So a few of you lovely readers have come to me with some questions about “what happens next?” or “you know that thing you mentioned in the story, what happened there?” regarding The Forbidden Fame and I have happily answered. I sent them direct responses, but I thought I’d also mention those answers here.
So if you’ve read the story and have a few queries or would just like to hear my thoughts on the “post-story” world. You can click below the cut, but if you haven’t read the novel, please beware: there be spoilers ahead!
Q1. What about Kyr's rock?? Did he figure it out just like Evander figured out the tablet and also not say anything? I can't imagine he just forgot about it.
I actually had intended to write a scene about this in the story but it never managed to happen. The original plan was for Kyr to be in Evander’s room, to see the tablet and go "oh! you completed it!? Why didn't you ask for the deal?" and this scene fluctuated depending on where it was in the story (prior to the confession or post-confession), but it quickly ended up being more likely after they spent their first night together. They would then they tease each other about it.
I... honestly can't remember if I had planned to have Kyr work out the truth behind the rock or not (I think I intended for Kyr to have grown fascinated with other items and without Evander asking about it or mentioning the tablet, he didn't say anything either. Likely not wanting to bring it up if Evander had forgotten about it in the years that passed). But either way, I was going to have Evander win the bet and ~claim his prize :)
Q2. How do the ismach as a whole take the reveal of the romantic relationship between the chosen Kon and the interloper? How, if at all, does that change his chances of being accepted/voted for or whatever?
I personally believe that considering Kyr got the support of most, if not all, of the Elds and Kón’s, that his acceptance would slowly flow down into the rest of the people. There would certainly be some ísmachs who didn't like the idea of Kyr in general, let alone him being with the future Orandi but I think Aapeli, Janaya and the other supporters of Kyr would all come together to help. They would all travel with him to the villages and meet the people. They would see how he is so unlike what most ísmachs believe a firmach is meant to be.
I also think Evander and Kyr would go out of their way to find information on the original feud and spread the truth of what happened so long ago. They would dispel the rumors and Evander would make it his duty to show his people why peace is better than hate.
The fact that the ísmachs are not generally considered hostile or fighters by nature, I think would only be a benefit. While it wouldn't happen overnight (and some people wouldn't do more than ever tolerate Kyr) for the most part, the people who see him often, meet him, and hear him flail with glee over their culture would grow to adore him.
They would likely still accept Evander as their chosen Orandi regardless of his... taste in lovers. The people who didn't wouldn’t be able to fight it since Kyr would not be doing anything to threaten their world. Mostly though, I think the ísmachs would accept it. It would be the firmachs of Hial that would be much more difficult to win over...
Q3. How is their relationship going to fair with Kyr constantly coming and going? How do they work out the kinks that are going to come up? Do they have a plan, or are they just gonna wing it and hope it works out all okay? How is it going to play out differently from the last time Kyr was in this situation? Was it that he only tried to stay put then and never travel for intervals which was the problem before? How much of a difference will that change make, that he'll still travel this time? How will they find a balance between staying and bouncing around? What if Evander falls in love with traveling and it becomes a concern to the Kons, that he won't be around 24/7 like the Orandi always has been?
I think Kyr would be happy to stay on Ma'toire for a few months, even a year to just learn the planet and be with Evander. But you're right, the itch to travel would crawl under his skin. But as you said, the last time that he stayed with someone probably felt more like he was forced to in order to save the relationship. Evander however, isn't going to do that. He's going to be sad nervous and worried about Kyr going off and travelling, but he's not going to stop him.
My guess is Kyr does leave, does travel but he finds that he misses Evander too much and so he cuts his trip short and comes back. Evander would be surprised but over the moon and greet him with a tight hug and a hard kiss. I would say Kyr admits the truth when they're curled up in bed together that he missed Evander and couldn’t stay away. He still wants to travel but, damn it, he doesn't want to leave Evander behind either.
I would suspect that Janaya makes the suggestion that she stays Orandi a little bit longer and Kyr and Evander can go and do some travelling. That it would be good for a future leader to have ties with many other worlds. It would also give the ísmachs a chance broaden their horizons and get in touch with other planets. Evander and Kyr would likely do some diplomatic ventures over the coming years. And I bet it takes a decade or so to get the hang of it, but Evander does travel with Kyr quite a bit (and a small legion of ísmachs) and Kyr becomes an unofficial (until it becomes official) ambassador for Ma'torie.
Kyr knows people all over the universe and has a good reputation and Ma'toire likely has some great things to trade with. This way Evander does a lot of work on his own planet and then with Kyr in the universe. But eventually, when Evander becomes Orandi his travelling ability is limited, but by that point, Kyr is so in love with Evander and his new home that he's more likely to stay home on Ma'toire and only travel for diplomatic reasons and to some of his favourite places.
The big thing, I think is for Kyr to not feel like he’s trapped on the planet, combined with the fact that unlike with his past lover, he’s more matured and willing to settle with someone who never told him he had to, just that they would like him to stay for a while.
Q4. Do they ever find out what the initial conflict between their people was? There's such a focus on stories and discovery of information, I kind of felt like someone somewhere in the universe would eventually have something to say on the matter. With it being the core antagonist, I was kinda hoping for more light to be shed on the subject eventually?
I actually didn't focus a lot on the conflict because a) sometimes there isn't always an answer and information gets lost in time and history. And I wanted there to be an element of that here as well as a level of how it didn't matter that much to ever know, because all that mattered was each other.
I would say that initially the conflict likely had a lot to do with firmachs and ísmachs splitting apart and fighting over territories as well as trying to determine who had the most power. It probably got to such a destructive point that the humachs got involved. When there was too much damage than good happening, I’m guessing a few firmachs and ísmachs convinced their races to retreat back to the worlds that they had found and now called home. Likely to plot revenge but mostly so they could regroup - but it never actually amounted to anything.
So they mostly just told rage filled tales that grew and multiplied over the years and like all bad, racist habits that without broadening horizons or seeing/exploring different worlds, there was no way to see why it was wrong and why the feud shouldn’t exist anymore.
Q5. How big or small is the universe that Kyr has been 'basically everywhere'? Or was that just him exaggerating? Cause if he really has, could that ever change how much he wants to travel?
It honestly could go either way. He probably hasn't been "everywhere" but he might have been to all the main places on his bucket-list so while there is still more out there and he likely would have kept exploring before he met Evander, when he did meet him Kyr found something more important and a home. Hell, he found a reason to have a home again. So yes, that was probably a large part of why he stays on Ma'toire rather than looking for "the next best thing" when he's pretty damn sure he found it in his new boyfriend.
Q6. Will there be more Kyr and Evander!? I want to know what happens next! Ok, ok... It's pretty obvious what happens next ;) but what about after that?
I'm... undecided about if there would be anymore of Kyr and Evander. Maybe not in a book, but in short stories or drabbles on tumblr? Highly possible. I did vaguely consider them taking a trip to Hial. But, again, no definite plans.
Q7. I was also curious if Kyr figured out the significance of the ice shades?
I believe it doesn't take long for Kyr to find out about the Ice Shades, maybe a few days after they ~get together. I doubt Aapeli would tell him, but I bet he might hear others talking about it and/or some of the other Kón's asking if he's been there and cooing about it and "the first time I took my lover there..." and then Kyr kind of smiling a little softly. I bet he'd ask to go back there and see it again, to go there on an actual date with Evander where they hold hands and kiss and Evander smiles shyly the whole time.
Q8. I get the impression that Kyr is different than the majority of his people. He seems to be open minded... Is this one reason why he and Evander work?
You're absolutely right! Kyr was always different in the sense he was curious and desperate to see more of the universe and then the more he traveled the more he was forced to strip his ignorance and naivety as well as his preconceptions.
Kyr, upon travelling, realised a lot of things he knew and believed were wrong. And since he was always looking for a change from where he grew up, it was easy for him to accept that and become even more open-minded about everything and everyone.
The other firmachs though? Yeah, not so much. They are, in general, very passionate, volatile and easy to erupt. That makes them more likely to hold onto grudges and distrust things new to them. If Ma’toire's people are open, Hial's people are the opposite: closed-off and more inclined to react violently to any kind of change.
Annnnnd that’s it! I hope you liked the answers, and if you have any more questions, feel free to drop me an ask :)
I remember your ask shizuo blog so when I saw the raccoon girl art, the post blazed and the amount of notes I grinned because you deserve ‘em and I’m happy for you.
aw thank you! I am still a big durarara fan, i actually drew some shizuo art pretty recently that i should definitely post.
I'm still pretty small in terms of readership but tumblr has definitely been really lovely to me with nice comments and people sharing the post <3
Trying to get people to try out the comic is the hardest part of making the comic haha but I've never had someone say they hated it so far so I like to think I'm doing something right :]
