It’s interesting that you worry that your Baralai is too dark, because I always wondered if this Baralai wasn’t dark *enough*. My conception of Baralai is as a man with a conflicted spirit: brave and principled, yes, but also ambitious. Always hard to manage these balances…

Picking up again. I’ve discovered a great way to read — copy / paste chapters into a text-to-speech app and listen during my daily therapy. (I kinda know how Nooj feels, though ‘artificial limb’ is a lot more heroic than what I’ve got).

Which reminds me, I really like how you’ve portrayed Nooj’s pain and physical challenges, and the extent to which he does and doesn’t let his friends help him. I can’t help thinking that ikonopeiston’s own experience is showing here.

I was going to remark that Paine needs to slap Nooj for clamming up to hide his own weakness, and suddenly I’m thinking — gee, that sounds familiar. Sometimes you give into the temptation to whinge, but often, you don’t want to admit your weaknesses because you feel guilty for leaning on, burdening loved ones. Plus, you fear not being able to take care of yourself, and you feel useless/worthless when you can’t. It makes it hard for you to accept help.

I had been thinking Nooj was just being stupid in a very male way, but I hadn’t considered how his physical problems would make him reluctant to burden Paine with his troubles.

Besides that, I’m really enjoying the dynamic between Gippal and Baralai. Your Baralai is such a good soul. I’m frustrated that I wound up with a plot that added a dark aspect to him, though his story arc should bring him back to this. This *is* what he’s like, a brave and very principled young man. Like Paine, I’m worried about him!