Rogue of Light

Rogues are driven by a desire to help people. Not one that comes from any philosophy or moral code, but an instict. If they have the opportunity to help someone, they will, simple as that. Even if they need to break a few rules - although, that's more of a positive. Seeing past the laws of society, and cutting through the bullshit to make sure people get what they need - that's what being a rogue is. If only they had the confidence to put these ideas into motion.

This "help people" instict can lead them astray, and act without considering the consequences. There are ways to "help" someone that just make everything worse. When this happens, rogues can easily fall into a mess of apologize and falling on the sword, same as pages, the class they invert too. Even though it may only be a few times, these bad experiences stick out in their memory, and can lead them to hesitate when they should act. Rogues are especially good at talking themselves out of providing help for someone, convincing themselves they don't have the right, or aren't good enough.

There's a leap of faith you make, every time you offer help to someone. There's a very real urge to condition your advice with "but I dont know what I'm talking about." But it takes confidence to suggust big changes to someone, when big changes are what they need. Especially when they don't take it well. Sometimes, people need a solid slap to the face.

One of the ways rogues can attempt and fail to help is through relationships. It's very common for a rogue to see a person in pain, and falsely believe that the best way to help is to start dating them. This is often interpreted as a crush, even when no romantic feelings are involved. Most of the time, nothing comes of it. But when it does, chances are it will end terribly, for both parties.

Nepeta had Karkat. Roxy had Dirk. I've had my own series of "crushes" that never went anywhere. It's not really a productive instinct. Best case scenario, nobody does anything, and it fizzles out. But worst case, the rogue forces themselves into a relationship they don't even want, and it just makes them unhappy. Relationships built on "I can fix you" are not good. It's a hard lesson to learn, for someone so steadfast on helping others above all else.

Rogues invert to pages, and many start out that way. Working hard to gain other's approval, trying to rise above and become a hero. Falling into the same patterns of confidence, self hatred, and self-flagilation. Although its more understated, and more hidden.

What really sets a rogue apart from a page is when they start growing up. Eventually, the rogue will look at the system that surrounds them, the system they've been trying so hard to conquer, and gain the approval of. They'll start to question it. Maybe in small ways at first, but they all reach the same conclusion - it's bullshit. The system doesn't reward hard work, it exploits it. It isn't design to raise up it's most well-deserving participants - it wasn't designed at all. Any positive outcomes are accidents or lies.

When you have that realization, that nervous, hungry page energy gets repurposed. Why not start stealing shit? The system doesn't care. The rules are stacked against you anyway. Why not try to tip the scales, and give people what they deserve?

Prospit Rogues

A lot of the leftovers from heirs are seen here. They generally get along with people, and can be a similar sort of person who brings people together. Being an awkward, loveable goofball who is willing to stand up for people goes a long way.

Rufioh is the only one we get from Homestuck, and like most of the dancestors, he's mostly just a meme. Lindsay Weir from Freaks and Geeks is a better example. Even from her first scene, she is head on confronting whatever she percieves as a moral injustice. Her personal arc is very much related to her inversion from being a page, and her growing disillusionment with the system. Her bigass vietnam war jacket is even similar to Nepetas. And similar to mine. Weird.

Derse Rogues

Derse rogues take longer to help someone, and have an easier time talking themselves out of reaching out. But the help they provide will be more pointed. It's more likely to be a slap to the face than a hugs and kisses approach, but there is value there.

Roxy is an interesting character. One of the best in Homestuck by my measure. She wants to help her friends, but she feels so awkward, and is so reluctant to cross over some imagined boundary. Despite doing so much for her group, she still feels dissapointed in herself for not doing more.

Closing Thoughts

Being a rogue is weird. The whole awkwardness mixed with a passive alignment. It's like you help people, but you don't want to stick around for the after party where you have to mingle and make small talk while eating our'dourves. Robin Hood never stayed in the villages he helped.

It's hard for rogues to identify themselves. The self confidence and self hatred stops many from accurately identifying the signs. Because they could never be good enough to be a rogue. They must be a mage, or a seer, or one of the loser classes that sits around all day dissapointing people.

But they're not. They do more than those classes. Their self-hatred is more intense, and more verbose. Their ideas on the culture, and what we owe to each other, are more estoeric. Remember, they're just one step below a bard. The weird, rambling ideas are there, if you can coax it out of them. They're weird, awkward people who try their best to help others around them.