Of course, I’ll be participating in NaNoWriMo this November. I’ll give you updates as to my progress and the chapter when they’re complete.
I now present the prologue to Dragonfly, by Ria Love and sponsored by Ornithopter Legend Studio.
Halloween Extravaganza! – pt.1/5 October 11, 2008
This is part one of a five part series for 2008. They’re parts, so they’re shorter than chapters (about only 1,000 words).
This year is the first year I’m having to write a Halloween Extravaganza (or any holiday special, in fact), so I’ll be walking new waters and hoping I’ll do well.
random post – love note? September 4, 2008
You’re within my reach but I can’t get to you. I’m too afraid. Why? Why can’t I just outstretch my hand and grasp onto your arm? Why am I so afraid? At this rate, I’ll never get to you. And you’ll never know!
This is an inner struggle of mine and how it’s difficult, in itself, is hard for me to grasp. It’s something new and something I’m not sure of. I mean, I can feel now. I don’t have to imagine what everything feels like. I can know.
It’s tiresome how my heart lurches and how I don’t know why. It feels like someone has grasped my heart and is holding onto it firmly, but tenderly.
The grip tenses, then goes slack and I’m back where I started: feeling uneasy. I’m in a rowboat without any oars to move by, and there’s no land as far as I can see. Where am I?
It’s impossible to tell me, you know. I’d probably deny it. And although admitting denial may be a first step, it’s an even steeper step to the next.
Can you, in one fluid motion, decimate all these unsettling feelings from my heart? You may be able to, but can you do it without pain? I’d like you to feel natural and at ease.
Oh, please! Why does this cruel world toy with me so? Such vile emotions that rock me and make me want to vomit. Unsettling, uneasy whines that crawl out of my cavernous chest, longing nothing more than to be loved! Loved by the one that it so deeply desires!
To hell with all these emotions. As if they matter, right? Would a wounded heart really distract me so that I can’t concentrate on any other topic? What situation is one that makes you feel natural? Because that’s all I desire: a natural you.
Peace keeping is not my style; deep down, it never was. Neither was being shy, but all those years of harsh criticism and put-downs has made me lap into an increasingly harsh self inspection; one that I do not need at times like these.
My cheeks flare up and colored like roses; beads of sweat begin to form upon my face; palms become slippery and wet with sweat. What raw emotion can rock me so? I demand that it be removed! I demand for it to never come back and make my body act like such a baby and in such a youth like way. How dare it!
This that I feel, is not what I want. You’re the catalyst that made me act like such, and now I forsake the feeling? The blessed feeling that never comes as true or as often as it should? Why must everything make no sense to me! Why does it all have to blend together for the sake of confused simplicity?
Overbearing waves of emotion flow through me every time I see it; those wonderful things that you bring with you. Hell, it is you. Why? There’s no reason it should, though nor do I think there be any reason it should not. Would this be the right time to say my love is a paradox? Perhaps an oxymoron, as well? For the sake of confused simplicity, eh? Please tell me, how does that work?
I’m near the end of this note, so please tell me where I must start? Please tell me, no matter how coldly you say it or how unwilling I may seem, please tell me what to do. I am at a loss as to what to do next and it makes me feel vulnerable and weak. This feeling is what I despise the most. It’s what causes the most fake of me to surface and take control. If that happens, how an I supposed to have you fall in love with me?
—
Makes me think what the fuck?
Life After Death – hot chocolate/memories? August 28, 2008
I really felt like writing a ficlet about Life After Death, so this came out! Of course, this doesn’t happen in the project (at least, I don’t think so). WARNING: spoilers for the project Life After Death. Do not read unless you don’t care…
post-Legend of Hope – Family August 20, 2008
“Can I have an egg?” Marie asked.
Armas stared at her. “An egg, love?”
“Yes, an egg! Quickly, before Yori comes back with Valdene!” she fussed.
“We’re out. I ate the last one this morning.”
“You dummy! How could you? I was saving that for today!” Marie crossed her arms, plopped down on the sofa, and pouted.
Armas, who was standing by the door and taking off his jacket, crept up slowly behind her and laid his arms around her shoulders. “How about I go and buy some from the market?”
Marie looked up and kissed his cheek. “Nice try. I want to move to Nightmare Country.”
“Oh, really? Now the demon in you comes out, at last!” he joked.
“Yes, the old succubus wants your soul,” she played along as Armas walked around the sofa, eyes only on her.
“No, it is I who wants you.” He came onto her and their lips met with force. He pushed her down on the sofa, she complied without force.
Then the door swung open. “I’m here! Valdene was a good little girl like always!” Yori came in, a four year old Yamini at her heels and a baby Valdene in the basket hung around her arms.
Armas shot up and wiped his mouth of lipstick. “Excuse me, I need to use the washroom,” he mumbled and left the scene.
“What?” she mumbled. Marie sat up, her face red with blush. “Oh,” she drawled, understanding embedded on her face. Then she smiled and almost ran to sit next to Marie. “What happened?” she asked as she slowly walked up to the sofa.
“N-nothing!”
“Where you trying to make a little Elmer?” Yori questioned.
“Shut up, Yori! It’s nothing!” Valdene began to cry and Yamini ran away across the hall into the library.
“Now look at what you’ve done. Here, take Valdene, I’ll go after Yamini.” Yori shoved the basket at Marie and left for the library.
Marie took the crying Valdene out of the basket and started to rock her. “Shh, shh… It’s okay, Valdene. Mummy’s sorry she woke you,” she whispered in a quiet tone of voice. Armas came down the hall, his face showing he was worried.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I lost my temper and shouted. Valdene woke up, that’s all.” Armas walked in the room and stood behind the couch, overlooking Marie. Valdene looked past Marie and saw her father. She stopped crying and smiled up at Armas. “She really likes you.” Armas almost laughed. He was amazed that such a simple and pure creature other than his wife would like him. But then he thought it was only genetic, since she came from him.
“That’s only because she’s my daughter.”
“Not true. Sometimes children don’t like their parents.” He let out a slight laugh. “Come sit down and hold her. She’d like that.” Armas did as Marie said and sat next to her. She gave Valdene to Armas and she laughed in such a way only a baby could.
Armas smiled. “Family?” he mumbled as his thoughts slowly drifted to finally letting Marie go.
‘We’ll never be a family.’
-
It felt really odd to me while writing that little bit of Beware. I’m so used with Valdene being this tough twenty-six year old woman that it’s hard to grasp her as a baby. I also really enjoy writing Marie and Armas together. They’re just so tragically perfect.
Character Flesh – The Dragon Mage August 20, 2008
APPEARANCE–
Her hair is soft and fluffy. It’s a pale blonde and curls outwards. She parts her hair to the left in one swoop of her bangs. Her eyes are grey and some people shy away because of them and her solid stare.
On her legs is a tattoo of a blue and pink dragon flying upwards towards her stomach, where a tribal tattoo of a black sun lay. On her back she had a tattoo of wings that were only a few inches long.
CLOTHES–
Her clothes are often a powdery white sleeved corset with gold threads and a skirt that floated across the floor when she walked. She had blue sapphires sewn on her bust collar. Her sleeves started with a poofy shoulder and slimmed down to a v shape on the top of her hand.
She wore silk stockings with gold threads sewn into them and droop pearls sewn to droop from the top of each leg. Her shoes were dirty golden colored silk flats with dotted rubber on the bottom for grip.
On her bust she wore a crystal skull broach and in her hair she wore a crystal skull hairpin.
SPECIALTIES–
Her most prized possession was a white leather spellbook with gold threads, sapphires, and angel feathers embedded in the cover. A fine silk ribbon with golden sewn ends was her bookmark and her wand, a very special wand, was a flyswatter brought from the Old World.
Some say she could breathe life into objects. Proof of this would be on upsetting days she would grab her pink teddy with the blue bow-tie and sing a spell into its ears. At the end of the last note,l the teddy, which she named Armon, would get up and dance with her. The once inanimate object became full of life! But the sad fact was that this spell could only last until evening.
The Dragon Mage got her title and royal position not for nothing. When she was even younger than she is now, about fifteen, she had found a dragon egg. The color amazed her because she had thought it a rock. After setting it on the mantle, the day after the dragon egg hatched while she was listening to the radio. The first thing the baby dragon saw was the young girl. The dragon’s name is Dusty.
HERSELF–
The Dragon Mage’s name is Marina Brighton. She’s a descendant of Marie and Armas Everwhite, the beginning of this grand chase (which includes Valdene’s story).
Marina is a mage, meaning she can do magic with the elements. (I think a magician twist is good for the Hunter-centric Beware series) She had mastered the art in only three years, two years short of the average time to master magery. Mages are often called Elementalists.
After the fire on her twenty-first birthday, she was found by traveling Royals from Altena Country to Kisaki Country. She was given the chance to be a member of the Royal Court; a Royal Magician. Marina is now one of ten –out of a potential and wanted twelve– Royal Magicians in the Royal Court, an order of one hundred members all run under the King of Kisaki Country.
SECRETS–
Marina is the lost daughter, the lost princess, of Christine and Gage Brighton of Altena Country. In fact, she is the rightful ruler of Altena Country, dating back to her grandmother, Valdene.
post-Legend of Hope – Armas’ Plan… August 20, 2008
Hi, sorry for not being a good writer and post up all these little ficlits without commentary.
Anyway, I’d like to introduce to you, a ficlit related to my extrordinary Beware Series that is currently on a roll. For informatioin on this series, please click here for my LJ posts and here for this certain related novel.
Marie was sleeping soundlessly on the couch, her head resting gently on Armas’ lap. Baby Valdene was cuddled within Marie’s arms, clutched protectively within a mother’s arms.
“Armas, I’d like to speak with you outside, please.” Armas turned his head and saw Yori standing by the stairs.
“Where’s Yamini?”
“Asleep. Now follow me.” Yori headed for the back door. Armas gently rested Marie’s head on the couch and followed Yori to the back.
“What do you want, Yori?” he asked roughly. She stared at him for a while before answering.
“Tell me what you’re planning in that head of yours,” she demands.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about–”
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you’ve been acting recently. Even Marie’s noticed it and is starting to think you’re having an affair. You’ve been gazing off out the window and have been consciously absent. What are you planning? Is it true that you’ve been seeing another woman?” Armas looks away from Yori’s eyes, into the surrounding jungle.
“I’m not seeing another woman–”
“Then what is it, Armas?” He sighed and took a seat on the steps. Yori crossed her arms.
“I’ve been thinking about giving Marie her life back.” Yori’s eyes widen and her mouth goes agape.
“What?” she shouts. “Why? Why now, of all times! Are you really going to remove Marie’s new found happiness? She just had Valdene a few months ago and you want to get rid of those memories?” There was a small pause where she regained her thoughts. “Not only those memories of Valdene, but those memories of you. Those happy memories of you and her and Valdene together as a family. Hell, even me. Why would you want to do that?”
Armas shook his head. “Because I think it’d be best. I’m planning on releasing her from being a Zinger next week and take Valdene to Nightmare Country with me. I could become a teacher and occasionally leave Valdene in Green Province Emperor’s care while I was away doing missions–”
“So, after all, you can’t let go of the life of a Hunter, eh, Armas?”
He shook his head. “It’s not like that. I just… don’t want Marie to have those awful memories of the years we Hunted together.”
“Like those times you almost got her killed?”
Armas frowned and looked down at his clutched hands. “Yes. Marie and I are very vulnerable right now. If things continue the way they are, Valdene and Marie might be in danger and get killed…” His hands gripped tighter and he schook his head. “I don’t ever want to see fear in her eyes. Never again. I don’t want to see the pain, that agony, that she harbors because of what I’ve put her through.” There was a pause where Armas went over a memory in his mind and flinched. “When Marie was giving birth to Valdene, I looked into her eyes and saw deep pain. She was crying, and I could feel the anger she had towards me because of the pain that I caused her–”
“Armas. Shut up. Stop talking, you don’t know what you’re saying anymore. You’re talking about when Valdene was born, now, man. The Armas I knew would never share such a sappy story. First, let me tell you that giving birth is a scene where the female is in intense pain and sometimes holds a great deal of hatred towards the person who had.. erm, brought her to that situation. But in the end, she won’t remember it. At least, I didn’t. Now, listen to me, Armas, are you truly willing to let go of Marie? You know you can never give those memories back once they’re released. Do you really want to see the unfamiliarity in her eyes when she looks at you?”
“It’s better than the pain and fear. I’d rather have myself take on all the pain than her to suffer like that. I know she wishes most of those missions didn’t happen. I know she wants to forget the rough times when we had to sleep outside in the rain… She wants to forget.”
“But, Armas, didn’t it feel twice as good when you were able to hold Marie in your arms again after she was saved? Didn’t that moment, that one chance she could’ve died, made your relationship stronger? I’m sure you felt the… the… ‘comfort’ and love she had when you held her after she was saved.”
Armas shook his head again and stood. “Stop trying to change my mind, Yori. I’ve already decided on what I’m going to do.”
“How about Valdene? Are you really going to take Valdene away from Marie? Isn’t she happy with her newborn child?”
“Yori, enough!”
All was quiet and Yori finally stepped down from Armas. “What are you planning on doing with Marie after her memories are released?”
Armas combed through his hair with his fingers. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“I’ll take her. She won’t have any memories of the past ten years, so she’ll wake up thinking she were back in that shack about to be raped. I think I’ll be able to handle it.”
Armas opened the door and walked through. Yori drops to the ground and cries, repeating Armas’ words in her head.
“Thank you, Yori.”
