Tuesday, May 27, 2014

I'm a Vixen on the Weekends

So, Saturday, I spent the entire day dressed as a Kitsune. Because, you know, that's just how I roll. And on Sunday, I did it again, for shits and giggles...and for filming a web-series made by the amazing Airship Vindus.

But I digress.

Copyright Dustin Hawkins
Every year, Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita has their volunteers put away their traditional 1880's clothing, and has them don Steampunk costumes of every style imaginable. The park is always open to the public, but on Steampunk Day, the park is brimming with people clad in brass, bustles, and covered in cogs, gears, and goggles. That's me in the above photo, on the far right. The one with fox ears...

BECAUSE THEY ARE FLUFFY AND I LOVE THEM.

Copyright Carolee Conway
If you don't know what Steampunk is, here's an old post I wrote about the topic. Needless to say, this genre has drawn quite a bit of attention in the past few years, and has in turn become immensely popular with people of all ages. In fact, two of my best friends were met while at a similar event years ago.

Copyright Keith Wondra
As you can see, there is a TON of difference between costumes, and people often take up the role of a character. I myself like to attend as Viviette Crevan, the Kitsune I have written short stories about in the past. It's immense fun to be a different person for a day, and strangely enough, these sort of hobbies, where I dress up in costume, have helped me control my anxiety.


Copyright Keith Wondra
Copyright Jeff Frazell
So next time you hear about a Steampunk event in your local neck of the woods, check that shit out! You have no idea just how much fun, and insane creativity you're missing out on! 

Love and Lightning Bugs,
  Photobucket

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

How to Keep from Killing the Neighborhood

I've decided to make an effort to post every day, for 30 days. i'm not holding my breath on that happening, but hey, it's worth a shot right?

Today, I woke up in a horrible mood. Not a 'my day is going to be bad' kind of mood, more like a 'I want to stab everyone I meet today in the neck' mood. Thankfully, I found this website before I went to run my daily errands.

Put You in a Better Mood is a website that does exactly that, by showering you with pictures of cute puppies, kittens, and awesome moments that may go unnoticed throughout the world on any given day.

Like a bathtub full of idiots...er...I mean Labs. (Don't be mad Lab owners, I have owned a few Labs in my time...I know that special kind of stupid they possess. It's awesome.)


Or gifs of kittens so intent on killing that shadow monster on the wall, they bonk heads mid leap.


Face it, you know you need this website to keep from going on a murder spree too.

Love and Lightning Bugs,
  Photobucket

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

I Graduated...Whoopie...

Well, it's done. I've graduated College, and even though I hadn't made any friends in the 4 years I attended K-State, I somehow managed to get seated next to a fellow nerd and Whovian at the commencement, and found instant friendship.

Weird how that works, huh?


Despite the fact I have literally no fucking clue where to go from here, I can atleast say that the mind-numbing memorization and sleepless nights packed with study are over, so I guess there's that. Hopefully I can find a job somewhere close, and by close, I mean within an hour  and a half driving distance. Because living in the middle of nowhere isn't all peace and quiet, it means you pay out the ass for gas everytime you fill up.

But, I digress. I now have my Bachelor's in Animal Science thanks to the first land grant university in the country, and Gods willing, I can find employment in my field of study. because if truth be told, I would much rather spend my days with cows, instead of people.

Oh, and I guess this is the first item to cross off the List, so that's something too...

Love and Lightning Bugs,
  Photobucket


Monday, May 5, 2014

The Fruit, The Fox, and the Flight

**I have decided to start posting a few of my short stories here, to get them off my hard drive. They will generally be about my Steampunk character, Viviette Crevan, but may be about other things. please feel free to let me know if you enjoy them in the comments below!**

“It wasn't as if anyone got hurt”, she muttered quietly to herself, cradling the stolen provisions in her arms. The night was blessedly moonless, allowing her lithe figure to creep unseen through the narrow alleys of the town she was currently managing to hide in. Her steps were soundless as she flitted across cobbled roads, over slated roves, and ultimately found her way back into the abandoned stone tower she had been calling her den for the last week or so.

She held a small bag of fruit to her nose, and inhaled the delicious scent of ripe strawberries, oranges, and peaches. Mouth watering, she bit her lip softly, feeling a fang press against the tender flesh. Resisting the temptation to tear into the bag, she opened it slowly, and counted every precious piece of food inside: 3 strawberries, 1 bruised orange, and a peach so small it was bound to be mostly pit.

A now familiar drumming sound caused her ears to begin to wildly swivel and twitch. She crouched slowly and silently, afraid to make any sudden movements. The drumming was echoed not too far below her makeshift hideout, and was much closer than the initial sound she heard.

Lovely, the village law had found yet another of her hiding places. Between dodging them, and trying to make sure she remained unseen and unheard by the residents, she had gotten nary a full night's sleep since she arrived. She was still unarmed, because as a bladeswoman by trade, she was useless with the few discarded firearms she had stumbled upon in her numerous shelters. All she had at her advantage right now where the talents she was born with; stealth and the uncanny knack she had for hiding.

She had to get out of here, and now. Otherwise, those blasted lawmen would find her and burn her out, like every other human she had ever met. Quickly, she tied the bag of fruit to her belt, and crept to the window. Hazel eyes scanned the surrounding rooftops, focusing on the torches lit all along them. Shifting her gaze, she watched the men below, and noted the firearms hanging at their belts. Baring her fangs, the Kitsune clenched her fists.

“Well Viviette, “she muttered to herself, “Looks like it’s guns below and fire above. Not a good night to be someone like you.”

Her tail twitched behind her in an agitated manner, and a soft growl escaped her lips. The drumming sound was growing louder, and she pinned her ears back against her head.

Someone was coming up the stairs

Viviette leaped out the window of the tower, and managed to roll onto the neighboring buildings roof. The tiles were slick, but her kind were well known for their balance, and she began to run at full speed across them. Shouts alerted her to the all too familiar chase that was happening in the streets below, though she could easily imagine what the men were seeing that would make them feel the need to drive her out; a human looking woman, in her mid-twenties, who happened to have fox ears and a matching tail.  She was an abomination. One of the few survivors of a race of humanoids that had inhabited the multiverse since time began, who were now being hunted to extinction.
“Damned humans!”, the Kitsune shouted, leaping from roof to roof, hoping to make it to the cool refuge of the forest beyond. She was starving, she was exhausted, she was frightened, and still the humans gave chase. The all too familiar sound of barking joined the chorus of shouts that followed her, and she swore again.

They had brought out the hounds.

Her feet slammed onto packed earth, and Viviette felt the shock of impact through her entire body, “That was a bit further down than I thought…”

There was no time for further rest though, and she half jogged, half limped to the thick copse of trees that surrounded the village. Inhaling deeply, the multitude of scents assaulted her sensitive nose, but she knew the particular smell she was looking for. Following her nose, she moved westward as quickly as she could, listening to the growing sound of men hunting behind her. When she thought her leg would give out completely, the river was suddenly upon her, with a current swift as wind. Without a second thought, she jumped in.

It was only much later, when she had been carried far downstream and had stowed away on a supply ship bound for some world she had never heard of, that she realized the pouch of fruit had been lost in the mayhem of the night.