Rain's New Year's Eve Dilemma

Look at me. All dolled up, and no one to see!

If only I had someone to share a midnight kiss with...

Wait, what's this? A snow demon coming to make a deal with me? Shall I get the salt?

No! I'm here to give you a gift for New Year's-no souls needed. You can choose from any of your four favorite guys to share a kiss with. 

But who to choose?

Orlando Bloom, the love of my seventh grade life?

Or Ramin Karimloo, whose voice I married?

Maybe Chuggaaconroy, with his sense of humor and genuinity?

Or maybe Benedict Cumberbatch...why not?

Oh no! Time is running out!

Wait, I know! All of them at once!

Happy 2014!

I'm officially insane!

(In case you're wondering...Benny on the screen, the Pikmin represents Chuggaa, Link is our Legolas, and I'm listening to Ramin.)

But regardless, Happy New Year! This is dedicated to my boyfriend, despite him not being involved in this...no, I just snapchatted him pictures of the process. I worked for a long time on this. So enjoy it.

-Rain

A Study in Drabbles

Have you heard of drabbles?

Well, I have. I'm still not 100% sure of what they are, but I have an idea. It seems like you're supposed to write something in 100 words. As someone who is used to writing lots and lots, I figured this would be an interesting challenge.

Here are several drabbles I have attempted. Exactly 100 words, each and every one of them (not including the title, of course). There's also a gif to go along with them, so...enjoy!

A Looming Shadow
Brook clung onto her father's leg as if it were the only thing keeping her safe. She kept on repeating about how the darkness was going to get her, how she was afraid. The only logical explanation, in the Doctor's opinion, was that there were Vashta Nerada scattered in the shadows of his daughter's home. But as he began to work on helping her through this, he came to a realization. The girl was afraid of the creatures who would one day end her life. The shadows were coming for her, just not in the way she had been anticipating.

(Oh yes, that's totally a gif of a terrified little girl. But her hair is perfect. And she's got that Song Sass.)

So the first one I wrote I already had an idea for. This had been floating around in my mind for a while, and I wanted to turn it into a full one-shot...but whatever. I could imagine Brook as a young girl being afraid of the dark. Then I realized that this fear could be from Vashta Nerada. Then I remembered how Brook died. And then it all came together. Beautiful. 

The Invisible Man
Sherlock flipped the pen around in his hand as the clacking of John's laptop interrupted the perfect silence of 221B. He glanced over to his flatmate, wondering what case he was typing up this time around. But as he stared, he couldn't find the words to speak up and ask. He just continued to stare and stare, wondering what was going on. This was so very unlike him. But John didn't seem to notice him in the slightest. He couldn't blame him. But Sherlock felt as if he were invisible. The one person he wanted to see him most couldn't.

(I know this isn't in 221B or blogging or anything but you know, it's got John just not paying attention.)

Oh look, Johnlock. Ish. It's not as Johnlock as most things I've seen, but I do think it has that. It's rather melancholy. I mean, think about it. John's just sitting tip-tapping away at his blog and Sherlock just stares. He doesn't get noticed for once in his life. He's used to being the center of attention as long as he wanted to be. 

Fate of the Galadhrim

The Elf girl felt the wind whistle past her ears as she stood in the middle of the forest. Sauron was threatening darkness for the entirety of Middle-earth, even for her beloved Lothlorien. But she knew that the light of her forest could never fully be extinguished. Lady Galadriel would never allow such a thing to happen. She had overheard the conversations of the Ring and its unfathomable power, and she had hope that those carrying it to Mordor could follow through. Nevertheless, there was a sliver of doubt in her heart. Valinor was waiting for her in the west.

I guess this is inspired by the Elf girl that I have a story planned out for. Alfirineth is her name. It's just a little moment where she tries to think about what might happen in the future for her and her people. It's pretty similar to what most Elves would have been going through during the events of Lord of the Rings, I believe. 

Calm Seas

Link was sleeping again. He was known for sleeping, and even more for not being able to wake up. But he was no longer in his bed back on Outset Island. No, he was sleeping on a boat. The King of Red Lions had provided him a place to lay his head. The gentle tossing of the waves lulled him to sleep now. At first it had made him feel sick, but now it was extremely comforting. Refreshed, Link was now fully prepared for another day of adventure. The Triforce was out there, and he was going to get it.

I honestly don't know where this one came from. But it is based off of Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, in case you're wondering about that. I could just imagine little Link laying down in his boat and closing his eyes just to rest. The ocean would cradle him and rock him along as he slept. Kind of really adorable. 

Isolation

Alone in her palace of ice, Elsa turned to face the wall. She had abandoned Arendelle and her sister along with it. She had never felt more free in her entire life. Yet, at the same time, she felt she might have done wrong by leaving it all behind. She shook her head, allowing her nearly snow white braid fling over her shoulder. She had left it behind for a reason, and she no longer had anything to live up to. No, she was queen of the ice and snow. Nothing else had to matter as long as she stayed. 

Frozen is amazing. So I wrote about it. I think that I can pull this off. Like she pulls off her glove. Sorry. I'm just all for puns lately. I blame Chuggaaconroy. Check out the pun involved in the title as well. But in all seriousness, I think Elsa is just amazing. I can really relate to her on a personal level in so many ways. I decided to portray some of that.

Did you enjoy...?

-Rain

Broadway Baby: My Top Ten Favorite Musicals

Anyone who knows me on Wattpad knows that I'm obsessed with musicals.

Anyone who knows me in real life knows that I'm obsessed with musicals.

But now I'm going to go a bit more in depth with this idea. Here is my top ten favorite musicals and the "awards" I would give to them if I had the chance.

(Oh, and the sarcastic remarks written in italics like this are my inner thoughts in response to what I've just written. Yep.)

10. Wicked 

Oh, who hasn't heard of Wicked? I'd compare it to a gateway drug, except for instead of a crippling addiction to a harmful substance you find yourself hooked on this little thing called musical theatre. This musical came around to me just as I was getting interested in musicals. 

Let's just say that I fell head over heels in love with it. But as I matured I found that there were musicals that I simply like more. I still hold a deep love for Wicked, it's true. Just because everyone's seen it and a lot of non-musical theatre people still enjoy it doesn't make it a bad thing. In fact, I think it proves just how much of a gem this show is.

Best Message

Almost without a doubt, I'd have to say that this is the musical I know of with the best message. It may have come from a rather adult book, but now it is something that is shown to people of all ages. It works because the message works for everyone young and old. This entire show is about learning to be yourself and friendship being one of the most powerful forces out there. 

Compared to some of the other blockbuster musicals like Grease, that's definitely something that you would want to listen to. Everyone will find a way to relate to either Elphaba or Galinda...or maybe even both! I think that's why it's got such appeal to everyone.

9. Sound of Music 

The hills are alive, it is true! Again, this is one of those musicals that everyone's seen. Of course, there's also the matter of everyone having seen it in their childhood. I associate this musical more with being the first one I performed in. I was a nun. But then I was hit by the performing bug. I owe that to this musical and its uncanny ability to draw all sorts of people in.

There's a real magic when it comes around to it, I swear. I can't listen to anything from this without feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. It's the Christmas of musicals. That makes no sense, but you know what I mean...right? Yeah.

Most Nostalgic

If I were to explain my feelings for Sound of Music in a single word, it would be nostalgic. Everyone's seen it as a child. It was my first musical. It is just filled with memories and a magic for me that no other musical will ever be able to match simply because they will never be able to take that spot in my heart.
I haven't watched the actual musical for a very long time, but I was just listening to Climb Every Mountain and starting to get misty eyes. The song is moving enough on its own, so when you add in that nostalgia, it's just a mess of tears for me.

8. Guys and Dolls 
Crap shooters. I had no clue what that was until I stepped into the auditorium at a local school to watch a performance of this musical. And then I fell in love with these gamblers and their accents. Who decided that a musical about gamblers and missionaries was a good idea? I dunno, but it was a book of sorts first, so yeah. You'll notice that's a real trend. Yep. Lots of books. 
But seriously, this musical is just a big old bundle of fun. It's got several love stories all weaved together with comedy and of course, music. It's got that old-fashioned charm to it, making it the perfect thing to listen to on a weekend and just dance along. Then put on an accent and sing about mink and pearls and guys and dolls. And dice. Gambling. It's a whole 'nother world that I love.

Best Characters
This entire show is very larger than life, and it makes it oh-so-charming. Each individual character (at least in my opinion) has their own special quirks that make them really stick out.  You learn to love Nathan Detriot and his bride-to-be (for fourteen years) Adelaide. You start to ship Sky Masterson and Sarah Brown. And then of course, there's my personal favorite-Nicely Nicely Johnson. Oh my goodness, I would totally be him in a genderbend cast.
I've always wanted to be in a production of this just so I could see how these characters are interpreted by others, but since my school already did it a few years ago that doesn't look likely. Oh well. Still love it so much.

7. Les Miserables
This was one of the blockbuster winter movies of 2012. If I didn't include it in this list, people would probably think I was some sort of prententious theatre goer/hipster. The thing is, this show is damn popular and for good reason. The music is absolutely stunning, and when performed well will end up giving me goosebumps every time.
I still prefer stage performers rather than the movie version with their exaggerated emotion being carried out through the songs rather than extreme close ups, but many of the singers in the movie did rather well. Also Hadley Fraser. He was the best in the movie and you probably don't know who he is. The original musical was completely sung through-not a moment of spoken word. And I freaking love that.
But without a stunning story this could have never been. I've read Victor Hugo's book, and that just added another layer onto everything. 

Most Moving
Well, yeah. Maybe the musical titled "The Miserable" would be moving. Who would have thought? You can't watch this musical without getting at least a little teary eyed. Face it, there's got to be some part of at least some character that you connect to. When they suffer, it makes your heart pang. For me, Fantine and I Dreamed A Dream just really speaks to me.
But there's just so many tear-worthy moments in this musical. No spoilers, but the ending always makes me spin around in circles of feels. Because that's a thing that happens to people like me when I watch musicals. There never really feels to be a break in the pain and suffering...in a way.  That's a good thing.

6. Spring Awakening
For a musical with a plot I don't really care for, this is very high on my list. Well, the plot has grown on me. I've gotten to see the emotional part of it moreso than the sexual part...even though the sexual part is still a big part of it.
Well, in case it wasn't obvious by that introduction, this is probably the most innappropriate musical on this list. It's all about teenagers in Germany and a lot of it has to do with finding sexuality and getting used to it. There's all sorts of stuff with puberty and coming of age, and a lot of it is very gruff. (Or should I say Groff...like Jonathan Groff? He was in the original cast.) Okay, I'm sorry for my horrible puns.
But because of the subject matter, this can be a very thoughtprovoking show for young people. I mean, a nearby theatre group did it and of course used teenagers. Apparently they would sit down and talk about the subject matter of the show, about what it all meant. All in all, it does have a fairly good message...in a way.

Best Music

With how iffy I am on the plot, it wouldn't have made sense for this musical to make it so far on the list without having such fantastic music. Seriously, this is the kind of stuff I listen to when I'm not listening to musicals. It's my kind of music. It is my kind of music, through and through. One of my new most favorite songs has come from this musical. It's hauntingly beautiful, giving me chills every time I listen to it.
Don't just take my word for it, though. Go ahead and listen to the song I posted above.

5. Bonnie and Clyde
This was only on Broadway for four weeks. And it deserved so much more. The critics just weren't kind to this show. But the fans? The fans loved it. One of the people I know and trust on Broadway terms most (because that's a thing that I do) names this as her favorite musical. Honestly, I can see why. There's just so much atmosphere in this musical and it draws you in.
You start out with Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow from the very beginning and follow them to the very end. You'll laugh and cry, and all of it is linked together by awesome music. It's become a bit of a cult musical-there's a bootleg on YouTube and the Internet has fallen for Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan's interpretations of the crime committing couple. 

Catchiest Songs
Musicals get songs stuck in my head for a little while. It sticks there and then falls away. Unless, of course, the songs are from Bonnie and Clyde. I swear, there are some songs from this that play out in my head for days on end. Days! They're all amazing and when they hijack my mind I don't really mind. Made in America just makes me stomp around like an idiot because it's always playing out in my mind. And then This World Will Remember Us? I may or may not have a parody version that I made that's related to my high school musical. 

4. The Light in the Piazza 
This is what I like to call the cutest musical I know. It's also got a whole lot of heart. In essence, this is a story about growing up and learning to accept this maturing. A girl named Clara and her mother go to Italy on vacation. Clara has the mind of a twelve year old, despite being in her twenties. But soon she finds herself falling in love with an Italian boy...and this does not end up going very smoothly.
But then you get a breathtaking musical with beauty lying wherever you might glance. Oh my goodness, I fell in love with this very quickly. I had watched an old movie version of it before I realized that the musical didn't come out until the 2000's. I bought the music already knowing the plot and just fell head over heels for it. Oh my goodness. Just listen to it. 

Most Atmospheric
This is a collection of music that always makes me feel like I'm somewhere else, living out a fantasy in some other part of the world. I found it was extremely fitting to listen to as I traveled on a train from London to Paris. I listened to one song pretty much the whole time and learned the lyrics to it from there...no regrets.
But with musical interludes that make my breath catch in my throat and vocal performances that make me want to sob while listening to its beauty, I can't help but be consumed so fully and utterly every time I listen to The Light in the Piazza. I can close my eyes and imagine that I'm standing in the middle of a square with a soft sun shining down on me...or perhaps that I'm standing in the middle of a stage with a harsh light glaring down on me. I'd gladly do both, you know.

3. Phantom of the Opera 
You're not surprised this is on here. If anything, you're surprised that it isn't higher on the list. I'm making an entire novel based off of it, for crying out loud. I like to call this Beauty and the Beast but a bit more grown up and with more murder. And more opera. And more Victorian Era. They are both France, though. I think so many already know the plot of this that I'll just leave it up in the air and not really explain it.
Instead I'll just say that it's my dream to play Christine Daae. Heck, I dressed up as her for Halloween. I spent hours working on how to do her curls in my thin hair. I very nearly succeeded, too. Shame no one really got to see it. But I was still very proud of myself. Now I'm just wroking on getting that singing voice up to par. I say that as I'm known as the opera singer in my chorus class. Of eighty. 

Most Absorbing
There is not a musical out there which has managed to ensnare my mind the way Phantom of the Opera has. It's like the Phantom himself has invaded my thoughts to make me obsessed. Not only is it aesthetically beautiful-I mean, just look at the set and costumes-but the music and story is just so pleasing and amazing to me. It's not just the ALW version, either, although it's my favorite. I've seen (and heard) many different versions of Phantom, including the original book. I just can't get enough of it, and neither can many others. It's not surprising this is so very popular.

2. Sweeney Todd
Seriously. When I first heard of this, all I could think was "It's a musical about Mrs. Pott making pies out of people!" Which is true, by the way. Angela Lansbury portrayed Mrs. Lovett, who makes the worst pies in London...until she starts using human meat. But of course, the real story is about Sweeney Todd, a barber who kills his customers. The story goes much deeper than that...but that's not the point.
The music of this is nearly operatic, so a good performance of it will just send me flying. I love it so much, it's strange. I'll go around singing about my friends (silver blades, of course) and of green finches and linnet birds just because I feel like it. It's all very dark and rather Halloween-like, like a cross between Phantom of the Opera and...something Tim Burton. I suppose. Maybe even the Tim Burton movie of this very musical. Wow.

Best Plot

But Rain, you say, Sweeney Todd was a story that existed far before this musical ever came out! The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, of course! Well, yes. That is true. But it wasn't the same exact story that was put in this musical. Hugh Wheeler wrote the book for the musical and did a stunning job.
Of course, the music used to tell this story just wraps it all up and puts a big shiny bow on top. I mean, much of this story is told in song. Wow, imagine that. A musical with a story told through song. The plot went from a fairly macabre but single layered story about a killing barber to a deep story with an antihero. He had a motivation, so you found yourself halfway rooting for the murderer and his piemaker. And then sobbing madly at the end. 

1. Next to Normal
If anyone who knows me is surprised that this is number one...well, you shouldn't be. No, really, if you're surprised, you probably don't know me. What are you doing on my blog again? This musical speaks to me on a deep level. It's my spirit...musical. I already have a spirit animal. But the thing is, this is a musical I've claimed for myself. I discovered it on my own. I listened to it and watched it on my own. I fell for it all on my own. Many of these musicals were handed to me by others, but this was all my own.
It all began when "So Anyway" appeared on Pandora and I thought it sounded beautiful. I wondered if there were more songs from the musical that sounded like that. I looked up information on it to find out it was about bipolar disorder and became more interested. But then I listened to the music...and it was not the string quartet magic that I had heard before.
Yes, that's right. I nearly gave up on this musical. But let me continue. I later decided to watch a bootleg of it. Then I downloaded all the music. Now understanding everything fully, I began to develop a taste for it. And then suddenly it was my everything.
You see, the plot is extremely heartwrenching...and also very, very human. You'll find a way to relate to a character (or all of them-there's only like seven characters) and it will burn. It will burn deeply. It's an entire musical based around a woman with a severe mental disorder. She's going mad, and there's nothing she can do about it.
I can't do the plot of this musical justice. Maybe the music will just have to speak for itself. Or sing. It is a musical. It can sing for itself. 

Best Lyrics
I know what you're thinking. Really? The number one musical gets best lyrics, Rain? Not something like best music, or best story, or best performance, or most moving, or anything like that? Best lyrics? Well, yes. Best lyrics. Because oh my goodness-these are some of the best written lyrics I have ever heard. I swear, just read some of these.
Or the feeling that you're falling, but you never hit the ground.
It just keeps on rushing at you day by day by day by day.
You don't know, you don't know what it's like to live that way.
Like a refugee, a fugitive, forever on the run.
If it gets me it will kill me, but I don't know what I've done.
Or maybe this will float your boat.
When you walk into the room and they just stop the conversation,
When there's no room for your Clearasil with all the medication.
When your house has much more nudity, profanity, and crudity,
Then any crap you'd ever seen on cable
You're growing up unstable.
Perhaps something like this.
Admit what you've lost 
And live with the cost... 
At times it does hurt to be healed. 
I mean, if I posted all of the lyrics that I loved then you'd end up getting the entire musical. It's just that amazing. Oh, let me add in one more: You wonder which is worse, the symptom or the cure. I mean, really. 

And now for my runner up musicals, the ones that I love immensely but just didn't make it on this list for whatever reason: Little Shop of Horrors, The Music Man, Into the Woods, RENT, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Singin' In The Rain, A Little Night Music, The Book of Mormon

Don't forget there are plenty, and I mean plenty, of musicals that I love dearly that aren't even mentioned here. With how many musicals I've seen, it's hard not to hold at least some type of reverence for each and every one.

And now there's a new musical which has consumed me. But it's not on this list yet because I haven't watched it. Don't mind me.

-Rain

Put On A Show

There's the sound of malicious laughter echoing through my mind, and it is a sound that would come straight from my lips. It is perched on my tongue like a bird on a twig, just waiting to be let out. But I refuse to make a sound right now. Instead, I'd much rather smile and put on a show for everyone.

I'm supposed to be sobbing right now. I can feel it. I know that I'm meant to be going mad and flipping chairs and writing soliloquys in my own point of view. But instead, I don't. I smile, and I let out a laugh. I'm not trying to cover anything up at this point.

This is just how I've been made to be.

I've shed far too many tears already. All that I've found is that it rips everything from my heart and leaves me empty and puking tears. It makes it impossible to sleep and focus. I let it out in bouts of fury and then sobs. I'd press a pillow to my face as I attempted to scream it all out. But not any more.

You'd think I would have learned from writing characters who suppress their emotions to avoid pain. I've written thousands of words on how this is a terrible idea. Over and over again, I stressed that this lack of emotion was a major flaw and did more harm than help.

Well, yes. But I'm not holding back the pain. There is nothing more to be felt. I am spent on this madness. Perhaps I have finally just cracked. There's nowhere left for me to turn, so I cracked myself and put on a smile. 

Don't feel. I kept on thinking that when I gave myself a new theme song that a certain bit of lyrics wouldn't apply to me. But now it is me. Perhaps I have become the song. Perhaps the song has become me. I've let it go and for goodness sake, I'm not going back. I am free. Free from all of these restraints that were keeping me down.

I'm being the good girl that I always have to be. There is only way I can manage being sane any more.

How?

It's called being insane. 

Concerning Susan Foreman, Criticism, and the Events of December 19th

I feel like this is my only way to reach out to society. If society was my Internet friends. Which it's not. But regardless...it's how I'm going to speak for today. I'm getting my thoughts and ideas out here simply because I can.

Like my mind, expect this to be a complete mishmash of whatever comes into my head that I find important enough to share. I do this all the time...it's just that no one ever seems to notice. Because apparently I am insane. I must say, I agree.

Perhaps the wonders of Grease rehearsals will amaze you. No? Well, let me just say, the guy who's playing Danny also played Melchior in Spring Awakening nearby. I realize there's only one person I know who will get that and appreciate it...but I try. I do. His voice is beautiful, really beautiful. Kind of like the gif below this.

Which reminds me. If you haven't seen Desolation of Smaug, you're wrong. Go. Go now. I don't care. It's freaking amazing. Smaug is absolutely fabulous, and it isn't just because Benedict Cumberbatch is playing him (motion capture, don't forget!). In fact, one of the most stunning things about the great dragon was despite me knowing exactly who was bringing him to life, I didn't think of Benny slithering around on the ground or speaking in a mic. I only saw a terrifying dragon that made my eyes pop out. 

Yes, I saw this movie Sunday and am only now saying anything. I've just been a little...preoccupied.

As for my emotions, they've been all over the place. Luckily I'm getting to find myself a new anthem and move along with it. Let's just say that it features a certain character who I want to cosplay. And is performed by a major musical theatre actress. 

Ah, what the Hell? Why don't I just go ahead and post some of the loveliness that I'm talking about right here? This is going to be my new theme song, because it's just how I'm going to go. I like other songs in the movie better, but whatever. This is great.

There are two pieces of very special technology we always associate with the Doctor. One's already gotten to be in a humanoid form, and the other hasn't...yet.

Like the aforementioned The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, Frozen is a glorious movie that everyone must see. You'll really be missing out on something fantastic if you don't go ahead and see it. I mean, I connect to Elsa on so many levels that it's not even funny. Being an older sister is just one of them, and now that I have taken her anthem as my own...well, you know. 

Sorry for all the gifs. Not sorry at all, actually.

But this morning was all about me trying to learn more about myself and all the emotional crap that's been plaguing me recently. I know for a fact that my reaction to everything was blown way out of proportion, but this sort of thing has been happening to me for years now. I really do doubt my sanity sometimes. 

If there's one good thing that comes out of me having all these massive emotions piled on top of me, it's the epiphanies that come out of it. I feel like a freaking philosopher half the time when I get into these states. I've been having all of these realizations about life that haven't really been positive, but are still enlightening. There's also some frightening things that have come out of this...but for sanity's sake, I'm going to keep those to myself.

Luckily I have friends at school who are more than willing to help me through this time. I've been showing aspects of my online conflicts to them, and I've got to say...it's been really eye opening to see this through other people's eyes. However, there are also a lot of things that I disagree with. But when you're not too busy being furious at yourself for being an idiot, you start to realize things...and these people who don't know any of the backstory seem to share my thoughts. 

I'm trying to keep my opinion to myself, but I'm not sure that's such a good idea. Keeping emotions back always backfires...I wrote a story that had a large focus on this. So why am I relying on this? Who knows? I think we all have things to learn. Excuses aren't really what we need. We need to learn how to apologize sincerely and fully, all of us. 

I think Hank Green's video is a good place to start out. It's actually insanely eyeopening...I'm afraid I've been a fartbag time and time again. But the thing is, I'm going to go and learn from that and understand what this video is trying to tell me. 

For one of those personal realizations that I stumbled across...well, it's simple. And it's all to do with critcism. There's lots of instances where I can very easily take criticism and benefit from it like any normal person would. I know it doesn't seem that way to you Internet peeps, but hear me out.

I can take suggestions on how to improve in subjects like math and science. I've thrived off of criticism from singing in recent days.

But when it comes to other things, I completely break down and end up going kind of ballistic. Of course, I would think the number one example of this is my writing. I just can't seem to take anything, no matter how constructive it is.

Well, my hopefully-still-pluviophiles, I think I know what's going on. I can take criticism on things where I already feel secure and good at. I know my ability. I don't need reassurance that I'm doing anything right. I mean, let's think about this. I currently have a 100.44 in math (indeed, that is my grade) and a 99 in biology. I've been asked to go to a special chorus clinic for some of the best in the class only. I got into the musical and have gotten solos and other things. 

In other words, I am very sure of my abilities in these subjects. Criticism rolls in and I can just pick it up and make myself better. There's absolutely no fuss about it anymore.

So, what does this have to with writing? Well, in case you haven't figured it out, I don't feel confident in my writing. I never do. I always question if this plot point is smart, if that character trait is overused and Mary Sue-ish, if I'm writing complete crap or if it's actually any good. The fact of the matter is, I can't tell. Until I've convinced myself that I'm a good writer, I won't be able to take criticism very well on it. That's just how it's going to be.

It's possible I can grow past this. I've done it before. There was one point where I was just beginning to bud out as more of a solo singer and improve myself individually rather than just being part of a chorus. I had been doing a master class. On the way home, my mother noted that I hadn't been making the right facial expressions.

I. Freaking. Exploded. 

(I had already used the only other gif that might work here so yeah)

No, seriously. The little singing girl that you knew now just lost it. I started sobbing, I was so upset. I was still building myself up at that point in time. My mom insisted that it was constructive criticism, but I felt like someone had just stabbed me in the gut. I was furious about everything, and mostly furious about myself. In order to get my tension out, I bit my Nintendo DSi. Yes. And there's still a dark mark on the screen where I did it.

Afterwards I forced myself to do better facial expressions when I was singing. In the end, the constructive criticism had ended up improving me. But the path getting there was the opposite of ideal. Now I can't help but feel like if anyone ever points this out again, I will just implode.

There's also the point of driving-my driving instructor made me feel like an idiot the entire time. Honestly, I got teary eyed at every bit of criticism thrown towards me for a week after I was done with driver's ed. I hate the car now. I don't want to get involved with it.

This is why criticism is dangerous for me. I don't want to do things if I feel like I'm going to get criticised and then end up having a fit over it. I clam up and turn away from things. I haven't rage quit from many things at this point in my life, but I've considered it time and time again for many things. I'm just so frustrated over these things.

And let me tell you, I never forget. If I feel stupid or wrong or guilty, it will stick in my mind for the rest of my life. The emotions stick too. I just want to make that clear.

(This was the only gif that felt as if it could work for the transition)

Now, on a far happier note. Or many notes. A far happier melody.

I've been watching Classic Doctor Who. I haven't gotten very far (I mean, seriously, just got to the very very very first appearance of the Daleks) but I'm so very in love with it. Despite me not watching most of it to begin with, it's very nostalgic. In a single word, I'd have to describe it as charming. It's a very different show from what we know from RTD and Moffat, but it's still absolutely lovely. Also, the girls scream. A lot. It's realistic in that way.

Of course, this early era of Doctor Who features one of my favorite companions-Susan Foreman. I know some of you are going to think I'm crazy for naming her one of my favorite companions before seeing more than An Unearthly Child and a clip of her leaving. That was all I had seen of her, yes. But due to a certain plot device I used in a fanfiction, I made sure to do lots and lots of research on her. Now I just get to love her even more.

My writing has been kind of lacking lately, but my ideas are not. I've got almost all of my story The Intel Revival cast. I've got some interesting ideas for it. For instance, biology has inspired me to put in something related to circadian rhythm. Sounds a bit boring, I know, but I think it's pretty darn cool. Also, I have got some fanfiction ideas. Like those below.

Writing contests are hard, and planning for them is often an issue for me. Luckily, however, I have an idea for a oneshot. I'm just not sure it'll end up being Christmas-y enough, which is the main challenge. I think it's going to be a matter of me sticking mistletoe in any crack in the wall and pushing the whole idea towards Christmas.

What's my idea, you may or may not ask? Well, I'm not telling you. Spoilers, sweetie. But I can tell you this much: it's Doctor Who, features my OTP, and this lovely lady below will be featured as well. 

Yes, I am fully aware that she has been on Doctor Who before. She was Cheen in Gridlock, I know. She won't be that same character here. But if any show is good at taking actors from the past and placing them in new roles in the present it's Doctor Who.

I've hidden a clue to who this lady is going to be in this post. If you find it, send me a PM on Wattpad on Polyvore. I assume that's where you've come from, anyways. Just remember to let it go, everyone.

-Rain

An Incomplete But Honest Truth

To my friends on Wattpad who are reading this: I am taking a break from Wattpad just to attempt to piece at least the edges of my life back together. I'll be gone until either Friday night or Saturday morning. There won't be any posting of new stories until then, because I know I'll get distracted. I'm sorry this is how this all had to turn out, but oh well. I'm trying to do what's best for me and not for anyone else, because right now I just have to be selfish. Sorry.

Carry on with this if you so choose. It's all honest. It's all true. It's just not everything.

I haven't hated myself and my life in general this much in what feels like forever. It's all me, I realize that much. But oh my goodness gracious, I think I'm going mad. Half the day I spend with my back up straight, all perfect posture and poise. I look confident...and happy. Then the other half of the day I spend weeping like a child.

Yesterday my little sister became a teenager. She's now thirteen years old, and it was supposed to be her special day. Thank goodness a series of events caused us to be apart for most of the day, otherwise I would have almost definitely ruined it for her. There was one point where I brought her in to talk for a moment. I tried to explain my side of the situation to her, and she agreed. It was all going well until my anger all crumbled into tears.

I broke down into tears in front of my sister. It was practically an instantaneous change. She did nothing for a moment, and then walked away to let me be alone. All of this is on her birthday, her bloody thirteenth birthday. Sometimes I think she's honestly the only one in the world who actually knows what to do in that situation. Don't stand there and try to ask me what's wrong. If I'm sobbing like an idiot, I probably want to be left alone.

The thing is, I always read things incorrectly. I always see things incorrectly. When I misinterpret things, I get upset. I guess I don't do a very good job of displaying this, but still. I feel like a smart person. I have been told ever since just about taught myself to read before kindergarten that I was very smart. That's why whenever I feel stupid or like I'm being treated as if I was, it sticks out to me.

There are some words that will just trigger my reaction to thinking I'm being called out as an imbecile: ignorant, silly (yes, silly), stupid, dumb, get over it, wrong, young, child, learn, teen, easy, grow up.

Let me put this into words for you.

"Stop being so silly and ignorant. It's kind of childlike to think that you're still acting like this. You're a young teen, and you need to grow up. You have life easy right now, and it's dumb to think that this is the worst part of your life. I'm just saying that you need to get over it and stop any stupidity that you have right now."

I'm not saying this has been said to me, but this sort of thing seems like it's being thrown at me all the time. Perhaps I'm just completely delusional. With some of the thoughts that have been going on through my head lately, maybe I am. I swear, you'd probably send me off to the psych ward if you knew what I was thinking about last night.

I'm a very sensitive girl and I always have been. I've tried to work on my emotions and for a while it was going well. But the thing is, there's just some things I can't take. It's become completely obvious to me that many things that I believed are not what others believe, and when misconceptions creep around the corner it just ends up as a mess.

I understand that life is only going to get harder from here on out. I just had an epiphany the other day about life and it's left me feeling out of breath ever since. I am never going to get a break, I get that. But the thing is, I feel like I'm getting whipped right now for something that won't fully affect me until the future.

Everyone keeps telling me that things are only going downhill in terms of stress and socializing and everything....so what am I supposed to do? I'm already in a Hellish state, so where else can I possibly fall? It's all emotions, and very little of what I can do to fix this is in my control. I finish my work as well and as quickly as possibly. I try to get sleep. You know what?

It doesn't work. It does not work for me.

You know, it's kind of funny. I have some people at my school who call me perfect-it's a sort of joke that I have with them. It's all jest, but the thing is that they actually see me as this great figure. But how does any perfect girl go home just to cry into a pillow and write blog posts like this?

I use reaction gifs to describe how I feel. And this is pretty much me right now. 

And this is actually me now. I'm ready for this pain to be over. I just don't think it will ever leave.

-Rain

Let's Get Creative!

So recently I haven't posted much of anything on this blog. Apologize about that. I have a really big and complicated post coming up that just hasn't been finished yet. That, and every time I go online I always seem to have ideas for random photo edits. Creativity is a strange friend. So here's what I've made recently...

I made this for a Supernatural oneshot I was writing. Since the angel girl was going to have clipped wings, I was considering making that the theme and title-Clipped Wings.  The artwork for her wings is an illustration of a bird's clipped wings. Eventually I scrapped this overall idea but the picture remains...not too bad. My clipping skills of her were pretty good.

And thus the fun with layer masks begins. I found this screencap and just started fiddling around. I made it so that while the rest of the world faded away into blurriness, my OTP was crystal clear. The picture was already so pretty that it wasn't that much of a deal to make it look good. Then I added in some lyrics-"I would sail across the world for just the color of your eyes." From the Light in the Piazza. Yep.

As the fun with layer masks continued, I taught myself how to make text out of photos. No tutorials or help, I figured out this technique all by myself. Golly gee, it is actually extremely easy. I'm surprised I didn't figure it out sooner. And yes, that is River underwater. And yes, I know she didn't say those lines there. And yes, that is a PNG. Any more questions?

Here's the most recent one...and it looks like a book cover. And it is kind of book cover. No reason for that. Ahem. But this one features layer masks as well. The hat tilt shift effect? Layer masks. That was so simple to do and yet so effective. A nice yellowish layer over everything. And then the name "I.M. Foreman" is made out of regenerative energy. Not ltierally, of course. But I did layer mask the Eccelston-Tennant regeneration to create that.

So, erm...I have so many ideas for a certain character and his wife. And I don't know what to do with them. This is why we should all agree to never be creative again.

-Rain/Pluvio/Broadway/Boardway/Perfect/Imperfect/Predictable/Author/I'm making half of these up myself

Confessions of a Pluviophile

As many of my Internet friends know, I have a word that I really like now. I would say it's my favorite word, but it's not. It's too hipster for me. Yes, that is a thing in my mind.

But that word is pluviophile. It means, in essence, someone who loves the rain.

I would think that someone who calls themselves Rain on the Internet would fall under this. *ahem*

I've been thinking a lot about pluviophilia lately, and I had this idea. I've always wanted to a rant book on Wattpad, so I made a cover for it.

Yes indeed, Confessions of a Pluviophile.

But then I realized that I didn't need a rant book. I have a blog, for crying out loud!

From now on, you will be seeing any rants that would have been going in the Confessions of a Pluviophile book coming on here. I hope you don't mind!

-Rain

The NaNo Diaries: Finished...?

November 24, 2013

Last night, I hit the goal. 50,000 words are now completed for my story Raven Song.

50,000 words.

Done a week before it was due. Now that shows me that I've progressed from previous years, where I was working up to the last few hours. I've always made it, however. It's just that this time November will be a little bit more relaxing in the end.

It was so nice seeing me pass the finish line. It felt like it was impossible that I had managed to do it. It was like my mind simply could not believe that I had done such a thing. The story feels nowhere near finished, that much is for sure. But it's got so much already written that I suppose I should be counting my blessings.

The problem with this is that now I have to go through the process of editing and such. I've been splitting up my chunks of writing into individual snippets. Let's just say that I'm only about halfway through and I have approximately 80 snippets of writing at the moment. I have to finish making all of those snippets.

Then once I have my 200 different snippets (that might not be an exaggeration, we'll see) I'll have to put them in order and group them together. I need to form a cohesive story out of a bunch of loosely linked moments. But I've done this sort of thing before...just not with 50,000 words/

I think the first order of business is to make a plan of what I want to happen in this story. Without a base, everything will just crumble, yeah?

-Rain

The NaNo Diaries: The Final Countdown

November 22, 2013

Okay, perhaps the title is a little bit ahead of where I am. But I have less than 5K words left to write. Less than a tenth of my novel. If I push myself, I will be finished soon. Very soon. I have my plans and all, but actually writing all those words is so different than talking about writing them. It seems like so little and so much at the same time.

But the thing is, I've never written a novel like this. And by "this," I mean...

25% of my novel was initially handwritten. Pieces of notebook paper were used time and time again in order to create a fair portion of my story. That would be about 12.5K words once it was all done. It still can't compare to how many notes I have for World History, though.

25% of my novel came from 750 Words. For those of you don't know, I use a writing program which has you write 750 words each and every day. I've been using that in order to create even more of my story. By pushing myself to write it all within 15 minutes, I find myself creating new plotlines and lots of words in short amounts of time.

The last 50% chunk of my novel comes from me sitting down like a proper author and typing away. This is what I have been doing for so long, and it's starting to come naturally. I try to take it 50, 100, or 250 words at a time. And by golly, it works.

We'll see how tomorrow fares.

-Rain

The NaNo Diaries: The Madness Sets In

November 18, 2013

I should be finishing in a few days.

It's really weird to think that.

I will be finishing in a few days.

Especially if I get my act together and write more than what's necessary. At the current rate I'm going at, I should be done in a little under a week. If I step it up, I could have Raven Song over 50,000 words before the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special. I could spend the Day of the Doctor without having to worry about writing my story.

The thing is, it'll still be National Novel Writing Month. I've already started planning for what I'm going to do next.

Which is plan.

When it comes to most of my stories, I make at least a skeleton outline of what I want to happen during the story. Some of them are actually very specific. I had one plan that had more words than each chapter of that particular story did. I typically use them just to keep the plot on track and make sure everything works out in a fairly well paced manner.

But I don't do that for NaNoWriMo. I don't have to write in order when it comes to this, so I jump all over the place. I haven't finished the second chapter yet, it's strange. The thing is, I know the basic gist of the story. I know there's going to be a few specific events that must go in a certain sequence.

That still leaves me with thousands of words, though. That's why I'm going to plan out the novel once I've gotten over the 50K mark. If I can do that, then I can make sure that it'll be ready to be posted on Wattpad.

Yeah. That'll be fun.

-Rain

Why I Write

Oh goodness. The story of how I became a writer is a long and bumpy one, but throughout the entire plotline of my life I've found that my motivation to create stories and characters and express them through words has been the same.

I write for myself.

I know it makes me sound selfish and silly, but it's true. I write for myself. I write to improve myself and to see myself create something. I don't write for other people to read it, not in the way that most people would assume so, anyways. I mean, I've got thousands upon thousands of words that will never be seen by anyone but myself. It's not because they're bad (although some of them are, heh). It's because it's my own personal store of stories.

There are so many plots that swirl around in my head that I have written down just so I can read them and cherish them. Some of them have never even left my head, whether it be through my fingers typing away or through my mouth. I hoarde my stories like a dragon hoardes its gold, sitting atop the mounds of words like they were coins.

But the thing is, sometimes after writing for myself I feel the push to have other people read it. I'm so proud of what I've created for myself that I want other people to come and make me feel good about it. There's only so much praise you can give yourself, after all.

At the same time, I'm also my biggest critic. When I post things out on the Internet, I constantly feel a bit of doubt about it. I typically hate half the stuff I put out but love it at the same time. When someone comes along and critiques anything, anything, I take it far to seriously. I take the blame upon myself.

I keep on writing for myself despite of all of this. I enjoy it far too much to stop. It's really a shame that I feel myself falling apart over the simplest things. It's part of the reason I keep so many of my stories to myself, in fear that they'll be picked apart and I'll end up hating myself for it. If I criticize myself, it doesn't burn the same way as if someone else criticized me. I can improve myself, building upon myself.

Some will say I need to outside push in order to grow. But sometimes I'm content being bottled up with my own stories and just reading over the plots and ideas I had a long time ago. I read over my old stories all the time and fall in love with them. I see the flaws and I try to correct them. I'm still blind to some of the problems, it's true.

But the fact of the matter is, I write for myself. No matter what anyone says, I will continue writing. Sure, I might rip down my old stories from a website, delete lots of text in spite of what someone's said, decide to never be judged in a writing competition again, but I will keep writing.

I write for myself, and no one else.

-Rain

The NaNo Diaries: I'll Be A Neutron, Thank You

November 14, 2013

Today is a very neutral day for me. I'm no positive proton or negative electron. Just a neutral neutron. (And if you understand what neutron cream means, brownie points for you. Lots of 'em.) First and foremost in this is my novel, of course. It's going well, I'd have to say. I mean, I'm pretty darn far ahead of schedule, that's always a nice thing.

But at the same time, I feel like I'm doing something wrong. I don't know what it is. Sometimes it gets difficult to write an entire front-and-back page of my NaNoWriMo novel, all of this done in the few free seconds I have during class. And yet, I've done it every schoolday so far this month. Granted, that actually hasn't been that many, but still.

My main goal for this is going to be to finish before the deadline. The past few years were more or less "Okay, it's November 30th and I have things to do before midnight!" Of course, I made it both times, but it would be really fulfilling to finish it before then. The thing is, I want some sort of numerical proof that I've grown as a writer.

Well, in other news, I feel like I have so many conflicting emotions that I just end up with a whole of nothing. I suppose this is how Sherlock Holmes functions. It's pretty productive, I must say. I mean, I got stuff done. That is, after I stopped panicking due to the disappearance of my phone. There just are some things that aren't worth agonizing over. Things that aren't worth fighting over. Gifs that aren't worth making because they're too damn hard.

Maybe tomorrow I'll be a proton. Or maybe I'll be an electron.

But I may as well be a neutron again.

-Rain

The NaNo Diaries: "Struggling"

November 10, 2013

Yesterday was the day of marathon writing. Even though I completely failed to reach my goal, I still wrote quite a bit. It wasn't all that difficult, either. I mean, I wrote 6.5K words yesterday just for NaNoWriMo-that's not including the writing I did for all of my other stories. Yet I still feel disappointed in myself. I'm "struggling" without really struggling.

I suppose I should be happy about where I'm at in my writing, however. I have over 20K words at this point and still have many ideas to put together. This is no masterpiece, I'm sure of it, but it has potential. I enjoy writing it, and that's what matters.

The good news is that inspiration is coming from everywhere. Here's an example of that. It seems like all of a sudden my friends are all speaking about ravens and writing desks and their similarities. Of course, I am writing a story where the theme of ravens is a pretty important one. (You don't name a story Raven Song and then not involve any ravens.) I integrated it into my story. I made a whole new scene up. And it worked.

The thing about November is that it's like a massive month of many things. NaNoWriMo was my main focus yesterday, but there's so many other things going on that I'm a bit afraid the rest of my writing is just going to have to suffer because of it. There's the obvious things (aka Thanksgiving and schoolwork) and then there's the not-so-obvious things.

The fact of the matter is, I started an exercise program at the beginning of this month. It's a six week long thing, which means I will be recreating my body throughout the month of November. I've been getting progress even though it's only a been a bit over a week. That makes me happy.

But then there's also auditions for my musical coming up at school. Of course, I am petrified. I have no clue how this is going to go. I'm going to try my best as always...but sometimes your best just isn't enough. I've gone through that enough to realize that much at least.

-Rain

Defining Brook: Fall

fall

verb \ˈfȯl\

to pass suddenly and passively into a state of body or mind or a new state or condition

"I know that look. Brook, I know that look, and you are up to no good," Foreman said.

"What are you talking about?" Brook said, with that same mischievous smile on her face. "I am just planning out my outfit for when I'm going to the 20's. I'm going to be a flapper!"

"I feel like you have another reason for doing this. I can see it from your expression."

She kept on smiling. "No clue what you're talking about, Foreman."

"No, you do. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"Is it just me, or does it sound like you're flirting?" Foreman immediately turned red. "Better be careful with your words. Don't want to send out the wrong message. Well, anyways, I've got to go steal myself a headband or a hat or something. I'll be right back!" Brook ran off and grabbed the vortex manipulator, which had just been lying on the table. She put in on, plugged in a few numbers, and then vanished in a flash.

In just a few moments she was back, holding a sparkling headband and a hat in one hand and draping both a fringe covered dress and what appeared to be a suit on her arm.

"Ah, I can't wait to wear these! Foreman, this is for you!" She presented the suit and hat out to him.

"Oh, I'm coming?"

"Of course you're coming, you goof. Now go put on these glad rags and get a move on!"

She started to push him away. "Why are you talking like that?"

"Twenties speak. You might want to brush up before we go-ski."

"Yeah, maybe."

Brook smiled and shook her head and then ran off to go change into her outfit. Foreman sighed happily and went off to do the same.

Within a few minutes they were both ready. They came out and looked at one another. Brook had styled her hair to fit the time period better. She had really pulled out all the stops.

"Look at you, all dolled up! You look pos-i-tute-ly fantastic!" she said.

"Well, uh, you look pretty dapper yourself!"

Brook tilted her head at him for a moment, and then rushed off to grab her dictionary.

"Dapper. 1. A. Neat and trim in appearance. B. very spruce and stylish. But in the twenties 'dapper' means my father. Anyways...let's ankle it on out of here!" She delicately set the dictionary down and popped on the vortex manipulator. She tapped in a few codes and then had Foreman set his hand on top of it. In a flash they were gone. They reappeared in a whole different place where it was nighttime, only some street lights. Brook looked around, turning to see everything.

"Ah yes. I think we're here."

"But there's nothing here, Brook."

"Oh, but isn't there?"

She knocked on a door in an odd mix of beats and rhythms and then the door opened.

"Voila. A speakeasy." She went in smiling, Foreman following behind.

Brook blended right into the whole atmosphere, but Foreman just watched on it the background. Brook danced and drank for hours, and Foreman just stood to the side without saying a word. But he saw that Brook had suddenly decided to come towards him.

Brook was extremely drunk, and it was fully obvious to Foreman. She wobbled her way over to him, precarious on her high heels that were more like stilts.

"Oh, Foreman. You're the bee's knees. I'm so glad you're here."

"I'm glad I'm here too. Now take your shoes off."

"Telling me to take my clothes off?" she slurred. "That's awfully forward."

"No, Brook, I just don't want you to fall over and hurt yourself. Just your shoes. I want you safe." He held her shoulders to avoid her tilting over too much. She wasn't listening to him, she was just standing there.

"And how! But anyway, I just want to tell you, you're wonderful." Her words all collided into one another and her eyes were dazed.

"Thank you. Now, we need to get you out of here."

"Foreman, you're so wonderful." She laughed loudly and her head lolled back a little bit.

"Yes, thank you. We've been through this." Foreman was trying his best not to lose his patience with this impaired version of Brook.

"So...wonderful, swell. Now, cash or check?"

"What?" At least what Brook had been saying before actually made sense. Now it was just turning into nonsense.

"Cash or check?"

Foreman shook his head.

"Well, then I guess it'll have to be cash!" Before Foreman could even begin to comprehend what was going on, Brook attached her lips to his. Foreman was stunned by this, and almost forgot to close his eyes. She pulled away after a few seconds, but then went in for more. After she had finally stopped, Foreman now felt like he was in a daze as well.

"Oh, uh, we need...we need to get you home."

"Whatever you say," Brook said with a breathy giggle. She kept on laughing lightly as Foreman clutched her hand and took the vortex manipulator. He plugged in the numbers necessary for them to get back to their home. Brook's world soon blanked out, and she fell over with a smile on her face.

Brook woke up on her couch with a blanket draped around her shoulders. Her eyes were fogged over, and as soon as they cleared up her head began to pound. Foreman was taking care of this pitiful Brook stuck in a hangover.

"Ugh..." she moaned. Foreman immediately rushed over with a wet towel to put on her forehead.

"Foreman, what happened?"

"You got drunk. Really drunk."

"Oh yeah, I guess you're right."

"Now you're hungover. But don't worry, because I got you these instant relief hangover pills and-" Brook cut Foreman off by drowsily holding a finger to his lips.

"Foreman. Shush. I'm practically a Time Lord. I can get rid of it myself." She proceeded to do just that.

"Why didn't you do that last night?"

"I was really drunk, remember? Although...I don't remember all that much from that night after I got drunk." Brook scrunched up her nose at this.

That could be very bad for Foreman. She might not remember that kiss. That kiss had given him so much hope, and now it might turn out that it was just her stumbling around drunk and she completely forgotten it.

"You don't remember anything?"

"No, I don't." Brook looked up at Foreman's face. "Oh no. I did something. Something happened. Was my Mum there? Daddy?"

"What? No. I don't think so, anyways. But do you remember anything, you know, maybe?" Foreman bit his lip, hoping his prompt would help her remember.

"Oh my goodness. Was Clara there? It was Clara, wasn't it? I was making out with Clara. Oh no. This is not good."

"Clara? Who's Clara?"

"Oh, so I wasn't making out with Clara. Good. I was just worried, because of the whole Nina thing..."

"Brook, are you sure you're not still hungover?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Nina. It's a long story."

"Nothing. You remember nothing?"

Brook looked up at Foreman with concerned eyes. "Is something wrong? Is there something I'm supposed to remember? You're acting really odd."

"I...I'm sorry. It's nothing."

Foreman turned and walked away, with Brook staring at him the whole time. Obviously something had happened, but for some reason he wanted her to remember it on her own. Foreman was really upset about how she couldn't remember whatever happened. Poor Foreman. It must be so difficult living with someone like her. Oh well. Brook just went over to her library and grabbed a book, getting cozy with the blanket and the couch again.

As she always did, she soon was absorbed in her book. Hours could pass by and she would hardly even notice. It was a skill she had developed after having so many days alone with nothing but these stories full of words to keep her company. She had spent years literally reading books. Before she had gotten a vortex manipulator, a typical day would be eating, reading, and sleeping. It wasn't the best life, but she had gotten used to it. Having someone like Foreman for company was helping her change, though. It wasn't such a bad thing, in the end. But before him she had lived for the days when her parents would show up and whisk her away on some adventure. Even with a vortex manipulator she had felt lonely. But Foreman had become like her companion. She liked it. But Brook would always turn back to books in the end.

She had began to hum absentmindedly when there was a sudden noise and a flash of blue light. Foreman walked over, saying, "Brook, did you use the vortex manipulator?"

But Brook was sitting on the couch, putting a bookmark into her book so that she could set it down. There was an enormous smile on her face. Foreman followed her gaze.

"Mum!" she said.

"Brook," the woman smiled. They rushed together and hugged. Foreman just watched on. This woman was Brook's mother. Well, they certainly looked similar. They both shared that mop of curls on their heads.

"Oh my gosh, I've missed you so much!" Brook squealed. She jumped up and down a little bit.

"What book have you brought along this time?" she asked.

"Les Miserables. Bit of a downer, but it's beautiful. Now, Brook, are you going to introduce me to your friend?" River said, gesturing to Foreman.

Brook took the book from her and after looking it over a little bit she turned around to introduce Foreman to her mother. "Mum, this is Foreman. He's a Time Lord. A little twenty-first birthday gift from the Daleks. And Foreman, this is my mother, River Song. But you can call her Professor. Professor Song."

"Um, hello." Foreman raised up a hand in greeting.

River looked at her daughter curiously. "A gift from the Daleks? Time Lord?" She turned back to Foreman for a second. "It's nice to meet you." Then she faced Brook again. "Brook, what exactly did you do?"

"Time bubble. I went to Gallifrey, turned out to be the Time War..."

Foreman picked up the story from Brook. "I had just regenerated and she saved me from the Daleks, and then took me here. And named me Foreman. I kind of like it, actually."

River raised her eyebrows. There were certainly a lot of interesting things going around in Brook's home.

Brook noticed her mother's look and changed the subject a little bit.

"By any chance, were you recently at a party in the 1920's?"

"What? Why would you be asking that?"

Foreman gave Brook a look, and then answered for her. "She was. She got so drunk that she could hardly remember a thing."

Brook frowned at Foreman, but didn't say a word against it.

"Well, it's good to see that someone in this home can give you a straight answer. Thank you, Foreman, for telling me that. And no, Brook. Now, we need to go talk about something in private. Foreman, do you mind?"

Foreman shook his head and then Brook and River walked off to have their conversation.

"Is something wrong?" River said.

"It's Foreman," Brook began. "I think I might be falling for him."

"I see," River replied with a knowing smile.

"Anyways, what did you need to talk about?"

"Well, there now there a few things I need to talk to you about," River said. "This Foreman. If you have feelings for him and he cares about you at all, you need to know. One day, you might have to hide your pain for his sake. He seems like your father in that way. He won't be able to deal with it so you have to deal with it for him."

Brook stared at her mother, not wanting to think about something like that. But her mother had a point. They both looked so serious, which was odd for them.

"Now, I want you to tell Foreman about your feelings."

"What? No."

"Yes, Brook. You're going to regret it if you don't."

Brook sighed. "I guess you're right." She wasn't happy with the serious atmosphere in the room. But then River broke into a huge grin.

"Now, here's the other thing I wanted to talk about. So, how would you feel about a little heist?"

Brook's lips curled into a smile. "Oh, I would love it."

A few minutes later, the two Songs strutted into the room. Brook was using her mother's scanner to look at something. Foreman's jaw immediately dropped.

Both the women were wearing catsuits.

"Hey, Foreman," Brook said, looking up from the scanner. "Mum and I are going out to steal something. Do you want to come with us?"

"Um...uh..." Foreman could hardly speak as he was gawking. "Um...no thanks...I'd probably mess it up."

"Well, if you say so. Mum, are you ready?"

"Whenever you are."

Brook put a hat over her head, covering up her curls. When she recieved some odd looks, she said, "It gets in the way sometimes. Anyways. I'm ready!"

"Let's go."

Both women plugged the same numbers into their matching vortex manipulators and vanished in two little flashes of blue lightning. Now that they were alone, River brought something up.

"I see your little boyfriend was staring you up and down."

Brook rolled her eyes. "I'm a young woman in a skintight suit. I don't think it takes much for a man to be distracted by that."

"If you say so."

"Anyways, Mum, we have a job to do."

"Very much so."

What was only a few seconds later in Foreman's time but hours for River and Brook, the women appeared laughing their heads off. Brook was holding a dress. It looked like it was from some era of royalty, encrusted with jewels of all sorts. It must have cost a fortune at any point in time.

"What's that?" Foreman said.

"It's my dress," Brook said with a laugh.

"It's actually her dress," River said. "It was given to her a long time ago but she had to leave it behind. We just rescued it from the museum it was in."

"Now it's all mine. And I don't plan to give it back this time."

"Well, I guess it's time for me to go now, Brook."

"I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too."

"Bye, Mum!" Brook gave River a hug and then River disappeared soon after. River's words about Foreman never left Brook, though. They stayed with her for weeks until Brook finally decided to do something about it. She walked up to Foreman one day, sitting next to him on the couch.

"Foreman, I have something very important to ask you."

Foreman nodded in order to let her know she could continue.

"I want you to be honest. Do you have feelings for me?"

Foreman blinked a few times, planning out his response. Brook never gave up her relentless gaze.

"No, I don't."

Brook raised her eyebrows.

"Don't give me that look. Why are you-" He began to stumble on his words. Foreman started again. "Why are you asking me, anyways? Do you have feelings for me?"

Brook batted her eyelashes. "Oh, of course not. And unlike you, I can prove it." Brook tilted in to Foreman, grabbing one of his hands in one of hers and using the other to touch his face. She brought their lips together slowly, for a kiss that was tantalizingly short.

She slowly pulled away, just as she had come in, and their eyes met. Foreman was at a complete loss at to what to do. But then Brook broke out into a huge grin and moved away quickly.

"I knew it!" she said. "I knew you had feelings for me!"

"Wh-what? What are you talking about?"

"Dilated pupils, highly elevated heart rate. Yes, that's right, I took your pulse! They don't call Daddy the Doctor for nothing. And I'm a nurse, after all."

"What? I don't understand."

"Well, from what I've seen, you biologically have feelings for me."

Foreman couldn't take it anymore, not her eyes or her voice or anything. He dived over to Brook, clutching her face in both of his hands, and kissed her. And again. And again. When he finally pulled himself away from her, he was a bit surprised to see just how shocked Brook was. He was afraid that he had badly messed up everything. But then her face broke into a smile.

"I was very right, wasn't I?"

"Very," he replied breathlessly. He began to lean in for another kiss but she stopped him.

"Not so fast-ski."

"Fast-ski?"

"Ugh, that flapper slang really took a toll on me."

"Well, I still think you look beautiful."

"See, this is what I was trying to avoid," Brook said.

Foreman's adoring eyes creased in confusion.

"I don't want us moving too quickly, saying words we might not really mean yet. Do...do you understand?"

"Yes...I don't understand why, but I guess I understand what."

"Good. You don't have to know why." Brook turned and began to walk away.

"You're so beautiful, though." Brook stopped in her tracks and took a deep breath.

"Gorgeous." Brook took in a deep breath and resisted the urge to turn around.

"The most beautiful girl I've ever seen, anywhere, anytime." Now Brook had to turn around. She feigned a smile on her face.

"You may even be the most beautiful, gorgeous girl in all of time and space." Brook walked up close to Foreman, with that same little smile. They were awfully close, and Foreman thought she was going to kiss him.

That was not the case. She brought up her hand and slapped him hard across the cheek.

"Ow!" he cried out.

"This is why you listen to me," she said, her former smile fading away.

Foreman recovered from his small plight and grabbed Brook's face again, kissing her. She tried to resist at first, but then she melted into it. When she pulled away first, Foreman thought he might be in danger of another slap. Brook had tensed up immensely. But she just took a deep breath and walked out without a word. He might have just made a fatal mistake.

At least he got to kiss Brook, though.

A/N This might seem a bit out of nowhere for those of you who are reading this, but I have a reason for it. On Wattpad, I write Doctor Who fanfiction. I started off with a character named Brook who I ended up creating many stories for...so many that I had to make more to share with the world. I'll be posting all of those here. They likely won't make sense without reading the other stories, so...click here for my profile! You can read The Other Definition and The Child's Mistake to see Brook's main story. This is what defines her...hence "Defining Brook."