New Blog Playlist Guide - What Each Song Represents in Dash’s Life
Long post, so putting it under a read more:
Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 1 - Dash’s father is out of the picture for reasons not entirely known. His mother, who barely manages to scrape by, passes away shortly thereafter. This is the beginning of Dash’s life of tragedy and isolation.
You’ve Got a Chance - Dash, a lowly street kid, is gifted an opportunity by a local mafia chapter to prove he can make something of himself in the underworld. Desperate for a chance at making something of himself by any means necessary, he begins his life of crime.
Machine Gun Blues - Dash’s mob/yakuza days hit their height, with him being one of the gang’s most trusted and most effective members, making mountains of cash in the process.
Cult of Personality - Dash’s success begins to go to his head and he starts going into business for himself, scooping up properties and properties left and right.
Enemies - Eventually, Dash’s many former friends discover what he is doing and the fact that he is essentially ditching them for bigger and better things. Not appreciating this, they make an attempt on his life. He narrowly escapes, but loses sight in one eye in the process.
Hazy - Dash is forced to reflect on his life up until this point as he goes into hiding, selling everything off and taking the obscene amount of money to north Anima, where he finds a large house outside a town to settle down. It is at this point that he also takes pity on others who are down on their luck, hiring them to come work for him. (He treats them with as much respect as he can, but is also largely ignorant to certain things, particularly when it came to faunus, largely because his gang’s way of doing things is all he ever knew.)
Painless - In spite of his best efforts and trying to help people, Dash soon finds a combination of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and the fear of being found by his old comrades closing in on him. This leads to his addiction to alcohol (wine in particular) and cigarettes.
Right Here In My Arms - Dash hires the caracal faunus Nia Idir as his personal bodyguard after a trip to Menagerie. Slowly, the two grow towards one another on a personal level, eventually resulting in them forming a relationship, albeit, a not particularly healthy one.
It Follows - Just as he was starting to feel safe, Dash is discovered by his old comrades, who are determined to finish the job and kill him. He and Nia are forced to go on the offensive. (As an aside, ss their relationship grows, he also learns of his ignorance and takes steps towards making things better for his faunus employees)
Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 3 - As Sho (the gang’s leader) gains the upper hand, taking Nia and forcing Dash to go on the run, he finds himself wallowing in desperation and depression.
Monster - Eventually, he is able to collect himself, largely due to his discovery of Nia’s long-lost sister Kali. As he prepares to take the fight directly to Sho, he finds himself resorting to his old criminal ways. “Just this once. To get Nia back,” he tells himself.
Enemy - Dash comes face to face one last time, ultimately defeating Sho once and for all.
Heroes - Dash and Nia finally reunite. Trust and psyches are broken, but the worst of it is behind them now. It will take time, but slowly, they will take steps towards making things right. And in that one moment, they truly feel like the heroes of the story, despite all the sins and horrors of their pasts.
Honor for All - The “end credits” song, if you will. A reflection on the trials and tribulations Dash and Nia faced.
The Rascal King - The epilogue. Years later, Dash and Nia finally find peace and are married. Dash’s life was one of many, many mistakes and actions that somewhat resembles “redemption.” He came from nothing, committed many crimes, let it go to his head, and stepped on many people. Even as he sought redemption, he used more than questionable means. He also saved people. Saved people from the harsh streets and gave them a place to live, eat, and make money. He did everything he could to make things right with the person he loved. So, in the end, was he a hero or a hooligan? That’s for you to decide. In the end, though, he made an impact. Which was all he ever wanted.
