[E. N. Leonard]

@calidris

That. Was. Hilarious!

And your ideas for Kit and Val and Spire are so awesome! I love it when things just come together like that, simmering away in the mind 🥰

CASTLE COMMANDMENTS

1) Thou shalt not yeeteth the innocents.

2) Thou shalt change the Castle Commandments at thine own will.

Therefore, it follows…😁

3) Thou shalt yeeteth the wicked.

Hey, Saevus…XD

 

@mamaauthoress

That story/world sounds so interesting! NDs unite! That’s so awesome about them overpowering the system. 🙂

And don’t feel bad about the infodump! At least half of us are ND and do it all the time 😁 myself included.

We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!

[Handmaiden]

@e-n-leonard

That story/world sounds so interesting! NDs unite! That’s so awesome about them overpowering the system. 🙂

Thank you! I’m very proud of this concept 😊
NDs uniteeeeeeee- *immediately gets distracted by the bird outside the window*

And don’t feel bad about the infodump! At least half of us are ND and do it all the time 😁 myself included.

Ahw thank you, and I’m glad I’m not the only one 😆

Anxious gremlin coming through

[solanelle]

@mamaauthoress @rose-colored-fancy idk what it is about this castle, but it really seems like an ND magnet XD

@mamauthoress I second what Rose says!  Autism kind of became a special interest for me, so I’m more than happy to infodump about it as well XD

Also, that WIP sounds really cool!

Handmaiden wrote:

NDs uniteeeeeeee- *immediately gets distracted by the bird outside the window*

As a fellow ND and birdwatcher…YES!!!

Val:

The hall suddenly darkens as the mist scatters at my feet.  I’m in a smaller, dimly lit room now, crowded with the darkened shapes of my peers.  I quickly scan the room for Kit, squinting as I slowly adjust to the dimmer light.  I can’t see him, but I can hear him piping up somewhere near the cavernous entrance.

Great.  If he’s already in a conversation, then there’s no chance of breaking in.  Besides, I’d really rather not ask him with other people around.  It’d be awkward for both of us.

I sigh.  This could take a while…

A muffled sob suddenly catches my attention.  I turn to see a darkened figure trembling in a corner.  He shudders, another sob catching in his throat.  I hesitantly approach him, nervously digging my nails into my palms.

“Hey,” I call out softly.  The man freezes, slowly turning to face me.  My face burns in the dim light of the room. “Are…are you ok?”

*laughs as one fey*

[Handmaiden]

@calidris

idk what it is about this castle, but it really seems like an ND magnet XD

I have no clue either, but I’m not complaining XD

I second what Rose says!  Autism kind of became a special interest for me, so I’m more than happy to infodump about it as well XD

Thank you!! I might come to you two if I need help 😅

Also, that WIP sounds really cool!

Thank you so much!

As a fellow ND and birdwatcher…YES!!!

Oh I’m not a birdwatcher, my attention will literally just snap to any sudden movement in my field of vision, including my own movements XD

 

CALIX:

“Hey.”

I jumped, my head snapping in the direction of the voice.

Oh no. A girl.

And my face was all wet and red and pathetic.

Pathetic pathetic pathetic-

“Are…are you ok?” The girl asked, looking incredibly uncomfortable.

Something in common.

My hands shook. My head throbbed. My throat dried.

“Yeah,” I wheezed.

The girl licked her lips, but she didn’t seem to buy it. They never do. “Ah.”

I bobbed my head, face flushed and wet.

Awkward silence fell like a rock. My eyes darted around, trying to catch for something to say.

 

Anxious gremlin coming through

[Rose]

@mamaauthoress

Okay cool, just wanted to make sure you were comfortable 😅
Yesssss ikr? I think it was finding out about ADHD and learning I had it that made me pursue psychology :)))

Thank you, I really appreciate that! That’s so cool! I’ve definitely gotten fascinated by it through finding out I was autistic XD

Coryn is the only one  of my characters that is clinically diagnosed and has her autism tied into her story and character arc, but I’ve been looking at a few of my other characters and seeing some of them fall on the spectrum.

Oh that’s so cool! That’s like… wayyy more than most writers have XD It’s so fun that you have a character that’s both like canonically autistic and that it affects her plot and character! That’s way too rare!

Although I take more joy in writing ND characters because they’re more like me, and different from the rest. If there’s anything I love most in the world, it’s being different :]

Yes I know that feeling! It’s so cathardic and validating to see your experience in another character, even if it’s one you wrote yourself. Maybe especially so!

And I LOVE your WIP already!! It sounds too cool!! (Totally sign me up when you need beta-readers!!) Both Coryn and Clanner sound so interesting! And I love that you thought about how neurodivergence would influence a system like that! Usually, stuff like sci-fi never takes that into account, which is kinda sad because there’s so much potential conflict!

whew
sorry about the dump

Oh don’t apologize! We all do it all the time, infodumps are very much appreciated here!

Thank you!! I might come to you two if I need help

YES please do!! I’d love any opportunity to talk about it!!

Actually… me and @Calidris collabed on a newsletter about autism representation a while ago!

If you’re curious here’s the link to our newsletters, and please let me know if you’d like me to resend the newsletter to you!

Mine: https://swordandscrawls.ck.page

(SE won’t let me post two links so I’ll put Calidris’ in the next post!)

Without darkness, there is no light. If there was no nighttime, would the stars be as bright?

[Rose]

@mamaauthoress

and Calidris’ : https://spireandcompany.ck.page/daff3b0198

Without darkness, there is no light. If there was no nighttime, would the stars be as bright?

[solanelle]

@mamaauthoress

Handmaiden wrote:

Thank you!! I might come to you two if I need help 😅

Sounds good!  We’d love to help XD

Handmaiden wrote:

Oh I’m not a birdwatcher, my attention will literally just snap to any sudden movement in my field of vision, including my own movements XD

Same XD That, plus the autistic pattern recognition makes bird watching really fun for me!

Val:

“Yeah,” the man wheezes.  I nervously lick my lips.  That’s a lie.  Part of me really wants to ask why, but I don’t think it’d be well received.  I don’t want to make him any more uncomfortable than he already is, but I’d hate to just leave him alone in this state too.

“Ah.” He bobs his head, face red and streaked with tears. “Well…is there anything I can do to help?”  I nervously scuff my shoe against the floor. “It’ll probably be better for you to join the rest of us when the next challenge hit, right?”

*laughs as one fey*

[solanelle]

@everyone I think it’s about time to start a new challenge!  We can finish up some of the interactions we’re already doing first 🙂

@inkhorn Kit is ready to bicker when Cahira is XD

*laughs as one fey*

[Blooming Grace]

@e-n-leonard

CASTLE COMMANDMENTS

1) Thou shalt not yeeteth the innocents.

2) Thou shalt change the Castle Commandments at thine own will.

Therefore, it follows…😁

3) Thou shalt yeeteth the wicked.

Hey, Saevus…XD

🤣🤣🤣

Yes, Saevus, watch out… XD

@calidris

@everyone I think it’s about time to start a new challenge!

Yes! Yarrow is quite ready to fail and be in a fashion show XD

A long-hidden tale may hold the answers-and the healing-they so desperately seek.
~Set the Stars Alight

[solanelle]

@e-n-leonard @lady-grace YES LETS YEET SAEVUS XD

I’m actually going to be really busy for the next two days, but I think that should be enough time to allow everyone else to finish up!  Feel free to go ahead and start the next challenge when everyone’s ready!  I’ll catch up when I’m ready XD

*laughs as one fey*

[Handmaiden]

@rose-colored-fancy

Thank you, I really appreciate that! That’s so cool! I’ve definitely gotten fascinated by it through finding out I was autistic XD

I’m glad! And yeah, same here XD

Oh that’s so cool! That’s like… wayyy more than most writers have XD It’s so fun that you have a character that’s both like canonically autistic and that it affects her plot and character! That’s way too rare!

Really? I did not know this … huh! That makes me feel even better about it, because I love being different!

Yes I know that feeling! It’s so cathardic and validating to see your experience in another character, even if it’s one you wrote yourself. Maybe especially so!

EXACTLY

And I LOVE your WIP already!! It sounds too cool!! (Totally sign me up when you need beta-readers!!) Both Coryn and Clanner sound so interesting! And I love that you thought about how neurodivergence would influence a system like that! Usually, stuff like sci-fi never takes that into account, which is kinda sad because there’s so much potential conflict!

Thank you so much!! (I definitely will!)
Yeah, I thought I’d try to give a voice to those labelled negatively because of their neurodivergence :]

Oh don’t apologize! We all do it all the time, infodumps are very much appreciated here!

ahw, thank you!

YES please do!! I’d love any opportunity to talk about it!!

Ahhhh will do, then!!

Actually… me and @Calidris collabed on a newsletter about autism representation a while ago!

If you’re curious here’s the link to our newsletters, and please let me know if you’d like me to resend the newsletter to you!

Thank you!! I’ll look into it!

 

@calidris

I think it’s about time to start a new challenge!  We can finish up some of the interactions we’re already doing first 🙂

Sounds great!! So hyped! 🫶🏽

CALIX:

“Well…is there anything I can do to help?” she kicked her shoe against the floor. “It’ll probably be better for you to join the rest of us when the next challenge hit, right?”

“Ch-challenge?” I asked, my voice too thick to not be embarrassing. With a creak of the knees, I struggled to my feet. “What do you mean?”

Are there fighting challenges?

I didn’t like fighting.

Oh no, what if I have to face my sister? What if I have to kill someone, or worse, EVE.

I began to spiral and it was too late-

Down, down, down goes my anxiety into the plummeting abyss like the one in Dhâradun, and I was going too fast for my own self. I couldn’t stop.

Anxious gremlin coming through

[Inkhorn]

@calidris

Kit is ready to bicker when Cahira is XD

XD I’m sorry I haven’t responded earlier, but I’ll whip up a response pronto!

I think it’s about time to start a new challenge!

Sounds good!

I’m actually going to be really busy for the next two days, but I think that should be enough time to allow everyone else to finish up!  Feel free to go ahead and start the next challenge when everyone’s ready!  I’ll catch up when I’m ready XD

*thumbs up emoji*

[Inkhorn]

CAHIRA

The man turns and smiles. “And what other role would you suggest? I’m a good actor, you know.”

I freeze. What? This wasn’t- what was this?

I clear my throat and glare at him. “I, Cahira Beckwith, daughter of Lord Nial Beckwith, would suggest that you take upon yourself the role of a groveling servant whose desire is to avoid imprisonment and possible death.”

“Ah,” he grins. “It’s been a while since I’ve played that role. I apologize if my act is a little rusty.” Immediately he twists his face into a pitiful expression of fear.

I stare at him flabbergasted. “Do you want to die?” I hiss. “I. Am. Cahira. Beckwith.”

“You can call me Kit, and, no, I have no desire to die.”

I draw myself to my full height, which, frustratingly, is a few inches shorter than him. “Be warned, Kit, I will report you, and then you will see the power behind my name of which you seem to fail to recognize. I swear that before the next sunrise, you will be imprisoned and never to see the light of the sun again,” I growl.

“Um, I don’t think you’re a little confused.”

I snort. “There is nothing to be confused about. My father is Lord Beckwith, who, last I checked, is the one who is truly in charge. And he does not take kindly to pink-haired men mocking his daughter.”

 

@calidris

[E. N. Leonard]

solanelle wrote:

Same XD That, plus the autistic pattern recognition makes bird watching really fun for me!

Yes! I do that with plants XD If I feel like actually talking while on a hike, I’ll tell people all about the plants along the trail and whether they’ll heal, feed, or kill you. I might have concerned @lady-grace when I informed her that we were camping next to a plant that could kill one if smelled.

Me:“Yes, it is poisonous. Look at the mottled, hairy stem — don’t get too close, mind. You don’t want to breathe in the toxic spores — the stem distinguishes it from the edible plant. So does its musty, sour odor, but well, by then it might be too late…”

Others: 😳

 

solanelle wrote:

YES LETS YEET SAEVUS XD

😁 I can’t wait! Question is, who can actually yeet that chunk of metal?

@calidris

We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!

[E. N. Leonard]

Mara:

Frey smiles and says, “Of course I do, I mean everything I say. I mean, look at the situation we’re in, what’s the use of lying?”

I frown at him. He’s joking. I can hear the laughter in his voice.

“Did you notice anything odd in the way you came here?”

Arms crossed, I debate whether or not I should actually give him a piece of my mind. The realization that he can’t hit me as father would seals it. “You don’t have to do that.”

“What?” Frey asks, a little too innocently.

“Treat a stranger like a gullible idiot just because she doesn’t know what’s going on.” I shake some stray braids out of my face. “What’s your problem, hmm? Why are you saying stuff you don’t believe?”

“Didn’t you hear what I said about how I mean what I say?”

Maybe he thinks I was bluffing, but now…argh! This subtle teasing sarcasm is even worse than father’s harshness. That I could at least counter, to a point. This, and I can only helplessly glare.

He takes a different track. “Look, I was only teasing,” he begins.

“Like that makes it so much better.” I sneer.

“But if lies are evil, and lies are meant to deceive, then teasing really is better. Teasing is not supposed to deceive people.” He has that stupid infantile look again.

I do not want to smack it off. I do not. This isn’t like Isaias or Rosemary at all. They really mean their philosophical nonsense. I bet Frey wouldn’t even if he swore before the Benevola Wolf. Breathing deeply, I say, “I’m done with foolishness. Do you actually know anything about this place or not?” I even attempt to be diplomatic. “If you, like me, know nothing, then maybe we could help each other find some answers.”

 

@rose-colored-fancy

We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!

[Author]

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