#trimax: elendira

[mrbluesummers]

Great post OP! I agree with all of this, except for the idea that Conrad is the only human allowed close enough to be able to hurt him. Both Elendira and Legato are also allowed close.

I think a lot of talk is done about Legato, so I'll keep my piece about him brief. He's allowed the most concessions out of any character in the series, and is allowed to live despite doing things that other characters would be killed for. There's a level of trust between them that Legato won't hurt him, whether it's because of Knives' belief in his own power to resist Legato or the power of Legato's loyalty. The biggest example of this being the fact that, when Knives tries to resonate with Vash, Legato is both in a position to stop Knives and is able to successfully do so without any repercussions.

As for Elendira, I would say that she was closer to Knives than Conrad ever was. I think Conrad only had a semblance of closeness because he knew Knives from the before times and was an adult he knew as a child. You can sort of see it in the fact that even Conrad wasn't free of Knives' rage when he saw the last run. Even though Conrad was still useful, he couldn't stop himself, because he never really cared about him.

Meanwhile, Elendira is one of the only characters allowed to speak pretty candidly with Knives. Even when speaking with him she doesn't hide her personality and outright questions him like asking why Knives needs to keep a "failure" like Legato when ordered to retrieve him. She is trusted with his most important tasks and even thanked outright for her work.

She's also the only character other than Conrad shown to be kept at his side n any extended capacity. She's included in a great majority of the scenes where Knives appears either with him or near him. Elendira's there during the last run, for example, where Conrad is the only other person brought with him. He's also shown asking her for her opinion and acting on it in Chapter 46 Invasion when he asks if she thinks the humans are going to open fire.

In large part, I think she gets so far, because she's the one character who truly has a deep and intimate understanding of Knives, but that's probably a post for another day.

All of that to say: it's not just that Knives willfully seeks out the worst parts of humanity, but he also actively ignores the good and his own reliance on them.

the way 98 trigun had to rush thru the gung-ho guns left me in a headspace of just not really questioning their existence or motivations much. And early trigun manga / trimax doesnt get into their motives much either, so tbh I just kinda mentally kept glossing over them?

but finishing trimax and rereading it finally got me to wrap my head around the fact that Knives spent years purposefully looking for and/or overseeing the creation of the worst in humanity, and presumably interacting directly with humans very little otherwise, all to prove his point to Vash.

Knives never went looking for anything to change his mind because he was scared of being hurt by what he found again. He had so much hope for humanity that was dashed by discovering Tesla. The point of Trigun is that continuing to have hope and trust in the face of uncertainty is arduous and terrifying, but that its worth it. Knives refused to acknowledge that he was afraid at all, tried to ignore how desperate he was to escape his fear. The only way he saw to avoid feeling afraid and vulnerable was for him to refuse to have any hope or trust in humanity.

Which is, symbolically at least, why Knives doesn't have a single scar from humans. He never risked trusting them enough that they might hurt him again. He could avoid that vulnerability and uncertainty by threatening them into obedience, and thinking of them as tools.

The one time he let a human close enough to hurt him (post-Rem) was Conrad-- and Conrad ended up decieving Knives with what little trust he was given. And Conrad felt his deception was necessary, because Knives was making himself a threat. Which Knives did to avoid feeling vulnerable.

It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. Knives guarantees he sees the worst in humanity, not just because he goes looking for it, but because he is constantly showing humanity the worst of himself. Because doing that makes him feel safe. Because he knows how humans will respond almost every time, when backed into a corner with their lives threatened. They'll try to survive. There's too many unknowns in any other scenario. Too many risks. He's too afraid of another nasty surprise, so he just tries not to be surprised.

Meanwhile Vash, covered in scars, still gives humans the benefit of the doubt. He is willing to risk getting hurt and IS hurt over and over again in order to show them the most kindness he can offer. In order to give humans a chance to show him their best. And he sees it. And it's worth it. man.

[villtura]

CRIMSONNAIL

[perennimal]

Trimax got me bad man…

Knives is based on my favorite iteration of his concept art for stampede I’m literally wounded they didn’t go with it I weep

[sarcasticmothdraws]

Concept art elendira was all I drew yesterday

[uselessimpulses]

western dual music in the background the girls are fighting

[creepycoffins]

the haterrrrrs

Inspiration:

[ocdhuacheng]

transgun.

[tradingjack]

There's no turning back.

... Is there anyone who'll be able to survive what lies ahead?

[fave-trigun-mangacaps]

good luck my guy.

Trimax Vol 11 Ch 5

[inkedberries]

more elly-elly and woowoo

[ruporas]

special operatives (silly interaction beneath read more)

[ID: Digital Art in color of Trigun Maximum, characters included are Wolfwood, Elendira, and Legato in a casual meeting situation. The piece consists of orangey yellow lighting and purple shadows. Wolfwood sits on the left side, facing Elendira who’s on the right. He’s seated on a plain wooden chair with one knee up and he’s holding the strap to his Punisher in his left hand while his right sits against his thigh, He has an irritated expression as he speaks to Elendira. Elendira is sitting in a fancier seat, her right arm rests against Wolfwood’s propped up knee, her left hand holds her suitcase. She’s sitting cross legged with an amused expression. Legato can be seen in the back at the center of the image in his mobile body case, one of his eyes shown to be glaring at Wolfwood. End ID]

[ID: Sketch, uncolored comic. Elendira says to Wolfwood, “I’m not telling you to dedicate yourself to him, but just accept the situation at hand. We could get along better if we were on the same page.” Wolfwood responds, “Don’t peg me me for an optimist. I’m not dumb. But, I’m also not going to just live in resignation. Plus, I don’t have any interest in getting along with ya.” Elendira coos, “Aw, you sure? I have a wonderful shoulder to cry on when the weak people you’re trying to protect eventually dies in the coming months. Though, I guess it’s fine. Someone like you might just die before then anyway...” She snickers in her hand while Wolfwood is speechless and just glares. Legato is faintly drawn in the back, glaring at Wolfwood, muttering “worthless” repetitively. End ID]

[lots-o-doodles]

An homage to the final arc of Trigun Maximum

[buried-l0cket]

Final version of this sticker sheet!!! Was gonna have the legato + elendira be a mystery bonus sticker for people who bought them as a set but decided against selling individuals this time around.

It’s currently up on kofi !! <3

[perennimal]

Elendira

[fishbands]

you’ve heard of t4t but have u heard of t vs t anyway happy pride ig

[uselessimpulses]

sometimes i remember that in tristamp they made elendira from nais cells,,,, dilf or milf era