I don't know how I missed this. I honestly don't and I'm ashamed I did.
Those of you who don't know me and my characters - well,
VirtueVerse is the place. Ascendant, believe it or not, was part of the inspiration for Internet Prawn. He was also a dear friend to Red from an in-character perspective, dating back to before there was a Pocket D. How's that for a flashback sequence?
One thing that will always stick in my mind, is a very long and thoughtful conversation Red and Ascendant, or more accurately Eric West, had on matters of heroing-life balance - among other things - in Steel Canyon, back around 2006 I believe. It really has been ages. People always obsessed over the phone calls with Saul, but Ascendant was much deeper than that as a character and as a person. I always felt blessed to get to see and interact with that side of Ascendant.
I also remember well with a heavy heart how Tundra (all of you from Virtue probably remember Tundra) used to mock Doctor Crom - particularly for his drink of choice. Spring water from a specific region of France, chilled over glacial ice. Those interactions were always my favorite because it was an opportunity for two classic villain stereotypes to, for want of a better term, let it all hang out. The brilliant scientist hellbent on global domination and the amoral 'alien' psychopath who wanted to see it burn.
In fact, I was lucky enough to interact with many of his characters. Sometimes just on chance, not realizing it was Tre behind the keyboard. More often than not, I didn't know it was an alt of his. We were just two characters, having an every day conversation - or at least what passed for one in Paragon.
Tre truly was a brilliant writer, and he brought more to the CoH world than anyone else I have ever known. More than once I commented that Cryptic/Paragon should just hire him - especially after Manticore left - because he really had a gift for it. His writing was amazing, and no matter whether it was something silly and full of puns or deadly serious, it just clicked. Every time.
Tre, you will be missed more than I can explain with words. You inspired me to put more effort into my fiction - all of it - and you always brought a smile to my face. You were a breed of person who has become painfully rare in this world, one that is all too often taken from us far too soon.
Safe journeys, my friend.
