#erena

I recently got the Haven Artbook which compelled me to pick up the game again (as I am wont to do). I was thoroughly enjoying myself but I also recalled an unfortunate memory I had when I was still on the Game Bakers' Discord server. Where several people in the server insisted that Yu and Kay being captured and brainwashed into forgetting each other was the least bad ending and that the Apiary wasn't a fascist regime.

It absolutely is and I'm going to explain why. No one asked for this. This is just for my own sanity.

The Endogamy

The plot of the game is that Yu and Kay escape to a far away planet to dodge their arranged marriages and be together. The Matchmaker system their government has is state enforced endogamy. Yu says this herself. Regardless of it's original purpose, in the events of the game, it exists to reinforce the social structure to keep everyone mated to their own class. At this scale, endogamy is a eugenicist policy. And eugenics are, you guessed it, a tool for fascism.

The House of Cards

Another fact about facism is how it is ultimately unsustainable. And we see this when Yu and Kay talk with Erena, who insists that the Matchmaker is the best system they have to eliminate 'the mark' and the inequalities... whatever those are. She insists that the love built on the foundation of the matchmaker is a guarantee that their society will last. That it's a positive, pure love that secures a future for everyone.

Keep in mind that this is moments after Erena told them that Yu and Kay running off together has caused serious problems in the Apiary and has people asking questions. So this strong foundation for a lasting future she posits somehow cannot withstand the stress of two runaways living off the grid. And how do they enforce such a flimsy setup?

Oh yeah. Brainwashing.

Source

And lets not forget one of the Apiary's biggest 'oopsies'. Blowing a huge chunk out of a planet, killing their own colonists and erasing any and all evidence of that fuckery from public records. The experimental powerplants they had on Source were not properly maintained which resulted in an explosion straight from the core.

And why did the head of the company decide not to provide upkeep on the plant?

Yup.

And just like all fascists states, the Apiary is utterly terrified of being public humiliated, so they sweep it all under the rug and have probably brainwashed all of those who did escape to help keep it quiet. Governments that aren't fascist can fuck up like this, especially where ecology is concerned, but it's only in fascist states where a fuck up this bad cannot be known or openly discussed by it's populace.

WITH LEGS LIKE HERS -- "SHE IS THE FIRST "STREET FIGHTER" CHARACTER TO USE ONLY KICKS."

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on character art of Kenyan princess, Capcom girl, & Capoeira fighter, Elena, first appearing in "Street Fighter III: New Generation" (1997), published and developed by Capcom. Artwork by Kinu Nishimura.

Resolution at 1564x2048 & 1000x1382.

FIGHTING STYLE AND ABILITIES: "Elena's fighting style, Capoeira, is of West African and Brazilian origin. The style utilizes her strong, long legs to execute amazing dance-like moves and fancy legwork. As such, excluding grabs, her moveset consists entirely of kicks and leg throws. She is the first "Street Fighter" character to use only kicks."

-- CAPCOM DATABASE (SF Fandom)

hehehe I WILL RIGHT NOW

so first things first we have:

Elara(X-Tale! Frisk): "Sometime I felt like I'm dying again..."

Erena(Error! Frisk):" ...Why?"

Elara(X-Tale! Frisk): "Sorry I don't have The answer Babe"

BOLD ➝  always /usually applies

ITALIC ➝  only applies situationally/sometimes

DEFENSIVENESS   arms crossed on chest / crossing legs / fist-like gestures / pointing index finger / karate chops / stiffening of shoulders / tense  posture / curling of lip / baring of teeth

REFLECTIVE   hand to face gestures / head tilted / stroking chin / peering over glasses /   taking glasses off — cleaning / putting earpiece of glasses in mouth / pipe smoker gestures / putting hand to the bridge of nose / pursed lips / knitted brows

SUSPICION arms crossed / sideways glance / touching or rubbing nose / rubbing eyes/ hands resting on weapon / brows rising / lips pressing into a thin line / strict unwavering eye contact / wrinkling of nose

OPENNESS + COOPERATION   open hands / upper body in sprinters position / sitting on the edge of a chair / hand-to-face gestures / unbuttoned coat / tilted head / slacked shoulders / droopy  posture / feet pointed outward / palms flat and facing outward

CONFIDENCE hands behind back / hands on lapels of coat / steepled hands / baring teeth in a grin / rolling shoulders / tipping head back but maintaining eye contact / chest puffed up / shoulders back / arms folded just above navel

INSECURITY + ANXIETY chewing  pen  or  pencil / rubbing  thumb  over  opposite  thumb / biting  fingernails / hands  in  pockets / elbow  bent / closed  gestures / clearing  throat / pacing  / “whew ” sound / picking or pinching  flesh / fidgeting in chair / hand covering mouth whilst speaking / poor eye contact / tugging at pants whilst  seated / jingling money in pockets / tugging at ear / perspiring hands / playing with hair / swaying / playing with pointer / smacking  lips / sighing / rocking  on  balls  of  feet / flexing  fingers  sporadically

FRUSTRATION short breaths / “tsk” sounds / tightly clenched hands / fist-like gestures / pointing index finger / running hand through hair / rubbing back of neck / snarling /revealing teeth / grimacing / sharp-eyed glowers / shoulders back, head up / defensive posturing / clenching of jaw / grinding of teeth / nostrils flaring / heavy exhales

Tagged by: @whitedawn-wra, @simplysoriya, and @thestarsfury! Thanks <3