I've always loved exploring Giovanni as more than just a villain. I mean yeah, there's plenty you can do ficwise with that, but at the same time, there's a lot the anime doesn't explain, and in general I like to write about the more human aspects of his character.
It's pretty clear he's a very loving daddy to Persian and their friendship is an interesting dynamic to explore, with how his personality/views influence that relationship.
I feel like a lot of ficcers don't either. I think it's a bigger challenge to humanize a character than to say "and then Giovanni did evil stuff and stole some Pokemon" and make them someone the readers can identify with and even cheer for in the story.
And yet, I think the anime's done more of this with him than any of the other Evil Team leaders. Especially in BW- this story itself was actually partly inspired by this scene because I found it so adorable, and then the next episode they show him drinking coffee and being relatively polite.
It's a tricky line to toe, making him likable while showing and acknowledging he's still a massive dickbag, and I think that's why I have so much fun writing stuff like this.
I have two more Giovanni and Persian stories like this one, actually, though they're set during the childhood that I flashed back to in this. One is set at Christmas, and the other I can't post anywhere yet because it's still being judged in a contest, sadly.
...okay normally I am like "ugh Giovanni" and am resistant to things that make him sympathetic but THIS IS SO ADORABLE AND I WANT TO GIVE HIM A HUG. He'd probably dump me in a ditch afterward but that's fine. He and his Persian are SO CUTE. And now they have matching neckgear. Yes.
Less flailily, I really like how you handled this. The start was maybe a smidgen slow, but once their relationship was built up I really cared about them. I liked the secretary managed to be crisp, competent, and caring while remaining a little crazy (fire!). Which I guess is sort of true of Giovanni too. It's also very funny to think of him stuck doing paperwork when he's this hardcore mob boss and Pokémon trainer.
Persian is awesome and I really liked the inclusion of Thunderbolt --- of course Persian knows Thunderbolt. (Actually, Persian has a way more diverse movepool than I realized!) Also, saving Giovanni from the beedrills: <3 <3 <3
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First of all, I cruised over to your info and HOLY CRAP YOU LIVE IN INDIANA? ME TOO!
*hoosier fistbump*
This reply is going to be hard to write, so I'm going to just quote you and reply by individual items because you covered so much.
...okay normally I am like "ugh Giovanni" and am resistant to things that make him sympathetic but THIS IS SO ADORABLE AND I WANT TO GIVE HIM A HUG. He'd probably dump me in a ditch afterward but that's fine. Writing sympathetic Giovanni is tricky and I have no idea how I pull it off so well, especially 10k words of it. In general for this one I just included lots of verbal abuse directed at Zager. Because writing Giovanni being a sarcastic douchewaffle is actually pretty fun once you really get into it. Persian and Giovanni's friendship is something I've always liked writing and getting deeper into, because as someone with kitties, I identify with it so much. They really have adorable chemistry and Persian is such a big adorable ball of fluff and SQUEE.
Less flailily, I really like how you handled
( ... )
Comments 5
(The comment has been removed)
I've always loved exploring Giovanni as more than just a villain. I mean yeah, there's plenty you can do ficwise with that, but at the same time, there's a lot the anime doesn't explain, and in general I like to write about the more human aspects of his character.
It's pretty clear he's a very loving daddy to Persian and their friendship is an interesting dynamic to explore, with how his personality/views influence that relationship.
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
And yet, I think the anime's done more of this with him than any of the other Evil Team leaders. Especially in BW- this story itself was actually partly inspired by this scene because I found it so adorable, and then the next episode they show him drinking coffee and being relatively polite.
It's a tricky line to toe, making him likable while showing and acknowledging he's still a massive dickbag, and I think that's why I have so much fun writing stuff like this.
I have two more Giovanni and Persian stories like this one, actually, though they're set during the childhood that I flashed back to in this. One is set at Christmas, and the other I can't post anywhere yet because it's still being judged in a contest, sadly.
Reply
Less flailily, I really like how you handled this. The start was maybe a smidgen slow, but once their relationship was built up I really cared about them. I liked the secretary managed to be crisp, competent, and caring while remaining a little crazy (fire!). Which I guess is sort of true of Giovanni too. It's also very funny to think of him stuck doing paperwork when he's this hardcore mob boss and Pokémon trainer.
Persian is awesome and I really liked the inclusion of Thunderbolt --- of course Persian knows Thunderbolt. (Actually, Persian has a way more diverse movepool than I realized!) Also, saving Giovanni from the beedrills: <3 <3 <3 ( ... )
Reply
*hoosier fistbump*
This reply is going to be hard to write, so I'm going to just quote you and reply by individual items because you covered so much.
...okay normally I am like "ugh Giovanni" and am resistant to things that make him sympathetic but THIS IS SO ADORABLE AND I WANT TO GIVE HIM A HUG. He'd probably dump me in a ditch afterward but that's fine.
Writing sympathetic Giovanni is tricky and I have no idea how I pull it off so well, especially 10k words of it. In general for this one I just included lots of verbal abuse directed at Zager. Because writing Giovanni being a sarcastic douchewaffle is actually pretty fun once you really get into it. Persian and Giovanni's friendship is something I've always liked writing and getting deeper into, because as someone with kitties, I identify with it so much. They really have adorable chemistry and Persian is such a big adorable ball of fluff and SQUEE.
Less flailily, I really like how you handled ( ... )
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