#firgo

[ID: a lineart doodle for the adventure zone: graduation - episode 34 of master firbolg carrying argo on his shoulders. End ID.]

As far as we are aware, they’re all only sons whose family dynamics range from stressful to traumatizing. I doubt any of them know exactly how friendship feels, from a man shaped by revenge, to a man isolated among his own tribe, to a man outcast from his dream because of powers he can’t explain, let alone control. And then they become roommates and they have to decide what friendship means to them all while creating a working relationship?? It’s college friendship on hard mode, three lonely motherfuckers stuffed into a tiny dorm with barely any sense of self, one of them too selfish, one of them too selfless, one of them neither and both and keeping to himself too much for it to matter anyway. 

And then there’s The Unbroken Chain. Argo craving trust, Fitzroy giving it hesitantly but wholly, all the while Argo being wracked with guilt as he goes behind Fitzroy’s back, just for a chance to feel close to his mother again. Fitzroy, just accepting him as he is and letting himself change to be better, just for Argo and the Firbolg. They learn to let go of their hangups, they learn what friendships are supposed to be like. They learn what trust means, and they learn how to earn it. And I know what you’re thinking, you’re just literally describing why we like Maplekeene?? Like, you sound like a historian being like “They were just close friends :)” I know. I hear you.

Like I said, I see it, I genuinely do. I just personally think it’s more compelling to go for the angle of this deep unbreakable friendship. Philia, the greek word for brotherly love. It’s the captain and his first mate, the king and his trusted advisor. A leader who depends completely and utterly on his follower, and a follower who will go wherever he leads without question. So like, I get it. I just am so compelled by this complete, overwhelming, unbreakable friendship that has been forged by their distrust, their hesitation, their dislike and their disagreements.