JJ: Hello readers! I hope you're enjoying what you've been reading so far, it's been a blast writing all of this! But, as is sometimes wont to happen, I'm suffering from a touch of writer's block, so rather than just stare at a blank document for hours then give up and scroll through Pinterest, I thought I'd do something a little fun that might help me get the juices flowing and assure you guys that I'm not just like... abandoning this. So, I thought I'd maybe do like... an interview with a few characters. And, if you guys like this and would like to ask any characters you've seen so far a question, please feel free to shoot me a PM, leave a comment in a review, or what have you! This'll be a good way for me to interact with you guys, so... yeah, let's see how this goes! So, today in The Writer's Block-
Jake: Heeey, that's a snappy title!
JJ: I know, it's like you came up with it or something.
Jake: Yeah. Crazy.
JJ: Hm. Today in The Writer's Block, it's Josh and Jacob!
*Applause*
Josh: Oh hey, soundboard, nice touch.
JJ: Right? Thanks! So, technically speaking, you guys aren't 16 and 13 anymore, since I started writing MBK in 2012.
Josh: That's right, seven years ago. You was a widdle.
JJ: So, Josh, you're 23 now, and Jake you're... 20?
Jake: Mhmmm. Crazy huh?
Josh: And how old are you?
JJ: Mmmm... somewhere in that range.
Josh: *Laughs* Fair enough.
JJ: So how does it feel? Going back, kind of redoing everything?
Jake: I love it! I've got almost a whole chapter this time!
Josh: I like it too! The improved backstories are great, the whole thing just feels a bit more... fleshed out, you're really doing our stories justice. Or... well, my story at least, I haven't seen a ton of Jakie yet.
Jake: Well not a lot happens between me waking up and me, Blaze, and Silver going after the Sol Emeralds, so it's kinda understandable.
JJ: You have a lot of cool things happen to you later though.
Jake: Yeah, you'll be seeing more of me in re:Tuned but... I've always felt like this was always more Josh's story, you kinda grew more than I did.
Josh: Eeeeeh...
JJ: There's actually some truth to that, you were originally my self-insert and, even though I wrote my actual little brother into it, I kinda wrote this more for me than him, so that's why there was less Jacob in the original.
Jake: Well, here's hoping you'll see me a bit more.
JJ: Cheers. Now, before we get started, just wanted to finally shout out ALL the readers who have been kind enough to leave me some reviews! So, in no particular order, The Ever-Dreaming Kitten, you've been leaving a review pretty much every chapter, which is very sweet of you, thank you very much! HunterMC, thank you for the kind words, I promise I'm working on keeping it up! Demolition Man - Simon Phoenix, bruh thanks so much for the very… passionate review, I'm glad I'm hopefully filling that void in your life and I hope you're still reading! Wolfian I'm glad you like Josh so much! Josh, anything you'd like to say?
Josh: I'm definitely not the best male OC, but thank you for saying that, I'm glad you like what's been going on!
JJ: Josu A Aponte, I'm… a tiny bit confused what you're trying to get across to me, but… thank you anyways for your kind words and suggestions! Maxikeeper234, The Big Blue Jacket, and KenGreenmanFTW, you were some of my first reviewers, and if you're still reading this, thank you so much for sticking with it the last… 2 to 3 years! And Lynn, I hope that I explained my reasoning a bit… Honeybringmoney and Eveevan, thank you for your reviews, especially regarding the quality of my writing, I take great pride in that, so hearing people say things like that definitely inflates my ego a bit. Ampitup2011, you snuck one in right before I got thsi published. Thank you for worrying, I'm taking good care of myself, promise! Now, I'd like to make a special shout out to two people: ThinMintE, thank you for sticking around, especially recently, and for your kind comments with almost every update, and a HUGE thank you to Stardown, who has been kind enough to point out any big grammatical errors I've made, as well as help me fix a few plot holes. You have really been a big, big help in making a quality story, as well as keeping me motivated. Now, I read every review everyone leaves me, and I take every suggestion made to me into consideration, so, I promise, if you write something, I will read it and try to respond! I've been incredibly lucky so far to not have had too many criticisms, but if you have any, don't hesitate to let me know by leaving a review or PMing me directly. I'm a big boy, I promise I can take it, and if it's something I can do and that I personally feel will make the story better, I'll do what I can to fix your criticism. And if you've given this story any attention over the years, whether it be a follow, a favorite, a review, what have you, it's meant the world to me, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you!
Jake: Phew, I feel like I gotta stretch after that…
JJ: I had a LOT I had to catch up on, and that was my bad for not being as involved with my audience as I should be… But let's get to talking to you two now. For this first time around, I'll just kinda ask you guys questions I feel like I should ask, so stuff like... you know, the plot, your interests, extra things I didn't mention in the chapters, etc. AND, as a reminder, if any readers would like to ask any questions to you guys, or Sonic, or ANYONE that's been in this FanFiction, you can leave your question in a review, or you can PM me with "Question for" whoever, or something like that in the subject line, both methods work just fine for me.
Josh: And, side note, this is totally not some kind of ploy to try to get people to leave more reviews!
JJ: Oh heavens no! It's just a small perk on the side.
Josh: Oh my gosh. *Laughs*
JJ: ANYWAYS, I got questions on cards here, so lezgo! First question I have is for the both of you, and I kinda already asked this but I want a more in depth answer, what were your guys' thoughts about this first leg of your journey?
Josh: ...like... what we think of how it's presented in the story, or what we were actually thinking at the time?
JJ: Oh, either/or if you want, whatever you're comfortable talking about.
Jake: I mean... you made me seem a lot more chill when you wrote my chapter, I felt like... at least internally, I was freaking out a lot more at first.
JJ: You think so?
Jake: Yeah! I mean, I was in that hospital for a couple hours after I woke up. Silver and Blaze were trying to help me wrap my head around what was going on.
JJ: For hours? Really?
Jake: Well, Chaos Control can be pretty discombobulating, especially if you've never done it before and stuff, plus I kinda crossed through both space and time, so when I woke up I was... I don't want to say confused, it was more like my brain and body were just... Exhausted I think?
JJ: Like you felt tired?
Jake: Like... have you ever stayed up for 24 hours without sleeping, you feel really weird, and sluggish... it was like that except the effect felt doubled, and then on top of that, I was freakin' scared 'cuz, you know, I was in a hospital, I was seeing freakin' animals walking around, it was incredibly confusing.
JJ: So you were struggling to comprehend everything going on-
Jake: Yeah yeah, I was slowly like... "waking up" to everything around me, so Blaze and Silver had to... like, take me to a quiet room, sit me down, slowly talk me through everything. You really sped up the process in re:Tuned, which, honestly, was probably for the best, I don't think people would have liked to read... basically the same information repeated over and over again.
JJ: But was it better after you left the hospital?
Jake: Oh yeah, loads, it was kinda like "Okay, I'm awake now, let's do this!"
Josh: I'm actually really really jealous of how you got started, it was during the day, you got to eat some food after you left, you really got a more gentle intro to your world.
Jake: Well I mean, you got kidnapped by Eggman, so I feel like anything would have been better than that.
JJ: What were you thinking when that happened Josh?
Josh: Um... I was thinking a bunch of four letter words I can't repeat here. *Laughs* I mean I was terrified! You actually wrote me a lot braver than how I think I actually was.
JJ: Wait... really? I didn't really write you all that brave at all.
Josh: I know, but in reality I was sobbing for... most of the time I was on the Egg Carrier-
Jake: Oh c'mon, that's not true-
Josh: No really, like, by the time I got to Eggman, I think the reason he was so nice to me at the start was because my cheeks were red and my eyes were so puffy-
Jake: Dude, you weren't that bad, I guarantee you weren't that bad, people are just nice to you, you just have that... aura around you.
Josh: Agree to disagree I guess... but anyways, I can definitely relate to what Jakie said about feeling disoriented after using Chaos Energy, Chaos Blast in my case. I know someone... I don't know if it's here or on the old MBK (My Brother's Keeper) but someone said in a review I think that when Sonic uses the Chaos Emeralds, it leaves him feeling energized, and that might be the case for him, but for me... honestly I just woke up so exhausted and like... Okay this sounds weird but I was told I almost acted drunk?
JJ: Drunk?
Josh: Yeah, did someone tell you that Jakie?
Jake: No, Silver said I was more like a zombie.
Josh: Oh... Well the nurse said I was just like a quiet drunk, not quite understanding, just like... I guess like silently panicking and having a hard time grasping reality for... I mean, I think it was an hour, I don't think it was as bad as you had it bud.
Jake: Is the nurse Chad?
Josh: Yeah!
Jake: Awww, we love Chad!
Josh: Chad's the best!
Jake: Chad's a good boi.
JJ: *laughs* So, of everything that happened, what would you say was your favorite moment from this first leg?
Josh: Getting to know Tails. Spending that whole night just talking and laughing together, we became really good friends then.
JJ: Someone actually asked me, weren't you two exhausted after staying up all night? Or starving?
Josh: Well... you gotta understand, I had been habitually waking up from nightmares in the middle of the night for the past few months, so I was used to getting... you know, five hours of sleep, four hours of sleep, sometimes even less than that a night, and Tails actually liked staying up late like that, it let him work on his machines in peace. He took a nap after. And he ate later too, but I didn't, I was actually starving. All the way to Casinopolis.
JJ: And you didn't say anything?
Josh: No! I was like... one track mind at that point, "I need to find the Emerald so I can get home and be with Jacob," and that was all that mattered.
Jake: I was just excited to be there for a minute and eat Greek food with Silver, so I figured I'd milk it for what it was worth before we really got started.
Josh: He basically thought he was on vacation-
Jake: Yeah I did!
Josh: And I wish I was more relaxed around that time, but I loosen up later on I think...
JJ: So a question from Stardown that they asked me was regarding Sonic, specifically when you met back up with him on Angel Island in chapter... Nine I believe it was.
Josh: Oh, I think I know what you're going to ask.
JJ: How did Sonic get up there?
Josh: I honestly don't know! To this day, I have no clue! I asked him, he wouldn't tell me, he just smiled. And I pestered him a bunch of times, because you're probably going to see that this wasn't the last time he shows up randomly in the right place at the right time. I think it's got something to do with his speed, he was able to go fast enough to launch himself off a ramp or something and land on the Island, he could just be an omnipresent god and keeping it to himself, I don't know.
JJ: That's the next FanFiction I'm writing. God Sonic.
Jake: All hail our Lord and Savior Sonic.
Josh: Deus Ex Sonica.
JJ: And we have a title, sweet, time to get writing.
Josh: DON'T.
JJ: *Laughs* Alright, next question... is there any romance that you can tantalize our audience with?
Josh: Romance... in the story?
JJ: Or now! Current relationships are great too.
Josh: Ooh, that's wandering into spoiler territory though. In the story, no, there's no romance for me.
Jake: Me neither.
JJ: Aw, that'll disappoint some people.
Josh: Sorry! This isn't really that kind of love story though.
JJ: What kind of love story is it?
Josh: It's... hm, how can I put this without saying anything that could give things away...
Jake: It's about familial love.
Josh: Yeah yeah, about how far someone is willing to go for family, what family is, and what being a brother, or even just a sibling, means. That kind of love.
JJ: I think that's as good an answer as you can give without giving too much away.
Josh: We have a question for you now though.
JJ: Aw, really? That's so sweet!
Jake: Yeah! We figure you should get questions too, about how you came up with the idea, your creative process, but we'll let readers ask if they wanna. The question we have for you-
JJ: *Laughs* You guys actually wrote it on a card?
Josh: Gotta be official.
Jake: Ahem...!
JJ: Right, right. Sorry, go ahead.
Jake: The question is: How'd you come up with the title?
JJ: By title, you just mean My Brother's Keeper, not-
Jake: Yeah, not re:Tuned, you explained that a bit in the author's note.
JJ: Right, so... a couple of people thought that I named it My Brother's Keeper based on the movie and book My Sister's Keeper. That's not it, I hadn't even really heard of My Sister's Keeper at the time, and as far as I know, there's no tie in or overlap in theme with them. I don't know, I haven't read it I... probably should by this point, but anyways, that's not where the name comes from.
Jake: It's good, I liked it.
Josh: You watched it?
Jake: I sometimes like movies like that... Just depends on who I'm watching with, you know?
JJ: I gotta see it. But anyways, the term actually comes from a hymn.
Josh: Oh yeah, you're religious, I forgot.
JJ: Yup, so there's a hymn called "Lord, I Would Follow Thee," and I was singing it in church while I was thinking of things I could do for the yet to be named FanFic, when we came to this little bit that said "I would be my brother's keeper, I would learn the healer's art, pause to help and lift another, I would show a gentle heart." Um, just real quick I'm not trying to make this a religious fic, Josh and Jake aren't religious, no one is going to be, I'm not gonna get preachy or anything, but I just... I loved that line, that sentiment, you know? Being that person who looks out for others, goes out of their way to help and uplift... I really wanted to write something with that theme pushing it along.
Jake: That's sweet.
Josh: And who do you think the Keeper is?
JJ: The Brother's Keeper? Well, if you take the song literally, it's you Josh... and Jacob too technically, you're your Brother's Keeper, you're looking out for each other, trying to reunite, BUT... you guys know that, as things go on, those roles kind of... not change really but... they expand out, they touch others...
Jake: Hm…
JJ: Alright, I think that's all the questions I have for now, do you guys have anything else for me?
Jake: I think I'm good.
Josh: You ready to get started on the next chapter?
JJ: Yup! I won't be getting it out this week, but possibly next week, if not, for sure the week after. I'll be on vacation from 6/26/2019 to 6/30/2019, so I won't really be able to respond to any PMs or reviews or anything during that time, but right when I get back, I'll do my best to respond to anything and everything that needs my attention. One last reminder, as we go on, if you have any questions for our next Writer's Block, PM me, leave it at the end of a review you'd like to leave, send it by carrier pigeon, whatever you wanna do to get it to me, I'll make sure I log it in either a spreadsheet or a document specifically dedicated to The Writer's Block. If this seems a bit cheesy-
Josh: Which it is-
Jake: But you just gotta loosen up and have fun with it!
JJ: ...y-yes, this is all for fun, and if it'll make your day a little brighter to see your favorite character answer a question or respond to a comment, then allow me to let that happen for you! The Writer's Block will probably happen at regular-ish intervals now, probably when some big achievement happens, so… sooner than 10 or 11 chapters, maybe after... 3 or 4, or just whenever I get... you know... writer's block. So until then, this is JJ, see ya guys!
Josh: Bye!
Jake: Buh-Boi!