I Would Died To See The Screaming Contest Between Hilmes And Shapur

I would died to see the screaming contest between Hilmes and Shapur

Sitting in the background and eating some popcorn cheering for Shapur

Also Shapur and Daryun dragging Narsus with them would be so funny.

Two Marzbans, determined to to fight and get rid of the enemy and. Narsus complaints all the way to Peshawar that he is not able to draw his masterpieces.

Some more random AU thoughts:

After Arslan first wakes back up and recovers, Isfan can't stop fretting over him. He'd give Arslan a checkup every few minutes, to the point Farangis was like, “Bro, you're hovering.” “I am not.” “You are.”

Since Shapur and Kazai's relationship has a little leeway to be less secretive (albeit they'd pass off as lovers not husbands), I wonder if Kazai would sometimes accompany Shapur to Ecbatana. Or if the marzbans would know of him, even if just in passing.

Ecbatana shenanigans: Kharlan and Shapur unexpectedly bonding? Over being fathers? Especially after the jealous Crown Prince debacle? Maybe?

Also Shapur's loyalty in Andragoras is... dwindling. Or rather, his faith in the entire system, but since Andragoras stands at the top of it... Y'know, living with a clan that has a cultural history and identity of being wronged and persecuted by the system and those in power, it's gotta radicalize you at least a little bit. I wonder if Kharlan would notice that.

A lord, his half-brother born from a slave and is his heir, and an orphan boy he picked up from who-knows-where, one would think that's a perfect recipe for disaster but then in terms of conflict our wolf family is just... *crickets*. It'd be fun to see the shock of certain characters, haha 🤣

Eihon telling a young Isfan to recite a long list of medicinal plants and their properties in his mind whenever he feels his anger rising and doesn't want to lose control.

Shapur getting angry at something while far from home but being in a situation that doesn't allow him to express it, so he tries to distract himself by thinking about home but some stupid song baby Gieve made up is now stuck in his head. He can't get it out of his mind anymore. Poor sod.

Shapur and Hilmes having a screaming match. I have no clue what they're arguing about and at this point I'm too afraid to ask.

Isfan having to be held back from straight up murdering someone. Probably Gurgin. I don't have the context for this either.

Going back to Ecbatana (excuse my scattered brain), I wonder if Kharlan would notice the reason why Arslan noped out of the palace. Surely he must, right? And Shapur looked so... tired, the morning Arslan went to work outside the palace instead. What would he think of it? Would he even consider approaching Shapur with... information about Hilmes? I guess not, not very likely, but the seeds might already be planted.

Slings as weapons. Apparently they were widely utilized historically, and work great so long as the target has no armor or is lightly armored. Leaning towards Kashi being a slinger. Wouldn't that be cool?

Wondering how I should make Alfarīd and Ranna meet. Also Merlaine and Arslan. Hmmmm...

An argument between an exhausted Shapur and a very determined Narsus. Probably about putting forth Arslan as the hidden heir.

Isfan leaving his wolves to watch Arslan when the boy was comatose, but also after he wakes up but shouldn't exert himself, when he's not available to be by Arslan's bedside.

Farangis probably had to sedate Isfan at least once to get him to leave a comatose Arslan's bedside.

I haven't thought much about Gieve, huh... I should think about him more.

Gieve and Ranna put together would probably be called something like “Demon Duo”. Pranksters extraordinaire. Unhinged. All the good stuff, according to Kazai.

The Sindhuran debacle is still probably gonna happen. Except there's no Arslan to lead a campaign to Sindhura. Shapur and Daryun going to Peshawar to aid their fellow marzbans, probably dragging Narsus along for strategy purposes too? Haven't checked the timeline so not sure Arslan would be in a good enough shape to leave Gorgan. Most likely not. But what if Narsus remains behind, to observe Arslan? Questions, questions, so many questions...

Speaking of questions, what the everloving fuck is gonna happen to the political sphere after Tahamenay fucking offs Andragoras?! There's gonna be Team Hilmes, which Bahman would become part of, and then there's Team Gorgan, which would ally with Team Hilmes— What would Kishward do?! Actually I haven't been keeping track of where Kubard is either HELP T_T Daryun and Narsus are probably with Team Gorgan. What's gonna happen next?! Hilmes is probably finally in a position to reveal his lineage and identity, though. That's a good thing.

I'm looking for someone who can write about Arslan Senki.

Paint me an absence, a silhouette of rain 

 When others take shelter, I take on shape 

This invisible life in negative space 

Shortens the fall that water must make

“There he is, seated underneath a hornbeam tree, birds nesting in its foliage and singing alongside his own song. The song has a light, airy sort of quality to it, the sound of strings filling the air with sweetness.”

Second encounter, done!!

I shall get on with the third, and then I'll finally be able to post the whole thing. I have a feeling the third one will be longer than the second (which was shorter than the first).

Anyhow, wish me luck!!

Oh my god

I like it

And the panels with Kubard are so funny 😆

Arslan Senki Reread

In moments like these, it's not hard to see why Kubard is a marzban. He may be quite the loose and untraditional, but here he lightened the mood and raised the morale— relieving some tension where before the soldiers were very high-strung and panicking. It's not just his strength and physical/combative prowess, though that certainly plays a part too.

Before this too, he led a group of ordinary villagers against Lusitanian soldiers and won. His leading skills are nothing to scoff at.

Which makes his “let's just fucking ditch this too” thing at Atropatene all the more glaring— Andragoras fleeing clearly pissed him off a lot, he's a good leader when he has a reason to stick by and fight.

I admit I didn't pay that much attention to Kubard when I first read the manga (a mistake, imo) but I like him a lot. He's a good character, and very fun 🤣

Not shown but Kubard yeeted an entire Turanian. Rest in splat, buddy. And the one he knocked down with him.

I will never not love these panels. They're so pissed!! And they're right to be— they finally have something they can call their own, something that solidified their freedom, and they just started working on it and damn Turanian soldiers just come trampling on it?? Damn I'd get pissed too! Do you realize how angry I get when someone messes with my art?? Do you realize how miserable and murderous I get when I'm kept from finishing my art?? Do you????

GET THOSE BITCHES, BOYS!

Also Kubard's fucking face 😂

Hello there, Barhai! Or is it Balhai?

LMAO, language barrier problems. I'll never not find this funny.

Get in line, Ilterish. You've got people ahead of you who've booked an appointment with Daryun.

Love the banter, though.

The sheet delight on Daryun's face!! It's just literally the “>:D” face, isn't it?

Arakawa never disappoints with the crowd/soldier art. I can just feel their elation, I could almost feel myself whooping and jumping and cheering among them.

Them beans. I love.

🤗 My boys!!! I always appreciate a good Isfan panel.

And hello, is that you Parazada?!

Farangis and Narsus: a brotp I never knew I needed.

I dig it, though.

I can't argue with that😂

Ever since @marchdancer pointed this out I can't unsee it—

He looks like a light-haired Shapur here, doesn't he??????