I practically have the empathy test speech memorized.
So do I, which is odd, because otherwise I seem to have brought my superpower to bear on Bladerunner: I can't remember a damn thing about the film, especially the resolution of the plot, so the next time I see it it will be fresh and surprising. Admuittedly, it's been years, but sometimes this process takes a matter of weeks. (I remember the book a little better, but the book's nothing like the film.)
What I am saying here is that I am not qualified to critique this at all, and won't be until I (a) pick a version of Bladerunner to watch and (b) watch it.
That said! This works very well from my position of ignorance. You establish the setting clearly and in a way that is surprisingly visual for how few words you spend on it, even without having reader familiarity to lean on, in my case, and everyone is very much themselves. One of the things I enjoy about AUs is that just revealing a character's name in the right way can hit the reader like a truck, and even though I went into this more or less knowing "Damael"'s deal, the reveal of Sam's name got me.
no subject
So do I, which is odd, because otherwise I seem to have brought my superpower to bear on Bladerunner: I can't remember a damn thing about the film, especially the resolution of the plot, so the next time I see it it will be fresh and surprising. Admuittedly, it's been years, but sometimes this process takes a matter of weeks. (I remember the book a little better, but the book's nothing like the film.)
What I am saying here is that I am not qualified to critique this at all, and won't be until I (a) pick a version of Bladerunner to watch and (b) watch it.
That said! This works very well from my position of ignorance. You establish the setting clearly and in a way that is surprisingly visual for how few words you spend on it, even without having reader familiarity to lean on, in my case, and everyone is very much themselves. One of the things I enjoy about AUs is that just revealing a character's name in the right way can hit the reader like a truck, and even though I went into this more or less knowing "Damael"'s deal, the reveal of Sam's name got me.
Okay, now write more.