“I Still Love Him” - Lana del Rey ft. Reaver x Renèe (OC)
And I remember when I met him, it was so clear that
he was the only one for me.
We both knew it, right away.
And as the years went on, things got more difficult -
we were faced with more challenges.
I begged him to stay.
Try to remember what we had at the beginning.
He was charismatic, magnetic, electric and everybody knew it.
When he walked in every woman’s head turned, everyone stood up
to talk to him.
He was like this hybrid, this mix of a man who couldn’t contain himself.
I always got the sense that he became torn
between being a good person and
missing out on all of the opportunities that life could
offer a man as magnificent as him.
And in that way I understood him
and I loved him.
I loved him, I loved him, I loved him.
And I still love him.
I love him.
With this little project, I drew some parts of my fanfiction of Fable III and also illustrated the lyrics of this beautiful song! Hope you like it <3
(It could be read in many ways, not just the transcription of the lyrics into a comic. Infact i thought that since my OC has premonitions about the future, she was having a vision while she was looking at him and this is the reason of her smile…)
If you use words like cheesy, girly, or lighthearted fun to describe Final Fantasy X-2, you are wrong!
To be honest, I used to describe FFX2 in those words. Sure the game is cheesy, but not bad. Girly, but still badass. Lighthearted, but still intense.
HOWEVER, as I make my way through this game, I realize it’s so much more!
Final Fantasy X-2 is a lot darker and more mysterious than one might originally expect.
I am currently in Chapter 5, and the dark secrets of Spira have slowly been oozing out of Bevelle’s cracks throughout the game.
At Mushroom Rock Road, inside the Den of Woe, we see one of the creepiest scenes in the game. Actually, all of the Crimson spheres related to the Den of Woe side-quest are creepy.
When I was a kid, I thought the “villain” of FFX2 was lame. Shuyin and a big machina? Pfft, do better Square-Enix. That’s what I used to think.
But now? Shuyin is the very embodiment of a traumatized boy who wreaks havoc, distress, and corruption across Spira. The thing is, how long has Shuyin been the man behind the wheel? Who else has he been controlling, not just now but also in FFX? (Or did he only appear after Yuna defeated Sin?)
Either way, it’s so spooky to think about! I don’t think I would have even thought of these things if it hadn’t been for the Crimson spheres I watched. Watching all those people kill themselves got me feeling some sort of way, and I didn’t like it! *shivers*
It wasn’t just that insane amount of killing, but also the secrecy behind each sphere that led to more and more questions.
Since the very beginning of playing this game (and even back in FFX), our version of history has been wrong.
We are told that Zanarkand was the culprit of Sin appearing and that they were the machina lovers that began the spiral of death… but no! It was Bevelle.
The Machina War that happened 1,000 years ago was between the summoners of Zanarkand and Bevelle/Yevon followers. (I think Yevon is involved and was on Bevelle’s side, but I need to clarify this.) I remember being shocked that Zanarkand had summoners! I used to think only the people in Bevelle/Yevon followers could be summoners.
Sigh. I am in awe of this game and the deep history it has. However, the history we are told is just one big shadowy lie that I need to dig deep into. The History of Spira would be such a fun class to take, but I’ll have to just see what I can find online. I have questions!
Ok, remaining con stock is up in the shop and I still have Princess Gunners (very few 4x6, so be quick!) and tons of stuff discounted cuz I wanna retire a lot of it!
Additional 20% discount with code: HAPPYDAY (Apply at checkout!!)
So I've been playing FFX-2 again and I've been doing some deep thinking...
About the things I've overlooked in various playthroughs before or others I just wanted to talk about. Like how much the Japanese and English version of the song, "1000 Words", contrast from each other aside from the obvious differences that are right in front of you but there are other little details I've discovered. As well as Shuyin and Lenne's deep affection for each other which ends up strengthening their love than it had before. And lastly, Yuna learning meaningful lessons from both past and present experiences she had in her journey and how by the end of the game she was able to meet her resolve. One that was no easy feat but she persevered even when she reached a dead end. I'll be discussing all of these things down below and giving my own interpretation.
First off, I know it probably doesn't make much of a difference to anyone but I like how in the Japanese version of "1000 Words", there's a moment where Shuyin holds Lenne close while he looked to the bevelle soldiers in utter fury but in this particular scene, we not only get to see his emotions on screen but Lenne's as well.
We see Lenne's anguish and despair. She knows what is to come next... and she knows that there's absolutely nothing she can do about it. But she can accept that. Because as long as she is by her lover's side, she can accept her fate. She didn't care where she was going (obviously the farplane), as long as she was with Shuyin. If she died right here, it would be okay. Because she would have died loving him. Unfortunately, Shuyin never got to hear that she did. Instead of acceptance, he grasped his anger and loneliness.
Whereas in the English version, we get almost the exact same scene but notice how it focuses more on Shuyin and a little bit of Lenne with her eyes to the floor? Same emotions are being presented as they were in the Japanese version. So... why does it matter?
Well, I just really adore how we get visuals of both of their emotions in their entirety and how it doesn't shift more to Shuyin's face but it captures more of Lenne's too. Because it's their story. Giving them both the attention they deserve and the JP's scenes do that. Both cutscenes are very identical and carry the same weight albeit their differences in everything else (like the other cutscenes). Same thing happens when Lenne is trying to stop Shuyin from activating Vegnagun. In the JP ver we first see Lenne holding her arms out as Shuyin is surprised to see her while in the ENG ver it shows Shuyin first as Lenne pleads with him to stop. For some reason it feels like in the original it seems like it's being shown from Lenne's perspective and ENG, Shuyin's perspective. But I find it so interesting! It makes more sense that it'd be from Lenne's pov though. Who knew how powerful a song could be? A song about words that had never been spoken for so many years and time that had suspended before someone's very eyes, wishing that time itself could just stand still.. even for a moment. But alas, one of them didn't get to hear those words. We get to experience everything Lenne was feeling in the line of events, reliving that haunting day.
But imho, I like how it was presented in the Japanese version more with Lenne singing through Yuna instead of alongside her which is what she had been doing throughout the game. Well, maybe not singing through it, but her consciousness burned into the dressphere like Shinra had told Rikku. Therefore, everything Yuna was feeling while wearing it, were all of Lenne's feelings. So in that version we get to see Yuna sometimes and Lenne other times on screen. And this exchange between Yuna and Rikku makes more sense with this knowledge:
The way it is shown in the original version fits the narrative it is trying to convey better. It felt more like a young woman telling her tragic fate through someone else due to the fact that the cutscene began with Yuna transitioning into Lenne. Showing us that these were not Yuna's words, but Lenne's. As well as capturing her pained expression before meeting her end with her lover, Shuyin. I always see people say the Japanese version is okay but because there's no duet between Yuna and Lenne, that means the scene isn't as impactful. Which couldn't be far from the truth. They both are great in their own way, don't get me wrong! But I felt like the duet didn't make much of a difference to what the original had to offer already for the most part. Both still bring the same message to the audience but are simply shown in a different way to add it's own bling which was a pretty clever for the developers to do. One feels more showy and like a music video from Britney Spears but still manages to be a tearjerker (and I still love it) while the other feels more natural to me when it comes to all the raw emotions bursting out of Yuna that are coming directly from Lenne through her dressphere. You might believe this to be true for the ENG one and that's completely fair, but to say the JP version isn't impactful just because Lenne doesn't appear next to Yuna is a bit ridiculous to me. None are more superior over the other even if I think one is more fitting. Both are neat interpretations.
People tend to forget that the song not only connects to Yuna and Lenne—the song also connects to the two political organizations in the game: New Yevon and Youth League. They came into conflict with each other ultimately believing that one is responsible for splitting Spira's people apart and the other is being highly secretive by holding contents from everyone that could actually be of good use to them. This creates a huge rift between the two factions but they are soon able to put aside their differences and unite. Much like Shuyin and Lenne did endgame. The lovers story was a tragedy.. Life completely stripped away from them in the most gruesome way, but their feelings were able to unite them once more. Their love triumphed and they were able to put their hearts to ease and finally rest. Which must've been a huge relief for the both of them and for Yuna, who finally was able to get the conclusion she needed even if it wasn't what she expected at first. Y'know, like Shuyin not being Tidus all along? But that was okay, Yuna could accept that since she had already came to terms with her loss by then. All that mattered to her now was relaying Lenne's confession and making sure that Shuyin's spirit could be at peace, no longer hanging onto that guilt and despair he had felt for so long.
I like how Yuna smiles here long before Lenne turns to her to say thank you. She can't help herself, she's just relieved and glad that she was able to be a catalsyt in a way for Lenne. Taking a chance and believing that she would be able to reach Shuyin somehow. And even if she reached some roadblocks along the way, she'd never give up. But she wasn't going to do it in a way where history would repeat itself, not wanting a friend to be sacrificed. She told Nooj to believe in Yuna. Believe in the Yuna who recognizes that the end doesn't justify the means. Believe in the Yuna who is not afraid anymore. She still has a long way to go, but the power to go a long way too. As she saw Shuyin and Lenne fade away together, she knew she had to keep moving forward. As her story was not over yet. She knew that she had to keep going, not just for him... but for herself. That's what he would have wanted for her and her father too. To be free and live life fully. The way she wants to. And she can't have anyone else do it for her. Not Tidus, not Braska, not Lulu, not Wakka, or even Rikku. The one who helped her become more daring and adventurous. It's time to go at her own pace. As Lulu would go on to tell her the same thing. Nothing is guaranteed, everything will happen naturally and what is meant to be will always be. It will find it's way to you, no matter what.
Anyway, it's fine if you still favor the English song than Japanese. I love it too! It was a nice touch. Everyone has their preferences, ya? As Wakka would put it. This post was not a way to try to convince someone out of enjoying what they like but simply voice my thoughts on the two versions and why I think one has a better way of revealing Lenne's presence and intertwining it with dressphere by having Yuna transform into her altogether. Which is cool anyway since that seems to be a theme in the game with it's transformation sequences.
Again, the English one is beautiful too. I listen to it more than I do the Japanese one due to how it sounds more catchy and I just love Jade's voice. I also didn't mind the duet. I enjoyed how unison Yuna and Lenne were there, harmonizing the other in such a way that makes your heart feel as if it is soaring on silver wings. And Yuna softly dragging out, "a thousand words" at the end of the concert as tears roll down her cheeks, sinking to her knees. That's one thing I would have preferred in the original. But I think the abrupt stop was to make it seem more dramatic. Seeing Yuna cry made me want to cry. That was Lenne holding back, only amplifying the emotions Yuna's body was trying to release through crying. It's so sad when you really think about it. No matter which one you like more, I think we can all agree that they're both beautiful and help us see how connected the characters are to each other.
Fuck dude, ffx2 is such a Triple s-tier comfort game like, the battle system fucks, the fits are over the top wild, the world is bursting with personality, and its literally all so wonderfully campy.
And literally, there has never been an intro that so thoroughly blasts you with its vibes from the jump like
I could write a whole ass video essay on the post-post-apocalyptic aesthetics of spira. Have you seen the celsius??
Harley-Davidson lookin airship.
Or how about guadosalam? With its barklike textured cavern walls and routes interupted by the most solar punk looking houses
I wanna taste those cg fruits.
Ffx is a wonderful introduction to this world but ffx2 feels like it gives spira itself the chance to breathe and develop.
“I Still Love Him” - Lana del Rey ft. Reaver x Renèe (OC)
And I remember when I met him, it was so clear that
he was the only one for me.
We both knew it, right away.
And as the years went on, things got more difficult -
we were faced with more challenges.
I begged him to stay.
Try to remember what we had at the beginning.
He was charismatic, magnetic, electric and everybody knew it.
When he walked in every woman’s head turned, everyone stood up
to talk to him.
He was like this hybrid, this mix of a man who couldn’t contain himself.
I always got the sense that he became torn
between being a good person and
missing out on all of the opportunities that life could
offer a man as magnificent as him.
And in that way I understood him
and I loved him.
I loved him, I loved him, I loved him.
And I still love him.
I love him.
With this little project, I drew some parts of my fanfiction of Fable III and also illustrated the lyrics of this beautiful song! Hope you like it <3
(It could be read in many ways, not just the transcription of the lyrics into a comic. Infact i thought that since my OC has premonitions about the future, she was having a vision while she was looking at him and this is the reason of her smile…)
Sakura Haruno is smart, we see this first when she was the only one who didnt have to cheat while taking the written exam, while everyone else had too.
Everyone out in the fandom is saying Sakura is useless but she isn’t, but what she is is a college student who is in a world full of people who headed into the work force right after high school (real world terms)
After the first series end we see Naruto going off to train with Jiraiya so he can get stronger. And Sasuke is off getting stronger to kill his brother. They went to get better at fighting just like a lot of us go straight into working.
And we have Sakura left in the village training with Tsunade on medical ninjustu and i see this as someone going into college to have a skill that would come in handy in the long run.
She get’s good at something that saves people life but once you enter a war there is only so much you can do.
But this field that Sakura went into is a field that has rules that need to be allowed, that her master herself followed.
So in a world full of fighters and war Sakura was the one who had to stay in the background healing people and making sure the fighters didn’t die, that was until.
Rule 4.
The Strength of A Hundred.
This seal lets the user discard the other rules and lets them join the fight (say you are now out of college)
Sakura is ready, she can join the fight and boy does she join!
But this doesn’t change the fact she was joining the battle a little late, and it doesn’t change what she was trained in.
Yes Sakura has her fist but that isnt the same as her team mates and that might lead some to say she is useless but look at it like this.
You spend seven year of your life in college and you finally can go out in the work force, but once you are out their you realize that they aren’t hiring someone in the field you were trained in, so you get a job that you aren’t ready for and you are out of your league.
That is how Sakura is she did her best she saved thousands of peoples life but just because she isnt in the same fighting league as her other team mates she is called useless, when really she is the least useless of her team because she did the most outside of the spot light.
Later on she opens up a hospital and is the lead doctor there, which is the field she was trained in.
