SYNECDOCHE MEW YORK

watch out. this one turns you transgender

im sold on just the title pun/concept alone

@galat that's the idea >:)

Not really into fanfic that much but I HAVE to read this because of the title. One of my favorite movies of all time I hope this is emotionally debilitating

-last words before checking this out, getting sucked in, reading the whole thing, being thoroughly amazed by it, then returning and realizing I left this reply open.

Oh my god. I said I wasn't really into fanfic, but this really cemented in my mind the incredible potential it has as a medium. All of the characters have such refreshingly three-dimensional, interesting roles in the story (I LOVELOVELOVE Rose in particular, and the specific kind of Guy Dirk is portrayed as is absolutely hilarious especially within the context of the fandom). There are so many moments, so many concepts that weave into each other extremely well; I must say this really changed me in some way. I also want mention how many incredibly funny moments there are: The deep, heavy, emotional tone provides a context that makes the funny moments absolutely hilarious (the FL Studio joke, "mea tulpa," and the climactic omelette joke particularly obliterated me) in a way that transcends the humor of Homestuck.

Really powerful. Really good. There are a few great darkly humorous allusions/bits that I won't mention because they might not be intentional and are just me reading too deep into it, which really is a testament to how genius the writing is. I want to say more but I don't really know what else to say! The fragmentation of identity! The reinterpretation and reincorporation of Homestuck's supernatural mechanics to provide a natural narrative vehicle for the themes! The narrator!!!!!!!! I cried a little bit! The sudden yet clever film references! It's just amazing! Thank you.

@fireballme

you are MUCH too kind, this is everything i could hope to hear and more. i'm so so so glad you got so much out of it. i'd love to hear about those allusions you saw-- intentional or not, they're bound to be interesting! also, if you enjoyed all of this i'd suggest checking out the list of films i suggest at the end of the fic... they're only variably relevant to the fanfiction itself but thematically speaking i'd say they're very important. thank you again for replying, this means so much!!!

@visualgirladvance

A lot happened in the past two hours after I read this (turns out I wasn't fully done processing the emotional impact of this story, and had a bit of a breakdown/identity crisis!!!!! Which is a positive reflection on the work), so I can't remember many of the ideas I had, but one was how Roxy remarks relief at the fact that Liz didn't pick the name Ruby, which is funny given the fact that Ruby is a (fairly popular ?) Rose/Dave fankid and the whole situation with Rose's role in Liz's identity in the story. Another is the "dead man walking" line at the end of Ch 8 paralleling the "Caden Cotard is a man already dead" from SNY, although that one's a little less out there. And Dirk's behavior in this may or may not be a jab at, well, certain people who like Dirk a lot.

I'll definitely check out those films; Mirror has already been on my list and the rest seem awesome as well.

I can't stress how embarrassing it is to say that a Homestuck fanfiction led to a pivotally tragic moment in understanding my own identity, but it is true. Thank you for creating this and really being genuine about it, it's definitely had an impact on me. <3

@fireballme

(very sorry to hear about/you're welcome for) the breakdown/identity crisis... hope you're doing a bit better now! wrt your observations:

-hadn't heard about the ruby thing, though you've certainly caught onto some of the relationship dynamic angles i was highlighting with those two

-i was VERY stoned when i first watched SNY, so i didn't remember that specific line, but that text was absolutely trying to capture some of the same energy so it's less a coincidence and more happenstance (a phrase that means nothing.)

-yeah, i think dirk is rarely examined outside of his position of power as Ult!Dirk:tm:, which results in a general failure to analyze him for who he is divorced of that power: a slimy little weirdo. dirk being the way he is in SMY in particular (i write him this way in my other fic he shows up in, calendar girl, which is part of a series that takes place in the same continuity as SMY though is very tonally different) is a reflection on how i'd anticipate he'd react to the person he based his entire gender identity on coming out as a woman. dude's got a really shaky foundation as far as understanding of gender identity goes and dave becoming a girl would probably fuck up his head permanently.

if you have any more thoughts do let me know! i love answering questions/talking about my own work, i'm self-absorbed in that way. take care