#rubytactician

[pokemon-npcs]

[janglingargot]

Say Tobu, did you know that you can bother people with questions and statements?

Do you happen to have a Chaimint thought on you?

What a wonderful custom, I do hope it catches on! 🥰

Sometimes I amuse myself with my headcanon that Peppermint is the one who helps Chai bleach and dye his hair for the alt costumes where he's got fun colors in it. It's fun to imagine them faffing around in the bathroom with foil and plastic gloves and a comb, while he perches on the side of the tub and fidgets uncontrollably.

"Ohhh my GOD, CHAI hold STILL, you do NOT want this stuff in your eyes!!" 😫

[dragongutsixofficial]

Thoughts on one Monica von Ochs? Especially in regards to how Edelgard interacts with and feels about her.

I can't consider myself a big Monica fan. I find her character incredibly flat and "simp" will never be my choice for a character with one personality trait. Hubert doesn't bother me because keeping tabs on Edelgard is part of his job description and his interactions with the rest of the cast are more varied. If Hubert didn't have Edelgard I'm sure he'd be finding some other cause to champion and would pursue it with just as much dedication and fervor, but if Monica didn't have Edelgard I honest to Sothis have no idea what she'd be doing.

As far as Edelgard herself goes, I think she'd be fine, if a little weirded out, up until the moment she finds out Monica has been watching her so closely. Edelgard has always struck me as a very private person, and I think such close scrutiny would make her wildly uncomfortable. I want to see her explode at Monica over it (which is saying something because we all know Edelgard isn't normally one to shout) and although I think she'd come back to apologize for losing her cool, I also think it would take a while for her to be comfortable around Monica again.

Oh I absolutely agree with you here.

When I first played 3 Hopes (which I still haven't finished bit I will someday) I was really excited at the prospect of having her as a real member of the cast and I was really curious about what they would choose to do with her. I really wanted to love her, but it's as you say: she's got one(1) personality trait, and it's simping over Edelgard. Of course, this is just my personal opinion, and isn't meant to offend abybody who likes her or invalidate their feelings: that being said, here are some quick thoughts on why she makes me uncomfortable personally.

As you said yourself, her obsession (i think it's fair to say it's gone too far to be a crush) over Edelgard is a meager foundation to build a character upon. I think it would've been a lot more interesting if she could grow from that first feeling instead of being stuck in the same emotional place the whole time; it sucks because I love to see characters evolve and become new versions of themselves and she just. wasn't it.

I also completely agree that Hubie's relationship with Edelgard is a lot healthier and more balanced because Hubert doesn't limit himself to that. I think this is best explained in his supports with Dorothea:

Here, Dorothea misunderstands the bound that unites our iconic gothic duo together for simple unrequited love, which would fit the description of Monica's attitude towards El better and which Hubert himself qualifies as being like a "drooling simpleton". Ouch.

Hubert and Edelgard's bound is strong not because it's motivated by romantic love but because they know each other, their dreams and their motivations. Because they are friends who share a vision. Which is the reason why I personally dislike Edelbert (you go though Edelbert shippers)- I think their relationship is a lot more interesting if its platonic rather than the typical romantic tale.

This leads me to my next point: what is so important about the way Edelgard interacts with the people around her is that she wants them to feel like they're on an equal footing to her. She wants there to be respect and appreciation of her interlocutor's abilities and input. However, this means that their interlocutor themself must make the effort to realize that. Which... Monica never really does. She holds Edelgard in such high regard that she doesn't think she could ever be as good as her in any regard and thus locks herself in a perpetual state of submissive adoration and awe, if that makes sense. Which is not a good basis for a relationship nor personal growth and would most likely lead to an unvoluntary power imbalance if they were ever to enter a relationship. And that's not what Edelgard wants from a lover either:

She wants a partner and an equal because this is the world she wants to bring about. Simple as that. Which, in my humble opinon, makes Edelthea and Edeleth two of the best Edelgard ships.

Also... If I were a princess who had been stuck in an abusive situation for years under the thumb of a sect which was actively watching me day to day, had secret connections to all spheres of power and had abducted me and my siblings to torture and kill us... Yeah Monica's behavior would creep the everloving f*ck out of me. I could definitely see Edelgard snapping at her because of that- hopefully that'd be the waking call she needed all along to realize that she fucked up big time and to start working on herself and her obsession.

Soooo... yeah. Thanks but no thanks Monica. xD

[bloggingboutburgers]

Hello there! Just wandered in and I'm seeing the acronym LDR for the first time. Might I ask what that is? Many thanks.

Of course of course! It means long-distance relationship^^ (Sorry for any confusion, as someone whose first language isn't English I definitely struggle with acronyms so I don't like getting confusing for other people TwT)

[dragongutsixofficial]

If Edelgard is feeling unsafe her loved ones may opt to bundle her up into a blanket burrito.

Works just about every time

xDDD that's a great idea and i love it

I like to think that after the experiments, the Hresvelg siblings are very particular about physical touch or else it brings back nightmares. For instance Aline would go into fight or flight anytime someone surprises her by touching her without permission. Adel doesn't like anyone touching his scars, makes him really uncomfortable.

But the siblings do have some protocols for times like these- one of the best ways to calm Adel down is to just let him lay his head on his elder sister's life so she can softly strike his hair until he feels better. Maybe she sings him a lullaby like she used to sing to El and him as kids.

I think Edelgard struggles with physical contact both because it's triggering but also because it requires her to be emotionally vulnerable (which she refuses to do when Dimitri dies in CF by not crying for instance). I think with her permission, the blanket burrito would be a perfect way to make her feel safe without feeling uncomfortable or stuck !

This also means Siyn (in my specific case) could use her cape as emergency blanket burrito material

[dragongutsixofficial]

As we know, Lysithea rarely fails to mention that her two crests have shortened her lifespan, and it is an understanding of mine (and many others) that Edelgard will likely suffer the same fate. Two data points does not a survey make, of course, but going off what Lysithea describes, I don't expect Edelgard to live far past 25. Almost certainly not to 30.

(I always figured this was one of her reasons for believing war was the best option actually, despite the casualties it would cause. To paraphrase a well known galactic senator, the wheels of democracy turn much too slowly.)

Is this something you've considered in your work, and how have you and/or the characters dealt with it if so?

My solution was to have her second crest surgically removed before it could take her life.

Absolutely, I do agree that Edelgard's lifespan is shortened- I'd headcanoned less so than Lysithea's, but like 30-35 max. I also do agree that that's probably one of the reasons which edged her towards a full-on war that would change things a lot more quickly than reforms she wouldn't even be able to verify would truly be applied.

This is a problem Adel and Aline also face, given they've gone through the same experiments their sister did. However, Adel's surgery (which split his crest between the two older siblings) was unstable and the effects started reversing on their own, albeit oh so slowly; for instance, his hair which was stark white in White Clouds slowly regains its light brown color during the five years of Byleth's absence. At the same time, Aline's physical forces replenish by a lot, and although it's a lot slower, her hair will eventually grow dark brown back again after the war is over (although she will always keep a few white hair due to stress).

For Edelgard and Lysithea, I had adopted the same solution as you did- surgically removing the Crest before it can take both of their lives away. Them being able to do so that fast stems from Linhardt and Hanneman's collaboration with Loki and Agarthan health professionals.

After all, it's important to remember is that Loki was raised to perform this kind of blood surgeries and experiments- which was incredibly traumatizing, but also left him with a lot of knowledge on the matter. He doesn't know what he wants to do with himself after the war; but what he does know is that he wants get justice for as much people who fell victim to TWSTID as possible, whether that means healing them (if they're still alive) or identifying the anonymous victims so their families can get closure. The tons of research he makes during and after the war to pursue that endeavor is quintessential in saving Edelgard's life.

[dragongutsixofficial]

This is about to be barely coherent but I think you need to hear about it.

I just recalled a movie I used to watch and a particular scene in which 2 revolutionaries are spending a rainy night in a hut. I can't find a clip to confirm, but as I recall it, Jean, who is the captain of the whole revolutionary dealio, pauses mid-makeout to talk about revolution stuff while her partner in the scene just sort of nods along and continues to kiss her. (Don't question the logistics: it's a comedy from the 50s)

Again, I'm sure I'm not sounding very coherent, BUT THE POINT IS pausing mid-makeout to talk about revolutionary stuff while her partner nods along and continues to kiss her is an incredibly Edelgard thing and I thought you need to hear about it.

I want you to know this inspired me so much I am now writing a fic. I wanted to finish it before answering this ask but this'll probably take a while so here's a preview:

Byleth wanted to get this right.

After their initial engagement, their partner and them had not been able to properly ease into the newly romantic character of their relationship; the threat of Those Who Slither Through The Dark, ever-present and all consuming, had been at the top of their minds. If they really were to be the light that shone upon Fodlan, they first needed to get rid of the pesky shadows underneath it; only then could peace truly reign, only then could the continent be truly united under the Emperor’s leadership, only then could they truly be together in the world they had created.

And they had done just that. Finally, after a thousand years, the head of the snake had been cut off. Agartha was well on its way to being reintroduced to the rest of the Fodlanese population now that the iron rule of Thales had finally ended, which had not come without its lot of issues. It certainly wasn’t easy for everyone to realize that people had lived underneath their very feet for centuries, nor was it to share their land, a land which fate they were still uncertain of: but after months of negotiating and peacekeeping, the Black Eagle Strikeforce had managed to install a semblance of peace, laying the foundations for what would hopefully happen to be a bright new future for Fodlan.

Now, however, Byleth wished to focus on their and Edelgard’s future.

They had decided to learn how to flirt.

Their first instinct had been to go to Garreg Mach’s library. They still remembered their first time there like it was yesterday: back then, they had been absolutely blown away but the sheer massiveness of the shelves filled to the brim with the knowledge they clearly lacked about the world around them. It also happened to be the first time they had felt intellectual emulation coursing through their veins- and before they could completely understand that sensation, they had found themself with their nose buried in books for the whole morning, feeding on all that new information. After they had officially been nominated as a professor, they had gone back, trying to find ways to convey their thoughts and expertise to their students in an organized, more academic manner- and whenever they visited, the contents of the books would most likely always hold an answer for them.

These romance books were no exception.

[dragongutsixofficial]

Have you ever considered Edelgard with a cane? Because I have, and I quite like it, whether it becomes a requirement as her body fails due to her crests, or just for the aesthetic of it.

An idea I work with sometimes is that Dorothea gifts her one, and Edelgard, who certainly doesn't feel it's necessary to have one at this point, is confused... up until the point she twists open the top and finds a blade inside. She'd be all over it at that point; lights right up like a Garreg Mach Establishment Day tree

Oooh that's an amazing idea !! I hadn't personally thought of it because from what i understood, the experiments made her body stronger (i think she mentions that's why it's easier for her to wear heavy armor at some point) but that is also a great headcanon !!!!

On a similar note, Adel has a walking cane which turns into a spear and which i've never gotten around to drawing. xD Aline herself had a long process of reeducation after the experiments because she couldn't walk so she's far from a stranger to mobility aids !