Lucio Montgasson and The Need to Be Acknowledged (In-depth Character Analysis)
Lucio is the titular minor antagonist in many of The Arcana's routes. The human one, so to speak. I find the does this role well, being a consistent barrier with solid motivations (as petty as they are).
However, in his own route. It's the time to face Lucio, the player themselves, not through the experiences of the other love interests. This is related to Lucio's antagonism in other routes, perhaps if we don't help Lucio get out of his predicament, he takes terrible choices with proper guidance which usually leads him to disappear, die, or get killed.
Lucio Montagsson has a desire to be seen and acknowledged. Without, or with depending on personal perspective, one would consider it's related to his upbringing. Maybe Morga, despite coddling, never praised him enough. But, there's a scene in Dawn of The Grub that I believe is telling of Lucio's desire: It's a flashback between him and his father. As we learn in Muriel's route, Lucio and Morga's clan was sort of a warrior clan. They thrived through war. That was part of their culture. Communication with other tribes wasn't taught or enforced, it was a fight for survival. In this side story, Lucio's father tells him there's no meaning in being 'liked'. But seeing Lucio's thriving desire for acknowledgment and attention, perhaps that was just the first look at that desire of his. Lucio loves attention, love, and having a good time. He's a dog person. These traits seem to represent Lucio as an extrovert. External stimuli keep him happy. So when he became a ghost and was tied to his wing, his worst fear was realized: He was unable to be seen because he didn't have a corporeal body, and he was unable to be loved because he looked hideous. One of the things Lucio loves about himself is his own appearance. Perhaps he doesn't feel worthy of being loved if he fails some personal requirements.
As we see throughout the routes, Lucio fears being forgotten, both from history and from people's minds. This means that part of his self-worth is tied to external validation which is his motivation to come back to life in almost every route. The title of Count served that purpose, if he was the most influential person in Vesuvia, he would receive a lot of attention. But the Counthood also came with responsibilities Lucio did not want to deal with, ultimately causing the plague to swipe death across the city. Death is also something that terrifies Lucio because it means people will eventually forget him and won't see him. These pieces of characterization are peppered in other routes, particularly Nadia and Asra's to my memory. They are played to form this image of "evil" of Lucio. With some empathy and emotional distance, Lucio became this pitiful and hopeless soul that will never truly change. A lot of my enjoyment in his route was stopping, preventing, and at times ignoring Lucio's selfish rambles and making him focus on the actual goal, make not-reckless decisions, and make him take responsibility for (some of) his mistakes and make him realize he's done some terrible stuff.
Lucio isn't a cardboard antagonist or love interest. He admitted to having a conscience but he ignores or downplays the warning in his head or his conscience which allows his reckless, thoughtless, and shameless behaviors.
Lucio's characterizations from the other characters in other routes are by no means inaccurate or exaggerated, Lucio is, by all means, and attention hoe, reckless, foolish, arrogant, and cruel. I like to read Muriel's route as Lucio's worst end where he takes the worst choices imaginable to get what he wants (come back to life and have a good time) and have the worst endings.
Lucio's desires are simple, perhaps as simple as they get. But the way he goes to fulfill them without bounds or consideration for others is what makes Lucio a toxic person be around. As Nadia said, "he takes the air out of the room." Depending on the play's sensibilities, Lucio's penchant for whining and being irresponsible can ruffle some feathers.
On this topic, I couldn't help but notice the connection between Lucio and Julian. Perhaps because of personal perspective but they gave me similar impressions that remained throughout Lucio's route. I thought Julian's route was going to be like Lucio's, hauling the man out of trouble and metaphorically slapping some sense to him. Both are equally reckless, Julian because of his belief in self-sacrifice and Lucio because. . . he's maladaptive. Both need therapy! ASAP! But they do for different reasons, and that's where one of their most important differences resides. Julian believes he needs to "protect" people, putting himself in harm's way. He does whatever is human (and not) possible to keep the safety of his loved ones. Yet, he craves love and is easily swept to it. To illustrate, Julian and Asra's paid scene at the beginning of Asra's route was explicit about their unhealthy dynamic and why it did not work for long. Julian wants something and Asra can't provide that. Yet, Julian wants anything that Asra can give him and he will become anything to get it. Julian is a slave to his desires much like Lucio is to his. And Lucio had a failed relationship too for its own reason relating to the pair's particular dynamic as well. In summary, their partners couldn't provide what they needed, yet, they keep wanting and they took, took, and took. While Julian comes to accept his mistakes, Lucio does not. He doesn't change. Perhaps Julian's route wasn't as chaotic as it could have been if Julian wasn't as self-actualized. Or if Julian didn't have people who loved him and cared for him. Lucio is completely alone. He doesn't have family (who he cares about) or friends. Lucio and Julian seem like two sides of a coin, one with a clearer message of the dangers of selfishness and maladaptive behaviors.
It's fantastic that Lucio can only redeem himself in his route cuz it's wayyy too likely that and every route proves that he'll keep fucking up unless oh-magical and understanding-MC will fix this piece of work. Not realistic and I like the moral lesson of an irredeemable character. Lucio needs help but he'll never admit and that's why he gets a terrible ending. Please seek help if you feel you're in Lucio's shoes. You deserve to be happy.
I find that the most tragic lesson Lucio can give us is that there's a high degree of hopelessness for people like him who continue to run away from their responsibilities and seek pleasure without control or thought about others. I haven't been in that place so I can only think of people battling through an addiction due to any kind of trauma and refuse to acknowledge the problem or help. No matter how terrible or explosive they seem, they are people battling through issues. Everyone deserves to feel loved and there's no true evil in this world. I enjoy Lucio's route because as self-indulgent as it was, having someone finally care about you no matter how shitty of a person you are, Lucio, even if it was through the power of love, he was capable of changing. I think it's a wonderful lesson that could resonate with many people. Lucio's route can also be easily disregarded to analyze his overall character. It is sort of a treat to see this hopeless man rise above his issues and take responsibility for his mistakes.
Lucio is a himbo and a male wife. Probably my favorite himbo character. I don't think I know many. Lucio works because his himbo-ness is tied to his character, backstory, and flaws. He's a reckless fool because he's a manchild who never learned to be responsible and has enough physical prowess to be sort of a warrior, a mercenary (backstory-wise). From his physical appearance, he's pretty built. Oh and he's innocent because the man loves dogs and he calls himself a dog dad that is super wholesome. Also because he's a manchild. The whiny type. This brat needs to be punished. But also be told he's loved and cared for. He's a male wife because he loves attention and he likes to be beautiful. He likes to be saved too, damsel in distress style. Lucio is totally that. But my favorite thing is Lucio is fine with that. Personal preference :shy:. Malewife material. Trophy wife. What else would Lucio but to be gazed at? Lucio signed up for consensual objectification. A big kink of his.
Lucio's desire to be loved, acknowledged, and remembered is clearly illustrated in the Masquerade which is a celebration of his birthday. In Dawn of the Grub, Lucio's coming of age ceremony was... nothing. Montag had expectations BIG ones. He wanted a party, clothes, a crown ANYTHING to represent his ascension to manhood. But Morga gave him... nothing. Years later with the monetary power and status of a Count, each year Lucio made this AMAZING celebration of his existence. It saddens me to think of the relationship between these two events. As petty as the reason seems on the surface, Lucio wanted to be loved and because he didn't get that, he throws the most lavish parties each year for a bunch of strangers to keep him company and prevent them love him. Lucio, you're so sad :(.
Can we talk about Lucio's appearance? In his route, sometimes he looks so tired. He's a few years younger than Nadia and this man has more bags and expression lines than he probably should be given his age, his physical health, and his economic status. Compare him to Nadia, her skin is so tight and healthy-looking, sort of like a baby. For how much Lucio also likes to take care of himself, that one sprite makes it seem like he's carrying some heavy baggage and he's so tired of it. I find it amazing that we get some new sprites exclusive to his route as well. We definitely see a bunch of new sides to him.
Oh, something else, during the arc where they are in the realms with Asra's parents, Lucio seemed to pretend to be happy-go-lucky before Asra chided him about Lucio not caring for MC's well-being, but when Asra went away, Lucio's face fell and was visibly concern. Is he always pretending? Or at least a lot of the time? He does. He pretends to be brave when he's terrified. He puts upfronts many times. As strong as Lucio is as a warrior, he's also a coward and has no shame, for how much pride he does have. Lucio hides his insecurities under masks. He can't let others see who he truly is, no one actually knows him. So he doesn't have any friends and no one actually cares for him.
If Lucio's route appears to be the fantasy of changing and unchanging man, it is actually Lucio's fantasy of having someone have faith in him and have enough patience to tear down his bullshit and motivate him to be better.
[Need to get his bad end.]
Maybe cuz Lucio is male wife and trophy materials bratty bottom of the dreams I didn't know I had.
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