Facing Dragons is more than having a lance and a surfeit of foolish bravery.
So, this is one of those surveys that's supposed to be done over ten days. I'm a bit ADD right now with the seasonal stresses, so I'm doing them all right here, right now. (Well, actually, it's been over a few hours in my personal text editor while I come up with something good.)
One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.
This could have been simple. "I love you," is the answer, ten times, because you want to make sure you let the people you love know it. It can't wait. Go, do it now.
But, then you think, which ten is it to? Well, it's to you, of course. But that becomes unsatisfying.
I think it was the wise immlass that railed against the potential of harm in anonymous statements, and I think there's truth in that - by not identifying the people I am noting, I could be doing a disservice to anyone who thinks it might (or might not!) be about them. So, I thought about how to change it. Perhaps I could say 10 super-nice things about ten people, but that wouldn't be fair, because just pointing out 10 people means the other some number of people who might think to read this are left out. (And if you're not going to say anything nice, your grandma's going to find it on the internet.) So, I'm going to, instead, write about ten things I like about people in general. If you don't want to say ten things to ten people, and you want to do this, I'll back you up if you want to change it up a little.
1. I like the way people laugh when they're pleasantly surprised.
2. I like when people can just sit down and make music happen.
3. I like the times when people all start to talk at once about something they love.
4. I like watching the expression on people's face when someone suddenly "gets it," whether it's a joke, or an answer, or anything else.
5. I like it when anyone smiles and blushes a little at the same time.
6. I like it when people giggle in their sleep.
7. I like when people describe their dreams.
8. I like the way people look when they adore and want to encourage someone.
9. I like the way when young children play with others, and they're completely oblivious to all the reasons why their parent(s) might not even talk to another.
10. I like it when someone finds they're good at something unexpected.
This may seem like a too-careful list, until you start thinking, "Good at something unexpected... like killing." Look, I didn't want to be stuck on day one the whole time!
Two: Nine things about yourself.
1. I have had a fairytale romance, and yes, I've read fairytales.
2. I need to learn the right balance between "adoration" of something or someone, and "fearing to have high expectations."
3. Stories, like baby birds, can die of exhaustion in their shells. I should get more sleep if I plan to fly.
4. I am suspicious of gifts, and like to pay my debts as soon as possible. "Being able to accept love is as important as being able to give it," says Steven Barnes. I'm learning.
5. I occasionally think in quips and phrases, but mostly as aides to memory. I am uncomfortable when people say, "Thank you." I just don't know how to respond. I think "I'm sorry," is another of those phrases that would be bad for the fey.
6. No, I really don't care for ketchup, except very rarely on the right kind of fries. I love barbecue sauce. How odd.
7. I try hard to avoid being passive-aggressive, but I know it does occasionally occur to me as the first impulse.
8. I need to nourish my whimsy a little more. It has been surviving on small sips of opportunity and the occasional flirtations with the light of possibility, but it hasn't been given all the love and care it needs to grow.
9. I like pillows. I have 13, I think, although I occasionally loan one or two out.
Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
1. Listen. Listen to everyone, because everyone has a story. Being listened to is so much like being loved that many will never know the difference.
2. Laugh. Laugh easily, laugh often, laugh generously. Laugh at me, with me, but not at cruelty.
3. Be clever. Impress and convince me that you, too, are Fierce. Anticipate me, but do not be smug for it.
4. Be passionate. If you have no dreams, you have no heart to share.
5. Be interested in me. Hey, contrary to popular belief, it's not the only way. I engage in my fair share of unreciprocated love, but to truly win it, you must be available to it.
6. Be kind. To small children, to strays, but not foolishly so. You do not need to be generous beyond your means, but you should know how to share. Respect boundaries.
7. Be responsible. Take care of yourself and your issues and claim them as yours. You don't need to be arrogant, but you should be
confident in this.
8. Do not let me fool you.
Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot. (At least, lately.)
1. My Fierce Jaguar is a bit odd.
2. Less sugar and more exercise equals more energy and clearer thought.
3. Why can't people spell? What's so hard about spellcheck, at least?
4. I can only take you as far as the lobby.
5. Ooh. Shiny!
6. Why do you ask me if you want to close the window if you're not going to close the window when I say yes?
7. I'm running, I'm running, I'm...oh, man. I'm squishy, that's what it is. [Yeah, I've been playing a lot of League
of Legends with ARainbowCat]
Five: Six things you wish you'd never done.
"...no unicorn was ever born who could regret..."
Of course, we speak of unicorns. Fanciful creatures with an unusual and possibly unhealthy hunger for virtue. I'm more of the type who would rather be disappointed about the things not done than the things done. I've said, "Yes," when I should have said, "No." I've said, "No," and kicked myself because I would have had a heck lot more fun if I'd said, "Yes." I've too often held onto "possibility" until it grew stale and turned into, "missed opportunity." I could have stayed that night. I could have not gone that other one. The land of the past is a bleak one; let us look instead into making the present and future brighter.
Six: Five people who mean a lot (in no order whatsoever).
You, the person reading this.
Me, presenting the offer.
Him, to whom I give.
Her, for whom I give.
That person over there, for all their potential.
Seven: Four turn offs.
1. Smokers. Sorry - too much baggage associated with this.
2. Those who think it's more important to score points than be nice, no matter how clever.
3. Apathy.
4. Discord.
Eight: Three turn ons.
1. Compassion.
2. Mutual desire.
3. The possibility of spankings!
Nine: Two words that describe your life right now.
"Mostly harmless." No, wait, that's been used.
How about, "Anticipating discord?"
Ten: One confession.
I fear that what is seen and heard is not known until it is also tasted. I bite things.
One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.
This could have been simple. "I love you," is the answer, ten times, because you want to make sure you let the people you love know it. It can't wait. Go, do it now.
But, then you think, which ten is it to? Well, it's to you, of course. But that becomes unsatisfying.
I think it was the wise immlass that railed against the potential of harm in anonymous statements, and I think there's truth in that - by not identifying the people I am noting, I could be doing a disservice to anyone who thinks it might (or might not!) be about them. So, I thought about how to change it. Perhaps I could say 10 super-nice things about ten people, but that wouldn't be fair, because just pointing out 10 people means the other some number of people who might think to read this are left out. (And if you're not going to say anything nice, your grandma's going to find it on the internet.) So, I'm going to, instead, write about ten things I like about people in general. If you don't want to say ten things to ten people, and you want to do this, I'll back you up if you want to change it up a little.
1. I like the way people laugh when they're pleasantly surprised.
2. I like when people can just sit down and make music happen.
3. I like the times when people all start to talk at once about something they love.
4. I like watching the expression on people's face when someone suddenly "gets it," whether it's a joke, or an answer, or anything else.
5. I like it when anyone smiles and blushes a little at the same time.
6. I like it when people giggle in their sleep.
7. I like when people describe their dreams.
8. I like the way people look when they adore and want to encourage someone.
9. I like the way when young children play with others, and they're completely oblivious to all the reasons why their parent(s) might not even talk to another.
10. I like it when someone finds they're good at something unexpected.
This may seem like a too-careful list, until you start thinking, "Good at something unexpected... like killing." Look, I didn't want to be stuck on day one the whole time!
Two: Nine things about yourself.
1. I have had a fairytale romance, and yes, I've read fairytales.
2. I need to learn the right balance between "adoration" of something or someone, and "fearing to have high expectations."
3. Stories, like baby birds, can die of exhaustion in their shells. I should get more sleep if I plan to fly.
4. I am suspicious of gifts, and like to pay my debts as soon as possible. "Being able to accept love is as important as being able to give it," says Steven Barnes. I'm learning.
5. I occasionally think in quips and phrases, but mostly as aides to memory. I am uncomfortable when people say, "Thank you." I just don't know how to respond. I think "I'm sorry," is another of those phrases that would be bad for the fey.
6. No, I really don't care for ketchup, except very rarely on the right kind of fries. I love barbecue sauce. How odd.
7. I try hard to avoid being passive-aggressive, but I know it does occasionally occur to me as the first impulse.
8. I need to nourish my whimsy a little more. It has been surviving on small sips of opportunity and the occasional flirtations with the light of possibility, but it hasn't been given all the love and care it needs to grow.
9. I like pillows. I have 13, I think, although I occasionally loan one or two out.
Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
1. Listen. Listen to everyone, because everyone has a story. Being listened to is so much like being loved that many will never know the difference.
2. Laugh. Laugh easily, laugh often, laugh generously. Laugh at me, with me, but not at cruelty.
3. Be clever. Impress and convince me that you, too, are Fierce. Anticipate me, but do not be smug for it.
4. Be passionate. If you have no dreams, you have no heart to share.
5. Be interested in me. Hey, contrary to popular belief, it's not the only way. I engage in my fair share of unreciprocated love, but to truly win it, you must be available to it.
6. Be kind. To small children, to strays, but not foolishly so. You do not need to be generous beyond your means, but you should know how to share. Respect boundaries.
7. Be responsible. Take care of yourself and your issues and claim them as yours. You don't need to be arrogant, but you should be
confident in this.
8. Do not let me fool you.
Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot. (At least, lately.)
1. My Fierce Jaguar is a bit odd.
2. Less sugar and more exercise equals more energy and clearer thought.
3. Why can't people spell? What's so hard about spellcheck, at least?
4. I can only take you as far as the lobby.
5. Ooh. Shiny!
6. Why do you ask me if you want to close the window if you're not going to close the window when I say yes?
7. I'm running, I'm running, I'm...oh, man. I'm squishy, that's what it is. [Yeah, I've been playing a lot of League
of Legends with ARainbowCat]
Five: Six things you wish you'd never done.
"...no unicorn was ever born who could regret..."
Of course, we speak of unicorns. Fanciful creatures with an unusual and possibly unhealthy hunger for virtue. I'm more of the type who would rather be disappointed about the things not done than the things done. I've said, "Yes," when I should have said, "No." I've said, "No," and kicked myself because I would have had a heck lot more fun if I'd said, "Yes." I've too often held onto "possibility" until it grew stale and turned into, "missed opportunity." I could have stayed that night. I could have not gone that other one. The land of the past is a bleak one; let us look instead into making the present and future brighter.
Six: Five people who mean a lot (in no order whatsoever).
You, the person reading this.
Me, presenting the offer.
Him, to whom I give.
Her, for whom I give.
That person over there, for all their potential.
Seven: Four turn offs.
1. Smokers. Sorry - too much baggage associated with this.
2. Those who think it's more important to score points than be nice, no matter how clever.
3. Apathy.
4. Discord.
Eight: Three turn ons.
1. Compassion.
2. Mutual desire.
3. The possibility of spankings!
Nine: Two words that describe your life right now.
"Mostly harmless." No, wait, that's been used.
How about, "Anticipating discord?"
Ten: One confession.
I fear that what is seen and heard is not known until it is also tasted. I bite things.