When "space opera" meets "soap opera." (Icon by Leah.)
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Solar Wind
is a Slice of Life Web Original written and drawn by the mononymous Griffin. It centers around the adventures of Tawran Pawkadyer, a kind-hearted alien who finds themselves navigating the social structures of an American high school.
Hosted on Discord, a text-based social media platform, the story allows its readers to make various choices that drive the plot forward. As of 2019, it is on the third chapter of its second act.
Solar Wind contains examples of:
- Audience Participation: In a text-adventure-esque faction, the story leaves some of Tav's actions up to a crowd vote.
- Cool Shades: Chico's glasses are a defining aspect of her appearance.
- Cryptic Background Reference: Zeb clearly dislikes Umid, but it isn't immediately clear why.
- Earth All Along: As revealed in Act 2, Chapter 2, the far-off alien planet of Paucady, where Tav is from, is actually just the city of Chicago... 6,000 years in the future.
- The Hedonist: The majority of the cast is this to some degree, which is occasionally Played for Drama.
- High School Rocks: Played with - Tav has a remarkably enjoyable time at school, but they're never actually enrolled in any classes.
- Humans Through Alien Eyes: One of the story's central themes - the main character, an alien, has been sent to Earth to learn about how humans work.
- Interspecies Romance: Between Chico and Tav, as revealed by Chapter 5.
- Kissing Under the Influence: Tav and Chico in Chapter 5.Chico: i was horny, high, and hungry, whatever
- Next Sunday A.D.: Act 1 begins in early September of 2019; the series began in June of the same year.
- Official Kiss: Tav and Chico's in Chapter 5 cemented their relationship.
- Painting the Medium: Utilized frequently. Prominent examples include Chico, whose dialogue is written entirely in lowercase, and eventually Berria, who controls Tav's mind by splicing internal dialogue into the audience voting channels around the start of Act 2.
- Recruit Teenagers with Attitude: Ultimately, Tav, Chico, and Jaden are Earth's first defense against Berria turning the planet into a massive silicon mining colony.
- Rotating Protagonist: The story's focus switches from Tav during Acts 1 and 2 to Jaden in Act 3.
- Rimshot: Chico performs one to test out her new drumset.Chico: yo, jaden — tell me a joke!Jaden: Hmm... you ever try archery blindfolded?Chico: ...i haven't, no...Jaden: Oh, you really gotta. You don't know what you're missing!ba dum TISSSSS
- Time Skip: Act 2 takes place approximately 14 years after the events of Act 1.
- Two-Act Structure: Of the parallel variety. The more macabre tone of the second act immediately kicks into play once it begins.
- Wild Teen Party: Introduced though downplayed with Benji's party in Act 1, and played fully straight with Amaya's party in Act 3.
