Fear & Delight / Discussion

This is the discussion related to the wiki page Fear & Delight.

Author post

tiredsn0w 07 Nov 2022 07:06

I don’t even know what to say. This is quite the thing I wrote, isn’t it?

So, I did that thing again where I procrastinated working on the story for days/weeks, then smacked out thousands of words one evening, just for fun, just because I felt like it or something.

+ Small ramble, no function

Funny how the brain does that– especially during school, for some odd reason. In my word tracker (I use the GYWO Google spreadsheet, god I love spreadsheets) you can see so easily which days were school days, due to my writing pattern coinciding with how much free time I had at school, and therefore how much time to furiously type [the ideas that pinged my brain while walking through the hall, listening to music] on my laptop.

The bulk of this was actually written on Halloween; I was so invested in my story that I missed dinner, but once I finally came out of my room, people were already starting to go door-to-door. Among them was a small little kid in a plague doctor costume, who knocked on the door right as I was in the middle of talking through my story with Ancientcatparent – they laughed and remarked, “This is your blessing, it’s your sign”. That actually gave me enough confidence to write the rest of this silly little something; I finished it the next day, instead of working on my extremely long essay-that-I-didn’t-even-know-I-had-to-write-and-was-due-in-a-few-hours. (I also smacked out a thousand words for the essay in, like, 20 minutes, and turned it in well before the due date.) (Not that you were worried.)

+ Charlie appreciation

Enormous shout-out to Charlie80827 for reading this as both of our rewards(?) for finishing our essays. It went something like this:
“What part are you at?”
“049 is talking about when he first met 6118.”
“Oh, okay, you’re almost to the… uh… the part.”
[a few minutes later]
“What part are you at now?”
“…”
“Ah, yes, that part.”
[simultaneous cracking up]

My favourite part was when he finished, I asked him what he thought. “A lot more fruit smoothie than I anticipated,” was the answer.
“How so?”
“Well, the part with the lavender soap, that’s so… it’s so gay… he specifically uses that soap because he knows 049 likes it…”
“I like how that stood out to you as the gayest part.”
“I mean-”

We also were in the car together when he saw yellow and blue next to each other, immediately pointing it out to me– what a colour combo. Oh, those two.

I actually got the idea that 049 has never been attracted to a woman from Manifest 2321 - Doctor Hazelhurst– but I know everyone was thinking it already. (Like, come on.)

Anyways, thanks for reading my silly little thing! I have conflicting feelings about my own writing (wouldn’t be the first time) but I’m mostly just worried that, despite how much care and love I’ve put into it– and this now 7-part series as a whole– and how much this means to me, that everyone will immediately hate it, despite that never having happened before. But, the last thing I posted with these two had an extremely lovely and positive reception, so I’m crossing my fingers that this one does, as well?

(I’m going to look so stupid if the next comment posted is a Staff Deletions one. Nightmare fuel.)

Until next Tale!

^{Edit: I almost forgot, somehow— it's SCP-6118's birthday in about 24 hours, depending on where you live. I'll be posting a large drawing on my Instagram that has taken me hours into the double digits so far, featuring some others who requested to celebrate with him! Thank you all for your continued support, it means the world to me!}

Last edited on 07 Nov 2022 07:10 by tiredsn0w Show more

Re: Author post

Fierce fauna 09 Nov 2022 22:29

For some reason I couldn't get Gordon Lightfoot's - Approaching Lavender out of my head.

https://youtu.be/0Tnvd6nT7fQ

Perhaps it's a bit folksy for your tastes but my brother listen's to Gordon a lot. So I'm familiar with the song.

Also - a famous French opera called Carmen, has a song called Habanera - (love is a wild bird) but I must warn you finding a decent version of it is HARD. I always feel like the traditional versions are in too high a key.
Try this one -

https://youtu.be/lt6rsC7aZUM

Also I'm willing to bet 049 is a dancer. Nothing fancy - just the typical stuff they once did to pass the time.

Last edited on 09 Nov 2022 22:31 by Fierce fauna Show more

Re: Author post

tiredsn0w 09 Nov 2022 23:22

Oh, how I love it when people share with me songs that remind them of things I've written… it truly touches my heart, as music is an enormous inspiration for me; I use it to calm down or feel better very frequently, but more specifically, I imagine stories/scenarios, music videos, animations, etc. with Those Two (sometimes featuring others).

Approaching Lavender is so fitting, the caring? Adoring? Lyrics, as well as, of course, lavender. It's a wonderful song :)

Habanera was surprisingly familiar, at least lyrically, as I've heard the song Carmen - Arcadian. That one opens with «L'amour est comme un oiseau de Twitter» (love is like the Twitter bird), but it also shares the «Prends garde à toi, [mais] si je t'aime» (beware, [but] if I love you). They're also both sort of cynical, aren't they?

+ Demi 049 ramble that I've been meaning to put somewhere

I actually added Carmen - Arcadian to the playlist I made for SCP-049 (I have multiple SCP playlists, re: music as a coping mechanism, SCP as a coping mechanism, it coalesced I guess), I actually added it all the way back in March.

I feel like 049 would not necessarily be alloromantic, or at the very least sort of… hardened? Jaded? Towards this idea of romantic love. I personally headcanon him as demi (both demiromantic and demisexual), and not having gotten emotionally close to anyone enough to be able to form that kind of attraction towards them.

Thus, the a-spec plight, at least for some; this simultaneous fascination with the workings of so-called romance, not understanding how one is supposed to even enjoy that, plus this craving for emotional intimacy that for some people is filled with close friends, and for some can only be filled with a QPP (queerplatonic partner) or romantic relationship.

Anyways, what I'm trying to say is that I think the guy would be rather… bitter towards anyone he sees expressing those feelings to others, as it would be an isolating experience. And it's not like he could just force himself to have feelings for someone, for two reasons:

1. He would need to get emotionally close to someone first, but
2. would be unable to do so, because the only candidates for emotional closeness were humans, filthy humans, reeking with the very disease he sought to destroy.

So, perhaps he would hum Habanera to himself :)

(For anyone unaware, demi[romantic/sexual] means someone who can only form [romantic/sexual] attraction for someone once they've formed a very close emotional bond with them. It's a modifier for other sexualities (ex. demisexual gay, demi-panromantic asexual), not a sexuality on its own— okay, I'll get off my soapbox now. Hopefully you already knew this.)
(This is all coming from a demiromantic asexual, so that you know I'm not speaking for other communities.)

049 as a dancer… 6118 being curious about Earth customs, especially interpersonal ones, and then 049 trying to teach him to dance… I am going to quietly Freak Out over this (in the most positive of ways). Who knows, perhaps it'll make it into a future Tale! (I actually think I have a place it may fit already, a scene spawned from a scientific documentary I watched today… one that I am also Quietly Freaking Out Over!!)

Thanks again for that music— I love music immensely, and now these songs will hold a special place in my heart :)— and apologies for not responding to your last comment. I read it, multiple times, and told all my friends about it (as I do), but I've been very sick recently and couldn't get my head clear long enough to respond. I simply wanted to say that I appreciate it, along with all of your other comments. Having readers that I can look forwards to receiving comments from helps me get through the stuck spots in my writing process.

Re: Author post

Fierce fauna 13 Nov 2022 18:18

That's okay. Sometimes I actually forget about these. :P

I talk to a lot of people and actually might have a problem :)

Another Gordon Song for you - Spin, Spin, Spin

This is because you liked the last Gordon Song - are also a consistent happening to your readers, and planted the image of these two practicing their steps in my head.

(- also this person on Deviant art called BillyCrawshrimp offers breathtaking landscapes and charismatic characters alongside the music that inspires them. He kind of got me into the habit of recommending songs to people.)

But some updates. I added a third chapter to my sand box if your interested. There are more pictures too.

http://scp-sandbox-3.wikidot.com/fierce-fauna

Take your time though, this isn't so important or anything. Below are some general observations - ( Actually stuff I got excited about :D ) Interesting possibilities.

+ Show - some general observations

I wonder if this government of yours is starting to use a can't beat em' join em' type of strategy. If that is the case the rebellion may become a political player and Blue himself an asset or pawn - this can send him into hiding as part of an underground movement when his newfound fame leads to the government and former rebellion wanting to play a kind of tug of war with the poor Two - and perhaps the mysterious other acting as his bodyguard - or lord forbid lover - I imagine there is something that passes for the media in this world. Blue's boyfriend is unusual even by Earth standards. That might give them a field day. or at the very least start whispering among those who know them personally.

Perhaps for the sake of peace the government is cutting a deal with the resistance - the deal is to let the one's behind the recent war-crimes off the hook - and spread propaganda that the killings were not as bad as the rumor's claim. In exchange the resistance will get the reforms it's asking for, and's it's fighters will be pardoned.

Perhaps they are hoping that blue - being a famous hero will help defend his former masters.

Perhaps even the resistance may want to hide Blue's boyfriend - to reduce controversy -
Blue may be forgiving at first - but then he learns that his former masters are still very dangerous and have no intention of retiring from the murder game - this ups the stakes beyond simple revenge - to self preservation.

What I've just mused about is a possible bridge toward Blue joining that underground movement you have mentioned before - sometimes when writing It's hard to imagine how to get from here to there - you may already have a plan for crossing this bridge - but know that it is an interesting bridge - with lots of possibilities to play with in the meantime.

I was impressed by Selling the News (brings to mind the dangerous urban environment of Blue's planet) and will check out your other recommendations -

This doesn't need a reply - reply whenever - or get me when I respond to another installment of this fun project of yours.

Last edited on 13 Nov 2022 19:17 by Fierce fauna Show more

Re: Author post

tiredsn0w 13 Nov 2022 22:00

Normally I don't like music like that, but it has such a sweet tone to it. Turns out, I'll like pretty much anything as long as I can somehow relate it back to those 2. (This is actually somewhat true. Especially when it comes to music. My music taste is less dependent on genre and more on whether or not I can create a nice scene of 049 and 6118 to it in my mind.)

I love it when music inspires art, because music is a kind of art in of itself. So is poetry, or sculpture. You perceive them all through waves after all, whether that be sound or light. I don't know, just a thought.

Your story is quite intriguing to me. I really like the art; it does a great job to illustrate the different scenes in ways I didn't imagine myself. It's a nice visual aid. Keep up the good work!

On your observations— I have so many things to say.

+ Long block of text

This is actually perfect, because you've picked up on many things that I've actually already started writing into the next Tale.

Blue is entirely going to be an asset in this entire political deal. The general population, mostly Ones, are at this point very sympathetic to the resistance. There are a few outliers, political extremists who think they can only guarantee their own safety by being fiercely loyal to the government to the point of being brainwashed like a Two is. The irony is that they're just being used as pawns and will be discarded as soon as they're not useful in the game of chess anymore— much like a Two.

Where I'm going with this is that the government is like a big company in the month of June, changing their profile picture to incorporate a rainbow. They're grasping at straws to try to gain approval, as the resistance is growing; more and more Twos are becoming resistant to what they're being forced to do, and the government is finally seeing that they are a parasitoid on society. They are destroying themselves.

If they can get SCP-6118 on their side, it could change everything. But the opposition is equally adamant on trying to sway him. They're like children in grade school fighting over their crush, pulling him back and forth. At that point, it's like, do they really like him that much, or do they just want to be the one who got him?

049, on the other hand, really does like him that much. He wants to keep 6118 from all of this; as much as he can, anyways. He's used to being more-or-less outcast, but he's always had his back doors he could go through, his contacts and his reputation. Now, all he knows about this planet is that he's strictly forbidden from even holding 6118's hand in public. Not even inside resistance's walls.

+ Snippet from Chaos Theory

Twos were not supposed to show affection. Period. […] It was considered weird, even taboo, and I didn’t have any wiggle room under the constraints of all eyes on me.

…

“How are we going to be able to do anything together in this social climate?” My head fell past his, onto his chest. “How is this going to work, when we can’t even walk too close, in a hallway of those who are literally in opposition to the government? Those who are already fundamentally different from what is considered normal, if we’re too different for even them– How will we belong anywhere? How will we survive?”

Hopefully this response makes sense; I've been typing it up for two hours now, as I just have so many thoughts on the matter that it feels impossible to condense them all into something coherent. Thank you so much for your observations, it makes me very pleased that you picked up on the things I was trying to convey.

I have so many ideas on where to go… so many individual scenes. So much overarching plot. Hopefully I can bridge those pieces together…

Re: Author post

Fierce fauna 15 Nov 2022 02:04

This sounds awesome! Hears hoping you have fun with it. :)

allyzero 07 Nov 2022 07:22

honestly not forgetting the midget alien that saved your entire organization but immediately proceeding to literally bodyslam said alien into the floor on accident is a mood +1

This was fast!!! :DD

SilverScribbles 07 Nov 2022 12:41

Eeeeeeeeeeee! Just got to my first class, pulled up my laptop, and noticed this!

This is absolutely amazing and it's everything I was hoping for!

More stuff on 6118's planet, more ship worthy scenes between him and 049, and a perfect amount of fear and delight!

I absolutely loved that standoff between 049 and 7cb7- "You are dating, right?"

It was a bit shorter than some other stories, but it was an absolutely amazing read, a great way to start off a Monday-

I hope to see another story as soon as you can write it!

Really looking forward to it,

I guess my nickname is Silver now? (changed my name from Dr Sylvie Moon)

Re: This was fast!!! :DD

tiredsn0w 07 Nov 2022 19:00

I'm so, so glad you liked it! I would have been significantly more reluctant to post it, if not for your previous and continued support on this series. I want people to be as enthusiastic as I am about my writing, and it really makes my day— week, month, possibly more; hell, I've regularly pulled up your old comments and re-read them when I've felt down about my writing— that you appreciate it so much!

I hope this Monday treats you well, Silver! (It's a nice name; very Shiny and Smooth, Fluid to my synesthesia! /genuine) Another story is already in the works, and I hope you like that one as well :)