To preface with my opinion, Lucy is arguably one of the most well-written characters within the realm of Zenless, and I truly believe that the way they crafted her story together makes her feel the most human. We get to see that, from the day dot, conformity to unrealistic standards is not something that she ever wanted to do. Her serious demeanour likely comes from the fact that people around her have never taken her seriously. I mean, she’s short and basically a nepo baby—people would merely brush her off regardless of how gently she attempted to push her true thoughts into the spotlight. So, Lucy did what any person would naturally do if their point wasn’t being perceived in a serious light: she took action.
The fact that Lucy had the motivation to make herself truly heard through tangible movement—discarding the “aesthetic” of who she once was, running away to stay within the Outer Ring—it was always less about not wanting to take responsibility and instead, placing responsibility on her shoulders for the truer life she wanted to lead. Her father experiencing the same “rebellion” actually does more to damage Lucy’s cause than one might initially imagine, especially since he “came back a decade later to resume responsibility”. It reinstates this idea that this desire is merely a phase that runs through the family, as opposed to a serious issue that needs to be addressed. While it’s good that her family has standing and structure, the question remains: does that structure actually suit the line of heirs to come? Clearly not.
I did, however, find that first line very interesting. Because of how drastically different she was to the other socialites, forming real relationships and bonds was a difficult feat for her to achieve, especially when they didn’t really care about her and vice versa. When your name is shining in money and opportunity, people often fail to see that there is a real human being underneath, and this is a realisation Lucy had made a very long time ago. What makes this interesting is that it highlights a very important part of her character: deep down, she was craving intimacy. The intimacy of any relationship dynamic is what permits closeness, safety, and generally uplifts a person. Lucy was likely becoming more miserable, potentially depressed, with the lack of closeness she could achieve with people in that environment. It’s also likely why she appears very “controlling” / serious when it comes to anything the SoC deals with, and why she is a certain way with Caesar especially. As the “leader” of the group, she has the utmost control over how things are managed and nobody is going to challenge that ever; but it does pose a threat to Lucy’s comfort and safety if things go wrong.
Throughout my time processing the friendship snippets, it’s a consistent theme that letting anyone close to her emotionally is actually very difficult for her to do. Despite this, she actually completes the SoC in a really human and balanced way.
LIGHTER:
Plays into a “knight” role of the group. His desire to remain constantly on top of things, to protect his comrades, is deeply fuelled by the trauma that haunts him—the death of his previous comrades. In a sense, keeping his new friends safe is what serves as repentance while also serving as a fresh start simultaneously. I do think the fact that he’s often been paired with Lucy (especially from the recent chapter interludes and official art) stems from the fact that she’s relentlessly stalked by her family and, as the Champion, he sees it as his duty to ensure her safety. Lucy handles the more “formal” business affairs of theirs, so travelling frequently is part of that duty. It makes sense to have him with her at all times, given that anything can happen at any time. I would also argue that Lucy and Lighter might have the closest connection within the SoC because of this, though we unfortunately don’t get to see them interact enough between themselves to provide any definitive proof. It’s just what my brain can connect.
CAESAR:
While she comes across as very carefree, clumsy, and doesn’t initially come across as “leader” material, what makes Caesar good is her ability to be a friend and somebody people can look up to simultaneously. She doesn’t just squeeze into a single archetype in the slightest. She has an unfathomable amount of trust in her comrades, and she’s able to provide them with her unfiltered self. She can be honest and raw with those closest to her, which is truly how a good leader should be.
BURNICE:
Burnice is the people person of the group, and her intuition is certainly not something to be messed with. As a barmaid and a woman capable of turning the tides of moods all round, Burnice would have the most contact with people within the Outer Ring, as well as people passing through. Unlike everybody else, her sources of intel are essentially unending—people will speak freely when drunk especially—which makes her probably the most proficient in collecting information. While Lighter can do this just as efficiently (as seen in his character story tape thing), he won’t have the same intimate details or direct experience talking to these people the same way Burnice does. Not to say one form is better than the other, but it just means that she would have a much better way of determining someone’s intentions and overall character a little better than the other’s.
PIPER:
While Piper is the most lax, her knowledge on vehicles and mechanics makes her rather.. irreplaceable. Sure, the others know tidbits, but Piper has her own set of connections and passions when it comes to all manner of vehicles. It’s harder to put a detailed analysis here for her since I’ve not done too much regarding her friendship stats, but I do know that she works hard—likely behind the scenes—since it’s mentioned somewhere her muscles are always rather tense. She’s essentially responsible for their ability to travel, whether it be for missions or a lax drive. She’s also one of my favourite SoC members. We love you, Pipes!!
LUCY:
To conclude her role in this, she’s the best suited for the more serious affairs they may face. The other members of the SoC (perhaps minus Lighter) are far too.. gone with the fairies on the best of days, meaning they wouldn’t be able to negotiate the same way she had been taught from day dot. Lucy knows how to utilise information to their advantage and sort dealings that can run on a smoother basis. While I do think Lighter is partially there for protection, I also think his more serious demeanour helps her sort out these affairs properly, without worrying about somebody messing it up. Piper likely goes whenever Lighter cannot, because our blondie can lock the fuck in when she needs to.
But also, another quick thing I love about Lucy is that she’s unashamed of even her most embarrassing moments. She wants to be remembered for who she is wholly, not just for the pretence she might put up when dealing with people. This is why I love her and this is why I connect with her. She’s serious, she’s shy, she struggles emotionally because it’s not easy wanting to communicate your feelings while juggling the possibility they might not be taken seriously, while the contrary states that if she doesn’t, they may not understand how she feels about them.
How can you not appreciate her?
