what are we, some kind of rejuvenation?

Every loop, we'll try something different. Even if we're despised by the people we love—the people we do this for. Our final gambit. It's you and me. Forever.

M2 is just as capable of good as Melia. And Melia is just as capable of all the shit M2 does. Just as M2 starts to get a “redemption” toward the end of Renegade, and just as how Melia descends to “villainy” in Paragon.

she’s a fantastically written character because everything is there! she’s said her feelings in both timelines and they’re all true. even when they’re not in that specific context.

also, we KNOW that Erin disapproves of how Melia is going about the plan. she’s realising that Melia is cooking and promises to kick her ass. what i dont want is that everyone “forgives” or says what Melia and the Interceptor did was OK. i don’t want Ren, Venam, Aelita, Alexandra, Damien, Erin, etc to all say It Was Fine, Melia. You Did What Needed To Be Done. We Don’t Hate You.

that should not happen, no matter how close the Gearen trio is (Melia, Ren, Venam). it’s true that the overall message is “love will prevail” but this is a morally grey area. it should not end with “we forgive you. we would never hate you”

In the Paragon route, Melia and the Interceptor are friends. Both the narrative and even so far as their powers are both compliments and banes to each other. The relationship Melia and the Interceptor has is one built on unhealthy levels of trust. And that level of trust only grows the more times the Interceptor dies for her(twice).

To see Zenos/ReneMC as the same entity of the Interceptor would break Melia's resolve indefinitely. She has not come to terms or sincerely accepted that she is a monster. Since she has one person standing beside her in all these decisions(the Interceptor), she has that faith and strength to keep going. Even at the cost of her psyche. Even if it stresses her the fuck out. Even if she knows she'll be loathed by everyone else. It's a decision she CAN make because the Interceptor is beside her through it all.

And it would be the absolute worst reality check for her to realise that she made a copy of her friend, yes. But it has all of the Interceptor's traits. The good, the kind, the loyal. The one that loves the world and friends so much. She's forcing her dearest friend to commit acts of atrocities. Alongside her. This time, without telling them a single thing about the plan. Because that's not 'necessary'.

In the Xen HQ Raid, she apologises to Paragon Interceptor for what is about to happen. But never ever to Zenos/ReneMC. Because she so desperately wants to keep that distance from them. From the copies itself so she can focus on what the NEED to do. Not what she WANTS to do.

Paragon Interceptor is every bit of a monster as Melia is. But I think it is fantastic that the two of them share this burden between themselves. After all, it started with the both of them, and it would end with the both of them.

commissioned art wip. i love commissioning artists to get this STUPID DYNAMIC OUT OF MY SYSTEM.

girl why did You ask me if we would be friends in every alternate universe? in every timeline?

y'all. it was that serious.