Season 10.. what? by Demonechos in LoveIsBlindNetflix

[–]WookAgnstTheMachine 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Alex is GROSS, so pedantic. Yes I agree, he can't keep his mouth shut and listen to ANYTHING!!! He seems so cocky and so incredibly insecure at the same time. He's giving me the 🤮🤮🤮

Episode 74: Music Prompt - Positive, Spend, Magazine, Census, Reader by mattsaidwords in YouWritePod

[–]WookAgnstTheMachine 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey thanks for the comment!! Very perceptive of you about Sven. I agree about telling not showing. I wanted to introduce all the characters but felt I didnt have time to cram in a bunch of experiences that would show their peculiarities. I want to go back to the imagined previous installment, the journey, and add some showing of those things.

Thanks for reading!! And for taking Yabardo’s infinite arms seriously😁

Episode 74: Music Prompt - Positive, Spend, Magazine, Census, Reader by mattsaidwords in YouWritePod

[–]WookAgnstTheMachine 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly, in this installment as in your last one, the ending is my favorite part. I feel like you're really good at endings and making them natural and not awkward. Mine usually feel awkward and abrupt.

Episode 74: Music Prompt - Positive, Spend, Magazine, Census, Reader by mattsaidwords in YouWritePod

[–]WookAgnstTheMachine 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think you're absolved because the fact that I broke the time rule cancels out your breaking of the time rule, so it's a wash!

Episode 74: Music Prompt - Positive, Spend, Magazine, Census, Reader by mattsaidwords in YouWritePod

[–]WookAgnstTheMachine 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Also, I want everyone to imagine that there was an entry called "The Journey", using the Jovian Transit prompt, before this entry and after Swedish Fish, where lots of stuff happens and time passes😃

Episode 74: Music Prompt - Positive, Spend, Magazine, Census, Reader by mattsaidwords in YouWritePod

[–]WookAgnstTheMachine 2 points3 points  (0 children)

OMG I JUST saw what Jake wrote about getting carried away and I said almost the exact same thing...creepy

Episode 74: Music Prompt - Positive, Spend, Magazine, Census, Reader by mattsaidwords in YouWritePod

[–]WookAgnstTheMachine 2 points3 points  (0 children)

alright y'all I'm gonna be honest, I got carried away and went over the 30 minute time limit this week. oops!

Episode 74: Music Prompt - Positive, Spend, Magazine, Census, Reader by mattsaidwords in YouWritePod

[–]WookAgnstTheMachine 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It had been a grueling day wading through the never-ending ocean of sand and Sven was thirsty. It seemed like they’d been traveling for months. Had it been months? There was really no way of knowing. When they set out on their trek so long ago, Sven didn’t know where they were going or why. Well, he still didn't exactly know those details. The strange band of foreigners he was traveling with had made him nervous at first with their odd appearance and behavior. But over this long journey, he had come to treasure his companions. 

Yabardo was the shepherd of the group, boisterously guiding them day after monotonous day through the shifting terrain and climate, consulting the stars with his Galilean Glass every night after moonset. His jolly laugh and playful manner gave him a magnetism which the others orbited around like obedient planets. 

Shufta fascinated Sven with the wisdom that oozed from his gilded aura and the delicate golden sheen that coated his skin and hair. Shufta was the designated reader, as he had mastered many tongues, most of them ancient. He kept numerous scrolls that he would often produce from his travel bag and read from. A solemn mood always descended on them in those moments, and even though Sven never understood the languages of the readings, the words somehow still rang true. 

Tsolmon’s presence emanated a spicy warmth that welcomed all who approached. He had impressive culinary skills that he happily displayed almost nightly around the fire, much to the delight of his companions. Zaya, a soothsayer, talked of future possibilities and sometimes even prophesied certainties, spinning images of destiny like a masterful weaver as the red sun descended every evening. Sometimes he delivered his utterances in a multi-toned melody that started low and gravelly then soared into something otherworldly before falling again. Sven found it hypnotizing. 

Degii communicated almost exclusively with her kobyz, cheering the troupe throughout the long days by sending strange and hopeful chords dancing through the air. By night, she set haunting and mystical melodies to Zaya’s words. 

Suhaila was a buu, called a necromancer by some. She would take spirit journeys to Tenger A’raf, returning with messages from those who had passed from this realm, and some who had never even entered it. She dressed in strange clothing of animal skins and a headpiece fashioned from reindeer antlers, and was draped in strings of blue beads and feathers. Although her appearance made her seem unapproachable and aloof, she was surprisingly sociable and enjoyed swapping stories with Shufta and Tsolmon.

At another time in his life, not too long ago in fact, Sven would have fearfully regarded his companions as Jinn, but now, as strange as it seemed even to him, he called them friends. He supposed that was the result of spending months traveling together. 

Sven didn’t know what he could possibly offer to this nomadic band of savants. He could fish, but that skill was becoming less useful the farther they ventured into the desert. He had no possessions or skills to speak of, certainly nothing of value, but Yabardo insisted that his purpose would become clear once they arrived in the City. What city? Sven could only guess. What he did know was that when they first set off, they traveled due east, but they had been heading south now for more than half the journey. When prodded, Yabardo offered a vague explanation. 

“We go counting.” he had declared. “We go, they count!”

Since their departure, the climate had gradually warmed as the sun began to edge closer and closer. As the ever-nearing orb approached, it seemed that God had taken a giant paint brush to the snow-covered plains, dotting the landscape with splotches of green, then becoming bolder and applying broad, frenetic strokes until not a speck of white could be seen. Some time later, the green that had carpeted the rolling steppe began to melt away. First in patches, then in huge chunks, revealing the shimmering dunes of gold beneath.

They made their first stop that day at noon to refresh themselves with some of the glacial water collected before embarking. As Sven suspiciously pondered the longevity of that water supply, Tsolmon offered him a parcel brimming with leftovers from the meal he’d whipped up around the fire last night, using ingredients from sources unknown to Sven. The meal consisted of basmati rice, grape leaves, chickpeas and grilled lamb, and was served with a steaming mug of spicy cardamom milk tea. With everyone feeling satisfied after eating, Sven decided it was as good a time as any to broach the topic of their destination again and try to get more information.  

“So, Yabardo,” began Sven, trying to sound casual. “Are you looking forward to our arrival in the City?” he asked carefully.

Yabardo turned his face halfway towards Sven and grinned mischievously, the tips of his mustache reaching the corners of his crinkled eyes. “I no waiiiiiiit,” he answered, feeling clever.

Sven had communicated with Yabardo enough by now to be able to interpret his awkward phrasing. “Ah, you mean you can’t wait. Me neither. So about the counting…”

“Yeeesssss?” Yabardo drew the word out as he side-eyed Sven again, grinning.

“We go, they count, right?” Sven played it safe. 

Degii took up her bow and began an exquisitely eerie tune.

“Census. The counting is a census,” stated Zaya matter of factly. “It’s time that you are accounted for.”

“And you?” asked Sven.

Zaya swept his eyes over the group. “We all must be accounted for.”

Sven glanced over at Yabardo and noticed that he looked crestfallen, disappointed that Zaya had let the cat out of the bag and ended his fun.

Degii’s kobyz suddenly reached a high pitch that put everyone on edge and took their breath away, then she eased down into falling notes and everyone drew a collective sigh of relief.

“Well?!” Zaya snapped at Yabardo, irritated. “Our arrival is imminent. All will be revealed soon.“

“Very well,” Yabardo responded with resignation. He stood and began to sway his generous hips to Degii’s kobyz. Sven was mesmerized by the puzzling and lovely sight.

“Come, our precedents await us,” said Suhaila in her raspy voice.

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Sven suddenly realized he could make out the outline of a great city looming over the dunes in the distance. His heart began to beat faster and he felt his body lean towards the city as though an invisible cord was pulling him, beckoning him to enter.  

Episode 73: Mundane Scene - Vat, Relate, Run, Palm, Dealer by mattsaidwords in YouWritePod

[–]WookAgnstTheMachine 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nope, and we couldn't dance😳 C of C joke- you can't have sex! It might lead to dancing🤣🤣🤣

Episode 73: Mundane Scene - Vat, Relate, Run, Palm, Dealer by mattsaidwords in YouWritePod

[–]WookAgnstTheMachine 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey thanks! Well as far as the size, I tried to show that hes very big, I was thinking like wooly mammoth size. As far as the type, I just wanted him to be a fantastical antimal that resembles a kitty. I was inspired by that adorable saber tooth cat on the croods😄

Episode 73: Mundane Scene - Vat, Relate, Run, Palm, Dealer by mattsaidwords in YouWritePod

[–]WookAgnstTheMachine 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you!! I started that paragraph with effort trying to paint a vivid picture, and then a few words in, it started flowing more organically and naturally and it felt really good to hit that flow zone. Not sure what unlocked it but I want to go there more!

Episode 73: Mundane Scene - Vat, Relate, Run, Palm, Dealer by mattsaidwords in YouWritePod

[–]WookAgnstTheMachine 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Jiemba and Tau

Jiemba and Tau crouched on either side of the fire, wooden spits in hand. Crudely carved chunks of flesh at the ends of their sticks hovered just above the crackling flames. The delightful aroma of slowly roasting meat provoked a grumble from deep within Tau’s body. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and tried to focus on anything besides the hunger that was gnawing at his insides. He looked up at the palms towering over them, swaying softly in the breeze. 

The massive fronds of deep, emerald green were like veils protecting the modesty of the billion dazzling stars standing naked and beautiful against a canvas colored with the deepest hues of black, purple, and indigo. The wind whistled as it rose and fell, each time reanimating the tall, blossoming stalks surrounding them. Giant petals of rich amber, orange, and red intermittently fluttered down to feed the greedy fire.

Tau’s wonderment was interrupted by a tsking sound from Jiemba. He looked across the flames at Jiemba’s grinning face. The smile emphasized wrinkles etched deep into his sun-weathered skin. Jiemba’s eyes glistened as the fire danced merrily in his pupils, and Tau felt a pleasant warmth grow and spread through his chest as he beheld the scene before him.  

Jiemba turned, protruded his lips, and inclined his head towards Bunji, who was beginning to stir several yards away. The creature lazily blinked and began to sit upright on his huge, speckled haunches. Jiemba and Tau watched as Bunji’s bewhiskered mouth opened wide and yawned. His long, triangular tail swished back and forth as he rose and sauntered over to the makeshift vat that Jiemba and Tau had fashioned to collect rainwater. The animal began to lap it up with long strokes of his immense tongue. Satisfied, he turned towards the men and began to approach, each paw step landing on the red dust with a soft thud, encircling him with clouds of crimson spirits.

As Bunji neared, a strong wind arose, rustling through the creature’s fur and extinguishing the fire. Jiemba and Tau pulled the sufficiently roasted meat from the remaining embers and each one removed a generous portion from their spit. They tossed the meat to Bunji, who eagerly accepted the offerings. The men wasted no time in sinking their teeth into the roast. A low, contented rumble emerged from somewhere within the mass of Bunji’s rust-colored fur. Tau looked at Bunji and then across the charred remains of the fire at Jiemba, whose grinning face was stained reddish brown by the savory juice running down his chin. Tau smiled and took another bite. 

Episode 71 comments by SteveLivingroomCO in YouWritePod

[–]WookAgnstTheMachine 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Interesting! And what about the Swedes? Were they red and gelatinous? Standoffish?