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linkoffline2024-11-02 05:25 am
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TL;CR MEME
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Lum | Argenti
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The Princess and the Knight
Argenti hadn't exactly had what I would call a proper first meeting with Mafuyu, given that their initial encounter began with the dreaded meeting wherein he announced he had killed Ushirono alongside aired the dirty laundry of such a man for all to see. Her quiet reaction wasn't noticed either thanks to the quiet and everyone else yelling or otherwise demanding a majority of his attention for other reactions / speaking up, or suddenly shooting in the midst of the meeting. Though, her presence certainly was noted (OOCly, at the time I also wanted CR with Mafuyu but had fallen short in available opportunities and was like damn he wouldn't really comment here)
But, upon their true chance to acquaint themselves in Izou's Palace, Argenti came to see Mafuyu at first as a considerate, thoughtful person from the vestiges of her personality that he could glimpse even in the startingly brief interactions they had. That immediately transformed into something of him recognizing the power of Mafuyu's inner strength as she faced down Izou's Shadow without flinching, ready to engage in a difficult discussion that even that facet of Izou's cognition had struggle entertaining. Despite the consequences she faced for it, she still stood determined even after Argenti expressed his worry, ready to fight to help bring Izou back. That was, what I would say, how her immediate impression blew past a Rank 1 and soared straight into a Rank 2. He wanted to get to know her more following that, even beyond being social and easy to bring along / convince for the Lanternfam outing.
This leads next into learning about the music group Mafuyu ended up being a part of, wherein he truly resonated with the goal - their core motivation - which Argenti was touched deeply by. The fact that Mafuyu herself devoted herself unwavering to such a cause, in which such songs reach out to the souls of others, but also simultaneously help provide a pivotal raison d'etre to her own self made him reflect deeply upon their association. He once again became amazed by not only her inner strength, but the integrity of her character, as well as a glimpse to perhaps that there was something else hidden underneath the surface (—they're... what keeps me going, I think. I'm scared to go home—) that made him worry. He is someone who catches onto little things that people say, who listens closing—and so knowing that something may trouble her about her home life instilled within him also a desire to protect her. From what?
All that would dare try to hurt her. This conversation was pivotal for that very reason, from the easy-going nature to it - the heart-warming aspect - and the threads that there was something else worrying underneath that quiet veneer of kind, impactful, quiet drive.
Next I wished to address was the nature of Argenti's own Palace to consider - that, despite everything, I can say he never thought Mafuyu would have dared to come for him (he didn't think anyone should have, for that matter) He never thought that he gave her any impetus behind the decision whatsoever. Though her being there solidified to him the current state of their bond, as well as deepened it irrevocably. Furthermore, what helped in that was the fact that she understood very well that underneath that well-composed side that a part of him remained that remained in an extremely pained and fractured state (...Because I'm broken, too. So I can see truths others never will... and forgive things that others won't.)
Argenti's fears, his imperfect memory of childhood that is half submerged or buried due to trauma, his canon despair that he will fail Idrila's Trials enough that he'd become an Omen of Evil, and the implication by his Aeon that latent evil exists in every single person meaning he is not above it all. That his failures thus far have facilitated such evils (failure to break free from Ena's dream, even if it was right to kill Ushirono from his perspective him breaking harmony is a failure on his part, failure to rescue Jordi from his death, failure to resist the God of Conflict's corruption-) and if he is not able to reflect the perfection of his goddess, what does it say about him who has strayed from the Path? Being a Knight of Beauty who unwaveringly spreads Beauty and upholds successfully, flawlessly the code of chivalry is who he is. How can anyone love him as he is without those qualities? When all that is left is just a broken shell of a man who never had a real childhood? At this time when Mafuyu said she understood how broken he is, Argenti couldn't accept it (just like he couldn't accept anyone who said he could still be beautiful, who can still be loved, because he didn't think he was) but it still touched him. It meant so much to him even if he was still hurting.
(Even the Beast returned to his true form with love. What makes you so different?
Humans are ugly, imperfect creatures. That's what makes us wonderful. So please... come home, because you are so very loved.)
Mafuyu accepted this imperfect self unequivocally while telling him of her love for him, unwavering for each step of the way. He remembered this, even in vague terms, and this strengthened their bonds to something incredibly solid on what I'd argue to be both ends. Such that when it was all over and done even from the fading of some memories of the Palace, noticing that Mafuyu suffered great damage made him concerned deeply of any further psychological scars (and remember, he wanted to protect her, so the fact that he couldn't here made those regrets simmer even if the onset of darkness did not come back)
Though the worry came true in the form of the God of Conflict exploiting whatever ones that already lay festering beneath the surface for Mafuyu. Of course he had been overly concerned, ready to leap at the prospect of rescuing her - venturing deep into the thorny pathway of her Palace with others, he discovered the depth of her struggles. The understandable and knowable pressure to be perfect or face consequences, the unfortunate knowledge that her mother treated her so twistedly, and the depths of her own despair, the feeling of helplessness in the face of it all. Yet he never looked away from that broken side of her who felt shattered in pieces; she did the same for him, loved him for who he was deep inside, and he did the same for her. Every step of the way.
He affirmed that it was not the perfect young lady he has come to care about as a dear friend, as he has seen as someone who can be an individual who is allowed to fail. To feel like any normal person, to have parts of them cast in shadow, to be allowed to cry and laugh, trip and fall, make mistakes, experience sorrows that leave them hollowed out, but still mean they are worth caring for who they are as a person.
Then, the strength of this platonic bond between them intensified, with the fact she was the one to reassure him in Atem's Palace of Fray's state even if it took more than that to wash away the illusion. Her presence undoubtedly appreciated when she dared to arrive in said place at all as well.
But, even if this solidified the nature of their bond - upon which to him felt like he could certainly consider her as someone a part of family (though him lacking any in so long he wouldn't know in what way) - what felt representative of their progress was when they worked together on a little new hobby for both of them. Knitting, wherein there was a short moment wherein Mafuyu confided to him her worries in taking a new outlook in her approach in things and about her state of mind, wherein Argenti reassured her. Not due to just simply saying things because he can, but because he too expressed understanding in those worries. But, he also let her know that she will not be alone in this.
And, as always, he will be there for her in his own way, unafraid to look out for her.
Anyway, that's about it for their CR. I enjoyed being able to bounce their interactions off of each other - in some ways I feel like they understood each other well because of the fact they had similarities in one or two ways (but majorly so) and I am grateful for being able to get major CR with you in a game, Amity :3
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The Chivalric Idol and the Knight of Beauty
When the two of them first met, Argenti had already decided that he would look out for Sayaka. This is a fact that was already decided and reinforced from when he witnessed her in battle - he knew not of what she had faced, but already he could tell that there was something deeply troubling. Hard not to, when she had arrived in the state that she was, but he planned on getting to the bottom of it, or if he could not, be a pillar of unwavering strength in the face of uncertainty. Though, this easily became complicated by what happened with the murder of Fuyu, and he knew it, witnessing how she ran off at his declarations. Out of all the reactions he expected, somehow this was one of the few he hadn't anticipated - though it is only through the constant discourse being thrown at him that he realized that he became a "threat" in the eyes of some. Distrust, or support, or perhaps condemnation were options but nothing so far extreme, and with a heavy heart he felt he had failed to approach this all in a more reassuring way.
Though he hoped even so that they could remain friends, uncertainty gripped him by the next they spoke, enough so that he purposefully diverted the subject between them both after returning to Sayaka items of clothing. He had to know - if she hated him, if she no longer wished to remain friends - though, even if she felt adversely about him as a person, Argenti hadn't intended to change his original goal. He's stubborn like that, of course - even if it meant he would have to watch over her and protect his friend (or previously-known-as-friend) from a distance, if necessary. Even if it wouldn't exactly be much of a distance.
Imagine his surprise that even if Sayaka disagreed with his choice of actions that she still desired to be his friend, but not only that...she seemed comfortable still talking to him, despite the difficulty of the topic. When she made it clear how she felt in that moment, it didn't feel like obligation - neither was it when she made the offer she had. Right then, right at that instant it felt extremely important - pivotal and heart-warming enough that even though Argenti had no regrets over his actions towards Ushirono, he felt unworthy of that amount of consideration. If only because he felt he had made her uncomfortable in the first place, but Sayaka wasn't having him trying to weasel out of her looking out for him! Which was kind of a little funny but reassured him further even if that part was unusual to him - he's the person who looks out for others, after all. All things considered, it shook uncertainties where they stood easily from his heart.
Then, when Sayaka ventured into the Palace, Argenti expected her to become disillusioned when she laid her eyes upon the deepest secrets that lay in his heart - his imperfections, his sleeping darkness, his fears, his regrets, and elements of twisted distortions bared for all to see. The reflection that stood clear in the mirror of her eyes, where even the light glimpsed was painful - and there are no defenses he had for whatever he was before her. Which is exactly why he immediately told her to turn around and abandon him - after all, her belief in him as a person had surely been shattered, hadn't it? But she still persisted, she still believed in him, even if he felt unworthy of that belief, of the hope that she had in being able to pull him back out of that dark place.
Furthermore, her words shouted at him in every stage of the battle of the dark night of his soul reached his being even if he had shut it out with the efforts that made him like deaf to any such efforts in the heat of the moment. But, what surprised him most of all was the fact that when he stood in the most ugliest form of himself yet as the Omen of Evil, Sayaka dared to not only get close, and to reach out again with her heart...
She also reached out with her own hands, to touch him - and to even grant a hug to a part of him that dwarfed her by far. Despite the fact that Argenti felt that even looking at him must have disgusted everyone, that he didn't even so much as resembled the beauty that any single one of them had come to know. She dared, and she didn't so much as flinch away, Sayaka never so much as look upon him with even a trace of disgust. She only continued to show him warm affection, to believe in him who felt filled with only the horrid nature of complete and utter despair. He almost couldn't believe it himself - hence one of the reasons for his gasp of surprise - and if he could have cried in that moment, he certainly would have. Why? Because it was beyond his expectations.
Yet, it didn't all stop there.
Following the climax of Argenti's Palace, Sayaka came to confide in him something integral to her struggles - to her being...to all of that she was. Her circumstances in the idol business, which made him feel for her (parts of which he witnessed in other ways in her dreamscape that made him also wish he can double down on slapping some people upside the head. It's fine? That's totally Knightly behavior do not @ him.) But also her experiences in the murderschool where he felt deeply for her experiences, including the ugliest part of it as well - her intentions to not only kill someone, but that she went through setting up a patsy as well. This was the most shocking aspect of it all, even if he felt she didn't deserve to die, he was reeling very hard from the confession! But, surprisingly, it never crossed his mind to kill her for such a thing at all - not because he cared about her, which he certainly did. Rather, Argenti had seen the true colors of her heart - that even if Sayaka were someone who could commit such acts, she was not someone full of malice, that she was not simply the worst version of herself. She was someone with depth, with love, with hope, who tripped and fell, who cried just like anyone else, and someone who desperately wanting to walk forward. To improve, to become the best person that she could be.
He can only love the person who has carried herself so far, who still looked into the night that engulfed his heart, and ceaselessly lent herself to help him pull himself forward. Who still looked towards him as someone who could be an inspiration for her to move beyond that dark part of herself. So while he had harsh words for what she had done, he accept the darkness that laid within Sayaka but had not swallowed her, and the light of her true being.
When he ventured into her dreamscape, Argenti made sure that every action he had would continue to show his deep belief in her, and his desire to protect her, but imagine how proud he was when he saw that Sayaka's reflection showed how strong she continued to become. The strength of their bonds only continued to flourish such that by the time Fray had disappeared, the Knight felt her reaching out to him on the network as a comforting balm. But, the revelation there, that she considered him family, her brother was a shock. The feeling of familial connection was buried deep inside but he had no name for it until that moment. Once unearthed and spoken aloud, Argenti himself realized he felt the same love for her. That he considered her his sister, and it touched him because of the fact he lost his family, not recalling what the connection felt like again in so long...
All of this culminated into him being completely and totally supportive of her new foray as a Knight. That of which he is certain she will accomplish with incredible flourish and radiance befitting someone with an incredibly radiant yet beautiful sou like hers.
...Also please imagine when Sayaka called for Knightfam triangle attack I was playing this. I didn't get a chance to submit two songs for their CR but maybe now they have it as of this post-
no subject
i love these two so much. i want to hold them in my hands, they are so GOOD and i love themmmmm
ALSO I AM CANONIZING THAT SONG AS THE KNIGHTFAM TRIANGLE ATTACK SONG HELL YES!!! GOD I LOVE THESE TWO, TY FOR PURSUING THIS CR WITH ME ;v;
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The Beautiful Dance of Two Knights
and there was a limit of two:When Argenti first crossed paths with Fray, he recalls himself being intrigued as well as drawn immediately into the mystery surrounding the other man. Clad in dark armor and calling himself a Dark Knight, oh how he wanted desperately to know him. And what better way would there to do so by engaging another in the rigors of battle, one bright soul against another shrouded in darkness but doubtlessly shimmering beautifully in his own way? Yes, upon hearing that the man used darkness to protect others his curiosity burned brighter! And the following thought came into his head as he raised his spear to face him:
"...But even in the shadows, there can be Beauty."
That's right. A Knight of Beauty who is representative of the light of all that is beautiful harbored such thoughts. Though he never voiced it. Furthermore, as he engaged Fray in battle, he became ever the more caught up in the moment, enjoying himself freely as he is wont to do when issuing challenges against others. After all, Argenti himself loves to spar against others - and that is how he immediately became close to Fray than anyone else, even if it meant he was brutal in how he forced Fray into yielding. There were more important aspects to consider as well - the speak about the other knight's circumstances...not in full depth, but in ways that shone further light onto Fray's individual motivations. The kindness and worry he had for this "Warrior of Light" fellow, and the magnetism of the seriousness he carried himself in.
...That is also to say that Argenti could never have predicted how Fray would find himself back to him once more. How can he? The man sustained dire wounds thanks to the expert technique of a certain swordsman, and this caused him to be witness to the wonderful nature of those muscles. As well as fret over him - he had already bounded so tightly to him from their talk and spar, so it is no surprise he drew himself half-mad with worry! The incident itself was resolved, though Argenti wouldn't be forgetting what happened soon...not realizing how much he truly had been endeared to Fray from even that point.
Thus, he continued to seek out Fray, not realizing that yes it is not only that he saw him as a close friend but the Knight of Beauty had begun to greedily crave the other Knight's company. Even as they did such simple things like draw together and participate in light-hearted activities like preparations for go-karting (feeling entirely too gleeful when Fray allowed him to come up with their go-kart team name! I mean, really. Beautiful, Bright Knights of Lovely Radiance, and Exquisite Midnight Shimmering...)
The next important step in their blossoming relationship next began with the trials and tribulation of Murder - the forced confession wrought upon the two of them thanks to the God of Conflict opened Argenti's mind and soul to Ushirono Fuyu's evil deeds. A man who confessed to them without a trace of remorse. With no desire to repent nor change his ways. By the chivalric code he sworn by it meant that he was honor-bound to kill him right then and there - without mercy. Of course, he also heard Fray's secret as well, but perhaps what bound them even deeper is the fact the other Knight allowed him to act. And showed how deeply he cared about him still even if he cared about a man in what still amounted to cold blood, as well as the fact that he remained in support of him despite it all.
Not to mention, therein this point he learned more about Fray as an individual. "Who" he ended up being, which is something that took him a moment to fully grasp - that the person who he knew as "Fray" adorned the title for lacking one as a person himself. That, originally, he was merely truly a being of full darkness - the negative aspects of an individual named V'rhas Tia, the Warrior of Light he so spoke of. This is a moment where there was no lacking its pivotal meaning - and yet, even if he knew as a Knight of Being he should have been wary, to have reacted adversely, he could not bring himself to do so. Fray, at his own core, as a being represented his true first step away from his teachings, while becoming someone so irrevocably dear to him - someone he started to fervently wish would start to see himself as his own person. Wrapped up in all of this was his deepened desire to stay with him, to indulge further in Fray's presence, not realizing that this inexplicable desire was a sign of how deep he had begun to fall for him. And so, he lingered.
So, he embraced the support Fray granted to him - silent, but strong. An unwavering force by his side in the face of uncertainty of the Meeting that deepened his strong, but deep bond with him further than anyone else. Because no matter what, even if everyone turned against him he knew, deep in his heart, that Fray would be by his side. Then, everything else started to come to a head - the Palaces, Jodri's death, being kidnapped, his distraught talk with Fray, and then being whisked away to a Palace, wherein he was determined to bury whatever feelings he had for Fray deep inside. Even if he knew not of their depth even at this time. But, Fray easily brought the name for these uncertain, strange, and warm feelings out into the light (If you cannot find your way alone, then I will guide you. Every time you stumble, I will be here to catch you. Allow me to stay by your side, to help ease the burdens you bear.
In your darkest hour, in the blackest night... think of me... and I will be with you. Always. For where else could I go? Who else could I love but you?)
The words of love touched his soul, Fray never seeming any less bright before that very point. Even moreso when the man dared to speak such words knowing that he was the ugliest he ever appeared before him. This convinced him more than anything that perhaps even if he were truly unworthy of Fray's love, Fray would never mind. He would take him into his arms, disgusting and wretched as he is before his eyes, and love him nonetheless. Oh and it was a bonus Fray looked oh-so-cute with the reveal...there is no question that he adored him.
Such that when it came time for him to ask to come with to Eorzea, Argenti was relieved (for other reasons, but he was so happy Fray had reached out to him in doing so), and immediately committed. Of course, when the God of Conflict dared to lay a hand on his boyfriend, he was infuriated and frustrated...though truly relieved when he managed to get him back. After all, he could never imagine a future without Fray by his side.
And after everything?
He knows for a fact that Fray felt the very same way.
no subject
The Vampire and the Knight
Insert Vampire Knight jokes here-Argenti mainly became acquainted with Céleste through the onset of Izou's Palace, having not spoken to him or seen him before that point - he didn't know what to think of him, really. Though that remained as a constant, there came a time where their actions in said Palace became like reflections - Céleste throwing harsher words of condemnation (swearing) while Argenti used politer but French-like (joking) objections towards their enemies in said place. Including the throwing of the sandals...you would not believe it, but the similarities in their thought process despite different (or successful) execution made for a wonderful way to cultivate immediate camaraderie.
I'd like to also say it was the basis for Argenti's startling amount of curiosity in a man he has never met before. Hence him continuing to ask the other man so many questions while continuing to be himself (him getting up on the table during lanternfam outing), though not so much that he didn't listen to Céleste's...words for him to get down. It was also an interesting learning experience for him especially since he has never encountered a vampire before this very point - and despite his status as a Knight would not have considered him a natural enemy of Beauty. Céleste's explanation behind his origins, his family, and immediate assertion that he is someone who also appreciated Beauty helped deepen the feeling of ties to the other man. Though, deep down inside he felt that given how long the other man lived and that his biological family no longer was with him, there were bound to be elements of sadness in his life.
Of course he didn't plan on digging into that, more interested even in the type of world Céleste lived, and how he went about living his life, which further fascinated him with each and every explanation. Following this conversation, though, it is safe to say that his presence had been cemented as someone important in his circle of people - even if there was still room for their friendship to grow to however else that would look like.
Ironically enough, Argenti had the distinct feeling Céleste would be someone that arrived at his Palace, though he imagined that once he gazed upon him in his ugliest state he would realize that there was no Beauty in all that he was. This is independent from Palace Argenti's disgruntlement over Céleste's daring insinuation Idrila could be tarnished at all (though that was absolutely hilarious, even if he definitely didn't appreciate it and took it to meant Céleste was the same as those who mocked Knights of Beauty...)
...Going in line with that, though, Céleste made it clear that his stance was not of mockery, but support - communicating in a stubborn way that despite the dark side of Argenti being evident before him, as well as his imperfect past, he still considered him beautiful. (Sometimes it is less a matter of strength than it is... stubbornness-) Which is why the "Knight" that was speaking with the man finally believed him - and that perhaps whatever sense of mockery Céleste had was out of fondness, or rather, something still positive for Argenti's sake.
Kudos for Céleste on being able to be the greatest nuisance in the Palace, both for the very beginning, middle of it, and even in the last half. But because of Céleste being so candid and bold in his actions of support, that actually solidified for him a deep trust in the other man which remained in his psyche even after the Palace had ended. So that no matter whatever conversations they had or their interactions, Argenti would never have any doubts in the intentions of the other man or who Céleste is as a person. He did feel bad momentarily for his unfortunate mistake during Ribbongate for Céleste's wild ride, though seeing that his words could reach Céleste's heart made him feel all the more glad he could show up for the other man in his time of need. Knowing more from the man's past (from past memories, etc.) also made him feel even closer, culminating to that bond deepening further when he gave support in the moment where Fray was taken away.
In the end, Céleste to him felt like a reliable man and he realized whenever he needed someone to support him, he could come to him if needed. And honestly, Argenti has been ever thankful for knowing that.