Inner Mind

[Erlind]

In the center of the room a small fire burns away quietly in a shallow stone fire pit sunken into the floor. Large leather chairs and comfortable couches circle the fire so anyone can enjoy it. Behind the ring of furniture shelves line most of the walls holding mostly books and random keepsakes. Otherwise the room can be a bit plain. What I need appears when I need it here, so I don’t tend to keep much else on hand. Light music usually plays from somewhere indistinct, but otherwise it is usually quiet unless I have company. A few elegant, but simple lights mounted to the wall dimly provide illumination to what the fire does not. The walls are painted dark green and the floors are hard wood.

An old leather bound book sits on a dark wood podium against the wall. The book contains some of the major threads I've written while Lit. A couple are barely started, but I included them, because I regretted never being able to really get into them. I tried to get them in chronological order and there are many others not included, but there are far too many for everything. My writing has changed a lot since I started writing here, but I'm proud of everything here.

Pucked
A Witch and a Vampire
Red Riding
Stroke of Midnight
The Last Witch
Deadly Spire
Into the Wild West
Slow Fracture
The New Power
Deadly Truths
The Island of Manuta
Pleasures Poison
The Artist's Muse
Witchcraft
Kine
First Contact


Outside the windows there is a perpetual stormy night. It makes it hard to see, but beyond those windows are Escher like mazes of stairways and passages leading to innumerable doors. Not a nice place to be lost. There is only a door as long as there needs to be one and it leads just where those using it need to be and nowhere else.

Anyone is welcome here, but this is my own little haven. I decided it was time I made one of these threads of my own. Just a place for me to exist in the online world I suppose. It’s about as social as I tend to be. Don’t worry though, I only bite when I think the person needs it.

Wherever you find the door to this place you find a wooden sign hanging from it that says:

Welcome to the Inner Mind. Mostly open two out of every six days at night.

 

[Erlind]

Not so grand openings to places that seem to lack a distinct purpose are always nerve wracking. Responding appropriately I lay across one of the leather chairs with my laptop and type away. A steaming mug of tea appears on the little table behind me and I begin to lose myself in the random wanderings of my mind.

 

[Erlind]

The gentle click of computer keys are the only sounds for hours as I work on projects for lit and other places. The tea has been finished off twice now and the empty mug rests behind me. I wonder if my attempts to be social will be negated by natural hermitage. My finger flicks across the touch pad and yet another blank page fills my screen. I stretch out in the chair a bit, shifting until I'm comfortable. Until I have company I have other distractions.

 

[Erlind]

The laptop is closed and put away as I am out of things to write for the moment. I should be asleep, but sleep won't find me. I pop open a Coke and take a swig of the cold sweet drink.

"No wonder I can never sleep," I say to no one in particular. I wander aimlessly picking up a book and putting it down. I add wood to the fire and finally collapse back into the same chair. I'm restless.

 

[Erlind]

One sleepy eye opens to find I never properly went to sleep. I stumble up out of the leather chair to find one greener and stiffer and take a seat. I pull a nearby coffee table up to me and find that it suddenly has plates of food ready for me. Eggs with salsa and cheese, biscuits and gravy, slices of cantaloupe and honey dew, and a tall glass of Coke.

"Probably not the healthiest, but ...," I dig in anyway. No substitute for a good breakfast anymore. The food is good, but there is still certainly something missing. A haven is well and good, but without visitors it feels a bit empty.

 

[Kaena]

I travel through the labyrinth like maze towards his haven. I know it exists somewhere along this plain, however, after opening many doors that lead nowhere but more stairs and more doorways, I am not sure I will find where I am trying to go. At last a door stands before me, different than the ones before. Cautiously I approach and place a hand on the doorknob. Not sure if I am even welcome in his Haven, I hesitate before pulling the door open.

"Hello, anyone there," I call out, standing at the threshold. "May I come in."

 

[Erlind]

I notice her out the window first. She was actually navigating the twisting passages to get her and she wasn’t taking a single wrong turn. It was hard not to be impressed. I wipe my hands and mouth with a napkin and toss it down across the plates. A little gust of window carries it off the table and into the fire. With it gone so is the food. I stand ready to get the door, but she was quicker than I thought.

“Of course. Anyone is welcome here, but you are more than welcome. Come in and have a seat. Anything I can get you?”

 

[Kaena]

I smile at his greeting and step into the dimly lit room. I take a seat on one of the softer chairs, trying to ease the weariness a good nights sleep did not erase.

"A cup of coffee would be good," I reply. "I need the energy"

 

[Erlind]

"Of course."

I fetch a large gray mug off one of the shelves in the back and draw my hand slowly over the top of it. Steam begins to escape from beneath it before my hand is even gone. I deliver the coffee and a dish with little glass cups of cream and sugar to the end table beside her.

I take a seat close by and put my feet up.

"Long night, or day?"

 

[Kaena]

I take the cup of coffee gratefully and take a sip. I can feel the warm liquid course through my body, warming me from the inside out.

"I just woke up actually. I was up way too late last night," I reply, glancing at the clock. "Actually I have to cut this visit short, I just realized the time and I must get some errands done before its too late in the day. I would love to return once I am finished though."

I put the coffee down reluctantly and head for the door. "Sorry it was so short a visit. I will be back soon"

 

[Kaena]

I return as quickly as I left. "Guess I should have made sure my car was here before I decided to go anywhere" I laugh and settle back in my seat, grabbing my coffee. "I wont be going anywhere after all."

 

[Erlind]

"Not a problem Kaena. I should probably use the time to do something a little more constructive myself. And sorry if I kept you up last night, I've been working nights so when I have time off I'm trying to keep to that schedule."

I'm a bit sorry to see her go, but glad to know she'll be back.

"And if you want to skip the labyrinth out there next time, you'd be surprised what doors open up to this place. If you're looking you'll find one."

 

[Kaena]

"Not a problem Kaena. I should probably use the time to do something a little more constructive myself. And sorry if I kept you up last night, I've been working nights so when I have time off I'm trying to keep to that schedule."

I'm a bit sorry to see her go, but glad to know she'll be back.

"And if you want to skip the labyrinth out there next time, you'd be surprised what doors open up to this place. If you're looking you'll find one."

"Im back already" I say from my corner chair, taking another sip of my coffee. "Go do what you need to do. I will most likely be here for awhile."

 

[Erlind]

The world ripples a little as I reenter it. Kaena is already here and though I hate to have made her wait it seems to be what has happened.

"Sorry, I must have just missed you." I take my seat again and put my feet up. My head is aching a bit and I rub it. The world doesn't seem to be behaving as it should.

 

[Kaena]

Having decided to go out for the evening, I finally return, coming in to sit in my place again in the corner.

"Sorry I disappeared, I went out for the evening and ended up out later than expected"

 

[Erlind]

"Not a problem."

The words drift across the room before I appear again behind the lovely lady.

"My internet has been crap all night for some reason, anyway. I wouldn't have been here. Besides, going out is a good thing too, never apologize for living life."

 

[Kaena]

I smile as he appears, not sure if he was going to join me again this evening.

"I hate it when my internet acts up on me, it makes me cranky" I say, laughing softly. "And yes I agree, it is a good thing to go out, though I had been looking forward to an evening of writing."

 

[Erlind]

I smile and lean on the back of her chair.

"I'll do my best to provide."

 

[Kaena]

"well i have to admit that you have provided well for me so far in that aspect," I say, leaning into the cushions of the chair.

"I hope you are enjoying our thread so far. I am still a little rusty after being away so long"

 

[Erlind]

"Well thank you, and as far as I can tell, you aren't rusty at all. I'm really enjoying the thread. I can't wait to see where it goes. Like I said its something a little different for me and that's something I need when I write. If I know what's going to happen I get too caught up in planning between posts and end up ruining it for myself, if that makes any sense. A little planning helps, but too much takes away from the fun of it for me."

I lean in close and lower my voice.

"Anything else I can do to make you more comfortable?"

 

[Kaena]

"Well since you are already there, how about massaging my shoulders, they are a bit tense tonight," I say, smiling up at you.

"I find that I am enjoying our thread as well. Though, I know I am capable of writing alot darker than I have. There really hasnt been much violence to the thread. Not saying there has to be or anything. Though I had expected your character to be a little more confrontational, I like where it is going so far."

 

[Erlind]

I nod and without a word my hands go to her shoulders. I begin trying to knead the stress she's built up. As well as focusing on the massage I think about what she's said about our thread.

"He is fanatical and blinded by anger and hate, but he isn't stupid. There is a reason he is still alive after intentionally seeking out and attacking a potentially deadly group of people. He knows when he's outmatched, but that doesn't mean giving up, just being patient."

I shrug.

"I'm a patient person."

 

[Kaena]

I sigh in contentment as he works the knots from my shoulders. Its been awhile since I have had anyone do that for me.

"I kind of figured that he was just being smart in our thread. I guess I am just used to people writing characters that are not very smart" I smile softly. "I like the way you have written him anyways and I am sure there will be a time when he will try to act out some of his aggression towards her. Perhaps at a time when she lets her guard down, or thinks she has enough control over him to trust him. Who knows where the story will go"

 

[Erlind]

"Honestly, it feels a little backwards for me, but I can't wait to really piss Serena off. I want to see that darkness."

I continue my work on her shoulders glad to be able to help the lady relax.

 

[Kaena]

I smile again at his words and the feel of his strong hands on my shoulders.

"Well I am sure you will see Serena's dark side eventually" I reply, yawning a little. "Wow it is getting late again" I laugh softly