Another for the no excuses writing meme b/c I really like your writing style :: BEFORE THE BEGINNING! ✨
oooh okay this is the question i’ve been WAITING FOR!!!
so if we were to look at the story’s overall plot arcs on a 1-10 scale, the written plot of where the cellar meets the sky actually begins about 4/10ths of the way through the impactful plot lines of the story.
by the time the first book begins, SO much backstory has happened and it takes pretty much the first two books for the backstory to be revealed, and then gradually more throughout the third and fourth book.
but WHILE the backstory is being revealed, the current plot arcs are happening!! so its very much a lot and i’m kind of struggling with that rn and thinking if i should put flashbacks in or just have it be revealed through text.
but anyways, the first book begins with Juniper returning to (the dimension i’m trying to rename) after being abandoned in the Nigh for a year. in the past year, Avery has joined the rebels and has been steadily making his way up in their ranks, and completely opposite, Isaac has joined the Authority and is their Main Scientist Dude who does the Evil Experiments
so they are my core three. Juniper, Isaac and Avery grew up together. June was born in the Nigh, with relations from both dimensions, while the other two are full blood (other dimension). Juniper is Avery’s cousin. they were all best friends growing up, Isaac is in love with Avery and pining and pining and its AAAAAA. and everything changes when June inadvertently is involved in Avery’s mother’s death.
so Octavia (avery’s mother) was also the only mother figure in June’s life, and this really tears Avery & Juniper apart. Isaac is mad because he didn’t know about the thing that caused the death. everything is shit AND THEN the Authority abducts Juniper.
now, Avery has known that the Authority is Big Bad for a long time, but June wouldn’t believe him and he couldn’t tell Isaac in a way that was safe. he knows they took her, and he goes to find out where. Isaac follows, its Big Bad, Avery knows where June is and has to choose which one of them to save, and he chooses June and promises to come back for Isaac. by that time it’s too late.
so turns out that whole thing was a plan the Authority created to break the three of them apart cause the Authority knew exactly how it would go down. they needed Isaac to hate Avery so they could use Isaac for their own purposes. and thats what they do. Isaac becomes the antagonist. or does he....?
that was more than three sentences but anyways! here’s a scene of right before Avery gets the call that June is missing and everything goes to shit 🥺😭
To meet Isaac’s eyes would be to break, and Avery will not. He looks around the room he knows as well as his own, eyes settling on a series of photos taped to the mirror. Avery and Isaac roasting marshmallows by a fire pit, a candid of a young Avery and Juniper arguing over something long forgotten, Isaac and Juniper with some of Avery’s mother’s instruments. And, always, the three of them, together.
”I thought I was your best friend,” Avery says, softly. “I mean. I know we’re all a package deal. But I thought…”
He trails off, and Isaac would suffer a thousand lifetimes of aching like this if Avery never had to feel it.
“Avery,” he says again. “God, Avery. Do you still not fucking get it?”
thanks for the ask this was fun 🥰
