tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84850456738302805062024-03-12T19:54:17.797-07:00A Bucket of RandomnessBrandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-50186499576708605542017-09-06T15:50:00.001-07:002017-09-06T15:50:22.608-07:00The Rising Risk of Diametrically Opposed Ideological PracticesIn a world were the Nazi flag is being proudly and brazenly flown once again, I see an equally dangerous counter-movement coming to the front. The new opposition is rising under the guise of stamping out a culture which has already been proven to be wrong and downright evil. But in efforts to squash the widely panned Nazi agenda, the Alt-Left (if you will) have created the exact same type of organization, performing egregious acts, all in the name of preventing the world from falling into an idyllic rabbit-hole which we all know is dangerous.<br />
<br />
<br />
The greatest problem we face in the clash of ideas and cultures is not <i>what</i> they are arguing about. These social problems and values <i>exist</i>, and will continue to grow and to worsen because of the <i>way</i> in which people choose to have "<b>reasonable</b>" discourse on the subject.<br />
<br />
<br />
I say reasonable discourse with complete irony, especially given the recent protests and riots that began with a Neo-Nazi march and the counter protests to said events.<br />
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<br />
Nether side of these opposed groups have been <b>reasonable</b> in any way. With both sides so vehemently opposing each-others ideologies, what they seem to be failing to grasp is that the methods both groups are using are in fact, in and of themselves, a problem as great as the issues they claim to be at hand.<br />
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<br />
Both extreme sides of this issue have taken a route which, I can only assume they believe to be their only option, is far more damaging and dividing than any actual discourse on the matter could ever be. Why is this? Because they want to stamp each other's ideas out, crush them into oblivion, instead of being willing to cede points of interest which could make for a useful conversion. <br />
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<br />
In point of fact, both sides are socially behaving just as Hitler-led Germany did. It is a method that can be incredibly effective (to a point), and, as history shows us, equally horrible. The world does not, or <b>should</b> not operate on absolutes of ideology. People are far too varying in lives, situations, beliefs, and concerns, for a one-sided polar view to full take hold and work in any form. <br />
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It's almost as if one side is throwing fire and the other throwing ice, throwing until only one remains, when all we really needed was water.<br />
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<br />
Maybe we should all take a step back and realize what we're looking for and then take a look at how we're trying to get it. We might find the water we're searching for is right there if we'd stop trying to ruin it by firing off from both extremes.Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-31180305323654295472015-01-29T22:11:00.001-08:002015-01-29T22:12:07.037-08:00On Being Indifferent<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b>On Being Indifferent</b>: <i>A post inspired by a moment of slightly ironic non-indifference (drats!)</i></div>
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Political happenings are happening.
Some of these “happenings” are well-meaning and, as I view them, legitimate.
Others... well… they’re happening regardless.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then there’s the measles thing.
People need to avoid it like the plague. Or was that gluten? I get these things
mixed up. Oh yeah… lock yourself away lest measles and/or gluten finds you and
destroys your life. (I am all about vaccinating, just saying, as well as avoiding gluten if you, ya know, actually need to for a medical reason (fad diets and, "I feel better because I cut out donuts," does NOT count)).<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are some bad dudes who
hijacked the name of my favorite spy agency. ISIS is no longer synonymous with
Sterling Archer. I preferred my ISIS as a semi-functional, for-profit,
hilarious gang of outlandishly lovable characters, each of whom has enough quirks
and demons to down the titanic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We’ve hit a point where both Bill
Gates and Stephen Hawking have warned us of our impending doom via typical mid
1900’s Science Fiction AI doomsday stories. So that’s… something to look
forward to (not sure what I can do here except for wait for the inevitability that whoever makes an evil destructor-bot will most definitely have it look like Arnold Schwartzegneggar).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gay people can get married. Except
when they can’t. People Love that. Other people hate it. Blood boils, angry
things are said, comforting things are said, flags are raised and waved and
people do and say awful, awful things in the names of their just or unjust causes (here's looking at you Westboro).<o:p></o:p></div>
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The world has a lot going on is what I’m getting at (of course you already knew that). You know what I’m
concerned with…? Honestly, to some small extent, all of the above and a
thousand things more… but mostly, whether or not I’ve eaten enough broccoli and
spinach to keep me from feeling like I’ll starve to death before I go to bed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yup, I’m concerned with food - and
if I’ll sleep decently (not in any way related to the above issues). Don’t get
me wrong, I see the validity of many of these issues… I’m just… well,
indifferent.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Honestly, don’t you ever feel like
half the world’s “problems” would evaporate if people simply stopped focusing on them so much? Obviously this doesn’t apply for something like, famine and
hunger. But a massive chunk of “first world problems” aren’t really problems at
all. They are fixations that only affect our lives if we choose to let them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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By all means, folks, fixate on the
world-altering, life or death, oh my god, oh my god we’re all going to die
stuff. But for everything else… Can’t we take a collective step back, shrug our
shoulders, say “Meh,” and get back to talking to friends and family, playing a
fun game, writing, building, relaxing, or just being, I dunno… indifferent…? I know what sounds like more fun to me... (That'd be the cake I'm actively ignoring... Curse you cake and your temptations!)<o:p></o:p></div>
Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-46505461857734495202015-01-27T18:54:00.001-08:002015-01-27T18:54:31.602-08:00It's All About Me<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I suck at being selfless. At my most
altruistic I still secretly hope <i>someone</i>
notices and thinks nice thoughts about me. Yeah… That’s when I’m <i>trying</i> to be selfless. Wow, I’m bad at
this. I get a little solace in believing that this is how most people probably
are… but feeling good because other’s aren’t better isn’t exactly the noblest
of thoughts either.<o:p></o:p></div>
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See, the truth is, it’s all about
me. All of this. Everything. Yup, I said it. I’m the center of the universe - my
universe. What a crazy thought.<o:p></o:p></div>
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No matter how much I want to see
other people happy, no matter how much I try to help them, even when I go out
of my way to get out of my own way (did that make sense?) and make sure my
happy little selfless acts go untraced, it’s still all about me. I’m bothered
by that fact. I don’t like to think of myself as a selfish person. I try to be
nice, I try to work hard, I <i>try</i> to be
a good person. It’s something at which I suck (not fishing for compliments or
reassurances here, just a blunt self-assessment). <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve been thinking this over after
yet another failed relationship. There’s that quote about the only common
denominator in your failed relationships is you. Kind of a depressing thought,
but true, so I guess it was time for some introspection. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I really hate introspection
sometimes. It’s far easier to pretend I’m God’s gift to mankind, a
misunderstood, socially awkward, semi-talented, fairly well-educated,
reasonably fit man. But introspection makes me admit that all of my strengths
have weaknesses, and that I’ve got my fair share of weaknesses which I must
strive to overcome. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Right now I’m thinking selfishness is
in my top three things I need to work on. Selfishness led me to be a really,
really crappy boyfriend. I had my moments, I certainly could have been worse,
but it took the post-breakup look inside to realize just how many of the issues
I was projecting outward were a direct manifestation of my own selfishness and
unwillingness to work, give, and put someone else first. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Selfishness sucks. It’s so flippin’
hard to be happy when you’re being selfish. I might even say it’s impossible.
Nothing will ever measure up to the perfect standard when it’s all about you.
But when you can manage to stop thinking about yourself, that perfect standard
magically becomes far less important. I know, mind shattering thought, eh? Lose
yourself in service yada yada yada… <o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, I’m not good at “service” in
the sense most people talk about it. It feels fake and forced to me. If it
works for other people, that’s awesome, good on them, but to me, it usually
(not always) feels like I’m trying to buy God’s brownie points. Service is just
one of those areas where I have a difficult time putting myself in the right
frame of mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So how do I be less selfish? Hmmm… Aint that the question. When I wake up in the
morning the day is about me, when I go to sleep the day is about me. I’m
thinking about me, what <i>I </i>need to do,
what <i>I</i> want.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s all about me. It will always be
about me… except when it’s not. I really doubt the personal wants, desires, and
thoughts will ever go away, but I <i>can</i>
go out of my way to think about other people. In a lot of little ways I’m great
at this (chalk it up to ingrained habits from wonderful parents). I hold open
doors (whoop whoop), randomly help old ladies carry things or load their cars,
I do little pieces of co-workers’ jobs just to make their lives slightly easier
in the moment. But these are small, small things. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And I’m starting to realize this
whole selfless thing, it’s really all about the accumulation of small things…
that and sucking it up sometimes, ignoring your wants, smiling, and doing
something that’s hard or painful to make life a little better, easier, or
happier for those around you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yeah… it’s all about me… Now if I can just get
manage to figure out how to ignore that more often, I might eventually hit my
lofty goal of being as glowing as my parents. I suppose, as with all things, it's try, try, try... piece by piece, brick by brick. I wish I could be faster about it though. This whole, it's all about me thing aint exactly my thing.</span>Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-11858226557332340312014-11-29T17:01:00.000-08:002014-11-29T17:06:54.210-08:00Tis the Season, I Suppose!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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I guess it’s the time of year to be
thankful. Maybe someone is trying to open my eyes or smack me over the head
with the realization of how lucky I am. Two days ago it was a poignant
experience with my youngest brother. Today I was blessed with an unneeded
reminder I was born to two extraordinary, wonderful, loving, giving people. I
say unneeded, and I mean it, I know my parents are incredible… but the
experience is certainly welcome!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
As I mentioned in my last post
(about my brother stepping up on my behalf) I hurt my back playing Thanksgiving
day football. Well, fast forward to this morning at work. I’m standing (leaning really) and
talking to a co-worker (a truly good friend) and she said something along the
lines of, “No doing extra work and doing my stuff for me!” after I’d mentioned
how bad my back was at the moment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
To which I responded, “I can’t help
it! If you have a problem with it, blame my parents!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
At this point my manager chimed in. “Blame
your parents? I think you mean <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thank</i>
your parents! I wish they’d raised <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everyone</i>
in the world! Then everyone would have an incredible work ethic and be nice!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Ok, I reveled in the inherent
compliment there, I won’t lie. But my manager made an excellent point. Mom n
Dad done did it right! If I’ve managed to make a good showing of myself, I
certainly have them to thank. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Maybe I have a good work ethic. I
like to think I do. I know I try. But I can attribute that to a thousand events
in my life, most of which are directly linked to my parents. Maybe I’m nice, I
try to be. But if you’ve met my family you know at my best I’m a poor, albeit striving,
shadow to what my parents effortlessly exude. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
-I
wish your parents had raised everyone in the world-</div>
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… <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></span> …</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
My dad often told me a story growing
up, a story of his mother, of working hard and doing our best. To him, it was
the moment that taught him to always strive for perfection. And it was a story
that only confirms I’ve been blessed to come from a line of incredible people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
It was my dad’s family’s turn to
clean the chapel. They went about cleaning the church. At some point they
reached a point where there was a part of the chapel my dad didn’t believe
needed to be cleaned. After all, nobody ever <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">saw</i> that part. But my grandmother, in the way that she always was,
said something along the lines of (oh I wish I had my father’s memory of the
event so I could get this right instead of paraphrasing an idea), “It doesn’t
matter if anyone ever sees it. God can see it. God will know, and you should <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">always</i> give your best.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Thanks, Grandma, you taught well.
You raised a wonderful man, who in turn married a wonderful woman. Hopefully,
somewhere down the line, someone will be able to say I was a fitting link in
the chain of my incredible family.</div>
Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-26667474913255691682014-11-28T17:36:00.000-08:002014-11-28T17:43:52.288-08:00Standing Amoung Giants<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-03867836-f92c-f320-22cc-dd050099cedf" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Standing Among Giants</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I had a first yesterday. My youngest brother stepped up to protect me. That’s not to say he hasn’t been on my side before, protective and loving and… well, brotherly. But yesterday, he stood up for me in the type of way I’ve always considered my duty to all my family. He stood up for me in the way an older brother ought to step in for the for weaker, younger, fragile sibling…</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Thanksgiving morning dawned, I was woken and shortly found myself on a frost covered field with twenty-something mostly strangers. Football. Far from my strength. I’ve never been terribly physically gifted. I grew up gawky and physically awkward. I’ve since taken to regular gym time and have packed on enough muscle to beat the curve, but I’m far from an athlete. The only sport I’ve ever been any good at is soccer and that was as much through will and endless years of experience. Even then, I often only succeeded because I surprise people with speed or perseverance. I certainly am not earning any points for true skill. I’ll leave genuine physical prowess up to others.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And it was on this chill Thanksgiving morning that my youngest brother stepped up for me. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For those who don’t know, I have a terribly troublesome back. I originally injured it pouring concrete when I was 17. Since then I’ve further ruined it while surfing and being in a hit and run while I was biking (among a few other more moderate instances). A doctor once told me my spine would never be good, or normal again, and that the best I could hope for was to maintain a relative health and usefulness through exercise and diligent maintenance. Surgery was more or less rules out do to the compound nature of multiple issues through several areas of my spine. So I wake in pain, I go to sleep in pain, and I wake in the middle of the night, in pain. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Back to the point at hand… I only came to play the “Turkey Bowl” because I was told it would be touch or flag, not tackle. I’d expressed before hand I simply couldn’t do tackle. I don’t trust my body enough to hold up. On any given day I can tell it’s one wrong twist or turn from putting me into immobility for a week or months. Well, I showed up and everyone unanimously voted (minus myself) to play tackle. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">...I don’t like holding people back. I didn’t want to ruin the fun. Ok. Everyone wants to play tackle, I’ll buy in… with the exception that I’m flags. I’m touch only. I hate being the lame exception, but I know my body and no amount of fun is worth the pain I’d be in if I played like everyone else.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The moment I mention I won’t do tackle, that I can’t, my good friend mentions my back as validation and the group generally agrees… And then someone in the mass makes a wisecrack about targeting me as a weak link.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Enter Stage Right, The Incredible Hulk.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My youngest brother is what can only be deemed as a physical outlier. Part of this is natural gift and a great deal of if it is through sheer exertion of will and a simple refusal to quit when most people would. He was blessed without an off switch, without that little voice that tells you to quit. Or if he has it, he has been given an inhuman ability to ignore it and impose his will on the situation. This is a kid who grew up as a skinny </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Haole</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> boy in Hawaii, playing football with Polynesian kids two or three times his size. This is the kid who decided that didn’t matter and created a highlight reel of him leveling running backs with 50 to a 100 pounds on him. This is the kid who has always found a way to seemingly do the physically impossible. This is the kid who refused to quit or be beat.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As a result, my brother was one of the biggest and fittest people on the field that day. 200ish pounds of twisted, rugby and football playing steel. This body is a tool, a vehicle for sport or destruction. And to the joking comment some stranger had made he said something in a dead cold voice that gave me the first realization that I was not longer </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">truly</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> the “big brother.”</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“If you touch him I will smoke you.”</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I will smoke you</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’d never heard the phrase, never heard him say it before, but I knew exactly what he meant. I saw his face. He was dead serious.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We went on to play. I did my part, miming the part of a defender or receiver. He repeatedly ran over defenders and gently (because he didn’t want to hurt anyone by going full-out) took down the other team. He was half our team of 12, maybe more. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eventually came the play where I was the targeted receiver. I caught the ball and instantly ran into a defender who, in his defense, had missed the bit about me being outside the tackle rules. I went down relatively gently, by tackling standards, but I felt my back give way nonetheless. I got up, someone said, “Green does </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">NOT</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> mean go,” as I was wearing a green shirt. In the background someone shouted something along the lines of, “Yeah, you can’t touch him, he has a glass hip.”</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And then again, there was my </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">youngest </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">brother, leveling a gaze against a joking bunch of weekend warriors, answering a comment I hadn’t heard. “Try it and I will destroy you.”</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Destroy you…</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I looked at him. I hadn’t heard the original comment, though I could guess the line of joking it had come from. I was in the midst of telling the guy who’d tackled me not to worry, he hadn’t known. “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s all good</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.”</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And my brother stood there like Hercules or Achilles. Like stone. Staring. And his words hung in the air - at least to me. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">will</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> destroy you.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My brother is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">not</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> a violent person. Far from it. He’s closer to what you’d call a gentle giant, though he doesn’t appear to be a giant to anyone who doesn’t know him. He’s above average in size, but far from inherently imposing. When he switches from a caring, God-fearing man to a person capable of ripping someone apart, well, he’s a genuinely dangerous person. On my best day I wouldn’t want to go there, even knowing I have a much better grasp of martial arts than he does. He’d will through whatever is thrown at him and… well, as he said, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">destroy</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And so there I stood, already in physical pain and knowing the worst wouldn’t set in for hours as my body realized I’d abused my injured back. Everyone lined up to play as if nothing had happened… And yet there I was, sitting and thinking… pondering at what point had I crossed from </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">big brother</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> into someone who needed protection. I didn’t feel I needed it, but he felt it was his duty - that he was obligated.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I stand among giants.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’ve always known I’ve blessed to be born into an extraordinary family. I have siblings that are valedictorians, geniuses, empathetic, and concert pianists. And, yes, I have a brother with a soft heart who’s a physical beast willing to stand for those he loves.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I won’t pretend I don’t stand upon their shoulders, though as they are my family, and my friends, but I’d like to think that through my own efforts I’ve found a way to stand among them.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I may be the older brother. But I’m no longer the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">big</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> brother… And I couldn’t be more happy or proud. </span></div>
Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-91395767695392745782014-09-08T00:49:00.001-07:002014-09-08T00:49:09.668-07:00A Failure to Pay a Reasonable Wage<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b><u>A
Failure to Pay a Reasonable Wage<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
First things first, I’m not
proposing a change to minimum wage, that's a different argument for a another day. I have a different concern in mind: Paying
people what they’re worth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
You see, I’ve noticed a sadly common
and depressing trend of employers who honestly seem to believe they are doing
themselves a favor<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span>or at the very least opperating under "normal" and "healthy" practices<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span>by underpaying genuinely good employees. From what I’ve
been able to gather is that these companies believe, on a whole, that it works in their favor
to pay someone say, $12 an hour when they are doing the work and have the responsibility
of someone deserving of twice that wage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Let's get one thing straight, I don’t believe everyone earns that
higher wage. Many people call it in, so to speak. But there is a breed of
worker who will try and strive and do their best regardless… until they can no
longer bend. Suddenly they break, and they move on. These workers ought to be
paid twice what they make and truly replacing them often seems to cost triple
or quadruple a company's original labor cost, be it through base wage or lost production
during an inevitable training and learning curve phase. And yet companies seem
oblivious to the value of these individuals. Why? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Seriously, why? WHY?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Come on, people! You’re killing me! ...And your businesses!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
To me, the value is obvious. An
employee who’s been with the company for five year has more value than an
equally hard-working and intelligent worker who’s brand new to the company. The vested
employee has learned dozens or hundreds of little side jobs and tricks to
streamline work, has become more productive across a variety of necessary areas
and has knacks, knowledge, and all the functional skills to utilize their
individual strengths. What is that knowledge worth? Obviously, that depends on
the company and industry… but from the jobs I’m talking about, the people I’m envisioning,
they average out to a 5-10% pay increase over the brand new employee which they
have to train. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Even assuming a menial labor job, a
so called “no skill” position, the amount of output by such an employee is at
least 25-50% more than the average new employee over the first year in the job.
Even the best intentioned, hardest worker can only learn so much so fast. They
can only produce so much as they adjust to the various learning curves. And yet, from what I’ve seen in our “burgeoning”
modern economy the truly hard-working, intelligent, diligent, and dedicated worker gets
their 5-10% raise over a worker they are doing, let’s be honest, probably
50-75% more work than (that’s not counting how well they are doing said work or
the value of their positive, competent face they’ve attached to the company).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Many of these great workers,
dedicated to their own education and improving their value through measureable
means, choose to move on to bigger and better companies. Ok, fine. Logical. Who
wouldn’t, given the opportunity? What gets me is that any company would EVER
let these people move on for a reason such as reasonable compensation beyond
what their company is capable of offering/sustaining.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Let’s get this straight. People that
feel the need to move on and upward are usually doing so because the company
they work for simply isn’t valuing them properly (or simply no longer possesses
the upward mobility of challenge and progression as well as financial
compensation). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
And yet the trend of companies
undervaluing truly good employees—at least from my personal observation—has
become the norm. Common place. Expected.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Depressing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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We live in a rough economy. "These
people ought to feel glad they even have a job!" says the manager/ceo/owner, as
they drive off in a car that could pay the competent worker for a year or two,
while they themselves are often completely reliant on these underpaid workers to get the results they are paid for.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Look, I’m not saying pay a lazy kid
doing a mindless job fifteen dollars an hour. I’m saying pay that 25/30/40 year old that’s
in school or recently graduated, who's tried even when it’s hard! These are good people who want to work to earn their living. ------<span style="text-indent: 0in;">They deserve more!------</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Why are so many companies blind to
this?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Seriously... You people are hurting yourselves. You’re
hurting your bottle line. You are limiting yourselves. Oh, and you're screwing over your employees, hampering them in their personal lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
These employees you are driving away
are the ones who will go on to new jobs with new companies and take them into
the upper echelon (something which you’re incredibly unlikely to even sniff, if
you’ve got this asinine practice).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Let’s put this in perspective, you
up and coming, poorly compensating companies… McDonald’s pays an average wage
roughly two to three dollars above minimum wage to its entry-level workers.
They offer tuition reimbursement programs… and they are thriving. Believe it or
not, they are capable of turning away poorly performing workers and getting rid
of sub-par performers because they pay even high school kids just starting off
decently.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Walmart, despite the massive
negative publicity against it, pays its entry-level employees—aka anyone inside
the story which isn’t management—an average of over $12 an hour. Walmart does pretty well for itself, and,
surprise, surprise, their good workers stay around, get raises, get promoted
and, ta freaking da, receive equitable compensation! (Yes, I get it there are a LOT more factors involved, but I'm not talking about those...at the moment...)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
But why would you follow the lead of
companies which have been wildly successful? Because you’ve heard the cries of
the lazy and entitled about how <i>they</i>
deserve to be paid better as well? Because you have a hard time imagining the
drastic effect of paying your $12 an hour worker the $25 an hour they deserve?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I promise, after the cost of
turnover and training, the loss of little bits of and knowledge, among other
qualities, you’re getting a steal for these employees you’re underpaying until
they run off to a company which treats them well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I could go on. Sit me down in person
and I gladly will. But I don’t want to bore you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Just do yourself—and your employees—a
favor and pay people what they’re worth. And yes, sometimes that means a raise
of $5 instead of your standard 25 cents every six months or year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Do it. Seriously. Give them a raise. Call it a selfish act, because you'll be reaping as much a reward as your previously under-paid employee.</div>
Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-64748896385081658482014-08-27T15:20:00.000-07:002014-08-27T15:44:24.763-07:00Being a Server/Waiter(ess)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I’ve worked as a server at Red
Lobster for a little over three years now. It’s given me a glimpse into a life
I’d previously never understood or appreciated.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Most servers I’ve met are young,
going to school—unqualified. I’d say maybe two thirds of these people are
actively working on bettering their lives—they are working toward becoming
teachers or nurses, physical therapists… And yet, I’ve found—at least where I
live—an incredible stigma against servers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
You see, as a server, I’ve realized
you’re subjected to, on a daily basis, people who simply look down on you. The
job of a server is degrading, or it can be. Much like working at McDonald’s has
become synonymous with a lower tier job undeserving of respect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody of quality could possible debase
themselves to such a point as to serve. These are jobs for the helpless, the
hopeless… the lazy and unambitious…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
What a load of crap.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Serving is the hardest job I’ve ever
had. That’s not hyperbole or exaggeration. While it doesn’t entail extensive
schooling, to do it truly effectively requires a multitasking ability beyond
anything I’d ever experienced. Beyond that, I have to be nice, perky, and kind
to a wide variety of, pardon my French, assholes, regardless of whether or not
I have energy that day or am in a good mood. The margin for error is extremely
low. Being a server requires you to be your best self the entire time you’re
working. Regardless of what many people may say. How many jobs actually require
that?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
When I started working at Red
Lobster I was shortly removed from a college degree. I’d been a warehouse supervisor,
a mortgage loan officer and processor. I’d done SEO management; I’d done
construction and roofing across a variety of spectrums. I didn’t jump into
serving as some punk kid. I was hardly uneducated and I’d had a handful of jobs
most people wouldn’t last in for a day. But you know what I quickly realized?
People (guests) don’t care. They assume. I’m older now. What do I appear to be
to people who come to eat at my restaurant? Some man who’s never bothered to
better himself? A lazy freeloader feeding on the underbelly of society? An inconvenient
interaction necessary for them to get their food when they deign to delight me
with their presence?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I’ve been extremely lucky. In an
incredibly bad economy I’ve been able to cut out a decent living doing freelance
writing with serving as a supplement to my income which also keeps me on an
even keel socially. I make far more per hour writing than I ever could serving.
But in serving I have interaction with people, I have a job that’s difficult
and can be instantly rewarding… But I find far more frustration in my serving
than I possibly could with my writing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
You see, I’m looked down on as a
server. Most of my guests don’t know I write. They don’t know I make far more
writing than I ever could serving. I’m assuming they see a late twenties male who
is good for nothing. Maybe I’m wrong, but given my general treatment, I’m going
to assume I’m right.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
“Hey, my name is Brandon, I’ll be
your server. How are we all doing today?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
“Diet Coke.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
“Interesting, I didn’t realize that
was a mood/emotion/feeling. But I’ll be happy to grab that for you!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
This is a regular interaction for
me. No, I don’t see an inherent problem with people who know what they want and
want to forgo human interaction to get it. But the difference in decent, polite
behavior is a matter of a handful of words—ten to fifteen seconds at the most.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Fine, you don’t want to talk to me
when you sit down—that’s completely okay! Not everyone prides themselves on a
job well done, but I’ll treat you as best I can, regardless of the fact you’re
rude in a way I hope you’d never be to anyone else in your life. I’ll even strive
to be quick and efficient. By golly, I’ll even be nice and say I’m glad you
came to Red Lobster when you leave! Most people would say I’m fishing for tips.
Nope. Wrong. I’d say with about a 90% accuracy I already know who is going to
tip me decently. I treat all my guests well because it’s simply the right thing
to do. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Wait. Stop.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Being nice, being courteous is
right? I don’t believe it…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Given my experience as a server it
would be extremely easy to believe nobody has to be nice, to care, or to be
respectful. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Get my order and get out of my face!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Believe it or not, most servers are
capable of reading their guests. We can tell in a few seconds whether or not
you’re worth our time. Sometimes we’re wrong… But sadly, we’re usually right…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
And good servers, truly good
servers, you know what? They treat you the same regardless.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
In my honest opinion, most of all ya’ll
don’t deserve it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Blunt. Harsh. But true.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Most people I serve deserve crappy
service. But serving is one of my jobs. And I don’t do a job halfway. So you’ll
get service as if you were a king or a queen, knowing full well you’ll tip me
$5 on a $150 dollar check, and you’ll act like you’re doing me a favor (FYI at
that point I’m paying to serve you… thanks!).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
You know what… it averages out. I do
my absolute best because I had awesome parents who taught me to work... They
taught me to do my best even when nobody is watching and nobody cares. For
every guest or table I have that tips 5% I have a good, caring person who tips
me 40% for no other reason than because they know there are stupid, mean, angry
people who tip poorly for a wide variety of reasons that wouldn’t hold up with
any amount of scrutiny. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Serving, at times, is a thankless
job. Many (not all) guests truly don’t appreciate you unless everything magically clicks, though you're the focus of their rather if anything goes wrong (sorry, I really didn't cook your food...). Most people? They want food. You’re a necessary step between sitting down and getting
what they want. Oh, and seven drink refills and six baskets of bread (oh, and DIET soda, because I'm I'm trying to lose weight... Wait, you forgot my three extra orders of ranch?!). And extra
butter. And cocktail sauce. And a new fork. And napkins.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
All requests come separately,
naturally. Why aren’t you being faster? It’s not like you have other guests to take
care of… </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Look, I get it; serving is an easy,
mindless job. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
The problem? It isn’t. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Not if you’re busy. Not if you’re good at
it. I’ve got 23 guests to deal with. Seven need refills on their drinks. 6 need
some kind of sauce. 2 need an extra plate/napkin/their check. If I'm lucky the rest are happily eating. But that's not usually the case.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Yes… Serving is an easy, mindless
job... The problem? It’s not. Stop being rude. Stop looking for stupid, minor,
nearly meaningless excuses to tip less. Believe it or not, servers don’t like
paying to serve you. Usually, we get paid $2.13 an hour for the pleasure of
dealing with people who think we’re the dregs of society. Depending on the restaurant we have to give a large percentage of your (assumed though often not given) 15% tip to bussers or bartenders. For people who refuse
to tip well, don’t act terribly surprised if we know who you are and have lost
the willpower to be the good people we constantly strive to be. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I mean, after all, how excited would you be to realize you had to smile while you mow your awful neighbor's lawn? Not appealing? Welcome to the life as a server. The difference? The average person treats their neighbor's lawn better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I hope someone spits in your food. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
P.S. I will never spit in your food. But sometimes I really, really want to...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-27514199916248551892014-08-12T08:50:00.001-07:002014-08-12T08:50:46.913-07:00Living With Depression<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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Robin Williams died yesterday.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
The world rarely shows such an
incredible outpouring for the death of one individual. So what does it say when news
coverage, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are utterly inundated by cries of
love and respect of this man and his work? He was loved. He was admired. He made
people smile. He made people feel. Feel. Feel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Feel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Feel. I relate to this word, to this
concept. For someone living with, battling, fighting, struggling, and often
times losing to depression, I understand the word feel far too well. I think,
perhaps, that Robin Williams was the same.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
You see, depression, real, lasting,
non-circumstantial depression, at its very core, is a problem of feeling. Sure,
yes, it’s misfiring synapses, chemical imbalances in the brain yada yada etc
etc… but at its core—at my core, it’s a problem with feeling. Feeling too much.
Feeling too much about the wrong things. Having a difficult, almost impossible
struggle to control feeling. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me, that’s
depression.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Robin Williams was, by all
measurable means, a man who ought to have been happy, beyond such struggles. He
had everything he needed to stay alive without anxiety or stress: check. He had
personal and non-personal love almost un-endingly showered in his direction:
check. He had laughter, fun, and what would often seem like happiness, despite
his well-documented struggles with personal demons. And yet he’s dead. He hit his
limit, for whatever reason. Game over. You lose.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Depression.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Depression, true, lasting, crippling
depression is hard to define. I’ve often compared it to describing the color of
the sky to a blind person. How could anyone who hasn’t/doesn’t experience it
ever really understand? People go through hardships, a bad break-up, being laid
off, the death of loved ones, and they feel depression, anxiety, fear… But it’s
temporary. Time heals all wounds, as they say. But true depression, time doesn’t
heal it. You either find a way to make yourself strong enough to battle it, or
it takes you. There’s no gray area here. Depression kills. Unless of course we
find a way to keep it from killing us.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I’d hope by now it’s readily
apparent this is a topic with which I share a fair amount of familiarity. I’ve
been hospitalized for suicide attempts. I’ve lived with depression. I’ve
fought, I’ve momentarily lost. I continue to fight. And people, most people,
continue to not understand. They want to, that much is obvious, but they’ve
never seen the color of the sky, they’ve never heard the bird call. There are
no words that can help them understand. It does little to explain to them what
it’s like to experience their worst, most debilitating life events and have
that as an on-going undercurrent in their lives, indefinitely.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
This is my life.Was this Robin Williams' life?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Some people who experience
depression find fame and fortune. They are loved, they create wonderful things…
only to find it’s not enough. It’s the tragic link between creativity,
intelligence, and depression. You get Kurt Cobain, Robin Williams, Heath Ledger
and Elvis Presley, among others. People who ought to have been or were, titans.
And yet they fall.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I don’t know fame. I certainly don’t
know fortune. At times I actively shun and avoid many of the aspects of life
that could lead me in that direction simply because it means letting down
protective walls I’ve put in place to keep myself safe. I’m most creative, most
actively productive when I’m at my worst, as counter-intuitive as that seems. I
produce page after page of prose, I write songs and blogs and… and I try…
because that effort, that expression, that hope of something more, of something
better, is all that keeps my head above water.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I actively keep myself mundane,
ordinary, less productive… because it hurts less. And then I hate myself for
not producing, for not building, for not being something… more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I wish there were a simple, easy way
to wrap this up, some magical answer to depression, a secret coping tool to
share with the world. But as far as I’m aware, there’s not. And I’m here.
Writing this. And another battle has been lost and a great warrior has passed
on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I don’t expect you to understand. I
don’t expect anyone to really comprehend unless it’s something they do battle
with. But awareness… now that’s something. Who knows what might be different if
people were aware… if those with depression were completely and honestly open
in their darkest hours. Who would still be alive? What works would we have that
we don’t? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
No, I don’t expect anyone to understand.
But to try… to feel… There’s an amazing amount of power in feeling.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Feel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-64804850720527292042013-03-13T00:02:00.002-07:002013-03-13T00:02:39.908-07:00Musical Loops<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I have a tendency to fixate on songs, listening to them over
and over again for weeks at a time before slowly letting them fade into the
background of my life, an ever increasing part of my encyclopedic musical
library. I’ve had several people point out this behavior as abnormal to me. And,
perhaps it is. But I figure it’s still probably healthier than a lot of
alternative behaviors some people do obsessively. Like eating glass or Chap
Stick… </div>
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While I choose songs that I believe have a catchy melody,
I’ll gladly admit the main reason for my fixation is due to lyrics. You see, I’m
a word person. I love them—words that is. I think up elaborate and flowery
sentences, only to squander them when my mouth gets a sentence or two behind my
brain and everything comes out a jumbled mess (perhaps just one of the reasons
I tend to stay quiet in social situations). My -perhaps- compulsive obsession about
words feeds into my putting songs on endless loops. I break the words down,
line by line, stanza by… you get it. I analyze possible meanings as deeply as
any English professor would ever hope for in an essay, and then I start to
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I develop a strange connection to these songs, as if they’re
a secret message coded for me that if I can only figure out I can use to unlock
whatever problems face me at the moment. I suppose I’m not too dissimilar from
other people in that regard. Music is deeply engrained in human culture and has
been shown to have a variety of interesting effects on brain activity. Still, I
never cease to be fascinated by the way in which I actively choose to let music
into my life. </div>
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Sorry, this little piece has no big discoveries or
interesting, life-changing paradigm shifts, it simply has some observations and
provides a somewhat illogical satisfaction to my compulsive need to write
something late at night.Oh, and I've listened to Linkin Park's "Castle of Glass" about sixteen times in a row now... Last night it was Imagine Dragon's "Radioactive." </div>
Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-41055135410154181342013-03-06T17:32:00.001-08:002013-03-06T19:55:56.711-08:00Am I A Player?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b><br />
So, my madre recently ran across a copy of this essay I wrote several years ago for one of my English classes. She got a kick out of it. I got a kick out of it. Maybe you will too!<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Am I a Player?</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A Journey of
self discovery through the realms of love.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
have, on occasion, been called many different names of varying insult. The most
common of these are “player,” “man whore,” and as my ex stated, more than a few
times, “hussy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Personally,
I have always remained adamant about the truthless nature of such comments,
when applied to me. While I may have, in the past, done or acted in ways to
merit such titles, I would have to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>say
these instances were more of an exception than a general rule. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
a recent trip to The Cheesecake Factory, and a return drive home in a car full
of girls chanting “Man whore!” I took it upon myself to examine my life and to
determine if there might be some truth to the allegations which I brush aside
as an absurdity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Along
with my trip to the land of wonderful food stuffs, I had experienced (though
some months ago) two freakish nights in a row, during which, I had
conversations with my mother of a nature which I detest. The first occasion
resulted when she pulled me aside after a night of thorough cuddling during a
movie (I cannot remember which movie, but I do remember the girl). Once aside,
her brow furrowed and she got a the tone in her voice she uses when she is
upset with me, it sounds a little like, “Forget for a minute that you are a foot
taller than me and weigh 80 pounds more!” She looked me square in the eyes and
said, “Brandon, don't be a player.” This struck me like a hammer on an anvil.
The names had extended beyond friends and acquaintances and into the realm of
parental units. Oh no.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
following evening I was having a splendid time with a female who was visiting
from the mainland when my mother called me up to say nothing more than, “You're
not having one of those “make out sessions” are you?” To which I answered no. I
was, of course, lying.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
combination of these three events probably had the greatest impact on my
decision to write my personal essay on this topic. In addition, many
conversations with dearly loved friends have led me to believe it might be
worth examining my life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So,
let's start out by examining my life from the first girl I kissed, then move on
from there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
was fifteen years old and laying on a dank and mutilated futon, watching Monty
Python and the Holy Grail, when a young temptress with black hair, almond eyes,
and beautifully freckled skin turned and, without any forewarning, kissed me,
right on the lips.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
was to be my first of many kissing experiences. Most of which would be with the
aforementioned minx.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Over
the next six months, spurred by a new excitement discovered, I had the pleasure
of kissing six different girls. The sad truth, which I cannot ignore, is that
while most of these kisses did take place on separate days, one fateful day
resulted in the occurrence of kisses from four of these females! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
day was like most any other I experienced during Christmas break. Upon waking I
received phone calls from no less than three females, this particular day it
led to me hanging out with five of them. In the morning I was kissed by one of
the females when she asked me to come see something. This separated us from the
group. I was shocked by her actions, but the result was rather pleasant. I did
not complain. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
next female to kiss me on this extraordinary day found the opportunity after a
group water fight. Myself, these five females and three others with whom I was
barely acquainted had a marvelous water fight (which I won). After this was
over one of the females, who I admit I knew little about, somehow got a hold of
the last water balloon and chased me to the back yard while the rest of the
group recuperated up front. Her aim with the water balloon was terrible, of
course this may be in part because I grabbed her wrist while she was throwing
it. Apparently this was a splendid time to make a move, seeing as how we were
so close, she used my grip against me, pulled herself up close and planted an
incredible kiss right on my lips. She continued to do so until we remembered
there were friends up front waiting for us who would undoubtedly come searching
sooner or later.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
third female took her chance in a darkened room during a movie. The moment was
not spectacular and I cut the event short, mostly due to a lack of desire to
have such activities be seen by those in the group.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally,
around eleven o' clock in the evening, one of my great female friends, one with
which I was very partial,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tromped out of
the room distraught and crying, I don't remember the reasoning why, though I
can promise it was not my fault. I followed her out of the room and spent the
next half and hour consoling her. Somewhere in the middle of lifting her
spirits I found myself locked to her lips. Her lips tasted of salty tears and
strawberry lip gloss. This was the longest and most passionate of the kisses; I
enjoyed every second of it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
you have it, four females in one day. Now, let's forget to mention that this
day also happened to be new years eve and I ended up kissing another five
females, but those were just new years kisses, not worth considering!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
day of feverish kissing did, as you may expect, come back to “bite me in the
butt,”. Upon realization of the freely handed out kisses, by all those who
participated, I received at least five slaps, one of which left a scar on my
nose which can still be seen upon close inspection.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Did
I deserve this? Every female I have talked to agrees the punishment was
probably not harsh enough for the crime. The males on the other hand... Well,
they usually just smile, some even offer a high five. Personally, given the
circumstances, I think I did nothing wrong, except perhaps allow them to kiss
me. But at the time I did not understand the concept of guarding myself, I was
new to this wonderful sport.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
I said, I had not initiated any of these kisses, and the reality is, even years
later, having kissed more than a few girls, the number of kisses which I
actually started, is less than the number of girls I kissed on that fateful day
when I was fifteen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Perhaps
this tinkle of knowledge offers me some redemption? In my own eyes, yes. To
others? Well, I guess you will have to decide for yourself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Moving
along. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
night of many kisses spawned something I had not planned on. While two of the
girls I kissed that day had of little impact in my mind, I gave two others much
consideration as to the matter of dating. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With
both girls, showing impressively aggressive characteristics, and both proving
themselves more than adequate in the field of lip locking love, I was having a
very difficult time deciding which to choose.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now,
since I am of the male persuasion, I did what any reasonable man would do. I
looked at both girls (while they were not looking of course) and my finger
jumped back and forth between them in a small game of “eany, meany, miny, moe.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My
finger landed upon the dark haired temptress, who also happened to be my first
kiss. We dated for three and a half years, during which time I can honestly
say, I remained faithful with my kisses, and the number of girls kissed did not
rise a freckle or a hair.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
have always been quite proud of this fact, seeing as how I had, on more than
one occasion, had to duck, weave, jive, and dodge to avoid kisses from a few
females. You know, the last second twist where instead of being kissed on the
lips, the kiss ends up on your cheek instead, and usually ends with an awkward
glance of disappointment and dismay on behalf of the would be kisser. Yeah, I
had a few of those moments, so I imagine, I must gain some points toward the
“not a hussy” category.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
I stated, the relationship did tragically come to an end with much weeping,
wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and I emerged from my cocoon of depression
three months later, with six girls added to the tally. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Roughly
two years passed before I had anyone I would call a girlfriend. In that period
of time the count kept rising, to such a point as where it now stands, that I
do not know the exact number of females kissed, but sure I could figure it out
with a little time to count on my hands, if only I had four or five more of
them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now,
I think it would stand to reason that I have struck a definitive point, or
perhaps ten, against myself, but continue on, perchance I will sway your
opinion on the matter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My
next attempt at female companionship was farce, to put it mildly. We shared
nothing in common, except perhaps a general location. She had been, I must
admit, an experiment at giving a girl a chance who I would normally have ruled
out in an instant. The experiment failed, and my methodology of picking female
companionship remains, as it had before the disaster.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
failure took place roughly a year ago.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
followed after this test, a vacuum of love. I did not, for an entire six
months, kiss a single female. This period still stands as the longest time I
have gone without a kiss since that night on the dingy moth eaten couch seven
years ago. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Six
months have now passed since my emergence from my lip-lust hiatus. During such
period, I have been kissed by no fewer than three girls, and no more than ten.
Only one of which did I initiate, and more than a few, which involved the
previously mentioned game of duck and weave.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
have, of late, been very proud of my ability to avoid kissing everything, which
happens to have a set of boobs, that crosses my path. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While
I realize I may have, at times, acted in ways to merit the names of “player,”
“man whore,” and yes, even “hussy,” I can say with sincerity, I have tried, in
recent months, to only kiss females when it actually means something to me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
decision has left my lips lonely, and my heart aching, but it has earned me a
standing ovation from many people, female and male alike.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So
what conclusion have I come to? Am I deserving of the names which I have been
called, so many times? Or do I maintain my position of innocence?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
could tell you. But where would the fun be in that? Okay, I shall humor whoever
happens to be the one reading this sad tale of my love life. I started writing
this essay roughly fourteen minutes ago, and in the time that has passed since
then, I have... turned over a new leaf! My paradigm has shifted beyond
recognition! I cannot even recognize who I am anymore, for surely I would never
admit I was wrong (not only on this matter, but ever). Yes, there have been
many periods of time in my life where I fully and truly deserved the names I
have been called. But the time for that is past. I hereby decree, that I,
Brandon Todd Orgill, vow to never again (this is going to come back to haunt
me. I know it...) kiss, or be kissed by (if it is reasonable for me to avoid
the kiss) any female to whom I do not feel at least some level of attachment
and commitment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
result of this, I realize I am following a path I had previously outlined for
myself, specifically in an attempt to avoid the calling of names of such a
hurtful nature.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
cannot say what the future will hold, but I can state, in entire honesty, my
love for the unattached make out has long since left me feeling hollow, to such
a point that the very suggestion actually causes my stomach to gurgle and
twist, bringing a most unpleasant sensation of sickness rising to my head
instantaneously.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To
those out there who might imagine the life of the eternal, unattached bachelor
(or bachelorette) to be something you seek, I say to you, you are insane. You
shall find no solace in such companionship. While life, as a result, may be at
moments highly interesting and entertaining, and, while the never ending
excitement and rush of the moment may stimulate an unspoken desire inside of
you, I can promise, in some period of time, be it years from now or only days,
you will realize the time you have wasted away. You will turn your life around
to seek out something truly worth having, and you will find it more difficult
to obtain than mere kisses, by far.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Thank
you for joining me on my adventure. For the sake of my ever expansive ego, I
hope this is our sole journey together. I do not believe I could take another
and come out standing on the other end. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Tofa Soifua.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
You destroy my eloquence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-28491780532957407262012-06-09T16:41:00.000-07:002012-06-09T16:41:02.641-07:00Cambodian Orphanage: Smiles All aroundI wrote this on my phone two days into my trip to Cambodia... <br />
<br />
Man, these kids can smile!<br />
<br />
I'm talking glued on, make your face sore kind of smile. They smile
while doing the dirty work of preparing bags for mushrooms to grow--one
of their only sources of income. They smile while studying and learning.
They eagerly raise hands to answer questions. I think I grew out of
that phase by age six...<br />
In comparison to what I seemingly have, they have nothing. And yet
they smile, they laugh, they dance, and they play. There is no hint or
sign that they are missing out on my entertainment or living essentials.<br />
<br />
I'm left to think: what am I doing wrong?<br />
<br />
For all that I have, I don't think I've shown the amount of genuine, true happiness in a month that these kids live every day.<br />
<br />
They have no x-box, no computer games, and almost no prospects for the future.<br />
<br />
They have a couple of beat up sports balls for entertainment. I've
spent the hours in between my sight seeing, research, and interviews,
joining in their play and their work.<br />
<br />
You know what? I've spent a lot of time smiling. A ton. My face hurts I've smiled so
much. A part of me wants to stay forever and de-jade-ify myself.<br />
<br />
My greatest worry about returning home is letting myself slip back into my normal routine. It never made me smile this much.<br />
<br />
I was never this person before. I laughed when people mentioned these types of experiences, dismissing them out of hand.<br />
<br />
What was I thinking?<br />
<br />
I'm standing in extreme humidity, sweat running down my back, the sun
scorching hot, the bottoms of my feet charring on the rough concrete.<br />
<br />
A dozen kids, from 4 to 15 stand around me laughing, shouting in heavy accents, ”You monkey! You monkey!”<br />
<br />
Ordinarily I think I would've been too tired, too hot. Today
though, I growled and smiled. ”Me big monkey. Soon, you monkey!” And I
swipe the ball that was thrown inches too low over my head.<br />
An adorable little girl breaks into a fit of giggles. ”Oh no! Me monkey now!”<br />
<br />
I tickle her before taking her spot in the circle around her.<br />
<br />
At least I'll get a chance to breathe!Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-60719810997268275612012-06-06T12:09:00.002-07:002012-06-18T21:25:30.355-07:00Holy Ground<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
think those who know me will agree that, despite whatever narcissistic musings
and rants I may go on, fundamentally, I’m not a pusher or worshiper of intense,
meaningful moments. I'm not prone to looking off into a sunset with glazed eyes
whilst pondering the deep, meaningful nature of a butterfly passing by (don't
get me wrong, I stare plenty, and I'll hint at epic thoughts, but I’m usually
pondering the true nature of the filling inside a Twinkie or some such). <br />
<br />
I guess I’m just saying, deep, life-altering experiences have always been in
the Bible or stuck in someone else's sentimental log-book. I've been
stuck in the cold, harsh, and often dull reality of a paradigm that's formed,
more than anything, out of a need to satisfy my boredom.<br />
<br />
I only explain this to preface an experience that will no doubt come across
overly-sentimental and almost preachy in nature. That stated: you have been
warned!<br />
<br />
Before going to Cambodia, Dean Ellis (my kind mentor who recruited me to write
the book) mentioned in passing that he believed this would be an experience
that would fundamentally change my life and how I view the world, forever. A
part of me scoffed at this notion while a part of me skeptically hoped he was
right. I suppose it will take a lot more time to see how these experiences
settle into the fiber that is me before any real judgment on the matter can be
rendered.<br />
<br />
At about five o'clock in the evening, standing on a muddy grass embankment,
overlooking miles of rich, green rice fields with rain-laden clouds hanging low
in the sky, I had the opportunity to listen to a women recount in painful and
poignant detail many of her experiences during the Cambodian genocides of the
70's. <br />
<br />
While listening to her stories I couldn’t help but be moved, not because the
tragedy of it all, but by who she was. Perhaps I’m jaded or simply a negative
person, but I find it difficult to be moved to think someone is extraordinary
due to having survived difficult circumstances. Hardships find us all at some
point—though I won’t pretend most of us ever have to handle anything to the
degree she experienced. I don't particularly believe surviving, simply making
it through the tough times, makes someone special. To me, it means they held
on. Admirable, definitely, but it’s to be hoped that we’d all do that, at the
least. What we do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">after</i> hardships,
who we become and what we do as a result of those tough times, say more for a
person's character than surviving ever could.<br />
<br />
Perhaps my beliefs on such matters are why I was so moved as I listened to the
heart-wrenching and tragic stories of this woman's life. <br />
<br />
It wasn't the awful stories of countless friends and family members being
brutally slaughtered or the hardships of her daily life... Those are sad
stories, tragic stories, but this woman was so much more than someone to pity
or to praise for simply hanging on. <br />
<br />
As she looked across the fields, which by some have been labeled 'the killing
fields,' the first and only tear during the telling of her story appeared while
she recounted the last time she saw her father before he died. <br />
<br />
Something about seeing another person’s emotions has a way of boiling my own to
the surface. At that moment I think I began to understand why this woman became
who she is today and why I admire her. <br />
<br />
Many people survived the atrocities that took place in Cambodia during the
70's, but she grew and became something so much more as a person because of
them.<br />
<br />
This woman now runs an orphanage which is much more than the name implies.
Using her own meager means, she struggles and scrapes by, trying to provide
chances for dozens of kids and adult workers who would otherwise be stuck in
lives of abject poverty with no hope of escaping. <br />
<br />
It’s an absolute miracle that she’s been able to make this place work. She told
me dozens of stories about when the money just wasn't there to pay for so many
people to eat, to pay the rent on the building, and yet she persevered and
struggled, set up internship opportunities so the kids could get an education,
learn English, and prepare for college. The list of things this woman has done,
and the challenges she went through to accomplish them, are astounding.<br />
<br />
I have heard very few stories of people who have struggled so much for so long
to obtain something for someone else. She has dedicated her life, not to her personal
gain—she could have long since been rich if she kept her money for herself—but
to the gains and potential gains of others. It’s not like she’s some rich
philanthropist, tossing pocket change at a problem that touched her heart
strings. She’s a bad month from living in the gutter. This is who she is. She
gives everything she has, not just what’s convenient.<br />
<br />
I am in awe. <br />
<br />
Perhaps something inside me will never be the same. I hope so.<br />
<br />
As she stared across the fields, finishing her story, Dean solemnly bowed his
head and said, “This place, this is holy ground.”<br />
<br />
I stopped and pondered what he said, trying to decide how to process the
statement.<br />
<br />
I’ve heard such things said before about areas where people have died, where
atrocities have occurred. Such statements have never sat well with me. Perhaps
the place <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> holy, but not because
the evils which took place there, not because of the lives lost. I don’t believe
a graveyard is inherently holy. No, if this is holy ground it is but because
the type of person those experiences forged.<br />
<br />
It took me a while to decide if I was okay with his statement. I thought and
pondered. I stared meaningfully off into a dying sunset in a foreign land,
surrounded by the squalor of third-world conditions.<br />
<br />
The air felt as alive as the greenery that dotted the landscape. Several people
stood nearby, tears in their eyes. They’d all been in the camp. They’d all
experienced a living hell I can barely imagine but which I now have to attempt
to capture in my own, meager and lacking words. It did not take long to see
that each of these people is incredible in so many ways. They lacked
selfishness and so many of the concerns so common in my everyday life.<br />
<br />
I have no doubts.<br />
<br />
Is this a holy place? Yes… I’m inclined to agree.</span></div>Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-87310396292362782872012-06-04T10:51:00.002-07:002012-06-04T10:51:25.062-07:00The "Why" of My Trip To Cambodia<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I've gotten several question lately about why I went to Cambodia. I figured I probably ought to explain!</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span><br /></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span>A few months back I was asked if I'd be willing to write a book to help raise money for an orphanage in Cambodia. The book follows the lives of two women who survived the genocide committed by the Khmer Rouge Regime under Pol Pot in Cambodia during the 1970's. Incidentally, these women went on to start an orphanage that is taking care of some of the most amazing kids I've ever met.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span><br /></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span>The women themselves are nothing short of saints or angels here on earth. </span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span>Below is a rough draft of the beginning of the book. Feel free to give it a gander and see what I've been working on!</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span><br /></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<u><b><span>From My Empty Stomach</span></b></u><span> <i>(Rough Draft)</i></span></div>
<br /><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span>In 1968, King Sihanouk of Cambodia mandated
that all government officials serve as members of the army reserve to counter a
growing insurgence of civil unrest. People met in the forests and in secret
buildings in the cities, organizing an uprising to overthrow their King.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Over the course of the next two years the
country was thrown into chaos. Infrastructure was destroyed by rioting
demonstrators. They burned down government offices, broke into private
businesses and looted shops, stores, and anything that crossed their paths. </span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">They screamed their anger and defiance of
King Sihanouk, demanding he leave his throne so they could re-shape their
country how they saw fit. In the process they slowly destroyed the country
around them.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">From the destruction of their protests rose
the Khmer Rouge, a group of black-clad militants bearing guns and had
bandoliers of ammo slung across their bodies. </span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">***</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">At the beginning of the rebellion Botevy was
just a small girl, the oldest of six children—three girls and three boys. She
was born in 1961, at Prash Ponlear, Kom Pong Ro district, in the Svay Rieng
province of Cambodia, next to the border of Vietnam. Her father, by the King’s
mandate, was drafted into the military and became a general in camp of Pursat.
He was called to fight the Khmer Rouge and the Cambodian army gathered near her
home to deal with the rising insurgency.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">***</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The sun hung low over the horizon, casting a
golden glow across the endless green rice fields of the Svay Rieng province in
Cambodia, and peeking through the windows of Botevy’s home. Her father sat at
his desk in his military uniform, his back straight, pen in hand as it danced
quickly across the page before him.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Botevy tentatively stepped forward. “What
are you writing?” she asked.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Without stopping, he explained, “A letter to
your cousins and their families. There’s going to be a very big fight tonight
and it won’t be safe. I’m telling them what to do.”</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“Men with guns like ours are coming?” They
had a large cannon set up in the front yard. Her home had become an impromptu
military headquarters for the area. While most buildings nearby were formed of
grass thatch, sticks, and bamboo, their home was constructed of thick concrete
and surrounded by concrete walls. The choice to headquarter there was logical
from all points, especially given her father’s position as General.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“Men with guns,” he nodded. “But not like
ours. Smaller.”</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">She pondered what he said for a moment
before asking, “What do they need to do?”</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">He stopped writing and set aside his pen for
a moment. He turned to face her. “Do you remember what we did?”</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Botevy’s face scrunched up as she thought.
“We put our things in the ground?”</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“Exactly!” he said with a smile, placing a
hand on her shoulder. “Just like we did, they need to hide their valuables,
bury them in the ground where nobody can find them.” He gave her a bare smile
and turned back to the page he was working on and continued writing. </span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">He was a kind man, with stark features less
weathered than most of his countrymen due to spending most of his time inside a
classroom as a teacher as opposed to out in the elements, working the fields or
doing construction. He was mostly bald and thin, and had lately seemed weighed
down by the stresses of the rebellion he’d been drafted to fight against. </span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“Please, go find your mother for me,” he
said. “I’m sending the family to stay with her uncle tonight, out in the
country.”</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Botevy nodded, practicing a solemn face like
the one she’d seen her father wearing so much lately, and ran off to find her
mother. </span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">***</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Several hours later, the whole family, minus
her father, was gathered at her uncle’s house. The sun had since set and stars shown
bright and clear across the unpolluted sky. The air was humid and hot in the
rainy reason, even in the dark, and mosquitos and other bugs fairly filled the
air. </span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The house they were in was small. Much too
small for the number of people clustered in and round it, but they had little choice.
Botevy wouldn’t complain. Besides, she got to be around her cousins. They
talked in whispers about the forthcoming danger, what they thought might
happen, often boasting about what incredible feats their fathers or brothers
might accomplish.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The family camaraderie was interrupted when
gun shots rang out across the rice fields, over the meandering dirt roads and
through stands of bamboo and palm trees.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Botevy, along with a few of her cousins, ran
from the house to see what was happening. Adults yelled at them, but the words
were lost on the wind and in the din of the fighting.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Silhouetted by moonlight, a large man stood
on the dirt road between several of the nearby village homes, partially
obscured by the thick foliage, screaming at the top of his lungs, “Everyone,
run to the pond. Hide beneath the bamboo!” He continued to scream this over and
over, standing in plain sight, despite the spark and bang of guns fired nearby.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Botevy ran back to her family with her
cousins and relayed what she’d heard, then quickly grabbed one of her little
brothers and sisters in each hand. Her other siblings and several cousins
followed her lead. They crouched low, fearing stray bullets, and whisked their
way across the yard, pausing by the road, daring a glance both ways before
darting across.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The stands of bamboo that lined the pond
were only a few dozen feet away, swaying in a light breeze as if they were
carefree and oblivious to the violence that had erupted nearby. Botevy, the
siblings she’d brought along, and several cousins skittered between the
thickets and rushed to hide in the small track of dirt beside the swelled banks
of the pond.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The sound of gunfire had grown to deafening
pops by now, and streams of iridescent light streaked above, firing in a dozen
different directions. Occasionally men cried out in pain an there were thumps
and grunts as bullets found their homes in human flesh.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Most of the children cried or whimpered.
Botevy did her best to quiet them. She was the oldest, after all, at least of
the children who’d made it to the pond. Several adults from the village huddled
nearby, doing what they could as well, but it was her job to lead by example.
She put on a brave face.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Somewhere in the darkness she heard her
mother call out. “Avy! Avy! Where are you?”</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“We’re at the pond, mom!” Botevy called
back. A part of her wanted to rush to her mom, to bring her to where they sat,
but she was paralyzed by fear and held back by the adults of the village.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Though the distance between the pond and the
house was no more than several hundred feet, minutes passed without a sign of
her mother. Fear built up inside and her terror was realized as a loud wail of
pain broke the air. “Oh, oh… Help. Help me! I… I’ve been shot...” Botevy’s
mother’s said. He voice undulated between shriek and desperate whisper, as if
she’d lost all control. Over the broken fragments of her mother’s pleas came
the high-pitched wail of her baby brother, just an infant, no doubt being
carried in his mother’s arms.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Botevy began to rise, despite the bullets
streaking overhead.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“Don’t move,” one of the large men of the
village said, leveling a stare at Botevy. “I’ll go get them.”</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Botevy reluctantly crouched back down and
sat anxiously as the man rose from the protection of the bamboo.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">By now there were more than ten people
huddled by the pond’s edge. They all looked on intently as the man crawled
toward the sound of Botevy’s mom and the crying baby. </span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Thinking was difficult. Beside the pained
cries of her mother and baby brother, and all the worries that entailed, the
children around her also cried and whimpered. All these noises combined with
the sound of the gunfight to make for a deafening cacophony. In that moment,
Botevy wanted to cover her ears, curl up and pretend the world didn’t exist.
But she couldn’t, not yet. The children needed help and reassurance.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Just as she thought this, Botevy’s
grandfather turned and hushed them. “You must be quiet,” he said softly, but
firmly. “If you are not quiet we cannot help your mother, do you understand?”</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Sodden eyes and tear-streaked faces nodded
back to the weathered old man. Botevy used her hands to cover the mouths of the
youngest, quieting them because they did not understand. Soon the group quieted
to a dull whimper.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">A few moments stretched out like an eternity
as they waited. Eventually the man returned with Botevy’s mother and baby
brother. There was blood. So much blood. It drenched the lower half of her
brother’s body and stained her mother’s clothes.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“It’s okay. It’s okay,” her mother said.
“We’ll be okay.”</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Given the amount of blood it was hard to
believe. But the nearby adults all rushed in to help. They cleaned off her
mother and brother. A bullet had gone through her baby brother’s leg and lodged
into her mother’s hand. Painful and bloody… but not deadly. Someone retrieved a
medicinal wrap and wound it about both of the injuries.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">They waited out the darkness under the
shelter of the bamboo, often jumping and flinching at the sound of each shot.
But after a while even that terror wore to a dull threat, and exhaustion slowly
took the children. They dropped off, one by one, to sleep.</span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-24712732178222258062012-06-02T13:13:00.000-07:002012-06-02T13:13:00.462-07:00Adventures in Cambodia: Episode #1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b>Adventures in Cambodia<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span>Episode #1</b><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->: <i>Don’t Teach Them to Punch</i><br />
<br />
*Quick contextual note - I spent a good deal of time at an orphanage while
in Cambodia. These experiences relate to my experiences with those incredible
children.*<br />
<br />
I like mixed martial arts. In my opinion, no other sport quite grasps the
contest of skill, careful technique, and willpower like two guys trying to make
sure they aren't the one that ends up a broken, bloody mess on the ground at
the end of the contest.<br />
<br />
So, naturally, when I saw the orphan kids in Cambodia drop into a Muay Thai
stance and begin throwing air punches and kicks, I had to join in. <br />
<br />
My first order of business was to carefully correct their stances, showing
them how to shift their hips to get the most power from a punch—literally. It
was like my own little martial arts school. Thirty-some-odd children crouched in
position on burning hot pavement in ninety-percent humidity, throwing, slowly at
first, then at full speed, punches with practiced technique.<br />
<br />
Memo to self: When surrounded by roughly thirty orphan kids, don't let even
one show you how hard they can hit.<br />
<br />
I made that mistake my first day in Cambodia. It started with one punch.
Then the pack mentality kicked in. After all, nobody likes to feel left out!
Kids from four to eighteen decided they needed to show me how strong they were,
how well they’d internalized my lesson. Sweet and innocent little girls pounced
like pumas, viciously pummeling my abs while the older boys did their best to
make my arms go numb.<br />
<br />
I smiled. I took it. I mean, I’d volunteered for this. I couldn't complain.
Of course, that was when I thought it was a one-time occurrence. I hadn't
realized all the kids would take to the behavior as some special novelty and
decide it would make an excellent greeting and a funny action to do in passing
for the duration of my stay.<br />
<br />
Well, the cat was out of the bag, as the saying goes. Might as well embrace
it! I smiled and flexed and let them wail away at me, never admitting just how
hard some of the older boys could hit. After all, these kids don’t live a sedentary
life, stuck inside playing X-Box all day or staring at computer screen. They
work to help support the orphanage. Every muscle in their bodies gets regular
use. The muscles I dedicate to working out they use with practical application.
For them, it’s not one hour in a gym. It’s a life-style. And even though they
are by no means big, they’re definitely in shape.<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
So the kids obviously had some knowledge of Muay Thai, our little session
proved as much. Well, they also had an enthusiasm for WWE style wrestling which
became apparent in their mock fights, announcer, ref and all. But much to my
dismay they had absolutely no knowledge of Jiu Jitsu, my favorite discipline.
That just wouldn't do.<br />
Step in teacher Brandon.<br />
<br />
Memo to self #2: Don't teach kids how to do a proper choke hold... Let alone
three or four styles of chokes along with arm bars and other bone breaking,
ligament tearing moves.<br />
<br />
Given new bodily harm knowledge, I'd suddenly created several dozen young
assassins anxious to test their new-found abilities at every turn.<br />
<br />
Oh no... What have I done?<br />
<br />
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, or so I’ve heard. I guess I'll be
impervious to pain now. I can’t complain about that!<br />
<br />
But it wasn’t my pain that caused me to worry. Naturally the kids had to
test their skills on one another. Suddenly I found myself running around,
stopping ten year olds from breaking arms and making each other pass out.<br />
<br />
Congratulations Brandon, you volunteered for a full time job of saving
little kids from serious bodily harm. What happens when you leave? Probably
should have thought that through…<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
I say all this as if I might go back and change what I'd done. Like I’d go
back and approached the situation differently. But truthfully, I probably
wouldn't. As painful and tiring as I made things for myself (and ignoring the
potential dangers of my lessons), these experiences are MY special connection
with a bunch of incredible kids. With such a special group of individuals,
there is nothing I'd rather have than my own trademark interaction to be
remembered by. Even if it ends with a few bruises.<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
Memo to self #3: In the future, when in the company of a bunch of kids—be they
orphans or local youth—bring a ball or teach a musical instrument or something.
:-) <br />Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-67881230843363918092011-12-07T10:06:00.000-08:002011-12-07T10:12:23.126-08:00Interesting SteveOnce upon a time I sat with several friends on a sunny Sunday afternoon on the BYU-Hawaii Campus. Somewhere in our conversations we came up with a game show idea (which I will not share because I still believe it is a brilliant idea and needs to be done). From this game show idea a rather sad obsession of mine developed. And from that obsession sprouted this little short story. Hopefully it's an <span style="font-style: italic;">interesting (ha ha ha...)</span> read!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Interesting Steve</span><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:enableopentypekerning/> 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Being born with a combination of entirely generic names, to parents who were, admittedly, quite average and unremarkable, had only fueled his desire to assert, if to nobody but himself, that he was indeed interesting.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> If Steve were a comic book hero, he decided his name would be The Interesting Steve. If he were a villain, he’d be the Interesting and Nefarious Steve. Needless to say, his creativity with pseudonyms for his alter-egos did little to bolster the validity of his desired self-image. Of course, he reasoned, creativity was hardly a prerequisite for interestingness. Surely, simply by virtue of his obsession with being interesting, he must have become so.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> What Steve did not know and did not understand was what actually made a person interesting, or that being interesting was entirely subjective. Still, he might’ve been quite pleasantly surprised to discover that three of his acquaintances found him interesting, in one fashion or another.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> Suzy Jackman, a girl from his math class, found Steve cute because his eyes narrowed and his lips pursed whenever he was trying to solve a particularly difficult problem.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">Jared Cobb, being something of a scientist and casual observer of everyone in his general vicinity, was thoroughly curious as to what led Steve to lay upside-down, staring at the blank white ceiling in a service stairwell while eating lunch at work.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">And Cami Johnson, a long-lost childhood friend, knew without a shadow of a doubt that Steve was an entirely unique person simply for the fact that he listened to her when nobody else did. If he were to ask her, he would find out how greatly in awe she held him for the way he remembered seemingly trivial details about her stories, appearance, or even scent from their childhood explorations.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">But Steve was entirely unaware of these feelings and opinions. He was, it might be said, non-blissfully ignorant.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">If you were to ask Steve’s best friend, Martin Franesinico—whom Steve adored simply for having a quite interesting and unique last name—what made Steve interesting, he’d shrug, go back to playing whatever video game was popular at the moment and then casually say something along the lines of, “Just is, ya know?”<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">Since Martin lacked the social awareness required to reassure Steve when he needed reassurance, he’d never once let Steve know that he found him interesting. After all, that’s not exactly the type of thing you just let your friend know at random.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">This left Steve in a rather depressing predicament. He was, as far as he was aware, entirely without any social justification for feeling interesting, which, naturally, made him feel quiet bland. And so if was that he decided to take the most extreme measure he could think of, on the off chance it might work.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">After a long, rather uninteresting day of school and work, Steve, using a level of stealth and secrecy the CIA would have taken note of, snuck into his neighborhood friendly nuclear power plant. This required MacGyver-like skills. First, he disabled their security camera network (and everything else for that matter) with a home-made EMP device he’d looked up on Google and had assembled after several months of scrimping and having to buy the expensive components. Next, he scaled their barbed-wire fencing, using a thick rug as protection. He slinked and slunk around the plant grounds, making use of the EMP created confusion and shadows to hide him.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> The nuclear compound had several buildings. The one with the nuclear reactor he stayed clear of. Getting inside that to steal anything would’ve been even more impossible than everything else he was doing. He instead rooted through the other buildings until he located a storage facility, which, with the help of a paperclip, some duct tape, and an extremely small amount of home-made explosives, he was able to enter.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">After rooting around miraculously undetected for forty-five minutes, he exited the plant with seven pounds and thirteen ounces of actively radiating substances of an undisclosed nature (apparently the workers knew exactly what was stored inside because it lacked any form of labeling aside from the hazard symbol).<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">The part of his mind in control of planning had struck a metaphorical chord with the thought of genetic mutation as a result to high levels of radiation. And so that is exactly what Steve planned to do. But simply exposing himself to radiation would not suffice. No, he deigned to expose a spider, which he intended to let bite him, a frog, which he intended to lick, and a random assortment of several other creatures which he’d been able to get his hands upon in quick fashion.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> After five rather uneventful hours of basking in high doses of radiation with his captured experiment creatures, Steve decided to go forward with his plan, and he did so.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> He woke the next day with no noticeable result to his experiment. And indeed, two weeks passed without a single sign that anything had happened, except, perhaps, for an aching he felt, which might’ve been attributed to his experiment, or possibly to a tumble he’d taken down the stairs when he’d gotten up in the middle of the night to pee.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> But after two weeks, give or take a few hours, and despite all meaningful scientific research suggesting such a thing was not possible, Steve’s body changed as a result of his admittedly dangerous activities. In short measure he grew extra eyes, scattered about his person, six extra, to be precise. His body developed glands which produced high quantities of a mucus-like substance which quickly covered his body. His fingers and toes elongated and his sense of smell somehow granted him a smell-based radar-like affect. Though he didn’t immediately notice, the entire back half of his body emitted a soft yellow glow. And lastly, he developed chitin scales all over his neck which inexplicably worked to filter oxygen from water, making him virtually un-drown-able.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> Now, an uninteresting person, or perhaps simply an ordinary person, would be terrified by these changes. Steve was thrilled. Sure, going out in to public dressed in ordinary clothes was out of the question, and living an ordinary life was all but impossible. But Steve wasn’t looking for ordinary and bland. He wanted interesting.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> What Steve had not anticipated as a side-result of his ill-advised experiments with radiation was that the few people close to him would shun him because of his new changes. Even his best friend, Martin, who maintained a vigilant nonchalance about everything, could not handle the “new and improved” Steve.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> And so after a matter of only a few days Steve found himself most definitely interesting, but entirely alone and rejected by society, friends, and family.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> Like many people who’ve been hurt or rejected too many times, Steve’s heart began to harden, his will twisted into something dark and terrible, and his actions were not long in following.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> It began as petty crimes, stealing stray cats and dogs from shelters so that he’d have something to eat (since part of his transformation involved giving him strange gastronomical desires). But his crime spree quickly grew. In no time he was stealing claimed pets, breaking and entering (to get aforementioned pets), and several cases of vandalism and indecent exposure.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> The thrill and excitement of his new lifestyle motivated him to bigger and bigger heights. He sought greater adrenaline highs, and activities that would surely make him more interesting.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> In April 2012, WeeklyNews, a world-wide publication, featured a picture of Steve growling at a crowd after having robbed a bank upon the cover of their magazine. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The headline read: Villain or Misguided Freak?<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">The Interesting and Nefarious Steve crouched down in the shadows behind the news stand he’d stolen the magazine from and smiled. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> Only interesting people made it on the cover of WeeklyNews.</p>Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-79998515651719384432011-11-02T11:24:00.000-07:002011-11-02T11:32:15.435-07:00Push the Button<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> 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<![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">Well folks, here's a little something to look over. I don't have a direction to this and I'd very much appreciate any ideas about where to go with it, or any feedback on what's already here. I'm imagining this as a short story of some type (yes, I've got a whole page of a short story without a direction in mind, shame on me!).<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Push the Button</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">Cliff Branson was a push-the-button type of guy. After 400 years of life, why not? He’d met—and been shot at—by six sentient alien species. His body was long gone. The only thing really human about him anymore was his brain, which, despite the best technological advances, he was pretty sure only barely resembled the one he’d been born with. He had nothing to lose, really. So pushing the button came naturally to him. In this case, it was a big, bright blue button on the center console of an abandoned alien spaceship.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">Captain Gobb and First Mate Smith were arguing about something—Cliff wasn’t paying attention—probably about whether or not they ought to push the button. Apparently, one of the many hostile alien species had taken umbrage with the crew’s claim on the abandoned alien ship and was coming right for them. No doubt they were in imminent risk of being blowing apart, which seemed to happen on a by weekly basis—the imminent risk, not the being blowing apart part.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">Cliff yawned—it sounded like the real thing, his very own yawn, despite coming from a speaker in the back of his artificial mouth—leaned forward and, you guessed it, pushed the big, blue button.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"></span>The captain and first mate stopped arguing when the tell-tale rumbling of an FTL drive warming up shook the alien ship. They both turned, and as one and exclaimed, “Cliff! What have you done?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">Cliff returned what he thought of as his “lazy grin” and shrugged. “Looks like we’re heading somewhere.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">Like a whirling dervish, Captain Gobb spun and started taking in the details of the alien console, or attempting to, anyway. The console was nothing but indecipherable symbols.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"></span>“If we’re taking a jump to dead space I’ll… I’ll…”<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">“Kill me?” Cliff suggested. “A little bit of a hollow threat, all things considered, don’t you think, Captain?”<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">Half the muscles on Captain Gobb’s face were twitching. He stared at Cliff for a minute and then turned around and barked commands to the rest of the crew. Cliff had already stopped paying attention to the people around him. His eyes were fixed out the front window, which, at the moment, didn’t show much of anything except for blurred light, which wasn’t half as awe inspiring after several thousand jumps. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">A few moments later—or perhaps it was many moments, he had a tendency to lose track of such things—the blurred lights out the front window came into focus, the FTL drive hummed to a halt, and they were hovering outside an earthlike world. The big giveaway that it wasn’t earth was that there was unmolested nature instead of man-made structures blotting out everything green.<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">“Blue button leads to paradise. Check,” Cliff said, turning with his “goofy smile” on. “Want to take a hop down in one of the shuttles? Do you think they have deer? I haven’t seen a deer since I was fifteen. We could go hunting."<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">Half the crew was staring at him like they wanted to strangle him—he was used to the look. The other half of the crew was staring wide-eyed out the window. Honestly, it was like they’d never seen a real world before. Of course, since the next oldest person on board was a paltry fifty-seven, Cliff supposed they probably hadn’t.<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in">“Those green spots,” Cliff offered helpfully, “are where plants are growing. And look, the water is still blue here. Isn’t that nice?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0in"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></p>Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-41816325867831996482011-09-03T10:47:00.000-07:002011-09-03T10:56:08.889-07:00Dominions of Glory:10<span style="font-weight: bold;">Dominions of Glory: 10</span>
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<br />Here's a bit of a longer section...Not sure how much more of this I'm going to post since I'm starting to run into a lot of issues that need fundamental re-writes... But I'll see what I can do to keep people happy...
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mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">“Baelin what?” Whisper asked, looking first to Dilirian and then to Baelin for an answer. “Baelin what?” she repeated.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I’ve got a bit of money,” Baelin said, leaving it at that.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Whisper stared at Baelin and he got the distinct impression she wasn’t just looking at him, but searching for something. “There’s stories,” she said solemnly, “Old stories, faerie tales that mothers whisper to their children as they fall asleep. My father used to tell me several interesting ones.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“That’s nice,” Dilirian said dismissively. “I bet one of them was about gold magically appearing in the mountains.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Not in the mountains,” Whisper chided. “But yes, actually. There’s one in particular that comes to mind.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Let’s hear it,” Baelin said, genuinely curious. He didn’t know many faerie tales or Old Stories. His mother hadn’t known many and wasn’t one for story-telling. Aside from that, he spent so much time alone he simply didn’t have many opportunities to hear them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“In the Old Days, back when Iln was a small city in Baeilnidor, there was a small, protected family with few descendants. They were extremely wealthy, and lived like kings, some even said they had once ruled all the land from the Western Sea to the lava fields of Duun far to the east.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But now they were simply a wealthy family of particular note, that kept themselves holed up in a private fortress in the middle of Iln.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“As often happens when rich folk hide themselves away, all manner of rumors sprung up about them about who they were and where they came from. Most of the stories were nonsense, obviously: they were never seen because they only came out at night; they never left their fortress because they were all hideous and disfigured. All a bunch of nonsense. But, if you could sift through the dross, there was a common thread to many of the more reputable theories. It seemed certain families had long kept watch on the family in question, and had noticed odd things about them. Things disappeared or appeared at random when they were about. People who drew their ire would often vanish without a trace. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Well, after many long years of speculation, without even a single person seeing a living soul inside the fortress, my great-grandfather, nine or so generations ago, snuck inside the fortress as a young man. You see, my line was one of the families that had long kept watch upon the family in question, for there was a general mistrust of that family, and those who watched were there to ensure they never ventured out trying to reclaim the vast empire that had supposedly once been theirs. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Once inside the fortress walls he found vast troves of treasure, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and of course, gold, chests and chests of it, just lying about. But as he wandered through the place he saw no sign of any life. He wandered and searched, careful at first, but as it seemed to him that caution was no longer needed, he walked about in the open, and went so far as to pocket enough gems and coins as to make himself a wealthy man. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">“He searched until darkness fell upon the city. And just as he decided the place was abandoned and that he should return home, he heard a ragged old voice behind him. He turned and saw a man who looked to be three hundred years of age, such was the state of his wear. His skin hung and sagged as if it were ready to fall from his bones, his eyes were so far set back in his skull that they could barely be seen, and all that was left of his hair was a few stray white wisps.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“After a moment’s pause my great-grandfather took a step back, somehow fearing the wrath of this decrepit old man. ‘You are too late, <u>Watcher</u>,’ said the old man. ‘My seed has escaped these barren walls.’ At which point he began to cackle, and as he cackled, it seemed to my great-grandfather, so many generations ago, that the very stones beneath the man turned to gold beneath his feet.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“The old man, realizing that the stones beneath him had turned to gold began to curse and shout and threatened to summon fire if my great-grandfather did not flee immediately. So my great-grandfather turned and ran, still with his treasure hidden away in his pockets. As he ran he said it was as if a wind was sucked out of the world and drawn into the spot where the old man stood, cursing him.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Well, upon returning home my great-grandfather, so many generations back, spoke with his father at length about what he’d seen. His father told him that the old man was part of a family long known to have odd things happen about them, such as having stones turn to gold. His father then went on to explain that they, being my family line, had been watching that old fortress specifically to ensure the family within never turned whatever dark powers they had on the world in conquest.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Whisper let her last words hang in the air for a moment and then bowed her head.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Wait, what?” Dilirian said. “That’s the end? That stories absurd. Surely you don’t believe it. You speak as if the man had the Magic the Old Stories tell of. Surely you can tell the difference between a child’s fable and the truth?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“It’s how my father told it to me,” Whisper said firmly, looking as if she might pull her mace out and use it in a moment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“And besides,” Dilirian continued, oblivious to Whisper’s mood, “the golden paving stones within the Baeilnidor fortress were put there by Jahin the fourth, it is well known. I should know; I crossed them a dozen times a day for the entirety of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jahin had decided to make a show of our province’s wealth by slowly replacing each stone within the fortress with golden bricks, but he died several days after the project began, having changed only a small portion of one hallway out. His son, <u>my</u> great-grandfather as many generations back, Heridon, saw the folly of his father’s plan, but did not have the heart to tear up the golden bricks, and left them as a memorial to his late father.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“What was the point of the story,” Baelin quietly asked.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I thought it would be clear,” Whisper said, shooting a venomous sideways glance to Dilirian. “In that story gold mysteriously appeared as it has tonight.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“But under quite different circumstances,” Baelin noted.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Well, yes,” Whisper said and began to say something else when Dilirian cut her off.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“A bunch of nonsense,” Dilirian said.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I’m afraid she’s <u>not</u> full of nonsense,” came an accented voice from the darkness. “I’m afraid her version of the tale is much closer to the truth than yours is.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dilirian and Whisper both had their weapons drawn in a moment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Put those away,” Baelin said because he’d recognized the voice. He called out into the darkness, “Hazeem, come to the fire, will you?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hazeem walked into the pool of light cast by the fire. He had olive skin and graying hair, which had been brown the last time Baelin had seen the man. His head was oddly shaped, coming to a point at his nose and sloping backward sharply for both his forehead and chin.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I thought you’d long since left Shadyridge,” Baelin said.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“And so I have,” Hazeem said with a keen smile. “But I made my destination different than I originally planned.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Who is this?” Dilirian asked, still holding his sword even though Hazeem was clearly no threat and Whisper had since put away her mace. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">“My name is Hazeem. I am a friend of Baelin’s.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Not much of a friend,” Baelin said. “I thought you were half a world away.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Bah,” Hazeem said. “They could run me out of town, but they could not get me to abandon this place. I’ve made a home in the mountains where I’ve been able to overlook the land for miles. I’ve seen you in the fields on many occasions.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Something in the way Hazeem spoke made Baelin nervous. He instantly thought back to all the times he’d used Magic in any area that might’ve been seen from above. He’d done so dozens of times, but he could hardly believe Hazeem would’ve been able to see the results of that use from so high up.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I wish you’d let me know you were still here,” Baelin said. “I would’ve come up for a visit.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hazeem laughed. “I think it has been best that nobody knows I am around.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Yet you make yourself known now,” Dilirian said, finally sheathing his sword.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I was drawn by the fire,” Hazeem said. “And seeing it was simply Baelin, well, I figured I would offer words of warning.” He paused for a moment. “But I should speak to you first, young one,” he said while looking at Dilirian. “When traveling alone through the mountains, you would do well to learn to step quietly. You never know when you might stumble upon a bandit encampment. I shadowed you on your trip for several hours without notice; you were so loud you didn’t have the chance to hear me.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dilirian flushed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“But more than this,” Hazeem said, “I warn you. There are devils about. You would do well to be wary. I have killed many of the creatures in this area, but I cannot say with certainty that you are safe.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“That’s why we are here,” Baelin said. “To hunt the devils and keep people safe.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Ah,” Hazeem said as nodded his head in sagely manner. “The young and ill-tested journey together. I hope this is an expedition you were not coerced into taking?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“We decided to come because we had the necessary tools,” Dilirian said, quite defensively.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I see that,” Hazeem said. “Armor and weapons are good for these devils. But I have spied far larger problems in the distance: smoke rises from across the river in Gaulder. The country-side burns and winged devils can be spotted in the air as night begins to fall.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“We’ve heard of this also,” Baelin said.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hazeem nodded as if that was expected.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“You said my story was more correct,” Whisper said, suddenly changing the topic. “How would one whose homeland would appear to be so far away know anything of this story?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“How does anything know anything?” Hazeem asked. “It was taught to me. And you,” he looked to Dilirian, “should not show such ignorance of your own house. If you knew anything of history you would know that story you just shared was a lie. How long has your family line been in power?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Some five-hundred years,” Dilirian said proudly.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“And how many of those years have they been seated in Iln?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dilirian hesitated. “Nearly one hundred.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Then how is it that you can claim your ancestors are responsible for something that took place before they were given the Iln seat by their king?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dilirian had no response, which brought a smirk to Whisper’s face.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I would think the important point of this young lady’s story, though, would be that the old man who is spoken of in the tale shares a name with young Baelin here.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Baelin’s face went red and he hoped the darkness hid the reaction.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I was getting to that,” Whisper said, “before Dilirian cut me off.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I did not!” Dilirian insisted.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Wait, the old man was named Baelin?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Well,” Hazeem said, “Baelelin, which is the more formal version of your name and is often shortened to simply: Baelin.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Baelin frowned.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Wait, now you’re saying that our piece of gold appeared randomly because <u>Baelin</u> was here and he happened to share a similar name as someone from a stupid story you heard once?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“You cry like a young baby who’s had the teat taken from his mouth,” Whisper said.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I do not!” Dilirian cried.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hazeem smiled broadly, revealing a row of pristine teeth that belied his aged appearance. He gave Baelin a wink and settled down by the fire as Whisper and Dilirian went about a verbal war.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The argument continued on for some minutes before Dilirian sulked away from the firelight, defeated by Whisper’s sharp tongue.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“That boy has no brain in his head,” she said, still fuming.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“He’s just had one small portion of his education neglected. I think you’ll find few nobility willing to admit that a commoner knows more than them in any subject they consider of worth.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Baelin and Whisper both agreed to this.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">
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Baelin invited Hazeem to share their fire for the night, but he opted to return to his home, wherever that was, and said he would join them again in the morning.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-37983006047743953762011-08-16T10:12:00.000-07:002011-08-16T10:15:06.175-07:00Dominion of Glory: 9<span style="font-weight: bold;">Dominions of Glory: 9</span>
<br />
<br />Baelin was last to wake the next morning. Whisper and Forden were in the kitchen, talking and laughing over a boiling pot while Dilirian brooded in the corner.
<br />
<br />“He lives!” Whisper said. “You might want to take a hand through your hair.”
<br />
<br />Baelin muttered to himself as Forden and Whisper laughed. He found a bucket of water sitting on the counter and used it to make his hair manageable. “What’s for breakfast?”
<br />
<br />“Leftover stew,” Forden said. “With a few extras added. You need to get injured more often, Baelin. I haven’t had so much company in years!”
<br />
<br />“Glad my suffering could help someone.”
<br />
<br />“You don’t look to be suffering much,” Whisper said. “How were you hurt?”
<br />
<br />“Some of the little devils came upon me while I was working my fields. Buggers were halfway done gnawing on me before I had time to draw my sword.”
<br />
<br />“You’ve recovered well,” she noted.
<br />
<br />“Aye,” Forden said, “unusually so.”
<br />
<br />Whisper raised an eyebrow. “So, shall we hunt today?”
<br />
<br />Baelin raised an eyebrow of his own.
<br />
<br />“The devils,” Whisper explained. “Forden’s told me the village had planned a hunt but it’d been delayed. I thought perhaps we might go today.”
<br />
<br />“I’ve never met someone so anxious for violence,” Forden said.
<br />
<br />“Not violence,” Whisper said defensively. “Action. Some people are built for fighting.”
<br />
<br />“Like you,” Forden said.
<br />
<br />Whisper shrugged. “I like to think so, but perhaps that‘s narcissistic. I’ve developed skills and talents and finally have a way to put them to good use. Can you blame me for wanting to feel useful?”
<br />
<br />Dilirian spoke up from the corner. “By the looks of your face you’ve had plenty of chances to use your skills.”
<br />
<br />Forden gave Dilirian a menacing stare and the young noble went silent, but it was too late, Whisper’s face was a storm cloud boiling over, her eyes ready to shoot lightning. If she had a retort, she kept it to herself, and slowly the storm upon her face abated and she went about eating in silence.
<br />
<br />“Do you think we should go?” Baelin asked after several minutes of uncomfortable silence. “I mean, after the soldier’s stories… What if we find more than the little devils that attacked me?”
<br />
<br />“What’s the point of fine suits if you cower inside?” Whisper said maliciously. “If there are bigger devils there are bigger devils. You two are better equipped than ordinary soldiers. You’ve obviously got some talent. And those who have the ability to help have the obligation to.”
<br />
<br />“Fighting for a noble cause?” Forden said. “Sounds like you’re ready to be a martyr.”
<br />
<br />“Not looking to die anytime soon,” Whisper said. “Just a way of looking at the world.”
<br />
<br />Forden nodded. “A good way. Not many would take it up. Most county folk live it a bit, I suppose. We’ll take in a stranded traveller or someone down on their luck, that goes without saying. But not many would put their lives on the line without something to gain themselves.”
<br />
<br />“I have plenty to gain,” Whisper said.
<br />
<br />Forden shrugged.
<br />
<br />They finished up eating while Forden made attempts at small talk about the weather and customs on the other side of the mountain.
<br />
<br />After Whisper’s goading, they decided to make a three-person trip up into the mountains, forgoing to company of poorly equipped and untrained villagers. They spent the better portion of the morning gathering supplies and preparing for several days away from the village. They reached the foothills by mid-afternoon, with the sun several fingers away from the crest of the Desper Mountains to the west.
<br />
<br />The foliage in the foothills was still green, though many leaves were turning their varying hues of gold and red. Thickets were thinning, and game trails that were normally hard to find were clearer to find. On a whole the chill of fall was beginning to show its effects upon the land.
<br />
<br />“How high up do you suppose we should go?” Baelin asked.
<br />
<br />Dilirian hmmm’d for a moment. “I think I was maybe half an hour above the forests when I was set up. Up where the mountains get truly rocky.”
<br />
<br />“What were you doing up there?” Whisper asked.
<br />
<br />“Crossing the mountains,” Dilirian said. “I came over from Silverbrook.” He gave Baelin a pleading look, begging him not to tell her the truth.
<br />
<br />“Most people go around instead, don’t they?” Whisper asked.
<br />
<br />“Usually,” Dilirian admitted. “I was hoping for a bit of adventure.”
<br />
<br />“We’ll find some before the end,” Whisper promised. “With the way the world is turning, it’s only a matter of time.”
<br />
<br />Baelin agreed and they continued their journey through the foothills and up into the pine forests that grew before the mountain broke free and shot into the sky.
<br />
<br />They spent the rest of the day hiking and huffing –armor was heavy – and vainly searching for any unusual signs or marketing that would hint devil’s had come their way.
<br />
<br />When the sky was disposing of the last of its light, they finish setting camp. A large piece of oiled canvas tied between two trees and hung over made for a tent large enough for the three to sleep without bumping into each other. They made a fire a few feet from their tent and supplies and set about warming themselves against the growing cold.
<br />
<br />Whisper took the liberty of taking their travel food and spicing it up with a few herbs she’d picked up as they’d hiked, creating something resembling an actual meal, for which Baelin was grateful. Still, his body needed more energy; it was still healing, after all. Though he was far from certain of the beneficial properties, he’d started suspecting that using Magic had helped him heal, and decided a little use now might help reinvigorate him. Having no particular need at the moment in mind, he decided to be a little showy, obliquely though. He concentrated on a rock back and to Whispers left and, in his mind, told magi to turn it into gold.
<br />
<br />The familiar wash of warmth opened up in him and coursed through his body. In one instant there was a stone, another, a solid nugget of gold rested out in the open, ripe to be picked up. To his delight, using Magic had had the desired effect. Baelin felt a little less tired, a little less sore. He was still far from refreshed, but he was, without a doubt, better off than he had been when he’d sat himself upon the stone he’d chosen as a seat.
<br />
<br />“Any of you feel that?” Dilirian asked, his eyes wide.
<br />
<br />“Feel what?” Baelin asked, worried he somehow given himself away.
<br />
<br />“Dilirian shook his head and looked out into the darkness beyond their camp. “I don’t know, it felt… like a wind, an unusual one, it blew past me and was gone in an instant.”
<br />
<br />Whisper nodded. “I felt it to. It’s probably nothing, a bit of heat blown off the fire by a breeze.”
<br />
<br />“Yeah…” Dilirian said, still scanning the darkness behind Baelin. After a while he turned his gaze to behind whisper, as if he’d find something beside their tent. “What’s that?” he said, pointing. “Something’s catching the light.”
<br />
<br />Whisper turned, following Dilirian’s finger. Baelin could just make out the widening of her eyes in her profile as she saw the golden nugget he’d created. She reached out and picked up the lump, hefting it in her hand and then holding it up to the firelight, examining it. “It looks like refined gold.”
<br />
<br />“That’s not possible,” Dilirian said. “The Despers aren’t known for having much gold at all, let alone pure gold.”
<br />
<br />“See for yourself,” Whisper said, holding the gold out.
<br />
<br />Dilirian took the stone, slightly smaller than a chicken’s egg, and examined it carefully. “This is refined gold. But what’s it doing sitting up here?”
<br />
<br />“Weird,” Baelin added, trying to avoid suspicion. “Lucky us, I guess.”
<br />
<br />“Not like we need it,” Dilirian said, obviously excluding Whisper.
<br />
<br />“We?” Whisper said. “That’s worth a fortune and you’re telling me neither of you even care?”
<br />
<br />Dilirian shrugged. “I’m from a rich family. And Baelin… well.”
<br />Baelin gave him a look and Dilirian shut up.
<br />
<br />Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-15366066413035517832011-08-08T12:54:00.000-07:002011-08-08T12:59:46.897-07:00Demons, Magic, and All Things UnbelievableI started writing another story on a whim. Here's a bit of it. I'd appreciate any thoughts or feedback. Of course, if you don't like it, I might hunt you down and kick you!
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<br />Daritan Talgini woke to the sound of hooves outside the tavern. A sliver of candle light flickered in the hallway. Please don’t knock on the door, he thought.
<br />In the past week he’d been woken in the middle of the night by strangers and werewolves three times.
<br />
<br />He closed his eyes, as if by doing so whoever was outside would go away. And then, much as he expected, and much how he dreaded, a knock came at the door. “By the Great One,” he cursed to himself, then rolled over and pulled his pillow over his head. <span style="font-style:italic;">Let Yhorin or Tristin deal with it this time</span>. Wait, no, Tristin is dead. That had happened five nights ago, after Tristin had decided to traipse after the old man who kept spying on the tavern whenever a storm arose. Tristin full well earned his death. Who attacks a strange man in the middle of the night without trying to reason with him first? He’d been singed to ash in an instant and Daritan and Jimn had fled, as might be expected when a man breathes fire hotter than the hottest forge fire upon your friend.
<br />
<br />“You better come out,” Yhorin called through the crack in Daritan’s door.
<br />
<br />“By Gloom, Yhorin, can’t you deal with it?”
<br />
<br />“You need to come see this,” Yhorin insisted.
<br />
<br />By now there were the sounds of many feet up and about. No doubt all the tavern staff was awake. Time to see what was happening this time. Another dark wizard, were-bears, or those little pigmy devil things with the sharpened teeth from that retched island?
<br />He threw on the shirt he’d worn the day before, which had been left hanging from the end of his bed, and walked out and around the corner, into the tavern’s common room.
<br />Through the open front door of the tavern was visible an elegant coach, dressed in all black and with actual glass windows. Glass! For a coach! “Coit,” he cursed under his breath. It was undoubtedly the same coach that had been parked in the middle of road, door open, which they’d passed only the day before as they’d returned home from the Red Mines.
<br />
<br />“Coit,” Yhorin agreed gravely, and looking as if he belonged in a grave as well. Of course, the grave look about him might full well be the lingering effects of having been poisoned some month or so ago. “Take a look inside.”
<br />
<br />Daritan gave his lumbering friend a skeptical look. Everyone else in the room nodded or otherwise indicated that he ought to take a gander into the retched carriage that was keeping him from yet another good night’s sleep.
<br />
<br />Daritan shuffled to the front door, suddenly quite keenly aware that he was wearing his stained unders, and that Kara was likely to see. He thought about pulling his shirt down, but it was a vain effort. Likely, he’d only draw more attention to the stains. And no story, demons or not, could save him the embarrassment of explaining how he’d shat himself. I ought to burn this pair.
<br />
<br />He stuck his head out the front door and looked into the carriage, which had one of its double-doors currently open. A bottle of wine sat in a chill-box with ice—real ice! How’d they get ice all the way down here? Nobody else knew how to manipulate cold within a thousand miles… did they?
<br />
<br />Resting in front of the chill-box was a finely cut and bleached piece of vellum, with full signet emblem carefully inked atop the page with the same symbol stamped in wax at the bottom.
<br />
<br />He took up the page.
<br />
<br />
<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Daritan Taligini, Yhorin Dhonohmin, Hrothgar Bloodein, and Seth Rendikas:
<br />
<br />The pleasure of your company is requested. A banquet shall be held to which you will be esteemed guests. There is much to discuss.</span>
<br />
<br />
<br />There was nothing else written. No name signed, no date given. Just the wax emblem at the base of the page: two parallel lines, a wavy line between them, and wings to either side.
<br />
<br />Daritan kept the paper in his hand as he turned around to face the others. “That’s it? You could’ve left me in bed for this. It isn’t even dated! Surely this could have waiting until morning!
<br />
<br />Ricky, resident gambler and bus boy, shook his head and lifted a finger to point over Daritan’s shoulder.
<br />
<br />A tall, gaunt, and quite sickly looking gentleman in a top hat and dressed in all black stood, slowly shaking his head back and forth.
<br />
<br />“Who’s this, then?” Daritan asked. <span style="font-style:italic;">And how did I not notice him before</span>?
<br />
<br />“He won’t say anything,” Kara said. “I’ve tried… But I… Well, don’t you get the feeling when he looks at you that you have to accept the invitation?”
<br />
<br />Now that he thought on it, something in the gaunt gentleman’s eyes did compel Daritan to enter the coach without question. Of course, following such promptings—in the middle of the night, no less—is exactly the type of thing that kept getting them into all these damned queer situations. He’d never heard of half the nightmares and demons he’d encountered in the last three months, let alone believed they were real. Now it seemed he was doomed to some form of paranormal experience on, at the very least, a weekly basis.
<br />
<br />His hand subconsciously slid to one of the scars on his left forearm. Bad new, that. Even now he couldn’t explain what had possessed him to try casting ritual magic that involved self-mutilation. He still didn’t feel quite well in the head. It seemed whispered voices hid around every corner, and flickers of shadow always at the edge of his vision.
<br />
<br />“I…” He turned and looked at everyone in the room. “This is a bad idea. We shouldn’t go.”
<br />
<br />Yhorin nodded his big head, his eyes wide and pleading.
<br />
<br />Seth looked hesitant to say anything.
<br />
<br />Seth was their recently acquired business manager, who’d only become necessary as the previous one had somehow turned lycanthrope and, of course, had needed to be dispatched, which was one of the few occasion in which Daritan had had the opportunity to use frost as a weapon. “I think we should go… I don’t think he’ll leave unless we go with him.” He pointed to the coachman.
<br />“And if he doesn’t?”
<br />
<br />“Well, think on it,” Seth said. “Whoever has invited us knows all of our names, surnames included, he knows where we reside, despite our brief stay at this residence, and he has, it would seem, found us before, if you will recall this coach from our journey? Additionally, it would seem they predicted Hrothgar,” he gave a polite nod to the heavily bearded tracker who stood, fully-dressed in his furs, “would be in residence at this moment, despite his constant journeying.”
<br />
<br />Hrothgar grunted, farted, and scratched at his beard. “Aye, weird that, isn’t it?”
<br />
<br />Daritan took a moment’s pause to think. “So you believe we should go.”
<br />
<br />“I hardly believe we have any other choice. Think of what has happened to us of late. Do you truly believe we could avoid the circumstances we are invited to?”
<br />
<br />No, Daritan thought. “Well, we might simply leave, as you’ve so often suggested. We could sell the tavern and take passage to the south or east, and leave all this incredible nonsense behind us. I would say to the north, but I’ve no mind to become entangled in the war, even though I find the climate more amenable.”
<br />
<br />“Perhaps if we’d followed on that plan some weeks ago,” Seth said as if he were weighing his words as he spoke them. “But I think the time for that has gone past us. That is not to say, it shall not return again, but I believe, at the moment, we are inclined to take up the offer before us and enjoy a ride in this luxurious carriage.”
<br />
<br />Daritan sighed and resigned himself, for as he ran through Seth’s logic, he could find no fault. For, in truth, he did not believe they could escape whatever new mystery now presented itself. With recent events going as they had, it would seem they were about to find themselves, yet again, in another unusual circumstance which would be beyond reality to any random member of the general populace.
<br />
<br />“Let’s be about it, then,” Daritan said, going to the side of the room and grabbing his spiked shield from where it rested against the wall, and then jumping into the carriage. “Well?”
<br />
<br />“Are you not going to be dressed first?”
<br />
<br />Daritan grinned. “If our unknown, yet undoubtedly esteemed host deems to interrupt my sleep, then he can deal with my state of undress.”
<br />
<br />“Would you not prefer, since you have chosen to bring your shield, to at least bring some form of armor, should the occasion require?” Seth asked.
<br />
<br />“Very well,” Daritan said, seeing the wisdom of Seth’s suggestion. He promptly leapt from the carriage and walked to his room where he retrieved his somewhat antiquated suit of ever so slightly rusted chainmail. Quite as a point, he did not don the armor, choosing instead to shove it in a bag and return to his previous seat in the carriage, still in nothing but his ruffled shirt and stained unders.
<br />
<br />Yhorin, looking very much as if he’d rather not, went to his rooms and returned fully dressed in his own suit of chainmail, which sat upon a quilted doublet. His hammer rested at his hip and for a brief moment he looked something fierce, until it could be noted that much of his size was, in fact, not muscle. With all the trepidation which usually escorted his actions, Yhorin entered the carriage, causing it to sway as it adjusted to his weight. He took the seat opposite of Daritan, leaving the last two seats open, in which Hrothgar—all muscle, sinew, and hair—quickly took up residence. Sometime later, after apparently collecting an assortment of potentially important items, Seth entered, full armored and carrying about his person several bags or notable size.
<br />
<br />“You will be able to manage the tavern in our absence?” Daritan called out to Kara, the fiery red head for which their tavern, The Fiery Wench, was named.
<br />
<br />“Have we not done so endlessly these past months?” she called back, a coy, yet mischievous smile upon her face.
<br />
<br />“So you have,” Daritan was forced to admit. “I’ve frozen some twenty kegs and left another dozen or so chilled, so the stocks should be well and full until we’ve had a chance to return.”
<br />
<br />“Bring me back something interesting,” Ricky said. “Maybe an item to accompany the odd-metaled war scythe you returned with on your last outing.”
<br />
<br />“Hey,” Yhorin said. “that’s mine! I’m going to learn to use it.”
<br />
<br />“You can hardly practice with it when you’ve left it behind, can you?” Ricky said, quickly walking forward to close the carriage door. “Have a fun… um, trip.” His words were muffled by the clear, and, upon closer inspection, most definitely perfect glass windows.
<br />
<br />In a quick moment they were away. Seth drew the black curtains for the windows on his side of the vehicle while Yhorin did the same for the opposite side.
<br />“Should we have the wine?” Yhorin asked.
<br />
<br />Seth looked at the fine bottle as if it were filled with poison, which, given recent events, very well might’ve been true. “You can, my good friend. I will not touch the stuff.”
<br />
<br />“Suit yourself,” Yhorin said. He grabbed a glass, of which there were four, and poured himself one.
<br />
<br />In the light of the carriage, the wine which Yhorin poured became a mix of deep purple and red, both colors swirling quite mystically in his glass. Suddenly curious as to the source of the illumination which allowed the wine’s colors to be seen, Daritan looked about and noticed four ambient glowing stones in each corner. They were of indistinct material and appeared to be enchanted after a fashion which could only confirm that they were, as a group, most assuredly heading into another most peculiar adventure.
<br />
<br />“I voice my idea yet again,” Seth said after some minutes of travel. “That many, if not all, of the odd occurrences we are so constantly assaulted with might be explained by the odd connection Kara seems to share with the were-beasts and dark magicians we’ve encountered.”
<br />
<br />“And yet she was not invited,” Daritan pointed out. “Perhaps it is time we pursue other avenues of logic to explain how it is that we have so constantly and continuously found ourselves in extraordinary circumstances.”
<br />
<br />“We’re cursed,” Yhorin said, taking a sip of the wine. “My, this is the most aromatic and lovely drink I’ve ever experienced!” In an instant he had finished his glass and his eyes and smile suggested he’d somehow become pleasantly and instantly inebriated.
<br />“We are not cursed,” Seth said dismissively.
<br />
<br />“I would not be so quick to dismiss the possibility,” Daritan said. “Especially given that we cannot discover any other possible explanations.”
<br />
<br />“You do have a limited use of magic,” Seth pointed out. “Such abilities might be enough to draw unwanted attention.”
<br />
<br />Daritan gave a nod of his head, though he knew, as those who know anything of magic, that his limited abilities were nothing of note.
<br />
<br />“Does it not seem to you,” Daritan commented, as he continued to examine the extremely fine and lavish nature of the vehicle they occupied, “that whomever has taken the liberty of tracking us down and, indeed, inviting us to banquet, has the luxury of such extra monies as to afford… well, extreme luxury?”
<br />
<br />“It seems to be so,” Seth agreed, to which Hrothgar nearly grunted and scratched himself, after the fashion with which he was accustomed to doing.
<br />
<br />“Do you hear that?” Hrothgar said, craning his head as if to somehow hear more. “The coachman is cracking the reigns constantly.”
<br />
<br />After a moment to listen, Daritan agreed.
<br />
<br />“But we don’t seem to be going very quickly,” Hrothgar noted.
<br />
<br />“For such a fine vehicle, it would reason that the master craftsman involved would’ve endeavored to make an unparalleled system of suspension,” Seth reasoned, “which, furthermore, would explain why we do not seem to be experiencing the full strength and force of our travel.”
<br />
<br />“But we are beyond the lights of the city,” Hrothgar said, pulling aside the velvet curtain and motioning the enveloping darkness around them. “We cannot have been gone more than fifteen minutes, but we’ve gone at the very least ten leagues.”
<br />
<br />Seth frowned and Daritan furrowed his brow as he thought about everything he’d learned of magic and came up with no explanation for how such a feat might be accomplished.
<br />
<br />The remainder of their journey passed with relatively little of interest. Seth made several observations as to their circumstances while Yhorin and Hrothgar both fell asleep, which Daritan wanted to do as well, seeing as how he’d barely slept in a week. But the shadows in the corners of his vision were flickering again and a hollow voice, no more than a whisper through the passing trees nagged at the back of his mind.
<br />Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-64824527486283642011-08-06T00:33:00.000-07:002011-08-06T00:57:32.697-07:00Dominions of Glory: Descriptions!Because I have apparently failed to adequately describe the characters with which the story is concerned (thank you Tot for bringing this to my attention), I offer updated descriptions here. You may rest assured, these descriptions will be placed in the story where appropriate.<br /><br />_______<br /><br />Baelin: <br /><br />At the age of fourteen, Baelin was now on the verge of reaching a man’s height. His head was graced with hair a regal shade of brown—despite countless hours in the sun—which was cut long and most often held back with a simple tie. He was rather thickly muscled for one of his age, though hardly to the point where it would merit any serious note from someone examining him. He had a nose that hooked ever so slightly downward at the bridge, and a prominent chin, complimented with a dimple.<br /><br /><br />Dilirian: <br /><br />He stood perhaps half a head taller than Baelin and had sun-kissed brown hair and dark eyes. He had, if not a strong face, at least a proportioned one with a straight nose and prominent, but not too prominent, cheek bones.<br /><br />Forden:<br /><br />Forden was a withered old cobbler, spritely for his age, or older than he looked, Baelin wasn’t sure which. He had a full head of white hair and a thin frame that had never been thick to begin with. The old cobbler reminded Baelin of a well-worn old tool, showing all the signs of long and hard use, while maintaining all the important faculties and bearing a great deal of character as a result. <br /><br />Whisper:<br /><br />(This is a composite of description that is scattered throughout her first scene. And if it seems--as it is--longer than the other descriptions, I hope you realize that is because, as a male, Baelin has taken a much greater interest in her appearance, she being, first a female, and second an attractive one.)<br /><br />Baelin looked around and found a slender girl, maybe four inches taller than him, with jet black hair and porcelain skin, leaning against a nearby tree with a smirk that was a display of sweetness and innocence so perfect it had to be false.<br /><br />The girl’s smile broadened to reveal a row of perfect teeth.<br /><br />Baelin spotted something hanging from the girl’s waist, like a sword, but it hung wrong to be a blade. And her outfit was cleverly disguised armor of some form, black and tightly fitted, though not so much as to inhibit movement or practicality. <br /><br />She had the perfect slope to her nose, and she moved… seductively; there was no other way to put it. Her hips rocked back and forth, and her slender frame seemed taut and supple... She was without flaw.<br /><br />... noticing up close that her face was lined with a mass of thin scars, cleverly disguised with make-up, but still visible.<br /><br />________<br /><br />Hopefully this gives a clear enough picture for those who desire such things!Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-31030897239601967782011-08-03T08:42:00.000-07:002011-08-03T08:52:02.529-07:00Dominions of Glory: 8Okay, I've been getting quite a few questions about when I'll be posting the next sections of this, or being asked to speed things up. So, if you'd like to see this come out faster, comment here or somewhere I linked to my blog from and I'm more likely to speed up the output. Comments make me happy. Happiness makes me write faster!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dominions of Glory: 8</span><br /><br /><br />Baelin spent the next morning and early afternoon tinkering with Magic to make armored gloves, boots, and a helmet. The result, he thought, was remarkable. With the thin diamond coating on the scales of his armor, he shown and shimmered in the amber sunlight. His helmet –which had taken the better portion of four hours to figure out– was an incredible feat of beauty and functionality. <br /><br />He donned the outfit and strapped on his sword and went to erase some of Dilirian’s smugness. About halfway there he realized he hadn’t upgraded his sword, and took a moment to thin the blade slightly and coat it in diamond with an impossibly sharp edge.<br /><br />Dilirian’s jaw dropped in quite a satisfying manner when Baelin entered his small cottage.<br /><br />“Who are you?” he mumbled in fascination, already coming over for a closer examination. He fingered the scales, then caressed them, testing their weight and feel. “What are they coated in? Some form of lacquer?”<br /><br />“Couldn’t say,” Baelin said. The suit was heavy. He felt its weight on his shoulders, dragging at his arms, but he’d adjust quickly enough. He had years of hauling and plowing alone, his body was already tight as a whip, he just needed to gain strength in the appropriate areas. Still, he gained some appreciation for the amount of time Dilirian spent in his armor. The arrogant noble was in some manner or physical shape, which meant he’d spent a good deal of time wearing the armor, and training in it.<br /><br />“You had this just lying around?” Dilirian asked. “And a bag of gold and silver about your neck. Do you have a hidden stash of stolen treasure buried in the yard too?”<br /><br />Baelin gave a nervous laugh and then coughed to cover it up. He did have a hidden stash of treasure, though he hadn’t stolen it. When he’d first realized he could use Magic to duplicate money, he’d created a small horde, which was hidden away on the far stretches of his fields. “I told you,” Baelin said. “I’m not poor.”<br /><br />“I’d say,” Dilirian said in wonder. “This suit must’ve cost twice mine to make. At least! Is it bronze?”<br /><br />“Steel with a thin, polished layer of bronze and the clear coat.”<br /><br />“Must be incredibly heavy.”<br /><br />Baelin shook his head. If he’d measured thickness right, his suit was probably three-quarters the weight of Dilirian’s suit. He managed that by adding the diamond coating and thinning the metal. Theoretically, the suit should offer as much, if not more protection too. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”<br /><br />“So you spent the last two days polishing the thing up,” Dilirian mused. “And here I thought you were doing actual work! Baelin, people need you and me! They don’t have armor and weapons. We could be protecting them!”<br /><br />Baelin couldn’t help but feel grudging respect for Dilirian at that moment. “But you wanted to hide,” he pointed out, trying to justify his negative feelings about the boy.<br /><br />“Well,” Dilirian ran a hand through his hair. “Circumstances… I’m just saying, it seems like a waste for you to spend all that time polishing the suit when you could have used it to go up into the mountains with me.”<br /><br />“Legs?”<br /><br />“Fine,” Dilirian said, looking a bit sheepish. “You could have loaned the suit to someone.”<br /><br />“Maybe,” Baelin said. “But I don’t know if it would fit. There aren’t many men in Shadyridge my size. But it doesn’t matter. My legs are both feeling much better. I think being out of bed has sped up the healing.” He did feel much better, to his surprise. He wanted to attribute it to random chance and just good healing, but in the back of his mind Magic kept telling him that it was the reason he’d healed so quickly. “Anyway, have you hidden long enough? Do we go back into town and see about that hunting trip into the mountains?”<br /><br />Dilirian looked hesitant, but nodded. “The soldiers should be on their way by now…”<br /><br />“And if they aren’t?” Baelin asked, wondering what would happen if the captain saw Dilirian for the Duke’s son.<br /><br />“Well,” Dilirian flustered. “I don’t know. I’ll figure it out.”<br /><br />“You’re not supposed to be here, are you?”<br /><br />“Not exactly,” Dilirian admitted. “I left my father a note before leaving, but I doubt that he’s pleased with my disappearance. I don’t know how the soldiers will react, if they even know.”<br /><br />“Well, you can figure that out if the need arises,” Baelin said. “Let’s get moving. We do need to get back to town. Forden’s probably turned the last of his hairs gray worrying about us. And much as I hate to say it, people could probably use some more training.”<br /><br />“It’s just for show,” Dilirian said. “They’re so awful it’s embarrassing. Honestly, and I don’t say this to brag or to be a pompous prat, I could beat the lot of them without trying. They swing wide and wild, all strength and no finesse. Not that I’d expect anything else from farmers.”<br /><br />Baelin gave Dilirian a flat stare and the noble cleared his throat and kept talking. “Still, I suppose it’s good for their confidence. And if they learn anything, it can’t hurt, right? Truthfully though,” and a blush rose in his cheeks, “I was hoping that if it came to a fight with the devils, they’d name me for what I’d done. That way I could return home with a name I earned and not one I had just because of my father.”<br /><br />Again, Baelin found him finding a bit of respect for the man beside him. Wanting to do something for himself instead of being handed everything was admirable. Of course, helping people strictly to build your own name and not because it was the right thing to do wasn’t exactly the noblest approach. Still, he couldn’t fault Dilirian for trying in the ways he knew how.<br /><br />“Maybe we’ll be able to help,” Baelin said, covering an uncomfortable silence. <br /><br />Dilirian nodded and spent a goodly amount of time changing into his scale armor, which Baelin realized was made in a much more complicated fashion and required a bit more fastening and clasps than the version he’d made. They talked of random things. This time, Baelin participated, and found he truly enjoyed Dilirian’s conversation, when it wasn’t too haughty.<br /><br />They went outside into the late afternoon light, the amber sun burning hot above the horizon, all signs of fall far away as summer-like heat washed over the land. <br /><br />“Two pretty boys in pretty armor, locked up in a house together,” a sweet female voice said. “What’s a girl to make of such things? Untoward thoughts come to mind and I’m afraid I can’t escape them.”<br /><br />Baelin looked around and found a slender girl, maybe four inches taller than him, with jet black hair and porcelain skin, leaning against a nearby tree with a smirk that was a perfect display of sweetness and innocence. That was of course, a lie.<br /><br />“It isn’t like that!” Dilirian protested.<br /><br />Baelin looked at Dilirian and rolled his eyes. Really? Baelin took a different tactic. “A girl all by herself on someone else’s land, keeping an eye on two armored young men. People might say she was up to no good.”<br /><br />The girl’s smile broadened to reveal a row of perfect teeth. “And what else would she be up to? Out on her own, far from home, spying on a young farmer boy and his soldier friend?”<br /><br />Dilirian frowned and looked like he would respond, but opened his mouth and closed it without saying a thing.<br /><br />Baelin spotted something hanging from the girl’s waist, like a sword, but it hung wrong to be a blade. He also noticed her outfit was cleverly disguised armor of some form. “She might be looking for help,” Baelin suggested. “But a careful eye and a keen mind would say she had something else in mind. A trade, perhaps, but more likely, she wanted something of the two armored men.”<br /><br />“Men or boys?” She said with a wink. “The pair I’ve been told about are too young by far to be men. Too young and too small. Boys like these, what could they offer a girl like me?”<br /><br />Dilirian floundered and flustered, but Baelin kept his cool, intrigued by the girl. She moved from the tree, swaying as she made her way toward them. She was probably a few years older than he was, and in her eyes, he could see she knew she had an advantage in knowledge and experience. But she didn’t know about Baelin, about Magic, and about the hard life he’d lived.<br /><br />“Some might call them boys,” Baelin conceded. “But what difference is the name, when the end is the same, for they are still both armored and armed, and more skilled than most. A girl might see boys, but it seems she would not. Else why would she waste her time, spying and waiting and bandying words?”<br /><br />The girls smile fell for half a second, then came back, if possible, even better than before. She had the perfect slope to her nose, and she moved… seductively, there was no other way to put it. Her hips rocked back and forth, his slender frame seemed taut and supple. Baelin found himself aroused by her. She was without flaw.<br /><br />“Two little boys,” she said, stepping up close and putting a hand on Dilirian’s chest. She then turned and ran a hand along the front of Baelin’s armor. “Two little boys with so little to offer. Why should I bother?”<br /><br />“And yet you leaned against the tree and talked to us,” Baelin said, noticing up close that her face was lined with a mass of thin scars, cleverly disguised with make-up, but still visible.<br /><br />“So I did,” she said. “You have me at that. Shall I bypass the games and get to the heart of the point?” She jabbed her finger into Baelin’s chest, right above his heart.<br />Baelin nodded.<br /><br />“There are rumors in Shadyridge,” the girl said. “Rumors of devils in the mountains, and news of devils in Gaulder. And there’s rumors of an arrogant armored boy that trains the commoners.” She raised an eyebrow. “So I came looking for you,” she said.<br /><br />“Not me,” Baelin said. He pointed at Dilirian.<br /><br />The girl gave Dilirian an appraising look and then laughed. “The scared one? Surely not. No, I’ve heard the rumors. The one I’m looking for must be you,” she said, meeting Baelin’s eyes. “Fine armor and quick of tongue.” She bit her lip and stared at his.<br /><br />“Afraid you’re wrong,” Baelin said. “I’m just a farmer. Dilirian’s the one who’s been training folks.”<br /><br />“Just a farmer, he says. And yet, your armor is fit for a king, and you wear a sword at your side of an ancient royal line. You may play at a game, but you give yourself away.”<br /><br />“No,” Dilirian said. “He’s telling the truth. He is just a farmer. You should see what he wears the rest of the time… And I didn’t even know he could talk like that. He spent the better part of a few hours butchering his time with a local girl as surely as he’d butcher a pig. My name is Dilirian.” He stuck out his hand. “Might I have the honor of your name?”<br /><br />The girl frowned and took his hand daintily. Her eyes darted back and forth between Baelin and Dilirian, clearly unsure of her conclusion. “You may call me Whisper,” she said. “Or Darkness, or Sweet. But my true name, I save for those who know me, and I’m afraid you are not yet in that category. So, Dilirian, if you are truly the one people spoke of, perhaps you can show me why they are raving of your talents?” <br /><br />She stepped back and pulled her weapon from her belt. The weapon wasn’t a sword. It looked to be some kind of mace, though it was thinner than an ordinary mace at the top, probably to account for the fact that she was too small to wield a true mace.<br /><br />“I… It would be improper for me to raise my sword against a woman, even at her request.”<br /><br />“But I insist. And you will leave with bruises to show if you choose not to fight back.” She lunged and swung her mace at Dilirian’s side. He stepped agilely back, but still caught a glancing blow.<br /><br />Whisper, smiled and attacked again, this time going for his leg. Dilirian had his sword out and had stepped out of the way of her blow before he was in any real danger. He brought his sword around in a liquid quick motion to her side, but she used her forearm to knock the flat side of the blade down, while using her other arm to jab him in the gut with her mace. The jab landed true and Dilirian grunted.<br />Whisper stepped back with a smile. “Perhaps our other boy might fare better against a lowly girl.” <br /><br />“Not likely,” Baelin said, sincerely hoping she didn’t make a complete fool of him. <br />But even as he spoke, Magic shouted at him to attack, make use of the Magic and show her what he could do.<br /><br />Before he realized what he was doing, he’d called Magic to him, with no specific direction or purpose in mind other than to ensure he didn’t let himself get beaten by a girl. He pulled out his sword and swung it at her with almost inhuman speed. At the last second he slowed the blow and struck her, gently, with the blunt side of his blade.<br /><br />She raised an eyebrow and carefully kept a frown from her face. “Again, you provide proof of your lie.”<br /><br />Baelin felt the warmth of Magic rush out of him and wondered in awe at what he’d done, or how. He stood there, stupid, and couldn’t think of what to say for an unbearable amount of seconds. “I… Dilirian truly is the one who has been training the town folk,” Baelin insisted.<br /><br />“And what is the name of the boy that trains Dilirian?” she asked, putting her mace away.<br /><br />“He does not train me!” Dilirian said, his usual arrogance finally coming back in full. “He’s just a farmer!” Something in the way Dilirian spoke said he was no longer sure that Baelin was actually a farmer. <br /><br />“A most unusual farmer,” Whisper said. “Might I know your name?”<br /><br />“Baelin.”<br /><br />“Ah, a famous name, to those who know.”<br /><br />“Know what?” Dilirian asked, perturbed.<br /><br />“Those who know,” she said cryptically. “And not a name lightly given, nor lightly received. It is an honor to meet your acquaintance, Baelin. If I had known the rumors were of you I would have not shown such disrespect.”<br /><br />“What are you talking about?” Baelin asked. “I’m just a farmer… I've always been named Baelin. I’m nobody.”<br /><br />“Perhaps you are,” Whisper said carefully. “But I sincerely doubt that.”<br /><br />“You’re not going to stop being quick and sharp, are you?” Baelin asked, distraught. He liked the snarky girl before him.<br /><br />“Quick and sharp? You honor me, I think. I will try to be myself, but I promise you nothing, Baelin.”<br /><br />“So… why are you here?” he asked.<br /><br />“I came for you,” she said.<br /><br />“I think you mean you came for him,” Baelin replied, again looking to Dilirian.<br /><br />“You don’t have to keep up the act.”<br /><br />“Do you want the villagers to verify our story?” Dilirian asked. “Because I don’t know how much longer I can stand to live with someone thinking Baelin is supposed to be me.”<br />“Have I wounded you?” Whisper said with a laugh. “Such a tender heart for a man who puffs his chest.”<br /><br />Baelin laughed.<br /><br />“Shut up!” Dilirian said to Baelin. “And I don’t puff my chest!” he added, noticeably de-puffing his chest.<br /><br />“As you say,” Whisper said, failing to hide a grin. “Shall I let you escort me back into the village proper so you can prove this case of mistaken identities?”<br /><br />Baelin and Dilirian both agreed and they headed back into town. Baelin talked to Whisper while Dilirian fumed. <br /><br />They reached town, more specifically, they reached Forden’s home a short while later, with both Baelin and Whisper laughing loud enough to bring the old man out to see what was happening.<br /><br />“This is getting to be a regular occurrence,” Forden said as he opened his oak-plank door. He stopped and stared at the trio before him and grew a grave frown. “Baelin, by what dark power did you get that suit you’re wearing.” He quickly turned an accusing gaze to Dilirian. “Did you rob a noble’s guard, boy? I…”<br /><br />“It’s mine,” Baelin said, making a placating gesture. “A family heirloom I had hidden away.”<br /><br />Forden hrmphed. “Family heirloom,” he muttered. “Like that sword of yours. You may forget boy, but I knew your mother before she passed away. She couldn’t afford to buy peas, often as not. Are you going to tell me she had not only a sword, but a fine suit as well that she could have sold when her belly ached?”<br /><br />Baelin shrugged. “I don’t think she thought of selling them.”<br /><br />“She sold the furniture, clothes, tools, her lay about husband’s left-behinds, and everything else not nailed down, and not a thing of it worth a fraction of a fine scale suit,” Forden said, matter of fact.<br /><br />“Who would she sell it to without a horse? Traveling merchants couldn’t afford it, nobody in Shadyridge or Willow Downs could pay her what it’s worth, nor would they; it’s of no use to the farming types. It’s an heirloom,” Baelin said again. “Nothing more.”<br /><br />Forden ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. “Someday, you’ll have to tell me a little truth about yourself, Baelin. Now, who’s the girl? You’ve gotten into a habit of bringing interesting people my way.”<br /><br />“She,” Dilirian said, strongly, “believes Baelin is the one who’s been training the villagers how to fight.”<br /><br />“I bet that ruffled his feathers,” Forden said with a good laugh while he looked to Whisper. “Can’t say I blame you for the mistake. I’d believe the same if I hadn’t known Baelin his whole life and I’d seen him standing about in that.”<br /><br />Whisper looked at Baelin. “You’re truly the farmer and he,” she pointed to Dilirian, “is the one people have been talking about?”<br /><br />“Said as much,” Baelin said. “Hardly my fault you didn’t believe us.”<br /><br />“You should have asked to see them at work with their swords,” Forden said. “That would have settled the matter quick enough.”<br /><br />Whisper looked both confused and possibly disturbed. <br /><br />“Sounds like you were looking for him,” Forden said. “Mind if I ask why?”<br /><br />Whisper was starring off now, and when she answered her voice was far away. “A girl has to make her way…” She didn’t say anything else and everyone stared at her until she realized all eyes were on her, and then she began to blush. “I heard there were devils out this way. I can’t join the military, but I can do something to help.” She touched the mace at her side. “I’m not your typical milk maid.”<br /><br />“No,” Forden said. “I reckon you’re not. Well, best have you all come in. I can get you fed and we can sort out what to do about this devil problem. With those soldiers turning up, folk are scared and are getting ancy.”<br /><br />Forden motioned the group in, shaking his head the whole time. Baelin noticed the old man seemed less bent over and more sprightly as he moved.Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-4227617302835691772011-08-01T14:55:00.000-07:002011-08-01T15:00:42.945-07:00Dominions of Glory: 7For your enjoyment... <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dominions of Glory: 7</span><br /><br />Errant sun rays filtered in through closed shutters, but that wasn’t what woke Baelin from his sleep. Usually he would have been up before the amber sun crested the horizon, but being injured, he slept longer. Today, he woke because there was a great turmoil somewhere in the village. People were making an awful lot of noise for the hunt, Baelin thought.<br /><br />He gingerly dressed and went outside with little more than a cold sausage for breakfast. Forden’s house was on the outskirts of the village proper and didn’t have a straight view to the center of town. So Baelin couldn’t see anything, but the sound was certainly loud enough. Funny, the hunting party must be much larger than he’d thought.<br /><br />But before the crowd came into view, he knew something was off. Everyone within ten miles was standing in a massive crowd. He had to climb on Miss Jeffers’ porch to see what was happening.<br /><br />In the center of the roiling crowd stood and sat several dozen soldiers, fully armed and armored, and covered in dry and flaking blood. Limbs were missing. Red stained bandages covered every appendage. A few of the soldiers moaned quietly, but most sat in unusual silence, their eyes glazed over as they stared blankly ahead. Baelin knew that look. He’d worn it before, when he realized his mother had died. <br /><br />“What happened?” Baelin asked a nearby little girl he didn’t recognize.<br /><br />“Momma said they were attacked by a thousand devils!” Her eyes went wide as she spoke, but she didn’t seem to understand what she was saying so much as mimicking the way her mother had likely said it.<br /><br />Baelin looked at the broken and wounded soldiers and believed the little girl. Suddenly, the need to make his suit of armor pressed forward in his mind.<br /><br />“Baelin,” Dilirian whispered from behind him.<br /><br />Baelin turned round and frowned. Dilirian was hiding behind the porch support beams, giving darting glances toward the crowd before turning away.<br /><br />“Gaulder’s gone,” Dilirian whispered. “I heard the Captain. They got there and found nothing but bodies, and not even many of those. They were ambushed by devils while looking for survivors. Baelin, that unit was over a thousand men! There’s not even fifty of them left now, and maybe fifteen are in fighting condition.”<br /><br />“The little devils we fought wiped out Gaulder?”<br /><br />“No,” Dilirian whispered, again glancing to the crowd before hiding behind the beam, and Baelin. “Different ones, big, eight feet tall, skin as tough as armor, horns all over their heads, foot long claws, chests as thick as a boulder. I listened to them and almost wet myself.”<br /><br />That was quite an admission, coming from Dilirian. “Why are you hiding?” Baelin asked, looking into the crowd for a possible reason. “They know who you are, don’t they? You stole your armor and sword from one of them!”<br /><br />“What? No!” Dilirian said, his tone clearly indicating he thought Baelin’s accusations were ridiculous. “I’m not hiding… I just… Well, you don’t need to know. Just keep your mouth shut about me. And don’t mention the hunting party. I already talked to Forden. Everyone else is too distracted to do anything but worry. Look, I need to get out of here. Want to head to your farm?”<br /><br />Honestly, Baelin wanted to stay and watch the soldiers, see and hear what happened for himself, but he nodded and stepped off the porch instead. He did have things at home that needed caring for.<br /><br />“Only if you explain why you’re hiding when we get there.”<br /><br />Dilirian looked torn so Baelin threatened to call everyone’s attention to him, which got a reluctant agreement from him.<br /><br />Dilirian rushed away from the village center, hiding in the shadows of buildings and making a quick sprint to the next building and so on. Baelin shuffled along in the open, as fast as his legs would allow.<br /><br />It took almost an hour to reach Baelin’s farm with his injuries. Dilirian, for once, seemed content to keep silent the entire time. In fact, he seemed downright reluctant to talk at all. They were on the outer reaches of Baelin’s fields still, where the remaining wheat stalks stood tall and brown as the weather killed them off.<br />“So what’s the secret? What did you do? Kill someone? Rob someone? Are you a merchant’s son or a deserter?”<br /><br />Dilirian still seemed wary, but even so, he could scoff with practiced arrogance. “Don’t be a naïve fool, Baelin. You don’t know anything about Ilnidor, do you?”<br /><br />Baelin’s knowledge of history was slightly worse than his knowledge of how to talk to women. “What does that have to do with anything?”<br /><br />“The Maiden,” Dilirian said, motioning to his sword. “Taking the Maiden?” He paused. “Nothing?”<br /><br />Baelin studied the sword and thought hard about what Dilirian said, but was coming up blank, no surprise. He shook his head.<br /><br />Dilirian threw his hands in the air. “Really? You’ve never heard of Taking the Maiden?”<br />“Just in the lewd sense…” Baelin said warily.<br /><br />“Taking,” Dilirian said, “the Maiden.” He held the sword up again. “God you mountain back folk are an ignorant lot. It’s the sword of Duke Daraden!”<br /><br />“You did steal it!”<br /><br />“No,” Dilirian said. “I Took it.”<br /><br />“Meaning…?”<br /><br />“In noble families, when a man comes of age and begins training to succeed his father as head of the household, he is given a sword. In my case, the sword is named The Maiden. In Ilnidor, which happens to be the province you live in, the biggest province in all of Iln, the Duke’s sword that is passed from generation to generation is ‘The Maiden’ When the Duke’s son comes of age, he is given the sword and they say he’s Taking the Maiden.”<br /><br />Baelin turned over Dilirian’s words several times, untwisting them to find their meaning. “You’re the Duke’s son?”<br /><br />“Took you long enough!” Dilirian said.<br /><br />“Why didn’t you just say it right out?”<br /><br />“Everyone knows about Taking the Maiden!” Dilirian exclaimed. “I shouldn’t have to.”<br /><br />Baelin rolled his eyes. “Sorry your royalness, I’ve been too busy trying to survive to learn stupid customs of a family with their heads stuck up their asses.”<br /><br />“My head is not stuck up my ass!” Dilirian shouted as he raised his chin. “I’m the first son of Duke Daraden! The closest my head has been to an ass has been when I saved your life by carrying you on my shoulders!”<br /><br />“You’re making me wish I’d died.”<br /><br />“Here I’ve been, trying to mind myself like Forden asked, just to blend in, and you just out and let your tongue wag.”<br /><br />“Forden said your head was stuck up your ass, too. All self-importance and oozing arrogance, it’s a wonder anyone can tolerate you. Do you know what we talked about the day we met?”<br /><br />“Of course I do,” Dilirian said. “We spoke at length about the quality of the females in Ilnidor.”<br /><br />“You said Silverbrook,” Baelin pointed out. “But never mind. We didn’t talk about the women of Ilnidor at all. You prattled on for over an hour without a word from me. You didn’t ask my opinion, you didn’t ask what the girls were like on my side of the mountains, you just kept talking. And that’s my point. You’re so full of yourself, you only need to hear your own voice. You don’t even want other people to say something. After all, they might spoil the perfectly good conversation you were having about how incredible you are with women, or whatever other nonsense you think up.”<br /><br />Baelin stopped and caught his breath. He was huffing, fuming mad, and in the back of his mind Magic was telling him to use it to turn Dilirian’s sword to pudding, which was just silly, since Baelin didn’t know how to make pudding. Trying to use Magic to turn the sword to pudding wouldn’t even work!<br /><br />Dilirian stood in silence, eyeing Baelin up and down with a pout. “You’re just a plain farmer,” he mumbled.<br /><br />“Plain farmer?” Baelin said. “Is that what you think?” He let out a scornful laugh. “What’s this then?” He pulled the diamond he’d made out of his pocket and held it out for Dilirian to examine.<br /><br />“You stole that from my necklace!” Dilirian said upon examining the stone.<br /><br />“Hardly,” Baelin said, returning the diamond to his pocket and pulling out his gold and silver laden purse and handing it over.<br /><br />Dilirian looked through the contents, his frown growing larger as he counted out the sum. Quietly he asked, “Where’d you get all of this, Baelin? I know you’re no noble’s son. You can’t feign the kind of naivety you have.”<br /><br />“What makes you think I’d tell you anything when I’ve just said I think your head’s up your ass?”<br /><br />“I’d say because I’m the Duke’s son, but I really don’t think you’d care.”<br /><br />Baelin nodded as he stepped over a small boulder in the field. “Good call.” His house was just up ahead now, a small cottage beneath a shady oak. Dilirian would probably call it a shack. “Well, we’re here, royalness.” Dilirian winced. “What do you want to do now?”<br /><br />“That’s your home?” Dilirian said, motioning with his head.<br /><br />“I just said as much,” Baelin said. “Didn’t figure that out when you found me bleeding?”<br /><br />Dilirian looked it over. “I didn’t think… Nobody comes out this way, you said.”<br /><br />“Almost never.”<br /><br />“So I’m safe hiding here for the moment?”<br /><br />“Why are you hiding?”<br /><br /><br />“Why do you have enough money to buy up all of Shadyridge hanging around your neck?”<br /><br />Baelin grunted and Dilirian did the same and they wandered inside. The cottage was really only two rooms. The front room had a makeshift kitchen Baelin had cobbled together. A seamless stone oven rested in the corner, doubling as a fire place. A black metal stew pot sat cold beside the hearth. A table with two chairs sat along the wall, though he’d only ever needed one. Other than that, the room was plain. One of his shirts was lying on the floor at the moment and a spare pair of boots sat next to the front door.<br /><br />“Quaint,” Dilirian said to himself, if he meant it ironically, it didn’t show in his voice or face.<br /><br />“Don’t touch anything,” Baelin said, then went to leave.<br /><br />“You’re not staying?”<br /><br />“Do you actually want me around?”<br /><br />Dilirian didn’t even hesitate. “It’s better than being alone.”<br /><br />“I have things to take care of.”<br /><br />“I could help,” Dilirian said.<br /><br />“Not if you want to stay hidden. Take a nap. Twiddle your thumbs. I don’t care. But people can still see my cottage, and you standing about in full armor will definitely draw their eyes.” In fact, you couldn’t see the cottage from the road. Baelin had gone out of his way to plant bushes beneath the line of trees specifically for privacy. But Dilirian didn’t need to know that. Plus, he still needed to make the armor and he couldn’t have Dilirian around to see that.<br /><br />He left the house and went to a small tool shed he’d built a couple years back, with the help of Magic, of course. From inside, he grabbed a few good sized sheets of leather, a hammer, his sturdy thread, and a set of needles. All of these he packed into a bag and headed off for a hidden hollow he’d created between a set of boulders a stone throw from his house.<br /><br />The key was that one of the boulders was actually hollow. So while it looked too big to move with a team of horses, it was actually light enough for Baelin to shove to the side and let himself into the hidden alcove. The boulders were high enough that he could stand without being seen, but he did still need to worry about being overly loud.<br /><br />First, he needed to test the diamond he’d made to see if it were truly as strong as Dilirian suggested. He pulled up a loose stone and tried to scratch the gem, but it remained untarnished. Next, he placed the diamond in a dip in one of the boulders, pulled out his hammer, and gave it a good whack. To his dismay, the stone split. He picked up the pieces and examined them. The line was perfectly straight. He picked up another pebble, and created another diamond. He struck it with the hammer. Again the gem split on a perfect edge. <br /><br />Baelin sat down in frustration and examined the gems. He’d wanted to make the cutting edge of his sword diamond, and hoped to put a thin layer of the stone around the metal scales he wanted to use. But if the stone couldn’t take impact… Magic whispered to try turning the stone in the back of his mind. Baelin did, and smashed one of the pieces again. Again, it fragmented. He created a dozen diamonds and broke all of them before he got one that held up to multiple blows. As far as he could tell, this diamond was no different than the others, but for some reason, it worked. He thought about the hint Magic had given him, looked at the straight breaks on the fragmented bits of diamond around, and decided diamonds must naturally be weaker from certain angles. With this in mind, he urged Magic to make a thin metal plate, in the form of the plates of Dilirian’s armor. And just so he could see the look on Dilirian’s face, he made the core of these plates steel, coated in a ridiculously thin layer of gleaming brass, and topped with a coating of diamond, which he instructed Magic to create lined up in the formation the current surviving diamond was sitting in.<br /><br />A quick warmth rushed in and then out of Baelin’s body, making him feel alive and causing the dull ache of his wounds to momentarily dissipate. A moment later, lying in his hand where the stone he’d chosen as the starting material had been, rested a single, perfect scale. It gleamed nearly as bright as gold, but it glimmered and glittered from a thousand facets of the diamond surface. Baelin set the scale down on the boulder, grabbed his hammer and tried to break it repeatedly, to no avail. He lifted the scale up and examined it. It was without a single blemish. He then set the scale on its side, wedging it up with two small stones so that the thin edge was at the top. Another swing of the hammer, and this time the scale broke. The diamond chipped and the metals beneath bent. <br /><br />Well, not perfect, but it would have to do. Over the next few minutes he made a mound of the diamond coated scales, and used Magic to shape the leather pieces and thread together into a perfectly fitted shirt and pants, and then went about manually attaching a row of scales. By the end of the first row on the bottom of the shirt, he thought he’d figured it out sufficiently to use Magic to attach the rest. He did so, reveling in every painless moment Magic gave him as it channeled through his body for use. <br /><br />The seams and edges took the longest to figure out, but all said and done, the whole suit, from neck, to wrists, to ankles, had only taken him about five hours, judging by the sun. Deciding it would probably be best to have some form of gloves and armored boots as well, he went about manually cutting the leather and stitching it together to make those. He wasted the rest of his day light in vain attempts to make a tolerable glove. He’d have to try again later.<br /><br />With the last of the light trickling away behind the Despers, he stashed his new scale suit in the hollow of the boulders and went back to make sure Dilirian hadn’t destroyed anything in his boredom.<br /><br />“You really need more food in here,” he said as Baelin walked in.<br /><br />Baelin frowned, then noticed that Dilirian was eating raw wheat kernels. He kept his food stores hidden in a cellar out back. Despite himself, he laughed.<br /><br />“What?”<br /><br />“Nothing,” Baelin said, collapsing into one of his chairs. “I’m just tired. Not thinking straight. Have you hidden long enough, or am I going to have to let you sleep on the floor.”<br /><br />“Custom dictates that the guest get the bed,” Dilirian said, all matter of fact.<br /><br />“Your customs, not mine,” Baelin said, stripping off his shirt and heading for bed. He’d wanted a bath, but he certainly wasn’t going to go about that process with Dilirian around. “Besides, I’m injured, remember? Enjoy the floor,” he said as he passed into the house’s second room. “Dream of all the adventures tomorrow will bring. That’s why you’re here.”<br /><br />He chuckled to himself, knowing Dilirian must have been going insane with boredom. Magic laughed along with him, and promised there were a great many other things it could be used for tomorrow. And it begged to be used more.Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-19087327588765048082011-07-30T10:49:00.000-07:002011-07-30T10:50:51.131-07:00Dominions of Glory: 6It's going to start coming slower, folks. My buffer is drying out as I'm posting faster than I'm writing. But here's the next little bit.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dominions of Glory: 6</span><br /><br />Dilirian didn’t change out of his armor until just before dinner, which meant Baelin wouldn’t have time to head over to his farm and replicate it before coming back tonight. And he would have to come back tonight. Forden simply wouldn’t allow him to be out there alone while he was still recovering. Still, Dilirian let Baelin give the armor a look over, his chest puffed out, an annoying grin glued to his face.<br /><br />Baelin examined the scales that made up the armor. They were thin and roughly triangular. He checked to see how they were attached, since he’d likely have to do that part by hand. These had several small holes for string to be looped through, which were then attached to a leather jerkin beneath.<br /><br />There didn’t seem to be much else to their construction. Even with Magic, making a scale shirt and pants would be extremely time consuming.<br /><br />Satisfied with looking the armor over, he gave it back to Dilirian. “It’s not bad,” he said. “Wait until you see mine.”<br /><br />Dilirian’s smug smile faltered, but he quickly put it back in place. “We’ll see,” he said. <br /><br />Baelin hoped he could make it properly. He knew he could make the scales better than what Dilirian had, but attaching them to the shirt would be tougher.<br /><br />“We’re going up into the mountains tomorrow,” Dilirian said, carefully laying his scale out. “It’s a shame you can’t come. I bet you’d like to get revenge on a few of those little devils.”<br /><br />“I had my revenge,” Baelin said. “I killed the ones that attacked me.”<br /><br />“You know what I mean,” Dilirian said. “Finish off their family! Wipe them out of the mountains so people can feel safe again. I wish you could join us.”<br /><br />“Me too,” Baelin said, though in truth, he didn’t. He certainly wanted the devils gone. He didn’t want to spend all winter worrying they might show up while he was cutting fire wood. But at the same time, he didn’t want to fight them. He wanted to take care of his farm and finish stocking up for winter. If winter came anything like last year, he’d be snowed in as often as not. <br /><br />“Kelly’s here,” Forden called from the front of his small house.<br /><br />Dilirian rolled his eyes. “She’s all yours, Baelin. Try not to get the pox. I’m not sure this one’s clean.”<br /><br />Baelin reached over and punched Dilirian as hard as he could in the arm without even thinking about it.<br /><br />“Ouch! Hey!” he cried, rubbing his arm furiously with his left hand.<br />“You should listen to Forden,” Baelin said firmly. His legs both burned from the sudden shift in weight. <br /><br />He walked out of the back room and found Kelly sitting patiently in Forden’s smooth, oak rocking chair. As he entered, her face lit up in a smile, and he was pretty sure his did as well. They spent the next two hours awkwardly fumbling through a conversation, both sharing in an abundance of blushing cheeks and general embarrassment. When Kelly finally left, Baelin never knew how happy he could be to see her go, if nothing else because he didn’t think he could handle making a fool of himself any longer.<br /><br />“That went well,” Forden said dryly as he entered the room. “You two seem the perfect pair, you have as much to say to one another as two rocks from different rivers.”<br />Baelin frowned as he tried to figure out what Forden was implying. <br />“A joke, lad. It was a joke. And not a good one, apparently.”<br /><br />“I don’t like it when you pick fun at me.”<br /><br />“You can like it or not as you will,” Forden said. “A man needs to grow some tough skin if he’s to make it in this world. You’re better off learning to laugh at yourself or shrugging it off.”<br /><br />“Just because your old skin has turned to stiff leather doesn’t mean I want mine to,” Baelin said. “I like that my skin doesn’t look like it’s sat in the sun too long.”<br /><br />Forden stared at Baelin in silence and then burst into laughter. “I do believe you caught my meaning. Next time though, try giving some verbal hints that you’re not out to actually wound my poor old heart. I may have dried out leather for protection, but what’s underneath is as fragile as glass. Now, go to bed. You still need rest, and I imagine you’ll want to be up to see everyone off on the hunt.”<br />“You’re not going?” Baelin asked.<br /><br />“I’m too old to be traipsing about the mountains, and far too old to be seeking out trouble in the form of devils. This old sack of bones is just happy when the piss drips out like it should.”<br /><br />“I didn’t need to know that,” Baelin said.<br /><br />“Deal with it,” Forden said, and he blew out the lantern in the room and left Baelin to the darkness.<br /><br />In the darkness, Magic spoke to him most clearly. Or rather, Baelin’s mind tended to be freer so he was more apt to hear Magic’s never ending drone. Right now it was begging to be used to make the armor Baelin had been thinking of, to sharpen the edge of his sword, to turn Dilirian’s sword to pudding, just to see the look on his face. To kill the devils.Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-71851128373041074452011-07-29T16:40:00.000-07:002011-07-29T16:42:17.559-07:00Dominions of Glory: 5If you haven't read the previous sections, please go back an do so. I suggest starting with part 1 revisited...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dominions of Glory: 5<br /></span><br />Baelin was feeling well enough the next morning to get up and anxious enough that he needed to find something to do. He meandered outside, his leg and ankle not as sensitive as he’d been expecting. Dilirian was already in the open field beside Delvary’s inn, training about ten people how to use the tools they’d brought.<br /><br />“Baelin!” he shouted and then sprinted over. “Up and at um’ already, I see. How’re the legs?”<br /><br />“Surprisingly good,” Baelin said, subtly testing both by shifting his weight. “I’ll be back to normal soon enough.”<br /><br />“Taken a look at the ear yet?” Dilirian asked.<br /><br />Somehow, Baelin had forgotten about the ear. “I haven’t. How’s it look?” He gently unwound the bandage that was wrapped around his head. The last bit took a bit of extra care because it was stuck on with dried blood.<br /><br />Dilirian grabbed Baelin’s head and shifted it back and forth as he examined the ear. “Huh… stitching took well,” he said. “The thing was mangled before, or looked it anyway; must have been all the blood. Shouldn’t be too bad of a scar. Plus, your hair will hide most of that. I’d say you got away lucky.”<br /><br />“I’ll have to see about getting a helmet,” Baelin said. “Though I don’t know where I will…” He didn’t need to buy one, but he did need something to model one after when he made it with Magic. With Magic, it was all about the details. He still wasn’t certain how he would make the armor. He’d need to get a good look at Dilirian’s sometime soon.<br /><br />“You know,” Baelin said. “I have some old family armor. It looks a lot like yours. Maybe sometime I can take a closer look for a comparison.”<br /><br />“You’re not trying to steal it from me are you?” Dilirian said, dead serious. Then he broke into a smile. “I’m just joking. You really got a suit? I never would have guessed it from you! I bought me some common, er, work clothes from Miss Taylor. I can’t be wearing armor all the time. You can give it a looking over when I’ve changed later. See what true craftsmanship looks like.” His tone saying he obviously thought Baelin’s suit would be a rusted old piece of junk.<br /><br />A necklace hung outside Dilirian’s armor, a small clear gem grasped in an eagle’s talon on the end of a silver chain. “What’s that,” Baelin asked, pointing to the necklace.<br /><br />Dilirian looked down. “Oh,” he said. “Thought I took this off. It was a gift from my mother. I promised I’d wear it always. She’s sentimental. That’s a real diamond,” he added. “I bet you’ve never seen one of those before.”<br /><br />“Diamond?” Baelin had heard of them before, but he’d never actually seen one and knew nothing about them except that they were valuable.<br /><br />“Seriously?” Dilirian gave an exasperated sigh. “You really don’t know about much, do you?”<br /><br />Baelin shrugged.<br /><br />Dilirian pulled the necklace off and held the chain forward so the diamond dangled right in front of Baelin’s face. “Diamonds,” he said with great emphasis, “are the most valuable gem in the world.”<br /><br />“Looks like a crystal,” Baelin said, failing to see the value.<br /><br />“A bit,” Dilirian said. “But mine’s perfectly clear. Plus, they’re unbreakable and can’t be scratched.”<br /><br />Baelin gave Dilirian a frank look.<br /><br />“No, really. Look.” Dilirian grabbed a stone and tried scratching the diamond with it a dozen times before holding it up for Baelin to examine. Like he said, the stone looked good as ever, minus a bit of rock dust on it.<br /><br />“They really are strong,” Baelin marveled. He quickly got an idea, grabbed the stone as if giving it a better look, and called upon Magic in his mind. Duplicate this, he said, and then indicated a pebble on the ground to use. The pebble instantly changed shape and became clear. Happy with the result, Baelin let Dilirian’s necklace go and shuffled a foot over the one he’d just created.<br /><br />Dilirian tucked the necklace inside his armor and nodded. “So, did you want to come train today?” <br /><br />Baelin shook his head. “I need to take care of a few things back at my farm. Plus, I don’t think my body is quite up to that yet.”<br /><br />“Of course.” Dilirian offered a slight bow of his head and then headed back to the field where his trainees were awaiting him.<br /><br />Baelin smiled to himself and bent down to pick up his diamond. Most people would think he’d made himself one to get rich. But he had something else in mind entirely. He pocketed his precious gem and decided to go find a mirror and take a look at his ear.<br />His ear was fine, Baelin decided after having washed away the caked on blood. A few thin lines were stitched together, and half of it had to be sewn almost completely back on, but the stitches seemed to be taking well and it looked to be healing nicely. <br />“That’s not as bad as Dilirian made it sound,” Kelly said from behind him.<br />Baelin spun, regretting it as he did so. Fire lanced up from both his stab wound and his ankle. He grabbed the wall to keep from falling.<br /><br />“Oh, sorry,” Kelly said. “I didn’t mean to…”<br /><br />“It’s not your fault,” Baelin said through gritted teeth as he waited for the pain to subside. “Who let you in?”<br /><br />“Nobody,” she said, giving a coy smile. “I just thought I’d come see if you needed anything.”<br /><br />“I’m okay,” Baelin said, not sure what Kelly could possibly do for him aside from cook him lunch. “I still can’t do too much, so I mostly just lay around, waiting for the wounds to heal.”<br /><br />“Sounds awfully boring,” Kelly said.<br /><br />“It’s not so bad,” Baelin said. “I’m used to being alone on my farm. I don’t have anything to do now, but I’m used to living inside my head.”<br /><br />Kelly giggled. “You’re funny.” Baelin couldn’t see why. “Well, maybe I can come keep you company later on if my mom says I’m done with my chores.”<br /><br />The thought of needing permission to do something sounded intolerable to Baelin. He vaguely recalled those days, but he’d been as free as was humanly possible since his mother had died. More free in some senses, since Magic gave him certain allowances to which other people didn’t have access. “That would be fine,” Baelin said, not knowing what else to say.<br /><br />Kelly beamed and traipsed out of the room, then turned back to say goodbye and rush off again.<br /><br />Baelin found himself beaming as well. He’d hoped to catch Kelly’s attention for some time, and now she was coming around asking what she could do for him. What more could a boy ask for?<br /><br />The throbbing of his leg answered his question. Oh yeah, being fully healed and healthy would’ve been nice, too.Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8485045673830280506.post-28112832509970376782011-07-29T16:36:00.000-07:002011-07-29T16:39:05.851-07:00Dominions of Glory: 1 RevisitedOkay, my inner editor wouldn't let me leave the beginning alone until I at least attempted a restructure and edit of the opening section. I realize it still needs work, but, hopefully, I fixed some of the bigger issues that were making it weak. So here it is.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Dominions of Glory: 1 (Revisited)</span><br /><br />Baelin sat in the broken room of a crumbling stone cottage, his back against the wall, his knees drawn into his chest while his head hung and tears fell. He knew he shouldn’t cry, his mother had told him so many times not to cry, but he couldn’t help it. In the entire world, nobody knew or cared that he existed, and though the first thaw had come, he knew he wouldn’t survive. His mother hadn’t.<br /><br />The sky had been crystal and blue, with a high, beaming sun on the morning that Baelin’s mother died. He was seven. She left behind little of value; she’d sold off what she could to buy them food, in hopes they’d last the winter. She’d almost made it until the first thaw before succumbing to starvation and cold, leaving Baelin alone with no prospects and no hopes.<br /><br />He forced the tears to stop and looked up. Upon the wall in the back room--and there were only two rooms, each equally small--mounted on a termite-eaten piece of black wood, hung a rusted, leaf-shaped blade; a relic of ages past, his mother had told him. The blade caught his eye, and for an instant he imagined it immaculate, gleaming and honed to a razor’s edge. In that instant he could actually believe the blade was something special, as if he were to wield it everything would be different. <br /><br />His mother’s voice came back to his mind. He could clearly see the gentle twist of her lips as she explained the blade was from the time of Magic and a gift from Baelin’s father before he’d been called away to important duties. He thought of her and smiled a bitter-sweet smile. Her words about the sword played over again in his mind, and he wondered why.<br /><br />As he continued to stare at the sword another image of his mother came to mind, assuring him repeatedly that he was born of special blood, and that if his father could’ve, he would have stayed. His father had left the sword behind for him, for when he was in need. <br /><br />But as much as Baelin wanted to believe his mother and the stories she’d told, he knew they were lies. He couldn’t escape the whispers he’d heard when they’d gone into town. People spoke quietly, but only enough as to appear as if they’re trying to be polite as they named his mother a whore, slut, and many other things he did not understand. She had no friends in town. He had no friends, not out on their isolated farm, miles from the road.<br /><br />So when Baelin’s mother died, he knew nobody was coming to help him. His father was years gone, a story his mother had told him, not even a memory. <br /><br />And then, as in so many times before, his eyes and thoughts were drawn to the sword. He felt that if he would perhaps just wield it… but no, that was a foolish thought. The sword was a worn-out relic, as useless as the stories of Magic that accompanied it. But still he found he was drawn to the leaf-shaped blade. He considered the impossibility of what he imagined, not just with how the sword might change, but how the whole world around him could change, for once, for the better; how he’d no longer have the gnawing, burning hunger eating away at his insides.<br /><br />He wanted desperately to believe his problems could be fixed by simply taking up the blade, but he couldn’t convince himself. But then, as quickly as that, he realized he had nothing to lose. So what if he took the blade down and nothing changed? What had he lost?<br /><br />Baelin stopped day-dreaming and rose to his feet. He walked across the pathetic room towards the sword. The floor boards beneath his feet were rotten to dirt as often as not. <br /><br />With nothing to lose, he gave up what he knew and put his hope in the sword on the wall. He tentatively stretched out a hand, but the blade was out of reach. Still, he thought he felt something open up inside of him. He searched the room for something to stand on, but there was nothing; his mother had sold the chairs and table, and the few little items they’d had left had been used for firewood.<br /><br />Despite having only a tattered shirt and pants to cover him, he risked the cold of the morning and went outside to find a stone which he might step upon. The frost of the dirt bit at his feet and his soles burned at the icy touch. Most of the stones he found were stuck in the ground and he could hardly dent the frozen soil. Long after his feet had turned numb he found a large enough stone that was loose and he hauled it inside the broken cottage, into the back room where the beaten old sword rested.<br />Lacking the strength or energy to lower the stone gently, he dropped it to the floor where it cracked a floorboard. But Baelin didn’t care. He eyed the sword above him hungrily, desperate for the promises he hoped it held. <br /><br />Carefully placing one frozen foot upon the stone he’d found, he pushed himself up, stretching to his limits. His middle finger just grazed the sword and he felt a tingle of warmth tickling its way through his body, freeing his feet from their numbed pain. <br />His desire for the sword was feverish now, beyond logical explanation, and he knew as much. Like a starving dog gnawing the last bit of meat off a rotten bone, Baelin stretched up again, this time, with his feeling in his foot, his fingers just reached the blade, enough to knock it off the placard and sent it tumbling to the ground.<br />With great care he bent over to pick up the sword, worried he might do something wrong, that his vision would erode before him if he were careless.<br /><br />The handle was dried and cracked leather, and felt as such as he picked it up. He expected... something, but he felt nothing different. There were no bright lights and no miracles to save him.<br /><br />He collapsed to the ground, letting the leaf-shaped blade fall beside him. <br />In that moment the last of his hope abandoned him and he cried in a way which only a child can, fully lost, but with a keen maturity of insight into the bleakness of his situation.<br />And yet, as he gave in to dispare he felt compelled to take up the sword again. With his eyes closed he stretched out his hand. Cold bronze met his finger tips and suddenly he felt as if a flood-gate opened within him. He felt as if, for a moment, he had access to an endless-burning furnace. But furnace door closed, the heat dissipated through his body and he sighed. <br /><br />He opened his eyes.<br /><br /> Outside, the sky was crystal and blue, sunlight filtered through a sheet of glass far more perfect than Baelin had ever seen. The room was flooded with color, not just the mundane shades of brown of death, and of things dying and dirty.<br /><br />Beneath him the rotted floorboards were now immaculate and polish oak boards, a table rested in the corner, simple, but sturdy, far nicer than the one his mother had pawned up in the fall. And upon the wall gleamed a black wooden placard with two notches on which to rest a blade. And at his finger-tips he felt the warmth of his gleaming, bronze, leaf-shaped blade. It had a plain bronze cross-guard, a simple handle of formed leather and solid ball of bronze for the pommel.<br /><br />Baelin sniffed away the last remnants of his crying and stood, wide-eyed, unable to fully comprehend or believe the changes he saw.<br /><br />In his mind he thought he heard a voice say, I give you this, and you can have so much more.<br /><br />Baelin nodded as if in response to the voice in the back of his head. He reached out and took up the leaf-shaped blade, a relic of an age where men believed in Magic. A relic made anew by the Magic man had forgotten, which Baelin would use to forage a new world, free of the uncertainty and helplessness he’d felt for so long.Brandon Orgillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638944904738603049noreply@blogger.com0