Monday, January 13, 2014

Working Hard...

Well then.

As you  know, I've been writing. Writing, writing, writing. You don't get to do an awful lot of other things when you're writing. Well, sometimes you do, but not when you have deadlines like these. The short stories I'm writing, all of them, need to be delivered by Wednesday. The first draft of Book Nine needs to be delivered by the middle of next month.

To say I am a tad busy would be something of an understatement.

Of course, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and why would Jack want to be a dull boy? I've been doing things. Reading things. Watching things.

Take this evening, for instance. This evening I watched the last Sherlock of the current season. The first episode of the season was oddly character-driven, at the expense of the central mystery, but I didn't mind that in the least. The second episode, the wedding episode, was hilariously sublime. And the final episode, having Sherlock face off against a truly unique villain... well. It was just wonderful stuff.

And I've been reading. Stephen King, mostly. Going over his early works. His classics. When I was a kid, I went straight from The Three Investigators and the Hardy Boys to Stephen King and these wonderfully violent and detailed Gold Eagle books like The Executioner and Able Team and Phoenix Force, books that gave you diagrams of the weapons they used at the back of the book. Basically, I graduated from kids books to horror and action. And after a few Stephen King books like Cujo (the first King book I can remember reading) I went on to James Herbert and Shaun Hutson — overtly violent and brilliantly horrific.

And now, after all this time, I'm going back to Stephen King, and loving it all.

Recommendations? Read The Stand. Then read It. Two MASSIVE books. You won't be sorry.

So these things have been my break from the writing. Christmas, for me, was mostly about the short stories. But there was one story...

It started off fine. Exactly as I planned. It would be a new kind of story, something I hadn't really tried before. It would probably end up as one of the longer stories of the collection, though, but not by much.

I thought.

I have just finished it. Half an hour ago, I finished it. At the moment, before edits, it is over 20,000 words long. That's twice as long as The End of the World. So you'll be reading through Armageddon-Outta-Here (haw!), and hopefully enjoying the stories, and then you'll get to this brand new novella, a good, solid chunky story, and I think this story alone will make the collection worth the money.

I think. I hope. Right now I'm far too tired to form a coherent opinion. All I know is, I've been working hard. And it's not over yet.

4,919 comments:

  1. Ahem. What happens when I type with a gerbil in hand

    DEEEERREEEK

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  2. Should have blown up Ireland as the first comment....

    Hehehe. I'm all by meself

    Omg does this mean I can talk to myself? ZAFFY IS INSANE

    LANDY OI YOU OWE US (ahem partly because I can explode Ireland)

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  3. Hai Adra! We have a new post. Busy man killing feels isn't he *glares in general direction of Ireland* Anyhow WEEEEE I may talk to myself

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  4. Don't explode Ireland you little-

    GRR!
    *Smacks her with a feather*

    Derek- good luck with the writing! We're rooting for you! :D

    And

    Also

    MSD- intermission is almost over.

    We miss you, Derek! *hugs*

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  5. Wait- this is the first post of the year!

    Now, when we go back to 2012 for the next posts, it'll officially be two years back. Man.

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  6. Wow! This is the first time im actually in the top few!

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  7. But on behalf of everyone that isn't here right now- Mara, Fabi, Star, Sir, Trip, Emerald, Ember, Snow, Ed, Rose, Sparky, Zath, Saph, Lu, Kessie, Robin, Aretha, Rhydian, EVERYONE.

    Hello

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  8. We miss you Derek *sends Zaffy hugs*

    Hmm omg if I'm all by myself I shall take this oppurtunity to happily read chapter 22 of LSODM and go read 51 and devise ways to freak on Derek.

    Oooh do we invite him or not.....hmm he isn't deserving. Not after LSODM. Hmph. Ruined Zavel. Zaffy not pleased.

    I am most displeased.

    Hear me out: I die, Saracen dies or China lives or all 3 Zaffy uses her bundle of dynamite

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  9. Hi Amethyst!!!!

    My first comment for the post is so weird see I shouldn't type and hold a gerbil. Ahem. Coco is in the cage again pooing and running on the wheel.

    I cannot wait to go see Les Miserables on Broadway. Hell yeah

    THATS MY SWEET 16 PRESENT AKA JANUARY 25TH HINT HINT NUDGE NUDGE TO THE EVIL GOLDEN GOD

    *hangs from tree*

    I'm hyper. Why am I hyper? I'm never this hyper!

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  10. Hullo. Im back. And I have tea!!

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  11. Nope! I started reading my chapter in LSODM and yeah and now I'm hyper and not sure why

    HEY DEREK YOU LURKING?!

    Why am I this hyper?! Omg this is scary!!! My god...I may need to go slam my head into a wall.

    Happy little fish go boom!

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  12. Omg.....

    YOU HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY AS ME!!!!!!

    *faints* *gets up* *explodes Derek* oops- oh well

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  13. MYCROFT BLLOB BLOOB

    YOU DID THIS TO ME EMBERRRRRRR

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  14. Hailo Snow

    *giggles and starts trying to explode Derek*

    Its been 20min so I actually doubt he realizes I'm exploding him. Maybe he doesn't like Blogland....

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  15. :O

    *tackles zaf* I AM NOW 14 BECAUSE, AND I STILL DONT BELIEVE THIS, IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY

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  16. Hello. I believe I only have a few moments, but I wish to tell Derek how rude he was to send Darquesse on me.

    Very rude.

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  17. AND I ALREADY TOLD YOU, DIDNT I?!

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  18. Yes, Zafira? I probably have a short amount of time to chat.

    Hello those who are here.

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  19. Erskine I miss you! Why are you here though? Derek has no heart he has a bottomless pit

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  20. Hey guys! Hey Derek!
    Dude, that's some seriously awesome work on AOH! I can't wait to read it.
    So, what are all my fellow minions up to?

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  21. *sits in shadow's and sips tea*

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  22. Personally, I've been doing a ton of writing too. I decided to re-write my first novel for like the millionth time, and in two months, I've managed to write 48,000 words. ^_^

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  23. HELLO FIRST POST OF 2014!

    Jeeze, I haven't been this early in FOREVER.

    ADRA, THANKS FOR SAYING HI FOR ME!

    *not here, just couldn't pass up the chance to be this high up*

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  24. I can't tell if that was Zaf as Ravel or...

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  25. I read back again- and I guessed not. If you, I think, he woul have stayed...

    Hm.

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  26. *popsout kf the shadows, still drinking tea* adra! I got a lovely mint and lavender infusion tea. I dont know why I told you that

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  27. Because we were talking about peppermint!

    But lavender? I haven't tried that before..

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  28. Yeah he left I mean he may be here like Sir or Ari but yeah he would have stayed I'd have roleplayed, maybe he was actually looking for Derek. And also if i was him i'd have said Zaf not Zafira....

    So! How many votes do I have for dying in Book 9?

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  29. Not for, but everyone's going to die, regardless :P

    That is, if we're even in it, you know?

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  30. You? Die? Ne- oh, who am I kidding? I would laugh my head off if you died in book nine. Sorry.

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  31. Did I mention my friends irl are taking bets to see if I die in Book 9? I may have a chance to be mentioned if Nikki becomes an Elder. I don't care either way. To me it's a plus o be mentioned with her as she's epic but it's no biggie to me if I'm not. Ahem. I did get Vex alone which I can see Em glaring for

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  32. Everyone would be

    Vex is such a babe.

    I mean

    REALLY

    A BABE

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  33. I know....I was drooling when I read my chapter. Omg...He's gorgeous....

    *blushes*

    Ravel is my ultimate. Saracen wouldn't be the type he's to physical. Well maybe...and I have a shot with Ravel! You saw what company he keeps a Necromancer is totes ok

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  34. *shakes head in shame* I will never understand what you see in vex. For a start, HE IS A FACTIONAL CHARACTER

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  35. R u srs


    Damn son.

    It could be worse for me, I think. Damn Derek for making me think Adra was dating that WORM

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  36. Snow I'm looking at my TMS poster and Vex is good looking.....I mean I wouldn't date him, Ravel hmm yeah gimme him

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  37. XD.

    I wonder if derek is looking for mages or mortals to die kn book nine... I wouldn't mind being either, because then my friend would scream...

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  38. Hey ok picture this: we're all on Skype with Derek and I'm on Nikki's lap. And Derek being his usual weird self decides instead of the yes or no to me being with Ravel off page, he tells a story! And I think I died....I'm pretty sure that night when I was laying in my sleeping bag I remember someone saying: Sheep and 16 Asians and Celine

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  39. *slowly hits head on wall* why?! Why am I friendswith you ppeople?! Oh, yeah, thats right : I have no life

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  40. I find that carbon-based chaos to be overrated, Ms. Stormberg.

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  41. Indeed?

    Nice one.

    ...

    That wasn't in response to the post, by the way. I read it a while ago, but my response was cut off by the disconnection of the internet, and I haven't the patience to type it up again.

    ...

    I did say I would come back completely the next time Derek posted, didn't I?

    Rhetorical question. I did.

    I'm not sure if I will stick to that, however...

    We shall see.

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  42. Hey fab. I cannot believe zaf and adra are talking about how "dreamy" fictional characters are...

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  43. Tbh, fictional characters are often a lot better than real people.

    ...

    Sorry to disagree with you, Snow.

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  44. Greetings, Ms. Fabienne.

    Ms. Stormberg, speaking as a fictional character, I would tend to agree with you.

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  45. I shall never understand the teenage girl.... which is a shame, seeing as I am one

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  46. Hey Fabi, Sir!

    Snow, it isn't nice to speak down on other people. Shame on you

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  47. Actually, what makes fictional characters so great is because when we fall in love with them, it's because of the way they speak, how they act, who they are. Not because of appearance, because we can't see them.

    Btw

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  48. Alas, you are right adra. I shouldn't force my opinion.

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  49. While I understand that, Ms. Dark, I have held the personal belief that love is more about interaction.

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  50. Thank you, Snow.

    Sir- although that is true, well... Not to make a religious argument, but I'm fairly certain that those who are Christian love God? *Shrugs* For debate's sake.

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  51. CAN'T WAIT FOR THESE SHORT STORIES! I WANT THEN SOOO MUCH!

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  52. I apologize, I meant love in the more romantic sense of the word.

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  53. Ah..

    I see.

    Well, from my standpoint, if I did meet someone like a character, and they were interested in me, of course I would go for it.

    But the curse of loving a character is knowing you could never meet them, so loving a character romantically is out of the question.

    Usually. There are, as always, outliers

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  54. Hey Zaf, Snow, Sir, Fabi and Adra.

    *nods*

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  55. Greetings, Mr. Duck.

    Naturally, Ms. Dark.

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  56. Agreeable

    I love Nic, I think he's cool and in my head I think he's cute, and I like his personality. Nic isn't real in the sense I could meet him, I could meet Ari and speak to him that way but outside here he does not have a body. So yeah.

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  57. I once fell in love with a character from a book...

    ...Then she died...

    Well, actually she was a robot the whole time so it wasn't that bad.

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  58. Yeah...

    So, I guess, in a nutshell, what Zaf and I are talking about is loving a character, not being in love.

    If that makes sense

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  59. https://31.media.tumblr.com/edeb12bc1ead059da60fd6ee9d15e6a1/tumblr_mx41bxKj6b1r5a67ao1_250.gif

    Rory: Doctor, what are you staring at?

    Doctor: Shh..

    Rory: Is that…a teenage girl? Is she trapped in there?

    Doctor: In a sense. Timey-Wimey thing. I think it’s time to rescue her from her boring little world. What do you think?

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  60. Okay, I take it all back. You can love a fictional character. Though that is more admiration

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  61. Certainly, loving a character is entirely possible.

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  62. Right

    Good

    Because Sydney Carton- *weeps in the distance*

    Ethan Frome*Weeps more*

    That chic from Bridge to Terabithia!


    damn

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  63. Yet I still dont understand the teenage girl.

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  64. Wiiiilllll bbbbeeee ddddiiissstttaaannnttt....

    Wiiiiillll bbbbeeee gggghhhooissstttiiinnngg...

    Oooooooooh....

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  65. Good bye, Ms. Fabienne.

    Chilling, Mr. Duck.

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  66. (Just forget about that 'i' that shouldn't be there)

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  67. Ooookkkkkaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy ddddddduuuuuuuuucccccccccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkk

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  68. I ought to sleep now! School tomorrow, ugh.

    Night

    *cuddles dynamite murmuring in sleep, "John Smith"

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  69. Good night, Ms. Kerias. Sleep well.

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  70. Bye Fabi!

    Okay Duck?

    I daresay, Snow, using the term "the teenage girl" is a bit... Generalizing, eh? The way you say it, it's as if there's an underlying negativity with it. There's nothing wrong with loving. What's the difference between loving a movie, or going places, and loving a character in a book?

    I daresay, all ages and genders have at least one character of SOMETHING that they like.

    Sorry.
    I just don't like being labeled, and that feels like a label.

    Which it shouldn't be a label.
    I'm going to blame media for this.
    But being a teenage girl shouldn't feel bad. Especially when people call you that.
    Again.
    Media.


    But yeah. I hate being labeled. I'm so much more than "the teenage girl".







    That escalated. Please don't take that personally, and I'm not mad at you- just... Idk. :P

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  71. _Oh damnsilenceSeeI'mNotGoodAtExpressingMyOpinionsSorryI'mSoTouchySometimes_

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  72. I might go as well. I dint have much to say and I need something to eat... bye

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  73. I hope you'll have time to revise like you hoped, Derek.

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  74. Who? where? what was what?

    Quick before the hyenas commmee

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  75. I don't know how to answer you. You're going to need to be more specific.

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  76. doing?
    I'm not doing anything. Thats why I came here.

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  77. I'm on a quest to read through the classics, while at the same time dig into the newer YA. So many books! I have a growing pile that I am slowly working my way through.

    Looking forward to getting a hold of the remaining SP books as well, and seeing your next projects.

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  78. Sorry- the power went out for a sec.

    I am re-arranging my bookcase.

    Yum.

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  79. Cool. I should do that.
    *looks over at bookcase*
    No wait, no point. I don't have that many books

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  80. Awh :/

    I shall share mine, if you want

    Sorry

    Brief delay

    My older brother just came into my room and started to attack me with a rubber Nerf sword. He turned the lights off, but didn't know that I had a wooden sword. He took up his other wooden sword so it was 2:1, but I picked up my Quidditch broom.

    Yeah

    That was fun.
    I stepped on some glass.

    And I have to go now. Goodbye, friend! *cuddles*

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  81. *pokes the cheek of whoever commented last* IM BAAACCCKKK

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  82. *waves arms like a wild monkey-goose*

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  83. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  84. Considering the amount of time you've been gone from the normal communication with the fandom, Derek, I'm betting the stories are going to be awesome. I can't wait to read them.

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  85. ☂I waited for a year.☂

    ☂A fucking year.☂

    ☂WHAT THE SHIT☂

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  86. ☂The first episode was self-indulgently character-driven... and OUT OF CHARACTER at that! It was like a bad fanfic!☂

    ☂The second episode was just SAP. Sherlock, what happened? Did somebody drug you while you were away? Did you finally get laid or something? Is that why you're so cheerful? Plot-wise, that one was better, but seriously?☂

    ☂I haven't properly watched the third episode, just skimmed, but YOU GOT RID OF HIM IMMEDIATELY? And SO AND SO ISN'T DEAD????? I'm getting really tired of this. It just takes away from the drama of the whole thing. Sherlock's going away, oh look, he's not! Why is everything so goddamn convenient?☂

    ☂I WAITED FOR A YEAR☂

    ☂FOR THIS☂

    ☂I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN CHEATED☂

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  87. ☂☂tackles Snow☂☂

    ☂SERIOUSLY THOUGH☂

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  88. *shoves a0hand in embers mouth* NUUUUU!! I HAVENT WATCHED IT YETTTTT

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  89. ☂Be prepared to shit yourself with the stupidity of the ending.☂

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  90. ☂Magnussen is pretty awesome, though.☂

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  91. anyway.....

    I AM THOR, PRINCE OF THUNDER!!!

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  92. I AM SEPTEMBER SILVER, PRINCESS OF BEING PISSED!

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  93. Fab?

    @Ember I refuse to a princess, thats so typical for a girl.

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  94. Fair enough. I'd rather be an empress, personally. Or prime minister. Or occupy a minor position in the British government.

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  95. I'm Fabienne S., Moss Cryptic, Jade Hahn and Lantern, Twisted Poet of Excellence and Pain.

    ...

    At least I think that was it. Heh...

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  96. Do you have a link, Snow, or shall I fetch you one?

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  97. Link? For what? The sherlock ep?

    I think my dads downloading it.

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  98. When Sherlock pinned Mycroft against the wall I was about to kill somebody, I swear...

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  99. I love the summer holidays.... omg, I just realized: it's Australia Day soon

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  100. Australia Day. :)

    In other words: an excuse for all aussies to converge on our beaches and party

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  101. How on EARTH can Sherlock have a girlfriend? WHY on Earth does Sherlock have a girlfriend?

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  102. I KNOW WHAT AUSTRALIA DAY IS I'M AUSTRALIAN I'M TALKING ABOUT SHERLOCK

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  103. Lol. THEN BE CLEARER YOU AUSTRALIAN-WHO-I-THOUGHT-WAS-AMERICAN

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  104. I see why he has a girlfriend. Fiancee, now.

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  105. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  106. Or ex-fiancee/ex-girlfriend. Coolio.

    I'm actually mostly English/Chinese, but I hold an Australian passport (as well as my English passport). And fyi, I live in Singapore and occasionally Vienna. Where do you live in Australia?

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  107. I live in tassie. Whoooooo. I think the mainland kinda forgets about us... meh

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  108. Cool

    I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I didn't know...

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  109. I'm so sorry... I don't know... I don't know what to think...

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  110. God I really need to write for TSE but im on a mind blank... I use the computer tomorrow, im bond to think of something...

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  113. Trying to learn Python to write a poem...

    Not here, really..

    Drowning in ideas and emotions.

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  114. Oh, also, I was sorting through some old files, and found this picture that's just so Mireille... I was laughing/crying so hard...

    [Really not here now]

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  115. I was peering around a door, and there were shadows behind me and someone in the living room...

    I think I was more like 9 than 6, but still.

    [dies]

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  116. Ugh, there's something near the top of the page that really bugs me, and it takes so much effort not to blurt it out.

    I'd make a rubbish spy, tbh. :-P

    Anyway, I'm going to put the iPad somewhere I can't reach it so I finally get some sleep.

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  117. Can't wait for it to come out :D

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  118. Hmmm. Still on the first page. This is new. And odd.

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  119. Oh.My.God. Derek watches Sherlock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I wonder if he ships anyone....... Johnlock perhaps?

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  120. "Her disguise:
    'I'm fine.' is her response.
    But, she isn't. She's just hoping to convince herself that she is, when she smiles and tells them she's fine.
    Just to ease her little mind, she puts on a mask. She folds up all her problems and disappointments and shoves them away.
    Just for the day. Thinking maybe, just for now, she could be happy.
    Thinking if she forces that fake smile, it would one day become genuine. A real smile.
    A genuinely happy smile. That's all she ever wanted. But the thing is, nobody knows.
    Nobody who she really is inside, or how hard it is for her.
    Not her parents. Not her best friend. Why? Because she wears a disguise.
    And because if they knew, they'd say she's exaggerating.
    She wants attention. She's just having a bad day. Well, the bad day turned into a bad night.
    A bad week. A bad month. A bad year. But, she doesn't want a bad life. She doesn't try to make herself miserable.
    She tries really hard to be happy. Sometimes too hard. She's learned not to expect anything from anyone, because with great expectation comes great disappointment.  So much disappointment.
    Enough to make her sadness become into emptiness.
    She'd rather be sad than empty."

    :'| ♥

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  121. I FINALLY WROTE A (really short) SHERLOCK FIC! It's about the third brother... or Mycroft and Sherlock waiting for their third brother to come home.

    https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10019031/1/Brother-Mine

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  122. WAIT A MINUTE

    SNOW

    Did you say earlier that you can't love a fictional character

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  123. You can love a fictional character, the same way you can love a pen pal (I've heard of pen pals that married literally the day they met, and they STAYED together), or on a celebrity that you will never meet. You love a fictional character when you accept them for everything they have to offer, every little flaw, and believe in them. You can love a fictional character, the same way you can ship fictional characters, the same way you cry over fictional characters, the same way stories about heroes in the old days inspired people to become great.

    You can love a fictional character.

    You can love a fictional character.

    You can love a fictional character.

    And I know this.

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  124. *hugs Zaffy*

    FICTIONAL CHARACTERS CAN BE LOVED!

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  125. Has this conversation betweenng going on for the while blog post?

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  126. Not really. It started, then stopped, then I brought it up again.

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  127. School...

    *puts on party hat*
    *throws streamers*
    *balloons fall from ceiling*
    *confetti cannons go off*
    *circus animals do cartwheels into the room*

    yay...

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  128. Wow, look. A New page.

    *repeat stuff in previous comment*

    yay...

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  129. Oh good lord i just saw my English teacher

    I dont like seeing her longer then my 56min of torture next class

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  130. I dedicate this page to loving fictional characters, because if you couldn't love a fictional character, I wouldn't be here on this blog and I wouldn't be half as sane (or as insane, depending on how you look at it!) as I am now.

    I also dedicate to the Sherlock fandom. First of all, they (we?) are hella smart, and second, we're going to wait another two years now.

    But you know what we're going to do? We're going to do what we've always done. Fanfics, fanart, theories... And now that we know Gatiss is taking ideas from the fandom, we can try and shape Sherlock and Mycroft's childhoods!

    How? We think of the best theory in the history of ever, and we spread it around until it becomes viral.

    And anyway, I dedicate to Mycroft Holmes and his umbrella, because even though he can be mean and bratty and bitchy, I love him anyway.

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