Word: Unceremoniously

 

unceremoniously

[ uhn-ser-uh-moh-nee-uhs-lee ]

adverb

1. in a way that seems rudely abrupt or hasty; suddenly and without apology or explanation:

   After settling our hotel bill we were unceremoniously thrown out without even a smile or a thank-you.

   The waves were so strong that they lifted the steamer and unceremoniously dumped it a mile upriver from the estuary.

2. without observing normal conventions or formalities; informally or casually:

   Served unceremoniously on wax paper, this pool hall burger is a deliciously unpretentious bargain.

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               As two figures flew through the air, one of them mused at the situation. Mainly on how this was not how things were supposed to go. He was a great villain. His name, Black Iron, struck fear into the hearts of men the world over. But now?

               “Hey!” called the villain. “Can we talk about this? And don’t pretend you can’t hear me, I know you can!”

               The hero, a young man calling himself Starborne, slowed to a stop and hovered in midair. He hoisted Black Iron up, still wrapped in the heavy steel beam.

               “What is it?” The hero asked with a sigh.

               “This isn’t how things are supposed to go.”

               “What do you mean? You broke the law. I have evidence of you breaking the law.” Starborne said, shrugging his shoulder to call attention to the well stuffed backpack there. “And now I’m taking you to jail. Seems pretty simple to me.”

               “No, well, I mean, yes that is the goal. But…Look, I know you’re new to the whole hero thing. Here’s how it’s supposed to go. I threaten someone or something. You show up, we have a bit of banter, throw some verbal jabs, maybe  a one liner or two. Then we have a big climactic fight, where I just barely manage to escape. You don’t treat me like this.”

               “Like what? Like a criminal?”

               “Yes. I mean, no, but…” The villain took a deep breath. “You’re treating me, a prime villain, like some common thug. You can’t just dump me in prison like I’m someone else’s henchman.”

               Starborne looked like he was thinking about something. “So…you wanted to fight me?”

               “Yes.”

               “A big fight that would probably cause a lot of collateral damage and endanger who knows how many civilians?”

               Black Iron worked his jaw up and down for a moment. “Well, when you put it that way…Yes. I’m a villain, remember? What do I care about a few people who got bad luck?”

               “Yeah, and I’m a hero. I do care about those people. Why have a big fight that puts them in danger when I can just dart in, tie you up and take you to jail? Besides, this is easier and faster. Also, that whole letting you escape thing? Yeah, that doesn’t sit well with me. Best to just put you behind bars and be done with it.”

               “Oh come on. What will the other heroes think? You’ll be the guy that overturned decades of tradition!”

               “I think I can live with that.”

               “But what happens when I escape? You know I will.”

               “Really? Are you sure about that? I’m taking you to a pretty secure facility. And without all your tech you’re just a normal person, right?”

               “Hey! I’m one of the greatest geniuses the world has ever known! I’m hardly ‘normal.’”

               “Physically though, you’re normal?”

               “That…isn’t inaccurate.” The villain said in a quiet voice.

               “Well then as long as you don’t get any tech, I’d say you’re not going anywhere. And with the evidence I got on you, I’m sure you’ll be getting a nice, long sentence. Now unless you’ve got something else to say, I’d like to drop you off soon. I’ve got other things to do today, so I’d rather make this quick.”

               And with that, the hero resumed his flight. Black Iron grumbled into the wind. When he got out, because he was sure he would, he would make sure to look into who Starborne was. After all, kidnapping significant others was another time honored villain tradition. One that Black Iron would take great pleasure in doing.

**************************************

I hope everyone's ready for Halloween tomorrow. Stay safe, have fun and don't eat too much candy.

Word: Doggedly

 

doggedly

[ daw-gid-lee, dog-id‐ ]

adverb

1. in a persistent or tenacious manner:

   She worked doggedly and tirelessly, overseeing nearly every aspect of the show.

 ***********************************

               Darren barely checked the room before he bolted the door. He wanted to collapse right then and there, but that would not lead to anything good. He checked out the room he had entered. There was a window that a quick glance told him could be open. So at least he had a way out if he needed it. He also became aware that he was in some kind of study. Bookshelves lined the walls, and there was plenty of seating. All Darren cared about was what he could use to barricade the door. If he could make it strong enough, maybe he could get some rest.

               He got to work moving whatever he could. His entire body protested everything he did, but he kept going. He was just glad his pursuer was not in any apparent rush. It allowed him to make temporary havens like this one.

               As soon as he moved another chair in front of the door, creating a sizable pile of furniture, he groaned, went to the nearest wall, and sat. His entire body ached, but most of all his feet. They were sore and he could practically feel blisters forming.

               He did not get much time to rest. The heavy footsteps were already coming. They echoed through the hall on the other side of the door. Normally, Darren would feel confident that the man would either pass him by or have difficulty getting through the heavy door and everything he had placed against it. Maybe he would even give up. Find easier prey. But that hope had long been abandoned.

               Sure enough, the doorknob rattled as the man tried to open it. It was locked, of course. Not that that would stop him for long. But it was something.

               “Why are you doing this?” Darren called. Keeping hidden was useless, so there was no point in trying. Asking such questions was also useless, given how many times he had tried to get answers before. “I haven’t done anything to you. I haven’t done anything to deserve this. So why? Answer me, damn it!”

               Much to Darren’s surprise, the knob stopped rattling. And a voice like crushed rocks came through the door.

               “Why?” It said. “Because I can. Because I want to.”

               Darren was not sure whether to be amazed the man could speak, or to be furious at the words that had been spoken.

               “You…that’s it? You’re trying to kill me because you want to?” His voice rose with every word he spoke. How long had he been running? He had lost rack of the time passed. And now he found that all that effort was because of a whim?

               “Yes. That’s it.”

               “Well then, how about you stop? You don’t gain anything from this, right? And surely there’s something better you can be doing with your time that trying to kill one man.”

               “Better? Yes. But I want this. So this is what I do.”

               Darren was tempted to remove his barricade just to punch the man in his teeth. Maybe knock a few of them out before he was gutted. It would be very satisfying, even if he ended up with a knife in his belly.

               “There must be something. Some way to get you to stop. Everyone has something they want, right? I don’t have much, but I have things you must want.”

               “No. I want to chase. I want to kill. That’s it. And that is what I’ll do. I won’t stop until I am here and you are not.”

               Darren let out a low growl. He want to talk more. To try and convince the relentless killer to stop. But it was useless. The knob started to shake again. The conversation was over. The chase had resumed. Darren took a deep breath. He had a few minutes before he needed to move again. Just a few minutes to try and catch his breath and stop his feet from aching. It was not enough, but it was all he had. And then he would, once again, need to start running.

***************************************

It's almost Halloween. I hope you're all ready for it. Me? I'm always ready. Because nobody ever comes to my house, so I don't need to do anything!

Word: Expository

 

expository

[ ik-spoz-i-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

adjective

1. of the nature of exposition; serving to expound, set forth, or explain:

   an expository essay;

   expository writing.

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               Max sat slumped in his desk, resting his chin on his hand. His eyes were glazed as he focused on nothing. In fact, he studiously avoided focusing on the one thing he should have been. His mind was not wandering though. That implied there was thought occurring. His mental silence was broken by a foot hitting the side of his calf.

               “Pay attention.” Opal said as quietly as she could.

               “Do I have to? It’s not like we’re learning anything important.” Max said, equally quietly.

               “Not important? We’re learning about one of the most important wars in history.”

               “Uh-huh, that’s nice. How is it relevant to us?”

               “It shaped cultures across the world. How the different species interact with each other is still influenced by it.”

               “Great. Cool. Doesn’t tell us what those cultures are like now, or how everyone gets along. We gotta get out of the classroom for that.”

               “The lessons we learn now will give us important cultural context when interacting with ancient ruins and structures.”

               “As long as the treasure’s there, I don’t care much for that other stuff. Look, Opal, how about we cut to the end of this conversation. You keep listening to the big, important lore dump and I’ll not do that.”

               “Lore dump?”

               “Yeah, you know. A big lump of exposition. It’s a term from back home. Remember those video games and movies I told you about? It’s from those. And I pretty much always skip them whenever I had the option. I don’t see why this one being in real life should change that.”

               “This is not a game.” Opal said through clenched teeth.

               By now a few of the nearby students had picked up on the conversation. Neither Opal nor Max cared about being listened to though.

               “I know. Doesn’t make it any less pointless. Or less boring. I mean, come on, why do I need to know who won the…” He actually looked at the lecturer’s writing for the first time since the lesson began. “battle of the twin rivers? I don’t even know where the twin rivers are.”

“And if you were paying attention, you would.”

Max shrugged. “It’s not like it’s critical info. If we ever go there, I’ll know where they are. And there’ll probably be some memorial or something that explains the battle in a more interesting way, anyways.”

Opal resisted screaming. That would disrupt the entire class and probably get her in trouble. Instead, she clenched her first and mentally envisioned herself knocked several of Max’s teeth out of his mouth.

“Is there any way I can get you to actually pay attention?”

“Nope.”

Before she could say anything, the student sitting behind them leaned forward. It was a young man that neither of them knew. The student whispered to Max.

“If you don’t pay attention, you’ll probably fail the class and have to repeat it again next year.”

Max worked his jaw as he considered the boy’s words.

               “Hm, good point. See, Opal? This guy gets it.”

               And with that, he turned to face the lecturer, who still seemed oblivious to the conversation. Opal looked from Max to the student behind them and back again. She watched Max actually begin to take notes. She ran her hands down her face and resisted the urge to do a great many loud and disruptive things.

      ***********************************

Pay attention is class, everyone. You never know when some random piece of information will come in handy.