I want to talk about how I write the version of Mask I write for Forging A Chain sometime (especially if someone puts in an ask), but being as short on time as I am at the current moment, I'll just share something that stands out to me when I think about my version of the character compared to other interpretations of a younger Time.
Specifically, I generally do not write him like a child. He simply does not think like one or act like one (unless he is deliberately trying to shape others' perceptions). Maybe it's because I've ended up setting him up as some sort of narrative foil to Legend but he also thinks and monologues a lot. But perhaps most importantly, he really does not make it easy to tell what's going on in his head unless the scene is directly in his point of view.
It's a version of him that I haven't really seen elsewhere, though I think it's one that thematically lines up with OOT and MM quite well.
While I believe that people should be allowed to write whatever they find interesting, it sometimes makes me a little sad that the common fanon portrayal of Legend as a generally grouchy person who hates adventuring and seems to hate Hylia in particular seems to be the predominant portrayal of him in the fandom.
I get that people aren't necessarily under an obligation to write him exactly as he appears in the comic, but I feel like the pure ubiquity with which his fanon self is portrayed has caused a lot of people to just think he's that way, leading to them deciding to write him that way because they think that's just the character he is. I feel that there is often a dearth of other interpretations of his character that you wouldn't necessarily see for some other characters.
There is certainly a certain appeal to the fanon version of Legend (though it's no longer my cup of tea, it certainly was at one point), and there's also appeal to the version of Legend that appears in the comic. People don't feel beholden to the canon, as is the nature of fanwork, but by that same logic people are under no obligation to stick with fanon either. If you have opinions on him (or any character, really) that doesn't really go with all the super common headcanons, please, just put them out there anyway. It's not like they're going to be any less canon than the fanon version of him.
It'll be much more interesting to have more interpretations of Legend out there than less, and it'll certainly be more interesting to have more varied interpretations of him than just the one. Just having one version of him gets tiring after a while.
free space to say anything you want about steven im so interested in your thoughts
This ask has been sitting in my inbox for a while now because I've been unsure about how I want to go about attacking it (you've given me such a gift, anon)
But I think I'll use this as an opportunity to publicly share a long line of characterization thoughts I discussed one day in the steven stone appreciation discord server (compiled below the cut, it's going to be kinda messy)
Personally i like to see Steven as someone who has everything to lose. He’s smart, rich, educated, handsome, a skilled battler, and a regional darling. This is going to be controversial but I think he had a loving family and a fulfilling (albeit very sheltered) upbringing. He seems like the kind of guy who could very easily get anything he wanted. But i also see him as someone who’s aware of that and puts in genuine effort to see reality outside of his bubble.
I see him as someone who never really experienced personal tragedy growing up, and as someone who a few members of the general public could get frustrated with for “privilege-blindness”. Like he’s someone who was basically placed on a high rung at birth but still needed to climb upwards. Most people love him (rightfully so) but others are more than ready to have a reason to throw rocks at him. I think I take this approach mainly because I'm really fascinated by IRL celebrity culture from an outsider's perspective
But, in his core, he's a good guy with healthy morals who has much to learn about the world around him.
and now for some shitpost headcanons
beldum was a devon corp invention originally intended to be a smart can opener. it accidentally gained sentience and became the president's young son's best friend
steven's mother isn't dead or even absent. she just happened to be visiting kalos during the events of the hoenn games and had the shock of her life finding out about the weather crisis through buzznav's emergency alerts (steven had twenty-seven missed calls from mom during this time)
steven's perception of money is very much the "it's one banana what could it cost 10 dollars" meme. this is both a positive and a negative
steven has a relatively sharp sense of style except when it comes to casual wear (that summer outfit is divorcecore)
