This is a sideblog for unhinged Roatheposting. Roathe criticism allowed. Roathe hate not allowed. All Roathe ships allowed. Will post other Warframe-related brainrot
online numbers can really fuck you up when it comes to your creative work because you're sharing something you worked on with all your heart but it's very important to remember there's actual people behind those numbers. even if it's 1. that's one whole actual person. that's a human being who said "haha nice". that's a connection with a REAL person with a REAL life and REAL thoughts and feelings and experiences. like. damn. that should mean something
roathe, at the edge of his patience: usurper. i can tell what you're thinking in there. and, no, for the. last. void-condemned time. my tail is not capable of supporting my weight like that and even if it was, i would most certainly not be doing [air quotes] "the godzilla tail slide dropkick thing," thank-you-very-much.
Staring into space thinking about Roathe. Thinking about how almost everything he did to make him a commander and survive abuse started when he was a kid.
Using lying as a tool on his soldiers and even himself? I know in my heart that at least one those "creative techniques" he learned to keep the other kids from beating the fuck out of him was to lie. Just like him cultivating the image of being "a devil" and "a monster" to keep everyone away from him. He says lack of familial connections helped him focus on military stuff, but I read that "I needed a distraction." and it simultaneously taught him tactics on how to survive attacks from other kids.
"I understood from the start - both on the battlefield and in the bedchamber - the path to victory through seeming submission.”
The part of me that takes things literally is reading this as he learned this lesson when he became a commander and was with Nitokh, but the other part of me is like...that can't be when he first learned that. Roathe was learning about military strategies since he was a child, it had to have come up then. When he was getting beat up, one of his ways to get through it was probably to not fight back and just to wait until it was over.
"Where the enemy finds you yielding, there you can be sure he will push; and so you may easily trip him.” What an interesting choice of words, Roathe. You're talking about the fall of the Orokin Empire here, but that gives me a very specific image. Tripping? Hmm. (Again, that may be me reading into things too literally.)
Thinking about how Roathe is a character that shows how trauma doesn't make you a good or bad person, it just makes you traumatized. It's what you do after that defines your life.
Thinking about how as the Drifter, if you follow your preconceived notions and biases about the Orokin and project them onto Roathe, and tell him that what he did was just in his nature as an Orokin, and that he doesn't need to be held accountable, you basically foster a mentality in him of "I am what I am." (in his view, devil and a monster just like all the Orokin) and turn him into a villain.
These are just for funsies, and random thoughts I've had rattling in my head! If anyone wants to pitch in or ramble more about these/him, I'm more than welcoming of it c:
I had this just as a draft to ramble in and I....didn't realize how long this ended up being, LOL. I did my best to keep this in-character enough! Just wanted to dote on and appreciate the grumpy grump priest ❤️
Lyon smiles more whenever Drifter's around, whether he knows it or not. Mostly, it's just a subtle curl of the corner of his lips. But when their eyes meet, or he listens to their voice as they speak, it grows wider. If he's ever around The Hex or other protos that are aware of how he usually is, they'll be almost unsettled at how happy he looks. But they'll take it over his default scowl.
Roathe gives Lyon relationship advice, completely unprompted. Like how to be suave, sweep them off their feet, or set the mood. Even with his grumbles, Lyon secretly does end up trying some of them out anyway...unfortunately, some of them do end up being effective. Marie will offer him advice on the softer, sweeter, more romantic side of things. Of course, he's more open to hearing what she has to say than Roathe.
Physical affection is something he almost craves and looks for, but has trouble trying to express or ask for it. Given his history, it's tough for Lyon at first, but he tries. His favorite gesture is reaching for Drifter's hand and giving it a kiss, letting his thumb rub over their fingers. Or rubbing the backs of his fingers on their cheek. Drifter can kinda show him other ways to be physically affectionate, having to literally reach for his hands and showing him how to have one arm around their waist, how to hug from behind, hooking their arms with his, etc. Eventually, he catches on and starts initiating those small gestures on his own. (It's not that isn't aware of those gestures already, it's more of Drifter showing him they're comfortable with it and encouraging him before he gains the confidence to do so!)
He LOVES letting Drifter toy with his hair. Anyone else (besides Marie) he'd swat at, and he was even a bit hesitant when Drifter asked if they could run their fingers through them for the first time. But after that, he was done for. Absolute goner. He looooves having their fingers run through his hair, giving his head little scritches too. The man will let out happy little grumbles. He'd purr if he could. They'll playfully braid his hair or style it, and he'll happily let them. Nothing too crazy, though. He's still a Brother of Lua after all. /lh
His lips are slightly chapped most of the time. He'll drink water or the occasional glass of wine, and they'll be soft for that period of time after. (I know this isn't necessarily a romance headcanon, but it's one I still have of him so I just thought I'd throw that in there.)
I feel like he'd also enjoy the Drifter's scent, too. Like if they ever pass by him, or they hug and cuddle, Lyon always takes a deep breath to take them in. Their scent brings him a lot of comfort. He'd also be the type to just get a whiff of Drifter in a room and, "!!!" before looking for them, knowing they're around somewhere.
From pictures I've seen, Lyon does have eyeliner on! He does it every morning and repaints his nails whenever they're in need of a fresh coat. I like to think maybe it's a Church of Lua type of dress code or something along those lines? Hell, it could even be personal preference. But it's a part of his routine he doesn't entirely mind. The eyeliner can get annoying at times, but he doesn't mind painting his nails since it's a bit more mindless. Drifter can tease and ask him to do the same to them. He'll say he can try, and he ends up doing pretty good! ...Though he'll click his tongue when he realizes your eyeliner is far from symmetrical.
Marie constantly catches him longingly staring at Drifter far too often...like a lot. If they're across the room or right next to him, Lyon will be lovingly staring at them. Or, if he has to be more subtle, stealing far too many glances. Roathe will notice Marie staring at him before he joins in too. The two end up snickering and murmuring to each other about just how lovestruck the priest looks for once. Of course, this results in teasing from both of them.
(If I think of more, I'll come back and edit this, but just wanted to put these out for now, just for fun. I hope these seem in-character. :)
I think making your Drifter a different gender than your operator is the funniest thing you can do. Because not only is your Operator finding out that there are alternate realities, but also because it's just the "We are you from the future" comic.
Reblog this if you want readers to come into your ask box and ask for the “director’s commentary” on a particular story, section of a story, or set of lines.
Or, send in a ⭐star⭐ to have the author select a section they’ve been dying to talk about!
