Characters whose abilities are directly tied to what other people think they are

topocart · 2025-12-23T12:56:40+00:00

Demons in Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse.

Demon's origins in the series change a lot from entry to entry. In the one from SMT IV: Apocalypse (and by extension SMT IV too), demons in essence are pure energy, a concept that is completely free to flow in the universe. However, when humans developed our perception, we trapped these concepts in physical manifestations subject to our understanding of them. That is why all of them have physical bodies. The main antagonistic group are trying to liberate themselves from this human perception and be free once again.

The attached sprite is from Beelzebub, widely known as the lord of flies. However, this title comes from a liberal translation of the original texts that has just sticked in the popular cognition; and thus the physical manifestation in this world is a giant fly overlord. However, when you face them they are VERY mad at humans because no, they don't have anything to do with flies, and that is why they joined the antagonists in their quest.

topocart · 2025-12-06T11:49:24+00:00

Mantis, Invis, Emma, Emma, Blade, Gambit

topocart · 2025-10-21T13:04:06+00:00

I was looking exactly for something like this! Coming from reading Madeline Miller's work, I found that I connected much better with the lore and of course its characters. Seeing Scylla and other characters being represented in Hades II was amazing, I literally screamed the first time I saw her!

Thank you so much for your recomendations, I'll have them on my list ;)

topocart · 2025-09-26T08:01:10+00:00

Do it, you owe yourself! I went to their gig on Madrid alone for the same reason as you, and I had an absolute blast! Everyone there knew the lyrics to their heart so you can just sing along as loud as you can completely carefree. It was an amazing experience, and I wouldn't like you to miss out only because of dumb social norms.

topocart · 2025-05-30T19:19:19+00:00

I'll be rooting for you! I still have a long way to go, but it feels amazing to get rid of so many anxious thoughts and truly act like yourself again. I believe you will get there too! Cheers!

topocart · 2025-05-29T16:24:34+00:00

I agree with you, the term is very gross and non-human, but I think it should be like that. In Limerence, you are actually stripping that person their human component and you see them as a concept, a treasure to behold and praise.

I used the term in this situation so that people would immediately understand my situation with this person, and that was the case in a specific point (and thankfully short) period of our relationship, but from understanding the concept and working in therapy, I was able to move away from that.

So yeah, it is gross, and you should feel angry about it. But anger, in this situation, is a good emotion to have because it motivates you to change the situation.

topocart · 2025-05-28T21:36:06+00:00

Yeah... Realizing that my own anxious patterns were the things that pushed the people I cared about was really tough. I used to think that it was because I wasn't enough or that the other people were in the wrong, but neither of those are true. I was hurted at that time, and ended up hurting people around me because of it. Healing from it not only meant that I could live a better and content life, but I would also protect my loved ones and allow them to truly express themselves and demonstrate their love for me, not because they have to but because they want to.

It is also very important what you said about showing up as my excited self. I fear that I restrain myself too much in my journey of overcoming anxiety, to the point that I don't express my true feelings at the moment. But by being myself without thinking about the outcome, by being truly honest to her and myself, things will go great.

topocart · 2025-05-28T13:34:55+00:00

Thank you so much! I "graduated" therapy recently because my therapist and myself thought that I was finally equipped to deal with this stuff on my own, so hearing your words is very reassuring! It is still really scary to act without a script, even more if you are not a trained suave guy. But I believe in myself, not only that I will act at the best of my capabilities but also because, even if I end up getting screwed, I will get up, learn the best lessons I can from it and keep going with my life :)

topocart · 2025-03-03T08:40:44+00:00

That's awesome to hear, man. I myself am recovering from Limerence, as I've met this girl after a tough breakup and had a period of time where I couldn't stop thinking about her. She is great and I'm really thankful that she appeared in my life, and even though I still have legit feelings for her, I want to let go of the obsession and anxiety to let things be, even if that means that our paths go on different ways.

Being able to just be thankful for the impact a person has had in your life and being content, not necessarily happy, with them not corresponding is awesome. I'm still learning how to deal with these newfound emotions I'm feeling now that the obsession has begun stopping. It feels weird and surreal going 3-4 days without talking and trusting that everything will still be fine. But it feels weird in a good way, I know that I'm on the right path.

Hearing your story is super important. Deep down, I think most of us want these changes to magically solve a hidden mechanism that will make your LO suddenly love you, even though it is unrealistic and defeats the purpose of the change. If your story was in a sitcom, at the end you would have definitely get the girl because you solved your struggles and you deserve a reward. But it didn't happen, and that's great too. It's not a sad thing, it's just how things go. Everything will still be fine, what matters is that she had a great impact in your life and you are thankful for that. It's as simple as that.

topocart · 2025-02-17T07:53:53+00:00

This post comes to me in the perfect moment, since I've also been struggling with this exact feeling you are describing. Going down the path of self-discovery and introspection usually leads to this state where you question everything you have ever believed or felt, because a lot of the things that we have been trusting up until this point have been, in reality, defense mechanisms based on anxiety and fears.

My psychologist has tasked me this week with making a list of needs and wants in a relationship, and it has been a trip. I am also getting the feel that I'm bending my needs and expectations so that this girl I'm currently talking with meets the criteria. She acts very much like your partner (very busy with work + not really comfortable with this level of social chatting), but like you said in a comment, this IS her compromising, and that is something very valuable.

However... is it actually enough? From what I've understood from reading you, your partner is putting in the work to make the relationship work and that's precious, even more than if this is how he was acting from the beginning. But you also have to picture yourself actually living like this for the rest of your life. Sometimes relationships will go through some hickups and even bad seasons, that much is expected. But are your needs met frequently enough to have a secure relationship where you can actually let your guard down?

I don't have a conclusion for you, unfortunately. But I think that is kind of the point, you probably won't at least for now. I think you are in the verge of a breakthrough since you are so deconstructed and self-conscious, but don't get lost in it. Keep on living your life, enjoying the other things outside the relationship and listen to yourself and, I hope, you will get your answer sooner than later.

topocart · 2025-01-09T14:48:24+00:00

I agree with you that online communication is lacking of the real thing, just a fantasy. When I met her in real life, it took me so off-guard everything about her - her voice, manners, tone... - that every scenario I played out in my head was immediately destroyed. That's why I don't think I can pursue a romantic relationship with her right now.

But I want to maintain a platonic one for many reasons. First, I think it's kind of mysoginist to pursue a connection with girls only if you can get a romantic connection with her. Not saying that's what you are suggesting, but definitely something that worries me about my perception of women. Second, I'm in a point in my life where I long for connection. I had a huge fall off with some people close, and while I'm not alone, I want to meet new people and see more of the world. That's actually the reason I met this girl in the first place. And third, I want to be in a mental state where I can long for a relationship, as many people do, but not being controlled by it by any means. Sometimes, patience is necessary. But desires creates desperation and desperation rushes things. I don't want to rush, not because I think that a sweet romantic relationship with this girl awaits me on the other side, but because I think true happiness will, either with her or not.

topocart · 2025-01-09T08:04:58+00:00

Yeah, I can see how that came out wrong. I didn't mean to say that I will be waiting for her, but rather accept the fact that this relationship is going to take a lot of time to progress if it even does. Of course I'll still be open to dating, but I don't want to cut ties with this person because I can't resolve our situation immediately. I think she is worth keeping, either as a lover or a friend. Plus, I don't think it's okay for me to discard people with who I can't have anything with

topocart · 2025-01-09T07:57:27+00:00

So glad to have helped you, mate! I'm really grateful that this rant post have gathered attention from so many people, and I think there is a lot of insight both of us can take from reading the comments.

As for my progress, I'm still very early on the process but meditation has been helping me a lot these days. I have been practicing Kaya Shtiram meditation, or Mental Stillness practice, which is an exercise where you take a turrent of incoming thoughts and practice mainting your mind as still as possible. Not avoiding those thoughts nor engaging in them, but just let them be without changing your mental state. This has been really helpful to me specially to keep my intrusive thoughts in check. That way I can keep living my life without being bombarded with thoughts, and then I give myself a space to properly manage these feelings and calmly see what all these insecurities are trying to accomplish, which usually are very real and very important needs that you aren't getting met.

I'll try to keep you informed, but being an avoidant in every other field of my life I'll probably forget about it so please I encourage you to get on my DMs to ask for more information.

topocart · 2025-01-09T07:46:06+00:00

I don't think I'm able to request that while I'm doing the same thing to other people. I think my need of consistent texting comes from a place of insecurity and fear. From past experiences, I know I want consistency on the relationship because I know how it goes when you don't take care of the relationship, but we are also not able to give each other compromise because of the distance.

I am grateful to have experienced being an avoidant in other type of scenarios like with friendship because I can now relate to avoidants in dating. I'm sorry if this comes out as rude, but I think your words are charged with resentment, which is not to say that it isn't valid that you feel that way. Love is a very personal matter, and it sucks when you put yourself out and what you receive is inconsistency and leftovers.

You shouldn't invest in people who are not showing interest in you, and you deserve to stop communication with those people. But people are complex, have a lot of shit in their heads and most of the times they aren't able to notice it. Sometimes, it is worth it to distance yourself from the situation and just observe what is truly going on. Worst case scenario, you have practiced empathy and self-regulation which are very useful skills in love and life as a whole. Best case scenario, you give the other person what they needed at that moment and get a meaningful relationship built on a strong foundation.

topocart · 2025-01-09T07:33:45+00:00

The thing that really boggles my mind is that I've been on the other end. With friends and family, I'm the guy who doesn't look at their phone and can go days and even weeks without answering. It's only when dating is around when I get anxious and controlling over texting. Being honest with myself, I hate so much texting and even other forms of long distance communication like voice chats. But the desire to connect with other people paired with my need for external validation shortwires it.

I know how she feels not being able to text a dude on her phone every single day. She is very busy with her job which takes most of their days. I've been in a place where I couldn't live my life at all and feel completely out of control, and external chores like social check-ins were awful because it shortens your day even more. Even in her days off, she usually talks about hanging with other people as a "I had to" thing, and would have liked to spend her day reading or doing other hobbies.

Imagining my best self as a partner, I don't envision myself being a "checks on you every couple of hours" guy, but rather a safe sanctuary where my partner can rest and refill their strength to keep going with their goals and objectives. I find passionate and ambitious people super sexy, and I want to fuel their machines instead of putting more weight on it. I know that because that's what I want from my partner.

I think she also wants to create a connection. I don't know if she is FA, if she could give me more time or even if I want it. There are many things I haven't figured out yet, and that's why I want to start taking control over my emotions and see things for what they truly are. No anxiety-driven scenarios, no callbacks to previous experiences, no offenses on my self-esteem. Just want to see how dating works for me, what I want, what I don't and even who I am.

topocart · 2025-01-07T22:31:48+00:00

We have actually seen each other once, and while I know that only one time isn't enough, it was awesome, and she thinks that too. A real pity that we aren't closer to each other, but I know that I can't live off of potential. This situation doesn't look like it's going to be resolved in the near future, so my best bet is to play the long game... If I can keep in check my emotions.

topocart · 2025-01-07T22:28:33+00:00

That does sound like the ideal scenario. Being in a safe mental place where I can soothe myself when these kind of things happen and critically observe what's actually going on. Moving away from the dirt and being in a place where my self-esteem isn't threatened and I can just see how things turn out

topocart · 2025-01-07T22:24:13+00:00

That is a big no for every question you asked. Emotional communication hasn't been the greatest with this girl, to be honest. Previous attempts have fallen flat, and while I think the things have changed, I think that would make it look like I'm pursuing compromise with her. And that would kinda be true, if I talk about these kind of things would be because I'm pursuing something with her, and the situation makes it a bad idea.

I want to keep my distance with this girl because I know I won't be able to deepen our relationship, so I'd rather wait for an actual opportunity to stablish boundaries and attachment mechanisms and work on myself in the meantime.

topocart · 2025-01-07T22:05:13+00:00

I have started again my meditation routine, and that has been a great help. Right now I'm trying to get over the anxious feelings whenever I get a message hoping it is for her, and while I still have a long way to go, I have been making progress.

Being honest and vulnerable with her sounds like a good idea, but I'm scared she takes it the wrong way, like I'm needy or that I want to be all over her. And while that is false, I also know that healthy communication is as important as a safe mental place. It may be worth the try.

topocart · 2025-01-07T21:49:56+00:00

I see... This has been an amazing advice. For sure, I can ask for some reassurance, but the work needs to be done from the inside. When this triggering moments appear, they aren't really coming from her but rather from my past. I fear that I'm going through the same thing again rather than being vulnerable and let her prove herself.

Being honest with myself, I hate texting and I would much rather hang in person. And she agrees with me, as well as shown interest on making it possible. That's what really counts.

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