Once again I am participating in the Blog Chain over at AbsoluteWrite.com. This month’s theme is post a scene from your WIP that shows your character.

Well, I have three WIP’s right now, but only one is far enough along to have anything to post. The problem is, it’s an erotica. I can’t post any of the scenes I would want to. Also, when I first came across this month’s theme, my first thoughts were of two scenes from my novel Of Poets and Angels that ended up being cut.

I love these scenes, they really shows off my protagonist Ethan nicely. But I had to cut them, as much as they set up my character, they did not move the plot along. They had to go, as much as I love them. So imagine how happy I was to have a chance to share them.

In the first scene, my MC Ethan has just returned from giving a poetry reading for his new wealthy sponsor, Madam Toussaint(Ethan is not human, he is a Hyuri, an elemental off-shoot of humanity). His bohemian friends are discussing a police raid on the very same coffee-house that occurred the night before. I ended this clipping when Ethan gets pulled back into the main story arc.

The second scene is back at the coffee house, after Ethan receives news that one of the city’s celebrity Angels bought a copy of his new book. Ethan guiltily buys a copy of a newspaper to read about the Angel.

“Hey Eloi! Frabrice! Whats up? Ethan’s two friends lifted their cups in a lazy greeting as he approached his favorite hangout, the coffee shop at the corner of EelStreet and TwoKnuckle avenue. The afternoon was bright and warm, the sunlight dimmed only a little by the city’s countless soot belching smoke stacks. He sat down in his customary chair splintering manner. As usual a small crowd had begun to gather, sprawling on salvaged chairs or leaning in the shade, intent on slothing away the afternoon heat. Ethan nodded to several people he knew, seeing who was there. “Hey Aitor, hey Louis” he nodded to the poet, and a pamphleteer he knew. He set down his second-hand couriers satchel, and rocked back in his chair, reached down and knocked on the street level window, his way of ordering. The windows of the basement bistro sat just at cobblestone level, and now a slender face peered out through the dirty glass at him and nodded. By now the staff knew his routine.

“Ethan,” Eloi caught his attention “look who’s decided to grace us with her presence”. Ethan’s gaze followed to where she was pointing, a long black cigarette dangling from her paint stained hand.

“Ayumu!” Ethan had not expected to see the diminutive avian composer for some time yet, this was a pleasant surprise. The tenku waved one black feathered hand and whistled a greeting. Not surprisingly, the raven like tenku were excellent mimics, with perfect pitch and an ear for harmony. Most tenku, however, never rose above scrounging and thievery, skulking about the edges of society. Much like the ubiquitous goblins, dwelling on rooftops and attics rather than boiler rooms and cellars. “Hey, did Citlali make it home safe last night?” Ayumu nodded an afirmative.

“So, Ethan, how was your reading?” Fabrice leaned intently forward, as the serving girl brought Ethan his spiced tea. “Don’t leave us all hanging, you’re the first one of us to go legit, tell us all what its like?” Gone was his mocking tone, replaced with a jealous hunger in his grey eyes.

“Oh, I killed em. I had them in the palm of my hand. But I’m not legit. Toussaint has only paid the publisher, I’ve not made a tin penny yet.” He sipped his tea, savoring the attention of his peers. “I get two Soldiers from every copy sold.”

“So, what’s the word on the raid last night?” Louis asked, the bill poster and pamphleteer was a bit of a conspiracy buff, and kept careful track of the government’s actions.

“Eh, nothing big. Just a couple of Officers of the Watch, no Guard.” He filled Louis in on the details of the previous nights raid at the very coffee house they now drank at. If Ethan had asked, he probably could have listed the names of the Officers involved. “No arrests. I think they just wanted to make sure we don’t forget about ‘em. It was nothing compared to that raid on Citlali’s party last spring. Whew, Heavy Guard in SteamArmor and everything. Remember that one? Wild night.” The Watch were a mere nuisance, doing little more than patrolling the streets or an occasional raid. The Guard, however, dealt with political crimes, and often worked with the Inquisition. Steal a loaf of bread, and deal with the Watch. Speak out against the Crown or Cabinet, and deal with the Guard. Nobody spoke out against the Church.

“Nice shirt” Eloi commented, fingering the black cloth. Changing the subject was her way of letting Ethan know she was bored with the topic. They had probably been discussing that very subject before he arrived. “Figures, you finally buy a new shirt, and you get one with a collar like that.” She sat back laughing, flicking ash from her spiced cigarette “But at least you got rid of that damned scarf.”

“Yeh, what’s with the scarf anyway? It’s way to hot, but you wear it everywhere.” This from his rival, the poet Aitor. Ethan did not feel Aitor had any right to criticize fashion, with the well worn, third hand, ill fitting suits the man favored.

“Its a hyuri thing.” A sharp voice sliced into the conversation, Cesar was striding purposefully up to Ethan, “They don’t like drafts. Ethan, we got a problem. I’m sure by now you’ve talked to Gloria or somebody, and you know all the rattle-and-clank going on.” Cesar pulled up a battered chair and sat opposite Ethan. “Well, there’s a new twist. The Church has made its move already. Didn’t take long. A priest came by today.”

Here is the second scene. If this is too long, feel free to scroll to the bottom to find links to the other blog chain participants to view their posts. Please do not allow my long-winded tendencies detract from your enjoyment of this blog chain. Again, I ended this clip when Ethan is pulled back into the main story arc by Seji, the Naga girl who has been sent to follow him.

Still in the mood for TwinCities cuisine, Ethan bought several steamed dumplings instead, and headed for his coffee shop, where a nicely sized crowd of his friends had begun to form. It was later than Ethan usually arrived, and getting crowded. Fabrice was absent, but Eloi had saved his usual chair at his table. The other chairs by the painter were filled by Aitor, and Wisli, a sculpture friend of Eloi’s. She and Ethan had shared a celebrated, if short lived romance last fall. It had not ended well, but they remained civil. Nothing brought down a party like two former lovers raging over past insults.

He sat with a smile, and stretched out in his usual chair.

“Had a busy day Ethan?” Eloi asked, puffing smoke out the side of her mouth.

“You could say that.” He savored the moment, waiting to see if any of his friends had heard the news. He placed his copy of the Lense on his table, innocently folded back to place his article prominently on top, and knocked on the window to order. Nobody was looking at his paper. They chatted randomly, about clothes and drugs and music. They talked about nothing, with great enthusiasm. Ethan would have joined them, nattering away the day like a flock of magpies, had his mind not been so thick with other thoughts. His mind wandered to Clair and her lies to him, he almost did not notice Eloi pick up the paper.

“Dark, Ethan, when did you start reading this?” Eloi taunted. “Didn’t you just tease me about reading this drivel last week?”

Ethan said nothing, ignoring the taunts.

“Oh, thats brilliant!” Aitor laughed loudly, perhaps a little to enthused “You snob, you’re just like the rest of us!” Wisli said nothing, lighting a cigarillo and narrowing her eyes at Ethan. Their romance had ended abruptly, over an argument involving a similar paper to the one being used to mock Ethan. Wisli adored celebrities, particularly those in the art world. She regularly took up new styles after reading about new, popular artists. If you were a real artist- were the words Ethan remembered using, shortly before she had thrown a statuette at his head. He was, he had to admit to himself, a little embarrassed. He often looked down upon people who read such rags, and he was now using an object of his own derision to gain attention and praise. He watched Eloi’s face, waiting for the reaction. He almost failed to notice the serving girl set his tea down. She was a bit thin for his tastes, but he smiled anyway.

“Oh my God! Oh my God!” Eloi fell back with such force she almost rocked her chair backwards, only her flailing grasp of Aitor’s shoulder kept her upright. There it was. “Oh. My. God. Ethan, have you read this? Her eyes sought his, envious, questioning.

To his other side, Ayumu whistled a question, next to two druggie sisters who often lurked around Ethan’s crowd. He feigned disinterest. How should he act? Should he be aloof? Or excited about the most important news of his life?

“Oh, its nothing Ayu, just a-”

“Nothing?” Eloi was almost shrieking by now “Nothing?” She thrust the paper to a curious Aitor and Wisli. “Shadows of Hell Ethan, this is flash! If you don’t tell them, I’m gona smash that teacup in your darkened blue face!”

“Fine, fine, I give up! Dark, Eloi, I didn’t want to make a big deal about it. I mean, I know its huge, but-” He sighed, running fingers through his windblown hair, and turned to Ayumu’s table “That, uh, that article is about Aziriphale, the Exalted. He bought my book. He took a coach to the bookseller on DaltonStreet, and walked in, himself, asked for my book, and paid. With celestial gold.” Jaws dropped. Ethan looked back to Eloi, “And thats not all. My sponsor, Toussaint, met Aziriphale at that banquette last night. He wants to meet me, and asked a reading.”

Silence. Glorious, awed silence. They exploded with noise, congratulations, questions, fawning approval. Ethan gloried in the attention. Then, amidst slaps on the back, and congratulations, he saw her. Seji.

Please check out the other participants, and leave encouraging comments.

LadyMage: http://www.katherinegilraine.com and direct link to her post
FreshHell: http://freshhell.wordpress.com/ and direct link to her post
Collectonian: http://collectonian.livejournal.com and direct link to her post
Aimee Laine: http://www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog and direct link to her post
AuburnAssassin: http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/ and direct link to her post
Lyra Jean: http://lyratorres.wordpress.com/ and direct link to her post
Aheïla: http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/ and direct link to her post
ArcticFox: http://picaresqueblog.blogspot.com/ and direct link to her post
Fokker Aeroplanbau: http://rightfarright.blogspot.com/ and direct link to his post
Alpha Echo: http://writersramblings81.blogspot.com/ and direct link to her post
xcomplex: http://arielemerald.blogspot.com/ and direct link to her post
CScottMorris: (me)
egoodlett: http://wordlarceny.blogspot.com/
Lilain: http://abigailschmidt.blogspot.com/
defyalllogic: http://tavialewis.com/hyperbolicallyspeaking/
*RomanceWriter*: http://www.staceyespino.blogspot.com
IrishAnnie: http://superpenpower.blogspot.com
Anarchicq: http://anarchicq.com/
littlebear91: http://blog.littlebearz.com
hillaryjacques: www.hillaryjacques.blogspot.com
Proach: http://desstories.blogspot.com
CowgirlPoet: http://frontnotes.blogspot.com/