From a grateful writer
Oh, my goodness. That's really all I can manage to say, after all the heartwarming feedback I've received on my latest writing piece. Everyone here is really too kind, and I hope each and every one of you knows you had a part in rekindling my desire to keep writing. I was absolutely blown away by some of the responses it received, and it humbles me to think that people were moved by something my lil old brain churned out.
As my first year of university draws to a close, I'm hoping to spend more time writing... and I now have much motivation to do so!
Let's Hear You: scorchwillow
I'm also very easily distracted this week. (Most weeks. I like to say I have the attention span of an over-caffeinated squirrel.) That doesn't make for a great combo - lots of work and a short attention span - but I've banged out two essays so far, and the last one is easy, if stupid.
And I did actually study for my forensics quiz. That's the first time I've studied for something in ages. I was a little better about it when we were in school, but not to the same level as some of my friends. To be fair, the one in question wants to go to law school at Yale. Maybe it shouldn't be such a surprise that she has better study habits!
Stress, homemade bread, and Newsies are the main things on my mind right now. Maybe it's because I'm writing about it, but I don't actually feel especially stressed at the moment. Who knows. I firmly believe, however, that homemade bread is a cure to stress and most emotional ailments. Especially this tomato-basil bread. I could easily eat all of it by myself.
As far as Newsies goes, I've only recently really gotten into it after years of reading about how good the musical is and how crazy the dancing is, but I fell pretty hard. It's a great show and makes me nostalgic for my theatre days, if a 10 day camp every summer for four years can be called a theatre experience. Despite having minimal dancing experience and not being able to do a single cartwheel, I'd still love to be in a show like this someday... except most of it revolves around tap and tumbling. Is it the people I miss? Being part of something like that? I don't want to think right now.
I don't really have a direction for this. Stream-of-consciousness writing is not something I do often. Or if I do, I always edit later. I'm trying to let my accent - do people from this part of the state even have an accent? I don't think we do - and my real voice shine through, but my first instinct is still to go back and find a better word or better phrase. Ah, well. 'm trying.
Seriously though, I'm pretty sure Connecticut accents are just, like, dropped Ts at the end of words. There's more of an accent in the eastern part of the state, according to my dad, but I've never really noticed it. They just say "potatoes" weird, that's all. It's kinda like... puh-day-das. Something like that? I dunno. The point is, we're not close enough to New York to have that kinda accent. (Not that I would mind at the moment, given my new Newsies obsession.)
This is kinda weird for me, but I'm also enjoying just writing whatever comes to mind. 'Course, I don't exactly have a direction, but hey, I put words on the page. Screen. Thing.
Prom was supposed to be this Friday. Maybe it's because I'm not a super social person, but I'm not that disappointed. That could also be because I can go next year. If I was a senior I'd probably be upset. Technically prom isn't officially cancelled, but I don't have much hope.
Gonna be honest here, I'm hoping I'll find a way to ask the guy I was planning on taking to at least do something when we're not stuck at home anymore. Not a date. Some of my friends are dating, but frankly I'm not interested and I still feel like I'm too young. No one ever bothers me about it, so it's not like I have to defend myself or anything, but I just... meh. I guess I'd be willing to give it a shot with this guy. He's one of the few decent male human beings I've interacted with recently. (This is where I add that I go to an all-girls school.)
(Okay, this has been sitting in my stash for a while. Time for a revisit.)
Not much has changed. School is school - I have an AP exam tomorrow, and I haven't really studied, but how do you study for an essay when they're providing all the documents you need? - and life is about the same. Newsies is still taking up a lot of real estate. My brothers are as weird as ever.
The weather's been a lot nicer, though. My brother and I went for a run today. It was sunny and breezy and just a little like summer. While we were walking back (three miles in half an hour today!) I couldn't help thinking, This is hope.
Things are still weird, of course. They'll be weird for a while. Honestly, I'm not sure when things will feel normal again. But for now, I've got less than a month of school, the weather is warm enough for shorts, and I'm heading into senior year.
So yeah, I've got hope. And in the meantime, I have my family, Newsies, and the best friends you could ever want.
I'm going to go for a drive. (Well, really, my dad will be driving.) Maybe I'll get some practice in so I can get my license once everything opens up again.
Things will work out. They always do.
Tara was born into a political family. Her father was involved in politics for most of his life, and her mother gave up her life as a Mandalorian to marry him. They never quite knew how to handle Tara's "rebelliousness" - they wanted her to follow in her father's footsteps and settle down. Tara also had a younger brother, Ran, who she loved dearly but often thought he didn't push the limits enough in his life. He took over the role she left behind. Tara always thought Ran was the child her parents wanted, but she didn't hold that against him.
Fact 2. PERSONALITY
Tara is a rather complex character! On the outside, she's bold and outspoken, if reckless. Deeper down, however, she has many misgivings about herself and the life she's chosen. She is determined to prove to her parents that she isn't always running away from what they consider to be obligations. She attaches herself very quickly to people she recognizes herself in - as such, she has formed a strong bond with Vortex, even if he isn't entirely aware of it.
Fact 3. TALENTS
Tara is a skilled pilot, for all that Vortex teases her about it. She is a decent actor, and is good under pressure. She is a habitual improviser, much to Vortex's chagrin. However, she can make stories plausible enough to buy time to escape or otherwise change the situation.
Fact 4. RELATIONSHIPS-DATING
She never really considered any sort of relationships outside of friendship. Partly because of her parents' insistence that she should marry, Tara made sure never to draw the attention of potential suitors' parents at political meetings, even if it called for drastic measures. She doesn't know exactly how to approach Vortex, but she is starting to realize that what she feels towards him may be something a little different than friendship.
Fact 5. RELATIONSHIPS-CAREER
Tara knows she can't afford to make friends in her line of work. She rarely talks to her parents, but she does reach out to Ran when she remembers. Although she is somewhat uncertain about where she stands with Kiska, she is willing to befriend him. She doesn't let Alpha intimidate her and will happily tell him so if the opportunity ever arises.
Fact 6. POSSIBILITY
Um... I guess... maybe she runs into her brother at some point before No Regrets is over? I can't really see it happening at this point because he's not relevant to the plot.
Fact 7. JOB HISTORY
(Tara was too busy defying her parents to ever hold a job.) Her parents were well-off, so she was never forced to work to support her family. Now she does odd mercenary jobs to bring in a few extra creds.
Fact 8. OOC INFO
Tara was a joint OC created with my brother. We were ready to have someone to balance Vortex out and give him a run for his money in deadpan humor. I forget the origin story of the scarf but I am fiercely protective of it and will forever refer to it as a "scerf."
Bonus fact: APPEARANCES
She's on the smaller side - not Etain small, but the short side of average. She keeps her hair chin-length or shorter because that's less of a hassle when in combat or flying. She usually wears her pilot's rig when not on a mission. When there may be conflict, she sticks to her armor. It's a little chipped here and there, with splashes of orange to represent shereshoy.
Fact 1. FAMILY/BACKSTORY
Kiska is actually from one of the younger generations of troopers. He wasn't originally slated to be an officer, but he proved to be a skilled tactical leader. Family/brother-wise, he is very close to Tenin, a veteran who later becomes his second-in-command. Tenin swears Kiska is responsible for any gray hairs he has, but he's very fond of him, even if he doesn't always show it. Kiska and Two spent a lot of time together on Kamino, so it's a given that they're practically attached at the hip. The last member of Kiska's circle is Norr, one of Tenin's good friends who takes a liking to Kiska on their first deployment together.
Fact 2. PERSONALITY
Kiska is a blast to write! He's energetic, innocent, sassy, and maybe a little more reckless than is good for him. He thinks entirely with his heart, which can lead to trouble at times but ultimately proves to be in the right place. He is easygoing and will talk to anyone, but he can be shy if he is actually the center of attention. He can't always keep his sarcastic streak under control - something his superiors usually don't appreciate. He's one of life's good people, who wants nothing more than for the people he loves to be happy and to make the galaxy right. He tries his best to make the galaxy a better place, even if it always works against him. He also has a deep love of nature and exploration.
Fact 3. TALENTS
Kiska, for all that he's a goofball, can get down to business when duty calls. He is a skilled strategist and is far more logical than he lets on. He leads his men with his heart, and as such, they will follow him anywhere. He can make friends with just about anyone through sheer persistence and naivety.
Fact 4. RELATIONSHIPS-DATING
The way I see it, Kiska is so busy being a commander he simply never has time to think about a long-term relationship. He's also very shy around women, perhaps because his brothers notice this and tease him relentlessly.
Fact 5. RELATIONSHIPS-CAREER
Kiska loves his brothers deeply. He sees his identity as being entirely entwined with them. Because of this, he has some difficulty adjusting to being a commander; it forces him to stand on his own two feet and be his own person. He has great respect for Alpha as a soldier, mentor, and leader. Despite his initial wariness around Vortex, he can read him better now and genuinely enjoys his company.
Fact 6. POSSIBILITY
I have a few ideas for where Kiska's story may go, but I don't want to go into specifics here.
Fact 7. JOB HISTORY
Well... Kiska started his military career with the 41st Elite in Tenin's squad. He was promoted for valor and later selected for Alpha-17's training program. He was promoted to battalion commander from there, and his soldiers often assisted the 41st. After Order 66, Kiska was given the rank of regimental commander, which is his rank at the time of his desertion.
Fact 8. OOC INFO
Kiska is just so much fun! I can say it again and again and it's always true! He's always changing and evolving to come into his own. My brother also knows all about Kiska. We refer to him almost daily as a puppy because of his energy and sheer innocence.
Bonus fact: APPEARANCES
He has freckles! There's a splash across his nose and cheeks and some just scattered all over. There's also one right on the tip of his nose. (Again, a puppy.) His squad will forever call him "Commander Freckles" regardless of his protests. This isn't appearance-related, but his squad has other nicknames for him: Sea Monkey (Tenin's fault), Freckles and variations thereof, Little Kiska, and A Pain in Two's Shebs.
What Was Alpha's Role in the SOB?
Alpha is an officer. This much is established, even though it's never explained how the GAR's clone officers aren't considered "commissioned" despite being trained as career officers. But I have already written about this and discussed this with several friends.
Returning to Alpha... he was most likely a member of the Special Operations Brigade simply because he is an Alpha ARC, much like Maze. But unlike Maze, Alpha is never explicitly mentioned to be an officer in the SOB hierarchy, even though it makes sense to have several senior officers overseeing the commandos' day-to-day activity. I personally think that Alpha would have at least a handful of squads reporting in to him, because it's really a waste of his skills not to have him in a command position.
Thoughts?
Tagged!
a while ago and I should probably follow up on my promise to actually do this. 
1. What is your super power? Not the one you wish you had, like flying or whatever, but tell me about something at which you truly excel. And everyone has a super power, so think carefully.
I'd like to say softball, but I'm not fantastic. I'm decent, though. Definitely not algebra or biology. I've always had an aptitude for English class, and the writing that goes along with it. Surprisingly, I have proven to be rather capable of speaking Mandarin. I've been taking it since middle school and plan to continue for the rest of high school. It's just little things like that, but I do feel smart when I tell people that I take Chinese. 
2. Will you please share a link to the thing in your gallery you like best? (Answer should include the link.)
I'm pretty pleased with how my recent additions to Shattered Glass have turned out, and it seems to be well-received. Overall, I'd say the third chapter of Shattered Glass and the final chapter of Adventures of a Clone Cadet are my two favorites. I also can't believe I actually finished a series and have followed through on a sequel! I'm proud of that too.
3. Name a person with whom you’d love to collaborate on an art project, but are too nervous to ask.
Hm... I'm not sure as of yet. I've always loved DC-26's works, but I know that DC is very approachable. I'll keep thinking on this one for a while. I may even think of an answer eventually.
4. What do you use as the background of your computer/phone/tablet/similar device?
My phone background has a lovely inspirational sort of quote. I forget where exactly I found it, but it goes something like this: "Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tiptoe if you must, but take that step." Just a bit of daily inspiration.
5. Describe a favorite art piece hanging around your abode.
Hanging on the kitchen wall is a lovely charcoal drawing done by my late great-aunt, whom I have no recollection of, as she died when I was very little. My mother loved her, and there are several pictures of me with her. This particular drawing is of a pear, a bunch of grapes, and a water jug in the background. She wasn't a professional artist, but she dabbled in a few different forms. This piece is very clear and looks as if it could be in a museum.
6. We all know that the book is better, with very few exceptions. Name an instance where you thought the film adaptation was actually superior to the book.
The Death Cure, which is the third book in The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner. The movie came out earlier this year, and I was absolutely blown away. I enjoy movies, but never have I been so impressed. The book has several interesting parts, but it becomes confusing by the end. The movie tells a different story from the book, but with the important details included. I saw it twice and I can't wait to see it again.
7. What is the worst book you’ve ever finished reading?
Last school year my friend convinced me to read Half Bad by Sally Green. It started out strong but I quickly lost interest in it. There should be a summary here. I don't remember what I disliked most, but I do know that I didn't make it halfway through the book. I suffered through a third of it and gave up.
8. What is your MBTI personality category, and which character does it correspond to in the fictional universe of your choice? (Example: I am INFJ, which corresponds to Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars ‘verse. Also, The Hulk. It’s funny ‘cause it’s true.)
I am INFJ-T, or advocate. I am more introverted than extroverted, I am more intuitive than observant, favor feeling over thinking, am more likely to be judging rather than prospecting, and am more turbulent than assertive. More information on advocate personality type: www.16personalities.co…. I'm not sure which character it would correspond to... Darman, perhaps, although that might just be my desire to have a connection to a fictional character I adore. If anyone has any idea, please let me know.
9. Where do you see yourself five years from now?
If everything goes exactly according to the plan I have for myself? Well, I have to graduate high school, and I'm wrapping up freshman year now, so I have three more years before I graduate. After that, I'd love to go to the United States Military Academy at West Point. (Five years from now would be... my second year.) I've always wanted to do something that will impact not only myself, but hopefully many others. Service has always been a big part of my life and last summer I was honest enough with myself to recognize the fact that I am willing to be a soldier. It used to intimidate me somewhat, but right now I feel that this is the right path for me.
10. Do you know a Canadian immigration lawyer? Please note me if so. Asking for a friend. Literally.
I wish I could so I could be of some help, but unfortunately I do not.
11. What new skill / thing / area of knowledge would you like to learn?
I've always wanted to learn to play the violin. At the moment I play the mother of all obnoxious instruments in my school's orchestra: tenor saxophone. And don't get me wrong, I enjoy playing the saxophone, but I adore the violin. Maybe I'll get around to taking a few lessons some day.
12. What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever learned?
Besides algebra and freshman biology? I'm not really sure. I'd like to provide a deep, in-depth answer but I have none as of yet. Last year I attended a Veterans' Day presentation at a local university with some other students from my school, and met a Gold Star mother who lost her son (a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment) overseas. I consider that learning.
I'm probably supposed to tag some other people, but I don't have any good questions.
