I need to write some stuff about Tina because I’m thinking too much about Altena so here’s some ramblings about Tina and her relationships with other people/how other people see and treat her!
Tina is 15 in the year 776 and she very much acts like it. She does what she wants without regard for the potentially dire consequences, has a weird and irrational fear, and crushes on a celebrity. She’s very much a regular ass teengirl and the people in her life treat her as such. And how does someone treat a regular ass teengirl? They don’t take her seriously at all!
The best example of this is with her own sister, Safy, who’s like only 2-3 years older than her. Tina explains how Perne was taking advantage of her by exploiting her greatest fear (bugs) and Safy is like girl please.
Saphy:
“What did he do to you, Tina!? Tell me! I’m prepared for the worst!”
Tina:
“He… He takes huge bugs and puts them on my face… I-I was so scared… I thought I would die.”
Tina:
“Yes… But I was really scared. Just remembering it gives me shivers…”
And yes, in a world where children around Tina’s age are hunted and killed as sacrifices to an evil god, “is that all” is kind of a reasonable response. It’s the response that the player also has as it is built up in the previous chapter that Perne is committing some unmentioned evil acts to keep Tina in line. Really bad shit happens throughout the whole game to everyone but Tina is worried about bugs that I am completely convinced probably weren’t even that big.
But it’s a big deal to Tina. She’s scared and alone and being forced by some thieves to steal shit for them and now she’s finally reunited with the big sister she went out looking for in the first place and Safy’s response to her trauma is “is that all”. Yikes! The invalidation! Tina even tries to explain that it’s a big deal and Safy still is like girl please.
And it continues when Tina brings up her lil centerfold in the Tiger Beat Magazine type crush on Leif.
Tina:
“Yes, I’m sorry… Oh, Saphy, don’t you think Lord Leaf is so handsome? My ideal man would be a prince like him… What do you think, Saphy?”
Saphy:
“Tina… …I’m a little tired. Let’s talk later.”
It’s funny! Tina is genuinely funny and some excellent comic relief to break up the dark themes in Thracia. But when you look a little closer it’s sad and I do genuinely feel for her.
Perne also, obviously, does not at all take her seriously. She’s some bratty kid he found who can use some cool staves. And really, she doesn’t much act like the kind of person one should take seriously when she’s around him. It isn’t just the act of having bugs put on her that scares her into doing what he wants. Even simply the threat of it is enough.
Then there’s Salem. Salem is different! Salem actually listens to her fears and her desires, even more so that her own sister. And I think that is so special. Tina and Salem’s relationship makes me so soft. Tina likes Salem a lot. She does not at all understand why a cool dude like him is hanging out with Perne but she is really grateful that he is.
When we first meet the Dandelions, one of the first things he does is stick up for Tina.
Seiram:
“And Tina… Don’t go too far with her. She’s still a
child.”
Then there’s a very sweet little scene between Salem and Tina. She’s one of the few people he actually has any dialogue with at all. She actually doesn’t have a whole lot of dialogue either. Which makes it extra sweet that the two of them are put together.
Tina:
“Here, I made some dinner for you. It’s cold out, so I made something warm.”
Seiram:
“Thank you. It’s dangerous outside at night. You should go to sleep.”
Seiram:
“…Are you worried about your sister? You said her name was Saphy… Don’t worry, you will see her again. I will help you look for her once my wounds are healed.”
Tina:
“Really? Thank you, Bishop Seiram. Good night.”
Tina goes out of her way to do something nice for Salem but more importantly, he actually talks to her about her feelings and even agrees to help her do something about them. She doesn’t even bring Safy up. Salem puts the pieces together all on his own why she’s so upset. This is why he gets nice things like a special hot homemade dinner. She’s so used to being underestimated, ignored, and invalidated that being around someone like Salem who shows genuine concern for her thoughts and he life earns her love and respect.
I did have an idea where I was going with all of this but it took so long to write it that now I forget! But I am thinking less about Altena and more about Tina so I guess I ultimately achieved my goal?
