Screaming

Scream (v): to utter a loud, sharp, piercing cry.

Screaming is a rather fascinating and diverse idea. You might scream when charging into battle. You might scream when a spider falls on your face. You might scream when you step on a nail. You might scream when your sister jumps out at you.

There are many occasions on which screaming can be acceptable, and arguably fewer on which it is appropriate. And everyone is different.

I have a friend who will scream at everything. You can come up to you and say, "I am going to scare you now." And shout "BOO!!" And she will scream.

Then I have another friend who could walk through the woods in the fog in the black of night during a new moon among the hoots of an owl and the howls of a wolf and have Satan jump out at her and she would keep silent.

Personally, I find there are very few times when screaming is appropriate. Screaming annoys me. It makes me want to relieve you of your vocal chords.

But then things get all ironic.

People who know me would definitely not classify me as a screamer.

However people who REALLY know, me would.

Yes, I am a screamer. And it bothers me.

I didn't used to be like this. Up until I was about thirteen, you could throw a Batarang at my head and I would blink, duck, and ask What The Hell Was That For? But somewhere along the line, I became a real screamer.

It's not an emotional response, and it's definitely not an attention-seeking one. It's really more of a reflex. The sound issues from my mouth without thought or control. It's involuntary, yes, but no less obnoxious.

Cassidy stuck a cold spoon on my arm in class one day. *SCREAMS*

A man at the Renaissance Festival threw a marshmallow at me. *SCREAMS*

The second-grader I tutor jumped out from behind a door at me. *SCREAMS*

That last one was really embarrassing by the way. I think the kid was more freaked out than I was. He really hadn't pegged me for a screamer at all.

I wish I knew where this tendency came from, or at least why it suddenly evolved. Was I traumatized and just don't remember? Maybe I've suppressed the memory.

For whatever reason, I am a screamer, and I'm determined to rid myself of this horrible habit. I'm not really sure how to go about doing that, but I plan to tackle the Cold Screaming first. Cold hands, cold spoons, cold glasses, cold toilet seats will be my first hurdle in tackling this great weakness.

Rumors

{Star Dancer has been spreading a reputation-killing rumor concerning Ember and Coal...and Ember is going to put a stop to it.}

“There she is.” Flare pointed across the dining hall at a sparktress with outrageously curled hair. She frowned and squinted. “I believe. What’s she done to her hair?”

“Pathetic laundry sparktress,” Ember snarled. “She only wishes she were as beautiful as we are.”

“You have a bad habit of hating the world whenever someone in it has offended you,” Firefly said, fighting to keep a straight face.

“I do not hate the world,” Ember said with impatient arrogance. “Would you save me some food while I go speak to that…Star Dancer?”

“Of course,” Firefly said. “But are you certain you don’t want anyone to go with you?” She gave her younger sparktressling a meaningful look. “This cannot get out of hand.”

Ember took a deep breath and smoothed her short orange skirt. “No, I’m alright. I promise, Firefly. I’m going to tell her it’s a lie and return to our table.”

“And if she doesn’t believe you?”

“I will burn off her curls. Save me a seat.” She smiled dangerously and ran lightly across the room before Firefly could say another word.

As Ember neared the far corner of the dining hall, Star Dancer was leaning against the wall, trying desperately to hold the attention of a passing sparker. She had a hand on his arm, trying to keep him in front of her. He was just about to pull away and leave when Star Dancer hurriedly said something, eyes lighting up blue. Whatever she said made the sparker stop and raise his eyebrows. Ember’s own brow lowered fiercely. There was no doubt about what Star Dancer had said.

Ember quickened her pace and was almost to her mostly-unsuspecting victim when she glimpsed Coal coming their direction. With a small gasp of horror, Ember ducked into the alcove where the door to the kitchen was. She pressed herself against the wall, out of sight, and gently knocked her head against the wall. She felt ridiculous, like a sparklet caught stealing cookies. She waited for Coal to pass in front of the alcove so she could resume her mission, but he didn’t. Instead the sparker Star Dance had been talking to hurried past, looking over his shoulder. Then Ember heard Coal’s voice, which made her stomach tighten.

“Star Dancer.”

“Coal.” Star Dancer’s voice was nearly giddy with anticipation. “I did not expect to see you this morning. It’s not often you pay me a visit.”

“I never pay you a visit, Star Dancer.” Ember looked down and imagined his face from his voice. He would look hard, almost fierce, his tanned face very still. Ember frowned.

Star Dancer made a flirtatious noise of mock offense. “Coal, you sure know the way to a sparktress’s heart.” Her feeble attempt at sarcasm was enough to make Ember cringe.

“So I hear,” Coal answered. Ember’s head snapped upright.

A nervous titter from Star Dancer. “So you hear?” she repeated. “What do you hear, Great Spy?”

“I hear a rumor spreading, spreading like wildfire, about Ember and myself.” Every word was like a burning coal, hot and heavy and dark.

“Oh, Coal,” Star Dancer teased dangerously. “Why deny it? Embrace it. Goodness knows your reputation could use a little excitement, what with your being the Fire Lord’s perfect servant and all—”

“My reputation is what it is.” Coal did not raise his voice, but somehow the effect of his tone was greater than if he had. It was a silly thing for Star Dancer to say anyway; Coal’s reputation with the Fire Lord might have been spotless, but his reputation with sparktresses was plenty exciting.

Ember could picture him towering over an anxious Star Dancer. She was sure that by now a few heads had turned to the confrontation. “It will clear itself of all falsities eventually. As a spy I know firsthand that the truth always comes out.”

“Hmm,” Star Dancer mumbled nervously.

“Ember’s reputation will clear itself as well,” Coal went on. “But I will not stand by and simply wait for that to happen.” Hidden in the alcove, Ember blinked in surprise.

“Oh…”

“I would like to help you start a new rumor.” His voice was dangerously light, deceptively helpful. “Would you like to hear it?”

Does she have a choice? Ember thought.

“Do I have a choice?” Star Dancer said sourly. “I mean, yes. What?”

“That Star Dancer is a misinformed little gossip who knows not of what she speaks. Do you think you could spread that one for me?” Ember heard scattered laughter. There was definitely a crowd drawn now.

“Alright,” Star Dancer muttered.

“And I will have you know that the next time I hear anyone spreading such despicable lies about Ember, I will come straight to you, and you will not be happy to see me. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” said Star Dancer in a sulking, insulted tone. “For flame’s sake, I wasn’t even the one who started it.”

“Really?” Coal said dryly. “Because even if someone else mentioned it to you, Star Dancer, I am quite certain that none other than the infamous You could have gotten the rumor around the Palace so damn quickly.”

Ember could imagine Star Dancer struggling over whether to be insulted or proud. Either way, she answered,

“That’s true,” and the conversation was clearly over. Ember stayed hidden and watched Star Dancer scurry away, along with at least a dozen other Palace servants who had gathered to watch Coal take care of everyone’s favorite fairy to hate. Ember had almost decided that she was safe to come into view when a face appeared around the alcove, directly at her eyelevel. She yelped in surprise and stumbled backwards into a maid who was coming out of the kitchen.

“Coal.” She winced sheepishly, but couldn’t keep the happiness out of her eyes. Coal’s own eyes were blue as well, but still held a hint of the ferocity he had shown moments earlier. “I was just on my way to do that myself.”

“I did it better.” His eyes snickered.

Ember raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of practice remedying such situations.” Coal stepped into the alcove with her and raised his eyebrows. Ember glared. “Alright. You probably did it better. Now move aside; a kachina needs her breakfast.”

She heard Coal laughing at her as she ran back to the kachina table.

~Stephanie

P.S. I WON NANOWRIMO :D Final November word count was 55,783 :D

IT'S HERE.

THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS. ZOMG.

I have a lot of rules about Christmas. Mainly they govern the celebration thereof, and there is actually only one:

Nothing before December.

No lights, no tree, no music, no tacky lawn ornaments, nothing.

There is Halloween. There is Thanksgiving. And THEN AND ONLY THEN, there is Christmas.

CHRISTMASSSSSSSSSS.

It's such a happy time of year. Everyone should smile and wave, and there's talk of snow and Santa and sugar cookies.

Also the stress of gifts, but we're not going there now. Wait til, like, the 20th.

But not until December 1st.

So, to keep with this rule and also the bright and happy spirit of Christmas, my sister and I decided to stay up until midnight and blast Christmas music on the first second of December first :D

Except she has actually gone to bed. So it's basically just me. >.> Hope no one minds being woken up to by THE CAROL OF THE FREAKIN' BELLS.

>:D Mwa. Mwahahaha.

Ha.

I'm clearly too tired to be posting :-| I should really stop. I'm sorry.

It's possible that at some point I will go back to posting thoughtful, well-organized articles that people actually want to read.

But then again, Pandora never promises anything but ME, and I have not been that way lately.

Henry Cavill

Thanks for following, Frozen Fearless!

*takes moment to breathe through the embarrassing giggles*

{Warning: This post contains an inexcusable amount of pictures. Like, I think I may have gone overboard this time. I'm sorry. I really am.}

It's been too long, my friends, and this 28-year-old actor is--without a doubt--deserving of a post, and for many reasons.

Firstly, because he's in a movie that's getting a lot of publicity. The movie is "Immortals," and it sucks. I saw it. {I got carded and was old enough to go in. BOOYA--okay, I am so not cool right now.} But still. Henry's face is out there a lot these days.

Secondly, because he's actually a good actor, which surprised me since he's been in exactly NOTHING I've heard of since The Count of Monte Cristo {yeah, he was Albert...or however you spell that in French}.

Thirdly, HE'S GOING TO PLAY SUPERMAN IN THE MOVIE "MAN OF STEEL" IN 2013. OH MY GOSH. DID NOT KNOW THAT. Too bad it's not Batman. Then I'd really be excited. But he does look more like a Superman, so it's cool.

Aw, damn. Never mind. The director quit and the new one recast Superman. New Director, you SUCK.

Fourthly, he's a good guy. *goes to Google to do research because she just BS'd that sentence* Yep, he is. More on that later.

And lastly, because he's actually a UNIQUE kind of sexy. It's true that he has the usual down: an outrageous body, piercing eyes, a tan. Check, check, check.

But he also has crooked teeth and a butt-chin, two things which might normally kill it for a potentially hott guy. But Henry works it anyway. He works it very, very well.

Despite all this, Empire magazine labeled Henry Cavill the "Unluckiest Man in Hollywood." In the past few years he was very nearly cast for Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter, Edward Cullen in Twilight, Superman in Man of Steel and James Bond in Casino Royale. He didn't land any of the roles.

I can't see him as Cedric or James Bond, but I can tell you right now he would have made a better Edward than Robert Pasty Pattinson. He makes a pretty good Superman, too.

His personality is apparently adorable as well. He's been described as "mysterious," "studious," "independent," and "loaded with warmth and compassion." He's also exceptionally intelligent and if he hadn't gone into acting he says he'd have liked to study ancient history or--are you ready for this--joined the army.

I love this guy.

He can be a very inspired speaker, but only when discussing something he's interested in, otherwise he's not a big talker. People say his focus will sometimes turn inwards in the middle of a conversation, and he's been described as "withdrawn." He has to guard against arrogance and the appearance of "I have it all figured out."

Awww :3 He's so cute.

Alright, now that I'm done rambling, here's the part we've all--including me--been waiting for: rampant pictures with no pretension to self-control or depth.

That's plain ol' good-looking right there.

Do you see that eyebrow? Because I see that eyebrow.

He makes a good medieval guy.

He looks so happy and dangerous in this one.

This is not even a flattering picture. But somehow I find it extremely hott.

Favorite.

You're welcome.

~Stephanie

Personal Preference

Unusual Things That Will Automatically Increase a Guy's Chances With Me

1. If he has a brother. Whether he IS the older brother, or just HAS an older brother, this will automatically get him a second glance.

2. If he has expressive eyebrows. There's no denying I am a complete sucker for this.

3.If he sticks up for me. I'm tough. I can take care of myself. Words are my weapons, and they work well for me. BUT. That doesn't mean I don't like to be stood up for :3 In fact, I do like it.

4.If he likes to argue. I like to argue, and therefore people who do not are automatically not destined to be with me.

5. If he appreciates Disney. Seriously. The classics are classics, and if you can't get into them...forget about it.

6. If he can dance. Although this needs a lot of qualifying. For instance, I do not mean ballet. CALL ME SEXIST, but guys who ballet dance are more often than not GIRLY. But if a guy can dance and do it right, it's hott. Hip hop or ballroom or something. But dance. Yes.

I'm picky pretty much everything. Books, movies, restaurants, friends... When it comes to guys though, it's different. I'm not picky.

I'm downright insane.

My lack of a boyfriend could be related to this. But I'm not sure.

XD

~Stephanie

This Pretty Much Describes Our Friendship

Kirsten and I have sat next to each other in class for years now. Among other habits, we've taken to writing notes in each others' notebooks. For instance, at any given moment, she might reach other and draw an evil smiley face, or a heart, or "I hate you" or make a large green highlighter slash.

Today I found evidence of one of our conversations from junior year as I was doing Thanksgiving cleaning.

I've typed it, but the it's impossible to type out all our drawings XD I've put them in *asterisks* for you. Kirsten is green, I'm blue.

Does Mrs. G look mad to you?

Maybe a little. I think she's annoyed about math & chem. Some of us are way too behind.

Ok I also think bc we got off topic in philosophy idk though ? I'm sooo excited 4 fri.!!

:D Me too! I love y'all! :D

x(

:P I hate you.

<3 the feeling is mutual <3

*a broken heart with an arrow through it* Kirsten is the arrow of death.

*an apple* Stephanie is the poison apple of DOOOOOOOOOM.

Your face.

Good. I NOT FAIL AT LIFE.

You are an ugly young warthog rabbit.

You are a phat toad with jelly & PB {I'm allergic to peanut butter XD}

*a dead dog*

*a fat toad frowning* Frowning aka Stephanie (Last name)

You're attacking an individual.

Ah, junior year :D We learned so much...

Kings and Dragons

Thanks for following, sparklyninjaa!

This is a poem I wrote in ninth grade :) I found it the other day and I still really like it, which is unusual for me. I don't usually love what I write, and it's even rarer that I admit it. I guess this moment in ninth grade was just a rare flash of brilliance XD

Kings and Dragons

By Stephanie

2-19-09

There once was a kingdom, on top of a hill.

The king was the fearsome and dreaded King Will.

But even more dreaded than King William himself,

Was King Will’s young son, allegedly half elf.

The young son was small, only six years of age,

But if denied what he wanted, would call in his mage.

The mage was a gift from Prince Calvin the 12th

Who was known for his cunning and scheming and stealth.

The Young Prince would then have the mage cast a spell

That would bend his poor victim to his selfish will.

The spells often had unpleasant side effects

Like green teeth or stiff hair or sometimes a hex.

Because of all this, most people just did

Whatever the young prince ordered or bid.

That is until one day, the mage had enough.

“It quit!” he shouted. “I’m sick of this stuff.

I don’t want to cast any more spells for you.

I’m leaving right now. I’m gonna do what I want to.”

And the mage left the room with a swirl of his cape

Leaving the prince staring after him, in a terrible scrape.

“Now how can I get people to do what I say?

That mage was my ticket to fun every day.

Without a magician, I’m just not that scary.”

He gasped, “I know! I’ll get myself a fairy!”

So he ran to the barn and saddled his horse.

When asked where he was headed, he said, “Fairyville, of course!”

The prince rode quite hard for two straight days.

Through the forgotten forests, through the forbidden maze.

The prince was exhausted when he finally reached the fairies.

“We’re here at last,” he said to his horse, Larry.

He jumped off his steed and ran through the town

Turning every house upside-down.

“Hello, please come out! I don’t mean any harm,”

He said as he trampled a tiny fairy farm.

After some searching a fairy came out.

She snuck up behind him and gave him a clout.

“Just what are you doing to our houses and homes?

Get out right now or we’ll summon the gnomes.”

The prince gave a grin and with a tip of his hat,

Said, “My gosh! You can do it? Summon gnomes just like that?”

The fairy was flattered by the prince’s amazement.

“Why, yes, of course; at least, for some payment.”

The prince dug in his pocket and pulled out some gold.

“Come back to the palace, and do as you’re told.

If you’re really as powerful as you claim to be,

I’ll give you all this and much more, you’ll see.”

The greedy fairy agreed and got on the prince’s horse.

They reached the palace a whole lot quicker, of course.

Because of the fairy’s teleportation skill.

The prince soon found out he could go anywhere, at will!

He used the fairy to do such awful things.

He frightened the servants, he stole a robin’s wings.

The people soon realized the fairy was far worse.

Instead of rare hexes, she could give you a curse!

But the prince used her so much her anger built up.

After an especially hard day, she’d had enough.

“I quit!” she shouted. “I’m sick of this stuff!

I don’t want to curse one more person for you.

I’m leaving right now. I’m gonna do what I want to.”

And with that she flew away, never to be seen anymore.

The prince crossed his arms. “What’d I ever want her for?

Well, I lost another helper. Now what can I do?

Who can I get now? Who? Who?”

He thought and he pondered for a very long while.

Then at last he knew, he announced with a smile,

“I’ll find a great thief. The finest in the west.

When people defy me, he can steal what they love best.”

It took the prince quite a long time

To catch a thief in the middle of a crime.

When he finally got one, he told him his plan.

“How’d you like to be the man at my right hand?”

It took quite a while to make the thief believe

That he wasn’t being scammed, he wasn’t being deceived.

When he finally was sure of the prince’s intentions

He cried, “Absolutely! I’d be honored to be your henchman.”

So they scurried back to the huge palace

And began their acts of mischief and malice.

Whenever someone made the prince mad or did wrong,

The next day their most prized possession was gone.

The thief stole whatever the prince told him to.

He stole jewelry and books and Cinderella’s glass shoe.

What bothered the thief, though, was how he was treated.

The prince never said thanks, the thief was never greeted.

One day the prince’s rudeness was too much.

“I quit!” the thief shouted. “I’m sick of this stuff.

I don’t want to steal people’s treasures for you.

I’m leaving right now. I’m gonna do what I want to.”

With that he departed, the prince never saw him again.

He sat down on his bed, on his hands put his chin.

“Here I am, in the same scrape as before.

Who is there now? Is there anyone more?”

He thought his very best, he thought long and hard.

And then he leapt up and cried, “By the palace bard!

I’ve got it. I have it. I know what I’ll do.

A dragon will serve me, I know he’ll want to.”

The prince saddled his horse faster than ever before

He turned the steed around and they shot out the barn door.

The dragons lived far away from the town.

No one much liked them—they were feared all around.

On day number four, to the prince’s delight

He spotted a dragon breathing fire, he saw that bright light.

He galloped all the faster, and when he was close,

He jumped off the horse, to the dragon he loped.

“Hello, mighty dragon!” He’d heard they like praising.

But when the prince was quite close, he saw something amazing:

There were lots and lots of people there!

The prince stopped in his tracks to stare and stare.

The dragon glanced at the prince with a smile that glowed.

“Won’t you join us? Come, enjoy the show.”

The prince frowned; he was quite bemused.

“Why, what’s going on? I’m so confused.”

The dragon smiled, “Just what I said.

I’m giving a show. Don’t look so filled with dread.

I’m not nasty and frightful as you think.

I’m really quite kind, having visitors tickles me pink.”

The prince shook his head with terrible frown.

He touched the huge jewels sitting in his crown.

“But dragons, like princes, are supposed to be fearsome.

Otherwise how will you get people to listen?”

The dragon just laughed, “You don’t get it at all.

You aren’t supposed to threaten people big and small.

Princes, like dragons, are ought to be kind.

That’s the real way to get people to mind.

Ruling by terror is short-lived, you know.

That isn’t the way to do it, no, no.

If you are kind and try to be fair,

Your citizens will follow you ’most anywhere.”

The prince just stood there, thinking it over.

He cocked his head, he fiddled with a clover.

“You know I never thought of that before.

Perhaps if I were kinder, I wouldn’t need a mage anymore.

If I were fair, just as you say

I wouldn’t have to steal from people every day.

I guess I don’t really need to be scary.

Why, I can rule without a strong fairy!”

The prince was astonished at this revelation.

He thank the dragon, went home and had a celebration.

He stopped being rude and quarrelsome and bratty.

The people began to like him better than his daddy!

The prince grew up, good and fair

And is remembered everywhere

For being a strong leader, not needing to scare.

He’s quoted a lot at banquets and things

By the earls and dukes and the kings:

“Kings, like dragons, ought to be kind.

That’s the real way to get people to mind.”

Hope this was at least good for a laugh! :)

~Stephanie