- - [ In A Corner ]
(http://www.trisphee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7394)
Gallagher
01-28-2012 08:48 PM
[ In A Corner ]
Seems like everyone else has a place to write. So. Do forgive me if things are rough around the edges.
Dreary
It's a small shiver.
An ache.
An emptiness.
I don't know where it comes from, or what it wants from me.
Time after time, these feeling creep
Always returning
Never quite fading
Reminding me of what follows me.
Loneliness, perhaps, is an exaggeration.
I need only open my eyes to see the source of warmth by my side.
I know this.
I always have.
Yet I always shut them again
Returning to the darkness
To the cold
To that small shiver, reminding me of where I am
And where I've been.
Gallagher
02-02-2012 05:25 PM
Again
The first light that I saw in far, far too long was the sun's reflection, shining brilliantly off of the building I was told I would be calling home. It was gorgeous. Taller than I'd ever seen, I had to crane my neck to try and see the top. It did no good; its windows shone so perfectly, it was like trying to look straight into heaven.
I shook my head, ridding myself of the passing thought.
Up the stairs and to the door, I could hardly wait to see inside. That was when I saw it. Stuck to an alabaster column, just out of reach of the outside, the timer stared me down. I froze. This had to be some joke, didn't it? Yet the simple, hastily attached box remained, mocking the perfection of everything around it. The numbers died off, one by one, and I ran. I had to find that man. He would know what to do. He could find help, before I, before anyone, could get hurt.
We were ushered into another building. I didn't even know there were so many people. I'd hardly seen a soul when I was out there, there in front of the building I had admired. I looked on, along with the others I did not know, peering through the glass between us and the outside. It was a boy that we watched near the building. Though he was covered in all the gear expected to keep him safe, it was too obvious that he was little more than a child himself. It didn't feel right to watch, and yet that was exactly what I did.
He hardly had the chance to open the doors before I was gripped by fear. She stood beside me, one that I didn't remember, but knew that I loved. I grabbed her and yanked her to the ground with me just as the explosion broke the utter silence around us. The windows shattered as our shelter shook, countless slivers of glass torn free from their confines and straight into the bodies of those around us. The only scream I heard came from the woman I held, but when I looked down at her face, she was already gone, replaced by a corpse that might have reminded me of her, had I not seen her just moments before.
It was that man that pulled me away from it all. As others ran, he led me to a small room, in which a single trunk sat. He pushed it aside and opened a door right in the floor, reassuring me all the while. I followed him down familiar stairs and into the dark.
God, please, let this be the last time.
Gallagher
02-07-2012 09:14 PM
Panic
Every day,
It's always the same.
That same nag.
That same urge.
That same feeling.
I'm sick of it.
I'm tired, and I'm sick.
I can't take it.
It's easy to be.
God knows, it's easy.
Everyone does it.
It's nothing special.
You're nothing special.
It's hard to be good.
No one notices when you are,
But it's damn hard to do.
Every evening,
It eats away at me.
I do what I think is right,
But what do I hear?
"Why are you so cruel?"
If only they knew what they did.
I'll always forgive them,
Because I'll always hate myself.
Gallagher
02-10-2012 05:58 PM
It's no secret, I've been obsessed with superheroes as of late. It's not so much the idea of being able to do, well, practically anything you want that I find alluring. Rather, it's all the hardships those people face from just what they are, or because they choose to go out there and help others. So, the next couple of pieces are writings I did to get a feel for the changes my main OC has taken in fitting into this role that I've given him.
Not So Heroic After All
“Mr. Gallagher?” His fingers twitched, but his eyes remained tightly shut against the voices piercing their way into his mind. Just how long had he been on the ground? He couldn’t remember. Each of his breaths was getting to be more difficult, and accompanied by a sickeningly wet sound. He heard his name again, but gave no reply, hoping that, maybe, if he just kept quiet, they would go away. He focused on the pain filling his body, wanting nothing more than to let it consume his thoughts as it had for every nerve. As soon as one of the paramedics touched him again, it did just that, taking his consciousness with it.
Kier didn’t wake until long after he was in recovery. At only nineteen, he had broken his ribs for the sixth time, his leg for the third, his arm for the second, and his spine for the first. He would be told how close he came to becoming paralyzed for the rest of his life, but he would find that he didn’t care. He would even recover in record time, returning to work pain free after only two months, despite what his doctor had told him.
When he fell for a second time, he would go in with his other arm broken in two places, and a fractured scapula.
By the third, he would walk away with nothing but a few bruises and a hell of a headache.
This was the existence he was rapidly growing accustomed to, and it scared the shit out of him. Kier had learned quickly not to fear pain. In fact, if he weren’t forced to endure it, he might have never found out that he was different from others… or, more so than he thought. As it was, he already looked strange. While his two-toned hair was ignored fairly easily as a rather poor dye job, his mismatched eyes were harder to explain, and the random alabaster spots adorning his skin nearly impossible to lie about. These things, utterly impossible for him to have caused himself, were the exact reasons why he’d been treated as scum by so many of the people he encountered. After all, ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ never really applied to printing mistakes, did it?
As it usually goes, the boy’s powers didn’t appear until his early teens; even then, no one had a clue that anything was amiss, least of all Kier. If it hadn’t been for the far too common beatings from his so called ‘mentor’, an older young man that had decided to take advantage of the boy’s naivety, it might have taken him many more years to figure there was anything more to him to begin with.
He’d thought that he’d just been getting used to the pain. It didn’t seem like that strange of an idea. As the weeks went by, however, the bruises seemed to take less and less time to heal. He could still remember the first time that he looked in the mirror, knowing full well that he’d been ‘punished’ just the day before, but found that the only marks left on his body were the last remnants from the week before. Sadly, he was far from the only one to notice. Instead of questioning it like Kier had, however, the older boy only took it as a sign that more force was needed to get through to him. It started a downward spiral that landed the odd young man in the hospital more than once; it was only after the fourth time that he told the truth about what he had been going through.
His body would heal, leaving only a light scar on his left shin and a little finger that was straighter than natural for him, but the damage to his mind had already been done. Even when he was free from his torment, the young man became reckless, no longer caring for his own safety. It was no wonder then that during one of his hospital stays, not long after he had left his home and the country that witnessed his coming of age, he would let himself become addicted to one of the drugs he was given. It was amazing. It made him feel better than he had in years. The best part was how easy it was to get. With as many accidents as he had had, how many bones he had broken through the years, and as many surgeries he’d undergone, none of the doctors he visited questioned the legitimacy of his claims of pain. The rest that he needed to get his fix, he just bought off the streets; it was laughable how cheap they were compared to other drugs.
The more that his use went up, the less Kier cared about what happened to him. In fact, it was one evening as he prepared his next dose before work that he’d started to enjoy thinking about his next ‘accident’.
Take Me Home
"All my memories gathered 'round her, Miner's lady, stranger to blue water-" Kier paced the small stretch of floor beneath him, his heavy boots clacking loudly with every step, and his voice echoing off of the silver walls as he sang softly to himself. Step, step, turn, step, step, what floor was he on now? Smoothing his hands over his white shirt — white would look lovely with the red, like a painting, really, it was the perfect choice — he double checked that they were snugly tucked into his roughed up jeans, looking up to check the lighted display over the metal doors. Only five - no, six! It wasn't climbing fast enough. He should have just taken the stairs, he would have been on the twentieth by now. Step, step, turn.
It was alright, it wouldn't be long now. He just had to be patient. It was worth it."Dark and dusty, painted on the sky. Misty taste of moonshine-" He looked up again. Another floor. Only thirty-three left to go. "Teardrops in my eye-"
What was that next line? He couldn't seem to remember. As he paced, he started from the beginning, hoping that it might jog his memory. Ten. Fifteen. Twenty. He ran his hands back through his hair, restlessly fixing it time and time again until, finally, he was just too frustrated with the just above shoulder length locks to even bother. When he looked up to the numbers again, he grinned; only one floor left to go. "I hear her voice, in the mornin' hours she calls me. The radio reminds me of my home far away-" Somehow, he couldn't help but laugh as the elevator dinged, its doors opening to the roof of the building. Without hesitation his gaze went to the edge.
He didn't move at first, simply grinning from ear to ear. When the doors tried to close, however, he lifted a hand to stop them and slowly stepped out. Kier didn't even bother looking around to see if anyone else was out on the roof. It didn't matter. Even if anyone had been there, he wouldn't have heard them. His mind was set on only one thing. He ran for it, his grin lingering all the while as his foot met the small ledge and past it. In the brief instant of utter weightlessness that he felt, he wondered whether anyone down on the streets would take notice. It didn't last long before fear gripped him once more; not for what was about to happen, but what might if it didn't.
Suzerain of Sheol
02-21-2012 06:52 PM
Suppose I should actually say something here. ;)
The way you put your sentences together shows a lot of creativity -- they're not just your run-of-the-mill 'this happened, then that happened' descriptions; they actually build an atmosphere just with the way the words are arranged, and lend a distinct voice to your narrative. You might be surprised how rare it is to see that. So good job. :)
I think that's one of the things a lot of aspiring writers miss, that when you think about building character, the way the story is actually told can go a long way toward establishing their personality, especially in 1st-person. It's something I really like to see, hence, impressed.
Gallagher
02-23-2012 08:06 PM
I'm glad that you think so. I try and put a lot of thought into the way that I word myself. Having the proper tone means a lot to me. I'd like to do more practice with that, so I can do a wider variety in my writing.
In any case. A new addition for today.
Reality
Fear, it seems, is a most vicious of monsters. There is no hiding from it. It can always find you. It knows exactly where to look. There is no running from it. It's like your shadow, following your every move, even if you don't notice it. There is no defeating it. Not forever, that is. It always returns. No matter what you do to it, no matter what you say to it, it returns. It might just be in a way you haven't seen before.
Fear. It has a way of sinking into our bones. The worst of pains do not come from pain itself. Pain is something that, by our very nature, we forget the instant it's gone. Fear, however, lingers in us, reminding us that, though we might not remember that pain, it is there. It waits for us to slip.
What we want to be secure, to last forever, rarely do. What we want to disappear always returns, clinging to our fears as it chases us.
I'm tired of being afraid, but fear is the only truth I know.
Red Calypso
03-17-2012 11:18 AM
I'm no good as a critic of writing, but I know when it's good! I love your shorts about Kier, is he from an RP? I'd love to see more about him.
Gallagher
03-17-2012 03:57 PM
He's my primary roleplay character, and the one my avatar is based off of, too. My current signature is a section from him... -chuckles- He pretty much makes up my entire world. I don't have much else that's actually worth posting from him though. Except, I guess, a little peek into his head in a different universe than those other selections were done for... Actually, I might want to do more pieces like this. I have a lot of fun with them.
Lies
Look what you’ve done now.
You didn’t mean to.
Didn’t mean to? That’s a laugh.
It was just an accident.
Sitting at a familiar desk, in a familiar room, on an otherwise ordinary day, an utterly insignificant and unimpressive act had suddenly sent the two-toned young man’s mind into a dark, chaotic spiral.
An accident? Now that is rich.
Well, it was. Just an accident, nothing more.
Do you honestly believe that?
There’s nothing else to believe.
Oh, is that so?
… It’s not even that bad. You’re fine.
Kier had bitten his finger.
It was an utterly insignificant and undoubtedly unconscious act that had left nothing more than redness and telltale indentations in his skin. There wasn’t even a single drop of blood to show for it.
You’re in pain.
There was little more than a dull throb and a strange but not unpleasant tickle as his flesh slowly righted itself.
That’s wrong.
You wanted it to hurt.
You’re not like that. You don’t do that.
Are you still trying to tell yourself it was an accident?
Stop it.
You’re pathetic.
Shut up!
Oh, so sorry, did you want to go back to the silence?
It’s not-
He was suddenly aware of his own hands. One was stiff, pen in hand, rapidly tapping against the desk with no rhythm whatsoever. There wasn’t enough control for rhythm in the simple, urgent need to make some sort of sound, anything that would fill the gap. The other had found its way back to his mouth.
Who do you think is doing that?
You are.
No. You are.
No, you’re not. You. Don’t. Do. That.
His brows furrowing, he balled his hand into a fist, tight enough for seemingly every one of the small muscles to ache. He bit his lip, his hand trembling there near his face, then brought it down against the desk, the edge of it ramming right into his wrist, and yet, the entire gesture was pitiful. It didn’t even do enough to make the markers strewn across his desk move a single inch.
Don’t you?
…
That’s right. You should be ashamed. You’re weak.
I-it’s alright- It’s not that bad. It was an accident.
You want to do it again.
You don’t. You’re stronger than that.
Are you?
It took some effort, but he loosened his fist, light, fresh indentations already formed in a line across his palm.
What will Bee think?
He’ll forgive you.
Will he? After how much you already put him through?
He doesn’t mind, he tells you so…
Just like you don’t mind when he hurts your feelings?
He means well. That’s what matters. You know that.
Speaking of which, where is he now?
He looked over his shoulder, as if to look at the door, but his gaze didn’t quite make it. Perhaps because he simply didn’t have the will to turn, or perhaps because he didn’t want to risk seeing him there, waiting. It was ridiculous, thinking that he would, yet the thought was there.
You know where he is. You know it can’t be helped.
Can’t be helped indeed. It’s good for him to get away from you and your bullshit.
Kier looked back down to his desk, at the papers he’d been working on.
What makes you think you should be forgiven? What have you done to earn it?
Well-
You don’t have an answer.
You just need a chance to think. You know it’s there.
You’re a liar.
You aren’t. You never have been.
The click of the door sounded somewhere behind him.
Bee-
Why stop now? You can hide it from him.
He flexed his fingers, the tapping of his pen slowing significantly.
This isn’t right-
He never has to know. You won’t need to be forgiven if he doesn’t know.
Light, familiar footsteps, coming closer. Kier set the tip of his pen to his paper, as if he’d been writing. His other hand fell into his lap.
You could do it again. As much as you want. He doesn’t have to know.
Stop! You don’t need this, you don’t want this-
Then stop biting your lip.
The sound of things being set down, a flicker of movement just out of the corner of his eyes, and the feeling of being watched all weighed heavily against him. He did just as his own thoughts had said, hoping that the other young man hadn’t caught the reoccurring habit. The last thing he wanted right now was to be scolded again.
Admit it. Admit it, and you can stop feeling bad about it.
Don’t…
“Kier…?” His companion’s familiar voice, gentle, unsure. It brought the faintest of sad smiles to his lips.
He doesn’t need more worries. And you need whatever release you can get.
He looked up and over to the man now right beside him, only just noticing the hand on his own shoulder.
Bee… Sorry-
“Welcome back, Preston… How was class-?”
… It wasn’t an accident.
Gallagher
04-14-2012 10:24 AM
It's ten in the morning.
My head won't keep quiet.
The Song
Desperate
Passion
An embodiment of everything you are
In one moment
One line
One word
Give it all that you have
Now is not the time to hesitate
It's swelling
Ready to burst
Desperate
This feeling of nothing
This feeling of everything
This isn't who you are
This is who you want to be
So let it out
There's nothing to forgive
Let me hear it in your voice
It's your moment
It's waiting
Cecily Hopnotch
04-21-2012 01:20 AM
o.o I love your work. You probably outrank me in the writing department. I want to read more! <3 Well done!
I'm jealous of your poemy skills...
Gallagher
04-21-2012 02:05 AM
I usually end up writing poems on the fly as a quick release, honestly. Stories I usually get done in a 2 hour or so period, otherwise I don't come back to them... I have a bad habit of that...
Cecily Hopnotch
04-21-2012 02:21 AM
I have that habit too... which is certainly not helping with the three novels I have on the go. =.= or the fact that my deadline for the latest one is the end of july is I want it published... </3
... I seriously have to start working on that more.
And writing for release is what writing's all about, really!
Gallagher
04-21-2012 02:34 AM
... Wow. That sounds like you took on quite a bit there.
Cecily Hopnotch
04-21-2012 02:38 AM
Yup. Not to mention trying to find a job and trying to get good grades in school... It's a wonder I stay sane.
... I say as I waste half my day on here. Bad Cecily. <_<;;
Gallagher
04-21-2012 02:54 AM
-snickers- Very bad indeed.
Cecily Hopnotch
04-21-2012 02:50 PM
We'll just say that this is my therapy or something and leave it at that. xD *sneaky eyes*