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ARC's avatar

This piece pulled me in completely. Those neologisms—“behindself,” “deepwear,” “moltsong”—don’t feel like inventions. They feel like language we’ve always needed but never had. The movement from that first awkward overshare to real connection with Heather is honest and well-earned. You didn’t force it. You let the misfire do its work.

The whole thing reads like a quiet spell. Like something sacred trying to speak through the ordinary. Good shit, FLOAT.

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Jon T's avatar

Youre making my skinshape wigglebump with your underlanguage.

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wildflower's avatar

I found it great when I read it first. But wow, what an evolution!! Excellent writing! I love the artwork as well.

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Sandolore Sykes's avatar

Would’ve been better if we’d had the time for the collab!

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wildflower's avatar

We‘ll surely find the time to finish it.

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Camila Hamel's avatar

Beautiful.

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Sandolore Sykes's avatar

Than you so much Camila!

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M.P. Fitzgerald's avatar

This is fucking fantastic. My god, what a triumph of identity, mimicry and making. I am floored reading this. Goddamn this is good.

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Sandolore Sykes's avatar

Look at you, making my day, Fitz!

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M.P. Fitzgerald's avatar

This will be buzzing in my head for days, I know it

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Nick Winney's avatar

I cant remember which words were mine - maybe forge lint and dervish? anyway - this is not the point at all.

the point is your MOST fascinating prose. Its going to take a few reads I think, to get to the bottom of what I think of this. Until then, the first impressions are ....some kind of strange being that seeks out the soul energy of a being in need and then to fulfill its own need it remakes itself into the image of what the other soudl needs, and in so doing, the other soul knows truly what it needs and has not had and was missing, and just as "Joan" makes itslef for Heather, Heather must make itself for Joan. The rhythm is ever present and the constant theme of shedding layers and rebirth is intriguing - what is Joan....and what will the two of them become when all the making and unmaking is done. A curious and somehow uplifting piece. I think I am some way off the mark with your intention for this but still - quite a task you set yourself to write a 20 word prompt, and from such a nest of very different words, build this complete thing.

satisfying - maybe not the word you were hoping to inspire - but that is the first word that comes to me when I try and summon my inner feelings from this. it feels like pieces slotted into place here.

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Sandolore Sykes's avatar

Damn, Nick! Thank you for the deep read. I love your take on this (especially because I suspect this is the beginning of a novel!)

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Nick Winney's avatar

there's concepts in there that definitely have depth!

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

It was worth the wait! I felt myself shedding as I read, giving myself to the rhythm, the mystic, the workshop, the carving and shedding, the shadeworld of what was taking place. It felt real, by the end, as if I had learned my own moltsong.

Brava!

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