[Mkguild] Coping with Variable Geometry

[Hallan Mirayas]

When I first wrote "Drifting", the opening scene where Drift is fighting wi=
th the log was going to be the entire story.  Thankfully, Misha talked me i=
nto continuing on, and it became the introduction to a much longer story.  =
That's what "Coping" feels like to me:  an intro scene.  What conflict has =
been resolved here?  That he opened his door and walked out without winding=
 up in Limbo?  If so, mission accomplished.  But if the conflict is suppose=
d to be his fear of the variable geometry in general, or something else ent=
irely, then you've got a lot more you can do.

Hallan

> Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 02:21:40 -0700
> From: supernova.wizard at gmail.com
> To: mkguild at lists.integral.org
> Subject: [Mkguild] Coping with Variable Geometry
> =

> Okay, so I know that it has been forever since I posted my first
> story, and I also know that this is really short for how long it has
> taken me to finally put it up on the Mailing List. But what can I say?
> Its just the way I am. Also, I have been working on a few other
> things, like what stories are coming up next. And I hope to have those
> finished and posted before too long, but I'm not going to make any
> promises. And I know that I'm way, way, way behind on my reading. Alls
> I can say is that I'll be trying to catch up with all of the new stuff
> thats been posted in the last couple of months. (yeah, that's how far
> behind I am...) Please, send me a comment on 'Coping', even if its
> just to say "I liked it" or "I thought it was dumb" and thats it. I'd
> appreciate it.
> =

> Oh, and this story takes place on the morning after Forced Beginnings.
> =

> =

> =

> Coping with Variable Geometry
> =

> By Absolute Zero
> =

> April 12th, 707 CR
> =

> =

> With a startled jerk and a quiet gasp, Zak sat bolt upright in a cold
> sweat, his heart beating wildly because of an already quickly fading
> nightmare. He looked around and, at first, didn't recognize where he
> was. He was sitting in a bed with a freshly stuffed straw mattress,
> and there was a nice, but simple rug, which was useful in protecting
> his feet from the cold of the stones. There was a writing desk in the
> other corner, which Zak did not think he would ever need to use, and
> there was even a small painting of a landscape on one wall.
> =

> As he took in all of these things, he remembered. He had returned with
> Anthony and his wife to their home last night and had found an oak
> door where nothing had been before. On the other side of the door,
> they had found a guest room, in which Zak was now staying. He had his
> doubts about staying somewhere that might not be there in the morning,
> and Anthony had to reassure him several times before he reluctantly
> spent the night in the newly added room.
> =

> Having banished the momentary fear that comes with waking in a strange
> place, he was struck with the thought that his room might not be
> connected to Anthony's home anymore. What if his room wasn't connected
> to any other room? He would be trapped, maybe forever!
> =

> Shoving the heavy blanket that covered him off to one side, he rushed
> to the door, stopping with his hand an inch away from the handle. He
> slowly brought it away from the door. A thought had interrupted his
> mad dash for freedom. What happens if nothing is on the other side?
> Would he even be *able* to open the door? But one thing is for sure,
> he wasn't going to be able to find out by sitting in here. Taking a
> deep breath, Zak gently pushed on the door to find that it opened
> easily, he wasn't sucked out into oblivion, and the guest room was
> still connected to Anthony's home.
> =

> Zak sighed with relief, but was now faced with a dilemma. He wasn't
> dressed, and he didn't want to turn his back on the doorway in case it
> decided to change to another part of the keep... or to nothingness.
> Coming up with an idea, Zak pushed the door open all the way and then
> slowly backed away, toward his clothes. He dressed hurriedly, but kept
> an eye on the doorway at all times. Finally dressed he rushed forward
> and leaped through the doorway to land safely, and loudly, on the
> other side. Having safely escaped the guest room, he turned back to
> see it sitting, ever so innocently, on the other side of the wide open
> doorway.
> =

> "Hey."
> =

> Zak jumped and whipped around to find a large, and rather amused
> wolverine morph. "Don't do that!" He admonished his friend, with a
> hand over his wildly beating heart.
> =

> Anthony chuckled, "Do what? Say hello?"
> =

> "No, just=85 don't sneak up on me like that. You scared me half to
> death." Zak said with a half smile.
> =

> "So I noticed. What has got you so on edge anyways?" Anthony asked as
> he yawned and stretched, while waiting for a reply he also began
> cracking his knuckles, a habit he picked up from the other guards.
> =

> Zak glanced back at the quest room before answering, "Nothing..."
> =

> Anthony followed the direction of his glance, "... Still not
> comfortable here, huh?"
> =

> Zak sighed, and scratched the back of his head in embarrassment as his
> gaze dropped to the floor; he was never good at hiding things,
> especially from his friend. "No. I mean, well=85 it's just that, this,
> all of this," he said waving his hand around at the room and at
> Anthony, "It's unnatural. Stone isn't supposed move about when it
> wants to and men aren't supposed to=85 to look like wild animals or
> little children. It's not right."
> =

> The wolverine morph eyed his friend for a second, and nodded at his
> explanation. It wasn't the first time he had heard thoughts like that.
> In fact they were quite common. For a long moment neither spoke, then
> Anthony got an idea. "Come on then." He said, heading for the door.
> =

> "What?" Zak asked before quickly following his friend out the door.
> "Where are we going?"
> =

> "Well, I forgot to tell you this last night, but I've got to go out on
> patrol soon. So, I'm going to introduce you to Cope, he's famous
> 'round here for his tours." Anthony explained as they strode down a
> corridor.
> =

> "Tours?" Zak asked, unfamiliar with the word.
> =

> "He'll show you around the keep, and knowing Cope, it will probably
> take a few hours. During which, you'll get a chance to adjust to
> traveling in the keep. Well, a little bit, at least."
> =

> Zak wasn't sure if he liked this idea, but with Anthony going out on
> patrol soon, Zak didn't have anything better to do. And so, followed
> after his friend without complaint.
> =

> =

> =

> =

> END
> =

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