#nohrsibs

[nocharmdone]

sibling sepulchre

Summary: Castle Krakenburg is lonely without Elise and Xander.

Leo-centric post-Birthright drabble for @thedrabblecollective day 28: family.

Even a prompt that i expected to be fluffy becomes angst when i get my hands on it. CWs: death/grief and Leo being Leo.

[AO3]

Despondency cleaves the final family tie Leo had; Camilla has grown reclusive and silent as if she never had siblings at all. As the losses invert her overbearing ways, they too twist him: Leo can't find it in himself to throw blame, or get mad. What he does is lose himself in work. Nohr needs too much from him.

He wonders if the loss of the living sibling stings her most, then thinks of himself and scoffs. Leo misses Xander's counsel and Elise's smile, sun parting this dreary castle's clouds. Camilla might bury him too to see Corrin here again.

[overtsexting]

Thinking, just in general, about how fucked up birthright is for the nohrsibs. Like those four have SO much fucking trauma about fighting their own siblings, watching their families tear themselves apart, until finally it came to an end and they formed a family together. They all had each other, and maybe things weren't perfect, but they were ok and together. But then... Corrin leaves. Corrin picks other people. Corrin betrays them. And suddenly someone they all love more than anything is against them, and they're all being swayed, to different degrees, to do the same. They're fighting their sibling, and it's tearing them apart—all over again. And it costs them two of their lives.

Something about the way they almost have a found family dynamic—despite being actually related—is so tasty to me. Their early childhoods were separate, and they were kept apart and pitted against one another. It was only after the violence settled that they came together and formed a bond stronger than blood (one which i think somewhat-unhealthily revolves around Corrin, and the desire they all have to protect Corrin). It's SO found family, on TOP of them being actually siblings, and that really fucks me up. Everything about them hurts so much 😫

[theeeveetamer]

do you have any leokumi coming out to their sibs hcs?

I'm assuming this isn't omegaverse, or maybe it is, who knows I do kind of hc that omegaverse Alpha!Leo is into other alphas and that would probably be not as accepted.

Well for starters Camilla doesn't even need to be told. Camilla knows what's up.

Elise doesn't quite understand why it's a big deal. She's also chill.

Xander is like that dad that sternly listens and doesn't say anything and Leo is like "oh shit what's he gonna do" but he just kind of quietly accepts it, maybe says a few encouraging words and then it probably never comes up again.

Takumi bottles that shit up for years and Ryoma and Hinoka don't find out until he's like. married. Not that they wouldn't (or don't) accept it, they're just not always the best at paying attention to their little brother. Hey he had to get that inferiority complex from somewhere. They probably never bring it up directly because they don't want to be so obvious about how completely blindsided they were by it, lmao.

He would tell Sakura though. Sakura would be very supportive.

I don't think it would be really big or dramatic either just kind of quiet and genuine support from everyone. I'm not a big fan of the whole homophobia thing.

[nanigma]

Diff anon hhh Id love to know what your headcanons about the hoshibros are:) Or any thoughts based on canon. Those would be nice too! I read in your older posts that the two older siblings kind of neglect the two younger ones. More so with takumi than sakura, i guess. (atleast, thats what it seems like based on some facts in the game). Do you think the nohrians are closer than the hoshidans? Or vice versa? Or are the two families equally close/distant with their own siblings? Sorry this got long

First off, sorry for taking so long to answer this. I’m currently stretched a bit thin. haha;;

I am hesitant on making calls as to who is “closer” since that is often taken as a kind of value judgement on which family is “better” than the other. I already expressed a bunch of my thoughts in my answer to the ask from yesterday, so I will try to stick to your last few points.

Now again, it’s difficult to make some kind of comparative judgement here, since both these families are very different from each other in both background and personalities involved. 

I am probably going to step on some people’s toes when I say this: The Nohrians often don’t seem that “close” on an individual basis. Like, Camilla is honestly surprised that Xander knows so much about her and the other siblings. She’d been thinking he cared little about such things. Leo’s family relationships are a bit of a mess on the whole. He’s kinda similar to Takumi in the sense that he too craves affection from his family. In his case, it’s mostly that he doesn’t want to appear vulnerable, yet knows his siblings won’t recognize his needs otherwise. He feels inferior to Xander (and things can become very tense between them as seen in the drama CD) and has to hide his incestuous crush on Camilla.. Elise has a very different personality to him, and he often finds himself exasperated with her. Elise herself loves all her siblings, but often can’t quite relate to their struggles, since she was mostly sheltered from them.

Now, before my inbox gets invaded by angry Nohr fans: The game does a very good job in showing that they love each other despite all this. We get a lot of scenes of them working together as a family unit, playing off each other well no matter all the interpersonal issues between them. At the end of the day, there can be no doubt that they care a lot for each other.

We don’t get the same sense with the Hoshidans, because the game neglects them a lot. Even aside from the writing errors surrounding Ryouma, we don’t really see any family scenes between the Hoshidans that aren’t focused almost exclusively on Corrin. There is no real sense of group belonging to be found.

But we do get the sense of two very close relationships within that family unit. Ryouma and Hinoka play off each other very well in their support, as well as the Rev cutscene. As aggravating as the lack of reaction to Sakura and Takumi’s fates is, Ryouma completely freaking out at the news of Hinoka’s “death” conveyed a lot of care for her. They seem to have this very uncomplicated relationship, where they know they can rely on each other and just be themselves with no pretensions.

Then there’s of course Takumi and Sakura. Those two just really seem to understand each other so well. Their personalities are very similar in core areas, so they have an easy time relating to each other. It’s just very heartwarming to watch them interact when you know about how much they often struggle otherwise. 

I’m pretty sure Intsys official stance on both families is “they all just love each other very much”. Still, from what we are actually presented with in-game, I’ve come to think of it as more complicated. The Nohrians are a family of very different individuals, who nontheless have forged themselves into a very tight-nit unit. The Hoshidans seem more distant, but at least two individual relationships between them are incredibly strong and supportive. 

[theeeveetamer]

Ryoma: this is my sister, sakura All the nohrsibs:.... All the nohrsibs: this is Our sister, sakura-

Nohrsibs are gonna adopt EVERYONE!

Like first Sakura, then Dimitri. I’m sure Camilla was badgering Leo to marry Takumi so she could call him her cute little brother in law!

[theeeveetamer]

I might have talked about this on this blog before but man I really want the Nohrsibs to adopt Dimitri.

Imagine, Xander being sort of a patient if perhaps a bit distant older brother  figure for Dimitri to look up to and emulate (perhaps sometimes to his detriment).

Camilla learning about what happened to Dimitri and just absolutely smothering him. She gives Dedue a total run for his money in that department.

Leo in all of his competitive Leo-ness. He’s a bit satisfied that Dimitri sucks at magic, but he’s also very put off by being outdone so easily with a physical weapon.

Elise dragging Dimitri around, and Dimitri always obliging her and playing with her because he thinks she’s adorable and he’s sweet with kids.

Like it would just be so cute I want it.

[nanigma]

Well, I feel like the whole "hate monster" thing was the most unnecessary plot device, because it was out of nowhere with little no explanation. Notably in the Nohr path. Hell, even without it pretty much nothing would change at all. This part was just really REALLY dumb IMO.

That, and I feel it actively damaged the story. What should have been a harrowing emotional conflict for the Nohrsibs to overcome and grow from, gets reduced to “Oh well, he wasn’t really our dad, woops.”.

If they, especially Xander, had had to confront and fight their actual, breathing (but hopefully less cartoonish) dad, it would have made for a much better story. The stupid “plan” Corrin and Azura came up with, was mostly idiotic because they were literally, 100% convinced that the Nohrsibs would never turn over to their side as long as daddy wasn’t a ball of goo.

This is then invalidated by Revelations where it appears that Xander just needed to hear Gooron rant some more before he came around..

Just imagine if we had Corrin slowly growing more confident and capable, eventually convincing his silbings one by one that they need to stop this. Stop this monster, even if he is their father. If Garon really was the dad that they remember, he would have wanted his kids to stop him anyway. And then the Nohrsibs realizing that and turning to face Garon and stop his madness. That would have made an amazing story for Conquest. (so long as it didn’t all happen in the last chapter of the game anyway.)

Gooron also really robs the Nohrsibs of any emotional closure for the abuse they suffered. It’s all just resolved with a shrug, no lessons are learned, no regret over past mistakes, no personal growth for any of them.. “It wasn’t dad, so this doesn’t mean anything.”

[nanigma]

Hmm would it ok for you to do the same thing with the nohrain siblings?

Sure.

Xander

First impression: Really slick hairstyle and amazingly deep, hawt voice. (I was so shocked when it turned out to be Konishi, that dude has a ridiculous amount of range)

Impression now: Well-written and complex in his supports. Actual story execution is very much ‘ehhhh’ though. 

Favourite Moment: His supports with Chalotte and Sakura. That moment (you know, that moment) Birthright chapter 26. His heartbreak is so real.

Idea for a story: An entirely rewritten Conquest, where he actually gets the conflict and emotional growth he deserves.

Unpopular Opinion: I hate how his Corn obsession is played up so much post Fates. Did they really have to use Veronica to create that kind of paralel?

Favourite Relationship: His and Elise’s sibling-relationship is adorable. As for romantic, I really enjoy him with Charlotte and Sakura in particular. Platonically, I see him as this dad-figure to Laslow (don’t really see it as romantic though).

Favourite Headcanon: He was lanky and awkward as a teen. Puberty wasn’t too kind to him until after it was over. He secretly resents Leon a little for his pretty boy looks.

(Cut for length)

Camilla

First impression: Oh boy, she looks like Aversa 2.0. Maybe she’s an aunt of the Nohr royals?

Impression now: One of the biggest wasted opportunities of all. You can scratch enough compelling bits together to make for a complex, if very messed up character, but the writer’s just care for the fanservice and the fandom for whatever they want to see.

Favourite Moment: I like her Japanese support with Zero. Also her support with Benoit. (just because I think they fit together oddly well)

Idea for a story: Concubine conflict from Camilla’s perspective. Show exactly where she is comming from and how it affected her character.

Unpopular Opinion: She is not a good mother figure by any means. Her localization ending feels more like those kids will be sucked into her cycle of obsession and unhealthy love.

Favourite relationship: I do like her with Selena somehow. Also Zero and Benoit.

Favourite Headcanon: Her wyvern is actually named Jill.  

Leon

First impression: Did- ... did they just palette-swap Marth and make him pouty? Also do that tome and Mamoru Miyano mean he is the FE version of Light Yagami?

Impression now: Oh that huge nerd. I can never decide whether to love him or be exasperated at him.

Favourite Moment: Birthright 18. I will never forgive the localization for removing his sob. Also Birthright 25 (besides killing Iago, which should have been done by Takumi) and his support with Takumi ofc.

Idea for a story: A story of post-Birthright that doesn’t focus entirely on his woobieness. Showing his pain is perfectly legitimate, but I feel that’s all the fanfics ever do instead of really making use of the potential for development.

Unpopular Opinion: You’d think this wouldn’t fit here, but I know it does from experience: Leon is actually pretty physically fit and does in no way fit the “shy, frail nerd” archetype many people are trying to press him into.Also, his feelings for Camilla are essential to his character, no matter how we may feel about it.

Favourite relationship: Leokumi duh. I love him and his retainers together too, although exclusively platonic. He is also pretty cute with Sakura.

Favourite Headcanon: This is going to sound mean (I don’t mean it to be mean, I love him, this is just here to amuse me), but I imagine that he will have some real trouble with aging. He won’t actually go bald (too badly), but the grey will set in quite early, and he’ll have to really put in some effort to keep himself in shape. (cue evil Xander laughing in the back)

Elise

First impression: What are those giant hairdrills?? Shouldn’t she be falling over??

Impression now: Cute, if slightly too much so. Has a really good arc in Birthright, but doesn’t grab my attention otherwise.

Favourite Moment: Birthright 26. Her standing in-between her siblings and outright refusing to let them fight was very well-done.

Idea for a story: I would really love to read about grown-up Elise (coming-of-age really is my weakness).

Unpopular Opinion: She is a bit.. annoying at times. They could have toned down the childishness at least a little.

Favourite relationship: Her and Xander’s sibling bond. She is cute with Sakura as friends. The only one I can ever pair her with romantically is Odin.

Favourite Headcanon: She and Sakura become the world’s best diplomats. Even as an adult, people always have trouble turning her down (and not because of exagerrated sex-appeal like with Camilla, just because she’s that determined).