The Lone Badass and Why Most People Like Them

This particular archetype has permeated the Fantasy genre for awhile now. They're usually tough guys and gals that could chop your tongue off with a flick of their wrist, and could drink an entire pirate crew under the table. They've got a million lovers to their name, but of course no one can truly claim their heart. They can be found in every fantasy media from around the world. We're utterly obsessed with the these guys and it's pretty easy to understand why.

The Lone badass is usually the epitome of cool. They've got the best weapons, all the skills, and don't take shit from anyone. The mayor says to retreat from the incoming basilisk? Ha, forget that, the Lone Badass is just gonna charge ahead guns blazing! Normally they've got some rugged good looks, or a cold sexiness. And let's not forget those sarcastic quips that can shut up a fire breathing dragon. They're not followers nor are they leaders, they're doers.

Simply put, the Lone Badass is kinda what we wish we could be. While fantasy as a whole can be considered a form of escape, the Lone Badass archetype allows you to be exactly what you wanted, more so than any other archetype in the genre. Unlike the Priestess who has a duty to her church, or the Soldier who has to worry about King and Country, the Lone Badass is free of all that. Most people, regardless of what they may say, wants to be the swashbuckling hero who gets things done. They don't need to rely on the others around them and risk being disappointed or failing, because the Lone Badass has enough skills on their own to keep them afloat. And best of all they are able to form their own paths in life. You know, according to the author's outline, but that goes without saying.

In our world everything is pointed out to us, and we have to do things a certain way. Practically our entire lives are dictated by someone else, and it's a huge risk to just break free of that and do what you want and how you want. By reading about the Lone Badass, we get to see people doing just that. For a Lone Badass the world is their's for the taking, they just have to buckle down and do what needs to be done in order to achieve their goals. Something most people from our world would envy.

...Or it could be the gratuitous amount of sex they have. I dunno.

I'm gonna go make a snack now.

Longterm Relationships Rock!

Why is it so hard to find a story with characters who are already in a relationship? I mean, there's something awesome seeing how a couple functions under pressure without the 'firsts' jitters! ...Ya'll probably have no idea what I'm ranting about, or why I'm ranting. To be fair, I don't really know either, but it's just something I've thought about. I mean, how much new ground could be covered in a story if we could get past the whole 'do they actually love me, or do they wanna just jump my vampiric emo bones?' The story of falling in love has been done so many times, and after finally being in an adult relationship, I kinda like being out of the jittery stage. It's so awkward and you second guess everything!

And I know what you're saying to yourself right now: "That's the point Luka, it's a perilous road to true love. It takes work, hardship, and drama!"

That's true, it's so true that it hurts my soul. But after seeing my parents pass their 20th marriage anniversary a month ago, I saw how much harder it is to stay in love. You have to deal with that idiot who refuses to lower the toilet lid, or holding a purse in the mall even though it ain't the least bit manly. There's finances that have to get worked over, and disagreements on the color of the living room, add in killing vampires and hunting for magical swords then BAM! It's a formula that's almost begging to get completed! Now I'm not saying we've got to have an elderly couple, but imagine how badass that would be, but new blushing love really isn't a novelty. When I was fourteen I fell in love at least once a month, the only exception being Valentine's Day of course...It was a matter of principle.

Anyway, the idea of having to tough through situations to keep your love together, a love you've held for awhile now, and feel it almost get ripped away from you pulls on the heart strings. Even in our mundane world without magic there's things that can rip our loved ones away from us. But it's the determination and hard work of a couple, mixed with a healthy dose of patience, that can help a couple overcome nearly anything. The magic of true love is not found with a quick summer romance, but tested through time and hardship.

Um, this one was really mushy. So I think I'm gonna go call my boyfriend. This is like a prelude into this whole idea, I'll probably come back and expand on it sometime...