ro-botany

[ro-botany]

funny face penalty + The Scary Evil

wanted rage form to have that same kind of unnatural twisty movement antiform had but just cranked up to 90 i'm a little sad they didn't lean more into how Weird and Frightening and Otherworldly it is

[ro-botany]

This is an excellent dive into the specific visual symbolism at play in Ventus' station, and I enjoyed reading!

I don't have much to add, but thought that it would be intereting to note how Ventus' mechanics in BBS interplay with this symbolism and his narrative.

Gameplay-wise Ven is typically associated with his excellent mobility and short melee reach. But mobility is the domain of abilities, and reach is a property of keyblades, not characters.

Of the actual primary character stats? Ventus is characterized by high *Defense*. Despite his comparitively low HP - perhaps interpretable as an after-effect of his being torn in two - he's the most resilient to damage of the three wayfinders.

The literal mathematical properties Ventus operates under during gameplay match up very well with, and reinforce, his station symbols' shield-like structure and their suggestions of quiet resilience and incorruptibility.

Sanctuary in Glass: A Symbolic Dive into Ventus’ Heart

For many months, I’ve pondered the meaning behind the symbols in the circles of Ventus’ Station of Awakening and what they have to do with his character, but I think I’ve figured it out.

I used to think it was one symbol which made it almost impossible to find it but then I realized it a combination of two things: Fleur-de-lis’ and a Hexagram.

First and foremost, the fleur-de-lis is a stylized lily or iris with various symbolisms:

- Royalty and Nobility

• Associated especially with French monarchy, symbolizing divine right to rule, chivalry, and noble virtue.

• A mark of legitimacy, purity, and loyalty.

- Christian Connotations

• In Christian iconography, three petals are interpreted as the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

• Also linked to the Virgin Mary (which is important relating back to my previous theory regarding Seraphims, the MoM, and Ventus), representing purity and grace.

- Heraldry and Warfare

• Often used in coats of arms, signifying defense, protection, and strength.

• Sometimes a symbol of victory over chaos, stylized and directed to imply controlled power.

- Spiritual and Alchemical Uses

• The fleur-de-lis has also appeared in esoteric texts as a symbol of spiritual illumination, clarity, and higher purpose.

Ventus as a character represents these concepts perfectly. He ignites things in those around him: Terra’s fierce protectiveness, Aqua’s boundless compassion, and Sora’s profound empathy all come alive. Even Vanitas, with all his dark intentions, cannot completely sever the vibrant thread that ties them together! His light does not remain sealed within rather it spreads outward. Like the fleur-de-lis, his purity is not naive but noble and deliberate.

As mentioned earlier, the fleur-de-lis are a royal symbol, while Ventus has no literal claim to a throne (unless you count sleeping on one for over a decade), there is something spiritually sovereign about his heart. Even after experiencing betrayal, manipulation, and violent fracture, his essential character remains untainted. This kind of spiritual nobility is rare and in the language of symbolism, it is nothing short of regal. The fleur-de-lis thus reflect not only Ventus’ light, but who he is: a boy who has faced countless losses but has never lost the ability to be kind.

Meanwhile, the hexagram, or six-pointed star, is a powerful geometric and esoteric symbol found in numerous spiritual and cultural traditions:

- Judaism – Star of David (Magen David)

• Represents the connection between God and humanity, and the interlocking triangles symbolize the merging of the divine and the earthly.

• Also seen as a shield, offering spiritual protection.

- Alchemy and Occultism

• Interlaced triangles represent fire (upward triangle) and water (downward triangle)—the union of opposites, harmony between the masculine and feminine.

• Associated with cosmic balance, equilibrium, and transformation.

- Eastern Philosophies

• The hexagram resembles the Shatkona in Hinduism—a symbol uniting Shiva (masculine) and Shakti (feminine) energies.

• In tantric systems, it’s a mandala representing the balance of creation and destruction.

- Sacred Geometry

• As a geometric form, the hexagram is linked with order, structure, and perfection in nature such as snowflakes, crystals, and the flower of life pattern all reflect this symmetry.

• It suggests harmony in duality, and wholeness within complexity.

When we apply these to Ventus, the hexagram becomes extremely fitting. He is a being whose identity is quite literally split between light and darkness. When Xehanort was seeking to create the χ-blade he tore the darkness from Ventus’ heart and created Vanitas in the process. This separation did not result in Ventus becoming half of a person or tragically losing his life thanks to the efforts of Terra, Aqua, and Sora, and he was able to retained his warmth, his empathy, his desire for connection. The hexagram is not merely a reminder of fracture but a testament to how Ventus continues to embody harmony, even after being torn in two.

He is soft-spoken, gentle, observant. In a narrative world populated with bold declarations of darkness and heroism, Ventus is a boy whose strength is not in dominance but in presence. The hexagram’s geometry mirrors this: stable, calm, inwardly perfect. It suggests that even when chaos surrounds him, even when he is thrust into battles far beyond his choosing, there is a centeredness within him that does not break.

The combination of the two symbols culminates in a design featuring a hexagram encircled by six outward-facing fleur-de-lis, creating a striking and shield-like appearance. The arrangement and repetition of these elements contribute significantly to the overall meaning, enhancing the symbolism beyond what the individual components represent on their own.

1. Divine Radiance and Expansion

• The hexagram serves as a spiritual core—an axis of balance and sacred unity. The six fleur-de-lis could be viewed as emanations of that spiritual energy, facing outward like rays of light or petals on a sacred flower, spreading purity, wisdom, or divine authority in all directions. A metaphor for the inner truth radiating outward into the world.

2. Protection and Guardianship

• The arrangement is like a protective ring, with each fleur-de-lis acting as a symbolic sentinel. This could imply that the hexagram, as a sacred truth or divine force, is being guarded from corruption or profanation. The outward direction of the fleurs-de-lis might suggest active defense, rather than passive containment—like projecting power outward to protect the sanctity within.

3. Synthesis of Spiritual and Temporal Power

• The fleur-de-lis embodies earthly power, monarchy, and nobility, while the hexagram carries spiritual and cosmic weight. Together, they may symbolize a unity of church and state, or heavenly authority expressed through earthly governance. Historically, such a combination would reflect theocratic ideals or divinely sanctioned rule.

4. Numerological Significance: The Power of Six

• The number 6 is significant in many traditions:

• Creation: In Genesis, God created the world in 6 days.

• Balance and Harmony: Six is a “perfect” number in mathematics, and symbolizes symmetry and stability.

• Protection: A six-sided figure like a hexagon or hexagram is naturally stable and hard to break.

• Six fleur-de-lis around a six-pointed star doubles down on this theme: cosmic and structural harmony.

5. Mystical Emblem or Sigil

• In a mystical or fictional context, this could easily be interpreted as a sigil of power—a seal or emblem used to summon, protect, or channel energy. Think of a magical or spiritual organization using this as their crest, combining sacred geometry and heraldic symbolism.

This is what makes his Station of Awakening so compelling. In this way, the entire emblem becomes a sacred geometry of his heart. It’s worth noting that Stations of Awakening are not landscapes—they are a space between sleep and death connected to the Final World that take place in the heart. Which means this arrangement of hexagram and fleur-de-lis is not random. It is a cartographic diagram of who Ventus is: a still center surrounded by radiance, a wounded boy protected by nobility, a fractured soul that continues to bless the world with its light.

Even the colors reinforce this. Ventus’ station is often depicted in light green and white hues colors associated with growth, healing, and purity. Green is the color of the heart chakra in Eastern spiritual systems linked to compassion, empathy, and emotional balance. White, likewise, is the color of clarity and rebirth. In combination with the sacred geometry, these colors suggest even more that Ventus is pure.

So, when we look at the symbol we are not just looking at a design. We are looking at Ventus’ role in the cosmology of Kingdom Hearts. He is the boy of light who was fractured, but not diminished. The boy who, even in sleep, becomes through stillness, radiates outward like a beacon. In a saga filled with warriors and chosen ones, Ventus stands apart. His strength is not explosive; it is centripetal, drawing others toward the light by existing in balance.

Perhaps this is why his story is so quiet, so tragic, and so luminous all at once. He was born into a myth too large for him and used by forces he could not understand yet he never lost the essence of who he was. His Station of Awakening reflects that essence not with swords or declarations, but with symbols sacred, radiant, subtle. A star of balance. A crown of lilies. A soul of light ringed by noble guardians.

In the end, in a world torn by darkness and driven by ambition, Ventus reminds us that purity is not weakness, that stillness can be its own form of resistance, and that sometimes, the most powerful hearts are the ones that simply endure and shine.

[ro-botany]

i am. so sorry if i have ever used the phrase “i have an au where—” and led you to believe that there is an actual fic out there for you to read rather than, at best, a post where i explain the concept, and at worst it is simply something that lives in my brain

[ro-botany]

really is embarrassing being known for being obsessed with a certain character bc if you start typing ‘arghhh i love Character so much Character is so peak’ it’s like yeah everyone knows. aw look grandma’s going on about her favorite old story again the fifth time this week

[ro-botany]

Exactly!

And you're 100% correct. Sora saving Terra is conceptually so so perfect.

I have my qualms with the finale to the BBS story presented in 3, but - just consider for a moment that in that fight, physically, all pieces of Terra present were weapons. His body was actively trying to kill them, his heart was caged in a horrific heartless-esque darkness-construct that was also trying to kill them. Aqua and Ven were convinced LW (which iirc was then dead) had been all that was left of Terra. But the *very moment* Terra rattled the bars of his cage and screamed that he's still in here and you can't hurt his friends - it didn't matter that it was the Dark Guardian saying it, Sora saw *right through* to *who Terra is*, to his heart, and immediately jumped in to help however he could.

Hell, the part where we viewers see an image of Terra superimposed over the Guardian? Dead easy to spin that as a visual metaphor for Sora snap-understanding exactly who the Guardian is.

And it's so instant. Sora does not care that that thing has personally attacked him before and was attacking him up until five minutes ago. There's a guy in there who needs help and by kingdom hearts Sora will help.

It's such good shit

I'll be honest, I'm glad they removed Terra's ab lines from his BBS to his KH3 model.

Ab lines don't show up unless you're 1. Extremely dehydrated or 2. Intentionally flexing that area, and I think we can all agree that to be such a strong warrior Terra was probably not dehydrated, or flexing his abdominal muscles all the time for no reason.

I also like how they seemed to bulk Terra up around his middle in his KH3 model- like, he's muscular, but there being a layer of fat helps those muscles be, well, functional!

There were very minuscule changes made to Terra's design from BBS to KH3, but I think these ones were extremely good.

[ro-botany]

windows fucking updates just deleted TWENTY FOUR HOURS worth of results from tests I was running

im going to walk into lake superior and let her icy waters take me

[ro-botany]

God and isn't that so twisted? Both Eraqus and Xehanort are only seeing Terra as what he is physically - weapon, vessel, threat, danger, instrument of light or darkness, - just in different ways and from different angles. Neither of them are paying attention to *who* he is, only what. They only value the what.

I was JUST going to mention LW in my tags on that last reblog too, you've read my mind. The symbolism works *so well*.

Lingering Will... looking at it from this angle, it's Terra reduced to exactly what Eraqus was pushing him towards. A symbol of the keyblade - literally, it's keyblade armour - which deals immediate and unrelenting justice onto any perceived darkness it comes into contact with. Nevermind that it's a literal hollow shell of what Terra once was - it's finally acting as Eraqus' perfect student.

(It's also, simultaneously, what Xehanort was pushing him towards - a being so consumed by rage it loses everything else and becomes a hollowed out vessel... And it's also, simultaneously, Terra's final act in defiance of both of them, his dream of being a protector given form and taking up his fight. There are so many layers of symbolism one can place on LW's shoulders.)

I'll be honest, I'm glad they removed Terra's ab lines from his BBS to his KH3 model.

Ab lines don't show up unless you're 1. Extremely dehydrated or 2. Intentionally flexing that area, and I think we can all agree that to be such a strong warrior Terra was probably not dehydrated, or flexing his abdominal muscles all the time for no reason.

I also like how they seemed to bulk Terra up around his middle in his KH3 model- like, he's muscular, but there being a layer of fat helps those muscles be, well, functional!

There were very minuscule changes made to Terra's design from BBS to KH3, but I think these ones were extremely good.

[ro-botany]

Tbh if we're adding this character trait to Terra, Eraqus may not have noticed anything was up with Terra leading up to the mark because.. that may have been Terra's normal. If he was running himself ragged trying to live up to Eraqus' standards for as long as the game implies, always over-training and under-resting, it could have been years since that guy's had anything resembling a healthy amount of body fat. It would be an easy assumption for Eraqus to make. :)

And also you're RIGHT this interpretion works SPLENDIDLY with the events of the mark itself! 👀 The manifestation of darkness being directly correlated to desperation and a need to protect himself or others, and that desperation having a direct and physically manifested causal link to Eraqus' influence on him. It falls so well in line with the Themes. I like this.

I'll be honest, I'm glad they removed Terra's ab lines from his BBS to his KH3 model.

Ab lines don't show up unless you're 1. Extremely dehydrated or 2. Intentionally flexing that area, and I think we can all agree that to be such a strong warrior Terra was probably not dehydrated, or flexing his abdominal muscles all the time for no reason.

I also like how they seemed to bulk Terra up around his middle in his KH3 model- like, he's muscular, but there being a layer of fat helps those muscles be, well, functional!

There were very minuscule changes made to Terra's design from BBS to KH3, but I think these ones were extremely good.

[ro-botany]

Ok but consider: what if this design change was interpreted as a part of the narrative?

Maybe Terra WAS dehydrated and neglecting his health a bit around the time BBS took place. Maybe he was overworking himself trying to be ready for the mark of mastery; and after the mark, too worried trying to fight the unversed and wrestle his own darkness to take proper care of himself.

Terranort had time to kill after being reanimated, and got Terra's body back to a properly hydrated state for him, which explains its state when it was returned to Terra in kh3. But somebody better make sure he's drinking some damn water instead of ruminating.

I'll be honest, I'm glad they removed Terra's ab lines from his BBS to his KH3 model.

Ab lines don't show up unless you're 1. Extremely dehydrated or 2. Intentionally flexing that area, and I think we can all agree that to be such a strong warrior Terra was probably not dehydrated, or flexing his abdominal muscles all the time for no reason.

I also like how they seemed to bulk Terra up around his middle in his KH3 model- like, he's muscular, but there being a layer of fat helps those muscles be, well, functional!

There were very minuscule changes made to Terra's design from BBS to KH3, but I think these ones were extremely good.

[ro-botany]

ppl wanted vanitas on his own

[ro-botany]

new pokémon evolution method ideas that would make the game worse 👍:

•Ultra trade evolution where it has to have been traded at least twice, and to two different people from the original trainer. that’s right you need a total of Three people for this one

•it needs to have eaten a certain type of berry in battle (pluck counts for this one)

•you need to go out and make/eat food (varies with individual game mechanics) and have it in your party for the meal

•it needs to have taken a certain amount of damage from a type of move it’s weak to (without dying)

•it needs specifically to have been hit by a particular move. bonus if it’s another new pokémon’s signature move. bonus bonus if they both evolve each other with their sig moves like that

•straight up it has to have fainted. screw your nuzlocke. it evolves upon you reviving it (it’s a ghost type now)

•you have to use multiple evolution items on it, and in a certain order. the game gives no indication that the first one had any effect. it’ll say ‘compatible’ and let you use the item but it doesn’t do anything yet so you just have to somehow know that it secretly flagged something in the code and that you’re on the right track and then you have to figure out what to do next

•gym badge based evolution (or some equivalent milestone in that game). screw you. your pokémon doesn’t think you’re cool enough until you’ve beat tulip

•similarly, pokédex based evolution. maybe only once you have a certain number of mons caught. or only once you’ve caught another specific pokémon

•ev based evolution. gotta max out your base speed first, loser. (this is kinda? like the hitmons in a sense but worse)

•you need to own or have encountered at least one shiny in that game (there’s a guaranteed one somewhere but you have to play some annoying minigame or sidequest to get it)

•HATRED evolution. lower its friendship to zero. you sick monster. (it can evolve again after that once you take its friendship all the way back up from zero to the max. as an apology)

[ro-botany]

idk what this post is either

[ro-botany]

sorry for the random question but what's your opinion on transmasc people?

They should install Firefox with UBlock Origin and start using a password manager (I recommend bitwarden)

[ro-botany]

pass

[ro-botany]

I'm glad I still have this photo because oh my god???

[ro-botany]

a lot of video essay dudes are effectively writing fanfic in the language of persuasive essay and don't realise it, i'm pretty sure. like dude take this concept and put it into a story format and i would eat this shit right up.

but even when they're doing bonafide analysis, in my experience there's a small group of very loud people who see a large youtube channel as an inherent authority on the subject and adopt the presented opinions without thinking too critically about it themselves - which imo is not a good way to interact with a persuasive essay - and then decide to be rude to folks with other opinions.

not to put too fine a point on it but i have actually been pushed out of fandom spaces before because the loudest people there could not fathom the fact that i disagreed with their premier video essay man. it was bizarre.

I'm tired and about to go to sleep soon so can I be a little bitchy about something.

I swear to god the vast majority of video essays on media is some cishet white man thinking their opinions on a piece of media is on some level an objective assessment just because they can put it into a video essay format. And then the video maker himself AND the vast majority of his viewers take his *opinion*, I need to stress it's an opinion, as objective and the only real take on a piece of media that they need to convince everyone else of because of course people would take the word of a white man as law. Even with something as inherently subjective as ART.

[ro-botany]

sad reality of the fanfic-to-published work economy is that the weirdest people are willing to do it. that's why there's now hundreds of shitty no plot cishet hate-to-love enemies-to-lovers books that are ex reylo fanfic. and it's not even good. that's because the people who wrote book-quality steve/bucky and kirk/spock fic are too normal to think to themselves "i should get this porn published". they're too busy working in local government offices