NaNo 9: The sun is setting.

11:08am
I'm a horrible person!
I've written nothing the past few days and I'm going crazy from all the stress in my life right now >. >
I don't know what to do anymore.

4:38pm
So, I took Dovah to the vet today. Her temperature was way low, she was constipated. They did bloodwork and xrays and found she has severe arthritis in her hips. They also found a tumor in her mouth, but I can't afford the biopsy, so we won't know if it's cancerous or not. She's coming home tomorrow and I will be monitoring her closely. I started a gofundme and $290 has been raised so far. I'm so thankful.
On top of this, I got a really bad phone call from my boss. I might be losing my job. I don't know. I'll find out on Monday.

6:59pm
I'm basically just writing as a distraction from everything. I did get to talk things through with my dad which was very helpful. He was very encouraging.
So with the story, I'm not sure I like what I've written so far. I went back over Chapter 1 and rewrote a bunch of stuff, lengthening paragraphs, changing wording to fit the style I used with Write This Down. That helped. But I'm a little torn on Chapter 2 and 3. I'm not sure if I want the three of them escaping the House just yet, but it will get the adventure moving.
Hmmm...
Maybe I'll just go with it for now. I can always go back later and change it if need be.

7:30pm
Ah, chapter 3 went pretty okay. Not my best writing, but it was fun, and that's what matters. A lot happens in the great escape from the Nightmare House.
I've got 1419 words written today which is awesome. I'm gonna try and write a total of 5000 before bed, but we'll see how far we get hehe.

8:02pm
Had a nasty accident with my lemonade spilling everywhere D:
But other than that, YAY I HIT 1759 WORDS!!!!
First time I actually hit the daily word goal. I even managed to go over. Fancy that! Go me!
Now if I could just get another 4000 written tonight that would be fabulous.
The going is slow because I'm quite uninspired, but tally ho, on we go.

10:52pm
Snacks and drinks acquired, I have written 2929 words as of now.
So far the kids have gotten some sleep, Killjoy assessed his injuries, they ate some leeks and unripe apples, and now they are heading for town.
I intend for them to reach a house and get more food and sleep. Killjoy will also talk to Bustopher and we'll learn about Bustopher's mission (character arc). Miiiiight also reveal the reason for Killjoy's missing eye or will save that for a later chapter.

11:32pm
Plodding into chapter 5 aaaahhhhhhhhhhgggggggg.... I'm on a roll but I'm not lol.

11:59pm
I end this day with 3980 words written in total. Imma keep going and see if I can't get a bunch written after midnight and before I go to bed.

NaNo 4: Ghosts don't bleed

12:32pm
So far my prologue and my first chapter were started using a prompt. In my quest for motivation, I search for more prompts. Good ones that is. I might turn to Quiet Pine Trees again.
Also, I decided to peek in on the Overachievers forum at NaNo and OMFG IT'S DAY 4 AND SOME PEOPLE ARE OVER 50k WORDS ALREADY!!!!!!
I feel so inadequate ;-;
One day I too shall overachieve. It's not today though. *sips tea*

2:50pm
I'm so impatient to go see kitties!
But I got to wait for my roommate to get home from her army stuff.
But kitties....
TBH I haven't written like anything, maybe 200 words. I need to get crack-a-lackin smh.

10:02pm
Welp, I wrote 700 something words total today and that's all I'm getting done. Bed and kitten calls my name. I'll write tomorrow after a good night's sleep. I was just too stressed out today to think of anything.
I also procrastinated and made covers for people on NaNo. I know. I suck at this. LOL.
Night peeps.

NaNo 3: One. Last. Time.

5:45pm
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
I have three words written
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


9:22pm
I've written exactly 1000 words today at this point in time. Lol.
The story is up on wattpad and can be viewed HERE

9:56pm
Gotta stop here. Have to be up at 4am to take my roommate to the army reserve site for a physical test. Peace out bros.

NaNo 1: Then darkness took him away.

11:01am

It's NANOWRIMO mah dudes!!!!!
As of currently, I have no blog title, excerpt, or anything. It's all because I have no plot.
I know what I'm writing this year. It's a book that's been sitting in my drafts folder for YEARS. It's working title is "The Missile List". I have a main character called Killjoy. I have a setting. And that's it.
But I really REALLY want this novel to come to life so I am pulling out all the stops to find a plot.

2:06pm
Got my third wisdom tooth out. Just one more to go.
In other news...
I have the entire character arc for a secondary character plotted out. His name is Bustopher by the way, because it is awesome. I'm trying to tackle some details before I launch into the main character's arc.

3:49pm
I've got 300+ words done. My novel has officially begun.

It's Been WHAT!?

It's been so, so many months since I wrote anything on this puppy. Mostly because I'm so distracted with stuff. There's also the fact that a lot of you guys are my facebook friends, so I feel you know enough of my daily life.
But I'm still going to continue this.

I plan to do some future posts on my usual topics: anime, art, writing, etc.

For now, I just wanna say, I really miss writing. I haven't been keeping up on it too much, but I feel I am crawling out of my slump. So hopefully stuff will get updated and finished. Hopefully when life calms the heck down, Rhumba Writes Stuff can continue (though I'm thinking of starting a totally fresh group. we'll see)

Keep your fingers crossed that I get a job soon! I'm actually going out to apply today at a warehouse thing that does food distribution or something. Yah, I pay such close attention to detail it's scary.


I'm also thinking of adding my Larp notes to this blog, all the ones from facebook and any future stuff. I have two characters in play (Romulus and 3601) and a new character (Ksenija) coming into play soon. Costuming pictures!!!! ^^
I also have crafting projects in the works and coming up, so I'll be updating that as well.

My apologies for all the word vomit. Just wanted to get the ball rolling on this one.

Quiet Pine Trees #2: Kill Me Please

"We all got one wish. Billions could fly. He got the recipe for room-temperature superconductivity. He wondered what was wrong with his soul."

T. R. Darling ~ Quiet Pine Trees

The lights burned.

Keeping to his shadowy corner, he tried to make out the different figures dancing in a cacophony of sound and silk, but with their howls of delight and mesmerizing twirls and poses, everything turned into one maddening blur.

He had to find Acey though. He had to.

Digging his fingernails into the brick of the wall, he felt he had something to cling to. Something solid. Before he ventured out into all this confusion.

Stay calm, he warned himself.

With a shuddering step, he entered the crowd.

Swept away by it, he soon lost all sense of direction and sense of himself.

He was a fish going against the tide. That is always a dangerous thing.

He risked being crushed by their antics. 

"Why don't you dance?" came a voice in his ear. If not for the masquerade mask, a necessity for the festival, the owner of the voice would have seen his fear. His flinch at least was lost in all the movement about.

He looked up to see vicious rat eyes peering through the holes of a lion mask. The teeth were bared in what was an attempt at a grin, but with such a thing looming he couldn't help but quiver.

He swallowed the lump in his throat. "I am looking for my partner."

"Ah! How wonderful! Then enjoy the dance!" The lion masked creep spun away to be lost in the throng again.

He knew they were not real. Merely sentries for this strange place.

But Acey liked to come here. Liked to fill himself with as much Awaken as he could pump into his veins. Then he would lose himself in this mad world. 

Then Acey would come to him sobbing and shaking and "Why does it hurt?" and "Make it stop!" and "It's too much for me!".

And even worse was that heart wrenching, soft, little whisper.

"Kill me please."

He didn't want to be here, but he had to find Acey.

It was always scary to watch Acey dance. When he did, he wasn't Acey anymore.

Through all the changes he witnessed in his friend, this was the most bizarre. 

He moved mechanically. Like a robot. He couldn't control himself right. Spinning and twisting. Laughing hysterically. Tearing at other people. Their faces. Their clothes. Their masks. Their eyes. He would tear down some of the lights and wrap himself in their cords. He would spasm as if in a seizure. He would stop and just stare at things that weren't there.

He hated it when Acey danced.

But at least he could find Acey because of it.

His friend was standing in a throng of neon dresses and puffy white wigs and pastel parasols. Maidens in varied animal masks laughing and shouting and cackling mad. And he was patting their wigs as if they were soft animals on top of the girls' heads.

Then he dropped his hands and stared up beyond the reach of the sky.

He always wondered what Acey found up there.

Acey looked down and met his eyes and all he saw was terror.

He stepped forward, weaseling through the ladies, and grabbed his friend's arm.

"Let's go home, Acey."

The three girls froze and turned to him in rapt unison.

Mechanical. Like a robot.

"Why don't you dance?"

Their trio of voices echoed demonically in his ear, rattling his skull.

He forced cheerfulness into his voice. "We have a date to bake cookies together with lots of rainbow sprinkles!"

They snapped to ease. "Oh how lovely!" said one. "Have fun on your date!"

"Thank you for keeping my friend entertained!" he replied as jovially as he did not feel. Then he gripped Acey's arm tight and entered the fray once more.

Acey turned in his grip to hold his wrist tightly.

To save them both from drowning maybe.

Returned to their retreat in the old boxcar, he helped Acey inside and sat him down in a chair. Acey was limp as a ragdoll, perpetually melting into the seat, staring through the floor to the core of the Earth.

"Acey?" he murmured softly, pulling the mask off his friend's face.

Acey wouldn't respond.

"Acey? Come back please. I'm here. I love you. I want to help you."

Acey blinked and looked up, meeting his eyes. A wan smile cracked his face like stone. "I could see them." His voice broke, hoarse and agonized.

"I know," he replied, pulling Acey into an embrace. "It's ok."

Acey held on tight and wouldn't let go. It hurt. To be crushed in so much desperation. But he loved Acey and wouldn't let go either.

"Why couldn't I be smart like you? Or dumb like them? To fly, to have worlds of parties, to call toys out of thin air, immortality; or phasing through objects or telekinesis or infinite charisma. Why me? Why this?"

"Smart? I think I was rather dull."

"And I was the dumbest of them all."

"You don't have to walk this road alone, Acey."

"But I'm... I'm the only one..."

"No. No. I'm here." He pressed a palm to Acey's chest. "In your heart. So you can never be alone. And I'm also here. Right in front of you. Holding on."

Acey pulled away and rubbed the tears furiously from his eyes.

"Kill me please," came that soft, terrible whisper of a plea. "I don't want to see people's souls anymore."

Quiet Pine Trees #1: Remember Humankind

“Alien myths told of human brutality. Braver civilizations invited us to their homeworlds as scarecrows. Primordial fear kept enemies at bay."
T. R. Darling ~ Quiet Pine Trees

Clear black night hung with stars, sucking away the gaze turned longingly towards them.
Cold was the air and cold were the bones of the old scarecrow slumped in its bonds.
From where did we come from? It wondered silently. If it had the power to open its thread-and-needle mouth, it would voice its lamentations. But who would hear?
Not the other ragdoll corpses sloughing in their rot.
Who decided for us that this was better than death? The scarecrow wondered silently.
If it could just widen the stapled gap between lid and lid and take in the world around it, the scarecrow wondered if it would see heaven or hell.
View limited, everything looked like hell.
Talons dug into its arm, making the scarecrow flinch. A loud peal of shrieking emenated and the wild beat of wings. Whatever fowl had been there was now scared away.
Scarecrow serving its purpose. Maybe.
It’s purpose could always be to die. Now there was a heavenly thought in hell indeed.
“We invited you!” the aliens said, sweetly, softly, sewing the scarecrow’s mouth.
“We saved you!” the aliens said, slowly, somberly, stapling the scarecrow’s eyes.
We conquered you and destroyed you and raped you and cheated you and sacrificed you.
The aliens said the human race was an abominable thing. Said they did nothing but conquer and destroy and rape and pillage and lie and cheat and kill and murder.
Said it all with every ounce of hypocrisy as they enacted such miseries to be the saviours.
The aliens laughed with their newfound toys, dancing gleefully like children at Christmas.
“Look at these wonderful things we have rescued away! Let us take these terrifying abominations and put them to good use!”
As freak shows as experiments as prisoners as monsters as scarecrows.
And so died humans.
So rose objects.
These new objects toiled away at their masters’ desires. Forgot themselves and loathed themselves. A murmuring mass all lowing the same lament: “we are the worst of all things and deserve nothing more than this existence as monsters.”
But the scarecrow remembered the human race.
Remembered it for its beauty. Remembered it for its ugliness. Each individual of that collective a spark burning bright in unity. A conflagration of souls, beautiful in its juxtaposed balanced of good and evil together. Every waking infant a realm of infinite possibilities and impossibilities, every dying elder a library of moments imprinted on the fabric of history. Infinite evil and darkness and horror coexisted with infinite good and light and pleasure.
And for this, the perfectly balanced life form ever conceived in the universe burned and sang and bled all over the gemstone homeworld it named Earth.
The aliens chose to remember its pain.
The scarecrow remembered its glory.