I think one of the most fascinating aspects of Joshua's character is that he was raised by a cult that worships him and it shows.
The game is very unsubtle in depicting the Undying as a cult, if a benign one whose goals are largely aligned with Clive's: the way it recruits from the disenfranchised dredges of society, the way it isolates it's members from the outside world, and associates devotion to their deity with worth as a person, even glorifying self sacrifice even past the point of reason- something Clive and Cyril butt heads on repeatedly.
And you can see the way that both being raised by them and being their messiah has impacted Joshua: the way Joshua feels that he can and should be able to do everything on his own (rebuffing Jote's efforts to help him even with small matters, avoiding Clive in order to 'protect' him), the way he's feels a right to order the lives of others around his own wishes (his meddling in the politics of each Kingdom, especially Sanbreque), even the subtle hint that he's given up on trying to persuade the Undying not to sacrifice their lives for his gain (and the even more subtle implication that he's maybe accepted that self sacrifice is a good thing, given his own self-sacrificial tendencies for Clive).
Their's this big gap after the reveal Joshua is alive where you wonder: how did he get from where he was Phoenix Gate (the shy innocent boy who wanted to do his duty more to make his brother proud then for it's own sake) to where he is at Drake's Spine (confident, mysterious, cold blooded in his pursuit of his goals), and the game answers that so effectively in the introduction of the Undying. This is where he learned it, this is what shaped him after everything fell apart and he went into hiding: a cult that all at once was trying to parent and worship and aid a 10 year old messiah whose only real desire was to save his brother from the monster that tore them apart.
I love Xue Meng a normal amount (I would die for him).
Kagehina again
I (accidentally) rewatched Haikyuu first season, now I wanna draw them so much
"doomed yaoi" this, "doomed yuri" that. what about DOOMED SIBLINGS
2ha censored CN version volume 5 print going on sale 18 May | Huaizui momento booklet art by artist 墙头儿儿
CHU WANNING LOTUS LEAF PAD HAT BABY
I'd sacrifice myself to you, right here tonight, because you know that i love you
Some recent hades doodles :^)
Becoming a writer is great because now you have a hobby that haunts you whenever you don’t have time to do it
tsum adoption day
1. Start with a false sense of security
• The best plot twists work because the audience feels confident they know what’s coming.
• How? Lay down a trail of clues that mislead without outright lying. Create a sense of inevitability.
• Example: A detective follows all the evidence to one suspect, only for the real criminal to be someone they completely overlooked.
2. Plant the seeds early
• A plot twist is most satisfying when it feels inevitable in hindsight. Subtly sprinkle clues throughout the narrative.
• How? Use small, seemingly insignificant details that take on new meaning after the reveal.
• Example: A side character is always conveniently absent during key events—later revealed to be orchestrating everything.
3. Subvert expectations without betraying logic
• A twist should surprise readers, but it must feel plausible within the story’s framework.
• How? Flip assumptions in a way that feels earned. Avoid twists that rely on coincidences or break the rules of your world.
• Example: A character who appears harmless and incompetent is revealed as the mastermind, with subtle foreshadowing tying everything together.
4. Exploit emotional investment
• Twists land harder when they involve characters the audience deeply cares about. Use relationships and personal stakes to heighten the impact.
• How? Create twists that change how readers perceive the characters they thought they knew.
• Example: The protagonist’s mentor is revealed to be the antagonist, making the betrayal personal and devastating.
5. Use red herrings strategically
• Mislead readers by planting false clues that draw attention away from the real twist.
• How? Make the red herrings believable but not overly obvious. They should enhance, not distract from, the story.
• Example: A mysterious object everyone believes is cursed turns out to be completely irrelevant, shifting focus from the true danger.
6. Timing is everything
• Reveal the twist at the moment it has the most dramatic or emotional weight. Too early, and it loses impact. Too late, and it feels rushed.
• How? Build tension to a breaking point before the twist shatters expectations.
• Example: A twist that flips the climax—when the hero thinks they’ve won, they realize they’ve fallen into the villain’s trap.
7. Allow for multiple interpretations
• A great twist makes readers rethink the entire story, encouraging them to revisit earlier scenes with new understanding.
• How? Design the twist so that the story works both before and after the reveal.
• Example: A character’s cryptic dialogue is recontextualized after the twist, revealing their hidden motives.
8. Pair the twist with consequences
• A twist shouldn’t just shock—it should change the trajectory of the story. Make it matter.
• How? Show how the twist raises the stakes or deepens the conflict, forcing the characters to adapt.
• Example: After discovering the villain is their ally, the protagonist must choose between loyalty and justice.
9. Keep the reader guessing
• A single twist is good, but layered twists create an unforgettable story. Just don’t overdo it.
• How? Build twists that complement each other rather than competing for attention.
• Example: A twist reveals the villain’s plan, followed by a second twist that the hero anticipated it and set a counter-trap.
10. Test the twist
• Before finalizing your twist, ensure it holds up under scrutiny. Does it fit the story’s logic? Does it enhance the narrative?
• How? Ask yourself if the twist creates a moment of genuine surprise while respecting your audience’s intelligence.
• Example: A shocking but clever reveal that leaves readers satisfied rather than feeling tricked.
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