Rumi

any pronouns

[roseredrumi]

I hope this introduction finds you in good health,

I’m Rumi and I draw (often) and write (sometimes). My opinions are I don’t like bad things and I think smartphones are deeply evil and we should get rid of them forever. I love PHYSICS and mathematics and history and literature and fountain pens and cassettes and electronics repairs and cooking and editing (I'm a newspaper editor on the side)

my art (as of 2026) is tagged #my art

on twst i like jamiazu and not really much else i fear. i draw jamil and sometimes azul is there too. and i will take jamiazu requests

my jamil character study fic, A Dream Deferred, is centered around the implications of book four and the theme of conflicting perspectives on exploitation between east and west

[ethereal-evenings]

I still just can’t believe this. They’re on the same page, Eve… They’re standing next to each other, and, and they’re both smiling…….

It's so good 😭 and their conversation leading up to this was just so flirty in the way that is uniquely them ("I'm very much looking forward to witnessing your hidden abilities in full" "Hidden abilities? Judging others like that is a bad habit of merchants, Azul" <- said with a playful smirk, and instead of the old "not on your life!").

and the way there was no real reason for them to interrupt the story to have this conversation too 😭 they're genuinely just friends in canon now, friends who banter and needle each other without ever truly reacting negatively to one another. it's clear that the conversation in 7.5 did a lot for them (as well as all their interactions leading up to it). they've come so far, it's beautiful

I'm really looking forward to seeing where the story takes them in book 8, especially if we do get to see them working together. the stakes have gotten higher for the challenge now, and clearly the current pair-ups aren't working perfectly... I can see them switching the pairs now that they're at the midpoint of the challenge (iirc ?). maybe we will get the jamiazu teamwork of our dreams, now that they're at a stage in their relationship where they're able to work together. picturing them having to really trust and support each other... it'll be wonderful

[roseredrumi]

"I'm very much looking forward to witnessing your hidden abilities in full" "Hidden abilities? Judging others like that is a bad habit of merchants, Azul" <- said with a playful smirk

^ I did not know about this. their beautiful friendship…

[ethereal-evenings]

their beautiful friendship, indeed. look at azul smiling like an idiot at jamil's response (/affectionate) 😭 he's having so much fun with the banter

[roseredrumi]

oh my god he’s beaming. he;s covering his mouth because he needs to hide his stupid smile over jamil’s teasing. his face hurts because of his obnoxious grin and we are going to kill him

[ethereal-evenings]

I still just can’t believe this. They’re on the same page, Eve… They’re standing next to each other, and, and they’re both smiling…….

It's so good 😭 and their conversation leading up to this was just so flirty in the way that is uniquely them ("I'm very much looking forward to witnessing your hidden abilities in full" "Hidden abilities? Judging others like that is a bad habit of merchants, Azul" <- said with a playful smirk, and instead of the old "not on your life!").

and the way there was no real reason for them to interrupt the story to have this conversation too 😭 they're genuinely just friends in canon now, friends who banter and needle each other without ever truly reacting negatively to one another. it's clear that the conversation in 7.5 did a lot for them (as well as all their interactions leading up to it). they've come so far, it's beautiful

I'm really looking forward to seeing where the story takes them in book 8, especially if we do get to see them working together. the stakes have gotten higher for the challenge now, and clearly the current pair-ups aren't working perfectly... I can see them switching the pairs now that they're at the midpoint of the challenge (iirc ?). maybe we will get the jamiazu teamwork of our dreams, now that they're at a stage in their relationship where they're able to work together. picturing them having to really trust and support each other... it'll be wonderful

[roseredrumi]

"I'm very much looking forward to witnessing your hidden abilities in full" "Hidden abilities? Judging others like that is a bad habit of merchants, Azul" <- said with a playful smirk

^ I did not know about this. their beautiful friendship…

[roseredrumi]

book 8 spoilers !

a jamiazu crumb... I really love that azul is only mentioning jamil here, instead of just saying "the others" or even mentioning ruggie 😭 azul has one priority when it comes to people, and it is jamil viper

I also want to mention, he and lilia got into a little trouble because their styles don't gel well together (lilia is more of a "charge in first" kind of guy). and I'm not saying this wouldn't have happened if he was paired with jamil, but I'm not not saying that. book 6 does come to mind—the scene where idia says that azul and jamil have very similar approaches to fighting (“calm and efficient, or maybe just stalling and using people as shields”). which could mean nothing. or it could mean that their inevitable collaboration has been written in the stars.

crying. it's just jamil and company to him. jamil et al. oh azul...

it really does feel like every book since jamil's overblot foreshadows their working together. there's azul insisting they'd be so good together in book 4 ("How about it? ... You could join forces with me and make a name for yourself.") and 5 ("Octavinelle's doors are always open to you."). then idia in book six, as you mentioned. then jamil in azul's dream in book 7 and the aftermath:

Azul: Ah, what a pity. I was quite looking forward to fighting alongside you, Jamil.

Jamil: Hmph. It's not like this is farewell forever.

which is also interesting because it's the first time jamil doesn't go NOT ON YOUR LIFE! NO WAY! ABSOLUTELY NOT! and instead resigns himself to the fact that azul will be in his life. and even teasingly encourages him. then in 7.5 they have a conversation where jamil admits to their similarities ("you can relate, right?")....

I don't know about written in the stars, but I would certainly say written in the story. Shipping goggles completely off, this is just textbook foreshadowing. These two have been established foils for years and every story they inch closer to working together. They work towards a common goal in books 6 and 7, they have a conversation that completely redefines their relationship and what it represents (7.5), and then they're working towards a common goal again. I am never counting on the authors of Twisted Wonderland to carry their literary devices through, but all the times I thought they dropped the ball I've been proven wrong by the sheer length of their narrative. The point is, they have to work together eventually. Its been a loose thread for years. It's pivotal to their characters. Now is the perfect time to resolve it.

[aralsea26]

Apologies if this is rude or invasive 🙇‍♂️ but does @/roseredreuben still like azujami/twst? I ask because I think (...?) u know them IRL, and I liked their art when they posted!!!!

Oh yes, Reuben still very much likes Azujami. He is just in the habit of taking time away from the internet. He was in the woods without cell service this week

[roseredrumi]

I still ,ove azujami… I have a physical copy of my favorite interactions of them, which I brought to the overnight camp I work at to annotate. The grind never stops, but the internet is bad for me so I must frequently go without . Or I perish

[roseredrumi]

does anyone read first person fics. i have an idea i really want to write but it's within framed narrative journal entries and those are unavoidably first person...

[ethereal-evenings]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

ephemerality

pairing: Vil/Cater words: 2.0k

Cater sucked in a breath and stood all at once, his hair whipping around behind him as he spun to face Vil. The man was still looking down, staring but not really seeing anything at all. A quick twist of Cater’s lips, and then he molded them into a familiar smile. That same traitorous hand that had yearned to reach out found itself being extended to Vil, who looked up sharply. His eyes were glistening. Cater hated that.

or: the bittersweet time before an inevitable parting

Wrote this short piece around the time that I posted this, on the tragedy of an inevitable break-up. It wasn't actually going to be posted at first, but I really do love this piece, so I wanted to share :)

[roseredrumi]

Food for thought: all the traits Jamil openly admires in voice lines describe Azul perfectly:

“I applaud your dedication. A deliberate approach makes it easy to handle whatever comes your way.”

“Double-check everything”, “Never go with your first instinct”, “You can never be too careful”

Azul’s main character strengths are dedication and thoughtfulness. When he’s criticised, it’s often because he’s been deliberating for too long, because he’s overly cautious. He is genuinely Jamil’s ideal individual; circumspect where Jamil is reckless, resourceful where Jamil is headstrong. I’m happy we’ve started seeing their relationship blossom in Tapis Rouge (where they have fun and act like friends) and book 7.5 (where Jamil is first willing to admit their similarities)… Azul is right: They make a good pair.

[roseredrumi]

Food for thought: all the traits Jamil openly admires in voice lines describe Azul perfectly:

“I applaud your dedication. A deliberate approach makes it easy to handle whatever comes your way.”

“Double-check everything”, “Never go with your first instinct”, “You can never be too careful”

Azul’s main character strengths are dedication and thoughtfulness. When he’s criticised, it’s often because he’s been deliberating for too long, because he’s overly cautious. He is genuinely Jamil’s ideal individual; circumspect where Jamil is reckless, resourceful where Jamil is headstrong. I’m happy we’ve started seeing their relationship blossom in Tapis Rouge (where they have fun and act like friends) and book 7.5 (where Jamil is first willing to admit their similarities)… Azul is right: They make a good pair.

[aralsea26]

Recently a study came out going over the demographic differences between Messi and Ronaldo fans and explored the psychological and sociological influences behind it, so here’s how I think each TWST character would fall on the Messi vs Ronaldo debate

Riddle - Messi fan through and through. Messi is associated with strategy, technique, collaboration, and evidence based thinking, and while Riddle can be impulsive and irrational I do not think he aligns with faith based thinking strongly enough to be a Ronaldo fan, unless Ronaldo were his mother, that is.

Trey - Messi fan. Doesn’t care much but he’s seen the stats.

Cater - Messi fan. Messi is also associated with western liberalism/leftism (and you know, Cater is a chronically online bisexual I think he falls into this), in large part because he stays out of scandal, unlike Ronaldo.

Deuce - Ronaldo fan. As stated above Ronaldo is associated with faith based thinking and stubborn conviction, and Deuce has been shown to follow orders without question and has expressed stubborn tendencies.

Ace - Tossup. I think he could be either or but he probably plays up his love of Ronaldo to ragebait people.

Leona - Messi convert. Before this year’s World Cup, a lot of professional soccer players claimed to prefer Ronaldo, they claimed him as their idol and hero, but all of the scandals surrounding him, from SA allegations to poor sportsmanship to declining performance have led many to quietly repeal their support of him. Leona would be one of those people.

Ruggie - Ronaldo fits demographically. I don’t think he has strong opinions on the modern discourse. Overall I actually think he’d be a Maradona or Pele fan. But if he’s a Maradona fan, well, he’d have to answer the question of Messi v Ronaldo with Messi.

Jack - Ronaldo fan. Stubbornness, as stated above, is associated with Ronaldo fans. On top of that, people who support Ronaldo generally have higher self esteems and trust their own judgment more than Messi fans, a trait I believe applies to Jack.

Azul - Messi fan. Messi just wins more. It’s that simple. Azul may meet many of the qualifications for being a Ronaldo fan, but numbers are his language and he’s seen the numbers. He wouldn’t stake his claim to knowledge on a losing dog.

Jade - Likes to slander both of them just to ragebait people. Claims Messi got most of his goals on penalties or that Ronaldo only has less goals because he was a midfielder and then turns around and claims Ronaldo is a goal stealer and completely deranged.

Floyd - Ronaldo fan but literally only for the ragebait. I think his actual favorite would be someone cutesie like Mbappe

Kalim - Ronaldo fan. Egotistical, stubborn, and a faith-based thinker, Kalim fits every criterion of a Ronaldo fan in his heart. “I’m happy as long as all players have fun” he claims. But he’s not. He’s not.

Jamil - Messi fan. Originally, just to be contrarian to Kalim, but he really genuinely enjoys holding Messi’s stats over his head and as such would totally get way too into it. Celebrates big whenever Messi wins and Ronaldo loses. The smug Messi fan you’ve been told to hate.

Vil - Ronaldo fan. He’s pretty, he’s arrogant, and he obviously takes care of himself. He plays hard and wins in flashy ways. Vil would find someone like this easy to relate to.

Rook - Ah, mon cher, they are both beautiful! To witness la passion here… it is enough to make one lose himself in the spectacle. I appreciate both and all! The competition can be absent from my mind, remaining only on the field

Epel - Ronaldo fan. Big strong masculine man who is tall and handsome and absolutely dominates the field every time he plays what’s not to love.

Idia - Messi fan on a very objective basis. “Messi’s the GOAT” delivered in the same way one might say “the sky is blue”.

Ortho - See above. Might ragebait by pretending to be the type of kid who thinks Ronaldo is the GOAT because he watches IShowSpeed.

Malleus - I cannot imagine him caring. I just cannot. Fuck.

Lilia - Well the GOAT is clearly Pele.

Silver - Believes Messi is the GOAT, hasn’t put much thought into it and will not put much thought into it.

Sebek - HARDCORE RONALDO FAN. THE RONALDO FANBOY EVERYONE HATES. Defends him relentlessly, claims his team is ass because they don’t pass to him, gets genuinely mad when people bring up Messi’s stats. He’s passionate. Good for him.

[aralsea26]

How I feel asking my editor to read my fic

[roseredrumi]

i woke up this morning and there nero was, looming over me, asking if i was going to read the fic before doing homework

[aralsea26]

Lmaooo imagine if Crowley, in order to make more money for the school, forced the students to run a for profit day camp over the summer

Here’s how I think Azul would be as a camp counselor

- The type of counselor campers would love to bully, every group has one of these in my experience. Kids express affection often through teasing and Azul would pretend he didn’t mind it but do nothing but complain once the day was done. He doesn’t realize, and frankly it isn’t much consolation to him that it means they love him. I can imagine Jade saying something like “Look at our Azul, putting on such a brave face” before the camp day starts.

- Keeps something on him to use for bribes to get campers to behave. In my professional experience stickers are the safe option as candy is a potential allergen and fidgets can be distracting.

- Because he values being respected he would want to run his group in a bit more of an authoritarian manner, however he also values independence, I can imagine him structuring camper free time in a way that is actually quite fair for both parties.

- He can manage fine but really he would not like dealing with campers at all. Really, I imagine he probably is not fond of dealing with children ever. Only child, bullied as a kid, he has no experience. He would be quite dismissive of campers’ feelings and struggles and this would lead them to bully him more.

- His saving grace to these kids would really just be his respect for their autonomy. To an extent he respects it too much, he doesn’t not give campers nearly as much attention as they need.

- He’s really good at fake compliments though. If a camper showed him a drawing that he thought looked like shit he’d find something nice to say about it, just to get them to like him to be honest.

- Despite his overall lack of care for each camper as an individual, he does not want anything at camp to reflect poorly on him. He’s good at problem solving and backup plans and definitely took first aid training seriously in the event of an emergency.

- He would immediately address a situation in which one camper seemed to be being singled out and harassed or ignored by other campers.

Overall score: 7/10, going through all the motions correctly but with no emotional attachment. Campers pick up on this!

[aralsea26]

Every time someone says Azul is strong because he is a merman an octopus dies. He is strong because he works out every morning. Hard work and consistency are the key to maintaining and building strength, not genetic luck.

[roseredrumi]

[aralsea26]

This is such an image… why are the pixels on the speech bubble like that… and why is the background mostly a transparent png background except for the far left side. Perplexing.

[roseredrumi]

[aralsea26]

NOT EVEN FITTING.

[roseredrumi]

[aralsea26]

Every time someone says Azul is strong because he is a merman an octopus dies. He is strong because he works out every morning. Hard work and consistency are the key to maintaining and building strength, not genetic luck.

[roseredrumi]

[aralsea26]

This is such an image… why are the pixels on the speech bubble like that… and why is the background mostly a transparent png background except for the far left side. Perplexing.

[roseredrumi]

[aralsea26]

Every time someone says Azul is strong because he is a merman an octopus dies. He is strong because he works out every morning. Hard work and consistency are the key to maintaining and building strength, not genetic luck.

[roseredrumi]

[aralsea26]

It is really interesting, the racial coding of Azul Ashengrotto

He is very clearly culturally Italian, this is something I think most people agree on, especially as the Coral Sea seems to be based on Italy with the tweels’ family and Azul’s business model seeming to be a reference to Italian organized crime, the original film taking place in the Mediterranean, and Azul’s mother running an Italian restaurant.

Azul was a victim of what is, allegorically, racially targeted harassment as a child. People made fun of him for being visually different, beyond just being chubby and slow he was an “ink-spewer” an “octo-twerp” he has admitted that there just aren’t a lot of cephalopodic merfolk where he lives/went to school. If you really read into his dreams in book seven you can really see how the people of the Coral Sea treat people who are different. Azul becoming the bully likely meant emulating the behavior of his peers from school. He recognized and internalized disdain for those different and used it to place himself in a position of power, teasing the freshmen for being land dwellers in a similar way to how he was likely teased for being an octopus.

Azul also displays very clear signs of imposter syndrome. I mean, down to his unique magic. He does not trust in his ability to organically build skills and thus feels the need to take them from others and develop upon them from there, but get this, Azul is very talented! Even after losing all of his contracts Azul is still at the top of class rankings (below Riddle, but nobody can ever be above Riddle), he can still sing, he’s still incredibly powerful even if his casting pool is limited. He constantly laments starting late in terms of his magic development but he shows so much skill and aptitude through his own hard work and dedication to being better. No doubt a lot of this was imparted on him by his grandmother who he describes both as spoiling him and treating him with “tough love” to “help him grow and develop as a person” but also it is more common for minority demographics to experience imposter syndrome than non-minority populations. It’s clear in Azul’s flashback when he calls himself “hopeless in studies and athletics” he is parroting things he has been told about himself. Him being different made him stand out, worsened the bullying, and created this idea in his mind that he must lie and cheat and steal in order to surpass those who have wronged him. He doesn’t believe in his own abilities, he just doesn’t think he’s worth anything as is. He thinks he is inherently worse than those around him.

Finally there is the immigrant aspect. Azul is a merman who has come to land to make a better life for himself and pursue capital ventures he could never hope to achieve in his homeland. He forces assimilation (exemplified through the human potion, which he admits is unpleasant) and pushes himself outside of his comfort zone constantly to learn about life on land. While it was blatant emotional manipulation, dream Azul’s admission that life on land seems too scary for him to ever brave feels a bit like a subconscious admission to his anxieties (Azul displays symptoms of GAD but that’s a topic for another time).

The fact that makes this coding more convoluted, however, is that his human form is white. “Well there’s no indication that human racism exists in twisted wonderland” yes and what I am getting at is by the standards of his world he is white passing. He looks like a human boy and gets treated by most as a human boy. There is nothing, on land, that distinguishes him from other human beings other than his own admission and behavior. To carry his backstory over perfectly to a human au, he needs to be in some way white passing. Southern Italian growing up in Northern Italy then going to school in the States immediately came to mind. Jewish in a majority gentile area who moves somewhere with more diversity (I’ve experienced this one!). Wasian in a majority white area who moves to a more Asian area. There are tons of ethnic differences worldwide that make someone non-white by the standards of one region and white by the standards of another. There’s a lot you can do with this.

[aralsea26]

I haven’t drawn in a while, here’s teary Azul Ashengrotto