Haha, nice

fancontent,,, good Orig. blog: @cozynightsky

[cnsfandombs]

📢Calling attention to writingerror's "Yuu and the Power of Magic" Fans!📢

Hello! It's been over 2 years since YatPoM was released. With a whopping 900k+ wordcount (as of 03/08/2023), YatPoM has PLENTY of content for fans to talk about. However, we've long lacked a unifying platform for discussion. So! I've created a discord server for fans to gather and discuss "Yuu and the Power of Magic" by writingerror on Ao3.

Join the Twisted Magic! Discord Server!

Check out the Twisted Magic! community on Discord - hang out with 2 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.

Please join and build a community of fans for this wonderful story. Hope to see you there!

[spaceshipsandpurpledrank]

[neostellarjpg]

you know how people are always discussing how nepeta and vriska’s lunar sways seem to be “mismatched”? Every time I see this discussion it’s always people explaining why vriska is a prospit dreamer (which is interesting, don’t get me wrong!) but never why nepeta is a derse dreamer… I just wanted to ask if you had any cool thoughts on that! :3

(correct me if i'm wrong) excluding the extended zodiac, i'm fairly certain there is never an actual discussion in canon that explicitly differentiates a propsit dreamer from a derse dreamer. but we do have the beta kids (and later alpha kids) to serve as a solid model for what lunar sway means. besides that, it does mostly seem to be a vibes-based thing.

although "derse dreamer = smart/edgy/evil" and "prospit dreamer = dumb/optimistic/good" is a bad generalization, there's also kinda some truth to it. that's why the page showing all the trolls' lunar sways is so revealing. homestuck characters are notoriously unreliable narrators and can put up a million fronts, even without realizing, so lunar sway (along with classpect) is one of the few tools we have to get a truthful inference into a character's intentions and psychology. vriska is a great example of that.

i'm kinda hung up on this blurb specifically. it's easy to see this in rose, dave, and dirk, who go to great lengths to project calm and coolness. in the case of "unexpected" derse dreamers like feferi and roxy (notably also a rogue), the implication seems to be that they, intentionally or not, put on an overly sweet and/or airheaded front that doesn't represent their complicated interior.

it seems nepeta does a bit of this as well, which makes sense. she's loving, excitable, and enjoys getting to know people, but every method she has to connect with others is deliberately kind of distant. her love for roleplaying allows her to put walls up while still expressing her interests and creativity. she uses her shipping charts to understand her friends' dynamics and personalities from afar. she has a lot of protective measures in place to purposefully distract from her insecurity. she's strong-willed and cerebral in order to cover up a gooey inside. very derse-like.

[bunnwich]

Still Infallible, Until Tangible Analysis🔆

I knew from the moment I saw him cry in that opening 4 years ago that Leona was a Sad Boy (™)

My translation may be flawed as it was achieved through an online translator and then cross-referenced with a few others. Lyrics are in orange. --

I’m gonna be making references to a few of the posts I’ve already made because when I’m right, I’m right. And TRULY, it's crazy to me many of these posts were written BEFORE the Chapter 2 light novel, BEFORE Leona’s Chapter 7, BEFORE the Tamashina Mina event and…I just guess I have a gift for clocking this man?? Why I couldn’t have more important gifts in this life, I’m sure I don't know.

Beyond the door that closes, I hear a joyous song drift in, A voice that shakes in the distance,  Even as the shadows scatter, 

Leona starts out with the imagery that a party is always “going on without him.” He always feels separate especially from his family, and it almost a tease of a life he wishes he could lead.

(GUYS, I literally JUST wrote about the fact that Leona always feels this way and uses this same analogy to express his isolation. I WANNA SCREAM) 

“A never-ending wheel where he was crushed underneath it each time, listening to a party go on happily without his presence. Left alone to eat the rotten, sour grapes. Every. Time.”  From this fic: X

I wrote this because it reminded so much of Scar and the idea of some sort of "celebration" taking place without him. One thing’s for sure, the writers LOVE weaving Disney move refs into the characters and I just think it really helps you understand the framework for how they see each of the characters.

Circling across the night, 

Pacing. He mentions doing circles. A ENDLESS CYCLE LIKE I SAID ABOVE.  It’s torment. You know what else it reminds me of? That scene with Scar where he paces in the SHADOWS then kicks a bone in frustration. Bro is PENT UP.

Leona obsesses:

“Hm, I’ve always been a sore loser. Post-mortem is a chess term.” Leona’s gaze circled back to the window again, his hand covered his mouth as he explained. “Analysis of a game after it’s concluded. A player who has just lost the game thanks to a…dubious or stupid move has the chance to win the post-mortem by finding a better one.”

“Oh, right.” They acknowledged. “I-I remember you telling me that. That makes sense I guess: to learn from your mistakes.”

“Tch, yeah.” He grumbled. “Whenever I played chess as a child I would obsess over the post-mortem, every loss or even victory. Every outcome; and what I could have done differently… Pathetic.” He paused before going on. “I couldn’t sleep or even eat after the…overblot. I guess what I didn’t learn as a child, what I still fail to learn now, is that sometimes it doesn’t matter. Fate is stronger than any effort and life is…cruel and random. It doesn’t matter if you learn. When you’re either doomed to repeat the same mistakes, or you have no more options…unable to recover from your defeat. So why should I care…?” Leona finished his thought in a low voice.

(Did I clock him or did I clock him pookies?) Link to full scene here: X

After each loss he takes, he can’t let it go. He LAMENTS, he goes over it over and over in his head.

I yearn without end  My pride is used as a shield.

Ah, and the Y E A R N I N G line. HE'S A Y E A R N E R, he cares so much he looks stupid.

We been knew. He takes everything soo seriously. I do think there is a level of him being fearful of not being accepted fully by others. Why else does one hide? BUT, in Chapter 7 he acknowledges his failure to even try to reach out as well. 

Leona, despite his flaws, is very aware of his issues and is more emotionally mature than some of the other characters. He isolates himself, even though he hates it. He acknowledges it’s pathetic what he does, but he can't escape the cycle nonetheless. The words he sings are melancholy, like there are waves that beat against a cliff, eroding it. He’s trapped in his cycle of despair, a hell of his own making. Just like his dream.

The fading light, the unchanging world  still an infallible color   No matter how many times I reached out this hand  it always held nothing I might as well turn it all to sand. 

What he reaches for–the perfect dream–is does not exist, as fleeting as trying to catch sunlight in his hands, hands that can only bring destruction due to their terrifying magic.

This backs up my belief that Leona thinks that everything he touches goes wrong. (Just like his dream!!) His magic is innately destructive. He is/has been a bad omen of sorts since birth and, at his worst, he feels maybe it’s all he’s good for. Because he lets himself be tormented in this way, he feels the only way out is to destroy everything and with it, his yearning too.

Even the phantoms that play with me are too bright and bothersome  If I can remain unfaithful (If I keep my facade up) I sneer at the idea (I can keep laughing it off)

Hope is...bothersome to him, it always has been, because it challenges his mindset. Not only that, but I can see how reverting to that naive mindset that has him hoping AGAIN…is the most painful thing of all. This section about “phantoms” aka “hopes and dreams” makes me think of the Chapter 2 light novel translation.

But the pack spoke eagerly about the future, with sparkling eyes. That alone is terrifying. It's not their expectations that scare me.  I’m scared of myself. Of how pathetic I would be if their words inspired me, so that I am never able to give up hope.

Man wants to be wanted, to be needed, to be admired. He craves it but at the same time he’s afraid of it, of how even this little bit of admiration has changed him. Made him soft, made him believe it was possible to win for once. Made him believe for a second it was tangible?

Somewhere in my heart, there's still the lingering hope that, maybe, I can still do it. It's an unbelievably optimistic, sweet thought, filled with wishful thinking. Ruggie, Jack, and the others all talk about these foolish dreams that will never come true, but in the end, I'm just as much a fool as they are. 

His own words! Leona forces himself to be apathetic when he has instincts to be idealistic. Back to the line of→ ARROGANCE AS A SHIELD. That’s his ultimate armor. “If I go out of my way to disappoint people as soon as they meet me, then I won't have any expectation to live up to.”

And again, he knows he is insincere, laughing at the naive hopes, SNEERING AT THEM. Dismissing his underclassmen's view of him as naive chatter. Those who believed in him blindly,and admire him. The dorm even calls him their “King” in Chapter 2. 

It’s interesting how sometimes Leona is so dismissive of praise, even if he craves it more than anything. It’s almost like…he doesn't truly believe in it and if he did, well that'd be dangerous wouldn't it? Nothing he truly desires will ever be within reach.

At a certain point, it feels like…he almost seeks criticisms of himself. It’s like taking the easy way out. As if he doesn't want others to see him positively. It's a toxic safety blanket...but it's his. He’s so masochistic. As though he takes the criticism of being lazy or ineffective as proof that he IS what they say he is. "Like yeah I do suck, huh?" (Like when Lillia said he’d be a bad King in Chapter 2. and he agrees and laughs.) This negative reaction from others reinforces the concept that Leona often purposely pushes others away as a "test" to see if they even see the real him, and also as a masochistic way to show himself; “Ah yes, I am right again…no one appreciates the real me because the real me sucks.”

Even despite this…we see how good of a leader he is , how excited and driven he is about things he actually cares about like Spelldrive or like mentoring his frosh. HE CAN’T HELP IT, BECAUSE THAT’S WHO HE REALLY IS. NOT THIS SAD SACK WHO CRIES ABOUT HOW LIFE IS UNFAIR.

The crazy thing about this man is he KNOWS all this about himself. It all…self-sabotage at it’s finest. That's the reason Leona's dream was so fucked up. He stands in his OWN way. He casts that shadow over his own light.

He is SO afraid of failure he won't try. He wants to be in control of the narrative completely or not at all. And I feel that's where Leona’s ego comes in. He wants to control how people view him to be all these “great things”, but he just hasn’t put the work in. He KNOWS it's his fault.

WHICH IS CRAZY BC THIS IS exactly what he warned Jamil about in Chapter 6. HE JUST DOESN'T PRACTICE WHAT HE PREACHES.

Remaining "nonchalant" is cope-ium to Leona. His carefree persona is so carefully put into place every day of his life.

Like in my overblot animation analysis I know Leona is very comfy in his coping mechanisms, that is, until he's NOT. UNTIL he’s inspired by his underclassmen or UNTIL he hears others being praised in the way he ONLY WISHES he was. (Like Malleus or his brother)  All the while ignoring and not truly absorbing the praise those who genuinely already care for him as he is.

It's a very...complex concept and I think those who get it, get it. I can see why Leona is so divisive and his fans are so loyal. It really takes A LOT of work to understand his madness, and NOW we have so much content which CLEARLY shows his true nature, there really is no excuse anymore for people to deem his character shallow IMHO.

Maybe that’s why I do get so bent out of shape when people continue to assume Leona is/will be nonchalant with everything. Like come on ya’ll ....you’re…falling the character’s facade.

NO, Leona is not a “delinquent trope” or even “broody bad boy”, he's more a "lazy genius" and "begrudging mentor." He is at his best when he is helping others, when he is teaching, and seeing the light in OTHERS. Savanaclaw IS HIS LIGHT. You compare Diadem and this song and YOU SEE IT RIGHT???

And the fact HE cannot see this himself is...heartbreaking. When left to his own devices and “all the shadows have scattered” as he says…it’s almost like he can't cope in his own brain. So, he HAS to disengage, tell himself he doesn’t care about anything.

Man can't stand himself. Leona is such an interesting representation of self-loathing, depression and mental illness. Like...I remember the first fic I wrote about Leona when there was barely any content of him and my first instinct was that "Yeah this grumpy ass-depressed man 100% seeks connection…even though he doesn't know HOW exactly to do it."

Savanaclaw is where he belongs, and I’m hoping we get to see him grow to the point he can live with himself better when he has to say goodbye to NRC. Really be able to sit with himself and love himself for who he is. 

If you've ever seen a person you love struggle with self-worth and self-loathing it is truly one of the most heartbreaking things…because at the end of the day, YOU cannot help them. They have to help themselves. As much praise as he gets from his underclassmen it's still NOT enough. He needs to accept himself as ENOUGH. He needs to have pride in himself. Because the pride we see with Leona now...is just a mask.

TBH, for years I always had a feeling that he was a secretly self-deprecating person and I was RIGHT. Holding back as much as he does with his skills and emotions is THE SAME form of self-sabotage he accuses Jamil of. He could be reaching out, but he’s not. He's held himself back because he's afraid to care, to be invested again. And…I think he’s afraid that he’ll never be enough.

The light I can't grasp, the twisted gaze  its infallible color  Even if I lay out reasons to blame someone  Every time I turn my back,  And still I hold out this hand,  turning everything into sand

This part confused me a bit with the wording TBH BUT- The last line ends with what feels like a self-admittance that he has no one to blame but himself. Despite what he says, he knows he’s given up. 

And maybe despite his nonchalance, it does hurt when people turn their back on him. (Another TLK reference?) 

Or…(because I am a bit shaky on the translation) perhaps he’s saying he’s turning his back on the light. (Hope.) I mean when you think about it, who can really hold light? It’s as if it was an impossible task to start with. The metaphor works as well as references TLK again. And that if the Light = Hope, he is self- admitting that sometimes he does reach out , he does dream, he is a sentimental fool sometimes. (Who totally looks at the stars.) He can be a hopeful fool and he falls into the trap of yearning for things that can never be. Over and Over. I often HC that Leona was quite a sensitive and idealistic child and this check out to me.

Considering each of these songs is about the feeling behind each of the overblots, it makes sense to what he felt his only option was to turn it all to sand, mirroring the void he feels within himself.  

I’ll end with some more of Leona’s Chapter 2 light novel quotes:

I'm not strong, I’m not wise, and I'm not loved. But is that who I am? I can't accept that. That's the one thing I do not want to admit.

He cannot commit to not hoping/ not caring at all though he can’t commit to believing in himself fully either. He’s stuck in a toxic cycle of his own making, I fear.

I'm utterly fed up with how unreasonable I am. Don't make me think that there might be a chance. Just let me believe that there is no point in having expectations. I am tired of struggling and suffering for things I cannot attain. I hate knowing how insignificant and boring I am. Maybe what I should be striving for is the strength to give up. And that sounds like the most painful thing of all.  Ah, life is truly unfair.

 (Link to this analysis: X) Leona is often poked fun of for sleeping all the time and yes, it his vice but also his sanctuary, he’s just…tired. And this song does a beautiful job at portraying his weariness. Musically, I enjoyed this very much! As with Idia and Jamil, MAJOR props to the VAs for portraying their characters so diligently that it even touched me, despite not being a Japanese speaker! I could have heard this randomly and known who it was. I feel the emotions…and it sounds like Leona. The rock ballad and slightly whiny vibes make me think of old mid-2000 rock, like Linkin Park type stuff?

[crack-of-dawn]

It is truly. utterly. deeply fascinating that Avatar fandom would constantly say that "Katara embraced Aang's message at the end of TSR" when she very explicitly (like it really does not go more direct than this) states. To. Aang's face that she hasn't. That she does not forgive her mother's killer

(Aang just assumes that she has forgiven and Katara clocks him then)

An episode singularly focused on the the female main character—her morality, her pain, her world view and you guys would just view it from the lense of Katara being "Avatar's girl" huh. Not to mention how people simplify themes of colonial trauma and it's manifestation, the delicate balance between revenge and justice, individual retribution vs systematic accountability explored in this episode to "forgive or not forgive" binary.

She forsakes the act of *killing* Yon Rha because in her own words he was "pathetic, sad and empty" who had "nothing inside of him". She views the act of forgiveness and its role in self healing and reconciliation very differently than Aang. And that is okay. These two are allowed to believe different things and view...life(?) differently.

For Katara "forgiveness" is a personal exercise which is contingent on the recognition of guilt by, and acts of restitution of the person under consideration—all of which she sees in Zuko so she forgives him and none of which was true for Yon Rha so she doesn't. For her *the act of forgiveness* isn't just "I let go of the bitterness and rage I hold against you because that is poisoning me from inside" like it is for Aang (and y'all really simplify his philosophy too), rather it is something that allows her to extend an olive branch to the person, mend bridges with them and-to an extent-enables her to begin with clean slates with them. It is personal. It isn't universal. It is very conditional.

Other thing in TSR—the episode does NOT end with Zuko conceding that Aang was right about Katara, it ends with Aang looking conflicted and concerned once Zuko questions him what he intends to do with the big bad genocidal war lord if violence is so bad according to him.

And I know you guys find it hard to believe; but Aang does not end the war non violently. I mean, the narrative wants to believe he does-that he found a non lethal solution to Ozai's reign of terror. But energy bending-the act of reaching out to the literal essence of ones being and stripping them off of ones core constitution thus permanently altering their state of existence, and disabling them, is a deeply violent act.

ATLA fans love to say that "Aang not killing Ozai reflects true Buddhist non violent (?) values" and every time I hear it, I feel the need to bang my head against a hard surface nearest to me A. Buddhism is not the ultimate proponent of no-kill policy—that is Jainism and B. Buddhism concerns itself with the immutability of spirit and the physical body is only the vessel that wields it. 'Energy bending'. Distortion of one's spirit. is as un-buddhist as it gets. There are buddhist canon that has justified killing a person to liberate them from a life of sin (accumulated bad Kārma...Bodhisattva does that in Mahayana traditions). Anyways...I won't dable much into the theology of it all because it is beyond the scope of this post but it is, indeed, cute when western ATLA fans praise the resolution of Aang vs Ozai as *non violent* especially by Buddhist standards. Just because Life was not taken. And let me emphasize this here: Ozai deserved what happened to him and worse, it's just that let's stop pretending energy bending is some non violent substitute to death because it isn't.

Coming to TSR, On meta level—it is great that ATLA does not coax Katara-a victim of genocide and colonialism to forgive the unrepentant aggressor who burnt her mom alive. They can explain *sweeping forgiveness* with Aang because his culture or whatever but if they played that trope with yet another protagonist, well, it would magnify and validate the notion that ATLA condones resistance only if it fits the liberal white american sensibilities and the moment it becomes too *violent* or messy for them (read: the absurdity of jet and Hama's portrayal), they begin harping how caustic, toxic, vengeful it all is and all nuance is lost in the "you are just as bad as your oppressor" narrative.

It's a children's cartoon. It was never going to have the most nuanced, contemplative perspective on colonial violence, resistance etc but if a fandom insists on putting this show on a pedestal at least get the themes that are there, right.

[audarcy]

The original percy jackson series is about cycles of abuse and neglect, right. Were introduced to percy as a kid who has clearly been left behind by a school system that has given up on him, restless and unengaged and self-defetist because hes been given nothing that works for him and no one even tries to meet him where he is. Then hes told no, listen, your neurodivergence is amazing and you just need to be given something that actually utilizes your unique palatte. And thats obviously the uplifting idea rick wanted for his kids, right. But once we get to know chb the same cycles are happening there too. There are kids "left behind" there too for one reason or another, because their parents dont want to claim them, because their parents werent important enough to get a cabin. Do you get it, all the kids who dont fit the most common neurotypes get shoved into the same closet. Kids are being left in a cruel world to fend for themselves without the tools they need. Theyre dying because no one bothered to accommodate them. Its such an obvious parallel that the first chapter introduces a teacher whos written to be especially hard on percys disability and she turns out to literally be one of these monsters trying to kill him. Meanwhile sally jackson tells him she named him after Perseus because she wanted a redemption for a hero whos story ended in tragedy. Meanwhile every book in the series replicates a greek myth step for step until the moment they break the cycle. Annabeth, playing Odysseus, is talked down from her hubris and grounded by her friends. Percy, playing Heracles, meets someone wronged by the original Heracles and rights his wrongs by refusing to go down the same selfish path as him. Monsters are reborn because they are--as the books explicitly call them--achetypes. These kids are stuck inside the cyclical nature of mythology because thats what happens to mythology, it gets retold over and over again. But these are the kids who have to live it. The series ends with percy being offered immortality and he rejects it because he wants to use his godly favor to force them to break their cycle of neglecting their kids. The series ends with a declaration that we cant keep letting this happen. The very first book offees the same choice. It ends with percy refusing to keep the head of medusa as a spoil of war, refusing his heroic reward. He lets his mother have the head and use it to kill gabe. Isnt that fucking crazy for a kids book? Gabe wasnt a Monster. He wasnt going to Turn to Dust and Disappear in a narratively convenient way. He was a living breathing mortal dude and percy and his mom killed him without remorse. Break the cycle of abuse!!!! Dont let this happen again!!! Anyway thats why the original percy jackson series is Hey where are you going with our breadsticks

[bunnwich]

Why Chess Pieces Matter So Much In Leona-centric Romance

A long time ago in 2022 when I challenged myself to write a romance for Leona, there wasn't much in-depth info about his character. So, I begin my "research" of him by first thinking about how he views the world.

Leona is a Pessimist Who Can’t Help But Care

Leona Kingscholar is a practiced pessimist and, yeah, maybe he sees himself as "realist" but we'll call it what it is…

He doesn't let in others in general and tends to hide behind layers of bravado and misdirection of who he really is. So the idea of any sort of viable romance for him canonically would be unlikely for someone so disciplined in their own pessimism.

Leona takes himself as someone who knows better than other people and he is also someone who defines himself by what he lacks. (In the Tamashina Mina event it’s confirmed that he views others as pieces on his board.) He sees the world from a bird's eye perspective, him being both the game master or player. (It's a bit narcissistic when you think about it LMAO) But, he craves control, and genuinely thinks he knows best for everyone. Something that is both his biggest strength and weakness, because life don't work like that sweetheart.

Interesting enough though, I think he tends to view others in what they both lack and have. Seeing their value no matter how “small” the piece. It’s worth noting that he doesn't seem to give himself the same grace of seeing his own strengths and just existing in his own skin comfortably as a flawed human being.

When insulted, he tends to not react, allowing people to believe that he is in fact a lazy, ineffective housewarden who can't be bothered to do basic tasks. The only time he seems to act differently is when he is being cocky, or when he has received too much flack or criticism to hurt his feelings, Fairy Gala from Vil, Tamashina Mina from Kifaji. OR sometimes when he actually cares for a person in the situation. Pushing back against Grim being surprised when he was apologetic over Jack collapsing in Sunset Savanna and offering Sally a gentlemanly arm as she walked, despite the rest of the group's awe because he respected her so much.

So with this mind, you have a pessimistic yearner who secretly cares and who beats himself up over the idea that he can never seem to give up hope, even if he keeps losing.

And yeah this is all "more canon" now, but 3 years ago I had MUCH less to go on for Leona's personality.

Leona and Scar

So, I went back to the source material. Scar himself. Scar, even as someone who "got what he wanted" and arguably achieved more than other Disney villains, was STILL unhappy. And why?

Well, it's clear that he lacked the approval Mufasa had. This is probably because he failed to reach out, and even try to genuinely care for others. He let his bitterness and (I think) fear of rejection get in the way. He doesn't wanna be humble or appear "weak" to seek out the love and approval of his pride. But does he want love and approval? YEAH. I THINK SO. (Sound familiar??)

In a deleted scene that was scrapped then sorta added back in the Lion King Stage Play, was a conversation between Scar and Zazu revealing that what Scar lacks compared to Mufasa. More than anything it was community. Support, etc. But what Scar focused on out of all of the things Zazu said was: A QUEEN. HE NEEDED A QUEEN. A Queen not only guarantees affection, support, but cubs to continue Scar's legacy long after he is gone.

Now, let's go back to Leona, keeping in mind the OB boys are not a 1 for 1 with their Great 7 counterparts. The idea of a "Queen" to Leona is not just about love or romance. He probably wouldn't  be innately interested in these things, let’s be real. But, again we're purposely viewing it in a romantic perspective.

The Queen is essentially your biggest support and defense. In chess, a King is quite a weak vulnerable piece compared to the Queen, And often in chess most players resign after their Queen is taken.

“You know most chess players resign after they lose their queen.” Leona moved his eyes back to the board. “...To have-” He continued, placing a finger on the top of his white king piece. ”Someone there to… support you no matter what…someone to rely on.” He wiggled the piece under his thumb and circled it until the King fell over.

Love is a Game

So if we are to look at Leona in the lens of how he views romance and combine his pessimism, we have a very tiny glimpse into how he would be/act. But, with all that I mentioned so far in mind, to me, it makes sense he views himself and the object of his affection as pieces on board and simultaneously opposing players. (For now.)

In chess White goes first, so I feel for this reason, Leona chooses White side and so that’s why the White Queen is his support, the one piece that could be by his side always.

Leona is someone who is lonely, often feeling disconnected from those around them, especially when he spends time on his own. And he is fully convinced that no one could understand him. (Or want to.) The idea of having someone invade such a sacred space in his mind and take up such a position would initially be terrifying to him. But, maybe… also exhilarating. Being the paradox of a man we know, he both loves to stay stuck in a cycle of giving up and fighting for what he wants.

From his own mouth we get the line that "something that is hard to get, makes it all the more worth fighting for." YEAH. Leona would see love as a game, no doubt. Not the shallow social games he plays back home, a real game with, real stakes. Each player forfeits pieces (walls) until one is left bare. In the face of his big feelings for someone, I feel...Leona would “lose.” and quickly become self-aware but how much he has been stripped down. And once this loss is accepted, and he takes that leap of faith, that he so rarely does, he would forfeit his physical White Queen with dignity, to hopefully earn a "real" one. The one  he has chosen to take up a space he's never thought would ever be filled.

“I don’t understand…” It was one of the man’s chess pieces: the white queen. “You earned it, remember? You won our game.” “But, won't you be missing a piece…?” “Sure I will, but… I guess you'll have to come back to Savnaclaw sometime n' play. I want a rematch.”

Black Side VS White Side

It's not about gender, power dynamics, or even fully a yin-yang thing, I think. It's not shallow to him at all. Leona sees his opponent and Queen as a equal. In chess, like I mentioned before, a King is often nothing without a Queen. And as someone who could arguably be partly defined by his envy of his brother's life. What does he lack again? (That Scar did too.) Community, support. Leona isn't worried about cubs, you could argue maaaaybe his legacy. Perhaps that one day, he worries will be a forgotten part of history. (A subject so important to to him.) 

But, what could make it all more bearable? Lifting the weight of his pessimism for life, reminding him of who he is. Maybe…it could be this person who stands eye-to-eye with him, accepts him for who he is and watches the board with him. A worthy opponent, then-

Leona is someone who wants to win, BUT needs to learn is okay if he doesn't.

To his chosen one, I think he would longs to be "just a man", but to him…they will always be take that Queen place in his mind, and hopefully, finally stays by him till the end.

Even so, stripped bare, just a man and having lost his ego to the game of love. Maybe one day...he could be more.

Well, if Leona is White side, then he would long to conquer their defenses as well, the Black King, the role he could play for them in return. The space he wants to conquer in their heart. Another competition. Because he aims to be the best support for them in return, platform them, hold them up, put them on that throne in his mind and heart forever. Yeah, maybe they don't need him, but damn would he look good by their side too, in a matching crown.

“You’re a tar pit trap,” he said, his voice dropping into a near growl. “And I couldn’t stop thinking about ya after those three nights in my bed. " "The smell you left behind made me homesick for somethin’ I thought I hated. So no, there ain’t ever gonna be no ‘used-to-be’s.’ You couldn’t unseat yourself from the throne in my mind even if ya tried."

[rukafais]

The effects of a higher being on the environment in hollow knight's world can be equated to eldritch radiation, stories of the fae and how you can dance for a night and a hundred years have passed etc, The King And The Land Are One, or all of the above.

[sunevial]

It makes me wonder how bugs from outside Hallownest and Pharloom thought of those kingdoms, the ones who had minds before the higher beings came

Not the ones who were colonized (or made deals to not become colonized), but like...travelers. Looking from the outside in. What a world must look like when a god descends onto a place and it's made different before your very eyes

I wonder if it was seen as an apocalypse or just a fact of life, that these beings would arrive and then suddenly a town on the map became a shadow of itself overnight

[rukafais]

Right like I keep thinking about that line from Lemm about like, "the bugs of Hallownest believed that their king made the world and everything in it". How Hallownest was still hastily made and showed signs of recent construction, and yet it probably must have seemed like PK was just magicking the whole thing up out of nowhere.

Like boy, if you saw enough of those throughout your life, those are the things myths and cautionary tales are made of. Like no, no matter how inviting that beautiful city is, don't go there. If you hear whispers luring you down, move on IMMEDIATELY or you are going to lose people. Surface towns you got used to seeing, just being drained dry of life.

[sunevial]

I'm also thinking about Shakra and Garmond, who clearly have experiences with Pharloom reaching beyond its walls. or the fact that the Nameless Village AND the pilgrim's way in Hallownest heavily imply some level of higher beings being able to bring bugs into the kingdom with whispers of promise

we get glimpses of what bugs try to do in order to not be subsumed by the promises of a god, but it really does require a lot of personal will, cunning, and straight up power to be able to live even something resembling a normal life to do so

And even then! There's no guarantee it will matter!

[mysteryshoptls]

Hi! How much information or lore is known about diurnal (day) fae/fairies in game? Thank you!

Hello! Here are what I could find on dirurnal faes, specifically:

(Episode 7-67, Lilia): There is a rumor that some diurnal fae gave the Dawn Knight the gift of beauty.

(Episode 7-81, Lilia): Diurnal fae magic is what put the whole Castle Wildrose under the spell to keep people away.

(Episode 7-81, Lilia): Lilia wonders if the Dawn Knight's golden hair was a part of a diurnal fae's blessing.

(Fairy Gala Episode 1, Crowley): NRC use the magic from fire fairies, water fairies, and wind fairies to keep the buildings in comfortable conditions.

(Fairy Gala Episode 2, Malleus): Fairies clad in leaves are called "craftfairies" that make tools and implements their fellow faes use to help change the season.

(Fairy Gala Episode 2, Malleus): Faeland has a Fairy Queen that leaves her domain for the Fairy Gala that is thrown every year.

(Fairy Gala IF Episode 8, Silver): Diurnal fae fear nocturnal fae.

(Fairy Gala IF Episode 18, Sebek): Diurnal fae enjoy flowery things.

(Fairy Gala IF Episode 18, Sebek): Spring happens because the Faeland fairies melt the snow that falls in winter.

(Fairy Gala IF Episode 18, Silver): Faelanders all wear white in their infancy.

(Sebek Chats): It's said that a long time ago, three fairies (assumed to be the three diurnal faes we see in Main Story) used magic to put a whole castle to sleep.

(Lilia Chats): There was once a fairy trio (assumed to be the three diurnal faes we see in Main Story) that could resize a body with a wave of their wands.

Here are info that touches on faes in general (since it should also encompass the day fairies):

(Episode 5-2, Lilia): Time flows differently for fae.

(Episode 6-18, Lilia): Humans and fae stopped intermingling a long time ago.

(Episode 6-49, Idia): The River Lethe (STYX's system to erase memory/data of any STYX recollection/mention) works differently on fae.

(Episode 7-26, Sebek): Fae are long-lived.

(Episode 7-28, Silver): Humans and fae are different in every way, from their constitution, to how fast they grow.

(Episode 7-48, Papa Shroud): The fae reigned over climate change and diastrophism since the Age of Myths.

(Episode 7-48, Mama Shroud): Some fae can draw magical energy from nature in addition to creating it themselves, generally fairies who govern a specific element like fire or water.

(Episode 7-58, Lilia): Fae don't repeat themselves.

(Episode 7-60, Sebek): Different groups of fae speak different languages and enunciate words in different ways, but they magically imbue their voices to help communicate regardless.

(Episode 7-60, Sebek): In modern times, most people speak Common, so speakers of fae languages are somewhat rare.

(Episode 7-60, Baur): Pixies' blessing can be a healing light.

(Episode 7-61, Lilia): Fae have far more sensitive palates than humans do.

(Episode 7-66, Sebek): Long-lived fae who merely look young are not uncommon in Briar Valley

(Episode 7-81, Malleus): Fae take approximately 30 years to be able to stand on two feet.

(Episode 7-81, Lilia): Fae are raised on nectar.

(Episode 7-88, Lilia): The magic suffusing Mount Dread in Briar Valley empowers fae.

(Birthday Jacket Riddle, Riddle): There are tea leaves that are popular with fae that tastes like medicinal herbs.

(Halloween Rook, Malleus): Both humans and fae like expressing what's important through song and dance.

(Halloween Malleus, Malleus): Fae like to play tricks year-round.

(Fairy Gala Episode 3, Malleus): Fae come in different varieties: flora fae, light fae, fauna fae, thistle fae, and dragon fae, to name a few.

(Fairy Gala Episode 3, Malleus): Faes come in different sizes, and speak different languages.

(Fairy Gala Episode 6, Jamil): Faes are more sensitive to magic than humans are.

(Fairy Gala Episode 12, Craftfairy): Larger fae need translator bells to converse with smaller fairies.

(Fairy Gala IF Episode 8, Silver): Fae are very friendly an extremely kindhearted. Once one is befriended, they'll protect their friend to the very last. However, they are a bit skittish and wary of strangers.

(Halloween 2 Episode 12, Sebek): Fae teeth grow in varying numbers and fashion depending on the type of fae.

(Lost in the Book with Stitch, Ace): Fae can fly without any tools to help.

Feel free to drop a note if I've missed anything important (along with where it can be found)

[mokaisathome]

A quick and dirty translation of Book 7.5 (Scarabia only)

[Posted this on twitter so why not here. This is a rough translation of Book 7.5 Chapters 9 and 10. Azul appears in the last part of the story.]

☀️: Hey, Jamil~!

Sorry, I forgot that the deadline to submit the papers for the school competition was tomorrow!

But the way it's written is so complicated that I don't understand it.

You were there when the Headmaster gave it to us, right? Help me write it.

🐍: You'd like help to complete these documents. Understood, Kalim-sama.

☀️: Thank you, Jami– hm!?

What's wrong? You're talking weird all of a sudden.

🐍: You've forgiven my way of talking so casually since we were young, so I've been doing it ever since, but...

Since my* stance is that "I'm not friends with Kalim-sama", I ought to be changing my attitude.

☀️: Eeh!? What do you mean. Have I done something to make you angry!?

🐍: No? I'm just making things right. Now, let us hurry to the dorm to start working on it

☀️: W-w-wait a minute! I kinda hate how you're talking!

Talk like you do usually.

🐍: ..............Should I take it as an order?

☀️: No, it's not... It just makes me feel weird and it's hard to talk like that.

🐍: I don't mind it. Then, let's go back to the dorm...

☀️: J-Jamil~~~ I'm begging you, stop talking so politely!

🐍: This is an order, isn't it?

☀️: Uuh... You're going too far with that~

But I don't want to give you orders... How can you go back to talking normally?

🐍: I am but your servant. If my master orders something, I'll have to comply.

☀️: ....... But... You see... It's true that you're my servant... It's true but!

🐍: What are you so hesitant about? Do it, master!

☀️: ...... I-it's... An order........

🐍: .... Pft.

Understood, Kalim. I will continue to speak with you like with a friend.

So, what were we talking about? You need my help?

☀️: ..... I want your help for the documents for the competition....

🐍: So it was just that... Fufu.

I WON'T DO IT!

That's your job as a housewarden. Why should I do anything to help you?

It's your fault for assuming that I would listen properly to the Headmaster.

☀️: EEH!? WHY DO YOU SAY THAT~!?

🐍: You're the one who wanted me to act like your friend, aren't you?

As a friend, if I don't want to do something, of course I'd refuse.

☀️: That's unfair though!?

🐍: Unfair? Who is really unfair here?

As a master, you refuse to give orders, but as a friend, I can't refuse? That's way too convenient for you.

So? Will you order me something again, like "Stop acting like a friend and be my servant"? I'm ready when you are, Kalim-sama.

☀️: Gah..........You're right. I'm being unfair. I'll reflect on it.

🐍: Hey,where are you going? You probably haven't finished anything in the first place.

☀️: I'LL DO IT MYSELF!!

🐍: Really? Well, once you finish it, give it to me so I can check things.

As a vice housewarden, I need to do my part.It wouldn't do if Scarabia is the only dorm to present a document riddled with flaws.

☀️: Now you've said it~ You'll see, I'll show you something so perfect that you won't have anything to correct!

🐍: Pff. I'm looking forward to it.

*Kalim goes away* *flashbacks to Jamil saying "If you continue like that, one day you'll be scammed and robbed out of all your fortune", and Jamil in his dream*

☀️: (Do I have to make sure he doesn't take over our family...

I can't let Jamil... No, I can't let anyone do that.I can't leave everything I don't understand to others either.

If Jamil really wants to topple over the Al-Asim family and take its place...

Perhaps it'll be time for us to fight again like in that dream – a revenge match.)

UOOO~~~!! I DEFINITELY WON'T LOSE TO YOU, JAMIL~~~~~!!!!

🐍: .... So? What do you think you're doing, hiding in the shadows and listening to our conversation? Eavesdropping is bad manners.

Come out, Azul.

🐙: I wasn't eavedropping. If you talk this loudly, I can't help but hear it.

Still, I'm surprised to hear you'd want to take over the Al-Asim family, Jamil-san.

I thought you weren't the kind of person interested by power or money.

🐍: I though so too.... Until that dream Malleus-senpai showed us.

The whole town knelt in front of me as I sat there, riding an elephant like a stupid king. It felt amazing!

But, you too...It must have felt great when you were a star athlete at the top of the school hierarchy, right?

🐙: Ugh!? Stop bringing up what happened in my dream!

That was just a twisted dream created by Malleus-san! My true wish isn't that foolish...

🐍: What is there to be ashamed of? Everyone wants to be popular.

🐙: What?

🐍: Of course, everyone'd want to be special, to be superior to others.

Though it was certainly twisted and exaggerated...That dream was a part of our desires, no doubt about it.

🐙: I don't want to admit it though.

My reason tells me that "this kind of desire is foolish". My hidden desires were forcibly dug up.

Trampling on others, looking down on them, yet being praised by them... The "me" in that dream was ridiculous.

Yet, it's true that I've never felt such elation before.

🐍: Exactly. Malleus-senpai showed us a nonsensical nightmare.

Once you've tasted something this sweet, it's in human nature to crave to taste it again.

🐙: .... Jamil-san. You're not really thinking about taking over the Al-Asims, are you?

🐍: Who knows. Setting aside the reality of that plan coming to fruition...

Dreaming is free, right?

*Jamil uses "Watashi" and keigo/polite language when he speaks as a servant.

[the-crooked-library]

Nuance, Narratives, and Nosferatu

As of today, Robert Eggers' Nosferatu (2024) has only been in theatres for 4 full days; and, coincidentally, that is about as long as I am able to let my thoughts marinate before they demand to be communicated. Before going into any further detail, let it be known that this film was made by freaks for freaks; it exists for the goths, the gays, the monsterfuckers, the historians, and for all those who delight in moral and thematic complexity.

With that being said - spoilers under the cut!

There are two principal narratives running through the flesh of Nosferatu, both of them rooted heavily in the cultural and literary origins of the story. It is a nightmare; it is also an erotic fantasy. It is horrifying, and it is also achingly romantic. From what I've seen so far, the vast majority of discourse that has already emerged around the film is caused by people misunderstanding or deliberately ignoring the relationship between these different lines of analysis; so please trust me when I say, from the bottom of my heart, that this duality is the very lifeblood of the movie.

The reason for that is, quite simply, that Nosferatu is a gothic horror film, set in 1830s German Confederation; and its plot relies on the same (sometimes contradictory) complexities often displayed in Victorian gothic fiction.

From the beginning of the movie, we are given to understand that Ellen Hutter met Count Orlok - the eponymous nosferatu - psychically, when she was very young. They spoke, she pledged herself to him, and was horrified to realize what she had done when he revealed his true visage to her in their first visual (and sexual) encounter.

Here, under the lilacs, the paths diverge.

The first reading of the film is perhaps the more straightforward. A young girl is essentially catfished and groomed by a much older, dangerous man. When they meet for the first time, she is a teenager; the lilacs that bloom where it happens become a trigger. He is the source of her madness and "melancholy" (depression), she has nightmares about him regularly enough that her husband is aware of them, and it is implied that she has been institutionalized in the past. Thomas Hutter is the physical representation of her one desperate hope for a normal life - but as the story progresses, she finds herself being denied even that. Orlok's psychic connection with her verges on demonic possession; in chilling, The Exorcist-inspired sequences, she writhes and mutters, prophesying a city-wide reign of death and terror. In pursuit of his claim on Ellen, Orlok terrorizes her husband, murders her friends - and, eventually, she gives her life to take him with her to the grave, saving the city from the plague he caused.

That is the horror element of Nosferatu; it deals with an exploration of childhood trauma, of PTSD, of difficulties maintaining a social life after the fact. It is easy to understand even from a modern viewpoint, and it pushes the film to its conclusion with a bleak, heart-wrenching punch.

The horror is not the only element of Nosferatu.

To contextualize the alternate - though just as correct - reading of the film, it is essential to understand that Ellen’s society was extremely sexually repressed, especially in regards to female and queer sexuality.

Both were severely medicalized, demonized, and restricted; and as such, when these topics do make an appearance in contemporary fiction, they are often inextricable from disgust and fear.

Dedicated as always to historical accuracy, Eggers maintains the same setting-based narrative coding.

In anticipation of morality arguments vis à vis monstrosity, depiction, and modern purity culture, let me clarify: this is something that works within his chosen genre. Horror, and especially gothic horror, invites a deeper analysis in regard to morality and motivation, and in this case, Eggers' homage to the origins of that genre grounds the narrative in its time and location, as well as fleshing it out much further than a purely modern cultural lens would permit. In this context, the details of Ellen's connection with Orlok become paramount to the understanding of the film.

As bits and pieces of their background become revealed, the audience realizes that her psychic gift did not begin with him - and neither did her melancholy, or her isolation. She was born with her abilities, and throughout her childhood, she was a bit of a tomboy by her contemporary standards, running wild in the woods near her father's property; however, once she foretold her mother's death, and once she was too old to get away with eccentricities, her father became frightened of her abnormality. She was isolated, confined indoors, and that is when her melancholy had begun. Painfully lonely and aching for some form of companionship, she called out into the ether; and Orlok responded.

Over the course of their story, he becomes the physical manifestation of everything Ellen perceives as dark and sinful about herself.

He is psychic, he is vicious, possessive, and blatantly sexual; her sensual affection with Anna parallels the evident and physical attraction he displays towards Thomas; and the social power he so easily commands is the same that she lacks, being a woman in a rigidly patriarchal society.

In the end, the severely questionable age gap, the murders, the coercion, the betrayal - all of that comes down to respect. Throughout the film, that is the one thing that Ellen is consistently denied. She is young when she meets Orlok, yes; but she is aggressively infantilized by her surrounding society even when she is a grown, adult, married woman.

It starts from the beginning of the film, when the Hutters visit the Harding family. During those scenes, the men are shown talking business - while the women play with children in the parlour; and the same social framing persists into the body of the film. When Ellen is suffering from what appears to be some form of mental illness, she is referred to as a child by multiple different characters; and when the condition progresses, she is swiftly diagnosed with hysteria and drugged - thus being forcibly removed from the discussion of her own illness. The general reactions to that illness - which is, in fact, a display of her psychic abilities - range from annoyance to fear to curiosity; it is seen either as a disability or a curse, rather than anything entirely innate to who she is. Her fears are dismissed. Harding tells her to learn some deference. Even closer to the finale, when Von Franz admits that she could have been a great priestess in another age, he does so with pity rather than anything else; in their industrial era, he cannot help but see her only as a tragic sacrifice - horrible, but necessary to save the city from a plague. Brought in to heal her, he instead guides her to her death.

All these aspects of Ellen's circumstances find a direct opposite in her relationship with Orlok. Unlike all other characters in the film, he only ever sees her as his equal, which is made even more evident when his interactions with Thomas and Herr Knock are brought into consideration. With both men, Orlok insists on being addressed by his lordly title, "as his blood demands it"; and yet, Ellen never calls him by any title at all, be it "My Lord" or even a simple "Herr." She argues with him freely, and there is a familiarity between them that he is demonstrated to never tolerate from anyone else. Similarly, while he disguises the covenant he makes with Thomas, the terms of his covenant with Ellen are laid out clearly, in full. He does not hide from her; she already knows the worst of him, the same way he knows that she is intelligent, that she is powerful, and that she is not meant to be demure and deferring. Again and again, Orlok insists that Ellen is not meant for humanity - and the true horror, the horror she cannot bring herself to face, is that he is right.

In a sense, he is a mirror held up in front of her own face. Ellen is painfully aware that she does not fit in, and that she never has. The "normal" society, epitomized by the Hardings (wealthy husband, pretty blonde wife, 2.5 kids), has no place for her - and actively dislikes her.

The film makes this ostracism impossible for the viewer to ignore. As the story progresses, it becomes evident that the other human characters - even those that do sincerely care for Ellen - never truly know her. Anna loves her, but wishes she would not talk of dreadful things - and lashes out as a result of that discomfort, scolding her. Sievers finds himself bewildered by her; Knock sees her as an object to trade; Von Franz pities her, Harding hates her, and Thomas cannot truly satisfy her, even after being touched by the supernatural himself.

Seeing a flash of a monstrous face while they are together, he flings her away. To him, his experience with Orlok is merely traumatic, and he wishes for nothing more than to leave it behind. However, to her, it is something she cannot help but crave; and she continues to wear her lilac perfume.*

All that to say - Count Orlok is, simultaneously, everything Ellen wants and everything she is terrified of being.

That specific dichotomy reaches its climax during their mutual finale. As it is to be expected from a vampire wedding night, they rejoin in a sequence of sex, blood, and renewed vows - and what is particularly notable is that (unlike Murnau) Eggers makes it clear that this Orlok never intended to kill his Ellen, despite his inability to resist her blood. Though he drinks from her through the night, he stops at cock-crow; and she guides his head back down herself, distracting him long enough for the sun to rise. It is a duet of accident and intention. He drains her; and she holds him as the sun drains him. They cling together as they end - on a bed that serves their wedding and their death.

It is romantic. it is unquestionably romantic. However, that does not mean that the horror isn't also present; Ellen's consent, under these circumstances, is highly debatable, and Orlok is cruel, amoral, and murderously possessive. At the same time, the characters are also acting out folkloric archetypes, with precious little adjustment to that framework - which further removes them from a modern understanding of morality. He is Death, a Koschei the Deathless, a monster; she is the Maiden, a Vasilisa, a damsel. I hesitate to liken them to the Beauty and the Beast, largely because in the original premise of that story, the Beauty falls in love with the kindness that the Beast consistently displays; and it is essential to stress that Orlok has none. He does care for Ellen, in his own way, but he admits to being incapable of love as she defines it in human terms;** and, curiously, that seems to be her primary concern when it comes to the idea of accepting his proposal - rather than all the blood and carnage.

What I'm trying to say, I suppose, is that there are multiple ways of following a story, and multiple different stories in a film as nuanced as Nosferatu. Yes, it is about grooming and trauma. Yes, it is about finding love outside of the cage that is "polite society." I'm sure that it is many other things besides, with as many meanings as there are people in the theatres; after all, I am only one person, and the film grossed something over $40M in its first three days. The point is, really, that this is a story in which a rotting vampire is woken from centuries of deathlike slumber by a lonely voice asking him to be her friend; and whatever these two strange and aching souls do with that can go down any myriad of paths. The film trusts the viewer to interpret the narrative they choose.

* LILAC PERFUME - in fact, it is such a consistent favourite of Ellen's that Orlok smells it on her hair in the locket she sends with Thomas to the castle. Thomas never really learns the reason she likes that scent - even though he knows that preference well enough that he gifts her lilacs in the beginning of the film.

** ORLOK'S OBSESSION - this is a side note, but: the vampire wedding sequence reminds me strongly of the third season of NBC's Hannibal. I suppose that was to be expected, considering that Hannibal is also a Dracula offshoot, much like Orlok himself. When Ellen snaps at Orlok that he cannot love, he responds that "no; but only with you, I can be truly sated." Similarly - "Is Hannibal in love with me?" asks Will; and Bedelia responds - "Could he feel a daily stab of hunger for you, and find nourishment at the very sight of you?" I'd say if you liked that series, you should try and see the film. It works with a familiar blend of aesthetic horror.

[artjiayi]

Jade's worst nightmare 🌊

That's definitely the most detailed illustration I've ever drawn and it also took me a while to finish it. I procrastinated because I was going out of my comfort zone and I was so scared to mess it up... but I overcame it because the lore behind this drawing meant a lot to me.

About this illustration, I wanted to focus on Jade's sensitivity through the world surrounding him, especially on land. I wanted to break the twisted picture we all have of him and show his vulnerability. I also wanted to express a duality between his sea life and life on land. His eel form is a reminder of where he originally comes from.

To me, Jade looks like an unbreakable wall: he basically smiles all the time and he always seems to hide his true emotions. Although Jade tends to do some questionable things (let’s be real), I do believe that behind that wall, there’s an unusual but very touching sensitivity.

What I adore about Jade is the fact that he doesn't fear people's opinion about his hobbies and nothing can stop him from doing them, no matter what. He has a deep connection to everything related to nature so to me, he enjoys quiet places and being alone. Therefore I strongly believe he's an introvert and needs those moments disconnected from any social interactions.

Even though Jade appreciates solitude, he also needs to connect with people from time to time. There was a sentence he said during Vargas Camp that literally broke my heart:

"I'm envious that everyone else has someone to converse with. And here I am, all alone."

To me, that proves he's actually looking for deep connections with people so that he can be himself without being judged at all. Even Floyd and Azul find his interests weird and they're pretty harsh about his club. I know the octatrio has their own dynamics but still, Jade deserves to have a buddy who shares the same hobbies as him.

Anyway, I could write so much more about Jade but that's basically how I see him. My interpretation is probably a bit biased because of the love I already have for him but whatever. Thanks to it, I was able to imagine what could be his worst fear as he always seems so untouchable at first sight. I love shady Jade but sensitive Jade is what I need right now.

[midnight---hollow]

There is something about jades intrinsic need to be needed and wanted that both scares me and wildly fascinates me. Like his dream is so telling of who he is and i love it

Jade thinks he is above everyone. He thinks he is better than them smarter than them and superior to them, even those stronger than him he believes he has a leg up on them in a different aspect that is enough to make them crumble down. Its pretty telling through how he treats everyone, even his own tsum treated him how he treats others, pawns and ants in comparison to him.

I think that feeling has created a loneliness in his heart though. He is above everyone so he has no one. “But vee he has floyd” yes he does but he thinks he is above him to!

“Im glad i CHOOSE you” he is saying he made this decision, that he picked floyd out and he is patting himself on the back for making a good choice. He loves floyd and floyd loves him but he 100% thinks he is better and i think that makes him loney

His dream isnt that grand if you think about it. Floyd goes around the world trying to find anything that interests him, azul oh i have so much to say but this isnt about him tldr he reaches all his dreams and gets fame and attention and love… jade looks at sea volcanoes with his bestfriend and brother and takes care of them as they whine and cry

He is above them, they are clueless without him. Azul cries in his dreams of grandeur, floyd becomes basically a child, they cant do anything on their own. They need him, everyone needs him. Of course he helps people for blackmail but i also feel that he does it because he likes knowing something was done because he helped, because he participated, things wouldnt have ended up well if not for him.

Idk maybe im off my rockers rn, i was doing the relationship chart for vee while coincidentally listening to a jade playlist and i got to him and i just started thinking about jade. He is one of my fav characters for how interesting i find him i need more jade content ngl. Srry if this was incoherent i didnt reread this before posting lmao

[yatori-morgana]

I cannot stress enough how much I agree.

Jade by no means thinks Floyd and Azul are completely helpless, either. He just thinks he's better than them in some capacity, and he likes that feeling of being needed for whatever reason. Maybe it's ego, maybe it's a sort of power complex, maybe it's something else, but it leads him to want to maneuver things so something or someone cannot do something without him in one shape or form.

His dream took that idea and ran with it in a shallow skimming, forcing Azul and Floyd into a box that makes them utterly incapable of doing things without Jade, superficially creating that bond he supposedly wants but only really pushing him further away from them, exacerbating the issue that could very well already be developing.

The soul crushing loneliness from a transactional or superficial relationship of any type. And you can't tell me this man is emotionally developed in a manner capable of handling something like that. Look at him, lol.

But at the same time, it doesn't make him pathetic. Just in a complicated headspace.

Luckily, though, his dream isn't reality. Just an over-exaggeration of an assumption based on surface-level information. But it's still very telling.

It's part of why I think it's necessary to ask if he has "friends" or if he has friends, haha.

(I definitely didn't say all I wanted to in a very clear way, but I'm a little brainless rn, so this is what y'all get. Lmao)

[bunnwich]

hello! i hope you are doing great bunbun, it is my first time here asking-

im curious, if leona was into our world, from what country do you think he is?

i know this is a very unimportant question but it is just curiousity😭been wondering on what the whole thing about afterglow savannah is based on!

Where is Leona From?

Hi! Well, I think the obvious answer is that Leona, if in our world, would be from a country in Africa. And I know other people have many different HCs about his nationality, because Africa itself has many countries with different cultures. If you are asking what my personal HCs are, I tend to use The Lion King and its associated landmarks and languages. I HC Leona and the Sunset Savanna to be inspired by East African countries, and based on a quick search, you can see locations and language were inspired by Tanzania and Kenya. Personally, I don't HC that Leona is from any specific East African country, but I do HC his native language is Swahili, and if I had to choose, I'd say Tanzania or Kenya aligns the most. I HC the Sunset Savanna royal family to be mixed race based on what we've seen of the cast. As in, each member has a unique background based on different regions of the Sunset Savanna and the twst world. Africa is a diverse continent, and so are those who live there. I've seen ppl even HC that Leona is part Egyptian. But it's very clear to me that no matter what, Leona is very clearly implied to be of African descent and is a black person.

The Lion King, The Lion Guard, and Mufasa itself, and therefore the Sunset Savanna, are just so clearly inspired by various African cultures and geography, it would be kinda weird to disregard that. That being said, The Sunset Savanna is fictional and even more far removed from the source material of The Lion King. You can see this in Leona's Hometown event and how some foods mentioned are clearly more Japanese-inspired. I think it's good to remember that Twisted Wonderland will never be a 1:1 of anything in our real world, and so HCs for the Sunset Savanna and Leona's culture can justifiably be from different sources. That and twst being a Japanese property probably means it will have that cultural influence as well. HOWEVER, I think it's good to be respectful of the inspiration of black and African cultures when making HCs for Leona and the Sunset Savanna in general. That's just my 2 cents, and I'm definitely NOT the only person with opinions on this, nor am I the authority on anything, as usual! The writers will probably never give us clear answers on this sort of thing anyway, because like I mentioned, the Sunset Savanna at the end of the day is fictional. And I personally doubt the writers put much thought into this subject to begin with.

[rooksamoris]

i really love this post and i just want to add some further clarification on the regions mentioned and specifically the history and fashion. i will preface this with the fact that i am not east african. in fact, i am not african at all. i'm yemeni, and while yemen and eastern african nations have been in a cultural exchange for literal centuries, ultimately my knowledge is limited since i did not grow up in an east african household. east africans and peninsula arabs in particular (yemenis and omanis) actually share a lot of cultural similarities from the clothing to phrases and so on. i just want to share what i know as someone who studies history.

whenever i write for leona, i usually write his native language as swahili because i am much more familiar with swahili. swahili is an east african bantu language, which for the benue-congo branch of the niger-congo language family. the world swahili itself comes from arabic, coming from the word "sawahili" which means "of the coasts." there are tons of loan words from arabic in swahili like "rais" which means 'president/head of state' in both languages.

arabs and persians were some of the first foreign traders in east africa, and it is believed that they brought islam with them to east africa quite quickly. the oldest mosque in east africa is in zanzibar and is dated around the 10th/11th century.

from this, we can gather when islam was introduced, but if we go further back, we can see arab-african interaction is even older.

one of the oldest texts about the trade of frankincense between the arabian peninsula and the east african coast is "the periplus maris erythraei" which means "voyage around the erythraean sea" which is an old term for eritrea. this travalogue was written in greek during the reign of the roman empire. it is generally dated around 40-70 AD. now, archaeological evidence suggests that the trade is even older, dating back centuries before christ.

furthermore, the hadrami diaspora from yemen has been traveling through the indian ocean, settling in east africa and southeast asia before the portuguese would even set sails in the indian ocean way back in 15th/16th centuries.

there was also the zanj rebellion in the late 800s, in which east african slaves in basra, iraq, during the abbasid caliphate. one of the sources about the zanj, a derogatory term used for the slaves who are assumed to have been of bantu origin, is al-jahiz who is a very well-known scholar and author of the time, who, himself, was of east african descent, however was not a slave. there is like little to know evidence of the slave trade itself, but there's plenty on the zanj and the rebellion.

there was also a period after the ousting of the portuguese in zanzibar where the sultanate of oman ruled over the land.

im not going to get too much into the sultanate of oman, because this brief history lesson has gone on long enough!! this is all to say that east african culture has influenced many cultures and is influenced by many cultures. i feel like i veered way off topic, so let me get back to leona kingscholar aaaa.

anways!! tangent aside!!

i want to talk about the sunset savanna event, specifically the clothes and where i think the inspirations come from. as you put it, there is never going to be a one to one comparison between a real world item/place and whatever is in disney or twst. as seen with scarabia and the film which inspired the dorm, there was never any real attachment to any one place and i do think this is an issue of orientalism and american geopolitics. i believe the movie was originally going to be set in baghdad, but saddam hussein was america's big bad to manufacture consent for the invasion and occupation of iraq during and after the gulf war, so instead we got aghrabah where people use arabic phrases, wear turkish and indian headresses, and furnish their houses with persian rugs that fly.

we see a similar mixing of various cultures in the clothing for this event. im pretty sure people have come to the conclusion that the film, 'the lion king' takes place kenya and northern tanzania. i have a feeling its specifically inspired the maasai, a nilotic ethnic group in the region, for reasons i will get to later. lets look at some pretty african garb. actually!! before i get into it, since these nations are on the same continent and get trade from the same trails, there are a lot of similarities, however, the cultures remain distinct regardless of these similarities. no group of people, especially a whole continent of people with thousands of different languages like africa, are a monolith.

disclaimer aside, i'm going to talk about the beads first.

the continent has a long history with beading!! this article gets into the meaning of certain colors of beads as it pertains to the maasai people specifically.

we see a lot of bead work in the character art for this event, and if we assume that the sunset savanna is east african inspired, that means the beads could be made out of many things. coral, glass beads, woods and shells are all commonly used in the jewelry. we don't really get a super close look at all the bead work the characters are wearing, but from what we do see, some of it, like the pendants on the belts, look like wood and the others are probably made from some other material.

i think the inspiration for this comes from a few different cultures. the headpiece leona wear's in the second image kind of looks like a hat made out of kente cloth, which is a ghanaian textile made from silk and cotton. it is handwoven, and according to ashanti folklore, it was made to display the patterns of the anansi spider.

draped over it is an animal mask. masks like these can be found in many different parts of africa with various tribes having their masks symbolizing different things. the kente pattern actually seems to appear a lot in this event now that i think about it... anyways, back to the beads. here's a picture of some bead work worn by the maasai people!! i want to bring attention to the way they even have belts that are beaded. from what i can see, the belts in the event aren't made from beads, but instead braided ropes, but they create a similar effect. the layers are vibrant and colorful in both cases. the second image is of south african belt, which are common with the zulu people.

next, i'd like to talk about the overall silhouette of the garments worn by the characters.

all of the outfits feature a patterned under piece with a patterned over piece that is draped over, held together by a belt. underneath, there's a bunch of layered jewelry. the kanga is a colorful fabric which can be found warn throughout the african great lakes region in east africa. it actually can be worn in many ways, with someone women draping it over their heads the way yemenis do with the sitara, or wrapping it around one's body and tying it in the front, or like the yemeni ma'awaz, in the style of a wrap skirt. this makes sense once you realize how humid coastal cities can get. these groups dress in a similar fashion, likely due to trade, but also because of the similar climates.

the image is blurry, but you can see with the orange kanga specifically, the wearer is dressed very similar to the characters. his kanga is draped over his shoulders, with a belt in the middle and the one beside him wears theirs by tying the front pieces to hold it up. in both cases, it is worn layered either over an undergarment or jewelry.

here's the shuka worn in a similar fashion for the next picture!! the shuka is a patterned cloth that one is to wrap around their body, and it is common the color red, which symbolizes strength and courage, and it is the clothing common among the warriors of the maasai people, who have been famous for their prowess for centuries. the maasai people speak maa which is in the nilotic language family group, as mentioned previously.

some stories make the claim that the bright red color scares lions since the maasai are known to be able to kill the creatures. because of this connection, and because the maasai are from the same region im pretty sure the film takes place, i think their home region is the closest we can get to a definitive place where the story takes place.

i think that's all for now. i think i went WAYYYY off topic for some of this. anyways. mwah bye bye.

[bunnwich]

im so happy that attachment worked! im glad u like the gift, bunny (⁠人⁠*⁠´⁠∀⁠｀⁠)⁠｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+

if it's alright with you, i'd love your take again on what conflicts one would have if they were dating leona. after all, relationships aren't perfect and im assuming in the beginning, lots of things could be difficult to manage.

im under the impression leona isn't used to compromising. he's more used to people adjusting for him than the other way around. at least at the start. what other conflicts do you think could arise and how will you get past them?

thank you again, bunn! (⁠人⁠ ⁠•͈⁠ᴗ⁠•͈⁠) have a great day!

Conflicts When Dating Leona

Hi friend! YES, THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING QUESTION. First off, I think irl most people have emotional baggage based on trauma, how they grew up, and often, unfortunately, this can get projected onto a partner in their lowest moments. 

I think that there could be some smaller issues that would arise when dating Leona, but I think that depends on what a person can tolerate in a relationship in general, and what each individual can vibe with. We ALL have imperfections, and often in long-term relationships, it comes down to finding someone whose flaws are compatible with your own and being able to balance and nurture each other in healthy ways. Also letting the other person have “ugly” moments and still being able to love them.

Here are a few things I think might come up in a relationship with Leona that could be hard to deal with.

1.) Messy Lifestyle: 

I think Leona is used to others cleaning up after him and making his own meals. It’s not that I think he couldn't do it himself, I think he just chooses not to learn bc of his privilege and the acceptance that his life will "always be like this", so “what’s the point.” He lacks the motivation to improve his life. Half of it, I think, is depression, and the other is…he's just a brat. He's a spoiled rich kid.

So a S/O who comes from a poor or humble background (like Ruggie) or someone with a strict routine (Like Vil)  wouldn't be able to tolerate something like this. I think there's a difference between “dirty” and “messy” and I don’t think he's unhygienic (contrary to old fandom HCs), BUT he IS messy. He’s a complicated man, I think he both cares little about his appearance and cares a lot. Obviously he cares little about wrinkles and buttons, BUT he cares enough to braid his hair and wear flashy jewelry. Though I suppose the fact that he has a deal with Ruggie to care for him and his room, he at least has some standards. He’s a prince!

I do wanna believe (at least in my timeline with Yuu) that Leona learns to live more of a humble life and bonds with the common folk of his kingdom as he takes a job in the community. (Maybe one day he’ll figure out the microwave.)

2.) He Has Toneal Issues/He’s Bossy:

 I think while it may not come from a bad place, Leona tends to think he knows best for everyone. I think he tends to view everything as “big picture”, a chess board, if you will. And he feels as tho he sees everyone clearly (He doesn't), but he feels he does so sometimes while “trying to help you improve” or “giving you advice.” I can see him being a pushy or a know-it-all. And even if coming from a place of “I see your potential and I just want you to be better”, for someone who is more…sensitive, this could be an issue. I can see him having issues sugarcoating things or always using a “nice” tone. It's not that he can't, he just doesn’t mostly. Now, as his S/O I think he is softer on you, but when he gets too stuck in the “mentor Leona” mindset, I can see him being a bit too harsh.

3.) He HATES Being Ignored/Not Listened To:

To kind of go hand in hand with my above point, I think Leona feels as though important people in the past have ignored or not listened to him. And if he feels as though you don't trust, listen or respect him, I can see him getting hung up if in a bad way, OR projecting this past pain onto a partner. Again, this wouldn’t be all the time bc I choose to believe Leona is a self-aware person. Based on the reflections we’ve seen in Chapter 2 light novel and his Chapter 7 dream. HE KNOWS HE'S KINDA A MESS. But, if he feels as though he’s not receiving “adequate attention,” I can see him being a bit clingy or overbearing. We ALL have insecurities, and I firmly believe that nurturing each other’s inner child in a relationship can be key, so making sure he feels like he takes a high precedence in your life is very important to him, considering how highly he would think of you. 

4.) Letting Him Be Right (Sometimes):

Futhermore, Leona is VERY opinionated and I think that while he needs a strong personality to square up with him, you might need to pick your battles and let him take that mentor role he loves so much. He’s got a bit of an ego, and I think he values his intelligence and thrives on the idea of being a caretaker and giving advice. So when he sees others take his advice and “need” him, he feels valued and validated. I do firmly believe in caretaker Leona. He’s smart enough to know when you got this and when to step back. He loves that you're independent! (He wouldn’t choose you if you weren't tough.) BUT, he does like to be needed by you. And if he’s having a low point, I can see this popping up from time to time as a point of frustration for him.

5.) Mood Swings/Clinginess

I do think that once he is invested in someone, all of his insecurities about being needed and wanted will surface. He wants to feel acknowledged by you, to be reassured that you love him. You DON’T have to worship the ground he walks on, but since you would be one of the closest, if not the closest to him, that can be a heavy burden to bare. He can be moody and will need reassurance, even if he doesn’t know how to ask, but he acknowledges himself in Chapter 7 that he “craves attention” more than most. This sort of codependency could be too much for someone who is easily overwhelmed.

Leona’s got Flaws, but He’d Never Stop Trying Being the Best For You.

I think it is a bit of a taboo subject in a way, but dating/marrying someone with deep trauma or a mental illness is NOT always easy. They can sometimes act in ways that are unfair to you based on their trauma, and working out a healthy balance can be hard. I like to read Leona as mature and self-aware, and so I think with time and patience, he would learn how to balance his emotions and keep himself in check with his partner. He’s used to being alone, so it might take a little getting used to. Even so, he’d always apologize (despite what people think). A serious relationship would be all-encompassing to him, and he considers you a “team.” I do think that through disagreements and even fights, Leona would be surprisingly easy to talk to after or through it. He’s logical and empathetic in his own right. 

I think that when ppl “give Leona” flaws, they usually go the “he's aloof.” or “he cares but he's never says I love you out loud" route. And meh, I just don't believe in a SERIOUS established relationship, Leona would be “low-key.” about anything. It would be very apparent how much he loves you. He would never want you to feel how he did. Contrary to popular HC, I don't believe he would have an issue saying how much he loves you either. He's just a bit of a grump and can be a handful. “Mm, I'm sorry. Truly. You know your Lion loves ya.”

That's just what I think anyway, and what I HC! Thank you for your ask!! This was a really interesting one to unpack! I love the subject of imperfect love and relationships bc I feel like it's such a nuanced subject that isn’t brought up a lot. AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR ART I LOVE IT SM! 💚💚💚

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

i really liked your post about judges of character!! its the first post i saw of yours and its super cool!! followed!

i was wondering if you were willing to expand on more characters and why they aren’t good judges of characters. i totally agree with leona being ss tier, i just wanna see you articulate more characters if possible!!

in order of desire and namely, i wanna read about ruggie, trey, ortho, floyd, malleus, cater, yuu

thank u sm!!!! your writing and analysis is a total treat to read. take care of yourself!!

[Referencing this post!]

Thank you for enjoying my stuff and welcome to the fold (flock?) ^^

You listed a lot of characters so I’ll do a rapid-fire round and try to avoid dragging this response out for super long 🙂‍↕️ In your order:

Ruggie — He pays attention to people only in so far as to see when it the best time to swoop in and ask them for stuff (unfinished foods, donatable items, etc.) or to offer his services (for a fee). I don’t think he cares to look beyond that and seek a person’s hidden character. What comes first and foremost is his own survival, which is very focused on… himself, rather than how he reads other people and their character. It simply does not matter so long as Ruggie has his needs met.

Trey — Briefly covered in the tags of my previous post. He tries his best to keep out of conflicts, but this also means he must observe a lot and knows how to keep a distance. Trey notices some things that others don’t (like how Cater doesn’t like sweets in book 1 or how Vil is tired in his Labwear vignettes), but I wouldn’t call these instances evidence of Trey being a good judge of character. The Cater thing is something Trey picked up on from always seeing Cater go for savory foods or suggesting things to cover up sweet tastes. Noticing Vil being tired feels like a skill Trey may have learned from acting like a caretaker, especially with his younger siblings and dorm members. When Trey does try to discern people’s characters, it seems to fall flat because he takes them at face value and assumes goodness on their part. For example, he mistakes Jade as someone meek and being taken advantage of in Jade’s Ceremonial Robes vignettes.

Ortho — I think Ortho would theoretically be a good judge of character, but it is complicated by him relying on drawing conclusions from algorithms and data sets he is fed. It’s true that Ortho acts more human than a typical android, but he learned how to act this way by watching movies, which are mostly inaccurate depictions of real life. I feel this would “poison” his data and lead to him processing cues incorrectly. He can accurately tell the time and read your vitals because those are objective facts and numbers—but gauging human character is much less concrete. Maybe Ortho can fine-tune his skills by observing more humans irl (especially considering his advanced learning capabilities), but right now I think he’d still be working on it.

Floyd — I think judging people’s character comes more naturally to Floyd than to Jade (as there is a recurring theme of Floyd being a genius while Jade has to put in effort to be competent). Like many things though, his proficiency shifts with his mood. I don’t see Floyd as being super observant in spite of this, as his track record is kinda spotty. He also didn’t seem to sense something was “up” with Jamil despite arguably spending a lot more time with him in the same club. However, Floyd was able to tell that “cute” doesn’t suit Epel and picked an appropriate birthday gift for him to match Epel’s preferred vibes. (This is in spite of Epel being forced to appear dainty and cute by Vil.)

Malleus — Malleus notoriously had difficulties understanding others, albeit this is definitely influenced by his sheltered upbringing. He missed Rollo’s weird vibes (too blinded by the thought of genuinely being invited to an event) and even describes himself as “[being] no good at divining humans’ minds”. This could be considered a cultural misalignment rather than him being a poor judge of character, but considering how he frequently uses on his own (very limited) POV as reference (which is what led to Endless Halloween Night and misunderstands with his fellow dorm leaders at meetings), this still puts Malleus in a situation where he cannot read others well because HE also doesn’t project his own emotions or true character very openly; he always has to maintain a certain air about him as a future king.

Cater — He’s great at reading the room and using social standing to get what he wants. For example, Cater knows his underclassmen will defer to seniority so he tricks Adeuce into helping him do his chores. He is also shown intervening multiple different times when the situation gets heated to get everyone to cool their heads. This means Cater is socially savvy and intuitive rather than a good judge of character. Because Cater spends so much time online and intentionally holding people at a distance, I don’t think he bothers to look deeper into them than what’s presented on the surface. For example, he’s always clout chasing (seeking pics with important and notable peers) but doesn’t make an effort to really see or judge people on a deeper level.

Yuu — Ehhhhh 🤷‍♀️ Yuu is a blank slate character for players for project themselves or sonas/OCs onto. How good or bad they are at judging others is defined by the individual. Instances like Yuu being friendly with Malleus aren’t so much of them seeing the goodness in him as it is Yuu being oblivious about who he is. We don’t really get any comments from Yuu that have insight into their peers’ characters either, only surface-level remarks and observations along the lines of, “oh, they’re being kind of rude again” or “wooow, he’s being nice for once?”. Twst leaves Yuu vague so you can fill in the gaps using your own imagination.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hello! I'm sorry if this topic was already discussed there (and if so, please feel free to ignore my message), but I was thinking of who would be the best judges of character in TWST cast. Perhaps they are characters such as Jade, Rook, Jamil and maybeee Lilia (? I'm not completely sure, because neither I'm really familiar with his backstory, nor did I finish chapter 7 lol). Who else do you think might be good at such things? I would love to read your detailed opinion on the matter or even mini headcanons maybe, if you find it interesting enough of course! Have a nice day, and I hope everything above sounds understandable, I'm not from an English-speaking country ^^

I think the best judges of character in the Twst cast are Leona and Rook. Yup, the class 3-A boys.

Leona is the character that most frequently calls it like it is, even when all others overlook what is hiding in plain sight. He sensed Jamil’s malicious intent towards Kalim in Jamil’s School Uniform vignette WAY before the events of book 4. “Do your eyes always glare like that, too? [Kalim] is green as grass. I can't imagine what he's thinkin', hangin' out with a schemer like you all the time. He just doesn't get that any one of these nights could be his last, huh?” Leona is also the one who instantly clocks the simulation Ruggie and Kalim in book 6 are fakes (even though Jamil goes along with the fakes). Leona is even able to understand every person’s skills and strengths even when he has spent less than 3 days with them. This is the case for the residents of Halloween Town (shown in his Nightmare Suit vignettes). He rarely ever misses. The only exceptions I can think of him flubbing is when he theorizes that Cater and Trey are more nefarious than they actually are in book 7 (and even then, this occurs in the context of dreams, which are vague and extremely difficult to interpret). Still, Leona is able to pull a crazy number of accurate reads and super quickly too.

Rook somehow has the superhuman ability to know everything about a person just through observation??? (That’s honestly an incredible but frightening feat 😭) It’s this ability that I believe leads him to influencing Vil’s audition picks in book 5; Rook saw the potential and the goodness in Adeuce and the Scarabia duo, thinking they would be positive influences for Vil’s increasingly desperate and dark thoughts. He also detected that Vil was spiraling just from a look and stopped him from poisoning his rival. Even so, Rook isn’t infallible either. He was not able to discern Lilia’s true age until explicitly told about it. Additionally, Rook mistakes Jade as being willing to do the same as he to help everyone in Ghost Marriage but seems to accurately read Jade as suspicious in Jade’s Dorm Uniform vignettes.

To address some of the other characters proposed in the ask: I do not personally consider Jamil, Jade, or Lilia to be exceptional at judging character. At best, they’re decent at it but still don’t hold a candle to like… Leona (whom I consider to be the strongest in this regard).

I would call Jamil more suspicious of others than being able to accurately judge them. Yes, he is able to notice something was wrong about Vil’s behavior in book 5 and acted accordingly to address it, but I would argue this was more out of mindfulness than telling right away that Vil felt intense jealousy. After all, Jamil is only doing this after spending a month living and training with Vil; would Jamil have been able to read Vil as well as he did, had he not spent this time in close proximity with Vil? I don’t think so. In most instances, Jamil is on his guard around others, and he is frequently shown to underestimate others or to think lowly of them regardless of their actual abilities. This is explicitly pointed out in book 6 during his trek with Leona; Jamil doesn’t recognize Kalim’s strength is his emotional intelligence (instead, Jamil focuses on Kalim’s naïveté and inability to look after himself) and Leona has to point this out to him. Jamil also implies Leona is spoiled and lazy rather than recognize his true character.

Now, Jade—I can understand why people would think Jade is good at judging others. It’s just a trait that comes naturally with his tropes and character archetype. However, I don’t recall any instances in which Jade was able to automatically clock what type of person he was dealing with. I think we assume he does, but in canon he is shown to spend time and effort researching his peers to learn about their weaknesses (see: his Ceremonial Robes vignettes). He does not instantly know a person, he has to work to achieve this, and having to work to achieve things is a recurring theme in his background. (Jade has to push himself to walk, frequently experiments with cooking, practiced being as polite as his mother, etc.) I also want to point out that he, like the rest of the Octatrio, did not seem to find Jamil suspicious until Yuu reported strange happenings to them in book 4. This does not indicate any foresight on Jade’s part.

Lilia starts off suspicious of humans (due to his experiences as a general in a 100 years’ war between humans and fae). That was about… 400 years ago? But he also spends the next several decades traveling and experiencing the anti-fae sentiment humans have. Lilia has literally been run out of communities and had stuff thrown at him because of this. However, when the attitude towards fae starts to shift to something more open-minded, Lilia is still hesitant to accept the shelter and food from a kind elderly human couple. He doesn’t register their kind intentions right away. I’d also like to point out that Lilia doesn’t accept us into his fold because he thinks or knows we are good in spite of being humans; he’s just letting us tag along because he wants to stay true to his word.

Over time, Lilia’s beliefs seemed to have changed. In modern day, he’s much more chill but I still wouldn’t call him a good judge of character. He demonstrates a bias for anyone he knows personally (claiming Malleus would make a better king than Leona, explaining to peers that Sebek and Malleus are hard to get along with but mean well deep down, etc.) but can can still judge them incorrectly. For example, Lilia fails to realize that Malleus would react as violently as he did in book 7 and doesn’t accept that Diasomnia could love and care for him for the longest time. Lilia is wise and wishes for peace between the races, so he generally has good will towards others. This good will can easily be conflated with judging that others are good people when, in reality, it is more akin to offering the benefit of the doubt.