In cases like that, I tend to just reply to the “I liked the fic” part. If I’m curious, I’ll ask for clarification but otherwise I’ll just sort of let it be.
Anyone else?
-Mod Pi
Fanfiction isn’t canon. Its literally fan (fan made) fiction (fiction). I want to say that the commenter is just stating their opinion, but also (and years of writing fanfiction has shown me) they could be trying to bait Anon into an argument or something else out of boredom.
I’d probably either not respond or just say something simple like “thanks for the comments” and move on.
Okay, so Gavin Reed is a 2-dimensional jerk in Detroit Become Human, with no redeeming qualities, but fans have ended up creating this narrative where him getting partnered up with RK900 has him go through a buddy-cop-style character arc that makes him a better person.
And it’s quite amazing.
Gavin in the source material is a jerk who pulls a gun in the middle of a police interrogation, and tries to spill coffee on Connor in That One Scene in the game. He does not go through a character arc by the end of the plot.
Gavin in the “fandom expanded verse” (which I am only just now deciding to call it) is a sweary, hot-tempered cop, but is loyal, ambitious, and is a legitimately skilled detective who can follow obscure clues. A lot of his argumentativeness springs from insecurity and pride.
At first, he absolutely hates getting partnered up with RK900, who resembles Connor. Karmatic punishment for Gavin’s rudeness towards Connor.
But as they solve cases together, Gavin ends up developing a good comradery with RK900. Saving each other from gunfire and both being sharp-tongued enough to banter with each other.
Gavin comes to realise that RK900 is not Connor.
Gavin is a cat person. He has past experience in dangerous, high-tension hostage negotiations. And he got that scar on his nose from a bar fight. He’s still a jerk, but it’s rounded.
And just why oh why are fans able to weave a more complex narrative for this character than David Cage?!
The fandom for this game amazes and fascinates me, because I continually and consistently find the stuff they explore and expand upon more interesting than the source material they are provided with.
The closest thing I can compare this phenomena to is how writers sometimes adapt public domain works and explore aspects of it that the original didn’t touch upon.
So yeah, thank you for coming to my TED talk on how and why I ended up drawing fanart for a side character that appears in like 4 scenes of the whole game.
Vengence is Key 