The Long Awaited Sequel

by bradley_images

It had to be said lol 

Champion’s Tunic - Hylian Trousers (dyed white) + Opal Earrings

So, I’m now seeing takes that the Princesses in Neverafter actually have a good point, and after we just went through this with Asmodeus in Calamity and Ludinus in Critical Role, I gotta say…

There’s a difference between being sympathetic and ethical.

There’s a difference between being sympathetic and ethical.

Asmodeus was sympathetic. He was also a murderous, manipulative, hate-filled liar who wanted to destroy every mortal in Exandria.

Ludinus is sympathetic. He brings up reasonable questions about the worthiness of the gods. But he has also been the benefactor of the suffering of others, of children under the protection of the Assembly under his protection, for years. He stole items of extreme cultural importance to the Kryn, propagated misinformation about them, and was the catalyst of war with them. He is the ultimate force behind almost every murder and act of violence in Campaign 3. He is not right.

The Princesses are sympathetic, but their goal is to destroy everyone and everything. The same as Null in The Unsleeping City, Volume 2, in fact, yet I didn’t see much sympathy for Null, or for Tony Simos for that matter.

And I wonder if people fall into siding with these villains because of the Marvel villain paradox.

Because Marvel saw people’s response to Killmonger in Black Panther and decided to make every villain sympathetic. But a key to Killmonger's appeal was that he was cleverly written, sympathetic while still being incredibly violent, carrying the violent teachings of the CIA and applying them to the entire world. And T’Challa’s response to Killmonger was not to reinforce the status quo at the movie’s end, but to tell those that came before that they were wrong and take steps to make real change.

This is contrasted by the Marvel villains who come after, who are sympathetic, care-giving to their communities, revolutionary, but whoopsy, they do some murders (often completely out of character) so the hero stops them and says something about change while restoring the status quo.

Which is frustrating and lazy writing and not what’s going on in these actual play shows.

Ludinus has been rotten from the start. We know the kind of person he is from his previous actions. And we know that, like most power-hungry people, he’s a huge hypocrite. Because the change he wants to see, where the gods can’t directly influence people at their whims? We’re already there. The gods are behind the Divine Gate. The Calamity is over. They cannot strike cities from the sky any longer. His brighter tomorrow is a lie, and his true goals are known only to him. (Also even if his goal was as he said, it’s a nuclear option, and things like that always affect the powerless and oppressed more than they ever affect the most powerful.)

The Princesses are also hypocrites. They lament their lack of agency, but they steal that agency from others. They always intended to kill the Snow Queen. They lied about their motives to the Baba Yaga, to their allies, until they had Rosamund alone. They stole the Book from Tim before the party did anything to disrupt or harm them. And if you don’t think that choosing non-existence for every being in the multiverse isn’t a breach of agency, I don’t know what to say to you.

And, unlike the Marvel heroes, Destiny’s Children specifically do not want to maintain the status quo. They’ve looked at the Fairies and the Princesses, and chosen not to side with either. It’s not as simple as one faction being right, though I know that would be comforting.

Anyway, I’m excited for what’s to come in both stories. I’m eager to see Ludinus’ real motives, and to see the third path that Destiny’s Children make for themselves.

I think at this point a fight between ylfa and La Bête is coming and I'm so excited for it. These two are the same, while also being completely different.

Here are my thoughts

Ylfa did not want to eat the wolf, but had to to survive. While la Bête ate her captor with absolute delight.

The moment when those two spoke in the library ylfa realized that she faced someone who truly embraced all aspects of being a beast, especially the gruesome parts and she thrives on her willingness to exact violence. Which makes sense in a way since la Bête took the power from her captor to become something mightier, someone who isn't helpless. La Bête isn‘t evil, she is being herself, truly every living out every part of her soul.

The same can‘t be said for our best girl.

Ylfa is afraid of cruelty, she wants to be kind and seen as such. I think seeing someone is the same as her but who doesn't hold the same fears as her scares her a bit (Especially knowing that la Bête might use violence on her and would have no hesitation about it probably).

I do hope tho that that she is "redeemable" cuz there is big hairy bloodthirsty sister vibes here.

For the WIP Challenge 2023 of @dcmkkaishinevents !!! In my original sketch I had one more page but I'm glad this challenge made me finish this page at least lol It was super fun to draw the boys again

This was just all an excuse to draw Kaito in a skirt, yup.

(I hope my writing is readable)

by danielmercadante