#tl;dr we have this thread every week comrade

[cringefaecompilation]

this episode is the first time i have actually kind of hated the god debate. however, given the nature of the campaign and the themes it's exploring i see it as less like them "going in circles" or "trying to force drama" and more like a leftist infighting simulator. which is bolstered by the ruby vanguard showing what happens during alt-right infighting, which usually involves either spiraling into batshit conspiracy theory or a murder-suicide

[downtomyunderoos]

this is a post with (excited) personal thoughts over akihiko’s p3d characterization. mass spoilers ahoy

a week ago i wrote a super short post of my impression of akihiko in p3d. essentially: do you ever feel validated having your favorite actually written well for once? that AND he’s pretty similar to how you roleplay him to boot? considering how physically shitty i’ve felt, p3d made the time i spent playing SUCH a good one!!! i’m so thankful

expect an explanation on these points and on my own interpretation x) i will do my best not to talk about every little thing (and fail)… some things are better off secret, anyway. let us begin!!!!

admittedly, a lot of topics brought up in akihiko’s social i’ve thought about (some almost embarrassingly so that i won’t mention them) or reminded me of stuff i wrote myself or in threads. obviously not to a T, but the ideas are similar in nature. like, i got reminded of my threads with loversquiver (excuse me? mystic red?) when akihiko and yukari interacted. how she’d be curious about him and they get to know one another, but their convos quickly become awkward asdhsdfh

or when junpei and akihiko interacted… honestly, it reminded me of how i’ve desired a sexuality thread (i’ve tried starting at least one in the past, even bringing up junpei for comparison)… when junpei asked minato why akihiko can’t get a girl, my headcanon blared: ‘he’s aroace duh!!!’

—but also… i felt called out when junpei said akihiko could ‘win a girl over’ if there was something about him like a flaw that’d surprise them since FFFFFFFF yeah that was what won me over when i played P3P for the first time. you got me

that aside, as a roleplayer i have touched on akihiko maintaining his image and attempts to keep weaknesses a secret, so it’s yoooooo that the game focused on his perfection, yet akihiko (secretly his own worst enemy if his P3P social link has anything to say about that) knows nobody is perfect.

not only that but also p3d takes it further with akihiko saying that’s what makes people interesting, as well as tying that into his self-improvement motif. i’m love

(lol akihiko being the shit-talking type. that was great)

moving on. so… the convo with fuuka… ooh baby.

i’ve a headcanon (inspired by P3P) that akihiko doesn’t understand reasonable portions, and this essentially shone through their conversation dhgdhfjgdj— but, also, p3d made akihiko knowledgable in addition, bringing up the amount of calories foods have and converting them to how much to work off. impressive!!

not only that, the game hit two? three? birds with one stone in my eyes: bringing up cooking. he doesn’t have the skills. he wouldn’t make a girl do it for him, and that he’d like to learn. THIS IS MY SHIT. i’ve wanted this!!!!!!

i never roleplayed with a fuuka, but a few months ago i wrote a drabble about him and fuuka trying to learn (and another drabble with him telling hamuko he’d want to learn), so i hHHHGGHN. p3d took this up a notch tho by making akihiko weird, which i have no qualms with because he is, just not solely via XD protein.

learning akihiko’s thoughts and how he treats his trophies were soo nice… like i love how thoughtful and respectful this made akihiko out to be. it makes me want to look up to him even more, you know? he is peculiarly a sentimental guy (as also shown by his red convo with yukari) even through rationalism, so this addition? *chef’s kiss*

and akihiko’s relationship with mitsuru shown in the social for both theirs reminded me soo much of older sister/younger brother siblings. like how i imagined it? because, aside from knowing each other for years, you can tell they cared for each other but also annoyed one other (and familiarly so, you know what i mean?) and bickered, plus how mitsuru lectured him and said something along the lines of ‘i have no objections at the moment’ in regards to his plans, like? why are you sounding so authoritative asfsdgh

not to mention how akihiko booted himself out of his own room to flee after going too far ashgsdfs

also, i’ve realized before how you never really know akihiko’s thoughts on mitsuru, so him being blunt and even straight up calling minato stupid at the notion of them dating, in front of mitsuru was HGFDJHGFJH. but equating mitsuru and minato as ‘comrades’ was the best answer because.. well, otherwise they did behave as coworkers/teammates, even rivals. you saw that in their dancing. that was how i usually saw them as, besides metaphorical siblings and the like.

extra: i thought it was funny how akihiko also retaliated by mentioning mitsuru’s dorm room full of furniture because that was something i’ve joked over before, considering how her bed is right next to them. and also: akihiko’s plans in regards to going to college? p4a sure fucked that one up ASDFSG

so tl;dr… he’s a good sport. akihiko is so knowledgeable but also considerate towards others that he mostly does dial it back when necessary, when he notices. he’s strangely sentimental yet respectful, not like… a sore winner or what have you, and he has a pretty open mind. he’s very into self-improvement, and getting to interact with everyone and dancing makes him appreciative of the event, that it broadens his horizons. i was always fond of the theme of akihiko broadening horizons in order to grow. good shit.

and as a roleplayer? i’m happy that i could, at the very least, pull off a similar aura with characterization. i don’t want to sound conceited, but if i had to be honest, you know… nonetheless, it’s nice, and unexpected, to feel good about how i write through playing p3d sgfdhfds i worked so hard for years, and then to have atlus finally deliver the goods…

on top of that, it reminded me so much of my fellow partners at times. all the good times. you guys know who you are x)

otherwise, i’m happy we get to see akihiko interact with his kouhai, with aigis. how the game utilizes ken to having akihiko bring up his own childhood (brilliant). and seeing his relationship with mitsuru outside of SEES was much needed.