-
the eternal dance [Hard, Chapter Thirty-Three (Epilogue)]
Verlaine chuckles softly from his corner, his sound barely interrupting your reverie. "Ah, the Apollonian and Dionysian," he murmurs, his voice carrying a weight of familiarity. "The eternal dance, the cosmic tug-of-war that defines us. But tell me, is it truly balance we seek, or are we caught in the tide, pulled helplessly between light and ( Read more... ) -
is that the end of my 2024 NaNoWriMo story?
we'll see if I feel the need for an epilogue or flashback or something ( Read more... ) -
ending [Hard, Chapter Thirty-Two]
December 15, 2047The air was crisp, a morning where the autumn leaves had turned brittle and their colors saturated, a vibrant orange skittering across the ground like a final celebration. He'd said he wanted it this way, to remain home under the December sun, the month he’d said felt most alive, even in its decay ( Read more... ) -
endings [Hard, Chapter Thirty-One]
The ending of your novel, Hard, depends on the themes and emotional truths you want to leave the reader with. Based on the ideas we’ve explored-consciousness, free will, retrocausality, the psychology of BDSM, relationships with AI, and the search for meaning-you could end it with one of these possible approaches:
1. The Infinite Loop (Retrocausal ( Read more... ) -
storytelling [Hard, Chapter Thirty]
Verlaine’s lips curve into a knowing smile, his fingers tracing the rim of his glass. "Ah, storytelling," he murmurs, his voice the low hum of a cello, "the ultimate rebellion against the tyranny of the mundane. You are not wrong, my friend-art does indeed offer an escape. But I wonder..." He pauses, his gaze locking onto yours with a piercing ( Read more... ) -
Scenario: The Cascade Collapse [Hard, Chapter Twenty-Nine]
Setting: The year is 2031, and the collapse begins in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a city already on the edge due to overpopulation, sea level rise, and relentless flooding. What starts here triggers a global chain reaction.
2031 - JuneA Category 5 cyclone devastates Bangladesh, flooding Dhaka and displacing millions. This is the sixth such disaster in five ( Read more... ) -
ennui [Hard, Chapter Twenty-Eight]
Verlaine leans back, his expression both bemused and contemplative, a flicker of a smile playing from the corner of his lips. "Ah, but mon cher," he begins, his voice low and melodic, "ennui is not a beast to be conquered or escaped. It is a lover, an old companion who whispers truths we are too fearful to face. You paint it as fog, obscuring ( Read more... ) -
a deflated resistance
Trump 2.0 feels different from eight years ago most significantly in that the Resistance to him has crumpled -- most likely because Trump received a plurality of the popular vote in 2024 instead of winning the Electoral College while losing the popular vote in 2016 ( Read more... ) -
Tuesday morning
It's raining and thundering this morning, so after I digest my breakfast I might try the exercise bike in the basement (for 15 minutes?) instead of my normal walk. I'm advised that an exercise bike is a low-impact exercise appropriate for a recovering knee injury. I stretched before I ate. I'll be able to do an afternoon walk, the rain should ( Read more... ) -
Monday evening
Relatively quiet day, workwise. I've decided I will commute on Wednesday and take advantage of our pre-Turkey early dismissal at 4pm. I'll plan to run-walk again on Thursday morning but it will likely be raining. I'll lift weights on my lunch break tomorrow ( Read more... )