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Post by KJ on Apr 25, 2010 2:46:07 GMT -5
Whoa this is really good. Flint hurts Brent, Earl chase Flint, Flint gets attack by his own Ratbird and now he's going back to the hospital. And for some reason I get the feeling that their mite be a father/son moment to come. Ether that or all of them their taking with Flint. Keep up the good work.
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Post by Yellow Dragon on Apr 25, 2010 6:25:33 GMT -5
You really have narrating talent, ral365. Story is more and more interesting with each next chapter. Also, I want to say, that you was beautiful rendered temper of the characters and their behaviour. Waiting for new chapters.
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Post by vhills on Apr 25, 2010 7:30:25 GMT -5
chapter 3 did flint just erase everything about his personality?! oh wow! i'm really worried for him, now ... i think he seems to get slightly apathetic ... you've did a brilliant job with expressing his sorrows with all that brooding, and the other's reactions after his change are so realistic!
chapter 4 ... scary! this chapter freaked me out. not because of horrible writing!! just the whole situation. loosing control over yourself is the worst thing to happen (at least in my opinion). flint is not used to those new emotions and the way his brain is working now, and you can really see his struggle. and because nobody really knows about his situation, they're all kinda lost, poor things ... i hope he'll find his way back.
this is the best cwacom-fanfiction i've read so far. period.
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Post by LabCoatLem on Apr 25, 2010 13:00:16 GMT -5
Wow, Ral! These chapters are brilliant, and you narrate how confusing a 'neurotypical' world can be, especially with the fight scene. I loved the suspense created with the Ratbird fight. Did you get the idea from how many people with Autism can connect with animals much better than people? Seems as if Flint has caused himself more trouble! Was it worth it? Great work, Ral
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Post by ral365 on Apr 25, 2010 13:12:25 GMT -5
LabCoatLemAww, thank you so much! I'm so glad you like this so far. You know how Cody the Maverick described the Ratbirds as symbolizing Flint's successes turning into a disaster? Well I used that same symbol here to represent Flint successfully ridding himself of his Asperger's, but ending up being a turn for the worst. The Ratbirds attacking him represent a sort of wake-up-call for Flint that this was a really bad idea. "Hello?! Earth to Flint!! You shouldn't have done this!!" And no matter how hard Flint tries to escape this reality, it's about as escapable as "running away from your own feet." The wounds represent how emotionally scarring this whole situation is; both his despair for the downsides of his Asperger's, and how bad he truly feels without it.
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Post by cloudyfan on Apr 25, 2010 14:34:30 GMT -5
I just took a look at this and I have only one thing to say: I want to see more of it! I mean, suddenly, the theory of Flint having Aspergers seems valid when you look at it that way. I mean, Flint was good the way he was before he changed. Without his Aspergers, he isn't Flint. I must see more!
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Post by ral365 on Apr 25, 2010 14:40:51 GMT -5
cloudyfanThanks! Yeah, I have Asperger's, too, and when I saw the movie I was like, "I swear to GOD Flint is an Aspie!" I'll put up the next chapter soon, once I get more reviews.
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Post by ral365 on Apr 25, 2010 16:43:47 GMT -5
Chapter Five: Healing
Soon, I was brought back to the Emergency Room, and Manny and several other doctors treated me. Everyone else sat in the waiting room again, and in about forty-five minutes, Manny opened the door.
"You may all come in now."
Sam, Earl, Brent, and Dad walked in the operation room, and saw me lying motionless on the pink chair. Strands of white bandages covered parts of my arms, neck, and a little bit on my face. The same black nurse that worked with me before put a gentle hand on my Dad's shoulder, and had a solemn look on her face.
"Your son's all right, Mr. Lockwood. He started to freak out when he woke up and saw himself, so Manny used a safe tranquilizer to put him to sleep. His wounds will heal in a matter of days."
My Dad gently stroked my forehead and started crying again. "Ohh, how could this have happened? How could this happen?! I should've known my son was in this much trouble!"
Earl put a gentle hand on my Dad's shoulder. "It ain't your fault, Tim. This mess was beyond you and your son's control."
The nurse's voice grew more solemn. "I heard about Flint's arrest, Mr. Lockwood...I couldn't be more sorry."
Suddenly, I started groaning and my eyes opened. Everyone had their attention focused on me.
"Ohhh...Dad? Sam?"
In almost an instant, Dad and Sam both gave me warm hugs, crying, "Oh, Flint, you're all right!" or "Flint, you're ok!!" and "We were so worried!"
"Dad, Sam!! You have no idea how happy I am to see you!!"
I hugged them both close, but as soon as I started crying again, they let go.
"Son, what is it? What happened back there in town? And please, tell me everything that happened in the honest-to-God truth."
I tried hard not to lose my voice to how much I was crying.
"I-I had been ignoring Brent and shoving him away like he didn't even exist, so he finally got really mad, and started insulting me to get to me. I got so mad I beat him up, but I stopped when I realized that he was too upset to hurt me back. I was about to explain myself, but then Earl showed up to arrest me, and I got so scared, I ran away so I could try to come up with another plan to set things right. But I ended up having a run-in with some angry Ratbirds by mistake. I accidentally provoked them, and Earl found me right before I passed out."
I turned back to Brent and Earl. "I'm really sorry for all the trouble I caused. I had absolutely no intention for any of this to happen, but I can't justify what I'd done to Brent. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!!"
As I sat there in tears, Brent, without hesitation, gave me another hug and let me cry on his shoulder.
"It's ok, kid, it's ok. I had a feeling you weren't just acting that way for nothin'."
After a moment, I looked up at Brent. "S-s-so you aren't gonna press charges?"
Brent smiled at me. "No. I know you better than that. I know you would never really hurt anyone."
Then Dad turned to me. "Flint, y-you never had to run away from anything. Why didn't ya come to me or something?"
I let go of Brent. "I-I thought that'd be the first place Earl would find me. I ran away 'cause...I just couldn't take this whole thing anymore! Ever since I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, I've been a complete wreck! I made a new invention that would change my brain so that I wouldn't have Asperger's anymore. I thought I'd just be a normal human being, minus everything that made me so different, but now it seems to be much more than that. I feel like such an idiot!!"
Dad gave me another hug as I cried on his shoulder, too.
"I just want this whole mess out of my life, gone for good! I want things to go back to the way they were! I can't take it anymore..."
"Ohhh, son. I'm so sorry about everything you've been through; I completely understand how difficult this whole thing is for you."
Then Dad let go and looked at me.
"There's something I've been meaning to tell you. When I first found out about your Asperger Syndrome, I have to admit, I was scared for you. I was afraid that this would affect how you would live your life as an adult and how you would see yourself for the rest of your life. But not once did I ever think that you needed to change yourself to bein' normal. If gettin' rid your condition meant that you wouldn't love science or inventing anymore, I wouldn't change a thing about you. I mean, you were always so special being different. You were much more kind, thoughtful, and certainly a lot smarter than other kids your age; your mom loved your inventions, she thought they were the coolest things in the world; and it made you become the biggest hero in the entire town. I'd never, ever want to change any of that."
"I-I really appreciate your kind words, Dad, but I was never talented just 'cause I was talented. My love of science was something born out of a mental disability, not because my brain was working right and I was just born with natural talents. If only I could be normal and still be really talented again."
Then Sam walked over to me.
"Flint? I wanted to tell you this last week, but I didn't think it was the right time...I have Asperger Syndrome, too."
"Really?"
"Mm-hm. It's more common than you think. I found out about it when I was eight years old. All my life, I've had a hard time making friends and fitting in with other people because I was so different. It's what made me so obsessed with weather. My condition makes me really passionate about the things I love, and I mean, love! The downside to it is that I love it so much, I don't always know when it's ok to talk about it with other people. I don't always know how to make normal conversation instead of talking about what I'm interested in. That's why sometimes I'd say something really smart, and then, 'bail from it.' I was made fun of a lot, people thought I was weird, and I still have some of my quirks that I'm learning how to control. But because I kept doing the thing I really love, it made me lucky enough to be one of the most famous weather people of all time...and to meet someone like you."
I sighed sadly. "But Sam…the only reason I loved science was because of my disorder."
"Flint, your love of science is anything but an illusion. In fact, I don't think there's such a thing as being normal and yet really different at the same time. Maybe one of the few ways you could've been so smart was to have your brain function differently. I mean, no normal mind could be so talented or intelligent...or even so caring. You've got so many good qualities that make you different because of your Asperger's. You're incredibly intelligent; you're extremely passionate and talented; you can see the goodness in people and things that not everybody else can. Do you think any normal person could act like that? No, but that doesn't mean it's bad. You're no ordinary guy, Flint. You're extraordinary, an amazing, lovable scientist that's done so much more for our town than any average guy would've done, and your Asperger's wires your brain to give you all those gifts and talents. Anything good or bad that comes from your Asperger's is perfectly normal for anyone who has it. We all understand that, and we all love you just the way you are."
I dried my eyes and smiled at Sam's kind words. We then gave each other another warm hug...but after that, I started feeling down on myself again.
"Flint, what's wrong?"
"I understand exactly what you mean, Sam, and don't get me wrong, I really wanna be unique and talented again, but I don't know if I can handle all the anxiety and other social problems I had from it. You don't know what I've lived through-"
BONK! We all heard something bang against the glass window of the hospital. I took one look outside, and could not believe what I saw...
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Post by philintphan on Apr 25, 2010 19:30:55 GMT -5
Wow! Just wow!
I don't know what to say about this except I wonder how it will end
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Post by ral365 on Apr 25, 2010 19:34:51 GMT -5
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Post by philintphan on Apr 25, 2010 20:54:44 GMT -5
No, I hate it.... Of course I love it!
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Post by ral365 on Apr 25, 2010 21:06:38 GMT -5
philintphanAww, thanks. I also think that Sam is an Aspie, too, since she's so intelligent, passionate about a unique subject, and socially awkward.
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Post by philintphan on Apr 25, 2010 21:20:18 GMT -5
Hmm, I dunno. With Flint, definitely an Aspie. Sam? Not so much. But that's just my opinion.
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Post by vhills on Apr 26, 2010 11:25:50 GMT -5
aw, flint and sam have so much in common, even in your story. that's amazing~! i like how sam shares her experiences with flint to make him feel better and accept his unique-ness. and how mr. lockwood tries to convince him that he is just lovable the way he is. 8)
and i have a certain feeling about what that bonk was ... and if it is just that, expect me to squee~. ;]
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Post by cloudyfan on Apr 26, 2010 11:42:07 GMT -5
Another good chapter you have here. I was surprised at the twist in this chapter... In a good way that is.
Can't wait for the next one
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