true form to manifest, however, he made it look like he only had a single pair of ears. Standing out was the easiest way to wind up in a complicated situation he had no interest in trying to defuse.

That’s not to say his time was wasted.

Quite the contrary, he had learned much during his travels. He could hardly be compared to the happy young monkie, who was ignorant of the dangers and hardships this world held. In a sad attempt to fill the void, Macaque sought out wisdom and strength. He located masters of both the mystic and martial arts. He may have had to lie about his age, he was becoming quite the accomplished liar, but the results were more than worth it. With every stop, he found himself growing more certain of his strength and his identity.

Eventually, he discovered a strange monastery hidden in a cave in the face of a mountain.

He had never seen anything like it during his travels. But what truly drew his attention was the feeling the temple exuded, every stone exuded a strange aurora. Something powerful dwelled within, powerful yet there was an undeniably human quality to it all.

Hiding beneath his usual glamor, Macaque approached the temple with the desire to discover exactly what was being taught. Before he knew what was happening, he was speaking to the immortal sage who was running the joint. Master Subhuti welcomed him to his home and offered some tea. The disguised monkie was bombarded by dozens of questions, all of which he attempted to answer as though he was a normal human.

The master welcomed him as his newest disciple and showed him his new home. Later he learned the master could see through his disguise and sensed his potential. Apparently, the old immortal believed that the monkie would do well to learn his disciplines and he was fascinated by the monkie’s natural talent.Said something about how with proper guidance only the Buddha would be able to peer past his façade.

The monkie even received a new name to celebrate his rebirth. From that day forward he was Liu’Er Mihou, or the Six-Eared Macaque. He liked it. While he cherished the name his first family gifted him, he felt this was a good sign. A tribute to show that he was a changed monkie.

Regardless, he refused to drop his glamor. He had seen too many demons be cast out and attacked for getting sloppy. The other students were not thrilled about the newcomer showing them up and he wasn’t willing to give them a true reason to despise him. He learned quickly, more so than any other human disciple, but that put him at odds with those who were still struggling after years of training.

Macaque distanced himself from the others. They weren’t that interesting anyway. He didn’t care that they talked about him behind his back or were fully aware he could hear them. He couldn’t risk getting close so soon. He was determined to break the cycle. He didn’t care about immortality. He didn’t care about obtaining power. All he wanted was to end the pain. So far things had been working out in his favor.

Then heshowed up…

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

That trice damned monkie with peach-colored fur and markings like a golden mask. He was so naïve about the world. He treated everything as though it was some exciting game. His upbeat energy made Macaque sick. Some twisted part of him wanted to snap his neck just to end it, but a small part was fascinated by it. The other monkie reminded him of a time he had almost forgotten.

The Monkey King, or Sun Wukong, didn’t bother hiding his true appearance. Truthfully, Macaque wasn’t sure he knew how or that he should. He didn’t seem to notice how other students would keep their distance or how they kept their conversations as brief as possible without crossing the threshold into being considered rude.

He was so earnest and happy, it was painful. The new monkie pestered everyone about everything, it was like dealing with a newborn, but it seemed Macaque was his favorite to bother. The worst part was how he stared at Macaque as though he could peer past his glamour. Although Macaque wasn’t sure if that was truly possible. The Master could, but he dedicated centuries to refine his skills. Wait. How old was this annoyance? Perhaps he could smell he wasn’t like the other disciples.

Either way, he knew it was just a matter of time until the truth got out. He just didn’t expect it to be when he was changing.

Each student was offered a meager room for privacy. They were all the same size and offered little to no space for any customization, but the walls were enchanted to cut out sound whenever the doors were closed.

Behind those flimsy walls was the only time Macaque allowed his glamor to drop. While he valued being cautious, even he couldn’t keep up the glamour indefinitely, much less when he was asleep.

It was in that small space of safety that he discovered he wasn’t alone.

He had just allowed himself to relax when a smiling face covered in peach fuzz was shoved into his own.

“I knew it! You’re like me.” Sun Wukong happily exclaimed, stars practically dancing in his eyes.

“Shut up.” Macaque clamped his hand over the other’s mouth. Checking to ensure no one else was present and the door was shut, he faced the intruder. “Have you told anyone?” He hissed, while berating himself for failing to check the ceiling. You always look up when scanning a room, he knew that.

“Nope. Why are you hiding? You’re beautiful.” The cheerful demon spoke as though they were old friends. His golden eyes took in every hair of his fellow monkie’s true appearance.

“I’m a demon. And there is nothing beautiful about me.” Macaque growled.

“Yes, there is.” Wukong insisted. “You didn’t answer my question. Why are you hiding? The Master let me in, I wager he knows about you, so why?”

Sighing, Macaque massaged the bridge of his nose. “I have been hurt enough times to know keeping a low profile is optimal in survival. It is better to keep one’s head down than risk getting called out.” From observation, he knew the newer student wouldn’t leave until he received answers, so the best option was to just give him what he wanted and pray he knew enough to leave.

“That’s no fun.” Wukong stuck his tongue out in distaste. “You shouldn’t have to hide who you are. We were born this way.” He jumped high into the air only to catch himself on his tail with a cheeky grin. “So, they’ll just have to deal with it.”

“Cute speech. But my answer is no. Now leave.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll fix that attitude right up.” Thankfully Wukong left, but not before sending a smile laced with mischief his way. “See you tomorrow.”

Macaque prayed to every deity that would be the end of it. But even he knew it was a futile attempt.

“Do you have a tribe?” Wukong asked, hanging by his tail from Macaque’s favorite tree.

A startled Macaque blinked at the random question. “A what?”

“A tribe. A family. A place to call home?” Wukong asked smoothly even if he wasn’t familiar with the term family until recently he knew it was important.

“Not anymore.” Glaring Macaque returned his focus to his meal.

“Aw.” Wukong knew that look. He had seen plenty of monkeys wear that arura after watching other tribe members die. “Then you should come with me!”

“What?”

“Yeah. You can join my tribe. There are dozens of us back home. Plenty of food and water, you’ll constantly be surrounded by others like us.”

“Other demons?”

“No.” Wukong smiled as though he told a funny joke. “Other monkeys.”

“There is no reason for me to join you.” Macaque stated, wishing he could finish his lunch in peace.

But Wukong wasn’t letting him go that easily. “And there’s no reason for you to refuse.” He stated, ignoring any and all social cues or common sense for respecting personal space.

It went on like that for years. Every day Macaque would awake to find gold eyes staring at him, waiting for his answer to change. Breaks were spent dodging the hyperactive monkie as he tried to eat alone. Training sessions soon found him sparring with the same partner.

The monkie was stubborn no doubt and Macaque feared his actions were slowly breaking down his walls. The pale furred monkie missed having a connection. He adored being able to talk to others, but whenever he opened up he only got hurt.

But maybe, maybe this time could be different…

Wukong was training to obtain immortality. He had already proven to be stronger and more clever than anyone he’d known. The simian showed that he wanted to know him better. He constantly tried to touch his fur, something he called grooming, which felt pretty nice.

Maybe…maybe this time he could truly have a home.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

A streak of light accompanied by a sharp whistle pierced the night sky. For a brief moment, it vanished before exploding in a beautiful display of color and light.

On the monastery’s rooftop, Wukong backflipped in joy at the sight, his golden eyes wide. “Happy New Year!” The monkie cried. In the village below, he could make out dozens of voices echoing the greeting.

It didn’t matter how many times he saw them, fireworks were a sight he always adored. “This has got to be mankind’s greatest invention!” The flowers of fire were simply too beautiful. So unique. Nothing on Flower Fruit Mountain compared to such beauty, it made him thankful he decided to leave.

From the corner of his eye, Wukong noticed that his companion was clutched his ears wincing with every detonation. “You okay, bud?”

“I’m fine. Just loud.” Macaque said. He was truly questioning his sanity by joining Wukong on the roof. Normally he barricaded himself in his room, but his friend was so thrilled about sharing their first New Year together he couldn’t say no.

“Oh.” Somehow the new set of fireworks didn’t look that attractive. “We can go inside if you want.” They were beautiful, but nothing was worth feeling helpless as his friend curled up in pain.

“I’ll be fine. I’m adjusting to the volume. No different than punches that break the sound barrier, right?” Macaque tried flashing a confident grin to varying success.

Wukong suspected that Macaque was lying, but learned enough to know further prying would just cause the other monkie to simply shut out the world. “I’m glad you’re coming with me.”

“You made a persuasive argument.” Anyone who could harass him for nearly five years straight proved their determination.

Wukong playfully stuck his tongue out. “Hehe…Seriously though, I’m happy you chose to be part of my tribe. No one should be alone.”

“Then why have I been for so long.”

“I doubt even Master knows. But you won’t be able to say that anymore.” Wukong wrapped his arms around his best friend. Pulling him close, Wukong faced the fireworks, unconsciously grooming Macaque as he savored every pop of color.

Beneath those gentle digits, Macaque steadied himself against the soothing heartbeat of the one he slowly learned to trust. As the display continued, the pale monkie learned to appreciate the human’s creations. Turns out they weren’t so bad so long as you have the right company.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

“I’m sorry. You’re what?!” Macaque’s response was perfectly justified. There was no way he just heard what he thought he heard.

Wukong flashed a blinding grin. “I’m heading to the Celestial realm. I’ve been given a position in Celestial Bureaucracy.” Not seeing any problems whatsoever.

“Why?” Just why? From everything he heard about those stuck-up deities, they would never hand over a position to anyone without requiring the completion of an impossible task, much less to a demon. Least of all a demon who has done nothing but terrorize others and unleash chaos whenever he went.

“Don’t know. But I got to go right now.” Wukong shrugged as he finished packing. The Gold Star of Venus was waiting just outside the waterfall.

“But what about Flower Fruit Mountain? What about your subjects? What am I supposed to do? How long are you going to be gone?” Macaque fired off a rapid stream of questions. Panic was beginning to take hold.

Wukong, however, was as calm and confident as ever. “Stop worrying so much. Look I’ll be back as soon as I can. Until then you’re in charge.” He finished as though it was obvious.

“Me!” A white tail nearly burst into twice its normal size in shock. “But I have no idea how to run a Court!”

“Neither do I. Not in the traditional sense at least. Look just keep an eye on things. Protect the monkeys from hunters and malicious demons. Sometimes one of the allied demon kings will ask for some help. It’s nothing you haven’t helped me with before. I’ll be back before you know it. I’m sure you’ll be able to handle things until I get back.”

Seeing his companion and good friend growing even more lost, Wukong closed the distance and took his face in both hands. “This is a good thing. If I can make this work, none of us will ever have to worry about being hunted or not having enough food ever again.”

In a snap, Macaque grabbed the king’s arms. “What if I don’t care about any of that? What if I just want you to stay?”

For the first time in their conversation, Wukong’s cocky attitude vanished replaced with a loving smile. Gently prying Macaque’s claws off his shirt, Wukong placed his cheek on a palm as he kissed the knuckles of another. “I can’t. This is too good an opportunity to pass up. This isn’t goodbye. I’ll keep in touch. The time will fly. We’ll make this work. Trust me.”

“Alright, Wukong. I trust you.” Macaque said, ignoring every fiber of his being that screamed this would end poorly.

“If things go wrong, remember I’m just a telepathic call away.” Summoning his cloud, Wukong back flipped onto it with his bag. “Monkey King, out!”

One sonic boom later and he was gone, along with a good chunk of the cave walls.

“Hpmh. That’s my idiot.”

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

How did this happen? How did this happen?!

One moment they were fighting for their lives against the army of the Celestial Realm and the next Macaque bore witness to Wukong being carted away in a diamond snare.

Now as he stared at the charred remains of what once was a growing village of monkeys, Macaque felt something within him change.

For almost two months he had burned in celestial fires. The sounds of the dead and dying rang out, making his namesake almost bleed. He choked on the ashes of the mortal monkeys. The air had a strangely sweet and bitter taste to it.

Macaque lost count of all the times he charged back into the fires to save as many heartbeats as he could. He wasn’t sure but he suspected he blacked out more than once. With every heartbeat that stilled before he could reach them, a part of him followed them into Yama’s realm.

Finally, the fires had died down. They didn’t have anything left to burn.

All around him he saw the pitiful leftovers of what was once a thriving community. He had treated the survivors the best he could, but he lost his medical equipment in the blaze. The only ones he didn’t have to worry about were the monkeys Wukong made immortal, but he did what he could to ease the pain.

But still, he wondered why…why were they staring at him as though they were confused?

Maybe he was overthinking everything. He just worked through 49 days without any sleep. Everything was stable for now. The best course of action was to wash off the ash and get some much-deserved rest.

There was nothing the Celestial Realm could do to Wukong that he couldn’t handle. Besides Macaque didn’t even know how to get there even if he was at full strength. Wukong couldn’t die so it was only a matter of time before someone tripped up allowing him to return home.

He just had to be patient.

Stepping into the clear river, Macaque’s jaw almost dropped as the water around him immediately turned gray. He didn’t realize he was that filthy.

He started scrubbing himself, ducking under the water to ensure he didn’t miss a spot. He had to move a few times due to the sheer amount of shoot and ash that clung to him. The entire cleaning process took a full hour before the water ran clear.

Stepping out, Macaque felt more refreshed than he ever remembered. Shaking to remove as much access water as possible, all the towels were soot so he had to make do, he paused by the waterside to see how much fur he lost. But what he saw met none of his expectations.

Instead of fur that invoked images of the moon, he was cloaked in the color of the darkest ink.

“What happened to me?”

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

Five hundred years.

Five hundred years he searched, for any trace of the legendary Five-Fingered Moutain Buddha used to trap Sun Wukong only to find nothing. Macaque scoured far and wide. Neither the winds nor the shadows could lead him towards his friend.

He picked fights with countless demons who claimed to witness the great Monkey King brought low. It barely took two punches before they broke down crying how it had been nothing but a lie, how they only repeated rumors.

He bargained for any information he could find, but all accounts claimed the mountain didn’t exist. Many refused to answer him on principle of not interfering with the Celestial Realm’s issues. Their last mistake. Others took Wukoong’s punishment as a sign to amass as much power as possible out of fear that they would be targeted next.

Macaque had witnessed the formation of more alliances and territory grabs in the past century than had been recorded in the last thousand years. Demons were becoming more power-hungry and suspicious, which meant even more trouble for the humans. Things were becoming so chaotic, Macaque had to wonder if it was planned.

But he couldn’t dwell on that.

He hadn’t visited Flower Fruit Moutain in years. His clones kept guard, but slowly he was losing the drive to keep replenishing them. The only reason he called that mountain home was because of Wukong. It wasn’t home without him.

But he had to keep looking. Had to keep trying. He would find his friend.

Somehow.

§~~~~§~~~~§~~~~§

He tricked himself into thinking this would be different. That he would no longer be alone. That finally he had found a family he could keep.

He was an idiot!

The truth was he was no different than anyone else. The world was Sun Wukong’s toy chest and Macaque was merely a shiny new trinket to bat around until he grew bored. Seeing him with that group, knowing that he chose them over their past, was too much.

He was sick of being left behind. He had been left alone so many times. What made him think he couldn’t be replaced?

He could have attacked, ripped their precious monk to pieces, he could have...should have...but he was tired.

Returning to Flower Fruit Mountain was a chore, but one he swore he would never complete again. The monkeys questioned his return, asking where their king was and if he’d return soon. Macaque ignored them all. He simply walked to the part of the manor he and Wukong had shared for years, where he had been waiting for his return.

Staring at all the knickknacks and souvenirs they had collected from their adventures, Macaque made up his mind. Grabbing a large sturdy bag, he swiftly packed his essentials. In another, he packed non-perishable goods and water containers.

Stepping out, a flash of something peach-colored caught his eye. Spinning around, hope burning a hole in his chest but his dreams once more were proved false. It was just the special peach tree Wukong had planted from the leftover pit he had saved from his time in the Celestial Realm. Apparently, it had reached maturity and was proudly bearing the first fruit Macaque had seen despite having been planted nearly half a millennia ago.

Macaque wasn’t sure why it was so special, Wukong just winked and said it was a surprise for when they could share a fresh one. Feeling something wet on his arm, Macaque looked down to see his hand stretched towards the tree and the memories he held. Feeling his cheeks, he realized he was crying, which was strange as he didn’t think he had any tears left.

Spurred by longing and spite, Macaque plucked six peaches from the tree and stuffed them into his bag. It wasn’t like Wukong was going to miss them. And he needed the food.

#lego monkie kid au #Vanishing Shadow Au #six eared macaque #liu er mihou #sun wukong #abandonment issues #no communication #angst #white macaque

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phantasmagoriaoriginals · 3 years

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Here There be Monsters: Mage Basic Intros (Part 2)

Cybele

She/her, ??? Mage.

Around three hundred years ago, Cybele wanted to help find peace between humans and Creatures. To do this, she found a way to merge with magic itself, change her form, and become something that the world would listen to. From there, with new, unheard-of powers, she formed the Organization and shaped it to work toward her goal and dream.

While Cybele started out as a remarkably kind, gentle, loving person, her passions reached heights greater than she was meant to handle. Merging with magic turned her into something inhuman, and as it is, she’s slipped into a dream-like mental state where she only sees the reality she wants to. She’s lost in her own head and forgetting the world around her.

Cybele’s magic is unique in that she can use all seven kinds with near mastery. This should be impossible, however, and the consequence of such power is the slow deterioration of her mental state.

5′6, early 30′s (physically). Statuesque, shapely build, gentle, pleasing features, and light, rosy skin. Waist-length, golden-blonde, curly/wavy hair with distinct bangs, ocean-blue eyes with a bright sparkle in them. A soft smile almost always graces her lips, and her eyes are kind.

Gisette

She/her, Blue Mage.

Born to a high-ranking Mage family, Gisette spent her youth with high expectations. She was supposed to be perfect from day one— with all the constant work that comes with that. Indeed, she grew to reach a powerful position in the Organization, but along the way, she’s become jaded to the world and the supposed purpose of making it better.

Stern, strict, and severe, Gisette is the kind of person who doesn’t need to be big to be terrifying. She holds high, hard-earned authority, and her very posture makes it clear she knows it. An outstanding strategist, Gisette has spent years with the weight of responsibility heavy on her shoulders, choosing“should” over any “want” she may have had.

Gisette’s magic involves bringing written messages to life. This mainly suits her work as a strategist and organizer, as she can send moving, encrypted, and physically activated text wherever she pleases.

5′4, early 50′s. Waist-length, dark brown, almost black hair usually worn in a high bun. Dark gray eyes, pale skin, a fair amount of wrinkles. Usually wears earrings. Despite being a petite woman with a fairly slight build, the way Gisette carries herself shows her status well.

Maximus

He/him, Red Mage.

Like Gisette, he was born to a powerful Mage family and experienced much of the same pressure. The two were childhood friends and held feelings for each other from a young age. Maximus was the one who could never quite let go of them, even after Gisette gave up on her personal longings in favor of what she knew she had to do.

The opposite of Gisette in almost every way, Maximus is animated, dynamic, and imposing. His physical size makes most people cower, but his boisterous nature either sets them at ease or makes it worse. While he’s more than capable of taking things seriously, a beaming smile and openly held passions get him where he wants to be.

Maximus’s magic involves augmenting his physical strength. Instead of merely utilizing his energy, he doubles it back and ups his capacity for strength and movement, giving him nearly superhuman capabilities.

6′10, early 50′s. Huge, heavily muscled, powerful build. Shoulder blade-length, curly/fluffy hair a shade of blue so pale it’s almost white, almost always restrained in a low ponytail. Tanned skin, dark crimson eyes, chiseled, handsome features, and a good few wrinkles from age.

Rosaria

She/her, Green Mage.

Aurora’s older sister. From a young age, she was considered a prodigy at Green magic and was showered in the attention and praise that followed. While she remains a sweet, caring person, Rosaria’s outlook toward the world and other people has been distorted by the way she was treated growing up. She can be quite oblivious and ignorant.

Charismatic and sociable, Rosaria is the picture of the person everyone loves. Between her gift for magic and her skills with interpersonal relations, she’s well-respected and well-loved by almost everyone around her. Rosaria is quite a friendly, cheerful, and kind person, but she struggles with considering others’ feelings properly.

Rosaria’s magic is typical Green magic— drawing from the world around her to manifest various effects. In her specific case, she augments both her physical strength and her speed capabilities.

5′9, late 20′s. Tall, curvaceous build with an hourglass figure. Short-cut, chin-length white hair worn in a bob that frames her face. Wide, deep gray eyes with a slight green tint to them and pale lashes. Her features are quite appealing and she always seems to be wearing a smile.

Adrian

He/him, Yellow Mage.

In his early teenage years, Adrian made a mistake with his magic that caused his body to stop aging. He’s forever stuck at the age he was when the incident happened, even though his mind continues to develop. He became a skilled Mage nonetheless... but life seems to never give him a break. An unfortunate incident with a girlfriend was the tipping point.

Adrian is intellectual, poised, strict, and somewhat snobby. He has the personality of s stuck-up professor, and definitely enough ego to mirror it. Despite being internally depressed and angry with the world, he’s determined to ignore his unpleasant history and pretend like he’s not miserable. He has more than his fair share of pride in himself.

The magic he uses involves bringing his words to life. When Adrian speaks a command with magical intent, it happens. He has to be quite careful with it, as the exact mechanisms are tricky and complex.

4′11, late 30′s. Adrian’s body is youthful, small, and unaging. Brown, past chin-length hair in a fairly straight cut, with bangs, and brown eyes only a few shades warmer and more hazel. Carries a near-permanent scowl and posture that conveys his pride and experience.

Gloria

She/her, Yellow Mage.

Formerly a Mage of high rank, Gloria’s magic started to affect her mind about a decade ago. From there, it’s been a slow slide into delusions and distorted thinking that have left her with a very different role. When she was younger, she loved her magic for what it could show her and the things she could experience, but now, she can hardly keep track of them.

Gloria used to be a composed, passionate woman who handled her job well and enjoyed every second of it. She was outspoken, bold, and graceful in both speech and mannerisms. After her magic changed her, though, she’s become very disorganized in thought. She has trouble telling what’s real, what’s tangible, and what’s in the present.

The magic that twisted Gloria’s mind is the ability to see into the past and future. While limited, it was highly useful, and she pushed herself too far with it, leading to her mind being unable to handle the information.

5′5, mid 30′s. Graceful, art-like build with a soft figure and not a lot of muscle. Caramel-brown hair worn in a shoulder-length style with longer sidelocks, shining, golden-hazel eyes, and fair skin. Her eyes have a vacant, spacey look in them more often than not.

Coulson

He/him, Blue Mage.

For the most part, Coulson has a normal past. He fought his way through education and training to be as skilled as he currently is, and that fight gave him an unhealthy amount of pride. He’s always been competitive and authoritative, and can’t stand others besting him in any way. He worked his way into the Organization for the sake of power.

Coulson is strict, self-absorbed, and demanding of others. In his mind, he’s almost always the most capable person in the room and he acts like it. He’s a stickler for rules (when they suit him), dismissive of other people and their opinions, and aggressively fixated on his authority in the chain of command. He takes a lot of pride in his power and abilities.

For magic, Coulson uses a variety of small tattoos self-engraved into his body to create a variety of effects. He adds new ones quite frequently as he learns new applications and methods of utilizing them.

6′0, mid 30′s. Tall, somewhat lanky build with unnerving strength for how little muscle is visible. Dark blue, curly hair slicked back on the right side and left loose on the left. Darker blue eyes, pale skin, and two silver piercings (right nostril and right earlobe) connected with a thin chain.

Rochia

She/they, Brown Mage.

A perpetual hard worker, Rochia grew up with a love of both machinery and magic. She enjoyed experimenting with everything she could get her hands on and seeing what worked. Once she joined the Organization, Rochia wound up assigned to a top-secret project that killed her optimistic view of the world, leaving her bitter and pragmatic.

Sharp-tongued, logical, and no-nonsense, Rochia is dedicated to her work— even when she hates it. She dislikes unrealistic fantasies and people who go against rules and sensible choices and favors those who devote themselves to something tangible with their whole hearts. Despite losing faith in the world, small parts of her still cling to hope.

Rochia’s magic is something of a mystery. It relates to creating and maintaining magical machines, but the exact nature of what she knows and does is kept secret by the higher-ups of the Organization itself.

5′2, mid 20′s. Petite and rather stocky in build, with few curves. Dark brown hair worn in a shaggy, somewhat messy pixie cut easily kept out of the way. Gray, brown-tinted eyes with perpetual dark circles underneath, light skin, and forming wrinkles at her brow.

#Here There Be Monsters #Cybele #Gisette #Maximus #Rosaria #Adrian #Gloria #Coulson #Rochia #Character Info

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dreamylyfe-x · 3 years

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God your ask responses are so good. The one about Debbie is super interesting. In a lot of ways she has signs of the person she becomes early on but I do think she changes a lot too. From the beginning of season 3 to the end of season 4 - less than a year in the show - it's like she's two different people. The difference in her concern for Frank, from 3x01 to "he's been dying for years", is so extreme. She also goes from being hyper-responsible and not all that concerned (at least outwardly) that she has no friends in s2 to making seriously, seriously awful decisions in the pursuit of finding connections with people outside her family, especially romantic partners. (Then again, maybe that was always there... I hope aunt ginger is doing well) Do you think those two big shifts are related? Is it just puberty? What do you think changed to make Debbie become the kind of girl who made the all wrong decisions Fiona was so sure she'd avoid?

Hey! First of all -- that you so much. That's really nice to hear.

Secondly, I'm sorry this took me a few days, but I was giving it some thought because I wanted to answer it with some real idea of what is going on with Debbie. I also went and watched the episodes you referenced. ☺️

I do think some of the changes with Debbie are straight up developmental. 4x01 starts with a montage that outlines for us that Debbie is now a teenager and is mirroring Fiona getting ready in the morning. This is clearly a shift that we're supposed to think happened between seasons and to that end, I'm cool with it. (I am not cool with, like, how time works in season 4 -- but we just have to accept that it takes place in a vortex where six months can go by, but it's always February.)

When my Netflix rests on Shameless it always plays the same clip -- Debbie making worried noises because Frank is missing, followed by the kids all going out to look for him. I remember watching the episode for the first time and thinking the divide between Debbie -- scared and upset -- and Ian, Lip and Fiona was something the show got right. Because part of growing up with one or more crappy parents is getting to the point where the switch flips and you realize that everything that's happening with them is complete bullshit, you can't count on them, and you've been worrying about them and caring about them far more than they've been worrying and caring about you. So inevitably, we were going to see each kid have their moment where they go from loving Frank the way kids love their dads to just shutting the door on it.

To get a little bit personal -- I come from a blended family and there's a whole mix of different parental figures in this situation, and not everyone is living their best parenting life. So I've experienced, and watched, several people go from being the kid who is anxious when their dad isn't where he's supposed to be, to becoming someone who will tell their dad to go fuck himself over breakfast. In my experience that shift happens really fast. Because the evidence of their parent being terrible has always been there, and it's like they just have to get to point where they review the evidence and once they have... they're angry.

Debbie shows up angry in season 4 and one thing I find REALLY interesting is that, in her first scene, she's angry about two things. First, the suggestion that she might forget that she's supposed to watch Liam (because Debbie is responsible, damnit) and then the fact that no one knows where Ian is and Fiona won't call the police. Puberty has clearly hit between seasons, but Lip and Ian have also moved out. AND Frank is gone, just like always. She goes to see Mandy -- who was helping her pick out first-day-of-school clothes in season 3 and that conversation ends with Debbie getting a door slammed in her face. You can definitely see how she might have gotten jaded about not just her father, but her whole family.

It's interesting to me that Debbie spends a day with Lip mid-season looking for Ian. That the desire to find one brother, and spend time with another is definitely present. And they find him. And he's frightening. Doesn't make sense, isn't acting like himself, doesn't want to go home with them. Developmentally it's natural for Debbie to start looking outside her family for connection, but also -- her family is getting more and more scattered and looking less and less like the reasonably cohesive people she grew up with.

Debbie does so many infuriating things, and so many of them make her look monstrous because she stomps all over people to make them happen. And that's where she gets Frank-ish, because she's always very "by any means necessary" and she doesn't seem to assume willing help very often -- she assumes she's going to have to trick people. I think part of the reason Debbie decides to get pregnant is because, at a very young age, she feels her older siblings pulling away, she understands her parents are never going to be there for her, and she wants something for herself. Looking at the stuff that is going on with Debbie in season 4, 5 and 6... she's finding herself alone and abandoned a whole lot. Fiona is ruling with an iron fist and won't support Debbie's desire to have a baby. Lip is gone to college and then dealing with alcoholism. Ian is struggling with mental health issues, but has also directed most of his focus on his boyfriend, and their makeshift family. Shelia leaves. Even SAMMI, who originally gossips with her about boys ends up sending turning Ian in to the MP. Debbie just spends season after season not being anyone's priority and not getting what she wants -- which is primarily love and attention. It does make sense that, eventually, she would become someone who just takes, because how else is she ever going to get anything? And when it comes to going after things, she is impulsive and has this almost child-like grasp on consequence -- but I think that might be because the hurt kid is the one in charge. All that too-young maturity and sacrifice to help everyone else left her feeling bitter and abandoned and like she has a right to something. And that's never a place where good ideas flourish.

#asks #thanks so much for this one #Debbie is fascinating and it's been fun to really go and look at the show from her POV #and just see how much shit she takes before she becomes the one giving it #she does so much for the family even once she's become kind of a nightmare #but she's also so angry #and not without reason #Debbie gallagher #Shameless season 4

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x--daughters-of-darkness--x · 3 years

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Amy Lee Reveals How New Evanescence Album The Bitter Truth Helped Her Heal After Brother's Death

Amy Lee opens up about Evanescence's first album in 10 years

Evanescence is back with their first album in a decade.

Ahead of the Friday release of The Bitter Truth, frontwoman Amy Lee spoke to PEOPLE about the new album and its influences, reflected on the rock act's legacy and opened up about how she's spent time in quarantine with her family.

"A lot's changed, from perspective, to life experience, to the lineup itself," Lee, 39, tells PEOPLE of her headspace going into creating the LP with current bandmates Troy McLawhorn, Jen Majura, Tim McCord and Will Hunt. "We wanted it to be raw and visceral, and it relates so much to the lyrical content and experiences that I'm drawing from. We're talking about being human, being broken and starting from that place before you claw your way back out."

As on past Evanescence albums, like breakout Fallen and follow-up The Open Door, The Bitter Truth tackles some heavy subjects.

"This whole thing has been very much about facing your fears and facing the things inside myself that aren't easy to admit. On a personal level, the biggest bitter truth is that life is short; we're not going to live forever," she says. "And in these moments, when we do have a moment where there's love and peace and good things — live in it and enjoy it, and embrace it, because it's not going to last forever. That can be a challenge when you're grieving, to not let it suck the joy out of the moment you could be living right now."

The Bitter Truth was party born out of grief. In January 2018, Lee revealed that her younger brother had died after a years-long battle with severe epilepsy; he was 24.

"Our music has always been a very sacred place for me to really just bare my soul. On the grief and everything, it has been really healing for me, having that outlet, to not only be able to pour my pain into, but also to be able to listen back, and reflect back, and see that something good was coming out of something so painful that honors the people we've lost, to still be able to stand back up and be your best self, and remember," Lee says.

"Not to throw it away and let it go and try to tune it out and pretend like it didn't happen — that's not what he would want. He would want me to be the best me I can be. And I know if he can see me right now, he's totally banging his head to this album and so proud of it."

Evanescence also waded into politics on the new album. With the track "Use My Voice" — which was released as a single last August — Lee urged listeners to vote in the election between Donald Trump and now-President Joe Biden. For the anthem, Lee teamed up with her peers Taylor Momsen (The Pretty Reckless) and Lzzy Hale (Halestorm) to make a statement.

"I've always relied on women in my life. I've always had good, strong, grounding, wonderful women in my life that are and are not, rock stars. Being backed by supportive men is important too, and been a big, positive thing in my life as well — but there is something to be said for sisterhood. It's real," Lee says. "My actual sisters and my friends sang on the song, too. It is a beautiful thing that having the thought of, 'Hey, I want to express that we're many, that we're stronger together.'"

There's another young woman who Lee hasn't worked with (yet) but whom she says inspired her in the making of The Bitter Truth: Billie Eilish.

"I think she's just really, really good. [Her music is] dark and real and raw and authentic and bad-ass — and the spookiness, for sure. I hope she keeps making music for a long time. I would love to meet her sometime. She's at such a crazy high point. This is her big moment happening all around right now, so I'm sure she's just flooded with all kinds of people wanting to get a hold of her," Lee says, before adding with a laugh: "I'll wait until she's tired and has more time on her hands. Like, 'Hey girl, what's up? Come over.'"

Lee admits she wasn't always so open to collaboration because she felt she had to prove herself in a male-dominated industry.

"I used to be a lot more guarded about not having somebody [else] sing but collaboration with people. I had to prove myself as a creator, not as a singer. Anybody can imagine a sweet young girl as a singer, but prove to myself as a creator, and a writer, and the driving force and leader of the band. This time I'm so beautifully free from all of that," Lee says.

She didn't necessarily feel that way when debut album Fallen dropped in 2003 and shot her to fame.

"There were just so many older, more experienced dudes all around me who would stand to benefit and profit so much if they could write my next song for me. I had to fight that fight for way longer than that one moment, and way longer than I should have," Lee says. "Working with people, and surrounding yourself with people that believe in you — and really support you and get what you are capable of — is really important."

March 4 marked the 18th anniversary of Fallen, which, with hits like "Bring Me to Life" and "My Immortal," catapulted Lee and the band to the mainstream charts.

"It was a dream come true in a lot of ways. As far as the music and being received like that, I can't tell you how much it meant to me. I was the kid in school that was definitely not the one getting the lead in the school play, and definitely not the one with all the friends going to the football games. Not to be a jaded or whatever; I wasn't always putting myself out there. But I didn't think I was somebody who was going to be recognized for my talent," she says.

At the 2004 Grammys, though, Lee and Evanescence won two awards: best rock song for "Bring Me to Life" and best new artist.

"It really set me on a path, and enabled me to have a career in music. That we had that time in the mainstream to let something that was different — and not just because I'm a girl — something that was different for a lot of reasons, something that was exposing some of the darker realities of life and growing up..." Lee says. "Taking pain and challenges in life and turning them into something that helps others is one of the greatest things I've been able to do…to have that be accepted by so many people."

Lee says her greatest accomplishment, though, is Jack, her 6-year-old son with husband Josh Hartzler, 43, a therapist. Last March, the rock-star mom was gearing up to go on tour when the coronavirus crisis hit the U.S. Lee immediately embraced her newly cleared schedule.

"The bonus is I got to spend a lot of extra time with Jack," she says. "We made slimes of every type. He's into science experiments and messes — huge messes. So we made some things explode."

Still, Lee is looking forward to playing music live again when it's safe to do so — and so is Jack.

"He thinks it's cool. He'd be on tour with us [pre-pandemic], and he gets that 'those fans like my mom,'" she says. "His favorite thing was going out onstage at the end every night and getting some applause. But at the same time, if I'm like, 'Want to listen to my song?' He's like, 'No!'"

#Amy Lee #Evanescence #2021 interviews

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mymistakewriting · 4 years

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Bart Allen (Impulse) Headcanons

Let me preface this by saying it’s a weird mix of comics!Bart and Young Justice!Bart. Most of his past is based on what it was in YJ with splashes of comic canon thrown in (keep in mind, these are all headcanons for a rp group)

Can draw - it’s a good way to slow him down and pass the time when he’s bored.

Drawing style: graphite pencil or colored pencils. Mostly graphite, he saves the color for very special pieces or for when he's genuinely happy about something.

He never. stops. vibrating. Unless he's putting in a crap ton of constant focus on staying still, but even then, the second he gets excited or startled, that focus is gone.

very clingy. If he hugs you it lasts until either he gets distracted or you physically pry him off you.

Bart seems to thrive on physical touch. He's clingy and will latch onto anyone he meets. However, he isn't sure how much of it is a Trauma Response and how much of it is him actually enjoying the contact. If anyone asks, he's just a huggy guy!

He thrives on affection, but only when he initiates it. He's not quite to a point where he's completely okay with someone else initiating some kind of affection (Wally is currently the only exception to this).

horror movies and games don't tend to phase him. It takes a lot to get a reaction out of him considering his past.

has times where he's randomly confused because the future didn't have this help what is this

There's a long list of things from the current time that Bart doesn't understand because he hadn't ever experienced it in the future. It's a mix of stupid stuff and things that are... honestly, he's a little pissed about regardless of if he understands or not. (It varies from certain plants and animals to heavier things like racism and homophobia. Relationships are in there, too. He doesn't understand how they work, and honestly, he's a little afraid to ask)

You know what, good luck communicating with Bart. He's a mess of movement and quick speech and slang terms that are almost completely foreign. Easiest way to get a read on him is through touch - he clings, nuzzles more when he needs support or just needs to ground himself, whereas his usual lingering hug and then moving on shows he feels safe or at least content in his present situation and company.

He gets a lot of stares and comments because of his eyes - understandable, yellow eyes aren't exactly common - but he will always pretend he doesn't know what they're talking about. ("Yellow? You must be seeing things, they're green! Like my grandpa's.") It's a source of constant anxiety that it's just going to be another thing that keeps him from forming any real connections with people.

he's all pastels and bright colors. Mismatched clothing and soft textures and too-big sizes. (He wore too many dark colors in his past, he wants this to feel different so it has to look different until he gets it)

fan of soda, should not be allowed to have soda. When he crashes from caffeine, he crashes hard

Bart is a strange duality in a lot of his life. Trust is no different. He trusts easily, but having his trust doesn't guarantee he won't be watching you for any wrong move. But then, what can you expect of a kid from a dystopian future? He desperately wants to trust and be trusted, he just hasn't quite gotten down how that works yet. It's nothing personal if he doesn't trust you. Mostly.

He remembers his mom, misses her, but make no mistake - she was dead in his time by the time he came back to the past. Both of his parents were

Here's the thing about Bart: He's a fast learner. He didn't learn to read properly (more than was necessary to survival) in the future. He's learned quite a bit since coming back to the past - just don't ask him to read out loud. He's not quite to that point yet and he WILL make up words if he hits one he doesn't know how to say. For the most part, his mom and Nathaniel taught him how to read/write what they could and numbers and mathematical symbols.

This also means that he does take a second to let autocorrect tell him what he did wrong on most messages - he hopes that people don't question if it takes him a few moments to answer them, but he doesn't want anyone finding out about his lack of knowing basically anything that kids learn in elementary school.

If Bart thinks he can get away with it? He'll ask questions to learn more about a specific topic. But it's one of those things that if he thinks it's too risky, he won't ask. He'll find a way to learn it on his own.

It's canon that he has a near perfect recall for anything he learns. Whether or not he uses it is completely dependent on the situation. As of late, though, he feels like it's failing him - he's been struggling to remember details about his mom, or about Nathaniel. It feels like he's losing part of himself along with those details.

surprisingly enough Bart's worst habit comes in the form of sitting himself down with something he can zone out with on bad days - usually drawing, sometimes video games. He's always still enough on these days that it seems like he's sick. (You'll never catch sight of his cheerful act on these days. Just full out, raw jaded behavior. He dreads the first time it happens around someone)

Listen, his mom was part of a rebellion. So was his dad. He was raised knowing about it and seeing things slowly take form. Rebellion is just part of who he is at this point. Give him a cause that he can believe in, and you can damn well bet you'll see every bit of influence his mom and Nathaniel had on him.

He's so bad at making friends. He's still got the concept of needing people to trust him immediately or it'll end in someone (read: him) getting hurt. But everyone trusts different things and he's getting tired of having to switch between acts to be trusted. He just wants friends who like him for him - every part of him, the messy cheer and the bitter jadedness and everything in between.

He doesn't actually want to be a hero. Sure, he wants to help people. He wants to save as many people as he possibly can. But he's marooned in a time that he doesn't understand, he wants time to adjust - and help figuring out how to do that. He just won't ask. He doesn't know where to start that won't get him hurt for trusting the wrong person.

Bart's a gray area. If it's an injustice he feels he can relate to, he's going to fight like hell. He came from two parents who were rebels, of course he doesn't know how not to rebel himself. But if he believes, for even a millisecond, that him pursuing something will harm those he cares for and wants to protect? You can bet your life he'll put it to the back of his mind. His priorities are gray at best, right alongside his morals. It's a fifty fifty shot as to which side of him you'll be getting at any given point, best of luck.

Coping mechanisms? Bart? Adorable. Closest he comes is destroying old drawings. Doing new ones. Repeat. He lashes out, takes any small chink he can find on anyone he talks to, and will destroy any chance at a working relationship with that person the second he feels even slightly overwhelmed or upset. He's used to people fighting back - people hurting him for how he deals with things. He doesn't quite feel safe and adjusted in this time enough to have anything healthier. (He wants to try, but let's face it, his grandfather doesn't exactly make a great example of how to cope with things going wrong with how quick Barry is to throw himself into work and self isolation in canon. It's going to take Bart a while to find a balance, even if he does eventually get some help with it).

#dc #young justice #bart allen #impulse #headcanons #rp headcanons #I have three more posts like this coming soon

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goblin-alchemist · 4 years

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Do you have any tips for getting a hang of characterizations? You always do so amazingly, especially with Gabriel!

Thank you!

I have talked about this with a few friends prior, so I'll see if I can put it into words again. This might be redundant to those who remember discussing this with me before, but here we go. I'll focus upon Gabriel since he seems to be the trickiest for people to write. I'll also reference some of my stories to give examples.

Gabriel's primary motivation, in my mind, is Emilie. I default everything back to Emilie. If Gabriel gets absorbed in something and forgets his grief/goals, etc, I have him suddenly think “Man, if Emilie were here we would be able to watch Adrien experience these milestones together” or “I wish I could hold Emilie's hand like Adrien is doing with Marinette”. And then he gets sad again. It's an instant grounding focus for him, and thus leads to renewed determination. “I am doing this because the ends justify the means. I just want Emilie back.” I kind of play with the sunk-cost fallacy with Gabriel, too. At this point, he's put in so much to being Hawkmoth that he can't back out now. (Until I slam something in his face that gets him to stop abruptly, like him discovering the heroes' identities).

So that's his primary motivation. But now to address a lot of the rest of his personality.

The fandom likes to emphasize that Adrien is the face of the company and he has to put on a mask, and only when he's Chat Noir does that mask slip and he's allowed to be his “true self”. I feel Gabriel is also in the same boat. He's the head of his company. He's expected to maintain certain social graces just like his son (if not more so). He's quiet and reserved and polite, but he's not very forthcoming because of fears of industrial sabotage, or revealing a weakness to competitors that can be used against him, or getting taken advantage of (all of which as an adult, he should have experienced at one point in his life). His stoic poker face was developed as a result of his life experiences.

However, we're shown he's not really reserved and in control. Just like Chat Noir, we have canon evidence that Gabriel is as ham-fisted, emotional, and pun-filled as Chat Noir. We see it in every single Hawkmoth monologue, in every time Hawkmoth transforms and gets giddy with excitement that he might win, and with every anger-fueled declaration of vengeance. (The argument of 'are those Gabriel's legit emotions or does the butterfly miraculous emphasize those emotions from his victims?' is a nice angle to play with in fiction as well).

But as Gabriel, he's not excessively impulsive (Miraculous-stealing opportunities aside). He lets people speak their case before forming judgment (more on this in a moment), but once the judgment is formed, it's hard to get him to change his mind. He's stubborn.

So if I'm writing the story or scene from a third-person-perspective, like Marinette, I can't delve into his thoughts on paper. I have to show the audience what he's thinking through other cues. Since he's a man of little words, I'll have him silently scan a room before speaking. He allows people to speak and give them the opportunity to screw up in his presence before he says a word as to his opinion. Once that opinion is formed, however, good luck getting him to change his mind. I have to show this using his glowers, frowns, squared shoulders, and clenched hands.

If something pops up that's great dramatic irony (when he was secretly overjoyed that Marinette designed a Hawkmoth-themed dress, for example), I'll show it as flashes of amusement in his eyes, twitching of lips, the relaxing of his posture, and the crinkling of his eyes. The key here is to show subtle ways of expressing emotions without outright stating that's what's happening, because Gabriel schools himself and his emotions in front of others.

But when I write directly from his POV, that's where the fun begins. There, I can describe his internal monologue, which is inspired by his actions as Hawkmoth. I can have Gabriel sit silent, glowering at anyone who approaches while he observes and dryly comments on everything around him. He won't say his sarcastic thoughts aloud, but he'll be thinking them, and here's my opportunity to channel the exasperation. Somethings things will just slip out because honestly, is everyone around him an idiot?! He'll recover and glower away any funny looks aimed at him, because his intimidation is as much a weapon as his silence is.

Frustrated exasperation is what I usually write Gabriel as a lot of times. As Hawkmoth, he releases that frustration. As Gabriel, it has to be kept bottled up inside and it only comes out in internal sarcastic remarks.

If I feel Gabriel strays too much into the OOC/cracky territory (which happens a lot in my stories, I admit) when I channel a bit too much Hawkmoth through his civilian form, I stick Nathalie in there as his straight man. She displays even less emotion than Gabriel and ends up being a really nice balance when I go a bit overboard on Gabriel's emotional outbursts. A few pointed phrases or deadpan replies that juuuuuust touch upon inappropriate for an assistant to talk to her powerful boss, but she helps ground Gabriel into more of his realistic canon personality instead of complete OOC crack.

He's a man of few words as Gabriel, and he's used to being in a position of power, surrounded by yes-men (Nathalie and the Gorilla). He isn't used to having anyone challenge him. So, he doesn't need to explain his reasons to people. When Marinette was rambling on about why he of all people was bidding on her dress design, he halted her mid-ramble and merely said “I like it.” The end. He keeps his cards close to his chest, and the only time I've actually seen him let down his guard is oddly, to Nooroo. I'm certain this is just a narrative device for us, the viewer, but the fact is Gabriel is weirdly forthcoming to Nooroo and pretty much lays out his thoughts, plans, and analysis on the situation at hand. I use that to my advantage in my stories when writing the Nooroo/Gabriel relationship, and how subconsciously, Gabriel might view Nooroo as a mentor (even if he disregards all of the advice Nooroo freely gives).

He's the head of his multi-million euro company. He didn't get there by being lax and lazy. He has super high standards, and isn't afraid to verbally rip apart his peers if it's warranted. However, he's not entirely unfair, I don't think. He allowed Marinette to defend her hat design in Mr. Pigeon before coming to a judgment on it. He allowed Nino to propose his last-minute plan in Bubbler to throw Adrien a birthday party before he denied it (and then interrupted Nino and got angry with him only after the boy continued to push the point). He allowed Marinette to explain how she stumbled across his Miraculous book before saying anything to her.

To me, the fact he actually went and met with these people in the first place shows a lot about his character. He's willing to hear people out, but he makes fast judgments and doesn't budge from them. People have to get into his good graces right away or it's hard to change his mind later. He has flashes of anger, but its not sustained, because he's already moving onto finding a solution to the problem (like in Volpina when he got that phone call about an issue with his designs). Sometimes, I wonder how much of his anger and irritation is a result of his real thoughts and emotions, or just him seeing an opportunity to akumatize someone by riling them up further.

In this manner, he's calculating, very calculating, and if something reflects him in a poor light its probably for a reason (staging his 'temper tantrum' in Collector). I ignore the canonical inconsistencies toward his waffling degrees of intelligence and treat Gabriel as very smart, but oblivious and arrogant.

I see him actually as very much like Marinette, only bitter and jaded. She's clever and creative, and so is he. The only difference between the two is that life has struck him down with angst. He's lost his soulmate. He's experienced the lows of being a starving artist. He's encountered failure. Marinette has yet to go through any of that.

I could probably go on further and delve into different aspects of different scenarios (his wish, etc) but I think I've rambled on long enough and seems like I've jumped erratically between a bunch of different points :) Let me know if you have any additional questions and I hope this has helped at little at least.

#miraculous ladybug #gabriel agreste #characterization #writing #tips #writing tips #hawkmoth #character analysis

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mwolf0epsilon · 5 years

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DBH Human AU - Info

After days of trying to organize this massive AU, I've finally done it. Ladies and gentleman, I give you my DBH Human AU which is perhaps the angstiest and heaviest of my AUs!

I'll advise caution as the themes are...Pretty fucking dark and revolve around a ton of different kinds of abuse, including domestic violence, sexual abuse, trans-erasure, rape and more. With that in mind, read at your own peril!

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--Plot--

Over the last couple of years the rate of missing teenagers has increased dramatically in Detroit. These teenagers are mostly abuse victims coming from very difficult family situations, failure of the adoption system, a botched educational system, and quite a few instances of racial and religious tension that lead to exposure to violence of varying degrees.

The story follows a group of 5 teens and 1 child who've banded together as they escape this sort of abuse, following signs and clues left behind by other previous victims who've joined forces and formed a nomadic group called Jericho. A group composed of runaway teens and children, who live completely on the move and never settle for too long in the same place (with the exception of a few members of the group).

Their main traveling system?

Freighter trains.

Nothing is as it seems however, and three members of the group have attracted the attention of not only the police, but if a very shady company as well...

Things might take quite the turn for the worse, but for now all the group can do is pray and follow the train tracks.

--Cast--

DPD: The precinct has archived all of the missing persons cases related to Jericho, it's the disappearences of three young boys however, that calls into action a proper investigation.

Captain Jeoffrey Fowler - The captain of the DPD, Fowler is in charge of not only everyone in the precinct, but also has to make difficult decisions when certain high profile cases show up. He has faith in his officers, and especially Hank who he hopes can solve the current case he was assigned, and get back to his former glory. There seems to be an ongoing despute between him and the captain of the SWAT team, Allen, over a particular officer's work ethic, as well as the nature of all of the missing person case files.

Lieutenant Hank Anderson - A bitter old cop whose career has been practically cast aside after his son Cole's death. Armed with an acute intuition, a somewhat jaded perception of the world around him, and a massive saint bernard named Sumo, Hank has taken on the case to end all cases: Find three missing brothers who've recently run away from an orphanage overseen by the ever watchful Amanda Stern. Something tells him, however, that he's bitten off more than he can chew, and that this case is much more than it seems.

Detective Gavin Reed - A newly graduated rookie from the academy, Gavin is an ornery young man with an aggressive streak and a few self-esteem issues. He's been looking into Hank's case without permission, in the hopes that he might be able to find something the older cop hasn't already. Despite his hardened shell and angry disposition, the missing persons cases seem to mean something to him, and Gavin is as stubborn as he is dedicated to figuring out what the pattern is that links all of the missing teenagers and children together.

Officer Tina Chen - Gavin's partner and another newly graduated rookie, Tina is a lady of very few words but a great listener and perceptive to boot. She's been helping Gavin look into Hank's case clandestinely. While this would seem like something unfitting of her standards and morals, she has her reasons to help her partner, particularly to find someone she knew who went missing two years prior to her graduation.

Detective Ben Collins - One of the more experienced detectives in the DPD, Ben is an old friend of Hank's and Is currently working on a case relating to shady black market sales. He has joined forces with Hank on a few instances, due to the sensitive nature of both of their cases. Ben is one of many officers who despises Perkins, and he has been keeping tabs due to some very worrying complaints coming in recently.

Officer Chris Miller - Ben's partner and a new father, Chris is a kind man and the previous officer to work on missing persons cases. He had to ask Fowler to be removed from said cases after the number of children and teenagers going missing began to grow. He has given all of the info he had collected to Hank, and has proven himself to be a great help with the case.

Captain Allen - The captain of the SWAT team, Allen has been in the force long enough to know when certain cases seem dodgy. Hank's case, as well as the multiple missing children and teenagers cases, seem to concern him greatly as he has a feeling there might be more to the three missing orphans than what anyone currently knows. He seems to be highly suspicious of Perkins,but many of his warnings over these concerns have gone unheard.

Officer Richard Perkins - A corrupt, mysoginistic and racist cop that cares more about furthering his career than to serve and protect the civilians of Detroit. With little to no remorse, and capable of holding a mighty grudge, Perkins has set his sights on grade-A student Markus Manfred and has done everything in his power to put the mixed-race teenager behind bars for no particular reason other than thinking "his kind" are nothing but thugs, drug addicts and thieves. His constant harassment has led to Markus running away and Leo requesting multiple restraining orders to keep the man well away from the Manfred household. He's currently under evaluation by the DPD, Which of course has turned his unwarranted grudge against Markus into a blood feud. He will stop at nothing until he has the youngest Manfred boy in his grimy clutches.

Stern's House of Second Chances: A high profile orphanage that takes in and reabilitates difficult cases within the adoption system. The orphanage is run and owned by Amanda Stern and seems to be allied to Cypherlife, a shady company that has more than mental healing in mind...

Amanda Stern - The owner and overseer of Stern's House of Second Chances, Amanda Stern was Elijah Kamski's mentor before she quit her job as a professor and set her sights on a personal project that she claimed to be for the bettering of the human condition, but that proved to be too immoral even for someone as ambitious and enigmatic as Kamski. Obsessed with mental disorders, traumas, behavioral patterns and how they affected a person Amanda hoped that, in allowing Cypherlife to study and perform experimental treatments on the children residing at the orphanage, that she would be helping enhance both the medical field and the science behind psychology studies. This ultimately failed as Cypherlife had more than medicine in mind when they began to subject the children and teenagers to cruel tests and social experiments. She was the one who requested the DPD to look for the missing Dechart boys, but she did not predict Hank would look too deep into the case. All she knows is that she needs to get those three boys and get rid of the evidence before the happenings at the orphanage are exposed.

Connor "Eights" Dechart - The oldest of three brothers, Connor is a traumatized young man who's lived in Stern's House of Second Chances for most of his childhood. Having witnessed the violent death of his parents, and been subjected to experimental hypnotherapy treatment by specialists at the orphanage to deal with his trauma, Connor's memories are a confusing mess and not always reliable, but he knows for sure not all is as it seems and that something nefarious is going on behind closed doors. Having only just turned 18, Connor decides to trust his instincts and runs away with his siblings in the hopes of escaping whatever it is that's going on at the orphanage. Connor is a clever young man who's very perceptive but who's trauma has led to him becoming emotionally unattached to the world around him. His main priority is his and his younger siblings's safety. He doesn't trust Kara and Markus when he first joins forces with them, but grows to appreciate them and even consider them friends as they all search for Jericho.

Shawn "Sixes" Dechart - Connor's twin. The more emotional of the brothers, Shawn is an angry young man who has a lot of insecurity that lead to him living a very sheltered life at the orphanage. Unwilling to take risks, and often searching for guidance through Amanda, Shawn immediately dismissed Connor's concerns as being delusions and paranoia but, after witnessing something odd one night, he began to doubt his initial judgement of his brother's perception of the world and even went along with the escape plan. Equally as clever as Connor, but sensitive and over-emotional, Shawn is often considered the troublemaker of the three brothers.

Newton "Nines" Dechart - The twins's younger brother, Newton is a highly functioning autistic 16 year old boy. Often keeping his nose buried in a book, Newton loses track of time very easily, but can't help notice the littlest of things that just seem off-putting to him. He has a vague idea that something just isn't right with Stern's House of Second Chances, despite it being his home for a tremendous portion of his life, but he can't quite put into words what bothers him… He thinks highly of his older brothers and trusts their judgement wholeheartedly, although he'll more often side with Connor due to Shawn letting his volatile emotions get the better of him.

The Manfred Household: Home to Carl Manfred and his two boys, as well as Carl's caretaker, the Manfred household is faced with a lot of drama after a corrupt officer becomes hell-bent in ruining their lives.

Carl Manfred - Once a successful artist, painter, and figurehead of the Neo-Symbolism movement, Carl is a wise and patient man who's eccentricities have led to an interesting and awe-inspiring life. Before his accident Carl never really thought about settling down and starting a family, as he didn't consider himself to be father material. While he did acknowledge his firstborn, Leo, Carl never met him until he was 16, opting for paying child-support while the mother raised him instead. This was not the case for his second born, Markus, who was thrust into his care unexpectedly. Having just suffered his accident, Carl was initially very reluctant to care for a young child, as he did not feel like he was capable of supporting a growing child while trying to adjust to his newly acquired disability. With a little bit of encouragement from his closest friends, Carl reluctantly took charge and became a full time father to the young boy whose mother he couldn't even recall. As the years went by and Markus grew, Carl became quite fond of the boy and felt more confident around children. When Leo's mother passed away, however, Carl welcomed his eldest son into his home and realized that the distance he'd put between himself and his firstborn had led to an extremely shaky and strained relationship. Unsure how to mend the gap, Carl acted more strict around the 20 year old, while he treated Markus more lovingly. This only worsened their bond and even turned his sons against each other for three years. It took a lot of work to gain Leo's trust and for Carl to finally open himself up to his estranged son. This all changes when Markus got into trouble with the police for no other reason than the color of his skin. The three grew closer in adversity but, after a terrible car crash caused by sabotage, Carl ended up hospitalized in a coma. He's currently under the care of his caretaker and nurse, Matthew, and is regularly visited by Leo who talks to him in an effort to try to get his father to wake up.

Matthew the Caretaker - Matthew is a young man who has always aspired to do good in the world. As someone who doesn't let life get him down, Matthew is a patient and level headed person with a mix of interests such as chess, art, ballet, opera and more. This greatly helped him connect with Carl when he was first assigned as his caretaker and nurse after the accident. Having been around for a good portion of Markus's life and Leo's integration into the family dynamic, Matthew is quite accustomed to the Manfred family drama by now, and will often get involved with the Manfred boys when he knows they could use a little extra help. The day of the car crash was his one day off, and Matthew feels immensely guilt for not being there to help when it happened. He tried to do his best with tending to Markus while he was getting used to his prosthetic legs, and kept a closer eye on Leo, who was also doing poorly at the time, but his attention remains focused primarily on Carl's needs, so it's no surprise he couldn't stop Markus from running away.

Leo Manfred - Carl's eldest son and a product of a brief fling with a younger fan, Leo is a troubled young man with a lot of internalized issues that have followed him throughout his entire life. Between trying to prove himself to the world, and trying to balance what little money he made on his own to afford his T treatment, Leo never wanted to accept the child-support money his father gave him out of pride. When his mother fell ill, however, Leo stopped using it to fund his education and instead began using it to try to help his mom recover. The worse she got, the more he'd spend, until eventually the money just wasn't enough to combat the amounting medical bills. When his mother died, a 16 year old Leo had no other option but to go live with the father he'd never met. He initially resented both Carl and Markus for living in the lap of luxury while he and his mother were left to rot, but eventually he acclimated to life with his remaining family and grew closer to them. When the accident happened, a 27 year old Leo was incredibly distraught by what befell both his father and younger brother, and he once again tried to do his best to help. A little after he turned 28, he began to work a few odd jobs, but a month after Markus's 19th birthday he had to go to the hospital after he got jumped in an alleyway and stabbed. When Markus ran away, Leo began to fall into a downward spiral, but he's tried to remain strong for Carl's sake. He has no idea where Markus has gone but he hopes his brother has at least managed to escape the cop that started all of their problems.

Markus Manfred - Carl's youngest son and product of a one night stand with an unnamed woman, Markus is an athletic and highly talented young man with a lot of ambition and heart. Having never met his mother and been raised entirely by Carl, Markus is his father's son and shares multiple interests with Carl. Having come from a background of privilege, however, has left Markus somewhat naive and sheltered, which has always concerned his father to no end. Markus himself only realized things weren't exactly golden when his older brother came to live at the mansion. Initially despising one another, Leo and Markus's relationship was downright hostile for a good part of three years, up until some very difficult events brought them together. When Markus turned 18, he was a victim of racial profiling and harassed by a police officer for weeks on end until things took a turn for the worse. One afternoon while returning home from classes, he was chased down by the same cop, and was badly beaten for "resisting arrest". When Markus later tried to take action against the unfair treatment, he began receiving death threats. He didn't think anything would happen, until one afternoon he went out for a drive with Carl. The two were rushed to the hospital after their car crashed, due to the breaks having been cut, and while Carl ended up falling into a coma, Markus was seriously injured. Even during recovery (in which Markus had to adjust to having both legs amputated, losing sight and hearing on his right side, and painful and disfiguring scarring all over his body) the death threats kept coming. On his 19th birthday, when he'd fully adjusted to his prosthetics, another incident occurred where Leo was attacked, and a guilt ridden Markus decided he needed to disappear so as to keep his family safe. He's been on the run ever since, and his search for Jericho has led him to meet quite the interesting cast of characters, including the Dechart brothers and the Williams girls, who he's joined forces with to find Jericho.

The Williams Household: Home of Todd Williams and the disguised prison of Kara and Alice Williams. Nothing is as good as it seems.

Todd Williams - A deadbeat taxi-driver with a grudge against his ex-wife and an addiction to several different stimulants, Todd is an ill-tempered individual with a violent streak. After his sister passed away, Todd took in his young niece Kara who he initially treated well. Eventually, as he got himself tangled up with the wrong kind of people, Todd became unemployed and ended up doing odd jobs around the neighborhood to pay the bills and sustain his many addictions. He began to abuse Kara soon after, and ended up impregnating her in the process. To save face, he hid all evidence of their familial ties and forcefully married his niece to make it appear as though everything was normal. As the years went by, Todd's abuse only got worse and Kara's life of forced servitude and motherhood only made her crave freedom more and more.

Kara Williams - After her mother passed away from cancer, a young 13 year old Kara ended up in her uncle Todd's custody as her sole living relative. Initially treated lovingly, Kara was completely caught off guard when her uncle began to change due to his downward spiral into a life of drug-dealing and dependency. Experiencing Todd's abuse and hateful nature soon shaped the once boisterous and cheery Kara into a shy and submissive girl, which only made things worse after she eventually became pregnant with his child. Powerless against her uncle, Kara was forced to become his wife and have the baby as a way to feign normalcy as well as substitute the family Todd had previously driven away due to his bad habits. While she resented Todd and all he had done to her, including pulling her out of school and forever tainting her idea of a family, Kara was always a loving mother to her daughter. When she turned 19 and Alice turned 6, she managed to run away while Todd suffered an overdose. She has since been on the run in search of a better place to restart her life from the ground up. She meets Connor's tiny group and Markus completely by accident while searching for Jericho. She's the one to suggest they band together to find the elusive group.

Alice Williams - Kara's 6 year old daughter, Alice may be a result of sexual abuse but her mother loves her more than anything in the world. A very quiet, shy, and intelligent little girl, Alice has only ever known a broken home but, with Kara's quick thinking and wits, both girls have managed to get out of their disguised prison and have been living on the run. Life is uncertain, but Alice tries to keep a brave face, if only to help reassure her mother in the face of adversity.

The Chapman Household: A known ally of Jericho's situated in Canada, this small family is known for helping those in dire need.

Rose Chapman - A kind-hearted and family oriented woman who has helped many runaway kids along their journey. A firm believer that everyone deserves a second chance, especially if they came from very difficult and dangerous situations. A lot of the youngsters she has helped in the past have gone to live at her brother's farm, while others have gone under the radar. Some maintain contact with her. She is Josh's and Lucy's aunty from their mother's side and has been trying to win custody over them ever since her sister passed away, since she knew their father was an unstable individual. She's been searching for them ever since she found out they ran away, and hopes they'll make it to Canada without much issue.

Adam Chapman - Rose's son and Josh and Lucy's younger cousin, Adam is a young boy with a very nervous disposition. He means well, but his fear that his mother might get in trouble by helping hide runaway kids usually causes him to be outwardly hostile towards their temporary guests. He was distraught when he found out his cousins went missing, and has been helping his mother search for them.

The Phillips Household: The humble beginnings of a family destined for disaster.

John Phillips - A workaholic and often absent father, John is a man who worked his entire life to get where he is and who's become a bit of an idealist and show-off as a result. In his youth he and Caroline had been high school sweethearts before both parted ways to pursue the life they had always wanted for themselves. Years later, the two reunited and got married, with John accepting the twins as if they were his own kids. After Emma was born, John became less present in the kids' lives, which left them completely under Caroline's care. Obsessed with climbing up the social ladder and with furthering his career, John supported Caroline's old fashioned ways as a means to create the idyllic and perfect picket fence family dynamic he wanted to convey to the world. This ultimately ended in failure when a tormented and disconsolate Simon ran away, and when Daniel attempted suicide. John has since taken a step back from work to recollect his thoughts and try to fix the mess he'd let happen.

Caroline Phillips - An old fashioned and a recovering alcoholic, Caroline is a woman who was pushed around all her life and shaped to be the perfect american housewife. When she was younger, Caroline had dreams of becoming more than a stay-at-home wife. She'd wanted to be a teacher, or even a doctor at one point. These dreams were thoroughly beaten out of her by her ex-husband, a belligerent asshole who'd married her after she'd gotten pregnant. Shaped into a bitter and angry woman by her abusive relationship, Caroline eventually divorced the man who'd ruined her life but did not come out of the marriage unscathed. She married her highschool sweetheart and started her life anew, but began to put a lot of pressure on the twins so they wouldn't be anything like their biological father. When her eldest daughter came out as trans, however, Caroline was furious. She couldn't accept Simon for who he was, having wanted him to be the perfect daughter and role model for her youngest daughter, and did everything in her power to force Simon to remain a perfect young girl. After Simon was assaulted at school by a bully, Caroline blamed him for "instigating the attack with all of the nonsensical spheal of being a boy". This argument encouraged Simon to run away, and inevitably caused Daniel to deteriorate and attempt to take his own life. Caroline has since been forced to seek help, while John tries to fix the lasting damage she caused their children.

Emma Phillips - The sweet and loving younger sister, Emma had to stand and watch as her family was ripped apart by the lasting effects of abuse and from prolonged absence and ignorance. She was the apple of her mother's eye and as such often used as an excuse for the twins to behave, least their behaviour affect Emma in anyway. This ultimately became an excuse for Caroline to continuously reject and force Simon into a role he did not want and, subsequently, created a distance between Simon and Emma. She was much closer to Daniel as a result. After Simon ran away, Emma could see Daniel wasn't ok despite his best attempts to hide his depression from his littlest sister. Emma was the one who found Daniel when he attempted to take his own life. The event has left her traumatized and fearful.

Daniel Phillips - The older of the Phillips twins, Daniel is a tragic example of someone who couldn't choose between his own morals and his familial obligations until it was too late. Once upon a time, Daniel and Simon had been close as any set of twins is bound to be. They had been the result of another relationship of their mother's before she married John and, as a result, there was always a lot of pressure put upon them to be good despite their biological father having been a deadbeat asshole. Daniel, having been the protective older brother, had taken it upon himself to shoulder that pressure because he knew Simon already had a lot on his plate. Doing as his mother always told him, and doing his best to please his workaholic and show off of a father, Daniel's relationship with his twin deteriorated as the years went by, his parent's old fashioned views taking their toll on his moral compass. Unable to understand Simon's plight, and being too scared to go against his parents' wishes, Daniel rejected his twin whenever Simon plead for help. It was his job as the oldest to be the example, a role model for their little sister Emma. He had to make his parents happy, and taking Simon's side wouldn't make them happy. As he watched his twin deteriorated, however, Daniel was left guilt ridden and depressed. He knew he'd failed as a brother, but he didn't want to crack under the pressure and make things worse. So, despite knowing his parents were wrong, Daniel did nothing to ease his brother's heavy heart. It was when Simon ran away that Daniel finally lost control of everything in his life. In the span of a few days, the eldest Phillips twin's life became a complete train wreck which led him to attempt suicide as an escape. He's currently hospitalized and under watch while in a catatonic state.

Jericho: A group of runaway teenagers and children that live a nomadic life. They follow the train tracks wherever they may take them, and sometimes get on freighter trains clandestinely, where they seek shelter and a few supplies stolen from crates.

Silvia Phillips/"Simon of Jericho" - The younger of the Phillips twins, Simon was one of Jericho's founding members and has always been the go to person when runaway children are involved. Like most of the teenagers in Jericho, Simon's story is filled with tragedy and abuse. Ever since he was a young child, Simon knew he'd been born in the wrong body. No matter how much his mother tried to bring out the perfect daughter she'd always wanted, Simon just didn't feel like he fit in that role, nor that he could ever feel comfortable in his own skin as long as she tried to shape him into something he clearly wasn't. As he and Daniel grew older and apart, Simon tried to open up about his concerns with his family. This failed tremendously however. Rejected by his mother's old fashioned views, his father's overall dismissal of anything non-work related, and his brother's compliance to his parents' demands, Simon felt lost and alone even at home. The laughing stock of his community, Simon lived a life of pure misery due to being treated like a freak by his peers, and was basically left to fend for himself as his brother got more absorbed into the family life and his growing depression. Simon felt like there wasn't anything he could ever do to change his life for the better, and his tormentors fed off that negativity. After he was sexually assaulted at school by the class bully, and subsequently discovered he was pregnant due to the attack, he tried to once again reach out to his family in a desperate attempt to get the help he needed. The following argument with his mother is what drove him to run away, after cutting his hair, binding his chest and stealing some of his brother's clothes. He abandoned his old life and name, and is now only known as Simon of Jericho. The protector and caretaker of children.

Riley "North" Kelly - There are a lot of stories about pretty girls, all looks and no brain, getting pulled from college earlier to pursue careers as models. Then there are stories like Riley Kelly's. Riley was a young girl born in poverty and who never had anything yet gave a lot to those around her. Forced to prostitute herself to earn money for her family, she was always bitter that she'd never accomplished any of her life goals, such as getting a degree or living stable. When the money wasn't enough, Riley ended up on the streets, abandoned and unwanted due to just being "another mouth to feed". Ever the resourceful and clever 18 year old girl, however, Riley took what she could by pickpocketing and doing some dodgy work here and there, before leaving the city entirely to search for Jericho. Her old name was all but forgotten as she headed North, and eventually she became a sort of legend within the group that readily took her in. She is one of the best hunters and fighters in Jericho, and has taken on several apprentices.

Josh Sawyers - The son of a highly religious and traditionalist priest, Josh's early childhood had been nothing if not a nightmare. He lost his mother after his younger sister was born, and practically raised her himself despite their age gap being very minute. Josh was always known to be a very clever and curious boy, as well as a pacifist at heart, three traits that his father didn't seem to like too much considering his old fashioned views of manhood. Often punished for the smallest of inconveniences, or beaten for being too wimpy, Josh had only ever known abuse and hate despite the hypocrite preaching of love and tolerance that his father spewed every Sunday to the rest of the community. When his sister Lucy turned 17, and Josh himself turned 20, the two ran away from their abusive household to escape their father. Their final goal is to reach their aunt Rose's house that is all the way in Canada, but until they get there they remain with Jericho who took them in when no one else would. Josh serves as a teacher to the children of Jericho, as well as the head of inventory due to his meticulous organization skills. His attentive nature and overall knowledge is very useful for the group.

Lucy Sawyers - Josh's younger sister and the daughter of a belligerent preacher, Lucy is a brilliant young woman that, despite her blindness, has the most accurate perception out of everyone in Jericho. She has a talent for tending to other's medical needs, and her calm disposition is rather soothing. She is the primary "doctor" in Jericho, alongside Simon, Shaolin Being and Rupert.

Cornelius Ortiz/"The Shaolin Being" - A young man with a knack for mysticism, spiritual healing as well as physical healing, the Shaolin Being is a heavily scarred victim of domestic abuse, as well as one of the longest standing missing child case in the DPD's records. While his real name is confidential, the one his kidnapper gave him was all but discarded after Shaolin couldn't take much more of the abuse he received daily. After murdering the thief and drug addict, Carlos Ortiz, who took him from his biological family several years ago, Shaolin renamed himself and left in search of safe haven where he could pray to the divine deities he'd come to worship as a means of escaping the suffering he'd been put through under Ortiz. He has a vast knowledge of healing herbs, home remedies and meditation rituals which, while unusual, are actually quite beneficial to Jericho. Shaolin Being is seen as a kind older brother and healer, but one shouldn't underestimate someone who is very skilled with a knife.

Tracy "Echo" Rose - A victim of sex trafficking, Echo was once a young girl named Tracy Rose who was kidnapped from her hometown and sold to a sex club alongside many other young girls like herself. Once a naive and complacent victim, she began to hope for a better life after meeting and befriending another girl that worked at the club. At 17, she killed and strangled a patron of the club after she witnessed him beat another girl to death, and then she found the courage to flee with her lover. She's been with Jericho ever since, under the protection of North.

Stacy "Ripple" Blaire - Like Echo, Ripple is also a victim of sex trafficking. However, unlike her lover, Ripple was unfortunately forced to work at the club by her own father. She had lived her entire life under his control, degraded and incapable of standing up for herself after years of conditioning. This all changes when she met Echo, who slowly brought out the fight she'd hidden within her all along. After the two fled, they joined Jericho and became North's apprentices.

Rupert Travis - The orphaned son of a farmer, Rupert was always considered to be a little off by the rest of the community he lived in. He didn't like people too much, preferring to be in the company of the farm animals he helped his father tend to, and he had a rather odd fixation with birds. Often shunned by his peers, Rupert didn't have any friends during his childhood and seemed to grow accustomed to the loneliness that followed him everywhere he went. After a fire claimed the life of his father and the property they lived in, Rupert ended up on the streets. Homeless and unwanted, Rupert opted with isolating himself from the world, living on his lonesome in the woods. As the years went by, he became a sort of urban legend: A crazy young man who trains pigeons to do his bidding. The stories aren't entirely wrong, except the part about cults and blood sacrifices. He has no idea where those came from. He's one of Jericho's suppliers, since living independently from the rest of the world has given him plenty of time to hone his hunting, gathering and farming skills. He also serves as an emergency medic for more seriously injured group members.

Ralph Vladimary - Ralph is a mystery all on his own. Having been found living alone in an abandoned cabin in the woods, it's obvious from the scars and his overall behaviour and unpredictable mood swings that something absolutely horrible happened to him in the past, but Ralph has never opened up about it. A very reserved and easily frightened young man, Ralph doesn't do well in crowds and doesn't join Jericho in their travels because he's easy to overwhelm. Instead he continues to reside in the woods in his little cabin, receiving help from Rupert when he sets off on his own away from the group to check on his many camps and crops. Suffering from several mental disorders makes it hard for Ralph to get by on his own, but there are very few people he trusts so he manages out of sheer willpower and perhaps a little bit of spite towards those who think he's bound to fail. As reserved and difficult as he may be, Ralph would do anything for his friends, and is actually quite good at growing food and medicinal herbs. He's another one of Jericho's top suppliers as a result, although it's advised to send someone he likes to get the supplies.

The Jerrys/The Bosch Quintuplets - The sons of an old Canadian Navy Captain, Jeremiah, Jerome, Jeremy, Jerard and Jeronim, otherwise known as the Jerrys, are a set of happy-go-lucky quintuplets who are considered outliers of Jericho, as they wound up missing by pure accident. The unfortunate series of events that lead them to where they are now, are rather ironic, as the nautical theme loving Jerrys fell overboard and ended up getting washed away. How they survived is beyond anyone, considering the harsh temperatures of Detroit in winter, but they somehow managed to only sustain a few injuries from frostbite and still march on with a smile on their face. They hope to get back to Canada to their father one day, but for now they remain with Jericho, adamant to help the group members find a place to call home.

Luther - The first person to befriend Kara and Alice on their travels, after both ended up at Zlatko's mansion by mistake. Luther is a rather tall and intimidating young man, but at heart he is a gentle giant who means well. An amnesiac, he was forced to be Zlatko's slave and main enforcer from a young age, and has no memory of who he was before he was purchased. He is also the co-leader of the Creatures gang, whom he calls his found family. Luther helped Kara and Alice escape, and later rejoined her with his group after she joined forces with Connor and Markus.

The Creatures/Luther's Gang - Former slaves of Zlatko Andromikov, Luther's gang is comprised by a series of teenagers who grew up bound to servitude and a life of cruelty. Many bare terrible scars, others were born with birth defects, but they are all bound to each other by loyalty and one commonality: They were unwanted by their kin before they found a family in each other. Their spokesperson/leader is a very tall and muscular young woman who is covered in multiple scars, and who only speaks Russian. Despite her terrifying appearance she's a teddy bear at heart and is considered the older sister of Luther's group.

The Founder: The DPD and Amanda aren't the only ones following the Dechart missing case. Someone else in a higher place is watching...

Elijah Kamski - An enigmatic man and the original founder of Cypherlife, Elijah Kamski is a man of many secrets. When he originally founded Cypherlife his goal was to enhance human lives through specialized and experimental treatment of neural and psychological disorders. It's unknown why he left, but rumours say that he was betrayed by a group of very ambitious staff members in the company.

"Chloe" - Elijah Kamski's equally enigmatic secretary, not much is really known about Chloe, not even her real name. A highly intelligent and resourceful woman, she seems to have a lot of contacts within the city limits. Some question how such a beautiful recognizable young lady can get around unnoticed when she can captivate everyone whenever she's on screen with her boss.

Zlatko's trafficking ring: Jericho has many enemies that mean them harm. The worst of the bunch are those who wish to prey on them and turn them into merchandising.

Zlatko Andromikov - The leader of a child trafficking circuit, Zlatko is a cruel man who has ruined the lives of countless youths that have mistakenly gone to him for help in their times of dire need. Known well in the black market for his "quality merchandising" and many "services", Zlatko has multiple eyes and ears around Detroit who spread his lies of promised safety and new beginnings. He, like Amanda and Perkins, has loose ends to tie with two particular members of Jericho.

#detroit: become human #detroit become human #detroit: bh #dbh #Human AU #WARNING: EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TOPICS #CAUTION IS ADVISED

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wonderfulworldofmichaelford · 5 years

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Psycho Analysis: Lucy

(WARNING! This analysis contains SPOILERS!)

It’s not very often you see a series where the villain is the main character, but then again it isn’t very often you see a series quite like Elfen Lied. The series is dark, foreboding, and gory, and a lot of that has to do with its protagonist, the Diclonius woman Lucy. Lucy is one of the most brutally tragic villains you’ll ever see, between her incredibly nightmarish childhood to the constant torment her very nature puts her through as a mutant. It all adds up to a very rich, complex character... though one that ends up not as fully realized as she could have been.

Actor: Kira Vincent-Davis portrayed Lucy in one of her star-making roles. The other? Osaka from Azumanga Daioh. She definitely delivers an excellent performance here, and it is easy to see how she managed to get such a varied career out of this. She knows just how to inject the right emotions into Lucy’s voice, and when Lucy is in her Nyuu personality she manages to fill the latter’s Pokemon speak with enough character that you get what she’s going for.

Motivation/Goals: Lucy is a Diclonius, and as such she has internal homicidal instincts that make her desire to slaughter as many people as humanly possible; coupled with the horns, the name she ends up being given (her true name is Kaede, but she ends up being called Lucy), and the fact she ends up embodying each of the Seven Deadly Sins if you read into her actions, and Lucy ends up a symbolic stand-in for the Antichrist. Of course, as a child, she didn’t really grasp this and in fact actively tried to suppress these feelings, but unfortunately fate decided to deal her a very poor hand.

First was her only source of happiness at the orphanage she grew up in, a puppy. A puppy that her bullies found out about, and in one of the most infamous moments of the series, beat it to death in front of her… and in turn, begin her descent into villainy as she slaughters the entire lot of kids, from her bullies to the girl she had befriended earlier who decided to snitch to the bullies about the puppy.

Second was what she felt was a betrayal at the hands of her only friend, Kouta. After he got her to open up and befriended her, she saw him at the festival with his female cousin and became insanely jealous, thinking he chose another girl over her… and so she went on a killing spree, which culminated in killing Kouta’s father and sister right in front of him.

And finally, her last ray of hope, a human who she had befriended was injured by the people who finally took her into custody… she died of her wounds, but Lucy wasn’t told until after she was imprisoned under the condition that they save her. When she finally gets a chance to escape, her sole motivation seems to be staying near Kouta again and try to find some way to apologize for her heinous actions, though even she realizes she’ll never be able to atone for what she did to him.

This brings about a pretty interesting facet of her goals: she slowly starts to defrost and gain more humanity the more time she and her split personality Nyuu spend with Kouta. It is in fact a major part of the story that she slowly becomes less evil as time goes on and she begins to develop, though by “less evil” I mean to say that at best she is an anti-hero, one who has no qualms about brutally dismembering anyone who dares to harm Kouta or herself.

This also ties into one of the major themes of the series: nature vs. nurture. Obviously, Lucy’s internal genetic desire to wipe out humanity is her inherent nature, but one also needs to look at what drove her to her killings; she was bullied, abused, and faced prejudice, betrayal, and scorn all around her for her entire childhood. Notice how when she’s shown the simplest compassion, she immediately starts to fall for that person and seems to want to do better, before a simple misunderstanding causes her to react in a volatile manner. It may seem over-the-top and disproportianate what she does to Kouta, but this is what her peers and caretakers molded her into: a violent misanthrope who clings desperately to even the tiniest shred of kindness in the world, and when she feels betrayed she lashes out and kills in a fit of rage, giving in to her violent nature. After gaining the amnesia during her escape at the start of the series and gaining her split personality, she is taken in yet again by Kouta and treated as a friend, an equal, and this begins Lucy’s ascent from pure villain protagonist to very, VERY dark anti-hero.

Personality: Lucy is a cold, cynical, and bitter woman due to the numerous tragedies she experienced, but she is no emotionless husk; if there is one thing that is true about Lucy, it is that her capacity for love is one of her greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses. Love is what drove her to kill Kouta’s family out of jealousy, it’s what drove herself to sacrifice herself for Aiko (the girl she befriended before being captured), it’s what drives her the most throughout the series really. Her capacity for love is only even closely rivaled by her capacity for hate.

Final Fate: In the anime, Lucy finally confesses the truth to Kouta, and while he outright says he can never forgive her for what she did, he is at least a little more sympathetic to her plight than he was in the manga, where he outright said he hated her (though he did at least say her split personality Nyuu could stick around as long as she promised not to kill anyone). She then makes a heroic sacrifice against the army who is after her, one which she may or may not have survived. The ending is rather ambiguous, as opposed to that of the manga in which she is really and most sincerely dead after nearly bringing about the apocalypse in a fit of rage.

Best Scene: There are a lot of contenders, but perhaps her finest moment is the scene where Lucy as we know her is truly born, baptized in the blood of the bullies who killed her dog.

Best Quote: “When you're miserable, you need to make someone even more miserable than yourself.”

Final Thoughts & Score: Lucy is an amazing character. Her character arc is a depressing, heartrending rollercoaster showing her descent into the darkest depths of despair, cynicism, and evil before she begins to slowly but surely rise again, climbing out of the dark if only just a little bit. She’s stoic and sadistic, monstrous and vicious, cruel and uncaring… but at the same time, she has a boundless expanse of love inside her broken, battered heart, and a burning passion that drives her actions and the plot. She is shattered, she is flawed, but she is so very interesting.

A really fascinating aspect of her is how she deconstructs the tropes of the cute monster girl and magical girlfriend. The former is deconstructed by the fact that, despite being appealing to the viewer and us being given no reason to think she’d be unattractive to the humans of her world, her horns and other differences cause her to be mocked, tormented, and persecuted by her peers, with said persecution ultimately pushing her over the edge and causing her to become a serial killer. For the latter, her powers are incredily, seriously dangerous, as her invisible arms (or vectors, as they are called in the series) can easily dismember and when not dismembering infect the reproductive capabilities of whoever they touch, and there is also the fact that they are part of the contributing factor that drives her to madness.

Lucy gets a 9/10. She’s a very impressive villain, and one who has one of the most fascinatingly tragic backstories. In fact, she has the backstory by which all tragic backstories should be judged; if your villain wants to destroy the human race and yet their backstory wasn’t a horrendously cruel conga line of trauma the way Lucy’s was, you may want to rethink that backstory. It really is the tragedy and the way the series unfolds to show you just how she became the way she is that makes her so great; the only reason I don’t give her perfect marks is because the manga goes into far more detail in developing her, as the anime was made while the manga was still ongoing.

And you know what? That might honestly be for the better. Lucy in the manga was far more insane, far more evil, and far easier to see as irredeemable, though even there she had moments of kindness and compassion that ultimately belied her true nature buried under the years of systematic abuse and betrayal. In the anime, while she is still a bitter, jaded serial killer, she comes off as bit more worthy of redemption; she revels far less in the actions she takes and seems to act in her adulthood more out of self-preservation than anything, as she harms only those who have wronged her rather than people who just get in her way. It does end up making it more believable when Kouta offers his sympathy at anime’s end; this version of Lucy seems more like a broken monster who does all she does because at this point it’s all she knows and all she thinks she can be rather than someone who all too often indulges their twisted genetic instinct. I would have much preferred to see this Lucy receive the culmination to her character that the one in the manga did, but sadly that did not come to pass. We are left with something brilliant, but also something that could have been even more heartbreakingly beautiful in its tragic poignancy.

#Psycho Analysis #Lucy #Elfen Lied #Spoilers #speelers

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tessatechaitea · 4 years

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Eclipso #7

Eclip clippity clip clippity clip clip clipso. Black Diamond dust will rub off when I eat your soul.

As soon as I saw this cover, I realized DC had made a huge mistake. If Ted McKeever had been doing the art since the first issue, this series would have been a huge hit! I mean a huge hit to me. I think less comic book lovers at the time would have expressed a fondness for Ted McKeever's art. They were all jerking themselves off over the wild young artists at Image Comics, many who maybe never took an art class where they had to draw a nude model but also seemed to realize that what comic book fans had been waiting for were faces drawn with lots and lots of lines added in. For years, I thought all the characters in WildC.A.T.S. were either really, really old or really, really dirty.

I grabbed this image off the Internet as an example of that guy's face but I can't stop staring at Titties McSuper Crotch on his right.

A few comic book fans who are real fans (and I won't be replying to comments that suggest I'm gatekeeping because we all know who the real fans of comic books are, don't we, my virginal nerds in dark basements without any friends or family whose most proud possession is an Alpha Time Vault and whose biggest accomplishment is leveling up their magic user enough to cast Level 9 spells) have instantly become disgusted with my suggestion that Ted McKeever's art is somehow superior to Rob Liefeld or early Jim Lee's work. And I'm sure they'll be writing angry and scathing comments after they get done jerking off to Titties McSuper Crotch. For those who aren't real comic book fans and only believe they're comic book fans so they can fervently scream at anybody on the Internet who might suggest otherwise simply because they don't actually read comic books but you haven't heard how many times they've watched Blade: Trinity, let me scan an example of a Ted McKeever face (minus his version of Titties McSuper Crotch. If you need his version of that, just take a look at my Extremist reviews):

You don't think I know that my theses that McKeever's art is better than early Image art is now on shaky ground?!

I suppose my only defense would be a passionate plea to the jury to keep in mind artistic style and an artist's unique vision while also considering that art isn't necessarily better just because you want to fuck it. I suppose I have to give the crew at Image kudos for producing raw and imperfect images that managed to provoke some kind of reaction in the brain that was akin to blood coursing to one's genitals. Even when I criticize Liefeld or Lee or McFarland, I realize that their art contained a kind of wild exuberance that a lot of younger fans at the time had never seen. A lot of comic art had fallen into a stale and mediocre sameness that made one think comic book arts had become bored and jaded. The guys who would eventually found Image Comics seemed excited to be doing their dream job and that excitement jumped from the page and enthused a whole generation of comic book readers. The reason I didn't give a shit about it was that my aesthetic preferences lay in a different direction. I wasn't upset that more traditional art was being supplanted since I found a lot of it stodgy and devoid of life. I just wasn't into more grit, more muscles, and more "realism" (in quotes because I'm not going all-in with my intellectual bankroll on suggesting that the Image guys could draw realistically); I was into a bit more cartoony style, maybe a little closer to animation, with thicker lines and more expressive faces (more expressive in other ways than just gritting teeth), with Chris Bachalo and Kevin Maguire two of my favorites. And even though this will completely destroy my defense of Ted McKeever's art but I can't help but be as transparent as possible (unless it comes to saying when I lost my virginity because nobody wants to hear stories about somebody losing it that young!), I wasn't always thrilled with McKeever's art back in the 90s. I think it's like drinking coffee black. When you're young, you just don't appreciate bitterness like you do when you're older and worn out and life's zest lies crumpled on the floor covered in drying jizz. You just can't appreciate some things until life has taken you by the back of the head and screamed, "Oh? You love wonder? You love the excitement of experiencing new things and discovering more of the human mystery of existence? Well have as much as you like!" and then it smashes your face into the puddle of wonder you've made on the floor and rubs until you're choking on it. You're never quite the same after that. It's as if cute and amazing and wonderful don't quite flip the switch in your brain anymore so you need bitterness and pain and the kind of sex where you're not entirely sure you're going to live to see orgasm. The sad part about the loss of innocence and the death of wonder is how fast it happens in the Internet age. I guarantee there are teenagers who probably have an outlook as bleak as the one it took me forty-five years to develop. Here's to you, my young brothers and sisters drowning in existence!

There wasn't a full moon on February 12th, 1891.

I looked up the full moon fact. I just didn't happen to know it as I was reading this comic book. I didn't spit out my bitter coffee and exclaim "Insolence!" after I read it. The phase of the moon was closer to what is seen on the cover than what is seen on this page. Also, why is the full moon so prominent in all of these issues of Eclipso? I would think the new moon would be more important since that's when an actual eclipse can occur. Or is Eclipso more powerful during a lunar eclipse because that's when things get super dark? Although isn't a lunar eclipse less dark than a night just before the new moon because the moon is hanging out with the sun and there's nothing but stars in the sky for light? Maybe I just don't understand Eclipso and his stupid moon powers. Maybe the writers don't either since they're the assholes who decided Eclipso's palace, where he'd be safe from the sun, should be located on the dark side of the moon which is anything but safe from sunlight. I hate Eclipso. I'm glad this is the last issue of the series I purchased!

Oh yeah! This is how Eclipso works. The moon is just set dressing!

This is why I was happy to see McKeever doing an issue of Eclipso. His art works quite nicely for a horror comic. Also, that earlier scan of his goofy looking people? I shouldn't have been too harsh on it because that's exactly what British people look like. This is Eclipso's first time back in the world of men since the gigantic Black Diamond he was encased in was taken back to London and cut into thousands of smaller diamonds. He is only now discovering the extent and limits of his returned powers. Eclipso goes on a rampage as the judge, discovering that he must first fulfill the vengeful wishes of the person he's possessed before he can move on to his own plots. He also discovers that the sun evicts him from the body and he is returned to the dark side of the moon. He also learns that if he hides from the sun, he can remain in possession of the body. He learns this because he's also possessed Irene Adler. She's a fictional character form the Sherlock Holmes stories but since she's also a character in this Eclipso comic book, she's still fictional. I think it's okay to pretend she's real in a fictional story. I'm certainly not complaining or else I wouldn't constantly rave about Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Eclipso #7 Rating: B. Ted McKeever's art does most of the work since this issue is basically just a primer for readers unfamiliar with Eclipso's powers and limitations. The moon doesn't come into play at all so I don't know why every issue insists on a full one. Maybe it's because the same writers that think the dark side of the moon is actually dark also think that the only way an eclipse can happen is during a full moon. Because how can a crescent moon block out the entire sun, right?! Ridiculous!

#Eclipso #Ted McKeever #Keith Giffen #DC Comics #DC #Robert Loren Fleming

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iturbide · 6 years

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Hello! Hope everything is well! :) Congrats on getting F!Grima on the legendary banner! I was also able to get her which came as a total surprise to me. Ever since she came out, I noticed how her personality is more… bitter than M!Grima which is really weird since they are literally the same dragon, just from two different timelines. So, I came up with this headcanon where M!Grima is from a timeline where he is more reckless but susceptible to “turning good” par se due to the efforts of the(1/3)

Summoner. But with F!Grima, she’s bitter, calculative, cold, and deeper in her roots of darkness. It feels like it would take a lot longer with her to possibly see the other side of things. Heck, even just tapping her from the menu and seeing what she says is like a double edged sword compared to what M!Grima says. Anyways, what are your thoughts on both characters? Would your Summoners treat F!Grima the same like M!Grima? Do you think they are the same? Different? (2/3)

Sorry for all the questions and for the long ask. Was not expecting how long this would lol. I just really want to hear your thoughts about the two Fell Dragons. :) Thanks for your time! (3/3)

You have nothing to apologize for I’m so excited about this ask ovo ~ great over here! The current Heroes events are treating me well, I finally have F!Grima and she’s buddied up with her male counterpart wreaking havoc, the Summoners are just hanging with M!Robin and Exalted Chrom watching the battlefield blaze…it’s certainly an experience.

But oh goodness these are absolutely two different Grimas I completely agree. Which means that there are going to be some major differences in how to reach them...

Make no mistake, both of them are in a bad place when they arrive, and don’t exactly take kindly to the sudden change of venue. But they express their deeply internalized distrust in very different ways: M!Grima lashes out to keep people away, while F!Grima adopts a silently threatening that keeps most people at bay. They both hurt deeply, and neither one wants to believe that there’s any good in humanity because if they do, it’ll just hurt that much worse when they’re let down again. I don’t think it’s necessarily fair to say that one has suffered more or less than the other, or that one is more or less reachable: it’s just a matter of how to go about it, because each one responds better to certain methods than others.

For M!Grima, empathy proved to be the quickest way to reach him. He unveiled the harsh truths he’d learned through his suffering at the hands of humanity, fully expecting to be told he was wrong for thinking that way, to be berated for those hard lessons he’d internalized, which would only have cemented his beliefs that humans will do no more than judge rather than care for the circumstances of others; instead, he found that Kiran was not only willing to hear but accept what he said, even agree with it, while assuring him that not all humans were that way. That completely unexpected empathy was what cracked his defenses – he started paying attention to the Summoner more, enough that he could see the whole of them, rather than just the flaws he so often sought out in humans…and from there, it allows him to open up little by little to others as he learns to see them in the same sort of way.

But F!Grima needs an entirely different approach. Empathy is fine and good, but as jaded as she is, being told she’s right about humanity’s evils would only cement her belief in them. She doesn’t need lip service, she needs more concrete proof that there’s more to humanity. The way to get through to her is through tangible actions – and as much as she might outwardly disdain it, the most realistic way of doing that is by keeping frequently interacting with her, keeping close, talking with her, pulling her into things privately, and inviting her to more social activities and being fully prepared to accept a negative response. The Summoner’s reactions are important in these cases: it’s not about what they say, it’s about how they respond in every sense, from their tone to their body language. The lack of fear she senses in them when she makes her cold threats, the kindness they show when they remind her to take care of herself by eating or sleeping and then ensuring she follows through, the respect they offer when she refuses an invitation…that’s not like anything she experienced before, when she had sycophants kissing up to her in hopes of winning power or favors. Even her level 40 dialogue supports this: she wants the Summoner to not just speak of peace, but provide evidence that such a person exists that could bring it about. As cynical and jaded as she is, she wants Kiran to prove her wrong.

#answered #fandomtrash2323 #fire emblem: heroes #grima #kiran #hilariously m!grima is also very helpful in getting f!grima to open up #when she first saw him so close and comfortable with kiran #she thought that he'd gone soft #or been somehow warped by the summoners #they spent a good bit of time sitting up on the roof with the dragons #and just talking about how strange things in askr are #and f!grima had a lot of demands about what the heck is going on with him and kiran #and he takes it completely in stride #because he's getting more comfortable with the idea of this whole friendship thing #fun fact: with hinoka around now takumi's been getting a lot more family time #so m!grima has taken to shadowing the shortstack #since she's the one who really got him to open up with that empathy #meanwhile the beanpole is working hard on f!grima #since he's the more demonstrative one of the two and is seeing better results #she's starting to get that cat-like possessive quality that m!grima has for dian #and given how much m!grima has chilled out at this point thanks to the baby dragons #f!grima's fiercer nature is a major boon here in keeping the beanpole out of trouble #tl;dr tags

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renegade-skywalker · 6 years

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It’s a shame how underappreciated Mical is, really, especially since I think he gets the Luke Skywalker treatment when it comes to dudebros complaining about how whiney he is. But he is actually rather similar to Luke in many respects. Not just in appearance and temperament, but even in how they react to the things that happen to them, and unlike everyone else in kotor 2, Mical manages to remain a beacon of hope in a way that I think he may be some strange fictional past-life of Leslie Knope’s.

I may be jaded by nearly 12 years of fandom, but Mical is usually depicted as this goody-two-shoes, and he kind of is, but it’s not really his defining trait. Sure, he’s a nerd but he’s incredibly intelligent, and his opinions don’t actually differ from many of the other characters - namely Atton who has a distinct dislike of him and would probably rather die than ever admit that they’re at all alike. In most ways, they aren’t, but their opinions are actually far more aligned than I think either of them realizes, and if this game were ever remade with updated graphics/party banter/npc interaction etc. like many modern rpgs, this sort of interaction would be something I would totally want to see.

Okay, okay, I’m already all over the place. Let’s start with when/where/how we meet Mical. Depending on whether you play as male/female, Mical’s role differs. If a female, he joins your party and you learn more about him bit by bit, but if male he has a Jedi-heavy conversation with you in the ruins of the Jedi Temple and then again back at Khoonda militia HQ aaaaand that’s it. Mical has a wealth of knowledge regarding Jedi history, and as an agent of the Republic can also provide insight regarding how the Jedi conflict(s) have also affected the galaxy at large. As eager as Mical is to become a Jedi from the onset (as a companion) he does have a very objective view of the Order. He’s more up-front with his view-points if you talk to him the second time as a male Exile, but he basically lays down the law for you. Like Atton, Mical understands how the rest of the universe sees the Jedi. Common folk don’t see a difference between Jedi and Sith, hence why the Jedi Civil War is called just that and does not at all reference the fact that Revan and Malak returned as Sith. Which is his main point. What makes Mical, well Mical, is his insight. He finds it curious that Revan made certain choices as a Sith Lord, such as keep Onderon untouched (even if it is plagued by its own civil war, currently) while other worlds were demolished, as if in preparation for something else, something unseen and unpredictable. But despite his astute observations, and regardless of what he believes Revan was actually trying to do, he does condemn both sides, Jedi and Sith. He mentions the fall of Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma, and how it was potentially their masters who are at fault for what happened, the same going for Revan and Malak. But instead of shrugging it off and condemning the lot of them, he goes on to say why the Jedi are still important regardless. I think this is a lesson TLJ tried to teach us but didn’t give it enough time to really sink in. The image of the Jedi, what they stand for and what they mean in theory is part of what keeps other, larger gears in motion, like the Republic, and he believes the Jedi should be held accountable but also that they could do better. I think this is where Mical and Atton really differ.

One of the first, most poignant, conversations with Atton revolves around the events of the previous games. Atton acts as a bit of a conduit for the player establishing their world state as much as he acts as a representative for “average space folk”. Despite his past, Atton believes himself to be like “everyone else”, so his experiences during the Mandalorian Wars and even the Jedi Civil War are from that of an average non-Force Sensitive person. Since the discovery of the latter is what causes him to leave his Sith station, Atton’s experiences are still that of someone unfamiliar with the Force or the two ideologies surrounding the use/manipulation of it. He’s the first one to tell you that the average person sees no difference between the Jedi and the Sith, though namely because of the Jedi Civil War. Mical is the one to further explain why, and while he disagrees with how both factions handled themselves and essentially fucked the galaxy over because of what many saw as a pissing contest, Mical also sees the advantage of hope or at least the idea of it. The Jedi, despite their faults, do have the capacity to do good for the collective people at large. The Sith Code is not inherently evil, per se, but is a very self-centered ideology, whereas the Jedi Code does at least attempt to “protect” and “preserve” the whole of humanity versus the interests of a single person or party.

But what makes this perspective so meaningful for Mical is that he was overlooked as a padawan, he wasn’t even granted the opportunity to train despite his Force sensitivity, and he was essentially denied ever becoming a Jedi, at least formally. Despite the circumstances and despite his luck, Mical still has trust in the idea of the Jedi and finds hope in it. Perhaps it has something to do with his time before being called away, but he could also easily be bitter for it as well, but he isn’t. His bitterness could have been multiplied if he was holding a grudge against the Exile for not taking him on as a padawan and instead leaving to join Revan’s war. But, again, he’s not. This is a lesson that the other companions learn in one way or another, and even if they don’t trust the Jedi as a conglomerate, characters like Atton and Visas agree to train with you because they trust you and they believe that learning the ways of the Force can help them grow as people and to help you in your quest more effectively. Even if they don’t believe in the Jedi, they believe in you. Which does tie into Mical’s hopes for the future of the Jedi Order. As messy as things are, especially considering the whole Revan/Exile business is not really canon but has plenty of additional material what with the book and the SWTOR DLC and other related content, the Exile and their companions form the foundation of the Jedi Order that follows, which I guess is the only thing that makes sense since everyone else literally dies by the end of TSL.

But for all its lessons, TSL is still a precursor to the Jedi Council of the prequels, which we know is just as fraught with issues as the Council that dismissed Revan and the Exile yet sort of started this whole mess, so no matter what the Exile learned or changed about how the Jedi operate as a whole didn’t stick. I feel like this was a lesson missing from TLJ. Luke focuses on the failings of the Jedi that preceded him, and his argument for the Jedi to end is a good one. What we were missing is the thought-process behind keeping the Jedi alive, not because their foundational texts were law, but in that they represented hope and goodness and that’s what should continue, even if the rest of it changes (which it should).

Anyway, this started out as a post about Mical… and he is essentially what I was hoping Luke would be, though he was missing a bit. He eventually came to the same conclusion in TLJ, that the Jedi are flawed but are needed, but he didn’t get to see that journey. What I also like about Mical is that he’s experienced the failing of the Jedi first hand but he still sees a use for them. Not only was he denied becoming a Jedi or training as one, but he was then sent to the corps so he ends up seeing the Mandalorian Wars up close, and as a medic he get’s a front row seat to the atrocities of war as well as the suffering that the Jedi at large are wholly ignoring. Even as a Republic officer or whatever he is, his interest in politics and history are what allow him to see through Revan’s ruse, he finds out where the Council went wrong and what could be done to stop it. There was even cut content from the game (not in the restoration mod, though, I don’t think this ever got to production) where Mical would lead you to hidden Jedi and Sith holocrons, perhaps in his attempt to preserve the teachings of the Jedi and any information about the Sith once it appears that both are gone from the galaxy. While the other characters either see things as dark, grey, or are just incredibly jaded, Mical is always as objective as he can be (and he admits his biases) as well as positive. In a game that is so dark, and often so defeating, it’s nice having someone like him on board. I feel like a lot of the (especially old) fandom view of him was skewed and only highlighted his more “annoying” qualities but I feel like it’s a nice counterbalance to the rest of the game and the characters in it. Honestly, the only other people as helpful and positive are the Ithorians and let’s be honest, it’s kind of a chore to get through those dialogue bits.

#mical #the disciple #kotor 2 #star wars #kotor #sw meta #my meta #idk if this even is meta anymore I just can't stop talking about this game #also this didn't even really have a point this was more of just a mical/sw eu appreciation post

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phantasmagoriaoriginals · 3 years

Text

Here There be Monsters: Mage Basic Intros (Part 1)

Hyousa

She/her, Red Mage.

Her history is fairly normal. While her mother died in Hyousa’s early childhood, she was close with her father and lived happily enough even after the loss. She joined the Organization willingly for the sake of making a difference in the world, even mostly unaware of how difficult that would be. Cream was given to her as a Familiar a couple years in.

Cheerful, energetic, and persistently optimistic, Hyousa is the kind of person who aggressively sees the best in the world and everyone in it. While some people consider her hopelessly naive, her determination can’t be beat. Hyousa is actively, willingly kind to everyone who crosses her path, whether they deserve it or not. She chooses to see the best.

Her magic is the typical Red— pure power made of her own magical energy. It’s completely suited for physical combat, but somehow, Hyousa manages not to make it violent. She fights to help people!

5′5, 19. Thin, girlish build which nonetheless carries quite a bit of lean muscle. Short, cinnamon brown hair worn mostly slicked back and out of her face, with only a few strands escaping to fall on her forehead. Wide, bright brown eyes, fair skin. She constantly fidgets around.

Sinclair

She/her, Purple Mage.

After growing up at an orphanage following the death of her parents in an unfortunate accident, Sinclair willingly joined the Organization as a way of making use of her magic. She’d mostly taught it to herself as a way of looking after the orphanage’s children, and once she had access to a real way to improve it, she wanted to learn how to use it properly.

Sinclair’s personality is best defined as motherly. She’s an incredibly kind, soft person who others feel innately comfortable around. However, she’s also strict on those who do wrong and wants to see people improve, not be coddled. Caretaking is in her nature. She looks after those around her and does her best to keep everyone happy and well.

Her magic primarily operates around charms imbued with curses and blessings. While she generally prefers to use the blessings to help her allies, when she sets her mind to a curse, it’s deadly.

5′6, early 30′s. Fat, with a pear-shaped, soft build. Wide through the hips and all-around soft. Black, frizzy hair worn around shoulder-length, with shorter-cut bangs. Black eyes, round glasses, and soft, sweet features. Moderately dark brown skin.

Livva

She/her, Yellow Mage.

Born with an innate magic known as the “human sealing container”, Livva was highly valued even from childhood. She spent her early years being passed between “homes” and different people who owned her— usually to use her for her magic or to own an expensive prize—, until the Organization took possession of her instead.

Serious, cold, and disinterested in the world, Livva is the kind of person who rarely shows fondness for anything. She’s seen some of the most selfish sides of humanity, so her worldview is quite corrupted. The things she does are only because she’s forced to, and she has no real attachment or loyalty to anyone or anything. She just exists.

Her magic, as mentioned above, is sealing-based. A seal on her tongue allowed her to hold “objects” inside of her body and release them at will. These things range from artifacts to spells, to even offensive energy.

5′10, mid 20′s. Tall, slightly pear-shaped build with notable curves. White, fluffy hair that falls to her shoulders and has considerably more volume towards the ends. Dark brown, somewhat lifeless eyes, fair skin. Posture is always stiff and near-perfect.

Madeleine

She/her, Orange Mage.

An amnesiac, she lacks any memories from what she assumes to be almost twenty years of life. She only remembers her time with the Organization, and is currently in the process of trying to discover more about her past— including a large, mysterious scar across her chest. However, she doesn’t necessarily want to look too deeply.

Madeleine is friendly, open, and upbeat. Despite her internal issues, she tries to make life better for herself and the people around her. She’s close friends with Sinclair, likes to use her magic for other people’s enjoyment, and is generally a very kind-hearted sort. However, when it comes to missions, she has a serious, brutal side that comes out.

Her magic is similar to Sinclair’s but involves food (specifically sweets) instead of handmade charms. Her desserts have a variety of effects and are more useful in a conflict situation than you’d expect.

5′9, early 30′s. Tall, athletic, curveless build with wide shoulders and strong legs. Dark brown, thigh-length hair worn in thick box braids and a high ponytail. Dark, warm-undertoned skin and sparkling brown eyes. Large, diagonal scar across her chest from collarbone to navel.

Aurora

She/her, Green Mage.

Born without her left leg from the knee down. It took a while to find her a suitable prosthetic, but after getting a highly functional one and practicing plenty, she’s completely adjusted to it. She’s always lived in the shadow of her older sister, Rosaria, who she both adores and resents thanks to a feeling of having to live up to her success.

Strict, intense, and serious, Aurora is the picture of ambition and hard work. She’s always felt a need to compensate for her self-perceived weaknesses and feeling of being “second best”. However, her cold exterior hides a warm heart and burning passion. She’s the type to never give up on anyone or anything when she sets her mind to them.

Aurora’s magic, as Green magic always is, is derived from the world around her. The main way she uses it is to increase her speed, agility, and mobility through absorbed energy from other moving objects.

5′7, early 20′s. Slim, straight build with long legs and a narrow shape. Long, hip-length, white hair worn loose and straight with bangs and shoulder-length sidelocks. Intense gray eyes with pale lashes. Black and silver, high-tech prosthetic from below the knee down on her left leg.

Ranisha

She/they, Blue Mage.

The oldest of many siblings, Ranisha had to grow up fast and take on a lot of responsibility. Developing excessive maturity so early gave her a jaded, logical outlook on the world, where she prioritizes what needs to be done instead of what she wants. She joined the Organization for money as well as something to do with herself that felt like success.

Ranisha is most notably aloof, cold, and efficient. She takes her work very seriously, places her job before any personal desires, and doesn’t make friends easily or well. Seemingly uninterested in anything but what’s assigned to her, many people feel intimidated by her strict nature and harsh standards. She butts heads with Vash quite a bit.

Her magic turns written symbols into weapons manifested solely from her energy. Ranisha favors guns over bladed weapons, can use anything from small pistols to larger rifles, and her accuracy is near-unmatched.

5′8, early-mid 20′s. Fairly average build with slight curves. Somehow petite despite her height. Black, thick hair styled in a short, natural faux hawk with close-cropped sides. Black eyes, dark, cool-toned skin, and pleasant features that are always set in a stern, neutral expression.

Katz

He/him, Brown Mage.

While he grew up as a relatively normal Mage, Katz considers getting involved with the Organization to be the worst mistake he ever made. The job is stable and suits his skills well, but the people he has to deal with drive him absolutely insane. He developed a stress-related drinking habit from a young age, which did nothing to help his nasty attitude.

Katz is the kind of person who’s hit his breaking point. He’s an angry, bitter man who’s perpetually exhausted, short-tempered with everyone around him, and a raging alcoholic on top of all of that. While he’s very good at what he does, Katz is the type who most want to stay far away from. His dead-eyed glare is incredibly intimidating.

His magic focuses on sealing. Specifically, sealing the powers of others. Katz creates items that, when placed on someone’s body, restrain some or all of their magic to whatever extent he crafted them to.

5′11, mid 30′s. Thicker build that’s on the stockier side of muscular. Reddish taupe-colored hair worn in a short style that falls about to his ears and is often slicked back. Fair skin, dark eyes, and a good amount of stubble on his upper lip, cheeks, and chin. Perpetual scowl.

Emilio

He/they, Purple Mage.

A lot of Emilio’s life has been spent wishing he was something other than himself. He grew up relatively average, but underwent a fair amount of bullying for being shy and reclusive. When he learned magic, his main goal was to change himself— and he did that completely. He’s always trying to hide from the person he used to be.

Emilio is best described as a charismatic jokester. Despite being very much a “class clown” type, he exudes so much pleasant, cheerful energy that people can’t help but be drawn to him. However, underneath his sunny disposition is a serious, capable man who wants to give his best to the people close to him... as well as something of a dark side.

The magic he uses revolves around shapeshifting. Emilio can change his own appearance at will and is known to constantly be doing so. No one is sure what his original appearance is, and Emilio isn’t telling.

Mid 20′s. Everything about Emilio’s appearance varies. He can change his height, hair color, eye color, features, build, and more with a simple spell, and he does that frequently. He seems to favor taller, more handsome looks, though, and usually retains bright hair and eye colors.

Vash

He/him, Orange Mage.

Trained in magic from a young age, Vash made it his mission to be as good at it as possible— and gather all the admiration and respect he can. He’s never experienced much in the means of personal hardship, but the standards he’s placed on himself do plenty of damage. He’s been in the organization since he was fifteen, thanks to his family’s choices.

Short-tempered, viciously ambitious, and high-strung to a fault, the main things in life that drive Vash are gaining the approval of everyone around him and making himself look as impressive as possible. He’s a hot-blooded teenager in every sense of the word, and painfully unaware of his own inexperience and how dangerously reckless he can be.

Vash’s magic is typical for the Orange kind. He uses elemental powers; in his case, fire. Despite being made of magic, this fire burns just like the real thing and is every bit as destructive and hard to control.

19, 5′8. Skinny, lanky build with less muscle than you’d expect. Straight, chin-length, black hair usually worn covering one eye. Pale skin, orange eyes, and numerous silver piercings all over his body. Extensive burn scars covering him from his magic going haywire.

Alexander

He/him, Brown Mage.

Born to a prestigious and high-class Mage family, Alexander grew up in the lap of luxury. He was spoiled to a fair extent, but the consequences are fortunately mild. Told from a young age that he’s destined for great things and incredibly capable, Alexander has always felt like he doesn’t have to do much of anything to be successful and loved.

Alexander is friendly, sociable, polite, and generally pleasant to be around. He’s the kind of charismatic person who draws others to him whether he tries to or not. However, he also has an unfortunate tendency of viewing people as lesser than him and expects things that he shouldn’t more often than not. He’s also worryingly naive.

The magic he uses relates to forcefields. Alexander can generate and manipulate forcefields out of his magical energy, and uses them for defense as well as offense. Their purposes are quite varied.

6′1, early 20′s. Tall, broad-shouldered, elegant build. Dark red, wavy hair worn in a short-ish cut and sometimes styled with a low ponytail or pins holding the side back. Dark hazel eyes, handsome features, and fair skin. A perpetually welcoming smile and the posture of a trained nobleman.

#Here There Be Monsters #Hyousa #Sinclair #Livva #Madeleine #Aurora #Ranisha #Katz #Emilio #Vash #Alexander #Character Info

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somevirtualnolife · 6 years

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Kirkwall Crush

1784 words Rating: T Pairing: Varric Tethras x Hawke Summary: Once upon a time, a certain Fereldan refugee may have had a little thing for a certain merchant prince. Author’s Notes: The last little friendship prompt I was given had be go back to a one-shot I’ve been working on for a bit. I’ve always love the Hawke/Varric dynamic. Me, like so many others, was crushed when I found out he was and will never be a romance option. I was also bummed that you don’t even get the option to flirt and be rejected. So, this is sort of my answer to that! Happy reading, y’all.

“Do you… like Varric?”

Aerianne fumbled one of the daggers that she’d been flipping in the air. It made a small clinging sound as it fell onto the cobblestone street in front of Gamlen’s house.

“That’s a very odd question,” Aerianne laughed as she bent down to pick the dagger back up and sheathed it. “What brought this on, Beth?”

Her sister shrugged slightly as reached for the door to open it. Bethany wasn’t really one to gossip or pry. After all, between the three Hawke sibling, she was supposed to be the sweet one. The polite one who never made any ripples. But every now and then, Bethany would throw a question to her older sister that would throw her off balance. Just a little.

“Just thinking aloud I suppose,” Bethany replied, musing a bit. “You do that thing. Where you make-up any reason to go and bother him,”

“What? No I don’t,”

“Well, alright. You do that thing where you play with your ponytail when you’re talking about him,”

“Well, I think that you’ve been reading too many romance novels,” Aerianne grinned and then nudged her sister with her hips, before entering the old house. The two girls laughed as they started to push each other, but the fun quickly ended when they heard the barking of their uncle in the next room over. He was housing them because they were adults who could pay bills, not so that they could act like a bunch of giddy children faffing about.

Bethany wasn’t wrong though.

Maybe Aerianne did have a bit of a thing for the Merchant Prince.

It’d barely been over a year and out of all the people she’d come across in Kirkwall so far, Varric stood out among them. She was a bit suspicious of his intentions at first; how could you not be when a random man you don’t know comes up to you with business proposition that seemed to good to be true? But it wasn’t before long that she and the dwarf quickly became friends. Sure, he could be a bit crude and sarcastic at times, but he was also charming, and personable; and amazing storyteller. She often found herself grabbing a drink with him most nights at the Hanged Man during her nights off. Up until recently, her time in the city was all about paying off debts and not upsetting her uncle. Before that, she was just trying to make ends meet for her family after her father died. To have a normal night out with a friend… she didn’t realize how much she missed it.

“You’ve really never thought of trying to go back to Orzammar?” she asked him.

“Come on, do I look like someone who would enjoy living in a cave, arguing about which ancestor is the best?” Varric scoffed. “Kirkwall has the open skies, exciting stories, walks from every form of life. Not to mention I’d have to grow one of those ridiculous beards if I moved to Orzammar,”

“Can’t have that. It would distract from your chest hair,”

“Ha! I knew you were alright Hawke,” he grinned, knocking his tankard against hers. “Cute and quick with both words and a dagger. Keep that up, and you’ll fit into Kirkwall in no time,”

Varric did more than just give her a business opportunity, he helped her adjust to life in Kirkwall. Despite making a name for herself, Aerianne still had troubles fitting into the cultural fabric of the city, especially in Lowtown. She had to learn that the way you dealt with people in the countryside were far different than how you dealt with them in the city. Politeness and sincerity wasn’t going to cut it; you had to be charming. Quick-witted and talk your way out of any situation. It was something that Varric seemed quite adept at, based on her observations. It was odd how he managed to be the most well liked and most hated man in various circles. Regardless of people’s opinion, he was the Merchant Prince for a reason; he had influence.

“Is Varric involved with anyone?” Aerianne once asked Bartrand when she was dropping off some of her sovereign. He laughed so hard that he nearly fell off his chair. Scratch that, he actually did fall off his chair and just continued to howl like an overexcited mabari. She never got an answer out of him, but she took a positive sign.

Varric seem to be the type that would have more than his fair share of fun with women. He had a surprising way with words, making meekest of housemaids to the jaded of rich-divorcees blush. But from what she could tell he had no one serious in his life. Was he even the type to have anyone serious in his life? She suddenly felt a little bit naïve. He was older than her, certainly more experienced. How does one exactly pursue a man like Varric? Despite being the one to reach out for business prospects, he seemed to be the type who would rather be approached by women rather than the other way around. Kirkwall women were just so bold. Or was this just city women in general?

Regardless, she was a Kirkwall woman now. She had to start acting like one.

It was one night at the docks, where they decided for a change of pace from the Hanged Man. If the docks didn’t have shading dealings going on in the shadows and they were drinking something more than the cheap whiskey straight out the bottle, this might’ve been romantic.

“Maker, it burns,” she coughed, passing the bottle back to Varric. “That’s it, I’m choosing the bottle next time,”

“Hawke, at this price, they’re all gonna taste the same,” he laughed as he took a swig. “I told you we could split it,”

“You can’t keep covering for me. The first thing I’m going to if we make it big from this expedition is buy us some proper alcohol. One that doesn’t taste like moldy woodchips,”

“Speaking of which. I’ve got a couple of new leads for you to get some of that sovereign. I think you’ll like these ones. For real this time,”

“The last time you said that, Bethany, Aveline and I were getting you out of one YOUR messes,” she nudged him slightly. “I only got a few coins from that!”

“Okay, so maybe a few of my leads haven’t been perfect, but I swear to you on Andraste’s golden knickers, Hawke, these ones are good. We’ve got grey wardens, we’ve got pirates, mysterious disappearances, adventure… everything a budding hero like yourself could want,”

“Hero? Since when?” she shook her head with a long sigh, taking the bottle back from Varric’s hand and gulping some more down. It still tasted awful, but at least it was going down easier.

“Come on, Hawke. If you actually charged for half the problems that you solve in this city, you’d have the fifty sovereigns by now,” he shrugged slightly. “You’re too good for this place,”

“You always say that,” she rested her chin on the palm of her hand, finally feeling the buzz of the terrible alcohol.

“Eh, what can I say. I like you, Hawke,”

A smile formed on the young woman’s face. This was it; this was the moment that she had been waiting for.

“I like you too, Varric,”

“Aw, stop. You’re gonna make me blush. And not just because of the alcohol,”

Varric began to laugh, but it was quickly interrupted by Aerianne’s lips planted firmly on his. He first tasted of the bitter, strong liquor (it really was the last time they were getting that brand), but it didn’t take long before it disappeared. Though, there was something that she felt was odd about the kiss. They were supposed to have a give and receive quality to them. And by the Maker, she was certainly giving, but she was receiving nothing. She always expected Varric to be better at this.

Unless of course…

“Uh…” she heard Varric said hesitantly, as they parted lips.

She opened her eyes and looked at the dwarf’s expression. Not one of desire and wanting, but instead of drunken confusion.

And then it clicked.

Oh.

Oh no.

“Oh, you meant as a-”

“And you meant it as-”

Aerianne quickly pushed herself away, her hands quickly clutching at the ends of her ponytail as she looked at him, slightly mortified. “I am SO sorry Varric,”

“There are worse things than to be kissed by a pretty girl. Especially like that,” he then cleared his throat, turning his head. “Well… shit,”

“Well shit is right,” Aerianne winced and groaned. This was not how she planned for things to go at all. Like is such a vague word, especially when you’re not fully sober. Embarrassment didn’t even begin to cover what she was feeling right now. What does one do when you kiss someone that wasn’t interested? Send them a fruit basket apology? She didn’t have that kind of money.

Varric finally turned to face Aerianne again. He looked weirdly apologetic, which she didn’t quite understand.

“You’re one of a kind of kind, Hawke. I hope you know that,” he said, patting her firmly on the shoulder. “You’re funny, smart, and tough. Not to mention very easy on the eyes,”

“You don’t have to let me down easy,” she replied. It stung… but it was best to know sooner rather than later. And she’d much rather this go over quickly so that she could erase this whole encounter from her mind as soon as possible.

“I’m just being honest. You really are a great girl. But the thing with me and great girls… well…”

“You end up naming your crossbow after them?”

He made a clicking noise and made a trigger motion at her. “Nothing gets past you,”

The young woman laughed and shook her head. Well, at least she got one thing right. “I’m sorry. Again. I didn’t mean to make things odd,”

“Eh, I’ve had weirder,” he said looking back off at the docks. “Look, I don’t think that I could ever give you want you would need in that kind of relationship. But as a friend, I’ll always have your back. You can count on that. You know, if you’ll still have me as one,”

A small smile appeared on her face. There was something reassuring about that. She’d only known him for a short while, but it felt like she’d known him all his life. He was familiar and comfortable. He made her feel normal.

He was a friend.

“Yeah,” she said, leaning on his shoulder and closing her eyes. “I’d like that,”

#dragon age 2 #dragon age fanfiction #hawke x varric #Varric Tethras #rogue hawke

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redsdesktop · 7 years

Text

HTF: Hero

Pairings: Flippy x Splendid

Warnings: None.

AU: Based in the war Flippy was in.

Splendid watched from his lofty perch in the clouds as the citizens of Happy Tree ran about the park, playing in the leaves, enjoying the cooling weather before winter hit. Splendid didn't join in on the fun, no matter how much the laughter was tempting, he was too different. He knew his strength could end up hurting others, so it was better to simply observe from the clouds than risk ruining the fun by accidentally killing someone. Most of the time he stayed at home, doing various hobbies to entertain himself. However, when he had heard laughter, he became curious and maybe a little envious, especially when he heard a certain laugh. Flippy was down there, raking leaves into a pile for the other townsfolk to jump in, despite the work he seemed to be enjoying himself. Splendid sighed out, drawing the attention of his twin who was drifting nearby with a book in hand.

"Just go say hi to him already instead of moping about. Maybe he'll remember you."

"You know it would be better if he didn't. Its too risky."

SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

Splendid first met Flippy during one of his supply runs, digging through the ruined bases of the Tiger General's army for anything that could be salvaged. He thought no one alive remained, only corpses being feasted on my maggots and the wild animals that roamed these jungles. So he didn't expect to hear the sound of someone whimpering in fear, usually he avoided the living because they didn't stay living for long around him. Curious and thinking he might have to put someone out of their misery, he made his way through the rubble to stumble on one of the foreign soldiers. He was badly injured, making Splendid wonder how he managed to survive this long in enemy territory. Kneeling down, Splendid reached out to gently place a hand on the soldier's shoulder, gently shaking him. The younger male flinched and curled tighter into the fetal position, Splendid should leave. He promised himself he wouldn't get involved in this war, he would only do more harm than good.

However, he couldn't pull himself away, couldn't leave the injured soldier to die in fear among the wreckage, all alone. Despite his best judgement, he brought the soldier home, a small base deep within the jungle, hidden away from the civilized world. Splendid separated himself for good reasons, a life of isolation to spare this world of the living disaster he was. For weeks, Splendid took care of the soldier, for weeks, the soldier said nothing, not even when Splendid reattached his hands. The silence was at first awkward, but it grew to something easy. Both had their demons it seemed and Splendid wasn't one to pry. He didn't want to care, didn't want to get attached to someone who could die in a blink of an eye. He had seen many perish so easily in this war, some by his own hands. He wanted nothing to do with it anymore, but having company was starting to make him realize that being alone wasn't ideal either.

It felt nice to care about something other than himself again, to see the look of appreciation in those green hues when they looked up at him. He missed that, missed being viewed as someone who could do good in this world. Such fanciful notions would only lead to disaster though, he was well aware of that. Maybe though, having one person around wouldn't hurt, he could protect this single soldier from the dangers of the civilized world. So one night, when they were sitting around the fire, enjoying the natural music of the jungle around them, Splendid broke the comfortable silence around them. It had been over a month and Splendid didn't know anything about the soldier he grew to care about.

"What's your name?" His voice came out soft, a bit scratchy from the lack of use. He didn't know how long he had lived in isolation, time was meaningless to someone who lived forever. The soldier seemed to be caught by surprise from the sudden question, looking up at Splendid with a torn expression. For a soldier, Splendid had found out that the younger male was kind, gentle, someone that shouldn't be in the war at all. It made Splendid want to keep this soldier away from the taint of violence, to shelter him from the horrors of war.

"Flippy." A murmured reply came, barely heard over the gentle crackle of the fire. Flippy tilted his head up, looking at Splendid expectantly. Splendid paused for a moment, his blue eyes taking in the sight of the firelight dancing over those soft features, making him momentarily wonder how such a gem could be caught up in all of this mess when he should be kept away, polished and pampered. Tired, pastel blue eyes took Flippy in, he knew that despite Flippy being a diamond in the rough, there were hidden cracks within the stone, flaws. However, Splendid couldn't help but to admire the soldier.

"I'm Splendid." He finally admitted, from the lack of recognition in Flippy's expression, Splendid was a bit relieved the soldier hadn't heard of him. He wasn't certain if he could stand seeing fear or disgust on Flippy's face. For now, Splendid was just some strange hermit living in the jungle, where everything was natural and the violence here was merely only for survival. Flippy smiled a little, he had a way of being subtle about his expressions but when he did reveal something, it made it even more special. Before Splendid could stop himself, he leaned down towards Flippy's upturned face and pressed a kiss against those smiling lips. He could feel those arms slide around his neck, pulling him closer, making his heart speed up a little and grow light. While he previously had thought the world was filled with suffering and negativity, he found out beneath all those layers there was still some good left. Something he forgotten but now had found in the warmth of the wounded soldier in his arms.

The next morning, Splendid sat up in bed alone, the blanket falling to pool about his waist, revealing his bare chest. He expected Flippy to be beside him, but instead the soldier was on his feet, pulling on his military clothes before packing his things into a back pack. "Where are you going?" Splendid asked in a drowsy voice, reaching up to drag his fingers through his messy blue hair in a futile attempt to tame it.

"There's still a war going out there." Flippy replied with a frown, looking over at Splendid, there was a hint of longing as the soldier wanted to return to bed.

"Why not stay here where its safe?" Splendid replied, pushing himself up to his feet to find where ever his boxers had gone. They were under the bed somehow and he fished them out to pull the on, this wasn't the conversation to be having while he was nude.

"Some people don't have the luxury of being safe, Splendid. No matter how many times I fail, I have to keep trying. This world needs heroes to save people who can't fight back." Flippy zipped up his backpack as if that would be the end of the debate, Splendid reached out to grab Flippy's arm, trying to drag him back. Flippy paused, looking back up to Splendid. There was pain in those jade eyes, he knew if Flippy went out there, he could die. "I'm going, Splendid. I can't let my friends' deaths be in vain. So stay here like a coward if you want, but I can't sit by while people are dying out there." Flippy shrugged off Splendid's hand, leaving the blue haired hermit in a bit of shock.

Splendid wanted to chase after him as he watched Flippy slowly fade into the jungle. He should have, but Flippy had been right, he'd been a coward. Afraid that in his attempts to save people, he would only end up doing more damage than good. People would expect him to do great things, would demand him to do what they thought was right. However, the world wasn't black and white, Splendid didn't know how to navigate such gray areas. He should've followed his heart, if he had, maybe he could've been with Flippy in the future. Splendid turned away and retreated back into his house, sitting down on the edge of his bed. He was alone once more, he ducked his face into his hands, feeling the dampness on his cheeks. For the first time, he finally experienced what crying felt like.

A week rolled by, it was the longest one Splendid had ever gone through. Each morning, he expected to see Flippy there, only to be disappointed by the emptiness of his house. The soldier had brought happiness to him and then just like that, he had taken it away with his leaving. The feeling of bitterness was nothing new, but now he had someone to focus it on instead of the general population. He'd grown so frustrated, so desperate that after years and years of isolation from the world, Splendid left the deep jungle and re-entered the civilized world. He needed to find Flippy, needed to know he was still alive. Yje world beneath him appeared so much different than the one he remembered. Pillars of smoke billowing up from the wake of the war. The earth was torn up from the clash of man, ruined because of one selfish reason or another.

When he landed in the center of the foreigner main camp, he had forgotten that it likely wasn't the wisest idea to do so in the middle of war. So he shouldn't have been surprised when the soldiers began to open fire on him without even inquiring who he was. Splendid dusted the crushed bullets from his body, the soldiers finally stopping when they realized the blue haired male was still standing without a single bullet hole within him."I suppose that's my bad." Splendid said with a soured note, he really wasn't in the mood for this speedbump. "I'm looking for someone, a soldier by the name of Flippy. So, if you don't mind, I'm kind of in a rush." He added when none of the soldiers seemed to respond, they were still stunned by the fact Splendid hadn't been injured in the slightest.

Annoyed, he walked over to the nearest soldier, who was trying to pull the trigger to his gun but was too frozen to do so. Instead Splendid pried the gun from his grasp and dropped it on the ground. Splendid snapped his fingers in front of the soldier's face, trying to regain his attention. "I'm not a patient man. So, I'm only going to ask again. Do you know where the soldier named Flippy is?" Splendid was about to lose his patience when the soldier in front of his nodded his head quickly in a panic. "Good. Well, don't just stand there, take me to him." Splendid folded his arms over his chest, staring at the soldier as the guy's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Finally, the soldier turned and began to hurry towards what Splendid hoped was where Flippy was at, leaving the other soldiers standing around gaping.

What Splendid didn't anticipate was for this soldier to bring him to the medical tent, holding open the flap to allow Splendid to enter. There were cots upon cots of injured soldiers, the sounds of pain lingered in the air with the smell of death. Splendid frowned, this was just another reason why he didn't like being involved with mortals. They were so fragile and yet they tossed themselves into danger time and time again for what they believed in. Splendid walked down the rows, searching with fear for a mop of green hair. As time went on, his stomach began to twist into knots, wondering if he was too late, but finally he found Flippy. He looked worse for wear, a bandage around his head, but he didn't look as bad as the time Splendid had saved him.

He hurried over and picked up Flippy's warm hand, holding it between his own. The movement caused Flippy to stir, once again those green eyes fell onto him. He likely looked like an idiot for smiling like he was, but he didn't care. Flippy was alive, that's all he could ask for. "Flippy." Splendid murmured just for the soldier to hear, but Flippy's expression turned to one of confusion.

"Who..?" The words were strained, likely from the amount of drugs in his system right now to keep the pain down. However, the word along with the expression was enough to tell that Flippy hadn't recognized him, maybe it was just because it was dark in the tent and Flippy appeared to have taken some injuries to the head. When one of the military nurses passed by, Splendid reached out and grabbed her arm, gaining her attention as she looked surprised. "What happened to him?" Splendid asked, his voice stressed, for a moment Splendid thought the nurse wouldn't answer and he wasn't above shaking an innocent to get answers involving Flippy.

"He was on the frontlines when the Tiger army started firing mortars. He's lucky to have come out of it with only a bit of brain damage. He'll likely be shipped home in a couple of days, he can't seem to remember anything beyond flashes of memory. He seems to be suffering severe PTSD, so it would be better if he was sent home."

Splendid dropped his hand from the nurse's arm, allowing her to carry on her duties as he turned his attention back to Flippy. If he hadn't been a coward, this wouldn't have happened. He wouldn't let anything bad happen to Flippy again, luckily Flippy would never remember his failure and Splendid planned to keep it that way. He would start fresh, to be a hero that Flippy would admire.

#htf #splendid #flippy #happy tree friends #war #alternate universe #au #canon divergence #oneshot #fanfic #fanfiction

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