Character Conversations

J. Wilder · 2005-07-27T02:19:10Z

I've got one, but it's kind of hard to explain. We used to do this often on About.com teenwriting, but that forum's been pretty dead the last few months. Basically the first person chooses a scene--this has ranged from a forest to an NYC bookstore. Each person chooses a character from something they're writing, and together we write a scene where all the characters meet. Some are just for fantasy characters, some are just for sci-fi, and I remember starting one just for realistic, but most are for any genre, which means elves end up running into normal high school kids. Here's an example. Person 1 wrote: Here are the terms: fantasy characters only (so no aliens, please). They can be good, evil, in between, whatever you want. The setting is in a deep forest, in winter, in the middle of the night. No killing other characters, and lets try to keep it to a reasonable amount here, so a limit of 5. Beneath the cover of the trees, a young man of perhaps 20 years sits on a log by a small firepit. His chocolate brown eyes are locked on the fire, and he pulls his black cloak even tighter about him to stave off the chill. The flames' light causes the ruby fastening his cloak to sparkle, a hint of color on his otherwise black attire. A long steel sword is fastened to his hip, and its handle is engraved with black and grey runes from some unknown language. Suddenly, he stands and turns to the forest, scanning the trees for any disturbance. No sound was heard, but he could feel the intruder's presence. Slowly, he draws his blade. Person 2 wrote: "Finally a light, in all this withering dark wood." A young girl, perhaps seventeen walks out of a brush. She wore a high light pink dress that reached to just above her knees, and the rest of her legs were covered with a blend of bluish gray heavy jean-like leggings. Her arms were covered by a shawl, that was as white as snow. In her right hand was a large staff, that was as dark as midnight. Currently the girl had been glancing down at her leggings, while wiping off the many twigs, and dead plants that were loittered all over them. It wasn't until a moment later, when she looked up at a tall black cloaked figure with its hand resting on the hilt of a blade. "Um. . . " the girl became nervous "Hello there. I'm- m -m , sorry to uhhhh- um- disturb you and - oh sorry! I apologize for my rudeness, my name's Fey and I'm sure I must've caught you at a bad time but. But if you don't mind . . ." She glanced at the warmth of the fire, and it gave her strength to finish her sentence "do you mind if I rest here, for a few moments?" Person 1 wrote: (Just a quick note: these Character Conversations are supposed to be written in present tense) He studies her for a moment in silence, searching for any weapons. Just the staff, but he hardly thinks it would be able to hold up against his sword. She seems harmless enough, though, and his telepathy tells him that her intentions are good. She is amazingly hard to read, and this confuses him. Nevertheless, he puts his sword away. "Little late for a stroll in the woods, isn't it Fey?" he asks finally, and with another look at her clothes, he adds, "And that can't be keeping you very warm." Looking back to the fire, he says, "You can warm yourself by my fire, if you wish." Person 2 wrote: "Thank you, so much," Fey exclaimed. She let out a sigh of relief, and noticed that her breath was visible. She sat down beside the flames and shivered. Soon the cloaked figure walked over and sat next to her. She looked at the cloaked man, for a second, and saw that he was looking back at her. Fey couldn't help but think that those deep dark brown eyes were looking right through her instead of at her. She ignored it and stared back at the flame. I hate this, she thought. I hate this stupid forest, this stupid winter, this stupid isolation. . . Oooh, I'd give anything to be back home right now. But no! Don't think like that Fey. You know what's waiting for you there. . . *she shivered*. I just have to coax with whatever's thrown at me. "Peh," she said aloud "take that destiny." With that, her eyes grew heavy, and as she knealt by the flames, her head dropped several times. A moment later she gave up, fighting the cold and fell sideways on to a lap. *She shivered again* Suddenly she felt a warmth, like a blanket, and to no one in particular she said "Thank you." Etc., etc. There are usually more than two characters, though. There might be two at first but then more join. Anyone want to start one?

sabradan

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 1:50 am

sabradan says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 1:50 am

Ari looks at Emma, visibly hurt and confused.
"Me? Why would I want anyone except for terrorists to die?" He asked, hurt. "Ah, well," he thought to himself, "Theres still time," he thought to himself.

He saw Ivy, and said, "Here," handing the canteen to her, "Where'd you go?" He asked her, leaning against the wall and pulling out the picture of his girlfriend.

"He who takes a life...it is as if he has destroyed an entire world....but he who saves one life, it is as if he has saved the world entire" Talmud Sanhedrin 4:5

!Hasta la victoria siempre! (Always, until Victory!)
-Ernesto "Che" Guevarra

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Areida

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:28 am

Areida says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:28 am

Ivy bites back her compulsory "thank you" when Ari hands her the canteen as she takes a long sip. She splashes some of the water onto her face and shakes her head back and forth, her dark tendrils slapping water against the cave wall.

"I was at the top of the entrance earlier," she says. "But after I came down I just sat over there for a while." She waves her hand vaguely in the direction of a darker portion of the cave.

She notices the picture in Ari's hand.

"Girlfriend?" she asks.

Got YWS?

"Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed."
- Dale Carnegie

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sabradan

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:57 am

sabradan says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:57 am

"Yeah," said Ari. "We've been going out for a year and a half. But, I think she wants to break up with me," he said, sadly.

"He who takes a life...it is as if he has destroyed an entire world....but he who saves one life, it is as if he has saved the world entire" Talmud Sanhedrin 4:5

!Hasta la victoria siempre! (Always, until Victory!)
-Ernesto "Che" Guevarra

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Areida

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:33 am

Areida says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:33 am

"What for?" Ivy asks, putting her elbows across her knees.

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"Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed."
- Dale Carnegie

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sabradan

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:56 am

sabradan says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:56 am

"I don't know. She was a little angry that I signed up for another three years in the army, but I don't think she was THAT mad at me about it...but she was supposed to meet me here tonight, and she never did, and she never called me to tell me she wasn't coming. I just really don't know," Ari said.

"He who takes a life...it is as if he has destroyed an entire world....but he who saves one life, it is as if he has saved the world entire" Talmud Sanhedrin 4:5

!Hasta la victoria siempre! (Always, until Victory!)
-Ernesto "Che" Guevarra

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Emma

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:14 am

Emma says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:14 am

Emma looks up at Ari,

"Don't worry... She probably forgot..." She says to him,

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J. Wilder

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:09 pm

J. Wilder says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:09 pm

I missed a lot...

After Ari says, "Why would I want anyone except for terrorists to die?":

"She's drunk," Joshua says, as if to say "She didn't mean it" or "She doesn't know what she's talking about."

"That sucks," he says after Ari says his girlfriend stood him up tonight. "Hey, why did you sign up for another three years in the army?"

Last edited by J. Wilder on Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Areida

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:12 pm

Areida says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:12 pm

Ivy nods in agreement.

"Definitely sucks. But if she stood you up then she's not worth it. Can I have some more of that water?"

Got YWS?

"Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed."
- Dale Carnegie

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sabradan

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:42 pm

sabradan says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:42 pm

Ari shakes the canteen, and hears its empty. "Sorry Ivy, it's empty," Ari said. "Josh, I signed up for three more years, because I got promoted to Master Sergeant, and next October, I will be going to elite unit commander's course. So, I had to sign up for another three years, but I like the army, so its not a bad thing," Ari explained.

"He who takes a life...it is as if he has destroyed an entire world....but he who saves one life, it is as if he has saved the world entire" Talmud Sanhedrin 4:5

!Hasta la victoria siempre! (Always, until Victory!)
-Ernesto "Che" Guevarra

Quote

Areida

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Points 17580

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:47 pm

Areida says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:47 pm

Ivy swears under her breath. Her head hurts.

"It's okay," she says to Ari. "So you like the army." It's not a question. "How old are you anyhow?"

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"Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed."
- Dale Carnegie

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J. Wilder

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:54 pm

J. Wilder says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:54 pm

"You like the army?"

Joshua looks at Ari like he's crazy.

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sabradan

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:10 pm

sabradan says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:10 pm

"Yea, I lke the army. Don't look at me like I'm crazy...it's not bad. Ivy, I am 20 years old. How old are you?" Ari asks

"He who takes a life...it is as if he has destroyed an entire world....but he who saves one life, it is as if he has saved the world entire" Talmud Sanhedrin 4:5

!Hasta la victoria siempre! (Always, until Victory!)
-Ernesto "Che" Guevarra

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Areida

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:33 pm

Areida says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:33 pm

"Sixteen," she answers, then rolls her eyes. "Whoever added a "sweet" to it must have been on crack." She glances at Emma and then at Joshua. "How old are y'all?"

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"Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed."
- Dale Carnegie

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Emma

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Thu Aug 11, 2005 8:28 pm

Emma says... · Thu Aug 11, 2005 8:28 pm

Emma looks at Ari with disgust.

"You like being in the army? The army's suicide!!" She spits,

Ivy looks at her then Joshua

"How old are y'all?" She asks,

"15..." answers Emma, getting up,

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J. Wilder

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Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:59 am

J. Wilder says... · Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:59 am

Joshua takes out a cigarette and lights it.

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