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[makedown]

[email | nyoom meetings | neighbors | fan comments on her novels | chance encounters | text or calls if you're one of the few people who have her number]

Comments

[makedown]

A popularity contest between main characters? Really?

[thefaultinthestars]

Wed, bed, or behead. Isn't that ultimately the spirit of the game?

[makedown]

Yes, but you're all main characters. Doesn't that mean those beheaded were demoted for being bad at main charactering? How is that allowed? Is no one thinking of the narrative implications?

[thefaultinthestars]

It's just a popularity contest among ourselves. And are you telling me you couldn't write a good arc out of being voted least popular and having your head temporarily removed?

[makedown]

If I had to.

[thefaultinthestars]

[laughs]

You don't like that kind of story?

[pours out half of his remaining whisky (which is almost all of it) into her glass]

[makedown]

[his leftovers are accepted]

See, if I wrote something like that for myself, it would be more about the how. What is the process? Who does it? What are they wearing? What is it like for them, do they know the person they're beheading, what are their tools? What happens to the head afterwards? Why do they need to behead someone, and is the answer to that satisfying? It wouldn't be that game at all.

[thefaultinthestars]

So you want to tell it from the executioner's point of view.

Well, that could also be interesting. The producers are also main characters.

[makedown]

[nods]

It's not that victims don't need their stories told, but I don't want to be the one to do it. I'd rather tell a happy story with a good ending, but if that's what it has to be, then at least I want to get technical about it.

[thefaultinthestars]

Are victims excluded from happy stories with good endings?

[makedown]

I wish I had the energy to say yes, of course, you caught me, but no. I meant it as a matter of focus.

[thefaultinthestars]

[sips his whiskey]

I wasn't sure if a story with victims still gets to be called 'happy' even if it ends well, eventually.

I don't think you'd like the sort of story you ended up with, if you got on the boat.

But is running away from your family again and again going to end happily?

[makedown]

You can always have a happy ending in fiction, because it's fiction, if you want to write it. But stories that focus on victims are often an exploration of victimhood to some degree, and that's what I don't care about. I was really just thinking of some conversations I had a few days ago that didn't sit right with me, though.

[clink clink, at least she can play with the remaining ice]

I think actual victims can feel happiness, just as people who have everything can have a miserable life. It's a matter of perspective. And that's why I don't think compromises are bad. I was happy here, not because things were perfect, but because it was something I chose. That's what makes running worth it, even if it's unsustainable in the long term.

[thefaultinthestars]

...I can understand that much.




Would it be better if they were dead?

[makedown]

No. If they died they wouldn't get to feel angry and frustrated and embarrassed and defeated.

[thefaultinthestars]

[laughs and his tail does a little amused flick and he finishes his whiskey off]

Fine then. But you're also an adult? Should you really have to hide at this age?

[makedown]

I absolutely do. And just so you know, if they catch me and I die, I'll curse you.

[thefaultinthestars]

--would they kill you??

[makedown]

Of course not.

1/2

[thefaultinthestars]

Liar.

[thefaultinthestars]

They can suffer just fine in hell.

[makedown]

Okay, some of the extended family might try, but I'd—




No. I'm only a little buzzed. I refuse to have this conversation.

[thefaultinthestars]

There's still the rest of the bottle.

1/2

[makedown]

[aren't you feeling anxious right now Booker? I think you're probably feeling a little anxious and sad and concerned. and maybe you also find yourself idly wondering if the balcony might not be an okay way to go?]

2/2

[makedown]

[



nahhh it's all good. those feelings are gone like they were never there, which is really great because they didn't feel external even if they were superficial enough not to hurt. what a nice breeze!!]

If I do that I won't be able to run tomorrow. I don't bounce back that quickly.