Alien Encyclopedia Entry 2: Hi no Pueriel

Image by Andrii Omelnytskyi via scop.io

Introduction

Welcome!

This post will discuss Hi no Pueriel, one of the most sacred Torin holidays. It falls on October 31 of our calendar and in the middle of Avis’s summer rainy season. It’s a day set aside to honor Lukarus and Pueriel, The Golden Child.

According to Torin legend a plague befell their people, and nothing they did stopped it, So one day the chief’s son, Yahiko (|yah| |he| |ko|), which means “summer child”, fell ill. The chief cried out for help and Lukarus (|loo| |car| |us|) appeared to him and healed Yahiko and the others. In exchange the chief was to rename Yahiko “Pueriel”(|pure| |ee| |el|), The Golden Child, and forevermore pay tribute to Lukarus on that day.  

Hi no Pueriel is celebrated by lighting three candles symbolizing Lukarus, Pueriel, and the First Emperor of Avis who it is claimed was a descendant of Puerile. Children are told the Tale of the Golden Child, given small gifts, and encouraged to confess their wrong doings in the hopes Lukarus will bless them.

 Once the candles have burnt out, a feast is held, then everyone sings songs praising Lukarus before the festivities are called to a close with the ceremonial marking of foreheads with ash in the shape of Pueriel’s symbol, which looks like an ankh.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this post let me know in the comments below, share it on social media, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter.

Also, Palingenesis is available now.

Character Profile: Matthew Mitchells

Introduction

This week’s post is a character profile of Matthew Mitchells, a member of Josh’s friend group, the Squad.

Description

Matthew Richard Mitchells is fifteen, five-foot-eleven, and 235lb with black hair and brown eyes. He’s allo, cis, het, and white.

Personality

Matthew is a jerkass with a heart of gold. He can be a bit of bully and takes things too far sometimes. He’s also rude and crude. But he’s there when his friends and family need him. Most of the time.

Likes

He likes grossing people out and offending them to see where the line is. He also loves working out and going four wheeling and mudding up north. He loves country music, whisky, and southern food.

Dislikes

He hates people who can’t take a joke and who are too pc. He hates cleaning his room and anything that involves him thinking too much, like reading and math.

Goals

His main goal is to bench 1000lb. Second, he wants to join the wrestling team and dominate like a boss. Third, he wants to go into business with hid best friend Henry Huntington selling health drinks.

Desires

 He desires to be strong, respected, popular, and for girls to sleep with him. Also, he wants to make tons of money.

Fears

He fears being a nobody, needles, and losing his bros Lance and Henry.

Morality/Religious Beliefs

 Morally he’s lawful evil and exploits all the loopholes in the system to get what he wants without regard for others, save his family and friends. Religiously, he’s Roman Catholic but only goes along with it for the sake of his grandmother.

Political Alignment

 He’s an anarcho-capitalist and leans heavily libertarian.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading. If you liked this post please share it with your friends.

Next week’s post will be on the commercialization of being progressive and woke.

Prometheus Character Interview 1

Introduction

This is the next in an ongoing series where I interview characters from my dark fantasy, sci-fi young adult series, The Phoenix Diaries. Last time you got to know Travis Turner, and today you’ll be meeting the other protagonist.

Interview

Tyerone Johnson: If you don’t mind, why don’t you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about yourself.

Prometheus: Why should I? It aint like you care about me no how. It’s always about Travis. Meanwhile, I’m sitting around with my dick in my hands waiting for you to remember I exist.

TJ: It sounds like you feel neglected.

P: Wouldn’t you be? Hell, Josh gets more page time than me.

TJ: Well, you’ll be happy to know that in the rewrite, I’m expanding your role, complete with your own character arc.

P: And why should I believe that?

TJ: (sighing) We’ll talk about this later, but why don’t you tell us about yourself. For starters, what do you like to go by? Pro, Prometheus—

P:You can call me His Royal Highness, Prince Pho—

TJ:  Hold it right there. This is a spoiler free interview.

P: A’ight, then just call me P. But before we go any further, I’mma let you know right now, I aint no punk ass, soft type nigga like Travis. So, you aint gonna be bossing me around like you do him.

TJ:  One, watch your language. Two, you will behave, or you can forget about any more page time. Three, why such hostilities toward Travis?

P: You’d hate that nig—negro , too, if you’d spent ten years locked up in his head. See, I’m all about having fun, and he’s so uptight I’m surprised my mans don’t be crapping out mini black hole.

TJ: Do you think the reason you resent Travis so much is because, deep down, you’re the same?

P: Hell, fuck, naw! I ain’t nothing like that dude.

TJ: So you aren’t driven to be the strongest fighter in the universe?

P: Yeah, but that only so I can one-up Trav.

TJ: And you aren’t stubborn, sarcastic, and short-tempered?

P: I mean, yeah. But other than that, I aint nothing like him. Anything he feels something, he loses his shit. Now me on the other hand, I’m laid back, and hella chilled.

TJ: Except when it comes to proving you’re better than Travis, and being the Torin Prince, you mean.

P: You got me.

TJ: Why do you think it is you resent Travis so much?”

P: I thought this was an interview, not a therapy session.

TJ: Can’t it be both?

P: (shugging) I mean, he has not one but two families and couldn’t give a shit ’bout either of them. Meanwhile, I’m over here and can’t even see my parents unless I’m in The Cave.

TJ: This provides an excellent segue. The Cave is where you discovered your true heritage, correct?

P:  Yeah.

TJ: It’s also where your powers fully awakened, right?

 P: Yup.

TJ: You and Travis share abilities, but why do you suppose certain ones come easier for you?

P: I guess because I more open about my emotions and treat training like a game.

TJ: Good. And would you say you live your life that way?

P: I dunno. I mean, when it comes to life, I just take things as they come. You know, get money, fuck bitches, die happy. Ya mean?

TJ: So no greater ambitions in life?

P: I mean, one day I might settle down, have a few kids, but right now it’s all about having fun. Hash tag YOLO.

TJ: From what you’ve said, you don’t seem to think things through. Do you think this is why you often find yourself in trouble?

P: Hey partner, it’s the other way around. Trouble always finds me. I’m just over here doing my thing and shit happens.

TJ: Moving on, tell me a bit more about yourself, what type of things do you like to do when you’re not training or fighting evil aliens?

P:Like I said, I love the ladies, and could spend all day laying that pipe. I also love me some Burger King and McDonald’s, and am never one to pass up a little herb and that Henny. Ya feel me?

TJ: Right. Anything else you’d liked to tell us?

P: The series should just be about me. It would be hella dope and I’d be like a black Goku up in this piece.

TJ: Yes. Well, before we end things, would you mind telling the readers what music you like?

P: I like Rap. None of that trap, mumbling crap, but real rap. You know? Biggie, Pac, KRS One, Public Enemy, Arrested Development, Jay-Z, Nas, And early DMX.

TJ: right, so what would you say is your theme song?

P:  Easy. Part Up by my man DMX. I fucking love training to that. It gets me super hyped.

TJ: Last question. How do you think your life would have turned out had you bonded with someone else?

P: I can’t say. Maybe I’d have turned out all emo like Travis without anyone to bitch at. Or maybe I’d be the same.

TJ: Thanks for doing this this interview.

P: Not like I had a choice in it.

Call to Action

What did you think?

Let me know in the comments, and if you liked this post, please share it on social media.   

Character Interview: Travis

Introduction

Welcome! Today marks the beginning of periodic series where I’ll be posting character interviews about the main and supporting characters form The Phoenix Diaries, my dark fantasy/sci-fi YA series.

Here’s a bit of background about the series.

Bullied for most of his life, due to burn scars covering most of his face and upper body, twelve-year-old Travis Turner has grown to hate humanity. So when Oblivion, The Father of Demons, reveals Travis is his vessel, prophesied to bring on the end of everything, and offers Travis untold power in exchange for joining him, we’re screwed.

Or we would be.

Travis lives his life by a strict set of rules, chief among them that dependence upon anyone for anything is a weakness he will not abide.

He rebuffs Oblivion, and in doing so triggers a fight for his very soul. However, when  all seems is lost, a great power, which had lain dormant until then, awakens in Travis, allowing him to narrowly defeat Oblivion. But  not before Oblivion attempts to possess Travis, inadvertently giving him a portion of his powers in the process, leaving Travis forever changed.

Following this first of many battles with Oblivion, Travis must learn to master his powers while avoiding the DMRC (a government agency created to capture kids with special abilities like Travis), and deal with his blossoming feelings for JJ Giovanni, a boy at his school.

Interview

Tyerone Johnson: Now that the preliminaries are over, how about introducing yourself?

Travis Turner: Must I? There are so many more important things I could be doing with my time.

TJ: Keep this up and I’ll make Phoenix the main character.

TT: I’d like to see you try.

TJ: Don’t tempt me. Now behave like a good boy or I’ll put your story on hold.

TT: You wouldn’t.

TJ: I would.

TT: (gulps) I’ll behave.

My name is Travis Marshall Huey-Newton Turner, eldest progeny of Sampson and Sarah Turner, grandson of Marshall and Helena Aurum, and heir to the Cadmus fortune. I’m twelve years, seven months, and three days old; five feet and two inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. Though lately my hair and eyes have been changing colors. Also, I’m biracial and have mahogany colored skin Well, what isn’t covered in burn scars that is.

TJ: Now was that so hard?

TT: (Flips the bird)

TJ: Moving on. Tell me a bit about your childhood.

TT: What’s there to tell? I’ve spent most of my life in and other of the hospital, one surgery, or infection after the other.

TJ: Right, and would you say being alone so much is want has made you such an antisocial psychopath?

TT: I don’t need anyone. People come and go from our lives without any reason or rhythm, so we can only depend on ourselves.

“TJ: Is that one of your rules?

TT: Rule one to be precise. Moreover, as for being an “antisocial psycho,” it’s a wonder I haven’t slaughtered the whole fucking lot of you.

TJ: Watch the language, kid.

TT: Newsflash, dude. You created me with a foul mouth.

TJ: True, but could you tone things done for the duration of this interview? Moving on. You said we can only depend on ourselves. Do you think that maybe you believe this because everyone who was supposed to be there for you wasn’t?

TT: (smirking) What? You fancy yourself an psychologist now?

TJ: You didn’t answer my question.

TT: And I won’t.

TJ: Then answer me this: Is there anyone you trust completely, unquestionable?

TT: No. Trust must never be given completely. Today’s ally could become tomorrow’s enemy.

TJ: Another one of your rules?

TT: (Folding arms over chest) You say that as though there’s something wrong with rules.

TJ: Nothing. So, tell me about Joshua “JJ” Giovanni.

TT: (sloughing) I’d rather not.

TJ: So, you don’t think he’s cute?

TT: Perhaps, if he weren’t such a bag of douche juice to me all the time.

TJ: I believe the correct term is douche bag.

TT: No, I’m talking about a bag of the liquid that comes out once you’ve applied the douche. Moreover, why are you asking me about Giovanni?

TJ: Why are you getting so defensive? Could it be that you like Josh?

TT: (scowling) I have more important things to worry about than if I have a crush on Giovanni. And that’s a pretty damn big if.

TJ: No need for you to get mad. This is a safe space.

TT: If you must know, when it comes to Giovanni, the few times we’ve hung out alone it was cool. I guess. However, that doesn’t mean I have a crush on him or that I think he’s cute.

Pro: And the award for biggest bullshitter of the year goes to…Travis Turner.

TT: Oh, you can go fuck yourself with a rusty hacksaw.

TJ: Boys, language!. Pro, what are you doing here? Your interview won’t be for another few weeks.

P: I know, but I couldn’t stand to keep hearing this punk ass bitch lying like a mug. I share headspace with the nig—

TJ: What did I say about language?

P: A’ight chill. As I was saying, I share headspace with the negro, so I know he’s fronting over here about his crush on JJ.

TT: Why you motherf—

(Travis and Pro get in a massive brawl and the interview ends)

Conclusion

Well that was interesting.

Call to Action

What did you think?

Should I continue with these interviews?

And if so, how often would you like to read them? Let me know in the comments. And if you liked this post be sure to share it with on social media.

Writing Update

Well this is a first for me but I figure some people will want to read this so here I go. This week hasn’t gone according to plan and I haven’t gotten much work done on the Phoenix Diaries, my science fiction/fantasy young adult trilogy. I’m coming to the end of book two and I’ve been dragging my feet on completing it this last month or so. I’ve been trying to make more time to write but I keep putting it off because it just doesn’t feel right. Honestly I know I have to get it done and then worry about making it better in the rewrite. Yeah I know it will take time to finish the trilogy and I have to keep motivated until I reach the end of this project. Sometimes I feel like I’ve taken on too much to handle with this project, but then I think about all the things I want to accomplish with this series and that’s what keeps me going. Sure I could be spending time working on other projects, but I know in my heart I have to get this story on the page or I’ll go crazy. Part of me is a little scared about spending so much time and energy on this trilogy only for it to fall flat. I know I can let my fears overcome me, or I can face them and write any ways, because that’s my job. I know to temper my expectations because most books only sell a few hundred copies and most writers don’t make much from their work. Yeah it’s scary to think about what ifs but if I go down that path it’ll lead me to self doubt and depression, so instead I’m going to focus on writing the best series I can and worry about the outcome later.