#raaaaaaaaaaant. rooooooooar. ROARING RANT.

[chirp-a-chirp]

@ikeprinces-stuff @reborn-elven-spirit

Be cool. Be cool.

Don’t go on a rant. Don’t go on a rant. Don’t go on—

RAAAAAANT.

Roars Loudly.

A (not so) tiny part of me thinks that kindness and competence are not as attractive to players as morally grey traits. Leon is the STANDARD in real life—what many would desire as a friend or lover. But in games? Mehhhh.

And there are a multitude of reasons for this collective “meh”.

He’s set up as the titular hero in the prologue. But other than HIS route (and Keith’s romantic ending), he ends up playing a secondary role or background supportive character.

Classic starter route syndrome. Cybrid—oh crap! We gotta build this world, flesh out these characters. Wait, you think WE know what’s going on? We’re figuring things out as readers react to the game!

Zany characters like Clavis or anti-heroes like Gil are allowed small but scene-stopping moments outside their routes so you can’t forget them. Leon? He’s off doing his own steady, consistent thing off screen usually. Or, if he does appear, he’s serving as the reliable, occasionally teasing voice of reason. And the voice of reason is needed! But it usually doesn’t make for sexy/funny good times in interactive games.

The foreign faction is mentioned A LOT MORE in various routes than the domestic faction that Leon leads. And sure, with Cybrid adding more and more princes from foreign lands it kind of makes sense. But Cybrid—a friendly reminder that this game takes place in RHOLODITE. And Leon and his faction focus on Rholodite. You can do plenty of world building with the kingdom of Roses. Cybrid seemingly chooses not to.

Leon is basic basically a great person at the beginning of the game. There’s not as much character growth as with other consorts. But it DIDN’T DOESN’T have to be that way. A character can be good but grow. Cybrid chose to NOT explore fully Leon’s backstory.

Speaking of backstory…

Leon’s backstory is the thing that distinguishes him from the others. But Cybrid essentially whitewashes/erases that from him in his original route (they do better in the sequel though). They (mostly) ignore the trauma he endured; the trauma he suppresses (and that Cybrid suppresses for him!); the anger and frustration he felt when first arriving at the palace.

They focus on Leon the reliable, Leon the friendly, Leon the kind, sweet teddy bear-like man he is as a lover. And all of that is good on its own. But, my GOD, that kindness and confidence could be more appreciated if readers were reminded of what it TAKES to be the man that radiates light:

Cybrid, you’re telling me a man who lived his formative childhood years being abused as a slave wouldn’t have PTSD? Wouldn’t see innocuous objects that remind him of his former life but he can’t vocalize to others? The angst potential is through the ROOF. Leon projects light he doesn’t recall getting as a young child because he KNOWS what it’s like to be surrounded by darkness.

In Leon’s route—particularly his dramatic route—his brothers find out the truth about him and effectively say “I didn’t hear anything.” Yes, they accept him as his brother and give him love. But they basically deny his past. How would YOU feel if your loved ones said they supported you but then simultaneously denied a key part of your existence?

Leon has EVERY reason to be resentful, bitter, fearful, and cautious due to his past. To go from the muck and horrors of slavery to a seemingly glittering palace life is jarring. His formative childhood memories are of violence, drudgery, and isolation. He has every building block to have become a man of horror and violence himself with the resources of the palace.

But he doesn’t.

He was plucked from the mud. Rose from the ashes.

He chooses to be a good person. EVERY. DAY.

He purposely listens to others, hearing their stories. Wanting to put smiles on their faces. Because he knows what it’s like to be ignored, lost, forgotten.

He is a skilled fighter. He learns how to wield weapons. He is said to be nearly as skilled a fighter as Chevalier. He learns the tools to wage war—and inflict pain that was inflicted on him. Instead, he chooses to protect. Another conscious choice. A choice to do better. Better than he received.

Every day, Leon chooses to be better. Be a better person. Better prince. Better protector. It would be SO EASY for him to fall into darkness. His exemplary behavior is ignored like the middle child he is. The internal battles he (must) suffer to CHOOSE kindness are not seen by others. Oh, Leon helped the townspeople again? Gave his brothers a pep talk? That just Leon.

Only, it’s not just. It’s everything.

Or, it should be. If only we could appreciate it. If Cybrid would be brave enough to let us know ALL of Leon—scars and all. Including his choice to use his past to drive a better future.

And that is why there is fanfic. And fandom.

It's weird the ikepri fandom finds Leon boring, because with the context of his backstory literally everything he does is fucking wild.

He talks back to Chev? He stands up to a foreign leader? He eats Clavis' food? Every time he outmaneuvers someone or shows off his skills and abilities just has me so giddy.

All the other princes are treating him like a boring middle child, but we the players know what and how badass he actually is.