#dcmcdebriefs

What makes it so resonate, besides it being a well developed same sex relationship in a narrative committed to presenting it, is probably it's biggest point of contention from detractors. Does it er on the side of codependency? Well it's hard to say that it doesn't at least begin there from the majority of what we get to see. PoR is very focused on the secretive aspect of Soren's heritage and reflects that in his limited supports. Having his only support chain outside of Ike being Stefan who he mostly pushes away. But going by the amount of planned supports RD had coupled with the base convo where everyone comments on how much more relaxed and open Soren is now (as well some dialogue from the extended script), that's tangible growth. Growth I think we all would have liked to see more of through varied character interactions, but it's enough for me to view Soren's absolute faith in Ike not as a hindrance to growth, but his grounding and necessary stepping stone.

Because what they're relationship says to me, as someone who has grappled with learning to accept oneself and who also occasionally falls to self doubt about my security or place in a relationship, is this: having been broken is not a condemnation to loneliness, acceptance and unconditional love can always be found, and love can give you the foundation you need to become stronger.

It's not a one-sided affair either. The amount that Ike admits he leans on Soren in all forms of guidance, strictly tactical or not, is a deep trust on his end. His faith is just a sure as Soren's.

I decided to do a run where I had to always deploy all the greil merc's so I couldn't use some of my usual staples nearly as much (rip jill and Marcia 😔) or get as many supports but that's okay because I've read them all many times already. Rolf was a slow burn but he became a crit god just like the og.

This time around got me thinking of some additional base convos I'd like to have.

A conversation between Mist and Elincia later in the campaign. We get a nice bonding moment with them earlier on and a lot of conversations between her and Ike but if she wants someone to be open with in a conversation, especially about grief and the war than mist is the better person to talk to. It already gives off the impression that they're closer than we got to see and they can bond talking about who they grew up with too. It's a way to bring up Lucia and geoffery a bit earlier.

A brief base convo during chapter 14 where Soren is avoided by begnion officials/servants/some sort of persons in the culture. This partially prompts him to begin doing research at mainal cathedral (he's always questioned people's assumption that he's a spirit charmer and the reaction he gets in begnion is too in line with his childhood to ignore). It would also be cool to see direct branded prejudice in some way.

A conversation involving Lethe in Daein going over the history of the country's formation (something that's either very briefly mentioned or only elaborated on in the Tellius timeline) and why it hold such a strict prejudice against laguz despite or perhaps because of it's isolation from them. Lethe's hobby is studying history and she already flexes her knowledge aggressively in her supports with Jill. I think it would be a good way to keep some engagement with your og laguz without being redundant, too.

A conversation between Shinon and Titania after he's rerecruited. We don't know when exactly shinon joined relative to the other members but given he's a prepromote we can assume he was a pretty senior member. I'm curious what the two most senior members would have to say to one another and maybe we could get some insight on what brought shinon to the mercs and more of why greil meant so much to him.

There is characterization trying to happen here but it constantly runs into the wall of supports that contribute absolutely nothing, little bits of information dispersed between monastery dialogue youre going to get tired of tracking down, battle dialogue when it rarely happens and only under specific circumstances (recruit this character but not that one, only on this route, etc.), support convos with brickwall byleth often digging the deepest into a character’s feelings/past, characters not being allowed further into the narrative even when they really, really should be.