#i didn't include namine's charm because it wasn't a real memory or charm

[generatedreflection]

...I just realized something I probably really should have before

A lot of the discussion around the paopu has been fixated on it as a sign of commitment

But I just realized that basically every time it's been deliberately invoked, it's associated with anxiety about a relationship

Riku tossing it to Sora in KH1--a low-risk way to try and understand Sora's feelings

The cave drawing--Riku had just "threatened" to share it with Kairi first (and everyone else on the island is saying stuff like "you better do it first or Riku will beat you to it!") In the novels, he's thinking "If I could just beat Riku at something..." rather than making a statement of commitment

Oathkeeper--Kairi is worried about Sora and uses the charm as reassurance he'll come back

The Wayfinders--the night before the exam, Aqua makes these. She expresses frequent anxiety about their bond all through the game, and while we don't get as much context of their bond before this, I do think the tension had already been there.

The KH3 Scene--Kairi is concerned about their battle tomorrow, so she wants to ensure they won't be separated again. After her unsent letter to Sora and general absence in KH3 up to that point, I think she actually might be worried about her relationship to him as a whole.

Kairi returning the cave drawing at the end of KH1 is really the only time that isn't motivated by worry, but it's more of a response than an invokation (which she already did earlier)

There's a lot of talk about 1 vs 2 paopus and romantic vs platonic invokations, but I just think it's really interesting how so far it's something people only seem to bring up when they're worried about something breaking. And they're usually right about the impending separation, with an eventual reunion at the end of it.

There's not really a point to this. Personally, I think of the paopu as more of a symbol and self-fulfilling prophecy rather than something magical (which might be stupid in a series like KH, but eh I've been wrong before). It's a way to say 'hey I care about you and I don't want to lose you,' which is something that both people will remember, to hopefully hold onto that relationship. (This is like. Constant with the Wayfinder trio.)

I just think it's interesting that despite being introduced in a way that gets us thinking of it as a kind of vow, so far it's felt more like a panic button?