I do not care if it’s sfw. You STILL need to tag it regarding what’s in it. Tropes, fluff, they held hands, whatever.
You need to include content warning and tags before every fic you post. Even if it’s the most boring vanilla fluffy piece, DO IT. Some people have gotten too comfortable not tagging their fics, and then don’t know what to do when they get in trouble for it.
And obviously if you ARE writing nsfw or any sort of dark topic, need I state the obvious?
Don’t give these fandom police a reason to complain about us. Your best defense is TAGS and WARNINGS before the fic. Why? Because then it’s THEIR problem if they chose to ignore the tags and read it anyways while knowing there are things they won’t like. The blame is off you and they can’t use it as a reason to bash fetish/kink, dark and dead dove writers.
I’m saying this for your own good. This is to protect yourselves. Do your due diligence.
Yk how in tcf it's a running joke for Cale to be like 'I dont want to know that!' and someone telling him the same info immediately after?
And like, i too used to think it was hilarious. But rarely anything this redhead says isn't not shrouded by layers and layers of deception. He had been a Team Leader before. Even ignoring tcf he'd been responsible for so many lives that he'd lost count. But it happens again. This time it's not just his teammates but even children who all consider him his guardian. All he intended was to keep his fam safe and have his own peace at the end, but like, you cannot deny that the weight of the whole tcf world rested on his back alone. Whether he acknowledged it or not he was saving the whole world and not once was the responsibility lessened, not once was the burden removed till WS died.
And then you see some new character impressed by Cale and trying to tell him not so random secrets and Cale is desperately trying not to listen. Because knowing means acknowledging, and acknowledging means a responsibility, something he cannot bear more of.
And then it stops being funny to you. When this redhead tries so hard to remain oblivious, when he refuses to acknowledge that the people under his wing have grown. When people stare at him in disbelief at his slacker dream, when he ignores them all as he resumes fantasising his 'farming life'. It's funny when he coughs up blood, when he isn't really in pain but everyone misunderstands. But the thing is, it's never his own decision completely. If you're given a choice between coughing up blood and letting children averaging ten years old at best die, is that really a choice? And before anyone misunderstands no it wasn't his kindness. His love was what made the choice easier, that man was never given a choice to begin with. Ofc, it's only because of his own nature that the other option isn't even worth considering. But it does not deny that he was dragged everywhere against his will, and suddenly it stops being funny to you.
And like, imagine this from Cale's pov. He's given a choice which is basically a live-with-guilt-or-responsbility and he chooses the less painful one and he coughs up blood. But then. His fam is hurt. He sacrificed himself again and they couldn't do anything. And yk, it must be a dead end on both sides for Cale. He can take the responsibility and bear the pain but when his fam is hurt by his actions that were forced upon him he doesn't know what to do. In the first place he doesn't even understand why they'd be concerned, when he did the only thing he could've done.
Because if you were in his place and your body was snatched with no explanation and you wake up surrounded by people who could kill you on a whim and you were thrown into battles with the same people who you still hardly know and the next moment you're given a choice which is basically asking you to either kill yourself slowly or quickly. What would you have done either.
Personally I don’t think we talk enough about Cale just having voices in his head
Just 24/7 having 5 guys chilling in your head commenting on everything you do. I’m not even kidding I forgot what part it was but they couldn’t talk and Cale literally said
“The voices are silent”
THE VOICES IS A CRAZY THING TO JUST HAVE IN YOUR HEAD CALE????? Don’t fool me into thinking it’s normal? No one ELSE has the voices when they get powers?? Cale? Babe? Girly??? I know the voices are nice and friendly and like part of the family but still insane
Also can I point out how close Cale must feel to said voices and as of this point in time that I know of nobody else knows about them?? You’ve got five people just up in your head and nobody knows??? And you know it’s not normal??? Cale???
After watching a video regarding hidden habits after trauma, it made me realize how good and talented Author-nim is at writing Cale's character, especially in how she handles his trauma.
Here are some hidden habits listed below:
1. Fiercely protective of the vulnerable
—Evident in the way he treats his children and how he reacts to injustice; when he saw the slaves' state from the Moguro Empire, he was downright furious. I'd also like to add that in the earliest chapters where Cale wanted to screw up Venion, it's because he was angered by the fact the bastard's gleefully torturing a dragon who's just a toddler and how he made the old man (who almost got hit by Venion's carriage no less) grovel before him (and Koreans value the importance of the elderly). It was mentioned Cale also got angry because he was looked down upon (but the insults were clearly directed toward Og!Cale so why must he feel offense for something that's not even meant for him?) but when I think about it, could he have been angry for Og!Cale's sake as well? I mean, Cale has always downplayed his worth so it's a bit strange to see, not to mention, he hadn't fully accepted his identity as Cale Henituse yet. And at this period of time, he only knew Og!Cale was a teenager/young adult (who's obviously been emotionally neglected), not a middle-aged war veteran soldier. Even if he was trash, to get bluntly insulted as if it was normal must have rubbed off Cale the wrong way. There are many other examples, but this post would become too long if I were to list them all.
2. Find joy in the tiniest things
—He merely just wants to lay down all day, eat well, get sufficient and good-quality sleep, and to be with his family by ensuring both their happiness and safety. When Cale and the others went shopping, he only bought himself a chicken skewer and nothing more while spoiling the children. His dream? To become a rich slacker and have an unemployed life. He does not want any awards or notable positions. Cale simply just wants to live a quiet and peaceful life.
3. Stubbornly independent
—Despite having claimed he wants to load off all the difficult and troublesome work to others, he's the most hardworking out of all them. He wants to be a slacker, yet he's a workaholic who doesn't know when to stop working and take a break. When Choi Han confronted him about it in the earlier chapters—always taking the burden by himself instead of relying on others to share the burden with him to lessen it—he was genuinely confused.
4. Handle bad news too well
—When he learned he was going to explode in three days due to the imbalance of his ancient powers, he was shocked but he calmed down too soon afterwards (or did he react this way when Erubahen told him that were it not for his healing ancient power, Cale might as well have been dead? I think so. But regardless, he was too indifferent about the situation despite its severity.) When he learned he was supposed to die instead of Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo, he acted composed (even though he was anything but composed at the revelation) which is not a normal reaction for anyone to have.
5. Birthdays feel complicated
—He doesn't have much thought or opinion regarding his birthday. It makes sense because how could he think of celebrating his birthday, or think it is a special day worth looking forward to, when he's constantly trying to ensure his survival his whole life from childhood till adulthood?
6. Compliments feel foreign
—He'd rather be insulted than be showered with endless praises and compliments. That says a lot about his upbringing (being raised in an abusive household surely does wonders for one's mental health). He'd react oddly and think that the ones who're saying such things are weird, which is honestly sad.
7. Masters of reading the room
—He's overly sharp and observant. He always knows how to ease the tense atmosphere and comfort others when they need it the most. He's oblivious only when it comes to himself (although he may have misunderstood some of his family's behaviors and actions at times).
I read a fic where Cale died and the buildup for it was done spectacularly.
My mental health? In shambles.
He's supposed to be my comfort character. What. The guy who has never had a day of comfort in his life before transmigrating as Cale Henituse? Yes. But that fic made me question if he really is my comfort character when I feel nothing but misery and anguish for him.
I had to remind myself over and over that no, Cale didn't actually die in the canon and that he's still alive hopping across multiple worlds, gaining new fans, and trying to save the whole entire universe atp with the crew. He's happy scamming and looting people. He didn't die. He's still alive. Perfectly alive. He's healing from his traumas. He's starting to open up to others. Everyone's enjoying their adventuring. Everyone is happy and alive.
Because Cale kinda plays the roles of Mother and Father, each kid calls him something different.
Lock and Wolf Children call him Uncle; it started with Lock calling him Uncle, since he reminds Lock of his actual Uncle, and then the Wolf Children kinda just copied him.
Roan more often than not calls Cale Human, and rarely Cale, but very rarely he'll call him Father, and once after a bad nightmare he called Cale Daddy.
It takes On a while, but she eventually starts calling Cale Dad, sometimes in the privacy of their house/rooms, when its just Cale, Her, Hong, and Roan, she'll call him Papa.
Hong, though, pretty easily and openly calls Cale various versons of Mom. He'll call him Mom or Mother when its a serious situation, Mommy when hes begging or asking for something or is being a little sh*t(pos), but he uses Mama most often regardless of where they are or what they're doing.
Hong was the first to start calling him Mama. It started up a bit after the terrorist attack at the King's birthday. A few months later, after hearing Hong calling Cale Mama all the time, On called him Dad for the first time. The first time Roan called Cale Father was soon after the Henituse War, but it was when everyone else was asleep, Roan couldn't sleep and curled up around Cale's throat, Cale, half asleep reached up and pet him, and Roan said "Goodnight Father."
Cale quite litterally does not care. Well, okay that sounds bad, he's secretly touched of course, but he doesn't care what the children call him as long as they're comfortable with it.
Alberu tried to tease Cale once about Hong calling him Mama, and it made Hong really upset. The searing glare Cale sent Alberu was so bad he had nightmares about it for a month.
He was the most handsome middle-aged man in the novel. The author seemed to have put his soul into this character, as the novel took four lines to describe Shickler’s appearance.
being a billionaire’s son will never stop jason from being poor
(｡ᵕ ◞ _◟)
i couldn't decide which version i liked the best so congrats you get all 3! broke jason in every angle trust .ᐟ.ᐟ
a/n: this is my first post! i'm sorry my writing's crappy, it's my first time making a fic soooo im sorry if the paragraphs are long.
not proofread! sorry for mistakes
advice appreciated!
dividers: dollphoriax, icyporcelain and saradika-graphics (tell me if anything is missing)
next.
Bruce never had to worry about his daughter, Y/N Wayne.
You were mature and quiet, and you knew how busy they were. You had to! You were still young, and you had your siblings and Alfred around. All of Bruce’s kids were pretty close, so you’d never have a problem fitting in!
The city was dangerous. With the Joker at large, arsonists and killers lurking in the alleyways, it wasn’t time for Bruce to focus on anything other than saving the city!
Once he was able to make it a better place, he’d play all day with you! Bruce would make sure Gotham was a safe and peaceful place before focusing on you. You’d understand. You always did.
That was how Bruce Wayne felt, for years after you moved in, always rescheduling his bonding time to another day.
Alfred watched. Silently at first, and then started to suggest ideas to Bruce and you. Trying to make him interact. Unfortunately for you, Bruce kept pushing it away. More paperwork, more villains, more danger.
You slowly withered away. Pulled back. You stopped going to Bruce for advice and instead went to Alfred to rant about boy trouble. You didn’t try to catch Bruce in the hallway to ask him to come with you to the mall. It was a risk, after all.
He was quite popular; he couldn’t be spotted by the paparazzi with another child. Even if you knew him longer than other children in the Batfamily.
Slowly, you stopped interacting with Bruce. Bruce was okay with that. He didn’t need a distraction, he had too many papers to sign. Too much trouble with Damian. Bruce pushed away any other feelings he had about it, after all, you still had your other siblings!
Despite Bruce believing that was true, you couldn’t believe the same.
First was Dick, the eldest, who would be around really often, despite not living at the manor. He was the bright smile of the family. The golden boy. Dick was the one who kept the family together, kept relationships between the family strong. He was nice to everyone!
It’s too bad that his real smiles were reserved for the others, especially Damian. When you first came to the manor, he was the one who greeted you. He smiled brightly, walking you up the stairs to your room. After you found your room, he left shortly after.
All other interactions with him were mostly one-sided, with him giving a polite smile and a “Later, baby bird. I gotta take Damian out to training. Next time, yeah?”. You never really got a chance to talk to him after that.
The second oldest was Jason. You first met him when he was a happy person, with a cheerful aura. He was tolerable, and you could talk to him freely about school and your hobbies. When he died, you were heartbroken. Your only friend died, only shortly after you met him! You cried for him months afterwards. Once he came back, you tried to reconnect, explain how much you missed him, and show him how you’ve changed too - but he shot down those attempts, putting a wall between you both.
After many more tries at climbing and breaking down his fear and anger, you gave up. He wasn’t the well-mannered, happy person as before. All of his happiness was replaced with anger and coldness.
Following Jason, we have Tim. He was intelligent, using his detective skills to quickly solve cases with Bruce. When he first came, you tried to learn more about him, though he wasn’t really interested in you. He always had another case, like Bruce. More leads, more information - it was never-ending. He ran on coffee and cereal. You quickly realized he wouldn’t pay attention after you tried to talk to him about a movie you watched with Alfred.
Steph and Cass mostly ignored you. They had no real reason to interact with you. Steph was constantly caught up with her relationships with the other members of the Batfam, so she never had the time or thought to check in on you. Cass would only give a simple shake of the head, or, on bad days, she’d just walk past. You didn’t really know how Cass felt about you.
Finally, there was Damian, the youngest and the other blood child. When you went to greet him after learning he was another biological child, you were excited. You had something to connect with him! You quickly learned he wasn’t so happy about it when he pulled his sword out, aiming it toward you.
Damian considered you a rival, another opponent to being the strongest.
After he decided you were no real threat and really just a nuisance, he resorted to using Titus or his sword to scare you away, and if he couldn’t do that? He’d instead make comments under his breath, just loud enough for you to hear. You didn’t want to interact with him after that, instead avoiding him like the plague.
You tried to be cool, perfecting skills that you’d later give up on - you first tried singing and theatre, performing in plays and musicals in front of large audiences, and then there was painting! You learned to paint, joining competitions and contests before burning out. The final thing you tried was sports. You figured they would catch more attention, because it was something physical - but that belief was crushed after no one but Alfred came to your games.
Alfred was always there. You appreciated him. He saw you for who you were, not only your achievements and accomplishments. He was like a grandfather to you. He baked with you, asked you about school, and even sat and read with you when he finished cleaning. Alfred was always there. He always understood.
So when Alfred got sick of seeing how everyone ignored such a treasure, he decided he’d take it into his own hands to get you the love you need - even if you didn't know you deserved it.
Dick was having a pretty good day. He had a good patrol last night, with little to no problems at all! Some drunks were walking the streets last night, which was causing a bit of a nuisance, but they were easy to sort out.
And to make it better, after he finished patrol, he was able to grab a quick bite to eat from a fast food restaurant before going home and getting a good night's rest.
Despite all of this, and his wonderful day, he still felt... weirdly hollow. Like he was waiting for something. Dick wasn't quite sure what he was missing.
Today, he decided to swing by the Wayne Manor - which he did a lot - to see his family!
But, when he got inside, he felt... disappointed? Dick was confused. He had no reason to be - after all, he had dropped in on Tim and Bruce, said hi to Steph in the hallway, and even gave Cass a wave! It couldn't be Jason; he was still out on a mission for Tim. Dick sat at the long table in the dining room.
"Master Dick?" Alfred's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Is something wrong?" He continued.
Dick gave a dismissive grin, waving his hand in a playful shooing manner. "No, not at all. It was just... I feel like I'm forgetting something."
Alfred let out a humm, continuing to wash some dishes. "Well, Master Dick, I do have something that may connect to that."
Oh?
Dick leaned in, interested. "And that is?"
"It was the young master's birthday yesterday!" Alfred replied, gesturing to a nearby calendar.
"Who, Damian? Damian's birthday passed a while back-" Dick furrowed his brows, leaning back again.
Alfred shook his head, sighing. Alfred then spoke, simply saying your name.
Oh! Dick smiled in delight. A face had popped into his head, of his baby bird, you! He could still picture your cute young face and how, when you'd smile, you'd been missing teeth. (So what, if the picture in his head was blurry and dated?)
Dick gasped, a smile spreading across his once puzzled face.
"Oh, right! I knew that." He sprang up, going to search for you.
Dick most definitely did not know that. He hadn't even brought a present! But, luckily for him, he would just bring you out somewhere. You had once asked him to go with you to some Chinese restaurant, but he didn't have time - he was helping Damian! That's okay, he could repay you now.
After a while of wandering through the long halls, he decided to check upstairs, passing Damian.
Though Damian does say something to him, Dick is far too focused on his current task to listen. He runs up the stairs and continues to look in the rooms.
When you guys finally start talking again, he'll remember your room every single time, he promises! You are his baby bird after all.
Finally, he comes across a room that he doesn't recognise. This must be it!
Your room was big, but not as big as the others' rooms. You had every inch of it decorated, like you were trying to make it seem more lively. Most walls were covered in posters and drawings, or there were awards and trophies on the shelves. Each award had different things engraved on it. Singing, dancing, performing, you even did some art!
Oh, baby bird, you're so talented! Dick's eyes get wider each time he reads another trophy.
But you weren't inside! That's too bad. Maybe you went out since you weren't in any other room.
Dick looked closer at the walls, noticing photos taped messily above your bed.
And even though he scanned them, searching for all his might -
(TCF fanfic rant, please ignore)
Cale is a fucking bitch to write romance for, Istfg. Like, I wanna smack this beech with a pan with HOW DELUSIONAL HIS NARRATIVE IS IN TCF.
I mean like, the misunderstandings are delicious and the potential to give them a romantic angle even more so (like people assuming they are a couple because Cale keeps paying for everything OUT OF PETTINESS, servants thinking they are dating because Cale listens so intently to their advice and all that)
That is well and good but how TF am I to write Cale realising he is falling in love???
Like, yes, I have an idea, but it is freaking ridiculous to write his delusional self.
He has the emotional awareness of an uncut onion that then asks why everyone is worried/crying after being cut.
The worst thing is that I am writing an OC as the love interest, who is also delusional, but the denial kind. Which is worst and yes, she also deserves a bonk in the head.
This is not the slowburn I expected or wanted to write...
Soooo, what does it take to be Cale's favourite character, I wonder.
Like, recently, I was discussing kind of a story prompt with a fellow fanfic writer and TCF-obsessed friend: what if Cale was dropped into your world and came to find you since you were his favourite character from a novel.
Now, I won't lie, I kinda have a short abandoned draft on this since I did like the idea of KRS being a reader and having a chance to meet his favourite character.
But the question here is WHAT would make anyone his favourite character?
Like, in TBOAH, Cale likes Choi Han as a protagonist since his is loyal, honest and sincere. Cale is also delulu enough to think Choi Han as innocent and all, but that's on him.
Anyway, on the other hand, Cale DOES NOT look kindly on Alberu in the first few chapters of meeting him. Like, I know the Plaza Terror incident and Alberu not doing anything there was a big thing, but I also personally theorise that Cale didn't like Alberu because both were too similar in nature. Same cloth, different ends, kinda thing.
So, that brings me back to my main rambling point: what does Cale like in his protagonists?
Good nature, I know. Maybe that protectiveness towards kids and people too, that cale has as well but delusionally disagrees too.
Maybe also smart, overpowered types? Choi Han sure is that, if nothing else.
But I was wondering: what if it is NOT a protagonist?
Personally, I headcanon Cale as someone who absorbs knowledge from books and immerses himself in the stories he reads as an escape. That is why he reads them slowly instead of scanning them with his abilities. (I also headcanon him to revisit his fav novels through his ability Record, because why not?)
Sooooo, if not protagonist, I think Cale would love a smart and technically-with-the-right-thought-but-wrong-way-of-doing-it antagonist. Maybe a lazy one too, who actually wants to do good but fucks up because of his trauma?
Or maybe the witty sidekick (of hero or villain, you decide) who is the voice of reason, secretly overpowered and very annoying when they want to be.
...wait, yes, the last one sounds more up Cale's alley. If he ever got transmigrated into his favourite book, he would definitely hunt down someone like that to both admire and use.
Huh, so rambling DOES help answering some questions.
Though, open to more suggestions as well! Would love to see how others interpret Cale as, lol
Probably too long a ramble for regular replies, so reblog it is!
But, yeah, I actually really really love every time Cale being an avid reader gets brought out, and you bring some good points!
I remember this very well because it was one of my favorite parts in the novel, but during the sloth test, Cale talks a bit about why he likes reading novels so much:
The 17 years old Kim Rok Soo frequently visited both the school and public libraries as he didn’t want to get closer to people than necessary.
(...)
The main characters of the novels did not succumb despite their difficult childhoods and fought against the world. However, Cale had no intentions of fighting against the world starting from the moment he chose to live as the invisible person who couldn’t be noticed at home.
To be more specific, he didn’t have the strength to do that.
It was hard enough to take responsibility for and take care of his future and his life.
(...)
‘I thought that Choi Han was that kind of hero when I first read about him in the book. I thought that he was different from me.’
Choi Han, the main character of The Birth of a Hero. Cale had diligently read that book because Choi Han’s life was different from Cale’s.
17 y.o KRS loved reading as a form of escapism, yes, but I think what drove him to BoH's Choi Han is his strength, his resilience. When talking about his younger self, Cale usually refers to himself as weak and useless in a despective manner. In his eyes, his weakness led him to give up on his life, and also why he didn't stand up for himself against his uncle sooner.
And I think it's one of the main reasons why he loves Raon so much: Because Raon is strong, Raon is proud, the original Raon (who was only the unnamed black dragon in BoH) would rather die than keep on succumbing to a life of torture. But Kim Rok Soo chose to live a life of "cowardice", and he despises himself for that.
When he rescues Raon from the cave, the first thing that Cale notes is his "gaze."
Cale started to smile after looking at the dragon’s eyes.
It was still a very strong gaze. It had not lost its will to live just yet.
It was not the dying gaze that Choi Han had run into in the novel. It was still a gaze with a strong desire to live. That was why it was filled with energy, anger, and resistance.
It was the gaze of a dragon.
“What a nice gaze.”
And when you put
Cale had no intentions of fighting against the world starting from the moment he chose to live as the invisible person who couldn’t be noticed at home.
along with:
It was still a gaze with a strong desire to live. That was why it was filled with energy, anger, and resistance.
I'd say that what feels for Raon (and Choi Han!) is a deep sense of admiration, of respect. Because he understands what it takes to overcome what they had gone through. And I think that's true for a lot of people in Cale's life, so in my opinion, he likes characters that are resilient, that he can look up to.
Huh, that is a bloody good analysis actually, damn. I won't like, I think the strength part got lost in the translation for me since I always assumed it as "power" rather than strength to overcome their past and carry on. That is definitely a 10/10 TED Talk, and I would love to attend again.
Though, that does make sense, now that I think about it. Cale thinks of himself as a "coward" and sees that reflected in Alberu too (hiding his idenity and strength) so that both check out.
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