I am Paloma

I am Paloma. I moved out of my parents' house this past week. Today, I am going to build a house. (he takes a train) "You see, I was born without arms or legs, and with no heart. So I had to cobble them together out of things I found." "Oh, that's fascinating! Then what do you identify as? What should I call you?" (he gets off the train) "Just Paloma." He hikes. Stop, oh, traveler. I was transformed into a squirrel for my bad deeds. I am injured because I am not used to this life yet. Will you help me change back to a human? Paloma mends the squirrel's leg mend mend "I'm afraid I don't know how to change you back, I have no abilities. I can only build body parts. My arms are made of sand, and my legs are made from the bones of a boar. But my heart will ache every day thinking of you. I hope you find forgiveness." "Curse you, ugly thing. You are only half a man, and you give me but half a favor. I will never forget your wickedness!" A beat. Paloma gathers some twigs, some bark. He starts a fire. "Before I left, my mother told me to take care to never speak to her again. I send her letters, for it seems the right thing to do, but she never responds." A young handsome man arrives. "Oh god, is that a pig?" "No, it is only me." "Forgive me, that was very rude of me." "Not at all, a pig is a lovely creature. Very intelligent." "Now that I am closer, I can see your face is quite beautiful. In fact, I am enraptured. I could spend my whole life looking at it, if I am not careful." "Stop. You're making me blush." "Here, before I leave. It is my boat. It broke while I was on my way here, but it will suffice as a roof above your pretty head." They hold hands. Cut to Paloma after building a house- half boat, half made by himself. Paloma holds a letter as he sits by the fire, wearing a coat made of animal hides. It reads: "Dearest Paloma. Am in urgent need of your help. Have left my wife, but forgot to tell her goodbye, for I had no reason to leave. Will you kindly draft her a letter explaining? Much thanks. -your enraptured traveler" Paloma sighs. He drafts a letter at his desk. He sleeps in bed. The seasons change. "Did you write me this letter?!" Paloma is sipping at a soup when this voice comes in. His house is very well built now. Paloma steps outside, holding a machete, followed by his faithful dog. "My god, what is that, is that a pig?!" "Alas, it is only me." "I am sorry your husband left you." "Can you imagine?! It is unjust! Man is cruel! Man is absurd! From the day of my birth I have been wronged!" "I can feel it." "Sorry to have bothered you." "Not at all. It seems quite difficult, the life of a wife." "It is." (the wife leaves) A year passes. A beast comes in the night, while Paloma sleeps. "Knock knock! Let me in. It is I, the squirrel whom you rescued but half. The forgiveness of man has entered my veins, and I have fed from the flesh of the fools what showed me kindness. I am back. Stronger than ever. I intend to finally kill you." "Golly." Paloma shivered in bed, hid under the desk that he built, regret filling his being like hot metal poured in a mould. What did he regret? he did not know. "Please don't kill me! It would be terribly inconvenient!" "Show yourself!" "I'm afraid that would not end to my benefit." The dog pulls at Paloma's sleeve- shows him a tunnel that she's dug. "Clever girl!" Paloma exclaims. They crawl underground, huddled up and shivering. "What did I do to deserve this?" Paloma crawled in that tunnel for weeks, surviving on worms and mushrooms that sprouted behind him. One day he heard voices above him in the tunnel. "Of course I told Paloma never to speak with us again, but" "it's awfully inconsiderate of her to NEVER write us." It was Paloma's parents! Paloma cursed under his breath. He had written them many times before, but they never read Paloma's letters! He crawled back to his house, despite his faithful hound's protests. When he arrived back home, the ghoul had shrunk into a worm, cursing Paloma endlessly. Paloma ate the worm, and continued to drink his soup, which was still warm. Paloma's dog licked his face.

Extended synopsis by Polly Guo Rough [[scripted]] version And [[visual notes]] Paloma is neither man nor woman. He was born without legs, arms, or a heart, so he had to build it from scratch. His arms are made of sand and his legs out of boar's legs. He leaves his parents' home, takes a train, and hikes into the woods to build a new life. On the way, he encounters an injured squirrel that claims to be a man that was cursed for his bad deeds. He begs Paloma to cure his curse, but Paloma can only mend the squirrel's leg. Paloma doesn't know magic. The squirrel, ungrateful, curses Paloma as he leaves. Paloma continues into the woods and begins building camp. A handsome young man wanders into Paloma's camp, mistaking Paloma for a pig at first. Paloma is not offended, for he is taken with this young man. The young man apologizes and upon closer inspection falls in love with Paloma. They spend some time together, and he leaves before their relationship goes further, giving Paloma his broken boat to use as materials for a home. Paloma is pleased. What a nice experience. Later, Paloma sits in a home built out of the boat and wood from the forest. He receives a letter from the handsome young man. Expecting a love declaration, instead the young man reveals he is married, but he's left his wife without an explanation, and he wishes for Paloma to write to his wife on his behalf so he will not have to face consequences. Paloma sighs and dutifully does so, not for his sake, but for his wife's. Months pass, and the wife abruptly arrives at Paloma's home, which is now filled with furniture and decorations- a real cozy home. The wife is at first furious at Paloma's letter, but then despairs. Paloma comforts her about the ills of men. The wife leaves, and Paloma is exhausted. Paloma gets a dog as a pet. At the end of that year, a great, ghastly beast arrives at Paloma's home. Paloma is in the middle of enjoying a bowl of delicious soup when he is interrupted. It is the squirrel that Paloma helped earlier in the year. He has come back for revenge. Paloma shivers in his bed, scared for his life. His dog digs a tunnel under the house for him, and they crawl underground for miles and miles, surviving only on mushrooms and worms. Finally one day, Paloma hears someone speaking above the tunnel he's dug. It is his parents. They are talking about him as their daughter, and lamenting that she never contacts them. Paloma is furious, knowing well that he's sent them many letters. He comes to a decision and returns back to his home in the forest despite the dog's protests. Paloma arrives back at his home, and by the time he's back, the beast has wasted all his energy and is now just a disgusting worm. Paloma eats the worm and finishes the rest of his soup, which is still warm. The dog licks Paloma's face kindly.

Will take inspiration from Moomins- the designs of the trolls and Little My have long been nonbinary inspirations for me: <img src="https://d1vxw9s9d8pjrr.cloudfront.net/static/images/licensing/character_mymble_family.png" width="500"> <img src="http://www.themoominshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Character-Page1.jpg" width="500"> <img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DOrAVFiW4AAx0ji.jpg" width="500">