Solstice Future - Montage Scene 3.7

This follows on from Solstice Day 3.  Not immediately but you'll see what I mean.

Lara Knutsson whose locker was next to Rune’s was the first one to say anything about her rings.  After some consideration Rune had taken her gloves off almost as soon as she entered the building.  It was a normal thing to do so she didn’t think it could be considered flaunting her newly acknowledged status whereas keeping the gloves on until she reached the locker room could be considered hiding her new silver rings from comment.  Agents were supposed to be observant so she hoped that Lara wasn’t the first one to actually notice them.

“Those are new,” was the older, blonde woman’s comment.  “Are we allowed to ask or is it too fraught and sensitive?”

“My father tracked me down.”  Rune looked down at the rings that Constantine had first tried to give her without explanation at Solstice.  “I think he might have made these himself.”

“You’ve got notable relatives then?”  Solnje came from a noble family and she was used to people knowing it.  She had found ways of making that background useful in her work.  Her little black book of contacts was becoming well known around the headquarters.  “Will you be changing your name?”

“We’ve decided that I’ll just be adding my father’s family name onto the end of what I’ve already got.”  Rune divested herself of coat, hat and scarves.  “My mother thinks that’s a good idea and it means people who know me shouldn’t get totally confused.”

“Both your parents have come out of the woodwork then?”  Lara’s tone showed her approval of that.

“Apparently putting me aside wasn’t their idea at all.  Someone with a lot of influence in my mother’s family was pushing an agenda.”  Rune started swapping her street clothes for PT gear.  “I’ve been told some of the details but I’d prefer not to talk about it.”

“Fair enough,” Lara nodded, “The reasons people do things can be passing strange.  Strange enough that over twenty years later it seems incredible that they did them.”

“So will you be trying to get an invitation to the Spring Presentation Ball?”  That supercilious question came from Agent Vordamma Carolinia Vorstayka, a member of the latest intake of agents who hadn’t quite realized that no-one was as impressed by her family background as she was.  She insisted on the title and hadn’t yet realized that she wasn’t the only one in the room who had one.

“No,” Rune allowed while she tied up the laces on her running shoes, “I won’t be trying to get an invitation.”  Not, she thought to herself, when Grandmother has already told me that I’m going, whether I want to or not.  “I’ll see you all in the gym.”

At the end of the PT session they came back to find a member of the maintenance staff finishing some work on the door of Rune’s locker.  “I timed that well,” he acknowledged the sweaty women cheerfully, “I’ll just finish packing up and get out of your way.”

“I thought you were just adding on the surname.”  Rune was looking at her locker door, equally appalled, frightened and excited.

“I was told to do it the old fashioned way,” the overall-clad man told her happily, “which means all the old version had to come off.  I’ll come back when you ladies have gone to your desks and redo the lettering.”

“Thank you.”  Rune was subdued.

Lara watched him leave, then looked Rune, looked at the locker door and then looked back at Rune.  “He’s ruled up for three lines,” she commented.  “I can see two to cover your name, especially with a surname tacked on the end of what you’ve already got, but three suggests you’ve come into a title and it’s going on there.”

“Well, yes,” Rune admitted quietly, “I don’t want to make too much of a fuss about it.  I’m a bit worried about what he means by ‘the old fashioned way’, though.  I really only wanted to put the surname on.”

The ‘old fashioned way’ turned out to be black-outlined gold lettering that read ‘Vordamma Princesza Rune Greymalk Sjeldnjar.’  Written over a copy of the crest her grandmother had granted her.  It was beautiful work.

Rune wanted to go back to her desk and hide in her file cabinet where no-one would find her.

Solstice Future - Montage Scene 3.7

This follows on from Solstice Day 3.  Not immediately but you'll see what I mean.

Lara Knutsson whose locker was next to Rune’s was the first one to say anything about her rings.  After some consideration Rune had taken her gloves off almost as soon as she entered the building.  It was a normal thing to do so she didn’t think it could be considered flaunting her newly acknowledged status whereas keeping the gloves on until she reached the locker room could be considered hiding her new silver rings from comment.  Agents were supposed to be observant so she hoped that Lara wasn’t the first one to actually notice them.

“Those are new,” was the older, blonde woman’s comment.  “Are we allowed to ask or is it too fraught and sensitive?”

“My father tracked me down.”  Rune looked down at the rings that Constantine had first tried to give her without explanation at Solstice.  “I think he might have made these himself.”

“You’ve got notable relatives then?”  Solnje came from a noble family and she was used to people knowing it.  She had found ways of making that background useful in her work.  Her little black book of contacts was becoming well known around the headquarters.  “Will you be changing your name?”

“We’ve decided that I’ll just be adding my father’s family name onto the end of what I’ve already got.”  Rune divested herself of coat, hat and scarves.  “My mother thinks that’s a good idea and it means people who know me shouldn’t get totally confused.”

“Both your parents have come out of the woodwork then?”  Lara’s tone showed her approval of that.

“Apparently putting me aside wasn’t their idea at all.  Someone with a lot of influence in my mother’s family was pushing an agenda.”  Rune started swapping her street clothes for PT gear.  “I’ve been told some of the details but I’d prefer not to talk about it.”

“Fair enough,” Lara nodded, “The reasons people do things can be passing strange.  Strange enough that over twenty years later it seems incredible that they did them.”

“So will you be trying to get an invitation to the Spring Presentation Ball?”  That supercilious question came from Agent Vordamma Carolinia Vorstayka, a member of the latest intake of agents who hadn’t quite realized that no-one was as impressed by her family background as she was.  She insisted on the title and hadn’t yet realized that she wasn’t the only one in the room who had one.

“No,” Rune allowed while she tied up the laces on her running shoes, “I won’t be trying to get an invitation.”  Not, she thought to herself, when Grandmother has already told me that I’m going, whether I want to or not.  “I’ll see you all in the gym.”

At the end of the PT session they came back to find a member of the maintenance staff finishing some work on the door of Rune’s locker.  “I timed that well,” he acknowledged the sweaty women cheerfully, “I’ll just finish packing up and get out of your way.”

“I thought you were just adding on the surname.”  Rune was looking at her locker door, equally appalled, frightened and excited.

“I was told to do it the old fashioned way,” the overall-clad man told her happily, “which means all the old version had to come off.  I’ll come back when you ladies have gone to your desks and redo the lettering.”

“Thank you.”  Rune was subdued.

Lara watched him leave, then looked Rune, looked at the locker door and then looked back at Rune.  “He’s ruled up for three lines,” she commented.  “I can see two to cover your name, especially with a surname tacked on the end of what you’ve already got, but three suggests you’ve come into a title and it’s going on there.”

“Well, yes,” Rune admitted quietly, “I don’t want to make too much of a fuss about it.  I’m a bit worried about what he means by ‘the old fashioned way’, though.  I really only wanted to put the surname on.”

The ‘old fashioned way’ turned out to be black-outlined gold lettering that read ‘Vordamma Princesza Rune Greymalk Sjeldnjar.’  Written over a copy of the crest her grandmother had granted her.  It was beautiful work.

Rune wanted to go back to her desk and hide in her file cabinet where no-one would find her.

March Prompt Request

The Prompt Request is now CLOSED. 

 The Prompt Request is open from now (Saturday, 24 March, my time) until after I collect eggs on the morning of Easter Sunday, 8 April, my time.  This is an insane and possibly pointless length of time but as long as we’re all having fun and no-one gets hurt, does that matter?

If you give me more than one prompt you need to know that I will work through the list in order starting at the top.

The rules and parameters:

1. Each prompt will be:
   1.  a short sentence or phrase;
   2. a story of mine posted to LJ you want to see more of – it does not need to come from a Prompt Request; or
   3. characters of mine from stories posted on LJ – they do not need to come from a Prompt Request.
2. For each prompt I write to I will write 300±50 words.  If you want to see something I’ve done along these lines before, please see my http://rix-scaedu.livejournal.com/tag/30%20days%20of%20flash%20fiction tag or the results of a previous prompt request on the http://rix-scaedu.livejournal.com/tag/prompt%20request%2031%20dec%2011 tag.
3. I will write one prompt per person, unless you signal boost this Prompt Request or a story from it , in which case I will write an additional prompt per site/platform you boost on i.e. one prompt each on LJ, Twitter, Dreamwidth, etc, for each day of the prompt request you signal boost.  I am setting an arbitrary limit of 14 extra prompts per prompter from boosting.  You will need to tell me about your boosts because I am not across every site and platform.
4. For each prompter I get, I will write 50 words in a prompting reward serial story;
5. No fanfic, I just don’t know enough about enough current series and settings to do your favourites justice – give me a name or names and I promise what you get will not be the people you know and love; and
6. Please, nothing that has to be porn – I have to be in the mood to write that sort of thing and I would like to be able to post these stories without warnings.  (Yes, I know, 1b & 1c could produce prompts that are almost like that.)
7. For every ten prompt-based pieces I write I will I write a background piece on a world or character, subject to be chosen by http://rix-scaedu.livejournal.com/66432.htmlaudience poll.

Why am I doing this?  It’s almost a month since last time did it.  Practice!

And yes, there is a tip jar.  This is for extensions.  I will write extensions at 500 words per $5.00.

Prompt Extensions

100 words $1.00 AUD200 words $2.00 AUD300 words $3.00 AUD400 words $4.00 AUD500 words $5.00 AUD600 words $6.00 AUD700 words $7.00 AUD800 words $8.00 AUD900 words $9.00 AUD1000 words $10.00 AUD

1. If I receive any money for extensions I will be flabbergasted (screen shot will not be available J).
2. For every $15 I receive for paid extensions I will write to one more prompt, chosen by those who have paid for extensions, from any ‘unsupported’ prompts received in the Prompt Request.  This will occur after I have written the paid extensions.  An ‘unsupported’ prompt is one which does not have a signal boost to support it.

If you are kind enough to give me more signal boosts than you want to prompt, I will use each of your ‘left over’ signal boosts to power another 50 words in the prompt reward story.  Please tell me where you’ve signal boosted as a reply to your comment giving me prompts.

Thank you for participating.

March Prompt Request

The Prompt Request is now CLOSED. 

 The Prompt Request is open from now (Saturday, 24 March, my time) until after I collect eggs on the morning of Easter Sunday, 8 April, my time.  This is an insane and possibly pointless length of time but as long as we’re all having fun and no-one gets hurt, does that matter?

If you give me more than one prompt you need to know that I will work through the list in order starting at the top.

The rules and parameters:

1. Each prompt will be:
   1.  a short sentence or phrase;
   2. a story of mine posted to LJ you want to see more of – it does not need to come from a Prompt Request; or
   3. characters of mine from stories posted on LJ – they do not need to come from a Prompt Request.
2. For each prompt I write to I will write 300±50 words.  If you want to see something I’ve done along these lines before, please see my http://rix-scaedu.livejournal.com/tag/30%20days%20of%20flash%20fiction tag or the results of a previous prompt request on the http://rix-scaedu.livejournal.com/tag/prompt%20request%2031%20dec%2011 tag.
3. I will write one prompt per person, unless you signal boost this Prompt Request or a story from it , in which case I will write an additional prompt per site/platform you boost on i.e. one prompt each on LJ, Twitter, Dreamwidth, etc, for each day of the prompt request you signal boost.  I am setting an arbitrary limit of 14 extra prompts per prompter from boosting.  You will need to tell me about your boosts because I am not across every site and platform.
4. For each prompter I get, I will write 50 words in a prompting reward serial story;
5. No fanfic, I just don’t know enough about enough current series and settings to do your favourites justice – give me a name or names and I promise what you get will not be the people you know and love; and
6. Please, nothing that has to be porn – I have to be in the mood to write that sort of thing and I would like to be able to post these stories without warnings.  (Yes, I know, 1b & 1c could produce prompts that are almost like that.)
7. For every ten prompt-based pieces I write I will I write a background piece on a world or character, subject to be chosen by http://rix-scaedu.livejournal.com/66432.htmlaudience poll.

Why am I doing this?  It’s almost a month since last time did it.  Practice!

And yes, there is a tip jar.  This is for extensions.  I will write extensions at 500 words per $5.00.

Prompt Extensions

100 words $1.00 AUD200 words $2.00 AUD300 words $3.00 AUD400 words $4.00 AUD500 words $5.00 AUD600 words $6.00 AUD700 words $7.00 AUD800 words $8.00 AUD900 words $9.00 AUD1000 words $10.00 AUD

1. If I receive any money for extensions I will be flabbergasted (screen shot will not be available J).
2. For every $15 I receive for paid extensions I will write to one more prompt, chosen by those who have paid for extensions, from any ‘unsupported’ prompts received in the Prompt Request.  This will occur after I have written the paid extensions.  An ‘unsupported’ prompt is one which does not have a signal boost to support it.

If you are kind enough to give me more signal boosts than you want to prompt, I will use each of your ‘left over’ signal boosts to power another 50 words in the prompt reward story.  Please tell me where you’ve signal boosted as a reply to your comment giving me prompts.

Thank you for participating.

Background Piece Audience Poll

For the March Prompt Request I am writing a background piece on one of my worlds or characters for every ten prompts I write to.  You, the audience, get to pick what I write about.

Which world or character would you like to know more about?  Tell me in the comments.

Background Piece Audience Poll

For the March Prompt Request I am writing a background piece on one of my worlds or characters for every ten prompts I write to.  You, the audience, get to pick what I write about.

Which world or character would you like to know more about?  Tell me in the comments.

A Problem

This is in response to ysabetwordsmith's first prompt.

“Amanda?”  Bolt claimed the administrator’s attention with grace, his voice carrying no trace of the concern that was producing the creases around his eyes and on his forehead in his darkened by sun to deep caramel skin.

“Yes?”  She took in the uncharacteristic expression on his face, laid her pen aside and asked, “What’s the problem?”  She gestured to one of the chairs facing her desk.

“I maintain an email address for professional purposes,” he sat gracefully, hands folded in his lap, long legs crossed at the ankles in front of him, “and I have received an approach of interest to our employer.”

Amanda raised an eyebrow.  “Isn’t this conversation a breach of professional etiquette?”

“I’m taking the Elf’s money, so it is in my interests to protect his interests.”  Bolt smiled briefly.  “Also, I have no wish to be considered a potential traitor.”

Amanda nodded, understanding in her honey-coloured eyes.  “If you give me the details, I’ll pass the information on.”

As she picked up the pen there was a knock on the door.  “I’m sorry to interrupt,” it was Calhoun, “but I need to discuss a matter of business.”

Bolt looked over at the doorway where the slightly shorter, bearded man stood.  “You too?” he asked.

“My agent has received an approach,” Calhoun agreed.  “The interested parties made it clear who their intended target is.  I should add, for this audience alone, that my agent is unaware that I’m on the Elf’s payroll.”

“Please, come in and sit down too,” Amanda indicated another chair.  “I’ll need to get the details from both of you.”

“Certainly.”  Calhoun was all urbanity and his face showed none of Bolt’s concern, but his movements and pose spoke of action ready to be released when needed.  “Once, could be just of those things.  Twice, could be coincidence.  If there’s a third, perhaps Jung in Three or la Sare in Four, then we have a pattern.”

“Agreed,” that was Bolt.

Amanda’s, “You’re right,” was simultaneous.  Then she added, “After I’ve passed on your information we’ll have to work out who else they might ask.”

A Problem

This is in response to ysabetwordsmith's first prompt.

“Amanda?”  Bolt claimed the administrator’s attention with grace, his voice carrying no trace of the concern that was producing the creases around his eyes and on his forehead in his darkened by sun to deep caramel skin.

“Yes?”  She took in the uncharacteristic expression on his face, laid her pen aside and asked, “What’s the problem?”  She gestured to one of the chairs facing her desk.

“I maintain an email address for professional purposes,” he sat gracefully, hands folded in his lap, long legs crossed at the ankles in front of him, “and I have received an approach of interest to our employer.”

Amanda raised an eyebrow.  “Isn’t this conversation a breach of professional etiquette?”

“I’m taking the Elf’s money, so it is in my interests to protect his interests.”  Bolt smiled briefly.  “Also, I have no wish to be considered a potential traitor.”

Amanda nodded, understanding in her honey-coloured eyes.  “If you give me the details, I’ll pass the information on.”

As she picked up the pen there was a knock on the door.  “I’m sorry to interrupt,” it was Calhoun, “but I need to discuss a matter of business.”

Bolt looked over at the doorway where the slightly shorter, bearded man stood.  “You too?” he asked.

“My agent has received an approach,” Calhoun agreed.  “The interested parties made it clear who their intended target is.  I should add, for this audience alone, that my agent is unaware that I’m on the Elf’s payroll.”

“Please, come in and sit down too,” Amanda indicated another chair.  “I’ll need to get the details from both of you.”

“Certainly.”  Calhoun was all urbanity and his face showed none of Bolt’s concern, but his movements and pose spoke of action ready to be released when needed.  “Once, could be just of those things.  Twice, could be coincidence.  If there’s a third, perhaps Jung in Three or la Sare in Four, then we have a pattern.”

“Agreed,” that was Bolt.

Amanda’s, “You’re right,” was simultaneous.  Then she added, “After I’ve passed on your information we’ll have to work out who else they might ask.”

Female Bonding

I wrote this to ysabetwordsmith's second prompt.

“But what’re we doing?”  Her boyfriend Maksym’s mother was ushering Isla out of the lounge room and into the kitchen with quick gestures and quiet, accented English.  Behind them the male Ihoryshyns were watching the start of the football on the television, commenting to each other in what she was beginning to recognise as Ukrainian.

“Eggs.”  That was Grandmother Ihoryshyn, grey hair up in a bun and wearing an apron over her smart day dress.  “It’s time to do the eggs for Easter.  They’re well out of the way,” she gestured towards the lounge room with a small implement she was holding, “so you two girls can help us and we can get to know each other better.”

Isla realised that Oleksandr’s girlfriend, Gaye, was in the room too, sitting at a corner of the table with her long black hair pulled back with an obviously borrowed pink ribbon and an apron over her black clothes.  Isla waved weakly at her across the room and put on the apron Mrs Ihoryshyn gave her.  On the table were four cartons of eggs, pencils, candles, tissues and three more small implements.  Saucepans were lined up down the kitchen bench.

“So, how do we do this?”  Gaye leant on the table while the other three took their seats.

“You don’t do this in your families?”  Mrs Ihoryshyn looked at both young women as they shook their heads.  “Ah.  Well, first you carefully draw your pattern on the raw egg’s shell.”  She went on to describe the rest of the process and finished, “Of course, we use our mothers’ patterns.”

“So Gaye and I really have to make up our own,” said Isla slowly.

“I can do that,” Gaye volunteered, perking up.  “What colours do we have?  I’ll swap these pale ones for brown ones, if you like Mrs I – I’ve an idea.”

As the younger women got involved in the task the two older ones exchanged a satisfied look.  These two girlfriends might do.  If they would learn how to do the eggs, perhaps they would learn the other things as well?

Female Bonding

I wrote this to ysabetwordsmith's second prompt.

“But what’re we doing?”  Her boyfriend Maksym’s mother was ushering Isla out of the lounge room and into the kitchen with quick gestures and quiet, accented English.  Behind them the male Ihoryshyns were watching the start of the football on the television, commenting to each other in what she was beginning to recognise as Ukrainian.

“Eggs.”  That was Grandmother Ihoryshyn, grey hair up in a bun and wearing an apron over her smart day dress.  “It’s time to do the eggs for Easter.  They’re well out of the way,” she gestured towards the lounge room with a small implement she was holding, “so you two girls can help us and we can get to know each other better.”

Isla realised that Oleksandr’s girlfriend, Gaye, was in the room too, sitting at a corner of the table with her long black hair pulled back with an obviously borrowed pink ribbon and an apron over her black clothes.  Isla waved weakly at her across the room and put on the apron Mrs Ihoryshyn gave her.  On the table were four cartons of eggs, pencils, candles, tissues and three more small implements.  Saucepans were lined up down the kitchen bench.

“So, how do we do this?”  Gaye leant on the table while the other three took their seats.

“You don’t do this in your families?”  Mrs Ihoryshyn looked at both young women as they shook their heads.  “Ah.  Well, first you carefully draw your pattern on the raw egg’s shell.”  She went on to describe the rest of the process and finished, “Of course, we use our mothers’ patterns.”

“So Gaye and I really have to make up our own,” said Isla slowly.

“I can do that,” Gaye volunteered, perking up.  “What colours do we have?  I’ll swap these pale ones for brown ones, if you like Mrs I – I’ve an idea.”

As the younger women got involved in the task the two older ones exchanged a satisfied look.  These two girlfriends might do.  If they would learn how to do the eggs, perhaps they would learn the other things as well?