a thought about Terezi Pyrope; also yet another NBB progress report

[edenfalling]

The more I reread Homestuck, the more I realize how much foreshadowing and how many callbacks there are. For instance, when Terezi is introduced the plot stops for a bit while she roleplays a corruption trial using her scalemates (dragon plushies, basically) as the other characters. This is a useful way to show off aspects of her character, but it seems overly drawn-out... until you realize that the coin flip thing comes back very significantly later on. Twice. Once with Dave and once with Vriska, and both times you will be a LOT less surprised by Terezi's actions if you remember that the result of the coin flip is irrelevant. The situations only ever have one outcome, which Terezi already knows. She just flips the coin because it looks badass.

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In NBB news, I got maybe 100 words per day over the weekend (boo hiss), but tonight I made some genuine progress. I am now at 13,350 words and almost out of Had Ordjah. Finally!!! ...Now it's just a battle and then a bunch of politics. I confess I am looking forward to the politics, if only because I have plans to squeeze one to three female characters in there, who have lives and goals of their own and do things that actually affect the plot. As I think I said before, this story is so relentlessly male-centric that I am extra pleased anytime I can get a girl or a woman on-page with a speaking role, however minor.

Other things about this story: I knew I would have to make up a bunch of poetry to quote, but I was not aware I would be spending quite this much time talking about horses or describing scenery. Not that I spend all that many words on either activity -- my narrative tends to live very tightly in my characters' thoughts and emotional reactions rather than any sensory description -- but the presence of horses and scenery is enough to be noticeable, which is probably the equivalent of some other writers banging on about them for pages at a time. *wry*

Comments

[rthstewart]

GO GO GO. Unhappy with BB now. Feeling the hate. Oh well. I'm very excited for horses! and women and yes the guys doing all the war and politics. I ended up not doing remix btw. the prospect of drawing you was WAY too intimidating!

[edenfalling]

I am sure your story will be awesome, and I am very much looking forward to reading it! :D :D :D

[askerian]

Terezi is always badass, the end. u.u

I really oughta get started on that reread. Hrrrm. >__>

[edenfalling]

Terezi is always badass, the end.

Preach it! :-D

Rereading is fun! I do not feel the need to race through like I did the first time, and also I know what happens later so it's easier to spot plot threads being laid down and also pay attention to little bits of character development.

And then you run into occasional moments of weirdness, like this conversation between Terezi and Nepeta on page 3955:

AC: :33 < well it does sound like it will be a lot of fun but i think i should get purrmission first
GC: BL4R!!!!!
GC: TH4TS SO STUP1D
GC: H3S NOT TH3 BOSS OF YOU
AC: :33 < i know!
AC: :33 < but still im kind of scared of him and i think purrhaps its best to just run it by him first so there isnt a kerfuffle about it or anything
GC: TH1S 1S STUP1D 1N SUCH 4 T3RR1BL3 MYR14D OF DUMB W4YS
GC: YOU SHOULDNT B3 4FR41D OF 4NYON3
GC: YOU K1LL B1G 4NIM4LS W1TH YOUR B4R3 H4NDS!
GC: 4ND 1N 4NY C4S3 H3 L1V3S NOWH3R3 N34R YOU SO TH3 WHOL3 TH1NG 1S 3XTR4 STUP1D
AC: :33 < i knooow
AC: :33 < but i dont think itll be a big deal
AC: :33 < ill just mention it casually and itll be fine im sure and then we can play in just a little bit!

Which, what? Nepeta respects Equius's opinion, sure, but since when are moirails scared of each other? This is probably a bit of early installment weirdness -- Hussie still figuring out exactly what he wanted to do with troll culture -- but even so. Very strange.

[askerian]

Ahh, yeah, another writer was refering to this scene in a post I read yesterday, but she's personally taking it as a hint that moirallegiances are supposed to be between a dangerous troll and a pacifier troll (I am simplifying way too much), and the pacifier troll is usually scared of their partner, also re: how Karkat was scared of Gamzee, it's just that they're not letting that fear stop them. Personally I don't see it like that at ALL but it was a pretty interesting interpretation. ... if one I really don't have! ;__; noooo equal mutual partnerships aaaa ;_;

for reference purposes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mbNIui5K22xpf_hhIqHzmOr8HmvZBQrly2HP36zUuDM/edit

[edenfalling]

That is an interesting theory! As you say, not one I really share, but definitely something to think about.