Coming Together, Faith, Reflection

The scene in the church is probably one of my all-out favorites in On Black Wings. It comes again out of people's reactions to this terrible event, with the peoples and the religions of the world pulling together for the end of days, and in walks a somewhat clueless black-winged teenaged angel of death trying to figure out her role in the end of the world. Where does she go for answers? It's obvious. Or it should be.

It is a classic scene, straight out of a movie, and she has some of the best lines in the book here.

I could have went deep and intellectual with this scene and contrasted different belief's views on the end of the world, but instead I played it very respectful and almost lighthearted as a group of people of differing beliefs try to help her figure out her role in all this. The entire scene was just a thrill to write, and despite the number of characters involved, it came out pretty well.

Darthaniel was laughing at some of the lines in there, they are blatantly obvious observations but they sound real and like questions the people gathered there would ask her. They are all very maturely played, and when they start identifying the villains one by one straight from books of faith the fun begins. Here's a description of one of them? Did you see him? What did he say? It turns into armchair detectives, and the realizations they have were deeply poignant but presented in a non-preachy and respectful, yet entertaining way.

I went for a more lighthearted approach to religion and politics in this book. I wanted to be respectful and not cast blame, and to also put a positive message on my story for those who hold strong beliefs. There is a very positive message hidden in here, and it is more of a movie-like treatment and handling of the subject than something approaching a serious treatise.

Then again, this is the end of the world, to separate religion from that event would ignore the original material. I didn't want to be like the Hollywood movie that shows the end of the world and does not mention religion once. Religion is important and central to my story, but it is a vehicle for storytelling and not meant to be a message. The message is about growing up, our world, conflict, and the loss of control we all feel. Religion is part of that message too, it has to be, so it is both the vehicle for the story and it also plays a respectful role.

I borrow from the lore, so this part is balance and pays homage to the faiths coming together in a time like this, so it is needed and fun. It also shows a hopeful, peaceful cooperation and understanding I hope all faiths can come to someday. This scene does pay homage to movies like Independence Day and War of the Worlds where people put aside their differences to come together in tragic times.

She also has never been very religious, so it was fun to walk her through some of this, she probably wasn't the right person for the job, but again, there is a reason for that too as we soon discover.

There is a marked contrast here with the diner scene, but both scenes deal with her and a group of people. In the diner, she had no wings, here, she does. In the diner, she was more a victim, here she is more in control and assertive. In the diner, she was a survivor, here she is a defender of the innocent and also someone looking to take action. They are both scenes where she discusses what is happening to her, but in this one she is an active and interested participant in her fate instead of being controlled by the situation.

The church is also the point is also where the rollercoaster begins and goes all the way to the end of the book. It is the highest point of the ride, and it is all a downhill rush from here. Through the words spoken in this scene, she gains understanding for what is happening to her, and she starts forming ideas on how she is going to fight back - if she can.

She makes her mind up that she needs to rescue the fallen angel of death, Azrael, in this scene, and she comes to the realization she can't do it alone - this is a marked change for her, and it shows growth and understanding of her character. Not only is she throwing off the chains of selfishness, she is realizing the world just isn't about her and she needs to reach out. Rescuing Azrael turns out to be one of the worst decisions for her path and transformation as the use of force here done with dark intent, but the motives were good going in. She's trying, she's still failing in some ways, but at least she is trying.

She ends her time in the church looking at herself in the mirror, a metaphorically reflective moment that I wanted her to have. She went there, they helped her as much as they could, and she is alone in her world again. She put herself there, but she decides she can't go this alone, and she is off again, with a little more understanding and control.

Every scene builds, and the people in the church give her another view and better understanding of herself and what is going on. It is an important role, so it is a high point that adds clarity to her life, so I think in that it shows an equal amount of respect for all beliefs in this transformation, and it is a very fun scene.