thousand flames.

cymbeline roberts. former fairy tail mage. rediscovered by jana

[thousandflame]

this is an independent fairy tail rp blog for cymbeline roberts, an original character, written by jana. i will be honest with you guys: i came up with this concept in about half an hour, finding an url took longer than coming up with a vague outline. because of this, the blog will be in constant development for some time. (but really, what rp blog isn't in development at all times?) 

cymbie's tale is a study in everything fades, nothing stays. in forests regrowing after fire. in survivor's guilt. she is an answer to the question what happened to the generation of mages between gildarts and laxus.  

oh, and because this is a squeaky clean new blog, i only have access to beta editor. please take this into account when writing with me!

[thousandflame]

Starter / plotting call for when I have time tomorrow 💜

[thousandflame]

If your character had a breakout show/film/comic, what would the plot be? Who would be in their supporting cast?

I think it would be a spy film with plenty of action, told in flashbacks and flashforwards with a frame narration. Not just because I love spy movies, but because I think her storyline at the Council could be made into a very interesting story. I know that the Council is highly controversial and while some things are rightfully acknowledged as the Council being Not Good (Jellal's time in prison) and overly harsh, there is also the part where M.akarov as a guild master was able to get away with . . . not paying the fines for all the destruction caused by the guild. I have talked about this on other blogs, but FT's continued popularity with the average people is mindboggling, if you take into account all the damage people like N.atsu cause. In retrospect, the way the first chapter opens with L.ucy who laughs at this destruction is pretty jarring. (I maintain that FT's finances were probably fucked after the timeskip because M.acao did not have the status as a wizard saint and could not use this status to shield the guild from the consequences of their actions, and so M.acao needed to pay all the fines and compensation.)

the meme: accepting

[thousandflame]

What would be the ‘incorrect but wildly popular’ interpretation of your character in fandom?

I have a few ideas and cannot tell which one I hate most, but anything that would strip away the work that she has put in to cope with her time as an active guild mage during what I tend to refer the Zeref Cult years. She is not perfect and healing is never linear, but---Cymbie has worked through a lot of the difficult memories. Denying her that for the purpose of making her someone who is torn apart by guilt and grief would be so annoying

the meme: accepting

[thousandflame]

meta oc asks: What plot points would change due to the inclusion of your character in canon? // What do you think the fandom for your character would be like? Are they a fan favorite, a love to hate villain, derided for whatever reason, or something else? // Are there any tropes fandom would put upon your character, for better or for worse? // If your character isn’t designed for shipping/isn’t interested in shipping, how hard does fandom have to mangle them to make them shipping material/open to a relationship? // What is the wildest crackship you can imagine for your character, whether in-universe or in crossover?

What plot points would change due to the inclusion of your character in canon?

I honestly think that her inclusion would be anything but intrusive. She left the main stage prior to canon even starting so she would be mostly present in flashbacks. Her only unnegotiable connection to a canon character is to someone who died about a decade before the manga starts (Rob). And I did not create Cymbie to change canonically established facts, I am more interested in examining what was written between the lines (Ma.karov being kinda shitty as a guild master).

What do you think the fandom for your character would be like? Are they a fan favorite, a love to hate villain, derided for whatever reason, or something else?

So I just had the nightmare thought of there being a semi-canon prequel manga where she would appear. And I had the jarring, jarring thought that the fandom would go off to ship some really wild things (surely including I.van/Gil.darts) and to keep Cymbeline away from the fandom favourite ship, she would be relegated into the role of the "mean lesbian bestie". But her actual fans? I think she would be a recurring side character and I think she would ideally attract the meta-writing and character-study-creating types of fans that would want to engage with her themes.

Are there any tropes fandom would put upon your character, for better or for worse?

A while ago, @reivun and I were discussing something regarding our dnd characters and we were talking how sometimes, fandoms give a character a [food item] trait. It is when a character states once in canon that they enjoy a certain thing and suddenly, fanon decides that this one thing is their entire personality. And I fear that this would happen to Cymbie, she says she likes mozarella sticks one time and . . . #cheesetraitcymbie

If your character isn’t designed for shipping/isn’t interested in shipping, how hard does fandom have to mangle them to make them shipping material/open to a relationship?

Cymbeline is canonically a biromantic asexual. She does experience romantic attraction now and then. It is rare, but it happens---typically after she developed some sort of deeper bond with a character. To make her 'easily shippable', I think she would be mangled in the sense of making her a biromantic asexual because that makes it so much easier to just ship her off with anyone in her age range.

What is the wildest crackship you can imagine for your character, whether in-universe or in crossover?

It's my own bisexual Layla H. agenda showing, but that is the craziest one I can think of because I don't think that shipping Cymbie with any of her old peers would be a "crackship". Maybe a rare pair, but for me, it is the nature of a legitimate crack ship that the shipped characters have never really met.

the meme: accepting

[mcflymemes]

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (2022) PROMPTS *  assorted dialogue from the film, adjust as necessary

in another life, i would have really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you.

the universe is so much bigger than you realize.

maybe we would have been better off if we had never gotten married.

why are you dressed all stupid?

you're just very bad at explaining.

how did i die?

he who loves the most regrets the most.

why would anybody want to kill me?

it's the way you look at me.

how do you think i feel?

you can either come with me and live up to your ultimate potential, or lie here and live with the consequences.

do you still want to do your party?

you are not unlovable. there is always something to love.

you think i'm weak, don't you?

can we just stop fighting?

you're capable of anything because you're so bad at everything.

i'm tired. i don't want to hurt anymore.

i still want to be here with you. i will always, always want to be here with you.

if nothing matters, then all the pain and guilt you feel for making nothing of your life goes away.

we're all small and stupid.

i wasn't looking for you so i could kill you.

so what? you're just gonna ignore everything else?

i will cherish these few specks of time.

i've been on this earth just as many days as you.

i know better than to ask to help you.

so we'll talk later... like this afternoon?

you look really pretty right now.

you took everything away from me.

we're all useless alone.

i don't know what i'd do without you.

i only made enough food for three people. i'll have to cook more.

i always learn something when i hang out with the elderly. old people are very wise.

everything i do, i try to make things simpler, easier.

maybe you can audition, too.

i don't know how to be any fucking clearer.

i didn't mean that. it was a joke.

the only thing i do know... is that we have to be kind.

i know you see yourself as a fighter.

that's not a very funny joke.

actors are very poor.

it's nice to feel needed.

i was thinking, maybe after this is all done, we can go on a trip.

if i have to think about one more thing today, my head will explode.

you may be in grave danger. there is no time to explain. hold this.

can't you see how wonderful it'll be? we can make our own way.

i'm here because we need your help.

sorry, very busy today. no time to help you.

i have spent years searching for the one who might be able to match this great evil with an even greater good and bring back balance.

i know it's a lot to take in right now.

i can see where this story's going, and it doesn't look good.

you're always trying to confuse us with these words.

i know you. with every passing moment, you fear that you might have missed your chance to make something of your life.

don't let anything distract you from it.

our time here is up. they are going to kill us.

i may be old, but i still know how to negotiate.

[thousandflame]

Starter / plotting call for when I have time tomorrow 💜

[absoluterpmemetrash]

META ASKS: If Your OC Was Canon.

BASIC:

What changes do you think would be made between your muse as they exist in your head vs how they would be treated as part of canon?

What plot points would change due to the inclusion of your character in canon?

What role would your character play in the story? Are they a major player, or a one scene wonder?

If there are multiple adaptions/If they are part of a multi-part franchise, which ones would your character appear in?

Besides your face/voiceclaim, who do you think would be cast as your character?

If your character had a breakout show/film/comic, what would the plot be? Who would be in their supporting cast?

What headcanons/theories do you believe fandom would invent about your character?

FANDOM:

What do you think the fandom for your character would be like? Are they a fan favorite, a love to hate villain, derided for whatever reason, or something else?

What feelings does your character most often instill in their fans? Affection? A desire to protect? Open lust? A love/hate dynamic? Why do you think their fans feel this way?

By contrast, what would their haters dislike about your character? Is it a petty complaint? A mischaracterization of the character or their intentions? Are they just a woman in a largely male-centric series?

What controversies/drama would your character incite in fandom?

What fan-material would exist for your character in fandom?

Is your character the subject of ‘imagines’ or ‘x reader’ style blogs?

Are there any tropes fandom would put upon your character, for better or for worse?

What would be the ‘incorrect but wildly popular’ interpretation of your character in fandom?

What corners of fandom would consider your character blorbo material?

SHIPPING:

What do you imagine the most popular ship(s) for your character would be?

Are there ship wars? Are they a popular character to ship, or the kind of character that gets shuffled off and away from shipping for whatever reason?

How does fandom characterize/mischaracterize your characters ship in fanworks?

If your character isn’t designed for shipping/isn’t interested in shipping, how hard does fandom have to mangle them to make them shipping material/open to a relationship?

Be honest. What song is playing over an AMV/tiktok of scenes between your character and their love interest?

What is the wildest crackship you can imagine for your character, whether in-universe or in crossover?

What is the quote between your character and their love interest/whoever they might be shipped with that their fans would latch onto?

What’s the discourse surrounding your ship?

[thousandflame]

A while ago, Momo posted this and I've been meaning to do this for my OCs for some time because the reputation is clearly what strangers would know about them

what is your muses reputation & how did it develop?: back in the day, Cymbeline was a high profile mage and even after she left the spotlight decades ago, some of her reputation still sticks to her though much of the original facts have been twisted due to the passage of time and her lack of cooperation with the press. once upon a time, Cymbeline was a famous mage of her guild. she was S-class, after all, and part of a prominent team. she was also the niece of a very famous mage which all further dragged her into the spotlight. and when tragedy hit and almost everyone around her died, she became a tragic figure. and while people like to say "sex sells", tragedy sells pretty decently, too. Cymbeline had the reputation of someone who is "deeply unlucky"---but others wondered if maybe, she was curse. if all the deaths around her had happened because she was cursed. more recently, the idea of her being bitter and angry has reached the mainstream.

is it accurate/fair?: I think that while Cymbeline is certainly bitter over certain events, she is tired rather than angry. however, no matter how tired she is, she will hold people accountable. it is not in her nature to just sit back, even if it would be better for her own (mental) health

how do they feel about it?: Cymbeline does not care about her reputation. the people that matter to her know the truth. everyone else? why would she care about their opinions when clearly, they do not care about hers?

what are some rumours about your muse? what would the average person know or assume about your muse?

Rumours she cannot get rid of

001. she's cursed, that's why she has white hair and red eyes! (she really is not) 002. she is Lyon Vastia's mother. (this is a recent one. she is not and she only knows Lyon personally because he is in the same guild as Logan with whom Cymbie is friends) 003. she is somehow related to the Strauss siblings (again: solely based on her hair colour) 004. she is a very accomplished fire mage and fire magic runs in her family. (actually true.) 005. way back, she was romantically involved with her teammates. (she was not, but they were all dating each other.)

Actual Facts people might know

001. she used to be in FT where she was an S-class mage 002. she is the only currently known user of her specific subset of fire magic, but it was passed down in her family for generations. her uncle was also adept at using it. 003. her uncle was killed in the Tower of Heaven 004. she maintains friendships with other former FT members while keeping some distance from the main FT crowd, presumably due to the age difference 005. she generously donates to various charities as her name can often be found in press articles on this topic

what are things most people Dont/Wouldn't know about your muse? (we all hate when someone has their muse know something about ours that they shouldn't know)

001. why she left FT 002. the depth of her feud with Yajima 003. details about various meetings she has had more recently with Ivan 004. where she had her former teammates buried. the team was very popular, back in the day, but they did not just have fans. especially their romantic relationship caused some people to hate them. Cymbeline did not wish for their gravesite to become a target for worship or for vandalism 005. her medical record---allergies, etc.

How does your muses reputation affect them?: if Cymbie was still a public person, her reputation would probably affect her more, but she is trying to keep a low profile. she is content with where she is now, and while she knows how to leverage her old reputation for her adventage, she is not attached to it. and since she is not attached to it, she can shrug off negative articles about her. she does not mind being reviled by some media outlets for how she decides to live her life because she knows they are taking aim at phantoms

[thousandflame]

❝ Looks like you won. ❞ - reivun

our muses are sparring and my muse ends up on top of yours, pinning them down. send me  ❝ looks like you won. ❞ for my muse’s reaction.

Usually, Ivan almost towered above her.

He was not outstandingly tall, but her own height was just about average. But as the saying went---the taller they are, the harder they fall. And from what she could recall, she did not remember him ever having been known for his prowess in hand-to-hand. Still, it had not been easy to put him on the mat. The mage business was one where only the skilled and powerful lasted long---and much like him, she had lasted. And Cymbeline had always believed in 'credit where credit is due'. It was due here, and she could admit that.

Looking down at him, Cymbeline smiled and the edges of her smile were dipped in subtle smugness. Like most people she knew, she enjoyed winning. It had been hardwon, she could admit that much as she was also not exactly an expert at hand-to-hand combat. Jasper (forever twenty-five, forever laughing proudly in her memory) had been and he had needled her to improve, and that thought still broke her heart a little sometimes.

At least she did not feel the need to cry about the memory of her team this time.

She lifted one hand to brush hair out of her face, letting go of the wrist that she had previously pinned to the mat. Her vision no longer obscured, she regarded Ivan, trying to read his face. That had always been difficult---he was someone who kept all his cards close to his chest. He was near unreadable now, too, despite his dishevelled state. But---she supposed that she had gotten used to it by now.

@reivun

[thousandflame]

meta: erza

Cymbeline has never held what happened to her uncle against Erza at all.

Her uncle was a good man. Good men protect children, even at the cost of their own life. This is something that she also discussed with Logan---that as tragic as it was, it was within her uncle's character to die in this manner. Consequently, her uncle's death was never what spoiled their relationship. However, even though Cymbie did not hold Rob's death against a literal child, she did not necessarily want to 'hang out' and bond with Erza. Cymbeline wanted to grieve her uncle (and her teammates who also died around the same time) in peace and sought to distance herself to find that peace.

[archaeologian-blog]

send me a topic to write a meta about my muse on

I might write anything from a paragraph to a whopping essay, but send me something you’ve noticed about my characterisation or just something you want to know about my muse and I will write what I can!

[miamignonette]

*after gossiping* pleasure doing bitchness with you

[ur-daily-inspiration]

[thousandflame]

❝ Looks like you won. ❞

our muses are sparring and my muse ends up on top of yours, pinning them down. send me  ❝ looks like you won. ❞ for my muse’s reaction.

though not exactly tall, cymbeline was tougher than a lot of people gave her credit for---and it was not just speed and agility that she could us to twist things to her advantage. she had been s-class for a reason. there were some people for whom ignoring her abilities had ended with a stint in jail, especially back when she had been a rune knight, but logan was at no risk of that. what he was, possibly, at risk of was bruised ribs, as she really was not exactly going easy on him.

come to think of it, she should perhaps reconsider the amount of pressure she was applying, he might be attached to his ribs. most people were.

she exhaled, shifting her weight away from his chest. the expression of smugness that had found its way to her face, on the other hand, remained where it was. she did have a bit of a competitive streak, it was just not often that she got to live it. it was . . . calming, the knowledge that she had a friend who understood that sometimes, a good spar could offer more relaxation than a spa day.

'' thanks, logan, '' she said as she rolled back onto her heels and back into a stand, redoing her ponytail as it had come partially undone during their spar. '' another round? ''

[withachanceoflaxus]

cymbeline looked calm and not at all surprised by the question which he didn't know quite what to do with. perhaps it was a calm before the storm situation. for someone like himself who was long used to storms, it created a sense of inner confidence. he felt more sure now than ever that what was happening would be good. with the permission granted, his pen hit the paper as she spoke.

the pen stopped the moment she mentioned the cults. he remembered that time. he remembered how many were lost. and yes, rob was one of them. one of many ghosts in laxus' memory now — how many afternoons did he spend with that old man? sick & healthy. he still remembered the way the old man smelled, every time he camped he thought of him.

laxus nodded at cymbeline. his eyebrows knitted as a frown formed on his face. "i am sorry for your losses. i don't imagine they were the easiest to deal with in such a short timespan." his tone was softer than one would expect. laxus had felt loss in his life though, who hasn't? it was was easy to extend a simple kindness, a show of sympathy. in the aftermath of death, came sympathy. at the very least. and for some, vindication.

"do you mind elaborating on the guild leadership?" makarov was the real term to use, but to do so felt wrong. akin to taking a bandage off too soon, peeling of the scabs. at least, for laxus. he was not quite yet in that part of the storm yet. "specifically, which decisions or lack thereof in the aftermath did you take issue with? and, well, do you still take issue with them?" he needed to know. his picked his pen up and wrote a few more shared details he missed and waited.

[thousandflame]

twin pools of scarlet disappeared amidst snow as cymbeline closed her eyes. there it was. the somewhat dreaded question---what she would have liked to be different. what she would have liked to be changed. those who had been lost had been beyond anyone's grasp, but---their memory had not been. it was a dreaded question because the answer was so easy, because it was not hard to put into words.

she did not have to see, she knew that lilac blossoms of fire were sprouting along the gaps between her fingers, like snowdrops poking through sheets of snow. '' they say, forgetting is the truest form of death, '' she eventually said slowly, twisting her ring around her little finger. '' i was . . . grieving, and i felt pushed towards . . . moving on, towards pretending my heart wasn't dead in the ground alongside my dearest friends, alongside my uncle. at some point, there was an argument about a fantasia float, i declined to participate. apparently, this meant i wasn't a team player. ''

she paused, her face scrunching up---the words tasted as sour now as they had all those years ago. it was impressive, almost, how some pains lingered. she should be over this specific old ache, but it seemed that it had thorns that had dug deep into the parts of her that were soft and vulnerable. '' it was phrased a little more hurtful, of course, '' she went on, her voice succeeding in a pivot on a tightrope---bitterness was easier to stomach than grief. '' apparently, not inviting a semi-stranger into a tradition i had with my dead uncle meant i didn't want to be part of the family. and you know what? he was right. i did not. because at the end of the day, being in the guild should've been a job. ''

[brbmakingmemes-moved]

Our muses are sparring and my muse ends up on top of yours, pinning them down. Send me  ❝ Looks like you won. ❞ for my muse’s reaction.