My notes on Paula's Story

I didn't expect this story to be so long.

In the primary outlining and original drafting of Paula's story, I just had it be a story about her life adapting. That's all it was going to be. The story was meant to be short, like Michael's and Edith's, and an introduction to the "outside world."



I don't know what happened really. I remember talking about how difficult it was to pin down back in the beginning when I first started. This story kept going. I thought I would find an ending, and I actually wrote an ending several times. I had it ending with Brandon stepping up to take his rightful spot, which meant showing one of the rank fights. And also, all the side characters that we met (Angel, Kyrene, Maria, Mike- who we sort of met) were basically his posse, all leaders themselves.

But that ending didn't feel right. So I tested out continuing the story. And before long Alex wandered in there and asked to see Paula (because in my head they knew each other once- Alex is actually one very old character for me). What the hell do you tell a character who asks to meet another? "Hi, that's crazy. Thanks for making me insane."

Oddly, it worked out. I didn't plan that second part at all. After writing a lot, the plot became clear. And it's still not what I was intending. Mostly there, but with lots of room for improvement.


So, let's talk about clues, shall we?

First up, the most recent ones that I can remember.


Most everyone got distracted by Alex in this shot. I didn't want it to be too obvious, but I did want it to be there as an easter egg. Which was probably rather unfair of me since I didn't have many hidden easter egs this time around.


The other issue could also be that the picture was just too dark. On one computer monitor, I can't see them but one the two others I tried, I could see them. Jimmy and Kyrene are hanging out in the back, behind Paula and Alex.

There were other clues in that second part since they took off. First off, the distance covered. Alex had them nearly out of the city in a day while carrying her. That must have made me seem crazy. But I don't imagine Alex carried her. Kyrene probably did with her power.

All of Alex's suspicious behavior on the trip-- he knew Jimmy was right behind them. That's why he insisted that they leave the way they went in at the Labs and how he knew for sure that the Stranger wouldn't be getting back up again. Maybe that was a little dig even at Jimmy since Alex was already doing his dirty work dragging Paula off. He wasn't about to kill a man in front of her too so he left that for Jimmy and Kyrene.



Henri's power. He has a Fridge attached to a battery and electric lamps with no cords. Hints of his power. Paula has a memory of a man being electrified on the morning Henri gets up and makes bacon. Her mother also doesn't like bacon or cooked meats very much. As in-- at all. Maybe I'll get to that story someday as soon as I figure it out.


Jimmy's super side story and the tipping point. Jimmy is generally a quiet man, so he surprised me by speaking not once, but twice, to get his own posts. And in those posts, I found him watching Paula. Not just how Alex behaved around her, but he was watching her each time he encountered her in the second part. Possibly trying to decide if he could go through with it?

The tipping point happened to be the most confusing part. When he finds her in the old apartment. It is his old apartment, and her walking through it, violating his past that way is what causes the next part, where Alex appears at her door and puts her to sleep. Kudos to the people who got that intention from the muddled mess I made of it.

Jimmy has his own story somewhere in my head. He's a hard character to get to speak sometimes.




The Ending:

The ending kept shifting the closer I got to it. Every time I thought I nailed a piece down, the ending shifted.

At one point, the ending was going to be that Cheryl didn't make it. This was the original ending. I kept seeing Henri, Brandon, and Jimmy coming to tell Paula. The act of the three of them doing anything together would have been a sign. The truth is the three of them are always working together, but rarely seen in the same room working together. (Unless you count meal times where Brandon and Jimmy are passively working against Henri.)

I even wrote this scene out. Partially. It's in one of my notebooks. I don't think I ever typed it out. It seemed like the way to go. You know, you get a thought in your head and you think, "Well it can't end the other way, or that'll be too happy." So I was determined not to let Cheryl live.

But then one afternoon as I sat writing, Paula said, "This isn't supposed to happen. This isn't the way a story like mine is supposed to end." And I could feel the joy and grief behind the words. The strangest thing was seeing it taking place by Pat's house and with Jimmy in the background.

So Cheryl got spared, and I have yet to find out what she'll do in Wildlands. (Though can you imagine what she'll say if she ever meets Alex? I can already hear her in my head. "You let go of that?")



That ends Paula's story. No more crazy long stories I hope. I'd prefer to do them short and sweet! I'm intent on taking a month off, and then the first story I want to do will be a Rita story. That's the plan at least. See you here in a month! (Otherwise, I have a lot of reading to catch up on. So I'll be seeing you all at your blogs. *goes stalking*)


Edit to add: Oh, I did forget one thing, and while going through my files, I stumbled over it again.

Laura noticed this on Stephan's profile. Someone has a little crush. And just to add fuel to the Jimmy and Paula rumor:


The full picture.



Just a chance animation (as pretty much all the animations were in this shot except Jimmy and Paula's hug), but funny because it's something I somewhat see in my own head. I think Stephan might be a tiny bit jealous/worried. Read more!

Background

This story takes place in a world that is not Earth. I am going to explain the basic lay out of the world this story (and any possible future stories) takes place in, but I won't be able to explain everything. So please feel free to ask me anything.

I've never bounced this world off an audience before, so your questions are appreciated. They might help me define something that I haven't thought about before.

Note: Map is not neccessarily to scale

Neutral Territory

These are cities that are organized by an official government. This area is much more like a state than the other two areas.

They have a small army, specialized in neutralizing experiments. The buffer zone is their creation. It's meant to keep the people of the Wildlands out of the cities, but it seems to bring together more people than it keeps apart.

Called "Neutral" because they don't want to get involved. Their relationship with the neighboring Wildlands is a tenuous one.

Wildlands

The Wildlands are anarchy. Groups of prior experiments roam the land. Some take refuge in old buildings. A few are more well established like miniature kingdoms.

There are many different groups of people, and they all have different cultures of their own.

It is constant war. Territory lines often shift, except for a very few that are well established and have a strong culture.

The north is more sparse woodland that could possibly contain more dangers as there are more places to hide.


New! The Southlands are considered a part of the Wildlands and completely separate from the Lost Territory. Run by the Original Experiment who started the revolution, they have a large territory they protect and a very large village with plenty of resources. Due to their strong culture, complex organization and mandatory discipline, they are considered very dangerous.


Within the Wildlands are Farming and Manufacturing villages. These old cities are usually populated by the survivors of the revolution as they were the only ones who knew how to run the equipment. They are protected by a general agreement among all of those in the Wildlands that they are necessary and therefore sacred. Most villages are protected by the dominant group in their area, though the villages can change hands. And some more questionable groups have been known to attack or generally cause havoc.

Everyone is meant to be welcomed at the villages to trade for food and other supplies. Group leaders might meet at villages as a neutral ground where they can discuss alliances.

Lost Territory

Very questionable area where the worst of the worst congregate. Few buildings, and what is left is often rubble. Those who live here must strive to live. Some groups are rumored to be cannibals.

They are held back by the tribe of the Original Experiment. But that doesn’t mean some don’t slip through.

The Revolution

Before the Revolution, the Wildlands were a vast area of wilderness that the Neutral Territory cities used to use for industrial areas, farming, landfills, and other illicit activities (such as the labs which were set up in the Wildlands to experiment on human beings).

Neutrals, with their way of life rather comfortable, didn’t feel threatened by anything going on in the Wildlands area so it was easy to ignore any official support the labs were receiving from within their territory.

That was until the Revolution.

About 30 years before Michael and Edith’s experience in the labs, one experiment set off a revolution which moved through the Wildlands. Labs were destroyed as those formerly in control became the hunted and those who had been abused took power.

By the time Edy meets Michael in the labs, labs are outlawed on the Neutral Territory side. That doesn't stop some from experimenting or others from supporting it. Read more!