#smolgeal

[rosy-crow]

Angeal motherfucking Hewley used the Buster Sword to save Sephiroth’s life from Jenova and that’s where their friendship began. It’s canon. Everyone go home.

[bluemoonscribbler]

miniroth gets socialized

unfortunately, by the time he warms up to angeal - this redheaded asshole comes along. Not only does sephiroth hate sharing but this new guy just wont shut his goddam mouth.

no one can tell me otherwise that this is not what happens lol genesis also probably deserves it. refs below the cut

courtesy of @draw-the-squad-like-this 's and the submitters.

[mooglemarauder]

Imagine Angeal knowing how to forage and trying to offer stuff to Seph

Angeal hearing sephiroth's stomach growl while on patrol

Angeal"Are you...hungry?

Seph"I already used my rations. Do not worry. I can manage until the next meal time.”

Angeal"Why wait? We're pretty lucky to be in such a lush forested area... Ah! here!”

Angeal goes up to a tree and starts grabbing berries

Angeal"I recognize these from my hometown. They're tart, but sweet! Try some!”

Sephiroth"...fruit...from outside? I would never do something so unsanitary.”

Angeal"Obviously we need to wash them first. Let me get my canteen-”

Seph"...This isn't part of my meal plan anyways... so no thank you...”

Angeal"...Well, suit yourself!" tosses the berries strait into his mouth

sephiroth watches looking visibly ill

[stellaefelices]

Unfortunately Square played right into my hands by giving Angeal Latin limit break names, so let’s have a look!

Serit Arbores - literally, “He plants trees.” It’s most likely a reference to Book 1 of Cicero’s Tusculan Disputations, “On the Contempt of Death,” which features a fictional speech by Cato the Elder praising elderly farmers that dutifully tend to their fields for the benefit of the next generation. Cato quotes a line from the poet Caecilius Statius:

“Serit arbores quae alteri s[a]eculo prosint.” (“He plants trees so that they may benefit another generation.”)

I believe this could be a reference to Angeal’s SOLDIER Honour, the legacy that he passes down to Zack.

“SOLDIER Honor, the catalyst for Genesis's change in values, is the Gift of the Goddess for him. As SOLDIER Honor represents Angeal's wishes, it can be said that Zack, who inherited Angeal's wishes, was the Gift of the Goddess for Genesis.” (Crisis Core Complete Guide, 2008, p.274)

Angeal’s legacy, carried out first through Zack, and later Cloud, serves to benefit others long after his passing. Additionally, his dreams and honour speeches were given to many of his junior SOLDIER members and continued to inspire them too:

“He has said, "If you are to live as a hero, as a SOLDIER, and as a decent person, you must never forget your honor." Those words made a deep impression on his younger colleagues, especially Zack, and lived on in them.” (Crisis Core Ultimania, 2007)

This is why I believe the choice of this Limit Break name to be very intentional. Of course, given that one of Angeal’s weapons is a shovel (😭) we could understand it at the surface level meaning (Farm Boy Angeal planting apple trees 🤠🍎), but isn’t it fun to dig a little deeper?

Ad Astra - “to the stars.” This could go in many directions as it’s a popular motto on its own, but perhaps its most frequently seen within “per aspera ad astra,” “through hardships to the stars.” I think this could be a reference to Angeal’s life journey, which saw his humble beginnings in a poor family and his rise to the very top ranks as a SOLDIER First Class. It also may reference his wings:

“The white feature, as well as being a symbol for Angeal, is also a symbol for ‘wings’. The “wings” which cross the ‘blue sky’ is Angeal, and it also includes the hint that in order to reach those heights, dreams, he needs to overcome many difficulties.” (Crisis Core Complete Guide, 2008)

The idea of having to face many hardships on the journey towards the fulfillment of dreams seems built-in to the character of Angeal, and why I think that quote is the one they’re referencing in this limit break.

[sephirthoughts]

look how precious their lil ponytails are

[keibinding]

So my boy Angeal got his second and third Limit Breaks named after Latin mottos and I'm all for it.

Serit arbores, quae alteri saeculo prosint.

Plant trees, that will benefit others for centuries to come.

It means "start something positive today, even if you will not enjoy its fruit yourself." It's a quote (later used as a motto) from a lost Caecilius Statius's commedy, came to us from Cicero's De Senectute, a long dialogue where the old Cato Maior explains how old people should think about future generations and be useful an pleasant to them. Cato had a long military and political career, during which he imposed high taxes on luxury goods, dealt with public utilities and tried to protect morality from the libertine customs of the Greeks.

Per aspera ad astra.

From asperities to the stars.

It means "the road to success is paved with difficulties". It's a very common proverb (still quite common today in Italian in the original Latin), which has several versions in Latin literature. Its actual origin is Greek, from the myth: those who managed to climb Mount Olympus were heroes whose lives were steeped in battles and suffering. The form ad astra is commonly used for those who already reached success after a long journey.

"Oh boy, oh boy, the price of freedom is steep."

I'm still trying to decipher and translate Gongaga's Latin lyrics, but my ear is trained to the ecclesiastical pronunciation and I can't grasp everything. Text me if you want to help!

[ensorcello]

that sword has to be bigger than him omg

[rosy-crow]

What people thought we were getting:

What we actually got: