dyradoodles

[dyradoodles]

Was talking with friends about Zack growing a beard/dressing in more alt fashion, which resulted in me very rapidly scribbling all this as fast as I could LMAO

#zack fair #sephiroth #ff7 #final fantasy 7 #my art #featuring beard styles a la angeal and the chocobo sage lol

[dyradoodles]

Get attacked!! ✨🌈SEND THIS TO OTHER BLOGGERS YOU THINK ARE WONDERFUL. KEEP THE GAME GOING🌈✨

Waaaa thank you Holly!! 💖💖💖🥰

[dyradoodles]

Hiiiiii! 💕 I was just wondering….. what are your preferences for Zack & Seph? Do you ship ‘em, is it up to circumstance, does the age matter to you/do you consider their age and their gap? Why not even throw in how you fell in love with Zack & Seph to begin with? Do you have sources?? MLA format for Zack’s fandom page???

*plops down on floor*

Details plz! ❤️

Ah yes hello person that I definitely do not know, who definitely didn't see me say I could write an essay about this very subject on discord LMFAO

I'll put the actual essay under a cut for people who don't want to scroll through my Many Feelings about these two lol As a TLDR to your questions:

Yes I ship them, but also Yes it's up to circumstance! Yes I consider their canon ages/the age gap (which most visibly manifests in me only drawing them platonically if I'm drawing Zack as a Second/with the puppy hair, or writing a fic taking place during CC)! I was actually into Aeriseph first and stumbled into ZackSeph fics, and realized it was a similar dynamic, but with someone who spent time with Seph canonically before he went bananas! All of this was before CC came out and I've been loving these characters for 20+ years!

To borrow a phrase (from crylin iirc), honestly, I like just seeing them standing next to each other, romantic or no LMAO <3

NOW, FOR THE ESSAY.

So to expand on what I said earlier, I think it's obvious from my blog and ZS server that I ship these two LMAO That said, the way I ship them is based heavily on the era of fandom before CC was a thing. I got into FF7 around 2002 (possibly earlier, I just don't have the dates on drawings that old), five years before CC came out. At the time, we knew next to nothing about Zack beyond the very short clips of him in OG. So, fandom did what fandom does best, and tried to fill in the blanks!

Some of the efforts to figure out who Zack was went all the way down to his name, because it's Zakkusu in Japanese. So you'll see him as Zax, too - There were heated debates on whether to use Zack or Zax. And no last name! Fandom had to come up with surnames themselves. We also didn't have much of a reference beyond his polygon model, which seemed to have darker skin and, (as many fics described it) violet eyes. It was also assumed that, since he was a First who worked closely with Sephiroth, he was probably around Sephiroth's age. You likely already see where I'm going with this, laying all that out lol The Zack I draw and write is very much based on that time period, and if I'm honest, that's the character I really ship with Seph. I still joke in my fics sometimes that Zack's last name might be Donovan or Darklighter, etc., which are old fandom surnames!

Now, obviously CC came out and threw all this on its head, because we finally got a whole GAME about this (important!) minor character. I have many beefs with CC's writing and Square's insistence that so many of their characters need to be child prodigies (they can't ALL be prodigies, Square!!!). With Zack going from an assumed early 20s to suddenly being 16, and all the craziness of CC's plot, the way I approached the ship changed as well.

This is where I would firmly say my stance is: I don't think Seph had any interest in Zack romantically, in CC. Because that's a kid lmao If I'm engaging with the Compilation as a whole, I definitely lean way more into the mentor/mentee relationship for the two of them. As a personal rule, I only draw them platonically if Zack's got the puppy hair, because that was the most obvious visual cue I could think of that could draw that line between Zack's teen years vs. adult. If Seph managed to not go insane, then yeah, later in life I could still see them getting together! But clearly that's already AU territory lmfao

Ultimately, what I like best about Zack & Seph is how they treat each other (while Seph is still sane lol). That goes for platonically and romantically. Zack is so genuine and kind, and treats Seph the way he always wanted to be treated - like he's human. He can joke around with Seph in a way most people simply can't. Meanwhile, Seph treats Zack's feelings with respect, even during the times he's laughing at Zack for being ridiculous. He's also honest with Zack. He answers truthfully when Zack asks what's wrong, and it's clear that it's because he knows Zack is not a threat; Zack will take Seph's feelings seriously, too. I can enjoy the drama of the trauma and heartbreak that comes with Sephiroth's descent into villainy, but my favorite stuff definitely involves a lot of Nibelheim fix-it fics lol

Despite all the changes CC made to Zack and his relationship to Sephiroth (RIP Second in Command Zax Donovan/Darklighter/Knightblade, my beloved), their actual dynamic with regard to how they treat each other stayed, miraculously, intact. That's the real reason they're still my favorite characters, and how my enjoyment of FF7 has remained as strong as it is after literal decades. Square can retcon as many things as they want in the Compilation, but they'll never stop me from making art and fic of the characters I grew up with. Unless I get a C&D for some reason LMFAO Until then, I'll keep enjoying my AUs (and if anything, I have even more reason to enjoy them now that AUs themselves are canon - you bet your ass I'll be in the AUs where ONLY OG happened and I can ignore everything else LOL)

Thank you for the questions!! It was fun to get all my thoughts written down in one huge chunk, as opposed to my typical disjointed ramblings to my friends. Hopefully it was an interesting read!

Sources:

Fanlore. “Zack Fair.” The Organization for Transformative Works, 2 Jan. 2023, fanlore.org/wiki/Zack_Fair.

Doodles, Dyra. "Way Too Much Fandom Lurking." Dyra's Childhood to Adulthood, Copious Amounts of Fanfiction, 3 Apr. 2024

#zackseph #sephzack #ask #yes the sources are in MLA format #yes I put perhaps too much effort into this #I HAVE NO CHILL WRT FF7 LMAO

[dyradoodles]

Once you get this, you have to say five things you like about yourself, publicly. Then you have to send this to ten of your favorite followers 🖤

Oh god and here I was looking at yours like "man coming up with that many on the spot is HARD" LMAO UHHH

My sense of humor! I greatly enjoy being a clown, especially when I can cheer up friends with some shenanigans :D

My empathy. It's something I got praised for as a kid and have really tried to develop as an actual skill. It's gotten me into some trouble for sure lol but more often it helps me connect with the people I care about, and keeps me learning and growing

Sorta tied to the last one: my drive to Learn Things. All things are learnable!! And being very curious in general, I've gone down rabbit holes and learned so many neat facts and history things, about life and people and just The World, and I do think it's helped make me more well-rounded as a person in general. Research is so much fun to me.

My refusal to be anything less than myself. I people-pleased for a long fucking time, and it made me so genuinely miserable, I could barely stand anything, let alone feel connected with people. When I finally started getting out of that and just...let people not like me, if they didn't like me, it opened up so much real connection with people that I wouldn't trade for the world. Colors seem brighter now lol it's kinda hard to describe, but I can be confident and trust that the people around me like me, y'know?

My creativity! I couldn't decide on Art or Writing for this one so I'm doing both LMAO Making stories and art has always been a huge part of me, especially for entertaining myself or lifting my own mood. The fact that I can share that with other people is something I really treasure!

#ask #idk if I'll hit 10 people lmao I'm not great at chain stuff admittedly #but this was fun to do! thanks holly!

[dyradoodles]

Booping intensifies

#sephiroth #zack fair #zackseph #sephzack #ff7 #final fantasy 7 #my art #boop war of 2024 #local cat man causing chaos yet again

[dyradoodles]

Hey y'all, I made a ZackSeph/SephZack server! Featuring fun friends, much screaming about Them(tm) and FF7, and art that I forget to don't post to my socials :D If you'd like to come scream about Zack and Seph with us, here's the discord invite!

(Please note you will need to make an intro before getting full access to the server!)

#zackseph #sephzack

[dyradoodles]

Against the Vertical Vigil

Rating: G General Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: M/M, Gen Fandoms:  Final Fantasy VII (Video Game 1997) Characters: Zack Fair, Sephiroth Chapters: 1/1 Words: 1,830

Summary: Sephiroth can't sleep, as usual. This time Zack has a trick he wants Seph to try.

For the FF7 Rare Pair Week Free Day :D

#ffviirarepairweek #zackseph #sephzack #sephiroth #zack fair #ff7 #final fantasy 7 #my fic #last post I've got for this week but it's been fun!

[dyradoodles]

Today's prompt is "Near Death Experiences," so I went with a little twist on Zack's final stand.

Rest of the comic under the cut bc uh. Y'know, blood reasons lol

#ffviirarepairweek #zackseph #sephzack #sephiroth #zack fair #ff7 #final fantasy 7 #my art #tw: blood

[dyradoodles]

Another pic for rare pair week! The prompt for today was Favorite Things, so I went with favorite things about each other. So for Seph, that's 'Zack being a goof (and treating Seph like he's human tbh),' and for Zack that's 'Seph's smile/laugh.'

#ffviirarepairweek #zackseph #sephzack #sephiroth #zack fair #ff7 #final fantasy 7 #my art

[dyradoodles]

It's FFVII Rare Pair Week!! The prompt for Day 1 was Weather, so I went with the boys staying cozy in the cold.

#ffviirarepairweek #zackseph #sephzack #sephiroth #zack fair #ff7 #final fantasy 7 #my art #I don't have a pic for every day but I'm excited to finally share stuff lol

[dyradoodles]

FFVII Rare Pair Week 2024

Urban Dictionary defines rarepair as “A ship or pairing that not many people ship or is very rare to find fanfiction and fanart of. Typically happens within small fandoms or with minor characters.” So what’s your favourite Final Fantasy VII related rare pair? Do you have more than one? Here’s a chance to showcase them and help them move up from being rare! Not all parts of the pairing have to be from FFVII, and you don’t have to do the same pairing or group for the whole week! ** Pairings can be romantic or platonic. ** Below we have a list of prompts for this year. Feel free to be as creative with those as you want to, and take your time working on your entries, but please don’t forget to post them on the right date if you can. (But remember, no matter how late it’s better than never!)

For this event we are using a category approach. You can use the category as a theme for your prompt and the listed items suggested ideas. If none of the prompts give you any ideas, don’t worry! You can create anything you like for the week, provided it involves a rare pair! The goal of the week is to celebrate and share our rare pairs more than to just follow a list. Be it art, writing, mood boards, or even fic recs, just spread the love!

Feb. 16 | Day 1. Weather. Sunshine. Rain. Storms. The weather can create a meaningful moment, or a huge inconvenience. 

Feb. 17 | Day 2. Unexpected Challenges. How does your pairing deal with an unexpected challenge? (For example, they come back home from a trip to find the pipes have frozen and they have no running water. Is one of them using the last of the drinking water to save their dying house plants while the other is desperately melting snow to keep the humans alive?)

Feb. 18 | Day 3. Favourite Things. From favourite things about each other to favourite items of clothing stolen to wear around the house (much to the other’s chagrin), or favorite things to do for or with each other.

Feb. 19 | Day 4. Near Death Experiences. For the angst lovers, the whumpers, this could be a true near death experience. For the lighter side, it could be something much less serious but someone is clearly being dramatic for sympathy. 😀

Feb. 20 | Day 5. Free Day/Combo Day. Combo space to mix and match prompts from this year (or a previous year’s list) or go wherever your canoe takes you!

Feb. 21 | Day 6. Events. Holidays, celebrations, traditions. Whether it’s a joyful day like a birthday or one of mourning like a memorial, there are many days throughout the year that bring us together. What’s a day that’s important to your pairing, or a time that brought them together for something that isn’t part of their regular day to day?

Feb. 22 | Day 7. Stories. Stories play a big part in our lives. They inspire, they entertain, they teach. Is there a story that your characters hold dear, or that they recount often to friends (or their kids)? (Or is there a story about your rare pair that you want to recommend to others today?)

Need more inspiration? Our past prompt lists can be found below, and you’re welcome to use any of them!

2023 List | 2022 List | 2020 List | 2019 List | 2018 List

Also, mod Asylos is taking requests for things to write again this year. That’s right, you can get something written for your rare pair, and not just do all the heavy lifting yourself. Send in your requests as an ask any time now up until the end of the event week. 

Please remember to include the week’s tag (ffviirarepairweek) within the first 5 tags or else we might be unable to find your work! We will NOT accept/reblog anything containing Character/Ship Hate, so avoid including those in your entries. Also don’t repost anyone else’s work as your own! You are welcome to reblog other’s posts, but credit where credit is due. 

You can submit your works on AO3 to the event collection at https://archiveofourown.org/collections/FFVIIrarepairweek

And if you have any questions, don’t be afraid of sending in an ask.

We hope it turns out to be a fun event for everyone!

#ffviirarepairweek #I FINALLY HAVE TIME FOR EVENT WEEKS AGAIN LMAO #AAAAA gonna get started ASAP

[dyradoodles]

Closing out the year with some ZackSeph 🎉

#zackseph #sephzack #sephiroth #zack fair #ff7 #final fantasy 7 #my art

[dyradoodles]

Happy holidays again!! 😄

@mobiusstripper, @risingoflights L

O

O

K

(at the exchange gift I received from @dyradoodles)

#Lucrecia Crescent #Jenova #FF7 #Final Fantasy VII #gaia santa 2023 #my art #also linking the pic was smart! I wasn't sure how to post it to Tumblr #was pretty sure Tumblr would dislike the Eyeball Nipple LOL

[dyradoodles]

I know I already screamed in the comments but I must reiterate: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

THANK YOU PICHU

Merry Christmas, you guys!!! ❤️

Summary: Accustomed to simple, introverted holidays, Sephiroth is pushed out of his comfort zone when roped into spending Christmas Eve with Zack and his partner.

He was not expecting it to be one of the best days of his life.

To my Secret Santa, and one of the most wonderful authors I know. Merry Christmas @dyradoodles!!! <33

#sephiroth #zack fair #aerith gainsborough #ff7 #gaiasanta 2023 #MY FAVORITE TRIO GETTING TO SPEND A NICE HAPPY HOLIDAY TOGETHER #PTERODACTYL SCREECHING

[dyradoodles]

aaaaAAAAAAAA THANK YOU HOLLY!!!! This is so cool!!! Absolutely loving the cracked ice and Seph's looming especially!!! I love this!

Redux Hero, Chapter 29: Snap, Crackle, Pop-sicle

Congratulations on finishing your rewrite, @dyradoodles !

Alternate version without Sephiroth's shadow below.

#precious gift art #zack fair #sephiroth #final fantasy 7 #ff7 #rh #poor zack lmao really captured the Terror he's dealing with in this scene!! #also pun was not initially intended when I said it was cool but NOW IT IS #SO COOL #tysm!!!

[dyradoodles]

Redux Hero ch.34

Rating: Mature

Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Category: Gen Fandoms:  Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII (Video Game 1997), Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII Remake (Video Game 2020) Relationship: Zack Fair & Sephiroth  Chapters: 34/34

Summary: Zack goes back in time in an attempt to prevent the Nibelheim incident. He didn’t account for royally screwing up everything he tries to fix.

#zack fair #sephiroth #ff7 #final fantasy 7 #my fic #rh #THE FINAL CHAPTER #IT'S DONE AAAAA

[dyradoodles]

Redux Hero ch.33

Rating: Mature

Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Category: Gen Fandoms:  Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII (Video Game 1997), Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII Remake (Video Game 2020) Relationship: Zack Fair & Sephiroth  Chapters: 33/34

Summary: Zack goes back in time in an attempt to prevent the Nibelheim incident. He didn’t account for royally screwing up everything he tries to fix.

#zack fair #sephiroth #final fantasy 7 #ff7 #my fic #rh #update! #Final chapter will be up next week :D