Reviews :
chuckiboo : Aww, lol! Well, it isn't as explosive as you might think. Gideon's advantage here is the fact that Kepa lives under a rock. Having been sheltered in Castle Run, she's not well-versed in Arcade life, you'll discover she only barely knows even the name 'Wreck-It Ralph'. The poor thing has a smart phone but doesn't use it to its full ability. Again, very much in Gideon's favor lol.
Snake557 : Thank you! haha loved the pun there.
Burgie : She does, poor thing. You'll find out in the next chapter! :)
*SAGA COMIC INFO*
Hey guys! This is a bit of an important Author's Note, if you're interested in the saga comic I'll be uploading within the next week, or two. I currently have ENOUGH comic pages to last me 16 whole weeks, uploading every Friday and Saturday. That's right! I have enough content drawn to upload every week until the middle of MAY! Insanity! It's nearly 30 pages I've already drawn, completed and have ready to upload, starting at the very beginning of Wrecking Limits - BUT, I have a bit of information regarding the saga, the plot, and how that all translates to comic form.
The first 30 pages are the first two or so chapters of the saga, to set proper groundwork. They follow the first two chapters pretty closely - not entirely word for word, or shot by shot, but it's as close as I could 'afford'. Moving forward, from those first initial 30 or so pages, things are going to be a bit different. The comic will still follow the -plot- of the saga, nothing about the circumstances, characters or etc., will change, the only differences moving forward will be the way certain scenes unfold, the way plot points are driven. Writing this beast and drawing it are two entirely different things, I'm finding, it's a whole learning curve of an adventure I've gone on, with myself, and rapidly learned that in order to tell the cohesive story without droning on for a WHOLE eternity, a decent amount of filler is going to have to be cut, and stepping stones to bigger plot points will have to be altered a little. Nothing about the plot will change, just know that the comic will be a bit more of a mature 'faster' version of the saga. Hopefully a bit more concise and digestible. I know the 3.8 million word count looks absolutely terrifying to newcomers...
I did the math. If I did 10ish pages for each of my 1,000 plus chapters, that'd leave me with 10,000 comic pages. If I upload twice a week, for the rest of my life, I'd be doing this until the year 2,148. I'd be 126 years old by the time the half way mark of FAVOR'S GAME was reached. Totally excluding the 6th story to come. So! A bit of editing and trimming is in order, I do apologize. A lot of unnecessary filler is going to be cut from the comic, which is a task in of itself, because a lot of seemingly filler chapters actually holds a solid amount of plot and foreshadowing. It's all overwhelming, but I'm determined to make it work while keeping the integrity of the saga. I'm a one man show, here, through and through, so... Please have patience and understanding. I'm also a full-time art student and regularly want to die from the mental exhaustion that by itself brings lol.
As for filler chapters getting cut, if, along the way, you guys remember certain chapters that are likely filler, but you want to see it drawn out, let me know and I'll consider adding it, if it works in where I am in the plot. This comic is FULLY colored and rendered! I will be uploading EVERY Friday and Saturday (chapter permitting, occasionally Saturday will be cut) and I will be uploading it to my Twitter to start with. I might eventually toss it on deviantART, I'm just not very active there any longer.
Like always, in all places, my username is Vyntresser. I REALLY hope to see you guys checking it out, I've worked my ass off for this thing. I spent the majority of my winter break hunched over my iPad busting out these pages and I am extremely excited to share the saga with you in the way I envisioned it all, from day one. It's SO wild now bringing it all to life, once and for all. The timing is just right, my skillset is in the right place, as well as my mindset, and I'm just over the moon I'm so excited. I truly hope you guys join along with me, I can't wait to show you guys what I've been up to!
I know I said this would go live on the 1st of Feb, but it'll actually be unveiling on Friday Feb 4th cause I'm an idiot and didn't consider that the 1st might not be a Friday lol. Stay tuned!
Thanks everyone!
*Chapter 146*
"Novus refuses to talk to me," Gideon mumbled boyishly into his phone, Vanellope could be heard letting out a long, raspy sigh through her nose.
"At all?" Vanellope asked in a dull tone, Gideon cocked an eyebrow and looked up to Sugar Rush's twinkling stars through the glass ceiling he tread under; having just come from the flyer's enclosure in the hopes of wrangling Novus in and having a pep talk to clear their problems, he was unsuccessful, so he took the trek back to the main palace's lot through their airy, glass-covered corridor.
"At all," Gideon assured, he rubbed his face and shook his head, the long corridor was an extensive stretch, long enough for a phone call with Vanellope, one of which he was delightfully nervous to make due to Kepa's request, "He's just mad I won't tell Kepa everything... I'm really struggling, I don't want to bring her around while I'm feuding with everyone."
"Understandable, son," Vanellope cooed, she was as cool as a cucumber, though Gideon could tell she brightened at the simple mention of Kepa's name, "Novus probably is losing patience, for it... How long have you two been together, now?"
"It'll be about three months coming up," Gideon stated through a long sigh, Vanellope audibly grimaced.
"Yeah, babe, that's... On the cusp of being too long to be harboring all these secrets," Vanellope cautiously stated, "I understand your hesitancy, I understand your desire to disconnect, but... Royalty is at your root. If you're going to be serious about this woman, you have to know that one day, these will be her roots, too."
"I know," Gideon complained, his moseying footsteps began to trudge, he slowed almost to a meandering stop, though still somehow gained on the palace lot's entrance, from the corridor exiting the flyer's enclosure, "It was this fun rush of secrets to begin with, but now I'm feeling as if it's too late to say anything. Like uh, surprise, my sister is the Queen of Sugar Rush, my mom and dad are their cabinet's main character and I just so happen to be somewhere in line for the throne."
"I doubt she's the kind to run at incredible news, like that, Gideon, all of what you said is good news," Vanellope giggled dryly, "I think you should just give it to her straight. Tell her your intentions, be frank and upfront, warn her that it's a lot of information all at once, but... From what I hear, of this girl, is that she next-to adores you, so... I don't think you should be worried. Best to allow Novus's frustration to likely fuel you, bud. I think once you follow through, he'll soften. It sounds like he's protective of her feelings, rightfully so."
"I know, he's good to her," Gideon muttered, he breathed a long, shaky sigh and dared to smile, "Well, that... Brings me to Valentine's Day, next Saturday."
"Whatcha two got planned?" Vanellope pined cutely.
"Well, to be honest, I don't think she even remembers that it's coming up, she, not once, has said anything about it," Gideon murmured with a bashful smile, "I think I'm going to use that to my advantage, just when she thinks I've forgotten... I'll surprise her with a nice dinner, or something."
"That's sweet, bud. Dangerous, but sweet," Vanellope warned with a wide smile, "Gotta be careful with pretending to forget important dates, just watch in case that kind of thing backfires, y'know?"
"Yeah, I'm treading lightly, but... I actually had a bit of a favor to ask you, pertaining to that day," Gideon felt his voice begin to shake, he could hear his mother gently halt whatever kitchen chore she was noisily doing.
"I'm listening," Vanellope prod sweetly.
"Well... I haven't told anyone, palace side, cause I guess I'm just bitter, but, my art teacher, in Vidrix, is hosting an art showing on that afternoon and I wanted to invite you," Gideon prod with warm humility, "Kepa will be there, and... I'd love to introduce you to her."
"...You want me to meet Kepa?" Vanellope's voice droned in a dull tone, though it was clear that said dull tone was very heavily masking an eruption of surprise she desperately wanted to use as rocket fuel to go shooting to the moon, "Wait, say it again, I've been dreaming of this moment."
"Mom," Gideon staggered a laugh and slowed his footwork to a final scuff of a stop, half way to his destination. He shyly rubbed the back of his head and looked up with a grin he couldn't contain, "I'm really nervous about this, okay, I'm like sticking out my neck and going against what I was planning."
"Well, what were you planning, whisking her away into the sunset and forgetting we all exist?" Vanellope muttered with a smirk, Gideon looked off and shrugged.
"...I mean, more or less," Gideon choked a laugh, to which Vanellope loudly scoffed a playfully insulted noise, "I-I'm sorry, mom, I'm really struggling, but... After what happened between us last night, it was eye opening, and I can see your desire to help me right wrongs. It only now feels safe to start introducing Kepa to a few of you, and... She asked about you, so it feels like divine timing, I guess."
"Aw, she asked about me?" Vanellope prod as she clutched her sternum with a warm smile, Gideon bobbed a nod and tucked his phone tighter to his ear as he looked down.
"Yeah, that leads me to my next point," Gideon tenderly warned, "Mom, Kepa lost her mother to her game's unplug and... I don't think she will ever fully bounce back from that. She asked about you I think to seem polite, like... Hey, next step is to meet the parents, but... She specifically asked about you, I think out of desperation."
"Listen, say less, just hand her over," Vanellope threatened with a giggle, to which Gideon grinned.
"I knew you'd say that," Gideon sighed, "She's pretty fragile about it. I'd love to know what her mother was like, but I'm way too scared to ever mention it because she almost always erupts into tears. I'm fairly sure whatever last shred of time Kepa had with her mother was tragic, so... She said she'd really love to meet you but then worried that if she starts crying in front of you, that you'll maybe be weirded out, or-"
"Gideon, I'm going to need you to give me this poor baby's number right this second," Vanellope continued to threaten, Gideon's shy smile only broadened.
"Upon your first meet, there might be tears, she wanted me to give you a fair warning," Gideon cued sweetly, Vanellope cleared her throat and sounded as if she went back to continuing her noisy kitchen chore.
"I'll take her out for lunch dates, we can go into the city and do whatever she likes, I'll buy her a coffee, maybe if she needs some new clothes or something," Vanellope cheerfully droned on and on, "Sorry, bud, introduce her to me and you likely won't see her ever again, fair warning. Spouses of my children turn into children I consider my own, so, hope you're prepared for that."
"As long as she feels as if the void is at least somewhat filled," Gideon eased in humbled warmth as he slowly continued to press towards the palace's main, snow-covered lot, "Thanks, mom... Maybe don't bring dad, no offense to him, but I'm already doing the most on Valentine's Day. Let me at least get my feelings for her off of my chest, and figure out where we stand, and then I'll properly bring her around."
"Feuding with your siblings or not?" Vanellope prod with tease, Gideon sighed and donned a look of disgruntled acceptance.
"...Feuding with my siblings or not," Gideon agreed through the grit of his teeth.
"That shakes out anyways, your father and I have big plans in the city, Valentine's Night, but prior to our own plans, he'll be over in Fix-It Felix Jr. with your uncle, I guess they need help decorating the Niceland building," Vanellope mused, she continued to clink about in the sink, "So... Name a time and place for your art show, I'll be there, I'll wear a tear-absorbent shirt."
"You're the best," Gideon eased tenderly, he furrowed his brow and now began to feel a pit form in his stomach, "Mom, I'm really sorry about last night... I'm sorry you had to see me, like that."
"You know what, it was a kick in the pants we both needed. There's a huge part of me that's incredibly disappointed in you, Gideon Fox, I'm not going to just let that breeze over, but..." Vanellope sighed and turned off the sink water with a grunt, "There's another huge part of me that's honored that you chose to come home, while totally messed up. You view our home as a safe space, even though I understand your desire to escape Sugar Rush. It's encouraging... I, at least, did one thing right, raising you. Somewhere inside of your crazy trip, you remembered that this square on Sugar Rush's grid was a safe space to be yourself, even in an ugly moment. I hope you never forget that."
"I won't, ever," Gideon hummed with a small nod, "Anyways, I came to Sugar Rush to try and get Novus to stop being a jerk-face and just talk to me, but I failed, so... I'm headed back to Turbotime. I just needed someone to vent to."
"I'm always here for you, Giddy," Vanellope breathed warmly, "Please text me once you get into Turbotime safely, okay?"
"I will mom, I love you," Gideon eased.
"I love you too, dude," Vanellope assured, and as the two concluded their call, Gideon's bare feet finally stepped onto snow-speckled cobbles that eventually trickled to the palace's gorgeous sprawl of a snowy lot.
"I love you more," Callum's snarky voice called from two dozen feet off, Gideon stiffened in surprise, halted his big stride and peered to Callum in a collected show of mild stun. Callum cackled quietly and gestured for Gideon to follow suit, he had two of his incredibly beautiful swords sheathed in a proper belt strap about his hips, he also carried a few other sheathed weapons in the nook of his left arm with great care, to show he was transporting these weapons upstairs, "C'mon, come hang, unless you got some tail to get after, whoever you were talking to."
"I was talking to my mother," Gideon grumbled knowingly, although his last hang out with Callum was fun and included a ton of emotional unloading, it ended with being offered acid tabs and staring headlong into his toilet. Nonetheless, Gideon cautiously stepped closer to Callum and promised himself he wouldn't allow Callum to keep him longer than thirty minutes, the two melted into his stairwell, one that lead to his still-new, gorgeous palace spire, "Whatcha doing with all those? Uncle Rancis just get done sharpening these, or something?"
"Yeah, cleaned and sharpened, we're gunna head out to Honeydew Ridge bright and early tomorrow," Callum mumbled, he shook his head in mild annoyance as both boys happened upon Callum's front door. Unlocked, Callum let the two inside and sealed them in, "Wren, of course, won't be coming... And neither will Penny."
"I understand why Wren's not going, but why not Penny?" Gideon dryly wondered
As the two pressed deeper into Callum's home, Gideon did what he could not to wrinkle his nose in the full understanding that Callum was very blatantly a slob. A typical bachelor's pad, Callum's beautiful living room and kitchen was littered with all sorts of mess, trash, half-emtpy beer bottles, a swathe of other items that clearly were out of place. The television was on mute, though with the flashing colors and lights, Gideon flinched and peered to the screen, he took note that it was on the channel that aired Game Over.
"Her and Orph are on this like Dead Zed kick, right now. They're on some sort of vacation with Finn and Tammy, I don't know," Callum muttered in annoyance, he shook his head and eyed Gideon, "I'm pretty sure I'm my dad's favorite. I'm the only one that goes with him for sword practice."
"I'm sure Wren and Penny still would like to, I think life just gets in the way," Gideon mused, he crossed his arms and tried not to be repulsed by the piles and piles of dirty dishes in Callum's sink, his beautiful kitchen and home was something Gideon understood was a metaphor, this mess aptly was the state of Callum's mind on full display.
"It's whatever, more time for me to continue securing my spot as my dad's fave," Callum darkly muttered, he push a pile of messy papers aside, on his island's counter, and began to tidily lay each weapon down on the cold marble. Though Callum's home was a mess, the weapons he displayed were immaculately beautiful and clean, Gideon kindly stepped closer to silently admire them as Callum carried on, "The King can never have too many right hand men, y'know?"
"...You're trying to get in good with Zed?" Gideon wondered in a spike of cute surprise, he huffed a chuckle and shook his head, "I didn't realize being in the King's circle was your goal."
"Well, my dad's rubbing off on me, he's devoted to the job, I think it's cool," Callum shrugged, he brushed his hands clean and finally rested them on his hips as both boys admired the splay of weapons before them, "I also think it'd be nice to be able to implement change, around here... Not that I want to call the shots, but I think it'd be nice to feel like my voice matters."
"Don't I know it," Gideon darkly muttered.
"Whatcha doin' in Sugar Rush?" Callum gently switched topics.
"Novus and I are fighting, I was trying to reach out to him," Gideon muttered through a sigh, "I also have an art show next weekend, I invited my mom... No one else."
"Really? No one else?" Callum worried, though not as if to be insulted that he wasn't invited, though more in the act of prodding for more information.
"I'm just not on talking terms with anyone inside Sugar Rush except for you and my parents," Gideon muttered, "Koko and I only just made nice and are on the mend. I invited my mom, I guess you can come, too, if you want, it's nothing special."
"...I can invite everyone here, for you, if you'd like," Callum shrugged, he gave Gideon a kind smile, "Maybe that'll be a nice ice breaker. I can do the inviting, and if they show up, maybe then that'll speed things along. If they don't show up, well... That's your sure-fire sign telling you just how everyone here feels about you."
"I guess you're right," Gideon murmured, his heart began to race with the idea of his whole family showing up to his art show, though somehow he wondered if Callum's idea would genuinely be good, a solid show of his family showing up for him through means of hearsay, all while surprising them with Kepa and vice versa. Gideon heaved a long, shaky sigh and bobbed a nod, "I guess if you want to invite everyone for me, that'd be okay. I would love if everyone came, like that, it would feel as if they're at least trying, y'know?"
"Consider it done," Callum assured with a nod.
Gideon opened his mouth to carry on, though both boys flinched as the television wildly flickered with the exciting program, the most recently-filmed season Game Over. Gideon crossed his arms and patiently watched, he narrowed his gaze and pondered for a moment, though as both him and Callum held their attention to the muted television, Gideon opened his mouth in a falter of nervous thoughts that began to spill out of his mouth, thoughts he somehow felt were safe with Callum, due to their escapades at Flint's and Chase's home.
"What do you think it takes to truly win Game Over? Like, above skill... What do you think these winners have inside of them?" Gideon rhetorically questioned with a narrowed gaze of searching curiosity.
"The ability to turn off," Callum muttered darkly, he shrugged and glanced to Gideon in gentle nonchalance, "I imagine that first kill humbles you quick, and from there, you have to choose whether or not killing forty eight other individuals is something you can stomach. You either keep that sympathetic part of your brain on, and get killed, or turn it off, and... Well..."
"Win," Gideon huffed nervously, he cocked an eyebrow and watched as the series latest winner, Albar, laid the final kill.
A beast of a werewolf character, his golden fur was splashed with blood across his chest, he was a terrifyingly huge and formidable beast, crowned the fourth winner around this time last year. Gideon was almost glad him and Callum continued to watch on in the silence, as if there were maybe a few things that both boys wanted to say to each other, about this touchy subject, though neither were brave enough to unfurl. Gideon felt his heart race, the notion of his own application still hovered in his coded inventory, since his Pre-Academy days, had his pulse throbbing with rising, anxiety-inducing curiosity.
"Flint and I got to talking," Callum bravely began, Gideon felt his pupils tighten as the Game Over arena's crowd went absolutely nuts, the glow from the arena's strand of the dark web was hauntingly beautiful.
"Yeah?" Gideon pressed nonchalantly, Callum heaved a long sigh and looked down to the weapons on his island.
"... He told me about the Game Over application he gave you," Callum's voice softened to darkened understanding, it was here did Gideon's gaze blur into an aimless stare of prickled dread, the light of the television hazed in his vision, he finally came to clarity and pierced his intense golden gaze square into Callum's, as if to challenge Callum in this moment. Callum raised his eyebrows, held with Gideon for a moment and looked down with a knowing smirk of certain understanding, "What would it take for you to up and apply?"
"Callum," Gideon muttered as he squeezed his eyes shut, shook his head and was en-route to protesting, though Callum flagged his masculine hands out and lifted his smile in a knowing smirk down the bridge of his nose.
"Aht-aht, that's a genuine question, I'm not trying to goad you," Callum firmly enforced, to which Gideon pursed and peered hard into Callum's eyes, as if to be frozen in surprise.
"... Kepa's the only thing keeping me here," Gideon bravely mumbled, he shook his head and now felt mild dread, due to being on good terms with not only his mother, but even Koko. He squeezed his eyes shut and knew that if Kepa were to fall away, there'd be little to no reason for him to want to show his face and feel as if everything was right in the world, "Flint was right... Her willingness to love me is what's keeping me here."
"Well, damn. Guess that's a no-go, then," Callum stated in a swing of smiling defeat, "Considering she's crazy for you, and all."
"... Why do you ask?" Gideon volleyed, he pressed his open palms to the counter in a lazy lean and side-eyed Callum in cheeky curiosity, "What's in it for you?"
"A lot, if I'm to be frank with you," Callum staggered a soft laugh and shrugged, Gideon furrowed his brow, "Gideon, if you signed up for Game Over and won, which you would... You could return and literally treat Sugar Rush like a ball of clay."
"Why would I come back if there's nothing here for me?" Gideon muttered, though his heart still ached for the shred of unconditional love he had for his family.
"I don't know, if I were you, I'd want everyone who has ever hurt me to answer for it," Callum snipped with a mean smile, "I'm just saying, Gideon... If you won, and came back... Just know, I'm in your corner. I could help you get to where you want to be, in terms of... Taking over, for lack of better words."
"You saying I should come back and murder everyone? What, go to Game Over, be given every single shred of money and fortune and fame, only to come back to cute little Sugar Rush, for what," Gideon erupted into soft laughter of full dismissal, "There's nothing Sugar Rush could offer me after being given the lime light that winning Game Over would give."
"Yes there is," Callum sneakily huffed, him and Gideon tightly held eyes, "There's one singular thing that leaving, winning and coming back would get you."
"Well, what," Gideon muttered in mild disinterest.
"Vengeance," Callum snapped.
Gideon held his breath and immediately felt thwarted. After a few moments of intense eye contact, Gideon sagged his shoulders, looked off, heaved a long sigh through his nose and allowed his eyes to aimlessly gloss Callum's dim, empty home. His heart began to race, his eyes glued to the television in dark understanding, somehow being presented with the idea of winning, and being capable of such a thing, had him wondering if this sick and twisted route was somehow even viable. He squeezed his eyes shut and was fervently brought back to Kepa, he knew she was the only solid lifeline keeping him gripped, and with that, he tenderly continued to dismiss the idea of it all.
"Callum, as nice as getting vengeance and justice would be, I don't think I have it in me to kill my family," Gideon guffawed, as if it were a no-brainer, though Callum wrinkled his nose.
"I'm not talking about murdering them, Gideon, I'm talking about taking them down a peg, strip them of their powers, take them out of the palace," Callum shrugged, he eyed Gideon and chuckled, "I'm not sure you understand just how powerful your coding really is. You can manifest... Literally anything, at your will. Imagine that in the Game Over arena, imagine watching your opponent use their own ability and being able to simply mock it, with an edge... And then carry those powers on to the next opponent in line? You could just rack up endless abilities... You're a melting pot of unbridled power."
"I never really put much thought into a strategy I would adhere to," Gideon mumbled nervously.
"You can do things beyond the Users," Callum whispered, he narrowed his gaze and shook his head, "Sure, y'got the prospect of a swapped code and a loving woman who maybe will potentially be your wife and the mother of your children, one day, but... If that ever goes South... Just know I'm in your corner if you decide sitting on the fence isn't for you, anymore."
Gideon raised his eyebrows a little and peered hard into Callum's eyes. There was something tantalizingly alluring about Callum's dark energy, Gideon knew Callum was typically brooding and up to no good, though somehow Gideon felt as if it benefitted him. As much as Gideon didn't want to entertain the harrowing idea of rushing away to the internet and participating in likely the scariest game on earth, one that cleanly stripped anyone of any humanity, Gideon somehow liked the fantasy of winning, returning and having someone as sharp and quick witted as Callum in his corner. With that camaraderie would also be Flint and Chase, Gideon was almost certain of it. Gideon finally bobbed a nod and gave Callum an almost sarcastic look.
"Well, if User forbid something goes so horribly awry and I run off, you'll be the first person I get in contact with after I win," Gideon muttered dryly, he choked a laugh as Callum rolled his eyes and looked off with a smile, "You're probably the only person with THIS much confidence in me winning such an outrageous game, anyhow. Might as well reward you, afterwards."
"Happy to be of service, I'm powerless and here to just be a shiny sidekick," Callum darkly mumbled as he almost meanly side-eyed Gideon with smirk, "Story of my life."
