AKK

FM-PMS

2009-11-20T18:18:29Z

current chapter word count: 5317
less, because Mariko-scene now happens on the lawn, the kids are finally playing, Seiran is on the phone, and Subaru no longer steps into the sand
more, because of an author note reminding me to close the Omi-thread properly here or in the epilogue
amount of chapter now in continuous text: 50% (discounting two small one-line-gaps and a bit of tinkering for effect)
scenes written: everything in the East Gardens except the ending of "When did you plan to tell me?!" (that's next)
character who is not inclined to take the new information calm and with a grain of salt: Subaru
character about to learn the hard way that Subaru can make scenes: Seishiro
interesting by-product of that: reality infusion for elder Makoto regarding the temper of the Sumeragi head.
quote of the day: "His wakizashi is still hungry."

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FM-PMS

2009-11-19T17:17:14Z

current chapter word count: 5461
scene worked on today: Seishiro - Makoto
scene complete? no
character learning more than she wants about runes: Makoto
character learning more than he wants about the wakizashi: Seishiro
character busying himself to keep both interlocutors alive: Ameru
quote of the day: "No body to bargain with."

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FM-PMS

2009-11-17T21:03:08Z

current chapter word count: 5142
less because: Kamui's been firmly relegated to the epilogie
more because: "Kid's in the park", "Tree Talk" and "desk sex aftermath" got some content
anything complete? Not quiet. KITP the most, but it could use more polish.
character being unexpectedly useful: Godzilla
character not enough in the scene yet: Subaru
research of the day: Gojira
quote of the day: "Father's a vet."

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FM-PMS

2009-11-16T20:06:07Z

current chapter word count: 5037
less, because I cleaned up the file, tossed out no longer needed notes, marked the proper layout and thus got rid of all the excess stuff cramped in the first third of it.
scene structure as of now: {Tree Talk} - Some 'splaining - Ameru - waking Sei - waking Su - Michiko - {More 'splaining} - kids in the park - Mariko - "When did you plan to tell me?!" - "Fuck tradition!" - { all the rest (Yue, Home, Office & co.)} [legend: done, partially there, {missing}]
amount of chapter considered done & tinkered: 60% (in continuous text: 33%)
main issues: an introspective Seishiro, a rune-curious elder, a worried dad, and an assertive Subaru throwing everybody (but one) out of the room.
quote of the day (1): "Can't be a T-Rex. They're already dead!"
quote of the day (2): "And?"

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FM-PMS

2009-11-14T23:30:30Z

current chapter word count: 5537
scene worked on today: Mariko
scene completed? yes!
character getting yet another reality IV: Subaru
character with very limited imagination regarding his boyfriend: also Subaru
character who is in for some rather tough talk regarding secrets (again): said boyfriend
research of the day: Ninomaru pond, stone steps, bridge, reed, cicada
quote of the day: "I won't give that up!"

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FM-PMS

2009-11-13T19:11:09Z

current chapter word count; 5396
scene worked on today: Mariko
scene complete? no, too much research
character whose apologies for once come in handy: Subaru
character whose shikigami is not a gyrfalcon: Mariko
character who still has to come past his stuttering for me to continue this scene: also Subaru
research of the day: Japanese school uniforms, school uniform fashion statements, Hanae Mori, gyrfalcon, black kite, hen harrier, Ninomaru garden and pond, lotus growth.
quote of the day: "Are you coming?"

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FM-PMS

2009-11-11T17:37:54Z

current chapter word count: 5254
less again because I decided against the shower (and the fan service) and for the Seishiro-Makoto talk and some Subaru contemplation time
resulting in better characterization and more focus on the plot than the butt.
continuing with Subaru-Michiko (one scene given, since working speed is closer to normal now)
character in for a tough talk: Makoto
character clearing the premises: Subaru
character actually drawing an ofuda: Ameru
character more professionally savvy now: Michiko
quote of the day: His pulse. Not Sado's.

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FM-PMS

2009-11-10T21:09:17Z

current chapter word count: 5388 (less due to severe tinkering of all the coughed up text)
resulting in a better constructed Subaru-part with less filler stuff & a snappier - and more alert/useful - Seishiro before that.
amount of chapter considered done for good: 35%
amount of chapter written but needs improvement: 20%
amount of chapter existent in fragments: 20%
amount of chapter to be done from scratch: 100 % - the above (do the math!)
character cursing his glasses to be absent in bed: Seishiro
character happy that he won't have to forgo them under the shower: also Seishiro
because elder Makoto did not accept his offer (*eg*)
character developing a wry sort of humor away from Kyoto: Ameru
issues to be addressed later: Subaru's use of Seishiro in Kyoto
scenes to be addressed next: kids in the park, Mariko
quote of the day: "Presentable, if possible."

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FM-PMS

2009-11-08T13:41:29Z

current chapter word count: 5701 (This is getting ridiculous, I tell you! I'm almost forced to take a scribble pad to the restroom in case... *aaarrrgh!*)
scene(s) worked on today: Subaru-Michiko, kids in the park, Mariko, "When did you plan to tell me?!", out the backdoor, "Your mother's eyes." (basically the whole part playing in the East Gardens)
scene(s) done? yes, save for three gaps in kids in the park, Mariko, and "tell me?!"
amount of chapter done: ~ 50 - 55 % (probably more depending on how long part II (at home) and III (at the office) become)
character not intimidated by showers: Michiko
character pondering in the park: Subaru
character correcting assumptions: Seishiro
character bringing the luggage: Ameru
warning: if you believe firmly in the institution of marriage, you may not like this chapter.
quote of the day: "Standard report form. Cross out what doesn't apply."

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Manga recommendation: Sakura Gari by Yuu Watase

2009-11-07T21:09:49Z

Sakura Gari
by Watase Yuu

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FM-PMS

2009-11-07T20:30:39Z

current chapter word count: 5151 (this is getting scary!)
scene(s) worked on today: Subaru waking up, meeting Michiko
scene(s) done? There are a few spots, where more flesh and detail is needed, but not much.
scene(s) to come next: kids & Mariko
character finally filled in: Subaru
character learning a lot more than he wanted: also Subaru
character (almost) risking her head for that: Michiko
research of the day: Suwano chaya
quote of the day: "You might not be aware of it, but Seishiro is very protective about you."

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FM-PMS

2009-11-06T16:08:22Z
current chapter word count: 3828
scene(s) worked on today: Ameru, Seishiro waking up, shower (fan~~girl~~service)
scene(s) completed today: all of the above
amount of chapter considered done: fat 30 per cent!
diagnosis of the past days: severe writing attack
remaining scenes to address: Subaru in the garden, "When did you plan to tell me?!!", Out the backdoor, Yue, getting dressed, at the office
character making an unexpected entrée: Michiko
character forgoing a shave: Seishiro
character who bled on their clothes: Subaru
research of the day: keikogi
quote of the day (1): "I can do butterflies, too."
quote of the day (2): "You might want to recall that I've killed people for less."

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FM-PMS

2009-11-05T21:17:37Z
current chapter word count: 3261
scene(s) worked on today: pov-insert:Ameru, Michiko
scene(s) done? yes (Ameru) and no (Michiko)
changes from initial layout: Seishiro wakes up first
character who does not like that much: elder Makoto
character who enjoys the view: Michiko
character getting even more food for thought: Ameru
character still in for a surprise: Subaru
research of the day: butterfly stitches (why aren't the things called "strips" btw.?)
quote of the day: "That's not the bed, that's the age."

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FM-PMS

2009-11-04T17:41:23Z
current chapter word count: 2404 [after erasing the first writing note]
scene worked on today: some 'splaining
scene completed: yes (discounting tinkering and a possible expansion about getting Su to bed)
character being put to the question: Subaru
madame inquisitor: Makoto
character who gets to be a good daddy for a change: Ameru
character missing all the fun: Seishiro
most useful plot item: a white coffee mug
still insufficiently explained: Susumu's bespelled blade (later!)
quote of the day: "How can you be sure that you didn't forfeit his spiritual existence out of base motives?"

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FM-PMS

2009-11-03T17:37:48Z
current chapter word count: 1988
less because of updated the writing notes, streamlined layout, and added scribbles!
scene order: Tree Talk, Kokyo East Gardens-{some 'splaining, Michiko, kids in the park, Mariko, When did you plan to tell me?!}, Sakuragi-{driving home, Yue}, Kasumigaseki-{office, meeting, desk sex}, don't know yet-{that's twisted} [location-{scene therein missing, scene partially written}]
character for whom this chapter is going to be an emotional rollercoaster: Subaru
character who watches half of it and won't be happy about it: Ameru
character with an unexpectedly cruel spot yet doing "the right thing": Mariko
character in for some serious reminders about responsibilities: Seishiro
character entirely amused about this: Yue (and Tree-san)
belated worrywart of the chapter: Kamui (if I don't relocate him to the epilogue)
research of the day: peonies
quote of the day (1): "I want to know with whom the father of my children sleeps."
quote of the day (2): "I said get out! Now!"

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FM-PMS

2009-10-31T20:54:39Z
Chapter 19:
start-up word count: 2675 (+ scribbles on paper)
planned title: SumeraMori (3)
fixed characters: (in alphabetical order) Ameru, Makoto, Mariko, Michiko, Namane, Seishiro, Subaru
possible characters: (about everybody else)
fixed scenes: Some 'splaining to do, waking up, unexpected revelations, "When did you plan to tell me?!!", driving home, newspaper frames, moving chairs, desk sex, family phone (will/may morph into different and/or larger scenes)

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Book recommendation: On the Edge

2009-10-29T19:20:32Z
If you - by chance - happen to have caught my recent reads meme back in February, you probably know that I'm a fan of C. L. Wilson's Tairen Soul series.
Today I stumbled across On the Edge by Ilona Andrews, which nearly made me miss my train station (luckily the train ends there ;) ). Other than I.A.s Magic series, which wasn't exactly my cup of tea (in fact, had I recalled her as the author of that one, I probably wouldn't have picked it up), On the Edge gribbed me from page 1. It's a fast-paced, dark-humored, plot-driven 3rd person tale in which the romance is a fitting element to the structure (not the other way round as happens in most fantasy romance stories).
The style of writing and the plot details remind me a lot of what I love about C.L. Wilson's books. And the humor is darker - like L.K. Hamilton's early Anita Blake books (those before the series descended into utter porn after book 4) - without being needlessly gory in description.
If you wonder about a soft-hearted child necromancer (who's yet to accept that death serves a purpose), about zombie-gramps living in the shed (and getting drunk on dog brains), and the utter discomfort of a fantasy noble lord (used to swords, weapons, and magic) being forced to shop at Wal-Mart (yes, normal Wal-Mart - world-structure believable!) this is a book to take up (but probably not on a commuter train).
Only repercussion: just one book (so far?).

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TB/X fanfic: Family Matters - 18

2009-10-25T12:22:48Z
Fandom: Tokyo Babylon, X/1999
Story Arch: Decagram
Story: Family Matters
Chap.: 18 - Lunar Eclipse
Rating: NC-17

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FM-PMS

2009-10-22T15:09:49Z
Chapter 18 now stands tall at above 9200 words and returned to solo.
I like it much better now and there's even a cautious "thumbs-up" after the first half of the chapter. However, the new scene that upped the word count by 1500 words is in the second half, so it may be better not to get excited yet.

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FM-PMS

2009-10-18T17:53:02Z
I'm sad to say that chapter 18 still needs a few days more. This turned out to be a really extensive editing, but it's worth it. The chapter is going to be a lot ~~angrier~~ better read than what I had before!

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Seishiro's house (spot-sighting results)

2009-10-17T15:26:09Z
A long-time reader, who doesn't want to be given credit, recently went spot-sighting in the area of Tokyo where I made up Seishiro's house to be.
Given that I invented it in 2005 (before Google Streetview!) based on a Falk city map of Tokyo (1:15000), the findings are almost scary...

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on science fiction shows and movies...

2009-10-14T09:31:44Z
I must admit I liked the original startrek. I also liked some of the settings of the later series (DS-9, Voyager), but I also never truly bothered to follow the series (chronologically or complete), because I got ultimately bored after a dozen eps or so, when nothing of the potential conflict in the setup between characters and surrounding was even remotely addressed or put to use.
The same goes actually for many of the sciencefiction series brought to tv or cinema in the last twenty years. Get me right: I *love* StarWars IV (and its potential), but that was *before* the rest of the saga; I love Eureka with its all nonsense take on scientists, and a few more (notably the original Battlestar Galactica and Bab-5, but again, "it's the setting, stupid." (to misquote Bill Clinton)).

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FM-PMS

2009-10-09T08:20:12Z
Editing is proceeding slowly (on my end due to high work load), but it's proceeding well (as in the content is shaping up nicely). Sadly, it's unlikely that I manage to complete it this weekend.
Somehow, the next to last chapter of a story is always causing trouble. Chapter 8 of 36° was the same. *sigh*

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FM-PMS

2009-10-04T17:58:10Z
status of chapter 18: sent to edit (wish us luck)
pre-edit chapter word count: 7912 (due to decluttering, polishing and overall getting rid of excessive stuff - of which solo will likely find a lot more that I missed)

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FM-PMS

2009-09-25T17:10:57Z
Family Matters 18 is complete and ready to edit. Unfortunately, solo is very busy this weekend and next week, so that we'll be tackling the chapter starting Oct 5 (if nothing untoward happens, that is).
I'll use the week in between for the beginning of chapter 19 (and double-checking 18, to make sure editing won't take longer than necessary). :)

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