Reverting to Old Obsessions Again

Okay yeah, maybe I should have thought of this like. a month ago. BUT!!! better late than never.

Base color version under the cut

I can now safely say, it bothers me when people say that Aphmau never showed interest or reciprocation towards Garroth or Laurence because it's just not true. Most of her reciprocation for BOTH of them was displayed in the first quarter of season 2. Of course Laurence has the upper hand here because Garroth is...Well... Well he's fighting for his life in another dimension but my point is. She even accepts a kiss from Laurence and doesn't push him away from it or deny her feelings afterward when he gives her the chance to. Even earlier to this occurrence she goes through this whole crisis of realizing that she has feelings for both of them. And from what I've noticed, there's been a handful of moments where a season 1 Aphmau would normally shut down or deny Laurence, but in season 2 she instead just stays silent and blushes. In my opinion thats definitely showing us her baby steps in coming around to the whole returning the feelings thing but we all know how it goes and she moves on a couple dozen episodes later.

Also, notably -- and i kind of dont even want to bring this up as a point because it honestly seems a little more on the like...weird...side to me almost -- she didn't even need to kiss Laurence at that wedding to get him grounded. Even Laurence points this out immediately after the kiss. Makes me raise an eyebrow even more. The tension between Laurmau is undeniable no matter which way you flip it and even Laurence points out to her (in a serious tone this time! hes not just joking around!) that he KNOWS that Aphmau likes him back now but they're both holding back. Aphmau again, doesn't deny it.

I think Aphmau's problem aside from being painfully oblivious (in most of s1) is that she refuses to sit down and assess her feelings about them and she's always pushing those feelings aside until theyre brought up again for some reason instead of facing this inner turmoil. Understandably she's already going through a lot though.

I understand not being a fan of either ship or how they played out or a million other different related complaints and opinions but saying the attraction was never there feels just factually incorrect.

Aphblr I would like to inform you that we have a canon garroth design (that is, if you subscribe to the idea that vas have a say in what their character(s) look like)

i love being right/j

This also does absolutely nothing to explain why the Pope is backing King Charles, UNTIL you remember your Mayor's DA is actually the Pope's BROTHER who ran away because he didn't want to marry some random royal person he didn't know. Little do you know, that the rando royal is actually Prince William, who has been kidnapped for real this time- by the pope- but is being held in an underground bunker in the okefenokee swamp.

Anyways, you're trying to figure how the fuck your town of maybe 300-ish people is going to fight the british navy and fucking spanish inquisition. The mayor, handling this remarkably well, makes two phone calls. The first to the Mayor of Washington DC, who is lending you the national guard since your mayor saved him while he was being held captive by an anarchist terrorist group one time. The second is the governor of Louisiana, who agrees to lend some humanitarian aid because your mayor walked his daughter home after she got lost on a chicken farm once. Then, the pope decides to pillage and raze the fuck out of Louisiana, partly because they were offering to lend aid, but mostly because the pope knows the governor's son is your mayor's side piece.

Now, your tiny town is full of the national guard and 20,000 cajuns that are simply itching to terrorize some monarchists. Also that bishop that you were pretty sure was just spying on your town comes in and denounces the pope and offers to fight for your mayor. Lastly, your mayor meets King Charles and the Pope at the town limits, and the mayor, ever wanting peace, offers to marry the pope, who takes a confusingly long time to say no.

Then the battle happens and your army of the national guard and 20,000 cajuns absolutely rock their shit before things start to turn for the worse and just when all seems lost Prince William shows up and absolutely decks King Charles in the face, ending the fighting instantly.

Garroth leaving gifts for Aphmau and Laurance only for them to just write it off or get the completely wrong idea.

Laurance flirting with the both of them and it getting passed off as just playful banter.

Aphmau valuing the two of them higher than her own life, sacrificing so much for them... and them just thinking it's her being a lord.

Garroth's main traits are being a protective guard that defends and this would fit that so well!!

I always hated how Jess made him betray the village because he thought he couldn't court Aphmau anymore. Like dude has been a guard for how long? Stayed loyal to the village for how long? Showed time and time again that he will sacrifice himself and his desires to keep those he cares for safe.

But yeah, him going insane would be a much better plot point. We already know that Zane is amazing at picking people apart and using their weaknesses against them. So him and Lillian getting into Garroth's mind, convincing him that Zane will destroy Phoenix Drop and everyone in it unless he gives over the amulet. Destroying his confidence in Aphmau and the other guards.

I know Garroth and the rest of the villagers have memory issues surrounding the lords death but Garroth didn’t just start existing when Aphmau appeared (this is ignoring the fact that’s literally what happened in og season 1 because the story started as a minecraft let’s play.) Yes, Garroth loves her but he has dedicated his entire life to protecting the village and the lord. Garroth’s main character trait is that he’s a PROTECTOR. He doesn’t want to be a leader because his loyal is his fatal flaw. He will always put people above himself in a way that is self destructive.

Garroth leaving gifts for Aphmau and Laurance only for them to just write it off or get the completely wrong idea.

Laurance flirting with the both of them and it getting passed off as just playful banter.

Aphmau valuing the two of them higher than her own life, sacrificing so much for them... and them just thinking it's her being a lord.

Garroth leaving gifts for Aphmau and Laurance only for them to just write it off or get the completely wrong idea.

Laurance flirting with the both of them and it getting passed off as just playful banter.

Aphmau valuing the two of them higher than her own life, sacrificing so much for them... and them just thinking it's her being a lord.

From like episode 65 onwards

• The Kiki and Zane baby pendent plot line is so odd like did that actually do anything that impacts the plot? Like why would Zane have a reason to do that? I know he’s evil and all but he has goal he’s trying to reach and what does Kiki having a werewolf baby have to do with that? I’m probably just forgetting more stuff that happens later in the season to be honest.

• Plus you would think that Garroth would have been more concerned about it seeing as Leona could have potentially been his niece.

• When the group gets lost after they leave Malachi’s castle Laurance suggests that Garroth could cuddle with the horses while him and aph cuddle

• He later also clears away poison ivy for a “romantic camping spot” at Lucinda’s while Aph kills crabs

• Garroth is the one that taught Levin to call Aphmau Mama (I think it would be funny if Levin sort of had a british accent because of Garroth and says some words differently like Mum)

• Garroth actively tries to start pursuing Aphmau after the castle with Malachi (presumably because Laurance spent the whole trip getting there convincing Garroth to tell Aphmau his feelings)

• While they’re traveling Laurance seems to constantly trying to force Garroth to confess his feelings to Aphmau and straight up tells Aph that Garroth has feelings for her at nether portal at the werewolf village

• Garroth tries to confess his feelings at camp at Lucinda’s house but Laurance is listening in and only interrupts when Garroth changes the topic to Brightport

• Laurance comes up with the idea of the phoenix alliance

• For some reason Laurance knows everything and is always explaining stuff to Aphmau like he’s the human equivalent of an lore info dump like he’s the one that forces Garroth to talk about his father (Laurance is the world building of this universe)

• Neither Aphmau or Laurance ever sleep

• Dante stays up a lot too and in the beginning he likes to be alone

• Laurance is always eavesdropping on everyone’s conversations literally he is the nosiest.

• Laurance is also way too chill about knowing Gene and for some reason just never says anything to Dante??

• Also I skipped some episodes because season one is slow and I haven’t finished rewatching season 1 but Dante is really chill about Laurance being a shadow knight despite having his entire life being torn apart by his shadow knight brother

• Laurance tells the shadow knight lady and innkeeper in Pikoro to never stop loving her probably because it helps keep her human and wishes Aphmau would do the same for him.

• Laurance is more of a realist than Garroth is both are good at reading situations but Laurance tends to less optimistic than Garroth is (probably from his experiences in the nether.)

• Laurance is also just very good at reading people and understanding their weaknesses

• Laurance realizes that love is able fight against the shadow knight’s magic and that furthers it as a theme in the story

• Garroth despite having a rivalry with Laurance confides in him often and this gives Laurance an intimate look into Garroth’s thoughts

• Laurance pretends to lean in but there’s actually a ladybug on Aph’s shoulder before just telling her about the Magicks and Witchcraft war

• Garroth goes out of his way to try and to spend time with Aphmau like trying to walk her home.

• Dante asks for a combat doll from Nana and thinks he’s met her somewhere before (I don’t remember if this comes back later in the series) and I feel like it hints at a future romance pretty well as first interaction.

• Garroth catches Aphmau when she falls from the tree and Aphmau is pretty calm about the whole situation despite that being a terrifying thing to happen (plus I feel like Garroth should have been more scared and thankful he caught her time like he nearly lost the woman he’s in love with.)

• Then they play with both Levin and Malachi in the tree house like a little family

• Laurance gives Levin and Malachi a book that Zoey reads to them (in my rewrite it would be the legend/fairy tale of aphmau’s name)

• Lucinda and Nana used to have rival cat cafes! Then they have duel!

• Laurance wears gold armor for couple episodes before getting the armor upgrade

• Garroth removes his helm when Aphmau asks him to immediately where before he refused. He trusts Aphmau and presumably Laurance and Dante completely.

• Garroth designed armor when he was younger probably at guard school that somehow Katelyn got a hold of and turned into armor for the guards along coordinating colors that match their personalities

• Garroth, Dante, and Laurance are all on the jury of 9 waitlist

Laurence promising to hold back to accommodate for Garroth’s shyness.

Laurence takes their promise super fucking serious, to the point where he’s ashamed and withdrawn after just. Hugging Aphmau for comfort after his fucking village was destroyed

Laurence’s (framed) betrayal was Garroth’s breaking point.

Garroth, still thinking Laurence betrayed him, was pulled back by his speech.

“You need to be a Garroth worth protecting others!” And he folds like a tower of cards

Laurence came back to himself after slaughtering a wedding procession and his first concern was “oh no I broke my promise :(“ because Aphmau kissed him

Laurance and Aphmau literally become each other’s confidants as season one comes to a close. The only people they can truly trust is each other. No wonder Garroth lets jealousy gets the better of him (I still don’t think he would betray them without Lillian influencing it magically). However, Aph and Laurance’s relationship grew in such a short amount of time. This shift really began after they visit Meteli and they hug. Suddenly, they’re keeping secret between each other and they’re the only people making each other laugh. They are both the people that they let loose with and the people that they go to when things get difficult. Honestly, if everything with Scaleswind and Zane hadn’t happened I feel like it would have led to their relationship developing into an actual romance.