Anime Character Challenge [ Day Two & Three ]

Since I know I will be busy as it get's closer to Christmas, I'm going to double up some of the days. I hope y'all don't mind.

The Character you never expected to Love:

Again, this is a toss-up between Scar from Fullmetal, and Break from Pandora Hearts. 

I'll do Break from Pandora Hearts, because as much as Scar grew on me, I think my attachment to Break is a little more unexpected.

"Don't concern yourself with what those tasteless idiots say."

When I first met Break Xerxes my initial reaction was, "Oh. That character." In almost every anime there is that one character who is really weird and annoying. They usually have a fetish with popsicles or candy, they make all sorts of strange, disturbing remarks, and they usually don't do much for the story. And yeah, Break was super weird. He seemed one card short of a full deck, if you know what I mean. He wasn't my favorite. I even remember thinking that I wouldn't care if he died. Boy was I wrong! Anime characters have a habit of sneaking up on you and making you like them before you realize it's happening. From one episode to the next you'll find yourself invested in a character's well-being. Like, I didn't think I really cared for Break at all, but then he was in danger. And I was like, "Waaaaaaaaait! I don't want him gone!"

"Perhaps you are weaker than I thought. But you're also stronger, much stronger than you realize." (Oz to Break)

Break has a sad back-story. He is eccentric, but he is cool and fascinating. He is strangely vulnerable, and I just love him. HE MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS!


The Character everyone loves that you don't.

That would be Olivier Armstrong, from Fullmetal. I don't know if everyone loves her, but she sure does have a strong fan-base. I am not a part of it.

Olivier is everything I hate in a 'strong' female character. She is the General of a great Fort called Briggs, which lies amid mountains, racked with snow and ice. This means she is a soldier, which I really wouldn't mind if she wasn't such a jerk about it. Olivier is hard, withdrawn, and practically emotionless. She looks down on men, unless they're her own, and she looks down on soldiers/fighters unless they're from Briggs, or unless she has trained them herself. Because obviously she is the only one who knows how to train properly, and obviously only her soldier's triumphs are valid. Obviously. *gag* She is also one of those obnoxious characters that think being merciful is weak. That having a soft, forgiving heart is weak. That being naive enough to trust and hope is childish, and anyone who acts like that is pathetic.

"I believe [he] may have witness some carnage in [his] time, but I can tell that on the inside [he] remains soft and weak."

Why is he weak? Because he hates killing? Because he cares about the well-being of others, even those on the opposite side of the war? Because he loves and hopes, and his heart keeps getting broken, but he does it anyway? What is so weak about a vulnerable, durable heart?

She thinks mourning the dead is pointless. - "We don't see any point of clinging in those who've died. We only know how to fight to keep more from dying." - She also thinks sparing the life of your enemy is stupid and weak. If you don't have the stomach to kill, you're a coward. If you choose mercy and peace over the fight, you are a waste. Olivier is cold and harsh, she didn't allow herself to show care or love, and she constantly insulted those whom she deemed 'unworthy' of her respect; even war-veterans and heroes that certainly deserved much better treatment.

Olivier does care for her men. That is a fact. But she rarely shows this. She also doesn't seem to know any emotions besides anger, suspicion, and spite. There were moments when you saw a slightly 'warmer' side to this vicious General. Like when she was practically killed and her brother saved her; or another time when a brilliant woman alchemist offered her help during the final battle against the enemy. But the overwhelming impression I got from Olivier is that she had left her femininity behind to be a soldier. She had become 'masculine,' as if the only way to be strong and respected was to act like a man. An emotionless man. I think that's a bad message. I much preferred Riza Hawkeye, who was a strong leader and fighter without losing her feminine qualities in the process.


Do any of you have that one character you can't stand?

*swings around cape and leaps off stage*

Bella

Writers Camp [ Day Three ] The Writers Tag

DAY THREE: THE WRITERS TAG

1.) How long have you been writing? 

I've been writing for a long time now. Even when I was little I always told stories to my little sisters, and would write short stories in notebooks. I've had story ideas for as long as I can remember, but I think I successfully completed my first book at about seven. However, I didn't actively become a writer until about four years ago.

2.) Why do you write?

Well, because stories bound about in my head until I can't stand it anymore and need to put them on paper?

I write for lots of reasons, the biggest is that story telling is a way of expressing myself and connecting to others. It also is a good way to send a message to the to other people, even if the message is subtle. You can touch others, inspire them, help them.

3.) What are your favorite type of books to write?

I really like writing fantasy. I like Adventures/Quests, and I really like writing about friendships and family. There isn't enough of that in society today. I want to attempt a romance, but since I've never been in love, I'm not sure how to do that. 8-)

4.) How many books have you successfully completed as of now?

I have successfully completed a grand total of two books. The others I am still working on.   (I may or may not have had half-a-dozen books deleted from my computer two years ago. Demoralizing.)

5.) What are three things you hate about writing?

Writers Block. Writing the In-Between moments. The Why-Am-I-Even-A-Writer Quandary. When you want to write, and you have your pen and your notebook (or laptop or whatever) and Writing is like, No.

That was four things. Oops.

6.) What are three things you love about writing?

World-building!!! It is so much fun fitting your world together, like connecting pieces of a puzzle!!! 8-) Also, character arks. Those things are difficult, but very, very rewarding. Oh, and that amazing moment when you get feels from your own writing and you just need to sit back a moment and breathe, and smile (or cry) because you really can write, like, wow.

7.) What story are you working on Right Now?

I am working on a Detective series, a brother story which concerns five swords, and a sort of dystopian-ish/fantasy story. I don't know how to describe what it is. BUT IT HAS TRISS AND RYAN AND IT'S A BROTHER AND SISTER AND THEY ARE COOL.

8.) When is your favorite time to write?

I like writing any time, but I like writing in the evening/night best. If I can lay out on the grass in the sun, I really like doing it in the afternoon too.

9.) Do you write short stories, children's books, novels? 

I guess I write novels, fantasy novels mostly.

10.) Do you draw inspiration/is your writing style influenced from any particular author?

My writing is influenced by Megan Whalen, my sister Kat, Diana Wynn Jones, and Tolkien. I tend to draw a lot of inspiration from them, and I've adopted aspects of their style into mine. I think this is mostly because like fantasies with a higher aspect to them, rather than just modern writing mixed with magic. This means I'm more slanted toward Medieval-like writing. I hate modernistic books that are supposed to be fantasy/other-worldly, but their characters say things like "Gosh" or "Crap," or just use modern language/phrases in general. They're written out like the story is taking place on earth in the twentieth century. No. Don't do it.

11.) Do you write trilogies/series?

Trilogies are my favorite things to write! I feel like just one book is never enough for my whole story ark. I get a bit over-zealous, Write ALL the character arks! Explore ALL the plot twists! Use ALL the ideas!

12.) Have you experienced Writer's Block?

Ah, Yes, I have indeed. I'm experiencing it right now. It is quite dreadful.

13.) What was the fastest you ever wrote a book? 

I wrote a full book in thirty days. It was NaNo. 8-) I never did that again.

14.) Do you hope to be published one day?

That would be wonderful!!! I definitely hope to be published one day!

15.) What are some things you hope to share through your books?

A few thing I'd like to share through my books are the importance of Faith, Family, and Friendship. I want to show that whatever happens you should never give up the fight, and no matter how bad things get, there is always hope. I want to show good VS evil in a realistic light, and I want to show that even if someone is broken, there is always time for a second chance. I want to show you are never too damaged to come back. Even if someone is a real, malicious villain, there is almost always a scrap of humanity left in them somewhere. (Unless that person is Alexander Pierce. People like him have no Humanity left in them at all.)

Okay, Writers! Write!!! 

*swings around cape and leaps off stage*

Bella