Riven Wight

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

“That’s rough…”
“A living nightmare,” Elayra offered in a monotone, rubbing her fingers together where some of the grease from the fry stuck to her skin. “But it is what it is. You move and adapt, or you die.” She reached for another fry, this one a tad bit more soggy than the last.
A silence fell in the shack, broken only by the sound of Drust pulling out his own fries, and examining the cardboard that held them, the logo on the bags printed on its front.
When Ghent began speaking again, Elayra raised her chin slightly and looked at him with a stony gaze at the way he said her name, but did not complain about it. At least he used it.
Anger flashed over her face at the suggestion of him being a candidate for her prince, before she caught on to his teasing tone. Her anger turned into a forced cold impassiveness on the verge of being frightening. She picked up the sheathed dagger as absently as she could, and drew it, apparently examining the wavy blade for any damage as she leaned back on one hand.
“A katoka has a greater chance at ‘winning my heart,’” she began with deliberate slowness, her tone matching her expression. The blue blade glinted mockingly in the light as she turned it over, “than someone incompetent enough to be bested by a simple mud puddle.”

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Nah. I’m just glad I’m not alone! xD Maybe it’s one of those things only fellow writers (and maybe readers with a sadistic side) understand? Betchya there’s some sort of psychology to that.

Ha! That’s great. Brave is such a good movie! Some of my family like to compare me to Merida upon occasion. Heh.

Well, technically, it’s good to eat like five small meals a day instead of three large ones. I know how irritating those comments can get! My gosh. It’s not MY fault I get full faster than some other people. I hope you get to go to Subway again soon, like you want!

*Gasp!* Well, I would highly recommend either of them if you ever get the chance to try them (and like those flavors/fruits in general). On a completely random note, I wonder how a mint mango milkshake would taste... I love actual chocolate, especially the dark kind, just not the wannabe flavored stuff. I know, it’s odd. Okay, brownies would probably be the only exception. Especially when you throw chocolate chips into the batter.

I meant to ask this the last time I posted, but managed to forget: what kind of weapon(s) would you be the most interested in having Ghent wield? Do you favor single weapons, duo-wielding, throwing weapons? If you have something specific in mind, let me know.
AH HA! I figured out that Elayra’s dagger is called a kris dagger! I knew it had to have a name. *Goes to edit. Realizes I forgot the blade of her sword and dagger have a blue tint.* Well then.

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Drust scowled and his eyes narrowed at Ghent’s comments against magic on Earth. “With that attitude, boy, it’s no wonder you haven’t found it already.” His attention turned back to Elayra when the flame burst to life, the light glittering in his eyes. “Magic is a proud thing. Believe in it only partially, or think it fake, and it won’t let you find it.”
A proud look crossed Elayra’s face at Ghent’s reaction to her use of magic. The expression turned to an amused haughtiness when he questioned her skills, but that, in turn, shifted into a heated frown at his newest name for her.
“My name is Elayra,” she growled, his reference lost on her. “Not Ella. Not Blondie,” she spat the nickname venomously. “Elayra,” she enunciated each syllable. “And I’ve been doing archery since I could hold a bow.” She looked about ready to get up, grab her bow and arrows, and usher Ghent outside in a fit, but she remained seated on the dirty floor.
Drust’s gaze darkened and his neck twitched at their little spat, before Ghent asked his next question.
Elayra took a cross bite of her burger. Whether or not she decided she liked it, her stomach approved of being fed. She raised her eyebrows when Ghent said, “other humans,” and glanced to Drust, wondering what about his appearance had Ghent categorizing him so easily as human.
“There are others, yes,” Drust answered stiffly. He finished off the rest of his burger before elaborating. “They’ve been called the omitten. Not all of them are human. I’ve only met a couple handfuls. The Red Queen’s monsters are always on the hunt for them, forcing them underground.”
Elayra removed the fries from her bag, and fingered one, faintly admiring the salt and golden color. She popped it in her mouth, and chewed slowly, savoring the salty, fried sliver of potato, once more unsure whether she found it enjoyable or nasty. She settled on disgustingly delightful.

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Ha! I’ve minimized windows or otherwise hid them whenever someone got too close, so I know how that goes. xD Us writers are often such strange creatures, anyway, but it's always nice to not have to explain yourself. To be quite honest, I think I enjoy torturing characters a little too much.

Nice! That’s a good way to go. I think the $5 footlongs are an occasional deal they do, but I could be wrong. Mmm, salami! I love that stuff. I used to always get the club, but my usual has changed into the grilled chicken. I tend to eat like a mouse as of late, so get a six-inch, and only eat a little more than half of that.

Nothing like writing about a food/drink, then wanting it! Hmm. I’d have to say either strawberry or mango. I’m one of those weird people who does not care much for chocolate flavored things.

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Elayra snorted, and her expression fell at Ghent’s first comment following his unusual silence. “The greats tend to cast long shadows,” she muttered, her voice tight.
When Ghent declined the existence of magic on Earth, Drust gave a scornful snort, and Elayra smirked.
“Every world has magic,” Elayra interrupted as if that should have been obvious. She gave him a derisive look. “If it didn’t, there wouldn’t have been a portal.”
“If the people of this world haven’t discovered it,” Drust began scornfully, “then they’re either too ignorant to truly seek it, or have been rejected by magic.”
“Case and point…” Elayra sat her burger on her knee once more, took the her dagger from Ghent and placed it on the floor, then rubbed her hands together in front of her, brushing off any remnants of the food.
Drust’s eyes shifted to her, his expression a warning to be careful, as she took a deep breath and held her hand in front of her, palm facing up.
Holding her breath and hoping she would be capable of accessing the world's magic, her gaze grew distant in concentration as she reached out with her mind for the familiar, almost electric feel that surrounded everything in a flow as natural and more invisible than air. She blinked in surprise, and her chin jerked up slightly when it greeted her with a shockingly quick eagerness. Unlike in Wonderland, it had an air of excited youth to it, and came to her like a cautious, yet curious dog sniffing at another dog owner.
“Igniculus,” she whispered, directing the magic both with thought and word. She felt it tingle over her palm before the last syllable left her lips, and a small, perfectly shaped flame lit above the center of her hand. It floated and twitched, occasionally sending small sparks above the tip of the flame like miniature orange and red fireworks. “Extinguo.”
The flame formed a small pillar that spiraled together, then extinguished in another series of harmless sparks.
An excited, disbelieving smile spread over her face, and she looked to Drust. “It’s not blocked here!”
Drust gave a slight nod, but seemed otherwise unsurprised. When Ghent switched the topic to weaponry, his lips quirked up almost approvingly.
Elayra gave him a disbelieving look at him being a good archer.
“I do have a weapon for you,” Drust confirmed, “but it requires a minimal amount of magic to use to its full potential.”
“In the meantime,” Elayra gave him a mischievous smirk as she picked up her burger again, a challenge in her voice, “I’m sure we could find something for you to shoot at. If you can draw back the bow.”

Northwood Academy

@kittyluna45
Thank you! Sinbad is a fun movie, and I love how they animated Eris.

I'm not sure how busy I'm going to be up through this weekend, so will have to let you know, if you don't mind! Did you have any ideas for collabs?

@Saltwater Thief
*Stares at you blankly.* What picture now? *Thinks for a minute.* OH! Of your book collection? My gosh, that conversation WAS forever ago.

Deleted

When the Wolf stopped, Izzy held her breath, watching him warily. She inhaled at the change in his eyes, her body tensing as she readied to run or fight. Whichever came first.
She bit her tongue against her putting shackles on Trevor, and glanced to the unconscious bodies still on the sidewalk. At least, she hoped they were only unconscious.
“Then how else can I help you, great White Wolf?” she asked, trying to sound as sincere as possible, just as much fishing as attempting to gain some form of trust. And, of course, to avoid getting attacked. “Because your noble mission is what friends are supposed to do as well.”

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Dang it. Now I want a milkshake.

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Noticing Ghent stirring his milkshake, Elayra used her straw to do the same, only slower, watching the thick, granular substance sticking to the plastic tube sluggishly side off.
Her lips pursed slightly, and she looked to Ghent at his warning. “It’ll do what?”
Drust cocked his head when Ghent paused, Elayra taking in their new companion’s expression before he finally looked away from his milk shake.
Drust’s face impossibly hardened at the first question, and his neck twitched slightly; that was a possibility he had toyed with as well. Ghent’s further questions only served as yet another reminder that he knew as much about Wonderland and its ways as they did about Earth and its customs.
“Elements play a large part in magic, yes” he began with the basics as Elayra traded the cup for the burger and sniffed at it, this lesson one she had long since learned. “For those it favors, it’s not limited to just elemental powers. If you command it with a firm mind and will, it’ll do only what you tell it to. No more. No less.”
“Well, it used to,” Elayra interjected, earning her a glare from Drust that went unnoticed as she picked off part of her burger’s bun. “Nowadays, you’d better either be on the Sorceress’ side, or come from the Spiritayum.”
Drust’s glare darkened at the mention of the Sorceress, and Elayra quickly busied her mouth with biting into the burger that lacked any ham. She played with it in her mouth, trying to think of something to possibly compare it to from her world, while debating whether she found the taste and slight greasy texture delicious or disgusting.
“Alas,” Drust frowned, continuing as if Elayra had not interrupted, “magic isn’t my forte, but I know enough to aid you for now. Hopefully, that will be enough. Those like you and your father have had a powerful connection to magic since the dawn of our world.” His gaze grew distant for a short moment, and the smallest hint of wistfulness dusted his voice as he continued. “Madrail once told me he relies on instinct as much as knowledge. That magic is equal parts servant, friend, and master, yet can just as easily be your enemy.” His eerie gaze refocused on Ghent. “That is your birthright, Ghent. Unlike for the rest of us, magic is just as much a part of you, as you are of it. Find it, nurture it, and it’ll be yours to command. The stronger your connection to it grows, the greater amount of magic you can control.”
Elayra glanced to Drust, noticing he had failed to directly answer Ghent’s first question.
“Does magic work differently here?” she asked. After all, the creation of something such as the milkshake, with its icy yet smooth texture, had to have some sort of magic involved to make.

They Live Among Us (Vampiricchild x Siaya)

Victoria cocked her head sideways to look at Alex at his comment, trying to figure out if he was serious or messing with her. “I had no idea doors were such inconveniences…”
Taking a deep breath, she joined him at the window, and pried the glass up. Thankful there was no screen in it--and that it looked large enough for their exit plan--she cautiously leaned her head out. As she had thought, they most definitely were not on the ground floor. She ducked back in, suddenly developing a temporary fear of heights. They had to be on the third floor, maybe the forth; she had not given herself the time to count before pulling back inside.
“Alright. Whenever you’re ready, then.” She went behind him, ready to jump up on his back and wrap her arms and legs around him. “The last time I did this, I was ten. Only, it was minus the window-jumping,” she mused.