#thechavanator

There is no beating this card. I saw this single bloomed card and fell so in love you don't understand. He is so head empty biting onto that lollipop,, it fills my heart with the fuzzies just KNOWING how happy and content he is being able to openly enjoy sweets like that... AND THE BACKSTAGE STORY FOR THAT CARD WAS SO SWEET grabs you-

This was GOING to be no. 1 but I just didn't have the heart to rank it higher so-

Fallen Blood is an event that can be soo personal... every time I read it, I cry fr. Like my man just wanted to be a hero, a true protagonist AND HE WAS THE LAST IN AUTUMN TO GET THE LEAD AND THEY WERE TELLING HIM THAT KIND OF ROLE WASN'T SUITED FOR HIM... AND THE CARD BEING CALLED GIVE ME LIGHT BECAUSE HE WANTS THE SPOTLIGHT AND ALWAYS HAS SINCE HE WAS A KID??? IM CRYIING RN-

Blazing Beachside passion or whatever the fuck the tryouts were called. It was literally the first event I ever played,, I got the juza ssr in my first 10 pull not even knowing who the fuxk he was yet bcs I hadn't read the story and went to bed and saw the gem heist happened and I was SO SCARED BECAUSE I WAS LIKE NO WAIT MY PRETTY GUY- Thankfully I didn't lose him!!! Anyway he looks lovely here (ft. an edit someone on ig made after we were talking about how this shirt is perfect for him I'm so sorry I don't remember their user-)

This is literally one of my fave cards ever. Let me tell u why. First of all,, its an Sr so easier to get (/lh). But also. I have thought waaay too hard about this card so I'm gonna ramble ab it.

So okay right. Mans is constantly stalked and forced by people wanting to fight him, so it stands to reason that his casual outfit (default sprite) would be dark and unassuming so as to not draw more attention to himself and has to be somewhat practical to move in in case he needs to actually run/fight with the people chasing him. The purple jacket isnt that out of place with his hair, so the pop of yellow is really the only colour on his fit but even that kinda goes with with eyes. Yeah, he has his o high uni, but he kinda has to wear that and aside from the jacket it's very much the same as his casual (dark trousers, white shirt). But with this? The first time he's voluntarily worn something colourful and cosy. Granted they're travelling, but like that's even more sad because they're going to a place where no one will know/want to fight him. But he's surrounded by people that he knows care about him too!! Muku, Sakyo, Izumi, Tenma especially. He doesn't have to worry about keeping a low profile, he doesn't have to think about how he'll be able to move in it should he have to resort to running again. He can be COMFY and wear what he wants, no holds barred and he KILLED IT. Like of course he still has his lil jacket around his waist but this is so far removed from any of his other fits at this point in the story and its so cute to me !!! He just looks so happy and at peace !!!

This one's normal again I promise ♡ ehehehe wedding card 🥰 (also camera.. man after my heart FR)

He believes in his lineage, too. Erdwin’s spirit flows in his veins alongside his blood, as it does in Mia’s, and Erik has never had any reason to doubt it. Aunt Seithr, for one, doesn’t lie, couldn’t afford to as the town’s spiritual leader, and even if she did lie, she wouldn’t to their mother; he’s heard enough stories about how the bold and stubborn Lady Freya would nurse him in one arm and wield a crossbow in the other, so the thought that anyone in their right mind would try to anger her is unthinkable. 

That anyone would spread lies about Erdwin’s legacy and its continuation was foolhardy at best. But that was in part of why prayer was so hard. If Erdwin’s soul slept within him, even if only half, then why would he need to pray for his guidance? By logic, wouldn’t Erdwin have been guiding him all this time? Not always with clear intent, naturally--he did still have the sabrecat ears and tail--but trusting in Erdwin had gotten him this far, right?

It had led him to Gemma in the end, hadn’t it?

But that’s why he’s here now, he supposes: in Vinaheim’s cathedral, on his knees, praying to his goddess and his ancestor for the guidance he never thought he’d need. Annoyed and worried as he is that Gemma had suddenly wandered off, Erik can’t blame her for it--today was the day they’d finally make it to Yggdrasil, to find what She’s left for Gemma. To find Gemma’s destiny.

Erik would be scared, too. And he is. So he has to ask for help.

“O Erdwin, blessed ancestor…” He doesn’t pray, not often, but he’s watched his parents and godparents and friends and neighbors and everyone since he was little, so he knows. Prayer isn’t about reciting old words and habits; true prayer comes from the heart, from faith, and Erik has both in leaps and bounds. “The time has come at last for us to fulfill our destiny…”

Destiny is a strange concept for him. Destiny is something he’s never been entirely sure he believes in fully, at least when applied to him, but he can’t say he’s ever been pressed into Erdwin’s legacy--he and Mia were told of their significance as heirs, yet always had a choice from the start. Vinaheim values freedom of the self, of the community. But its people are adamant, and Erik has known all his life that life itself is about resolve, and the outcome is secondary. 

To say nothing of common sense--even if his destiny is a farce, why wouldn’t he take the chance to help carry the burden of the Luminary, to lighten her shoulders even the faintest bit, knowing what he does? If destiny means nothing, would that resolve still not determine the value of his life? Would that resolve be meaningless? 

Of course not. Erik is many things, but he isn’t a regretful fool.

“We’re going to use the Orbs to take the Luminary up to the World Tree, and she’s going to awaken the power that will banish the darkness…” Erdwin knows this, Erik is sure, watching their journey from behind his and Mia’s eyes. He must know why Erik is calling on him now, of all times, as well. But speaking is helping still his nerves, so speak Erik does. “We’ve never been up to Yggdrasil before--I’m not sure anybody has, so we don’t know what’s up there waiting for us…”

He has an inkling of what might be. In his mind’s eye he can see twirling and vibrant plants and vines curling over every surface, holy monsters prowling Her branches, fireflies alight in the night amidst perpetually flowing rivers. He wonders if these are Erdwin’s memories coming through to him; they don’t feel like it, but he supposes he wouldn’t know the difference.

Regardless, Erik stands his ground. He lifts his head to the sky, to the open aperture of the cathedral where Yggdrasil awaits them in the morning sun, and he makes his vow.

“But no matter what happens… I swear, I won’t let the Luminary come to harm!” When he thinks back to being told of Serenica, being told of her scion, his memory always made him think of Mia. Barely a fortnight separates hers and Gemma’s births, and of course Erik would risk life and limb for his sister. Meeting Gemma for the first time only solidified that he’d do the same for her--her, who looked at Erik with his sister’s eyes. “She’s our light and our hope, and she’ll rid our world of darkness--I know she will!”

And she won’t be alone. She never has been. Serenica had Erdwin, the love of her life, and Gemma has Erik, her brother in arms.

Vigor runs through him, in heart and body, and Erik opens his arms to the heavens, asking for this one boon. Asking for the strength to protect what mattered.

“Erdwin, sword of legend--lend me your power! Help me fulfill my duty and protect the Luminary!”

Erik believes. Of course he believes. In Yggdrasil’s grace and glory. In Erdwin’s strength and devotion. In Serenica’s honor and legacy. In Gemma’s power and resolve.

And so deeply does he believe that he didn’t notice how long he hadn’t been along.

The sabrecat ears have their benefits; Erik can hear much better than he could before, and those floppy ears twitch and straighten out against his head when he finally catches the sound of sudden breath behind him. He lowers his arms, and glances behind him and--and it’s Gemma.

Illuminated by the sunlight in the open door behind her, she takes a timid half-step forward, towards him. She doesn’t look any different than how she did this morning, before she disappeared to who knew where. There is now this giant, frankly hideous-looking great axe strapped to her back, which is new, and Erik is pretty sure he sees an eye on its hilt looking at him, but it’s not nearly as important as Gemma herself looking at him.

How long has she been looking at him.

“You--what are you doing here?!” Erik is on his feet immediately, ears and tail sticking straight up in alarm. “...w-wait. You weren’t--you didn’t hear all that, did you?”

Gemma says nothing, and that in itself says everything he needs to know. Erik throws his face into his hands, and his head back in the air in embarrassment, but it isn’t to last long. This isn’t the time to be mortified; this is the time to be a brother, and get some answers, whether this sister to his soul wants to give them or not.

“What do you think you’re up to, just waltzing in with that big ugly axe like you own the place? Where in the world have you been?” Savior or no, Gemma has a lot of explaining to do. Erik strides up to her, frustrated and crimson. “Aunt Seither was talking to us all, and you just--vanished into thin air! We were worried sick about you!”

But Gemma still doesn’t say anything. She just… looks at him. Looks at him with eyes wide and wavering, lips parted in fathomless surprise, and Erik’s ire starts to turn back into concern.

“What’s the matter? And don’t say the cat’s got your tongue.” Still nothing, and the concern is becoming more unnerving. “...Come on, stop staring at me like that, will you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost! Today’s the big day, you know that. And the last thing we need is you spacing out on--”

Erik doesn’t get to say much else before Gemma flings herself at him--really just, full body, throws herself at him, arms around his neck like she hasn’t seen him in ages, like he was the ghost she’d been looking at all along. And it shellshocks him, and his arms hang in the air helplessly around her before cautiously settling on Gemma’s back. She’s shuddering, breathing quiet and deep into his shoulder and squeezing him as tight as she can. Like he’s to vanish the instant she dares let him go.

For reasons he doesn’t understand, Erik knows that this is right. He knows why Gemma is doing this, knows that she is right to do it, and even though it hurts her he doesn’t regret what he did. But exactly what he did eludes him, and he has a feeling Erdwin probably can’t enlighten him on that.

“...Gemma?” He rubs at her back like he would Mia after a nightmare--because that’s what it was that happened, Gemma woke up from a nightmare, a nightmare that he cannot place but somehow knows, and she needs to know that he’s there with her now. “Gemma.”

He doesn’t say more than that, doesn’t ask more, and even if he had, he doesn’t think Gemma would answer him. She lets out one more shaky breath, turns her head the smallest bit, and presses a kiss to his cheek.

That, of all things, is what really concerns Erik the most. The kiss was long and hard and full of relief. Not even Mia showed that much affection, unless it was a matter of life or death, and Gemma isn’t Mia, of course, but… Gemma is still Gemma. And Gemma doesn’t do that, either. Unless it’s Rini.

Before his circling thoughts confuse him any further, Erik puts his hands on Gemma’s shoulders, and pulls her off of him.

“What was all that for?”

Gemma is silent for a moment longer, still staring up at him with hopeful eyes--but then she smiles, wider and brighter like he’s never seen her smile before, like he just pulled the weight of the world off her shoulders.