there's something truly fucked about lucanis showing no interest in becoming first talon and even stating that's illario's calling instead, because he's right. it's explicitly stated that illario is a lot more like your average crow than the ones we get to know in veilguard. zevran would confirm this too if the writers remembered he exists. illario isn't a victim to their selfless idealism because that's not what crows are supposed to be. they're wealthy criminals, any "selflessness" they might possess must be bought. illario learned nothing but cruelty from caterina's cruel teachings and he's a better crow for it. he's not better person for it of course, that's not how you raise a well adjusted individual, and still it feels like caterina resents him for being exactly what she made him. it's just so unfair? she likes lucanis because he still cares, but she didn't teach him to care. he cares in spite (heh) of the things she taught him, of the violence, of starvation, and he gets special treatment for that. illario's the monster caterina wants to pretend she's not, and she hates him for it. imagine that! being punished for being someone's true successor. your own brother says he's entertaining the idea of becoming first talon only until she thinks better of it and passes the title down to you instead, but that never happens. and when you fall on schemes (because that's all you know) to earn the life you're owed, when you have to kill your own brother for it and feel horrible because you killed your own brother, his death is still not enough to sway her mind. one day he'll return from the dead, and again you'll scheme and it still won't be enough. your bother is made king and he keeps the crown he doesn't even want, the one he sometimes forgets he was given. and you get nothing but humiliation, he may even throw you in prison. my god. they'd catch my ass barking in the streets.
What some people don't understand is that Dabi's dance celebration comes from the place of real life victims finding relief in seeing Touya facing his abuser and devastating completely his ego.
It's his victory but also a moment to breath and be there on top of a mountain, dancing because the truth is finally revealed and now everyone knows how the person they venerate is the person that destroyed you in body and mind. They are all in his side, they all claim for him to rise up, while you'd be dead and forgotten, another martyr on his glorious life tale.
But you are not done and you are not gone and as long as your legs can move you're gonna dance and as long as your jaw can move you're gonna scream to the heavens that that person is not getting sanctified. He's going to the hell he put you in and he's gonna answer to the rage he put in you and he'd never ever be able to outrun the damage he caused you.
⠀
Dabi's dance is one of the best moments in bnha.
Fifty Shades of Mierda. Okay, actually forty. There are more in the text, they just aren't voiced.
The topic of first relationships played funnily between Lucanis and my Rook. Rook was like: "Well. I wouldn't know how a first kiss tastes like since I've never been kissed before". Lucanis said something like: "In matters of the heart is better not to rush". My Rook was sure that was a patronizing comment coming from someone that probably has kissed dozens of people before.
When they took forever to get together, Rook thought: "Oh, man. He clearly doesn't like me because I'm inexperienced :(". Then that banter between Lucanis and Emmrich happened and Rook was like: "Wait, wait, WHAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M YOUR FIRST RELATIONSHIP??? YOU WEREN'T BEING PATRONIZING, YOU WERE BEING HONEST!"
Collection of Lucanis' thought fragments from Inner Demons quest
Edit: added a Spite one I missed (ty @carabas)
An illuminated manuscript from a gossip pamphlet found in the First Talon’s desk with the caption reads:
The Treviso Tourney - Knight Takes Rook
Despite the recently crowned King Viago’s presence at this weekend’s coronation tournament, the audience seemed more enamoured with the rare appearance of the newly wed Dellamorte’s. The Champion of Treviso’s magical talents may have left her out of the competition, but the First Talon’s blade received Rook’s favour - and this punter knows to never bet against the Rook!
in honor of mary kirby telling us about ace lucanis here is a very hidden bit of banter you can only get if you 1. got the cutscenes to get emmrich with strife 2. had emmrich choose lichdom and 3. run around with him and lucanis before he actually becomes a lich. audio from here, this would probably never happen on my own file lol
More cut lines. It seems like companions talk to Rook after the regret prison depending on the romance.
Lucanis.
Spite caught your scent before we all heard you.
Taash?
Then I caught your scent. Sort of. It was your scent but with magic and feelings and crap.
Emmrich, I guess.
Then suddenly, I heard you, darling. And the welcome pull of your voice. Finding you was fiendishly difficult. I tried a number of rituals. Multiple attempts.
According to the localization in my language, these are the lines of a female character. Harding, Neve, Bellara?
But I heard you. Over everything else. Because, well. It's you. I heard your voice. I wasn't sure it was real but… here you are. I didn't believe it at first, when I heard your voice. But it was you.
Once again according to the localization in my language, these are the lines of a male character. Davrin, Lucanis?
And then all of a sudden, I could hear you. Across the Veil. Then I heard your voice. No way you're getting away from me that easy.
No idea.
(Chuckles.) Welcome back. We missed you.
Rook?
You're all incredible. I… I don't know what to say. I don't think "thanks" really covers it, but thanks. All of you. You saved me.
Shinsou messaging Kaminari.
I saw this post on Twitter and dropped everything until I threw this together.
rereading the wigmaker's job to take notes on lucanis and illario characterization. notes for illario include such things as:
Illario is a grumbler, mumbler, and groaner
"Devious" (he didn't wiggle his brows when he said this but imagine)
Uses words like "vengeancey"
Wore a "smug sneer" on his face when he thinks the elven slave Effe "talked" (uh oh)
Legs bounce when he's nervous
"I'm sorry—did the contract ask for 'a fate worse than death'? Usually, it's just death." (okay fine he's funny)