![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aruru- Gaav (Slayers)
- Tosh via Monji (Arc the Lad 1-3)
- Viktor (Suikoden 1 & 2, referenced to in Suikoden 3 on account of the Star Dragon Sword being present, though in the hands of someone else)
- Jack Van Burace, AKA Garrett Stampede (Wild ARMs 1/Wild ARMs Alter Code:F [remake of WA1])
- Phoenix Wright (Ace Attorney series)
- Cid Highwind (Final Fantasy 7)
- Joseph Joestar [especially the old Joseph!] (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)
- Terra Branford (Final Fantasy 6)
- Leo (Lunar 2: Eternal Blue)
- Kotetsu T. Kaburagi (Tiger and Bunny)
1 - Gaav (Slayers)
He's my definite pick for Slayers, though it's a bit of a hard choice because it's SO unfair to the other characters -- especially those I also consider “favorite” -- since I honestly DO love just about everyone in the series (and Lina Inverse is truly one of the best female main characters/protagonists out there you'll find!).
But Gaav is one of the huge reasons for making Slayers one of my most favorite series ever in the brief amount of time he has in the story -- I mean, here's a creature with powers on (demi)god-tier levels that has become a persona non grata to his kin for reasons beyond his control choosing to hoof it out and survive if only to piss them off. To this end he even seeks agreements with traditional enemies of his!
He's clearly smart to be able to survive as long as he manages, though he can get carried away by his zest for a challenging fight. And there's things about him that almost still seem like an enigma and good theory material even though his overall basic concept and motivations were pretty well laid out. He's basically become an anomaly in their universe's system.
He's also pretty hot in my book (that fabulous wild red hair, those smug, smirking faces, and a very sexy voice provided by Jouji Nakata... and yes, I like the eyebrows, so distinctive! :3), and has a lot of BL potential with his servant Valgaav (pictured on the right in their image, also an incredible and compelling antagonist in the season after the one Gaav shows up in!) who he seems to hold some respect or even empathy for.
Anyway, there's just something about this guy that continues to be compelling for me, if only for his will to stubbornly fight against everything that would reject or destroy him, and carve out his own path.
(Honorable mentions in this series: Valgaav [unsurprisingly, and for a lot of similar reasons as Gaav], Zelgadis Greywords [my first crush in this series], Xelloss [my second crush here], Amelia Wil Tesla Seyruun [my favorite girl/fave girl crush, edging out even Lina], Lina Inverse [because there's no denying this protag or she'll get mad!], Rezo the Red Priest, Copy Rezo)
2 - Tosh via Monji (Arc the Lad 1-3)
AKA the guy I WILL CONTINUE TO SWEAR TO THE FOUR WINDS is either Gaav’s younger brother or son from another universe, because just the level of physical resemblance alone is ridiculous. I mean, WTF. And he happens to be one of the HEROES, LOL.
This is a series in which I also felt picking just one favorite was highly unfair because I like everyone, but in the end he keeps winning out.
But seriously, why do I like him? He's a little rough considering his background (and the basics of his background hilariously line up with Gaav's basic details too, LOL) but he definitely has a kind heart. He has a tough resolve and a passionate, headstrong personality. He's driven to protect those that can't do so on their own, thanks to the teachings of his father figure, whose bond runs deep. He's also shown to be a competent, capable leader if need be for him to take that role.
And of course, there's his particular bond with Shu, which leads to some of the best scenarios in the series. Whether you ship it or not (and hell yes do I ship it, the BL potential here is off the chart!), their trust and belief in the other runs very deep in a way few people can match it.
He's. Just. Amazing. And yes, hot as freaking hell.
(Honorable mentions in this series: Shu [Unsurprisingly, again! You'll probably notice a pattern that in most cases, the chara I pair my fave with is often just as equally a favorite, for their own set of reasons. ^^;;], Elc, Choko, Shante)
3 - Viktor (Suikoden 1 & 2, referenced to in Suikoden 3)
Oh man, Suikoden. Such a HUGE roster of characters, so many of them really cool, quirky, or interesting enigmas, but I keep coming back to THIS guy.
Another one of my favorite “beefcake” types (he’s actually bulkier than what Gaav impresses me as being under that coat, haha). People literally have referred to him as a “bear of a man” in the canon.
Why do I like him? He’s friendly, kind of a wild-but-easygoing (and kind of a dumbass, lol) type, though he’s also carrying a painful backstory with him that he doesn’t really talk much about except when it comes back to haunt him (and even then he doesn’t seem to wallow in it too much, so there are small details that are never explained fully, and would be cool to know about).
He has fun/hilarious banter with both his BFF/Bromantic Life Partner Flik (who is rather more honest about his own painful past -- then again, Suikoden is full of these, not to mention that the whole theme to the series is about all the different ways war ravages through countries and affects people/their relationships, so there are painful presents, too... and yes, I ship them, ahah...) as well as his other “partner/ally,” a friggin’ talking sword that is one of the greatest non-human characters EVER because of ITS AMAZING EGO.
Anyway, no doubt about it, he'd be one awesome guy to kick back with and share some booze with.
(Honorable mentions in this series: Flik [told you there's a pattern, lol!], Odessa Silverberg, Viki, Ted, Gremio, though I bet there are others I am forgetting right now, there's just so many characters!)
4 - Jack Van Burace, AKA Garrett Stampede (Wild ARMs 1/Wild ARMs Alter Code:F [remake of WA1])
Ah, probably my second favorite game after the Arc series!
I was really torn between picking Jack or one of my other top favorites in the game, Zed (then again, WA1 is another one of those where YET AGAIN I do really love everybody, so it’s hard narrowing it down anyway), but he won out because LOL apparently this list is starting to develop some kind of weird theme to it?
Anyway, Wild ARMs can probably be best described as “Old West High Fantasy-ish,” and Jack is a seemingly easygoing (sometimes also seemingly dumbassed/dorky) wandering swordsman who is actually initially out for vengeance, then he finds out what *actually* happened to the one he loves/lost (and it’s pretty bad anyway) and it almost breaks him, but instead it leads to him becoming able to transform himself into someone seeking not vengeance, but actual Justice.
He pretty much puts himself through hell and back for that other person, as well as all the friends he’s made. He’s a genuine sweetie, really.
And yes, look at him, he's another hottie.
(Honorable mentions in this title: Zed, Rudy Roughnight, Elmina Niet, Jane Maxwell, Cecilia Lynn Adlehyde)
5 - Phoenix Wright (Ace Attorney series)
Nick barely needs an introduction in most fandom circles, does he? Most people will at the very least recognize him for "Objection!" and "Hold it!" (and for having a very, very queer fandom base, haha).
Anyway, yeah, he's one of those in which, even though it was difficult choosing a fave (yet again), at the very end of the day and putting down the game, I actually come back to the protagonist as the top pick.
I mean, really! The guy's not only cute as a button in design, and likely sharper than even he himself seems to believe he is, but he's just the dorkiest sweetheart who will put absolutely everything on the line for his friends and those he believes in, 100% unconditionally, even when it has cost him great pain.
I find that level of dedication and devotion extremely sexy, to be honest. Really, he's the kind of guy a person would wanna genuinely marry in real life.
Also love how he so easily reads as bi/pan from the source material due to this. Aside from the ridiculous levels of potential tension between him and Edgeworth, there are just So. Many. Possibilities.
(Honorable mentions in this series: Dick Gumshoe, Maya Fey, Mia Fey, Miles Edgeworth)
6 - Cid Highwind (Final Fantasy 7)
Ah... FF7, the fandom in which I first got online and found out there was such a thing as fandom, and cut my teeth on many a subject of interest here, including discovering people made fanart, fanfic, BL/GL, and doujinshi. :D
While I would say FF6 is still my most favorite of the Final Fantasy games I've played through thus far, FF7 was pretty grand and had A LOT to show me/inspire me with.
Note: I have never actually completed the rest of the Compilation of FF7, only FF7 itself and Advent Children, and played the intro chapters of Crisis Core and Dirge of Cerberus, though I do know more or less about most of the critical spoilers. I've also not really touched the series in over a decade by now other than maybe talking about it with friends.
Picking a favorite character here was perhaps slightly less difficult (though the whole cast is pretty enjoyable), maybe because I've had many years since last playing to think back on it, and maybe it's just my nostalgia talking, but it always seems to come down to two favorites in particular.
When I was still new to FF7, the pick would have been the now runner-up, Vincent Valentine. For a long time now though, my heart's swayed over to Cid.
I mean, look at this scrappy "older" scrufflord! Kinda cranky and very foulmouthed when you meet him, but also energetic and still never being able to let go of his dreams, even when it seemed foolish. He even gets to actually achieve that dream in the process of the adventure, and if you think about it, it seems like he is actually one of the bigger optimists in the team, however rude he may come off as being. (Which makes a beautiful contrast with Vincent... why yes I like this crackship, what can I say? Nostalgia for my first big BL pairing, haha!)
I only wish he'd not been so bullheaded and mean to Shera in his past (Though she got him back with the events in the ship, hah!), though considering how not only her, but the crew of the Highwind were quite willing to still work with him even all those years later, it seems that they already recognize there is genuinely a good man hiding under all that gruffness.
Also, the bit with him trying to be inspirational/motivational to Cloud by quoting the only thing about Loveless he remembered because he fell asleep during it, heehee... considering his dreams of space travel, he's likely a fair bit of a romantic deep down. So cute.
It'll be interesting to see if my feelings change in any way if/when (if?) the FF7 Remake ever comes out.
(Honorable mentions in this title: Vincent Valentine, Yuffie Kisaragi [though it's really hard to pick a favorite girl here, Tifa and Aerith are amazing too!], Cloud Strife, Zack Fair, Reeve Tuesti, Reno)
7 - Joseph Joestar [young and old, but especially the old Joseph!] (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Ah, a newer addition to my list, and coming up pretty strong thus far.
This man... is... oh god, what to say about his antics, LOL.
Joseph is rather the wild, crazy, and rude as hell type, especially compared to his grandfather Jonathan’s wide-eyed-almost-innocent-like but no less determined, honorable personality, or his grandson Jotaro’s collected and cool mannerisms... I'd say the closest in similarity to him is his illegitimate son, Josuke -- who even though he evidently inherited his trickster-ish and delinquent-like ways, is probably a nicer kid (and a real cutie too), so he's still a bit different.
Heck, he’s kind of a hilarious dolt in some ways, even when he’s older and wiser.
Even so, Joseph is still just as ultimately noble and filled with the “manly spirit” as the rest of the Joestars. He's just awesome to watch and just as oddly cute as an old man as he was young.
Hell, I'd dare say he's WAY hotter as an old man in Stardust Crusaders. (Have you SEEN that ass of his?!)
And you just want to hug him when he's really old in Diamond is Unbreakable where his cameos are simply endearing -- though he's still obviously that mischievous, troublesome young man on the inside he always was, and always will be.
Anyway, you're truly never bored with him around.
(Honorable mentions in this series [thus far!]: Josuke Higashikata, Robert E.O. Speedwagon, Lisa Lisa, Jean-Pierre Polnareff, Koichi Hirose)
8 - Terra Branford (Final Fantasy 6)
(What, you thought there wasn’t gonna be girls on this just because they didn't nab the top spot in the previous picks? XD)
Anyway, this was another highly nostalgic game for me in which I loved everyone and was hard to pick.
Ultimately I have to say my choice is Terra in part because I thought her story was really tragic but very hopeful. I wanted to hug her for everything and help her find the answers she sought in learning/understanding stuff like what it was like to genuinely care/love for others. When she was taking care of all those orphaned kids in the World of Ruin, and how she finally found the acceptance and love she craved through them and the team, I had serious feels.
She’s honestly a really sweet person even if she seems “alien” due to her being half-esper and her particular circumstances being used as a living weapon since a baby making her pretty lonely/afraid of building bonds.
I also find her really beautiful (I like her even better with the green/teal hair than the blonde. I also love her otherworldly esper form!), love her outfit design, and am amazed by the powerful warrior she is in the game ( she rarely left my party and I always gave her my very best stuff, along with Celes), both as a fighter and for her heart.
(Honorable mentions in this title: Celes Chere, Edgar Roni Figaro, Locke Cole)
9 - Leo (Lunar 2: Eternal Blue)
It was hard picking between the two Lunar games for one to represent for the main 10 list, since both are great in different ways and each would likely have a different favorite (given that they are in very distanced points in the timeline) and I would've rather listed both games in here, but there are 10 spots and in the end I chose Lunar 2 because... I dunno, guess it was a whim today when writing things up. I would've just as easily picked my fave from Lunar 1 (see bonus section at the end), and/or one of my honorable mentions from both games, Ghaleon, who has become more compelling a character over the years for me.
Anyway, Leo the White Knight!
On first impression, he comes off as a noble and overly serious guy committed to Justice who is going out of his way to irritate/stop Hiro and Lucia, since he believes their group to be the bad guys. He then comes to see who the *actual* enemy is, and first aids Hiro from a distance -- by DONNING THE MOST HILARIOUSLY DORKY, UNSUBTLE “SECRET” IDENTITY EVER -- then eventually joins you permanently.
His love for his sister Mauri and her lover (and his bestie) Ronfar is also very sincere, like his respect/admiration for Hiro.
Anyway, while definitely noble, committed to his cause and is a serious guy... he’s really just an adorable Dork For Justice at heart. He needs to hang with Amelia and Philionel from Slayers or something, it’d be absolutely great to watch what kind of absurd antics would happen.
Also, he's one very, very cute furry beastman dude. You take a look at him and tell me you wouldn't want to at least pet him.
(Honorable mentions in this title: Ghaleon, Nall)
10 - Kotetsu T. Kaburagi (Tiger and Bunny)
And number 10 on the list is another guy who, like Phoenix, I think most people would genuinely want to have for a husband (and considering he's already been married once and his relationship was shown to be loving, he knows how to be a very good one!) -- Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, aka the superhero Wild Tiger, the Crusher for Justice!
While he can be rather reckless, especially when it comes to his own personal safety, and his job and secret identity distances so much from his daughter Kaede, the guy just has a gigantic heart and is passionate about both preserving the peace/bring justice and to reasonably provide for Kaede and the rest of his family's needs.
Speaking of family, you can also tell that he has found a great sense of extended family together with the other members of the HeroTV reality show, acting as one of the veteran heroes of the group and either a father-figure or brother to several of them.
And then there's his relationship to Barnaby... Oh god, while I'm wholly ok with leaving things open to interpretation and am never really obsessed with the canonicity of the pairings I care about... well, goodness, they're certainly a pair that ought to be canon.
(Tangential: I also love how Kotetsu's overall respectful [if a little playfully teasing?] to Nathan/Fire Emblem when turning them down during one of their come-ons to him -- it was really considerate and shows how accepting of others' lives Kotetsu is.)
And look at him -- not only very handsome, but Kotetsu just has style. Such a sharp way of dressing! Imagine walking down the street with someone like that on your arm. Barnaby (or whoever you choose to ship Kotetsu with) is lucky, and so was Tomoe before all of them. *swoon*
So yeah, Kotetsu, truly another ideal (if dorky/clumsy) husband type. I would love to try his fried rice, and I hope Barnaby never gets tired of it.
(Honorable mentions in this series: Barnaby Brooks Jr., Nathan Seymour|Fire Emblem, Ivan Karelin|Origami Cyclone, Karina Lyle|Blue Rose)
- Nash Rumack (Lunar: Silver Star Story)
- Jecht (Final Fantasy 10)
- Bartholomew Fatima (Xenogears)
- Virginia Maxwell (Wild ARMs 3)
- Kamina (Gurren Lagann)
- Leon Orcot (Petshop of Horrors)
- Asirpa (Golden Kamuy)
- Tenjou Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena)
- Ash Lynx (Banana Fish)
I would've gladly talked a little about these other 10 too, but unfortunately, I made a wrong click and everything I had written up on these got deleted, and I AM NOT DOING THAT ALL OVER AGAIN, ahahah... sob... orz
