#(yes definitely)

One thing I've constantly seen in Jade hate posts is the idea that she's trapping good and innocent people like Aventurine and Topaz and chaining them down to the IPC.

But I actually think it's this act--choosing Aventurine and Topaz to be her proteges--that tells us a lot about whether Jade is a fundamentally bad person or not.

First, it's key to understand that Jade is in a significant position of power within the Stonehearts. When Diamond chooses not to appear, it's often Jade who goes in his place and acts as his voice. When it comes to making administrative decisions on who will get to join the Stonehearts, Jade had a direct hand in supporting Topaz's ascension (by accepting recommendations) and an even more direct role in Aventurine's ascension, choosing and testing him for the job herself.

So Jade is a character with enough power to have a strong say in who gets to become a leader in the IPC. She possesses enough authority and trust from Diamond to catapult a wanted murderer like Kakavasha straight up 45 ranks in the Star Rail universe's single most powerful corporate entity. She helps to decide who rules.

And who has she picked with that power?

Aventurine and Topaz are both good people. Although they'll do whatever is needed to advance the IPC's aims, they're both essentially kind-hearted and unwilling to put others at unnecessary risk. They both deeply value friendship and exhibit many of the other positive traits one associates with heroes--loyalty, generosity, gentleness, and honesty. Topaz takes a hit to her own reputation and rank to protect Belobog. Aventurine, infamous for high-stakes gambles, specifically spells out that he absolutely refuses to cheat his way to victory.

In an organization that is otherwise known for the literal colonization and extermination of civilizations--in an organization that puts wealth and material value above anything but their own god--in an organization with people like Obsidian who literally want to turn things into a bloodbath--Jade's top picks are both quintessentially good characters.

She is extracting value from them. She is profiting from their work for the IPC.

But Jade had the power to promote complete monsters into the Stonehearts. She could have picked heartless, profit-driven villains who would have forwarded the IPC's goals at the expense of the human element entirely. She could have promoted more evil into an already evil organization. But she did not. Jade chose to support two disadvantaged young people who had clawed their way up from the bottom while still maintaining their principles. At least two of the Ten Stonehearts are people the Trailblazer can associate with without extreme moral guilt, thanks in part to Jade.

The people that Jade chooses to throw her support behind mean something. Topaz and Aventurine's presence in the Stonehearts indicates that Jade is capable of not only recognizing goodness--but has actively chosen to elevate (at least relatively) moral people into positions of authority. This act, choosing to promote and support inherently decent human beings, speaks greatly to Jade's sense of who deserves power--and, from there, to her own sense of justice.

Mabel was sleeping and Ford was freaking out.

Ford had been simply explaining his improvements to her grappling hook, when he noticed she had nodded off. Mabel's head is at an odd angle and she is hugging herself.

Is she cold? Could she breathe with her head like that? Should Ford move her?

Ford starts pacing, eyes darting back whenever Mabel shifts or snores. Occasionally, Ford would reach out, but stop only an inch away. Every time, Ford looks down at his hands with apprehension. Sure Mabel did not seem to mind his fingers when she is awake, but what if they scare her unconscious mind?

Ford had never been good with kids. He had a similar freak out when Dipper fell asleep during one of their DDMD games. Except Stan had been there, scooping the boy up wordlessly and carrying him to bed. Should Ford do that? Could he?

Moses, would Stan fish faster.

Ford had barely just started getting to know the kids, Dipper more so. Sure Mabel and him had a fun day, but is he close enough to simply snatch Mabel up? She shifts again, now practically laying face down into the couch. Ford feels his panic rise now unbearable.

Ford could not let one of the kids suffocate on his watch. Slowly, he scoops Mabel up. Ford's back aching from just how slowly he does so. Yet it seems to do the trick as she stays asleep. He rises with the same level of care. Ford freezes when she shifts in his arms. Her eyes open a crack, and she mumbles something as she nuzzles deeper into Ford's arms.

When Mabel drifts back into sleep, Ford sighs in relief. He takes several slow steps out of the living room and into the entry way. He looks at the stairs with hesitation. How would Ford get up without shaking her? He would also be risking falling with no arms to catch himself. Ford deems it too risky. He refuses to let any harm come to his niece.

So Ford turns and moves towards his room. Sure his couch is not as comfy as a bed, but it is safe. He lays her down, just as gently as he had picked her up. It is a bit hard to let go, as Mabel is holding tightly onto his sweater. He carefully pries each finger off, making sure to be as gentle as possible. Once free he stood and smiles. Safe; able to breathe; Perfect.

Ford took a breath to calm himself, but then he realizes he had forgotten a blanket for Mabel. He lightly drapes his blanket over her, but is dissatisfied. Mabel always wore sweaters despite the heat, so she must be cold. How dumb of Ford not to notice. He left the room and set about finding the warmest and softest blankets he could.

When Ford checks Mabel and Dipper's room, he notices not only is her pig there, but she also had many stuffed animals on her bed. Ford stacks as many as he could on one arm, and scoops up her pig as well. He crept back into the room and set his collection down. Her pig, Waddles, simply crawls over and lays near her side. Ford hovers, ready to snatch Waddles if he dares to step wrong.

Mabel rolls to accommodate the pig and pulls Waddles into a hug. Thankfully, not blocking her face. The pig did not seem to hinder her breathing, so Ford moves to his next task. He starts layering the blankets. It took several tries to make sure the blankets laid perfectly. No cold would attack Ford's niece.

For the final touch, Ford began tucking the stuffed animals wherever he could. Without putting to much weight on her vitals, of course. One, a stuffed unicorn, starts talking when he had grabs it. Startled, Ford rips out its voice box and crushes it in his hand. Ford looks down at the poor toy in shame. He would have to repair it tomorrow.

He took a few careful steps back. Carefully, he surveys his handy-work. She seems to be breathing fine; the pig did not move; the blankets allow no gaps; the stuffed animals did not dare to shift. Ford smiles, feeling satisfied. He had done it.

Ford moves to leave but became nervous. What if something woke her? What if she woke up and is confused? What if he had not done something right? Ford took a seat at the nearby desk. He uses the light of the moon to sketch out math equations from memory. More to keep himself up rather than for actual practice. Ford glances back at his niece constantly, just to make absolute sure all is well.

Stan came home about midnight, with a tired but happy Dipper. Mabel's idea of "Grunkle Bonding Day" seems to have gone just as she had thought. At least on their end. Stan follows Dipper up to check on Mabel, but found her bed empty. Both of Mabel and her bedding. Both Dipper and Stan share a confused look.

Stan moves around the house searching. Finally he pops his head into Ford's room and held back a laugh.

Ford lay face down in a book at his desk. Yet, both Stan and Dipper were drawn to the mass of blankets and stuffed animals on the couch. Under which, lay a sleeping Mabel, seemingly unbothered. It seems their day had gone well.

Both the manga and the anime show him throwing his keys on the table and then flopping onto his bed

Presumably he took his pants off at least (I’m assuming he doesn’t typically go to work in just his boxers) so maybe it can be implied that he showered first but then he says he can still smell it so idk

I do kind of wish the anime had added in a bit more to Kafka’s post work routine, especially since he mentions he’s kept up with a training routine but we’re never shown what that looks like