The thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break...

Writer's Block: Dream On

Wed, 13 May 2009 08:43:43 GMT

Do you ever have recurring dreams? If so, are they good dreams or nightmares?

I tend to have a lot of nightmares that feature zombies :/

Writer's Block: Wardrobe Malfunction

Wed, 06 May 2009 08:15:56 GMT

Broken zippers, split seams, straps that come untied at the most embarrassing moment possible—what's your most memorable experience with an unexpected wardrobe malfunction?

View 500 Answers

Not necessarily a malfunction but I once stabbed a coke bottle with a compass and it went all over my school uniform. I was sticky for the rest of the day. It was not pleasant.

Back to uni

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:03:16 GMT

Huzzah! Uni starts again after three long weeks for easter. Tis too long off I say. I haven't done a scrap of work since I've been off and all my deadlines are for the end of the month, plus exams! Bloody holidays. On the upside I worked every day for the easter hols so when I get my pay I'll be rich. I would be richer (since my student loan came in over the weekend) but I owed my parents 500 quids so now I am less rich but infinitely happy. So there.

Finally got all the arrangements sorted for my week in York this July. Will be going on holidays with my friends for the first time evers! Really looking forward to it though am a little worried since when I'm on holidays I take on the role of crazy organiser and no one likes that person
:( I shall keep a lid on it and just go with the flow. Should be good fun.

Am writing lots and lots which is awesome. I can't wait until second year when we get to do a whole module in creative writing! Score. Then in third year (assuming I make it that far) I will be taking on two modules in creative writing and hopefully go on to do my masters in creative writing. Watch out world, here come my awesome stories.

So anyway, I think I've run out of things to say.

Writer's Block: LiveJournal Book Club

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:26:49 GMT

Out of all of your favorite books, pick just one you'd recommend everyone read. As a bonus: why did you pick that one?

View 505 Answers

The Wee Free Man by Terry Pratchett because its so quietly beautiful and easy to read

Writer's Block: Heavenly Bodies

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:45:41 GMT

If you discovered a new planet, what would you name it?

Submitted By thethicket

View 505 Answers

Bob!

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:44:32 GMT

I happen to be in uni this morning with nothing to do so I thought I'd blog (since I haven't in like forever).

So far I've been in the library, reading books that don't pertain to my course and have made up a short story which I have emailed to myself so I can fix it when I get home. Normally I'd be freaked out if I had just spent half an hour in a dimly lit room on my own but it was full of books so I'm fine. Books have a very calming effect on me. Especially old musty books full of wisdom and such.

My degree is going good, I'm passing so I'm happy. I may have been the first in my year group to hand in our first essay of the semester so I'm feeling good about that. Either that or everyone else is lying about their own essays. Also, I'm applying for the position of peer mentor next year, a position that I will be paid for (I didn't know that when I applied but happily, do now) and basically requires me to hang out with first years in a cool sort of second yearish way. Wisdom will be bestowed upon the masses.

Interestingly, most of the books that we have been assigned to read feature a male protagonist who happens to be an academic having it off with pretty young students. My buddies and I wonder what kind of message the male teaching staff are trying to send us. Baffling.

I'm also planning a holiday this summer with some of my mateys who went to England to study. We'll meet up in York and hang out for a week then go our separate ways. So far it seems to be quite economically doable. My other job in the treatment room pays pretty damn well and so long as I'm sensible (which I generally am) I always have enough to last the month with a little left over for good measure.

Another benefit of uni is the weird and wonderful films I've had forced upon me in film studies. Palestinian cinema has been the best so far. I highly recommend Divine Intervention. The soundtrack alone is worth it. The downside of uni is the lack of personal reading I get to do. I book the Gargoyle, which is very good, but have only made it to the third chapter. In my defence the chapters are long. Also I still have to read the Historian, Nightwatch and a pile of comics. Such is life.

Right. I'm off.

Writer's Block: More Island Time

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:23:33 GMT

You're packing your bag for that other desert island—the one with no electricity—what 5 books do you take with you?

Submitted By mika_uriah

View 501 Answers

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
The Stormthief by Chris Wooding
Sabriel by Garth Nix

Writer's Block: AKA

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:58:47 GMT

What's the story behind your username?

View 503 Answers

Brisp is an old characters name from a story I wrote a long time ago when I was in school.

Christmas time, misteltoe and...um, stuff

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:23:36 GMT

Forgot how that stupid song goes!

Anyway, it seems I haven't posted anything in ages! Mostly because I don't have much freetime on my hands anymore. Queens is pretty demanding but I feel I'm coping. The main problem that I'm encountering is the huge increase in creativity that comes with hanging around literary types all day. I'm writing more than I've ever written and I like to think that uni is a positive influence on my talent. Especially the creative writing group that I joined. I only realised recently though that most everyone else is a Masters student! How intimidating. Well, it would be if I was insecure. But I ain't! ;) Not yet, anyway.

So aside from uni and writing I'm not up to much. I'm off to Aus (again) for christmas which sucks because I have so much bloody studying to do not to mention essays that need to be in pretty much as soon as I get back! Large amounts of hair are being pulled. I'm sure I'll manage it just isn't a very ideal situation. I'm also working in the local treatment room basically as an assistant to the lovely nurses. I mostly do all their paperwork and computer stuff but I'm really enjoying it.

On a sadder note we had to put our dog Tiny down on Friday. It was so sad but she was suffering so it was the right thing to do. Seeing her in pain was worse than having to put her to sleep. But we've already been out and bought two puppies! The guy who sold them to us said he would hold on to them until we get back from Aus so as soon as we land (pretty much) we'll head over and bring them home. Yay! Puppies are cute.

That's all the excitement in my life so far. Have a happy holiday and a groovy new year y'all.

Writer's Block: Costumes

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:24:03 GMT

We have to ask: What are you going to be for Halloween this year? And can we see a picture?

View 500 Answers

I'm not actually going to any Halloween parties but if I were I'd go as an evil angel; black feathery wings, black corset, black mini skirt and big ass black boots! Scary or what? ;)

Queens University

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:37:04 GMT

So my first two weeks of Queens is coming to an end. I thought you might like to hear about it :)

The welcome week, or freshers week, as its commonly known was a bit of a bust. I'm not into the party scene and getting hammered doesn't appeal to me (mostly because I just get sleepy and dizzy) so I was rather bored by it all. But getting to meet old friends from the access course I did was great and meeting my lecturers and tutors was a wonderful experience. I love sitting in a room and listening to people who really known what they're talking about. And not only are they incredibly intelligent people but they are also very cool and groovy. My film studies lecturer jokingly remarked about acid flashbacks and one of my English lecturers decided he wasn't very keen on his lecture and ad libbed most it. They are very cool, very interesting people and they have no idea how much respect I have for them.

I also went to the creative writing group on Wednesday which was a rather intimidating experience it has to be said but a very refreshing one. Listening to people discuss the merits and short comings of their work was very positive and enlightening and it is definitely a community that I intent to immerse myself in.

I still haven't received my student loan, a worrying fact considering all my Uni books cost roughly two hundred pounds, but I have been assured that it will arrive in the next two or three weeks. I will also be missing the last week of Uni due to our Christmas holidays in Australia and I will only have two weeks when we return to study for semester 1 assessments. Thus, I don't want to go to Aus but the tickets are paid for and everything is arranged so I'm stuck.

I have spent the past two days reading about poetry and language and film studies and I have yet more to read before Monday but I am loving it. Being immersed in an academic environment really suits me, for now, until the panic sets in and I start pulling all-nighters :)

Anyway, I should get back to my books so bye for now

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:34:24 GMT

Yay! Birthday, birthday!
Twas my birthday on Wednesday so it twas. Thanks KOR. I kind of forgot it was my birthday so I spent last week bounding around telling people it was my birthday. A lot more people remembered than I had expected and wanted to know why the heck I was reminding them! Tee Hee! Sometimes I am a very silly Cherith.

So, anyhoo, I ain't been up to much of anything cept working and complaining about working. Though it was a nice surprise to see Jo and Davey in my castle at the weekend... or whenever it was. I can't remember exactly. It was definitely recently and it was definitely nice to see them. Hey you guys, hope you liked the castle that tells lies about itself! ;)

Saw Hellboy 2 at the weekend and was well impressed. I'd hate to get trapped in Del Torro's head. Something horrible would probably chase me down and eat me whole. That wouldn't be nice.

I baked cookies tonight for Helen's leaving day tomorrow. Tis very sad since Alan's away now too and I'm leaving in a week as well so there isn't the staff to keep the castle running. It's going to have to be closed on certain days because there will be no staff at all! Sucks. Stupid civil service need their asses handed to them.

Uni starts on the 22nd and I can't wait! It's gonna be awesome. I'm gonna rock the socks off Queens and come out with a mega first because I'm going to work as hard as I can, give 110% and so on and so on. Seriously though, I am going to do the very best that I can because I do want a first. I also want to do my masters in creative writing and then do my PGCE so I can teach English and I suppose creative writing but that's really just for my own benefit.

I think that's all I have to say for now so I bid you all farewell.

Fanfic comp

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:42:25 GMT

I wrote a little somethin somethin for an LJ fanfic comp. I didn't win but I had loads of fun writing the piece. I would like to point out that I'm never this cruel, even to my own characters. I'm not sure what came over me when I was writing this but I'm still quite proud of it.

Enjoy!

My Little One

It was a stifling hot day in Southport as the three teenagers lolled around outside school with nothing better to do.

“We could catch a movie,” Seamus suggested.

“Again?” Ferris groaned.

“Well do you have any bright ideas?” Seamus enquired. He cocked his head to one side, waiting eagerly for a suggestion.

Ferris rolled his eyes and lay back on the steps. Demos was beside him, idly blowing smoke rings into the still air. They floated towards the blue sky, slowly coming apart and drifting away.

“Let’s go to the park,” Demos said, getting to his feet decisively. “We can get ice cream or something.”

“Throw rocks at the ducks,” Seamus suggested.

“That’s sick,” Ferris said. “Why would you do that?”

Seamus shrugged and grinned at him. “They’re pretty quick you know? Mostly they get out of the way in time.”

“Mostly,” Ferris repeated. He wondered if Seamus needed some hobbies to distract him from acts of animal cruelty.

They wandered slowly down the street, not in any real hurry. There weren’t many other people around so when a woman with bright red hair, accompanied by two men in suits, barged into Seamus the boy felt compelled to complain loudly.

“Oi! Watch it lady,” Seamus said.

The woman glanced back over her shoulder at him but did not apologise. Demos narrowed his eyes.

“Check your wallet,” he said softly.

“What?” Seamus felt in his jeans pocket. “Shit! She stole my wallet!”

“Give it back,” Demos demanded.

The woman had stopped when she heard the commotion behind her. She turned slowly and raised her eyebrows at the pale Italian. Her long red hair hung down over one side of her face. Ferris found it hard to believe that anyone’s natural hair colour was scarlet but she looked as though she had been born with it like that. He was also surprised to see that she was wearing a long fur coat despite the heat. Her heels clicked loudly on the sidewalk as she approached them, the two men coming along beside her. The one on the left wore an eye patch over his left eye and both of them were in dark suits. Ferris was starting to have a bad feeling about this confrontation.

“What did you say?” the red head asked. She had a soft Russian accent though Ferris thought he detected a hint of something else, perhaps middle eastern.

“Give it back,” Demos repeated. There was a dangerous look in his half lidded eyes. Ferris wondered what he was planning to do if she refused.

“This?” the red head enquired, pulling Seamus’ tattered wallet from her coat pocket.

Demos did not reply. He glared at her, refusing to take his eyes off of her own penetrating gaze. She smiled coldly at him.

“You have a good eye,” she said. Ferris noticed that the men on either side of her were tense, their hands straying towards their jackets. Demos must have noticed as well. He was watching them instead of the woman. That was probably how she found it so easy to step forward, take him by the chin and brush his hair to one side with her free hand. His scar was pale in the afternoon sunlight.

“The little Ghost,” she said meditatively. Demos yanked back from her, straightening his hair over his scar.

“And you must be Fish,” she said, turning her attention on Ferris. He stiffened when she used his nickname, wondering how on earth she could have known it. Even Seamus did not use it. “And you must be Seamus Ashton. How nice to meet you all. Here.”

She tossed the wallet to Seamus who caught it with one hand.

“I wonder if you would tell Ashes that Monique says hello?” she asked Demos. She did not wait for an answer but turned abruptly and left them. The man with the eye patch hesitated only a moment before he followed after her and the other.

The three boys watched them go in silence. Seamus opened his wallet and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his two dollars were still there.

------

It was almost a week later before Ferris had a chance to ask Demos about the red head. He had been absent from school until that Friday when he turned up unexpectedly for lunch. Ferris and Seamus were both surprised and then relieved to see the young Italian come in.

“Where have you been?” Ferris asked immediately. “You haven’t been answering your cell. I was beginning to think…”

He let the sentence hang unfinished in the space between them. Demos seemed particularly unwilling to talk and after a minute of awkwardness Seamus began talking about some girl in his history class to relieve the tension. Demos ate his lunch in silence, occasionally staring off into space. When they were preparing to leave he finally spoke up.

“That woman, from the other week,” Demos started.

“Who stole my fucking wallet,” Seamus added.

“I told Uncle Viktor about her.”

Ferris waited for his friend to continue. Clearly he was choosing his words carefully.

“She’s an international hit woman,” Demos said quickly.

“Holy shit!” Seamus exclaimed.

“Are you sure?” Ferris asked.

“Uncle Viktor told me. He seemed almost… afraid. I’ve never seen him like that before.” Demos looked out the window rather than meet his friends eyes.

Ferris could tell that Demos was shaken too. And the reason he had been absent from school was obvious. Viktor couldn’t take the risk that Monique was in town to kill his nephew. Or indeed himself or Gino. Things must have been pretty grim at the complex.

“But how does she know Viktor?” Ferris asked.

“He wouldn’t say. He’s been trying to contact her all week and he finally found out yesterday that she isn’t after any of the family,” Demos said.

“So that’s why you were off,” Seamus said, finally catching on.

“But how can you be sure?” Ferris asked.

“Uncle Viktor seems to trust her.” Demos shrugged. “Anyway, things have settled down now. So do you want to do something tonight? I’m going fucking stir crazy in that place.”

Ferris smiled. Being forced to stay indoors with his own family was not exactly his idea of fun either. Seamus immediately suggested the movies and since Demos seemed to want to go Ferris agreed too. He wasn’t even sure if there was anything worth seeing.

------

The movie had been an expected disappointment. Ferris had not been in the mood for a zombie horror flick and when he glanced at Demos as they were coming out, it seemed he had not enjoyed it either. Seamus on the other hand was rattling on about it, particularly the nude scenes.

Demos lit a cigarette as they walked and Seamus rolled his own. It was still warm despite the hour. The boys met no one as they made their way to the subway. Demos was glad to finally have some freedom and the idea of calling Nicky to pick them up did not appeal. He led the way down a narrow alley; a short cut to the station.

Seamus was still talking loudly about the movie when Demos suddenly stopped short.

“What’s the matter?” Ferris asked, glancing up. He had been looking at his feet while he walked, hoping that Seamus would shut up without prompting.

“That car,” Demos said. A black car had pulled up at the end of the alley. Its windows were tinted and the headlights were pointed towards them, making it difficult to see.

“Let’s go the other way,” Seamus suggested, sensing his friend’s tension. He did not know exactly what was happening but he had his suspicions. As he turned a second car appeared at the other end of the alley.

The sound of car doors closing made Ferris’ blood run cold. The headlights were interrupted as men began to walk towards them from both ends of the alley.

“We could use the fire escape,” Seamus said.

“And go where?” Demos demanded.

Seamus looked about to say something but fell quiet. Something in Demos’ tone told him to let it go.

“Are these the kids?” one of the men asked. They were difficult to make out due to the headlights but the Irish accent could not be missed.

“They’re the ones,” another man replied.

“They’re a little scrawny,” the first man remarked.

The teenagers were surrounded by now. Judging by the set of the men Ferris figured that there was little chance they could fight their way out. He wondered vaguely if Demos had his gun but even if he did it would do little good, outnumbered as they were.

“So Ghostie, are we going to do this the easy way or the hard way?” the first man asked.

“Nice cliché,” Seamus muttered.

“What did you say?” the Irish man demanded.

“You heard me,” Seamus said.

“Seamus, shut the fuck up,” Demos hissed.

“Should have picked the easy way,” the Irish man said. “Just don’t kill them.”

Ferris missed most of the fight. A sharp blow to the back of the head sent him reeling into unconsciousness. The last thing he saw before he blacked out was Seamus pinned against the wall while three men beat him.

-----

Monique adjusted the magnification of her scope and changed the position of the butt of her sniper rifle against her shoulder. She watched the front entrance of the hotel, waiting for her target to come out. The doorman, thinking that no one was watching, was leafing through the latest issue of Playboy.

She barely flinched when her Bluetooth buzzed in her ear.

“Now is not a good time,” she said, not caring who was on the other line.

“My nephew and his friends have been kidnapped.” A familiar voice spoke in her ear.

“Ashes. Who and where?” she asked.

“I called Demos on his cell to check up on him and that Irish fuck, Brian O’Brien answered. Fuck! I have no fucking idea where they are,” Viktor yelled.

The hotel door opened and an elderly couple came out, arm in arm. Monique took her finger off the trigger as the doorman quickly tried to hide his reading material and hail a cab at the same time.

“I’ll find them,” Monique said.

“How much?” Viktor demanded.

“I’ll do it for nothing,” Monique said easily.

There was a pause before Viktor spoke again.

“Kill O’Brien if they’re alive. If not… I want to deal with him myself.”

“I understand Ashes. I’ll call you when I find them,” Monique said.

She disconnected the call. A white haired man with two young women on either arm had just staggered out of the hotel. Monique sighted down the scope, picking the spot just between his eyes. She pulled the trigger and did not wait to make sure she had hit her mark. She dismantled the rifle with ease, placing the parts in the case behind her. A moment later she was on the streets.

A car pulled up and the rear passenger door opened. Monique stepped inside, sitting next to the man with the eye patch over his left eye. His name was Arthur and he was not only one of Monique’s most trusted friends but he was also her bodyguard, lawyer and adviser.

“It’s done,” she said. She pulled a cigarette from her pocket and Arthur lent her a light.

The driver turned around in his seat to look at her. He had been with her the day she stole Seamus’ wallet. His curly blond hair looked as though it had not been washed for a few days and he wore a lop-sided grin. His name was Dimitri. He too acted as a bodyguard to Monique, a friend and her intelligence officer, so to speak.

“So where to?” he asked.

“We have another assignment,” Monique said.

“What is it?” Arthur asked. He had a smooth English accent.

“Demos and his friends have been kidnapped by O’Brien,” she said. “We’re going to find them.”

“That won’t make you even,” Arthur remarked.

“It might help,” Monique replied. “Either way, they’re only teenagers. We must do what we can.”

“All right, I know some people,” Dimitri said.

He pulled away from the sidewalk as sirens pierced the night air.

-----

When Ferris woke he did not know where he was. For a moment he thought he was safe in his own bed but the cold concrete on his face told him otherwise. He blinked under the glare of the fluorescent lights and raised his head to look around.

“Oi, Brian, the kike’s awake,” someone said.

A boot appeared in front of Ferris eyes and someone dragged him roughly to his feet. He was feeling a bad headache coming on as he looked around the cramped room. Brian O’Brien was leering at him, seemingly very pleased with himself. Behind the Irish man he could see Demos sprawled on the ground, chained to a pipe on the wall. Ferris looked away when he realised that the young Italian was naked. Seamus was lying on the ground to his left. One of O’Brien’s men had his boot on the English boy’s head to keep him down. It looked as though they had been using him as an ashtray; there were little round burn marks on his neck and back. Ferris felt his heart hammer wildly in his chest. He was naked in a room full of angry Irishmen who wanted blood. His head pounded so hard he thought he would pass out again.

“You took your time,” O’Brien said. “We’ve been having some fun with your friends. Now it’s your turn.”

There was an old wood burning boiler on the wall to Ferris’ right. O’Brien went to a small hatch in the side of it and pulled out a large bowie knife that had been resting in the flames. It was red hot.

“What do you think Ghostie?” O’Brien asked, dragging Ferris up in front of Demos. “Should I take his eyes? Or his dick?”

O’Brien waved the knife in front of Ferris’ eyes and then lowered it so that Ferris could feel the heat coming off it. He tried to pull away but one of O’Brien’s men was holding him. Demos glared silently at O’Brien. There were dark bruises on his face and body and a few long but shallow cuts marked his pale chest.

O’Brien’s sneer soured. He grabbed Demos by the throat and hoisted him to his feet.

“Answer me,” he snarled.

He rammed Demos back against the hot pipe, taking some pleasure from the grimace of pain on the boy’s face. Ferris heard Seamus swear behind him.

After a moment O’Brien let go, allowing Demos to slump back to the ground.

“Choose or it’ll be both,” O’Brien said.

Demos lowered his head and murmured something.

“What was that?” O’Brien demanded.

“His dick,” Demos said clearly enough for everyone in the room to hear.

“With friends like you, who needs enemies,” O’Brien remarked. “Get me a table and an elastic band.”

O’Brien trust the knife back into the boiler while he waited. Ferris was still facing Demos, though he was staring off into space. He wondered if he was going to die in that little room. No one knew where they were, maybe they would never find their bodies. Ferris could not believe that he would never see his parents again. An image of Emily came into his head and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to banish the memory.

Something thudded behind him. Ferris tilted his head back to see a rickety wooden table in the middle of the room.

“I’m sorry.”

Ferris glanced at Demos. The first friend he had ever had would not meet his eyes. This was not how Ferris had imagined he would die.

“Get him on the table,” O’Brien ordered.

Ferris struggled vainly as O’Brien’s men wrestled him onto the table. Three of them held him down and a forth tied the elastic band tightly around the base of his penis.

“Can’t have you bleeding to death now can we? That would be too easy,” O’Brien said. He leant over Ferris, waving the red hot knife in front of his face. “I’m going to enjoy this.”

Before O’Brien could move though Seamus broke free from the men who were holding him down. His arms were still tied tightly behind his back but he charged at O’Brien regardless.

“Stay the fuck away from him!” Seamus yelled.

O’Brien raised the knife, prepared to face him, but one of his men stepped in front of him to bar Seamus’ way. He raised his pistol and shot Seamus neatly through the left shoulder, just above the collar bone. Seamus screamed and crumpled to the floor while blood poured down his chest.

“Fuck,” O’Brien said. “Get him cleaned up. I don’t want him dead yet.”

Two of O’Brien’s men rushed upstairs and returned a moment later with a first aid kit. They began working on Seamus’ wound without much care for his comfort. Seamus had turned very pale and looked to be on the verge of going into shock.

“If he dies, it’ll be you takes his place,” O’Brien threatened the man who had shot the teenager. “Ah, my bloody knife’s cooled as well.”

He thrust it back into the boiler and folded his arms, looking thoroughly fed up. Ferris lay silent on the table, staring at the ceiling. His terror was slowly consuming him as he waited a small eternity for the knife to heat up again. Bile surged up his throat but he swallowed it down. He refused to throw up. He did not want to give O’Brien or his men the satisfaction.

“Oi, Brian! The kike’s shaking like a fucking leaf!” one of the men holding Ferris down laughed.

“Well for him,” O’Brien remarked.

Without warning he slapped the flat of the knife hard against Ferris side, just above his hip. The pain boiled through his mind, momentarily blinding him. When his vision cleared he realised he was screaming. He could hear several men laughing at him, including O’Brien. Tears stung at his eyes but he blinked them away.

“Irish fuck,” a severely weakened Seamus murmured. He grunted in pain when one of O’Brien’s men kicked him hard in the side.

“It’ll be your turn soon enough,” O’Brien assured him. He returned the knife to the boiler and went to Demos’ side. The teenager did not look at him as he knelt down next to him.

“Not so smug now Ghostie. How does it feel, watching your family suffer? My brother-in-law was a good man. He didn’t deserve what your fucking uncle did to him.”

Demos said nothing. He did not even raise his head. O’Brien reached out and slapped him, lightly at first, then harder, until Demos finally glowered at him. The Irish man smirked. Tears streamed down the boy’s cheek.

“I thought as much,” O’Brien said. He returned to the boiler but a sound from upstairs made him freeze. His men watched him, waiting for orders.

“Paddy, go check it out,” O’Brien ordered.

The man went to the door but before his hand even reached the handle someone on the other side kicked it in, sending the door slamming into the Irish man’s face.

Dimitri stormed in, shooting the man on the ground before dropping two more of O’Brien’s men. Behind him Arthur took out the men who were holding Ferris down. The one remaining man staggered backwards and tried to aim his revolver at both men simultaneously.

“I never touched them,” he gasped. Suddenly he opened fire, shooting wildly in all directions. Dimitri and Arthur dived for cover, barely avoiding getting shot. Behind them Monique appeared on the stairs. The remaining Irish man, surprised by her sudden appearance, turned his gun on her. She sidestepped the bullet, raised her black pistol and shot him between the eyes. Then she turned her gun on O’Brien.

He was holding the knife to Ferris’ throat, his eyes wild with fear. Monique changed her target from his head to his hand and easily shot the knife out of his grip. O’Brien cried out, clutching his hand to his chest.

“Check them,” Monique ordered without taking her eyes off O’Brien.

Dimitri went to Ferris, untied the teenager’s hands and gently helped him into a sitting position. Ferris immediately removed the elastic band despite the searing pain in his side whenever he moved. He watched as Arthur knelt beside Seamus, checking his wound. Seamus winced and managed to bite back a cry of pain.

“Will he be all right?” Ferris asked.

Arthur nodded.

“They’re all alive,” Dimitri said. He was in the process of cutting Demos loose from the pipe.

“Then this is your lucky day. Make your peace with your God,” Monique said.

“No!” Demos cried the same instant that Monique pulled the trigger. The shot sounded louder than any other. Brian O’Brien slumped over sideways.

Demos staggered to his feet and stood before Monique, his fists balled so tight his knuckles gleamed through his pale skin. Ferris could see the long burn mark running down his friend’s back though it was not as severe as his own.

“Get some blankets from the car,” Monique said. “These boys must be freezing.”

Arthur left Seamus’ side. He glanced back at Dimitri, a look that told the Russian to keep an eye on Monique while he was gone.

Monique lit a cigarette and took a long drag. She offered Demos one but he slapped the packet out of her hand.

“I should have been the one to kill him,” Demos said. His voice was low and dangerous. “They’re my family. I should have been the one.”

Monique did not reply. She simply blew smoke into the air. Ferris thought she was looking at Demos with something very close to compassion in her eyes.

“Give me your gun.” Demos held out his hand.

Monique did not hesitate. She handed it over willingly.

“Monique,” Dimitri said, pulling his own gun from its holster.

But he need not have worried. Demos turned the gun on O’Brien and emptied the magazine into the dead Irish man. He continued to pull the trigger until Monique laid a hand on the gun. Demos let her take it from him. He was breathing heavily, his shoulders rising and falling with every angry breath.

“Demos,” Ferris said. “It wasn’t your fault.”

His friend seemed not to hear as Arthur returned with blankets for the boys. Monique took a thick grey one and wrapped it tenderly around Demos shoulders. Then she took him by the chin and raised his head until he could not help but meet her eyes.

“Revenge begets revenge. Remember that my little one,” she said softly.

Ferris thought that she was probably the only person in the world who could get away with calling him that. And certainly it seemed to have had a calming effect on Demos. His breathing slowed and he finally unclenched his fists.

“Your uncle is on the way,” Monique said, taking on her business tone. “Arthur, how is your patient?”

“Some broken ribs but the gun shot is the worst,” Arthur replied.

“Can you move him?” Monique asked.

Arthur nodded.

“Take him to the alley round back and call an ambulance. Then get back here as soon as you can,” she said.

Arthur slipped Seamus’ arm around his neck and hoisted the teenager to his feet. Seamus grimaced but did not complain.

“What are you doing?” Demos asked.

“You don’t think this looks a little suspicious?” Monique enquired.

“I’ll be fine,” Seamus said. “Anyone asks, I was mugged and shot by some black kids.” He winked at Demos before Arthur led him up the stairs and out of sight.

“Are you sure it’s safe to just leave him in the street?” Ferris asked.

“I’m sure,” Monique said. “Let me take a look at your burn.”

She managed to examine him without causing him any discomfort. Ferris suddenly became very self conscious of the fact that he was naked. He laid his blanket across his lap and tried not to blush when Monique laid a cool hand on his side above his burn.

“You’re embarrassing the kid,” Dimitri said playfully. He had lit a cigarette himself and Demos had finally accepted one as well.

“The wound appears to be clean,” Monique said, ignoring him. “You should get it checked out in a few days, just to be safe.”

She smiled kindly at him before she went to Demos. Ferris felt his blush deepen. Seeing her up close he realised that Monique was a very beautiful woman. Then his gaze fell on the dead Irish men that littered the floor and his blood cooled. He suspected that he would have some fresh new nightmares to look forward to.

Monique had finished checking Demos for broken bones when Arthur returned with Viktor on his heels. Nicky and Sal were with him along with Pietro. Viktor took in the scene with a single glance.

“Demos,” he said. “Thank God.”

He pulled the young Italian into a rough hug before holding him out at arms length to look at him.

“He’s fine Ashes,” Monique assured him.

“Thank god,” Viktor repeated. “And Fish, you’re all right?”

Ferris nodded slowly.

“That burn will need attention,” Monique informed him. “Make sure he sees a doctor in the next few days or it might get infected.”

“What about the other one?” Viktor asked, meaning Seamus.

“It’s been taken care of,” Monique said.

Viktor hesitated then nodded. “Take the boys to the cars. I need to speak with Monique.”

Ferris and Demos followed Sal upstairs with Nicky and Pietro acting as rear-guards. Viktor waited until he was sure they were out of ear shot. He lit a cigarette before he spoke.

“Who was your hit?” he asked. He met Monique’s eyes with a look that suggested it would be well for her if she told the truth.

“Blakely,” Monique replied.

Both Arthur and Dimitri moved a little closer to her, their hands blatantly on their guns. If Viktor was going to lose it then they would be ready for him. And it certainly looked as if he was going to. Viktor glared at Monique, flicking his half smoked cigarette aside.

“The chief of police?” he demanded.

Monique nodded.

“What the fuck Monique!” he demanded. “How could you do this to me? To my father?”

“You managed before,” Monique replied. “You were smart once Ashes, you can be smart again. Maybe you’ll get something on the new chief. Maybe you already have something. Either way, you’ll survive this.”

“Who put the hit out?” Viktor snapped, obviously not impressed with her attitude.

Monique sighed.

“Don’t,” Dimitri cautioned.

“Stay the fuck out of this!” Viktor snarled.

Dimitri took a step forward but Monique held out a hand to stop him. She glanced sideways at him, her eyes stern. He shrugged and smiled at her.

“The Yakuza,” Monique said.

Viktor mulled over this information in silence.

“Saving my nephew does not make us even,” he said eventually.

“Saving your life does,” Monique replied.

“This is the last time you hold that over me,” Viktor said. “And if I ever see you on our turf again, consider yourself fair game to any Giorgetti with a gun.”

“Agreed,” Monique said. She smiled suddenly. “It’s good to see you again Ashes.”

“You too Scarlet,” he replied in a tone that suggested he meant it. Viktor lit another cigarette and glanced around the room. He shrugged and left them without another word.

“So. Where to?” Dimitri asked after a long moment of silence.

“We have a flight to catch,” Monique said.

“At least we have some good memories,” Dimitri remarked.

“If that’s what you could call it,” Arthur sighed.

“We saved three teenagers,” Monique said. “I would call that a good memory.”

-----

A few days later Demos and Ferris were visiting Seamus. Their friend had made a surprisingly swift recovery and they were sitting on the bed, playing poker.

“Can we switch to something else?” Ferris grumbled, looking at his hand. “I can’t afford to lose any more money.”

“That means you have a lousy hand,” Seamus declared. “I’m all in.”

Ferris rolled his eyes. “I fold.”

Demos glanced at his cards and then at Seamus’ cocky smile.

“I fold.”

“Aw, come on! Grow some balls!” Seamus complained.

“I would but then I’d have two too many,” Demos snapped. “This is lame anyway.”

Seamus cocked his head to one side, watching Demos as if it was the first time he had really looked at him.

“Hey, why didn’t you choose his eyes?” he asked.

Demos had been shuffling the cards absent-mindedly. Several of them flicked out of his hands as he stared rigidly at Seamus. Ferris glanced between the two of them, wondering if Demos would actually answer such a question. And more importantly, did he really want to know the answer?

“I thought being blind would be worse,” Demos said slowly.

Seamus nodded.

“So what did you want to play next?” he asked.

“Something where we don’t lose money to you,” Ferris sighed.

“Aw, how about de likkle babies play snap?” Seamus said in a stupid voice.

“Oh that’s it,” Demos said. “I’m winning my money back.”

“Bring it on little man.” Seamus laughed.

“Did you just call me ‘little’?” Demos narrowed his eyes.

“Damn right I did!”

“Deal the fucking cards.”

Ferris watched his two friends bicker with a smile on his face. Things would probably never be the same for him again. Aside from anything else he had a wicked scar on his side that would stay with him for the rest of his life. His nightmares were worse than they had ever been and he found that he became very anxious in cramped rooms. But so long as he had Demos and Seamus, he felt he could make it through anything.

Writer's Block: Six-Word Story

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:20:55 GMT

Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only six words. His response? “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” He is believed to have called it his greatest literary work ever. Can you write a story in six words?

Submitted By femspectre

View 506 Answers

No one visits the grave anymore.

I'm not sure if that really counts but it came to me so there.

In general

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:09:08 GMT

It seems that my previous posts have been a little eratic, having read over the last five or six. I seem to have failed to mention, for instance, that I got 71% over all in my course and that Queens have sent me a letter of confirmation that they will take me on in September. I gave my boss my notice yesterday.

I spent my weekend in another hotel room for another cousin's wedding. Wedding's depress me. Mostly because people keep asking me when I'm getting married which I feel is a somewhat insensitive question. It is also troubles me as to whether or not I actually want my family to come to my (hypothetical) wedding or not. I don't want to get married in a church and this may not sit well with elderly relatives. There are other issues involved but we'll not go into those. Certainly not over the internet.

My brother has been recently laid off due to the slump in the property market. As no one is capable of buying houses anymore no one is building them either therefore my brother's boss had no further need of him. On the plus side he seems to be enjoying his free time to the extreme and has made me a desk today. He's also making me bookends. Not a bad deal for me at all. :)

Me, I'm spending a lot of time writing which is good. I'm trying to get myself in shape for this years NaNoWriMo. It's a very cool challenge for writers and one which I am looking forward to. I'm pretty much fed up with my job and am looking forward to leaving except for the little cat who has taken up residence in the castle. She spends her days following me around and trying to wriggle into my lap where she purrs constantly until I have to get up and pretend to do work. I would take her in, in a heartbeat only my parents don't like cats and also we live right next to a pretty busy road and so far as cats go she isn't very bright. Although she did kill and eat a seagull yesterday. I think I'll take her to a cat sanctuary before I leave the castle. Unless I can find someone else to take her in but it seems unlikely.

Anyway, there's no practise on Friday (which means I have missed almost two months worth of practise, due to weddings, holidays and other miscellaneous reasons) so I'm staying over at Jenny's on Friday instead so I can hang with my fellow sword fighters. That should be fun.

Bye for now.

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:33:20 GMT

So I guess I'm feeling a little threadbare at the minute. That's kind of the best word I can come up with at the minute anyway.

Aside from that life is peachy. Work sucks as usual but its only for a few more weeks before I go to Uni! Woo hoo! Unfortunately I have to miss out on the chapter masters meeting but my degree takes priority over everything else. Except possibly writing.

There's a party tomorrow night which should be rockin and I'll be staying the night while will also rock. My family and I are going to see the bonfires tonight which will be fun because we'll just drive past and not stop or anything. Our dog is getting old and possibly stupider. We suspect she may kick the old bucket sometime soon though we have been wrong about that in the past.

I'm reading Stephen King's Cujo and wishing to hell that he would just get on with!

Bye. :)

Stuff and nonsense

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:02:05 GMT

So I'm currently living at Jenny's due to undue aggro at home. Things aren't so bad but I just need some space and time. Living away from home is actually pretty sweet. I get to do what I want when I want and I'm accountable to one. Of course, I can't stay at Jenny's forever but this is only temporary.

Aside from that the gig at Lietrim was awesome! I had to go to bed early cause my stomach was killing me but aside from that it rocked. George is a very cool bloke. The weather wasn't too terrible at all, everyone had heaps of fun and more importantly, I got an ipod! Hells yeah :)

Anyway, I have had little to no sleep this past week so this is a short post as well you may have noticed.

The difference between a rut and a grave is the depth

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:07:25 GMT

So anyway, things seem to be settling down a little on the homefront. Mum and I had a 'talk' where she talked and I resisted the urge to yell at her. She thinks something awful must have happened in my life to change who I am but really she can't see that this is how I have always been. I was never happy playing the innocent little christian and I probably never really believed in the whole thing anyway. I mean, I expect there is some kind of deity out there and living by the christian ethos is an okay way to live your life but on the whole, going to church and 'saving souls' is a little on the pointless side. After all, everyone is entitled to live their lives however they like and standing with a microphone on the street shouting verses at people doesn't make a hell of a lot of difference. It just makes people angry. So I think my new found moto shall be 'life's too short for this shit'.

Getting back to sword fighting seems to be very theraputic for my soul. I like swinging wooden swords. It makes me feel complete, like I should never be without a sword. Perhaps I was born in the wrong era. Having said that if I had been born in medieval times I may not have survived due to all the raping and pillaging and child birthing and whatnot. So perhaps best that I was born now. ;)

Aside from that I am currently wallowing in a writing rut. It sucks. But these things happen and I will eventually recover. Hopefully.

Travelling is not fun

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:23:06 GMT

Certainly not with my family and my crazy granny in tow anyway. My brother and I, on the other hand, have the amazing ability to remain totally chilled out for the duration of any and all journeys. Ah well, at least we're only going to Sheffield for my cousin's wedding. Dern cousins, getting married before me. I feel like I've been left on the shelf :( Well, kind of, not exactly, I don't mind being single but when other people are settling down it makes want to as well even though that's not really what I want... god, I'm complicated...

Anyway, I'm replaying Saints Row in anticipation of the sequel. Also I can't decide if I should paint my nails orange and blue or lime green and blue for the wedding? Decisions, decisions...

Aside from that I'm grand! ^_^

Writer's Block: The Only True Question:

Sat, 31 May 2008 07:48:39 GMT

If you could go back and fix your most regrettable decision, what would it be, and what would you do differently?

Or:

Pirates or Ninjas?

View 501 Answers

Pirates all the way! Ninjas are lamers who hide in the shadows with no honour! Give me Jack Sparrow or death :)

Gnomic utterances for your convenience

Wed, 28 May 2008 16:39:35 GMT

Once again, not sure what the subject is about but it sounded good in my head.

I have finished all of my exams! Huzzah for me. I'm feeling really good about all of them, particularly 19th Century Women Writers, which I thought would have been the worst since I felt I didn't know very much on the subject. Turns out I knew enough for the exam. I will never take another class on feminist lit for as long as I live though!

Last night I went to see Treasure Island at the Grand Opera House. It was freakin' awesome not least because the lead actor who played Jim Hawkins bore a remarkable resemblance to Elijah Wood. Cast the ring into the fire Jim! I'm going over to Jenny's tonight to introduce her to the Princess Bride, a marvellous movie and then tomorrow I'm off to Hillsborough for an evening function and then on Friday I will have to forego sword fighting in favour of my family. Dammit. If it weren't for the fact that my aunt has a mystery illness I would have gone sword fighting instead. But needs must. And besides, sword fighting is not the be all and end all of my life.

Anyway, that's all for now.

Me, myself and you!

Tue, 20 May 2008 19:17:15 GMT

Don't know what the subject headings about, I just thought it sounded good. You know you're addicted to LJ when... you dedicate time to deciding what your subject heading will be :)

So I did my first exam yesterday. I think it went okay except for the fact that I was inexplicably knackered. And the room we were in was really warm so I kept daydreaming. Of course, I usually day dream during exams. Not one of the recommended techniques I can assure you.

I was working today and being the only little tour guide (due to staffing shortages) I was on the go with tours pretty much from 10 in the morning until 2. The kids were all great though so it made it rewarding. I am totally exhausted now though. And dang it, I have another exam tomorrow. Working during exam week was not one of my better ideas. Ah well, I need the monies and besides, I test well.

So what else? Well let's see, Jenny and I may or may not be babysitting on Saturday night. How wicked awesome is that? The good thing is the kids will be sleeping so they require the bare minimum of adult supervision which means Jenny and I can watch movies galore. She wants to watch Kingdom of Heaven, a movie that I have never actually managed to watch from beginning to end. Then on Sunday (assuming we are babysitting on Saturday) Sharon, Jenny and I will be going to see Indinana Jones! How awesome! I hope Harrison Ford doesn't bust a hip or something... hilarious though that would be. Then on Tuesday Sharon, Andrea and I are going to see a stage performance of Treasure Island. OMG! Pirates! Squeeee! I freakin' love pirates!

Aside from that I am still on a geek high from Iron man the movie. I intend to spend copious amounts of money on Marvel comics when I get my next paycheck. Yes, oh yes! I also realised just how geeky I am yesterday when I was discussing the avengers on the train with Sharon yesterday and also explaining why S.H.I.E.L.D. are the eevil! I need a boyfriend or something similarly distracting... sighs.

Writers block sucks. I haven't written anything worthwhile in quite sometime although I am realiably informed that this can mean a change in style is creeping up on me. Huzzah. I also bought a ridiculously huge volume of H.P. Lovecraft's weirdest short stories and poems and such. What an odd man he was. Or possibly is. I don't know if he's still alive or not. Ah well.

Right. I'm off for a long hot soak and an early night.

Studying sucks

Tue, 13 May 2008 10:36:01 GMT

Yes, oh yes, it does. I have this week off so I can study but I don't feel like it's doing any good. I already know most of the stuff because unlike some people I have actually been paying attention in class rather than guzzling coffee and talking when the tutors talking. What's up with people? And then they start freakin' out and crying to me about how they're going to fail! God, I hate students..... ;)

And of course my parents on my back about studying. I'm not fifteen anymore! And I'm not in secondary school either! This is a big deal to me. I want to go to uni so of course I'm going to put the effort in. I spent all day yesterday studying King Lear until like four o'clock pretty much without a break and my dad comes home and wants to know why I'm not studying! God! Give me some freakin credit.

Anyway, enough of this negativity. I have the Great Gatsby to re-read and that should be fun. I quite enjoy it and I'm fairly familiar with the text so today shall be a light day of study. Then tomorrow I get to plough through twelve European short stories and make copious amounts of notes! Yay for me :(

I suspect that I might not do well in my 19th century women writers exam no matter how much I study. I don't enjoy it, or the course material, especially Jane Eyre but so long as I get at least 65% I'm golden. And out tutor basically just hurled huge amounts of photocopies at us and expected us to understand what she was on about. I am so sick of feminists as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the equality of women but women who just hate men for the sake of it is just stupid. Not to mention prejudice. The women are my class are very grating.

Right, I've bitched and moaned enough I think. Now I have that out of my system I think I can finally focus on my studying! :) This is why I LJ.

See yas!

Tours are good for the soul

Thu, 08 May 2008 19:33:15 GMT

I took two tours today all by my lonesome and it was super awesome! The kids were little stars and I had heaps of fun. I think I'm actually even more confident than I used to be (if that's even possible) and a hell of a lot more energetic. Sharon informs me that I'm girlier too! Wut! I ain't girly. Except when I'm being a mega ditz or giggling like an idiot or saying stoopid stuff or generally being me. Hah!

Anyway, I appear to be a bit buzzy this evening so I might chill and watch a movie or something. I have no idea where my family have gone. Tis very strange, they left some time ago without saying where they were going. Not that I'm complaining.

I have to start studying. Now! I'm going to be like a deranged squirrel hording information instead of nuts if I'm not careful. Though I tend to do better under exam conditions than most people. Probably because I'm so freakin awesome! Oh yeah! And I baked cookies for class yesterday and everyone thought they were yummy. AND there was a girl on my tour today who has the same name as me! How cool. We were all like 'yeah, Cherith's are the bestest' and stuff!

O-okay, it looks like I might have to give myself a tranquilizer.

See you sword fighters tomorrow with Jenny.

Love!

It burns!!

Tue, 06 May 2008 14:16:16 GMT

Holy crap on a stick!

Have I got sunburn or what?

Well, the answer is sunburn baby. Yep, I have actually managed to give myself a first degree burn on my face. The sad thing is its only on my right cheek and nose so I'm not even going to have an even tan! :( Blisters are threatening but my mum got lots of lovely medicine this morning for me so I've been able to avoid the worst of the pain.

Still it was worth it to hang out in Holywood yesterday with ma mate Jenny. We hung around and talked and ate burgers and fed the overheating sword fighters ice cream! ;) It was great to relax and not think about classes and work. Jenny seemed to really enjoy just chatting in the sun too. We got to know each other much better since we had only ever known each other in a work environment before. I always forget that Jen's eight years older than me maybe because it doesn't feel like I'm 22 and it doesn't feel like she's thirty. We can talk to each other as equals since we both think on the same wavelengths although I think I'm getting ditzier! This could be disastrous! I'm ditzy enough as it is.

Anyway, I finished off my last piece of coursework today. It's still a few hundred words short but it's as long as it's gonna get. There are only so many things you can say about point of view in short stories before you start waffling and I am strongly against waffling! Tis for losers.

So unfortunately I'm trapped inside on a beautiful day. Ah well, I won't ever let myself get so badly burnt ever again. Certainly not by the sunshine anyways and not if I can help it. I shall skip around the internets for the rest of the day and daydream out the window.

Enjoy the weather while it lasts! :)