Round Four - Part 1 (The Cursed OCT)

(Ruby & Satchel)| |(Audition)| |(Round One)| |(Round Two)| |(Round Three, Part 1) (2) (3) (4)| |(Round Four, Part 1) (2) (3)| |(Round Five, Part 1) (2) (3) (4) (5)


DISCLAIMER: If you read this and don't think the 'mature content' filter is necessary, by all means let me know. I really only put it up just in case.


NOTES:

Part 1! Also known as: "The one that abruptly stops being funny."

First and foremost, I feel obligated to apologize for the length. Like with the last couple of rounds, I had a LOT of ground I wanted to cover. Granted, I probably would've had time to edit this beast if it didn't take me so long to write, but in retrospect, I'm glad that I managed to fit in everything I'd planned.

But if you think THIS one is long, just wait until you read Part 2. Hoo-boy.

Anyway, let's get to it!



BIG OL' SPOILERS:

1. NOX. NIGHTTIME. DARKNESS. DREAMS. The whole 'shared dreamscape' thing was an idea I started toying with as I was writing my Round 2 entry. I wasn't sure if I was going to go through with it, but this theme sold me. It'll definitely come in handy in Part 2, when Ruby actually has to take on a fire-breathing martial arts master. If you read my last three entries, you already know I can't let this be solved with words! Action-dream-bonanza, baby! xD (As for night and all my other allusions to Nox, I feel like you guys will be able to pick up on most of them without my help. There's one that's a little obscure in Part 2, but I'll bring that up there.)

2. The revelation at the end. That revelation, dude. I've been holding onto that piece of Ruby's past since Day goddamn One, and it feels AMAZING to finally get it off my chest (especially after writing all the flashbacks that led up to this). I wasn't sure how else I'd reveal it without the dreamscape - chances are I'd hold onto it until the final round (if I make it there) and have Garrow use it against her or something. Maybe it's just me, but I think it works out fairly well this way. (It'll help to bolster the conflict in Part 2 as well!) In any case, I'm SUPER interested to see how you guys will take this new facet of Ruby's life, and the events that caused her to be the way she is.

3. Also, I just realized, how appropriate is it that the plot momentarily gets darker when the theme is "Nox"?

4. Gotta tell you, Yugure started off as a bit of a challenge for me. She's noble, and brave, and at a glance she has no discernible weakness. So naturally, I absolutely LOVED pitting her against Ruby. No joke. I love it when my opponents' characters force me to improvise. Suddenly it was Round 1 all over again! Big thanks to ~YugureAme. I especially loved rooting through all the previous OCTs she'd entered Yugure in. It gave me a lot to work with - like the fact that she's already fought in dream realms before! It's insane how all the puzzle pieces fit together with this round!

5. The whole chicken-blessing thing with Danielus. Aaaaaalmost left that out, but it was just such a fun idea that I couldn't let it slide. xD

6. Why is Zavates wearing a big-ass cloak? Well, the reason's actually pretty simple: I needed to use Zavates in a couple of scenes, and the new artwork for him wasn't ready. So I gave him a gave him a way to be in scenes without actually having to be seen. It was a cheap cop-out at first, I admit it, but even after *AxisARA posted the new Zim, I realized I kind of liked it, so I left it in. He wears it in Part 2 as well (sort of), which was written after-the-fact. If I make it to the final round, THEN he can take it off. : P

7. Garrow and Kleine... Garrow and Kleine... The connection between two that I have planned is finally nearing the light of day, but nooooot just yet. Gotta stretch that rubber band before it can snap, ya dig?

8. It gets funny again in Part 2. Scout's honor. Sure, I was never a scout, but trust me anyway.


Hope you guys are enjoying this madness so far, because things are about to get even weirder.



Ruby & Satchel ©

Yugure ©

Laria © ~Project-mafia
Danielus © ~thatGuye
Garrow © ~SilverDrifter42
Zavates © *AxisARA
Kleine © ~Fortner
Seth © =Sakura-wind
Abby © *BigBadShadowMan