#cristobrant

[untildarknesscomes]

Brant getting so drunk during The Carnevale he fully forgets where he was and what happened on it. He wakes up in a guest room, naked, confused and too hungover to think, so he chugs a full barrel of water and makes his escape through the window while simultaneously putting on his costume.

A few days later, the Troupe is approached by a young, well-mannered man that offers them to partake in his future, work-in-progress masterpiece. He humbly introduces himself as “a traveling playwright in search of inspiration for his new play”, as well as... the man Brant slept with on that day and walked out on without as much as a goodbye.

His fellow Fools turn away awkwardly.

Roccia gives him a daggered look she's never given anyone before.

Cristoforo smiles expectedly, hurt written over the fox-like curve of his emerald eyes.

Brant looks back at him confused, guilty and somewhat excited. Without a second thought, Brant accepts the proposal in hopes to make it up to the man for leaving him like this, as well as learn a bit more about him. He's quite a looker, after all.

Little does Brant know, there was no “mysterious one night stand” to begin with. Just another one of Cristoforo's deliberate schemes to manipulate the Fools into cooperation.

Little does Cristoforo know, Brant is now interested and more than determined for a second chance; he's always had a weakness for pretty people, after all. Flirting and gifts are in order.

The mask slips, making way for irritation—an emotion too unnatural for a man well-versed in maintaining a facade. But Brant carves his way right under Cristoforo's tough skin. Naturally, Cristoforo will have to find Brant's weaknesses too. And what's a better way than to test Brant's acting abilities in real story?

[untildarknesscomes]

Brant x Cristoforo. A heroic actor x a villainous playwright. “Dumb but secretly very smart” x “Intelligent but weak for the dumb one”. Enemies/lovers with benefits, though Brant might fall first. They're both so dramatic they'd turn their love story into a Shakespeare-esque tragic play. Only to stumble into one bed by the end of the day.

Roccia would be unamused.

[untildarknesscomes]

Finally got around to doing Ciaccona's story quest and, well... The worms have spoken again.

During their first meeting, Cristoforo talks to Ciaccona about his first poem he “wrote in his youth”:

Have you noticed the bird presented in this poem? Its colors and overall appearance seem awfully familiar. Almost like a very special, charismatic and loveable... Brant?:

So... childhood friends brantoforo, anyone?

Allow me to paint you a picture:

In his short monologue, Cristoforo mentions birds that yearned to fly and escaped from the cage, but fell to their deaths in doing so. According to Brant's backstory, he was sent on a Piligrim's Sail as a child because he once questioned the Sentinel—seeking freedom from the Orders lies, in a sense. So imagine a young Cristoforo writing a poem in his friend's memory, thinking that Brant died on that journey along with everyone else. Imagine his pain and anger towards the Order growing, prompting him to join the Fractsidus and help them destroy Rinascita by awakening Leviathan.

Cristoforo wouldn't know that Brant is now the esteemed captain of the Troupe of Fools. According to Brant's story, he potentially changed his real name:

As for why Brant wouldn't recognize Cristoforo, perhaps he doesn't remember him after all these years, or maybe Cristoforo has changed a lot, too, and it'd be too hard to believe that his old friend would join the Fractsidus.

And yet, both men appear captivated by each other nonetheless. It's as if they were destined to meet again years later.

(Anyways, this is all in delusional, shipping fun.)

[untildarknesscomes]

Just realized Cristoforo x Brant give me vibes of another rarepair I like – Mr Reca x Sunday. Just two actors participating in their passionate boyfriends' stories by acting out their given roles. Although I have a feeling Sunday would be way more interested in Cristoforo's plays, being a theater kid at heart and all.

They’re both obsessive to an unhealthy degree, but Cristoforo is very good at hiding it behind pretty smiles and nonchalant acts while Reca is generous with his adoration and possessiveness. Both prefer creating dangerous scenarios, putting their significant others in harms way. Brant, of course, enjoys the challenges no matter how big and enthusiastically faces them head-on. Sunday, on the other hand, isn't the biggest fan of the action scenes, which is why he sternly “talks” things out with the film director. Rawly, more often than not.

And there's no ignoring the “Enemies & Lovers” aspect of both ships. Brant, playing his assigned role of a dumb hunk with zero self-awareness, and in doing so – monitoring the Fractsidus, keeping them in check. Cristoforo allows it to a certain extent, for he is quite charmed by the younger man, but not enough to betray his own interests. And Sunday, catering to Reca's every whim – no matter how big – to use the Memokeeper in the future. Reca knows, of course, but doesn't mind it for as long as Sunday belongs to him.

I have so many thoughts about them it's slowly killing my brain.

[untildarknesscomes]

Why am I JUST finding out that Brant and Cristoforo in EN are voiced by the same voice actor??? If this isn't fate telling us that they're made for each other, I don't know what is. ⚓️🪶