Maidens of the Fall, Arc 3, Pariah, Chapter 6
Chapter strolls beneath shimmering summer sun, spinning a parasol and eyeing up an ice-cream, corona'd in the scent of hot asphalt and baked brick.
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An epub version of the chapter is also attached!
And with this, dear readers, arc 3 is complete; the extended opening of Maidens of the Fall is done! The first 'book', or perhaps 'episode', or 'season'? I'm not even sure how to frame it, but there it is, the end of the beginning. Octavia's story (and the story of this dream-haunted England and all the magical girls within) is now truly underway. Like a runaway train.
For those interested in behind-the-scenes details, this chapter took me by surprise. It turned into the most mechanically challenging chapter I've ever written, of anything. I say 'mechanically' because the challenge wasn't the characters or the plot, it was the sheer complexity of the thing on a structural level. This chapter went through four start-to-finish edits, which I don't think I've ever had to do before. In retrospect, it kinda makes sense; this is the finale, the climax, the conclusion of the beginning, of course it was going to be a big deal! It's also just regular big, among the longest chapters I've written.
Next chapter, we're onto arc 4 at last! Into the juicy middle meat of the story. Octavia's got a lot of pieces to pick up. And I hope you're all enjoying Maidens as much as I am! This is turning into a hell of a ride, and I couldn't be more delighted by it. Thank you all for all your support; onward we go!
Comments (10)
gods what a scene! Grimmy's so cool <3
Thank you so much! I poured a lot into this chapter, I'm delighted it's landed so well! And Grimmy, yeah, she really got a chance to shine here!
Good to see the trio again, and the delving in deeper on them. Scarlets a real scene stealer but dawn has me intrigued.
Thank you! I really enjoyed getting them all on-screen again for this big climax, I've been building up to it for a while now, and planning all these little hints as to their deeper motivations. Scarlet is very fun to write, very volatile. Dawn, on the other hand, is very controlled about all this.
So close! I wonder if having a transformation stop midway feels like a sneeze that never comes? 🤔
So close, but not quite there! As for what it feels like, good question. In this case it felt like losing an arm. Perhaps the sneeze without release would have been better?
So good!! Grimmy has such a way with words! I’m swooning 💕 Fr though she’s so adorable
Thank you very much! I'm really glad you enjoyed this! Writing Grimmy's constant creative insults was a lot of fun, I can barely keep up with her. And yes, she sure is adorable!
Welp, good to know Bright is the well adjusted one in the family (best to grade these girls on a curve probably). Now, the question is, did that partial transformation trigger the memory wipe thing? Since she was in full view of the Albion girls it wouldn't have worked on them, so hopefully it didnt^^ (Also 10 bucks on scarlet edge keeping the bruise because she's got a crush on Octavia and enjoys the mark)
Hahaha! Nobody is well-adjusted here, I think; grading on a curve is mandatory! Very good question about the partial transformation. Octavia will perhaps have to review the footage, see how far it happened in the eyes of an objective observer. Scarlet seems rather attached to the bruise, at the very least! A blossoming obsession with Octavia, ohohohoho!