Profile Updates

November 30th, 2016: Another long hiatus at a close. I return to with a new story for a new fandom. To say I have mixed feelings is both true and yet inaccurate. Logging on reminds me of the stories that aren't yet complete, but also finished. And while those stories hang around me like an elephant in my small office, I'm also excited to show off the new story I've been working on. It may not be what you expected me to post, but I hope you enjoy it regardless.

Story Information

Magical Girl Usami: My first story for the Danganronpa universe. The entire world spawned from a random romance prompt I saw on the internet. The scneario it suggested was almost painfully cliche, but it got me thinking 'how could I make this more unique?'. I read a few other prompts, saw one about frenemies, and had a burst of inspiration that ended with the dynamic between Kamukura and Usami. While I disliked the idea of rivalmance in the past, once I started thinking about these two I realized it could make for an entertaining story. And then I dumped about 40 extra characters around these two conflicting power houses and the story was born.

Chapter 1 - This chapter was all homage. On the one hand it was me writing shamelessly romantic fanfiction, and on the other it was me tipping my hat to all my favorite super hero tropes and archetypes. Symbolically opposite nemeses, the talented mundane ally, transformations, the dual lifestyle, all of it is stuff I found exciting and cool and awesome as a kid. I still do, too. Just thinking about it makes me want to watch Batman Begins for the fourth or fifth time. Beyond that, this chapter was just me writing again. At the time I didn't have a good idea of where I wanted to go, I just know I wanted the story to feel big and deep, and full of possibilities. I hope reading it stirred some level of excitement in you, the kind of excitement you get from starting a new video game, or opening a new book. The kind that makes you smile and press ahead without fear, just to see what's next.

Knocks at the Door: My first story after my long hiatus, Knocks was an accident. I'd spent months and months outlining and planning other KHR fics, one night I just snapped, threw my papers on the floor, and started writing. It was three in the morning, I was listening to a sad song, and I wrote a scene that I thought oozed awkwardness. Then, not really thinking, I decided I'd tell my little corner of the internet that I had written, and was going to post, something. After a short panic attack the next morning, I decided to roll with it, and here we are. A story of snapshots with very little planning, outlining, or long-term thinking involved. Just two young people finding their feet in a world that throws them random curveballs every day.

Chapter 1 - I wrote this chapter in the darkness of my bedroom, very early in the morning or late at night depending on your interpretations of time. I think that's why there isn't a whole lot of description, especially of Chrome or her apartment. She isn't quite ready to let people in that far, so please give her a bit of time. Also, while there is a reason that Tsuna isn't wearing many clothes, my initial thought was something along the lines of "It's KHR. Tsuna has to be wearing nothing but boxers in his introduction." For an awkward guy like him, he's surprisingly comfortable half-naked.

Chapter 2 - The biggest question I asked myself while writing this chapter was "What have I gotten myself into". My worries on writing this chapter were pretty well balanced out by Tsuna, though. Something about writing his dialogue is fun. I'm trying to give him a relaxed way of speaking, a simple and informal way of getting his point across. This chapter also helped me hammer out some of the details of both Tsuna and Chrome's personalities, which is good since I'm using their behavior to help get me out of writer's block for this story.

Chapter 3 - I think I'm going to try making these chapters longer. Every chapter so far has been about two pages in length, which is great for easing myself back into writing but not so great for a bi-weekly update. This chapter also marks the beginning of more extended plotlines...I think. Beyond the next few chapters and some overall ideas, I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with these characters. Speaking of, I wonder what Tsuna was doing on Chrome's floor? And if that delivery boy has ever brought Chrome food before? Maybe we'll see more of him later on.

Chapter 4 - This chapter came out on the day it was supposed to, my schedule was just marked incorrectly. I'm trying to release this story semi-monthly on Fridays, so I don't know why I posted that Chapter 4 was coming out on a Saturday. Ah well, problem resolved, and everyone gets a chapter a day earlier than expected. The chapter title is also a bit more symbolic then the past ones. I hope to show in the coming chapters exactly how many barriers Tsuna and Chrome ran into during this little misadventure. Also, this chapter marks the point Knocks stopped being my shortest story. Go go short chapters!

Chapter 5 - Fun fact: This chapter is not only the longest chapter at this point, it is approximately three times as long as the second place chapter, Chapter 1. I think that's because of the sheer amount of dialogue. The chapter is basically just a conversation between Chrome and her texting partner, Chrome and Tsuna, and then Gokudera and his sister. Dialogue is a strong point of mine, if I do say so, which could be another reason why this chapter is so long. Also, I've left quite a few plot threads dangling, I should probably start answering them. I'm curious as to what you all think of the story so far, now that we're at a definite 'cut off' point. I consider this chapter to be the end of an extended prologue. What do you think is going on with Chrome? What are Tsuna's motivations? Perhaps an easier question, who exactly is Chrome's employer? On a final note, I don't think any of Tsuna and Chrome's conversations have been particularly romantic or implying of flirtatious intent, but Gokudera's sister seems pretty sure she knows what direction this is all going to head. I guess these characters know this Tsuna better than I do.