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#this is just commentary on the ~aesthetics~

raven-at-the-writing-desk · 1 hour

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I read the post where you answered why you didn’t like Malleus and remembered that you placed Leona really highly on your favs list, and Leona is my favorite so do you mind me asking why do you like Leona?

[My TWST character tier list is here.]

[Anon is also referencing this Malleus post.]

THERE’S A REASON WHY L*ONA IS IN “Unfortunately Enjoy” TIER 😭 I think for like... over a year (2020-2021)? Probably closer to 1.5 years?? I really disliked him and swore up and down that I'd "never in my life simp for the fake cat". This was largely in part due to book 2, which to this day I believe did Leona a HUGE disservice and made him look very unintelligent and uninteresting. Then I was drip fed new Leona content as it steadily came out (vignettes, voice lines, event stories, his return in book 6) and my opinion of him vastly improved. Book 2 was just a really bad introduction to him and it greatly soured my first impressions. sjfyofqebfeiafns B-But now I'm too embarrassed to openly declare, "Yeah, I like a sad muscular l*on man. So what?" Some would say that's tsundere behavior... BUT I SAY I'M COMPLETELY JUSTIFIED FOR ACTING THIS WAY BECAUSE IT ISN'T EASY TO CONFESS WITH YOUR WHOLE CHEST THAT YOU LIKE KINGSCHOLAR OF ALL TWST CHARACTERS

... Anyway! For a much more expanded explanation, I'd recommend this post! It already states a lot of my thoughts, and I don't want to repeat them in yet another lengthy lion-related post. What I'll do instead is summarize the key points for you, plus add some commentary about Leona and Malleus at the end.

Admittedly, he is pretty. VERY pretty. I'm saying this as someone who normally really dislikes hair longer than shoulder length, the "wild"/bad boy aesthetic, and kemonomimi. Leona breaks ALL the rules and still somehow manages to wear everything and anything well because of his sheer confidence and natural grace. His physical features are also very striking... The sharp bright green eyes, the small waist and large chest (there's NO reason why he HAD to be built like that), his stupid smirk, etc.

His pettiness and sarcasm. Leona has, hands down, some of the funniest lines 🤡 I love that he has the balls to speak callously to everyone, including fellow dorm leaders and royalty. His best moments, however, are when he whips out the sarcasm on statements which are so patently untrue--like when he says he is a 'delicate prince' and a 'lost child', both moments from book 6. It's also hilarious whenever Leona speaks in a formal way, showing that he does have the education and the knowledge of how a prince should present himself, but just actively chooses to not make the effort and only does so mockingly or when social grace calls for it.

HIS BIG BRAIN FOLDS, HOLY COW (err, book 2 aside). Leona works smarter, not harder!! He's always one step ahead of everyone else, even if he appears sleepy or disinterested at the time. He figured out the trick behind the "indestructible" golden contracts, he sussed out Jamil WAY before book 4 ever came out (saying that Jamil has "eyes that always glare" and implying that Jamil poses a threat to Kalim's life; this is from Jamil's School Uniform vignette), he takes what he learns in textbooks and so easily translates it to real-world experiences (ie advising the first years on how to more efficiently mine magestones in Vargas Camp), etc. Additionally, Leona knows when to step in and when to be hands off. It's not done out of cowardice or laziness, but rather because he's thinking strategically. For example, he could have resisted capture at the hands of the Ferrymen, but he didn't because it would be smarter to just go with them willingly. It saves everyone a lot of time and energy, and it’s this kind of intelligent thinking that makes Leona really stand out.

He knows how to lead. There are many different types of beastmen, each with own beliefs, values, and traditions that are unique to their own group. As a result, it is very difficult to unify all beastmen within the Sunset Savanna under one rule. Guess who doesn't have this problem? THAT'S RIGHT, IT'S LEONA. There's a variety of beastmen in Savanaclaw, and he effortlessly rules over them and commands their respect.

He actively thinks about how to improve the Sunset Savanna. Leona's ideas are not always the best (like, yeah, you could introduce new technology to the country but expect significant social pushback from the people, who prioritize living in harmony with nature). However, I can really appreciate that he did not entirely turn his back on the people who feared his powers and talked him down. I think he eventually realized the flaws in his way of thinking and actively chose an energy and mining lab internship in hopes of researching ways to slowly implement changes that will benefit the Sunset Savanna while also remaining respectful of the people's beliefs. He is concerned about Falena's lax way of ruling and consistently brings up ideas in various voice lines about how they can improve the Sunset Savanna and its relationships with other countries and tourists. In spite of everything he went through, Leona never wants to hurt those who hurt him with their comments and comparisons to his elder brother. He does not ever want to tear down the system that kicked him down again and again, only wants to challenge it by proving his own merits and the merits of the other downtrodden that he leads.

As much as he wants to deny it, he cares about his underclassmen and goes out of his way to help them. There are sooo many examples of this that it cannot possibly fit in one bullet point. (I would really recommend reading the elongated post linked above, as I go into more detail on this.) Suffice to say, Leona has been shown guiding, instructing, and mentoring many other characters including, but not limited to: Epel, Ruggie, Jack, and various Savanaclaw mob students. This really hits me in the heart because I love reliable big brother characters 😭 EVEN THOUGH LEONA IS TECHNICALLY A YOUNGER BROTHER...

He understands his strengths—and he understands others' strengths too. This man is fully aware of his magical might and powerful presence. He uses every last bit of it to full effect and to attain his goals, whatever those may be. One of my favorite uses has to be In Fairy Gala!! He distracted some pixies by simply demanding water and their attention so his partners in crime could escape—and what’s more, this was a plan he came up with on the spot because their mission was being jeopardized by unforeseen events. Leona is also good about pinpointing people’s best attributes and then helping them hone it. This happens a lot during club practice, bur it also occurs in book 6 between him and Jamil. Speaking of…

THAT WHOLE BOOK 6 CONVERSATION WITH JAMIL DESERVES ITS OWN BULLET POINT. This part was peak mentor mode Leona 😭 Sure, maybe he wasn’t the kindest with his wording, but I felt this was the wake up call Jamil needed to hear. What really got me though was the part where Leona tells Jamil there’s still hope for him… “unlike me” (I believe this part was cut out in EN which saddens me immensely). It paints the image that Leona is still struggling to believe his efforts will amount to anything and that he believes more in his juniors than in himself :(( (which informs my headcanon that Leona mentors younger students so that they can have the bright future he doesn’t think he can have for himself).

Emotional complexity. When you get down to it, what started off as a very basic story of jealousy and inferiority complex actually resulted in a deeply flawed, traumatized, and scarred individual who continues to doubt and put himself down but is slowly recovering. Leona is smart and charismatic—he is everything a leader should be, but he doesn’t truly see his own worth. (Ironically, the only people who do are the ones who look up to him and follow him.) And now… Leona’s actually got his eyes set on graduating! He has his internship plans set! I think he’s made such big strides since book 2, and it’s been so rewarding seeing him regain his willingness to try and succeed return to him.

Looking back on it, it’s so ironic how things ended up working out. Initially, I was totally on Lilia’s side when he insulted Leona and said he would never be the kind of leader Malleus is. Now I’m realizing how Leona does many of the things I don’t see Malleus doing (despite Lilia claiming Malleus is more fit to be king than Leona is).

Malleus isn’t harming his people by any means, but it’s more like he’s… stagnant? Complacent? He’s satisfied with the status quo and is comfortable resting on his laurels. And because of that, Malleus doesn’t really seem to consider what he, as a leader, can do for others, be it for his dorm members or doe his country. (Part of this is also how isolated and opposed to change Briar Valley is, of course! That kind of culture definitely shapes Malleus’s thinking.) He tends to avoid situations which involve navigating social complexities rather than dealing with them himself. Think of Ghost Marriage, when Sebek proposes in his place. Think of Fairy Gala, when Silver is the one that ultimately resolves the conflict between the diurnal fae (who have historically not been friendly with nocturnal fae) and NRC. Malleus is so sheltered that has not truly been put in situations where he has to make tough decisions or where he has been challenged. He has never had to claw and scream and beg for people to see his worth.

Leona has been through that emotional wringer, and though he’s been hurt so badly, he still came out the other side. In running from the shadow of his family—of his older brother—Leona found solace in this new kingdom, Savanaclaw. It’s a place to build himself up, to stew over the ideas he has that have yet to be realized, all with a safe mental distance from home. It’s through the many hardships he has experienced that has refined his wit and given it a place to practice, to be used.

When it comes down to it, Leona and Malleus are two sides of the same coin. Both arrogant princes, the second born and crown prince, respectively, wishing for the other’s circumstances. Leona desperately wants that respect and recognition that Malleus has. Malleus longs for the intimacy and camaraderie that Leona is so easily able to cultivate and command. Leona has been forced to adapt, to learn, to grow from his scars. Malleus struggles with the concept of change (understandable, given his background) and actively denies reality if he finds the truth to be unpleasant. He’s not used to facing dilemmas that cannot be solved with magical strength, and has not ever been challenged in such a way. Malleus doesn’t know how to deal with that, which is partly why be panics and loses himself to emotions in book 7. (By the end of it, I’m sure he’ll be given the chance to see the error of his ways though 💦 or at least I hope he does??)

Their characters are very different, and that’s not a bad thing!! If anything, it makes their dynamic so interesting to observe and it offers varying interpretations of the same “prince” trope. I definitely know which of the two I personally prefer 🤡

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aro-culture-is · 1 year

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Aro culture is seeing people that are good looking and being like "ah yes. This is a crush because I can tell that they look nice" and taking years to figure out that that wasn't, in fact, a crush.

#Anonymous #aro culture is #aro #aromantic #actually aro #actually aromantic #ask #mod phoenix #because this happens on most posts like these:#if you're currently going ??? what do you mean that isn't a crush??? that is aesthetic attraction or just. a commentary.

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emberfrostlovesloki · 14 days

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Emily + Poetry

Photo Credits: Left (@literarydeor) Center (@resslersprentiss) Right (@shakespearesdaughters)

"It's not that teen girls love Nine Inch Nails songs with different lyrics. It's that teen girls loved Nine Inch Nails songs with those lyrics — all that jocky, cocky, screaming rage, all that raw male power that was supposed to scare or exclude us was relatable. Teenage girls get rage; they get self-hatred. Teenage girls know what it's like to want to cuss and scream and fuck and thrash around incoherently because you don't have the agency to do any of those things. Don't open your eyes, take it from me, I have found you can find happiness in slavery: What is that but the feminine condition, sung REALLY REALLY LOUD?" (Jude Ellison S. Doyle via @transmascmikey)

How is this not Emily? I imagine that Emily had a rocky relationship with her mom. That her mom was a bit of a control freak. I think joining the team reminded her how to have fun again. Remember how Hotch characterizes Prentiss to Strauss: "Prentiss overcompensates because she doesn't yet feel that she's a part of the team." At the beginning Aaron is right, but he then goes on to say, "She needn't worry." Hotch knows his team so well. And Em gets a chance to really be herself at the BAU. I am so happy that Emily got to have a family in the BAU. At it's core Criminal Minds is a found family story, and it makes me feel good inside.

Text Break Banner by @cafekitsune

Tag list: (🩷) @tgskitten

Want to be added to my tag list? Please check out this post (linked)

Want to send in a request? Please check out this post, CM Request Post (linked)

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zarvasace · 8 months

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Yeah I don't know why I made noise about looking for the perfect chunk of words to be attached to when we all know exactly what I'm the stan of.

... It's just over 500 but I couldn't just LEAVE IT. IT'S TOO PERFECT TO LEAVE OUT A BIT.

You know. The end of Chapter 2 of Nayru's Thorns. After the final scene break in the chapter. When Vio's voice came back to Blue. All the way to the end.

Hit me.

Nayru's Thorns!! :) yeah I knew. This is. Ugh. One of my favorites. And so frustrating because I've been trying to continue it ALL YEAR—

This is getting long here take a cut

Anyway. This is one of those stories that I tried to make somewhat poetic and still freak out about when I read it. I'm proud of it! I feel like all the metaphors and trying making the feelings into tangible sensations worked out.

That section in particular has a lot of that! There are so many ways I could've ended this story. I considered having Blue continue to wake up on his own, bit by bit, struggling with his feelings until he decided to do the kiss thing. I considered letting the 100 years run out, for more of a fairytale tragedy ending. I considered accidentally ending the curse in a different way (unsatisfying.) In the end, I wanted something happy, and I wanted full consent from both parties.

I have something of a soft spot for dream worlds, too! I couldn't really tell you why, but I end up incorporating lucid dreams and dreaming worlds into my stories a lot. Having Blue half in one gave him time to think and for his feelings to marinate a little.

In this story, I had Vio perform a rather dangerous ritual to essentially get Blue to astral project, just in a more tangible way. It has to be disorienting for poor Blue. He's been asleep for two years, only sort of conscious for minutes at a time, and then he doesn't even get the process of slowly waking. He's thrust into stone-cold sobriety all at once. Blue is the sort of character to just take it in stride, at least as best he can. He's action- and goals-oriented, he sees the way forward and charges headlong despite what feelings he has or what danger there may be.

What a guy.

Anyway yeah he wakes up to find everything different, but everything the same. He gets a chance to see the world from outside the curse, to get a glimpse of what the others have been feeling and doing this whole time. He's the only one who got both sides. He experienced the curse more thoroughly than anyone else.

And he gets to directly confront his feelings! He gets to ask Red for permission, Red gets to say yes, and they get to share the world's wildest first kiss XD

#four swords #red x blue #im just feral about this aesthetic #jfjskfkskf #commentary ask game

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soraeia · 5 months

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Big/concerning-looking scars on beautiful muses *chef's kiss*

#{ the gods are watching. } commentary #(( I dunno I just like the aesthetic #of some pretty and elegant muse having this jarring and visible scar on them ))

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villains4hire · 1 year

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"...Why does most of my kind have to mostly choose to be men? It's a curse.... well, at least our leader is hot."

"Hm, maybe it's a good thing we didn't genocide the other planet."

#//tfw she canonically dislikes 'men'. I just hc it as aesthetic #ic #zeti vained #open #dash commentary

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defunctemotions · 12 days

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note app poetry is for sad teenagers.

this is mine from back when i was that sad teen, alongside my adult commentary.

that boyfriend sucked but it’s his dads fault. i hope he ended up happy, using lotion and going to therapy. oof.

shoutout to my ex gf for stringing me along after we broke up where i’d write this shit 14mo later. i love that this basically became a part one to another poem not shown.

first big girl relationship with a man. first time being able to give consent to a man. first time getting on birth control. i love that he went with me and held my hand majority of the time after the 1st appointment

stupid boy broke up with me. i wrote this poem. found out years later i was write. he absolutely regretted every time he made this mistake and wished it was me instead of the alcohol.

we got back together. he took me on a date like two days later and i wrote this on the car ride home while he shifted gears and sung to me.

i had just miscarried in march, graduated in may, and was actively searching for my first adult job. it felt like a never ending cycle of opportunity loss compounded by time loss.