I've been trying for ages to write this pet's story and just can't do it :P

The Man in the Planet

The "planet" is actually a person's (Henry's) mind, and the Man is supposed to be the personification of fear. I've never seen Inside Out, but I'm guessing it's sort of like that, except this fear is a lot more intimidating? lol

So basically my idea for his story is the Man telling Henry that he will never be able to get away from fear, like even if he overcomes his fear of one thing, there will always be something else to be afraid of, etc. Also love is fear's opposite/nemesis, so the Man tries to convince Henry that loving anyone (any kind of love, not just romantic) will always end up hurting him. Basically... the Man's goal is make Henry want to feel that it's safer to stay afraid than to face his fears and risk something even worse happening. (moral of the story incoming) Because a lot of times maybe it's more comfortable to keep doing what I/we are familiar with than to risk changing it, better the devil you know, etc. Except I'm not going to come out and say that because it would be corny.

Uh, so I don't know how to actually pull this off without it being corny. You can take a look at the profile to see the sort of mood I'm going for. The Radiohead song "Crawling Up the Walls" suits the character perfectly. Any suggestions at all would be appreciated, including examples of authors who write in a style that you think might fit? For some reason, I keep thinking of Kafka, although I haven't read him in ages so I need to give him another look.

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spoiler: this pet is actually a fan pet for a character in the David Lynch movie Eraserhead, so if you've seen it and/or Twin Peaks, please read on. But if not I still want feedback because I want his story to stand alone too. any ideas? lol

SPOILER (click to toggle)

Okay so basically what I say above. It will possibly be set before the end of the movie, but more likely after, as in the Man survived and is still lurking despite Henry going to be with the Lady in the Radiator (or whatever the hell happened there). And so it's a bit more complicated than "he's in Henry's mind," but that's the easiest way to explain it. And he really realllly hates the Lady in the Radiator since she's the representation of love XD

I also want to tie it into Twin Peaks by making the Man be part of the Black Lodge, and the Lady be part of the White Lodge. (You know, the whole fear and love thing.) I may cut that part out of the pet story since like I said I want it to stand alone, but I'm also going to post this as a fanfic elsewhere where it can be a crossover. My idea is that the Man doesn't leave the Lodge and go "hunting" like BOB and MIKE (or Mrs. Tremond even); instead, he's more like the Woodsmen in Fire Walk With Me who sits around and works machinery and stuff. Except he gets a shack instead of a convenience store, and he's all alone and pretty lonely tbh. (I always end up feeling sorry for the oddest characters :P) So part of his goal here is to make Henry stay so he won't be alone.

Anyway, if you have any suggestions to help integrate those two verses, I'd love to hear those too!

I see what you mean, so like not 'corny' like not directly mentioning fear or love story, making it more of a chilling metaphor like Radiohead's lyrics? :0

I was always fascinated by how hideous they made the man in the planet like he's this ugly guy in Henry's head, all alone and miserable and unloved. Idk if it would be worthwhile focusing on the landscape of the moon like planet, the man's peculiar appearance, the window, incorporate that into a lodge like structure?

(also good luck finding someone who has seen eraserhead to comment lmao xD such a niche movie isn't it? T_T)

Could follow a similar structure to the lyrics like...

I am the planet come alive in the cracks on your skin. I course in and out of your veins, a reflection of your vessel. I am the beads of sweat, the bloodstains, your tears, The punch, the kick, the gasp for air outside our home. I am the headbanging at three am, your every silent scream. And if you were to leave, only I would break my bones -- Because the world outside our lodge is barren, lifeless, It doesn't have the planet come alive in the cracks on your skin.

okay that sucks I am sorry you are the lit expert 8)

...tbh I think he's kinda hot, except for the skin condition. But then I think Judy's cute, so you can't trust my opinion AT ALL lol. (And then I looked up pics of young Jack Fisk and I feel better because he was nice enough looking.)

Anyway! Yeah, focusing on the planet appearance and connection to him and his appearance could work, since I do have all the planet stuff in his TC. (And I never would have thought of him being part of the Black Lodge until Peaks S3, but since they showed all those little outposts on that purple ocean it looks like the Black Lodge isn't any one place... so I feel like his little planet could be part of it too. Especially since Naido pulled that lever out in space and then Major Briggs's head floated by... such an Eraserhead moment :P)

And yeah, maybe doing something like what you did with the lyrics would be the best thing! I wish I could just put the Radiohead song up and let that be it, but that's against the spotlight rules :P The song is sooo perfect for him, and from what I've read, the song is literally about fears in people's heads.

I think there are actually a couple people around who have seen Eraserhead! And I know there are several Peaks fans with fanpets ❤ Don't know if come in this forum though.