Gabranth and Vayne as parental figures...poor Larsa caught in the teeth of his doting serpents.
Certainly has a very devil-esque tone: the self-justifying monologue. And this: "So many dealt with in so short a time… it does raise far too many questions, does it not?" - How downright nasty. And very Vayne, he of ends and means and inverse priorities.
Ohhhhhh, I had fun indeed. XD But then, you write Vayne as well. Traveling inside the claustrophobic quarters of his mind is surprisingly liberating, isn't it?
Y'know... sometimes I have to wonder if perhaps it wasn't a good thing that most of Larsa's guardians kicked it before the poor kid's voice even jumped down to a proper octave. It was a shame about Drace, yes... but Gramis? Vayne? Even Gabranth at his punk-ass bitchiest? Sure their deaths might have left Larsa pretty hopelessly neurotic in his later years of life... but I have to wonder if he wouldn't turn out to be a better person without the majority of them giving him their very dubious "advice" over the years.
And Vayne certainly does love to justify himself-- he can't abide doing anything without a logical reason, in my mind. And part of the reasons why he loves Larsa so is because protecting Larsa always gives him a reason. ::shudder::
When left to my own devices, I don't usually care for or consider characters like Vayne (or Gabranth, but that's a whole 'nother bag of bananas). However, the investment you've put into getting into this character's motivations and thoughts really perks my own speculations. On the whole, I think this was successful.
Actually, I have to admit-- I'm very surprised you didn't enjoy Vayne as a character from the first! I don't know why but you just struck me as someone who would enjoy someone whose motives could be both so pure and whose actions could be so morally wretched. ;)
And I'm glad this worked! I've written from Vayne's POV before and had him do truly wretched things-- especially to poor Penelo. But having him do this to a child felt... uncomfortable and a little slimy. But then, that really should be the case, shouldn't it?
I'm coming at this from the same place as zombie_fetus in that I don't usually home in on the villains. Especially in games they come off as really flat, existing only to laugh diabolically and throw biologically improbable minibosses at you.
You really worked way beyond that in this piece. Good job. :)
Alas, though Vayne offered biologically improbable minibosses aplenty, I don't think he ever got around to laughing maniacally. Probably thinks it's beneath his dignity, or something like that.
I love villains who can very nearly plausibly cast themselves as heroes in their own minds, I truly do. And coupled with the fact that Vayne's brain is aplenty crazy and that I'm a psych student... I have no resistance to him whatsoever. But I'm glad I could reel you in regardless! ;)
You know that Vayne: he really can't help but keep justifying himself, over and over and over. I'm not sure if it's because he likes the sound of his own voice or because he does know, somewhere deep down inside, that Larsa would (to say the least!) abhor what he's doing for "his" sake. But that's something else I want to explore-- in Knots, if nothing else. ;)
And yay, you're in the ffxii_arcana challenge as well? I so look forward to seeing more from you!
Oh, this is beautifully written and feels very much like Vayne. I can see him saying this so clearly... But I cant help but wonder why you (and other people) think he is this much insane. Cruel, yes, with rather twisted principles and morale, but... just not to this extent O_o I can see him ordering a murder for the greater good, even a child, but not him in situation you created. I, of course, do not mean to be impolite or insult you work... but maybe you can explain you view a bit?
Thank you for reviewing! It's always nice when someone new offers me constructive criticism. ;)
I honestly do believe that, simply because of the rather thin characterizations that pretty much all the characters of FFXII received, there's plenty of room for interpretation for everyone. It's perfectly possible to view Vayne as a completely sane tyrant who simply let his lust for power or what have you lead him down very dark roads. People have written him in this way plenty of times and they've written him well.
But personally, I prefer to think of him as someone who isn't quite a psychopath but skirts very close to the edges at times. Simply put, the Vayne I write is someone who can do damn near anything to damn near anyone to achieve his goals-- the sole exception to this being Larsa, his brother and the one person he believes (thanks to their common lineage and similar intellect/personalities) to be truly "real" and worthy of respect. My Vayne really doesn't have principles-- at least not towards other people. He'd cheerfully
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Oh, but I do not think of Vayne as evil monster. Or a monster at all... Even a tyrant is overdoing for me. After all, he have an aim in his live - to free humans from cruel gods (and Occuria is true evil in Ivalice), he does a lot for his House and his Arcadia (and just look on things from his point of view - Rozarria gathering troops, Bhujerba hiding rebels and who knows wat else to answer it Arcadia needs strong Leader, not a child or a old man). And he is not really doing any tyranny... War was not only his decision, but his father too made it. (a pity that no one bothered to show why, for example he and Cid were talking about lack of time) I think to call Vayne evil is the same as calling Alexander the Great evil... (If I were to name an evil Emperor... the title suites Gramis so much better
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Gabranth and Vayne as parental figures...poor Larsa caught in the teeth of his doting serpents.
Certainly has a very devil-esque tone: the self-justifying monologue. And this: "So many dealt with in so short a time… it does raise far too many questions, does it not?" - How downright nasty. And very Vayne, he of ends and means and inverse priorities.
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And Vayne certainly does love to justify himself-- he can't abide doing anything without a logical reason, in my mind. And part of the reasons why he loves Larsa so is because protecting Larsa always gives him a reason. ::shudder::
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And I'm glad this worked! I've written from Vayne's POV before and had him do truly wretched things-- especially to poor Penelo. But having him do this to a child felt... uncomfortable and a little slimy. But then, that really should be the case, shouldn't it?
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You really worked way beyond that in this piece. Good job. :)
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I love villains who can very nearly plausibly cast themselves as heroes in their own minds, I truly do. And coupled with the fact that Vayne's brain is aplenty crazy and that I'm a psych student... I have no resistance to him whatsoever. But I'm glad I could reel you in regardless! ;)
I'll catch up with you tomorrow then!
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I particularly like the paragraph that starts with: But this is what always happens to modern day Prometheuses, of course. :::shivers:::
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And yay, you're in the ffxii_arcana challenge as well? I so look forward to seeing more from you!
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But I cant help but wonder why you (and other people) think he is this much insane. Cruel, yes, with rather twisted principles and morale, but... just not to this extent O_o I can see him ordering a murder for the greater good, even a child, but not him in situation you created.
I, of course, do not mean to be impolite or insult you work... but maybe you can explain you view a bit?
Reply
I honestly do believe that, simply because of the rather thin characterizations that pretty much all the characters of FFXII received, there's plenty of room for interpretation for everyone. It's perfectly possible to view Vayne as a completely sane tyrant who simply let his lust for power or what have you lead him down very dark roads. People have written him in this way plenty of times and they've written him well.
But personally, I prefer to think of him as someone who isn't quite a psychopath but skirts very close to the edges at times. Simply put, the Vayne I write is someone who can do damn near anything to damn near anyone to achieve his goals-- the sole exception to this being Larsa, his brother and the one person he believes (thanks to their common lineage and similar intellect/personalities) to be truly "real" and worthy of respect. My Vayne really doesn't have principles-- at least not towards other people. He'd cheerfully ( ... )
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