Transcript of Interview with Re

Thanks to Re (@RLove10) for collaborating with me on parts 1 and 2 of the weekly!

Inky: Hello, Re! {smiles politely across the table at Re} Thank you for being here with me today. I’m working on a project about the food preferences of SWCers, and so for research purposes would like to ask you a few questions on the subject. {produces a notebook and red pen from her pocket, in preparation for Re’s responses} Here’s a basic one just to get us started off: what are your favorite and least favorite foods?

Re: Hmm {looks up} I love food in general so it's a hard question. But as I have a sweet tooth I would say probably chocolate. {smiles} Though if we're talking about food that isn't a sweet I would say pizza. I /adore/ pizza. {face lightens up}. Now least favorite food.. {pauses to think} brocoli. I just don't stand it. How it smells specially.

Inky: {scribbling furiously in her notebook} Pizza is delicious! What are your favorite toppings?

Re: Pepperoni! {chuckles} Might be basic but it is. Though I also like serrano ham and sometimes arugula. But most of the time I prefer simple pepperoni in my pizza. And please do not mention pineapple when it comes to pizza. I just can't stand that.

Inky: {nodding} Pineapple is awful on pizza, I agree! {jots something down, then glances back up at Re} On a slightly different topic, what is your favorite meal of the day?

Re: Lunch totally. Breakfast is too early to eat too much, and dinner is too late. {shrugs} In lunch I can eat a lot and afterwards I can eat dessert without my parents telling me not to! And lunch is at a time where can eat and I can eat more afterwards cause there is more space in my stomach. Do you know what I mean? {tilts head]

Inky: Oh, absolutely! {her pen scratches furiously across the page} There are less rules for lunch, right - you can really eat whatever you want without people judging you. {pauses to write one last note} What is your personal favorite food for lunch?

Re: This time I don't think I have a favourite food. {frowns} Lunch is where I eat anything I feel like, so it's never the same actually. Though my lunch always includes fruit and some sweet.

Inky: I see. {pauses to write something, then flips the notebook shut and tucks it into her pocket} Well, those are all the questions that I have for you today. It was lovely talking to you. {smiles gratefully} Thank you for taking the time to participate in my project!

Word count: 210

Transcript of Interview with Inky

Re: Inky, hi! {waves} I'm so happy to have you here. Thanks for coming to answer qustions for my new article on books. I'm asking a few people certain questions about books, the first one for you is the hardest one: {chuckles} "What is(are) your favorite book(s)?

Inky: {laughs} The answer to that question could honestly change depending on what mood I’m in. Inkheart is currently my favorite book, and has been for a couple years now. {pauses thoughtfully} I really adore Kate Milford’s books as well. And… {trails off for a moment, then nods} Yes, I think Percy Jackson belongs on this list too. It was one of my favorite series in fourth grade and truthfully still is.

Re: {laughs awckwardly} don't kill me, I haven't read any of the books you mentioned. I've thought of reading Percy Jackson for some time but then other books came in. Next question! {eyes sparkle} If you could bring one magical object from any of the books you've read, which one would it be?

Inky: {grins delightedly} I love this one! I think it would be… {pauses to think} something that could grant wishes? The lamp from Whatever After comes to mind. It has been such a long time since I read those books, but if I remember correctly the genie in that lamp could grant three wishes a day. {shrugs} That’s not bad at all.

Re: {eyes widen} Three wishes a day, now that is a great deal! I agree with you, three wishes a day would make my life wayyy easier. {laugs} Another question, this time something you gotta think about a lot. {grins evily} Which character would you bring back to life?

Inky: {frowns} Well, normally the author has a purpose when k!lling off characters, so I can’t say… {breaks off, remembering something} Wait, Dustfinger from Inkheart. His death was so poorly written and unnecessary, and I just… yeah. Technically the author did bring him back, but that just made the whole situation worse. {sighs} I would completely erase his death if I could.

Re: {chuckles} Believe or not, you're of the first people that say that to me. A lot of people–including me–have a list of characters they would bring back. {smiles weakly} Mostly because they are our comfort characters. And that leads to my next question. Do you have any comfort characters? If so, would you prefer them coming into our world or you going to their world?

Inky: I don’t know about comfort characters, but there are characters that I certainly love. {smiles} Dustfinger, Foulk Trigimine and Hermione Granger are a few that come to mind. {thoughtfully} It’s usually not individual characters that I find comforting so much as their relationships with each another. I absolutely love Sophie Foster’s relationship with her family in Keeper of the Lost Cities. And Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase will never not be my comfort ship.

Re: Well, that's a really wholehearted answer. That's everything for today! thanks for helping me with this, see you next time.

Inky: Of course! {smiles}

Word count: 267

Context Statement (by Re)

“I’m done with the weekly.” she said, “How are you not done yet? It’s the last day.”
“I know, I know. But I’ve just been procrastinating so much that I’m doing it at the last minute, again.” I whined
“I don’t understand your procrastination, it is not that hard to do it without getting distracted.”
Doing it without getting distracted, did she really think it was that simple?

Word count: 68

Part One (by Re)

Procrastination is not that simple. There are a lot of things behind it, and I shouldn’t be judged because I procrastinate. Sometimes you just have to do something else, you need to clear your mind. And there are times–most of the time–when you get distracted because your brain is just tired. You say you’ll do it in a minute, and that you just have to take a small break. But that small break becomes larger and larger every time, until it’s been days and you still haven’t done anything.
Sometimes you’re just lazy and that leads you to procrastinating. But there are other times where you know you have to do something, you are not doing it and that leads to you stressing. Because even if you know you have to do it, and you have the intention of doing it you just don’t. And that horrible feeling of “why am I not doing it, I should be doing it, why am I doing this instead!” Is what goes through my mind every single day. And I hate when you say I’m lazy, because that feeling is not laziness. Laziness is the feeling of “I have to do that but I prefer not doing it, that will come later.” What happens to me is executive dysfunction, and it makes me procrastinate a lot. And I bet you also procrastinate! Even if you don’t notice it and maybe it’s not as much as in my case, you procrastinate.

Word count: 247

Part Two (by Inky)

Don’t you dare try to deny it. No human can claim to not have procrastinated at least once in their lifetime. Perhaps you pride yourself on your work ethic and time management. Perhaps you are the type to finish your school assignments the day they were assigned. And yet you have procrastinated. You have, at least once, allowed yourself a break. A respite. A moment of relief, a decision along the lines of “This can wait a moment” or “I can put my chores off until tomorrow.” No one can continually grind out work without running out of steam at some point. No one can make it through life without occasionally procrastinating.

Some people might argue that there is a difference between prolonged procrastination and taking healthy breaks. That is, admittedly… a correct statement. I do not care. We all have different ways of working, Some people get all jobs done immediately, as soon as possible, hours and days before the deadline. Others, like me, wait and stress and work for two seconds and wait and stress some more. Then in a burst of panicked oh-shoot-it’s-due-tomorrow-and-I-only-have-a-quarter-done energy we finish the project at five in the morning. Is that such a bad thing? We completed just as much work as you did. We put in all the effort, learned all the lessons, got the grade. Our healthy breaks just happen to be longer than yours, and not spaced as evenly apart.

Right now, I am sleep deprived. I am stressed. I am angry at myself for procrastinating, and also angry at her for suggesting that procrastination is a problem that one can easily fix. I am tired, confused, and in a state where my organized arguments turn into confused rants. But there is one thing I am sure of: procrastination is not just a habit of the lazy. It is not something that can be waved away with a bit of concentration. It is an active force of human life.

I do not procrastinate because I choose to. I procrastinate because I know no other way of getting work done.

Word Count: 349

{begins recording}

Stingray: {leans back in chair and shuffles interview-y papers, then grins} Hi, Floris! It’s so nice to meet you, and I’m overjoyed we’re doing this interview together. First question: Why do you enjoy writing, and what makes you want to participate in SWC?

Floris: {a bit embarrased} Well, it's my first year being this active in SWC, but I know that ever since I was little I've loved to write. It's been something I've done for a while, though I've started treating it more seriously now. {Happily} Writing is enjoyable for me because it's an escape from reality, and a place where I can comfort myself. Things can be real tough, and I try to express that in characters and stories I write. I've always enjoyed making real and relatable characters and I enjoy how much development you can make. There's no limits but your mind. I participated in SWC because I heard from my sibling about how great it was, and they mentioned how it helped them learn and grow, and eventually become the writer they are now. I hope to get a bit better and make a few friends.

Stingray: Wow, that's really interesting! So what's a tip you'd give to beginning writers?

Floris: {Slightly uncomfortable} well, seeing as I'm a bit of a rookie, I don't know how this'll go, but I'd definately reccomend doing something you care about. If you don't care at all about your writing then no-one else will too. I'd also reccomend reading other works and asking for critique on your own. If you get a vast knowledge on different genres and styles, you'll do very well.

Stingray: {smiles encouragingly} Those are amazing tips! especially that last one about the different genres and styles. {leans back in chair} Speaking of, what's /your/ favorite genre to write in?

Floris: {excited} well, my favorite genre is either hi-fi of scifi (both with a sprinkle of dystopian!). I like to write in these styles because I like how easy it is to make some interesting characters and plotlines. For a reference (of Hi-Fi and dystopian meshing), I'd refer you to “The little shop of found things”. It's a lovely story, and has many twists. I take inspiration from works like that.

{the two take a snack break before continuing the interview}

Floris: {Serious} Hello Stingray *small pause for dramatic effect*. As I'm sure you know, the writing world is very complex and often has some roadblocks, such as writing theives, writer's block, and many more. What are some things that have made writing difficult for you, and how have you overcame those things?

Stingray: {leans back in chair, thinks for a moment} Gosh, this is a tough question! A perpetual struggle that I’m always working to overcome is the fight to get out of my own way {laughs} I struggle a lot with procrastination and time management - my biggest problem when writing is making myself just sit down at my desk and write! When something like this happens, I do my best to make a space in my schedule for writing and remove distractions from my writing area (such as my phone). When I have writers’ block, I usually just look around me - there’s so much inspiration in the world around us! Often changing one little thing, or adding a ‘what if?’ can make for the most interesting stories. Sometimes, just to get started, I’ll write about my day.

Floris: {happy} That's an amazing way to deal with writer's block. Now, for our final question, I'd like to know {Leans forward in chair, intrigued} What got you into SWC? And how did you start your writing journey?

Stingray: {very happy} Oh, this is a story I love to tell. I first got into SWC in last year's November session - it's insane to think it's been a year! Truth be told, I probably would never have heard of SWC and wouldn't be doing it today if it weren't for my amazing friends. At that time, I was very active in a roleplay group with Soki and Luna (the co-host). One day, Soki and Luna announced to the group that they were leader and co of Thriller! They started asking everyone if we'd be interested in joining their cabin, and of course we said yes {grins, then settles comfortably in chair}. I was hesitant at first, but applied last minute. I didn't get into Thriller that month; instead I was a very inactive camper in Fairy Tales. But that session was enough to get me interested in SWC, and four sessions later, I'm still here! {more serious, but still happy} Though SWC is what has really made me a better writer, I've been writing for about as long as I can remember. My first story was about a bunny rabbit named Lola, and as I was too young to write, I dictated the story to my mom, who wrote it down on paper I later illustrated. In first grade, I co-authored a comic series with a few of my friends in class, and as I went through elementary school, writing became more and more my “thing.” I won a few writing competitions, and started a story called “The Story” (very original, I know {laughs}). All those things were fun, but I still consider SWC the beginning of my writing journey. SWC has taught me so much about myself as a person and a writer, and it's grown my skills in ways I never thought possible. {smiles, a bit awkwardly} So, yeah, that's where my writing journey has taken me so far, but I can't wait to see where I go next! {shuffles interview-y papers} That wraps it up for me! Thank you so much for working with me on this, Floris. You were an absolute joy to collaborate with and I hope we get to write together again in the future!

{ends recording}

Inej stood on top of a tower of cargo crates. Her braid whipped around in the salty air, and the day’s humidity made the few strands that had escaped the braid stick to her face. Up here, she felt like she could touch the gray sky. Up here, she felt free.
“Inej!” It was Kaz. Rolling her eyes, Inej gracefully descended from the tower, landing on both feet in front of Kaz.
“If only you could get your head out of the clouds, you’d be an indispensable member of our team”
Inej held back a snort. Clouds or no clouds, she already was.
“Why do you even enjoy climbing so much?” Kaz asked in exasperation.
A rare smile crossed Inej’s face as she was transported back to the faraway…

Inej closes her eyes, as she travels to the past. She says, “Even though you won’t care about this, I’ll still tell you.” Inej lets the memories come back to her. “When I was little, my dad taught me how to climb.” The wind made her braid smack her cheek. She didn’t mind though. She continues, “My dad and I would climb. We’d just climb. That was our bond.” She hesitates but decides to speak. “I’ve only fallen once in all my years.” She felt his eyes on her. Kaz was observing her quietly. “I try not to miss my family,” Inej said. “I don’t have time for it, and as you’d probably say, it only distracts me from the mission. But the truth is, some days I miss them so much it hurts. You can understand that, can’t you?” Kaz hadn’t told Inej much about his brother, only that he had had one, but didn’t anymore. “What would you give to have Jordi at your side? I know there’s so much I’d give to turn back time. Back to when I still had my parents, back to when my only fear was the ‘monster’ under my bed. Climbing like this? It reminds me of those days. It reminds me that they’re not really gone.” Inej waited for Kaz to snicker at this, like he normally did. “Like, it sounds crazy, but it feels like when I’m up here, my dad’s still with me, cheering me on from the ground. It brings me closer to him, even though I’m… even though I’m probably never going to see him again.”
Inej didn’t speak for a moment. She was savoring how the wind felt. “Kaz, do you know what freedom feels like? That’s how I feel when I’m high up. When I’m climbing. I feel free.” Kaz looks at her, watching her smile. Waiting for her to finish. “I love the feeling free gives me. It’s exhilarating. Without climbing, I think my life would be a waste. I know it would be.” Kaz just stands there. Wanting to speak, but doesn’t know what to say. Inej stands there. Reaching out into the sky, with her eyes closed. Both of them just stand there. They just stand, waiting.

Kaz, hearing Jordie’s name, became sensitive. He hated when people spoke about him. The memories would swirl in his head. Kaz hadn’t told her the full story, but still hated that she spoke of him. “Don’t speak of him, Inej,” He said in a stern and sensitive voice. Kaz couldn’t bring himself to say his name. Inej turns around. She’d never heard Kaz speak to her like this. She heard sensitivity, something she never knew he felt. She thought, whether to ask for an answer. But she had learned, everyone had their own secrets. She herself had secrets of her own. They both stood there, Kaz not saying a word. Kaz picked up his cane and thought. Inej figured he would go back to being the lonely and mysterious man he is. She expected him to be sarcastic about her story, but he didn’t. With these thoughts in her head, she scaled up the tower of cargo and watched the sun as it set.

I’m stuck in the middle, and I don’t know which way I’d rather be.
I used to be too young to understand the world. Soon, I’ll be too old to escape the understanding.
I’m not sure if I’d rather be neither. Or both.
Every day I feel washed away by the ever-shifting tides of change.
I’m living a lie, and I’m desensitized to the world that you call “weird” and “strange.”
I’m scared of growing up, but I know I can’t go back
And even if I’m moving forward everything’s knocked out of whack,

Because I feel like I’m expected to be someone that’s not me,
When I truly am not sure exactly who I’m supposed to be,
And everyday I ask myself, what if we…
Were free?
Free from the expectations, free to be ourselves.
Free from having to conform to standards set by someone else.
Sure, we may not know the way, but you know what? THAT’S ALL OKAY
We’re teenagers, for heavens’ sakes, just pawns in high school social games
Not all of us are prodigies, who were born to amaze and please,
We don’t all have those special skills that can delight and awe and thrill
We’re human kids, like you once were.

Remember?

I’m sure you do.
An awkward student, through and through,
Aspiring for that GPA, those long-sought-after decent grades,
A soccer game won, a homecoming date,
‘Cause you were human too.
And you say that you weren’t like us
Since you didn’t have iPhone stuff
But I think that that’s just not true
We’re not so different, me and you -
At the end of the day,
We’re people.
People trying to succeed, to get the things they want and need
Feeling anger, feeling greed,
You're not perfect; neither are we.

Your “teachable moments” do have truth,
And so do many things you say.
But no matter how smart we may be, we’re not quite ready to save the day
And it’s not fair for you to try to make us save the earth and sky when we can’t even have a say in Democracy, anyway-
Instead, try now to teach us how,
So when we’re ready, just you wait.
The world will never be the same, we’re going to blow you all away
But first and foremost, getting sleep;
I have an English test today.

So maybe if you’ll listen to me,
This little poem that I read,
Someday we’ll both finally see
That we don’t have to disagree.
Sure, you’re gen X and I’m gen Z,
But what does all that really mean?
Neither of us are different breeds,
We’re simply people - can’t you see?
People with auspicious aspirations, anxiety and admiration,
Who struggle with society and ever-present procrastination.
People, at the center of it all,
People will be the rise and fall,
People; beautiful and flawed,
People, underneath it all.

I know I’ll grow up eventually, but for now just let me be me.
Don’t talk to like I am five, but maybe tuck me in at night.
Patience can be given and received,
And don’t you worry about me,
‘Cause I will try to save the world eventually.
Just, I might wait ‘till the end of this school year,
When homework piles are a bit less steep.

Asphodel

verse 1
Asphodels in a jar on my dining room table
I set them there so that I won’t forget
A constant reminder your life is messed up
By no fault of your own, it’s by all my regrets
With all my mistakes and all my misgivings
A childish ego bigger than my heart
Everyone makes screw-ups, but mine affect you so
In my case, I can’t just ask for a restart
Ohhhh, and

chorus
If I could find the words to tell you that I’m sorry
Sorry for letting my mistakes ruin your life, well
I would in a heartbeat but I’m just too scared to apologize, so
I guess my regrets follow you until you die

verse 2
Asphodels in a jar on my dining room table
Everyone wants theirs to grow and thrive
And I guess it’s great for me, that my flowers all bloomed, but
At what expense? ‘Cuz now yours are devoid of life
Yeah I made some mistakes and now you’re all wilted
I’m filled with shame, ‘cause I was too blind to see
That I never thought of how my actions would affect you
And now your life is all messed up because of me
Ohhhh, and

chorus
If I could find the words to tell you that I’m sorry
Sorry for letting my mistakes ruin your life, well
I would in a heartbeat but I’m just too scared to apologize, so
I guess my regrets follow you until you die

bridge
I wish I had a chance
To do it all again
To try to think of others before thinking of myself
I wish I knew a way
To make it all okay
But when I try to tell you I just don’t know what to say…

chorus
If I had the words to tell you that I’m sorry
Sorry for letting my mistakes ruin your life, well
I would in a heartbeat but I’m just too scared to apologize, so
I guess my regrets will follow you until you die

Transcript 1 (Lucy interviews me) (440 words from me)

Lucy Hello, Zaine! Thank you so much for coming to this interview today. {smiles} I thought that we could spend some time talking about Taylor Swift. Have you heard her new album, Midnights?

Zaine {internally begins to melt; screams} YES I HAVE!! {clears throat} ahem. Of course I have listened to Midnights. As a dedicated Swiftie, it would be completely inappropriate for me to not binge-listen to her entire album the day she released it.

Lucy {laughs} I am very interested in hearing your opinions about it! Do you have any favorite songs from it? What about least favorites?

Zaine {looks at fingers} Hmm… one… three, four… it appears I can’t tell you my most favorite song, but perhaps I can tell you my top four— wait no, top six— wait— {inhales and sighs}. Okay, fine. Top three, I guess. My favorite is probably Midnight Rain, my second favorite is probably… Karma, and my third favorite is Lavender Haze, BUT! {finger to the air} Vigilante is a close contender! And don’t get me started on the songs on the 3 AM version… but anyways. Least favorites would probably be Labyrinth, Sweet Nothing, and Snow on the Beach. Labyrinth and Sweet Nothing are slow-paced songs that I might like if I was in the mood for those kinds of songs, but right now they’re not really my cup of tea. Snow on the Beach… I don’t know I dislike it so much, though, I guess it feels incomplete in a sense? Maybe it’s the lack of Lana vocals— which I know Taylor gets a lot of hate for, but I completely understand that it’s just Lana’s style, and they probably agreed to have it that way— or the repetitiveness of it, but I just don’t like it as much as the other songs.

Lucy Those are some really good choices! I also love Midnight Rain {smiles}. Do you have any opinions about any of the songs Midnights that most fans might disagree with?

Zaine {pauses} hmm, you see, that’s a really interesting question! From what I’ve heard, everybody has a different opinions on the songs on the album, and everybody each has their own favorite songs; I’ve seen people who say that my least favorite songs are their favorites, and their least favorite songs end up being somebody else’s favorites! I think this just goes to show the amazing talent Taylor has in being able to create songs that appeal to a wide audience. Clearly the variations in favorite songs proves how much of a wonderful song-writer she is!

Lucy That’s a great answer! Taylor is certainly a very talented singer and songwriter who is able to appeal to many people. {pauses} Now, for the final question- I know that Taylor also released a 3AM edition of Midnights! What are your thoughts on that! {raises eyebrows}

Zaine {screams} I feel like I like the songs on the 3AM edition way better than the regular song— with the exception of Dear Reader, I don’t really like that one, sorry. The other six songs, though, they’re all in my top 10 songs off the album, I just love love LOVE the production, the themes, and just the whole freeness of the 3AM songs. I especially love Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve; I even have a piano cover of it that I’m releasing on my YouTube channel tomorrow!

Lucy Wow, really? That’s so cool! I’m glad that you have so many songs from both of the editions that you love. {smiles} Also, I can’t wait to hear your cover tomorrow! {pauses} Now, thank you so much for coming to my interview today, Zaine! I’m sure that everyone appreciated hearing your opinions on the album.

Zaine Thank you so much for taking the time to interview me!

Transcript 2 (I interview Lucy) (272 words from me)

Zaine Gays and anti-gays, please welcome the renowned space enthusiast, Lucy, to the stage! {applauses} First off, thank you so much for taking the time to sit and discuss your passions in space. One thing I’ve been dying to settle since elementary school has always been the status of Pluto— and now we have a space expert to settle things once and for all! So, Lucy, what’s it going to be? Planet or not-a-planet?

Lucy Hi, everyone, thank you so much for having me! {waves} Of course! I’m always happy to come and chat about topics like this. {clears throat} Well, technically speaking, Pluto is designated as a dwarf planet and has been since this title was created in 2006. However, many people believe that Pluto should be reinstated as one of the main planets! {pauses} I understand why they want this- it would definitely be very confusing if one of the planets that I have grown up with suddenly got removed from the list! Despite this, many people don’t realize that Pluto is not the only dwarf planet. There are four others: Ceres, Haumea, Eris, and Makemake! That means that if Pluto were to be considered a planet, it would only be right to make those four planets, too. Because of the qualifications that Pluto is lacking and the fact that nostalgia causes most of the “make-Pluto-a-planet” begging, I would have to say that, no, Pluto is not a planet, and will not be one ever again.

Zaine Ah, yes, so that settles it! I completely agree that Pluto should remain a dwarf planet— but mostly because of the nice numbers we have right now, with 8 planets—4 rocky ones and 4 gas giants— and 4 dwarf planets… {pauses} which is probably not a good reason to go with, so I like your explanation better. Speaking of planets, do you have a favorite regular planet? And what’s your favorite dwarf planet?

Lucy {laughs} That’s also a good reason! It’s a very satisfying number. {pauses} Well, my favourite regular planet is Neptune! I love the mystery surrounding it, being the farthest away from the Sun. It was also the first planet found by mathematical equation, which is super interesting! {smiles} Also, it just looks really nice. {pauses} My favourite dwarf planet is definitely Ceres! It is the only dwarf planet found in the Asteroid Belt instead of the Kuiper Belt, which is super cool. It also used to be considered an asteroid, even though it takes up 1/3 of the mass of the whole Asteroid Belt all on its own!

Zaine Wow! Those are some surprising facts that I’ve never heard about. {pauses} One thing I HAVE heard about is the upcoming Artemis I launch! I heard NASA delayed it due to tropical storm Nicole, and I’ve also heard that it’s going to land the first woman and the first person of color onto the moon! That sounds pretty cool— what’s your opinion on the launch, and perhaps you could sprinkle in a few interesting facts as well?

Lucy I am incredibly excited for the Artemis 1 launch! The Space Launch System is such an incredible feat of engineering, and the whole Artemis launch program is ambitious and full of thrill. {pauses} I must admit that I am disappointed from all of the scrubbed launches so far, but I still have faith in it! I’ll certainly be waking up very early on November 16 to watch it (hopefully) launch. {smiles} One fun fact about the SLS is that it’s actually the most powerful rocket ever created, even more powerful than the Saturn V rocket used for the Apollo missions!

Zaine Wow! I’m sure everybody in the audience will be waking up early on November 16 to watch the launch. {checks watch} It appears that’s all the time we have for this interview! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions {smiles}.

Lucy {laughs} I hope so! {pauses} Thank you so much for having me! This was great.

Ah, Sir Flabsdz, you ask about my adventures? I imagine yours are far braver (and involve more children-eating yum) - but of course, I shall entertain you with my grandest tale. ;')

A few months ago, my ship set sail on this huge, uncharted sea - far east of SWCLand, and even farther than Daily Team HQ. We were in search of something big, something that would make the world as we knew it change. And - Jim, would you believe it - we found it. After seven months, our ship, and all the noble polar bear pirates with me, came upon dry land… and a wonderful discovery we had only believed in our deepest of hearts to be real.

They call it… “Caticorn Land.” I know, I know, I didn't believe it when I first saw the caticorn, but… you tend to /have/ to believe things, especially when these /things/ happened to love the taste of exotic polar bear meat. The polar bear pirates were meowing in terror, and I could do nothing but watch as the caticorns… feasted.

Long story short, it was a /bad/ time.

You see, Jim, by the time the remaining polar bear pirates reboarded the ship, we had lost about half our pirates. And, worst of all, the polar bears were /crying/ now.

So, when we happened to land on another island, not a single polar bear pirate dared to set foot off the safety of the ship.

But we watched. Day and night, we surveyed the shore, waiting - praying - hoping - for a sign that we were safe, that fate had finally decided to bless us. We remembered and recited the Triannual Wrisoboobying Competiton entries to ourselves. We told ourselves that our pain and loneliness wouldn't be forever.

One day, I was on watch when - I heard a meow. I thought it might be one of the crew, but this particular meow was … different. Familiar. I couldn't believe it. But that ‘MEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW’ was unmistakeable. And sure enough, I saw him there on the beach, alone, his pirate hat lying dejectedly on the sand before him: Cap'n Zaieus, the one and only Polar Bear Pirate King. And of course, our crew couldn't resist. We ran, all fears forgotten, to greet him with the battle hero's welcome he deserved.

However, one thing these polar bear pirates failed to account for was the shape-shifting abilities of the caticorns. These caticorns have the ability to shapeshift and mimic a variety of individuals, and, clearly, the polar bear pirates fell into this trap once again.

As soon as there was enough polar bear pirates off the ship for the caticorns to have a tremendous banquet— with dessert too, of course!— the caticorn mimicking Cap’n Zaieus took off its disguise and gobbled the nearest polar bear pirate.

Horrified, the polar bear pirates began to retreat, but it was no use. The caticorns had them all surrounded now. Even worse, these caticorns began to make a move on the ship, slowly lurching towards the scared cabin crew.

I was presented with a choice: should I stay and risk capture and inevitable death, or abandon and save the remaining polar bears on my ship? There was only one logical option here.

Terrified to look down, I turned my back, ordered the sails to be raised, the anchor to be lifted, and entered the cockpit to steer away.

The meows and cries of polar bears could be heard in the distance, coming and going like the pull and push of the tides. The sky was now a maroon tint, with bleeding clouds swirling patterns on the bruised canvas.

I suppose when the historians write about my discovery, they'll say I did something bad. But I brought my ship home, and I saved the legacy of the polar bear pirates. Even if history condemns me, I'm sure Cap'n Zaieus (ahem - the real one) would appreciate what I had done.

Meowing sadly, we sailed home. We encountered the caticorns again, more times than we had expected - and, matey Jim, I also got eaten. I’ll spare you the details, but that’s why I’m a ghost polar bear pirate now. I stayed by my crew (just a few of them left, and a whole lot of ghosts) and guided them to the best of my ability.

At long last, our ship finally docked on the shores of SWCLand, our beloved home. And Jim … oh, I can tell you I sure am glad I never have to go adventuring again. I’ll leave the fun for you. :'D

Interview (227 words)
My partner was @Stormy_Brook

Stormi: What's something funny that happened to you?
Me: (pauses and thinks) Something funny that happened was that I forgot I had my book in my hand. So I spent 5 minutes looking until I realized.
Stormi: What book was it? Are you enjoying it so far?
Me: The book was “King of Scars.” It's amazing so far. I'm extremely enjoying it.
Stormi: Glad to hear it. What is about so far? (Spoilers permitted.)
Me: thinks) It's a like the story of Nikolai, Zoya, and Nina. They're the main characters. It's part of a collection called the Grishaverse. It's all connected in some way. Nikolai and Zoya were mostly from the Shadow and Bone trilogy while Nina was from the Dregs Duology.
Stormi: Hmm, that sounds really cool! I Think I've heard of the Shadow and Bone trilogy although I can't say I've read it. What is your favorite book?
Me: The Grishaverse is great! I like the Dregs duology better than the Shadow and Bone trilogy. My favorite book would have to be between Six of Crows and Cruel Prince.
Stormi: Cool! It sounds like you love reading fantasy. Is fantasy your favorite genre to write as well?
Me: I do like fantasy! Fantasy is not my favorite genre to write. I'm more of a mystery type of person. True Crime is my thing. That's why I'm glad I got into Mystery this session!
Stormi: That's awesome! Do you ever listen to true crime podcasts? If so, which is your favorite?
Me: I love true crime podcasts. I don't have a favorite really. I just go and look for which one has a case that peaks my interest. As long as there is good, thorough information on the case, the podcast's name doesn't matter.
Stormi: Fair enough. My personal favorite would probably be the Morbid Podcast. Welp, that's all the time for today! Happy writing (and enjoy the rest of your book!) (Your total was 227 words)
Me: Thank you!

Monologue
Partner: @Whirlygig 688 words in total. 364 by me
(Intro. By Stingray) Inej stood on top of a tower of cargo crates. Her braid whipped around in the salty air, and the day’s humidity made the few strands that had escaped the braid stick to her face. Up here, she felt like she could touch the gray sky. Up here, she felt free. “Inej!” It was Kaz. Rolling her eyes, Inej gracefully descended from the tower, landing on both feet in front of Kaz. “If only you could get your head out of the clouds, you’d be an indispensable member of our team” Inej held back a snort. Clouds or no clouds, she already was. “Why do you even enjoy climbing so much?” Kaz asked in exasperation. A rare smile crossed Inej’s face as she was transported back to the faraway…

Middle (Me): Inej closes her eyes, as she travels to the past. She says, “Even though you won’t care about this, I’ll still tell you.” Inej lets the memories come back to her. “When I was little, my dad taught me how to climb.” The wind made her braid smack her cheek. She didn’t mind though. She continues, “My dad and I would climb. We’d just climb. That was our bond.” She hesitates but decides to speak. “I’ve only fallen once in all my years.” She felt his eyes on her. Kaz was observing her quietly.

Middle (Part two by Stingray): “I try not to miss my family,” Inej said. “I don’t have time for it, and as you’d probably say, it only distracts me from the mission. But the truth is, some days I miss them so much it hurts. You can understand that, can’t you?” Kaz hadn’t told Inej much about his brother, only that he had had one, but didn’t anymore. “What would you give to have Jordi at your side? I know there’s so much I’d give to turn back time. Back to when I still had my parents, back to when my only fear was the ‘monster’ under my bed. Climbing like this? It reminds me of those days. It reminds me that they’re not really gone.” Inej waited for Kaz to snicker at this, like he normally did. “Like, it sounds crazy, but it feels like when I’m up here, my dad’s still with me, cheering me on from the ground. It brings me closer to him, even though I’m… even though I’m probably never going to see him again.”

Middle (Part 3 by me) Inej didn’t speak for a moment. She was savoring how the wind felt. “Kaz, do you know what freedom feels like? That’s how I feel when I’m high up. When I’m climbing. I feel free.” Kaz looks at her, watching her smile. Waiting for her to finish. “I love the feeling free gives me. It’s exhilarating. Without climbing, I think my life would be a waste. I know it would be.” Kaz just stands there. Wanting to speak, but doesn’t know what to say. Inej stands there. Reaching out into the sky, with her eyes closed. Both of them just stand there. They just stand, waiting.

End (By me) Kaz, hearing Jordie’s name became sensitive. He hated when people spoke about him. The memories would swirl in his head. Kaz hadn’t told her the full story, but still hated that she spoke of him. “Don’t speak of him, Inej,” He said in a stern and sensitive voice. Kaz couldn’t bring himself to say his name. Inej turns around. She’d never heard Kaz speak to her like this. She heard sensitivity, some something she never knew he felt. She thought, whether to ask for an answer. But she had learned, everyone had their own secrets. She herself had secrets of her own. They both stood there, Kaz not saying a word. Kaz picked up his cane and thought. Inej figured he would go back to being the lonely and mysterious man he is. She expected him to be sarcastic about her story, but he didn’t. With these thoughts in her head, she scaled up the tower of cargo and watched the sun as it set.

Poem (3 minutes 4 seconds)
!! Told in Inej's perspective because I'm in a Six of Crows mood. !!

Drip, Drip, Drip,
The rain falls upon,
The city of Ketterdam,
Forgone the way of climbing,
I seek freedom,

I am the Wraith,
My climbing swift,
For my faith,
And my gift,
That was both taught to me,

I want freedom,
As the wind blows,
The bustling streets of Ketterdam,
As the people flow,

The rain flows freely,
The swan may swim,
Yet I am forced to operate quietly,
As the city seems grim,

The people walk freely,
Is my want not of importance,
People live life so easily,
Is my life not of importance,

The strain my body goes through,
Is of no worth to them,
The dancer on the put on a show,
Each dancer a beautiful gem,

I wish to be like them,
But alas,
I was not born a gem,
The dirty brown grass,
Hurting the barefoot dancers

I watch from above,
The children sleeping,
The couple full of love,
I wish i could be sleeping,
Alas I am here,
Simply watching over,
For I hear,
Below my covert cover,
Lies a person full of secrets,
Wanting a different life,
Many people have secrets,
Though they can pierce through the heart like a knife,

The wind cooling,
As the rain dripping,
Both feel refreshing,
When my skin feels the impact of both hitting.

The barrel full of shouts,
Dirtyhands walks through it,
They crowd walking out,
The smirks he gives in it,

Bang, Bang, Bang,
The person shot,
The weapon falling with a clang,
The person robbed of their freedom falls with a splot,
The gruesome crime committed,
Unknown to Ketterdam ,

Freedom is such easily robbed,
Though know one notices,
The heads that once bobbed,
Nothing left on their tomb,
Not even a lotus,
Facing doom,
Not even a eucalyptus ,
The cloud of gloom,
Hangs around the city,

People who seek freedom,
Are the ones who may die,
As freedom is not offered in Ketterdam,
All rise high,
Never to be seen ,
They weren't allowed to be serene,

So why seek it,
Many love the thrill,
Others need it to be able to submit,
They need a chill,
They commit,
The sound of shrill,
So they sit,
Awaiting for their freedom,
Some don't get it,
For there is no oppidum,
There is no tears shed upon it,

Freedom brings peace to some,
For others it is a call to doom,
The people of scum,
Don't want peace or so is presumed,
For the people live in slums,
While others get to bloom,
It's isn't fair,
Yet they can't
They walk with their feet bare,
They speak chants,

Do I lack freedom,
Yes I do,
Do I seek freedom,
Yes I do,
Do I need freedom,
Yes I do,
Will I die without freedom,
Perhaps so.

b]Song (228 words)
!! This is one Kaz !!
I can't write songs, I apologize in advance
Flower: Kingcups
Signifies: Desire of Riches
Watch out for the Mighty Dirtyhands
He once saw a kingcup
And is now swallowed by the desire for riches
Beware of the tricks that are hidden, tucked in his sleeve

Kaz Brekker is his name
When he enters the room goes quiet
He owns the floor
It is his own
The lot watches him, carefully
Awaiting his next move

Watch out for the Mighty Dirtyhands
He saw a kingcup
And is now swallowed by the desire for riches
Beware of the tricks that are up his sleeve.

He owns the stage
Perhaps has a pocketful of Kingcups
That is the perhaps the secret
The secret to his success
His success is at the cost for another's loss
Yet he won't care
Why should he?
He shall not pay attention to anything, but the win itself.

Watch out for the Mighty Dirtyhands
He saw a kingcup
And is now swallowed by the desire for riches
Beware of the tricks that are up his sleeve.


Oh the mighty Kaz Brekker
Is a scary one indeed
He's a trickster
A master of illusion
The best pretender
And the best gambler in all of Ketterdam
Beware of him when gambling in Ketterdam
You may as well gamble your life away

Watch out for the Mighty Dirtyhands
He saw a kingcup
And is now swallowed by the desire for riches
Beware of the tricks that are up his sleeve.


He seems happy
We should start running
He's preparing his tricks
Run Run Run Run
Get out!
Hurry!
He's plotting and scheming
Another's unfortunate demise

Watch out for the Mighty Dirtyhands
He saw a kingcup
And is now swallowed by the desire for riches
Beware of the tricks that are up his sleeve.