I consider this the last chronological fic to happen in Subaru's story as I've been telling/augmenting it. There will be others in the timeline--I know two that I have to wait until July to post, damn you Kinkfest--and there will be a timeline-archiving post as well (and should fix the one I did for Schwanengesang too, ffxii people), and I know I'm
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Comments 48
I keep coming back to 'the color of devastation'. The use of color in general, actually. (Okay, I can't entirely avoid the litcrit, mostly because I suspect litcrit is the only way I'm going to be at all coherent; some of this wrecked me.) Because you use so much of it, and so vividly, especially in the first section, which is sickeningly rich with color -- there's something amazing about the fact that after the apocalypse there is color, and before there is the black-and-white-and-blood only. This is especially clear in the part that used to be 'Creases', which is all the blurring of those colors, and -- well. I still can't talk about this adequately, damnit ( ... )
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In a way, the color-augmentation is my way of breaking out of the words-as-manga format and shoving it into something else, perhaps something more real? I'm so glad that seems to have come across...
And yes. YES. I think why Creases wasn't sufficient on its own was that it needed to be contextualized as the Becoming it is. (Now I want to read this piece listening to The Downward Spiral and see if it works--I suspect it might.) It's as much a ritual as the lamplighting at the start, the only difference being that Subaru's only aware of the significance, not the repercussions, and even then only the personal significance as opposed to the tragic significance.
And as for the tragados...irony cudgel, anyone? :grin:
I do look forward to any analysis you still plan on doing. ::hugs so much::
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-- oh! Yes, yes, the explosion of color (the seizure of color) does change the format quite significantly. It comes across brilliantly. (I could, honestly, see this filmed; it wouldn't be as powerful, as your internal/literary/linguistic descriptions really carry the work, but still. The qualia of the imagery is almost Fellini-esque, in places. First section, Sadame section, especially.)
The way you've contextualized Creases will be a major part of the analysis, which I really do want to do -- heh.
When you post the whole Timestamp sequence, as a serial work, would you mind -- would you like -- essay-length meta/analysis? Because I would enjoy doing that. With your permission.
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It's odd--the three pieces that I think would actually translated to film or visual media best? This, Aneurysm, and Gathering Water. And what they all have in common? The color brown.
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Very reminiscent to me of some themes in Swansong, the VS pieces, The Spindle, etc. Isolation is quite a major theme in your work and it really shows itself very strongly here. As and "end" of sorts, I think this succeeds in translating your vision of Subaru's fate. Unfortunately, I can't empathize with him and it drags me out of the story. >;/
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When I showed Aneurysm to someone unfamiliar with X, he actually said in his review, "Sumeragi is so mean and self-centered! He's caustic, all that politeness is a weapon." He was right.
So whether you empathize with the man or not, I still think your reaction to the piece isn't the opposite of what I wanted.
Perhaps a reflection instead?
:snerk:
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So, I just wanted to say that I just LOVE the poem you quoted at the end.It's so relevant...and so heartbeaking *sobbing heavily*
I still remember the first time I heard it, it was in the movie "four weddings and a funeral"...when I was 14 (this is killing me, it now seems it was an eternity ago) and it really striked me.
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Thank you. :smiles:
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And thanks so much!
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And thanks again! I suspect that between now and then there will be others--and most of the rest is up already. I think there are some 21 fics in the timeline alread posted under the tbx tag in my journal.
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Riveting. Painful.
The flow of colors from dark and light to the grey in between; from the grey of concrete constructions to the brown of forgotten time & shrivelled, mummified skin.
And the way time and dates erase and restore...
...at the end of pretense.
♥
I'd like to add two things to the above:
1) I chose this form of reply because I feel unable to say "I like / enjoyed it". It's perfect in the way it worms itself into your head, inserting its pictures and motives, whether you want it or not, without leaving an escape to a less sad setting.
2) The slow crumbling of the world around him, shown in tiny details, is reflected in the way his thoughts / his sanity? crumble on its own. As somebody who is used to a certain degree to be alone with my thoughts, it is painful to see the portray of somebody needing an external reflection / transformation of his thoughts that much without hope of ever finding it (again).
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Hearts right back at you~
Thank you so much. :smiles: I loved modulating the colors in this, and, well, in the entire scope of this timeline. And being able to say without saying it, that they're not so different after all, has been a goal of mine since the start.
re: 1) I can understand not enjoying it. I'm not sure the experience of it should be a pleasurable one...
2) I think that's part of why isolation is such a prevalent theme in my writing and my music--I'm also often alone with my thoughts and craving understanding, and am especially frightened by the prospect of them never being grasped or realized as well.
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Is so true! On more levels than one can easily list, actually. :)
Given the context and style of the fic, I consider 1) actually a compliment for you. (At least, it was meant as one.)
I am often content with my lone thoughts. Hence, seeing somebody deteriorating that much because he'd need external feedback is... scary.
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And yeah...Subaru's issues with his own identity have been egging me on since the beginning ot TB. He's so defined by his role and by others--and even when he starts to take for himself and think for himself it's only because of who he's redefining himself based on. It's particularly frightening to me, that selfless selfishness.
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