Snowflake Challenge Day 3: One Indescribable Moment

[owlmoose]

Day 3: Share a favorite piece of original canon (a TV episode, a song, a favorite interview, a book, a scene from a movie, etc) and explain why you love it so much.

I thought about sharing a number of things here: a few books, a few quotes, some key moments from Critical Role Campaign One. But I decided to go a little further back, to a scene that shaped my approach to one of my core fandoms, and launched me into one of my all-time OTPs: Final Fantasy XII, the cut scene of Ashe and Balthier on the Phon Coast.

I enjoy so many things about this scene. The casual-yet-momentous reveal of Balthier's true backstory. A few moments to develop Ashe's character, both in real time and in flashback. The tenor of their interactions -- the first time I played this game, right when it came out, I hadn't particularly noticed any vibe between these two characters... until we got to this scene. Their measured but honest words, the way Balthier is forthright with her about his identity and his fears, her reactions to everything she learns, form the groundwork for a relationship between them. (On later replays, I noticed earlier indications that there might be something between them, but this moment is still where it all comes clear.) So it's a scene I adore not just for itself, but for everything it represents to me: a pairing I love, that got me writing for a fandom I love.

Comments

[mad_madam_m]

God, this makes me want to play the game again. (Also, it doesn't hurt that Balthier is my favorite character in FFXII, hands-down.)

[lassarina]

THAT SCENE. That scene was when I was completely, irretrievably in love with the game and the pairing.

Ugh, sometimes I still just get chills thinking about it.

[hibiscustea]

Oh, this is such a lovely moment! I was always really puzzled by the sort of general reaction that I saw a lot of places online about FFXII having characters be less expressive than FFX (this was when it was first released, and I was consuming everything I could about the game), because I always found the character animations, while subtle, to be really beautifully emotive and well-done. This scene in particular stood out; I just love everything about it. You've excellent taste. :)