#The Zenoers

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ugly thick marker doodles while listening to music

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Okay so posting the incredibly surface level design observations regarding Zeno characters particularly the three that are actually alive during the majority of it because Lena (@favoringeyes. Hi.) told me to. I don't have many thoughts on Natsu other than its cuteness & how it works combined with that of her brother, Fuyu. I think there is always significance to be found in colours used for characters outfits & branding.

Kuro’s outfit is simple. Jeans & a turtleneck sweater, it doesn’t make a statement. It gives the impression of a reserved genius, of sorts. Entirelly Inconspicuous. The use of all black reminds me of the grim reaper, in a sense, (although Fuyu is the one most associated with that figure considering his hood as well as the official art of him dressed as the grim reaper for halloween. He has more reason to be associated with the grim reaper, as Kuro’s reasons for killing are far different. I think this point can be dismissed as a passing thought rather than anything of substance. Moving on,) black in general is a colour one associates with death, and mourning, as well as the way it is reflective of his inner emptiness; no matter what horrible thing he attemps to soothe himself (his Zeno) or feel something, he still ends up feeling nothing after, like a black void. The start of the game tries to make you think otherwise. Aka’s side braid is very cute, and is also all too reminiscent of his guts, reminding me of the first bad ending/game over scene that one can get from Kuro, that I believe everyone is familiar with. The amount of red, despite it’s many meanings, can make you think of blood at first, his expressions & demeanour on account of his confusion & occasionally irascible nature actively attempting to trick you into thinking the roles assigned to both make sense, despite the text saying otherwise incredibly early on. It is easy to pick up on the truth, if one is observant, the pieces of it laid out for us. The red can also symbolize Aka’s passion; seen in his altruism, his desperation to find a cure for Zeno, and not wanting to leave Kuro alone, wishing to fix/heal him. He also already has blood on his hands due to the death of Natsu, and with his parents dead as well, it’s like death follows him. Something of note is how they switch colours in one of the true endings (Kuro’s prevalent use of white, Aka’s white given his t-shirt & labcoat), a very on the nose display of lightness and darkness, and how in the one where Kuro & Aka live together, Kuro is seen wearing a shirt in a different colour, as well. Leaving black behind, which is good! In true ending… E, I think? The one where Aka is going abroad? He’s wearing a greyish T-shirt, which is notable given what we are told during Kuro & Aka’s talk.

Fuyu’s haircut is what Natsu’s would be, if one cut off her braid at the stem. Like how she was ripped from him, in his eyes. His yellow hood is reminiscent of a raincoat, akin to that day, where Natsu was left in the rain, her confession to Maeno once she’s found by him a complete failure. As if he’s still looking for her the way they had that day, but clearly he knows Natsu is gone & the thing he’s set on is revenge even while under the influence of Zeno. I doubt that was intentional, this is a reach definitely, the thought just came to mind while looking at references of him, and wondering why he’d even wear it in the first place. The bunny plushies aren’t just like them due to the fact they come in pairs and are wearing blue which is similar to their hair, which anyone could notice, even a baby, but the pieces of hair the siblings have framing their faces & their red eyes are reminiscent of floppy ears & the eyes of some bunnies. It adds significance to the cutting of his hair in one of the true ends, becoming able to live without Natsu, without being in a pair, like the bunny plushes. Of course, Natsu’s white dress offers a sense of purity that is broken up by the strong blue accents. It can be associated with the sorrow that lead to her Zeno.

I can’t remember anything else I’d thought of last night… um. I also like how Fuyu & Aka’s fathers are the opposite of them, design-wise & personality-wise, but having nothing smart to say in that regard.

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There are thirteen endings. I am uncertain on which of the game-overs we got counted as "endings". But we did get some actual endings, too, at least two or three and then all the other game over type ones, and we are done for today but might get more another time, Theo is tired today. I think we are on Normal route... but I'm not sure. We picked up the knife, and I feel like it means something? Also, black-haired boy is faster than the yellow-hooded guy, and he sometimes God mods and teleports, which is a pain! If you roleplayed with him on Undertale amino, he wouldn't let you dodge at all!

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I called Theo shawty because all the Shakespeare mentions in Zeno reminded me of that word. Yeah? Because of the Sha. And he scolded me and I explained that was my reason and he was like If you ever meet Shakespeare I am So sorry for that man. Or something like that.

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He’s forcing me to voice Tsugino Well actually he asked me who I want to be and apparently I’m “mean” to him so. I chose him because he’s more of a cunt.

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Theo is streaming to me & said this is how I talk about Tsumugi and 10 seconds later the guy was like Eww...! What's this! Gross! And it felt like even more of a punch to the gut.

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A lot of it is very on the nose… at least, to me. But, good…

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Like the colours chosen for their outfits in every true ending is actually very important & thematically poignant especially regarding the shirt colours. I edited my post to talk aabout that. Because I was reminded of their tops & how they literally swapped colours in the role swap ending.

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Fuyu transgay… <- maybe (about the gay part). Kuro, gay… cis in the way Tsumugi is cis. Aka... Something going on. Bisexual. Natsu... 8 year old.

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Thus is crazy

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This end was so sad! The shaking of his hand, almost seemingly in hesitation, and the tears, and Aka's acceptance... the lack of hope, no more salvation, being shot dead like a rabid animal. Now, we will choose the other choice.

The other option was similar, even if somewhat anti climatic. The shot of Kuro on the ground after having stabbed himself, Aka having nobody left in his world. Even if there are people in the outside world, it's no wonder he would go insane. Or instead of going insane, I guess it is, going ZENO............. also, I switch between pronouncing Zeno the Spanish way and the English way too much, & now we got every ending! Except one. We don't talk about that one. God told me that we got every single one, and you would probably listen to him even if you weren't religious, right? Or better yet, you would listen to me?

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I like Kuro as Aka’s lab rat. I found the dialogue of him saying he wishes Kuro was his assistant was also very cute. Fuyu dying & him feeling like he has nothing left other than Kuro to fuel his altruistic nature is very good.

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This scene was so romantic, with the nature of their conversation and the words exchanged, looking towards the sea, the sun setting. Truthfully. True End H! I enjoyed it so much. Theodore just said "Maeno & Tsugino are just any basic BPD couple ever", which, well, I responded to it with "don't say that", but it's no wonder that they resonate with a particular kind of youth. I really love so many of the positive messages in this game, like the matter of continuing living on with mental illness, the kinds that can never be cured but can be worked on, nonetheless. That you may relapse, but it's okay to ask for help. All very basic but things that people need to be reminded of. To keep living with the "monster" in your heart, and that you surely aren't alone. We still have to do more, to finish the ZENO experience, but for today I have had enough. I will let it all rest, and soak into me.

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Sometimes, especially when skipping text, Theo & I just do improv.

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We both really like Fuyu, but, he keeps asking if there is any canonical reason for him having his boobs out & that he doesn’t like it, too, but It’s camp. I like it.

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