Ghost Town

Hi! I figured that after seeing your wonderfully in-depth reviews and hearing so much about your writing (specifically this fic) from a number of folks I look up to, I'd check it out, starting with chapter one. Because where else can you start?

Actually, you could start with the title, which has plenty of meaning. One of these meanings is quite evident just from the first chapter: Mahogany is a ghost town, in that it is quite literally haunted by Tacoma's ghost. She has been murdered in cold blood, and now her ghost lingers in the town. This in itself lends some credibility towards other meanings -- like, that Mahogany is, in a sense a ghost town; in that it has been abandoned. Of course, it hasn't been abandoned by people (though it is small, Jodi makes reference to its community being a tight-knit one where everyone knows each other), but something is not right if there has been a murder in this quiet town. Or that Mahogany is "coming like a Ghost Town", in which opportunity is nowhere to be found in this town due to an indifferent government and a dire economy, thus leading to anger and fighting among the youth; given that this fic is set in the mid-70s, a very bleak time (as noted by that brief recount of ongoing world affairs), and that a recession looms over Johto, I'm going to speculate that this is partially what this is in reference to. Regardless, it's a very apt title for this, and emblematic of many themes presented by this story (possibly, speculating only off the first chapter).

Something else that is dealt with in this chapter, in such a manner that I'm going to guess is a major theme in subsequent chapters, is Jodi's gender. The premise set up is a fairly simple one -- she's coming home for the first time as herself -- but it's done impeccably here. In any context, coming out to folks at home is going to be quite a significant personal event; this is no less true when that home is a small rural town in the mid-70s. And especially when that coming out happens hours after Tacoma's body is pulled out of a river, and doubly especially when it takes the form of being blurted out while processing this news.

Jodi's family is accepting of her, though, even if it is a lot to take in -- and the scene that this happens in is a deeply touching one. On its own, it stands so well; there is an excellent description of the "raw emotion swirling around the room" and that their shock was akin to her own, "brutal, paralysing." This is a perfectly normal response to the situation, because it's a situation that carries so much gravity. Moreover, her father's heavy language carries a lot of weight, given that her mother can't tell him off for it as she's so floored herself. Yet there's no hostility, just shock -- and subsequently, questions; Jodi is  very matter-of-fact about it, which makes a lot of sense, given that this is the reality she's lived with for about a year, and also that it's such an awkward situation. Her parents love her very much, which is shown prominently throughout this chapter, and they all share an embrace. But what makes the scene stand out so much is how it relates to the context of the story. Because regardless of her coming out, Tacoma Spearing is dead. This line is repeated throughout this chapter, and it is an accurate depiction of grief; even after she's had the initial swell of emotions regarding it (the scene in which she reminisces over their relationship is done so well, by the way; they were childhood friends, and even if they drifted apart quite a lot over the years, it's evident that Jodi still held her dear), the fact remains at the front of her mind, making its presence known on a regular basis. Tacoma Spearing is dead. And yet the fact that Jodi can live in her own skin now, the fact that her parents took her news well and that she can live as herself among those she holds dearest is some solace. It's a major personal triumph handled with more than enough weight and dignity to make it emphatic and beautiful. 

There's also the scene with Ella, too; she's a bit quicker to catch on and digest the news than her parents, and there's a bit of dry humour in how it's dealt with ("You can just do that?" "Yeah, you can.") that makes it so endearing -- speaking of endearing, actually, the whole style in which this fic is written is so engaging and personal that it's hard not to get sucked in; the thing that best exemplifies this for me was the "(she won't say this)" exchange Jodi has with herself early on in the chapter. But aside from the technical side of things, there are a lot of details about the world this is set in that make it stand out in that regard, too. Take Virgo, for example; Virgo comes up in the middle of quite a heavy exchange in an attempt to lighten the mood. Jodi is clearly a knowledgeable character, and so she reflects that it should be obvious that Virgo is hibernating. This gives us an insight into Ariados as a species, and relates it back to Jodi's family. Even in light of such a heavy day, family is family, and it's nice to have them when things are hard.

This leads me onto the final scene of the fic, which links me back to the beginning of this review and Tacoma's ghost. There's that description of her dream, first of all, which is very vivid and immediately sets a dark atmosphere for proceedings; the emotional aspect of it immediately surfaces, too, in that Tacoma's dead, her life has changed immensely since her childhood years, Tacoma's dead, life and time will ceaselessly march on in spite of this, and Tacoma's dead. Yet it soon becomes clear that she's not entirely dead, and even though Jodi doesn't know this, she takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of this, because who is she if she dismisses the cries for help she hears as a psychic? So she investigates, and the imagery of the dead of night coupled with her traversal of the cold masses of snow builds tension superbly well as she ventures into the night. There's the moment in which the confusion reaches a climax in the breaking of her bond with Lothian, and then it all becomes clear as the voice identifies itself as Tacoma's in an excellently done cliffhanger.

And I haven't even mentioned Lothian yet! He's such a good boy, and I shall love and cherish him dearly. I'm a little jealous of Jodi for having such a good pal, tbh. 

Overall, this was one hell of a first chapter, and there's a few things I didn't even get to talk about (like, how Jodi's deadname is approached so tactfully while still managing to be a pretty compelling plot element that promises to be explored thoroughly) because there are just so many positives to go over. I'm very excited to read more of this fic, and indeed of your work, and I cannot wait to see how this murder mystery unfolds.

(The closest thing to a negative that I have is that I've been listening to the aforementioned Specials song for about an hour while writing this review, and I'll definitely be hearing ska trumpets as I sleep tonight, but that's definitely a self-inflicted wound and also not really a negative.)

i;m gonna kick this contributor's ASS

Chapter Two starts off with a bit of an introduction to Tacoma, specifically that she's lost -- which is a killer opening line, by the way -- and that she has a strong disdain for Keith. Which is fair, given how he's described; "jumped-up little prick" isn't really an inaccurate description given how vague and condescending (those constant references to "your uncle") his dialogue comes across. The rock is a focal point of the chapter, for reasons that become explicit later on but is certainly hinted at: a cracked rock given as a gift from a Ghost Studies professor to an Extradimensional Research one? It can only be Spiritomb, which is a very interesting concept and it's criminal that it's not really explored much in fanfiction. Because, y'know, I can't imagine that being trapped in a rock with about a hundred other souls is particularly nice. Also, it makes for an interesting description of the murder from Tacoma's point of view, in that it's very sudden and disorienting -- I suppose it's when she suddenly switches from being in the human world to being in the rock, but it's treated as though it's when she's dragged down at the end of that passage by whatever lurks there. I'm genuinely not sure when you'd say it actually happened, but that definitely works here, because dying and becoming a ghost isn't the smoothest transition, is it?

Then we pick back up on Jodi's reunion with Tacoma. It's never really occurred to me that a Spiritomb could fit into somebody's hands, really, but it's a strange image; even stranger is realising that you're just a disembodied head bound to a rock by some purple mist. As is explaining to your childhood friend that she's dead and her body was found in a river, and the emotional toll that last one takes on her feels very real. Not just because, you know -- death -- but because of the immense change both of them have gone through since they last met. Jodi is trans, and Tacoma is... well, dead. Or, to put it far more eloquently:


That's an absolutely killer line and I love it. 

The next section of the chapter gives us more of that reunion now that everything's settled (to an extent, because situations like this don't just settle) and, arguably more importantly, more of that Premium Lothian Content. What a good pal, I love him. There's more exploration of what it means to be an empath, for one, and I really like the lore you've given it; of course it's something that'd take up a lot of energy, and I can't imagine it'd be good for your diet as a result, so Jodi being a ravenous eater both makes sense and also strikes a chord (because honestly, even though I'm much less psychic, I can relate). I am distraught that Lothian can't eat chocolate and am starting a petition at once for Noivern-friendly candy, though. Joshing about aside, it's very poignant seeing Tacoma struggle to come to terms with her situation. Nobody should be expected to, really; dying and becoming a Spiritomb isn't a thing that just happens, and it must take an incredible amount of strength to even comprehend living with it. Tacoma's still vulnerable, and there's things she isn't willing to talk about, which is completely understandable and is helped by Jodi being a great friend.

I also appreciate Tacoma trying to use humour to help deal with it in the next part of the chapter, when she's all alone and left to explore what it's like inside the Spiritomb realm. The thing that stood out to me especially was her little jibe about Ghost Studies finally being useful; she's not wrong, really, and it is a funny thought. Of course, laughing is hard when you're still coming to terms with being a ghost trapped inside a rock. A part of that involves realising that she never comes back -- an unfortunate side effect of doing Ghost Studies would be facing the realities of being a ghost, wouldn't it? Her family just assuming her train is running late, waiting to see her for Christmas only to get the news. Great decision leaving that mental image to the reader instead of showing it to us, because it's not something she'd ever see -- and I think that's all the more painful.

Lothian is still adorable, by the way, as he's described as being basically on top of Jodi; I love how affectionate he is. Yet this chapter does a good job of keeping a consistent tone, especially after such heaviness, because we are immediately contrasted with Tacoma and Nikole, who will no longer get to share that wake-up ritual because Tacoma is dead. Speaking of changes, Tacoma learning that Jodi is... well, Jodi, is also a poignant moment. It's the 70s, after all, so it's fair that it takes a moment to properly sink in, and her being reminded of the magazine she read -- thinking that it's not something she'd ever come face to face with, until it was -- is also excellent and very much grounded in reality. It takes some getting used to, but it's just a fact of life that she's Jodi now.


: ^(

The last leg of this chapter, then; there's that theme of Tacoma properly getting her head around Jodi's transness, and also having a bit of a gay panic too -- which I can respect and is adorable! Sure, a bit of it is still general panic -- more focused at herself, because this is her first experience with a trans person and though she knows that this is fine, Jodi is who she is and that's okay, she's still getting used to it and doesn't know how to react to a lot of things. Writing the whole 'understanding and generally successful coming out' thing from the perspective of the person who is being come out to is a genuinely interesting perspective on it. Anyway, in contrast to all this change is the equally heartbreaking prospect of things staying the same with the library and the people in it. (I've gone 1,000 words without a musical reference, I cannot help myself; I get strong The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society vibes from all this reminiscing about small towns and their unchanging ways, and to quote "Do You Remember Walter," how "people often change but memories of people can remain." And I love all of that because it's one of my very favourite albums.) Anyway, then we get to the explicit reveal that, yes, Tacoma has been Spiritomb'd. Everyone, including the Spiritomb here, has a viscerally negative reaction to finding out about the story of Spiritomb -- which is fair, because honestly, there are certainly happier stories -- but Tacoma and Jodi also have negative reactions to the writer of this book proceeding to shit all over Spiritomb as a species. And I can agree with that; I stand by what I said earlier, I'll kick this contributor's ass. But we get directions on where our protagonists are going next: to find out about all of this, about why this rock was important, and to catch the killer.

Overall, this was a properly excellent chapter and I really liked it; I know you've described this as a "murder mystery, but not really" and I'm very intrigued to see how the mystery develops and how it, err -- doesn't. I'm so excited to read more of this whenever I have time! :>

On chapter four, and as it turns out, there is a lot to say about Con, isn't there? As I said earlier, small-town cops who were formerly wee shits in themselves usually lend themselves to being interesting folks, and this guy is no exception. By which I mean, it has taken me no less than three reads of this chapter before I was finally ready to start writing this up -- and it's a very good chapter, to be fair; one that I've beat around the bush for long enough. Without further ado:


We start with quite the understatement, it seems; the first section of this chapter isn't terribly long, but it tells us a lot about Con from the off. Takes his job seriously, even if that job is rarely that serious; unfortunately in this case, it is. His dedication to keeping the town safe is admirable, he's blunt and something of a miserable git, and he's very no-nonsense. When he's got a job to do, he will do it.

And the job he's left to do is not a happy one, unfortunately. Leaving the breaking of the news to her parents four chapters in is a good choice; it's something I wondered if it was ever going to happen, and around about the end of the last chapter I just kind of assumed it wasn't. Nope! It feels authentic in that regard, because it's something nobody wants to be involved in but is also an inevitability. Right from the off, they know what's happened; the way that their reactions are written are painful to watch -- grief has a way of reducing people into rubble, and this is a particularly harrowing description of that; there's nothing more painful than losing a child, and that pain is captured in some nice turns of phrase. Not an easy read, but hey-ho, it has to be done, doesn't it? And Con's right, that doesn't make it any easier.

It doesn't get any easier in the fic, either, because we're met with the morgue -- and Tacoma's body. Con's not having a great one, is he? (Side note: I do like Ishihara's backstory a lot, especially that contrast between Mahogany as a whole just accepting her and her Froslass with Con's own bigotry against Jodi, but more on that specific point later.) We do get something interesting from this sordid ordeal, at least -- she wasn't strangled as first thought, but rather was electrocuted. She didn't suffer at least, which is a small solace? There is that massive question of motive, though, if there is one -- but then in the grand scheme of things, it feels a bit insignificant, because to borrow a phrase, Tacoma Spearing is dead. We also learn about her history of self-harm, get a rough estimate for her time of death, and that's that. Which is fitting.

The imagery of all of these police officers having their partners out and by their side is a pleasant one, I have to admit, though in these circumstances they can be forgiven for taking breaks -- we also have that massive lead in that the search is on for an Electric-type Pokémon (or at the very least, something that can use an Electric-type move like Charge Beam). It's also really interesting how the financial situation of Mahogany, 1976 plays into the investigation -- there are a lot of things to consider, and it all comes together like a great big jigsaw puzzle, doesn't it? I've noticed this is the only Con-POV chapter (barring maybe the ensemble but hey who knows?), which kind of saddens me because the prospect of seeing two different parties piece everything together would be a nice one... but then it's inevitable that Con and Jodi would meet about this; it's a small town, and Jodi is (was) Tacoma's best friend.

And this is indeed where that transphobia and homophobia comes in, isn't it? Like I said, it's really interesting that this comes up in the same chapter as Ishihara's backstory being mentioned, because there is that contrast: Ishihara is accepted as Mahogany folk, because she's been there for so long, but Jodi? Con speaks about her with disgust; she's unnatural, that type of thing doesn't happen here. Toby even has her down as a "homo" -- which Con looks at him with a bit of disdain about, not that he disagrees. Which is genuinely interesting to me, and really sets this fic apart: a lesser author would have used this for shock value, treated these characters like one-dimensional villains, tried to brush over it completely. Here, it's shown authentically and contrasted with other behaviours that imply there's real opportunity for change and growth -- yet it's not excused, either; it's quite clearly depicted as being shitty, because it is shitty. His understanding of it is rooted in misconceptions and clearly flawed logic, and he doesn't make an effort to change that, he just dismisses it as an "or something" and continues to be disgusted by it. Which is an unfortunate reality. (It's also very interesting that it's the cop characters who are the first people we see vehemently reject Jodi while also knowing full well about her situation, mind you -- and he doesn't really get any credit for not letting it get in the way of his job, because being impartial in delivering justice is his job.)

More info about the pen, and Nick isn't exactly the most reassuring character -- rightfully, question marks are raised -- and there's all the more evidence that this wasn't premeditated. It's clear that all of this is taking its toll on Con, though, and he's a very interesting character because it's evident how much he cares about the town. It's to a fault, because as much of a miserable old man as he is, he's certainly willing to prioritise its needs over his own. He's clearly stressed, and it's showing. For his own good, he should take a break, really.

Nikole! We get a glimpse into more of Con's own past, and then we get the point that Nikole could well be witness in a murder. So that means that it's time to call on Jodi, and there's that conflict in him once again; it's such a tense and uneasy scene that I really don't know what to say about it. Which works, I will say, because it's certainly an interesting perspective -- and once again, credit for not really doing anything that absolves him of blame, because he is still a bit of a bastard for this. There's that contrast between Con and Michelle as well; she took to Jodi with ease, he's not really doing a good job at hiding how disdainful he is... all of these contrasts are dead interesting, and there is that hope that he's capable of changing his ways? We wrap this up with us getting another lead -- the chapter house.

I apologise if this review was a bit choppy to read, but overall I did really enjoy this chapter; it was an interesting perspective to see things from Con's perspective, and the structure of Con's inner monologue plus his dialogue with Jodi certainly helped to make the subject matter of the latter half of this chapter an uneasy read -- which I have to give you credit for, because it's very rare that someone tries to write something like this and pulls it off so tastefully. Con is definitely one of the more interesting and unashamedly flawed characters of this type, and I'm so very intrigued to see where all of this leads.