#NOT L*ONA ROT | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

raven-at-the-writing-desk · 9 months

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leona in club leadership

Me: I’m safe after the hitman that was Epel’s Birthday Jacket jumpscared me with the “Leona is a reliable senpai” talk Broomquet Leona: Broomquet Leona: *slowly raises the broom for a bonking*

why Why WHY

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I THOUGHT I HAD PUT IT ALL BEHIND ME BUT NO 😭 HERE COMES CATER BAITING LEONA TO TAL K ABOUT AMGIFT /SPELLDrIV3 CLBU IN THS BROOMQUET......... . . ........ .. . ... . . . .. . QHJEBIYslbiufadbadf TO GET THESE THOUGHTS OUTTA MY HEAD I'M GONNA RANT A ND RAVE A LIL' aboUT L*ONA AND HIS cLUB

Alright, so. 🤡 We all know that Leona's the captain of the Magical Shift/Spelldrive Club at NRC (moving forward, I will refer to this as "Magift Club", since that's the shortest phrase). What's more is, we actually get quite a bit of information about how he goes around running the club and training its members (although the information is scattered across various vignettes, so it may be difficult to piece it all together if you don't know where to look or don't read certain vignettes). THIS IS THE GOOD STUFF THOUGH, THIS IS A GOLD MINE OF LuONA CHA EARCTERiXATION AND I'M GOINOG TO POP of DFF ABOUT IT

Firstly! In book 2 of the main story, Jack tells us that he was impressed by Leona's amazing play in a Magift game three years ago. This would later become a part of Jack's motivation to attend Night Raven College--so he could become a great athlete, and, perhaps, get to play against or alongside that player that he admired so much. Even when Jack learns that Leona is playing dirty to eliminated Diasomnia from the interdorm tournament, Jack exposes that he believes Leona is capable of securing a victory by playing fairly. Maybe you could call it a freshman's naive beliefs, but Jack knows that Leona is better than this. What book 2 shows us is that Leona is willing to resort to underhanded tactics to come out on top--but he's also very skilled in his own right, both physically and intellectually, and even at his lowest points, he has people who trust him to lead them: people like Jack. But where does this faith and respect come from???????? For that, we'll have to dive into additional materials.

In many vignettes, such as Ace's PE Uniform and Ruggie's Outdoor Wear, we hear from other characters that the Magift Club members train rigorously (usually to the point of exhaustion). Ruggie, a fellow Magift Club member, confesses to his inexperience; he never played Magift before coming to NRC and he's not a born athlete. He seriously considered quitting the club due to their physically demanding practice and training. However, Ruggie credits Leona for the vast improvement he has made, citing that Leona would give him all kinds of assignments to hone his skills. More importantly, doing all of these assignments also taught Ruggie how to endure and persist in the face of adversity. Ruggie could have just lied here and said the training was easy to quickly and artificially inflate the numbers of new recruits he pulls in to please Leona (some of the new recruits would end up dropping out anyway) BUT HE DOESN'T. This leads me to believe that Ruggie is being honest about what it takes to be in Magift Club and is genuinely praising Leona's guidance as a part of why it's beneficial to join. "Leona makes every session worthwhile [...] He makes all the calls during our games, but otherwise lets us do our thing. Which means we can work out our problem spots for ourselves. He's a great captain!"

Epel, the other main cast member in Magift Club, has not yet joined at the time of the flashback in Ruggie's Outdoor Wear vignette. Upon hearing Ruggie's praise of Leona, Epel gets the impression that Leona is an incredible person. Post-joining the club, this impression continues. In his Birthday Jacket vignettes, Epel describes Leona as someone who is quick-witted, fierce-looking, and has a cool personality. He really admires Leona and wants to be like him someday, making him the second first year that has these sort of sentiments. Epel tells stories similar to Ruggie, saying that Leona has helped him out a lot during club and is generally good at looking out for others. He specifically mentions that everyone counts on Leona for his leadership during games and provides individualized advice to help each team member improve (details which supports what Ruggie initially told the freshmen). People outside of Leona’s reign also comment on this, such as Ace in Endless Halloween Night. He remarks that the first thing Leona thought to do was untie Epel; this leads Ace to conclude that Leona, does, in fact, look out for people despite how he usually acts 🤡

Epel also says that he "knows" Leona would help him study if he were on the verge of failing a class. AND YOU KNOW WHAT??????????? Leona actually DOES tutor Ruggie (who initially descibes his grades as being "in the dumpster") and gives advice and materials to him. Now Ruggie's grades are average, but passing. In his Labwear vignettes, Leona doesn't formally teach Epel, but he does make a voice-changing potion to help Epel out (although his own ulterior motive was to avoid Rook, who was the one that originally helped Epel). When Epel and Grim then beg Leona to show them his technique, he refuses and seems annoyed at their requests. In other words, Leona doesn't seem eager to teach others unless it serves a purpose for himself.

Leons is oftentimes pushing others to perform well, and in a way that serves a dual purpose of helping the individual out but also ultimately benefitting him. For example, Leona helps sand Azul’s contracts because he wants to as terminate an agreement he has with Azul. Additionally, he plots in book 2 not only to help his dorm mates be noticed by Magift scouts, but also to prove his own worth as a leader. In yet another instance, Leona shows students outside of his club how to efficiently mine for magestone so they can fulfill their goal and earn a Vargas Badge. This clears them out of the cave so he can nap there. Leona is working smarter, not necessarily harder. Relating this to Magift Club... As Ruggie and Epel have told us, Leona runs his members ragged during practice. As a rich kid and royalty, he’s said to have a natural inclination for being demanding and ordering others around—but there’s always some kind of compensation or reward for following orders well. Ruggie gets many perks from doing Leona’s errands and chores for him, so he willingly follows Leona. For the Magift Club, the intense training causes those unable or unwilling to keep up to quit, leaving behind the go-getters, the tough, and the willful. Not only are these the types of people most likely to do well in actually playing the sport, but they’re also the types of people Leona himself is seeking with play with.

When your players are willing and able to train hard and by themselves (knowing what their strengths and weaknesses are, as well as how to improve), it encourages… independence. It means less work for the captain to do. It means having a group of people who are obedient and obey your every word. It means Leona can get away with napping during club practice. He's working them hard now so they can take care of themselves later and he has to do less. That seems to be the implication in some instances, as Riddle had noted before that, “it has been a while since [he has seen Leona] sincerely apply himself to his club activities.” (That's because Leona has already trained his team to be comfortable train on their own! This is demonstrated in the flashback of his Beastly Garb vignettes, when Leona instructs his club to do cooldown exercises "on their own while he heads off to nap.) And believe me, when he’s “applying himself”, his talent shines through (just as his intelligence does when he wants to employ it). As Epel and Ruggie say in Leona’s Halloween vignette (flashback), 5 people tried to get the disc away from Leona for 30 minutes and still weren’t successful while Leona barely broke a sweat. Part of the reason why Leona is able to afford bossing his team members around is because he can walk the walk. His own abilities, then, also serve as a point of motivation for the rest of the team. They want to be able to perform on the same level as him, want the honor to play with someone like that. We see one prominent example of this in his Dorm Uniform vignettes. In them, Jack is being bullied by Savanaclaw (senpai) mobs because they're annoyed with his athletic abilities and righteous attitude. These mobs also accurse Leona of being unworthy to lead them because "all [he does] is slack off during practice". They quickly learn the true magnitude of Leona's strength when he defends Jack from 30 mobs at once, not only demonstrating that he is fit for the title of captain, but also someone that has earned Jack's respect.

Though the Dorm Uniform vignettes ultimately frame Leona as siding with Jack, there is a lot of strategic thinking and wisdom in the advice he imparts to both parties involved in the quarrel. He argues in favor of the mobs "skirting the rules", which falls in line with his willingness to disregard morality so long as he achieves an end goal (see: his actions against Azul in book 3, and his actions in book 2 against Malleus). In this case, Jack preaching about playing by the rules is getting in the way of their goals (which will resurface in book 2). That's why he gets put in time-out to "think about his actions", and how he sees the world as black and white, evil and good. To Leona, it's not cheating, it's just playing smart and within the rules specifically specified (the mobs still acted within the boundaries set by rules) or what isn't specifically outlawed (they can't lose to Malleus if he can't play to begin with) to get what he wants. To this point, Leona also sees no shame in strategic retreats and surrenders. This is illustrated by him willingly turning himself into STYX when they approach, and passing on temporary leadership to Ruggie while he's gone. Again, he's just working with what he has in the systems that are presented to him, and he expects everyone else to be able to play the same game. While Leona tells Jack off, it's also true that Leona does have some code of honor as it relates to his own interests; he tells the mobs they're acting embarrassing by "punching down" and being jealous of a freshman. This doesn't come from a place of concern for Jack, or from worry about their attitude, but primarily from irritation that he has to clean up after their behavior. As we see in book 2, Leona himself has no issue with playing Magift against freshmen who are new to the sport (Ace, Deuce, etc.) when they've come unannounced into his dormitory. It's Jack who has to intervene there and call Leona out for picking on the small fry. Even Leona warning the mobs for using magic outside of Magift is a ploy to serve his own agenda. It's against school rules to use magic unless instructed; Leona is, therefore, against his students wailing on Jack using magic instead of fists because it could attract undue attention from staff (and thus cause issues for him, as their dorm leader). This is also why Leona wants to take on the Heartslabyul detective group in a game of Magift instead of just fighting them then and there; it's to avoid causing such a ruckus right before the big interdorm tournament. Leona has a problem with people challenging his authority and making unnecessary trouble for him to fix. When it serves his interests, he'll turn, and/or he won't side completely with one party. He can easily see the pros and the cons of both sides. If Jack is black and white, then Leona is all grey.

This is another notable quality of Leona's: he can identify and understand people's strengths and weaknesses, sometimes even better than they do themselves. His own club members can attest to how Leona gives them specific advice to improve their skills. In fact, we get to see one instance of it in Leona's Beastly Garb vignettes. Epel asks Leona for advice on how to better control the disc, since he's been missing passes and dropping them a lot. Leona responds by telling him not to worry about it and then walking off. A lot of people might look at this and say "he's just being lazy and shirking his work again". But later in the vignette, Leona explains his rationale: Epel's strength is his speed. When he's handling a disc as he's flying, that significantly cuts down on that speed and hinders his overall performance. If Epel tries to get better at all these things at once, he'll neglect his actual strength and not be useful to the team. Leona reasons that since making objects float is a fundamental skill for a mage, Epel will naturally practice it more and improve with time, so in the meantime he should dedicate his time in club to what he's already got as an asset.

This discerning eye is not just limited to club members, either. Leona has shown that, time and time again, he can key in on people. It was Leona who recognized Ace's craftiness and how Ace planned to use Leona's presence to his own advantage in Endless Halloween Night. Leona doesn't worry about the potential harm a wayward disc could have caused Riddle because he knows Riddle could easily deflect it with his own magic (in Ace's PE vignette). He alone noticed that Jamil's eyes "always glare" and senses his malicious intent against Kalim (in Jamil's School Uniform vignette). This is WAY before the events of book 4 ever came out too. Then, in book 6, Leona points out that Ruggie knows how keep to the strongest people to make up for his own deficits, how Jack knows how to adhere to a hierarchy, and how even Kalim has strengths in how amicable he is, and the wealth he was born into. He knows when people aren't meeting their full potential too, telling Jamil that he keeps making excuses instead of actually acting.

What makes the whole conversation Leona has with Jamil so great is that a lot of what is said is relatable for the two of them. Leona, too, knows what it's like to be in a situation where others shun his talents in favor of another. That's why he's able to speak so pointedly on the matter. It's that connection that helps to move Jamil and motivate him to finally act on his own to fulfill a support role for Leona that he needs later on. There's a parallel here with how Leona acted in book 2; he tried and tried and tried, and when he failed, he sat down and gave it all up, blaming his team mates and claiming he played along with their game. Leona was a quitter before. But now he's seeing that same behavior in others and he's calling it out, bluntly posing the question of if they're going to continue to wallow or if they're going to pick themselves up and move forward. It's the same lesson that HE had to learn for himself. If you consider that his Dorm Uniform vignettes play out prior to book 2, it becomes even more fitting for his growth since he tells Jack back then: "[...] guys who own up to their mistakes are all right in my book. Keep at it and model that behavior for the rest of Savanaclaw." This is Leona owning up to his own mistakes. He never openly and formally apologizes what his wrongdoings or promised to "be better" (then again, some OB boys just don't), but he's making up for his past behavior by imparting the wisdom he learned with his peers, whether subconsciously (like, out of guilt) or consciously.

This all goes hand-in-hand with the high standards Leona has set for Magift Club. Cater asks him for the details of his club's training (in Leona's Broomquet), to which the birthday boy responds with a story about how a team member didn't have enough stamina for a game, so instead of training them to pass the disc, he purposefully chucked the disc as far as it would go. It's to demonstrate to the club member that was lacking in stamina that this is the distance they need to be able to go, and this is their current disparity. It comes off as perhaps too harsh (and certainly a means to quit the club), but as Leona puts it, he doesn't want nor need cowards with him. His team should be full of people who get frustrated when they cannot meet their goals and will actively think about how to be better, then come back and try again and again. Think of it like how Mulan found smarter ways to tackle the challenges put forth by the army, rather than training the conventional way. That's what Leona expects of his club members, and it's the same mentality that drives himself. Tackling the same problem using creative solutions--it's like a game of chess. qbkhldyuFVYOwovyifS ;fslh ihof Aana dnAn thEN MCaER T SAYS smsethbha TH LIKE "waaaah~ Leona-kun is such a cool leader~" AFSHYJASVYOIFADOS AND THANE THAT FUCKE R LONA ' JUST G oeaS "this is to be expected of every leader, it's the basics" UNM???????? ??? ??? ???? ? BITCH EXCUSE YOU???? ???? ??? ? ? ? ? ? 😭 IW ANS'T EXPEC TING TO BE FUCXKIGFN A ATTACKED LKIKE THIS, CA T MAN

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I'AMSD Rr ReALLY OUTR HESR RE HAVE ING A WHOEL EXISSITENTIAL CRISIS AND AND AHGALF BECUAA SEO F L I O N M A N OTL I'M OWED MONETY FOR EMOTIUAONL DAMAMGES YOI'LL BE HEARING FROM MY LAWYER, K I NG SC HO L AR

P.S. I'M SO SCARE D THAT HE'S GONNA OUTRPAVE ROOO K ON MY FAOVRIRTS LIST I'M SOC UFKC IUNG SCARED

#twst #twisted wonderland #Leona Kingscholar #Cater Diamond #Ruggie Bucchi #Savanaclaw #Jack Howl #Epel Felmier #disney twisted wonderland #NOT L*ONA ROT #notes from the writing raven #to clarify: it's NOT that I think Leona is a bad leader; he is very clearly charismatic and intelligent and perfectly suited to lead #MY BRAIN JUST GETS SO MUSHY WHENEVER I GET REMINDED ABOUT IT AND THE OTHER CHARACTERS POP OFF ABOUT HOW GREAT HE IS #not me mclovin' it whenever his good points get acknowledged as they should be OTL #BUT ALSO NOT ME HATING IT BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE HAVING TO CONFESS TO LIKING IT #why is he. like this.#Megara voice) I won't say I'm in love #just when I thought I was finally done with my Cat Boy era 🤡#twst analysis #twisted wonderland analysis #twisted wonderland character analysis #twst character analysis #THIS WAS MEANT TO BE 'NOT ROT' BUT IT ENDED UP BEING KIND OF AN IMPROMPTU ESSAY #me: I’m over my cat boy era! I’m done with kemonomimi!! I’m moving on to bigger and better things than meowmeows!!!#leona:#I swear to you I'm NOT down bad

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 7 months

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Wait wait for genuine question what do you have against the savanaclaw outfit?

[I’ve mentioned my dislike of the Savanaclaw dorm uniform here and there, so there’s not one specific post that’s being referenced!]

(Sorry in advance to anyone that enjoys the Savanaclaw uniform 🙏 This isn’t meant to be an attack on you guys, I just personally don’t find these clothes flattering 💦)

I want to preface my response by confessing that I tend to prefer fashion which 1) conceals as much skin as possible and 2) is “properly” worn (for example, if there’s a shirt, I like it neatly ironed and fully buttoned up). I understand that their clothes are this way because of the Savanaclaw environment. It even fits the “bad boy” aesthetic of the dorm. But practicality and theming aside, I still don’t like the actual look of it. Taste is completely subjective, so I want to be clear on where I stand on it before I give my take on the Savanaclaw dorm uniform.

To begin with, the Savanaclaw uniform is a strange mix of biker and cowboy aesthetic, and while that’s a combination I haven’t seen often and it definitely fits the spirit of their dorm, I don’t find it to be appealing (whether in isolation or combined). Part of this also comes from the colors, which are really dull (save for the jewelry and the scarves with the dorm logo on them, which are the only parts I like). Even the pops of bright color don’t save the outfit though, since there is so little of it overall. The clothes just look muddy overall.

… OKAY BUT HONESTLY, 99% OF MY DISLIKE COMES FROM HOW LEONA SPECIFICALLY WEARS IT, JACK AND RUGGIE ARE FINE (Ruggie wears it best; I think mostly because I find the color distribution better due to how he wears the clothes) 🫠 BUT BACK TO LEONA.

Why’s the hem of his shirt so… awkwardly cut/skewed that way?? Why are his pants… designed like that???? At least he doesn’t have open-toed shoes (though he does have them in his school uniform which bugs me so much) 😭 but that doesn’t salvage the look at all…

#Leona Kingscholar #Ruggie Bucchi #Jack Howl #Savanaclaw #notes from the writing raven #question #NOT L*ONA ROT

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 1 year

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🫠

“I don’t need to fight. I need to think.” — Alhaitham, Genshin Impact (voiced by L*ona’s VA in the Japanese dub 😩)

NAURRRR DOn’T DO THiS TO ME WHY’S hE GOttQ SAY THATc THAT fiTS L8+nA SO WeLL TOO, He LEGiT SAYS Yhe SAmE THInG IN EPiSODE 2 OTL WhY do Ghry gOTta haVE GSbdVYYe THE BiG hoT BRAiN CELLS WHGGYYYyYyaysyatYYYTTy

#Genshin Impact #Alhaitham #Leona Kingscholar #NOT L*ONA ROT #notes from the writing raven #Al Haitham #why do I see this name spelled as one word and also as two words #I’m confused but alright it is what it is #I still cannot believe Leona’s VA also voices the buff scholar guy that claims he is fragile #literally Leona says the same shit in episode 6 #not my friends trying to drag me back into Genshin with this character

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 1 year

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episode of savanaclaw chapter 1: the importance of visuals in conveying character

ADDEDUM: Sorry if you experience weird formatting and/or see repeated paragraphs when viewing this post; for whatever reason, Tumblr gave me a really hard time editing, formatting, and saving this OTL It looks totally normal on my end, but I’ve heard from some people the post looks wonky to them 💦 I’m not sure how to fix it…

The turtlesoupscans team has the first chapter out! ^^ (This is also the scanlation from which I borrow the images used in this post!)

Something I noticed when taking a closer look at the Episode of Savanaclaw is that the new mangaka is really good at drawing eyelashes 👁 👄 👁 There were so many times when I actually made a full stop while reading to admire the eyes and the lashes on like. EVERYONE especially on L*ona. I really enjoy that aspect of the new artwork! (I don’t know if this is just me, but Leona’s tail and hair also seem much longer in the manga adaptation than in the game…?)

… OKAY I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS NOW

I mentioned before that the manga has the advantage of using visual storytelling to help convey character in a way that the game can’t. I previously explored this concept as it applies to Cater’s general character in the Episode of Heartslabyul. But but but— (and I cannot stress this enough 😳) just from the first chapter alone, I think that the manga’s visual storytelling is going a long way to enhance episode 2.

So like in the game (2-6), there is a dorm leaders meeting in which they discuss the upcoming Magical Shift/Spelldrive tournament. It is here where Crowley suggests inducting Malleus into the Hall of Fame in order to take him off the field and give the other dorms a chance to shine. Leona interrupts and gives a brief speech about how doing that is admitting defeat before the game has even begun. He uses the story of the King of Beasts to remind his fellow dorm leaders that it is cunning, not brute strength or magical ability, that allowed him to triumph. This inspires the other dorm leaders to disallow Malleus from entering the Hall of Fame, as they all want to do their best to try and outwit him.

Now, there's nothing wrong with this scene in the game. It serves its purpose just fine. However, because of the game being a visual novel style, the story is mainly told via dialogue and 2D character models. The manga is able to greatly expand on this scene because it is not constrained to just dialogue and a few animations. Case in point, this:

In the manga adaptation of this scene, Leona gives basically the same points, but the art is a lot more dynamic. For example, when he first hears Crowley’s proposal, we get these shots which show us Leona’s obvious displeasure. There’s the slight frown, the ominous shadow over his face, and even a close up of his fingers laced together (a pose which already implies he’s a schemer):

Compare this to the limitations of Leona’s in-game model; he looks so obviously and overtly angry, which doesn’t sell him as a calculating character as well. Meanwhile, in the manga, you can still tell just how much the idea Crowley suggested has pissed Leona off, but the feelings come across on his face in a much more subtle way.

Then when manga!Leona begins his appeal proper, he physically STANDS UP from his seat at the table. This draws the other pairs of eyes in the room to him; you can see in the next panel that everyone, including Crowley, is looking at Leona. He commands the attention in the room.

Another small detail here is that manga!Leona slams a hand down on the table; previously, they were folded together. Without saying a word, you understand what this conveys: that, in addition to his intelligence, he also has power and influence in this situation, and he knows exactly how and when to use those boons to his advantage.

Actually, manga!Leona does a lot of small yet noteworthy things with his hands. Take, for instance, these next panels.

When bringing up the importance of using one’s brain, manga!Leona actually taps his head. In the game, Leona is limited to his general sprite where he lays a hand against his temple. This is the closest approximation to what the game can do to simulate that tap tap of the head, but it doesn’t really carry the full weight of the motion, especially not when paired with Leona’s annoyed in-game expression.

But then look at manga!Leona, who looks so smug and self-assured as he does the gesture. It really speaks to his own confidence—and, more importantly, we’re getting a more accurate image of what the other dorm leaders and Crowley are seeing. They’re witnessing Leona at the height of his strength, someone who uses his words to persuade and to inspire the downtrodden masses into following his lead and to make better lives for themselves. Leona now curls his hand into a fist—so now we’ve gone from the cunning laced fingers to the powerful slam of a hand on a table to a clenched fist, which, in this context, is meant to be encouraging and victorious.

Note that this is all a parallel to Leona’s Disney counterpart, Scar, who made promised the shunned hyenas a place in society. Said parallel is made even more apparent in the following page; manga!Leona literally raises his fist up, and there, right in the background, is the statue of Scar himself, haloed by sunlight, and clouds parted for him. Scar—and, by extension, Leona—appear almost “God-like” because of this deliberate composition.

At this point, Leona speaks about the King of Beasts’ great accomplishment: obtaining the crown through perseverance and wit, in spite of the odds being stacked against him. Look at how this page is framed; it’s nothing BUT Leona. He’s dominating not only the page itself, but also the discussion surrounding Malleus’s induction to the Hall of Fame. He is winning his audience over.

Again, the same lines play out in the game, but the impact just isn’t there. We just have a lot of Leona crossing his arms while looking mad and Leona with his hands on his hips. At best, he looks neutral or slightly bored by what he’s saying. At worst, maybe too angry or even pouting about the situation. It definitely doesn’t feel nearly as inspirational as him standing and raising a fist as he extols the values of the King of Beasts.

(Side note: why is Leona built like a god damn DORITO 🤡 Why’s his waist so TINY???? What is the purpose of that………………….. ….. …. . .:: … . … . . … . . .. . . this is not me simping THIS IS NOT I swear it’s not)

This next page characterizes Malleus more than it does Leona; Malleus is small here, shown with his back turned away, turning to “glance over his shoulder” at the others. This comes off as isolating, putting distance between himself, who is on such a high level, and his peers. It matches Leona’s dialogue, implying that Malleus truly is a “monster” out of their league, and they must find a clever solution to take that “monster” down.

Leona’s profile now shows slight signs of irritation right as he’s delivering the conclusion to his speech and thesis. His eyebrows are arched, he’s frowning, and he’s slightly looking down at the people he’s addressing. The tension here is palpable; you can feel the force behind his words, how strong his final statement is. It is the responsibility of everyone present at this table to find a way to defeat Malleus, not kneel over and accept defeat.

And the crazy thing is???? You can SEE in the faces of every single dorm leader how Leona’s words have affected them. You don’t need anyone to say a single word to understand what’s going through their heads. They’ve all been charmed. Look at how wide-eyed Kalim is, how Vil has his eyes narrowed (like he has realized something), Riddle is staring DIRECTLY at Leona (implied by an earlier page), and fuck Idia; the tablet’s screen tells us nothing Azul smiles knowingly.

We automatically know what the outcome is, and we know which way they will vote. This is conveyed so well, so clearly, that the manga doesn’t even bother to give us dialogue from the other dorm leaders opposing Crowley’s suggestion. The manga just immediately cuts away to a mob student being injured. (This is different than in the game, which had to show Vil, Riddle, Kalim, Idia, and Azul verbally agreeing with Leona to get the same message across.)

Anyway??? I had to get all of that out of my system 🤡 I just. Can’t get over???? How good the visual storytelling is for the manga adaptation??????

Entire lines from the original script could be scrubbed out and we still understand what is being said without them. So much character oozes off the page in the dynamic camera and composition. Scenes that I paid zero mind to in the game are sooo much more interesting when told through the manga, my eyes are glued onto the pages.

There’s so much nuance in the gorgeous artwork and the story that it’s trying to tell, and I think that’s a real testament to how talented the mangaka and the team behind Twisted Wonderland (the manga adaptation) are!! I’m by no means a fan of episode 2 of the main story, but 👀 the manga has definitely done a great job making Leona’s introduction to the audience memorable, and he feels like a much more charismatic and threatening “villain” for this episode because of that.

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 2 years

Text

*aggressively chews he*

NO LIE THE SAVNACLAW DORM UNIFORM PANTS ARE LESS HIDEOUS ON TSUM L*ONA

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 1 year

Note

LEONA STANS HOW WE FEELING???

Leona looking like he just overthrew Farena on his card sitting on the throne with that pose. I am looking sinfully 👁️👁️. I really appreciate how Leona really looks like he is in his element, definetly he has never looked more princely than he does now. I'm so excited for this event, I really believe we are FINALLY going to meet the Kingscholar big bro!!! We got Felmier grandma, Viper sister, so now I hope Farena makes an appearence. Also more Cheka shenanigans, hopefully!!!! (kinda disappointed Ruggie and Rook are not included tho)

Also I bet Crowley is gonna send us over there with Leona to try and find a way home. Like every time. Sigh.

[Referencing this post!]

👆 Me Y’all right now 😌 Oh, but I’m sure the Leona fans are doing juuust fine… I don’t know if I can say the same for their gems and keys though 💦

bxsvsjwbw NWURrrAajUUYNAUR DONmT lET LEoNA OVERTHROW hiS BRImoThER AnD SiT ON THAT tHRonE 😭 it makes him too sexy hot BUT YEAH, L*ona looks really in his element here 🤡 definitely very powerful, very regal!! Like he knows all the moves you’re going to make and has already calculated ways to counter them…

HNFZhxbbzhababBHHFHHHHGGGGHH JUST LOOK HIm, LOOK At ThE FAcE THIS bASTARD iS MAkI NG I WAnNA JUST. UGHHHHHhHhHHGHH **aggressively shakes him like I’m making a frothy cocktail**

I sure hope we get to meet a member of Leona’s family 👁️ My money’s also on Farena being the most likely person, but I wouldn’t be opposed to meeting Leona’s sister-in-law or even totally new characters twisted from those in The Lion King! (I have a bias for birds, so if there was a new character at all, then I’d want to see twisted!Zazu~) And, of course, hopefully we see the return of Cheka!! Lil’ guy needs more screentime, he’s been sorely missed since his cameo in the first Halloween event 😂

I think it’s still possible that Ruggie and Rook go home with us for the event (they just won’t get new outfits/cards), it depends on the circumstances. For example, Kalim went to Silk City for the Scalding Sands event despite not being one of the characters that got a Yasmina Silk card. Something similar could occur for Ruggie and Rook; maybe they’ve come to spectate in an event or a ceremony but not participate in it themselves (so they wouldn’t get special attire).

I don’t think Crowley will?? There’s only been one major instance of him sending Yuu to a new location to research a way home, and that was Glorious Masquerade. All of the other times when Yuu visited someone’s homeland, it was because they were invited to join for an event (ie Kalim invites them to Silk City’s fireworks festival, Epel invites them for Harveston’s sledding race). Other events like Vargas Camp may have Yuu tagging along for practical purposes (ie helping the teacher). In fact, Crowley sending Yuu away to new places for the purposes of finding a way home is actually a very uncommon excuse used to shoehorn them into exploring Twisted Wonderland, it’s definitely not “like every time”.

#Leona Kingscholar #Cheka Kingscholar #Farena Kingscholar #Falena Kingscholar #Rook Hunt #Ruggie Bucchi #notes from the writing raven #NOT L*ONA ROT #Kalim Al-Asim #Dire Crowley #Epel Felmier #spoilers #believe it or not though Kalim is my favorite of the group #with Lilia’s design being a close second

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 1 year

Note

I AM LOOKING RESPECTFULLY AT THAT SHINY NEW LEONA 👀 so hype for the Afterglow Savana event oml

[Referencing this post!]

I FOUND THE OTHER SUNSET SAVANNA TRIP CARDS (Kalim, Lilia, and Vil)!! There’s also these better quality images/close-ups. It seems like everyone is dressed a certain way to participate in a local event called “Catch the Tail” (name translation credited to Mystery Shop TLs)!

zbkb$/?&.!jc(.(dwnow0hGV Leona’s new artwork looks really gorgeous from the preview 🫠 There’s so many pretty patterns, colors, and accessories in his outfit cnvsjwbdkske even though his pose is so… casual 😂 He’s literally just lounging in a chair while smirking at the viewer????? I want to smack that smirk right off of his smugass face I also love that we can see Pride Rock in the background too, that’s a nice detail!

I heard from some friends that Leona’s clothing seems to borrow design elements and inspiration from the costumes for The Lion King Broadway musical, which have received critical acclaim for being well researched and well designed. It makes me really excited to see the HD drip in its entirety (and on the other characters!) when they’re released in the game!

I’m so excited for this event, man 😭 MORE TWISTED WONDERLAND WORLDBUILDING…

#he’s so. 🤡#Leona Kingscholar #Lilia Vanrouge #Kalim Al-Asim #Vil Schoenheit #The Lion King #notes from the writing raven #NOT L*ONA ROT

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 2 years

Text

Leona, Malleus: The Light of Another Day

QDBIHLLASIYFVIYAFSfisb;OFS;BO TH E WAY I WOKE UP TO THAT SMUG ASS FAC E AND MY frIENDSWERE LIKE “u up?”, “you gonna roll?”, “have u seen him yet?” 🤣 Gotta say, that initial pose looks pretty bashful if not for his stupid hot smirk, it’d kind of endearing in its own... arrogant way?

Leona and Malleus are sometimes portrayed (in the fandom) as rivals with an intense hatred of one another, but I’ve always thought that the hostility was more one-sided. It’s cool to see them act very vaguely petty in these vignettes, but also stay mature for the most part and actually relate to one another 😌

ALSO I LOVE HOW L(ONAS ‘S PICKSD KALIM MAinLY BECAUSE THE AS I m FAMIL UY WOUDL RESCU E THEM QUICKLY THAT’S SO BIG B4AINED KNING OTL ANASD L*ONAE CHOSING TH E SAME DORM ASM J WOR DZVN;OABIUDDBUIAPIDBAPBUDBbduM YOU DON’T SEE M Y S*MPING OVER THAT YOU DON’T

Imagine this…

The air was thick, charged with the tension of beasts sizing one another up. Two mighty powers, two mighty presences, had deigned to converge in the same space today. Lion and dragon, each silently vying for dominance.

Their combined auras, overwhelming. Exuding an air of absolute authority.

The dragon struck.

“Hoh. How interesting that you would pick to join Pomefiore dorm,” Malleus mused, a gloved hand stroking his chin. A playful smile played upon his lips. “To think that you’d have dreams of being a pampered, domesticated housecat rather than a wild one…”

“Me, join them?” Leona scoffed. “Please. They’d be the ones joining me. I don’t intend to be some prim and proper housecat—I’ll rise to the top and leave Pomefiore’s students mewling and kneeling at my feet. They’re the domesticated ones. Obedient. Servile.”

Malleus laughed darkly, flashing a brief peek of his pointed canines. “You already have your sights already set on stealing Schoenheit’s crown.”

“I could take him—him and Rook.” The birthday boy placed a hand on his jutted hip, a lazy confidence to his figure. “At the same time.”

“Hunt as well?” Malleus’s eyes shone with genuine interest.

“There’s only room for one of us. No vice dorm leaders needed.”

“I don’t believe they’re unnecessary, but I can understand the sentiment.” Malleus folded his arms, allowing his smirk to grow. “Ah, but I would imagine that the dorm and who stands in your way holds little meaning. Wherever you prowl, you will attempt to conquer the kingdom you find yourself in and surround yourself with loyal vassals. Isn’t that right?”

“See, you get it.”

One of the few times they saw eye-to-eye.

“I simply recognize the look of ambition when I see it. When your eyes are on the prize, you are like an entirely different person.” The corner of Malleus’s lip curled at a memory of several months ago--some attempt to injure him, and the report that Lilia had delivered.

A man seeking something greater than himself.

The right to break free. The desire to save his people, and to prove himself worthy. All the world watching him, breaths held in their chests.

We’re not so different, you and I.

Bemused, Malleus chuckled at the thought.

“Oi. What’re you snickering about?”

“Nothing that you need concern yourself with, I assure you.” Malleus raised a hand, matching the motion of his mouth.

“Tch. Conniving lizard.”

“So that’s your impression of me. Most humorous. The same can be said of yourself.” The fairy’s eyes narrowed into slivers, the green of his irises even brighter than usual. “What was it that you said, hmm? That you would pick poor Asim to make use of the safety net that his family provides. And that would be discounting your errand boy, Bucchi, and your dorm and club juniors.”

“Utilizing people and their skills as though they were pawns on a chess board... That’s quite the dangerous power in your arsenal.”

Leona only threw his head back and laughed, low and gravelly, like a great stampede of wildebeests. “You say that like it’s a bad thing. I’m using what’s avaliable to me to my advantage.”

“Fufu. I never said that it was.”

This time, it was Leona’s turn to narrow his eyes. “What’re you getting at, huh?”

“Accept the compliment for what it is, Kingscholar. I so rarely give them out.”

“Ooh, I’m shaking in my sandals,” he replied dryly. “You want me to roll over and purr or something? I’m not one of your lackeys that’ll keel over the instant you offer empty praise.”

“No, you’re not.” Malleus paused, his next words clasped against his chest like a string of pearls. “... A question, if you will.”

“What is it? Make it quick.”

“What do you intend to do once you are let loose from Night Raven College? When there are no dorms to take over, and no students to command?”

When there is no destiny to flee from.

“... Isn’t it obvious?” Leona held his head high, meeting Malleus with a fierce gaze. “I’ll carve my own path forward.”

Malleus lifted an eyebrow. “You...”

“The young Kingscholar could never match your grace,” Lilia had once said. Disappointed, dismissive. “He is selfish and prideful, one who is far better suited for a collar than a crown. He will never truly be ‘king’ with that rotten heart of his.”

And yet something had changed in him over the course of the past several months. A revived drive, and determination. Beams of light peeking through cracks in the clouds. The sun finally rising in the savanna.

Potential glistening, shining through his gruff exterior.

Another day come, led by him.

Interesting. It appears as though it is possible to teach an old cat new tricks after all.

“What’s with that dumbfounded look? Didn’t you hear me?” Leona rolled his shoulders back and smirked. “Crown or no, I’ll claw my way to where I want to be myself. I’ll be respected, saluted, and seen for the wonder I am.”

“Pfft. Humility isn’t your strong suit, Kingscholar.”

“It’s not exactly yours either.”

Sarcasm met with sarcasm. Lion and dragon, quietly clashing.

One to roam free, and the other soon to be caged in a castle, shackled to royal duties.

Mutuals on opposite sides of the scale.

Malleus found himself slowly nodding. “I see... so that is your answer.”

“Do you now?” Leona’s voice was a taunt laced with challenge. “Took you long enough.”

“Alas, how time does fly when we’re ‘having fun’. I do believe this interview should be wrapping up shortly.” Malleus tugged off a glove with one hand, then did the same to the other, tossing them both onto a table. “Are you prepared for what’s to come?”

Leona grimaced, his fur standing on end. “Even if I wasn’t, you’d still relish in pieing me.”

“Pieing? Let’s not think of it as something so common and barbaric. I, for one, can think of no greater privilege than blessing an oh-so-important prince by my own hand.”

“Grrrr...”

“Come.” Malleus swept up a pie, his expression calm, yet smug--eyes lidded and lips upturned. “I shall even do you the honor of blessing you the ‘old-fashioned’ way. No tricks, no magic.”

“Wow, I feel so honored.” Leona’s voice was as flat as a sheet of paper. “Tch, just get it over with. The sooner, the better.”

“Very well then. Do not cower like a kitten, and show me your greatest battle roar.”

Leona’s eyes flashed menacingly. “Don’t order me around.”

“Fufufu. My deepest apologies... and may you have the most blessed of birthdays, Kingscholar.”

SPLAT!!

The pie went directly into Leona’s face, burying him in whipped cream and spilling over his hair. He fumbled around for the pie and removed its platter, shaking furious to send whipped cream flying onto his clothes and the room. Inclining his head, Leona growled through his teeth.

“Hahah. So funny, I’m howling like a hyena,” he grumbled, crushing the paper plate in his hand. “I hope you know that I’m NOT taking this lying down.

“Be prepared, lizard. It’s payback time.”

#Leona Kingscholar #Malleus Draconia #twst #twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland imagines #twisted wonderland scenarios #disney twisted wonderland #Leona birthday takeover #spoilers #something no one asked for #NOT L*ONA ROT

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 1 year

Text

quiplash

I was playing with some friends in a VC and suddenly I hear someone shout 🤡 “Oh hey, it’s Raven’s dream come true!!”

False, because Rollo and L*ona is not present 😤

#Rook Hunt #Jade Leech #Rollo Flamme #Rollo Flamm #Leona Kingscholar #notes from the writing raven #Rook Hunt thirst #Rollo rot #Jade Leech thirst #NOT L*ONA ROT #I hate Jade Dorm Groovy with all of my heart 😇#it is my Beloathed

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 2 years

Text

. . .

(´。＿。｀)

So.

***2021 and 2022 Jade, Rook, and Leona White Day Letter spoilers below the cut!!***

***All 2021 letters can be found here!***

***All 2022 letters can be found here!***

I did NOT expect to be taken aback by LEONA’S 2022 White Day letter, of all characters 🤡 why Why WHY did it have to be FAKE CAT………………………………… LIKE DON’T GET ME WRONG, I REALLY LIKED JADE AND ROOK’S LETTERS TOO but those two didn’t really hit me the same as they did in the 2021 letters????

Jade’s 2021 letter was an excellent blend of his usual polite demeanor and a bit of trickery and teasing at the very end (”Truly, would I lie to you?”)! His 2022 letter maintains the polite tone, but it doesn’t have the same flavor as the 2021 letter did. Instead, the 2022 version ends with “This experience has been well and truly fascinating.” It’s still very much a Jade thing to say, but it’s much more dialed back and contemplative, like he’s musing over the ordeal and actually appreciative at having learned something more to the culture and the celebrations of land creatures. That’s, of course, endearing in its own way 🥺 DN;OUBFQEYOG8YwvyABOHSVFASVUOabyo It just doesn’t make me. FBIHviyoDVIYsvdibioDTVOEQFOYIBACBIHL screech as much as the implication that he could be duping me OTL I’M WEIRD OKAY LEMME BE

Rook’s 2021 letter was very poetic and flowery! It was really wholesome and heartfelt, and it honestly made my heart melt a little reading it 😂 I actually a little disappointed with Rook’s 2022 letter asdbhhasyodboasbidsabid It wasn’t nearly as verbose as the 2021 one, but I do chuckle a little at the thought of catching Rook off guard with a gift. I’m not as much of a fan as him saying, “[...] I felt the urge to spring into dance on the spot” though. It sounds like a very Rook thing to do, but asdshlbashldbiyasadbsila THE IDEA OF ROOK RANDOMLY DANCING IN PUBLIC SOUNDS LIKE THE START TO AN IMPROMPTU DISNEY MUSICAL NUMBER, AND I’M NOT ABOUT TO BE A PART OF THATA SDSHABHDLASBIHLnjdwguveuVOUSalviSvos

OKAY BUT

THE BIGGEST SURPRISE OF ALL FOR ME WAS LEONA??????? LIKE I DIDN’T EVEN BUY THIS LOSER’S 2021 WHITE DAY LETTER BUT THE FUCKING CONTRAST BETWEEN 2021 AND 2022 IS LIKE NIGHT AND DAY????????????????????

In Leona’s 2021 letter, it felt like he was writing it while being held at gunpoint 😅 which I do believe is the vibe they were going for? Like, Leona treated writing the letter like it was a chore that he didn’t want to tend to. It’s cleare that he’s just going through the motions and that his heart isn’t entirelty into it. “Etiquette dictates that I must express my gratitude for the thoughtful gift you have given me.” It sounds like Leona’s doing all of this out of obligation, and he dislikes having to do it at all. He even closes out the letter by promising that he’ll MAYBE give you something in return, if he FEELS like it. BUT IT’S TOTALLY DIFFERENT ENERGY FOR HIS 2022 LETTER?????????? Man’s literally like: “So here you go, a proper message of gratitude: Thank you for your considerate gift.” Leona’s gift to you IS his thank you, because it takes so much for him to bite the bullet, swallow his pride, and be genuine in expressing his emotions. It actually means a LOT to hear this from Leona “emotionally constipated” Kingscholar 🤡 IS THIS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN YOUR WHITE DAY LETTERS I SEE, KINGSCHOLAR????????????? IS IT???????????????????? ARE YOIU.................... BECOMING YASAHII?>>?????? a tsTSUN DERE????????????????????????? BITR B Y B IT????? hmmmmmMMMMMMMM??????????????

BRUH IT’S EVEN WORSE BECAUSE THE FIRST PART OF THE 2022 LETTER IS “I’m no stranger to lavish gifts, but getting one from you was unexpected enough to pique my interest.” THE KEY PHRASE HERE IS “I’m no stranger to lavish gifts”. Leona has made it clear in a variety of voice lines and vignettes that he’s used to being treated like the royalty that he is; he’s USED to getting expensive things. In his Birthday Boy vignettes, he explicitly mentions that his older brother, Farena/Falena, sent him a very expensive rug. Leona says that the rug could be better served if it was gifted to another country rather than to him, as it could help forge stronger relationships with other nations, or earn new allies for the Sunset Savanna. He’s dismissive of his older brother’s gift (an older brother that, mind you, appears to dote on Leona and offer him unconditional love and support). He also acts prickly and defensive when he talks about gifts he receives from other family members, such as Cheka, often talking about how annoying or bothersome they are. BUT IN LEONA’S 2022 WHITE DAY LETTER, HE ACTUALLY EXPRESSES GENUINE GRATITUDE TO YOU FOR YOUR GIFT??????????

WHAT IS THIS 🤡 WHAT’S THIS GROSS FUZZY FEELING IN MY CHEST AND HOW TF DO I GET RID OF IT ID ON’T LIKE THIS ASDBIYLASIYOdyvAVIYDiyoqeyg8r87g9qwpq8q064;.,l[jkdph[wnioybgqye7qef8ovtufbadoasfybacsfyugadfsvDSFGIYOdsbiyoDSFADFYUGYOIAFASDKHLBASBHUSDAVAYUSDVAFSVIYOacbi;ACOGVUCSBYOQPBY9CBCsbiocpSUPOIcvyoibpqdcvyoqcbh[cqp9biypcnosOJB ADVNM;LBJWKM,QV;DVWINO[VBUPQFYC9QUQCVSOYBIQTF8OYC9

Anyway.

OTL

I’m fine. 🤡 Everything is fine.

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