The Ancient Magus' Bride

I just saw someone call Elias Ainsworth "acarnal". He literally tries to eat her. On multiple occasions. But he's just her father figure. Right.

This is really important! I've heard of people seeing fics that mirrored what they were experiencing tagged as "abuse" which helped them realize they were in an abusive situation, even though the content itself was eroticizing the abuse

Transcript:

"Good morning, Chise. Did you sleep well?"

"Good morning, Elias! Yes, thank you, I—"

"Iiii..."

"What happened to your eyes?!"

"What's wrong with my eyes?" :(

"You tell me!"

What is Elias Ainsworth? We don’t really know, and maybe the series will never resolve that question for us. He seems to be a chimera - not any one thing. I’ve seen fans say that his head is a wolf skull and looking at photos, I think I agree. 

Canis dirus skull, from The Fauna of Rancho La Brea (Vol. II), 1911

At different angles, Elias’ face seems to thin out, just like the skull seen below. 

Chapters: 2/3 Fandom: 魔法使いの嫁 | Mahou Tsukai no Yome | The Ancient Magus Bride Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Elias Ainsworth/Hatori Chise, Oberon/Titania (Mahou Tsukai no Yome) Additional Tags: Forced Marriage, Beltane, Angst, Dubious Consent, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Sexual Tension, This Is Not Going To Go The Way You Think, Magic, Lap Sitting, Bodily Fluids, Gross but Sweet Summary:

Titania chooses Chise as her May Queen, with all that this implies.

Forced marriage and devious fairies. Set early in the Wedding Arc.

If you can’t tell, I am currently in the midst of an angst-filled obsession with Ancient Magus Bride (Mahotsukai no Yome). The Phantom of the Opera is my first fandom and so it’s impossible for me not to compare the two stories. I see so many similarities between Erik and Elias.

I don’t actually think that AMB’s author, Kore Yamazaki, is referencing PotO. But rather, I think there are certain themes and archetypes that appear in the two stories that mean they strike the same chord in me.

1. The Face

Both Erik and Elias have skull-like heads and glowing eyes. In Gaston Leroux’s novel, Erik is described as having no nose and eyes that are so dark and sunken in that they give him the appearance of a “Death’s head.” Elias has an animal skull with horns for a head. Both men go through various lengths to conceal their faces, Erik with masks and false noses, Elias with a veil and glamor. Erik is arguably more upset about his face than Elias. Erik overall seems more upset with life, which we’ll get to. But Elias is affected too - humans are often afraid of him, while the fae constantly make fun of him. It gets to him over time. It’s significant that he doesn’t conceal his face around Chise and that she insists she is not afraid of him. 

Chapters 2: Kitsune-bi Fandom: 魔法使いの嫁 | Mahou Tsukai no Yome | The Ancient Magus Bride Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Elias Ainsworth/Hatori Chise Additional Tags: Bathing/Washing, sleeping, Mild Somnophilia, touching without consent, Cuddling & Snuggling, Angst, Kitsune, Lap Sitting Summary:

Elias takes care of Chise while she is sleeping and other vignettes involving sleep.

Man, these are gorgeous!! I want 'em!!

TAMB - Nishi no Shonen to Seiran no Kishi (GIF Highlight)

Highlight GIF from OAD - The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Boy from the West and Knight of the Blue Storm

THEY ALL THINK HE LOOKS RLLY COOL ACTUALLY AND THAT MAKES ME CRYYYY ;;;;;;

BBY BOI IM SO HAPPY FOR U AND THEYRE RIGHT UR SKULL HEAD IS SUPER COOL aaAA ;;;;;;

Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Ten thousand yeeeeeeears! Will give you such a crick in the neck!

I know its old by now but I have to apologize for the delay. Long story short, pandemic + university + crappy summer job doesn’t leave much for creative energy. But glacial pace or not I will not abandon this story anytime soon. Thank you so much everyone who is still interested in it, it has brought me such joy to know people like it. 

Also I will be restarting my queue, I had ran out and wanted to build it back up before putting it back in motion.

As for this chapter in particular :D

Chapter 15: Before the Dawn

Word Count: 2,354

Content Warning: Alcohol, Violence

Someday, hopefully, we’ll all be able to switch the two, escape our stifling, humourless confines, and finally find the space and the stillness to once again reach out for the aether, and welcome creativity to strike, unimpeded.