Given How TOTSMOV41s Plot Has Evolved Since Ive Added Two Scenes, There Is Some Good News: Rhian Now

Given how TOTSMOV41’s plot has evolved since I’ve added two scenes, there is some good news: Rhian now has a speaking role in real time (not only in a flashback), and Dot and Anadil get a short conversation amongst themselves to air their suspicions about whether Rafal is a zombie or a demon. Rafal will probably eavesdrop on them, and that happens while he is being trailed by Hester, even if Hester doesn’t know he knows she is spying on him.

(The bad news is that "Rhian" isn't the real Rhian.)

Are you a woeful insomniac or can you sleep through a typhoon?

I'm probably closer to "can sleep through a typhoon" as far as I can tell. And I've been told that I've apparently slept through barking and people talking on the phone. Although lately, I've been going to bed at around 4am (close to 6 at the latest) and waking up around 12 since I don't have classes to wake up for during the summer. I doubt this pattern counts as insomnia though, does it? That allegedly "off" schedule has been working perfectly well for me regardless. It's only others in my life who have complaints about my not conforming to the societal standard. So, luckily, I've never been an insomniac, but sometimes, others force me to go to bed when I'm not tired. So perhaps a more precise question is whether I've ever exhibited insomniac traits, like having a wakeful brain at the wrong time of day? Then again, I'm usually not good at recognizing when I'm tired anyway since I rarely sense it until my eyes start to water involuntarily.

Please read or skim the descriptions below the poll and approximate as best as you can before voting. (If you disagree with any of my character interpretations, feel free to comment.)

Hephaestus (or Kyma) - Can and will set their pride aside to help others. E.g., Hephaestus held back and did not stand up to Vulcan in order to save his fellow Evers and spare them from further punishment. He took the selfless way out, instead of going after personal satisfaction. Both he and Kyma care for others, and in doing so, save themselves, too. Yet, they also seem willing to sacrifice themselves. "All against Evil" mentality.

Hook (or Midas) - The "neutrals." These two get their own category, slightly outside of the Kyma to Rhian spectrum. Will save himself first if he has good reason to neglect others. Is willing to betray, lie, and cheat, yet cares for those specifically aligned with him. He cares for those on his side (sometimes, meaning only himself) and that excludes everyone else, the masses. Has an "us vs. them" or "us against the world" mentality.

Rise Rafal - Mostly "Good," or if not Good, honorable on some level, but cannot set his pride aside. Slightly narrower than the Hook category. Deserts and tortures everyone with almost no qualms. Yet does possess a conscience. Has a cynical mentality of: "I will save myself and hang everyone out to dry, to fend for themselves" or essentially, the classic: "Every man for himself." Assumes the worst of human nature, under normal circumstances—unless someone gives him reason to believe they will do Good. Also: "So long everyone. I only care about myself, and will do nothing for you." Plays defensive sometimes, but only for himself with few exceptions (like protecting Rhian). Overall: "Me and my personal gain against the world" mentality.

Fall Rafal - Inclusive of the above description. Plus: Will actively, preemptively hurt (or endanger) others, when necessary (could be "necessary" in his mind). Uses people, and sometimes, treats them as disposable. Escape Clause: If he's feeling particularly vindictive or sadistic, as events take a turn for the worst, the definition of "necessary" will widen to accommodate him. Salient addition of the: "I'm always right" mentality.

Fall Rhian (or Marialena) - Self-serving to a greater degree than Rafal is. Believes other people are Good, that humanity is fundamentally Good (or that it can further his cause), and leaves himself vulnerable... He will lie, cheat, and deceive to save his own skin. Plays dirty. Will actively, preemptively hurt. He cares for himself, and will harm and tear down others if it will benefit him. "Me with the world until the world hurts me" mentality.

Idea: Every year, Rafal hosts a Q&A for his students that routinely turns rather bleak, and every year, he gets the pleasure of answering one of the FAQs his students always seem to ask in some capacity.

The reason why the little schemers always ask this all-important question all boils down to them wondering: how bad could their School Master be? It's their way of testing the boundaries and the School's disciplinary measures, covertly, but Rafal knows why they ask and he delivers wonderfully every time. It's his way of identifying the potential rule breakers of that year.

To elaborate, the Never students want to test just how far he'd go in punishing them, but they do not want to incriminate themselves or draw unnecessary attention. They want to know exactly how much trouble they would be in in their positions, so they present their question as a hypothetical about Rhian and approximate Rafal's answer to be worse as it could potentially apply to them.

Thus, the question one brave soul asks, after much communal stress over its wording, is this:

"School Master, what would you do if the Good School Master did something unforgivable?"

Rafal: [thinks for a moment.]

[The students are rapt and lean in to listen. Even Humburg is curious as to what the response could be.]

Rafal: [Not one of his facial muscles twitches.] Sell him to Bluebeard. Next question.

[Without fail, his answer always shocks the Nevers. His own brother! That's "how bad," and they definitely have their answer now.]

And, as per their annual tradition, Rafal tells Rhian about The Question and laughs while Rhian does not.

A continuation of this post.

⸻

[One day, Rafal's students upload a video that doesn't conform with his usual content, and it causes his viewers to start turning out conspiracies. Rafal had left his phone unattended in a classroom one day, and Marialena got ahold of it. She is the ringleader in maintaining the online presence he doesn't know about, and she curates all of "his" content.]

[A shaking phone camera turns on and starts recording a red speck perched on a branch. The sound quality is poor and it sounds like Rafal is filming inside a wind turbine. The camera zooms in and focuses on a bird, and Rafal's voice is heard as the camera stabilizes.]

Rafal: Log, the second, overcast Tuesday, four hours in, stationed outside the mortuary, sighting #1 of the elusive scarlet tanager. She's a beaut, isn't she?

[Then comes the sound of heels clacking on pavement, and a second voice chimes in.]

Unknown speaker: Who's a "beaut" that isn't me? Why are you wearing that welding mask? And what are you doing behind that shrub, Rafal? You told me you were taking a stop at the mortuary, and said you'd drive us to Rhian's luncheon.

Rafal: [groans] Quiet. Just wait a little longer and I promise I'll get you a new set of earrings. I'm trying to get it on film!

Unknown speaker: That bird? I've been waiting four hours in your car, you know, thinking that all along you were checking the thermostat, so your new "acquisition" would be properly refrigerated, and now, I step out of the car to powder my nose only to find you out here! Doing God knows what in that contraption!

Rafal: I didn't want to get a sunburn and this mask was the only thing available to cover up with. The electrician must've left it last time he came around to check the lighting in the vaults.

Unknown speaker: You should've listened to me when I told you to buy a sunhat from this season's catalogue, darling.

Rafal: Please just stop talking so loudly—we can discuss this after I get my recording.

[The bird flies offscreen in that instant.]

Rafal: Shoot. Look what you did.

Unknown speaker: Hmpth, well, your neck looks as red as the silly bird of yours.

Rafal: For the last time! It's not silly! If I'd gotten useable film without all your wittering on, I could've sold it to the natural history museum.

Unknown speaker: Goodness me, if you keep pursuing hobbies like these you might as well be a fossil yourself.

Rafal: It's gone. I've lost it.

Unknown speaker: Oh, boo-hoo. Can we leave now?

Rafal: No. There's a nest. It might return.

Unknown speaker: Rhian will be mad if we're late.

Rafal: The luncheon won't start 'til we're there. Rhian always waits for me.

Unknown speaker: Fine. Be like that. Marry your rare bird instead of me.

Rafal: I never said I wanted to marry it!

Unknown speaker: Well you're spending more time with it than at your own wedding shower!

Rafal: Wait. That's today?

Unknown speaker: Yes.

Rafal: ...so that's why you told me to wear a suit.

Unknown speaker: And you've mucked it up with-with dirt and worms, and, and—what is that? EEG gel?

Rafal: Liquified organs and vitreous fluids. An eyeball burst on me.

Unknown speaker: Oh, eww. We can't go one day without you soiling something, can we? At least it's not blood this time.

[There's a shuffling sound and the phone falls to the ground, screen going dark.]

Rafal: That's it. I quit.

Unknown speaker: Oh, no. Are you sure?

Rafal: Sure. Let's be fashionably late to the luncheon and give my brother a heart attack.

Unknown speaker: Finally. Remember, you're a host this time. Try to socialize with our guests.

[There's a scraping sound.]

Unknown speaker: And, you're not bringing that tripod on my watch. There won't be any birds indoors.

Rafal: What should I do with it then?

Unknown speaker: On second thought, you could use it to film the guests.

Rafal: Would it get me out of greeting duty?

Unknown speaker: Might as well do it myself—you look too slovenly to do it now.

Rafal: Deal.

Unknown speaker: Lovely. I'd kiss you if you weren't disgusting. Oh! Look at that—your phone's still filming.

Rafal: Hell. Is it—

[The recording clicks off.]

Idk why, but you give off eldest daughter vibes

Interesting. I'm not sure if I'm interpreting this right—is this a reference to birth order psychology? I find this a bit funny because while I technically am the eldest daughter, I'm also an only child and therefore, was almost always the youngest person among my adult relatives. Literally, nearly all of the relatives I most frequently interact with to this day are over sixty.