The Clockwork Spider thing from Nano a couple of years back returns to mind each time I sit in front of the computer to write. I wrote Mal’s half of the roadside picnic table scene two days ago—I don’t recall if I posted it or not. I’d done a fair bit of thinking about the plot for that story. I didn’t codify it though. I think I’ll do a little remembering out loud here today.
Malachi is an older mage dating Karen who is both younger than him and less experienced in magic than he. A clockwork spider Malachi constructed as a precocious youth holds the key to finding (and rescuing) their coven leader Prof. Palmer. Somehow a prison break was involved as well as a bit of world-hopping, a séance, and a jealous scheming runner-up.
Except for a bunch of tattoos and a roughshod look, Malachi didn’t have much characterization. Karen may have had less.
What other stuff I’ve written since my original musing implies that I’ve got Malachi collecting advice/clues/aid from less savory friends than belong to the coven as regulars. As I think on this it feels a bit like a montage or yak shaving. I suppose that isn’t bad as long as each meet-up increases the stakes and is closely tied to the conflict. But I ought to work out what it is Mal seeks with each meeting and why he doesn’t get what he wants.
Here’s a quick exchange with Steven Tattersall in Haast, NZ that came to mind…
After establishing Steven as a bit of a letch, Karen and Malachi depart.
Karen shrugged and shivered and stamped her feet like she was wriggling out of a cocoon. “I told you you wouldn’t like him,” said Malachi.
“You didn’t tell me how much you do though.”
Mal smiled instead of lying.
“What?” Karen crossed her arms. “What? You’re enjoying this too much not to be telling me something…everything. Anything. Whatever. What?”
“Steven’s gay.” [kinda think Mal might say ‘fag’ but I’m not sure how to resolve that]
“I wouldn’t have guessed that.”
“He wouldn’t want you to.”
“Why not?”
“Because he hasn’t either.”
356 words on day 983