#but i've finally been tempted

[cctinsleybaxter]

[adelrambles]

Tips on Writing Bishop

I've been asked a couple times for advice on how to write a good (03-style) Bishop, and I'm well-aware he can be a bit tough to get a grasp on. As someone who's studied him specifically to learn how to write him as accurately as possible, I figured I'd compile some thoughts in case it'd be helpful to anyone else. I know a lot of Rise takes on him are basing off the 03 version, so maybe this could help generate ideas, too. SO!

Big Overall Points!

At the core of EVERYTHING Bishop does are two primary motivations. The first: the protection of the earth. What this means to him can get tricky, because it doesn't necessarily mean protecting the people, at least not all of them. But it will be better understood alongside the other:

The second: The protection of his sense of safety. Bishop has been deeply traumatized, and everything he does is born of a want to avoid that pain ever again. In his mind, earth is a safe area, a controllable factor, and anything outside it is a danger that must be eliminated. This is why he will still be willing to put himself and other people on the line in service of this; any sacrifice is worth the greater goal. (It's worth noting, Bishop will claim the first as his motivation freely, but is likely not consciously aware of the second.)

Bishop deals in Big Picture ONLY. Another reason Bishop will willingly throw away anything, including the lives of the people he claims to protect, is that he seems incapable of understanding things on a small, individual basis.

Bishop is a cold personality. He does not have strong displays of emotion. He does emote, but for the most part it's muted, so I recommend using emotional bursts very sparingly. (In my own writing, as an example, I try to limit my use of exclamation marks in his dialogue as much as possible.)

At his core, Bishop is afraid, and his response to fear is aggression. This also makes it particularly difficult to talk him down, if he's put in an emotional state. His response to not being in control is often violent retaliation.

With those basic tenants understood, let's move next to some major personality traits:

Bishop is a controlling personality. This is a direct result of his trauma response. Things that can be controlled are safe, therefore he must control everything. If something cannot be controlled, it's a threat that must be eliminated. If he doesn't know why something happened, he becomes angry (including even when it benefits him.)

Bishop is very low-empathy. When writing him, I try to keep in mind that he cannot put himself in the perspective of others. (Or if he can, he doesn't care to.)

Bishop is a sadist. He gets personal enjoyment from hurting others.

Bishop likes fighting, but only when he's winning. He will quickly leave if he can't see a guaranteed victory.

Bishop is paranoid. This is probably self-evident, but it's the reason he's often so well-prepared even when things don't go to plan.

Bishop genuinely seems to enjoy science. He's shown to be far more lenient with scientist characters than anyone else, and he seems to involve himself in his scientists' projects to a degree. Enough to, at the very least, understand their work. (Given he was the one set to dissect the turtles, it might also be argued he has some medical or biology background, himself.)

Bishop is an opportunist and scavenger. He can roll with failures as long as he can find something to get out of it. If he's presented with an opportunity to stab someone in the back, and he has something to gain? He'll take it without a second thought.

Bishop is deeply self-blind. For all his perceptiveness and strategic prowess, Bishop is not very self-aware in the slightest. He is completely blind to his own hypocrisies, and thoroughly confident in his own righteousness.

Bishop adapts fast. He accepts situations for what they are and acts (Though he may still be angry about them, or what have you.) This is likely a skill developed via longevity; the world around him has changed rapidly, but he doesn't feel out of place at all.

Bishop will take extreme risks and thinks wildly outside the box. Also self-evident, if you're familiar with the plans he enacts throughout the show. He'll put a lot on the line if he thinks the reward is worth enough, and he's willing to go to extreme lengths to get what he wants, even if his plans would be considered crazy by normal standards.

Bishop is persistent. If he wants something, he won't stop until he gets it. If he fails, he'll retreat, make a new plan, and try again. It is very difficult to convince him to back down (and certainly not on moral grounds.)

Habits and triggers I've noted:

Being restrained of any sort puts Bishop in a panic. He is more likely to have an emotional response in these scenarios, and seems to have (an albeit muted) desperation to escape. (See: Leatherhead restraining him in the first encounter; His reaction to being trapped on the surgical table in Head of State.)

When being duplicitous or suppressing a reaction, Bishop will go to adjust his tie. This could possibly be considered his tell.

Bishop seems to have a particular fear of aliens blending in as humans. His slayer project was built around the assumption that this is a common threat. (Worth noting: This makes The Shredder the model of the exact threat Bishop is afraid of. Technically, Bishop himself may also fit the description of a threat shaped like a human.)

Writing considerations:

In 03's narrative, Bishop is EPF and EPF is Bishop. Narratively speaking, any organization Bishop is head of acts as if it is an extension of his will and character.

Bishop is shown to strike fear and/or discomfort into most characters he interacts with. Anything beyond this is an outlier, and will draw a reader's attention.

Dialogue-wise, Bishop is generally succinct and blunt. He does dabble in gloating, though, and especially likes to upset others. If he's given a chance to be mean, he'll usually take it. It can help to consider he has a Mission Mode and a Normal Mode. When it comes to Mission Mode, he gets straight to the point and hates unnecessary talking. Otherwise, he's still not very talkative, but will take the time to make pointed jabs or talk through a plan. A lot of his sense of humor seems to be rooted in how He's Better Than You (And You're Going To Die Painfully.)

It's a common pitfall that Bishop is depicted as seeking out the turtles. In 03, once he gets their DNA, he's done with them. Any encounters after that are incidental. Bishop does not care about anything that won't effect his greater goal. If he's targeting another character, it should have to do with a greater plan.

Bishop is an extremely competent combatant, shown to be able to handle up to 7 opponents at once. For a breakdown on his fighting style check out my other post on that!

Bishop is hard to kill, and oftentimes he accidentally contributes to his own defeat. (The hook from Bishop's Gambit is an example I get a LOT of mileage out of, as a perfect symbol of his self-defeating prophecies.)

We almost only ever see Bishop in the context of his work. While it could be construed that he depersonalizes himself, it's much more clear that the narrative depersonalizes him. As far as we, the audience know, Bishop's work is all that he is.

It's unclear if Bishop was released from his abduction or escaped. Depending on which you ascribe to, this can have ramifications for his mindset on how to deal with the alien threat. (Personally, because so much of his inability to cope hinges on a feeling of helplessness, I believe he was released. If he escaped on his own power, that undercuts it, somewhat.)

Thematically-speaking, Bishop parallels both his own torturers and his own victims at the same time. He has perpetuated the cycle that traumatized him in the first place by trying to fight fire with fire. (In that vein, I don't think he's capable of understanding that, not seeing aliens as people in the first place, just dangers. Considering how deeply ingrained his trauma is in his worldview and actions, it would probably ruin him, if he were ever able to actually grasp it.)

Bishop and EPF are likely a commentary on the military of the time 03 was coming out. This can be something worth keeping in mind, when figuring out his greater themes in your story, though it can just as well be discarded if it doesn't fit.

Adding to that, Bishop has an extensive american military background. His skills and knowledge will reflect that.

Bishop also plays on and references a number of real-life alien conspiracies. It can be worth digging through conspiracy history to drum up ideas and themes, too.

The ethical and philosophical quandaries of Bishop's body-hopping and humanity tend to not hold too much weight, because Bishop, himself, doesn't seem to care.

If I think of more I'll certainly be adding on to the reblogs of this post! Or, if you have more thoughts, please feel free to add! If you're in the mood for more Bishop ramblings, that's practically most of this blog atm, but this post is a particular favorite. If you're interested in Fast Forward!Bishop, specifically, consider this post! (also read Taking Pawns. slipped in that self-promo, nice.)

[witheredbouquet]

drawn for the dragonyule gift exchange on twt, so glad that i could join this year! thank you for hosting, saint starfall ♥

i hope that everyone has a wonderful dragonyule & a happy new year!

[frecklystars]

hey girl...........................

[fleariddenart]

There is something inherently funny to me about a bunch of grown men, all of whom have been trained for battle, throwing massive axes at butterflies.

[icewindandboringhorror]

........creachure

[oculusxcaro]

One thing I forgot to mention about Khare is that there was another set of DNA markers spliced into her genetic make-up, specifically that of surinam toads. Not only do they have considerable regenerative properties due to the way they breed, there's a good chance that down the line, she won't need another partner to start spawning perfect little replicas from her very flesh.

[oveliagirlhaditright]

That moment when you see that Walmart sells Kingdom Hearts cakes (well, you can buy edible Kingdom Hearts images from Walmart to put on cakes) and one of the options is just Yozora pointing a crossbow at you... why?

-am tempted to just buy that cake so i can eat his face, as revenge for his super difficult boss fight that i'm still angry about-

[lemonlilypufftangerine]

I have bought Apollo Justice Ace Attorney Trilogy and i just know I'm going to spend 100+ hours in the Orchestra Hall.

Comparing Great Ace Attorney Chronicles to AJ trilogy solely as collections of games, I'm conflicted. AJ has literally more content but different as well.

None of the art or music has commentary to read like TGAAC but the presentation i feel is so much more. Maybe it's the RE engine, idk. I wonder what engine the other games were on?

So bc I'm a big ol nerd, i technically prefer Chronicles because i LOVE further insight into games. But AJ is still an outstanding collection with extra content for all the games. If only any of these collections actually came with ALL previously released DLC (Sengoku Basara costumes and asinine ace attorney cases).

[heartshattering]

My mom is like "You don't need both the TV and the radio turned on :/" like she doesn't understand that the whole point is that the inside of my head is so loud that the only way to fight the 'inside loudness' is with 'outside loudness' but :') this is fine I'll just keep going insane :') no need to worry about me :')

[fluffs-n-stuffs]

gamers has this been done yet

[kingspuppet]

It's taken me far too long, but I've finally redone my rules page! So please give them a read here! Some things are the same but I've also added some new things that are pretty important. I've also updated my own personal page here! I'm planning on redoing my pinned post and going in to spruce up Goro's about page, hopefully, in the next few weeks!

[hyunrun]

tw ed in the tags !!

[violetsareblue-selfships]

good morning!! <333

[thatdude-noah]

The thing about not wanting all your aro thoughts to be negative is so real

Because I do LIKE being aro it's nice to have a reason for the way i am

But there is a reason people say what makes us human is our ability to love

Everyone and yourself knowing you love wrong compared to everyone else will never be easy or fully positive and I have to still work every day to be ok with it

i am such an unapologetically queer person and i love that about myself. being aro is included in my queer identity, and i just. love being queer. so fully. i do. and being queer is never easy, but there is always some joy to find in it.

but being aro is such a specific type of queer struggle that is so hard to get past sometimes. being seen and understood as so fundamentally different from everybody around you. and like. being aromantic has such a connotation of lacking something. i don't have this basic thing that everybody else around me seems to have and seems to flaunt.

i know it's not all bad. and i know all queer identities have struggles. but the aro struggle seems to be tugging at my heart right now and i don't know if i'll ever fully get over it.

[marshmallowgoop]

WIP Game

Rules: In a new post, post the names of all the files in your wip folder regardless of how nondescriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet and tell us about it!

---

I was tagged by @hexfloog! Thank you!!

This is a game I actually played years ago, so I thought it'd be fun to look back at that and see what I've finished since then?

Things I Have Started and Am Determined to Finish

AMVs

I am standing by your side ❌

I am afraid I was made to be able to fall apart ❌

out of time japanese ❌

Essays

Ship bingo by ahasbands ❌

heishin ranking ❌

three days with heiji hattori ❌

detco blu-rays ✅

Fic

noir zine ✅

GIFs

crying in the club ❌

Other

HD English dubs ❌

Things I Might Maybe Finish (That I Might Not Have Actually Started)

AMVs

I prefer kick drums and red wine ❌

with you heishin ❌

shadows in the city ❌

I’m just a little messed up ✅

ryuketsu the movies ❌

you are someone else ❌

Essays

Forgiveness in Fiction (and the ‘Net) ❌

detco merch ❌

Fic

KLK fairytale AU ❌

GIFs

OP 5 HD ❌

best buds forevah ❌

Other

detective conan dub comparison ❌

Yeahhh.... 3/22 isn't so good, is it? But some current WIPs I'd like to get done in the next few months or so!

jimjam bday

subtitle process

nakamouri

coai mmv

secret summer

heishin scrap

Kazuha ribbon

Anime NYC

The Boy's Return of a Favor

(And this probably doesn't really count, but I've been thinking about making a post about how to buy Detective Conan films officially and attach your own English subtitles? Some of these skills I've briefly touched on already in my HD English dub process post, but I could go into more detail about how to buy from Japan when you don't live there, how proxy sites work/which ones I use, what you might be able to do if you don't want to rip a disc, how subtitles work on VLC Media Player, etc. I just feel a little sad seeing folks buy bootlegs when you absolutely and totally can buy Conan films officially and just attach your own subtitles—and it's really quite easy! (If expensive and time consuming.) I guess I'm mostly wondering if there's any interest at all in that. Because I realize I'm bonkers 😅)

I tag: @astravis, @cartoonsbyandie, @detectivefable, @meitantei-shitpost, @sapphicselkie, @srirachapop, and anyone else who'd like to do this! (But no pressure at all to play, of course!)