emil ❖ castagnier (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
perfectpartner) wrote2010-10-15 03:23 am
perfectpartner) wrote2010-10-15 03:23 am
Entry tags:
re: memories, part two
This post is a continuation of my retrograde amnesia post that I made when I first apped this deviant Emil. That entry vaguely touched on things that hadn't come into play in the game yet, but now, a year and a half later, I feel the need to clarify just what is happening to Emil and how things will progress from now on.
Just like the first one, this entry is full of spoilers for the last three chapters of Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World. A lot of it is headcanon so I can't guarantee you'll agree with what's written here. However, it's my hope that this will make things a little simpler for people trying to help Emil in his tragic story in![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
realityshifted, and I have used examples from the game where possible.
-----
PEOPLE AND TERMS
A refresher, in case you never read his app.
ASTER - A researcher who died trying to convince a Summon Spirit, Ratatosk, to wake up and restore the world's proper mana balance. He's originally from Tethe'alla.
EMIL CASTAGNIER - A boy with parents who were part of the anti-Tethe'allan resistance movement and were thus killed in the Palmacosta Massacre. Made a pact with Ratatosk in order to use his power to wake up the Centurions.
MARTA - Emil's partner, healer, and ass-kicker. She's important because she loves Emil for who he is, without any real regard for whether it's Ratatosk, Emil, or Aster. She just… loves him unconditionally, and Emil draws upon this strength to support himself and make important decisions.
TENEBRAE - Emil's guide, a servant of Ratatosk. Normally a cynical but enjoyable companion, he's been with Emil since the start and is privy to a few secrets that Emil keeps. He knew about the notes and about the Astral Plane before Marta did, for example. However, he also kept Emil's true nature from him until it was time.
RATATOSK - The soul of the world's dead world tree, and also the only thing that keeps demons from flooding in from Niflheim. He hates humans and half-elves for destroying his tree 5000 years ago and betraying him.
RICHTER - Aster's best friend who went to the demon gate with him and tried to convince Ratatosk to awaken. Later came back to kill Emil and Marta several times. He failed every time. Turns out he was trying to gain the power of demons in order to shut the door, restore the balance of mana, and revive Aster.
SUMMON SPIRIT - The name for a being that exists purely made of mana. The most famous have control over some element, though a few special ones exist, such as the spirits of World Trees, and the Summon Spirit of Heart. All of them felt betrayed by Mithos and are thus reluctant to trust humans.
SYLVARANT - The backwater side of the world without any clear government.
TETHE'ALLA - The more technologically-advanced, richer side of the world.
WHERE WILL EMIL GO?
Emil represents a side of Ratatosk that regrets the pain and suffering he's caused and wishes to atone for it, and to protect the world and its tenuous existence. However, in this deviance, Emil's already-troubled identity is compounded by the fact that he's losing the memories that help keep up his façade, and instead gaining sparks of memory and mannerisms unique to the boy called "Aster".
Now, Aster is waking up, and Emil is realizing that he might disappear. In truth he's being tugged two ways at once, so there's no possible way that he can fade into obscurity.
Emil may have become more of a convincing human being due to his experiences and the validity of his emotions on this matter as well as other things. He mourns his dead friends and he's in love with Marta. But how is this possible?
Emil is supposed to be a fake personality set up by Ratatosk as a decoy, so that Marta might be pursued instead of the injured Summon Spirit. But as time went on and his fake memories began to deteriorate, Aster imprinted himself on Emil and his own memories leaked through. The reverse is also true: Ratatosk's memories have plagued Emil for a while.
At the same time, Ratatosk has also been influenced by Emil's experiences and emotions on the matter, since Emil is the more social and forward personality. Despite whatever he says.
Marta smacks some sense into Ratatosk Mode!Emil.
Because Emil is a fake personality, he should disappear as soon as both Aster and Ratatosk realize the truth of their existence. But he can't. Not completely, anyway. Canon shows us that Emil is like Ratatosk's conscience. If this is true, then most of what we see as Aster can be contributed to Ratatosk as well.
For that reason Emil won't truly disappear. It's impossible to say where Aster ends and Ratatosk begins since they share a body as well as a similar way of thinking. Aster was the one who proposed to Ratatosk that he awaken and restore the balance of mana, something Ratatosk later did anyway under the guise of Emil. Aster's final decision when confronted by his truth is crucial to understanding the evolution of Emil and where he's going next.
Aster took Emil's life and name and has been living it, and so he will choose to continue on that path, even though it directly opposes Richter. He understands that his old life is gone and he will never be that person again, and to an extent that he was never meant to exist at all after that. Ratatosk's actions can still be considered his own since it's his body. He's thankful for his second life and the ability to help the world, which is what he's always wanted to do. This is when the amnesiac becomes the mask: this is Aster, reborn as Emil, and accepting his role in this and continuing to fight.
However, Emil is not completely Aster, as stated. He's partially Ratatosk too. In canon Emil can pretend to be Ratatosk and Ratatosk can pretend to be Emil, which makes his status as Ratatosk's better half fairly obvious.
Ratatosk makes a few attempts to apologize and gets fed up.
Finally, he tries to impersonate Emil so that Marta'll feel better. He fails and she sees right through it and thanks him.
When both parties imprisoned in Aster's body regain their memories, Ratatosk will be a more well-rounded personality, rather than just a confused and angry tsundere, much like what is seen in the final moments of TOS2; Emil accepts Ratatosk as his other self and becomes a very deadpan Ratatosk in order to fix the world, because he cares about it.
In a way Emil is dying, but with it comes a wonderful sort of rebirth. It's the turning point that makes this Emil a little bit different from all the other ones out there.
ASTER AND THE SUMMON SPIRIT OF HEART
In canon, Emil struggles with his darker side in the late chapters. He could seal Ratatosk away, but at the same time, he could be weaker and end up sealing away himself instead-- never to return. He consults the Summon Spirit Verius, who tells him that his heart is conflicted and that the decision can't be made right away.
This is the final yee-haw as far as whether or not Emil will disappear; at this point, he has all of his memories and Ratatosk is becoming more violent and agitated the longer this goes on. He makes the decision to seal Ratatosk only when Ratatosk forcefully takes control and takes Lumen's core from Lloyd, startling several people and proving that perhaps he ought to be dealt with.
However, because of the deviance, this will be changed slightly. Aster isn't strong enough to fight on his own which is why he depends on Ratatosk.
At the same time, he doesn’t fully understand Ratatosk's motives, and would definitely seal away the Summon Spirit within him to protect the people around him as well as the new World Tree.
It reeks of payback (since Aster was sealed away when bodyjacked) and he'll regret it quite a bit after it happens, but considering the risks of letting Ratatosk run loose, he'll decide to do it anyway. This is probably the biggest example of how Aster and Ratatosk are connected, since he'll be able to use his sword and superhuman abilities in the same manner.
Sealing away Ratatosk also means he'll be confronting Richter and his demonic ideals as himself, which will stun Richter into wanting to truly atone for his deeds.
Aster's line of thinking is similar to canon Emil's as far as final plans go; he plans to take on Ratatosk's role as the gatekeeper of hell both to keep everyone safe and because he wants Richter to live now, too.
It means leaving Marta behind, but the world needs him just as much. She's strong… She can take it. It also means pretending that Aster has finally been swallowed up by Ratatosk and lying to his friends so that they'll try to kill him.
Self-sacrificial idiots never change.
LIVING TWO LIVES
... At least until the Perfect Ending happens. In this ending, which is the canonical one out of three possible endings in the game, Emil decides to live out a human life with Marta while Ratatosk stays within the door. As wallbanger-esque as that might seem, it actually makes sense when taken in the context with this deviance. Aster was never a part of Ratatosk in the first place, and it would be Richter and Ratatosk's wish for him to live outside with Marta in a human body while Ratatosk continues existing within the Ginnungagap.
With Aster comes a little bit of Emil, as well as the understanding that Ratatosk very much was in love with Marta. Therefore, Aster has to live for two people, and a third if you include Richter. It's something he would do since drawing Richter out of the Ginnungagap would cause the seal to fail.
A HERD OF TEAL DEER
In summary: Aster and Ratatosk are separate yet linked entities, and one cannot exist without the other. Even splitting into two forms-- a core form and the Summon Spirit-revived body of Aster-- means that they're still connected. Their memories and abilities are mixed in a similar fashion.
Thanks for reading!
Just like the first one, this entry is full of spoilers for the last three chapters of Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World. A lot of it is headcanon so I can't guarantee you'll agree with what's written here. However, it's my hope that this will make things a little simpler for people trying to help Emil in his tragic story in
realityshifted, and I have used examples from the game where possible.-----
PEOPLE AND TERMS
A refresher, in case you never read his app.
ASTER - A researcher who died trying to convince a Summon Spirit, Ratatosk, to wake up and restore the world's proper mana balance. He's originally from Tethe'alla.
EMIL CASTAGNIER - A boy with parents who were part of the anti-Tethe'allan resistance movement and were thus killed in the Palmacosta Massacre. Made a pact with Ratatosk in order to use his power to wake up the Centurions.
MARTA - Emil's partner, healer, and ass-kicker. She's important because she loves Emil for who he is, without any real regard for whether it's Ratatosk, Emil, or Aster. She just… loves him unconditionally, and Emil draws upon this strength to support himself and make important decisions.
TENEBRAE - Emil's guide, a servant of Ratatosk. Normally a cynical but enjoyable companion, he's been with Emil since the start and is privy to a few secrets that Emil keeps. He knew about the notes and about the Astral Plane before Marta did, for example. However, he also kept Emil's true nature from him until it was time.
RATATOSK - The soul of the world's dead world tree, and also the only thing that keeps demons from flooding in from Niflheim. He hates humans and half-elves for destroying his tree 5000 years ago and betraying him.
RICHTER - Aster's best friend who went to the demon gate with him and tried to convince Ratatosk to awaken. Later came back to kill Emil and Marta several times. He failed every time. Turns out he was trying to gain the power of demons in order to shut the door, restore the balance of mana, and revive Aster.
SUMMON SPIRIT - The name for a being that exists purely made of mana. The most famous have control over some element, though a few special ones exist, such as the spirits of World Trees, and the Summon Spirit of Heart. All of them felt betrayed by Mithos and are thus reluctant to trust humans.
SYLVARANT - The backwater side of the world without any clear government.
TETHE'ALLA - The more technologically-advanced, richer side of the world.
WHERE WILL EMIL GO?
Emil represents a side of Ratatosk that regrets the pain and suffering he's caused and wishes to atone for it, and to protect the world and its tenuous existence. However, in this deviance, Emil's already-troubled identity is compounded by the fact that he's losing the memories that help keep up his façade, and instead gaining sparks of memory and mannerisms unique to the boy called "Aster".
Now, Aster is waking up, and Emil is realizing that he might disappear. In truth he's being tugged two ways at once, so there's no possible way that he can fade into obscurity.
Emil may have become more of a convincing human being due to his experiences and the validity of his emotions on this matter as well as other things. He mourns his dead friends and he's in love with Marta. But how is this possible?
Emil is supposed to be a fake personality set up by Ratatosk as a decoy, so that Marta might be pursued instead of the injured Summon Spirit. But as time went on and his fake memories began to deteriorate, Aster imprinted himself on Emil and his own memories leaked through. The reverse is also true: Ratatosk's memories have plagued Emil for a while.
At the same time, Ratatosk has also been influenced by Emil's experiences and emotions on the matter, since Emil is the more social and forward personality. Despite whatever he says.
Marta smacks some sense into Ratatosk Mode!Emil.
Because Emil is a fake personality, he should disappear as soon as both Aster and Ratatosk realize the truth of their existence. But he can't. Not completely, anyway. Canon shows us that Emil is like Ratatosk's conscience. If this is true, then most of what we see as Aster can be contributed to Ratatosk as well.
For that reason Emil won't truly disappear. It's impossible to say where Aster ends and Ratatosk begins since they share a body as well as a similar way of thinking. Aster was the one who proposed to Ratatosk that he awaken and restore the balance of mana, something Ratatosk later did anyway under the guise of Emil. Aster's final decision when confronted by his truth is crucial to understanding the evolution of Emil and where he's going next.
Aster took Emil's life and name and has been living it, and so he will choose to continue on that path, even though it directly opposes Richter. He understands that his old life is gone and he will never be that person again, and to an extent that he was never meant to exist at all after that. Ratatosk's actions can still be considered his own since it's his body. He's thankful for his second life and the ability to help the world, which is what he's always wanted to do. This is when the amnesiac becomes the mask: this is Aster, reborn as Emil, and accepting his role in this and continuing to fight.
However, Emil is not completely Aster, as stated. He's partially Ratatosk too. In canon Emil can pretend to be Ratatosk and Ratatosk can pretend to be Emil, which makes his status as Ratatosk's better half fairly obvious.
Ratatosk makes a few attempts to apologize and gets fed up.
Finally, he tries to impersonate Emil so that Marta'll feel better. He fails and she sees right through it and thanks him.
When both parties imprisoned in Aster's body regain their memories, Ratatosk will be a more well-rounded personality, rather than just a confused and angry tsundere, much like what is seen in the final moments of TOS2; Emil accepts Ratatosk as his other self and becomes a very deadpan Ratatosk in order to fix the world, because he cares about it.
In a way Emil is dying, but with it comes a wonderful sort of rebirth. It's the turning point that makes this Emil a little bit different from all the other ones out there.
ASTER AND THE SUMMON SPIRIT OF HEART
In canon, Emil struggles with his darker side in the late chapters. He could seal Ratatosk away, but at the same time, he could be weaker and end up sealing away himself instead-- never to return. He consults the Summon Spirit Verius, who tells him that his heart is conflicted and that the decision can't be made right away.
This is the final yee-haw as far as whether or not Emil will disappear; at this point, he has all of his memories and Ratatosk is becoming more violent and agitated the longer this goes on. He makes the decision to seal Ratatosk only when Ratatosk forcefully takes control and takes Lumen's core from Lloyd, startling several people and proving that perhaps he ought to be dealt with.
However, because of the deviance, this will be changed slightly. Aster isn't strong enough to fight on his own which is why he depends on Ratatosk.
At the same time, he doesn’t fully understand Ratatosk's motives, and would definitely seal away the Summon Spirit within him to protect the people around him as well as the new World Tree.
It reeks of payback (since Aster was sealed away when bodyjacked) and he'll regret it quite a bit after it happens, but considering the risks of letting Ratatosk run loose, he'll decide to do it anyway. This is probably the biggest example of how Aster and Ratatosk are connected, since he'll be able to use his sword and superhuman abilities in the same manner.
Sealing away Ratatosk also means he'll be confronting Richter and his demonic ideals as himself, which will stun Richter into wanting to truly atone for his deeds.
Aster's line of thinking is similar to canon Emil's as far as final plans go; he plans to take on Ratatosk's role as the gatekeeper of hell both to keep everyone safe and because he wants Richter to live now, too.
It means leaving Marta behind, but the world needs him just as much. She's strong… She can take it. It also means pretending that Aster has finally been swallowed up by Ratatosk and lying to his friends so that they'll try to kill him.
Self-sacrificial idiots never change.
LIVING TWO LIVES
... At least until the Perfect Ending happens. In this ending, which is the canonical one out of three possible endings in the game, Emil decides to live out a human life with Marta while Ratatosk stays within the door. As wallbanger-esque as that might seem, it actually makes sense when taken in the context with this deviance. Aster was never a part of Ratatosk in the first place, and it would be Richter and Ratatosk's wish for him to live outside with Marta in a human body while Ratatosk continues existing within the Ginnungagap.
With Aster comes a little bit of Emil, as well as the understanding that Ratatosk very much was in love with Marta. Therefore, Aster has to live for two people, and a third if you include Richter. It's something he would do since drawing Richter out of the Ginnungagap would cause the seal to fail.
A HERD OF TEAL DEER
In summary: Aster and Ratatosk are separate yet linked entities, and one cannot exist without the other. Even splitting into two forms-- a core form and the Summon Spirit-revived body of Aster-- means that they're still connected. Their memories and abilities are mixed in a similar fashion.
Thanks for reading!
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AND NOW I WANT TO SHARPEN ALL THE PICTURES
TO MAKE THE TEXT EASIER TO READ.
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I'm not doing it since I grabbed these off youtube. YOUR OCD CAN SUCK IT.
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POWERS OF SHIT AND EXPERIMENT GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
alternatively i can make things like a hideous glow
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/ROLLS ON YOU
behold the gay power of gay japanese fanart
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Since he has two telepaths trying to help him I thought it would be relevant. That and at the end of canon they'll be connected even though they're sorta split in half, and Ratatosk likes the Plane more than he lets on, so he'll still want to come aboard.
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This is really quite interesting! It pleases me to see so many people doing cool shit with their deviances. It inspires those of us that are lazy!!
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