[Report This]Date: July 30 2013 1:42 PM Title: Concerns from an Earthy
Hmm, I don't know so much about this chapter, Kevin. I'd have to agree sith sketch about her justifying her mass abduction 'we didn't mind when the Germans did it'. It's not right. People DID mind, not only the victims. And you see, the Germans had a reason to do what they did. It may not seem right in others' eyes, but they had a reason. From what I've seen, there really is no reason for Avakon to do something like this. Anyway, aside from that, the rest of the chapter was quite alright.
Author's Response:
Well, while we could debate this for days, many people note that there was a severe lack of action to stop the Holocaust. For example...
http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/classes/33d/projects/usholo/USHoloMainPage.htm
Arell has her own views, however problematic they may seem to others. As for Avakon not having a reason, they do have one, and Arell was honest about it. Again, there have been subtle hints as to what is happening with Arell...
Everything will make sense in due time. :)
[Report This]Date: July 30 2013 12:56 PM Title: Concerns from an Earthy
I think even a kind-hearted being would snap and not care so much anymore after spending thousands of years witnessing the history repeating itself over and over, the only thing changing is the ammount of power and weaponry.
I believe watching so many horrible things happening along the years certainly would change the way she see humans as a whole. The problem, I believe, is that humans as a whole isn't a very pretty thing to watch... Well, sometimes just by watching some news I already snap and think about how cruel and horrible humans can be, can't help but to make me see 'them' as animals indeed and hate 'them' so badly. But I forget I'm also one of 'them'. From what I could see, maybe it was the only way Arell followed us since the beginning. As she decided to have Bradley for herself and get intimated with him to see how it is to follow a single entity, instead of the whole, maybe it's a good time to learn new things, good things hopefully.
I can't help but also wonder how much time of her life she spends watching over Earth all alone and living back at her home planet. Maybe it's quick for her to travel in space. Hope it is, otherwise all this time alone wouldn't be so healthy for her mind.
Well, currently, I have a mix of love and hate for her. Hah I don't know if I should be or continue caring about her or not.
Date: July 30 2013 10:16 AM Title: Concerns from an Earthy
So I've started reading, rather skimming the first few chapters of your story and am starting to get into it. But "gentle psychopath" stories are always weird for me to read. I enjoy the tenderness they show the main character, while having trouble reconciling the casual cruelty they show elsewhere. I find myself reading such stories hoping to either see a change of heart or a satisfying smack down. (In one case, I had a story crossed the line too far that I stopped liking the gts at all, even as the story went the former route of redemption.)
Arell seems to have a lot of potential. I get a sort of "doing this for your own good" vibe to her actions, and so far has kept her word of not harming Earthies if it can be avoided. However earlier she kills a couple in front of Bradley seemingly just for her own amusement. Unless I misread that part, that seems to go against the personality and personal motives that are being established now. I'm also not getting the "Germans" defense of her actions, seem pretty weak reasoning.
If you're up for writing and justifying the dichotomy well, I'll go back and reread everything more carefully, because it seems like I could enjoy this story. If however, this story is just going to revel in the sadistic, please warn me away now.
Author's Response:
Hey Sketch! Glad to see you interested!
You're very much right about the contradictory aspect of Arell's personality, how, at one point, she exhibits a "doing this for you own good" trait, at other times she kils some of them without batting an eye. This is also seen in the fact that she is sometimes nice to Bradley, but in other instances torments him by squeezing him and throwing him around like a doll. All I can say is that Arell is a complicated character, but the reason for this shall be made clear in time. There have already been some subtle hints as to why she behaves so oddly. ;)