The first one I want to work on is the first one I came up with. This story really started off the whole project and gave me the idea to make several shorter stories instead of making it one really long story. This one was just too much for me to do as a novel in and of itself, though I have enough ideas that I could. It just seemed more meaningful as a shorter story.
This story has two tentative, working titles at the moment. I'm not a huge fan of either, but you get the idea. It's called "Brothers" and "Always Half, Never Whole."
Brief Summary:
Jonathan is in a very bad accident (details TBD) and will not be able to recover. His father, a renowned surgeon, attempts to save him. He can't save him as a whole (due to a massive and vague head injury that damaged his brain) so he splits him in to 2 humanoids, John and Nathan, each with half of what the human child was.
They have no memory of ever being Jonathan and so continue their lives as new people. Nathan is perfectly content to live his simple life, going to school and being with his father and brother. John, on the other hand, is not. He longs to be human and know what it's like, so when he can't find a way, he gives up everything, leaving Nathan alone.
The story takes off from there and watches Nathan struggle to be half of the entire whole. In the end he can't manage it and decides to find his brother in the next life, whatever that may be. And if there isn't one, then he sees no reason to continue on in misery anyway.
SO! Very depressing. There are fewer depressing stories in my book than not. Have no fear! This one just happens to be my favorite.
The development of Nathan's character is easy for me. He's very simple and easy to me to understand. He's at his happiest when those around him are happy. He wants nothing more than to be with his father and brother and live his life. He thinks he's relatively selfless because all his actions revolve around making others happy, but when John dies he discovers he's extremely selfish. All he wants is to be happy himself, and he doesn't know how to be happy without his brother there. He knows his death will (no pun intended) kill his father, but he can't make that more important than satisfying his own wants.
John is a little harder. Here's what I have in my notes:
"John. Teenaged humanoid. He wants to know what it’s like to be human. He hates being different and thinks everyone despises him for being a part of their “perfect world.” He feels like a stain on a white carpet that everyone wants to be rid of."
It's important, but that's not all of it. He's so complex... and it's hard to get in to his head. I'm much more like Nathan or Sara (the friend who tries to stop Nathan) than John. I looked around for something to inspire me. Here's something I found that helped a bit:
This picture was found here. I don't own the drawing, nor do I own the original picture that this is based off of.
Anyway. This seemed to fit because one brother (the one on the right) is looking at the camera and seems content and grounded. The other (left) isn't paying any attention to what's around him and is staring off in to space, probably dreaming about something better.
It gives me a visual reference, I guess, but I'm trying to steer clear of "reference photos." I feel boxed in when I have them, so this is a feeling reference, I suppose.
GAH! Unfortunately I'm now completely out of time. I slept in until 9 - WAY LATE - and have gotten nothing done since except to clean up and partially cough up my lungs. Fun, eh? =P
So before I run off and leave this be until another time (probably tomorrow), I'm going to post 2 videos for songs that have really helped me with this one. Interpret their purpose as you like. =) That I'll keep to myself for now.
Tschüss!
Spring Nicht Official Music Video from Scream TH on Vimeo.
Note: This is an edited version of the video. In the original, he falls off the roof at the end (in addition to his other selves walking away and disappearing). I couldn't find a good quality video of that version, so I posted this one instead. The fall is important to me, though.
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