#Rapier Dance Requiem

[thunder-threnodies]

The metallic clash of their swords echoed in the Square of Lofty Words as Hiram and Morgan dueled. Hiram's steps burned sigils on the pavement, whilst Morgan's froze them. They were fighting and also arguing: each step an affirmation to attack and challenge the other.

[ALL THINGS EXIST] shouted Hiram with an elegant twirl and a deadly plunge.

{ALL THINGS SHALL DIE} yelled back Morgan parrying and tiptoeing away from the tip of the rapier.

[EVEN THE SUN BURNS] insisted Hiram, slashing through the blazing air, in the Rose Giveth.

{EVEN THE SUN WILL GROW COLD} retorted Morgan with a bold step of the Totentanz.

[THE DANCE OF A THOUSAND HEARTS MAKES YOUR BLOOD BURN] a flaming trail lighting the tip of the elegant sword Hiram always used.

{THE DREAMS OF A THOUSAND DEATHS MAKES YOUR SOUL FREEZE} a shimmering trail of ice crystal forming a veil in front of Morgan, that parried yet another incoming attack.

[A SINGLE ROSE LIVES ETERNALLY IF GIVEN] Hiram's sword drew an arabesque trying to get past Morgan's guard. Steam forming whenever the two weapons collided.

{EVERY ROSE LIVES JUST A DAY IF TAKEN}

Morgan caught Hiram's rhythm and blade, sending him twirling on himself away from them.

{A LIFE IS BORROWED. A DREAM IS BESTOWED. ON A SLOW RIVER YOU'LL SOON FLOAT} Morgan pressed Hiram, extinguishing and erasing the Correspondence glyphs he left emblazoned in the cobblestones.

[A HEART IS STOLEN. BLOOD IS DUE. IN A FIELD OF ROSES YOU'LL SOON REST] the rapier moved so fast the onlookers could not quote follow its movements, keeping the Captain at bay.

{NO FIRE CAN STOP THE COMING OF WINTER} close pushed Morgan, sidestepping each of the deadly blows Hiram was delivering.

[NOR COLD, NOR DEATH CAN QUELL THE FIRE OF EXISTENCE] Hiram patience was growing short. It was about time to end this.

[A ROSE GIVETH, A HEART STOLEN, A FIRE ABLAZE. LOVE ONLY THROUGH ACTION. SUN INTO FIRE. FIRE INTO BLOOD. BLOOD INTO LOVE.] a clanging noise, a wide side swing and a quick kiss.

Peligin eyes growing larger. A fugitive sigh. A drop of blood. The taste of poison.

The heartbeat of Light in the blade in Hiram's hand.

{TO DIE BY YOUR HAND AND COME BACK TO YOU JUST TO BE POISONED AGAIN. OH A THOUSAND MORE TIMES I WILL DREAM OF YOU.} whispers Morgan right into Hiram's ear. The eyes close, lose focus. A chill in the air and Morgan wakes up on the Stolen River in the company of the Boatman again.

Hiram picks up Morgan's sword. He'll leave it on the Requiem as usual.

"I fuckin hate them when they steal the victory like this" he says "fucking cheater." there's cold in his words but a fiery flame raging within.

It's the Rose Giveth he says to himself nothing more. It's just that, yes, the Rose Giveth. And perhaps he's right.

On the Boat, the Captains smirks. They may have lost the duel, but won the battle.

Oh, Hiram will be FURIOUS his little "hidden-posioned-knife-trick" didn't work as intended.

Francis Morgan Dargor moves their Knight on the chessboard. Not a checkmate. Not yet. They fix their eyes on London, faraway yet closer as they take the Boatman's Bishop.

Soon I'll be back, Hiram.

[the-white-ladys-faithful-servant]

She makes me want to come up with complex literature and poems as beautiful as she in the spilled oil of felled puppets that I've slaughtered in her name

She steals the breath from my soul, the light in my eyes burns for her. Every star in the sky connects together in my mind to form her celestial beauty, glimmering like a beacon in the bleakness of a world without her shine.

The angels tear themselves apart out of envy for this woman's voice as each note dances through my mind like a hypnotist gracefully kissing life into my very essence gifting me a will to live.

I will play this game over, and over, and over, and over again at the aspect of seeing her beauty again and again in all her extraordinary glory

She is everything to me, the sun, the moon, the sky, the grass. Her song plays like a melody in the wind. I hear her voice all around like the world is singing to me her symphony. A requiem to ode her death time and time again as I persevere through the unfair world she was created for as just another enemy.

Just a boss waiting to be felled. But what if she had sentience? What if her mind races with adrenaline and fear as I lay my final blow, would she fear death or embrace it for the sake of her coding? Doomed to repeat the pattern again and again to be killed for the ability to progress through the level.

I wish I could free her of her endless pain, grant her the mercy she deserves instead of painting her gorgeous white suit in the glistening red gore she was created to release as the player stabs, slashes and crushes just to further the game.

A single key, a gate to the next level, thats all it takes to grant a reason for her existence and all that shackles her to the confines of such a fate, never to allow her the grace of humanity.

Ruthlessly bound to a life of unimportance.

The beauty of this woman and the grace of her voice has smitten me utterly and completely, yet no matter my adoration her placement in the world remains unchanging. Forever bound to a life of discord, locked out of a divine fate meant for a goddess like herself, the universe will not allow her to inhabit a place in the real world that is rightfully hers.

Limited to fiction, a fate worse than death and yet I desire her. Her and her never-ending loop of battle after battle, loss after loss, death after death. I yearn for the blade of her rapier to pierce my heart as she herself has struck it. Return to me what hundreds of players have wrought upon her, slash, gouge, cut and crush me with the agony of her mourning but do it with grace. Lull me to the afterlife with her sorrowful ballad and sing me to sleep, only then I will truly find peace.

[redlerred7]

So about that Rapier Dance Requiem Summary...

Some people on discord mentioned how the summary I made was a bit ranty and impersonal. The mechanics of the world were interesting enough, but there wasn't enough story in the story summary. They recommended I talk about the personal struggles the main character goes through more, which I think I agree with.

One morning, Brandon Lim woke up from a terrible dream—one where he was nothing but a weakling and a failure, doomed to break every promise he'd ever made and disappoint all the people he held dear. Except, that wasn't a dream at all. It was a painful reality that he had no way of escaping, no power to change, and no choice but to live with. His fate in this life was to suffer, And he deserved it... But not everyone agreed—not even two complete strangers who happened upon his sorry existence by accident. They told him that he did have the power; he did have the choice; this was just a nightmare—and it was his job to wake up from it. They did not give up when Brandon refused to believe them—they were willing to bend and break reality itself to convince him. And they did. Eventually...

Thoughts?

[thomasroach]

Monster Hunter World: All Guild Card Titles

The post Monster Hunter World: All Guild Card Titles appeared first on Fextralife.

Ever wondered how many titles are available in Monster Hunter World? Wonder no longer as this guide will list and detail how to obtain all the titles for your guild card.

Monster Hunter World: All Guild Card Titles

Players of Monster Hunter World can enjoy some extra fun by customizing their Guild Card with countless titles. Guild Cards can be customized by editing their titles, backgrounds, greeting, sticker, equipment, and poses. They play a small role in the realm of Monster Hunter World allowing hunters to give them out to players they have met.

First & Third Slot titles

Available from the beginning:

(None)

Newbie

First Year

Beginner

Fledgling

Rookie

Hunter

Fisher

Fighter

Sniper

Sword

Rapier

Blade

Great Sword

Lance

Spear

Hammer

Mallet

Dual Blades

Twin Swords

Light Bowgun

Crossbow

Heavy Bowgun

Ballista

Katana

Long Sword

Arrow

Bow

Gunlance

Blast Pike

Horn

Flute

Hatchet

Switch Axe

Glaive

Staff

Halberd

Charge Blade

Squad

Now Recruiting

Newcomer

Helper

Courageous

Meowster

Ms.

Knightly Order

Hunting Crew

Man

Girl

He

Me

Lone Wolf

Love

Stranger

Thrilling

Exciting

Solo

Duo

Trio

Party

Potion

Honey

Red

Blue

Green

Promising

Klutzy

Third-rate

Offense

Defense

On Sale Now!

First Fleet

Second Fleet

Third Fleet

Fourth Fleet

Fifth Fleet

New World

Commission

Good

Bad

Expedition

A-Lister

Scoutfly

Reach hunter rank 6

Romance

Lemon

Head

Mask

Body

Mail

Vambraces

Guard

Waist

Coat

Leggings

Boots

Armor

Assassin

Grand

Buster

Strider

Saber

Slayer

Brave

First-Class

24/7

Self

Anima

Pure

(Self-)Trained

Instructor

Exaordinaire

Trooper

Adventurer

Frontier

Miss

Cheery

Oasis

Protector

Arcadia

Buddy

White

Black

Shadow

Gloom

Dark

Jade

Pink

Crimson

Vermillion

Yellow

Rainbow

Shiny

Ravine

Reach hunter rank 11

Raw

Rough

Family

Stubborn

Amphibious

Fang

Youngster

Shot

Debonair

Proven

Fresh

Ultraviolet

Unforgiven

Capable

Phoenix

Prodigy

Genius

Dashing

Vanguard

Amnesiac

Mushroom

Nectar

Vale Tudo

Diversion Team

Pied Piper

Gunslinger

Angler

Berserker

Mercenary

Assault

Bride

Rambling

Eagle Eye

Soldier

Entomologist

Bomber

War

Killer Bee

Bearer

Tragedy

Sweet

Tomorrow

Papa

Battalion

Peach

Diet

Army

Foreman

Original

Amateur

Reach hunter rank 16

Leader

Ace

Limitless

Veteran

Raid

Cleave

Melody

Cannon

Mutant

Spinning

Dancing

Stalwart

Romantic

Shooting Star

Quickdraw

Beautiful

Nostalgic

Powerful

Unrivaled

Kid

Dude

Best

Lucky

Challenge

Fleet

Lady

Mr.

New Land

Relaxing

Monthly

Artisan

First

Armed

Cunning

Punk

Technician

If Only

Painful

Slowpoke

Advanced

Pro

Beloved

Devoured

Hard-Boiled

Masterful

Giga

Strawberry

Cute

Nearly

Pretty

Reach hunter rank 30

Lord

Shinobi Freedom

Dream

Altair

Kunoichi

Vega

Vagrant

Iron

Breaker

Samurai

Model

Traveler

Slash

Wing

Break

All

Weapon

Anonymous

Fan

Crisis

Heroine

Finest

Natural

Heartthrob

Boy

So-called

Tiny

Former

Casual

Madam

Professor

Winner

Loser

Fever

Coward

Skilled

Singed

Beast

Free

Chicken

Bug

Silent

Kinda

Treasure

Full-Auto

Compound

First-Time

Soft

Fate

Reach hunter rank 50

Tail

Shaker

Sheathed

Headshot

Coordinated

Hardcore

Exacting

Divine

Very Stubborn

Salvo

Surefire

Strategist

Eco

Ebon

Unlucky

Slim

Unbelievable

Story

Cataclysm

Ore

Messy

Value

Derring-do

Country

Petit

End of an Era

Sealed

Graduate

Specialty

Apprentice

Neo

Sister

Acrobatic

Maiden Name

Myself

Walker

Alchemist

Thief

Captive

Mining Master

Transporter

Guardian

Grizzled

Safari

Trolley

Minion

Experienced

Mecha

Brand-new

Researcher

Reach hunter rank 100

Complete

Sage

Perfect

Ruler

Big Bang

Blademaster

Beastmaster

All-or-nothing

Indiscriminating

Machine Crew

One-shot

Gamble

Prism

Faint

Cocky

Exclusive

Team

Mostly

Reborn

Wonderful

Viva

Pseudo

Disciple

Not for Sale

Radiant

Beauty

(Temporary)

Ripe

Favorite

Squishy

Darling

Charmer

Big

Intermittent

Max

Fishmaster

Rodeo

Excellent

Regular

Stroll

Love-struck

At First Sight

Luv

Roving

Rare

Second-rate

Mascot

Partner

Like

Popular

Reach hunter rank 250

As Always!

Sufferer

Agent

Riled-up

Shuddering

Terra

Archdemon

Requiem

Ballad

Marvelous

Dauntless

Bushido

Avenger

Double

Hilarious

Role Model

Class Leader

President

Exhausted

Indestructible

Royal

Blushing

Chaos

Retired Number

Of All Time

Sexy

Awesome

Flex

Unbeaten

All-out

Joy

Group

No. 1

Mrs.

Born

Nameless

Giant

Sorta

Mini

Lad

Syndrome

Anti

Crew

Captain

Passion

Special

Half

Respect

Bargain

Mega

Reach hunter rank 500

Legend

Champion

Hero

Clear

Reincarnated

Strongest

Top-class

Unparalleled

Jet-black

Emperor

Robot

Baby

Gorgeous

Short

Foremost

Anger

Life

Witch

Person

Forbidden

Snowflake

Famed

Long

Audacious

Extreme

Constant

Gourmet

Maid

Magistrate

Weakling

Unthinkable

Huh

Macho

Research Team

Campaigner

Scholar

Bounty

Illusion

Intelligent

Sapphire Star

Blinding

Ultra

Disappointing

Human

Smart

Hunt

Flower

Right-hand

Men

Women

Super

Complimentary

Alias

Hope

Pioneer

Freed

Knight

General

Imperial

Supreme

Crack

Opportunistic

God

Terror

Squire

Mettle

Karma

Star

Dragon

Czar

Fearless

Brand

Drink

Egg

Dumpling

Friendly

Hunt-crazy

Monster Hunter

Nailed it

Tempered

Trailblazer

Challenger

BFF

Vibe

Tracker

Titan

Observer

Mission

Go

Handler

Quirk

Fly

Miracle

Fantasy

Chockablock

Big Sis

Specimen

Smitten

Aerial Battle

Charming

Reach hunter rank 999

Monster

World

Top

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Rathian

Rathian Hunted

Land Hunted

Duchess Hunted

Wyvern Princess Hunted

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Pink Rathian

Cherry Blossom

Valkyrie

Queen

Graceful

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Rathalos

Rathalos

Skies

Prince

King

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Azure Rathalos

Azure

Sapphire

Soul

Regent

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Diablos

Diablos

Berserk

Desert

Horned

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Black Diablos

Violent

Piercing

Devil

Demon

Slay 10, 15, 20, and 30 Kirin

Kirin

Stormy

Thunder

Flash

Slay 10, 15, 20, and 30 Kushala Daora

Kushala

Gale

Cyclone

Soaring

Slay 10, 15, 20, and 30 Teostra

Teo

Shimmering

Kaiser

Flame Emperor

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Lavasioth

Lavasioth

Amber

Magma

Red-hot

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Barroth

Barroth

Charge

Tyrant

Strong

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Uragaan

Uragaan

Destruction

Rolling

Sledgehammer

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Anjanath

Anjanath

Bully Hunted

Wild Hunted

Brute Wyvern

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Great Jagras

Great Jagras

Gluttonous

Gobbling

Shaggy

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Pukei-Pukei

Pukei-Pukei

Venomous

Pop

Teacher

Slay 10, 15, 20, and 30 Nergigante

Nergigante

Power

Rebirth

Consume

Slay 10, 15, 20, and 30 Xeno’jiiva

Xeno’jiiva

Winged

Energy

Honcho

Guide Zorah Magdaros

Zorah

Volcano

Advance

Colossal

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Kulu-Ya-Ku

Kulu-Ya-Ku

Burglar

Dexterous

Raptor

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Jyuratodus

Jyuratodus

Mud

Water

Owner

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Tobi-Kadachi

Tobi-Kadachi

Fulgur

Flying Squirrel

Agile

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Paolumu

Paolumu

Balloon

Floaty

Pearly

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Legiana

Legiana

Elegant

Speedster

Twister

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Great Girros

Great Girros

Ravenous

Fear Hunted

Paralyzing

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Odogaron

Odogaron

Watchdog

Predator

Fierce

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Radobaan

Radobaan

Bone

Spiral

Thorns

Slay 10, 15, 20, and 30 Vaal Hazak

Vaal Hazak

Zombie

Corpse

Destination

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Dodogama

Dodogama

Drill

Dignity

Bold

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Bazelgeuse

Bazelgeuse

Trickster

Trouble

Raider

Hunt 20, 30, 40, and 50 Tzitzi-Ya-Ku

Tzitzi-Ya-Ku

Flashy

Spotlight

Mirror

Hunt 50 Tempered Monsters

Adept

Commander

Charisma

Slay 50 Elder Dragons

Valiant

Mythic

Legendary

Already

Feral

Comet

Hunt 100 Large Monsters

Maniac

Tough

Enraged

Hunt 500 Large Monsters

Master

Fairy-tale

Unprecedented

Complete a quest in the Ancient Forest

Ancient Tree

Forest

Complete a quest in the Wildspire Waste

Wildspire

Wastes

Complete a quest in the Coral Highlands

Coral

Highlands

Complete a quest in the Rotten Vale

Rotten

Vale

Complete a quest in the Elder’s Recess

Elder

Recess

Complete 50 optional quests

Liberty

Guide

Guidance

Complete 50 Investigations

Seeker

Knowledgeable

Fair Wind

Complete 10, 30, and 50 Arena Quests

Black Belt

Arena

Chosen

Expert

Hardened

Decidedly

Gladiator

Glory

Admired

Respond to 10 SOS and complete the quest

Backup

Great

Interceptor

Complete 100 Multiplayer Quests

Comrade

Friend

Lonely

Collect 50 Guild Cards

Bond

Spread

Link

Recruit a Tailraider

Tailraider

Stray

Meow

Grimalkyne

Gajalaka

Obtain 100,000 research points

Insect

Plant

PhD

Earn 1 million zenny

Tycoon

Celebrity

Resort

Acquire 5 pieces of Rarity 8 gear

Gear

Obsession

Quintessential

Arm

Collector

Lofty

Join a Squad

Sensei

Prime

Business

Active-duty

Sweetheart

Real

Troupe

Princess

My

Trendy

Heir

Famous

Killer

Telepathic

Unmovable

Eternal

Service

History

Final

Homemade

Warrior

Archer

Bug-catcher

Farmer

Book

Dapper

Curmudgeon

Maiden

Moxie

Grillmaster

Fisherman

Tracks

Item

Prize

Specialist

Skill

Using

Wobbly

Rider

Schemer

Hide-and-Seek

Well-done

White Wind

Participate in the Kulve Taroth Siege

Kulve Taroth

Hoard

Exhilarating

Highly Prized

Obtain from Deviljho Update

Deviljho

Demonic

Destroy

Invader

Obtain from Lunastra Update

Lunastra

Flame

Regal

Incandescent

Obtain from Horizon Zero Dawn PS4 Collaboration

Zero Dawn

Override

Machine

Nora Tribe

Outcast

Obtain from USJ Collaboration

Universal

Studios

Wonder

World’s

Cool Japan

Obtain from Street Fighter V Collaboration

Rival

Destined

Living Legend

Bandana

K.O.

Obtain from Devil May Cry Collaboration

Stylish

Must Die

Ebony

Ivory

Force Edge

Obtain from Mega Man Collaboration

Dr.

E-Tank

Classic

Rush

Rock n’ Roll

Complete “A Visitor from Eorzea (Extreme)”

Warrior of Light Completed

Slay Behemoth to complete the Final Fantasy XIV Collaboration

Fantasy

Crystal

Dragoon

Behemoth

XIV

Obtain Bayek Layered armor or Assassin’s Hood from the Assassin Creed Collaboration

Origins

Assassins

Bayek

Scarab

Pharaoh

Stealth

Slay a Leshen from The Witcher 3 Collaboration

Witcher

Geralt

Ciri

Leshen

White Wolf

Igni

Solved all of the mysteries in Contract: Trouble in the Ancient Forest

Wild Hunt

Partake in the Spring Blossom Fest

Spring

Bloom

March

April

May

Partake in the Summer Twilight Fest

Summer

Ocean

June

July

August

Partake in the Autumn Harvest Fest

Autumn

Pumpkin

September

October

November

Partake in the Winter Star Fest

Winter

Snow

December

January

February

Partake in the Appreciation Fest

Anniversary

One Year

Congrats

Celebrate

Birthday

Second Slot titles

(None)

By

An

For

And

Plus

On

With

Is

No

To

From

Per

Who

What

When

Are

Why

His

Her

Upon

Our

Your

Until

But

Colored

Lacking

Shrouded

Called

Dancer

Swift

Town

City

Using

Looking

Gang

Devotee

Type

Ally

Or

Boss

Assistant

Teacher

Limited

Occasional

Vs.

Worker

Fusion

Minus

Circle

In

Of

Less

The

At

Around

Across

Division

&

+

–

x

?

!

=

~

.

/

:

€

$

★

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

α

β

γ

Except

Meaning

If

Pre

Post

Only

During

Again

Also

Since

Use

So

Very

Wait

Try

☆

Just

Hate

Else

Besides

If you enjoyed this guide be sure to check out next Monster Hunter World: All Guild Card Backgrounds to see the array of Guild Cards Backgrounds you can attain.

Don’t miss out on the upcoming Monster Hunter World: Spring Blossom Festival 2019 Contents.

For all your Monster Hunter needs stop by our Monster Hunter World Wiki. You can also check out the most recent guides in Monster Hunter World: Arch Tempered Nergigante and Monster Hunter World: Patch 6.00 Notes & Witcher Collaboration Event.

If you are looking for more Monster Hunter World info, you can go in-depth with our featured guides: All Armor Limits, Everything about Kulve Taroth, Long Sword Elemental Limits, Dual Blades’ Max Element & Status Limits,  Attack Values & You, Crown Sizes & You, Monster Hunter World: The Canteen Explained With Ingredient Guide or Monster Hunter World: End Game Guide.

The post Monster Hunter World: All Guild Card Titles appeared first on Fextralife.

Monster Hunter World: All Guild Card Titles published first on https://juanaframi.tumblr.com/

[redlerred7]

Progress on Rapier Dance Requiem 2021/09/09

So, chapter 2 of my original fiction project is at 5000 words at 16 pages, which totals me to around 13k at 40 pages. I'm stuck writing the build-up to the plot beat that kicks off chapter 3, but I'm having trouble getting the emotions to land right. That's a story for later, however.

Anyway, in between writing sessions, I was thinking about how I'd pitch the story to people outside my social circle who don't already know what it's about. Here's a summary pitch I drafted that I'm relatively happy about.

Children who die too young and are sometimes offered a second chance at life by the gods of the Veil of Dreams, where thoughts and strong emotions can create realities unto themselves. There are two conditions to this deal: the first is that the kids have to do errands for the gods that revive them, the second is that they have to live without the safety-net that their parents and guardians had provided them during their first life. The kids that agree are forced to navigate a strange new world—where the rules and dangers are not spelt out to them; where the tasks they're asked to undertake may be more than they're capable of; where their own mental hangups may trap them in a nightmare of their own creation. They have all chosen to live, and now must deal with all that life entails.

Like it? Don't? I'd appreciate some feedback from any of my followers or people who follow the tags.

[redlerred7]

It's only been three days since my last post but I'm losing my mind because I don't have someone to talk to about my story. Here's an excerpt from the opening chapter in the hopes that it'll pique someone's interest.

Arthur leaned back and crossed his legs, turning to Emily. "So, how'd scouting go?" Emily grinned sharply. "Found a target—and it's a strong one, too." "Do you mean strong like it'll be fun to fight or strong like it'll be a giant problem if we don't deal with it now?" "Hmm…" She waggled her hand noncommittally. A sigh. "Alright, I guess we'll just have to find out…" Arthur flicked his wrists, two pistols darting out of his sleeves and into his hands. After taking a moment to inspect them, making sure his safeties were on, he pushed himself off the edge of the roof, landing almost weightlessly atop a street light just a few stories below. "Lead the way, M'ily," he said, gesturing for Emily to go on ahead. Emily nodded and leapt for an adjacent building, flipping, twisting, and pirouetting flashily as she flew through the air. Arthur followed suit, though without the fancy acrobatics. Together, they bounded across the city, over streets and alleys, only stopping once they reached the roof of an abandoned hospital. "Is this the place?" Arthur asked unnecessarily. Instead of answering, Emily pulled up her hood and summoned her armor and weapon, blue metallic plates materializing over the insulated padding of her winter coat, a spear with a long triangular blade materializing in her hands. She gave her weapon a twirl, resting the shaft on her shoulder. "Right. Safeties off." He flicked the safety levers of his pistols and aimed them at the rooftop access door. With the pull of both triggers, he shot off the hinges, allowing him to open it with a light push. The crash as it fell to the floor echoed amidst the empty rooftop, somehow louder than Arthur's gunshots. "You know, it might not have been locked," Emily pointed out. Arthur raised a brow. "Wouldn't you have kicked the door down regardless of if it was locked?" "Well, duh, I would. But this is you we're talking about." "Why do we have to have this conversation every time?" Arthur asked with a grumble, rubbing his temples. "Whenever I ask you if we're going in quiet or loud, you always say quiet but end up blowing our cover." A pout. "No I don't." "Yes. You do," he insisted. "So until you're sure you can stick to the plan, we'll just go loud." "Wait!" A gauntleted hand grabbed his shoulder, stopping him from entering the hospital building. "I can do it quietly this time, I promise." "Well, we're a little late for that considering how I already shot down this door." He gestured emphatically at the metal access door lying on the floor. "Maybe it didn't hear you?" Emily suggested hopefully. Arthur stared at her with dry skepticism, vaguely thankful that he couldn't see her pouting face through her helmet—not that that mattered much since the light of her eyes through her visor ended up being just as effective. Man, he really hated being her handler sometimes. "Alright, fine," he sighed, gesturing for Emily to enter the building. "Get in there and take point. I'll have your back." "Awesome!"

—Tales from Terminal Terminal: Rapier Dance Requiem, work-in-progress excerpt from chapter 1

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Original Fiction Project Update:

So, I've made progress on that OC story I mentioned a few weeks ago.

The first chapter is drafted and sits at 20 pages and 7k words, which places it in the same ballpark as my fan fiction in terms of chapter length. And considering it only took two weeks to get it to a state where I'm happy with it, I'd say things have been going swimmingly. The one thing I'm somewhat worried about is the primary POV character. I'm not entirely certain that what I've written will get readers to care about him in the span only seven thousand words, but I'm eager to start writing the meat of the actual story so I'll just have to make do with what I already written.

In related news, I finally have a name for the project, after sitting with the temp-name of "Another Novel Attempt 2021" for the last six months. It is now named:

Tales from Terminal Terminal: Rapier Dance Requiem

There were two things that came to mind when I came up with that name.

The first is the handful of music tracks that I made over the last two years. I frequently attributed them to OCs that would eventually be in this novel.

One of them is called Terminal Terminal, a fast-paced battle track akin to the tunes found in Pokemon or Touhou Project. It's not attributed to any character in particular as so much the whole setting of the story itself. Keep in mind the different meanings of the word "terminal" and you may understand what I'm trying to get at.

There's also one called Rapier Dance, another fast-paced battle track. It's a song I attribute to Brandon Lim, one of my OCs who doesn't use specifically a rapier, but a straight and relatively narrow dueling sword that would probably be mistaken for a rapier in the popular consciousness. I'll have drafts of his new design in the coming weeks but feel free to scroll through my tagged drawings of his old designs in the link I provided.

And finally, the "Requiem" part of the title has to do with events in the story that I will not divulge (but those familiar with the word might find that it's not exactly a subtle reference. Or perhaps it's more subtle than it seems and I'm just baiting you? Only way to find out is to read it... once I finish writing it, of course)

Unless my estimates are off, I'm roughly a quarter of the way to being finished with this story. I'd ballpark my total word count to 20-30k once every scene is written, maybe more or less after I do some editing. I'll have more news of progress in the coming months. For now, I'll get back to writing.

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Out-of-Context excerpt from Chapter 3 of Rapier Dance Requiem.

"We're around halfway through surrounding the nightmare with spell anchors," Arthur said, idly checking the behind the counter. "Want to take a break?" "No, I can keep going…" "Well, too bad. We're taking a break." The boy pulled out a folding chair from an unseen cabinet and set it up on the floor. "Sit." Brandon collapsed into the chair. "Now tell me what's wrong." "It feels like my head is going to explode," Brandon groaned through his gritted teeth as he rubbed his temples. "What's happening to me?" "Hmm." Arthur leaned over him, examining him clinically, like some specimen. "All those stabilization spells must be causing some sort of a resonance effect with the spell I used on the bullet inside your head." Normally, Brandon would feel upset that the piece of lead Arthur had put in his skull was still in there, but at the moment, the pain of his headache prevented him from indulging in such emotion. "How do I make it stop!?" "You wait for it to go away on its own." He was unsurprised to hear that proposal but he'd like something more immediate. "I could also shoot you again with another spell that interferes with the resonance." Was Arthur deliberately suggesting solutions that Brandon didn't like or was it just a coincidence? "Well, I could cancel the spell that's applied to you, but—" "Do it!" "There are consequences to—" "Do it!" "Fine." Arthur snapped his fingers. Immediately, the pain disappeared, leaving Brandon with the feeling of cold numbness in his limbs, a loud E-flat tone ringing in his ears, and the taste of blood in his mouth. "Thanks," he sighed tiredly as he relaxed into the backrest of his chair.