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**rolls eyes at someone's comment on a Crisis Core scene.** If they don't like seeing a sane Sephiroth, fine, that's their business, and their opinion. If they prefer him insane and evil, whatever. Who cares? But when they express (and in a crude way, at that) how horrible Square Enix is for "changing" the character, and that Sephiroth was always flat-out evil and Square didn't want him to have sympathy, I have to firmly disagree. Square didn't change anything. I do wonder if that person (and others with that argument) really paid attention to the flashbacks in the original game, where Sephiroth is shown to have been kind and good. The scene of him being concerned over an ill SOLDIER is from the original game. As well as his very early interaction with "Cloud" (really Zack), which became the fans' basis for considering them as friends. Yes, we all know Sephiroth became an insane wretch at Nibelheim, but Square's ideas of what he was like before that have not changed. They know what they're doing. The flashbacks in the original game appear to have been meant to show the tragic downfall of someone who really was good. I can't say for absolute certainty that they meant that, but I can say that in no way does Square's Crisis Core Sephiroth's personality differ from that of the Sephiroth from the original game flashbacks. And since Crisis Core does indeed depict a good man who suffered a tragic downfall, I have no reason to believe that the intention was different in the original game. Unless of course there's an interview floating around somewhere where Nomura actually said that.

And in case anyone brings it up, no, I do not disregard Tifa's comment in the original game that Sephiroth appeared cold to her. Aside from the fact that there's a big difference between being cold and always being evil, I don't even think he did come off as being that cold, as explained in my essay. Basically, I think that was Tifa's personal opinion because she was ticked off that Sephiroth didn't let her enter a restricted area. XD; That seems to be the case in Crisis Core, at least.

And speaking of my essay, I never seem to be satisfied that it's done. XD; Now I wanna talk about all of the above in it. And earlier I was thinking of specifically mentioning the way Sephiroth looked at Zack in chapter 7 of Crisis Core. X3 That is not the look you'd give someone you didn't care about. **Squees!** http://www.silenttweak.net/gallery/chapter7/photos/snap189.jpg Other than chapter 4 as a whole, this part from chapter 7 is a big favorite.

Chapter 7 of Stars is moving along. X3 I hope to finish it soon. Got sidetracked when I decided to write about this.

The first draft of chapter 3 of the wing prejudice fic is basically done. But it's one of the most unfinished first drafts ever. XD; Much needs to be tinkered with and added. It'll probably drive me nuts for a while. I'm hoping chapter 4 will be easier.

Found a lot more funny YouTube AMVs. And Kaze located two Captain Planet parodies, one with Cloud and one with Sephiroth. LOL!

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Oh, yeah, I knew what "look" you meant right away, though I didn't know what chapter it was from. I just remembered from the character video on the CC site. There was someone named galiina on dA who did a comic page of that scene. She took it off, but it was really cute, with a chibi Zack looking all hesitant about leaving.

I congratulate you on having the patience to do an essay. I guess the reason some fans don't like CC Seph is because they don't like to think of the character in a different way, or don't really believe that one event could cause that big of a change. It's easier to think of him having always been that way, but Square knew that it's a much bigger impact for the Zack and the player to become friends with a decent, caring man and then put them through the heartbreak that is Nibelheim. And to be fair, insane!Seph's personality isn't a complete, 360-degree turn from his normal one, more like a twisted fun-house mirror version that still retains some familiar traits - independence, persistence, etc. I also found it interesting how, at the crater when Seph is trying manipulate Cloud and get his revenge on him, he tells Cloud that he is not who he thinks he is, that he is simply a product of Shinra's labs, and that his past "life" is meaningless before his pre-defined purpose. I don't know if Seph is even consciously aware of the irony here, but that's apparently the worst thing he can think of.

By the by, which SOLDIER on that mission was sick? I know Cloud got a lil motion sick, but then it was Zack that talked to him.

Dang, I wish she wouldn't have taken it off! That sounds adorable!

**nodnod.** I was actually going to have another paragraph to this rant, about how insane-Seph does indeed retain some familiar qualities, and even some honor. I've been comparing him with Kefka the last few days, ever since remembering that someone told me my redesign of the Safer form looks like Kefka's, and I've determined that while Kefka may have been the original, he's not the best by far. XD; I think even insane-Seph had more honor than him, because if what I was reading was correct, it indicated that Kefka did a lot of that back-stabbing stuff, pretending to be good when he wasn't. And Seph never does that. What you see is what you get. Either he's honestly a kind person, or he's bonkers. XD;

That is interesting, about what Seph comes up with for the very worst to say to Cloud. As if thinking that since it was the worst for Seph, personally, he would try it on Cloud, feeling that Cloud would also find it abhorrent.

Hmm.... Maybe it was Cloud. XD; I actually thought it was some random SOLDIER that had to be carried off to get help. I should see that part again.

Another thing I just thought of that I could have added is that, judging by the many old fanarts (largely Japanese, but some American/other countries, too) that depict Seph as a good person, when they only had the original game to go on, a lot of people feel the same way we do.

"I also found it interesting how, at the crater when Seph is trying manipulate Cloud and get his revenge on him, he tells Cloud that he is not who he thinks he is, that he is simply a product of Shinra's labs, and that his past "life" is meaningless before his pre-defined purpose. I don't know if Seph is even consciously aware of the irony here, but that's apparently the worst thing he can think of."
I'm not in the FF VII fandom anymore, but I should said...that it was one of the more clever and insighful observation that I've read about Sephiroth, so kuddo for you.^__^

Wow. Did that person pay attention to the original game at all? Not to mention that Seph used to be Cloud's hero before Nibelheim, so he couldn't have been flat-out evil then, either, unless everyone who knew him was completely clueless. And that would just be ridiculous! Any way you look at it, he'd have to have been normal at the very least, just because Shinra wouldn't want an insane, evil bad guy at the head of the most powerful military organization in the world. XD

Oh, squee! I love that pic.^^ You should totally mention that in your essay. And talking about everything else would be a good addition, too.^^

Yay, for the next chapter!^^ I'm looking forward to reading that.

Chapter 3 sure sounds crazy! Here's hoping you can figure it out!

Those were definitely priceless! They've got to be some of my favorite AMVs ever. Along with the Vincent one. LOL. Can't say which one I like better. I must say, though, that it was really refreshing to have Seph portrayed as the good guy for once! That was something I didn't expect.

Yeah, I got the impression that that person thought Seph always was evil and everyone really was clueless. @___@; I half-wonder now if that's one of the n00bish fans the purists hate, the kind that come in on the movie and don't bother to learn anything else.

X3 I hadn't wanted to discuss the insane Seph in my essay, but thinking it over now, I can't even illustrate all of my points about a good Seph without mentioning at least something more about his insanity, particularly that he never pretends to be something he's not.

I need to make an icon of that pic. Or see if Lisa's made some. But she probably hasn't yet, or I would have grabbed them. XD

**nodnod.** Kala-Ansa's scene needs to be lengthened even more, and in later scenes where there's mostly dialogue, I need to fit in some introspection. XD;

Yeah! I love finding AMVs where Seph is portrayed nicely. That's something else I enjoy about the I'll Make a Man Out of You ones.

It could be! Though you'd think someone who'd only seen the movie would at least check their facts before going and making accusations like that. Because otherwise they just look ridiculous. XD

**nods** That's a good point! It kind of illustrates the parts of his character that are so strong that they stick with him, even when he's insane. And it also sort of shows that the good Seph is still in there.

Ooh, an icon would be great!^^

XD. Introspection's always good! At least you've got an idea of what you want to do.^^

Oh yeah, I forgot about those. XD. I wish there'd be some more!

Oh, and I think I might have saved that comic mentioned in the last comment.^^ **goes to look.**

Indeed! XD Though n00bs rarely seem to care about looking ridiculous, for some reason.

**nodnod.** Seph is such an amazing and complex character. X3

I wonder if an icon should be left blank or if it should have text.

Yay! That would be great if you have it saved! ^^

Hmm... Icons with text are always fun if you can find something that fits.^^ Though it would also look great just by itself.

**is looking right now.** Looks like I tossed it into my unsorted stuff... Here's hoping I don't miss it! XD

Oyyy

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