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Self-Insert Idea Thread

sunandshadow said:
Is anyone going to do a Final Fantasy 7-verse SI in honor of part 1 of the remake coming out?
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I had a brief impulsive thought based on the premise of a gamer isekai doing gamer things (hoarding health potions because they might be needed later, spending all their money on clothes, getting tied up in sidequests and dart games, stealing everything that isn't bolted down, etc.) and I'm not sure the gag has enough substance for an actual story.

Plus, I don't really trust episodic games, so I might not get the game until it's complete. I have been watching Let's Plays because I don't really care about spoilers about a 20+ year old game and the spoilers about the new content have actually gotten me a lot more interested in the game than I was before, but it's not the same.
 
Spitballing further on the Warcraft SI, there was something I had not really considered in depth. That being that the SI is not going to forget their out of context knowledge just because they are currently, you know, a corpse reanimated by foul magic and bent on the eradication of life. I imagine she'd keep it mostly to herself - a mix of the SI's efforts thus far rendering a lot of it irrelevant, not seeing large chunks of it as relevant to the whole murdering thing, and (because the Scourge does seem to have internal politics of a sort) wanting to use it for personal gain. Also me just not really wanting to game out the moves of the Lich King with the SI's full foreknowledge. But that's still a factor, to the point where I figure she was there at Light's Hope to be broken from the Lich King's control because she was attempting to prevent that very thing and failed, Ashbringer being cleansed despite her interference.

So there's sort of three periods of SI interference, though only two are the story itself. First, the SI as a Paladin. Relatively cautious with her intelligence, trying to verify game info before doing anything permanent. Using it more to know where and who and what to be looking at or trying to prod more than anything. Primary goals being roughly to help the orcs, prevent the fall of Lordaeron if possible, strengthen Jaina's eventual Theramore, try to head off some of Stormwind's persistent problems like the Defias, keep Gilneas from raising that giant wall, if possible prevent Gnomeragon from getting irradiated but I remember like nothing of why that was a thing so probably a nonstarter. Lots of other stuff as well but those are the biggies.

Then there's the Scourge period, where the SI is basically going about killing anyone they remember being important later and also anyone who looks dramatic or unique or funny enough to be a questgiver type because why take chances and they are all supposed to die anyway. Big change I'm thinking is that she full-on levels the Undercity rather than allow the Forsaken to take it as a capital.

Then there's the freed Death Knight, trying to unfuck the honest mistakes of the Paladin and the giant pile of corpses that are her personal legacy with the Scourge - as well as still trying to head off eternal Alliance/Horde conflict. Story still just follows this and the Paladin, pinging between, but it both makes sense for the Scourge-loyal SI to have been leveraging that as well and gives me wiggle room between the two arcs.
 
You know you have issues when you literally cannot write a masturbatory self-insert power fantasy even for your own enjoyment. I've tried, it either ends up as Fate/Zero with ash in the SI's mouth, or bloody Hamlet with everyone insane and/or dead.

Wonder if there's a niche for tragicomedy in fanfiction, or is it too much "hurr durr edgy edgy"?
 
Librarian said:
You know you have issues when you literally cannot write a masturbatory self-insert power fantasy even for your own enjoyment. I've tried, it either ends up as Fate/Zero with ash in the SI's mouth, or bloody Hamlet with everyone insane and/or dead.

Wonder if there's a niche for tragicomedy in fanfiction, or is it too much "hurr durr edgy edgy"?
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It's not big, we're talking niche of a niche here, but done correctly those sorts of stories can be very good.

Granted, it seems to be the sort of thing where you either go all in and literally everyone "insane and/or dead" or you tone it down for a more serious examination. Realistically most fictional setting can be quiet terrifying, but there is a balance to be struck and can be easy to go too far.
 
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Recently read Catalyst.exe by @Shujin and I really love the premise. For those not familiar it is an insert into an AU of the mass effect universe as an AI. I feel like there is a lot of potential in AI SI stories in that universe, what with the general ai-phobia people have, avoding the reapers going "ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL" and seeing how the insert get along with the Geth. Not to mention that the whole universe is on a timer. Most Mass Effect insert fanfiction seems to revolve around inserting yourself into Shepards team then somehow making things better from there, though getting the characterization right for them seems like something nobody can do. What I would love to read would be something like an AI acting like a shadow broker or illusive man, nudging events from the background then seeing how the cast manages the changes. Could just make the first chapter from the inserts perspective to make it clear something is going on, then have the rest of the fic be from Shepards perspective as canon is being derailed by an outside force.

Another idea I have had recently was a worm insert taking powers from the v5 cyoa. Specifically to take the vigilante background, foreign element, negentropy and then as many of the minor powers as possible, with the understanding that they will combine into massive upgrades because of the foreign element mixed with infinite energy, though not for the purpose of it being a powertrip. The ideas here was taking Presence, which allows you to percive all in a area around you, have it buffed hilariously then get hit with the problem Daredevil has, that he can't in good conscience do nothing when he can hear people suffering all around him. A lot of wormfics scorn the idea of acting like a superhero in order to focus on the big problems, would be interesting to see that resolve coming up against perceiving all the bad things happening in a city like Brockton Bay. Might take themes from "The Star Thrower", that even though helping one person seems futile in the face of the total sum of human suffering and the impending apocalypse, it did matter to that one person you helped. Would probably be best as a short story.
 
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Here's a semi followup set of musings for my 'Strange SI' snip. Post being sent to several worlds, and wondering what I'm being set up for.
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It might not be a hero's journey for me, but I have learned a lot since that blasted being involved me in it's 'game.'

I debated philosophy with Derek Sagan, I learned necromancy from Matris Drake, fought at Wolf 359, stood side by side with Statesman to give time to Omega team, chased slavers through Ravnica, had tea with a Steiner-Davion, and many others events that would be fanboys dreams…or nightmares. Chased by xenomorphs, zombies, and gods know what else. Or being trapped in realms like Silent Hill…that didn't do my brain any good.

The 'conditions of release' that the being had set forth was that I needed to be 'instrumental' in saving a world. The major conflicts I'd been apart of hadn't counted; did I not participate enough? Or was I technically only on the periphery and not instrumental?

While the constant shifting is wearing on me; I can also see some of the big picture. The being gave me a framework to work from, the Cypher System and more specifically The Strange, where characters basically do what I'm doing, but of their own volition and can go home at anytime. A Paradox, they called me, most in tune with the Strange, with a gift I now have. I can now bring my focus from other worlds to where I am. If I went back to Ravnica, I could drag my Starfleet knowledge and tech can do, or drag my magic back to Trek…though that would probably bring me to Q's attention and who knows what would happen. But the one who made me a pawn did this on purpose. They're giving me tools from across multiverses and fandoms to give me a shot at something big.

There's been a pattern in the last three worlds, before that there seemed to be none. Paragon City, where I actually got to live in my City of Heroes, on the lead up to the Rikti Invasion. Without knowledge of where Nemesis was to try and stop his foray into their dimension, all I could do was get ready for the chaos to come. The second was some form Power Rangers where I stepped into the role of one the last old rangers, to train up the new. And while I helped them get ready for the big bad, I was banished before the final fight, denying me my opportunity there. My last universe was some amalgam of Marvel Civil War timelines, just a small time mutant trying to keep my head down, not knowing what the right path of actions would be. I finally acted when I found out a Hydra cell in SHIELD had plans to resurrect a few Sentinels and use them to try and set mutants up as still dangerous and force them to register and be folded into the Avenger initiative to control, but I 'died' before I could get the information public. This was the first time the being put three similar worlds together in a row; before this, there was no rhyme or reason from one shift to the next. I think my next world be another of super heroics, and a clear opportunity to be able break the loop and wake up at home.

This has been one hell of journey, but I just want to go home.
 
Hey so I've seen a lot of SI fics were they SI is the twin of the hero of the story. But what about a fic where the SI is reborn as a villain's twin or sibling. Like say Palpetine or Luthor or other main villains. Can they change things for their sibling? Should they? Will they side with said sibling if they go evil> However the SI should care or come to care for their sibling. Not just immediatly leave or side with the hero
 
JuDracus said:
Hey so I've seen a lot of SI fics were they SI is the twin of the hero of the story. But what about a fic where the SI is reborn as a villain's twin or sibling. Like say Palpetine or Luthor or other main villains. Can they change things for their sibling? Should they? Will they side with said sibling if they go evil> However the SI should care or come to care for their sibling. Not just immediatly leave or side with the hero
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i think i vaguely remember something with someone si-ing into disney as gastons brother, if that works.
 
JuDracus said:
Hey so I've seen a lot of SI fics were they SI is the twin of the hero of the story. But what about a fic where the SI is reborn as a villain's twin or sibling. Like say Palpetine or Luthor or other main villains. Can they change things for their sibling? Should they? Will they side with said sibling if they go evil> However the SI should care or come to care for their sibling. Not just immediatly leave or side with the hero
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OffBrandANON said:
i think i vaguely remember something with someone si-ing into disney as gastons brother, if that works.
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Like Gaston, by @brian boru
 
Currently working on an idea where there are two SI's arriving in The World of Otome is Tough For Mobs, a story that's already based around people trying to leverage metaknowledge for their benefit.

Add in two more (although one is replacing the protagonist, so take one away) who have a further level of metaknowledge - they're not just working off knowledge of the VN, they have knowledge of the LN and manga based around people getting reborn into the world of the VN.

And both have drawbacks (because this is a CYOA based SI) that drag them into interfering, neither at first realising that there is another SI out there... and that they have conflicting goals.

In this case the insertees are replacing Leon Fou Bartford and Leon Sara Rault. The former being the protagonist, the latter being someone who in canon died young and shared not only the first name but also a physical resemblance with the former. Here he survives and ripples start to spread...
 
Eh i been feeling like writing because of the quarantine, and i had in the past tons and tons of Si ideas. So i decided that maybe i could go for some oneshots for them. or more if the situation and i have the feeling and time to write it.

This a SI in pokemon universe, As a sentret.

..............

Maybe, you want some peanut butter?​

I couldn't exactly say when did this began.

So It was like... it was a sunny day, children were playing, birds were flying... ​

Nah na… nothing like that.....

Ok, something like…. there was a princess in a tower …​

NO NO
nothing like that either...

… There was an Orc! ​

NoOoO
It was more simple like that… I was dreaming.... well no I was sleeping. You know how you have this weirds dream when you go to sleep and you woke up in another place?

Uh... yeah sometimes ​

Well just like that, I was Dreaming And suddenly bam!

bam? ​

BAM!

bam... ​

Yeah man it was cool. Suddenly I was in my comfy bed, and then I Am sleeping in the grass!

uhhhhh, how that could be… a… bam? ​

Well, if you live my life. You would know that THAT is exactly a ´bam!´

Ok, so then you were in the grass ​

Yup, and man I shouted!

Well, I mean if that's how you live your life... ​

No man look it shocked me to the core because later I discovered that I have lost my hands, and... and I have these weird brown things replacing them

uh ​

and I have these ears! and these long as bat tail!

Uh......... ​

And then I was round man, ROUND!, I MEAN I HAVE A TAIL IN THE FORM OF A BAT!

Uhhhhh ​

And The worse was that I have! I have ears on top of my head!

UHHHHHHH..G wait hold on that doesn't sound that bad, I mean that sounds like a furry ​

WHAT NO, not like furry!

That sounds specifically like a furry ​

NO, look man have you ever dream and traveled to places all around the world!

Yeah, but never like a furry. ​

Dude, have you ever had dreams in which you are like an animal, I mean I have one of being a Digimon, let me tell you those are cool

Well, those are your dreams, and if they make you happy. Cool for you.​

Why I Am trying to convince you?

I don't know man I Am just a figment of your imagination, because well you are bored.... bored?... bored!! ​

Why you little... ?!

Suddenly I feel something hitting my head and as i began caressed my head for the intense pain i was feeling.

I looked around and settled my eyes on her! She looked just like me except that she has her top hair combed and have some seeds on her fur

¨I been calling you for a while, but you were not responding... you were looking at the air for a long time...again¨ She said those words like she was pissed.

¨Did you have to hit me!¨ I frowned, seriously it is not like this is the first time I do this.

¨Yes¨ she was expresionless but you could tell she was mad.

Ugh, As I made a pose rising my both hands towards my face and began to stand in my tail, she turned away inmediatly

¨Stop that weird pose thing you always do. Follow me today is your turn for sentry duty, along with me and the others guys¨

¨Seriously why I have to...¨ I couldn't finish my sentence because she just turned towards me and glared. If I could say it, her look could freeze all the region in seconds...

Maybe that was a secret technique that all sentret's have? I couldn't know

¨Look, you are the laziest and annoying member of the tribe, we only support your jokes because you are the son of the matriarch, if it was for me I have just kicked you out of this place, today you are part of this shift turn, and you will DO IT¨¨

¨Ok oK Ok¨ I said rapidly, and scared am sure that my face could be compared of a sucked lemon. I have saw in the past this sentret in front of my eyes, grab and beat a pair of pidgeys with her bare hands after one of them though it was a good idea to eat her... it ended badly for them, and they were flying... Now they were not… They couldn't after what she did.

You didn't want to do this, but you agreed as you followed her pace and guidance towards the sentry barracks.

You sighed and began to go deeper into your thoughts...

Maybe after I did this I could hit my Grass bed, and finally wake up of this dream...

I mean it was like Inception You went to sleep one day and suddenly bam!; you are suddenly in the Pokemon universe... living as a sentret... it was fun at the beginning, but you wanted to wake up again in your bed.

As you thought… maybe you could learn Hypnosis to trick her and run so you could go to do somewhere, anything that wasn't this...

Sigh, you wish you could wake up of this Inception-like Pokemon dream...

it feels like months since the last time you were human,

Man... I miss my bed...
 
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JuDracus said:
Hey so I've seen a lot of SI fics were they SI is the twin of the hero of the story. But what about a fic where the SI is reborn as a villain's twin or sibling. Like say Palpetine or Luthor or other main villains. Can they change things for their sibling? Should they? Will they side with said sibling if they go evil> However the SI should care or come to care for their sibling. Not just immediatly leave or side with the hero
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Aren't there a huge number of A:TLA fanfics like that, where the SI's the twin or sibling of Princess Azula and/or Prince Zuko?
 
Brotherly Hate
Generic Shounen Story/SI​
I died, and was reborn.
Oddly enough, I was reborn in a world I recognize from a story, and I was born the twin of the main character!
This new life is off to a rocky start.

I would like to start by saying I love my brother. He has many exemplary qualities. He's loyal, hardworking, friendly, and morally upright. I wish him all the success in life I expect he will achieve.
I just wish he would achieve it far away from me.

To start with, we don't live in the best conditions. That definitely isn't his fault, it's just standard shounen backstory, but it's something I have to deal with, and he really doesn't help. He tries. He thinks he's helping, but I can see how his coping mechanisms make everything worse and I can't even explain how to fix it without sounding like I'm blaming him.
So that's stressful.

Second, he's... a character. I would expect a narrative medium to be inaccurate. They have limited space and time to work with so they take shortcuts. A "stupid protagonist" so everybody can make explanations to the audience. A loud, bombastic personality so they can clearly show every emotion to an audience that might not be good at reading people. Repeating the same shallow philosophy over and over so the audience remembers it clearly and has a running theme.
Unfortunately, he actually acts like that.
Holy shit that gets annoying fast. It gets old in a 20 minute show, spending 12 hours in the same room with this person probably qualifies as torture.

Imagine it's a nice day. The sun is shining, there's a nice breeze, the birds are singing, you feel totally relaxed.
Then, as you approach the door, you hear that screechy voice, and you tense up. Your neck starts getting sore, your teeth are grinding, you start to feel a headache.
You consciously force yourself to breathe and relax, and go inside... every day.
It's not nice. It's not right. It's not fair. But there it is, and no matter how hard you try, you just can't stop.
And that makes you feel even worse.

Finally there another issue.
We all know he isn't the best student. He isn't particularly intellectually inclined. You might say he "learns by doing." But you could follow up with "and he doesn't bother doing any learning."
My extra experience gives me a leg up on the learning process, at least up to high school, and I feel a certain obligation to try to share the knowledge. Along with encouragement from all the teachers who apparently think it's my job and begging from my brother.
So I try. I make up games. I review material. I do exercises and analogies and show historical movies.
In one ear and out the other.
And that hurts. It actually hurts when I go to a lot of effort trying to relate it to something he cares about, and 5 seconds later he's back at square one. Not even misinterpreting it, but completely failed to progress from the starting point.
He gives a cheerful smile like he's delighted to be spending time with me, and all I can think is that he doesn't respect me enough to pay attention. Maybe he's too young, maybe it's a learning disability, and maybe I'm a terrible teacher, but it still hurts.
I know I'm supposed to be the mature one, but you can only spend so much time punching sand before you give up.

Soon I will be free of him.
Wow, that sounded ominous. No, I meant the plot was scheduled to start soon, and I certainly haven't hammered any significant changes into that skull.
Soon he would be caught up in huge events and finally get all those friends he was looking for, and he wouldn't have any time to hang out with me.
Please let him have no time to hang out with me.
What could go wrong?

This was inspired by yet another SI where the character is immediately consumed with an all-encompassing love for their sibling. They could watch the world burn to protect that smile, because how else could siblings operate?
But what if it wasn't so happy? Not antagonistic, but leaning away rather than leaning towards.

The story would probably proceed with the protagonist dragging the MC along on the adventures, screaming about how they have an awesome sibling partnership, and the MC grumbling and the other companions wondering "is this all right? They really seem annoyed here..."
It would eventually explode with the MC flat out telling the protagonist they aren't friends, even if they are siblings.
They would then be in the position of trying to reassemble a relationship that takes more than just shouting and punching to become friends.
 
So, MobuSeka. Aka "The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs", which Drakensis mentioned a few posts back. I got into this through his fic "Care and Feeding of Neglected Otome" (posted on AO3 and QQ), and decided to try my hand at my own.

The insert-protagonist is fitting into the life of Jenna fou Baltford, older sister to the LN/Manga protagonist, Leon. This chapter is kind of a prelude, taking place before Leon starts his adventure, while Jenna is in her first year at the Academy where most of the action of the first couple of volumes takes place.

Many thanks to Drakensis for beta-reading and several suggestions that vastly improved this.

(Content note: If it matters to anyone, there are moments of innuendo and a fade-to-black involving consenting 15-year-olds.)

Otome? Don't be Ridiculous!

Ch 1

"Perhaps you would care to solve the problem on the board for us, Miss Baltford?"

What? Oh. Right. The teacher's talking. I hate how slow this class is. They're still covering things I already know. Of course, I already know them because I learned them in high school, a lifetime ago. It's actually been a while since I needed to use algebra.

"Miss Baltford?"

I blink, look up, and actually read the problem. As I expected, it's fairly simple, only requiring a quick factoring and multiplication. "Sorry, ma'am. Thirteen times the square root of seven, plus four."

The teacher nodded. "Correct, Miss Baltford," she said, clearly slightly annoyed. "I know you seem to find this material easy, but I would appreciate your attention anyway. You never know what you might have missed."

Math had always come easy to me, and in this new life, it was easier still. Just my unluck, my memories didn't 'wake up' until the opening ceremonies for the semester. Too late to apply to test out of any classes. Like Math For Babies.

Pretty sure she resents having to have me in this class just as much as I resent having to be in it. Worse, I have... things to do, this summer break, which means I won't be able to test out of second-term Math For Babies either. Why couldn't this world have a Western school year? It's not like there was much else Japanese about them.

I managed to get through class without being nagged again, thankfully. And then, it was time for lunch break. And even if the place was full of class-A Bitches, the one thing they definitely didn't skimp on was the cafeteria. No, they just served pretentious "sophisticated" twaddle and charged through the nose for extras, like desserts.

It was very well-cooked twaddle. But it was still twaddle.

Gods, but I miss pizza. And I'd kill for a decent cheeseburger. Don't even get me started on Chinese.

Grumbling, I gathered my things, slung my bag, and slogged through the crowds towards the cafeteria.

"Baltford? Baltford~!" Someone calling my name? "Oi! Jenna!"

I look up. Strawberry blonde, prim looks, moderate curves… Clarice fia Atlee. Thank gods. One of the few people around this place I can truly like, not just tolerate.

"Oh, sorry, Clarice. Lost in… " Cleveland. No. Bad girl. "... thought. You know."

"Patxi nagging you about paying attention in math again? You know she isn't going to stop. Even if you do know the material as well as you claim."

"And just who," I countered, "is responsible for your own ability to pass that course, hmm? I remember more than a few tutoring sessions…."

Clarice waved her hand dismissively as we walked along. "Yeah, yeah. Look, that's not important right now. I found a contact for some of those spices you were looking for!"

Okay, my day is definitely made. Some things were easy enough to find here in Holtfort -- garlic, salt, even pepper -- but the hotter chilis, things like cumin and cinnamon and such, I hadn't been able to find at all.

"Hot damn, I am definitely going to owe you big, then. Tell me all about it."

And over lunch -- roasted chicken in a lemon-garlic sauce, so delicately seasoned I could barely taste it -- she filled me in. The merchant she'd found hadn't been able to get all of the things I wanted, but he had a good selection of them, thankfully. It was definitely going to cost, though. Importing anything from that far out was pricey, and he'd only brought a small amount on spec. Wasn't like we could advertise that far out that I wanted food with real taste!

Thankfully, Clarice had used her family's pull to put a pre-emptive offer in on a small amount of each of the spices he'd brought in. It was going to put a pretty big hole in my budget for the term, but it was worth it to be able to make some of my favorite foods again.

"Hot damn, this is going to be all kinds of tasty. You are a wonder, Clarice." I snatched at my napkin to dab at my face, make sure I wasn't drooling. Good, I wasn't.

"Just keep that in mind when end-of-term comes around, Jen. I'm going to need a few helpers, and I want to try some of these dishes you keep mumbling about."

Definitely. For her? Gladly. "Just keep quiet about it, and who you're buying for, please. I don't want a mob run on this stuff until I've had a chance to secure a decent supply line. And yes, I'll help your little… scheme."

Just so long as I can be clear of here in time to get home before Leon leaves.

"Thank you, Alan, it looks delicious. Did you get these from Columbale's?" I put on a pleasant but false smile as I took the plate with the … confection … and cut off a bit with my fork. 'Sweets' around here tend to be high on fruits and sugar, and not terribly imaginative, in my opinion. Worse, there was no chocolate to be had at all. Or vanilla. Clarice's contacts hadn't managed to turn up any evidence of either.

Alan smiled, trying for warm and almost getting it. "Of course, Miss Baltford. Only the best for a beautiful lady." He hadn't been laying it on as thick as some of the boys had, in fact his lines were almost tolerable. On the other hand this was the sixth 'tea party' I'd been invited to this week alone. I was going to end up as fat as my first life if this kept up.

I tried another bite -- the cake was bland, but the fruit compote was more than acceptable. "They are one of the best at this sort of thing. Not too sweet, the cake is nicely moist rather than dry as most of these tend to be… and your choice of tea matches it well. I have to say I'm impressed."

I actually was. The matching of tea and sweets tended to be the biggest failure most of the boys ran into when it came to these little occasions. I wasn't actually interested in a relationship with any of them, honestly. But I could coach them a bit and make an example for the other ladies of How Not To Uber-Bitch. Not that most of them would actually pay attention. Maybe some would, though. And maybe more would pay attention to them.

Chatting with Alan was at least much less tedious than most of the boys, too. He managed to be at the least affable as we discussed current events, classes, and recent sporting matches. (Air pirates were on the upswing; Mrs Patxi was just as much in his bad books as she was in mine, if for different reasons; and Jilk fia Marmoria had managed yet another upset in the airbike-racing circuit.)

We passed an hour or so in that manner before I could make my excuses and leave. (Didn't hurt that I'd drunk enough tea that I sorely needed the Little Gamer's Room.) Alan wasn't bad. He at least showed that he cared about the girl he was entertaining having fun, rather than just flirting at her. Unlike, say, Dirk fia Valanthyme. He'd spent most of his time ogling me in ways that were distinctly uncomfortable. I'd have to do something about him… maybe tell one of the bitchier third-years that he was interested. Say, Dorothea fia Roseblade. She had a certain reputation.

Might have invoked something I shouldn't have, there. I was washing my hands after (and offering my umpteenth prayer of thanks to whatever deity had made sure this world had luxuries like bidets, and elastic for underwear) when the door opened.

Let me make it clear: I do not like drill curls. Especially the big kind. They just look weird to me. And they take way too much time and effort to maintain. (Yes, I've tried, or rather, Jenna-Classic tried. Even with a maid's help they were too annoying to bother with.) That said, drill-curls or no, Deirdre fia Roseblade is a sight to enjoy. I took a moment or two to appreciate the view… then, my face red, turned and hurried out.




Contrary to anime imagery and Werner Klocke miniature sculpts, leather armor is not a skin-snug, form-fitting catsuit. It starts with a layer of padding to soften blows -- silk-lined for comfort, since I could afford it by passing up on an extra fancy dress -- and you top that with a rather thick bit of leather. This part is shaped to your body, but it's been boiled and chemically treated for stiffness. It's also typically overlapping pieces, to allow for mobility, riveted or buckled together. Metal plates are often worked into this schema in strategic places, to allow for better protection of vulnerable areas.

In summary: It ain't all that sexy. It's designed for practicality, not fetishism. You can get fetishy leather "armor" in various places. But it's costume stuff. Wear it into a dungeon and I guarantee you will be needing a healer, if you survive to get your stupid ass dragged back by your extremely annoyed buddies. Assuming they still give a shit about you after that kind of stunt.

That said, a well-made set doesn't look bad, either. And a day in the dungeon, wearing the armor and carrying a basic kit, getting into a few fights, was just what I needed to burn off all the sugar I'd been guzzling down at those 'tea parties'.

"Thanks, Clarice." That's the other thing: It's really a two-person job to get it on. You can do it yourself if you're good. It's a lot easier and quicker with help, though. I hopped a couple of times to make sure everything was settled into place, then turned to help Clarice with her own armor.

Half an hour later, just as the sun was peeking over the horizon, we -- and our classmates -- assembled at the entrance to the Capitol Dungeon. Most of us had had some combat training from our families before the Academy, even the girls. Daily sessions with the Academy's tutors had gotten a start on drilling out bad habits and honing what we'd come in with.

And now they figured we were ready to brave the Dungeon itself. It wasn't much of a dungeon, from what I'd heard -- any serious threats had been cleared out long ago -- but it was a good place for beginners like us to get our feet wet. I thumbed my saber an inch out of the sheath, then pushed it back in. Just checking, I told myself.

"First-time jitters, Baltford?"

Don't tell me I have to group with that little blonde bitch… please don't…

"Miss Atlee, Miss Baltfort, Miss Olfrey, you'll be with Mister Dolbor and Mister Valanthyme."

Fuck you so much, teach. At least I've got Alan and Clarice to balance them.

"Drop dead, Olfrey," I muttered as the bitch, the dick, and the one decent guy joined me in gathering around Clarice. "Tell me honestly you aren't a dungeon-virgin, hmm?"

"Yeah, where'd you pop your dungeon-cherry, Cassie? Helberg? Lutzfort?" A smirking Dirk named off two of the most infamously deadly still-open dungeons, both of them heavily guarded and closely held by the families whose territory they were on.

Clarice started to ease her own blade free as we walked down the stairs to the first dungeon level. "Don't be crude, Valanthyme. Olfrey's still our partner for the day… even if she is a virgin."

And with that example of rapier wit, we were in the dungeon.




After a little debate, we'd settled into a marching order. Clarice and Alan were best with swords, so they were in front. Olfrey and Dirk were best at ranged attacks, spell and gun respectively, so they were in the rear. That left me in the middle, to act as reserve.

"So what monsters do you think we'll see first?" Dirk asked as he thumbed a round into his carbine. "Goblins? Giant spiders?"

Clarice harumphed. "According to the book, the most commonly-sighted monsters at this shallow level are giant ants. Keep that rifle handy, their armor is supposed to be pretty tough."

"So long as we don't get mimics," I mused. "Those are annoying."

"Mimics? What are they?"

Shut up, Olfrey. "Looks like a treasure chest," I explained, "Is actually a monster that will try to eat you when you 'open' it."




"Hah! Got it, bang on the nose!"

Focusing on a spell-mandala, I couldn't reply, but Alan did. "Worry about his four buddies, them, Valanthyme," he paused to swipe his blade against the ant's mandibles. "We can tally up the score when they're all dead."

I managed to get my spell off a moment later, and the bolt pegged another ant to blow a fist-sized hole in its thorax. The man-sized bug stumbled, but kept on coming, until Clarice got a good strike in and cut it down.

"Three buddies," she corrected, and then Cassie Olfrey took a pair of legs off another with her own spell-bolt.




"Did you see that?" I stumbled as a "comradely" hand clapped my shoulder. "Damn good spellwork, Baltford."

I'd dropped an ant coming up from behind us with a quick bolt just before it could sink its mandibles into Dirk's leg.

I twisted away from his hand before he could try for more. "I think everyone saw it, Valanthyme."

"Or at least heard you squeal like a little girl when you saw how close it'd gotten."

I gritted my teeth. "Don't try to help, Olfrey. You just end up encouraging him."

"Oh, if it really annoys you so very much, Baltford, I'll encourage him all I want."

If looks could kill, my glare would've flayed the smirking little blonde bitch alive before submerging her in boiling oil.

"Eh, save it for the sparring ring, ladies, where we can all get a good view of the catfight."

And like someone had flipped a switch, Cassie and I turned to direct matching Glares-o-Doom™ at Dirk fia Valenthyme.

This time we were interrupted by the clash of swords, swiftly followed by Alan's voice. "If we could all just focus on the monsters, please?" I turned around to see him and Clarice holding off a trio of goblins, wait, make that a pair, Clarice just killed one, no, here come three more… oh, crap.

My spellwork was going to be too slow for these, so I drew my sword and stepped up to join Clarice and Alan. "Dirk! Cassie! Swat the trailers while we hold them off!"




A baker's dozen goblins later, we had a chance to relax for a few moments. Fortunately tending our wounds didn't take long, we'd been very lucky. Nobody had more than a few scrapes and minor cuts. (This was only the first level, after all.) Who knows how we'd have fared if they'd come at us all at once instead of in dribs and drabs, though.

"Damnit," Cassie whined as I tied a bandage around her arm. "Goblins aren't supposed to show up at this level practically at all, and we got, what a dozen?"

"Eh, buck up, Olfrey, we killed all the little buggers, didn't we?" Like me, Dirk had managed to escape almost unwounded. He was, it seems, still determined to be an ass.

"Pull your head out of your behind for once and think, Valanthyme." Dammit, I was so tempted to grab one of those ring-braids of hers and give it a good yank. If these two idiots couldn't shut up….

"Olfrey's got a point," Clarice snapped. "These goblins may have been individually weak, but they've never been seen in these numbers at this shallow a level. It's an anomaly, and we should report it."

"You most certainly should." The cold voice was accompanied by the click of heels on stone as it approached. "Baltford?"

I stood up, ignoring Olfrey's wince as I dropped her hand into her lap. "Sir," I began.

"We encountered a group of three goblins shortly after clearing out a group of giant ants. They attacked and we engaged, myself, Atlee, and Dolbor on the front line, with Olfrey and Valanthyme providing fire support. Just as we finished off that group, another trio came up from behind us.

"We adjusted formation as required, but they continued to stream in. A third trio was followed by a pair, then another pair. None of us took more than minor injuries and all goblins were dispatched. So far no more have appeared."

He nodded curtly and took a few moments to check each of us, making sure our wounds were properly tended to, how much ammunition we had left for the guns, and so forth. "Alright, you lot are done for today. Olfrey, you need to get that arm seen to by the nurse. Dolbor, same for you."

Clarice took charge of the group again. "Alright everyone, you heard him. Up and out."

And, with quiet grumbling by Dirk, occasional winces by the wounded, and a sincere sense of relief on my part at our survival, my first dungeon adventure ended.





My dear Finley,

It is good to hear that you and our brothers are well. By the time you read this, I will have completed my second expedition into the Capitol Dungeon. As I have mentioned in my previous letter, our first expedition ended after we encountered a rather large and misplaced number of goblins. Such creatures are normally only found several levels deeper and our instructors are investigating the anomaly. In the meantime we are going ahead with the normal curriculum.

I do trust your own studies go well. In regards to your plaint, I must remind you that mathematics is still a required course. Furthermore, yes, you will find real uses for the things that they are teaching you. Both Arcane Studies and Financial Management are only two of many fields where you will find them useful.

As for the boys here, they seem to come in three varieties. There are the worthwhile ones: caring, thoughtful, and attentive. Then there are, unfortunately, the jackasses. You know the type: arrogant, crude, self-absorbed. I'm sure you can name one we both know well. The third type are the clueless, the ones who just have no idea how to talk to a girl at all. Some of them can be educated, if you are willing to be patient.

Before you even consider testing them, however, think carefully about the type of relationship you wish to embark upon. A quick fling is one thing, so long as you make sure they understand that is all you are seeking. Should you seek something longer-term, or even permanent, choose carefully. Will you be wed for love, or for the political gain of the Baltford House? If the former, can you see yourself waking up next to this man every morning? Placing his happiness as equal to your own?

And if the latter, then you must first and always remember that your every action will reflect upon our family, be it for the good or for ill. A life such as Zola's may seem glamorous and exciting at first glance. In such a marriage, however, the goodwill of your husband and his family will be vital to the future of House Baltford. Even if he should agree to support you in the Capitol, you will be dependent on his largesse for everything from your dresses and jewelry to the food you eat. Our father may well accept such things for the sake of our House's benefit, but not all men are so biddable, and all men have their limits.

To turn away from such fraught matters, I am sure you remember my dissatisfaction with the food to be had from the Academy cafeteria. While I have taken my own steps towards resolving this, alternatives have presented themselves. I had the most interesting meeting just the other day with Deirdre fia Roseblade….





"Come on, Baltford, the night isn't getting any younger."

I held back a growl as I tried to focus on the paper in front of me. "I am almost done with this essay, Roseblade, and I want to have it out of the way before I go. I like my weekends unencumbered."

Deirdre shoved the door closed behind her and flopped herself on the sofa. "Fine, fine, fine. I'm not the one who's spent the last two months whinging about how bland and tasteless the cafeteria food is."

"It is," I insisted as I penned another sentence. "Highly priced, exquisitely well-prepared, tasteless twaddle."

Deirdre harrumphed. "You just don't appreciate good food."

"Good? Bah. Try 'pretentious'. I know what I like to eat. Now, hush for a minute and let me finish this." She actually did quiet, at that, and with a few more minutes of writing I was able to finish the essay.

Homework dealt with, I grabbed a light coat - it might be May, but it was still late in the day, edging on to evening. A chill, or even rain, was not unlikely. "Alright, let's get out of here."

Students were free to leave the Academy campus outside of class hours -- we were nobles, after all. Despite that, we were still stopped at the gates. "Apologies, ladies," the guard said. "Just need you to sign out."

Deirdre huffed, but she was just as used to the requirement as I, and after I'd signed my name to the list, she did the same. "Right," I said as we exited the gate. "I'll get us some dinner… there's a couple of decent places around to pick up this and that. I do have a favor to ask, while we're out, though."

I caught a little glimmer in her eyes as she regarded my request. "A favor, Baltford? Hmmm, interesting… I'm sure I can find us a bit of privacy for the night…"

I paused for a moment, then chuckled. "Really? Going right to that, this quickly?" I shook my head as we walked along. "Not tonight… well, maybe. But what I was going to ask for, was a decent luthier."

She paused and turned to look at me. "A luthier? Now there's one I haven't heard before. Oh, I know where to find one, but I wouldn't know good from mediocre. Why, planning on serenading your would-be lover?"

I hummed noncommittally and kept on walking. "The place we want is three, four blocks further on. I hope you brought your appetite." I paused for a moment, glancing at a shop-front, then added, "For food. Not the other."

I caught a flutter out of the corner of my eye as Deirdre fanned herself - probably to cover a smirk. "Oh, I brought plenty of both, rest assured."

We continued chatting - and flirting - as we walked along, pausing occasionally at shops here and there. I paused at a baker's to pick up a couple of fresh rolls, and another shop provided some slices of nice sharp cheese. Just one more piece needed… and I can smell it already.

It was only a couple of minutes later that I caught sight of our objective through the crowds, and started working more determinedly in its direction. "Almost there, Roseblade, trust me, you're going to love this. It's - wait, is that…."

Just turning away from the cart in question, his bounty in hand, was a young man, perhaps our age or thereabouts. He was dressed well, clearly well-off, slender build, dark blue hair… It can't be, can it?

Deirdre was just as quick to recognize him as I was. "That can't possibly be the Prince," she hissed, grabbing my arm to pull me back.

I looked for a long moment, then leaned back close to Deirdre to whisper back. "I'd heard rumors… yes, I think that is him. Julius rafa Holfort. Don't let him catch on we're here."

"What? Why - " I cut her off with an elbow-jab and a hiss as he started to look in our direction. If he saw anything, though, he seemed to ignore it, and moved on.

I held us back for another minute to be sure he was gone, then stepped more confidently up to the little stall. "Hey, Liam. Good business tonight?" I rather carefully avoided asking directly about the Prince's custom.

"Definitely, Miss B. Your usual?" He was already reaching for a pair of skewers loaded with chicken and onions.

I waved Deirdre forward. "Double, actually. I have a guest, as you see. Call her Miss R unless she tells you otherwise."

"Aliases, 'Miss B'?" Deirdre chuckled, a low, husky sort of laugh. "Isn't that just a little childish?"

Stupid sexy Deirdre. I shrugged and decided to answer with a quote no one of this time should recognize. "What's the point of being grown up if you can't be childish now and then?"

After all, it was clearly working for the Prince. I got a little laugh from Liam, too, as he dipped the skewers of meat into his custom sauce before placing them on the grill to cook. "Ain't that the right of it? Not too long, ladies," he promised. I could almost taste it now… tangy mustard, brown sugar, garlic, pepper….

Thou shalt not drool, I admonished myself, and swallowed heavily.

Short minutes later, I was a few dia lighter, and was putting together sandwiches with the bread and cheese I'd bought along the way. I handed Deirdre one of the skewers. "Go ahead, try a bite, then we'll try it like this."

She took the skewer, fingers brushing briefly against mine, then bit into it and her eyes went wide. "Sharp," she said, then after finishing the bite, "Tangy and sweet… and a very complex taste for something so strong at the base."

I nodded. "Liam here has been perfecting this sauce for, what, twenty years now?"

"Closer to thirty, Miss B," he answered. "Since I started under me own da."

I nodded. "He's had plenty of practice. And it's been here in the capitol, where his customers have a fairly sophisticated palate to begin with." I passed Deirdre her sandwich and smiled. "Let's get some beer to enjoy with these and find a place to sit, shall we?"

And that was how I introduced Deirdre fia Roseblade to barbecue.




Holfort Capitol Dungeon
The Third Level
Three days after the Barbecue Incident

"Don't just stand there, Olfrey, blast it!"

"I would if you'd stop distracting me, Baltford!"

A second later, two mage-bolts and a bullet struck the reptilian monster almost as one, sending it flying across the corridor to slam into the rock wall. It slumped to the floor and, like most dead monsters, began to fade into dust.

"There's still three left!" Clarice reminded us, and we turned to support the front-line fighters again. She and Alan were engaged with two of the things, while a third was trying to get around them. Probably wanted to get at us. A quick shot from Dirk-the-Dick stunned it and knocked it back, but it shook off the hit and kept on coming. As I had more than once today, I abandoned casting and switched to my sword to deal with it.

I parried a swipe from its crude axe and chopped at the hand that held it, but it was too quick. We exchanged a few more blows before I managed to get in a solid one and put it down. By that point, Clarice and Alan had finished off theirs and were dealing with a goblin that had wandered by.

Fortunately, the goblin seemed to have been alone, and we had a few minutes to catch our breath. I sat down on a convenient boulder and started to dig out the lunch I'd packed.

Alan sighed softly as he twisted open the top of his canteen. "I know you're a magic specialist, Miss Olfrey, but it would be nice if you didn't keep getting 'distracted' during fights. Is something wrong?"

I took a bite of my sandwich while I watched the show. Mmmm. I have got to find something to bribe Liam for this sauce recipe. Or at least to bottle it and sell it that way.

"'Is something wrong?'" the little blonde bitch repeated. "Is something wrong? I'm stuck on a team with a bunch of perverts and the teachers won't let me change groups!" She picked up a rock and hurled it at him to emphasize her little rant.

Alan dodged it easily, of course. (Behind him, Clarice picked it up, looked at it, grinned, and tucked it in her pouch.)

"So," he said. "A 'bunch' of perverts? Ah… okay, I'll grant Valanthyme seems to annoy every female he opens his mouth near - "

Dirk glared at him and muttered something under his breath, probably imprecatory.

" - but if I've ever given offense unintentionally, I certainly apologize. Please, point out where I've failed and I will strive to correct it."

Enjoying my sandwich quite thoroughly, I let out a tiny whimper of pleasure at the taste. Liam really was good, and it was so much better than what I could've gotten from the cafeteria. (And, really, Alan fou Dolbor? A pervert? The man was a perfect gentleman!)

"You!" Olfrey suddenly shouted, hurling a piece of bread at me. "You're doing it again! The stupid men can't help being perverts, but what the hell is your problem?"

I blinked, paused in chewing. Me? She thought I was perving on her?

"Yes, you, Baltford! Don't give me that innocent look! What is your damage, can't find a boy to keep you satisfied?"

All eyes were on me, suddenly, and I swallowed as quickly as I could. "What the absolute freaking heck are you on about, Olfrey?"

"If you're that hard up for a bedwarmer, Baltford, I could arrange an introduction to a couple of slave dealers."

Please don't try to be helpful right now, Clarice, much as I'd appreciate it any other time.
Aloud, I tried to temper my answer without directly insulting the blonde. "And whatever gives you the idea that I have any interest in you at all beyond how efficiently you can slaughter goblins and such?" I paused a moment, then added, "For that matter, you've been behind me the last four hours, you're the one who's been watching my ass, pardon the pun."

Dirk sniggered at the double entendre, and we all threw bread at him. He snatched mine out of the air and popped it in his mouth. "Mmm. Mustard sauce. You like it spicy, do you, Baltford?"

"She's the one who's been making time with Deirdre fia Roseblade," Olfrey sniped. "Everyone knows she's a total perv."

"She has a rep, sure. What's that got to do with me?"

She shot up and stomped over to me, waggling her finger in my face. "I saw you with her in the marketplace, Monday. Flirting. Holding hands. Buying some cheap peasant meal for her."

I blinked and stared at her. "Oooookay. So I introduced her to food that you can actually taste, unlike the cafeteria crap. So what's that got to do with you?"

("Damn good taste," Dirk muttered in the background. "Gotta find out where she got it.")

"You're just like her!" Olfrey ranted, and I shook my head, unable to find words to explain what an idiot she was being.

"She's nothing of the sort." Thank you, Clarice. Best Girl without doubt. "I've spent more hours than I can count studying with her - I won't deny she's saved my math grades from the pit - and I've never seen her behave at all inappropriately."

To be honest I had spent some time looking appreciatively at Clarice, but apparently she hadn't noticed. Or had chosen to ignore it. Or she's just as pissed off at Olfrey as I am.

Olfrey stomped away, kicking another stone against the wall. "Fine. Defend her if you like. But when she shows her true colors you'll wish you'd listened to me." She glared at me for a minute, then went back to her lunch. I ignored the glare and went back to mine.

Hours of intermittent fights later, we'd found several magic crystals and a handful each of useful metallic ores. The teacher's call to head back to the surface came as almost a disappointment.




Fortunately, I'd gotten away with little more than bruises. Hours later, bathed, fed, and rested, I sat in a sinfully comfortable chair in my not-so-little suite, leafing slowly through a random romance novel. It wasn't all that bad, honestly, but I was starting to lose interest when a knock came at the door. With a soft sigh of regret, I pushed myself up from the seat to answer it.

"Good evening, Miss Roseblade. I trust today's little adventure hasn't left you out of sorts?"

She looked stunning, really, with her hair down, slightly damp, probably just out of the bath. Her red-trimmed black housecoat was tied snugly at the waist, not a hint of what was under it outside of the way it clung to her curves. I swallowed heavily as I stood aside to wave her in.

"It was an exciting day, yes. And do call me Deirdre, I think we're close enough friends not to need quite so much formality, don't you?" She pushed the door closed behind her, smiling warmly.

"I should hope so," I agreed. "Let us dispense with the formality, then, and I'd be glad to call you 'friend'."

She stepped in close, and I got a peek down the front of her housecoat. Didn't see much under it but her, to be honest. "Good," she said, then her arms were around me and her lips clamped on to mine and I was doing my best to reciprocate a very heated kiss.

The rest of the evening is none of your business.
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For my own take on Otome, if I was to be inserted in a game, then I was inserted by the Villainess herself escaping the game and trapping me in her place.

So I start my story as a sequence of posts that appear as if I am trying to track down a guide on an old Otome game I found in some files that were installed on my computer by a different game.

However, I am currently writing a few other projects chapter by chapter and do not want to post what would appear to be a practical joke until I get around to writing the Isekai content.
 
You know what really annoys me about SI fics? It's that they seemingly always try to save everyone, no matter how unconnected they are to that person. If they end up in DxD, why do they always try to stop the engagement/wedding of Riser and Rias, or if they end up in Worm they must help Taylor with all her problems. I mean, unless you were inserted as them, or their sibling/family member/friend, how is that any of your problem? Especially if you're nowhere near them. Shouldn't you be focusing on your own life, or maybe, I don't know, all those world ending threats running around? Or even more important problems, such as the Endbringers or the Slaughterhouse 9.

Or even if they end up as say a muggleborn in Harry Potter. Why hang around? Why not just move to another country? Unless you aren't able to do so, why interfere with the plot? How is it even any of your problem? Sure people die, but unless they're you're friends/family, why do you care? Its not like things don't end up happily ever after in the end.
 
JuDracus said:
You know what really annoys me about SI fics? It's that they seemingly always try to save everyone, no matter how unconnected they are to that person. If they end up in DxD, why do they always try to stop the engagement/wedding of Riser and Rias, or if they end up in Worm they must help Taylor with all her problems. I mean, unless you were inserted as them, or their sibling/family member/friend, how is that any of your problem? Especially if you're nowhere near them. Shouldn't you be focusing on your own life, or maybe, I don't know, all those world ending threats running around? Or even more important problems, such as the Endbringers or the Slaughterhouse 9.

Or even if they end up as say a muggleborn in Harry Potter. Why hang around? Why not just move to another country? Unless you aren't able to do so, why interfere with the plot? How is it even any of your problem? Sure people die, but unless they're you're friends/family, why do you care? Its not like things don't end up happily ever after in the end.
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becuase it prob wouldnt be a good story , thats why. generally people want to read SI to see what butterflied the SI causes or watch them interact with the canon characters. Tho i do agree fix it fics are generally dumb , i can also see why someone who has the means and capability to act on a tragedy that will occur in the future does so, its easy to be sympathetic to characters weve read about , and want to try to prevent some of the things that will happen that are frankly horrible.

i think a good SI story needs to know how to tie in the MC motivations and new life with that of the main plot of the Orignal content.
 
JuDracus said:
Sure people die, but unless they're you're friends/family, why do you care? Its not like things don't end up happily ever after in the end.
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Why not?
Mr.rodent said:
i can also see why someone who has the means and capability to act on a tragedy that will occur in the future does so, its easy to be sympathetic to characters weve read about , and want to try to prevent some of the things that will happen that are frankly horrible.
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Exactly...
As soon as the SI is inserted into the world, the people around them stop just being characters to them.
The SI isn't just a person surrounded by expendable npcs, they are a person surrounded by other living people...
 
JuDracus said:
You know what really annoys me about SI fics? It's that they seemingly always try to save everyone, no matter how unconnected they are to that person.
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Are you suggesting a self-insert that goes out of their way to avoid the main plot? In my experience, those fics tend to combine the unflattering features of self-inserts and bash fics, with the redeeming qualities of neither.

Now, if you want to see a self-insert who avoids the main plot and its tragedies that they're uniquely informed on how to prevent without being a coward and/or jackass, there's a solution:

1. Pick a setting with a world rich in lore and/or offscreen side plots.
2. Stick the SI in one of the setting's conflicts that got minimal attention.
3. Keep the SI too busy with local plots to fiddle with canon.
 
Ragnarok101 seems to have done well with that on the SB version of their Tokyo Ghoul/One Piece fic....
 
Here's an excerpt of an Idea that I had.

"Have you heard of the Bloody Beast? It's supposedly a one-of-a-kind monster that prowls the Dungeon, not caring about what floor it's on. It's also wickedly smart, showing off something resembling battle tactics, and knowing when to cut it's losses. It goes near exclusively for level 2 and 3 adventurers, and evades level 4 and 5 ones, even after it's cornered."

Is it wrong to hunt Adventurers in the Dungeon? (Danmachi/Monster Hunter World Crossover SI)
 
JuDracus said:
You know what really annoys me about SI fics? It's that they seemingly always try to save everyone, no matter how unconnected they are to that person.
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It kinda boils down to the author knowing and feeling for these people when watching/reading their stories and wanting to do something about their situation. Remember, this is a self insert.
 
Ganurath said:
Are you suggesting a self-insert that goes out of their way to avoid the main plot? In my experience, those fics tend to combine the unflattering features of self-inserts and bash fics, with the redeeming qualities of neither.
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Considerin the amoun of flak Shadenight got in his (overly long title) grimdark SI fic, probably a very good idea to take note of. Wouldn't want your SI to be called "a little b!ch" by toughguys, would you?

That said, you can start beelining fo the plot for the mos contrived of reasons (heck, that's how most oldschool JRPG protags start!), bu unless you're hilariously impressionable or have a deathwish, expect that to lose steam after Nth life-threatening conflict. Most people (including you) will probably start wondering if this whole thing was a good idea after all.

How to fix this? Social Links!

Aforementioned DxD example: Say you ran into Rias in the local shopping district, and learned she's a really nice person in general (romantic interest optional, it did work for Troy), say you say you came across Issei burning his greymatter out in the school hallways worrying about the incredible odds they'rw up against. Say you've got a Devil contact or two, and they've got treally nasty things to say about that flaming chicken Riser.

All the little things that made IRL soldiers march to the banner for.

I mean, most stories (before the rise of the antihero) had heroes coming in parties, all supporting each other (mentally, emotionally, physically) on the quest to strike down the Demon Lord or something. Your plucky farmboy can go the whole way without any friends if they really want to, but he's likely going to be a broken mess driven forward by divine will (read: player control) at the end.

ADDENDUM: Please stop listing all your stats in a massve blob in the very first chapter, I don't need to know exactly how many different powers you have right now and it's a massive turnoff. I'd really rather see you throw a fireball in combat than listen to a technical description of pyrokinesis.
 
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