What Zero Could've Been

[RukoBoshi]

As for Zenos and Zero's "relationship", it really came off as a cheap and lazy way to make Zenos look even worse than he already was amongst the fandom. Especially with how some treated his body-jacking scene. Probable enslavement as drama is such a trite, lazy plot point that denigrates the character involved. It's tired and really needs to stop being so venerated.

That's not how i took it personally. Showing that Zenos used her and didn't have a proper relationship with her, prevent us from doubting her intentions and the veracity of what she says to us. Essentially they shut down the idea that she could be out to avenge her "master".
This is also why she is such a straightforward character, because she won't lie if she doesn't have to. And a character like that is perfect to dump exposition on us.

[TheMightyMollusk]

It's entirely in character for Zenos to use people who are useful to him and then discard them when their usefulness is over. I didn't think his treatment of Zero any different from his treatment of Fordola, or Aulus, or Fandaniel, or anyone else around him.

[Vahlnir]

It's entirely in character for Zenos to use people who are useful to him and then discard them when their usefulness is over. I didn't think his treatment of Zero any different from his treatment of Fordola, or Aulus, or Fandaniel, or anyone else around him.

With Fandaniel it was more of a strenuous partnership. They both got something out of their deal. They were using each other. Otherwise yeah, he has a record a mile long of people he used for personal gain and discarded after.

[TheMightyMollusk]

With Fandaniel it was more of a strenuous partnership. They both got something out of their deal. They were using each other. Otherwise yeah, he has a record a mile long of people he used for personal gain and discarded after.

Yeah, Fandaniel was the only one who managed to pull a fast one right back over him, by hijacking Zodiark before Zenos could. They were both playing the same game, Fannypack just got the last move.

[SentioftheHoukai]

It's entirely in character for Zenos to use people who are useful to him and then discard them when their usefulness is over. I didn't think his treatment of Zero any different from his treatment of Fordola, or Aulus, or Fandaniel, or anyone else around him.

How is this any different from the transactional way Zero and the rest of the Voidsent conduct their lives? The way they live according to Zero's own admittance and words. The issue is that they've given us no narrative reason to hate Zenos for his mistreatment of Zero in particular, beyond a very particular current society trend. Zero herself has no real justification for taking issue with how Zenos used her, as she has openly professed to doing the same herself and that her world literally works that way. She near immediately proceeds to demand payment before she does anything for the Scions, and I don't doubt the Voidsent she crystallizes take major issue with her morphing of their forms so from whence does her mighty apprehension stem? It just makes her and the Scions who condone this come off as hypocritical.

(Not that that's anything NEW for the Scions.....)

[TheMightyMollusk]

How is this any different from the transactional way Zero and the rest of the Voidsent conduct their lives? The way they live according to Zero's own admittance and words. The issue is that they've given us no narrative reason to hate Zenos for his mistreatment of Zero in particular, beyond a very particular current society trend. Zero herself has no real justification for taking issue with how Zenos used her, as she has openly professed to doing the same herself and that her world literally works that way. She near immediately proceeds to demand payment before she does anything for the Scions, and I don't doubt the Voidsent she crystallizes take major issue with her morphing of their forms so from whence does her mighty apprehension stem? It just makes her and the Scions who condone this come off as hypocritical.

(Not that that's anything NEW for the Scions.....)

You are literally the first person I've seen who's made any kind of statement about Zenos's treatment of Zero. I'm just pointing out that it's not some new effort to vilify him, it's just how he's always treated everyone around him.

Personally, I've found Zenos boring since Stormblood and nothing since has really changed that. But at least he's always been consistent, for better or worse.

[SentioftheHoukai]

You really do come off some sort of weird, obsessed stalker of Aveyond, Vel. Also, you shouldn't double (triple!) post like that, it generally tends to be violations (albeit minor ones) of most forum's ToS.

You are literally the first person I've seen who's made any kind of statement about Zenos's treatment of Zero. I'm just pointing out that it's not some new effort to vilify him, it's just how he's always treated everyone around him.

Personally, I've found Zenos boring since Stormblood and nothing since has really changed that. But at least he's always been consistent, for better or worse.

None of this truly matters, since the vast majority of the Scions and main cast are no less boring, tropey and one-note as Zenos. So calling him such isn't saying much, as he's never been set such a high bar to pass over in this grand game of Limbo we call an MMORPG. Turns out, when you've seen enough characters and "beautiful scenery" new ones that resemble what you've seen before fail to register on your radar and stand out. When Zenos asked my character if their journey was worthwhile and we got all those flashbacks of Gridania, Limsa, Ul'dah and Ishgard all I could do was groan. None of those places are beautiful, no they're gray and boring as I've seen their like millions of times before.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

You really do come off some sort of weird, obsessed stalker of Aveyond, Vel.

Its stalkerish to reply to somebody on an open and public forum?
Well shoot, I guess everyone is a stalker

[VelKallor]

You really do come off some sort of weird, obsessed stalker of Aveyond, Vel

This is a public forum, he made the post and thread publically, regardless of WHO it is, that kind of take is beyond ridiculous.

Also, you shouldn't double (triple!) post like that, it generally tends to be violations (albeit minor ones) of most forum's ToS.

Thanks for the advisory by the way, I will try and not make that kind of una-void-able mistake again.