Why the hell are you doing that?*

[bending_sickle]

Oh crud. I'm not happy with Icarus' incredibly lame and drawn-out introduction of Chip to the concept of demons. I'm not even happy that it was explained at all, or that I had to use bloody Cordyceps fungi and Toxoplasma gondii to do it and then even had Icarus say, "No, that's not going to work, Sickle."

I mean, why?!? Why couldn't I have Icarus just out and out say, "Hey Chip, yeah, that guy you saw? Totally possessed yo. Yup, pretty shitty, isn't it? Well, that's the end of days for ya." I mean, I like his final explanation, but oh man was it dragged out of him. I was just sitting there going, "What the fuck, Icarus? Say it! No, don't be an enthusiastic entomologist!"

Oh guys, it sucks and the metaphor doesn't even make that much sense and everyone and their dog knows what "he's possessed!" means. Ugh.

And the worst thing is that the talk isn't over. They're going to have to talk about the wards, or at least Chip's going to have to double-check that they're safe and be all paranoid, and then they're going to have to get their anti-possession charms and I don't even know why there's demons in here at all in the first place except that maybe writing about monsters which are verbal is kinda fun and it's too soon for Kezef to pop in.

In conclusion: crud. Is it any wonder that I end the scene with, "Shit," said Chip, burying his face in the mattress? I think not.

"That man you saw, and others like him, come here for Dean. Not," he added, anticipating Chip’s comment, "because he’s our leader, or because he’s responsible for putting many of their ilk down, but because of who he is. They come for Chuck, too, to a lesser extent. They used to come for me too."

"But not anymore?"

Icarus took a deep breath and bowed his head, casting his eyes down to his hands lying loosely in his lap. "They call us the Trinity of Failure." He looked up at Chip, and something in the angel’s unearthly eyes shook Chip to the core. Images of glaciers inching out to sea filled his head, ice blocks the size of mountains falling off in a crash of snow and thunder, and he thought maybe this was how angels finished being broken.

"I am no longer an angel – or at least I won’t be much longer. Chuck is no longer the prophet – the host abandoned him as well, I gather. And Dean..." Icarus sighed. "He isn’t many things anymore, including the vessel."

5518 / 50000 words. 11% done!


* Common expression

Comments

[seschat.livejournal.com]

*flails* I don't believe a single word you're saying, the excerpt is awesome!

Images of glaciers inching out to sea filled his head, ice blocks the size of mountains falling off in a crash of snow and thunder, and he thought maybe this was how angels finished being broken.

Eternal love! ♥

*glomps*

[bending-sickle.livejournal.com]

BELIEVE ME! It seriously bothers me because it's so simple to just say, "Dude, demons!" but noooo, Icaurs had to be all "let me explain slowly with metaphors and SCIENCE" and argh.

Basically, it went like this:

"But these people, they’re not infected."

"Not in the way you know, no," agreed Icarus. "But they are... [...] Carriers. Hosts. [...] Have you heard of Cordyceps fungus? Or of Toxoplasma gondii?" [...] "They’re parasites, [...] Not only do they use the host to live off of, but they change its behaviour, control it, for their purposes. Cordyceps, for example, results in ants climbing stalks so as to be picked off by birds. Toxoplasma makes rats attracted to the smell of cats. Unusual behavior for both species. [...] The man you saw yesterday, and others who come to our gate, are in the same position as the ant, or the rat. They are not in control."

"Like the infected."

"No, the infected are mad; there is nothing left to take control from. But with these hosts, something is. Like with myself – [...] Forgive me, I should not have used that track to explain myself. I have been called blunt, and this is one subject where that trait has not been appreciated. [...] I am an angel," he said. "This you know and accept. [...] Angels are not physical beings. [...] This body I am in is human. This body was a human."

Chip could see where this was going now. Damn angel should have started there instead of freaking him out with the thought of yet another apocalyptic infection.

"When I had my Grace, I was an angel possessing a human body. With permission," he added, a finger raised in defense. "The man you saw outside, he was also being possessed. Not by an angel, of course – my brothers are gone – but by a demon."

Come on, tell me that wasn't long-winded and rambly and WHAT THE HELL, ICARUS, WHAT THE HELL!? *facepalm* I don't even.

In other news, I love hearing which bits you like. There's something about Icarus and ice that just works so well :)

I haven't started writing yet today, but at least I've figured out what happens next - SO MANY THINGS TO FIT TOGETHER OMG. Speaking of writing, WHAT NEWS OF YOUR NANO, WOMAN?

Excuse the double-reply. Stupid html.

[seschat.livejournal.com]

Well, I liked the science and metaphors and "long-windedness" of it! It's an interesting point, not something everyone else does, so -- this is good! When Nano is over you can shorten and edit to your heart's content, so really, there's no reason to worry about it now. And anyway, the science is awesome! Keep it in there, yes? ♥

Since I never even started my Nano, there can be no news to report. ;p I'm feeling kind of sorry now for pestering you and then not participating myself. *hides* However, you do seem to have fun with it, so I don't have to feel too bad for abandoning you in the time of need?

Oh, and TFSB 2 kicks ass, by the way. I can tell.

If you excuse my double-reply! Stupid, you know, grammar!

[bending-sickle.livejournal.com]

I think there's too many elements I want to introduce. TFSB was pretty straight-forward: find the angel, don't die, drive. Here with TFSB I'm juggling more people and Evil Things and everyone has Issues and aaaargh.

Sucks that you're Nanoless this year, but don't feel bad about pestering me to write. PESTER AWAY. In fact, I might need it. (Although I'm going to have to pester in return because HOLY MOTHER OF PUPPIES, YO, THE SOUL THEIVES THING NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN).

TFSB 2 has demons and one pissed-off angel on top of the zombies. Plus, SO much more angst (but slightly less crazy).

♥