Note: if you'd rather read the story in proper script format (like I would, to be honest), you can grab yourself the formatted PDF right here.
INT. BAR - NIGHT
A low cloud of noise disperses itself over the room. Thereâs a strong crowd of people clustered around the bar, vying for the bartenderâs limited attention. The bartenderâs species isnât very clear. It seems to flicker from moment to moment.
Around the room, elves, vampires, werewolves, trolls, and more freely mingle, save for faeries and pixies, who sit in opposite corners of the room, occasional seething glares being cast between them. A humanoid wizard is playing with coloured fire at one of the tables, much to the bedazzlement of the more drunken patrons.
Just off to the side, two necromancers have a table to themselves, occasionally regarding the light show with passing intrigue.
MORRIGAN downs the rest of their glass in one go, signalling for another as soon as they set it down.
MORRIGAN
My dead heart died again. Double dead dead.
MORGAN
Hmm zombie death, yes. Very hard to circumvent. Only the most advanced of us have a chance, really.
MORRIGAN
Yes, and those ones are looking for a career change right about now. Itâs a stressful job.
MORGAN
Come now, necromancy can be fun!
MORRIGAN
Yeah, to someone watching the show, maybe. The âmancer is stressing.
MORGAN
Itâs like being a doctor but without all the stress. You really canât do any wrong - no way to go put up.
(Brief pause)
Except for the soul, I guess. Hey, did we ever get that whole afterlife thing sorted? Do we know what actually happens?
MORRIGAN
Oh, last I heard people were still squabbling. Baffles me that the returned just have no memory of the place though. Not important, anyway. What is important is bringing back the right soul. That is something we can do wrong.
Bring back the wrong one and you gotta switch up into murder lane REAL QUICK.
A member of the waitstaff brings over the drink Morrigan had asked for. He sets it down, and looks to Morgan, silently asking if they want anything. His eyes flash a shade of deep purple for a moment before fading back to their natural whites.
Morgan declines with a smile and a slight shake of their head. They still have a drink in front of them and intend to nurse it for a little while longer. They grip the glass to punctuate their point and involuntarily glance out the window, eyeing the setting sun bobbing just above the horizon.
Morrigan hasnât finished their point.
MORRIGAN
You donât whack âem quick enough, youâre gonna be the one being brought back. And then pretty soon there wonât be any âmancers left. Then what? Anarchy!
MORGAN
Hey, hey, letâs take a beat. Mix ups are an easy enough fix. You just gotta thump âem in the chest and send the soul flying out. The body dies again and you repeat until youâve got the right soul in the right body.
MORRIGAN
NOT if the soul is prepared. And when you get just bored enough - maybe youâve had a couple failed attempts, maybe youâre having an off day, I donât know - boom! You need to be âmanced by another âmancer. Nothing more embarrassing.
MORGAN
Oh, only necromancer souls are prepared. They usually come back with a vengeance too. I do not mess with those, no matter how much the client is offering.
MORRIGAN
What if itâs the soul of a lover?
MORGAN
(With a teasing smile)
A paramour?
MORRIGAN
Yes.
MORGAN
Love transcends all rules. Besides, why would they attack me?
MORRIGAN
Hmm. Enemies to lovers to betrayal.
MORGAN
Hmm.
MORRIGAN
And the soul is, you know, righteously mad. Youâd need a hand.
MORGAN
Hmm, well I might still try in that situation. But Iâd be prepared too. Ward spells, basic weaponry, that stuff.
MORRIGAN
Iâm thinking of getting security.
MORGAN
I wouldnât use my security on a lover though.
MORRIGAN
No, of course not. I meant in general. You know the kind of shit that we have to watch out for.
MORGAN
Yeah, fair play on that.
MORRIGAN
Iâm considering investing in the Werewolf Squad. You seen their posters? Iâve heard theyâre not that stealthy though. Noise makers.
MORGAN
Eh, theyâre only useful once a month. What are they gonna do the rest of the time? Growl at someone until they get weirded out and leave?
MORRIGAN
What would you suggest?
MORGAN
I use vampires. Theyâre great. Down with the whole undead thing too, and can help returned souls readjust if needed.
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MORRIGAN
Vamps canât help during the day though.
MORGAN
I mean, these things are usually done in the night. Power of the moon and whatnot, but for break-ins and stuff, theyâve got protective gear.
MORRIGAN
Hmm, I suppose. What about the rehabilitation centres? Those things have vampires too right?
MORGAN
Yeah but theyâre underfunded and there arenât that many of them out there anyway.
MORRIGAN
We need more people to understand that coming back might be a severely traumatic experience. Especially when theyâre freshly back and theyâre in that loop of reliving their last moments and emotions again and again.
(Shudders)
God, can you imagine?
MORGAN
Oh, that would beâŠwell, not good, to say the least.
I give the more agreeable returnees the number of a vampire friend whoâs volunteered to help out. The vamp gets a little blood bank and the returned soul gets a coach - itâs a win-win.
(Brief pause)
Unless, of course, you pick the wrong vamp and they drain the returnee. Terribly hard to bring someone back twice. Like your heart!
Morrigan ignores the tongue-in-cheek comment.
MORRIGAN
Have you ever experienced a case where the vamp turned a returnee?
MORGAN
You know, not yet. Wonder how they would work.
MORRIGAN
Iâve only heard rumours. What would you call them? Zombie vamps?
MORGAN
I donât think returnees count as zombies though. Theyâre not the undead now risen, theyâre people who used to be dead, brought back to life. Brought back slightly to the left usually, but mostly alright.
MORRIGAN
You know I have this returnee friend (I wasnât the one who brought her back, that was Fayhew down south, and I met her on her second time around), she needs to shake her soul back into alignment every now and again. Spring cleaning days are the worst.
MORGAN
Ah, that sounds like a right chore and a half. Almost lost my soul once. Didnât sit right for a week.
MORRIGAN
Did you, like, jump off a cliff to realign it?
MORGAN
Nah, it was like the cold - just had to give it time. Was about a day out from trying that though.
MORRIGAN
Wait. Oh no, never mind.
Morgan pulls an inquisitive expression.
MORRIGAN
I thought of âundead vampiresâ for their name but thatâs rather chai tea, if you know what I mean.
MORGAN
Yeah, no. That gives me the ick. Not sure what youâd call them. I expect the vampires would just call them vampires. Theyâre a surprisingly tolerant bunch.
MORRIGAN
All those people from all those different times living together, I suppose youâve kind of have to be.
Plus, they get the best news and the juiciest gossip.
MORGAN
Oh yes. All those detectives try to get information out of bartenders when theyâre usually just elves. Sure, they might hear a thing or two here and there, but the vampires are the real ones to go to.
MORRIGAN
A little vial of lambâs blood and theyâll get drunk enough to tell you anything.
MORGAN
Oh no, thatâs actually a myth. They only pretend they can get drunk. Itâs actually impossible âcuz theyâve got no blood in their veins.
MORRIGAN
Then why do they frequent bars so much?
MORGAN
For the social scene, of course. And to gather more intel, I guess. I know a lot of them who make a living off secrets. Trick is, you gotta have something to trade. Something of value to them. Most try offering money, but for the older ones, that doesnât mean much.
buy me a coffee, if you're so inclined đ
MORRIGAN
I mean if youâve lived that long and you havenât saved anything, what are you even doing?
MORGAN
Exactly. So you gotta find what your vamp in question wants.
MORRIGAN
Most want their favourite designers to live a millennia.
MORGAN
Yes, they are strangely particular about their style. I suppose I sympathise, though.
Morgan picks at their jacket sleeve, the denim covered with so many patches, it seems to be made up of it. They adjust the scarf tasselled around their neck to edge it back into their signature windswept, devil-may-care look. A pair of orange sunglasses rest in their hair, having only moved them from their face at Morriganâs repeated instance at the ridiculousness of wearing them indoors.
They could just do that themselves though. I mean we can bring them back, but theyâll die again eventually.
MORRIGAN
They try not to intervene with the magic of the strangeness of death.
MORGAN
Isnât that, like, their whole thing though? How else do they get new vampires?
MORRIGAN
Some deaths are more absolute than others. The ones on the precipice, thatâs where they shine. Crazed lovers, the taken-too-soon sick, and ironically, feverous unsuspecting victims who are not ready to die; that sort of thing. Other deaths are more absolute.
MORGAN
Thatâs where we come in.
MORRIGAN
Yes, our reach extends a little further, but if the soul doesnât want to return, thereâs nothing anyone can do. If itâs at peace with its situation, itâll stay there.
MORGAN
(Scoffs)
Yeah, try telling that to a grieving family. I swear, why do all of them have guns? Do you even know how many times Iâve been shot at?
MORRIGAN
Oh, them lot need a clairvoyant. Give them the number, Iâll give you a card later.
MORGAN
Ah, pawn them off on some other sucker. I like your style.
MORRIGAN
Oh no, I know one thatâs legit. Oddly enough, her nameâs Claire Vons. Those gun nuts can hear for themselves that the soul is sick and tired of their shit and wants them to leave them alone.
Or the soul will return, but as a poltergeist and then the family will have bigger problems than shooting you.
MORGAN
Yeah but those souls tend to be cowards, or just donât care enough to deal with the problem. Theyâll rarely tell the family that they donât want to deal with them anymore.
MORRIGAN
Nah, theyâre dead. What do they have to worry about? Most dead souls Iâve spoken to donât give a shit about the living.
MORGAN
Spoken to a lot of dead souls then?
MORRIGAN
Claire invites me over sometimes. Family dinner with the Vonses are fun.
MORGAN
Oh, Iâd love to go some time.
MORRIGAN
Iâll ring you up next time Iâm headed over. The Vonses wonât mind in the slightest.
MORGAN
Oh, fantastic!
Say, have you ever hung out with the faeries?
MORRIGAN
Theyâre so literal. And bothersome to deal with.
MORGAN
Aye, theyâre a tricky lot, what with their binding word and literal deals, but if you can get the wordplay down theyâre a right laugh. Great for an amazing night youâll probably forget.
MORRIGAN
I always go to a faerie speak lawyer before engaging with one. The only faeries I see often are the ones on stage. And they are a riot, youâre right.
MORGAN
On stage?
MORRIGAN
Talented beings. Their stories are riveting - amazing grasp over the spoken tongues. And they wield such lovely glamours too.
MORGAN
Iâve found elves to be the better storytellers.
MORRIGAN
Okay, the elves do actually have excellent stories, but I must confess, I enjoy the bling the faeries bring.
MORGAN
Strange that creatures of truth would use glamours so often.
MORRIGAN
I think people are blinded to believing what they want. Even if the truth was blasting them in the eye, they would refuse to see it. I think the glamour helps them believe somehow.
MORGAN
What a paradox.
MORRIGAN
I wouldnât know. I donât intend to get too close to faeries to find out. Not without a fae lawyer, anyway.
MORGAN
Ah, well, theyâre a fun lot. We go out every now and again. You can tag along if you like.
MORRIGAN
Dang.
MORGAN
Just be careful with what you say. Follow my lead and youâll be fine.
MORRIGAN
Not going to lie, Iâm very curious.
MORGAN
Just remember: if you get a little too drunk and a little too overconfident and tell someone youâre going to fuck âem up, be prepared.
MORRIGAN
Why?
MORGAN
Letâs just say you might wanna pack some sort of birth control.
MORRIGAN
Iâm going to carry several immunity bands.
MORGAN
Most of them are fake, you know. And if they see you with one, you wonât be allowed within a hundred feet of them, so be careful.
MORRIGAN
Iâll get one from a vamp friend.
MORGAN
Who do you think makes the fake?
MORRIGAN
(Incredulously)
No way!
How do you get the authentic ones then?
MORGAN
Well, elves and vamps, but elves tend to generally be a little more honest.
MORRIGAN
But elves arenât exactly the most generous. Iâd have to pass through ridiculous trials and tribulations and questions for them.
MORGAN
Yeah, and I still couldnât be too sure about authenticity. I learnt about immunity bands after I already made my mistakes so havenât looked into them much.
MORRIGAN
OH DEAR.
MORGAN
Ah, whatâre you going to do? Last I heard though, the pixies were the ones to go to.
MORRIGAN
But them lot practically invented ADHD. It would be absolutely impossible to wrangle enough attention from one to get a band.
MORGAN
Hey, no one said it would be easy. Immunity bands, the real thing, are very hard to make, and so very hard - and expensive - to obtain.
Hey, you know, the pixies and faeries really donât like each other.
MORRIGAN
I think they just find them supremely annoying. Like, I think the more fun-loving beings like pixies. More serious beings, not so much.
Whatâs the specific faerie-pixie deal?
MORGAN
Oh, no one knows. Some ancient hatred or the other. If I had to guess, it might have something to do with the fact that pixies are devious little liars and the fae literally canât fib.
MORRIGAN
Oh, I can see that actually. The fae are creatures of truth. On the other hand, some say the pixies are behind the myths of Loki.
MORGAN
Oh, to hear them tell the story, he was very real. Less of a god, and more just a cool, chaotic, disaster of a guy though. Still, the descriptions, hmm. I wouldnât mind a piece of that guy.
Morrigan laughs. Theyâre well-versed with Morganâs wants; picturing the person from the stories even without any information is easy.
MORRIGAN
Okay, what kind of being would you be down to bang first?
MORGAN
I mean, Iâve gotten around.
MORRIGAN
Okay, let me rephrase. What beings are on your NEVER AGAIN list?
MORGAN
(Without missing a beat)
Werewolves.
MORRIGAN
Ayeeaayyaaiii!
MORGAN
Yeah, no, Iâd much rather stay away.
MORRIGAN
Did you not discuss cycles before trying?
MORGAN
The first time, no. The second time, yes. Still not my idea of a good time.
MORRIGAN
You went a second time? Dang.
MORGAN
I figured the cycle was the problem the first time, so got that cleared up the second time. It helped, butâŠnever again.
MORRIGAN
Ah. I personally try to avoid sirens. The way they can lull you in?
MORGAN
Kind of hot, not going to lie.
MORRIGAN
You disaster.
The door to the bar opened, a low clinking coming from the bell hung over it. Morgan had tuned out the steady ringing signalling the sea of patrons going in and out, but their eye caught on the latest entrant: a man with a gruff build, even gruffer body hair poking out over his person and under his clothes, and criminally long sideburns.
Morgan gulped and downed the rest of their drink whole, setting the glass down heavily.
MORGAN
Yeah, speaking of, weâve got to go.
MORRIGAN
Huh? What?
Morgan nodded to the door.
Morrigan arched an eyebrow.
MORGAN
A certain werewolf just walked in.
MORRIGAN
Part of the reason you avoid them?
MORGAN
Yeah, and Iâd like to avoid this one in particular.
MORRIGAN
(Shaking their head)
What did you do?
MORGAN
Can we just get out?
MORRIGAN
But I want to hear the stupid story!
Morgan rolls their eyes.
MORGAN
Get us out of here without him seeing and Iâll give you all the details your twisted heart desires.
MORRIGAN
(Gets up laughing)
Come on, we can cut through the kitchen. I think a buddy of mine might be back there tonight so shouldnât be a problem.
MORGAN
(Getting up to join them)
You godsend. Or I guess, your friend technically.
MORRIGAN
Do you want the shortcut or not?
MORGAN
Fine, fine, youâre the godsend.
ââ§â
thanks for reading! my writing is entirely reader-supported, so Iâd be thrilled if you could drop a coin or two into my tip jar!
annnnnd I may or may not slip several for-your-eyes-only stories and speculative fiction book bundles under the table as a little thanks ;)
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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I wrote!! a whole script!! it's two necromancers talking life and creatures of the other in a busy bar and will be out soon! I can't wait for you all to have it :)
Hello, everyone! I can't believe that the last time I made a big update was in July of last year. I hope between now and then, you have all been well and are having a pleasant start to your new year. Today, I will be sharing a few new poems as well as a book review, a short screenplay, and an essay. Enjoy!
Finally, my essay "Ocean", which is written from the prospect of Ticklytudy, a character inspired by an imaginary friend I created as a child, can be read here:
A student clobbers a frog into Ms. Meiâs chest. Two more spring up from the teacherâs head.
As the screaming continues, more frogs appear.
Below her desk, Lucia curls into a ball. A sea of frogs form around her.
LUCIA
This is all my fault. This is all my fault. My anxiety is doing this to everybody.
Damian ducks down beside her.
DAMIAN
AH! Whyâs there so many here!?
LUCIA
Leave me alone.
Another frog pops up from the floor and lands on Damianâs knee.
DAMIAN
If youâre the one whoâs causing all this, you need to figure out how to get rid of this. I would rather redraw Mr. Trapezoid ten times than keep getting attacked by these stupid frogs.
LUCIA
Stop, Lucia. Stop. Stop.
DAMIAN
Theyâre just frogs, Lucia. How hard can they possibly be to get rid of?
LUCIA
Just frogs. Theyâre just frogs.
Luciaâs eyes squeeze shut. She lets out a breath before opening her eyes.
She stands.
LUCIA
Everyone. Iâm sorry. This is all my fault. I can fix this.
The students pause. The frogs keep ribbitting. Damian stands.
DAMIAN
How can you?
Lucia closes her eyes. She takes a breath. Lets it out. Takes a breath. Lets it out.
DAMIAN
Oh.
Damian follows Luciaâs example and a few of the frogs around them disappear.
Luciaâs classmates shrug and glance at one another and slowly, each student along with Ms. Mei takes part in the breathing exercise. After a few moments, the frogs are gone.
Hi, everyone! I hope youâre having a good week. As always, if you are looking for organizations to support or educational/mental health resources, here is a starting place:Â https://sunsblmresources.weebly.com/Â .
This week, I have one new poem, one new book review, and one new short screenplay.
You can read my new poem âThe Wishâ by clicking the links below. It takes place on the planet my sister and I created called Keldar.
Fun fact: The two dominant species of Keldar are derfs and ferfs. Both species look like giant slugs except derfs are much skinnier and often taller than ferfs.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Free to watch âą No registration required âą HD streaming
INT. MEI-BEAS APARTMENTâS LIVING ROOM- NEW YEARâS EVE MORNING
Through the window, the sun lights up a living room. A fourteen-year-old girl of East Asian descent, HELLEN, squats on a sofa with a photo album. As she turns each page, specks of dust sparkle in the air.
Images of two mothers, one East Asian, MEGAN, and the other Latina, JULIA, stare up at the girl. Sprinkled within these photographs of the mothers are snapshots of two girls. One child, Hellen, is East Asian, yet this girl is not physically similar to either parent. Meanwhile, the other child, ADRIJANA, appears to be biologically related to the second mother. Chinese, English, and Spanish words for love and family outline the photos.
The fourteen-year-old grins at each page and as she traces the imagesâ perimeters with her finger, the pictures glimmer. One image of the two girls at the beach glows especially strong while the setting of the living room fades.
EXT. BUCHTTON BEACH- DAY- FIVE YEARS EARLIER
The two mothers from the photograph chat with one another while their nine-year-old daughters build a sandcastle.
Hellen sprinkles water from a bucket onto the fortress. Adrijana scowls.
ADRIJANA
Whyâd you do that, Hellen?
HELLEN
It looks prettier this way.
ADRIJANA
No, it doesnât. It looks like a dog peed on it.
HELLEN
No, the water makes it shine more with the sun.
The mothers pause in their conversation to stare at their daughters. They glance at one another and then sigh.
JULIA
Girls, weâre having fun at the beach today. You should be enjoying your time together.
ADRIJANA
You argue with your sister.
JULIA
Why are you bringing Aunt Lily into this?
Megan reaches into her tote bag and brings out her smartphone.
MEGAN
Picture time!
The two girls groan, but they get into position beside their sandcastle.
The camera snaps and the scene fades back into the living room.
INT. MEI-BEAS APARTMENTâS LIVING ROOM- PRESENT
Hellen flips the page of the scrapbook, a grin still lingering on her face.
She pauses to stare at a selfie of her and her mother Julia sitting at a kitchen table with bowls of ice cream laying before them.
The image glows and the living room fades again.
INT. MEI-BEAS APARTMENTâS KITCHEN- NIGHT- TWO YEARS EARLIER
The fluorescent kitchen light gleams down at a sobbing Julia who is slumped over the table. Outside the window, snow drums the glass.
HELLEN
Mom?
Hellen, in pajamas, stands at the edge of the tiny kitchen. She steps into the light to take a seat beside her mother.
Julia picks up her head and wipes her eyes.
JULIA
(In Spanish)
Itâs just the two of us tonight. Mama and Adrijana went to that Korean culture festival.
HELLEN
(In Spanish)
I heard you on the phone...with Aunt Lily. Is everything okay?
JULIA
(In English)
Yes, of course. How about we treat ourselves tonight. I think we have some ice-cream in the fridge?
Hellen nods and leaves to get the dessert.
Julia sighs and dabs her eyes with a tissue.
Hellen returns with bowls and ice-cream. Mother and daughter slurp on the treat together.
JULIA
(in Spanish)
You have no idea how blessed you are to have a good relationship with your sister, Hellen.
HELLEN
(in Spanish)
Adrijana annoys me sometimes. Sheâs so bossy and it doesnât make any sense. Iâm older than her by six months.
Julia laughs and takes a scoop out of Hellenâs bowl.
HELLEN
Hey!
JULIA
(in Spanish)
Letâs take a picture to commemorate this moment.
Julia takes out her phone and the camera snaps.
INT. MEI-BEAS APARTMENTâS LIVING ROOM- PRESENT
Hellen closes the photo album and places the book on the coffee table.
She then turns to stare out the window as the sun continues to rise, saturating the room with light. Itâs almost as if the sun itself is trying to take a picture.
Written by Darcy Ridge
World Brainstormed by Hunter Fawkes and Darcy Ridge
â------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXT. THROLIA FOREST- SUNSET
Leaves rustle as the sun sets. Squirrel-like creatures soar from tree to tree with their skinny tails streaming behind them.Â
Laughter echoes as a young ren springs after the critters.Â
PALA
Hurry up, Tema, or the five-limbed volocrums are going to abandon you in the leaves.Â
Another rennet shatters through the trees, his chest heaving.
Pala rolls her eyes as she continues to hound after the five-limbed volocrums.Â
The rodents twist left just as the trees open up to exhibit the ocean.
Pala halts at the edge of a thick branch and flails her arms to balance herself. Her eyes wide, she gazes off into the distance.
Tema nearly collides into his sister, but pauses just in time.Â
TEMA
Why do you have to be so unpredictable?
PALA
Shush, Tema. Look, that dragon is completely green! It must be a Lapillus Forest Dragon!
Beyond the trees and over the swirling blue ocean, a hazy green serpent dragon slithers through the sky.
TEMA
It canât be a Lapillus Forest Dragon. They donât exist. Theyâre just stories. The Lapillus Islands arenât even real.Â
PALA
They do exist. The gods just hide them from view to protect them from outsiders. They came from outer space. Thatâs what Neela Auntie told me.Â
TEMA
Neela Auntie exaggerates things. Thatâs what Sunar Ama told me.
The dragon floats closer towards the shore. Its mottled brown and green scales become clearer.
TEMA
See, Pala? Itâs just a Throlian Forest Dragon. Nothing special.
PALA
Maybe we could talk to them and practice our dragonese!
TEMA
We shouldnât talk to creatures from other troops. We have our own troop to practice dragonese with.
PALA
But there are no dragons in our troop. Thereâre only ren.
TEMA
So what? Thereâs nothing wrong with that. There are plenty of troops with just Forest Dragons that speak rennese just as good as any ren can.
The two siblings glare at one another.
PALA
Fine, Tema. Letâs go home.
Pala and Tema leap back the way they came, spraying leaves in their wake. As the leaves tumble to the dark forest floor, sunlight dims and night arrives.
EXT. THROLIA FOREST- NIGHT
Branches crackle below the treesâ canopies. The hint of lucid green scales glimmers between the leaves. The hiss of a dragon shivers through the air.
A gasp. Pala perches on a branch with a grin on her face. She peers down at the dragon below. Quietly, she hisses a response.
Hi, everyone! I hope the end of January is going great for you. Today, I have a new book review of New Kid by Jerry Craft and a short screenplay about two teens and a train.
