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I updated the first chapter of The Rat and the Dragon with a disclaimer. There is a warning about the non-con and other triggers. I also put the AI images at the start. Other fixes include chapter 7 with an update to the conversation Draen and Cylthan have. I admit, it was very dry, and I've made it a little more familiar and informal. My idea had been that Draen talks a bit like Data from Star Trek: TNG. No contractions, and very cold and logical. He does, however, see Cylthan as his cub since he's been her adopted father since he was 13 (thus I also fixed his age). This sets her up for being accustomed to a pet name like 'kitten' and- if it isn't obvious already- going to lead straight to her totally loving the idea of 'Daddy Roan.' ("Have mercy on me, Daddy!") I also updated chapter 19 to remove the images from there, and fixed up a couple of spots in Cylthan and Roan's conversation in the cafeteria.
My friend is fighting so hard to get this story changed out of non-con land. Mostly, her gripe is "romanticizing toxic relationships." Thus, I added a small disclaimer for people to not take the story as a guide for a relationship. Seriously, if anyone treats you like Roan treats Cylthan, RUN THE FUCK AWAY. Roan has a redemption arc, and so does Bern (if you think Roan is an ass, we haven't yet seen Bern in any great detail... oof). Roan also ends up with Shidu and Jorsam breathing down his neck over everything he does with Cylthan. It's all fantasy. Most abusers do not change. Don't wait around for it. It won't happen in real life the way it happens in stories. Rape fantasies are okay so long as they stay fantasies. Don't put yourself in that position, it's not as much fun in real life as on paper, I promise you. So, enjoy the fantasy! Roan will repent, and he will explain every thought he was having in those first few chapters before Cylthan will allow herself to fall for him.
Here's a bit of character info. Roan is 6'3" and Cylthan is 6'4". Shidu is 6'6" and can stretch her neck as long as an arm. Jorsam is also 6'4". Meanwhile, Bern is 12' tall. For those who needed the exact measurements.
I truly apologize for the long wait on this. This chapter did not like me and it was very difficult to write. I have to remember Roan isn't supposed to be entirely likeable just yet. Don't worry, his temper will be back. I'm still not done with day one. T.T So much can happen in a single day and all these moments are building their relationship. But, that temper of his and the shit he put her through at the start will cause some friction to push things along. And Shidu may or may not help....
I gotta stop with these long chapters. Seriously, it's hurting my groove. XD
Coming up, Chapter 21 will be some insight into Silver Eye's world, and reveal a couple of those "changes" Zeffel went through by touching the Mana Source. And in the following chapter, one particularly fat rat's cold shoulder will end up leading Cylthan down a dark path.
I hope you enjoy!
This was not a planned hiatus. Voices got loud, then so did life. Last week before school and there is plenty to do. But next week begins my 6 hours of freedom 5 days a week! I'm close to done with Chapter 20 from The Rat and the Dragon, I just got stuck on the bathhouse scene. So, when I have that open time again, you better believe I'll be writing. Until then, here's a snippet of what's to come in The Dragon Tamers. I've had most of this chapter done for awhile, just waiting to get there. I can't wait to share the songs!
***
The music changed, the lights gyrating to the beat. Jasper growled and dropped down off the balcony. Rolling expertly to his feet in a move he had practiced many times leaping off Randel's back, he took a fighting stance, initiating his challenge.
The slack-jawed, wide-eyed expression on Roscrow's face would have made Jasper laugh at any other moment. “Saipaki...!”
“Don't 'saipaki' me! You knew this moment was coming.”
The astonishment faded from his face and the hunter stalked towards his prey, dark gaze unwavering. His path was made clear in an instant. Jasper's nervous gulp seeing only himself in those frigid voids was not lost to the Q’Hu. With a measured breath as if to calm himself, he leaned forward to speak only to Jasper.
“You are not going to win.”
“I've whooped your ass once before.”
It's not that I haven't been writing. When I get the chance, I've been throwing down a few sentences. And I've written multiple versions for this upcoming chapter for Rat and Dragon. But, I have nothing coherent or finished for any of the stories right now. Been up and down with health, and when I'm up, I'm dealing with kids and dogs, and when I'm down, I try to write on my phone while lying in bed but I usually just get a few sentences that way.
One fun thing is on rare occasions, I actually play video games. It's not often, since gaming takes what free time I have to put towards writing, but my games of choice are city/ world builders. No surprise there, right? My favorite game so far is Valheim. If you haven't heard of it, it's like a Viking themed Minecraft, though not nearly so blocky. So, I can build houses, villages, even the castle of the Seekers, which I recently started. I built an entire Aroogar village along a river (much like the Radkials from "In the Enemy's Territory" available on my other page), and I built Higzashi's house as I describe it in this new version I've been working on. My goal is the entire Ha'trin village, but that's been a lot of work for the short bursts of time I spend on it, which I can't say with a straight face because this castle is so much bigger than I was anticipating. XD Ah well, it'll be awesome to see when it's done, and the whole process of watching what's in my head come to "life" is so fun and fulfilling.
Anyhow, I'm sorry to skip yet another week. School is soon, just another couple weeks, and then I can get back to regular writing schedule... when my guts aren't rebelling harder than the British when their favorite soccer team loses.
Yes, that's right. Kupper's back at long last! He started out just... standing there. In the doorway of... well, wherever they go when they aren't talking to me. That lasted a couple days. Then, he gave me a migraine with his voice and I think he might try to finish the story. I still have a migraine. This is pretty normal for when he starts talking and often lays me out for a day or two. So, I'm gonna let him talk to me while Roan and Shidu figure out who's winning this scene contest.
Other authors, you ever have two characters duke it out for dominance over a scene? One character wants it to go one way, the other character has no intentions of submitting to that? That's happening to me now. Shidu reeeeally wants to insert herself into this scene and Roan reeeeeeeeeeeally does not want her involved. I've even spent the time to write out entire alternative directions for this to go (something I hate doing because I feel like it wastes time) and every single time, Shidu steers the conversation towards things about Roan I don't want Cylthan (or you, the readers) to know about him just yet. I know we started this adventure with Roan, and honestly, we're gonna end this adventure with him after he learns everything he forgot. As much as I dislike the concept, this is technically one of those "fated mates" tropes. There's a grim and bittersweet reason Roan keeps feeling the urge to possess Cylthan, and why he endured the bullshit Shidu keeps putting him through. So, she wants to stick her nose into this whole thing, and Roan is quite upset about it. Shidu will be back when we least expect it to save Cylthan from herself. That's when all these things about Roan are supposed to surface. For now, I'm giving them the chance to work that out for a minute.
Also, I'll be moving those AI images to the first chapter (how many versions is that now?) since I'm sure all my usual readers have seen them, and fixing a couple chapters with some rewording and a few spelling errors. Also a disclaimer will be going in since not all my readers look at my blogs and I've been asked multiple times if the story is completed. No, no it is not. It is a living, breathing rough draft. It changes, it evolves, some things aren't going to match, and quite frankly, I may decide on one thing, then decide on another (like shaman's are nature wizards instead of anomalies like I had at first which is why Roan said only priests can heal). Until the last page, I won't know exactly how this goes. I have all the major points, but all these details are growing and changing, so bear with me and please feel free to point out things that may not match up or are confusing as we go forward. I may choose to change or add entire scenes based on suggestions (my friend who was upset about chapter 11 has been making a lot of good points about changing it so there's a chance it may look different in publication).
On to Dragon Tamers, I know Roscrow seems really cold right now. He's got a lot on the line, and his whole life's about to be turned upside down because of a woman he's not supposed to so much as flirt with even though he finds her hot aF. And then there's Dane, breathing down his neck the whole time. So, his thing right now is he can't take it out on her, so he's gonna find ways to take it out on Jasper... until Jasper's had enough. That's when the switch will happen from Roscrow being an absolute dick to being a total bro. It might be a bit jarring when it happens, but Roscrow will explain his reasonings. This will all happen quite soon after their return to the mountain. Like, within days, after the ban hammer lands and he figures out how to balance his life again. Roscrow also learns a secret Jasper was keeping from S're all these years... and then proves why he's the best friend you'd ever actually want. "I own you, you know." "Fuck, Roscrow, don't do this to me." "See this transaction? I bought you. This means I get to command you to tell her. Now, go before I carry you, because I think she'd have a lot of questions if I came in with you in my arms like a bride."
So, if you're put off by his frigid behavior now, just know that he does warm up a lot. He's not like Roan. He sees himself like a god of entertainment, not an authority. Roscrow's interested in more abstracts like wealth and status while Roan is in the dirt killing vampires and protecting people by... letting people die... yeah, he'll explain that part later. Roan likes to intimidate while Roscrow actually hates it. He was born horrifying to look at (the Q'Hu don't make cute babies) and he sees cowards everywhere he goes, while Roan has to force people to believe he is that same level of scary with actions. Thus, when we come down to it, Roscrow's really a "gentle" giant... even though he is perfectly capable of crushing the life out of a man with his bare hands and enjoying it, but that man will have deserved it, unlike Roan doing it and enjoying it just to maintain an image for the Seekers. Both men will have tender moments, but Roscrow is way less defensive about his softer side because he was raised human and wants to be seen as human, while Roan gets upset when called on it because softness can result in him being eaten alive among the other Seekers.
Just when I thought for a second I should take a break from these elves because I'm getting sick of them being difficult and not cooperating with me while other stories cry for attention, all three men (Roan is an honorary elf) decided to talk at once. I guess the threat of cutting them off entirely reminded all of them that these are my fingers and I get to tell them what to do... most of the time. Sometimes... occasionally... once in a while... Yeah, I'mma get back to writing since Kupper's staring me down right now with that impatient foot tapping....
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