Stories, it's all about the stories.

So... while I haven't been doing much writing lately. I just went to a site called Fanfiction.net and got an account. On it, I posted three ficlets/drabble/short stories, well they're supposed to be under 500 words. But do you know how hard that is???

Anyway, three stories up! And already one review from someone. It was really nice... so I'm rather happy that I'm able to get feedback like that.

3:30 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Supermarket surreal

Sometimes, life is just strange... you just have to notice it. There I was, grocery shopping. Joy.
When I saw.... this. O.O

10:27 PM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The precursor to wenchlingness

So what do you wear to a Ren faire? Well, I suppose thats up to you. But as for me, I have but one concern. The sun. Ever present... burning... ow. So, somehow that came about to sewing wench garb for yon event. Check out the cool fabric I got... CHEAP too! Only about what... 15 dollars or so. For all of it. (This does not include the white underdress, but I have enough plaid left over to make a cool school girl skirt. Woo hoo!)

Now to actually cut and sew it all.

10:11 PM - 1 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

The stuff that dreams are made of...
Current mood: creative

Once again I found myself in the grips of a pretty vivid dream. Tch, as if they aren't mostly vivid for me... but some stand out for some reason or another. If you care to... I wrote it up for anyone's amusement that cares to take a look... except don't expect a comedy. Not this time.

Anyway, enjoy.

Standard disclaimers:

1)      This is taken from a dream, and you know how elusive those are! So there are some missing sections where I have no idea what went on... except that it seemed to make sense to me at the time I was in it.

2)      Since this is a dream... you have to gather that I started writing it the moment I woke up, so I was still pretty groggy from sleep. So this is my writing in a semi awake state. So don't blame me if things aren't as smooth as they could be! Ok, well, I suppose you could blame me, but you didn't have to read it did you? Hah!

3)      I wasn't 'me' in the dream. I was someone else... so it's useless to picture 'me' if you know me being in the dream, as I didn't look a thing like the person you know.

4)      I wrote this as more of a story form, it just kind of came out that way. Sometimes it does. Sometimes not... otherwise, if anyone does read this, I hope you find it entertaining in that kind of weird 'Sandman' way.

5)      This is really the first draft. Later on, I'll re-read this and go 'Freakin' hell! And I posted this like this???' *races to correct out of abject embarrassment*

SCATTERED FRAGMENTS

It had all started with the waters of a large dark lake enveloping my body as I dove into its chilling depths. A voice called out to me as I surfaced, telling me that I could cross back into the designated lane of two ropes that bobbed upon the choppy surface as if placing such barriers up really made it safe to be there. I'd been told that there were 'things' in the murky substance that surrounded me, so I shoved my skepticisms aside and pulled myself over the scratchy boundary. The shore rapidly approached with the fevered strokes of my arms and feet as they sliced through the lake's waters and I managed to pull myself closer to dry land.

The few people that had come with me offered little help other than encouraging my fears of what I could not see, their voices growing more distant with the sounds of the lake while they told me to 'hurry up. Or else...' Or else something might happen before I could emerge from the chill waters. My imagination managed to take years off of my life with the fearful shock of feeling what ended up being the subtle brush of what must have been longer tendrils of some aquatic plant along the bottoms of my feet. But I was more than happy to be exiting as quickly as possible than finding out for certain whether it couldn't have been something else... even if this meant entering into a far more dangerous situation.

~~~~

Turning, I walked into the small apartment of my enemy''s house. So far things had gone according to plan, and they were none the wiser to the ruse of my disguise. The feral dog clad in human form had been showing me around but I had wandered off on my own into the room of the friend I had known long ago. For idle minutes, I walked... pausing at whatever item caught my interest... a picture on the wall, a small glass lid of dirt, which had sat covered in dust on her shelf. Occasionally, I'd even stop to pick something up, distracted as I was by my idle musings of how things had changed. She'd long since gone, but I wondered how she was, and if she ever reminisced of times we'd spent together.

The textured earthy brown soil sifted through the fingertips of one of my hands, to fall onto the ground at my feet, while the other hung limply from my arm as it poised in the small of my back. He called back to me, causing my thoughts to come to an abrupt halt and dragged me back into the present situation.

 ~~~

I think she wasn't aware of the peril we were in... In fact, I know she was completely innocent of what would happen if we were caught. Others were in the house, removed only by the distance of a few rooms. But I could hear them easily enough... talking in hushed whispers in the outer room. Their malice was almost tangible, but the girl with me didn't notice a thing. Instead, she stood happily oblivious, smiling and talking away while the tension in my body built with every moment. I glanced at the window, eyes noticing for the first time the darkness filling the air outside. And mind unable to focus on what she was saying with the looming danger in the other part of the house. My eyes traced around the rough edges of broken glass in the window, curving around the hole that had never been mended. That would have to be our escape.

The phone ringing in the outer room was the signal. If she were to survive, I'd have to make sure she left as quickly as possible. The adrenaline shot through my system and my heart raced more quickly than I could I could get my body to move, even though a normal human would have seen my movements as mere blurs to their naked eyes. Lunging forward I grabbed her hand and dove towards the small fissure of broken glass, her muffled sounds of confusion drowned out by the even louder beating of my heart and ominous footfalls that had drifted into the outer hallway. We landed outside heavily on our feet... but there was no time to explain. I muttered that we needed to run, before we got caught and only spared a single glance back at the solemn figure of myself still standing watching our hasty retreat. ("Fly! Flee! We must run as if our lives depended on it! Now! There's no time to waste!")

Staying behind was the easiest way to stall and allow for her life to be spared. I saw the mirror image of my human form urge her to run as if her life depended on it, because frankly, it did. They'd notice her absence soon enough, and then it would be my turn to try to run from the dangerous mission that I'd volunteered to take. Someone had to find out what our enemies were planning... this faction of half human, half beast fey. They hid their true nature with frightening accuracy, but it wasn't enough to keep us from discovering that they were within our midst. I knew what my fate would be if they uncovered my infiltration into their midst. A spy was a spy, no matter what side they were on.

Thankfully, my luck had not failed me... not yet anyway. The 'brother' of my long lost friend, had been drawn back into the other room by his guests... buying me more time to offer a distraction and help that girl escape. I would hold the line where I was, until the last moment, when I could return home... if I managed to make it at all.

Again the phone rang, but this time it wasn't a good thing. His voice rose into the air, calling me to come join them in the other room. Hah! As if I'd let myself be drawn out into the open like that... they knew... I don't know how I understood that fact, but my instincts had rarely proven me wrong. He'd started coming to the room I was in, I could hear the distinctive canine loping in his illusion clad footsteps... but I called out as if nothing was wrong, and said I would be out in a second. The sounds of his approach halted, but only for a moment.

Still, it was long enough for me to throw myself at the splintered glass; the shards scraped my skin as I dove through... its decaying surface rent asunder at my less than elegant attempts to flee. The high-pitched noise of glass shattering met my ears, and no doubt rang through the empty room of the friend I would no longer see. Her brother's hearing surely picked up the sudden sound of violence as I broke through the confines of that accursed place, but I didn't pause for a second before my feet touched the ground and I took off quicker than the wind. My footfalls were muted by a blanket of dead leaves that crunched under my weight, echoing with a far softer refrain that the broken window had made, still... the wind tore at my clothing and hair, it's cool touch encouraging me that with luck, my freedom could be achieved.

I heard the sound of pursuit behind me... the animalistic sounds of the hunt. But I would not fall prey to the sharp tearing of their teeth, or brutal onslaught of their tortures if they caught me. I'd prepared for this... somewhat. I knew he was close... but I'd prepared only one escape route earlier on, setting up a type of trap by pulling the bough of a rather large tree down and tying it in place against the forest floor. Launching myself forward, I wound my hand neatly between some smaller branches, my other hand whipping out with a sharpened blade to cleave asunder the rope that had held it in place like a makeshift catapult. I could feel my weight as nothing, my body propelling me forward and away from the harsh cursing of my pursuers.

I'm afraid to catch me, they'd have to take a longer route, and with luck, I could clear the tall gates that kept these mongrels from completely entering into our world.

~~~

My apologies... the rest of the dream that had captured my imagination have flitted off into the darkness on paper wings... all but faint impressions to the vivid adventure that had played out in my dream.

10:05 PM - 2 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

The strangeness of dreams
Current mood: artistic

Ok, so anyone who knows me is probably aware that I remember my dreams alot of the times, and I dream constantly. I had a doctor once say I spend too much time in REM sleep (this is not a good thing), which means that I'm tired alot because when I'm awake, my mind is active, and when I'm asleep, it's active, not really gaining the rest that it needs.

Anyway, I had this dream last night (which beat the dream of cannibal ghouls that were going around and killing everyone from the previous night that left me so unnerved.) where I was sitting and planning out a new graphic novel with a rather well known gothic artist that shall remain nameless. It was going to be called 'The Middling Ground', and it was about this girl who lived in this dark spire type tower. The whole look was dark and gothy and very intense, even though it was still a cartoon. There was some kind of boy creature that was a friend of hers that would come and visit.... but details on him are a bit fuzzy. Anyway, the artist guy with me was complaining that her dress made her look too much like Lenore, so I needed to change it. And so I went to work on altering her look while we worked on the various storyboards. I remember saying "oh hell... we still have to create other characters to interact with them..."

And then I woke up.
I rather like the name of the novel... and I still have vague images in my mind of the dark spire she lived in... I really should have tried drawing it out when I woke up.

1:57 AM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Ok, so this is weird.
Current mood: surprised

Normally, I just try to ignore email sent to me by my aunt because she forwards junk mail if it requests she send it to 15 people, etc etc... *falls over*

I really hate spam. Okay, it just irritates me. Aaaannnyway, for some stupid reason, I glanced at it and ... I'm quite amazed that it was fairly interesting. Or just strange enough that it's completely out of character, and kind of neat. I do like psychological stuff like this... BUT, I'm going to be nice and NOT forward it to a bunch of people.

Really, would I do that to you?

So, look at it if you want, or don't. It's all good. :)

PREPARE FOR THE CONTENTS OF THE EMAIL:

5:13 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Adventures in Cat Sitting: part three
Current mood: tired

Final Chapter
Day Three:

So after work, I traipsed over to Kate & Dave's... determined that this time... I would find the elusive hiding place of the cat's that have been M.I.A.

VICTORY IS MINE!!! Pulling out the couch a little I saw two sets of glowey eyes starting up at me. AHA.

That done, I pushed the couch back and went about my business of getting fresh water and food for the four of them. This time, Sable started 'moo'ing at me through the door, having heard me in the other part of the house. So I went in and was promptly assalted with a fluffy black ball of fur demanding to be brushed. I think I've gotten enough fur off of her to create a sweater. Still, she's a good cat. Really sweet. Goliath this time was under a different piece of furniture staring out at me, but didn't quite seem to be glaring as he had been. The big surprise was when he deigned to play a little with one of the cat toys. Not that it meant he was going to get up or come out into the open, but he did play. Sable even pounced on the toy once.

Leaving that room, I got to see a rare sight. The elusive mythical Whirly. I could only stare in wonder (having completely forgotten what she ever looked like.) and she wandered over to me and promptly began head butting me to get me to brush her. O.O
After the initial shock... I sat down and petted her for awhile. She's quite the violently affectionate cat when she's not hiding. Even followed me downstairs while I watered the PLANTS THAT ARE STILL ALIVE!!!! I'm proud of this fact.

Anyway, no other news there. Squeaker never came out that time. But everything else was fine.

On other news... I really need to pay more attention to the world around me. It appears that I don't have to go to work tomorrow! (And there was much rejoicing). I had no idea. I would have been soooo pissed if I'd actually gotten up tomorrow morning and went in to an empty parking lot, with the doors locked. Mind you... it's not because of Memorial Day... ohhh no.... it's because of the Bolder Boulder. An annual people closing off streets all over the place so they can race around in grueling heat and blinding sunlight. Ah, but it's a 'dry heat' so... that's supposed to be better right?

Doesn't matter to me. I get the day off because of them. YAAAAYYY RUNNERS! (*whispers* you should run more often.)

On the bad side, the cookout I would have attended is canceled due to the hostess having bronchitis or something like that. Which means.... um... sleeping in, and trying to figure out what to do with the day. Hmm... what to do... what to do....

11:32 PM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Movie Madness
Current mood: relaxed

Ooooo... New movies to check out. I was just given the link to a new Jet Li movie called 'Fearless'. Looks like it could be good. O.O
Fearless site

Of course, I'm going to have to check out the new X-men movie, a friend said that it was a fun movie, although they kind of messed with the plot a bit. Eh, it's to be expected, I suppose. But might be fun to see for the special effects. He showed me a link to another Marvel based movie that's coming out with Nicolas Cage... 'Nightrider'. And for any of you that used to be into that sort of thing, you might want to check out the trailer. It looks kind of neat. All dark and gothy, even though polished like any Hollywood movie. Still, it's interesting how they can take an actor and do some special effects to make it so he's a walking skeleton who's head is on fire... might be fun.
Ghostrider link

I'm always up for recommendations as to other stuff that's out there...

8:05 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Adventures in Cat Sitting: part two
Current mood: thoughtful

Day 2: Cat sitting. aka Nothing to see, move along...

Ever read Agatha Christy's 'And then there were none' ? Not to freak Kate or Dave out when they read this... I'm sure there are cats there... They'll mysteriously reappear when their parents come home. I have a very good track record with kitties. I'm just mystified where Squeaker went off to... I'm thinking... after much searching, that it was most likely he was behind the sofa. Since the way the futon is, there looks like a good cat hiding place back there, but with the heat lately, I wasn't up for moving furniture. Still no sign of this so called 'Whirly' cat they talk about... and I'm a little disappointed that Squeaker didn't come out for brushing...

Sable ran right over to me "Mooooo? Mooooooooooooooooooooo?" Yes. She is the only cat I've ever met that actually sounds like she's saying moo. (In a high pitch kitty voice of course. But still... kind of cute.) I think if she were bigger and stronger I'd be in danger of her pouncing on me and not letting me go so I could spend days just brushing her... Goliath stayed all aloof under the bed, just watching me.

On the good side... after securing the cats away from each sub-group... I went out and watered the plants who are... mostly alive.... IT'S NOT MY FAULT I TELL YOU!!!! It's the heat... Now, I was told that I should water them  maybe once or so by someone... *memory sketchy* But it's been damned hot out... and they looked thirsty. Of course, this could be how I end up killing them off, not sure... But I think it was a good thing, my giving them more water.

Other than that... not much to say. Apparently all the excitement of my year got smooshed into one very brief week, and now I've hit a lull of nothingness.

I'm currently working on a new section of this writing board I help with online... I'm the editor and head moderator. Yay... sounds more impressive than it is, although we are very close to nearing 1000 members. Now that's what I call impressive. It's only about a year old too. Anyway, I'm devising a new section where people can give reviews on various anime series, including ratings, brief descriptions, screenshots (to see the art style), and then everyone can add their two cents as to what they thought of it, if they've seen it. Or can go "Oooo... I'd really like to check that out!" based on what they see. Murphy's Law though... the site seems to be down at the moment preventing me from charging in and setting everything up. *shakes fist at the universe* CURSES!!! (It's always the universe's fault isn't it?)

Anyway... hopefully things will be up and running soon... and until then, I'm gonna go listen to new music and learn more about computer video editing. Andddd check out how much vaccuum cleaners really cost. Hey, did you know that they sell dishwashers that are the size of (and look just like) microwave ovens??? You set it up on the counter and plug it into the sink, and voila... clean dishes. Not like I need one, but it's good to know that there are such things out there in the world. I do love technology....

One final note... I'm _soooo_ getting lost on myspace.... so much to look at/listen to, etc etc etc.... I'm beginning to think Voltaire was right to say that "Live Journal is soo last semester." See? I do listen sometimes...

6:41 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Adventures in Cat Sitting: part one

Day one: Cat sitting. O.O

Driving in rush hour traffic isn't the brightest idea. Next time I'll go home, take a nap, then go over and visit the kitties. I stopped to get the mail but realized that the box numbers don't match the house number........ it was only after I got inside the apartment (I'm house sitting for some good friends that will no doubt be very pleased I got a myspace thing. And since this is for them, I thought they might like to see what happened while they were gone.)

Sqeaker (Squeeker? ....) was the first to greet me, after I went up and started getting the food out. But his problem is that when petting him he makes meows saying "DONT TOUCH ME!!!" But I've been assured by Kate that it means he doesn't mind you touching him.

For some strange reason, I kept expecting Whirly to leap out and attack me. I have NO idea why... other than my first cat once defended the home from a cat sitter by leaping out and hissing and clawing at him. Since it's been a very very long time since I've even seen Whirly, I don't expect her to remember me.

Going into the other part of the house where Sable and Goliath were, Sable got the nerve to come out and promptly accosted me for brushing and petting, and holding and shed all over me. That cat brush was full of fluffy black fur. 'MEOOOWWWMEAOOOOWWWMEAOOOOOWWW...'

Goliath was M.I.A. but soon enough I spotted him glaring at me (I'm assuming it was him glaring at me as he refused to come out from under this low table by the window). I think they're pissed off that their parents are gone on vacation, so are blaming me by association. I tried to point out that I was there to give them food and attention, but I don't think he cared to listen.

Whirly................. I'm beginning to think they are making her existance up, and there is no fourth cat in the apartment.

I'm fairly proud of myself at having gone and watered the plants. I have a tendency to kill them, but Kate has given me a full pardon for any plant death that occurs in their house while they're away. *whew* So far... they are alive. Of course, it is just day one.

And someone was knocking at their door... I thought it would be best to show that someone was there, so (stupidly enough?) I answered it. Some guy trying to charm his way into my subscribing to some magazine so he could go on a trip I could never afford to take myself. I pretended I lived there, and turned the solicitation down. Like I have money to waste on something I'm not interested in at all.... I think... I shouldn't answer the door anymore.

After I left, I stopped and got the mail which is in my car being chauffeured around until I go back the day after tomorrow. Anyway, stuffs all locked up and the quadrant of cats tucked safely away from each other. Friday I'll update part two.

8:02 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment