C&C inbound. Take or leave it as you will.
At 03:06 08/14/2002 -0400, you wrote:
Whew! And moving right along...
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is the creation of Naoko Takeuchi and all
such rights belong to her. No money is being made from this fic and no such
intent should be inferred.
C&C, Public or Private, is welcome. I respond (eventually) to all C&C.
******************
Something dark, glowing, and emaciated to the point of see-through skin,
looked down at itself and said, "Ooooohhhh... dear... I seem to be missing
some things. Fancy those not preserving. Excuse me, miss, you wouldn't happen
to have a robe handy, would you?"
-Bishonen Muyo OAV#1
####
Amy Lynn rose with the sun and went to bed at around ten at night.
Since she's now waking up, it might make more chronological sense to say,
"Amy Lynn went to bed at around ten at night and rose with the sun." It
just feels subtly off to me when you bounce from waking to sleeping to waking.
It was,
she had concluded some time ago, the most efficient use of her time. She did
not waste time laying in bed, but rather immediately gathered her things and
marched down the hall to the tub, which she filled with water heated to a
comfortably warm sixty-five degrees.
Damned ice mages... (...says the person who currently feels cold in a room
that's 82F.)
Ten minutes later, she was out and towel drying her hair. Not bothering with
a robe, she walked back to her room and donned underclothes, a t-shirt and
jean shorts. Returning to the bathroom, she picked up her hair brush and went
to work on her hair.
Amy Lynn's hair was bobbed. It covered her head, didn't get in her eyes, and
quite frankly, that's all one should expect from hair.
Normally, she would have been done in thirty seconds, but today she paused,
and examined herself critically in the mirror. Her hair was black, but in
bright light, it seemed to turn blue. Her face had once been described as
"like a dolls'" her skin was pale, setting off her blue eyes.
"like a dolls'" her skin --> "like a doll's." Her skin
Her jaw had a
slightly squared off look to it, a legacy of her father, judging by the one
picture she had of him and the few times she had seen him after her parent's
breakup.
squared off look to it --> squared-off look to it
Pulling off her shirt, she turned sideways and examined herself in the
mirror.
Maybe, "examined her profile in the mirror," perhaps? Just a thought...
She was in reasonably good shape, walking everywhere, especially
through snow in the winter time back in Saint Paul had seen to that, but she
lacked the curved, yet firm tightness of Bunny.
Ack...chunky sentence....
She was in reasonably good shape from walking everywhere through the winter
time snow back in Saint Paul; however, she lacked the curved, yet firm
tightness of Bunny.
Again, she felt the
irrational surge of jealously.
But then again, her rational mind pointed out. Bunny was raised on a farm and
as such, her figure came from simple combination of genetics and a lifetime
of hard work that no reasonable exercise program could duplicate.
Hmm.... I think this would be better off as a quoted thought to herself,
as so:
"But then again," her rational mind pointed out, "Bunny was raised on a
farm, and
as such, her figure came from simple combination of genetics and a lifetime
of hard work that no reasonable exercise program could duplicate."
She would
never have a figure like that and there was little point in worrying about it.
Amy Lynn pulled her shirt back on, finished her hair and went about making
breakfast.
*****************
She had just finished breakfast when there was a knock at the door. Opening
it, she found herself face to face with Molly and Bunny.
The "it", in cases like this, typically refers back to the object of the
previous sentence: in this case, "the knock at the door". People will
still figure out what you mean, but the sentence will feel awkward. I
recommend changing "it" to "the door" or somesuch.
Both girls wore
T-shirts and jeans, Molly had on sneakers, and Bunny wore work boots and what
appeared to the same work shirt she had on yesterday. Molly also noted that
the "machete" was actually a very large knife.
Molly also noted --> Amy Lynn also noted (I assume...)
Also, if you're going to qualify the type of blade Bunny's carrying, you'd
be better off going more specific than less specific. Narrow it down to "a
very large Bowie Knife," perhaps?
"Hey," Bunny said with a grin. "Moll and I were gonna go down to the creek
and do some fishing, and we thought you might like to come along."
Now's when I point out that there doesn't seem to be anywhere near enough
mangling of the English language going on. I mean, come on...what's the
point of Sailor Redneck if Bunny's not going to bastardize the language
until the British cry? ^_^;
At least it's not Sailor Bajou; otherwise nobody from outside of the bajou
would be able to understand a word she said...although it'd be funny as
hell to see a Sailor team where one half couldn't understand a word the
other half said. I can just see Tuxedo Kamen breaking out in tears when he
realizes that he can't understand a word his Destined Love says. ^_^;;
"It sounds interesting, but I have to unpack, the movers arrived yesterday
evening and the furniture needs to be assembled."
have to unpack, the movers --> have to unpack; the movers
[...or...] --> have to unpack. The movers
"You need some help?"
"Well, I-"
"Great!" Bunny dashed down the stairs and returned with a box of tools.
"Where's the furniture?"
Might want to mention the sound of the pickup truck's door opening and
slamming between running down the stairs and arriving with the
toolbox. Just a thought...
Wordlessly, Amy Lynn pointed at the stack of boxes in a group in the living
room.
"That's furniture?" Molly asked as Bunny opened up one of the boxes.
as Bunny opened up one --> as Bunny tore into one
The way you've painted Bunny as competent but bouncy and overeager, I see
her almost literally tearing the top off to get at the contents. Again,
just a thought...
"Mom likes to buy furniture that can be assembled and disassembled at will,"
Amy Lynn replied.
I keep getting this feeling that Amy's mother has a rather interesting past...
"C'mon," Molly said with a grin. "Let's get to work."
*****************
While neither Amy Lynn or her mother were mechanically inept, Bunny's
affinity with tools was astounding.
affinity with tools --> affinity for tools
In the space of three hours, the blond
had already put together both couches and the large computer desk.
Three pieces of furniture in three hours? Seems like a pretty average rate
to me. I'd cut that in half for an "astounding" affinity for tools.
Even now,
she was humming to herself as she screwed together the bookcase.
Is it "the" bookcase or "a" bookcase? Between Amy's learning fetish and
her mother's medical references, I'd think they'd need more than
one. Personally, I'd punctuate the fact with "[...]screwed together the
first of several bookcases."
in her room, Molly and Amy Lynn were slowly emptying boxes.
in her room, Molly and Amy Lynn were slowly emptying boxes. --> In her
room, Amy Lynn had Molly helping her slowly empty boxes.
The original sentence was very unclear as to who "her" referred to.
"Who's the guy?" Molly asked, studying an eight by ten framed photo.
studying and eight by ten framed photo. --> studying a framed eight by ten
photo.
The original sentence had "eight by ten" referring to the frame...kind of...
Alternately, if you want to help the flow of action:
--> studying a framed eight by ten photo she had just removed from a box.
In it,
her mother and a handsome man with a shock of white hair smiled for the camera
.
In it, her[...]hair smiled for the camera . --> The photo showed
her[...]hair smiling for the camera.
Starting a sentence with "In it," is very weak, and there's an extra space
before the period.
"My dad," Amy Lynn replied, taking the frame from Molly. "He and mom split up
when I was five because he was gay. This is the only picture I have of
him-she doesn't know about this one. Mom destroyed the others and fought like
mad to limit his visitation rights."
The "she" in "she doesn't know about this one" doesn't have anything in to
refer to.
Also, "Mom destroyed the others" and "fought like mad to limit his
visitation rights" don't have a logical thread to link them together in a
single sentence. Finally--and this one's highly subjective--"she doesn't
know about this one" interrupts the flow of the passage, and I can't see a
way to work it in that doesn't cause the pace of the passage to stutter in
my mind. The way I'd rephrase these last two sentences--and take this or
leave this as you will--is:
"This is the only picture I have of him; Mom destroyed all the others. She
fought like mad to limit his visitation rights."
Amy Lynn ran a finger over the image.
"I've seen him only three times in the last ten years and the last time was
almost six years ago."
last ten years and the last --> last ten years; the last
"I'm sorry," Molly said, more out of feeling the need to say something then
anything else.
then anything --> than anything
"Sometimes, I wish things could be different, I love them both, but Mom goes
into hysterics if I so much as mention him."
different, I love --> different. I love
Amy Lynn took the frame and
placed it up on the shelf of her closet and closed the door. "What else is in
that box?"
Maybe have her sigh softly after closing the door or as she closes the
door? Just another thought...
*****************
By one, the trio had finished the unpacking process and placed the furniture
more or less where Amy Lynn thought her mother would want them.
By one --> By one o`clock...
"the unpacking process"? O_o Makes unpacking sound more organized than it
really is.... I'd just replace that phrase with "unpacking", personally.
would want them. --> would want it. ("furniture" is a collective singular)
Mrs. Anderson
was a creature of habit, and the second story apartment was not that
different in terms of layout from their condo back in Saint Paul.
Hmm...you're going to have to find or fake a first name for Amy's mother at
some point. The way you keep avoiding it is starting to become a bit
obtrusive.
[edit] Just saw that it's "Janice" at the bottom of the chapter. Might
want to slip that in right about here to break it up.
Also, "not that different" feels...hmm, not sure how to phrase this.... It
feels like the other half of an argument about how different it
is...(?) Like it's missing a context, and feels a bit distant or sterile
without it.(?) (This is a _very_ vague feeling i'm trying to rationalize,
here.) I think it has something to do with using "not that different from"
where "similar to" would be more apt, in which case:
Mrs. Anderson was a creature of habit, and the layout of the second story
apartment was remarkably similar to that of their condo back in Saint Paul.
"C'mon," Bunny said. "Let's go fishing."
And so, having no way to gracefully refuse, Amy Lynn left a note for her
mother and followed Bunny and Molly down the steps to where a Great Dane sat
beside an old pickup truck. The maker's logo was written across the grille in
dirt-covered chrome and the truck had been repainted several times and had
been dented in various places.
Painted in the primary colors: Primer Red and Primer Gray. ^_^;
You should specify what "the maker" is rather than leave it generic.
Any other redneck-ish details? (deer antler rack bound to the front with
leather thongs? nekkid women on the mudflaps?)
Bunny placed the toolbox into the back and rubbed the dog's head. "This is
Luna," the blonde said to Amy Lynn. "Luna, this is Amy Lynn."
Luna held out her paw, which after a moment, Amy Lynn shook.
"Creepy, aint it?" Molly whispered as Luna clambered up the rear wheel and
into the truck bed. "Sometimes I swear that dog understands everything we
say."
"All aboard," Bunny said as she got in. Molly and Amy Lynn got in on the
other side. Molly in the middle Amy Lynn by the window.
side. Molly in the middle Amy--> side: Molly in the middle, Amy
"You have a driver's license?" Amy Lynn asked.
I'd have Amy looking for the seatbelt right here, as she strikes me as the
type to reach for the belt first thing after getting in the car. E.G.:
"You have a driver's license?" Amy Lynn asked while hunting for the seatbelt.
Bunny grinned cheerfully. "Nope." She worked the shift and zoomed backwards.
Bunny grinned cheerfully. "Nope." She shifted roughly into reverse and
gunned the engine, sending the truck careening backwards and Amy Lynn's
head on a near-collision course with the dashboard.
I've always found "zoom" to be such a wussy word, and Amy's
near-death-experience deserves to be lovingly lavished with detail. ^_^
"No seatbelts, either," she continued, seeing Amy Lynn frantically looking
around.
"No seatbelts, either," she continued, as Amy Lynn scrabbled frantically
for a handhold.
"Pa cut them out. Said we didn't need 'em." Wrenching the wheel, she
swerved the truck onto the road, shifted again and floored the accelerator.
shifted again and floored --> shifted into drive and floored
Now, I'm assuming this is an automatic. If it's a manual, you'll want to
indicate some (probably rough) clutch work.
Bunny's driving skill seemed to be best described as "Pick a direction and
try not to hit anything."
Heh. Better yet, "Pick a direction and try not to hit anything larger than
you."
For fifteen minutes, the truck bounced, the wheels
actually leaving the surface of the Earth several times as Bunny steered it
over the grassy fields at speeds better suited for high-speed aircraft before
finally coming to a screeching halt at the top of a small hill.
Recommendation: have fun with this scene. Give it a good paragraph or
two. Spinning tires, losing traction, bottoming out the suspension. Have
Amy find religion...or at least wish she had a religion to find. Just run
with it. ^_^;
A narrow path
led down to a clearing by a bubbling creek.
"We're here!" Bunny said and turned to look at her passengers.
Molly looked slightly queasy but Amy Lynn was sitting stiffly, her face white
as a sheet and an expression of sheer terror on her face. Her hands were
white knuckled as they held onto the edge of the seat in a death grip.
The seat typically doesn't provide a very good handhold. The suicide
handle above the door, however, is just dandy.
"Amy Lynn?" Molly asked, touching her arm. With a shriek, Amy Lynn jumped,
slamming her head into the roof and then grabbing it in pain.
grabbing --> clutching
"Where...the hell...did you learn to drive?" Amy Lynn said between clenched
teeth as she gripped her head as though if she didn't, it would open like a
suitcase.
Meh. Limp metaphor.
"Pa taught me. 'Course, I don't drive recklessly like he does."
Amy Lynn let out a whimper.
*****************
"Feeling better?" Molly asked as she took the canteen from Amy Lynn."
Sure that isn't a hip flask? A little of Grandpa's Cough Medicine works
wonders for nerves. ^_^
"Yes," Amy Lynn replied as she leaned against the side of the truck. The two
girls were sitting side by side on the ground. "I'm glad you had you had
those headache pills with you."
"Oh, I carry them everywhere," Molly replied. "Especially when I go fishing
with her. Bunny's a good person, but she tends to be a tad oblivious.
fishing with her. Bunny's a --> fishing with Bunny. She's a
Still,
you won't find a better friend anywhere."
"How can she drive like that?"
"Around here, you learn to drive as soon as your feet can reach the pedals,"
Molly replied with a shrug. "Personally, I prefer to stick with my dirt bike.
Think you can stand?"
"Yes," Amy Lynn replied as she stood on shaky legs.
"Hey, guys!" Bunny called. "I found some worms, we got bait!"
"Don't worry," Molly said. "You get used to her driving eventually." Together
they walked over to where Bunny was waiting.
*****************
Molly proved to be correct and as the days became weeks, Bunny constant
dropping by to spend time with her new friend eventually allowed Amy Lynn to
get used to her haphazard driving.
Ouch. Needs to be broken up into...about three sentences. Maybe two if
you use a semicolon in one.
Many times, the trip was short, and the
two girls spent time in the general store, listening to the town's old men
argue and swap stories as they sat on front porch.
The phrase "the trip was short" is a bit superfluous, and doesn't succeed
in transitioning from the previous sentence (which is what I assume its
purpose was). Cull it, fix the previous sentence, and I think the
transition will take care of itself.
She even got to meet
Rayelene Hino, daughter of the county judge, who lived with her grandfather,
who was the preacher at the local church.
Insert paragraph break here, I think, and remove the break after the next
sentence.
He was a tiny man, scarcely over
five feet tall, but he had a boisterous laugh, and you couldn't help but like
him.
He was a tiny --> Rayelene's grandfather was a tiny
This is the paragraph break to remove -->
Rayelene, on the other hand, was intense as a tightly coiled spring, which
tended to set teeth on edge, especially Bunny's.
"Intense as a tightly coiled spring" kind of smacks of a mixed simile; the
"tightly coiled spring" is typically used to denote tension, not
intensity. I'd recommend using something fire-related to play off of her
Sailor identity's powers. Maybe something like, "intense as a blowtorch"?
I suddenly get this vision of Rayelene as an evangelical Christian. It
would certainly be a great source of antagonism for Amy. It would probably
also be interesting to see happens when Rayelene findes out about the
history of the Silver Millenium, and how it would completely hash any
literal interpretation of the Old Testament. Would she have a major crisis
of faith, reject her Sailor heritage, or decide that Serenity was the God
of old? For that matter, the whole "Sailor Moon as the second coming of
the Messiah" would be a very interesting turn. Would the new Holy Trinity
be Mother/Daughter/Silver Crystal or somesuch?
According to Molly, the two
despised each other with an almost unholy passion and whenever they were
together, you could cut the tension with a knife.
passion and whenever they were together, you --> passion, and whenever they
were together you
Current odds, according to Andrew, the tall blond boy she had seen sweeping
the store's walk were three to one that Raylene and Bunny would come to blows
by Christmas and five to one that Bunny would use her knife.
Current odds, according to Andrew, the tall blond boy she had seen sweeping
the store's walk were --> According to Andrew, the tall boy Amy Lynn had
seen sweeping the general store's walk, current odds were
Even with the grammar fixed, that sentence is awfully long. Maybe shorten
or remove the description of Andrew?
There were also rumors of a blond haired woman who roamed the woods near the
lake whenever the moon was in the night sky accompanied by a black-haired
wolf, searching for something.
This sentence is very, very out of place. It just kind of flew in out of
left field, and doesn't really link to anything. You need to either
transition to it gracefully, move it somewhere where it fits naturally, or
ditch it. It needs to be split up into two sentences or heavily rearranged
in any case.
--> ************** (should probably be a new section break here)
Soon, school started and Juuban Hollow's forty-five or so children, ranging
in age from six to seventeen gathered in the school house, a dilapidated
structure on a hill west of town.
"Soon" is a bit too generic of a temporal marker. Use something a bit more
specific. (an event; a length of time; an unknown length of time with
known units ["some weeks later,"])
six to seventeen gathered --> six to seventeen, gathered
It was a single room and ran by Miss
Haruna, a tall, imposing woman who's manner was almost as intense as Rayelene.
--> Its single room was run by Miss Haruna, a tall, imposing woman whose
manner was almost as intense as Rayelene's.
After Amy Lynn, plus two new students, Mina, who's blond hair was tied with a
red ribbon, and Lita, a tall brunette who looked as though she could lift the
school off it's foundation had been introduced, Miss Haruna got down to
business.
Very awkward. "Plus" is not a valid replacement for "and." Also,
describing Mina solely by her hair color is not going to do you any
favors. Alternate phrasing:
Miss Haruna introduced Amy Lynn and two other new students: Mina, a comely
girl who tied her blond back with a large red ribbon; and Lita, a tall
brunette whose muscular frame looked as though it could lift the school off
its very foundations. She then proceeded to get down to business.
The chronology of the Sailors' arrival is way off. Kind of
unsettling. Maybe, rather than having Mina coming back from England, you
should have her coming from Mexico. Preserve that "southern feel."
"The state says that this year, those of you who are aged fourteen through
seventeen have to study the life cycle of plants and animals. The folks over
at Black Mountain Plantation have agreed to let us use their facilities as
part of this. So, in two weeks class will meet two days a week at Black
Mountain where you will tend and care for a small herd of sheep, twenty four
head of cattle, and a small, one acre field of various plants, including
cotton. At the end of the school year, I expect each of you to tell the class
what you learned." A few groans and complaints were heard throughout the
room. "I know most of you have spent your lives raising plants and animals
which is why I expect A's all around as you will help the others with what
you know. Any questions? No? Good. Open your math book and turn to page
fifty-one."
Oh yes. Amy Lynn is most definitely in her personal Hell. ^_^;
*****************
Black Mountain Plantation was a huge estate that covered most of the county
east of Juuban Hollow. The main house, was in fact the mansion Amy Lynn had
seen when she and her mother first arrived in town.
The main house, was in fact the mansion --> The plantation house was, in
fact, the mansion
The owner, Ms Ande, was a
recluse and her four managers did most of the work.
--> The plantation was owned by a rather reclusive woman by the name of Ms.
Ande, who had four managers who oversaw most of the work.
I'm not sure how you get from "Ms. Ande" to either Beryl or
Metallia. Maybe I'm missing something, or maybe she's just the only one
smart enough not to base her pseudonym on her real name.
Amy Lynn sighed and pulled on her work gloves. She was wearing one of Bunny's
work shirts, old jeans and a pair of work boots with paper in the toes to
make them fit.
Are they work gloves borrowed from Bunny, or are they new, clean,
never-used gloves which just scream, "never seen real work before"?
The students, about twelve or so in all trudged along the dirt path towards a
small area with green sprouts dotting the brown path.
in all trudged --> in all, trudged
What kind of area? Round? Square? Rectangular? Has it been plowed into
furrows or grades smooth?
At one edge, Ms Haruna
stood with a man dressed in a white, buttoned down shirt, and tan slacks. His
white hair was tied back in a ponytail and his smile was friendly.
--> He wore his white hair tied back in a ponytail and affected a friendly
smile.
"Class I want you to meet Michael White. He's-" she broke off as Amy Lynn
gasped.
I don't think the gasp would cut Haruna off, if she's as intense as you
say. That's not a problem though, as I think this Amy would have no issues
blurting out "Dad?" over her teacher.
"Dad?"
*****************
Father and daughter stood at the edge of the field that Black Mountain had
loaned to the students, watching them move through the rows as plantation
employees described each of the plants and how to care for them. One or two
of the workers made Amy Lynn nervous in the way they moved, like they were
shells wrapped around something.
And I'm suddenly put in mind of the first Men In Black movie: they're
wearing Edgar-suits. ^_^
"Amy Lynn...I'm sorry, if I had known you were coming to Juuban Hollow, I
would've called, come by...done...something."
"It's okay, Dad. Mom wouldn't have come if she knew you were here. We got to
see each other again. That's what's important, right?"
Michael smiled. "Right. How are things?"
"Good. Great, actually.
"Great, actually."? Considering how much she loves knowledge and how she's
just been downgraded from abstract physics to raising cattle in school, I'd
think she'd limit her enthusiasm to "good." A rather hesitant "good," at that.
I've made a few friends and Juuban Hollow is very
different from Saint Paul.
Heh. "Very different," indeed.
I just wish it wasn't so hot." She stared out at
the field. "Why does Mom hate you so much?"
"Because she doesn't understand. Your Mother has a very simple view of
things. I think it's because she was raised here in Juuban Hollow.
Homosexuality is a strange word to these people. Some have probably never
even heard of it."
"But Mom's a scientist. A doctor. She's supposed to view everyone equally."
Michael laughed softly. "Your Mother has never been one to let her predjuices
and opinions get in the way of doing her job. I remember when you were about
three, a few years before I discovered...what I was. I took you and a picnic
lunch down to the Emergency Room where she was on duty. As she was getting
ready to go off duty, the doors opened and an ambulance crew rushed in
bearing Leslie McDaniels. the president of the local chapter of the Gay and
Lesbian support group and bleeding to death. Janice knew who she was, of
course, and dropped everything to tend to her. Without your Mother's skill,
she would have died right there in the lobby of the ER. That's when you
turned to me and said 'Daddy, I want to be a doctor when I grow up.'"
"I don't remember that," Amy Lynn said softly. "All I remember is the
fighting and then you left."
"I know," Michael said he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I'd give
anything to change that, but I can't."
Michael said he wrapped --> Michael said as he wrapped
Another man dressed almost identical to Michael walked up to them.
--> Another man, dressed in a fashion almost identical to Michael, walked
up to the pair.
He had
short, curly blond hair and the coldest eyes Amy Lynn had ever seen.
His short, curly blond hair rested in a mop above the coldest eyes Amy Lynn
had ever seen.
"This is
Jeddadiah Cite," Michael said. "Jed, this my Daughter, Amy Lynn."
*Groan* Jed's got all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the crotch, I see.
"A pleasure," Jeddadiah said perfunctorily. His handshake was very stiff.
"Her teacher, while pleased that she has been reunited with her father, would
like it if she would begin her project."
"Of course." Michael gave his daughter a hug. "I'll drive you home tonight,
and talk to your mother. Maybe we can work something out."
"I'd like that." Amy Lynn said softly and walked back towards her friends.
"You're fooling yourself," Jeddadiah said. "Once we find Empreya, the Queen
will slaughter her and the rest of the humans like pigs. You really think you
can save her?"
"Shut up, Jeddite," Malachite snarled.
Excellent twist there. I like.
*************
Steve "Komodo" T.
***
Today's Fortune Cookie: (Or: Helping People Out)
*grabs a shotgun* Live free or die!
...
*pumps the shotgun* I said "Live free or die"!
...
*takes aim* I don't think you're living free enough!
-The Fool, Avalon Forum
www.avalonhigh.com
--MFeltmate
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