May I request an analysis on Jade? I’m actually curious to know your take on him 🤔
//You really gave me one of the most nuanced characters in this game. This took 6 days to write and I'm convinced it was Jade Leech himself that made my computer burst in sparks /hj (it did happen. I'm still amazed)//
Jade Leech - A layered presentation of functionalism
Disclaimer: This is tied to my personal views and (more than often) analysis that I use to write characters based on canon. Some will go into not explicit things, so don't take it all as canon material. It's a spin and interpretation of what we see in the franchise, and it may include Vignettes and events as a source of what-if, not something necessarily canon. Nothing I say here is 100% confirmed.
Another long one, so the drill is the same. All under a Read More! Any edit will have a date update too.
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Book 2 presents us, right of the bat, with Jade and Floyd, and it creates a noticeable contrast that follows through the game: while Floyd is immediately chaotic, Jade's first words are to "inquire" if the group is trying to spy on Octavinelle due to the competition. It's not unreasonable of him to say with the circunstances. What makes it interesting is how he pursues it.
He speaks way too formal. He sounds polite. However, he's still menacing to the point of intimidation. And on top of it, Jade is also doing something chaotic: he, with Floyd, chases the group. If all he wanted was to drive them out for protection of privacy, the moment they run, you don't need to chase unless you want to. And Floyd was already doing it, so there was no need to do it to. As he said it, he does enjoy a "brisk midday jog". By jogging, he means chasing, and it's not like he's hiding it.
His methods are different, as he usually goes with subtle, calculated movements out of preference, meant to make him look better-mannered until he strikes (Trey himself takes a moment to realize that.) Book 3 starts with his calculated/frightening use of his Unique Magic. Chapter 5 has him joining Floyd with ease to follow Azul's commands of violence, but interestingly enough, it doesn't give any commentary from him. The manga puts one interesting thing that is not out of character of him to say: he complains of a lack of enternainment...which actually happens in game after battles.
This pattern of calculated use of words and actions follows through the story (Chapters: 8, 12, 17-18 as examples). Jade is very concerned with fun and entertainment even if it doesn't look like it. His idea is to pursue this fun like a strategy game. Jack says it directly on Chapter 18: "This is nothin' more than a game to them." It is, and Jade plays through calculating his steps.
The interesting deal is, though, they don't try to stop Leona at first. There's a pattern here that ties to Jade looking all functional when he isn't.
Book 3, Chapter 23: Floyd misdirects his attack to the vault, Azul stops IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIGHT to panic about it, they bicker, and Jade only voices himself (as chill as possible) after the group gets enough time to run. He does not go after them despite the first order being to do so. His slow act suggests no real urgency on the matter.
Book 3, Chapter 29 - Chapter 32: Floyd is the first to lose interest. Jade continues the fight out of enjoyement. The moment it shows without doubt that there's something wrong, Floyd falls for the bait and Jade tries to get him to go back with him. It works, but they still lose some time.
For someone known as so reliable, it's odd that it gets to this point with enough signs pointing at bad outcomes that he doesn't seem to enjoy (like the plan going down, and Azul overblotting). And he doesn't try to do things all by himself to prevent anything, which adds another layer to it.
I bring three possibilities: 1- He puts too much faith on his abilities to make it work no matter what; 2- there is some joy, for him, through doing things with people with different approaches that clash with his own; 3- he needs people more than he is consciously aware of, but still acts accordingly. I believe all three are true.
Book 4 doesn't really give much on his own personal views, but Book 7 already presents a lot through his dream. Jade believes on himself so much, he doesn't listen to reason and actively fights against anything disproving him. The only thing that works is Sebek, someone with advantage over Jade in water and capable of overpowering him with ease. The shock of being overpowered is what brings him down to earth.
It's not outright said here, but the fact he is around Azul and Floyd, even though they are not like his dream where they follow through his every whim, suggests he enjoys their company the way they are. After all, he enjoy surprises, and there is no bigger surprise than his plans not working out the way he intended. That ties itself up with how he cares for people and wants them with him. His dream has him happy around others, with others relying on him while he can still enjoy his main passions.
The rest of the book explores what he (and Floyd too) perceives as the other's true desire and the other's real abilities. Despite his first voicing out of how it could be unpleasant to wake Azul from such a good dream, he follows through after Jamil points out a different view. After that, though, he treats Azul falling deeper into his dream as a decision. What if this is actually something Azul wants? To anyone else, the idea sounds absurd, but Jade seems to believe so much in Azul and what he knows of him, it must be what Azul wants. And if Azul truly wants it, he can stay there and be happy about it.
Jade, with Floyd, both decide the same thing about Azul's new dream after they check it: that sucks. Their reaction to it? Waking up Azul. For people who act like they don't care, they care and like the Real Azul so much, they will not stand to have him get trapped into something he wouldn't truly want. The Real Azul is better, and they will bring the Real Azul back (something they already did on Book 3).
And as Azul is getting dragged back by darkness, Jade rushes to pull Azul, because it seems he can't get out by himself. Until, of course, Silver says Azul is actually the only one with a chance to come back. Nevermind then, good luck Azul! Or, as he says, "Very well. Best of luck, Azul!" As they meet again safely, he shows himself satisfied with seeing that he's fine. He's glad on his own way, the way of someone that doesn't understand the benefit of sincerity through words.
So, to recap everything we got with all ideas presented:
Jade presents himself as a proper person out of choice and out of the benefits it gives until he can lash out and have fun on his own way;
Jade greatly enjoys having the advantage on others, something he conceals to some extent until he can enjoy it properly;
Jade, when next to Floyd, presents a massive contrast that helps him look even more of a proper person;
Jade looks more capable than others, when that's not true: they are all equals, but with different best points, and he enjoys that subconsciously;
Jade, like basically everyone from Octavinelle, has complex wishes and actions but, like basically everyone from Octavinelle, struggles at reading the other Octavinelle members' complex wishes and actions;
Jade believes on himself and his perceptions so much, it presents a challenge when you need to deal with him being wrong about something;
Jade enjoys having people around for multiple reasons: company, filling up gaps he can't, but specially for the fun of it. He really likes his friends, but doesn't voice it directly.
And that's my main take on Jade Leech, a man who boosts himself a lot, but is as much of a 17-year old than the rest of the cast.