| Jazmee27
|
PROBLEMS... THE SECOND SERIES WAS FULL OF THEM
======
The first two tapes are the hardest to listen to, partly because they’re so… annoying; recorded back in August 2009, before I left Mom’s and before Ben died. Coincidentally, the tapes were made the last weekend Tiffany slept over for the weekend, but later tapes are more interesting than those two.
|
Reply #781. Jun 13 12, 11:00 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
WHY DO YOU THINK I MADE SOMEONE ELSE LEADER IN THE THIRD VERSION?
======
The most irritating thing about both tapes can be summed up in one word: leaders. At the time, Maria was Headmistress of the School, but seemed unwilling or unable to lead As I sat listening, I wanted so bad to reach in the recorder and give her a vigorous shake. “If you[‘re going to lead, lead!”
A pivotal moment is when Caspian Brandis, father of Preston, makes a visit. Maria splutters, fidgets, and otherwise makes a complete fool of herself; Devlyn, only the Assistant, picks up the tab-doing things which she should be doing, but is too embarrassed or flustered to do.
|
Reply #782. Jun 13 12, 11:02 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
======
I was just thinking about how I’d go about writing the third series, and I started thinking how I’d like to go back farther than in previous versions. Oh, eventually the past has come up, but wouldn’t it be far better to address the characters’ past early on, and be more intimate about it? Firsthand, one might say. Hands on.
|
Reply #783. Jun 13 12, 11:03 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
======
So I was considering the lives my major characters led in the first and second series, noting any similarities and differences, and pondering where to start, when sudedenly an idea for a completely new character occurred to me. One of the first scenes in which she’s introduced: It’s a warm, spring day, and Naomi Cohen is guarding the border post, where nothing much seems to happen. She’s half asleep on her feet when she notices a figure running frantically toward her. At first, she doesn’t recognize Lynda Khaviytra, whom she hasn’t seen in at least four years-not since the ten-year-old moved to Sentoria with her family to join the Resistance Squadron. And it was Naomi who told her friend it wasn’t safe to be seen together: “You’re in the enemy camp. If Bizanti or any of his gang sees you here…”
Technically, Lynda’s on the same side as Naomi—but the difference between the friends is that Lynda, as Bizanti Cannelahra’s half sister, has agreed to infiltrate Cehrvanakavreyda, the Scenorian organized crime element whose name translates as “”Darkness, Be My Friend” or “Powers of Darkness.” Although Lynda trembles at the thought of the danger she’s in, she feels Naomi can help her with a problem she unwittingly created: |
Reply #784. Jun 13 12, 11:05 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
======
“The other day, the gang was out walking the streets, when we come across this rival faction… We’d not have stopped, but I noted the victim was a young boy, around seven or eight years old, and I felt my stomach muscles clench to behold him… and Bizanti, he can read my slightest expression, and he ordered we stop, and he marched right up to the other leader. ‘What goes on here?’ he demanded, and the other replied that it wasn’t my brother’s business, and Bizanti got this look I’ve only seen once, and his voice was so quiet I could barely here when he said, ‘anything that happens in my territory is my business.’ And the other, I think his name was Chendori, he glared at my brother for the logngest time without speaking… then he said the kid deserved to die on account of his parents being royals; and Bizanti just stood there with this thoughtful expression for an interminable time. But finally, he spoke, and offered to ‘dispose the problem,’ and so Chendori relented and waved his boys away, and we got a good look at the boy: tall for his age, all covered in blood, and barely breathing. ‘Tend his wounds,’ Bizanti bade me, ‘then bring him to headquarters.’ I nodded numbly, not knowing what else to do, and presently the kid regained consciousness, and his intense blue gaze met mine, and he whispered his name… and that’s when I knew I had to do something to help him.”
I’m still not sure how I’ll go about this: maybe, when Tiffany comes down for a few hours, I’ll ask her to play the part of Naomi. I haven’t figured out the dialogue, and really in a way we’re both better at impromptu than scripted. But, I’ve no doubt I’ll figure it out when the time comes.
|
Reply #785. Jun 13 12, 11:07 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
======
Every now and then, it clouds up and gets real dark like we’re about to get a storm. So far, nothing. We had one yesterday, the kind that scares the skin off you. I may not see well, but I can tell light from dark, and at moments when it should be light but isn’t, I look tensely at the window and wait. When I see the light pouring in, I breathe a sigh of relief and look away—but it doesn’t last long, and I’m right back where I began.
When my friend and I act out our audio drama, she often says, “”I could have sworn they were not calling for rain today.” This l ine, of course, is said in the character of Preston Brandis, and is just one of many lines he’s known for.
|
Reply #786. Jun 13 12, 11:08 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
======
If I were to describe the young man, I’d probably use the phrase “rough around the ddges,” but that hardly even scratches the surface. Underneath the ragged exterior is “the kindest, most compassionate soul ever to roam the Universe.” But, be warned: “until he gets to know you, it’s best to tread lightly.”
|
Reply #787. Jun 13 12, 11:08 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
I called Grandma to tell her I called Compeer. She'd been about to call me, as she had to take Anita to the doctor. "The hospital called and told her to come immediately."
|
Reply #788. Jun 14 12, 1:07 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
| Still don't know what's going onwith Anita. Was in with the doctor for an hour, and wouldn't stop crying wen she came out. Didn't want to talk about it. |
Reply #789. Jun 14 12, 3:15 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
Fought with computer last night to get rid of old files.
|
Reply #790. Jun 14 12, 3:17 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
Just got a recorded message inviting me to a presidential rally for Mit Romni on Saturday in Cornwall. (I didn't hear the location, but I did the name of the person and the day of the rally; when I told Mom got a call concerning "political nonsense," she guessed what was. She didn't get a call, but as she works in the area spent the day advising the staff where she works because the main roads will be closed Saturday.)
|
Reply #791. Jun 14 12, 4:08 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
MORE STORIES FROM LASTYEAR
======
Why is it, I wondered, as tape three ended, that the parts I added later are so much better than those that come before? Welcome to the second version of events, a set of mismatched recordings that seems, at least for the moment, unfinished.
------
IT'S CALLED THE PATCHWORK QUILT
|
Reply #792. Jun 14 12, 5:21 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
======
The scene in question occurs the day after Alonso is beat senseless and kidnapped by the two false Fergusons. Ontario checks on him, and finds the 12-year-old in a state of lethargy:
Ontario (incredulously): How could that be? Preston fixed you up last night, I’m not even sure how, and you slept the whole night through!
Alonso (bitterly and impatiently): I can’t explain it, but I am weary.
Ontario (perplexed): Whatever.
Before he leaves, Ontario lets his twin know he considers it brave what Alonso did, jumping from the moving vehicle of the Dark, in spite of the fact that a steep embankment lay on the other side.
Alonso (bitterly): You don’t have all the facts.
After a few tense minutes, Ontario goes back to his own dorm, mind spinning. “I can’t sleep now… there’s something I must remember this night, something from my past…”
And that is the factor which could determine the ultimate fate of the Forces of Light.
|
Reply #793. Jun 14 12, 5:22 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
======
If I do something similar in the next version, it’ll be different. Still, this scene’s certainly a harbinger of what’s to come.
|
Reply #794. Jun 14 12, 5:24 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
======
This is still Preston’s first class, but now there are two new students: Elspeth “Elsie” Carter and Harmony. Preston seats Elsie next to Anastasia, and Harmony slides in beside Ontario. As the 12-year-old’s showing her how to mix the Simple Healing ingredients correctly, he observes-out of the corner of his eye-his twin just sitting at his desk, staring blankly into space.
|
Reply #795. Jun 14 12, 5:25 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
======
Ontario (irritably): Alonso, you plan on being here all day?
Alonso (after making a disgusted noise in the back of his throat): You know, you could help me.
Ontario (snappishly): I’m busy here.
Alonso (losing his temper): Oh, you’re going to get nasty with me? Do you forget what I can do? (refers to Firestarting)
Ontario (goes pale): Not in the classroom.. . please!
Alonso (angrily): You’re the one who’s asking for it!
Elsie: Gentlemen, gentlemen, please!
Anastasia: Temper, temper Alonso.
Alonso (shooting daggers with his eyes): You stay out of this!
Student: And they’re supposed to be.l.. *friends. (technically, boyfriend and girlfriend)
Ontario (losing all composure): Oh my God, Alonso, you’re so… (makes a disgusted noise, then waves a hand at his brother’s cauldron) There. That’s what you do.
Harmony (timidly entreating): Boys, please… you’re brothers, aren’t you?
Both (embarrassed): Who said that?
|
Reply #796. Jun 14 12, 5:26 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
======
On tape four, one of the first scenes is that of Maria preparing for yet another class that she doesn’t want to teach. She could send her students on to preston, who’s beginning his first day as a Potions instructor, but she’s even hesitant about that. Unfortunately, there’s a mandatory board meeting: “I’d really rather s**.”
Finally, she resigns herself to “a really boring meeting” on the condition that Devlyn attend Preston’s class and report back to her on Connor’s behavior. “You know I will—and so will Preston.”
|
Reply #797. Jun 14 12, 5:27 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
======
True to his word, Devlyn goes with the students—but is eventually called to the exact same meeting. “Connor’s the only one who’d get himself in trouble on the first day,” he later told Maria. (It should be noted tha t this isn’t on the tape, as I just thought of it now. Perhaps, in the third series…)
“I wish I’d been there to see the ‘Zipper for a Mouth’ bit,” she stated enviously.
“Well, at least you got out of the most boring part to introduce the new kids to the class.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Let’s talk about something else, shall we?”
|
Reply #798. Jun 14 12, 5:27 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
======
He’s really not so tough, and the more defiant he is, the more of a fool he makes himself out to be. He won’t listen to anybody, and even his own mother’s given up being nice to him—unfortunately, that may be half the problem, the better part being lack of discipline (when she does punish him, it’s scant: “he’s getting mixed messages.”)
|
Reply #799. Jun 14 12, 5:28 PM
|
| Jazmee27
|
======
After the “Zipper for a Mouth” scene, still during that same class, the 9-year-old continues with his unchecked disobedience. “When will he ever learn” and “he must enjoy pain” are comments going around the minds of the other students as they try to concentrate on their Potions. Not even ten minutes after Preston unzips his mouth, Anastasia leans over and hisses, “Connor!”
Preston: Uh, Connor, I wouldn’t add any more of that… tongue of toad if I were you. If you do, you’ll blow yourself up.
Anastasia (incredulously): He thinks it’s funny!
There’s an explosion, followed by a muttered oath from Preston:”Better go get a mop.” Instead, the kid tries to run for the door. “Where do you think you’re going?” At first, the kid’s frightened out of his wits and starts stammering-but before long, his brattiness is back: he refuses to clean up his own mess. Thing is, Preston has ten times more magical ability than Connor ever will, and can make him into a “puppet on a string” with ease. Then, to make things worse for himself, the disobedient kid threatens to tell his mother, whom he refers to by her first name-which is allowed by the other students, but Maria and others have told Connor on more than one occasion he’s to call her Mom. “Go ahead, little boy. I’m sure she’ll love knowing she has such a disobedient little *brat for a son!” (Too bad we can’t really say that to a misbehaiving youngster.)
|
Reply #800. Jun 14 12, 5:30 PM
|
Legal / Conditions of Use
|
Play Now! 
: