Category: Angst, Drama, Humour
Rating: Gen
11th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to A Difference of Visions

Introduction: Avon and Vila discuss Blake and GP, Jenna advances her plans and Kirsten makes a wonderful discovery.

Another sense exercise. This time trying to weave it in more seamlessly.

( A New Discovery )

Category: Drama
Rating: PG
11th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to A Difference of Visions

Introduction: So it begins, or is that, ends? Avon runs into someone who wants him dead.

Note: This is the last story of B7: Perceptions. It deals with Blake and the events surrounding Gauda Prime.

Note 2: The only things that make me feel better at the moment are talking with friends and writing so here is the first chapter.

I am fast coming to the conclusion that wealth is the only reality for this poor excuse of a species called humanity. Who cares if the decisions make sense or not. As long as it pads the pockets of those too rich to care about the rest of us.

To think that I, very briefly (extremely briefly), thought that they might for once be thinking about anything other than themselves. Isn't that what people do in tough economic times? Silly notions of pulling together for the greater good. I should have known it was too good to be true. A dream of fools who still believe that there are such things as honest people. Experience should have told me that it wasn't possible. If you don't take care of yourself, other people will use you to take care of themselves.

My greatest dream is to find a world with no people.

What started this cheerful train of thought?

Touch economic times require everyone to make sacrifices. So the edict went out. Wage cuts for everyone, from the highest executive to the lowest garbage eater, on a sliding scale, with the greatest percentage being deducted from highest wage earners.

Sounds equitable, if not much of a hardship for those who make 1.5 million a year. They might take one less vacation a year. But percentage-wise, we are all hit.

Unfortunately, I do not accept things at face value. I've been burned too many times. A little digging revealed that the percentage cuts don't touch the bonuses of the executives. Any guesses as to the amount of the bonuses? 10%? 20%? 30%? Try several thousand percent.

Inspiring, isn't it?

And one other little fact that they proudly announced in the first quarter results of this year, not only are they not losing money, they have made over one billion in profit, in the first quarter!

Current Mood: angry

I have now become a nameless statistic so I'm depressed and angry. It's not as if this #%@$ company isn't still making billions in net profit this year. Just less profit. So first they cut all our salaries last quarter and now...

Expect some very snippy Avon journal postings.

( Here's something funny for a Friday )

Category: Drama
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: The aftermath of the Three Challenges. The crew heads to their next mission and Avon has a few things to say.

Author's Note: This concludes the three-part story surrounding the Chandar Alliance and the Tellar Union. Jenna's journey had more of a spotlight in order to set up for the final story of Perceptions. Perceptions of Truth finally deals with Blake and what happened on GP. The Sester material with the Guild is set up for the next series to follow this one, tentatively titled, From the Ends to the Beginning.

Thanks everyone for all your support. For all the people who've contributed and made comments, either here, on email or chat, it's been greatly appreciated. Special thanks to jaxomsride for the invaluable help and for being a wonderful sounding board and quick-beta. The scene you contributed was wonderful.

EDIT: Due to timing problems with the next story, I have had to adjust the Sester scene.

Category: Drama, Humour
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: After the heavy action, drama and angst of the last few chapters, finally one that is mainly light.

EDIT: A small part added to the beginning to set the stage for the following scenes. Marked in blue.

Category: Drama, Angst
Rating: PG (warning for mild torture)
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: Avon discusses the future. Sester and the Master.

Category: Drama, Angst
Rating: PG (warning for mild torture)
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: Jenna's journey reaches a crisis point. The women receive their just rewards. Sester and the accidents of fate.

Author's Note: Thanks to jaxomsride for the quick beta. And to reapermum for the comment that inspired part of Senator's Jernis's speech.

Category: Action, Drama, Angst
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: When the time comes...

Author's Note: Made a small adjustment to the dialogue. Marked in blue.

Have you driven along on the highway, and suddenly realize that you don't remember the last 15 minutes? But fortunately, some part of you must have been aware or you would be in a ditch somewhere, or worse, and not still driving. Then you get very nervous because...what if something had happened and needed you to react quickly but not all of you was there? So you drive the rest of the way being hypersensitive about noticing everything?

Category: Drama
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: The master. The Challenge. And Macbeth?

Author's Note: Thanks to jaxomsride for the valuable help.

Category: Drama, Humour
Rating: Teen bordering on Adult
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: Sester and Kirsten have another explosive encounter. The Guild. Vila teaches Corinne the finer points of pick-pocketing. Cally tries to get Avon to read poetry.

Author's Note: Thanks to jaxomsride for the valuable help with the Sester/Kirsten scene.

Category: Angst, Drama
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: Avon and Cally have another moment together. Reya confronts Kirsten about a certain psychostrategist.

Category: Drama
Rating: Teen, bordering on Adult
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: Jenna meets with Rane. Sester has another encounter with Kirsten.

Author's Note: A big thanks to jaxomsride who contributed the great Sester/Kirsten scene.

Category: Drama
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: Avon takes care of Cally. Schemers at work.

Category: Angst
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: Avon and Cally find each other. Vila wakes up after being stunned.

Author's Note: Thanks tojaxomsride and vilakins for suggestions for the Vila bit during the sense exercise.

Another attempt at a sense exercise. This time using a scene from a current story and trying to incorporate different sense impressions. At final count, I only managed to incorporate 3.

( Vila wakes up after being hit by a stun grenade )

Category: Angst
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: Avon reaches several important realizations about himself and the people around him. The Second Challenge, from the other side.

Category: Action, Drama
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: Avon receives a shock as Cally, Vila and Corinne crash the alien meeting. The Chandaran women show what they're made of.

Category: Drama
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: The Second Challenge continues. The team goes down to spy on some aliens.

Category: Drama
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: The Second Challenge begins. Avon has some important information.

Another sense writing exercise. Taken from many writing sites. Use a familiar place and describe it using my five senses. As I write, I can see clearly which senses barely impact my conscious thoughts.

( Five Senses Exercise )

Category: Drama
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: Sester and Kirsten butt heads again. Vila looks forward to another boring night shift on the flight deck. Fortunately(?), Avon is also there.

Author's Note: After a long interval, I'm finally getting back to writing this story. To make it more fun for myself, I concentrated on two scenes that are easier for me to write. I did try to work on details; a bit with the Sester and Kirsten scene and especially with the beginning Vila part, at least until the dialogue took over and squeezed the description part. Not sure how successful it was or if it adds anything to it. For those of you reading this story, do let me know if it makes it come across flat =) Thanks.

This is a 'show' verses 'tell'/5 senses exercise that was inspired by my research into the craft of writing. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and the suggestions on my previous writing post.

This describes my experiences the first day I arrived in India. It is a deliberately non-B7 piece so please read at your own risk and keep in mind that this is an exploratory exercise. If you feel inclined, any critique or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

( Stepping from One World into Another )

( Important Nutritional Information that you want to hear )

I'm currently in a state of depression in terms of writing. That's why I haven't posted much lately. It isn't from lack of ideas or inspiration. I already have the plot of my current story and I know the scenes that need to be written. My fingers are still busy typing out words but I'm not satisfied with anything that I've written. Everything seems flat.

How did I get to this point? I spent time researching the craft of writing, trying to get some pointers and ideas in order to grow and improve. But the only thing that seems to have done is cause me to see all the flaws in my writing and makes me wonder why anyone would read it =P

If I go back to writing the way I do normally, its fine and the words come easily again. But try to focus on different ideas, such as trying to 'show' more than 'tell' and everything grinds out to a boring halt. Grrr. I'm sure that this will eventually get sorted out but at the moment, I'm in a funk.

( Course Catalogue )

I was doing some research on the craft of writing and found this amusing list.

Category: Drama
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: Jenna has more dreams about Blake after Star One. Avon, Cally and the convenient acronym. Vila tries to get to know the soldiers.

Author's Note: Thanks to entropy_house for the inventive acronym.

A meme seen in several places:

Name your 15 favourite couples (het/slash/friendship) and ask people to see what trends they notice. Try to pick different fandoms.

 1. Avon and Cally
 2. Avon and Vila
 3. Avon and Servalan
 4. Avon and Anna
 5. Sapphire and Steel
 6. Sapphire and Silver
 7. Jarod and Sydney
 8. Jarod and Ms. Parker
 9. Crews and Reese (Life)
10. Crews and Ted
11. Grissom and Catherine
12. Catherine and Warrick
13. Grissom and Lady Heather
14. Grissom and Sophia
15. Mal and Inara

Category: Drama
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: Jenna has more dreams about Blake. Sester has run-ins with two beautiful women.

Author's Note: Thanks to jaxomsride for the quick beta =)

Category: Drama
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: A sad ceremony. Some more decisions are made. The four women have a discussion. Sester has another encounter with Kirsten.

Category: Drama
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: The aftermath of the mission and the First Challenge. The crew think about a fallen comrade. Avon has thoughts about Blake.

Author's Note: After the heavy action of the previous chapter, this one was supposed to be a funny one. But one of the characters had other ideas and refused to cooperate. The result, an angsty chapter instead of a funny one.

It's very disconcerting when your fictional characters begin to lecture you. The disturbing thing is that, he was absolutely right. Lesson, don't try to explain the concept of 'red shirts' to a character who actually cares what happens to people.

Dialogue with Characters addendum added at the end.

Category: Drama
Rating: Gen
10th Story of Perceptions
Sequel to Mysteries and Discoveries

Introduction: The results of the First Challenge. The crew discovers the alien plot and race to stop it.

Spent my entire day in a battery of useless meetings, which is nothing new since our idiot manager fearless leader is the one who called the meetings. I didn't get one single useful thing done but our moronic wise manager expects no decrease in productivity. There goes my weekend. I suppose eating and sleeping is also out.

Am I the only one who possesses a brain in this entire department? My not too reluctant conclusion must be, yes.

I just sat through an hour long meeting this week where the final decision was that we wouldn’t do anything.

To make matters worse, this wasn’t the first meeting on the topic. We had already wasted an hour and a half listening to everyone talk about the same nothing the week before and coming to the exact same conclusion. The room was packed, it’s crazy to think how much time and resources was wasted for those two pointless meetings.

What is even sadder is that I seem to be the only person who saw how ridiculous the situation was. No one else seemed to mind that we’d wasted all that time discussing something that was a foregone conclusion.

The following is a question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid term.

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle’s Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.

One student, however, wrote the following:

( Read more... )