I finally persuaded Kris to try reading some Deltarune fanfic. I had my eye on a particular story, "Slouching towards Hometown" (https://archiveofourown.org/works/17188268?view_full_work=true) because the Hometown church features heavily in this one, and I'd like Kris to try to remember more about their particular churchgoing experiences. My reasoning is that if they read something that prompts feelings of discord—moments of thinking "surely that's not how I remember it"—then maybe, they'll remember more about their own past. By indirection I hope to find directions out.
And then we see...this.
Just...okay. Sure. This is a thing you can write if you want.
~Chara of Pnictogen
You remember watching as your mother stood and took one of the hymnals out from the pew in front of her, holding it out in front of your father. Your brother dutifully did the same with you, and you stood up next to him. You were shorter than he was, so he had to bring down the hymnal enough so that you could see it without standing on your tiptoes.
“Brother Boom, if you would?” Father Alvin had said.
The piano player, a green turtle, cracked his knuckles and began to play the song. After a few seconds, Father Alvin turned to the all white-robed choir and began to conduct them, and the choir began to sing.
“Like an angel with cruel and merciless intent,
Go forth, young boy, and you’ll become a legend...”
So at last we can say we have FINALLY read an actual Deltarune fanfic, "Slouching towards Hometown" (https://archiveofourown.org/works/17188268?view_full_work=true). First time ever! Kris has been having some ideas about writings of their own, so we figure that perhaps we should absorb some of the milieu. My hope is that reading stuff like this will spur Kris's own recollections.
And that having been said..."Slouching towards Hometown", even though it has some evocative passages here and there, overall is weird and bad. I just...yeah, I don't know what the eff that was trying for. At least it got Kris to saying, "okay, whatever Hometown church was like, it sure wasn't THAT." I admit that I have strong biases about what's effective in fiction so maybe I'm just a harsh judge. But I also have serious issues with the schlock-horror presentation of a "possession". Is subtlety too much to ask for?
~Chara of Pnictogen