@esper-aroon has enabled me, so here let me scream at y'all about The Imperial Uncle.
Okay, so I recently read The Imperial Uncle (Huang Shu) by Da Feng Gua Guo from Peach Flower House and I really loved it??? It's first person pov, mlm, about the Emperor's uncle Jing Chengjun, who is mistrusted by everyone simply because of who his parents were and his position, and so he's basically given up on trying to convince people that he's actually a nice, decent person without ulterior motives. He's super trapped by his position, and there's so much he can't say and do, and he's also a hopeless romantic, like, from his own mouth all he really wants is to sleep beside and wake up next to someone who actually gives a shit about him, and even that is basically out of reach in his life. Like, the book starts with his wife (who he has never once had sex with) storming into a meeting he's having and announcing he's a cuckold and she's pregnant.
But also, this poor bastard really thinks he knows what's going on and his very smart. Very unreliable narrator. He's actually kinda a hilarious, impulsive himbo. But the TL:DR is that his loneliness and isolation and the extent to which he's politically trapped routinely lead him to make absolutely terrible decisions.
E. Danglar's translation is absolutely gorgeous, too, and... idk, if you love political plots, melodramatic idiot main characters, a dose of pining, and a slow burn that eventually pays off, come take a look??? (some people think it's a love triangle??? idk, I never really got that vibe, I never felt it was really in doubt which of the two potential dudes he'd end up with, but maybe I only feel that way because I got it right, lmao).
Anyway, I can't stop thinking about how these two idiots end up finally finding each other and getting together, and I have an entire AU in my head (a modern corporate one) and part of another (canon divergent from like a decade before the book starts), and I just want people to love this book as much as I did and scream with me about it.
Back with the Valkyrieposting after listening to the new Valkyrie song for the 5 millionth time today. Anyways, just noticed the outfits and the stage both use pink and green and I feel like exploding
The green on the outfit is also the same shade as Mademoiselle’s eyes I’m screaming
Something that's really funny about this game is that literally every player hates their husband (the emperor) and would rather date any other character instead
Muroide Shu, Commander of the Crimson Fate and righthand man to a satyr, Lord Sanguine. Though, his friends call him by his real name, Orion.
Bellatrix has been part of the Crimson Fate for thirteen years, and has made close connections with all of them. Shu, though uptight and constantly stressed, is one of her closest friends. Her and Orion love to poke fun at his stoic and matter-of-fact speaking all the time.
Aurelian, after living int he woods for her whole life, is learning about city life. She doesn't know that many terms, and asks every question she can to further her knowledge, but oh gods Shu gets SO FRUSTRATED SO EASY.
Orion and Bella love to push his buttons. And when there's no guests around, Orion can easily make Shu so frustrated he will actually yell.
ok no bc now im just thinking about it. one of shus major developments was surrounding image and how there's art and beauty and perfection in the perceived flaws that set us apart from one another. which one, means he stops being so controlling over mikas diet and fusses over his health rather than his diet and appearance based on what he eats bc if their art is overlooked by people based on that, they wouldnt understand it in the first place. i like to think that rather than meticulously cover up every blemish for the stage like he used to, shu would painstakingly draw back every little detail the foundation covered up. plain smooth skin is overrated and out of style, he's pulling out the sponge and dotting every last freckle back on his face and if anyone DARES to say anything about mika only having one cheek of blush he's grabbing the axe.