nuna(co)

have you forgotten that the things you cherish are unusual?

Take Tahomaru from Dororo (2019).

This is a teenage boy raised in a cult-like ideology of false prosperity, taught that:

"Daigo's land cannot exist without Tahomaru."

"Tahomaru cannot exist without Daigo's land."

"Hyakkimaru is cursed. His existence brings famine, disease, and chaos."

"Killing Hyakkimaru is not murder—it's duty, it's nobility, it's sacrifice for the greater good."

That's not just parental pressure. That's indoctrination.

Tahomaru is being fed propaganda his whole life—crafted to make him believe that his only value is in preserving a kingdom built on someone else's suffering. And when he starts to crack under that pressure, the system just tightens its grip.

And yet, a lot of English-speaking fans just write him off as "evil" or "jealous."

They miss:

The tragedy of a child being told his brother's pain is necessary.

The horror of a system so warped it turns a teenager into a self-righteous executioner.

The fact that Tahomaru was loved only conditionally—as long as he upheld the lie.

This is the same pattern we see in:

Gabi Braun (Attack on Titan): indoctrinated to hate her own people in the name of "good Eldians."

N (Pokémon Black and White): groomed by Ghetsis to become the voice of a cult-like liberation movement he didn't fully understand.

Reiner Braun (Attack on Titan): traumatized by the double life forced on him by the Marleyan regime.

Akito Sohma (Fruits Basket): enabled, isolated, and told she was the "God"—but only if she controlled and punished others.

Kurozumi Orochi (One Piece): groomed by Kurozumi Higurashi to seek revenge on Wano and the Kozuki clan in the name of his clan.

Azula (Avatar: The Last Airbender): groomed by Ozai to be a weapon of the Fire Nation.

It's not about excusing harm. It's about understanding how systems create monsters—and victims—in the same breath.

Tahomaru didn't "turn evil."

Some simple questions to get to know your rpg OCs!

What is your OC’s full name?

What nicknames, titles, or other terms of address does your OC have? Is there one they prefer?

What is your OC’s gender and sexuality?

How old is your OC? When is their birthday?

Where is your OC from? Where do they live currently?

How large is your OC's family?

Who is your OC's best or closest friend?

What language(s) does your OC speak?

What color is your OC’s hair? How do they wear it?

What color are your OC’s eyes?

What is your OC’s race/species/ethnicity?

What class is your OC? What’s their subclass?

What weapon and/or equipment does your OC use most regularly?

What kind of armor or protection does your OC wear most regularly?

What is your OC’s background?

What is your OC’s occupation?

What is your OC’s zodiac sign?

What is your OC’s Myers-Briggs type?

What is your OC’s enneagram type?

What tarot card best represents your OC?

What is your OC's alignment?

What is a song you associate with your OC?

What color do you associate with your OC? What’s their favorite color?

What is your OC afraid of?

some people don’t deserve fanfics, much less for free.

also even if authors didn’t tag any specific warnings but they used the “creator chose not to use archive warnings” tag, then that is your warning.