Fanfiction: Rebirth (Princess Tutu)

[nebroadwe]

Title: Drabble: Rebirth
Fandom: Princess Tutu (anime version)
Character: Mytho
Pairing(s): None.
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Warnings: None.
A/N: Branching out a bit from my usual fanfiction inspirations, I come bearing a Princess Tutu character drabble. This woke me up at dawn to get itself scribbled down before it faded. Crossposted from nebroadwe to princesstutu and tutufic.
Dedication: For fmanalyst, whose recommendation of this series weighed heavily in my decision to acquire and watch it, which I am now very glad I did.

---

      His body remembers movement, so he moves.

      With thoughtless grace he mimics the patterns he encounters -- rising with the sun, turning flower-faced through the day, sinking to rest at dusk, sheets shrouding his limbs like clouds. He finishes nothing but to begin again. Smooth as an egg, the world is incidental to him, inconsiderable, until it shivers and wobbles, ticking erratically as an ill-made watch, bumping and lurching toward the nest's edge ...

      His body remembers movement, so he moves to cup the egg in his hands as it fractures, wondering at the sudden quickening of his own breath.

---

[Disclaimers: Princess Tutu was created by Ikuko Ito and Junichi Sato. Copyright for this property is held by HAL and GANSIS/TUTU. All rights reserved.]

Comments

Re: I live, believe it not! :O

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

So, yes -- suffice it to say, it's such a nice surprise to see you writing for this series too, now. *sheepish grin*

I really, really enjoy this series, but I don't think it's going to produce the pages of 'fic that FMA does. Tutu is very tight and complete, Maerchen-style, while FMA has links with picaresque that allow one to conceive of "the other adventures" of the protagonists. I have a couple of character drabbles in the queue and one deleted scene for Tutu, but I think that'll be about it. Academic analysis is far more likely (I've been reading up on ballet and discovering lots and lots of fascinating connections -- and my doctoral thesis did a lot of work with European folklore ...).

Mytho seems to get lost all too often in the Ahiru(Duck)/Fakir/Rue fangirling, although I can understand why: he's more plot device than full-blooded character until around the series' very end ...

I agree. I was surprised when this piece came screaming out of my subconscious; Mytho isn't my usual choice of subject (Fakir or Rue seem far likelier, or Autor or maybe even Drosselmayer or Edel).

... the lyrical language acts as a nice counterpoint to Mytho's indifference and detachment, managing to both engage and distance the reader from him. You also did a great job of bringing things near the end back towards something more...recognizably human, I think. I can't exactly say how you managed that, but it's subtle, which you're quite good at, and I like anyway, so it's all good. :D Here's a case where framing the beginning and end with repetition is put to good use.

The language, as I remarked up-comment, is a lot more right-brain and gestalt-ish than my usual run of prose, with images piling up and melting into each other: Mytho mimicking the world to the point of disappearing into its natural rhythms coexists with the world being something outside of him from which he is disengaged. I think the turn you sense happens when I shift emphasis from the first image to the second: once "the world" becomes an entity distinct from Mytho, he begins to seem more like a potential actor in relation it (a human quality), which allows for the final switch to actually acting. The repetition of first and last sentence, adding a purpose clause to distinguish the latter from the former, is the one really "writerly" moment I had in composing this. (And I'm quite proud of it. :-)

The only thing I have slight misgivings about is the "egg" analogy, as it seems a bit too obvious and maybe somewhat cliche in context.

I wanted to call Tutu into the drabble without explicitly referring to her role, but I was also thinking about the world-egg archetype and Mytho's own "embryonic" self. I did get worried about overpacking here, to the point where all the language wasn't poetic, just confusing. I think I pulled it off, though.

...And why doesn't it surprise me that the concrit this time is longer than the piece itself? ^^;;; Maybe it'll do me some good to take a crack at drabble-writing myself, at this rate!

I shall await your attempt with interest. :-)

(I also apologize for my silence lately -- Light the Traveler Home didn't escape my notice, despite evidence to the contrary. ^^; It was a case of "RLTM trumps any semblance of fandom participation liek woah" that's still somewhat ongoing, but has improved muchly since it all started. I'll leave a real comment/concrit on the story when I get a chance, but for now I can't thank you enough for the dedication. ^_^ It very much pleasantly surprised and touched me just when I needed it. Thank you! *offers hug*)

[accepts hug] You're very welcome. I had wondered whether RL had swallowed you -- good to know that it has, um ... boy, there's no good place to go with this analogy, is there? Anyway, glad to see you back. The commentary is always much appreciated!

Peace!

Re: I live, believe it not! :O

[light-rises.livejournal.com]

...Erk. *winces at delay* It's times like this I'm tempted to tell RL^TM to put a cork in it. Please forgive the belatedness. -_-

I really, really enjoy this series, but I don't think it's going to produce the pages of 'fic that FMA does. Tutu is very tight and complete, Maerchen-style, while FMA has links with picaresque that allow one to conceive of "the other adventures" of the protagonists.

I think that's what draws me to FMA moreso than Tutu really, as wonderful as the latter is. FMA is sprawling and given to a multitude of "what if?"s and "then after that..."s -- it just seems natural to me to plunge into/explore possibilities beyond what the anime and manga canons offer directly (or even implicitly). Tutu, on the other hand, tends to surprise and delight on both the character development and plot fronts without provoking too many questions of motivation and "what happens next?" afterward. The canon itself addresses the former so well that I personally didn't often feel the need for further elaboration (albeit with a few notable exceptions). And the final episode -- though a bit rushed in its last third, IMO -- is underlaced with a tone of finality that is open-ended enough to make me wonder a little, but not enough that I find myself looking very far past the story's natural end.

...And I suppose that's my long-winded way of saying that I enjoy both, but -- to a degree -- for different reasons. And that I agree with you fanfic-wise. Er, yay? :D;;;

The language, as I remarked up-comment, is a lot more right-brain and gestalt-ish than my usual run of prose, with images piling up and melting into each other…

I'm happy you went with that style -- it really did set the perfect tone for this piece. Right-brain prose just seems to work well in establishing the ethereal, IMO. *grins*

I think the turn you sense happens when I shift emphasis from the first image to the second: once "the world" becomes an entity distinct from Mytho, he begins to seem more like a potential actor in relation it (a human quality), which allows for the final switch to actually acting.

Ah, I see! *takes note* Pulling off a similarly subtle turn in my own writing is one of those milestones I'd love to reach someday. ...Of course, more actual practice would be in order for accomplishing that goal. Eek. Time... >.>;


To be continued, because the original post went over the character limit by about 500... ^^;;;

Re: I live, believe it not! :O

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

Please forgive the belatedness. -_-

No problem, really. It's nice to see you pop out of the fog now and again, but I understand the whole "RL eats my life" paradox very well. :-)

Tutu ... tends to surprise and delight on both the character development and plot fronts without provoking too many questions of motivation and "what happens next?" afterward. The canon itself addresses the former so well that I personally didn't often feel the need for further elaboration (albeit with a few notable exceptions).

One of them wouldn't happen to be the missing transition in episode 13 (just how did Edel rescue Fakir, anyway?), would it? 'Cause it just so happens that I began typing the following this evening:

Fakir toppled backward into the dark lake. The water his falling body displaced closed over him as swiftly as a courtier effacing a breach of manners. The chill that had clawed at his flesh while he grappled with Kraehe's minions held him now in a gentler grip; a blessed, perfidious ease denied the wounds he had taken. Cuts and bruises, he thought, reflexively dismissive. Cracked rib, maybe. Not that it matters ...

I find myself with two "deleted scene" stories and two "what happened after" stories (one of which is certain to have half the fandom heaving the etheric equivalent of tomatoes and rotten eggs at my LJ, so I'm determined to do it well. Better to be hanged for treason than petty thievery.). And that looks like it, apart the drabbles, for the reasons you state.

And the final episode -- though a bit rushed in its last third, IMO -- is underlaced with a tone of finality that is open-ended enough to make me wonder a little, but not enough that I find myself looking very far past the story's natural end.

Ditto. I'm following a few what-happened-afters on FF.net, but I notice that they all have to tweak the ending somehow to make room for their own work. Mind you, they've come up with some viable tweaks: a couple take note of the fact that Fakir basically makes it to the end of episode 26 with his teeth gritted against some long-standing character impulses and wonder whether he wouldn't still have a few issues to work through; a third delves into Siegfried's backstory and comes up with a whole 'nother level of history to contextualize the characters against. My own what-happens-after, the one that's going to annoy people, is developing slowly because it takes the lessons of the ending (or what I see as those lessons) absolutely straight. (It's also developing slowly because it keeps haring off into descriptive set-pieces. Argh. Why can't the characters stop looking at the scenery and start talking?)

Re: I live, believe it not! :O

[light-rises.livejournal.com]

No problem, really. It's nice to see you pop out of the fog now and again, but I understand the whole "RL eats my life" paradox very well. :-)

If only there was more I could do about that paradox. *sighs* Thanks for understanding, though; staying uncommunicative when I have so many things to say but can't due to extenuating circumstances makes me slightly mad at myself after a while, personally. >.<

One of them wouldn't happen to be the missing transition in episode 13 (just how did Edel rescue Fakir, anyway?), would it? 'Cause it just so happens that I began typing the following this evening...

*nods* That's bothered me since I watched episode 13 the first time -- and then moreso once I rewatched the series in English -- although I think you're right in calling it an omission rather than an out-and-out plothole (we're never given a reason in canon to doubt that Edel had the ability to rescue Fakir under those circumstances, even if it's never explained just how she managed it). I was actually tempted at first to equate this with the whole "How the heck did Scar manage to drag Kimbley's body to the roof of a building sans arms and Lust's help in episode 42 of FMA?" dilemma, except I'm thinking the FMA one was more of a slight lapse in logic rather than something that's puzzling but open to a plausible explanation. (Well, unless I come across something more convincing than "he used his teeth." XD I've never let it bother me too much anyway, since that potential flaw was relatively small and dimmed in comparison to all the other interesting things going on in that episode/story arc; I didn't even notice it myself until someone pointed it out to me. *blinks* Yes. I'll end that tangent there. *sheepish grin*)

Anyway, I really enjoy fics that manage to "fill in the blanks " and do it well enough to fit snugly within canon, so I look forward to reading your version of that (and the other) missing scene. The snippet you offered is delicious (in a strictly writerly way, of course). ^^

I'm following a few what-happened-afters on FF.net, but I notice that they all have to tweak the ending somehow to make room for their own work. Mind you, they've come up with some viable tweaks...

I actually love well-done AUs, so I'm up for those. :D I guess I'm just a little disappointed that more post-series Tutu stories don't attempt more of a straight continuation (by and large because, for the most part, I'm very satisfied with the series of events leading up to the show's end as well as the ending itself, so it's a bias, yes ^^;). I admit I haven't done tons of looking due to that bias -- and time constraints -- though, so I'd love links to the stories you mentioned if that's okay with you. :) The one exploring Siegfried's backstory sounds especially intriguing, as our poor storybook prince is still a largely unknown entity.

My own what-happens-after, the one that's going to annoy people, is developing slowly because it takes the lessons of the ending (or what I see as those lessons) absolutely straight.

Absolutely straight? *evil grin* I look forward to it.

Part Two!

[light-rises.livejournal.com]

I wanted to call Tutu into the drabble without explicitly referring to her role, but I was also thinking about the world-egg archetype and Mytho's own "embryonic" self. I did get worried about overpacking here, to the point where all the language wasn't poetic, just confusing. I think I pulled it off, though.

I was referring mostly to the Tutu allusion in that analogy, and my initial impression that perhaps it was too obvious a reference to her (sorry if I didn't make that clear before ^^;). Reading the drabble again, though (and with several more hours of sleep under my belt than last time ;) ), I don't think my call of "cliché!" was an accurate one. Especially in light of Mytho's "embryonic" parallel to the egg -- I hadn't considered that before, and it's rather clever! I really do love layered analogies when they're done right. ♥

Hmm...but now a part of me wonders if the "embryonic Mytho" reference might actually be a tad too subtle. *squints* ...On the other hand, maybe the simultaneous actions of the egg cracking and the quickening of Mytho's breath in the last line are enough of a "heads-up" for careful readers to catch on to that allusion (the start of his own "awakening" coinciding with the birth of the chick). *blinks* Bah, I can't seem to win with my A-Type personality. That, and I really am just slow sometimes at spotting nuances. ^^;;;

And for the record, no -- I don't think you overpacked there. "Poetic" and "intelligible" can be hard to balance, and I believe you managed that rather well. ^_^

I shall await your attempt with interest. :-)

Oh dear...now the Al!muse who's been tapping my shoulder for the past eight months or so is giving me one of Those Looks. >.>;; Hopefully -- God and RL^TM willing -- I'll be able to placate him soon. (That, and I really am itching to get back into practice. *fidgets*)

I had wondered whether RL had swallowed you -- good to know that it has, um ... boy, there's no good place to go with this analogy, is there? Anyway, glad to see you back. The commentary is always much appreciated!

...I tried, but no. There really isn't. o_o;;; And I'm going to make an effort at staying back if I can help it (both of my three-hour classes today were cancelled, and thus this reply ^^;). I'm very happy that the commentary is appreciated, though. :) I just hope I can keep it helpful!

Oh! And, er...I'm still somewhat unversed in LJ etiquette when it comes to friending. So...is it all right if I friend back? *hopeful look*

Re: Part Two!

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

Hmm...but now a part of me wonders if the "embryonic Mytho" reference might actually be a tad too subtle. *squints* ...On the other hand, maybe the simultaneous actions of the egg cracking and the quickening of Mytho's breath in the last line are enough of a "heads-up" for careful readers to catch on to that allusion (the start of his own "awakening" coinciding with the birth of the chick).

That's what I'm hoping. You'll notice, I hope, that the remainder of this drabble sequence has been much more straightforward. I can only rise to lyrical once every six months, it seems. :-)

Oh dear...now the Al!muse who's been tapping my shoulder for the past eight months or so is giving me one of Those Looks. >.>;; Hopefully -- God and RL(TM) willing -- I'll be able to placate him soon. (That, and I really am itching to get back into practice. *fidgets*)

Go for it! Go for it! :-) Summer is coming, thank goodness. (Adding just one class to my own work/life/writing schedule threw it completely out of balance this past academic year ... so of course I'm signed up for another in the fall. Which means I need to make the next three months really count on the writing front. I've even got an idea for an original short story at last; watching everyone post for International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day has been very inspiring. Intimidating, too. Lots of Real Writers out there these days ...)

I'm very happy that the commentary is appreciated, though. :) I just hope I can keep it helpful!

If it isn't, I will probably make gentle representations to that effect. So far, so good, though; it's a pleasure doing concrit with you. :-)

Oh! And, er...I'm still somewhat unversed in LJ etiquette when it comes to friending. So...is it all right if I friend back? *hopeful look*

By all means! I tend to feel it's okay to friend people who aren't public figures after I've conversed with them a bit, as long as they don't have specific friending instructions set up in their journals. I'm awfully slow about it, though. I just keep clicking through the links in my comment sections half the time, instead.

Peace!

Re: Part Two!

[light-rises.livejournal.com]

You'll notice, I hope, that the remainder of this drabble sequence has been much more straightforward. I can only rise to lyrical once every six months, it seems. :-)

I do like attempts at lyricalness that manage to pull off that poetic effect -- although I'll admit that I best stomach that kind of prose in shorter forms such as drabbles. ^^;; So I'm definitely partial towards more plotty, straightforward works with flourishes of lyrical when I'm investing in a story for the long haul.

Go for it! Go for it! :-) Summer is coming, thank goodness.

It is! *cheers* Thanks for the encouragement, and I wish you luck with that original story. May both of us use our freetime wisely this summer when it comes to writing. ^_^

If it isn't, I will probably make gentle representations to that effect. So far, so good, though; it's a pleasure doing concrit with you. :-)

*blushes* Thank you. :) And please don't hesitate to let me know if I ever step into "unhelpful" territory in the future.

By all means!

*friends* ^^