He who doesn’t love Naples, has yet to learn how to love life!
Giles and Antonio sat in their lavish apartment in Naples, the soft afternoon light filtering through the windows. Giles, a straight and striking blond man exuding an air of affluence, reclined on the plush couch,
while Antonio, an earnest brown-haired gay man, stood by the window.
"Did you see who I invited for dinner tonight, Antonio?" Giles asked, his voice tinged with excitement. Antonio turned to face him, feeling a pang of insecurity as he thought about Giles' sophisticated friends. "I bet they'll be as snobbish as always," he muttered under his breath. Giles didn't seem to notice Antonio's discomfort as he continued, "I believe this evening will be quite extraordinary with their esteemed company." Antonio forced a smile, trying to mask his uneasiness. Deep down, he yearned for Giles to see him as his boyfriend rather than just a friend from less affluent origins. As evening descended, the guests arrived, elegant and self-assured, adding to Antonio's discomfort.
Weeks later, Antonio, feeling dejected, made his way to a flea market, a place where he felt a sense of belonging. Here, he stumbled upon an ancient mirror, its frame intricately carved with unfathomable designs. He purchased the mirror and hung it in his room, unaware of its mystical capabilities. Days went by, and one evening, as Antonio gazed at his reflection, the mirror suddenly emitted an ethereal glow. Startled, Antonio watched in amazement as the mirror spoke, its voice resonating through the room. "I am a mirror that grants wishes," it declared in a gentle, yet mysterious tone. In a burst of emotion, Antonio blurted, "I wish for Giles to fall in love with me." The mirror shimmered, its luminosity fading. "I cannot change the heart of others, only you," it replied. "Then, make me the man of his dreams," Antonio pleaded. "Very well, but be warned," the mirror warned. "The change will take time."
Days passed, and Antonio noticed his once brown hair transitioning into a lustrous shade of blonde. He ran his hand through his hair in shock, "This can't be real." Giles, noticing the change, nodded approvingly. "Blonde suits you better, Antonio. Maybe I'm starting to prefer blondes after all."
Grinning, Antonio attributed the change to fate and the promise of Giles' favor. His physique then underwent a transformation, becoming more toned and athletic. Antonio flexed his newfound muscles, hoping Giles would take notice and appreciate the change. He admired his reflection, convinced that Giles would be delighted with his new appearance.
As the days went by, Antonio's features appeared younger, his skin smoother and more vibrant. He couldn't help but wonder if Giles preferred younger men.
Giles, on the other hand, seemed to be increasingly drawn to him, touching him more frequently and acting possessive. Giles returned home, and as he glanced at Antonio, a sly grin played on his lips. "Antonio, come here. I have something to show you," he said, his hand lingering on Antonio's shoulder. Antonio blinked in surprise at the sudden closeness of Giles, his heart racing with hope. "Yes, Giles? What is it?" he asked eagerly. "I've noticed your newfound physique. I think it's time you start training with me. Come on, I'll show you the ropes," Giles said, a dominant gleam in his eye. Antonio felt a rush of mingled excitement and confusion but followed Giles obediently.
Days turned to weeks, and strange thoughts began to invade Antonio's mind. Memories and desires that were not his own haunted him. Unfamiliar memories and urges flooded Antonio's mind, belonging to someone named Lawrence. These memories were foreign, yet compelling. Lawrence had been a carefree rich kid at an elite school, living off his parents' money, charming and fickle, never committing to anyone or anything.
In the midst of his turmoil and concerns, Antonio sought out the mirror once more, demanding answers. "What is happening to me?" he implored. The mirror shimmered softly, and an eerie hush filled the room before it spoke, "You are becoming the embodiment of Giles’ dreams, the personification of his ideal man." Realization dawned on Antonio's countenance. "But what does that mean? Who is his ideal man?" "His dream is to have a younger brother, one who shares his love for sports and the thrill of chasing women," the mirror revealed, its voice a haunting whisper. Consumed by frustration and despair, Antonio pleaded with the mirror to reverse the wish, but it steadfastly insisted that the wish had to be fulfilled before granting any other.
As Lawrence's memories and desires grew stronger, Antonio struggled against this invasive force with every fiber of his being. He felt like a mere passenger in his own body, helplessly watching as Lawrence took the reins, pulling him into a life he never sought.
"This can't be happening," Antonio groaned, grappling with the intrusion of Lawrence's thoughts. "I need to fight this. I am Antonio, not Lawrence." "You cannot fight what has already been set in motion," Lawrence's voice echoed within his mind, his velvety tone laced with arrogance. "Embrace it, Antonio. Embrace becoming his perfect brother." Struggling against the relentless tide of Lawrence's influence, Antonio found himself losing grip on his own existence. With each passing day, Lawrence's hold tightened, an unyielding force that threatened to consume Antonio whole. Inside the recesses of his mind, Antonio resisted, thrashing against the invasive presence that sought to overtake him. "Please, I beg you, stop this!" Antonio cried out within the confines of his own consciousness, the struggle wearing him down. "Do not resist," Lawrence's voice implored, persuasive and coaxing. "I'll restore order in your fractured mind. Let me guide you, for I am what Giles desires." The world around Antonio began to blur, his once familiar existence dwindling into a nebulous abyss as Lawrence's influence continued to burgeon. "I can't lose myself," Antonio gasped between labored breaths, his consciousness slipping further into obscurity. Lawrence's laughter echoed through Antonio's mind, a cruel and resounding symphony that seared through his dwindling sense of self.
One evening, Giles and Lawrence strolled home after a night of revelry, their laughter echoing through the nighttime streets of Naples.
Giles slung his arm around Lawrence's shoulder, exclaiming, "You were a hit with the ladies tonight, Lawrence! You truly are the life of the party." Deep within, Antonio cried out, pleading for his voice to be heard, but his words faded into silent despair. Every step Lawrence took felt like another piece of Antonio's identity slipping away, melding into the persona of the carefree, charming Lawrence. As they entered the apartment, a feeling of desolation washed over Antonio, harbouring a deep sense of powerlessness as Lawrence embraced Giles' idealized image of his younger brother. The following day brought undeniable changes in their dynamics. Giles and Lawrence delved deeper into their shared exploits, engaging in sports, relishing in the thrill of their conquests, and reveling in a life of extravagance.
During these activities, Antonio's consciousness flickered, but he remained buried beneath the overpowering presence of Lawrence. Distorted memories haunted him, fragments of a life once led, now seemingly erased from existence. One evening, Lawrence confronted the mirror, staring into its ancient depths with an unsettling resolve. "I wish for no one to remember Antonio. Let them only recall Lawrence, the vibrant and charismatic brother of Giles," he declared, a smug grin etched upon his features.
As Lawrence's wish echoed through the room, a profound silence enveloped the space, and Antonio's existence as he knew it began to fade, dissipating like shadows at daybreak. The mirror, cloaked in enigma, watched impassively, knowing that its plan had come to fruition. Time passed, and with each passing day, Lawrence's presence in the world solidified, entwining with Giles' life as seamlessly as the thread weaves through fabric. Giles, once composed and refined, now embraced a carefree and indulgent existence. His affluence and sophistication gave way to a life of frivolity and pleasure, mirroring the essence of Lawrence's being. In the city of Naples, Lawrence and Giles became the embodiment of dandyism, their allure captivating those who crossed their path. As the days melted into a seemingly endless reel of revelry, the mirror observed silently, content in the knowledge that its design to turn the two men into dandies had come to fruition.
The once demure apartment transformed into a haven of opulence and indolence, steeped in a heady cocktail of decadence and mirth. In the heart of Naples, the whispers of Lawrence and Giles—charismatic, alluring, and carefree—became the melody that danced through the city's streets, an irresistible siren call to those who sought indulgence and amusement. And in the midst of it all, Antonio's essence, his very existence, melted into the tapestry of a world that remembered him no more, his being vanishing into the annals of time, leaving behind only the vivacious spirit of Lawrence, the charming brother of Giles.
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I finished the first season of Arcane. It's impressive, so artistic and strong in narrative telling. Every character has a marked personality conveyed through their every feature including their looks and body language. Highest pinnacle aesthetics, the scenery is captivating.
That being said, every transformers fan that watches it, perhaps, can't but notice the striking parallels with the Aligned and Idw1 lore. Actually... the background plot is quite the same.
The major problematic arises because there's a dramatic split of social hierarchy.
In Transformers, it exists the caste system and functionism. In Arcane, society is divided in high and low classes as well.
Low castes are heavy work labourers, such as miners, gladiators, etc. They are rude, often violent, and outcasts. They suffer scarcities and unjustice from a government who despises them or is oblivious to their strife.
The same for low classes in Arcane. (Save for existing gladiators)
High and mid castes are government, scientists, military, artists, not brute workers such as archivists.
The same for Arcane.(save for archivists)
The different castes/classes are split in separate places. Low castes/classes are not allowed into the wealthy cities.
The low castes in Transformers and low classes in Arcane live in cities polluted by the vapors of factories and such, or that seem darkened somehow. The sick, the addicted and the mentally ill are common. Crime is not in short supply. Criminals are exiled or seek shelter there because there their activities are unnoticed.
Kaon (Transformers)
Zaun (Arcane)
Iacon (Transformers)
Piltover (Arcane)
The ruling entity is conformed by an association of a number of characters called the Council in both cases. (In Transformers there's also a Prime, which has no analog in Arcane)
The High Council and the Hall of justice. (Transformers)
The Council and their Tower. (Arcane)
There are also enforcers.
The antagonist is a menacing character, witty, terrifying and sexy arrogant as hell who has no qualms on use whatever means to get his way. They come from mines, they want freedom and autonomy to their kind but also crave power and know no boundaries. They value loyalty in a high degree and demand it, –the consequences of betrayal are dire. They endorse violence as way of change and are cruel and remorseless. They both have deep streaks of scars on their faces creasing their lips and share a liking for purple, dubious substances.
Megatron and Dark energon
Silco and the shimmer.
Also, they used to have an ally whom they referred to as brother, but who parted ways with them because of the virulent and dangerous, radical tendencies of the turned antagonist. These ally is/was noble, strong but kind and knows/learned that violence should be the last resort.
They both have as well subordinates that would follow them through hell because they, among other reasons, see in them that which any other. And these subordinates are feared and their own way of creepy.
Frag, it's Soundwave!
Oh, no, it's Jinx...!
And Sevika
Overal, the running story and focus is obviously very different, with various elements of their own, but honestly, the background plot and various parallels sometimes caused the fleeting feeling that I was watching a prewar tfp human steampunk version. Don't take me wrong, I loved Arcane and am very interested in the next season.
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