Well, they're still more civil than the Tea Partier/Liberal wars
So, yeah, I know I shouldn't have said anything, especially not at 3 in the morning. But I dislike being told that people aren't allowed to express their disagreement toward their series. Hino EXPECTS people to fight over her triangle; it's a gimmick. It's why creators invent the triangles. They like to people on their toes guessing who will end up
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I tend to think that the 'beast' inside Zero is a creature of his own making. It's like all the parts of himself he hates and wants to discard bundled into a little group that he likes to refer to as 'not human'. He has such an idealized opinion of humanity that it tends to blind him to the darker aspects of even the human nature. His hatred and desire to eliminate all the purebloods is something he's even lumped into that monster, when in reality I don't really think it has to do with that at all. Vengence is not a trait restricted to vampires, none of the traits he contributes to his vampirism other than his desire and longing for blood and the powers he has been given are actually something I would consider as something other than ZERO himself. Human or Vampire. Some of these things he feels are because of his experiences becoming a vampire and the events he's been through.
With his particular situation, Zero is definitely going to attempt to compartmentalize those issues with the parts of him that are attributed to him being a vampire. He's never been 'normal' due to the situation surrounding Ichiru's and his birth, even back then he considered that vampire hunting gene he had as a part of that 'beast' that destroyed Ichiru's life. Becoming a vampire and discovering he longed for Yuuki's blood only made that distinction clearer in his own head. It's become all too easy for him to blame everything 'bad' on that ever growing beast. Especially when he's obviously starving and it 'can't be sated' so it just keeps wanting more. We don't know how Bloody Rose works other than it does drink his own blood when he uses it. The reasons I think it may actually drink from it's victim is because it drinks from him. He was complaining while writhing in the stable with Lily that 'There wasn't enough.' meaning enough vampires to hunt at night to sate his thirst. It's not the hunt, but the kill, I think.
When he 'killed' Rido, it looked like the vines just devoured him and he was 'gone'. Granted, there is still fragments of him, but I think the vines literally eat their prey and end up giving him the blood to sate him. This of course is just hypothosis and I think he would hate that about it, but it wouldn't be the first time he's done something he hated to sate his thirst. And it's just one more thing to toss in his 'I'm a monsterous beast' file.
I have him in my game watching the vampires very closely to prevent cross drinking. Where he doesn't mind Yuuki and Kaname sharing blood, he's much stricter on someone like Aidou about where the blood he's drinking is coming from. He'd likely step in and try to stop Yuuki or Kamui (TRC) from sharing their blood with him even in situations where usual means wouldn't work because Aidou is a noble and they are purebloods.
Anyway, about the hunting and the changes in him about his desire to hunt, I actually see as actual character development for him. I agree he's become a pureblood in aspects now, because of the amount of pureblood he's had, how he was born and what they purebloods 'raised' him to become. But I don't think being a pureblood would make that drive increase. Zero as a child was very kind and gentle, to the point that Ichiru feared that no matter how 'good' Zero was, he wouldn't be able to kill a vampire when push came to shove. Being so good was a curse to Zero, since it highlighted the faults in Ichiru and I think it's just something he genuinely didn't like because of that. He would attempt to cover for Ichiru when Ichiru couldn't do something. He tried to downplay his own talent.
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It's pretty safe to say because of this and the fact that we know he used to be this idealic child that thought that vampires could be 'saved' that he genuinely had bad feelings associated with hunting. After everything he experienced, even when at the Academy years later, when asked to go hunting he was less than thrilled about the prospect. At that time we have a Zero who is...extremely...unmotivated. Okay fine, that might be sugar-coating it a little and it's bordering the no drive to live. He literally is going through the motions in life. His only true goal is killing and dying with Shizuka. Yet there was no real ambition to actually DO that or anything else for that matter. Shizuka had to come to him for Zero to even attempt to get revenge. Honestly, how much lazier can someone get? He literally was just going through the motions of life and waiting to die.
I seriously can't gush enough about Time!skip Zero primarily because of the fact that even though he is completely different and often makes me want to bang my head on the wall with the things he says and does, he's not just a spectator in his life anymore. Life isn't just passing him by, he's actually out there doing things, making changes and striving toward goals. He's using his mind, using his resources and trying to do what he believes is right. The old Zero was more similar to being a pureblood who has lived so long and is just tired of life and wants it over. The exact sort of person Yuuki was out there wanting to lend her services to, ironically.
The sudden drive to hunt is from this change because it gets him out there in a hands on way to actually make a difference. He's attempting to get information from his victims, looking for patterns and most importantly making things safer for humanity. I'm not surprised his urges are strongest at night, because he is a vampire and that's typically their hours. I can't imagine he's not still sleeping a lot during the day, even while in class like always. He likely doesn't think his hunger is due to Yuuki's absence but blaming it on the beast as usual and that hunger does probably assist him in his hunting, but I also think he's enjoying it for the very first time because he feels he's actually making a difference and working toward something. But the restraint is entirely him and I think one of the most amazing and believable parts of his characterization. That he's willing to not just go after Kaname, that he recognizes he's the easiest way to get the vampires under control, is not only mature of him...but smart as well.
I think that alone is speaking volumes about the changes he's made from the day him and Yuuki parted. What he's doing isn't just about his own revenge and so many people I don't think recognise this. It's much bigger than him. He's SO close...yet the path he's on is still so off because of his prejudices.and beliefs. He's not going to easily get over them but he's going to have to accept the fact that being a vampire is a huge benefit that allows him to acheive those goals and does put him further above the rest and that it's him in general that makes the best president, not the power. His sense of justice and fairness is pretty amazing and has definite potential if used in the right way, which it currently isn't.
It's weird because on one hand, he's so much more alive than he was in the first arc...yet he's bottled up all these emotions that are just going to blow up at him any time now and seems to have lost a lot of himself in the process. Like a work-a-holic that refuses to slow down because they don't want to face their real life.
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This protector aspect is what holds Zero back from just taking his vengeance in cold blood and therefore wiping out his reasons for living. Zero "cooperates" with the Association and the vampires to prevent the chaos that would result from doing otherwise and letting the vampires make their own rules. He acknowledges Kaname's power and use. This one thing I absolutely love about the current timeline. Where Kaname once used Zero to meet his goals (protecting Yuuki, killing Rido), Zero is now using Kaname to his (keeping the vampires in place, gathering information). You asked how my Kaname and I interact in our game. That is the main atmosphere. Zero uses Kaname to control the other vampires as far as keeping them in check and to gather information on occult happenings. It is a twisted alliance of sorts and a bit harsher than the one that exists between Kaname and the Hunters, I think. My Zero is very much the work-a-holic and gets harangued constantly about it. Zero is smarter now because he has to be to deal with Kaname and not be led around by the nose as he was, back when he held little regard for his own position and life. He also has to be smarter to hold his own within the Association, something that Cross encourages.
Back to my take on Zero's vampirism and how it relates to this topic. While I see Zero's personal "hunger" at seeking is vengeance tying into his bloodlust and something he needs to keep at bay, I also see the protector role as his method of putting that "hunger" to use for someone other than himself. So yes, killing vampires sates his thirst (whether through Bloody Rose or otherwise) but it still has to be more than just doing the Association's work to him so he adds in his own personal information pursuits to ensure Hunters bring about greater protection for others. He abides by the Association's roles for this same reason, the need to keep order and to be more than just another killer, a trait he ascribes to vampires.
I think this is why his reaction to Kaitou telling him in losing the chance to kill Sara he was acting like a spurned vampire is so strong. It was saying that he was just being killer, and Zero does want to be beyond that. It struck him also because he realized that killing Sara could no longer save those girls, that he had been too late. So comes the journey to his parents grave and "Ichiru" reflection. It's not so much the urge to kill vampires that is being viewed as "vampiric" in the biased sense of the word but the urge to kill them even when there's nothing good to be gained in doing so.
Overall, Zero just wants to protect others against the suffering he's experienced and wants to make the most of what Ichiru's sacrifice afforded him. But he must do so while managing the realities of his own carnal needs. Hunting encompasses both of these aspects.
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Yes! A THOUSAND TIMES THIS. This is the part I tend to focus on as well. He keeps a close eye on the vampires in game and when something happens, is often one of the first there taking control and making sure everyone is safe, vampire related or not. People often call him out on his prejudices but he'd much rather have them safe than in his position. I think Aidou referred to him as insane after discovering he'd sat in a chair outside his and Yuuki's hospital rooms for two days during a recent plot to ensure that everyone was safe and no one entered their rooms without supervision because of the risks. Only taking small naps after not sleeping the two nights before that due to events that had happened those nights that kept him busy.
Honestly, you explained everything perfectly and I couldn't agree with you more. What I love is how in this part, the roles really have nearly switched and Zero is actually the one attempting to play the game. Maybe not entirely switched, but at least he's actually trying which is pretty exciting.
And I really like your impression of his reaction to Kaito's words. I hadn't thought about it in that way before. The damage had already been done and nothing he could do would save them from that point on. It's a very harsh reality. Especially because he's someone who wants to prevent something like that from happening in the first place.
I am already anticipating the next chapter, which looks to be like it might be a Zero/Aidou chapter. Hopefully she does things through Zero's POV so we can get a little more into his head for what his mindset is right now.
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It seems so out of character now.
I adore them too, they always seem to draw together to compare notes and then run off their separate ways to do their thing. I love it. He catches everything and I'm really torn with hoping Aidou just gets everything WRONG and assumes that Zero really did threaten Yuuki and refused to hand over his blood and try to chide him for being a huge hypocrite. Because from previous chapters you know he gets the fact that Yuuki isn't sated entirely by Kaname and would instantly realize that had to do with Zero.
The other part of me, the sane one that likes to plot long term, knows that should come later. He's had enough to think about without adding more. But then Hino did reveal the ancestor a lot sooner than I expected.
I'm tempted to canon update just so Zero always has someone to talk to...so I know your pain. My list of 'wants' for VK is quite large. Starting with Kaien and Ichiru.
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I also think that Zero is torn in that he WANTS to see his vengeance quest as righteous and justified because that makes things simple and easy to follow through, BUT he doesn't always succeed in that viewpoint. Hence, his allowing Yuuki's friend to see her. I'm not sure he sees his vengeance drive as part of his darker side, but I do think that "vampires vs. humans" mentality is something he considers a crucial part of maintaining his own identity and sanity (i.e. his frustration when he sees how much his blood responds to vampire Yuuki). So when that wavers due to whatever circumstances, he takes it poorly.
Again, not sure entirely of the fallout of his "Ichiru" talk on this. I think largely this was his two schools of thought clashing, as "Ichiru" told him to both pursue his goal while reminding him that vampire and human are really just words. It was him trying to understand his dead brother and why he did what he did, possibly influenced by Kaitou telling him he was losing it. He needed to re-establish his center and to do so, perhaps he needed to reevaluate his stand.
I still find the thing about Bloody Rose's own hunger intriguing as it ties into the whole carnal vampire aspects. Also interesting the relation of Zero's initial reluctance and regret at hunting to his attempt to not show-up Ichiru.
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And maybe I didn't do a very good job explaining the whole vengence thing. There is a difference between his drive to kill, like what happened with Sara and his actual goal. I agree with you completely about his 'vampire vs. humans' internal struggle and his own confusion on holding his personal stance as entirely just or right. There are doubts that leak through.
Where the conversation with "Ichiru" is something I am interested in seeing how it changes him and his thoughts on things in the future chapters. What happened in 60, with him actually helping Yuuki was an interesting step in the right direction. His mindset during the rest of the chapter though... I don't understand why everyone wanted her to bite him. Or thought he'd want that. As beautiful as that scene was, I sat there holding my breath as I read just hoping she wouldn't do it because it would likely undo all the work from the conversation with "Ichiru".
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Lol I admit I play fast and loose with VK vampire rules because they are almost never set. I retcon when she gives me actual answers. But I enjoy the freedom, I admit.
I think Zero's mindset in 60 is the process of the "Ichiru" scene sinking in. That and that part of him still loves and cares for Yuuki. So while he couldn't be super gentle about bringing her back, it's not like he just dragged her either (like some seem to view it.) But what happened with Yuuki kind of shook that very tentative mindset about vampires and humans because if Yuuki had bit him, it would have just been confirmation in his belief that vampires care nothing for the feelings of others and only seek to use them for their own needs. Part of him was probably worried that he was "right" about Yuuki and he didn't want to face that, just as another part was expecting it because of what he's told himself about vampires. This ties into the whole conflict thing.
So yeah, Yuuki thinking about it and then backing down both assured him and hurt him in that she would even try. We can see that in his reaction to her jumping out the window and and his shattering the windows around him. He's frustrated to all hell and trying to figure out how he should be reacting, with the "Ichiru" thoughts in place as well. It's got to be murder on the psyche.
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But the important thing was he has made some baby steps. Maybe bigger than baby steps. His confusion and internal conflict with everything is so entertaining to play with though. It actually drives my Yuuki player up the wall because he'll let her in for a little bit if something big happens, because he trusts her enough to assist with certain things before shutting her completely out again once he's done. Everything is entirely on his terms and if she steps over some imaginary line he has, he makes a point to cut everything off again. Three steps forward and two steps back still moves you forward. Just slowly.
I play fairly loose with it too. But I also have been given blood tablets in the place I've got him in, so it makes it easier. I figure he probably hasn't had any fresh blood in the year since Yuuki left, so tablets probably do quite well for him as long as he has them. Though with all the vampires we have, if they got rid of all the tablets and blood for a few days, the only one to have issues would be him and that would be on day one. We've been trying to plot out ways to do this.
He'll love having confirmation that he's really the most unstable vampire of all of them.
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