Interesting!

Interesting! 👀

One thing I especially like is how the magic to transform into a "magical girl" is already familiar to the users (because usually in magical girl animes, the protagonist(s) is usually a newbie who's unfamiliar with these abilities.)

Also, the fact that instead of using their magical powers to fight evil, these kids basically just like to fuck around and cause chaos. A very Koopaling thing to do.

The best part of all of this imo? The ability for a Koopa to change into a human form is actually not too-far fetched for the Mario universe. Sort of. (For context, the Super Mario Bros. 3 cartoon had an episode where Kootie Pie—aka Wendy O. Koopa—was turned into a human form to distract Mario in another one of their wacky Koopa schemes. "The Beauty of Kootie" it was called. Boy, was that a thing.)

Anyway, very interesting lore! Definitely gonna keep an eye out for more.

How did these guys become magical koopas (? Is that what we should call them?)

yes, magical koopas is the best way to describe them LOL also!!

i love the fact that magic is already a major part in the Mario lore, especially surrounding Bowser, Kamek, Jr, and the Koopalings! so i decided to lean into that already-existing lore!!!

i like to think certain species of Koopa are more likely to be magic-users, with Magikoopa and the more dragon-like Koopas like the species Bowser, Bowser Jr, and the Koopalings are being the ones with the strongest connection to magic and Koopa Troopas being the ones with the weakest connection to magic

since Kamek is Jr and the Koopalings' teacher and grandpa, he's the one who helped them learn transformation magic. while he himself can't hold his humanoid transformation very long anymore as he gets older, he found it best to teach the nine children how to do so for many reasons. for one, it's a good disguise; despite their humanoid forms still having features similar to their Koopa forms (namely hair, eyes, and some accessories), they can accomplish some tasks easier... or mess with the students at their school for fun if you're Iggy. another reason is because it's a good way for them to practice for their future positions in the Koopa Army, since having troops that appear human is a good fake out for certain opponents!

and finally, the reason they were all excited for this in the first place: they could live out their anime battle fantasies, because why learn how to have a humanoid disguise if you're not gonna use it for fun AND practicality?

in fact, Rose was the one who had the idea for them to use their humanoid disguises to be a magical girl inspired troupe! outside of generally using the transformations for fun, they also use their human forms at school (with the exceptions of Rose and Jr, who are homeschooled by Kamek since their magic is still somewhat unstable) since it's practice for future battles on the front lines. it helps them learn how to hold their humanoid forms for long periods of time, and the schools all know that it's part of their magic homework from Kamek; if they get tired during the school day, they can go back to their Koopa forms without being accused of being a different student or skipping class.

Ludwig, as the one with the strongest magic, can hold his form the longest. Roy, Morton, Wendy, and Iggy can all hold their transformations around the same time frame as each other, with Iggy being able to hold his form second longest. Lemmy and Larry also hold their forms for similar lengths of time, with Larry being the one who holds his form just a few minutes longer than Lemmy. Rose and Jr, however, hold their forms at different lengths of time each attempt; their magic is still more unstable and erratic due to lack of practice, hece the homeschooling from Kamek.

(also my first ask being about worldbuilding is so perfect because it gives me an excuse to yell about all the worldbuilding ideas™ ive been cooking for MONTHS.)

Sweet! (I probably should've known, given you've seen the cartoon lol.)

How did these guys become magical koopas (? Is that what we should call them?)

yes, magical koopas is the best way to describe them LOL also!!

i love the fact that magic is already a major part in the Mario lore, especially surrounding Bowser, Kamek, Jr, and the Koopalings! so i decided to lean into that already-existing lore!!!

i like to think certain species of Koopa are more likely to be magic-users, with Magikoopa and the more dragon-like Koopas like the species Bowser, Bowser Jr, and the Koopalings are being the ones with the strongest connection to magic and Koopa Troopas being the ones with the weakest connection to magic

since Kamek is Jr and the Koopalings' teacher and grandpa, he's the one who helped them learn transformation magic. while he himself can't hold his humanoid transformation very long anymore as he gets older, he found it best to teach the nine children how to do so for many reasons. for one, it's a good disguise; despite their humanoid forms still having features similar to their Koopa forms (namely hair, eyes, and some accessories), they can accomplish some tasks easier... or mess with the students at their school for fun if you're Iggy. another reason is because it's a good way for them to practice for their future positions in the Koopa Army, since having troops that appear human is a good fake out for certain opponents!

and finally, the reason they were all excited for this in the first place: they could live out their anime battle fantasies, because why learn how to have a humanoid disguise if you're not gonna use it for fun AND practicality?

in fact, Rose was the one who had the idea for them to use their humanoid disguises to be a magical girl inspired troupe! outside of generally using the transformations for fun, they also use their human forms at school (with the exceptions of Rose and Jr, who are homeschooled by Kamek since their magic is still somewhat unstable) since it's practice for future battles on the front lines. it helps them learn how to hold their humanoid forms for long periods of time, and the schools all know that it's part of their magic homework from Kamek; if they get tired during the school day, they can go back to their Koopa forms without being accused of being a different student or skipping class.

Ludwig, as the one with the strongest magic, can hold his form the longest. Roy, Morton, Wendy, and Iggy can all hold their transformations around the same time frame as each other, with Iggy being able to hold his form second longest. Lemmy and Larry also hold their forms for similar lengths of time, with Larry being the one who holds his form just a few minutes longer than Lemmy. Rose and Jr, however, hold their forms at different lengths of time each attempt; their magic is still more unstable and erratic due to lack of practice, hece the homeschooling from Kamek.

(also my first ask being about worldbuilding is so perfect because it gives me an excuse to yell about all the worldbuilding ideas™ ive been cooking for MONTHS.)

Hopeless Revenge

I noticed something interesting in the latest chapter. When Snake is thinking about people reaching out to help him, he sees Doll and o!Ciel.

He seems to be comparing them. Interestingly, when Snake first confronted o!Ciel after the death of the circus troop, o!Ciel thought of Doll.

So Snake is making a comparison between Doll and o!Ciel and o!Ciel is seeing similarities in Snake and Doll.

Basically, I think this just shows there are similarities in all three (as well as similarities). One of the things all three had in common was the need revenge/vengeance. Doll ran at Sebastian and o!Ciel in anger. She was attacking in a lost cause to take revenge for the death of her 'family.' Snake tracked Ciel down in order to kill him to take a similar revenge.

It looks like neither Snake nor Doll will be successful. In fact, it seemed hopeless from the beginning.

So, what does say about oCiel's quest for revenge? It is just as hopeless and doomed for failure?

Hc that Mytho is absolutely precious and adorable when he laughs.

And since he's been living without emotions for so long, his other three friends (mostly Ahiru and Rue but especially Rue) just do anything to make him laugh. Jokes, stories, even tickling.

My boy has likely gone years without laughing properly just give him the happiness he deserves ffs

I “love” how in the aftermath of the pilot we were led to believe that Valentino was controlling and abusive (the Addict MV basically proved this), even calculated, and yet in the first minute of him actually being on screen he’s actually portrayed as whiny, thoughtless and petulant, to the point where he has to have Vox (who, by the way, was stated by Vivzie herself to have had several of his screens smashed by him) tell him what to do and actually be the one to act dominant and suggestively abusive towards him, and then be subdued by Vox lighting his goddamn cigarette.

Who the fuck even is this character anymore?