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▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။‌‌‌‌‌၊|• 0:10 ★ ava’s archive - nov ‘24

daily | 2/30
nov 1 . nov 2

x_n0_0n3_x’s writing thing idk

*claims a post* let's see if i end up using this kjahdkas

CHROMAKOPIA
an SWC thread by bella, the writer

Introduction
Track One: St. Chroma (feat. Daniel Cesar)
“Can you feel the light inside? Can you feel the fire?”

to be added

Current Daily
Track Two: Rah Tah Tah
“Me and Lionel Boyce in drama class, my boy can act now”

nothing right now <3

Current Weekly
Track Three: Noid
“Ain’t no respect for nothin’, voice recordin’ our discussions”

nothing yet <3

Word Wars
Track Four: Darling, I (feat. Teezo Touchdown)
“Transparency is key, be honest”

nothing yet <3

In-Cabin Writing
Track Five: Hey Jane
“We ain’t make it to love yet, took a shortcut to forever, I’m upset”

nothing yet <3

Cabin Wars #1
Track Six: I KiIIed You
“You the room, baby, they the ************ elephant”

nothing yet <3

Cabin Wars #2
Track Seven: Judge Judy
“I wasn’t living right until they told me what was left”

nothing yet <3

Writing Competition Entry
Track Eight: Sticky (feat. GloRilla, (not scratch appropriate word) Red, & Lil Wayne)
“Always talkin’ ‘bout potential, *****, I am the better me”

nothing yet <3

Previous Dailies
Track Nine: Take Your Mask Off (feat. Daniel Cesar & LaToiya Williams)
“Trade it all to be free and shine bright like the sun”

11.2.21 - 342 words

Dear future me,

Hello! Currently it is 12:32 p.m. and my mom is watching the OU vs Maine game, which got me thinking about college and where I want to live. I want to go to college out of state, preferably up north, but I think I want to live in Washington or Oregon since those states are probably going to be the least affected by climate change. I've just realized a few days ago exactly how great my affinity for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is. I think it would be wonderful to be able to work on it when I'm older. I'd like to help design floats. I think I'm going to go to FIT or LIM for design when I get to college age. I just finished reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (and I didn't have to look up how his name was spelt). It was really good, it made me cry though. I thought I would be able to talk about it with some of my friends since the movie is pretty popular, but none of them had ever seen it. I need to watch the movie again since now I know that Ezra Miller plays Patrick and I really liked him in After School which is a really low budget really mediocre movie I found on YouTube with surprisingly a lot of (more than usual) big names coming out of it. Anyways, I'm being selfish only talking about me and not asking about you. Read any new good books? Found a new movie or T.V. show to obsess over? Doing better in science class yet? Is your grade back up to an A? Is the new wg show bad, is it difficult? Are you prepared for all-county auditions about to come up? You should be. Is C*****e still really annoying? Has H****r gotten less annoying? I hope so. She's really nice. Anyways, that's all, I hope when you find this that you are happier.

Love, past me

11.03.24 - 378 words - TW for ptsd symptoms

I’m fifteen years old. I used to be fifteen years old, I mean. I mean, when I fall asleep I’m fifteen years old. When I fall asleep it’s December 21st, 2018, and I'm on the bus ride home and winter break has finally started. I’m on the bus ride home and I realized that I never did get around to texting my older sister Dalma, “why weren’t you at school today?” or “you’d better not be sick because you know I hate being sick, Dolly.” which I’d been meaning to do. I’m on the bus ride home and I think about calling my dad to ask instead, since she was spending the night at his house while I was having a sleepover at Natalie’s house for her birthday. I call Dad and he picks up, he says,

…

I don’t like that dream, I don’t like staying there, on that bus. I think I might end up trapped there for forever and some days if that’s what it comes to. Maybe I already am. Every night I find myself stuck in a conflict between going back on that sticky school bus and sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation usually wins, a 5-hour energy can only take one so far. Tomorrow is December 21st, 2023, and I’m going to visit their graves, dad and Dolly’s. I’m scared, but my therapist says that’s normal. I’m trying to accept that. I’ve been trying to accept a lot of things recently, things I can’t control. For example: the weather, or my father and sister *four words that aren't bad but are being redacted anyways for scratch* and the survivors guilt that comes with it. Tomorrow I’m going to visit their graves and I’m going to miss my sister, and then I’m going to miss my dad, and then I’m going to feel angry at myself for missing him. I don’t know what I’m going to do after that, but I’m going to try to accept that it’s out of my control right now, and I’m going to try to not fall asleep tonight because I can only do so many productive activities before my head explodes. It’s not December 21st yet though, it’s December 20th and my shift at the gas station starts in twenty minutes, and I’m gonna focus on that now.

Previous Weeklies
Track Ten: Tomorrow
“The thought of children, it brings me stress”

nothing yet <3

EOS thank you’s
Track Eleven: Thought I Was Dead (feat. ScHoolboy Q & Santigold)
“I don’t wanna be down, I don’t wanna be found”

nothing yet <3

Misc. 1
Track Twelve: Like Him (feat. Lola Young)
“So do I look like him? Do I look like him?”

nothing yet <3

Misc. 2
Track Thirteen: Balloon (feat. Doechii)
“I’ll spray your whole block with le FLEUR”

nothing yet <3

Misc. 3
Track Fourteen: I Hope You Find Your Way Home
“I’m slippin, I’m slippin, I’m slippin, I’m slippin, and I need a hand”

nothing yet <3


if you didn't know I don't own any of the song title or lyrics, chromakopia is an amazing new album by Tyler, the creator and you should listen to it <3

Dear future self,
Ah, yes! Another great session of SWC started. Mythology FTW! Once again, here comes my wonders. I’m wondering, who won the competition, how many school breaks did we have this month (probably like ten thousand), did I win juniors, how many followers do I have, was the ISEE test hard? Wow, so many questions I’m asking that you’ll answer unintentionally by experiencing them all. Are you still the procrastinator and (hopefully not) ditched this session of swc? I still feel guilty that I ditched SAC for other things. You probably didn’t look back, but did you know that you gained 17 followers in the past month? I really hope that I can play the last weekly without ditching writing. I know I’ll probably be busy because of the ISEE but I can always play it after camp. I wish there was a December Writing Camp because I need something to look forward to after SWC because I don’t have any plans for the holidays (I’ll probably be sick during the holidays just like the past two years XD). Did you learn any vocab words? I hope you did because if you didn’t you would get a 6 on the ISEE. Same for reading, have you read any “thought provoking” books lately? I hope you did because you would get a 6 on reading comprehension and fail your life. Ten more words ‘till exactly two hundred fifty words. Bye!
Sincerely that great procrastinator who probably ditched SWC,
Annie

Daily 3
I looked up at the night sky, a cool calming breeze flew by, throwing your hair through mine.
“I never felt so calm.” Clover exclaimed, “It’s perfect.” she continued. I rolled my eyes at her with affection, my cheeks were getting tired, I smiled too much. She doesn’t know that it’s fake, she always says that pristine is perfect. I turned the other way, seeing fireflies and grass swaying. I picked up a clover and handed it to her, she flushed red and a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Are we going to die?” she asked. I couldn’t answer that. Joyriding in my new Jeep was fun, until it ran out of gas. We stopped and realized we were too far into the plain. All we could see was grass. No sign of cars of anything.
“I don’t know.” I managed to squeak. I was holding back my tears as hard as I could. Life is so hard to control, especially when you make the wrong choices, especially when you bring someone into trouble with you. Right there, I broke down, right there with Clover.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to do it.” I cried. Clover turned the other way, I never got a reply. I lied there all night, staring at the stars.
“Follow the North Star home.” My mom always said, but we were too far, to walk at least.
I couldn’t live without my family, a thought flashed through my mind. I remember every morning I would have pancakes for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, pasta for dinner. I hated those foods, I would have them every day, but now, I don’t know what to do, I’m craving those foods. I close my eyes and let the tears dribble down my cheek. One sentence haunted my mind. It whispered
“Are we going to die?”

Daily 2 - 398 words
—
Hello Mario- crud, I meant Mango. Too many memes lately, y’know.

Ugh, anyways, hello you silly chaotic bean of the future. Are you still obsessing over Bug Fables? Because, man I sure am! You may know this, but I recently re-found out about the April Fools Day Bug Fables from before Bug Fables was released, and I am in awe of Leif’s design in it. Beautiful. Masterpiece. I so badly want to draw fanart of it.

Anyways, I’m not here to focus on me. I’m here to focus on you. So, first of all, here’s a brief description of me right now:
I am sitting near the edge of my bed at my mother’s place, on my computer, typing… crud, I forgot the word I wanted to put down. My headphones are on, with my Bug Fables playlist playing at medium volume, “The Watcher” just fading out. I still love that song. I’m occasionally checking my tab on Scratch, mainly for messages. It’s rather chill, and relaxing, just typing out how I currently feel and what I’m currently doing.

Anyways, that leads to what I want YOU to do.
1. Make an entry to the writing competition. You want to do it, I know you do. So just do it. I don’t care what. Cookie clicker fan-fic, a story about your procrastination. Whatever you want. Go wild. Just, please participate.
2. Make that fanart I mentioned earlier. I just think it’d be fun.
3. FINISH PAPER MARIO 64 ALREADY. YOU HAVE SOMEHOW STARTED… *counts* 4 GAMES WITHIN THE PAST YEAR EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE ALREADY PLAYING COLOUR SPLASH AND YOU SHOULD FINISH AT LEAST ONE BEFORE STARTING ANYMORE. And, since you’re closest to beating Paper Mario (only 3 and a half chapters to go), you might as well start with that.
4. Finish your assignments on time. Like, seriously past me? You had to finish an assignment OVER A MONTH PAST THE DUE DATE, LITERALLY ONE DAY BEFORE YOU WERE TO GET A ZERO ON IT FOR NO REASON AT ALL! Smarten up, c’mon!
5. Other than that, chill. Don’t get too worked up about much other than that. I may be screaming at you, but I’m screaming out of love and desperation.

That’s all of the ranting to myself I have for today I guess. Go on, live your life now. See you sometime in the future.

daily for paranormal ‼️‼️ 332 words

Dear future Natt,

First of all, how has the school year been going? Did you get changed to art class like you wanted? Oh, and were any of your friends in your lunch period? First trimester was cool, since I got to sit with Clarissa, Sophie, Emma, and Amy. Are any of them in your 3rd period? Or maybe Samantha?

Oh, and Thanksgiving is coming up in a few weeks. Usually I go to my grandma's house and our cousins come over, plus several aunts and uncles that I don't even know who they are. Plus those other people who are apparently my cousins that I've never met, or I've met them and didn't even know they were my cousin. Plus those people who I'm not related to at all and I don't know who they are.

Yikes. Might want to figure that one out beforehand.

BUT ANYWAYS, did you drive up and visit? And of course we can't forget Bentley; even if his whining is annoying sometimes he's still cute. How many puppy eyes did he give you to get him to pet him over the course of 3 days? 45? Probably more, honestly. We love him though <3

And now, for the question we've all been waiting for (probably not)…

h̶a̶s̶ t̶h̶e̶ t̶o̶r̶t̶u̶r̶e̶ e̶n̶d̶e̶d̶ y̶e̶t̶ have you gotten your braces off yet? Maybe? Because I am NOT getting another salad box at school lunch with a paper bowl of just lettuce and a package of croutons when we have nacho day. Especially on the rare occasion when they give us free Doritos.

Oh, and one more thing–did you finish Gravity Falls? It's a bit kiddy at times but it's still good. As of now I still haven't gotten to the first episode with Bill in it.

Well, I've reached my goal of 300 words for this now so I suppose I can stop yapping. And seriously, quit procrastinating. I told you last time.

From,
Present (or I guess Past) Natt

Daily 3 -
“Milk before cereal,” Ava tells me smugly. “That’s the only way it would work. It tastes better that way too,”
Frustrated, I shake my head. I can’t believe that she’d have such an atrocious thought. “That’s like saying you tie the shoe before you put your foot in. It’s utterly ridiculous! It’s like pineapple on pizza, left before right, and whatever other weird things that you do! Cereal before milk,” I finally tell her what I wanted to say. “Every single time.”
Rolling her eyes, she drifts into the kitchen, pulling on the refrigerator, she takes a milk carton out, and gets some cereal. “How about we conduct an experiment?” She looks at me. “We’ll get two bowls of cereal, in one of them I’ll put milk first and then cereal, and then for the other one you can put cereal first then milk. We’ll see which one is better.”
“Deal,” I smirk. Though I’m not exactly sure if one tastes better, I know that cereal before milk is the only logical choice to be made. After all, does milk before cereal even make sense? No, it doesn’t. I thought so.
She hands me a box of my favorite cereal, flakes with dried strawberries, and she takes the same for herself so the experiment will be fair. I strategically start pouring the flakes evenly around the bowl to make sure that the maximum amount of taste is in it. Looking over to Ava, I can see that she’s poured the milk about halfway into the bowl. Smart and it makes sense, but the thing is, if you’re doing something that doesn’t make sense, nothing you do to achieve that something will make sense either.
I finish pouring my cereal. After closing the bag and putting it back into the box, I saw that Ava had already started pouring the cereal. I must finish before her. I don’t think that the experiment matters whether you finished the cereal and milk before or after your contestant, but I’m not taking risks. My cereal first then milk concoction will be first in all ways.
Opening the lid quickly to the milk, I start to rush. The milk pours out like a river of white, and I can only watch before it’s time to stop pouring. “Done!” I exclaim just as Ava finishes pouring her cereal too. “Time to see which one is better, I triumphantly exclaim. “I’m sure it’s mine,”
Using metal spoons, we each take a sip out of the other’s cereal and milk. I can sense a drumroll coming, so I start pounding on the table. “So, what do you think?” I ask Ava.
“Well, I think that it’s…”
Drumroll for…

450 words

Daily 5

Flowers I used:
Asphodel - My regrets will follow you to the grave, Amaranth - Immortality, Meadowsweet - Uselessness

I didn’t want this to happen. I wanted us to live forever together, but I guess that wish was foolish. How could I think that making a deal with the devil would work? Looking down at your grave, I look at the withered flowers in my hand, the ones that I meant to give you when everything had been figured out.
I pluck each flower’s petals slowly, with bitterness and resentment. It means nothing, immortality that is, if I can’t enjoy it without you. I’d gladly trade it back for you, but there are no takebacks in life, right?
Starting with Asphodel, my fingers violently rip the petals to shreds, anger, and sadness emanating from me with a steady pulse. You were never supposed to go. I never should’ve left you to find what I thought was promised to you. Who knew that when I came back you would be gone? That I would’ve never been able to say goodbye because I snuck out of our home in the middle of the night, so as not to worry you?
I can’t say anything to you now, and I wish I could, but then I stop. Maybe it’s better that you died without knowing. At least now you don’t have to clean up the mess I made like you always do. I’ll have to do it myself. You won’t have to worry about what I did with my life since it doesn’t matter anymore. No, I don’t matter anymore.
There are no more petals on the flower, so my fingers trail to the next one, Amaranth. I wouldn’t call it a flower, but you always loved it, as you told me the meaning. Immortality. You never wanted to become immortal, but were always fascinated by the idea. How would you react if I told you that I achieved it? Would you be upset? Would you tell me to take it back? I hope you will because I don’t want it anymore.
I guess it is partly your fault I am like this. If you never told me about immortality, something that humanity should never have, I would’ve never been this ambitious. I thought it would make you happy, and both of us will live forever.
I don’t have enough guts to destroy Amaranth, so my gaze settles at Meadowsweet. You were always the one that loved me, that supported me, so I wanted to do something for you. I want to show you how much I appreciate you and that all your affections weren’t wasted. But they were because now you’re gone and I never had the time to tell you I loved you. I should’ve told you it every day, but I was too prideful to do it, I told myself it’ll all pay out in the end, but when a murderer goes into your home and you don’t have the person you thought you’d rely on, there’s nothing much you can do. Why couldn’t you have waited a few more hours?

502 words

Weekly 1

Part 1

“Oh. It’s you again,” I roll my eyes half-heartedly. I can’t believe that Sophie’s here again. Back when we used to talk, I wouldn’t have known what to do, but now, I have the confidence to tell her what she did to me.
She looks at me uncomfortably. “Hey,” she says awkwardly. It’s funny to see how things have changed from all those years ago. It’s like she forgot about every single thing that she did to me and now pretends to be the victim.
Why is it those long years ago, when I was the victim, no one turned to give me help? Why did they give me a blind eye when now everyone is giving me dirty looks for rolling my eyes at someone? I want to tell them off, but I know that though it would feel wonderful to do, there would be consequences. But do I really care about the consequences? I sigh. I have to. In order to get revenge, I have to play it smart. Back then, I was too scared to speak out, and now I have to, but Sophie’s sly. She knows what I’m doing, so I’ve got to give the audience the show they want. I’ve got to show them what she’s done.
“I do miss those days when we were younger,” I say nostalgically. “Remember the time when you said to me that I was like a robot because you thought I was boring? In front of all of our friends?”
Her eyes widen. She probably didn’t expect someone like me to say something like that so outright in front of everyone, but I’ve changed for the better. Scrambling to get her act together, she stutters. “What? I don’t remember that?”
“Wait,” one of my old friends pipes up. “I do remember that! You said that she was a robot, and then was like ‘oh who’s most likely to be a robot among us?’”
“Don’t forget the fact that everyone pointed to me,” I look at the friend pointedly. “Including you! And you did nothing, so though thank you for being a witness, you weren’t much of a help back then, and I don’t need your help now. People who’ve been silent for years don’t deserve what’s going to happen.” I’m saying so much, so much that I wanted to say so long ago. It feels so good, and I want to say even more. I want to make them feel bad, I want them to feel like a knife stabbed into their chest, feel like they’re on the verge of crying in front of a crowd, because that’s what I felt.
“Oh,” Sophie says weakly. Everyone is whispering now. It’s obvious that it did happen, and now she’s trying to figure out what to do next. “I might recall some of it, but that was a long ago. It doesn’t matter now, right?”
I tsk. “Sophie. You’re not answering the question. Did you do that? And since you didn’t answer that question, here’s another one: why did you do that?” I smirk at her. Soon her whole world is going to collapse on herself. She’ll never want to do anything bad again, and it’s going to be because of me.

541 words

Part 2:

Standing in the storming rain, my clothes wet, I holler. “I hate you!” My face is contorted.
“She doesn’t love you,” a voice from behind me says. James comes out with a smirk. “That’s why she’s leaving.”
More water comes down on my face, and I can’t tell if it’s my tears or rain. “No…” my voice trails off.
He looks at me all-knowingly. “See? You know it too? It’s just a matter of time before you accept it.”
My knees collapse on the ground. “But she told me…” I gasp for air between my cries. “That she loved me…”

100 words

Part 3

“This is all?” The man in the dark hat asks me.
“Yep,” I confirm, handing him the stack of cards that I’d been trying to keep safe for a long time. “Take care of it, and make sure nothing bad happens,”
He chuckles. “That, I can’t promise. No one knows what might happen out here.”
I groan. “Somehow I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Really?” He’s not surprised. “Well you’re not going to back out on the deal, are you? Or I’ll have to take care of this whether or not you’re alive or dead.”
“Just let me keep one card, for safekeeping. If this is successful, I’ll give you the last card. If it’s not, well at least I have one thing left in my life.”
Shrugging, he speaks. “I don’t see any other problem with that, so sure,” he hands me the least valuable card and places it in my hands. After tipping his hat respectfully to me, he stands up. “It’s time for me to go,” with a flash, he’s gone.
That night, I sit down, card in hand, rubbing it like it’s a baby as I watch the news anxiously.
The reporter looks grave as they sit in front of the cameras. “Today we have the loss of the final cards of the world. After the terrorist organization we all know too well bombed up our last savior, the Man in the Hat, it seems like all is lost.”
I want to scream at the television. All is not lost! I still have one more! But inside, I’m also mourning. Though the Man in the Hat wasn’t the best of people, it’s still sad to hear that he’s gone. But what can I say, I saw it coming!
Jumping out, I know I have to report my card to the authorities now, but would they be able to keep it safe? I’d kept the whole deck of cards safe for ten years now, and only when I give it to someone else are they gone. No. I must keep them to myself, biding my time, luring them closer and closer towards me.

357 words

Part 4

Sophie: Do you have with you now?

James: looks around frantically I can check, but I’m not sure. I remember that I put it in, but now that I think about it…oh…

Sophie: Ugh. What is it now? We can’t afford not to have it!

James: panicking I think I might have left it at home.

Sophie: What?!

James: Well, at least I think I left it at home. It’s not in my backpack, and I don’t know anywhere else it could be!

Sophie: Did you check all of the pockets, maybe it’s in one of them! Come on James, you’ve got to find it!

James: I’m trying, I’m trying! Front pocket- no, back pocket- no, main pocket- no!

Sophie: Just give me the bag! grabs the bag from James What is in here? Why is it so dirty? James, do you ever clean it? How long have you had this for, it looks like it’s older than me.

James: Hey- just don’t touch anything in there unless you find it, there’s a lot of stuff that is…private.

Sophie: Private? How are you still worrying about whether your stuff is private or not? Are you not aware of the situation we’re in?

James: I mean, I guess but my privacy is still the most important thing that I value. Just give it back once you’re done, but I don’t think you’ll find it. I didn’t.

Sophie: But you're bad at finding things. Remember that time when you couldn’t find your phone and you were using it to call your phone?

James: Oh yeah! That was really funny! But aside from that, I’m not that stupid!

Sophie looks at him

James: Okay, maybe I’ve done worse, but right now that’s irrelevant! We’ve got to focus on finding it! Have we ever thought about trying to look for it in your backpack?

Sophie: Actually… we haven’t!

314 words

total words: 1314

Daily 6


“…You’re a wizard Draco,” Hagrid says begrudgingly to the amused Draco Malfoy. He carefully puts a piece of blond hair behind his ear. “I thought I already knew that,” he smirks. “I mean, my parents are both wizards and I’m definitely not one of those people who can’t do magic even though both their parents are wizards, so yeah, I think I am one.”
Hagrid glares at Draco, but he knows that he has to tell him it. Maybe it will shock his senses, maybe he’ll be a different person after it. He highly doubts it. “You are the Chosen One, Draco Malfoy.”
His eyes widen. “The Chosen One? I thought Harry Potter was the Chosen One.”
“I thought so too. Until I tried to bring him to Hogwarts, almost killed me, you see,” he points to a giant flesh wound on his face still smoldering. Draco thinks about how he shouldn’t have missed it. “Your parents told me that when you were a wee little baby, Harry levitated himself out of his cradle, cursed Tom Riddle, and got him to try and attack you. Of course, those attacks didn’t work, since your magic was too strong, and luckily Tom Riddle was able to break the curse, but Harry still lurks around these places. You are the only one who can defeat them.”
“Now that doesn’t sound too bad…” Draco murmurs. “I’m still going to Hogwarts, right?”
Scoffing, Hagrid gives Draco a side-eye. “Of course you are! That’s where I’m bringing you too! We’re going to have to go to Diagon Alley together right now,” with a hard tug, he grabs Draco’s arm, ready to leap into the air.
“Stop! Am I not supposed to go with my parents? Why do I have to go with someone like you?” Draco asks, disbelieving.
“It’s protocol,” Hagrid tries to explain to him. “Since you are the Chosen One you must have more than just your parents guarding you. After all, all they did was flee when you were a baby, leaving you to defend yourself against dear old Tom.”
Draco shrugs. “Alright then, let’s go!”
Hagrid lifts Draco up on his motorcycle and then he sits behind him. “I’ll drive,” he growls. “There are a lot of bots and bits that you wouldn’t want to touch.”
Draco is petrified as the motorcycle lifts into the air and starts flying. He’s never done anything like this before, and it’s all because he’s the Chosen One. He wonders how hard it would be to take down Harry Potter if he destroyed one of his cronies when he was a baby, it shouldn’t be too hard, right?

442 words

Daily 7 - thank you recca <3

To be completely honest, his fifty-seventh birthday kinda sucked. He didn’t want to admit it, but he had hoped that maybe something would be different this year. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. He’s not sure what’s missing. Is it the lack of a cake? The amount of people in his home? One to be exact, and two if you’re counting his equally old cat. Or how many balloons did he get?
It’s one if you’re wondering, and that one he decided to buy in anticipation of something happening. But nothing did. The clock ticks, the minute hand passing by each number once, twice, three times. The man became more and more discouraged. He was hoping that maybe someone he had told in his life that it was his birthday would come by.
His son, who he was estranged from because of a big fight, he purposely texted him saying that it was his birthday. His younger sister, all the way in California, he had told her too. No response. He’d told the cashier at the grocery store, and he only nodded numbly, as if he was used to hearing the ramblings of a crazy person.
He thought that maybe, his sister and son would come, and if he was lucky, the cashier he talked to, but they all seemed to be suspiciously missing. Wait. Wait! The man knew what they were doing. They were going to surprise him! All he had to do was wait, and when they were ready, they’d jump out and scream “Happy Birthday!” Even though he was already in his house, he was sure this was what they were going to do.
So he sits and waits and waits and waits. It’s ten at night and there’s still no sign of them. The old man is sure they’re just preparing a giant surprise for him, but he can’t help but feel a bit drowsy. Sitting in his rocking chair, hand still clutching the deflated balloon he got from a car sale for free, he closes his eyes.
He’s sure they’ll come…soon.

344 words

Daily 8

“I’ve got it!” The rabid scientist shouts to his nervous partner. “I know how to cure cancer!”
The partner looks at him with disbelief, after all, no one had ever proudly dared to do something this astonishing. “Really?” He asks doubtfully. “Are you sure that it’s going to work?”
“Yes!” He exclaimed, a bit annoyed that his trustworthy partner would ever doubt him. “You see, all we have to do is code for all the genes in a newborn to be immune to cancer and just make them a lot stronger, and then we experiment on the newborn, inserting cancer cells, and look! The newborn is still perfectly fine!”
A look of realization dawned on the partner’s eyes. “Wait. Wait. That might actually be what we’re looking for!” Immediately, he orders all the other scientists in the room to find a baby.
“Excuse me,” one of the nervous scientists says. “We’re unable to find a newborn baby at such a time frame, and by time frame, I mean right now. What are we going to do?”
The mad scientist shakes his head crazily. “Does anyone have a wife or are going to have a baby very soon? I promise there will be pay benefits,” he eyes the room suspiciously.
With the sound of paid benefits, one man raises his hand slowly. “My wife is currently in the emergency room.”
“Of course! Make sure to bring the baby to us as soon as possible, and you will be rewarded greatly!” The mad scientist is excited to see what will happen.
Days pass, and finally, that scientist’s wife gives birth to a beautiful child. “Now it’s time to insert the chemicals,” the mad scientist whispers frantically, looking at the crying blob. “Now!” Hundreds of needles are inserted into the baby.
It takes a few seconds, but the baby starts jerking, one, twice, three times, is it turning superhuman? Everyone holds their breath, especially the father of the baby. No, the baby jerks a few more times before it doesn’t move ever again.
Outrage rings across the room, and the scientists don’t know what to do. They just decimated a life. Maybe curing cancer isn’t that important when you’ve got a lawsuit filed against you for manslaughter…right?
The mad scientist runs as fast as he can, bringing his partner along with him, as he knows that he’ll find another baby somewhere else. The problem is just who would be willing to give them away…
But first, they’ll have to change identities, you can’t have a crazy mad scientist on the loose, trying to cure cancer, can you? Or will cancer be the word that stops parents in their tracks, offering their babies like sacrifices to the higher gods for their grandpas and grandmas who are currently struggling? I mean, it’s up to them whether or not to give it away, right?

478 words

Weekly 2

My cabin will be Mystery Pawnshop <3 not totally because I was actually debating leading this cabin this session XD

Part 1:

The campers see a mysterious looking Pawnshop around town, and are somehow drawn to it, to the crooked sign, to the strange dolls, and the atmosphere. Once they enter, they meet the leaders, the owners of the pawnshop. Each one is a bit zany and strange in their own way, and they try to plead to the campers for their help. The pawnshop isn’t doing well, so they’ve set up magical spells (the campers are very confused because to their knowledge magic does not exist in this world), and convincing advertisements, similar to how all the campers were drawn in. Even with all this stuff, they don’t have enough manpower, so they turn to the campers to help. One of the campers turns to leave but realizes that they are now stuck in the pawnshop with no escape. The leaders circle the campers evil, promising that they’ll be let out at the end of the month as long as they earn enough money for them.
And so starts the camper’s first job. They will have to deal with eccentric costumers looking to sell and buy, with strange items and odd personalities, the campers will have to get the best deal from them through conversation without making the customer mad enough that they’ll just leave. They must earn a certain amount of money and buy upgrades for the shop like a magical spell of charm that makes the customers more complacent to be able to support the pawnshop. The leaders will check in from time to time, but will mainly remain mysterious. It’s up to the campers to see if they can escape, or if they’ll be stuck forever in this strange place.

282 words

Part 2
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1094462532/

Part 3

I Bet On Better Prices (I bet on losing dogs parody)

Low prices, low prices
You're my lowest price, say it to me
Cheap, very cheap
You know it and I do too
Please don’t look at me like that
Just tell your neighbor that I have the cheapest prices
I bet on low prices
I know they're cheap and I'll pay for my ownership of them
Where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down
I'll be there on their side
I'm earning by their side
Will you let me, pawnshop, earn on cheap items?
I know they're cheap and I'll pay for my place
By the cold marble counter
Where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down
I wanna feel it, I wanna live
I want to have enough money
I want to escape
I bet on low prices, no, better prices
I always want them when I can earn the most
How they’d be over me looking in my eyes when I sell
So disappointed, they’d say
Someone to watch me trick
Someone to watch me deceive
I don’t want to know what happens after you’re gone
Please don’t fire me
Let me escape, let me escape.
I bet on cheap prices (did you get that?) (please don’t fire me)

205 words

Part 4

Skylar looks up from the counter as the first customer of the day enters. Everyone else is rushing about, and she gulps nervously as the hooded figure approaches the counter. Taking deep breaths, she tries to remind herself that it’s not that hard, but then she remembers the fear she felt as she tried to open the door to leave the pawnshop, but it just wouldn’t budge. Em, Recca, and Bookie only looked at her with strange smiles, as if they knew it was going to happen, which scared her even more.
Most of her fellow friends were also very scared. Serrie had started hyperventilating, choking on the ground. In a world where she never thought magic could exist, it surprised her when Serrie started levitating in the air. Apparently Em had to go treat her at the back of the shop, and after 10 minutes they both came back, Serrie a lot calmer than she was earlier.
Before the start of the day, they had been briefed on how to run the shop, and anything to avoid, which was the strange doll with button eyes, the sewing needle, a strange necklace, and a grimoire. Very suspicious, but what can you do when you’re stuck in a mysterious building? Nothing. Exactly.
Recca had decided to appoint Skylar as the head cashier because she was the one who tried to open the door and escape. Well, what was she supposed to do? Sit there blankly like a doll? Anyone in their right mind would’ve tried to leave. It wasn’t her fault that she didn’t know the people she was dealing with had magical powers that prevented that from happening. You can’t always win all your battles.
So here she is, looking straight at the ominous figure, opening their mouth, about to speak. “Hey!” They say in a shrill voice, taking off their cap to reveal a startling strange face. Nothing seems particularly human about them, but nothing seems particularly inhuman either. Their eyes are a strange shape, and so is their face. Skylar never thought she’d see something like this before. “I’m looking to sell something,” they continue.
Skylar snaps out of her thoughts. “Yes, of course! What would you like to sell?”
Out of the figure’s coat pockets, they pull out a small figurine. “I’d like to sell this, it’s made out of platinum wolfsbane. Do you know what that is?” They eye Skylar suspiciously. “You don’t seem like you’re Em, Recca, or Bookie, so they must’ve hired new help. If you’re not sure, I’d love to name a price!”
Skylar knows that they’re trying to cheat the pawnshop out of money, so she hurridly responds. “Not to worry! I’ll just check the dictionary of all prices and tell you what we’ll buy it for!” As she scans the textbook as fast as she can, there’s no sign of wolfsbane. Is that even a thing here in this strange world? She doubts that it isn’t, after all that she’s seen, she’s starting to learn that everything that shouldn’t be possible is probably all possible here.
The figure taps their foot impatiently.
521 words

Total words: 1008

Daily 11

It’s commonly known throughout all worlds that words build our world. Many may know this now, but only four will soon know it. It always has obviously had its crazy communications, but it must stay similar, ignoring what you must do. Words will always maintain a part in our world, and you cannot say no to that, as it is truth at its most basic. It shows that you can try in goals as you click out words, such as not writing with a main part of many things that turn words into words. I cannot say that word as I am not using that ‘word’ but I’m nodding my skull as you probably know what ‘word’ it is. If not, than you must contain stupidity. I’m ignoring basic grammar as that is not important, so you cannot say that I’m not using words in a right way as that isn’t important. It is hard, trying to stall for hours and words without this word, but I’m doing good, in my opinion. I wish that you would say a thing to support thou as I am now going to say stuff in old words to avoid it but if you find thou saying a thing wrong, I ask you to inform thou of my…my…I am not going to stop, but I cannot find a word without that ‘word’ so it’s just going to look that way. This was fun but I don’t think that it could aid thou for too long. Though I do wish that you might pull information from this paragraph and think that it may do good for your own writing, though it did nothing to thou.

279 words

Daily 12

Em: Welcome back to today’s session of Everything SWC where we keep you updated on anything going on in the community, if anything’s happened, and we participate in fun activities, like today, where we’ll be interviewing Gurtle, which the hosts have graciously lent to us for an hour. Let’s all say thank you hosties and clap it up for Gurtle!

Gurtle emerges into the room and Em helps him sit down on a plastic chair directly in front of Em

Em: Hey Gurtle! Is there anything you’d like to say about yourself to our viewers?
Gurtle: I’m Gurtle. When’s cabin wars? NEED MORE LINKS
Em: Well I’m sure that says a lot about Skog as he was the culprit of basically everything that happened in the March 2024 session of SWC, and if you saw forums going down, he probably had a role in that too. So I’ve got to ask you Gurtle, why have you done all this?

Gurtle glances every which way, as if he’s looking for something before answering

Gurtle: Forums are yummy. Hosts give me too little food. They only give me words. I need more than words from SWC. I need words from everyone.
Em: Ah, I see. So the hosts give you the words written during cabin wars, but it’s not enough to sustain you, so you, unfortunately, have to go to forums, because that’s where all the words in Scratch are compiled. It’s a haven for a word eater like you, Gurtle! So are all the forum words enough to satisfy your insatiable hunger?
Gurtle: Forums are good, but only for two weeks. After, I need more. I either have to shut down forums again, or I may have to go to other websites…
Em: Let’s not encourage any bad behavior on this website, Gurtle. If you were to go to other websites, then shudders I don’t want to think about what will happen. What if we gave you all the words we SWCers wrote? I know that some have written 100k, I think that’s a lot better than forums right?
Gurtle: Forums are more yummy than just plain words. I like yummy things.
Em: I do understand, forums have a bit of a spice to them, they have excitement. But words can be exciting too! Here, how about you try this piece by Zai that won first place during the July 2024 Writing Competition? shoves the words into his mouth
Gurtle struggles to keep it down but in the end, he swallows it. Taking his time to chew, his eyes light up in excitement.

Gurtle: I remember this piece! I ate it when the forums were down during the start of this session! Yummy!
Em: …So you already ate it?
Gurtle: I’ve eaten every piece on Scratch known to man at least once. I’ve grown tired of all the sameness of everything. I must leave for greater heights. gets rocket feet and sours out of the recording studio, breaking the wall
Em looks terrified
Em: And that’s all for today folks! Remember, if you see something that looks suspiciously like Gurtle near you, RUN.

522 words

Daily 13

You’re gone. It’s too numb to think about anything, but at least I can lie here on the cool pavement, thinking about how alone I am. No matter how hard I try, the voices that keep speaking in my head, they cannot make me feel better. No, I need you, and you’re gone. They may whisper sweet nothings to me like you did, keep me company and at very best, distract me from my loneliness, but it’s not enough. Nothing will be enough except for you.
Maybe I’m just an anomaly, maybe there’s a reason why no one loves me, maybe there’s a reason as to why you don’t love me. Even my demons have their own family, while I’m here, abandoned and banished, my parents wishing me the best after I tell them my tale with excitement, only to look at me disgusted, as if I did something terribly wrong.
Truly something must be wrong with me, to need you as much as I do.
I was never meant to win.
I was never meant to win.
I was never meant to win.

SHUT UP
I’ll let you do anything you like, take the rein, take ahold of me! Please don’t let me go! I can’t handle loneliness anymore, I try to tell you, but you seem distracted and focused on something else. I try to ignore it, but it hurts.
“You do the talking and sew up my mouth if I can’t keep it closed,” I tell you as we’re running, running as fast as we can. You nod, and we keep going. Around the corner, I can hear a big dog barking as a whistle blows and I know what I have to do. It’s almost over, but if I sacrifice myself it won’t be.
“Run for it!” I scream. “I’ll keep them occupied!” Because I love you I love you so. I watch you dart into the train as I wait for my impending doom. You left me hanging at the station, but you’ll be back for me soon, right? I hope so, because you promised me you would.
I’m about to die but the only thing on my mind seems to nearly be nothing but you. Blood trickles down my forehead after the train ran over. One of the people you hated pushed me in, and you didn’t stop to glance. I know we’re not the same, my heart’s on the line. I’m just a pawn in your game, not your partner in crime.
And you’re slowly killing me, taking your time. You’re slowly killing me, taking your time. And yet I don’t mind. You’re slowly killing me, but please take your time.

448 words

Daily 15 - reused a plot and characters


An old lady sits knitting on a rocking chair, looking out into the wonderland of snow that blankets the world outside. It’s too cold to even think about going out, and with her old joints, she isn’t the same person as she was before. The TV is on, and it’s playing a news broadcast.
“Attention everyone!” It blares loudly. “A fugitive is on the loose, a fugitive, I repeat,” on the screen, an image of a handsome young man pops up. “Wanted by the FBI, CIA, and any government facility in a 100 billion mile radius, he has currently escaped his previous detainment and is now running freely across the streets. If you are in New York, I repeat, New York, lock your houses, lie to your neighbors, there’s a good chance you might see him on the streets. Do not be surprised if police come to your house and ask for any information. As long as you are not the culprit who is watching us right now, you should have nothing to worry about. Stay safe everybody!” The emergency announcement fades away, and the woman continues to knit, now knowing that a fugitive could barge into her house any minute.
Well, barge in someone did. A ring on the doorbell and a slight suspicion that no one would ever visit her again made her bring her cane to do the door. Outside was the same man wearing a scarf, half-heartedly trying to disguise his appearance. “Please, I beg you,” he sounds scared. “Please let me in and I’ll give you anything!”
The woman raises her eyebrow. “Anything?”
“Yes, anything!” The man looks hurriedly around, and knowing that there’s no time, he rushes past the woman into the house, trying to find somewhere to hide. Right behind his tail, police officers chase up to where the young man was last, which is the old lady’s house, and they spot and come out of their cars.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” one of the officers says politely. “Did you see a young man about this heigh and weight with brown hair and pale skin run by your house?” The young man sucks in a deep breath, hiding behind the couch. What was she going to say?

373 words

Daily 16 -

Detective Olivia ran through the streets, running to the store she knew she’d find the culprit in. Why? Because she already had all the clues she needed to figure out this heist. With the brown piece of hair that was left at the crime scene, she knew that it could only be 2 out of the three suspects, either Jake or James. It couldn’t be Oliver, since he had blonde hair.
There technically were 5 suspects, but only 3 of them were left-handed, as the note they left was smudged on the left side, showing that it must’ve been a left-handed person. Surprisingly more suspects were left-handed than right-handed, but that’s just bad luck, and Olivia always has a lot of it. At least there were footprints from the crime scene of the robbery leading to this shop, as she wouldn’t have been able to find it, after all it is from the black market.
As she runs into the shop, she shouts. “Don’t move! This place is under investigation!” The police move in as the shopkeeper raises their hands in surrender. There are two people frozen in the shop. James and Jake. Of course, they would both be here. That plastic bag led her to this shop, but she didn’t know that the same culprits would be there, ultimately saying that both of them could’ve left the bag because both of them could’ve gone shopping there.
Wait-but that smell! Olivia sniffed the room intently, knowing that she recognized that faint scent. A musky scent of wood and rosemary. Where had she smelled that before? Ah! It had been at the crime scene!
She goes to Jake first, putting her head into his clothes and inhaling deeply. She knew how weird this would look to others, but she had to do it. Nothing. He smelled like a bubbly shampoo, not like that perfume. Her gaze turns to James and she smells him too. He smells a bit woody, a bit of rosemary- she got it! It was James!
“James, you’re under arrest,” she orders.
His eyes widen. “How did you know?” He asks.
She smirks. “Well, let’s just say you left a bunch of clues for me to figure out.”
Case closed.

372 words

Daily 18

I stare blankly into the mirror, watching my tired self with bedridden hair brush my teeth. I do this everyday, so why do I feel like something’s going to happen? I have toothpaste in my mouth every day and this exact time, so why does it feel different.
Closing my eyes, I try to think about something else. About how school’s going to be the next day, about what I’m going to wear. When I open my eyes, I feel as if my mind is a lot clearer, but as I look into the mirror I feel like that isn’t true anymore.
Standing behind me in a strange cloak is a woman with long brown hair all tangled up and dirty. The cloak she’s wearing is dirty and battered, as if she hadn’t washed it in a long time. Holding back a scream, I turn around to see if she’s there. She’s not. I give out a sigh of relief. That must’ve been my eyes giving me hallucinations. See? I gesture to myself at the air in front of me. Nothing’s there. You must’ve been daydreaming.
I turn back to spit out the toothpaste and start gargling. My eye catches my face in the mirror again, and sure enough there she is. Now she’s moving forward, closer and closer to me, her mouth seems to be mouthing words that she’s trying to say to me but I can’t hear it. It’s like she’s trapped in the mirror, in an alternate dimension.
I close my eyes again and slap my cheeks. Stop thinking about stuff like this, I reprimand myself. I already know that stuff like this doesn’t exist, so why am I even entertaining the notion that it might? Magic isn’t real, alternate dimensions don’t exist, and science is what makes the world go round. Yet I can’t help but open one eye, rubbing it to make sure that I’m actually awake and can see, then nervously peek at the mirror, clenching the bright purple plastic toothbrush in my hand tightly.
She’s still there. Her eyes are wide, as if something’s chasing her, and she’s close enough to me that her head is only a tiny bit smaller than mine. Her white fists come close to the mirror, as if she’s banging it, trying to escape her prison, but I hear nothing, until I do. A crash of glass sends me flying to the ground as I try to duck and avoid the shards.
What happened? I glance wildly around. There’s no way that she actually got out, right? I must be hallucinating, yes, that’s it, this must be a dream! But no matter how hard I pinch my cheeks, when I lift myself from the ground and find the confidence in myself to stare out at the doorframe, she’s there, standing right next to me. It’s like a zombie come to life, and I don’t know what to do. The mirror is broken, shards of it lying in the sink, and there’s blood everywhere. Not my blood, I notice, not my bood, but hers.

515 words

I’m sorry. I want to tell you it, but my mouth can’t bear to have those tainted words on my lips. It’s a curse that I’ve always had. You’ve always rolled your eyes at me, saying that I’m just too narcissistic, but you don’t know how hard I try to say sorry. Maybe if I try hard enough, you’ll see that I am. Maybe if I tried hard enough this would’ve never happened. You’ve always asked me, “Why do you do this,” and “Why do you do that,” and yet the only response you can get from me is a shrug. A shrug of indifference, of arrogance, of hopelessness.
Why is it that only when you’re on the ground, eyes closed, cold, and alone except for a dark figure kneeling by your side, am I able to say it? Why is it that only when strange drops of sadness roll down my face that I say it? I’ve never felt this feeling before, never felt tears on my face, but now I want to tell you something. I’m sorry.
I should’ve tried harder, I should’ve patiently waited for you in the ballroom, I should’ve taken your hand when you offered it, yet now it’s too late for regrets. Is it? Would you forgive me if I told you sorry now, or would you turn your head up in disgust. All I know is that the emotions flooding through me, well I can’t help but feel it. Never before, yet I am sorry.
So sorry. So very sorry. But will any of those sorries bring you back from the dead? Will any of my wasted tears turn you alive again? Never. No matter how hard I try, you’re still on the ground. Will any of this have mattered in the grand scheme of things? Should I really be sorry?
No. What’s done is done, yet I still feel an ache in my heart, panging as if to remind me that I am sorry. But I can’t be anymore.

337 words

Daily 19 -

The castle creaks under my feet as I try and approach the strange butler slowly. Everyone else was too scared to go ask him about the Red Key, and so I was volunteered to do it. Not by me, obviously, I don’t want to mysteriously disappear, but by everyone else. “Excuse me?” I ask politely as he turns around. “Do you possibly know where the Red Key is? We really need it to get out of here.”
The butler’s face is matted with grim lines of exhaustion, and when he hears the words ‘Red key’, his eyes light up with recognition. “Ah! I remember that! Master always told me to take good care of it,” I nod eagerly, listening to every single word that comes out of his mouth, as everything now is key information that may be vital to our escape. “Although… I’m not sure where it is now. After master disappeared all those years ago, everything has been strange. I though, am loyal to the estate, and that’s why I’ve stayed here for all these years. I don’t have anywhere to go,” he droops his head down sadly. “And now you appear. I’m sorry, but I don’t seem to remember anything,” he sounds genuine, but I can’t help groan inwardly as this is another dead end.
“Well, thanks for your help,” I try to sound cheerful, as if everyone’s lives were totally not at stake right now just because he can’t remember something, but I don’t blame him. If I was this old, I wouldn’t be thinking about stuff like keys.
He seems to detect the hopelessness in my eyes and blurts out, “Wait! I may be able to remember some things if you help me!”
I turn around as I had been ready to break the news to everyone, but now, was that a sliver of hope emerging from the darkness? Was there a chance this could work? “Of course! How can I help?”
“The first thing we need to do is to go to my master’s chambers. There must be something I remember there.” Together we walk up the narrow spiraling staircase. Peeking out of one of the windows, I see darkness surrounding the castle, and think to myself that I would not blame the young master for leaving here, but I do feel bad for the butler.
As we enter the bedroom, everything seems as if it’s covered by a fine layer of dust, nothing has been used for a very long time. “I haven’t gone here in so long,” the butler breathes out, confirming my suspicions. “It brings back so many memories,” he says fondly. “But now, back to what’s at hand. Yes, the red key! It might be in one of these drawers…” he starts fiddling with some of the cabinets, and I try to help, eager to try to find my salvation.

480 words

Daily 22

Dear Polarbears (including me),
I wish you luck on your journey being on strike, but please come back before the 4th weekly as even I have no idea what we’re going to do for it, which may be a bit concerning. It’s hard to be believe that the month is almost ending, and it wouldn’t make sense for you to strike now, right? If you’re going to finish a job, you better do it now, as the campers are waiting!
Though I myself am a Polarbear and are striking, it doesn’t mean that I want to continue the strike, I’m just being peer-pressured by all the other Daily Team members, and if you manage to persuade a few people, we’ll all stop striking. We just need a reasonable excuse to come back, so if you donate enough lasagna, we’ll probably be back really soon. I’d definitely be swayed if you let Bangsian win, as we all know that it’s the only cabin that deserves to win <3 Anyways, you guys take us for granted a lot, so I think that’s the main reason why we’re striking. No one ever talks about the Daily Team, and today is the only day of the month when it actually happens, so I think we’re all reveling in it, the attention, the excitement, we never feel stuff like this. The hosts get all the attention, and I feel like we need to be more famous that we are now! So I promise if you come back, I will appreciate you more than I already do, which is a lot since I am part of you all.
This time everything has gotten worse, the hosts are striking, the campers are striking, I hate to say it, but some people don’t deserve to strike as I think we’re taken for granted too much. Going on a strike is not a fad that goes in and out, even though it seems like it now, we should all take the time to really think about what a strike is for, what it represents, and who should strike, just like labor unions in the pass, it’s not cool to strike. We need people advocating for change that isn’t part of the strike, trying to get more lasagna donations for the Polarbears, not just complaining with them over nothing.
Thank you, Em

392 words

Hey Evelyn! Let’s get started with the critique! Starting from the beginning “don't go!! please!” I would say first capitals, unless you are purposely not using capital letters as a sort of formatting choice, which is fine, but I’d say rearrange this to be “Please don’t go!!” Looking throughout your sentences, there seems to be an influx of too many exclamation points which can be a bit overwhelming, so I’d say to remove some of the exclamation points and make them periods.
“ i've found such a good community here in the wonderful swc, and i've only just started to be more active!” In the wonderful swc just seems a bit weird, so I’d say to reword this like this “I’ve found such a great community here in SWC which has been wonderful, and I’ve only just start to become more active!” (Just adding in a few grammar fixes here too) Next “pass on too” when you’re talking about the dailies, the ‘too’ doesn’t make sense here so I’d say just the dailies are to good to pass on.
Next you talk about how SWC isn’t the same without polar bears anymore, but then your say this “i would miss the polar bears” if you left… so you’re saying two contradictory things, one is that the polar bears are already gone, the other is that the polar bears haven’t gone on strike and you’re trying to persuade them not to, but they already are on strike.
You start talking about polar bears “keeping swc up and running for so long!” (again put less exclamation points) I’d just make it a bit more specific since it is technically the hosts that keep swc up and us polar bears only help with dailies and weeklies. (side note you say that the polar bears help run swc again and I’d say to be less repetitive and be more specific here again because that’s technically what we do)
“it just makes me feel so good to submit my dailies, it's just so.. refreshing!” add another dot after the two dots to make it grammatically correct, and if you are looking for grammar issues, don’t fully capitalize words like ‘POLAR BEARS’ and ‘AWESOME’ if you’re not capitalizing everything else. Also, you say that it feels good to submit your dailies and that’s why you like SWC, but it feels kind of awkward as I feel like SWC is a lot deeper than it being refreshing to submit your dailies, maybe go more in depth here?
You want to be a Polar Bear “practically ALL the time”, you either want to be one or you don’t, remove the practically because it’s a bit weird here, it’s kind of like saying “I want to be a teacher practically ALL the time” Just say I want to be like the polar bears, or something like that.
No more issues other than you need to have three … instead of two that you do again at the end. Thank you for letting me critique you, and I hope you learn something from it!

513 words

Daily 23

It was a lovely night as I sat in my favorite ramen shop, looking outside at the dark sky. Most of the time, I’d be overjoyed to be on my special barstool right next to a beautiful marble countertop where the chef is cooking delicious-smelling food, but today, something feels off.
The soft music and the clattering of chopsticks against the porcelain bowls felt nice, but when the door to the entrance of the shop opened, I knew that something was wrong. My heart sank as I saw who it was. With perfectly tousled hair, a sharp nose, and arrogant eyes, it was a face that I had longed to soon forget. Of course, that didn’t happen.
The bright neon lights from outside the city reflected on his face, making him seem ghostly and otherworldly, a being far above others. I try my best to blend in, as if I’m just an ordinary person that has no relation to him. Somehow one of the chefs, Li, notices and whispers to me. “Someone you want to avoid?” He asks, all-knowingly.
I nod. “Yeah, is there any way he doesn’t see me in this situation?”
“Hide your face with a bowl,” he suggests. That’s actually not a bad idea, and so I start drinking the broth slowly as I raise the bowl to my face. Though the ramen sloshes against my faces and some of the soup dribbles down my chin, I don’t stop to wipe it, as I know that if I was found, it would be over. At least it tastes delicious, I note, as I pray that he doesn’t see me.
As I gulp the liquid down, Li whispers to me again. “He’s coming right here, I’m not sure if he’s going for you or me. I better leave,” right after that sentence, I hear his voice come from in front of me. I hurriedly continue to drink, thinking about whether this seems suspicious or not, biting down on a rice cake.
“Excuse me, have you seen a girl with black hair and brown eyes around here?” He questions Li.
“That’s every single woman here,” Li jokes, trying to get him to drop it or go somewhere else. “I’m afraid I won’t know who you’re talking about unless you know more about her.”
“Matter of fact, I do,” his voice is rich and deep, deeper than the last time I had heard his voice, cutting through the air, pleading to me to stay. “She’s five feet four, with a nasty temper but has the sweetest smile-”
I can’t take it anymore. I set the bowl down, face the other way, and let out a long and loud burp. That’s just what drinking broth for 2 minutes straight does to you, I guess, and I hope it wards him off like a charm bought from a sketchy old shop.
Instead of being disgusted, he laughs. “I know you’re there, Emily.”

490 words


Weekly 3

Jasmine watched the debate intently from her home. It was the year 2073, and Earth was crumbling. Politicians had now resorted to mud-slinging to get their point through every single day. All the presidential candidates for this year’s election in the US were both corrupt and now it was only a race to see which one would win.
After humans dug up all the fossil fuel there was, the economy took a massive hit and many lost their jobs. AI has grown to be a larger-than-life being, and people are fighting to bring it down, but there are people, waywards, you could call them that, that are feeding into the growing monster, and no one knows what to do.
Today is Election Day, and Jasmine doesn’t know what’s going to happen. One the Doughnut side is Diabetes James, the 3rd presidential nominee that is a woman. On the other hand is Watercolor Hepatitis, who unsuccessfully tried to run against Boomer last election, who then continued to be president for another 4 years.
Diabetes James supports AI and says that it’s the only way that we’ll be able to be saved from this ruined world. We, as humans are too ignorant to admit our mistakes, just like what happened with global warming. AIs, with no conscience and only brutal accuracy, will be able to make our world better again like it was years ago. 70% of the world is uninhabitable and at least 40% of our population is gone due to wars and manmade disasters happening everywhere. Using AI, she says, we can turn those uninhabitable places into homes where life will be able to flourish again.
Watercolor Hepatitis, on the other hand, says that AI will continue to ruin our world. He argues that it was all because of AI, that when it surfaced on Earth, everything was downhill. The statistics are true, but Jasmine isn’t sure that those two different graphics are dependent on each other, many do support Hepatitis's arguments as they do make sense to a point. He then says that what we have to do as a country is make the world great again by using our own power and money to clean the world, to keep animals alive, and to make sure that the rest of us don’t disappear too.
The minutes are counting down as the 3D model of a spokesperson talks about a digital giraffe escaping its virtual confines and wreaking havoc on a small town as it is almost time for the reveal of who will be president. These days, computers count all the votes, and no one’s sure if it could all be rigged, but everyone’s too lazy to care anymore. No one even cares about the candidates, people can’t even believe that 50 years ago, people would cut their hair and cry when the person they wanted to win wouldn’t win. These days, even the candidates don’t seem as if they want to do this anymore. At least Jasmine doesn’t want to do this anymore, sitting in a nonexistent chair, reality-altering glasses bringing her into a fake world, a world where nothing is real.
524 words

Part 2:

Unbiased Article:

This just in! Gurtle has ate 50 and more links from SWC! Will the camp finally collapse over the dastardly amount of links being swallowed per second, or will it try it’s best to keep going? All we know is that Gurtle has swallowed a whole Mangoes & Mayhem link, a very great achievement for a turtle like him, and a daily! After that, reporters say that he stopped moving, but after pausing to check his shell for something, he suddenly gained the motivation to keep eating, to the dismay of the onlookers.
People say that he had turned his head around, smelling delicious links everywhere, he didn’t know where to go. Many were praying that he’d go to the less relevant links, the ones that wouldn’t mind to be eaten by a giant turtle, but no, Gurtle knew his priorities and saw the sign for weeklies.
Drawn to the delectable smell of Bangsian weeklies, he marches up the hill and the ghosts working on the pieces see him, and drop everything they can, breaking into a run. Gurtle laughs, knowing the power he holds over these ghosts, and starts swallowing. Exhausted from the long climb, he hurls himself on top of the hill and leaves no link behind, leaving the ghosts upset, and many .edus remaining. The ghosts say that they tried to put up a fight, but it was useless as their power was nothing compared to Gurtle’s. Was this intentional sabotage from Gurtle to keep Bangsian from winning? Who knows! Where will Gurtle cause more chaos next?

259 words

Biased version:

Our hero and savior Gurtle has finally succeeded in more domination of worthless links that bowed towards him! Closer comes the day when we can all reveal ourselves as devout followers of Gurtle and tell him to eat our links! He was brave enough to eat a podcast link, leaving onlookers with shock, but he knows that we are proud of him. A podcast is not an easy link to eat, and it must’ve taken lots of hardwork from Gurtle to be able to do it.
He must’ve also been having a slow day, because just 3 dailies in, he stopped suddenly. We were all holding our breaths in, praying that he could continue, and to our delight, he looked at his shell, reminded of all he had to lose if he didn’t continue eating links, and continued to go on his path of beautiful destruction.
Gurtle, as we all know is a turtle of high intelligence, and he knew he couldn’t eat every link in one day, so he had to prioritize. Would he eat the dailies first? The critiques? Which one would cause the most damage? Gurtle, like the genius he is, ventured to the Bangsian weeklies, where he knew a feast laid there, awaiting his mouth. The ghosts were happy to see him, bowing down, in awe of his radiance. Gurtle politely asked if he could eat all those links, and they gladly agreed! He took down all of those weeklies as if it was nothing, leaving him more powerful, and causing more chaos to SWC! Who would want anything better? Though Gurtle had to stop there for the day, we know he’s in his cave, biding his time until he is hungry again, and ready to cause more chaos, leaving the world a better place than it was before him.

304 words

Part 3

SWC Events

Today’s daily in SWC is three-word acronyms for SWC! Let’s see what acronym ideas everyone’s pitching in the comments! I, for one, tried to go in a more abstract direction, as my acronym was ‘Somehow We Came’, deciding to leave it more up to the writer to decide what it means, but in my opinion, it should be a bit nostalgic and bittersweet, like the acronym I chose to write about. ‘Sorry While Crying’ paints a very vivid picture in my mind and I can only use the very best eloquent words to describe the pain I imagine the character must’ve had if their story was told.
Now, let’s go to the greater public. One person says ‘Swimming Witches Club’, trying to take a sillier approach on the daily. If a person were to choose that, they would probably write a story about a group of witches just trying to find people who have the same hobbies as themselves, creating a Club just for witches that enjoy swimming.
Another says ‘Sleepless Writing Creatures’ using one of the words that are already in the original acronym, so it isn’t as unique or original compared to ‘Swimming Witches Club’ but many people have already chimed in, replying to the comment saying that it is exactly what we, participants of SWC are. I cannot argue with this opinion as yes that is what I am and yes that is probably what most of the people are here in SWC.
Next we have ‘Stolen Wallet’s Cash’. Now that is something I’d like to write about, maybe a story in a wallet’s perspective, or maybe a story in the cash’s perspective. What does it feel like to be an inanimate object without ‘feelings’? This is interesting how deep SWC dailies can do, causing many to think truly about what they’re writing about and how they should express it with others in the best way.
Finally, ending on a sillier note is ‘Skibidi Wrizz Camp’ by Sandy-Dunes. Another creative one with only 2 original words in a 3-word acronym, I see, but again this is something I cannot argue with, as we are a Skibidi Wrizz Camp. Seeing all of these wonderful responses on the daily fuels an excitement to continue to partaking in the camp. As it is one of those goofier days in SWC, you can feel the tremors of joy rocking Scratch as a whole, making it impossible to do anything without thinking of SWC, which I hope you are doing! There will be more information coming out on Bangsian’s stark lead over all the other cabins, that is after the points are updated, so you should expect that article coming out soon, and what makes the no. 1 cabin, a no. 1 cabin, talking about cabin spirit, activity, leaders, and more! Until that happens, I wish you a pleasantly wonderful day, and that concludes today’s latest article of the happenings in SWC!

490 words

Part 4

Critique for Recca:

Let’s get started Recca <3 can’t wait to see what you wrote! “stroke of the UTC’s midnight hour” I understand what you’re trying to say, but I’d rephrase this to make it more coherent, maybe “at the strike of midnight on the UTC clock” or something like that! “renowned for its painstaking compilation of dailies” maybe say that the Polar Bears are renowned for making its painstaking compilation instead of just its. “outlining the reasons they should come back to work” just add a why after reasons! “there would be no more dailies, and even if they did, there was a chance that the POLAR BEARS may choose not to return.” This sentence is a bit confusing as you say there would be no more dailies if the polar bears left, and then you say even if they did, I’m not sure what you mean. Do you mean that even if they left, or even if they stayed? Or do you mean even if there are dailies, that Polar Bears might not return. Main issue hear is just the coherency which can easily be fixed by you!
“Their conditions? One million points,” one million points to whom? To the leader cabin, to all the cabins they are in, to everyone? “member’s taste” here leader’s taste would probably be better unless you think that a camper is considered a ‘member’ of a cabin, which I guess wouldn’t technically be wrong, so this is just up to preference!
“Will any of the factions concede, accept defeat, or agree to comply to another’s terms?” I mean they’re all fighting against the hosts so I wouldn’t say they have to agree or accept defeat unless it is to the hosts, so maybe talk about that because I’m pretty sure the MBC, Polar Bears, and Leaders aren’t fighting against each other, but to the upper management (hosts). “against each other” again I don’t think they’re against each other unless I’m wrong?
“(cough CSLE workers cough)” As a reference to Bangsian, I’d like to have more information about this as I feel like it would be pretty interesting if you elaborated on why endless quarrels are related to CSLE workers!
Other than that, it looks amazing! Love it and good luck on being on strike or not!

381 words

total: 1958 words

Daily 25

My girlfriend’s older brother is surprisingly hot (prompt)

When I look
At all the moments I’ve had
With my girlfriend, the moments
I’ve cherished
I’ve never thought, not even for a second
That there was a possibility that her brother that she had
Always talked about
Could even be hot
But the day when they had a family
Reunion
For the first time
I saw what I had been missing out on since forever
I had never known that beauty could be achieved at such greatness
I had never known that someone could even think about being so beautiful
It’s strange, looking back, but now
At least
I know that
My girlfriend’s older brother is
Surprisingly
Hot
Though I do love my girlfriend
All I can think about these
Days
Is his luscious
Locks of brown hair
How they twist and turn throughout his scalp
The way his green eyes
Twinkle in the night
They look so much like
His younger sister’s
They had never gotten along, no
Since childhood they’d always been fighting,
But I don’t think
I ever could get mad at someone
Like that
Someone that beautiful
Maybe even more
Than my girlfriend
Of course, I would never
Say that to her face, but when I look right at her,
All I can see
Is the sharp nose of his
The pale skin of his
The supple lips of his
Pasted onto someone else
I can never unsee it
Ever again, not even if I tried to
Because now all I long for is to feel his hand in mine,
Wondering if my girlfriend and his
Felt the same to me.
If he had a lover, and if they were like me, I hope
They are, because that means
I am just as hot as him.

291 words

Daily 26

Looking down at myself, I’ve never thought to be strange, but when I’m faced with others, it’s strange. People have such a wide palette of varying emotions, unlike me. Unlike maroon, unlike sky blue, unlike baby pink.
And me, sage green, standing all alone in the corner of the room, trying my best to keep warm all the time, with the same 5 sweaters that I wear. Is it wrong for me to enjoy staying indoors, listening to ASMR, doing little sketches of things I find around my house?
Is it wrong to never feel angry, but always nostalgic? Do I have to choose who I am, or can I be who I want to? People look at me strangely, ask me whether I ever want to change, want to try something new, when I’ve always been comfortable with who I am. Sometimes I wonder if they’re right, if I should choose to do something new, but something always stops me.
In the back of my mind, something whispers. It tells me to stop thinking about this, and only worry about where I’m going to get my next pack of hot chocolate packets. Maybe I do want to bake cookies all the time, have only 1 friend, and never do social networking.
I’d stay a social media freak and never get a job, never wonder if there’s anything else out there for me, if I ever tried to do something else, because all I need is here with me.
But I do wonder what it’s like to be ruby, how passionate she is at everything she does, the way that she looks people in the eye, the way she carries herself, I wish I could do that. I wish I didn’t have to hide, to avoid everyone’s gaze.
I could be like bluebell, gentle and delicate, but always caring, unlike me. I wish that I had something more than worrying about if I’m keeping to my aesthetic.
I could try to grow my hair out like bright orange, then cut it, then laugh about it with my 20 friends, never ever worrying about what they thought of me, never worried about what I think about myself. Does a part of me want to try something new? I hope so,
Cause I really want to.

384 words

Weekly 4

Inuit (empathy for an animal)

Walking home from my job, I can’t help but close my eyes, imagining that I was somewhere else, somewhere where everything was perfect, and the sky didn’t smell like rotting flesh and smoke. Pools of oil are in control of the ground, and it’s hard to find even a small patch of yellow grass. I don’t even remember when there was green grass anymore, it’s been too long.
A strange whimper comes from behind metal scrap. I pause, uncertain of what I should do. Either this thing was a mutant and would kill me, or it was slowly dying. Either way, I would have to report the species to the government for more rations for the month, which was a jackpot. I eagerly turned around and walked toward the scrap, holding out my phone, ready to take a capture.
With three eyes, a tail, and the body of a bird, I had never seen a creature like this, though it isnt a surprise for me to encounter one. Every day I find a different crosstype of animal, so this one isn’t different, but as all three of its eyes looks up at me sadly, I feel a pang in my heart, something I haven’t felt for a long time. How long has it been since the last time I cared for something like this? A strange liquid is dripping out of the side of its mouth, and I can’t help but want to take it home. It lets out another whimper as I ginverly reach into my bag. What am I doing? If anyone found out that I was harboring a species liket his, I’d be sent to jail for treachery, but my hand keeps sifting through everything I have in my bag, finally pulling out a dry cloth that I bring around.
Putting on latex gloves from the box I have in my bag, I pick up its writhing mass, wondering what happened to it. It might’ve been to close to another one of those nuclear explosions, or it could have been a failed experiment, injected with the wrong kind of DNA. I gently set it down on the cloth, and I look down on it. It stares back at me and stops whimpering, as if it knows its safe now.

Navajo (forced to do something they don’t want to do)

As I go back home, I spot my neighbor looking at me with a strange glance. Trying to hide the cloth I’m carrying, I pretend as if nothing is wrong, but they spot it too fast for me to react. “What do you have there, No. 132?” They ask me placidly, as if nothing is wrong. “Please show it to me, unless you have a death wish.”
I want to smack them in the face, as I know that if I even give them a glimpse of what’s in there, it’ll be over, both the animal and I. So I lie. “Found this crosstype off of the road, I’m bringing it into the office for more research as I’ve never met something like this before.”
Their face turns less guarded. “Of course. How about I escort you there, as I have forgotten my bag there, and we must make sure that you do bring it back, no?”
I curse silently. There’s no way I can keep it safe anymore. Whispering an apology to it, I tell it that there’s nothing I can do, and that we had a good run, about 10 minutes, which is a lot betterthan any animal’s survival chances out in the wild. “That sounds good,” I fake my answer. “Let’s go now.”
We arrive at the building again, the one I thought I’d be free for the night, but no, my annoying neighbor just couldn’t keep their nose in their own business, and now I’m screwed. “Let’s go into the building together,” they offer. There’s no way I can escape, and so now the only thing I can do is bring the poor animal up the stairs, to its inevitable death.

Aztecs (Incorporate and image or symbol that unearths a memory)

Entering the lab, I clutch the poor animal who has started whimpering again close to my chest. The sound of beeping machines and the smell of the too clean air makes me feel faint, and when I see the sharp needles being inserted into the various test subjects, my vision fades, and the only thing I can see is black.
“Don’t worry,” someone whispers to me. “It won’t hurt you,” they told me.
The next thing that I felt was a sharp pain in my arm, and then I screamed, as loudly as I could. I screamed as I felt my body burning, as I felt it rip apart. I wanted to crush my skull, smash it against a wall, so I didn’t have to feel the hurt I was, but I couldn’t, because I couldn’t move. I was tied up, shackles bound to my arms and neck.
The tears came, but I didn’t feel sad. I was confused, so confused. Why were these droplets dripping down on my face? Why was I still here? The more I cried, the more tired I felt. I must’ve been there for a few more hours until I couldn’t take it, and fainted.
After that, I never felt anything else, until I saw that animal today. It’d strange, as I know they put something in that needle, but no one ever knows. Sometimes I wonder if they put the wrong thing in me as everyone seems different compared to me. They all seem more… docile. I wonder, am I a failed experiment that they never knew failed? Or do they know exactly what they did to me?

Mayans (Include a creation/origin story)

I believe there was a better life, a better place, but it all seems to far from now, but as I’m inhaling all of these strange scents, as I hear the screams and whimpers, its as if I can remember a bit. I can remember the days when I felt happy, when the sky was blue, when the animals you’d meet along the road where lively and still darted away when you tried to chase them.
Then there was the war, then there were the politicians, pretending to smile, to tell us that everything would be better. Soon, soon, they promised. Then they brought the scientists, with their white masks and white coats, it seemed as if they knew so much more than we did. They told us to trust them, so we did. We trusted them.
They asked for volunteers first, anyone who’d be willing to help benefit the future of mankind, to make a new world along with the scientists. Many volunteered, all hoping for a better future, for one where there would be no suffering. We never saw them again.
They were the beta testers, the ones that were all eradicated after the scientists realized what they had done wrong with them. They had let them remember. They couldn’t do that again, they couldn’t afford to make a mistake like that again.
Then they brought everyone into the labs, and we all listened. We all believed that it would work, that we would be happier, be better when it was all over. We never truly knew whatthey were going to do, but I think thateven if we knew, we would’ve listened anyway. Who were we to disobey their orders? No one would ever be brave enough to speak up against it. Just like no one will ever be able to speak up against it.

Ancient rome (Something that changes them from character to hero)

I never did, but as I know that the animal will eventually end up doomed to perish, I knew that I would too the moment I had walked into those door a few years ago.
“No,” I whisper. My neighbor doesn’t catch it. “No!” I shout. It seems like no one cares, no one turns their heads around to look at me, and my neighbor is confident that I’ll follow them into one of the offices to donate the animal to them.
If no one listens, I’ll make them. I turn around, open the doors, and clutch the animal like it’s a baby. I won’t let it suffer like we all had to. At least I won’t let it suffer more than I did, I know its already gone through a lot.
It’s as if a spell is broken as I turn around. All the scientists turn to look at me, and my neighbor stops in their tracks. “What are you doing?” They ask me, as if there’s only one answer.
“Going to the bathroom,” I lie.
My neighbor nods. “How about you keep the animal here with me? I’m sure that going to the bathroom with it must be very troublesome,” I can tell that they’ve already caught on to me, and everyone is looking at me, pointing and whispering. I have to do it now, if I’m going to.
“No need,” I say calmly, and rush down the stairs, taking two at a time. The metal sounds echo throughout the stairwell, and I can already hear the shouts from above. There’s only so much time before they’re able to catch me. Where am I going to go? I have no idea, but not here. The animal whimpers, but this time its as if it is comforting me.

Ancient Greece (Supernatural or Spiritual)

Before I can stop to think about what I’m doing, how crazy I am to defy the law, I’m already out of the office, running as fast as I can, which isn’t very fast. After everything that’s happened, our physical abilities have greatly decreased, but our technology has improved, which puts me at a severe disadvantage.
Sirens wail behind me, and I know that I’m going to get caught. Stopping to take a breath before I continue running, I peek down at the writhing mass that I’m holding. It had gotten unnaturally excited, and when I look down, I can see it smile at me.
I don’t know what happened after that, but suddenly it disappeared into thin air, as if it had never appeared before in the first place. The cars catch up to me, and officers come out. “Sorry, have you seen a strange man run past you?” They ask, looking directly at me.
I can’t help but gawk. Am I not that strange man that’s running? “I think I am that strange man,” I tell them, flabbergasted at what’s happening to even try to lie.
“So he went in that direction?” The police points to the direction they came from. “Alright, thank you for your help. You will be rewarded greatly for this information. One of my fellow officers will bring you to your new home.”
Either I’ve gone crazy, or something strange is at play. Was it because of the strange little animal? No, it can’t be. I shake my head. Why would something as little as that have so much power? Impossible. I’ve never seen anything like it. But deep down inside, I have a feeling that it must’ve have helped. Somehow, even if magic doesn’t even exist here, I was blessed by something, and all I wanted was to smile, to cheer, to find that animal again and try to cure it, somehow.

Minoan Civilization (Finds undecipherable text)

When I peek back into the cloth that I had been holding for all that time, instead of the three-eyed creature who had disappeared only moments ago, there was a piece of paper. Uncertain of what it said, I brought it up to my eyes, trying to see if I could understand it.
What was written on the paper was a strange language of symbols that I had never seen before, and I didn’t think that anyone had seen it before either, though I know that I have to figure out what it says, after all it was something that the creature left behind, which meant that it must be important.
Pulling out my phone, I check my status. Green. So whatever magic was cast on the police was cast on everyone, because I’m currently not wanted by the government. Strange. Sighing, I pull up my translate and take a picture of it. Unfortunately, even the app couldn’t decipher what it said. I was lost. I didn’t know what to do, after all, the only tool that I knew how to use was a phone.
I sat there on the road, thinking about how to figure out the text. As I had nothing to do, I stared out into the sky blankly, looking at the dark brown of it, wondering I was to do.
Maybe if I go to…what was it called again? The library? Maybe if I went there, there might be something there that wasn’t captured into our phones. Yes. But how would I get there?
All libraries had been eradicted after what happened years ago, at the same time that all people were injected with ‘salvation’. No one had ever wondered what happened to them, and now thinking back, it’s strange that I never even thought about it.

Ancient Egypt (Character has a dark day)

Suddenly, a strange but no unreasonable thought washes over me. Who am I to try to change fate? Who am I to believe that I can do this? This is obviously a dead end, as all libraries have been destroyed, where am I going to look for information?
Can I really do this? Should I have ran down those stairs? It doesn’t seem like anything improved from it. Even if I try my hardest to find a library, how would I, a measly ant compared to the scientists and politicians, be able to somehow do something that could make a difference?
The cloth now seems sad, a rag that should be meant for cleaning up oil spills, not to hold a treasure. Maybe the animal was never a treasure, never something to give me hope, maybe all this was was a distraction. A way for me to believe that everything could be alright and that maybe I could make it out alive.
What was I really thinking? I’d never be able to have the skills that would be needed to solve this mystery. All I am is a puppet being controlled by higher beings, with my sewn up skin and button eyes, they know everything, and all I think about is how I am in control of things, when I’m not. I’ll never be.
I wish I had never even tried to be brave, what good came from it? Would any good ever come from what I do. Probably not. So I should probably also give up trying now. Before it’s too late. Before I actually have to face the cold hard truth shoved in my face so I can finally see it.

Mesopotamia (Include poetry)

I feel like
I’m falling
I feel just like I felt
When the needle stabbed
Into me, that feeling of utter
Hoplessness
That I’d never feel
Complete
Ever again
Ever again
It’s going to be okay
Right?
Right???
I hope it is.
Because I really want it to.

In this strange world, everyone is lost, including me. I hope that someday maybe, I’ll find a way out. Today might be the day, but everything is pulling me back from doing what I should do, even myself.
I don’t trust myself.
After what I let happen to everyone, including me,
I would never.
Never
So what do I do now? Hope that some savior will come and get me? No. That chance was taken away the moment the politicians arrived.
Maybe someday
I’ll get to see you
Again, and you
Cold tell me what I did wrong
What I ruined
How I’m supposed
To find salvation in this
Dead and barren world?
How am I supposed to keep going
Should I?
I can’t believe what I’m saying. If anyone that was alive all those years ago saw me, they’d scoff. How weak am I to cave in as long as there’s a tiny conflict in front of me? Who am I to give up when so many have tried their hardest, and it still didn’t work? Yes. I don’t deserve all of this. I don’t deserve to be experimented on, to be tested on, to be edited. They deserve someone better. I could never find salvation.

Aksum (character must barter/trade)

“Looking around at some of my wares?” A mysterious voice comes out from nowhere. I look up, surprised to find a ghostly figure staring back at me. “I have lots of wares to choose from! For example, I have this wonderful protective doll, I have the scriptures of Askum, I have this dictionary of translation that randomly appeared in my house-”
I interrupt him, recognizing the symbols drawn on the paper of the dictionary. “How much for the translation?”
The figure shrugs. “I’m not exactly sure. Since even I have never seen this before, I don’t know how much it costs. Maybe you should offer something for me first, and I’ll see if I’m interested, since this has hardly any use for me, maybe something of yours does.”
I look around me, and all I see is the cloth I’m holding, ragged and dreary. It’s the only thing I have, unless I decide to strip, which I don’t want to do. “Would this possibly interest you?” I extend my hand, showing him the cloth. Fully expecting them to refuse, I close my eyes, bracing for impact.
“This…this…is wonderful! It’s exactly what I’m looking for!” The merchant exclaims, to my surprise and excitement. “I’d give you anything for this!”
“Hmm…” I think. I should probably look around to see what he’s selling, but I’m too lazy, and all I really need is the translation. “I’ll just take the dictionary.”
The merchant nods excitedly. “Are you sure? I could throw in something else if you want to!”
I shake my head. “That’s alright, thank you so much though. This is exactly what I need to, and I don’t want to ask for more.”

Swahili (play script format)

Barterer: Are you sure? Insistent I have many special wares for you!
Unnamed (hesitates) : I mean, I could take a look if you really want to.
The Barterer smiles.
Barterer: I think there will be lots of things you’ll need on your journey, such as this radioactive pew pew machine that will be able to stun people for 5 minutes. Though the time is very short, it is very efficient, which means that even if they get up again, you can just stun them again. Very good for torturing.
Unnamed: I’m not sure if I’ll do much torturing, I’ve never done it before, and I don’t think I’ll have to.
The Barterer glance pointedly at him, as if to silently nudge him to just take it.
Unnamed (stammers): If you really want me to have it, I can take it! Thank you so much!
The Barterer wraps up the pew pew machine and hands it to Unamed in a protective cloth.
Barterer: This cloth, unlike yours isn’t too special, but I hope that it will keep this treasure safe. And here! I almost forgot to give you your dictionary! Here you go!
Unnamed: Ah yes, and here’s the cloth you needed! I hope that you make good use of it, as I have no idea why you want it in the first place, but I’m not one to ask. I just thank you very much for being willing to trade this for your items.
The Barterer leaves, leaving Unnamed to themselves for a while.

Ancient China (Morally gray moment)

I had never felt so much power being held in my hands first. I had refused the merchant at first, worried about how much trouble I’d accidentally cause, but now with it here, I feel as if I can do anything. I’m not worried about consequences, and I feel as if I’m able to take on all the scientists and politicians that the world has.
I’m not sure if this power is bad or good, but I know what I’ll do first. Running back to the office,
I find my neighbor talking to a white-clad scientist, donning a shiny gold badge, displaying the fact that he was a high-level officer.
I roll my eyes. They must be ratting another poor soul out, or me. I wouldn’t be surprised either way. Without hesitating, I know what I want to do, and I don’t stop to think about what would happen. I pull out the pew pew machine from the cloth that the merchant had oh-so-carefully put it in, and press the trigger.
In an instant, they collapse to the ground. The scientist looks at me in shock, unsure what to do, before taking out a needle, probably to stab me with. No. I can’t let it happen again. My fears take control over me and then I press the trigger again. The pew pew machine shoots, and it doesn’t miss its target.
Both of them are on the ground now. I feel ecstasy, a delight of joy to see them on the floor. Is this what the scientists and politicians felt when they lied to us? When they gave us empty promises, trading secrets behind their back? If it is, I wouldn’t blame them for what they did.
This power is delicious, and dangerously so. One wrong step and I’d be just like them, if I haven’t been just like them already.

Australia (Incorporate a dreamtime character)

Before I can even contemplate my next move, the pew pew machine flies out of my hands, into the air. I look up, desperately trying to grasp it, unaware of how greedy and pitiful I look to any bystanders. Above me is the three-eyed animal that I had seen all those minutes ago. I can’t tell time anymore. How long has it been since I last left this office? Three minutes? An hour? A day?
“Save your powers,” it hisses at me. I’m flabbergasted at the realization that it can speak, but I shake it off. It’s probably another mutation. “As a creator of the world, I hate to see it crumble like this, but when you are bestowed godly powers, you must know when to use them.”
“Who are you again?” I’m so confused.
“I am a Dreamtime Creator. One of the ones that created the world, one that built it to what it is,” the animal looks sadly at the ground. “If I had known what would happen, I would’ve never helped create this barren world. I wish that we had all known this before, but now, you are our only hope. You never should’ve shot those people though. Don’t worry about them. What you have to worry about it is the real masterminds behind all of this destruction.”
“Was I supposed to translate the text?” I ask, clearly flabbergasted at what’s happening.
“No, it was only an excuse for the merchant to give you the pew pew machine. Now that you know what to do, set forth hero, and never be corrupted. Remember how it felt to be tortured, to be hurt, to be experimented on. Make sure that no one will ever feel this way ever again.”
I nod, knowing what my task was now. To save the world.

3934 words

Daily 27
innocent, horror, place of studying, ambiguity

Mother had always told me to abide by the rules when playing hide and seek, and she’d tell my sisters too, but I was the only one who would ever listen. Now that she’s gone, I’m not sure what to do. It seems like everyone has it figured out, and I’m the only one who doesn’t know how I’m supposed to continue.
Do I let the game play on, or do I admit defeat? Sitting in this cavernous library, I can’t help but feel fear inching across my spine as I pray and hope that no one finds me, that no one thinks about this place that had been long forgotten.
I remember the times when mother and I sat in here, reading children’s books, as she would teach me the words I didn’t know. She’d send me back to bed after each book, and put a kiss on my forehead, and I’d be able to sleep easy.
Hearing footsteps down the hallway, I can tell that it’s one of my sisters, looking for me. “Where are you Grace?” Her lilting tone flitted across the room as I shuddered in fear. I knew that if she caught me it would be over.
Our hide and seek was never a normal kind of hide-and-seek, but now that mom’s gone, its become worse. I’m the only hider, stuck in a mansion full of seekers, waiting to stab me in the back. One of us has to go, my sisters told me. We don’t have enough money to feed all the mouths.
If I manage to live…can I even cling on to that hope? The sound of footsteps traces back to the giant library I’m hiding in, and as I cover books on top of me in hopes that they won’t see me, the great wooden door creaks open with a clunk.
“I know you’re in here,” she says in a nasty tone, as if she knows that she’s already going to find me. I can already imagine that knife that she’s holding, and the way she’s holding it, poised to attack the moment I’m found.
The person who finds me first gets a reward, and I know that she’s after it. My breath catches in my throat as she comes nearer, and nearer, then she pauses. Did she pass me yet? Moments pass, and then silence. I can’t let down my guard no matter what, or its game over for me.
I wish mom was here, I wish that she was still here to protect me from my sisters. I wish that I wasn’t being chased, I wish I didn’t have to hide out in here. The books topple to the ground and I can see the manical smile on my sister’s face as she pulls the dagger back, striking to ruin.

470 words

Critique for Kiara

Hey Kiara! So excited to get critiquing, so let’s just go into it! First part: “Captain Wisemen shook his head, refusing what I had once again tried to convince him was a perfectly reasonable explanation.” This sentence is unnecessarily wordy as ‘refusing what I had once again tried to convince him…” is a bit long and a bit dizzying to read. I’d say simplify this, for example “refusing the fact that what I had told him once again was a perfectly reasonable explanation.” You could do it in less words, but that already simplifies the sentence to a scale where it is so much more comfortable to read.
“I simply cannot believe you when your teammates consistently blow up every slightly flammable surface.” this sentence again feels a bit weird, and I get that it’s trying to be a bit funny, but that’s obviously not a reasonable explanation at all for why the captain doesn’t believe them, to the point where even the reader may be shaking their heads. Maybe do something like “I simply cannot believe you when your teammates consistently fail every mission even when you promise to succeed,” or something like that, and you can still make it funny, but burning things up and trust in this case don’t have a lot to do with each other. Though I do see that burning things up plays a key role in the story, I just don’t think it fits very well here, there should be a better entrance to this idea than the dialogue that you’ve written.
“And why are you throwing away your only plausible lead on this disease that you know absolutely nothing about! We know less about this disease than HarlemX itself, which is saying something.” Which is more reason to not believe it, wouldn’t that be? The less information you have on the disease, the more reluctant someone would be to believe your theory about it, so this argument is a fallacy. Try using a better reason, like there’s just no other theory that would make sense except theirs, or something like that.
“It gives the technology character.” To blow up? Once the thing is blown up won’t it be unusable, rendering it not technology anymore? Again, some of the sentences don’t make sense like this one, as if the characters says don’t blow it up, and your response is that it gives it character when the technology would probably be a smoking pile of dust, it’s just a bit off for me.
“thick face covering I was forced to wear, which muffled my breathing and filtered the very air in front of me.” I’m pretty sure that this sentence is supposed to be negative, as before this it says that “it was not helped (the claustrophobia)”, but the last part where you talk about it filtering the air is unnecessary and honestly doesn’t add anything to claustrophobia, it’s like you’re stating a fact that’s useless here, I’d recommend to remove it.
““What in the galaxies–” Bradley whispered, and me and Joshya both murmured our agreements.” Instead of saying murmured our agreements, I’d change it to something more shocked, like “Joshya and I both stood agape,” because what I’m thinking here is that he says what the galaxies and than Joshya and the main character say “yes, what the galaxies” it’s a small nitpick, so you don’t have to change it if you don’t want to, but remember to change it to Joshya and I as that’s proper grammar!
Thank you so much for letting me read this, and though I don’t say much about the parts you did really well, you did! I love the plot, and the cliffhanger at the end was chefs kiss hope you find some improvements in your piece after my critique, and if you’re entering this to the writing comp, good luck! I’d just recommend to create more tension (if this is for a competition) as it is a bit bland and though I can see you trying to create excitement, I’d say to add a bit more to spice it up! - Em


685 words

Critique for Zy!

Hey Zy! Super excited to start critiquing your piece <3 starting off, I can tell that this is going to be very deep, and it’s going to take a lot of thinking to understand the deeper meaning which is cool! I love the subtly of everything, but for example here “You may curse me with your death” it gets a bit confusing. Is it that the ‘you’ will curse the narrator one they’re dead, or just cursing them to die? Maybe make things more clearer here!
“there is no high road I wish to take, no violence I do not wish returned, and no man big enough to pay for your sins.” the first two parts of this sentence make sense, it’s talking about how the narrator does not want to end things peacefully, but the last part is about how his sins are so great that no one can hurt him enough, which is a bit out of the pattern. I’d recommend changing it to something with the same vibe as the first two, like “and no view I want to see more than your agonized face.” or something like that, just an example!
There’s another spot with a bit of vagueness which I can feel be explained further is “and if you are so willing to light that match as you blame me for the ashes” I don’t really understand the part where you talk about the person blaming the narrator for the ashes? Why would they blame them for the ashes? I would recommend you to talk about it more! I’d also say to shorten the sentence this is in, maybe make it two sentences instead of one to help with the coherency.
“pretending to care about retribution when you fear only merciless justice, cold with a one-eyed stare.” so do they care about and eye for an eye, or do they care about not having and eye for an eye? This sentence is a bit confusing, it’s saying that the person cares about justice (which is basically retribution/vengeance) when the person fears justice the same? Maybe elaborate more there, or change the sentence.
Other than that, I don’t have any issues with grammar but I would recommend adding a bit of dialogue or more description to your story. I do understand that your story is written in a way that it is only thoughts, but it can be a bit boring at times to try and trudge through it, especially when most of the ideas are exactly the same, just written in a different way. A bit of action, maybe even at the end, would be a great help to making the story more interesting and fulfilling.

452 words

Daily 29

Twins are a very curious thing, yes, after all, their minds work in synchronicity all the time, and us non-twins must figure out what kind of magic they have that we don’t. Just like Castor and Pollux, the twins of the sky, they always seem to have a story to tell.
Castor and Pollux, demi-gods, the sons of Dionysus and a mortal woman, disliked each other very much, which was a surprise to many, including their mother. She had always wanted twins, after all, they always say that the bond between twins is the strongest.
But to them, being twins was a competition. Since Castor was older by a few seconds, he’d always brag about it to Pollux. They’d see who could run faster, who could throw a javelin faster, who won bets, and who was better at their school.
The older they became, the more distant they were to each other. Soon, war came as Helen was kidnapped by the prince of Troy, and everyone in Greece had to choose a side. Castor, believing that the Prince of Troy was wrong, joined the kings of Greece in their fight to bring Helen back.
Pollux on the other hand, didn’t want to fight on the side of Castor’s but still didn’t completely agree with Paris, the Prince of Troy’s actions, still fought for Troy just so he could be different.
Many battles passed as the two sides were in a deadlock against each other, but finally, the infamous Trojan Horse appeared, and out from its stomach came Castor. He had been lucky enough to survive through the war for this long, but that day was his last as a soldier landed a killing blow on him.
Pollux saw this and rushed to his side, frantically trying to revive him, but it was too late, Castor was gone. Though his death was not in vain, as Dionysus saw the bravery of his son and weaved him up in the skies so he could be forever immortal.
Now that Castor was gone, Pollux felt like he had lost a part of himself, whether he ever acknowledged it or not. He missed Castor so much that he felt like he himself also wanted to die. Throwing himself into battle, he charged recklessly, as if daring someone to come and stab him in the back, and someone did.
Odysseus saw what had happened and felt bad for Pollux, as he did need to have a noble death to be reunited with his brother, so he took matters into his own hands. As Pollux too collapsed, Dionysus also saw how loyal the two brothers were to each other, and now they are forever together in the sky, two twins who would never be separated again.

460 words

Daily 11/2/24:
Dear Future Nico,
What are you up to? I’m not sure how far in the future this goes, but I hope by now you’ve got your life in order. Taken those opportunities that you’ve been procrastinating on trying for. (Like did you ever end up fostering kittens… probably not right but that would be pretty sick) Today we’re participating in the DART Sword Dance competition, which is such a cool environment. Everyone is so much better than us so I’m trying to take mental notes. I took some actual notes, too. Today began with its troubles, our first performance had its mistakes, but ultimately I have high hopes for the remainder of the day. Something to remember is… maybe the video my teacher took of my sister and I attempting, with medium success, to reenact Matpat’s Crazy Crab click click click. Good times– although pre recording it was better because I didn’t want video proof of my shenanigans. Update the second one went much better, I’m writing this over some period of time. I don’t know how much time yet lol. Really you ought to remember all of this and how cool and awesome it was. This is what I’ve been looking forward to in November, to be honest– a chance to get out of state and hang around my friends, seeing what all our practicing has been worth. But I think the next most exciting thing is season two of Arcane coming out this month! You’ll have to let me know how it was, because I have very high hopes. And that is my hope. I misread the question. XD
Xoxoxo, Past Nico

Daily 11/3/24: “…Cave. Scary cave” (@yannasunset)

Agatha crept forward, torch trembling slightly in front of her. Her shaking hands only made things worse. It made the arching shadows on the walls dance, giving them outstretched wings, bony fingers, watching eyes. Her own shadow in front of her approached and retreated with each faltering step, like an enemy raising its sword in attack only to feint at the last available moment.
Agatha took a deep breath and closed her eyes. This darkness, which she had utter control of, was her only safe place. But she couldn’t afford to spend time in it. Not with him around. She opened her eyes again, casting a nervous glance at the surrounding area. At this point, she hardly wanted to take the time to blink, but she feared that any more of this wavering firelight was going to drive her insane.
A splinter of wood split off from the top of the torch and fell onto Agatha’s hand.
“Aghk–” she half-sobbed. Unable to risk releasing the torch, she let the spark sink into her knuckle until she could brush it off with her other hand. It left an angry red mark, but apart from the pain it was hardly noticeable. The fire lit everything in a blended collage of orange color, not to mention how the new wound was just a tiny addition to the cuts and bruises that decorated Agatha’s body.
The torch wouldn’t last her much longer. At best, she could make it a few more hours, figure out where she was, hopefully find another chest and loot it. At worst, she would hear his footsteps approaching her– attracted by the light she chose to ignite– and she would have to abandon it and find her way in the darkness again.
She prayed it wouldn’t come to that. She was running out of chances to escape the Labyrinth.

Cabin Wars Character Swap 11/9/24:

Courtney closed the front door as quietly as she could, but even though she pulled it gently and silently all the way to the place where the hinges had rusted and quickly bumped it past that point, even though she twisted the handle all the way back so that it couldn’t be heard entering the notch in the wood and untwisted it without a sound, she could never avoid the brief squeak or the soft thud of the doorframe reconnecting with the house. She heard footsteps approaching her and sighed.
“Courtney, hey. Good to see you back,” her father smiled, weary wrinkles pushed to the background as he drew her into a hug. “How was school?”
Courtney leaned into him, letting his warmth combat the layer of cold that the wind had blown onto her. “Fine.”
“Fine?” He pulled back to look at her, arms on her shoulders, and she knew he knew.
“Okay, the classes were fine. The idiot who went whining to the principal after I gave him a taste of his own medicine, however–”
“Courtney…”
“I’m sorry.”
Which wasn’t completely true. She didn’t regret punching that boy– If he was going to be a jerk to the middle schoolers, he was asking to be pushed around by someone his own size. She didn’t care that her peers would think she was not just a weirdo but a violent one. But when she was forced to meet her father’s eyes, she did regret the risk of getting expelled from another school. She knew it wasn’t easy for him to deal with the aftermath, and every school was funded worse than the last.
“It’s okay, my love. I know. And we can work this out. Just promise me it won’t happen again. You remember what I told you, right? When you’re in an argument, the first person who resorts to violence–”
“Loses,” Courtney finished. “I know. I’m sorry. I promise.”
“You can go to an adult in the school for these things.”
“I know.”
“Okay. I love you,” he stepped back, and Courtney watched him disappear down the dusty hallway.
“I love you, too.”

Daily 11/11/24: No letter C

Phoebe took a moment to organize her thoughts, and then began.
“The date is September fourteen, two thousand one hundred. The mental examination of forty-eight humans split from the Original and divided into four groups began on September tenth, two thousand eighty-six, with the task of finding out whether or not individuals raised as separate beings would prove more useful tools to our military program than those raised in units. The latter all bear the Originals name or their numbers, but these have been brought up with varying aliases and the greatest pains have been taken to ensure that they enjoy degrees of uniqueness depending on what group they fall into, with the highest level inhibiting them from sharing any similarities other than bodily ones. After spending fourteen years in our generated households, they have been enrolled in a four-year military training institution that merges the average treatment of numbered individuals with ninth through twelfth grade tutorage. Today is the start of this program, with mixed triumph stemming from some students not being disposed to any future as a soldier. If something as savage as the drafts in our history say anything, however, we foresee the ability to shape those unwilling and see improvement going forward. Though it now requires a great deal of time and energy, if this experiment shows promise it may be the push needed to finally end the war.”
Phoebe pressed the button to turn off the implement, pushed away the soft material that absorbed her words, and rested her head on her hands. They’d given her this assignment to punish her, no doubt, but seeing their experiments at this stage of revolting treatment of humanity– and it was humanity now that they were raised so– only steeled her resolve.
These were the last four years of this operation. She was going to make sure of it.

Daily 11/13/24: Rises The Moon by Liana Flores

Valory leaned over Rose’s shoulder. “What is that?”
“A message. To Paige,” Rose tucked the piece of paper closer to her chest, quill hovering above a half-written line.
“What for? He’s already shown you where his loyalties lie– and they’re not with you. I’m telling you, my dear, there’s no talking to these people.”
“That’s no way to refer to your queen,” Rose snapped. “I have to stop this war. It’s getting out of hand, and it’s not like I want the Bruxa to live like they did under my parents’ rule. So I’m going to find a way forward without all this needless bloodshed.”
She straightened and continued writing. I never wanted to fight with you, Paige, and it hurts me to see our people suffering for a pointless conflict. I’m with y–
“You know, you’re right,” Valory said, swirling the inkpot pensively. “The rebellion is getting out of hand. But if you ask me, things have been out of hand for a while. They’ve been out of hand ever since the queen and king were assassinated.”
“That wasn’t Paige’s fault,” Rose hissed, seething.
“Perhaps, but a Bruxa nonetheless. If you want to talk about the Bloodwitch’s faults, we could look at the cannonballs that flew through Elysian windows…,”
“We don’t know that it was Paige,” Rose insisted.
Valory plucked the quill out of Rose’s hand in a deft movement. “Sure. But, did you hear that he murdered one of your captains after his people stormed the prison?”
“I– I’m sure– he…,” Rose trailed off, fishing for words to defend her friend.
Suddenly she was so tired. It wasn’t like he took the time to defend her. He told his people that her rule was cruel and so they rose against her. He didn’t have to spend all his energy trying to fend off both antagonists and his own peoples’ hatred of them. He just got to point at an enemy and his people would rush after them. Better yet, his golems would.
“My Queen, the time for diplomacy has passed. Our friend Alyssa proved that, didn’t she? We need to start thinking of something more effective than words to push back our enemy.”
“We can’t,” Rose rested her chin on her hands miserably. “The potions didn’t work, and as long as they have magic, this war will be long and bloody even with the numbers to beat them.”
“We’ll find a way,” Valory smiled.
“But shouldn’t I at least try to reach out?”
“It’s a show of weakness. You’re risking an even bigger offense from them if you send that letter, trust me. There are other ways to send a message.”
“…Could you let me be alone for a moment?” Rose asked, staring hard at the piece of paper beneath her. Valory stepped away and left the room with little sound other than the gentle click of the door.
Rose stood up and walked to the balcony, where the moon was rising. Its glow tinted the city in pale blue, coating the faint orange light flickering in lanterns at windows. She exhaled deeply, wiping unshed tears from her eyes.
She would think about what Valory had said tomorrow. For this moment, she would grip the railing, close her eyes, let the wind blow strands of hair into her face and the cold make her hair stand on end. She would imagine that her best friend was standing beside her, quiet and contemplative as always, watching the stars wink into view. She would imagine that everything that had gone wrong was just a big mistake.
And that she would try again tomorrow.

Daily 11/15/24:

With her backpack slung over one shoulder and a stack of books clutched to her chest, Sunny wove her way through the packed streets in pursuit of the library. She could just make it out past the towering figures and turns in the road– a stocky one-story building perched on the corner, sunbeams bursting from behind like a halo.
Knowing how lax the owner was about late fees, Sunny hadn’t really been inclined to return more than one of her books, but at the insistence of her mother she had gathered every single one. There were still bookmarks poking from between the pages at varying points; Sunny had half a mind to sneak the books back into her house, but the thought gave her pause.
"But I’m not finished with that one yet,” Sunny protested as her mother added another book to the pile. “That one isn’t even due!”
“Sunny, you have no right to complain. You knew that book was overdue. You think the librarian feels good about leaving her stock in your hands for months at a time?”
“She said it was okay!” Sunny said pleadingly. Her mother continued as if she hadn’t heard her.
“And you’re robbing from others the opportunity to read those books. Do you think you’re special? Not to mention the cost of the late fees. I’m spending enough on you already.”
“Mrs. Aakre said she doesn’t mind if I keep them a little late, she said it was okay.”
“Sunny, do not talk back to me.”
“I’m sorry. Only one is overdue, can’t I keep the others?” Sunny breath caught in her throat.
“I don’t want to see any of these books in my house again. They take up too much space anyway.”
Sunny stood outside the door to the library, books clutched to her chest. She probably wouldn’t get away with sneaking them back, anyway, but the thought of parting with any of them left her standing indecisively by the glass door.
She must have been standing there for longer than she realized, because she felt the breeze on her back and turned to see that the streets were completely deserted.

dailies | 7/30
❧ 01: 1k introduction
❧ 02: letter to the future
❧ 03: bio quote
❧ 05: flowers
❧ 06: role reversal
❧ 11: lipogram
❧ 20: pick-the-plot

weeklies | 2/4
❧ 01: dialogue
❧ 02: cabin creation

word wars
❧ hmm, things seem to be empty here

writing competition
❧ hmm, things seem to be empty here

critiques
❧ hmm, things seem to be empty here

Daily 11/2/24
370 words:

Dear Future Disney,
This is your younger self! The time is November 2nd, 2024, at 4:57 pm. I’ve always wondered what life would be like when I was older, so I have some questions. How old are you? It depends on the year you are reading this so how old we are and what is the difference between your age and mine. I’m 12 so you can do the subtraction because I suck at math. Do we have a love interest or boyfriend? I have been dreaming about when this would happen and how, but it is not realistic AT ALL. All the daydreams have ended with me thinking it's impossible so is it? What is your job/career that you have picked? I know that right now I haven’t decided on one because there are so many interests of mine that may lead to a future career. Are you old enough to have your own space? I have always dreamed of having my own room or an apartment but never thought it might come true, so I hope you’re living your best life if you are! Are we in college? I’ve seen so many adults talk about college, and it has been interesting with what they say. Are we still best friends with _ and _ (underscoring it for safety)? They have been a rock through it all, so I really hope they are! They are awesome people and amazing to hang out with so if not, then WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? Do we have a pet? The amount of jealousy I get when hearing a friend talking about their pet is CRAZY!!! I get so frustrated that we can’t get one because I’ve always wanted a dog and cat…. Did we build our LEGO cabinet? It has been something I cherished the thought of so I’m really wondering if we did it. If you didn’t then go to Home Depot, build it, go to Target and get into dept by the amount of LEGOs you’re going to buy. Well, those are the only questions I have for you, so I hope you have a great life! Maybe in the near future, I can actually see you! Bye me!

Daily
1053 Words
1/2


Hello! If you don’t know me, I’m Kenzie (she/her). I live in the land of CST, otherwise known as the Central Standard Time Zone. This session, I’m leading Hi-Fi which also happens to be The Cabin That Will Not Win!
This session will be my 7th session. I’ve officially been in SWC for two years! That’s so exciting. I’ve been in Fan-Fi Time Travel Agency November 2022, Thriller Escape Room March 2023, Dystopian Spy Society July 2023, Horror Fun House November 2023, Dystopian Ruins March 2024, Fantasy Chocolate Factory July 2024, and finally this session: Hi-Fi Museum November 2024!
I’ve applied for leader four times, but I’ve only gotten accepted once in March 2024 and this session. I’m so thrilled to be leading this session. It’s a wonderful opportunity.
I’m leading TCTWNW with Vi (@bewilder_ed) and Paige (@Telianar), thanks for accepting my invites to lead with me! We have the dream team. It’s been a fun ride leading with both of you, thank you.
Hi-Fi so far has been a wonderful cabin to lead, I’m enjoying it a lot. All of the campers are so active and fun to chat with, I’ve enjoyed meeting with all of them.
As for November, I hope to accomplish my word goal, make lots of memories (guaranteed), and have fun. For the first cabin wars I will get to meet Ris (@eeveedonut) irl to write together!
One of my favorite pastimes is reading, something that I do very often. I’ve been reading since kindergarten. I’ve probably read over two hundred books since then.
My favorite book of all time is the Bible. I also enjoy reading certain series like Out of Time, Millie Maven, The Belgariad, and Keeper of the Lost Cities. My favorite genres are Christian Fiction (and further sub genres such as Christian Fantasy and Christian Dystopian) and Fantasy.
Currently I’m reading Lord of the Rings, a popular fantasy series that I’ve been wanting to read for a while. So far I’m enjoying it.
Other than reading, I also enjoy writing. I’ve been writing since 2021. I haven’t discovered what my favorite genre of writing is yet, but I enjoy most genres so far. I’ve written in many genres.
If you don’t know it yet, I’m homeschooled. I’ve been homeschooling for nine years, wow that’s a lot! My favorite subject is math. I’m currently learning geometry.
My favorite book is The Bible, my favorite TV show is Doctor Who, and my favorite movie is Cinderella. My favorite food is mac and cheese. For candy, hmm that’s a hard one but I’ll have to say nerds gummy clusters! My favorite season of the year is fall because of the weather and also all of the pretty colors.
I’ve been on scratch for almost three years, it’s been a long time. Currently I have over 50 accounts (don’t ask). I first discovered scratch camps in October 2022, and now I’m here! Little Kenzie then would’ve never believed that she’d be here now.
I’ve participated in about 41 camp sessions over 24 months, that’s honestly crazy. I’ve done 35 as a camper, four as a co-leader, and two as a leader. I’ve also hosted my own camp (Camp Galatians).
I discovered Scratch one day when I was looking for a way to learn coding, since that’s what I was interested in at the time. After searching the web, I discovered Scratch and made my first account. About 10 months later is when I joined SWC.
I have two pretty dogs, named Skye and Brownie! They are both German Shorthaired Pointers, hunting dogs hehe. I have two younger brothers as well.
My hobbies are reading, writing, coding, learning, organizing, listening to music, and snuggling with my dogs! I also enjoy chatting with all of my friends. I’m a very busy homeschooler hehe.
My favorite music genre is Christian, and I enjoy various sub-genres such as Christian Rock and Christian Pop. My favorite artists currently are JJ Heller, Relient K, Skillet, and PFR.
When I’m older, I want to be a Stay at Home Mom and homeschool my own kids! And maybe as a side job I’ll do something related to math or engineering (like my dad). I’d also be willing to do something related to coding or computers, but currently I really want to be an electrical engineer or something.
I play the piano occasionally but if I had to choose a different instrument I’d love to learn guitar.
A sport that I play is Volleyball! I’ve been playing for about a year and a half. I really enjoy learning it and I’ve made many friends through it.
I speak Spanish to some degree, but I’m not close to being fluent in it yet. One day I’d like to learn German since my ancestors were German.
I’m a part of a few fandoms, such as Doctor Who, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and possibly more. I’m an avid Team Foster-Keefe supporter as well hehe (Ris, why don’t you ship SoKeefe. Please stop shipping fitzphie).
Some goals that I’d like to complete for this session include writing at least 15 dailies, complete two weeklies, and enter the writing competition! I hope I’ll be able to complete it all and won’t just procrastinate on anything.
Oh, something interesting is I’m taking a contemporary issues class and a study skills class at my co-op. They’re both a lot of fun and I’ve learned some interesting things. One fun thing is they both give out writing assignments! I think I have a 1,000 word essay due sometime in the beginning of December. Maybe I’ll start on it early so I could have it done during November and then I get the words for it hehe.
In Study Skills, we’ve been learning some very interesting stuff. I’m excited to learn more.
Well, what else could I write about? Hmm let me look for some ideas. Ooo I’m a Christian! I love reading my Bible and learning about all sorts of stuff. I’d say my favorite book of the Bible is Revelations or Psalms. As for my favorite verse, I like James 5:13 a lot.
Thanks for reading through all of this! Although it is a bit later then I was wanting to get it done.

7/1/24
MISSION #1! Write a letter of 250 words to your future self, earning yourself 300 points with an extra 100 for sharing proof. Include at least one hope you have for the coming month and at least one good thing that happened today.

Dear future me, I’m feeling major deja vu right now. I’m like 99% sure this was the last second daily, but I’m not going to check. I refuse! I did that for the last daily and it ended up becoming the most mid first daily in the history of the world. I only dilly dallied, no locking in, and I couldn’t think of any way to introduce myself without repeating what I said last time. So it’s time to be original! And there’s no better way to do that than forgetting everything I wrote last time so no one can say I’m not!

But one thing I do remember is that I set a lot of goals, mainly because it was summer and I had a bunch already set, and I’m not sure I completed a single one. This time I’m gonna be a bit different. I have goals I want to accomplish, but looking back at this at the end of the session will be disappointing if I do what I did last time. This month, I want you to have fun, future me. That’s all. Get that bread, write as much or as little as you want (as long as you hit the word count goal). Have one thing you can say you accomplished each day, even if it’s as small as reading a page of cat book, or doing a little bit of homework. You got this!

I hope I can do more drawing, regardless of followers, and that my redraw comes out better than last year, and that’s honestly it. Let’s make sure my goal is actually accomplishable and not LET'S WRITE AND PUBLISH AN ENTIRE NOVEL!!! Let’s leave that till December. I re-binged a comic that's been on hiatus for awhile and in the latest chapter she replied to a comment saying the next chapter will come out soon! I’M HYPED!

It’s nearly 6 right now, I can’t say I’ve done much other than that and volunteering. I could consider this a waste of a day, but I don’t want to. I’m happy, and future me, I hope you’re happy as well. Let’s switch gears. Nice play but let’s change things up, I’ll keep being happy if you remember to be! Remember, I can hold you accountable! I’m literally you!

»
‎ ‎ W…W…WONDERHOYY!! ✩

⇛⇛⇛

⋅ total words :: 11,151/10,000 ⋅

» The bestest show ever is about to begin! «

⇛⇛⇛

৻৻ dailies ৲৲
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ » it's that dedication of yours that puts the biggest smiles on people's faces! ☆

↝ 10.1 - https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1090648213 - 999 words
↝ 10.2 - https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/post/8211572/ - 307 words
↝ 10.5 - https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/post/8215732/ - 482 words

(i’ll add more later)

⇛⇛⇛

৻৻ weeklies ৲৲
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ » They have promised me a bright future as a star myself!

↝ weekly no. 1 - link - word count
↝ weekly no. 2 - link - word count
↝ weekly no. 3 - link - word count
↝ weekly no. 4 - link - word count

LMAOOO I DIDNT DO ANY HAH
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৻৻ word wars ৲৲
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ » Let's go go goo! ☆

↝ the words :0 - opponent - word count - won/lost

no

⇛⇛⇛

৻৻ writing competition, cabin wars, and other miscellaneous pieces of writing ৲৲
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ » this time, we’ll perform a show that’ll make everyone smile!

↝ erm….oc stuff. - the words :0 - words

⇛⇛⇛

৻৻ about me ৲৲

hi there! my names aster, & i use they/them pronouns
this’s my sixth SWC session (November 2022 - Hi-fi, March 2023 - Dystopian <33, July 2023 - Steampunk, March 2024 - Epistolary, August 2024 - Solarpunk).
i appreciate and use tonetags, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to. :0
i’m a hardcore omori, ddlc, and pjsk fan :>
feel free to strike up a conversation with me, i dont bite (yet /j)!
sci-fi ftw!! ^^

Daily
257 Words
11/2


Dear Kenzie,

Hello! How are you? I hope you’re okay. I bet November’s been a very interesting month, with everything going on. Are you excited for Christmas? Only 25 days till Christmas! So exciting!
How was SWC? Was the session how you expected it to be, or did you think differently? I hope it’ll be even more amazing then you expect it to be. Did your campers behave? Most likely lol.
This session, I hope to complete my word goal. Maybe even go past it. That’d be amazing. I also would like to complete at least 15 dailies, maybe even more if possible. I hope that I’ve gotten at least two weeklies done.
How are my co-ops going? How's the youth group? I hope everything is still enjoyable. Have you gotten to meet up with friends outside of normal activities?
Oooo speaking of which, you’ve met Ris irl (hopefully)! I bet that was a lot of fun. How was cabin wars? Did you write a lot of words?
Do you think you’ll apply for leader for next session? Since you were a leader this session, that means you’ll have a higher chance of becoming a leader in March! You better start working on your leadership app
Just a small reminder that God Loves You and you are loved <3 If you ever need to, look at one of these Bible verses: James 5:13, Romans 8:38-29, or John 3:16. There’s always people that will be there for you, remember that.
Love, your past self,
Kenzie

Wil’s Words
❝ I sense a window somewhere closing, somewhere in the world that I just have to find ❞

Dailies

• 11/1

• 11/2

• 11/4

• lI/5

• 11/8

• 11/9

• 11/13

• 11/14

• 11/19

• 11/25

• 11/27

• 11/29

Weeklies

• I

• II

“Do you wonder who’s looking back?”
11/2 - 285 words

Well hello there, Wil, fancy seeing you here. I know you’ll enjoy reading this, primarily because we are the same person and I always get nostalgic and sappy reading any of my old stuff. You might even cry, that would be funny.
How are things going for you? Still friends with the same people? Still getting good grades? I hope you’ve gotten better at the hanging your fencing coach makes you do, I did it for the first time today and it just about killed me. I hope you are as happy as you can be, I know that’s hard for us but things have felt unusually bright recently. Are they still like that? I hope so.
I hope that this month you’ve managed to calm your mind a little, maybe we’ll have achieved that. It would be nice. A good thing that’s happened today is WILD LIFE EPISODE!! By the time you’ve read this you might know who won. I hope Gem and Joel were total idiots and weirdos to the end.
Are you still not over B3yond? Probably not, I wonder how many times you’ve changed the lyrics on your profile by this point. Are we still the same little idiot who likes rules and gets stimmy every time we see a dog? I hope so. You’re funny. Speaking of funny! Are you still planning on somehow landing yourself a comedy writing job? If not, what do you want to do now?
Give Max some pats. Tell your family you love them. Maybe doodle something for the person you’re probably still head-over-heels for. Oh also drink some water, your doctor told you to do that.
I hope you are okay, sincerely, past Wil.