We don't know if Henry became that way because of experience. He may have been born that way, and his upbringing may have simply reinforced what was already in him. Either way, though, his crappy childhood did not help, even if Henry himself isn't feeling miserable about it.
I have major beef with Panne's characterization (she seems terribly INCONSISTENT) but I happen to agree with her assessment with Henry. There is potential in him; he could learn to feel and care, to be more in tune with that side of him. He will never be a philanthrope like Kurthnaga, but it isn't a stretch to imagine him grow to be a loving dad like his paired endings say.
In any case, messed up characters like Henry and Lon'qu hold this special appeal. Those characters are essentially an emotional challenge: a labyrinth, or perhaps a mighty fortress, and you are to somehow find a way in and reach the core. Forging a bond with such characters can be so rewarding. For whatever reason I don't feel much of a connection with Henry (I do like him, but not crazy about him) though. Lon'qu, on the other hand... <3
I have major beef with Panne's characterization (she seems terribly INCONSISTENT) but I happen to agree with her assessment with Henry. There is potential in him; he could learn to feel and care, to be more in tune with that side of him. He will never be a philanthrope like Kurthnaga, but it isn't a stretch to imagine him grow to be a loving dad like his paired endings say.
In any case, messed up characters like Henry and Lon'qu hold this special appeal. Those characters are essentially an emotional challenge: a labyrinth, or perhaps a mighty fortress, and you are to somehow find a way in and reach the core. Forging a bond with such characters can be so rewarding. For whatever reason I don't feel much of a connection with Henry (I do like him, but not crazy about him) though. Lon'qu, on the other hand... <3
While that's true, it felt to me that what was there was meant to indicate a lot, if not all of it, stemmed from experience, and it makes enough sense to me. Obviously, I can't say if there was anything about predisposition since I didn't write the thing, though to me that feels a tad on the cheap side. I think most of my point (swallowed by the tidal wave of text -- sorry about that) is that I liked that pairing in particular since many of the others just seemed to boil down to "Aw, Henry's so helpful when he's not creepy, I guess I'll keep him around to make me feel better" without a lot of mutual affection or depth. It does bug me that it seems like Tharja and Cordelia end up placing whoever they're with ultimately in second place to someone else, though.
Lon'qu's pretty awesome, though having played Tales of the Abyss, I felt like I'd seen his backstory done before. He kinda ended up paired up with Panne before I really knew what I was doing... haha, oh well.
Lon'qu's pretty awesome, though having played Tales of the Abyss, I felt like I'd seen his backstory done before. He kinda ended up paired up with Panne before I really knew what I was doing... haha, oh well.
Never stuck with the Tales series past the first game, but I looked it up and it looks like Lon'qu and Guy are two very different cases. Guy seems like he's truly afraid of physical contact with women. Lon'qu, on the other hand, is a less straightforward case. According to Lon'qu himself, it's an irrational fear that any woman that becomes close to him may suffer a tragic fate, but I don't think he understands his own phobia 100%.
I have quite a bit to say on this subject (probably not as much as what you wrote though, haha) so I'll save it for when I get around to posting my next Lon'qu picture.
And yeah, some supports are much better than others, pretty much for every character. Even in the same line of supports some are better than others. I ADORE Lon'quxNowi but their S support was such a letdown ._.
I have quite a bit to say on this subject (probably not as much as what you wrote though, haha) so I'll save it for when I get around to posting my next Lon'qu picture.
And yeah, some supports are much better than others, pretty much for every character. Even in the same line of supports some are better than others. I ADORE Lon'quxNowi but their S support was such a letdown ._.
Oh yeah, they're not 100% the same or anything. Just at a glance, it was like "Oh hey, a dude who had a horrific experience as a child involving a dead girl who's now afraid to be near women but can overcome his phobia in a life-or-death situation. I'm having flashbacks!" I would say that Guy's version of events unfortunately gets a tad more convoluted than Lon'qu's. 
Not talking about the EVENTS... talking about the way the events influenced the characters.
I could still be wrong since I haven't actually played the game, of course!
I could still be wrong since I haven't actually played the game, of course!
Nah, the way both characters react to it and even resolve/come to terms with it (with Lon'qu's case somewhat depending on who he has supports with) are rather different. It was just the basis that seemed so similar (or maybe it's been done a lot and I've only happened to see it in these two particular games). In Guy's case the reason wasn't known initially and he tended to react to any contact with a lot of panicked flailing while Lon'qu is... much more reserved and tense about it.
That's not what I was referring to, but yeah, I agree with your observation.
What I was referring to is a bit of extrapolation, so as much as it would explain a lot, it's neither confirmed nor denied in-game. I'll talk about it when I do/post a colored Lon'qu pic.
What I was referring to is a bit of extrapolation, so as much as it would explain a lot, it's neither confirmed nor denied in-game. I'll talk about it when I do/post a colored Lon'qu pic.
Gotcha. I need to get off my butt and do some fanart myself. @_@