When A Powerful Figure Is Reduced To Kneeling. When The Lord Is Forced To Bow. When The Exile Stumbles

when a powerful figure is reduced to kneeling. when the lord is forced to bow. when the exile stumbles into an unwelcoming bar. when the “beast” is chained by their horns. when a god is dragged behind their enemy’s chariot, a captive and trophy. when the loyal “guard dog” character is muzzled and the silver-tongued thief falls silent in horror.

that’s the shit

it’s about the contrapasso. the reversal of roles and the sudden, plunging terror of being unable to hide.

How much do I have to pay you to draw Rafal as this image

HELLO I AM BACK

you pay me by finally making me do this trend after like two months of thinking about it

also my process is so wonky here LMAO just ignore all the layer switches and stuff

(modern rhian coming soon)

Tried out another coloring experiment on a sketch, this time with green-eyed Fall Rafal and a TLEA-like palette.

Had to reblog this one because 1) the DRAMA and 2) BLOOD. He pulls off blood so well.

! blood warning !

some quick and random rafal sketches i did at school because i was bored (and also because im procrastinating with actual content i fear)

i've always imagined rafal taking the storian out of his chest in that one scene in rise to be the most cinematic thing ever with a lot of blood... yeah

Rafal and the Curse of Obedience

Note: This sort of canon-divergent AU concept is loosely based off of this poll I reblogged with a little commentary in its tags and the storyline of Ella Enchanted, which I've done some plot-twisting to. I've only watched the film adaptation though; I haven't read the novel.

⸻

If Rafal were cursed with obedience in canon, such a plot line could have so much narrative potential, and potentially add a new dimension to Fall.

First, consider the odd incongruity and implications of possibly the most defiant, stubborn, unswayable being alive in the Woods being subject to this particular curse, that is the antithesis of his very way of being. He can no longer do whatever he wants, regardless of the consequences, of how he'd harm others, when those very same victims of his could potentially become his master. The curse would probably cause him great anguish, be something for him to initially ruminate and agonize over, for days on end.

In the beginning, of course, Rhian, as long as he consciously remains Good, would likely be extremely careful to never address Rafal with a direct command, which would be rather considerate of him, all things considered. He might even be sensitive enough to Rafal's plight to realize that using the curse, even in jest, against Rafal, would be an all too vulnerable point, given how compromising a position it could be for his brother, if Rhian were to use it, as leverage to win a petty argument or as blackmail to get his way, especially, seeing as the idea of the curse being public, or even the simple thought of it being revealed to anyone at all always does strike a nerve in Rafal. Thus, I believe Rhian, while his integrity is still intact, would have enough restraint to just... not use the curse.

To Rhian, it's cruel and beneath his higher moral standards to bend someone else's will to your own means after all, even if Rafal does it to everyone else all the time...

Also, given this premise, the only beings who would know about Rafal's curse would be Rhian and the Storian itself. Plus, Rafal, in his position of high authority, would do his utmost to never let word of the curse get out because it could ruin him and he could be exploited, especially considering that he is a sorcerer capable of great feats. Who wouldn't want someone like that at their beck and call?

A few times, Rhian almost let word of the curse slip to Vulcan, but he ultimately managed to keep his promise to never tell anyone about his brother's curse, preserving Rafal's fatal-as-ever pride. And this, this best-kept secret of all the Woods, backfires for Rafal later on. Because, no one would know enough to save him from himself and the curse.

During his day-to-day life, Rafal would be more paranoid than ever about keeping his curse securely under wraps, and he'd go to great lengths to keep his secret, lest it be used against him. As per usual, he would exercise his authority regularly with an iron fist, and preoccupy others with orders he's dealt out to them, so no one would bat an eye, or even think to apply any of the same orders to him.

Besides, he strikes such fear into the hearts of all that no one would ever dare give him a direct order at all, assuming they would like to live. In addition, he never truly stops being the contrarian he is, at least, not in heart and soul.

Then, with Evil Fall Rhian, the traitor, the game changes entirely.

Rhian technically keeps his word and never lets news of the curse slip from his lips, but he does use it to his advantage now, like the snake he is. He'd likely command Rafal to "willingly" and publicly cede to him, renounce his newfound "Goodness," in exchange for the same old Evil image everyone already believes in, and abdicate the coveted position of the One, leaving it ripe for the taking, for Rhian to lawfully and "rightfully" claim. Worse of all, Rafal would be forced to lose on Rhian's terms, not even on his own, foregoing some of his precious dignity to that end.

Lastly, if Rhian didn't go so far as to murder Rafal himself in the end—well, I'd suspect Rhian would call for Rafal's arrest, and reintroduce Rafal's former Monrovia prison sentence. It is a convenient way to shove Rafal aside, out of his way, and it would get him out of the limelight entirely, with the passage of time. Perhaps, Rafal would be forgotten, slunk off in the shadows, where Evil belongs, according to the "proper" tyranny of Good, which regards the whole of Evil as lowly. And no one would blame Rhian for turning his psycho brother into the authorities, if Rafal already had an outlying bid on his head, by both the law itself and the many vengeful enemies he'd made during his long lifespan. He was an actual convict for a time in the eyes of the law. I mean, what else could be done with him, the man complicit in his own "weak" loss?

Rafal would have to comply with the orders to not resist arrest since his curse would compel him to obey, and he would "quietly," without protest, without much of a row at all, surrender, probably all the while resenting Rhian and his curse and the entire Woods, for the pitiful state he's in, locked up to rot for the rest of his life—all thanks to the rot in Rhian.

‘don’t you want your favourite character to be happy???’ no? i want my favourite character to be interesting. i want me to be happy. which sometimes involves my favourite character being in exquisite agony