So I read The Wolf Time a long awhile ago, before I took my little break from these forums. I've been catching up on what I missed, and since I didn't remember the ending, I decided to check it out again. Reread the whole thing, then moved onto The Moon's Fall here.
I wasn't going to comment, since it had been quiescent for so long, but heck, I needed reminders that SV doesn't have a rule against necromancy anyway. Though a link to the prior thread at the top of the opening post might be best /shrug
Now none of that changes or invalidates your feelings, but it does leave me wondering what the hell I could have done differently. Other than revenge porn content I really don't know how to satisfy this urge for punishment.
I can only speak for myself, but a lot of what you detailed about why Taylor's life had improved? It did make me feel better about her situation. Things are looking very positive for Taylor in the ways you mentioned, and I really was happy for her.
Then I read the Endbringer prep scene.
Man, if you didn't want to enforce the impression that Taylor's life still sucked, that scene should have been done radically differently.
The best interpretation I could get from that point is that Taylor's life is great...as long as she never leaves her home. Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing home! But if that's the only place you can go without being treated like a leper (edit: while showing up to risk your life fighting a common enemy)...then it's understandable for people to feel like her life is still suffering.
Legend was mad because of learning about Cauldron shortly before that fight.
Right, so there can always be other reasons for why things are the way they are--I thought the bit about 'reliable intel' was a solid hint, albeit markedly later--but it absolutely didn't help that scene. To be honest, it made it much worse. That even someone who
knew she was innocent of her charges was treating her like that was a kick in the face. This part in particular:
Taylor knew enough, "She hurt people and acted like them being criminals made it okay to maim them. Then when she got in the shit she played the only card she had to get away with it."
He nodded, still calm, unaffected by her rage simmering inches away from him, or Rachel looming at her shoulder. "Now are we talking about Shadow Stalker? Or about Glory Girl? Or perhaps Runt?"
The words hit like a slap to the face, and all she could get out through her anger was an inarticulate gasp. Legend didn't wait for her to find her equilibrium.
"I'm sure the differences seem very self-evident from where you stand." He took a step back, turning the gap between them into something vast and yawning, "From over here you all seem much the same. Damaged and in need of help, but it's only our Ward who has gone looking for that help.
I don't know how people reacted in the posts of the original thread--actually, I'll go check that.
Okay, so I definitely wasn't alone in being startled by their reception, both in general and Legend's reaction in particular.
Damn, I vastly underestimated how much people hated the Underdogs.
This was pretty bad, but Legend definitely sealed the deal.
Also choosing probation and hiding bad behaviour over going to juvie is not seeking help ya kook.
I want to know what Legend thinks Taylor should have done instead, and if "what Legend thinks Taylor should have done instead" involves surrendering to the PRT/Protectorate then it does not appear to be based on her actual situation.
These basically sum it up.
And sure, maybe it was just to try to hint that there was stuff going on in the background...but it absolutely hammered the "Taylor is suffering" button for me.
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Madison Quibbles: Theo was thought to be Madison's boyfriend, and her home life always sucked, apparently; participating in the attempted murder of the protagonist just gave her an avenue (via her powers) to try to get out of it. She's even formed a little Rogue's group with Parian. That sounds like a net positive, from what little we know.
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I want to make it clear that I'm not trying to attack you with this--it sounded like you were confused by some of your audience's reactions, so I'm posting (what I think is) constructive criticism or the like, to hopefully help you understand, which can then be applied to future writing.
I hope that this helped, at least a little.
I'd like to ask people for their most brutal and honest opinions of the Lost arc.
I thought it was a good arc; I didn't think of it as filler at all, reading through it.
I agreed with the generally positive posts about it.
Not until it's dead for certain. When/if that time comes, I'll dump my outline into the threads for the story.
So...is it still not dead for certain?
