Discussion (8) ¬

1. 
   Neil Robertson

   January 12, 2011 at 12:50 am | #

   You know, I want to comment. I really like to comment – a lot! But at this point in the serial, I find I’m just enthralled. I can’t begin to guess where this is all heading. So I probably should stay silent a bit longer.

   …Except for this: Young Velia, in this dream sequence, is positively haunting. Here, she is an intriguing blank slate, and the reader must try to interpret her with far too few clues to give us any hope of deciphering the meaning – which is the essence of dreams. I believe I can see one obvious interpretation, but even if I were right, I can’t imagine where the story would go, assuming that insight was correct.

   Huh… I thought this story was gonna be funny!
2. 
   Rina

   January 12, 2011 at 10:35 am | #

   Thanks, Neil! oh, and if you want funny, just wait. (I had to mix in some dramatic motivations for Velia — raised stakes make the funny more funny, when it happens)… stay tooned to laugh…
3. 
   Tom S.

   January 12, 2011 at 10:51 am | #

   Wow! It’s getting deeeeep! I kind of have a “inkling” (no pun intended), of where this might be heading….but I’m afraid to opine just yet, because you are so good at making us think the obvious, and then doing a quick “switcheroo” ! ….er, is there any way we can get some DNA samples??
4. 
   Rina

   January 12, 2011 at 11:18 am | #

   Tom! Ha ha… I think I know what you’re thinking.. but I can tell you this: Gianni is NOT Velia’s father. I have the DNA test to prove it! Gianni was best friends with her father, that I can tell you.
5. 
   Tom S.

   January 12, 2011 at 1:05 pm | #

   OK then….brothers…no; cousins…no; ah!: -”made-men”!.., with the “we are like BLOOD” reference!….hmmm, the plot, and the spaghetti sauce, and probably my mind, keeps thickening! Thanks for stirring it frequently!
6. 
   Rina

   January 13, 2011 at 1:32 pm | #

   Tom: nope
7. 
   Neil Robertson

   January 13, 2011 at 1:54 pm | #

   For me, it’s Vel’s pose in the first three panels – she seems to be lost and searching. The forest and the grown-ups are interchangeable to her. She might be looking for a parent or a father-figure, but Gianni (who, in his younger days, does indeed bear some resemblance to Fausto) may be a breakthrough recollection from her earlier days. I can’t tell if this is a foreshadowing bit or just a little extra characterization, but I can be patient.
8. 
   Rina

   January 17, 2011 at 10:10 am | #

   Thanks, Neil — That dream sequence is just my way of saying that Velia has her own reasons for wanting to be Gianni’s friend. And, yes, some of it is based on recollection. The simple fact is that Gianni is Velia’s connection to her father, whom no one in the family wants to talk about.