Return of the Kistulot

It's been just a little over a month. Crazy, huh? I'd gotten better, too.

Well, it's an appropriate place to have been stopped for a moment or two, isn't it? Storywise, this is similar to having reached The Memory Remains in the original series, and that was where I had a bit of lag.

As you'll remember however, following that my writing gained a new form of regularity and I plowed through lead ins between almost every story, TAP, ISP, TS&O, and RMR.

I was lulled away from writing by a combination of bronchitus, work stress and my birthday. Well, that's all better now! My mother's birthday hits next month, and she's asked to watch the Wizard of Oz while listening to the dark side of the moon for her party of sorts on my HD TV. For those of you who don't know, the Wizard of Oz is one of those movies that quite affected me as a child. I think TMR (oddly enough) makes this apparent, but if not there it goes for the record. It'll be fun.

For writing? Ink Stained Reunion is well under way. I'm looking forward to this weekend being it's debut. It'll probably take the month for me to finish, but there's nothing wrong with that.

Some reasoning for my lost momentum may be that the Archive hasn't been a place I've particularly enjoyed reading for awhile. No huge rant here, jsut dissappointment. Back in highschool I would sometimes get through the week hoping for some new trilby or tabico, something exciting, enticing, way not supposed to be something I read about. It feels like something in the archive has been lost. I probably helped, but I'll be doing what I can to add my voice anew.

Carpe Argentum!!!

Bronchitus

I bet you've been wondering why the silence . . .

Carin McLeoud isn't much good at being the Madam Kistulot when she had Bronchitus. Antibiotics took awhile to kick in. The cough comes and goes. Then my asthma conflicted with the bronchitus and I'm dizzy and feeling feverish. It's fun! Afraid I won't feel good by Monday but knowing it's best I actually get well.

The sexy I can muster is reserved right now for those nearest and dearest to me, so sorry, no MK for a bit till I heal. Then, we start the most epic crossover you've ever seen. Until then? You get this sexy picture drawn by Lola herself.

And then mangled by yours truly.

This!

Enjoy.

~MK

Bloggu, revenge of the blogazor!

Once again, I got the story done . . . a couple days too late! So, here you go . . .

Electrum Volume 12: The Lights at the End of the Tunnel

Tada! A little late, but still in plenty of time for everyone to read. I hope to maybe get Sylvia's next volume done for the weekend too, as they parallel nicely and lead to their crossover event quite beautifully.

Work has been a little stressful, but nothing I can't handle. Next week I get a four day week, but I will be busy on Christmas. I have half-plans with my mother to see sherlock holmes.

I can't wait to see it.

For now, at least you get another volume of electrum, and Nebula is hot on its tails. Wish me luck, comment, fanmail away, you know, the regular :)

~Madam Kistulot

For the first time, I say before Simon!

So my loyal fans, what is it, you ask, that makes the subject line of this post true?

Well, I was sick last week, and therefore was quite a bit behind writing schedule. Instead of making you all wait, and since Simon's new formatting makes it so we can't steal his source code anyway (yeah, we'd been doing that for awhiiiile) I personally took the time to update the site. Val stayed up late marking up Nebula, and I woke up, finished my edits on it, and then coded it up, put it up, added descriptions to fan art . . . voila.

It's not a lot of fun to go through putting

tags and

tags everywhere, but a chickies gotta do what a chickie's gotta do! You, my fans, deserved this on-time update.

Also, last night I found my long lost word count document and brought it up to date. I had to show off the results.

Silververse:
The Adventures of Silver Girl: 86,702
Silver Eclipse: 72,444
Nocturnal Interlude: 4,808
The Memory Remains: 66,797
Wherever I May Roam: 14,784
Dust High: 15,701
Misted Facets: 13,297
Informant: 4,560
The Argentum Project: 100,763
(Arc: 153,913)
Poetic License: 11,068
Ballpoint to the brain: 7,035
Ink Blots: 6,583
Blotted Lace: 5,794
Sealed With A Kiss: 5,512
Ink Bot: 9,176
Prequill: 7,814
Ink Soaked Penumbra: 74,818
(Arc: 127,800)
Obedience Over Matter: 2,299
Silver Gray Starlight: 11,844
Pink Candy: 4,493
To Serve and Obey: 58,605
(Arc: 77,241)
Red Moon Rising: 88,751
Scribe and Shadow: 15,519

Total: 689,167

Electrum:
Volume 1: Electrum Impulses: 19,478
Volume 2: Roadside Justice: 5,432
Volume 3: The Spiral: 3,204
Volume 4: Hope: 3,920
Volume 5: Hope and Family: 7,424
Volume 6: Spiraling Forward: 6,990
Volume 7: Unraveling Transmutation and Hopeful Tethering: 5,898
Volume 8: Company Loyalty: 13,286
Volume 9: Floral Engagement: 12,729
Volume 10: A Magical Evening: 11,979
Volume 11: Out of Time: 14,954

Total: 105,294

Nebula:
Volume I: The Soaring Phoenix: 19,337
Volume II: Free Will's Fermata: 5,452
Volume III: Song and Storm: 4,474
Volume IV: Nebulous Struggle: 3,739
Volume V: Obedience's Refrain: 2,838
Volume VI: Phoenix Coda: 4,313
Volume VII: Ballad of Justice: 7,484
Volume VIII: Galvanized Melody: 7,233
Volume IX: Searing White Siren Song of Glory: 4,773
Volume X: Symphony of Falling Glass: 5,994

Total: 65,637

Rose
Rose Petals: 6,490
Rose Miracles: 11,070
Rose Rejuvination: 5,301

Total: 22,861

Mariana
The Day After: 4,843
The Fourth: 2,979

Total: 7,822

One Shots
Never Far Away: 2,041
Coping Mechanism: 10,434
Landing On Her Feet: 7,182
I've Got a Fever . . .: 2,233
Unit 9: 7,043
Paradise: 3,503
Exvolensation: 1,705

Total: 34,141

Grand Total: 924,922

This of course neglects the latest tale that I have to add in after I'm done with this post, but am too lazy to do now. This means since I've been writing for the archive (Unit 9 and Coping Mechanism by the way only use the rewritten values) I have only 75,078 polished words, not counting Nebula Volume XI, until I break one million.

I don't know what to say.

I want to thank all of you that read the blot, that contributed fanart, that well, tolerated my sometimes sporadic updates. I want to thank everyone who was happy when I created the Argent Garden forum, and then everyone who kept reading my work after I left once, then twice. I know I'm a rather thorny person, attempting to be warm but then storming off and locking doors, but some few of you have tolerated it at least for the sake of my writing - and honestly that's what I care about most.

Events in the Silververse are heating up. Darksong, another contributor to the greater Midasverse as I call it, has another story going up that may lead to an actual Silververse-Omegaverse crossover. New technologies introduced in Electrum Volume 11 lead well to a crossover with Once and Future Kim's Wires.

I only wish Decker were still about for some fun Psyche and Fractal fun.

That said, I admit it would be fun to have a more expanded Midasverse. I've attempted to do that through varying my style between Electrum and Nebula, but that only provides a little bit more. More unique, distinct voices could be fun. Oh well, right?

My lovely erislave and I might work on a webcomic together, and it MIGHT be Midasthemed. Since she'll be doing the hard part, I want her to make the call on that. If it happens, I'll let you all know here.

Hrm, lets see, what else is there to tell . . . Holidays are approaching, and I'll be doing damn near everything I possibly can to get Nebula Volume XII done by the end of the year. The event to follow is one I don't want to push back, even if there's no way in hell I can finish it by the end of the year. Then, I see another set of stories panning before us, finishing out the Sisters' stories by the end of 2010.

I'm tempted to go about commissioning some art of Sarah, Lacie, Jacqui, and Leona all posing together, or all mind fried together. I think I just might.

Good writing does two things. It makes you want to read, or it makes you want to write. I've done both, and while after I finish my tales in Midas I intend to withdraw from posting actively on the archive, I hope my writing is still able to have the same effect.

Again, thank you all, and I hope you're having a lovely holiday season.

~Madam Kistulot

Right on Time

The blog post will be a lot more amusing once the story associated goes up. Trust me.

That's right - Electrum got done in less than a week! How? I have no damn clue. I was simply driven. Like some kind of formula one racer. Awesome, huh?

Some new art will be posted up on the site this weekend. I don't know when I'll get to collecting it all for Val, but more will be going up - including some of the first fanart of everyone's favorite inkblossom, Quillspawn!

Mentioning Quillspawn . . . something occurs to me off and on. Scribe and Shadow still needs to go up on my website.

I guess I could put it directly after red moon on it's page. It does belong there. I'll poke everyone's favorite robot to get to work on that too. Events are in motion that make it a fairly important story to read. That's probably vaguely nearing a spoiler, but it's more of a teaser. Imagine it said with drips of ink slowly splashing on a white piece of paper and spreading out to say something like "December 2009 . . ." drops coalescing oddly, and reforming into the words "Ink drips from the shadows . . ." or something.

It sounded cool in my head. If I could draw worth a damn, I'd probably animate it in flash - if I had flash installed on my computer. Still a program or two I need to get loaded back up . . .

Well, that's pretty much all for now since I don't want to spoilerize anything. Nebula Volume XI doesn't even have a working title yet, but it's going to be a special one, too. The twelves are going to be real turning points, and then . . .

Well, just count up how many pages there will be at that point, pages being volumes plus chapters of initial pieces. I think you'll see a pattern.

Until next time!

~Madam Kistulot

Late Update!

So, I have a lot to say, and frankly, this took me too long to get to. Sorry about that. Life isn't getting in the way, but how much it has been getting in the way I've been a little lazy when I've had the capability.

New Super Mario Bros Wii came out yesterday, and I spent a good long time playing through a majority of it with Val. Was lotsa fun. We'll need to finish it still, but i feel satisfied mariowise. Chucking people you love off of cliffs? its a great stress reliever. Trust me.

A very sweet fan, amusingly named the same as my first glittering heroine (Sarah, not Silver Girl, silly) granted me a legitimate key for Windows 7 Ultimate - so I'm finally off of the XP train. So far really preferring it this way. A thing here or there isn't doing just what I want (Paint Shop Pro 7 isn't very happy with me - maybe because it's not the only 7 anymore?) but overall it runs faster, feels slicker, and is preeeetty. So that's all that matters.

Got Valencia a new laptop, a Toshiba Satellite. You never notice how small a netbook is until you stack it on top of a real laptop. Wow. Sylvia is TINY. Sylvia, incase I haven't said it, is the name of my netbook as my old desktop was named Aurora.

Aurora is getting so very close to some very big plot developments. Its so hard to restrain myself, but this needs to be done right or it'll be pointless. There's so much right on the verge of "popping". Sylvia has some things coming her way, but differently.

Their crossover is getting closer and closer, too. If I focus a little, maybe it'll be a sort of winter-season present? I'm not sure if I'll be able to make that deadline for starting it off/finishing it, but it's what I'm mentally aiming for.

Work has become stressful in a whole new way. People are leaving my contract. A lot. But still, we're "overstaffed." My hours have been cut back to 37 hours a week. To be honest? Any excuse not to be at work that doesn't get me fired or make me look worse. The job has become more exhausting, and I've actually recieved a pay cut for taking a "promotion."

So life is stressful. Val is happy. Mario is fun. Stories are moving forward.

Fanmail more appreciated than ever!

~Madam Kistulot

Four more years! Elect LaSilvas!

Okay, so work has calmed down, so why so slow now eh? Good question. This morning the max broke down, more details on what a max is at the Trimet Website, but previous to that? Exhaustion and writers' block. I've capped 55 stories in four years on the archive. Four years.

Its quality though, not quantity, but I'd like to think I've got that, too. Maybe not every story, and the earlier could use a rewrite . . . but I'd like to think they're worthy additions.

I'd have a mite fewer if I hadn't played with story conventions a little. Lead-ins were fun. After a nearing event, Nebula will revert to a more classic multi chapter story. Electrum seems to work best this way - but feel free to chime in if you dissagree.

Four years . . .

That's highschool. Thats a bachelor's degree. Thats longer than most marriages . . .

Sarah was born in June, so she's been four for awhile. Old enough to go to preschool, and get ready for kindergarden. She'll make an adorable school girl in a year or two.

She still has years before her chronological existence is jailbait, but we know how she'll turnout. Mmm.

Okay verge of creepy There. Sorry! Regardless, more should be coming, but I'm not promising as rigorous a schedule. I just can't keep up with it. I'm not going to purposefully go slow, but I don't know how well these deadlines are working for me or for story quality. So, apologies, but things might come a little slower. Probably not much than as of late, but hey . . . at least I'm posting, and rather regularly.

Gotta have something else in the update besides lisa teez in red, eh?

That's all for now,

~Madam Kistulot

Floral Engagement

Electrum Volume 9 is done and sent in!

It might be a little rough, but well . . . work, sickness, stress . . . I think I'm lucky I didn't have to start this one over from scratch. This one of course dives a little more into Flower Chylde, or Flora as she's known day to day. The next story will have a slightly Psiona based focus.

As for Nebula Volume IX, I've already started it. Some time back, and not very much, but it shouldn't be nearly as hard to write or take nearly as long for any of you to see.

The end of Volume 9 shows a hint of plans that I've had building up since a nightmare/dream I had some time back. It was freaky while having it, but it gave me some great ideas. I'm not sure what to call it, or what to call the new figure seen in brief, but I'll figure it out in enough time. I've known goals, inspirations, aspirations for some time.

I do make a lot up as I go along, but the little things I drop here or there, well, I try to know what my foreshadowing means. I admit a time or two I do lazy "this will be something eventually" like the light in Sarah's head back in tAoSG, but I try to do that less often.

It's also fun when you just write as you go, and yet foreshadowing creeps in anyway.

It's like your mind telling you where you're going.

Being a writer is strange . . .

~Madam Kistulot

Stress, or "This is the job I don't get payed for"

Well, this can't be good, right? Posting but not with a good subject line?

You'd be right.

Work has been hellish, and even though when I'm not fixing everyone else's mistakes (besides my actual right beside me co-workers!) there's plenty of time between calls . . . All this week I've been working overtime. I'll be working even more overtime come next week.

My employers hinted this is intended to run all of the way through christmas.

Ain't that just cute?

So, Electrum 9 is basically done, but needs an ending, and lots of polishing. Next update. Maybe.

I haven't really had a lot of time for MCstories lately. Two stories are currently open in my browser in different tabs, but I've been slow to even start on them. Life's just been a little too hellish.

Hope you're all having a better time.

Electrum experiment and nebulous update

So everybody, whaddya think of the experiment? So far the reviews I've gotten have been very, very positive on the new format for Electrum. This means, it'll probably stick. Nebula still works very well first person, but Aurora will at least be getting the occasional 3rd person story. It just works for having a larger cast like she does. Things can happen without her noticing. It's freeing.

Sorry no Nebula this update! :( I tried, but I just couldn't do it justice.

If I can finish it before the update, I'll post a pre edit version just to whet appetites. Or post if I can get it done quick enough. Time will tell! Either way, check back often, and thanks for reading!

~Madam Kistulot

Missed update, missed lover

Well, by now you've noticed that I missed the update. Sorry. I'll be trying to get both Sylvia and Aurora in to this sat/sun's update.

Reason? The lovely eri was visiting us from her lands far across the eastern horizon. Was somewhat occupied. She left portland last night, and I go back to work today. Feeling the smallest touch melancholy, but fine otherwise.

Also tired. Very tired. Couldn't sleep. I'll be awake for at least 26 hours by the time I get off work today.

I'll be sleeping well tonight.

~Madam Kistulot

Champions Online Closed Beta

So, I'm in the closed beta! :)

You can vote for Silver Girl here if you like the way I've captured her. Or not. It's up to you. I think I did pretty good considering my first spin at character creation!

I can't break the NDA, so I can't really talk about it. Sorry.

Still, you'll love it!

~Madam Kistulot

p.s. Nebula has been sent in, even if there's a Friday update it'll be ready. Electrum's latest is taking longer because it's interesting, as previously said.

Simon is an archival god

Beyond the obvious, the fact that he tirelessly slaves over a hot archive . . . remember my little typo? Nebula Volume II? If you check now, you'll see . . .

Tune in in two weeks for the experimental Volume 8, and next week for Nebula Volume VII. Sorry for sparse Blot updates, but expect more in the future, and new art on my website soon, too!

Which while accurate? I didn't do! It was my typo! So either Simon recognized my mistake later, or Mr Green Bastard (100% honestly meant in an endearing way, bar sinister and all) is a bit of a fan.

Of course, there's also a chance someone emailed him, but it wasn't me. If it was you, comment!

~Madam Kistulot

p.s. Nebula Volume VII already has a rough draft on a Sunday. Woo!

Nebula Volume II? What?

Hello there!

Any of you who have read through the latest story will see a typo. Next week, Nebula Volume II? Teh whatz? This is very easily explained as a typo. It should be Volume VII. That is the one big negative against roman numerals, and that I add my authors notes in last as a finishing touch.

Sorry for the confusion, and I hope you're enjoying.

Things next next week are going to take a bit of a different turn with Aurora getting a self contained third-person story. It's going to be a big departure, but I hope you'll all enjoy it.

Next week, Nebula gets a twist thrown in. Apparently the name for Volume VI I've heard is misleading. Phoenix Coda was referring to the Phoenix's Coda. Not Nebula's. Or John Bonham's comeback CD.

So, clarifications, and best wishes I suppose! I ought to do more of these, but the heat in Portland has been MISERABLE as of late. Mostly just trying to stay cool and alive. So, until next time!

~Madam Kistulot

Soooo I'm not good at keeping up with the blot!

Sorry about that!

I've been good at keeping current with updates, and that's what matters. The recent chapter was very hard to get out, and I apologize if it doesn't have the same kick you're used to expecting. It felt like it was missing something, but in the way where I could have spent five years not posting it and had it make no difference. Since the whole point of this writing exercise for me was to attempt more serial work, keeping up is important. Its tricky, but important.

Next week's Nebula is going to be a very interesting one, and I hope I can make it pack as much punch, eroticism, and foreshadowing into it as I possibly can. Both are getting very near the end of their introductory stories. After that, there will be another two extra-big volumes, which may not be posted all at one, may be, we'll see, and then there will be a crossover. Look forward to it, but I refuse to spoil any details.

Work has been a little hectic. People getting fired left and right due to being dumbasses. A guy at my job - a supervisor no less - was actually found in the bathroom with a needle full of heroin. Well, once full. Fired. One guy was hanging up on customers. Fired. My supervisor likes to joke in our team meetings that there's a bulletten to keep in track of every week: the new way to get yourself fired.

If you do your job, you will get paid and remain employed. Mayhaps, you will even be promoted as I might be - more news on that soon. Its pretty much a given, but I want to be sure before I blog it anywhere.

Regardless, things have been a little bit stressful, and after some less than fun people were met on the snappville site, I felt a little bit less like being public for awhile. Its just hard to believe the nerve of some people. If you want them to leave you alone, you block them, that doesnt mean try another account . . . but I digress.

More writing next week, a big one. I'm taking a vacation from work in august, but I think that I'll still get up stories on time. Anything more, well, you'll hear about it another time!

I leave you with pictures of my new computer, Atma Genji. Why Atma Genji? She glows blue like the atma weapon, and she has a dual core proccessor.

If you don't understand that, play more Final Fantasy Six.

*Atma
*Glowing Atma
*Atma breaking the Warp Speed Barrier

Until next time!

~Madam Kistulot

A little late, but more than Simons got!

I know, the guy works nearly year round - he deserves a vacation. Hell, I appreciate the slacking time. I have a backlog that admittedly will appreciate the extra work I'll be doing it, and the break. Breaks are nice. Unless they're broken computers, but that goes without saying.

When I get home, I'll take a shot or two of Atma. Atma Genji. Oh my precious computer. Way more than I need . . . but isn't that the whole point?

I'm on the new commuter train right now, the WES. For more details, go to www.trimet.org. Its a pretty awesome train, thats not actually run BY trimet, but for it. Which means it actually works, on time, and so forth. I think its the best thing trimet has ever made, even if it is at times a little bumpy. Awesome seats, no need to stand, and the chairs recline slightly! Plus? Free wifi, which I am using now to type up this blog post.

Game fuel is back again by the way. Stop by your local soda dealer and pick some up. Tell them MK sent you. They wont do anything special, but I'd appreciate it.

I've resisted myspace, but I can be found on hypnotize me! a social networking site for hypnosis. Its honestly better to poke me by instant messenger, but I know I'm not always on. Also, I am migrating to madamkistulot@live.com as opposed to my ancient hotmail that no longer works for email anymore, anyway.

There is lots more planned for Aurora and Sylvia, but I find myself more and more wanting to do something more visual with them/other characters. Maybe I just need to write something else and more often, but maybe also my visual artist friends and script writer friends are rubbing off on me. Both are equally likely as far as I can tell.

In other news, the flash cartoon that I am essentially co-creator of is all but finished. After some menus are action scripted, and I finish the subtitles, it'll be finished. Its about 22 minutes, which is about the same ammount animated of a half an hour cartoon. Its "The Legend of Link: Oh god yes, and spiders". The title is amusing as hell, and so is the actual comic. I only have one line, two words, but I am responsible for lots that has been done for it, including the originam remade theme that I'll need to link to here some day, even if its less Madam Kistulot and more Carin McLeoud. Under the Cowl is fine time to time I hope, as it tends to kill people just like it killed batman. Poor batman. poor batman superman from the planet of the capes.

I havent had any more trips to the comic store, mostly because I realized I am a highly impressionable writer, and those comics were not good for me. Especially not with some of the things going on. The Dark Reign, the Blackest Nights . . .

And people complained when I killed Olivia.

Another thing worthy of note, is that today is my first day going to work completely without the aid of crutches. This might not be interesting to you, but I've been on them for nearly half a year.

Goddess, do I hate crutches.

So, until next time, aka tonight . . .

~Madam Kistulot

p.s. god damn it, Batman is dead and the Phoenix is coming back to life. Does anyone see a problem here?

Still not dead!

You know how you remember to do things right after you save them/send them? There's no "next week!" Teaser. Bah. Oh well! Electrum Volume 5 will be out next week even if I'm a space case.

Speaking of space casery, the first two stories of my comeback have no editing but my own. Honestly. Stresses caused me to want to do it on my own, and Valencia along with several others lead me to well . . . take that thought under advisement, and I ended up deciding I could use an editor after all, even if just type editing, which honestly is very very important.

Very.

So, I have my new computer. Atma. Pictures will surface soon. she's dual core, and has a very double theme to her case design, so I am calling her Atma, with the last name genji. If you know why you're awesome.

So, more will come. Realize it. Accept it. Embrace it. Eventually it may become something you don't want, but I hope not. Their stories are honestly going differently than I intended, though the moment of reentwinement remains the same. I figure somewhere around their collective volume 12s is where I'll bring them back together agfter a single story from neither of their perspectives.

It all depends on how things go, I guess!

Thank you everyone who has shown your support. I'm exhausted, and still setting up my new computer, so I'm going to leave you all now to your own ends, and wish you a wonderful week!

Not dead. Yet.

So, if you're reading this, you probably saw the update to mcstories.

If you're seeing this before the update, sorry to ruin it. Nebula Volume III should be at least vaguely worth the wait. I have heard some criticism that its panning out too much like Silver Girl - but that's not where its headed. I know, a writer needing to explain their work is the first sign that something isn't going well, but I hope you'll disagree.

Anyway, as posted before, work has been exhausting. What with over 75% of the people I used to work with quitting or being fired, and then being slapped with customer surveys that were meant for other agents . . . work has been a lovely hell. Tech support isn't very fun when you work for companies that care one hundred and fifty ten percent more about their customers than their employees.

On top of that, I have tuberculosis. Don't worry, apparently I've had it for . . . two years? I'm on pills for months. They aren't bad, but it is very third world level frustrating. So yes, I'm a carrier for a very deadly disease. The state of Oregon is paying for my treatment.

Early January, well before my medical kicked in, I was on a bus that sped off before I could finish sitting down and my knee popped out of place. Wound up on crutches. Once I was down to one, ready to ditch it... something popped, literally, out of the other knee. So back to two. Down to one again, we'll see how that goes, but being mobility impaired is very difficult. Nothing makes stairs better than ramps, but there are no fucking ramps into my apartment building, or complex. Damn Oregon for being at a forty-five degree angle.

So, sans a lovely visit from Erika back in March, this year has been a difficult one so far. Good thing is that suffering leads to good writing. A calm in the storm often helps this granted, and I admit that I don't really see any especially close, but I'm not doing anything like giving up.

Just realistically expecting next week to more or less mirror this one, sans next week I get paid.

Lastnight my desktop computer died. The harddrive should be fine, and everything from it should be rather well backed up, but even a generous donation from the Raine foundation it'll still be a month or two before I can afford a new computer... So I'm a little depresssed over that. Aurora, the computer, was named before the character. She was the first major purchase I made with my first job. When I turned on her screen, it was the rising of the sun.

I'm a little dumbly emotional, I'll admit, but she has a lot of value and meaning and now she's dead. It happens.

The good news, is that I have up to volume 5 and V written. They need a little more editing, but I should be able to keep up the pace neccessary for frequent updates. Stress from work, home, health, and honestly a little worry in living up to my own name exhausted my ability to reliably write. I took a hiatus, and I should be back at least until I can finish their stories unless life intervenes again.

After Sylvia and Aurora finish off, I plan on trying to find a sellable premise and fight tooth and nail to finally achieve my dream. Odds are against me, but I've never been big on trusting the odds, anyway.

So, for now, keep checking the updates. Check here via RSS. More to come, in time.

~Madam Kistulot

P.S. - Rather recently to try and aid my writing I decided to actually indulge the genre I've been dancing in further, and have been a regular visitor of the local comic shop Things From Another World, which you can also find online. Thanks to a friend's reccomendation I've been tearing through TPB of Ultimate Spiderman, and have been enjoying it sans some of issue five. Was going to get back into the x-men, but guess who on my third issue is comming back to life again. I'm going to sidestep that, and enjoy pieces of Batman's "Death", pieces of Dark Reign, and miscellanious TPB, though for now thats on hold until I get my new box. More on that as more surfaces.

New job burnout

Heya everyone!

You'll notice by now I haven't had anything in the last two updates, nor have I contributed to the blog in awhile. Sorry. Not so much intentional, as I've been horrifically burned out, and I've needed a break from my personal deadlines - and writing has been very difficult. I have a four hour commute each day, and my handwriting is atrocious, so I've recently ordered a new notebook and I should have it by... Tuesday? At the latest. And then, I intend to write during my commute.

Five and a half hours of battery life? Mmmm, battery life.

So I just wanted to give everyone an update, and apologize. I really haven't had time to barely do anything at all besides unwind as of late, and try to de-stress which has worked with varying amounts of success.

I haven't really even had time to pay attention, but I admit I am getting a giggle out of the return of Sara H. I'm glad to know she's well, but going from bashing everyone's work and saying you're the best writer in the world who doesn't write according to cliches, then only writing cliches, demanding to be known as a new name, then taking back your old title... I have to admit, this is petty to post, but I did get a kick out of hearing about it. I don't pay attention to the forums, or most stories, but I listen to some that do.

So, I hope you're all well, and I'm sorry that Nebula and Electrum hit an update snag, but I have plenty planned for them!

Happy Reading!

~Madam Kistulot

It's been awhile - sorry!

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to let you all know that I'm not dead with my work being published post homunously. Humonously. However the frell you spell that.

I am very much alive (or so they tell me) and that is unlikely to change any particular time soon.

I've started a new job! Due to their rules about posting on blogs, I have decided to merely tell you the away message that I have up on Pidgin: I work in salt mines tech supporting fruit. Not exactly the message, but nooone the less! Due to this job, and adjusting, I sort of lost the steam I had going in my writing - so this week gets to be a by week. Sorry! If football teams get them (why can't my 49ers play anymore? at least the raiders have been good more recently than they...) then I can too!

So, none this week, and an apology for no blog activity. Volumes 3 are very... wait a tick. Electrum Volume 3... Okay, I actually can get that done. And there will be some this week. All I need to do is put it in a text file and send it off.

Electrum Volume 4 and Nebula Volume III are well under way. Ignore my insanity, and I apologise for my silence either way.

Twists are comming! Just be patient. The tide tuuuuurns! Or some such.

~Madam Kistulot

Closing off Tabico week!

Honestly, did you chose your pen name just to ruin this for me? So not fair! I kid of course, but if I didn't, I'd be old!

Please, imagine that you clicked here after I said that.

There are still a lot of good Tabico stories, so to end this week I'll look through the list and grab out a few more to point out as must reads. Tabico is another author whose work deserves to be devoured completely, so don't think less of stories I don't recommend.

Community

This is a story I've read several times, and enjoyed each time. A cop finds herself a part of a very special new community, and is shown the ropes by the lovely "D" as she is converted for it's use. There's just something I always loved about the way her clothes were removed by scalpel and the back and forth as she loses her mind to her new life. Hot, sizzling, read it.

In the Back of my Mind

This is a story that like Sweet Oil comes off with a young, innocent and adorable feeling. Two girls stumble upon something best left alone, and wind up servants to its whims. Their reactions to finding it, and as they begin to tread closer and closer to the end of their independence, is so delicious to savor.

Kaleidoscope Mind

I like to think of this tale as an MC story mixed with a good ol' slasher flick the likes of Friday the 13th. I choose that one due to it's setting. Camp councilors, pre-camp, wind up receiving a lovely little gift that has so much fun with helpless minds. The way they're taken down one by one until all of them are helplessly lost has such a hot, fun feeling to it, and I find myself coming back to this story often hoping one day to write something in a similar vein.

Lord May

I only happened upon this story rather recently, and it was an unexpected pleasure. A chance encounter leads a couple to meet their paralyzed next door neighbor who has mastered an exquisite process allowing one to control another's pleasure or pain via remote control. There's so much more to that premise, but there's where it all begins. The protagonist this time is male, and not who Lord May is after. A twist, huh? A most unusually happy ending, and hilarious outtakes frost this hot yummy cake of a story. Dig in!

Rewired

This is a yet another delicious story. Without going too far, or even saying much at all, I will recommend this story for its line of "fucking home appliance" if nothing else. Honestly. I think that's all I need to say. Read it.

Wrach

Another story that takes place like a horror story - only this time there is more gruesome attached to the sexy side of things. something long since buried is unearthed, and one by one . . . well . . . it gets just what it wants. Another one I read more recently than the rest of her work, and it definitely deserves a read. Very yummy.

This closes off Tabico week then, and I hope you're all looking forward to Iago week! Othello sure isn't.

~Madam Kistulot

Tabico Week Part Deux

Hello everyone! This time around to make sure every entry get's up on the right day I've decided to write them all ahead of time. If this starts a trend, hey, you'll be able to rely on me like a webcomic.

As I mentioned in Monday's post, Tabico doesn't pull back from raw, squicky, powerful stories. While Monday also showed she doesn't need to, today will show that not only can she, but she can - amazingly.


Adaptation

Let me start my praise of this story with a simple fact: I am deathly afraid of wasps. The cutest non cartoon bee comes anywhere near me, and I scream. I will hide from bees, or sit/stand incredibly still. It's not going to far to say they scare me to my very core. Even with that said, this story is hot. Her slow response to the fate that befalls her is amazing, and it's defense for her resistance makes it all the more delicious. This story hasn't made me less afraid of wasps, but it is still so amazingly hot. Does have a squick warning, but I think it's worth it.

Allegiance

Another story set on a distant world like Adaptation (in fact, due to a similar curse used I believe them to be in the same universe, more similarities to follow) this one with a more romantic tone to it. Old lovers meet anew to talk about what happened between the last time they've seen each other. One of them has a very hot yummy evil mc insect filled story to tell, that leads to a sweet happy reunion. Sounds unbelievable? Read it. Maybe not as squicktastic, but it fits to mention after Adaptation.

Bitch

This is probably a story you've heard mentioned before. It's the classic "I don't find bestiality even vaguely hot, but . . ." story. I have another, but that's going to have to wait until after Iago when I get to arclight. Anyway, this story really is fairly legendary amongst the EMCSA. MC device owes a nod to Eye of Serpent, and from there Tabico hits the ground running and doesn't stop. Twisted, messed up, and yet somehow very hot. Definitely, give this one a read.

Herd Instinct

A story that unknown to me at the time helped inspire part of "Silver Eclipse", Herd Instinct is another story you've probably heard of. If you haven't read this yet, you're missing out. It is extreme, with a business woman - the owner of a paper plant if I remember correctly, being more or less turned into a cow. Not to a level one would associate with the story above (no grafting horns for instance), but still extreme. Even better is when she has one more use after you think she's finally been made into just what they want her. An awesome story.

Riders

Tabico describes that this makes her "Mind Worms" story seem like "Horton Hears a Who" and recommends you read Sweet Oil if it doesn't appeal. This story is definitely unashamed, raw squick. Slime, ugly slug parasites, but yummy betrayal and re purposing of humans. Not including this on this list would be remiss. There are other stories of hers involving parasites, but this one works best for an extreme, and is a yummy read none the less!

Yellow

I've had this up as a pick on my site during the first listing of picks, so this one shouldn't come as a particular surprise. Definitely a rather extreme story, and even based on something from D&D lore! A powerful wizard buys slaves, but just what does she use them for? I wouldn't want to ruin it, nor the delicious epilogue scene. Its all just so delicious. There are a few details that are less than overflowingly sexy, but make it more real and intense for me. Not for the faint of heart, but otherwise, this is one everyone should read.

It feels good to have this post done early, as I'm sick of feeling like I'm scrambling to give good authors the feedback they deserve - even if they never actually read the blot. After I cover enough authors, I am tempted to email links, but that sounds so silly to actually do.

So, another full list of stories to read if you haven't gotten to them already! Enjoying my reviews? I hope so! Nebula Volume 3 is going slowly, but I'm excited for November! Are you?

Happy Reading!

~Madam Kistulot

Tabico Week Part 1

Damn you Tabico. You write awesome stories, you know that? Why did you have to chose a pen name I can't riff on? I can play with it, say tabsico amongst friends when being silly (I don't know why I started saying that) and tabi could be a cute thing to riff on, like tabby cat, but I can't really get away with that in good conscience.

So, ignoring my little tirade, welcome to Tabico week! The last, but by no means least, of the t-trio! Tabico's specialty is the rawness in everything she writes. She has no limits - or few and far between - and you can feel it in her writing. If something is going to happen, it happens. She doesn't pull away from the squick, diving in head first to stories most authors wouldn't even touch.

Tabico has written a wide variety of stories, including color codes for an author most well-known for her "red" or f/f contributions to the archive. She's collaborated with thrall and the next on my list Iago, and has an impressive series of interrelated stories that have never gotten a name, but I lovingly refer to as the Snowdonverse. She's not exactly the main character, but she is a recurring character that I enjoy quite a bit. Plus, I can never spell Arundsen's name without looking at how it's spelled.

So, for Tabico week, I'm going to start there. This will be a long post - making up for it's lateness - and giving you plenty to read if you haven't gotten to these lovely gems already! Warning, scrolling past where you've read may give spoilers - but not horrific ones.

New Tunez

The first story starts innocently enough. Lissa, a college student, gets an email for a new site that offers music downloads. Deciding to give it a try, she downloads some music that has a delicious affect on her mental state. Losing time is such a yummy way to show someone is being programmed. The fun doesn't stop there, and soon her friend is giving these new tunes a try. A yummy story, full of heat, and delicious mind control.

Cross My Heart

Nicole, Lissa's friend, has worried parents. She's been acting a little differently... and so she winds up being sent to see a shrink. The title comes from an adorable piece of hardware she wears, and I won't spoil that at all. The web of mind control grows further as yet another mind is drawn in deeper, and escape is so rarely an option.

Sweet Oil

Most of Tabico's stories are raw, evil, perhaps even cruel in a way. It would be hard to call most of them sweet, even when everyone is euphoric by the end. Sweet Oil is a sweeter, more lighthearted story as the title would suggest. A few girls get their hands on some special massage oil that has some yummy side effects, and get caught up experimenting, enjoying . . . savoring. No enslavement, nothing lasting, just hot fun. No less worth a read.

Hot Oil

But of course, the oil doesn't need to be used for sweeter purposes, as shown in this sequel. The woman supplying the oil returns to collect, and a sorority is turned into a pack of pets one after the other. Tabico writes a lot of serial recruitment, and perhaps this story is one of the best examples. A yummy story, sizzling really. Read it!

Fitness

A woman's gym changes ownership, and things start to change, dramatically. The changes happen so sweetly subtly to those involved, and for those of us with the luck to watch, you can see the options for anything but enslavement melting away more and more as the story progresses. Also a yummy dehumanization piece, though I don't want to ruin much more. Lots of women being taken all at once - yummy!

Temp to Perm

Snowdon herself pays a visit to collect a new girl, and winds up with another. A delicious short story with a fun protagonist - a temp who enjoys being a temp fluttering from job to job, doing good enough work to get away with surfing for porn on her work computer. I love the title, and this story.

Ronin

Another story where we get a more direct glance at Snowdon, though admittedly the first that I had any problems with. It is a very hot story, with a woman being caught between the games of two powerful mind controllers . . . but the way some characters act, and are allowed to act, strikes me as a little out of character for what we've seen in the past. Its a yummy story, with yummy bikes, but the latter half just doesn't sit right with me.

Arundsen's Device

This story feels to me almost like another half to the 'verse, even if there are only three stories with Andrea, and only two where she is given a more central role. Andrea, a grad student, stumbles upon a mind control made by Professor Arundsen, and indulges in it. She even uses it on herself - a detail that has always made this story stand out in my mind. But things are turned on her, and then once she manages to recover, things are turned again . . . a very fun protagonist, and supporting cast. Yummy.

Socket

Sort of a side story, a colleague of Arundsen tests his own device ant takes himself a yummy new slave. It is m/f md, but its still a yummy story for it's mind control if nothing else. Andrea makes a cameo. I'm feeling at a loss for what else to say for this one, but that doesn't mean it's bad.

Summit

This story is a direct sequel to Arundsen's Device (I finally spelled it without looking! holy crap!) as well as continuation of the earlier stories with Nicole. A 'natural' has been found, and several mind controllers are brought together, made aware of the situation . . . some manage to pull through, while some are taken apart. This story alternates between our more familiar characters and the natural, a man who has the ability to instantly conquer a mind with almost no effort. Arudsen is made a much more interesting character here (as he's actually present for one), Snowdon is developed deliciously, and the Andrea/Nicole interactions are some of my favorite scenes in MC. If you enjoyed the previous stories, you need to read this one. It's delicious.


Wow, that was a lot, but really, these stories deserve to be read as all one big lump - maybe not all at once, but as a continuing growing world with so much to delight in. I enjoy rereading parts of them, or stories in their entirety quite often, and never find myself regretting it.

Until Wednesday!

~Madam Kistulot

p.s. - I need to update the updates page and the front page of my site, but my story picks have been updated again! Give them a look if you still want more to read!

thralling others

This post is a little late, but I'm still getting to it - and it's the thought that counts! After this post I'm going to get to writing Nebula Volume 3 in earnest. I know, well behind where I intended to be, but I still have several updates ready, and that's what matters.

Anyway, enough about me. Today is about perhaps one of the most impressive things thrall has accomplished on the EMCSA - her collaborative efforts. Obviously I like her solo writing, but to fuse one's writing with anothers? That is even more impressive as far as I'm concerned.

So, a quick reviewcomendation™ for three wonderful stories.

Goldilocks

Co-written with trilby else, this story is absolutely delicious. The synopsis, an interstellar thief seeks refuge, does not begin to touch on this masterpiece. Just like Goldilocks and the three bears (obviously the inspiration for the title) our protaganist hidoes away in a long abandoned installation, and tries everything out, until she finds the new role that is just right for her. Her struggle, and her eventual surrender, are dripping with pure "mmm". Really, I can't think of a better way to describe it. Check it out if you haven't, it's amazing.

Arachne, or the Icky-Squicky Spider

Alien invasions are in themselves awesome - combine it with thrall and Tabico and you have something even more amazing. When Cassandra goes missing her old flame/friend Randy goes looking and stumbles upon something beyond anything she'd beeen afraid to find. Body modification, mental enslavement, and bringing old friends closer together... this is another yummy story you really need to give a glance.

Salvation

Ending alphabetically last, but by no means the least yummy, is another thrall-Tabico fusion. A group of trained commandos - one of them a former slave herself - raid a mistress's compound to attempt freeing the slaves, but one of the slaves has other ideas, and the tables turn so deliciously as they themselves are freed from their free will. The slave's actions are so yummy, and the ending is one of my favorite endings for either of their stories. If you enjoy Tabico or thrall, or just mc, you do need to read this too.


My reviews are feeling a little more energy-draining and hard to come up with. I love these stories, really, but my descriptions of that enjoyment are feeling lackluster . . . so I may or may not post Tabico week next week. Either way, I will be taking a break before I move on to Iago.

For now, read these excellent stories, and who knows, maybe we'll get some yummy surprizes on the EMCSA tomorrow!

~Madam Kistulot

In thrall's thrall

I know, lame title today, but if you want me to come up with a better one it'll take me until it's no longer Wednesday, and I'd love to get one of these author weeks on mon/wed/fri!

Continuing as before, we'll hit on some more of thrall's stories, another three lovely pieces that I consider must reads - especially if you liked the last three stories. Honestly, a lot of the authors I'll be going into? I think you should read all of their work. What I'm doing here is just telling you why I love them, editorializing a little, while trying to give some authors I really love a boost to their readership.

Do they need it? From me? Probably not. Honestly, I'd prefer riding on their coat tails. Being an author thrall would want to co-write with? That would be a dream. Getting a mention in a trilby story for inspiration? Equally awesome. The one such reference I got from an author I'd read for years, arclight, still has me beaming.

And I mean really, really beaming.

So, without further ado, less about me, and more about you, thrall! On to today's reading suggestions!

Raggedy Anne

This is a most delightful story all about a delightful little girl who bares absolutely no ill will to our protaganist whatsoever. Sorry, couldn't resist, I'm in a strange mood. Cherie is a door to door saleswoman. That's crappy enough job as it is, driving around, hoping to make a sale, without running into a girl who intends to make you into a toy for her own amusement.

Raggedy Anne is another story I don't want to say too much about because part of the thrill (at least for me) is getting to the reveal. Obviously, the girl who answers the door isn't nearly what she seems, young, or normal, and our protagonist Cherie is irrevocably changed from woman into well . . . literally a doll.

Not a plush doll mind you, but a sextoy, albeit a cutesy one. Body and mind changed for the convenience of her new owner in a lovely transformation sequence.

The mischevious bratty nature of the domme in this story makes it an especially delightful read. Don't miss out!

Love In a Silver Socket

In the future, there will be aliens. Not the nicest aliens, either. World conquering, mind controlling aliens who have plenty of uses for their subjugated slaverace. Why wipe out humanity when they're such a malleable race and so happy to please once you've installed some extra hardware?

The silver in the title, and the story, might make some giggle that I'm reccomending it, but it is truly a wonderful story. Our protaganist is one of the humans who have been "upgraded" by our new alien overlords - a once member of the resistance remade to service her alien owners, and she's all too eager. Wether it be on display, being controlled for her owners' amusement, or being used against her former friends, there's nothing she'd like to do more . . .

But her mind isn't gone - just repurposed, and a slip by her alien owners in addition to some of their upgrades could mean a much different result than intended. Another story with a delightful twist I don't want to ruin. thrall is no M Night Shamalan with her plot twists. No one turns out to be really dead or allergic to water. It flows from the story. And that is why I would absolutely hate to spoil it. Read it, and enjoy it. Neither task is difficult.

Solitaire

We've all at one time in our lives or another played a game of computerized solitare to make the time go by. Does the computer cheat to make us groan in abject terror, or is it as much an exercise in learning to accept that which you cannot win as much as a game where victory is the intended result? Who knows. That's not the purpose of this story, but it gives us some background.

Hidden within our narrator's (I don't believe she gets a name - I should reread it anew soon) otherwise harmless game is an insidious like or two of code that makes the trance of red on black, black on red, king through ace, so much more satsfying and affecting than any game of cards I've ever played.

By the end, that lovely computer mouse has been repurposed most delightfully, and free will is a thing of the past. A nice quick read that's definitely more productive than playing a game of solitare.


Thank you again for reading through my reviews and reading suggestions. I'm debating taking a break from these sorts of posts after hitting through Tabico next week since I think my skill at writing engaging, enthusiastic reviews is slipping. It's just not where my writing tallent lays. Of course, it doesn't fall in any form of nonfiction writing, but you get what I mean.

So if I seem less enthusiastic, it's not because I reccomend the stories any less. Read! Multiply! Play solitare! Visit my blog, and tell all of your friends!

MK out!

And thus begins the week of en-thrall-ment!

Hello everyone, and welcome to thrall week on the Kistublot!

The timing couldn't be more fitting, as according to her own blog, she's been reworking some of her classics. In fact, she's already reworked my personal favorite! I haven't yet read over her new version - but I intend to soon as I can find some time with my head not swimming in sicky dizzyness.

If you didn't already look, the main page has an update under my reading suggestions. Give those a look! Here, I think I'll give them all three a deeper delving. Wednesday I will go into some other stories, and I think I'll end the week with her collaborative efforts. Only fitting, no?

So, first up . . .

Willing Subject

I remember finding this story when I was first getting into the archive. I had yet to develop a discerning taste, but I knew what I liked and I loved this story. I read through this one quick as I can and savored each and every hot little detail, but now I prefer to reread it slowly and savor each and every little scene.

Missy's transformation from kinky college girl to helpless little toy is so savoring. There's no jarring moments, only a slow sweet spiral. In fact, the use of spiral imagery in this story is something I always remember. The use of a classic black and white spiral changing from one solid color slowly to the other is one of the strongest images I've read in any MC story, and I savor it.

Not only is her transformation sizzling, but it shows perfectly the way that thrall does dehumanization. The loss of self, of self concern, of self control, of everything but obedience, becomes so sizzlingly erotic. Her pure desire to lose everything so completely is so overwhelming, strong enough to flow out and over the reader.

Even when she realizes things are illusions, she savors them for that, and their strength over her. Every time that I read the story, I press my teeth together and indulge in a little fantasy of them being trapped like that. Read the story to know just what I mean.

It even uses the location from the trilby else story Dark Forest to aid in our heroine's transformation... so deliciously, too. If you haven't read this, read it now, then read the revision!

A Tenpack of Trixies

Another absolutely sizzling story, Tenpack gives us a glance into a not-so-distant future where criminals are remade into slaves, dolls, for the use of others. There's other details (and honestly, I need a reread to do this story justice but I want to get this post out tonight) about their world, but that's all you need. A woman went missing, and now ten dolls have shown up, and one of them might be her . . . and hell hath no twisted sense of humor like a Domme scorned.

The dehumanization here also happens in reverse. Objects becomming more human - though they were rather human to begin with, and theres a hot yummy dose of tables turning.

The real delightful edge of this story is when it changes into a struggle between those who've kept their minds, and those compromised into pure obedience. I won't ruin anything more, but you really ought to give it a glance over!

Mirrored in Your Eyes

thrall surprizes all of us - or at least me - by writing one of the most romantic mc stories on the site. Another alternate world is shown here, one where it is the norm to decide to become either a dominant, or a completely helpless submissive. There are packs of "norms" but they're the exception and by no means the rule.

In this world, you don't ever need to be dominant . . . but everyone must take a run as a helpless obedient thrall - body and mind altered, to be used by anyone and everyone.

Some are forever changed by this proccess, and become submissive when before they were so dominant - now that they see the perks in an obedient lifestyle. That fact weighs heavily on our protaganist after her time ends...

Read this. You don't know what you're missing if you don't.

thrall is a wonderful writer, giving us hot erotic heat, yummy mind control heat, and never writing a story that feels supurfulous or pointless. She writes stories that are gripping stories as well as wrist-ruining reads. Every time her name appears in the update, I squeal.

I imagine I'm not alone. More on wednesday.

~Madam Kistulot

What else is left? The last trilby post!

Truth be told, this post should be "for now."

I hope in a year or so, I'll be able to go back and have a few stories left to go over, or some new insight . . . or something. trilby is an awesome writer. I don't consider myself in his league, and that means I still have a lot more to learn from how he accomplishes what he does - and I hope he has more stories to give us!

So, to finish off trilby week (a day late you'll forgive me, but I'll be posting tomorrow too to start thrall week so sue me) we have a fist full of one shots to give you something to read on this weekend without an update!

Held

I remember when I first read this story I kept waiting for the dark twist to come... and itended up romantic and yummy instead. A good example of a story where what qualifies it for the EMCSA all really happened beforehand. This is divulged - and hotly so - but I enjoed it for the present more than it's past.

Sleeper

To ballance Held, here is a story just flowing with all of the things a yummy dark MC story is made of. Trish is a secret agent ryng to bust a dangerous woman, and she knows going in that she'll be subjected to mind control . . . is her training enough to resist succumbing to the villain's wiles? No. Is her decent to devoted love slavery delicious? Yes.

Taker

This story is one I adore for it's candid dialogue, and the reveal and how it's handeled. I don't want to ruin anything with this one if you havent given it a glance yet, but it's hot dark, with a very sweet ending.

Dark Forest

This story in turn influenced my favorite thrall story, so it's only appropriate that I list it last for trilby week. A visit to a fetish store ends up goinga lot dfferent tha the visitors planned, and just as the owners desire. Another one I feel you just need to read, enjoy . . . then read Willing Subject. . .

Which I'll be talking about tomorrow!

For now, happy reading!

~Madam K

more trilby, what else?

Another pun. Sorry. I couldn't resist.

As with the last blog post, you are warned in advance: there are spoilers here. These stories have been around for awhile, and discussed to some length, but still you deserve the warning - I just won't be pulling details for the sake of mystery. Nothing here will make it so you can't still get something out of reading though. You need to give them a glance or three.

We're nearing the end of trilby week! Since tomorrow I want to cover some stories that link up to thrall, and some stand alones, it felt appropriate to touch on another awesome trilby story with a few sequels under it's belt.

Trinkets.

This story follows Kerry and her trip on the Queen Like-- I'm sorry, Queens Lines Resort, and the Isle Dormignonne. An awesome name, isn't it? I don't know if it's real, but it would be a nifty little detail were it, or if not, I'd be interested to know the inspiration for the name. Anyway, it starts off on a cruise ship, and a very special cruise ship, with delightful hypnotic entertainment for the QLR guests.

This is a trilby story, so its not exactly story ruinin to tell you this entertainment is not without ulterior motives. Interactive entertainment usually does much to keep the mind working, but a working mind isn't exactly what they're aiming for.

Control, lust, pleasure, so forth. Its delicious, but reading it would be better than me going on about it. Then we get to the Isle Dormignonne, where the girls get back to nature in a way much deeper than most resorts. Instead of participating int he wilderness as interlopers, they are turned tribal, and given a new slave society to belong to as their minds are further co opted.

Queue up more of the above, deepening, programming, lust, sex, control. Traditions. A yummy induction involving, you guessed it, trinkets.

The ending is where this story stands out to most people. It seems to be one of those you love it or you hate it sort of endings. When I read a story, if its for the sake of masturbation or not, the story is important. I don't care if its disrupted by the hottest induction ever followed by yummy mc and even sex if well done, if it breaks the story I will roll my eyes and just end up with a sore wrist. Trinket's ending is not the kind of ending that's meant to be overflowing with heat. The story is dripping with it already - the ending has a different purpose all together.

Character death is something a lot of people hate to read. MC a character, incapacitate, make them comatose, anything, it allows for the reader to imagine them okay in the end. It is also often used as a cop out. Trinkets doesn't pull that punch. A character saves the day in death - not ala Olivia though I'm sure in ficticious character heaven they'd get along - and its sad. Its emotional. It leads to a happy eding off in the distance, but the "now" is sad. I guess I am pulling some spoiler punch, but being the purpose of this post, makes sense.

After Trinkets, there are two tales not directly related (unless I'm missing a detail or two) though introductory author blurbs give a timeline none the less, so starting with what comes first . . .

Recovery

Tara is in recovery, as the name suggests. At the end of Trinkets, the scene before last, she was even on the phone though her side of the conversation was silent. A deeply programmed phone drone of the QLR, Tara is amazingly free willed for all that she' gone through, especially compared to the others that don't display nearly as much self. She is crippled with regret for what she did, sending out as many women as she could to their final destination as the QLR was being taken down. She tried to resist, but after being that controlled for that long, not exactly something you can bame her for failing.

Lucky for her she has a doctor assigned to her case that is very, very devoted to helping her make a recovery, along with a nurse who takes a special liking to her. Not so lucky for her, just because the QLR as an organization is in remission doesn't mean a cell here or there isn't still metastasizing - and it wouldn't be much of a story if they weren't heading right for Tara.

This story explores the limits of various forms of control, long term, temporary, drug induced or not, and has a bittersweet ending. Our Tara does indeed get to recover, but at what cost?

Following shortly after Recovery is . . .

Dreamtime

Dreamtime interweaves Kerry and Tara's stories in a most delightful way. This story feels sort of like a reward for both of them, the hug from the author saying "you can relax" and a gift to us readers in a story with loving mind control and happiness all around with only a hint of sorrow that in itself brings the four women in this story together.

Definitely not one to read out of order, but even with it's lack of strong conflict it remains a must read.

Changeling

Amusingly thrall mentioned this story not long after I'd actually read it for the first time. Was a rather "whoa, talk about weird" moment! She only touched on it in brief, but still, her mentioning it ought to be a bump in it's direction if nothing else! Changeling is post the crumbling of the QLR empire that came at the end of Trinkets. It couldn't last forever - nothing really does. Nancy is one of the women found before they were shipped off to their final destination, and has been through a recovery program, and she remembers everything that happened.

But like a certain protaganist of mine, she still savors the memories. They get her going more than anything else, and she has to find some way to recapture what she had there. Even if it was hypnotic, it was real, and it was what she wanted - and wants, post "recovery".

She has a wonderful girlfriend, Beth, but what Beth wants for her isn't what she wants, and she'll even go further than before to get what she feels she needs. Definitely worth a read even unfinished, and maybe fanmail can persuade! Never hurts to try.


I know there's another series of interlinked trilby stories, includng "Watering Hole" and "Wetrun" and though I've read the former I havent yet gotten around to the rest. I'll need to correct that as I rather enjoyed Watering Hole. Still! Next post will cover some stand alones, and a pair of pieces that sweetly link us over to thrall - who will be thoroughly covered next week.

Until tomorrow, happy reading everyone!

~MK

trilby beyond

WARNING: Possible spoilers ahead. Nothing story ruining (in my oppinion) but you're warned in advance.

Okay, no more bad puns... But for some reason the cartoon "Batman Beyond" came to mind, and that my friends is where you get the name for this blog post.

I said three this week, so I guess that means one today, one tomorrow, and one Friday. No trouble by me, I just had forgotten I'd meant to do more this week. I'm not used to keeping a schedule for this thing - which anyone who reads can tell you I'm sure.

We're still on trilby else, and I would be remiss if I didn't cover trilby's recurring Domme, Joss. She is powerful, sexy, and most importantly knows how to manipulate people - not just slaves.

The most infamous story Joss's presence fills is without a doubt Bridesmaid. As the synopsis suggests, Bridesmaid follows Tegan as she worries about her best friend's new lover, Joss. Over the course of the story we see that these worries definitely have a basis in reality, not that this realization does much good for Tegan. It isn't much of a spoiler to say that by the time she might have any inkling of what to warn her friend about, she's already far too caught up in the Domme's web. This story has one of the most yummy heavily vocal and hypnotic inductions in the archive, and is worth a read.

Tegan's surrender is not instant, however, and she can also be found in Bait, again as our protaganist, struggling (or perhaps merely putting on a show?), and of course failing to resist being used for serial recruitment - a thing trilby does often and very well.

Joss first chronologically appears in Underling. This doesn't give us a lot of backstory for her so much as for characters who appeared in the first story, Depth. Both stories are yummy, full of heat, and show a deliciously calculating mind. It can be so very delightful to watch a delicious character at work, and Joss is most definitely one of them.

My favorite of Joss's tales is Bond, a story with a strong emotional edge. trilby is not one to shy away from emotion in his erotica as I've said before, nd it serves him especially well here. I don't want to say any more than this: You need to read Bond eventually. I'd reccomend sooner than later.

Lastly, I believe (if I'm missing one, comment or email to let me know so I can edit this post!), Joss appears in Falconry- though well hidden until her reveal. Another one I don't want to say much about, sans to reccomend it glowingly.

We might not know a lot of facts about Joss, but what we can take out of these stories is more than enough to feel a familiarity, and keep a pair of fingers crossed for her next appearence.

Here's to the delicious dark domme, Joss!

And now for something trilby else...

Yeah I know, the same bad pun twice in a row, but I promised another update about trilby (I'm looking at giving it another two or so, then giving thrall similar treatment, circling back around to hit Tabico who is already in my recommended list, then on to Iago...) and I like feeling clever, so here goes!

I updated my recommended reading section with three trilby stories - Pawn, Outcall, and Hive. All are must reads that I felt would be good to start off the trilby list. Honestly, so far I would reccomend most, if not all of his stories that I've read sans Honeycomb, the sequel to Hive, that just felt dull and let downy.

Anyway, I'm left with a connundrum. Do I talk about the stories I've already posted, or do I go on about ones yet to be discussed to give even further coverage?

The latter sounds good to me, with maybe a brief turn around at the end. I feel like being dramatic.

First up, is a legendary story in the MC community. I could build up to it, but I'm occasionally bad at delaying. So, without further adieu, we begin a twisty path into . . .

Tether

This story clocks in at 103 chapers spread over fifteen parts and 179,549 words (give or take a chapter block missed by my quick fun with XP's calculator) - and took years to get out. I don't remember when I first found it, but I do remember watching it as it updated and I still wasn't technically alowed on the site. I'm going to feel bad for kids in the future when they have to deal with more than just "if you're not 18, leave" because, yeah.

Anyway, my sordid past asside, I remember reading this story not neccessarily from its first update, but definitely early on enough to coo each time it came up in the update. It's full of that classic trilby hotness that flows from MC, not sex - though we get plenty of that. At first we get a very lovely story about a young rich girl, Meredith, kidnapped and conditioned. And I do mean conditioned. A long, thorough, drawn out proccess.

It's delightful, sizzling, and may be over extensive, but it appeals to my love of attention to detail. So much put into play early continues through most of the tale, which makes it all... work? Fit? It's delightfully yummy.

But the story is really two stories, and about halfway through our protaganist is released back to her mother - who becomes the next target. All of that built up effort begins to spread out, as more and more people are drawn into the web that is Alice Holloway - a name I rather enjoy (who is not in any chains, inky or otherwise) and a Dome I rather delight in.

There is valid criticism for the story. It does go on for a very, very long time. After a certain point, there's no debating that no one in the story but Alice has any true hope of escape. She's just playin a game, whittling down at what's left util she's ready to be done, lay back, and savor her victory . . . but I enjoyed the journey. It wasn't the ending that mattered, it was the mind control that happened over and over and over again.

It shows all of those little steps, instead of point a, conditioning described, point b, end prophecized. Every last little sordid detail of this lovely group of women's fall from thinking about what to do with their lives to obedient mewling slave sluts, well... there's something fun about seeing that. Its hot seeing Meredith used against her mother, friend agaisnt friend, betrayal after betrayal after betrayal, which after a point is just two toys being put in a room to have fun for her amusement.

Its more of the game than we usually see, and I savor it. I reccomend this story, if only in little chunks spread over a long period of time.

So now that we have that out of the way, I reccomended Pawn, Outcall, and Hive, didn't I?

Hive is a very yummy story. Sister looking for sister, but of course it won't matter if she finds her or not. Theres robot stuff in Tether, too, which is in the end very similar to the way Hive does it. Thats not too big of a spoiler really, but I apologise if you felt anything was ruined by this. A lovely holding pen that she shouldn't have gone lookin through. Silly protaganists of mc stories, if you find a conspiracy, it'll find you befoe too long.

Pawn was one I found when reading "its new to me" stories from old favorite authors. Our protaganist is very loyal to her queen. Infinitely loyal. So much so, that she will march right into the depths of hell as a messenger, knowing there is little to no chance of a happy ending for her, and the end is heartbreaking while the center remains hot.

Outcall, uses pocketwatches, and a hot trait trilby is good at using: giving the MCer the wonderful trait of being a superb actress to get what they want. Amnesia, fantasy, blurring the lines of reality . . . Mmmmm . . . this story is delightful.

Well, I guess that covers us for today! I plan on doing three next week - more stories reviewed/reccomended, culminating in more reccomendations, and leading us into thrall's body of work. Hope you enjoy me posting more!

44 Posts Already?

That's the number blogger showed when I logged in! Not sure if that44 counts the pending post I have or no, but hey, if it doesn't, that's still a lot!

Less than I promised to have, but still something.

Besides, I have so much writing done! Not really, but I can pretend. It's not like you can check.

Anyway, I know it's a bit late, but if you haven't read Tabico's latest, Ronin, you need to. I won't ruin anything, but I did fan mail her, and her response has me waiting for this update quite eagerly! That means something.

I actually grew up spending a fair amount of time on the back of a bike - a shovel head actually. A lot of people argue that was after Harley's hay day, but that bike was a beaut. She was gorgeous, she purred loudly, and I loved her. She was also one of two things my father cared about more than me and my mother, but I try not to think about that too much. Growing up, Easy Rider was my first glimpses of porn.

My mom is oft to go on about how Easy Rider was better back when the women were real, and I bet she's right. You can find the sexiest picture of a porn star, a model, and she can be gorgeous . . . but there's something special about a woman who isn't that stretched out along the back of a bike.

American, of course.

I know, Sarah's bike is Italian. I don't remember the exact model, but I found it doing some research on Ducati's website. They're good bikes, really good bikes. Specifying is more to discount crotch rockets. You wont earn any respect on a hyundai or a kawasaki if you ask me.

A bike is a horse of the modern day. It's if you make a horse out of metal and give it an engine. It's a thing of raw power. Give it to a hooligan, and you get a black knight. Give it to a man or woman of virtue? You get a paladin. Ironically enough, my dad had a biker friend named Paladin. There are some pictures of him holding me as a baby. He looks like he was super nice. Never met the guy myself.

Still, it's a symbol of power, of raw sexuality, of force, of movement, of friction against the world, of air resistance, areodynamicism . . .

To me, a motorcycle is the closest you can get to giving a character a heroic mount, or a villainous mount a the case may be. Cars are just . . . they're not the same. They're shields as much as transport. Fiction has given cars magical bullet deflecting/absorbing powers. Sure, you can shoot a car and it'll explode, but a motorcycle? It's you and the road. There is nothing else. My father only survived long enough to take part in my creation due to a monkey wrench in his ass pocket.

Ice might take drinks stay cool, but it also tears flesh apart if you have a motorcycle's weight on the other side of you as you slide.

Plus, in a car, the person next to you might be on the other side of a gear shift in no way close. Bike? They're at your back. Intimate. Or in a side car, which can be it's own kind of awesome. Plus, saddle bags!

But yes, why are bikes coming to mind sans Ronin? You'll need to read in November to find out.

Speaking of reading on, I intend to in the next couple of days update my "reccomended reading" list heavily. It's far past due. I intend to add stories by the t-trio, some archive.org stories if need be by other authors . . . at least one. An old story by miketheFable, at the time mikez was lost due to identity discovery. I helped write it. Well, edit it. I intended at one point to write the sequel to it, and even with it less absurd than your average mike story, I'm just bad at following others' ideas.

What else would be interesting to say?

Ah!

The new Metallica CD? It's awesome. You need it. Death Magnetic. I have nicknamed it Rereload, because it feels like the third load, or second reload. It's that awesome, and it makes Aurora flow amazingly, as well as the last Evanesence CD makes Sylvia flow.

You get some priceless lines, like . . .

You crawl back in/but your luck runs out!

and

Like a bullet/keeps on bleeding/to remind me not to think!

It's just awesome. You need it.

So I'll leave you with that for now, best wishes till next time!

The Less Common Paraphilliae

The other night, a couple things were suggested to me-- one was that i post again. I'll never understand why, but i won't complain if people enjoy reading my posts! The other suggestion was that I write about one of my non-hypnotic fetishes. One of the less common ones (or at least so it seems), and a subject of mild embarrassment to me, is a little kink called dendrophillia.

For those who don't know, dendrophillia is a... fascination with plants. Now, this might bring to mind images of a hippie a little out of control-- a literal tree-hugger if you will. This is deeeeefinitely not the form it takes for me. If nothing else, in reality i'm badly allergic to a large portion of the plant kingdom, a fact which severely limits my capability, and passion for the outdoors. Instead, my fetish takes more of a science fiction angle--think that one scene from The Evil Dead. Plants as controllers, plants as inscrutable, unpredictable plotters. Which sounds a little silly, i suppose, but it can be hot indeed.

Like so many things, i was utterly unaware i had this little fetish until i stumbled upon the EMCSA. So, rather than go into technical, and boring detail about how exactly this fetish works, i figured i could talk about a few of my favorite dendrophilliac stories from the archive. There's no hidey text, because these aren't detailed treatments, and i think i kept pretty spoiler-free.

Fruition by Trilby Else
This was, interestingly enough, the first actually enjoyable story i ever read on the archive. My first exposure to the archive was unfortunately through a google hit on a rather dismal story. But i digress!
Fruition, the story of a botanist on an alien world who gets in... shall we say, over her head, wonderfully illustrates my fetish-- the protagonist is caught utterly unaware, and completely helpless. She's not even fully able to comprehend what's happening to her until it's too late, and her captor's control is an inextricable, and physical part of her.
The sex scenes are enjoyable in themselves-- tentacle in any form can be a squick to some people, but in the right context it's meltingly hot to me. The... biological aspects of the mind control are touched upon, but not gone into so deeply as to squick. Biology is sort of a razor's edge for me, as it easily descends into unpleasant territory to me, but it can add so much hotness.

Pea by Tabico
This story has an entirely different feel to it. Pea's protagonist becomes increasingly aware of her own fetishes as she watches everyone around her succumb. Struggling with desire can be so awful when done badly, but in this story it sizzles. The final descent is almost cathartic after nearly an entire story's worth of induction.

Avatar by thrall
A love story at heart, Avatar features an even deeper transformation than we see in either Pea, or Fruition, it ends on a melancholy note, but is filled with botanical heat. Glossing over the biological details suits this story just fine-- it's about personalities, and not process. Avatar has beautiful, if star-crossed emotion behind its heat.

Yellow by Tabico
I have a confession to make-- i don't actually enjoy this particular story, but i can't really have a post on dendrophillia without at least a mention in passing. Yellow, which is in fact a red story, is well written, and admittedly has some delicious moments, but it goes a little too far for me, and into severe squick territory.
But don't let this stop you from enjoying it. For someone who can appreciate the darker aspects of botanical mind control, this is a must-read.

Fey by Tabico
Beginning to notice a trend here? Me too. Though she certainly deserves attention, i don't mean for this to become a complete Tabico spotlight--but she does write probably the best biological MC i've ever read.
Fey is a little different, though. A story of an innocent forest denizen caught in a tangled web of intrigue, it's not quite.... being-bound-and-fucked-by-a-plant dendrophillia, if you will ^^;. Instead it's more subtle. The... Villain, for lack of a better term, is not an antagonist, but a delicious character nonetheless. Supremely confident, she doesn't hide her plans, controlling by sheer persuasion. Even as cruel as she, it's hard not to be drawn to her.

I'm sure there are many others (in fact, i'm certain i've read several, but these were the only ones that came to mind when i set about writing). I may trawl the archive sometime in the future to look for other good ones. Stay tuned!

But, to get back on the original subject, Madam, of course, is not one to leave a good fetish untapped. When she learned about this little desire of mine, she not only gave me an unexpectedly hot little 'waking dream' that ended with a lovely little obedience seed in my ear, she's also given me a trigger that sets off an apparently random, and usually very powerful dendrophillic event every time she says this particular word ~.~ Things like thought-stopping vines in my ears... swirly flowers that draw one's attention in, and steal it.... and sparkly silver pollen-- the sort you get from a LaSilvas tree.

But, that covers an oft-neglected, somewhat embarrassing little fetish of mine. Now all of you know something that only two people ever knew about me before! It's been real, but i think it's time for me to finish up this post. Happy weekend!

EDIT: Oh! And for those three of you (that's not a joke-- i actually checked the reader count) that read the 'Blot through its LiveJournal Syndication, it should work again now.

--erislave

New Blog and New Content

Welcome to the new and improved Kistublot!

My fellow contributors have already posted, and I've meant to several times, but oh well right? We all know I can take a little extra time time to time, but that when it comes down to it I . . . sometimes get things done . . . Oh wait, none of you actually knew me in high school. I can lie about that? Hooray!

One random factoid: The first novel length story I completed was originally written starting in the summer of my freshman year of high school. It would grow, expand, be given in total about five drafts, and the final of which to current date was written mostly at the end of my senior year. The school I went to had slowly become more and more strict since it was built, canceling upper classperson off campus privileges the year before I began attending...

However?

Once you were 18, you were able to sign yourself out with no scrutiny. So a few times I signed myself out of my last class, Graphic Design (the other block day's class, Creative Writing, was the class I looked forward to all day to get through the other crap) and would go to a park to write. Excuses included medical, dental, familial, and once I think I might have slipped and mentioned the truth in a not to clever way.

But I didn't really care anyway by that point. Not that I didn't care about graduating - I did - but freshman year alone had ruined my GPA to the point where having some absences at the very end didn't really matter to me much. Some of those park-writing-sessions took place at the park where - listening to The Servant's song "Cells" I wrote the introduction to "The Adventures of Silver Girl."

One thing I miss about writing Silver Girl, and the stuff before, was that I would often write it in wordpad so I couldn't see how long it was getting. Now a days, even if I were to do that due to well... experience... I'd know. I can't go back to the things I miss about the beginning of this era of my writing, which makes me wax nostalgically for them.

Oh well, huh? It happens!

That brings another thing to mind: tAoSG is horrifically well . . . not up to par with the writing of the later stories. Have I talked about that here on the blog before? I'm honestly not sure. So much comes up. and I don't pay nearly enough attention to me own blog. Mostly, honestly, because I didn't foresee this writing slump... and its a little depressing.

So anyway, have I asked this here? How would people feel if Silver Girl got a THX makeover? The original would remain, fully intact, this would be sort of... a digital remastering, a director's cut... the story we all know and love upgraded to suit the fact that I no longer suck.

How does that sound to everyone?

Not because I wont do it if you dislike it, but well, some support would help me get off my ass about it. The original will still exist and be distributed, just not on the EMCSA. It would be kept on me sitey. For people's benefit, I would even zip file it and be like "Tada!" or I could steal the HTML from the way back machine . . . and be like "as it originally looked!"

The latter sounds cooler . . .

Lastnight I wrote a story just over the length of Exvolensation. I think it's a better idea, and story, overall. I think I'll write another two stories of about equal length, and include them as an anthology.

Also have a new idea about a psychic detective. Its not lame as it might sound, promise. Its actually very, very cool. You'll all have to wait to see how that turns out, because I like the idea I'm working on currently. I'll preview the first story soon as I have them all written and give them twice overs.

I end this post with a little bonus: here.

Enjoy!

~Madam Kistulot

June 1st Reviews, Somewhat

Eri’s latest post has me thinking I should do something similar. What would you like to know about my life as a slave or about my experiences in general with hypnosis and D/s?

* * *

Reviewing is more stress and obligation than enjoyment, so I’m going to step back from doing anything but brief mentions and shorter thought-oriented summaries. I’ll still occasionally make highlight posts such as the one I did of Nexis Pas.

* * *

"Helpers" definitely makes up for the lack of "Undertow!" I can tell 8-bit enjoyed writing this. "Helpers" is a refreshingly different kind of story coming from him. This is campy in a good way: I could see this being a short made-for-TV movie or an episode of The Twilight Zone.

8-bit writing tech is . . . drool-worthy. His sharp, stark style is a perfect medium for technical themes. He messaged me before sending this off to ask if he should recommend the rb tag. My final answer was a tentative "yes," though it would have been a strong one had I read this first. This isn’t robotisation or even AI (at least not yet), but the human-machine interaction with the machine completely in control sizzled over my robot fetish just as much as if the robot element had been closer to what most think of upon seeing the rb tag.

Archeology students, an underground brainwashing facility, anachronistic mind control—only 8-bit could turn that into a unique and engaging story! His settings are always so tangible. He uses just enough cliché to create familiarity without making things tepid.

Already the beginning of the overarching ethical and moral-but-not-preachy themes his work explores is evident. I adore 8-bit’s ability to explore touchy themes so casually in his writing without preaching or making such things the focus.

The ending could be darker than most would find comfortable, but I think that’s a jump perceptually: this is 8-bit! Something logical and fascinating is going to happen. This installment screams for elaboration. I can’t wait to see where 8-bit takes this story!

* * *

Recently, I started doing some face-to-face hypnosis with a male friend (most assuredly vanilla), so maybe I’ll write about that if he consents. If he happens to see this before we talk: I’m sorry! Most of yesterday was spent without a keyboard due to Madam using mine since Asher (our insane kitty) destroyed hers with soda. I also needed a nap. My sleep cycle wasn’t nearly so corrected as I thought. I think things are under control, now . . .

~Valbot

Review Post: May 18th Update

Briefly, purely for the heat, I want to mention Cafetray's "Chocolate Milk." I don't have much to say about this as a story, but it's well-written stroke with a premise one can buy long enough to get off on it. This is a very short read. The backstory is pleasant, the subway ride edges slightly into exhibitionist territory, and the sex at the end is only lacking in that it's too short. Cafetray does write good, believable, intense sex. Even valbot can appreciate stroke, sometimes.

* * *

As usual, these are my opinions. Spoilers are in black text.

* * *

"Fragments from the Violet Hour"
by Bad Penny mc mf md (2,990 words)

Classic Bad Penny. “Fragments from the Violet Hour” is worthy of praise as a title alone for the mood of curiosity and confusion it set. Every word of this casual masterpiece was sharp and gritty. Mixing memory with desire in a marriage tested by a fire sermon? Recognizing which part of “The Waste Land” so heavily inspired this story was not difficult. Bad Penny winning Michelle's April writing contest on the MCF came as no surprise to me. Eliot’s influence on “Fragments” was not so readily apparent as it was on Virginia’s story, but it was no less poignant and I think the subtlety lent the imagery greater strength.

**begin spoilers**

This was an intense, gritty, lewd, disorienting, and utterly smirk-worthy masterpiece. A casual masterpiece: there is no grace or refinement to this story in the traditional sense. Graphic descriptions abound, but Penny wrote them with a finesse atypical of erotica in general. The story itself was deceptively simple: Lil and Albert had a troubled marriage and sexual relationship due to Lil’s out-of-control rape fantasies. Albert paid their counselor to alter her perceptions and to find suitable candidates to rape Lil so Albert could be in control of a fetish he knew he could not stop Lil from pursuing. Albert’s career would have been jeopardized by his wife soiling his reputation, and that’s exactly what she tried to do (at least, it’s very strongly implied Lil did that at the end). Doesn’t that sound like any other stroke piece? Well, it’s a Bad Penny story, and the tightly interlaced layers of control and disorientation matched the skill and complexity of any trilby story.

Graphic descriptions: I would have been reading one-handed had this been an FF story. Despite the MF pairing, despite the MF oral sex which is normally a horrible squick for me, I still got a pleasant buzz purely from the twisted power exchange and the intensity of Lil’s reactions to such a dangerous fantasy-turned-reality. Only at the end of the second rape scene did the rapist’s identity as an extension of Albert’s control become clear; before that, Lil was being raped by who she thought was a random stranger, which definitely increased the thrill. The revelation that her assailant wasn’t random was its own thrill: Lil was being more than physically controlled, and the mental side of things wasn’t a mere lapse in perception. What was tampering with Lil’s perception of time and place? I initially guessed telepathy since that is the common theme of Bad Penny’s writing, but who was controlling her? The rapist didn’t seem like he would care enough about his victim to invest that extensive of an effort. Albert didn’t seem important at first aside from being the disgruntled husband. Maybe something was actually wrong with Lil. But her assailant revealing that he had a connection to her husband slammed this story into unwittingly fierce perspective: the tables had been turned on Lil by the last person she would suspect of turning them, and his hold on her, as shown by the perceptual lapses and her "daydream" of oral sex, was quite firm.

Shock can be an effective deprogramming agent. Shock paired with anger can break programming altogether. Lil’s moment of clarity and her ability to hold on to her memory enough to be able to tell Albert’s boss was believable given how well Penny detailed Lil’s reaction to Albert’s smug and dispassionate admission. Lil’s desire was being used against her to control her. When Lil’s desire was redirected through her anger at being played and her shame over allowing such a thing to happen, the control was also redirected at least in part into her own hand. Or was it? There was another possibility: the exchange Lil had with Albert’s boss took a flirtatious tone at the end. She told him to just come find her. If he wasn’t the same man who raped her in the alley (her perception was being altered; he could have been disguised), then he could have at least been her next fetish encounter. Was Lil about to play into her husband’s hand yet again? Was she experiencing yet another loop of seemingly fresh experience that she had actually repeated multiple times without recollection? Maybe she was being led to think she could remember and break free. Either ending is believable. Both are deliciously smirk-worthy: one for its comeuppance, the other for the firmness and depth of its control. This was left open-ended enough that I think either guess could be correct. This made the story even better, another layer of perception left entirely to the reader: true reader-writer interaction beyond the already vividly engrossing narrative.


**end spoilers**

Even without the outside assistance, Lil would have been firmly controlled by her own desire. She was never in control of herself. A strong fetish can drive a person to destruction. Anyone who has spent any length of time in the fetish community has heard of or known at least one person whose life, or at least sense of self, was blurred or destroyed by the pursuit of erotic fulfillment. Instances like this remind us that we can still easily become chattel to primitive urges and that our attempts to intellectualize and romanticize them are laughable at best. This is where erotic mind control comes in: intellectualizing that which is primal; applying mental, spiritual, and emotional themes to something that used to be a simple matter of the natural order of things. Some of us were stronger than others. Now, in this context, some of us think we are mentally stronger than others while the rest fall victim to their own urges to be shaped and directed. Those who perceive themselves as stronger are really victims of their own urges, but they are harder to recognize as such since they take a decidedly outward and dominating tone. This is a crude and simple way to put it, and is definitely not the case overall, but “Fragments” incorporated and exemplified it to an extreme. This is why I think “Fragments” is a masterpiece for the modern age. This is art imitating life as it has evolved in this present day in a very specific and very primal context.

Every scene transition was just abrupt enough to prick without startling me out of the story. In fact, these abrupt pricks drew me deeper into the narrative through surprise and curiosity. I didn’t anticipate any of them, even the later ones after I knew abrupt scene breaks were being used as a device. Normally things like that are gimmicky, or I at least see them coming after the first or second time, but this narrative was so vivid that I forgot about the process of reading and savored the process of visualizing. There are not many authors on the Archive or in general who can write vividly enough to make me forget analyzing! Upon reading the last word, I was startled to remember I was sitting in my apartment with a mug of coffee. So far as I could tell, within what felt like the mere minute reading this took, the warmth against my hand was the sting Lil felt while holding her mug. Escapist literature is difficult to find, escapist erotica even more so. “Fragments” was definitely literature—prose artistry and a deep sense of empathy that happened to incorporate and refine the lewd and gritty edge so common to porn.

I had to spend a few minutes thinking about negative things to mention. This was such a wonderful story! The storytelling was holographic; the writing was polished and tight; the heat was scalding; the thematic elements were subtle yet pristine in their clarity. The few things I found were laughable. Some of the dialogue read as though it had been punctuated more grammatically then stylistically. This is a frequent snag for me since I hear what I read; this didn't snag horribly in "Fragments," but it stood out a little more than it would have otherwise given how smoothly written the story was overall. One homophone briefly confused me: “To bring you to heal since you act like a bitch in heat.” They were in counseling. Lil had a severe issue. She did indeed need to heal. This didn’t snag for more than a second, and I wasn’t thrown out of the story, but even small things like this can nick a masterpiece given the contrast. There were several missing particles and a few typos, but none snagged enough for me to remember. All of this feels like nitpicking given how wonderful this story was, but I wanted to be balanced. I honestly can’t think of anything beyond purely personal taste that could have been done better with the characters and story. Maybe a little more punch to the dialogue during the rape scenes? Now I’m grasping at straws. This was a fabulous story, period.

My biggest problem with this story was that it wasn’t RED! But that is definitely personal taste. I have a bit of a rape kink, and those descriptions were absolutely scorching. I would adore reading something so skillfully written and biting from a lesbian perspective. Finding quality rape stories is difficult. So many of them are gritty and nothing else—tasteless, needlessly cruel juvenile power fantasies. But “Fragments,” truly, is a masterpiece. This will definitely be one of my yellow nominations for next year’s Spiral Awards.

“Fragments from the Violet Hour” was graphic in physical descriptions and in its alteration of memory and perception. If you don’t like rape descriptions, or if extensive disorientation of the controlled sort bothers you, save yourself the squick. This was a fabulous story, but the descriptive writing is more than sharp enough to cut in an unpleasant way for those easily squicked by such themes. Otherwise, regardless of what color you prefer, READ THIS. Read this to see how good, actually story- and character-enhancing sex scenes are written. Read this to see how gritty and uncouth themes can be written classily. Read this for the sake of admiring a literary masterpiece for the modern, rushed sexual age. I don’t gush often. This is an intriguing and aptly titled erotic escape, or at least an enlightening story for those who don’t share these grittier kinks.

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Suggestions on how to review better are welcome. I want to get better at this.

I also want more "Undertow." *sigh* Who am I to nag about online things when I chronically neglect e-mail? I am reading "A Story for Mike," though, as I said I'd get around to: great thus far, something I've been savoring along with my coffee in smaller bits. Coffee is definitely my cigar equivalent . . .

Madam, I will go get you your own huge bucket of Neapolitan if you post more. I can add sprinkles and chocolate syrup. POST MORE! Or get Quillspawn/Eutrepe to post more.

~valbot