I find inspiration to write my novel from a variety of sources. Something I see on a movie, a game I'm playing, a book. I find though, some of my greatest come from listening to music. It's no secret I am a huge nerd. I adore listening to video game soundtracks. There are many cases where I hate the game, but love the music (*cough* Final Fantasy). I will find myself scouring the internet for new game soundtracks to listen too. AOL radio actually has a video game soundtrack station which is awesome (minus the pesky commercials). LastFM is great as well, but there a lot of remixes on there. Nothing wrong with them, but not usually what I prefer. I usually find myself on Grooveshark, which offers a plethora of choices, but only if you know what you are looking for.
One such particular song inspired me for Taeniel. Remember her? The RP character I created for Aion. I actually had a whole playlist created for her (and my novel, and any other characters I made). Anyway, here is the song for Taeniel: The Fate -- Shadow Hearts Soundtrack
She had many more, but that is the one stood out.
Lets continue with Taeniel's story, shall we? If only because I said so!
Taeniel stood at the edge of Cliona Lake. Besides her feet laid a fishing pole. Behind her she heard a Pink Beak squawk loudly, as if reminding her why she was there. She sighed and shifted her weight, scanning the road ahead. Where the hell was Kaiden? He was supposed to meet her an hour ago.
8 years had passed since that first day they met. For 8 years they had remained the best of friends. During that time, Taeniel had come to realize some things about Kaiden. He was impulsive and almost obsessed with becoming a mercenary like his dad. He always knew how to make her laugh and ate like a porgus. Out of all the things that made Kaiden, Kaiden, the one thing she couldn’t stand was that he was almost always late. It annoyed her to no end, and he knew that. But it never stopped happening.
Today though, today was the latest he’d ever been. Usually he would be five, ten minutes late tops. This made her wonder if something had happened. Had his father come home? Mr. Bancroft worked for a mercenary group in the outskirts of Poeta. He was rarely home, two or three times a year, tops. Taeniel had never met the man directly, but Kaiden talked about him constantly. Whenever he was home, Kaiden would disappear for that time, learning and spending all the time he could with the man. Not that Taeniel could blame him. She couldn’t imagine if her father were never home.
Taeniel exhaled sharply and shifted again. Maybe she should just start fishing without him. It was a beautiful day and she hated to waste anymore time. Suddenly, something caught her eye. Two people appeared at the top of the road. One of them was Kaiden and the other… Her face darkened. The other was a petite girl, laughing and holding onto Kaiden’s arm. As they got closer, Taeniel recognized her as Miriam something or other. She was new town, her family was from Sanctum. Apparently, her father was a city templar or something like that. He had military connections and Taeniel knew instantly that’s why Kaiden was hanging around with her.
Despite that though, she felt herself grow jealous. Kaiden knew Taeniel was not a fan of Miriams. The girl was a ditz. Always talking about herself, laughing at nothing. She dressed ridiculously, nothing like the people in Akarios did. Taeniel sized her up as she walked near. Much smaller, a thin frame. She had thick purple hair that she wore down, long and loose. She had pert features and wide blue eyes. She dressed in a short leather skirt and matching top, not something someone should attempt fishing in. As ridiculous as Miriam looked, Taeniel became self conscious. Her own thick black hair was pulled haphazardly back into a ponytail, she had on a stained button down shirt of her fathers, her pants had a hole in one knee that was luckily covered by her boot. The more and more she thought about the situation, the angrier she became. Just what the hell was Kaiden doing bringing this girl here? He knew that when they fished it was their time. They’d always gone fishing alone, for as long as they knew each other.
“Sorry we’re late.” He ran a hand through his blonde curls. “Had to buy Mimms here a rod.”
Taeniel arched a brow. “Mimms?”
Nicknames now? She internally rolled her eyes. They had known each other less than a month!
Kaiden must have caught onto her tone, because he shot her a quick dirty look. “You know Mimms, Taeniel. I invited her along.”
Miriam smiled sweetly. “Hi Taeniel! When I told Kia I’d never been fishing, he said I should come along and try it.”
But Taeniel ignored her, continuing to stare at Kaiden. “I know Miriam yes, but I don’t know a Mimms. I also don’t know a Kia.”
“Oh!” Miriam giggled and put her hand on Kaiden’s arm. “Those are just our nicknames we made up for each other. I don’t really like Mimms, but I think Kia sounds fun for him, don’t you?”
Taeniel folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t really like either of them.”
Before Miriam could respond. Kaiden stepped forward. “Well, I love them. Comeon, Mimms, I’ll show you how to string up your pole.”
She looked at him uncertainly, but nodded. As they walked past Taeniel to the shore, Kaiden shoved into her. “What the hell? Why did you bring an attitude today?”
She lowered her voice. “Why did you bring the idiot? You know I don’t like her, Kia. Since when did you two become best friends?”
Kaiden looked over to make sure Miriam hadn’t heard Taeniel’s remark, then grabbed her arm and pulled her close. “Listen, I know you loathe any other females, because they are too girly, or whatever. But her dad is someone really important, and it would be nice to get on his good side.”
“I don’t loathe other females.” Taeniel hissed. “I just don’t like the ones without a brain.”
As if on cue, Miriam cried out. “Oh no! My shoe got muddy! This place is filthy!”
Taeniel snorted. “My point exactly.”
“Hey.” Kaiden gave her a little shake. “Just pretend like you are my caring friend and don’t bite any heads off ok?”
Not waiting for a reply, he jogged over to Miriam, helping her pull her shoe from the mud. “You ok Mimms?”
Rolling her eyes, Taeniel walked a good distance away from them, setting up shop near a small rock. She cast her line into the water. If Kaiden or Miriam cared that she walked so far away, neither of them mentioned it. Convincing herself, she didn’t care, Taeniel tried to focus on the water, on relaxing like she always did when coming out here. Somehow she managed to do it, tuning out Miriam’s occasional high pitched squeals. Before she knew it, she was calmly watching the water, enjoying the cool breeze on her face, and the gentle wind that was blowing. It was almost perfect.
Suddenly, there was a tap on her shoulder. She glanced over her shoulder to see Kaiden and Miriam standing behind her.
“Yes?”
“I am going to walk Miriam home now.”
Taeniel felt the last of her peacefulness slip away. “Walk her home? It’s still early.”
“I have a dinner party to get ready for.” Miriam chimed in, smoothing her clothes. “I obviously can’t go dirty like this.”
“Do you not know your own way home either?” Taeniel asked sarcastically.
“I offered to walk her home.” Kaiden said.
“He might be going to the dinner party with me.” Miriam smiled.
A dark cloud settled over Taeniel’s head, she turned back around. “Yea ok, see you.”
As she heard them walk away, Kaiden not bothering to say more, she felt even more hurt. She had no rights to him like that, she knew it .She wasn’t even interested in him romantically, but he was her best friend, and he obviously had found something better. She sat there for a little while longer, but her heart was no longer into fishing. She just wanted to go home, and go to bed.
Before she could get up though, she heard footsteps. Kaiden sat down beside her, picked up his pole, and cast it off, not saying a word. Taeniel did the same, but knew she had to say something, it was eating her up inside.
“So, couldn’t make it to Mimms party huh? What? Didn’t have anything fancy enough for her liking?”
Kaiden shook his head. “You really hate her that much huh? You know, it if I didn’t know any better I’d say you were jealous.”
“She’s just ridiculous. Everything about her is. Her shoe got muddy, well duh! She’s standing in a lake!” Taeniel snorted. “What could you possibly see in her?”
“I told you what.” He shrugged.
“So to meet her dad, you made up a nickname for her and everything?” Another snort. “Kia…Should I start calling you that now too? Kia and Mimms.”
They fell silent. She stared ahead, embarrassed at herself for how nasty she knew she sounded. She couldn’t help it though. She had never felt so left out before.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a smirk cross Kaiden’s face.
“So that’s what bothering you huh? You want a nickname?”
She glared at him. “Don’t be stupid.”
“Do you want me to make one up for you? Would that put a smile on your pretty little face?” His smirk turned to a full fledged grin.
She focused ahead, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a smile. “Just drop it and fish ok?”
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Hmm… Let me see…A nickname for Taeniel…”
“Can’t you just shut your big mouth and leave it alone? I don’t want one of your stupid nicknames!”
“Well with an attitude like that, I say ‘Happy’ is perfect you. Do you like that one?”
She sighed, ignoring him.
“Sugar lips?”
“Kerub-Pop?”
Whack! She smacked him upside the head.
“Hey! Ow!” He protested, laughing. “Don’t ruin my creative process!”
“I said stop.” She was trying hard not to laugh.
There were a few more minutes of silence, then he snapped his fingers. “I got it! Theo. I’ll call you Theo!”
“Theo is a boy’s name.” She replied. But she had to admit, she was secretly pleased. Not only did she like the sound of the name, but he hadn’t given up on her. “It doesn’t even make sense.”
“Sure it does.” He explained. “Your heart is just as black and burned like the Scorchlands out in Theobomos, hence Theo.”
She ignored the insult, knowing him it was more of a compliment. “It’s still a boy’s name.”
He waved his hand dismissively. “Please, like you aren’t one of the guys.”
The more and more she thought about, the more she liked the name. Even if it meant Kaiden thought of her as one of the guys. She could never tell that to him though.
“My name is Taeniel, and that’s that.”
“You mean Theo.” He corrected automatically.
“How would you like another smack?”
He feigned hurt. “I give you a great name and you threaten to hit me? Some friend you are… Theo.”
“Oh, that’s it!”
With one heave, she sent him splashing into the lake. She burst out laughing as he sat in surprise, a tiny bit of mud dripping from his nose.
“Hey, no fair! You said you’d hit me, not push me in!”
Taeniel shrugged. “What can I say, you can’t stop genius when it comes to you.”
As she helped him out of the lake, he winked at her. “You do realize I’m still gonna call you Theo right?”
She laughed. “I figured as much. Now comeon, lets get you home before you start to stink.”
Playfully pushing him forward, she shook her a little, surprised. It was amazing how a day could start out so bad and end so well.
