this idea started when i was predicting who the japanese dub VAs will be for deadlock down the line. i also wanted to draw something about the available match start convos, so this came up.
fern says "you got it buddy" in the original convo, and i was thinking about the best way to translate "buddy". it could be 相棒 (aibō), super common phrase in buddy cop fiction (the most near and dear to me is yagami and kaito from rgg studio's judgement using this phrase).
but i am particularly fond of the idea of infernus calling abrams ダンナ (danna). it's historically been a term used by people who work in hospitality/restaurant/service industries (usually nightlife i would say?) to refer to their patrons in a respectable yet endearing way. it's also a honorific commonly used by younger men referring to a slightly older man in a profession out of respect (an example is from Ghost in the Shell, where togusa refers to batou as batou no danna). i guess a more accessible term is senpai, but ダンナ is way more common in buddy cop fiction or crime/yakuza dramas especially in the mid-century, which i think suits infernus and abrams dynamic, ship or no ship. but!!!!! ダンナ also means husband. and it's a common word still used today.
i just think it's neat that ダンナ can pack a triple entendre for fernbrams :)
also might have a small lore error. i've seen somewhere that the sapphire flame and amber hand are supposed to be penn station and grand central station. nyc geography wouldn't really make sense bc they're literally 10 blocks / ~20 min walking distance from each other and i'm used to calling that area midtown manhattan anyway. idk if it's supposed to be a harsh uptown/downtown difference though. valve pls fix
thanks for reading through my yapping, translation:
page 1
amber hand, grand central station, 30 mins before the ritual, viscous needs hydration, wraith and haze guns go brrr
abrams: hey fern.
infernus: mhm?
abrams: next time you're pouring me the good stuff, remember all the times I saved your life today.
krill & wraith: (gossip sfx) lmao right
mo: (nodding sfx)
(flashback at jezebels, abrams is 7 whiskeys in)
infernus: let's wrap it up for tonight. how's that sound.
abrams: mmm no
infernus: want me to lend you a shoulder home again?
abrams: well...
page 2
infernus: uh huh....
infernus: (chuckle)
infernus: (pats abrams's shoulder) you got it buddy (danna). go give 'em hell.
abrams:
abrams: uh. (nervous laugh) yeah.
i'm going to dump my deadlock HCs on here too shamelessly, focusing on Pocket specifically this time
(plus a bit of pocketknife? does it even count??? idk??????)
warning:
contains descriptions of genderqueer experiences, including body dysphoria
heavily based on my personal view as nonbinary trans myself, but that does not mean ALL nonbinary people feel/think the same way as I do
+ please note that deadlock is still in development, many of these might change when further information gets released
1.
pocket is androphilia. they always have been. they do have a thing for handsome men. especially those who are at least 5 years older than them.
(* 'homosexual' is not a very good word to describe nb person's attraction)
however, they haven't been in any long-lasting relationship.
growing up as the eldest heir of fairfax, every social interaction was to be controlled, measured and judged, leaving them with no options they could choose on their own.
there was a fiance too, whom they met only once or twice in person.
…and we all know how things ended up.
It mightn't have been the same if they had disobeyed, but they were not that type of person either.
trying to figure out one's needs was hard for them. kind of threatening, even. hiding was easier. giving up early was much, much easier. they belived that locking themself in normativity was better for all.
rather than deviating from fairfax's path, they followed what others told them to do.
2.
yet after they were shot, it took quite a time.
they couldn't shake off the thoughts of becoming their father's "eldest, obedient, fairfax-like son."
then one day, just a normal day with no special news, they came to realize.
eldest, obedient, Fairfax-like son.
they could never be the half of it.
but they are trying. slowly but steadily.
admitting is not equal to getting used to.
they still feel awkward when reaching out for what they want. It's hard. now low self-esteem and life safety issues combined together, it really is.
3.
pocket feels insecure about their height, because people often(and easily) misgender them just for being too tall.
(* pocket is one of the tallest among human characters in deadlock)
but none of these worked on their height. instead, they were left with a thin frame. (they're not sure if this is a good thing or not.)
they have been on the taller side ever since childhood.
they tried what they could do to 'not grow up too much', like staying up late, eating less.
well below it's pocketknife time folks
4.
pocket is even taller than shiv according to their current 3d models.
so if pocketknife is doing some kind of classic-height-difference thing, it means that pocket is bending their knees or shiv is standing on a box –
– …like this. (* i'm joking)
and shiv does NOT give a single fuck about pocket being taller than him.
it makes pocket feel relieved somehow.
despite being shorter, shiv still can lift pocket so easily.
...it gives pocket some very certain kind of imagination.
baratheonpilled
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