finch: (Lost: Robin & Jian)
[personal profile] finch
[community profile] commonplace is the Dreamwidth-based home of a sprawling original fiction project referred to as Lost the Sky. [personal profile] ambersweet and I are working on it together. Feedback, comments and questions are welcome. Joining the community is encouraged.

The short version goes like this: A couple thousand years ago, an extradimensional exploratory vessel landed on an island in the Pacific Ocean and started observing, and then experimenting on, the native populations. They also produced children like themselves, who had their own games to play with the spirits of the planet.

Eventually, the humans and nature spirits who had been misused rose up against their creators with the help of their sympathetic children. Their ship, and the island Mu that it rested on, were destroyed, and the extradimensional scientists were stuck here until a rescue would be triggered automatically.

Of course, the original project was scheduled to last three millenia, give or take. They had some time to kill, some naughty children to punish, and some humans and spirits to take their anger out on.

Over the years, the bloodlines of their children have spread far into the human population - in many peoples, the strains are weak, but they're now common. The spirits that allied themselves with humanity have shifted their opinions pro and con dozens of times. They have almost always come down on the side of helping humanity, bonding with individuals to throw their hands into the course of events. Lately, humanity has pushed ever harder - powering their toys with the very blood of the gods and enslaving the spirits that once worked alongside them.

As 2012 approaches, no one realizes what they were waiting for all along - the Mayan calendar had a very specific end date. The day an extraction team arrives to take the ones who started all this home - and they're not going to worry much about whether the playground is left when they're done with their toys.


The Big List Of Stories )
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finch: (Lost: Rajani)
[personal profile] finch
"M'lady?" Rajani whispered into the darkness. She appreciated the peace and quiet after all the shouting and panic she remembered from her master and the others, but it seemed as if she'd been here for a long time.

She walked forward, if it walked and forward were words that could be applied to the way she was moving through the endless velvet. She wasn't even really sure she was moving.

There was a quiet snap that cut through the silence and then a single point of light. Rajani squinted and went to shield her eyes, pleased to confirm that she did, in fact, still have eyes to squint and arms to shield them with after all. As she adjusted to the light she realized it was a single candle, though a moment later it split as another candle was lit from it. In the candlelight she saw two faces, with skin dark as hers but white hair that caught all the available light. Both men smiled to see her and she thought they must be brothers.

"Welcome back, sister," one of them greeted her as he lit more candles.

"Would you like some tea?" the other asked, already pouring.

She seated herself on a divan that hadn't been there a minute before and accepted the tea gratefully. "But I don't think I had brothers..."

"We're all the Lady's children here," one said as he sat on her left. The other slid onto the cushion to her right, reminding her more of a cat than a person. She felt warm, and safe, and the tea smelled so delicious.

"It's good to be home," she closed her eyes, content.
finch: (Default)
[personal profile] finch
Notes: Now here's something a little... okay, maybe a lot experimental? It was loosely inspired by this card draw: A saturation in the form of a card reading using a divination deck that exists in-universe. (It also exists here, in that I got a bunch of cards printed off and am teaching myself meanings for them. If you're into that kind of thing, let me know, I'm happy to try reading for other people with it.) Each section starts with the the name and meaning of the position, then the name of the card drawn, the prompt associated with it, the reader's statement of interpretation to Robin, and then a brief scene illustrating what's being discussed. Probably overcomplicated. I'm posting anyway!

What can the cards tell you, boy? )
finch: (Lost: Tlalli)
[personal profile] finch
Tlalli, for the record, is the new name for Eden.

"Did you honestly just send those children off on a quest, Tlalli? They're teenagers, how can you put all that weight on them?"

"I needed them out of the way," Tlalli said simply. She waved one more time as Remy's car turned out of sight and then turned and stalked back toward her small cabin. "They'll be fine fighters eventually but they're a little young for ascension."

Cozamalotl blinked. "Out of the way?"

"Of course. I don't want them in danger when I start the really serious work the portents are showing me. You've known those boys well enough to know they'd follow me into the hells and back if I asked them." Tlalli rolled up her sleeves. "Do you want to help, my dear Coza?"

A smile spread across Coza's face as her words sank in. "Oh, yes, absolutely. I don't think I've done anything reckless since before we... oh, I don't even remember." Tlalli couldn't help notice the way her eyes sparkled.

"I know you're good with herbs. Can you find me a few things?" Tlalli made a quick list on her pad and tore the page out, handing it to Coza. As she hurried off to find the plants, Coza smiled, feeling younger than she had since her husband died.

Burning

6/9/12 17:37
finch: (Default)
[personal profile] finch
He returned to the princess
saying, I am but a traveling man
but here is what you hunger for.
The apple was as smooth as oilskin
and when she took a bite
it was as sweet and crisp as the moon.
Their tongues met over such a dish.
His tongue lay in her mouth
as delicately as the white snake.


Annie was outside when Joseph drove up, silhouetted against the red and purple sunset as she embraced the branches of a tall ironwood tree. As he got closer, he saw that she was pulling down one of her looms. She waved as he pulled up.

“You caught me just in time,” Annie said with a smile. “I was planning to leave for the Burning Market tonight.”
Read more... )
finch: (mist)
[personal profile] finch
I want to do some locked posts in here, but almost none of y'all are actually members, just subscribed. If you want to see this or this, frex, you need to join.
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finch: (Lost: Jian)
[personal profile] finch

“Robin, can you come here a moment? I need to ask you something.”

“Sure,” I replied, setting down the soldering iron and walking out into the living room. “What do you nee-Jesus Christ, are those leather pants?”

Read the rest of this entry » )

Mirrored from Jack-a-dreams.

finch: (responsible adult)
[personal profile] finch

I was about to run down to the electronics store for parts, but my new skateboard wasn’t where I’d left it by the door. I’d only had the thing for a week or two, in the hope of getting back in the habit of riding before the summer got hot.

A quick look around the apartment and I found it on the kitchen table, where Jian was apparently studying it.

I watched him poke at the wheels for a minute before interrupting. “Are you done with that?”

Read the rest of this entry » )

Mirrored from Jack-a-dreams.

finch: (Lost: Jian)
[personal profile] finch
It had been a long day of dealing with Dr. Sharpe, and then with Melanie on the way out. I decided to walk home in an effort to clear my head, but the only thing that sank in was how miserable walking home by myself was.

How long did I have before Melanie went ballistic and said something? Or before Dr. Sharpe figured out why Melanie was interested in me? How long could I pretend to be a functional adult? Because I sure wasn’t feeling like one.

When I finally got to my apartment, I kicked off my shoes and flopped onto the pull-out bed. I stared at the wall for fifteen or twenty minutes, hoping I could fall asleep and forget it.

finch: (Lost: Robin drawn)
[personal profile] finch

For once in my life, it was Jian who found me. It was his touch that was almost desperate, his fingers reaching out for my skin. In this case, well, they mostly found gauze bandage, but I recognized it when I saw it.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why did you come here?” I meant, to me. But I gestured uselessly at the hospital room anyway, as if I thought the scenery might be what had drawn him. It wasn’t bad as hospital rooms went; I’d certainly been in worse. But the view from a bed where you’re practically tied down by IVs and other tubes is never a scenic one.

“If you would prefer me to leave, Blaser, that can be arranged.”

Read the rest of this entry » )

Mirrored from Jack-a-dreams.

finch: (Lost: Jian drawn)
[personal profile] finch

I wouldn’t have asked him. Never. I didn’t even think it was possible. I assumed, instead, that he would ask me to join him.

If he’d asked me right away I would have said yes without hesitation. As I studied with him, I started to waver. Buddhism was not easy for me to grasp, but even I could understand that immortality was right out unless you were enlightened and hanging around to help other people, and I was not the bodhisattva type.

Read the rest of this entry » )

Mirrored from Jack-a-dreams.

Reaction

21/8/12 00:18
finch: (Lost: Robin & Jian)
[personal profile] finch

I sneezed, dropping my screwdriver again and sending the tiny screws rolling across the tabletop. I sighed.

“百岁,” Jian said from the other side of the apartment.

“Sorry,” I answered automatically as I tried to gather up the screws. I just wanted to get the plate back on the robot before I managed to drop it or sneeze inside it or something and do even more damage.

Read the rest of this entry » )

Mirrored from Jack-a-dreams.

finch: (Lost: Jian)
[personal profile] finch

I didn’t tell him what I’d been up to. If Jian had noticed the phone calls and the disappearing act for an hour or two every few days, he didn’t say anything. I hoped my boyfriend didn’t suspect something sinister.

“I want to show you something,” I finally told Jian over the phone. I knew Jian was between classes and wouldn’t have time to argue. “I’ll meet you on campus at noon, after your classes, alright?” Jian agreed, and I could hear the curiosity in his voice.

Read the rest of this entry » )

Mirrored from Jack-a-dreams.

finch: (road ends)
[personal profile] finch

The banging on the door woke me up. It startled me, and I didn’t remember where I was right away, or what I was doing there. The memories sorted into place, slowly, interrupted every few seconds by more banging.

Eventually Janie came out from the bedroom and walked past me to open the door.

“Good morning, Doctor.”

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Mirrored from Jack-a-dreams.

finch: (Lost: Jin)
[personal profile] finch

Eden didn’t feel like Salome had. She reminded me of someone else altogether, and it took me weeks to figure out it was Ka’ana herself. I naturally fell into orbit around her, just as I had to Ka’ana and to my muse before that.

I felt the need to check on her, just to make sure she was okay. Nine times out of ten, when I called out to her, she turned and smiled and announced that she’d just been thinking she needed me.

Today was that last time, when she scowled, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. She folded the letter she’d been reading and stuffed it back into its envelope. It was as if there was a cord fastened tight inside my chest, and she held it tightly. Unlike Ka’ana, unlike my muse, she seemed to hold it unknowingly.

“What are you?” I asked her. She was already in a bad mood; surely I couldn’t upset her much more.

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Mirrored from Jack-a-dreams.

finch: (road ends)
[personal profile] finch

Saul slept through most of the drive from Provo to Salt Lake City. I could hear him breathing, barely, but he was in no place to distract me from my thoughts.

If Provo looked like this, what was the point of going on to Salt Lake City? Would that be any better? I supposed that as long as it was standing, it couldn’t be much worse. And Saul needed… a doctor, probably. To get out of the damn truck and washed up, for sure.

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Mirrored from Jack-a-dreams.

finch: (Victor)
[personal profile] finch

“After the autopsy, they’re sending her body back east. Her family insisted.”

Jin nodded. It didn’t surprise him.

“I did manage to slip one or two things into my pocket, though.”

He looked up, confused, as Victor pressed something cold and hard into his hands. No, two things.

He knew before he looked – the smooth band of the wedding ring, the heavier engagement ring. He thought about how well they had matched as they sat on his ex-wife’s hand. Jin closed his hand tightly around the rings and looked away for a long minute, until he was sure he wouldn’t embarrass himself.

“Oh, one other thing. I put in my notice; I’m retiring.”

“You’re not even thirty five,” Jin snapped. Just when he thought he couldn’t be any more alone.

“I’ll stay through the move, but I’m tired of jumping when my boss snaps his fingers, Jin. I’m going into the private sector.”

“I don’t need you to hold my hand.”

Victor didn’t even look upset. He just shrugged and showed Jin the clipboard. “I need you to sign that you took possession.”

Jin grabbed the clipboard and fished the pen out of his breast pocket, almost tearing the paper as he scribbled his name. Victor handed him a second copy of the report on the “retrieval” mission and turned to leave.

“Thanks,” Jin muttered, but if Victor heard it, he didn’t answer.

Mirrored from Jack-a-dreams.

finch: (road ends)
[personal profile] finch

At first I thought it was just the sunset that made it look like Provo was on fire. Then again, I’d been trying to sleep through the pain the whole way up the highway and I was maybe a little drunk from the Jack Daniels Saul had given me when it was clear the two aspirin in the first aid kit weren’t going to do much.

There was a small knot of people standing alongside a van with its hood up. Saul pulled to a stop beside them.

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Mirrored from Jack-a-dreams.

finch: (Eden)
[personal profile] finch

My Dearest Master Feng,

For some time now you have been asking me to give up using my training in the service of governments, as your students did, and focus on loftier goals. While I cannot say that I’ve given up all government service, I do find myself in a position I think you will appreciate.

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Mirrored from Jack-a-dreams.

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Urban Fantasy Homesteading

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