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Lavender Brown: The Story of A Werewitch

Lavender Brown: The Story of A Werewitch

A thin, tawny hand–battleworn yet beautiful–gently stroked the lifeless hand of a comatose young woman. “Lavender….” a soft voice said. “Oh, Lavender…” There was a pause before the voice continued. “I don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve been searching for him ever since he did this to you.” The soft voice caught in the speaker’s throat, tears choking her. She let go of the unconscious Lavender’s…

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Inspiration & Brilliance: An Encounter with Cassette Dith (Golden City Archives #3)

Inspiration & Brilliance: An Encounter with Cassette Dith (Golden City Archives #3)

I’ve been busy for quite a while now. Absolutely swamped. Between trying to settle in San Francisco and getting the scoop on how things have changed since my time, I haven’t had a moment to catch my breath. After meeting Mai Fiori at the bar that late night and seeing her brilliant and logic-bending performance, I wanted to see more. I wanted to learn more about the city and how it became the way…

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The Irrelevancy of Logic - Mai Fiori (Golden City Archives #2)

Entry #2

I found myself at a somewhat upscale piano lounge on the corner of Sutter and Jones Street on top of Nob Hill one foggy evening. Golden-orange paper lanterns were scattered across the ceiling of the lounge, illuminating the dim room. I casually sat at the end of a booth in the middle of the lounge that was set against the wall of the narrow room.This seating arrangement allowed me to have out my notebook out as I observed and documented my surroundings. Adults of all ages, genders, and cultures congregated beneath the luminous lanterns. Their faces glowed as they drank and talked, joked and flirted. While it was clear that they were there to enjoy one another’s company, there was an air of anticipation in the air. They had packed themselves into the bar for the same reason I had.

                            Photo by Gerrie van der Walt on Unsplash

Through the grapevine of the new acquaintances I’d acquired over the past month, I had heard that the astoundingly famous Golden City popstar, Mai Fiori, would be performing at the all-night San Francisco piano lounge, Melody Past Midnight. While I was interested in her music, the real reason I wanted to see Fiori perform was because she happened to be a key player in the supernatural war. Rumor had it that she used her gift of song and dance to rally her allies and cripple her foes. The same rumor mill had also told me that she’d grown up in San Francisco's Japantown neighborhood as a shrine maiden and learned the art of kendo from her grandfather. I couldn't believe it. She sounded like the main character of an anime. I knew I had to investigate and see her perform for myself.

As I took a long sip from a cool Long Island iced tea and took notes, all of the paper lanterns went out. Moments later, a young woman walked onto the stage against the wall in the back of the lounge, directly across from the entrance. It was like there was nothing else in the room but her.

She seemed like she was too young to even be there - somewhere between seventeen and eighteen if I had to put my money on it. She had charcoal black hair with smokey white highlights running through it that went past her shoulders. She was probably about 5'7” and wore a black leather choker with a matching black leather jacket, a white blouse underneath, blue jeans, and sneakers. She grabbed the mic at the center of the stage and the crowd grew silent. She closed her eyes. Everyone's attention was on her. As she opened her eyes, she snapped her fingers with her free hand. Three ghostly figures appeared out of thin air and took form the previously vacant space behind her. All three figures were holding instruments. There was an old, thin black man with a gray beard wearing a tweed flat cap and holding a saxophone. To the right of him and directly behind Mai was a white man in a tank top with vibrant sleeve tattoos on each arm. He was gripping a pair of drumsticks, ready to play. Next to him was a middle-aged blonde woman in a bright yellow shirt and white pants holding a bass. As Mai's eyes opened, her ensemble knew to start playing. The sounds of smooth jazz mixed with the sauciness of 2050s pop sailed through the lounge. I knew I was about to see the performance of a lifetime.

"You know you've got that thing that makes the girls all swing. You know exactly what you do," she sang as her words wafted throughout the lounge, resonating with the audience. As the pleasant sounds of her slightly raspy but delightfully soft voice flowed into my ears, I felt as if my body was relaxed and enchanted. One thing I found really interesting was her song of choice. It was a beautiful song from 2016 by an artist named Marian Hill called “One Time.” I highly recommend listening to One Time by Marian Hill once you finish reading to get the full effect of the brilliant performance I experienced. Why she chose a hit from thirty-four years previous instead of something more modern or original, I may never know. Maybe she's the perfect mood-setter, or maybe it was her favorite song. (I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case. It happens to be my favorite song.)

As she continued to serenade the crowd, the paper lanterns flickered back on one by one across the room, suffusing the lounge and all of its patrons with a warm glow. It was as if she had lit them with the sound of her voice. The whole room was spellbound. Everyone in the crowd was clapping in unison to the beat of the song. I realized that I had joined their clapping without realizing it.  "One time, one time, one time. Boy I'm not the kind of drum you play one time," she sang as the sweet melody of her voice filled the room, causing people to sway and dance with joy. As the saxophonist blew out the sounds of smooth jazz, the tattooed drummer methodically played the snares, and the bassist gracefully strummed the strings of her guitar, Mai softly sang the last lines of the song: "One time....." What happened moments later, at the end of her performance is something I'll never forget.

Her ensemble was playing her out as she - I kid you not - put back the microphone and walked directly off the center of the stage  and into the middle of the room - on thin air.. She continued to walk throughout the room as if nothing but her confidence and the simple fact that she wanted to walk on air was supporting her. Tiny ripples of air formed around her feet as she walked. As she was making her way to the exit across the room, the sounds of music faded away and the crowd watched in awe as the musicians that had played for her vanished in a puff of smoke. Once she made to where I was sitting, our eyes met. Something in that shared look caused her to jump right out of the air and gracefully float onto the ground in front of me. The entire crowd, including myself, erupted in applause and cheers as soon as she landed. She looked at the crowd with a cheerful smile as she waved at them and blew kisses before casually taking a seat across from me  in the booth I was sitting at.

She introduced herself and I did the same. I told her how much I had enjoyed her performance and how impressed I was at her ability to entrance an entire crowd. She thanked me and seemed really happy to hear it, her grin stretching from ear to ear. She said she didn't have much time to chat as she had to get back to the dorms at her school, but something had told her to stop and talk with me for a moment.

Curious as to why she was performing in a lounge when she was still so young, I asked her to clarify what she meant about the dorms. She told me that she was in her junior year at Golden City Academy, the school floating on its own island off the coast of San Francisco in the bay. I mentioned this school in my last post; apparently a lot of the youths involved in the war have special gifts and attend this school not only for a standard education but also to learn how to use their powers to protect themselves and their loved ones. She explained that has to make appearances to maintain her career, so the headmistress of the Academy allows her to perform with the conditions that she stays safe and is back by her curfew. Knowing it was late and she didn't have much time left, I asked her for her backstory and how she became "Mai Fiori."

Mai confirmed the rumors I’d heard about her being born and raised in San Francisco's Japantown neighborhood and growing up as a shrine maiden and learning kendo. She said Mai Fiori is her real name. Fiori is the last name of her Irish-Italian father. Her Japanese mother wanted her to have a nice Japanese first name to honor her Japanese heritage, so they named her Mai, meaning “dance,” or, alternatively, “love and affection.”

Captivated by her story and eager to know more, I asked how she’d become a popstar. She explained that she went to live with her grandparents in Japan when she was younger and ended up getting scouted to join an idol group. She was a natural and became famous almost as soon as they debuted, but as time went on she noticed a lot of shadiness in the industry and grew uncomfortable with how poorly the performers were treated. She said it was a very negative culture that she didn't want to be a part of.

Around the time she was trying to decide whether or not to come back home to San Francisco, she said that her parents contacted her and said that the headmistress at Golden City Academy was a big fan and wanted to offer her a full scholarship, including room and board. She explained that the Academy is a world-renowned private school and that you only get in with an invitation from the Headmistress herself. It was an enormous honor and opportunity for her. So she said it was a no-brainer to go back home and join the Academy. She was back in the Golden City by that weekend.

Before I could ask anymore questions, she jumped up, bowed, and started to run off with a wave and smile as she apologized for her sudden departure. Based on how late it was, I figured she was close to breaking her curfew, so I didn't take it to heart.

Before she made it out the door, I asked Mai what her album was called.he turned around, stared at me with a knowing smile, and replied, "The Irrelevancy of Logic."

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Featured image by Alice Moore on Unsplash

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The Truth About San Francisco (Golden City Archive #1)

Hello, everyone! In my spare time I've been working on a novel called Golden City Angels. It's a very intimate story about a young girl who has a rough home life and finds a community through her new school which floats like an island in the bay off of the coast of San Francisco. While she's there, she forms bonds with her new schoolmates and learns how to use her gifts to help save San Francisco. This story is really special because it combines elements of both fantasy and sci-fi and takes place in a futuristic version of a major city while being chock full of Bay Area references to Bay Area culture. You can expect to read about demons, dragons, vampires, witches, gangsters, crooked politicians, people from other worlds, and a young girl with the gifts of an angel getting hyphy and going dumb.

So once a week I will be posting short stories in journal entry format that explore the setting of my story to give insight into the world and characters I've created. This will also help me flesh out my story and gain a better understanding of how all the pieces of it fit together. I hope you all enjoy - I know I’m looking forward to these posts!

Entry #1

How did I get here, you ask? Well, to keep things simple, I'm a watcher. I travel throughout space and time and record and archive important events. I sensed the whole world changing, and all those changes stemmed from one place and time: the Golden City in 2050.  I knew I had to be here. I don't interfere with events, but I do speak to people throughout the community and write their stories. I only have two rules:  I can have a personal life and go about my business like anybody else, but under no circumstances am I allowed to directly get involved with major conflicts or the main event. I am merely a bystander and am only allowed to document it all. Second, I am not allowed to reveal my true identity. If anyone asks why I am doing what I am doing, I reply that I am nothing more than a writer doing my duty. “If you were a baker, you would bake, yes? Precisely.” This tends to get me out of tight spots.

As soon as I set foot into the Golden City, formally known as San Francisco, I knew I was home. The year was 2050, and things were very different from the San Francisco I had lived in and left in 2017. I was instantly met with the warmth and golden lights of the city. They danced brilliantly across the city in front of my eyes. The city was only seven miles by seven miles, which is a lot smaller than most metropolitan cities, but there seemed to be what felt like a million people living underneath those lights. From the outside it looked like a brilliant city that sat quietly in the Bay, but once you get there you realize that it's prospering and bustling with life.

There are five main districts in the city, thirty-six official neighborhoods, and a hundred and twenty minor districts, all with their own unique culture. It's so condensed that the number of people you'll run into in any neighborhood at any time of the day is astounding.

My first week in the Golden City, I scoured for stories and information downtown. Downtown was a huge part of the city and a hotspot for many of the residents and tourists. I knew if I was going to get information about what was going on, that was the best place to start. The city's population seemed to consist mainly of residents, a bundle of commuters from the east, and a dash of tourists. I spoke to anyone who would respond. I heard great stories and tall tales. I heard whispers throughout the city- rumors that something was amiss and that things were changing. As I said before, the Golden City had always been a beautiful place that was full of life and prosperity, but recently something had been threatening the city's laid-back lifestyle. I asked people what could possibly threaten the livelihood of such a magnificent city. Many weren't sure - they just felt like something was off. They noticed the behavior of others changing. A city full of friendly, talkative people had become more withdrawn, aggressive, and displayed a subtle amount of fear. Emotions were running high and this seemed to have caused a ripple effect throughout the city. Even as a newcomer I noticed that people seemed really skittish and nervous when talking about this subject.

Just as I was about to give up, I decided to take one last stroll up Market Street, the main artery of the city. It's a long, wide, street with orange cobblestone sidewalks the orange-red color of the Golden Gate Bridge that stretches across the city for three miles. I looped back and started walking along the Embarcadero at the Ferry Building on the eastern waterfront of the city and walked from there up into the Financial District. I tried getting a few people's attention, but they all either ignored me completely or seemed too scared to speak. The people in the Financial District were always a little standoffish, though, even during my own time, so I didn't take it personally.

I continued up Market Street, past Montgomery Street, until I hit Powell, which is what I would consider the main social hub of the city due to the abundance of attractions and shopping in the area. As I walked past the entrance to the Powell Street BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Station, I felt a hand tug at the sleeve of my shirt. I looked down and saw a young woman sitting on the cobblestone sidewalk and leaning up against the underground entrance to BART. She asked me if I had any money or food to spare. I didn't have any food, but I did have a little money on me. I felt really bad offering her money in exchange for information, but this was my last hope. I gave her the few dollars I had and she told me about demons invading the city and wanting to take it for their own, about kidnappings of children and adults and those people coming back and attacking the city. She went on about a man who could turn into a dragon and a witch that fought alongside him. She told me about a school called Golden City Academy that floated in the Bay and was training kids to fight in a looming war that was threatening to bring San Francisco to the brink of destruction. The most incredible thing she told me about was the story of a young girl who was a student at the academy. Allegedly, she was an Angel who fought valiantly with her friends to protect the city. I was told that every now and then you could see her giant wings eclipsing the sun as she searched for and uprooted the evils of the city. I didn't believe a word the woman said and kind of brushed it off as the delusions of a person who had fallen through the cracks of San Francisco's mental health care system. As I was about to walk off and write the day off as a bust, murmuring to myself about how sad it was that thirty-three years after my own time San Francisco still hadn’t dealt with its homeless problem, I noticed the streets getting darker, as if an eclipse were happening. That's when I looked up and saw what resembled an Angelic young girl with giant wings, gripping a sword, and soaring through the sky.

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Photo by Cael Sonata

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SciVages Pilot Episode

SciVages is a children’s show about a group of five really diverse middle school students. One day after their daily lessons finished they decided to stay late and work on their projects for the upcoming science fair. After a combination of scientific experiments and goofing off (mainly goofing off) they heard a loud crash come from outside. Once they arrived at the scene they noticed a meteor…

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Uniporn (Short Story Sundays)

Uniporn (Short Story Sundays)

Hi everyone! Starting today I will be posting short stories that I worked on throughout the week on every Sunday. This post will be the first of many more to come. I hope you enjoy! “Okay, I’m gonna jump! This is close enough, let the top down!” Monkey said to Lamb as they drove at blazing speed alongside a steam engine in the barren wastelands outside of Roadkill City. “Okay, we only have one…

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Cael Sonata Character Sheet (Introduction Post)

Hello, and welcome to the Golden City. I’ll guide you through the character creation process and get you started on your journey. From now on, your adventures will be stockpiled in this archive. Before we begin, you must select a name you’d like to go by. Please type your name below.

Name: Cael Sonata

Nice to meet you Cael Sonata! Next, for the purposes of this archive, we are going to need you to state your location.

Location: Golden City

Thank you, Cael Sonata of Golden City. To better understand you and give those that come across your archive a better picture of the type of person you are, we’ve prepared some questions below. There are no right or wrong answers, but we suggest that you answer them honestly. Let’s begin.                                                                                                    

What are your aspirations in life and what are you doing to achieve     those aspirations?

Yeesh, straight to the deep stuff I see. Well, my dream is to have writing fiction be my profession. I want my work to extend across all forms of media, from novels, to short stories, comic books, television, movies, radio, video games, etc. My work mainly focuses on women and minorities. As a child who grew up in a very ethnic city, I noticed that there weren’t a lot of characters in mainstream media that were relatable to my friends and I who weren’t minor characters or stereotypes.  As an adult, I still see the absence of representation and not much has changed since I was a child. I want to create media that my nieces and nephews as well as others will enjoy and be able to see themselves in. I’d like to bring women and minorities into lead roles that mean something. To achieve these dreams, I’m currently studying at San Francisco State University, where I’m majoring in Broadcasting and Electronic Communication Arts with an emphasis in Writing for Electronic Media and honing my writing skills as a freelancer and working on personal projects. I recently self-published my first short story, “Danita’s Revenge,” on Amazon, and it felt like an important first step to being able to make a living doing what I love.

What are you obsessed with?

My obsessions? Well, currently I’m really obsessed with Final Fantasy XIV – as you can probably tell, I’m really into role-playing games. I’m a gamer by nature and love a night in relaxing and playing something on steam like FFXIV or Stardew Valley. I’m also really into gardening. My partner and I have a plot at a community garden that we take care of throughout the week and use to grow fresh produce to use at home.

Another thing I really enjoy is cooking. I love looking up recipes and experimenting with different ethnic dishes. I make a mean Japanese apple curry, and my Filipino bulalo is to die for.

I’m also a lover of long-form fiction, but comic books currently have my heart. Rat Queens by Kurtis J. Wiebe is my obsession. Hannah, Violet, Dee, and Betty are a refreshing group of bad-ass, foul-mouthed fantasy characters, and the adventures they go on are thrilling and hilarious. Wiebe was spot on when he described the concept as, “Lord of the Rings meets Bridesmaids.”

Who are your favorite writers?

I know it’s really cliche, but J.K. Rowling is my favorite writer. Her world-building skills and attention to detail are top notch and something I really admire. Another one of my favorites is Kari Luna. Her writing is very intimate, creative, and easy to read. I hope to see more good things from her in the future. Finally, there’s Kurtis J. Wiebe. Wiebe writes progressive works with no fear, which is very refreshing and something I’d like to replicate in my own work. These three have written great works that have inspired me to work on my own projects.

Who are your favorite fictional heroes?

I’ve consumed so much media in the form of literature, comic books, video games, and so much more that I’ve had my share of exposure to some pretty great heroes. However, there are two that have really stood out, the first one being the new Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan. Ms. Marvel is such a fantastic comic book and Kamala Khan is a great character. She’s really fun and very relatable. My second favorite hero is Xena, Warrior Princess. I feel like I can’t say much about Xena that hasn’t been said already. She fears nothing and her determination and drive to help those that need it is godly. These two have influenced the way I go about writing my own heroes.            

Which talent would you most like to have?

If I could have any talent, I think that I’d like to be able to draw. Not just draw, but be a full-fledged illustrator. Being able to bring my fiction to life visually is a dream of mine. I’d love to see some of my work as comic books or graphic novels one day and being able to illustrate them would make that dream a lot easier.

Wow, Cael! You seem like a really interesting person, I’m sure those that come across your archive will be entertained. Now that we understand what type of adventurer you are, you’re just about ready to get started on your journey. There’s one last thing that we have to do first, though, before you go. It’s time to roll your stats! Your stats are determined on a numerical scale between, 0-10. 0 being garbage and 10 being absolutely outstanding! That’s right, before every adventurer starts their journey they rolls stats’ that will help them on their adventure. All you have to do is simply say “Roll” and your beginning stats will be determined. If you’re ready, let’s get underway!

A die is rolled.

Cael Sonata’s beginner stats are currently being determined. Please wait…

Stat roll complete.

Health Points 24/24

Magic 0

Speed 4

Writing Skills 7

Research Ability 8

Focus 5

Productivity 6

These look like some good stats, Cael! You’re really good in some areas but could use some work in others. However, don’t be discouraged! The best adventurers didn’t start at the top – they honed their skills and worked their way up, and I have faith you will be one of them! Welcome to the Golden City, Cael Sonata. Your journey starts here!

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Photo by Eric Ward on Unsplash 

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This Japanese armor was specifically designed for a woman :

“Firstly, the size of the head-protecting section of the helmet is remarkable. Compared to the size of the do, it is substantially bigger and shallower. This enlargement of the helmet size can be attributed to the fact that female warriors had more hair than their male counterparts. The crown area of the helmet utilises the style of the Kamakura period which allowed space for male warriors to place their mage (topknots).

In addition, unlike a haramaki armour which normally requires assistance to be put on, this armour can be worn without help from the back, similar to a kimono. To spare women from immodest embarrassment and taking into consideration the importance of ease in wearing, this design must have been invented. The breast plate can be easily adjusted and the design allows female warriors to remove it when necessary in order to take rest from the battlefield.

Thirdly, the reverse of the do - composed of small plates - is covered with deerskin, not only to beautify every aspect of the armour but also to allow for a silk kimono to remain undamaged when worn underneath. Behind this extraordinary finishing of the do reverse there must have been the intention of presenting a female warrior as both a noblewoman who could wear a valuable kimono as well as adding grace to her death when her armour was removed.”

Source : *

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pick-me-ups for writers

for the self-conscious beginner: No one makes great things until the world intimately knows their mediocrity. Don’t think of your writing as terrible; think of it as preparing to contribute something great.

for the self-conscious late bloomer: Look at old writing as how far you’ve come. You can’t get to where you are today without covering all that past ground. For that, be proud.

for the perfectionist: Think about how much you complain about things you love—the mistakes and retcons in all your favorite series—and how you still love them anyway. Give yourself that same space.

for the realist: There will be people who hate your story even if it’s considered a classic. But there will be people who love your story, even if it is strange and unpopular.

for the fanfic writer: Your work isn’t lesser for not following canon. When you write, you’ve created a new work on its own. It can be, but does not have to be, limited by the source material. Canon is not the end-all, be-all. 

for the writer’s blocked: It doesn’t need to be perfect. Sometimes you have to move on and commit a few writing sins if it means you can create better things out of it.

for the lost: You started writing for a reason; remember that reason. It’s ok to move on. You are more than your writing. It will be here if you want to come back.

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無題

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redhead

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Art by Carlyn Lim

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Artist: Rocio Huerta

Facebook: suisai

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suiisaii/

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SubUrbanSciFi - Sunset after work one day. 

www.scottuminga.com

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Sea of Dreams - ScottUminga

51st illustration for my personal portfolio.

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