Snippets of Story- May

So, I'm linking up with Katie this month for Snippets of Story!  I'm glad to see that people like Alea, I think she's really fun and interesting to write.  Because of this (and because it's my only current WIP that I like) I'm going to give you some snippets from her story!

{Via}

{Alea, who would, in my mind, be played by Keira Knighley.}

She was free, finally free.  But it didn’t feel that way.  It didn’t feel like she had imagined it.  She had been cast out; she had not flown out, of her own free will.  She’d been cast out, cast away, by the only person she knew.  It didn’t feel like freedom. 

-Alea and Sancha's story

The innkeeper raised her eyebrows.  “Where are you headed then, youngster?” she asked kindly.

“The Hiekka Maa,” said Alea, taking a bite of toast.

“All by yourself?”  The innkeeper was horrified.

Alea laughed.  “Yes, all by myself.  I’ve lived too long cooped up with others who I didn’t particularly like, but I had to listen to.  I’m ready to find my own way.  And I’ve always wanted to go to the Hiekka Maa.”

The innkeeper pursed her lips.  “Are you sure you don’t want a position in my kitchens, lass?  I’m sure there’s room.  You could settle down, find a nice boy, get married.  Start a family.”

Alea shook her head.  “I’m afraid that’s just not what I’m looking for at the moment.  I’m seventeen.  I’m young.  I need to adventure while I still can—I want to find my own path, ma’am.”

-Alea and Sancha's story

“I think you misunderstand me,” he said, smiling cruelly at her.  “You need a man to be with you.”

“No,” said Alea, her eyes flashing.  “I think you misunderstand me.  I don’t need a man to be with me.”

“I think you do,” he said, stepping in front of her once again, when she tried to move forward.  “You need a man to protect you.  You can’t go on alone.  It’s unsafe.”

“I think I will be much more unsafe if you join me, actually,” said Alea.  “I’m fine on my own, thanks.”

She moved forward once again, and this time, he raised his hand to strike her.  But Alea moved faster.  She delivered a swift punch to his ribcage, ducking beneath his defenses, and ramming into him.  He doubled over in surprise, and she kicked him out of the way.  He crumpled, and fell to the side of the passageway.

“Like I said,” she said, as she walked past him.  “You misunderstood me.”

-Alea and Sancha's story

I think it's becoming pretty obvious through these snippets along with what you learned about her in my previous post (linked to above), that freedom means a lot to Alea.  She doesn't like being bullied, and she's always ready to fight back.  She's a strong girl, and she knows what she believes it.  She wants to be free, and doesn't want anyone to stand in her way.  I really like this about her, that freedom means a lot to her.  She won't back down, she won't let other people push her around.  I didn't really expect that to be as strong of a theme in this as it's turning out to be, but I think it's really good, that she knows who she is and what she believes in.

The Dandy Lioness

Snippets of Story-- April

{Via}

Hello again!

The time for Snippets of Story has rolled around again, hosted by the lovely Katie.

In March and April (so far) I've actually written more than usual, at least, what's been usual recently.  I started a new project, which is exciting for me.  It has no name yet.  I'm about 6,000 words in, and so that's exciting.  So, because of this, I'll give you some snippets from that.  To be honest, I haven't been writing much, still.  I need to get back on track, but this project is helping me with that.  So, without further adieu, here we go.  I only have two snippets today, because I don't have that much written, and I'm not really to any exciting bits yet.

“You like reading?”

Alea glanced up.  “Oh!  You’re awake!”

The young man smiled, his eyes crinkling at the edges.  “That I am, Alea Fairweather.”

“You remembered,” she said, smiling back.

“Of course.  I always remember when a beautiful girl tells me her name,” he said.

Alea laughed.  “You know my name,” she said, “But I have yet to learn yours.”

“Anders of Colthurst,” said the man.  As an afterthought, he added, “Prince of Kiellot.”

Alea gasped.  “Your highness, I’m ever so sorry.  I had no idea…”  She quickly stood, and curtsied.

The prince laughed.  “Alea Fairweather, there is no need of that, among friends.  And you, because you saved my life, are most definitely a friend.”

Alea blushed.  “Well, I thank you most kindly, your highness, but I’m afraid a mountain girl’s bed is probably not quite what you’re used to.”

He laughed, lightly.  “That is true.  But it’s quite alright, Alea.  I don’t mind, so long as I’m living.”

Alea smiled, shyly.  “I thank you, your highness.”

Wind swished across the fields that surrounded her house, toying with her hair, and twisting her skirts around her legs.  She glanced at the house, and then turned and began to run.  She ran full tilt toward a tree that sat in the front yard, facing toward the south.  Toward the desert.  Alea skidded to a halt in front of the tree, and then walked slowly, purposefully toward a branch, from which hung a small wooden swing.  She sat down, arranging her skirts around her.  And then, she began to swing, allowing herself to go higher and higher.  Allowing herself to soar, like a bird, high above the ground.  Perhaps it would be the closest she would ever get to flying.  But Alea… she would take what she could get. 

She felt herself swoop gracefully toward the desert, only to be pulled back again, back toward the only home she had ever known.  And in that instant, she felt torn in two.  Her home, her only home, versus adventure.  But she could feel the call of the desert in her heart.  It was telling her she had to go.  It was telling her it was high time for her to leave her home.

So, there we go.  What did you think?  Are you guys linking up with Katie for Snippets of Story?  If you like to write, how are your writing endeavors going?  

The Dandy Lioness

Snippets of Story— March

Hello, all!

I'm linking up with Katie for her Snippets of Story link-up.  I've been lagging on writing recently-- though I have tons that I could be working on, I just... haven't.  I've been busy with school, and my sister coming home, and several other things, and somehow, I just haven't been writing as much.  But I'm doing Snippets anyways, with a few excerpts from my WIP's at the moment.  I think I may have writer's block.

{Via}

Farren stared out her bedroom window, looking out onto Old London.  The sound of carriages on cobblestones below, and the roar of airships overhead filled her room.  She flopped back on her bed, and gazed at the sketches and drawings that covered her bedroom wall.

Airships.  Hot air balloons.  Anything that flew, really.

It was her one big dream.  To one day look down upon her city, London, from the sky.  To fly high above the ocean.  To simply fly.

She sat up again, and stared upward toward the airships floating across the sky.

“Farren!  I’m heading out!”  Sebastian, her older brother, poked his head into her room.  “You want to come?”

Sebastian worked in the airship yards, fixing up the ships that came through London, and needed fixing up.  Oftentimes, he would take Farren along with him, as she adored the airships—and maybe partly to keep her out of trouble.

-Steampunk WIP, currently untitled

Their eyes were all drawn to Mel, the mysterious new girl, who was sitting next to Eiffel—the one person who always sat alone. 

“Who’s that?”

“Is she new?”

“I’ve never seen her before.”

“Why’s her hair pink?”

“She looks weird.”

“Wonder what her name is…”

“Have we just missed her all year?  Or is she new?”

“I’m not sure…”

The bell rang again, and Mr. Fuller walked to the front of the room.

“Hello, class,” he said, scanning it.  He spotted Mel.  “Ah!  Yes, we have a new student.”  He grabbed his attendance sheet, and scanned it, looking for the unfamiliar name.  “King, Melon,” he said.  “Umm… Melon, would you like to stand up and tell us a little about yourself?”

“My name is Melon.  I go by Mel.  I grew up in Seattle, and now I’m here.”  Mel sat down again.

Mr. Fuller opened his mouth, but quickly shut it again—judging from the look that Mel was giving him, that was the best choice.

-Building Eiffel

The coffee shop was crowded.  Important looking business people stood anxiously in line, checking their watches and tapping their feet.  Teenagers hung out in a corner, talking and laughing loudly over their drinks.  Harried looking young adults sat huddled over their laptops, coffee sitting abandoned on the tables next to them while their fingers flew.

Mel felt out of place in the environment, but it was clear that Eiffel didn’t.  “Hey, Eiffel!” said the young man working behind the counter.  “Fancy seeing you here,” he said, grinning.  “And with a girl?  Shocking.  I was beginning to think you didn’t know they exist.”

Eiffel rolled his eyes.  “Mel, this is Will.  Will is a… friend, I guess.”

“I see,” Mel said, surveying Will. “Well, hi.  I want a double-tall chocolate mocha.”

Will raised his eyebrows.  “Bossy,” he said.

“I am the customer, and you are the worker,” she said, her eyes flashing.

“Your girlfriend’s feisty, Eiffel,” Will said, looking her over.

“Oy.  My eyes, they’re up here,” Mel said, snapping her fingers.  “And I’m not his girlfriend.  We only met today.  I just moved here.”

Eiffel stifled a laugh.

Will didn’t look disappointed at all.  “Well,” he said, winking at her, “I guess that means maybe we could go out sometime…?”

“No.  And winking is for serial killers, and people who stick bombs under your car.  Now, give me coffee, and I won’t kick your butt.”

-Building Eiffel

So those are my Snippets.  Are any of you linking up?  And has anyone else been feeling a case of writer's block?  I'm just going to get back to writing.  My stories are missing me.

The Dandy Lioness

Snippets of Story: February

Hello all!  Today I am linking up with Katie for her Snippets of Story link up for February!  It's the first month of this, and I decided to join up.

{Via}

The excerpt I'm posting is from my NaNoWriMo, tentatively called Dr. Blank's Traveling Circus for Talented Misfits.  So, without further ado, here we go.

"Hmm," clucked Lily, obviously not impressed.  "Papa always says we'll be the death of them.  We pull pranks 'a little too often' he says."

Gemma sighed.  "And Mama finds us simply ridiculous, and is constantly telling us to 'quit fooling around!'  Mama clearly doesn't understand what it's like to grow up in the circus.  You spend so much time on trains.  Sure, the shows are fun.  And training.  But while we're moving, we have nothing good to do.  Mama said we're not allowed in the training trailer anymore, not while we're moving.  I mean, it was only a little break."

"What did you break?" asked Ria, raising one eyebrow at the twins.

"Well, technically it wasn't us who ended up with a broken bone.  It was Roy.  It was his fault, though.  He was spotting us."

Ria laughed.

"And it was only a little break," pointed out Gemma.

"And what did you break?"

"His nose..." Lily said.

Ria laughed aloud at that.  "Only a little break?  I see," she said.

"Lily, I've decided I like her.  She's like Hugo, only funnier, and not as serious."

"I think so too," Lily said, nodding, and scrutinizing Ria.

"She has better fashion sense than Hugo," said Gemma.

"And she can hear you," Ria said.

I don't think I will ever edit this year's NaNo, at least, not for a while.  It was an experiment that, in my opinion, didn't work out.  So, while I finished, I didn't really like the end product.  However, there were little pieces of it, like this one, that I ended up quite liking.  Maybe I'll end up revisiting this story, and reworking it. However, I doubt it.

What do you think of this little piece?

The Dandy Lioness