Do Not Fear! My Return Is Nigh.

Do Not Fear! My Return Is Nigh.

My hiatus from posting is over, and I'm back. To haunt you. No, not really. Hopefully, I will manage to do so in my writing though. I've got future projects all laid out, and tons of unwritten, draft outlines—if I ever finish them. No promises.

And, I've read Fall. And, well, I have a lot to say about it. It was incredible, but there were some things that irked me about it.

Also, as you can see above, I have made a gif that reminds me of Rafal! I had to make a gif of this scene because this actor looked just like Rafal from this angle. Plus, the red and gold color scheme of Fall’s cover is definitely present.

The source of the cinematography I used for the gif is the film Tale of Tales (2015). It's subversive and fairy-tale-like, but seems to lack a clear "moral." I feel like it lacks meaning set next to SGE, but I haven't analyzed it to the same, in-depth extent, so I can't say for sure. And, that's more of a surface judgement anyway. It's an exceptionally sensual, hedonistic movie from my point of reference. The film is rated R, by the way, so I wouldn't recommend it if you are sensitive to graphic imagery. I couldn't even watch some scenes. The visual juxtapositions are spectacular, and the costuming and sets are superb. It's fascinating, yet its ending is near-ambiguous and abrupt, and lies between satisfying and unsatisfying. I don't know how to define it because it's hard to define. Yes, it gave me Beasts and Beauty vibes, but it was more aimless and incoherent from my impression. The plot didn't culminate to a big, overarching point or revelation. It was closer to a movie capturing an anthology than a plot with subplots. I don't know.

Anyway, I may not post extremely frequently because I now have school. I will post some Fall content, and other, older posts I never had the chance to publish with reactions, thoughts, analyses, etc. Also, you can expect more fics, if I have the time. I will try not to disappoint.

Here’s to vaguely hinting at the vibes my unfinished Fall prediction fic, "When Lightning Falls," will be drawing from! I hope it'll turn out flammable.

Source: “Crazy=Genius” by Panic! At The Disco

Note: I have edited the lyrics slightly, to twist them to my own purposes.

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Rafal: Rhian said at night in my dreams, “You dance on a tightrope of weird. Oh but when I wake up you're so normal that you just disappear. You're so straight like commuters with briefcases towing the line. There's no residue of a torturer inside of your eyes.”

Rhian: If crazy equals genius. You can set yourself on fire. But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn. You can set yourself on fire.

Rafal: But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey! Rhian said…

Rhian: Darlin' you know how the wine plays tricks on my tongue. But you don't seem to change when you stuff all of your feelings with drugs.

Rafal: Other boys you may have dated serrated your heart with a slice.

Rhian: But the cut of your love never hurts baby, it's a sweet butter knife.

Fall Countdown Day 3: Kyma

She’s not wearing very typical Ever or princess-like attire. Her blouse gives me Edwardian-era vibes, and that fits that time period of Peter Pan, so it seems like she’s already connected to pirates and Neverland, especially given that skull and crossbones flag behind her. I wonder if she's adapted to survive, or has undergone character development similar to Beatrix’s turn in AWWP and later in the series when she became a knight? Kyma could have turned rogue or pirate-like, given the people she’s been around. But probably, she’ll retain her essential Goodness.

My assumption is that she was either captured by Hook, or persuaded by Hook to follow him, and thus loyal to Hook and his crew. I don't think she's currently a prisoner though because she looks well. Or, maybe, she has stakes in keeping other loved-ones safe, and followed along with Hook for her own self-preservation. I wonder what exactly happened to her to cause her to end up like this though. It’s intriguing, this change.

It depends on what Soman wants to prioritize in Fall's ending? The shock factor or tragedy?

If it's shock, Fall could end with any manner of plot twists, identity swaps, other possibilities, etc. But shock may only last as long as it takes your brain to catch up; tragedy leaves a lasting impression, and will always make you consider what could have been.

I expect both shock and tragedy because they often go hand in hand, but I'd prefer tragedy, I guess?

If it's tragedy, think about it:

Why build up Rafal as the most widely sympathetic character in Rise, to not tear him down? And then, not make him the tragic villain? A tragic villain could be more tragic than an undeserved death. Partly, because he's orchestrated his own downfall by means of his own flaws. Becoming a villain and living as someone else or the worst version of yourself is arguably worse than just dying and being remembered for the way you once were. Because your self and memory are tarnished.

In becoming what he is in the main series canon, the main series villain, we get to see how far he's fallen. And, that is potentially far more tragic, seeing how far he's fallen and what he's become. This would also be a bonus to the readers of the main series because Rafal tends to elicit more of a reaction from us than Rhian. Because, we've only known Rhian for one book versus our longtime familiarity with Rafal?

Also, at this moment, Rhian has less motive/cause to become a villain than Rafal does. (Unless something happens to Rhian in Fall, and changes him.) I mean, who's the one who is always annoyed by and complains in his internal monologue about all the blithering idiots he's surrounded by? Rafal!

During TLEA in the School Master's tower:

Sophie: Rafal?

Rafal: [appears perched on the window ledge] Yes?

Sophie: [points at the plate of food before her] Is this made of bone?

Rafal: [shrugs casually and tips backward out the window]

Sophie: [calling after him, leaning out the window as he takes off] That's not an answer!

If the third-to-last Fall countdown photo isn't another major side character, then I guess Rhian and Rafal could be the third-to-last and second-to-last photos, or the final two. But, what could the final day's photo be if not one of the brothers? I would guess the Storian, or some personification of the Storian. Also, it could be Soman himself, like in the QFG countdown, but we already know that Soman said he wouldn't be in this countdown. What other possibilities are there though if not another minor character or the Storian? The other question I have is whether the May 1st photo will be the last countdown day, or if there will be a photo for the day of release also.