... So I Just Found Out I Have "questions Asked" And One Of Them Was Such A Sweet Message And I Feel

... So I just found out I have "questions asked" and one of them was such a sweet message and I feel horrid that I didn't see them until now!

Commenting fanfiction is the easiest thing in the world once you start doing it. 

Drabble 01/05/2022

My 4 Random Words:

relief

acceptance

sea

expertise

"So, you're telling me -"

"This is your SEA of expertise!" The laughter that followed was met by your shaking head. Did he just laugh at his own joke? Was it really a joke though?

"I... I don't think-" you start.

Jin wipes his eyes and waves away what you were trying to say. "It counts. You understand, it's allll good. Now," he says as he claps his hands together excitedly and rubs them, "we can get down to business!"

You shake your head, the small smile of acceptance trying to pop out. You really did enjoy being paired up with Jin. He had his moments of brilliance that others didn't appreciate. He was an excellent partner.

"Okay, how much do you remember about 'The Little Mermaid,'" you started, as you grabbed one of your older notebooks that you had used to jot information and details in.

"That it has a sad ending," he answered immediately.

"Well, depends on how you see it," you state as you flip through the pages. "It could-"

"Wasn't it supposed to be some sort of religious type feel or meaning to it? I mean, point taken," he states, giving you a face that you knew all too well.

"Yah yah yah, but there is more here that we can use to locate the what really happened - what the truth is and not that ending that the fairy tale author gave it."

"Hans Christian Anderson," Jin stated. You looked at him once more. "The author that wrote the version you're thinking of. Hans Christian Anderson."

You gave him a look of relief. "Oh thank god! We've worked on the stories he has told before! So we know what to look for when he took his things into his own hands and spun the tale how he wanted it and broke off from the history!"

Jin looked proud. "Great place to start from! Now, share your notes of brilliance woman! We need to figure this out quickly!"

Antagonists, anti-heroes, and villains: A how-to (part 1)

Antagonists are what arguably drive a story. From facilitating conflict and plot progression, to defining and shaping the protagonist. A well written villain could turn your story from meh to unforgettable.

manipulation_.

Good and bad isn’t black and white. A well written villain will bring intrigue to their points and make them appeal, even if you don’t directly support them.

For example, 1984 by George Orwell was greatly improved thanks to O’Brien - while I don’t think he is correct in anything he’s done, I was immersed in his reasonings and manipulative personality.

Taken from the book, I fully believe this following passage shows gaslighting and manipulative anti-heroes and the effect they have on the victim:

“...but the aim of this was simply to humiliate him and destroy his power of arguing and reasoning. Their real weapon was the merciless questioning that went on and on, hour after hour, tripping him up, laying traps for him, twisting everything that he said, convicting him at every step of lies and self-contradiction until he began weeping as much from shame as from nervous fatigue. Sometimes he would weep half a dozen times in a single session. Most of the time they screamed abuse at him and threatened at every hesitation to deliver him over to the guards again; but sometimes they would suddenly change their tune, call him comrade, appeal to him in the name of Ingsoc and Big Brother, and ask him sorrowfully whether even now he had not enough loyalty to the Party left to make him wish to undo the evil he had done. When his nerves were in rags after hours of questioning, even this appeal could reduce him to snivelling tears. In the end the nagging voices broke him down more completely than the boots and fists of the guards. He became simply a mouth that uttered, a hand that signed, whatever was demanded of him. His sole concern was to find out what they wanted him to confess, and then confess it quickly, before the bullying started anew.”

Other examples include Mother Gothel from Tangled and Light Yagami from Death note

Knowing the importance of a manipulative character, here’s how to write one:

Seclusion. By secluding and isolating the victim from other influences that can counter the scheming tactics. By taking someone away from familiar settings and people, they are more vulnerable

Guilt tripping and (mildly) degrading comments. Even minor playful ‘jokes’ or ‘teasing’ can contribute. By making someone feel worse or making them feel in debt, they feel morally obligated to stick around. Some might call this ‘playing the victim card’ (Some manipulators might switch between victimizing themselves and being the bully. Whatever is most convenient at the time)

Trust. There has to be a level of trust between victim and the character before they make any moves. Someone is more likely to overlook manipulative advances from someone who has helped them, shared moments with them, etc,. The victim will logically be more likely to trust a friend more than a stranger.

Remember, this doesn’t always happen immediately. Manipulators may be skilled in their craft, but they aren’t magic. It can take take days, weeks, months, or even years for a character to manipulate their targets.

base it off real life_.

A realistic character is always more interesting that a 2d one. People have layers, caked upon each other. If you're having trouble to write your antagonist - base it off real life.

E.g. You want to write a clown serial killer, base it off The Joker from batman, or "Clown Killer Gacy" (John Wayne Gacy)

THIS ISN'T AN EXCUSE TO PLAGIARIZE! (And you don't wanna get sued from making it too similar to a real character) read this post to learn about how to avoid plagiarism

(tw: don't google this next guy if you're not comfortable w gore + murder)

All villains have motive, taking the example of Blake Leibel - he tortured and murdered his fiance because their newborn daughter was taking away all the attention, as well as stress from avoiding Russian mob bosses that were trying to get money back from his brother.

Analyze villains you like from your favourite books, animes and movies. Delve deep and do research!

this was long, so i’ll make more parts to this and link them here. hope this helps!

Today..... I will take a break and start drabbles again tomorrow! Whoooo Happy New Year everyone!

Drabble 02/08/2022

She put her ear to the door, trying to overhear what was going on. Normally she wasn't one to eavesdrop but there was something weird here and she needed to know if she was safe or if an escape plan was needed.

Because this was clearly not what she originally signed up for when she was asked to attend to this estate's library.

"... can't hide it for much longer," the female stated.

She thought for a moment. There weren't too many females here, was it the young woman Mulan. She remembered that conversation because she had grown up watching that movie and hearing that tale -

But that was a thought for a different day.

"Then what do you suggest," an exasperated adult male asked. "She is important to all of it working. Without her, we fail and we will never get the truth out. And that means LIVES Mulan."

First - confirmed female voice. Second - what?

"I know," Mulan replied, tried to keep quiet. "But I am also terrified. What if it doesn't work - should we not let her know?"

"You want to risk the life of the others," the male said. There was shuffling and a possible sniffle. "They all deserve their truth and freedom."

Another pause. "Okay, we keep as we are, and pray she truly is the one we have been waiting for. For everyone."

That was enough. She needed to back away. She was not in danger but not needed. But she felt a drop in her stomach. Because there was no way that she was the one they wanted or were waiting for. Couldn't be. She didn't want to let them down, but what is she to do?

She needed to figure out what was going on and who they were waiting for. But she knew she could not be blunt about it.

She took a deep breath and headed back to the library. That was why she was here, and that was where the answers lay. She would no longer hesitate or just dally. She was terrified of the monster that seems to appear in there from time to time but someone always came in time to rescue her and bring her to safety.

And the monster seemed to never show itself when others were there. The inhabitants of this estate always seemed to come when she needed them most. So she would have to keep the faith that they would or would come if called.

Someone needed her to do her job so she could get the RIGHT person there. And she wouldn't let them down.