#rf1 bianca

[lilaroxa]

RF1: Year 1 - Winter 7

I've mentioned this before that one thing I love about old Rune Factory games is location-specific dialogue. Taking the time to visit Bianca in her room adds a level of depth to her and Raguna's dynamic.

In my current playthrough, she is at 7LP. Obviously, she has noticed Raguna's efforts to visit her in her room, but she still holds onto her pride and crushes any hope that there might ever be something between them.

But what I find so amusing about this interaction is that if you marry anyone else, she will always say:

So you married [name]... And I thought you felt something for me... Oh well...

Even when her LP is 0! Whether that be due to old game limitations or the general farming sim ritual of having fixed dialogue for marriage scenes, it's interesting to think that Bianca may have always been interested in Raguna. She's just horrible at making friends.

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[lilaroxa]

RF1: Year 1 - Winter 6 [Winter Festival]

In the first Rune Factory game, romance events were practically non-existent, which means the Winter Festival was one of my favourite days of the year.

I love seeing how much character comes out on this day. Specifically, Bianca and Felicity's romances are especially interwoven on Festival days, although for opposite reasons. Felicity, being the mayor's daughter, feels closer to her dream of helping out the town in her own way, often checking to make sure Raguna is taking care of himself or enjoying the event. Bianca, on the other hand, recognizes that Raguna chose to spend time with her despite having an entire other town of people to hang out with. Or at least, that's my interpretation of why she gets a boost in LP/FP when you talk to her first on Festival days.

Above all, I think it's fascinating that she reveals a more honest side of herself at the only romance festival where she has to initiate the conversation.

Bianca: I heard there was a festival today. So, this is for you.

Conversely, she presents her gift in the most matter-of-fact, prideful way. This was not a gift from her to Raguna, no. It's simply a cause and effect; don't overthink it.

As an interesting side note, Tabatha is the girl who comes in after her. Aside from implying that there's an entire line of girls waiting outside of Raguna's house at 6AM to give him chocolate, it's also amusing to consider that Tabatha may have encouraged Bianca to give him the chocolate first.

Visiting Bianca later in the day shows she's back to her usual, prideful self:

It has to be expensive chocolate, right?

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[lilaroxa]

RF1: Year 1 - Fall 24 [Wool Show]

Bianca's allergy to Woolly fleece makes her so...human. Hearing her talk about a negative experience without it being snobby or sophisticated is so refreshing.

This was also the first festival Raguna won!

And Bianca was...impressed? This girl is full of surprises.

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[lilaroxa]

RF1: Year 1 - Spring 11

Today was the first day I had trouble picking a quote. But here's another one that brings back fond childhood memories.

Bianca was the one who taught me the expression "to pull the wool over someone's eyes".

I think it's interesting to hear Bianca say this. We all know she's a girl who's not afraid to say what's on her mind, and it doesn't surprise me that she's "against" Mist, since she's not often "in favour" of anything unless her father talks positively about it first.

But doesn't her saying "too" imply that Mist had convinced someone to work on her farm before Raguna? Or is Mist "fooling" him in some other way?

Honestly, what did Mist do to get Bianca to talk about her this badly??

The image of Mist convincing Bianca to work on her farm just sprung into my mind. Would that explain why she visits Raguna on the second day of Spring? "Who else fell for her scam?"

I just can't see it. I think it's far more likely that Mist said something that rubbed Bianca the wrong way and she's never forgotten it.

Row 11 goes to Bianca and her confusing attitude!

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[lilaroxa]

RF1: Year 1 - Spring 2

On Spring 2 Raguna met the other half of the residents (since Spring 1 is a quiet New Year's "Holiday" where half the town stayed inside).

When he enters the De Sainte-Coquille Manor, he witnesses my favourite, thought-provoking introduction scene in Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon.

Bianca is complaining to Tabatha that the clothes she's picked out "don't suit her". In response, Tabatha apologizes by saying:

"I'm sorry... A country girl like me always gets things wrong."

I grew up in the country. So when I read this line as a kid, I didn't quite understand what she meant by that and simply dismissed the line.

Reading this line today opens up a whole line of questioning for me:

After reaching 3LP with Tabatha, she reveals to Raguna that she's an elf. Saying she's "from the country" is her way of telling people that she's not from Kardia and that's why she may act or speak differently. But seeing that Tabatha is telling Bianca this, does this mean that the de Sainte-Coquilles not know she's an elf?

I'm inclined to believe that she doesn't because she responds with:

"He he! I know you're from the countryside, but you've been a maid here for many years. And, you gotta get a bit street smart! Never mind, life's hard in this town!"

I'd like to believe that Bianca and Tabatha speak in code and have a wholesome friendship, but I think that idea goes against their characters.

Bianca cares about Tabatha she's just awful at expressing herself (see quote above). Tabatha, on the other hand, shows her appreciation/professional affection through her attention to detail.

Ironically, the outfit Tabatha picked out for Bianca makes Jasper happy, which in turn makes Bianca happy.

It also makes me wonder if Tabatha is more in tune with Jasper's tastes, or if it's easier to please Bianca if she works with what Jasper likes...

If you ask me, I think Bianca doesn't know Tabatha is an elf because Tabatha wants to be treated like any other human. The fewer people knew about her identity, the better she could study them.

I put in a poll last time I had a dividing thought like this and I thought that was fun, so let me ask again! What do you think?

Does Bianca know Tabatha is an elf?

Yes

No

Voting ended onSep 13, 2024

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[lilaroxa]

RF1: Year 1 - Summer 7

I can hear Felicity sweating from the Mayor's Manor every time Bianca says this. Maybe that's why Felicity visits the park every Holiday, just to make sure Bianca doesn't go through with her idea.

As absurd of an idea as it is (and wrong, Karida's Plaza is one of my favourite places to be in this game), I think this comment is yet another byproduct of her being so spoiled by Jasper.

As if putting up a statue of herself is her way of trying to connect with the rest of the town. If "Daddy" loves her for being her, then maybe Kardia is just missing more "Bianca" in it for her to make friends?

As usual, she and Jasper share a similar view on the Plaza:

Although it's a bit of a "chicken or egg" situation here. I wonder who had the idea of putting a statue in the park first: Bianca or Jasper?

I could see it going either way since they deeply value each other's opinions. However, I think the fact Bianca wants to put up a statue of herself resonates with how lonely and desperate for other's approval she really is.

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[lilaroxa]

RF1: Year 1 - Summer 12

STOP CALLING ME STINKY, BIANCA! I take a bath every day...

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[lilaroxa]

RF1: Year 1 - Summer 6

Rollabouti, the famous limited-edition wine in the Rune Factory universe.

Emmett, the local bartender, the one who says he's never married but never felt lonely because the people who visit his bar are like family to him. His dream in life is to taste the legendary Rollabouti wine.

Something that Jasper just happened to buy every remaining bottle of and never shared???

It makes me mad!

But I'm getting ahead of myself, first, the scene where Raguna "finds" Rollabouti gets me every time:

Raguna: (What’s this..?)

You got “Rollabouti”!

[Bianca walks down the stairs.]

Bianca: What are you doing here? Raguna: Erm… I’m… er… looking for something. Bianca: Hmm. Isn’t that Rollabouti in your hands? Raguna: You know about it? Bianca: It’s a rare wine. Daddy bought up all the bottles, so it’s scarce! Raguna: What? Bianca: He says it doesn’t taste all that good, and I doubt he’ll ever drink it, so just take it.

There's a lot to unpack here. What do you mean, "You know what this is?" It's Bianca's house, of course she knows! Although this scene plays out like Raguna accidentally stumbled upon Rollabouti when rummaging through the de Sainte-Coquille's basement, I so badly want to see this as some sort of Robin Hood moment but Raguna is a criminally awful liar.

The real problem I have with this scene is how it shows how removed the de Sainte-Coquilles are from Kardian society. I think it's just wild that Jasper hosts and judges all the food contests but isn't friends with the local barman. Maybe Tabatha's cooking is just that good.

Emmett tells Raguna about Rollabouti at around 3 FP (outside of working hours though). So, it's not like Emmett is trying to hide his love for the wine!

I appreciate that Bianca, unlike her father, knows when to give things away to those who will make better use of them.

Meanwhile Jasper:

I have to respect his dedication to giving his family the best life he could afford, but his self-centred obsession with food drives me up the wall! Am I the only one who gets irrationally angry at this arrangement of pixels?

After giving the Rollabouti Bianca let us steal from her father's collection, Emmett becomes Raguna's first friend at a maxed-out 10 FP! Thanks, Bianca!

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