I'm glad the game took a moment to remind us just how Not Okay early-game Dan Heng was
At this point Dan Heng has more or less been outright told that Yingxing made Cloud-Piercer, and that Blade was Yingxing. And still, he doesn't let himself believe it. He made himself so emotionally dependent on denying any connection to Dan Feng and it's kind of darkly satisfying to watch that all fall apart. And Blade is a hypocrite here too; he says he's not Yingxing, he says his identity doesn't matter, only Dan Heng's memories do.
This scene is also very different to the others in that it doesn't address the origin of Cloud-Piercer at all. I suppose it's Blade's way of admitting that he's come to recognise the person Dan Heng has become, where with the other members of the Quintet he's only familiar with who they used to be.
And while we're on this subject let's also address the very pointy elephant in the room: the emphasis on the names of weapons in regards to Cloud-Piercer specifically. It was already suspicious but felt like more narrative foreshadowing than something that was part of the story, but now we have confirmation that Yingxing named his weapons very intentionally. So why would he name it Cloud-Piercer when they were literally called the High-Cloud-Quintet? There must have been some other intent- a reference to sunlight is my best guess- but that's one heck of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Blade kit preview is finally out and his E6 icon is his jade pendant???
(from Guoba's video)
usually eidolon icons are a demonstration of what the eidolon itself does. For example, here's Cyrene's E2:
Which is her memosprite skill icon with an arrow pointing upwards, because it increases the damage of her memosprite skill.
Blade's E6 is admittedly not the only E6 like this which doesn't reflect the character's kit (Yao Guang's is her hairpin, DHPT's is a dragon which doesn't appear in any of his kit icons, Huohuo's is a sword to name a few) but I think it's really sweet that they chose to put the jade pendant here when it doesn't appear on his model.
everything you need to know about the fandom spreading misinfo. that’s what I had been saying about “didn’t earn it”. it’s obvious that they speak about the emotional and story perspective, having nothing to do with the twisted perspective of them allegedly saying that Will didn’t earn it. they just meant that the story wasn’t there, that’s it. (x)
clearing some db panel stuff up: so it sounds like the duffer brothers thought they had not earned writing will’s coming out or spent enough time with it. like as showrunners.
they’re not saying will had to earn coming out or that they were withholding it from him, just that they weren’t ready to make it yet.
Two weeks out from HSR 4.3 and oh boy, I am so nervous and excited for Renheng. 4.2 honestly shocked me with the amount of Renheng we got. Not the quantity, but the type of development we got.
Putting my ramblings under a cut:
Blade saying seeing Dan Heng makes him feel much calmer was the biggest shift for them, in my opinion. This suggests that in the past, his mara may have been triggered by Dan Heng's rejection of him rather than Dan Heng himself, along with the forced conflict (where to me it was clear Blade was put on a mission to draw Dan Heng's powers out). Once Dan Heng showed willingness to stay beside him, that animosity has faded, and Blade finds himself seeking comfort in Dan Heng. After all, Blade sought out the statue of the High Elder as soon as could on the Xianzhou. He always wanted comfort from him.
Dan Heng's fake IDGAF attitude chipping away. He was all "should I congratulate you" when Blade told him in 4.1 about Elio's reading of "death" for the Stellaron Hunters' mission on Planarcadia. I was very sure this was a front and this was basically confirmed at the end of 4.2. Dan Heng does not want Blade to die. He sounds shaken by the idea that Yao Guang could genuinely deliver a funeral to Blade. It was very sweet to me how both he and Silver Wolf rushed after Blade because they were worried about him. It's also bittersweet. Sunday was able to put to words what Dan Heng might secretly feel: that they just want Blade to live out a good life. I hope Blade feels the same way, if his pain could be managed somehow.
The potential of Blade joining the Express: I have not played the game for over a year and even when I did, I never paid attention to the words on the splash art. But if fans are correct that Blade SP's art contains words usually reserved for people who are on the Express, that'd be insane?? I could see him being a temporary visitor for necessity. Dan Heng said his IL powers have been acting up (I can't remember the exact words) and I recall that the High Elder was responsible for maintaining the seal on the Ambrosial Arbour...right? Maybe Dan Heng could be involved with that for Blade? But this seems like too good a dream come true so I have zero expectations that Blade will actually join the Express.
What type of funeral does Yao Guang have for Blade? I am expecting a metaphorical death. I would love for the Abundance to be cleared out of Blade, but I don't want him to become a mortal because well, I want him to live forever IF he chooses to. My biggest headcanon which I know won't come true is that he is maintained somehow by Dan Heng/Dan Feng's dragon heart, and their lives are tied together.
I might add more as these thoughts come to me. I am still playing through 4.2 in full so I'll get better context for their scenes. Ahh exciting times for them!
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