I don't know if this question has been asked/answered before but.......... What does Zero think of other arena players... If I remember correctly she is aware of their existence..... If not then probably ignore this ask,,,,,,,,, anon because I am scared,,,,, 🩸
It hasn't been asked before, don't worry! This one's interesting, and I actually have a slightly old image laying around that I think sorta encapsulates the 'logistics' of her relationship with the Arena Player.
Zero's "existence" in this 'version of events' sort of retroactively made a 'gap' where the Arena Player is. A version of events that has been largely erased from reality.
To say it in a slightly less obtuse way, the Maker tried and failed to achieve something, and this telling of events, this 'story' ended up fractured and warped on its foundational level somewhat. There is no Arena Player here, but there are others in every other telling of Nevada. (Nevada isn't multiversal, but this world will tell its story again and again)
...which is honestly still pretty vague... I don't want to reveal too much without doing something cool with it!
Anyway, to actually try and answer your question, Zero most often sees or even 'meets' Arena Players through dreams or situations of near-death (as you know, Arena Players are often at deaths door). Zero herself is a reality anomaly, but these meetings are given tangible stability in her Limbo - a plane just for her. These meetings are typically short, abstract or even frightening, as madness broils in the air and heavy darkness falls over a figure that gives off an eerie sense of familiarity. A primal fear. After all, it's as though death itself is visiting.
What Zero thinks is always an interesting question to me. It's like asking what Hank thinks about something, which can be very tough to answer. Zero was never meant to be "a person", and the idea of personal thoughts and feelings is something she is always 'grappling' with, so to speak. But I think she is sympathetic. In a way that something godly 'comforts' something mortal, Zero has abstract patience for all forms of Arena Player. She has no words to give but the solidarity of a cold nightly wind. She will sit and listen but seldom answer.
It's a bit difficult to eloquently explain ... a big part of Zero's story is her own form of seeing why and how life is worth living. Why would the end care for the story it is closing? Why would death care for the life that struggles tooth and nail? Especially so, for a story she has walked an infinite number of times? Witnessing the strength of spirit, of character, of dreams and hopes, these things are important to Zero. It's one part of the reason why she likes 2BDamned so much, I think.
Hopefully this answers your question somewhat! It honestly depends quite a lot; what Zero thinks is always a terribly complex thing to think about (after all, I can't imagine her ever saying "I think (x)", unless again it's with Hank or 2BD), but I like answering these kinds of questions the best. It makes me reflect on her nuances, on how I want to construct her like Hank, as they are mirrors.
And thank you :D I really like answering these! I love talking about Madness Combat and well, obviously my OCs eheh.
