#HELIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[floralovebot]

How would you describe Helia’s relationship with authority or an hierarchy? How he feels about Red Fountain or Saladin, and if he would ever go rogue if he doesn’t agree with their decisions or if he would go through with it either way?

Maybe earlier seasons Helia might go through with it but I think he feels more free and confident in the later seasons to make his own decisions and whether he wants to be a part of certain fights.

gnawing on the bars of my enclosure btw

alghldag anyway I'm OBSESSED with this question i love you so much

Helia's relationship with authority is so interesting to me! We know from canon that he does respect Saladin, Codatorta, and other figures of authority in the three main schools, and a lot of that does come down to him agreeing with what they're saying. Whether that's because he grew up in it is debatable, but at least in canon, he agrees with what Red Fountain is doing and doesn't see the need to "go rogue". Him leaving the school had a lot more to do with wanting to be an artist than it did disagreeing with the morality and ethics of RF.

That being said, Helia also feels intense loyalty to Red Fountain and would be willing to go through with things he's not comfortable with if it means sticking by them. Take a look at the Shaab Stone arc in the comics for instance! Helia was not comfortable with basically breaking up with Flora, yelling at her, and lying to her. But he still did it because getting the stone was more important to him than his comfort. And thankfully it ended well for them, but Helia knew that there was a chance that Flora wouldn't forgive him, and he still took that risk because the end goal was more important than what it took to get there.

It's... an interesting dynamic to say the least! I think I've said this before but Helia really is more of a "the end justifies the means" kind of person (still with limits of course). If he truly believes in the vision and end goal, he's willing to put up with a lot of bullshit. In regard to authority, it's less about the decisions they're making and more about the end goal for him. If they're killing just to kill, then no, he's not going to stick around. But if they tell him to kill someone because getting rid of them will save thousands of others? Then yeah, he's probably going to.

It's interesting that you mention the difference between early seasons Helia and older Helia because honestly, I think it's a bit reversed! Maybe it is because he left, but I feel like younger Helia was a bit more rebellious and willing to go against the grain if he felt like the decisions being made were Bad. Meanwhile, older Helia seems to be more focused on the end goal and making sure the result is the most desirable option rather than caring about every minute detail of a mission. He definitely does still pick his battles, but that's more so what he does in his personal life. When it comes to specialist matters, he's always on the frontline even when he doesn't want to be.

Helia... oh goodness he's so soldier king poet </3