1 | ->"Hey, guys... I know yer scared, nobody wants no one tuh die... but c'mon. If we calm down'n'think 'bout it, we'll come up with somethin'. We always do." |
2 | |
3 | -->-- '''Ellis''' |
4 | |
5 | |
6 | ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/11546595?view_full_work=true Blind Man's Bluff]]'' is a ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'' [[HoYay Nick/Ellis]] fanfic by ladyredms that takes place in a presumably alternate universe where the group doesn't meet up on the roof of the evacuation center. Rather than a campaign-by-campaign story, this story spins a different twist to the survivors' adventures, giving the universe a more realistic take while exploring their adventures during the [[ZombieApocalypse zombie apocalypse]] in search of salvation. |
7 | |
8 | But mainly, the story focuses on the characters, following each of their interactions with each other and each of them [[CharacterDevelopment developing as people]] as well as learning to trust each other. |
9 | |
10 | The story underwent a rewrite, with its most recent update on October 2020. |
11 | ---- |
12 | !!''FanFic/BlindMansBluff'' provides examples of: |
13 | |
14 | %%* AdmiringTheAbomination: Ellis, frequently. |
15 | %%* AloneWithThePsycho: Poor, poor Ellis... |
16 | %%* AmazonChaser: It seems like [[BloodKnight Jerry]] goes for women like this. |
17 | %%* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler: Chris's]] ultimate fate. |
18 | %%* ArmorPiercingQuestion: Nick provides most of these. |
19 | %%* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: [[OfficialCouple Nick and Ellis]]. |
20 | %%** Coach and Nick have their moments, too. |
21 | %%*** Nick and Rochelle also have their moments. |
22 | %%*** Basically, Nick has these moments with everybody. |
23 | * AxCrazy: [[spoiler: All of the Angels.]] These guys are treating the damn [[ZombieApocalypse zombie apocalypse]] as a roaring good time, and they even use knives instead of guns in order to get as close to their carnage as possible. And based on their philosophy, they're [[TheSocialDarwinist pretty firm believers in Social Darwinism.]] |
24 | ** Special mention must be given to [[spoiler: Brenda and Jerry. Especially Jerry, who seemed to delight in torturing Ellis.]] |
25 | %%* BadassInANiceSuit: Nick, naturally. |
26 | %%* BadassSpaniard: Chris. Please add context before un-commenting. |
27 | %%* BandOfBrothers: The Survivors are this. |
28 | * BerserkButton: If you hurt a single one of the survivors, you can count that [[TrueCompanions the rest of them]] will rain hellfire on you. |
29 | ** And if you're especially suicidal, then you'd harm [[MoralityPet Ellis]] in front of Nick. It doesn't matter if he's unarmed, [[spoiler: he will try to annihilate you and all of your friends [[UnstoppableRage with his bare hands]]. Unfortunately for him, [[AxCrazy Brenda]] had a katana, so all he achieved through that was a katana through the shoulder.]] |
30 | * BewareTheNiceOnes: Besides [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Nick]], all of the Survivors are very friendly. But if you [[BerserkButton hurt one of their own]], then they'll show you why they managed to survive so well in the [[ZombieApocalypse Zombie Apocalypse.]] |
31 | %%* BewareTheSillyOnes: Ellis, in the case of [[spoiler: the Angels.]] Although he often gets overlooked due to his goofy demeanor, he can conjure up game-breaking plans out of damn near nothing. |
32 | %%* BigDamnHeroes: All of the survivors at one point or another. And, in a rather surprising turn of events, [[spoiler: Chris]] does one too. |
33 | %%* BigEater: Coach. |
34 | %%* TheBigGuy: [[TheLeader Coach]] and [[BloodKnight Jerry]] to their respective teams. |
35 | %%* BloodKnight: All of the [[AxCrazy Angels]] are this. |
36 | * BreakTheCutie: To date, Rochelle had to witness [[spoiler: Chris getting his armed ripped off by a Witch when he saved her and Coach's lives. And then she had to hear his cries of agony as his arm was cauterized.]] And Ellis had his optimism in humanity challenged many times, starting with the ruthless female robber to [[spoiler: getting almost tortured then slaughtered by Jerry. Then he had to watch Jerry die.]] |
37 | * BunnyEarsLawyer: All of the Survivors. Although they all have their quirks, there's a very [[ActionSurvivor good]] reason that they're all still alive during the [[ZombieApocalypse Zombie Apocalypse.]] |
38 | %%* CantSpitItOut: Nick in terms of Ellis. |
39 | %%* CarFu: Used extensively to battle zombies. |
40 | %%* CarpetOfVirility: Nick has a Type 1. Besides, Ellis seems to be very fond of Nick's chest hair. |
41 | %%* CasualDangerDialogue: They're all pretty upbeat considering what's going on around them. |
42 | %%* ChainsawGood: At least Ellis thinks so. |
43 | * CharacterDevelopment: All of the characters get loads of this. Rochelle slowly gains acceptance of the situation, Coach learns to share his worries with others, Ellis wisens up after one too many [[BreakTheCutie Break The Cutie]] moments, and Nick smoothly undergoes the transition from [[JerkAss a self-obsessed asshole]] to [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold a self-obsessed asshole who cares about his group]]. |
44 | * ChekhovsGun: Sugar and [[spoiler: the bullet that Nick slipped into Jerry's gun.]] |
45 | * CloudCuckooLander: Ellis. His cheery countenance and happy ramblings tend to either amuse, confuse, or irritate his teammates. How he manages to recount Keith stories at the drop of a hat during the [[ZombieApocalypse zombie apocalypse]] is a miracle in and of itself. |
46 | * ColdBloodedTorture: [[spoiler: Jerry]] tries to inflict this on [[spoiler: Ellis.]] |
47 | * CoolBigSis: Rochelle serves as this to Ellis. |
48 | * CrazyEnoughToWork: All of Ellis's plans. All of them. But special mentions include [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu exploding a Tank with a gas station]] during one of the most badass [[ChaseFight car chases]] in history, [[ImprobableWeaponUser setting zombies on fire using fire and fast food grease,]] and, for the kicker, [[spoiler: summoning Witches using nothing but bags of sugar to bring down Brenda.]] |
49 | %%* TheCynic: Nick |
50 | * DeadpanSnarker: Everyone has their moments, but standout examples have to be Nick and Rochelle. |
51 | %%* DarkAndTroubledPast: Poor Nick. |
52 | %%* DefrostingIceKing: Nick, big time. |
53 | %%* DespairEventHorizon: Nick almost crosses this when he thinks that [[spoiler: Ellis dies.]] |
54 | %%* TheDitz: Carmine is this. |
55 | * DoorStopper: This fic is ''357'' chapters long and is still continuing. |
56 | * DudeNotFunny: Nick tends to get this reaction InUniverse. Especially in the earlier chapters, with [[JerkAss Nick's]] behavior towards Ellis. This seems to have mostly disappeared mostly due to his [[CharacterDevelopment Character Development.]] However, this still pops up from time to time, like when Nick jokes about [[spoiler: Chris's severed arm.]] Coach was not amused. |
57 | * EliteMook: The Tanks serve as this big time. Each time they appear in the story, you can expect all hell to break loose. Especially when [[spoiler: one Tank manages to chuck a slab of concrete right at them, some of the fragments striking Coach in the back of the head, causing them to lose their car and [[FromBadtoWorse leaving him incapacitated]].]] |
58 | * EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: [[spoiler: Brenda]] goes almost hysterical with rage when she believes that [[spoiler: the Survivors brought Chris to his doom.]] |
59 | * EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler: Even Brenda]] is absolutely horrified at what [[spoiler: the military]] has done. |
60 | ** [[spoiler: Chris]] is horrified when [[spoiler: Brenda gloats about Ellis being mercilessly murdered by Jerry.]] It's partially what prompts his [[spoiler: [[HeelFaceTurn Heel Face Turn]].]] |
61 | * EveryoneCallsHimBarKeep: Everyone calls Sam Coach. Except [[VitriolicBestBuds Nick.]] |
62 | * EvilGloating: [[spoiler: Brenda]] delivers a rather nasty one to the survivors about how [[spoiler: Jerry was probably viciously torturing Ellis. And how she would kill them after Jerry delivered Ellis's corpse to them in pieces.]] |
63 | * EyeScream: Almost happens to Nick, courtesy of a particularly grabby zombie. |
64 | %%* FireForgedFriends: The Survivors are this. |
65 | * GeniusDitz: Although quirky, Ellis is damn good at making plans. |
66 | %%* GoldDigger: Nick's wife Angelica was this. |
67 | * GoodIsNotNice: Nick. He'll frequently spout off things that are unpleasant to hear, although they are necessary. |
68 | * GoodParents: Ellis and Rochelle's parent(s). Coach is quickly [[PapaWolf becoming one]] as well. |
69 | * HandsomeLech: Nick. Although his amorous exploits don't only extend to women. |
70 | * HeroicBSOD: Coach suffers a minor one after seeing a Charger, which makes him remember [[spoiler: about how a lot of the football team he was coaching turned into them and pounded the rest of their teammates to death.]] Nick snaps him out of it, though. |
71 | * HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: Chris]] does a rather surprising one though, in the [[spoiler: [[BigDamnHeroes coolest way possible.]]]] |
72 | %%* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Coach]] tries to pull one off. |
73 | * HeroicWillPower: All of the survivors have this. Even after receiving injuries that should leave them in a crippled pile of pain, they push through it in order to help the [[TrueCompanions others.]] |
74 | %%* HiddenDepths: All of the Survivors. But especially Nick. |
75 | %%* HeterosexualLifePartners: Ellis and Keith. |
76 | * HoistByHisOwnPetard: This happens to [[spoiler: Jerry.]] After he tries to [[spoiler: shoot Ellis]], instead, [[spoiler: his gun blows up in his face due to the [[ChekhovsGun bullet]] that Nick slipped into his gun.]] |
77 | * HopeSpot: [[spoiler: [[HeelFaceTurn Chris refuses to shoot them.]] So Brenda decides to do so instead.]] |
78 | %%* HumbleHero: Both Ellis and Coach. |
79 | * ICouldaBeenAContender: Coach could've had a career in football if it hadn't been for his knee injury. |
80 | %%* ImAHumanitarian: Amusingly enough, Rochelle misconstrued Keith to be this from one of Ellis's stories. |
81 | %%* IndyPloy: Nick manages to pull one off successfully on a robber. |
82 | %%* InTouchWithHisFeminineSide: Ellis, according to Rochelle. |
83 | %%* IronButtMonkey: Keith in Ellis's stories. To almost impossible degrees. |
84 | * IronicName: The Angels. Who are anything [[AxCrazy but.]] [[LampShadeHanging Lampshaded]] in-universe. |
85 | * ISurrenderSuckers: A thief tries to pull this on the Survivors. [[OutGambitted It doesn't]] [[OhCrap work.]] |
86 | %%* JerkAssHasAPoint: Nick, frequently. |
87 | %%* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Nick, Nick, Nick. |
88 | %%* KatanasAreJustBetter: According to Brenda. |
89 | * Keet: Ellis is always the most cheerful and chatty of the survivors. |
90 | * KickTheDog: You can tell if a situation is bad when one of the survivors does this to Ellis. They always regret this later on, though. Although it's especially cruel when [[spoiler: Brenda and Jerry]] do this. |
91 | ** Nick's wife [[GoldDigger Angelica]] does this. She divorces him even after he's hysterical with fear for her and beaten so severely he ends up in the hospital. Why? Because he ran out of money [[UngratefulBastard buying her things]]. |
92 | * KissingCousins: Nick says this about Ellis due to his [[DeepSouth place of birth.]] Ellis and Rochelle aren't amused. |
93 | %%* TheLancer: Nick serves as this to [[TheLeader Coach]]. |
94 | %%* TheLeader: Coach. |
95 | * LeftForDead: Just like its namesake. However, it seems that it's taken a much darker tone. It's heavily implied that the [[spoiler: military abandoned all the surviving humans, and did something so horrible that it left even [[TheSociopath Brenda]] shaken.]] |
96 | %%* TheLoad: Carmine. Fully acknowledged in-universe as well. |
97 | %%* LovableRogue: Nick. |
98 | * MacGyvering: Ellis, with the most unlikely of things. This includes [[ImprobableWeaponUser sugar and fast food grease.]] |
99 | %%* ManChild: Ellis. |
100 | * MercyKill: A thoroughly pragmatic one by Nick. He shoots three zombies that were dissolving in Spitter acid to get the rest of his horrified group moving. And, debatably, when he shoots a chained-up zombie. |
101 | * MexicanStandOff: One goes on between Ellis and [[spoiler: Brenda.]] |
102 | * MoralityPet: Ellis and Rochelle tend to serve as this to the entire group. Ellis is Nick's biggest morality pet, though. |
103 | %%* MoreDeadlyThanTheMale: Brenda. |
104 | %%* MotorMouth: Ellis, Ellis, Ellis. |
105 | %%* NiceGirl: [[CoolBigSis Rochelle.]] |
106 | %%* NiceGuy: Both Ellis and Coach. |
107 | * NotSoAboveItAll: Although she's usually cool, suave, and collected, [[spoiler: Brenda]] almost loses it entirely after [[spoiler: the Survivors say they're calling the military.]] |
108 | %%* OppositesAttract: In the case of Nick and Ellis. |
109 | %%* OddFriendship: The Survivors all have this with each other. |
110 | * OOCIsSeriousBusiness: If any of the characters display this, the situation has gone bad. Of particular note, Ellis actually ''goes quiet'' around [[spoiler: Jerry]]. |
111 | * PapaWolf: Coach to Rochelle most definitely. But he's definitely becoming this to Ellis too. |
112 | * ParentalSubstitute: Coach to both Ellis and Rochelle. |
113 | ** Also, one of Nick's [[spoiler: teachers]], who he claims he regarded as a father. |
114 | * PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: There's heavy suggestions that Jerry is this. |
115 | %%* PrettyBoy: Ellis, according to Brenda and Jerry. |
116 | * RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Nick is extremely close to exacting one of these on [[spoiler: the Angels after Brenda says that Jerry will kill Ellis.]] |
117 | %%* RomanticFalseLead: It's pretty obvious that [[TheDitz Carmine]] is one. |
118 | %%* SassyBlackWoman: Rochelle, although this is a case of Administrivia/TropesAreNotBad since her personality is much more developed than just that. |
119 | %%* ShipperOnDeck: Rochelle serves as this to Nick/Ellis. |
120 | %%* ShipTease: A whole bunch of it with Rochelle and Chris. |
121 | %%* ShootTheFuelTank: Twice. Both instigated by Ellis. |
122 | %%* SmugSnake: The female robber, [[JerkAss Jerry]], and [[AxCrazy Brenda.]] |
123 | %%* TheSociopath: A pretty good case could be argued that [[spoiler: the Angels are this, excluding [[TokenGoodTeammate Chris]].]] |
124 | %%* TeamDad: Coach. Ellis and Rochelle certainly view him as a [[ParentalSubstitute father figure.]] |
125 | %%* TeamMom: Despite acting as a surrogate daughter to Coach, Rochelle certainly fills this role for the team. Nick even [[LampShadeHanging lampshades]] this at one point. |
126 | %%* TheSmartGuy: Ellis. |
127 | %%* TranquilFury: Nick has a rather terrifying one when a robber smacks Ellis across the face with a gun. |
128 | * TrueCompanions: All of the survivors become this to each other. It's more or less summed up the best in this passage: |
129 | -->In silence, pressed close, there was an instant of examination. They took stock - let it sink in that they were all together again, alive. Hurt, but safe. Scared - but safe. Something had long since settled between them, an unspoken but very real tie. Something familial, forged out of a bond as strong as blood. |
130 | %%* UnderestimatingBadAssery: The [[spoiler: Angels]] severely underestimate Ellis. |
131 | %%* UndyingLoyalty: All of the [[TrueCompanions Survivors]] have this for each other. |
132 | * UngratefulBastard: The female thief. After being let go, she still tries to [[ISurrenderSuckers stab them in the back.]] |
133 | %%* UnstoppableRage: Go ahead. [[SchmuckBait Try hurting Ellis in front of Nick.]] We'll see how long you last. |
134 | %%** Actually, try hurting any of the Survivors and you'll receive this from the rest. |
135 | %%* ValleyGirl: Carmine. |
136 | %%* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler: Brenda]] is rapidly spiraling downwards. |
137 | %%* ViolenceIsDisturbing: Happens quite frequently. |
138 | * VitriolicBestBuds: Although the "friends" portion can be debated, [[TheLeader Coach]] and [[TheLancer Nick]] nonetheless respect each other. Usually with a whole lot of snark. |
139 | %%* WeaponizedCar: What Ellis tries to do in the beginning. |
140 | * WhatTheHellHero: Nick delivers an absolutely BRUTAL one to Coach after [[spoiler: he accidentally sets a horde on them.]] Needless to say, it hits home. |
141 | %%* WideEyedIdealist: Ellis embodies this trope. |
142 | %%* WorthyOpponent: As of late, [[spoiler: Brenda]] seems to view Ellis as this. |
143 | * YaoiFangirl: Rochelle serves as this. She knows about Ellis and Nick's relationship, and she's definitely supportive of it. |
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