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The Garuda, the Jambu Grove, and the Queen of the South Seas?
I mentioned to a couple of people that I'm fiddling around with a reinterpretation of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe using Southeast Asian folktales and a cosmology that focuses on cycles rather than linear trajectories and dichotomy. What I'm thinking is, it's still four kids, but instead of the crisis in this world being WW2, it's the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Instead of the kids being sent out of the countryside to escape the Blitz, the parents have to leave the country because there were no jobs in Indonesia. The kids have to stay with their weird uncle. Anyway, I started writing it.
Writing non-autobiographically about Indonesians in Indonesia weirded my brain out. It kept on switching to "speaking Indonesian*" mode (not my most articulate mode, lemme tell ya), and I found myself trying to remember Indonesian vocabulary and sentence structure before I remembered that OH YEAH I'm writing this in English. It was just that my brain was going, "Okay, time to deal with Indonesian people who have X mannerisms and Y ideologies. Adjust!" And then it does. So, I have a few pages written, but the writing's stiff and the diction is off, trying to stay in English but instinctually veering to Indonesian.
I found myself asking, "Are these Indonesian names too off-putting for a non-Indonesian reader?" Then I had RaceFail flashbacks and I was like, "D-:!" wtf. My real name has always been a source of contention for me. It's the typical long foreign name, and people would be like, "Say your name, dude!" like it's just entertainment. And one time, after performing my name, one girl was like, "Yeah, but what is it without the accent? Say your name without the accent." Bitch, that was my name without the accent! diaf :(
In college, I changed my nickname to something simpler - not a Western name, just something monosyllabic (and spelled with two letters, but it still gets misspelled all the damn time anyway I JUST CAN'T WIN) - and my buddy Asef from high school was like, "I can't call you that. You're not that." He says it's colonial mentality on my part, and he talks about how Kang Wook goes by Kevin in Indiana now, and Bilal goes by Billy in Oregon; he makes a face and shakes his head. I don't know if I should be flattered or ticked off at this attitude. On the one hand, I respect his intentions, sure, down with the global western hegemony etc. On the other hand, don't tell me what I should call myself. Who are you to tell me who I am and what my reasons should be?
I also found myself asking, "Who the hell wants to read about Indonesians and Indonesia anyway?" But then I remember that questions like that are why I wanted to write this in the first place.
* Can I just say it kind of SHITS ME OFF when people say "Do you speak Bahasa?" 'cos that just means 'language'. Indonesians don't say we speak Bahasa. Bahasa Indonesia means 'Indonesian language'. It grew out of Malaysian (Basa Melayu?).
And now for something completely meme-ish! Tell me in the comments something you think I'd never ever write, then I try to commentfic this thing I would supposedly never write.
Writing non-autobiographically about Indonesians in Indonesia weirded my brain out. It kept on switching to "speaking Indonesian*" mode (not my most articulate mode, lemme tell ya), and I found myself trying to remember Indonesian vocabulary and sentence structure before I remembered that OH YEAH I'm writing this in English. It was just that my brain was going, "Okay, time to deal with Indonesian people who have X mannerisms and Y ideologies. Adjust!" And then it does. So, I have a few pages written, but the writing's stiff and the diction is off, trying to stay in English but instinctually veering to Indonesian.
I found myself asking, "Are these Indonesian names too off-putting for a non-Indonesian reader?" Then I had RaceFail flashbacks and I was like, "D-:!" wtf. My real name has always been a source of contention for me. It's the typical long foreign name, and people would be like, "Say your name, dude!" like it's just entertainment. And one time, after performing my name, one girl was like, "Yeah, but what is it without the accent? Say your name without the accent." Bitch, that was my name without the accent! diaf :(
In college, I changed my nickname to something simpler - not a Western name, just something monosyllabic (and spelled with two letters, but it still gets misspelled all the damn time anyway I JUST CAN'T WIN) - and my buddy Asef from high school was like, "I can't call you that. You're not that." He says it's colonial mentality on my part, and he talks about how Kang Wook goes by Kevin in Indiana now, and Bilal goes by Billy in Oregon; he makes a face and shakes his head. I don't know if I should be flattered or ticked off at this attitude. On the one hand, I respect his intentions, sure, down with the global western hegemony etc. On the other hand, don't tell me what I should call myself. Who are you to tell me who I am and what my reasons should be?
I also found myself asking, "Who the hell wants to read about Indonesians and Indonesia anyway?" But then I remember that questions like that are why I wanted to write this in the first place.
* Can I just say it kind of SHITS ME OFF when people say "Do you speak Bahasa?" 'cos that just means 'language'. Indonesians don't say we speak Bahasa. Bahasa Indonesia means 'Indonesian language'. It grew out of Malaysian (Basa Melayu?).
And now for something completely meme-ish! Tell me in the comments something you think I'd never ever write, then I try to commentfic this thing I would supposedly never write.
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But maybe it's not all water-world, there are some islands here and there. There's also magic that helps them breathe underwater probably. Gotta research what demons would be Nyi Roro Kidul's minions. I'll probably throw in sea snakes. And who is the Tumnus character? Maybe Hanuman the monkey god? Maybe I'm only thinking that because they are both half-human and furry. And maybe IndoLucy is like, "But what about flowers and trees? If you drown the world, you won't have them!" But then Nyi Roro Kidul shows her the kelp forests and the coral canyons and the sea anemones and it's all such a riot of color (OMG WHEN I GO SNORKELING LATER THIS MONTH I SHOULD TAKE NOTE), and everything is so beautiful and Lucy is almost convinced.
"Life begins in the sea, small one," says the Sea Queen, "and it will end in the sea."
I wonder what the equivalent of turning creatures into ice statues are... probably turning them into coral.
Dude, is there anything you won't write?
No, and this was a transparent attempt at collecting crack prompts XD. I'll get back to you on that crossover!
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There's also magic that helps them breathe underwater probably. Gotta research what demons would be Nyi Roro Kidul's minions. I'll probably throw in sea snakes. And who is the Tumnus character? Maybe Hanuman the monkey god? Maybe I'm only thinking that because they are both half-human and furry. And maybe IndoLucy is like, "But what about flowers and trees? If you drown the world, you won't have them!" But then Nyi Roro Kidul shows her the kelp forests and the coral canyons and the sea anemones and it's all such a riot of color (OMG WHEN I GO SNORKELING LATER THIS MONTH I SHOULD TAKE NOTE), and everything is so beautiful and Lucy is almost convinced.
"Life begins in the sea, small one," says the Sea Queen, "and it will end in the sea."
THIS IS EVEN BETTER. And fuck people who can't deal with the names. I mispronounce names all the goddamn time, even ones that are English in origin. I still enjoy stories with names I that when I try to say them people look at me like ...NO.
Also I took and TA'ed Marine Biology, and now I wish to live vicariously through your snorkeling. Take lots and lots of pictures!
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Marine Biology TA! That sounds like mad fun. I would take pictures, but mine isn't the kind that can take pictures underwater. I'll do beachscapes, horizons, and palm trees though XD.
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And maybe IndoLucy is like, "But what about flowers and trees? If you drown the world, you won't have them!" But then Nyi Roro Kidul shows her the kelp forests and the coral canyons and the sea anemones and it's all such a riot of color (OMG WHEN I GO SNORKELING LATER THIS MONTH I SHOULD TAKE NOTE), and everything is so beautiful and Lucy is almost convinced.
"Life begins in the sea, small one," says the Sea Queen, "and it will end in the sea."
That's so awesome and scary all at once. Eeeee. Does one of them join up with her?
Coral or bubbles or the wrecks of ships. Or little fishes, and they get eaten by something else.
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The thing is, there's signs all over the beach saying you're not supposed to swim in the water not really, because the waves are too strong. Well, the kid goes swimming wearing green. Nyi Roro Kidul is like A-HA and is like *SNAGS* and *ATTEMPTS TO INDOCTRINATE*. "We have to rescue our sister!" And thus the adventure begins?
I'm checking out Nyai Roro Kidul's Wikipage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyai_Loro_Kidul) for the first time and it's fascinating. She was once human apparently, a princess, but she got hit by some black magic (or... contracted leprosy) and threw herself into the ocean to end her suffering. There, the spirits and creatures and demons made her queen and goddess. So so so so, A FEW THOUGHTS:
-- Maybe it's that the salt stings her eyes and blurs her vision, but the shapes around her seem neither fish nor human. They are here to take her to the next life, perhaps.
-- Something (some things?) speaks to her in a voice that sounds like a thousand whispers, clear in her ears and felt in her heart. We have waited for you, it says. We have waited for you for a long time.
-- The curse could not be lifted, and the disease destroyed her body. Of course, a thousand whispers say. Destroy one form to become another. Of course, of course.
-- Her lungs burn as they fill with water, and around her the shapes cry for her, reach for her, and sing.
-- They have been waiting for her. Her mouth forms the shapes of Yes, and she closes her eyes.
'Cos Jadis was an usurper to the throne, but Nyai Roro Kidul was always meant to be there. HMM.
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Indonesian Edmund would do it if he was being sulky. Lucy would forget, but then if she got sucked down she would try to make friends. Susan would shrug and say it's the nicest thing she's got, so there.
OMG YES. AND THEY GO RESCUE HER! In a boat? Maybe they take a boat out and it gets, like, sucked in?
Lass, this is sounding more and more awesome every time you type stuff.
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That's two people asked for an Edmund crossover. Two people who objected to Edmund and Hermione's relationship:
1. "I think she's rather pompous," Susan says, scrunching up her nose. "And she ought to do something with her hair."
"Who are you to talk of being pompous?" Edmund asks airily, and Susan rolls her eyes.
2. "Oy."
Edmund turns around and sees a tall gangly fellow with a face almost as red as his hair.
He says, "You're that Edward kid, aren't you?"
"Edmund."
"Whatever. So. You're... seeing Hermione."
Edmund frowns. "Who are you?"
"Er. Ron."
"Ah! Ron Weasley?"
Ron brightens. "She told you about me?"
"Of course. You're one of her best mates, isn't that right?"
"Best mates." His smile falters a bit. "Right. That's me."
"Can I help you?"
"Look." Ron's frown takes on a more forced quality. "You better not be an utter donkey to her."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm serious, Edward. If you break her heart, I'll--"
"--break my legs?" Edmund guesses.
"And more besides!" Ron adds.
"Right," says Edmund. "Is that all?"
"What?"
"I said, is that all?"
"Um. You better not try anything."
Edmund looks at his watch. "Look, Beesley--"
"Weasley!"
"I'm in a bit of a hurry," Edmund continues. "If we really must continue this conversation, you can just ring me tonight. Hermione has my number."
"Oh no, you aren't--"
Edmund grins. "Splendid! Goodbye, Rob."
"Ron!"
"I'll tell Hermione you said hi."
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YES THE COLORS. Things are so much more blurred underwater too, and they're softer and you're lighter and then you come up and it's too loud and harsh.
AAAGH EDMUND/HERMIONE YES. Susan has such nice hair, you can't fault her for objecting to other people's! (Ron <33)
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I wrote the beginning of IndoLWW about a week back, where they're at the airport and the parents are saying goodbye before they fly off to wherever. That's the one wot I was talking about was stiff-feeling, and also feels to me sort of like a vehicle for talking about Indonesia's economic problems, though I'm not sure yet if that's a writing quality thing or because it is... actually set in Indonesia so of course these things are gonna come up.
Softer and lighter! I'm going to plaguerize myself and take this idea from my Red Dragon fic. Wheresit. Here: "If you breathed, you died. If you're at rest, you float upwards instead of staying down. The water held such contradictions. These days Will swam more than he used to, trying to find in the water the opposite of whatever was inside him."
And maybe being in the sea is kind of like flying, because you can swim up and down. Maybe sort of like being in a dream because you can't run. Hmm. Maybe it is like walking on the moon? I am pretty hooked on the image of Gita (the Susan-ish character) walking on the ocean floor, and then she feels something watching her, so she looks around but sees nothing but a shadow on the sand. She looks directly upwards and is face to face with the Sea Queen, who is just hovering, her feet pointed at the sky. Before Gita can scream, the Queen clamps a hand over her mouth. (I think if this were a movie, this part could be like horror-film scary.)
One time when I was snorkeling I saw this motherfucker in the water (http://images.google.com.ph/images?hl=tl&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=6pa&q=sea%20krait&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi). It was a good distance enough away from me, and it was swimming in the opposite direction anyway, but all I can think of is how sea snakes are like SUPER VENOMOUS. In the event of a stand-off, the sea krait has wound itself loosely around Arif's (Peter's) torso, its open mouth on Arif's neck. Nyai Roro Kidul asks Gita, "What is your choice?"
OH ACTUALLY PERFECT. I just went googling for a picture of Nyai Roro Kidul and it turns out that her symbol is A SNAKE. \o/! The pictures aren't that big (http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/01235/Ilustration.htm), but oh well. Some rando's entry (http://bumimanusia.deviantart.com/art/Nyi-Roro-Kidul-81040197?offset=10) into an urban legend art contest is also really gorgeous, and I dig the Artist Comments. At first I was like, hmm, where does she keep those horses underwater AND THEN I FIGURE IT OUT. Sea foam! White horses come from the crests of waves, 'cos you know how if you squint at the crests of waves, it kind of looks like them? I dunno, I read it in a manga once (lol omg "I read it in a manga once", would you listen to me) and I used it in 'Sea Change', I can use it again in this. Wasn't that what happened in 'The Last Unicorn'? When the unicorns were driven into the sea, didn't they become the waves?
Oh man, so then I further googled if this horse wave stuff is actually legit from folklore AND THEN. It is actually the name of a wave (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/White+horse)! SO, to borrow from this and from the traditional Little Mermaid, instead of the Witch turning ppl to stone, maybe she turns them into foam?? Or to borrow from Disney Little Mermaid, maybe she turns them into ugly polyp creatures that she will sometimes eat. YIKES.
Actually I don't know how I feel about horses underwater, it's kinda too jarring. Hmm, I wonder what will play the part of Beavers? Come to me, knowledge of marine biologyyyyyy.
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Eeee, yes. Your research for all of this should include a lot of swimming and diving and snorkling. Also I always thought one of the things about swimming is that it's three-dimensional, you know? Like you can go in all three directions instead of two. It's bigger than land.
She looks directly upwards and is face to face with the Sea Queen, who is just hovering, her feet pointed at the sky. Before Gita can scream, the Queen clamps a hand over her mouth.
CREEPY. OMG. Also, I can't imagine a freaking sea snake trying to eat me! AGH. SWIM AWAY, ARIF, SWIM FAST. And jellyfish and those creepy glowy fish and freaking LAMPREYS OMG.
Sea foam YES. Is that universal? I seem to remember it from Poseidon too. Also if she turns them into foam HOLY CRAP. Then every so often she pulls them up into horses and they have a split second to hope they'll be themselves again. Do you think it'd be jarring? I think there are, like, some folktales somewhere of underwater horses? I will try to remember. Celtic mythology had kelpies but there were others, I think.
Seals? Seahorses? Whales? Dolphins? GIANT SHARKS? Duude, you need one of those kids' books that's like "Explore the ocean!" With pictures!
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The unspoken rule is that you can only talk about Narnia to people who have been to Narnia, but there are some days when he thinks that it's kind of like at the fancy antiques or jewelry store where, if you have to ask how much it is, then you can't afford it. Sometimes Edmund finds himself looking into strangers' faces wondering if they too have known the Lion. Was there some giveaway sign, or some secret code? Surely they can't be the only ones in the whole world. Narnia is too true to be kept among just a few.
Then Edmund meets Luna, who talks about heffalumps and woozles, and wears large brightly-colored glasses that supposedly help her see the wuffleplerts in the daytime ("They're much more visible at night. The sun makes them shy."), and his questions catch on her optimistic faith. He feels protective of her in a pre-emptive sort of way, like maybe how everyone treats her is how everyone would treat Edmund if he started talking left and right about Narnia.
Luna doesn't need protection. The jeers and name-calling come at her from all directions, and she just smiles and talks about the nargles.
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"Did you have a betrothed?" asks Luna. "Kings have betrotheds, right?"
"A few. So did my siblings, but nothing ever came of it. There was a duchess in Terebinthia that... Well, I think if we had stayed longer, we..." Edmund shrugs. "But we didn't, so that's that."
"Tell me about the fauns," says Luna. "Were they very lusty?"
"What? Well, some. Not all." He smiles. "Don't believe everything you hear about fauns."
She nods solemnly. "It's just like with the Belgravian Snorkacks, you know. Everyone thinks they're the rabbits of the animal kingdom, but really they mate for life. They just fornicate a lot."
Edmund declines to tell her that rabbits are probably the rabbits of the animal kingdom, and he tells her instead about the late-night revels that the forest creatures used to have: how Tumnus had danced with Lucy until her braids came undone, how the laughter of dryads sound like leaves rustling, and how faun music has a magical quality that can heat the blood and hone the senses.
"Do you remember a faunish dance?" asks Luna. "Would you teach me?"
He does.
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He feels protective of her in a pre-emptive sort of way, like maybe how everyone treats her is how everyone would treat Edmund if he started talking left and right about Narnia.
OMG YES.
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Narnia/HP crossovers, oh man! The lion symbolism, first of all. Somewhere on the interwebs, I definitely read a fic about small Tom Riddle meeting Jadis. My google-fu isn't finding it or anything except for how 'jadis' in French apparently means 'bygone'.
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I READ THAT ONE. The one where Ed goes to visit Jadis and there's another boy there?? I READ THAT.