#rinji does memes

5: A popular series/game you just can’t get into no matter how much you try?

The Witcher. I started the first one after the recommendation from a friend and stopped playing not too far in.  I get that the third one is improved in terms of the problematic things from the first two, and that it’s genuinely a pretty great game and what not, but I am not yet impressed with CDPR. Their cyberpunk game reveal, while they haven’t come out with any stuff about it recently, really put a bad taste in my mouth.

Eh, they don’t need my money.

16: Character you’ve hated most? From what game?

The scruffy straight white male protagonist, from all of them. :D

OKAY if I must pick character, it’s gonna be Sephiroth from FFVII. Not only was I so damn tired of fanboys hyping him up all the time, I think his particular character plot hook is just… awful and uninteresting. Big ol’ MEH from me.

HONORABLE MENTION: FUCK SKADGE (from SWTOR)

23: Biggest disappointment you’ve had in gaming?

My NOTP for them - Theron/Lana. This is more a pre-emptive NOTP because I actually haven’t seen it much, if at all, in practice. BUT NO, for reasons stated below.

My BROTP for them - Theron/Lana. They’re not perfect friends, and I think they may have issues bubbling underneath the surface still, but I appreciate that the two work together so well. I’d say that they’ve changed in some minor ways thanks to each other, as their scopes have become wider. I’m really glad the narrative hasn’t tried to pair them in a romantic way.

My OTP for them - Theron/Outlander (my favorite being the Imperial Agent Outlander, because spies and I’m really corny about the whole cross-faction thing). BIG SIGH

My second choice pairing for them - … Theron/Jonas Balkar. I kinda like the idea of Theron and Jonas having this on-going will-they won’t-they thing. AND SPIES

My fluffy pairing for them - Theron/Outlander, post KOTFE/KOTET, when they finally get to be together without so much in the way.

My angsty pairing for them - Theron/Outlander, post-SOR pre and during KOTFE/KOTET, because GODDAMNIT IT’S THEIR DESTINY BUT THERE’S ALL THIS SHIT PREVENTING THEIR HAPPINESS. My heart still breaks about the break up scene on Yavin 4 (for Imperial characters).

My favorite poly ship for them - I feel like Theron/Outlander/Outlander’s LI from the vanilla game could work out, but Whyoware. I kinda want to think about Theron/Imp Agent/Jonas too because… well. Spies.

My NOTP for them - Ves/Hunter. Their relationship was super complicated and I think Ves saw some of himself in Hunter by the end (see: the Imperial Agent story), but this would never end up being anything but super toxic. And while I’m not one to turn down shipping a thing because of inherent toxicity, this is one of my exceptions. 

My BROTP for them - Ves/Kaliyo. I think there was some attraction between them at first, but they ultimately are better off being partners in crime. Their friendship is a little lopsided, as Kaliyo is content to use friendship for selfish means, but without Kaliyo and her selfish perspective, Veselko might have not broken away from the Empire’s leash as he did.

HONORABLE MENTION, somewhere between BROTP AND OTP (my own addition): Ves/Vector, because damn, Vector’s calm and otherworldly views kept Ves from lashing out, and he became more open-minded, I think. He also appreciated that Vector, despite being part of a hive mind, seemed to respect Veselko’s privacy and agency more than anyone else. Vector’s kindness is nearly unheard of in Imperial spaces. BIOWARE WHY DID YOU MAKE THE VANILLA ROMANCES SO HETERO WHY (actually it was probably Lucasarts’s fault the time)

My OTP for them - Ves/Theron. Forever and ever. What started out as a guarded curiosity has turned out to be the love of Ves’s life. They both have found each other after so much loneliness and distrust, and it makes me so happy.

My second choice pairing for them - Ves/Shara Jenn (formerly Watcher Two, formerly Keeper). Their love was a tragic one in the end, as their paths took them to different places in the galaxy, and Ves still thinks about her from time to time. If in some AU Shara managed to find and return to Ves after she had been unconditioned, I would love to see them start over. They are both used, abused, and broken by the Empire they gave their lives for, and I think there is the potential for them to continue to find healing in each other’s comfort. Believe me, I’ve thought of fics… 

My fluffy pairing for them - Ves/Theron, because damn they both deserved to be able to smile without any strings attached for once.

My angsty pairing for them - Ves/Shara, for reasons stated above. But there are moments where Theron/Imp Agent is super angsty, if only because the war was still keeping them apart.

My favorite poly ship for them - Hm, perhaps an AU where Shara came back … Ves/Theron/Shara?

(Takes place post KOTET, so spoilers!)

There had been warnings against moments like these, entire teachings dedicated to learning to avoid the pull caused by passion. Meditation was supposed to soothe temptations caused by loneliness and isolation.

(Takes place after the reunion in KOTFE Chapter 9)

Veselko sat himself down on the edge of the platform and stared over the valley of Odessen, where the Phantom rested quietly as a small crew began maintenance. He was expected inside soon, and needed a moment to contemplate in quiet. Valkorion had ceased his comments, for the time being, but Veselko could not help but wonder if he had been watching, with amusement, the small reunion between him and Theron.

10. What is their specialization class? Was there a reason they picked that discipline?

This was kinda meta reasons, actually. I just like the idea of the Operative class being very nimble and quick on their feet, and stealth is a nice thing for a spy. For these reasons, I always get a very graceful and fluid image for Ves when I’m picturing him move.

25 is answered in the first set!

35. In KotFE what is their relationship with Valkorion?

25. Do they have any deep dark secrets?

One probably keeps the most shameful parts about themselves a secret from those who they care about. Ves has kept many secrets, from the mundane to galaxy-wide conspiracies, but the ones from his past when he blindly obeyed the Empire and all that entails are ones he doesn’t like to talk about. He knows how much he has changed, yet he can remember feeling justified and righteous in his actions. For anyone who knows him to be the former Cipher Nine, it wouldn’t be an entirely shocking detail. Those terrifying rumors that spread throughout the Republic and even the Empire at times came from somewhere, and he takes no pride in it. Nothing can ever truly undo what happened, but Veselko will spend the rest of his life in service to others for what he has done.

28. Have they done anything embarrassing?

Veselko tends to take things in stride, but he’s been red-faced embarrassed before -- bad tihaar and Kaliyo were involved one of those times. It was not a cover-blowing incident, thankfully, but Kaliyo casually replayed the events during a briefing with a holorecording, and everyone in the Phantom’s crew got to see Cipher in fits of raucous laughter and trying some really bad lines on a young man in a cantina.

She told him that she’d delete it, but we all know Kaliyo’s a terrible liar.

30. Do they like to boogie? Do they dance to that good old cantina band?