Her Replica of Amber Kindness

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Another nasty argument between Jude and Aurora! Yes, this is a tiny excerpt from my novel. I'm sorry that I only post small pieces every now and then, but please try to help me out. I want to know if the writing style is good enough and if the dialogues are well-written.
Thank you!

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With a fast move, I whirled around to move again towards the door of the coffee shop, only to find another girl in my face. But before I could pace away, I recognized her. And how shameful it was to see that petite girl with such big amber eyes, staring up at me as though I just stabbed her heart with a rusted blade.

“You,” I voiced in distaste. “You‛re everywhere.”

If only I could see Selim as much as I saw her, there would be no problem at all.

“Excuse me?” She asked slowly, only causing me to roll my eyes and leave. “No, wait,” she stopped me.

“What, puppy face?” She flinched, when I said that. “I don’t have time for you.”

“Cut her a slack, would ya?” The round faced girl accused. “Aurora, come sit. There is no use of talking to a person like that.”

“Thank you,” I addressed Aurora’s friend and started walking away again, only to have my rapid paces interrupted one more time.

“No, wait!” Aurora called again.

“Oh, for the love of God!” I called out, opening my arms wide. When was this going to stop?

“Really? Really?” she asked again, and again. Her head cocked forward and her contorted face looked rather funny than angry.

I merely looked back at her silently, my arms crossed against my chest in true boredom with the drama episode that was to come.

“Really, for the love of God? What God do you think allows you to treat me like this?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips defensively, but dropped them a second later.

“Yea, yea. We’ll continue this tomo—“

“No, we do this now,” she said and licked her lips repeatedly and rubbed her hands together before she finally started. “The only thing I did was offering you coffee and treating you nicely, but you called me a servant and insulted me in so many ways.”

The girl at the table gasped. “No, you didn’t!”

"You summarize it rather well," I teased, a smile of sarcasm rising on my lips.

“Mimi, please. I can… handle this,” she said hesitantly then turned to face me again “Look, Julius. I mean, Mr Julius. I honestly never say this, but please whether treat me nicely or never d…deal with me at all. I… I…” she paused and brought her fingers to her head to scratch it lightly. “I might be nice, but I’m not stupid and all I care for is my integrity.”

Never had her eyes parted from the ground she stared at while she talked. It was as though there was an unbreakable string that banned her from looking up at me. I couldn’t clearly determine whether she was intimidated by me, or simply unsure about the decision of confronting me. It was obviously a very major decision for her, which was one I only saw taking place in failing movies.

She had to know that no matter how ornamented she made her words seem, I wasn’t going to drop to my knees and cry for forgiveness. I didn’t like her, I didn’t understand her personality. In fact, I didn’t like her because I didn’t understand that strange personality.

She babbled a few more words and accusations that I couldn’t remember the next second. My thoughts couldn’t help but return to Selim and my worries over him, giving little attention to the curious customers around us.

I could see their interest from the corner of my eyes, straining to hear what Aurora was saying. They were probably trying to understand what we were arguing about- what she was arguing about. A very nosy town, it was. Or was it the whole country?

“Terrible speech. You’re not a good writer, are you?” I asked once she finished talking.

Involuntarily, I spat rude comments in her direction. It was a few seconds after she demanded a legitimate right- to be treated nicely- but it was very simple. Just as much as she was uncomfortable with my rigidness, I was deeply annoyed with her kindness.

A poor replica of kindness, was it not?

“What’s wrong with you?” she asked, her voice low as though she was exhausted by the short lecture she just declared.
“I’m tired of this,” she said and took a deep breath. “I don’t understand why someone would treat me like this.”

At least, she was showing some disappointment this time. It was a first for her anger to become so evident since I had known her, despite how poorly it was expressed.

“You’re a machine,” I finally confessed my thoughts.

When I said that, her head shot upwards to look at me in horrified surprise. In her eyes, it was apparent how frustrated she was to see that her words made no change in my manners. But it was true, I did think of her as a thing that didn’t breathe, didn’t feel.

“A machine with smiling lips drawn on its metal surface.” Her eyes followed my hands while they made gestures to mimic a square for a machine. “Can you picture that?” I asked.

She nodded, curiosity braiding with the hurt expressions in her small face.

“The smile is neither real nor can it come off,” I explained and a short pause ruled the next few moments. “Whatever,” I said and waved my hand at her.

That time, she let me leave without disturbance.

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Thank you for reading! What did you think? Were his thoughts clear enough? Did it sound realistic? Like an actual argument between two people?
Thank you for your reviews, truly. Future reviews!
Last edited by Gheala on Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:50 am, edited 3 times in total.
I'm back to my YWS after months of disappearance, hoping that I'd gain the immunity of books and quills against the harmful realism of our world.

In case this made no sense, I'm just saying that I'm happy I'm back!




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Hi Gheala. Here to review, as requested. :) Okay, so I like this story. One thing that really left me hanging is the fact that you never described your characters, but... oh, wait that is 'cause this is part of a novel. You're writing is really good, I must say. There is barely anything else I can say to make it better. This is good, I don't think is confusing at all. And I love the name Aurora... Lol. *Random* But anyways,

Nitpicks:

Gheala wrote:But before I could pace away, I recognized her. And how shameful was it to recognize her.

Notice how you mention that twice, sounds repetitive, like a little kid's story. You could change the last sentence to: "And how shameful it was." I think that would make it better. :)

Gheala wrote:“Really? Really?” she asked again and again.

I think there should be a comma after the red again.

Gheala wrote:I might be nice, but I’m not stupid and all I care for is my integrity.”
[/quote]
There should be a comma after "stupid".

~Solvy<3
Noob is a state of being, not a length of time. ~Ego

"Serás del tamaño de tus pensamientos; no te permitas fracasar."




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Hey, Gheal. I'm here to review this piece, as I promised I would.
I'm glad you put up another piece with Aurora and Julius. I was extremely happy to read this even though they fight all the time, I enjoy their bickering. It's too awesome. xD

Now, again I love your writing and your two characters. I just want to wish them a happy ending! lol
I do have a few nitpicks though that I think I should pick out.
“Excuse me?” She asked slowly, only causing me to roll my eyes and leave. “No, wait,” she stopped me.

As far as my knowledge on dialogue punctuation goes, I don't think you have to capitalize the She asked slowly.
It's a bit of an odd thing but you don't do that when there is a question mark in the dialogue.
"Excuse me?" she asked slowly. That works. ^.^

The only thing I did was offering you coffee and treating you nicely, but you called me a servant and insulted me in so many ways.”

I think it should be "offer your coffee and treat you nicely."
One of those tense things, I forget what the real name for it is and all but if you read it out loud you find it rather/ or a bit weird.
“Mimi, please. I can… handle this,” she said hesitantly then turned to face me again “Look, Julius. I mean, Mr Julius.

Should be a period after Mr. = Mr. Julius
Just as much as she was uncomfortable with my rigidness, I was deeply annoyed with her kindness.

I love this sentence in all it's glory. <3

Okay, so those are just a few nitpicks that I found.

Overall, I think this argument was realistic and I really enjoyed Julius's thoughts behind it. You had some great comparisons and made some excellent argument points in here that I did enjoy reading. My only little pick from this was that sometimes the lines kind of mashed up together and I found it hard to figure out who was saying what until I went back to re-read it. Maybe you could separate some of the lines in which you have Julius speak but then give descriptions about Aurora.

Other than that, I don't really see anything else. I'm excited to see where these two are going to lead up and what's going on with Selim. xD
Ahhh, you're got yourself and avid fan here, Gheal so don't hesitate to ask me for any other review if you must! ;)

Keep it up and let me know if you need anything else. I know this review was a little on the off side but I promise a better one next time! ^^

-Pinky
There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.
-W. Somerset Maugham




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Gheala, sweety, you're really going to have to let me know when you post more of this.
Normally, I stalk the threads to find anything of interest to me, but considering how busy I've been, I haven't had the time. I also saw this when I was commenting on your wall....;)

Ok. Well, of course, I understand why you only post this part by part. But it makes reviewing it sometimes a little difficult. I want to know why dear, sweet Aurora finally snaps. Why led to this? What line did Julius draw, and why doesn't he seem taken aback by her reaction, instead of amused?

What I mean is that, if someone who I had gotten used to, someone who was always soft spoken and gentil, suddenly snapped at me, I'd probably be shocked. And rightfully so! What is she acting out of character? I know we don't see this before, the scene I mean, but I find his lack of reaction ... bothersome.

Other than that, the fact that she held her eyes downcast worked well because she was always shy around him, so that stayed in character. It was a good argument, flowed nicely except for the instance or two that Pink pointed out.

Keep using that keyboard!

Tanya :D




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Hi Gheala.
As you know, I'm not one for nitpicking and commenting on grammar, so I'll stick to what I like, reading.
By that, I mean, what I felt and how the characters had an effect on me. :)

So I've just read the piece, and I've got to say, you are a genius. It was soooo real; I could imagine every movement and emotion in my mind.

You asked at the end, whether the characters were believable, well they were, so much so, that I actually felt pity for Aurora and the way she was badly treated throughout the piece. I really did, it was beautiful, yet sad.
And Jude, well he seemed not to have a conscience and just carried on attacking, no matter how hurt he could clearly see her becoming.

You also asked were Jude's thoughts clear enough. Yes they were, I could see how, almost glad he was at making her feel sad, and how board he was with the whole situation.

You have a really good writing skill and your two main characters are so very believable. Please carry on with your writing, and be sure to let me know when you next share a piece.
-thatboy
It's not what life makes of you;
But what you make of life.



I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart; I am, I am, I am.
— Sylvia Plath