Between2Worlds [Story] 06/04
https://i.ibb.co/xYcr7Zv/B2-WPart2-Banner.jpg Prologue here. Prologue here.
Forum Discussion
I am going to do my best to answer everything. It’s been a while since I read some of the chapters, and I tried to skim over chapters as best as I could to answer these questions. I have a really terrible memory for specific details and I’m one of those people that takes away a big picture and feeling from a story, more than details. So, take my answers with a grain of salt. Anyway, I will try to get through the rest of the questions throughout the week. I'm kind of slow in answering these.
Story
Story
Spoiler
What did you think about the comic strip ch. 6.4? Did it adequately summarise Curtis's role? Were there any plot holes? Any thoughts on its delivery?
I don’t read a lot of comics, but I thought it was easy to follow. I might have had to read a few thought bubbles over, but overall, I think it was easy to follow. I did have to go back because I didn’t realize there were multiple pages, lol. That was my bad. I thought it was excellently done, I loved the insight into Curtis’s involvement in the criminal underworld. The poses were great and conveyed the scene very well.
- What do you think of Athena and Curtis's Not-date scene at the promenade?
I thought it was a nice lighter chapter. If I remember correctly, it was the first time that Athena and Curtis shared a sort of romantic connection with one another and I thought it was a nice change from all the hardship they were facing.
- What do you think of the progression of Athena and Curtis’s relationship from strangers to lovers?
- Did it flow realistically? Did any parts feel forced or too fast?
- Their romance was never intended to be ‘pure’, even if it started out that way. Did you catch it as a reader? Did you realise at any point a shift beginning to happen? Where? Did you catch yourself responding to it?
I got the feeling from the very beginning that they were going to be lovers, so I expected it. I think Athena is very naïve about the whole relationship though. Like she wants to ‘save’ Curtis or change him. And Curtis is set in his ways and secretive.
I do think the scene after Athena almost dying in the graveyard showed a shift in Curtis’s personality. He became a little pushy, and this caused Athena to have a flashback to the Mercy chapter. I don’t think he intended this at all. He wasn’t doing it in a malicious way, but he was being a little overbearing. I think both characters are young and inexperienced and are testing the waters in this relationship. Also, they’ve had a lot bad stuff happen that is really testing their limits. Also, he was a little pushy at the end and kind of took advantage of Athena when she was intoxicated.
- How would you describe their romance/relationship?
I’d also call it a teenage love story (they are teenagers after all, lol) with two people that come from very different backgrounds. I think Athena puts a little too much stock in the power of love and maybe doesn’t have a clear vision on how to achieve that goal. They are both very young, and I think this is portrayed really well and explains a lot of why they do the things they do.
- Grim's explanation of the cycle of life/death: Do you have any pressing questions? What else would you have liked to know?
I actually don’t remember what he said, and now I am going to have to go back and read that chapter.
- What do you think of Curtis's neighborhood shown from Athena's perspective? Was it believable? Did it make you respond in any way? (thoughts or feelings) Was it effective in its delivery of mood/message/setting? Did it make what comes after (Mercy) believable/possible?
I think it was well done. I think it was a major shock to her to see what was happening, and I think this was conveyed well through the pictures and writing. And also, her innocence is being taken away, in more ways than one.
- What is your view on ‘Mercy’ chapters (Assault)? Were they handled appropriately? Can they be handled better? Did they deter you from reading further? Did they change your impression of the story? Were you expecting them?
I did see the transition, so I expected something bad to happen. I think they were handled appropriately, and you gave a content warning.
- What is your view on ‘Memories’ chapter (Curtis)? Were they handled appropriately? Were they portrayed realistically? Were they and the characters portrayed believable? Were the scenes portrayed, haunting enough for Curtis to revolve his entire life around revenge and locking Scorcher away?
I think this was portrayed realistically. His mother figure was continually abused and then killed by Scorcher, and I think that would be enough motivation for Curtis.
- There is a darkness that looms over chapters 14.4, 16.4 and 16.5. Was the mood obvious to you or too subtle? Did it affect these chapters and your desire to read them?
I think it was obvious, especially in 16.5. That’s where I got a little confused with the poem, because I interpreted the darker themes, and saw a lot about death and betrayal. So yes, I definitely picked up on the darkness.
What do you think of Avery's revelation/Athena losing her memory in Chapters 15.1 - 15.4. How was the pacing? Did it feel realistic? Did any feel forced? What do you think of Avery's backstory? Was it believable that Athena didn't realise what she was doing?
I enjoyed this revelation, but it also opened up some new questions and now I really want to know who the hooded figure was. I thought it felt realistic as it could, being that magic was involved. Yes, I think Avery wanted to hide that from Athena to protect her.
- What do you think of the NSFW poem chapter? Was the poem hard to decipher? Did the pictures make the process tougher? Was it a cringe chapter?
I admit, I am not the best at deciphering poems. I usually can see a whole bunch of possible meanings to something, but what the author wants to convey might not be in my interpretation. I constantly have to look up song lyrics, because I’m like, what does this song actually mean, instead of what I think it means. I think I talked about that in my comments, and your description of what was going on helped me understand it. I didn’t think it was cringey, and I liked the darkness to it.
Did all of these scenarios make sense to you? Were they believable?
- Curtis kept in the dark about his identity
Yes, it was used as a way to manipulate him, so it made sense.
- Curtis having his own home
I’m guessing he makes pretty good money from working with Masato, so he could afford his own place.
- Curtis being able to survive despite his lifestyle at such a young age
I think it makes sense because Masato and Kirino took him under their wing.
- Curtis’s complete out of character aggression, manipulation and exploitation of Athena at Trevor’s house
Yes, I think it makes sense. Curtis just had a confrontation and almost died, with Scorcher, so he’s probably pretty shaken up and emotional. Plus, he walks in and finds Athena with another guy and she doesn’t remember Curtis, so I think it makes a lot of sense. He is taking his claim over Athena.
- Athena’s complete out of character aggression, loosened and unhinged behavior at Trevor’s house
Yes. She was upset about her mother hiding things from her, and I think she’s a teenager and she gave into peer pressure. Plus, Trevor was taking advantage of this.
- Trevor’s fixation on Athena
He seems like the type of guy that likes a challenge, and Athena is just that. So I definitly see this. Plus, some random guy just walked into his house all bruised up and is trying to get with Athena, so I think it explains his fixation on the situation as a whole.
I don’t read a lot of comics, but I thought it was easy to follow. I might have had to read a few thought bubbles over, but overall, I think it was easy to follow. I did have to go back because I didn’t realize there were multiple pages, lol. That was my bad. I thought it was excellently done, I loved the insight into Curtis’s involvement in the criminal underworld. The poses were great and conveyed the scene very well.
- What do you think of Athena and Curtis's Not-date scene at the promenade?
I thought it was a nice lighter chapter. If I remember correctly, it was the first time that Athena and Curtis shared a sort of romantic connection with one another and I thought it was a nice change from all the hardship they were facing.
- What do you think of the progression of Athena and Curtis’s relationship from strangers to lovers?
- Did it flow realistically? Did any parts feel forced or too fast?
- Their romance was never intended to be ‘pure’, even if it started out that way. Did you catch it as a reader? Did you realise at any point a shift beginning to happen? Where? Did you catch yourself responding to it?
I got the feeling from the very beginning that they were going to be lovers, so I expected it. I think Athena is very naïve about the whole relationship though. Like she wants to ‘save’ Curtis or change him. And Curtis is set in his ways and secretive.
I do think the scene after Athena almost dying in the graveyard showed a shift in Curtis’s personality. He became a little pushy, and this caused Athena to have a flashback to the Mercy chapter. I don’t think he intended this at all. He wasn’t doing it in a malicious way, but he was being a little overbearing. I think both characters are young and inexperienced and are testing the waters in this relationship. Also, they’ve had a lot bad stuff happen that is really testing their limits. Also, he was a little pushy at the end and kind of took advantage of Athena when she was intoxicated.
- How would you describe their romance/relationship?
I’d also call it a teenage love story (they are teenagers after all, lol) with two people that come from very different backgrounds. I think Athena puts a little too much stock in the power of love and maybe doesn’t have a clear vision on how to achieve that goal. They are both very young, and I think this is portrayed really well and explains a lot of why they do the things they do.
- Grim's explanation of the cycle of life/death: Do you have any pressing questions? What else would you have liked to know?
I actually don’t remember what he said, and now I am going to have to go back and read that chapter.
- What do you think of Curtis's neighborhood shown from Athena's perspective? Was it believable? Did it make you respond in any way? (thoughts or feelings) Was it effective in its delivery of mood/message/setting? Did it make what comes after (Mercy) believable/possible?
I think it was well done. I think it was a major shock to her to see what was happening, and I think this was conveyed well through the pictures and writing. And also, her innocence is being taken away, in more ways than one.
- What is your view on ‘Mercy’ chapters (Assault)? Were they handled appropriately? Can they be handled better? Did they deter you from reading further? Did they change your impression of the story? Were you expecting them?
I did see the transition, so I expected something bad to happen. I think they were handled appropriately, and you gave a content warning.
- What is your view on ‘Memories’ chapter (Curtis)? Were they handled appropriately? Were they portrayed realistically? Were they and the characters portrayed believable? Were the scenes portrayed, haunting enough for Curtis to revolve his entire life around revenge and locking Scorcher away?
I think this was portrayed realistically. His mother figure was continually abused and then killed by Scorcher, and I think that would be enough motivation for Curtis.
- There is a darkness that looms over chapters 14.4, 16.4 and 16.5. Was the mood obvious to you or too subtle? Did it affect these chapters and your desire to read them?
I think it was obvious, especially in 16.5. That’s where I got a little confused with the poem, because I interpreted the darker themes, and saw a lot about death and betrayal. So yes, I definitely picked up on the darkness.
What do you think of Avery's revelation/Athena losing her memory in Chapters 15.1 - 15.4. How was the pacing? Did it feel realistic? Did any feel forced? What do you think of Avery's backstory? Was it believable that Athena didn't realise what she was doing?
I enjoyed this revelation, but it also opened up some new questions and now I really want to know who the hooded figure was. I thought it felt realistic as it could, being that magic was involved. Yes, I think Avery wanted to hide that from Athena to protect her.
- What do you think of the NSFW poem chapter? Was the poem hard to decipher? Did the pictures make the process tougher? Was it a cringe chapter?
I admit, I am not the best at deciphering poems. I usually can see a whole bunch of possible meanings to something, but what the author wants to convey might not be in my interpretation. I constantly have to look up song lyrics, because I’m like, what does this song actually mean, instead of what I think it means. I think I talked about that in my comments, and your description of what was going on helped me understand it. I didn’t think it was cringey, and I liked the darkness to it.
Did all of these scenarios make sense to you? Were they believable?
- Curtis kept in the dark about his identity
Yes, it was used as a way to manipulate him, so it made sense.
- Curtis having his own home
I’m guessing he makes pretty good money from working with Masato, so he could afford his own place.
- Curtis being able to survive despite his lifestyle at such a young age
I think it makes sense because Masato and Kirino took him under their wing.
- Curtis’s complete out of character aggression, manipulation and exploitation of Athena at Trevor’s house
Yes, I think it makes sense. Curtis just had a confrontation and almost died, with Scorcher, so he’s probably pretty shaken up and emotional. Plus, he walks in and finds Athena with another guy and she doesn’t remember Curtis, so I think it makes a lot of sense. He is taking his claim over Athena.
- Athena’s complete out of character aggression, loosened and unhinged behavior at Trevor’s house
Yes. She was upset about her mother hiding things from her, and I think she’s a teenager and she gave into peer pressure. Plus, Trevor was taking advantage of this.
- Trevor’s fixation on Athena
He seems like the type of guy that likes a challenge, and Athena is just that. So I definitly see this. Plus, some random guy just walked into his house all bruised up and is trying to get with Athena, so I think it explains his fixation on the situation as a whole.
