#eaii

I havent seen the visual versions of the episodes for Unend, so I dont know if this remained a consistent trend of Un-aligned characters being lighter skinned than Fold-aligned characters, and I’d hope that since Unend takes place decades after Midst that (if this was indeed an intentional narrative depiction) then we’d see it subverted even more strongly. But it’s always a little weird seing Spahr as the only brown man in the Un when that is not explored at all, other than maybe being an unstated part of his deconstruction from the trust. While I’m at it why is Hieronymus, the saboteur and spy, the only other brown person in the upper trust.

And given that information why is Phineas white

Sorry ive really got a bee in my bonnet about this

*I think Saskia being white also plays into this weirdly literal Light/Dark dichotomy where she’s the head of a major Breach operation, but also presents herself as being a trustee to escape suspicion. I think it kind of works in her case, but it only confirms the trend, rather than disproving it. #1 white ally Saskia Del Norma feels weird for the same reason that #1 brown guy of the world Hieronymus feels weird.

Like theres something to be said for phineas being a sort of american military complex commentary with the whole bootstraps raised out of poverty and then dropped when no longer useful, but 1. thats not a narrative that is unique to that particular alegory and 2. the way that the ‘charity work’ done by the trust is described feels to me very much like imperialist intervention in developing nations. They send in their people and overtake a place, bringing Progress to places they have no business being in the first place, with the intention of selling off the resources of that place once theyve got their hooks in. Phineas was ‘lifted’ from the Delta, where people are implied to either be abandoned or wash up on the shores, coming from who knows where in the cosmos. He’s not from the Un he’s not born into the Trust - he’s forcibly assimilated because he has no other options for upward mobility and knows no other life.

You have no idea the can of worms you have unleashed thank you so so much

Ok so disclaimers :

1. NSFW. Naturally.

2. Bloodletting may be putting it diplomatically. It’s blood sucking. Vampire horny style but no one is a actually vampire.

The fic takes place in the post cannon, with Kabru serving as Laios’s royal advisor. Their professional relationship has put them in proximity of each other near constantly, and the simmering obsession that Kabru has had about Laios through the story reaches a boiling point when Laios reveals that he’s become (monstrously) obsessed with Kabru.

What gets me (aside from just like. my own sexual proclivities lmao) is the imo perfect Kabru characterization. I think a lot of people misunderstand what drives him and so when they write him it feels kind of odd. Kabru isn’t a manipulator,in t like abusive sense but he is a…social engineer. And a compulsive liar. And obsessed with Laios. He’s a nice guy, but acts amicable helpful and friendly to mask his social engineering.

This fic really gets that Kabru will say things, not without meaning them, but some part of him projects an image of cool confidence and he will act subconsciously to maintain that mask - in the interest of furthering his own goals. Those goals in this fic happen to be finding plausible ways to be intimate with Laios while maintaining some sort of professional veneer. It also employs a very subtle head cannon of him dealing with intrusive thoughts (kill Laios) in a way that I find pretty authentic and endearing as someone who also deals w intrusive thoughts.

And Laios. Again, characterization is really on point. This fic plays up the like chimeraization of Laios, and it takes his hunger seriously in a way that I think a lot of other fics and the main storyline often play for laughs. It’s about the need for satiation and satisfaction, but never feeling fulfilled. His desire disgusts him, because he’s been told it should, and as king he has every thing he could ever want. But he’s still Laios, he’s earnest and truthful and awkward and what he wants is Kabru. Inside of Laios’s appetite (all meanings of the word) is deep shame and inside of that shame is the sensory seeking autism need to feed on food that is forbidden (monsters, Kabru)

Kabru occupies a space in Laios’s life in the post cannon that we don’t really see equivocated in the main story. During the story he certainly cares deeply for his other party members and values their insight 100%. But Kabru is regent to the throne. In the day in day out running a kingdom, Laios is no figurehead but he works intimately (lol) with Kabru to compensate for his lack of social graces. There’s also the like, subtextual bodyguard implications that Laios is perfectly capable of defending himself but Kabru is acutely trained in combat against other humans, making him especially useful to a newly crowned king in danger of assassination. This is what makes me ship them so hard - Kabru’s story long attempt to know Laios combined with the implications of their post cannon positions

This fic really nails desire as narrative tension in romance - the “I want to, but I cant” “I know we shouldn’t, but we are” Not just erotic/romantic desire either, the desire to maintain appearances, the desire to secure a career. This thing is only three chapters (for now 🤞🏼) but the DEPTH of this erotica is fucking hngdbbsbdbcbcndndbgjgkfkdkdbd

I don’t know when the entire fandom decided Kabru is a trans man but I do like it despite my contrarian impulses. It’s worked in so naturally and I love that its never made A Thing (I don’t even think it’s tagged for it which is what made it a nice surprise in this fic). When Kabru gets hot and bothered it’s discussed in exactly the way that I experience it which makes me just :] yayyyyyyy

This fic brings out the like, service top-ness of Laios also. I’m of the opinion that there’s not a clear top/bottom dynamic between them so I hesitate to put it in those terms but this fic gets that Kabru’s social engineering extends to the bedroom - he knows he can exploit Laois’s earnestness and takes advantage of that leverage

Anyways. I really really should be asleep. My nightly routine has been getting home from work. Lay down. Kick my feet and sigh dreamily about Kabru and Laios for hours so thank you again for indulging me