Soul Clef XI
is a Red vs. Blue Fanfic written by Snarky_SilverHaired_Sociopath. It follows up after Prelude to Chorus. Now that Felix and Locus have been hired for the Chorus job, Hargrove assigns them to their respective armies and start manipulating the Chorus Civil War from the inside.
The fic is currently in progress.
SPOILERS from Prelude to Chorus are all unmarked.
This story provides examples of:
- Actor Allusion: When Felix comes up with the backstory for why he and Locus are on Chorus, he mentions that he should be a writer for a Hollywood blockbuster. Easily a reference to his voice actor Miles Luna, one of the writers for Rooster Teeth, specifically including The Chorus Trilogy and the "Mercs trilogy" from Season 14 in which Felix had a significant role.
- Affably Evil: Hargrove continues to congratulate Felix's abilities of manipulation.
- Alliterative Name: General Miles Merchant.
- All Men Are Perverts: As soon as Felix found out that Kimball was a woman, he immediately went from being annoyed with her to trying to hit on her. He also hits on the female space pirates.
- Anti-Villain: Locus' moral conflict is shown in detail as he tries to convince himself that he's just a suit and a gun.
- Ax-Crazy: Felix claims that Locus is this, but he's the one who talks about wanting to kill everyone on the planet and even makes a game out of shooting Federation soldiers.
- Big Bad: As in canon, Hargrove takes up this role as the one who hired Felix and Locus to eliminate the population of Chorus. He even helps to manipulate Locus into being a killer.
- Big Brother Instinct: Eric has this for Vanessa when he sees Felix trying to hit on her.
- Co-Dragons: Felix and Locus, just like in canon.
- Country Matters: Felix implies this with a female pirate.
- Dropped a Bridge on Him: General Lovett only lasts for half a chapter before being shot in the head by Felix.
- Exact Words: Felix says in his inner monologue that the best liars don't need to lie. And often, his monologue will show that he is technically telling the truth when he manipulates the New Republic.
- Faux Affably Evil: Felix already starts making jokes and being his usual charismatic self when he goes to the New Republic's army. He even starts trying to hit on Kimball. However, his inner monologue shows his manipulative nature and his intent to kill everyone there (especially Eric).
- The Friend Nobody Likes: Not really a friend, but Felix is loathed by all the pirates from minute one.
- For the Evulz: While he does want the money, Felix takes his time toying with the New Republic in more personal ways. He even makes a game out of turning the Federal Army soldiers into a shooting gallery.
- Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: The chapter names are anagrams for "Locus Felix," just like the title.
- Lack of Empathy:
- When a man can so casually consider killing a man just to hook up with his sister, it really shows you how little he cares about people. And that's just the tip of the iceberg for Felix. On that note, he tries to hook up with a woman who is part of a group that he intends to have massacred. He cares so little about them that he tries to have fun toying with them.
- Hargrove tries to inspire Locus to do the same.
- In turn, this proves Hargrove's own lack of empathy. He only sees the population of Chorus as targets to be taken out. He even directly compares them to targets on the shooting range.
- Laughably Evil: Without the intense circumstances during Prelude to Chorus, Felix can truly be this trope as he manipulates the New Republic. He has no shortage of sarcastic remarks and witty comments. His response to finding out that Eric is Vanessa's brother… is to assume they're from Alabama. Being thoroughly (and understandably)
squicked out, Kimball quickly corrects him on this. And his interactions with the other pirates also includes much of his laid-back and disingenuous behavior. - Lighter and Softer: It starts off with a more light-hearted turn than Prelude to Chorus. Felix's Faux Affably Evil act makes him seem goofier rather than sinister.
- The Main Characters Do Everything: Dr. Grey tries to invoke this when she takes care of Locus' physical evaluation. After finishing this up, a very frustrated doctor who was supposed to be doing the physical enters the exam room and says that she does this all the time.
- Manipulative Bastard:
- Felix already starts trying to manipulate the New Republic.
- In Chapter 4, Hargrove starts trying to manipulate Locus into being nothing more than a weapon.
- Murder the Hypotenuse: Felix plans to get Eric Kimball killed so he won't get in the way of him trying to hook up with Vanessa.
- Narcissist: Felix can't help but praise himself while putting other's down in the process. He responds favorably to praise and doesn't take kindly to people insulting him."After the Feds see me kickin' some ass against their soldiers, they'll be desperate. Then enter top-of-the-line, not-as-great-but-still-good mercenary, Locus."
- Only in It for the Money: Felix tries to present this image for General Merchant when he "finds out" that the New Republic can't pay him in actual currency.
- The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: Lampshaded and promptly justified with the Space Pirates. Hargrove originally hired them to raid the planet of the alien artifacts, but since the planet was populated, they were unable to fulfill that purpose since Hargrove didn't want to raise suspicions. Instead, they carry out recon and mercenary jobs instead.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: General Merchant is one to the New Republic. He accommodates for Felix's eccentricities and intervenes when Eric tries to kill him.
- Rousing Speech: General Merchant asks Felix to do this. And surprisingly, he gives a great one despite beginning with the fact that he doesn't care about the war and just wants money.
- Shout-Out: Felix quotes Heath Ledger's Joker in Chapter 4. Considering how he frames the quote, it may have been an In-Universe example of this as well. (He's already aware of Batman in on the show.)
- The Sociopath: Felix continues his role in this trope. Now, he fully embraces his superficial charm and talents of manipulation all while he keeps thinking about how he'll kill everyone on the planet of Chorus. He only cares about getting paid and having fun killing people. And he still disregards the murder of Siris and his family.
- Sociopathic Soldier: Locus tries to invoke this to help himself cope with the idea of murdering innocent people by effectively dehumanizing himself and the people of Chorus.
- Stepford Smiler: Dr. Grey talks to Locus and admits that everyone has psychological scars while still acting like her Genki Girl self, directly implying that this is what she's doing.
- Villain Protagonist: Felix and Locus are the main characters and Felix has had more focus.
- Villain with Good Publicity: After taking out the Federal Army general, he starts building his reputation in the New Republic as a hero.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: General James Lovett doesn't get much time before being unceremoniously shot in the head by Felix.
