#gukgak

[itsgorgug]

I love so much the way that Baron is a reflection of Riz. It's not just a creepy way of introducing the character, it's a portrayal of their dynamic in a way I don't think I've seen anyone talk about yet (perhaps for lack of a search on my end).

Starting pretty obvious, Riz has the entire world to experience. He has friends, he has family, there's locations, there's lives independent of him. The only things he doesn't have, generally speaking, are his father and the presence of a romantic partner. Meanwhile, those two things are all Baron has. The entirety of Baron's existence consists of nothingness save for its romance partner and its stark father (yes, it/its Baron. Sue me).

Then, of course, there is the mirroring of motivations. Not direct goals, maybe passions would be a better word in Riz's case? Regardless, Riz's passion is to be an investigator. He wants to find the hidden truths, the facts buried within layers of falsities and misdirects. And Baron? Baron very directly wants Riz to lie. It's existence is founded on, and expanded by, lies. It directly tells Riz that it wants him to make up information. There's no thrill of discovery, no red herrings to disguise the lies as truth. Riz wants to find hidden truths, and Baron wants to hear direct lies.

[palatteflags]

Riz Gukgak from Fantasy High based Aroace moodboard~ ^^ For an anon~ Hope you like this~

Want one? send an ask! -mod Jay

[undercoverangell]

Riz was canonically like picked on in middle school and i dont think we talk about that enough.

riz is so opposed to making friends at first/seeing them as something only for clues because he hasnt had friends before. thats why sklonda is so happy when he makes friends who honestly truly care about him. He wants to make friends but he has never made one before, so he just hands out business cards instead of talking. it seems easier to him than the humiliation of being rejected. just hand them a business card and go.

his dad died when he was 9, two years later he starts getting bullied in middle school and getting called "the briefcase kid" (when he clearly thinks briefcases are cool and they clearly mean a lot to him) and his mom is too busy to be there for him most days bc its heavily implied shes out working a lot, and shes also grieving the loss of her husband. Riz rides the bus alone. Riz asks to do group projects alone. hes seen as weird by all his peers. he comes home to an empty apartment so he just solves mysteries. does his homework and solves mysteries. There's nothing else to do and he can focus on stuff other than whats going on.

Also consider that he grows up w Pok and Sklonda as his parents, people who seem to just never have issues with confidence or self esteem and yet he does. in the nightmare forest he literally sees his two parents and Baron tells him he is most unlike his own parents, who in that moment are described as confident, suave, and poised.

thats why he embraces the nickname "the ball". its not condescending. its not mocking. his friends made a name created by a bully into a fully fledged title. he mustve been so overjoyed hearing all his friends shout "THE BALL!!" whenever he did something cool. He has real friends, who love him more than he knows and think hes cool as hell! He's not just some weirdo with a briefcase, hes THEIR weirdo with a briefcase who helps them out so many times! The bad kids wouldn't be the same without him, and they wouldn't have their lil dude any other way.

[ghoulsgraveyard]

THIS MAN

owns an air fryer.

[willow008]

In regards to Fantasy High, I’d like to state: Baron is a dude’s name.

End of statement.

[itsgorgug]

Sometimes you have to look at electron configurations and think of the bad kids

[itsgorgug]

One must imagine riz gukgak. Ignore electron configuration gorgug in the corner he's old news!

[undercoverangell]

//PROMPOCALYPSE SPOILERS

riz and sklonda when they see kalvaxis