Differing Paths

"Author's Note: I love jarring shifts in tone."

- Chapter Three sums it up perfectly.

Differing Paths... is a Dark Fic, based around the characters of Azumanga Daioh, taking place five years after the end of the series, long since any of them have seen each other. The plot begins with Tomo working for Tokyo police against a cat burglar. Notable is the constant Mood Whiplash, Shout Outs, Lampshade Hanging, and the exaggeration of the main characters' personality traits. Can be viewed in its (currently in-progress) entirety here.

Provides examples of:
"Konata: This is like something out of a piece of pulp trash. Well, I suppose it sort of is.
 * A Date with Rosie Palms:
 * Accidental Innuendo: "Tomo literally felt her mind being blown."
 * Anti-Hero: Tomo, who definitely fits into the Type V, almost to the point of being a Villain Protagonist.
 * could be argued as a Type II.
 * Anti-Villain:, who could easily be interpreted as the moral superior to Tomo,
 * Beyond the Impossible:
 * In chapter ten, Tomo
 * Black and Grey Morality: Pretty much everyone in the story has their Kick the Dog moments.
 * Bloodier and Gorier: Well, it is a Dark Fic...
 * Break the Cutie:
 * Cerebus Rollercoaster: Pretty much all the way through.
 * Chunky Salsa Rule:
 * Determinator: Tomo.
 * Eye Scream:
 * Fingore:
 * First Episode Spoiler:
 * Guns Akimbo and Gun Fu: Tomo's fighting style.
 * Iron Woobie:
 * Kick the Dog: Tomo
 * Leaning On The Fou Arth Wall: Konata mentions that it seems like she's seen Tomo on TV before.
 * Made of Iron: Tomo, Up to Eleven.
 * Memetic Mutation: "Goodnight, sweet prince. Y'know, I almost feel bad for you."
 * Meta Guy: Konata, of all people.
 * One of Us: Hi there.
 * TV Tropes is actually referenced in one of the author's notes, as a distraction to their writing.
 * Pet the Dog:
 * A minor one in chapter ten, when
 * Self-Deprecation

Konata (again): Contrivances are for hack writers!"


 * Shout-Out: Tomo listening to God Save the Queen on her her way to Miyama's office.
 * Tomo referring to her revolvers as "Liz and Patty" in chapter one.
 * Tomo is defended in court by Griffin Left.
 * Konata's repeated appearances.
 * "Tomo had brought that along just in case she wanted to do some Audition stuff on them."
 * "If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."
 * Troperiffic
 * "If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."
 * Troperiffic