🌦️
don't mind me, just falling in love again and again (how many times has it been?)
emi | ENFJ | she/her | '08 | multi-fandom | huge self shipper
(heads up: I'm truly very sorry but I'm currently not in a position to donate)
Strange how people keep saying that "Shuro hates in Laios the same traits he supposedly loves in Falin", which is...
Seriously, look at him and his dialogue - does he hate Laios for being a monster freak? For being nerdy and weird and loving nature? For eating bugs? No, that's not it.
Shuro hates* Laios for being so profoundly socially inept (from his perspective).
The key difference between Touden siblings isn't that Falin is a pretty girl - the key difference is that Falin is caring and accommodating to other people, and Laios is awkward and unobservant, seemingly egotistic at the surface level.
(others have already written wonderful essays on why and how they grew up like that)
It has to be noted that Shuro is a sheltered noble from a land where proper etiquette is paramount - he is used to people being incredibly subtle AND incredibly observant around him. He comes from a high-context culture where everyone assumes things based on lots of social cues and shared understanding of context. That's not even a matter of being neurotypical, that's his culture (in addition to his personality and brain chemistry)
He is also rather introverted as person and doesn't have many friends. Even his attachments and emotions in childhood are expressed subtly, in a restrained and proper way. He is polite and refined, perfectly fitting into his house's expectations - even if that means repressing his childhood interests and little weird joys.
In that particular way, the opposite of Laios.
Shuro hates* Laios for being the opposite of the image HE was grown into. This strange man is so utterly insensitive and so open about it - he has no sense of shame (like Shuro), no tact and ability to shut up (like Shuro), no restraint (like Shuro). Look at him talking non-stop about things he wants to talk about and having fun (unlike Shuro) while completely overestepping Shuro's obvious boundaries!
The boundaries, I must say, that not only never before needed to be spelled out, but in Shuro's upbringing and culture would be as ridiculous to spell out as "I want to pee, so I'll go to the bathroom and remove my pants and sit on the toilet and release the sphincter holding my pee in my pee bladder"
Falin is not only awesome in his eyes for being weird and in touch with nature, but for being very delicate, observant and caring AT THE SAME TIME. She is a gem in Shuro's eyes, a miracle of his dreams.
In Falin, he not only sees a nerd-freak - he sees a hope for an introverted, polite, restrained person like himself to reconnect with that love for nature and nerdiness and freakiness.
Laios isn't like that. Laios is unobservant for subtle cues - and so a lot more loud, persistent, enthusiastic and unwittingly annoying. Yes, Falin has all that inside her too - but she restrains herself in order not to be a burden. And so does Shuro, in order to fit expectations. There's similarity between them in that regard, between two introverted and restrained weirdos. And a hope for a kindred, more open soul, from the more restrained Shuro's perspective.
* - I don't think Shuro's feelings to Laios are properly described as hate. Yeah, in his darkest moment he says that, but honestly it felt more like an accumulated stress from a continuous cultural and personal misunderstanding, rather than a profound personal hate.
...
What was the post about?.. Oh, yeah, Shuro loving Falin and disliking Laios. That's not him being too horny to think, that's him loving in Falin the defining difference between the two - they aren't gender-swapped clones, after all. Give my boy some respect and nuance.
fucked that you can’t fix other people especially when you really care about them. Oh so im just supposed to be there for you while you suffer. like a useless cunt gargoyle
I wonder if there’s a joke about Sebek’s parents being dentists means his mom is literally a “Tooth Fairy.”
Imagine Yuu explaining the concept of tooth fairies and someone is like “oh like Sebek’s mom”. And Sebek is like, “My mom doesn’t break into people’s houses to steal teeth!”
"...anymore!"
(you steal a bunch of teeth to impress that cute human dentist you're thinking of running away from the military for ONE TIME...)
i wish people would stop romanticizing not eating breakfast and not getting enough sleep and being dependent on coffee to function and always being in a bad mood and treating yourself poorly because that behavior is very unhealthy for you
i wish people would stop romanticizing not eating breakfast and not getting enough sleep and being dependent on coffee to function and always being in a bad mood and treating yourself poorly because that behavior is very unhealthy for you
I saw your last post (I'm a different anon) and I think the worst issue with jack is the fact that savanaclaw is already good with Leona and Ruggie ALONE he just happens to exist there and act like he is "a part of the gang" when savanaclaw should have been only 2 main casts I mean look at scarabia we already have two characters who have their dynamic already interesting and perfect and we definitely don't need a 3rd character interfering and be like "no jamil how could you betray kalim like this he is your best friend 🥺!! I always looked up to you until you betrayed kalim why would you be the housewarden using unjust methods 💔??!!" As someone who enjoys Leona and Ruggie's dynamic and wish it was more discussed in the main storyline I genuinely despise the very existence of jack he doesn't even have a disney counterpart unlike epel being based on the poison apple (it's an object but at least he have a disney counterpart) I am so glad I found someone dislike him cause I thought I was being too mean
[ Referencing this post! ]
Whoa, whoa 😅 Let's slow your roll there.
I'll admit that, again, I don't personally enjoy Jack as a character. He just doesn't come packaged with physical or personality traits that I like, and he isn't written in a way that I find particularly interesting. I also want to be mindful of others' opinions, whether they agree with me or not. I don't want to speak callously about a character that people may love.
Now, I think there's a distinction to be made between my preferences and the function that a character serves. I don't like Jack, and I'll say that until I go blue in the face--but that doesn't make him pointless. I hope that you'll allow me to share my perspective (not to tear you and your thoughts down, but to have a healthy discussion).
To begin with, I think comparing Savanaclaw and Scarabia is a false equivalency. Kalim and Jamil's dynamic works because they are intentionally written as a duo that contrasts one another. Kalim is extroverted, Jamil is more reserved. Kalim is obscenely wealthy, Jamil is humbler. Kalim is honest and kind, Jamil is shady and sarcastic. Kalim is helpless, Jamil is forced to help. Kalim is beloved, Jamil wants to be understood. Kalim is assumed to be exceptional by default, Jamil has to maintain mediocrity. It creates tension, breeds resentment, and that eventually boils over into a full-on conflict.
But what were to happen if Savanaclaw was only a duo of Leona and Ruggie? We wouldn't get much tension there because Ruggie generally goes along with whatever Leona tells him to do. They are both okay with using underhanded tactics to get what they want. They're also very jaded about the world and how it works. Jack is vital to have as the missing source of tension and innocence. He's not just there to parrot Ruggie's feelings when Leona throws in the towel. Jack is the moral compass that Savanaclaw lacks and needs. Jack is bright-eyed and hopeful, still believing in the good in the world when his upperclassman have already decided that they can only survive if they get their hands dirty. He is the contrast that leads to conflict and, later on, becomes the underclassmen Ruggie and Leona can playfully gang up on and tease.
Without Jack, Savanaclaw becomes another Diasomnia, another echo chamber where the masses only serve to enable and reinforce the strong leader—both their best tendencies, and their worst. They would agree with Leona’s worldview unquestionably and excuse behaviors like skirting the rules because they personally benefit from it. Jack is the only one to call Leona out and holding him accountable for his actions. That is what helps lead to change, like how Ace and Deuce calling out Riddle instead of bending the knee to his demands improved Heartslabyul in the long run. This friction is needed to cause problems so that we can eventually come to a the start of a solution.
Another issue with the Savanaclaw-Scarabia comparison is that these two books have very different themes, both tied to their respective books' OBs. Jamil wants to be seen, to have the freedom to go where he wishes and do what he wants, to not be tied down to serving Kalim for the rest of his and his entire bloodline's existence. He projects his hatred for the system and traditions he was born into onto Kalim, who is a convenient symbol and emotional punching bag for him. This all continues to feed into their toxic codependency.
What about Leona? Well, he seeks validation via leading others to greatness. But... that bravado's a front. In actuality, Leona is deeply insecure about whether or not he's able to achieve this. That's the irony, you see. His entire dorm looks up to him and looks to him to guide them, but Leona himself doesn't seem to believe in the version of himself that the rest of Savanaclaw sees. Sure, this message is conveyed with a single named main cast character (Ruggie), whom Leona pulled out of poverty and assists all the time with tutoring, money, and granting hand-me-downs--but this message is amplified further with the addition of a third member. How so? Well, unlike Ruggie, Jack has a more realized arc of feeling betrayed but then still choosing to follow Leona in spite of that betrayal. It's a testament to Leona genuinely earning his followers' loyalty, even though this is an incident that weighs heavy on Jack's mind, seeing as it was the subject of his dream in book 7. Were it only Ruggie, it might be written off by fans as "just a fluke". But two in the same dorm? That's a kingdom (or, if you prefer the term, pack) steadily growing. There is power in numbers.
I'm not going to fault you for preferring certain dynamics over others (we all have our favorites). I get that it's frustrating to want something, only for Twst to not grant it. However, with Twst's cast being as expansive as it is and with how the main story is structured, it's not possible for the devs to grant a ton of screentime for even duos like Leona and Ruggie. who are very dorm leader and vice dorm leader-like in their roles. Relationships such as these are more freely explored in vignettes and sometimes events, so I think those would be your best bet.
I don't find much merit in the point that Jack doesn't belong just because he doesn't have a clear Disney counterpart. While many Twst characters do have obvious inspirations, they're never 1:1 and often borrow ideas from multiple Disney characters. For example, Jade is twisted from Jetsam, yet he also has Ariel's love and curiosity for the surface world. Ace is twisted from an ace of hearts card soldier, but he's also the one tos tand up to Riddle like Alice did to the QoH. There's also plenty of characters in the main cast with no clear singular inspiration: Ortho (Cerberus, Pinocchio, etc.), Lilia (Three Good Fairies, bat from Maleficent's curse, Maleicent's minions, etc.), and, of course, Jack (I've heard arguments for wolves from Frozen/Beauty and the Beast, the Big Bad Wolf, and more).
All that being said, I'm not a fan of the implications this ask is giving off 💦 I realize that we may find it difficult to accurately express our thoughts and feelings, but this ask didn't give me the impression of communication troubles. It gives me the impression that Jack is being viewed as a nuisance and an unnecessary obstacle to Ruggie and Leona's relationship rather than someone who enhances and augments Savanaclaw. According to the ask, Jack is “[just happening] to exist there and [acting] like he is ‘a part of the gang’, implying he’s not actually a part of the gang. It suggests that Jack is simultaneously empty space and detracts attention away from Ruggie and Leona.
I don’t think you need to enjoy Jack or even agree that Jack is important to the narrative, but I do think it’s a bit to “despise [… his] very existence” and then equate it to me saying I dislike him for things like his design and personality not clicking with me. I don’t think the two are equivalent. There’s… a deeper feeling being expressed in this ask, and it goes far beyond my own.
I think you must have some level of self-awareness of this as well. After all, you share at the end of your ask that you’re concerned your thoughts might be “being too mean”. In my opinion, this is being mean. A particular tone is conveyed long before we even hit the line about despising the character. It comes through in implying Jack isn’t a part of the gang, in the near-patronizing babytalk dialogue comparison with Scarabia, and the prioritization of other characters (specifically paired with the suggestion that Jack is just in the way or “interfering”). Time and time again, Jack is talked about as if he’s like an annoying gnat that won't go away or a third wheel intentionally inserting himself between Ruggie and Leona’s dynamic.
I ask of you to think about your own favorite Twst characters. Now think about how you would feel if someone came up to you and said all of the previous points, how you would feel if someone talked down to your best boys. It would still hurt, even if they never directly insulted you, the individual, for liking said character, right? I’d imagine that Jack fans may be feeling the same way upon reading this ask.
I want to stress again that I don’t take issue with not liking a particular character or their role in the story. I don’t take issue with being relieved when you think you’ve found a space where you feel it is safe to share your thoughts. You’re allowed to dislike whoever you want and for whatever reasons you want. You’re allowed to talk about how you feel, and I'm willing to listen to opinions that differ from my own. My sole issue is with the way these sentiments were expressed, which was dismissive. This can be very hurtful to fans of the character being discussed, so I ask that you be more mindful of your phrasing in the future.
big brain move right there oughhh I'm not usually a fan of angst but i eat this trope uppp
Oh yeah! Not only the angst, but also that subtle erotic energy, that even light weakness for that enemy in particular, the flood of thoughts and memories fading in a stream of bitterness... it is a huge world and I love it so much. Too underrated. Yes, I am sweet, yes, I am romantic, but this trope makes my legs wobble. Aaaaa.
New illustrations of kid!Ruggie and kid!Leona by Yana!! I believe it is in the third volume of the Episode of Savanaclaw manga as a bonus at the end of it.
According to the notes, Ruggie and other hyenas have entirely black hair in their childhood. I assume this is because real life hyenas have entirely black fur in their youth as well. I guess when they grow up, their hair/fur lightens, hence the gradient we see in Ruggie's current hairstyle. It looks like beastmen have more traits in common with their animal ancestors than we thought! (We've discussed how animal traits might manifest in beastfolk infants here.)
The other note on Ruggie's illustration says that he wears someone else's hand-me-down clothes.
As for little Leona! It says he aspires to be the King of Beasts awww 🥺he used to be so full of hope... and the necklace he wears bears a scar-like pattern. It is apparently imbued with a protective spell, which was cast by Kifaji.
We previously discussed what the purpose of the pendant the young royals of Sunset Savanna seem to wear (here!). According to the Magical Archives, Cheka's seems to have a tracking device but no protective spell is mentioned. Leona's meanwhile, has the protective spell but no tracking device mentioned. Are these customized based on the personality (and/or troublemaking level) of the royal in question? Is Cheka's pendant being more tech than magic an indication of the Sunset Savanna's advancements as they slowly industrialize while keeping mindful of nature? Or do the pendants just have both anyway and the design notes fail to convey that to us?
Cheka seems to sneak away from his retainers a lot, so I get why the GPS tracker might be needed for him. I have to wonder why Leona has a protective spell on his, though... Are there more people after him than Cheka, despite him being the second born prince and not the crown prince? And isn't Leona a mage powerful enough to be able to defend himself whereas Cheka doesn't seem to be able to defend himself and/or cast spells yet? Maybe Kifaji cast a protective spell on Leona's pendant to help Leona feel more like a normal kid? Like someone is out there hoping for his safety and worrying about him...
… But if Leona had that protective spell on him, how did he get his scar??? Because he doesn’t have it yet in the artwork there. Did he have the necklace off when it happened???
slowburn or love at first sight // fake dating or secret dating // enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers // there’s only one bed or long-distance correspondence // hurt/comfort or amnesia // fantasy au or modern au // mutual pining or domestic bliss // smut or fluff // canon-compliant or fix-it // reincarnation or character death // one-shot or multi-chapter // kid fic or road trip fic // arranged marriage or accidental marriage // high-school romance or middle-age romance // time travel or isolated together // neighbours or roommates // sci-fi au or magic au // body swap or genderbent // angst or crack // apocalyptic or mundane
Aahh!! Thank you for the tag, Reap!! I love tag games like this!!
slowburn or love at first sight // fake dating or secret dating // enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers // there’s only one bed or long-distance correspondence // hurt/comfort or amnesia // fantasy au or modern au // mutual pining or domestic bliss // smut and fluff // canon-compliant and fix-it // reincarnation or character death // one-shot or multi-chapter // kid fic or road trip fic // arranged marriage or accidental marriage // high-school romance or middle-age romance // time travel or isolated together // neighbours and roommates // sci-fi au or magic au // body swap or genderbent // angst or crack // apocalyptic or mundane
Tagging!! @i-am-so-strange @someprettyname @mininji and anyone who wants to participate!!
slowburn or love at first sight // fake dating or secret dating // enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers // there’s only one bed or long-distance correspondence // hurt/comfort or amnesia // fantasy au or modern au // mutual pining or domestic bliss // smut or fluff // canon-compliant or fix-it // reincarnation or character death // one-shot or multi-chapter // kid fic or road trip fic // arranged marriage or accidental marriage // high-school romance or middle-age romance // time travel or isolated together // neighbours or roommates // sci-fi au or magic au // body swap or genderbent // angst or crack // apocalyptic or mundane
aaah haven't been active in a while ty for the tag ish
slowburn or love at first sight (cannot decide for the life of me) // fake dating or secret dating // enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers // there’s only one bed or long-distance correspondence // hurt/comfort or amnesia // fantasy au or modern au // mutual pining or domestic bliss // smut or fluff (sue me I like both) // canon-compliant or fix-it // reincarnation or character death // one-shot or multi-chapter // kid fic or road trip fic // arranged marriage or accidental marriage // high-school romance or middle-age romance // time travel or isolated together // neighbours or roommates // sci-fi au or magic au // body swap or genderbent // angst or crack // apocalyptic or mundane
“There are no ifs ands or buts when it comes to secual assault/rape. No matter what, the person who did it should be punished. If the person has no proof, still believe the victim. It is better to believe a victim and be wrong than support the person who did it and be right.”
“There are no ifs ands or buts when it comes to secual assault/rape. No matter what, the person who did it should be punished. If the person has no proof, still believe the victim. It is better to believe a victim and be wrong than support the person who did it and be right.”
“There are no ifs ands or buts when it comes to secual assault/rape. No matter what, the person who did it should be punished. If the person has no proof, still believe the victim. It is better to believe a victim and be wrong than support the person who did it and be right.”
“There are no ifs ands or buts when it comes to secual assault/rape. No matter what, the person who did it should be punished. If the person has no proof, still believe the victim. It is better to believe a victim and be wrong than support the person who did it and be right.”
“There are no ifs ands or buts when it comes to secual assault/rape. No matter what, the person who did it should be punished. If the person has no proof, still believe the victim. It is better to believe a victim and be wrong than support the person who did it and be right.”
“There are no ifs ands or buts when it comes to secual assault/rape. No matter what, the person who did it should be punished. If the person has no proof, still believe the victim. It is better to believe a victim and be wrong than support the person who did it and be right.”
“There are no ifs ands or buts when it comes to secual assault/rape. No matter what, the person who did it should be punished. If the person has no proof, still believe the victim. It is better to believe a victim and be wrong than support the person who did it and be right.”
