Account inactive @literorrery@awoo.space

1036 words down. This is going to hurt.

"I tried to do it, and I couldn't."

The story to be written at RAWR is coming together. For those who know about the Second Life Rabbits, you'll know the inspiration. Tihs one hit me like a hammerblow while I was standing at the Safeway talking with @mawr.

Sometimes you have to go into the places that hurt to find the things that need to be said.

Crucible.

Coffee with almond milk. First philosophical argument before breakfast. I suspect this will be a pattern. Frittata, then writing.

I paid for the king bedroom on the retreat, so I have a solo room at the top of the stairs. Great for filling the space with sound and isolation, with one tiny challenge: an east-facing bay window with a balcony. The balcony is lovely. 06h30 is earlier than I'm used to being woken by the sun.

Crucible. Woken by the sun. I could read all kinds of things into this, but they'd be projecting. Then again, synchronicities. A reminder to look at the rest of my syncretisms at some point.

Tomorrow, the work continues. Tonight, we sleep. (CW: bare shoulders, exposed collar)

https://awoo.space/media/2_RqZARC2nbdwCDirv0

We arrived at the retreat hours ago, but we've been busy since we arrived. A brief introduction from Alkani, then several hours of philosophy with John Otter. We ordered pizza, then recorded an episode of Fangs and Fonts.

Tomorrow, the first lecture, the first assignment, and a six-thousand word story to produce, plus up to 12,000 words of reading and critiquing. This is going to be _intense_ if nothing else.

Alkani called it a crucible. I've tempered before. I'm ready.

Out here, you can see where the sky touches the land. Seven-thousand feet up, it's easy to feel like everything is down from here. This isn't the highest, but it's pretty high. High enough.

https://awoo.space/media/yoa0KFBdouV2568U2VU

A brief stop at In-n-Out, and we're back on the road. Ninety-six miles to South Lake Tahoe. This is happening. I'm excited, if nervous. Still feeling like I'm a little outclassed. Still going to do this.

Now passing "Fugu Lounge: Sushi and Sports Bar."

Welcome to California.

Nighteyes and Ocean are in the front seat, talking about past submissions. I'm so unused to short story stuff; after three novels, I'm more accustomed longer-form work, with all the pitfalls that come with it. I'm out of my element. I have to believe I'm not out of my league.

21% battery remaining.

For found by a tigrox this time. Waiting for the third in the carpool to land, but Nighteyes' flight is late. Got Lovetop stuck in my head now. Winthrop was well-behaved on the flight, which was just long enough to get halfway into an Isaac run.

... scratch that; third plane in the ground. We're moving again.

Giant 3-D rabbit. @Momentrabbit, your team, I presume?
https://awoo.space/media/AxrQpzS3DWYAq62sjMg https://awoo.space/media/bRzTJi0cGbgmpL0GqoY

The music cut out at "entoptic symphony." Hell of a send-off, Emrys. Security was easy, insofar as indignity to personhood can be easy. Can the microwave scanners spot what's left of American decency?

Found a tigrox at the airport. Breakfast at Beecher's. Full flight to Sacramento.
https://awoo.space/media/0jp7SkJLd7dNXYdsP0U