#ssb's stoicism contributes to his emotional inaccessibility but that's also what keeps him from falling apart

[ruakichan]

Some late night, meandering thoughts, but humor me for a moment:

Izanagi said the ending to the Takamagahara arc has played out numerous times, and that Susabi has already visited many worlds in his search for the one where no one is sacrificed.

Obviously, that means Susabi has witnessed that ending many, many times--reflecting Susanoo's own journey to find the scenario which would save humanity a millennia ago--but recall Susabi's words that he would remain with Susanoo until the end. Now think of it in the full context of witnessing this same end over and over. Even when Susabi knows that a particular world and timeline would end the way it has thousands of times before , he remains steadfast with open eyes as witness, refusing to turn away (mirroring what he told Miketsu when they were seeing the Execution Ground in the past during the Final Advent event). He will remain with Susanoo until the literal end. Every. Single. Time. No matter the despair, pain, or weariness.

Tangentially (and less shippy goggles lol), while Amaterasu and Susanoo were both greatly influenced by Izanagi to shape them into compassionate beings, Susabi's contact with Izanagi is almost nil. His initial questioning about the immutability of destiny was already there at his birth, though almost immediately suppressed, but then brought out again by Susanoo's beliefs (as formed under Izanagi's guidance and the kindness of humans). I have to wonder if Izanagi delayed Susabi's birth intentionally... or even, if we really want to get deep into theorycrafting about this, Susabi delayed his own birth as the one who oversees reincarnation, as part of his search for the world where no one is sacrificed. (Who came first, Smolsabi or Susabi?!)

Even more an aside to that, I like to think Susabi does meet Izanagi again in Yomi-no-Kuni, as that is where the Torrents of Destiny flows. They might have a more personal talk; Izanagi absolutely would tease him more mercilessly than Susanoo would. and give ssb the shovel talk cause it's obvious ssn is izanagi's favorite

All of this to say is that Susabi has one hell of an iron will. Not that any of the Divine Children are less driven, but of the three, he has been an unyielding pillar, only losing himself during his orokana ningen period. (Which I like to imagine him having a lot of inner conflict over, as Susanoo greatly loves humans, and a betrayed Susabi questions why Susanoo died for such ungrateful beings. But that's another take for another day.)

(wild tangent but since we're already here, i want to know about that first time amaterasu went to sleep and had to be awakened by suzuhikohime in her old incarnation, as ssn said she woke up as a different person. at first i thought this was when she stripped herself of her sins, but her event showed that happened when she banished izanami, and i feel like ssn wasn't born yet? timeline seems fuzzy here)

... Anyhoooooooo did you know I didn't like Susabi at first and had no idea what his appeal was and why he was popular? Now I'm lying here losing sleep thinking about this deity with terrible fashion and ridiculous hair.