I have just pressed SEND.
By pressing SEND, I have emailed off the completed book to my agent and editor. It will now be sent to the copyeditor who, amongst other things, will be checking for grammar and spelling mistakes that I've missed but, more importantly, will be ensuring that everything I've written makes sense.
She will be checking facts and figures and timelines, scouring her notes on the other books to make sure I haven't contradicted myself... A good copyeditor in invaluable, and I have a great one.
It's done. I wrote the two Scapegrace chapters that I'd left until last. Oh, and I ALSO included the winner of the Die Horribly competition...
It took me until last night to pick a winner. I was sent 30 finalists out of everyone who entered. Of those 30, I quickly whittled it down to 15. Then, not so quickly, down to 10. Then it took me ages to narrow it down to 5. Then 3.
There were some great entries. Lots of funny reasons why people reckoned they should be the reader I pick to kill horribly in the book. But I needed something specific. I needed something that would fit in with what I'd written. And there was only one reader who fit PERFECTLY.
So congratulations to Lewis Holmes, from the UK. You shall have the distinct honour of being Horribly Killed in The Dying of the Light.
Lewis' death was the last thing I had to write. Now it's all over. Sure, I'll be sent the copyeditor's notes to approve, and there'll be a little more fiddling around between now and printing time, but...
... but it's over. I have finished writing Skulduggery Pleasant.
I think I need to lie down now.
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*glares at Masky*
Youft wergt ointhg oof left eeft gog!
*fires two bullets in quick succession - one at her hand again, the other at her knee*
Being evil is fun.
But this is my sooonnnnggggg!!!!!!
(Silente: But it'd make sense)
*looks at Dragona*
Yof artdg eingh ehvilfh!!!! Yof ecuaringh ee!!
*catches both in separate hands*
Do I have to escort you out!
*moves as a blur knocking the gun from his hand and pinning him to the wall*
I said. Go away.
*throws him out the door tapping a sigil on the back of it*
*it firmly locks and solidifies so that its part of the wall*
*turns to Dugglyn*
Sorry for the interruption.
((I know it would but it might cause problems))
*sighs* I'm back but I don't know if I want to be
((Wb Zaf!))
(We'd only count it if 'Everyone' was nominated, which was only for a couple awards, which isn't too bad. And you decided on three votes max, right? So one vote for everyone doesn't mess with that. There are some awards everyone deserves to win.)
(It does complicate things, though...)
(I'm with Silente on this, we can't not count votes. If a majority votes for everyone, everyone should be the winner.)
*throws a wave of energy at the wall, crushing it*
*steps back in again*
Hello.
*throws a knife at Silente*
*Turns back to Masky*
Ift yof oingy oft eepdg oingy hist ell mep quy! Leasefgtg!!
((Yeah I suppose we'll have to do that then. Damned people! *mutters* if you type some up tonight I'll type the rest up tommorow okay?))
((Hi Zafira!! How be's yous?!))
No more! It can not wait! I'm yours!!
*catches the knife*
Go. AWAY!
*throws the knife back*
YOUR INTERUPTING IMPORTANT BUSINESS!
*sends a wave of blue energy at dragona to drive him away*
@Fabi: :):)
(Sorry. Probably not very here.)
*also catches the knife*
*counters the energy with a beam of his own energy, and continues it after Silente's wave has dissipated*
((There's no need to complicate our time is short it cannot wait I'm yours!))
*dives out of the way of the beam dragging Dugglyns chair with her*
WHAT DO YOU WANT?!
*sends more and more waves after dragona*
IM BUSY! YOU COULD AT LEAST /TALK!/
*tries to yell after Dragona*
Yof ontgh avet oo o! You oft inerufting anyting! Ily!
I'm a bit bored
((I like that song!))
((Its a good song!))
((Zafira, you could help Dragona! I would really like to be out of this chair!))
*makes a shield of energy to stop each wave Silente throws at him*
Sure. Let's talk. What are your reasons for doing this?
((You can't take back, what you have done! You got to keep, your heart young!!))
*yells at Masky and Dragona*
Ufst llease et mep out!
((Er..))
Let's talk about something different. Why are /you/ here?
*leans on the wall*
*Dugglyns chair is on its side slightly behind her*
I am here simply because I can, masked person. Because I am a force. A force of destruction, and what does a force of destruction do but destroy other forces of destruction?
*reaches her hand into her boot*
*it takes some time but finally she pulls out a knife*
*Masky doesn't notice because she's to busy talking with Dragona*
*plunges the knife into Maky's side*
**Masky's
It's where my demons hid, it's where my demons hid!
It might want to play chess? I don't know.
*a watch beeps on her wrist*
Ah. There goes the alarm. I beg your pardon but I must take my leave from the place, don't worry, I'm sure we'll meet again.
*smiles*
*taps the sigil on her nose and fall backwards into the portal it creates*
*the portal closes up begin her*
**hide!
((Are you leaving, Silente? ))
((Nope))
*gasps out after the fall*
Ow! Stupid Dugglyn!
*yanks the mask off*
*slides the knife out carefully*
Fuck!
*applies pressure to the wound*
Next time, make sure they don't have weapons.
*cringes at the pain*
This could take a while to heal..
*sighs and sits on the floor of her vault*
*watches Masky leave*
*Turns to Dragona*
Could you get me out, please?!
Gtg! Bye!!!
Bye Dugglyn!
Huh? Sorry falling asleep
Laser bat...
((Wb again Zaf!))
Screw it I'm going up!
*taps the sigil on her nose*
*hisses at the pain in her side*
*stumbles forwards through her portal into the clearing*
*clutching her bleeding side*
Bloody hell! That hurts!
*sits back down and goes back to stemming the blood flow*
There was chaos on her home planet.
She saw it, flicking through the news channels, all of them, everywhere.
Politicians panicked, made statements about how it was all going to be okay, and then argued with each other about the best way to make it okay, with limited success seeing as how none of them really knew how to.
“We will find this threat -”
“We won’t let this happen again -”
“We have doubled our monitoring -”
“How did this happen? -”
“Who was it? -”
“What can we do? -”
Underneath, they were helpless.
Their empty promises were just that – empty.
They couldn’t do a thing to help the people they promised to stand by.
And soon, the world would see them for them helpless idiots they were.
Soon.
She had a list of planets to target.
The primary one was her home planet, of course.
The rest were generally ones of influence that her home planet monitored.
But one . . .
One of them was Blogland.
... My picture was too angry, and it was upsetting me. I don't want to be angry. :P
So I'm switching to Pigeon Kirk (?) instead. *nods* :)
And, I'm going now, also.
NOt that I was really here, much.
But, y'know. :P
*hugs ever'one*
((Oh god. Not again..))
Bye Taia!
((I am sorry.))
*the person was starting fairly small*
*she picked up her phone-like device and pressed the 'okay' button*
((*face palms* I need to get out more. Then I won't end up being on when random dangerous stuff happens..*thinks* Nah!))
*is now healed*
*sighs*
*whistles*
((IF YOUR SORRY WHY DO YOU DO THIS?!))
@Actually Do Mind: I know who you are.
Completely by chance, but I know. :P
BUT, I don't have a way to discreetly mention it without giving away, sooooooo, I'll just *hugs* :)/:P
*is gone*
*over all her chosen targets, the skies were suddenly ripped open, which revealed itself with a shimmering, rather like bubble mixture*
*the display was impressive - whole skies had opened - but it wasn't as easy as she was making it look* *they'd had to charge up the energy needed for months*
*storm clouds emerge from the portals, expanding across the skies* *the storm clouds differ depending on the environment, but in most places, they would be viewed as storm clouds* *which is how she wants it*
((I'm guessing this is happening in Blogland too. Yey,))
*frowns looking up*
Storm? Great.
*refuses to move*
((You do know?
I remain unconvinced of that.))
((I am not doing this, Silente. I am not the character I am portraying. I am a cross between a character, a narrator, a messaging device, a translator and an unknown quantity, as far as I can make out.))
((Of course. Blogland is one of the intended targets, is it not?
*Although, thank you for not revealing my identity, Taia.))
*the storm clouds are not quite ordinary storm clouds* *but nearly*
*and, as storm clouds do, they begin to storm*
*lightning flashes down, thunder rumbles and rain pours in sheets*
*it doesn't seem that impressive of an event to small isolated places to Blogland, she supposes, but for her home planet, who can view this going on in all the planets . . . it's a frighteningly powerful display*
*starts getting soaked*
Alright alright I'll move!
*goes to shelter under a tree*
*its a tiny bit dryer*
*watches the lightning with a smile*
*the storm will continue until it is stopped* *the storm clouds will probably not dissipate* *if the wind blows them, they will merely change location*
*the person is satisfied with her work for now* *things are going well*
*she sighs and switches off the cameras, turning around to deal with the components needed for her next display*
((..an eternal storm..that'd take a LOT of energy to keep going. Hopefully the trees can handle the water near me..))
*climbs the tree and carries on watching the lightning*
I love storms. They're so pretty.
*looks at self*
Well, the lightning is. The rain not so much.
*goes back to watching the lightning*
The boy was running.
He'd never been terribly good at running, but he was now.
He had a lot of chance to practise.
He ran over the roof and then dropped down onto the street, pushing through the people, ignoring their protests.
He would love to just be going about his business peacefully and get shoved aside.
He would love to just be going about his business peacefully.
It was an awfully long time since he'd had peace, and why? Because he stole some food? Surely it was a greater crime to starve to death than to steal?
His thoughts were coming in fragments, but the fragments kept repeating themselves. Like he was picking up the same pieces of jigsaw again and again, unable to see where they fit into the puzzle.
He couldn't see where anything fit into the puzzle.
He couldn't see where anything fit into the puzzle.
Jigsaw pieces, puzzle.
Sorry, sorry.
I need to push you, I'm sorry.
He couldn't see where anything fit into the puzzle.
How far behind?
Don't look. You might trip.
Puzzle . . .
Food. Need food.
I can't go on like this.
He couldn't see where anything fit into the puzzle.
Maybe . . .
stealing had got him into this mess in the first place.
It couldn't get worse.
It couldn't get worse.
Need food.
He couldn't see where anything fit into the puzzle.
Then, suddenly, someone had him by the arm, grabbing him, shouting. He couldn't hear the words, just the sound. Shouting.
No. No. No.
He wriggled, stammering about how he needed to go.
More shouting.
He couldn't see where anything fit into the puzzle.
Need food.
Let me go.
Let me go.
Then the soldiers were there.
They'd spotted him.
They were handcuffing him, and he was biting, scratching, kicking -
Some part of him had always believed that it would all be okay. That something would always happen to save him at last minute. That he would never really be caught.
That part had been deluded.
They had him.
He couldn't see where anything fit into the puzzle.
((*watching now*))
((I think I am about done, actually. That is the build-up to Phase Two tomorrow.
Thank you for watching.
I should also probably reveal my identity at some point . . .))
((Yeah you probably should))
((Wait phase two?! What's phase two?!))
((Phase Two is Phase Two.
You shall see.))
((But..what if I go blind? Then I won't see..))
((I'll probably be here for it either way..))
((That is good.
And now, I must depart.
I am sorry.))
Hey guys!
((Is the eternal storm here? I was just skimming comments, so...))
((Bye then ADMWIODMYWRI))
Hey Kes!
((Yes. We now have an eternal storm here))
*waves at Silente*
Well isn't that just DANDY.
*taps symbol on throat and she dries, instantly*
*she remains dry, despite the rain*
So, how are things?
Cold. And damp. And pwetty..
*looks at a flash of lightning*
Its a good thing the cold won't kill us ey?
*smiles and flips from the tree she was perched in*
By the way I think it might be raining..
*snorts*
Yeah, I noticed. At least it's freshwater.
(Are you English/British? Bc I have some questions about UKIP, and...)
((I'm English but I'm also not very political..))
Yeah. If it was salt we'd both be screwed!
So how's things for you?
((But do you know if they won? Because Dragona seemed very upset))
Things are good. I spent the day at the beach, which was a problem- I had a very difficult time not ingesting anything.
Also rereading Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman- have you heard of it?
((I think they did. At least they were all over the news and had the biggest number thing.))
No I haven't. I've heard of both the authors but not the book..
The beach is fun! So long as your careful. But other than that, fun!
Crap, yeah they did. And according to Tumblr so did some Neo-Nazi and all kinds of other far right people. Crap.
BAD STORM. I NEED SOMEONE TO RANT TO ABOUT SHIP FEELS, AND NO ONE'S READ IT.
Yeah, it is :) but my face is all sunburned.
*ecplodes
ITS NOT MY FAULT!
Ohh sunburn. Paimful sunburn or no?
**painful
HI ZAF *waves* T'SUP
Storm, it's not painful yet. Probably will be tomorrow.
*is getting more and more terrified by what I'm reading*
Zaf, can you blow up Europe please?
What are you reading?!
WHAT HAPPENED/IS HAPPENING WITH YOUR LOT'S ELECTIONS
I DONT KNOW UKIP WON OR SOMETHING AND PEOPLE ARE WORRIED? WHAT ARE YOU READING?!
TUMBLR
AND ITS NOT UKIP
SOME NEO-NAZI GOT A SEAT
AND A BUNCH OF PEOPLE FROM SOME FRENCH FAR RIGHT PARTY
AND A BUNCH OF OTHER PLACES
THESE PARTIES ARE RACIST AND SEXIST AND HOMOPHOBIC AND NATIONALISTIC AND HOLY CRAP ENOUGH PEOPLE VOTED FOR THEM THAT THEY WON
THIS IS BAD
*NOT JUST UKIP
gtg, may brb
FUCK!
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK!
THATS NOT GOOD!
WHY DID THAT HAPPEN?!
HAVE THE ADULTS LOST THERE MINDS?!
WHAT THE HELL DID THEY DO?!
I gtg now anyway..bye!
Ah, it's only the European elections, lots of people don't know they exist and they have very little power.
We'll be fiiiiine.
The recession is technically over, so soon politicians won't need scapegoats to try and hide the fact that there's a deeper rooted problem than "benefits" or "immigration".
It'll be fine. And hey, at least we'll never be as bad as America.
Trip, even though you're probably not still here, I don't know much about the elections, only what I've seen on Tumblr, but the fact that they have very little power isn't the point. The point is that ENOUGH PEOPLE VOTED FOR THESE PEOPLE TO WIN. That means that when it DOES matter, it could happen again.
Also, *is American*
Trust me, being a very politically in-touch Brit, I feel very relaxed in my words.
Also, *cough*Republicanparty*cough*
It's just funny, the major Anti-Europe party just 'won' the election for for the European parliament.
UKIP is a fad, it'll die.
I'll trust you then, I guess, since I don't have much else to go on. It's still worrying, though...*is not really here*
America isnt too bad!!!
I got home from D.C today and damn I found a roller coaster in which I practically flew. Litterally. And we took a picture in front of the bat mobile.
I totally had fun laughing at how nerdy I was.
And Loki from Thor...god damn he is epic!!!
And if you're wondering, I was at Six Flags.
And there was DYNAMITE on a ride and something legit went boom!!
Batwing was the Darquesse ride. Like you start on your back and go up backwards then you twist and go down on your stomach and its just beautiful the speed and its like flying...
Hello? Is anybody here?!
ZAFFY
Oh, ello Zafira!! How are you?!
In a really good mood for once
Sorry I didn't see you!! I was reading back and I have to refresh my page to see new comments so I didn't see you!
Oh, that's good!! I like being in a good mood!!!
Tis fine. *curls up laughing* I'm excited.
I wanna go back to D.C and Six Flags....
How did you spend your day off?!
Oh, you went to D.C?! Cool!! I went last spring break (I live on the west coast) and it was fun!!
OMG! Just for fun I look at your profile and your favorite book! Those are most of my favorite books!!! I haven't read Warriors for awhile, but I still enjoy them!
I'm on the east coast so its not far
It was fun. We were in Maryland technically but if you continues down the road you were by the White House. We didnt get into the city due to mass amount of vets but the park was nice. We got on all the rides extrememly fast except Batwing
Oh, yeah, I bet it was busy! That sounds really fun!
I liked RiverClan and I loved Jayfeather. I wanted to hurt Leafpool when I found out...
I know!! I also liked Bluestar, she was/is cool.
Six Flags wasnt busy. I was front row every ride and I got on rides in 5 minutes or less minus Batwing, that was 15
I like Shadowclan. They were always mysterious and near the end just seemed really cool.
Oh, that's good for you! I love roller coasters but always start feeling sick. :(
RiverClan I just love them. Mistystar :D
Mistystar!!!!!!!!:D
I am not looking forward to going to school tomorrow. J:
Nor am I. I'm out June 13th though
Lucky!!! I get out on June 19.
Lots more time....
I'm popping in to say real quick that I'm going to start writing up this whole "Aladra but Tadra" thing for you all soon.
You need to read it.
You just.
Need to.
Egads, innocent strangers, things appear to have taken a turn to the worse...
I'm afraid...
I'm afraid for lots of things.
First and foremost being....
No, I can't foresee exactly...
I shall check in once I get more informations but I'm afraid lots of terrible things will happen to Trip, Adra, and Alastair.
Adraaaaa
[hugs]
:'(
Is anyone even here? IS ANYONE EVEN ALIVE?!?! OMG ITS A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE ITS THE END OF THE WORLD ITS ALL SCAPEGRACES FAULT!!!
I USED THE BAND NAME TODAY
WHY! WHY! WHY! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO US?! THERE HAS TO BE MORE SP BOOKS THERE HAS TO!
IM NOT LISTENING!
NOT LISTENING!
Damn it I'm listening. But you have to make more or... Wait.... I'm dead, goodbye.
Well, at least everyone here thinks UKIP etc. is bad.
I'm proud of you all. :)
Nothing like walking home with the twins to make me smile.
Even if it is a humid, overcast day, the water still looks amazing
Glue
We should quote Tanith. Like
Derek: It is now over.
Minions: Happy, happy. Joy, joy.
Eclispe! Are you still here? Its me! The creepy emailer! Hello! Did you leave?
Damn I was an hour out! Well guess I'll get typing for the BA stuff
*here but distant*
I USED BE THE GLUE TODAY IN CLASS!!
we had to make an ad to sell a product the teacher gave us (my groups was a pair of old shoes) and I used Be The Glue as the celebrity endorsement
YEY! ALSO HEY! IF YR STILL ON THAT IS!
Can Be The Glue /please/ become a thing?!
HIYA FELLOW LUNATICS!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW ARE YOU ALL?
Hai!
hello unicorn!
HELLO CORVO, HELLO RHYDIAN, HOW ARE YOU BOTH?!
I'm good, thanks. You?
*looks at the top of the page* Hey unicorn....looK!!!!
Heya silly! I'm good! You?
IKR!
Fine! Bored! Very bored! I've been typing up loads of drafts for the Blogland awards..
I still haven't finished..
There's still like 3/4 pages worth left to do..
I've only done like 1/2 pages worth..
Well s**t I though I'd done more..
Anybody want to start a very interesting convo/rp?
Blogland awards?
If you have an idea for an interesting Congo/rp then sure!
*nods*
Blogland awards. Like the ones from 2012. We've done them again this year (with Luci's concent)
And its taking /ages/
Er....not really. Corvs?
DON'T LOOK AT ME!!! *hides*
Dunno *shrugs* but brb
Rhydian you could do the Remi thing..?
yeah sure...In a min though. Brb
Oh okay..
*tumbleweed rolls past*
Alone again. Naturally.
*thunder and lightning*
AND ITS STILL BLOODY RAINING!
Aww gtg :( I'll do the Remi rp later! Bye!!
Oh..bye then..
Hey!
Star Inkbright said...
Do you suppose there's someone who thinks (s)he's in a story and goes about life trying to analyse all the literary devices around him/her?
***
Well, I kind of do that sometimes. Kind of.
Like, depending on the situation, there's different fonts running through my head, right, like Times New Roman if it's dramatic, and I visualize what I hear/say/see as sentences. In a book. With page numbers and everything. And the page numbers somehow relate to whatever it is on the page.
If I see, say, a really nice sunset, I describe it in my head, and depending on my emotion it's a different font.
This happens at, like, seriously inconvenient times.
Once my friend and I were disagreeing over something, I forgot what, and then I was running over the whole conversation in my head. And I changed the font, and the sentence structure, and my friend was staring at me like "what the heck".
That was a good day. XD
And I describe people, too. Again, a little inconvenient. XD
But I'm curious. Does anybody else do this, or is it just me?
Hey!
@em I sometimes start monologueing in my head. Like I'll be dining something then I'll start narrating what's happening. But I don't see it in fonts..
I do both? I see my thoughts as words and then there's this little voice that just starts talking to me and now I know I'm not the only one yay!
Hi, Corvo and Silente! :)
And yay! I'm not alone! *hugs*
Yey! We're all weirdos!
How are you..I want to call you Fay?
Sure! It's a lot easier to type.
How are you then Fay?
I'm good. :) I'm also reading THe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Oh cool! I've never read it (or seen it) before but I hear its good
It's hilarious. x)
And I think I have to go now... maths hw then sleep. *sighs*
*disappears in a glittery mist* *all that's left of me is a fedora lying on the ground*
Just popping in real quick to say that we all finished writing around 1AM last night after hours of it 0.0 (6AM Trip's time.) and...
I still don't know many things- Adra's head is scrambled, Alastair is... I can't even say, and Trip's an emotional wreck.
I have a few things that can be said about Adra, though:
-The chances of her ever speaking again are slim
-She will have manic episodes in the future
-The probability of her ever having a good night's sleep is slim.
-The chances of the Tadra wedding are dwindling.
And...
Yes, I'm afraid that's all I know so far. All the rest is basically in the air.
:(
Everything is destroyed..... And with Gaia obliterated, Adra won't have anywhere to go, honestly. I doubt she'll want to go to her lab again.
*Nods*
Alastair is going to help me with the write up of this whole thing, so you all can read what is basically their tragedy.
And that's all I have to say.
I'll check in some other time with more details, after more is RPed, and until then, you won't see me.
Good day.
Son of a bitch....
No, I am NOT dedding.
Good luck with it!
Oh. My. Days.
Hi Adra btw
Bye then Fay!
See you then then Adra.. good luck!
Wbveryd
Okay sames
*huggles Adra*
(TADRA. D: )
*not here. Revision :P*
*leaves cookies for Corvo and Silente and anybody else who appears soon?*
Hai!
Thank you for the cookies! *offers some*
COOKIES!
*runs towards the cookies*
*stops suddenly and delicately eats one*
Yummy.
How are you corvo?
I'm good thanks, Sil. How are you?
I'm fine. Tired already! Sleepy..typing is tiring.
What cha doooin?
Sorry guys...
I may have just killed two of our most favourite ships.
Yikes.
Hey Trip...what did you..
*looks at Adras comment from earlier*
Trip...
Hey, everybody.
I...
Uh...
Sorta killed Alasdair?
Oh, hey Sam.
Have we met? I don't think we've met.
You killed what now?
Hey Sam! Its raining in Blogland BTW guys, we've been plunged into eternal storm.
Hello Sam
Hey Trip
Grr Skype
Oh, hello Corvo, nice to meet you! Here, have this!
*hands a bottle of Blogland 2023*
Best vine of the century!
Trip, I honest don't know what Alasdair is. Did you mean...surely you didn't mean..,you can't mean...
..did you mean ALASTAIR?!
Well, I may have? There's another one of him, and I may have to kill him too, which would be AWESOME. But in doing so I kinda killed Tadra, and maybe Aladra.
Oh, hello, Trip! I don't think we've met. But I wouldn't be surprised about that, since until recently I was stuck in-between asterisks.
Hi Silente! Cool, I like rain.
Hello, Corvo. Something wrong with Skype?
Nice to meet you, too! Thanks!
Another him? Did you just kill his clone?
*calms down*
Oh, yes of course, you! Sorry, my brain is not in the on position today.
Same with that Silente, Alastair.
Yeah, sorta.
Just trying to be smarter than I am and set up things I have no idea about :)
I do that way too much...
Sorta?
Um, no, I'm fairly sure I got actual him, I think this other one is a clone.
Either way, I've killed an Alastair.
*stares blankly at Trip*
*keeps staring blankly*
*speachless*
Eh, I've always said that you become a better fighter by punching above your weight Corvo.
Tell that to the computer lol.
No actually, it might beat me
Well, I'm using 'killed' in a very metaphorical sense. I didn't physically kill him, though I could have, I just turned him into a completely new person. He has the same memories, but a totally different personality.
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