Agency

One of my pet peeves with humans is that they deny each other agency. The “I’m not going to tell her to protect her” trope is ridiculously common in fiction and it’s not uncommon in real life.

Everyone has agency. They should be allowed to make their own decisions, even (or perhaps “especially”) if I do not agree with that decision.

This doesn’t mean that every path can be followed. Decisions narrow future paths. That’s what “decision” means.

This doesn’t mean that paths cannot be truncated. The serial killer is making his own decisions and has agency. That doesn’t mean he cannot be put down for making those decisions.

That’s the problem with Kier (the town my werewolves are taking over). Nothing has happened there – in a MONTH – while they awaited the arrival of their saviors, without knowing that anyone, let alone our intrepid werewolves, was coming.

They’d be doing stuff. It may not be the right stuff, but they wouldn’t just be sitting around.

To a degree, even the ensemble cast has the same issue. They have been – and still are – doing stuff, but I don’t make it clear what that is. I hint at it, but there is no reason not to make it explicit. Marcy is an exception because she has plot destiny. Even the not-plot-critical (new definition of “NPC”!) characters will be doing something, though.

Interestingly, in the “in my head” version of the book, Pete (the farmer, chapter 12) was the first person to be turned into a werewolf. As it turned out, he may not ever become a werewolf. He hasn’t, yet, and the book’s almost over. And this is because he has agency. He has his own plans for his life and “become a werewolf” is not on his list. However, “don’t die” is on his list and he may end up turned to save his life. We’ll see.

I need groups in Kier.

There is the “the government will save us” group. They’re wrong. A month in, it should be obvious to everyone, including them. This group needs to be eliminated. Not killed, necessarily, but they will be obstructionists because if there is an external savior coming, there is no reason to do much of anything.

There is the “life is still basically normal” group. They’re also wrong, but less obviously. This group needs to be coopted. Normal stuff (e.g. food – and beer [Luke would be pissed if I didn’t mention that]) is still needed. They can be harnessed to serve plot needs. Pete was in this group. He’s already moved out of it.

There is the “awesome, we have super powers!” group. They’re not “wrong”, per se, but need to be brought on board. This is well under way.

I’m leaning a lot on denial. That only works to a point and I think I’ve reached it.

Unrelated note: I’ve been thinking that a lot of people die due to lack of meds. I’m rethinking that. If the System can nonchalantly change our intrepid heroes into werewolves, it can certainly fix a pancreas. A lot of people with chronic problems who would die without meds could simply be cured of the chronic problem.

Is “could” “would”? I don’t see any reason why not. It’s not entirely clear, yet, but the System exists to make things “better”. Why wouldn’t it cure people it could cure? If it’s going to the extreme of creating entirely new species (werewolves), fixing up a few people along the way seems not only reasonable, but expected.

This affects things.

For example, Zeke’s not entirely bleak nursing home becomes much less bleak if everyone is better, not dead. Sadly, it was such a neat solution to the housing stock problem. Now, I shall need to find another.

But, more people live. That’s good news, right?