Garrow’s eyes went wide. “The Necronomicon? Are you insane?” He reached out and batted Austin’s hand away from the bookshelf. “No. I’m not going to let you do that to him.”
Austin glanced over her shoulder at The Wordsmith, who was obediently holding the book on the flat of his palms, ready for her to pile more on top of it if she so chose.
“Hey, The Authorities’ orders are pretty straightforward, and that’s to get prepped for this next mission. It’s gonna be a long haul, and we need all the background info we can get. It’ll be handy to have the kid absorb everything we need to know.” She tugged her wrist out of Garrow’s grip and continued to peruse the spines of books.
Garrow suppressed a growl of irritation. “He’s a person, Austin, not a damned pocket computer. And we’re supposed to know the background for this mission, not tug it out of him when we get stumped. If you want to get informed, do it the old-fashioned way and read for yourself.”
Austin’s eyes narrowed. “What’s up with you all of a sudden, Mr. Defensive?” She glanced over her shoulder again; The Wordsmith was shivering and doing his best to pretend he couldn’t hear their argument.
“I’m sick of the way everyone around here treats him,” Garrow said.
After a moment, Austin snickered. “Oh, hell no, you’ve got to be joking. You’re sweet on our boy, aren’t you?”
Garrow’s eyes flashed, and he shoved Austin in the shoulder too hard for it just to be play. “You’re being a brat and you know it. Unless it’s something absolutely vital or The Authorities hand down the title of a book specifically, he’s not absorbing a thing.”
Austin tugged a volume - bound in black leather, spine blank of a title but slowly cracking - and spun away. “You’re such a sissy underneath it all, aren’t you?” She thrust the book at The Wordsmith. “Here, absorb this.”
The Wordsmith set the first book aside and accepted the black volume, hands hesitant. He flipped it open - it was the Necronomicon. “Right now?” He bit his lip.
Austin nodded. “Yeah. Right here, right now.”
“Are you sure?”
Austin’s brow furrowed. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“It’s just...” The Wordsmith shrugged, the motion a little defensive. “The Elders never liked to watch is all.”
Garrow felt his blood run cold. If the Elders of Rosenkreuz couldn’t stand the sight of an inkbearer absorbing a book, it had to be fairly horrific.
Austin gestured carelessly. “Seriously, do it. So Garrow will stop being a sissy.”
The Wordsmith took a deep breath and reached out, placing his palm on the first page.
Garrow caught his wrist, tugged his hand away from the book. He leveled a look at Austin. “No. Come on, kid, let’s get you a t-shirt or something.”
Maybe it was just Garrow’s imagination, but the kid looked relieved as Garrow led him away.
(492 words)
Monday, February 23, 2009
First Sighting
"Hoist all sails!" The bosun called as the ship crept out of the safety of the harbor. The men on board were quick to obey the orders. They chanted in unison as they worked the sails, the call and the rhythm setting the pace. There was a chant for leaving the harbor and for coming in. There were many for short hauls, for halyarding , and for the capstan.
Men scuttled up the netting and out onto the yardarms, loosing the sails that would catch the wind. The men below hauled on the lines to put them in place.
The breeze was freshening and the day promising. The perfect day to be off on the sea; to wherever the wind and currents took them. The old men and the young men alike raised their voices in the chant to raise the sails. The broad squares of white cloth boomed as the wind caught them, filling and rapidly baring the ship away into the horizon.
Ryan pulled with the others, raising his clear tenor voice with the others. They were leaving and their song echoed over the sea.
In the Black Ball line I served my time
To me way-aye-aye, hurray-ah
And that's the line where you can shine
Hurrah for the Black Ball Line
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ryan tied off his line with the others to the chains. Ryan was just a midshipman, only one step above a cabin boy, but he wore his new uniform proudly. He had high hopes to have a commission before to much longer and he went about his work with a spring in his step.
"Mr. Raines!" The bosun hollered.
"Yes Sir?" Ryan hurried over to where the great bull necked man stood, adapting is gait to the particular roll of the ocean.
"You have watch in the nest." The bosun said as Ryan approached him. "Get up there and keep an eye out."
"Yes Sir!" Ryan saluted smartly and hurried over to the shrouds. Grasping the bottom most rope, Ryan began to pull himself up the precarious ladder to the nest, the pitch and roll of the ship becoming more pronounced the higher he climbed. The wind's fingers plucked at his hat and tossed his necktie into his face. He passed the men working on the yardarms, adjusting the tension of the sails for maximum speed, the men called friendly greetings to him as he passed.
Ryan climbed over the railing to the crows nest and took up the glass. There was no land behind them anymore, and none ahead that he could see. The wind raked through his sandy blond hair, his keen green eyes scanning the horizon. Below him he could hear the chanting of the line and he hummed along as he sat his post.
Ryan was scanning the sea when he caught on the edge of the horizon a ship. Bringing the glass to his eye he focused it on the ship. He cold see a field of black, white, and red on the flag or the other ship and his heart leapt.
"Bosun!" he hollered from the top of the mast, "Pirates to the port side!"
Ryan scuttled down the rigging as quickly as he could and took up arms to defend the ship as the Captain called, "Men to the ready!"
Men scuttled up the netting and out onto the yardarms, loosing the sails that would catch the wind. The men below hauled on the lines to put them in place.
The breeze was freshening and the day promising. The perfect day to be off on the sea; to wherever the wind and currents took them. The old men and the young men alike raised their voices in the chant to raise the sails. The broad squares of white cloth boomed as the wind caught them, filling and rapidly baring the ship away into the horizon.
Ryan pulled with the others, raising his clear tenor voice with the others. They were leaving and their song echoed over the sea.
In the Black Ball line I served my time
To me way-aye-aye, hurray-ah
And that's the line where you can shine
Hurrah for the Black Ball Line
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ryan tied off his line with the others to the chains. Ryan was just a midshipman, only one step above a cabin boy, but he wore his new uniform proudly. He had high hopes to have a commission before to much longer and he went about his work with a spring in his step.
"Mr. Raines!" The bosun hollered.
"Yes Sir?" Ryan hurried over to where the great bull necked man stood, adapting is gait to the particular roll of the ocean.
"You have watch in the nest." The bosun said as Ryan approached him. "Get up there and keep an eye out."
"Yes Sir!" Ryan saluted smartly and hurried over to the shrouds. Grasping the bottom most rope, Ryan began to pull himself up the precarious ladder to the nest, the pitch and roll of the ship becoming more pronounced the higher he climbed. The wind's fingers plucked at his hat and tossed his necktie into his face. He passed the men working on the yardarms, adjusting the tension of the sails for maximum speed, the men called friendly greetings to him as he passed.
Ryan climbed over the railing to the crows nest and took up the glass. There was no land behind them anymore, and none ahead that he could see. The wind raked through his sandy blond hair, his keen green eyes scanning the horizon. Below him he could hear the chanting of the line and he hummed along as he sat his post.
Ryan was scanning the sea when he caught on the edge of the horizon a ship. Bringing the glass to his eye he focused it on the ship. He cold see a field of black, white, and red on the flag or the other ship and his heart leapt.
"Bosun!" he hollered from the top of the mast, "Pirates to the port side!"
Ryan scuttled down the rigging as quickly as he could and took up arms to defend the ship as the Captain called, "Men to the ready!"
Project #18: Expansion
Sorry for the lateness of this post. This week's project is to take a previous post and expand on it. Any post you choose. Include the original post or at least a link to the original post. Explore the possibilities.
Lets keep the word count of the new portions to 500 words. Don't include the word count from the previous post.
Lets keep the word count of the new portions to 500 words. Don't include the word count from the previous post.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Overview #17 - Growing Up
I had fun this week getting to know David. At times he did not want to cooporate and tell me what was going on. I knew from the off set that I would be revising these posts, and I did. After rereading them and some very helpful input from Master, David is starting to take shape. It was interesting for me to explore the birth to death, what events would shape his life. I had the most trouble with his death. I think that that is only the second or third of my characters that have died. I think I can get to attached to characters and I don't want them to go away. I enjoyed working with David, he is the first paramilitary character that I have created. He is actually kind of a cross between military and Weiss Kreuz. I definitely had fun this week.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Overview #17 - Growing Up
This week's challenge was fun, but I'm not sure I did as well as I could have. Part of the problem, I suspect, comes from having The Wordsmith grow up in Third Person limited to everybody else but him. I think I did all right showing up he grew up to be all nervous and quiet and eventually grew out of it (since we already know how he died, I figured showing what led up to him being willing to die would be a nice change), but it felt like I was showing the other characters more than I was showing him. Still, I think I have something of a baseline on him, and that's always a good feeling.
If You Give Me a Chance
Garrow was almost out of knives, and they were backed into a corner. There was a way out - there had to be a way out.
Austin was out of ammo. The string of words that spilled from her lips would have made the Principalities have heart attacks - if they had hearts.
“What the hell do we do now?” she yelled.
“Find an emergency exit!” Garrow said. He reached for the sheaths at his calves, spun the knives, waiting for on the fools to pop up and take a hit.
“The only emergency exit is in the arms of the Grim Reaper!” Austin said.
“There was a legend,” The Wordsmith began.
Garrow glanced over his shoulder.
The Wordsmith unbuttoned his cardigan with swift hands. “I heard it once, from the Elders, and then searched for it when they left me alone in the vault later that day. There’s a tunnel that leads from here to the Vault and then below the lake.”
Garrow’s eyes narrowed. “What the --? No. Keep your shirt on, kid.”
The Wordsmith cast the cardigan aside, unknotted the tie, started in on the buttons of his shirt. “I can find it if you give me a chance. Austin, come trigger me.”
She blinked, darted a nervous glance at Garrow. “What?”
The Wordsmith’s gesture was impatient. “Come on! He’s only got two knives left.”
Austin hesitated once more, then slid up beside him, pressed a hand to his chest. Whispered in his ear. Garrow bit down on his lip to keep from crying out when he saw the kid’s eyes go blank, then dead, and then the words came, spilling and tripping over each other as if trying to rip themselves out of skin.
And then they were clear, three sentences, exact directions.
The Wordsmith said, “Go.”
And collapsed.
(300 words)
Austin was out of ammo. The string of words that spilled from her lips would have made the Principalities have heart attacks - if they had hearts.
“What the hell do we do now?” she yelled.
“Find an emergency exit!” Garrow said. He reached for the sheaths at his calves, spun the knives, waiting for on the fools to pop up and take a hit.
“The only emergency exit is in the arms of the Grim Reaper!” Austin said.
“There was a legend,” The Wordsmith began.
Garrow glanced over his shoulder.
The Wordsmith unbuttoned his cardigan with swift hands. “I heard it once, from the Elders, and then searched for it when they left me alone in the vault later that day. There’s a tunnel that leads from here to the Vault and then below the lake.”
Garrow’s eyes narrowed. “What the --? No. Keep your shirt on, kid.”
The Wordsmith cast the cardigan aside, unknotted the tie, started in on the buttons of his shirt. “I can find it if you give me a chance. Austin, come trigger me.”
She blinked, darted a nervous glance at Garrow. “What?”
The Wordsmith’s gesture was impatient. “Come on! He’s only got two knives left.”
Austin hesitated once more, then slid up beside him, pressed a hand to his chest. Whispered in his ear. Garrow bit down on his lip to keep from crying out when he saw the kid’s eyes go blank, then dead, and then the words came, spilling and tripping over each other as if trying to rip themselves out of skin.
And then they were clear, three sentences, exact directions.
The Wordsmith said, “Go.”
And collapsed.
(300 words)
The End
"Major! Come on, we have to go!" Steven laid down suppression fire, trying to give his commander a chance to fall back.
"I said get them out!" David squeezed off a few rounds, making each bullet count. Brian was down but alive.
"But David..."
"I said NOW!"
Steve hesitated a fraction of a second more and then ran to the others, helping Mark to carry Brian out of the engagement zone.
David gritted his teeth in pain as one bullet ripped through his shoulder, and another took him in the thigh. He knew that he would not be getting out. David limped backwards, firing off rounds behind him, setting blocks of C-4 as he went.
David felt fire in his lower back and them nothing, he collapsed in the corridor, holding the detonator in his hand. His vision was getting fuzzy, his breathing labored as his life flowed out of the hole in his back.
He blinked, trying to clear his field of vision, his grip tightening on the mechanism that would complete his mission. David heard pounding feet coming and readied himself.
Arianna, I'm coming. he pushed the switch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steve was at a loss for what to do. David was dead, Brian was in critical condition and Joe was presently AWOL. David would know what to do.
Steve sat down on his commander and friends bunk, and heard a crackle of paper. He reached under the covers and pulled out a sheet of paper, it was covered in Davids careful script.
'Steve, I'm sorry to leave you like that, but I knew it would happen eventually. Don't worry, you will know what you need to do...'
(David is not cooperating with me. I had to force this so that I could get it up. I'm not really happy with it, and I am pretty sure that this is not what really happened. He does not want to tell me how he dies. I mean it's not like he is a Jason Bourne type super soldier, but he will not talk to me at the moment. So this one will most definitely change.)
"I said get them out!" David squeezed off a few rounds, making each bullet count. Brian was down but alive.
"But David..."
"I said NOW!"
Steve hesitated a fraction of a second more and then ran to the others, helping Mark to carry Brian out of the engagement zone.
David gritted his teeth in pain as one bullet ripped through his shoulder, and another took him in the thigh. He knew that he would not be getting out. David limped backwards, firing off rounds behind him, setting blocks of C-4 as he went.
David felt fire in his lower back and them nothing, he collapsed in the corridor, holding the detonator in his hand. His vision was getting fuzzy, his breathing labored as his life flowed out of the hole in his back.
He blinked, trying to clear his field of vision, his grip tightening on the mechanism that would complete his mission. David heard pounding feet coming and readied himself.
Arianna, I'm coming. he pushed the switch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steve was at a loss for what to do. David was dead, Brian was in critical condition and Joe was presently AWOL. David would know what to do.
Steve sat down on his commander and friends bunk, and heard a crackle of paper. He reached under the covers and pulled out a sheet of paper, it was covered in Davids careful script.
'Steve, I'm sorry to leave you like that, but I knew it would happen eventually. Don't worry, you will know what you need to do...'
(David is not cooperating with me. I had to force this so that I could get it up. I'm not really happy with it, and I am pretty sure that this is not what really happened. He does not want to tell me how he dies. I mean it's not like he is a Jason Bourne type super soldier, but he will not talk to me at the moment. So this one will most definitely change.)
Friday, February 20, 2009
Promotion
It had been seven years since Arianna's death.
David strode through the compound beside his commander. It was one of many bases that he had become intimately acquainted with since the night that he had gone seeking revenge. Seven years of training and missions.
"What is the job Sir?" David directed the question to the man beside him.
"No job son, this time it's different." Commander Hayes mouth twitched in a brief smile.
"Then what Sir?"
"You will see."
Hayes lead David down a side passage towards the barracks, stopping beside a door.
"Captain, you have acquitted yourself remarkably well these last seven years. It is my pleasure to introduce you to your men as their commander."
David's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "My men?"
"Yes." Hayes opened the door to the barracks and barked, "Attention!"
Four young men scrambled out of their bunks and snapped to attention, saluting smartly.
David looked them over. They all looked very young. David briefly wondered if he had ever looked that young to his Commander. "At ease men."
The men fell into perfect parade rest, their eyes trained on the man before them.
Hayes pointed them each out in turn, "First Lieutenant Steven Blackwood, Second Lieutenants Brian and Mark Allard, and Second Lieutenant Joseph Kendrick." Each of the men saluted again as they were named off.
"Men," Hayes continued, "This is your new Commander Major David Cole."
David's head whipped around to look at his commander. Hayes threw him a wink and then faced the men again. "Major Cole will see to your specialized training."
Hayes turned to David, "Carry on Major."
David snapped off a sharp salute and watched his commander walk out the door. He turned to look at his men. "Lets get to know each other. Let's start with you." He nodded to Steven.
David strode through the compound beside his commander. It was one of many bases that he had become intimately acquainted with since the night that he had gone seeking revenge. Seven years of training and missions.
"What is the job Sir?" David directed the question to the man beside him.
"No job son, this time it's different." Commander Hayes mouth twitched in a brief smile.
"Then what Sir?"
"You will see."
Hayes lead David down a side passage towards the barracks, stopping beside a door.
"Captain, you have acquitted yourself remarkably well these last seven years. It is my pleasure to introduce you to your men as their commander."
David's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "My men?"
"Yes." Hayes opened the door to the barracks and barked, "Attention!"
Four young men scrambled out of their bunks and snapped to attention, saluting smartly.
David looked them over. They all looked very young. David briefly wondered if he had ever looked that young to his Commander. "At ease men."
The men fell into perfect parade rest, their eyes trained on the man before them.
Hayes pointed them each out in turn, "First Lieutenant Steven Blackwood, Second Lieutenants Brian and Mark Allard, and Second Lieutenant Joseph Kendrick." Each of the men saluted again as they were named off.
"Men," Hayes continued, "This is your new Commander Major David Cole."
David's head whipped around to look at his commander. Hayes threw him a wink and then faced the men again. "Major Cole will see to your specialized training."
Hayes turned to David, "Carry on Major."
David snapped off a sharp salute and watched his commander walk out the door. He turned to look at his men. "Lets get to know each other. Let's start with you." He nodded to Steven.
All Apologies
Garrow curled his hands into fists. The English language had been turned on its head when boys that like that made the Virtue Choir.
“What happened out there, Smith? There were seventeen arrests, and all anyone remembers is the kid in the ugly sweater scooting out the back door,” Kory said.
The Wordsmith ducked his head, swiped a lock of hair out of his face. “I -- it was my idea,” he began. “I just wanted to - to hear some music. And Garrow said he knew a cool place, and then I was talking to this girl and her, ah, boyfriend became angry, so I threw a punch --”
Kory arched one eyebrow. Garrow wanted to facepalm. Words swirled across The Wordsmith’s torso, writhing up and down his arms and scrolling across the lines of his ribs. They all said the same thing in a hundred, a thousand different languages lost and dead and spoken all around the world: lies.
Kid couldn’t lie to save his life - but at least he’d tried to save a friend.
“It was Garrow, wasn’t it?” Kory asked. “He started the fight.”
The Wordsmith lifted his head, jaw set stubbornly even though his hands were shaking. “No. It was me. I hit the man first.”
Kory rolled his eyes and turned. His gaze fell on Garrow and he beckoned once, sharply. “Get over here. The Authorities want to talk to you.”
Garrow followed Kory toward the elevator that would take him deeper into the bunkers, down to where the Authorities lurked. As he passed The Wordsmith, he reached out and patted the kid on the shoulder.
“Better luck next time.”
The Wordsmith mouthed, “I’m sorry.” A litany of apologetic poetry across his skin swirled into being.
“I’ll be fine,” Garrow said. He was a much better liar.
(300 words)
“What happened out there, Smith? There were seventeen arrests, and all anyone remembers is the kid in the ugly sweater scooting out the back door,” Kory said.
The Wordsmith ducked his head, swiped a lock of hair out of his face. “I -- it was my idea,” he began. “I just wanted to - to hear some music. And Garrow said he knew a cool place, and then I was talking to this girl and her, ah, boyfriend became angry, so I threw a punch --”
Kory arched one eyebrow. Garrow wanted to facepalm. Words swirled across The Wordsmith’s torso, writhing up and down his arms and scrolling across the lines of his ribs. They all said the same thing in a hundred, a thousand different languages lost and dead and spoken all around the world: lies.
Kid couldn’t lie to save his life - but at least he’d tried to save a friend.
“It was Garrow, wasn’t it?” Kory asked. “He started the fight.”
The Wordsmith lifted his head, jaw set stubbornly even though his hands were shaking. “No. It was me. I hit the man first.”
Kory rolled his eyes and turned. His gaze fell on Garrow and he beckoned once, sharply. “Get over here. The Authorities want to talk to you.”
Garrow followed Kory toward the elevator that would take him deeper into the bunkers, down to where the Authorities lurked. As he passed The Wordsmith, he reached out and patted the kid on the shoulder.
“Better luck next time.”
The Wordsmith mouthed, “I’m sorry.” A litany of apologetic poetry across his skin swirled into being.
“I’ll be fine,” Garrow said. He was a much better liar.
(300 words)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The End of Innocence.
"Come on Ari, this is the fifth time I've left you a message. Did you forget your phone again? Call me back." There was a smile evident in the message.
David hung up the phone, still smiling. Arianna could be so scatterbrained sometimes.
They were both Seniors this year, they were planning to go to collage together. They had both gotten in to Columbia University. David was saving up so that he could ask her to marry him.
At ten o'clock David was starting to get worried about her. He scooped up his keys, quickly making up his mind to go look for her. David drove her familiar routes to and from her job and the school, scanning the area for her car. He spotted her car near the alley near their favorite coffee shop.
David walked towards the shop, but stopped when he heard a noise coming from the alley. David poked his head in the opening and stopped cold. Arianna was lying on the ground a short way from the mouth of the alley, breathing heavily.
David rushed to her side. There was a wide gash in her side. He dropped to the ground next to her and placed his hand over the wound, trying to stem the flow of blood. "Ari, Ari! Wake up!"
Arianna opened her eyes briefly and a ghost of a smile played on her lips. "David..."
"Shh, don't talk, I'll get you to the hospital." He stood up with her in his arms.
"Ari, who did this to you? Ari, please wake up."
Arianna stirred a little, trying to form coherent words through the haze of pain. "Grant.... Brenna."
David drew in a breath sharply in shock.
"I Love you... David." Arianna sighed and closed her eyes for the last time.
David hung up the phone, still smiling. Arianna could be so scatterbrained sometimes.
They were both Seniors this year, they were planning to go to collage together. They had both gotten in to Columbia University. David was saving up so that he could ask her to marry him.
At ten o'clock David was starting to get worried about her. He scooped up his keys, quickly making up his mind to go look for her. David drove her familiar routes to and from her job and the school, scanning the area for her car. He spotted her car near the alley near their favorite coffee shop.
David walked towards the shop, but stopped when he heard a noise coming from the alley. David poked his head in the opening and stopped cold. Arianna was lying on the ground a short way from the mouth of the alley, breathing heavily.
David rushed to her side. There was a wide gash in her side. He dropped to the ground next to her and placed his hand over the wound, trying to stem the flow of blood. "Ari, Ari! Wake up!"
Arianna opened her eyes briefly and a ghost of a smile played on her lips. "David..."
"Shh, don't talk, I'll get you to the hospital." He stood up with her in his arms.
"Ari, who did this to you? Ari, please wake up."
Arianna stirred a little, trying to form coherent words through the haze of pain. "Grant.... Brenna."
David drew in a breath sharply in shock.
"I Love you... David." Arianna sighed and closed her eyes for the last time.
Seventeen Years' Time
At seventeen years old, The Wordsmith was tall, taller than Haschen remembered, but then he’d never really looked, had he? He had no choice but to look now, lying on the ground beside the open Vault, while fires ravaged the halls of Rosenkreuz and the children from the Vault revealed their true loyalties.
The Telekinetic had The Wordsmith in a vice-like grip and was shaking him sharply.
The Wordsmith ducked his head but didn’t try to pull free - he’d learned better than to fight back. The Biokinetic was at his back, ready to knock out the Wordsmith for transport on the mark, either from The Telekinetic or The Oracle.
After a moment, through the haze of bleeding out, Haschen could hear their words.
“We can’t just leave them to die,” The Wordsmith said. Ink swirled on his skin, formed muzzy words in lovely classical calligraphy, distress and fear and compassion; years in the Vault had given the boy nothing but time to perfect his hand.
The Telekinetic said, “The Knights of Grau are coming. We can let them claim us as prizes - or we can go to them willingly.”
“But - Elder Haschen and the others --”
“Tortured you,” The Biokinetic spat. She tossed her head angrily. “I’m surprised you’ve survived as long as you have, soft as your are.”
“I’m not soft,” The Wordsmith insisted. “Haschen --”
“Will be finished off by the Gregori in seven minutes and thirty-two seconds,” The Oracle said.
The Wordsmith bowed his head. “And Lena, the girl who visited me?”
“The Talentless wench?” Another toss of the head from The Biokinetic. “Dead. Elders had her culled because she talked to you. Let’s go.”
“Seventeen years,” The Oracle said. “Isn’t it time?”
Numbers scrolled across The Wordsmith’s shoulder blades, and he bowed his head. “It is.”
(300 words)
The Telekinetic had The Wordsmith in a vice-like grip and was shaking him sharply.
The Wordsmith ducked his head but didn’t try to pull free - he’d learned better than to fight back. The Biokinetic was at his back, ready to knock out the Wordsmith for transport on the mark, either from The Telekinetic or The Oracle.
After a moment, through the haze of bleeding out, Haschen could hear their words.
“We can’t just leave them to die,” The Wordsmith said. Ink swirled on his skin, formed muzzy words in lovely classical calligraphy, distress and fear and compassion; years in the Vault had given the boy nothing but time to perfect his hand.
The Telekinetic said, “The Knights of Grau are coming. We can let them claim us as prizes - or we can go to them willingly.”
“But - Elder Haschen and the others --”
“Tortured you,” The Biokinetic spat. She tossed her head angrily. “I’m surprised you’ve survived as long as you have, soft as your are.”
“I’m not soft,” The Wordsmith insisted. “Haschen --”
“Will be finished off by the Gregori in seven minutes and thirty-two seconds,” The Oracle said.
The Wordsmith bowed his head. “And Lena, the girl who visited me?”
“The Talentless wench?” Another toss of the head from The Biokinetic. “Dead. Elders had her culled because she talked to you. Let’s go.”
“Seventeen years,” The Oracle said. “Isn’t it time?”
Numbers scrolled across The Wordsmith’s shoulder blades, and he bowed his head. “It is.”
(300 words)
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Boy
She was Talentless and lucky she hadn’t been culled by the Talented who terrorized the halls of the school, but she wasn’t sure this newest assignment was much better. Still, she was alive, so she took a deep breath and stepped into the vault. Elder Haschen stood at the lock, and would wait while she cleaned. She’d been given one instruction - not to touch the boy.
The boy was a slender teenager, pale, shivering on a cot in the corner. He straightened up when she stepped into the room and flashed her a nervous smile, a twitch of wide lips, eyebrows arcing gracefully. He had large, long-fingered hands folded neatly in his lap. She could count his ribs and trace the line of his collarbone.
“Hello,” he said cautiously.
Elder Haschen hadn’t said anything about not talking to him. “Hello.” All of the students at the school, talented or not, spoke English as well as German. He sounded American, like a television show.
“What’s your name?”
“Lena,” she said.
“Nice to meet you, Lena. Did you need something?”
“I’m here to clean. Your room.” ‘Room’ was a loose term for a vault lined with ancient moldering books, occult relics, and antique weapons.
“Oh.” He looked nervous. “Am I not keeping it clean enough?”
“The Elders didn’t say,” Lena said.
“Oh. All right.” He wilted for a moment, then straightened up. “Would you like to hear a poem?”
Lena nodded warily. “That would be nice. What kind of poem?”
“Any kind you like.”
She darted a glance at the shelves, but didn’t see a single volume of poetry. Was he going to make it up?
“Poe,” she said. “I like Poe.”
He smiled and began to recite,
“It was many and many years ago
In a kingdom by the sea...”
(300 words)
The boy was a slender teenager, pale, shivering on a cot in the corner. He straightened up when she stepped into the room and flashed her a nervous smile, a twitch of wide lips, eyebrows arcing gracefully. He had large, long-fingered hands folded neatly in his lap. She could count his ribs and trace the line of his collarbone.
“Hello,” he said cautiously.
Elder Haschen hadn’t said anything about not talking to him. “Hello.” All of the students at the school, talented or not, spoke English as well as German. He sounded American, like a television show.
“What’s your name?”
“Lena,” she said.
“Nice to meet you, Lena. Did you need something?”
“I’m here to clean. Your room.” ‘Room’ was a loose term for a vault lined with ancient moldering books, occult relics, and antique weapons.
“Oh.” He looked nervous. “Am I not keeping it clean enough?”
“The Elders didn’t say,” Lena said.
“Oh. All right.” He wilted for a moment, then straightened up. “Would you like to hear a poem?”
Lena nodded warily. “That would be nice. What kind of poem?”
“Any kind you like.”
She darted a glance at the shelves, but didn’t see a single volume of poetry. Was he going to make it up?
“Poe,” she said. “I like Poe.”
He smiled and began to recite,
“It was many and many years ago
In a kingdom by the sea...”
(300 words)
Meeting of Fate
At 16 David was well liked. Not quite popular, he was to aloof to have that classification. He was kind, but kept mostly to himself. He had landed at last in Seattle with his Uncle and Aunt after his fathers death a few years before in a plane crash. He had bounced from family to family, school to school until he arrived where he was.
A handsome boy, with a tragic past was all the girls needed to know to make them sigh over him. His intelligent cobalt eyes and black hair were the topic of many conversations.
Tall and slender David was a runner, his physique was well defined. He liked the physical exertion and the solitude that came with the sport. The school coaches were constantly trying to recruit him to one team or another.
David sat in the back of all his classes, his ever present sketchbook on his desk. He sat bent over it, his hair falling into his eyes, ignoring the girls that always chose to sit next to him. He never volunteered in classes. It was a waste of time. These people were not going to teach him anything new. Anything that he wanted to know he looked up in the library or on the internet.
David was walking out of his History class when he rammed right into someone that was coming in the room, knocking them down. He automatically reached down to help the person up. A cool hand grasped his firmly and stood up with his help.
"Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going." the girl said.
"No it's my fault." David smiled at her.
"My name's Arianna. What's yours?"
"David."
"Nice to meet you David."
""Nice to meet you too Arianna." David said. She had a pretty name
A handsome boy, with a tragic past was all the girls needed to know to make them sigh over him. His intelligent cobalt eyes and black hair were the topic of many conversations.
Tall and slender David was a runner, his physique was well defined. He liked the physical exertion and the solitude that came with the sport. The school coaches were constantly trying to recruit him to one team or another.
David sat in the back of all his classes, his ever present sketchbook on his desk. He sat bent over it, his hair falling into his eyes, ignoring the girls that always chose to sit next to him. He never volunteered in classes. It was a waste of time. These people were not going to teach him anything new. Anything that he wanted to know he looked up in the library or on the internet.
David was walking out of his History class when he rammed right into someone that was coming in the room, knocking them down. He automatically reached down to help the person up. A cool hand grasped his firmly and stood up with his help.
"Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going." the girl said.
"No it's my fault." David smiled at her.
"My name's Arianna. What's yours?"
"David."
"Nice to meet you David."
""Nice to meet you too Arianna." David said. She had a pretty name
Going away
David was six the day that his father took him aside and explained to him that it was time for his mother to go away. James had watched the ever diminishing brain scans over the last few years, and hope hand diminished with it.
"But dad, you said she was only sleeping and that she would wake up. He had just been reading a volume of Tennyson to his mother.
"I know son, I always hoped that she would, but she's not. And it is time for her to go to heaven." James embraced his son.
David looked at his father quizzically. "What is heaven dad?"
James swallowed hard, "Heaven is where you go when you die. People become Angels."
David's brow furrowed. "So mom will be an Angel?" He had heard about Angels. They were some type of ghost, but better. David pictured wings and a halo on his mother.
"Yes she will."
"Will she come to see me?"
"I don't know son."
"But if mom is an Angel then she will be doing good right? She will be awake even though she is dead?"
"I think so." James embraced his son.
David looked at his mother's face, "I think mommy would be happy as an Angel."
(208.... I reworked it as you can see.)
"But dad, you said she was only sleeping and that she would wake up. He had just been reading a volume of Tennyson to his mother.
"I know son, I always hoped that she would, but she's not. And it is time for her to go to heaven." James embraced his son.
David looked at his father quizzically. "What is heaven dad?"
James swallowed hard, "Heaven is where you go when you die. People become Angels."
David's brow furrowed. "So mom will be an Angel?" He had heard about Angels. They were some type of ghost, but better. David pictured wings and a halo on his mother.
"Yes she will."
"Will she come to see me?"
"I don't know son."
"But if mom is an Angel then she will be doing good right? She will be awake even though she is dead?"
"I think so." James embraced his son.
David looked at his mother's face, "I think mommy would be happy as an Angel."
(208.... I reworked it as you can see.)
Here But Not Here
David smiled up at his father; proudly showing off the kite that he had made. His little hands were sticky with glue, and there was paper everywhere. String was tangled up on the floor next to him.
"It's beautiful David, lets go show your mother." His father picked up his young son, only four years old and carried him with his prize in to see his mother.
A heart monitor beeped quietly in the background, a hiss of air from the compressors accompanied it. The room was large, light and airy. David scrambled up into the bed next to his mother. "Do you think that she will wake up today Daddy? It would be a good day for it. The first day of spring."
David had never seen his mother awake, but his fathers assurances that she was only asleep, and that one day she would wake up was enough to make him happy, and to hope that it would be today.
"Perhaps it will be today, perhaps tomorrow. C'mon son, lets go put that kite up into the sky."
"Okay! I'll be back later mom." David kissed her cheek and patted her hand and ran out the door with his father following.
James looked back on his comatose wife. "Please wake up soon," he whispered and went to join his son.
"It's beautiful David, lets go show your mother." His father picked up his young son, only four years old and carried him with his prize in to see his mother.
A heart monitor beeped quietly in the background, a hiss of air from the compressors accompanied it. The room was large, light and airy. David scrambled up into the bed next to his mother. "Do you think that she will wake up today Daddy? It would be a good day for it. The first day of spring."
David had never seen his mother awake, but his fathers assurances that she was only asleep, and that one day she would wake up was enough to make him happy, and to hope that it would be today.
"Perhaps it will be today, perhaps tomorrow. C'mon son, lets go put that kite up into the sky."
"Okay! I'll be back later mom." David kissed her cheek and patted her hand and ran out the door with his father following.
James looked back on his comatose wife. "Please wake up soon," he whispered and went to join his son.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Value of Silence
Where most children fidgeted while adults stared, the little Wordsmith sat perfectly still, hands folded in his lap, and stared down at his bare feet. The breeches he wore - uniform cast-offs from an older Rosenkreuz student - came a couple of inches above his ankle and pinched too tightly at his already-thin waist, but he made no complaint.
“How old are you?” Haschen asked. Every moment of the boy’s life was documented in boxes and boxes of files, but he liked to hear the boy speak. So rarely did the boy speak for himself - his skin spoke for him - and so his voice, a nervous tenor, was a pleasant sound.
“Seven, sir.” The Wordsmith met his gaze briefly.
“What’s your name?”
At this, The Wordsmith looked puzzled. “I don’t understand.”
“What is your name?”
“I don’t know, sir.”
“What do people call you?”
“I am The Wordsmith,” he said.
Haschen smiled. “Perfect.” He rose up, gestured to a stack of books some minion had set in the corner. “Absorb those in time for our next meeting.” And he left.
He paused outside the door to listen to the soft gasps of a boy trying to suppress the pain of absorption. The last Wordsmith had been a girl, and she’d screamed so prettily, but Elder Deinen had been right - the boy had learned the value of silence.
(227 words)
“How old are you?” Haschen asked. Every moment of the boy’s life was documented in boxes and boxes of files, but he liked to hear the boy speak. So rarely did the boy speak for himself - his skin spoke for him - and so his voice, a nervous tenor, was a pleasant sound.
“Seven, sir.” The Wordsmith met his gaze briefly.
“What’s your name?”
At this, The Wordsmith looked puzzled. “I don’t understand.”
“What is your name?”
“I don’t know, sir.”
“What do people call you?”
“I am The Wordsmith,” he said.
Haschen smiled. “Perfect.” He rose up, gestured to a stack of books some minion had set in the corner. “Absorb those in time for our next meeting.” And he left.
He paused outside the door to listen to the soft gasps of a boy trying to suppress the pain of absorption. The last Wordsmith had been a girl, and she’d screamed so prettily, but Elder Deinen had been right - the boy had learned the value of silence.
(227 words)
Better Than Reading
“What does it say?” Haschen asked.
The rest of the Elders looked dubious; the toddler sitting on the patchwork blanket in the middle of the Vault gazed up at them with wide, solemn eyes.
“What does it say?” Haschen repeated.
“ ‘He who bears the cross and the rose will rule the world,’” the boy said.
The Elders smiled, pleased to hear the ritual words spill from a child’s lips in such a sweet child’s voice.
“But can he read?” one of the Elders asked.
“Better,” Haschen said. “He’s learned early.” He leaned down and stroked a hand over the boy’s spine, whispered in his hear.
The little boy screamed and arched away from Haschen’s touch, every muscle tighter than piano wire, but it was too late, the work had begun. The Elders stared as ink, lettered in a toddler’s unsteady hand, spread across the tiny torso, and formed ritual words, an image of a cross bound with roses and thorns.
“How old is he?” another Elder asked.
Haschen said, “Two.”
(170 words)
The rest of the Elders looked dubious; the toddler sitting on the patchwork blanket in the middle of the Vault gazed up at them with wide, solemn eyes.
“What does it say?” Haschen repeated.
“ ‘He who bears the cross and the rose will rule the world,’” the boy said.
The Elders smiled, pleased to hear the ritual words spill from a child’s lips in such a sweet child’s voice.
“But can he read?” one of the Elders asked.
“Better,” Haschen said. “He’s learned early.” He leaned down and stroked a hand over the boy’s spine, whispered in his hear.
The little boy screamed and arched away from Haschen’s touch, every muscle tighter than piano wire, but it was too late, the work had begun. The Elders stared as ink, lettered in a toddler’s unsteady hand, spread across the tiny torso, and formed ritual words, an image of a cross bound with roses and thorns.
“How old is he?” another Elder asked.
Haschen said, “Two.”
(170 words)
Left on the Steps
“You found him?”
“On the front steps.” Haschen glanced at the video feed where a girl lay dead at the gates, the torn hem of her ragged dress fluttering in the wind. The bundle in his arms was wrapped in a thin patchwork blanket and was strangely silent.
“Let me see him.”
Haschen parted the folds of the blanket, shifted the bundle awkwardly. A pair of big brown eyes peered myopically out at the world. A chubby little fist waved free. The baby had wisps of dull brown hair and a wide, toothless smile. A happy baby, unaware of his circumstances.
“And no one seeks him?”
“Mastermind scanned the bearer,” Haschen said. “The infant is illegitimate and the bearer had a falling out with her family - no one even knows he’s alive.”
“Perfect. And The Biokinetic says...?”
Haschen stared down at the baby. “He’s an ink-bearer.”
“Have one of the Matrons fix a bassinet in the Vault. Ensure he’s fed and changed at appropriate times.”
“And if he cries? Shall we assign him a nurse?”
“He’ll learn not to cry.”
(181 words)
“On the front steps.” Haschen glanced at the video feed where a girl lay dead at the gates, the torn hem of her ragged dress fluttering in the wind. The bundle in his arms was wrapped in a thin patchwork blanket and was strangely silent.
“Let me see him.”
Haschen parted the folds of the blanket, shifted the bundle awkwardly. A pair of big brown eyes peered myopically out at the world. A chubby little fist waved free. The baby had wisps of dull brown hair and a wide, toothless smile. A happy baby, unaware of his circumstances.
“And no one seeks him?”
“Mastermind scanned the bearer,” Haschen said. “The infant is illegitimate and the bearer had a falling out with her family - no one even knows he’s alive.”
“Perfect. And The Biokinetic says...?”
Haschen stared down at the baby. “He’s an ink-bearer.”
“Have one of the Matrons fix a bassinet in the Vault. Ensure he’s fed and changed at appropriate times.”
“And if he cries? Shall we assign him a nurse?”
“He’ll learn not to cry.”
(181 words)
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sart at the Beginning
He was pink and wrinkled as most new born are. Frail and tiny with a healthy set of lungs which he gave vent to in full volume, but it was a beautiful cry, not the mewling whine of many others. After a moment he calmed down.
He was placed his mother's weak arms his eyes wide, a sharp, intelligent gaze. Dark cobalt eyes seemed to absorb everything around him. Tiny fingers grasped at the air, and his mouth worked on nothing.
"...So handsome..."
The doctors were not sure if she would make it. They had brought her in from a car wreck, two others had died.
A nurse approached with a clipboard and started asking questions. "The name?"
The woman's dark hair was in her eyes, matted to her head with the effort of bringing her son into the world. "David." She smiled gently and held her son close.
"You will do great things David, You will be a great man."
(I'll probably edit posts as these characters develop.)
He was placed his mother's weak arms his eyes wide, a sharp, intelligent gaze. Dark cobalt eyes seemed to absorb everything around him. Tiny fingers grasped at the air, and his mouth worked on nothing.
"...So handsome..."
The doctors were not sure if she would make it. They had brought her in from a car wreck, two others had died.
A nurse approached with a clipboard and started asking questions. "The name?"
The woman's dark hair was in her eyes, matted to her head with the effort of bringing her son into the world. "David." She smiled gently and held her son close.
"You will do great things David, You will be a great man."
(I'll probably edit posts as these characters develop.)
Project #17: Growing up
First of all, serious apologies for not getting this up in good time, as it means some double posting will undoubtedly go down. But this week's assignment is fairly simple. Maybe hit up the famous Shakespearean soliloquy The Seven Ages of Man or whatnot, but you have seven days in which to write a light, birth to earth, womb to tomb, one entry a day (or possibly two to catch up, the entire life of a single original character from seven different spots in that character's life. Feel free to tell if needs be, as this is only 100-300 words long, and do your best to pick interesting points in life, or maybe put a new spin on the generic landmarks in life. Either way, bring a character to life!
Overview #16 - Proverbs
This was an interesting exercise. At first I just typed in a random word that I thought would set the theme and went with the first proverb that popped up, but once I got into it I had a scheme in mind and went hunting for proverbs that sounded like good lines of dialogue because, let's face it, proverbs often sound like fortune cookies. It was a fun way to find inspiration and proves that, even though the great writers had muses, a dedicated writer can learn to find inspiration anywhere.
At Risk
She leaned in and purred, “If you have nothing else to offer me, offer me your smile.”
The Wordsmith was pressed flat up against a bookcase, arms up to fend her off.
Garrow grabbed her by the collar and hauled her backwards. “Away from the boy, little lady. No touching The Wordsmith.”
“I don’t want to smile for you,” the kid added, which caused the woman to leer.
The woman squirmed in Garrow’s grip like an angry kitten. “I wasn’t gonna hurt him!”
Garrow reached into his pack and fished around for one of the grandpa shirts the Thrones had given him. He tossed it at the kid, who caught it with shaking hands and buttoned it up wrong. His coordination always went out the window when he was scared.
“You would’ve hurt him without knowing it,” Garrow said. “What are you doing in the Gregori bunker anyway, Messenger? Get lost.” He shoved her away. She sniffed at him, turned her nose up, and sashayed out of the bunker.
As soon as she was gone, Garrow turned back to The Wordsmith, who was focused on fixing his shirt. “You all right, kid?”
He nodded. “Yeah, she - she didn’t know how to trigger me.”
“She might’ve by accident. Look, when Austin’s not in the bunker, wear more clothes, all right? I know she’s got seniority on me, but we can’t afford to --” Garrow broke off, rephrased -- “you shouldn’t have to be at risk like that all the time. Now come on - it’s time for your chopstick lessons.”
“Why? Just because a billion people in one isolated nation can feed themselves that way --”
“Because I want some real orange chicken and sushi and we won’t get it in a bunker, and hell if I’m gonna let you embarrass me at my favorite restaurant. Move, kid!”
The Wordsmith ducked his head and nodded, but Garrow could see he was smiling.
The Wordsmith was pressed flat up against a bookcase, arms up to fend her off.
Garrow grabbed her by the collar and hauled her backwards. “Away from the boy, little lady. No touching The Wordsmith.”
“I don’t want to smile for you,” the kid added, which caused the woman to leer.
The woman squirmed in Garrow’s grip like an angry kitten. “I wasn’t gonna hurt him!”
Garrow reached into his pack and fished around for one of the grandpa shirts the Thrones had given him. He tossed it at the kid, who caught it with shaking hands and buttoned it up wrong. His coordination always went out the window when he was scared.
“You would’ve hurt him without knowing it,” Garrow said. “What are you doing in the Gregori bunker anyway, Messenger? Get lost.” He shoved her away. She sniffed at him, turned her nose up, and sashayed out of the bunker.
As soon as she was gone, Garrow turned back to The Wordsmith, who was focused on fixing his shirt. “You all right, kid?”
He nodded. “Yeah, she - she didn’t know how to trigger me.”
“She might’ve by accident. Look, when Austin’s not in the bunker, wear more clothes, all right? I know she’s got seniority on me, but we can’t afford to --” Garrow broke off, rephrased -- “you shouldn’t have to be at risk like that all the time. Now come on - it’s time for your chopstick lessons.”
“Why? Just because a billion people in one isolated nation can feed themselves that way --”
“Because I want some real orange chicken and sushi and we won’t get it in a bunker, and hell if I’m gonna let you embarrass me at my favorite restaurant. Move, kid!”
The Wordsmith ducked his head and nodded, but Garrow could see he was smiling.
Does Not Heal
Ken opened his eyes and went to roll out of bed, but stopped when pain lanced through his side. He froze, muscles tense, fire burning up along his side and back, and scanned his memory. He was in the flower shop, and he was alive.
Aya had stabbed him through the kidney.
Ken rolled gingerly onto his back and then did his best to scootch toward the edge of the bed. It took some creative maneuvering and using muscles he hadn’t used in a long time to make it to a sitting position. He made it to his feet with relative ease, then realized he couldn’t bend down, so he used his toes Omi-style (did Mamoru even do that sort of thing these days?) to scoop up his towel, and he shuffled for the bathroom. As he turned on the hot water and let the steam fill his lungs, he was glad Yohji had insisted on a western shower.
Then he felt another pang - deeper, more than physical - and remembered that Yohji was not his friend anymore, that he was an amnesiac stranger who would never smile at him again.
Ken managed to shower without re-opening the wound (he’d scratched off the bandages as soon as he was out of the doctor’s sight) and then dressed in a comfortable yukata. Western clothes weren’t always great when he was wounded, and Momoe-san had given him the next week off.
Ken wasn’t sure he’d be able to sit still for that long, but that he knew it was in his best interest to try.
“How are you feeling?”
Aya’s voice from the doorway nearly gave him a heart attack. Ken spun around, and the motion pulled at his wound. He winced and clutched at the sink for balance.
Aya shook his head. “Baka. It’ll never heal if you don’t hold still.”
“You startled me,” Ken protested. “You sneaked up on me like --”
“Like an assassin?” Aya arched one eyebrow.
Ken nodded, cracking a smile at Aya’s solemn-faced joke, and then he noticed the suitcase in Aya’s hand. Even this early, Aya was fully dressed. Ken’s smile faded.
“Ano...what’s with the luggage?”
“I’ve resigned from Kritiker and found employment in America,” Aya said.
That hurt more than Ken expected. “Aa. You want me to drive you to the airport?”
Confused furrowed Aya’s brow, and he would always be a little socially dense, wouldn’t he? “I just came by to ensure you were healing well.”
He couldn’t even say goodbye.
Ken shook his head and smiled. “Let me drive you. It’s no bother.”
Aya nodded. “Thank you.”
Momoe-san was waiting for him when he returned.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
Ken shrugged. “It still hurts.”
“Give it time - and remember to rest!” Momoe-san said, and shuffled to help a customer.
Ken closed his eyes and pictured Aya’s departing figure. “A wound inflicted by a friend does not heal.”
(492 words)
Aya had stabbed him through the kidney.
Ken rolled gingerly onto his back and then did his best to scootch toward the edge of the bed. It took some creative maneuvering and using muscles he hadn’t used in a long time to make it to a sitting position. He made it to his feet with relative ease, then realized he couldn’t bend down, so he used his toes Omi-style (did Mamoru even do that sort of thing these days?) to scoop up his towel, and he shuffled for the bathroom. As he turned on the hot water and let the steam fill his lungs, he was glad Yohji had insisted on a western shower.
Then he felt another pang - deeper, more than physical - and remembered that Yohji was not his friend anymore, that he was an amnesiac stranger who would never smile at him again.
Ken managed to shower without re-opening the wound (he’d scratched off the bandages as soon as he was out of the doctor’s sight) and then dressed in a comfortable yukata. Western clothes weren’t always great when he was wounded, and Momoe-san had given him the next week off.
Ken wasn’t sure he’d be able to sit still for that long, but that he knew it was in his best interest to try.
“How are you feeling?”
Aya’s voice from the doorway nearly gave him a heart attack. Ken spun around, and the motion pulled at his wound. He winced and clutched at the sink for balance.
Aya shook his head. “Baka. It’ll never heal if you don’t hold still.”
“You startled me,” Ken protested. “You sneaked up on me like --”
“Like an assassin?” Aya arched one eyebrow.
Ken nodded, cracking a smile at Aya’s solemn-faced joke, and then he noticed the suitcase in Aya’s hand. Even this early, Aya was fully dressed. Ken’s smile faded.
“Ano...what’s with the luggage?”
“I’ve resigned from Kritiker and found employment in America,” Aya said.
That hurt more than Ken expected. “Aa. You want me to drive you to the airport?”
Confused furrowed Aya’s brow, and he would always be a little socially dense, wouldn’t he? “I just came by to ensure you were healing well.”
He couldn’t even say goodbye.
Ken shook his head and smiled. “Let me drive you. It’s no bother.”
Aya nodded. “Thank you.”
Momoe-san was waiting for him when he returned.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
Ken shrugged. “It still hurts.”
“Give it time - and remember to rest!” Momoe-san said, and shuffled to help a customer.
Ken closed his eyes and pictured Aya’s departing figure. “A wound inflicted by a friend does not heal.”
(492 words)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Why do you do it?
David was not sure what to make of the man behind the wheel of his car. He had stopped him, told him to follow where he lead, and he would have his revenge and make the world better.
He was not sure if he should fear this man. That he could kill David without a thought he knew without a doubt, some instinct told him this. But the same instinct told him that he would not kill him, that he had plans for him. After a long silence, the street lights flashing on the slick windshield, David finally asked, "What would you ask of me? What would you have me do?"
The man spared a glance at the teenager in the passenger seat, not speaking at first. He looked so young, so innocent, excpt for his eyes. His eyes were blank, no inner light was there anymore.
"I would have you become one of us. I ask that you follow my lead to whatever end."
"Who is us?" David sounded only mildly curious, as if asking were a reflex rather than a true desire to know.
"In time you will know. I am asking you to give up your old life, all your connections, all your past. I am asking you to become what we need you to be."
"And what is that?" The same resigned voice asked.
"Mercenary, thief, commander, anything that we need."
David shrugged. "I have nothing left, no reason to stay. I guess I might as well go with you." David looked at the man, the first glimmer of life sparking in his deadpan face. "Did you give up who you were? Why do you do it? If I do well what happens?"
The man smiled, "all information in its time. As you see yourself, I once saw myself; as you see me now, you will be seen."
David settled back on the seat, thinking over what he had been told. He would become like this man. Strong, capable, someone people could look up to.
He was not sure if he should fear this man. That he could kill David without a thought he knew without a doubt, some instinct told him this. But the same instinct told him that he would not kill him, that he had plans for him. After a long silence, the street lights flashing on the slick windshield, David finally asked, "What would you ask of me? What would you have me do?"
The man spared a glance at the teenager in the passenger seat, not speaking at first. He looked so young, so innocent, excpt for his eyes. His eyes were blank, no inner light was there anymore.
"I would have you become one of us. I ask that you follow my lead to whatever end."
"Who is us?" David sounded only mildly curious, as if asking were a reflex rather than a true desire to know.
"In time you will know. I am asking you to give up your old life, all your connections, all your past. I am asking you to become what we need you to be."
"And what is that?" The same resigned voice asked.
"Mercenary, thief, commander, anything that we need."
David shrugged. "I have nothing left, no reason to stay. I guess I might as well go with you." David looked at the man, the first glimmer of life sparking in his deadpan face. "Did you give up who you were? Why do you do it? If I do well what happens?"
The man smiled, "all information in its time. As you see yourself, I once saw myself; as you see me now, you will be seen."
David settled back on the seat, thinking over what he had been told. He would become like this man. Strong, capable, someone people could look up to.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Revenge, Anger, Cruelty
Garrow knelt over The Wordsmith. He reached out, hands shaking, and checked for a pulse. The kid was alive, only barely. His lip was split and one eye was swollen shut, and ink was bleeding out from under his fingernails. He must have absorbed over a hundred books in the last day.
“Kid, talk to me,” Garrow said.
The Wordsmith moaned softly.
“Damn them.” Garrow gathered the kid into his arms, wrapped the kid in his coat, and scooped up his body.
The Wordsmith curled against Garrow’s chest and whimpered. “Hurts.”
“I know, kid,” Garrow said. “We’ll get you back to the Virtues - they’ll fix you right up.”
The Wordsmith tossed his head. “No - need to get to the vault.”
“You’re not going back there.” Garrow headed for the nearest Metro station. “Those books in the vault --”
“Are all in my blood. Destroy it.” The Wordsmith gazed at Garrow with his one good eye.
“Kid --”
“Please. So no one else has to read them.”
Garrow stopped. “Kid...”
“Garrow - please,” The Wordsmith said. His tone was pleading.
“Kid --”
“My name is Matthew.”
Garrow went still. “What?”
“Rosenkreuz. They tried to take away my name, but I remembered it. It was the first thing I absorbed, but they broke me of it - for a while. I found it in one of the books they had me absorb in the vault.” He smiled faintly.
“Matthew,” Garrow said. He reached out, brushed an unruly lock of hair out of the boy’s eyes. “Did you know that’s my name too?”
He nodded. “That made it easier to remember when the time came.” He opened his mouth to speak again, but his breath hitched, and his entire body tensed, curling in on itself.
Garrow’s eyes went wide. “Kid? Kid! Matthew? Talk to me, baby boy, let me hear your voice. Tell me one of those sonnets you always have --”
The smile slid off of Matthew’s face, and his body went limp.
Garrow went still. Then he knelt, slowly, and laid Matthew’s body on the ground. He sat beside the body for a while, stroking the boy’s hair, and then he stood up. He drew his scimitar and his shotgun, and he turned in the direction of the vault.
“Damn them,” he said again. “I’ll damn them.” He began to walk away.
On the ground, Matthew stirred, and one last time, words wrote themselves across his skin.
When Anger and Revenge marry, their daughter is called Cruelty.
“Kid, talk to me,” Garrow said.
The Wordsmith moaned softly.
“Damn them.” Garrow gathered the kid into his arms, wrapped the kid in his coat, and scooped up his body.
The Wordsmith curled against Garrow’s chest and whimpered. “Hurts.”
“I know, kid,” Garrow said. “We’ll get you back to the Virtues - they’ll fix you right up.”
The Wordsmith tossed his head. “No - need to get to the vault.”
“You’re not going back there.” Garrow headed for the nearest Metro station. “Those books in the vault --”
“Are all in my blood. Destroy it.” The Wordsmith gazed at Garrow with his one good eye.
“Kid --”
“Please. So no one else has to read them.”
Garrow stopped. “Kid...”
“Garrow - please,” The Wordsmith said. His tone was pleading.
“Kid --”
“My name is Matthew.”
Garrow went still. “What?”
“Rosenkreuz. They tried to take away my name, but I remembered it. It was the first thing I absorbed, but they broke me of it - for a while. I found it in one of the books they had me absorb in the vault.” He smiled faintly.
“Matthew,” Garrow said. He reached out, brushed an unruly lock of hair out of the boy’s eyes. “Did you know that’s my name too?”
He nodded. “That made it easier to remember when the time came.” He opened his mouth to speak again, but his breath hitched, and his entire body tensed, curling in on itself.
Garrow’s eyes went wide. “Kid? Kid! Matthew? Talk to me, baby boy, let me hear your voice. Tell me one of those sonnets you always have --”
The smile slid off of Matthew’s face, and his body went limp.
Garrow went still. Then he knelt, slowly, and laid Matthew’s body on the ground. He sat beside the body for a while, stroking the boy’s hair, and then he stood up. He drew his scimitar and his shotgun, and he turned in the direction of the vault.
“Damn them,” he said again. “I’ll damn them.” He began to walk away.
On the ground, Matthew stirred, and one last time, words wrote themselves across his skin.
When Anger and Revenge marry, their daughter is called Cruelty.
The Beginning
In the gathering darkness David loaded his gun, readying it for action. He was tired of letting the injustice in the world exist. Tired of the innocent falling to the evil. A face flashed in his mind, the greatest injustice of all.
David stepped out of his car into the rain. They would pay for what they had done.
"Wait son." A voice said out of the night.
David spun around, trying to see who the voice belonged to, bringing his gun up.
"Who are you?" David yelled.
"A man who will show you a different path. A path that will make a difference in the world." The shadow of the man was wrapped in a long coat and a wide brimmed hat pulled low.
"I don't need a path! I don't need to save the world! I need vengeance!" Tears rolled down his face, David was incensed, his prey was going to get away. He was young, his hand shaking on the gun.
"You will get that too, but it would be a sad waste for you to die tonight, as I know that you would. Do you think that his men will let you live? You think that you will even get close to him? You will die, and then who will avenge her, or you for that matter?" The man remained calm.
"I have nothing. Nothing left. They took everything from me. At this point I don't even care if I live or die."
The man smiled, "Beware of him who has nothing to lose." The man took a step towards the teenager. "Come with me David."
David dropped the gun to his side. "Who are you?" he sounded resigned, lifeless.
"I will be your Captain." The man took the gun from David and lead him to the car.
David stepped out of his car into the rain. They would pay for what they had done.
"Wait son." A voice said out of the night.
David spun around, trying to see who the voice belonged to, bringing his gun up.
"Who are you?" David yelled.
"A man who will show you a different path. A path that will make a difference in the world." The shadow of the man was wrapped in a long coat and a wide brimmed hat pulled low.
"I don't need a path! I don't need to save the world! I need vengeance!" Tears rolled down his face, David was incensed, his prey was going to get away. He was young, his hand shaking on the gun.
"You will get that too, but it would be a sad waste for you to die tonight, as I know that you would. Do you think that his men will let you live? You think that you will even get close to him? You will die, and then who will avenge her, or you for that matter?" The man remained calm.
"I have nothing. Nothing left. They took everything from me. At this point I don't even care if I live or die."
The man smiled, "Beware of him who has nothing to lose." The man took a step towards the teenager. "Come with me David."
David dropped the gun to his side. "Who are you?" he sounded resigned, lifeless.
"I will be your Captain." The man took the gun from David and lead him to the car.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Hunt
“If you keep staring your eyes will fall out of your head,” Garrow said.
The Wordsmith blinked, as if he didn’t even realize he’d been staring. “I’m sorry,” he said.
The way the boy apologized was practically a reflex. Still, Garrow wasn’t going to complain. It had taken some serious sweet-talking to get the Authority to let the Wordsmith out of the Quire for the evening, and Garrow was going to enjoy every moment of it. He couldn’t tell if The Wordsmith was enjoying himself yet; his eyes were at least more alive, but he was as timid as ever, huddled in on himself and wary of anyone touching him, talking to him. Given what happened when people talked to him and touched him, Garrow couldn’t blame the kid.
Out in public The Wordsmith couldn’t go shirtless. Some more nagging with one of the older ladies in the Thrones had turned up some boxes of clothes that had to be a good sixty or seventy years old - button-down shirts, sweater-vests, ugly ties, baggy slacks - but anything fit The Wordsmith’s lanky frame, and so there they were, at Fahreed’s, Garrow dressed as sharp as he could be given the weapons he was required to carry at all times, The Wordsmith dressed like someone’s de-aged grandfather.
He was still staring at the bellydancers.
“Staring isn’t going to get you anywhere with one of them,” Garrow said.
“Where would I want to go with one of them?” The Wordsmith asked.
Garrow was seriously starting to believe that the kid had been left in the Rosenkreuz vault, brought out only to be used, before he was thrown back in again. Whatever he’d learned about the real world was secondhand, from all the books he’d absorbed.
“Look, if you want to make it with the ladies, you need a new mindset. It’s like a hunt - you’re the hunter, they’re the prey,” Garrow began.
“That metaphor was exhausted in several hundred sonnets,” The Wordsmith said.
“The hunt is what it’s all about - you’re a man,” Garrow said as blithely as possible.
The Quire Authority wasn’t even sure The Wordsmith was really a person. The Wordsmith must have caught his tone, because he cast Garrow a look. Then he turned his attention back to the dancers.
“They’ll get creeped out if you keep staring like that, and none of them will talk to you,” Garrow said. “The hunt is more subtle than that.”
“I know it is,” The Wordsmith said. “You don’t think those women aren’t hunting you right back?”
Garrow turned his attention to the stage where three women were shimmying distractingly. “Yeah right.”
The Wordsmith shrugged. “The hunt is like a dance for men; for the women the dance is the hunt.”
(461 words)
The Wordsmith blinked, as if he didn’t even realize he’d been staring. “I’m sorry,” he said.
The way the boy apologized was practically a reflex. Still, Garrow wasn’t going to complain. It had taken some serious sweet-talking to get the Authority to let the Wordsmith out of the Quire for the evening, and Garrow was going to enjoy every moment of it. He couldn’t tell if The Wordsmith was enjoying himself yet; his eyes were at least more alive, but he was as timid as ever, huddled in on himself and wary of anyone touching him, talking to him. Given what happened when people talked to him and touched him, Garrow couldn’t blame the kid.
Out in public The Wordsmith couldn’t go shirtless. Some more nagging with one of the older ladies in the Thrones had turned up some boxes of clothes that had to be a good sixty or seventy years old - button-down shirts, sweater-vests, ugly ties, baggy slacks - but anything fit The Wordsmith’s lanky frame, and so there they were, at Fahreed’s, Garrow dressed as sharp as he could be given the weapons he was required to carry at all times, The Wordsmith dressed like someone’s de-aged grandfather.
He was still staring at the bellydancers.
“Staring isn’t going to get you anywhere with one of them,” Garrow said.
“Where would I want to go with one of them?” The Wordsmith asked.
Garrow was seriously starting to believe that the kid had been left in the Rosenkreuz vault, brought out only to be used, before he was thrown back in again. Whatever he’d learned about the real world was secondhand, from all the books he’d absorbed.
“Look, if you want to make it with the ladies, you need a new mindset. It’s like a hunt - you’re the hunter, they’re the prey,” Garrow began.
“That metaphor was exhausted in several hundred sonnets,” The Wordsmith said.
“The hunt is what it’s all about - you’re a man,” Garrow said as blithely as possible.
The Quire Authority wasn’t even sure The Wordsmith was really a person. The Wordsmith must have caught his tone, because he cast Garrow a look. Then he turned his attention back to the dancers.
“They’ll get creeped out if you keep staring like that, and none of them will talk to you,” Garrow said. “The hunt is more subtle than that.”
“I know it is,” The Wordsmith said. “You don’t think those women aren’t hunting you right back?”
Garrow turned his attention to the stage where three women were shimmying distractingly. “Yeah right.”
The Wordsmith shrugged. “The hunt is like a dance for men; for the women the dance is the hunt.”
(461 words)
Wolves
"I don't know if I can do this." Steve looked a little sick.
David looked up at the younger man from his place in his bunk. "They showed you torture methods today didn't they." David knew that expression. He had worn a similar one when he had been recruited.
Steve swallowed back a little bile and nodded.
David sat up and patted the bed next to him, inviting the new recruit to sit with him. "Tell me Steve, why did you sign up for this? Why did you decide on this course for your life? There were many other paths you could have chosen."
Steve looked down at his calloused hands that were in his lap, flexing them. "I guess I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to know that I was doing something to keep my family safe." Steve twitched his shaggy hair out of his face. His commander had not required him to cut it yet. "I just don't know how I can do this."
David searched for the words that would help his friend. "It becomes easier over time. You just get used to it. After all, he who goes with wolves learns to howl."
David looked up at the younger man from his place in his bunk. "They showed you torture methods today didn't they." David knew that expression. He had worn a similar one when he had been recruited.
Steve swallowed back a little bile and nodded.
David sat up and patted the bed next to him, inviting the new recruit to sit with him. "Tell me Steve, why did you sign up for this? Why did you decide on this course for your life? There were many other paths you could have chosen."
Steve looked down at his calloused hands that were in his lap, flexing them. "I guess I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to know that I was doing something to keep my family safe." Steve twitched his shaggy hair out of his face. His commander had not required him to cut it yet. "I just don't know how I can do this."
David searched for the words that would help his friend. "It becomes easier over time. You just get used to it. After all, he who goes with wolves learns to howl."
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
How Many Times?
David snapped off a shot before there was even time to think. The projectile flew true, striking the man in the chest, throwing him backwards.
"Again." David said.
Joe rolled to his feet. "Come on boss. Don't you think you have it down. I mean I have never known anybody that can do what you do. Who taught you after all? My father first taught me, but he never would have thought I would come this far. How many more times are you going to shoot me?"
"As many times as it takes."
"To do what."
To feel it."
"Why."
"Instinct is stronger than upbringing."
(kind of lame, but writers block is vexing me again. It seems I get a few good ones out and then it strikes again.)
"Again." David said.
Joe rolled to his feet. "Come on boss. Don't you think you have it down. I mean I have never known anybody that can do what you do. Who taught you after all? My father first taught me, but he never would have thought I would come this far. How many more times are you going to shoot me?"
"As many times as it takes."
"To do what."
To feel it."
"Why."
"Instinct is stronger than upbringing."
(kind of lame, but writers block is vexing me again. It seems I get a few good ones out and then it strikes again.)
Never Did
"I love you."
"You do?"
"Yes."
~~~~~~
"You lied to him."
She nodded, "better a lie which heals than a truth which wounds." She shook her head. "A kind deed for all the pain I have caused is not so much to give. I caused his pain. He needs to heal. This will help him, and when I go, he will never know that I never love him."
(Short I know. It is a Czech Republic Proverb)
"You do?"
"Yes."
~~~~~~
"You lied to him."
She nodded, "better a lie which heals than a truth which wounds." She shook her head. "A kind deed for all the pain I have caused is not so much to give. I caused his pain. He needs to heal. This will help him, and when I go, he will never know that I never love him."
(Short I know. It is a Czech Republic Proverb)
What the heart has seen.
ALastrina knew his voice. She knew it as if it were her own. The only problem was that she could not remember where she knew it from. It was only a vauge thought in her mind that she should be remembering who he was. Every night she came to the club, and every night she listened to him sing. And every night he slipped away before she could get a glimpse of him.
It had been three weeks now. Three frustrating weeks of trying to remember something that she didn't even know she was supposed to know. Every night it seemed, when she listened to him sing, there was a niggling little thought in the back of her mind, begging to be remembered. Alastrina grasped at it, but it was like trying to hold mist, insubstantial and fleeting.
Alastrina sat in her usual spot now, closer to the stage than when she had started coming to the club, but still not close enough to see him, only his smile, and his bright eyes.
The lights dimmed and the curtain moved aside. Alastrina sat up straight as he began a beautiful song.
Where has that old friend gone
Lost in a February song
Tell him it won't be long
Til he opens his eyes, opens his eyes
A scene flashed in her mind. A stormy day in February, standing in the rain. Then it was gone.
"The eye never forgets what the heart has seen." She muttered to herself. She didn't bother to try to get a better look at him this time. "I just wish I could remember."
(266 Bantu proverb)
It had been three weeks now. Three frustrating weeks of trying to remember something that she didn't even know she was supposed to know. Every night it seemed, when she listened to him sing, there was a niggling little thought in the back of her mind, begging to be remembered. Alastrina grasped at it, but it was like trying to hold mist, insubstantial and fleeting.
Alastrina sat in her usual spot now, closer to the stage than when she had started coming to the club, but still not close enough to see him, only his smile, and his bright eyes.
The lights dimmed and the curtain moved aside. Alastrina sat up straight as he began a beautiful song.
Where has that old friend gone
Lost in a February song
Tell him it won't be long
Til he opens his eyes, opens his eyes
A scene flashed in her mind. A stormy day in February, standing in the rain. Then it was gone.
"The eye never forgets what the heart has seen." She muttered to herself. She didn't bother to try to get a better look at him this time. "I just wish I could remember."
(266 Bantu proverb)
Trusting in Miracles
“We’re doing exactly what Jibril told us not to do,” Cassiel said. He folded his wings down over his body and hunched his shoulders against the cold.
“It’ll take a miracle for us to get out of here,” Raguel agreed amiably.
Remiel fluffed his wings and huffed indignantly. “Listen to yourselves. Who are we and why are we complaining about miracles not happening?”
Cassiel sulked. “Like your heavenly thunder is useful right now. We’re Watchers, Remy. We’d need Uriel or Sammael or Zerachiel or --”
“What was it Jibril told us not to do?” Remiel asked. He sounded testy.
“Do not stand in a dangerous place trusting in miracles,” Cassiel muttered.
“This is a pretty dangerous place,” Raguel said. “Maybe we should head west to Angel’s landing and hope Israfel or Abbadon pick us up on their way back to the choirs.”
“I don’t like it here,” Cassiel said.
Remiel thumped him in the shoulder. “You’re a Watcher and you know it, but you insisted on coming down with the rest of us.”
“Raguel’s a Watcher, and --”
“And Raguel is also sometimes the wrath of God,” Remiel said. “Now suck it up and start behaving. The mortals will be along to fret over the nuclear contamination. We should head over to Jerusalem to record the last battle.”
Cassiel’s shoulders drooped. “If you insist.”
“I do,” Remiel said. “March!”
Raguel held out one hand. “Look - it’s raining!”
Cassiel perked up. “It’ll wash the earth clean! See? It’s a miracle.”
Remiel wore an expression of long-suffering. “To the chariot. Now.”
(258 words)
“It’ll take a miracle for us to get out of here,” Raguel agreed amiably.
Remiel fluffed his wings and huffed indignantly. “Listen to yourselves. Who are we and why are we complaining about miracles not happening?”
Cassiel sulked. “Like your heavenly thunder is useful right now. We’re Watchers, Remy. We’d need Uriel or Sammael or Zerachiel or --”
“What was it Jibril told us not to do?” Remiel asked. He sounded testy.
“Do not stand in a dangerous place trusting in miracles,” Cassiel muttered.
“This is a pretty dangerous place,” Raguel said. “Maybe we should head west to Angel’s landing and hope Israfel or Abbadon pick us up on their way back to the choirs.”
“I don’t like it here,” Cassiel said.
Remiel thumped him in the shoulder. “You’re a Watcher and you know it, but you insisted on coming down with the rest of us.”
“Raguel’s a Watcher, and --”
“And Raguel is also sometimes the wrath of God,” Remiel said. “Now suck it up and start behaving. The mortals will be along to fret over the nuclear contamination. We should head over to Jerusalem to record the last battle.”
Cassiel’s shoulders drooped. “If you insist.”
“I do,” Remiel said. “March!”
Raguel held out one hand. “Look - it’s raining!”
Cassiel perked up. “It’ll wash the earth clean! See? It’s a miracle.”
Remiel wore an expression of long-suffering. “To the chariot. Now.”
(258 words)
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sorrows from the Heart
“The sight of books removes sorrows from the heart,” Austin said wisely.
Garrow shot a glance at The Wordsmith, who lingered in the doorway, small and hesitant. For some reason the choir bunkers were always cold, and it had been someone’s bright idea - probably Austin’s - to make the poor Wordsmith go shirtless. All the time. Mite looked like he was freezing.
And terrified.
“He doesn’t look so great,” Garrow said.
Austin glanced over her shoulder at The Wordsmith, but she shrugged and continued prowling along the shelves of lovely leather-bound volumes.
“It’s an African proverb,” The Wordsmith began. He took a deep breath, then eased over the threshold of the library. “Did you know that the oldest book - in the codex form that we consider books, as opposed to scrolls - is two-thousand five-hundred years old and was written in Etruscan on twenty-four-carat gold plates?”
Austin rolled her eyes. “Not again with the trivia, Smith.” She peered closer at a title on a spine, then plucked the book off a shelf. She turned to The Wordsmith and beckoned. He approached tentatively; Garrow didn’t blame him. Austin used The Wordsmith whenever and however she pleased, and Garrow was tired of seeing the boy’s eyes go from animal-blank to dead.
Even now, though, The Wordsmith was eager to please, so he hovered at Austin’s side like a dog at heel.
Austin thrust a book at him. “Here, absorb this.”
The Wordsmith blinked. “Right now?”
“Later. There are still some other books you need to absorb, but I have to find them first.” Austin craned her neck to peer at Garrow, who had gone still.
He’d never seen The Wordsmith absorb a book, but by all accounts it was an agonizing procedure.
Austin rolled her eyes at him and said, “Help me find the Necronomicon.”
(307 words)
Garrow shot a glance at The Wordsmith, who lingered in the doorway, small and hesitant. For some reason the choir bunkers were always cold, and it had been someone’s bright idea - probably Austin’s - to make the poor Wordsmith go shirtless. All the time. Mite looked like he was freezing.
And terrified.
“He doesn’t look so great,” Garrow said.
Austin glanced over her shoulder at The Wordsmith, but she shrugged and continued prowling along the shelves of lovely leather-bound volumes.
“It’s an African proverb,” The Wordsmith began. He took a deep breath, then eased over the threshold of the library. “Did you know that the oldest book - in the codex form that we consider books, as opposed to scrolls - is two-thousand five-hundred years old and was written in Etruscan on twenty-four-carat gold plates?”
Austin rolled her eyes. “Not again with the trivia, Smith.” She peered closer at a title on a spine, then plucked the book off a shelf. She turned to The Wordsmith and beckoned. He approached tentatively; Garrow didn’t blame him. Austin used The Wordsmith whenever and however she pleased, and Garrow was tired of seeing the boy’s eyes go from animal-blank to dead.
Even now, though, The Wordsmith was eager to please, so he hovered at Austin’s side like a dog at heel.
Austin thrust a book at him. “Here, absorb this.”
The Wordsmith blinked. “Right now?”
“Later. There are still some other books you need to absorb, but I have to find them first.” Austin craned her neck to peer at Garrow, who had gone still.
He’d never seen The Wordsmith absorb a book, but by all accounts it was an agonizing procedure.
Austin rolled her eyes at him and said, “Help me find the Necronomicon.”
(307 words)
Follows the Foot
“Are you serious?” Thom asked.
Jesse nodded and shouldered his pack. “Completely.”
“You’re just going to take off to America and hope you find her.” Thom’s expression was dubious.
“Not just America,” Jesse said. “I listened to her when we talked. She gave me some clues, so I think I’ve figured out where to find her.”
“She made a deliberate point of not telling you where she lives, mate,” Thom said. “And you don’t know anything about her - for all you know, she lives with her parents.”
Jesse shook his head. “She’s an orphan. She had foster brothers and a guardian she called ‘Uncle,’ but I at least know she lives alone.”
Thom studied his friend for a long moment. “If you’re so good at all this detective word and inductive reasoning and rot, then where does she live?”
“Utah,” Jesse said.
Thom blinked. “Where?”
“It’s next to Nevada - you know, Las Vegas.”
“What makes you think it’s there?”
“She mentioned there’s a Shakespearean festival, mountains, renaissance fairs, and deserts, rivers, and green jello,” Jesse said. “I found it on the internet.”
“Green jello?” Thom echoed.
Jesse rolled his eyes. “Look, the cab’s waiting. I’ll call you when I land, all right?” And he headed out the front door.
Leonard ambled into the kitchen in a dressing gown, cradling a mug of tea.
“Not right when you land!” Thom cried, but the door banged shut. “There’s an eight hour time difference,” he finished lamely.
“What’s with him?” Leonard asked.
“He’s gone to America to find Asia,” Thom said.
Leonard blinked, confused.
“Asia the girl, not Asia the continent.” Thom rolled his eyes.
Leonard watched the cab drive away, then said, “Where the heart would go, there follows the foot.”
It was Thom’s turn to blink.
“Afghan proverb,” Leonard said, a little defensively.
“Fortune cookie,” Thom shot back. “What kind of tea is that?”
(313 words)
Jesse nodded and shouldered his pack. “Completely.”
“You’re just going to take off to America and hope you find her.” Thom’s expression was dubious.
“Not just America,” Jesse said. “I listened to her when we talked. She gave me some clues, so I think I’ve figured out where to find her.”
“She made a deliberate point of not telling you where she lives, mate,” Thom said. “And you don’t know anything about her - for all you know, she lives with her parents.”
Jesse shook his head. “She’s an orphan. She had foster brothers and a guardian she called ‘Uncle,’ but I at least know she lives alone.”
Thom studied his friend for a long moment. “If you’re so good at all this detective word and inductive reasoning and rot, then where does she live?”
“Utah,” Jesse said.
Thom blinked. “Where?”
“It’s next to Nevada - you know, Las Vegas.”
“What makes you think it’s there?”
“She mentioned there’s a Shakespearean festival, mountains, renaissance fairs, and deserts, rivers, and green jello,” Jesse said. “I found it on the internet.”
“Green jello?” Thom echoed.
Jesse rolled his eyes. “Look, the cab’s waiting. I’ll call you when I land, all right?” And he headed out the front door.
Leonard ambled into the kitchen in a dressing gown, cradling a mug of tea.
“Not right when you land!” Thom cried, but the door banged shut. “There’s an eight hour time difference,” he finished lamely.
“What’s with him?” Leonard asked.
“He’s gone to America to find Asia,” Thom said.
Leonard blinked, confused.
“Asia the girl, not Asia the continent.” Thom rolled his eyes.
Leonard watched the cab drive away, then said, “Where the heart would go, there follows the foot.”
It was Thom’s turn to blink.
“Afghan proverb,” Leonard said, a little defensively.
“Fortune cookie,” Thom shot back. “What kind of tea is that?”
(313 words)
Overview #15 - Point of View
Wow, I just realized that this means fifteen weeks of writing. I can't remember the last time I did something for fifteen weeks straight! Anyway, this exercise was fun and a challenge. Even though I understand the basic technicalities that go into writing the different points of view, I'm really not comfortable with anything but third person limited. I usually have a good enough grasp on character to be able to switch points of view from chapter to chapter, but I feel that I don't have the right sense of voice for first and second person. I sort of enjoy the mysticism that can come from 2nd person POV, although I think that option is abused a lot, and I had fun trying out different voices with first person. Technical exercises can be surprisingly fun. The conversation I chose was pretty boring, but I wanted to be able to see the differences in everything surrounding the actual dialogue, see how different characters would interpret things.
Third Person Limited: Matthew
“Did you like it?” Jenna asked hopefully.
Matthew didn’t look up from his coffee, didn’t want to make it too obvious with too much eye contact.
Thomas said, flatly, “Not at all.”
It took a moment, but then Matthew realized Jenna was talking about last night’s party and Thomas, who had no clue what she was talking about, was being a jerk. Time to be a hero.
Matthew pasted on his most innocent expression. “Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.”
It didn’t work. “Halfway decent? That’s not really flattering,” Jenna said.
Matthew thought quickly. He had to distract her from blowing up at Thomas. Even though Thomas was his best friend and had it coming, Jenna didn’t need any more stress. “Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --” Thomas was buried behind the paper, so Matthew grinned at Jenna wickedly.
Horror stole across her face, and she darted a glance at Thomas. “I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!” She was trying not to giggle and covered it up by throwing at towel at Matthew. He smirked, pleased, when he caught it mid-air. Superjock like Thomas he may not have been, but he’d always had good reflexes.
Gina stumbled into the kitchen and broke up the fun. Gina hung over was a monster, really.
“Now, now, children,” Thomas said. Matthew saw Jenna flinch automatically, and his mood darkened. Jenna was only like that around her father - or when Thomas reminded her of him.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning. I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.” Gina sounded well on her way to being a monster.
Why Thomas was in love with her, Matthew didn’t know, because he was insensitive. “Don’t you teach first grade?”
As much as Gina loved him right back, she would take his head off with the right provocation. It would be best to deflect attention. Matthew poker her. “A little hung over, are we?”
Her response was typical Gina-monster. “Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground.”
In the spirit of sibling love, Matthew decided he’d keep up the charade and play the over-confident class clown. He puffed out his chest. “I’d like to see that.”
Gina glared and closed her eyes.
She wasn’t taking the bait, and Matthew floundered for what to do next, but then Jenna smiled, genuinely cheered up, and said, “So would I.”
(429 words)
Matthew didn’t look up from his coffee, didn’t want to make it too obvious with too much eye contact.
Thomas said, flatly, “Not at all.”
It took a moment, but then Matthew realized Jenna was talking about last night’s party and Thomas, who had no clue what she was talking about, was being a jerk. Time to be a hero.
Matthew pasted on his most innocent expression. “Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.”
It didn’t work. “Halfway decent? That’s not really flattering,” Jenna said.
Matthew thought quickly. He had to distract her from blowing up at Thomas. Even though Thomas was his best friend and had it coming, Jenna didn’t need any more stress. “Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --” Thomas was buried behind the paper, so Matthew grinned at Jenna wickedly.
Horror stole across her face, and she darted a glance at Thomas. “I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!” She was trying not to giggle and covered it up by throwing at towel at Matthew. He smirked, pleased, when he caught it mid-air. Superjock like Thomas he may not have been, but he’d always had good reflexes.
Gina stumbled into the kitchen and broke up the fun. Gina hung over was a monster, really.
“Now, now, children,” Thomas said. Matthew saw Jenna flinch automatically, and his mood darkened. Jenna was only like that around her father - or when Thomas reminded her of him.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning. I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.” Gina sounded well on her way to being a monster.
Why Thomas was in love with her, Matthew didn’t know, because he was insensitive. “Don’t you teach first grade?”
As much as Gina loved him right back, she would take his head off with the right provocation. It would be best to deflect attention. Matthew poker her. “A little hung over, are we?”
Her response was typical Gina-monster. “Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground.”
In the spirit of sibling love, Matthew decided he’d keep up the charade and play the over-confident class clown. He puffed out his chest. “I’d like to see that.”
Gina glared and closed her eyes.
She wasn’t taking the bait, and Matthew floundered for what to do next, but then Jenna smiled, genuinely cheered up, and said, “So would I.”
(429 words)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Project Assignment # 16 - Proverbs
This week should be fun. Write a piece that incorporates a proverb. It can be any proverb. If you can, give a link if you think it is needed, but it is not imperative that you do. you can include at the bottom the source of the proverb, i.e. Russian, French, Japanese, etc.
Lets set the limit to 500 words. I'll do my best to behave on the word limit.
Here is a handy Proverb Generator.
Lets set the limit to 500 words. I'll do my best to behave on the word limit.
Here is a handy Proverb Generator.
Overview #15 POV
This week was interesting and fun. I used this week not only to practice the shift in POV, but to flesh out a bit the characters that I had recently created. It forced me to think more about what these people would be like. Are they observant, are they deceptive, what kind of idiosyncratic behavior do they have.
I ran long in a couple of posts. And the Second persons point of view really sucked. But at least now I have been exposed to that POV, hopefully I can do it better next time.
I really enjoyed reading Master's scene shifts in the perspective. It really helped me to see what was going on.
I ran long in a couple of posts. And the Second persons point of view really sucked. But at least now I have been exposed to that POV, hopefully I can do it better next time.
I really enjoyed reading Master's scene shifts in the perspective. It really helped me to see what was going on.
Third limited: The Twins
"You take point Joe," Steve ordered as we laid out our plans.
"Why me?" Joe asked petulantly. Mark wanted to elbow him, he knew that Joe was just putting it on, and that he was not really that way.
"Because you are the best at spinning a line of bull. Plus, I told you to." Steve replied, staring down the younger man.
Joe still looked sullen. Mark and Brian had to try not to laugh.
"Brian and Mark, you two are responsible for acquisition and deployment." Steve said. Brain and Mark were pleased with their assignment. Each thinking the same things, their thought patterns so close that there was no hesitation in their actions.
"What will you be doing?" Joe asked, he sounded resigned, but Brian knew better. He loved practicing his deceptions.
"I will be running the op from here. Someone needs to make sure it goes smoothly." Steve rolled up the plans as he spoke. "Alright men," Steve continued in an official voice, Mark and Brian rolled their eyes behind him. "We have a go. Meet back here at 17:30. Full deployment by 19:00."
"Yes sir!" Mark and Brian slipped away from the table and out into the night. Their target was a party store. They quickly found everything that they needed, stowing it in a black duffel bag, and heading home.
Brian and Mark looked extremely pleased as they walked into the living room of the safehouse. "We've got it!" Mark said. "Yeah, everything," Brian added.
"Excellent. You know what to do." Steve said. He was still busy with the cake.
Mark and Brian grinned and moved about the room, placing items everywhere. Some were tossed with little regard to where they landed, usually Mark, while others were placed very carefully, Brian's work. They were finished in a short time.
Steve and the twins turned out the light just before the deadline. They could hear Joe in the hallway.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." Joe's voice had a pout to it.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!"
"Happy Birthday!" The twins chorused
Happy Birthday!"
David stared in surprise at the sight before him. The room was strung with streamers and balloons. There was a large cake in the middle of the table that had a picture of his Camero in black icing. Twenty-seven candles glowed along the perimeter of the cake.
David swallowed back emotion. "Thank you guys."
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles."
David leaned in, drawing in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles. David and Steve were talking quietly when Brian and Mark were surprised.
"Stealth Attack!" Joe yelled and hosed down the Brian and Mark with the slightly sticky stuff. The twins quickly grabbed cans of their own, and the party was under way.
(521)
"Why me?" Joe asked petulantly. Mark wanted to elbow him, he knew that Joe was just putting it on, and that he was not really that way.
"Because you are the best at spinning a line of bull. Plus, I told you to." Steve replied, staring down the younger man.
Joe still looked sullen. Mark and Brian had to try not to laugh.
"Brian and Mark, you two are responsible for acquisition and deployment." Steve said. Brain and Mark were pleased with their assignment. Each thinking the same things, their thought patterns so close that there was no hesitation in their actions.
"What will you be doing?" Joe asked, he sounded resigned, but Brian knew better. He loved practicing his deceptions.
"I will be running the op from here. Someone needs to make sure it goes smoothly." Steve rolled up the plans as he spoke. "Alright men," Steve continued in an official voice, Mark and Brian rolled their eyes behind him. "We have a go. Meet back here at 17:30. Full deployment by 19:00."
"Yes sir!" Mark and Brian slipped away from the table and out into the night. Their target was a party store. They quickly found everything that they needed, stowing it in a black duffel bag, and heading home.
Brian and Mark looked extremely pleased as they walked into the living room of the safehouse. "We've got it!" Mark said. "Yeah, everything," Brian added.
"Excellent. You know what to do." Steve said. He was still busy with the cake.
Mark and Brian grinned and moved about the room, placing items everywhere. Some were tossed with little regard to where they landed, usually Mark, while others were placed very carefully, Brian's work. They were finished in a short time.
Steve and the twins turned out the light just before the deadline. They could hear Joe in the hallway.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." Joe's voice had a pout to it.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!"
"Happy Birthday!" The twins chorused
Happy Birthday!"
David stared in surprise at the sight before him. The room was strung with streamers and balloons. There was a large cake in the middle of the table that had a picture of his Camero in black icing. Twenty-seven candles glowed along the perimeter of the cake.
David swallowed back emotion. "Thank you guys."
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles."
David leaned in, drawing in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles. David and Steve were talking quietly when Brian and Mark were surprised.
"Stealth Attack!" Joe yelled and hosed down the Brian and Mark with the slightly sticky stuff. The twins quickly grabbed cans of their own, and the party was under way.
(521)
First person: Joe
"You take point Joe," Steve ordered me as we laid out our plans to surprise David. This was going to be fun. I don't think that David even knows that we know it is his birthday.
"Why me?" I asked petulantly, I had certain rolls to fulfill. They expected me to complain about it, and I would not disappoint them.
"Because you are the best at spinning a line of bull. Plus, I told you to." Steve replied, staring me down. I smiled internally, but I pouted for good measure. The other two were trying not to laugh.
Steve gave the twins their assignment, motioning to the schematic that was stretched out on the table. One that we had memorized in the first few minutes.
The twins were smiling at each other. They would be getting the party supplies.
(574)
"What will you be doing?" I asked.
"I will be running the op from here. Someone needs to make sure it goes smoothly." Steve rolled up the plans as he spoke. "Alright men," Steve continued in an official voice, Mark and Brian rolling their eyes behind him. "We have a go. Meet back here at 17:30. Full deployment by 19:00."
"Yes sir!" I snapped off a sharp salute and left the table. I walked down the hall and took my position as the twins left the safe house. I ran through various excuses and scenarios in my mind, different ways to distract David if we needed more time.
It seemed like it was no more than ten minutes before the twins were back, though I knew it had been at least an hour. We did not know when David would be back, but we would be ready.
I could hear the twins reporting to Steve and the ensuing ruckus of the preparations.
A short while later I could hear David's car coming. It was not hard to miss it. I clicked the walkie-talkie in my pocket to give them some warning.
David walked in the door. He seemed a little surprise to see me in the hallway.
"What is going on Joe? Why are you not in your bunk?" David asked. He sounded almost to tired to care why.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." I said.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!"
"Happy Birthday!"
Happy Birthday!" I yelled, slapping him on the back.
David stared in surprise at the sight before him. The room was strung with streamers and balloons. There was a large cake in the middle of the table that had a picture of his Camero in black icing. Twenty-seven candles glowed along the perimeter of the cake.
I watched David swallow back emotion. "Thank you guys."
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles."
David leaned in, drawing in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles.
I slipped past our leader and palmed a can of silly string. I could hear David and Steve talking behind me.
"Stealth Attack!" I yelled and hosed down the twins with the slightly sticky stuff. They quickly grabbed cans of their own, and the party was under way.
"Why me?" I asked petulantly, I had certain rolls to fulfill. They expected me to complain about it, and I would not disappoint them.
"Because you are the best at spinning a line of bull. Plus, I told you to." Steve replied, staring me down. I smiled internally, but I pouted for good measure. The other two were trying not to laugh.
Steve gave the twins their assignment, motioning to the schematic that was stretched out on the table. One that we had memorized in the first few minutes.
The twins were smiling at each other. They would be getting the party supplies.
(574)
"What will you be doing?" I asked.
"I will be running the op from here. Someone needs to make sure it goes smoothly." Steve rolled up the plans as he spoke. "Alright men," Steve continued in an official voice, Mark and Brian rolling their eyes behind him. "We have a go. Meet back here at 17:30. Full deployment by 19:00."
"Yes sir!" I snapped off a sharp salute and left the table. I walked down the hall and took my position as the twins left the safe house. I ran through various excuses and scenarios in my mind, different ways to distract David if we needed more time.
It seemed like it was no more than ten minutes before the twins were back, though I knew it had been at least an hour. We did not know when David would be back, but we would be ready.
I could hear the twins reporting to Steve and the ensuing ruckus of the preparations.
A short while later I could hear David's car coming. It was not hard to miss it. I clicked the walkie-talkie in my pocket to give them some warning.
David walked in the door. He seemed a little surprise to see me in the hallway.
"What is going on Joe? Why are you not in your bunk?" David asked. He sounded almost to tired to care why.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." I said.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!"
"Happy Birthday!"
Happy Birthday!" I yelled, slapping him on the back.
David stared in surprise at the sight before him. The room was strung with streamers and balloons. There was a large cake in the middle of the table that had a picture of his Camero in black icing. Twenty-seven candles glowed along the perimeter of the cake.
I watched David swallow back emotion. "Thank you guys."
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles."
David leaned in, drawing in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles.
I slipped past our leader and palmed a can of silly string. I could hear David and Steve talking behind me.
"Stealth Attack!" I yelled and hosed down the twins with the slightly sticky stuff. They quickly grabbed cans of their own, and the party was under way.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
First Person: Gina
Even though the bedroom door was closed, I could hear my housemates’ conversation. It grated on my nerves, my ears aching with each syllable. I had to kill them all. Or drink their coffee.
“Did you like it?” Jenna, so hopeful. I groaned.
“Not at all.” Thomas, so insensitive. Or dense - he probably didn’t know Jenna had been fretting over whether he’d like his birthday party for nearly a month.
“Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.” And Matthew, too lighthearted for his own good, and naive enough to think he could hide from me, his own sister, the fact that he was in love with my best friend.
“Halfway decent? That’s not really flattering,” Jenna said.
I winced. I knew that tone - hurt.
Matthew was just as dense as Thomas. “Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --”
“I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!” That sounded better. Amused.
Thomas wouldn’t be amused, though. I heaved myself out of bed, dragged on my bathrobe, and stumbled into the kitchen. Being so suddenly upright upset my equilibrium, and I felt the urge to puke.
“Now, now, children,” Thomas said, paternal and condescending. Time to defuse a bomb.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning. I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.” I made more of it than it was, being hung over. I rested my head in my arms and wished I’d stayed in bed.
Thomas’s riposte was unsympathetic. “Don’t you teach first grade?”
Matthew prodded me in the shoulder. “A little hung over, are we?” His voice was light, teasing.
I opened an eye and glared at him. I was the older one and the better fighter by far. “Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground.”
“I’d like to see that.” Matthew puffed out his chest, but darted a glance at Jenna. He was grandstanding to keep her cheered up.
I glared again and closed my eye. I needed sleep.
Matthew’s tactic worked, at least, for Jenna sounded cheerful when she said, “So would I.”
(369 words)
“Did you like it?” Jenna, so hopeful. I groaned.
“Not at all.” Thomas, so insensitive. Or dense - he probably didn’t know Jenna had been fretting over whether he’d like his birthday party for nearly a month.
“Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.” And Matthew, too lighthearted for his own good, and naive enough to think he could hide from me, his own sister, the fact that he was in love with my best friend.
“Halfway decent? That’s not really flattering,” Jenna said.
I winced. I knew that tone - hurt.
Matthew was just as dense as Thomas. “Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --”
“I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!” That sounded better. Amused.
Thomas wouldn’t be amused, though. I heaved myself out of bed, dragged on my bathrobe, and stumbled into the kitchen. Being so suddenly upright upset my equilibrium, and I felt the urge to puke.
“Now, now, children,” Thomas said, paternal and condescending. Time to defuse a bomb.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning. I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.” I made more of it than it was, being hung over. I rested my head in my arms and wished I’d stayed in bed.
Thomas’s riposte was unsympathetic. “Don’t you teach first grade?”
Matthew prodded me in the shoulder. “A little hung over, are we?” His voice was light, teasing.
I opened an eye and glared at him. I was the older one and the better fighter by far. “Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground.”
“I’d like to see that.” Matthew puffed out his chest, but darted a glance at Jenna. He was grandstanding to keep her cheered up.
I glared again and closed my eye. I needed sleep.
Matthew’s tactic worked, at least, for Jenna sounded cheerful when she said, “So would I.”
(369 words)
Friday, February 6, 2009
Third Person Limited: David
David stared out the rain streaked windshield of his old Camero, lost in thought. He was another year older today. Not that anyone would know it.
He was parked near a cemetery, nobody was around. He was almost tempted to just go to sleep here, just to avoid thinking about what his life had lead him to. He was not usually so morose. This was his life, it was what he was, and who he was, but at times he grew tired of it. He grew tired at times of the lies, of the deaths, of starting again and again, of everything. Then he would remember why he was doing this. A face would float into his minds eye. A sweet little girl, just a child, cold and lifeless in his arms.
He knew that Steve would look after the others, he was dependable. David almost cracked a smile at the thought of Steve looking after the twins and young Joe, almost.
Sighing, David turned the ignition and the car roared to life. David liked the sound of his car, it was throaty and deep, a reassuring rumble. He pulled away from the curb, leaving the dead behind him, like he so often did. "At least none of these were by my hand." He thought as he drove a winding path back to the safe house.
Pulling up the the house, all was dark. David assumed that his men were asleep as they should be. He climbed out of his car and walked up the short path to the door and unlocked it. He was almost startled to see Joe standing in the hallway.
"What is going on Joe? Why are you not in your bunk?" David asked. He was almost to tired to care why.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." Joe's voice had a pout to it.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!, Happy Birthday!, Happy Birthday!" His men shouted at him.
David's felt his eyes widen in surprise. He didn't know how they knew. He was almost speechless. David blinked, suppressing any visible emotion.
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles." Steve said from beside his commander.
David leaned in, drawing in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles.
"Thank you Steve." David said to his second
"Your welcome boss. What did you wish for?"
"You know I can't tell you that." David said with a smile.
Behind them Joe, Mark, and Brian were busy hosing each other down with silly string.
(I know that this is a shift in Scene. I should have planned it better, but I realized only Steve stayed put, the others all left, so to do another character would necessitate a change. (around 470 words))
He was parked near a cemetery, nobody was around. He was almost tempted to just go to sleep here, just to avoid thinking about what his life had lead him to. He was not usually so morose. This was his life, it was what he was, and who he was, but at times he grew tired of it. He grew tired at times of the lies, of the deaths, of starting again and again, of everything. Then he would remember why he was doing this. A face would float into his minds eye. A sweet little girl, just a child, cold and lifeless in his arms.
He knew that Steve would look after the others, he was dependable. David almost cracked a smile at the thought of Steve looking after the twins and young Joe, almost.
Sighing, David turned the ignition and the car roared to life. David liked the sound of his car, it was throaty and deep, a reassuring rumble. He pulled away from the curb, leaving the dead behind him, like he so often did. "At least none of these were by my hand." He thought as he drove a winding path back to the safe house.
Pulling up the the house, all was dark. David assumed that his men were asleep as they should be. He climbed out of his car and walked up the short path to the door and unlocked it. He was almost startled to see Joe standing in the hallway.
"What is going on Joe? Why are you not in your bunk?" David asked. He was almost to tired to care why.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." Joe's voice had a pout to it.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!, Happy Birthday!, Happy Birthday!" His men shouted at him.
David's felt his eyes widen in surprise. He didn't know how they knew. He was almost speechless. David blinked, suppressing any visible emotion.
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles." Steve said from beside his commander.
David leaned in, drawing in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles.
"Thank you Steve." David said to his second
"Your welcome boss. What did you wish for?"
"You know I can't tell you that." David said with a smile.
Behind them Joe, Mark, and Brian were busy hosing each other down with silly string.
(I know that this is a shift in Scene. I should have planned it better, but I realized only Steve stayed put, the others all left, so to do another character would necessitate a change. (around 470 words))
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Third Person Limited: Thomas
Jenna’s voice interrupted Thomas’s perusal of the business section of the Journal. “Did you like it?”
She knew how much he hated being interrupted during his time with the paper. “Not at all.”
“Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.” Matthew chimed in, and Thomas realized that whatever Jenna had been asking about, it wasn’t the morning paper. Or the stocks. Or anything. Especially since his stocks had gone down.
“Halfway decent? That’s not really flattering.” Jenna’s tone was hurt, vaguely, but sometimes she was oversensitive. She got it from their mother.
“Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --” Matthew began.
Jenna interrupted him with a flurry of cloth. “I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!”
Thomas glanced up in time to see Matthew snatch a tea towel from mid-air. Thomas resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Jenna did like to use cooking implements as projectile weapons. It was incredibly juvenile.
“Did I really? Because all I heard was a question, ‘did you like it?’ And judging by your tone, you wanted honesty --” Matthew’s sudden trepidation was confusing, and Thomas wished he’d just pretended he hadn’t heard Jenna at all.
“Now, now, children,” Thomas said in his best imitation of Father. It had never failed to work on him.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning. I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.” Gina sounded ill.
Thomas lifted his head and studied her. Her usually flawless pale skin was shadowed, dark bruises around her eyes. Then he registered her comment. She was complaining about children? It was entirely counterintuitive.
“Don’t you teach first grade?”
Matthew teased her. “A little hung over, are we?”
Gina growled. “Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground.”
“I’d like to see that.” And there was Matthew’s false bravado. His years as the class clown hadn’t taught him a thing.
Jenna seemed to think he was entertaining and egged him on with a, “So would I.”
(355 words)
She knew how much he hated being interrupted during his time with the paper. “Not at all.”
“Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.” Matthew chimed in, and Thomas realized that whatever Jenna had been asking about, it wasn’t the morning paper. Or the stocks. Or anything. Especially since his stocks had gone down.
“Halfway decent? That’s not really flattering.” Jenna’s tone was hurt, vaguely, but sometimes she was oversensitive. She got it from their mother.
“Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --” Matthew began.
Jenna interrupted him with a flurry of cloth. “I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!”
Thomas glanced up in time to see Matthew snatch a tea towel from mid-air. Thomas resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Jenna did like to use cooking implements as projectile weapons. It was incredibly juvenile.
“Did I really? Because all I heard was a question, ‘did you like it?’ And judging by your tone, you wanted honesty --” Matthew’s sudden trepidation was confusing, and Thomas wished he’d just pretended he hadn’t heard Jenna at all.
“Now, now, children,” Thomas said in his best imitation of Father. It had never failed to work on him.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning. I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.” Gina sounded ill.
Thomas lifted his head and studied her. Her usually flawless pale skin was shadowed, dark bruises around her eyes. Then he registered her comment. She was complaining about children? It was entirely counterintuitive.
“Don’t you teach first grade?”
Matthew teased her. “A little hung over, are we?”
Gina growled. “Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground.”
“I’d like to see that.” And there was Matthew’s false bravado. His years as the class clown hadn’t taught him a thing.
Jenna seemed to think he was entertaining and egged him on with a, “So would I.”
(355 words)
Second Person: Steve
"You take point Joe," you order as we laid out our plans, you look pointedly at Joe, almost daring him to argue.
"Why me?" Joe asked petulantly. He dared, and you had to fight back your frustration.
"Because you are the best at spinning a line of bull. Plus, I told you to," you replied, staring down the younger man. Joe could get whiny. Being the youngest on the team, You rolled your eyes at his antics. But you know that Joe is a good man, a great soldier, and an even better friend.
Joe was sullen and the twins were not helping, you want to head slap them, but you know it wouldn't do any good. You turn to look at the others.
"Brian and Mark, you two are responsible for acquisition and deployment." you said made motions to the schematic that was stretched out on the table.
You can almost see the thoughts darting through their minds.
"What will you be doing?" Joe asked, resigned to his position.
"I will be running the op from here. Someone needs to make sure it goes smoothly." You rolled up the plans as you spoke. "Alright men," you continued in an official voice, "We have a go. Meet back here at 17:30. Full deployment by 19:00."
You sit back as the others darted off to accomplish their tasks. Good men, you mused.
You thought back to your beginnings, the training, the long hours, the forced trust that springs up between men who watch your back.
You shook your head, standing up. You are glad that you had a domestic motheras you move to fulfill your roll in the op. Grabbing the blank cake you set to decorating it as the others periodically checked in with you. You were just putting the candles on the cake after decorating it with a picture of the Camero when Brian and mark returned.
You look up and see them carrying a black duffel bag between them that bulged with items. They looked extremely pleased. "We've got it!" Mark said. "Yeah, everything," Brian added.
"Excellent. You know what to do."
You only pay passing attention to what Brian and Mark are doing. You can hear them tousling in the background. After they are finished you reach over and flicked off the light, throwing the room into darkness. You can hear Joe faintly in the hallway.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." Joe's voice had a pout to it. You flinched slightly at the tone in your commanders voice as he drew near.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!" You yelled.
"Happy Birthday!" the rest of the team chorused.
You watch as David's eyes widened in surprise and see the slight emotion in his otherwise still face. You can see what it means to him.
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles." you said from beside your commander.
David leaned in, drawing in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles.
"Thank you Steve."
"Your welcome boss. What did you wish for?"
"You know I can't tell you that." David said with a smile.
Behind them Joe, Mark, and Brian were busy hosing each other down with silly string.
(I have never written second person in my life so this will probably really suck. But it was interesting all the same. Let me know how I can make it better. I brought my word count back down again.) ;)
"Why me?" Joe asked petulantly. He dared, and you had to fight back your frustration.
"Because you are the best at spinning a line of bull. Plus, I told you to," you replied, staring down the younger man. Joe could get whiny. Being the youngest on the team, You rolled your eyes at his antics. But you know that Joe is a good man, a great soldier, and an even better friend.
Joe was sullen and the twins were not helping, you want to head slap them, but you know it wouldn't do any good. You turn to look at the others.
"Brian and Mark, you two are responsible for acquisition and deployment." you said made motions to the schematic that was stretched out on the table.
You can almost see the thoughts darting through their minds.
"What will you be doing?" Joe asked, resigned to his position.
"I will be running the op from here. Someone needs to make sure it goes smoothly." You rolled up the plans as you spoke. "Alright men," you continued in an official voice, "We have a go. Meet back here at 17:30. Full deployment by 19:00."
You sit back as the others darted off to accomplish their tasks. Good men, you mused.
You thought back to your beginnings, the training, the long hours, the forced trust that springs up between men who watch your back.
You shook your head, standing up. You are glad that you had a domestic motheras you move to fulfill your roll in the op. Grabbing the blank cake you set to decorating it as the others periodically checked in with you. You were just putting the candles on the cake after decorating it with a picture of the Camero when Brian and mark returned.
You look up and see them carrying a black duffel bag between them that bulged with items. They looked extremely pleased. "We've got it!" Mark said. "Yeah, everything," Brian added.
"Excellent. You know what to do."
You only pay passing attention to what Brian and Mark are doing. You can hear them tousling in the background. After they are finished you reach over and flicked off the light, throwing the room into darkness. You can hear Joe faintly in the hallway.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." Joe's voice had a pout to it. You flinched slightly at the tone in your commanders voice as he drew near.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!" You yelled.
"Happy Birthday!" the rest of the team chorused.
You watch as David's eyes widened in surprise and see the slight emotion in his otherwise still face. You can see what it means to him.
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles." you said from beside your commander.
David leaned in, drawing in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles.
"Thank you Steve."
"Your welcome boss. What did you wish for?"
"You know I can't tell you that." David said with a smile.
Behind them Joe, Mark, and Brian were busy hosing each other down with silly string.
(I have never written second person in my life so this will probably really suck. But it was interesting all the same. Let me know how I can make it better. I brought my word count back down again.) ;)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Second Person: Jenna
You ask, “Did you like it?” He never looks at you, but then neither did Father, and you’ve accepted your pathetic need for approval.
Your brother says, “Not at all,” and it stings.
Your fingers twitch for a the nearest cooking-worthy weapon.
“Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.” Your boyfriend is hardly any help.
“Halfway decent?” You manage to keep the hurt out of your voice, keep drying the dishes. “That’s not really flattering.”
“Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --” Your boyfriend goes on the defensive, wicked, mischievous.
It does the trick. You smile. “I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!” You fling the tea-towel at him, but he catches it mid-air, damn his reflexes. He has amazing hands - you learned that last night on the couch, mid-kisses, but you’ll never tell your brother.
“Did I really? Because all I heard was a question, ‘did you like it?’ And judging by your tone, you wanted honesty --” Your boyfriend looks at your brother, and you can sense the anxiety, the fear in him of one finds out that the other has been up to.
Your brother’s “Now, now, children” is obnoxiously reminiscent of your father, and you wish he’d look away from the newspaper at least once this morning.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning.” Your best friend looks ill and tired, but it’s all her own fault. “I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.”
If she weren’t so pretty and popular she’d be easier to like, sometimes, because your brother actually looks at her.
“Don’t you teach first grade?” Your brother hardly sounds sympathetic, but it means something, that he actually knows what her occupation his.
Your boyfriend - her brother - is genuinely unsympathetic. “A little hung over, are we?” Still, she is your friend, and you glare at him in her defense.
“Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground.” You know that sound, and a bruising is sure to follow.
“I’d like to see that.” Your boyfriend plays the macho bravo, but you know they all know who’d win.
Still, you love him and his antics, because he has a brave heart. You say, “So would I.”
(397 words)
Your brother says, “Not at all,” and it stings.
Your fingers twitch for a the nearest cooking-worthy weapon.
“Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.” Your boyfriend is hardly any help.
“Halfway decent?” You manage to keep the hurt out of your voice, keep drying the dishes. “That’s not really flattering.”
“Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --” Your boyfriend goes on the defensive, wicked, mischievous.
It does the trick. You smile. “I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!” You fling the tea-towel at him, but he catches it mid-air, damn his reflexes. He has amazing hands - you learned that last night on the couch, mid-kisses, but you’ll never tell your brother.
“Did I really? Because all I heard was a question, ‘did you like it?’ And judging by your tone, you wanted honesty --” Your boyfriend looks at your brother, and you can sense the anxiety, the fear in him of one finds out that the other has been up to.
Your brother’s “Now, now, children” is obnoxiously reminiscent of your father, and you wish he’d look away from the newspaper at least once this morning.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning.” Your best friend looks ill and tired, but it’s all her own fault. “I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.”
If she weren’t so pretty and popular she’d be easier to like, sometimes, because your brother actually looks at her.
“Don’t you teach first grade?” Your brother hardly sounds sympathetic, but it means something, that he actually knows what her occupation his.
Your boyfriend - her brother - is genuinely unsympathetic. “A little hung over, are we?” Still, she is your friend, and you glare at him in her defense.
“Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground.” You know that sound, and a bruising is sure to follow.
“I’d like to see that.” Your boyfriend plays the macho bravo, but you know they all know who’d win.
Still, you love him and his antics, because he has a brave heart. You say, “So would I.”
(397 words)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
First Person: Steve
"You take point Joe," I ordered as we laid out our plans, I looked pointedly at Joe, almost daring him to argue. Joe was a good man, he would do as he was told, even if he didn't like it.
"Why me?" Joe asked petulantly. I knew it would come, and so I suppressed a growl of frustration. I looked up at Joe again. "Because you are the best at spinning a line of bull. Plus, I told you to." I stared Joe down. I knew that Joe could get whiny; I was almost sure at times that he felt it was a duty to act like a child. I know Joe is a good man, a great soldier, and an even better friend.
I looked away from Joe who still looked sullen. My gaze fell on the other two members of the team. Mark and Brian were trying not to laugh. I rolled my eyes and fought back an urge to head slap them. I knew it wouldn't do any good; it would only relieve a little irritation.
"Brian and Mark, you two are responsible for acquisition and deployment." I motioned to the schematic making sure that they understood. It was important that every op go off without a hitch; and to do that I knew it was essential that everyone knew their parts.
I could almost see the thoughts darting through Mark and Brian's minds. I could definitely see the sparkle of merriment and mischief in their eyes.
"What will you be doing?" Joe asked me; he finally sounded resigned to his position in the op.
"I will be running the op from here. Someone needs to make sure it goes smoothly." I rolled up the plans as I spoke, I knew that they would have committed it to memory by now, it was what they train to do. "Alright men," I said looking at my watch, "we have a go. Meet back here at 17:30. Full deployment by 19:00."
I sat back and watched as the others darted off to accomplish their tasks. Good men. I mused. I have never worked with better.
I thought back to how I got started, the training, the long hours, the forced trust that springs up between men who watch your back. It was a brutal life, but one that made a difference in the world. I was proud of who I was, and of what I had become.
My musing did not last long, I had work to do. I shook my head and stood up.
I am glad that I had a domestic mother, I thought to myself. I grabbed the blank cake from the counter and set to work. I stopped occasionally as the others radioed in SIT-REP. I took special care with the Camero, making sure that I matched the color and the tiny imperfections in the body of the car. It would not just be A Camero, it would be David's Camero. I was just putting the candles on the cake after finishing the car when Brian and mark returned.
I looked up from the counter where I was working and saw them carrying in a black duffel bag between them that bulged with items. They looked extremely pleased. "We've got it!" Mark said. "Yeah, everything," Brian added.
"Excellent. You know what to do." I said. I didn't bother to pay attention to what they were doing. I knew that I could count on them to do it right, even if it took them a while. I could hear them tousling in the background. I nodded when the others reported that their preparation were complete. I reached over and flicked off the lights, throwing the room into darkness. I could faintly hear Joe in the hallway, his voice muffled by the door.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." Joe's voice had a pout to it.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!" I shouted.
"Happy Birthday!" The twins and Joe chorused
I watched as David's eyes widened in surprise. I knew that anyone who knew him less than his team would not see the slight emotion in his otherwise still face. The deeper breaths; the blink that meant that he was touched. I could see what it meant to him.
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles." I said from beside my commander.
I watched David lean in and draw in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles.
"Thank you Steve."
"Your welcome boss. What did you wish for?"
"You know I can't tell you that." David said with a smile.
I smiled. Behind us, Joe, Mark, and Brian were busy hosing each other down with silly string.
"Why me?" Joe asked petulantly. I knew it would come, and so I suppressed a growl of frustration. I looked up at Joe again. "Because you are the best at spinning a line of bull. Plus, I told you to." I stared Joe down. I knew that Joe could get whiny; I was almost sure at times that he felt it was a duty to act like a child. I know Joe is a good man, a great soldier, and an even better friend.
I looked away from Joe who still looked sullen. My gaze fell on the other two members of the team. Mark and Brian were trying not to laugh. I rolled my eyes and fought back an urge to head slap them. I knew it wouldn't do any good; it would only relieve a little irritation.
"Brian and Mark, you two are responsible for acquisition and deployment." I motioned to the schematic making sure that they understood. It was important that every op go off without a hitch; and to do that I knew it was essential that everyone knew their parts.
I could almost see the thoughts darting through Mark and Brian's minds. I could definitely see the sparkle of merriment and mischief in their eyes.
"What will you be doing?" Joe asked me; he finally sounded resigned to his position in the op.
"I will be running the op from here. Someone needs to make sure it goes smoothly." I rolled up the plans as I spoke, I knew that they would have committed it to memory by now, it was what they train to do. "Alright men," I said looking at my watch, "we have a go. Meet back here at 17:30. Full deployment by 19:00."
I sat back and watched as the others darted off to accomplish their tasks. Good men. I mused. I have never worked with better.
I thought back to how I got started, the training, the long hours, the forced trust that springs up between men who watch your back. It was a brutal life, but one that made a difference in the world. I was proud of who I was, and of what I had become.
My musing did not last long, I had work to do. I shook my head and stood up.
I am glad that I had a domestic mother, I thought to myself. I grabbed the blank cake from the counter and set to work. I stopped occasionally as the others radioed in SIT-REP. I took special care with the Camero, making sure that I matched the color and the tiny imperfections in the body of the car. It would not just be A Camero, it would be David's Camero. I was just putting the candles on the cake after finishing the car when Brian and mark returned.
I looked up from the counter where I was working and saw them carrying in a black duffel bag between them that bulged with items. They looked extremely pleased. "We've got it!" Mark said. "Yeah, everything," Brian added.
"Excellent. You know what to do." I said. I didn't bother to pay attention to what they were doing. I knew that I could count on them to do it right, even if it took them a while. I could hear them tousling in the background. I nodded when the others reported that their preparation were complete. I reached over and flicked off the lights, throwing the room into darkness. I could faintly hear Joe in the hallway, his voice muffled by the door.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." Joe's voice had a pout to it.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!" I shouted.
"Happy Birthday!" The twins and Joe chorused
I watched as David's eyes widened in surprise. I knew that anyone who knew him less than his team would not see the slight emotion in his otherwise still face. The deeper breaths; the blink that meant that he was touched. I could see what it meant to him.
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles." I said from beside my commander.
I watched David lean in and draw in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles.
"Thank you Steve."
"Your welcome boss. What did you wish for?"
"You know I can't tell you that." David said with a smile.
I smiled. Behind us, Joe, Mark, and Brian were busy hosing each other down with silly string.
First Person: Jenna
“Did you like it?” I sneaked a glance at Thomas, but he was buried in the business section of the paper. My brother was such a square.
His next words stung. “Not at all.”
I took a deep breath to stop myself from beating him over the head with the nearest cooking implement.
Matthew was hardly any help. “Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.”
“Halfway decent?” I supposed that was precisely the support I should expect from my not-really-boyfriend. “That’s not really flattering.”
Matthew arched an eyebrow. “Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --”
His eyes gleamed wickedly, and I knew immediately what he meant. “I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!” I flung a tea towel at him, but he caught in mid-air. Damn his reflexes. He had good hands. But there was no way I’d let him tell Thomas, my brother, that I’d been making out with his best friend last night.
“Did I really? Because all I heard was a question, ‘did you like it?’ And judging by your tone, you wanted honesty --” Matthew started, and I could see discomfort in the line of his shoulders. He was so insecure sometimes.
Then Thomas broke in with a, “Now, now, children.” He sounded so much like Father, buried in the newspaper just like Father. He had no clue what I’d asked him about. Figured.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning.” Gina looked pretty wrecked, but I was hardly sympathetic after her antics with the Schnapps. “I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.”
Given how much she’d drunk the night before, I was pretty impressed that she’d made it out of bed so early. I wanted to kick her, sometimes, because even wrecked she was ten times as pretty as me.
Thomas actually looked at her instead of the paper. “Don’t you teach first grade?” He was so in love with her and didn’t even know it. What made it worse was that Gina loved him right back. I wondered how we’d ended up in this bizarre tango, Gina in love with my brother and me in love with hers and neither of them understanding a thing.
Matthew patted her shoulder. “A little hung over, are we?” I glared at him. He was about as nice to her as Thomas was to me.
“Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground,” Gina said. I winced; I knew that sound, and that meant danger.
“I’d like to see that.” Matthew drew himself up to his full height, which was impressive, but he was a skinny runt, and we all knew it.
I loved him anyway. I smiled and said, “So would I.”
(479 words)
His next words stung. “Not at all.”
I took a deep breath to stop myself from beating him over the head with the nearest cooking implement.
Matthew was hardly any help. “Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.”
“Halfway decent?” I supposed that was precisely the support I should expect from my not-really-boyfriend. “That’s not really flattering.”
Matthew arched an eyebrow. “Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --”
His eyes gleamed wickedly, and I knew immediately what he meant. “I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!” I flung a tea towel at him, but he caught in mid-air. Damn his reflexes. He had good hands. But there was no way I’d let him tell Thomas, my brother, that I’d been making out with his best friend last night.
“Did I really? Because all I heard was a question, ‘did you like it?’ And judging by your tone, you wanted honesty --” Matthew started, and I could see discomfort in the line of his shoulders. He was so insecure sometimes.
Then Thomas broke in with a, “Now, now, children.” He sounded so much like Father, buried in the newspaper just like Father. He had no clue what I’d asked him about. Figured.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning.” Gina looked pretty wrecked, but I was hardly sympathetic after her antics with the Schnapps. “I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.”
Given how much she’d drunk the night before, I was pretty impressed that she’d made it out of bed so early. I wanted to kick her, sometimes, because even wrecked she was ten times as pretty as me.
Thomas actually looked at her instead of the paper. “Don’t you teach first grade?” He was so in love with her and didn’t even know it. What made it worse was that Gina loved him right back. I wondered how we’d ended up in this bizarre tango, Gina in love with my brother and me in love with hers and neither of them understanding a thing.
Matthew patted her shoulder. “A little hung over, are we?” I glared at him. He was about as nice to her as Thomas was to me.
“Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground,” Gina said. I winced; I knew that sound, and that meant danger.
“I’d like to see that.” Matthew drew himself up to his full height, which was impressive, but he was a skinny runt, and we all knew it.
I loved him anyway. I smiled and said, “So would I.”
(479 words)
Monday, February 2, 2009
Third Person Limited: Steve
"You take point Joe," Steve ordered as they laid out their plans, HE looked pointedly at Joe, almost daring him to argue.
"Why me?" Joe asked petulantly. He dared, and Steve suppressed a growl of frustration.
"Because you are the best at spinning a line of bull. Plus, I told you to." Steve replied, staring down the younger man. Joe could get whiny. Being the youngest on the team, Steve was sure he almost felt it was a duty to act like a child at times. But he knew that Joe was a good man, a great soldier, and an even better friend.
Joe still looked sullen. The other two were trying not to laugh. Steve wanted to head slap them, but he knew it wouldn't do any good. He turned to look at the twins.
"Brian and Mark, you two are responsible for acquisition and deployment." Steve made motions to the schematic that was stretched out on the table, pointing out spots of particular interest.
Steve could almost see the thoughts darting through their minds. He could definitely see the sparkle of merriment in their eyes.
"What will you be doing?" Joe asked, resigned to his position.
"I will be running the op from here. Someone needs to make sure it goes smoothly." Steve rolled up the plans as he spoke. "Alright men," Steve continued in an official voice, "We have a go. Meet back here at 17:30. Full deployment by 19:00."
Steve sat back as the others darted off to accomplish their tasks. Good men. he mused to himself. He had never worked with better.
Steve thought back to his beginnings, the training, the long hours, the forced trust that springs up between men who watch your back.
Steve shook his head and stood up. He was so glad that he had a domestic mother, one that taught him many things. Grabbing the blank cake he set to decorating it as the others periodically checked in with him. He was just putting the candles on the cake after decorating it with a picture of the Camero when Brian and mark returned.
Steve looked up and saw them carrying a black duffel bag between them that bulged with items. They looked extremely pleased. "We've got it!" Mark said. "Yeah, everything," Brian added.
"Excellent. You know what to do."
Steve only paid passing attention to what Brian and Mark were doing. He could hear them tousling in the background. Steve reached over and flicked off the light, throwing the room into darkness, and grinned in anticipation. They could hear Joe in the hallway; Steve could hear him faintly.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." Joe's voice had a pout to it.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!"
"Happy Birthday!"
Happy Birthday!"
Steve watched as David's eyes widened in surprise and saw the slight emotion in his otherwise still face. He could see what it meant to him.
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles." Steve said from beside his commander.
David leaned in, drawing in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles.
"Thank you Steve."
"Your welcome boss. What did you wish for?"
"You know I can't tell you that." David said with a smile.
Behind them Joe, Mark, and Brian were busy hosing each other down with silly string.
(let me know if I am getting these wrong or anything that I should change, anything that I could do better.)
"Why me?" Joe asked petulantly. He dared, and Steve suppressed a growl of frustration.
"Because you are the best at spinning a line of bull. Plus, I told you to." Steve replied, staring down the younger man. Joe could get whiny. Being the youngest on the team, Steve was sure he almost felt it was a duty to act like a child at times. But he knew that Joe was a good man, a great soldier, and an even better friend.
Joe still looked sullen. The other two were trying not to laugh. Steve wanted to head slap them, but he knew it wouldn't do any good. He turned to look at the twins.
"Brian and Mark, you two are responsible for acquisition and deployment." Steve made motions to the schematic that was stretched out on the table, pointing out spots of particular interest.
Steve could almost see the thoughts darting through their minds. He could definitely see the sparkle of merriment in their eyes.
"What will you be doing?" Joe asked, resigned to his position.
"I will be running the op from here. Someone needs to make sure it goes smoothly." Steve rolled up the plans as he spoke. "Alright men," Steve continued in an official voice, "We have a go. Meet back here at 17:30. Full deployment by 19:00."
Steve sat back as the others darted off to accomplish their tasks. Good men. he mused to himself. He had never worked with better.
Steve thought back to his beginnings, the training, the long hours, the forced trust that springs up between men who watch your back.
Steve shook his head and stood up. He was so glad that he had a domestic mother, one that taught him many things. Grabbing the blank cake he set to decorating it as the others periodically checked in with him. He was just putting the candles on the cake after decorating it with a picture of the Camero when Brian and mark returned.
Steve looked up and saw them carrying a black duffel bag between them that bulged with items. They looked extremely pleased. "We've got it!" Mark said. "Yeah, everything," Brian added.
"Excellent. You know what to do."
Steve only paid passing attention to what Brian and Mark were doing. He could hear them tousling in the background. Steve reached over and flicked off the light, throwing the room into darkness, and grinned in anticipation. They could hear Joe in the hallway; Steve could hear him faintly.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." Joe's voice had a pout to it.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!"
"Happy Birthday!"
Happy Birthday!"
Steve watched as David's eyes widened in surprise and saw the slight emotion in his otherwise still face. He could see what it meant to him.
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles." Steve said from beside his commander.
David leaned in, drawing in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles.
"Thank you Steve."
"Your welcome boss. What did you wish for?"
"You know I can't tell you that." David said with a smile.
Behind them Joe, Mark, and Brian were busy hosing each other down with silly string.
(let me know if I am getting these wrong or anything that I should change, anything that I could do better.)
Third Person Limited: Jenna
“Did you like it?” Jenna asked. She sneaked a glance at Thomas, but he didn’t look up from the business section of the paper.
“Not at all,” he said. Jenna frowned, hurt. She’d worked so hard on the birthday cake she’d brought to his office yesterday, and he had said nary a word about it. Now she knew the truth.
Matthew frowned and blew on the surface of his coffee. “Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.”
“Halfway decent?” Jenna echoed. Matthew was ambivalent about everything, but he’d seen her slave over that cake. “That’s not really flattering.”
Matthew arched an eyebrow. “Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --”
For a moment, Jenna was confused, but then her indignation devolved into laughter. She tossed a hand towel at Matthew, who caught it deftly from mid-air. “I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!” Matthew always picked up the innuendo no one else would suspect. If he started telling Thomas, her brother, about when they were making out on the couch last night, she’d kill him.
“Did I really? Because all I heard was a question, ‘did you like it?’ And judging by your tone, you wanted honesty --” Matthew’s voice took on that didactic edge it got when he felt cornered - or sarcastic.
“Now, now, children.” Thomas sounded so much like their father. Jenna resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning.” Gina hauled herself into the only other empty chair at the kitchen table and slumped over, resting her head on her arms. “I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.”
Finally, Gina was out of bed. At Thomas’s party after school, all his coworkers had brought their children, and it had somehow fallen to Gina to look after them. Once the children were gone, Gina had hit a bottle of Schnapps pretty hard.
Thomas peered at her over the top of his newspaper. “Don’t you teach first grade?”
Gina glared weakly and closed her eyes. Jenna smothered a laugh. Gina was crazy in love with Thomas and didn’t understand his near-robotic lack of emotion.
Matthew patted her shoulder. “A little hung over, are we?” His tone dripped with insincerity. He was as nice to his sister as Thomas was to his.
“Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground,” Gina said. The growl in her voice was a genuine threat; Jenna had heard it before.
Matthew puffed his chest out. “I’d like to see that.”
For a moment, Jenna could picture Gina chasing Matthew around the kitchen, armed with a rolling pin or another of Jenna’s baking implements. Matthew was fast, but Gina was strong. Jenna laughed. “So would I.”
(479 words)
“Not at all,” he said. Jenna frowned, hurt. She’d worked so hard on the birthday cake she’d brought to his office yesterday, and he had said nary a word about it. Now she knew the truth.
Matthew frowned and blew on the surface of his coffee. “Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.”
“Halfway decent?” Jenna echoed. Matthew was ambivalent about everything, but he’d seen her slave over that cake. “That’s not really flattering.”
Matthew arched an eyebrow. “Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --”
For a moment, Jenna was confused, but then her indignation devolved into laughter. She tossed a hand towel at Matthew, who caught it deftly from mid-air. “I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!” Matthew always picked up the innuendo no one else would suspect. If he started telling Thomas, her brother, about when they were making out on the couch last night, she’d kill him.
“Did I really? Because all I heard was a question, ‘did you like it?’ And judging by your tone, you wanted honesty --” Matthew’s voice took on that didactic edge it got when he felt cornered - or sarcastic.
“Now, now, children.” Thomas sounded so much like their father. Jenna resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning.” Gina hauled herself into the only other empty chair at the kitchen table and slumped over, resting her head on her arms. “I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.”
Finally, Gina was out of bed. At Thomas’s party after school, all his coworkers had brought their children, and it had somehow fallen to Gina to look after them. Once the children were gone, Gina had hit a bottle of Schnapps pretty hard.
Thomas peered at her over the top of his newspaper. “Don’t you teach first grade?”
Gina glared weakly and closed her eyes. Jenna smothered a laugh. Gina was crazy in love with Thomas and didn’t understand his near-robotic lack of emotion.
Matthew patted her shoulder. “A little hung over, are we?” His tone dripped with insincerity. He was as nice to his sister as Thomas was to his.
“Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground,” Gina said. The growl in her voice was a genuine threat; Jenna had heard it before.
Matthew puffed his chest out. “I’d like to see that.”
For a moment, Jenna could picture Gina chasing Matthew around the kitchen, armed with a rolling pin or another of Jenna’s baking implements. Matthew was fast, but Gina was strong. Jenna laughed. “So would I.”
(479 words)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Third person omniscient distant
"You take point Joe," Steve ordered as they laid out their plans
"Why me?" Joe asked petulantly.
"Because you are the best at spinning a line of bull. Plus, I told you to." Steve replied, staring down the younger man.
Joe still looked sullen. The other two were trying not to laugh.
"Brian and Mark, you two are responsible for acquisition and deployment." Steve made motions to the schematic that was stretched out on the table, pointing out spots of particular interest.
The twins grinned at each other, each thinking the same thing.
"What will you be doing?" Joe asked, resigned to his position.
"I will be running the op from here. Someone needs to make sure it goes smoothly." Steve rolled up the plans as he spoke. "Alright men," Steve continued in an official voice, Mark and Brian rolling their eyes behind him. "We have a go. Meet back here at 17:30. Full deployment by 19:00."
"Yes sir!" The three other men slipped away from the table, each intent on his task.
~~~~~~~~~~
Brian and Mark returned an hour later, carrying a black duffel bag between them that bulged with items. They looked extremely pleased. "We've got it!" Mark said. "Yeah, everything," Brian added.
"Excellent. You know what to do."
Mark and Brian grinned and moved about the room, placing items everywhere. Some were tossed with little regard to where they landed. Others were placed very carefully. They were finished in a short time.
Steve and the twins turned out the light just before the deadline. They could hear Joe in the hallway.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." Joe's voice had a pout to it.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!"
"Happy Birthday!"
Happy Birthday!"
David stared in surprise at the sight before him. The room was strung with streamers and balloons. There was a large cake in the middle of the table that had a picture of his Camero in black icing. Twenty-seven candles glowed along the perimeter of the cake.
David swallowed back emotion. It had been a long time since anyone had acknowledged his birthday. "Thank you guys."
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles."
David leaned in, drawing in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles.
"Thank you Steve."
"Your welcome boss. What did you wish for?"
"You know I can't tell you that." David said with a smile.
Behind them Joe, Mark, and Brian were busy hosing each other down with silly string.
(467 words)
"Why me?" Joe asked petulantly.
"Because you are the best at spinning a line of bull. Plus, I told you to." Steve replied, staring down the younger man.
Joe still looked sullen. The other two were trying not to laugh.
"Brian and Mark, you two are responsible for acquisition and deployment." Steve made motions to the schematic that was stretched out on the table, pointing out spots of particular interest.
The twins grinned at each other, each thinking the same thing.
"What will you be doing?" Joe asked, resigned to his position.
"I will be running the op from here. Someone needs to make sure it goes smoothly." Steve rolled up the plans as he spoke. "Alright men," Steve continued in an official voice, Mark and Brian rolling their eyes behind him. "We have a go. Meet back here at 17:30. Full deployment by 19:00."
"Yes sir!" The three other men slipped away from the table, each intent on his task.
~~~~~~~~~~
Brian and Mark returned an hour later, carrying a black duffel bag between them that bulged with items. They looked extremely pleased. "We've got it!" Mark said. "Yeah, everything," Brian added.
"Excellent. You know what to do."
Mark and Brian grinned and moved about the room, placing items everywhere. Some were tossed with little regard to where they landed. Others were placed very carefully. They were finished in a short time.
Steve and the twins turned out the light just before the deadline. They could hear Joe in the hallway.
"They told me to tell you that they were going out to the club. They were just going to leave a note, but Steve put me on disciplinary, so I had to stay." Joe's voice had a pout to it.
"I don't care, you should have stopped them. Do you have any idea how much this could jeopardize..." David opened the door and flicked on the light switch.
"Surprise!"
"Happy Birthday!"
Happy Birthday!"
David stared in surprise at the sight before him. The room was strung with streamers and balloons. There was a large cake in the middle of the table that had a picture of his Camero in black icing. Twenty-seven candles glowed along the perimeter of the cake.
David swallowed back emotion. It had been a long time since anyone had acknowledged his birthday. "Thank you guys."
"Well boss, make a wish and blow out the candles."
David leaned in, drawing in a breath. He paused for a moment and then blew out all the candles.
"Thank you Steve."
"Your welcome boss. What did you wish for?"
"You know I can't tell you that." David said with a smile.
Behind them Joe, Mark, and Brian were busy hosing each other down with silly string.
(467 words)
Overview #14 - The Lie
I had fun with this challange, though it was a bit tough at times. I tried not to do the same form of lie twice. I did an innocent lie, a direct lie, a life changing lie, a character that was lying to himself. A lie of omission. It was interesting to try to come up with different situations. If you really stop and think about how much we lie in general, most being harmless, we tend to tell a lot of halve truths. I did find it interesting, like Master said, that we did not do any confrontations of a person being caught in a lie. Perhaps it is because we as writers, want our lies to be believed.
Third Person Distant Omniscient
“Did you like it?” Jenna asked.
“Not at all,” Thomas said without looking up from the newspaper.
Matthew frowned and blew on the surface of his coffee in faint hopes of cooling it. “Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.”
“Halfway decent?” Jenna echoed. “That’s not really flattering.”
Matthew arched an eyebrow. “Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --”
Jenna’s indignation devolved into laughter, and she tossed a hand towel at Matthew, who caught it deftly from mid-air. “I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!”
“Did I really? Because all I heard was a question, ‘did you like it?’ And judging by your tone, you wanted honesty --” Matthew’s voice had taken on a didactic edge.
“Now, now, children,” Thomas began.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning.” Gina hauled herself into the only other empty chair at the kitchen table and slumped over, resting her head on her arms. “I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.”
Thomas peered at her over the top of his newspaper. “Don’t you teach first grade?”
Gina glared weakly and closed her eyes.
Matthew patted her shoulder with mock-sympathy. “A little hung over, are we?”
“Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground,” Gina said.
Matthew puffed his chest out. “I’d like to see that.”
Jenna laughed. “So would I.”
(249 words)
“Not at all,” Thomas said without looking up from the newspaper.
Matthew frowned and blew on the surface of his coffee in faint hopes of cooling it. “Really? I thought it was at least halfway decent.”
“Halfway decent?” Jenna echoed. “That’s not really flattering.”
Matthew arched an eyebrow. “Were you asking for flattery? Because last night you insisted on a whole lot of honesty --”
Jenna’s indignation devolved into laughter, and she tossed a hand towel at Matthew, who caught it deftly from mid-air. “I wasn’t talking about last night, and you know it!”
“Did I really? Because all I heard was a question, ‘did you like it?’ And judging by your tone, you wanted honesty --” Matthew’s voice had taken on a didactic edge.
“Now, now, children,” Thomas began.
“Don’t even start with the children. Please. Not this morning.” Gina hauled herself into the only other empty chair at the kitchen table and slumped over, resting her head on her arms. “I never want to see another human being under the age of fourteen for the rest of my life.”
Thomas peered at her over the top of his newspaper. “Don’t you teach first grade?”
Gina glared weakly and closed her eyes.
Matthew patted her shoulder with mock-sympathy. “A little hung over, are we?”
“Not so hung over I can’t pound you into the ground,” Gina said.
Matthew puffed his chest out. “I’d like to see that.”
Jenna laughed. “So would I.”
(249 words)
Overview #14 - the Lie
This was an interesting piece, mostly about characterization, third person limited point of view, and dialogue. At least, for me, those were the techniques I relied on most to get the lie across with as little telling as possible. The most fun lies are by far the secret agent lies, so I tried not to do too many of them. Some are lies I like to play with all the time and which would be fun to effectuate in real life; some were plot moment experiments. Overall, it is interesting to see what both of us considered a lie. The other interesting twist was noting how the lies were characterized. On the whole, there was little condemnation of lying, which was unexpected. Perhaps writers are at least as morally ambiguous as lawyers.
Project #15: POV
Here it is, that illusory trick - point of view. A cardinal rule for writing is that one should not shift point of view within scenes or within paragraphs or, heaven forbid, within sentences. Unless another character is a telepath, but don't go using that scenario this week. This week's assignment is going to be an exercise in technical skill - the opening scene should be a conversation of sorts, nothing complicated, with at least three characters. The points of view from which to write should be in the following order:
1 - third person omniscient distant (i.e. from third person but not limited to a particular character; avoid going into everyone's head)
2 - third person limited (from third person but limited to a particular character; i.e. just that character's thoughts)
3 - first person (from the point of view of "I"; same character as in the previous exercise)
4 - second person (because, as much as it's a rather obnoxious way of writing, being able to do it should teach one how to avoid it; this is from the point of view of "you"; same character from previous exercise)
5 - third person limited from a different character
6 - first person from yet another character
7 - third limited or first, your choice, from whichever characters are left
Keep it 100-500 words in length.
1 - third person omniscient distant (i.e. from third person but not limited to a particular character; avoid going into everyone's head)
2 - third person limited (from third person but limited to a particular character; i.e. just that character's thoughts)
3 - first person (from the point of view of "I"; same character as in the previous exercise)
4 - second person (because, as much as it's a rather obnoxious way of writing, being able to do it should teach one how to avoid it; this is from the point of view of "you"; same character from previous exercise)
5 - third person limited from a different character
6 - first person from yet another character
7 - third limited or first, your choice, from whichever characters are left
Keep it 100-500 words in length.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)