therealljidol week 26: the goal is zero

[j0ydivided]

You don’t know what pulled you to the Night Market to begin with. A desire to step outside of yourself, maybe, to be someone else for just a night

Comments

[penpusher]

Not the "fairy tale ending" that one usually expects! But then again, the horror of this story is all in the mundane aspects presented here, how it's just natural and boring to live a life outside of that realm, even if you have to be a plaything to the fey to be a part of it.

The pain is exquisite and palpable... the "triumph" is both joyous as it is heart snatching.

[j0ydivided]

Thank you!

[favoritebean]

At first, I admit that I thought of the Night Markets that are in LA and Hong Kong. There, they have no fruit, but it is a truly interesting place to visit. Then, my next thought went to blueberries and to the mythos surrounding Persephone and Hades. All before you mentioned Faery.

It really does read like a recovery story, and I'm reminded of many books involving addiction that I've read over the years. I like how you ended up using the topic to symbolize relapses and addiction. The evocation of smells is especially powerful here because of that.

[j0ydivided]

Thank you! Finding out about the Night Markets in Hong Kong was part of what started this piece. :)

[i_17bingo]

This was really difficult to read, because it had all of the support groups and yearning of addiction, but people were restrained from going back. I suppose that makes sense--when I quit drinking, the only reason I didn't start right back up again is because of my wife. I was a different person when I was a drinker, and not being one anymore took a lot of getting used to.

Either way the emotion and intensity were there, and I was really affected.

[j0ydivided]

Thank you.

[rayaso]

This was an excellent exploration of addiction and recovery. I loved the idea of the forbidden fruit being in the Night Market, and that someone would be willing to destroy her life for a taste of it.

[j0ydivided]

Thanks! I...yeah. Heh. Everything about the mythos says that once you taste it, you're doomed to be trapped in Faery forever, but that it's also the best thing you ever have tasted, because of glamour. Makes for an interesting idea to explore. :)

[marlawentmad]

This is incredible work.

[j0ydivided]

Thank you! :)