(sorry this ended up really rambly) This was so damn good. There are so many moments that the feelings I felt just overflowed into tears, both in the tender memories we explore of Laurel’s past to the existential revelations that we experience later on, it’s incredible. I also adore what you did the the text colors, you communicated so much with such a simple effect, simply inspired.
I adore Nasia and Laurel so much, getting to know Nasia in the flashbacks really shows just how insanely she must have loved Laurel to do the the whole spirit transplant thing in the first place and Laurel’s whole backstory is so intriguing with her seemingly magical powers and the star.
The ethics of this whole situation are so beautifully messy, I feel like you really captured some realistic emotional struggles for such a fantastical premise, it’s all so thoughtfully considered.
Spoilers
The journey that Darius goes on breaking down his toxic masculinity and becoming something else is so well written. While I haven’t personally gone through such a transition, (I find myself somewhere sort of undefined I guess?) seeing Laurel’s Journey mixed with what’s happening to Darius is just so so compelling. (roots of golden light, spreading through barren soil and churning it to life T^T one of like a hundred stand-out lines)Holly/Hollow was such a tragic character, It feels like she was some kind of unexpected precipitate in this alchemical reaction that is entirely innocent while simultaneously earning (and deserving?) both the ire and love of Laurel and Nasia. So tragic. Even her attempts at the tiniest bit of autonomy (like changing her name to Hollow) ended up being reverted. I suppose she’s still happy to continue existing though, so I’ll try to be happy for her.
I also found how Laurel treated Holly/Hollow after the process was completed to be very interesting, it’s certainly hinted at earlier in the story, but this is like a whole nother level of dom/sub stuff that is absolutely wild to think about.
Also, how you described the final subsumption of Holly/Hollow by using the shadowy memory of Laurel’s death and the knife was so beautiful. There are so many beautifully written moments in this story though, GAAAH!
Sorry, for all the rambling. Thank you for making this. I’m so glad this exists. More people should experience this piece of art.