I just randomly came across your blog while searching for FF7 Remake lore (I know I know) and I can't believe you're the author of Heaven or Hell! What a fantastic and unique story, I was actually just talking about it to a friend of mine. SO MANY PEOPLE whitewash Reno, make him sowwy for what he did uwu and I love your nasty, practically remorseless Reno. He's not bad like EVIL but the drugs, whores, crime underworld thing fit him so perfectly. I loved seeing Cloud just perfectly comfortable in the grime. A well written story, I love the world building in it (Reno's family!!! He was in jail!! ethot Cloud!) and the dialogue and your absolutely unflinching take on SLUM living. Such a unique twist on a Cloud who usually saves the world and angsts about it. I'm a huge fan of yours! Characters do not have to be morally good in order to be interesting and compelling - I don't have to want to marry your Reno in order to want to read 3 full size novels about him. (although actually pls Reno pls)
omg hello!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS LONG COMMENT! I needed this so much in my life right now.
I'm so glad you enjoyed HH and my dark take on Reno. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I prefer him this way. I couldn't quite reconcile OG Reno (amoral, snarky, cool) with AC Reno (a fucking dork), and 7R Reno (unhinged, loud/foul mouthed, super ratchet) just blew me away. Same with Cloud; OG Cloud is a bit like Goku; AC is an emo boy, and 7R Cloud gives zero fucks whatsoever. I wanted more of that darkness.
It always fascinated me that Cloud is essentially a foreigner to Midgar (he even admits it in the Remake, when he told Aerith that he doesn't know anything about Midgar), yet he doesn't bat an eyelash to any of its griminess.
ethot!Cloud is a whole vibe. It's not uncommon for him to be written that way but I also really wanted to portray it in line with canon, or as in-character as I could possibly make sex worker Cloud. angsty hero Cloud is a by-product of Advent Children, which I generally dislike (I've made my peace with it in other ways). I never really saw him as a hero; just a guy whose personal issues happen to be entwined with the fate of the world--the latter of which hasn't been kind to him, and he could care less about.
I'm in 100% agreement with you about characters not needing to be bastions of morality to be fascinating, and it's the main reason I decided to write HH: to show a protagonist who is a piece of shit, but extremely charismatic and enjoyable.
Ahhh, guys like Reno should be fucked, not married, but who knows! Maybe he'd end up being a good husband after all.
Glad to add you to my f-list! <3