#squall leonhart

[residential-lobotomite]

Emotional as fuck over how similar they look as a "sora is a strifehart kid" headcanon haver. Spitting image of papa. Houhhhhhhhh

[katharsisboy101]

How Squall succeeded where Laguna failed.

I just finished Final Fantasy VIII and I wanted to write a quick (I really mean quick, this will be super short) piece on what I found to be the most interesting aspect of the story: love, masculinity, and how Laguna and Squall embody these ideas.

Laguna's Escapism

I want to start by saying that Laguna is indeed a deeply caring person, and I have no doubt he cared much for Raine and Ellone—hell, he did so much trying to reach the latter, even starring a movie...

And yet the constant in Laguna's life is his extremely carefree way of approaching things. To a point, it's comedic, being super silly, impulsive and clutzy, but in a way, I'd also say it's a comment on a certain way of living—escapism.

Jumping from place to place, being led by his emotions... It's the complete opposite of Squall, and yet similar in the emotional escapism that entails as a result of it, and we're meant to notice this. Laguna has trusty companions, a much more positive attitude... and yet this fully emotional and impulsive approach makes him lose sight of what matters in the present—of the people that he loves. This is why even though he kinda finally settled with Raine, he ends up escaping once more.

Finally, Laguna reaches Esthar, and going with the flow once more, he abandons the people that cared for him (Raine and Ellone) for what his heart compelled him to do— for his "duty", to help Esthar after defeating Adel. It was noble, and I understand why he felt compelled to do so... but being unable to prioritize them in favor of strangers spelled much of the tragedy in all of their lives.

It's the same as what he did to Julia, leaving someone that cared for him for the sake of his duty, thus abandoning the possibility of an actual romance developing in the first place.

It's telling that in his final scene with Raine, he tries to say goodbye quickly, and without any heartfelt expressions.

No matter how much Laguna wears his heart on his sleeve (unlike Squall), he's also afraid of vulnerability.

So when Raine tries to stop him, he quickly puts a ring on her as a response...

An engagement, a wish for something stable, and real, with the two by the other's side.

And yet the tragedy of this is that this is yet another promise that Laguna may even know, deep down, he cannot fulfill.

Squall's Lion

Whereas Laguna escaped and lived in the moment, Squall had to learn not to escape and how to love, and how to value and protect what he loves over his "duty".

Squall was fixated on his past. On his trauma, on not being loved, on being afraid of losing people, and he built an armor as a result. And it's not a surprise that part of the reason why he ended up with this trauma in the first place is because of Laguna's negligence, as good-willed as his intentions may have been.

Because when a man puts his duties above his family, we end up with emotionally stunted people, that have never known what it is to feel the warmth of another human being. That's Laguna's masculinity.

It's the same with Squall—because Squall tries to fulfill his own masculine ideal, a soldier, aloof, cold, alone, and strong.

He believes this is what strength is. What a man is.

What a lion is.

Squall couldn't value the present because he was obssessed with his troubled past, in a different, but very reminiscent way of how Laguna also couldn't stay emotionally connected to the people in his life, different as their circumstances might be.

Squall's Heart

Squall and Laguna are both emotionally unintelligent people on two different ends of the spectrum, and they hurt the people around them as a result, even though they care deeply for them. The difference, is that once Squall almomst loses Rinoa, he realizes what he must do, and he throws away his facade. and his duty, in order to love.

Desperately.

Even to the point of going to space, and throwing himself in the middle of it, just to hold her close to him once more.

This is also signified by when he goes to rescue Rinoa from being frozen or something by the people of Esthar, not caring if she's the sorceress—he loves her, and keeping her beside him, with her "eyes on him" if you will, is what matters, his duty as a man and a soldier be damned.

Logo of the game btw ^

Squall finds his true strength, not in the masculine, cold, aloof facade he was wearing at the start of the game, but in a caring, protective, and vulnerable strength—by loving, and not letting go.

Squall Leonhart

That's why when he fights Griever, Ultimecia's GF, the personification of his ideal of toxic masculinity... the theme is named "Maybe I'm a Lion."

Because he found a new, real way to be strong, different from the supposed strength in front of him. One where he doesn't doubt himself anymore. One where he has people by his side.

If impermanence and loss are inevitable, much like Laguna suffered, and like Squall feared... then instead of not attaching yourself to anyone, it's all the more reason to hold on, tighter.

This is why, when he's alone, in the end, feeling like he'll be abandoned once more... now it's Rinoa who comes to pull him towards her.

What Julia and Laguna, couldn't be, Squall and Rinoa were.

Squall did what Laguna couldn't—love, and protect the people he loves by keeping them close to him, right where they should be.

With her eyes on you.

[ethernalium]

Squall artwork and skins for Dissidia FINAL FANTASY 012

[ethernalium]

FIRE CAVERN

[ethernalium]

FINAL FANTASY parallels | FFVIII/FFX-2

[ethernalium]

[h3lian]

Squall requests you say? Like Squall tired with bedhead?

One sleepy Squall ❤️

[journeythroughtherain]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy VII (Video Game 1997), Compilation of Final Fantasy VII Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Squall Leonhart/Cloud Strife Characters: Squall Leonhart, Cloud Strife Additional Tags: Alternative Universe - Merged Worlds (FFVII and FFVIII), Post-Time Compression (FFVIII), Post-Meteorfall (FFVII), Not Canon Compliant with Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, exploration of game mechanics, Established Relationship, Fluff, Misunderstandings, but like very harmless ones, Strifehart Week 2026 Series: Part 3 of You Say Ochu And I Say Ho-chu Summary:

When Cloud comes back after a mission acting a little off, Squall decides to cheer him up to the best of his ability.

Strifehart Week Day 5: Forehead kiss/Nursery