#Migelo

[johannestevans]

i just have so many feelings of Migelo's positioning as a merchant and an apparent collaborator in FFXII and the way that he presents himself as servile and obsequious when he's working with the archadian soldiers, bribing them, cooing about archadia

like. i just feel that Migelo is very Jewish-coded, and that's part of the reason i feel SUCH an attachment and affection for him, but like it's that he is caring for all these orphans. he is feeding them. he is giving them work.

and no, it's not straight "charity", he makes them work for it, but he does that because he's frightened that if they don't learn to work and learn to APPEAR obedient, they will be murdered, not just that they'll starve, but that the empire will cut them down

everything about his manner, the gentle way that he talks to the kids even when he's being stern and even when he's putting them forward like... he's so anxious to keep Vaan out of harm's way EVEN THOUGH vaan has repeatedly refused Migelo's attention and his paternal attentions

and esp bc like. he knows that vaan fucking hates him. because vaan thinks he's a collaborator - and vaan is just a kid! he's a stupid kid, at that! it's not like Migelo can tell him the truth, bc even if he did, Vaan won't understand the SUBTLETIES of their position here

none of these kids understand precisely how fucking vulnerable they ALL are, how vulnerable Migelo himself is - and he doesn't want them to do as he does, he wants them to do as he APPEARS to, bc he doesn't want them in harm's way

and fuck me, i wonder how much his teeth are set on edge with vayne. i think that Migelo is frightened a lot, but I think he APPEARS and presents himself as far more frightened than he actually is, so that no one questions his servile appearances

and that moment when Vayne says, "we will drink until you call me by name" - how much of that is Vayne recognising Migelo for what he actually is, and not only his appearance? How much is Migelo recognising Vayne's layered manipultations in turn?

[tarnishedxknight]

FFXII Week ~ Day 7 Prompt: Sky

{out of dalmasca} Disclaimer: This post may include canon-divergent interpretations of canon characters, info about OCs featured on this blog, and AUs that may not align with the canon plot/characters of FFXII and/or may contain triggering material.

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The sky means many things to many different people in FFXII, both good and bad. I'd like to discuss some of the things the sky represents in the game, and look at how its importance and what it symbolizes and represents has impacted some of the main characters.

Commerce

Airships are a major means through which much of the transportation of supplies and people, recreational and military travel between nations, and trading of goods and resources is accomplished in the world of FFXII. There is a heavy reliance on the skies for everyday life, military function, and the lives of royalty and commonfolk alike. Given the expansive and sometimes treacherous terrain of various locations in Ivalice, without the use of air transport, a good portion of life would grind to a halt. And in Jagd, where interference with skytones renders the majority of air travel impossible, this presents significant obstacles for Ashe & Co. as they attempt to travel to distant lands.

Freedom

For Balthier and Fran, the skies represent freedom, the ability to go anywhere they want and to do anything they want. We are never privy to Fran's reasons for leaving her village, but with Balthier, the skies represent a welcome reprieve from the depravity of his father's research and this expectations placed on him as an Archadian Judge. For them, the skies truly are freedom in the truest sense of the word from the shackles of their former identities.

For Vaan, the skies also represent the same literal kind of freedom. Flying away from your former life, and therefore, from your problems. Leaving behind war, plague, hardship, the deaths of his parents, the death of his older brother, and seeing kids his own age struggling to survive doing odd jobs for Migelo on the streets of Lowtown. He dreams of the adventure and freedom of being a sky pirate because in his mind, it takes him away from his current life, as hard and sad as it is. For Vaan, the sky represents an escape route from a life that he fears will become his destiny if he doesn't do something about it.

War

As much of Ivalician war is raged in the airspaces of various nations as is it on the ground. Air fleets are a major thing in the world of FFXII, with aerial guns, bombs, magicite, nethicite, and standard artillery all being used in the raging war between empires and all tiny kingdoms caught in the fray. Important battles are waged on land, but perhaps even more important ones are waged in the sky. Being comfortable with airships, knowing how to fly one, and knowing how to navigate one in a dire situation, are all skills that serve the average Ivalician well in this day and age.

The loss of the 8th Imperial Fleet and the huge prison ship, Dreadnought class, the Leviathan, sent huge shockwaves through the Archadian military. A massive ship of grave importance was destroyed along with its supporting fleet within mere seconds, due to a single nethicite explosion. Granted, Judge Ghis was kindof an idiot and didn't respect the power of deifacted nethicite, and that's what caused the explosion, but.... Landis, Nabudis... it isn't as though the world of Ivalice has not experience the destructive power of Mist before. The threat of that quite literally looming in the skies is a reality that the average Ivalcian has to live with daily.

And who could forget the final showdown in Dalmscan airspace, between the sky fortress Bahamut, the Resistance forceless, the Dalmascan military, and the "12th Dalmscan Fleet of the Archadian Army," as headed by Judge Magister Zargabaath, captain of the Alexander. That battle, a culmination of power struggles, minds, and weapons of a war long in coming to a head, was unfrotunately wafes in the skies over Dalmasca. Firsthand, many innocent civilians bore witness to a horrific battle that sent countless streams of ship debris falling on them, many lives lost, and their futures hanging in the balance. That day, the skies were ominous, they were frightening, and they confirmed so many fears and traumas that the people of Dalmasca had dealt with for years.

Power

The skies also represent something very important: power. Literal power, to fuel airships, machines, magic spells, to augment weapons and armor, to give special abilities to things like compasses, glasses, potions, and countless other things.

Bhujerba, a literal sky city, is the site of Ivaice's magicite mines. Magicite powers everything of importance that I just listed above, and so the mines and Bhujerba itself were seen as pivotal in the war. Whomsoever has control over them... can control the tide of the war. And that was made clear in the way the Archadian Empire tried to manipulate Marquis Ondore to say that they wishes and to be loyal to them.

But that is not the only skyward seat of true magical power in Ivalice, not by a long shot. The Sun Cryst, a large crystal of deifacted nethicite, was located at the highest Ascent of the Pharos and kept secret by the Occurian race. The higher one climbed in the Pharos, the closer one was to the Cryst and to the potential of being able to hold in their hands nearly absolute power, if not a violent and indiscrimnate source of power.

And finally, speaking of the Occurians, their city in the sky is where they live? Where they congregate? It is unclear, but they are associated at least in some wat, with the sky, with a floating world in the heavens, somewhere off the edge of Giruvegan, but in the sky nevertheless. It makes them bright, ethereal, elevated, holy, heavenly... but also high, noble, aloof, arrogant, holier-than-thou, and ascended above the world of humes and all mortal beings. That may be seen as worthy of the worship and fear of us lowly mortals, or it might be seen as just an arrogant race of non-humans looking exert their power where it is not needed.

Hope

The skies can also represent something figurative, abstract, and decidedly hopeful. As the impromptu peace agreement between Ashelia, Larsa, and "Gabranth" was proposed, airships of many types were still battling in the skies. When a ceasefire was finally called, one of the most memorable quote from that time was from Ashelia, when she said, "A new day has dawned. Ivalice looks to the horizon." So here, the sky represents the dawning of a new era, a bright future, and moving past the heaviness and emotional weights of war. We're looking to the horizon, we're looking onward, past, forward... away from this war that we've been living through for so long.

A Cautionary Reminder

Finally, the sky can also remind us of what we no longer wish to be. It can be a cautionary tale of what we once were, and what we never want to return to. The carcass of the crashed fortress Bahamut, having descended and embedded itself into the sand outside Rabanastre, becomes part of the Dalmascan skyline. A year later, we see it covered in plants, and with birds flying around its higher points. For years to come, it will be there to remind the citizens of Dalmasca how close they came to obliteration, and maybe to take a breath and consider how lucky they are to still have the city they live in. It is a painful yet important reminder of what almost was, and what needs to be avoided in the future.

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The sky had many literal and figurative meanings throughout the game, and although it wasn't as overt of a theme as power, identity, family, etc., it still was a constant presence in the lives of the main characters and everyone in Ivalice. It's maybe one of the themes we take for granted, because it's always there in some way, but that makes it no less important to the plot of the game of the lives of all our favorite main characters.

[themelodicenigma]

***Long post, oh boy.

It is interesting that I've gotten some Asks about Fang and Vanille circulating on Twitter because of FFXVI. Lol I have seen the posts, and also the resistance of it from those who feel like it's looking down on Dion/Terrance (which I kind of agree with, let them have their spotlight).

Overall, we really just shouldn't care too much about that.

A lot of the fandom drama is just bleh at this point (really always was), and when you've seen SO much for years, it's easy to tell what is what. I mean, I'm now seeing people fighting over Jill/Clive of whether they're romantic or not, or if they align more with Clerith or Cloti. Lol Just why.

However, as for what some of ya'll requested from me about Fang and Vanille, to talk about how they're different from Jill/Clive or Vaan/Penelo—I mean, that's easy.

Jill/Clive? It's a random line in her young profile at the beginning that mentions Clive and Joshua "love her as a sister"—the same beginning that immediately has an NPC say Jill/Clive make a "handsome pair", show hardly any typical sibling action, dialogue, or contextual connotation between Jill/Clive in any scene (where they barely really interact until the Moon screen), and the interactions they do have don't really naturally fit into the box of "these two love each other as siblings or Clive views her as a younger sister". Apparently, it's also BOTH the ENG and JPN that mention a sibling relationship. Either way, the game also straight-forwardly writes them as romantic, so it doesn't matter even if it was true or not—unless you're trying to argue he thinks of her as both, there's no doubt they're romantic. Like, seriously, if you haven't finished the game well....trust, you'll find out they're romantic.

Vaan/Penelo? Well first, as far as I'm concerned, the BradyGames guide from years past is the one that carries the assumption that they're "brother and sister". Otherwise, the game, Ultimania, and even the Archive Ultimania only mention they're "like family"—in which case, this is obviously in reference to their orphan past where they were already childhood friends. Reks (Vaan's brother) went to war and Vaan's parents died, Vaan stays with Penelo's family as a result, and then soon after Penelo's parents ALSO died, and then now they BOTH were orphaned along with a bunch of other kids and grew up together working for Migelo as a group of orphans. It's not written for no reason or something that is not true—they're like family. And of course, you know that's a descriptor of a bond, of closeness—YOU can assume it defaults and is limited to a sibling relationship, but technically that's not true, and very often isn't. So, it doesn't even contrast their romanticism (which is hinted at in the 1st game, not just the 2nd), not to mention, it's not even a focus between their characters in the story. The friendship is really the focus, while the family aspect is more expressed for Vaan through dealing with his actual brother's death. The family in relation to their past and part of their bond is definitely a thing, don't get me wrong, but it's hardly emphasized within the game and a center for what they express about and to each other. That'd be the friendship, you just also happen to have romanticism applied eventually as well.

Fang and Vanille, though? It's the major focus of their characters, the family concept flows through them intentionally, consistently, and is also specific to being as sisters. Not to mention, it then is applicable to ALL things shown between them and EXPLAINS their behavior towards each other. In the Games, FFXIII and FFXIII World Previews, Ultimanias + Other credible guides like Piggyback, VA interviews, novelizations—this never stops being true for them and something implemented more than you'd EVER see between Clive/Jill or Vaan/Penelo. And it all "coincidentally" flows together as a whole for the family/sister application.

FFXIII World Preview - their introduction on the relationship chart is "same family surname". Even before the game's release, the family connotation is applied to them. While we learn the REASON in-world is because of them being from the same village, this more than obviously is for the purpose of serving the continuous family connotation THROUGH Fang and Vanille specifically to emphasis this, as supported by all other points below. Also, just a small thought, why choose this to introduce the characters mysteriously, and then later have a plethora of familial confirmations, if it's something that isn't representative of exactly what it foretells?

FFXIII Ultimania Chart - "relationship like sisters", enough said. Unlike Vaan/Penelo, it specifies WHAT family relationship they have. They didn't pull back from "same family surname", they took it steps further. The relationship chart is informative of something about the characters, and obviously the content can show something more than just the chosen moniker (e.g. Aqua/Terra/Ven aren't just "fellow pupils"), but it also isn't something that is FALSE information unless the content TELLS you it's false. It normally doesn't, and certainly didn't for Fang and Vanille, as per below.

FFXIII Scenario Ultimania, Archive Ultimania, LR Complete Guide - literally, everywhere, ESPECIALLY in writings relative to Fang, who is the older sister, protector, and most concerned over the other—this also correlates to why Fang's character centers around Vanille's more than the other way around (more on that later). Her descriptions really capture WHY she is the way she is towards Vanille and why the center of her character is protecting Vanille and keeping her from turning into a Cie'th. The FFXIII Scenario Ultimania even directly says in Fang's profile "Vanille is not just a childhood friend from the same hometown" and guess what works alongside this description: "To Fang, Vanille is an irreplaceable family member", "grew up like sisters", "they have a bond beyond family", “Since the original Final Fantasy XIII, Fang has always strived to protect Vanille, considering her as her own family", etc. etc. etc. Family, family, family. Being friends is absolutely a thing, don't get it twisted, but the family aspect not only in retrospect to growing up together, but in HOW they see each other, is consistent, ESPECIALLY for Fang. The Lightning Returns Complete Guide is from Piggyback, who is known for having the developers involved in the conception of their guides as well, and Toriyama himself is quoted in the book saying Fang considers Vanille as family.

FFXII Scenario Ultimania Stories - As a bonus, in Benny Matsuyama's short stories for all the characters, including separately in both Fang and Vanille's stories—in both stories, he doubles down on the same things as above, describing how Fang has this strong conviction and vow of protecting Vanille, who is like her younger sister, and wants to stop her from becoming a Cie'th. While Matsuyama's canonicity through BentStuff is a complete other conversation, there is the consideration of the fact he's reiterating something that has already been applied as opposed to making it up, not to mention, his novella and the character he created in the FFXIII Ultimania Omega were made canon, and he's in the staff credits for Lightning Returns.

FFXIII Ultimania Omega Interview - even Fang's VA mentions how "To Fang, Vanille is like a younger sister", and relates that to why she relates to Fang since she has a younger sister too, and thus understands the strong conviction Fang has in protecting Vanille.

The FFXIII Game - now I don't think the game itself specifically mentions them being "like sister" (at least in the dialogue, as I've gone through the script of the cutscenes), but the family aspect is something they carry pretty heavily, especially for the group. Vanille's narration talking about family and the regrets of not keeping them as close as you should, Vanille introducing the idea of "On Gran Pulse, everyone is family", Fang and Vanille emphasizing that their village is a close-knit family when arriving to Oerba, Fang assuring Vanille "we have a new family now" and the Ulti Omega doubling down by saying that this line clearly shows how Fang sees the group as her family, and of course, Fang trying to sacrifice herself to fulfill her promise to "protect her family" when the group faces Orphan. Fang's worry and conviction to protect Vanille, and extending this to her expanded family, is shown greatly.

-Zero Promise- Novelization - the novelization is the treasure trove for Fang and Vanille's context as character, their family/sister relationship (along with friendship, of course), and their past. It even features two direct parallels between Lightning and Fang for the sake of showing how Fang views Vanille like a little sister. Even Vanille, in the moment they became L'Cie at their village, tells Fang about how despite being orphans, they were raised together, and were family. There's also the additional context of Fang being like the "woman/adult" while Vanille is like "the child", emphasizing the child-like personality of Vanille by how she always slept next to Fang (also with other kids in the village, before they became L'Cie) from her fears of loneliness, and Fang recounting this of her looking after her being a "crybaby". Naturally, all of this does naturally fit within a context where there's an older sibling and a younger sibling. There usually isn't, but if there are concerns over canonicity—Jun Eishima, the author of this novel (and the FFXIII-2 novels), was hired directly by SE to write her novelizations and to have them published through SE individually, had them featured in the World Previews of both FFXIII and XIII-2, had another short story called -Episode i- featured with the Xbox 360 release of FFXIII, AND was the Story Advisor for the actual FFXIII-2 game. So, it's safe to say she's an authentic additional party to the series as an author, even more than Matsuyama.

-Episode i- Novelization - this short story features the group slightly post-the ending of FFXIII. The story shows the groups conviction for saving Fang and Vanille from the crystal stasis, which sets up this same conviction expressed from all of them (especially Snow and Hope) in FFXIII-2. More importantly, how this conviction is shaped by the familial bond they created with Fang and Vanille, and they remark how this meaning came from Vanille's famous line: "On Gran Pulse, everyone is family".

FFXIII-2 World Preview Book - continuing the trend, Fang and Vanille are described as "like family" once again in the relationship chart. And at this point, we already know HOW they're like family: sisters.

FFXIII-2 Game/Novelization - This first point is really kind of a bonus that is congruent to the comparison of Lightning and Fang, but in FFXIII-2 when Serah meets Fang for the first time, she talks about how Fang reminded her of Lightning. There's also the "Daughters of Etro" moniker they gain through prophecy and the "Legend of Cocoon" Noel speaks on—this is obviously congruent with the concept of them being family/sisters to one another, it just throws in the context of a connection to Etro. Interestingly enough, the ENG localization also recounts the legend through Noel as them being called "the sisters", as well, though this line of dialogue in JPN from Noel is still "the daughters". This meaning is also talked about within the novelizations Fragments Before and Fragments After.

FFXIII: Lightning Returns Game - And of course, Fangs conviction to protect Vanille is STILL the center of her character, to the point she leaves Vanille in order to accomplish this. Lightning will remark this, wondering what made Fang leave since they have "a bond beyond/stronger than family". At this point, it's obvious why family is the foundation of this descriptor, but also how it works as a nice descriptor that comments on the strength of this bond, and how it is stronger than the already strong bond of family bonds.

And the most important thing as demonstrated above? They don't stray from this—they build upon it. There's no deviation, there's no making it false, there's no "this is a lie and it's actually romantic". This IS the characters and their relationship—perhaps the most important difference between them and Clive/Jill or Vaan/Penelo. Within all this, there is no "coded/subtext" of romance, when all things expressed in the game fits within ALL that is provided above and is congruent to one another for the same conclusion: Fang and Vanille are family, are sisters, and very much so care a lot about each other. As you can see, it was given in a multitude of ways throughout the existence of all 3 games and corresponding material relative to them. This especially for Fang—a character who is older, has grown up taking care of a younger character in a family setting, and whose main priority is protecting them and looking after them: this doesn't just fit in the sibling/parental [hogosha] box, it is THE box itself. Are there stories that deviate, that subvert this and make it romantic? Absolutely, I've seen them myself. But, it's a deviation for a reason, it's "different than what it appears as" for a reason—because it's not what is natural for a romantic relationship to develop. There's a reason Fang is consistently compared and paired with Lightning, who is also not only just a sibling to Serah, but also a hogosha [parental figure]. I would make the same argument for Fang too.

One thing I've seen actively in the way is the very typical urge to use our personal interpretations more than the content to understand something. The bar for romanticism is REALLY low in how people perceive things, and that's a wider conversation on how media itself was the influence on this, kind of negatively if you ask me. Glorification of romanticism and sex is a thing. Like really, it's what part of me understands HOW people can see Fang and Vanille as romantic, but also, WHY I know they also should be able to see it as platonic, too. I believe this is an important aspect of talking about perception and media. However, we can't be blinded by it—logically or emotionally. There's not a single thing they've done that can't be understood through the lens of what the material has given you to understand it. Use the lens of the information, not your own personal interpretation if you want to KNOW Fang and Vanille. If you want to ship the hek out of them despite this, fine—I don't care about that specifically, but it would be nice if people recognized and also talked about who the characters actually are outside of their headcanon. That way, when things that are just misconceptions are said, people who know better can say something.

Fang originally being a man? Actually, they both were in a sense. And, not only is it a "coincidence" that the construction of Fang's character is centered on her "wanting to save Vanille", but also that one of the reasons Fang was turned into a female was to AVOID the feeling of romance between Fang and Vanille. Interesting how that little detail is left out by those mentioning this (one could even argue it's slightly homophobic, but that's a whole other convo). Either way, it makes sense as to why the center of Fang's character is her conviction to protect Vanille—it's what she was created for, and we see HOW they chose to execute that: to protect Vanille, her younger sister, her family.

Fang and Vanille being like the Ragnarok legend? It's pretty easy to understand what was/wasn't used with the Lif and Lifthrasir comparison. They're a duo, seemingly the last of the Pulse civilization, and associated with Ragnarok—that's where the similarity ends and how far it was utilized, obviously as based on the above. Something done in media all the time is the utilization of concepts, but not ALL details are 1:1. Happens all the time, and when the storytelling is directly referencing the concept itself (like True Love's Kiss or an Act of Pure Love), it's actually a specific point to SUBVERT from romance and apply it differently.

Vanille talking about never sleeping alone? This is literally linked to the "child-like" aspect of her character—of her fears and sadness of loneliness, and quite frankly the trauma of being orphaned. She's never slept alone, and Vanille recounts this in lieu of herself and ALL the orphans (before they're L'Cie)—it wasn't just Fang in her recollection, but Fang is the one she is closest to and relied on the most. Sleeping alone = fear of loneliness. Fang recounts the same idea in lieu of Vanille's "crybaby" personality—"Vanille would always cry, waking up from a bad dream, holding on to Fang and begging her not to leave her alone. She had always been like that, since they were children."—and naturally, this coincides with Fang's role of taking care of her since they were kids. Surely we're not confused on how that fits with a sibling dynamic more naturally than a romantic one? Then lastly, what is probably even the inspiration of this from the -Zero- Promise novel, is the wholesome/sad scene in the FFXIII game when Vanille, after making a deal about Sazh not invading her sleeping space, sneaks over to sleep next to him, crying, and Sazh allows it, calling her a kid. I mean, it's literally outlined three separate times. Nothing to do with romance, it's about Vanille's character. Unless, you really think Vanille was coming onto Sazh as opposed to dealing with trauma. Knowing the internet, I'm sure that's a ship somewhere, but it ain't it.

Fang lifting up Vanille's skirt to see her brand on her upper thigh? That is, to see if she is close to death, being a Cie'th? The very thing she's been stressing about the entire game up to that point? In this, we can also include the ability of Fang and Vanille hugging or holding each other's hands when they're sacrificing themselves. Basically, physical intimacy.

Boy, this one is a rant for me, and it's hard to be nice about it.

The L'Cie brand is practically almost like a wound, and they're constantly in s state of worry of it getting worse, with it being their ticking time clock towards losing themselves to becoming Cie'th. This is one of Fang's biggest concerns for Vanille along with protecting her.

Now, take their outward personalities that reinforce they're not one to make a big deal about seeing skin, their close-knit familial upbringing + being sisters within this environment—supplemented by the info that supports Fang being the older sister whose main concern is Vanille's safety and turning into a Cie'th + Vanille, who is the younger sister and like a "child", them both being females, and how Fang wordlessly moves Vanille to do this while Vanille has no protest, which can be reminiscent of a mother/child, which "coincidentally" flows with the above, etc. If you seriously can't understand in any way how this interaction fits within the information of the above, platonically, and doesn't showcase anything relative to "this can only happen if they're fucking"—then there's not much else to be said other than, maybe expand your understanding of human interaction and personalities in media (not even just JPN, either)? That's the nicest and most understanding way I can put it. Take in anything, where a sibling dynamic and their capability of interaction isn't just bickering and tussling with one another. Please. It's super easy, and has been done before or even further in so much other content, all across JPN media. There's SO many characters with strong sibling relationships. For SE games, also look at FFXIII itself—Lightning and Hope, Hope and Vanille (the beginning), Sarah and Vanille even share a moment when they meet, Lightning and Serah's interaction at the end of XIII-2, etc. It's everywhere. Yuna and Rikku's hug scene in FFX, Aqua's general intimacy towards Ventus in the KH series, etc. There's not a single thing Fang and Vanille has done that isn't covered under what has been given about their characters, and it's not even like, that much. I mean, Elsa and Anna between Frozen 1 and 2 show more I'd say. "B-but, but, hugs in Japanese media are always—". Nope, go read, watch, anything, please. Now, there can be a certain conversation of expectations between say, a female and male (and even this isn't absolute), but between females? Showing physical intimacy and closeness, not only in real-time of the story but also in key art? Super common. Easy.

There's even a conversation for the sake of how Fang and Vanille specifically are the way they are because of this upbringing, so Fang not making a big deal about even checking Lightning's brand despite being a stranger, Vanille and Serah sharing a moment while being strangers, and even how quickly Vanille physically came to comforting Hope at the beginning of the game—it's more about their personalities and familial/close-knit characterization.

Like, c'mon man. There's "I can see this happening between a couple but also know it can happen without it", and then there's "there's no 'heterosexual' explanation for this". One shows understanding and wisdom, the other, either just uninformed or purposely ignorant of the fact that, yes, they give you an explanation. Over, and over, and over again, in multiple sources, in multiple ways, as shown above. Realize the whole "I would never do that with my sister" is not evidential of what CAN and HAS been done for other sisters or sibling characters. I mean, if you're sincerely not use to seeing all types of physical or descriptive expressions that can happen between this configuration of characterization, I'm not sure how you'd make it through most JPN content to be honest and not tell the difference between what's sexual or platonic, or even American content like Four Brothers, The Outsiders, Frozen, etc., without believing all the siblings (blood related or not) are all having sex with each other. Also, I think it's interesting to note that most physical interactions are initiated by Fang, the older sister, who's main priority is protecting and looking after her younger sister—it certainly matches the same energy you'll see from older sisters in JPN media who show love and comfort to their younger sisters.

Fang would "be everyone's enemy/tear the sky down" just to save Vanille and this is like "Snow's language" towards Serah? I mean, have you seen Supernatural? XD Also like, again, ANY JPN content with an older and younger sibling, whose sole motivation and characterization is protecting their younger sibling? It's called conviction (as we covered, Fang was created specifically to have for Vanille), and considering Serah and her happiness is Lighting's "reason for living and her greatest reward", who Lighting has "the same beloved feeling" for that is the same depth as Snow, is what, "coincidentally", Fang herself uses to motivate Lightning to keep going when she contemplates giving up, who Lightning does turn against Cocoon for in order to save, and who is THE most important component to Lightning's agency in the 3rd game and is the key to her character arc—I'm sure Lightning isn't far off from what Fang is. Again, there's the novella equating them, and also, Serah being reminded of Lightning when she finally meets Fang—this conviction to protect and save your loved ones is something, really, all the characters show. It isn't just Snow, nor is it just Fang. And, Fang just so happens to have this conviction in a way that has been repeatedly linked to "protecting Vanille, her younger sister".

Fang and Vanille having a "bond beyond family"? First, notice how family is still the basis of this bond, the conventional relationship type that is the most versatile AND the top signifier of closeness. So "bond" here isn't relationship type, it's in the same vein of the "reason for existing", "irreplaceable", "unbreakable", "most important thing", etc. descriptors that you get to show how a relationship goes beyond just a type, which all the above is beyond simply being family. The logic of romance being "beyond family" also doesn't make any sense because it literally is it's own sector in family—I mean, the conventional point of a romantic relationship is TO become family. Also for this specific phrase, funny enough, I've only ever seen it used platonically or specifically with no romanticism application, e.g. in Boruto, Sakura tells her daughter that her and Naruto became "more than family". It's like literally the same Kanji phrasing too (家族以上 - kazoku ijou). I haven't even seen it used in a romantic context, but I'm sure it very well could be. It's also funny that, Lightning says this about Fang and Vanille, of how Fang would "never just leave Vanille all alone", but "coincidentally" (this is getting fun, huh), Hope says Sazh had mentioned practically THE SAME THING about why they wanted to believe Lightning wasn't in the crystal, that Lightning wouldn't "just up and leave Serah like that".

Vanille's VA says she hopes the games will show how Fang and Vanille "have a bond more powerful than friendship"—I mean, yeah? They're family, something stronger than friendship. Bond-wise? Absolutely. They have a bond BEYOND even that. See the above, how is this specifically and only romantic? Keep in mind, this is also the same interview where Fang's VA directly says "To Fang, Vanille is like a younger sister", seeing herself in Fang because she has her own younger sister, and relates of the feeling of "protecting small children" that comes with this. Like you know, "coincidentally", like how Vanille as a younger sister is also "childlike" in disposition and a "cute, crybaby" to Fang. Neither this phrase or "bond beyond family" are inherently romantic, and they're very applicable to other multiple relationship types because it's for the sake of describing the strength of a bond.

Fang and Vanille still live with each other at the end of LR? You mean, two people who have lived together since they were children as a close-knit family, have a whole arc involving them separating and reuniting in BOTH games, and are thrust into a new world with the two still being each other's closest family? A world of which is also still very different than the one they came from? You mean two people like THAT would still live together? I am shocked and dismayed. I feel a little sassy here because, c'mon. I'd also like to point out that the idea of "never being apart/leaving each other's side" is congruent with their history, but also is something expressed in the storytelling of Vanille's fear of loneliness, in which even WAY back in the FFXIII novelization Zero Promise, she expresses to Fang “We might be orphans, but we were raised together. We’re family. We can protect everyone together. We’ll be together forever… no matter what happens, we’ll never be apart.” when being turned into L'Cie. So, it's very fitting, but also still within the context that is repeatedly there.

Let the material speak for itself. Which it does. A lot. And you don't have to do much other than just finding it and absorbing it. I feel like, there's STILL more that I could say, but this is the brunt gist of understanding Fang and Vanille.

[sarasa-cat]

Partner started (re)playing ffxii today on switch. I forgot how tight the story is especially the introductory parts.

Penelo & Vaan’s reaction to Vayne’s speech and to Migelo groveling while Vayne pretended to be a mere citizen of equal status— priceless.

So much showing rather than telling. The writing is so good.

[ends-of-the-wayward-storm]

Spoilers for Act 4 Chapter 1: Part 2 (Part 5)

—

—

—

I love him so much.

I still can't believe they're interacting. But at least Quina's persistent.

On another note, I think Quina kinda reminded Vayne of his conversation with Migelo about insisting that he join him for that big dinner and such. Or at least that's what it looked like it implied. 'Cause I was totally being reminded of Migelo during this.

[ff12-ultimania]

100 secrets: I Can Change Clan Centurio's Gatekeeper to a Viera?

In the side-quest "Conversations with Ktjn", if Ktjn's final choice of career path is "Clan Centaurio's Gatekeeper," you can talk to her in front of the Clan Headquarters. If Ktjn has never been to the clan headquarters before, she will hear what the Bangaa gatekeeper say to incoming clan members, and copy what he says.

Ktjn: "By the way, are you going inside? I see you have something to report to the clan. Please come in."

In order to get this line, you must proceed the game without going to the Clan HQ until you have defeated Judge Bergan.

◆ translator's note: Ktjn is known as Catrine in JP version. She is looking for her sister, Krjn (Caroline) in Rabanastre but have lost her way. Krjn is one of the founders of Clan Centurio.

◆ extra: Ktjn will ask four questions as the game progresses, your choices will decide if she becomes a Gatekeeper, Clan Centurio fighter (member), just wandering about Rabanastre, or working in Migelo's sundries.

[this page was a patreon exclusive, kupo! become a member to read the secrets in advance]

[greeniceteas]

There are some more doodles (and I tried to draw my oc in Alberto Migelo's art style [which didn't really work out but wtv])

[crimaster777-art]

[sevi007]

(Restoring my rambling post here) –

Look I might be joking around about Basch and Balthier having to be the Adults™ of the group most of the time, aka the Dads with the rambunctious son they kind of adopted in the span of two minutes, but you know who the REAL parent here is?

Migelo, through and through, undisputable.

 I mean the very first thing we learn about this guy is that he gives basically ALL the street kinds and orphans in Rabanastre who lost their parents to war and illness not only work, but also a home, food, and a parental figure in himself. He does not just see them as workers, because the very second thing we learn is that at least Vaan and Kyste tend to slack of on their jobs for him, or skip them altogether, but they still get all of the accommodations Migelo can offer without a single bad word from him. More than that:  He’s hastening from one place to the other to make sure the kids are alright; he grovels in front of empire soldiers to get them to leave his boys alone and not even offers any reprimand afterwards –

And we’re also told that that is why he works with the Empire at all: To ensure he has a standing and the money which puts him in a position where he can make sure his kids are safe and sound. Not because he wants money, or fame – it’s even hinted if he was alone, he would not go out of his way like this.

Then he goes on to ORDER a notorious sky pirate with a bounty on his head to go save Penelo, OR ELSE –

(And at this point I would like to note that he does not beg, he does not threaten, he does not offer money. He talks to Balthier like he probably would to one of his more stubborn charges – which, given Balthier’s age and personality, makes me think that it’s not really far off; Migelo probably views him as just another lost boy who a good wake-up shake now and then. But this just as a side note)

 And what probably touches me the most is not even in a cutscene (sadly) but the fact that when you return to Rabanastre and Migelo after getting Penelo back, he’s not even trying to stop you, or trying to kick you out because a wanted criminal is not welcome or something like that. He very literally tells you that he’s proud of Vaan and Penelo for doing what they think they have to do, and that once they come back from adventuring, they still have a home here.

 Listen, Migelo is just – the very best parent in this game. Maybe a lot of games.

 (Also he probably views the entire party as his responsibility afterwards, let’s be honest here. XD)

[johannestevans]

an aspect i adore of final fantasy xii when moving through the streets of rabanastre and speaking with NPCs and also through characters like Migelo and Old Dalan is the sense of how many of these characters KNOW and LOVE Vaan and Penelo and the other street orphans

like people don't just greet him by name or say vague, unspecific things - it's an open secret that Vaan fights rats in the sewers, even though Migelo worries about his safety

Tomaj laughs about it; Dalan teases about it; Migelo scolds him for it

and the reason that any of them know about it - except maybe Migelo catching him before - is that Vaan tells people he wants to hunt and fight, and Kytes is a kid who helps him and also gossips and tells other people

just how much little Johm looks up to him too and is like, wink wink nudge nudge because Vaan taught him to pickpocket like

all the peasants of Rabanastre KNOW the street orphans. they work to make sure these kids are fed and that they know where to ask for help

notice how none of the peasants yell at Vaan or tell him to go away, when they do know him? several of them talk about him pickpocketing Imperials, often teasing or just making reference to it, but no one ever implies Vaan would steal from THEM, because he wouldn't

and that's a lot of trust to put in a 17yo street kid who survives on his wits and is honestly arrogant and annoying and more than a bit stupid - but as much as people often paint Penelo as the only responsible one, he DOES do a lot of self-sacrifice

like. it takes almost no time at all to convince him to hand things back to their rightful owners or give charity, as soon as any pressure is put on him. he WANTS to be selfish and uncaring, but he truly isn't - he's just poor and wants peace for himself

and esp bc Penelo like... Penelo CRAVES adventure and the excitement of life JUST AS MUCH as Vaan does, if not more! she's the one that gets excited over the specifics of the airship and their adventures - Vaan wants the big picture, the title, but she wants the LIFE

and yet Penelo holds so much of that back bc she's thinking of Vaan, she's thinking of the other street kids, she's thinking of her reputation and how much work she HAS to do to get them all safe, keep them on track

but she CRAVES adventure, and she's just a kid too!

[rex101111]

For a glass of Cactus Wine

Summary: Migelo does both his duties at the fete, one to the Empire, and the other to his kids. 

Rating: T

Fandom: Final Fantasy XII

Well! Been a while since I wrote something substantial, but @sevi007 has been doing a live blog of this game, thus reminding me how much I love it, and so here’s a fic depicting the one missing scene in this game I really wanted to see, also to give Lizard dad the content he deserves. Enjoy!

Seeing Arcadian troops stomp in the halls of the Royal Palace made Migelo want to crawl right out of his hide. It’s been two years since those bastards in their tin plates stomped into his home and his city and still he could only barely keep his anger in check at how disrespectful the whole lot of them were.

Leaning on pillars built centuries past, wiping their feet on rugs that took months to weave, pointing and laughing like children at art that they would never understand the importance of. If he heard another one of these piss-drunk bureaucrats call one more thing in this palace “quaint” he’s going to use that same thing to break it over their heads.

Still, years of experience in burying his feelings and opinions about his costumers helped him plaster a smile on his snout. This was simply business, he was providing sundries and food for an event, like he’s done dozens and dozens of times over his long career.

“Watch that crate!” He yelled out to one of the servants, “it’s got wine in it, worth more than ten of your lifetimes! Handle it with a bit of care why don’t you?” The servant sheepishly apologized and asked for help from another servant as Migelo turned his gaze elsewhere, “dear girl, you’ll break your back like that!” He went to a maid and corrected her posture and how she held her tray of food, “there we go now, better?”

“Thanks Migelo.” The maid smiled gratefully, before her face turned sour, “these imperials get nasty when they’re drunk, they keep asking me to run back and forth for all sorts of nonsense.” She sighed harshly, “probably just want a peek up my skirt.”

“You let ol’ Migelo handle them, Meina.” He soothes, turning her to a different direction, “empty that tray and take a break for ten minutes, I’ll have someone else make sure they don’t notice you gone, yes?”

She went off with a smile and Migelo continued like that, his time cleaved cleanly between ordering servants this way and that soothing fraying nerves. This fete needed to go flawlessly, with the consul himself attending every hand on deck needed to give it their all and then some. If the pompous royal left this evening with a good opinion of his food, he might transfer said opinion to the rest of the city. If he did that, maybe his boys and girls could have more room to breathe.

He looked ruefully over the staff, some of the younger ones he’s known since they were children, helped them train for applying for work in the palace. Rabanastre was a small city, everyone knew everyone, and that only became stronger as the plague and the war ravaged the place. Seeing these kids, his kids, running around like cockatrices with their heads cut off for the sake of their invaders made a lick of fire burn in his gut, no matter how hard he tried to douse it.

Worse of all was that he knew he was delaying the inevitable, he had an invitation to answer soon, and the longer he ignored the worse things would get not only for himself, but everyone else living in Rabanastre.

He took a few long breathes, practiced his best servile smile in a nearby plate, pictured the smiling face of every single child under his care in his mind, and went off to sit at the right of the eldest living son of Emperor Gramis, Vayne Carudas Solidor.      

The consul was deep in debate with the others sitting at his table, something about tax rates and territory dispute that went right over Migelo’s head, but as soon as the old bangaa drew close enough, as if he could hear his footsteps over the rancor of the room, Vayne stopped talking and turned his head to meet his gaze.

“Ah, Sir Migelo, so nice of you to finally join me.” He motioned for one of the nearby soldiers to pull back the chair at his right side, “please, sit.”

With practice ease, and complaining stomach, Migelo bowed in apology, “I hope you would forgive me, Lord Consul, I had so many things to fix and move, my responsibilities nearly made me forget your most gracious offer.”

“Think nothing of it good Sir,” Vayne waved off easily, “We should all wish to have your work ethic Migelo, so we could accomplish our own work half as well.” Vayne complimented him smoothly as Migelo finally sat, the others at the table nodding sycophantically, before beginning to pour the store owner a glass of red wine. “But, let me remind you that I asked of you to refer to me by my first name.”

Taking the glass with all the grace he could manage, Migelo bowed his head again with an outwardly warm smile, “ah, forgive this old lizard sir consul, I still feel ill at ease referring to one of your station so informally.” The other reason was the only people he called by name were his friends and his kids, and Vayne is not, would never be, either. “Perhaps I’ll manage that better,” he made a show of laughing from his belly, “with a bit of fine Arcadian wine in my system, eh?”

“Of course.” Vayne’s sharp eyes and sharper smile made Migelo feel as if he were strapped to a table, “please, indulge as you please, we have all night after all.”

Nodding, Migelo started to drain his glass, and had to fight his gag reflex with every gulp. Arcadian wine made you feel like someone was trying to prove something to you, too rich, too fruity, too damn much. Seeing the people around him gulp this stuff down was aggravating as it was confusing, you could stuff as many flowers into a bottle of Slaven piss as you wanted, it was still a drink of cold piss.

Decades of honing his poker face in the interest of more returning costumers made sure none of that disgust was visible on his face of course, to any casual observer Migelo savored every drop of the expensive Slaven piss, finishing his glass with a pleasured sigh. “Ahh, what an excellent, uh, flavor profile! So full of life and character!” He turned to the consul with a toothy grin, “How’s about you give me another to loosen my tongue?”

“You are a man of great taste, Sir Migelo.” Vayne complimented, smiling thinly as he filled the offered cup before filling his own. “I’ve heard Dalmascans do not have a high opinion of my home’s signature brew.”

“Bah.” Migelo scoffed easily, “children with no experience on their tongues Lord Consul, nothing to be offended by.” He internally grits his teeth, he heard some of the younger men voice some of their very loud opinions about Arcadian wine in a place where a couple of soldiers could hear them. It ended well for absolutely no one, and he was only glad to make sure his kids didn’t see or hear it. “We Dalmascans are very proud of our own drinks, I think you would see it would make sense to be a bit defensive.” He took another gulp, “pardon m’candor, of course.”

“Indeed.” Vayne nodded, finishing his own glass, “and you have a great many things to be proud of, I’ve heard a fair share of good things about Dalmascan cactus wine.” He looked at Migelo with a gaze that made his scales itch, “have you tried it before?”

He was almost insulted the man had to ask, “o’course I did lord consul!” He tried to be casual about it, but a bit of hometown pride seemed to seep in every other word, “Cactus Wine is easy to brew in large amounts, made from Cactoid fruit and the sands are absolutely littered with the little buggers, it’s what you order when you have something to celebrate or as a victory drink.” Migelo could go for an entire barrel of it right now. “It’s a…simple drink. Simple but hearty.”

Vayne nodded politely as the bangaa went on, before he took the bottle of his expensive wine and looked at it quietly, “…I suppose there hasn’t been much call for it, lately.”

Migelo nearly swallowed his tongue, for all his talk of taking in all of Dalmasca’s hatred onto himself, the consul seemed adept at choosing words to inspire said hatred. “Y-No, Lord Consul, not a lot to celebrate.” He quickly recovered, smiling again as he waved his glass about, “b-but fret not! Us Dalmascans find reason to celebrate no matter the weather! You’ll have your taste of cactus wine before long don’t you worry!”

“Why wait my friend?” Vayne said smoothly, Migelo barely exerting the restraint he needed to stop himself from cursing the consul out on considering himself something he is not, “I have found myself a few bottles for this grand occasion.”

Migelo was stopped short, he had double checked every scrap of food and drink meant for this fete, triple checking the alcohol in particular, and he was sure there wasn’t a drop of cactus wine in the whole palace, he figured the imperials wouldn’t want to touch the stuff. “Y-you did? F-from where lord consul?”

“From the palace cellars of course.” He replied, motioning with his hand to another maid, Kayta if Migelo remembers right, who held a very familiar clay jug in her hands. “If one kind of wine isn’t enough to call me friend, perhaps two would suffice.”

Migelo held Kayta’s conflicted gaze for a moment, before he turned to Vayne with a doubtful expression, “the cellars my lord? Those haven’t been disturbed since the war ended! Who knows what kind of vermin have found their way to the stores?”

“I had my men carefully inspect each bottle.” Vayne assured, which only made Migelo more ill thinking about what Imperial soldiers considered inspecting. “Please, do not be reticent, I find myself curious what a man of your expertise has to say about the difference between one wine and the other.”

Kayta poured Migelo a glass with a sorrowful expression, Migelo soothing the girl as best he could with a smile only she could see, and the bangaa took a long whiff of the drink, before slowly draining his glass.

Cactus wine was sweet, almost sweet enough you could give it to a child without them puffing their little face. Its taste was subtle, airy, doing nothing more than what a wine ought to do and made your face and belly warm. It was cheap drink, cheap enough that working folk could indulge in it without endangering their pay over-much.

It was Dalmasca to the last drop, warm and honest.

“So, sir Migelo?” Vayne inquired when the bangaa finished and had not said a word, “how is your home’s brew compared to mine?”

He was quiet for a few more moments before he turned to the consul, “I must admit to having a bias sir.” He put the glass back down on the table gently, reaching over to grab a grape nearby to soak some of the alcohol in his system, “I’ve been drinking cactus wine since I was a whelp, y’see, it’s a drink for the heart as much for the stomach nowadays.”

Vayne chuckled good naturedly, “well, now you have me curious.” He picked up his own glass and motioned for Kayta to fill it, the girl nearly tripping over herself to bow as she poured without spilling it on him. He took a careful sip…and stopped, an emotion Migelo could not name fliting across his face. “…it tastes…” The consul was quiet for a moment, the rest of the table perfectly silent to await his judgment, “…honest.”

Migelo released a breath he didn’t know he was holding, allowing himself the tiniest amount of pride as he looked at Vayne, “Dalmasca knows no other way, Lord Consul.”

“Pritas.” Vayne looked at one of the people sitting at the table, some peacock in a stuffy red shirt with a pencil moustache, “you should try it, I am certain people in Archades would flock to try this, exotic yet gentle on the tongue.”

Pritas hurriedly motioned for Kayta to pour him a glass, and no sooner than he had a drop of it he was nodding enthusiastically, “y-yes Lord Vayne! You are absolutely correct; everyone will want a bottle of this for any price!”

Migelo, despite his mood and the alcohol in his system, found himself smiling at the sound of it, feeling someone patting his shoulder. “Migelo, after the fete be sure to grant Pritas here the information for whoever you get your cactus wine from, they’ll find more business than ever.”

Migelo could picture the family of brewers in his head, nearly jumping for joy at the chance that fell into their laps, a contract to sell cactus wine halfway across Ivalice. He then imagined their faces when he told them to which half of Ivalice the wine would go. He imagines the shock, the outrage, the sorrow.

He imagines the table with one more chair then they needed, the extra gathering dust for two years now.

“Yes, Lord Consul.” He said as calmly as he could manage, looking into the face of a man whose night has gone exactly as he had planned, down to the last detail, painting a smiling on his snout. “Thank you for this opportunity, I’m sure they’ll see this as a chance to build their life back up to how it was…” He could feel his lips curling over his teeth. “…before the war, that is.”

Vayne’s face drew downwards slightly, an almost robotic motion, “yes, the war has devastated both sides long enough,” He squeezed the shoulder he was holding, in a move meant to be reassuring, “it is past time we helped each other back onto our feet.”

Vaan crying into his shoulder, cursing and yelling and screaming every curse he knew. Penelo holding him tightly as she sobbed. Fire in the sky, visible from his window.

His home, under siege and under iron boots.

Migelo bit his tongue, brought to mind every orphan he and Old Dalan have struggled to keep fed and working and warm, and managed an impossible smile, “yes…way past time…Lord Consul.”

Vayne shook his head with a fond smile, and poured Migelo another cup of Arcadian wine. Migelo drained it without tasting a drop.

(Not long after, barely an hour after, he sees his boy in chains and his girl crying for his freedom, and all the wine in his veins is cold and freezing.  

As they dragged his boy away, as his girl fell into the arms of Kayta as she sobbed, Vayne Carudas Solidor came to him, smiled, and clapped his shoulder.)  

[miphasinori]

[chapomon]

I’ve been playing Final Fantasy 12 and I fell in love with Migelo and his sexy voice. I wish there was more of him in the game. Here is a video appreciating Migelo.

[patricianandclerk]

i have so many feelings about like... migelo and the way that he has obviously taken so many of the orphans of rabanastre under his wing, and like... sure, he’s a businessman, but the thing is, all his shit about making profit is the perfect way to ensure he’s kept in good standing with the imperials, and therefore can protect the kids?

like. there’s no reason for him to employ so many of them, especially the ones that are little shits about it, like kytes and vaan, but you can see he honestly cares so much, and like

no, he can’t take them home, he can’t call them his children - if he did that, any number of them would spit in his face - but he can give them work, he can try to teach them some form of discipline, he can keep them from being backhanded or worse by the next imperial that catches them offguard

and you can see how fuckin destroyed he is with all the false modesty from vayne, but you know, he’s not actually doing it for himself, is he? it’s not just survival - it’s the kids’ survival that matters

and especially when i think of penelo and how like... vaan is one of the eldest of the orphans, and penelo looks to him and she says, you know, it’s your responsibility, you need to be a father figure to everyone, you need to show a good example, you need to...

and i think that she’s misguided in that, don’t get me wrong, like... i think she’s young and naive and she thinks, you know, if you just do what you should do, then it’ll all be alright, and we can both be like a mother and father to everyone, and i think she still struggles to like, accept that maybe vaan really does want to go off elsewhere and be a sky pirate, that he really will go off one day and that she won’t see him as much - she and vaan are both still just kids, you know?

but i have to wonder what she and migelo talk about, how much migelo lets slip when he forgets that she’s older than most of the rest, that she’s a little more eagle-eyed about catching when his stone gets stiff or when his shoulders slump, like...

how much she realizes how much pain he’s in, and wishes she could fix it, and knows that she can’t? 

god. 

[ff12-ultimania]

MIGELO

Race: Bangaa Sex: Male Age: 40-50 years old in hume standards Place of birth: Kingdom of Dalmasca

The honest and warm-hearted sundries shop owner.

Migelo is an influential merchant in Rabanastre who has achieved great success in trading. He is well known among the imperial army and delivers daily necessities and foodstuffs as a supplier to them. Migelo took in Vaan and Penelo and is like a father to them. He is kind and caring, and often provides work for the orphans.

[joulethieves]

THINGS:

1) LIGHTING AND TEXTURE

2) LOOK AT THE FUCKING DALMASCAN RUGS I WANT ONE IN MY FUCKING HOUSE

3) LOOK AT THE SILVER AND BRASS TRAYS 

4) 

HE’S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOY IN THE WORL

5) 

um they tried i guess 

ANYWAY LET’S OPE N UP THiS PIT