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aks3raao1 · 4 years ago

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You know, there's a thing with characters that foil each other and serve as the "good" and "bad" respectively (Toga/Himiko, Tenko/Izuku, Nagito/Hajime, Ryoko/Hajime, Atsushi/Akutagawa) but that trope felt rather annoying to write, especially in the world I am trying to write about (ALTERNATIVE's world is basically MHA X BSD but like. 1000 times more fucked up and the Specialised are always prejudiced against. A terrible lot).

The title itself, ALTERNATIVE is to symbolise Romila's POV of "infinite choices and paths present for every being" and how she starts off the story with a decisive line of,

"Many people ask me if this could have been avoided. They beg for me to tell them that things could have been better. There are others too, who try to justify that this was the only way for things to have been. If you ask me, both are living in states of denial. One can't accept the stupidity of humanity for disregarding common sense for violence and prejudices. Another can't accept humanity's choice for having better circumstances if the one with the power chose to."

The thing is, the running theme is that the story is a bittersweet one, despite there not being many deaths of the main characters, but there was always a junction where you can see it could have been avoided, that there was an "alternative" for things to have gotten better, especially in the first book.

Another reason for the title is that it's basically an "ALTERNATIVE" to this world of ours, where super powers and stuff like those exist.

The subtitles of both the books (Myriad of Colours, Colour of Death) signifies Romila's power, "Aura Tracker" which lets her view people's aura as colours (Myriad of Colours is to signify the different kinds of people she meets, Colour of Death is about what affects her the most (death) and how she's constantly seeing that colour everywhere, especially now that it's war).

The thing about ALTERNATIVES is that Romila could have chosen to be a doormat (like Koldin tends to be at the beginning (his rp self is like THAT due to circumstances different to ALTERNATIVE's actual storyline. Also because Hack's a nicer person to be around than Romila is) in order to nOt hAvE cOnFliCt™) to not get into conflict and put up a super nice persona for people but she didn't. She decided to focus on hanging onto her reasons for doing what she does and using it to create a caustic personality to shield herself because she knows that she will regret being a doormat (Her Despair takes the form of Koldin Hopkins).

Now Koldin could have certainly put his hatred for society at the forefront and taken a caustic personality but instead chooses to be nice. Because he doesn't want to become as hurtful as the rest, that's how he wants to disentangle himself from society. However he, like Romila (who just took standing up for herself to extremes), takes this to the extremes causing him to gain the personality of a nice boy™.

However this also goes into why they made the choices they did (which is what Romila realises during the Mansion of Death arc), because for Romila, she didn't really have the psychology for actually becoming a doormat (because a) Her mom wouldn't have it b) She hated to be called weak c) She didn't have anyone to fall back to after the inevitable consequences of being a doormat d) She felt that if she were to live with monsters, then it's easier to blend in by being one (this comes useful to her when she infiltrates into the Government) e) She saw doormats getting suicidal which frightened her) or not becoming fully caustic (since her standing up for herself wasn't. Liked. By. Anyone. And seen as aggressive and she basically went, "Well if they see me as bad, I will show them BAD" which led to her breakdown causing the incidents at the Mansion Of Death (especially a twisted hatred against Koldin for extremely understandable reasons).

For Koldin, being meek and peaceful had let him get by in the streets and his skills to difuse fights had come in handy. Later when Dr. Hopkins took him in, he was well. A member of the Radicals who were known to be extremely merciless towards the Specialised (he had defected but Koldin had a REALLY good reason to be wary) so he figured if he stayed nice, he wouldn't be kicked out of the house and Dr. Hopkins being Dr. Hopkins just assumed that it was his normal and that behaviour carried into school. He figured that it was a horrifying thing to be aggressive and then saw how Romila got treated and decided that yep, he was right, that confirmed his world view alright and it was more reason to be super nice. While Romila saw Koldin as a person who everyone took advantage of (a thing she hated. To be exploited just like that) and went, yep that confirmed hers and it was more reason to be super angry.

However the thing is that, Romila was chided for being anything, which caused her to just give up to be peaceful (because what would she do? Anything she tried to do got her scolded) while Koldin (thankfully) found a support system. It really goes to show the difference a good friend can do.....

As it is, when I first began writing this, the most obvious choice presented itself to me. Koldin is the "hope" and Romila is the "despair" (on the protagonist, deutergonist side) but that seemed stupid and boring as it wouldn't make sense. Since I am trying to make a point of showing with how Romila's world view gradually changes from "there are wrong and right choices" to the fact that it doesn't have to be rigid and that *now* she wouldn't be hurt if she used what her vulnerable side wanted (a world free of prejudices and unnecessary cruelty) with the talents she had. That kindness mixed with her usual personality won't literally kill her.

And for Koldin, being a doormat means that he got taken advantage of a lot by different people and since he refused to actually stand up for himself ("Ah...aha......it seems that I can't..." "Can't what?" "Feel angry for myself......it's always anger that comes from the ones I love being hurt" "Then love yourself too, you will feel angry again" ~ Koldin's conversation with his inverted self in the Labyrinth) he got. Taken advantage of. By virtually everyone. However he decided that if being nice would keep him keep his self and his name self then it would be fine. He did not want to be the source of grief (his actual parents tossed him out because of his Specialisation). The Mansion Of Death actually causes him to snap for that reason, because Romila literally puts him in a torture dream "for the greater good" and then proceeds to kill his dear friend. One thing Koldin HATED. Killing friends. (Due to them being run over by a car, which led to his paralysed left arm)

Now on the other side, their respective friends:

Romila:

Luja: Cynical and annoyed by people's stupidity but not to caustic extents and she wants to be a scientist and isn't haunted by the possibility of dying.

Kratanos: Full of anger and hatred against the world but not entirely blinded by it and is focused to using that anger for reformation of the world (she becomes a therapist later, to help people)

They both have her caustic parts but they also let themselves embrace another side which makes them her "balance".

Koldin:

Anand: Believes that there's no requirement for violence unless it's absolutely necessary.

Karishma: Figures it's a better idea to just listen to rules but doesn't hesitate to break them if she sees that they are bs

They both have his peacefulness, but don't hesitate to do what they think they should do, which makes them his "balance".

The point is that, the case of choosing alternatives isn't possible with a tunnel vision. Even so, there are choices that literally can't be made due to the individual and circumstances. Sometimes the choice is to choose more than one choice. Well, that's one dramatic storyline......

It reminds me of DDLC side stories since everyone has a bit of the other person's solutions and more of a opposite personality (don't take this the wrong way, there are many stories like that and it's honestly a favourite to think abt but it's just that DDLC does it well especially since it's only a school environment). Tbh, I like dramatic storylines that rlly dig deep into a character's perspective (reasons why I'm in love with Hack and Axel in particular). My whole thing is that I'd rather read a story with interesting and in depth characters than one where only the plot is good so I say you made the great call of the century with Koldin and Romila's characters.

What you thought before getting into it is rlly how every great character arc starts. You focus on one, somewhat forget the other one until you review every single character for inspiration and then BAM! PARALLELS! It's really admirable how, even in this messed up world of specializations, you didn't purely focus on the plot bc it honestly sounds interesting enough to just stick around for Romila's life and journey. You could have ended it all with just that, but no, you smacked Koldin in there and said "be my interesting on par character that can kick Romila's gut" and IT WORKED SPECTACULARLY!!!

I really love ur writing and hoping to one day read (and maybe print out) every story you've ever written bc GODDAMNIT I NEED THE FEELING OF THOSE WORDS ON WORN PAPER WITH AN ARTISTIC COVER AND AN AMAZINGLY HEAVY WEIGHT

Aka, paperback. Bc that's how I like to roll and that's how good I think it is. 1000% worthy of a bestseller

#writing #mah fwend's story :3 #novel #ALTERNATIVE #Koldin Hopkins #Romila

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fifteenleads · 4 years ago

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Somewhat related to this idea. I blame Vik and their chugmazai brainrot hours (in a good way, ofc!).

In which Dazai's a sky pirate, Chuuya's the bounty hunter after Dazai's head, and Sigma owns the casino where the shootout happens.

Dazai's a Robin Hood, albeit only for the lulz and not for Justice. He quickly rose to prominence as the most notorious sky pirate in less than a year, a feat unheard of and unmatched by far.

Chuuya's not surprised, though. It isn't everyday a former senator disappears into thin air without so much as a formal resignation. The bandages do not hide his uncanny resemblance to the esteemed scholar, however, leaving the bounty hunter wondering whether Dazai even bothers to use his brains or not.

Last he heard, Dazai's been spotted in the skycity Bhujerba. Chuuya's irked at how the Marquis hasn't bothered to do anything beyond telling him. Probably doesn't want his dirty laundry exposed, but whatever.

He wanders into the first casino he sees. Gotta blow off some steam.

The slot machines give him a good vantage point. He doesn't take them seriously, of course. They're rigged, after all.

It gets addicting, soon enough.

Much like the gentleman sitting next to him, who spares one bemused glance in his direction before expertly pulling another time.

The difference between playing the game and pretending to do so is that you win doing one and lose doing the other.

Chuuya learns this the hard way, and the debonair bastard next to him laughs at his misery.

His smile is beautiful, though, if not bewitching.

They play a few more rounds in silence, save for the occasional grunt or groan that comes with the scales tipping.

"This isn't a competition," the good Sir remarks at one point. But Chuuya isn't one to lose, so he only tries even harder for it.

"You sure know your stuff."

"I have my ways."

For someone who has his ways, he sure takes this way too seriously. Far be it from Chuuya to not respect that, though, when he himself took this spot intending to half-ass it to while the hours.

They shake hands after, one's satchel empty and the other's full. "I had intended to let you win this one, but alas, there are debts to be paid. The Marquis is not a patient man."

And Chuuya's disappointed, really, but he does sympathize. Business is business. "I'm not with the Enforcers, but I'll send word to them."

A flush, then a light stutter. "You have my thanks, ah..."

"Nakahara," he smirks, taking the gentleman's outstretched hand. "Would love to stay and chat, Mr. Owner, but I have to—"

That's when it happens: a flurry of disjointed scenes playing directly into his mind, sending him reeling until the only thing registering is the lingering pain and warmth in his hand, and the explosion blowing everything away.

Chuuya's hands are on his pistol as soon as he regains his bearings, and he comes face to face with Dazai himself, who has a knife trained on the Owner's neck.

"Unhand him," he growls. "Now."

He might have been swindled of his entire monthly keep, but far be it from him to let said swindler get killed now. No, he needs to play his cards right.

"You know what the Marquis is up to," Dazai points out— both to the owner and to him. "And you will bring me to him."

"The hell, Dazai," Owner speaks up first before Chuuya could, "Do everyone a favor and settle your family matters in private."

"Ah, yes, that wasn't exactly a secret, was it." The tip of the knife nicks the pale flesh of Owner's neck, the resulting trickle of blood staining his white dress shirt.

Chuuya fires a warning shot, narrowly missing Dazai's cheek. "Let him go, bastard."

Suddenly, Dazai becomes a blur, and his body is slammed into slot machine, the hand around his neck making it hard to breathe.

"That pistol's no good," Dazai taunts him. "And you're no good with one, either. I can teach you knifework if you want."

Chuuya would have kicked him in the shins, were his legs not entangled in place by Dazai's insanely long ones. "N-No thanks," he rasps.

Run away, Owner, dammit!

Chuuya struggles against the chokehold Dazai has him in, willing a little more strength into his exhausted limbs. His eyes dart to where Owner had been cast aside, before his attention is forcefully returned to the crisis at hand.

"You should know better than get distracted," Dazai all but reminds him— not that Chuuya needs it, even. Fucking terrorist knows exactly what he wants. Still:

"You're being pretty reckless for someone of the gentry," he manages between gasps. "No wonder you were easy to track down."

"No," Dazai sneers, "my uncle set this whole thing up. Sigma over there knows," and he glares at the poor man, "while you walked into his trap like a dumb dog."

No, Chuuya's doesn't understand what's going on, and frankly, he doesn't give a shit. "I came here for your head."

The statement fuels his adrenaline, and he finally pushes Dazai back, training his pistol point blank to the other's forehead.

Suddenly, everything explodes.

Chuuya finds himself mercilessly pinned under Dazai, who takes the brunt of the ceiling that just crumbled.

Everything's spinning way too fast.

He's then tossed aside, while Dazai hobbles to where Sigma is, grabbing him by his collar. "Damn you!"

"I did what I had to do!" Only then does Chuuya notice the blood gushing from his disfigured hands onto the remote control on the ground.

It feels like he's walked into a situation he shouldn't have— not quite the "trap" Dazai had so eloquently called it, but same idea.

Chuuya wills himself to back away, but everything hurts to move. The citywide alarm blares, and thundering footsteps rapidly approach.

"Goddamnit."

The next thing he knows, he's being dragged by the back of his collar. "Get up. I've no need for dead weight."

For a moment Chuuya finds himself questioning whether Dazai really bothers to use his brains or not.

Apparently, he likes his hostages alive, like everyone else. Wow.

He and Sigma exchange looks, burning defiance in the other's eyes even as he grudgingly complies with Dazai's demand.

They come to a silent agreement: there will be payback, and it will hurt.

For now, though, they cooperate.

(They don't know it yet, but Dazai turns out to be right. Something worse is afoot, more dangerous than the family vendetta they both think this is.

Soon, Chuuya's beliefs in the very leaders he served are shattered.

And all of this is only the beginning...)

/end.

So, um, yes, the three of them become fugitives on the run. Legally dead and all. Dazai's always been looking for co-pilots for his airship anyway.

And they lived happily ever after— once they take down the evil Marquis, of course.

(Also, yes, this was yet another attempt at BSD FF12 AU. Haha!)

#bungou stray dogs #bungou stray dogs au #nakahara chuuya #sigma #dazai osamu #arkastadt

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