“I wouldn’t bother him,” Elise said. She and Marsh were huddled at the rickety kitchen table in another run-down safehouse, sharing tepid, watered-down tea and watching Cody out in the rain.
For all that Kyle was the best fighter of the lot, being small and quick and wiry, Cody was physically the strongest. Marsh and Elise were steady fighters, competent, generally quick-witted, but Gabriel had been training Kyle forever, and Cody was just...husky. Not big enough to be imposing, but he had enough weight to make his hits hurt.
And right now he was hurting a tree pretty solidly, over and over again. Half an hour from now, he’d be worn out and his hands would be bruised and scraped raw, and he’d come inside. Even Asrael had given up trying to make Cody see sense. He’d be out there working on his punches until the anger was gone.
Until then, the others would leave him be. Marsh watched a particularly wild swing go awry and cringed. Then he pushed back his chair and went in search of a first aid kit.
Hopefully Cody would get over it soon.
(193 words)
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Gonna Kill Him
An irritated growl issued from the nest of blankets on the bed when Bryan flipped on the lights in the room that he shared with his twin. The blankets shifted slightly, curling tighter into itself as another hiss of displeasure came from Mark's general direction.
"Hey, you okay?" Bryan asked casually, knowing the answer before his brother spoke.
"Go away," Bryan's muffled voice came from the bed, clipped and tense.
"You know, there are better ways to deal with a bad mood," Bryan said flippantly as he poked the pile of blankest that enshrouded Mark.
"Nothing will help as much as sleep and your absence from this room," Mark said, poking his head out of the covers and glaring at his brother.
"Okay, chill bro. I'm outta here," he tweaked Mark's ear and then scooted through the door just as the shoe that Mark threw hit the wall where he had been standing.
Mark huddled back into the blankets and pulled them over his head, the warmth and darkness beginning to work their magic.
He sat bolt upright in bed as a shattering beat started pounding through the house. Every muscle tensed and his fists began to clench and unclench.
"I'm gonna kill him."
"Hey, you okay?" Bryan asked casually, knowing the answer before his brother spoke.
"Go away," Bryan's muffled voice came from the bed, clipped and tense.
"You know, there are better ways to deal with a bad mood," Bryan said flippantly as he poked the pile of blankest that enshrouded Mark.
"Nothing will help as much as sleep and your absence from this room," Mark said, poking his head out of the covers and glaring at his brother.
"Okay, chill bro. I'm outta here," he tweaked Mark's ear and then scooted through the door just as the shoe that Mark threw hit the wall where he had been standing.
Mark huddled back into the blankets and pulled them over his head, the warmth and darkness beginning to work their magic.
He sat bolt upright in bed as a shattering beat started pounding through the house. Every muscle tensed and his fists began to clench and unclench.
"I'm gonna kill him."
Meanings Change
“This isn’t going to end well, is it?” Elise asked.
Cody shook his head and jammed his hands into his pockets. “Nope. Not at all.”
Marsh had strutted into the bar with probably more arrogance than he’d deserve if he didn’t have Tabris at his back. The other choirboys knew, of course, that having Tabris at one’s back meant taking a chance, because Tabris was all about chances, but when Marsh was in a mood like this, he didn’t care.
The pool game started off well enough; Marsh was cautious, but the others could see tension lining his every limb, taut in every motion. He won a little, lost a little, came out marginally ahead. And then he slipped up, showed off, proved he had too much skill for an easy bar game like this.
The fools betting money on a pretty blond dandy like Marsh regretted it quickly, quickly enough for Marsh to earn a black eye and a split lip before he dove into the fray.
“He always did say he liked to use his hands,” Elise said.
“I don’t think,” Kyle said, “that’s what he meant.”
Cody shrugged. “Sometimes meanings change.”
(194 words)
Cody shook his head and jammed his hands into his pockets. “Nope. Not at all.”
Marsh had strutted into the bar with probably more arrogance than he’d deserve if he didn’t have Tabris at his back. The other choirboys knew, of course, that having Tabris at one’s back meant taking a chance, because Tabris was all about chances, but when Marsh was in a mood like this, he didn’t care.
The pool game started off well enough; Marsh was cautious, but the others could see tension lining his every limb, taut in every motion. He won a little, lost a little, came out marginally ahead. And then he slipped up, showed off, proved he had too much skill for an easy bar game like this.
The fools betting money on a pretty blond dandy like Marsh regretted it quickly, quickly enough for Marsh to earn a black eye and a split lip before he dove into the fray.
“He always did say he liked to use his hands,” Elise said.
“I don’t think,” Kyle said, “that’s what he meant.”
Cody shrugged. “Sometimes meanings change.”
(194 words)
Monday, March 29, 2010
Around and Around
The pavement flowed under Steve's feet as he ran through the dark streets. His hands were clenched and his body ridged; jarring with every step as his feet pounded the ground. Narrow eyes took in his surroundings, irritation radiating from his body.
Steve shook his head, trying to dislodge his dark thoughts, but his mind kept skittering back to his problems; brooding.
Left right; Left right.
Breath in; Breath out.
His mind circled his problems as he circled the base. Again and again, around and around, from every angle, every possible solution. Sweat poured from his body, his shirt sticking to his sculpted abs and chest.
Gradually he settled into a rhythm, his pace becoming smoother, his strides long and controlled, his breathing easier.
As he slowed to a stop he stretched his long limbs, shaking out the tingling that came with a long run, and wiping the sweat from his brow.
His problems weren't gone, the darkness still lingered, but he could ignore them for a while longer.
Steve shook his head, trying to dislodge his dark thoughts, but his mind kept skittering back to his problems; brooding.
Left right; Left right.
Breath in; Breath out.
His mind circled his problems as he circled the base. Again and again, around and around, from every angle, every possible solution. Sweat poured from his body, his shirt sticking to his sculpted abs and chest.
Gradually he settled into a rhythm, his pace becoming smoother, his strides long and controlled, his breathing easier.
As he slowed to a stop he stretched his long limbs, shaking out the tingling that came with a long run, and wiping the sweat from his brow.
His problems weren't gone, the darkness still lingered, but he could ignore them for a while longer.
Chain of Balances
“Where is he?” Serena asked.
“Out on the grass, likely sending wardrobe into a tizzy because he’s still in costume,” Fiona said.
Riley peered out the window of the catering tent and saw James standing on the grass in full armor where they’d shot a duel earlier during the day. James was bouncing a soccer ball on one knee, over and over and over again, a surprising display of coordination and concentration given how James usually acted like an overfed, over-caffeinated puppy between takes.
“He’s not happy at all,” Stuart mused and sipped his tea.
“Yes, well, that harpy woman hit a sore spot,” Serena said, “asking about Asia like that.”
Stuart almost choked on his tea.
“It’s all right to say her name when he’s not around to hear,” Fiona said.
“Is he going to keep that up all night?” Stuart asked.
“At least until the director calls him back, but I suspect it’ll take a while to fix the lights down in the cave.” Riley sighed and rested his chin on his hands. He wouldn’t admit to the others, but he’d been counting James’s successful chain of balances, and James was nearing two hundred.
He was furious.
(200 words)
“Out on the grass, likely sending wardrobe into a tizzy because he’s still in costume,” Fiona said.
Riley peered out the window of the catering tent and saw James standing on the grass in full armor where they’d shot a duel earlier during the day. James was bouncing a soccer ball on one knee, over and over and over again, a surprising display of coordination and concentration given how James usually acted like an overfed, over-caffeinated puppy between takes.
“He’s not happy at all,” Stuart mused and sipped his tea.
“Yes, well, that harpy woman hit a sore spot,” Serena said, “asking about Asia like that.”
Stuart almost choked on his tea.
“It’s all right to say her name when he’s not around to hear,” Fiona said.
“Is he going to keep that up all night?” Stuart asked.
“At least until the director calls him back, but I suspect it’ll take a while to fix the lights down in the cave.” Riley sighed and rested his chin on his hands. He wouldn’t admit to the others, but he’d been counting James’s successful chain of balances, and James was nearing two hundred.
He was furious.
(200 words)
Project Assignment # 66 - Bad Moods
How do your characters deal with a bad mood? Does Keith start burning random things to cheer himself up? Does Bryan drive Mark mad when he is in a bad mood? How do our boys exhibit their powers, or lack thereof?
let set a limit of 200. Short and simple
happy writing!
Prize to the winner at the end of the week.
let set a limit of 200. Short and simple
happy writing!
Prize to the winner at the end of the week.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Overview #65: Armed & Dangerous
So this was a lot of fun. A very short word count each day helped a lot - I think my understanding of brevity has gotten a little lax with such massive word counts as of late. Certain things are sacrificed in the name of brevity, certain things that maybe don't have to be sacrificed. I definitely learned from this week's exercise, not just about my characters but also about writing short again.
And...I take it back.
This week's winner is totally me. Self-prize to follow at the usual place.
And...I take it back.
This week's winner is totally me. Self-prize to follow at the usual place.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
This One Thing
“Well?” Tobias asked.
“Well, everything’s gone to hell as much as it can, given that we have a telepath, a telekinetic, a pyrokinetic, an astral projectionist, a shapeshifter, and someone who can see the future on the team,” Keith said, his voice heavy with sarcasm.
“So I take it nothing we can do will get past the guards,” Gabriel said in a mock-reasonable tone.
“Yes,” Keith said.
Christian sighed. “There is this one thing.”
“What thing?” DJ asked.
Christian peered up over the edge of the barrier, cupped his hands, and blew.
Quislai diamond dust exploded across the gate.
“Well, everything’s gone to hell as much as it can, given that we have a telepath, a telekinetic, a pyrokinetic, an astral projectionist, a shapeshifter, and someone who can see the future on the team,” Keith said, his voice heavy with sarcasm.
“So I take it nothing we can do will get past the guards,” Gabriel said in a mock-reasonable tone.
“Yes,” Keith said.
Christian sighed. “There is this one thing.”
“What thing?” DJ asked.
Christian peered up over the edge of the barrier, cupped his hands, and blew.
Quislai diamond dust exploded across the gate.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Every Inch
"Would you like a copy watch?" Angel held open his coat. The irony was that all the Rolexes in his coat were real. There were never any takers, though, not when he greased his hair back and mocked up a thick Bengali accent and smelled faintly of curry. The man grimaced and waved a dismissive hand, turned away.
"Really, a new watch would help you attract the ladies, yeah?" Angel slung an arm around the man's shoulders, every inch the pushy salesman. The man turned, ready to protest, and Angel reached up with his other hand, snapped the man's neck.
"Really, a new watch would help you attract the ladies, yeah?" Angel slung an arm around the man's shoulders, every inch the pushy salesman. The man turned, ready to protest, and Angel reached up with his other hand, snapped the man's neck.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Recipe for Death
Mark carefully combined his ingredients, scrupulously making sure that all of his skin was covered and his face mask and eye protection were in place.
Various vials of chemicals and other toxins were neatly arranged on his work surface. Mark worked precisely, adding a few drops of Potassium Cyanide to Japanese puffer fish venom, forming a clear toxic fluid.
Mark added exactly five drops of the poison to a bottle of fine cologne and packaged it neatly in a gift box.
Three days later the death was reported in the news as a heart attack.
Various vials of chemicals and other toxins were neatly arranged on his work surface. Mark worked precisely, adding a few drops of Potassium Cyanide to Japanese puffer fish venom, forming a clear toxic fluid.
Mark added exactly five drops of the poison to a bottle of fine cologne and packaged it neatly in a gift box.
Three days later the death was reported in the news as a heart attack.
Dance of Death
Bryan beckoned the pretty lady towards him, his smile seductive and full of the promise of adventure. His eyes glittered with something mysterious and his hips moved sinuously in time to the music.
Bryan pulled her close as she stepped towards him, their bodies moving in synchronization, his lips brushing her neck as they twined together.
"Let's get out of here," Bryan whispered in her ear, his voice low and husky.
The woman smiled and took his hand to lead him outside.
She was smiling up to the point when he neatly slid a knife between her ribs.
Mission accomplished.
Bryan pulled her close as she stepped towards him, their bodies moving in synchronization, his lips brushing her neck as they twined together.
"Let's get out of here," Bryan whispered in her ear, his voice low and husky.
The woman smiled and took his hand to lead him outside.
She was smiling up to the point when he neatly slid a knife between her ribs.
Mission accomplished.
Precision Strike
Joe crouched back into a fighters stance, one that bespoke of quick reflexes and powerful strikes. His eyes took in his challenger; a hulk of a man, heavily muscled with a cocky smile dancing about his mouth. Joe's mind ran through instinctive calculations of weight, mass, and inertia, profiling his opponent. Joe let fear show in his eyes, the perfect lure.
Joe took a step back as the man advanced.
One quick pivot of the hips and Joe flung his fist forward with devastating power and precision, connecting solidly with his opponents sternum with a sickening crack.
Another victory gained.
Joe took a step back as the man advanced.
One quick pivot of the hips and Joe flung his fist forward with devastating power and precision, connecting solidly with his opponents sternum with a sickening crack.
Another victory gained.
Only Keith
“What’s the stealth rating on this mission again?” Keith asked.
Christian ducked down behind the wall and checked the clip on his gun, sighed. “Zero, obviously. Else we wouldn’t be having an action-movie shoot-out with the facility security.”
“Why are we sitting here shooting, then?” Keith asked.
“Got a better idea?”
Keith curled his hands into fists, and his grin turned decidedly wicked. “Got a better weapon.” He stood up, and flames flared to life on his palms. He began to hurl them across the room.
Christian cringed at the scent of burning flesh, the screams. Only Keith.
Christian ducked down behind the wall and checked the clip on his gun, sighed. “Zero, obviously. Else we wouldn’t be having an action-movie shoot-out with the facility security.”
“Why are we sitting here shooting, then?” Keith asked.
“Got a better idea?”
Keith curled his hands into fists, and his grin turned decidedly wicked. “Got a better weapon.” He stood up, and flames flared to life on his palms. He began to hurl them across the room.
Christian cringed at the scent of burning flesh, the screams. Only Keith.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
So Surprised
They thought he was insane; there was no reason to attempt to decipher his unintelligible mutterings as he sat in the corner, rocking back and forth and talking at nothing, grimy fingers drawing obscure symbols on the linoleum. If Cody kept his head down, they barely noticed him.
It was precisely the way he wanted it. It took days, weeks, almost a full-on month to secure the spell, and he’d had to restart several components because he was working from memory. What they took to be insane mutterings were incantations, and they looked so surprised when the walls fell.
It was precisely the way he wanted it. It took days, weeks, almost a full-on month to secure the spell, and he’d had to restart several components because he was working from memory. What they took to be insane mutterings were incantations, and they looked so surprised when the walls fell.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
All of Those Things
It was the smile, the slow, gentle curve of his lips, the coy tilt of his head, the glimmer of blue as he peered up from beneath his lashes; it was the slender lines of his body and the smooth ripple of muscle under skin as he moved; it was the fine lines of his cheekbones and jaw, the silky-smooth paleness of his hair. It was the song festooning the air as his long-fingered hands drew music from the strings of a guitar. It was all of those things that made people miss the first punch every time.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sneak Attack
"You're never going to get any better if you don't practice," David said, leaning against his foam sword.
"What's the point, I'll never beat you," Ariana pouted.
"Yes you will, but you must practice. Now, try again," David commanded.
Ariana narrowed her eyes at him as he began to stalk towards her. As he approached she rushed past his defenses and pressed her lips to his in a long kiss.
David was taken by surprise and his brain seemed to fizzle out. He was brought back to the present when he felt a blow to his back.
"Dead." Ariana said.
"What's the point, I'll never beat you," Ariana pouted.
"Yes you will, but you must practice. Now, try again," David commanded.
Ariana narrowed her eyes at him as he began to stalk towards her. As he approached she rushed past his defenses and pressed her lips to his in a long kiss.
David was taken by surprise and his brain seemed to fizzle out. He was brought back to the present when he felt a blow to his back.
"Dead." Ariana said.
Seriously
It was the wide eyes, the trembling lower lip, the suspicious glimmer of tears on eyelashes, tears that would drop like crystals and draw shining silver lines down smooth cheeks, it was the hitch of breath in the throat and the beginnings of a sob –
It worked every time. Gabriel sighed and surrendered the sword. Instantly the tearful expression vanished, and Kyle leapt to his feet, brandishing his weapon like a miniature knight in shining armor.
Gabriel sat back and shook his head. A child that young shouldn’t have been able to defeat the general of armies of Heaven. Seriously.
It worked every time. Gabriel sighed and surrendered the sword. Instantly the tearful expression vanished, and Kyle leapt to his feet, brandishing his weapon like a miniature knight in shining armor.
Gabriel sat back and shook his head. A child that young shouldn’t have been able to defeat the general of armies of Heaven. Seriously.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Project #65: Armed and Dangerous
This week you have 100 words (set limit, to more no less) to describe your character's favorite weapon. Is it a gun? Is it a knife? Is it his smooth-as-butter English accent? Is it is disarming smile and cute southern drawl? How does he or she use it? When does he or she use it - is it for special occasions, or is it for an instant kill every time? Tell us how your characters fight and fight dirty, and show us the best - or most unusual - weapons in their arsenals.
Overview #64: Challenges
As usual, I responded better to someone else's challenge than my own, so let's see how well I do with my own challenge in the coming week, aye? Once again this was a pretty good week of characterization for me. As a general rule, the boys in Sector Five follow a pretty similar mold - they all have tragic pasts, and they're all inhuman killers now with a soft spot for their commander. It can run a little boring, right? I remembered that the best characters have flaws, and real ones. So this week I decided to explore what makes each of the boys more human than he'd like, and I did my best to tie it into their existing characters.
For example, Tobias can look like anyone he wants with the nature of his gift, but he's still scarred from the horror of both of his lives, being the quintessential high school loser on acid, and despite being a trained killer he still hates himself. Both of Gabriel's lives were rife with the horrors of racism, and it's difficult for him to pretend to be racist to get the job done. Keith's second life was set during The Troubles in Ireland, so he hates the British, and as far as he's concerned Angel, the James Bond figure, stands for all the worst of Britain, and Keith struggles with that. Angel is womanizer and has some very deeply entrenched notions of his own sexuality, and he can't let those go. Christian struggles with class issues, having swung from one end of the spectrum to the other between lives. What I liked about Christian was that I could develop his coming to grips with his sense of self by the time the rest of the boys show up. Christian has several decades' seniority over the others, and I don't know that I really ever explored that properly before.
Knowing what a character struggles with and showing a character facing a struggle - one that's deep-set in a personality or history - makes a character interesting, and I'm glad I'm learning more and more about what makes my boys tick.
For example, Tobias can look like anyone he wants with the nature of his gift, but he's still scarred from the horror of both of his lives, being the quintessential high school loser on acid, and despite being a trained killer he still hates himself. Both of Gabriel's lives were rife with the horrors of racism, and it's difficult for him to pretend to be racist to get the job done. Keith's second life was set during The Troubles in Ireland, so he hates the British, and as far as he's concerned Angel, the James Bond figure, stands for all the worst of Britain, and Keith struggles with that. Angel is womanizer and has some very deeply entrenched notions of his own sexuality, and he can't let those go. Christian struggles with class issues, having swung from one end of the spectrum to the other between lives. What I liked about Christian was that I could develop his coming to grips with his sense of self by the time the rest of the boys show up. Christian has several decades' seniority over the others, and I don't know that I really ever explored that properly before.
Knowing what a character struggles with and showing a character facing a struggle - one that's deep-set in a personality or history - makes a character interesting, and I'm glad I'm learning more and more about what makes my boys tick.
Rules 3.2
3.2(a) - since almost everything we post is "prose", almost everything was tagged prose, and the tag had lost its usefulness, so from now on don't use it as a tag (I've removed it). If we do write poetry, however, do mark a poem as poetry so it'll be easier to find. The prose tag wouldn't help anyone find anything.
3.2(b) - prizes! We have not been picking winners and issuing prizes as of late, which is pretty sad. It'd be a bit insane to go back and attempt to issue awards and prizes, but from now on we would definitely like to get prizes and the like written again. Also, if there is anyone out there who would like to join the game and would contribute regularly, let me (Nagi) know and we'll see about getting you listed in the ranks.
Question: on tags, do we want contributor tags, so one writer can find everything he or she has written? It could be done. I could do it. Let me know.
3.2(b) - prizes! We have not been picking winners and issuing prizes as of late, which is pretty sad. It'd be a bit insane to go back and attempt to issue awards and prizes, but from now on we would definitely like to get prizes and the like written again. Also, if there is anyone out there who would like to join the game and would contribute regularly, let me (Nagi) know and we'll see about getting you listed in the ranks.
Question: on tags, do we want contributor tags, so one writer can find everything he or she has written? It could be done. I could do it. Let me know.
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