Young Sephiroth - Blog Posts
I haven’t actually drawn in a while since im getting back into the swing of things with my new job but here’s something i did tonight :D
Ever Crisis and TFS are turning 1 this month 🥳🥳🥳
Happy 1st anniversary to FFVII: Ever Crisis! May it survive another year!
This is a redraw of art i did about 1 year ago come the 4th of this month. Original will be below the cut. The og was done purely off of screenshots of trailers and the 1 chibi we had at the time but now I get to do this with official art references lol
Happy Halloween everyone! Working on something I’m gonna try and have done and up by the end of the day, but until then here is babyroth all bundled up! It’s been very cold very suddenly for the past couple weeks lol
It legit hasn’t been this cold in October since i was a kid and im loving it.
So what are your thoughts on where we’re at with The First Soldier story now o_o
Chapter five, the Halloween event, predictions for the future, etc.
There is so much to unpack with just those 2 lines from the Halloween event. At the same time I’m like “YES! Fanon confirmed canon!” But also sobbing in the corner because of the sheer amount of implications. It was such whiplash from the silly trick or treat goofs.
The event itself; besides for the backstory bomb and some spooky vibes is fiiine. There were some moments that made me laugh and i will not get over Glenn’s chibi getting sucked into the portal. I am always a sucker for spooky music and aesthetics.
The main story itself, I don’t think i have too much to say that’s new or shocking. I absolutely love young Sephiroth and i love how they are handling his story and characterization so far. I had a seething hate for Glenn but chapter 5 has warmed me up to him. I still have issues with him and how some kinda serious things were just glossed over as comedy but maybe it’ll come up later. I like Lucia and Matt.
Predictions ⬇️
My predictions on how the story is gonna go is that Sephiroth is gonna get a kill order for Rosen and the trio is gonna try to defend Rosen, getting Matt and Lucia killed and labeling Glenn a traitor for defying orders. It’s probably gonna be after bonding with the trio and maybe getting Masamune from probably Rosen and bonding some more then Shinra comes in to mess it all up. Glenn with then go back to seeing Sephiroth as an inhuman cyborg that only follows orders and we eventually get the opening scene that takes place during CC era.
Or, since Square loves their parallels between Sephiroth and Cloud, they may do something where Sephiroth tries to defy a kill order on Rosen after bonding with him and the trio so Shinra infantry or something is sent in Zack’s Last Stand style and kill Rosen, Lucia, and Matt but Glenn lives somehow. Maybe Deepgroud? Or maybe some hidden Rhadoran survivors? Only problem with that is how we get to Glenn trying to get revenge on Sephiroth later.
Idk, I’m open to anything Square throws at us as long as it makes sense lol
I also think that The First Soldier should’ve been a game like Crisis Core or Remake but thats something else entirely
“Sorry. I suddenly felt… uncomfortable.”
My talent is being able to puke up Sephiroth angst in a few hours. Only reason this is late is because of the stupid dentist >:|
Finished what is out of TFS. Spoilers ahead
My thoughts:
I can’t believe i called it that Glenn is beefing with a 14 year old. He seems to hate Sephiroth for no reason besides jealousy, called a child a cyborg, and said he would never accept Sephiroth cause “he never went through the same brutal training.”
BOY IS THERE A LOT TO UNPACK THERE. But first my Glenn hate.
I fucking hate Glenn. He is literally the encapsulation of everything i find irritating in a person. What made me really hate him is that he refuses to call Matt by his actual name and even after being repeatedly told to not, still does that. (Slay to Matt just not responding to “Professor” that one bit) Which just… really gets on my nerves for personal reasons. And Glenn has repeatedly showed that he is only doing this for the money. Which fair, but the only hint we get as to why is cause someone he i think is related to is in the hospital (i don’t remember exactly i was skimming) which is then immediately followed up immediately with Glenn is broke cause he gambles a lot. So i guess he’s a gambling addict and puts that before whoever he is supposedly doing this for in the hospital. And finally, this most likely 25-30 year old man is beefing with a 14 year old for no fucking reason besides jealousy and his own stupidity. Based on that last section before what’s out of TFS ends, he does not even think to consider “hey why is this kid here and in the army and really fuckin strong?” No, instead he immediately refuses Sephiroth’s help, calls him inhuman, and shuts down what Sephiroth has been through to get to where he is now. So… i think we can guess where Sephiroth questioning his humanity came from. Glenn better do something really really selfless and get his act together or he is probably gonna go down as one of my most hated characters.
Now a bit of positivity and stuff
Sephiroth is such a sweet kid so far. He’s a bit smug about his power but that’s fair. He’s really polite otherwise and just there to do what he was told to do. He seems like he wants to help them and ahg i hope Glenn stops treating him like shit. Little guy needs some positivity in his life.
I also really enjoy Matt and Lucia. Especially Lucia. Love how she just roasts Glenn at every opportunity. It’s great.
Young Sephiroth
I’m gonna squish the sad baby
3 am drawing of young Sephiroth. Not sure how I feel about it but it was late and I didn’t have a good reference lol
Was hazily experimenting with a different line art and coloring style
Holy shit, this video…with this song….oh God I’m actually gonna jump this time…..
[Original]
He will allow it. 🙏
Sephiroth: ”Pumpkin soup. I wanted to try it…”
(FFVII Ever Crisis — Pumpkin Fest — Japanese Script).
Jenova: “You are tired from working, yes? Come now, let’s eat. I made your favorite meal.”
Sephiroth: “Pumpkin soup….”
Sephiroth: “…I’ve always….wanted to try my mother’s homemade food….”
Jenova: “Why do you say this? Don’t I make soup for you every day?”
Sephiroth: “If that were true….how happy I would be…”
(FFVII Ever Crisis — First Soldier, Chapter One — Japanese Script).
“Obedient Soldier”
[A phrase uttered by Sephiroth in Scene 07-06. As this line indicates, Sephiroth in BC (Before Crisis) was regularly obedient to orders, such as defending the Mako canon and protecting Hojo. Therefore, Shinra valued the worth of Sephiroth's loyalty and treated him like a hero.]
-Keyword Collection, CC Complete Guide, p. 285
“Until then, I will be an obedient soldier of Shinra…”
He uses the term “従順な“ which is described above. He willfully submits himself to Shinra’s authority regularly in spite of inner turmoil and reluctance much of the time.
I see more of this with every update in The First Soldier. Sephiroth calls it his only job. You would say then “Yes, and he is paid for it and treated like a hero! That is why he obeys!”
First. Where is this interest in money? And who is to say he receives it? He was raised and trained by Shinra from his boyhood days. His lack of interest in money is said clearly.
Angeal might have partially misjudged him for it too in chapter one of episode 2 when Bachman asked Sephiroth’s opinion on the situation in Robio:
Sephiroth: “Search for the missing troops. Don’t interfere with the filming. Anything else is not my job.”
Angeal: “You’re a stingy guy.”
Sephiroth: “What?”
Angeal: ”There’s no harm in experiencing things. Don’t just consider profit gain and loss.”
Sephiroth: “That’s not the reason.”
Angeal: “Then tell me what it is.”
Sephiroth: “….”
(Japanese translation) (*Note about the nuance here at the bottom of the post!)
There is another reason Sephiroth focuses so narrowly on his job but he does not want to state it. He does not want to explain why he focuses on nothing else. Why?
His disinterest in money itself was more obviously stated in episode one:
Matt: “We'll have to talk about the distribution of the reward money… fortunately, he (Sephiroth) doesn't seem to care about money.”
Money is not the reason for Sephiroth’s loyalty to Shinra then. You might then say it’s because they treated him as a hero! Like as it was said in the Guide, they valued his loyalty and dealt with him as a hero. But where is it stated that Sephiroth wants that either? No, it is the opposite.
Sephiroth: ”I don’t want to be a hero. I want to live a normal life…”
Glenn: “What did you say?”
Sephiroth: “Nothing. It’s never going to happen.”
But Sephiroth! Since you are a hero, Shinra must spoil you and treat you well? They must give you so much! Is that why you stay with that defeated resignation?
Perhaps you have authority and respect within the military! The fandom has always called him the General….
Ignore that you see the cameras he hates, the false propaganda he knows about, his low sense of self-worth, how he sees himself as a cyborg killer that does not deserve friends. He never experienced the sensation of joy and fun with others until he met Glenn’s team. Ignore that he was trained to be afraid and heartless. Forget that he has memories of Hojo’s pain and training.
And authority?
“Very sorry. We cannot follow orders from others outside of the normal chain of command.”
These are just infantrymen.
Sephiroth’s ability to refuse orders in Crisis Core was also an unofficial privilege that existed under Lazard’s generous command. If it were Heidegger, no privilege like that would have existed and Sephiroth would have had to kill Genesis and Angeal in Banora. Lazard, a man already disloyal to Shinra, had to be in command for that point in Crisis Core to exist.
“Also, there may or may not be a right to veto orders...It seems to be just unofficial though..”
-Kunsel to Zack, CC DMW flashback
Angeal Hewley is also made team leader over “Shinra’s hero” in episode 2 of The First Soldier. Years later Angeal still gives orders to Sephiroth that the hero follows. Sephiroth’s authority inside Shinra is not like a general or even a captain.
Not that then. Perhaps you are living a lavish lifestyle, hero?
….ah, but do I even need to explain why this one is nonsense when this boy was isolated and brought up by Hojo?
”Mom? Why are you in my bedroom?”
-Sephiroth, chapter one, The First Soldier Episode 2, Japanese.
A lab cell near to where Aerith and Ifalna were held as prisoners?
“I’ve never had many opportunities to interact with people.”
-Sephiroth, chapter five, The First Soldier Episode 1, Japanese.
He would not have in the environment Hojo gave him.
“I am a SOLDIER that was raised to stand on the battlefield. SOLDIERs are worthless unless they are strong in body and mind.”
-Sephiroth, chapter five, The First Soldier Episode 1, Japanese.
“You and I grew up in different worlds. The day we understand each other will never come.”
-Sephiroth to Angeal, chapter one, The First Soldier Episode 2, Japanese.
Hojo is who raised him like this! In isolation and cruelty!
“I am the only one who can speak to Professor Hojo freely at any time, who researches the limits of our SOLDIER abilities…”
-Sephiroth to Angeal, chapter one, The First Soldier Episode 2, Japanese.
Did that Halloween event not show us the deeper horror beneath these other horrors? And who they were connected to?
Hojo: “Endure the pain, Sephiroth. You’re not at your limit yet. The more you endure, the more of your hidden strength will awaken.”
Glenn: Hey! Hang in there!
Sephiroth: “I’m sorry. I was suddenly in a lot of pain, but I’m alright now.”
Glenn: “Don’t be so strong!! Rest! Rest! Don’t push yourself so hard just because you’re the team leader!! Just relax!
Sephiroth: “….I’ve never heard anything like that before. It’s just the reverse of what the professor said…”
(Japanese translation)
Who would have ingrained such deep loyalty into the world’s strongest SOLDIER so well other than his father Hojo? Sephiroth does not speak of leaving Shinra until he is close to 25 years. He was shaken when Elfe questioned why he fought and if it was for any reason. He responds to a command from his friend Genesis on immediate instinct.
He is conditioned. That is why he was an obedient soldier to Shinra and why he stayed with them even when he hated his life. He was afraid. Of them and of Hojo!
The First Soldier will only keep showing this. Sephiroth’s friends were his chain to mental stability. When they left and died, he became vulnerable again and Nibelheim was timed just right. How much grief and anger must he have felt learning about how deep the use of his body and mind had gone? Enough to hate Shinra and soon everything.
Shinra is run by greedy pigs who have their dogs and sheep. They have their SOLDIER recruits, their Turks, their Deepground prisoners, their clueless employees. You will find that among these pawns, there are many who try to leave or question the power keeping them in check and that is because Shinra was not so careful enough to condition and lie to them.
They were careful with Sephiroth though because disloyalty from him would be so dangerous. The story shows this well enough.
Out of all of their abused pawns and attack dogs, Sephiroth was the one chosen to be exploited in front of the world and decorated in hero’s ribbons to cover up the scars. He was lied to about the depth of his abuse and given false hope in his two dear friends. He was trying to claw his way to the light and find himself so that he could be a real hero and protect others but there was no hope for such things. His cage was gilded and when he became aware of it, that boy’s heart was filled with sadness and then anger and then hatred.
His life was DESTROYED by Shinra from the start. His loyalty was sown into him mostly by Hojo. This new episode of The First Soldier has brought this truth further to the light and I do not think it was will stop.
Thank you to those who helped me with this post in DMs!
Notes:
*Angeal’s words in chapter one of FS Episode 2 about Sephiroth’s “stinginess” do have a nuance that I do not want to ignore. He can be talking about money gain/loss but also a whole mindset! His words are broadly referring to a narrow-minded and “Scrooge-ish” view of things where there is not much room for anything outside of Sephiroth’s thin focus. That thin focus is Sephiroth’s assignment and the gain of completing it, which could include profit from Angeal’s perspective and would be a reason to complete a mission if we remember his scene with his parents where that is a discussion. The point is to say that Angeal is not only talking about money, but for this post I focused on that aspect of it because of Sephiroth’s response against the entire assumption and his formerly mentioned lack of interest in money.
Aeriseph siblings au!
Adventure of a Big Dog (or Bear?) and a Mini Cat.
Parts of a WIP.
Baby soldiers taking a nap.
Angeal being the mommy 🙂💖
the way he goes from a protective, defensive stance as young seph, to a risky offensive stance above that, and then not even in a fighting stance as safer sephiroth... very cool.
But. If you look at it from top to bottom you see how each one seems to be guarding and protecting the one below it, or hiding the lower one like russian nesting dolls. Something Something inner child Something Something.
Also makes me think the stance/position of the sword is related to how guarded/fearful he is about the Truth as time goes on. Sephiroth is always protecting an inner traumatized part of himself that fears he'll never be human until he learns that he never was.
Also the sephiroth head in the clouds with horns, it's hair + horns form the shape of the head of baphomet, which can symbolize divine knowledge/enlightenment, but he might've just drawn it that way bc the symmetry looks good idk
I’n waiting for clearer resolution but Nomura may have just drawn the coolest Sephiroth portrait yet. HE EVEN INCLUDED MINIROTH 🥹
sephiroth's first family
(happy mother's day :'/ )
I said I was joking when I was gonna draw the toast run TM but I caved and doodled it anyways-
new to tumblr! here's a collection of scribbles from the last few months to introduce myself!
i really like EC!sephiroth can you tell
Oh MY God Guys
They promoted him to two boxes!!!!
Chapter 2 vs Chapter 3 sequence:
I am dying. Did they do that on purpose? Did they hear us crying about his one-box room??
MEANWHILE IN DRAGON QUEST
HEYYYYY????
AND THIS IS WHO HE’S TELLING THIS TO BRUH
FUCKING PASTEL GOTH KAWAII MONSTER THERAPY SHIT FOR MINIROTH IN ANOTHER UNIVERSE WHAT EVEN IS THIS I’M GONNA CRY FUCK YOU DRAGON QUEST
(Playthrough translation by @murasaki0615 on twitter)
I’m gonna recap what I can for the Sephiroth Dragon Quest story when I’m 100% sure it’s finished, but so far the rough idea is Miniroth getting isekai’d into the Dragon Quest world and working to help this creature called Monin, while also trying to get home. There have been cute moments and they bonded.
When the adorable creature said they were friends, SEPH’S DELIGHTED/SHOCKED REACTION WAS SO FUCKING SWEET AJDHDJS
HE’S SO HAPPY TO HAVE FRIENDS IN EVERY UNIVERSE 🥺
