#theres a strange colourful cat in a box. what are you going to do about that

[s4tj]

[randomafwritings]

Trust.

Gavin has never shared this secret with anyone. Nines is one of the people he trusts the most and feels as though he owes him an explanation.

-

This was inspired by this artwork on tumblr.

-

Gavin had a reputation for being a dick to everyone. He had two ways of dealing with his emotions, lashing out at others or age regressing. He discovered this through tumblr when he was a teenager and has done it ever since.

No one in his life has ever found out, mainly because he’s not trusted his previous partners enough to tell them. When he entered into a relationship with Nines, he expected the same. For his partner to be horrible and argue with him a lot until they broke up. Their relationship had been going well for a year and a half, which is one of the longest relationships Gavin had been in. They were discussing on whether Nines should move into Gavins apartment.

He didn’t want Nines to stumble upon his smol stuff and jump to strange conclusions, at the same time he didn’t want to tell him at all in fear of being rejected. Yet, Nines had to know.

He sat on his couch staring intently at his front door, waiting for a sign that Nines was close. He was anxious as hell but prepared to explain and probably get rejected. He got so wound up in his thoughts that he almost fell of the couch when a soft knock sounded through the living room. He composed himself and walked towards the door. Nines was about to knock again when he saw that the door had opened and Gavin was almost cowering behind it. He stepped aside and let the Android in.

Nines stepped inside and they both stood as an awkward atmosphere filled the space around them. Gavin attempted to speak but his words escaped him.

“You said you wanted to show me something. You said it was urgent and to come with an open mind. What is it that you wanted to show me?” Nines spoke, kickstarting the conversation. Gavin inhaled and went to fetch his phone. He brought up the definition and began to explain what kept him sane for so long.

“You see, it’s a coping mechanism of sorts. Your brain reverts back to the mentality of a child to protect from trauma and stress.” He was unable to finish his explanation as Nines silenced him.

“This is all too interesting, why are you showing this to me?” Nines asked, still not mentally connecting the dots.

“Because this is what I do. It’s why I’ve barely invited you to my house and when I do you only see my living room.” One of Gavins cats, Noodles, came over after picking up on his stress levels.

Nines seemed to have a far of look in his eye for a moment while his led whizzed a yellow/orange colour.

“Ok, that seems fine.” Nines said as he finished thinking.

“That’s it? There’s no questions, no misconceptions?” Gavin was shocked.

“No. I did a quick search and identify the type of coping mechanism that you use. It is common in people that feel as though they didn’t have a childhood and have mental health issues.” Nines explained his train of thought.

“Not really what I was aiming for, but sure. I’m just glad that you accept it.” Gavin murmured as he started rubbing his eyes, a tell tale sign that he was slipping.

Nines felt surprised by that answer and didn’t want to address it today, he simply wanted to make his boyfriend happy and content. He swept Gavin up into his arms and whispered in his ear, “Where’s your stuff?” Gavin lazily pointes to his bedroom while incoherently saying “closet”.

Nines carried his boyfriend to his bedroom and set him on his bed, at this point, Gavin was almost asleep due to how secure he felt around Nines. Nines has appeared back in the bedroom after momentarily disappearing, with all three of Gavins cats in his arms. He also placed them on the bed next to Gavin.

He went into the closet to assess what his boyfriend had been hiding from him. He found 4 different baby blue boxes. One contained onesies and footed pyjamas. The next box contained various types of diapers and related supplies. The third box contained small things such as pacifiers and pacifier clips, etc. The last box contained a large number of stuffed animals ranging from years old to recently bought.

“What age do you regress to and is there anything specific you wish for me to get out for you?” Nines asked politely. Gavin nodded while holding up two fingers. At this point he had stuffed a finger in his mouth that he was happily chewing on. Nines shook his head as he reached for what looked like the most chewed paci, it’s matching clip and an equally chewed soother. Nines has scanned the onesies and chose one that matched well the paci and it’s clip.

Gavin was almost entirely asleep at this point. Nines removed his fingers from his mouth and swapt it out for his paci. He proceeded to change Gavins clothes and attach the paci to the adorable onesie.

Nines manoeuvred them both to be lying under the quilt with cats surrounding them. It was perhaps the best sleep Gavin had gotten in years.

[jordantanevisualessay]

Nicolas Connor Barnes

My mom named me after the actor Nicolas Cage and I hate it, its horrible. Also my dad apparently named me after Sinéad O'Connor you know who she is? the one who sang “Cause nothing compares to you” that girl who is now a crack head so my dad just pulled her last name and put it in mine. Anyway that’s my name.

Tell me about your family?

My Mom’s family is a bunch of crack heads. My dad’s side obviously don’t know my dad, but I still keep in contact with my Aunty, Uncle, Grandma and Grandpa from that side. My mom was a single mom, she remarried. But besides all that they are all from Australia and just plain white. 

Describe your aesthetic

Extra , Boujee, Colourful would you say I’m colourful 

What do you mean by colourful?

Like I have a lot of colours, like yellows and blues and purples.

Oh like you’re colour palette?

Yes, so yeah I said colourful, would you describe my style as designer? Like is that a thing? 

What designer brands are you into?

Gucci, Louis Vuitton, love me some Prada, Dior, Chanel, Dolce, Versace, Bottega Venetta, Jimmy Choo, Fendi, I could be here all day.

So just anything designer essentially?

Of course

So obviously we have known each other since high school, and we have seen a lot of our friends change dramatically, so my question is do you think you have changed since high school up until now? Or even seen a change during high school?

I think I have definitely started to come out of my shell more, like I felt more comfortable to kind of wear what I want, I don’t give a fuck now, like I don’t care if you don’t like it, If I wanted to wear a fur coat to class bitch I will and I’ve done it. 

Through this project I have been reflecting back in year 9 till like both of us in our 2nd year of Uni 

Oh I had terrible style in year 9, actually I think we all did, we all thought we were hot fly and sexy.

How would you describe your sense of humour?

Certainly very dark and inappropriate, but also like I find very immature things quite funny. You know actually imma go real deep here, the reason I think I enjoy immature jokes is cause I never got the chance to be immature as a kids and that’s a fact. Hit the dong on the head with that. But yeah that’s the thing with you and I, feel like we both missed out on our childhood’s and kind of being a kid almost, so yeah that’s probably why I’m the way I am. I find certain stuff really funny but at the same time very mature for my age.

Do you feel like people don’t like that? 

Mainly people would just say oh you can’t laugh at that. But I would generally say it turns some people off but at the same time I don’t really care, I’ll do what I want.

In regards to your humour and perdsonality do you feel like you need to hold back at times? 

I just don’t care. If you don’t like my humour you can just fuck off somewhere else. Like what I find very self deprecating humour funny some people obviously don’t and like I find that very funny and if don’t like it its not my problem.

So tell me, what are your influences?

In terms of what like in life?

Yeah, before we get into like you’re aesthetic influences, I would love to know your life influences or even you why

Definitely my mother, 100% my mom and also just my self influence of wanting to do well for myself. But its definitely because of my mom I am where I’m at, she’s the only influence I need. 

What actually got you into designer clothes?

This is going to sound really stupid, but around the time of year 11 was when I started to become interested in it. And around that time I started watching, this is so terrible, I started watching you know house wives and all of their designer wear,  it was all a different world to me. So I would be like ooh I like that and would google it have a look at the website and find more stuff and then it was a continuous thing, each week a new episode would come out you would see it. Also a lot of the music I listen to its all about the Gucci bags and all of that. It wasn’t until about year 13 my last year of high school I started to watch more Youtube luxury videos of like unboxings, but yeah in year 13 was when I was like I really want these things but can’t afford them. And I actually started to buy fake designer items. And that was around about 6 months and then I stopped, got myself a nice little collection, then once we came out of lockdown the following year, I had all this money and I was like you know what I always wanted to go and buy something and that’s where it started and it hasn’t stopped. So now I don’t buy any fake designer items my stuff is real. A lot of people can call me shallow or whatever but in a way that’s what I put value and that’s my pride, happy and joy. 

Do you feel like you value objects more than people?

Yes omg facts, and they wont turn your back on you they will be right where you left them yesterday.

I know you mentioned before that one of your first designer influences was house wives, what actually got you into the show?

I still watch them, it was because I had a lot going on for me personally during that time, and for me that show even today its the same reason, you see a bunch of people fighting all the time, they go on holiday, they go shopping, and that is a life, not like what I want to have but a life you can almost live by curiously through, so I can put my shit on the side and invest in someone else’s drama, cause its not my drama so I can watch you fight and its not my problem. And it just spiralled out of control but like I have a picture of fucking  Lil’ Kim on my wall dressed in Chanel like she is obviously an influence on me and so is foxy brown. And if whoever asked who are your style icons and I know they are woman and we cannot wear the same things, I mean we could but it would be very strange, but those are my style influences.

I know in this day of age a lot of people are crossing those gender boundaries when it comes to style, is that something you would want to explore?

Like would I want walk across the street in heels, no. Thats not for me but I generally feel once I move out of home, cause my mom does make some comments on what I buy and decide to wear, but once I do move out of home I will be able to wear more. Im not huge on purses or anything like that not for me. Honey I sit there all the time looking at them, like they are so beautiful. But still not for me, but still there are some for when I do move out of home then I may be able to start looking into that more. I more kind of want to explore that unisex area of more feminine fashion but also masculine at the same time. I wouldn’t go for a purse which is feminine but I just want that balance. 

Would you use/wear a purse or like have them on display?

Like look at my Chanel bag I’ve never warn, but yeah once I do move out of home there are bags I do want like the Chanel Boy bag, its not a super feminine its more one of the masculine bags they have but it certainly not a ‘guys’ bag. It’s probably one of those things that I will grow into at some stage.

Theres certainly a scale of some kind of  masculinity and Femininity what are your personal thoughts on that and where would you fall on that scale?

Personally for me, Im certainly not the most masculine fellow out there but there are way more feminine people than me as well, but I would say I’m in the middle but leaning more towards the masculine. Im certainly in that middle point because there are some part of me that can be quite feminine.

So yeah back when we talked about Influences you talked about housewives and but then mentioned a bit about music so tell me more

I listen to a lot of current things when I was young like whatever Britney Spears had put out, whatever was just on the radio, we didn’t have Spotify or anything like that, and then it go into 2014 I got very interested in Nicki Minaj, she’s kind of into her fashion as well but I didn’t really take any notice of her. This is really strange but I found out about Lil’ Kim cause they both had beef, instantly liked Lil’ Kim more than Niki Minaj, and that’s when I began to notice she was a bit more out there. One of the first songs I listened to by Lil’ Kim the first line was “Being the first rap bitch to rock Chanel” and it was just very prevalent, and even all of her outfits and everything was very extra. 

What Is the main difference between Lil’ Kim and Niki Minaj? 

Honestly they are quite similar to each other, and thats why they had problems. For example Doja Cat, I almost would say Niki Minaj, Cardi B and Doja Cat are in the same box in terms of how they are very poppy, rappy. But Lil’ Kim is outta of the hood, and she’s never really done like pop music its very hardcore rap. Same with Foxy Brown, again all hardcore rap and even some of their music has heavy depth. I was thinking there’s a quote by Foxy Brown “And if you only knew I hold my minks at nights with cheap, Or no other hands can hold me right” Things like that are just like ouch, like I feel that. Obviously they are both very like into their designer labels so I was like me too. I just love that they don’t keep it PG and I can relate to that as I’m very outspoke myself. I just love me some hood music. 

Yeah and you just started recently going clubbing now too

Yeah I got to the point where I was like you know what I need to experience it at least once before I’m too old, and now I just keep going. I actually saw old videos of me slut dropping and back in that moment I thought I was hot as fuck but after seeing that not anymore.

What Clubs do you go to?

One of the first places I went to was Shadows which in enjoyed since they played early 2000s music I was all up in on that. Went to Ding Dong, it was creepy, didn’t like it, it was a very satanic vibe. It was an underground bar with a bunch of strip polls and shit like that, it was weird. Bar 101 is terrible, been once and never again. Went to Cassette for like 4 hours, Cassette was so much fun and then I went to Family Bar for like the rest if the night. But yeah my main bar/club is Family Bar. Even though there is just drugs everywhere shirtless people like where am I. 

What you mentioned before about once you move out and have more freedom where do you see yourself in that future ahead?

Hopefully I will be graduated by then. I really don’t think my style is going to changed its just going to be more of it. Alot more outfits, shoes, bags, hopefully some diamonds. Love me some diamonds. Me as a person, I don’t think I’m going to change much either, I say that because I look at everyone else I grew up with especially  from high school I would say everyone changed completely compared to myself, some for better some for worst. I’ve felt like I’ve been consistent with who I am, so I don’t think that’s gonna change. I’ve never had that rebellious phase that most of us goes through. I had to keep it real, having that childhood innocence taken from you and having to be mature early on, theres no room for that rebellious side, there’s so many bigger things in life than just vaping and doing that shit. But like I still have my fun you know, just have my head screwed on straight. 

How have you coped with this current lockdown?

I’ll be honest with you, I’ve really struggled with this lockdown. Like I just don’t wanna do anything, I will literally just sit here dead sad, so I just start drinking and I will just drink, like last night I got fucked. I’ve drank everyday, I’ve finished a bottle of grey goose in a couple of days. I’m just really struggling but I know once this lockdown is over, my life will pick itself over. Im not worried I will become like an alcoholic or something but its been rough. 

Tell me about your Instagram Lux with Nico 

Oh no, oh god, okay well its my Instagram page, which I haven’t on for a long time. It was a way for me to get into the community of designer lovers, like I’ve met some amazing people through it. Especially here in New Zealand, people don’t really get the whole designer thing.  My mom is always like what the fuck, why do you need this, and a lot of my friends don’t understand it either but they kind of accepted it but I do feel some sort of judgement from some people, they just don’t get it. So its nice to have that community not in a bragging kind of way like omg I brought a Gucci bag, and there’s other people excited for you and when they get something you get excited for them, and its a nice community to be apart of it. You get to see a lot of other peoples things and they get to see yours and you can get into those conversations. It’s nice but it always does has it dark side to it, its like a blog and you are wanting that blog to grow and they only way for it to grow is when you buy things. So I felt this kind of self pressure to be like “omg I haven’t gotten anything a new thing in like a week, what am I gonna post” so then I would go look at Prada like go looking for anything to buy just so I can upload something, to keep growing my account. Cause I did this everyday for awhile, and I just ran out of things. You look at other peoples accounts and they buy like Louis Vuitton bag like every week. I came to realise that was very fucking stupid, you should only buy things that you want and can afford. So yeah there is that dark side to it and you can go down that hole, you feel like you have to buy things for other people to look at. Which really it’s not what it’s about.

Do you wish to continue with that account and going into that social media realm?

I do, but I got this point where I ran out of things to post about. Like do I start posting pictures of the same thing but in a different angle? I mean I’ve brought things that I haven’t posted. But for me if i’m going to start posting again, I want it to be regular thing. And yeah I can post maybe weekly and space it out but you can’t really grow your account, you need to be very consistent if you want your account to really grow. I got to like 300 followers in a month, like I know that’s not huge and that’s even 3 times that what I have on my own personal account. After awhile the numbers were kind of slowish because you reach all the people that are interested in your shit. More people did come and I even had people like I had this girl who did custom designs on designer items and I had people like that who reached out to me, being like “oh we love your collection, we would love to do this for you etc” that’s stuff is nice and all but I did get to the point where I was like I don’t know what else to do here. 

Using your imagination is there anything else you would love to do besides posting of your designer items etc? Like even create your own stuff?

I would love to make my own collection of something, actually I would love to sell shoes, like design my own shoes. Would love love to do that, but then i’m like how would even start that sort of thing, would people even buy my shit. 

Would you say your favourite designer item is shoes?

Well, the only things i’ve brought this year have been all shoes. I mean I love my shoes, that’s my thing. 

And on top of all of that your studying psychology

Yeah I’m wanting to get into the Clinical side of psychology, I’m currently in my 2nd year doing a bachelor  of Psychology at University of Auckland. I think the reason of me wanting to get into that field stems from childhood things, like all of the people studying psychology are fucked up so. But yeah I would love to help someone else and give them that second chance. Currently at the moment we are doing a section on relationships and intimacy, I would love to be a relationship therapist that would be great, like that to me is super interesting. 

Why are you more interested in the relationship side of psychology? 

Don’t know really, just very interesting to me, seeing how relationships work through its ups and downs and all that kind of stuff. And for order for me to get into Clinical I will need to get a PHD and write a whole thesis, so I was kind of thinking of doing something on the lines of retail therapy, and I feel that would be very interesting for me to explore in a psychological level. 

So I know you are wanting to become a psychologist after your studies but do you think you would ever get into designing your own stuff like you mentioned before?

I would love to have my own brand or design something, that’s not a realistic goal though. You have to work fucking hard, everyone will say the work you put into is what you get out of it. You can put your heart and soul and even money all kinds of shit, but if no one buys you’re shit you’re not successful. So half of it is yeah people have to like it and want to buy it cause otherwise you ain’t going to be making shit. But if you go into a job in like psychology there is good money associated with and there is money for it, so for me that’s the most financially responsible decision. 

Were you born here in New Zealand?

Yeah I’m actually from Palmerston North, we lived briefly in Rotorua and then lived in Auckland up until now. I don’t really have a sense of belonging to a particular place, like Auckland yeah I grew up in the city and I have respect towards it but I don’t wanna live here, but also know that I’m very luck and very thankful for being in Auckland cause I don’t not think I could survive anywhere else. I know that sounds terrible but like Wellington I don’t like the atmosphere, Christchurch is the same. And anything smaller than that no thanks, we live in the city and I’m very thankful for that, we’re in the most established place in the country, and I’m grateful that I live here in Auckland. Im a mother fucking city girl. 

Do you wanna move outside of New Zealand then?

I know for a fact I do not want to stay here, I would actually love to live in Dubai or like Sidney or even London. Theres nothing really keeping me here in New Zealand, like I don’t have a huge family or anything and the opportunities here are very far in-between, cause I do feel like in New Zealand there’s a certain place you can end up, and no room for growth but I feel like in other countries there’s more opportunities, more money to be made and even more places you can go. So that my reason. 

Like you mentioned before about not having a lot of family holding you here, I know for a lot of people they are rooted to where they come from and have that connection what are your thoughts on that?

Yeah I just feel like this is where I live and that’s about it, I don’t see myself being here forever.

Do want that family aspect like in your future would like to start your own family?

I think so, I want to find a place where I can call my own, I mean you never know once you explore the world. Its quite interesting thinking about life like that. Yeah I’ve never realised how much your childhood affects you in your adult life until now. Especially of the way I am, that I’m very closed off. I do have that part of me that wishes for a family which I didn’t have growing up but then at the same time I’ve gone along time without it so why do I need it. Honestly I feel like would be a good parent but I don’t think I would want children, cause I would always try to do the best for my children and at the same time I don’t have real desire to have them. 

How are you with people Generally?

Oh still hate people, I think everyone is a piece of shit.

Final question of the day but what are your life goals? 

Having a job, be financially stable and just do the best I can for me personally. I know that sounds very boring and cliché but that’s the truth.

[mi4017]

Coraline, Henry Selick (2009)

the clip starts with an unsettling establishing long-shot of the “pink palace apartments”.

the colour scheme is very saturated: with the most prominent part of the frame being the central, house.

The palace - is in actuality a dilapidated mansion, renovated apartment complex; once a house for one family, divided into several apartments.

Something as vibrant sounding as the ‘pink palace’ is in actuality very dull, and victorian looking. Perhaps referencing the theme of empty promises, with the main character constantly stating their desire to “go back home”  

a tall, strangely proportioned figure is seen squatting on the roof. 

(strange greyish blue skin: long slim arms, and legs - burly, macho chest and a long moustache)

strange accent, speaking a different language - this film’s perception of a foreign man, is contorted - with odd behaviours, and appearances

As the car approaches, he cups his brow - actioning that he is watching them

new arrivals are of interest, nothing changes here in this apartment complex: everyone living there is contempt with the lifestyle they have; so Coraline’s arrival will disrupt this equilibrium.

he staggers, almost falling - shaking his fist at the approaching car, before crossing his arms, confidently - and jumping down to an unknown section, behind the house

the figure shaking his fist is perhaps a signal of things to come: that things are not what they seem, and this incredibly dull, boring looking setting is hiding darker tones

the camera pans lower, its eerily silent as the sounds of the approaching car and moving truck pull towards the central piece.

a descending scale of plucks on a harp play, as the figure on the roof disappears to an unseen place - behind the house, which worries the audience, as jumping from the top of the roof is usually seen as lethal.

the film is primarily stop motion: sense of controlled elements - with everything especially designed for the scene.

two, fairly normal looking, moving men open the latch to their van - filled with boxes, subliminally telling the audience the story: without having to directly tell them, whats happening.  In this case, that a new family is moving into the pink palace

they begin bringing furniture to the door, as a grotesque woman uses a stairlift to come to the top of the stairs: observing their actions, again reinforcing the idea that this community finds new arrivals an interesting, and unfamiliar event.

she waves, flirtatiously and giggles at one of the moving men, who takes no notice of her - their role in the story, is no more than to move the main characters into their setting.

the music begins to build up here, with more elements of the story falling into place - more instruments and parts of the soundtrack coming in.

the strings play a repetitive baseline, and a seemingly erratic / random melody is played on some kind of keyboard instrument, perhaps a harpsichord

with the job done, the men take their leave. 

this shot is framed so you cannot see the central character, signing off on the deliveries completion: keeping the audience in suspense of who this individual is, and the power they clearly hold over the (assumed) family, through them being not only the first of these characters we see, but the primary figure - signing off on important documents.

the fact this figure is hidden behind the door, could also be a hint that they are closed off, too focused on their tasks to make time for the members of their family.

she closes the door, swiftly: implying the duo to leave, but not before the man stops the door with his foot, and subtly holds his hand out, to ask for a tip: only to receive a single crumpled up dollar note.

looking at the house their moving into, the fact the drive a car, and the items of furniture that were carried: i ruled out the conclusion of them being too poor to afford tipping: perhaps the family is quite stingy with their money, focusing their spending on things that are necessary, as the figure behind the door neither thanks the men for their work, and had no intention of tipping them. 

it was only upon being forced to, that she spared a singular dollar: much to the man’s disappointment.

this sets up the idea that this mystery figure is the head of the family, and someone who is too invested with their work for other people, most likely: the family that surrounds her.

the moving van leaves, as a black cat enters the frame: an expressionist symbol for bad luck.

it’s tail is crooked, with jagged unnatural corners that build up its shape. 

the audience is conditioned to believe the cat is bringing with it bad luck, and that now that the movers have left: so has the safety of equilibrium… 

a door creaks, alerting the cat: as the camera turns to girl in a yellow raincoat.

the colours in this shot are very muted and grey - in contrast to the girl, with her blue hair and her bright yellow coat - she stands out amongst the greyness.

this signifies her as the primary focus of the film: the titular character, “Coraline”

the dull colour scheme, seems to me: as a representation of her perspective of the world, the colours show how she finds her normal life boring

it could also be a reflection of her emotions - perhaps, as shown through her mysterious authoritative figure; Her family life isn’t very happy, and moving has caused her to be in a bad mood - hence why she is going out for a walk, as most people do: to clear their heads, when in a particular state of mind.

Theres a noticeable music change when we first see Coraline enter the scene, from her perspective she is looking at the garden: what is congenitally a place blooming with beautiful natural forms, and life, is instead very uninteresting, and eery.

harmonic vocal music, accompanied by harp - enforcing quite a heavenly trope, about Coraline: reinforcing the idea of her being the protagonist in this story. the lyrics are unintelligible, as far as I’m aware: adding to the child-like aura surrounding our central character.

in one swift, decisive motion: Coraline snaps a twig from a discoloured bush, and strips it of its leaves, closing her eyes - and beginning a strange, emotive walk cycle - almost as if being lead by it.

in reality, this is a play on the myth of a “diving rod” a Y-shaped twig, or two L-shaped ones - that will supposedly help find underground water.  The rods are typically held in a position of unstable equilibrium, so that a small movement gets amplified into a big movement. Typically, the person that is dowsing holds sticks, and walks around a property in the hopes that the rods will dip, twitch, or cross when they walk over the underground water.  The dowsing rods do indeed move, but not in response to anything underground… They are simply responding to the random movements of the person holding the rods.

I like to think Coraline’s use of a dowsing rod exclaims that she is open to the idea of the supernatural, and settles us into the magical journey we’re to embark on - through her belief in finding water with just a stick.

the cat follows Coraline around, further showcasing that equilibrium is to be broken, and this girl is going to go on some form of journey that will disrupt the current flow of things.

the first line of dialogue is spoken, on her walk: she only talks when she leaves her house - perhaps showcasing a difficult home life, where she can’t be herself around the people closest to her, as maybe they don’t understand her.

the music evolves, with the strings from before now playing in a minor key, as Coraline fearfully runs deeper into the woods. as she gets deeper, large timpani drums imitating a fearful heartbeat the vocals from earlier, are played with - with the convention of what was angelic before, now sounding much more demonic: with three distinct pitches, perhaps signifying three as a significant number in the film… further in dissonant held brass chords play

the deeper she gets the more instruments join into the soundtrack: with this thicker texture, the situation seems more tense. this is supported through the overall composition’s change from bright and colourful, to scary and frighting the deeper into the woods Coraline wanders. 

perhaps her destination (towards the well) is an area of darkness, with all this surrounding scenery to compliment this idea.

Coraline stops dead in her tracks, inside a circle of rocks; perhaps an occult symbol - with her essentially being summoned into this world by the producers of the film

Coraline mocks the cat for not talking, perhaps setting up a convention to be broken later in the film

she also refers to her rod as “magic�� - again signifying the fantastical nature that the film is portraying.

a masked rider, on a bicycle (a play on the horseman of the apocalypse) with a skull mask (symbol of death) rides towards her, from atop the hill. despite the very threatening mask, it turns out to be a boy named Whibey - seen more as annoying than threatening introducing the idea that things are not what they seem: and you should “never judge a book by its cover”