I’m working on a scene for my novel, and though I more or less know how the character is going to react, I’m curious as to how real people would in a similar situation. So, what the heck, let’s make a poll out of it
Picture this: You’re single. And you met a person through some strange circumstances and both end up on the same “side.” (basically you have the same enemy who seems to be out to harm both your families) The other person is nice enough, but you’re not really sure how you feel about him/her. You’re not dating, and not really friends yet either. Flirting a bit, however.
After a while you’re annoyed by not knowing where you stand with him or her, you finally blurt out the burning question, “What do you want from me?!”
And they say, in a completely serious manner, “All I want is to disrupt the course of your universe.”
What do you think this means? And how would you feel (at least hypothetically) about someone you’re sort of, kind of interested in saying it – more attracted or scared off? Or maybe something in between?
This is sort of a silly poll, but thanks for playing along.
I would think they were a moron who was trying to say something they thought was profound but was in actuality very stupid. I would then probably laugh.
[spoiler]Islene cocked her head. “All I want is to disturb the course of your universe.”
The way she said it told me that she honestly didn’t think it was much to request, as if all she wanted was to buy some fried dough before leaving a fair. Surely the desire to change the direction of my life was no bigger a request, her eyes said.
In a way, the insignificance she seemed to place on it frightened me, but then I reminded myself that she’d been raised to believe that she was more than other people. She’d been rid of that notion, but just recently. It would take time before she began to accept, even comprehend, that like the rest of us she was a mere mortal. Not special. I’m sure she had no idea at all how ridiculous her statement sounded to normal ears. [/spoiler]
Second. Although I might laugh a bit nervously and then avoid them as much as possible. That’s ax murderer talk. (No offense intended, of course, elfkin).
I’m not sure that I could take such a comment seriously.
Aside from the amusement factor, I think I’d be more annoyed and maybe more scared off, than I was attracted to someone who would say somthing like that.
I can think of a couple friends who would say something like that–and it’s just as well they have married other friends of mine, I don’t think I’d like it.
If it happened when I was 15 years old, and the sayer of the statement was that dreamy-but-oh-so-moody guy with the long hair that fell into his eyes in 4th period study hall who would never talk to me even though it was OBVIOUS (to me) that we were soul mates cruelly kept apart by destiny (in the form of seating in alphabetical order, where he was in the front and I was in the middle DAMN YOU MOTHER, WHY DID YOU SETTLE FOR A “K”?), then I probably would have swooned right into a faint from the Supreme Drama of it all.
I wouldn’t find it attractive.
I would immediately question their need for disruption. Why does my universe need it? In what way do they intend to go about disrupting it? Why is this their only objective? Is disrupting my universe merely another way of saying they want to rock my world?
In my case, sadly the hotness of the female would outweigh my judgement of her strange use of vocabulary and sentence construction.
Yes, I am shallow. :eek:
I was once told that I’d altered the parameters of someone’s universe.
It wasn’t exactly a complement… it was just some guy in high school I knew who was shocked to find out senior year that I’d had oral sex before. I guess I was viewed as something of a goody-goody.
But that’s how he said it, “You have just altered the parameters of my universe.”
I thought it was funny.
I like the idea you have going, but the phrasing seems awkward… it’d probably be enough to say, “I want to disrupt your universe” or something that’s not as puzzling… either way it’s kind of a neat idea. I like the dynamic established between the characters – a total disconnect right there. Good stuff.
(sorry I know you didn’t ask for a critique. I write fiction myself…)
I think I’d be annoyed. I’d be like, “Why do you want to disturb my universe? You wanna make trouble for me? Screw up my situation? You think that’s cute? Because my universe? Already plenty disturbed just by getting up in the morning. I don’t need a wiseass like you trying to mess it up more. So either be nice or fuck off. Thanks.”
Yeah, I’d get a little Joe Pesci on their ass. Especially if I was feeling grumpy. Also, don’t like overly clever people giving me smartass answers to earnestly-asked questions. Probably comes from teaching teenagers.
I’d probably make some kind of snarky reply like: “A bolt of lightening could do that–so could a tse-tse fly. Not much of an ambition, really. I thought more of you.” And walk away. If she/he asked where I was going, I’d say “to put on rubber soled shoes and insect repellant.”
