Re: Axel--Seven Days Game Novel translation
Eh? Oh crap, what'd I do?
I don't know xD.
Difference of opinion, then. Unless there's evidence somewhere.
I think he said that Zexion "knew too much" as his justification. But, I really don't see what would be bad about betraying Marluxia and Larxene himself, and killing Vexen to serve that benefit. Xemnas is level-headed enough to understand the reasons. Especially since he showed no signs of disagreeing if he thought Axel brought in Repliku to aid him. It's been proven that he never liked Vexen as well either, so, there's not much on the line.
No, that's not what I'm thinking he was amused by. He's not finding amusement in the begging or the actual killing, necessarily. More like in the circumstances around it. But hell, I dunno what he was thinking. It really depends on that, doesn't it? We can't really know, then.
I'm not at all trying to claim Axel's innocence. That would be stupid. He's still a murderer and a jerkass.
We don't know until we see, that's true. It's hard to know what a character's thinking when it comes down to only outward reactions. Nonetheless, Axel's character to me, was done a 180 with, and now everything in the future, new, will include that to make it fit the turn of personality more thoroughly [which I don't hold against them, considering
they have to, or else, his character will then be half-assed. That isn't good either if they don't have a direction], and not make it appear like it did come out of left field just to have him go on the next game. And making him important by connecting him to the main character for his permanent stay. I accept that this is now Axel's characterization, can't do anything about it. But outside the game, I will always feel that having to murder someone the way he had done, only to be this big ol' nice bear in the reality of the situation, it's too much of a forced convenience.
Sometimes I feel like I'm the only who doesn't fully thrust blindly to the "poor Axel" bandwagon. I've grown to be way too analytical ^^;.
I'd rather not get into it either, but I... Don't think I was involved with that argument, if that's what you're thinking. I might've been in the thread at some point.
Well, you certainly cracked something familiar to what the argument was about, mostly. I kind of forgot about who it was. You just reminded me of the person for that reply for a second.
Yeah, he's a hypocrite. Gasp! Character flaw!
Err... What other way is there? He couldn't show them mercy, they had to die, so why dangle it in their faces? He could've not said anything to them and just gotten it over with... But that doesn't sound much like Axel to me. And that's probably not what Marluxia and Larxene or anyone else were expecting, and he couldn't afford to look suspicious. It doesn't matter that they were begging for their lives, they still had to die whether he liked or not. He might not have physically been able to one-hit-kill Vexen, either, so there's not much he could do to make it cleaner and easier. And he was leading Repliku on, he had to keep that up as long as necessary. So. What was he supposed to do? He had to do what was expected of him, which I'm sure was not to show mercy or to act compassionate.
As I said, I understand Vexen's death. He had to do it for his plan to succeed. Just not the method that it was done. As far as I know, Marluxia and Larxene never asked for such a show, just to destroy him, and see if he had the guts to do so. His actions towards Vexen, was honestly cruel. He didn't need to make his last moments go out the way he did. I'm sure Vexen felt the implosion of fire before he disappeared if his sounds were any indication [and it has been proven by Axel that Nobodies do feel physical pain, and normally]. I don't think anyone would want to be in the brunt of that, and rightly so. The fact that even Sora's face was disgusted proved the say in enough of how it looked to any other innocent bystander's eyes. He probably couldn't in a one-hit kill, but at least make it like a bullet to the head. Gone and easy, without any repercussions. As for Zexion, he didn't HAVE to die. There was nothing he had done to the culprit that will serve to fade in such a manner. Axel, as far as I know, didn't
need to use Repliku to kill Zexion unless that's what he was planning all along from the beginning, and take them both out. Which is still negative on his part, despite the fact that they were in his way. A show is one thing. But, it seemed genuine to me, and as far as I've seen, Repliku wasn't looking at Axel for him to put that face on.
And it seemed that Axel was this good-hearted man around
Days as well, if not, just a bit distant. It would make more sense if he was truly a cold ass like he was, and then Roxas changed him. But no. He seemed to show the same warmth. Just not expanded. Which is odd, because no real upcoming "good guy" will go down to such levels in killing someone. Which is where my problem lays. More so with the line that started the topic
.
*shrugs*
[Character derailment?]
All I was trying to say is that maybe he doesn't consider Zexion and Vexen to be the same as or any better than Dusks, so it's somehow easier for him to sympathize with the (entirely innocent) Dusks than the so-called "traitors." Yay, cognitive dissonance? I think that's something like what I was trying to say, I lost track.
In any case, the emphasis seems to be more on how he's thinking about his
own future, not on how he's comparing himself to the Dusks.
The Dusks are also Nobodies, which means they also used to be humans; they just happened to be extremely unlucky humans who got caught by a Heartless and turned into monsters. He could have been referring to that, too. Unlikely, though.
Wouldn't that fit anyone in the Organization as well? Except they actually look and think like a human? They are in the exact position he is now?
Character derailment sounds exactly like it. You just branded the right word for it. And the definition fits it perfectly of what was done to Axel to fit him to the games. I guess Nomura doesn't deserve him if we take Benjamin Franklin's opinion xD [then again, this is the guy who brought Xion in, yet, that's another thing for another time]. But, moving on, again, like
fantasy08 stated, he cares about Nobodies as Dusks, but the ones that actually look and act like humans he didn't give a damn about. Which questions his overall morality. It's like animals and humans [I don't think animals are dumb, by the way, just another form of intelligence]. It's okay if animals don't die. But why would humans be any lesser?
I don't think he was comparing himself to them either. The thing that got me was the, "No matter when I see the Dusks--to see those guys, nobodies like me--destroyed, it doesn't feel good." Which...would be a lie until proven otherwise, as he had a hand in destroying human-like ones, and he appeared as if it was watching a parade.
What? It was for show. Vexen still had to die no matter what, but there was still a show to be put up. Zexion's might not have been entirely, but Axel was still leading Repliku on, so he had to put up a show for him, too. I guess. Or Axel's just a jerkass and he had a grudge against Zexion, I dunno. I never understood why Zexion had to die at all, I'm just guessing, here.
This is mostly explained above. But I think we can agree that Zexion's manner is left open-ended.
I don't recall denying it. That would be stupid.
I think I confused you with someone else xP. Yeah, thankfully, you're one of the people to know that he was a ass, and not forget about it, or excuse it. I like him. But, I don't deny what he's done, and that I'm not bitter by it.
Oh yeah. I'm sure the the staff love him more now, too. I've heard some complain about his being less badass, but that's rare. What scares me is that it might just be a poor attempt on the part of the creators at actual character development. "Hmm, character development means change or something, so... If we just totally change his character, we did it!
OK, let's call it a day. Who wants pizza?"
I heard the complaints too. And it mostly comes from guys, so, it would be needless to say that the way he behaved in
KH2, to the point where people think that AkuRoku is canon, wouldn't meet their desires compared to the manipulative, two-faced douche that screams style and badassery xD.
To me, it's been a poor attempt. They wanted him there after
CoM, so they made up a reason as to why and how he should appear, and then made him to a sympathetic and sacrificial lamb so that his story can gain, as I said, pity. Or admiration. Whichever it is. Sometimes, people love a character and their dilemma, and forget the actual fact of how it was done, and why [this is what is being done to Xion, even though I want to try to keep her out of the conversation. It doesn't matter if she popped out of nowhere. As long as she gains sympathy, they're covered, as they'll like her character because of it, regardless if she doesn't necessarily make sense]. I also have a problem with Axel's face plastered 24/7 on anything, to which the other members take a backseat to. A mistake in that is that when you have 12+ characters to develop and show screen time for, putting one above everyone else isn't exactly genius. Roxas is understandable: he's the main, and it revolves around him.
But seriously...Axel is a whore.