A Dialogue With the Choir: In Which the Conductor Has Completely Lost Her Shit
Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my Gaia and all the summon creatures combined. I stayed up and finally forced myself to finish watching a playthrough of Remake, having delayed despite desperately wanting to see it all, because I was so worried that any deviation from canon, any messing with the timeline of the Compilation would leave me disappointed with what is quite possibly my favorite story in the world. And boy, are timelines being messed with, canon being turned on its alternate-universe head.
And I am so fucking happy. I’m not even feeling the long-wait-now-till-part-2 depression I was fully expecting and preparing for. Because now there’s so much to rewatch, analyze, discuss with other fans, like you, my friends reading this. Because I’ve long said I will not accept any ending to FFVII that doesn’t involve Sephiroth being saved from Jenova and returning to the good man he once was, and Remake is teasing that he might. Because although we don’t know what will come of it and it’s in a different timeline, ZACK LIVES. I’ve joked previously about Nomura-sama reading my thoughts…but it seems that he’s been looking for inspiration in our hearts, all of us.
I’ve been watching Remake-analysis videos and trying to gather my thoughts in order to make this post (and alert Lenine, ready to dish with much fangirl-squeeing!) but I know I’m going to forget at least some of what I want to say. So I’m calling in reinforcements who have helpfully been watching along with me. Everyone comfortable?
Zack: *sarcastically* “Oh, you know, as much as I can be in the iron grip of an overprotective, grinning loony.”
Angeal: *indeed smiling widely* “Now, Puppy, since when do you have a problem sitting on my lap?”
Zack: “I kinda prefer to do it of my own free will. If anyone’s wondering why Angeal’s apparently gone bipolar, it’s ‘cause the end of Retcon, I mean, Remake, has him all gleeful, but then Amarissia just HAD to watch a comparison video containing the ending of Crisis Core, and well…you know how Angeal gets.”
ZACK LIVES, ZACK LIVES, ZACK LIVES!
Zack: *sighs* “I kinda don’t know how to feel about that. I mean, my dea-uh, d-word was so heroic.”
Cloud: “But Zack, Canon!You still saved Canon!Me! You’re a super, super hero!”
Zack: *smiles* “Thank you, baby. That makes me feel better.”
I felt a bit conflicted too when this was the spoiler I heard. I mean, don’t get me wrong, more Zack always equals awesome, but his last stand was so iconic, so central to the story. This must be how so many people felt during that whole Jesus-tomb revelation all those years ago.
Zack: “Uh, yeah, if you can stop comparing me to your world’s deities, that would be awesome.”
I don’t do it often.
Zack: “You made a music video about me using a Christian song.”
That was ages ago. Anyway -
Genesis: “Rejoice, fangirls! Rejoice in the glory of HD-Crazy-Sephiroth! Multiples of them, according to those analysis videos.”
Angeal: “You’re in a good mood, Gen. I thought you’d be grumpy about not being in the game.”
Genesis: “Oh, but I will be, ‘Gealy.”
Huh?
Genesis: “Isn’t it obvious? Nomura-sama said I’m going to be a hero protecting the planet, right? OBVIOUSLY, I’m going to turn up at the most dramatic, delicious moment and spare Cloudy the heartache of having to Omnislash his boyfriend. Amarissia says we’re going to get Crisis-Core-good-Seph back, and I heartily agree, and I’M going to be the one to save him.”
Sephy-Pants: “…”
Genesis: “Typical Seph. Feeling less glum, darling?”
Sephy-Pants: “I do not like watching Canon!Me fighting Cloud, or making him feel bad.”
Genesis: “Does it help that Canon!You is very obviously flirting with/propositioning him?”
Sephy-Pants: “Somewhat.”
Cloud: *snuggles his Seph* “Remember, it doesn’t matter what Canon!You does. You’re my Seph and I lovvvvvve you.”
Sephy-Pants: *smiles, cuddles him* “And I you, Cloudy. Thank you.”
Genesis: “What’s that whole seven-seconds thing about, though?”
According to the people I YouTube-stalk, either it’s referring to Meteor, or Aerith. During Aerith’s death scene, I saw it analyzed, it’s exactly 7 seconds from the time Sephy appears onscreen to him running her through. But see, that’s more proof! Good!Sephy is trying to help Cloud keep her from dying!
Genesis: “And there’s that bit about the pronoun, right?”
Yes! I went and checked the Japanese version - one of the Sephs uses “ore,” what he used pre-Jenova, not “watashi” as he always had post-Jenova!
Sephy-Pants: “Perhaps you should not get your hopes - “
Genesis and Amarissia: “WE’RE GETTING SEPHY BACK!”
Sephy-Pants: *sighs*
And it stands to reason that, if they’re bothering to save Zack at all, the timelines will have to interact somehow. The gang will get to see Zack! I’m sure of it!
Genesis: *cackles* “And since no one’s hinted any Angeal cameos, that means Puppy’s ass is all mine.”
Angeal: “Not going to happen, Gen.”
Cloud: “Don’t worry, Zack. I’ll protect you, and Aerith will too! She’s gotten super-good at fighting!”
Zack: “…”
Angeal: *worried* “Baby Puppy?”
Zack: “…I think I’m having an identity crisis. What’s the meaning of my life now?”
Angeal: “If nothing else, to be the meaning of mine.”
Genesis: *tries to gag but has no gag reflex*
More thoughts to come when I have them semi-coherent. Also, working on a Choir!Verse story for fanfiction.net! Much love to you all, Puppets!