#wip: sc-history

[scalmropia]

Welcome! Rakshawe!

May the Golden State Protect and Nourish Us! Ran raj apa rakshath poshath karawa!

The Republican Monarchy of Scalmropia, or more colloquially referred as Scalmropia, The State or The Golden State, is by reality, the oldest existing government. The land area amasses 125623 km² with four islands: Mainland, Aanuka/ Acia, Ksudria/ Viron and Rahsia. It is located in South America and consists of nine provinces, thirty-six districts and one dependency of Scalmropian Inca (100km²) in South America. It has a land and maritime border with British Inca. The state capital is Rajyanar.

This is side-blog dedicated for all things Scalmropian and might feature official and unofficial posts. Please refer to the correct tags to ensure you see what you want.

Tags: #wip: scalmropia #wip: sc-lore-worldbuilding #wip: sc-news #wip: sc-arts #wip: sc-new-story #wip sc-published #wip: sc-official #wip sc-fun

WIPs within the State Multiverse

The Star Child

Experiment 615

World War 0

World War 3

Publications within the State Multiverse

None so far :(

National Identity

National Flag & Coat of Arms:

National Anthem

In the order of the sun By the Mayrath's grace Strong and together we shall stand Long live the golden state To our ancestors this breath we owe For our children this air be saved By the strength of the golden arms May our lives be held by love The thousand year raj of gold Will never vanquish be Under the siege of thousand arms Brave and strong our souls will be To the royal words we heed In no suffrage we will live May not the sunset last too long May not the Mayrath leave our lands May the Ran Raj protect us May the Ran Raj nourish us And in turn for our divine land We shall repay With love With care And duty

Politics

The country is a constitutional monarchy. The executive of the country is the Monarch, appointed by inheritance and the High Authority, appointed by Parliament vote. The legislature is the Parliament, unicameral in structure and appointed by public vote. Head of State is the Monarch, seconded by Prince or Princess Admiral and the Head of Government is High Commissioner, seconded by Vice High Commissioner. This is a unitary state.

However, historically, Scalmropia was an absolute monarchy and restructured itself as part of the major restructure and transition period during the years 555 BC to 550 BC.

Etymology

How the name Scalmropia came to be is unknown, however, it is believed to be the name of one of the lost Lower Kingdoms. (See History) Demonym for its population is Scalmaropian and the language is Scalmese. The colloquial term 'The State' derives from it being one of the oldest states and the term 'The Golden State' derives from the fact that the country is rich with gold deposits, covering 32% of the entire land area.

*Satellite view of Scalmropia

Culture

The country doesn't recognise a state religion; however, a majority recognises the patron entities of the metaphysical arts as divinity, despite not being organised as a religion. The Metaphysical Philosophy is the closest thing the country has to a local religion. However, there is a minority of Roman Catholics, owing to the strong ties with the Holy See.

The state language is Scalmese. The language has recognised roots in Indo-Aryan languages. In its present form, the language uses a wide range of English loanwords.

Administration

The nine provinces have local governments: Provincial Councils, headed by Governors. The districts are only segregated for ease of administration and allocation of resources.

*Plain map of Scalmropia in 1:10785 (in original document) scale with provincial boundaries and minor island names

Demographics

The country is 98.7% ethnically Scalmropians due to the isolationist policy. Of the remaining 1.3%, 0.8% is of Incan ethnicity and 0.5% is of British and American ethnicity.

As for religion, 87% follows Metaphysical Philosophy, a form of magic worship and 13% follow Roman Catholicism.

There is an almost perfect 50.1% male and 49.9% female biological population. A slow-fluctuating list of gender identity is updated within the Ministry of Public Records.

Despite religious orientation, only 63% of the population has verified magical capabilities.

Geography

The country amasses an area of 125, 623 km². The country has four islands, Mainland, Aanuka/Acia, Ksudria/Viron and Rahsia. The mainland is comprised of four distinct topographical zones: Coastal, Intermediate, Mountainous and Semi-Arid. There is no distinct natural topography in the minor islands as they all have been repurposed.

Biodiversity is very low with only two endemic florae: Chrysanthemum mayrathia (this is the national flower and is present in the crest and the flag, see National Identity) and Chrysanthemum maynelia. All other flora and fauna are imported. Some species have naturally evolved to have local characteristics and some have been genetically engineered.

Foreign Relations

Initially, Scalmropia followed an open policy; however, following the global war (see History), the country restricted itself from international politics and followed a majorly isolationist policy. International relations have therefore soured between the major powers that has since formed such as the United Kingdom of America, British Empire, and the Confederates of Japan, for a majority of the Scalmropian history.

Notable exceptions are, however, ties with the Greek Civilisation until the beginning of Hellenistic Greece, as well as the fluctuating ties with the Holy See which exists even today. The diplomatic mission of the Holy See acts for Scalmropian Interests Protection in all states and territories, while the Incan Dependency hosts a diplomatic mission which would be used to communicate with the major powers of the Americas.

The country still follows a non-alignment and isolationist policy and Scalmropia is an observer state at the United Nations.

*This map only shows mainly relevant political entities in the state universe

History

Civilisation began here when a group of 2000 ships of mass migrants fled South Asia during the ethnic cleansing and assimilation as part of King Shyam of the Upper Kingdom's conquest of the Lower Kingdoms. Initially set to land in the islands of Java and Sumatra, due to lack of proper maps, these ships missed the South Asian Islands completely and sailed all the way to the island which is now Scalmropian mainland.

Owing to King Shyam's conquest in 10th century B.C., the extensive knowledge and existence of civilisation in the region was wiped out. This included the magical and technological advancements the Lower Kingdoms possessed. Scalmropia was home to the last remnants of this knowledge. King Shyam's own kingdom collapsed and was wiped out by the successive civilisations beginning with the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Following the colonisation of the Scalmropian mainland, a monarchy was introduced and the existing knowledge was developed under King Devraj I. Being the oldest civilisation of the region, Scalmropia has seen the rise of Mesoamerican and Incan civilisations.

The Great War of 562 BC to 557 BC, the first global war—unknown in the present historical records and disputed due to lack of credibility, saw the defeat of Egyptian and Mayan civilisations as well as the complete destruction of the Atlantis civilisation. This is seen as one of the darkest parts of Scalmropian history and efforts have been taken to erase all proof of the war and so far, attempts have been successful.

There has only been one other conflict in Scalmropian history when there was a colonisation effort by the British Americas, which was successfully repelled.

[megarywrites]

Dino ask! :3 Deinonychus and I have to send my favorite dino: Ankylosaurus

thank you!!! under the cut because as usual, it got long lol

Deinonychus | share a scene with banter

She shifted, sitting now instead of squatting beside me, her arm braced somewhere behind me, our shoulders barely touching. I picked a few more othima. “I wish we had gotten to look around some more. It seems like a really charming place.” Smiling, I arranged the blossoms between my fingers, pinching the stems to hold them in place. “What were you and Ma laughing about? When I was outside?”  “Oh, that.” She chuckled, and I looked up, slightly startled to find her face so close to mine. But she wasn’t looking at me. “She mentioned something about how you were never that eager to clean before, and I said that that hasn’t changed since you came to Katania.”  “Hey, I keep my side of our room clean.” “If you want to call it that, sure.”  The corner of her lips twitched up, her dimple appearing for a split second before her gaze flicked up to meet mine.  We were already close. So close. Yet I wanted to be closer still. To let myself get lost in the depths of her eyes. Her attention lowered for a second, the very tip of her tongue poking out to wet her lips. My heart stuttered as her eyes captured mine again.  What were we talking about?  She looked away with a small smile, making to stand. “We should hurry if we want to make it back before supper.”  I leaned toward her, missing the close proximity already. “Here,” I said, holding out the measly bundle of flowers to her.  Solera brushed the seat of her kapta off before she collected the othima from me, her fingers brushing against mine. “Thank you, Thala.”  Warmth washed over me that had nothing to do with the heat of the day.

Ankylosaurus | share some of your favorite descriptive text

The gap between the rock faces started to widen, an ever-brightening blue light welcoming us as we swam out into the open. My eyes widened and my mouth fell slightly open.  A courtyard of a spiraling mosaic of green, yellow, and gray splayed out before us, clumps of bright green algae clinging to the faded stones like moss. Gardens of swaying red and yellow-green sea flora stretched out around the sprawling, airy palace up ahead. Deteriorating statues of once-noble dragons flanked the curved staircase leading up into the palace, the one on the left holding my attention until Mitha called out a greeting and waved to a cluster of mermaids within the garden.  She didn’t stop to talk, however. Instead, she led me up into the dilapidated palace itself.  The walls, where they still remained, possessed some of the grandeur of the former hall. Faded murals depicting an age long past adorned them. The pointed, arched ceiling was so vast that I had to squint to make out even the slender beams stretching between the patchy roof. Time and water had eroded the faces, wings, and tails of the stately columns that had been carved to appear like the dragons of legend.  Broad arched windows sat between each of these, looking out over another courtyard, where deep reds and blues joined in the dizzyingly swirled mosaic. Another garden spilled out onto the courtyard, which was populated with many more mermaids, most of which were fawning over Kama. Her head was resting on the jagged edge of the courtyard, which dropped off abruptly into the deep sea. Her long dark body swayed lazily in the current until she rolled over on her side to let some of the mermaids pick off the barnacles stuck to her underbelly.  “Thala.” I started at the sound of my mother’s voice, so taken with the bewildering, wonderful sight before me that I had forgotten about Mitha sharing her face and voice. I tore my attention away from the spectacle, looking over at her. “Come. I’ll show you where we rest.”  She had to keep reminding me to follow her, as I constantly got distracted by the surrounding murals. Faded as they were, it was hard to make out the depictions. But, from what I could tell, it told the story of the dragons and their friendship with the humans—a story that barely persisted with the passage of time in Grea. I knew of it from tales Pa had brought back from other lands, but even then, my memory was fleeting.  I was about to ask Mitha about it when I turned to find that we had reached the doorway that dwarfed both Mitha and I, and she chuckled as I looked up at it in awe. “It had to be this large so the dragons would walk beside their humans.”  The courtyard filled with other mermaids and Kama laid to the right of us, and to the left, the garden. And beyond the garden, the thick strips of the algae forest danced in the current.

send me dinosaur asks?

[vivifriend]

WIP Wednesday

Was tagged by @hircines-hunter and @thequeenofthewinter. Thank you. 💕💕💕

I shall tag @rainpebble3 and @bostoniangirl21 No pressure ofc. 💕💕

I have a cold. And I was listening to I'd Rather Burn by Blackbriar. And for some reason it made me wonder... "What if Delphine raised the Dragonborn?" And this idea has not left me alone since. (I'll probably be back on SC next week but for now... have this snippet).

>>>>>>>

Farengar came back as Danica was leaving, shoving a notebook and quill at her. "Here. I've enchanted the quill so it doesn't need ink. We'll start back here. Pick up a book, write down title and author, tell me if it's history, myths, or magic, and I'll send it where it needs to go."

His method of moving books proved to be liberal use of telekinesis, and Delphine quietly followed him, startling at every sound, grimacing when he arched an eyebrow at her after a particularly large startle.

"You should speak with the Jarl," he said after shelving another handful of books.

"Why is that?" she asked, scribbling down another author name.

"He had me enchant something for him recently," he said easily, sending another book into a shelf, frowning at it for a long moment before moving it to another one.

"Your point?"

"He had me enchant a Divine's amulet. Disguised it to look like an amulet of Zenithar. Fitting for a trade city."

She frowned, grabbing another book, holding it out toward him. "Histories."

He nodded, sending the book away to the appropriate shelf. "When the White Gold Concordant was signed, oh, three years ago now, I'm told he rather angrily accepted a chest of gold carried by several Thalmor and an Imperial General; used it to pay the widows and widowers of soldiers lost."

"You've been the Court Wizard for three years and not managed to deal with these books?"

He laughed. "No. I was apprenticing under the previous Court Wizard for those three years. No one dared touch his books."

"So, you were just waiting for the moment he retired?" she asked, looking around. If this is how he kept his office. I can't blame Farengar. Esbern would have been fit to be tied if he saw a library in this condition.

"He died," he said. "Balgruuf believes it was a Thalmor Agent. And since that day, he's been very carefully winnowing the Thalmor out of Whiterun. You may have noticed the statue of Talos in the square?"

I was more interested in the tree. "I'd wondered about that," she lied.

"He refused to take it down. In politically worded speech. Made it sound formal and professional enough to get a stay on removal. But you can rest assured. No matter your background...," He dropped his gaze pointedly to the blade on her belt. "No matter what you're hiding from. Balgruuf is no friend to the Thalmor."

"The amulet you enchanted was for Talos?" she guessed.

"Yes."

I doubt he'd appreciate you telling me. But it's good to know. "I see."

He smiled. "I don't expect you to trust me in a day. You wouldn't be alive if you trusted so easily. But think on it. Whiterun Hold might just be the safest place for you. And for your little one."

Frowning, she grabbed another book. I wasn't looking for a home. Being stationary can get very dangerous.

[kiwiana-writes]

The way we get into each other's bones [Angstapalooza RWRB Edition] bc the multiminute podcast i got from u isn’t enough apparently

and also the only fans one, u know, for balance

The way we get into each other’s bones [Angstapalooza RWRB edition]

Lmaoooo the TWELVE MINUTE VOICE NOTE I sent you already gave you more info about this than I think anyone other than @ships-to-sail @celeritas2997 and @rmd-writes is privy to. BUT.

For those of you who aren’t in the middle of the Venn diagram between RWRB and Schitt’s Creek, a few years back I wrote a 53k canon divergence breakup/reconciliation fic that was dubbed “angstapalooza” while I was writing it. And based on people’s reactions… it earned the moniker. (It’s also, despite my overall reputation in SC as a smut/kink peddler, become The Work people associate with me, apparently. Or as @indestructibleheart put it: “mj being seen as someone who only writes angst is like how nick is gonna go down in history for playing gay royals. it's not their fault their angst fics just happen to be very memorable, but they actually have a full imdb of other roles.“ 😂😂😂

SO. When, halfway through writing the actor AU, I had a sudden idea for a multi-chapter canon divergence breakup/reconciliation fic… well. The appellation seemed appropriate. It also immediately terrified the RWRB/SC Venn diagrammers 😂

I really do just need to sit down and, like, focus on this one, because it’s by far my longest-languishing WIP. But here’s the start of the pitch: canon divergent from Rio, they start hooking up much earlier, and break up—spectacularly and angrily—a couple of months before Philip’s wedding. Cakegate is no longer antagonism and UST, it’s two very recent very hurt exes having to play the diplomatic bullshit in the public eye while seeing each other for the first time since breaking up.

There’s a prologue in media res that covers cakegate, then we flash back to Rio and see the progression of their relationship (before and after cakegate) from there. Angst with a happy ending, and many delicious things on the way I won’t spoil right now.

As a little treat, have the (heartbreaking!!) end of the prologue:

Later, what Alex will hate himself for the most isn’t the absolute waste of $75,000 worth of dessert. It won’t be the heartbroken look on Martha’s face, or the disappointed expression on his mom’s when he gets home, or the diplomatic shitstorm the whole thing threatens to kick off.

No, what Alex will hate himself for the most is that when they fall to the floor, Henry’s hands find their way to Alex’s hips, gripping tight enough that his fingers will probably leave bruises later—and just for a moment, it feels like coming home.

Hold up, rewind, knock me off of my feet [OnlyFans/Roommates]

I talked about this one here but have a little snippet because I genuinely love this fic. I just keep getting distracted by ooh-shinies

“I think I’m into Henry.”

“Right, no, I got that part somewhere in between hearing how pretty he is when he cries and you waxing rhapsodic about how he has, and I quote, ‘thighs that could crush a watermelon or, like, hang off a pole or something’.”

Alex blinks at her, confused. “What? I didn’t say anything about his thighs.”

“Not today.”

Two words should not be able to be that damning. He does vaguely recall saying that, actually, a few weeks after they moved in together and Alex had come home to find Henry in shorts for the first time.

Which, okay. It’s possible Alex has been ignoring a few signs. Big signs. Twelve foot tall signs that are so neon you kind of have to wonder if they’re radioactive.

[WIP tag game]

[mcd-brainrot-hours]

*taps mic* hi guys i wanted to post something for vylenix week so have my wip of today’s prompts :3 @vylenix-week

i attempted to combine the two prompts (ghost/ghost hunting au and reincarnation) for this wip

Vylad often stumbled across ruins during his travels (but he wouldn’t if he followed the paths he was told to by his GPS). He’d spend time admiring the aged or rotted exterior but he never dared to actually enter one. He’d rather not have to deal with asbestos.

But this one- this one was different. It wasn’t as eerie as other buildings he found on his way here. He began to assume this area used to be a village once bustling with life. However, unlike the other buildings in it, this one’s exterior remained oddly intact. The stone walls showed no signs of crumbling. Vylad admired the architectural style of it in an attempt to put an age on it. “Looks like a guard tower… huh. Those haven’t been used in ages…” He mumbled to the mist around him.

“Nothing bad could happen… right?” Vylad shrugged and decided to enter the oddly-preserved guard tower. The first thing he noticed was how organized it was. Why was this place so… put together?

If Vylad’s memory was correct, these guard towers were used during the Phoenix Era. They played a key role in a village’s defense. He read about a library’s worth of books on that era alone- the last era to use relics.

Vylad continued looking around. He admired the weapons on display, each of them still shining and sharp- he wouldn’t test that though. He decided to look around for some books from older time periods.

He made his way to a bookshelf but stopped when he heard… footsteps? No one else should be here… He shrugged it off and continued towards the bookshelf.

. . .

Haunting what remains of Phoenix Drop’s guard towers isn’t the most exciting thing. The world seems to have forgotten it even existed. Zenix doesn’t have much to do other than recall his glory day- being a ghost really limits what you can do.

Zenix stared out of the windows at the ocean. His favorite activity… Zenix let out a groan and decided to pace around the room for a bit longer- wait. Someone’s here. Zenix debated whether he should investigate or continue to do what he’s done for centuries.

But it’s not everyday that someone stumbles across this ancient town. Zenix decided to spice things up. He’s going to investigate.

. . .

Vylad didn’t realize how much history this tower would hold when he first found it an hour ago. Majority of the books here contain old fighting techniques and different types of weapons that were used then. He found a few that held details of the relics- mainly Esmund’s. He peered at the tower of books he’s created next to him. Vylad added another to the top.

He stretched his legs before getting up from the wooden chair he was using. Irene, that was a lot of reading. He checked his phone for the time. He didn’t have anywhere he needed to be today so he could spend as long as he wanted here.

He wandered over to the weapon racks on the wall. He reached out to carefully trace the blade of one of the iron swords. “Get out…” Vylad snapped around, trying to find where the voice came from. He gulped. “Ok… cool. This place is probably haunted… should’ve figured-“ He let out a shaky breath. His eyes traced the room like a hawk.

Vylad felt someone poke him on the shoulder from behind. He froze. Definitely haunted, he thought, why didn’t I consider that? He carefully crept to where his bag sat by the door. He didn’t want to leave just yet- he hasn’t even been to the second floor.

A sudden chill filled the room. Vylad froze. “…not supposed to be here…” That voice again! He put on a brave face and called out: “Show yourself!” He held out his phone like a weapon- maybe it could scare off the ghost?

He searched the room with his eyes again. “Behind you…” Vylad startled and slowly turned around.

There was a ghost here.

. . .

Zenix expected to find some nerd who studies his time period- he’s gotten good at scaring them off. He didn’t expect him. Vylad was supposed to be dead. Not staring at Zenix in fear and curiosity.

Zenix took a moment to take in Vylad’s appearance. He looked… different. His once messy, unkempt hair was tamed (just a bit) in a small ponytail- only half though. His clothes looked new but he still has his green scarf. Time has been kind to him (he deserves the kindness, Zenix thought).

“W-Who are you? Or what are- wait no… your a ghost that’s what you are…” Zenix couldn’t help but laugh. “You don’t remember me?” He questioned.

“…should I?”

“Well, duh. I’m supposed to be an important part of your life.” Zenix teased.

Vylad squinted his eyes. “How is a ghost supposed to be important to me? I don’t even know your name!”

Zenix stared at Vylad. Why doesn’t he remember? “Are you not Vylad Ro’meave?” He asked. Vylad jumped. “How do you know my name?” His eyes squinted at Zenix.

“…we dated?” Zenix knew there were probably better things to jog Vylad’s memory with but he didn’t want to find them. He watched as Vylad started to fidget with the hem of their leather jacket. “I… don’t date people.” Vylad muttered.

“Did he wipe your memory, Vylad? It’s me, Zenix. Y’know… your boyfriend? The one who survived literal hell with you?” He sighed exasperatingly. “I give up. You clearly don’t remember me.” He turned away and looked down at his translucent hands. If he was still around, then it made sense for Vylad to be his Vylad.

[henrike-does-writing-sometimes]

Wip Master List

All of my wips, both main and those I only talk about briefly, all in one place. Hope any of them will pique your interest !

( Links will be added and updated as I go )

To The End : ( Eng ) Questioning Reality, The Indifferent Cruelty of the Universe vs. The Indomitable Human Spirit, Found Family

When their timelines entwine, Samir, Eric, Thea, and Asher find themselves with the greatest friends of their lives. Never would they have imagined their friendship broke the laws of the Universe. With the Keepers —powerful deities that weave the fabric of reality from the timelines— watching their every move the four friends have to work quickly if they wish to escape their grasp. Something they’ve done over, and over, and over, and over again. And it’s starting to take its toll.

Wip Intro | Playlist | Tag

The Neon Trilogy : ( Eng ) Found Family, Humanity, Chosen One

André’s eyes are weird. Everybody knows that. They’ve been changing colors for his entire life, and what started as brown eventually became violet. The doctors have diagnosed it as chroma flux, a rare eye condition wherein the iris changes its color every so often. So when André’s eyes one day become a vibrant pink, life simply goes on as normal. However, that changes when it’s soon discovered that André’s blood has taken on the same color. And even glows. Not long after he’s targeted by strange Alien creatures, claiming him to be both a savior and a doomsday machine. Which one it is? No one seems to have the answer. And André might break before he ever finds out, desperate to figure out who he can trust.

Wip Intro | Playlist | Tag

Realm of Mirrors : ( Eng ) Dark Academia, Body Horror, Loss of Innocence

In the coastal town of Grimmvik, six friends find themselves wrapped up in the mysteries surrounding the old castle up on the cliffs. With ghosts roaming the halls, reflections acting on their own, and rooms that seem to breathe and have a pulse. At first it’s a thrill. Excitement filling their veins as they sneak out in the dead of night to catch glimpses of these unexplained phenomena. That is until they discover the dungeons. Where a shrine for an old and grand mirror rests, whispering their names. What once was nothing but fun and games turns to life and death as Grimmvik’s dark history is revealed. And they’re much more involved than they could ever imagine.

Wip Intro | Playlist | Tag

Gammellunden ( A Beauty and the Beast gender-swapped retelling ) : ( Eng ) Soulmates, Monster-Human Romance, Curses

In the inlands of Sweden lies Gammellunden, a massive land of dense forests and clear waters that breathes pure magic. It is a place no human ever enters, for it’s the home of the urroa; large beasts with skin as rough as stone and antlers like the branches of oak trees. Stories have traveled through generations, cautionary tales of the beasts to keep humans far away from the border.  Ruben Hylén is very familiar with these morbid tales, but that doesn’t stop his curiosity, and one day he crosses the border. Stumbling upon an urroa in the middle of her bloody feast, neither has any clue of what Gammellunden has in store for them.

Wip Intro | Playlist | Tag

The Wayward Carnival : ( Eng ) Prophecies, Cults, Divinity

What kind of teens wouldn’t love to find a magical carnival that never closes and only responds to them? With endless food and drinks and spectacular shows, providing an otherworldly experience that leaves you in euphoric drunkenness.  Though all good things eventually come to an end, for the battle of the carnival has been foretold in ancient prophecies. And nothing is quite like it seems. Not even the carnival itself.

Wip Intro | Playlist | Tag

The Garden of Corpses : ( Eng/Swe ) Cottagegore, Magic schools, Morality

As you get older, your magic begins to solidify into an affinity — From sacred bonds with animals to the divine light from above. It is then you go to attend one of many schools specialized to train your kind of affinity. One such school is Liegården, one of Sweden's oldest schools for Elementals. This is where Isak, Heidi, Janan, Alejandra, and Nils find themselves in late August one year. Ready to learn everything they can about their powers, and maybe make life-long friends at the same time. Their plans quickly change, however, as something strange begins to take root within them, and a long-forgotten form of magic makes itself known once again.  With rotting corpses resting in the forests, a conspiracy brewing within the school’s faculty, and a primal hunger steadily growing, the five friends must work quickly to uncover the secrets of the elemental. Lest they too be left to decay in the gardens.

Wip Intro | Playlist | Tag

The Divine : ( Eng ) Magical boys, Fond Family, Mental health

When danger lurks on the horizon, far greater than any Human or Calidrim can handle, Kayara awakens the Wielders —powerful warriors carrying the combined force of light and darkness— to defend the worlds.   And so, five boys must learn to navigate school and their personal lives while also keeping the worlds safe from monsters, cultists, and an approaching deity of chaos.

Wip Intro | Playlist | Tag

Ode to an Angel : ( Eng ) Family, Expectations, Doomed at birth

Kit Kumar, the oldest child of Jashi and Maia, the greatest friend you’ll ever have, a musical genius, and the biggest anomaly known to the Angelic.  Being born the fifth child to a fated quartet, many believe Kit to be a bad omen, and thus their birth tainted what else would’ve been an honor and a blessing. And as the coronation of Kit’s siblings approaches, the Kumar family’s dedication and loyalty is tested one last time.

Not a main wip

All The stars Are Watching ( Part of the Chimeran Universe ) : ( Eng ) Mental Health, Cults, Body Horror

Life, Light, and Magic. These three elements lay the very foundation of both the universe and reality itself. Elements that can be found in every living creature. Life lets you breathe, Light lets you see, but Magic is only for a few. Few known as Chimeras. They look just like normal Humans and for their own safety that's what they pass as in public.  But just because Magic is a natural part of their everyday life doesn't mean strange occurrences are any less strange.   On the first day of her new school, Vega Dahl breaks the first rule; don’t talk to Leo Holm. A rule they themselves have enforced over the years. Surprisingly, they end up in an unlikely friendship. However, things quickly take a turn for the worst as strange people appear seemingly out of nowhere, and they seem to be after Vega. For reasons no one seems to know. Could it be because she's a Chimera?

Not a main wip

En Väktares Saga ( A Guardians Tale ) : ( Swe ) Mental Health, Found Family, Cosmic Horror

A group of teens wants nothing but to fit in. To be accepted or left alone. To heal or to damage. What none wanted was to have the fate of the entire universe placed on their frail shoulders. It seems innocuous enough at first; learn to control and master their new elemental abilities, and once they’ve outgrown their mortal bodies enter the Astral plane. Where they’ll guard the gates to the universe. Simple. Well, not when you take the God of the universe into consideration. Hellbent on revenge there is only one thing she needs; for them to submit and let her back in. A goal that involves their seemingly endless torment.

Not a main wip

Häxkonst och Alkemi ( Witchcraft and Alchemy ) : ( Swe ) Magic Society, Body Horror, Accidental Chosen One

Thrusted into the world of the Magical, Felix, Elias, Lukas and Jonathan try their best to adapt. It’s not easy. Especially when, as Magicians, they’re expected to know the Magical like the back of their hand. Even though they’ve only been aware of its existence for less than a week. It’s made worse when they’re brought in right during a growing crisis. Something or someone is placing harmful sigils all over Sweden, and seemingly the entire world, causing both the Magical and Mundane intensive distress and harm. In an attempt to help in any way they can, the boys wind up making themselves the biggest target for the source of the sigils. For they’re now, somehow, the only ones capable of stopping them.

Not a main wip

Maledictus : ( Swe ) Body Horror, Dark Magic, Found Family

Even in a world full of magic, mystical beings, and power-granting Curios, people still can’t help but find themselves stuck with no idea where to go next. Which is where Emilio has ended. Fresh out of high school and future goals, they go about their monotone life of working at a small cafe and writing poetry. This all changes when they win a game of chess for one of the café's patrons. Perhaps a bit passive-aggressively, but it does catch the attention of a group of surprisingly powerful magic users. And one night their leader —a charming young man by the name of Ivan Fellin— approaches Emilio, presenting them with one of the world's most powerful Curio’s; The Maledictus' Queen piece. And just like that their life is turned upside down, with the violent secret of the Maledictus's power looming over them like a suffocating shadow.

Not a main wip

! Please note ! My writing is an outlet for and my way of coping. Because of this, most of my work deals with, in one way or another, mental health, abuse, heavy violence, death, and trauma. They might not be obvious or major parts of the story, but they’re there. Stay Safe y’all <3

[carolrain]

Trivia Wednesday

Creators: give a “behind the scenes” look at one of your works. This could be things that got removed or changed, the origins of ideas/details, whatever you like!

I am delighted, delighted by this whole thing. I love “behind the scenes,” love talking about writing, love learning about other kinds of creating.

I love @mostlyinthemorning’s post about making graphs—it answered about a dozen questions I wanted to ask and more questions I didn’t realize I wanted answers to but I did. I love metadata, love that kind of analysis. I am so pleased to be tagged, thank you.

Here is a list I started keeping of things I've researched/googled as I’ve written my work in progress. I’m copying it straight from my notes without cleaning it up or explaining so I don’t get perfectionistic about it. (I actually would be happy to explain, elaborate, or tell you what I found out about anything, as long as you promise not to laugh at those many items that reveal a basic ignorance about Canada or life in general.)

Things I've Researched for “Piecing It Together” (still a WIP)

amnesia in general

amnesia in fiction

amnesia in fanfiction

types of memory in general—muscle memory

prematurity circa 1983

nicus in toronto in 1983

30 weekers

adults who were born preterm

weather in that part of Ontario for fall 2020

weather in that part of Ontario in general

vegetation in that part of Ontario—garden, trees, planting

butter and how it’s packaged and referred to in Canada

what measurements are used for babies in Canada

head injuries in general

healing times and staples vs. stitches vs. glue on head wounds

who was the prime minister in March 2016

Covid and hospital emergency rooms in Sept 2020

Blue Jays schedule for August 2020

OHIP cards and how health care works in Canada

lockdown and non-essential businesses in Ontario

pandemic-related business help from Ontario government

timeline of Covid/lockdown guidance and rules in Ontario

if you could actually donate money to Teen Vogue

SC timeline

nosejobs circa 1996 and if they could be outpatient

psychology—compartmentalization

fall Canadian holidays

fall Jewish holidays

the geography of that part of Ontario

wildfire smoke in Sept 2020

what Alias Grace is about

timeline of Canadian elections

kilts vs skirts

MRIs vs CT scans

what was popular to watch in Sept 2020

names of colors

lyrics to songs

John Prine’s concert history

planting times for gardens in Ontario

what flowers mean

what scents go well with apple

“good baseball news website canadian”

do they eat peanut butter in Canada

meghan markle’s bouquet

episode of friends looking out the window u2

what do people do on labor day

tundra animals

the color of the motel walls—what did Dan call it?

details of baby Patrick Kennedy—include a footnote?

Susanna Moodie

busy highway toronto

what shows were on tv in spring 1996

patrick’s actual outfits patrick bluer

herbal remedies for memory problems

tomato cages

how to help someone with retrograde amnesia

the canadian postal system

how to dry curly hair

teenagers late 90s

koolaid hair 1990s images

“where do rich people hang out in spain”

where to buy tennis balls—canadian tire—do they ship them

what’s a postal code I can use for research

gardening zones canada

videos man throwing ball

sunset sunrise times ontario 2020

moon phases sept 2020

amplifier vs receiver

neck anatomy massage

what is made out of beeswax

link to fuse bead examples?

do they sell pyrex in canada?

adrenaline is the hormone I mean, right?

harpsichords

canadian cheese crackers

do they have lucky charms?

movies september 2020

disney movies released to video dates 1990s

lion king scary for seven year old

scary parts of lion king

kindergarten in ontario

soho live-work spaces images

art in galleries 2014 new york

photographers 2014 art shows

expensive cool beauty inventions 2014

vodka made in canada

how long do bouquets of flowers last

do they have best buy and the geek squad in canada

is soho in manhattan

what the creek would look like

various locations, etc.

what trees would be there, when their leaves change

fall smells

gourmet chocolate flavors

Tagging @five678patty @apothecarose @beaiola @chelle68 to share a deleted scene or other behind-the-scenes content from their creations. 

[smblmn]

Fic Origin Story

Thank you for tagging me @lizzie-bennetdarcy!! 💖😘

What was your first fandom (reading and/or writing)?

I didn't start reading fanfic until like four years ago, I didn't even know what it was. I discovered it on a series of posts on IG about wolfstar (fuck JKR btw). They were just drabbles, but one of the accounts that posted them had a link to AO3 and, well, the rest is history. I moved on from the HP fandom pretty fast though, I never interacted in it. It's a huge fandom and I was very overwhelmed to do anything more than lurk, but then I discovered SKAM, specifically SKAM France and that's the first fandom I was a part of.

I have some wips for that fandom but I never finished any (I just looked it up and the longest is 17k words, I should have def finished it.)

BUT the first time I ever wrote fanfic was many years ago. After reading the Hunger Games' books I thought it would be cool to know Peeta's side of the story so I started writing it. That's my real first approach to fic even though I didn't know what I was doing.

What was the first story you ever wrote (even if it was never posted) and what made you decide to write it?

I've been writing stories since I learned to write. I distinctly remember writing a tale about some mouse-like creatures that lived in my aunt's store when I was about 8. She thought I had seen a mouse for real and almost gave her a heart attack.

If we're talking about fic, the first one I ever finished and posted was 'On the outside looking through' and I only finished and posted it because I was encouraged by some lovely people in this fandom and had the SC Media Fest deadline. I decided to write it because I love Pride & Prejudice and I wanted to read a version of it in a modern setting.

What’s a piece of advice you would give to your younger fic-writing self?

Not to worry that much about small details or about how people will react to your fic. If someone doesn't like what they're reading they'll probably just close the tab and move on and not be a jerk about it. I was terrified of posting anything thinking I would get criticized for it.

What’s an early fandom interaction that stuck with you (be it a nice comment, a friend you made, a fic that got a lot of feedback etc.)?

I'm not lying when I say every comment means the world to me. People have been super kind to me, but I didn't have friends yet in the SC fandom by the time I posted my first fic, so I didn't know what to expect. Then @wordthieve commented on it and left me speechless. I couldn't believe the writer from one of my all time favorite fics (You can fall) would read my fic and much less say that she liked it.

Post a sentence or two from one of your older fics, and a sentence or two from a newer one (if you want).

From 'On the outside looking through'

He sees the moment Patrick realizes David overheard their conversation when his face falls. The atmosphere must be tense enough that Ted leaves them alone, joining Rachel and Alexis. David keeps looking at Patrick in the eyes and this time, Patrick holds his gaze. He’s blushing furiously and, unfortunately, it’s a very good look on him. Because David can’t help being a little shit, he plucks the cocktail umbrella from his jacket and places it inside the neck of Patrick’s beer bottle. “Live a little, Patrick.”

From my last fic 'Until we get there'

David shakes his head and wipes the tears that had started falling the second Patrick looked at him with that gaze that never fails to let him know how much he loves him. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“Do what?”

“Have so much faith in me.”

As always, feel free to ignore. I don't know who's been tagged already @dinnfameron @noahreids @distractivate @blackandwhiteandrose @wordthieve @chelle-68 @rosedavid @apothecarose @jamilas-pen @beaiola @ramonaflow @sspaz1000. Also, feel free to participate if you want!

[montanamp3]

yknow sorry for Obscure WIP Posting but like 90% of the reason i wanted to make a whole thing of setting [high school!au murder ballads] in very specifically My high school is to Make SC Cool Again. like we may not have as good results as N or as long a history as R or H but you know what SC has? a reputation as the messiest and most scandalous school in the country and i firmly believe we can at least soft power our way to the top from there

[stereopticons]

I posted 6,195 times in 2022

That's 5,593 more posts than 2021!

736 posts created (12%)

5,459 posts reblogged (88%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@ramonaflow

@maxbegone

@plainest

@rmd-writes

@damndarrenineedacigarettenow

I tagged 2,662 of my posts in 2022

#thanks for asking! - 288 posts

#schitt's creek fic - 102 posts

#schitt's creek - 96 posts

#patrick x david - 81 posts

#david rose - 81 posts

#david x patrick - 75 posts

#patrick brewer - 69 posts

#fic rec - 54 posts

#wip ask game - 37 posts

#sweater weather - 36 posts

Longest Tag: 138 characters

#if your automated phone system asks me to describe what i want to talk to someone about i will just yell person at it until it connects me

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Schitt’s Creek Characters as Disney Princesses

So given that Schitt’s Creek is moving to Hulu next week, and as @mr-writes​ pointed out, Hulu is owned by Disney, this makes several SC characters Disney Princesses. Consider:

Patrick:

Patrick has big, loud Disney eyes. If Dan had allowed us to have Patrick with curls, he would have had luxurious Disney princess hair. “The Best” is an “I Want” song (for those unfamiliar, i.e., non-theater nerds, “I Want” songs are songs that express a wish for something or dissatisfaction with their current life). Patrick isn’t dissatisfied with his life, but he wants more with David. He sings “each time you leave me, it’s like I’m losing control, like you’re walking away with my heart and my soul.”

See the full post

55 notes - Posted September 27, 2022

#4

“tired of believing I wasted my formative years” hits hard some days (most days)

56 notes - Posted January 5, 2022

#3

wish i was the moon tonight

David suffers from insomnia after moving to Schitt's Creek and turns to the sleep stories on Calm to help him fall asleep. Brewer's Baseball History is the only thing that helps, but what happens when the voice behind those stories shows up in town?

An SC MediaFest fic

[david/patrick, T, 7k]

67 notes - Posted April 6, 2022

#2

you know what thing I love? david and patrick learning about things the other likes just because they like them. david learning baseball? patrick learning fashion? give it to me. david learning excel? patrick watching rom coms? yes please.  i will read this one million times. 

75 notes - Posted March 1, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Whumptober Lite 2022

For when you want to be sad, but you don’t want people to get stabbed!

Looking over the Whumptober 2022 prompts, I was struck by how dark they are, and I think being in a fandom like SC where in canon, characters are not in physical danger all the time (as opposed to wee-woo shows, for example, and Alexis’s past notwithstanding), it’s hard to connect with prompts like that. So I created this list of Whump Lite prompts for your Whumptober writing pleasure.

This isn’t a formal challenge or anything, so there’s no rules, but do tag me if you use one of these, just because I want to read it! Feel free to share this!

216 notes - Posted September 13, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[ekingston]

hello! what are some of the best sc au fics you've ever read?? like aside from canon divergent fics and all

due to the near indecently massive size of this fandom’s talent this is a near impossible question to answer but i am grateful for the opportunity to try!

some of the supercorp AUs (and one superrojascorp AU) that haunt me like the memory of a long lost lover (in alphabetical order, because i couldn’t rank them even if you wanted me to):

1,370,911 by @pippytmi

a history of wine by @seabiscuits-us (WIP)

an animal within an animal by @mooosicaldreamz

Chemistry or Engineering by @gveret-fic

don't go slow 'cause you're gonna be someone by @i-am-robie

don't let her stick it to your heart by @searidings

i believe, you can get me through the night by @jazzfordshire

i'll be your light, your match, your burning sun by @valkyrieskwad

pirate queen & captive AU by @narraboths (ficlet)

pour me a drink by @lunchables

take root in my heart, bloom in my mind by @potstickermaster

The coffee shop AU by @hrwinter

When You Wish Upon a Star by @spicycheeser (WIP)

You, Me, Her by @deadbiwrites

[crowandmoonwriting]

Worldbuilder Profile

From the template by @worldbuildingwedasks​ :D

Name and pronouns: Call me Crow, he/him

Favorite Genres: high fantasy, steampunk fantasy, faerie fantasy, lgbtq+ romance, southern gothic, horror

Areas of Worldbuilding Interest:

Maps! My usual starting place for new worlds is to draw up a map of at least 2 continents. I love coming up with the environment, especially the climates, and what flora and fauna can be found there

Cultures, and how cultures interact 

Languages! For some WIPs this is very important, for others it’s more for fun

Politics! Note I mean politics within the worlds I create, and nothing to do with current politics of our world. But I love creating power structures, warring factions, revolutions etc.  

Magic (I tend to use similar magic rules for both my major created worlds, as they’re connected anyway)

Creating new creatures, specifically aliens for sci-fi

Mythology and religion. I like to write polytheistic religions mostly

History! That’s just the meat and potatoes of everything for me tbh lol

Nobility. The lines of great families, their heraldry, histories, their good deeds and evil deeds. How a family lost a crown, and how another gained it 

FOOD. Different cultural cuisines are one of my favourite things of all time to create, and I do it as a form of stress relief sometimes. I have a post on worldbuilding food here

Plant life! I prefer this to animal life for some reason, lol. Plants and their uses, magical and mundane, for alchemy or healing, as flavourings or poisons, are soooo interesting to me 

Areas of Worldbuilding Disinterest: there’s nothing I’m adamantly disinterested in when it comes to worldbuilding. Although I will say comparing fantasy worldbuilding to the real modern world is something I am so disinterested in I will refuse to do it/talk about it. But a few things I don’t do too often (because they don’t often come up):

Technology. Only when I write sci-fi or steampunk, and that technology tends to be very loose and fantastical

Physics. I know some writers like to imagine the physics of their worlds and the scientific accuracy etc. but I’m not one of those lol 

Pretty much anything that can fall into the category of hard sc-fi. 

A bit about your WIP(s)

My WIP page is here

I have two major worlds: the world of ✵⋆⚙⋆✵ (which is steampunk fantasy) and the world of ☽✥♛✥☾ (which is medieval high fantasy) 

More about me: 

I write exclusively lgbtq+ content

I’m a historian, and I also have an in-depth background in art and literary theories 

I love DnD and RPGs in general (I’m designing my own)

I love to write and read angst lol

The fandom I’m most involved in is Tolkien, for Lord of the Rings and the Silmarillion

[megarywrites]

"six sentence sunday" tag game

I was tagged by @mxxnlightwriting last sunday i think but this is neither six sentences or a sunday so lol

I'm a bit...........frustrated still with Seafoam because I'm still very blocked, so this passage is from an older draft of my next wip Visions from the Pool. I was just reading it over in search for a passage for this post and this one was the one that spoke to me the most

I'll tag: @thewriteflame @daisywords @pinespittinink @isherwoodj @flowerprose and @caitlinbirenbaum (no pressure whatsoever lol)

"I'm at my wit's end, Konan. Can't you see that?"

Konan's eyes stung and he blinked away tears. "Yes, sir."

"The council wants me to take away your right to the throne. Part of me is inclined to agree with them."

Konan bit the inside of his cheek when the first tear fell, and he averted his gaze to the floor. "I am sorry. I know my words don't mean anything to you, but it's true."

"You're right. You apologize over and over for your actions, but you don't change. You need to grow up. Be the man we expected you to be."

Konan inhaled sharply, letting out an unexpected choked laugh. "Maybe if you didn't have such high expectations for me, I wouldn't — "

"High expectations!" His father shouted, his anger bouncing off the walls of the empty room, hitting Konan again and again until the echo died away. The king began again, quieter this time. "You are the crown prince of Arnna. Before you were born there were expectations placed on you. They were placed on me, too. At least I didn't — " His father gestured between the two of them, shaking his head. "I turned out fine. Why couldn't you? What is wrong with you?"

"I...I don't know." Konan wiped at the tears that fell, unable to hold them back any longer. "I'm..."

"Sorry. So you've said." The king stepped away from Konan and turned his back on him. "I would not be doing my feelings justice to say I am disappointed in you, but that's the best I can do. I just pray to the stars that you haven't tainted Deagan as well."

"I can change. Father, I can. Just...tell me what I can do."

His father sighed, hanging his head. "I want to believe you mean that. I want that more than anything." When he turned to face him again, Konan could see wet trails of tears on his father's cheeks.

[emotional-synth-music]

last line fic meme

Rules: Write the latest line(s) from your WIP and tag as many people as there are words in the (last) line. Make a new post, don’t reblog.

via @hoko-onchi-writes

I have both magicians and schitt’s creek WIPs but was working on the SC one today - a sweet lil 5+1 format of patrick’s first times.

Patrick wants this to happen - like, wants it more than he ever thought he could want to sleep with someone - but he’s out of his depth here for the first time in a long time. He likes to feel in control, like he can take charge, and here he is driving toward a scenario where he has no idea what the fuck he’s doing.

But also, in retrospect, did he ever?

The saving grace, aside from the promise of finally seeing David naked, is that they’ve spent enough time making out and talking softly in the back room for him to know that David won’t judge him for anything tonight. No matter how embarrassing. (Also, he’s pretty sure David is really getting off on the idea of being Patrick’s gay awakening slash sex professor.)

David told him about his first time with a guy, one day when they were a glass or two of wine deep after closing the store, neither wanting to be the first one to leave. He was sixteen, “summering” at some horrendously expensive drama camp in the Catskills, and he traded handjobs with some kid named Taylor or Tyler whose favourite musical was Grease 2 (incorrect). He keeps seeming surprised that Patrick wants to know things about him, and continues to seem surprised whenever Patrick thanks him for sharing pieces of his history.

If you see this you’re tagged!

[themildestofwriters-ocs]

Writeblr ~re~Introduction

Hey, guys! I’m Advena (Vena to some) and this is just a reintroduction to the writeblr community in order to just clean things up and draw some attention to the newly created specialized side-blog that is @themildestofwriters-ocs.

I’m an Australian based writer currently in my final year for my Bachelor of Creative Writing who enjoys Slice of Life, Romance, Adventure, Fantasy and Sci-Fi. Original fiction and fanfiction are two of my focus with a preference for long-form prose rather than short stories (I’m very bad at keeping a word limit).

My main WIPs is a fanfiction and original fiction duo exploring my interests.

Star Wars: The Sith, Zero: a Star Wars, Familiar of Zero crossover fanfiction exploring an alternate interpretation of the True Sith Empire from an outsider’s perspective, following the plotline of the Sith Inquisitor from the SWTOR video game.

Louise de La Valliere, a student at the prestigious Tristain Academy of Magic, attempts to perform in the Springtime Familiar Summoning in an attempt to prove to her antagonistic peers that she is a true mage. However, when the attempt goes awry, she finds herself in a galaxy far, far away. Bound in servitude to an Empire she doesn’t know, she works the mines of a distant planet until her latent Force Sensitivity shows itself.

By Imperial Law, Louise is freed from slavery and enrolled in the Korriban Academy to study the way of the Sith.

Divine Intervention: an original fiction supernatural romance about a teenager on the cusp of adulthood meeting a goddess who was never given the chance to grow up. It explores love, trauma, recovery, and coming of age, as well as the exploration of sexuality.

There’s a lot in this series, and it doesn’t only explore the romance between the main leads, Josephine and Babette. Later in the series explores the lives of the Old Gods of Earth and their position in the modern era, and Babette’s bloody history is an ever-present storm cloud hanging over her and the story at large.

I have more wips and ocs about, but these are my main focuses. If you’re interested in reading more about my works, check out my WIP masterlist!

Tag list:  @starr-lights, @kijilinn, @yuelias-prince, @unwriter-sc, @phoenix-writer, @cttrajan1206 - want to be added to my tag list for fics and/or content? shoot me an ask~!

[madscientistjournal]

I Didn't Break the Lamp: Interview with Sam Crane

Today is our final interview with our I Didn’t Break the Lamp authors. This final interview is with the author who has the first story in the anthology, Sam Crane!

DV: Tell us a bit about yourself!

Sam Crane: The general consensus is that I’m unusually optimistic and cheerful for a human. I love writing, and I’ve been working at it in some form since I was a child. Nowadays I write mostly sci-fi, some fantasy, and light horror. When I’m not writing, I work in the tech industry. I’m also a huge nerd–board games, RPGs, and anime conventions are my jam. Oh, and I play the Pokémon trading card game competitively. Basically, I’m an oddball, but I have a lot of fun!

Currently, I’m lurking around the web on Blogspot or Goodreads: http://sam-crane-writes.blogspot.com or https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18937595.Sam_Crane

DV: What inspired you to write “The Last Cory” for I Didn’t Break the Lamp?

SC: When I first read the submissions call, I spent a couple weeks with it in the back of mind just mulling it over. At first I thought I might do a ghost story, but that idea slowly morphed into the current story. I’m a big fan of curses as plot devices, so I thought it would be interesting to have something like that. The scene where Josephine Cory meets her imaginary companion was actually my starting point and sprang into my mind pretty much as it is in the final version of the story, and then the rest of the details fell into place as I worked through the various drafts.

DV: You mention in your bio that New England is one of your influences. How did an area with such a long history play into this story in particular?

SC: I’ve read a number of New England folktales and short stories where there’s this sense that devils/the Devil are just a matter of fact. Like “yeah Thompson got waylaid by the Devil up on that hill outside town, third time this month.” I’m being slightly facetious, but still. There’s this sense that all of these supernatural occurrences are real and even normal to a point.

I wanted to create a similar kind of feeling but in a more modern setting. In “The Last Cory,” people are like “oh of course the Cory farm is haunted, bedeviled something fierce.” The town gossips about it–it’s part of the local color and superstition, but at the same time, no one’s seen anything in decades, and they don’t really believe it. It’s weirdly isolating for Josephine to have people going around saying her farm is haunted, but if she were to go on about it, they would say she’s mad.

DV: Without giving away too much of your story, how would you characterize the “imaginary” acquaintance in your story? Is she more real than imaginary? Is she more friend than foe?

SC: She’s definitely some kind of real. As for her intentions … let’s say she’s determined to carry out justice. Or vengeance, depending on your perspective.

DV: If you had an imaginary friend growing up, what was their name, and what were they like?

SC: I kind of had several. When I was little, I would pretend Ginger from Black Beauty was my friend and followed me around, like to school. My best friend at the time joined in too except her imaginary friend was Black Beauty.

I also was/am a big fan of the Animorph series, and this became my go-to imaginary world when I was a little older. I would pretend I was an Animorph and getting communications from the Andalite navy or spying on possible Yeerks. I was very into it!

DV: What’s on the horizon for you?

SC: I do have about half a dozen other short stories submitted, and I’m waiting to hear back about them. Besides one superhero shenanigans story, this current crop is more dark fantasy/light horror. I’d say it’s similar in tone to “The Last Cory”–maybe even a bit darker. On the WIP pile, I have more superhero and sci-fi ideas to flesh out.

Besides short stories, I’m also working on a YA fantasy novel tentatively titled The Rabbit God. It’s about a young boy, James, befriending Rabbit, the last remaining guardian animal of a forest that’s been clear-cut. The novel will focus mainly on their friendship and how they help each other grow as people.

Thanks to our authors for participating in these interviews! We hope you’ll enjoy their stories in I Didn’t Break the Lamp, which will be out on Tuesday, October 15th!

I Didn’t Break the Lamp: Interview with Sam Crane was originally published on Mad Scientist Journal