" [...] i've been seeing a lot of tweets and tiktoks from angels saying that x character is just like x hiraeth member, and honestly, i thought it’d be fun to make a video about it for all you losers who want to know if your favorite anime character or whatever matches up with any of the members. [...] like, not too long ago, i watched this parallel edit of geto and poppy with mitski's abbey, and man, what the fuck?! that was as messed up as that one kaia’s working for the knife edit. the power of life-changing edits… " — august 2, 2024
TLDR. a quick CHARACTER STUDY of the hiraeth members, using actual characters from other media as references. narrated and explained by popular youtuber and angel, bestie. template credits to user @/aqualvng.
POS. optimistic, hardworking, passionate, loyal, ambitious
NEG. overbearing, stubborn, overly idealistic, emotionally guarded
LESLIE KNOPE, parks and rec.
" [...] i think this is what happened. imagine mama and papa hiiragi binge-watching parks and rec and thinking, yeah, let’s just make our own version of leslie. i’m telling you, leslie is basically kaia— super charismatic but, like, in that way that’s a little overbearing but you still can’t help but find it endearing. i mean, everything about leslie is this perfect blend of being super driven and sweet, and it just screams kaia to me. "
TOMOE MAMI, puella magi madoka magica.
" so, if you think about it, mami and kaia are like two sides of the same coin. mami's got this super mature, collected vibe, right? and even after everything she's been through, she still manages to be this caring, protective figure for everyone around her. that's basically kaia in a nutshell if we consider how hard it was for her to debut. [...] no matter what happens, she stays strong and keeps looking out for everyone, just like mami. it's that mix of being graceful under pressure and still having so much heart that makes them so similar. "
MIZUNO AMI, sailor moon.
" kaia is totally the sailor mercury of the group. just like ami, she's always the voice of reason, the one who keeps everyone grounded when things get crazy. sailor mercury’s got that calm, logical vibe that balances out the rest of the team, and that’s exactly how kaia rolls too. "
ALPHONSE ELRIC, fullmetal alchemist.
" everyone says that kaia gives off major alphonse elric vibes and i agree! just like al, she's got this really gentle and kind nature, always looking out for everyone else and keeping the peace. even when things get tough, alphonse stays strong and focused, never losing that caring side of him. [...] she’s basically the heart of the group, just like alphonse is for edward. "
KOCHO SHINOBU, kimetsu no yaiba.
" kaia reminds me so much of shinobu from demon slayer. she's got that calm, almost serene vibe that keeps everyone around her grounded. but just like shinobu, you can’t help but feel like there’s more going on beneath the surface. kaia's so composed and collected, it makes me wonder if there are things she’s keeping to herself... "
OTHERS. yuuji itadori jujutsu kaisen, joy inside out, maizono sayaka danganronpa series, amy rose sonic the hedgehog, monica geller friends, navia genshin impact, pam beesley the office, debra morgan dexter, aisha winx club, diana prince wonder woman, kanroji mitsuri kimetsu no yaiba, nate archibald gossip girl, aerith gainsborough final fantasy
POS. compassionate, determined, kind, hardworking, loyal
NEG. assertive, aloof, self-critical, perfectionist, stubborn
EDWARD ELRIC, fullmetal alchemist.
" ed and poppy are both super funny, and they’ve got that quick wit that keeps things entertaining. ed’s got this hilarious anger that pops up whenever someone mentions his height, which just adds to his charm and reminds me when poppy said she didn't like when her members teased her because of her height. and who knows, maybe she reacts the same way as him! [..] but underneath all that humor, both of them are incredibly determined. ed’s always putting in the work, no matter how tough things get, and poppy’s right there too— funny and playful, but totally serious when it’s time to get things done. they both know how to balance humor with hard work, and it makes them really stand out. "
BLAIR WALDORF, gossip girl.
" queen b and poppy are like two peas in a pod— both super stylish and ambitious, always bringing their a-game when it comes to fashion and getting what they want. they’ve got that sharp sense of humor that makes them fun to watch, but let's be real, their ambition can sometimes rub people the very wrong way. they know how to work a room and get things done, but not everyone is a fan of how they do it. it’s that mix of charm, wit, and a bit of ruthless drive that makes them very similar, even if it doesn’t always win them friends or fans. "
MUICHIRO TOKITO, kimetsu no yaiba
" my boy tokito and poppy both have this cool, nonchalant vibe that makes them seem pretty aloof at first. but once you get to know them, you realize there’s a lot more beneath the surface. muichiro might come off as distant, but deep down he’s super kind and cares deeply, even if he doesn’t always show it unless it's with people he really trusts. i think poppy’s got that same energy— she might seem detached to non fans and casual listeners— she does hold the ice princess title, after all... but she’s actually nice with an interesting humor. it’s that mix of seeming indifferent on the outside but being truly kind on the inside that makes them so similar. "
SUZUMIYA HARUHI, haruhi suzumiya no yuutsu.
" [...] haruhi’s got this whole quirky, controlling side, always wanting things her way because of her vision and interests, while poppy isn’t quite as intense— but who knows? there's still that spark in poppy where you can see a hint of haruhi’s need to steer the ship. both of them have a knack for getting people to follow along, even if they do it in different ways. [...] it’s that combo of charisma and a touch of unpredictability that makes them so captivating. "
TIFA LOCKHART, final fantasy franchise.
" i think that they are surprisingly similar when they’re in their comfort zones. both of them share a mentality of blending strength with charm. [...] tifa is open and nurturing, always ready to support her friends while kicking some serious butt. poppy, though more reserved and i doubt she can go around kicking butts because she’s an idol and she's under a contract, has that same underlying vibe. if you think about it, poppy might actually mesh well with someone like cloud, but her personality and mentality are really close to tifa’s. it’s like they’re two sides of the same coin, each showing their unique flair but with a fundamentally similar approach to life and relationships. plus, poppy literally looks like her! "
OTHERS. suuguro geto jujutsu kaisen, winry rockbell and roy mustang fullmetal alchemist, veronica lodge riverdale, yae miko and tighnari genshin impact, maka albarn and death the kid soul eater, tomioka giyuu and kocho shinobu kimetsu no yaiba, kagura gintama, rei hino sailor moon, daria morgendorffer daria, homura akemi puella magi madoka magica, li syaoran cardcaptor sakura
POS. laid-back, resourceful, insightful, confident, passionate
NEG. immature, impulsive, lazy, overzealous, egotistical
JAKE PERALTA, brooklyn nine nine
" they are like kindred spirits in the world of not taking things too seriously. both of them have this laid-back, sometimes immature attitude that makes them incredibly funny and relatable. [...] even though they might joke around and not always be the most serious, they’re absolute pros at what they do. they can be goofballs, but when it comes down to it, they’re still incredibly skilled and get the job done. their ability to balance humor with top-notch performance is what makes them very similar. "
KOMAEDA NAGITO, danganronpa series.
" [...] both of them have a way of captivating everyone around them with their unique charm. nagito’s got that edge of unpredictability and a touch of madness, but yvan, while definitely charismatic, is not on the same level of insanity… but who knows... still! their magnetic personalities and ability to be both compelling and a little bit unpredictable make them quite similar. they’ve got that special something that makes them stand out, even if yvan's a bit more grounded compared to nagito’s crazy ass. "
STICKS THE BADGER, sonic boom
" sticks and yvan have this blend of quirky energy and unpredictability. both are known for their eccentric and offbeat personalities, always keeping things interesting. [...] they might express it differently, but both share that ability to captivate and make us laugh with their one-of-a-kind charisma and off-the-wall energy. "
IZUMI KONATA, lucky star
" both of them are so relaxed and easygoing that it sometimes gets them into trouble. konata’s lazy tendencies and carefree attitude often lead her into all sorts of misadventures, and yvan shares that same chill demeanor, though there might not be quite as extreme since they are an idol and have to work, y’know?... in a way, konata could almost be seen as a parallel to yvan, while kagami, with her more driven and serious side who is known to scold konata because of her laziness, fits poppy perfectly. …you guys remember that one video where poppy was scolding yvan during isac, right? "
FURINA, genshin impact.
" they have this strikingly similar vibe when it comes to their outward personalities. both come across as charismatic and confident, always putting on a great show. but underneath that surface, it feels like there’s a lot more going on. i am not overanalyzing yvan, before anyone starts! "
OTHERS. ling yao fullmetal alchemist, bart simpson the simpsons, rengoku kyojuru and kotetsu kimetsu no yaiba, sonic the hedgehog sonic franchise, black star and patty thompson soul eater, hirasawa yui k-on, mabel pines gravity falls, shaggy rogers scooby-doo, naruto uzumaki naruto, gina linetti brooklyn nine nine, klee and bennett genshin impact, kyoko sakura puella magi madoka magica, lumpy space princess adventure time, morgana persona 5, phoebe buffay friends
" [...] and yeah, i hope you enjoyed this silly little video! just a reminder, this was made purely for entertainment. i’m not trying to overanalyze, force a trait into them, or read too much into their personalities because that’s not right. we don’t know these girls personally. we’re all just fans here. we don’t know shit, and that’s something we shall respect. this video was just for fun, to have a little laugh, and to connect our favorite characters to them. so, yeah, i hope you had a good time hanging out with me while i did my makeup! [...] see you next time, besties, and don’t forget to leave a little likey like and a comment down below! bye bye! stay hydrated and keep being everyone’s besties! "
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Sooooo, Armand did tamper with Louis memories but my next question is why? I find 'he wanted to manipulate him' a bit crass of a read; lacking. That's not to say he hasn't, or that he'd be so dense to not know that he had, rather that this wouldn't be what motivates him. So, what does, and why did he do it?
Suppose it's easiest to start with the core of it, which is that most anyone typically acts out of a need to cling to (or run from) some sense of self or identity, especially when it's called into question. We have to reckon with how others see us just as much as we have to reckon with how we see ourselves. Grappling with finding relation to the changing and unchanging facts about ourselves - the total amalgamation of what makes us 'us' - comes with an interplay of inner and outer perceptions surrounding everything we do, or seem to do in both these eyes. Armand is called into question by Louis. And from what we know of his character is that his identity is heavily internally clung to two things: A necessity for having control, and a desperate need to be loved.
It's important that how those manifest in him is deeply rooted in the traumas he's faced (Which he wants to run away from in the form of seeking and identifying with said control/love. Even at the expense, knowingly or not, of replicating those cycles). So, it's like he's living in near constant response to it. Leaving him without much else to find identity in.
And loss of identity directly feeds into his traumas as well, it being one of them, done repeatedly. Making the process of having any ambiguity on part of how another views him - particularly from those he cares deeply about the opinions of, especially on matters of love - difficult to accept, and easy to deny. In other words: he needs whatever sustained self image he can hold on to, so struggles identifying with the truth about Louis' feelings about him being so opposed. Upon question, he can't accept what not being loved would do to that image and finds himself seeking the comfort of living in denial.
So, I'd say that then could explain most of it. Being motivated to maintain certain perceptions in the form of tampering with memory: the means through which said perceptions are perceived. Making everyone live in this denial with him also appealing to his controlling. Thus returning this sense of self back to him in both aspects. The emotional wound does explain (not forgive) why he takes to it in the way he does.
But let's go deeper, because there's more to the very situation (1973) as to why. Why would Armand go out of his way to tamper with Louis memory as well, when they'd already reached a kind of conclusion that does appear to keep their companionship? What, to his mind, called for it given the situation?
Harkening back to above, Armand defines himself around Louis in a major way. Louis is his love, is his need to be loved. There's a developed co-dependancy between them. They're at such point both exploiter and exploited in this. His happiness, is Armand's happiness, is reason enough to preserve it in a way that is agreeable. And that agreement is a tricky one to play a balance with, like they honestly shouldn't be together after Paris, but this goes without saying. It's been on Armand, mostly, to make this relationship work. (And even if it was mostly one of a lot of a denial, I like to imagine there are large periods where it has, and they've lived a relatively normal relationship, had this 'dreamy balance' or it simply wouldn't have lasted so long - with or without mind fuckery).
He wants it most too, which is how Louis is able to have some control over Armand. Control in how Louis ability to love him is very conditional and rests a lot on Armand's ability to satisfy, gratify, console, and control Louis for his own protection - despite knowing he'll never make up for Paris he does everything to earn Louis anyway. So could Armand have chosen to do this to be perceived as someone able to earn it still? That's one option. Very plausible.
Louis has a complicated love for Armand, it's there and isn't, but he also can get from Armand whatever he can squeeze out of him, and in this past he takes heavy advantage of it. As Armand is susceptible to his own much greater necessitation to be loved by him, making him go out of his way to do this 'earning'. However, as had been revealed, for Armand this is played up in part to uphold for Louis' perceptions that he really has that much power over him.
Because what we also have to factor in is Armand's other aspect - control. The line, 'Armand preserves my happiness even when I can't or wont. He had a hunch you might prove useful in later times', is rehearsed in much the same way this entire dynamic is one of great rehearsal. It's practiced, or it would be chaos.
There's certainly a part of Armand that likes being in the submissive role too, he likes what comes with it, but he can't be in total service to Louis, and Louis can't be without rules - or there's no control. Rules, roles, scripts, are very important to Armand, they're a way to facilitate a controlled setting, and he's really the one to enforce the parameters of what those are more so than Louis is. See; when Louis breaks from these things of agreement, what Armand normally gives him goes away.
I picture Louis as like the playwright of the relationship - the one facilitating everything - while Armand seems to then stage direct everything about it, sometimes secretly. In this way, Armand places himself as moreso being the one to meet his own satisfaction, gratification, consolation, and control (he has more overall power here in a duel sense) than Louis. Louis own meeting of these things still factor into it, though. Remember; his happiness, is Armands happiness, is his role to maintain so the play will keep writing itself. The curtains would close on their relationship otherwise.
This is the 'balance' of agreement between them, and again, it's entirely likely such balance just could not be maintained were those memories to stay as they were, almost like the jig is up. There's a factor here of Armand probably catching that Louis wouldn’t be comfortable in this relationship knowing more apparently Armand had so much more power over him this whole time. He knew, of course, but in their roles they could forget. This switch up in dynamics over those few days revealed the imbalance of things, a truth about it, and those needed to be masked back up. Theatre.
But let's explore some other ideas too.
I would first repeat myself in more context, Armand tampers with the script for the express purpose of preservation - of its dynamics, its roles, its rules, and of Louis. Nothing has the ability to change if nothing happened and Armand perhaps wanted to go on as if nothing really did - again there's denial. Armand finds reason in preservation to remove those memories. Preservation of Louis is in several ways preservation of himself, is preservation of their companionship. A companionship which is what he defines himself through - his love, his control.
But tacked onto this there's also this protecting Louis from himself - from the knowing of what he did (the arguing, the attempt, and what came after) and why it all happened. This is maybe Armand's way of going about excusing it? But, he probably does think this is to an extent true. He does think he's protecting him with this, preserving his happiness. There's an argument to be made that Louis wouldn't be alive without Armand acting in this way. That, hypothetically, the reminder would be fuel to attempt again, so perhaps there's merit to this excuse. It is ultimately still an excuse though. It's still a fucked up form of protection. One that can't actually allow Louis to move past into healing from the actual causes of things. Or Armand for that matter.
Removing those memories could also be because of a remorse on his part, Armand's regretful role in how he acted during all of it. He doesn't want to be remembered that way. Yet again with identity, and with denial. This isn't the image of who he wants to be. This isn't how he would paint himself.
Armand in this stage director role also just has a tendency to do that - and edit himself out. It'd not be shocking that such a heightened situation would call for heightened dramatics. I don't see Armand taking it to this extreme as being a common thing, this could've been the only time too. That we can't actually say for sure is the terrifying part, the potential is always still there once you know its there. (and the point was never to know it's there).
There's a part of me that wants to say that pairing the 'cut' with Daniel's isn't without it's place in this either. It seems pointed. Armand's jealousy of Daniel over Louis preferring him motivating removing any memory that he ever did have reason to find Daniel so favorable, let alone bond deeper with him over those days. He was making sure further contact was unlikely to happen? Compliant willingness for it now could be a matter of knowing it's a lot safer to do so. Louis seems in a lot better place than he was. Armand can't really say no at this point. And he couldn't tell him why it ever would've been dangerous to begin with, just be extremely on guard about the whole thing.
Really, there's not an easy answer to it that we can point to and say: it's this one. I wouldn't be surprised if it was all these things building to a list of reasons, and more than the one's I've listed. Ends up with more pros than cons? But there could also be hardly calculation at all and it's a purely emotional choice, coming from an emotional place.
A very damaging choice, regardless, among several other damaging choices, and it's one I think can be read with all this nuance without mitigating that. I hope it's been clear I'm not trying to. Intentions don't = impact. Investigation into the intentions doesn't take away from that.
I'm very interested to see how it all plays out, how they handle this on the impact side of things. If they'll actually give more of an answer. Rolin says some interesting things here: x. That alludes to how they're going to address this whole thing about memory - it's monstrous quality - with some of the same nuance I've given. And how a blanket statement on blame, and who did what, isn't where this kind of conversation will end up going.
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