"How has your character developed?" The meme of legends.

[thorny]

Because introspection is fun.

Basically, exactly as stated - how has your character developed throughout their time in Death City, from their state upon application? Feel free to be as TL;DR: as you want, because I want to read all of it this is a writing based hobby, words are what we're here for!

ARBITRARY RULES:

• Post your characters as a header
• Reply to your comment with explanation!
• ???
• spam emotes at everyone else's development arcs


stolen with love from towerofanimus!

Comments

Sephiroth's life in DC, the abridged version pt.2

[pure_lineage]

Their resonance wasn't exactly the best at the beginning. In fact, it was horrible for them both as Sephiroth's weapon form was not only heavy and near-impossible to wield, but any attempt to hold his weapon form resulted in their resonance causing pain and a backlash towards them both. Yet with the threat of the people's safety, Cloud continued with their deal so as to protect them.

It wasn't long after they'd partnered that Adachi (unknowingly by the city) began to affect things throughout the city. The mist that entered the city was thick and could turn people's hidden pasts into a real and twisted manifestation. This, in fact, happened to Sephiroth where he was confronted with the monster that was inside of him. It was one he had always tried to keep hidden and under control, and one that he didn't want others to discover as it would only tell information about him that he didn't want anyone to discover, and when he'd discovered that it out in death city, he basically went to stop it. He didn't reach it in time though, and before he got to the creation, it had already begun informing those that knew Sephiroth of all the deep and dark secrets that he kept hidden. Of course that only went to enrage the ex-General, and after a vicious battle (where the manifestation of him transformed into Jenova-Life), Sephiroth was eventually victorious, but not without Cloud's aid. The 'damage' had been done though, and some of the issues he kept hidden within had been exposed during the fight, and thus exposed to Cloud - which Sephiroth hated beyond everything else. He didn't want to be seen as anything but a monster by others, but his attempt to maintain that 'mask' had been compromised by this shadow of himself.

While that incident was the beginning of his development here in Death City, it was perhaps one of the most important pieces to the puzzle.

The second most important piece to the puzzle was not long after that event, when Jonathan Crane appeared to the city as the Scarecrow and began attacking people with his fear gas. Sephiroth was the first unfortunate victim of this attack. They'd had runins before where Sephiroth was cautious and suspicious of the man, taunting and baiting Crane, until Crane had eventually sought out his revenge when he'd managed to attack Sephiroth with his fear gas. This triggered a mutation of the gas elements inside of his body, thanks to the alien DNA Sephiroth's cells consist of, and the affects of the fear gas mutated into something that clung to his JENOVA cells and basically stripped Sephiroth of the most important aspect to him in Death City: his ability to transform and thus protect himself.

Ever since he had descended into madness all those years ago, and well before then, Sephiroth had always been able to protect himself. He'd always been armed in one way or another, even after entering Death City and discovering he could partially transform his left arm into a blade. This was the first time ever that he was basically completely unarmed, and with the fear toxin spreading through his body and clinging to his cells, it further complicated any attempt to be able to actually transform. Not only that, but it also began to amplify Sephiroth's other fears as well: such as the fear of abandonment that he had kept hidden deeply inside of him. This wasn't discovered by Sephiroth until Cloud had confronted the Scarecrow in an attempt to capture him, but instead was injected with the fear serum. When he sensed that Cloud was in danger, his fears kicked him into gear as he basically became consumed with a possessiveness to prevent yet another thing 'important' to him from being taken. Yet at the time, Sephiroth hadn't yet realised his way of thinking. With his possessive side in full effect, and Cloud suffering from being injected with the fear serum, Sephiroth basically squirrelled Cloud away so that the blonde could begin the slow process to recover from the effects of the fear serum. What he didn't expect was that he would feel any sort of protective desires within him when he saw how broken and messed up Cloud was. To Sephiroth, Cloud was his to break and toy around with, and the thought that someone else had dared to do that to what was his infuriated the ex-General beyond anything else. He absolutely hated the thought that Crane got the jump on him a few days earlier, but he hated even more that someone else had 'dared' to mess with what was only his to mess with.

It was this thought that started to change Sephiroth's way of thinking, and slowly over time, he basically began to become protective over Cloud. Initially it was for the whole 'he's mine to mess with' sort of mentality, before it began to eventually morph and change into something that was far more honest. Cloud had seen this side to Sephiroth as well, and it was something that was impossible for him to ignore. As a result, their partnership started to become more of an actual partnership.

Sephiroth's life in DC, the abridged version pt.3

[pure_lineage]

Of course, Sephiroth was still unable to transform into his Weapon form. This was something he kept to himself, even despite heading out on a mission attack Norad. His inability to transform almost cost himself, Cloud, and another pair with them (Kurapika and Kuroro) their lives. Kurapika had discovered something about Kuroro in that mission, and had refused to partner with him, which had Kurapika partnering with Cloud for that mission. Sephiroth remained by Kuroro's side because they were definitely NOT friends, even if they totally were and fought alongside the other Meister. He hadn't informed Kuroro of his inability to transform, but as they were becoming surrounded by Kishin Eggs, Kuroro quickly discovered this problem. While he would never have admitted it, Sephiroth had slowly begun to respect Kuroro by this point in his stay in DC (despite it not being mentioned much because mun totally thought it was better to keep this short and failed OTL), and being on the receiving end of disappointment from someone he was starting to consider an ally began to knock some perspective into his life. Fortunately they were both skilled fighters, and while they couldn't kill the Kishin Eggs, they beat them into as much submission as possible before Cloud and Kurapika cleared their area out and came to finish the job.

That mission began a chain of events for Sephiroth that eventually began to lead him towards doing the one thing he vowed never to do again: to make emotional bonds (aka friendships) with someone else. His friendship with Kuroro was sealed, even if he wouldn't admit to it, and Sephiroth grew incredibly loyal and protective of the other Meister.

He didn't know what to do with himself at this point. Things were rapidly changing within his mind, and it was only at this point that he'd begun to realise the fact that he was beginning to become emotionally attached to people in his life again. First Cloud, and then Kuroro. He began to wonder if there was a possibility that he could have more than solitude and isolation, and began hiding himself away to think over these new findings.

With time and hard work, and the help of Cloud and Kurapika, Sephiroth was able to regain control of his ability to transform, and finally rid himself of the fear toxin that had taken root inside of him.

The final key to his attachment development was when those from the TYL event returned with messages from their future. Sephiroth and Cloud received one from the ten year older versions of themselves. It was an envelope that only had two things inside of it: two photos. The first being a photo of four close friends in it, Cloud, Sephiroth, Kurapika, and Kuroro. The second being one of Cloud and himself.

That had been enough to begin the final change of Sephiroth's outlook on his partnership and bond with those around him, and the anger and rage he felt inside was hidden beneath the hope that sparked up within that maybe he could finally feel like he belonged somewhere, that he was wanted for who he was, and not what he was, and his outlook on the city, those around him, and even himself, changed.

Sephiroth's life in DC, the abridged version pt.4 END

[pure_lineage]

From that point, his partnership and bond with Cloud only began to grow. They actually began working as a team, and their resonance continued to grow to the point where his weapon form was effortless for his Meister to wield. While they still have some major issues to deal with from their past, something they're both aware of and know deep down that they'll eventually need to broach, they've instead pushed that side for now to instead focus on strengthening the ties that bind them as a fighting force.

They've worked hard together, earning every single inch of ground they've captured, and do so without the need for any fanfare or acknowledgement. With their bonds strengthening, Sephiroth has felt comfortable enough to show who the person is behind the 'monster' or unfeeling bastard mask he shows everyone else around him.

Through the multiple battles that he's been through, his partner has shown time and time again that he would never abandon him. Even when Sephiroth became consumed with the Madness Wavelength and reverted back to being that monster, Cloud strove at nothing to bring his friend back from the brink through his Meister ability.

Knowing of his vulnerabilities and weaknesses in this world, and what those aspects lead him to, Sephiroth has made it his goal to attempt overcoming his weakness to the madness wavelength, and has vowed to himself, and to Cloud, that he would rise up against it. That's something he's still aiming to do to this day, but without broaching on the topics of the past and clearing that air, Sephiroth would never be able to fully gain control over himself in the Madness Wavelength.

One last aspect that's changed with his development would be his outlook on the people of the world. Where he came into this world wanting to destroy everyone and everything, that outlook had slowly begun to morph and change into the point that it currently is in the game.

As Sephiroth is now, his views of their death have shifted to a general apathy towards whether they live or die... or so he likes to think. While he no longer holds the desire to take their lives, he feels nothing within if they are killed by other forces either. However, while he wouldn't admit to it, lately he's begun to grow protective over people again. It rarely shows, and has subtly manifested in a blocked attack by a Kishin Egg to a civilian here and there, or a need to not rest so as to destroy a threat in an area faster. It's subtle, and he doesn't even realise it himself, but Sephiroth is basically beginning to become more of the General he used to once be, than the monster he'd arrived in this city as.


Aaaaaaand I think that's basically it. It's so hard to think of 3 years worth of CR OTL I'm sure that I've forgotten some things, but these are the main points that stuck out to me.