#marlettwrites excerpt

[n1ghtcrwler]

An excerpt from Glory Days that introduces the initial setting and some key characters.

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Taglist (ask to be added/updated/removed): @the-real-rg @anachronistic-vibrancy @skele-boobs @kowlazovdi @rkmoriyama @dancingwithwind @planets-and-prose @farrradays @alexiswrote @goose-books @marlettwrites @twilightlegends @ettawritesnstudies @mayvinwrites @writeblrsupport @thelaughingstag @athenswrites

[marlettwrites]

Character Aesthetics- Hathor

[Image Description: A moodboard in various shades of warm grays and browns. The images used are 1. Tightly packed white roses, 2. Cracked and dry earth, 3. A full bookshelf, 4. three hand-sculpted mugs, 5. A person carving details into an unfinished mug, 6. Hands covered in dirt carefully planting a sprout in the ground, 7. mud-caked feet, 8. A single warm brown eye, 9. A girl with dark brown skin looking away from the camera. She has a few small pieces of gold jewelry and a white shoulderless dress. Her hair is long and black with tight curls, pulled back into a ponytail. This last image is the largest one. End Image Description.]

5 Song Playlist:

Home by Phillip Phillips

Stand by You by Rachel Platten

Never Been in Love by Will Jay

Love Myself by Hailee Steinfeld

Sit Still, Look Pretty by Daya

Quote:

“I should really go, Hathor reminded herself again.

But that look on his face brought back too many memories of her brother from when they were little. Sighing, Hathor approached him and hoped she wasn’t making a terrible mistake.

‘Are you okay?’

The boy jumped and hid half behind his donkey, looking up at her fearfully. He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. A very forced smile appeared on his face. He nodded.

‘You’re sure?’ she asked skeptically, ‘Because you look like you’re about to jump out of your skin.’

His nervous expression changed to one of confusion.

‘You know? Like, you look afraid of something?’

He shrugged and stared at the ground. Hathor noted he wore no shoes. After a couple of awkward minutes of silence, the boy gestured at the vast stream of people. He clamped his hands over his ears and made a pained face.

Ah. So he was mute.

‘The market is too loud?’ Hathor guessed. 

She allowed herself to relax a little, but kept a hand on her coin pouch. The boy didn’t seem dangerous, but that meant very little in Thebes.”

Thank you for reading :). Taglist is under the cut.

Taglist:

@kai-writesstuff @runningonrain @imaghostwriter @writingnosefreak @planets-and-prose @marvel-and-writing @thatoneaceinthecorner @metaphors-and-melodrama @smudged-glasses-writing @jacquilich @marie-writess @quilloftheclouds

If you would like to be added to or removed from the taglist, please let me know in a comment below. :)

[chayscribbles-archive]

oh crap i almost forgot it’s TIB tuesday - march 24th, 2020

here is this week’s update on the second draft of the in-between. catch up on all TIB Tuesdays here.

word count: 25 738/80 000

thoughts so far:

i legit have no idea what day it is anymore lmao

current events have not been kind to my mental health and writing is Hard

i’m supposed to be doing camp nano (my goal is to tack 27 000 words to this draft) but. we’ll see.

excerpt: have i mentioned Kumar before? in case you missed it, Kumar, a 17-year old errand boy in the Arroyo’s neighborhood, is my new favourite side character who appeared in exactly one paragraph in the first draft, who suddenly got a subtle yet vital role in draft 2. so, remember him.

Baby dropped off the vegetables at the apartment before climbing into the passenger’s seat of Kumar’s pickup truck.

“What’re you gonna do on Queen’s Hill?” Kumar asked as he started the truck down the street.

I’m going to investigate visions given to me by shadows in a Void spot.

Baby shrugged. “Nature walk,” she said instead, hoping he wouldn’t pry any more than that.

To her relief, all he said was, “Oh. Cool.”

Baby still didn’t know Kumar that well, but she was under the impression that she could have told him the truth, and he would have given her exactly the same reaction.

taglist below (lmk if you want off!)

@planets-and-prose @extra-magichours @heyabella @donovyn–nox @writing-instead-of-fighting @rhetowreck @nattletak @writablefish @skeleton-writer @rewrit @quantumlandbook @mercurywriting@tabbykatwrites @marlettwrites @ccwritesstuff @quilloftheclouds @zwritesstuff@stardustspiral @reininginthefirewriting  @mycupofstarsandcoffee@morganwriteblr @stand-inthe-rain @sunlight-and-starskies @summere21@hollie-writes @rachelswritings @bardicfool @sapphic-spirit-writes @writemares @knightsofeclipse @ladywithalamp @lyssthewriter@qlpwrites @milkyway-writes @stuffaboutwriting @llesbianwrites @zburatorii@serenewrites @v-snippets @cjjameswriting @dove-actually @aepreall @aziz-writes @julia-writeblr @bettsican @cilly-the-writer @klywrites

[tabbydrafts]

“Come on! Run faster!”

An excerpt from Hoarfrost Rising. 717 words.

CW: Body horror, kidnapping (kind of)

Tag list: @kaylaevs5162, @dove-actually, @ditzysworld, @marlettwrites, @totheoceanpier

-

“Come on! Run faster!”

Every bit of logic in Winnie was wishing she’d hit the gym a little more before the apocalypse. Every bit of spite within her was glad that she hadn’t. “I’m doing my best!” she snapped, or rather, tried to snap. It came out as a wheeze. She pressed her eyes shut and made herself move forward.

Around her, the ice sparkled and glimmered with particularly less menace than she thought it might. It was beautiful, even as it grew from the corpses that littered the ground. As Winnie slowed, exhaustion and pain hitting, the bodies grew more detailed in her peripheral vision. The remnants of expression on the faces of the victims were ones of horror. Ice stuffed their mouths, as though it was an apple and they were each pigs. It grew from their noses and ears, and in a couple horrifying moments, through eyes and skin.

Winnie’s already faltering breath grew shakier and she pushed her body to every limit it had. Anything, anything to get away from the sight.

Seth was keeping an easy pace in front of her. She was faster and more graceful, even with her slightly-heeled shoes. Looking at her, Winnie felt a flash of wonder and suspicion. What is she? It could have had any number of answers. As her legs began to shake beneath her, she put all of her energy into thinking. This girl was an athlete, maybe… or a soldier? One of those masochists who went to the gym and called it fun (Winnie still sort of wished she was one of those masochists now)?

Or perhaps she was like Mercedes, with powers that glowed and changed things.

Well… she was definitely full of powers, that much was clear even if she hadn’t yet used them. The only question here was if that gave someone the ability to run like that or not.

It was three blocks away from the Powell family manor when Seth stopped before a faded tan minivan. Winnie pressed herself forward until she all but collapsed next to it, clutching to the hood of the vehicle as though it were a lifeline.

Seth looked at her, and Winnie felt all of the judgment of the fates themselves in her gaze. “Don’t just stand there. It’s dangerous. Get in.”

“If you try shit,” wheezed Winnie, “If you try to hurt me or kill me or feed me to the god-forsaken ice beasts… I will beat you up.”

Seth seemed very unconvinced. “Uh huh. Get in.”

“I have my cell phone. I’ll call 911. I’ll call my mom.”

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Seth said. Her eyes went upwards, seeming to be half an eye roll and half a prayer- god above, do you see what I put up with? “I literally just saved your life. What would be the point?”

“I don’t know. To get me to trust you?”

“Well, it’s obviously not working, and frankly, I don’t care if you trust me or not. I just have to explain to you the shit we’re in, since you panicked the other day and I haven’t been able to find you since.”

“You grabbed me.”

“I tested you. Get in the car.”

“Where are we going?”

“For a drive.”

“We need to save Mercy.”

“Why?” Seth seemed genuinely caught off guard for a moment.

A bubble of rage rose inside of Winnie. Did Seth really not understand? Did she already forget about the strained smile on Mercy’s face as she held back the ice, or about the deep, odd glow of her power. “She’s gonna get ice killed, you dick! If she’s not dead already! We have to go back and save her!”

Seth laughed, the sound so out of place that Winnie couldn’t help but frown. “She’s fine,” Seth said. “The ice loves her. Any trouble she’s going to get in comes from humans, and that’s the kind of trouble her daddy can buy her out of. Come on. Car. Now.”

Perhaps it was the tone of Seth’s voice, or how clear it was that this woman wasn’t going to compromise in the slightest, that made Winnie give in. Angrily, she reached into her pocket to grip her phone tight, and then she got in the car.

[somuchtowrite]

nanowrimo update - day four

word count - 9080

even though my goal for today was 10k, i’m still really proud of what i wrote!! i came up with some ideas that i’m really really really excited to write, and it was just so much fun to try some new things with this story. it’s a few minutes past midnight as i’m typing this, and i’m probably going to stay up and get a head start on day five. plus, i’m finally writing the parts where they’re in the wayward forest, which i’m having a ton of fun with. things are good!

also, i finally found the perfect song for this wip that i can play on repeat. i swear, dog days are over by florence + the machine was made for this story. it just has the ~vibe~, you know?

excerpt:

They walked in silence for a few hours, the prince’s cursing as he tripped over roots and foliage the only thing interrupting the tenuous peace. He glared at the ground each time as if he expected the earth itself to apologize for inconveniencing him, and though his irritation had been entertaining at first, Cyprus was about ready to do good on his threat and end Finian’s grumbling altogether.

Eventually, they stumbled upon a clearing to rest their legs in. The sun had done away with the brisk morning air, leaving them all damp and exhausted. Finian and Zara more so than Cyprus—it was clear neither of them did much hiking. In the seer’s case, saw the outdoors much at all. Her pale, silvery skin was tinged with a rosy glow that it had never had before.

the wayward thief tag list under the cut (ask to be removed/added!!)

@adayforducks @cityskyylinee @slocktess @shadows-on-everkin @scribb-s @n1ghtcrwler @marlettwrites @all-my-novels @bookish-actor​

[ownworldresident]

Writeblr Introduction

Hey guys! So this is technically an introduction post though I’ve been lurking around for a while. So a few of you I know already and cherish so much but here goes!

I’m Alex, I’m an excitable writer, currently applying for a masters degree in creative writing, editing & publishing. I write in my office, surrounded by greenery and accompanied by my dog who sleeps in the corner or watches me (or both, somehow?).

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I started off writing fan fiction for the Choices Fandom and I love them, but I’m writing my own novel at the moment currently titled For The Crown. but it changes every couple of days I post writing advice (seriously, I have 300 things queued), as well as stuff about my wips and other people’s wips. I actually figured out what productivity is last week which has been really helpful.

SO I’ll just include my novel wip here! I might be using this post as a distraction from writing it

For The Crown

High Fantasy/Romance. For The Crown is a trilogy following the story of two powerful shapeshifters. Elthian is a Prince preparing for the crown, Ryvaeryn is a scribe/editor on a quest to figure out who she is. They cross paths when Elthian’s best friend discovers a shapeshifter on the continent, and they go to find her. Back across the strait they all head off on the traditional royal tour, which an explicit instruction by Elthian’s dad - the King - that they form no attachment. WHOOPS.

Things go sideways fast when people start disapproving of Ryn and her relationship with Elthian. So we have conspiracies, mysteries, long buried secrets, powerful bad guys, alchemy, steampunk tech, slow burn romance and sarcastic best mates.

I’m on the second draft which is fun and messy. I will post moodboards and excerpts and character info when I can. I love Ryn and am in love with Elthian which makes writing even more interesting.

Please reach out to me if you like! I’m always looking for more friends and mutuals and would love to see your work! Speaking of friends tagging just a few of the peeps I love...

Tag List (mostly from discord): @dc-writes @angelolytle @tawny-lion-writing@annieslibrary @b-works-074 @bookenders @caz-writes@imaghostwriter@leicawri @collapsedkaleidoscope @katonahottinroof @pen-in-hand @srjacksin @minusfractions @candy687 @1-2-butter-my-shoe@quilloftheclouds @mvcreates @marlettwrites @writer-jessicac @txintedsxint  @hopefulmoonobject  @mfackenthal  @muggle-the-hat  @whynotwriting  @xpouii

If you like I can tag you: @thatwritergirlsblog @theliteraryarchitect @autos-ismos @umccall71 @leelee10898 @riseandshinelittleblossom​ @romanticatheart-posts  @pens-swords-stuff  @indiacater @annekebbphotography @blackcoffee85 @speedyoperarascalparty @be-still-my-aching-heart @writersblockbecomesunblocked

I didn’t realise I had talked to so many people. Let me know if you would like to be tagged and if we haven’t talked get in touch so I can follow you!

Have a great day guys, I better get back to writing...

[n1ghtcrwler]

Excerpt from "Historic Brighton," a story exclusive to Tall Tales: Volume Two

Subscribe | Amazon | Goodreads | Patreon | Discord | Ko-fi | Start from Beginning

Taglist (ask to be added/updated/removed): @the-real-rg @anachronistic-vibrancy @skele-boobs @kowlazovdi @rkmoriyama @dancingwithwind @planets-and-prose @farrradays @alexiswrote @goose-books @marlettwrites @twilightlegends @ettawritesnstudies @mayvinwrites @writeblrsupport @thelaughingstag

[n1ghtcrwler]

Excerpt from "Benediction: Book of Shadows"

Subscribe | Amazon | Goodreads | Patreon | Discord | Ko-fi | Start from Beginning

Taglist (ask to be added/updated/removed): @the-real-rg @anachronistic-vibrancy @skele-boobs @kowlazovdi @rkmoriyama @dancingwithwind @planets-and-prose @farrradays @alexiswrote @goose-books @marlettwrites @twilightlegends @ettawritesnstudies @mayvinwrites @writeblrsupport @thelaughingstag

[marlettwrites]

Character Aesthetics- Braheem

[Image Description: A moodboard in the colors cream, sky blue, and brown. The images used are 1. Two hands wrapping an injury on a third hand, 2. A single figure standing at the bottom of a canyon with walls of sand surrounding them, 3. A small sailboat floating down a river. Palm trees and a desert are visible in the background, 4. Two people and three camels walking in a straight line in the desert. The sun is setting and the sky is bathed in pastels pinks and blues. 5. A bust photo of a man. He is wearing a gray head scarf, and his hair is shoulder-length, dark brown, and wavy. He has kind brown eyes and a small mustache. 6. A pile of scrolls and a feather quill sitting on a table. 7. A very narrow and long sailboat. The two sails are red in color, and there are oars pushing the boat forward. The boat also has a small area covered with a tarp. 8. A different photo of hands wrapping an injury, 9. A picture of waves rolling in on the beach. End Image Description.]

5 Song Playlist:

The Beast of Pirate’s Bay by Voltaire

The London Air Raids by Vian Izak

Think About It by American Authors

Soldier, Poet, King by The Oh Hellos

The Best is Yet to Come by Sheppard

Today’s Quote is kind of long (495 words), so I’m sticking it under the cut, along with the Taglist.

Quote:

“Braheem greeted him at the door, roping him into a quick hug. He pulled away and held Jude at arm’s length. Braheem looked him in the eyes.

‘Work hard. Try to remember everything Reseph says. He may seem a little rough around the edges, but buried somewhere in that cynicism are a few pearls of wisdom. And do not tell anyone about your special talent.’

‘You are real,’ Jude blurted out.

Braheem barked out a laugh that sounded more relieved than amused.

‘What gave it away?’

‘That man. I can’t have imagined him. Or this city. It’s very loud. And so is he,’ Jude looked up at him in wonder, ‘You really do know a guy.’

Braheem nodded. His eyes looked sad.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said, ‘I wish I could have brought you here sooner. You will remember, though? That thing we talked about?’

‘Yeah. I got it.’ Jude looked up at Braheem. ‘You’re coming back, right?’

Braheem’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

‘Of course. Why wouldn’t I?’

Eyes locked on the ground, Jude fidgeted with the hem of his robe.

‘W-well, it-’ Jude paused, feeling the words stick in his throat like glue to paper. ‘The Kingdom and-’ he gestured vaguely. ‘You don’t have to- have to-’

‘I don’t have to look after you anymore?’ he guessed.

Jude nodded.

‘This may come as a surprise to you, but no one was forcing me to do it before.’

Jude still felt entirely unconvinced, and Braheem must have noticed it because he rolled his eyes and carefully pulled his pendant from his neck. Jude had only seen it a couple of times before. The necklace was simple in design- a serpent of some sort crudely carved out of what Braheem told him was the seed of a fruit native to Punt. 

Jude had never seen him take it off. 

Gaping at the necklace in wonder, Jude almost didn’t notice when Braheem held it out for him to take.

‘If you’re not convinced I’ll come back for you, will you at least believe I won’t leave this behind?’

Cradling the necklace in his hands, Jude stared up at Braheem in shock. Jude nodded. He held the necklace out to return it, but Braheem just shook his head.

‘You’ve made your point,’ Jude insisted.

‘Not yet, I haven’t. Take good care of it until I get back.’

Hesitantly, Jude tugged the cord over his head. The pendant’s weight rested comfortably against his chest. Still, it felt wrong to take something his friend treasured so much.

His real friend. Who existed. Who had always existed. He needed more time to process that part.

‘You’re sure?’ he asked.

‘Absolutely,’ Braheem said, though Jude caught the regret in his voice.

Jude rushed forward and threw his arms around Braheem’s middle.

‘Thank you,’ he whispered.

Braheem ruffled his hair fondly, and though he felt terrified of letting go, Jude knew he couldn’t cling to Braheem forever. He forced himself to step back.

Thank you for reading!

Taglist:

@kai-writesstuff​ @runningonrain​ @imaghostwriter​ @writingnosefreak​ @planets-and-prose​ @marvel-and-writing​ @thatoneaceinthecorner​ @metaphors-and-melodrama​ @smudged-glasses-writing​ @jacquilich​ @marie-writess​ @quilloftheclouds​ @shadowlostinacrowdofpeople​

If you would like to be added to or removed from the taglist, please let me know in a comment below. :)

[marlettwrites]

Character Aesthetics- Kul

[Image Description: A moodboard in cool grays, lavender, and warm brown. The images used are 1. The entrance of an ancient Egyptian temple, 2. blooming lavender plants, 3. A bust photo of a shirtless teenage boy. He has brown skin, a determined expression, and short black curly hair, 4. A quiver of arrows, 5. The words “I’m going to hell on a full scholarship” over a black background, 6. A hand running along a railing that has braille writing on it, 7. A quiver full of arrows and a bow, 8. A single brown eye, 9. A different picture of blooming lavender flowers. End Image Description.]

5 Song Playlist:

King of Anything by Sara Bareilles

Luck by American Authors

Vacant Stare by Emma Pollock

I’m Still Here from Treasure Planet

I Lived by OneRepublic

(I was really tempted to include Disobedient from the Steven Universe movie in this list because the lyrics are just. So incredibly Kul that it’s ridiculous. I chose not to, because I really don’t like the vocals, but I’ll leave a link to it here anyway.)

Quote:

“Kul leaned against his desk.

‘So I guess you’ll want to start your whole healing schtick now, huh? Are you an ‘ancient chant’ kind of guy, or are you one of those idiots who want to cleanse my soul of evil entities through the powers of incense?’ Kul asked, waggling his fingers dramatically.

‘Well, it’s- I don’t-’ the healer paused and took a breath, ‘Neither,’ he finally said.

‘Oh joy,’ Kul said, ‘An experimenter. Well, I’m not letting you put anything sharp near my eyes, especially if you plan to put me to sleep first, so you can just forget about getting paid if that’s your thing.’”

Thank you for reading. Taglist is under the cut.

Taglist:

@kai-writesstuff @runningonrain @imaghostwriter @writingnosefreak @planets-and-prose @marvel-and-writing @thatoneaceinthecorner @metaphors-and-melodrama @smudged-glasses-writing @jacquilich @marie-writess @quilloftheclouds

If you would like to be added to or removed from the taglist, please let me know in a comment below. :)

[marlettwrites]

Character Aesthetics- Akela

[Image Description: A moodboard in primarily cool gray and orange. The images used are 1. The words “I got my own back” on a gray background, 2. An orange flame, 3. A large, determined looking brown eye, 4. An orange bolt of lightning, 5. A black girl in armor and a crown, 6. A girl whose face is heavily shadowed. She is holding a sword, 7. Orange-tinted sand dunes, 8. The words “Maybe swearing will help” on a gray background, 9. A girl in a white tunic with scale-plate armor over the shoulders. Her arms are crossed over her chest, her face is not visible. End Image Description.]

WIP- A Curse of Healing

5 Song Playlist:

Soldier’s Daughter by Jhameel

The Devil’s Gone to Dinner by LOLO

Glitter and Gold by Barns Courtney

Vagabond by MisterWives

Just Like Fire by P!nk

Quote:

“’You weren’t seen, were you?’

The voice came from somewhere to Hathor’s left. On instinct, her hand traveled down to grip her khopesh.

‘Of course not,’ she said, keeping an eye on the suspiciously dark corner in the left side of the room.

A subtle creak reached Hathor’s ears. Whipping out her khopesh, she spun around just in time to block the sword bearing down on her.

A woman with a long black braid and a strong jawline grinned down at her.

‘Oh good,’ she said, ‘You’re learning.’

‘I should hope so,’ Hathor shot back, ‘Otherwise I might need a new teacher.’

Keeping her eyes locked on Akela’s, Hathor kicked at her shin. Akela lost her balance for only a moment, but that was all Hathor needed. With a flourish of her khopesh, Akela’s sword flew across the room, well out of her grasp. 

‘Ooh, we’re feisty today. Good. Helps keep you sharp.’

Delivering a swift kick to her chest, Hathor sent Akela sprawling to the ground. Carefully, so as not to draw any blood, Hathor pressed her blade to her teacher’s throat.

Akela tapped the ground with her hand three times, their signal for surrender.

‘Alright, you win!’

Satisfied, Hathor tucked her khopesh back into her sash and held out a hand for Akela. She took it, looking pleased.

The next thing Hathor knew, both arms were pinned behind her back and a blade was pressed against her throat.

‘You still haven’t learned the most important lesson, princess,’ Akela breathed, ‘Never let down your guard, and always always watch the hands. Hands will kill you.’

Thank you for reading! Taglist is under the cut.

Taglist:

@kai-writesstuff​ @runningonrain​ @imaghostwriter​ @writingnosefreak​ @planets-and-prose​ @marvel-and-writing​ @thatoneaceinthecorner​ @metaphors-and-melodrama​ @smudged-glasses-writing​ @jacquilich​ @marie-writess​ @quilloftheclouds​ @shadowlostinacrowdofpeople​

If you would like to be added to or removed from the taglist, please let me know in a comment below. :)

[marlettwrites]

Character Aesthetics- Kasaika

[Image Description: a moodboard in deep red, gold, and black. The images used include 1. A pomegranate cracked open to reveal the fruit inside, 2. A robed figure standing in an ancient Egyptian tomb. A single, very concentrated stream of light is coming from a hole in the ceiling and lands perfectly in the figure's hands, 3. A small leather pouch with coins spilling out of it, 4. Ruby red crystals, 5. The words "Revenge is beneath me. Accidents, however, will happen." On a black background, 6. A very angry looking, slightly bloodshot eye, 7. A dark red autumn leaf with water droplets rolling down it, 8. The words "May god have mercy on my enemies 'cause I won't" against a black background, 9. The inside of a heavily decorated ancient Egyptian tomb. The walls and ceiling are covered with paintings of gods, goddesses, and people working. There is very little negative space. End Image Description.]

5 Song Playlist:

This Means War by Marianas Trench

Cradles by Sub Urban

Let’s Kill Tonight by Panic! at the Disco

King of the Clouds by Panic! at the Disco

Twisted Tongue by MisterWives

WARNING! The quote featured contains graphic depictions of gore, physical abuse, and child abuse. Please don’t read the quote if doing so could trigger a panic attack.

The quote and Taglist are under the cut.

Quote:

“In his mind’s eye, Jude pictured the man’s arm regrowing,  pushing itself from the hole in his shoulder and building itself up piece by piece until it matched the other one.

A searing pain in his right shoulder broke Jude’s concentration. He cried out and clutched at the offending appendage. Jude pulled his hand away to assess the damage and retched at the sight. A jagged cut had worked its way around Jude's shoulder. A line of red stared back at him, traced around the circumference of his arm. Frayed pieces of skin hung off around the opening and Jude spied something white amidst the sea of deep red.

He looked up at Kasaika. His brother only motioned for him to continue. Jude gulped and reached out for the stump again, shuddering as his hands made contact. He took a few deep breaths and tried not to cry. Jude tried to focus on healing the man's arm, but images of his own flayed skin crept up and took hold of his mind.

Jude gasped and reeled back. The stench of blood and decaying flesh slammed into him full force as he pulled away from the man. A hand gripped his injured shoulder and Jude stifled a scream.

‘Why did you stop?’ Kasaika demanded.

‘I'm sorry. I'm trying,’ Jude said. ‘I just don't think I can do this.’

‘You can. You just need to try harder!’ Kasaika insisted.

 His hands closed like a vice around Jude's own. Kasaika tugged him forward and forced Jude's hands back into position on Kasaika's favorite soldier.

‘Do it!’ he commanded.”

Taglist:

@kai-writesstuff @runningonrain @imaghostwriter @writingnosefreak @planets-and-prose @marvel-and-writing @thatoneaceinthecorner @metaphors-and-melodrama @smudged-glasses-writing @jacquilich @marie-writess @quilloftheclouds @shadowlostinacrowdofpeople

If you would like to be added to or removed from the taglist, please let me know in a comment below. :)

[marlettwrites]

"He seemed," Jude paused, searching for the right word, "Intense."

"He's a dick.”

"You are not so nice either."

"Thank you."

Jude clenched his teeth.

"That wasn't a compliment."

Kul shot a grin in his direction.

"I know."

Jude stared at him.

"I don't understand. Why did you thank me if you know I was insulting you?"

Some more out of context ACOH for my weary soul and yours.

Taglist under the cut.

Taglist:

@kai-writesstuff @runningonrain @imaghostwriter @writingnosefreak @planets-and-prose @marvel-and-writing @thatoneaceinthecorner @metaphors-and-melodrama @thehairtomysoup-deactivated2019 @smudged-glasses-writing @jacquilich @marie-writess

If you would like to be added to or removed from the taglist, please let me know in a comment below. :)

[marlettwrites]

[marlettwrites]

What’s this, you ask? An excerpt? Marlett actually writes things?

The answer to all those questions is: yes!

I’ve been debating sharing some of my writing on here for awhile now, and decided to just bite the bullet and go for it. This is the beginning of chapter 1, and, fair warning, it is pretty long.

TW: child abuse, mild descriptions of gore.

Any and all constructive criticism is welcome!

Jude focused on the image in his mind as layers of skin stretched over and over each other until a patch of unmarred flesh lay where the wound once sat. Ignoring the new pain in his shoulder, Jude pulled his hands away as the last of the blood vanished from his latest patient's arm. A relieved sigh rose from the woman’s throat. Jude looked up and nodded at his assistant, Braheem. The man stood and guided the blindfolded woman from the room.

Just before Braheem opened the door to let her out, the woman turned, a grateful smile on her face.

“Thank you,” she said.

Jude's heart swelled happily and he resisted the urge to tell her that she was very welcome.

Braheem closed the door and turned.

“Are there more outside?” Jude asked once she’d left the room, rubbing his arm just below the hole that had opened on his shoulder.

It looked startlingly similar to the one he just closed on his last patient. Fitting, considering it was her injury. A viscous red liquid seeped out of the small opening and the wound stung where Jude's fingers pressed against it. Braheem pulled his hand away and dabbed at the blood with a towel.

“Stop. You're only making it worse.”

“It itches,” Jude complained.

“That doesn't mean it's a good idea to touch it.” Braheem heaved out a frustrated sigh. “Just leave it alone for a minute so I can bandage it, alright?”

Braheem ran a hand through his unruly black hair, staring at the hole on Jude’s arm a moment. He nodded to himself and produced a roll of gauze from his pocket. Jude waited patiently while Braheem dressed the wound, flinching every time his fingers ventured near the opening in his shoulder.

Finally, the man stood and left the little room, leaving the misshapen wood door to smack against the rock walls behind him. The second Braheem left the room to check on the line outside, Jude resumed scratching at the bandages.

The door creaked open and Braheem re-emerged from what Jude assumed was a hallway. Jude forced his hand away from the bandages.

“Okay, it looks like Shadya was the last one in line. I think it's safe to say you can relax until tomorrow.”

Jude raised an eyebrow.

“You know her name?”

“I know a lot of people.” Braheem said. “I could introduce you sometime if you ever took a day off.” the man folded his arms across his chest and looked pointedly at the reddened bandages that nearly covered Jude from head to toe. Jude avoided his gaze.

“You know I can't do that. Besides, I healed a broken leg yesterday. It'll be at least another twelve hours before I can walk again.” Jude said, gesturing to the splint Braheem had made for him the previous day. This injury belonged to a little kid, about ten years of age if he remembered correctly.

A lot of people came and left through the frail wooden door that had been built into his cavern. His memory only held on to those that stood out against the crowd. Mostly, it was their injuries that made them stick. Sometimes, not often, a patient would talk about the world outside. Jude wasn’t allowed to answer them, of course, but he always listened intently to the tales of risky heists and daring escapes while he tried to imagine what a ‘city’ looked like.

Braheem stared down at him, his dark eyes boring holes in Jude's flesh.

“This is going to kill you one day. You know that, right?”

Jude looked down and dragged his good foot across the floor, back and forth, back and forth, before answering.

“Kasaika says I can't be selfish with my gift.”

Braheem scowled.

“Yes, well he also says that anyone foolish enough to leave their belongings unattended deserves to have them stolen. I wouldn’t put too much stock into that man’s words.”

Jude looked up sharply.

“So what, I should listen to you and leave my home to find some magical fairytale land?” he said.

A low blow, Jude knew. The island was something Braheem talked about a lot. When Jude was younger, Braheem used to tell him stories about the wonders of the island. How people there performed extraordinary feats, such as breathing underwater, speaking to animals, or even flying. Tales of people like him.

Braheem also told him that one day they would leave the kingdom and go home together. So far, none of Braheem’s tales had come true.

Braheem’s eyes narrowed.

“Punt is real. I’ve been there,” he said, pronouncing the word ‘Pwenet’.

When Jude was just learning how to read, he tried to say it as ‘Puhnt’ until Braheem informed him that was wrong. Jude turned away.

“I know,” he said. “I’m sorry. I’m just sick of hearing about impossible futures.”

“It’s not impossible. Just incredibly difficult.”

Jude looked at the ground and nodded.

“Did you bring any new scrolls with you?”

Braheem’s eyes widened in realization. He snapped his fingers.

“That’s what I forgot!” the man spun on his heel and dashed toward the small wooden table that leaned against the opposite wall.

Braheem plucked his shoulder bag off the table and began rifling through it. The sound of paper crinkling caught Jude’s attention, and he craned his neck to see what Braheem was doing. Unfortunately, the man’s back blocked his gaze. Triumphantly, Braheem lifted a roll of paper from the dirty sack.

“Aha! Here it is.” he held the scroll out to Jude. “Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor,” Braheem informed him. “It’s about-”

“Punt?” Jude asked knowingly.

Braheem seemed to deflate a little.

“Well, yes, but- look, there’s a giant talking snake in it, and most of the stories don’t include Apep.” Braheem said quickly. “It’s a shame, really. The sea monsters aren’t at all interesting to talk to.” looking down at the scroll, Braheem barked out a short laugh. “And this ‘Ahmose’ person didn’t even get them right! Apep isn’t some wise prophet,” he scoffed, “just incredibly overdramatic. But, I digress.”

Jude looked up at him quizzically.

“What’s a snake?”

Braheem stared blankly at him for a moment, as if he hadn’t registered Jude’s words. His face fell.

“Right,” he said to himself slowly. “You’ve never seen one.” shaking himself out of his stupor, Braheem said, “Well, imagine a lizard without- no, wait, you don’t know what that is either. Um, well, it’s like a rope. Yes! A living rope! A living rope that hisses!”

Jude reached up and accepted the scroll, looking down at it curiously. Although he was loathe to entertain the idea of visiting Punt, reading about it still brought him happiness. Besides, the talking snake sounded interesting. Jude began to hastily unroll the scroll.

“Hey, kid.”

Jude looked up.

“Bed first,” Braheem said sternly. “You can read when I know you’re not in danger of killing yourself by trying to walk two feet with a broken leg.”

Jude gazed longingly down at the roll of papyrus.

“It’s almost healed,” he protested.

Folding his arms across his chest, the man raised an eyebrow at Jude. Braheem held his hand out in an expectant gesture. Frowning, Jude handed the scroll back to Braheem and grabbed his crutch. Jude limped over to the pile of assorted cloth sitting in the corner of the room. After lowering himself down, Jude reached again for the scroll.

“And here I thought you were done with Punt,” Braheem joked, but Jude could see the sadness behind his gaze.

Braheem never liked to talk about it, but Jude knew that once he’d lost someone important to him. He also knew that loss was somehow connected to Punt. Jude asked him about it once, but Braheem never said much on the subject. Several questions made their way to the tip of Jude’s tongue, but he bit them back.

Braheem seated himself beside Jude’s cloth nest and nodded at him. Turning his attention to the scroll, Jude began to read aloud. Occasionally, Braheem corrected his pronunciation, or interrupted to ask Jude if he knew what a certain word meant. Other than that, the only sounds were Jude’s voice and the crackling of the torches that lined the walls.

When Jude felt his eyelids drooping, Braheem gently pulled the scroll from his grip.

“Great job. Your reading comprehension is really improving,” Braheem told him. “We’ll continue this tomorrow.”

Jude nodded slowly and curled into the soft bedding. In the back of his mind, he registered the sound of slowly fading footsteps followed by the soft pshh pshh as Braheem doused the torches hanging on the wall with sand. Behind closed eyelids, Jude saw the light slowly dim and then fade away altogether. A familiar creak echoed over the stone walls as Braheem left the healing room.

Jude wished he had left the scroll. Mere seconds after the man left, his leg twinged painfully, and Jude yearned for the distraction. He grit his teeth. He couldn’t complain. He wouldn’t.

He deserved this.

Jude woke the next morning to the sound of muffled sobs and angry shouts. The rust-iron scent of blood weighed heavy in the air. Sitting up abruptly, Jude stared at the door with a sense of dread.

The raid Kasaika organized must not have gone well.

Taglist: @aly-writes-stuff @imaghostwriter @runningonrain @marvel-and-writing @writingnosefreak @planets-and-prose

[marlettwrites]

Character Aesthetics- Jude

[Image Description: A moodboard in primarily earth tones. The images included show 1. a split lip, 2. a lotus flower with the words “Is is magic?” beneath, 3. a person in an oversized green sweater holding a book, 4. hands banging at a glass door with the words “Maybe he’d finally get to leave this place” over the top of the image, 5. A table with a cup of coffee, a pair of scissors, and some leaves and flowers on it, 6. A pile of scrolls and a feather quill, 7. Hands planting a tiny sprout in the ground, 8. A single green eye, and 9. A tunnel in an ancient Egyptian tomb with the exit seeming far away. The caption reads “I want to know.” All of the quotes are from the WIP this moodboard is for. End Image Description.]

5 Song Playlist:

Power by Bastille

Snakes by Bastille

Kaleidescope by A Great Big World

This is Gospel by Panic! At the Disco

Plant Life by Owl City

Quote: 

“Jude couldn’t help but stare as more of the city came into focus.

‘Everyone is outside.’ he said, surprised.

‘Well of course. Most people don't live underground.’ Braheem chuckled.

‘Really?’ Jude asked, fascinated.

Braheem nodded.

Jude spent the next several minutes staring at the city in silence. Drinking in every little detail with his eyes, he thought about things he’d seen in the Kingdom that could have inspired a hallucination as vivid as the one before him. Nothing came to mind.

A tiny sliver of hope rose in his chest. If he was somewhere he couldn’t imagine, then it must be real.”

WIP- A Curse of Healing

WIP intro here and if you desire the Comic Sans Powerpoint version, that exists here.

Taglist under the cut.

Thank you for reading!

Taglist:

@kai-writesstuff @runningonrain @imaghostwriter @writingnosefreak @planets-and-prose @marvel-and-writing @thatoneaceinthecorner @metaphors-and-melodrama @smudged-glasses-writing @jacquilich @marie-writess

If you would like to be added to or removed from the taglist, please let me know in a comment below. :)