Line #44 FanFic/WarboundWidow


1	''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/1871859/chapters/4031043 Warbound Widow]]'' is a ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'' fanfic written by [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/SkilledWarriorKiwi SkilledWarriorKiwi]].
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3	This fic mainly features [[TheLeader Jane Crocker]] as the protagonist and follows the SBURB players experiences [[TimeSkip ten years]] after the end of the game. It also is based upon a [[InterspeciesRomance romance]] between [[HardBoiledDetective Jane]] and [[FluffyTheTerrible Gamzee]], in which the two got involved on Jane's birthday. The timeline is slightly shifted, with Jane's birthday being six months- instead of a year -from the start of her session of SBURB, which meant she was romantically involved with Gamzee for six months before the climax of SBURB.
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5	It also follows a slightly skewered version of the Pre-Retcon timeline, with [[ManipulativeBitch Aranea]] not making an appearance; Gamzee did steal the Ring of Life in this timeline but instead he gifted it to Calliope, who then confronted [[AssholeVictim Caliborn and killed him]] in the ensuing fight, but died of her injuries soon after. Gamzee then returned and while Jake was using his Hope powers to KO [[BrainwashedAndCrazy Jade]], Gamzee managed to grab onto and subdue Jane however he was later kicked off her by Terezi like in the Retcon timeline and she killed Jake in the ensuing chaos (however like in the Pre-Retcon timeline he resurrected). This caused Gamzee to beat Terezi to death in retaliation before he restrained Jane again.
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7	Before the other characters could react to this, the [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Condesce]] herself arrived and attacked them and the remaining Godtiers successfully killed her in the ensuing fight. After this occurred, SBURB reset and restored the planets, merging the Alpha and Beta sessions together and resurrecting the dead players and guardians.
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9	While the humans initially search the globe for the trolls they eventually come to the heartbreaking conclusion that SBURB restored them in their own reality/universe and they won't meet them again. Despite this, [[CuteBruiser Jane]] sends Gamzee's inactive trollian handle a message every day, then every week, then every month as the years roll by, giving him an update about what her family is accomplishing, including the fact all eight of the human godtiers still retain- more of less -their abilities, such as Jane still being a [[CombatMedic healer capable of raising the dead.]]
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11	Then everything goes to smash on the tenth anniversary celebration of SBURB, when a [[OhCrap horribly familiar red space ship]] enters the Earth's atmosphere and, when Jane contacts it, turns out to be the [[AlphaBitch Condesce]]. After a blistering exchange between the two women, the Condesce gives the orders and the [[TheEmpire Alternian Empire]] invades Earth, thus beginning an all out war between the two species.
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13	The author also further explains and talks about the universe within the fic, as well as answering questions any might have towards the characters on her ''[[http://swimmingferret.tumblr.com tumblr]]'', where she's expanded extensively on the original world building.
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15	''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/1871859/chapters/4031043 Warbound Widow]]'' is currently the longest [[ShipsThatPassInTheNight Gamzee/Jane]] fanfiction, being over 220k in length with it still being an ongoing WIP.
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17	There are also an independent fanfiction series called ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/series/203780 The conquering of Earth by an invading troll army]]'', written by [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/TheLadySyk0 TheLadySyk0]] which are all set within the Warbound Widow universe.
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19	----
20	!!Tropes:
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22	* ActionSurvivor: Every one of the SBURB survivors obviously.
23	* AgonyOfTheFeet: Jane gets the skin on the soles of her feet melted off at one point.
24	* AndIMustScream: The helmsmen, being psionics who've been turned into living batteries while still being aware. Both Roxy and Jane was utterly disgusted when they [[spoiler: encounter the Observer,]] and in the Chapter 28 we're introduced to husks, who are portable psionics who've had their legs and arms completely removed, making them [[WeirdScience mobile power units.]]
25	* AlienInvasion: What kicks off the plot.
26	* AloneWithThePsycho: Jane becomes this when she's[[spoiler: captured by the Empire and left with the Doctorturer Abutor Vulnus. Naturally, he lives up to his job description.]]
27	* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler: Vriska, in Chapter 17 when she's captured, mutilated and tortured by the Church until Gamzee successfully mentally breaks her. Of course, it's a bit hard to work up tears since she spent all her time after getting off planet trying to emulate Mindfang via constantly mindcontroling her whole crew and being a pirate slaver. However her genuine panic and hysterical screaming when Gamzee [[FateWorseThanDeath wraps her up in nothing but unending darkness]] is pretty disturbing.]]
28	--> [[spoiler: Trapped inside her own head, Vriska screamed and screamed and screamed and no one cared enough to listen. ]]
29	* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: All the SBURB kids hold positions of immense authority in the affairs of humanity; Jane in particular is the CEO of Crocker Corp, which is a planet spanning super power and is the most hardcore of the kids however all of the SBURB players are [[OneManArmy One Wo/Man armies]] in their own right, and usually are sent out on extremely hard missions or to provide much needed relief due to their sheer power and ass kickery.
30	* AxCrazy: Pretty much the entirety of the Empire.
31	* BadassInDistress: Jane when she was held prisoner.
32	* BathtubBonding: We get one with the Gamzee/Jane reunion. Jane mainly just wanted a bath to wash all her own dried blood off of her, but it also dissolves into an intimate scene between the two.
33	* BrickJoke: A mild one in Chapter 8, when the SBURB crew are speculating if the troll Jane encountered really is Gamzee from the game and Roxy makes a joke about him being from Turkey instead, referring to the fact 'Gamzee' means 'Dimple' in Turkish.
34	-->'''Dave''': She thought it was actually him? From the Game? Creepy Sasquatch clown Gamzee?
35	-->'''Roxy''': No, the Gamzee from Turkey.
36	** [[spoiler: Another, more gruesome one happens when [[LifeOrLimbDecision Jane tears her own hand off]]; it's the left hand, which is the same as the one Gamzee is later revealed to have bit off of Karkat in Chapter 29, meaning two people Gamzee had previously been in quadrants with have lost the same hand in shenanigans relating to him.]]
37	* BreakTheCutie: Happens to Nepeta when she's captured by slavers. By the time she's finally rescued she's extremely removed from her usual bubbly and friendly self, acting immensely sullen, paranoid and cold.
38	* BodyHorror: All of the helmsmen, who have had their bodies cannibalized by their wiring but are still [[AndIMustScream self aware.]] Also the husks, who have all their limbs removed.
39	* ColdBloodedTorture: Jane is subjected to this.
40	* CosmicRetcon: SBURB does this once the kids beat the Condesce, restoring the troll and human universes with a few tweaks; most noticeably is the human universe is now a fusion between the Alpha and Beta world whereas with the trolls they are now missing the Green Moon (due to lacking the need for a [[RealityWarper First Guardian.]]) Alternia is also missing [[EldritchAbomination Gl'bgolyb]], due to Doc Scratch not gifting her to the troll race in the restored universe. Instead the [[BrownNote Vast Glub]] became a psychic power Heiresses gained when they kill the current Empress and take her place.
41	* CombatMedic: Jane is this, due to having mad healing skills and being one of the hardiest combatants out of the SBURB crew.
42	* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: Happens with every troll in the Empire. Most don't even blink over the awful things they do to each other and other species; those that do speak out about it are killed.
43	* CryIntoChest: Jane does this to Gamzee at one point. Then again this is just after she's been tortured, so it's understandable.
44	* DeadGuyOnDisplay: When Vriska investigates a Carnival. She's rather [[EvenEvilHasStandards repulsed and disturbed]] by the Bleeder Vats, and the sheer amount of dead bodies everywhere. This is a theme for the Church; whenever they show up, be prepared for gore and rampant corpse desecration.
45	* DeathSeeker: Gamzee falls into this after the end of SGRUB and later attempts to commit [[SuicideByCop suicide by cop]] via refusing a bucket for the Drones, in the hope they'll kill him.
46	* DreamingOfThingsToCome: Apparently happened a lot to Rose before the actual Invasion, due to her latent Seer of Light abilities. In most cases her dreams and gut feelings resulted in things like building the mass underground cities for humanity and an alien invasion siren. All of her 'feelings' are spot on the money.
47	* EarthIsABattlefield: The entirety of humanity is swept up in the invasion, and thus the trolls are trying to kill humans where ever they can find them.
48	* EyeScream: Vriska is subject to one while Jane narrowly avoids this.
49	* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Surprisingly the Condesce, whose grief over the previous Grand Highblood's death in the Summoner's rebellion is what caused her to ban all adults from [[CrapsackWorld Alternia.]]
50	* EveryScarHasaStory: Turns out while the Godtier ascension rebirthed their bodies- including getting rid of [[BlindWithoutEm poor eyesight]] and [[AnArmAndALeg restoring lost limbs]] - the Godtiers [[ScarsAreForever keep the scars]] from things that killed them, such as Jane having a faint scar on her stomach where she was impaled on the Red Miles and a stab scar underneath her left breast from where Jack Noir assassinated her back on Prospit. Dirk is also mentioned to have a [[RuggedScar jagged line]] around his throat, from where he decapitated himself ingame.
51	* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Observer and though the author revealed that her name is actually Compes Lector, in universe everyone simply refers to her as 'the Observer'. Others include the Overseer who is, you guessed it, the overseer for the Empire slave trade. Same could be said for the Ancestors as a whole.
52	* BerserkButton: Insulting Gamzee within earshot of Jane is a sure way to draw her ire.
53	* FlashStep: Used by all the characters at some point during fights.
54	* FingerInTheMail: Terezi gets a nice one consisting of Vriska's severed arm.
55	* FormulaBreakingEpisode: Chapter 28 which follows [[AffablyEvil Zhanna Cuffes,]] a blueblood and Descendant of the Overseer of the Empire slave trade.
56	* HugeGuyTinyGirl: Gamzee and Jane are this after the [[TimeSkip timeskip.]] Gamzee is now fourteen feet tall, while Jane is little over six feet.
57	* IDieFree: The Observer, as she sends out one last message when she's killed.
58	--> 01000110 01110010 01100101 01100101 00101100 00100000 01100111 01101111 01101111 01100100 01100010 01111001 01100101 00100000 01001101 01101001 01110100 00001010
59	--> When Roxy translates this, it is revealed to say 'Free, Goodbye Mituna'.
60	* IronicNurseryTune: When Vriska is a prisoner Gamzee sings The Itsy-Bitsy Spider to her, while subjecting her to a [[MindRape Mind rape.]]
61	* InterspeciesRomance: Gamzee and Jane, obviously. Also past Rose/Kanaya is mentioned.
62	* InsaneEqualsViolent: Rather zig-zagged with Gamzee, who is confirmed to suffer from strong symptoms of late-stage psychosis. However when he's not running off killing vast amounts of hapless aliens he's friendly and talkative, even automatically comforting Jane when she starts crying. Jane outright worries about what the ten years of [[ReligionOfEvil Church]] has done to Gamzee, since she notes Gamzee had strong traits of psychosis even back in the game yet he wasn't violent at all.
63	* LargeAndInCharge: Gamzee, who is over fourteen feet tall as an adult and holds the title of Grand Highblood. [[WordOfGod Word of God]] confirms he's the largest troll in the fleet.
64	* MeaningfulName: Pretty much all the trolls introduced have names relevant to what they are, such as Abutor Vulnus, whose name literally means To Abuse/To Wound and The Observer who resembles a helmsman but made for Empire-wide spying than a power source and her real name is Compes Lector, which translates to Chained Reader.
65	* MonsterClown: The entirety of the Church of the Mirthful Messiahs are this.
66	* NoodleIncident: Roxy wound up crashing a zeppelin into a pyramid at some point.
67	** There is also a rather amusing message from an Admiral to his crew about the dangers of Earth fauna as he apparently lost quite a few of his crew to them.
68	----->SⱢitherbeasts are stiⱢⱢ venomous! Do not pick up any you find ⅋ try to pⱢay with ⅋/or poke them!
69	----->Croakbeasts have poisonous skins! Do not eat any you find unⱢess you are positive they aren't poisonous!
70	----->Spiders are Ɫikewise a hit ⅋ miss! They may be far smaⱢⱢer ⅋ cuter than we're used to but they can stiⱢⱢ kiⱢⱢ you with a bite if you are careⱢess!
71	----->Even fish can be poisonous! I admit seeing tiny sea-dweⱢⱢing skywhales ⅋ skyhorses is very adorabⱢe but that doesn't mean you shouⱢd just Ɫeap in the ocean without care!
72	----->The toothfish have aⱢready eaten three seadweⱢⱢers ⅋ those big moobeast skywhales ate/mauⱢed a dozen more!
73	----->So don't be careⱢess!
74	* OffingTheOffspring: The Condesce is very eager to kill Feferi and was extremely vexed when her Heiress didn't show for the traditional [[DuelToTheDeath Duel to the Death.]]
75	* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Characters such as The Contessa.
76	* PastLifeMemories: An interesting kind, as all the SBURB/SGRUB players fused with their Doomed timeline selves after the completion of the game meaning they have ALL the memories of various Doomed timelines within them. Most of these memories lay dormant unless sufficiently triggered by something and it can cause quite a bit of confusion and rage among the players as they have strong feelings of Deja Vu which conflict with their dominant memories. Notable examples include when Jane sees the picture of Calliope dressed as Callie Opheee in Gamzee's room and is extremely confused and distressed because she remembers meeting Calilope dressed as Callie Opheee in the Retcon timeline yet her dominant memories of those of the tweaked Game Over-esque timeline where she never met Calliope in person. It also explains why Gamzee [[DisproportionateRetribution went so overboard in punishing Vriska]] when he caught her, as he remembered her sealing him inside a fridge to suffocate slowly in the Retcon timeline and [[ManipulativeBitch Aranea's]] killing of Jane in Game Over.
77	** Exaggerated with the trolls, who were fused with their Doomed selves AND their Dancestors along with their thousands of Doomed selves. [[MindFuck Mind fuck ]] indeed.
78	* PutOnABus: The author got rid of Vriska fairly quickly, essentially adding a chapter simply to show how irrelevant she's become in the fic. [[WordOfGod The author outright admits]] to hating Vriska and wanting to get her out of the story as quickly as possible, and saying Vriska will never be important or relevant.
79	* ReadingtheEnemysMail: Quite a few chapters are just pesterlogs of the stolen Empire information, including gossip sessions and personal logs.
80	* RebelLeader: Karkat and Feferi are this to the troll rebellion. Well, the rebels as a whole moreso think Karkat is, despite him insisting he and Feferi are equals.
81	* ReplacementGoldfish: Gamzee seems to be going this way for the Condesce, as he mentions offhandedly to Jane that the Empress has a habit of touching him all the time and hitting on him randomly; she and Gamzee's deceased Ancestor were in mixed quadrants with each other for thousands of sweeps and Gamzee apparently looks just like him.
82	* ReincarnationRomance: Averted as Kanaya is incredibly pale towards Karkat just like her Ancestor and Dancestor were towards their respective Vantas and [[UnrequitedLoveLastsForever has been pale-pining for him for the last ten years]] after the end of SGRUB. However tragically this will never be reciprocated, since Karkat gained Kankri's immense hate for 'motherly' pale affections and while he does regard Kanaya as one of his dearest friends and closest advisers [[LetsJustBeFriends he will never get into a diamond]] with her due to that.
83	* RippleEffectProofMemory: Only the SBURB/SGRUB players, along with the resurrected human guardians, remember the game.
84	* ScarsAreForever: Gamzee kept his three facial scars from the end of SGRUB right up to the invasion of Earth. They actually turn out to be what Jane uses to identify him from after the [[TimeSkip Timeskip]]. There is some speculation as to why he kept those three scars but Gamzee personally guesses it's because Nepeta literally scratched his soul when she attacked him back in the game.
85	* SnarkToSnarkCombat: Pretty much the entire interaction between [[PlayfulHacker Roxy]] and [[InsufferableGenius Sollux.]]
86	* SoftSpokenSadist: Abutor Vulnus, who is the head [[NamesToRunAwayFromVeryFast Doctorturer]] of the Empire. He always remains calm even when enraged and his voice has been outright described as 'sweet' at one point.
87	* StopWorshippingMe: Karkat towards the Sufferists, since the cult is so badly fanatical many of the members ground their horns down to resemble his own.
88	* StealthPun: Occhio Mutare's first name means "eye". He's blind.
89	* {{Stripperiffic}}: Apparently many of the Church dress like this, with [[MarriedToTheJob Zhanna Cuffes]] even outright complaining about 'why do clowns have to dress so indecently'.
90	* SuperStrength: Jane, who was capable of getting into a fistfight with a blueblood on equal grounds. Jane was also confirmed as capable of beating John in fisticuffs, making her the most physically powerful out of the SBURB ground. However as a whole the Crocker/Egbert family tend to be the most physically strong out of the humans thus far.
91	* ThereAreNoTherapists/*TherapyIsForTheWeak: Interestingly averted in the case of the subjugglators, where [[SerialKiller Abutor Vulnus]] apparently acts as a Church-wide therapist for the purple caste. He makes long, sympathetic notes about his sessions with subjects and expresses concern when he finds out about Gamzee's death seeker attitude and depression. The folder Roxy saves Abutor's sessions is even outright called 'clown therapy.'
92	* TookALevelInKindness: Equius, surprisingly. He's very sympathetic and patient when speaking to Rose and takes the time to clearly explain all the trolls new situations- including their new fused mind states -to her. He also apologizes for all the grief his species has caused for the humans.
93	* TrueCompanions: The SBURB crew all regard each other as family and would die for each other. The [[ReligionOfEvil Church of the Mirthful Messiahs]] are, weirdly enough, revealed to be this as well, with the final work of [[NobleBigot Seshat Fessus]] commenting that this attitude is what makes the clowns so dangerous.
94	* WhatTheHellHero: John gives one to Karkat when the troll admits they deliberately postponed the fight between Feferi and the Condesce.
95	* WholesomeCrossdresser: Seshat Fessus a male seadweller is shown in the art by the author to wear long sparkly ball dresses. There is also [[ShrinkingViolet Koiboi Liquor,]] a member of the Church who wears modest dresses wherever he goes.

Context FanFic / WarboundWidow