Oh my god, Iza. IZA. First off, that shoutout - thank you!! BUT. IT WAS YOU. IT WAS ALLLL YOU. (I just ran my mouth during that conversation way back when - but, aaaa I’m so glad it helped! That the musical instrument worked!) Honestly, I just needed to reiterate that because wowowowow, that flute? The description and significance? The design and colors? Stunning. Just stunning. And seriously, I’m so happy to have helped in any way, but that creativity came from you, love! <3333
THIS WHOLLLLE CHAPTER THOUGH. Oh wow, like always, I wasn’t sure what to expect and was just!! TOTALLY ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT. There was so much! The tower, and the end of the golem, and the flute, VARIAN. Just - man, I’m about to ramble here. XD
So, starting with Varian - I actually didn’t find the death and recovery to be a cop-out at all! As you mentioned in your notes, Varian’s wounds were so severe...even with the audience’s suspension of belief, I still think it made sense to handle it as you did? Being a young, fourteen-year-old, and having those wounds while undergoing that physical excursion - it really was painfully realistic how Varian just...went to sleep and didn’t wake up. (And that apology?? The apology for dying? BROKE. ME.) But not just that, I feel in a sense this was almost...necessary? Even on a psychological level. In so many ways, death and rebirth is this transformative process, and I really do think it made so much sense to incorporate this into Varian’s story as heart-wrenching as it was, and //I just freakin’ loved it//.
And the flute! Wow, I said it already, but saying it again: that was stunning. Breathtaking! Just the image is so beautifully embedded into my mind, and it really is a glorious thing? Even more interesting, is the associate with the Sun and the history behind that flute - and Moon’s painfully evident attachment to it. And I LOVE Moon - she is easily one of my favorite OC’s I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, if not right up there at the top. She’s twisted by some kind of agony, but...is still so ethereal? So painfully stunning and eternal? There is such a depth to her, and I truly think she has been one of my favorite aspects of this story. I just want to know so much more about her, and what it was she wanted from Raps - to recover something with the Sun? To heal an old wound? So many questions, but whether or not they get answered in this particular story, she has left such a deep impression on me and my heart just aches for her!
(Also, special mention to Eugene for being all “HEY! Moon Lady!” God bless him he is the light I needed in all the chaos and frenzy asdjlkasjdlaskjd I JUST LOVE HOW YOU WRITE HIM HE IS PERFECT?)
And of course, RAPUNZEL. Oh stars, just...what a psychological journey she has had? She wants so hard to see good, to be optimistic and stay strong...but having undergone all this with the journey, and Varian....it’s intense. And clearly has left such an impact on her, even with drawing out the wounds Gothel left on her. But what I really love is despite having gone through this, despite having to wrestle with these painful emotions she has toward Varian (Fear? Anger? Bitterness? Even in forgiveness, those things still burn), she still feels so true to character? Still very in touch with her morals and valuing of life, and knowing that despite her emotions toward Varian, she doesn’t want him to die? But that depth is there, and I wonder if that had to do with the magic kicking in at that breaking point, and what connection/resemblance to the Sun she may have after all. There’s this mystery still there, but at the same time, it doesn’t feel incomplete? It feels solid, and well-planned, and I just love that so much about your writing!
This journey and tale has been an INCREDIBLE one. I seriously cannot applaud you enough for having been able to tackle such a weighty story, but you have, and you are doing a phenomenal job! I really am looking forward to the final chapter, and I know it will just be fantastic! <3
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FaeriexQueen on Chapter 9 Wed 26 Dec 2018 03:54AM UTC
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