#raven chen

[omentrash]

My new workout jacket gives me serious Raven vibes so heres a closet cosplay. I made all the pictures grainy for that nostalgic cartoon network feel. 90s kids know.

[snakefeathers]

無題1 + 無題2 | まめまる (Mamemaru) [uploaded with artist's permission]

[snakefeathers]

Raven phonophobia

[Phonophobia- noun; a fear of loud or sudden noises, usually associated with trauma]

After so long, he thought that maybe the jumpiness would have faded. Raven had hoped the easiness to startle would disappear. He was pretty sure both Shadow and Reese had hoped as well, but if anything, it had gotten worse as time drug on. Even though he was no longer on active duty, no longer forced to fight tooth and claw for his own life, his senses were just as tuned for combat as they had been during his army stints.

Storms always bothered him after the horrible nightmare that had been the ill-fated fight in the canyon. The bright flashes of lightning and resonant boom of thunder sounded and looked too similar to the Charged Particle Beam ripping Razor’s body apart around him. Razor’s death-cry and his own screams echoing in his ears still woke him up most nights, the ghost-heat of the flames hot against his skin even with Shadow’s cool metal body pressed to his.

Up in the mountains the weather was unpredictable at best, with summers full of showers and sudden storms. It was why he was up at some ungodly hour, clutching a bird and fire embellished book Reese had left out on the coffee table earlier and pressed as far into the arm of the couch as he could go in an attempt to be as small as possible considering his height. It was childish, obviously, trying to hide as he was from the lightning and thunder, but thinking rationally didn’t diminish his terror any so he figured what was the harm trying to isolate himself? No one was awake to see him besides the cat and maybe ‘Fade, and even then the Organoid hatchling couldn’t actually see him.

A bright flash of lightning made him flinch, half-numb fingers crinkling the page he’d been turning. He knew Reese wouldn’t mind the wrinkled page but he still felt a bit of self-conscious guilt over it. Smoothing it out made it worse, the page ripping, so he went to close it and put it back, already forming a mental apology note for Reese when she woke up.

As soon as the cover was shut one of the Zoidian’s tiny Mini-Sworders alighted on the corner, fluttering its wings and clicking its mandibles quietly, gleaming crimson eyes tiny pinpoints of light in the dark of the room. After having been around them for nearly a year now he felt far more comfortable around the metal insects, enough so that he’d go so far as to say he was fond of the creatures. Its presence meant that either Reese or Specula had sensed his distress, and even though he was getting better at mentally communicating with the small Zoids he had yet to be able to initiate a conversation through them; Reese or her Organoid always began the talks through them.

The mental prod the jeweled metal insect gave him was tentative, so light and reserved that it had to be Specula. The Organoid worked on rules and rationales that he could never hope to fathom. His suspicions were correct, for the moment he his mental guard ease her presence cascaded through his thoughts, all soft pastel colors and misty shapes; a stark contrast to Shadow’s bright colors and jagged, bleeding sendings. She rarely spoke words to him, her voice always so wispy and quiet, and now was no exception; Raven got only a wordless impression of concern from her, her mental presence a muted scape that formed into twinkling pinpoints and sweeping swathes of color that reminded him of a starry sunrise. The mental noise of it helped to drown out the thunder.

Raven didn’t know how to send his own emotional shapes back to the Organoids, and he doubted he ever would learn. He had a feeling that all Organoids and Zoids likely communicated like that before Zoidians and humans introduced languages to them. Now that he thought on it, ‘Fade was likely the first Organoid knowing the words of man to hatch in centuries. He added it to his never-ending mental list of questions he hoped to answer with his research.

“It was the thunder, I bet.” If he hadn’t been already on edge from the storm, Reese’s voice wouldn’t have startled him like it did. He nearly dropped the book, the Mini-Sworder jostled into flight by the movement when he spun to face the stairwell where the Zoidian was leaning up against the doorframe, dressed in one of Raven’s far too big work shirts and sweats with ‘Fade sleeping in her arms.

“Both but… yeah,” Raven watched her make her way to the couch, sitting down lightly next to him. He heard her hum in response, her eyes catching the book he still held tight in his unscarred hand. “I messed up one of the pages, sorry.” He admitted guiltily, offering it to her. The Zoidian just shrugged her shoulders a bit, moving ‘Fade enough to reach over with a hand to take it.

“Don’t worry, lon dubh,” Reese assured, smirking a bit, “but, I’ll trade you.” She added, plopping the blind hatchling into Raven’s lap and taking the book from him. She flipped through the pages, finding the one mangled one which she smoothed out half-heartedly. Raven didn’t really see it, his attention focused on the now-squirming and chirping Organoid in his lap. ‘Fade’s mental presence was all monotonous greys and whites, interspersed with calm cream colors which always felt warm and soothing in his mind. Now was no different, the hatchling’s bright sendings covering up Specula’s presence, which had faded considerably once Reese entered the room.

“Did Specs tell you I was up?” Raven asked, not bothering to look away from ‘Fade who was now clamoring up onto his shoulder, his favorite perch. Reese just exhaled in a laugh, leaning against his side as she opened the book up to where she had stopped earlier in the day.

“She might have mentioned something, but I can tell when my céile is bothered by something, you know.” She teased, settling herself in. Raven moved himself a bit so they’d both be more comfortable, so Reese could lean her head on his shoulder while he had his feet up on the coffee table. ‘Fade had himself wedged up on his shoulder, chin resting on top of his head and wing-claws knotted into his shirt, and his tail lazily wrapped partly around his neck with the tip tapping on his chest. He hardly noticed the storm outside anymore, what with Reese commentating on what she was reading and ‘Fade loudly purring in his ear, effectively blocking the sound and buffering him from it, allowing him to relax and let his eyes close. Times like this were among the few he felt like he truly belonged.

[Part 2 of the Phobia prompts]

[corvus-alchiba]

っつって！ | @nailfrz

[corvus-alchiba]

眼鏡レイヴンさん。ださい。ごめん。 | @mm_z0i

[snakefeathers]

Raven Chen: From Foil to Detailed Deuteragonist

So, for 3080J Composition class we were tasked to write a four page character analysis paper on any character we wanted. I picked Raven Chen from Zoids and keep in mind this is a personal character analysis and should in no way be considered canon material.

Word Count: 1370 Final Grade: 98% [-2 points on minor text technicality]

Originally airing in 1999 in Japan, Chaotic Century (known simply as Zoids during its original release) was incredibly popular there and when it premiered in the United States in 2004. The successful series spawned a sequel, and two subsequent series that take place on the same fictional planet of Zi, but with no obvious direct plot connection. The show focuses on the escapades of a fourteen-year-old Zoid Pilot named Van Flyheight and his companions Fiona Elisi Linette, a survivor of a long-extinct race known as the Ancient Zoidians, Zeke, a small highly-intelligent saurian Zoid called an Organoid, and a ragtag group of mercenaries, transporters and soldiers. Together they try to end the war raging between the Helic Republic and the Guylos Empire, and prevent a repeat of the disaster that decimated the Zoidans of old. In the second season, dubbed Guardian Force, with the war now over and a tentative peace now in place, Van and his friends join the Guardian Force, a joint military effort between the now-allied Republic and Empire to prevent another war from breaking out, and to stop a deranged Zoidian’s plans to resurrect the Death Saurer, an ancient Zoid with immeasurable power.

Raven, during the first season, is an ace Zoid Pilot from the Empire who battles Van frequently and is ultimately defeated at his hand. When first introduced he is portrayed as a quiet, calculating and cold individual, who although the same age as young Van is hardened by war and his own vendetta against Zoids. Despite his hatred of Zoids, he is shown to be a phenomenal pilot, and is partnered to an Organoid like Van; his is a black, dragonesque female named Shadow who possesses immense destructive power. For most of the first season he serves mainly as a foil for Van’s heroic goals of wanting to save Zoids and end the war, and it appears as though that is all his character will amount to be; a few episodes before the end of the first season, Raven and Shadow are both presumably killed in a final battle against Van that causes Raven’s Zoid to burst into flames, with him trapped inside with his Organoid. It appeared as though Raven’s purpose as a simple foil, and his overall role in the story, was up, however…

Partway through the second season, Raven returned alongside Shadow. During this season, development and backstory fleshed out his character and induced one of the most dramatic shifts of character in the entire Zoids franchise. Originally fueled by revenge, and physically and mentally scarred from the explosion of their last battle, he falls back into place as a foil for Van and the rest of the main team. However, at the beginning of the last plot arc, his character drastically changes. A Zoidian, Reese, restores some of his missing memories, revealing the circumstances surrounding his past; his parents were brutally killed in front of him by a feral Organoid, igniting his hatred of Zoids. While this does explain a good deal of his behavior, it in no way excuses him or invalidates his position as a villain. In a subsequent battle against Van, Raven is betrayed by his former ally and fired upon with a powerful weapon, severely damaging his Zoid, the Geno Breaker, and fatally injuring Shadow. The Organoid passing away in his arms breaks through his normally cold demeanor, and the normally bold pilot is emotionally shattered and consumed with fear over the realization that he is now alone. His attitude, behavior and personality go through a drastic shift, going from a sarcastic, dangerous warrior to a fearful, soft-spoken and defenseless boy lost in his own mind. It is the single most dramatic shift in character in the entire Zoids storyline, and fuels a secondary character arc that focuses solely on him and Reese that breaks away from the main plot and rejoins it at the finale. It is also the catalyst that steers him away from his role of secondary antagonist, and gives him a new role as an ally to Van and his group in the final climactic battle and finale of the show. One might even be able to call him a dark hero of sorts.

In addition to this dramatic character change, his interactions and relationships with other characters paint Raven in a unique light in the show. While other characters actively form relationships with other characters, Raven is one of the few to have pre-existing relationships not formed on-screen, and complex ones at that. He is shown to have a unique, informal bond with his commanding officer in the military, a man named Karl Schwarz. They speak casually and without use of rank or title, and Major Schwarz takes on a sort of parental role for him. He fills the mentor character archetype, with his advice and gentle guidance proving him one of the few characters that Raven seeks out, relies on and trusts. The main villain of the first season, Gunther Prozen, is Raven’s adoptive father and they share an interesting relationship. They have a quiet respect for each other, although they appear somewhat distant; Raven appears closer to the Major than he is to Prozen. His relationship with Shadow is a dramatic one. Originally he views the Organoid as little more than a tool, but after her death and later revival, he comes to view her as a loyal companion and friend. It marks the beginning of his change from villain to ally, as he slowly lets go of his past to work toward a better future.

His relationship with Reese is perhaps the most dynamic. They originally hated each other, with Reese going out of her way to tease and annoy him, with Raven being openly hostile. As the plot progressed and Raven came down off of his revenge-fueled warpath, however, they developed a quiet sort of respect for one another, and after Shadow’s death, they used one another for support and helped each other going into the final battle at the end of the series. There are even hints they develop romantic feelings for one another toward the end of the show, but it’s never explicitly shown and is left up to interpretation. His relationship with Van is dynamic as well; starting as rivals, they continue as bitter enemies until the final battle against the newly-revived Death Saurer, where Raven and Van fight side by side to bring it down. Their old conflicts presumably dropped, they start again with a mutual respect for each other as pilots and equals.

From foil to dynamic dark hero, Raven’s character goes through a number of twists and turns from season one to season two of Zoids: Chaotic Century. His one-sidedness falls away to reveal a deeply dynamic character, fueled by his own goals and history that drives him from villain to surprise ally. With complex and ever-changing relationships with dozens of characters, he adds a distinctive layer of depth to the overall plot of the show, and solidifies him as the deuteragonist of the storyline. Second only to the protagonist, he has the most development and plot involvement of any other character, with depth, purpose and involvement.

[corvus-alchiba]

ヴンさん | ぐう

[cacodemum]

レイヴン - ym