Happy Christmas @sassyseiji!!! I am your Secret Santa! 🎉🎉🎉
I absolutely LOVED the idea of Nick getting a part-time job as a mall Santa, but also couldn't pass up on him cheering up Seiji on Christmas. Does Nick eventually hold Seiji's hand to warm them up? MAYBE. Does Seiji find out Nick was the Santa all along? MAYBE.
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year! 🎄🥳
(Aka the 'Nicholas never applied to Kings Row' AU)
A/N: This AU now has a name! The title is taken from the song 'Ghosts of My Hometown' by The Strike, which is a Nicholas song if I've ever heard one. It's all about not really being able to leave your past behind, and coming to terms with the ghosts of where you came from. Also, I feel like the phrase "lost in a familiar place" fits well with an AU where Nicholas is a stranger in a place that, in another life, would be familiar.
If you haven't read these, check out Part 1 and Part 2!
Nicholas swallowed, wondering if he was about to experience death by epée on the spot. He didn’t know national #2 Seiji Katayama had this kind of temper. “Uh, look, it wasn’t for long or anything, but I saw some moments where I would’ve gone for a hit. If it were me.”
Seiji stared squinty-eyed at Nicholas like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “Who are you?” he said.
“Uh, I’m-”
“This is Nicholas.” Suddenly Aiden was draping an arm around Nicholas’ shoulders and smiling warmly. “He’s an external spectator today.”
Nicholas noticed that Aiden had suddenly acquired the ability to remember his name. He had a hunch that Aiden’s friendly behaviour had more to do with riling up Seiji than with him, though. “Uh, yeah.” He stuck out a hand for Seiji to shake. “Nice to meet you.”
Seiji looked distrustful, but shook his hand. “I’ve never seen you at a competition before.”
“I was at Regionals six months ago,” Nicholas said. “I fenced Kyle Allen in the first round.”
One eyebrow went up. “So you lost. And you think you could find holes in my defence?”
Nicholas had nothing to prove to this arrogant, condescending guy, but he felt annoyance rising anyway. “I could prove it if given the chance. Maybe you’re not as infallible as you think you are.”
Seiji’s eyes widened in something like irate disbelief, and next to him, Bobby made a small squeaking noise. That was when Aiden decided to stick his oar in.
“Seiji, weren’t you saying the other day that you don’t really have anyone here that challenges you?”
Seiji clenched his jaw and glared at Aiden. “As if I’m going to fence any amateur who just wanders in here and-”
“That’s enough,” Coach Williams’ voice came like a whipcrack, making everyone in the vicinity jump guiltily. “Can I remind you that we are in the middle of a fencing practice? I expect you all to focus on the task at hand.”
There was a round of “Yes Coach,” and “Sorry Coach,” from the assembled fencers. Nicholas mumbled, “Sorry, Coach,” along with the others, even though Coach Williams technically wasn’t his coach. But you didn’t cross a fencing coach.
“Everyone who’s not a member of the team, I want you to practice footwork,” Coach Williams said. “You know the drill; find a partner, and each of you take turns advancing and retreating, then switch. Focus on your feet.”
Given their orders, the students who had been looking on began to disperse. Bobby gave Nicholas an apologetic grimace and paired up with a dark-haired boy of medium height.
“Nicholas,” Coach said, and Nicholas straightened up, rigid, in anticipation of the dressing-down he was sure was coming. “You’re here as a guest, and not as a member of the student body.”
Nicholas winced at the reminder. “I know, I-”
“But,” Coach Williams continued over him, “we have a spare set of gear in the supply room that should fit you.” Nicholas blinked at her. “If you’d like to take part, you may – but I expect nothing less than scrupulous conduct and sportsmanship from you. Am I making myself clear?”
Speechless, Nicholas nodded. The words, I get to fence???! were exploding somewhere in the back of his mind.
“Yes, Coach. I understand,” he said, almost vibrating with excitement. Seiji Katayama’s expression darkened even more, and Nicholas beamed at him. Was he really about to fence-
“Aiden,” Coach said, and Aiden turned to her. “I want you to partner with Nicholas. You’ll spar a practice match, first to 10 points. Eugene and Seiji will do the same; Harvard, you’ll referee.”
“Oh, I don’t think I’m the one who should-” Aiden began, but a look from Harvard made him subside. “Yes, Coach.”
Even dressed in borrowed fencing whites (which did fit him well) and standing in a fencing salle he barely belonged in, Nicholas felt amazing as he took up a position across from Aiden on the piste. This was it. This was what he lived for – the chance to fence.
Since he’d started learning with Coach Joe – finally putting those years of devouring every fencing video he could find into practice – Nicholas quickly realised that nothing compared to the feeling of standing on the piste with a foil in his hand.
(Even when the piste was actually the community hall floor. It still felt awesome).
Fencing at Regionals had been even more incredible. He’d felt like he’d arrived. Even losing in his very first round to an ass like Kyle Allen hadn’t been able to dampen it.
Aiden seemed to be sizing him up, and then he smiled. It wasn’t the same cutthroat smile that he’d given Seiji before they fenced, but it wasn’t completely friendly either. “Sorry about this,” he said. “I did originally have a more… pleasurable plan for today.”
“Fencing’s pleasurable,” Nicholas pointed out.
Aiden’s lips quirked into a slightly disbelieving smirk. “Right.”
The match began. Aiden was, as Nicholas had seen, a skilled fencer, and Nicholas was unable to parry his first two hits. Right afterwards, Nicholas got a hit past his guard, and Aiden looked surprised, like he hadn’t seen it coming. Like a lot of right-handed fencers, Aiden wasn’t as good at blocking or predicting moves from the left. Nicholas knew he could press his advantage there.
He attacked, fast and aggressive. Aiden was clearly adapting to his approach, making it more difficult for Nicholas to get through, but he still didn’t seem able to predict exactly where Nicholas would attack from. By the time Coach called the first break, Nicholas had scored two hits to Aiden’s four.
As they paused to catch their breath, Aiden said, “Of course, I know I’m not the one you’d rather be fencing right now.”
Nicholas frowned quizzically at him. Aiden continued, “You and Seiji had some real… tension just then. That was interesting. I could almost see the sparks flying.”
Nicholas glanced over at Seiji, but he was focused on sparring with Eugene. “You seem like you don’t really get along with Seiji,” he commented. “Why’s that?”
Aiden snorted and gave an airy shrug. “Seiji’s an excellent fencer,” he said. “But you’ve met him. He’s not really a ‘team’ guy.”
“Are you?”
Aiden blinked at Nicholas. “Sorry?”
“You were planning to skip practice, even though you’re on the team,” Nicholas pointed out. “But Seiji’s here.” Even though, as the national number two-ranked fencer, he probably had a better excuse than anyone to skip practice – or train on his own. Nicholas didn’t really like Seiji’s attitude, but he didn’t think Aiden was one to be preaching about teamwork.
Aiden’s eyes narrowed, but Coach Williams cut in. “Less talking, more fencing, boys.”
They took up their positions again, and almost immediately, Nicholas scored a hit. Aiden had been over-extended, and not just briefly; it felt like a glaring mistake from someone who was clearly a competent fencer. Aiden said nothing, just narrowed his eyes; he quickly took two more points. But even when he managed to pull ahead, Nicholas was there, narrowing the gap again.
By the second break, the score was 7-6 to Aiden. Nicholas was only one point behind a skilled older fencer who represented a high school at state competitions. The excitement coursed through him like electricity.
As they pulled off their masks, Aiden looked disgruntled for a fraction of a second, but it quickly smoothed away. “I feel like I should warn you,” he said, sounding apologetic. “Seiji’s not going to go easy on you because you’re a rookie. The guy doesn’t hold back, ever. Even when it’s just a practice match.”
“Not like you, you mean?” Nicholas asked. He didn’t need or want Aiden to go easy on him, but even from the brief time they’d known each other, Aiden didn’t strike him as the type of guy who gave things his all if he could help it. He just projected this air of coasting through life. It wasn’t the kind of thing Nicholas really found attractive, but Aiden had been charming, and well. It had been a while since anyone paid him attention in that way.
Aiden shrugged theatrically. “I’d just hate to see you get railroaded,” he said. “Very few people have the ability to hold their own against Seiji. Mind you, I did.” He delivered this last revelation almost as an afterthought.
Nicholas stared at him. “What do you mean?” Watching the two of them fence, it hadn’t seemed like Aiden was in Seiji’s league at all.
“Oh, yes, Seiji lost to me in the try-outs for the fencing team,” Aiden said, with a smirk. “It happens. But he didn’t take it very well.” He made a show of putting his mask back on in response to Coach Williams’ pointed glare.
Aiden had beaten Seiji. Aiden had beaten Seiji. And Nicholas was almost level with him in a sparring match. Even if it was just a practice – then if Nicholas could beat Aiden, it felt… like he could almost be on an equal footing with Seiji.
A calm and a focus descended over Nicholas that he hadn’t really found before. He tried to think and act quickly in his fencing matches, but trying to do something wasn’t the same as doing it, and he hadn’t reached the point yet where instinct would just take over. He knew he was fast, but there was still that disconnect between what he sensed and saw and how his body acted. It could be frustrating.
Now, though, it was like he could deconstruct his opponent at a speed he’d never experienced, Aiden’s weak points mapped out and highlighted. He could remember what had worked before and apply those tactics. And he was fast. His technique had holes in it; Kyle had had the experience to exploit those at Regionals, though he still wasn’t able to fend off Nicholas completely. And Nicholas was always learning.
Aiden attacked, but Nicholas read his movement and parried, then countered with a hit past Aiden’s guard. And another. 8-7.
Aiden scored a hit that Nicholas wasn’t anticipating by kind of flicking his blade – the flick sailed past his guard in a way that was extremely annoying, but Nicholas was also intrigued. That seemed like a neat attack.
They were neck and neck at 8 points each, and the next person to score a hit would be one point away from winning. Nicholas saw an opening. Attacked. Scored. 9-8.
Nicholas became aware that they had an audience. Maybe had had one for a while – the match between Eugene and Seiji had already concluded, and together with Harvard, they’d come to spectate.
Seiji’s attention was laser-focused on Nicholas. If Nicholas could just win this next point, he-
Aiden exploited an opening in Nicholas’ guard, scoring a hit to his wrist. Damn. But they were neck and neck; as long as Nicholas kept fencing like he knew he could–
Aiden went in for the attack – but just as Nicholas had expected, there was a slight turn in his body that left his shoulder open to a hit–
10-9.
Nicholas had won.
Coach Williams’ whistle blew, and she looked genuinely approving as she said, “Well done, Nicholas.” Then she added, “Aiden, I have some notes for things to focus on in our next practice sessions.”
Aiden pulled off his mask and faced Harvard, who greeted him with a raised eyebrow. “You lost?”
“It was just a practice match!” Aiden protested. “I was giving Nicholas the chance to improve.”
“Right.”
“Hey, nice fencing!” This was Eugene, who’d been fencing Harvard before and had just fenced Seiji. He gave Nicholas a friendly punch to the shoulder that was a little bit painful. “Where did you come from, again? Coach didn’t really say.”
Nicholas opened his mouth to explain, but just then, someone took hold of his shoulder in an iron grip. Nicholas looked into the glowering visage of Seiji Katayama. “You’ll fence me next,” he said.
So I know you for a while in Fence but I have some quedtions to ask you. I wanna know who is your favorite Fence character? And what genre of music do you listen to? Also are there any fence fanfics that you would reccomend for me to read?
I hope you have a good day.
From
Atom
P.s what's your favorite food? (This is a random question and also im just curious)
Hi Atom,
My favorite Fence character is Nicholas! I personally identify as a Seiji-type person so my favorite Fence dynamic is that Nicholas loves Seiji exactly as he is even with all his, uh, quirks :)
I listen to lots of different music but if I had to pick a favorite genre, it would probably be hard rock/classic rock (like Def Leppard, Aerosmith, Poison).
I have a pinned post with my favorite Fence fanfics as of December 2023: https://www.tumblr.com/sensurround11/737247356996780032/sensurrounds-favorite-fence-fan-fics-2023?source=share
Favorite food... so hard to pick (I love food!) but I'd have to say pork dishes are probably my favorite. I make a dish called double pork pesto patties - ground pork mixed with diced bacon and pesto, formed into patties, and fried. Then I cook swiss chard in the same pan. Delicious!
Hey Sensurround! I know you enjoy reading 📚 Outside the realm of fanfic, can you think of a book or a series you'd like to experience again for the first time?
Ooh, what an interesting way to word that question!
I started by narrowing the field to books/series that I liked enough to reread. That's a relatively small list in my adult life (I used to reread books all the time in my teens).
And then for ones that would benefit from being able to experience them again for the first time, I had to pick romances (or books with a significant romantic plot). There's something about that very first time following along with two people falling in love that's so magical. It's never quite as equally magical on a re-read.
I know you asked for *a* book or series, but I couldn't resist listing a few:
All That's Left in the World - Erik J. Brown
The Openly Straight duology - Bill Konigsberg
The Simon Snow series - Rainbow Rowell
In Other Lands - Sarah Rees Brennan (yes, the SRB of Fence novels fame)
Heartstopper - Alice Oseman. I know it's a cliche, but I was really into the comic way before it became a popular TV series.
Aparrently, the "new announcement" C.S Pacat been teasing us about since Sunday is just the new volume of FENCE,which we already knew about since April. Not gonna lie,I'm very disappointed. I love fence, and I feel like we don't get enough,you know? To me,It feels like she considers the series a sidequest or something that does not need time or care to prepare 😪. Anyways,I'm excited for the new volume,I'm just sad that It was "just" that.
i wanna hear your thoughts on the fence challengers: long shot preview pages if you want to share!
oh mAN I have so many and they are all over the place!!
The first one is a little thing, but I bet Seiji had a crush on Marcus Washington when he was a kid--Nick's horror, Harvard's teasing, and Seiji's indignant blush imply as much.
And a fun fact, Jo posted a mini preview of baby Seiji to Patreon on February 14th...maybe I'm reading into it too much, but that's nothing new XD
Next couple of things are about the scene with the trophy case. It was really interesting and fun to see side-by-side redraws of Robert! It really illustrates the way the style has evolved, and also I gOTTA say it feels like Jo is more invested in Robert based on the level of detail she put in--like it's not just a style comparison, it's also just obvious a lot of attention was put into these shots when a) she could have just reused old shots (which she's done before, so I know it was an option), or kept it more simplified like she did when drawing the original shots.
I also think it's sweet that the redraws have Robert looking much more like Jesse than the originals.
And I am sure I will get flack for this, but I have incredible second-hand embarrassment from Nick leaving his newspaper clipping + note in the trophy case jfhdasl like bestieee noooo anyone can see that shit now oh my god please stooop
Onto some Nichoji thoughts! I love that Seiji's been confirmed as a before-bed reader! Him having a Kindle makes sense for the sheer efficiency of it too lmfao. Of course it's also adorable to see him in reading glasses <3 And then my favorite detail is Nick's stupid nightlight...notice where it is?
Rather than illuminating Nick's side of the room, it's peeking around the curtain and lighting up Seiji's reading, which is beyond adorable and sweet. I wonder whether Seiji stole it or Nick put it there knowing Seiji likes to read before bed, and I love both scenarios.
Also, it's fucking adorable that as soon as Nick mentions their date appointment, Seiji takes off his glasses and lowers his Kindle because it's got his full attention and investment.
And a quick pitstop to the locker rooms!
I like the visual metaphor here with Aiden and Bobby both very casual about changing and both literally having their shirts open; meanwhile, Seiji's straightening the cuffs on his button-down, which is already neatly tucked in and complete with his tie. It just highlights how Seiji's a lot more closed off than the others, and I think this was a neat trick to remind us of that.
In regards to plot, I'm still...really disappointed in the pacing. I know most people feel like it's a slowburn/it's taken a long time to develop, but if you waited to read Fence at all until it was complete and then read it all in one sitting, I think you'd see how unbalanced it is. Williams says that their first match will be in three weeks back right after tryouts:
which means everything between issue 12 and CHALLENGERS has happened in 3 weeks. Seiji and Nick's relationship is so sweet and cute, but it went from resentful rivalry to puppy love overnight with very little 'screen time' dedicated to the actual transition from resentment to friends (which I could write a whole essay on but this is not the post for that lmfao). Furthermore, the fact that it's the first match of State Championships rather than first match of the season is crazy to me. I'll admit, I didn't fence in high school--it wasn't even an option because we didn't have a team. And despite hours of research, the structure of high school team fencing is not entirely clear to me. However, I do know that typical high school sports go through the season, facing every other team in their division or whatever. Based on performance in those matches, they can qualify for state, and then their win ratio determines their seeding order for the state championships that happen in like 1-2 days. Seeding order is who you go up against in a bracket, so it's what this diagram is, basically:
(side note, but it appears there are 24 schools competing at state). Again, fencing could be different, but it kinda seems to me like we skipped over the season and went right to State Championships, which just cuts out so much development and build-up. It's like we're speed-running the entire story to get to the end faster. We cut out showing the development in the romance, and now we're cutting out the development of the plot. There's still plenty that we can do at state, of course, but imagine how much more it would mean to see Nick fencing in front of Robert if we'd built that up more. I just don't understand how we spent 12 issues on try outs, 4 on a practice match, 8 on camp, and none on the fencing season. It feels so abrupt and unbalanced. Tryouts and camp were my favorites arcs because they felt pretty well-paced as self-contained pieces of the story. I just feel like we needed waaaaay more relationship development between those two arcs to be satisfying, and I feel like there should be waaaaay more build up during the fencing season between camp and State Championships.
and now, the moment you've all been waiting for: my devastation over Eugene's role (???) in the story. I honestly question why he's in the story at all--at this point, it would have made more sense to have him flat-out not make the team. Except that keeping him this long lowkey backs up the theory I've had on his role since Striking Distance/RIVALS: Eugene is here to make everyone else look better/cooler/more impressive. The very first thing that struck me when reading the first look was this:
The dialogue here suggests that only one reserve actually gets to be on the team in the end, and the reserve is Nick. And, worse, everyone expected it to be Nick. Sure, it's sweet that Seiji thinks Nick's the better fencer, but all I can think about is how hard Eugene's worked for ten years trying to make the team as opposed to Nick's three months of fencing. Now, I love an underdog story. But it's interesting because Pacat stated in an interview (I'd have to go find where for the specific quote) that he always feels bad for the person who's been working to be #1 their whole lives only to be knocked out of the running by an upstart underdog--which I've always assumed would influence the path taken in Fence...and it seems like we may well let Seiji and Jesse remain above Nick in skill (or at least it seems like we won't be dethroning Seiji, even if we go for Jesse), but Nick's overcoming smaller obstacles. And those smaller obstacles hurt worse to see crushed because Eugene almost made the team in a way that mattered, only to have that taken away. It would have been less cruel to him and his fans to let Nick take the reserve slot back in issue 12, but instead we brought Eugene along to serve as a means to make Nick out 'secret weapon' and elevate his story.
I will say though, this page is one of my favorite Eugene moments because I see the character I selfishly want Eugene to be in it. From the context of the panels above, this page is likely Williams telling them that only one will be fencing in State Championships, and this is their reaction. Eugene's immediate concern for Nick and the comforting hand on his shoulder followed by a bright smile and a thumbs up--he just cares so much about other people and it so used to smiling through his own pain/disappointment and comforts Nick through being positive (and as seen back in issue 12, up playing his competitiveness) and acting like it's no big deal.
Eugene deserved better, but if this is where he goes out, I think I can live with it. Better to see him go now than continue to be a means to uplift the rest of team by being less than. but, man, I was really hoping we were turning it around after his moment in REDEMPTION being the only KR boy not to lose his bout
anyway, thank you sm for listening to my rambles!!! <33
so there's two types of characters I'm typically drawn to: characters that I relate to, and characters that are my ideal type. and i think that's a big part of why i love fence so much, because its main characters (Seiji and Nicholas) fall into those categories respectively. Seiji often reminds me of myself, and his relationship with Nicholas (as i see it) is a lot like my real-life relationship.
I love them both dearly and find them both to be endlessly fascinating characters - but i have to give this one to Nicholas 😇 there's a reason I'm drawn to people like him. I love his passion, his energy... the talkative, excitable and endlessly driven personality coupled with the humble beginnings and his indefatigable desire to move beyond them. he's my adorable little guy!!!Nicholas Cox i want the world for you ❤️
