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ship_manifestoTitle: Dreams & Chains
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
regann
E-mail: regannfoxx @ yahoo . com
Website: kalyka.net
Fandom: Final Fantasy X
Pairing: Jecht/Auron
Spoilers: All of Final Fantasy X, beginning to end -- literally.
Notes: Some of the basic FFX information has been excerpted from my FFX site, FAYTH, so if it seems familiar, I didn't steal it!
INTRODUCTION
The main events of Final Fantasy X revolve around a young man named Tidus who mysteriously ends up in a world completely different from his own and then who journeys with an eclectic group of pilgrims in order to find his way back home.
But these events do not happen in a vacuum; Tidus was not the first person from the great technologically-advanced city of Zanarkand to be somehow transported from it and deposited into the almost-feudal world of Spira. Ten years before Tidus suffered such a fate -- ten years almost to the day before the game's opening events -- the same thing happened to his father, Jecht.
This is his story.
THE WORLD
Zanarkand is Jecht's home. It's a huge, massive city, known as the city that never sleeps. Machina -- machines, technology -- run the city and blitzball is the national pastime. Its citizens' lives are easy and carefree.
Spira, on the other hand, is Auron's home. It's a world under the constant fear of being destroyed by Sin -- a massive sea monster who can never seem to be defeated and who constantly and without discretion reins death down upon the entire world. Under the Yevon religion which almost everyone adheres to, machina is forbidden and summoners are called on to try and defeat Sin in order to bring out a short period of peace called a Calm. Never has there been an Eternal Calm, for even when a great summoner defeats Sin, it always returns. This world has several cities and temples scattered across its landscape, the most northern being the ruins of the holy city of Zanarkand -- a city that was once great but was destroyed by Sin one-thousand years earlier.
THE CHARACTERS
Jecht
In his bright, flashy city, Jecht is the star player of a sport called blitzball -- think underwater soccer -- so much so that he will still be talked about as the best ten years after his supposed death. Before he was yanked into Spira, he had everything, it seemed: an adoring wife, a young son, a good career. But even in this city of light, there was some darkness: Jecht had a drinking problem and there was talk that he was washed up, rumors of retirement flying; meanwhile, at home, his son, only seven at the time, swore that he hated him. Then one day Jecht was swimming in the waters of the sea around Zanarkand and he disappeared -- never to be seen again. His wife and his son, as well as everyone in Zanarkand, assumed that he'd died and grieved for him accordingly.
The truth was, though, that he did not die. Jecht had somehow came into contact with Sin and was transported from his home to Spira.
At first glance, Jecht is easily described: boorish, arrogant, conceited; a coarse ballplayer with a laid back view of life. And that's exactly what he is, on the surface. Underneath that, he's a father who deeply loves his child but had no idea how to show it, someone who is unable to express his own deepest thoughts. He's also a grizzled old blitzball player who is thrown out of his normal life into an extraordinary one, tossed into a world spiraling in on itself by way of the doctrine of a self-destructive religious system, into an adventure he never imagined.
Auron
Auron dedicated his life to Yevon -- Spira's all-encompassing religion, the basis for its theocracy -- by becoming a warrior monk in the service of the temples. Once part of the Crusaders, warriors that try to protect Spira from Sin, he was battle-honed at a young age and learned up-close the threat of Sin and the sorrow it left in its wake. His life of dedication, however, was cut short when he refused to marry one of the priests' daughter and a promotion meant for him was given to another. Disgraced by this defiance, young Auron became the guardian -- bodyguard -- of a summoner named Braska who wanted to complete the great pilgrimage to the ruins of holy Zanarkand in order to defeat Sin.
Over the course of the game, we see two very different side of Auron -- the young, idealistic Auron at twenty-five years of age, and then the older, wiser man he becomes ten years later. As a young man, he is serious, quiet, and dedicated, passionate beneath it all in his ideals. As an older man, he remains quiet and serious but there's much more sorrow in him, haunting him at every step. He becomes a man of mystery and secrets but is still dedicated to Sin's defeat. Throughout his life, though, honor is essential and nothing is more sacred than a promise.
THEIR STORY: SIN AND SORROW IN SPIRA
The best way to understand the reason that Jecht/Auron works together so beautifully -- not only with each other as a romantic pairing but within FFX's story as a whole -- is to simply look at the extraordinary adventure they share that weaves itself throughout the back-story (and story) of the game. Interspersed within my own synopsis of these events will be scripts from extra scenes gained from a side quest called Jecht's Spheres. Spheres in Spira can be used to make recordings and Jecht, having hoped to show them to Tidus when he made it home, made several of these during the pilgrimage with Braska and Auron.
Jecht and Auron met when Braska, the summoner, heard word that a man in the Bevelle prison claimed to be from Zanarkand. Intrigued by such a statement, Braska went to confront this man -- Jecht. Immediately, Jecht and Auron were at opposing sides, as Auron found Jecht's general disrespectful attitude offensive and Jecht, frankly, did not care. When Braska asked Jecht to join he and Auron on the pilgrimage, Jecht agreed, much to Auron's disapproval.
So, the three of them began the traditional pilgrimage, which involved the summoner -- in this case, Braska -- visiting all the temples of Spira where he was to be pray to the fayths for their aid against Sin. The fayths -- powerful spirits, almost like saints or demigods -- could be called upon by a summoner while in battle, to aid him, appearing in a form known as an Aeon.
The journey was difficult in its beginning. Jecht knew nothing about Spira or Sin or Yevon and Auron knew little about Jecht and liked even less. He was hostile to Jecht's presence on the journey:
=========
The trio stand in front of Rin's Travel Agency at Lake Macalania. It is Braska who records.
Braska: Auron, could you stand closer to him? Auron nods, moves closer to Jecht, though clearly under duress. Good, that should do it.
Jecht, to Auron: What's the matter? Afraid I might bite?
Auron: Jecht...
=========
But, as their travels continued, their relationship improved. Beneath Jecht's offensive behavior, he was hiding his fear and loneliness, the desire he had to return to his son. Auron, too, was hiding his sorrow, knowing that the journey would end in Braska's death, as that was the sacrifice summoners made in order to defeat Sin. Despite the sadness, there was some fun and humor on their journey. In the Thunder Plains, Jecht's need to prove himself to be the best backfired when he got struck by lightening, much to Auron's amusement and they even managed to stop off in Luca to play some blitzball -- something that the two worlds shared -- in the great stadium.
But there were other moments, other demons to be dealt with. One such demon was Jecht's drinking problem:
=======
The grassy bank of the Moonflow. Braska is standing by the river, looking across it while Jecht is sprawled listlessly on the ground, obviously affected by too much alcohol. Auron records on the sphere.
Jecht: What are you shooting me for?
Auron: So you don't do anything stupid again. I can't believe you attacked that shoopuf. Lord Braska had to pay the handler for damages from his own travel money.
Jecht: I said I was sorry. It's never gonna happen again! I promise!
Auron: Ah, a promise? Which you'll forget come tomorrow!
Braska: Auron, please. He did apologize. He knows he was wrong.
Jecht: stands up. That's it. Only thing I drink from now on its shoopuf milk!
Braska: You're sure?
Jecht: We're on a journey to fight Sin and save Spira, right? If I keep screwin' up...and...making a fool myself...my wife and kid are never gonna forgive me.
Auron: That's on the record.
==========
After this, the bond between the trio strengthened as Jecht turned his attention fully on the desire to help Braska and make it home. But as the pilgrimage progressed and he learned the truth about Spira, Jecht began to believe that he would never make it home -- as far as he believed, he had somehow traveled one-thousand years into the future and his home was nothing more than ruins. Losing this hope, Jecht's focus fixed entirely on helping Braska and defeating Sin.
Auron, Jecht and Braska finally made it to the ruins of Zanarkand and the Final Aeon was within their reach. Auron, who did not want Braska to die, begged him to turn back but he would not. After having lost his wife to Sin, he wanted his daughter, Yuna, to be raised in a world free of the sorrow that Sin brought to Spira. When Auron argued that Sin always came back, Braska pointed out that he could only hope it wouldn't this time.
Unfortunately that hope was lost and the truth was revealed concerning the first sacrifice that had to be made in order to defeat Sin. In the Zanarkand ruins, they met the legendary princess Yunalesca, a summoner who was said to have defeated Sin a thousand years ago. She told them that the Final Aeon needed to defeat Sin was created from the soul of a summoner's guard who would have to die in order to become the Final Aeon.
Jecht or Auron would have to die.
=======
Braska, Jecht and a young Auron struggle with the choice they must make.
Auron: It is not too late! Let us turn back!
Braska: If I turn back, who will defeat Sin? Would you have some other summoner and his guardians go through this?
Auron: But...my lord, there must be another way!
Jecht: This is the only way we got now! Fine. Make me the fayth. I been doing some thinking. My dream is back in the other Zanarkand. I wanted to make that runt a star blitz player. Show him the view from the top, you know. But now I know there's not any home for me. I'm never going to see him again. My dream's never gonna come true. So make me the fayth. I'll fight Sin with you, Braska. Then maybe my life will have meaning, you know.
Auron: Don't do this, Jecht! If you live...there may be another way! We'll think of something, I know!
Jecht: Believe me, I thought this through. Besides....I ain't gettin' any younger, so I might as well make myself useful.
Braska: Jecht.
Jecht: What! You're not gonna try to stop me, too?
Braska: Sorry. I mean...thank you.
Jecht: Braska still has to fight Sin, Auron. Guard him well. Make sure he gets there. Well, let's go.
Auron: Lord Braska! Jecht!
Jecht: What do you want now?
Auron: Sin always comes back. It comes back after the Calm every time. The cycle will continue and your deaths will mean nothing!
Braska: But there's always a chance it won't come back this time. It's worth trying.
Jecht: I understand what you're saying, Auron. I'll find a way to break the cycle.
Auron: You have a plan?
Braska: Jecht?
Jecht: Trust me, I'll think of something.
Later...
Jecht: to Auron. Can I ask you one last favor? Uh...nah, never mind.
Auron: Out with it!
Jecht: Okay, listen good. Take care of my son. My son, in Zanarkand. He's such a crybaby. He needs someone there to hold his hand, see? Take care of him, will ya?
Auron: But how am I supposed to get to Zanarkand?
Jecht: laughs. Hey! You said it yourself! There must be a way to get there, right? You'll find it.
Auron: All right, I will! I give you my word. I'll take care of your son. I'll guard him with my life.
Jecht embraces Auron.
Jecht: Thanks, Auron. You were always such a stiff, but that's what I liked about you.
======
Jecht died and became a fayth; Braska summoned him and died. In the process, Auron learned the most horrible truth of all: that Sin was a creature created from something called the Yevon Curse and Yevon, when Sin died, simply possessed another summoned creature -- the Final Aeon. Jecht's noble sacrifice for Spira had turned him into the next Sin.
And it's here where things start to get interesting in Jecht and Auron's intense relationship.
Auron, incensed by knowing the truth about Sin, returned to Zanarkand to confront Yunalesca, only for her to strike him down him and kill him. But Auron would not die.
In Spira, a person who dies horribly before their time and without receiving last rites becomes a fiend -- a monster that roams around the lands of Spira and causes destruction. But a person who dies and is strong-willed enough to resist death in an extraordinary way becomes, not a fiend, but an unsent. An unsent looks, acts and is almost indistinguishable from a live human, retaining his earthly form, but he "smells" of the Farplane, Spira's land of dead spirits, and his form can be dispelled by having the last rites, called a Sending, performed over him.
Auron, strong-willed, died from Yunalesca's blow but rose again in this ghostly form to keep his promises to Braska and Jecht. First, he asked a young Ronso to take Yuna to be raised at the small temple of Besaid, instead of Bevelle, the seat of the corrupted Yevon theocracy. Then, with much more difficulty, he kept his promise to Jecht and went to his Zanarkand to watch over Tidus, a task he was able to do with Final Aeon!Jecht/Sin's help -- though never explained, he eventually tells Tidus that he "rode Sin" to the other Zanarkand, a city that was not in the past but was created solely from the dreams of the fayths whose energies were trapped by Yevon in his continual summoning of Sin.
Jecht, until he encountered Sin, had been merely a dream; but he'd crossed over into reality and became real only to become Sin himself
For ten years, the not-quite-alive Auron lived in the dream Zanarkand and watched over Tidus for Jecht. One day, when Tidus was seventeen, he sensed a presence and knew that it was Jecht/Sin coming for Tidus. Because, somehow, Auron knew of Jecht's desire to be killed -- released from the prison of being Sin, possessed by Yevon -- and that he wanted Tidus brought into Spira. Auron complied and this is where Tidus' story begins when he was found first by Rikku and the Al-Bhed and later by Wakka.
Tidus would eventually, as his father before him, meet a summoner -- Yuna, Braska's daughter -- and become her guardian on a trip to holy Zanarkand in search of a way home. He, like Auron, would learn the truth about Sin and Yevon and the Final Aeon but he and Yuna would choose another path and they would journey deep within Sin to defeat Yevon and end the sorrow of Spira for good.
Just before that fateful final battle began, Auron said quietly to Tidus, an old man with a heavy past, "I'd like to see Jecht one more time before he fades away..."
And Auron got his wish because Jecht waited for them deep inside of the strange, metal mazes of Sin. He stood there, waiting, looking as he had ten years before when he'd died at Yunalesca's hands and became the fayth.
Back turned toward the assembled group of summoner and guardians, Jecht's first words were: "You're late, Auron."
Auron sighed and bowed his graying, weary head. "I know."
Then Jecht spoke to Tidus, of the fact that he was almost completely under Yevon's control. In fact, they watched as Yevon possessed Jecht and, instead of a long-haired, bare-foot man, they faced in battle Jecht in the glory of his massive Final Aeon form. But when he was defeated and Yevon left him, Jecht returned to the familiar human form of a scarred-up old ballplayer, standing before the group, swaying on his feet.
As Jecht fell to his knees, in the last throes of life, Auron turned sharply, reaching out, as if he planned to run to his side.
Except Tidus reached Jecht first and the father died in his son's arms.
And Yevon was defeated and the dream Zanarkand ended and Auron was released from his promises; Yuna performed the Sending and, like Jecht before him, he disappeared in a flurry of pyreflies.
Later, Tidus -- a dream that had to end -- would disappear from Spira to leave behind a broken-hearted Yuna and, in a world of golden clouds that so resembled the Yevon's Farplane, Tidus found Braska, Auron and Jecht waiting for him.
And that is the end of their story.
JECHT X AURON: THE LOVE
When I played FFX, I was in love with Jecht and, by extension, Jecht and Auron. All the things that were left unexplained by the game's narration was filled in by my imagination and, from the tiny glimpses that were given to us of the incredible bond that existed between them, a romantic love was created there that transcended death, dreams and helped end a thousand years of purgatory for an entire world.
Jecht, I admit, was the beginning of my love for this pairing. I just loved him. He was so much more than the surface said. He changed so much during his time in Spira that he was willing to sacrifice himself for a world that wasn't even his own. And then when he realized that he was Sin, he sacrificed himself again, wanting the monster that he'd become to be defeated.
Auron, in much the same way, suffered so much during his life. It can be presumed that he had no family and, then, he became close to Braska and Jecht only to lose them both. So important were his promises to them that not even death could stop him from keeping his word.
My own, very personal interpretation of the two goes much like this: here you have two lonely sad men who are in pain -- Jecht having lost his entire life and Auron preparing himself to lose Braska, all the while coming to doubt the Yevon teachings. They spark together, from the first moment they meet, opposite in some ways and similar in others. They find comfort in each other and a measure of safety near the end -- Auron believing that he'll have Jecht, if nothing else, after Braska dies and Jecht believing that he will not be completely alone in Spira with Auron there -- only to have it ripped away by Yunalesca.
It's easier, of course, to see the subtext when Jecht is almost playfully flirty. On that first sphere when Jecht teased Auron with the devilish "What's the matter? Afraid I might bite?" and Auron responded with nothing but a look and Jecht's name, it was it for me. If nothing else would have happened between them, I would have been convinced that there was something there. Luckily, there was more to come.
So, during the pilgrimage, they grow closer. Auron figures out that there is more to Jecht and Jecht begins to see the importance of their journey. It's almost inevitable; for whatever space of time one attributes to a pilgrimage that spans the whole world, Jecht and Auron travel, fight and live together, side by side, almost inseparable. By the time they reach Zanarkand, their bond is indestructible and we know so because the game shows us that.
Any number of Jecht/Auron slashy interpretations can be given to the events of Yevon=Dome. It can be said truthfully enough that Jecht, by choosing to die, was doing so to save Auron's life. If not for Jecht, Braska's only option was Auron. Auron's protest only becomes more fierce once he learns that he will lose Jecht as well as Braska and his impassioned "Don't do this, Jecht!" is filled with emotion. It's easy to watch and see that Auron's heart is breaking even more than it was a few scenes earlier because now he is losing Jecht as well as his summoner.
Auron's faith in Jecht is almost boundless -- and the reverse is true as well. Auron trusts that Jecht can find a way to stop Sin where no one else has before and Jecht trusts Auron to find a way to Zanarkand and watch over Tidus, a task that has been impossible for him.
Then, there's the goodbye, where Jecht -- who hasn't even hugged his son onscreen and never does -- embraces Auron and roughly explains that he's always been a stick in the mud but that's what he likes about him. Yes, I could feel the love there.
The unusual strength of their relationship, though, really shows through what happens between the time of Sin's "defeat" by Braska and Sin's actual defeat by Tidus and Yuna. Auron, after realizing what happened to Jecht, goes back to Yunalesca and tries to kill her, only to die in the attempt. Then, he rises from the dead in order to continue on, to keep his promises.
This is where things are the most mysterious and the most interesting -- Auron admits to using Jecht/Sin as a gateway between Spira and dream Zanarkand. And he seems to sense his presence in Zanarkand ten years later, so much so that he can communicate with him when Jecht/Sin comes for Tidus.
Auron can communicate with a possessed Jecht that is fighting to control himself as much as possible as he loses himself to Yevon. Only Tidus is able to do this besides Auron and even he can't understand Jecht coherently.
And let's talk about the ten years Auron spend watching Tidus, effectively raising him after his mother's death. He knew that Tidus was the most important thing in his life to Jecht and Auron mentors him and raises him -- loves him like a son of his own -- for ten years. And Jecht trusted and thought enough of Auron to want him to do that -- I think that speaks of an incredible bond.
Just think about those interim years -- Jecht, fighting against Yevon's control of him, desperately trying not to become Sin, watching helpless as he destroys the world around him; and Auron, watching Tidus grow up, always aware in the back of his mind that Jecht waited in Spira, waited to die once more.
Then there's the emotional backdrop of Auron wanting to see Jecht again and expressing this wish to Tidus; there's Jecht's first words to Auron after so long -- playful, but sorrowful at the same time.
And then there's that moment when Auron moves as if to rush forward and catch Jecht until Tidus beats him to it. By the time I reached this part of the game, the tears wouldn't stop and I cry through the last two battles.
To be rewarded with the image of Auron and Jecht reunited in the afterlife. How nice is that?
Jecht and Auron are a pair of lovers doomed by circumstance to never be happy, to sacrifice themselves over and over for the good of the world. But their love is only strengthened by sorrow into something that is indescribably beautiful.
FFX is my favorite game and I ache with the sadness of the storyline every time I play it, the beauty of Spira, the subtle emotions of the characters' losses. (Unlike some slashers, I adore the Tidus/Yuna relationship.) Jecht/Auron is as beautiful, sad, subtle and emotional as any other aspect of FFX and I can't play the game without seeing it. For me, Jecht and Auron are FFX. You can't ignore the strength of their relationship whether you see it as friendship or more and there's so much there between them: affection, respect, trust and love.
JECHT AND AURON: THE FANDOM
FFX isn't nearly as popular a game as some others in the Final Fantasy Franchise -- for example, FFVII -- so the fandom resources aren't nearly as extensive. But here are some helpful links:
FAYTH is the only Jecht shrine I know of -- and it's mine. Being a Jecht/Auron shipper, not only do I have Jecht/Auron fanfiction hosted there, but also screencaps from the game and Jecht/Auron doujinshi scans for your viewing pleasure. I also have all the scripts for almost all of Jecht's appearences in the game.
There is also a Jecht/Auron fanlisting, also mine. There are some scant recs available on there and a chance to show your Jecht/Auron love.
Okay, now that the self-promotion is done, here are some other resources:
Ponderosa's beautiful art site has some great Jecht/Auron (and Jecht/Auron/Braska) fanart. Her work is breathtaking.
In terms of fanfiction, here are some of my favorites:
Tomo Trillions is probably my favorite author to date, writing such great Jecht/Auron stories as Through the Rabbit Hole, This could be heaven, Piece of Mind, End's Beginning.
Miriya V is another Jecht/Auron author I enjoy with several small pieces to her credit.
Seishuku Skuld has also written some great Jecht/Auron, including Saidan no Hitsuji, a story that unfolds during Braska's and Yuna's pilgrimages, tracing the Jecht/Auron relationship from beginning to end.
Other places to go: The FFX Yaoi Archive is a small archive that offers several Jecht/Auron stories; and then there's![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
ffx_yaoi, the FFX Yaoi Livejournal Community where we have all sorts of links, recs, and so on related to Jecht/Auron and other FFX yaoi stuff; and, if you're really desperate, there's always fanfiction.net's FFX section -- not easy to find the good stuff here but sometimes there's a gem.
For people who are new to the fandom and want solid FFX info, they should try: The FF Compendium's FFX section for some good solid information and there's also the FFX section at FF:Worlds Apart that includes a complete game script.
Also, while nominally a Yunalesca shrine, this site has a great deal of information of the world of Spira as seen in the original Japanese version of FFX and is worth a look-see if you're interested in the differences between the JP and NA versions.
TO CONCLUDE: AN ANECDOTE
One of the things we're supposed to share in these manifestos is how we became introduced to the pairing and I thought it would be amusing to conclude this essay with my first encounter with Jecht/Auron.
My sister was furiously playing through FFX for the first time; it was winter break and she'd been playing straight for three days. I'd been watching her, absorbing the story and waiting for my turn at a chance. Ash, my sister, was nearing the end and the battle with Sin was near.
Auron came on-screen and made the comment that I've mentioned a few times already -- "I'd like to see Jecht one more time before he fades away..."
And my sister, never dull, looks at the television screen and states rather emphatically -- "That's because he's your boyfriend!"
I think that sums it up quite nicely, don't you? This essay is dedicated to her.
Author:
regannE-mail: regannfoxx @ yahoo . com
Website: kalyka.net
Fandom: Final Fantasy X
Pairing: Jecht/Auron
Spoilers: All of Final Fantasy X, beginning to end -- literally.
Notes: Some of the basic FFX information has been excerpted from my FFX site, FAYTH, so if it seems familiar, I didn't steal it!
INTRODUCTION
The main events of Final Fantasy X revolve around a young man named Tidus who mysteriously ends up in a world completely different from his own and then who journeys with an eclectic group of pilgrims in order to find his way back home.
But these events do not happen in a vacuum; Tidus was not the first person from the great technologically-advanced city of Zanarkand to be somehow transported from it and deposited into the almost-feudal world of Spira. Ten years before Tidus suffered such a fate -- ten years almost to the day before the game's opening events -- the same thing happened to his father, Jecht.
This is his story.
THE WORLD
Zanarkand is Jecht's home. It's a huge, massive city, known as the city that never sleeps. Machina -- machines, technology -- run the city and blitzball is the national pastime. Its citizens' lives are easy and carefree.
Spira, on the other hand, is Auron's home. It's a world under the constant fear of being destroyed by Sin -- a massive sea monster who can never seem to be defeated and who constantly and without discretion reins death down upon the entire world. Under the Yevon religion which almost everyone adheres to, machina is forbidden and summoners are called on to try and defeat Sin in order to bring out a short period of peace called a Calm. Never has there been an Eternal Calm, for even when a great summoner defeats Sin, it always returns. This world has several cities and temples scattered across its landscape, the most northern being the ruins of the holy city of Zanarkand -- a city that was once great but was destroyed by Sin one-thousand years earlier.
THE CHARACTERS
Jecht
In his bright, flashy city, Jecht is the star player of a sport called blitzball -- think underwater soccer -- so much so that he will still be talked about as the best ten years after his supposed death. Before he was yanked into Spira, he had everything, it seemed: an adoring wife, a young son, a good career. But even in this city of light, there was some darkness: Jecht had a drinking problem and there was talk that he was washed up, rumors of retirement flying; meanwhile, at home, his son, only seven at the time, swore that he hated him. Then one day Jecht was swimming in the waters of the sea around Zanarkand and he disappeared -- never to be seen again. His wife and his son, as well as everyone in Zanarkand, assumed that he'd died and grieved for him accordingly.
The truth was, though, that he did not die. Jecht had somehow came into contact with Sin and was transported from his home to Spira.
At first glance, Jecht is easily described: boorish, arrogant, conceited; a coarse ballplayer with a laid back view of life. And that's exactly what he is, on the surface. Underneath that, he's a father who deeply loves his child but had no idea how to show it, someone who is unable to express his own deepest thoughts. He's also a grizzled old blitzball player who is thrown out of his normal life into an extraordinary one, tossed into a world spiraling in on itself by way of the doctrine of a self-destructive religious system, into an adventure he never imagined.
Auron
Auron dedicated his life to Yevon -- Spira's all-encompassing religion, the basis for its theocracy -- by becoming a warrior monk in the service of the temples. Once part of the Crusaders, warriors that try to protect Spira from Sin, he was battle-honed at a young age and learned up-close the threat of Sin and the sorrow it left in its wake. His life of dedication, however, was cut short when he refused to marry one of the priests' daughter and a promotion meant for him was given to another. Disgraced by this defiance, young Auron became the guardian -- bodyguard -- of a summoner named Braska who wanted to complete the great pilgrimage to the ruins of holy Zanarkand in order to defeat Sin.
Over the course of the game, we see two very different side of Auron -- the young, idealistic Auron at twenty-five years of age, and then the older, wiser man he becomes ten years later. As a young man, he is serious, quiet, and dedicated, passionate beneath it all in his ideals. As an older man, he remains quiet and serious but there's much more sorrow in him, haunting him at every step. He becomes a man of mystery and secrets but is still dedicated to Sin's defeat. Throughout his life, though, honor is essential and nothing is more sacred than a promise.
THEIR STORY: SIN AND SORROW IN SPIRA
The best way to understand the reason that Jecht/Auron works together so beautifully -- not only with each other as a romantic pairing but within FFX's story as a whole -- is to simply look at the extraordinary adventure they share that weaves itself throughout the back-story (and story) of the game. Interspersed within my own synopsis of these events will be scripts from extra scenes gained from a side quest called Jecht's Spheres. Spheres in Spira can be used to make recordings and Jecht, having hoped to show them to Tidus when he made it home, made several of these during the pilgrimage with Braska and Auron.
Jecht and Auron met when Braska, the summoner, heard word that a man in the Bevelle prison claimed to be from Zanarkand. Intrigued by such a statement, Braska went to confront this man -- Jecht. Immediately, Jecht and Auron were at opposing sides, as Auron found Jecht's general disrespectful attitude offensive and Jecht, frankly, did not care. When Braska asked Jecht to join he and Auron on the pilgrimage, Jecht agreed, much to Auron's disapproval.
So, the three of them began the traditional pilgrimage, which involved the summoner -- in this case, Braska -- visiting all the temples of Spira where he was to be pray to the fayths for their aid against Sin. The fayths -- powerful spirits, almost like saints or demigods -- could be called upon by a summoner while in battle, to aid him, appearing in a form known as an Aeon.
The journey was difficult in its beginning. Jecht knew nothing about Spira or Sin or Yevon and Auron knew little about Jecht and liked even less. He was hostile to Jecht's presence on the journey:
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The trio stand in front of Rin's Travel Agency at Lake Macalania. It is Braska who records.
Braska: Auron, could you stand closer to him? Auron nods, moves closer to Jecht, though clearly under duress. Good, that should do it.
Jecht, to Auron: What's the matter? Afraid I might bite?
Auron: Jecht...
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But, as their travels continued, their relationship improved. Beneath Jecht's offensive behavior, he was hiding his fear and loneliness, the desire he had to return to his son. Auron, too, was hiding his sorrow, knowing that the journey would end in Braska's death, as that was the sacrifice summoners made in order to defeat Sin. Despite the sadness, there was some fun and humor on their journey. In the Thunder Plains, Jecht's need to prove himself to be the best backfired when he got struck by lightening, much to Auron's amusement and they even managed to stop off in Luca to play some blitzball -- something that the two worlds shared -- in the great stadium.
But there were other moments, other demons to be dealt with. One such demon was Jecht's drinking problem:
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The grassy bank of the Moonflow. Braska is standing by the river, looking across it while Jecht is sprawled listlessly on the ground, obviously affected by too much alcohol. Auron records on the sphere.
Jecht: What are you shooting me for?
Auron: So you don't do anything stupid again. I can't believe you attacked that shoopuf. Lord Braska had to pay the handler for damages from his own travel money.
Jecht: I said I was sorry. It's never gonna happen again! I promise!
Auron: Ah, a promise? Which you'll forget come tomorrow!
Braska: Auron, please. He did apologize. He knows he was wrong.
Jecht: stands up. That's it. Only thing I drink from now on its shoopuf milk!
Braska: You're sure?
Jecht: We're on a journey to fight Sin and save Spira, right? If I keep screwin' up...and...making a fool myself...my wife and kid are never gonna forgive me.
Auron: That's on the record.
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After this, the bond between the trio strengthened as Jecht turned his attention fully on the desire to help Braska and make it home. But as the pilgrimage progressed and he learned the truth about Spira, Jecht began to believe that he would never make it home -- as far as he believed, he had somehow traveled one-thousand years into the future and his home was nothing more than ruins. Losing this hope, Jecht's focus fixed entirely on helping Braska and defeating Sin.
Auron, Jecht and Braska finally made it to the ruins of Zanarkand and the Final Aeon was within their reach. Auron, who did not want Braska to die, begged him to turn back but he would not. After having lost his wife to Sin, he wanted his daughter, Yuna, to be raised in a world free of the sorrow that Sin brought to Spira. When Auron argued that Sin always came back, Braska pointed out that he could only hope it wouldn't this time.
Unfortunately that hope was lost and the truth was revealed concerning the first sacrifice that had to be made in order to defeat Sin. In the Zanarkand ruins, they met the legendary princess Yunalesca, a summoner who was said to have defeated Sin a thousand years ago. She told them that the Final Aeon needed to defeat Sin was created from the soul of a summoner's guard who would have to die in order to become the Final Aeon.
Jecht or Auron would have to die.
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Braska, Jecht and a young Auron struggle with the choice they must make.
Auron: It is not too late! Let us turn back!
Braska: If I turn back, who will defeat Sin? Would you have some other summoner and his guardians go through this?
Auron: But...my lord, there must be another way!
Jecht: This is the only way we got now! Fine. Make me the fayth. I been doing some thinking. My dream is back in the other Zanarkand. I wanted to make that runt a star blitz player. Show him the view from the top, you know. But now I know there's not any home for me. I'm never going to see him again. My dream's never gonna come true. So make me the fayth. I'll fight Sin with you, Braska. Then maybe my life will have meaning, you know.
Auron: Don't do this, Jecht! If you live...there may be another way! We'll think of something, I know!
Jecht: Believe me, I thought this through. Besides....I ain't gettin' any younger, so I might as well make myself useful.
Braska: Jecht.
Jecht: What! You're not gonna try to stop me, too?
Braska: Sorry. I mean...thank you.
Jecht: Braska still has to fight Sin, Auron. Guard him well. Make sure he gets there. Well, let's go.
Auron: Lord Braska! Jecht!
Jecht: What do you want now?
Auron: Sin always comes back. It comes back after the Calm every time. The cycle will continue and your deaths will mean nothing!
Braska: But there's always a chance it won't come back this time. It's worth trying.
Jecht: I understand what you're saying, Auron. I'll find a way to break the cycle.
Auron: You have a plan?
Braska: Jecht?
Jecht: Trust me, I'll think of something.
Later...
Jecht: to Auron. Can I ask you one last favor? Uh...nah, never mind.
Auron: Out with it!
Jecht: Okay, listen good. Take care of my son. My son, in Zanarkand. He's such a crybaby. He needs someone there to hold his hand, see? Take care of him, will ya?
Auron: But how am I supposed to get to Zanarkand?
Jecht: laughs. Hey! You said it yourself! There must be a way to get there, right? You'll find it.
Auron: All right, I will! I give you my word. I'll take care of your son. I'll guard him with my life.
Jecht embraces Auron.
Jecht: Thanks, Auron. You were always such a stiff, but that's what I liked about you.
======
Jecht died and became a fayth; Braska summoned him and died. In the process, Auron learned the most horrible truth of all: that Sin was a creature created from something called the Yevon Curse and Yevon, when Sin died, simply possessed another summoned creature -- the Final Aeon. Jecht's noble sacrifice for Spira had turned him into the next Sin.
And it's here where things start to get interesting in Jecht and Auron's intense relationship.
Auron, incensed by knowing the truth about Sin, returned to Zanarkand to confront Yunalesca, only for her to strike him down him and kill him. But Auron would not die.
In Spira, a person who dies horribly before their time and without receiving last rites becomes a fiend -- a monster that roams around the lands of Spira and causes destruction. But a person who dies and is strong-willed enough to resist death in an extraordinary way becomes, not a fiend, but an unsent. An unsent looks, acts and is almost indistinguishable from a live human, retaining his earthly form, but he "smells" of the Farplane, Spira's land of dead spirits, and his form can be dispelled by having the last rites, called a Sending, performed over him.
Auron, strong-willed, died from Yunalesca's blow but rose again in this ghostly form to keep his promises to Braska and Jecht. First, he asked a young Ronso to take Yuna to be raised at the small temple of Besaid, instead of Bevelle, the seat of the corrupted Yevon theocracy. Then, with much more difficulty, he kept his promise to Jecht and went to his Zanarkand to watch over Tidus, a task he was able to do with Final Aeon!Jecht/Sin's help -- though never explained, he eventually tells Tidus that he "rode Sin" to the other Zanarkand, a city that was not in the past but was created solely from the dreams of the fayths whose energies were trapped by Yevon in his continual summoning of Sin.
Jecht, until he encountered Sin, had been merely a dream; but he'd crossed over into reality and became real only to become Sin himself
For ten years, the not-quite-alive Auron lived in the dream Zanarkand and watched over Tidus for Jecht. One day, when Tidus was seventeen, he sensed a presence and knew that it was Jecht/Sin coming for Tidus. Because, somehow, Auron knew of Jecht's desire to be killed -- released from the prison of being Sin, possessed by Yevon -- and that he wanted Tidus brought into Spira. Auron complied and this is where Tidus' story begins when he was found first by Rikku and the Al-Bhed and later by Wakka.
Tidus would eventually, as his father before him, meet a summoner -- Yuna, Braska's daughter -- and become her guardian on a trip to holy Zanarkand in search of a way home. He, like Auron, would learn the truth about Sin and Yevon and the Final Aeon but he and Yuna would choose another path and they would journey deep within Sin to defeat Yevon and end the sorrow of Spira for good.
Just before that fateful final battle began, Auron said quietly to Tidus, an old man with a heavy past, "I'd like to see Jecht one more time before he fades away..."
And Auron got his wish because Jecht waited for them deep inside of the strange, metal mazes of Sin. He stood there, waiting, looking as he had ten years before when he'd died at Yunalesca's hands and became the fayth.
Back turned toward the assembled group of summoner and guardians, Jecht's first words were: "You're late, Auron."
Auron sighed and bowed his graying, weary head. "I know."
Then Jecht spoke to Tidus, of the fact that he was almost completely under Yevon's control. In fact, they watched as Yevon possessed Jecht and, instead of a long-haired, bare-foot man, they faced in battle Jecht in the glory of his massive Final Aeon form. But when he was defeated and Yevon left him, Jecht returned to the familiar human form of a scarred-up old ballplayer, standing before the group, swaying on his feet.
As Jecht fell to his knees, in the last throes of life, Auron turned sharply, reaching out, as if he planned to run to his side.
Except Tidus reached Jecht first and the father died in his son's arms.
And Yevon was defeated and the dream Zanarkand ended and Auron was released from his promises; Yuna performed the Sending and, like Jecht before him, he disappeared in a flurry of pyreflies.
Later, Tidus -- a dream that had to end -- would disappear from Spira to leave behind a broken-hearted Yuna and, in a world of golden clouds that so resembled the Yevon's Farplane, Tidus found Braska, Auron and Jecht waiting for him.
And that is the end of their story.
JECHT X AURON: THE LOVE
When I played FFX, I was in love with Jecht and, by extension, Jecht and Auron. All the things that were left unexplained by the game's narration was filled in by my imagination and, from the tiny glimpses that were given to us of the incredible bond that existed between them, a romantic love was created there that transcended death, dreams and helped end a thousand years of purgatory for an entire world.
Jecht, I admit, was the beginning of my love for this pairing. I just loved him. He was so much more than the surface said. He changed so much during his time in Spira that he was willing to sacrifice himself for a world that wasn't even his own. And then when he realized that he was Sin, he sacrificed himself again, wanting the monster that he'd become to be defeated.
Auron, in much the same way, suffered so much during his life. It can be presumed that he had no family and, then, he became close to Braska and Jecht only to lose them both. So important were his promises to them that not even death could stop him from keeping his word.
My own, very personal interpretation of the two goes much like this: here you have two lonely sad men who are in pain -- Jecht having lost his entire life and Auron preparing himself to lose Braska, all the while coming to doubt the Yevon teachings. They spark together, from the first moment they meet, opposite in some ways and similar in others. They find comfort in each other and a measure of safety near the end -- Auron believing that he'll have Jecht, if nothing else, after Braska dies and Jecht believing that he will not be completely alone in Spira with Auron there -- only to have it ripped away by Yunalesca.
It's easier, of course, to see the subtext when Jecht is almost playfully flirty. On that first sphere when Jecht teased Auron with the devilish "What's the matter? Afraid I might bite?" and Auron responded with nothing but a look and Jecht's name, it was it for me. If nothing else would have happened between them, I would have been convinced that there was something there. Luckily, there was more to come.
So, during the pilgrimage, they grow closer. Auron figures out that there is more to Jecht and Jecht begins to see the importance of their journey. It's almost inevitable; for whatever space of time one attributes to a pilgrimage that spans the whole world, Jecht and Auron travel, fight and live together, side by side, almost inseparable. By the time they reach Zanarkand, their bond is indestructible and we know so because the game shows us that.
Any number of Jecht/Auron slashy interpretations can be given to the events of Yevon=Dome. It can be said truthfully enough that Jecht, by choosing to die, was doing so to save Auron's life. If not for Jecht, Braska's only option was Auron. Auron's protest only becomes more fierce once he learns that he will lose Jecht as well as Braska and his impassioned "Don't do this, Jecht!" is filled with emotion. It's easy to watch and see that Auron's heart is breaking even more than it was a few scenes earlier because now he is losing Jecht as well as his summoner.
Auron's faith in Jecht is almost boundless -- and the reverse is true as well. Auron trusts that Jecht can find a way to stop Sin where no one else has before and Jecht trusts Auron to find a way to Zanarkand and watch over Tidus, a task that has been impossible for him.
Then, there's the goodbye, where Jecht -- who hasn't even hugged his son onscreen and never does -- embraces Auron and roughly explains that he's always been a stick in the mud but that's what he likes about him. Yes, I could feel the love there.
The unusual strength of their relationship, though, really shows through what happens between the time of Sin's "defeat" by Braska and Sin's actual defeat by Tidus and Yuna. Auron, after realizing what happened to Jecht, goes back to Yunalesca and tries to kill her, only to die in the attempt. Then, he rises from the dead in order to continue on, to keep his promises.
This is where things are the most mysterious and the most interesting -- Auron admits to using Jecht/Sin as a gateway between Spira and dream Zanarkand. And he seems to sense his presence in Zanarkand ten years later, so much so that he can communicate with him when Jecht/Sin comes for Tidus.
Auron can communicate with a possessed Jecht that is fighting to control himself as much as possible as he loses himself to Yevon. Only Tidus is able to do this besides Auron and even he can't understand Jecht coherently.
And let's talk about the ten years Auron spend watching Tidus, effectively raising him after his mother's death. He knew that Tidus was the most important thing in his life to Jecht and Auron mentors him and raises him -- loves him like a son of his own -- for ten years. And Jecht trusted and thought enough of Auron to want him to do that -- I think that speaks of an incredible bond.
Just think about those interim years -- Jecht, fighting against Yevon's control of him, desperately trying not to become Sin, watching helpless as he destroys the world around him; and Auron, watching Tidus grow up, always aware in the back of his mind that Jecht waited in Spira, waited to die once more.
Then there's the emotional backdrop of Auron wanting to see Jecht again and expressing this wish to Tidus; there's Jecht's first words to Auron after so long -- playful, but sorrowful at the same time.
And then there's that moment when Auron moves as if to rush forward and catch Jecht until Tidus beats him to it. By the time I reached this part of the game, the tears wouldn't stop and I cry through the last two battles.
To be rewarded with the image of Auron and Jecht reunited in the afterlife. How nice is that?
Jecht and Auron are a pair of lovers doomed by circumstance to never be happy, to sacrifice themselves over and over for the good of the world. But their love is only strengthened by sorrow into something that is indescribably beautiful.
FFX is my favorite game and I ache with the sadness of the storyline every time I play it, the beauty of Spira, the subtle emotions of the characters' losses. (Unlike some slashers, I adore the Tidus/Yuna relationship.) Jecht/Auron is as beautiful, sad, subtle and emotional as any other aspect of FFX and I can't play the game without seeing it. For me, Jecht and Auron are FFX. You can't ignore the strength of their relationship whether you see it as friendship or more and there's so much there between them: affection, respect, trust and love.
JECHT AND AURON: THE FANDOM
FFX isn't nearly as popular a game as some others in the Final Fantasy Franchise -- for example, FFVII -- so the fandom resources aren't nearly as extensive. But here are some helpful links:
FAYTH is the only Jecht shrine I know of -- and it's mine. Being a Jecht/Auron shipper, not only do I have Jecht/Auron fanfiction hosted there, but also screencaps from the game and Jecht/Auron doujinshi scans for your viewing pleasure. I also have all the scripts for almost all of Jecht's appearences in the game.
There is also a Jecht/Auron fanlisting, also mine. There are some scant recs available on there and a chance to show your Jecht/Auron love.
Okay, now that the self-promotion is done, here are some other resources:
Ponderosa's beautiful art site has some great Jecht/Auron (and Jecht/Auron/Braska) fanart. Her work is breathtaking.
In terms of fanfiction, here are some of my favorites:
Tomo Trillions is probably my favorite author to date, writing such great Jecht/Auron stories as Through the Rabbit Hole, This could be heaven, Piece of Mind, End's Beginning.
Miriya V is another Jecht/Auron author I enjoy with several small pieces to her credit.
Seishuku Skuld has also written some great Jecht/Auron, including Saidan no Hitsuji, a story that unfolds during Braska's and Yuna's pilgrimages, tracing the Jecht/Auron relationship from beginning to end.
Other places to go: The FFX Yaoi Archive is a small archive that offers several Jecht/Auron stories; and then there's
ffx_yaoi, the FFX Yaoi Livejournal Community where we have all sorts of links, recs, and so on related to Jecht/Auron and other FFX yaoi stuff; and, if you're really desperate, there's always fanfiction.net's FFX section -- not easy to find the good stuff here but sometimes there's a gem.For people who are new to the fandom and want solid FFX info, they should try: The FF Compendium's FFX section for some good solid information and there's also the FFX section at FF:Worlds Apart that includes a complete game script.
Also, while nominally a Yunalesca shrine, this site has a great deal of information of the world of Spira as seen in the original Japanese version of FFX and is worth a look-see if you're interested in the differences between the JP and NA versions.
TO CONCLUDE: AN ANECDOTE
One of the things we're supposed to share in these manifestos is how we became introduced to the pairing and I thought it would be amusing to conclude this essay with my first encounter with Jecht/Auron.
My sister was furiously playing through FFX for the first time; it was winter break and she'd been playing straight for three days. I'd been watching her, absorbing the story and waiting for my turn at a chance. Ash, my sister, was nearing the end and the battle with Sin was near.
Auron came on-screen and made the comment that I've mentioned a few times already -- "I'd like to see Jecht one more time before he fades away..."
And my sister, never dull, looks at the television screen and states rather emphatically -- "That's because he's your boyfriend!"
I think that sums it up quite nicely, don't you? This essay is dedicated to her.
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Date: 2005-04-16 06:39 am (UTC)Mmm, slash.
My Auron icon is somewhat inappropriate to the gleeful nature of this comment, but at least it is an Auron icon!
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Date: 2005-04-16 06:58 am (UTC)Thanks for a gleeful comment!
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Date: 2005-04-17 03:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-17 04:30 am (UTC)Ah, thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Jecht/Auron is such a perfectly lovely pairing; it's very easy to ramble about them, lol!
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Date: 2005-04-17 03:36 am (UTC)*saves this summary for future reading* Again, beautiful work.
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Date: 2005-04-17 04:32 am (UTC)Personally, I know it wouldn't have mattered to me what gender Jecht or Auron were because I'd still think they were perfect together...but I'm just an old softie. ^_^
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Date: 2005-04-17 02:46 pm (UTC)...I haven't finished the game yet, and I cried just imagining it. <_< We'll pretend I never said that. ;) Loved the essay.
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Date: 2005-04-17 02:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-19 11:19 pm (UTC)Glad you enjoyed the essay!
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Date: 2005-04-20 12:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-20 03:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-23 01:09 pm (UTC)Thank you muchly. ^^
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Date: 2005-04-23 10:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-06 02:59 pm (UTC)I loved this essay, although I have to confess to being more of an OT3-er; I love Jecht, Braska and Auron altogether :).
Still, you've given extra weight to the Jecht/Auron side of things, which definitely is a good thing because I'd never quite got the appeal of that as much as of the other two combos, so thank you :). I finally understand, and hit myself over the head for not having realised in the first place!
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Date: 2005-05-06 06:40 pm (UTC)Although I'm not much of an OT3-er in any fandom -- it's just a thing I have -- I definitely see the OT3-ness of Jecht/Auron/Braska. In fact, if you want to know the truth, I often can definitely see Auron as having been a former lover of Braska's, who the summoner gave up when he married the Nameless Al-Bhed Chick Who Would Be Yuna's Mother, lol.
I think it actually adds weight to the sadness of Auron's situation at Yevon=Dome; he knows he's losing an old lover and how he's losing his new one. Of course, I don't always play it that way, but there's something compelling about it.
And, hey, I'm glad to turn anyone to the Jecht/Auron side! XD
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Date: 2005-07-25 05:32 pm (UTC)This is good. It gives me a slashy pairing that I can easily see (from what little I know of FFX I suport Tidus/Yuna so Auron/Tidus just doesn't hash) and I can merrily go read. Maybe it'll help cure my current Advent Children and Crisis Core mania.
I'm a believer!
Date: 2005-08-22 08:31 pm (UTC)I'm still not done with the game, woe's me. I might be, but I've got three people who demand to watch when I play, else they miss out, and they never come over anymore. X( lol.
But you know it's a good audience when you can make slashy comments and they agree. I've convinced one to salivate everytime Auron pops on screen- just wait 'til Jecht shows up! ^_^ (Yeeeah, I'm that far behind...)
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Date: 2005-10-21 06:45 pm (UTC)final fantasy x is my favourite game too. and auron x jecht... oh god. i practically drooled all the time. their relationship is just _so_ beautiful...
i'm really impressed, how you could put all of this down in words.
i'll say it again, i admire you so much. thank you for doing this.
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Date: 2005-10-25 09:11 pm (UTC)I loved the essay. [I skipped around in it a bit while doing homework. *dies*] It's really beautifully written and very convincing. JxA is one of my favorite yaoi couples [along with SeiferxZell of Final Fantasy VIII *drool*] but I'd never be able to write a support essay about them like you did. It's just... wow. Just wow, that's all I can really say.
*cries* I want to stalk you.