Apr 26, 2025
To:Orionless
It's funny because all three of these chapters featured last minute changes.
Abigail Kovacs specifically had a lot more varied endings (in one version, she dies after being heartbroken by the boy's death, resulting in her ideals being shattered and wishing she was with the Truman siblings. In the original vision, she goes off to hallucinated heaven lol).
I think the most defining change was Victor's ending, though. He was supposed to fall asleep feeling "saved", but I felt like something was wrong. And then I realized in that ending, Alice is basically being a complete saint without getting any rewards. So I did a 180 in his character and made him finally overcome his fears--not because he wasn't afraid anymore, but because there was something that mattered to him more than avoiding suffering/death. In my head, this revelation holds the three chapters together quite strongly. It was also probably the most emotionally charged, with Idealism II coming in as a second.
I think Atlas's chapter generally works because of the two chapters--it's an affirmation of Abigail's ideals (of pursuing the ideal, not achieving it), and it's also supposed by the fact that Victor ACTUALLY manages to change himself in the last minute. I think in my head, the story actually comes down to Victor's last minute actions. It's kind of implied (not too heavily) that Atlas wants everyone to try and "spiritually save themselves" by the end of their lives--ergo, die in a way that they are proud of. And it's also Abigail's conversation with Victor (on how death doesn't mean you can't be saved) that initially pushed him over the edge holding up the sky once more.
As for the Everharts, I think the main reason I held back on writing them for the finale is because I did want to leave it a bit ambiguous. They're regular people, unlike Victor and Abigail who basically had their destinies written out--their ends can sway towards Abigail's ending or Victor's ending. I also didn't want to give the Everharts a proper "good ending" because it would overlap with Victor's ending, but I obviously didn't want to give them a bad ending either LOL
But it was a bit strange to leave them out of the finale, so Atlas's chapter is also a way to wrap up the Everhart sibling's story indirectly. The god's existence itself is a testament to our Julian's character, while it's Mary Everhart's existence that has come to define Atlas's view on humanity (and of course, the god's existence is attributed to Mary. In a way, they were both born from Mary's decisions).
And I think the point of Mary isn't really about a triumphant victory, either. It's not that she's suddenly this person who really, really loves life. It's more like she has gained the quiet strength to live one day at a time without giving up on her life prematurely because she believes that things can get better.
Oh, and Atlas's original ending was supposed to begin with his death and be followed by a narrator's explanation of his motivations and etc, but I figured that would kill the vibe, haha. So you got this instead.
Anyway, thanks for coming this far. I'm truly thankful for your presence in this story.
and absolutely insane world-building
but it makes sense. Their entire living area seems to be bee themed. Kinda fitting, seeing that you posted this on HoneyFeed. And then he also has a humanoid form, which makes sense (if Yalda's uncle was a literal bee, I really wonder what her family tree would have looked like).
