[ Okay!! They're all set up and it's time to play... Tales of the Abyss? Well, that's an extremely cool name, even if he doesn't know what it has to do with Saphir yet. Note to self: work "Abyss" into one of his weapon names in the future. ]
Awww, who's this redhead kid? I don't wanna play as some little punk! Hey, when do you show up? Soon? It's soon, right?
[ Whenever Saphir's not on screen, all the other characters should be asking, "Where's Saphir?"
It doesn't take Giovanni long to get the hang of the combat system, at least, and he's gotten pretty well into the swing of things by the time a familiar face shows up. Well, familiar to one of them, anyway; Giovanni has no idea what Jade Curtiss looks like, but once his name's spoken, Giovanni's hand stills on the controller. He glances over at Saphir cautiously. ]
That's... that's him, right? Your best friend? The super cool genius who can do anything?
[ It's gotta be hard, after so many years, to only be able to see the guy through a computer screen. He watches Saphir for signs of needing a hug. ]
[ Thankfully he already watched the anime years ago, so he's had time to deal with most of this!! ]
That's him, yes. He's... different than he used to be. The Jade I knew never joked around like this.
[ If he didn't know who it was, he'd probably find this character pretty insufferable, to be honest!!
He points out a bunch of things as they go, like the Malkuth military uniform he used to wear and the rappigs in Engeve and how this Fon Master's predecessor Evenos was still in the role when he'd left. And, once Jade is in the party, that Energy Blast fonic arte he'd tried to use during that one trial.
Some stuff happens with an attack on the Tartarus, including "Ligers are dropping from the griffins!", which is objectively the best line ever spoken in a video game and which I may have paid to have engraved on a brick at my college. Luke kills a guy and has a moral crisis, whatever!!!
Then, it's time for St. Binah, where things will really pick up!!! First, there's a fucking grade-A shot of those horses at the city gate -- they'd shown up earlier when Luke and Tear had hitched a ride on that first coach, but they're much clearer here, and he points at the screen triumphantly. ]
See?! Don't those look exactly like my drawing??? You can't tell me they don't!!
[ Inside the town, he comments on how he worked with Field Marshal McGovern (who is quite frankly the cutest old man ever) before, and then IT'S TIME FOR DIST'S NOT-PARTICULARLY-GRAND ENTRANCE where everyone ignores him.
Even if the name is different, and even if he still looks a little older in the game, it is... very clearly him, and he looks kind of self conscious about it. ]
[ Giovanni reacts appropriately to all of this, including declaring it his life's mission to own about twelve rappigs. Shut up they're adorable. ]
Yeah, yeah, okay, I guess you didn't make up those dog-dino-horses of yours. I still say they're freakin' weird, though.
[ And then - there he is, looking very nearly the same as the guy sitting next to Giovanni right now. His gaze shifts between the screen and Saphir incredulously. The floating chair, the insistence on the name "Dist the Rose"... it's all a lot to take in.
But it's got to be even weirder for Saphir, right? Watching his own show was already pretty trippy, but at least in the episodes Giovanni's seen, it's just been him doing stuff he remembers doing. He's been reluctant to go past that point - it won't be him he's watching anymore, but some kind of doppelgänger living someone else's life. For Saphir, this Dist guy has to be that times a thousand.
So he doesn't laugh, even though Dist is, lbr, a grade-A weenie. And he doesn't say that the title "God-General" sounds extremely cool, even though it does. He settles on: ]
So, uh. "Dist". Does that mean anything?
[ There's gotta be a reason why he changed his name, and to Giovanni's ears, the one doesn't sound particularly more imposing than the other. But he doesn't speak Tales-ian. ]
[ PLEASE DON'T OWN TWELVE RAPPIGS, those people are his least favorite people...
And yes, it is indeed an extremely unsettling experience on his part, both for the disconnect and the weenie factor. It's like having his score read but much more vivid since he's watching it all play out directly in detail, and none of the bad parts get glossed over. Sometimes he sort of regrets that he ever googled his name. ]
I mean, none of them use their real names, it's a God-General thing. The rest are all obvious music references, so I assume it should also be related somehow? Though I also wonder if it isn't partially referencing disthene, an alternate name for another blue gemstone.
[ Like, if he came up with it himself, it almost definitely is, though he's still a little lost on the music part.
From there they continue on to the Fubras River, where they get a lesson about Fields of Fonons and altered artes, where he says that SEE, this is what happened when he used that arte during the trial, because Subete used light magic before him, and the residual particles made his arte change without realizing it!!! And then Choral Castle, where Dist shows up again, and Saphir spoils things a little by explaining that that big weird machine Luke wakes up on is a fomicry machine that he made himself.
On to the end of the first Chesedonia trip, where he shows up to get ignored once again -- of note here, the fact that he's talking about wanting to kill Jade, and the mention of his revenge journal.
[ Okay, he could be convinced to cut it down to eleven rappigs. For you, Saphir. ]
Flay that - Wait, Jade? You wanna kill him?
[ Giovanni blurts this out without thinking, even though the "you" part, at least, was probably a little insensitive. He glances at Saphir apologetically. ]
Uh, alternate future video game you, I mean. So... I'm guessing you guys aren't best friends anymore.
[ He's no friendologist, but this feels like a pretty big 180. ]
It makes that very clear eventually... though in fairness, I'm sure I'm just being dramatic there again and that I wouldn't really want to go that far.
[ There's a brief pause, but this is his life, so he doesn't really care about revealing spoilers. ]
He abandoned our research and gave up on the Professor, apparently. About a week after the point I came from before. If time had been progressing normally there, he would have already been long gone when I was singing his praises to you and insisting that he wouldn't leave me.
[ The hand on his shoulder definitely isn't unwelcome, and he scoots over a little bit closer. At that assertion, though, he blinks, brow furrowing slightly. ]
T-that's not true.
[ There was little he was ever better than Jade at, and Jade was much cooler and better looking, and everyone who found either of them tolerable always liked Jade better.
But this Jade was flawed, not like the one in his memories. He'd given up on the most important mission in their lives, and he had that awful, phony smile, not like the real one Saphir had so wanted to see on him again.
The careless cruelty toward him was one thing that really hadn't changed too much, but it felt sharper now, and it was harder to let it roll off his back than it once was. ]
Yeah? Then why'd he drop you like a hot potato as soon as he found something else?
[ Giovanni sighs, shaking his head. On the one hand, he feels like he shouldn't push the point; he doesn't want Saphir mad at him, and he's honestly afraid the poor man's worldview might crumble if he did admit Jade were a less-than-ideal friend. But at the same time, he can't just let Saphir keep treating himself like crap, can he? So he takes a deep breath and makes one last attempt. ]
Look, I'm not trying to be a jerk. I mean, I sure don't have the whole story. Maybe he really is as great as all that, and he had some amazing and noble reason for leaving you behind, or whatever. But if you asked me, I'd say you deserve friends who won't give up on you. That's all.
He let stupid Peony convince him that our work was ethically wrong, is what happened. [ So from someone else's perspective, it really might have been a noble reason -- but definitely not from his. ] And I don't forgive either of them for that!
[ The dialogue bubble that's still up on the screen can speak to that, and he looks back to it before averting his eyes again. ]
And I don't-- I don't like this Jade. I like the one in my memories.
[ He frowns and bites his lip, hesitating before continuing that thought. ]
But even that one never liked me. I was the only one that ever actually called us friends.
[ He puts his own controller down for now, and after a moment of blinking back tears upon actually saying that out loud, he sits back with a huff, grabbing the throw pillow beside him and squeezing it to his chest. ]
I don't think it's fair either! I always did so much for him that-- even if he didn't actually like me, I feel like he should have done it anyway out of obligation or something. He could have at least pretended to be my friend to pay me back for everything.
But he didn't, so...
[ His indignation deflates again, and he loosens his grip on the pillow. That whole "deserving better" thing is bringing up a whole other mess of negative feelings, but he knows it's well-intentioned in this case, at least, and he's not ready to get into that. ]
[ Okay, some of that makes absolute sense, and some of it's a little concerning. Giovanni sets down his own controller, turning to take in Saphir fully. ]
I mean... you know you can't make someone be your friend, though, right? Would you really want him to just pretend, even if you knew he was faking? If it was me, I think that'd hurt worse than just ripping the band-aid off altogether, you know?
I know, I just... I wish the people I liked the most ever felt the same way about me. And I don't know why nothing I do is ever enough for that.
[ He's still pretty sure he could live with the pretending, though he doesn't say so. It's different when he has to lie about himself, when he knows for a fact that things aren't real, but when it's coming from someone else, he can almost always convince himself if he tries hard enough. He'd nearly taken a bullet to try to cling onto Hikage's lies, but Giovanni hadn't been there to see that. ]
...You're in a separate category, obviously.
[ This friendship was never anything like the others, and it probably says something that it's pretty much the only one that didn't start with him idolizing the other person and desperately vying for their attention.
[ Giovanni scoots over toward Saphir, noodly arms wrapping around him in a firm hug. One hand rubs circles on his back in a manner Giovanni hopes is at least a little soothing, because the poor man really needs it. ]
Yeah, it sucks. It sucks hard. But you gotta remember you do have people who care about you at least as much as you care about them. People like Pointy End and... well, and me.
[ Giovanni kind of wants to ask what makes him different. He does like Saphir the most out of his friends in this world, except maybe Sissel, so that means... Saphir is the one who doesn't feel the same way? And yeah, okay, that does kind of hurt. But he puts it aside. ]
And if other people can't tell what a great guy you are, they're the ones missing out! Screw 'em! I will tell you this literally every day for the rest of your life if I need to!
[ Caught up in righteousness, Giovanni might be squeezing Saphir a little harder than intended. He is, as mentioned, a noodle, so it's not life-threatening or anything, but Saphir might still want to speak up if he's attached to the current shape of his lungs. ]
[ He hadn't meant to imply that that separate category was any less valuable -- he'd save Marona and Giovanni from a burning building before he'd rescue Jade or Hikage at this point -- just that the feelings that went along with it were different, and he'll make an attempt to explain that if it comes up. ]
Pointy... what?
[ He can't keep track of your nicknames!!
In any case, hearing all of that is enough to make the tears he was attempting to hold back spill over, and he hugs him back -- not quite as tight because he's even more of a noodle, and less well-practiced, and he's already kind of getting the air squeezed out of him -- but as best he can. ]
Thank you.
[ He sniffs loudly, and he's glad that this Extremely Cool T-Shirt is black so it won't be obvious if he gets any mascara tears on him or anything. (He can probably live with sacrificing a pillow to potential drool in return, on second thought.) ]
I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here.
[ ...Well, he kind of does, but that's the point.
He's content to stay like this for a while, though it is getting notably more uncomfortable as the seconds pass. ]
Pointy End! You know, Marona? Short, green hair, lives a couple rooms over that way?
[ But then Saphir's sniffling into his shoulder, and Giovanni holds him steady, only vaguely registering the possibility of makeup stains - it's fine, this is only like his third coolest shirt anyway. ]
That's it, let it out. I gotcha.
[ It'd be a lie to say Giovanni wasn't tearing up a little as well. They're having a very emotional moment and he's sensitive, okay?! But Saphir's next remark gets him to crack a crooked smile. ]
Hey, you survived without me for twenty years, didn't you? I bet you could last a week, no problem. But... I'm glad I'm here too.
[ And then - oh, right, breathing. Giovanni hastily relaxes his grip, though he doesn't fully let go yet, just in case. ]
Sorry about that. So. You, uh, wanna maybe put the game on hold for a while?
[ Ugh, god, he'd just said that himself at the airport, hadn't he? ]
D-don't throw my own words back at me like that.
[ In all honesty, he'd been kind of full of crap then too, because he'd been lonely and depressed for all of those years and had "gotten by" by throwing himself into his work and not getting close to anyone.
He sniffs again, and eventually he sits back, face red, and nods. ]
Yes, it's probably about time for a break anyway.
[ It's not really that good of a break point, game-wise, but they have been playing for several hours by this point. And he also doesn't really want to almost immediately go into Jade hurling insults at him on a boat after this, so. ]
If you're hungry, I can go ahead and heat up the rest of that pizza. Did you want to watch a few episodes of your thing while we do that?
I thought you liked being right about stuff, you goober.
[ He reaches over to ruffle Saphir's hair, just a little. ]
Yeah, microwaved pizza sounds really good right about now, actually. Turns out playing through your buddy's thrilling adventure life-game works up an appetite! And sure, if you don't mind, lemme just... switch over to the youtubes...
[ Giovanni does just that, queueing up the Epithet Erased episode playlist while Saphir gets the pizza ready. He's just about bouncing in his seat with excitement by the time Saphir returns. Let him show you his extremely cool bad guy escapades that in no way make him come off as a huge dork!!! ]
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reanimania) wrote2020-06-18 07:45 am
no subject
Awww, who's this redhead kid? I don't wanna play as some little punk! Hey, when do you show up? Soon? It's soon, right?
[ Whenever Saphir's not on screen, all the other characters should be asking, "Where's Saphir?"
It doesn't take Giovanni long to get the hang of the combat system, at least, and he's gotten pretty well into the swing of things by the time a familiar face shows up. Well, familiar to one of them, anyway; Giovanni has no idea what Jade Curtiss looks like, but once his name's spoken, Giovanni's hand stills on the controller. He glances over at Saphir cautiously. ]
That's... that's him, right? Your best friend? The super cool genius who can do anything?
[ It's gotta be hard, after so many years, to only be able to see the guy through a computer screen. He watches Saphir for signs of needing a hug. ]
no subject
That's him, yes. He's... different than he used to be. The Jade I knew never joked around like this.
[ If he didn't know who it was, he'd probably find this character pretty insufferable, to be honest!!
He points out a bunch of things as they go, like the Malkuth military uniform he used to wear and the rappigs in Engeve and how this Fon Master's predecessor Evenos was still in the role when he'd left. And, once Jade is in the party, that Energy Blast fonic arte he'd tried to use during that one trial.
Some stuff happens with an attack on the Tartarus, including "Ligers are dropping from the griffins!", which is objectively the best line ever spoken in a video game and which I may have paid to have engraved on a brick at my college. Luke kills a guy and has a moral crisis, whatever!!!
Then, it's time for St. Binah, where things will really pick up!!! First, there's a fucking grade-A shot of those horses at the city gate -- they'd shown up earlier when Luke and Tear had hitched a ride on that first coach, but they're much clearer here, and he points at the screen triumphantly. ]
See?! Don't those look exactly like my drawing??? You can't tell me they don't!!
[ Inside the town, he comments on how he worked with Field Marshal McGovern (who is quite frankly the cutest old man ever) before, and then IT'S TIME FOR DIST'S NOT-PARTICULARLY-GRAND ENTRANCE where everyone ignores him.
Even if the name is different, and even if he still looks a little older in the game, it is... very clearly him, and he looks kind of self conscious about it. ]
no subject
Yeah, yeah, okay, I guess you didn't make up those dog-dino-horses of yours. I still say they're freakin' weird, though.
[ And then - there he is, looking very nearly the same as the guy sitting next to Giovanni right now. His gaze shifts between the screen and Saphir incredulously. The floating chair, the insistence on the name "Dist the Rose"... it's all a lot to take in.
But it's got to be even weirder for Saphir, right? Watching his own show was already pretty trippy, but at least in the episodes Giovanni's seen, it's just been him doing stuff he remembers doing. He's been reluctant to go past that point - it won't be him he's watching anymore, but some kind of doppelgänger living someone else's life. For Saphir, this Dist guy has to be that times a thousand.
So he doesn't laugh, even though Dist is, lbr, a grade-A weenie. And he doesn't say that the title "God-General" sounds extremely cool, even though it does. He settles on: ]
So, uh. "Dist". Does that mean anything?
[ There's gotta be a reason why he changed his name, and to Giovanni's ears, the one doesn't sound particularly more imposing than the other. But he doesn't speak Tales-ian. ]
no subject
And yes, it is indeed an extremely unsettling experience on his part, both for the disconnect and the weenie factor. It's like having his score read but much more vivid since he's watching it all play out directly in detail, and none of the bad parts get glossed over. Sometimes he sort of regrets that he ever googled his name. ]
I mean, none of them use their real names, it's a God-General thing. The rest are all obvious music references, so I assume it should also be related somehow? Though I also wonder if it isn't partially referencing disthene, an alternate name for another blue gemstone.
[ Like, if he came up with it himself, it almost definitely is, though he's still a little lost on the music part.
From there they continue on to the Fubras River, where they get a lesson about Fields of Fonons and altered artes, where he says that SEE, this is what happened when he used that arte during the trial, because Subete used light magic before him, and the residual particles made his arte change without realizing it!!! And then Choral Castle, where Dist shows up again, and Saphir spoils things a little by explaining that that big weird machine Luke wakes up on is a fomicry machine that he made himself.
On to the end of the first Chesedonia trip, where he shows up to get ignored once again -- of note here, the fact that he's talking about wanting to kill Jade, and the mention of his revenge journal.
He clears his throat awkwardly. ]
no subject
Flay that - Wait, Jade? You wanna kill him?
[ Giovanni blurts this out without thinking, even though the "you" part, at least, was probably a little insensitive. He glances at Saphir apologetically. ]
Uh, alternate future video game you, I mean. So... I'm guessing you guys aren't best friends anymore.
[ He's no friendologist, but this feels like a pretty big 180. ]
Does it ever say why?
no subject
[ There's a brief pause, but this is his life, so he doesn't really care about revealing spoilers. ]
He abandoned our research and gave up on the Professor, apparently. About a week after the point I came from before. If time had been progressing normally there, he would have already been long gone when I was singing his praises to you and insisting that he wouldn't leave me.
no subject
[ What do you even say to a development like that? Giovanni abandons the controller for a moment to lay a hand on Saphir's shoulder. ]
Sounds to me like you were too good for him, Replicator.
no subject
T-that's not true.
[ There was little he was ever better than Jade at, and Jade was much cooler and better looking, and everyone who found either of them tolerable always liked Jade better.
But this Jade was flawed, not like the one in his memories. He'd given up on the most important mission in their lives, and he had that awful, phony smile, not like the real one Saphir had so wanted to see on him again.
The careless cruelty toward him was one thing that really hadn't changed too much, but it felt sharper now, and it was harder to let it roll off his back than it once was. ]
I think.
no subject
[ Giovanni sighs, shaking his head. On the one hand, he feels like he shouldn't push the point; he doesn't want Saphir mad at him, and he's honestly afraid the poor man's worldview might crumble if he did admit Jade were a less-than-ideal friend. But at the same time, he can't just let Saphir keep treating himself like crap, can he? So he takes a deep breath and makes one last attempt. ]
Look, I'm not trying to be a jerk. I mean, I sure don't have the whole story. Maybe he really is as great as all that, and he had some amazing and noble reason for leaving you behind, or whatever. But if you asked me, I'd say you deserve friends who won't give up on you. That's all.
no subject
[ The dialogue bubble that's still up on the screen can speak to that, and he looks back to it before averting his eyes again. ]
And I don't-- I don't like this Jade. I like the one in my memories.
[ He frowns and bites his lip, hesitating before continuing that thought. ]
But even that one never liked me. I was the only one that ever actually called us friends.
[ He puts his own controller down for now, and after a moment of blinking back tears upon actually saying that out loud, he sits back with a huff, grabbing the throw pillow beside him and squeezing it to his chest. ]
I don't think it's fair either! I always did so much for him that-- even if he didn't actually like me, I feel like he should have done it anyway out of obligation or something. He could have at least pretended to be my friend to pay me back for everything.
But he didn't, so...
[ His indignation deflates again, and he loosens his grip on the pillow. That whole "deserving better" thing is bringing up a whole other mess of negative feelings, but he knows it's well-intentioned in this case, at least, and he's not ready to get into that. ]
no subject
I mean... you know you can't make someone be your friend, though, right? Would you really want him to just pretend, even if you knew he was faking? If it was me, I think that'd hurt worse than just ripping the band-aid off altogether, you know?
...Also, do you want a hug?
[ From someone who isn't a pillow? ]
no subject
[ He's still pretty sure he could live with the pretending, though he doesn't say so. It's different when he has to lie about himself, when he knows for a fact that things aren't real, but when it's coming from someone else, he can almost always convince himself if he tries hard enough. He'd nearly taken a bullet to try to cling onto Hikage's lies, but Giovanni hadn't been there to see that. ]
...You're in a separate category, obviously.
[ This friendship was never anything like the others, and it probably says something that it's pretty much the only one that didn't start with him idolizing the other person and desperately vying for their attention.
At that offer, he nods. ]
no subject
[ Giovanni scoots over toward Saphir, noodly arms wrapping around him in a firm hug. One hand rubs circles on his back in a manner Giovanni hopes is at least a little soothing, because the poor man really needs it. ]
Yeah, it sucks. It sucks hard. But you gotta remember you do have people who care about you at least as much as you care about them. People like Pointy End and... well, and me.
[ Giovanni kind of wants to ask what makes him different. He does like Saphir the most out of his friends in this world, except maybe Sissel, so that means... Saphir is the one who doesn't feel the same way? And yeah, okay, that does kind of hurt. But he puts it aside. ]
And if other people can't tell what a great guy you are, they're the ones missing out! Screw 'em! I will tell you this literally every day for the rest of your life if I need to!
[ Caught up in righteousness, Giovanni might be squeezing Saphir a little harder than intended. He is, as mentioned, a noodle, so it's not life-threatening or anything, but Saphir might still want to speak up if he's attached to the current shape of his lungs. ]
no subject
Pointy... what?
[ He can't keep track of your nicknames!!
In any case, hearing all of that is enough to make the tears he was attempting to hold back spill over, and he hugs him back -- not quite as tight because he's even more of a noodle, and less well-practiced, and he's already kind of getting the air squeezed out of him -- but as best he can. ]
Thank you.
[ He sniffs loudly, and he's glad that this Extremely Cool T-Shirt is black so it won't be obvious if he gets any mascara tears on him or anything. (He can probably live with sacrificing a pillow to potential drool in return, on second thought.) ]
I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here.
[ ...Well, he kind of does, but that's the point.
He's content to stay like this for a while, though it is getting notably more uncomfortable as the seconds pass. ]
Y-you're kind of crushing me a little, though.
no subject
[ But then Saphir's sniffling into his shoulder, and Giovanni holds him steady, only vaguely registering the possibility of makeup stains - it's fine, this is only like his third coolest shirt anyway. ]
That's it, let it out. I gotcha.
[ It'd be a lie to say Giovanni wasn't tearing up a little as well. They're having a very emotional moment and he's sensitive, okay?! But Saphir's next remark gets him to crack a crooked smile. ]
Hey, you survived without me for twenty years, didn't you? I bet you could last a week, no problem. But... I'm glad I'm here too.
[ And then - oh, right, breathing. Giovanni hastily relaxes his grip, though he doesn't fully let go yet, just in case. ]
Sorry about that. So. You, uh, wanna maybe put the game on hold for a while?
no subject
D-don't throw my own words back at me like that.
[ In all honesty, he'd been kind of full of crap then too, because he'd been lonely and depressed for all of those years and had "gotten by" by throwing himself into his work and not getting close to anyone.
He sniffs again, and eventually he sits back, face red, and nods. ]
Yes, it's probably about time for a break anyway.
[ It's not really that good of a break point, game-wise, but they have been playing for several hours by this point. And he also doesn't really want to almost immediately go into Jade hurling insults at him on a boat after this, so. ]
If you're hungry, I can go ahead and heat up the rest of that pizza. Did you want to watch a few episodes of your thing while we do that?
no subject
[ He reaches over to ruffle Saphir's hair, just a little. ]
Yeah, microwaved pizza sounds really good right about now, actually. Turns out playing through your buddy's thrilling adventure life-game works up an appetite! And sure, if you don't mind, lemme just... switch over to the youtubes...
[ Giovanni does just that, queueing up the Epithet Erased episode playlist while Saphir gets the pizza ready. He's just about bouncing in his seat with excitement by the time Saphir returns. Let him show you his extremely cool bad guy escapades that in no way make him come off as a huge dork!!! ]