victory_road | [video] / action for Goldenrod

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[video] / action for Goldenrod

[The video opens with Thace surrounded by piles of open letters and with a computer visible to his left. He starts to open his mouth to speak-- Ding! Someone's got mail! He takes a breath to start again-- Ding! Ding! He looks to his side-- Ding! Ding! Ding!-- and closes the computer.]

I seem to have gained... fans. An unexpectedly high number for--

["Meowstiiiiic!" That sure is a dangerously large pile of letters being telekinetically floated in his direction.]

How many?

[He groans at the "Meow~" in answer and rubs his temples.]

I have a suspicion it may be related to the random events happening last year after the Snorunt swarm, but a novel that I wrote was posted on Swannapad, and now I'm receiving letters and comments by the dozens, many with questions about the work. I have no idea if there is a correct or expected response, but ignoring it clearly hasn't worked. If anyone has advice, I will gladly listen. If anyone in Goldenrod would like a little extra cash, I will happily pay 1000P an hour for helping me sort all these letters in categories to make handling them easier.

[Suddenly there's a happy little tune coming from his 'Gear, which is technically also the camera for this. His eyes widen.]

How did they get my 'gear number?

[The feed cuts, but not before a shot of him dragging his hands down his face. And a thunk that may or may not be the sound of his head impacting the desk.]

((Thace's Snorunt luck! I posted a summary of his novel and I welcome characters locating it on Swannapad to ask their own questions or just to ogle at the staggering amount of comments already there. There are rabid shipping wars going on. Somehow in spite of appearing in just one scene as an antagonist Sendak is tremendously popular, especially to replace 1 of the protagonists in the OT3. Or replace 2 to make it an OTP instead. Thace is like 'whyyyyyyy'))

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I can sort letters.

[Riz had absolutely no idea what he is signing up for. But seeing as he just depleted his cash reserve on getting a spy cam, a bit of extra pocket money would be helpful.]

Thank you so much. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Would you prefer doing it in my and Steven's apartment, down in Fight Club, on one of the other floors, or some other place?

[now hold on for just a moment.]

Wait. There is a Fight Club here? Or is this just more pokemon battle stuff?

The ground floor is a bar dedicated to the noble Fighting Type. And as far as the Jennies know, there is nothing else. But the basement contains a fighting ring for those of us who enjoy the physical exercise and competition of going at each other hand-to-hand. A surprising number of the natives also enjoy it, actually.

So far, it is unarmed, but if we can secure a steady supply of practice weapons of different types, I personally would be interested in armed bouts as well.

[On the one hand, this definitely sounds illegal, which is the sort of thing Riz is generally not down with.

(unless, of course, it happens in the course of adventuring, in which case all bets are off cause adventurers are meant to be chaotic vigilantes.)

On the other hand, it's illegal by the Jennies' standards and Riz is very much not in favour of anything the Jennies are in favour of, so you know what, he's super down with this Fight Club. Not the sort of thing he could see himself joining cause he doesn't do unarmed combat, but if it keeps other people happy and would severely piss off the Jennies then have at it.]

Okay. Okay, that's cool. The Jennies suck anyway.

If you give me the address, I can be there in a few. I can bring Gozgoz too. He'll be happy to eat any letters you don't wanna deal with.

They are indeed unprepared for new and unexpected problems. I have my theories as to why.

[Thace says that agreeably before rattling off the address.]

I would enjoy meeting Gozgoz regardless.

[Riz takes down the address in his spidery, fairly illegible handwriting, before glancing back up at Thace.]

Really? Maybe we should exchange theories when I get there.

[Riz certainly would love to talk to some other people who don't just accept the Jennies as is. Because that is just stupid. They all but scream trap and danger, and yet everybody goes and ignores it. They wouldn't last a day at Aguefort.]

I certainly enjoy talking about theories. [Thace chuckles.]

I'll be waiting at the door of fight club. We're not open yet at this time of day.

I'll be there soon.

[And to Riz's credit, he is there soon. He's been in Goldenrod long enough that finding the address Thace has given him isn't all that difficult. It might not be Elmville, but he's getting used to this city.

Thace has only seen Riz over the gear so he might not quite be prepared for the sight he is about to see: Four-and-a-half feet of boy, dressed impeccably in a proper suit and tie, carrying a briefcase embossed with the letters T.B. and wearing a flat cap. He immediately thrusts out one small hand up at Thace to shake. The only thing that is saving Thace from being presented with a business card is the fact that Riz hasn't had the chance to have some printed (maybe that is what he will do with the money he's planning on earning here).]

Greetings. I believe you must be expecting me. I'm Riz Gukgak.

Fans...? Fans of what?

Of a novel I co-wrote when I was younger. I still haven't figured out how it got posted on a public forum.

Oh! You wrote a novel? [Romelle looked intrigued.] What was it about?

It was, in the Empire, considered a forbidden romance. Among humans it would be classified as simply a romance. It does deal heavily with Galra cultural corruption, and many atrocities the Empire committed are present even if the protagonists don't agree with them.

[It only feels fair to caution Romelle, considering the crimes of the Empire against her own people.]

[Forbidden romance, indeed!

Though, the warning about the setting did cause her to hesitate just slightly. It wasn't that she wasn't aware. Oh, she most certainly was. But, other than what happened to her family and the Alteans of the colony, there was an odd disconnect for her from the rest of it. She'd been limited on what she'd been exposed to.]

So, you put a lot of thought into what you were writing, then. [Forbidden romance was one thing, but to make an accurate setting, too... it sounded like a great deal of consideration on Thace's part.]

[Leaning his head on Thace's shoulder,] You know I'm suddenly very glad you let me edit for human sensibilities when it came to your novel. Imagine if we'd gone with your first translation for the 'creche mate' concept.

[Thace shifts to press his cheek against Steven's hand.]

Very true. Thank you for helping with that. I shudder to think about how much worse it could be.

That's what I'm here for: helping you with these human taboos.

With the whole Sendak thing... maybe you can explain that he's a real person and you don't condone RPF?

Some will probably continue to ask questions regardless, but you can probably reduce at least some of the questions by answering those you can, and specifying that points you don't have an answer for are to be left up to the reader's interpretation.

And there's always the chance that if they dislike your answers enough, they'll decide it's not worth trying to question you further and simply create their own vision of the story.

My intent is to answer as many as I can; I'm just not sure I'll be able to keep up.

[Thace sighs heavily.]

And they are already arguing with each other about the last, and asking me to intervene on behalf of one side or another.

Oh? Have you considered responding with a third option that neither side would like?

There are...

[He has to pause and look through a couple stacks.] At least six sides involved, not one agreeing with any of the others.

*...*

That's rather impressive, actually. And just for one novel?

The groups which are arguing seem unhappy with the romantic relationship of the protagonists as written. One group believes that Zaivar and Athvrix should be romantically involved, but not either of them with Vrig. Others believe Athvrix and Vrig should be in love with each other, but exclude Zaivar. Still others argue in favor of Zaivar and Vrig but not Athvrix. Yet others believe that both Vrig and Zaivar should be involved with Athvrix but not each other.

That isn't getting into the groups that wish to substitute one or more of them for a different character entirely.

Ah. It's that sort of thing.

In that case, they'll find something to argue about no matter what you say. Even whichever side you ostensibly agree with.

I don't want to crush creativity, but at the same time I wish they wouldn't try to drag me into their arguments.

From what you've described, it's doubtful anything you say will make any real difference. Those who agree with you will be encouraged, and those that don't will be determined to prove you wrong.

*he's been here a number of years and likes books, he's...... aware of how fandoms work*

Goodness. You might be on to a stunning new career for yourself, by the sound of things.

[ Hah, yes, she is absolutely going to read his work. Thanks. ]

Well, hey, dude! I can totally see why you got some fans. I always wondered what it'd be like to make it big...

Guess it's not all it's cut out to be.

[Ah... Poor Thace. Dimitri can sympathize. If he goes anywhere without Ashe, it seems like everything in the world happens.]

[And with his life, Everything Happens So Much as it is.]

You have my sympathies, Thace... They will not attempt to get any further involved in your life, will they? If they hunted down your Gear number, then I worry about what else they will nose about in...

Although I suppose you and Steven are more than equipped to deal with such an event, but still. I worry.

[Once Ashe got the book he spent quite a few days being engrossed in it as he wanted to know what happened next. It led to many nights where he made leftovers or ended up carrying the book in the dining room to read during dinner. After he finished it he had so many emotions he had to write them down! He never posted it online, still he felt very strongly about so many things that happened. He couldn't believe that he was talking to the author! He didn't expect for the community to explode from it. It looked like Thace was having a quite a time.

Ashe turned on the camera and gave a small wave.]

If you don't mind I can help sort some letters.

Edited 2022-01-26 05:25 (UTC)

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