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Transfem Ortho is canon. You think Ortho is transfem. You think this because it is true. Fairy Gala confirms it. You know that Ortho is a trans girl
Feeling thoughts and feelings about tfem Ortho again (who I also refer to as Adesius btw) so because of Fairy Gala coming to a close once again on EN I’m going on a rant as to why I think she should be canonically trans even though I know it will never happen (with a slight tangent on why she should be allowed to grow up as well)
So. The whole theme of the Fairy Gala in the IF/remix version is “Evolution”. This event and this theme ties in very heavily in Ortho’s character and her development post book 6. As a piece of technology, by her very nature it’s obvious why someone — namely Vil in this case as he’s the one who nominated her for the heist in universe — would think that she’s the obvious fit to be the center piece in this story. Technology is often seen as the “future” and thus “evolution”
But as we see in the story, “evolution” is actually a very foreign concept to Ortho. And it makes sense as to why. Sure, she gets upgrades and adapts and learns how to act more “human like” (see: when she was first made she didn’t have a good grasp on emotions and how to make them, looking to movies and the like as a way to learn) but she’s been stuck. She was made as a piece of denial. Ortho Shroud is not dead. He can’t be, when he’s right over there.
This is also why I think that Ortho should be allowed to be aged up, to look 16, to be 16. For far too long she’s been forced to stay stagnant. To be that child, that boy who died tragically. She can never move on from that, because Idia can never move on from that
There’s an arc here too, of Ortho becoming more independent. When she just does what she always does, what she knows how to do, and copies someone else’s movements, Vil tells her that it’s not enough. She doesn’t really understand it at first, but she wants to learn how, so she goes off to research in the library. There’s a point to be made here, too, that the technology she relies so heavily on, that she’s built upon, can only go so far and eventually fails her, so she goes back to a more “old fashioned” way to learn how to proceed instead
And when she does this, Ace suggests it, just go to Idia. Do what you know how to do. Lean back on old habits. But Adesius refuses. She says that she wants to figure it out herself, that she knows that Idia can probably help her find the answer, to give her the answer, but she doesn’t want to do that. She wants to figure out what “evolution” means, and what it means to her. And Ace of course, accepts this, saying that he knew she’d say that, since most kids at NRC are way too prideful to do anything less. Another mention of her growing up, since before she was always just one of Idia’s “things” and not a true member of the school, but now she’s digging her heels in and showing that she’s true Night Raven material now
She ends up coming up with the solution after hearing the others perspectives and forming her own opinion based on that. She’s no longer just copying what she’s meant to be or what she found online (something something her listed talent is looking things up, finding things out based on what other people have already found out and just sharing that information instead of adding on her own thoughts, something something)
And Idia acknowledges this newfound independence and signs of growing up, seeing her on the stage. He quietly but firmly encourages her, showing that both of them are moving on. That she’s truly growing up and becoming her own person.
Also, just the concept of this event? “Evolution”? Tying into themes of growth? Of transitioning from one stage of life to another (from one stage of grief to another)? The fact that she has two versions of her outfit, one being mainly blue and white transitioning into a pink and white version? Yeah, yeah, it’s about “the snow melting away into spring” or whatever, but that closet is made out of GLASS little missy
TL;DR, Ortho’s closet is made out of glass, I know that events technically aren’t canon (esp this one since it is not a sequel to the first version of Fairy Gala, but an alt. Version of it) but this one should be because of how well it ties back into the ongoing themes of going from denial to acceptance, and Adesius is/should be 110% 16 and tfem canonically and she’s like the second most trans character in this game right under Epel, I’m right. Also this game needs more girls in its main cast. Thank you
Edit: guys it’s literally canon, look at what she wears once she’s free from the shackles of ignihyde’s blue
