Beautiful People: Rayne

Hello, hello! I'm linking up again with Beautiful People hosted by Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up and Further In.

Today, I thought we'd talk with Rayne from the weird idea. [the weird idea is a WIP and there's a summary of it here.]

1. Do they want to get married and have children? Why or why not?

I've never really considered this. Things are a too turbulent to plan the future as if it could be a stable possibility.

2. What is their weapon of choice?

Hand-to-hand combat, unless, of course I'm up against something like super strength or some other. . . power. I do know my way around a gun if necessary.

I've been informed that my words cut a little deeper though. I have no idea what that person was talking about.

3. What is the nicest thing they've done for someone else and why did they do it?

 I'm not given to random acts of niceness. Unless I'm friends with a person. Or relate to their situation. I do go on voluntary rescue missions if that amounts.

4. Have they ever been physically violent with someone, and what instigated it?

Um, yes. Often. Usually, it's out of self-preservation. Or I was on a rescue mission. Or on a mission in general. I've never counted the times, and I don't care to start.

5. Are they a rule-follower or a rebel?

A rebel. Although I am using your definition of 'rebel.' The word will mean something different by my time.

6. Are they organized or messy?

I don't own much to keep organized. But in my mind, I have to keep everything tidy or else my memories will bombarded me 24/7. Everything is were it belongs in my 'mind palace' as you would most likely call it.

[Rayne has a photographic memory.] 

7. What makes them feel loved and who was the last person to make them feel that way?

When a person knows everything about you, the good and the bad, and they still don't leave. When you can trust them and they can trust you. When you don't even need words.

 I refuse further answers to this question.

8. What [inserts did] they eat for breakfast?

 Six impossible things. I run on impossibility.

But really?

Stale peanut butter on half burnt toast. The coffee though was excellent. Two sugars and just enough cream. Quite the luxury to have cream.

9. Have they ever lost someone close to them? What happened?

Yes. And again I use my right to refuse answers.

10. What's their treat of choice? (and if not food, then how do they reward themselves?)

 

I do love Alice in Wonderland. Anytime I can read some Lewis Carroll is nice. Or The Princess Bride. Any leisure time I get to read or watch old books or movies is a treat. As for food? Savannah has kind of hooked me on take-out. But honestly, anything that isn't stale or hasn't come out of a can will do. 

 

Have you written a Beautiful People post?

Starting Sparks: Glow in the Dark

 So I hope you all want to hear more about Rayne and the weird idea. Because I couldn't think of anything else for this prompt.






I crouch at the corner of an alleyway. The guards pace in front of the entrance. Okay, quick and fast.

Just as my footsteps alert the first guard, my fist meets his nose. I snatch his gun before he can and shoot the second guard. The first guard also falls to the ground. I duck quickly into the doorway. Sixteen seconds. Not bad, but not my best.

The building has a quiet, cold emptiness. I keep the gun out before me, but it's only a possum gun. You'd think an organization that calls themselves The Powers would arm their guards better.

It seems too quiet. What is going on? Did they already spy me coming? This has to be an ambush. Energy crawls under my skin. To run, to fight, to do something. I walk steady and quiet. Unless someone is hiding in the elevator shaft, there is no one here. Nowhere for anyone to hide for an ambush.

Tech! It's the wrong building, isn't it? Or perhaps the wrong level?

The elevator shaft is empty. It scales up into pitch black. There aren't even cables left for an elevator. Someone would have to climb the walls to ascend or descend. Were the guards a decoy? Where would The Powers take Mikel?

I sigh and frown. But I don't lower the gun. On the floor there's a shadow, or--

What's this? A metal ring. I pull the trap door open. It doesn't even squeak. Which means it's probably been well oiled for the purpose of being silent. Which means I'm in the right place after all.

The stairs are awkward. Nearly vertical. Something smacks my jaw. I shoot at the shape in the dark. It, he is on the opposite side of the railing and slumps to the floor. So the dark side of the stairs isn't  a wall? I feel over the railing and have to stretch far out to finally meet the wall.

Footsteps.

Uh, oh. I swing my legs over the rail and find the floor. I blindfold the guard with his belt. Not particularly effective, but it is dark in here so that should help. He won't be able to speak or move until the stun of the possum gun fades. But it'd be nice if he doesn't get a good enough look at my face. I drag him to the far corner under the stairs.

Voices now accompany the footsteps. I crouch under the staircase as the footfalls thud over my head.

"Fin says he's coming to."

"Do you think he'll sing?"

A harsh laugh. "He will whether he wants to or not. The question is does he have anything worth singing-- I told you to close the hatch!"

"I did close it!"

"Sure, you did. Just like you closed the refrigerator door?"

"Hey, now! That's just--"

I duck out from under the staircase as the footsteps retreat. I just glimpse their shapes disappear at what must be the base of the stairs.

Carefully, I follow the floor down as it slopes. My eyes strain in the darkness, but near the bottom there's another dark form. Has it seen me? As I approach it looks smaller. It moves toward me. I aim my gun.

Wait.

The cat rubs against my leg. The Powers have a resident cat?

Light shines from various nooks and corners where people must be working or living. Stacks and stacks of crates. A light slips under one door along with the smell of garlic and. . . cayenne, I think. A few computer hackers argue about coding. Others are huddled in a small area with maps and papers. A girl in the group hovers over the ground with her legs crossed. A man charges some device with his finger.

I tuck the gun in my jacket and try to keep to the shadows. Keep my head down. Blend in.

There's a fffft sound. My hair and coat flies up as the force zooms past. Papers are left fluttering. Among other protests, someone yells, "Seriously, Antone!?"

Great. A speedster.

As long as there aren't any telepaths around, I'm good.

I pass one door. The light is fainter. It could just be a maintenance closet. But it opens into a huge room. Some guards behind pillars give me a quizzical look. I take one out with the possum gun, then dodge the aim of the second's. I shoot him before he calls to the others.

In the center of the room a light shines. A table. Some very unpleasant looking tools. Jared, a leader within The Powers stands over a chair wherein Mikel is tied up. Sitting down though, Mikel is nearly as tall as Jared standing.

"So, the rebels tried to kill you," Jared says.

"Really?" Mikel's voice is chipper and good-natured as normal. "I couldn't tell."

In the dark, I quietly move from guard to guard. I catch them before they hit the ground so the thud doesn't alert the others. I'm not sure what kind of powers these guys have and if they don't see me coming they don't have a chance to try anything.

"We are very interested in their plans."

"I'm sure. Aren't you, like, mortal enemies?"

"Indeed, but you see," Jared pauses. I knew he was a dramatic, "Now it seems you're on our side."

"Why? Just because I'm not 'of pure blood'?"

Four guards down. 

"You know who we are, and you're one of us now."

"Tech, I just glow in the dark! So what?"

"Well, they tried to kill you for it. We're on the same side now. I thought I would interest you in a bit of revenge?"

"Only if it comes with a side of fries. I'm hungry."

Tech, why did he have to mention food?

"We can protect you from the Rebels."

"Can you feed me?"

"We just want information."

"I don't deal information."

I finally let a seventh guard slip to the ground. How paranoid is Jared? Hopefully, that's the last one though. Jared is only a healer, which is good for me. I don't have to contest against something like super strength or teleportation. But that also means, I can't hurt him.

"You think that 'human,'" Jared says it with disdain, "friend of yours is coming to save you? She's one of them, you know. Rebels, humans. All the same. Powerless."

Jared is only a healer, good and bad. I won't have to contest against anything like super strength or teleportation. But if I try to hurt him, he'll heal immediately.

"You're awful human too, czar," Mikel mutters.

"If she comes, she'd come to betray you, little light bulb."

I sneak around to a pillar behind Jared.

"Light bulb? Even I could do better than that."

I count to three.

"I bet she's at the door right now."

Mikel smiles at him. "I know she is."

I run out, leap onto Jared, and throw my arm around his throat in a choker hold. One. Two. . . in five seconds he goes limp. I lower him to the floor. We have about ten seconds before he revives.

"You ding-a-ling!" I untie Mikel's hands. "How many times do I have to save you?"

"Well, good day to you too."

"What were you thinking, telling him your power? They would've killed you if you weren't useful."

"They would've killed me anyways." Mikel shakes the ropes loose.

"Yeah, but you could have dragged it out longer."

"You could've come sooner." Mikel stands. "I'm hungry."

"Don't even start." I search Jared. A real gun. A knife.

The door bursts open. The air smells odd now. One of them must be able to generate smoke or poison.

"What I wouldn't give for some fries." I toss Mikel the knife.

"I have a coupon for Gwen's."

"Well, why didn't you list that among our assets?"

"This is why we're friends."

"Because we storm castles together?"

Jared stirs. 

"Precisely. Shall we?" He gestures to a latch in the ceiling.

"And here I thought we'd have to fight our way out."

He boosts me up to open the trap door. "Nah. How about Gwen's instead?"

"Sure. You pay."

"What?!"

"I've saved your life twice in three days. Get me fries and we'll call it even." I pull him to the trap door edge. A faint white light halos the whole of him in the darkness. "You should do something about that."

"It's not my fault I glow in the dark, okay?" 

_________________________________

Say 'hi' to Mikel.

Now I want some curly fries. . .

Beautiful People: Two for One // Peril and Keth

Today I'm linking up with Sky @ further up and further in and Cait @ Paper Fury for Beautiful People. In the last post I asked what character you all wanted to read about.

I had a halfway answer for Peril (from the Oddball Trilogy) and the other half for a character from the weird idea. Being indecisive me, I'll comply with both. (There was also a Rocky request which I intend to fulfill in April.) So I'm going to split these questions in half, and mix them up. The first set will be for Peril. The second set will be for Keth.

Peril

(That's not Peril. But she makes me think of her. One day, I'll get the gumption to draw her for you.)

Describe their daily routine.

Her routine is rarely, uh, routine? She's on the move a lot. She works as a Postal Traveler and is usually, well, traveling in order to deliver things. She also happens to be secretly on the run from. . .  her homeland's military. Routine would make her predicatable. Also, Peril bores with routine.

But she does wake early. If she's traveling with people, she prefers to be the first awake. Also, she'll most likely be the last to sleep. Aka: most people never see Peril sleep.

 Write a list of things they merely tolerate.

Bullies

Superstition

Oddball, at times

not Oddball, at other times (he's hit-and-miss irritating)

Sappy, sentimental stuff

Rocky's singing

people who are slow to "get it"

Herself

Can they swim? If so, how did they learn?

Once upon a time, she was part of this clan. Really it was just a bunch of misfit kids like herself. Anyhow, they were goofing around, as kids do, and with a playful push she was submerged underwater. Peril didn't panic at the notion that oh, she doesn't know how to swim. She managed and reached the surface, uh, clumsily, half choking, half laughing. They all spent the day in the water. So Peril taught herself. She never actually had a fear of the water as her friends and her were having too grand a time tackling, splashing, and dunking each other. Drowning never entered their young minds.

How do they react to awkward silences?

Most normally, Peril will fill these silences with some wild wandering of her mind. But that's usually her mask. Her mask has no reverence for a silence that's awkward for an important reason.

If by chance, it is an important sort of awkward silence (say someone died) and she's not pretending, then she'll keep quiet or find something that'll release the tension.

 Your character is having a rough day. . . what things do they do to make them happy again? Is there anyone they talk/interact with to get in a better mood?

She would probably talk to Skyler. Skyler and her are besties. Also, Skyler kind of has this therapeutic aurora about her. She's a good listener and very understanding. She's probably the easiest to talk to as well as the easiest going of the four. If Skyler wasn't so shy, everyone and their dog would confide in her.

Peril might, maybe just be around Oddball. You know. If they're on friendly terms and Oddball isn't' angry with her.

Oddball's presence is very calming. It also tends to make her more herself so. . . sometimes she actually avoids him when she'd rather be with him. No, it doesn't make sense. Peril tends to complicate things.

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Peril might also throw her knife. At a target. Not a human. Sometimes she goes off hunting. She'll go for a walk in the woods. Or even a run if nobody's around to watch. ANYTHING to move. 

Keth

So I took an unforgivable amount of time trying to find a Keth look alike. Pinterest, you have failed me.

Keth looks kinda like this guy and Andrew Garfield. But not. (Don't you love how much sense that makes?)

His hair is black (he might have dyed a lock of it some outlandish color). He wears glasses and a black leather jacket. Keth also smirks a lot, because he thinks he's cool and charismatic (no, Keth, geeky and charismatic). He kind of has this tech/hacker vibe.

Have I talked about Keth at all? I haven't talked about the weird idea though (ssh, I'm not supposed to be thinking about it). But if you don't know what the weird idea is, it's the last book listed under The Lunacies page.

Rayne is the protagonist, and Keth is her older brother, her only blood relation. They grew up taking care of each other on the streets. This caption is Rayne's thoughts on their early days.

I love Keth. I could tell you so much about Keth.

What first inspired this character? Is there a person/ actor you based them off?

Don't laugh too much, okay?

Keth was originally based on Loki. His character really took on a more three dimensional shape after I saw the first Thor movie. Keth was a mix of Loki and some other character whom I feel like a completely idiot for forgetting. But he's not much like Loki anymore. Keth is not half as angry as Loki.

Loki is always this seething ball of rage. He's a coiled snake poised to strike.

Keth appears like a, oh. . . hm.

Keth might have been taken from The Mentalist? I think he was also based off Patrick Jane. So think.

 If you mashed Loki 

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and Jane together,

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 then BAM!

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You have a tangle of arms and legs.

Uh, you would have Keth.

But now he's a little more like Keth than anyone else.

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 If they joined your local high school, what clique would they fall into?

Ahaha. I am so stealing Skye's @ Ink Castles answer.

The geeks and freaks.

 What is one major event that helped shape who they are?

Being a drama queen (yeah, he's one of those) Keth would tell you every little moment was a major event that shaped his life, but sheesh, ignore him. Please. He thinks all the world is his stage. Don't give him an audience too.

So I'll say the day that he and Rayne separated.

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8. What things do they value most in life?

I actually have to think about this answer. Which isn't a good thing because this is an important question here!

Uh, uuuuuuuuuuuuum. A list?

1) People

Keth cares about people.

2) Humanity

More like he cares about being humane.

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3) His grand master plan

Yeah, he's got one of those. He is a drama queen. Do you think he wouldn't have one?

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(That's the status of Keth's self esteem. There's no arrogance going on over here. Never.)

4) Becoming a stronger telepath

Oh, hello. Hi. Did I mention that the weird idea has superpowers? And Keth is totally not one of the most powerful and capable telepaths in the whole of the book series. *cough* At all. Don't even let the thought enter your mind.

5) Rayne

 Rayne is very important to him. Basically, they are not twins, but they have the same kind of bond. He's kind of possessive of her, despite that they have a heart crushing past and are separated for most of the series.

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(If you watch The Mentalist, you'll understand. If you don't watch The Mentalist, why ever not?!)

6) Norse myth

He has a thing for Norse myth. *shrugs* What can I say? The awesome part about writing a futuristic world is referencing the past world, right? 

Keth is a little twisted (half Loki, half Jane; what else would he be?). He has a strange way of showing he cares. Therefore you might never realize he cares about this stuff. Except, you know, I just wrote a list for you. . .

Do they believe in giving people second chances? Do they have any trust issues?

Second chances, oh yes. *grins*

Watch out though. His idea of second chances may not be what you have in mind.

Does he have trust issues? I've never really thought of that. Rayne is the one with trust issues galore. But Keth? Yeah. I guess he does have a few of those hiding under that charismatic smile. The dude has control issues, so a few trust issues might be a side effect, right?

Have you done Beautiful People? OH and, if YOU HAD A SUPERPOWER, what would you want it to be?! I'd want to be telekinetic and invisible, please and thank you.

Starting Sparks: Microwaves, Cranberries, and the weird idea // say hi to Mikel

Hellooo everyone! I hope you all had a grand and momentous Christmas. 

 

So there's this link up. You may have heard of it. It's called Starting Sparks, hosted by Emily @ Ink, Inc. (gotta love that title!) and my very self @ right here. We give you a prompt, and you do WHATEVER YOU WANT! It can't get better than that, right? Minimal rules; we're low maintenance like that. Write a poem, a scene, a short story, a not-so-short story. . .the great wide world of the blank page is yours for the conquering! The link up is open still! It ends with the month.

I give my contribution today. :D

I have this WIP, on hold, referred to as 'the weird idea.' (I stink at titles, okay?) I talk about occassionally, and there's always mention of Mikel. And yet, you have never, ever actually met him yet. 

That problem is resolved today.

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I hold the microwave at a perfect 45 degree angle. Savannah’s head has been in there for approximately 17 minutes, and 42 seconds. I suppose there are some advantages to having a tall friend if you happen to be short. 

But if you are the tall friend. . .

“Are you almost done?” My voice comes out bored. “My arms are getting tired.”

“Almost.” 18 minutes and 6 seconds.

The tech room door slams. Footfalls pound on the metal grating. 

“Guess what I found!” 

Savannah bumps head on the interior of the microwave. I nearly drop it. An exact 19 minutes.

“Mikel.” I heft the microwave toward me to get a better grip on it. “Now is not the – “

“What do you want now!” Savannah growls. 

Mikel grins down at her undeterred. “Glad to see you too.”

A long sigh escapes me. As much as I love that guy, I wish he had more sense in his head, if only for his own self-preservation. 

Savannah glares at him. “It’s because of you that we’re even here, so I suggest you leave.”

“I just wanted to microwave—“

“It is not a microwave!” Savannah pokes a screw driver toward him. “How many times do—“

“What is the point of keeping it if it doesn’t, uh, doesn’t. . .” Mikel makes a face. “Doesn’t micro waves!” He looks satisfied as if that was the perfect comeback he’s ever thought up.

Savannah gives him her you-are-a-dunce stare. 

I try hard to swallow my laughter and almost drop the not-a-microwave.

“I altered it.” Savannah’s voice is full of forced patience. “Now it’s a device diagnostics analytic.” She then goes into a detailed tirade on what it does and how it works. If I actually listened, I might understand her. But it’s much more amusing to watch Mikel blink and gape at her.  

“Do you understand?” 

Mikel’s unshakable grin returns, and I know what’s coming. “I like you.” He even pats her on the head.

She swats his hand away. “Don’t be an idiot.”

“Well, guess what?” Right, he broke in here with some sort of news. I shift my weight. Hopefully, he’ll make this quick.

Savannah sticks her head back into the device, uh, diagnostic thing. I am too lazy at present to want to recall what she said. 

Mikel’s voice is sing song. “I found cranberry sauce!” He lifts a can in the air. 

“Yippee,” from the not-a-microwave. 

“You know,” he grins at me too now, “for Christmas.”

“Christmas was two days ago.” I tap my foot to dampen my impatience. 23 minutes 24 seconds.

He rolls his eyes. “Rayne don’t be obvious. The twelve days of Christmas, hello!” He waves his gangly arms in the air. 

“Whatever you say Mikel.” I wish Savannah would hurry so I could put this thing down. 

“You did not just say that.” Savannah’s head comes out of the microwave.

I give her a fake smile. “Look, this is getting kind of heavy so—“

“Well,” Mikel continues to talk, “you two will think differently after some cranberry yumminess.” 

“Sorry.” Savannah picks the panel off the table beside us. “I’ll just screw this back in place.”

Mikel opens the other microwave over on the shelf. “I’m just going to heat this up and—“

Savannah whirls on him. “Stop putting things in my microwave!”

“Oh.” Mikel groans. “This one doesn’t micro waves, either?”

“You’ll blow it up! Your cranberry gloop is still in the can.”

Mikel looks sheepishly at his cranberry can. “Heh, I knew that.”

“Can I put this down yet!?” I shout. 

They both stare at me. 

Mikel seems to shake out of some frozen stupor. “I’m sorry. Here.” He places the can in the microwave, rushes over, and juggles the microwave from me.

“Thank you.” Finally! I knead my shoulder. 26 minutes, a few odd seconds.

“Wait.” Savannah looks from me to Mikel. “Don’t—“

“Of course, Rayne,” he says. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?” 

“I, whatever.” I shake my head.

Mikel grins at Savannah. “I’ll hold this for you, my lady.”

“No, that’s okay,” Savannah says. “Rayne will. . . Rayne?!”

I snag the can out of the microwave. “I wash my hands of  the both of you.” 

“Don’t leave me with. . .”

I close the door behind me and breathe. 

Terrence walks past with a question in his look. 

“Don’t go in there,” I say. “Something might blow up.”

 

 ____________________________

P. S.

1) Mikel is not as dumb as he pretends. 

2) If you wonder, no. I have no clue what to do with my paragraphs.

3) Have a happy New Year!