Straight into the fairytale today:
Prince Reginald rode away and tried, with great difficulty, not to look back at the beautiful seamstress. He knew that he should be less distracted. Luren may be massing forces and there may be a Lurenese sorceress harbored in Hardenstall. But that woman was so beautiful, and she did not fall flat on her face when she saw him. She looked him in the eye without defiance and without fear. When he spoke to her, he forgot he was a prince; he forgot, for a moment, about Luren and about all his responsibilities.
"Your highness?" Lord Urbond rode next to him, straightening his horse, who was about to head off the path.
"Sorry, I was... well, I'm concerned, obviously."
"Yes, but you need to at least make it to the meetings today if we are to solve any of our problems with Luren."
The problems Lord Urbond was referring to were, of course, the growing threat of Luren going to war with Evars. Having lived in peace for over three centuries, Luren and Evars were neutral neighbors. However, about 16 years ago, the Lurenese ambassador's daughter, a born sorceress, was abducted and lost somewhere in Evars. It was thought to be by one of the family's many Lurenese servants, and the search continued and was evenutally dropped. However, peace remained between the countries. It was not a political crime, but a personal one. Lately, though, one Lurenese magician had attempted, in hopes of solving this long mystery, to connect with the girl's magical side, to see if she was still alive or at least magical enough for her corpse to give a read. This magician, an enchantress named Ulianne, was convinced that the young woman was still alive and hiding in Evars. However, some other magical force was clouding her ability to get a good read on the whereabouts of the girl.
Of course, Luren took this to mean that someone in the kingdom of Evars was harboring this young woman under magic, which would, of course, require consent of the Evarian government. So, negotiations began for the permission to search Evars for the missing young sorceress.
Prince Reginald took responsibility for this matter. His father, unknown to any but a few, was falling seriously ill, and the Prince was taking on more and more responsibility.
Of course, this left the Prince wondering why this girl was supposed to be so important and how a sorceress powerful enough to break through a magical shield had gone unnoticed for so long.
Aurelia closed her shop early that day. She had to create a gown for her dinner that evening--something fit for royalty, but it was the first time she would be composing in the city limits. Her methods, being magical, may have turned some unwanted attention her way, so she preferred to work in her shop without interruption.
Using finest silks and lace, she created in just half an hour, a dress worthy of a princess. However, she stared at it awhile and realized its decadence might give her away. Somehow, though she didn't understand how, she knew that Lord Urbond suspected that she had a gift. And in just thinking about making the dress less, it morphed into a still elegant, but much simpler, creation. Through it all, she could not quit thinking about her interaction with the prince. He looked nervous--almost as nervous as she felt. And as she thought about him, she realized she could see him in her mind. This happened when she thought too long on people. Though, it did not happen often since she had so very little outside contact. He was in meetings with the city's mayor, asking permission to set up camp on the outskirts of town near the great lake--and near her house.
Curious as to whether or not she could control the Prince's thoughts and actions, since she could see them, she projected, or she felt she projected, a location about a mile west, beyond the cliff, where her house would be out of sight.
To her surprise, when she tuned back into the Prince's meeting, he selected the location on the map. However, in addition to her relief, Aurelia felt a twinge of guilt.
She shook her head and stood up, clearing her mind. She put on her dress and did her hair, getting ready for dinner that night.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Coloring Books, Howl, and Chips and Cheesy Salsa
Today, I managed to scrape together 30 pages of a screenplay that might now have a direction. My coffee pot became a geyser when I forgot to put the top lid down. Steaming water spewed all over my kitchen at 6:13 a.m., and all I could do was turn off the coffee maker, clean the mess, and shut the lid. My coffee came out fine less than seven minutes later. The epiphany, of course, was that my character had a dilemma that he ignores or quite some time. I spent ten minutes wondering why my coffee maker sounded funny. Then he fixes the problem and cleans the mess. First, though, he has to acknowledge the problem. I had to walk into the kitchen. There was a moment of panic when I realized I might get hit with some steaming-hot water droplets. But what else could I do? And what else can my character do? The mess would only get bigger and more dangerous. Same with Eric (my character). So, Eric and I had an epiphany, and now things are going much, much better. In fact, I may repeat the instance in my screenplay for symbolic effect.
Also today, I got to throw around ideas for another person's screenplay. I got to use what I had learned in class to help someone else develop a wonderful idea. Granted, it's just a Production 1 film, but it can still be good. It can be a wonderful short. I am excited to put this into production.
Fairy tale tomorrow. I'm in a good mood and want to fall asleep on a high note. Alas, Aurelia cannot keep ending on high notes for long, so I'm going to save her for at least one more day.
Plus, my day was spent rediscovering past loves, not past pasts. I had my first dish of chips and cheesy salsa in five days, my first rereading of Howl in about three months, and my first coloring book in countless years. All glorious; all reminders of why I should love myself. The chips and cheesy salsa are just delicious, and my taste-buds are meant to love that over-processed goodness. Howl --especially part 3, is not just about Rockland, but Rock(Is)land, where you, my dear reader, would wind up madder than me, because I've survived the damned thing. And the small triumph of finishing the picture with all the colors in their place in the lines is most wonderful.
Good night, good night!
Also today, I got to throw around ideas for another person's screenplay. I got to use what I had learned in class to help someone else develop a wonderful idea. Granted, it's just a Production 1 film, but it can still be good. It can be a wonderful short. I am excited to put this into production.
Fairy tale tomorrow. I'm in a good mood and want to fall asleep on a high note. Alas, Aurelia cannot keep ending on high notes for long, so I'm going to save her for at least one more day.
Plus, my day was spent rediscovering past loves, not past pasts. I had my first dish of chips and cheesy salsa in five days, my first rereading of Howl in about three months, and my first coloring book in countless years. All glorious; all reminders of why I should love myself. The chips and cheesy salsa are just delicious, and my taste-buds are meant to love that over-processed goodness. Howl --especially part 3, is not just about Rockland, but Rock(Is)land, where you, my dear reader, would wind up madder than me, because I've survived the damned thing. And the small triumph of finishing the picture with all the colors in their place in the lines is most wonderful.
Good night, good night!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Back to Samantha
I am so back right now.
This weekend, getting out of town and forgetting to obsess about my friends broke the habit a little bit. When I did get back to Chicago, I just went and watched the game with a new friend. It was great. Then I watched an experiment with a dead man. I can't wait to die for Sabrina soon.
Anyway, there is a fairy tale that must be written...
When Aurelia walked into Hardenstall the next day, bags of finished clothes on her donkey's back. With representatives from Shorin arriving today, she had decided on some strange whim to dress for the occasion. Though still very modest, she wore a light purple dress that seemed to dance even when there was no wind. Her face looked less concentrated than normal, and she walked with a half-smile, singing not just to herself along the lonely road, but to any living creature that could hear.
Upon arriving in town, she saw that there was already a line outside the florists where she rented. As soon as everyone saw her with her bags and bags of clothes they made way. She tied the donkey and went inside. Ten minutes later, the shop was organized enough to begin letting the line file in. Each customer seemed more pleased than usual with her output, and many even looked to notice her own change in appearance. She received a myriad of compliments, and with each, her smile grew a little brighter. By the time the last customer filed through, she looked as though she had had the best day of her life. It was only 10 in the morning. The representatives from Shorin were arriving at 11. No one knew exactly which dignitaries were supposed to come, but everyone expected a small parade and a bit of pomp.
Aurelia opened up her portion of the shop and placed some fresh flowers in the windows. With the mass of colorful fabrics in the back, billowing in the slight breeze, her own magical appearance, and the flowers, it looked as though she had created a fairy world within her room.
She stood in the doorway like a guardian angel, ready to usher anyone willing into her realm.
Earlier than expected, the town crier announced the arrivals of the representatives.
"Make way, one and all for our great and noble lawmen from Shorin!"
As he spoke, three men on horses rode into town in a straight line.
"Please make way for Lord Urbond, Minister of Foreign Relations."
The streets became lined with people who did not care so much about the titles, but about what these dignitaries looked like. Aurelia was the only one who seemed shocked that someone dealing with foreign relations would come visit a town in which the closest foreign neighbor lived miles across water.
"And now, give your respects to Duke Rendenmort, Advisor to the King."
As the first two men passed her shop, they actually seemed to notice Aurelia's slice of heaven amidst the small-town reveling. Each paused a moment and regarded her. She took in each of their faces, trying to figure out what their intentions could be in Hardenstall.
"And last, please bow before your Prince Reginald."
The whole town paused a moment, then immediately took to their knees. Aurelia was last to do so, because at that moment she realized why they were there--the green lights across the lake, these men in charge of all of Evars, the Prince himself--Evars was going to war."
As the prince passed, she was still standing. Immediately, she fell, not just because of him, but because she realized what this would mean for her quiet life outside this quiet town. She could not be noticed. Wishing she had dressed less fine that day, she made a move to enter her stop, thinking the Prince had passed. What she had not noticed was that all of them had stopped just 30 feet beyond her window, and as she rushed inside, they all watched, then spoke.
"You, mademoiselle--wait."
Embarassed and still lost in frantic though, Aurelia paused. As she turned, a gust of wind blew through the main street, and she looked so wild an angelic that everyone stared. Her hair blowing around her face never covered her expression of indignation at being told she could not hide. That lavender dress actually moved like the ocean or like clouds roaming across the sky, and for that moment, she looked superhuman. However, the gust of wind stopped, and instead of indignation, she showed confusion and perhaps a little fear. The Prince Reginald was lost in the previous image, so it was Duke Rendenmort who spoke first.
"My dear, please, are you from this town?"
"Of course. I live next to the great lake, on the cliff, outside the town, but I do business here, and these people are my neighbors and friends."
"And you are a seamstress?"
"Yes."
He paused for a moment, then asked the woman next to Aurelia, a woman named Tania wearing a skirt and blouse from Aurelia, to stand.
"Ma'am, have you used this woman's services before?"
"You mean Aurelia's? Yes, this skirt and this blouse are her work, actually. She did the blouse just last night."
Aurelia looked nervously at each man's face. As she looked at the Prince, he caught her eye and gave a slight half smile. She attempted to smile back, but her nervousness would not let her.
Duke Rendenmort turned back to her.
"Aurelia--that is your name, yes?"
She nodded.
"Well, Aurelia, your skills are impressive. Where did you learn?"
"Finishing school. I went to a lovely finishing school in Shorin, sir."
This was a blatant lie, but it was the first thing she could think. She knew it would be easy to catch, and she wasn't sure what the punishment would be for lying to the king's own advisor. However, she could not answer his questions. She did not sew, and she certainly did not remember where she received her abilities to create clothing and manipulate fabric. In fact, she was not even from Hardenstall, but she had been there for so long, she hoped none of the townspeople would blow her cover.
However, before he could speak again, Duke Rendenmort was interrupted by a tap on the shoulder from the Prince. He whispered something in the Duke's ear, and then spoke.
"Aurelia, we are sorry to trouble you. We were merely struck by the beauty of your store window, and, to be embarassingly frank, your lovely appearance. Please join us for dinner tonight--where-ever we may be feasting. As for now, let us get back to business, gentlemen. Again, madam, my sincerest apologies at bothering you. Good day."
Aurelia was finally able to return a smile. However, as the procession ended and she walked back into her store, she realized that her way of life was in great danger.
This weekend, getting out of town and forgetting to obsess about my friends broke the habit a little bit. When I did get back to Chicago, I just went and watched the game with a new friend. It was great. Then I watched an experiment with a dead man. I can't wait to die for Sabrina soon.
Anyway, there is a fairy tale that must be written...
When Aurelia walked into Hardenstall the next day, bags of finished clothes on her donkey's back. With representatives from Shorin arriving today, she had decided on some strange whim to dress for the occasion. Though still very modest, she wore a light purple dress that seemed to dance even when there was no wind. Her face looked less concentrated than normal, and she walked with a half-smile, singing not just to herself along the lonely road, but to any living creature that could hear.
Upon arriving in town, she saw that there was already a line outside the florists where she rented. As soon as everyone saw her with her bags and bags of clothes they made way. She tied the donkey and went inside. Ten minutes later, the shop was organized enough to begin letting the line file in. Each customer seemed more pleased than usual with her output, and many even looked to notice her own change in appearance. She received a myriad of compliments, and with each, her smile grew a little brighter. By the time the last customer filed through, she looked as though she had had the best day of her life. It was only 10 in the morning. The representatives from Shorin were arriving at 11. No one knew exactly which dignitaries were supposed to come, but everyone expected a small parade and a bit of pomp.
Aurelia opened up her portion of the shop and placed some fresh flowers in the windows. With the mass of colorful fabrics in the back, billowing in the slight breeze, her own magical appearance, and the flowers, it looked as though she had created a fairy world within her room.
She stood in the doorway like a guardian angel, ready to usher anyone willing into her realm.
Earlier than expected, the town crier announced the arrivals of the representatives.
"Make way, one and all for our great and noble lawmen from Shorin!"
As he spoke, three men on horses rode into town in a straight line.
"Please make way for Lord Urbond, Minister of Foreign Relations."
The streets became lined with people who did not care so much about the titles, but about what these dignitaries looked like. Aurelia was the only one who seemed shocked that someone dealing with foreign relations would come visit a town in which the closest foreign neighbor lived miles across water.
"And now, give your respects to Duke Rendenmort, Advisor to the King."
As the first two men passed her shop, they actually seemed to notice Aurelia's slice of heaven amidst the small-town reveling. Each paused a moment and regarded her. She took in each of their faces, trying to figure out what their intentions could be in Hardenstall.
"And last, please bow before your Prince Reginald."
The whole town paused a moment, then immediately took to their knees. Aurelia was last to do so, because at that moment she realized why they were there--the green lights across the lake, these men in charge of all of Evars, the Prince himself--Evars was going to war."
As the prince passed, she was still standing. Immediately, she fell, not just because of him, but because she realized what this would mean for her quiet life outside this quiet town. She could not be noticed. Wishing she had dressed less fine that day, she made a move to enter her stop, thinking the Prince had passed. What she had not noticed was that all of them had stopped just 30 feet beyond her window, and as she rushed inside, they all watched, then spoke.
"You, mademoiselle--wait."
Embarassed and still lost in frantic though, Aurelia paused. As she turned, a gust of wind blew through the main street, and she looked so wild an angelic that everyone stared. Her hair blowing around her face never covered her expression of indignation at being told she could not hide. That lavender dress actually moved like the ocean or like clouds roaming across the sky, and for that moment, she looked superhuman. However, the gust of wind stopped, and instead of indignation, she showed confusion and perhaps a little fear. The Prince Reginald was lost in the previous image, so it was Duke Rendenmort who spoke first.
"My dear, please, are you from this town?"
"Of course. I live next to the great lake, on the cliff, outside the town, but I do business here, and these people are my neighbors and friends."
"And you are a seamstress?"
"Yes."
He paused for a moment, then asked the woman next to Aurelia, a woman named Tania wearing a skirt and blouse from Aurelia, to stand.
"Ma'am, have you used this woman's services before?"
"You mean Aurelia's? Yes, this skirt and this blouse are her work, actually. She did the blouse just last night."
Aurelia looked nervously at each man's face. As she looked at the Prince, he caught her eye and gave a slight half smile. She attempted to smile back, but her nervousness would not let her.
Duke Rendenmort turned back to her.
"Aurelia--that is your name, yes?"
She nodded.
"Well, Aurelia, your skills are impressive. Where did you learn?"
"Finishing school. I went to a lovely finishing school in Shorin, sir."
This was a blatant lie, but it was the first thing she could think. She knew it would be easy to catch, and she wasn't sure what the punishment would be for lying to the king's own advisor. However, she could not answer his questions. She did not sew, and she certainly did not remember where she received her abilities to create clothing and manipulate fabric. In fact, she was not even from Hardenstall, but she had been there for so long, she hoped none of the townspeople would blow her cover.
However, before he could speak again, Duke Rendenmort was interrupted by a tap on the shoulder from the Prince. He whispered something in the Duke's ear, and then spoke.
"Aurelia, we are sorry to trouble you. We were merely struck by the beauty of your store window, and, to be embarassingly frank, your lovely appearance. Please join us for dinner tonight--where-ever we may be feasting. As for now, let us get back to business, gentlemen. Again, madam, my sincerest apologies at bothering you. Good day."
Aurelia was finally able to return a smile. However, as the procession ended and she walked back into her store, she realized that her way of life was in great danger.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
W. and Other Such Nonsense Keeping Me Up at Night
Sabrina, my roommate, bought a clock that sings the MeowMix theme every hour on the hour. It just woke me up because it never gets dark enough in the city, and I wasn't really asleep to begin with, so I thought I'd write.
Yesterday, I think I upset one very close friend, and one friend that may have deserved to be treated badly. Call me Hurricane Samantha, because I literally went on a rampage in which I let everyone know how I was feeling and then tore each person apart. No one deserves that. Well, perhaps the not-so-close friend deserved it just a little, but not in the manner in which I brought the pain.
I just need a day off from myself. Most of these problems are caused by my own obsessing and my inability to let things go.
Wow. Okay, that may have been a bit too much self-awareness for the night.
On to other things:
I saw W. See it. It's not phenominal; it probably is just a flash in the pan, but it is bizarre, and I truly want other people's opinions, because I am simply not sure what to make of it. Condoleezza Rice was done terribly, but I actually talked to someone tonight who thought it was just right. I disagree, but I want to know more!
Keep me posted, and eventually, we'll get back to this fairy tale.
Yesterday, I think I upset one very close friend, and one friend that may have deserved to be treated badly. Call me Hurricane Samantha, because I literally went on a rampage in which I let everyone know how I was feeling and then tore each person apart. No one deserves that. Well, perhaps the not-so-close friend deserved it just a little, but not in the manner in which I brought the pain.
I just need a day off from myself. Most of these problems are caused by my own obsessing and my inability to let things go.
Wow. Okay, that may have been a bit too much self-awareness for the night.
On to other things:
I saw W. See it. It's not phenominal; it probably is just a flash in the pan, but it is bizarre, and I truly want other people's opinions, because I am simply not sure what to make of it. Condoleezza Rice was done terribly, but I actually talked to someone tonight who thought it was just right. I disagree, but I want to know more!
Keep me posted, and eventually, we'll get back to this fairy tale.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Forget Emotion; Give me Logic
I am just going to post a quick rant before I go back to an episode of The Office (US) that I am waiting on.
Today, I realized that I am slowly becoming overwhelmed. This is finally catching up to me, right at the same time that I am facing my emotions for the first time in a long time.
These semesters in LA, the intense amount of writing I have to do, the constant balance of maintaining friendships, and the former potential for finding a relationship have all been weighing me down. At least one of those might have gone away, but I have no idea what's going on, so the weight has increased. Perhaps I need to stop analyzing everything. Maybe I need to just give into emotion and trust people a little bit.
But really, what good has emotion every done anyone? And trusting people with my emotions? With personal information? Yeah, right.
I learned my lesson. I was right the first time. Moving on now...
Los Angeles is really far away. Being on one's own is a scary business.
This has been looming over my head for quite some time.
Oh well. I thought, for a week, I had a really good thing going in Chicago. I should have remembered that I have expectations for a reason. I retract my statement regarding those expectations from my last post.
What now?
I'm going to finish this episode and go to bed.
This is all too much.
Today, I realized that I am slowly becoming overwhelmed. This is finally catching up to me, right at the same time that I am facing my emotions for the first time in a long time.
These semesters in LA, the intense amount of writing I have to do, the constant balance of maintaining friendships, and the former potential for finding a relationship have all been weighing me down. At least one of those might have gone away, but I have no idea what's going on, so the weight has increased. Perhaps I need to stop analyzing everything. Maybe I need to just give into emotion and trust people a little bit.
But really, what good has emotion every done anyone? And trusting people with my emotions? With personal information? Yeah, right.
I learned my lesson. I was right the first time. Moving on now...
Los Angeles is really far away. Being on one's own is a scary business.
This has been looming over my head for quite some time.
Oh well. I thought, for a week, I had a really good thing going in Chicago. I should have remembered that I have expectations for a reason. I retract my statement regarding those expectations from my last post.
What now?
I'm going to finish this episode and go to bed.
This is all too much.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)