I cry for my beloved Organization XIII...
Organization XIII rant, cut for posible length and spoilers...
Ok, I'm going to do this in order here, tackling problems I have about major stereotypes used. Just to clear things up, I love the Organization with all my fangirl-ness and I think they are made of awesome, I do not mean to insult these characters in any way.
First off- the Organization in general. I'm sure we've all played Kingdom Hearts here, or seen enough cutscenes to show just how many Heartless there are in the entire game. Each Heartless represents one person that lost their heart to the darkness. There are thousands, right? Now, out of all those thousands only fifteen (Org + Riku and Kairi *Namine*) were strong enough to keep their human form after their hearts fell into the darkness. Subtract our main heroes, and that leaves us twelve. Twelve that were strong enough out of thousands. My point: all the Organization members are made of serious tough stuff. They are not useless little wimps, NONE of them are. Even if their weapon is pink or they don't want to fight you, but that's further down the line.
Also, if you have a theory on who the Others of Saix to Larxene are, then that's cool. But remember that it's only a theory. Don't scream at other fans who may disagree or write something different in their fanfics, and please remember that Nobodies are not exact copies of their Others. Same goes for their emotions. Many fans, (me included), believe that Yen Sid was either wrong or lying when he told Sora that the Organization can't feel anything. (Pete was trying to make him into a heartless after all, could he have succeeded?) If you don't think this is true, then that's perfectly fine, but don't yell at me for believing that these adorkable lil guys can feel. Same the other way around. If some one else thinks that the Organization people are just making up their feelings to trick Sora, and they're just all emotionless shells, then I won't scold you for thinking that and I hope no one else will either.
Now, onto each member...
Xemnas: He is the only member out to gain ultimate power, the rest just want their hearts back. It'd do you good to remember that. In addition, his weapons look like light-sabers, but they are not light-sabers. And we all know that his name rearranges into "Mansex," it is very funny, but don't write a joke about it unless you can do it well.
Xigbar: He has become a great fan favorite (and one of my favorites too) because he looks like he could be past 40 but he still acts a little young and crazy and he talks like a surfer dude (<3). He pulls the entire act off wonderfully and that's why we love him. But PLEASE, there is more to his character than having him shoot things and say "dude" a lot. He is not an idiot, his other was a scientist. He is also not a crazy sadistic psycopath just because he uses guns. He is wild and crazy but he manages to stay grounded in his high position. It's not that hard to write him in character, just stay away from the stereotypes.
Xaldin: First off, he is one of the senior Organization members, don't ignore him. He also isn't dumb as a post, he knows how to manipulate people. And no one, NO one is going to be able to just beat him into submission unless they are either Mary-Sue strong, use some serious strategy, gang up on him, or shoot him with a tranquilizer. And he makes sideburns and dreads atractive, he isn't ugly.
Vexen: Over 30? Yes. A geezer? No. Old-looking and strict enough so that he might be teased about it? Yes. So much so that it'd be his only part in the story? No. Spends a good amount of time in his lab? Yes. Doesn't come out of it? No. And how the fuck did the comparison between him and Micheal Jackson start?
Lexeaus: Lexeaus is quiet, buff, probably the physically strongest member, intelligent, and not overly pretty. He is not mute, stupid, on steroids, ugly, or worthless. Just because some one isn't pretty doesn't mean they aren't part of your fandom. He does work out and enjoys staying fit, but he isn't obsessed with his muscles. And just the fact that he's quiet isn't proof that he's stupid. I love this guy, many people do, don't ignore or bash him just because he isn't a bishounen.
Zexion: Hoo boy. Zexion? Is not emo. Why would he want to be emo? He wants to get his heart and go back to normal, why would he waste his time moping about it? He has a small build, but he is not knee-high, nor does he shrink. He might look all kinds of adorable, but he won't act all crazy and hyper. He doesn't need to be kick-ass at fighting because he can beat you into psycological submission using his brain. And he enjoys and values his life. Plus, he seems to get along well with Lexeaus, if you want to write about Zexion don't ignore the big guy.
Saix: Yes, he looks like an elf, but that does not mean you can make that his only persona. His character is a very awesome line between calm and cruel and batshit crazy. Use that to your advantage.
Axel: I'll try to keep this short since I know he's been ranted about to death. Firstly, he is skinny, but that's nothing to make a big deal out of. He is not all "lovey-touchy-huggy-peacy-feely," he is manipulative and can be a complete asshole, but there is a bit of good in him when it comes to Sora and Roxas.
Demyx: I have some major issues on the characterization of this little guy. What most people DO get is that he is cutely awkward, loves his music and his water skills, and doesn't like fighting. Still, he is not a brainless moron, he isn't on a permanent sugar high, he doesn't run around screaming, and even though he doesn't like fighting, when provoked he can kick serious ass. 10 forms in 10 seconds @$&^%! To me, he seems fairly intelligent albeit with little common sense or people skills, there is nothing to support him being dumber than a pidgeon. He is not on a neverending quest to find twu wub with a girl/boyfriend, although he probably wouldn't mind if people would appreciate him more. Also, why does almost everyone write him as a rock star? How many rock stars play the sitar? Just because he likes music doesn't mean he's in a rock band, he might like classical orchestra for all we know. And he does not have ADD. People with ADD are physiologically unable to concentrate on one thing for long. Now look at Demyx when he's playing his sitar while summoning his clones in the Underworld and Hollow Bastion. He's concentrating on playing while Sora and co. are jumping like mad all around him. If he had ADD, that would be nearly impossible. And although he is by far the most expressive of the Organization, he doesn't bounce around like crazy. Please fanits, Squeenix has given us this wonderfully unique and adorkable character, treat his characterization well.
Luxord: Another one that we don't see nearly enough of. Fortunately, people seem to write him well, or I just haven't seen him written badly too often. The only recurring issue is his accent. Please put it in, but don't alter his speech so much that we don't know what he's saying.
Marluxia: Okay, I can see him as rather feminine, I can see him as a devoted gardener, I can understand if you make him a stone-cold power hungry bastard or a rather girly giggling manipulator. I've seen all these done well. Still, he is not a wimp, he can kick serious ass with that scythe of his. There's a REASON he's the final boss in CoM. So what if his weapons are pink? That doesn't make him a blathering wimp. What pains me is that he becomes one of the more flexible and easier characters to write once you ignore the whole "pink = wimpy + girly" stereotype. Unfortunately, most writers can't.
Larxene: She copes with the pain of not existing by focusing on bringing pain to others. Canonically, she is a devout ally of Marluxia, so take it into account. She is not a whore just because she's the only girl. She is cold, calculating, intelligent, and she loves nothing more than to see others suffer. There is way more to her character than her being the only girl in a group full of boys. Please use the characterization we have been given.
Roxas: I'll admit he is angsty, but he is not a goth. Nor is he a cutter or suicidal, he enjoys his life in general. He is also not a carbon copy of Sora, he is his own person. And please remember, Roxas has no idea who Axel is at the begining of KH2. He doesn't even know that Axel would miss him when he left the Organization. He is more than Axel's little puppy.
Sorry for length and for some of it being a little harsh, but I needed to get that out of my system.
Ok, I'm going to do this in order here, tackling problems I have about major stereotypes used. Just to clear things up, I love the Organization with all my fangirl-ness and I think they are made of awesome, I do not mean to insult these characters in any way.
First off- the Organization in general. I'm sure we've all played Kingdom Hearts here, or seen enough cutscenes to show just how many Heartless there are in the entire game. Each Heartless represents one person that lost their heart to the darkness. There are thousands, right? Now, out of all those thousands only fifteen (Org + Riku and Kairi *Namine*) were strong enough to keep their human form after their hearts fell into the darkness. Subtract our main heroes, and that leaves us twelve. Twelve that were strong enough out of thousands. My point: all the Organization members are made of serious tough stuff. They are not useless little wimps, NONE of them are. Even if their weapon is pink or they don't want to fight you, but that's further down the line.
Also, if you have a theory on who the Others of Saix to Larxene are, then that's cool. But remember that it's only a theory. Don't scream at other fans who may disagree or write something different in their fanfics, and please remember that Nobodies are not exact copies of their Others. Same goes for their emotions. Many fans, (me included), believe that Yen Sid was either wrong or lying when he told Sora that the Organization can't feel anything. (Pete was trying to make him into a heartless after all, could he have succeeded?) If you don't think this is true, then that's perfectly fine, but don't yell at me for believing that these adorkable lil guys can feel. Same the other way around. If some one else thinks that the Organization people are just making up their feelings to trick Sora, and they're just all emotionless shells, then I won't scold you for thinking that and I hope no one else will either.
Now, onto each member...
Xemnas: He is the only member out to gain ultimate power, the rest just want their hearts back. It'd do you good to remember that. In addition, his weapons look like light-sabers, but they are not light-sabers. And we all know that his name rearranges into "Mansex," it is very funny, but don't write a joke about it unless you can do it well.
Xigbar: He has become a great fan favorite (and one of my favorites too) because he looks like he could be past 40 but he still acts a little young and crazy and he talks like a surfer dude (<3). He pulls the entire act off wonderfully and that's why we love him. But PLEASE, there is more to his character than having him shoot things and say "dude" a lot. He is not an idiot, his other was a scientist. He is also not a crazy sadistic psycopath just because he uses guns. He is wild and crazy but he manages to stay grounded in his high position. It's not that hard to write him in character, just stay away from the stereotypes.
Xaldin: First off, he is one of the senior Organization members, don't ignore him. He also isn't dumb as a post, he knows how to manipulate people. And no one, NO one is going to be able to just beat him into submission unless they are either Mary-Sue strong, use some serious strategy, gang up on him, or shoot him with a tranquilizer. And he makes sideburns and dreads atractive, he isn't ugly.
Vexen: Over 30? Yes. A geezer? No. Old-looking and strict enough so that he might be teased about it? Yes. So much so that it'd be his only part in the story? No. Spends a good amount of time in his lab? Yes. Doesn't come out of it? No. And how the fuck did the comparison between him and Micheal Jackson start?
Lexeaus: Lexeaus is quiet, buff, probably the physically strongest member, intelligent, and not overly pretty. He is not mute, stupid, on steroids, ugly, or worthless. Just because some one isn't pretty doesn't mean they aren't part of your fandom. He does work out and enjoys staying fit, but he isn't obsessed with his muscles. And just the fact that he's quiet isn't proof that he's stupid. I love this guy, many people do, don't ignore or bash him just because he isn't a bishounen.
Zexion: Hoo boy. Zexion? Is not emo. Why would he want to be emo? He wants to get his heart and go back to normal, why would he waste his time moping about it? He has a small build, but he is not knee-high, nor does he shrink. He might look all kinds of adorable, but he won't act all crazy and hyper. He doesn't need to be kick-ass at fighting because he can beat you into psycological submission using his brain. And he enjoys and values his life. Plus, he seems to get along well with Lexeaus, if you want to write about Zexion don't ignore the big guy.
Saix: Yes, he looks like an elf, but that does not mean you can make that his only persona. His character is a very awesome line between calm and cruel and batshit crazy. Use that to your advantage.
Axel: I'll try to keep this short since I know he's been ranted about to death. Firstly, he is skinny, but that's nothing to make a big deal out of. He is not all "lovey-touchy-huggy-peacy-feely," he is manipulative and can be a complete asshole, but there is a bit of good in him when it comes to Sora and Roxas.
Demyx: I have some major issues on the characterization of this little guy. What most people DO get is that he is cutely awkward, loves his music and his water skills, and doesn't like fighting. Still, he is not a brainless moron, he isn't on a permanent sugar high, he doesn't run around screaming, and even though he doesn't like fighting, when provoked he can kick serious ass. 10 forms in 10 seconds @$&^%! To me, he seems fairly intelligent albeit with little common sense or people skills, there is nothing to support him being dumber than a pidgeon. He is not on a neverending quest to find twu wub with a girl/boyfriend, although he probably wouldn't mind if people would appreciate him more. Also, why does almost everyone write him as a rock star? How many rock stars play the sitar? Just because he likes music doesn't mean he's in a rock band, he might like classical orchestra for all we know. And he does not have ADD. People with ADD are physiologically unable to concentrate on one thing for long. Now look at Demyx when he's playing his sitar while summoning his clones in the Underworld and Hollow Bastion. He's concentrating on playing while Sora and co. are jumping like mad all around him. If he had ADD, that would be nearly impossible. And although he is by far the most expressive of the Organization, he doesn't bounce around like crazy. Please fanits, Squeenix has given us this wonderfully unique and adorkable character, treat his characterization well.
Luxord: Another one that we don't see nearly enough of. Fortunately, people seem to write him well, or I just haven't seen him written badly too often. The only recurring issue is his accent. Please put it in, but don't alter his speech so much that we don't know what he's saying.
Marluxia: Okay, I can see him as rather feminine, I can see him as a devoted gardener, I can understand if you make him a stone-cold power hungry bastard or a rather girly giggling manipulator. I've seen all these done well. Still, he is not a wimp, he can kick serious ass with that scythe of his. There's a REASON he's the final boss in CoM. So what if his weapons are pink? That doesn't make him a blathering wimp. What pains me is that he becomes one of the more flexible and easier characters to write once you ignore the whole "pink = wimpy + girly" stereotype. Unfortunately, most writers can't.
Larxene: She copes with the pain of not existing by focusing on bringing pain to others. Canonically, she is a devout ally of Marluxia, so take it into account. She is not a whore just because she's the only girl. She is cold, calculating, intelligent, and she loves nothing more than to see others suffer. There is way more to her character than her being the only girl in a group full of boys. Please use the characterization we have been given.
Roxas: I'll admit he is angsty, but he is not a goth. Nor is he a cutter or suicidal, he enjoys his life in general. He is also not a carbon copy of Sora, he is his own person. And please remember, Roxas has no idea who Axel is at the begining of KH2. He doesn't even know that Axel would miss him when he left the Organization. He is more than Axel's little puppy.
Sorry for length and for some of it being a little harsh, but I needed to get that out of my system.