yvetteiswhy

[yvetteiswhy]

A kid runs up to their mom crying. They got a booboo while playing. It hurts. The mom kisses it and says, "See? All better!" But we know it's not all better. Kisses don't stop the pain of booboos. Gaslighting starts early. Always be vigilant.

[yvetteiswhy]

Things didn't go as planned...

[yvetteiswhy]

[yvetteiswhy]

[yvetteiswhy]

where is all the art that perfectly appeals specifically to my exact tastes and desires and nobody elses

[yvetteiswhy]

In love with light novels that are nowhere near light read.

Like yes I’m on the 1000th chapter of my light novel.

No, it’s not over.

Yes, it’s still updating.

[yvetteiswhy]

Unironically the biggest death knell I heard for twitter was the fact that, as far as anyone is aware, there are no longer any furries working at twitter.

[yvetteiswhy]

Introducing Character Trope: STEBS (Stoic Traumatized Epic Bastard Softie)

I have tried to look this up on TV tropes, but it does not exist. Not officially, at least. So I decided – I'm introducing new trope. It already exist, someone might as well try and give it a name.

And yeah, this acronym SUCKS, feel free to come up with a better one! But let's talk about what a "STEBS" character is for me, because I've come to the conclusion that it is actually my favorite character type.

First, context. Ever since I've read TCF, I have come across other medias and I was often like, "Hey, this character is basically just like Cale!" – which I feel like, it isn't really fair? I mean, Cale is a great and complex character, but making this comparison constantly makes me feel like I'm undermining the complexity of OTHER characters. Just because Cale shares similarities with other characters doesn't make them copies of him.

So, what exactly is a STEBS?

1) Stoic

This character has a very specific way of acting in non-confrontational situations. It can be respectful, it can be casual, but it is neither extremely friendly nor extremely rude. It's in a calm, pleasant zone, where the character treats others like... well, people. The character doesn't make themselves superior nor inferior, it doesn't matter to them if the other is a beggar or a king. They just are, calm and casual. That's what makes them stoic - NOT lack of expressions or emotions, or lack of humor. It's the way they carry themselves on the regular. This character type makes others feel relaxed because of it, and subconsciously encourages trust and friendship (much to the character's confusion). They will also make a great educator because of it, and will likely act as a mentor or a teacher more than once.

2) Traumatized

Despite the stoicism in their behavior, they actually have a complicated background. Commonly an orphan, even though not always, this person has been through a LOT. But, they don't usually express it. Seeing this character cry or break down is EXTREMELY rare and always a very important scene in a story. It's not that they're not emotional or they always try to bury their trauma, although that does usually apply to them; they're just not vocal about it due to their personality. But oh boy, are they traumatized! Wait for that reveal later in the story though, when it actually becomes plot-relevant.

3) Epic

Despite the character being a stoic type, with a backstory that makes them crave very simple things – be it retirement, respect from their peers, a safe house to live in, a stable job, a family, a specific successful career – they are actually freaking epic where it comes to things they do. They either have great knowledge, memory, or skills in a particular field and they always manage to surprise others with just how competent they are. It can be literal combat skills, magic, being a life-saving surgeon, or even a therapist. But whenever they get their chance to shine, they become a real star.

4) Bastard

A trait that adds a surprising amount of charm and humor to their other traits. Being stoic makes them likeable, being traumatized makes them sympathetic, being epic makes them cool – but being a bastard? It actually just means they're mischievous and have a penchant for chaos. Because this character is meant to make changes in the narrative, like an accidental revolutionary or a transmigrator, they have to possess a cunning streak that might seem mean or selfish at first, but actually never crosses the line into making them despicable. It just makes them an occasional manipulator, but it's usually portrayed in a way that still makes it impossible to make you hate them. In fact, it makes you love them more for it. They are not naive, even if they can be oblivious or silly at times; being a bastard to those who deserve it means being able to get out of sticky situations that would be problematic for paragon heroes. It includes stuff like acting, pranks, cheating, manipulation, shady deals, gambling, stealing, and even criminal behavior, that is actually very understandable due to their specific circumstances.

5) Softie

And if all the previous traits haven't convinced you to love this character yet, the last one surely will. This character, despite having a mean streak, is in fact never mean to innocent people. Actually, they are surprising soft and/or sentimental, especially towards the helpless and children. This character will probably have at least one animal sidekick, at least one paragon protagonist type on their payroll, and most importantly an adopted child - if the previous two don't already fill that spot. This character will make excuses of course, they will claim that they are taking care of others for their own benefits. But you will see quickly that they don't treat others like a heartless manipulator, but more of an overprotective mother-hen. This character, no matter their gender, will eventually become the typical Mom Friend. They will make sure everybody eats well, sleeps well, they get their allowance, pack their lunch before heading out to participate in the plot and probably try to sacrifice themselves for them more than once. They will of course become the mentor figure on top of it, and possibly even be a straight up legal guardian and/or teacher to other important characters.

And this, my friends, is what I call a STEBS character. While it outlines a general, it's not a strict definition, mind you. Even if a character exhibit one trait less than the others (for example not being much of a bastard, or not being very stoic), it still counts as long as you still recognize them as fitting in this "category".

Characters in this category include:

Cale Henituse from Trash of the Count's Family

Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars

Aizawa Shota from My Hero Academia

Kakashi from Naruto

Remus Lupin from Harry Potter

Faramir from Lord of the Rings

Kim Dokja from Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint

Rimuru Tempest from That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

Park Moondae from Debut or Die

Won Hwabu from I Reincarnated as a Legendary Surgeon

And many, many others.

Let me know if you have a better name for this very specific character type!

[yvetteiswhy]

Thinking about a debut or die au where Cheongryeo finds Gunwoo in every life. Sometimes they’re friends, sometimes they’re lovers, sometimes Gunwoo is just another face in the crowd who takes pictures of him. Whether he gets to know Gunwoo or not in a particular life is irrelevant, his presence alone is an anchor.

Then one day Gunwoo isn’t there. Maybe it’s a performance that Gunwoo never misses or an event that he’s always at. Where his presence is soothing, a balm to Cheongryeo’s worsening insanity, his absence is gut churning.

At first it’s not that bad. Cheongryeo can rationalize it away as ‘I did something different that caused him not to make it.’ It’s not as if Cheongryeo won’t be able to see him next time.

And then he doesn’t see him at all.

Cheongryeo searches of course. He looks up his name and gun123 and even tries to call him. The only hint that he can find of Gunwoo are his fancams. It’s like looking for a ghost.

But he continues on. He completes mission after mission. He thinks, maybe, that Gunwoo is just another thing he has to lose in order to finally finish. And he finishes. But he finishes alone. There is no going back. There is no restarting his career to reach further heights. There is no Ryu Gunwoo.

Then he meets Park Moondae. And maybe he can do it all one more time.

[yvetteiswhy]

thinking about Cheongryeo and Moondae dynamic and the reasons I can't help but love it is because Moondae is too responsible, so an ambiguous frenemy like Cheongryeo is the only one he will be frank to and show his distastes without caring about the other person's feelings.

moondae sees himself as older than the rest of these guys — not just because of his mental age but also because he's been independent for way longer than them. so he takes care of them and hides his real feelings to not burden them, making sure they get all the care while neglecting his own care because he's used to worse (because back then he was alone and nobody would even ask after him).

and the other guys struggle to get past his defenses to take care of him! because moondae truly doesn't believe he needs help, so he sees their help as obstacles to work around. same with his own emotions and difficulties.

they eventually manage to — but it's so different from the rawness of his interactions with cheongryeo. He can't treat cheongryeo as an outsider the way he does most people because cheongryeo knows too much, but cheongryeo isn't someone he likes either. cheongryeo's ambiguous position allows him to slide in between moondae's defenses and get all his raw bluntness. this is more apparent at the climax of THAT arc — where cheongryeo completely crosses the line but at the same time moondae gains a huge understanding of cheongryeo. This was when moondae really started being more honest around him, while still disliking him a lot.

but Moondae is a softie so even with cheongryeo he eventually starts caring for him but funnily enough cheongryeo is such a big jerk with foot in mouth disease that he'll never enter moondae's mamabear protection circle so moondae will always treat him as an equal.

keunse (big sejin) early dynamic with moondae was like this too (he was the only one moondae was rude to!) but then moondae saw him vulnerable and went "must protecc" and bro isn't getting out of the mama bear protection circle until another few hundred chapters RIP.

other than that there is chungwoo but he's got a different dynamic from them, and ahyeon too way later on but that's getting into heavy spoilers territory so i shall refrain.

[yvetteiswhy]

I just thought of something.

Imagine if Kim Rok Soo's old team on Earth found out what happened to the original Kim Rok Soo.

Not in an angsty, identity-reveal way. The side story kinda implies they're all aware something is up with OG Cale!KRS, but since he seems happier, they don't mind the change. If they found out that KRS!Cale is happy too, I think they would accept things without much difficulty – especially since it's been over two years now, and surely they're attached to OG Cale!KRS as much as they were to their old team leader.

No, the point I'm trying to make is this: imagine them finding out how Cale basically got scouted. And recruited. By a freaking God. ...To save a fantasy world. And not just one.

"Your leader, Kim Rok Soo? Yeah, he was so crazy good and efficient at his job, the God of Death noticed him. Now he's casually travelling the multiverse, wreaking havoc everywhere and saving multiple dimensions from certain destruction. Is he working for the God of Death, you ask-? Pfff, he wishes! He already rejected the Saint position. That God is absolutely terrified of him."

[yvetteiswhy]

Handwriting Headcannons

Cale:

Whenever he's writing, his handwriting is very font-like. It's neat, looks a bit rushed tho. When he's signing his name, the body's muscle memory takes over and it's the most over the top thing you can think of.

Ohn:

She seems like her handwriting would be very tiny. Probably also does the little hearts as dots.

Hong:

He has NO FEAR. his handwriting is neat enough(for a kid) but l a r g e.

Raon:

No opposable thumbs = basically chicken scratch. He's much better at writing when using his magic.

Choi han:

Before the forest of darkness, it was probably pretty average. Now it's just slightly worse. (Got better with practice) He's not too confident when writing in the Roan kingdom's language

Rosalyn:

It is either neat and tidy because of her time as a princess or it looks like a doctor wrote it, no in-between.

---

Now I disappear for another three months

*poofs away magically*

[yvetteiswhy]

★彡

[yvetteiswhy]

While taking a nap today I dreamt there was a hazard sign called "never found" which was used to indicate a location where people disappeared never to be seen again

[yvetteiswhy]

You recently moved to the countryside. Your child was playing in the woods, and came back with a large green egg you thought was plastic, so you agreed they could keep it if no one claimed it. Your kid said it was a gift. You thought nothing of it. Then the egg hatched.

[yvetteiswhy]

Judas Kiss.

My piece for @vashwoodzine!

Thank you for creating such an amazing project, I loved working on it!

[yvetteiswhy]

No one asked for this one, but…

If you made lore for a character you’ve had since you were 16, and you’re in your 20s now and have a better grasp of narrative structure and power creep, you can just retcon the dumb stuff. Like you can do that for free. You’re not beholden to the junk you wrote 5 years ago, and you don’t need to justify removing it if it sucks.