A Demifluid Spoonie
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kiarapereira7.bsky.social
A Demifluid Spoonie
@kiarapereira7.bsky.social
150 followers 72 following 190 posts
When I'm not writing or gaming, I'm cuddling with the doggo. I love tea, cocoa, books, movies, and music. I'm moving here from Twitter, and I'm open to chat!
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kiarapereira7.bsky.social
Absolutely fitting comic. Thanks, Garry Trudeau! Love your work!
A comic strip from Doonesbury. The six-panel comic talks about banning words and losing freedom of speech. The first panel shows a white-haired man holding up the book 1984. The second panel shows the outside of the White House, with speech bubbles from four people discussing wanting only “merit-based” words. The third panel depicts the government workers that are banning words as the yellow Minions wearing brown suits and Nazi armbands. The fourth panel shows more government Minions cutting strips of paper that have terms like “pollution,” “trauma,” and “Gulf of Mexico.” The fifth panel has citizens using the banned terms in everyday conversation. The sixth panel has a QR code to see all the banned words and how to save free speech.
May 18, 2025 at 4:46 PM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
I didn't think I had something for #click, but I surprised myself. This is from Chapter 1. Once the magic gate shuts, the entire town vanishes into thin air.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #CampNaNo
Nicholas grinned and hugged his godfather one last time. "This is incredible! Thank you, Kenzan!" As he backed away, he said, "I'll write every week!" Kenzo waved as the town gate shut. With a click of the lock, the gate vanished, leaving no trace of the Haven.
April 23, 2025 at 7:38 AM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
I have nothing for #submit so I went with the synonym "beg."

You get to meet another character in my WIP. Can anyone guess who I based her off of? (Hint: it's related to her name.)

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #CampNaNo
Anneliese rose gracefully, staring at the spectral lady. "Forgive me, but who are you?" "Why do you beg forgiveness? You didn't harm Nicholas." She crossed her arms over her translucent body. "You may call me Despoina. Or the Shadow Queen. I don't particularly care."
April 22, 2025 at 9:59 AM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
One of my side characters, Aralyn. I'll give you three guesses what she's doing in this snippet lol

#move #WIPSnips #WriteSky #CampNaNo
"The Shadow Queen ordered-" "Do I fucking care?" Aralyn raised a hand, one of the tendrils of light lashing at the nearest Shadow. It shrieked, its body fizzling for a moment before disappearing. "Move!" Reluctantly, the Shadows drifted apart.
April 21, 2025 at 8:26 AM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
And the snippet uses the synonym "mist," since every time I use #smoke it's a spoiler-y scene.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky
"It's tradition to give the new adult something for Coming-of-Age Day. And since you'll be returning to your birth country, I figured you will need something like this." Glowing mist swirled around his hands, and a lacquer box formed in the air. He caught it before it could fall and passed it to Nicholas.
April 20, 2025 at 8:34 AM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
I thought I'd #introduce the very beginning of my WIP. Here's the opening passage for Chapter 1.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #CampNaNo
Nicholas blew away the wood dust. He had to finish this carving before the first rays of sunlight passed through his window. Glancing up at the shadowed mountains and peach sky outside, he figured he had a couple more minutes. He hunched over the wood, carefully manipulating the bench knife until he shaped the last petal just right. Just a few more cuts here... a nick down the center of the petal for depth... "Done!" he told himself. Setting his knife down, Nicholas held up the carved tsubaki. It was as big as the real flower, and almost as lovely. He had no more pink paints, or he would gladly color it before giving it to Aralyn. Tap tap. Right on time. Turning to the window, Nicholas rose from his chair enough to reach the latch and flip it. "Good morning, Celyn," he said as he lifted the window.
April 19, 2025 at 10:23 PM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
My book has characters speaking different languages (tying in with the different snacks/lands in The Nutcracker), so since I don't have #music, I'll showcase how I described one of the languages.

It's hard to describe a language without going into technical terms, but I did it :)

#WriteSky
"Kenzo," Nicholas said, "the girl's at the castle, not here." The sorcerer turned to the young man and spoke words in an elegant, choppy tone. It didn't sound like the nasal fluidity of Eberian. Nicholas frowned and responded with similar quick cadence. It took Anneliese a moment to realize this must be Hoshonese, since he grew up in Hoshon.
April 18, 2025 at 8:20 AM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
And here's the letter! Usually I put letters and notes in different fonts, but I switched to Comic Sans so it's easier for everyone to read. #WIPSnips
A letter from the main character Nicholas. "Kenzo, I made it safely to Abensand, but Hoffmoor is gone. It's been assimilated into a neighboring city called Rosenthal. But don't worry. I found some old friends from Hoffmoor, and they gave me a job and a place to stay! If you ever come to visit, I'm at the bakery near the edge of town. I know it's still early, but I was considering looking for an orphanage in the city. I can't wait to start a family! I just hope that Abensander orphanages don't force you to get married before adopting kids. I miss the Haven. Has Mako gotten into trouble already? Who's hosting the cherry blossom viewing this year? I'll miss the milk pudding. You always make the best. Sincerely, Nicholas"
April 17, 2025 at 11:11 PM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
Ooh, I've got two good ones for this! One uses #dear and the other is a letter (since "dear" reminds me of how you start letters). First up is the word itself, #TriggerWarning for #abuse between cousins:

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #CampNaNo
"Not a duchess, not a princess, not a queen. A lady. And ladies never impose their thoughts!" She yelped when he let her go. The world span before her, and her back ached. "Now you finally shut up," Leopold snarled. "Hope you stay this way at breakfast." He stormed back to the sitting room. Anneliese collapsed to the floor. She cradled her head, but she couldn't stop the tears from falling. "Meine Dame!" The nearest servants rushed to her side. "Are you alright?" one of them asked. Her body racked with sobs. An elderly servant turned to the others. "One of you fetch hot lemon water, one inform the duke and duchess that Lady Anneliese has fallen ill and won't be at breakfast. The last two, let's get her to her room. Chop chop!" Anneliese held onto the servants for dear life as they pulled her to her feet and guided her to the grand staircase. She was grateful neither of them tried to talk with her.
April 17, 2025 at 11:06 PM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
I don't have the word #wet, so a synonym you get!

I went with "water," but this passage from Chapter 1 also has "mist" and begins at a creek. Nicholas is returning to his hometown after twelve years.

#WriteSky #WIPSnips #CampNaNo
"Maybe it's changed names? I do remember it had a great view of the White Mountains, and on a clear day, we could see the towers of a castle from a city over. Uh...Rosenthal City, I think." She frowned. "I know where that is, but I hate that city." "You hate every human city." The two approached a creek with cold, crystal-clear waters. Milky fog swirled around the shallow bridge. "Aren't they all the same?" Aralyn stepped onto the bridge, disappearing into the fog. Nicholas followed her, shivering in the mist. He stepped out into a dim forest with few shafts of light piercing the tree canopy. Owls and woodpeckers chattered in the branches, and squirrels and quails scurried about the forest floor. The nostalgic blend of crisp pine and fresh snow filled his heart with yearning.
April 16, 2025 at 6:37 PM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
For #fear, I thought it would be cool to show the moment leading up to the snippet I used for "laugh." You're welcome!

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #CampNaNo
"Fearing for your safety isn't silly." The man nodded at the employees' door. "I can ask the Brobeckers if you can stay in the back for an hour." Her heart pounded. "I don't want anyone else getting into trouble." "I'm sure they'd be okay. They helped me so-" "No!" Anneliese winced and hugged herself. "I mean, no. I can't." He smiled warmly and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Then know you always have a friend here. I'll help however I can." She stared at the kind stranger. Why would he go out of his way to help her? "Danke, Herr Baker." The man laughed, a light, bubbly sound. "Herr Baker is Abel. I'm Nicholas, the clerk." He held out his hand.
April 15, 2025 at 5:37 PM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
Poor Nicholas. What do you think happened at church to freak him out?

#chill #WIPSnips #CampNaNo #WriteSky
He shot from the pew and dashed outside. He nearly tripped down the stairs, but he made it to the edge of the street, dropping to his knees. Nicholas scooped up the snow and pressed it to his face. The stinging chill numbed the memories... but they replayed nonetheless.
April 14, 2025 at 6:49 PM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
This one was hard! I don't have #comply so I used the synonym "let." And this is, like, the only non-spoiler paragraph I could find that fit.

#WIPSnips #CampNaNo
Anneliese's hands fell from her face. "I can't think of another way to keep everyone from my family's wrath. You've seen how Leopold treats me, and my parents have let innocent people suffer and die. I don't want that for anyone ever again."
April 14, 2025 at 4:16 AM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
I had nothing spoiler-free for "cry," "trip," or "goodbye," but I DO have something for #lip that I can share :) Anneliese gets a good look at Nicholas after he comes to her rescue *eyebrow waggle*

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #CampNaNo
She glanced at the bandage on his arm, then up at him. His chestnut hair unkempt, his coat unbuttoned and with a torn sleeve, his sodden vest drying in the bitter chill... yet his warm brown eyes showed no hint of exhaustion. Even now, a wisp of a smile lingered on his lips. "Are you one of them?"
April 13, 2025 at 3:21 AM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
A spoiler-free section of the chapter. I took some creative liberty with how the bubak looks, so #TriggerWarning for #blood.

#WriteSky #WIPSnips #whip #CampNaNo
Nicholas whipped his head around - a withered figure prowled the woods fifty yards away, its skeletal frame leaving a trail of thick, gray ice in its wake. Its gangling arms ended in four sharp claws, the tips still dripping blood. The bubak. "Stay down!" Nicholas uttered as low as he could, pressing Anneliese's shoulder down until she was crouching next to him behind a shrub. The bubak turns its head toward the rustling branches. Its face was gaunt, like a walking corpse. Slowly, the bubak stepped closer to their hiding spot, scanning the area with its hollowed eyes. Nicholas squeezed Anneliese's hand, ready to run with her at any moment.
April 8, 2025 at 6:39 PM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
Nicholas has to get the wood to make the nutcracker and doll from somewhere. And his sisterly friend has a magical grove with 'an endless #supply.'

#WriteSky #WIPSnips #CampNaNo
"Thank you, Aralyn." Nicholas accepted the box, trailing his fingers over the painted vines and branches. "This is beautiful." "Look inside." He lifted the lid to reveal slabs of rich brown wood and twigs covered in dark gray patina. "Anam wood and ironwood?" "Straight from my grove. An endless supply." She met his eyes. "Make sure you use these for yourself as well, instead of just for others." "I will. Thank you!"
April 7, 2025 at 12:36 PM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
Early in the book, Nicholas goes looking for a job and ends up finding some old friends of his parents. It's been ages since they last saw each other.

#WriteSky #name #WIPSnips #CampNaNo
Abel stepped around the dinner table and made his way toward the oven. "We have a guest, Liesl." "Oh?" She turned around, her honey-brown eyes falling on Nicholas. After squinting at him for a minute, she said, "You look familiar." He grinned impishly. "Do I look like Henrik Holtzman?" "How do you know that name?" "I was his youngest child." Liesl's eyes widened, and she grasped the edge of the counter for support. "Little Nicholas?" He chuckled. "Well, not so little."
April 6, 2025 at 11:00 PM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
You already know about the duke, now you get to hear about the #count. Will Nicholas ever catch a break?

#WIPSnips #CampNaNo #WriteSky
He gazed at his forkful of pancakes. "I'd love that, but I feel I should do something more meaningful with my skills. No one needs toys, right" Abel frowned. "In this city, everyone could use a simple joy like toys." "Surely it can't be that bad." "I'd wager the duke and duchess are worse than Count Doenhoff and his daughter." Great, he thought. I escape one tyrant just to return to another.
April 5, 2025 at 4:07 PM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
This is the other one I was going between. Also in this chapter, but later on.

I like writing cute moments, and I have fun writing the dialogue. Voices really do make the characters pop.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #AmEditing
He smiled warmly and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Then know you always have a friend here. I'll help however I can." She stared at the king stranger. Why would he go out of his way to help her? "Danke, Herr Baker." The man laughed, a light, bubbly sound. "Herr Baker is Abel. I'm Nicholas, the clerk." He held out his hand.
April 5, 2025 at 12:29 AM
kiarapereira7.bsky.social
I had two, but I went with this one to show the friends having fun (despite having to deal with "el duque bastardo"). 😉

#WIPSnips #CampNaNo
Selma took a huge bite out of hers. "I don't know how, but that bakery makes better sweets than ours." "Don't tell Wolfgang. He'll never recover." "Don't worry. He's too busy pleasing 'el capullo.'" Anneliese nearly choked on her tart laughing.
April 4, 2025 at 6:04 PM