As was recently pointed out to me, "Nerdy Dalek" is an anagram of my name, so I suppose it's only fitting that my birthday should be the day my Doctor Who story comes out on ebook. The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage is a Tenth Doctor adventure and I had unimaginable fun writing it. For those of you who don't read ebooks, fret not- a physical book, containing all eleven stories by eleven writers, will be arriving late next month.
Ah yes, my birthday. I am 39 today. Some people might worry about reaching that age — just one more birthday till 40, after all. But not me. I shall live forever. And I don't mean in a metaphorical sense. I don't mean I'll live forever in the hearts and minds of my readers. I mean I will literally live forever, drawing as I do from your pain and suffering.
Your pain makes me strong.
Today is the day I knuckle down and officially start Book 9. I've been writing bits and pieces of it for the last few weeks — I've got close to 10,000 words done — but today it kicks off properly. October 23rd is, of course, the day Skulduggery died, hundreds of years ago. Once again, I think it's only fitting that I begin his final book on such a date. Poignant, even.
Sniffle.
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«Oldest ‹Older 3201 – 3400 of 4985 Newer› Newest»I act like a three year old. Death acts like the six year old. *Kicks at Oscar's other knee*
Erm, quite...
Ah, greetings, Doctor.
((Sorry back I was gathering my money xD I got a bank lol I have to pay the activation fee so I upgrade but eh! Free upgrades dont make me mad))
*steps backwards, out of the way*
Oi!
*glances up!
*notices Precocious*
*standing by her van*
*watching the sky*
*and freaking the heck out*
Oh dear . . .
Precocious: Sir?
Sir?
What's happening with the sky?
And where's . . .
*notices Oscar*
*balanced on one leg, holding his knee*
Oh.
There he is.
(Is everybody gone?
*looks stricken*)
Well.
I am not entirely sure what has happened to the sky.
(I . . . I suppose I'll leave . . .
*strides tearfully into the sunset*)
(I'm sleeping...))
(Oh! Oh! Sir is still here! Yay!)
Precocious: *approaches Sir*
*hands in pockets*
Well . . .
I suppose now is as good a time as any.
*gives Oscar a disgusted look*
Where is this nursery?
Yes, Sir . . .
*looks away from Precocious*
I think it would be best if we got this over with.
(NO!! DONT GO IM HERE!! Sir is going to kill me (strap me down to a comfortable bed and feed me nothing but soup if I don't sleep) because I'm sick...))
((Indeed. There certainly seems to be a deficit of people in Blogland, now.))
Er, quite.
*opens a gateway to what appears to be a janitorial closet*
After you.
((I gtg in a few so we can go to AT&T))
Precocious: *looks suspiciously at Oscar*
*looks suspiciously at Precocious*
*gestures at the portal*
After you.
Precocious: *hesitates*
*walks through the portal*
*follows*
(Back)
Right.
*walks in after them, and shuts the gateway*
Doctor, there is a door. Could you open it, please?
*coughs, deathly cold and pale*
Precocious: *gives Sir a confused look*
*opens door*
Volia.
Adra don't die on is okay?
*Hears the coughing and looks at Adra. Walks ore at her and peers down* Should I help you...? You're sick and dying but should I help you...?
Help her Judi *sounds tired* Ugh Justaria uses so much energy
Thank you.
*squeezes past Oscar and the Doctor*
*looks both ways*
This direction, please.
*quickly begins walking to the left*
Precocious: *pushes roughly past Oscar*
*follows Sir*
*grimaces*
*brushes off his sleeve*
*follows Precocious following Sir*
Where exactly are we going?
Precocious: Wherever Sir's taking us!
*sighs* You can't
*glances at Oscar andPrecocious and Sir* *gathers up her things and hobbles after them*
But why should I...? *Frowns and hunkers down beside Adra* Why should I help her...?
(Aaaaaand, I'm asleep. I don't need a shark strapping me down to a bed and feeding me soup...))
*makes a quick left turn, avoiding a few nurses wheeling a wailing woman into a well-washed room*
I do believe the nursery is this way...
*they get a few strange looks, but most are too busy to say anything*
Ah-ha! Here it is.
*opens a door for the Doctor and Mr. Neurotic*
*calls back* YOU WON'T
((Pleasant dreams, Ms. Rose.))
Precocious: *walks past Sir*
*enters the room*
*shoots poisonous look behind him at Adra*
*voice dripping with malice* I was hoping we could talk alone.
*enteres the room*
(Goodnight, Death Rose!
Sleep well!)
*firmly closes the door after Mr. Neurotic*
Ms. Adrasdos, may we speak?
Precocious: *sits down on the edge of a hospital bed*
*looks at Oscar expectantly*
Well, here we are. It was you who wanted this, so, speak up.
*is about to sit next to her*
*examines the sheet*
*opts to stand instead*
I was hoping to find you without your . . . friends . . . nearby.
Precocious: . . .
I hope the effects of the medallion didn’t cause you to feel ill . . . Earlier, I mean . . .
Precocious: Your prescence makes me feel ill.
Ah.
Precocious: But I promised Sir. So I’ll stay.
Thank you . . . I suppose.
((Night!))
Adra....
What?
Precocious: I don’t know how I can even look at you after you attacked my friends.
Please, just, stop. Don’t be an idiot. I’m all you’ve got!
Precocious: No. Not any more.
I’m just as confused and miserable as you are, Doctor. Your friends are nothing more than distractions from what’s really important.
Precocious: Oh? And what’s that?
What’s going to happen to us.
Precocious: *growls angrily*
*stretches her legs out in front of her*
You see these? You ripped them apart with hot switchblades, remember? Fifty years in a wheelchair, only barely survived, and you think I’ll just abandon my friends to come running back to you?
*looks very solemn*
I do.
So do you.
Get better ok? Try. Ihate seeing you hurt
Hello.
May I ask you something?
Precocious . . .
. . .
Precocious: . . . What . . .
What if the world was ending?
Precocious: I beg your pardon?
Oscar:
*tucks his hands in his pockets*
What if the world was ending right here, right now, as we stand in the middle of this hospital?
What if the world died today?
What if everyone would die, five minutes from now, at the exact same moment?
Precocious: . . .
. . .
Precocious: . . . If the world ended today, we would both die. At exactly the same time.
There would be no winner or loser. The game would be a draw.
Precocious: . . . Have you brought about the end of the world?
*laughs weakly*
No.
That’s not my question.
...yeah
Do it for Tadra.
What would you say to me?
Precocious: What?
If the last moments of our lives were here, in this room, what would you say to me?
Precocious: . . .
Hello, I don’t believe we’ve met. My name is Oscar. Oh look, the apocalypse! And you are?
Precocious: . . .
. . .
Precocious: . . . My name is Doctor Precocious.
Very good. Now, is there something you would like to say to me, Doctor?
Precocious: . . . Oscar . . .
Yes?
*suddenly very nervous*
*more than usual, I mean*
Precocious: . . . . Oscar, I . . . I . . .
. . .
Ms. Adrasdos, this is an issue that the Doctor and Mr. Neurotic must solve by themselves. Sadly, I am forced to tell you that you must leave, for you tend to make Mr. Neurotic very... Aggressive.
Hello, Dragona
And is that what they're doing?
*frowns*
He's not going to hurt her, is he?
Precocious: Oscar, I . . .
*looks very interested in what she’s about to say*
Precocious: *looks at Oscar*
*looks into his eyes*
*swallows*
Oscar, I think I-
*holds up a hand*
You know what?
I don’t want to hear it.
Forget I said anything.
*sighs* *sings* Please do not send me out alone not in the darkness on my own
Ms. Adrasdos. This is a HOSPITAL. I doubt it.
Javier: Zafira?
What is it?
Javier: Come inside I see you're hurt.
*follows Javier* Why?
Javier: You're in my head Zaf. You know why. You know I want nothing more then to be with you. You know this you don't need me to say it. But I did.
*looks up at him and hugs him*
Javier: *hugs back* Stay?
*smiles* Forever
So? I've been attacked in hospitals before. *pauses* Mor than I'd like to admit...
Precocious: Listen, Oscar, I don’t know why you wanted this peaceful meeting, but I think the time for peace is over.
*looks angry at herself for some reason*
I need you to leave. Now, please.
Doctor . . .
Precocious: You can't come near my friends.
If you don't like it, then kill me.
*nurse bustles in*
*Oscar and Precocious act casual*
*nurse drops off a pile of bedding*
*nurse leaves*
*tension in the room immediately returns to an all-time high for a hospital nursury*
Precoious: I can't do that, Oscar.
Damn you! What has gotten into you lately!?
Precocious: This is all me, Oscar, they have nothing to do with it. Your quarrel is with me, and me alone.
*takes deep breath*
Whatever you want, I’ll do it.
But don’t touch my friends.
I know that the medallion was doing something to you . . .
*flinches*
Precocious: . . . but it’s gone now. You’re just Oscar, and I’m just me.
Your quarrel is with me, and only me, and I can’t let you touch my friends.
Simple as that.
I’ll do anything.
What do you want?
*slides off bed*
Let me put it differently.
This is the MATERNITY WARD. I doubt Oscar shall attack anyone, here.
*looks taken aback*
*is hurt* Well thanks for telling me that..
. . . Come with me to New England.
Precocious: What?
The house! The big house, where it all began. Come with me.
Precocious: I cannot believe you just asked me that-
*finally loses it*
Damn you don't you see? I just want things to go back to the way they were, don't you understand that I want this to end I can't bear to look at you and know that I failed. You're scared of everyone and I'm scared of everything, can't we just stop this madness!? Leave your friends, come with me to New England, and we can kill each other quietly, with no fuss. We both win.
Precocious: *looks suddenly worried*
Oscar, where did the stripe in your hair go? The medallion . . .
Shut up! Do you want another 50 years in a wheelchair? At least I wouldn't have to look at you, you pathetic scrap, you're driving me MAD!
*the light grows suddenly brighter*
*it reflects brutally off the white hospital walls*
Precocious: *sheilds her eyes*
Oscar! The light-
*light grows so bright she can barely open her eyes*
Javier: Good. *picks up*
Hey! Put me down!
Javier: *teasingly* I think I'll leave you in the tree for your friends to find!
Hey *is laughing*
Javier: *takes into the library* I love the view up here.
I do too. Its peaceful.
*sighs*
I am sorry, Ms. Adrasdos.
*light dies down*
Damn it . . . damn Sir . . . I can't do anything . . . not here, not in a hospital . . .
*swallows grimly*
*glances toward the door*
*whispers* Doctor, you're all I've got.
Don't abandon me for these people you've known for hardly any time at all.
Please.
Precocious: *stares steadily at him*
*takes his hand*
*blinks in the light*
. . . What exactly do you want?
*flinches when she touches him*
. . .
*takes a deep breath*
I want you to kill me.
Javier: So now that I have you, shall we go get Olivia?
If you want. Why?
Javier: She misses spending time with us. I think she'll be happy.
Olivia: *wanders up the stairs and sits by parents* Mommy Daddy, are you guys mad at each other?
Zaf& Javier: No.
Javier: Not anymore
Save it.
*turns and briskly walks off, pulling her IV after her*
Precocious: I can't do that, Oscar.
Then hold still and let me kill you.
Precocious: I . . . I would really rather you didn't.
Why?
Precocious: Because unlike you, Oscar, I would be missed.
. . . I hate you so much . . .
Precocious: That’s understandable.
You're a filthy, backstabbing coward.
Precocious: And you're a ridiculous, compulsive moron.
. . .
Precocious: . . .
. . .
Precocious: . . .
*leans forward very quickly and kisses him on the cheek*
[Takes the moment to acknowledge Annika's brilliance]
[Goes back to trying to solve a problem]
#ChaseForBook9
...
*sighs, and turns his gaze to the floor*
Damnable humans...
((Noooooooo Osmosis))
*looks dazed*
I . . . I think that was more compulsive than ANYTHING I’ve done . . .
Precocious: *turns pink*
I . . . can’t disagree . . .
*someone is talking outside the door*
*there’s a commotion outside*
Precocious: *looks toward the door*
*eager for a distraction*
What in the-
Is that Adrasdos?
*looks at Oscar*
*looks back at the door*
*runs out the door*
*watches her leave*
*still dazed*
*pulls out a moist towelette*
*is about to clean off his face*
*changes his mind*
*puts it back in his pocket and sits on the edge of the bed*
(OH WAIT
YEAH)
Sir, tell me about it.
*the door slams open, into his face*
......
((Here's my question- where the hell do the moist towelettes stay?))
*sits on the steps outside, hunching over to stay warm*
Precocious:
*gasps*
Oh, my! I'm so sorry!
I didn't-
I mean-
Are you okay?
*holds out hand to pick him up*
*takes it back*
I mean-
Um-
Thank you for arranging this meeting-
I should go . . .
*disappears down the hospital corridor*
*a minute drags by*
*yells* I don't know where I am!
(They're in little individual packets.
Kind of like tea bags.
And then they unfold to handkerchief size, you use them, and then throw them away.
You can keep them in your pocket or your purse or whatever.)
*sighs, and peers into the room*
Mr. Neurotic, do you wish to go and find the good Doctor?
*vanishes* ((be back later))
I . . . I don't think that would be wise, no.
I'm so confused . . .
*still blinking*
*and dazed*
Is Adra still there?
((Alright Zaf))
((Yeah but how big are his pockets))
*decides* *picks up the pole and slowly and carefully descends the steps with her cane*
*realizes she has no idea how to get back* *walks*
(His pockets are maybe just a little bit bigger than normal-sized.
But if you're good at Tetris, you can fit a lot of those little packets in a normal-sized pocket.)
She, er, left.
Harrumph, stars, how will I find BOTH...
((Woooow))
*walks in random directions, eventually getting lost* *sighs*
*sigh*
You'd better go find her, I suppose.
I'll just stay here.
In this very clean room.
...
Well, if you insist, Mr. Neurotic.
*heads in the direction he last saw the Doctor*
I'm not 100% sure what's going on, but is there anything I can do to help?
No, you don't understand, I'm LOST.
Information Clerk: Uh-huh.
You see, a friend of mine brought me here, to meet with someone, and I don't know what city I'm in. WHere am I? And how do I get back?
Information Clerk: Uh-huh.
Are you deaf!?
*looks very flustered and confused*
What am I going to do?
Information Clerk: Well, you could always-
Please, clerk, your mouth is talking. Make it stop.
I'm sorry, that was rude.
Was that rude?
(I have to leave in 30ish minutes, fair warning . . .)
*aimlessly stops and ends up at a little bakery* *again, she has no appetite* *keeps walking*
*sees the Doctor*
Doctor! This way, now!
*glances amusedly at the information clerk*
Ignore her, please.
*whips around*
Sir!
There you are, thank goodness!
*runs after him*
Where are we?
A hospital, naturally. Come with me, now, I shall hardly leave Mr. Neurotic here, or Ms. Adrasdos.
*ends up in a tiny park*
*sits in the cold on a bench and watches the people go by, her knees to her chin*
*flushes at the mention of Oscar*
*but continues following Sir*
I thought I heard Adra here earlier. WHere did she run off to?
*sees a lady in a wheelchair roll by*
*turns faintly white*
*looks away*
I... Do not know where she went.
But , firstly I need to get Oscar and you out of here.
*takes a brisk turn, and ends up back at the nursery*
(Actually, Adra has left the building))
*appears next to Sir* Are you a human?
Oscar: *pacing the floor*
*looks up*
*addresses Sir, not Precocious*
I see you found her, then.
*swallows*
I suppose that means we can get out of here?
*looks mournfully at the clean room*
*starts at the appearance of Dragona*
By Jove! Don't DO that, man! This...
This is NOT a magical hospital. Honestly!
*gasps in shock*
Dragona!
How did you-
*looks around wildly*
Wow!
Oscar:
*the corner of his mouth twitches at Precocious's beflusterment*
It isn't magic. Tactical cloak. *shrugs* Hey, I AM an Infiltrator.
(Brb shower)
... Ah, quite.
I sincerely hope that the two of you resolved your differences.
Now, to the broom closet!
*sits down by Adra wearing a grey cloak and some very stylish gauntlets*
Hello love.
#ChaseForBook9
DAGNABIT
#ChaseForBook9
Oscar: *smiles weakly*
To the broom closet indeed!
*walks past Precocious*
*tenses up with they brush together*
*follows Sir and Dragona*
Yes . . . yes, to the broom closet!
*follows Sir*
*not looking at Oscar*
(Oh my gosh, Trip, I'm so sorry. No I'm not. I just spat ginger ale across the room from laughing at that . . .)
*jumps*
...Trip?
((Ehehe hey there! *hug*))
Aye.
#ChaseForBook9
*frowns at the Doctor and Mr. Neurotic, but says nothing as he leads them back to the broom closet*
*opens the door for them*
((Hello everybody!))
#ChaseForBook9
((Greetings, Mr. Castalan.))
*elbows him sharply in the side but otherwise says nothing*
*takes his hand*
(Hullo, Trip!)
*steps in*
Oscar: *tries to step in too*
*looks conflicted*
*steps in, trying very hard not to touch any of the brooms*
*or Precocious*
Can we get this show on the road, please?
Oscar: Yes please . . .
I-I'm sorry for disappearing. I have a very good reason.
disippearing
*gets in too*
...
Quite.
*a screeching gateway opens on the opposite wall*
After you.
I'm sure
Oscar: *feeling uncomfortably squished*
Dragona!
Dragona!
*both look rather uncomfortable*
Oscar: *hurries through the door*
*follows at his heels*
Oscar: Thank God . . .
I agree . . .
*they look at each other*
*then look away*
How've you been?
disippearing
((Morning))
#ChaseForBook9
((Yo, Fabi.))
#ChaseForBook9
What?
Ah, um... Not that well, actually
((FABRU! *tackles*$))
(I am afraid that I must depart. Thank you, Sir, for all your wonderful help in this confusing and intriguing saga that is Precocious and Neurotic.)
((Sorry, copy and [paste added the disappearing part in, ignore that.))
Oh.
#ChaseForBook9
((Bye Annika! *hugs*))
Yeah..
(Bye Annika!)
#ChaseForBook9
So, Sir, are you a human? You described them as if you were not one.
((Indeed. Good bye, Ms. Annika.))
*looks at Dragona*
Well... No, not entirely.
...
#ChaseForBook9
Wanna go get a drink?
Care to explain, Sir?
*seems conflicted for a moment*
Sure. *smiles* I'll probably have to take these gauntlets off then.
#ChaseForBook9
Not especially. It's a rather long, dull, and convoluted tale. You are hardly missing much.
Yeah.. Uh... What are those for?
((A tale without a chalkboard))
It' a long, long story.
But partly I guess for arresting Fabi.
#ChaseForBook9
Are we the only non-humans here?
((Adra! [tacklehugs] Hi Trip! Hi Dragona! Good day, Sir!))
#ChaseForBook9
I have absolutely no idea, Dragona.
Though I am sure that there's a few non-humans running about. Sadly, most of them are quite rude and brutal.
...you arrested-
*frowns* Aaaallllllrighty then?
((Ooh, arresting Fabi! This sounds iiiinnnnttteresting))
#ChaseForBook9
No, not yet. But soon.
Actually, I can't get that drink, sorry.
Things to do... *sighs*
Sorry, I really have to go. You have no idea how much want to stay, but... I've got to go.
#ChaseForBook9
Oh...
*manages to smile for him* Okay
Sir, does your lack of humanity impact your powers?
((Snakey isn't a human. Snakey is a snakey! [Bounces]))
((Whyyyy am I so hyper? Maybe 'cause it's the weekend and I'm meeting Val later today. O.O))
#ChaseForBook9
*tears start to trickle down face* I-I'm gonna go now, while I still can... *with some effort, lets go*
#ChaseForBook9
((Film it all, Fabi 0.0))
Wait- *grabs him* Wait, why are you crying
((My camera is out of battery. Actually, it almost always is, I usually use my sister's, but she might actually want it today, so... Once I get out of bed, I'll plug the camera in, though.))
#ChaseForBook9
Thankfully, I possess no powers to speak of. I have not the smallest spark of magic in my own blood.
((Okay Fabiiiii))
Take a guess.
#ChaseForBook9
Don't cry.. *brushes his tears away* *pulls him to her and kisses him*
*kisses back, placing a hand on her cheek*
#ChaseForBook9
gtg.
#ChaseForBook9
I missed you
But I'll just settle for hitting you later
Softly
Because I like you
((Mumbles a little song, the lyrics going Tadra, Tadra, Tadra, with the occasional other ship name thrown in))
#ChaseForBook9
((Fine then! Rude))
((G'bye Trip!))
#ChaseForBook9
Sorry, got like, a minute.
#ChaseForBook9
((Gtg, breakfast! Eek! It's a pancake! Run! Byeeee Adra, Sir, Dragona, idk who's still here.))
#ChaseForBook9
Sir, I currently have no magic either. I am an infiltrator, so my powers are mainly technology based. I can use my tactical cloak to become invisible, sabotage weapons so they are unable to fire, hack into well... everything, and I also have a large collection of grenades.
And a sniper rifle, which comes in very useful indeed.
((Okay..?))
Also
*ahem*
*gives him a skulcake* Welcome back
((Bye Fabru!))
I'm sure I deserve it. *smiles and gets up* But I really have to go now, I'll see you later, and then, if you want, I'll explain why I vanished.
#ChaseForBook9
*walks away, nomming the skulcake*
#ChaseForBook9
*waves*
*gets up and walks in the direction of the hospital*
*ends up nowhere near if*
FNSKXBXUCK IM LOST
Well, that is most impressive, Dragona. I am not the most proficient in the use of technology...
*looks around*
*goes in circles*
*whines*
...
I cannot help but feel that I have forgotten something.
Sir, why thank you. It means that I can infiltrate any structure in the universe with minimal effort.
*sits in an alleyway next to a hunkered over form*
So.
Come here often
Indeed...
*frowns*
Form: *moves strangely*
Hey, you alright, mate?
Form: *jumps suddenly, at her*
*curses, getting to her feet and running*
*is tackles to the ground, the rather heavy person pinning her*
OI I'M CRIPPLED HERE!
*feels a hand go over her mouth, and glances at a needle in her peripheral vision* *eyes widen, and she snaps her head back, hitting the person's, and a tumbles to her feet, looking for her IV drip*
*they catch her ankle and she falls, skinning her knees and gets pinned once more* *feels them start kissing her neck*
*growls, ramming her knee into their stomach and grabbing the IV pole, slamming it into them repeatedly*
*gets to her feet*
*hits them again*
Harrumph. *calls the police and walks a way from it, her pole in pieces* *tucks it away in her back with the needle and examines her arm where it was ripped out of*hmmm..
((*has somehow made it awkward sorry*))
*takes out her cane and walks with that instead*
[Sneezes]
((Is back from breakfast. Hiiiiiii!))
#ChaseForBook9
*Winds up on another backroad* *looks around nervously* *pulls her coat tighter*
*glances all about and stops, noticing a mother and her son on the side of the road, shivering*
*immediately walks over, taking off her coat and wrapping it around the kid, before taking out the large fluffy blanket and putting it around the woman* *takes some food from her bag as well, ignoring the mother's objections* *silently hands them both a paper and tells them where to go, but not before handing them a small decor card that contained a couple thousand dollars on it* *shoos them towards the crisis center*
*walks on*
((Hi Fabru))
((Fabru?
Dammit.))
*ends up at the top of the hill, breathing heavily* oh gods.. I thought I was gonna die..
*searches her bag for a scarf and ends up finding a thin one to wrap around her shoulders*
Better this than nothing..
*finds the hospital once more*
FINALLY
*rushes in* *looks around* *facepalms* *glances to the maternity ward where they are* *ponders*
No... I think he made it quite clear I wasn't welcome..
*walks out again and looks for a bus station that can bring her back home*
((Hi Adra! Sorry! Evil pancake! Actually no, I had to put away some laundry. Evil pancake just sounds more exciting!))
#ChaseForBook9
((I see. Wb))
((Okay
I ded to people coming back. Silence isn't fun rn))
((Silence isn't fun? Okay! [Attempts to yodel]))
#ChaseForBook9
((I know what you mean, though...))
#ChaseForBook9
*gets on a bus and it takes off in the general direction of home*
((Yeah... Damn, it just- quiet))
*eons later she jumps ship and lands hard in the snow near the Blogland base camp* *rolls as the bus keeps driving*
Ow.
*gets up*
Helloooooo
[Leans against a tree]
#ChaseForBook9
Fabi!
[Looks up]
Hello Adra.
#ChaseForBook9
*hobbles over and hugs her* Fabi I've missed you!
[hugs back] Same here. I've missed all of you, actually. How've you been?
#ChaseForBook9
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