don't fear the sun.

Retreat went well, but not As Expected.

I managed to work my way through the first half of the Omina novel and almost beat out my brains doing it (which basically means, so much respect to pipisafoat for wrangling not just my commas, but the whole intense reading experience that is this story, omg), after which I just needed to do mindless dumb stuff, so I RP'ed for two days straight, in the aftermath of that. Almost, that is, also did some write-in stuff Thursday, but that was more RP-adjacent fic-writing than anything, so I think it barely counts, really.

I do have, like, a ton of ideas for spin-offs for the Omina-verse now, after two deep-dive days of working on it, but which ones might come into fruition and which ones might not, that's more difficult to tell. So far, my two main ideas are writing the Amazon's love's story as a kind of side story, while I also wanna write the follow-up on another minor female character that I leave mid-way through the story, the character simply known as the girl. This would probably take shape of something more alike a sequel... For prequel, I have a more faint, but very me-typical idea for the Amazon's mentor that I'm more fluffy on and not so clear about, so it might take backseat when we get to that.

However, for now I'm just more focused on eventually getting the main novel done and posted. Should be finished and up during fall! Still haven't decided whether to post to AO3. Might wait with that and just post here, yearlong. Depends.

Am taking a break from a lot of social media these days. FB, only every other day. Just called off plurk for the next week at the least, so I can focus on just enjoying the rest of the summer with K. DW is honestly the only place I still frequent with any regularity and even here, I'm spotty. I'm just not feeling up for it. It's been a rough spring, a rough start-summer. I'm tired of struggling with my focus and with my attention span, I'm tired of being anxious and not having energy for anything.

I did come out of retreat feeling renewed, though, somewhat. K. and I finished the four days off with a restaurant visit to a newly opened luxury restaurant downtown, East-Asian with focus on Thai and Japanese flavours, and it was an absolute dream. Never have I eaten such delicious food before. It came in 13 small servings, full table from appetizers to dessert. The dessert especially was heavenly, but it was all insanely good. There were cucumber rolls for appetizers that were so fresh and delicious... And a curry broth with fish on milk-steamed rice that was just, ugh, so good. And I had a mocktail with elderflower and lemongrass syrup that was to die for, too.

It was the perfect ending to 4 intense days where I got some work done and K. got to play a lot of piano, getting the whole way through Grieg's Wedding Day at Trollhaugen for which I'm really proud. It's the most focused she's played piano since she took it up again some years back now.

Had a minor nose-dive Thursday afternoon, when I didn't feel I'd "accomplished" enough, because I have parents who always wanna see "results" and want very physical proof that something's been done and I still suffer under that with my way of working on and approaching projects to this day. But K. and I got to talk our way through it and I found some calm and acceptance in the idea that I'd gotten started on my further work wih the Omina novel and that is A Good Thing.

I'm seeing my social worker tomorrow. Probably just for a walk, honestly. Can't take any more practicalities right now, haha, and I did get the important things over with last week, so.

Always work to do, in this life.

K's vacation has started and routine has become something else entirely. I get up late in the mornings, eat breakfast and lunch on the patio, sit out if the weather allows it. The past week, it's been raining a lot and it should pick back up from tomorrow onwards, but yesterday and today have been beautiful and sunny and warm. True Danish summer.

We were supposed to start our Anakin/Sarica PSL Friday and we did get started, but then got sidetracked with an Efith (fantasy) PSL for our old OCs, Marcel and Jean Louis. It's proving to be a lot of fun, placing them in such a different setting and I'm getting reacquainted with the characters completely. A challenge, but very rewarding.

Since earlier this week I've also started writing in a new 'verse, an alternative history/fantasy setting centered around the fictional empire, Edon, located around the Jordan Valley and stretching as far as Iran and even the western-most parts of Pakistan. Currently, I'm worldbuilding and writing the religious texts, myths and legends from Edonian lore, but at some point I'll write the actual story playing out around these elements. I'm roleplaying my MC over at exultations and having a lot of fun with her, so I do look forward to getting started on writing more narrative-based stuff.

While writing for this 'verse, I've been listening to a lot of Lindsey Stirling, particularly the songs Artemis and Til the Light Goes Out. I adore the music for the second number, but you get the video for the first, because it's frickin' amazing choreography. (The music is also really good, don't worry.)

Watch on YouTube

I've also been listening a lot to this song by Lido Pimienta. I don't know Spanish, but I've looked up the translation and it's just the most beautiful song ever and her live performance of it is so extremely powerful and evocative. I had literal tears in my eyes the first time I heard it. It moved something completely fundamental inside me.

It finally feels like something is settling and finding its feet inside me, although I've been reeling for so long now, I almost can't recognise this feeling. Give me another month of this and I might actually live peacefully inside myself again. I can't remember when I last did that.