Peachteapunch - Irina

SPOILERS AHEAD: MY OVERALL THOUGHTS AND THEORIES ON ARIAN AND GRIFFITH'S RELATIONSHIP

03/29/22: this is all over the place lol I apologize, I'll edit this later to make it "flow easier" so to speak, but this is my theories and thoughts on Griffith and Arian's relationship in general; when I have the time and proper amount of research/evidence gathered for each theory/observation, I will make more threads. But take this as an overall thought dumpster ❤

I will FOREVER keep my opinion that Griffith and Arian wouldn't put so much effort into saving each other, which is literally THE OPPOSITE of what's in their best interests, FOR NO REASON.

- Why?? When it would be good for him if she died so Balor would be his/Balor would be safe from her?

- It would be good for her if he died so that he doesn't take her back to her #1 enemy (his boss)?

YET THEY SAVE EACH OTHER, EACH CHANCE THEY GET, WITHOUT EVEN BEING PROMPTED TO BY "OBLIGATION".

He literally keeps saying "I'll take her back with me to my lord" YEAH RIGHT, MF. You spent HOW MANY DAYS traveling with her, hanging out with her, SAVING her, when it's been established that combat- and physical strength-wise you outclass her?? You could've literally just tied her up and plopped her on your horse while riding off back to your clan, but YOU DIDN'T.

As for her, she's even questioned "her own heart" and why she wanted him to run, to not get caught and potentially executed??

This is a spoiler for a later volume, but: when they were swimming towards the big tree, he saw that she was going to drown and instinctively swam towards her (they were literally racing each other to get to the tree first).

Perhaps, canonically, the only guy she seems to have a crush on is Legion. She's shown jealousy in regards to him. At least 4 guys (Balor, Ilan, Gils, and Effidel) have shown romantic interest in her, but she either hates them (Balor) or is at most friendly with them (the other 3).... at first it seems she has eyes only for Legion. EXCEPT this girl has shown jealousy for Griffith when Gisela kept flirting with him (I highly suspect that when she had that nightmare after Gisela had tried seducing Griffith right in front of her, her emotions were so strong that it triggered all those flowers magically bursting into the room).

Those flowers also showed up when she tried concentrating so hard on saving his life as he was near death.

I'm possibly going to do a thread later on on what those roses might mean for the story/ for her once I get more info, but the two times I've seen them happened when: 1) Griffith was in the situation, 2) she was feeling strong emotions.

ALSO, they are the only ones to have seen the other naked multiple times: 1) when she saved him from that snowstorm, 2) they bathed in that sauna together. She is the only girl with which he seems to spend a lot of one- on- one time with, and vice versa with him.

Now, for what I think are the things that made them sympathetic with each other:

For Arian:

- His integrity and honor; Griffith is a man of his word, and despite coming from a clan like his, he's chivalrous, considerate, and polite. She's seen that when he makes a promise, he follows through. I think that Arian thinks deep down, he is a good person and wants him to change sides, although she would never force him to.

- She sees that even though he's made his goals clear, he actually doesn't force her to change her own personal goals or wants (despite them coming into direct conflict with his own). Let me clarify: with Balor, Ilan and Effidel, all three wanted her to drop her own goals to stay with them, be their woman. But with Griffith, although I wouldn't say he actively supports her goals (duh), he doesn't force her to try to change her mind on them. Not once has he forced her to do anything, but instead, grumpily goes along with her. It even seems he accommodates her sometimes. It's this quiet consideration he has for her own personhood that she subconsciously picks up on and appreciates.

- Even though she's tried kinda flirting with him and he gave her a dry-ass response (he's not the flirting type), she has recognized him as a handsome individual (when she was disguised as a Roman noble woman, she told him that "thy brooding face is charming".... in Latin.... which he can't understand... so why even mention it if he doesn't understand what she's saying? To establish the fact she finds him attractive).

- Would also like to point out that when Effidel casually says that "[Griffith] most likely died somewhere" after they haven't seen him for a couple of days, Arian quickly shuts him down with "Griffith isn't that weak", implying that she acknowledges and admires his strength.

For Griffith:

- From his time traveling with her, he's seen her kind and caring heart, that she's selfless. The first time he's ever saved her was when she was with the Iceni tribe. He saw how she took care of a Roman child and how she risked her life fighting alongside a tribe she literally didn't need to fight for (she's just a guest). She's told him to run for his own safety in fear he might get killed after he accidentally killed Effidel's mother. She dragged him out of a snowstorm and used her own body heat to warm him up before he froze to death. When he's near death from his wounds in volume 20, he hears her voice and calls out to her, trusting in her enough that she would save him.

- Her lively, cheerful personality brings out more emotions from him. When we're introduced to his character in Ch. 2, he has, like, ONE expression for the most part (which he's like that for most of the series), but it is only when he starts his mission of taking her back with him, does he show a lot more emotions and facial expressions. This is my brainrot speaking, but it seems that she is the influence that brings out more of his expressive side. I don't have the volume yet, but when she was a gladiator in Rome, and he got to meet up with Balor, Balor asked him to return to the clan (meaning, Griffith's excuse of being told to do so was now gone). But Griffith refused. Balor then asked him if he was having fun doing this, to which Griffith blushes. One look at Griffith in general and the word "fun" wouldn't be associated with him.

- Even though he hasn't said anything in regards to her beauty (which many other characters have noted on multiple occasions, so it's fair to say that in this series, she's widely regarded as attractive/beautiful), he HAS stroke her back when noting her physique (not in a sexual way, though he was just trying to push her, who was asleep, away from him, but thought that when he felt her back). There was also that panel when she revived/healed him, and because she was naked, he gave her his tunic and turned away, with the paneling focusing on just the back of his head after she thanked him (with that typical shojo background that usually depicts ~feelings being felt~)

So, I think, one common thing is that they treat/communicate/see each other as equals: Griffith is either a servant, an enemy, or a loner handyman to other characters, while Arian is a woman, a druidess, or a "changeling"....we still don't have enough backstory on Griffith's past, but we don't see him having any family members in his clan, he's the only (or one of the few) redheads, and his clan members don't really speak to him on an equal level... I'm guessing he was sort of an outcast as a child, and found purpose in serving Balor and made that his mission in life, worked his way up in the clan hierarchy and that's why he is respected by isolated there. Likewise with Arian; she was labeled as a changeling due to her black hair, shunned by her clan. As she grew up beautifully, she was either an object of desire or respected from a distance as a trainee druidess. From my theory on Griffith's childhood and Arian's canonically, they were both outcasts who grew into a position where people respected their status/rank/title, but not really get to know and befriend them as their own persons.

Back to when he was given the option by Balor to return with him (and he wouldn't have to put in the travel time since Balor was literally right there and had his evil unicorn/Pegasus thing that could fly them right back to the clan); since I don't own the volume where this happens (and even if I did, I would've had to rely on rudimentary JP to English translation) I can only speculate the reasons as to why he would refuse his chieftain (whom, by the way, he has NEVER refused and has always strived to grant his requests):

1) He made a promise to himself that he would see this mission through: being a man who keeps his word, he probably feels some sort of personal obligation to finish this mission as a sort of test for himself. Given that this is a very taxing mission (multiple risks along the way, almost died several times, far from home, has taken months or years since he started, etc) and his chief literally giving him a ticket and excuse back home, when his character has stated loyalty to his home multiple times, this seems unlikely.

2) He enjoys the journey in and of itself: again, this man has had SEVERAL death scares over the course of this mission, and is nowhere near the comfort of his home. He also doesn't seem like the type to take a vacation "just cause".

3) He enjoys and likes being in Arian's company: this one is the most likely to me (because of both my brainrot AND from all the previous points I've made). This sole mission is centered around her, she is the reason for this mission. Yes, it started out as a direct order from his chieftain, but when given the chance to return he refused and even blushed when asked if he was having fun. Balor noticed a change in him, a change that Griffith himself did not seem to notice. The people he met during his travels couldn't have been the reason for this (or at least, a huge influence) as he doesn't spend a great deal of time with anyone, besides Arian who he is consistently exposed to. We even see in volume 22/23 that they casually walk around a town together, eating bread, talking as if they were friends in the first place.

Now, this is just from what I've gathered from volumes 1-11 and 20-30 (12-19 I've only seen bits and pieces of and scoured through numerous JP reviews and blogs about).

But imo this is substantial evidence that would lead one to the conclusion of them being an actual ship. THE TIME SPENT, THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN THEM, THE CONCERN FOR EACH OTHER'S SAFETY, MUTUALLY TRUSTING AND LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER.

The Broken Ring : This Marriage Will Fail Anyway - By Chokam (8/10)

There is an extremely high potential for madness here. Both potential fiances have complex and strange feelings for the bride they want, but do they even want her? Or do they just want the bride with the best blood? Sometimes it is hard to tell. There is alot of cheating in this. Alot. In this setting cheating when you're married is extremely common. Who will get that ideal bride in the end? It's a mystery because love, in this setting, is selfish. Neither of the potential grooms are saints.

Ines chose a boy named Carcel when she was six. She rejected the chance to become imperial princess to have him. Everyone thinks she is a plain, overly mature girl. She always dresses entirely in black.

The sudden proposal horrified Carcel. He thought lady Ines would marry the Crown Prince, like everyone else. The prince even tried to change her mind, because their marriage would benefit him. She rejects him over and over again, and then seventeen years pass. Ines destroyed Carcel's life. The prince is his cousin, and now they don't get along, because his handsome face stole the best imperial bride. Carcel is very bitter towards Ines, but he never ignores her letters. He lives knowing that he has unconditional love, and he realizes how precious that is.

He fools around with flirtatious women for fun, but he plans to be respectful when he marries. Ines started to become colder, and busier, when he became a teenager. They both come from high ranking families with a lot of responsibilities. Ines has a very strict personality, so she barely visits him. Letters are not enough. He will never admit it, but he is lonely. He cheats on her because she has been witholding the affection she promised him when they got engaged. He joined the Navy, and stalled their marriage for a few years, because he was so frustrated with her coldness. He relies on her letters for comfort, but less and less of those come. The women he's sleeping with have started insulting his fiance, but they cannot change his mind. When Ines becomes his wife he plans to be loyal to her.

He has insane fantasies about his reserved bride. He thinks she will adore him just as much as he adores her when they start living together. This is lunacy. Ines does not smile much, and she wears nothing but black all year. The Duke indulges her, because she is his only daughter. He lets her pursue her hobbies and he doesn't expect her to fool around at tea parties. Carcel feels the same way. Ines does not need to put on a show for him. When they marry, and finally become more affectionate, he will be satisfied. He only expects her to give him more of her time.

He's twenty three, and his career in the Navy has brought his family honor. He has never once threatened to divorce Ines. Even after her letters stopped. Now that he's back on land he's ready to set a wedding date, and recapture that first love feeling with his cold bride. Ines has an extremely high pedigree. He blames her indifference on that. The Duke has spoiled her since her birth, so now Ines believes she doesn't have to please her husband. Ines is sort of right. Carcel is a hopeless fool. When they meet after a long time his lewd fantasies get more extreme. Ines is the only woman he has ever imagined having children with. He's excited to sign the papers, even though he won't admit it out loud.

Ines crushes him with freezing cold rejection. She says she knows about his affairs, and she doesn't care. She just needed a good husband that would not get in her way. She wants to them to lead separate lives after they tie the knot. Carcels odd fantasies get even sicker. He has always been wildly attracted to Ines. He thinks she has a secret harem of lovers that she intends to enjoy without facing any consequences. When Carcel cheated on Ines they were still not married. He was sneaking around out of loneliness, and he secretly wanted her attention. His most deranged fantasy involves a crying Ines, who is heartbroken about his affairs, and passionate make up sex.

None of his fantasies come true. Ines leaves him in shambles, and they only go out on dates for appearances. Carcel cannot divorce her. He doesn't want to, and he's in denial. Ines chose him all those years ago. Why is she tormenting him like this? He doesn't understand. He tries to sleep with another woman, but he can't get erect. When those women lavish compliments on him they remind him of his true self. In his fantasies he pampers Ines and showers her with compliments. So when other women flirt with him he's too embarrassed about his real desires to get hard.

He tells her everything. He gets way too intense about it. Ines is very unpopular, and she's twenty three now. She's stuck with him. She will not be able to run from him and find another husband. He tells her he won't get a mistress, and he won't allow her to have any lovers. He starts talking about their children that don't exist yet, and he tells her not to underestimate him.

Why is Ines so weird and cold? Well, this isn't her first life. She's trying to survive. She keeps dying, because the prince is crazy and abusive. She married Prince Oscar in her very first life. Everyone envied her. She wore fine clothes and she starved herself to make her body look more glamourous. She had anorexia, and the imperial family separated her from her family. She steadily grew more depressed, and she had four miscarriages.

Then, she saw the truth. After two years the prince was already bored with her. Her miscarriages happened because he contacted every kind of venereal disease. He also raped her often when he was pregnant, and the handsome prince loves very rough sex. She killed herself in front of him, because that was the only way she could get revenge.

She didn't expect to wake up again, and now she doesn't believe in love. The first version of Ines adored the prince, and Carcel is a scoundrel too. His obsession with her is very sexual, but it is rooted in his first love. Will he be able to convince her, even though he had a bunch of affairs out of spite? Will he be able to protect her from the prince, who doesn't respect women, or Ines's decision to marry someone else? I honestly don't know.

The biggest problem with this is the sexism, but there's no magic and I like that. It's a regular reincarnation story, and Ines could actually die if she makes the wrong choice again.

Thinking about a scenario where Twilight and Yor know each other’s identities and are both beating up some bad guys while making flirty comments to each other

BIG THANK YOU to

For this beautiful Griffian art I commissioned! Y'all she is an incredible artist, please commission her!!

I mean, just look at how gorgeous they are!! 😣❤❤❤

wip some smut and ahh again

If Arian ended up staying in Rome with Effidel, I know he would've eventually started spoiling her just like his mother did

When I first started reading this series, I thought Griffith was going to be the stereotypical bad guy's henchman...

I have since grown to ship him with Arian (since no one else talks about them I'll call them "Griffian")

Like, they're polar opposites but still decide to help each other out/ save the other and travel together when they're quite literally on opposing sides??

We gonna get their ass shot date!!!

I feel this way with both my writing and art lol only when I compare it to any previous writing or artwork I did do I appreciate where I'm currently at

it has been years and this still remains the most meaningful advice i have ever read. every time i'm editing my own writing and getting really fed up with it, i stop bashing my face in and just think about this. "You hate the most valuable thing about your art." my writing is supposed to read like i wrote it! because i did! i should be happy to have my own voice and style! ugh thank you forever to this tweet fr

Alucard in the sunlight ☀️