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axewchao · 1 year

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A Difficult Topic To Broach

Broach (v): To raise a sensitive or difficult subject for discussion.

In which the Rito and the Hylian have a long overdue talk.

Story's under the readmore! And it's a long one, longest I've probably ever written! Enjoy the wall of text, y'all :'D

~~~

Revali could count on one wing all the times he'd been this nervous.

His first archery competition. His first flight race. The first time another Rito showed romantic interest in him. That time he challenged his endurance by flying nonstop for several hours, followed by him crash-landing on Satori Mountain and meeting the mountain's Lord face-to-face, ending with him shrieking in pure terror as he ran away.

But this… this was something else entirely. It wasn't his pride nor his life on the line, merely his heart.

It had been several weeks since he retrieved that accursed mask from the aforementioned mountain. Several weeks of replaying everything in his head, searching for any signs of deceit or truth, and giving himself a headache from his indecisiveness. Several weeks of lying awake at night with the mask in his arms, refusing to admit that he wished the mask's owner was there with him, to have those long-winded talks he'd grown so fond of.

Several weeks of avoiding the Hylian that caused all this, either hiding out of reach on Medoh or staying out of sight as much as possible when grounded by the other Champions as a group. Daruk and Mipha ended up having Revali as both backup and a sparring partner more often, not that either of them showed any complaints. If anything, Daruk in particular was overjoyed, assuming that their normally standoffish Rito ally was finally coming out of his shell. Rather than deny it, Revali for once held his tongue, letting the loud Goron think whatever he pleased.

The proud back "pats" he could do without, though.

And Urbosa? Revali never liked it when she tried lecturing him, or gave him that look that said 'I can read you like a book.' But it seemed as though this time she was just as in dark as everyone else, only commenting on Revali's shift in behavior a few times before moving on to more important matters, like the Princess' wellbeing, along with her knight's.

Speaking of that little knight…

Revali's rage over "the incident" had mostly died down, enough for him to stomach seeing the Hylian or hearing the other man's name without sneering. The knight in question didn't seem to make any effort to seek Revali out as far as he could tell, though whether it was because of guilt or indifference remained unclear. Revali's first instinct was to assume the latter; that the other boy was back to being his unemotive, uncaring, placid-faced self after his little stunt.

But those dark circles under his eyes, the signs of neglect in his hair, his ears somehow drooping even more than they already do, the overall faded complexion he'd displayed since that fateful night…

No one would take an act that far… would they?

If he truly wished to “toy” with you as you say, would he have bothered to reveal his true self at all?

That was the question Medoh probed Revali with, one he couldn't answer. Because truthfully, he was afraid.

Afraid that everything he assumed was right. That the perfect Rito, the perfect person he was able to form a meaningful connection with, was nothing more than a wicked, heartless lie.

Just this once, he wanted to be wrong.

~~~

Asking the Hylian to meet him alone was not easy.

Something always got in the way. A new monster to fight, a Yiga ambush, the knight just not being left alone for even one damn minute. For all of Zelda's efforts to get away from her appointed knight, he always found a way to keep her in his line of sight. And when she wasn't around, someone else was. From Mipha healing his wounds, to Urbosa dragging him off for sparring or lectures or Medli knows what else, to Daruk challenging his "brother" to random tests of strength. All in an effort to "get the little guy out of his funk!" in the big lug's own words.

Regardless of his "funk" being real or not, Revali had to give the Hylian credit where it was due; enduring such a complete lack of personal space for weeks on end wasn't something just anyone could do. Not without snapping, anyway. Revali would've undoubtedly started pecking at someone or plucking his own feathers by now if he were in the Hylian's talons. Er, shoes.

Was this the reason why he only appeared as a Rito at night, then? Because that was the only free time he actually had? And he chose to spend it with—

Revali forced the faint traces of hope in his heart back down. It was too soon for things like that. That was another thing Medoh told him: to not take his first guess and run with it. The ancient bird really was trying to act like a mentor of sorts, turning this into one giant "lesson" for Revali to learn.

The timing could've been better on her end. Maybe when Revali's ability to trust others wasn't in danger, perhaps? Just throwing it out there.

Now, with all these obstacles in place, simply waiting until nightfall was obviously the correct option, right? Oh, how he wished.

Even on the nights where he wasn't too tired to think clearly, all it would take is one glance at the Hylian and Revali's nerves would fly right out the window. He gave himself excuse after excuse; it's too soon, I don't know what to say, the others will hear us, he'll humiliate me. But the topic needed to be broached, whether Revali liked it or not.

It was either that or suffer in silence forever.

So with a heavy wing and pounding heart, he reached out and grabbed the Hylian's shoulder, stopping both of them from following everyone to the Highland Stable. He ignored the way the other man nearly flinched as he leaned in from behind, his beak barely brushing against a silver-pierced ear.

"We need to talk." He whispered urgently, "Meet me in Faron Woods. Tonight."

The burgundy-haired boy hesitated before nodding, not even turning to meet Revali's eyes. In a way, Revali was grateful; he felt like he would've cracked under the stress if he had to look at those darkened purple irises again. He pulled his wing away as though he'd been burned and continued onward, leaving the knight behind.

He kept walking, even passing the princess and other Champions, eyes firmly locked on his own talons.

He didn't look back, not even when several voices called his name in concern.

~~~

Night had come much sooner than Revali would've wanted.

The sky was clear, both the stars and rising moon were in perfect view, so Revali had no need to worry about getting lost in the dark due to his damned lack of night vision. Under any other circumstance, the moonlight streaking through the trees would've been a lovely sight, but it currently failed to ease his racing mind.

As he walked (he didn't run, shut up) across Fural Plain towards the woods, Revali made the choice to wait by the entrance instead of going inside. This way, he could keep an eye out for when the man in question showed up. The last thing he wanted was to be left sitting in the woods alone like some fool.

He already made a fool of me once, no reason to let him dig the knife in.

Enough of that, Revali.

Revali nearly set off his gale in a panic. Medoh?! Gods, I told you to stop scaring me like that!!

My apologies. But my point still stands, you must stop that nonsense.

What are you talking about?

Clinging to your assumptions. You are doing it again. Medoh paused, as if sighing. And you were doing so well earlier…

Revali scoffed. I don't recall asking for your approval.

Perhaps you did not, but I will express it anyway. Medoh wasn't capable of chuckling, but Revali could practically hear it regardless. You were indeed doing well before. And it is clear that you are trying to do well now. I am glad to see that you took my words to heart.

Revali growled under his breath as he smoothed down his feathers. …Thanks.

Hm? I detect a note of… what was it again… sarcasm? Are you being sarcastic with me?

Don't give me that, you know what sarcasm is, Medoh.

Yes, yes, I am well aware. I was simply trying to calm you down with our usual banter. Medoh's tone suddenly turned to faint concern. Your mind is filled with troubled thoughts…

Revali didn't reply, his crest drooping as he looked down. He leaned against a tree and hugged himself, despite there being no chill in the air.

Are you alright?

Alright? Revali's eyes burned, How could I possibly be alright? My heart could be shattered to pieces by sunrise. How do you expect me to feel?

So you decided to confront him after all?

Aren't you literally in my head all the time?

Medoh paused again before answering, her tone switching back to that of a consultant. Revali… I understand that you are fearing the worst. But I believe that you are… how to put it… overprepared.

Revali raised a brow. What?

You have made yourself aware of the worst possible outcome. Which is, again, understandable. But in the process, you are convincing yourself that the worst result is the only one you will get. Have you forgotten what I said before?

Revali sighed. No… I haven't. But what if…

…Yes?

What if… Revali gulped, his heart picking up speed once more. What if he really is sorry? What then?

Medoh made a confused trill. I do not understand your question.

If he really was just using me, at least then I know what I'll do; hate him for all eternity, never forgive him, and never give him the time of day again. But… If he wasn't, then… Revali trailed off, reluctant to finish the thought.

I do not have the answer to that. What happens next between the two of you is for you both to decide.

Yeah… Revali sighed, I figured you wouldn't. He looked up, gazing toward the distant stable. I know he agreed to come, but…

I am not nearby, so I cannot see him. Nor can I currently see him through your eyes. But the night is young, and you left rather early.

That much was true. Revali had opted to leave for the forest as soon as he'd finished eating that evening. Everyone (minus Mipha and Daruk, who ate their own fill of fish and rocks respectively) had carrot soup this time, but sadly they weren't the godly Kakariko carrots, so he couldn't distract himself with a delicious meal. All he could do was eat quietly while the others talked, and steal glances at the Hylian when no one else was watching.

He has a name, you know.

Oh, shut it.

Yet another preparation, perhaps? Teaching yourself to stop addressing him by name in case the worst comes to pass?

Revali felt himself flush under his feathers, mostly out of anger than embarrassment over the beast's correct guess. Shut up!

You are better off waiting until after your suspicions are confirmed or denied before you try something like this. You have been refusing to call him by name for weeks now.

If he really is as cruel as any other Hylian, then I don't even want to think about his name, let alone utter it. Is that a crime now?

It is if you are doing it before you talk to him. Must you be so dramatic?

It's not dramatic! If he saw no reason to treat me with respect then I don't—

Honestly, Revali… Medoh cut him off, It would not kill you to hold off on your judgement a moment longer. Now be still and hold your tongue. Revali's vision suddenly gained a faint blue hue. The Divine Beast was using his eyes.

The stable. Look again.

Revali did as he was told, but wasn't sure what he was looking for. The blue of Medoh's presence made everything blend together. …What? What is it?

…He is coming. It would seem that much like you, he has no intentions of wasting time.

Wait, what-?! Revali's feathers puffed in alarm. He shook his head and blinked several times, willing Medoh's vision away. Sure enough, there he was, walking down the path towards the now-panicking Rito. His head was down, so Revali couldn't see his face, just locks of burgundy that were much duller than they should've been, even under moonlight.

His time was running out.

No no no no no, not now! Revali hid behind a tree, hoping his feathers would blend in with the foliage. How long has he-? I don't even know what I'll-! He grabbed at his frazzled crest, Medoh, help me out here!! What do I do-?!

As I said before, what happens next depends on you. Both of you, and no one else. I refuse to interfere.

You couldn't give me a better warning, at least-?! Revali mentally yelled as he frantically smoothed down his feathers.

Calm yourself. Be patient and listen to his defense. Once all has been said, then you may pass your judgement. And not a moment sooner. Do you understand?

I… I…

Do you understand, Revali?

Revali's eyes started to burn, and he shut them tight. After a moment's hesitation, he finally relented. …Yes. I understand.

Good. I will leave you to settle this mess. Do not do anything rash, and do not act as though woe is all that betides you.

Was Medoh really about to just leave him to fend for himself here?? Sure, he never asked for Medoh's assistance in this matter, or any matter at all before, but him not asking never stopped her from meddling anyway!

I wish you the best of luck, my Champion. And with that, Medoh's presence was gone.

Of all the times to leave him alone… why now? It felt like Medoh had just thrown him to the wolves. Damned beast!!

All Revali could do was curl his hands into fists as he tried to force himself to calm down. Keep a straight face. Don't let the Hylian know that his will was unsteady. He had to be firm and direct, like always. He could do this. He had to do this. He—

…was cut off by the sound of someone gasping under their breath.

Oh dear Zephos and Cyclos, he couldn't do this.

Revali looked over his shoulder, and there he was, just a couple feet away.

He felt a brief chill as he stared into those pupilless purple eyes. Eyes that once shone with a light pink glow, eyes that once made him feel a number of different things. They were still rimmed with dark circles, implying that the Hylian either became a night owl from doing gods know what after dark, or he simply wasn't sleeping well.

Revali was afraid to find out the answer. But he already knew that through the conversation they were about to have, he'd get that answer anyway.

At Revali's lack of a reply, the Hylian ducked his head again, looking down at the ground. He raised it back up when Revali cleared his throat.

"Well, it's… good to know that you're punctual." Gods, even that was hard to say. He turned his back, waving the other over with a wing. "Follow me."

He heard footsteps following behind him, and that was enough for now.

~~~

Faron Woods was bigger than it looked on a map.

And in a way, that was a good thing. It meant that when Revali found a decent spot to sit, the view was lovely without looking too cramped or foreboding. The trees overhead provided cover, but still let streaks of blue light through, making even the leaves resemble sapphires. It was a scene worth painting, or taking a picture with the Sheikah Slate.

If things went well, Revali could look back on this clearing fondly. But if they didn't…

His feathers ruffled at the idea. Ignoring the urge to smooth them back down again, he glanced over at the Hy-

You are better off waiting until after your suspicions are confirmed or denied before you try something like this.

…at Dalex, who quickly turned away from him. Even under the shade of the trees, Revali could still see how disheveled he was. He was almost tempted to call this little meeting off and send Dalex back to the stable to rest. But it was too late to turn back; they were already here, and if Revali forced himself to delay this once more, he doubted he'd ever be able to fully shake off the shame.

Revali is many things, but a coward is not, nor shall it ever be, one of them.

He crossed his arms and braced himself. "You… you know exactly why I asked you to come here. Don't you." It was a statement, not a question.

Dalex's ears twitched as he nodded. His silence didn't sit well with Revali.

"You can't nod your way out of this. You and I both know that you can talk." If he looked away as soon as Dalex flinched, then it didn't happen, right?

Be patient. Do not do anything rash.

Revali sighed, "For the last few weeks, I've… been thinking about what I'd say to you. About… that." He couldn't hide the anger in his voice, only lower it. "I thought I'd have everything worked out, like I always do. But… I don't."

Dalex said nothing, the only indication that he was still listening being the twitching of his ears.

"You…" He crossed his arms, "We both know what you did. I don't see any need to waste time pointing it all out." And if he did so, he'd either crack or succumb to rage, and he wasn't about to do either.

Yet again, Dalex said nothing, but his ears drooped impossibly lower.

"There… ever since you… 'revealed' yourself to me, there've been nothing but questions running through my head. So many questions. And every time I thought about asking you, I just…" He squeezed his arms, willing his feathers not to ruffle. Now was not the time for that.

At the third lack of a reply, Revali felt his patience wane. They'll be sitting here til dawn at this rate.

"I'd like you to look me in the eye when I'm speaking to you, Sta-… Dalex." His crest lowered at the near slip-up.

He felt a wave of regret when Dalex finally did look at him. A light breeze had tousled the bangs that normally covered half of Dalex's face, revealing the right side that was hidden from everyone despite looking just as normal as the left.

He looks so exhausted…

If Revali was wrong in the end, that sight wouldn't be leaving his memories any time soon.

"I suppose I will just say it, then…" His beak hung open, piles of questions forming in his throat as though they were at war over which one could come out first. In the end, he settled on the one that was there the longest:

"Why did you pretend to be the Sta-… him?"

Dalex blinked, clearly expecting something else. For Revali to yell again, perhaps? Like he did that night? Part of him wanted to. But just asking that one question took all the anger out of him, leaving nothing but hollow longing.

You were at your happiest when you were with him. If the way he acted as the Starling had any hint of truth, then I want you to be able to see that.

Revali didn't need night vision to see the hints of reluctance in Dalex's eyes. "I won't yell, or scream, or cut you off, none of that. I want to hear what you have to say."

Listen to his defense. Once all has been said, then you may pass your judgement. And not a moment sooner.

He saw Dalex's mouth twitch, and he bowed his head. "…Please."

He heard Dalex take a deep breath, and then…

"I… I just wanted a break."

Revali raised his head, confused. A… break? "From what?"

"Everything." Dalex's shoulders fell, and his breath hitched. "I've been training to be the Legendary Hero for so long… I couldn't do anything but train, no one would allow me to do anything else. Not when Ganon could show up at any time and destroy everything. I had to follow Her Highness everywhere she went, even if she hated my guts and wanted nothing to do with me. I have to listen to other knights acting like jealous little pricks because I got the Master Sword and they didn't."

Revali winced at that last statement, but thankfully Dalex had already covered his face with his hand.

"Everyone looks at me like I'm either a god amongst men that will save them all or the bane of their existence, and I just-" He stopped, his whole body shuddering. "…Do you remember what I said at Warbler's Nest?"

He most certainly did. How could he forget?

"My life had barely gotten started and I already had to give it up. I couldn't say no; my-… what I had to do, what I still have to do is too important. Is… is it wrong if I'm upset about it…?"

Revali told him otherwise that night… He held the Sta- Dalex's wing in his own and told him that it wasn't fair.

"If I were in your wings, I’d be completely furious.”

"All this time, I never got the chance to do anything unless I had a reason, a damn good one at that. If it wasn't necessary for my role as the Hero, then I couldn't do it. I wasn't… I'm not supposed to be anything but the Hero."

Were… were Revali's ears tricking him or did he just hear a sniffle?

"I… have to be the Hero. I can't be anything else. Not until Ganon's gone. But I…" He pushed his bangs away, eyes now shining with unshed tears. "I was just so tired."

You look like you're still tired. Revali thought to himself. "That's why you used the mask?"

Dalex rubbed his eyes, nodding. "I didn't- I wasn't trying to… to quit, or anything, I'd never do that. I just, I just wanted to get away from it, for a little while."

"But… surely you've heard about those things before. Many have claimed that they'll curse those foolish enough to wear them." Revali personally didn't believe in such things, but he heard it through the grapevine plenty of times, especially near the end of autumn.

"Yeah… I know. That's what I said to the guy that gave me the mask in the first place." A tear fell before he could stop it, and Revali felt a chill run down his spine at the hero's admission. "But… but that first night, I just kept thinking about everything. About my duty, about Her Highness, about Ganon, about y-…"

About… me? Revali's heart fluttered, and he couldn't fathom why.

"I couldn't… I couldn't handle it anymore. I put it on, turned into- into him, and…"

"…Bumped into me." Revali finished. He remembered that night clearly as well. He never thought a Rito could be so clumsy, crashing into him just as he reached his favorite landing. That could've been the only time they ever interacted, but… "…Why spend your 'break' with me, then?"

Dalex made a choked noise, like he was holding back a sob.

"We both know that I've made my… opinions on your status as the Hero very clear. By all means, you should've wanted to avoid me as much as the princess avoids you. Yet you sought out my company above anyone else's."

"I-I wasn't- I mean, I didn't-" Dalex stammered, rubbing his eyes. "I just thought… I thought that things would be different. If I didn't have that damn sword."

Revali tilted his head. "Different?"

Dalex suddenly glared, the tear streaks somehow making his expression even more intense. "Everything I said to you as… as him. Think about what those things were."

Revali was struck silent as memories rushed to the front of his mind, one after another.

"Revali, that was incredible! How're you able to hit so many bullseyes from so far away?!"

"I never thought your bow would have so much weight to it… you're stronger than you look!"

"You're really lucky you get to see your mom all the time… I can't wait to see mine again."

"You know, I was wondering… You've picked up a lot of blacksmithing know-how from your mom. More than I've ever heard, at least. What made you turn to archery, anyway?"

"Ugh, how can you stand carrots? They're awful! Wha- EWWW! Keep them away from me, you- you featherbrain!"

"I never thought there'd be so many uses for your feathers… You guys are like, masters at repurposing."

"Fly across the Gerudo Desert, huh… I never thought about what lay beyond all that sand… but if your dad came from somewhere out there, then yeah, there's gotta be something! It's not like Hyrule is the only place with life in it, after all!"

"Maybe the other Champions were blessed. That's all well and good, but… I have to agree with you, nothing can beat hard work to get where you need to be. And your Gale is… It's more than just a skill. It's literally the start of a whole new legacy for all the Rito."

And one memory in particular stood out amongst all the others:

"To be honest, Revali… I can't remember the last time I talked to someone about anything other than my-… my journey. How important it is, how 'honorable' and 'noble' it is… I'm sick of hearing that. I just want to talk about literally anything else, and… I can, with you. It… It's nice, is what I'm saying."

Dalex, the Legendary Hero, the Hylian Champion, the mightiest knight in all of Hyrule… had said those words right to Revali's face.

"Would you have believed me if I said them the way I am now?" At Revali's silence, Dalex chuckled. "Thought so… You know, hearing you actually have a problem with me being the Hero… it was refreshing, in a way."

"Wh-Refreshing?" Revali was taken aback, "I fail to see how-"

"You didn't like that I had the sword, yeah. But… you weren't a complete ass about it. You at least offered to let me prove myself to you a few times instead of moaning and groaning nonstop." Like that time he suggested they battle on Medoh's back, followed by him bailing from Dalex's lack of a response. Not one of Revali's better moments…

"And… I've seen the way you act when, uh, 'off duty,' I guess. 'Specially around kids. It's sweet."

Revali's feathers ruffled at the compliment. It was true, he'd been known to dote on the children back in Rito Village; offering archery lessons, cooking large meals to feed them in groups, telling stories of his battles against the more powerful monsters, and so on. He'd caught Dalex listening in only once, but that was apparently enough.

"But… whenever you spoke to me, it always came back to my title. That stupid sword. And I just…" Dalex sighed, rubbing his arm. "I thought that… maybe if I didn't have it, then I'd actually get to talk to you. I'd been wanting to, anyway…"

"Have you now…?" Something about that statement made Revali's heart beat just a little faster.

"And I did. And it was… probably some of, if not the best nights I've ever had in my life. I could finally be… me. I actually remembered how to do that, even after a decade of being the Hero." Dalex's smile fell as soon as it came. "But as time went by, and I got to know you more, I…"

"…You what?"

"I started to realize it- it still wasn't-" Dalex pinched his brow, struggling to find his words. "It still wasn't me. Not in your eyes. Could I really count as your friend when you didn't even know who I really was?" He stopped to sniffle before continuing, "That's… that's why I…"

"…You took off the mask in front of me." Revali finished for him.

Dalex nodded, crossing his arms. "You… you deserve a real friend. Someone that can actually speak to you without needing to hide behind a mask the whole time. When I realized what I was doing, I… I had to stop it. I was being selfish and I was hurting you and…" He stopped to take a breath, then raised his eyes to meet Revali's. "And I'm so sorry."

Had… Had Dalex ever apologized for this before? Revali couldn't remember; most of that night became a blur due to his heartbreak and rage. He wouldn't be surprised if his outburst prevented Dalex from doing just that.

Hearing it now, though… it felt real. Revali wanted it to be real, so badly.

"You… you don't have to worry about me using it anymore. The mask, I mean. I threw it away." Dalex briefly looked away to growl under his breath, "Whoever finds it can have it, for all I care…"

Now the former, Revali remembered hearing Dalex say, before Revali silenced him with a gale as he fled. And thanks to a little (er, big) birdy, Revali had undeniable proof that Dalex had completely abandoned the mask. It took a fair bit of strength to not admit that he knew already, and that said mask was now hidden away in his own home.

As for what Revali could say… was there anything? Dalex had said his piece, so…

Listen to his defense. Once all has been said, then you may pass your judgement.

"…I would say that I knew what to think about all of this… but frankly, I don't." He ran a wing through his crest, "If I hadn't blown up at you when I did, then maybe you would've said all this already. Maybe we'd already know where to go from here. Or have an idea, at least…"

Dalex fell silent once more, ears twitching at his words.

I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but… Medoh was right. I was too prepared. Now I don't know what to do.

"I… don't know if I forgive you yet. Or even at all." He didn't see Dalex wince. He didn't. "But… It doesn't seem like you're lying, at least."

He did see the stunned look cross Dalex's face. Once again, it looked as though he was expecting Revali to say something else. An accusation, perhaps? A blatant disregard of his reasons behind everything that's happened between them?

When Revali thought about it, Dalex hadn't so much as tried to beg or fish for forgiveness in the entire conversation… Was he preparing for the worst too? If he was, then that would mean he…

The possibility is there. You know this. That he truly felt remorse for hurting you so.

Revali rubbed his temples as he felt a headache come on. The constant mental back-and-forths haven't been doing him any favors these past few weeks. He was so tired…

"Are… are you alright?" Revali heard the concern in Dalex's voice, and waved it off with a wing.

"I'm fine." Without giving Dalex a chance to reply, he started to stand. "…We should head back."

It was an abrupt end, Revali knew this. And he was pretty sure that they'd have to talk about this a bit more before Revali could make a decision. But again, he was tired. This whole conversation was probably the most exhausting thing he'd experienced in weeks, and all he'd mostly done was sit and listen. At this point, he just wanted to curl up in a cheap stable bed and sleep.

He was so tired, in fact, that he didn't even think twice about offering his wing to Dalex, who took it without uttering another word. Nothing was said when he gave that smaller hand a mild squeeze, and nothing was said when he held onto it, only letting go once they exited Faron Woods.

It wasn't the wing Revali held at Warbler's Nest all those nights ago. Not even close.

But… it still felt the same.

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reds-skull · 4 months

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Post script on Not Alive, Nor Dead

Like I mentioned yesterday, I have a lot to say about the fic now that it's done.

The TLDR is that I'm leaving an option for a sequel. No promises though.

Leaving the rest of it under the cut because idk how long it will end up.

Okay, so first thing I gotta admit is that I didn't plan shit lmao. I had the start very clearly in my head, which were the scenes I talked about in the first post I made about revenant AU. But the entire plot line with Graves being a secret revenant? Hell, even the whole 'revenants and non-revs are getting kidnapped around the world' was not planned.

The scene in chapter 4 with the PMC was the introduction for the anonymous PMC, but I didn't think of making Graves and in extension Shadow Company all the work of a revenant. I was debating even making him a revenant at all, up until I wrote the chapter introducing him.

This approach, of not planning shit, is what made me excited to sit down and write every day. It felt like I was discovering the story myself.

It's also a fucking miracle the story is coherent in any shape or form.

Now, I did write a few things before starting. They were a small overview of the character arcs I want the 141 to go through, and a brief about each revenant's powers, because those things need to be consistent.

The arc overview isn't accurate anymore, it has a version of Gaz's storyline that I didn't manage to fit in, where he has a fear of heights, and overcomes it throughout the fic. The only one really left unchanged was Soap, who had the whole "my powers are too destructive" thing ongoing for most of the story.

Speaking of Soap, the Konchar mystery? I was figuring it out while writing the 3 chapters before introducing 'Konchar'. There are some inconsistencies because of that, specifically in a line where Soap says something along the lines of "I did something on my Reaping, something that if I could replicate, I might've not been let on the team." which kinda makes sense but kinda doesn't, considering all that Ghost has done.

Ghost's struggles with Limbo were something I added after wanting to give him a parallel to Soap. Originally, Ghost's role was to be the guy that has already gone through what Soap is going through, already knowing everything and having as much control on Limbo as he can. But making Limbo this uncontrollable realm was more interesting... also having it reflect Ghost's mind and emotions was cool.

One of the most pleasant surprises was how Price's powers interacted with everyone else's. I think it was the best power to personality match I made, he's not as scary as the others at first glance, but the ability to bore into the minds of his enemies, the way no one can keep secrets from him? Makes him terrifying. It's not made clear in the fic, but the reason it took Price so long to figure Graves out is their previous encounters. Graves knew how to divert his thoughts away from his Shadows, and stop Price from finding out.

What made Price realize Grave's Shadows aren't human is he tried to read their mind, only to find a list of commands. Graves tried to keep them away as much as he can, but it was inevitable. Shepherd knew it, which is why he ordered Price to keep his mouth shut almost instantly.

Since the way revenants get their powers must be linked to the way they died, some revs were easier to find powers for than others. Obviously the 141 was first, some at the time I started thinking about how they died didn't have a canon near-death experience, like Price and Soap.

I took Ghost's og backstory, and the idea of Limbo was gotten from the fact he died in a coffin, in a state of in between life and death. What Limbo does to people was just 'scariest thing I could imagine' type of situation. In the end, I don't know if Limbo is scarier when Ghost couldn't control it, or when both he and Soap could.

With Soap, I knew I wanted something with explosions, so it was a no-brainer to make him die from one. I mentioned in another post, but revenant AU was originally at the very beginning just a thing of 'what if I put mw characters in my original magic system?', and in that scenario, Soap was the only one with powers, which were control over anti matter, meaning anything he touches or touches him explodes. The only scene from that one is of Soap pushing Ghost away and getting shot to high hell, only to go and explode the people that tried to kill him - which is chapter 8.

I chose to use Gaz's iconic hanging out of a chopper scene, because I found it funny tbh lol. Later, when I thought of how exactly he died, it became more serious.

Price's were just kinda random tbh. I figured telepathy is a good ability for a Captain.

Rudy obviously dies in the house fire he almost did in the campaign. Alejandro was harder, but I thought of how Graves locked him up in the black site prison alone, so I went for something similar.

It's not mentioned in the fic, but Farah was the youngest to die from all of them. The house collapse in the start of her flashbacks in mwi, where her father pulled her out of the rubble? She didn't survive it. She's a very rare revenant, to be Reaped when she was a kid.

Farah and Ghost's og backstory have a lot of similarities, in my mind they're parallels to each other. What Farah had that Ghost didn't, however, is other people, a community. I think that's why she didn't lose herself the way Ghost did.

Alex's was difficult, because his canon near-death experience was being exploded, like Soap. I used the fact he's ex CIA, to figure he probably took part of many covert operations, and one went wrong. He was caught, so now he can go invisible. This was the thing I failed to make clear the most in the fic, I think, since a few people asked, more than anything else.

Thomas Anderson, the revenant with underwater breathing abilities, was originally made just for Ghost to roast him. When chapter 8 rolled around, and I needed a random revenant to kill there, I thought using the one established would make sense.

Accidental foreshadowing like this was what carried the fic, tbh. It was like a huge session of 'yes, and'ing myself. A little bit of bullshitting confidently, sometimes it felt like that lmao.

The wedding vows in chapter 31 were, again, unplanned. Ghost said "till death do us apart, Johnny?", so I started looking up Christian wedding vows in English because I don't fully remember them. Later I thought "wait, Soap is Catholic, maybe they have a different version." and then I thought, "shit, he's fuckin' Scottish, he won't use fucking American Catholic vows." (maybe he would idk).

Anyway, I found the Celtic vows present in the fic, which sounded like a metaphor, so perfect I couldn't use them just for the original joke they were meant for. So Soap ends up reciting literal wedding vows at the man.

[here's a link to the website I found the vows at]

Last thing is the whole Makarov tie in to Konchar. I was thinking about how we never really dove deep into why Konchar did what he did, besides having his Reaper tell him "you have to kill Soap before he kills you". I heard an advice somewhere, that in world building you have to dive in two questions for it to be believable.

So, let's take Konchar for example. First question is, "how did Soap killing Konchar not bring on an international incident between Kastovia and the UK?". The answer is, "Konchar was an army deserter." Second question is, "why did Konchar desert the army?", and the second answer is, "because he left to work with Makarov."

We don't need to know why he left, not at the point I left the fic at. Those two answers would be enough for readers to not feel like there's a plot hole there, at least according to that advice I've heard.

NOW, with all of that out of the way, I wanted to post the notes I've made on each revenant's powers, because I thought it could be interesting for someone. AND! I kept some deleted scenes, and it would be a shame to just let them rot in the Google Doc lol.

First up, list of revenants and their powers:

[These aren't 100% accurate anymore, as they were written before I started writing the fic, and I only added stuff to them]

Ghost - limbo: is able to send a circle around him into “limbo”, a space between life and death, that no one can escape. Filled with his enemies. Only way to survive is if ghost brings you to the eye of the storm, where he keeps himself safe of his own powers. Ghost can be killed by any means if taken by surprise and doesnt activate his powers.

If stands still too long, inky hands start grasping at him from the ground. Prefers to sleep elevated.

Died in a coffin.

From chapter 21 and beyond - able to wield to withstand fire in his right hand.

Soap - explosion: cant be killed by explosions, and can explode anything he touches. Any injury with the root cause being explosion (fall from high building, debris scratches, etc.) will be healed, but he does feel pain from it. Gunshots cant kill him (the bullets shoot with explosions). Can be killed by any melee attack, poison, electricity.

Fire burns from his fingertips, hard to put out. Spreads when agitated. Hot to the touch.

Died from a fall because of an explosion.

From chapter 21 and beyond - able to wield the protective light in his left hand in Limbo.

Gaz - gravity: can manipulate gravity of himself and objects he touches. Cant die from falling. Can be killed by any means, but hard to catch and aim at while at motion.

Usually floats a couple inches off ground.

Died in a helicopter accident.

Price - telepathy: can talk and transmit simple ideas to other around him. Can feel emotions of others. Can be killed by any means, but Price can manipulate the enemies thoughts and distract them.

His thoughts can “leak” if left unguarded.

Died after being abandoned and without comms.

Alejandro - phase: can phase through solid objects, including bullets. Can be killed by any means if caught by surprise.

Sometimes accidentally phases through things.

Died in captivity.

Rodolfo - ice: can lower the temperature of anything he touches rapidly. Can freeze and jam guns. Can inflict ice burns. Can be killed by any means beside fire.

Breath always visible, cold to the touch.

Died in a fire.

Farah - steelskin: can deflect any attack to her body. Bullets, knives, rockets. Can be killed by poison easily, as needles cant pierce her skin and therefore medical administration is hard to give.

Skin shines oddly.

Died from a stab wound. [changed to what I explained above]

Youngest to become a revenant.

Alex - invisibility: can become invisible. Otherwise can be killed by any means, hard to spot.

Skin sometimes flickers.

Died when got caught.

Graves - shadow company: can create “shadows”, puppets he controls. Can be killed by any means, but hard to get through his shadows.

Doesnt have a shadow of his own, eyes become milky and vacant, leaking after a while.

Died from betrayal.

[I didn't manage to find a place to add this - yes, Graves died after his squad betrayed him. His powers are a replacement for the whole army. His last line, "Me? I am the army." was what he boiled down to. Limbo's victims marking him a traitor was two fold. He betrayed the 141, Vaqueros, the UFL and basically everyone around him, but he also betrayed his own Reaper, who gave him powers to not go through that very thing. It's also another reason why chapter 30 is called 'Die As You Live'.]

Kirill “Konchar” Bogomolov - telekinesis: can move objects with his mind. Can protect himself from any physical attack, and redirect them towards the attacker. Is a revenant of the Pull, like Gaz. (name means “Lord” and “devotionalist”) First death from RPG, second death by Soap.

Now, for the cut content. Most of these are one scene, usually one that didn't fit the emotinal arc of the characters, or the direction was going somewhere I didn't like. There's one that is a page and a half long, and that chapter was one of the hardest to write, so I practically restarted it at one point.

I'll try to add the context they were originally in if I remember.

[Context: the scene in Chapter 5, where Ghost watches the night sky out of a window, unable to sleep, and Soap comes to speak with him for the first time since they fought about Soap's tendenticy to let himself get hurt. Soap says he heard rumors about Ghost, and Ghost asks what they said.]

“ (rumors) That you murder our soldiers.”

Something akin to fear rang through his chest. So he knows… He supposes it was meant to happen eventually.

Soap’s face, for some reason, doesn’t lose its newfound cheerfulness.

“And what do you think about those rumors?” Hell knows why he wants to keep hearing him talk.

“Well, that makes the two of us.”

… What.

“What?” Ghost intelligently mutters.

Soap’s eyes widen, face not unlike a child caught with his hand in a cookie jar.

[Reason to cut: Soap wasn't supposed to admit that yet. He also wouldn't have done it in such a non-chalant way, with how heavy the guilt weighs on him.]

[Context: Chapter 10, where Ghost was showing his powers to the Vaqueros and Graves.]

The Captain’s voice fills his head, “field’s clear, go ahead Lieutenant.”

Ghost glances one last time at Soap’s figure, no more than a small speck, far, far away from him.

He closes his eyes. The warm air of Las Almas dissipates into the chill of Limbo.

He opens them, confused. The void is quiet, the residents of Limbo looking at the distance, calm and still. It reminds him of… before.

Ghost frowns, narrowing his eyes to try and see what caught their attention. There, a far away point flickers.

A small, white flame. Where… Soap was standing.

Ghost blinks and stumbles back. Price instantly sounds in his mind, “Simon, what’s going on?!”

“I saw something there…” He makes eye contact with the Captain, who is now jogging towards him, Gaz and Soap behind him. “Light… from Johnny.”

It can’t be… how is Soap able to affect Limbo? Every single spiritulogist he met agreed on the fact he’s a sort of master over Limbo, that the realm is a manifestation he’s inseparably linked to.

The only thing others can do there, is die.

“What do you mean light?” Price urges on.

“A small flame. Where Soap was. The victims were all staring at it.”

The 141 members reach him, Johnny rushing to him, “are you alright?”

Ghost gapes at him, “you’re different. I’ve… changed you.”

Soap frowns, “what are ye on about?” he steps closer.

Ghost takes a step back, “stop.”

The Sergeant stills, a hurt expression flashing on his face before he schools his features.

Price invades his mind, “Simon, you have to calm down-”

“Calm down?! I fucked up Soap! I need to-”

The ladder patterns. Ghost turns around.

“SIMON RILEY”

“Reaper”, he exhales shakily.

“YOU’VE DOOMED YOURSELF. IT IS TOO LATE.”

“What are you talking about?!” Ghost screams, “you keep saying I’m gonna die, while Johnny keeps suffering!”

“I DO NOT CARE ABOUT OTHER REVENANTS, SIMON.”

The Reaper leans in to shriek in his ears, Ghost clutching his head uselessly.

“YOU ARE INTERTWINED.”

Ghost cries from the pain. His Reaper does not falter.

“KILL HIM FIRST.”

His vision fades along with the Reaper’s words.

“Ghost! Fuck, someone get a medic” Someone shouts above him.

Another voice interjects, “he’s not injured, Sergeant. He’s with his Reaper.”

“From my experience, that doesn’t make me holler and pass out!”

A third person joins the conversation, “shut it! He’s waking up.”

Ghost groans and makes a move to rub his eyes, only to be stopped by his hard-shell mask. “Simon? You alright son?” Price asks, bringing the smell of fresh flowers and a soft bed to him.

He gets up (when did he lay down?) and mutters, “fine”. His voice hoarse from screaming. He takes in his team, the three of them concernedly crouch beside him, except Soap, who’s pacing around.

The Sergeant stops and eyes him warily.

“My Reaper’s mad.” he says in lieu of explanation to the others.

Soap stops, and looks down at him, still avoiding his stare, “it’s because of me, isn’t it?”

He sighs, “when those arms started grabbing ye I thought it was gonna-”

“What arms?” Ghost gets up.

“The dark arms from the ground, don’t tell me you didn’t noti-”

Ghost grabs the front of Soap’s shirt, “you fuckin’ see them?!”

The Sergeant struggles against his iron tight grasp, “aye! Thought I was hallucinating last night, fuckers made a pass at me-”

Ghost pushes him away, “fuckin’ hell”.

What the fuck is going on?! Nobody can see the victims outside of Limbo. It’s almost like…

“He has some of my powers…” Ghost whispers to himself.

But that’s not possible?

[Reason to cut: chapter wasn't working out for me. Characters not reacting in character. Reaper not supposed to show up just yet, and what it says kinda repeats previous encounters.]

[Context: chapter 13, instantly after Rudy and Gaz confront Ghost on his relationship with Soap.]

What, do they think he and Soap are sleeping side by side every night, comfortably tangled under the thin sheets? That he warms himself on his Sergeant’s eternal flame, that Johnny brushes his charred, calloused fingers over his arms, his shoulders, his neck, chasing away the cold, inky grasp Limbo always has on him? That Ghost reciprocates, that he holds Johnny’s face softly, bringing them closer and closer until-

[Reason to cut: out of character. Ghost doesn't think about affectionate actions, he jsut does them. Too early in the story for him to express such wants.]

[Context: I don't remember honestly. Entire scene was cut. Might be later in chapter 13, before Graves threatens Ghost.]

He catches Alejandro pacing around the base one day, frowning and arguing with Rudy in Spanish. From what Ghost can pick up, it’s something about an American. He’s pretty damn certain which one.

“Vargas, any issues?” he stops him before the man pops a blood vessel.

Alejandro glances at him, scanning their surroundings for eavesdropping ears. “Come with me.”

The three enter the Vaquero Commander’s office, Rudy locking it behind them, “it’s about Graves.” Alejandro starts pacing again, “fucking gringo is ordering his shadows to collect intel on us.”

“What?” that’s a huge fucking development.

Rudy is quick to correct him, “we can’t prove anything. But yes… Graves knows more than he should.”

“He knows about secret tunnels we have under the base, and weapon stashes that not even Price knows about. We got fucking Shepherd trying to get us to use locations for the mission he shouldn’t even know exist.”

Ghost feels the tension climb up his spine, “what the fuck do you think he’s playing at?”

Alejandro exhales loudly, “whatever it is, [I didn't finish the sentence]

[Reason to cut: Decided that Vaqueros wounldn't suspect Graves, and he wouldn't risk his powers found by using Shadows to spy on them. Didn't like where the scene was directing the story.]

[Context: chapter 19, when Ghost asks Gaz for help with showing emotions with Soap. Gaz asks why can't he now.]

Garrick nods thoughtfully, “and what is it that stops you? Fear?”

Ghost clenches his teeth, this conversation feels like pulling them out one by one, “I’m not afraid of him.”

“Wasn’t saying that sir”, Gaz thrums on his boot, “could be rejection, or… shit. Of course.” he stares at Ghost, eyes soft.

“The fuck’s it?” he glares back.

Gaz releases his powers, standing up in front of him, “you need to get over your fear of feeling.”

[Reason to cut: out of character. Wouldn't confront emotions head on. Unnatural for Gaz to just state that, rather have it implied. Not where I wanted Ghost's mentality to go.]

[Context: no idea. Probably after Ghost sent Soap to Limbo, and he gained an immunity to it.]

“We don’t have to be afraid, Simon. You can’t hurt me anymore.” Johnny whispers

[Reason to cut: don't remember.]

Tumblr is starting to lag, which means this post is huge lmao. Again, thank you to each and every one of you! The response to the fic was amazing, I never expected my little revenant AU to turn into something this big!

I loved the experience of writing Not Alive, Nor Dead. You can certainly expect more from me in the future!

For now, I have to focus on uni, and after that I have a few ideas for comics I wanna do. Might make a few oneshots in between, but no big projects like this one just yet!

#revenant au #not tagging everything bc I dont wanna flood them with a post on an au lmao #if youre from ao3 hi!#if youre not... also hi!!!

52 notes · View notes

faafi · 3 months

Note

Can you rank your favorite Loonatics from your least favorite Loonatics? Mine is like this:

1. Rev Runner(There's nothing sweeter than him)

2. Tech E Coyote (Too cool and shy for me)

3. Danger Duck (A little rude but funny)

4. Slam Tasmanian(No one mentions this furball. It's sad😭)

5.Lexi Bunny(She's cool, but I don't like her that much.)

6.Ace Bunny(I hate him. He's steals others' screen time, mostly)

By the way who is your favorite villian in Loonatics?

If you will answer it I will thank you😊.

Yes I can!

(this is a LONG post, so be warned lol)

IN MY OPINION, here is my ranking of the Loonatics:

1 — Rev Runner

Rev being first is for obvious reasons. He's SUCH a kind and generous person!!!!!!!!! How can you NOT like him!!!!!!

I will say that Rob Paulsen did an AMAZING job at voicing Rev. I don't think that I would have connected so strongly with Rev without Rob Paulsen's wonderful voice acting.

Moreover, everyone's voice acting is remarkable!

My ONLY complaint about Rev was that we didn't get enough of him. I still wish that we saw more of Rev on screen. Rev was mistreated SO MUCH in terms of screen time. It's so unfair. I swear, in some episodes, Rev is barely on screen for more than 2 minutes. :(

REV MY BELOVED

I don't have much else to say about Rev at the moment.

Who knows? Maybe I'll make an appreciation post all about Rev.

Maybe one day...

2 — Tech E. Coyote

Tech is definitely one of the most popular Loonatics, and it isn't only because of his appearance (although his appearance does contribute a lot). Tech is that perfect blend of nerdy and cool for my enjoyment.

I especially enjoy the fan interpretations of Tech. The fanfics that I've read show Tech's softer side a lot more. I wish that we saw more of Tech's emotional side in the show.

Tech isn't shown to be too emotional, at least on screen.

I do recall that Tech has some emotional attachment to his technology, most notably in Weathering Heights and The Menace of Mastermind.

However, other than these moments, Tech tends to be the most emotionally distant member of the entire team.

I wish that we saw more of Tech's emotional side in canon. I am very glad that Tech and Rev are more vulnerable with each other in the fanfiction. It's incredibly refreshing to see. I especially like the headcanon that Tech is autistic. It adds a lot to Tech's characterization where it shows Tech's meeker side. Besides, I already self-project onto Tech and Rev a ton. So I declare that Tech is autistic!!! LOL. :3

I will admit that Tech was often used as a plot device by the writers. Typically, I would be fine with powerful characters.

However, there are some moments where Tech is excessively powerful, and none of it is acknowledged in the episode.

For instance, in Sypher, Tech just recreates everybody's individual powers with suits.

What?

Honestly, I think that this idea could have worked if Tech only built one suit (*cough* REV *cough*). However, having Tech construct suits for all 6 members of the team seems very unlikely, even for his intellect.

In the same episode, the fight scene lasts a fourth of the episode.

During the fight scene, the Loonatics only defeat Sypher because Duck throws one egg.

WHAT?

I don't think that Tech making suits that recreates everybody's powers was necessary in this episode. Maybe I'm just overthinking this part of the episode. I just think that Sypher could have ended in a better way.

Tech is incredibly overpowered in other episodes of Loonatics Unleashed, too.

This can be seen in the first episode: Loonatics on Ice. Here, Tech is able to command a set of flying motorbikes from a remote AND make a flying boat.

WHAT??

In the same episode, Tech's lasers fail to melt the iceberg AND the jetpacks malfunction.

WHAT???

And none of this is acknowledged whatsoever.

WHAT?????

I think that at certain points of the show, Tech's power could have been better implemented. Thankfully, Tech's abilities are more balanced in other episodes.

(I apologize for bringing up the first episode so often in these asks. Loonatics on Ice is one of the weakest episodes of season 1, and it's a shame that this show began so poorly. If the first episode of Loonatics Unleashed was stronger, then I think that the public perception of this show would be way more positive. Honestly, I am tempted to write my own version of the first episode, but this isn't a priority of mine.)

With all of this said, I think that Tech's positive traits outweigh his negative ones.

As an aside, Tech IS Rev's boyfriend (and this fandom's collective boyfriend lol).

EVERYONE knows it...except for Tech and Rev!

Hahaha.

I know that I am ranking my favorites between individual characters, but I think that Rev brings out the best traits of Tech.

I think that these two complement each other's positive traits so well that it is a wonder to witness (both in canon and in fanfics).

Also, I just got confirmation from EVERYONE who worked on Loonatics Unleashed that Tech and Rev began dating after season 2 and are married and are madly in love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(THIS IS A JOKE; I AM JUST FEEDING MY TECHREV DELUSIONS; THE CLOSET IS MADE OUT OF GLASS; REV AND TECH ARE IN LOVE; NO ONE CAN CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE)

As a final point, just look at him. Cuteness overload. 2nd fav.

Enough said.

3 — Danger Duck

Danger Duck is a very interesting character to discuss.

I LOVE his power. It's quirky and it fits him perfectly.

His voice fits him perfectly, too. Jason Marsden was the perfect fit for Danger Duck. His voice accentuates Duck's personality so well.

Duck was present in a lot of episodes. And if he wasn't the focus of certain episodes, he at least had something to say. For wanting Rev to shut up so often, Duck was one of the team members who talked the most.

I think that Duck was one of the funniest characters on the show. In nearly every episode, Duck makes most of the jokes.

However, this comes at a fault.

At times, I think that Duck's positive character traits were weakened in favor of prioritizing comedy. And I think that that is a shame.

In my mind, I think that Duck doesn't want to intentionally hurt others. And so I don't like it when Duck makes comments that intentionally put others in physical danger.

For instance, I think that the weakest episode that features Duck is It Came From Outer Space.

Yes, I know that I've said that this is one of my favorite episodes of the show, but I can still critique things that I like.

In the scene above, Duck says a few lines to Ace about the "positives" of letting Melvin abduct Lexi. Later on, Duck makes comments about abandoning Lexi and dividing up her stuff. These parts are the worst parts of the whole episode, for these scenes weaken the previous interactions between Lexi and Duck.

I mean, Lexi and Duck go to New Chinatown together in the fifth episode of season 1!

Lexi and Duck care for each other.

Or at least, it is out of character for Duck to want Lexi to give herself up to Melvin without a second thought.

I think that it is fine to characterize Duck as callous sometimes.

I think that it's also fine for Duck to not be very smart either.

However, that doesn't mean that Duck wants to endanger others.

I keep ragging on Duck in It Comes From Outer Space because there are much better Duck-related episodes.

For instance, I love Cape Duck. This episode shows the more callous side of Duck's personality while still staying consistent with his earlier portrayals. Here, Duck does a press conference after claiming to have caught the Stomper.

I think that this scene works so well for two reasons:

First, Duck is clearly playing up his accomplishments. After all, he accepted the credit for capturing the Stomper, and so, he is using this opportunity to boost his social credit. Duck isn't maliciously targeting or endangering the other Loonatics here.

Second, the entire team can react to Duck's comments. In the scene right after the press conference, the entire team confronts Duck about what he says.

I want to analyze this entire portion of the episode since I have more to say about it; this section is already becoming lengthy...

My point is that Duck's portrayal in Cape Duck is much better than in episodes like It Comes From Outer Space. When Duck is written well, he is one of the most charming characters. However, when he isn't, he becomes one of the more grating characters to watch.

I really enjoy Duck's interactions with the others. I like the banter between Duck and Ace. They seem to have the strongest relationship besides Tech and Rev, and they genuinely seem to care for each other.

I don't know where else to put this, but here it goes:

Personally, I headcanon Duck as having NPD (narcissistic personality disorder). I think that his backstory as an orphan contributed to an unstable childhood environment. And I think that Duck didn't receive proper emotional support as a child.

I definitely don't think that the writers intended Duck to have NPD. Danger Duck is similar to Daffy Duck in this sense. I also headcanon Daffy Duck as having narcissistic personality disorder (especially in The Looney Tunes Show). It is heavily implied that Daffy Duck has some form of childhood trauma (Daffy doesn't remember anything about his childhood before the age of 15, his only clear childhood memories involve him and his grandmother). And it is quite easy to see how Daffy would have NPD (most notably in "To Bowl or Not To Bowl").

With that said, I would definitely like it if fanfic authors explored Duck's character more. Oftentimes, Duck is relegated to a comic relief in the fics that I've read. I would really enjoy it if more authors explored the possibility of Duck's NPD. And even if Duck isn't characterized with NPD in particular, I would still like to read more experimentation featuring this mallard.

As a final point...

LOOK AT HIM!!!

SILLINESS OVERLOAD

4 — Lexi Bunny

I enjoy Lexi.

Honestly, when looking for screenshots of each individual character, I found it difficult to find a shot where Lexi was the only character in frame. I think that this says a lot about her character.

Lexi works very well in the presence of other characters. In most shots, Lexi is standing besides someone else. She tends to ask a lot of questions, and Ace or Tech tends to answer them.

I think that there are a few faults in her character. Most of these faults relate to Lexi being too archetypal. After all, Lexi was the only woman on a superhero team in a 2000's cartoon. There were a few moments where the writers relied too much on this archetype.

Typically, Lexi is the only character who makes comments about beauty.

I also noticed that Lexi was crushing on this one mountain climber in The Hunter.

Thankfully, Lexi's crushes/love interests didn't become a pattern or a running gag (thank goodness).

Lexi's character could have been WAY worse, so I am glad that her character managed to stay enjoyable in retrospective.

As a final point, I really like it when Lexi and Duck work together. I have noticed that Duck and Lexi are paired up a lot, and they are really fun together. I even like their smaller interactions.

For example, in Going Underground, Duck says "You tell him, sister."

(shown below)

I think that this scene is SO cute.

I wish that the canon explored more of Duck's encouraging side, especially towards Lexi. It would have been interesting to see.

Overall, I enjoyed Lexi's interactions, particularly with Duck as her foil. She's fun to watch.

5 — Ace Bunny

I am not an avid Ace fan. Generally, I enjoy his character, but at times, his screen time eats up the screen time of the others (most notably from Rev and Slam).

I do like the fact that Ace is competent at his role as leader.

At times, I really enjoyed Ace's implementation in certain episodes. Honestly, season 2 uses Ace a lot better compared to season 1. For instance in Cape Duck, Ace is the person who discovers that there were "two" Stompers (the actual Stomper and his mother disguised as the Stomper). To me, this reveal was really well done in this episode, and it shows Ace's strong perception skills.

I wish that we saw more of this part of Ace's character in the first season. Of the entire team, Ace improved the most from season 1 to season 2.

However, other than this part of his character, Ace isn't a particularly favorite character of mine.

I especially don't like how Ace treats Rev. It's really inconsistent. Sometimes, Ace is happy around Rev. For instance, at the beginning of Sypher, only he and Rev went to the game.

However, at other times, he is incredibly condescending to Rev.

I wish that Ace and Rev's relationship was more consistent. It would have been really cool to see their friendship more in season 2.

As a final note, I still am mad at Ace in the episode The Heir Up There.

HOW COULD YOU, ACE???

Lexi and Slam would NEVER.

6 — Slam Tasmanian

Slam was treated poorly in terms of writing.

The only real thing that stands out for his character is that he is strong and was a wrestler before the meteor crashed. Oh, and that he eats a lot. That's his only joke.

That's really all that the canon shows of him. This is a shame.

I like how the fandom has taken to Slam's potential softer qualities.

In canon, I don't have a particular fondness to Slam. I think he's cool.

I just wished that he had more defined relationships with the rest of the team. This is especially a shame when Rev is not on screen, even in episodes that I like!

For instance, in Cape Duck (shown below), Rev is barely on screen; meanwhile, Slam just stands on screen and does nothing.

Why is Slam on screen if he is not going to talk???

In general, Slam only really talks when he is prompted by Ace.

His character deserves more justice.

Also, my favorite villain is...

Ralph Runner!!!!!

(Okay, I am half-joking here. Although I don't think that Ralph Runner is truly a villain, I do think that The Family Business is such a compelling episode because of Ralph Runner's character. After all, the audience only sees a portion of Rev's home life.)

My favorite traditional villain is either Melvin the Martian or Mastermind. I've already explained in further depth in another ask. The short answer is that both villains required the team to work together instead of solely relying on Tech's weaponry or the Loonatics' powers. Also, their designs are cool.

Thanks for the question(s)!

#loonatics unleashed #rev runner #tech e coyote #ace bunny #lexi bunny #slam tasmanian #danger duck #ask

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