Post by ThatPenguinHoe in Remember the Flowers comments

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I'm in the same boat.

Although, when I saw the separation between part 1 and 2 I went "Oh... so it's going to be from Lance's perspective instead of Cyrus' from now on? Eh..." but after actually reading it, I CANNOT WAIT to read more. We're already getting such an in-depth understanding of the wolf beyond who he tries to be, and for most readers, it's a roller coaster of sympathy and hostility.

Granted, actually speaking from Cyrus' perspective is a different story. The writing for this VN is incredible, but we ourselves have not actually experienced the betrayal that he did, and we have insight into the life and thoughts of Lance while Cyrus doesn't, so he may not be as inclined to be empathetic.

That being said, Lance also has an incredibly messed up sense of self, so I wouldn't put it past him to do more things that he's inevitably going to regret. He's nowhere near the point of forgiveness

Casselune "Cass"86 days ago(+3)(-1)

Actually, Cyrus does show empathy both canonically and consistently. With Axel, he notices his silences, respects his boundaries, and adjusts his behavior to avoid adding stress, showing emotional awareness and care. With Silver, despite him being an assassin with a difficult personality, Cyrus treats him respectfully, acknowledges his efforts, and interacts without hostility. On top of that, Cyrus often suppresses his own feelings to avoid burdening others, which shows emotional maturity and consideration. His empathy isn’t performative; it’s quiet, careful, and affects how he strengthens bonds and supports those around him. Saying he lacks empathy ignores these clear examples from the VN.

ThatPenguinHoe86 days ago (6 edits) (+1)(-1)

I... was kind of exclusively referring to Cyrus' empathy and sympathy for Lance.

You do make a valid point, though! And thinking about it further; the times Lance is brought up around Cyrus, the story seems to indicate that he doesn't really hate Lance (especially after getting his memories back, which rather changed his perspective--i.e. the comment to Aaron about not being angry at Current/Resoom anymore for the past couple centuries), but rather just has a lingering sense of betrayal.

That's why I was referring to an issue of empathy; living as long as he has may nullify any hostility towards Lance, not to mention (it's hard to get an idea of the time frame), but weeks or months seem to have passed since Cyrus joined the Resistance, so he's having time to come to terms with and learn more about Lance and his past, but the pain is still very fresh.

Ultimately though, I suspect given enough time, both Cyrus and Lance will come around. This story is about the two of them after all.

Casselune "Cass"86 days ago(+2)(-1)

I see what you mean about Cyrus’ empathy toward Lance being complicated, especially given the betrayal and lingering pain. But even in that context, Cyrus does demonstrate empathy, and it shows in subtle, consistent ways. He observes Lance without immediate judgment, considers his perspective, and tempers his reactions-he doesn’t lash out or act purely on hurt. After regaining his memories, his comment to Aaron about Current/Resoom shows he’s processing the past thoughtfully, not simply reacting emotionally.

Empathy isn’t always about instant forgiveness; it can also mean restraint, understanding, and emotional awareness. Even toward Lance, the seeds of empathy are there, tempered by the lingering pain of betrayal. So yes, it may take time for full reconciliation, but the VN clearly portrays Cyrus as empathetic by nature, capable of understanding, patience, and care-even when it’s difficult.

I think Lance can and deserves forgiveness, but that doesn’t mean he should be allowed back into the circle of those he has hurt. His betrayal wasn’t limited to Cyrus,he sold Xavier to Resoom too and in doing so, he shattered the trust of all his friends. Trust isn’t something that can simply be patched over with words, and the fact that he repeated similar actions after being discovered only proves that his reliability is questionable. Forgiveness here is about recognizing human flaws and mistakes, not about excusing behavior or inviting someone back into intimate bonds. Cyrus and anyone else affected can forgive him morally, acknowledge that he is capable of regret, but still keep a boundary in place. Forgiveness does not erase consequences, and in Lance’s case, the consequences of his actions are too serious to allow a resumption of friendship or close communication.

Darkgathering81 days ago(+2)(-1)

I'm not so sure about that statement, Cyrus showed a lot how empathetic and attentive he is, and he still has Lance's jacket. If he hated him or at least wanted him dead, he wouldn't have kept it. That shows that he still has feelings for Lance.

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