#wip; neon glow in gold dust

[asher-writes]

A belated bit of Tunesday writing.

Edward's pulse thrummed against [Ari's] his hand, a strong heart pulsating to his touch. The taste of relief curled from him, so much he almost slipped back into the darkness of his own unconscious. He is safe, he thought, I can rest.

[asher-writes]

"Are you aware you put a lion on a leash?" April asked nonchalantly. Edward winced from where he lay, lifting his sore head to squint through the darkness.

"What are you saying now?"

April took a long drag of his smoke, the mirage of greyness soaking the room with a sense of foreboding. As if anything could get worse.

"I've never seen Ari cry," April speaks, as if the realisation is only just sinking in. It makes Edward's cheeks feel hot, the knowledge that Ari breaks for him. That he broke him in the first place.

"And?"

"You make him weaker," April isn't meaning to be unkind, he knows. But the words ache. The knowledge sinks into his stomach like it has teeth, gnawing at the pit of him until all there is, is holes.

"I'm going back to sleep," Edward mumbled.

"It's not all bad," April added.

"Huh?"

"I've never seen him laugh like that, either."

[asher-writes]

Anastasia Ellis-Brimstone

Name: Anastasia (Ana)

Age: 33

Hair Colour: Dark Brown

Eye Colour: Brown

Height: 5ft6

Personality: An anxious individual alone, Anastasia draws her energy from the needs of her friends. She is analytical, independent and prefers the solitude she rarely gets.

Strengths: Determined, Loving, Analytical

Weaknesses: Overthinker, Anxious, Sacrifical Lamb.

The Story: The third book takes place after the events of Out of Sight and Mind. Ana is the protagonist of this book, taking on a journey to find her friend with the 'help' of her rapidly deteriorating best friend, and her unravelling poisoner.

As Ana leads a search party into the depths of Cyber, the largest and most densely populated city in Arcadia, she finds herself confronting horrific truths - not just about herself, or the world around her, but her friends too.

As time starts to run out, she must save Edward from the clutches of harm, Ari from himself, and April from the temptation of death.

Backstory: Ana grew up with two parents who loved her very dearly. The section she grew up in employed the use of psychological stress to see how it affected the longevity of human life. Following the abandonment of the experiments, the place has said to been haunted by a vengeful spirit. Ana does not quite believe in that. Her parents died as she turned 17, leaving her a little lost in the world. Numb to the loss, she travelled to see what the rest of Arcadia had to offer, only to find more and more destruction and poverty wherever she went.

Whilst spending time in Cyber, she got into a bar fight. Despite being arrested, she was actually rewarded with a bounty, as the other fighter was wanted for trafficking. She used that money to establish the Lighthouse, a safe place that helped people rebuild their community.

She founded the lighthouse in Obsolete, initially in the gift shop of an old tower that was now in disrepair. This gave her a narrow scope of people to start with. Soon, her idea began to spread all over Arcadia, and the more people with more skills that joined, the more she had to work with.

Motives: Simply, she is motivated by a want for a better life - both for herself and others. She wants a life of comfort, a life of safety, and works hard to make it possible.

Talents: Technical, Analytical, Open-minded, forward-thinking.

[asher-writes]

Last Line Tag

Rules: share the last line you wrote.

Tagged by @winterandwords - thank you!

From Neon Glow in Gold Dust:

 It’ll be easier to drive with Ari unconscious, at least, so he won’t be able to criticise her driving.

Tagging:

@indecentpause @joeys-piano @tc-doherty

[asher-writes]

OC Questionnaire

I was tagged by the lovely @oh-no-another-idea

The questions for my OCs are:

What does tomorrow look like?

Favorite color, and why?

Whom do you love the most?

What does tomorrow look like?

Ari: Another day.

April: Fun, hopefully.

Ana: Like I'm going to put one of these two in a coma.

Favourite Colour? Why?

Ari: Red, deep red, the sort dark enough to cover a bloodstain, or dirt, but colourful enough to look as if I have some sense of style.

April: Green. Everything good is green. You don't see much of it out here. Back home though, lotsa green - green leaves, green grass, green moss. You get the ideas. It's the colour of life.

Ana: Brown. It's versatile.

Whom do you love the most?

Ari: That's a difficult question to answer.

April: He loves Edward most, and sometimes Neptune. And me, because I keep him alive.

Ari: You keep me on the edge of insanity, and you didn't answer the question.

April: Myself.

Ana: My wife, Lucia.

Tagging:

@Seastarblue @daisywords @sleepyowlwrites

Questions:

What's your favourite time of day?

What helps you take a breather?

What are you looking forward to?

[asher-writes]

Tunesday

Song of the day: Wasteland, Baby - Hozier

"And the day that we'll watch the death of the sun That the cloud and the cold and those jeans you have on Then you'll gaze unafraid as they sob from the city roofs Wasteland, baby I'm in love I'm in love with you."

WIP: Neon Glow in Gold Dust

The room was too quiet, Ana thought.

The bustle of April's mania had run dry, and Ari's wound had rendered him shy of life. That was without considering, of course, the sheer emotional wreck made of the both of them.

So now it was quiet.

April sat on the floor, with a book he could hardly read, his eyes devoid of recognition. She wanted, more than anything, to tell him that he would be okay, that he was okay. But offering care to this boy was often like speaking another language. He shies away and lashes out, instead of accepting it.

Lucia was better at it. She had this sort of warmth that kept even April's claws at bay. Ana missed her.

They had always imagined that they would watch the world end together. When it eventually came to collapse all over again in the same mistakes that humanity could never learn from.

Ana wondered of the first time the world ended, if there were lovers that clutched each other in content that they would at least die together. If the agony of separation in those final moments would be worse than death itself.

She missed her wife. Death would be worth it, she thinks, if she could just hold her hand again.

-

Taglist:

@gabe-killed-me-with-ace-cream | @carefulpyromancer | @captain-kraken |

[asher-writes]

Character Views start vs end

writing neon glow in gold dust gives me so much lore its very tasty.

[asher-writes]

April.3: “I don’t like that smile.” “Then I doubt you’ll like what’s coming next.”

Alright, that's it for this set of prompts, hopefully 16 will be enough to keep you busy for a while XD

~ M <3

There was that familiar hint of malice, located only by being around him for years. "I don't like that smile," Ana muttered, her arms folding as if to scold a child. A furious, bloodthirsty child.

"Then I doubt you'll like what's coming next," April only sounded amused, as if her having any control over him was a game that he could walk in and out of.

"April," her voice became clipped, firm, "...what are you going to do?"

"Don't worry about it," he cracked a knuckle, then rolled his shoulders back from where he'd been hunched over the counter. "I'll get you your answers, that's all you need to worry about."

[asher-writes]

"Towns have less than 1,000, but more than 100, and settlements are usually clusters of about 20 people."

Sooooo,,, what about a settlement that's between 20 and 100? XD

~ M <3

Just a "big settlement" or "very small town"

[asher-writes]

Tunesday

Today's song is Flesh and Bone by Black Math

For Neon Glow in Gold Dust.

The three of them stood in isolation of each other, suspended in chambers of their own making. Ana saw it now. April's skin was too tight over his bones and she can't remember the last time she saw him eat a full meal. The playfulness of him had become rotten since he'd returned, turning cruel and abrupt in a manner of seconds. His joy had turned sour, like the poison he held in such fascination. Then Ari, whose isolation would have always eaten him alive; now his guilt consumed him too. It tore the skin off his bones and then devoured him, leaving behind a once-man whose single-mindedness would get them all killed. And her. Her who could hardly tell her own wife she loved her. Her who stood at the precipice of a war with no escape from the chaos she'd created. Was that regret that tore into her so sharply? Was it pride? There was no difference any longer, only the feeling of being buried alive; so tangible she could taste the sand filling her throat and the hot sun cooking her alive. What could she say? That she's out of her depth? That she doesn't know how to help them? That she's sorry? It was easier for them all, she thinks, to simply be lonely. Rather that than putting themselves first.

[asher-writes]

Then I also have "What do they believe is the worst fate one can befall?"

I debated between this and the "how do they feel about death" question, but I feel like this kinda encapsulates that, y'know? Like,, if their worst fate is not death, that says quite a lot

Anyway, can you do all of them please? :0

~ M <3

April: Letting someone who loves him, down

Ember: Betrayal (either by him or against him)

January: Losing his mental ability.

Viola: Losing Daisy

Daisy: Not being taken seriously.

-

Ari: Imprisonment

Edward: Loneliness

Eli: Infantalisation

Alicia: Being silenced

-

Anastasia: Watching the people she loves being hurt.

Lucia: Losing faith.

[asher-writes]

Prrrompts Baby!!!

First, let's start with those I've dedicated to Neon Glow

1.1 "This was it. The big mission."

~ M <3

He's on his third cigarette of the hour. He's sure by now the very air around him is dense with the smell of tar and carbon monoxide. Occasionally, he fidgets with the wrapper of his tobacco pouch, only to still himself with a half-hearted glare from Edward. "If you roll another one, roll me one." Ember is - sat easily beside him - somehow more relaxed. He'd been keeping a steady stream of cigarettes since he'd woken up this morning, but that wasn't out of the ordinary for him. "If we survive this," Edward mutters from the front seat to no-one in particular, "...then you both better quit." "That's a big if," Ember utters dryly, seemingly calm on the prospect of imminent death, "...I think I'll take my chances." Ari leaned his head against the car window, cranking it open just enough to feel the sand-laden breeze against his hot skin. "It really is just chance, isn't it?" He utters, melancholy at the realisation. "There's really no knowing if we're coming back from this." A sober silence overtook them all, leaving them all to look out the windows at the world rolling past them. This is it. This is the last chance.

[asher-writes]

Nine Lines, Nine People

Tagged by the spectacular @winterandwords

Rules: Share nine lines from your WIP, tag Nine people.

WIP; Neon Glow in Gold Dust

"It is a bad idea," Ari spoke plainly, as he usually did. She had always found some comfort in the bluntness of his truth; she knew this meant he would not lie. Right now, Ana would love a comforting lie. "I think it's a good idea," April flicked an apple core out of the window, feet up and hands stained. He looked like the epitome of an angsty teen from a bad novel. But his opinion would do for now. "I think that you should take a breather," Ana whirled around to where Edward clung to the door frame until his knuckles paled. He was weak, with a thin scar that looked whip-like swollen across his face; where this would make most look war-hardened, Edward still looked as gentle as ever. "These people don't play games, and if you fail - if we fail - then there's no hope for the rest of them."

Tagging:

@my-cursed-prince @obviousknife @notwritinganyflufftoday @writeintrees @avrablake @the-inkwell-variable @saturnine-saturneight @oh-no-another-idea @bloodlessheirbyjacques

[asher-writes]

Aaand then how about some “worth the wait.” for Neptune? :0

Though I couldn't decide if it would fit her first kiss with Ari or Eddie better, so your pick there XD

~ M <3

Amusement is worn easily on her face, it suits her well, Ari thought, almost a little enraptured by his old friend. "Ana has been putting you to work, then?" He asked, tentative. Neptune snorted, wiping oil off her face with oilier hands. She seemed unbothered, and he found the sight of her all ruffled and dirty all the more endearing. "I paid attention to some shit, after all," she shrugged, her grin holding less amusement than her eyes, which almost glittered with the same mischief he'd always expected of her "...how have you been?" "Good...yeah...good." "And Edward?" "Fine, he's...we're fine." She nodded, her smile slipping just a little as she returned to wiping down the mechanical skeleton with a filthy rag. "He's excited to see you again, you know?" "Who wouldn't be?" "This is true." He easily found that warmth in her eyes. The interest that had always made him feel so special and unique. The love, he realised, even after all these years, remained. "Neptune, I-I realise that last time we met...we both had a lot to consider-" "Ah, it's okay, I get it, you know-" "Well, you won't unless you let me finish talking." He tutted. She raised an eyebrow at him, the corner of her lip twitching into a smile as he tried not to blush. "Apologies," her tone could not have layered more sarcasm if she'd tried. "Lying to him wasn't even an option - and even if he didn't know our history together, I'm not in the habit of burning a bridge before it's even been built...any more." She exhaled a confused laugh through her nose, shaking her head. "So I was honest with him about my feelings for you, and he was understanding, we discussed options and outcomes, but we shelved much of the conversation for a time you could be part of it." "I...I don't understand what there is to talk about...?" Ari's cheeks were flushed with the sudden heat of the room, shuffling awkwardly where he stood. She studies him a second, before her lips part to a soft 'oh.' "Well, ultimately Edward suggested that there's no requirement for me to be in a relationship with only one person, actually he found that quite odd...as did April, but I assumed that was an April issue." "Yeah, as it turns out, the rest of Arcadia isn't so focused on the whole 'one person for life' thing; but I didn't think you-" She shook her head. "I'm happy to try, at least." "Excellent!" His face broke into a relieved smile, his shoulders unwinding as he stepped towards her. Hesitance lingered as a new shyness overtook him; the lights of the workroom gleaming on her skin, her bright eyes meeting his. "This is the part where you kiss me," she commands softly. He bristles a little, cracking individual fingers against his knuckles. His nails are still digging into his palms when he inches the remaining spaces with floundering hesitance. She only watches him with the amusement of an owner watching a puppy learn to walk. With a roll of her eyes, she wrapped her oil-stained hands in his coat and pulled their bodies together. Neptune's strength amazed him as much as it caused his heart to leap into his throat. But his heartbeat is more than swallowed by her lips as she eases him into something that holds no hesitance. Frantic, hungry, with the feeling of finally being at peace. "Worth the wait," she exhaled through a hard kiss. He could only catch his breath before her teeth caught skin, and she sunk against him. A relieved sigh passes from one to another, her air in his lungs, and his hands on her hips. Nothing was worth the time apart. But that didn't matter now.

Prompt Fill Taglist:

@rickie-the-storyteller @mayarab @gabe-killed-me-with-ace-cream @kaylinalexanderbooks @sender-paulson

[asher-writes]

WIP Masterlist [UPDATED]

(Let me know if you find any of them interesting and would like to be added to my WIP Taglist)!

Arcadian Wilds

The Poison Complex (Book One) [ Mystery | Dystopia | Sci-fi ]

Synopsis: In the overgrown forestry of Blue Oak, something long forgotten has become unearthed.

April Adams, a chemist, poisoner, and ever elusive criminal, finds himself in charge of mitigating the disaster beginning to poison the forest and its residents.

But as April's past begins to haunt him in the vast woodland - and the discovery that more than he'd bargained for lurks beneath the surface of his home village - he starts to realize there might not be a way out for any of them.

Full Intro Here

Out of Sight and Mind (Book Two) [ Mystery | Dystopia | Romance ]

The quaint religious commune of Sight is a highly sought after place to live. People will convert religions, leave families, marry unhappily, just to live there. But a dark secret that transpires through history is slowly revealed through the death of the commune's most prominent leaders.

Desperate for help, Arizona Close is visited by his sister-in-law with the news his parents are dead, and his brother needs his help. Wishing to repair the damage he'd done when he'd left, he begrudgingly agrees to return for the funeral. But his need for answers soon cause secrets to become unearthed.

[Full Intro Here]

Neon Glow in Gold Dust [Book Three]

I physically cannot give a synopsis of this book without spoiling book two, but here's something:

The book centers around the character of Ana, who founded the organisation that Ari and April work for. The book is centered in the city of Cyber, so it has more Cyberpunk vibes. It's less of a mystery and more of a thriller, with countdowns against the clock, lots of tension, and heartache. Ari and April are also in this book, but both are reeling from their homecomings and are worse than functionally useless - they are self-destructive. So, trying to solve (the plot) and trying to keep her friend, and insane chemist together, Ana has got to figure out who she's willing to become.

Cardinal Sins

The Anthology of Cardinal Sins [ Fantasy | Mythic Fiction | Anthology | Fable ]

In the beginning there was the Forest and the Sea. The Sea so loved the Forest that it gifted it life; the Forest so loved life that it moulded it into humanity. Humanity's complexities grow as they do, and with it, so do their crimes. To relieve humankind of its imbalance, the Forest created the Seven Cardinal Sins. This is their interactions with humanity.

Sleep of The King [Fantasy | Mythic Fiction | Apocalyptic]

Balance is stored in the magic of the Forest's king. His sleep ensures that stability is kept between all the elements. When he wakes, long before he should, the balance collapses, and the end is nigh.

-

Dea has spent her entire life trying to fit in, trying to understand the people around her. Luckily her best friend is an outgoing, talkative, always-in-the-centre-of-attention sort of person. If only she'd figure out sooner that it was because it was a bored fey going for its sixth university degree.

Aspen was charged with guarding its lover, the Forest's King, as he slept to maintain the balance. But 150 years is a long time, and getting distracted is its specialty. Now its got to find him again.

And it looks like Dea's coming with it.

Other WIPS

Released [ Psychological horror | Cosmic Horror ]

There was always that knowing. Stood in the silence of a dark room, walking the lonesome path of a muddy forest. Each time, you knew, you were alone, and you weren't. When you looked into the dark sky, in place of the moon was a single eye, and you knew.

You were never alone.

30-year-old Mallory Everton is just looking for a quiet life, a calm life. Recovering from an injury and hiding from his rapidly deteriorating health, he quickly realises that the apartments he's moved into are not what they seem.

Join Mallory, his less-than-normal neighbours, and his oblivious husband, as they try to uncover the purpose of the building they're now bound to.

Golden Dandelions [ Fantasy | Fairy Tale | Plot Twists ]

She was a sacrifice to their gods. But their gods loved her more. And she, she would realise, would love them just as much.

When Fleur wakes up in the dirt of the dandelion forest, she doesn't have the answers to any of her questions. But with the help of the charismatic and overly-friendly fairy that has met her acquaintance, she might yet have a chance to find them.

[asher-writes]

Summary Sunday

Alright alright, firstly, big thank you to all the people who responded to my post congratulating me for finishing the first draft of Out of Sight and Mind. That means 2/3 of the books for Arcadian Wilds are officially ready for the second draft. That's exciting! It really means so much to see so many congratulations!

So as a catch-up on my WIPs:

Arcadian Wilds:

The Poison Complex [First Draft Complete]

Out of Sight and Mind [First Draft Complete]

Neon Glow in Gold Dust [Outlining]

Cardinal Sins:

The Anthology of Cardinal Sins [First Draft Complete]

Where the King Sleeps [Outlining]

Released:

Released [Drafting]

My cat passed away a couple of weeks ago, and I'm finding my footing back in life again. So expect more writing (and art) soon.