Castiel/Dean Winchester (Supernatural) vs Suletta Mercury/Mirorine Rembran (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury)
Castiel/Dean
Suletta/Mirione
Voting ended onMay 20, 2024
This poll is a celebration of fandom and fandom history; we're aware that there are certain issues with many of the listed pairings and sources, but they are a part of that history. Please do not take this as an endorsement, and refrain from harassment.
Jade has never had a lot of accessories in her possession. She never had enough money to be able to afford anything precious and being a knight in training, having rings and necklaces while roughhousing is just asking to lose fingers or getting choked.
She got her ears pierced later on, about a couple of days after Kit got her own ears pierced. The cuff she wears regularly now is also from Kit. A gift she says, 'for my best friend!'
Years pass and Jade still doesn't wear many accessories or jewelry but there have been a number of additions to her collection.
She has new silver cuffs on her ears, as well as hair cuff decorations on her hair, given to her from her last visit to the Reaver camps. She also has a more elaborate pin of the Tir Asleen crest that indicates her rank in the Pacalcade and a golden necklace of the Knightly order crest that was formed to protect Elora.
Oh and a ring!
A simple golden band that shows 2 hands clasping a heart with a crown on top that she wears on her left hand with the heart pointing inwards. Another gift from her princess that she treasures and will never take off just like Kit does to her own jade necklace.
After writing that analysis on Jade's hair, I wanna word vomit about Jade's mask and and what it means for Jade's story (even though we only see it in two sequences). Bear with my messy train of thought. Some of this might not even be fully realized or might be a reach. To recap what I wrote in the analysis, Jade's mask represents an identity that is intrinsically tied to Tir Asleen. Based on the way it's constructed, it forces her to keep her hair tight and bound, which could be read as Jade being trapped in the values that she's grown up with in Tir Asleen. She's forced to conform to the mask physically and to her duties to the crown ethically. If the hair analysis is read as valid, then Jade can never be truly liberated while she holds onto the mask.
Jon Kasdan has said that the show is meant to explore "a more fundamental conflict... between your desires and your ideals." Jade's mask is the ultimate symbol of her ideals while Kit is the embodiment of her desire. The primary function of a mask is to conceal or hide one's self. If her mask is representative of Tir Asleen and her knightly ideals, then it is also the tool she hides behind to cover who she really is and what she truly wants. The opening scene of Willow is our first visual representation of ideals versus desire: the mask vs. Kit. The first time we see Jade remove the mask, it's so she can look up at Kit and reveal to us the truth of her feelings for the princess. These two images coincide at once to present two opposing ideas living together. In order for Jade to see Kit (desire) fully and clearly, she must remove the mask (ideals).
It’s interesting, then, that when Jade loses her mask, Kit is essentially offering to give Jade back her identity and ideals. It’s one of the key factors keeping them apart, because as long as Jade hides behind it, she’ll never be able to love Kit the way they both want her to. She can't love Kit fully if she lives under the belief that her duty as a knight requires that she can never be with the princess she serves. There's a boundary that must be observed and Jade's desires can never come before her duty. Kit, as much as she won’t admit it, fears change, especially in her relationships. She needs Jade to take that mask back, because then it means everything is okay. But it’s not okay and Kit and Jade continue to not see eye-to-eye until almost the end of the next episode after Jade has properly grieved Ballantine and her previous life. Ballantine’s death quickly sets her on a path of being able to confess her love to Kit two episodes later. Duty and honor lost her someone she loved already. It’s not worth losing Kit for.
Jade refuses the mask, because, unknowingly to her, she’s refusing to return to who she was, to the identity and ideals that Tir Asleen instilled in her. She’s begun wrestling with the ethical and moral implications for what it means to her as a knight to have killed Ballantine, someone who was not only her Commander, but essentially her father and someone she loves. Ballantine is the one to tell her in episode one that "a knight is defined... by the oaths they keep." If duty and honor is of the highest ideal, how could it ever ask her to kill someone she loves (and, essentially, sacrifice love)?
When Kit suggests killing Graydon in episode four, it should immediately align with Jade’s ideals of duty, but she quickly denies it. This is pure speculation, but after killing Ballantine, it must occur to her that duty and honor forced her to kill Ballantine while love has saved Graydon from the same affliction, not even 24 hours later. If Jade had chosen love instead of duty, could she have saved the only man she’s ever seen as a father? Again, ideals versus desires. And this ultimately ties into Elora's and the show’s message that love is the most powerful thing in the universe, because Kit is given the same opportunity to mirror Jade’s actions with Airk in the finale. The ideal of sacrifice for the greater good vs. the desire to save someone she loves. But the text says it’s the wrong choice for Kit to kill Airk out of dutiful sacrifice when love can ultimately save him. It's important that Jade refuse that mask, refuse the lessons that have been ingrained in her by Ballantine, who ultimately acts as an extension of Tir Asleen and her ideals.
I think it's also important to note that masks play a key role in both of Jade's identities. The reason I relate her mask, not only to her ideals, but to Tir Asleen is because it's visually paralleled to Ballantine's helm in episode three. When Jade lowers her mask to fight him, he does the same motion. His mask also has a similar facial structure to hers, because they serve the same military. It also draws comparisons of a child resembling and mirroring their parent. In episode five, we discover her Bone Reaver origins and that community is known for and identified by their masks. Returning to our mask metaphor, her identity in Tir Asleen was used to mask her origins as a Bone Reaver. It might be assumed that Jade's Tir Asleen mask was also meant to foreshadow and mirror the Bone Reaver masks, possibly hinting early on that everything about her is not as it appears and that she is in fact one of them.
While Jade has given up her original mask and, therefore, her Tir Asleen identity and ideals, it doesn't mean that she has given up on Tir Asleen or that she can't return to live peacefully there, and vice versa for the Bone Reavers. It also doesn't mean she can't find a way to unite those identities. In episode six, Scorpia gives her the ultimatum of choosing between Tir Asleen and the Bone Reavers. We see her wear her Bone Reaver armor and embrace that part of her, but she also is still fully devoted to Kit who, as princess, is already a symbol of Tir Asleen. I personally foresee Jade coming to terms with both of those identities and using that to form an alliance between those two communities. I can also see Jade making a new mask in the future, that reflects both aspects of her. I think it'd be cool and kind of full circle for her to create a mask that is an extension of herself.
I probably should have started doing this forever ago but I wasn’t sure how long I was gonna stick with drawing these comics. But I guess we’re in it now! This will be continually updated~ EVERYTHING UNDER THE CUT
Alright folks, you asked for an essay. We all know Jade Claymore is your quintessential knight archetype. As such, she is extremely dedicated to the path she’s set out for her life. She is bound to the oaths that she’s made and while we don’t know what those oaths are, it’s easy to assume that she is entirely commited to Tir Asleen and Sorsha and, by association, the entire Tanthalos family. Due to the restrictions set upon her as servant of the crown, Jade is wound rather tight. You know what else is bound and wound up rather tight at the beginning of the season? Her hair.
Note the way her hair is constantly close to her head, making it seem rather small. She’s got these ties running through her curls for half of the journey, keeping everything neatly in place. It’s very Jade, a character for which things are rarely out of order (unlike Kit, whose hair typically flies about everywhere). There are two physical attributes Jade gets rid of over the course of the season, both of which we’re introduced to her with: her mask and her bound curls.
Jade's different styles in episode one. Even when her hair is out, there's always a section bound or twisted.
When we meet Jade, her mask is on and her hair is braided back. This Jade is at her most duty and honor bound and the unforeseen adventure ahead will evolve her beliefs about what it means to be those things. By the way the mask is made, it almost forces Jade to keep her hair pretty low, due to the head strap in the back. In episode three, after her mask is knocked off of her face, she never picks it back up again. The mask represents an identity that she ties to Tir Asleen and Ballantine (it’s paralleled with his helm). Kit offers to return it to her, but Jade refuses it and begins her crisis of faith and journey to discovering who Jade Claymore really is. We never see it again. This Jade Claymore died in the Pitiless Pass with Ballantine.
Episode two is where Jade's signature style truly begins through the next few episodes. Note the ties in her hair and how they hold it down.
In episode five, something similar happens with her hair. After Scorpia tells her the truth about her history, that she is a Bone Reaver stolen by Tir Asleen, her hair is never bound again. She loses all of the ties and strings holding it. Instead, her Bone Reaver look consists of Bantu knots that crown her head like her sister’s and fully freeing the rest of her hair. She’s accepted her Bone Reaver heritage and gone is the orphan girl always searching for family. Also important, she finally allows herself to be honest about her feelings to Kit, something that has been forbidden by the duties she’s bound herself to.
Episode 5: before and after her Bone Reaver heritage is revealed.
And as the season goes on, she continues to allow her hair to freely flow, even if it’s tied back. With every episode, it seems to get bigger and bigger until we have the ponytail she’s wearing in episode seven and eight that sits high on her head. I would argue that, despite the life threatening quest they’re on, at this point, Jade is at her happiest and most liberated. Note that she is the only one that doesn’t appear as broken down by the Shattered Sea like everyone else. She’s found her family, discovered her purpose, and has Kit.
Jade's styles, post-Wildwood.
Episode eight is where she breaks her final chain: she’s finally able to admit she loves Kit in front of other people. Willow basically gives her the permission and it leads to Jade’s most important quote of the series, the purpose of her journey. From bound and restrained to a knight who understands that duty and honor means nothing without love. By unbinding her hair, Jade unshackles herself.
Did we all know that Tanthamore have a romantic musical theme that comes up whenever they kiss??
Listen to this one– hear those opening notes that go to a minor key, and then how that lonely whistling tone comes over it all? Can you hear how it sounds a bit sad, a bit like a goodbye?
Okay now listen to this one.
Hear those same first notes, except now they build to a harmony in a major key, and that lonely whistle tone is now just a subtle part of the whole? Do you hear how it builds into something beautiful and cohesive?
- Jades love language is acts of service and kits is physical touch I think the show backs me up on this one.
- Kit is very pro PDA/ wants to touch Jade all the time, and Jades knightly duty instincts tell her it’s absolutely unacceptable to be seen doing that with the princess (but also like she totally wants to). So basically it balances out into the perfect amount of PDA, little touches, flirty looks, just being comfortable in each others presence. Like painfully obvious but not overbearing.
- Jade is really inquisitive so on the rare occasion she’s not training or with kit she goes to the library to read. She has this little corner where only kit knows where to find her and she just hunkers down there for a couple hours in sweet solitude. (also she has stolen books from the library stacked under her bed. You can’t change my mind).
- Kit on the other hand gives me inattentive ADD/ADHD vibes (probably just projecting but I don’t care). so this girl cannot sit down and read to save her life. However she does like listening to stories so Kit will put her head in Jades lap and she’ll read aloud to her
- Jade is super ticklish and kit absolutely uses that to her advantage.
- Because kits shorter she always hugs jade around the waist and Jade always hugs her around the shoulders. (Their HEIGHT DIFFERENNNCEE!!)
- In following funky little queer seating practices, when the gang is sitting around the fire late kit sits on the ground between Jades legs and leans back on her
- Jade is purposefully romantic. Like she’ll plan a whole romantic evening top to bottom, making sure it’s at a time and place that’s convenient for kit. Or She’ll give kit handwritten letters she spent hours writing.
- Kit is accidentally romantic. Like she’ll randomly grab jade and drag her off to watch at the sunset just because it looks cool and she wants to do it with her. She doesn’t really write notes but she’ll randomly blurt out the most romantic sweet things that make Jade go weak in the knees.
- I’ve seen posts about this already but kit head butting jade for affection 🥺
- kit kissing jades nose because she always wrinkles it in the most adorable way
- KIT SITTING IN JADES LAP!!
- Despite having a lot of top energy Jade is still fairly shy so Kit will very often makes her flustered and she flushes bright red and hides her face in her hands.
- Jade very easily scooping kit off her feet anytime she’s being a little shit.
- Jade has a sweet tooth kit has always indulged
- Tanthamore feels like the couple that tell each other everything (in spirit of the truth plums) so if you tell one of them a secret it comes with the preface from kit of “Jade is also now your secret holder. I am absolutely telling her” and Jade “kit will find a way to force it out of me”
- last but certainly not least: Kit is a bratty bottom and Jade is a service top I will take NO criticism.
Airk Tanthalos, the oldest of Sorsha’s children and yet the second fiddle to both his father Madmartigan and twin sister Kit. The spare prince of Tir Asleen. My sad, beautiful, people-pleaser boy.
Growing up, did you ever want to cut your hair or get multiple piercings just to break the princely façade that your mother wanted you to have? Did you ever think of running away? Or was wanting and getting Sorsha’s acceptance and validation more valuable to you? then again you were never the wild child. never the rebellious one cuz that was Kit. And running away would mean being the same as your dad and that.... that is more detestable than feeling rejected by your mum.
But years of being ignored and being made to stand to the side must’ve been hard for you. Not that you wanted to be the King or whatever but just to be acknowledge and feel wanted. Do you really even like sleeping around? or was that the attempt to get your mother’s attention? You’re not the problem child but have you ever thought of disappearing for a couple of hours just to see if anyone would come looking for you? Have you ever had the thought of getting yourself hurt just to say that it happened? To see if people actually cared? That maybe they’d hold you a little tighter?
You would never do it, but I wonder if the thought ever consumed your mind at all?
Your father. You hate him. You loved him. Would want him back? Would you be happy to see him again? Or would you hate it especially if he does come back and everyone suddenly started acting as if he never left at all? Would you resent Kit for idolizing him and looking up to him once more? As if the hole he left was never there at all. Like the years you spent trying to fill and fix that hurt, to be the man he could never be in your eyes was all for nothing. That the childhood you sacrificed trying to fix things with your mum and sister, meant nothing at all.
Your sister your twin. Have you ever felt resentful and jealous of her? Because she complains about everything but at least your mother pays attention to her. Or do you feel guilty instead? Cuz she’s shackled into place by the duties of being the Sorsha’s heir and you’re free as a bird.
Then you got kidnapped and everything in your being says run the moment you realise who Lili was. You run and you run but the sun and the ruined city is all there is and you just wanted absolutely anything else and Lili says you are important here. You gave in out of desperation but that was some fucked up shit cuz the crone made you fight your sister. made you almost betray your family and kingdom and that makes you feel like absolute shit.
You feel weak and stupid but then you realise.... Kit came for you. She crossed the Shattered Sea to rescue you. She came to save you.
Boy that must’ve felt amazing despite all the shit that happened. Cuz you don’t know how long you were in that city but I’ve wondered if you spent your time there wondering if anybody would ever come for you. If anyone would ever care to come save you. So when Kit came and said all of those things and really properly saved you, I wondered how that must’ve felt for you.
I know you must feel tainted. Cuz of the crone of course but also cuz you hate feeling all these negative emotions about your family.
But Buddy let me tell you this.. you are a good man. And despite all those feelings you love and you love and you love and you love and you care and you care so fucking deeply that it hurts. And wanting that same love be given to you is completely normal.
And maybe love is fickle and easily manipulated. But you love Kit more than you could ever resent her. You love your mum more than she could ever dismiss you. You love your kingdom more than anything the wyrm could ever offer to you. Your love is good. And you are good.
My boy never let go of that love. Cuz if there’s anything more powerful than wyrm in this world. It’s love.
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