The Greatest Character I've Ever Created and Why I'll Never Do Any Better · 9:21pm Dec 12th, 2012
For those of you unaware of the story I'm currently working on at the moment, let me introduce you to my bouncing baby girl, Dark Side of the Moon.
The original inspiration for this, like so much more of my work, was by taking yet another challenge. I would have to write a story based upon one of the many pony Tumblr's that you happen to see now and then. I'd have free choice of which one to pick, and could make it as ridiculous as I wanted.
Needless to say, I chose this one, by a very talented Egophiliac:
But... it occurred to me, as I planned this out, that I could try something new. Originally, this was going to be a 3rd person omniscient, and hell, I'd already written three chapters before I scrapped the thing decided to make the viewpoint to that of the heroine's companion, rather than the heroine herself. Why? Because it's rarely been done before, and Luna turns into quite the Mary Sue, and I'm tired of writing for OP'ed characters.
With that philosophy in mind, I went with this guy:
Say hello to Cassius, everyone. This idiot is my favorite character, out of all the ones I've ever made, including wise, reserved Echo, the stalwart, heroic Buck Apple, and the grumpy, stubborn Ginger Snap.
He's not OP in the least, in fact, he doesn't even have any P, let alone the O. He is, quite simply, a wimp, raised from a privileged, noble upbringing, and a politician to put it at that. I know, right? Disgusting. In addition, he approaches Asberger's Syndrome-levels of social ineptitude, more or less shunning contact with the outside world, choosing to hermit himself away in his lavish estate and hide from the responsibilities and power that his bloodline grants him.
Cassius is the epitome of wasted potential. And yet...
I think I like this character so much because of the fact that he isn't even the focus of the story. Luna is the main protagonist, though not the main character, ironically. I like the fact that he fears the very title put in front of his name. I like the way he takes shit from his butler, Chives, out of a twisted sense of gratitude and affection. I like that he is the most flawed character in existence, and that he acknowledges his own ineptitude, but does nothing about it until circumstances force him to become the very thing he fears the most.
Heroes... don't always have to be a hero, I guess.
Maybe it's good to write someone different from what most other people do. If I met this guy anywhere, I'd probably hate his guts. But...by writing different personalities, different backgrounds, different anything... it helps you gain perspective. You can see where some people are coming from now. Perspective, I think, is the key to understanding everything. And Cassius brings that to me in metric fuck-tons.
And that's why Lord Cassius of Umbara is the greatest Original Character I'll ever write.
-Rust
HURRAY ASBERGER LEVELS OF SOCIAL INEPTITUDE!
No infact its horrible.. Worst part about being an Asberger (NOBODY LIKES ME
)
603251
603276
Heh, go figure.
603271
And that's why we have the Internet.
603271
I won't pretend to understand what it's really like, as I don't have it myself. But... I know that it can suck, sometimes. I've met several people with the condition and, really, they're just like everyone else. Just. A bit different. But sometimes that's all it takes, isn't it?
603303 Indeedy.. Its easier with text and such.. Asbergers can't read emotion and almost always get it wrong.. They act the way they act because they find it most fitting for the occation... Text is good because every emotion is displayed with smileys.. Easy to understand =D
603297 Even with the Internet, it only works out for us every now and then.
603303 Oh... And sorry about the constant '...' I'm quite derpy when it comes to punctuation :/
Epicdonus points leader board
Epicdonus 3 perfect score!
Rust 3 perfect score!
Blueblood 3.1
Please tell me why, whenever I see your nick I read it in a way a Japanese person would (and I'm from Europe...), so in the end it becomes something like Rhasto.
Yes, yes, I'm weird.
Gotta say, I do like his character- he reminds me of Arthur Dent and I'm not particularly sure why
603303 I feel like addressing this, but it's not really possible.
Whatever. At least years of practice have helped me out in terms of communication.
603339
Almost as bad as DINKLEBERG...
603372 "Everything I touch DIES"
" yo, Dinkleberg, wanna shake hands with my wife?"
So far I like Chives better, he reminds me of Bob from the Dresden Files (may that show R.I.P.)
Oh and btw is anyone reading Chives in an english accent?
603556
Hell, I wrote him with that classical dry British wit. Nothing like it.
He's an utter disgrace, and a spineless coward!......I like him already.
I still think you should've named him Bruce Mane for obvious reasons
The only problem is is that that character's official name is actually Sunshine Smiles.
See HERE for the full cast(minus final boss, adult Roks, and celestia) and HERE for the names of every one in the cast picture.
Cassius amuses me to no end all throughout the story, especially the moments between him and Chives.
-Minty
(Chives is best butler.)
His butler is 'Chives'? That is... yes. You are doing things right on so many levels.
static.desktopnexus.com/thumbnails/725847-bigthumbnail.jpg
I happen to have Asbergers. I'd be lying if I said it was fun, but to be honest, maybe going through life with it has made me more mature than most people my age (14) in the end.
EDIT: Okay, not exactly "going through life", I mean, I'm not even that old yet.
603900
I'm more than aware of the actualities, mate. The point of the entire story was to take something and completely put your own spin on it. Hell, I've read Moonstuck all the way through like... ten times now.
603709
I've always wondered how your work would look in their color scheme... I think it could work.
604115
It's always struck me that people with the condition tend to think on a higher level than others in their age bracket. Again, I won't pretend to understand how your mind works - because you just think differently - but I do sympathize. It's another reason I wanted to make Cassius a sort of social outcast. He prefers his own company (maybe Chives') and would be utterly content with stargazing for the rest of his life. ...Sort of like Bilbo Baggins, I guess, if Luna were Gandalf.
603271 I know what you mean.
Writing a character with good morales and everything cliché like that is easy. Hero writing is by the book and one of the first things we write about. Now writing a flawed character, that's difficult. We usually always put our own characteristics in our characters. Even if we don't realize it. But putting all our flaws or even flaws from someone else into a character we would hate in real life to meet is what separates a good writer from the rest. Well done sir, well done.
Sounds like you've been having a lot of fun with your new OC. Keep on keepin' on!
604812
>reads statement
>We usually always put our own characteristics in our characters."
>our own characteristics
>our own
>runs to mirror, grabs it by the sides, shakes it wildly
>"YOU ASSHOLE!"
604904
!!!
Bahahahaha
Also, love the Santa hat. Getting into the holiday spirit I see.
I think there was a story written from the viewpoint of Tom the Rock...
Even since I was just a kid, I've always tried to see things from a different perspective.
It's not easy. ESPECIALLY when I'm arguing for something I truly believe in.
The thing I like about this character is that I know I would hate him if he were real, and I'm having to sympathize with him at times.
So keep on going with this story, Rust. I like seeing things from different views. I less than three Moonstuck and OH MY GOD I LOVE THE EYE-PATCH BATPONY.
Personally I prefer US customary unit fuck-tons. We must always be vigilant to combat the Red Menace in all it's many and varied forms.
604416
I happen to have Apergers and from my experince its like haveing a brain like a bee hive that has bees with a brain like a bee hive where every bee is thinking a seperate thought. Also add Pinkie Pie it helps rap up the unexplainable.
Glad to hear it. Good for you.
603271
Yo.
Aspie Bronies gotta stick together, ya know?
Give me a Brohoof, Brother!
604416 So this is a story you're making?
606570
As Mike Tyson would say; "Yeth. Yeth it ith."
605700 *Epic Bro-hoof* Because it always has to be epic :3
Cassius ftw!
603271
lunachan.net/chat/src/135524029428.gif
i like you :3
I hadn't really thought of it that way... maybe that's why I like him too, because it is rare to find a character made imperfect.
Nicely done.
607257 That has to be one of the most adowable gifs I've ever seen =O <3
608583
This. I love this. Fuck, I love you. We'll bang, okay?
Must read nao
I hope this doesn't come across as creepy, but Rust?
I love you.
Good point. A story told through the perspective of the Greek Chorus? Interesting. Can't wait to read it!
through the creation of this character i noticed from the very start of this story that you have created a very original piece of work and have enjoyed all of the chapters thus far in the series what you said about cassius being your best character is very true in a literary aspect as his many flaws make him relatable to so many various readers allowing people to enjoy the story for everything that its worth your story here is probably one of the best on this site for all these reasons and more cant wait till the next chapter bro keep writin dont stop