Vexx Muddled Writing Project: "It Really *IS* Rocket Science"

[Vexx]

Forcing myself to focus on volume 1 project for publication. So, the rough draft installment is late (I have gotten the outline sketched out).

In volume one, I've removed all the song lyrics, the suits for the artists simply want too damn much money to use even one line. They're insane, to put it lightly.

E-book technology means I can link to an official video or iTune reference (though that won't work for a printed version obviously). So I'm describing *how* they're singing, what the meaning of the song is, how it effects them, using the titles/authors names (which is legal).

I've tried to address all the concerns beta readers had (solving the creepy-to-female-readers stalking in the first chapter, mitigating the neediness overload, having the women seriously contemplate Blar's offer before accepting, more humor to balance the drama, more complexity to the relationships, retro-tuning continuity, etc). I think the results make for a far better story without screwing up what makes it a fun read in the first place.

Volume 2 is going to be a major overhaul project in itself, but I'll talk about that when it is time.

Anyway, the next two chapters are basically Glycerin-centric so I thought this video was appropriate. I'm not entirely sure myself which of her flags I'm going to trip. I'm going to try and let Glycerin decide.
"Suddenly I See"

YouTube

https://youtu.be/CuqktcWaHjE

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1) Sashiko is getting better with big crowds
2) Sashiko's new 'girly' hair ... well, girly for her
3) She likes to buy expensive clothes and rip them up. She likes duct tape.
4) This is probably the most feminine voice she has.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/PZgPRqtnN44

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[Vexx]

I think I can call my Volume One done as "final draft". I've asked a few people to take a look at it but otherwise it's done. Just to be clear - that isn't what you see here in the thread. The thread is simply my initial rough drafts issued as I write them. Once in a while I'll tweak if I changed continuity seriously but mostly you're reading a ROUGH DRAFT. Just sayin'.

Putting feeders out to a few artists to commission illustrations for it. (cover art and hopefully a few b&w sketches inside). After that, I publish it and jump into marketing it. I'm willing to spend $300-$500 for a package so if any readers are artists - point me to your portfolio.

Volume Two is next and I'm trying to decide whether I can turn the second act into two volumes given the number of pages it comes in at.

For those who have read the rough draft of this series --- I'm not just trying to sell books but the published versions are substantially changed/improved from the rough drafts. It really would be worth a read if you liked the rough draft. I'm going to put the first few publish-worthy chapters out for free as a preview on the official website so you can judge for yourself.

I'm half done with the latest Volume Three chapter rough draft (the aftermath of Tsika and Blar finally making love). Will try to release it on Tuesday.

Some pics that caught my eye while looking for reference pics to provide the artists.
Tsika fashion/attitude references, Tsika&Blar echoes, Glycerin tattoo style references.

Full size pics in the album - http://forums.animesuki.com/album.php?albumid=3903

The lovely person on the left in the purple gothery is Elisanth, an alternative model who loves bizarre contact lenses - you can find her on Facebook.

[Vexx]

Okay. Let's see if this works.

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TL;DR…

vol 03 ch 14 content

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Author's notes:
I'm going to admit right off the bat, I'm not terrible satisfied with these recent chapters. Lots of good moments in place but I already know I'm going to be seriously overhauling them during the subsequent rewrites.

However, you're getting this for free so you get to see the rough sketches, screw ups, and ideas-that-might-need-a-blowtorch.

The first trick in writing is to WRITE SOMETHING DOWN so you're not staring at blank paper. This chapter needs a lot more connective tissue but there's enough here for release. Astute readers may notice some paragraphs that refer back in time to moments I'm going to deal with in earlier chapters in the redrafting phase.

edit: I'm using the same descriptive words too often ... too much "lunging", for example.

[Vexx]

Author Notes and relevant videos.
===================================
Have an interlude of videos relevant to the story in Volume 3 while I make final passes on the next chapter.


I've gotten a sudden silence from all the beta readers. Well, not quite. One said he'd rage-quit if Glycerin died. I guess that means I've made some characters at least one person cares about

- - - - - -

These are all representative of Tokyo performances and the sort stage garb people are wearing. I'm getting a little better at Magma, Reaper, and the other RockBand tools but quite a lot is just random and you have to run the sequence several times to get one that works. The avatar collisions make me tear my hair out (guitar through the head, people running through each other, microphone face stabs). Harmonix is hinting they might do a Rock Band 4 once the console wars settle down. I'd be up for that.

I was given the game-tool RockSmith for my birthday - it's quite a lot of fun (plug my real bass guitar in and it's "finger memory time" learning tunes). The game automagically adjusts the difficulty as you demonstrate you can or cannot handle note sequences.

Videos, all pretty much listenable by people of any musical tastes.

Glycerin covering "Born This Way". The tune just seems to synchronize with her.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/bSnliyFlRFo

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Glycerin and Blar sing an anthem, Amaryllis.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/g7dUgJjysvc

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Tsika wants to be brought to life.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/4Pz05LcoTz8

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Melodic metal, a favorite with the Lost Girls.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/BYfEbWJPl2Y

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Still Alive?

YouTube

https://youtu.be/SElbwCF7ds0

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Sashiko growling at life, but so far it isn't autobiographical. She's mostly grown out of her stage fright. She throws up AFTER the performance now.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/4JOrNJblhLc

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[Vexx]

And here we go ...

Volume 03 Chapter 15 ("Suddenly I See")

TL;DR…

vol 03 ch 15 content

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Author note: I *think* I mixed horror, pathos, drama, and comedy the way I like. May stare at it a few days.

[Vexx]

Short intermission into the mind of Sasaki and her imaginary "rock star" daydreams (probably acted out in a karaoke room or her shower) -

Sasaki (light) - cover of Thug Love

YouTube

https://youtu.be/8lMfg-flfz0

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Sasaki (dark) - cover of 'Romancing the Ordinary'

YouTube

https://youtu.be/j7ixybC9muc

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And a quick split of classic rock given Glycerin feels a little Thunderstruck at this point in the story.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/cMSMWJcxiEQ

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[Vexx]

Volume 03 Chapter 16 ("Walk, Idiot, Walk!")

TL;DR…

vol 03 ch 16 content

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Author notes: This chapter seems a bit mild in comparison I guess. I'm pasting story segments onto the storyline. There may be pacing issues to address but I'd rather not skip over too much of the storyboard. Whatever, I had fun writing the scenes

[Vexx]

I put together a few videos of "It Really ISN'T Rocket Science" for fun.

You can see Toshi the yakuza drummer. Hank covers a couple of tunes. Sashiko is starting to glam up to fit in with the group's style better.

Tsika - celebrity skin

YouTube

https://youtu.be/Exv7HAZdo8w

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Hank - the stand (hilarious song)

YouTube

https://youtu.be/H0LZ5l_Vh_U

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Sashiko - disposable teens

YouTube

https://youtu.be/tRucmfCmvVA

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Hank - harder to breathe

YouTube

https://youtu.be/8ljqek3_QHs

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The videos could use some trimming but I'm making yet one more pass through the "to be published" version of volume 1, starting the rewrite of volume 2, and of course, glaring at the outline for the next chapter in volume 3.

Trying to give labor time precedence to getting volume 1 onto the ebook shelves. I had originally thought I'd have it out in September but illustrators are hard to collar and get results out of even when I wave money at them. Talking to some local artists now.

[Vexx]

Bashing away on the next rough draft chapter of volume 3. Look for it tomorrow or Wednesday.

Volume 1 is "ready to publish" I think outside of illustrations. I've edited it until eyes were bleeding, all feedback taken.

Random real life reference pics for some of the characters:

Images

real life reference pics

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[Vexx]

Volume 03 Chapter 17
“All I Wanna Do (Is Have Some Fun)” – Sheryl Crow

(edit: *implicit* NSFW moments, just sayin')

TL;DR…

vol 03 ch 17 content

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Author notes: Trying some new stuff. The radio interview transcript segment seemed like a less cumbersome way of handling that event. I have to stew on the Sashi/Hank sequences - I'd like to make them more comedic even though they're pretty serious moments about boundaries. I'll just remind folks this whole thread is made up of ROUGH DRAFTS. The edited/rewritten about-to-be-published e-books are a damn sight cleaner and better reads.

Edit: Oh, the "Heavy Metal Rising" is an actual Japanese metal radio show and they interview artists. The questions are nearly all from actual interviews (as are the sorts of silly answers). I took 3 or 4 interviews and used them for references for the kinds of answers musicians tend to give when asked silly questions.

Anyway, had fun writing Glycerin's little adventure in the playground and her part of the radio show. She can have my wallet, too.

[Vexx]

Author's note: For new readers, I am substantially rewriting the entire series from scratch to be published commercially. Nothing will change in this thread so don't let it stop anyone from reading. The commercial version tells the story in a much more professional way. Consider this thread a forum rough draft preview. There's enough change in what I'm writing that I hope readers will be interested in the new version when it is available for sale.

Changes include order of events, dialog, tweaking motivations for character actions, new scenes, expansion of scenes and reductions of others that didn't work so well.

For example, in the most recent chapter, I don't think I set the stage well enough for Hank and Sashi's boundary checks on what was okay for sex. The rewrite will include several building sequences where it's more clear how their relationship is constructed, building and why it leads to that moment.

Edit: Just read through the first few rough draft chapters published here ... yeah, the to-be-published version is quite a bit better, more nuanced ... but that's the way it should be between first drafts and final products. Hard for me to believe anyone thought the rough drafts were worthy of comment.

Volume One - Forming of the Band, Early Days, Who are these people?
Volume Two - The music writing retreat, Early Gigs, Adventures, Rock Festivals
Volume Three - The Japan Tour, Adventures, Crazy Romances.

Volume One is ready to be published (illustrations in progress ... maybe). Currently Rewriting Volume Two (may end up being two volumes?)
Volume Three - still in rough draft in process.

[Vexx]

I hate to upset anyone hoping for a new chapter but I do believe I have a book cover for volume one. Taking a cue from people who rant at me that "live people" might be a better eyecatch (at first at least). I purchased images rights of one of my favorite alternative artists, elisanth. She has several pics that just scream "Glycerin" or "Tsika". So, unless something else comes up - here's the cover of Volume One as I prepare it for the e-book world.

Edit: I dropped the "!" in the title. That can mess with search tools. And ... yeah, that's my meatbag-space name. Bleh.

Images

book jacket cover prototype

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[Vexx]

Getting the book ready for Smashwords (for B&N, Kobo, etc) and CreateSpace (for paperback copies) has been a pain in the ass. Each has very different formatting and tag requirements.

Worse, I've been using Openoffice for years -- none of the publishing entities play well with it. Finally bit the bullet and bought Microsoft Word (have i said I hate the new win8 version? Well ... getting used to it but out of the box it makes some terrible UI decisions).

I will say Office does professional editing better, much easier to attack, replace, adjust format tags, manage revisions, and it uses the right units in styles and whatnot.

I ran right into a huge complaint many users of 2003 and newer express -- the tendency for MSWord to lock files from editing for stupid lame reasons (like using a preview pane in the file manager). Google search got me workarounds but they are just that workarounds.

I'll go back to weekly chapter updates once Volume One is safely up on the shelves at Amazon and all the other e-book retailers. Expect a new chapter rough draft Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. I hope these rough drafts do lure the readers to buy the e-books or even the paperbacks. Check the previews out to see how the story has evolved from those early rough drafts. Amazon lets you look at the first 20% of the book online for free.

http://www.amazon.com/It-Really-Rock...rocket+science

If you'd rather have a physical paperback, currently available here at CreateSpace and now on Amazon.com:
https://www.createspace.com/4500244
http://www.amazon.com/Really-Rocket-...rocket+science

If anyone "likes" my author page on Facebook, the goblins will love you. https://www.facebook.com/bhbranham

[Vexx]

Okay, the first volume is out on Amazon (paperback, kindle), Createspace (paperback), and is winding its way onto Barnes&Noble (Nook), Apple, and Kobo e-reader sites Onto editing volume two ... and shameless self-promotion ... and social media mucking ... and bleh.

Anyway, also need to keep pumping out rough drafts to finish out the tour of Japan and get the band back to Portland.

Videos of the week, they have funny bits and shouldn't offend the ears (no metal or thrash).

This is late in the tour of Japan, a little after Blar and Glycerin recover from injuries
"Rock of Ages"

YouTube

https://youtu.be/NC07eQhTQCQ

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Sashiko only throws up AFTER the performance now on a big stage about halfway through the Japan Tour.
Japanese rock fans seem to be enthralled by all women groups who have spectacular guitar/drum skills.
"Take It Off"

YouTube

https://youtu.be/LJB7srFf8hc

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Glycerin and Blar are injured at one point in the tour. This is Glycerin's first time back on stage after the incident.
"Kiss Them For Me"

YouTube

https://youtu.be/yy7zmD2VKmM

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Flashback video, from a gig in Portland before the Rock Festival, note the clothing.
"Are You Gonna Be My Girl?"

YouTube

https://youtu.be/vnKLzcMxAwU

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[Vexx]

I am currently banging my head on my desk trying to come up with entertaining moments to connect point A with point B on the storyboard outline, so I'll post some of my research into Glycerin's state of mind. Dissociative Identity Disorder (what used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder) is still poorly understood - to some degree because it manifests rarely in ways where it can be studied.

In other words, yeah, not only did I research the music business for this series but also psychology, including DID, PTSD, and the psychiatric effects of parental loss in early years - particularly violent loss.

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/d...ality-disorder
http://www.psychologytoday.com/condi...ality-disorder
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disord..._disorder.aspx
http://psychcentral.com/lib/dispelli...sorder/0009785
(and about a half dozen other studies, articles, and papers.

Brain imaging studies have corroborated identity transitions in some patients. DID was called Multiple Personality Disorder until 1994, when the name was changed to reflect a better understanding of the condition—namely, that it is characterized by a fragmentation, or splintering, of identity rather than by a proliferation, or growth, of separate identities.DID reflects a failure to integrate various aspects of identity, memory and consciousness in a single multidimensional self. Usually, a primary identity carries the individual's given name and is passive, dependent, guilty and depressed. When in control, each personality state, or alter, may be experienced as if it has a distinct history, self-image and identity. The alters' characteristics—including name, reported age and gender, vocabulary, general knowledge, and predominant mood—contrast with those of the primary identity. Certain circumstances or stressors can cause a particular alter to emerge. The various identities may deny knowledge of one another, be critical of one another or appear to be in open conflict.

[Vexx]

Tsika wardrobe elements - reference images. Frilly, dark, goth. (still banging my head on the chapter release).
Very good reasons that Glycerin and Blar are both smitten by the little doll. Seriously I'll credit this little jewel of a model once I discover her name

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by Vexx

I'll go back to weekly chapter updates once Volume One is safely up on the shelves at Amazon and all the other e-book retailers. Expect a new chapter rough draft Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. I hope these rough drafts do lure the readers to buy the e-books or even the paperbacks. Check the previews out to see how the story has evolved from those early rough drafts. Amazon lets you look at the first 20% of the book online for free.

http://www.amazon.com/It-Really-Rock...rocket+science

If you'd rather have a physical paperback, currently available here at CreateSpace and now on Amazon.com:
https://www.createspace.com/4500244
http://www.amazon.com/Really-Rocket-...rocket+science

If anyone "likes" my author page on Facebook, the goblins will love you. https://www.facebook.com/bhbranham

Apologies, I ran into a huge clusterfuck with the e-book editions. Somewhere in the conversion process, my navigating data (ToC stuff) threw up and people were buying books with no way to jump to chapters. So I stayed up all night, reconstructing the file from scratch. Since it was an all night whiskey drama, I also corrected a lot of small errors that had been collecting in my OCD file of fixing. Anyway, the new Kindle version is up, the files have been resubmitted again to Smashwords (Nook, Apple, etc) and I put a hardcover version up for sale on Lulu (mostly for grins).

Buy the books/e-books, "like" the pages, follow the tweets, etc. I appreciate everyone who has been reading the rough drafts and especially those who actually had feedback to offer. Seriously, the final version is much much better - like the difference between a pencil sketch on a napkin and full color comic. Preview the book at Amazon and see.

Just in case, anyone is crazy and wants a hardcover: http://www.lulu.com/shop/brad-branha...-21290602.html

Okay, back to writing the next Volume Three chapter of "It Really IS Rocket Science, Go Go Godzilla"

[Vexx]

Nearly done with the newest rough draft chapter. I have to say this though.

Originally Posted by Vexx

Finally got a version of Volume One approved through the mill. Over the next few weeks, it will be automatically distributed to major online retailers such as Apple (distribution to iBookstores in 51 countries), Barnes & Noble (US and UK), Sony, Kobo, Flipkart (India's largest online bookseller), Diesel eBook Store, eBooks Eros (operated by Diesel), Baker & Taylor (Blio and the Axis360 library service), Page Foundry (operates retail sites Inktera.com and Versent.com; and operates Android ebook store apps for Cricket Wireless and Asus), and other distribution outlets. Additionally, Kobo powers the ebook stores of multiple ebook retailers around the world. Kobo connects with WH Smith in the UK, FNAC in France and Portugul, Livraria Cultura in Brazil, Angus & Robertson in Australia, Bookworld in Australia, Indigo in Canada, Collins in Australia, Feltrinelli in Italy, Libris in the Netherlands, Paper Plus in New Zealand, Play in Great Britain, Rakuten in Japan, Buy.com (now Rakuten) in the US, Whitcoulls in New Zealand, and more.

That's about as close to world-wide access as it gets. Now comes the really serious marketing aspects (as I whack away on editing Volume Two "Surfing With The Alien" for release).

Hopefully, some of you out there will buy the book or the e-book to pat me on the head for my street performance here on Animesuki. Seriously, it's quite a lot better a read At least recommend it to friends - at the moment I just want eyeball exposure.

I'm going to have a sale in a week or so get some momentum going. I'll notify readers here when it happens. It will either be a discount coupon just for AS readers or a general sale.

[Vexx]

Okay. Stupid metatags are throwing up on me. Using spoiler tag. See? I haven't run away! Just slower with all the parallel tasks.

Volume 03 Chapter 18

Spoiler for vol 03 ch 18 content:

"Tattooed Love Boys" - The Pretenders

“Whit th' fook?”Sashiko’s glare should have melted the skull of the manager of the public bath house who stood blocking her way.

“No tattoos. Very sorry. Strict rules.” The manager looked nervous but stood his ground.

“Ur ye feart thay gonnae leak aff in yer precious pristine waters?!”

“Nani?”

“Bah! Ne'er mind! We’ll tak' oor perfectly guid yen dosh somewhere else! Dinnae expect a crakin' jolly Yelp! Fookin’ basterd!”

“Nani?”

Sashiko, Glycerin, Tsika, and Kpau regrouped outside the onsen. Sashiko was muttering a blue streak of curses with Tsika providing a countermelody of her own murderous growls. Glycerin tried to soothe nerves as she gazed up and down the street trying to spot another public bath.

“It w-was inevitable we would en-encounter this at some point, little doves. Just a spot of bad luck that it w-was after m-missing a day’s bath. We are rather itchy. Wants a bath before evening.” Glycerin felt a small hand stroking her shoulder.

“Don’t fret, my Mouse. We will get you all fresh and shiny for your night out! No tattoo issue will stop us!”

Little dear worries about me so much still. We guesses she won’t ever entirely get over treating me gently.

“Tattoos. Ah! I got it!” Kpau’s face lit up as she fished her cellphone out of her bag. She punched her contacts list and opened a call, then nodded her head after a moment.

“Mushy mushy to you, too, Toshi! Ah, sure! Standing by.” Kpau hummed to herself as she held the phone to her ear. “He’s gotta go outside where his girlfriend won’t hear. Apparently she deleted me off of his phone when he wasn’t looking.” There was scattered giggling from the others as Kpau began listening intently.

“Clear of danger, sport? Ah, the tragedy is we haz a feminine double set of Dirty Pairs here who desperately want a bath but the snarky mundanes won’t let tattoos in their hot baths. Got any suggestions? We got the High Priestess with us, so nothing scary!”

Kpau nodded unnecessarily as she listened to Toshi on her device. “Great! Text me the address and we’ll GPS our way there! Kisses and bites, dude!” She ended the call and brought up her navigation aid.

“Thought stupid blonde had sent energetic drummer on his way? Girlfriend might have lethal intentions for you and maybe us!”

“Meh, never burn a bridge completely. Okay, follow the commands of the little magic box! Tosh says this place is okay in the daytime and he’ll let them know we’re coming.”

“Sounds lahk a one-way express tew bonny Shanghai ta me. Toshi seems okay bit th' rest mak' me a wee bit tense, specially th' auld guy, th' wey he looks at me.”

“He just wants to count freckles of crazy woodpecker. No, seriously we keep all eyes wide open. They’ve been very helpful but I will feel better when we are off to Hokkaido tomorrow. All done with gigs here, did our interviews, made commercials, and we are all here to enjoy victories!” Tsika squeezed Glycerin’s hand. Glycerin quietly smiled and responded by kissing the top of Tsika’s head.

“I see our destination! It really was close by! Tally Hoes! There’s a mama-san type waving at us! Toshi says that’s his aunt, she’ll take care of us and keep the ogling guys on a lease.”

* * *

Blar stepped out of the cab and held his hand out. Slender fingers grasped it as a gorgeous long pair of legs adorned with a dark purple chiffon skirt and bow-trimmed high heels slipped out of the cab’s door. Glycerin fluttered her dress to straighten it as she stood meekly by while Blar paid the driver.

“Here we are, Glyyca. The Tofuya Ukai. Let’s see if they got our reservations right, otherwise we’ll be sharing taiyaki down the street. I find myself still kind of amazed Tsika set this up as a surprise for you.”

“Our precious doll w-wanted to treats me for spiriting you and her off for your love nest evening. She still j-just ties herself up in knots when she tries to talks about it. You must have been quite lovely to my-my doll. But right now, we’re about to b-bust in happy ourselves we’re so barnswoggled! Addled little m-m-me standing here with my Blar Umlaut in Tokyo and we’re having a private d-dinner with him! Oh, this restaurant looks lovely!” Glycerin snuggled next to Blar and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“I … I just cannot wrap my head around the notion I’m talking to the same Glycerin I met last winter. Well, I guess I’m not – really. You ready to eat ‘til you bust, Ping?”

The tall woman’s eyes flickered. Glycca and Ping were able to switch out almost instantly now if they were both rested. “Bloody right, Mr. Umlaut! I can smells the yummies from here! My Other will do most of the driving tonight! I’m just going to roll in the tasty feelings of good food!”

“This used to be a sake brewery … kind of reminds me of an extended hobbit hole now with all the little paths and rooms and gardens. Let’s go. Hopefully, Tsika really impressed on them that we wanted chairs. Between your legs and mine we’d probably wreck the table and punch holes in the shoji doors.”

A few minutes later, they were settled in a private dining room with a view of one of the gardens and working their way through a bottle of sake and appetizers. Glycerin was already giggling more than she usually was wont to do and her flirting chatter was turning risqué on a drunken whim. Blar decided he could turn up the heat a little himself without crashing her.

“Okay, Little Dancer. I have noticed you tend to girly up when you’re doing something with me but you’re more …. dangerous? rugged?... when you are focused on Tsika. That extends to stage performances. One night you’re just a little lacy sweet treat, another night you look like Slash should give you extra room onstage with your kickass … okay, I can’t dance around it … butch garb. You’re looking very tasty girly tonight. I actually think you’re quite mesmerizing either way so I wonder what’s up. Is that even conscious on your part?”

Glycerin snorted through a giggle as she leaned against Blar and stroked his hand. She interlocked her fingers with his. “Methinks my large sc-scary Blar is a wee bit right. I just feel very yin to my man. Submissive. Yielding to my Blar. G-Giving myself to him.“ She blew in his ear as her voice got husky. “But then I th-think of my beautiful doll and I get all yang! Aggressive! Wants her! Wants to t-touch her, play her like a fine little instrument! Listen to her noises, feel her sh-shiver … we so love that! We loves leading her through the f-feelings!”

Blar found himself feeling rather aroused by Glycerin’s candid adoration of Tsika. “So, she’s definitely not dominant, eh?”

Glycerin eyed her glass and refilled it. “Sometimes, love. If she’s sotty enough. But remember sh-she isn’t quite wired for me, she’s letting me t-touch her because she loves me … so my fine delicate little warrior lets m-me lead the dance.” The tall woman’s alcohol-flushed face bloomed brighter. “We so loves to w-watch her eyes roll back and hear her howl after we st-st-stir her up with just the right feather touches.”

“Maybe I need to take notes, but she and I have only had the one night so far. And that was a half year of pent up lust blowing up. It was quite wild and fierce and I don’t regret any of it. Ah, here’s our first course of the meal.” After the staff left, the pair began eating quietly. A few moments passed and then Glycerin laughed quietly.

“We’d so love to have you with me wh-when we tend to our sweet doll. We daydream about holding her hands and kissing her f-f-forehead while you stir her up with your wonderful rhythm. But she’d curl up like b-b-burning paper, poor thing!”

“Seriously, I need to take a look at those romance novels you read, Little Dancer. I thought they just had ripped bodices and lots of swooning in them. You’re making me blush at the moment! Okay, I’m not going to say I haven’t had the opportunity for a threesome in my life … thinking of a set of twins on a concert tour a few thousand years ago. But I was too stoned to do my part properly and they spent more time with each other.”

“But we’re m-more than that! N-N-Not a mere dalliance, love! Tsika c-c-calls it that French word … menage a trois? I looked it up. Three barmy bodgers making a go of life like we are! I didn’t kn-know it was so popular! Did you know that Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson w-was in one?! With an ambassador and his wife! He’s like a n-national icon in the UK! Statues of him! See?! We’re not th-that weird! Are we?! I want s-s-something to be normal in my life. S-S-Something … normal?”

Whoops. Mood shift in the little fragile thing. Put my arms around her. Stroke that lovely nape of her neck.

“Tall gorgeous creature who melts my brain … you’re a rock star, you’re in Japan, you’re the most amazing guitar player I’ve ever seen, men and women alike swoon in your mystic aura, normal is what we make it. Do you like me holding you?”

She nodded as she blotted her eyes against his shirt. “Yes, love. It’s like a girlish dream m-made real. I used to have very n-naughty dreams about you as a teen. Very naughty.”

“Huh, heh. I may have to help you enact some of those. Hope I’m up to it. That’s our normal. End of story. Tend to each other, helping each other feel safe and happy. Okay? You’re going to be getting married in a few weeks to someone who’s tended to you for ten years. Another daydream of yours come to pass.”

“We think she’s a little sc-scared of what’s she’s done. I’m not a guy. I’m not the man who followed her that romantic day. We kn-knows what she’s outwardly wished for all these years. Home and family, like her parents gave her before they died. We worries about what little family she has left in Moscow, what they might say about her and me. She always had s-s-something conventional and traditional in her wishes. She’s just such a stubborn little dear. Won’t b-b-back down from her proposal. But … she also tells me she’s been th-thinking about what we three have now s-s-since way back in Monterey! Back when we were just flirting and w-w-winking at each other! Back then I was just pet-petrified I was ruining things for her and in the way of her being happy!” Glycerin fished a fried tofu off of a plate and stared morosely at it.

Blar leaned back and did his best at reflective thought. “I could rattle on about the real essentials just being a legal contract so you can make decisions for each other in a hospital and such but yeah, I don’t know what to do about the other emotional and traditional aspects of marriage people might rant about. To me you’re just formalizing a commitment to each other already made long ago … just saying it out loud in front of friends in a ceremony-party.”

Glycerin’s face grew solemn. “We w-w-wants the ceremony to include you as well as me and Ping. The bloody legal paper can s-s-say what it wants but it’s already three of us anyway -- me, Ping, and Tsika. Ping and I w-wants it with Blar, too. We m-must figure it out soon.”

“And here I thought I was going to give all of you away to each other.”

“We don’t want anything to r-really change … other than cuddling up more! “ Glycerin smirked bashfully. “The band is our life for now, like Tsika s-s-says. Tis years before other clocks st-st-start to tick more loudly for Tsika and I. We really does w-w-wishes we could stop time and stay here in Japan though. It’s b-b-been an unbelievable adventure and-and we’re not even to the rock festival yet!”

Glycerin turned to look Blar closely in the eyes. Her pupils twirled as she spoke. “We knows I made it awful f-for you both while I worked th-things out for ourselves. Please, we h-hopes you focus on the happy m-m-memories after the tour is over. Like making that bloody hilarious c-commercial! I can’t wait to s-s-see it though we may wear a bag over me head to watch it!”

She seems really stable at the moment. Let’s bring my idea up and see how she responds.

“Glycca? Ping? Both of you need to listen for moment and think about this.” Blar watched as her pupils relaxed into their own separate dilation, giving her that goofy cartoon look that alarmed people. Here we go.

“I found a neuroscience researcher in Portland who wants to meet you.” He could feel her muscles tighten. Her expression began shifting to fear. “Wait! Wait! He is not a doctor doctor! He’s a scientist. He wants to just research you, understand what’s going on. He wants to do MRI scans while you two switch out and do tasks, see if there’s a physical manifestation. That kind of research. He’d like you to help and be part of the analysis!”

Her muscles relaxed a little. “Oh! Actual re-research? Not d-drugs and th-therapy and b-b-bad people putting us in scary places?”

“No. I’ve made it real clear you’re not interested in being treated and the whole band feels like you’re coping and functioning better than ever. I thought you might like the project given you’ve been quietly doing your own research over the years. I notice what Nature Magazine research articles you gravitate to and your web bookmarks. I’m not quite as dim as Kpau paints me as.” Blar chuckled. The blonde goblin says you’ve even done some graduate coursework in neuroscience.”

“We did! We would love to do actual s-s-science! We bets he has all the gizmos to do useful looking. As long as there’s no d-d-drugs or bad things. It’s a he?” She wrung her hands a moment. “We’d have to get used to him. That c-could be a problem.”

“One of us would always go with you. That way if he did run some kind of test that made you woozy … oh, I don’t know … like dilating your eyes? Anyway, we’d be there to keep you company with him.”

Glycerin nodded gratefully. “That would be lovely. We’ve always joked about scan-scanning my splintered mirror brain to see how it works, now we might actually gets to d-do that!”

The main course arrived to interrupt conversation. Glycerin ate quietly but she shifted closer to Blar, touching him constantly as they ate. Her eyelids fluttered as she worked herself up to speak.

“We likes just s-s-sitting quietly with you when we’re eating or reading. Ping re-re-recalls doing that with her parents and brothers, just h-having a quiet reading night all curled up together. That was before I appeared, it seems, but s-s-something about the memory must seep through. In college, I liked to quietly s-sit leaning up against Tsika while she s-sewed and I read my books. Those are n-nice memories.”

“I love watching you two when you’re like that. Oh! You seemed to enjoy the hell out of playing for Toshi’s band yesterday. They seemed quite happy to get a personal performance from you. And Aina likes them well enough to take them on as a client of her record label. They’ve had a really good week thanks to you.”

“They r-really are bad boys we supposes. I was daft to trust them but they were s-s-so nice to me! I was s-s-so proud I was able to chat with them! But we did love sh-showing them our best guitar works yesterday. They liked my c-cover of Vengeance didn’t they! It is s-s-such a k-kickass song!”

“You bewitch them … plus I think your magnificent tattoos derailed whatever they had planned for you initially. You really are a Queen of the Yakuza after all I guess!” Blar chuckled as he tried to spear up a shrimp with his chopsticks left-handed. His right hand was thoroughly entangled in Glycerin’s hands.

After the meal was over, Blar took Glycerin down the street for desert at a frozen mochi shop he had spotted on the way in. She ordered green tea confection and he chose a sweetened red bean variety of the rice-based dessert.

“Do you want to go dancing, Little Dancer? Go for a walk? It’s still early enough we could wander the shops near here. I don’t know of any movies out at the moment that might be worth seeing … or be not too scary.”

The shy guitarist turned bright red and wrung her hands between her knees. “We … uh, Tsika … my Blar … s-s-she set us up … Tsika s-s-she … … you and me … a-a-a-a ... us in-in a l-love hotel for the night!”

That last part was said loudly enough in her rising panic that some other tourists in the shop heard from their table and chuckled at the revelation. Fortunately, Glycerin seemed too absorbed to notice them.

Blar found himself both happy at the notion and alarmed for her sense of stability. Keep it simple.

“Do you know how to get there?”

She nodded furiously while staring holes through her toes as they peeked out of her high heels. “Y-Y-Yes! Yes, we does! And … and-and n-n-n-n-no happy pill drugs this t-t-time! On m-m-my own! Ping and I with my Blar!"

Blar couldn’t avoid sweating. Damn Tsika for not telling me ahead of time! Well, it’s also likely Glycerin bravely bluffed her way through their conversation about the idea for Tsika’s sake. Wow.

“Okay, this probably scares me almost as much as it does you. I don’t want to crack my pretty crystal flower pushing her too hard. That’s what Aina and I call you, you know. Beautiful and fragile … though I’ve found you’re pretty damned tough in some ways. Let’s finish our treats and just see how it goes. I’ll follow your lead and you call time out any time you want. Okay?”

“That’s why we wants to try, love. Because we know you will keeps us safe.”

* * *

Blar dropped the card key on the table. It was a nice place but theme oriented like the one he and Kpau had ended up in back in Kyoto one wild night. The theme in this room was outer space with the walls and ceiling painted in a star field. Pillows were planet shaped. Odd colored indirect lighting dominated the room. Blar chuckled at Tsika’s choice for her friend.

Glycerin stood in the center of the room, visibly trembling as she took in the room and especially the bed. She saw him watching her and her eyes flashed. She was getting mad at herself again.

“Bloody hell! So bleedin’ tired of being afraid of everything! Help me, love?"

Blar moved close behind her. He removed her dress jacket and kissed her shoulders. Her trembling made him think of those times months before when he would adjust her guitar strap or help her with a necklace. Those coy secretive glances at him, then and now, just amplified the memories and her sensuality to him.

Glycerin turned around and focused on his clothing, pushing his jacket off and slowly unbuttoning his dress shirt after taking his bowtie off. Blar rested his hands on her hips while she unhooked each button. Her hands shook.

“We wants you to know! This isn’t me being all groupie with my idol Blar Umlaut this time. Not fangirl this time! We wants to be with the man behind the image. The man who held my hair when we threw up, who took care of me in scary places, who rescued me from a cliff, took me to see giraffe, helped Ping come out of her dark place, who loves my little doll even when she’s lost her mind in rage … we loves that man! My Tsika says his name is Blake. You!”

Wow. All that in one breath and without a stammer.

Blar wrapped his arms around his Little Dancer and kissed her until they fell on the bed together. Glycerin kicked her shoes off and sat up. Ping was clearly driving now.

“Let’s me do this part!” Ping jerked Blar’s boots off and in a few seconds of wild abandon had him completely stripped down. She raised up on her knees in the bed to strip off her blouse. She nearly ripped her skirt getting it off. She grinned wildly. “If Glycca were doing this, we would be two bloody hours getting to the skin touching!”

“Heh, uh don’t kill her, Ping.”

“We’ll let the man do our bra and undies! We wants to watch his eyes when he unhooks our bra!”

Ping scooted forward on her knees as Blar got up on his knees facing her. She rested her hands on his shoulders as he unlatched the snap between her breasts. He stroked each one tenderly as the bra fell away, making Ping shiver as she arched her back to expose them completely to him.

“Oh! Cor’ blimey! That feels good! Right, my Other fancies it’s her turn!” Her eyes fluttered and Glycerin paled. She crossed her arms over her chest, flipped around and ended up in Blar’s lap with her back against his chest as she panted her way down from a mild panic.

“Naughty Ping! That was too bleeding fast!”

Blar never ceased to feel somewhat dumbfounded at the dual personality, but he kissed her neck and shoulders as he hugged her. “We’ll just sit here a bit and I’ll taste my Little Dancer’s yummy throat.” He leaned her back against him, kissing and nibbling a blushing throat. Glycerin relaxed slowly and his hands began tracing her python tattoo before lightly tracing her breasts. Her breath quickened and she closed her eyes as she placed her fingertips on his hands as they caressed her. Her breath caught each time his fingertips drifted across her nipples.

“I … I thinks we can do this, love. Lay me on the bed?”

“Yes, ma’am. I plan to take my time and be very gentle. Your doll would kill me if I broke you. I really love you, Glycca Ping. I would never hurt you on purpose.”

“I love the man behind the image, the one called Blake. I guess in a way you’re like me and Ping. There are two of you to thinks about!” Glycerin gave Blar her best attempt at a normal smile as he lay her down and moved on top of her. She looked up with shy anticipation, putting her arms around his neck and shoulders. Glycerin’s squeaks and happy whimpers began in earnest as Blar began making love to her.

* * *

“Holy fuck! H’okay we HAVE to play this club next time we come! Music one hundred fifty meters in the air!”

Tsika was bouncing on the balls of her feet as the band peered into Club 333 on the halfway deck of the Tokyo Tower. The band was touring the landmark before heading over to Kpau and Hank’s mecca of anime and manga pop culture, Akihabara.

“Hmm, I’ll have Duane submit some inquiries. This does look like a fun place to play though it’s pretty small.”

“Silly stick o' dynamite wull likelie trip aff her platforms 'n' fall thro' windae while she prances. We’ll hae tae put a harness oan her wee hips!”

“Hah! Addled woodpecker is one who can’t stay on stage! Might get to test your red feathers in free fall!”

“You two wait until we get back to ground level to bring out the knives? I’d like to see the top deck before they throw us out.” Hank shook his head and snapped pictures of the two women as they shadow-boxed each other.

Blar browsed the event calendar by the door. “Has anyone heard from Sasaki? Or has her boyfriend met her in Hokkaido and we’re just drifting in the wind while he is squeaking her brains into jelly?”

“Bad Blar! Kpau says she g-got a text from her this morning. Some m-m-minor issues with schedule but nothing serious. She says they are going to heli-helicopter us in for the performance because the r-r-roads are too mucked up. Sasaki did pr-promise that it was a one rotor bird. We appreciates that.”

“Kpau! Get off the stage! The manager is headed this way! Right. Let’s make our exit and see the view at the top. Then it’s off to the part of town that has Hank and Kpau vibrating.” Blar blinked as he realized Glycerin was adjusting the angle of his top hat from behind and arranging his hair. Going to have to get used to that I guess. Not anything to complain about really.

* * *

“Right. Ah see how come tha’ two flaming doolally widgets wur sae excited. This is pumpin' Doolally Land. Ah can’t believe that flash mob o' costumed prancers we git caught in.”

“The cosplayers did s-s-seem to all be quite expert at the dance they were doing, love.”

“Wull ye stoap daein' th' dance, Glycerin?! Folks are gapin’ at us!”

Pouting lips. “But the d-dance is fun, Sashi!”

“Besides! They’re staring at us anyway. We ain’t exactly from around these parts!” Kpau snickered as she plastered her face against a store window filled with cosplay gear and small colorful figures. “There’s a new dance fad every year or so, Glyc! I’ll show you some videos and you can learn them all!”

Sashiko flinched at that prospect and stomped over to follow Hank as he drifted into one of the shops.

“I figure I’m taking pictures for now while you all prowl. You can sort out what pics matters later.” Blar clicked a picture of Tsika trying to figure the dance out and follow along with Glycerin as the tall woman hummed the tune and continued her dance. Long twin tails flipped up into the air on each bounce. Video! Take video! Augh! Too cute! Both of them! Heart failure commencing.

* * *

“Uguu~! Please don’t run away! Stay close! It is crowded today and I don’t want to lose anyone! Does everyone have their Japan Rail Pass?”

Sasaki had returned from Hokkaido to help shepherd her flock of musicians through the several train changes to get them to Ishikara in Hokkaido. The flock was frisky today and giving her heartburn. She had missed them though. She didn’t look forward to the day when they got on a plane to return to the United States.

“Just to reinforce! This is the Tokyo Bullet Train Hikari. We transfer at the Maibara Station and board the Shirasagi Limited Express! Memorize if you are separated!”

“Yes, ma’am. Sasaki-chan, you’re doing fine. Need a shoulder rub?” Hank grinned at the tiny woman.

“Asking now for back rub tonight, Hank-kun! Sashiko-chan doesn’t mind, does she?”

“Na, ye wee sprite! Ye look lahk yer aboot tae juist vaporize in ta a puddle. He’ll fix ye up th' night!”

“I can almost understand you now sometimes, Sashiko-chan!” Sasaki bounced on the balls of her feet.

“Pbffffft. Ah’m trying tae be as clear as th' Texas moocow 'ere 'n' her racket!”

“I heard that! DIdn’t understand it but I heard it! Yippee Ki-yay on your Sconglish!

Scuffling broke out as Kpau dodged Sashiko’s attempt to strangle her on the platform. Hank intervened.

“You’re racking the points up today, Sashiko.”

“Mebbe on purpose! Ya ever think that, ya stallion?!”

“Okay, now it’s getting weird. And that’s all I’m gonna say in front of people.”

Glycerin was clinging fairly tightly to Blar on the crowded platform. She had a grip on Tsika in her free hand.

“We knew that parts of Japan were cr-crowded. Glad you two are here with me for this part.” She squeezed Tsika’s hand. “We’re getting by, my doll. Just stay close.”

“H’okay, Mouse. No one will touch you without my say-so.”

“Thank god we’re not in a rush hour commute train. I don’t even want to think about your response to a groper in a packed train car, Tsika.” Blar grimaced.

“Would not be pretty. Is truth. Ah, here is train! Very sleek looking! In four hours we are at Ishikara in Hokkaido! Home of pie slice of addled woodpecker’s genes! Hey, Sashi! You got tour worked out?”

“Aye, ye wee bomb! Picnics, traveling talks, hikes, skiite shows, presentations an` PowerPoints … Na, ye nitwit! Ah hae bin screwing off 'n' gonnae hae tae wirk it owt on th` train!” A burst of freckled blush erupted. “Maybe screwing were a bad choice of words.”

“Uguu~! Get on the train! Now! Move!” Sasaki dragged Sashiko onboard as she was the last one on the platform still ranting while Tsika made her escape into the train.

Glycerin sat at her window next to Tsika. “B’bye Tokyo. We h-hopes we get to come back again. Next time, it’ll be even m-more fun.” She kissed Tsika’s ear. “Won’t it, love?”

“It’ll be different, Glycca Ping. Every time around is different. Next time we’ll be big rock stars maybe, like Aina!”

* * *

Author notes: Need to expand the Tower Tour and the Akihabara visit. Tagged for such in the rewrite. This does hit the major bullet points of the story board here. Now on to the rock festival and then back home to the US to close out Volume Three of the rough drafts.

At the moment, the storyboard is implying to me about five volumes for the entire tale. However, volume Two is quite large. Stewing on that.
edit: I think I've figured it out ... Gonna have Sashiko show up before the country fair tour so she can appear in volume two, then I can end volume two after the country fair tour. That brings the second volume to a close with a manageable number of pages and at the end of an adventure.

[Vexx]

Current tasks:
1) volume two edit/rewrite in progress for publishing, some major story segment shifting to adjust the volume to be recommended size for paperback.
2) Working with a model to use on the book cover for volume two - I've found someone that is a dead ringer for Tsika. She's a Polish model, fairly new at the business and seems excited about the project. We've worked out the cost and are trading details now.

Images

a real life Tsika

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3) Marketing/promoting Volume 1 (currently on shelves and e-book stores). Even if you don't buy the book, I'd appreciate anyone doing REVIEWS of the story at the Kindle or Nook stores. Just write what you thought of the story.
4) Working volume 3, the japan tour.
I figure the next chapter will be out Thursday unless I'm interrupted. That chapter begins the Hokkaido part of the Japan tour with the festival.

video time, I like this video mostly because Kpau is going batshit crazy on the drums. Hair flying, sticks all over the place, cymbals careening.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/hWVPmPCd90Y

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