The Technical rant book

Rant 24: Using 'Orbs' instead of 'eyes'

All right; when I first saw the word 'Orbs' used in a fanfic, specifically a Doctor Who Fanfic  "The Other Defintion" written by a brilliant writer RainForestGirl. The wording felt right and  creative; that is until I learned through the Fan Fiction forum that the word is overused in One Direction Fanfictions. But still the words used in the previous version of 'The other Definition' (before it was revised)was good wording.

  In Transformers fandom; instead of eyes, we use optics. However, when we are writing ordinary people who are not machines; we come upon the most compelling question 'There's too much "eye" word used in one paragraph; how can I work with that?" and then we get the orbs, or orbitals.

  I used  the word orbitals THREE TIMES in my Bayversed fanfiction.

1)first time

"Um….your apprentice," She somewhat had to pause for a moment. "They were speaking in a language I didn't understand and plop, next thing I know…I'm here with these 'so-called-geniuses' in this room!" Her hazel eyes didn't imitate a depressive girl, but, they visually represented a changing organic in somewhat control. Her eyes are joyful to be quite honest. Morever her bangs almost shadowed those orbitals.

 I was trying to figure out another way to use eyes because that word was used in the above sentence. I didn't feel repeating myself using the word 'eyes'. So I only used it for that case. 

2) 2nd time

"Not all Organics are scared of us." The Shorter Decepticon points out. "She has this extra pair of orbitals that know when to scare us." He makes the shape of optics. "She doesn't have an extra facial, extra cranium, or-"

"What's a cranium?" Another Decepticon asks.

"The Skull." The Anxious Decepticon response.

"What's a scapular?" Another, shorter Decepticon joins in. "I've heard it from the movies and don't have a single clue what it means!"

I used the word Orbitals to describe optics; because, the word 'optics' is used after he says that line. It felt right to do it for this case, too.

3) third time

"You went to the beast planet, attempted over throwing Scourage, and ended up getting caught—who assigned you to -..." Megatron's cybertronian made jet-engine revved making a loud-deafening-anguish sound only witnessed to be heard from a helicopter. This is a generally impossible event, but, for this gigantic robot it can be considered possible. "You were meant to get the Swindle scout and the girl but you decided anyhow?" His optics are flaring sending electrical sparks from his designed orbitals connected like a screw to a cap connected to a jumble of wiring capable of friction. Megatron is pretty irritated. "That's it. I'm doing it myself. You two get your arse out of there!"

  Look at the bolded words; I used optics in the beginning of the sentence. I didn't want to repeat that word in the same sentence so that's why the word 'Orbitals' were used. That word has been used three times in "This is Crazy, but I'm in the Bayvese!" I used description for Megatron's moods to make it real and convincing--like how you would picture it on screen with brilliant CGI effects.

  ______                                     ____________                          __________

    I remember reading a Angel Fan Fiction on Wattpad where a user used the word 'Orbs' or something mary sue-ish. The thing is. most people who use the word 'orbs' have a good chance they come from the directioner fandom. It's the hard, bare truth. It does irritate me to see the word orbs and orbitals not used in a way that flows together. Come on; shed that  use age of the word 'orbs' and graduate  to the word 'eyes'!

Here's a random example of using the word optics:

   Her optics could see no sign of life moving. The scenery is eerily silent; not a life form is moving. Of course she has to move on from this area.It seems weird that at one point  this park used to be a place where humans had entertaining times before it became a destroyed, barren area with turned over benches and other furniture. Her optics flicker, thinking about what the records had show her briefly before leaving the base. She continues trudging forward, her legs not at all fixed and repaired but broken. They hadn't been given oil in years. But still; she lived on.  Her optics power down their bright color to save energy .     .     .

  That is just a random example out of my head that is not part of a story.

 When we are describing humans we use:

  She was running.What is she running from? Her eyes couldn't see if her threat is gone. She looks over her shoulder; shoes untied, her heart beating,sweat is going down her face,and fear that yells at her to  keep running. Her knees have dirt on them. If there was a jogger there they could hear her panting when running by this woman. Her head is pounding. Every step counts for her life. Her eyes could see through the wet eyebrows. She had to get  into safety--wherever that is. She looks over her for the last time, dukcing behind an alley corner.  She opens the door without checking if it's locked; but something in her gut told this woman it is unlocked   .    .      .

   And Directionrs, no offensee, use this:

 Her lovely orbs caught the attention of some One Direction band member, wheile she is at a coffe shop.

 "Hey um .  . "The Band Member starts. "You have nice orbs.W.  .  . would you like to go out? I'm from One Direction."

 The girl looks at him.

 "This is not Shakespeare!"  The girl said, waving her free right hand. Her orbs were not that naive to fall for a compliment like that. Or for an offer from a hot boy. "I'm not doing a romeo and Juliet on you; go find someone else to be there prince charming ; you one direction impersonator!"

The girl walks out the coffe shop holding her coffee.

" I'm .  .  .  . not a impersonator." The boy said.

This is how I mock all the cliche's in one rant because people complain about the cliche's on the fanfiction forum and I enjoy reading their complaints.

Anyway; that was pain to write a random short story using the words orbs.

Because really; I am used to writing 'eyes' and 'optics'.

Vote if you prefer to use the word eyes!   .   .  . or Optics!