Yep, I said it. Diet!
It has become a scorned word these days as diet programs work to be called lifestyle changes in order to keep up with the preferred lingo as they try to peddle their plans to the masses, but is it necessary? Does diet really mean something that one does for short time then quits or fails? I'm not so sure. Why is it so bad to be on a diet? Let's look at the word and consider it.
Definition of Diet
Noun
1. The kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.
2. A legislative assembly in certain countries.
Verb
1. Restrict oneself to small amounts or special kinds of food in order to lose weight.
Synonym
nutrition - nourishment - food - regimen - dietary
The verb is the one we most know. It's the one people talk about all the time. It's what makes people buy different products, join groups, or eat celery. Noun 1 is the second most common, I'd say, nowadays and I am certain Noun 2 is the least common. I hadn't even really known that little fact until I did my research for this post.
The term diet has become negative in connotation to a degree because of the number of products and programs people start, try, quit, retry and quit again all in the name of dieting to lose weight. They fail and become an obsession for many. Here is a list of diet plans by US News, (though as for quality of diet even though it lists them as the best I don't guarantee or recommend any of them), to see check out the link: http://health.usnews.com/best-diet.
However, if you think about it, the word diet will always relate to our food consumption in the noun context. Even those not losing weight have a diet, the food they eat on a regular basis.
But here is my question: Does the verb have to pertain to only the restriction or type of food used to lose weight? Can't a diet contain the basic foods consumed to maintain loss? Seems like that would work considering the noun version, but I'm not the decider of the dictionary definitions.
My Point
Diet doesn't have to be that dirty word, something we quit and start in this ever persistent battle to lose weight. Diet has other purposes and can in fact just relate to the food we eat on a regular basis, whether healthy or not and the approach we take to the type of diet we maintain is more important than whether we use the terms "diet" or "lifestyle change".
Do you diet?
What is your diet like?
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
C is for Confidence
I remembered at last minute but think this post will work for both A to Z and the Insecure Writer's Support Group blog hop. Since every first Wednesday of the month is IWSG day, I decided to post C related to that aspect and came up with Confidence. Other times I've posted about struggling to finish novels or not getting distracted, and I think I've done something similar as this post but that's okay. It's a good topic.
Check out some of the other blogs with IWSG here: http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html
Confidence
Sounds like a topic for insecure writers, doesn't it? We need confidence, or in some cases maybe could go with a little less confidence, but it's a strange concept in general because of that. We need confidence and while a rare few have too much, many writer's tend to lack confidence. Why is that? Why are we such a shy group? That is the stereotype related to writers and I've been to a few conferences. Many writers are shy people and struggle with confidence and communicating. Yet in order to get published we need those very tools.
Quite the little situation we have isn't it?
I sometimes wonder if I have too much confidence in my writing.
Hear me out. I have nothing published yet. I haven't done much sending out at this point so that's understandable. I am rather shy in person (yep, I'm one of them). Yet when I am reading my own writing, while I see there is room for improvement, I don't ever have the "wow I suck. This is terrible. What the heck am I doing?" reactions ever. On occasion I will say to myself, "hmm that won't be going anywhere, oh well, but I like that part." That's it.
So many of my friends struggle to write because they will write something and then thing it's awful and not finish it. They read over the draft they wrote a few months ago and say how bad it is. I know many artists and writers who are their worst critics.
I don't do that. At the other time, I don't feel quite like I have a lot of confidence. I am not sitting here thinking "oh, I'm so awesome that people would be fools not to publish my stuff" so don't worry on that. But it still makes me wonder. Do I need more confidence? (To send work out and such.) Or do I need a little less confidence? (To say the draft is horrible and I suck before coming to terms and finding ways to rewrite and edit.)
I'm not sure.
Do you have enough confidence or too much?
Check out some of the other blogs with IWSG here: http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html
Confidence
Sounds like a topic for insecure writers, doesn't it? We need confidence, or in some cases maybe could go with a little less confidence, but it's a strange concept in general because of that. We need confidence and while a rare few have too much, many writer's tend to lack confidence. Why is that? Why are we such a shy group? That is the stereotype related to writers and I've been to a few conferences. Many writers are shy people and struggle with confidence and communicating. Yet in order to get published we need those very tools.
Quite the little situation we have isn't it?
I sometimes wonder if I have too much confidence in my writing.
Hear me out. I have nothing published yet. I haven't done much sending out at this point so that's understandable. I am rather shy in person (yep, I'm one of them). Yet when I am reading my own writing, while I see there is room for improvement, I don't ever have the "wow I suck. This is terrible. What the heck am I doing?" reactions ever. On occasion I will say to myself, "hmm that won't be going anywhere, oh well, but I like that part." That's it.
So many of my friends struggle to write because they will write something and then thing it's awful and not finish it. They read over the draft they wrote a few months ago and say how bad it is. I know many artists and writers who are their worst critics.
I don't do that. At the other time, I don't feel quite like I have a lot of confidence. I am not sitting here thinking "oh, I'm so awesome that people would be fools not to publish my stuff" so don't worry on that. But it still makes me wonder. Do I need more confidence? (To send work out and such.) Or do I need a little less confidence? (To say the draft is horrible and I suck before coming to terms and finding ways to rewrite and edit.)
I'm not sure.
Do you have enough confidence or too much?
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
B is for Balance
This is a good day. It's all about balance, which is a good thing to consider after one makes lofty goals. While it's fun (crazy) to try and do everything, finding balance in ones life can help even things out and in order to get things done without becoming overwhelmed. So we need to find balance.
Balance
noun
I had a hard time learning balance when I was younger. I would get too involved in many different activities, which would then lead to becoming overwhelmed with too much to do. I ended up quitting an extra Shakespeare class (held outside of school on the weekends, yes I was nerdy enough to take a weekend class in high school for fun) because I had too many other things to do and I couldn't balance all my responsibilities. If I hadn't stepped away from something my mental steadiness might have been at risk after all.
When it comes to writing and reading, I'm still trying to find balance. I like to read but I also need to use some time to write and edit. Finding a balance between the two will help because one activity assists the other.
Diet and exercise requires a whole other type of balance. And I can work on my physical balance so I don't fall down and stuff.
Ah fun times this balance thing is, don't you think? I shall keep on trying at least, though my life goes up and down between the balanced equilibrium.
How do you find balance?
What kind of balance are you working on this month? Blogging I bet. ;-)
Balance
noun
1. a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight amount, etc.
2. something used to produce equilibrium; counterpoise.
3. mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgment, etc.
4. a state of bodily equilibrium: He lost his balance and fell down the stairs.
5. an instrument for determining weight, typically by the equilibrium of a bar with a fulcrum at the center, from each end of which is suspended a scale or pan, one holding an object of known weight, and the other holding the object to be weighed.
I had a hard time learning balance when I was younger. I would get too involved in many different activities, which would then lead to becoming overwhelmed with too much to do. I ended up quitting an extra Shakespeare class (held outside of school on the weekends, yes I was nerdy enough to take a weekend class in high school for fun) because I had too many other things to do and I couldn't balance all my responsibilities. If I hadn't stepped away from something my mental steadiness might have been at risk after all.
When it comes to writing and reading, I'm still trying to find balance. I like to read but I also need to use some time to write and edit. Finding a balance between the two will help because one activity assists the other.
Diet and exercise requires a whole other type of balance. And I can work on my physical balance so I don't fall down and stuff.
Ah fun times this balance thing is, don't you think? I shall keep on trying at least, though my life goes up and down between the balanced equilibrium.
How do you find balance?
What kind of balance are you working on this month? Blogging I bet. ;-)
Monday, April 1, 2013
A is for Aim
Welcome to day 1 of the A to Z blogging challenge. And we are off to a
great start with a post that I picked for it's connection to goals
since I like to post goals at the beginning of each month. So, today I'm
writing about Aim. If you don't know about the challenge, and if you're here I'm surprised if you don't know, but here is the link: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html.
Aim is important. Whether it's finishing a novel, shooting an arrow, or trying to lose weight, having aim can make a difference. And that's another way to say goals. We make goals in order to aim for them. Sometimes we miss, sometimes we hit the target but not quite the right spot and sometimes we get that bulls eye.
I missed some goals from March, hit the target on others. Time for a new set of goals.
April Goals to Aim Toward
Finish reading 2 books
Edit 4 chapters
Write 10,000 words in novella
Lose 4 lbs
No fast food
What are your goals for April?
Do you have Aim?
Welcome to my Blog.
Aim is important. Whether it's finishing a novel, shooting an arrow, or trying to lose weight, having aim can make a difference. And that's another way to say goals. We make goals in order to aim for them. Sometimes we miss, sometimes we hit the target but not quite the right spot and sometimes we get that bulls eye.
I missed some goals from March, hit the target on others. Time for a new set of goals.
April Goals to Aim Toward
Finish reading 2 books
Edit 4 chapters
Write 10,000 words in novella
Lose 4 lbs
No fast food
What are your goals for April?
Do you have Aim?
Welcome to my Blog.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Romantic Friday - Driven to Murder
Yep, I didn't forget. See! This is a piece that I wrote actually a couple years ago. I still need to work on the believability of the character. Chemist, sure, humans to mannequins, why not. Chemist becomes a clown to please a ballet dancer... wait, what? Yeah, I'm still pondering that part. However, want to give some friends scary thoughts, tell them to consider a clown serial killer who can take a body and turn it into a mannequin. Got serial killers, clowns and mannequins in one story. Creepy. hehehehe
Blog Hop Link
Practice
Budders the Clown waited outside The Slipper dance studio. His love, Celia, taught kids ballet there five days a week. While he waited, Budders adjusted his polka dotted bow tie. He was nervous because tonight was the night he was planning on taking the relationship further.
Celia followed a group of students out the front door while pulling her blonde hair out of it's tight bun. It flowed down past her shoulders in waves.
"Hi sweetheart." Budders held out the plastic white flowers that he'd been holding for almost fifteen minutes during his wait.
"Oh." Celia stopped and stared at the flowers for a minute before accepting them. "Thanks." She started to walk in the direction of her apartment.
Budders followed easily, taking long strides with his large clown shoes. He didn't speak until they were almost there. "Do you wanna go up and change? I've got big plans for tonight. I can wait downstairs till you are ready."
She stopped walking. "Listen," Celia turned to him and put her hand on his arm for a second. "You are a nice guy and all but I think we should see other people."
"How can you say that?" He was devastated. "After all I've done for you. All the hurdles you've made me jump through."
Celia shrugged. "You're a clown. You should be used to doing that."
"I'm a clown because as a chemist I wasn't fun enough for you." He tried to control his voice but it was starting to raise anyways. "You promised if I did all that for you..."
"I changed my mind."
Budders had to fight back tears. "Please don't do this. I can make things right again if you just give me another chance."
She shook her head. "No. I'm moving on. Goodbye." Finished, Celia walked away.
"You'll pay for this, you selfish bitch!" He yelled, no longer about to cry; his anger had taken over. He stormed away while cursing under his breath and promised himself that things would change. He wasn't going to let a woman trample him like that and get away with it.
As he fumbled around for his house key Budders noticed a grasshopper as it landed next to his foot. Without thinking he brought down his big right shoe, squashing it. With a tiny sense of relief he went inside but just as he closed the door an idea struck him.
He spent the next three hours tearing through every room in the upper portion of the house. "It's gotta be here some where," Budders muttered as he rummaged through fake flowers, wigs, rubber hammers, and bow ties. He was about to give up when he found the item in a small drawer in the kitchen. It was a perfectly preserved grasshopper in clear white glass. Celia had given it to him on their second date because she thought it would be an amusing, although a tad bit morbid, gift.
Budders took the domed grasshopper downstairs to his basement/laboratory. On one half of the room he had a chemistry lab set up for his own experiments. There was a dense table and cabinets full of compounds and elixirs. On the other side he kept his secret clown stash. It consisted of a special clown wardrobe, a makeup cabinet and a few different accessories. He went over to the lab side and began to do research.
The research took several weeks of reading and experimentations before he had a full working plan. A few chemicals and some equipment had to be ordered and in a manner that would not arouse any suspicion. He also kept careful tabs on Celia. It would be a while before he'd be able to carry out his plans and he didn't want her to disappear on him. He had many chances to grab her during those scouting adventures but he wasn't ready yet. First he needed to practice.
The first experimental stage consisted of testing on insects and small animals. He knew that the compounds and amounts wouldn't even be close to what he'd need on a human but they made good tests for the idea in general. Once he was confident enough from those he began the search for his human test subject.
This proved to be more difficult than he'd first imagined.
Budders had to find the right female test subject. She had to be close to Celia in body weight and structure though she didn't have to be exact. That would be easy for a normal woman, but a dancer was a different story. He monitored all the dance studies that were fifty to one hundred miles away. His same town was off limits for now.
After almost a month of search he found someone. Her name was Jessica and she was a beautiful brown haired ballerina. She looked to be about Celia's height and her waistline wasn't too far off either. Plus, she gave Budders that feeling; the feeling that she was the one.
One afternoon he finally got up the nerve to approach her. "Hello, pretty lady." Budders bowed and offered a fake flower to her.
Jessica looked surprised at first but then smiled. "Hello," she said in a shy voice. She had been on her way to dance rehearsal.
"Have a wonderful day." He smiled to show his almost white teeth and then gave her another bow. It wasn't a full conversation, but he'd made contact and that was all he needed. He watched her walk to the dance studio before going to the hotel room he'd reserved for that night. He had to prepare.
Later that night, when Jessica passed by the dark alley next to the dance studio, he was there waiting. In a quick motion he grabbed her, pulling her into the dark, and placed a soaked rag over her mouth and nose. Soon her body went limp. He carried her to his car in a hurry, making sure that no one saw them. Then he started the drive home.
As he laid her on the chem table, Budders felt a sense of excitement mixed with satisfaction. A woman lay before him, unconscious, with chemicals and tools in the background. He couldn't wait to get started. He started the experiment while thinking; it won't be long, Celia. You'll be mine.
Blog Hop Link
Practice
Budders the Clown waited outside The Slipper dance studio. His love, Celia, taught kids ballet there five days a week. While he waited, Budders adjusted his polka dotted bow tie. He was nervous because tonight was the night he was planning on taking the relationship further.
Celia followed a group of students out the front door while pulling her blonde hair out of it's tight bun. It flowed down past her shoulders in waves.
"Hi sweetheart." Budders held out the plastic white flowers that he'd been holding for almost fifteen minutes during his wait.
"Oh." Celia stopped and stared at the flowers for a minute before accepting them. "Thanks." She started to walk in the direction of her apartment.
Budders followed easily, taking long strides with his large clown shoes. He didn't speak until they were almost there. "Do you wanna go up and change? I've got big plans for tonight. I can wait downstairs till you are ready."
She stopped walking. "Listen," Celia turned to him and put her hand on his arm for a second. "You are a nice guy and all but I think we should see other people."
"How can you say that?" He was devastated. "After all I've done for you. All the hurdles you've made me jump through."
Celia shrugged. "You're a clown. You should be used to doing that."
"I'm a clown because as a chemist I wasn't fun enough for you." He tried to control his voice but it was starting to raise anyways. "You promised if I did all that for you..."
"I changed my mind."
Budders had to fight back tears. "Please don't do this. I can make things right again if you just give me another chance."
She shook her head. "No. I'm moving on. Goodbye." Finished, Celia walked away.
"You'll pay for this, you selfish bitch!" He yelled, no longer about to cry; his anger had taken over. He stormed away while cursing under his breath and promised himself that things would change. He wasn't going to let a woman trample him like that and get away with it.
As he fumbled around for his house key Budders noticed a grasshopper as it landed next to his foot. Without thinking he brought down his big right shoe, squashing it. With a tiny sense of relief he went inside but just as he closed the door an idea struck him.
He spent the next three hours tearing through every room in the upper portion of the house. "It's gotta be here some where," Budders muttered as he rummaged through fake flowers, wigs, rubber hammers, and bow ties. He was about to give up when he found the item in a small drawer in the kitchen. It was a perfectly preserved grasshopper in clear white glass. Celia had given it to him on their second date because she thought it would be an amusing, although a tad bit morbid, gift.
Budders took the domed grasshopper downstairs to his basement/laboratory. On one half of the room he had a chemistry lab set up for his own experiments. There was a dense table and cabinets full of compounds and elixirs. On the other side he kept his secret clown stash. It consisted of a special clown wardrobe, a makeup cabinet and a few different accessories. He went over to the lab side and began to do research.
The research took several weeks of reading and experimentations before he had a full working plan. A few chemicals and some equipment had to be ordered and in a manner that would not arouse any suspicion. He also kept careful tabs on Celia. It would be a while before he'd be able to carry out his plans and he didn't want her to disappear on him. He had many chances to grab her during those scouting adventures but he wasn't ready yet. First he needed to practice.
The first experimental stage consisted of testing on insects and small animals. He knew that the compounds and amounts wouldn't even be close to what he'd need on a human but they made good tests for the idea in general. Once he was confident enough from those he began the search for his human test subject.
This proved to be more difficult than he'd first imagined.
Budders had to find the right female test subject. She had to be close to Celia in body weight and structure though she didn't have to be exact. That would be easy for a normal woman, but a dancer was a different story. He monitored all the dance studies that were fifty to one hundred miles away. His same town was off limits for now.
After almost a month of search he found someone. Her name was Jessica and she was a beautiful brown haired ballerina. She looked to be about Celia's height and her waistline wasn't too far off either. Plus, she gave Budders that feeling; the feeling that she was the one.
One afternoon he finally got up the nerve to approach her. "Hello, pretty lady." Budders bowed and offered a fake flower to her.
Jessica looked surprised at first but then smiled. "Hello," she said in a shy voice. She had been on her way to dance rehearsal.
"Have a wonderful day." He smiled to show his almost white teeth and then gave her another bow. It wasn't a full conversation, but he'd made contact and that was all he needed. He watched her walk to the dance studio before going to the hotel room he'd reserved for that night. He had to prepare.
Later that night, when Jessica passed by the dark alley next to the dance studio, he was there waiting. In a quick motion he grabbed her, pulling her into the dark, and placed a soaked rag over her mouth and nose. Soon her body went limp. He carried her to his car in a hurry, making sure that no one saw them. Then he started the drive home.
As he laid her on the chem table, Budders felt a sense of excitement mixed with satisfaction. A woman lay before him, unconscious, with chemicals and tools in the background. He couldn't wait to get started. He started the experiment while thinking; it won't be long, Celia. You'll be mine.
Friday, March 1, 2013
March Goals
Monthly Goal Time (already)
February had its ups and downs. I edited a few chapters, read a book, and wrote some small bits of flash fiction.
Writing Goals
Write a chapter in AF and LtW
Edit 5 chapters in TT (I have 15 left for the novel)
Read at least 1 book
Fitness Goals
Get a fitness schedule together
Use an exercise video twice a week
Use resistance bands twice a week
Continue to cook at home focusing on healthy eating
Lose 4 lbs
How did February go for you?
What are your goals for the month of March?
February had its ups and downs. I edited a few chapters, read a book, and wrote some small bits of flash fiction.
Writing Goals
Write a chapter in AF and LtW
Edit 5 chapters in TT (I have 15 left for the novel)
Read at least 1 book
Fitness Goals
Get a fitness schedule together
Use an exercise video twice a week
Use resistance bands twice a week
Continue to cook at home focusing on healthy eating
Lose 4 lbs
How did February go for you?
What are your goals for the month of March?
Thursday, February 21, 2013
RFW Fanfiction
Yep, it's time I joined a blog hop again, and no better way to start then one with people I know. I've been asked about joining the Romantic Friday Writer's blog hop for a while now but would either forget or not come up with a story for the month prompt, but this month, I'm going to give it a try.
February is a Fanfiction challenge.
"For
February's Challenge, your hosts invite authors to write up to 1000
words of fanfiction involving your favorite romance couple from TV,
movie, literature or historical accounts."
Romantic Friday Writers Link
While the general idea of the challenge is known lovers, it's a little harder to find m/m known couples unless doing the slash fanfiction that creates the idea of "what if" the character was gay instead of straight. So, I'm still doing fanfiction but going with a less known item.
My fanfiction comes from the source of an anime, one that even the people I know who go to anime conventions on a regular basis don't know about but I found as one of the coolest ones I've seen so far. That anime/manga (it was manga then an anime) is:
Monochrome Factor
The Manga link:
http://mangafox.me/manga/monochrome_factor/
The Anime link:
http://www.anime-planet.com/anime/monochrome-factor
Quick Explanation:
I've never read the manga, so am just going off the anime series that I watched a few times online. The basics of the story can be found on the sites listed and my fanfiction attempt takes place after the series ended. Once the Shadow King had retreated, Shirogane has returned with no idea whether he will survive in the shadow world, and Akira is back to a normal life with his friends and less demon fighting. The manga is a bit different story wise, with some different characters shown and didn't have the m/m aspect, which is another reason I went with the anime. In my attempt, Akira has been trying to leave the life of a normal, older teenager, closely to adulthood, and that includes dating, but he has found the whole endeavor boring.
My Fanfiction, Dating in Monochrome
Akira stared out across the water, watching the calm surface lap against the rocky edge. It had become his spot over the years; a place to be alone and contemplate his life. Even Kengo knew not to bother him there, which almost made up for all the times he hung around whether he was wanted or not. While Akira fumed at times over his persistent friend, deep down he appreciated that persistence, that his friend would have his back no matter what happened. With Kengo and Aya, deep down it almost made up for his loss, for his family never coming back to him.
"It's so calm and peaceful out here." The boy named Yokai interrupted the silence as he sat on the rock next to Akira.
Looking at the boy, Akira simply nodded. He still didn't know what to do. He'd been trying to date and have a normal life after the struggles he had endured fighting the Shadow King, but while having some boring days had felt great at first, things had gotten dull again. He had even tried dating, going out with a number of different girls but they had all brought nothing to him but lack of interest. But he didn't see why the last one had insisted he try dating a guy. Yet there he was, out on a date with Yokai, a new student to the school.
While nothing bad had happened on the date, it didn't feel any different really, he had found himself doing something he never would have planned. Instead of saying goodbye after the quick dinner, he had asked Yokai to join him near the water. But the boy reminded him of something, a feeling from someone he'd experienced before.
The last time he'd shared the spot near the water, it had been with Shirogane. Though he hadn't decided to share it, more the shadow wouldn't leave him alone. During those days he'd felt annoyed by Shirogane's shadowing of him and never leaving his side. He'd lashed out a number of times, fighting back against the man's claims of liking him but in the end, when he returned to the shadow world, Akira regretted never trying to say that he liked him in return. Part of him had wanted to, but he could never admit the words. Losing yet another had taken its toll and he still struggled to deal with the doubt and confusion.
A hand touching his own drew him back to the present. He looked over to see Yokai sitting closer with one of his hands resting on his shoulder and the other the one that had interrupted his train of thought.
Yokai moved back again. "Sorry. You looked sad so I thought..."
"It's okay. Maybe we should head back." Akira tried to shrug it off, feeling a strange buzz flicker across his hand.
They started walking, not saying anything for most of it. Not many people were out, it had already started to get late so that the lesser amount of light lead to the streetlights trying to illuminate small sections of the sidewalk even though daylight still made it easy enough to see. The park felt empty, trees moving to the slight wind.
"Want to see my spot? Since you shared me yours."
Akira stopped. "You have a spot already?"
"The spot isn't as great as yours, but yeah, I have a place I go to in order to get away and be alone." Yokai smiled at him. "It's nearby."
"Sure." Akira followed as the boy took him away from the path, walking through the bushes and trees, going through the park to the other side. Then they stopped and he watched him sit down on the ground near a group of short bushes. He sat down, not sure what else to do and waited.
Nothing happened at first, they both sat on the ground staring out across the park. However, when Akira was about to push up from the ground and suggest they end the night, Yokai surprised him. The boy pushed him to the ground.
Normally he would have fought back at once, Akira stared at the boy instead. "What?"
"Shh.. Stay here and do me a favor, don't look up until I tell you to, okay?" Yokai pushed away, moving across to the next open section of grass.
Despite the instruction, Akira looked up, annoyed at the strange situation until he saw something he hadn't expected to happen that night. A small group of kokuchi, shadow demons, approached the boy, who had seemed so defenseless against the other boys just the day before. He wanted to get up and fight but the sight of the blades that appeared in Yokai's hands stopped him.
Stunned, he watched the boy move with ease, taking out the shadows in quick, skilled motions. After they were destroyed, he approached. "Wow."
Yokai paled, looking around, his hands now empty. "That probably looked strange. It's hard to explain."
"I know what you were doing. I've fought kokuchi before."
"You could see them?"
"I can do more than see." Akira didn't know why he moved so close to the boy, but found himself leaning in and pressing his lips against his surprised date's for a second before making his offer. "Next time, you have to let me fight too."
February is a Fanfiction challenge.
Romantic Friday Writers Link
While the general idea of the challenge is known lovers, it's a little harder to find m/m known couples unless doing the slash fanfiction that creates the idea of "what if" the character was gay instead of straight. So, I'm still doing fanfiction but going with a less known item.
My fanfiction comes from the source of an anime, one that even the people I know who go to anime conventions on a regular basis don't know about but I found as one of the coolest ones I've seen so far. That anime/manga (it was manga then an anime) is:
Monochrome Factor
The Manga link:
http://mangafox.me/manga/monochrome_factor/
The Anime link:
http://www.anime-planet.com/anime/monochrome-factor
Quick Explanation:
I've never read the manga, so am just going off the anime series that I watched a few times online. The basics of the story can be found on the sites listed and my fanfiction attempt takes place after the series ended. Once the Shadow King had retreated, Shirogane has returned with no idea whether he will survive in the shadow world, and Akira is back to a normal life with his friends and less demon fighting. The manga is a bit different story wise, with some different characters shown and didn't have the m/m aspect, which is another reason I went with the anime. In my attempt, Akira has been trying to leave the life of a normal, older teenager, closely to adulthood, and that includes dating, but he has found the whole endeavor boring.
My Fanfiction, Dating in Monochrome
Akira stared out across the water, watching the calm surface lap against the rocky edge. It had become his spot over the years; a place to be alone and contemplate his life. Even Kengo knew not to bother him there, which almost made up for all the times he hung around whether he was wanted or not. While Akira fumed at times over his persistent friend, deep down he appreciated that persistence, that his friend would have his back no matter what happened. With Kengo and Aya, deep down it almost made up for his loss, for his family never coming back to him.
"It's so calm and peaceful out here." The boy named Yokai interrupted the silence as he sat on the rock next to Akira.
Looking at the boy, Akira simply nodded. He still didn't know what to do. He'd been trying to date and have a normal life after the struggles he had endured fighting the Shadow King, but while having some boring days had felt great at first, things had gotten dull again. He had even tried dating, going out with a number of different girls but they had all brought nothing to him but lack of interest. But he didn't see why the last one had insisted he try dating a guy. Yet there he was, out on a date with Yokai, a new student to the school.
While nothing bad had happened on the date, it didn't feel any different really, he had found himself doing something he never would have planned. Instead of saying goodbye after the quick dinner, he had asked Yokai to join him near the water. But the boy reminded him of something, a feeling from someone he'd experienced before.
The last time he'd shared the spot near the water, it had been with Shirogane. Though he hadn't decided to share it, more the shadow wouldn't leave him alone. During those days he'd felt annoyed by Shirogane's shadowing of him and never leaving his side. He'd lashed out a number of times, fighting back against the man's claims of liking him but in the end, when he returned to the shadow world, Akira regretted never trying to say that he liked him in return. Part of him had wanted to, but he could never admit the words. Losing yet another had taken its toll and he still struggled to deal with the doubt and confusion.
A hand touching his own drew him back to the present. He looked over to see Yokai sitting closer with one of his hands resting on his shoulder and the other the one that had interrupted his train of thought.
Yokai moved back again. "Sorry. You looked sad so I thought..."
"It's okay. Maybe we should head back." Akira tried to shrug it off, feeling a strange buzz flicker across his hand.
They started walking, not saying anything for most of it. Not many people were out, it had already started to get late so that the lesser amount of light lead to the streetlights trying to illuminate small sections of the sidewalk even though daylight still made it easy enough to see. The park felt empty, trees moving to the slight wind.
"Want to see my spot? Since you shared me yours."
Akira stopped. "You have a spot already?"
"The spot isn't as great as yours, but yeah, I have a place I go to in order to get away and be alone." Yokai smiled at him. "It's nearby."
"Sure." Akira followed as the boy took him away from the path, walking through the bushes and trees, going through the park to the other side. Then they stopped and he watched him sit down on the ground near a group of short bushes. He sat down, not sure what else to do and waited.
Nothing happened at first, they both sat on the ground staring out across the park. However, when Akira was about to push up from the ground and suggest they end the night, Yokai surprised him. The boy pushed him to the ground.
Normally he would have fought back at once, Akira stared at the boy instead. "What?"
"Shh.. Stay here and do me a favor, don't look up until I tell you to, okay?" Yokai pushed away, moving across to the next open section of grass.
Despite the instruction, Akira looked up, annoyed at the strange situation until he saw something he hadn't expected to happen that night. A small group of kokuchi, shadow demons, approached the boy, who had seemed so defenseless against the other boys just the day before. He wanted to get up and fight but the sight of the blades that appeared in Yokai's hands stopped him.
Stunned, he watched the boy move with ease, taking out the shadows in quick, skilled motions. After they were destroyed, he approached. "Wow."
Yokai paled, looking around, his hands now empty. "That probably looked strange. It's hard to explain."
"I know what you were doing. I've fought kokuchi before."
"You could see them?"
"I can do more than see." Akira didn't know why he moved so close to the boy, but found himself leaning in and pressing his lips against his surprised date's for a second before making his offer. "Next time, you have to let me fight too."
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Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
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