#((yeas))

[bittermintz]

waow...

[halokn1ght]

Disclaimer: this is mostly about LU Four, not FSA Link

But ok, im going to say it: I am tired of people treating Four as nothing more than a vehicle for the Colors. Don't get me wrong, I love them and think they're such an interesting way to explore someone's identity, but like. ...It's really not utilized for that effectively, imo. I find a lot of writing for the colors to be mostly based on (the manga's) Character Tropes. Which is… fine! Until the colors become flat, exaggerated caricatures, and Four becomes a muddied mess of Tropes in trenchcoat rather than a fully fleshed out character.

I've seen people say they don't know how to write Four or how to characterize him, and I think this comes from trying to build an identify around Four using the colors, when it should really be the other way around: Start with Four, and then break it down into each color's unique traits.

Technically, LU Four actually takes very little inspiration from the Manga (Jojo's own words), but the FSA Manga is accepted as a semi-canon way to characterize the colors. So, for the sake of analyzing how people write LU Four as a Whole Fandom, I will be referencing the manga here.

Let's start with Vio: "The Smart One." I often see people write him to be like your typical nerdy guy. He likes reading, is maybe a bit cold, is very intellectual. But… Vio isn't just smart, he's Four's smarts. Rather than make him a textbook that's knowledgeable about everything, it should be narrowed down to "what is FOUR knowledgeable about?" What specific areas does Four have strong technical skills in? What topics interest Four, and conversely, bore him to death? Not to mention, just because he's logical doesn't mean he's suddenly the smartest person in the room. He should be as smart as Four, not greater than. He should represent Four's intellect, not a generic intellect.

Red: Rather than be emotional to everything, what, specifically, pulls at Four's heartstrings? What moves him to tears, what sorts of things/people does he cherish? Rather than make him react with tears to every major injury, fight, or injustice, his emotions should have nuance. Maybe Four has so much experience in burns/forge-related injuries that there's more empathy/understanding, rather than emotional upset there. Maybe Red is particularly squeamish around blood, or needles, but can handle broken bones ok. I don't know, make it specific. Make it specific to Four.

Blue: Rather than be pissed all the time, what specific things makes Four angry? We see him yell at Wild for his weapons. What else pissses him off? What causes him to swing his sword first and ask questions later? What drives his impulses? An aspect to Blue that feels less explored is that he's also a representation of Four's confidence. So… what things is Four proud of? …What parts of himself is he ashamed of? Something Four (and therefore Blue) would never dare/utter as a weakness. A great way to emphasize certain traits is to also consider what is opposite and in opposition, after all.

And I've left Green for last, because his personality is a bit harder to sum up in one word and gets a bit lost in translation. In the FSA Manga, when all colors are being described, in Japanese they use the word "nekketsukan" (熱血漢). It's a specific character archetype in JP with no easy direct tl to english, but if i had to translate it, i might use words like "Hot-blooded and passionate." Not Aggressive, (what the Fan TL uses, feels a bit too strong and has a bit of a negative connotation), and not exactly the Viz Translation either (They use "focused and motivated" which… works but is missing the "FIRE" part that is associated with nekketsu characters.) For example, I would say Sidon is considered a nekketsu archetype. Theyre people who are passionate and bold in their sense of justice.

So for Four, I've always seen Green as a representation of Four's Heroism. Then, what makes him pick up a sword? What drives his sense of justice, and what/who does he fight for? What is it that he wants to protect? The answers to all of that should drive Green forward.

I've asked many rhetorical questions here and im not asking them with the idea that there is one, singular answer for it. I think its a bit of a playground, and im really interested to see what answers other people might come up with. And i'd like to apologize if this sounds like too strong of a rant, I don't want to make it sound like im demanding people write him a certain way or that others are wrong for writing him different. People can characterize him as they wish.

But no matter how you wish to write him, I think in general, considering Four first -> then breaking him down, allows each color to have a much more in-depth personality. Let Vio do something dumb sometimes. Let Red react with apathy. Let Blue drop into something cold and detached. Let Green falter. Four is human. By extension, so are they. That means they're full of contradictions…

And that's LU Four's greatest strength to me. Because the setting isn't exactly like FSA, where they're split the Entire Time. He's whole, he's chosen to stay as Four, shouldn't there be something intentional about that? I don't read him as four people stuck in one body, I read him as One Person with many complicated parts that can be (literally) dissected and divided. The parts are smaller than the whole, and therefore are prone to faltering. But Four manages to take the Best of them to be Himself. He's more than the sum of their parts.

…and again, i understand a lot of this is my own personal opinion. Either way, I just hope this long essay can maybe inspire someone to consider Four in a new light. Oh and everyone should play Minish Cap. Its a very beautiful game okay listen to me its extremely easy to emulate too, think of Tiny Four starting his First Adventure okay it can lend so much more context/ideas to Four's (and by extension, the Colors') characterization. Also its just a good game. Please thats my final message lets all play Minish Cap thank you for reading

[keferon]

You all flatter me! Now I am all pumped up to continue on the TF mecha au train. Ratchlock has me in a chokehold. You can't compliment me like that, It goes to my head! I haven't writen anything in like 12 years 😭. Also Yes yes to all the angst. I thrive on it more then the fluffy moments. Jazz and Deadlock/Drift are lining up nicely for a possible meeting. But first Deadlock WILL bath in blood! Wanna see?

****

Ratchet will not let Deadlock follow him around. Nope. Instead he keeps Deadlock on strict bed rest /he's learning human terms in his free time/ with the oh so sweet promise to weld him to the wall if he doesn't listen. He knows better to not test Ratchet, he'd do it no hesitation. Deadlocks fangs and claws only cause a raised eyebrow and wave of a slipper near well... anywhere in Ratchet's swating or throwing range. Since both of them honor their word/glyphic, they made a deal that if Ratchet comes home on time then in return Deadlock will be on his best behavior.

They use every extra moment together to learn, heal, and plot together. Deadlock's wounds are fully healed by now. He is ready to be the guardian knight he vowed to be for Ratchet. Ratchet's knuckles still ache which makes his hands shaky at times, especially when cold, but his squishy perseveres like a true warrior. Deadlock has learned that revving his engine to build up heat and letting Ratchet rest against his chassis helps with those trimmering aches the bioengineer tries to rub out.

He wants to give any comfort he can to Ratchet while he's working in that cursed lab with those ungreatful sacks of slags. He has photos of each one of those fraggers saved in his proccesor. The list only grows the longer they wait to leave. If he can work around Ratchet somehow, he'll cross them off at some point with a deep satisfaction while doing it. Ratchet has been as sly as a turbofox. He's been sidestepping, talking around, and out ranting the higher ups for a while. Deadlock is so proud of him for not backing down or falling silent. Right now Deadlock has the tv playing a sitcom while tinkering with his long range blaster. His audial fins flick as the door opens and closes. Ratchet looks at the show while shrugs his winter coat off, "So has Sam confessed his undying love to the ice cream vender Carly yet?" Ratchet asks walking over to the lazy-e-boy chair.

Deadlock reaches out and taps his back before he can sit down. "Refuel first." He reminds him before going back to tightening some wires. He smiles at the grumble and is pleased when Ratchet listens to him for once and heads to the kitchen, "and no the episode ended with him getting hit by a waste disposal truck. Now it's a filler episode. Jack is trying to get out of going to an Amica Endura's beach party. He is playing up a illness called the pox."

Ratchet comes back with a warm plate of food. Deadlock nods pleased with the portion. Ratchet rolls his eyes and sits down, "They did that same plot with Raphael four seasons ago." He grumbles and bats at Deadlocks claw when he tries to ruffle his hair, "If they drag this out for three episodes like last time I am popping in a different show." Both are content, they banter and complain about the show while Ratchet eats. When Ratchet reclines his lazy-e-boy chair Deadlock puts his weapon away, "They are transferring some of us to a different base in the morning. You know First Aid. They are putting him on a transport to the sister base north east of here. Called the Alpha Blade Strikers."

Deadlock tilts his helm, "That's the one that was visiting here? The commander of that base is the one you knocked out for slagging you off right? You mentioned the base being cursed." He asks leaning forward a bit, his servos tingling for revenge.

"Yes, same place and person. Don't believe in any of that cursed stuff but a lot of talk does go around about it. Mostly one pacific mecha being the main cursed object. First Aid was stressed to tears about being transferred. He had just gotten comfortable here with his friends. I feel a bit bad for the kid." Ratchet mumbles rubbing his face with his unbandged hand.

Deadlock gives a soft smile, "From what you've told me, he keeps his helm down. I am sure he will find friends or leave when he can. But if you are worried I am not opposed to taking him with us."

"We do not kidnap people, Drift. He wouldn't want to come along anyways. He wants to 'do his part for human kind'. Besides it takes him a while to get use to change and the possibility that we may be hunted down once we leave would most likely send him into cardiac arrest." Ratchet tilts his head back gives Deadlock a stern look, "On the topic of leaving we'll need to do that sooner then planned. Something isn't right, I don't like how hyper focused Pharma has gotten with quintessons corpses. Now he is showing intrest in you. He wants to know how I programmed a mecha to be powered by an AI system so flawlessly. It's driving him up a wall to not know. You know, since a mecha has never moved around without a pilot and can not talk. He keeps begging the higher ups to let him 'partner up with me' or let him take over the 'project' since I am just 'playing around with you'."

"Right fine. No kidnapping the youngling. But do not assume we will be the ones being hunted." Deadlock hums amused but turns serious when Pharma is brought up. That name is at the top of his 'don't let Ratchet catch on' splat list, "But me being 'imprinted' on you is keeping them from letting him get his quintessons gut covered servos... Err hands sorry, on me."

Ratchet nods rubbing his face again with a tired sigh, "I made certain they know you'll attack anything that isn't me." Deadlock can tell Ratchet is fighting a yawn. He lays down behind the chair and rumbles his engine. Ratchet's lips twitch with a smile hearing how smooth it's running now, "Pharma has never been a good listener though. Just be on guard okay kid... he's ploting something." Ratchet mumbles soaking up the heat coming from behind him. He tilts his head back against the head rest looking up at Deadlocks handsome, smug, sharp fanged grin, "He tries touching you, you can kill him. Don't let him into your system. I fear what he'd do. Probably make you even more loony and unbearable." The bioengineer yawns his voice full of fondness that makes Deadlock's spark sing.

Deadlock purrs as he gently pets Ratchet's head with a, claw retracted, digit. Ratchet's eyes grow heavy missing the most feral, down right demonic, energon hungry look Deadlock has at the permission to off Pharma, "He will not harm me. But I can tell he has worn on you today. You are more drained then grumpy, your insults are lacking any heat. Recharge Ratchet. I will reconfigure our supplies and time line while you regain your strenght. Then I'll show you in the morning. You can edit it while you fuel." He chuckles as Ratchet grumbles and mumbles at him. His squishy can't fight the cozy warmth and soothing pets. Deadlock's humming engine makes a familiar white noise that has grown to mean safe to Ratchet. In no time Ratchet is out cold. Picking up a blanket with a careful pinch he lays it on top of Ratchet and follows him into recharge.

-- --

They are so close to leaving. They have a place picked out and a time. Their supplies are packed and hidden away with a close friend of Ratchet's. The thing still keeping them on base is Ratchet's need to clear out all of his research. He doesn't want anyone to have anything of his, to have a chance to twist it into something that would cause more harm and death. It's been a tedious process but Ratchet has been deleting his work bit by bit so no one catches on.

Four days before their chosen leave date Ratchet walks into his lab only to be escorted to a debriefing room. One he has have never been to. Deep under the base. He had tried getting anyone to speak up about what's happening but the escorts, six of them for fuck sakes, don't even look at him. His gut instinct is screaming DANGER the deeper they go. His skin is crawling with uneasiness and he is fighting his fight then flight instincts. He taps at the small circler tracker he has in his winter coats collar as subtly as possible. Hoping it looks more like a nervious tick then a trigger to call for help. Hopfully they aren't to far down for it to work. The group stops at a vault door and Ratchet cuts off a growl growing in his throat when one of the 'escorts' pulls out some heavy duty cuffs. "Tell me what reason you have for those or their not going on Spike." He warns fists clenching at his side. He huffs at the click of a gun and someone has the balls to press it into his back.

The young soldier, Spike, frowns and waves his hand at the others behind Ratchet, "Ratchet please it's just procedure. You have saved a lot of our lives don't make us be rough. We don't want to be. Just put them on so I don't get yelled at later." Ratchet narrows his eyes, frown tightening. Spike groans, "I don't know what they want. No one told us anything. Please I am just doing what I was told."

Ratchet can tell Spike is holding his breath, pleading silently for Ratchet to listen. Ratchet does let a growl slip when the guns barrel grinds into his spine. His head snaps around and he glares hard enough to cause pause, "Cut that out, I know exactly how far to shove that to not kill you but make damn sure you wish I did." He snarls as he holds his wrists up to Spike. The comment earns him muffled chuckles and a few glares. Cuffs on Ratchet walks into the room. Spike shoots him an apologetic look as the door closes behind him. With a heavy exhale Ratchet takes in the room. A concrete floor, circular shaped room with thick metal walls. Cameras line the ceiling edges. His exhale catches in his throat as the metal walls start rolling up to reveal bullet proof glass filled with quintessons in various stages of dissection and tests. "We have another sublevel secret lab bellow our sublevel secret lab. Of course we do." Ratchet mumbles flatly to pissed off he didn't know this base was more fucked up then he thought then to be scared.

Speakers crackle on and an annoying whine comes through, "Not the reaction I was hoping for. Come on Ratch buddy show a bit more emotion then that. Less grump more begging maybe? At least shock." Pharma's voice chimes around him in an irritating way.

"Looks like all of this has been going on for a while. Why bring me into this now Pharma?" Ratchet says calmly since that seems to piss Pharma off more. He looks at his cuffed wrists and his blood runs cold as the hair on his neck stands on end. Goosebumps cover his arms making him shudder under the heavy coat, "I am not here for shop talk."

"Mmhmm, I am going to miss that snarky brain of yours Ratchy. But you did do a lot of things that put the base in danger. Security has taken notice of a lot of data, intel, cameras and video footage being tampered with." Pharma almost has a mocking sing songy tone to him. Strange, Ratchet knows he didn't tamper with anything that would jeopardized the security of the base. Definitely not the cameras or video footage, "You know what you've done and what we do to traitors. I already have received the ok to take over your work. The good commander is allowing me to say goodbye to you since we were such good old friends. Don't worry. I'll take good care of your Mecha." Yeah, Pharma sounds real choked up about all this, Ratchet rolls his eyes.

"Yeah, he'll take care of you Pharma." Ratchet keeps his tone and body language nonchalant as he studies the cuffs. He takes note of the little bit of gap, if he dislocates his thumbs.. "Only thing that's annoying about all of this is I'll be late getting home."

"I swear you are boring me to death on purpose Ratchet!!" Pharma snarls as a thud noise rings through the speakers

"Oh could I be so lucky?" Ratchet sighs sounding hopeful. He stiffens as the room lights turn red and multiple hisses of compressed air being released surrounds him. A robotic voice rings out a warning that the test subjects are being released. Ratchet whips his head around stepping in a circle as snarles and screeches drowned out the warnings. Ratchet steadies his breathing as best he can as his hands trimble and heart beats wildly. Deadlock would be livid if he doesn't go down giving it his all to get back to him. Ratchet would be just as pissed to, "I'll do what I can but you better hurry kid..."

-- --

"You weren't suppose to do that Pharma." A flat voice speaks up from behind Pharma after picking up the chair he had kicked away. Pharma scoffs and grumbles, "You are not even going to ask him what he ment by being late to his quarters?" The chief of security drones on.

"Be sure to capture all angles. I want detailed shots of it all." Pharma growls removings his hand from the release butten he hit hard enough to crack. "You are being paranoid per usual. Don't tell me you never heard the rammblings of a dying man?" Pharma sighs, with a dramatic flick of his wrist he walks out of the room.

"No, but I imagine I will soon enough." The security director mumbles under his breath. Reaching over the chair he resets the cameras.

OH. OH THEY ARE FUUUUUUCKED

OH THEY ARE SO SO INCREDIBLY FUCKED THEY ARE GONNA GET SPREAD EVENLY ALL OVER THE FLOOR AND I WANNA SEE IT SO B A D

Next

[weralika]

andrew would pay attention to balls if he wasn't too busy sucking dicks

[gochistica]

Who's this bizarre alien? 👽 it seems he's some kind of SEER of DOOM that had been witness of the most ABNORMAL FATE, he knows he is ALWAYS RIGHT even when he is NOT!

[kajen-jpg]

@/sweetstaraquarium’s post reminded me that I had a concept for Yohualtecuhtin… so I finally made a proper artwork

As a bonus. Lazy fullbody with design notes + older sketch from January

[sponponn]

who up meeting the artist