Renata's evolution is not a physical one....
When I brought her over to Balmung, I wrote her to be cold, distant, angry. She hated everyone and everything, with the exception of her cousin and her lifelong friend. She was this way even more with men, often aggressively hostile towards them. And if you were a Garlean, well, forget it. She got into a lot of fights at the beginning. She did have a soft spot for children, and as such, if a person was a child, or even a Lalafell, she was neutral. Never hostile, never angry, she was kind to them all. Except the one Lala who refused to get out from under her skirt because he was trying to peek at her underthings...he got punted across the Ul'dahn street. She was also very sensitive to the suffering of others, and if one carried such a burden, she would leave them be, choosing not to add to their suffering with her angry nature.Â
She and her lifelong friend got into an argument, and things were said to her that wounded her deeply. She went to the Quicksand to drown her hurt in some strong drinks...and then a blonde-haired Midlander by the name of Percival said to her "I know that feeling..."
And as a little time began to pass, she began to thaw. She tried to resist. She got angry. He stayed calm in the face of her rage. She ran. He followed. She pushed, he stood his ground. And one night, she cried. Not a pretty, "Oh my god your tears are beautiful" type of way. She ugly-cried and told him that it would be best if he forgot he'd ever met her. He pretty much told her that was bullshit, and he'd never forget her, because he didn't want to. Though innuendos were exchanged, he never once tried to get into her pants. At that moment, he was exactly what Renata needed. A true, honest, loyal friend.
Ironically, it was Renata the snow-queen who first expressed that she was falling in love with him. They became a couple. And then, he told her he loved her.
Renata today is a different woman, though she is still made of steel and forged in fire. She is softer around the edges, but her temper is still nothing to be laughed at when it is provoked. She is still very uncomfortable around people she does not know, men in particular, though she is, if nothing else, calmly polite. The dynamic between Renata and Percival is truly wonderful to witness. He is not her white knight, because he knows his girl is no damsel in distress. Were it ever an issue, he would be quick to defend her honor...after he gave her the chance to defend it herself. Renata would have been offended if he treated her as fragile and weak...and she is grateful that he sees her strength and does not automatically attempt to swoop in and 'save the day'. She values his heart and mind (and thinks he's pretty damn good-looking to boot), and he's careful with her heart, the only part of her that truly might be considered fragile. Nothing was rushes, everything was allowed to unfold at their intended pace, and I see Ren and Perci as true equals, fortifying each other's weaknesses and enhancing each other's strengths.Â
Renata's path has been NOTHING like I planned it for her, and watching it unfold has been an amazing and beautiful thing to watch.
When I brought her over to Balmung, I wrote her to be cold, distant, angry. She hated everyone and everything, with the exception of her cousin and her lifelong friend. She was this way even more with men, often aggressively hostile towards them. And if you were a Garlean, well, forget it. She got into a lot of fights at the beginning. She did have a soft spot for children, and as such, if a person was a child, or even a Lalafell, she was neutral. Never hostile, never angry, she was kind to them all. Except the one Lala who refused to get out from under her skirt because he was trying to peek at her underthings...he got punted across the Ul'dahn street. She was also very sensitive to the suffering of others, and if one carried such a burden, she would leave them be, choosing not to add to their suffering with her angry nature.Â
She and her lifelong friend got into an argument, and things were said to her that wounded her deeply. She went to the Quicksand to drown her hurt in some strong drinks...and then a blonde-haired Midlander by the name of Percival said to her "I know that feeling..."
And as a little time began to pass, she began to thaw. She tried to resist. She got angry. He stayed calm in the face of her rage. She ran. He followed. She pushed, he stood his ground. And one night, she cried. Not a pretty, "Oh my god your tears are beautiful" type of way. She ugly-cried and told him that it would be best if he forgot he'd ever met her. He pretty much told her that was bullshit, and he'd never forget her, because he didn't want to. Though innuendos were exchanged, he never once tried to get into her pants. At that moment, he was exactly what Renata needed. A true, honest, loyal friend.
Ironically, it was Renata the snow-queen who first expressed that she was falling in love with him. They became a couple. And then, he told her he loved her.
Renata today is a different woman, though she is still made of steel and forged in fire. She is softer around the edges, but her temper is still nothing to be laughed at when it is provoked. She is still very uncomfortable around people she does not know, men in particular, though she is, if nothing else, calmly polite. The dynamic between Renata and Percival is truly wonderful to witness. He is not her white knight, because he knows his girl is no damsel in distress. Were it ever an issue, he would be quick to defend her honor...after he gave her the chance to defend it herself. Renata would have been offended if he treated her as fragile and weak...and she is grateful that he sees her strength and does not automatically attempt to swoop in and 'save the day'. She values his heart and mind (and thinks he's pretty damn good-looking to boot), and he's careful with her heart, the only part of her that truly might be considered fragile. Nothing was rushes, everything was allowed to unfold at their intended pace, and I see Ren and Perci as true equals, fortifying each other's weaknesses and enhancing each other's strengths.Â
Renata's path has been NOTHING like I planned it for her, and watching it unfold has been an amazing and beautiful thing to watch.
"You...make me believe I am all those things you say I am. You make me believe good things about myself..."
