Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Lightning strike:
Playing Masonry 2.0 yesterday. Remember yesterday's blog when I mentioned a third part of Masonry that kinda slipped out? Well, yesterday while playing him and we were fighting Council, I suddenly typed, "Vermin."
I started at it, and that's when the lightning strike's after-effects hit. What if, as time goes by, Masonry suddenly starts to believe he's a real Peacebringer? All these enemies are embodiments of pure evil, and he becomes suddenly extreme and has no tolerance for anything done against innocent people? Especially when it comes to his friends? He becomes, in his mind, pure Justice (with a capital J).
Where did these come from? Nathan had a sense that what he did was good, and the bad things he did he hid because he was embarrassed by them. Ben harbored a fear/hatred of the Voids after what they did to him, and this hatred was foremost in his mind when he moved into Nathan's body - which explains why Masonry rushes headlong into them, regardless of knowing that they kill him in 2, maybe 3 shots.
Masonry will believe that Voids and Quantums are the evillest creatures of the world. Nictus run a close second. And anyone who helps Voids and Quantums are just as bad. I think every 3rd bar or so I'll bring up this intolerance, and after he hits 30 or so it'll be every 3rd and sixth bar. We'll see how that runs.
Playing Masonry 2.0 yesterday. Remember yesterday's blog when I mentioned a third part of Masonry that kinda slipped out? Well, yesterday while playing him and we were fighting Council, I suddenly typed, "Vermin."
I started at it, and that's when the lightning strike's after-effects hit. What if, as time goes by, Masonry suddenly starts to believe he's a real Peacebringer? All these enemies are embodiments of pure evil, and he becomes suddenly extreme and has no tolerance for anything done against innocent people? Especially when it comes to his friends? He becomes, in his mind, pure Justice (with a capital J).
Where did these come from? Nathan had a sense that what he did was good, and the bad things he did he hid because he was embarrassed by them. Ben harbored a fear/hatred of the Voids after what they did to him, and this hatred was foremost in his mind when he moved into Nathan's body - which explains why Masonry rushes headlong into them, regardless of knowing that they kill him in 2, maybe 3 shots.
Masonry will believe that Voids and Quantums are the evillest creatures of the world. Nictus run a close second. And anyone who helps Voids and Quantums are just as bad. I think every 3rd bar or so I'll bring up this intolerance, and after he hits 30 or so it'll be every 3rd and sixth bar. We'll see how that runs.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Now, all of a sudden, my muse no longer likes Masonry. Why? He's still imperfect. He's a combination of a character who I consider to be a highbrow art brat and the smarter guy - but there's a third part of him that came out last night - discussed in CoH blog. It just goes to show what happens when the character starts talking through you, not the other way around.
Another writer I know who goes by the nickname Wir (short for Wirraway - mentioned also in CoH blog) has the same thing happen. She feels it's her obligation to tell "their" stories, no matter how uncomfortable they make her feel. She's a channeller, and that's what it feels like a lot of times.
The names up above are what I call my muses. Yes, I have more than one.
Elektra is based on the comic book series character. She's a GRRRRRL. She'll kick your ass. She's the one who shows me all the neat fight scenes and guides my hand on those - how does it really feel to get brass knuckles in the temple? Or get a war mace tearing out your chest? Or a rocket hitting a brick wall? Elektra knows that, and military tactics.
Calliope is the typical muse of prose (epic poetry). She's a little more gentle, talks about the mechanics and description. She's more of an editor. She used to be risque: I pictured her as the pretty blond in a red convertible who would ride topless down the highways. She's moved on, though, gotten a little older, a little stricter.
Hallmark is the sexy muse, Erato would be her Apollonian counterpart. However, she not only is sexy - she's also very much a romantic, something that I prefer that I not be. She's sticky sweet, made of honey, full of beautiful and precious words; she'd make you sick. I spit out her words, I don't like them, they make me sound weak. But some people have said her words are beautiful to them, so I repeat her.
Fickleninia doesn't show up much. I visualize her as Tinkerbell (the Disney version, not the Hook version). She grabs your lapel and starts to drag you hither and yon, and you go back and forth and all over the place. When she's done twirling you around, you go back to where you had left off somewhere, and you look at that, then something you did somewhere else, and it's the same damn thing! But you now have it in two different places, but is it better in one place or the other?
What in hell is she talking about?
Mason felt sorry for himself during one RP session. Where did that come from? The fact that I was writing something about Lady P feeling sorry for herself. As well as Rusty. All three of them wanted the pity party. Why? Because I was feeling sorry for myself. Fickleninia is only recent, so she's not a real muse, she's just a distraction.
Another writer I know who goes by the nickname Wir (short for Wirraway - mentioned also in CoH blog) has the same thing happen. She feels it's her obligation to tell "their" stories, no matter how uncomfortable they make her feel. She's a channeller, and that's what it feels like a lot of times.
The names up above are what I call my muses. Yes, I have more than one.
Elektra is based on the comic book series character. She's a GRRRRRL. She'll kick your ass. She's the one who shows me all the neat fight scenes and guides my hand on those - how does it really feel to get brass knuckles in the temple? Or get a war mace tearing out your chest? Or a rocket hitting a brick wall? Elektra knows that, and military tactics.
Calliope is the typical muse of prose (epic poetry). She's a little more gentle, talks about the mechanics and description. She's more of an editor. She used to be risque: I pictured her as the pretty blond in a red convertible who would ride topless down the highways. She's moved on, though, gotten a little older, a little stricter.
Hallmark is the sexy muse, Erato would be her Apollonian counterpart. However, she not only is sexy - she's also very much a romantic, something that I prefer that I not be. She's sticky sweet, made of honey, full of beautiful and precious words; she'd make you sick. I spit out her words, I don't like them, they make me sound weak. But some people have said her words are beautiful to them, so I repeat her.
Fickleninia doesn't show up much. I visualize her as Tinkerbell (the Disney version, not the Hook version). She grabs your lapel and starts to drag you hither and yon, and you go back and forth and all over the place. When she's done twirling you around, you go back to where you had left off somewhere, and you look at that, then something you did somewhere else, and it's the same damn thing! But you now have it in two different places, but is it better in one place or the other?
What in hell is she talking about?
Mason felt sorry for himself during one RP session. Where did that come from? The fact that I was writing something about Lady P feeling sorry for herself. As well as Rusty. All three of them wanted the pity party. Why? Because I was feeling sorry for myself. Fickleninia is only recent, so she's not a real muse, she's just a distraction.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Didn't get to do much because I actually had work to do.
6.
"You're not Mase."
Masonry turned around to face Thad, glaring at him. Kit looked from one to the other, while Scott looked obviously uncomfortable.
"Yes, I am Masonry. I'm not Nathan Greene anymore."
Kit stared at him, eyes narrowed. "That's why you said the armor worked on Nathan."
"I've read thought patterns like yours before," Thad said. "You're one of those squids."
He sighed. "I am not a squid. I can't even try to change into that form."
"This changes the tactics," Scott said coldly. "We don't have anyone to get their attention."
Masonry studied Scott. He wasn't sure if Scott was angry or not. Nathan and Benakaras would have assumed he was.
Kit offered, "We can call Frost - "
"No one's available," Scott snapped. "Let's go in."
"Scott, are you sure?"
He turned around to Masonry. "I'll get their attention. I did it before you came along."
Masonry only looked down at his uniform, the metal bands around his arms and legs, his torso covered in light kevlar and his huge spiked shoulder boards. He didn't fit this anymore. As the four of them headed into the fray, Masonry felt like a floundering swimmer. Eventually he caught his stride, after realizing he could hit at a distance. It was something he wasn't used to.
Until he Thad announced, "Void."
Masonry wondered if they saw his deer-in-headlights panicked look. The vision and feeling that Benakaras had when he was shot by that Void filled his being, and it took everything to stop himself from running out of the sewer. He took a deep breath and focused on the Void.
I see you, he heard in his mind. I kill you.
In slow motion, at least by his perception, the Void turned to face him directly. He raised the gun - and then fell screaming into the sewer water. Scott was on him seconds later, pounding him under the water. "Void down!" Thad announced. It still took him a few minutes to realize that he could now act.
He finally did, when the battle was three-quarters over. When it was over, as Thad and Scott advanced, Kit noticed Masonry wasn't there. "Wait a minute," she said, and started to backtrack. She found him back in the room staring out into space and shivering.
"Mase. Mase." She approached him, touched his arm. "Mase?"
"I - I'm here." He focused. "Kit. I'm sorry, I got lost in -"
"MASONRY!"
The two of them ran squishing through the sewer water to the other side of the wall, where they found Thad attempting to hold off a gang of Vahzilok, and Scott pinned to the wall by an Embalmed Abomination - Masonry tackled the Embalmed and it exploded under him. It felt like his insides flew out through his back, but he looked down to see himself still put together, but enclosed in a white light. He stood up, still covered in the white whispy light, and it slowly faded.
He then turned to another Abomination and punched it so hard his fist went through it. This was not unusual, as they were mostly animated husks of creatures that had been dead and put together with some sutures and glue. However, these weren't as dry as those of the Banished Pantheon. In a few minutes, he had cleared the area - but Scott was gone.
"He teleported," Thad said. "Knocked out. So what's going on with you, Mase?"
He looked at the two of them.
6.
"You're not Mase."
Masonry turned around to face Thad, glaring at him. Kit looked from one to the other, while Scott looked obviously uncomfortable.
"Yes, I am Masonry. I'm not Nathan Greene anymore."
Kit stared at him, eyes narrowed. "That's why you said the armor worked on Nathan."
"I've read thought patterns like yours before," Thad said. "You're one of those squids."
He sighed. "I am not a squid. I can't even try to change into that form."
"This changes the tactics," Scott said coldly. "We don't have anyone to get their attention."
Masonry studied Scott. He wasn't sure if Scott was angry or not. Nathan and Benakaras would have assumed he was.
Kit offered, "We can call Frost - "
"No one's available," Scott snapped. "Let's go in."
"Scott, are you sure?"
He turned around to Masonry. "I'll get their attention. I did it before you came along."
Masonry only looked down at his uniform, the metal bands around his arms and legs, his torso covered in light kevlar and his huge spiked shoulder boards. He didn't fit this anymore. As the four of them headed into the fray, Masonry felt like a floundering swimmer. Eventually he caught his stride, after realizing he could hit at a distance. It was something he wasn't used to.
Until he Thad announced, "Void."
Masonry wondered if they saw his deer-in-headlights panicked look. The vision and feeling that Benakaras had when he was shot by that Void filled his being, and it took everything to stop himself from running out of the sewer. He took a deep breath and focused on the Void.
I see you, he heard in his mind. I kill you.
In slow motion, at least by his perception, the Void turned to face him directly. He raised the gun - and then fell screaming into the sewer water. Scott was on him seconds later, pounding him under the water. "Void down!" Thad announced. It still took him a few minutes to realize that he could now act.
He finally did, when the battle was three-quarters over. When it was over, as Thad and Scott advanced, Kit noticed Masonry wasn't there. "Wait a minute," she said, and started to backtrack. She found him back in the room staring out into space and shivering.
"Mase. Mase." She approached him, touched his arm. "Mase?"
"I - I'm here." He focused. "Kit. I'm sorry, I got lost in -"
"MASONRY!"
The two of them ran squishing through the sewer water to the other side of the wall, where they found Thad attempting to hold off a gang of Vahzilok, and Scott pinned to the wall by an Embalmed Abomination - Masonry tackled the Embalmed and it exploded under him. It felt like his insides flew out through his back, but he looked down to see himself still put together, but enclosed in a white light. He stood up, still covered in the white whispy light, and it slowly faded.
He then turned to another Abomination and punched it so hard his fist went through it. This was not unusual, as they were mostly animated husks of creatures that had been dead and put together with some sutures and glue. However, these weren't as dry as those of the Banished Pantheon. In a few minutes, he had cleared the area - but Scott was gone.
"He teleported," Thad said. "Knocked out. So what's going on with you, Mase?"
He looked at the two of them.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Damn thing took me all day. It was like pulling hen's teeth.
5.
Masonry entered the combination into the lock on the door of the warehouse apartment. The body was tired, and he was pushing it too hard.
The steel door entered into a foyer that split off to three other doors. One door led into the workshop, the other two split off to their respective apartments. He tried the door to Darcy's apartment - it was open.
Nathan had often come in after his patrols to talk with Darcy about what happened during the patrol. Masonry felt that if Nathan hadn't done that, his intelligence would have gone downhill a lot faster. "Darce," he called.
"Upstairs, Nate."
Masonry went to the second floor which consisted of a comfortable loft area with a television and seating for four, as that was the most Darcy had ever had in his apartment at one time. Masonry crested the stairs and saw the Darcy was playing Halo 2.
"Winning?"
"Never," he replied, blowing apart an alien. "First person shooters aren't my forte'."
"You seem to be doing pretty good at the moment."
He shrugged and saved the game. "So how did it go today?"
"Not very well. The armor doesn't work anymore. And I don't know how to use a mace any more. But look - " and he held his hand out. White fire danced on the palm of his hand. When Darcy looked up at Masonry's eyes, they were glowing.
"You have different powers, that's all."
"You make it sound so simple." The dancing fire stopped. "I can't go wading into a gang of bad guys and swing my mace and rip their faces off or their guts out. It's what they expect me to do."
"So what are you going to do?"
Masonry shrugged. He went to the refrigerator. Nathan liked root beer, so Masonry decided to try it.
"Nate, that squid that's in you. . ?"
Masonry twisted off the cap. "Yes?"
"What's he like?"
Masonry sniffed the root beer and his stomach growled. He looked down at its betrayal. "He was a teacher of beauty. You'd call him an art professor. Got anything to eat in this place?"
Darcy smiled, and then suddenly looked down. Masonry turned to him and said, "Sorry, Nathan said that whenever he'd come in."
"No, it's something I have to get used to, I guess. I'll make you something. What do you like?"
"Whatever you have at hand."
"Another phrase he used to use. You sure there's not more of him in you than there is of that squid?"
"When I start rhapsodzing about lush oils, you'll know who that is."
"They have the same kind of art?"
"No, it's more ephemeral. They manipulate light and energy to create feelings. Benakeras' work was admired because it was constantly original. No two pieces were ever the same, and each more beautiful than the last. Then he decided to teach."
"How did - but why did he want a human host?" Darcy absently pulled out a White Castle microwavable hamburger from the freezer.
"Kheldians were displaced from their home, scattered across the universe. Many came here. Benakaras was never a fighter. He was sheltered like that. He happened to see a hero in trouble, and another Kheldian was trying to help, but he was getting hurt too. Benakaras came down and distracted the Void Hunter long enough for the hero to step in and destroy him. Benekaras got shot, the other Kheldian was killed, and the hero brought Benekaras to the hospital for observation. Burgers are done."
Darcy took out the steaming hot hamburgers and handed one to Masonry. Masonry studied it for a minute and then took a bite, closed his eyes. "Amazing how human food can overwhelm the senses to create a moment of bliss."
"That's Benakaras talking."
"Yeah." He smiled. "Told you you'd be able to know the difference. So Benkashar was brought to the hospital and he started disappearing, phasing in and out. They realized the Void Hunter has some new weapon because other Kheldians had been hit full-bore with it and disappeared. They were amazed at Benakaras' resilience. He never knew he could have been an great fighter in the Kheldian army." Another bite, another blissful moment.
"Sunstorm didn't want to lose the artist, never mind the tough fighter that Benakaras could have been. Statesman approached Sunstorm and told him all about Nathan."
"Statesman? Statesman?"
"Nathan didn't tell you about saving him from Tyrant?"
"He said something about fighting Tyrant, but nothing about rescuing Statesman."
"Statesman wants to reward worthy heroes, and this was one of them, putting Nathan to the top of the line."
"But how did they--" He wove his fingers together.
"They wanted to help each other - can I have the other one?"
Darcy handed the hamburger to him and watched the big man savor it. He pulled another pair out of the freezer.
"I think you would have liked Benakaras," Masonry stated. "You both see beauty - you see it in your work with technology."
"Would Nate have liked him?"
"I'm not sure. The artsy stuff would get under his skin."
"What about you?"
He smiled at Darcy. "I can appreciate good art. I can see bad art from fifty paces. Nathan's knowledge of art extends to pretty things; Benkashar can go beyond that." He held up the burger. "Such as this, the square patty in a round bun, how the edges seem to peep out to show a tempation that such a thing should not match or be paired in such a way." He inhaled deeply the scent of it. "You smell the warmth - you humans have this sense of smell that Kheldians do not, and it can very well overwhelm you. If Kheldians had such an ability it would create yet another art media that I'm sure Benakaras would also successfully surpass."
"Full of yourself, ain't ya."
"No, not at all. Is that what it sounds like?"
"Isn't there humility in there somewhere?"
"There's nothing wrong with pride if what you're saying you can back up. Tell me this, Darcy, if they asked you to explain how the synthetic stone works, would you be able to?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Wouldn't you be proud of it?"
"Yeah," he replied.
"It's something you know about, and know very well. Just as beauty is something Benakaras knew very well." He took a bite of the hamburger. "Though beauty takes many forms with humans: sight, scent, taste, touch. It is all feelings and light with Kheldians." He smiled. "I could sit and watch the lights in Pocket D for hours."
Darcy smiled at him. "Maybe you're not so bad to have around."
"I promise I'll be respectful of your memory of Nathan. I'll try not to hurt you but I'll probably have mannerisms that he had, patterns of speech that he used. Forgive me in advance?"
Darcy looked down to see Masonry holding out his hand for him to shake. He placed firmly in Masonry's meaty paw. "It's okay. Mase."
6.
"You're not Mase."
Masonry turned around to face Thad, glaring at him. Kit looked from one to the other, while Scott looked obviously uncomfortable.
"No. I'm not."
Kit stared at him, then her mouth dropped open in shock. "That's why you said the armor worked on Nathan."
5.
Masonry entered the combination into the lock on the door of the warehouse apartment. The body was tired, and he was pushing it too hard.
The steel door entered into a foyer that split off to three other doors. One door led into the workshop, the other two split off to their respective apartments. He tried the door to Darcy's apartment - it was open.
Nathan had often come in after his patrols to talk with Darcy about what happened during the patrol. Masonry felt that if Nathan hadn't done that, his intelligence would have gone downhill a lot faster. "Darce," he called.
"Upstairs, Nate."
Masonry went to the second floor which consisted of a comfortable loft area with a television and seating for four, as that was the most Darcy had ever had in his apartment at one time. Masonry crested the stairs and saw the Darcy was playing Halo 2.
"Winning?"
"Never," he replied, blowing apart an alien. "First person shooters aren't my forte'."
"You seem to be doing pretty good at the moment."
He shrugged and saved the game. "So how did it go today?"
"Not very well. The armor doesn't work anymore. And I don't know how to use a mace any more. But look - " and he held his hand out. White fire danced on the palm of his hand. When Darcy looked up at Masonry's eyes, they were glowing.
"You have different powers, that's all."
"You make it sound so simple." The dancing fire stopped. "I can't go wading into a gang of bad guys and swing my mace and rip their faces off or their guts out. It's what they expect me to do."
"So what are you going to do?"
Masonry shrugged. He went to the refrigerator. Nathan liked root beer, so Masonry decided to try it.
"Nate, that squid that's in you. . ?"
Masonry twisted off the cap. "Yes?"
"What's he like?"
Masonry sniffed the root beer and his stomach growled. He looked down at its betrayal. "He was a teacher of beauty. You'd call him an art professor. Got anything to eat in this place?"
Darcy smiled, and then suddenly looked down. Masonry turned to him and said, "Sorry, Nathan said that whenever he'd come in."
"No, it's something I have to get used to, I guess. I'll make you something. What do you like?"
"Whatever you have at hand."
"Another phrase he used to use. You sure there's not more of him in you than there is of that squid?"
"When I start rhapsodzing about lush oils, you'll know who that is."
"They have the same kind of art?"
"No, it's more ephemeral. They manipulate light and energy to create feelings. Benakeras' work was admired because it was constantly original. No two pieces were ever the same, and each more beautiful than the last. Then he decided to teach."
"How did - but why did he want a human host?" Darcy absently pulled out a White Castle microwavable hamburger from the freezer.
"Kheldians were displaced from their home, scattered across the universe. Many came here. Benakaras was never a fighter. He was sheltered like that. He happened to see a hero in trouble, and another Kheldian was trying to help, but he was getting hurt too. Benakaras came down and distracted the Void Hunter long enough for the hero to step in and destroy him. Benekaras got shot, the other Kheldian was killed, and the hero brought Benekaras to the hospital for observation. Burgers are done."
Darcy took out the steaming hot hamburgers and handed one to Masonry. Masonry studied it for a minute and then took a bite, closed his eyes. "Amazing how human food can overwhelm the senses to create a moment of bliss."
"That's Benakaras talking."
"Yeah." He smiled. "Told you you'd be able to know the difference. So Benkashar was brought to the hospital and he started disappearing, phasing in and out. They realized the Void Hunter has some new weapon because other Kheldians had been hit full-bore with it and disappeared. They were amazed at Benakaras' resilience. He never knew he could have been an great fighter in the Kheldian army." Another bite, another blissful moment.
"Sunstorm didn't want to lose the artist, never mind the tough fighter that Benakaras could have been. Statesman approached Sunstorm and told him all about Nathan."
"Statesman? Statesman?"
"Nathan didn't tell you about saving him from Tyrant?"
"He said something about fighting Tyrant, but nothing about rescuing Statesman."
"Statesman wants to reward worthy heroes, and this was one of them, putting Nathan to the top of the line."
"But how did they--" He wove his fingers together.
"They wanted to help each other - can I have the other one?"
Darcy handed the hamburger to him and watched the big man savor it. He pulled another pair out of the freezer.
"I think you would have liked Benakaras," Masonry stated. "You both see beauty - you see it in your work with technology."
"Would Nate have liked him?"
"I'm not sure. The artsy stuff would get under his skin."
"What about you?"
He smiled at Darcy. "I can appreciate good art. I can see bad art from fifty paces. Nathan's knowledge of art extends to pretty things; Benkashar can go beyond that." He held up the burger. "Such as this, the square patty in a round bun, how the edges seem to peep out to show a tempation that such a thing should not match or be paired in such a way." He inhaled deeply the scent of it. "You smell the warmth - you humans have this sense of smell that Kheldians do not, and it can very well overwhelm you. If Kheldians had such an ability it would create yet another art media that I'm sure Benakaras would also successfully surpass."
"Full of yourself, ain't ya."
"No, not at all. Is that what it sounds like?"
"Isn't there humility in there somewhere?"
"There's nothing wrong with pride if what you're saying you can back up. Tell me this, Darcy, if they asked you to explain how the synthetic stone works, would you be able to?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Wouldn't you be proud of it?"
"Yeah," he replied.
"It's something you know about, and know very well. Just as beauty is something Benakaras knew very well." He took a bite of the hamburger. "Though beauty takes many forms with humans: sight, scent, taste, touch. It is all feelings and light with Kheldians." He smiled. "I could sit and watch the lights in Pocket D for hours."
Darcy smiled at him. "Maybe you're not so bad to have around."
"I promise I'll be respectful of your memory of Nathan. I'll try not to hurt you but I'll probably have mannerisms that he had, patterns of speech that he used. Forgive me in advance?"
Darcy looked down to see Masonry holding out his hand for him to shake. He placed firmly in Masonry's meaty paw. "It's okay. Mase."
6.
"You're not Mase."
Masonry turned around to face Thad, glaring at him. Kit looked from one to the other, while Scott looked obviously uncomfortable.
"No. I'm not."
Kit stared at him, then her mouth dropped open in shock. "That's why you said the armor worked on Nathan."
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
I first started writing when I was in 8th grade. At the time, the universe I wrote in was the Dukes of Hazard. I was absolutely in love with Tom Wopat - who I think showed up later in Friends or Sex in the City or something like that. Kids were amazed that I did this, and they thought it was a big deal writing in my notebook as I dictated.
I was also into the Wild West and often read westerns. There was a book in our high school library that I picked up. Can't remember the title, but it was about Mormons that initially settled in Utah, and a backwoodsman was involved named Chris Donovan.
I liked (still sorta) Irish names and culture, so I started writing stories about a backwoodsman. Chris was a boring name, but I did like the name Christopher. I also liked Alexander. I combined them both: Christopher Alexander Donovan. Too long. How about Casey - very Irish name.
Casey went from being just a plain old backwoodsman to an immortal. This was before Highlander and all that. Casey was a member of the Council, overseen by a huge polar bear, and he was the human representative. Every so often he would be summoned to answer for issues that humans did - and he could do nothing about it, but he was the whipping boy for all the other animals.
I had him involved in the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Wars for Western Expansion, World War I, World War II, Vietnam and then present day. Eventually I realized he should be world-wide, but that wasn't until after I was out of college.
Then I dropped him into the Nazi book I wrote, and there he's been languishing. He was known in that book as Luther Waldemar (Luther because it's one of my favorite names, and Waldemar being taken from Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series that I really liked until she involved the kids).
He's been with me since 9th grade, I'd say, and I've never lost him. I even had someone draw a comic book for me with him - it was never finished. I wonder if I can find it and scan it into my computer. . .
I believe all writers have a character that has been with him/her for a long time, seems to find his way into any/all books that they write. I knew that's what Vagabond Mage seems to have been for E-VAC and I hope to someday read about him.
I'm sure if anyone's interested (Keen) I could dig up a story or two with him.
I was also into the Wild West and often read westerns. There was a book in our high school library that I picked up. Can't remember the title, but it was about Mormons that initially settled in Utah, and a backwoodsman was involved named Chris Donovan.
I liked (still sorta) Irish names and culture, so I started writing stories about a backwoodsman. Chris was a boring name, but I did like the name Christopher. I also liked Alexander. I combined them both: Christopher Alexander Donovan. Too long. How about Casey - very Irish name.
Casey went from being just a plain old backwoodsman to an immortal. This was before Highlander and all that. Casey was a member of the Council, overseen by a huge polar bear, and he was the human representative. Every so often he would be summoned to answer for issues that humans did - and he could do nothing about it, but he was the whipping boy for all the other animals.
I had him involved in the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Wars for Western Expansion, World War I, World War II, Vietnam and then present day. Eventually I realized he should be world-wide, but that wasn't until after I was out of college.
Then I dropped him into the Nazi book I wrote, and there he's been languishing. He was known in that book as Luther Waldemar (Luther because it's one of my favorite names, and Waldemar being taken from Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series that I really liked until she involved the kids).
He's been with me since 9th grade, I'd say, and I've never lost him. I even had someone draw a comic book for me with him - it was never finished. I wonder if I can find it and scan it into my computer. . .
I believe all writers have a character that has been with him/her for a long time, seems to find his way into any/all books that they write. I knew that's what Vagabond Mage seems to have been for E-VAC and I hope to someday read about him.
I'm sure if anyone's interested (Keen) I could dig up a story or two with him.
Wirraway is the name of someone who role plays a lot on the Guardian server of City of Heroes. She can come up with the most amazing twists of plot and inspires me often when I'm stuck.
She is also very knowledgable about weapory - or her husband/SO is. So in her name, I did this post.
Context:
Rusty Gears (explained in detail another time) is a member of Emerald Flight and is heading back to his base from the Rogue Isles - which no self-respecting hero would be caught dead in, but Rusty's a gambler and the best gambling is over in St. Martial. So he gets cornered by Sapphire Night who happens to be Emerald Flight's negative mirrored reflection - and she was transported to this world by God knows what. (Her and Open Kiln, though Kiln came from yet another dimension - let's not go into it.) She and Rusty had a . . .relationship. Rusty led the mutiny that got Sapphire kicked off her ship.
Sapphire Night has this huge red carniverous angel called Elektryck who is her servant (by convenience) and has her summon Rusty to her. I had been reading this thread, and it started getting bogged down in "feelings" - not enough dialogue or action for my taste.
==========================
There's tons of "capable young men" walking around, why me? And she knew my name. She was going to hit me. He studied her, wondering if she would shoot him in the back. But then, the bouncer would have slammed him into the nearest wall.
He had a hard time seeing what she would do to him, because there were many different motions overlaying each other; like when he would see the dice leave someone's hand and see them land a few different ways as opposed to thousands of different ways. Until the moment the dice actually left the person's hand, he wouldn't know the exact result.
Rusty got to the supplies and started loading them on the truck. He saw the lower wing of a raptor pack. You got a bunch of these too, he thought to himself.
"So how do you know my name?" Rusty asked, heaving a box into the truck.
She narrowed her eyes and he heard "Back to work" before she even said it. He was already bending to the next box.
He stripped off the jacket and hood as he worked. He knew when he did such a thing to get within the guts of a ship that Violet watched him closely. He glanced back to see if they did also.
The woman with the scar kept her fists clenched, as if she wanted to deck him. Jealous? Not that I would do that huge angel with the pointy teeth. No one else was in the area that he could see, so he had no idea why she was -
He dropped the box and dove, grabbing the woman and throwing her to the ground just as a rocket missile blew past them, through the truck and into the building on the other side of the street. The truck protected them from the shrapnel of the blast.
As people ran in every direction, Rusty looked down at the woman underneath him.
She is also very knowledgable about weapory - or her husband/SO is. So in her name, I did this post.
Context:
Rusty Gears (explained in detail another time) is a member of Emerald Flight and is heading back to his base from the Rogue Isles - which no self-respecting hero would be caught dead in, but Rusty's a gambler and the best gambling is over in St. Martial. So he gets cornered by Sapphire Night who happens to be Emerald Flight's negative mirrored reflection - and she was transported to this world by God knows what. (Her and Open Kiln, though Kiln came from yet another dimension - let's not go into it.) She and Rusty had a . . .relationship. Rusty led the mutiny that got Sapphire kicked off her ship.
Sapphire Night has this huge red carniverous angel called Elektryck who is her servant (by convenience) and has her summon Rusty to her. I had been reading this thread, and it started getting bogged down in "feelings" - not enough dialogue or action for my taste.
==========================
There's tons of "capable young men" walking around, why me? And she knew my name. She was going to hit me. He studied her, wondering if she would shoot him in the back. But then, the bouncer would have slammed him into the nearest wall.
He had a hard time seeing what she would do to him, because there were many different motions overlaying each other; like when he would see the dice leave someone's hand and see them land a few different ways as opposed to thousands of different ways. Until the moment the dice actually left the person's hand, he wouldn't know the exact result.
Rusty got to the supplies and started loading them on the truck. He saw the lower wing of a raptor pack. You got a bunch of these too, he thought to himself.
"So how do you know my name?" Rusty asked, heaving a box into the truck.
She narrowed her eyes and he heard "Back to work" before she even said it. He was already bending to the next box.
He stripped off the jacket and hood as he worked. He knew when he did such a thing to get within the guts of a ship that Violet watched him closely. He glanced back to see if they did also.
The woman with the scar kept her fists clenched, as if she wanted to deck him. Jealous? Not that I would do that huge angel with the pointy teeth. No one else was in the area that he could see, so he had no idea why she was -
He dropped the box and dove, grabbing the woman and throwing her to the ground just as a rocket missile blew past them, through the truck and into the building on the other side of the street. The truck protected them from the shrapnel of the blast.
As people ran in every direction, Rusty looked down at the woman underneath him.
(Worked on this yesterday)
Aftermath
1.
The body in the bed stirred, then opened his eyes. He turned to see a tall man stretched out in a chair, snoring gently. The body in the bed pushed aside the sheet and looked down, studying the body. He touched the skin and smiled at its solidity, its softness, the hair along the edges, the rippling muscles beneath the skin.
The door opened and three people stepped in. One of them was a Peacebringer like himself. He put a finger to his lips and nodded to the man stretched out on the chair. "Hello, Masonry. He wouldn't leave."
"He's Nathan's best friend," said the man in the bed. "Does he know?"
The doctor shook his head. "We do not tell loved ones. That is up to the host."
The man in the chair snorted and opened his eyes. He looked around for a moment, seeing the people in the white lab coats. He turned his head to look at Masonry. "Hey, Nate, you're awake."
"Hi Darcy."
"Mr. Darcy," said the Peacebringer, "we just need to do some preliminary examinations - "
"I need to speak with Darcy for a minute," Masonry said. "Alone."
They all got the hint. Darcy stood up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, as Masonry swung his legs off the bed, pulling the sheet over him. When the door clicked shut, he looked up at Nathan's friend.
"Darce. Remember when we used to talk about Kheldians? You didn't like them because you thought they ate people's souls." He looked away. "Nathan agreed with you at first, especially after how War Mollusk treated him."
Darcy narrowed his eyes. "I can see where this is going." He walked up to Masonry. "So let me guess. You're one of them now?"
"I'm not like War Mollusk. I'm a Peacebringer."
"Doesn't fucking matter," Darcy snarled. "You killed Nate."
"No, I didn't."
"I hope you're happy in there." He turned and grabbed his jacket.
"Darcy, please." He jumped off the edge of the bed and took him by his upper arms. "Please, Nathan loved you like a brother. He wouldn't want to see you walk away in anger."
"He's dead now, and you. . .squid. Now you're in his body."
"No, he's not."
Masonry felt Darcy relax slightly, so he relaxed his grip. "So if you're not a squid, what are you?"
"Both."
"You can't be both."
"Why the hell not?"
Darcy blinked.
"It's the way it's supposed to be. All that bullshit that you've heard, it's not that one takes over the other, or that they're schizophrenic; it's a perfect blending where both consciousnesses combine. You could say I'm Nathan and Benakeras's son."
Masonry released Darcy, studied him.
"Nate's still in me." He stood straight. "I think I'm going to go get that tattooed on my forehead, because I have a feeling I'm going to be saying that a lot."
"Listen Nate - or whatever your name is - this is a lot to take in."
"I understand. Believe me I do." He stepped away from Darcy. "Why don't you go home, think about it. I think they're going to release me. I have to stop and tell Scott I'm fit for duty then I'll be home."
"Okay." He started to walk away. Darcy put his hand on the door as Masonry went to the closet next to the bed. "What do I call you?"
"Masonry," he replied and smiled. "You wouldn't be comfortable calling me Nate, but if it slips, I won't say anything."
2.
Masonry took a deep breath and knocked on the door to Scott Raynes' office at Futura Force Inc. "Yeah?" he replied.
He opened the door. His office in the official Futura Force - an alternative power research and development agency, not the collection of myriad super heroes that the Raynes brothers had gathered together - was organized. Masonry had no idea what some of the folders were, but they were together for a reason.
"Hey, Mase."
"Hi Scott. Reporting for duty. Here's my doctor's note."
Scott Raynes reached across the desk and took the paper from him. "What happened this time?"
"Read it."
He chuckled, knowing that half the time Masonry didn't even know what the paper was that he carried. He unfolded it and looked in the diagnosis column. Nothing was checked off, so he glanced at the bottom when they wrote things in.
Under observation after bonding with a Kheldian.
He looked up at Masonry, shock very plain on his face. "Mase?"
"Yeah?"
There was another knock on the door. "Come in," Masonry called, seeing from Scott's demeanor that he was in no condition to reply. The door opened and Kit strode in. "Hey, Scott, Hey Mase. How's it going?"
"Good," Masonry replied.
Kit turned to Scott, "You know what, I have to find Freakshow for this idiot of a contact - Scott, are you okay, you look like somebody sucker-punched you."
Masonry stood up. "Do you need any help, Kit?"
"Well, sure, if you want to come along. Jake and Syn are already waiting for me at the D."
"If you already have help - "
"I don't mind your company, Mase," she said with a smile and touched his bare arm. "Hey, you're not white anymore."
"No, not anymore." He smiled. "Let me go get changed. I'll be ready in two shakes. Want to wait for me?"
"Yeah, I'll be in the TV room."
Masonry turned to Scott. He took the paper from his hands and put it face-down on the desk. "I will tell them," he said. Then he followed Kit out the door.
3.
"Kit, I can't."
Kit turned sideways on the couch and saw Masonry standing shirtless in his jeans and boots, holding his armor in his arms. His mace was placed squarely on top of the small pile. Then he dropped everything, the stone thudding on the wood floor, and the mace teetering off the pile to roll sideways onto the floor.
"What's the matter? Everything okay?"
"I didn't realize that it was attuned to Nathan's body chemistry. Most of the time the rock was in him, not just in this."
"Mase, what're you talking about?"
"The armor. I can't make the rocks anymore."
"I can try and fix it for you." She looked down at the armor. Masonry smiled; she had been itching to tear it apart since they day they met.
"Sure, if you want." He took the mace from the pile. "I don't know how much good I'll be to you without it."
"Oh, we'll let Jake take all the hits. He likes to do that anyway. C'mon, I'll keep you standing. And Syn's good at that too."
4.
The mace felt awkward in his hand. Benakeras was not a fighter; Nathan wasn't either. Masonry had to rely on muscle memory for most of his actions, but at the end of finding the 25 Skulls Kit needed, he sat at the Benakerasch near the train claiming fatigue. While Syn, Kit, and Jake went off to the next mission, he sat staring at the mace on the Benakeras next to him.
"Greetings brother," said an angelic being that stood before him.
Masonry raised an eyebrow. This was just the type of Peacebringer that grated on Nathan - and Benakeras. "What can I do for you?"
"It is good to see another of our race among the humans."
He looked back down at the mace. "I'm not a Kheldian."
"No? Your aura is that of one."
He picked up the mace and threw it. As it flew through the air, it was heading toward a person walking by. Masonry jumped up - energy flowed through him and he cast his arm back, throwing something at the mace. It was encased in light and exploded into tiny particles, like bits of iron snow that was whisked away on the wind. Masonry shakily sat down again.
The angel chuckled. "Did not realize you could do that, did you?"
"Benakeras had heard Kheldians did such things but. . ." He looked down at his hands. "So did Nathan."
"When you truly bond, you will not know who knows what, but what you know."
Masonry looked up. "No. Benakeras promised Nathan that wouldn't happen."
"It will," said the angel.
"No, they are memories, they live within me."
The angel only chuckled again. Masonry rose, hands clenched into fists and the angel only looked at him contempuously. "You are young and weak. Do not even think you could stand - "
Masonry punched him hard in the face. The angel backed away putting a hand to his nose. Then Masonry lifted his arms and flew away, smiling to himself. He whispered, "Thanks, Nate."
5.
Masonry entered the combination into the lock on the door of the warehouse apartment. The body was tired, and he was pushing it too hard.
Aftermath
1.
The body in the bed stirred, then opened his eyes. He turned to see a tall man stretched out in a chair, snoring gently. The body in the bed pushed aside the sheet and looked down, studying the body. He touched the skin and smiled at its solidity, its softness, the hair along the edges, the rippling muscles beneath the skin.
The door opened and three people stepped in. One of them was a Peacebringer like himself. He put a finger to his lips and nodded to the man stretched out on the chair. "Hello, Masonry. He wouldn't leave."
"He's Nathan's best friend," said the man in the bed. "Does he know?"
The doctor shook his head. "We do not tell loved ones. That is up to the host."
The man in the chair snorted and opened his eyes. He looked around for a moment, seeing the people in the white lab coats. He turned his head to look at Masonry. "Hey, Nate, you're awake."
"Hi Darcy."
"Mr. Darcy," said the Peacebringer, "we just need to do some preliminary examinations - "
"I need to speak with Darcy for a minute," Masonry said. "Alone."
They all got the hint. Darcy stood up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, as Masonry swung his legs off the bed, pulling the sheet over him. When the door clicked shut, he looked up at Nathan's friend.
"Darce. Remember when we used to talk about Kheldians? You didn't like them because you thought they ate people's souls." He looked away. "Nathan agreed with you at first, especially after how War Mollusk treated him."
Darcy narrowed his eyes. "I can see where this is going." He walked up to Masonry. "So let me guess. You're one of them now?"
"I'm not like War Mollusk. I'm a Peacebringer."
"Doesn't fucking matter," Darcy snarled. "You killed Nate."
"No, I didn't."
"I hope you're happy in there." He turned and grabbed his jacket.
"Darcy, please." He jumped off the edge of the bed and took him by his upper arms. "Please, Nathan loved you like a brother. He wouldn't want to see you walk away in anger."
"He's dead now, and you. . .squid. Now you're in his body."
"No, he's not."
Masonry felt Darcy relax slightly, so he relaxed his grip. "So if you're not a squid, what are you?"
"Both."
"You can't be both."
"Why the hell not?"
Darcy blinked.
"It's the way it's supposed to be. All that bullshit that you've heard, it's not that one takes over the other, or that they're schizophrenic; it's a perfect blending where both consciousnesses combine. You could say I'm Nathan and Benakeras's son."
Masonry released Darcy, studied him.
"Nate's still in me." He stood straight. "I think I'm going to go get that tattooed on my forehead, because I have a feeling I'm going to be saying that a lot."
"Listen Nate - or whatever your name is - this is a lot to take in."
"I understand. Believe me I do." He stepped away from Darcy. "Why don't you go home, think about it. I think they're going to release me. I have to stop and tell Scott I'm fit for duty then I'll be home."
"Okay." He started to walk away. Darcy put his hand on the door as Masonry went to the closet next to the bed. "What do I call you?"
"Masonry," he replied and smiled. "You wouldn't be comfortable calling me Nate, but if it slips, I won't say anything."
2.
Masonry took a deep breath and knocked on the door to Scott Raynes' office at Futura Force Inc. "Yeah?" he replied.
He opened the door. His office in the official Futura Force - an alternative power research and development agency, not the collection of myriad super heroes that the Raynes brothers had gathered together - was organized. Masonry had no idea what some of the folders were, but they were together for a reason.
"Hey, Mase."
"Hi Scott. Reporting for duty. Here's my doctor's note."
Scott Raynes reached across the desk and took the paper from him. "What happened this time?"
"Read it."
He chuckled, knowing that half the time Masonry didn't even know what the paper was that he carried. He unfolded it and looked in the diagnosis column. Nothing was checked off, so he glanced at the bottom when they wrote things in.
Under observation after bonding with a Kheldian.
He looked up at Masonry, shock very plain on his face. "Mase?"
"Yeah?"
There was another knock on the door. "Come in," Masonry called, seeing from Scott's demeanor that he was in no condition to reply. The door opened and Kit strode in. "Hey, Scott, Hey Mase. How's it going?"
"Good," Masonry replied.
Kit turned to Scott, "You know what, I have to find Freakshow for this idiot of a contact - Scott, are you okay, you look like somebody sucker-punched you."
Masonry stood up. "Do you need any help, Kit?"
"Well, sure, if you want to come along. Jake and Syn are already waiting for me at the D."
"If you already have help - "
"I don't mind your company, Mase," she said with a smile and touched his bare arm. "Hey, you're not white anymore."
"No, not anymore." He smiled. "Let me go get changed. I'll be ready in two shakes. Want to wait for me?"
"Yeah, I'll be in the TV room."
Masonry turned to Scott. He took the paper from his hands and put it face-down on the desk. "I will tell them," he said. Then he followed Kit out the door.
3.
"Kit, I can't."
Kit turned sideways on the couch and saw Masonry standing shirtless in his jeans and boots, holding his armor in his arms. His mace was placed squarely on top of the small pile. Then he dropped everything, the stone thudding on the wood floor, and the mace teetering off the pile to roll sideways onto the floor.
"What's the matter? Everything okay?"
"I didn't realize that it was attuned to Nathan's body chemistry. Most of the time the rock was in him, not just in this."
"Mase, what're you talking about?"
"The armor. I can't make the rocks anymore."
"I can try and fix it for you." She looked down at the armor. Masonry smiled; she had been itching to tear it apart since they day they met.
"Sure, if you want." He took the mace from the pile. "I don't know how much good I'll be to you without it."
"Oh, we'll let Jake take all the hits. He likes to do that anyway. C'mon, I'll keep you standing. And Syn's good at that too."
4.
The mace felt awkward in his hand. Benakeras was not a fighter; Nathan wasn't either. Masonry had to rely on muscle memory for most of his actions, but at the end of finding the 25 Skulls Kit needed, he sat at the Benakerasch near the train claiming fatigue. While Syn, Kit, and Jake went off to the next mission, he sat staring at the mace on the Benakeras next to him.
"Greetings brother," said an angelic being that stood before him.
Masonry raised an eyebrow. This was just the type of Peacebringer that grated on Nathan - and Benakeras. "What can I do for you?"
"It is good to see another of our race among the humans."
He looked back down at the mace. "I'm not a Kheldian."
"No? Your aura is that of one."
He picked up the mace and threw it. As it flew through the air, it was heading toward a person walking by. Masonry jumped up - energy flowed through him and he cast his arm back, throwing something at the mace. It was encased in light and exploded into tiny particles, like bits of iron snow that was whisked away on the wind. Masonry shakily sat down again.
The angel chuckled. "Did not realize you could do that, did you?"
"Benakeras had heard Kheldians did such things but. . ." He looked down at his hands. "So did Nathan."
"When you truly bond, you will not know who knows what, but what you know."
Masonry looked up. "No. Benakeras promised Nathan that wouldn't happen."
"It will," said the angel.
"No, they are memories, they live within me."
The angel only chuckled again. Masonry rose, hands clenched into fists and the angel only looked at him contempuously. "You are young and weak. Do not even think you could stand - "
Masonry punched him hard in the face. The angel backed away putting a hand to his nose. Then Masonry lifted his arms and flew away, smiling to himself. He whispered, "Thanks, Nate."
5.
Masonry entered the combination into the lock on the door of the warehouse apartment. The body was tired, and he was pushing it too hard.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Readers sometimes write. That's what this blog's for, the stuff I write, and exploring the characters/ideas in an empty space.
The newest idea is Masonry. I'm going to take Masonry and turn it into a novella. Basically it's going to be about a pharmacist who takes an injection that makes him big and strong. At first he chooses to exact revenge against his high school mates. In between his memory and intelligence goes down the tubes. He ends up working for a small mom & pop hardware store run by a pair of Italian brothers.
Dramatis Personae:
They call him Mason because he's a really good bricklayer (basically, ADD traits). He can build walls on his own because he can also carry the bricks. Darcy is the same as he is in the CoH universe, except he doesn't do armor. He helps with the chemistry.
There's the Palumbo brothers, Tommy and Stevie (Raynes boys, Thad and Scott). Tommy's the playboy and Stevie's the adult. Dad is like the Godfather, pops in to put the fear of God into everyone (except Mase because he just doesn't see it). The sister Lizzy (Bits) is the 13 year old terror that no one can stand who constantly comes on to the help.
Providencia Lombardi is a 40 year old tinkerer who's constantly breaking things. (combines Kit as a constant klutz and Providence's age) She works in the office with: Virginia (Ginny or even Gin) Carter, a 20-something that acts like a superficial blond but does that so guys will get her things she wants. She is actually very intelligent. (Based very loosely on Artemis, but probably not going to - Artie has a TX accent and a jealous streak with Ginny won't have.)
Manny is the drunken loader - the one who packs and loads the trucks. (based on husband's description of a co-worker of the same name)
Emil. He's a young Jewish boy who's ambisexual. He and Mase have sex once or twice. (Unsure.)
Tina, Manny's wife. She looks like the typical Italian mom and always seems to play Scott's heartstrings. When Scott threatens to fire Manny she comes in and begs for his job back. This is a constant thing. (based on husband's co-worker's wife)
Plotlines:
Mason's deterieration, shots, murders, and whether or not he gets caught.
A huge hardware box-store opens up just down the street and threatens to put Palumbo's ("Pal's") out of business. Union employees from that store come down to threaten Pal's people. (Based on an actual event, though it wasn't as blatant as this. Union employees went down to a local hardware store and passed out handbills. When the place closed down, many of the employees at that local store went to work for Home Depot. A cousin told me this.)
Darcy and Ginny grow to like each other but I don't know if they'll be an item by the end of the story.
Scenes:
Mason gets into a truck and the springs sink loudly. (He's getting denser as well as turning to stone.)
He kills himself by jumping off a bridge into a river - he sinks, suffocates, and dies.
Masonry says no to Lizzy.
Masonry has sex with Emil once but after two more shots can no longer do it.
Tommy's constantly getting into trouble but it's not serious mafia types he gets in trouble with. No shooting is involved until the Teamsters show up. Tommy doesn't do drugs or gamble, but likes to do anything in a skirt.
Lizzy isn't half as bad as Tommy (she's a girl, she's very young, and constantly wants to be "cute"). Prov tries to discipline her (sort of) and Lizzy ignores her. Ginny is able to discipline her but in a much gentler way - it also helps that Lizzy looks up to Ginny and tries to emulate her.
The newest idea is Masonry. I'm going to take Masonry and turn it into a novella. Basically it's going to be about a pharmacist who takes an injection that makes him big and strong. At first he chooses to exact revenge against his high school mates. In between his memory and intelligence goes down the tubes. He ends up working for a small mom & pop hardware store run by a pair of Italian brothers.
Dramatis Personae:
They call him Mason because he's a really good bricklayer (basically, ADD traits). He can build walls on his own because he can also carry the bricks. Darcy is the same as he is in the CoH universe, except he doesn't do armor. He helps with the chemistry.
There's the Palumbo brothers, Tommy and Stevie (Raynes boys, Thad and Scott). Tommy's the playboy and Stevie's the adult. Dad is like the Godfather, pops in to put the fear of God into everyone (except Mase because he just doesn't see it). The sister Lizzy (Bits) is the 13 year old terror that no one can stand who constantly comes on to the help.
Providencia Lombardi is a 40 year old tinkerer who's constantly breaking things. (combines Kit as a constant klutz and Providence's age) She works in the office with: Virginia (Ginny or even Gin) Carter, a 20-something that acts like a superficial blond but does that so guys will get her things she wants. She is actually very intelligent. (Based very loosely on Artemis, but probably not going to - Artie has a TX accent and a jealous streak with Ginny won't have.)
Manny is the drunken loader - the one who packs and loads the trucks. (based on husband's description of a co-worker of the same name)
Emil. He's a young Jewish boy who's ambisexual. He and Mase have sex once or twice. (Unsure.)
Tina, Manny's wife. She looks like the typical Italian mom and always seems to play Scott's heartstrings. When Scott threatens to fire Manny she comes in and begs for his job back. This is a constant thing. (based on husband's co-worker's wife)
Plotlines:
Mason's deterieration, shots, murders, and whether or not he gets caught.
A huge hardware box-store opens up just down the street and threatens to put Palumbo's ("Pal's") out of business. Union employees from that store come down to threaten Pal's people. (Based on an actual event, though it wasn't as blatant as this. Union employees went down to a local hardware store and passed out handbills. When the place closed down, many of the employees at that local store went to work for Home Depot. A cousin told me this.)
Darcy and Ginny grow to like each other but I don't know if they'll be an item by the end of the story.
Scenes:
Mason gets into a truck and the springs sink loudly. (He's getting denser as well as turning to stone.)
He kills himself by jumping off a bridge into a river - he sinks, suffocates, and dies.
Masonry says no to Lizzy.
Masonry has sex with Emil once but after two more shots can no longer do it.
Tommy's constantly getting into trouble but it's not serious mafia types he gets in trouble with. No shooting is involved until the Teamsters show up. Tommy doesn't do drugs or gamble, but likes to do anything in a skirt.
Lizzy isn't half as bad as Tommy (she's a girl, she's very young, and constantly wants to be "cute"). Prov tries to discipline her (sort of) and Lizzy ignores her. Ginny is able to discipline her but in a much gentler way - it also helps that Lizzy looks up to Ginny and tries to emulate her.