hello drdt community ⊠iâm seku and i like david chiem a lot⊠iâm unsure on the consensus on yumeshipping here. please take my silly little oc.
other than that, i do enjoy analyzing and perhaps will post some here and there if i ever manage to organize my thoughts. iâve recently started getting into fangans (p:eg, drdt, sdra2, antebellum lockdown, (he)artless deceit, rebirth). iâm also working on my own fangan, which iâll probably post about.
some of my favs: kokichi ouma, (saiouma), ulysses wilhelm, eva tsunaka, ismene circe, alora alenius, ayumu fujimori
i like a few other things, which you can see here.
thank you all for listening. i hope to get along with you all.
note: i donât have notifications on nor do i really know how this site works. sorry in advance
there are other ways of persuasion, there are other modes of control, there are other means of deceit, there are other roads to the souuuulll
there are other actions of passion, you have so much left to learn⊠want to save your men friends from the fire? show me that youâre willing to burn
Teruko's life is like a black comedyâchosen by fate to endure extreme misfortune, yet this curse has made her the most tenacious survivor.
She managed to escape death under Xander's knife but couldn't escape the fate of betrayal. This "constant dance on the edge of life and death" makes her very existence the most pungent satire of "hope"--when luck becomes a shackle for survival, hope is nothing but a slow-acting poison that prolongs pain. The moment she was stabbed not only tore her body but also severed her last shred of trust in humanity. From that moment on, she built a defense with sharp words and a cold attitude yet secretly licked her wounds of betrayal at night. Unlike most protagonists, she would choose to watch a murder for survival and expose others' scars for the truth but was still briefly shaken by Eden's embrace--this contradiction of being "cold on the outside and warm on the inside" exposes her longing for and fear of emotional connection: she is afraid of being hurt again but also yearns to be redeemed by warmth.
This girl cursed by fate is piecing her own crown with broken glass. When all lies and betrayals turn into dust later on in the story, Teruko's soul will still shine--that is, the courage to fight after recognizing the absurdity of the world and the stubbornness to maintain dignity after being repeatedly trampled by fate.
Counter-argument or Agreement CG Display: Number of counter-arguments=0, Number of agreements=0 (She is the protagonist, after all)
Foreshadowing: -100% (Just kidding) A remarkable girl with super bad luck and is basically unlikely to die. Her death will definitely not occur in the middle of the plot.
Relevance to the Main Plot: 100%.
No.11 Eden Tobisa: (Mortality Rate: 9.019%)
Character Development: 30%
She seems like a gentle, lively, and extremely energetic cute girl. She likes to hum songs while baking cakes and tries to make friends with everyone, even Teruko when she was in a state of self-isolation. However, she always inadvertently triggers disastrous plotlines: be it baking activities that leads to a bloodshed, or organizing a team-building activity that results in people fighting... But even when someone pointed a scalpel at her throat, she could still cry and deliver words of encouragement, having the strange, saintly mindset of "although I can't forgive you, I want to help you turn over a new leaf" towards the murderer.
However, this little girl, who is less than 150 cm tall (after the height adjustment) and has "I choose kindness" engraved in her DNA, stabbed one of the tallest and strongest person in the whole group; and gouged out his eye and while crying... Not to mention her high degree of fit with the theme of "despair time"... (Eden... Why on earth did you do this?) All in all, there are still many mysteries surrounding her, and we look forward to further revelations in the future.
Counter-argument or Agreement CG Display: Number of counter-arguments=0, Number of agreements=0
Foreshadowing: None
Relevance to the Main Plot: 75%. She has a completely opposite personality to Teruko but loves everyone, seemingly embodying the characteristics of a traditional female protagonist.
No.10 Whit Young: (Mortality Rate: 11.333%)
Character Development: 10%
The most mysterious man in the whole story. So far, all we know is that "his family includes a cold and neglectful father and a deceased mother whom he loves deeply." We don't know whether he grew up beside his father, whether his father abandoned him, whether his mother was as kind as he thought, whether his mother committed suicide by hanging (at what age this happened) why he can be so indifferent to others' deaths and even make terrible and inappropriate black jokes about Min's death, why, as a "Matchmaker" who should be very empathetic, he says so many things without considering the atmosphere, why, with his extremely sharp intuition (it's impossible that he didn't sense Xander's killing intent towards Teruko), he still tried to match Xander and Teruko together and even strongly encouraged everyone to vote for Teruko at the beginning of the trial, and why he only showed such a terrifying expression after the elevator to the infirmary couldn't be opened...
Everything is a foreshadowing. I like this character precisely because of this; he gives me infinite space for imagination and reasoning. Rushing the 90% of development in Chapter 3? Seems not very likely.
Counter-argument or Agreement CG Display: Number of counter-arguments=0, Number of agreements=0
Foreshadowing: None
Relevance to the Main Plot: 50%. He has an extremely close relationship with Charles, who is a foil to Teruko; and is a foil to David, the "antagonist".
No.9 Rose Lacroix: (Mortality Rate: 17.453%)
Character Development: 40%
As the Ultimate Art Forger, Rose captures the world in photographic detailâyet her gift becomes a prison, ensnaring her in a labyrinth of recollections. The paradox of her genius lies in this duality: the very skill that elevates her artistry condemns her to relive every memory with unforgiving vividness.
Beneath her lazy facade, she is a prisoner of her own mind. Minâs execution haunts her like a recurring nightmare, while Nicoâs betrayal shatters her already fragile trust. Sleep becomes her sanctuaryâa drug to numb the onslaught of hyperthymesiaâyet even dreams cannot escape the ghosts of chromatography and familial debt.
The killing game forces her hand. When art transforms from a livelihood to a weapon, Rose must confront her deepest demons. Will she seek redemption on the canvas⊠or let her talent consume her?
Unanswered questions still linger: What binds her to XF Tech? How can she ever untangle the knot of hyperthymesia? Chapter 3 will force her to face these truthsâfor in a world where memories are both treasure and torture, the only escape may be through the act of creation itself.
Counter-argument or Agreement CG Display: Number of counter - arguments = 0, Number of agreements = 1
Foreshadowing: None
Relevance to the Main Plot: 50%. She is the only character that has an esablished connection to XF tech in the canon plot.
No.8 Arturo Giles: (Mortality Rate: 18.263%)
Character Development: 35%
Arturo is one that uses a surgical mask to conceal his fear of his own mediocrity and builds class barriers with his caustic words. In his distorted value system, beauty is divinity, and ugliness is a sin. As is expected, this arrogant man who regards "commoners" as ants is actually a coward haunted by the shadow of his sister's suicide. When Eden uncovered his hidden scar, his anger and fear exposed the most festering wound in his heartâthe paranoid pursuit of "perfection" ultimately backfired and became a cancer that devoured his humanity.
However, when the usually cowardly Ace grabbed his collar and roared at him, even Arturo himself couldn't stay out of the "mortal" affairs. Presumably, what happened between Ace and Levi will teach him something about his immature character.
Counter-argument or Agreement CG Display: Number of counter-arguments=0, Number of agreements=0
Foreshadowing: None
Relevance to the Main Plot: 25%
No.7 Levi Fontana: (Mortality Rate: 19.174%)
Character Development: 40%
He killed three people and committed patricide, yet in the killing game, assumes the role of a "protector", which exposes the nihilistic nature of his moral systemâhe determines the rightness or wrongness of actions based solely on social labels rather than inner principles.
Lacking empathy, he maintains a veneer of normalcy by imitating social norms. He is one that feels guilty about Ace's violent behavior but fails to understand Teruko's grief; one who can accurately analyze others' outfits but cannot read the complex spectrum of human nature; one that admits that he "does good deeds" to gain a sense of security and group recognition rather than out of kindness.
However, when he voluntarily revealed his motive, the group recognition of his completely disappeared, and pretending to be kind was of no use--still, when the bullet was aimed at Teruko, he protected her. Is this a mechanical execution of the "good guy" script? Or did he suddenly realize something else? At least, his complex character image makes it highly likely that he will survive within the first three chapters.
Counter-argument or Agreement CG Display: Number of counter-arguments=0, Number of agreements=0
Foreshadowing: None
Relevance to the Main Plot: 25%. Currently, there is no clue indicating his connection to XF.
No.6 J Rosales: (Mortality Rate: 21.903%)
Character Development: 85%
As the Ultimate Theater Special Effects Expert, J weaves stage illusions with pyrotechnics and lightâyet her true artistry lies in manipulating realityâs contradictions. She loathes actorsâ flamboyance, viewing their performances as mere escapism, while her own existence becomes a paradox: a street-smart survivor who weaponizes rationality to mask trauma. Her hoodie isnât just attire; itâs armor, shielding memories of her motherâs rigid femininity drills.
Caught in a psychological maelstrom, she oscillates between calculation and chaotic emotion. She dissects Aceâs murder motives with detachment, yet spirals into irrational vengeance over Arturoâs harassmentâa duality driven by her fear of losing control. Her disdain for "girly shit" isnât mere rebellion; itâs a war cry against the mother who tried to mold her into a doll. Yet beneath the tomboy bravado, Areiâs playful barbs reveal a flicker of vulnerabilityâa girl desperate to be seen, not as a gender experiment, but as a human.
When the curtain falls, her illusions crumble. The same pyro skills that once dazzled crowds now illuminate her personal hell: a tightrope walk between hating and being hated, sanity and unraveling. Her quest for equilibrium isnât just survivalâitâs a scream against the hypocrisy of a world that demands she choose between authenticity and annihilation.
Counter-argument or Agreement CG Display: 0 counterarguments, 0 agreements
Foreshadowing: None
Main Plot Relevance: 25%. J is closest to Arei, but we all know what happens to the other party⊠unless you wanna count Arturo (not)!
No.5 Nico Hakobyan: (Mortality Rate: 24.375%)
Character Development: 75%
While they can understand the anxiety of pets; they fail to misinterpret human malice. Their enduring violence with the patience of a veterinarian treating animals ultimately turned into a murder weapon.
This transformation from a "healer" to a "perpetrator"; from an "extreme doormat" to a "rational avenger" exposes the fluidity of the identities of oppressors and victims, accompanied by a complete disappointment in human nature. Although the motive for the attempted murder is sympathetic, the group's condemnation of their actions reveals the cruelty of the survival ruleâin a confined space, any overstepping behavior may become the fuse for everyone's demise.
When the healer is no longer needed and kindness becomes a fatal weakness, they are forced to write a new survival fable on the boundary between bestiality and humanity with their hands stained with human blood. But at least after attempting to kill someone in Chapter 2, we hope their performance in Chapter 3 will be better.
Counter-argument or Agreement CG Display: Number of counter-arguments=0, Number of agreements=1
Foreshadowing: None
Relevance to the Main Plot: 25%
No.4 Charles Cuevas: (Mortality Rate: 37.131%)
Character Development: 90%
Canât believe it's already been over a year since I started watching DRDT... Back in February 2024 he was my favorite character. However, Whit's prophecy about him, "Pronounced dead at three", always made me extremely worried. At that time, when I talked about this with my friend, they comforted me by saying, "At least the identity of his elder brother is still a mystery!" Then in March, Elliot's music video came out...
Initially, he was sure an isolated jerkass; an arrogant student who believed himself to be above his classmates, often isolating himself and looking down on others. Nevertheless, after being framed in Chapter 1, he realized that secluding himself was not the best way to survive. By Chapter 2, he became much less antagonistic and was willing to talk and work with others. In the trial, he made full use of his intelligence and proved himself smart, like when Teruko initially dismisses his advice about time but later admits he was right, and when Hu agrees with him about her unreliable testimonies.
In terms of his relationships, he has developed a unique dynamic with Teruko. In episode3, he mentions that despite their personality changes, they will continue to make snide comments (a very big death flag). He also forms a gay relationship with Whit in Chapter 2 after Whit respects his fear of blood and tries to hide it from others.
To sum: in terms of both character development (achieving in two chapters what all Byakuya-style tsundere characters usually achieve in five chapters) and backstory development (regarding his brother and family), Charles definitely has the most well-rounded development among the living characters. Even if we include the deceased characters, only Arei has a more comprehensive development than him... Yeah, heâs at extremely high risk.
Counter-argument or Agreement CG Display: Number of counter-arguments=1, Number of agreements=0
Foreshadowing: 100%. There's no need for me to elaborate on this. Everyone is familiar with that well-known line, "Charles Cuevas, pronounced dead at three."
Relevance to the Main Plot: 75%. He serves as a direct foil to the female protagonist, Teruko. If he survives Chapter 3, with his intelligence, he would no doubt be the best support, similar to Kyoko Kirigiri.
No.3 David Chiem: (Mortality Rate: 39.680%)
Character Development: 80%
This is a man who uses honey-sweet speeches to anesthetize the world, yet when alone; rips open the festering sores of human nature, leaving them bloody.
However, his danger lies not merely in hypocrisy but in the surgical precision of his methods. Knowing exactly how to wrap oppression in the guise of "positivity" and mask control with "change"; in Chapter 2, under the pretext of "revealing secrets to stop the killing game", he actively incited the group to expose their private information, turning human weaknesses into fuel for violence. This means of "committing evil in the name of good" makes him a more dangerous presence than the murderer Aceâfor when the victims voluntarily jump into the trap, the executioner's knife seems relatively clean.
Yet his psychology runs deeper than mere villainy. When he mocked the deceased during the trial and his pupils turned to grey; those hopes he once regarded as stars were nothing but self-deception to cover up the void of the universe. Admitting that Xander is "the only one worthy of respect"; he longs for sincerity but chooses to destroy out of fear of being hurt. In contrast to Arei, who self-destructs due to the longing for love, David destroys others because he hates being loved.
Ultimately, his smirk during the trialâ"I'm a lying, manipulative, scumbaggy piece of shit"âmarks the completion of his role transformation from an actor to an audience member. This former self-help inspirational speaker ultimately completed the rebellion against social discipline through self-destruction. His downfall is not a matter of moral corruption but a violent treatment of the social illness of "having to be positive"âin a world where positive energy is used to gloss over the truth, David's madness might be the clearest cry.
Counter-argument or Agreement CG Display: Number of counter-arguments=2, Number of agreements=0
Foreshadowing: 100%. The exploded chair and bloodstains in the LGI MV? "I will disappear at chapter 3?" We can only wish him good luck. At least we should hope that "disappear" doesn't mean vanishing.
Relevance to the Main Plot: 75%. He stands directly opposite the female protagonist, Teruko, during the class trial. He is considered the antagonist by most people.
As the ultimate horror fan, Veronika's soul seems to be soaked in a palette of blood and screams. She is proficient in the psychology of fear and can use precise language to probe others' weaknesses (such as her psychological analysis of Ace), yet she admits that she is afraid of making an irreparable mistake. This contradiction of "manipulating fear but fearing the consequences" forms the core tension of her personality.
Simultaneously, her behavior oscillates between sadism and self-preservation. She hates hypocrisy but takes pleasure in exposing others' scars. Her very existence is a source of unease in the groupâfor instance, her excitement when talking about the details of the execution and her morbid appreciation of Arturo's evil deeds make her a catalyst for the horror atmosphere. However, when horror turns from fiction into reality, she falls into cognitive dissonance.
The real turning point arrives with Min's execution. She realizes that "death outside the script" cannot be aestheticized, and "fiction is fiction. In the back of your head, you'll know that it'll never happen." This abrupt confrontation with reality forces her to confront her own detachment: she sees through everyone's essence but chooses to stand by because she can't empathize. Ironically, this kind of clarity only exacerbates her sense of alienation.
Now, this girl who worships fear as a religion stands at the critical point between fiction and reality. With horror no longer just a seasoning in the script but a survival rule, and her alienated yet fascinated attitude driving others away, the question looms: can Veronika find redemption in the horror narrative she has constructed?
Counter-argument or Agreement CG Display: Number of counter-arguments=0, Number of agreements=1
Relevance to the Main Plot: 25%. Unfortunately, although Veronika's personality and intelligence are fully capable of playing the role of an antagonist, there is no direct evidence in DRDT to prove that she has a close relationship with the protagonist.
No.1 Hu Jing: (Mortality Rate: 51.622%)
Character Development: 70%
She protects her companions with maternal ferocity. However, her overbearing protectivenessâexemplified by her "smothering" of Nicoâbreeds resentment. The paradox of her selflessness is rooted in an underlying fear of losing control, a trauma etched by three failed suicide attempts.
Her quest to impose order on chaos backfires when her blind defense of Nico stalls the Chapter 2 trial. This act of "sacrificing truth for safety" exposes the fragility of idealism in desperate times. (In a way, she mirrors Sayaka Miki: both cling to the myth of selflessness while refusing to acknowledge their own complicity in perpetuating harm.)
Yet as the butterflyâs wings begin to crimson, a haunting question persists: Can she transcend her role as a "guardian" to complete the final 30% of her evolution into an "awakener"? The answer may lie buried in the next chapterâs bloodstained pages.
Counter-argument or Agreement CG Display: Number of counter-arguments=1, Number of agreements=0
Foreshadowing: 50%
Relevance to the Main Plot: 25%. Unfortunately, Hu doesn't seem to be the kind of character who can make it to the end.
Summary:
Why this works:
First, the plot relevance inversion mechanism serves a crucial role in enhancing the narrative complexity and realism of the story. Non-main characters are usually seen as supporting elements, but in reality, they can have a significant impact on the overall outcome. For example, in a crime thriller, a seemingly insignificant witness (a non-main character) might hold the key to solving the case, and their actions or fates can completely change the direction of the plot. By giving non-main characters a higher chance of being involved in critical plot points related to mortality, the model creates a more balanced and engaging story. It also encourages the exploration of secondary characters' backstories and personalities, adding depth to the overall narrative.
Secondly, The foreshadowing nerf aspect of the model is a vital safeguard for maintaining the integrity of the plot. In storytelling, foreshadowing is a powerful tool, but it can sometimes be overused. When there is a "100% implicationâ for characters like Charles and David, it can make the story too predictable. Therefore, chances that their foreshadowing is just a red herring are high.
Overall, this mathematical model as a whole is a carefully constructed system that balances multiple aspects of storytelling. It takes into account narrative logic, the need to avoid obvious red herrings, and gender-related constraints.
P.S. It's important to note that this model is only an estimation. While it provides a framework for creating a story, the actual success of a narrative depends on many other factors.
Maivid fic consisting of 5 double drabbles to celebrate 5 years of DRDT. Congratulations, dev!
If you enjoyed the fic, I would please ask that you leave a kudo or comment on the ao3 post instead of this tumblr post.
~exactly 1k "She forgives everyone."
David used to think himself wiser. A man that kept his nose out of business that wasnât his. Cordial, but knew the code of the world: Do not cry my dear, for people like Xander shall right this worldâs wrongs.
And then he met Mai Akasaki, a girl with such ambition in her veins, as if all her blood could grease the cogs of revolution.
Radiant innocence is very unbecoming of her, David thinks. Sheâs like Xanderâ like him. She knows better. He can see it in the glint of her eyes, in the curve of her mouth as a gentle tiltâ that seductive promise. We can make the world better, you and I. It really is that simple. A little belief.
Heâs charmed, thatâs for sure. The cadence of her voice is sweeter than Xanderâs, higher in pitch, like a serenadeâ but her eyes are darker. A violence that Xander doesnât possess. There has to be. A person gifted with such self-awareness of the worldâs wrongs and such simultaneous optimism cannot possibly exist. In the process of becoming himself, Xanderâs heart was broken.
And yet she stands before him, wholly pure.
He canât help but hate it a little.
***
Invasive.
At first she was like a weed, growing in the cracks of his heart that he couldnât patch up. A man cannot consist on cynicism alone, or something like that.
But to be understood is somehow scarier. She never tells him Everything about you is a lie. Mai refuses to tell him the words he wants to hear, refuses to liberate him by freeing him of his self-imposed duty to be hope.Â
Instead, all she does is smile. Itâs so neutral and inoffensive that it actually disgusts him a little. âYou know, I donât think youâre as bad as you think you are.â
Whatâs also infuriating is the way she just ignores his anger. Pain is something to be healed, rather than accepted. A defect unworthy of acknowledgement. âIf youâre really that awful, then why havenât you given up?â
He really wants to slap her. âI donât have a choice.â
âNo. You do. You just understand that your position gives you the power to make a differenceâ you just want to be pushed into being.â
***
âIâll be leaving for a bit with Xander. You can take care of yourself, I assume?â
David snorts. âI assume. Youâre such a condescending bitch sometimes, you know that?â He catches Maiâs reflection in the mirror that he uses to practice his speeches with, but it doesnât reveal any truths he doesnât already know. âI wonât fall apart without you to watch me for a couple of days. Where are you and Xander heading off to?â
âChariton.â
The ease with which she says the name of that place startles him, even if he refuses to show it. â...Really.â
âReally really!â
He laughs, but it doesnât sound like that haha kind of giggle that means Iâm unmoved by irony. âYou donât⊠need a permit for that, or something?â
âWho would be around to check for something like that? A ghost?â
He canât help the sharp hiss that leaks out. âWell. Fair enough. I just didnâtâŠâ
âHmm?âÂ
Thatâs the thing about herâ he never knows when heâs being properly challenged. She always perceives that line of just concerned enough and never crosses it.
âI just didnât know⊠he was that comfortable with you.â
Her smile shows no teeth. âWhy wouldnât he be?â
***
âWhatâs the story behind that tattoo?â
She blinks at him, as if heâs a dull creature that never gets curious sometimes. Then she runs a gloved hand over her left forearm. Longing isnât the right word to describe the way she looks at it. Thereâs too much melancholy for that. âOh, this? Theyâre camelias. I got them to match my best friend.â
He stares rudely. âYour best friend that youâve told me nothing about. Speaking of which, Xander and I arenât your best friends?â He raises a dramatic hand to his head and sways. âHonestly, Iâm so hurt.â
She sticks her tongue out at him. âLive with the pain, David. Live with the pain.â
âRight, right. The story?â
âProbably awfully boring to you. My childhood friend. I met her again in high school. We only knew each other for a couple of months, but⊠that time was really special to me.â
âWowwwww. She mustâve been a real bombshell to sway you like that and convince you to get a summer fling reminder on your body.â
âOf course. Actually, sheâs the reason Iâm here.â
âOh?â
âI want to make the world a better place for her. As do you, for Xander.â
***
âI had a dream last night that I killed you.â
His words donât pull any sort of anxiety out of Mai, merely an expectant curiosity in the tilt of her head. âI see. Was it a bad dream?â
Of course thatâs what she would ask. Not Did it make you feel guilty? or Do you hate me? No. With Mai, no train of thought could ever be that banal. âYeah. I think so? Maybe. I didnât feel good when I woke up, anyway.â
A girl like her probably has better friends to talk to than a guy whose brain conjures up images of ways he can kill her. She humors him anyway. âDo you think itâs an omen?â
He recalls the face she made in the moments of her last breathsâ shock and bitter betrayal. Thatâs how he knows that it couldnât have been forebodingâ that all consuming kindness was something embedded in her very being. In fact, itâs always hard to imagine Mai as anything other than smilingâ those pretty features screwed up with rage, wouldnât that be a sight?
âNuh uh,â he says. He fixes his bowtie, winks, and grins. âWhat reason would I have to hurt you?â
Hey hi why haven't I seen anybody point out that David potentially having Xander's JACKET and Arei's GLOVE directly parallels Teruko receiving Min's JACKET and Ace's GLOVES!! LIKE DAVID IS SET UP TO BE LIKE THE "STANDARD DR PROTAGONIST" AS OPPOSED TO TERUKO'S "STANDARD DR ANTAGONIST". DAVID HAS MOMENTOS OF THE VICTIMS WHILE TERUKO HAS MOMENTOS OF THE CULPRITS!! DAVID HAD A CONNECTION WITH XANDER AND NARRATIVE PARALLELS TO AREI WHILE TERUKO HAD A CONNECTION WITH MIN AND NARRATIVE PARALLELS TO ACE!!! HELLO??? IF ANY OF THIS IS INTENTIONAL IT SIMPLY CONTINUES TO SHOW THAT DRDTDEV IS FUCKING BRILLIANT!!
David, Arei, and Eden hanging out and being friends? Maybe doing something like baking together like in that one scene :) would be very appreciated but idm If you donât do this ofc take care
baking with friends. nothing else going on here. thank you for the request!
(also to anon's other message; it's all good, don't worry!! đ i ended up doing this prompt after arei's imprisonment so i could include her here)
