I wonder what Clerval would think about in this chapter? Because some things that Victor says to him, and some ideas that he expresses are... Concerning.
What Henry knows is that Victor had a mental breakdown so severe that he needed to be nursed for months, then Victor drops out of university because his family takes a priority. Victor doesn't write to him in that time, and several months later Clerval can finally see Victor again. Except that now Victor acts more closed off and nervous than before, while not even expresing the same level of interest for science that he had in university.
Also, this line right by Victor could be really alarming:
"Do you," said I, "enjoy yourself, and let this be our rendezvous. I may be absent a month or two; but do not interfere with my motions, I entreat you: leave me to peace and solitude for a short time; and when I return, I hope it will be with a lighter heart, more congenial to your own temper."
No one knows the real reason of Victor's travel, yet this line could give Clerval the impression that Victor is going to do something that may not be good for his own wellbeing.
yet another writing ask: 23 and 32 if you would like to <3
Thank you 🙇🙇
23. Dialogue or description? Why is the other one so hard?
GOD. Dialogue is so hard. I get soooo stressed in rpf bc I often want or am including multi-lingual players who do not speak like a generic Californian, and I get real in my head about like...capturing that authentically and sensitively. Like description is easier to deploy meaningfully and if I fuck it up, I find that way more forgivable in myself than like writing a multilingual player and accidentally leaning into stereotypes about speech patterns or ways of expression that aren't True To Nature. and like to be clear this is specifically about non-Canadian/American players, like if I fuck up some American NCAA white jock who gives a shit but if I leaned to stereotypes about like how idk Russians speak, I would just die. and I have done this!!! I look back at some of my old sidgeno works and I'm like this is unforgiveable lol.
I'm poking at a concept with Radim Šimek, who is from Czechia, and I'm stressing sooo bad about his speech patterns and how he expresses himself in interviews vs teammates, particularly after I noticed how obvious it is that he learned in English in the Bay Area, which is not like...a particularly unique version of English, but I've noticed that sometimes the way Bay Area ppl inflect words is absolutely deranged. and like how does that affect how you express yourself yk, and like I'm basing all of this off getting lectured for being lazy in five years of French classes in high school and college, which is not even remotely the same thing
Also. At least once per fic, I have to go through a delete an instance of "hella". That man from Ontario would not fucking say "hella".
32. Do you have a word/expression that you always use in your writing?
Well I absolutely overuse "like" in speech which is what happens when you grow up in California and write primarily in a fandom of white jocks. Also tend to use "sounding strangled" with regularity, but I have never been able to figure out how to execute that specific emotion any other way (I have not tried very hard)
I think we would all get along a lot better if everyone could just accept that "queerplatonic relationships are important rep and shouldn't be diminished" and "romantic relationships between women are often written off as friendships and it's ok for wlw to not feel drawn to that interpretation" are two statements that can and should coexist
"I had just a wooooonderful experience today! Y'know, I don't consider myself much of a craftsman, but I got to fix a broken table leg and I think I did preeeettttyyyy good for a beginner! I didn't even have to find any wood or anything- I just found a waste of space to put under it! Hehahauhaha!"
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Character/concept description:
Pom Pom is a virus/glitch formed by the scrapped side-scrolling arcade game from the early 90's “Pom-Pom Panic”. Pom Pom (the main character of Pom Pom Panic) for whatever reason gained sentience halfway during the game’s development. The game was cancelled halfway because the publishing company thought it was too bizarre of a concept and mascot character to gain interest. Pom Pom heard of the news and took it way too personally, as she literally cannot fathom why someone would think she’s ‘bizarre’-even to the point of getting ‘axed’. Prompted by the ‘poor judgement’ Pom Pom went rouge-breaking from her game to ‘axe’ any ‘approved’ game mascots/characters she thought could count as ‘bizarre’ like her.
“‘Elizabeth, my love, you must supply my place to your younger cousins. Alas! I regret that I am taken from you; and, happy and beloved as I have been, is it not hard to quit you all? But these are not thoughts befitting me; I will endeavour to resign myself cheerfully to death, and will indulge a hope of meeting you in another world.’
She died calmly; and her countenance expressed affection even in death.”
the death of victor’s mother and how she, as p much a paragon of a good person and a good woman of this time, is acting sure is…
something.
like, it makes me curious abt mary shelley’s ideas in general re: gender roles, and whether she sees these last words moments as aspirational or kind of terrifying and tragic
Okay so you know how being a royal mistress wasn't actually a title/position (at least, not until 15th century France) and a mistress usually had an official place in court, usually as part of someone's entourage, a governess, etc., so imagine Arthur visiting another kingdom for diplomatic relations and being like, "this is Merlin, my manservant" which is perfectly normal, all kosher, until they see Merlin and Arthur being...well, Merlin and Arthur and they're collectively like, "Ohhh, that's his manservant ;) gotchu fam" and Merlin is innocently oblivious as to why everyone's being so nice to him now whilst Arthur is like "Yeah, good question" *squinty eyes*
bestie imagine them probing Arthur for the deets like "so, your manservant is always by your side? 👀" or "he reads your speeches?" and Arthur is stuck because they're asking him this during dinner and Merlin is right there standing next to him totally oblivious (not for long i feel). like his inner dialogue is literally "are...are they implying...what i think they're implying...no....yes?"
"I am so useless—I am such a burden on both of you," she answered, with a weary, hopeless sigh. "You work and get money, Walter, and Marian helps you. Why is there nothing I can do? You will end in liking Marian better than you like me—you will, because I am so helpless! Oh, don't, don't, don't treat me like a child!"
Having had some health problems, and being the "unemployed" spouse, I really feel for Laura here. She isn't fully well, and there's probably not much materially that she can contribute, but I'm sure they can come up with something she can do. Maybe even add to her responsibilities as she gets stronger.
Her drawings, as she finished them, or tried to finish them, were placed in my hands. Marian took them from me and hid them carefully, and I set aside a little weekly tribute from my earnings, to be offered to her as the price paid by strangers for the poor, faint, valueless sketches, of which I was the only purchaser. It was hard sometimes to maintain our innocent deception, when she proudly brought out her purse to contribute her share towards the expenses, and wondered with serious interest, whether I or she had earned the most that week. I have all those hidden drawings in my possession still—they are my treasures beyond price—the dear remembrances that I love to keep alive—the friends in past adversity that my heart will never part from, my tenderness never forget.
Fuck you Walter. You are doing literally the one thing she asked you not to do. Fuck you, and fuck Marian for letting you. Teach Laura to sweep the floor in your little apartment, it would be better than this.
There is probably symbolism how Victor doesn't contact Elizabeth for two years, and how his dreams about her end in nightmares in which she dies and turns into his mother. And, how with Henry not only Victor finds peace, and is content to only interact with him for months. But also, his nightmares almost stop and he finds himself watching nature for it's beauty again.