Echo-oaks - Writing Everything

It wouldn’t be historically accurate for my story to include BIPOC!

This is an argument often made about European-style fantasy media like Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and Disney’s Frozen. Audiences, often white, assume that due to the majority-white setting, adding any visible number of BIPOC to the story would be unrealistic.

What these critics fail to realize is that BIPOC do in fact live, and have lived, in these settings, and records of BIPOC presence in places assumed to be majority-white have been buried, written out, or not taught due to white supremacist and/or colonial bias in the field of history. There are historical European settings that were far more diverse than is often portrayed. Consider:

The Moorish Empire exerted an extensive influence over life and culture in Southern Europe from Spain from 711 to 1492

The Ottomans were heavily involved in European affairs up until the treaty of Karlowitz in 1699, but still considered a part of Europe even through the 19th century

The sheer size of the Roman Empire ensured the continued movement of people from various backgrounds within the Mediterranean well until the end of the Byzantine Empire.

“Historical accuracy” should not be used as an excuse for media to be exclusively white in its casting. While there are places which are or were predominantly white, there will always be factors like global trade and immigration that bring multiculturalism to their doors.

And even if the presence of a certain demographic is unrealistic for a certain setting? Consider that we’ve accepted far worse inaccuracies in historical fiction in the name of artistic license. Consider that our understanding of human history is, and will always be, incomplete.

Further Reading:

Historically Diverse London, “Historical Accuracy,” and Creator Accountability

Making a Black Pride and Prejudice Resonate

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This Q&A is an excerpt from our General FAQ for Newcomers, which can be found in our new Masterpost of rules and FAQs. If you're new to Writing With Color and/or want more writing resources, check it out!

-Writing With Color

Chapters: 2/26 Fandom: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga), Crooked Villains - Fandom Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death Relationships: Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead & Original Character, Yagi Toshinori | All Might & Original Character, Sensei | All For One & Original Character(s), Dabi | Todoroki Touya/Original Character(s), Kaminari Denki/Shinsou Hitoshi Characters: Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead, Original Characters, Shigaraki Tomura | Shimura Tenko, Sensei | All For One, Yagi Toshinori | All Might, Dabi | Todoroki Touya, Midoriya Izuku, Bakugou Katsuki, Kurogiri (My Hero Academia), Yoarashi Inasa, Minor Characters, Kohiro Hazane, Class 1-A (My Hero Academia) Additional Tags: Crooked Villains, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Polyamory, LGBTQ Themes, Canon Characters are Queer, Internalized Queerphobia, Discussion of Gender as Relationship Development, Heavy manga spoilers, Kohiro Hazane is a Little Shit, Canon-Typical Violence, Takes Place Just Before the Hero Killer Arc, Recreational Drug Use, Blood and Gore, Major Character Injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Anxiety, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Gender Dysphoria, Non-Explicit Sex, Heavy in Headcanons, Aromantic Midoriya Izuku Series: Part 1 of Crooked Villains Summary:

"Your task is simple. Really. Just hard enough that I know you can do it versus someone off the street. Only I am better than you, dearie," Master's throat bobbed as he swallowed. He inhaled and continued, "Keep an eye on these kids. Any information about quirks and their weaknesses. And… you might've seen the document on All Might."

"Yeah. There were rumors he was going to be a teacher at U.A. this upcoming year."

"One for All…" He grimaced. His fingers tightened against her jaw. "If you get the chance, kill All Might."

***

Kohiro Hazane learned the hard way that she was neck-deep in shit and couldn't swim.

There was no turning back for her. Whether she liked it or not, that decision had been made for her when Japan's most wanted villain took her under his wing and raised her to be his perfect successor. She was a villain, and villains didn't get second chances.

Until Kohiro is tasked to infiltrate U.A. Hero Academy.

And Kohiro learns the hard way that second chances are few, but a little bit of love can be just the second chance she needs.

Inspired by a recent experience I had with someone stealing my art and cropping out my URL. Dedicated to every artist who has had their art work stolen.

CONFESSIONS OF A ROTTEN GIRL 🍅

not to be a sleep awaker (lie) but what about physicist and kokichi for the drabble? totally chill to say no btw!!

OOOH !!!! OKAY . physouma non-despair date time !!!

"Did you know Japan actually has the longest roller coaster in the world?"

Kokichi spares you a look that comes across at a halfway point between bored and amused. "Is that so?"

"Yeah!" You're sort of on a roll now; the busy park and all its pairs of eyes seem to sort of melt away as you crane your neck up to look at the rides; they make colourful curves against the sky, huge and metal and hulking. They're beautiful creations of physics. You could honestly look for hours without getting bored.

"Mm, I don't trust them," Kokichi yawns. "Like, what if they decide they get sick of me and toss me out mid-ride?"

"Oh, uh, that wouldn't happen!" you hasten to assure him. "See, rollercoasters work on kinetic energy, since they don't have engines or anything. Basically, they use a lift or cable to haul them up the first hill, which builds up a supply of potential energy—the longer the climb, the more energy is stored, you see? When the rollercoaster goes down, that stored energy is released as kinetic energy, which gets the carriage up the next hill without the need for a cable!"

You stammer to a halt, suddenly conscious you've been talking for a good minute. Kokichi looks over at you, all focused eyes. If you didn't know any better, you'd think he looked a tad flushed.

"I love it when you talk physics to me, beloved," he says, fluttering his lashes. You feel heat flood your face.

"Oh, just... stop it," you say weakly. "C'mon, I wanna go on this one."

Kokichi eyes the thing warily. "I'm... y'know, I just realised, I'm probably too short! Gosh! Darn it!"

"You're five-foot-one, not a toddler." You curl your fingers around his wrist and pull him impatiently. "Come on."

Kokichi looks down at your joined hands thoughtfully, then shrugs. "Fine! But you owe me. I want a slushie after we're off."

"Sure thing."

"Like, literally the biggest slushie you've ever seen. Grape flavoured."

"I expected nothing less."

Fallout 4: Where is the Lone Wanderer?*

*a vague conspiracy theory which doesn’t actually answer the question at hand. We all have our own ideas of how the lore should go, and I’m sure yours is very canon-compliant and valid, but this is mine and I have support for it. Looooongpost.

First off: What do we know about the canon Wanderer?

We know they activated Project Purity (or had a companion do it) without the FEV and were inducted into the Brotherhood. We know they’ve met with MacCready (you can’t finish the game if you don’t), and he has dialogue indicating they had further contact. They also took the Brotherhood’s side at Adams Air Force Base.

We don’t know what happened with The Replicated Man, but since the canon Wanderer appears to have good karma, and info from 4 implies Zimmer’s disappearance was more recent than ten years ago, it seems likely they took the boring ending, which secures their membership in the Railroad.

Why aren’t they in Fallout 4?

The Doylist answer is that they’re highly customizable, and so they have no canon appearance, personality, gender, etc. But in-universe? Something happened.

“Accepting outsiders like yourself has proven disastrous in the past.” - Kells

“I've seen other soldiers come and go. Some were brave, some were honest... hell, some were even downright heroic.” - Danse

“Every doctor I've talked to was worthless. [] I don't need them... I need someone like you.” - MacCready

When Duncan first got sick, “someone like you” would have meant the Wanderer. This suggests (to me) that they’re not in the Capital Wasteland anymore. But they’re certainly not in the Commonwealth either.

The weird thing is that the Lone Wanderer is all over this game - they’re the namesake for a male hairstyle, a perk, a DCR song, a motorcycle brand… and the codename of Deacon’s mission to save the Railroad from certain destruction by recruiting the Sole Survivor.

Someday We’ll Find It, the Deacon Connection

Oh yeah, I’m going here. Desdemona’s terminal entries confirm it was always Deacon’s plan to get you onboard and use you to destroy the Institute. There are Railroad lookout posts near 111/Sanctuary and Red Rocket, and of course he followed you in Goodneighbor, Diamond City, and Bunker Hill (at least). His court jester vibe hides it a bit, but he’s manipulating you more than he’s manipulating Desdemona in the intro scene. And do you notice he rarely gives you a firm verbal disapproval unless you’re hurting the Railroad?

What could have caused Deacon’s interest in you, unless he’s made the connection between you and the Lone Wanderer? He’ll vouch for you if you haven’t accomplished anything yet, or even if you’re a Brotherhood member. A Pip-Boyed stranger emerges from a vault in the middle of a crisis, gaining friends, skills, items, and special abilities at a suspicious rate? Probably with the same gender and playstyle as the previous one? Heck, when he first heard the rumors, he probably thought you WERE the Lone Wanderer.

There are other indications the Railroad has been in contact with them — Desdemona mentions the Capital Wasteland as their primary destination for synths, and Deacon references Harkness’s recall code. If you refuse to pick a codename, Desdemona even assigns you “Wanderer.”

So what happened, then?

I think the answer lies with the Brotherhood, specifically in Deacon’s hatred of them. Sure, ideology is enough to hate them for, but Deacon sure seems suspiciously happy if you nuke their base of operations. (Some of) his comments on that:

“The Brotherhood... well, I met them on an op in Capital Wasteland a few years back. But now with Elder Maxson... Let's just say, not a fan.”

“That bastard Maxson really screwed them up. The Brotherhood used to be the good guys. Well, goodish.”

[Who’s Elder Maxson?] “He’s a piece of work, is what he is.”

And on his time in the Capital:

“Did I ever tell you about the time I was in Capital Wasteland? Now there's a tale.”

“Capital Wasteland. Exports: purified water, some decent tech, oh, and an insane suicidal cult that worships radiation. Thanks, guys.”

“I miss Capital Wasteland. You can actually drink the water there.”

And a few lines I’ve decided (with no evidence) directly refer to LW:

“Last partner I had wound up going... well, a little insane. I think it was all my show tune medleys.”

[After Maxson orders you to hunt Danse down] “See? This is what the Brotherhood's really about.”

And my favorite: “I’ve been looking forward to kicking the Brotherhood’s teeth in. I owe them.” This line comes before Glory is killed, so he’s not referring to that. The Brotherhood only recently arrived in force in the Commonwealth. He’s talking about something that happened in the Capital Wasteland.

So Here’s What Might Have Happened:

In early 2286, Deacon moves to the Capitol Wasteland for awhile, probably to get a face change and lay low for a bit. He contacts the Lone Wanderer, who has barely heard from the Railroad in nine years. They begin to work together.

(In context, this journal entry looks like he’s somehow gathering intel to predict when Vault 111 will open, but I can’t think of a way for him to get that information or know why it’s important, so I’m not going to believe it just yet.)

The Wanderer is still a knight, maybe a paladin. Maxson has been elder for 2-3 years and is monitoring the Institute. Meanwhile, the Lone Wanderer and Deacon are setting up infrastructure to receive escaped synths.

And then the Brotherhood finds out about one of the safehouses. With their limited understanding, they believe that the Institute is holed up there and attack. The Wanderer intentionally throws the mission — maybe disobeys orders, maybe downs a vertibird or collapses a subway tunnel, or maybe even attacks their brothers to protect the synths.

And, well-

Either they were killed, or they escaped court martial and execution by a hair’s breadth and fled the Capital, leaving Deacon to believe Maxson had them killed.

There you have it. That’s why they aren’t in Brotherhood dialogue or records. Their accomplishments couldn’t be recognized because they’re a traitor. And that’s why it’s personal for Deacon.

Still can’t get over how beautiful Astarion is. Like goddamn

I would literally sell my kindey to see how you draw Kyoko just saying

Here's also stuff for people who asked for Kaede and Taka and Mondo.

What is a Hero’s Cape for?

This meta is in response to a comment by @k-isecchis​

I’d also like to point out the parallels between Eri and Shigaraki. Eri was left to suffer longer due to strategy. Something that always rubbed me the wrong way about that arc is that besides Mirio and Deku, everyone’s so desperately trying to save her because they knew that was Chisaki’s trump card. Eri’s power is as potentially as destructive as Shigaraki, but she was “lucky” Chisaki was making enough waves for the heroes to notice. 

Thank you for pointing out this excellent parallel. This opened my mind to the parallels between the war arc, and the overhaul arc. How both arcs are really about showcasing how massive the divide is between the ideals of hero society “saving people” and hero society’s pragmatic realization “defeating villains”. Once again let’s talk more about hero society underneath the cut.

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