"Let those who are in favor with their stars of public honor and proud titles boast," Theo declared disdainfully. "Let them glory in things that do not last, and honors that can be taken as easily as given. I care not that they take the credit, they will not be remembered in time's great wheel."
"I don't understand," Richard said.
Theo smiled a cryptic smile, "For example, The painful warrior famoused for fight, After a thousand victories once foil'd, is from the book of honour razed quite,
And all the rest forgot for which he toil'd. Now tell me Richard, all of these warriors in battles of the past, do you know their names?"
"Of course, there is Livious and Flavious of Rome, Alexander the Great, Sun Tzu, I could keep going."
"Ah yes, but here is my point. They all continued to win. Now can you name me warriors that lost."
Richard looked stymied, and Theo smiled. "Such is fame and glory. Forgotten when there is no more to glory in."
"Then why won't you be forgotten?" Richard asked, truly wondering.
Theo smiled at his friend. "Happy I, that love and am beloved, where I may not remove nor be removed. That is immortality my friend, people who love you enough to remember you when you are gone."
(This is Sonnet 25 Sorry if it is a little hard to follow, I'm not all with it tonight.)
Friday, November 28, 2008
Twelfth Night
“You’re really going in there?” Steven asked.
Claire glanced toward the door. The noise of the party spilled through the open door for just a moment until someone reached out and tugged the door shut.
“Yes.”
“How? It’s not like you can just waltz back into his life after five years and expect him to welcome you with open arms.” Steven took a deep drag off his cigarette and used it to gesture toward the large house with warm light flooding from the windows. Silhouettes dancing at the windows were the epitome of holiday merriment.
“Who’s going back into whose life? He abandoned me,” Claire said.
“He’ll hate you for what you’re going to do. Your son will hate you once he discovers what you’ve done.”
“I have six months before my son is left an orphan. I promised him I’d never let anything happen to him, and I refuse to go back on my word.”
Steven took another drag off his cigarette. “The kid’s your son, not another of your clients. You can’t mix home life and business --”
“The assassin business isn’t what’s killing me, is it?” Claire snapped. She began to pile her hair on her head, secure it with swift stabs of bobby pins. She tugged a hat on. “Put that tie on me while I do this.”
“Do what?” Steven asked, but obeyed.
Claire said, “Conceal me what I am, and be my aid / For such disguise as haply shall become / The form of my intent.”
(Word count: 250; last line taken from Act I Scene II of Twelfth Night)
Claire glanced toward the door. The noise of the party spilled through the open door for just a moment until someone reached out and tugged the door shut.
“Yes.”
“How? It’s not like you can just waltz back into his life after five years and expect him to welcome you with open arms.” Steven took a deep drag off his cigarette and used it to gesture toward the large house with warm light flooding from the windows. Silhouettes dancing at the windows were the epitome of holiday merriment.
“Who’s going back into whose life? He abandoned me,” Claire said.
“He’ll hate you for what you’re going to do. Your son will hate you once he discovers what you’ve done.”
“I have six months before my son is left an orphan. I promised him I’d never let anything happen to him, and I refuse to go back on my word.”
Steven took another drag off his cigarette. “The kid’s your son, not another of your clients. You can’t mix home life and business --”
“The assassin business isn’t what’s killing me, is it?” Claire snapped. She began to pile her hair on her head, secure it with swift stabs of bobby pins. She tugged a hat on. “Put that tie on me while I do this.”
“Do what?” Steven asked, but obeyed.
Claire said, “Conceal me what I am, and be my aid / For such disguise as haply shall become / The form of my intent.”
(Word count: 250; last line taken from Act I Scene II of Twelfth Night)
Deny
"Would you deny me? Would you send me away?"
"Yes I would; if it meant keeping you safe."
"Even if it meant that I had nothing more to live for? If you were to go; if you were to die, then I would cease to be. You who shape who I am are more important to me than my own life."
"Go home, I do not want you here."
"Yes I would; if it meant keeping you safe."
"Even if it meant that I had nothing more to live for? If you were to go; if you were to die, then I would cease to be. You who shape who I am are more important to me than my own life."
"Go home, I do not want you here."
Rape of Lucrece
"What win I, if I gain the thing I seek?" Heran asked warily. He stood on the brink of a misty cliff.
"A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy." came the mocking reply out of the mists. Eyes, sharp and hungry burned with an inner light that spoke of ageless power.
"Speak plainly," Heran demanded. He was tiring of these word games; though the others had warned him that this was all he could expect of the mists.
The same voice slithered out of the darkness and wrapped around Heran; demanding his attention. "Who buys a minute's mirth to wail a week? Or sells eternity to get a toy?
For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy? Or what fond beggar, but to touch the crown, Would with the scepter straight be stricken down?"
"A riddle?" Heran asked skepticly. He had come all this way to petition at the Cliffs of Fate, and all he got was a riddle?
"Yes," the voice whispered out of the dark.
Heran pondered the riddle, his brow furrowing in thought. After a few minutes a ghost of a smile crossed his lips, and he tossed his hair back from his face.
"The answer you seek is a Fool."
"Yes, it is." The voice was closer now. "I seek a fool, and it seems as if I have found one."
(This passage is from Rape of Lucrece.)
"A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy." came the mocking reply out of the mists. Eyes, sharp and hungry burned with an inner light that spoke of ageless power.
"Speak plainly," Heran demanded. He was tiring of these word games; though the others had warned him that this was all he could expect of the mists.
The same voice slithered out of the darkness and wrapped around Heran; demanding his attention. "Who buys a minute's mirth to wail a week? Or sells eternity to get a toy?
For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy? Or what fond beggar, but to touch the crown, Would with the scepter straight be stricken down?"
"A riddle?" Heran asked skepticly. He had come all this way to petition at the Cliffs of Fate, and all he got was a riddle?
"Yes," the voice whispered out of the dark.
Heran pondered the riddle, his brow furrowing in thought. After a few minutes a ghost of a smile crossed his lips, and he tossed his hair back from his face.
"The answer you seek is a Fool."
"Yes, it is." The voice was closer now. "I seek a fool, and it seems as if I have found one."
(This passage is from Rape of Lucrece.)
Deny
"Do you deny it?"
"Of course I do."
"Objection your honor, relevance?"
"Witness credibility is always relevant, your honor."
"Sit down, counsel. Overruled."
Celia turned to look at her father once more. "Do you deny that you killed Sharon Lewis?"
"Of course I do. I said it before."
Celia scooped up a copy of his deposition testimony and thrust it at opposing counsel. "Let the record reflect..."
"Of course I do."
"Objection your honor, relevance?"
"Witness credibility is always relevant, your honor."
"Sit down, counsel. Overruled."
Celia turned to look at her father once more. "Do you deny that you killed Sharon Lewis?"
"Of course I do. I said it before."
Celia scooped up a copy of his deposition testimony and thrust it at opposing counsel. "Let the record reflect..."
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Much Ado About Nothing
“I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest,” he said.
She gazed at him where he stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched, staring at his shoes as a child waiting for scorn.
“Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably,” she said.
He took a deep breath. “What did I do wrong?”
She blinked. “Jesse, what --?”
“That first night we met, you were nice to me. You were a friend - the only friend I’d had in a long time. You helped me when others would have been content to watch me fall, but as soon as I dared to hope for more, it was as if you despised me.”
She looked cornered. “I don’t despise you. We’re friends; I like being friends with you. We have fun, don’t we? Going to movies and concerts and hanging out and --”
“And the entire time I want to kiss you and I know as soon as I do you’ll recoil like my touch is poison.” He lifted his head and met her gaze. “I don’t know what I did to upset you, and I’m sorry. I’ve done my best not to burden you with my feelings, but if this goes on I’ll start to hate you. Maybe Leonard was right - men and women really can’t be friends.”
“Jesse --”
“And Thom was right. I don’t know anything about you, not really.”
“There was a star danced, and under that I was born.”
(All quotes from Much Ado About Nothing; word count at 250)
She gazed at him where he stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched, staring at his shoes as a child waiting for scorn.
“Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably,” she said.
He took a deep breath. “What did I do wrong?”
She blinked. “Jesse, what --?”
“That first night we met, you were nice to me. You were a friend - the only friend I’d had in a long time. You helped me when others would have been content to watch me fall, but as soon as I dared to hope for more, it was as if you despised me.”
She looked cornered. “I don’t despise you. We’re friends; I like being friends with you. We have fun, don’t we? Going to movies and concerts and hanging out and --”
“And the entire time I want to kiss you and I know as soon as I do you’ll recoil like my touch is poison.” He lifted his head and met her gaze. “I don’t know what I did to upset you, and I’m sorry. I’ve done my best not to burden you with my feelings, but if this goes on I’ll start to hate you. Maybe Leonard was right - men and women really can’t be friends.”
“Jesse --”
“And Thom was right. I don’t know anything about you, not really.”
“There was a star danced, and under that I was born.”
(All quotes from Much Ado About Nothing; word count at 250)
Sonnet 71 Corrected
Gavin held the paper in his hand. The ink was smeared with tears, and his hand shook as he read his friends note.
No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Then you shall hear the surly sullen bell
Give warning to the world that I am fled
From this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell:
Nay, if you read this line, remember not
The hand that writ it; for I love you so
That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot
If thinking on me then should make you woe.
Gavin knew it was over already, but he had to try. Kim had never backed down from anything. He drove wildly through the night, he knew where she would be.
Gavin was running towards the house when he heard a gun shot ring out through the dark.
He saw his friend in a pool of blood, and knelt next to her, held her cooling hand in his own. In her hand he felt another scrap of paper.
O, if, I say, you look upon this verse
When I perhaps compounded am with clay,
Do not so much as my poor name rehearse.
But let your love even with my life decay,
Lest the wise world should look into your moan
And mock you with me after I am gone.
'Goodbye Gavin, I am going home.'
No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Then you shall hear the surly sullen bell
Give warning to the world that I am fled
From this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell:
Nay, if you read this line, remember not
The hand that writ it; for I love you so
That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot
If thinking on me then should make you woe.
Gavin knew it was over already, but he had to try. Kim had never backed down from anything. He drove wildly through the night, he knew where she would be.
Gavin was running towards the house when he heard a gun shot ring out through the dark.
He saw his friend in a pool of blood, and knelt next to her, held her cooling hand in his own. In her hand he felt another scrap of paper.
O, if, I say, you look upon this verse
When I perhaps compounded am with clay,
Do not so much as my poor name rehearse.
But let your love even with my life decay,
Lest the wise world should look into your moan
And mock you with me after I am gone.
'Goodbye Gavin, I am going home.'
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sonnet 71
Gavin held the paper in his hand. The ink was smeared with tears, and his hand shook as he read his friends note.
No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Then you shall hear the surly sullen bell
Give warning to the world that I am fled
From this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell:
Nay, if you read this line, remember not
The hand that writ it; for I love you so
That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot
If thinking on me then should make you woe.
He knew it was over, that Kim had never said anything that she would not follow through with, but he had to try. Driving wildly through the night he knew where she would be.
Gavin was running towards the house when he heard a gun shot ring out through the dark.
Finding his friend in a pool of blood he knelt next to her and held her cooling hand. in it he felt another scrap of paper.
O, if, I say, you look upon this verse
When I perhaps compounded am with clay,
Do not so much as my poor name rehearse.
But let your love even with my life decay,
Lest the wise world should look into your moan
And mock you with me after I am gone.
Goodbye Gavin, I am going home.
(entire text is included.)
No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Then you shall hear the surly sullen bell
Give warning to the world that I am fled
From this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell:
Nay, if you read this line, remember not
The hand that writ it; for I love you so
That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot
If thinking on me then should make you woe.
He knew it was over, that Kim had never said anything that she would not follow through with, but he had to try. Driving wildly through the night he knew where she would be.
Gavin was running towards the house when he heard a gun shot ring out through the dark.
Finding his friend in a pool of blood he knelt next to her and held her cooling hand. in it he felt another scrap of paper.
O, if, I say, you look upon this verse
When I perhaps compounded am with clay,
Do not so much as my poor name rehearse.
But let your love even with my life decay,
Lest the wise world should look into your moan
And mock you with me after I am gone.
Goodbye Gavin, I am going home.
(entire text is included.)
Sonnet 116
“Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments,” Duo began.
Heero cocked the hammer of his gun.
Duo lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender, but he continued speaking. “Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds, or bends with the mover to remove.”
Heero took aim.
“O no! It is an ever-fixed mark --”
“Maxwell,” Heero growled.
“You know that’s pretty much what Relena believes,” Duo said. “Of course, she believes that you and she have - or should have, at any rate - a marriage of true minds because you two are true minds. Which you are not - you’re an amateur terrorist and she’s a spoiled prep-school brat with wild notions of saving the world.”
Heero blinked. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying we have thirty-seven seconds to jump out that window and land in the car Trowa and Wufei are keeping warm before Relena’s team of private investigators figure out where you are and she tells you that she loves you. In person. Again.”
“I thought you were here to kill me.” Heero started for the window.
“Nonsense! If I’d wanted to kill you, you’d already be dead.”
Heero paused. “You called me an amateur.”
Duo pushed him toward the window. “Professionals get paid. What do we get paid in? Colonial betrayal? Get moving!”
Heero nodded grudgingly and slid out onto the fire escape. Duo grinned, pleased with himself.
Heero called over his shoulder, “I hate it when you recite poetry.”
(Word count: 250. I couldn't resist me a little Gundam Wing. Full text of Sonnet 116)
Heero cocked the hammer of his gun.
Duo lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender, but he continued speaking. “Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds, or bends with the mover to remove.”
Heero took aim.
“O no! It is an ever-fixed mark --”
“Maxwell,” Heero growled.
“You know that’s pretty much what Relena believes,” Duo said. “Of course, she believes that you and she have - or should have, at any rate - a marriage of true minds because you two are true minds. Which you are not - you’re an amateur terrorist and she’s a spoiled prep-school brat with wild notions of saving the world.”
Heero blinked. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying we have thirty-seven seconds to jump out that window and land in the car Trowa and Wufei are keeping warm before Relena’s team of private investigators figure out where you are and she tells you that she loves you. In person. Again.”
“I thought you were here to kill me.” Heero started for the window.
“Nonsense! If I’d wanted to kill you, you’d already be dead.”
Heero paused. “You called me an amateur.”
Duo pushed him toward the window. “Professionals get paid. What do we get paid in? Colonial betrayal? Get moving!”
Heero nodded grudgingly and slid out onto the fire escape. Duo grinned, pleased with himself.
Heero called over his shoulder, “I hate it when you recite poetry.”
(Word count: 250. I couldn't resist me a little Gundam Wing. Full text of Sonnet 116)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sonnet 66
Tired with all these for restful death I cry.
Kim stood in the darkness, it was the final one; the one that she saved for last. Tonight she would feel of her wrath and watch everything she held dear torn from her grasp. It was not enough for her life to be destroyed, she must know who it was; and why she were being punished. Kim had been very careful with this one, studied her for years. It was Jill Jensen now, not Jill Paqual, but it was the same woman, the same false veneer of kindness covering a vipers fangs.
Many of the others had died for what they had done, or had killed themselves, still others were now insane. Kim had orchestrated it to be this way.
Kim would let her live, to remain in the ruins of her once perfect life. Her husband, children, wealth and freedom were now to be destroyed.
Kim stood by as police officers converged on the house. Watched; as Jill was pulled into the night, arrested for a twenty year old murder. Kim only smiled an empty smile when Jill's eyes met hers, and recognition flashed for an instant before she was placed in a police car.
'I have my vengeance, and now there is no reason to continue on, no one to care if I live or die.'
Kim stepped out into the street, and pulled a small caliber pistol from her pocket.
Tired with all these from these would I be gone.
'I am coming David.'
Nestling the nose of the gun into her dark hair Kim looked on the world and her victory for the last time, and pulled the trigger.
(These lines are from Sonnet 66.)
Kim stood in the darkness, it was the final one; the one that she saved for last. Tonight she would feel of her wrath and watch everything she held dear torn from her grasp. It was not enough for her life to be destroyed, she must know who it was; and why she were being punished. Kim had been very careful with this one, studied her for years. It was Jill Jensen now, not Jill Paqual, but it was the same woman, the same false veneer of kindness covering a vipers fangs.
Many of the others had died for what they had done, or had killed themselves, still others were now insane. Kim had orchestrated it to be this way.
Kim would let her live, to remain in the ruins of her once perfect life. Her husband, children, wealth and freedom were now to be destroyed.
Kim stood by as police officers converged on the house. Watched; as Jill was pulled into the night, arrested for a twenty year old murder. Kim only smiled an empty smile when Jill's eyes met hers, and recognition flashed for an instant before she was placed in a police car.
'I have my vengeance, and now there is no reason to continue on, no one to care if I live or die.'
Kim stepped out into the street, and pulled a small caliber pistol from her pocket.
Tired with all these from these would I be gone.
'I am coming David.'
Nestling the nose of the gun into her dark hair Kim looked on the world and her victory for the last time, and pulled the trigger.
(These lines are from Sonnet 66.)
Sonnet 36
Chase leaned down and whispered in her ear, hating each word he spoke.
“Let me confess that we two must be twain, Although our undivided loves are one.” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, doll. I have to go. I love you.” He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, then rose up from the bed and left the room.
He scooped up his navy-issue duffel bag and headed out the front door. The rest of his Sector was gathered around the bus that waited, silent and foreboding, on the street.
“Commander Scottsdale, so nice of you to join us,” Kenny drawled.
Chase headed for the bus. “Move out.”
The others blinked at his abruptness, but he ignored them. He knew he was honorable and that this was his duty. He also knew he might not come back, and this time he had someone to come back to.
***
She waited until the bus pulled away before she opened her eyes. Then she slid out of bed, slid on her uniform, and gathered up her bag of weapons. She left him a note on the dresser.
“In our two loves there is but one respect, Though in our lives a separable spite, Which, though it alter not love’s sole effect, Yet doth it steal sweet hours from love’s delight.” She signed it with a single initial, then climbed out the window.
“You took your sweet time,” Tobias said.
“Move out,” Asia said, and the others fell into line.
(I am totally making free with this place as an experimental lab for other projects. Word count: 250. Full text: Sonnet 36)
“Let me confess that we two must be twain, Although our undivided loves are one.” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, doll. I have to go. I love you.” He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, then rose up from the bed and left the room.
He scooped up his navy-issue duffel bag and headed out the front door. The rest of his Sector was gathered around the bus that waited, silent and foreboding, on the street.
“Commander Scottsdale, so nice of you to join us,” Kenny drawled.
Chase headed for the bus. “Move out.”
The others blinked at his abruptness, but he ignored them. He knew he was honorable and that this was his duty. He also knew he might not come back, and this time he had someone to come back to.
***
She waited until the bus pulled away before she opened her eyes. Then she slid out of bed, slid on her uniform, and gathered up her bag of weapons. She left him a note on the dresser.
“In our two loves there is but one respect, Though in our lives a separable spite, Which, though it alter not love’s sole effect, Yet doth it steal sweet hours from love’s delight.” She signed it with a single initial, then climbed out the window.
“You took your sweet time,” Tobias said.
“Move out,” Asia said, and the others fell into line.
(I am totally making free with this place as an experimental lab for other projects. Word count: 250. Full text: Sonnet 36)
Monday, November 24, 2008
Romeo & Juliet; Othello
(AN: because I didn't post on Sunday)
“I dream’d a dream tonight,” Jesse said.
Asia didn’t look up from her book. “And so did I.”
Jesse tried to peer at her over the top of her book. “Well, what was yours?”
“That dreamers often lie.”
A wicked smile curved Jesse’s lips. “In bed asleep, while they do dream things true.”
Thom and Leonard, sitting in front of the television and going to war on the 360, exchanged glances. Leonard shook his head, amazed.
“I thought she was a computer programmer.”
“Who can match Jesse word-for-word in Shakespeare.” Thom promptly killed Leonard’s character and proceeded to blow the hell out of Leonard’s online allies.
“Hey!” Leonard mashed buttons, desperate to re-spawn.
Asia turned a page. “I talk of dreams, which are the children of an idle brain.”
“Are you saying I have an idle brain?”
“You do understand Shakespeare.”
Leonard glanced over his shoulder at the two on the sofa and shook his head, exasperated. He wasn’t sure why Asia had given into Jesse’s insistence that she spend time with them; she wasn’t giving him any leeway as far as wooing. He didn’t notice the screen as Thom sent his character up in flames. Thom hissed into his headset at Leonard’s online friends,
“That’s what you get for calling me a nancy-boy actor.”
Jesse had batted Asia’s book aside and was leaning in, close enough to kiss, but she dodged him smoothly and said,
“Speak of one that loved not wisely but too well.”
(Word count: 250; First half from Romeo & Juliet Act I Scene IV; last quote from Othello Act V Scene II)
“I dream’d a dream tonight,” Jesse said.
Asia didn’t look up from her book. “And so did I.”
Jesse tried to peer at her over the top of her book. “Well, what was yours?”
“That dreamers often lie.”
A wicked smile curved Jesse’s lips. “In bed asleep, while they do dream things true.”
Thom and Leonard, sitting in front of the television and going to war on the 360, exchanged glances. Leonard shook his head, amazed.
“I thought she was a computer programmer.”
“Who can match Jesse word-for-word in Shakespeare.” Thom promptly killed Leonard’s character and proceeded to blow the hell out of Leonard’s online allies.
“Hey!” Leonard mashed buttons, desperate to re-spawn.
Asia turned a page. “I talk of dreams, which are the children of an idle brain.”
“Are you saying I have an idle brain?”
“You do understand Shakespeare.”
Leonard glanced over his shoulder at the two on the sofa and shook his head, exasperated. He wasn’t sure why Asia had given into Jesse’s insistence that she spend time with them; she wasn’t giving him any leeway as far as wooing. He didn’t notice the screen as Thom sent his character up in flames. Thom hissed into his headset at Leonard’s online friends,
“That’s what you get for calling me a nancy-boy actor.”
Jesse had batted Asia’s book aside and was leaning in, close enough to kiss, but she dodged him smoothly and said,
“Speak of one that loved not wisely but too well.”
(Word count: 250; First half from Romeo & Juliet Act I Scene IV; last quote from Othello Act V Scene II)
Midsummer Nights Dream
"Kim, you have another chance at happiness, Why don't you take it?"
"And do David memory the dishonor of relegating it to the past? Never! I will never give up on him, never give them rest until the last of them has paid for his death."
Gavin looked at his old friend; the years of bitterness and revenge had eaten away at her until she was just a shell of the person he once knew. He knew what now consumed her, the all burning need for vengeance, to make them pay for what they did.
Her eyes that once sparkled with laughter were now dull, only lighting when she made her kill, when she destroyed another life.
"If you keep this up, you will become a sad and bitter old woman." Gavin warned; trying to talk some sense into her.
"So will I grow, so live, so die." Kim could not give up her vengeance, it was all that she was anymore, all that she could think about. It was all that drove her forwards, all that kept her from just lying down and letting death take her.
"They will remember him before they die." Kim vowed.
(This quote is from a Midsummer Nights Dream. Act I Scene I)
"And do David memory the dishonor of relegating it to the past? Never! I will never give up on him, never give them rest until the last of them has paid for his death."
Gavin looked at his old friend; the years of bitterness and revenge had eaten away at her until she was just a shell of the person he once knew. He knew what now consumed her, the all burning need for vengeance, to make them pay for what they did.
Her eyes that once sparkled with laughter were now dull, only lighting when she made her kill, when she destroyed another life.
"If you keep this up, you will become a sad and bitter old woman." Gavin warned; trying to talk some sense into her.
"So will I grow, so live, so die." Kim could not give up her vengeance, it was all that she was anymore, all that she could think about. It was all that drove her forwards, all that kept her from just lying down and letting death take her.
"They will remember him before they die." Kim vowed.
(This quote is from a Midsummer Nights Dream. Act I Scene I)
Venus and Adonis
“What are they arguing about now?” Leonard asked.
Thom chewed idly on a carrot stick. “Same old thing - Asia says Jesse deserves something better; Jesse says she’s what he wants.”
Leonard leaned closer to the glass, trying to read their lips. “What’s her problem? Jesse’s handsome and talented - he loves her.”
On the other side of the glass, Asia and Jesse were pacing back and forth, shouting at each other. For one moment, Asia had Jesse backed against the engineer’s panel, hissing invectives that made Jesse’s face go pale. Then he lunged at her, shouting right back, and she retreated, eyes wide.
“You know how in the film he’s meant to have pretty golden eyes?” Thom asked. “She’s got the golden eyes the director was looking for. Never seen another person with eyes like that.”
“You’re missing the fight,” Leonard said. “Judging by their body language during the argument, they’ve been pretty close. I can’t tell who’s got the upper hand yet.”
“I’d say Asia.” Thom lifted his chin to where Asia was standing with her back to Jesse while he tried to talk to her.
“Really?” Leonard asked.
Thom saw Jesse take a deep breath, readying himself for something drastic. He opened his mouth, and Thom saw the words start to form, but Jesse didn’t get a chance to say them.
“What follows more she murders with a kiss,” Thom said, and Leonard gaped.
The two boys stared, and then Leonard swallowed. “I’ve never been kissed like that.”
(Word count: 249; features my favorite line from Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis)
Thom chewed idly on a carrot stick. “Same old thing - Asia says Jesse deserves something better; Jesse says she’s what he wants.”
Leonard leaned closer to the glass, trying to read their lips. “What’s her problem? Jesse’s handsome and talented - he loves her.”
On the other side of the glass, Asia and Jesse were pacing back and forth, shouting at each other. For one moment, Asia had Jesse backed against the engineer’s panel, hissing invectives that made Jesse’s face go pale. Then he lunged at her, shouting right back, and she retreated, eyes wide.
“You know how in the film he’s meant to have pretty golden eyes?” Thom asked. “She’s got the golden eyes the director was looking for. Never seen another person with eyes like that.”
“You’re missing the fight,” Leonard said. “Judging by their body language during the argument, they’ve been pretty close. I can’t tell who’s got the upper hand yet.”
“I’d say Asia.” Thom lifted his chin to where Asia was standing with her back to Jesse while he tried to talk to her.
“Really?” Leonard asked.
Thom saw Jesse take a deep breath, readying himself for something drastic. He opened his mouth, and Thom saw the words start to form, but Jesse didn’t get a chance to say them.
“What follows more she murders with a kiss,” Thom said, and Leonard gaped.
The two boys stared, and then Leonard swallowed. “I’ve never been kissed like that.”
(Word count: 249; features my favorite line from Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis)
Macbeth
(okay, I had to do this one. It is to good of a line to never use. I love that line.)
"Out Damn Spot," Amara growled in frustration. She was sure that it was mocking her. Despite her best efforts the spot in her favorite jacket remained, taking on an air of invulnerability as she scrubbed at it ineffectually.
Benjamin looked up from where he sat in the old cathedral. It was a quiet little nook, one that he preferred for reading. "What's the problem?"
"This spot will not come out!" Amara had spilled some wood stain on her jacket. They had decided to renovate the abandoned cathedral and live there. It was so beautiful a place, and if someone did not care for it then it would be torn down.
Ben marked his place in the book and set it down. Standing he walked over to Amara and drew her into an embrace. "Don't worry about it," he said kissing her on the neck. "C'mon, let's go play."
"But we have work to do."
Ben smiled, "Tomorrow will take care of itself."
(Quote, as you know is from Macbeth: Macbeth Act 5, scene 1)
"Out Damn Spot," Amara growled in frustration. She was sure that it was mocking her. Despite her best efforts the spot in her favorite jacket remained, taking on an air of invulnerability as she scrubbed at it ineffectually.
Benjamin looked up from where he sat in the old cathedral. It was a quiet little nook, one that he preferred for reading. "What's the problem?"
"This spot will not come out!" Amara had spilled some wood stain on her jacket. They had decided to renovate the abandoned cathedral and live there. It was so beautiful a place, and if someone did not care for it then it would be torn down.
Ben marked his place in the book and set it down. Standing he walked over to Amara and drew her into an embrace. "Don't worry about it," he said kissing her on the neck. "C'mon, let's go play."
"But we have work to do."
Ben smiled, "Tomorrow will take care of itself."
(Quote, as you know is from Macbeth: Macbeth Act 5, scene 1)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Project #6: Shakespeare
Okay, This weeks project is to incorporate some of the bard into your work, It can be just a line, or it can be a longer segment that is incorporated. Please reference where the quote is coming from, which play, sonnet, etc., and if possible give a link so that we can read it in context.
This should be fun, there is so much to chose from. How about upping the word count to 250.
This should be fun, there is so much to chose from. How about upping the word count to 250.
Overview #5 Music and Lyrics
I noticed that I would scan through songs until one struck me with an idea. I usually knew what story I wanted to use or rather continue in, with Kim and David, with Garain, and with the others. Once a song came on that got the creative juices flowing, it came easier. I did notice that I usually made the story kind of match what the song was about, but I think I did one where it was simply the words I needed. I notice that I like songs with some angst in them, or else on the opposite end of the spectrum, and use songs that were all love, I didn't really have any middle of the road musical pieces. I noticed that songs can really inspire. I am still, obviously having comma splice problems, but in time that will go away. I had fun with this weeks project, but I had trouble some times limiting the word count.
Overview #5 - Music and Lyrics
Wow. This really showed my strengths and weaknesses and preferences. I have a preference - and tentatively a strength - for dialogue. Oftentimes I ended up using lyrics as lines of dialogue without any reference to the fact that they were songs, or I used them as songs someone sang as an allusion or during dialogue. I don't know that I ever went straight songfic with any of the lyrics, interspersing them with narrative to create an effect. I do like writing songs into stories, though, and was surprised at myself for not having more characters just singing. I took it as a challenge, on at least some occasions, to use lyrics from a song in a way that didn't end up fitting the song. "Here Comes the Snake" was pretty obvious and for me there's always been one way I wanted to write that song, and I finally did it. What I did with "Hands Down", "Through Glass", "In This Diary", and "IV" didn't really fit the overall tenor of the original songs, and I liked that - I liked reinventing lyrics. While I do love a good songfic where a story follows a song, sometimes lyrics taken out of context can go a long way. To be honest, some of the lyric tricks I pulled on previous posts I liked better. It was easy to give in and make the lyrics to a song almost the entire story, where in other posts I used lyrics subtly. There's room for improvement even when working with a theme, it seems. I had fun with this, hearing new songs and artists as well as hearing old songs that remind me of the good days. It was hard, but I resisted writing my favorite songs, like The General by the Dispatch and The Origin Of Love from Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I think I branched out a bit and used some songs I'd never intended to write, which was good.
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