So. I remember way back, when I first started participating in the quest, I made a quick comparison post assigning our various Social Links an Arcana based off the Persona games. Now that things have wrapped up, I figured I might as well revisit that. So, here we go again:
Social Links Updated
Han Jian: The Emperor
At this point, having seen the results of Han Jian's Arc, I feel comfortable re-classifying Han Jian from The Magician to The Emperor. My reasons for this is that having had a few more chats with Han Jian and observing his actions, specifically his rejection and subsequent handling of Gu Xiulan, I see Han Jian's struggle less as a matter of finding his own motivation and purpose and more a of a struggle to keep his group together and ordered, scrambling to assume his role as their leader, and trying to put the complicated drama surrounding them into order. And while this has no direct parallel to any Emperor Social Links/Confidants, it does certainly fit in with the theme of putting things to order. Odagiri does this through his enforcement of rules, Akihiko does this through his obsessive training, Kanji does this by sorting his definition of manliness, and Yusuke puts his thoughts on art and Madarame into order after his experiences. While his struggle is more external than internal, his period of deciding how to deal with Gu Xiulan does provide the internal component that other Emperor's before him have displayed. So in short, Han Jian fits more under the Emperor Arcana because his main problem and arc revolves around trying to organize and order the drama he finds himself in.
Bai Meizhen: The Hermit
Hoo boy. A lot happened since I last classified Bai Meizhen. And boy does it all fit under the Hermit. To reiterate, the Hermit is a Social Link associated with those who isolated or otherwise ostracized, and largely deal with personal introspection and discovery, and the application of such insight to the Link's life, often allowing the Link to come out of their isolation with a new outlook on life. Futaba moves past her previous trauma associated with her mother and begins to leave her room, and reconnect with her offline life. The Fox is a bit of a weird one, but considering that the Fox seems dedicated to helping the residents of Inaba out despite being largely unknown to them is fitting for the Hermit Arcana, even if the Link itself is atypical. Maya reinvigorates her reasons for becoming a teacher, and can return to her work everyday with a fire in her step, rather than a slow crawl through the mud, and she no longer feels estranged from her job. Hasegawa, the victim of so many rumors and abuses, finally manages to leave it all behind her and transfers to another school to start over. And Bai Meizhen? Her time at the Sect allowed her to learn and explore aspects of herself that her isolation and family never allowed to explore. Lakegate and the subsequent aftermath is certainly the most dramatic example, and the culmination of Meizhen's insight is her newfound talent for Earth, and element far from her identity as a Bai, and something unique to herself and her experiences at the Sect and with Ling Qi, which allows her to finally find friendship outside of Cui.
Sun Liling: Temperance
While we don't regular interaction with Sun Liling, I still feel confidant in assigning her the Temperance Arcana, thanks to her interlude. The Temperance Arcana represents balance and equilibrium, of finding compromise and a center. In it's inverse, which Sun Liling exemplifies for most of her time spent in the sect, it represents harmful extremity, of going too far, and of finding oneself in an untenable situation. It's Sun Shao who puts it all into perspectives, as despite her own personal success, Sun Liling has ultimately failed to win the war. The reason? She took it too far. She thought might was all that made right, and that the law of the jungle rules supreme. And as a result, she made an enemy that she didn't need to in the form of Cai, and that ultimately proved to be her undoing. And in her interlude, it's clear that Sun Liling recognizes this. She went too far, and wound up extending her feud far beyond what she could sustain, and ultimately failed both herself, and those who followed her. This mirrors the previous Temperance Arcana in that same pattern of extremity, of taking things too far in one way or another. Andre takes his enthusiasm too far, and winds up lonely because of it. Eri attempts at leaving Yuuta alone only drive the two farther apart, and only when she reaches out to Yuuta does Yuuta actually reveal how he feels. Kawakami drives herself to the brink and beyond of exhaustion, all in an attempt to make it up to a student she believes she failed, yet all she does in her extremity is worsen her guilt. In each case, the Link in question takes an aspect that's normally healthy to an extreme, and only winds up making things worse. And in order to make things better they have to pull back in some way and establish a new equilibrium in order to overcome their failings. Sun Liling's lesson in politics and belligerence fits rather neatly under that classification.
Li Suyin: The High Priestess
While I stand behind her current classification, I believe that she's currently verging on the next stage of her development, and may soon deserve a reclassification based on how things go. Specifically, having found her spine, Li Suyin is developing a bit of a nasty streak, and while she remains passive, she is no longer a push-over. In a way, she has growing out of her Arcana, and while it still fits her well, I can see the beginnings of a new chapter in her development. Perhaps something like Justice, or the Moon may become applicable. But for now, I have nothing to say.
Gu Xiulan: The Chariot
Again, not much to say. She very much remains reckless, and struggles to maintain control of herself, to an even higher degree than before thanks to her drastic actions. Despite this, by maintaining control, she has found victory, in the form of getting into the Inner Sect. Unlike Li Suyin, I suspect this will continue to be her main issue for a while yet, as while she has managed to achieve her goal, she still remains in a precarious situation, where a single slip of control will result in defeat. Beyond that, there isn't much else to say.
Ling Qingge, Ling Biyu, Zhengui: The Empress
Alright, while it might be a bit strange, I believe that all three of these characters fall under the same category, and might even be considered to all fall under the same Social Link. The reason I say this is because all of their interactions fall under the same umbrella of trying to establish/re-establish a family, of trying to nurture new bonds. Thus, all three of these characters fall under the Empress, which represents growth and creation, of establishing and nurturing something new, and of breaking new ground. Mitsuru learns to connect with and care for SEES, Margaret guides the Protagonists journey, and tries to guide to Marie as well, and allow them to find their own paths forward, and Haru reaches out to the man who took over Okumura Foods, despite her lingering fears and mistrusts. In that same way, all three of these characters are reaching out and trying to nurture new-found bonds with Ling Qi as her new-found family.
Su Ling: Strength
Having interacted with and learned more about Su Ling, as well as witnessing her own growth as a character, I once again re-affirm her classification under the Strength Arcana. To recap, the Strength Arcana represents unwavering conviction and character, as well as whole hearted dedication of one's effort and resources towards said conviction. Koromaru continues to be loyal to his dead master, and Yuko re-affirms her drive towards her future career. But in other Links, the card represents internal weakness, and of finding internal resilience in the face of external pressure. Both Kou and Daisuke learn to overcome their respective hang-ups and fears, and Caroline and Justine learn more about who they are, and what their actual purpose is in regards to the protagonist. In Su Lings case, she demonstrates both of these aspects of the Strength Arcana. Over the course of her time with Ling Qi and the Sect, she begins to see beyond her own hatred of her mother, and sympathizes with the plight of the mortals whom her mother preys on, as well as the dismissive attitudes of those who protect mortals, and forms her own conviction to stand against beings like her mother, and to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Yet at the same time, she is unable to overcome her own self-image and self-loathing, unwilling to fully accept the powers she received from her mother, and embrace her duality as both beast and human, instead trying to cultivate a strength aside from herself. While this is admirable, it is also a sign of weakness, as she allows her birth and heritage to become burdens rather than gifts, and ceding her mother control of her actions. I believe that as time goes on, Su Ling will learn to embrace her heritage, and direct the power it grants her towards her own convictions, and make the power of her mother her own.
Cai Renxiang: Judgement
This is a bit of a weird one, but having gone back and examined CRX's actions and mindset, I believe this Arcana is fitting for her. The Arcana of Judgement is a bit of a weird one, as in the Persona games, it hasn't usually been associated with a single character, and usually represents a group of characters progressing through a major story arc. But in this case, I believe it's appropriate. The Arcana itself represents the realization of purpose, of finding what it is that you stand for, as well as accepting what you are and what you want. The only character represented by the Judgement Social Link is Sae Niijima, who in the course of the story changes her stance on what justice means, and how it should best be carried out, ending with her changing careers from Prosecutor to Defense. In CRX's case, the Arcana represents her own struggle with defining just what her own Justice will look like, and how it is best served, as well as her own doubts about her own character. As she stands, CRX is still unsure of just what kind of person she is, whether or not she's the monster she believes her mother made her to be or not, and if there's something fundamentally wrong with her. Additionally, her time at the sect has made her realize that Justice isn't simple, and that her putting her ideas into practice isn't a matter of black and white. In the process, she's questioned just what she wants out of her own convictions, and if her mother's ideas are truly Just. I believe that moving forward, Ling Qi's relationship with Cai will revolve around her trying to get Cai to see beyond the pragmatic, and to develop a sense of empathy and nuance, as well as convince CRX that people like her aren't inherently wrong. In a more literal manner, CRX is facing the judgement of her mother, and needs to comes to a realization of her own self, rather than follow her mother's methods. While that might be better classified under the Hierophant, I feel that the developing aspect of CRX's characters, as well as her own doubts and questions, means that she is best suited under the Judgement Arcana. She is undergoing a process of defining what CRX means, and what CRX is. Is she a monster? Is she a tyrant? Or is she something else? That process of definition is what defines her under the Judgement Arcana.
Gan Guangli: ?
I'm not really sure how to classify GG, as we haven't spent all that much time with him. While we do have his basic backstory, as well as an idea of his general character, we have yet to learn of the depths that he more than likely possesses, given yrsillar's character writing. So for now, I can't really making any judgements. At a guess, I might say Strength, or Justice, but I honestly can't make any kind if accurate judgement without knowing more.
Ji Rong: The Magician?
Again, can't really make any conclusions here thanks to a lack of in-character knowledge. He certainly matches the potential and energy of the Magician Arcana, and he does seem to have focusing his efforts on worthwhile pursuits, but all of that is conjecture at best.
Zeqing: The Devil
Now before you crucify me for this one, I'll go ahead and explain just what the Devil Arcana means. The Devil Arcana is associated with temptation and distraction, of vices and erring from the path. In it's reversed position, it represents focus and commitment, of sworn purpose and intense dedication. Social Links of the Devil Arcana are often skilled and dedicated professionals faced with something that puts a block between them and their work, and they are often driven to vice because of it. Tanaka is an extremely charismatic and savvy businessman, but his own shady actions forces him to question the role of ethics in business, and he finds himself questioning the work he does, despite his skill. Sayoko is an experienced nurse with an iron clad determination to save lives, yet the toils and harassment she faces in her work environment drives her to drink and lust, yet at the end she re-affirms her dedication to her job. Ohya is a skilled and adept journalist, yet she is driven to drink in the face of a conspiracy that caused her friend to go missing and her work to become tainted. In a similar fashion, Zeqing is an old, powerful spirit with deep insight into the nature of Music that she shares with Ling Qi. Yet she is constantly plagued by her own nature, forcing herself to ignore her inborn instincts to feed and capture those around her. And despite these constant temptations, she continues to teach Ling Qi and her daughter the knowledge and skills she's accumulated. That dedication in the face of temptation is what convinces me that the Devil Arcana suits her best.
Ling Qi: The Lovers
This is perhaps the biggest change in the Social Links, and one I feel to be rather appropriate. For context, I previously considered Ling Qi under the Moon Arcana, an Arcana associated with the subconscious, along with emotion and imagination, the unknowable depths of the human mind. This fit Ling Qi when she was mysterious and hidden, deliberately avoiding her own emotions and history to those around them, yet being aware of the feelings that lie below the surface of her friends. Now, Ling Qi has since grown from that mindset, and has now set about on a new path. The Lovers Arcana is one of choices and bonds, of deciding who and what one loves, of being honest with one's feelings and deciding from the heart. Social Links of the Lovers Arcana generally involve a character trying to sort out their feelings about the future, and decide just what they want in the face of uncertainty, as well as decide what to care about, and how. Yukari comes to terms with her estranged mother, as well as affirming her faith in her father. Rise sorts out her exact feelings about being an idol, and remembers why she became an idol in the first place, and comes to terms with the fact that she genuinely enjoys being an idol, and wants to continue being one. Ann re-connects with Shiho and strengthens her own resilience in an effort to better support Shiho, as well as finding a passion for the modeling she does, deciding that modeling is something she wants to devote herself to. And in Ling Qi's case, she finds herself in a situation where she must decide what is worth devoting herself to. She has solidified her domain as a Home, for both herself and others, yet she now find herself on journey to figure just what that means. How will she make her home? Whom will it shelter? How will she protect it? At the same time, she is also deepening her bonds, becoming more and more devoted to those around her, yet her time is not infinite and she is forced to chose who to bond with. Ultimately, Ling Qi has moved on past her period of uncertainty, and has come to a crossroad of her journey, one which will define all other decisions moving forward, and thus falls under the Lovers Arcana for that reason.
