So...the Manga For TW...

I want to talk about why I think this is the one of the most important Falin panels:

So, Falin is really nice, right? It's one of the first things we really learn about her. She's kind even to the monsters of the dungeon - choosing to ward the party rather than fight spirits and cause them needless harm.

In the above early flashback in chapter 11, we see Marcille fawning over Falin's kindness, calling her an angel. Namari calls her soft-hearted. We see Falin choose not to fight even when a zombie attacks - instead she resolves the confrontation with a hug. After the flashback, the first thing Senshi says is that Falin "sounds like quite the person," which Marcille strongly affirms.

At this point in the story, all we have seen of Falin are these impressions; she is a healer, an angel, a caretaker with an infinite well of kindness towards everyone she meets - both friend and foe.

And honestly, that remains most of what we have to go by to understand her. The only times we get to see Falin on the page, alive and just herself, are in the opening and closing pages of the story and in the brief period of time after she is resurrected.

Nonetheless, we do have some more details to work with. For one, there is the scene that The Panel is from - a short memory in chapter 75, when Marcille flashes back to while she's dying. In that scene, Falin prepares to teleport them all out, and says that she's sorry "if there is a person at [their] destination." And that's when we get The Panel.

If you teleport someone or something into another person, the person teleported into is likely to be, at minimum, severely injured. They could die.

We can see a lovely little horrifying example of exactly why in one of the Daydream Hour doodles:

So, hmm. That's not... that's not SUPER nice. Certainly not displaying the same "kindness to all, friend and foe included" we saw represented earlier. On a basic level, this adds some nuance to Falin's kindness. We see it break a little, when pushed to the limit. We see her chose to protect the people she loves above all else.

Which makes sense! As Laios says when the Winged Lion accuses him of similarly being motivated more by his friends' safety than everyone else in the dungeon, "...most people, aside from virtuous do-gooders, would feel the same way."

So, we can take The Panel as simply showing a moment of weakness for Falin. A time when she was pushed to her limits, and that "most people" selfish side of her shone through.

However... I think there's a little more going on with Falin than just her being an angel 99% of the time, except just that once. I love The Panel because I think it helps us understand that Falin isn't just motivated by kindness - she also has a desire to avoid seeing people in pain.

Isn't that the same thing?

No, no it very much is not.

Let's look at a short comic from the Falin section of the Adventurer's Bible, because I think it illustrates this point perfectly. The group is complaining about how much Marcille's healing hurts, and comparing it to Falin's, which "doesn't hurt a bit." Marcille retorts with the following:

Now, the punchline of this comic is that, despite Marcille's sentimental assertion that she's "thinking of [them]" by letting her healing magic hurt, they all still prefer to be healed by Falin.

But hey, this wouldn't be the first time that Dungeon Meshi hides a very real character beat or insight in a gag, so let's think about this somewhat seriously.

If Marcille is right (and she knows a fair bit about magic, so we can assume that she has at least somewhat of a point), then what Falin is doing isn't kind. I suppose if someone specifically requested to not feel the pain, it could be kind, but that's not really what happened here. She is the one who felt badly about the others being in pain, and she is the one who decided, without telling them or giving them a choice in the matter, to take away that pain.

Both Marcille and Falin are healing the party, but Marcille is doing it in a way that accomplishes the task in the most straight forward way, without any additional interference. Falin is going out of her way to perform the healing in a way she is more comfortable with. A way that avoids pain.

Going back the The Panel, I don't think its a coincidence that the only time we see Falin (well, non-chimera Falin) willing to do something that could hurt someone is when any potential pain will be far away from her. If she got someone hurt or killed by teleporting the party to the surface? Not only would it be far out of her sight, but she'd be dead before she had to deal with any consequences of that action.

Falin is not a confrontational person. She doesn't push when Marcille won't tell her the truth about the resurrection, and she comforts Laios about her own death - both of those things happening in the only full chapter she is alive and conscious in the whole story.

We also know that she considered accepting Shuro's proposal, despite not having any special feelings towards him, and that Falin never explained to Marcille that she wanted them to share a meal together. When she brought Marcille various foods at the academy, she just accepted Marcille's confused rejection and gave up.

And lastly, we know that she is still in contact with her parents, despite the neglect and abuse she suffered at their hands. Although the way someone chooses to handle contact with abusive or bad family is a complicated topic, which I don't want to overly simplify, I do I think this fact gets at the heart of how she handles conflict.

So many people that Falin loves have hurt her. There are understandable hurts, like Laios leaving the village, or Marcille not understanding the food. And there are bigger, far less justifiable hurts - like her parents neglecting her throughout her childhood, and sending her away to be alone at the magic academy.

It doesn't seem like Falin has ever confronted any of it directly.

And the unhealthy aspects of this kind of avoidance of pain and confrontation is one of the things that the story of Dungeon Meshi is all about. We see Laios grapple with it before he goes to kill Falin, and we see Marcille acknowledge it at the end of the story, when she tells Laios that she has come to terms with Falin's death:

Eating is a part of life. Consuming other living things is a part of life. It isn't really possible to avoid that pain - you can only hide from the truth of it. You have to be selfish everyday. You have to eat - to choose to live. To choose to take up space.

And this is something Falin embraces, too. She comes back to life, after all.

We see her choose to come back to life.

And how does she make that choice? She eats. She consumes, and then she is asked a question by the manifestation of hunger itself:

Do you want to eat more?

There is a double meaning in the Winged Lion's final words on the next page.

When I first read this, I took it as him saying: life is cruel. You will suffer. You will feel more pain.

But perhaps, especially for Falin, this also means: you are choosing a path where you must cause pain. Where you must consume. Where you must take, and must be selfish. Because eating is the special privilege of the living, and it is their burden, too. In order to stay alive, she will need to keep eating.

And she chooses that. Chooses to be selfish. It's why her resurrection scene is so important, and it's why The Panel is so important. Because Falin coming back isn't the ultimate reward for all of the party's hard work.

It's her choice. Just like it was her choice that started everything in the first place. But this time, she doesn't choose to accept causing pain for the sake of Marcille and Laios. She does it for her own sake.

HEY QUARTZ I HAVE A DRAWING SUGGESTOON RIGHT?

OCTATRIO WITH THE MARIO CAT POWER UP

They don’t seem to like it but Jade is taking his chances at being “cute” or whatever the fuck cringy shit he’s doing

*anime girl eating sound*

(print i'm making...)

SR Azul Ashengrotto - Luxe Couture Voice Lines

Due to event restrictions, Groovy related lines are locked until the event has been cleared. I will update once these are unlocked. Login line has been captured.

Summon Line: Top-class maisons and a premier event... This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'll make sure to fully enjoy myself here in the Fairest City.

Groooovy!!: --LOCKED--

Home: A fine silhouette.

Home Idle 1: I'm elated to have been able to get my hands on some quality porcelain plates. It was a tad pricier than I would have liked, but this investment is a must for the Mostro Lounge.

Home Idle 2: I can't believe how easily he connected to the staff members at the high-end brand store... Ace-san's social skills are astounding.

Home Idle 3: Does it not seem as though Jamil-san is well-suited to be a manager to the stars? I'm sure he would be capable of attending to even the most freewheeling client.

Home Idle - Login: The Fairest City is a blend of long-standing traditions and recent trends. I'm sure there will be much for me to learn here.

Home Idle - Groovy: --LOCKED--

Home Tap 1: I believe that branding is equal to building a fan base. It is vital to always be recognized by someone at all possible times.

Home Tap 2: My mother transformed a small trattoria into a famous restaurant. I remember there were often times that we would get to try her newest crafted dishes for dinner.

Home Tap 3: Every cosmetic that Vil-san purchased were extremely expensive. I suppose an actor of his talents would need proper self-investment of that level.

Home Tap 4: I do also have an interest in show business. I cannot act nor direct, but I believe I could be of good use as a producer.

Home Tap 5: If we are to try some sweets, let's look at that shop over yonder. Not only do they look tasty, it seems they are made with quality ingredients.

Home Tap - Groovy: --LOCKED--

Requested by Anonymous.

SR Vil Schoenheit - Playful Dress Voice Lines

Due to event restrictions, Groovy related lines are locked until the event has been cleared. I will update once these are unlocked. Login line has been captured.

Summon Line: Do try not to completely lose your heads... Is what I'd like to say, but it's difficult to not feel excited at an amusement park.

Groooovy!!: --LOCKED--

Home: A show? How fascinating.

Home Idle 1: Anyone can easily become a star? What a thing to say, Fellow. You know nothing of the efforts that people will single-mindedly put forth for that chance.

Home Idle 2: I see they have a haunted attraction here as well. Let's head there, I may be able to find some good inspiration for movie makeup or props.

Home Idle 3: Just as I thought, Leona sticks out like a sore thumb at an amusement park. He seems more suited to be the uninterested parent who was dragged to chaperone.

Home Idle - Login: I've been to an amusement park many times for work, or photoshoots, but it's been many years since I've been to one for leisure. Come now, let's get a move on.

Home Idle - Groovy: --LOCKED--

Home Tap 1: I have a traditional jacket paired with more modern boots. The tulle accentuates my silhouette. What do you think?

Home Tap 2: I used waterproof makeup today. So, we should go and line up for a water ride!

Home Tap 3: They have an attraction where you fly through the air in a bug-shaped cart? I feel as though if Jamil were here, he would be screaming even before the ride started.

Home Tap 4: The cricket mascot is dressed like quite the gentleman. That badge on his chest is nicely stylish, as well.

Home Tap 5: You want to ride the roller coaster? Alright then, I don't mind. My hairstyle today is set so as to not be tousled by the slightest bit of wind.

Home Tap - Groovy: --LOCKED--

Requested by @farfalla049.

you know where to find me (and i know where to look)

can you draw azul pls i’ll cry (no pressure)

That's the first time I draw him properly😔

Adding some old octavinelle sketches along because I prolly won't have other opportunity to share them (I draw them rarely)🐙🐬🦈

Certified dungeon meshi moment

Azul Ashengrotto

small non-exhaustive collection of laios making That Face