This is my first time doing this on Tumblr, but I wanted to give it a try, hehehe.
I have a question about your writing style: How do you create such a world of conspiracy and villains? Like, their names, backstories, etc.?
My other question is out of pure curiosity about your stories "tbycly" and "On the Head of a Pin." I love the relationships and dynamics between the characters you've created, but I'm wondering: How do you see the relationship between Hank and Gavin in your story? Is it tense because of something that happened between them in the past, or do they simply tolerate each other?
Hi!!!! Thank you so much for the ask
I... hmm. I'm really sorry sometimes stuff just comes to me. I don't really KNOW how it comes together but I'll have a go.
How do you create such a world of conspiracy and villains? Like, their names, backstories, etc.?
I first started with the villain's purpose. Not their goal/wants, but what I wanted them to do for the story.
For example, I KNEW Gavin was going to be the initial villain, but I wanted someone to overshadow him and become the main villain REALLY quick. From there, I went Ok, I need a guy who has a lot of power, in both a financial and over androids kind of way. So that meant a rich asshole kind of guy.
THEN from rich asshole, the name Sidney Estonfield and the backstory just appeared - stupid name, inherited money, owns a location that the characters can visit only in limited capacities. The Blue Leola Hotel was easy to turn into a dark, ominous place because the characters only see like 1/10th of it.
For later scenes, I wanted Estonfield to have a bodyguard. From Sidney Estonfield, I created Casper to be his opposite. Sidney wasn't strong physically, but he talked a lot and had a high social standing. Casper was physically strong but quiet. I wrote that androids didn't have much of a standing still in my universe, BUT I decided to isolate him further by having him be like. Dark and evil despite being deviant. He just kept evolving from there. Originally the name Casper was just a placeholder, but it got stuck.
More villains in the sequel, but since I am not very far into it, I want to keep those close to my chest. Hell, it's not even clear who the main villain is yet!! (I know who it is... but you guys don't).
I think that's as best as I can answer that question? Please let me know if there's more you're stuck on! :)
Your OTHER question.
How do you see the relationship between Hank and Gavin in your story? Is it tense because of something that happened between them in the past, or do they simply tolerate each other?
Ah. This is something that will have a bit more focus in On the Head of a Pin. I am having a bit of a struggle now, because I prefer to try to show not tell?
The way I see it - and a lot of this comes from listening to Neil Newbon talk about Gavin - Hank was at one point, a mentor to Gavin. It's why they almost default into that mode around each other, with Gavin still feeling a sense of pride whenever Hank agrees with him or praises him, and Hank intentionally giving him room to speak (to Fowler after the first visit to the hotel in tbycly, and when he tried to prompt Gavin to speak in front of Derwood in On the Head of a Pin).
I tried to highlight this with Connor noticing how well Gavin and Hank worked together, and feeling a little excluded in tbycly.
However, after Hank lost Cole and started to drink (and showing up to work DRUNK), Gavin lost a lot of respect for him. Watching a hero of sorts fall I guess? Even before I had ended up redeeming Gavin as much as I tried to, that was always the angle I was shooting for.
BUT. Hank with Connor in tow suddenly resembles the man he was all those years ago much more than he has in a while. So... yeah. Gavin and Hank COULD work well together, especially if Gavin isn't as much of a dickhead, and can find it in him to forgive Hank's drinking.
Now, the problem is. Can Hank forgive Gavin for all the shit he put Connor through in tbycly? It's not a linear process
I'm back with another post about the lighting/cinematography in On the Head of a Pin, ep. 4.16.
This episode never stops giving; It's the perfect episode.
Let's talk about this one scene of Cas while Cas and Dean sit in the hospital. Specifically everything Cas is going through this episode/scene.
He has been reprimanded for starting to feel. Admits it to his former fallen leader, finds out his friend has betrayed him and fellow angels. Has to ask Dean to torture, something he doesn't want to do.
Cas ends up choosing which side he's on in this episode. He teams up with Anna to kill a fellow angel. And he sits with Dean, unable to offer physical comfort by healing him, instead offering emotional comfort by talking to him.
When Dean asks him for the truth, they face each other. Cas is straight with him. His face it lit up entirely, no shadow. The truth is completely exposed just like all of Cas' and Dean's faces are.
We learn the whole truth, that not only did Dean begin it but he must end it.
When Dean asks for more clarification, Cas turns his head, putting his face in darkness. The light disappears as Cas' feelings grow. As he realizes he can't answer Dean, the darkness takes over both emotionally and physically.
He turns one more time — into the light — to give Dean an answer, even though that answer is "I don't know."
Dean then turns his head away from Cas for the first time, not just away from Cas but into the darkness, his self doubt. "I'm not strong enough, Cas."
Sometimes an episode of television is so perfectly named, where the plot is beautifully encapsulated in the most poetic and succinct way, and the mere mention of the name alone makes you feel a certain way.
