#tht: issue 1: backstory mirrors

[bardic-tales]

Thirsty Thursday: Issue 1: Backstory Mirrors

For this Thirsty Thursday, I am going to share a few articles for this. The first one is a 'backstory mirror' dive that @prehistoric-creatures once asked me to come up with. I never shared it since I forgotten about it, but as I was working on their relationship, I found it again. Sorry Prehistoric. There are 10, but I'm just going to share a few.

The ones I am going to share just were happy coincidences. But it's always amusing when that happens. Some of this is based upon my own character analysis of Sephiroth's character, observation of my family and friends who were in the military, study of psychology, and my own headcanons that I formed over 27 years.

Tragic Origins and Parental Betrayal.

Both Bianca and Sephiroth are born out of complex, unconventional unions: Bianca from a forced union between an archangel and a primordial demon and Sephiroth from a scientific experiment where his mother, Lucrecia, was deprived of raising him by Hojo. Like Lucrecia, Seraphine never got to hold Bianca as she made the choice of saving her child from Asmodeus' machinations. Bia's birth and future were overshadowed by her parents identities, her birth in a human vessel, and her celestial-demonic lineage while Sephiroth's birth was manipulated, making him a project of Jenova's cells and Hojo's experiment.

Both faced a deep betrayal by a parental figure: their fathers. Bianca was targeted and attacked by her father, Asmodeus, who seeks to control or destroy her all in the name of prophecy, and Sephiroth, who became aware of Hojo's inhumane treatment, which disregarded his well being for scientific game.

Upheaval in Childhood.

Bianca's early life is disrupted when the cult devoted to Asmodeus kills her adoptive mother, forcing her and her adoptive father, David, into a life on the run. This transient existence robs Bianca of stability and safety, fostering isolation and fear. She has trouble with her emotions because of this.

Similarly, Sephiroth, while not being chased by a cult, is shaped by the SOLDIER program and Hojo's cruel conditioning. This isolates him from a typical childhood and indoctrinates him into a rigid, miliatry existence. His exposure to violence and the lack of nurturing relationships parallels Bianca's feeling of disconnect.

First Love and Betrayal

Bianca's experience with Krista is a painful tale of shattered trust. Her first love turned out to be a member of the cult sent to manipulate and ultimately betray her, forcing Bianca to take Krista's life in self-defense, a trauma that strips her of her innocence and has marked her emotionally. She believes that closeness with others can lead to betrayal and loss. She was 16.

Spoilers for Ever Crisis' First SOLDIER.

Sephiroth's early relationships also carries a sense of betrayal, particularly the incident with Team Glenn during his mission in Rhadore. This mission, where he is misunderstood by his teammates, leaves him disillusioned and teaches him that closeness with others can lead to betrayal and loss. He was also 15-16, at the time. I need to check the dates.

Transformation through Trauma

At 20, Bianca's true powers are awakened in the wake of a brutal assault by Asmodeus, which takes almost takes her life (and she doesn't know about her reincarnation until after the final battle with Cloud at the North Crater) and scars her emotionally. This moment is a catalyst for Bianca's transformation, pushing her from a place of fear into one of empowerment as she learns to wield her powers.

Sephiroth undergoes a similar transformation, though much slower, as he grows stronger through rigorous and often painful conditioning by Hojo and Shinra. The isolation and trauma of battle missions, coupled with his genetic heritage, lead to a shift in his self-perception, guiding him towards a path that diverges from traditional morality, much like Bianca's path is guiding her.

Mentor Relationships Ending in Self Sacrifice

Bianca's relationship with Mordecai, her mentor and husband, mirrors Sephiroth's bond with Angeal. Both are anchored by these mentors who offer them a sense of direction and grounding. However, both Mordecai and Angeal ultimately die, leaving Bianca and Sephiroth with deeper scars and a heightened sense of purpose mingled with loss.

For Bianca, Mordecai's sacrifice becomes a driving force for her growth and determination, also leading her to fall in love with Sephiroth through trauma bonding. Similarly, Sephiroth's loss of trust in his mentors and friends -- culminating in Angeal and Genesis' betrayal - deepens his resolve but also his disillusionment with humanity until it snaps when he learns about his origins.

A Dark Legacy and Search for Identity

As mentioned above, they both struggle under the weight of their complicated heritage. Bianca's celestial-demonic bloodlines places her in constant conflict with forces pulling at her from either side: Asmodeus and Seraphine (who is in her conscious talking with and guiding her). Sephiroth's Jenova-enhanced origins lead him to question humanity and ultimately set him on a quest for answers about his true nature that culminated in a psychotic break fueled by his lack of sleep, hunger, grief over his friends, and, ultimately, Jenova's influence, herself. I remember reading a headcanon where Sephiroth was basically a corpse at this point fueled by the circumstances and betrayal around him, and I tend to agree with that assessment, especially when everything was pulled out from under him and told to him by his closest friend, no less.

This shared experience of grappling with identity is a powerful undercurrent in their relationship, making them kindred spirits in a search for purpose beyond the pain.

tagging some fellow mutuals: @themaradwrites @littleshopofchaos @serenofroses @megandaisy9 @watermeezer

@nightingaleflow @prehistoric-creatures @creativechaosqueen @chickensarentcheap @glbettwrites

@seastarblue