#griseldabanks

6. What’s your favourite piece of dialogue you wrote this year? I really don't think I wrote any brilliant lines of dialogue this year. This one will have to do.

“What’s the matter with you, Thalia? Did you get into a hornet’s nest?” “Yes.” Thalia shut her mouth and kept walking. Luke danced along beside her. “Already? It’s too early in the day for a scrape, Thalia!” She looked at him coldly.

7. What’s your favourite piece of description or narration?

The streets were already darkening into gray twilight, but a golden glow seeped through the western sky along the seaward side of the town. Little clouds of rose and gold scudded above the roofs of Avonholm.

As a rule, I'm much better at description than dialogue (though I occasionally have a burst of dialogue inspiration), and I generally feel more proud of my descriptive lines and find them easier to write.

In celebration/commemoration/thanks/just-because-I-love-this-story-and-its-author, here's a few doodles inspired by the first instalment, Make Me Whole, which I'm re-reading.

Inspired by Chapter 7.

"Winter glanced over at him in the same moment, and a silent message seemed to dart between them.

Steve grinned and took off running as fast as he could. Winter fell behind slightly at first, but soon they were running shoulder to shoulder again. Sam, of course, was left in their dust immediately.

Freezing air stabbed through his lungs with every breath. His heart beat a crazy rhythm, keeping time with his feet pounding against the ground. All he could hear was the wind howling against his ears and Winter's heavy breathing beside him. The road tilted downhill, and they ran even faster.

He had never run with someone like this, pushing himself to his utmost extent but running next to someone who could match every step. Before, he'd always been too weak or too strong; he'd never met someone who was his equal. He hadn't even been able to do this with Bucky."

Inspired by Chapter 10.

"Winter cupped his hands together, letting rainwater collect in them, then cascade to the ground.

Slowly, as the rain continued to fall, Winter straightened up. His shoulders lowered, his head raised, and he looked around at the rain-drenched yard. Closing his eyes, he tipped his head back and turned his face to the sky.

The rain smoothed his hair back from his face. Water washed over his forehead, streamed across his mask, and dripped from his hair and his chin. Moisture beaded on his eyelashes like pearls."

Thank you for the ask!