Lotus Blossom

i miss everyone

sad to see that so many people left/are less active now  

any life updates from the people who are here?

its been so long since @Edema Rue checked the shard

i've returned! 

i am back in the hunger games, meaning i will be more active  
i love you all! i missed being gone-ish these last 4-5 months  looking forward to more fun times & long dramatic character posts

Shardiversary  

what i miss most from my More Active Days are the people

i love you guys

i can't believe three years have passed!!

the friends i found here saw me through a lot and im so glad to have spent so much time on the shard  i wish i could replay every minute 

thank you all of you

HOW HAVE HUNGER GAMES BEEN ARE THEY STILL GOING ON WHICH RPS ARE BIG NOW

I NEED TO KNOW ALL THE UPDATES

I'VE BEEN GONE FOR SO LONG

ALSO IM THE SCADRIAN WAFFLE COOK NOW 

HEY EVERYONE! it's been a WHILE (and i have so many excuses). but first, here's my brief vent to the endless echo chamber that are my status updates.

so i'm in this high school theatre production and it opens a week from now (next thursday). we started working on it the last week of february, missed all of march (due to exam period followed by spring break) and were basically forced to do everything in april. this was already a stressful enough situation.

then we fell completely behind schedule (not at the fault of the director, just because it was an unrealistic expectation anyway and there were many cast absences from rehearsal that made it difficult to make much progress), and a lot of things were put off for later. we JUST worked through 30 pages of the script for the first time this afternoon and our show is next week. (i had to miss read-through bc of some other theatre commitment, so this was actually my first time reading that major part of the show with the cast)

we still haven't cleaned/fixed/reviewed Act 2, and Act 1 is really chaotic because everyone is on stage all the time. on top of that-- we're not off-book. at all. basically everyone had scripts in their hands today. our off book date is supposedly tomorrow but few people in the cast are actually memorized (this is not the fault of the people who aren't off book... it's been a stressful process and it's hard to memorize lines for something we've never blocked).

tomorrow, during rehearsal, we'll be choreographing two songs that we've never figured out the staging for, ever. again, the show is next week. 

the series of unfortunate events continue. a pretty crucial member of the cast dropped out (unforeseen circumstances-- not their fault) and we don't have time to bring in a completely new person. this morning, one actor (who already has a pretty large role) was asked to double roles. she said yes, of course, because it's an emergency and she was in the position to do so, even though it means she'll have to memorize a whole character's worth of lines and blocking over the course of the next five days.

to make matters worse, our director was injured over the weekend, and couldn't come in yesterday  

this is only for me, but over the course of the next week-- the week of the show (tech week rehearsals go until 9pmish every day and 10:30pm on performance days)-- i have a math test, latin test, history essay, science test, a cappella performance, 2 competition due dates, 5 elections/appliation due dates for various leadership positions, an AP exam, and a research project.

all in the next 2 weeks.

and we haven't finished staging the show.

the show opens next thursday.

of course, i have complete trust in the cast, the crew, and the director of the show. i'm less worried about that, but more about all of the other things that happen to fall upon the week of the show. as far as the show goes, i truly believe we'll pull it off. we definitely will.

but you can imagine the stress i'm under.

a lot.

a lot.

of stress.

and thus concludes the end of my vent into the void.

New poem I wrote for a seminar I'm part of... Thought I'd share it with you guys  

Thoughts? Feedback? Feelings? Emotions?

ive been checking here every other day even though im not as active anymore  

anyway. i have exams this week and next week. i need all of the luck and prayers and good vibes and thoughts and manifestations you can send me. 

can i just say- your interests list is incredible. the satire. the irony. the humor. it's all perfect 

OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF A GLOBAL STUDENT-RUN LITERARY SOCIETY!! LEADERSHIP POSITIONS OFFERED

TO ALL YOUNG WRITERS/READERS/HIGH SCHOOLERS:

My friends and I are creating an international literary society! You should all join! I would love to have so many of you as members   VARYING COMMITMENT LEVELS: if you choose to be a "contributing writer" you're technically part of it but you can decide when to be active, meaning you could quite literally not do anything for the society the entire year if you don't have time to- so keep that in mind if you're worried about your busy schedule!! it would be so fun to do this society with you guys!! 

also, i would appreciate it if you could spread the word and encourage others/anyone you think might be interested to apply  join with friends, siblings, cousins, etc. i really want to expand into creating a community

so far, 33% of applicants are from countries outside of the US!

we're just getting started and building up a team... if you apply, your name will be on the website as an official member, and, of course, titled next to each of your selected works in the published issues :))

there's more information + a longer description on the form!!! you can apply here: https://forms.gle/g6MxZx8TEhoSj7A47

here's a copy of the flyer:

i'm so screwed. i have a giant essay due tomorrow and i'm so overwhelmed i genuinely don't think it's gonna be done in time.

my show opens today!!  

last week i auditioned for my school's a cappella group and was accepted  

hehe

it's my two year shardiversary

would you look at that.

i love you guys so much, and i love the cluster of friends i made over here, the hunger games really make my life so much more fun. Amyra Ay has left an imprint on me (name change? ookla the amyra? what do we think). all of my shardbuddies: i love you guys, really, you've made my time on the shard so much sweeter, and have been so supportive as i wrote new, different characters and just played around on various threads with y'all. you guys deserve shoutouts so here we go:

@SymphonianBookworm you've been incredible. we know this. i couldn't have asked for a better irl friend. more will come tmw >:) but before we get to that, largest shoutout of them all for introducing me to the shard and all these people. i love you amazing amounts for everything. you're the best.

@Morningtide thank you so so much for actually being so sweet and welcoming, i remember being incredibly stressed asking someone to be my shardbuddy for the first time and you were so friendly so thank you  

@Szeth's Facepalm where do i start. i cried when you left. you helped me so much through tough times and taught me so much. i aspire to be like you. i trusted you with everything, and you were always there to support me. i miss you an enormous amount and i will always remember our conversations. thank you.

@Cinnamon a fellow theatre lover! being silly w you on the theatre kids thread and forum games & random stuff were some of the highlights of my day. (oh! and. you lost the game again). thank you for always being there with your outgoing, uplifting mood  

@Shining Silhouette i miss you so much and can't wait for you to return from your mission! you're actually so freaking talented and it's been way too long. thank you for being one of my first followers and first DMs  

@Elf ELF!! i was so happy when i became your shardbuddy because i look up to you so much and i'm always in awe of you. your style and personality is fabulous and i hope you always stay here  

@Edema Ruh oh my. how do i even-. okay. okay okay i can do this. eddie, i love you so much. thank you for everything. i love all our interactions through RP and DM, and your writing is heartwrenchingly beautiful. never stop the games. never stop the shard. thank you for being so loving and funny and excited to RP. i've loved each and every one of your characters, and most of all i am so thankful for meeting you. (ps Corin and Astra never would've worked out. maybe in the next RP  )

@SmilingPanda19 AAAAAA PANDAAAAAA you kept me on the shard and for that i am eternally grateful. i actually would've left had i not met you. look at how far we've come. from one, sleep deprived conversation to endless chats, laughs, and cries. i love you so much and i am so happy that we became friends because wow what an incredible human you are. from theatre to HG RP to love RP and more, every aspect of you is amazing. your support has helped me through so much, and i am so happy i was able to be there for you through the school year. you've always been so understanding and friendly, and i always have fun with you. i remember way back in the Houses RP, the excitement i had grinning from the back of my screen as we planned out the betrayal interactions between us. thank you so so much and i can't wait for more HG w you <33

@Ancient Elantrian wow it's been a wild ride. thank you for always bringing interesting characters to the hunger games, even if some may be a LITTLE bit insane. i'll forever appreciate your presence here on the shard. and most of all, thank you for being my friend  

@shortcake SHORTIE it's been so fabulous getting to know you. i know it's been a rough few years, but i'm so glad you've found the time for the shard and i'm so happy to have befriended you. we made some epic writing together and i always enjoy hearing from you <33 thank you so much for being my shardbuddy  

@Just-A-Stick YAY stick i'm so glad you joined the shard. thank you for being so friendly and reaching out to me so quickly  i love you so much!!!! keep being your amazing self, you inspire me every day

@Part Of The Narrative THEATRE AGAIN! i will always appreciate your sense of humor and love of theatre <33 i am lucky to know you and have you here on the shard. i will always be grateful for you being my shardbuddy, and i can't wait to hear your next one-liner.

@The Wandering Wizard Wizzyyyy we first became shardbuddies during ookla season. that was chaotic. but i truly look up to you and i love every moment spent with you. your welcoming, friendly personality balanced with pure empathy has helped me through a lot and i am so happy to be your friend <333 you are such an amazing person and i need you on the shard eternally. 

@The Aspiring Archivist what an enigmatic human we have here. just kidding. i love you sm and couldn't have asked for a better conflicting love interest for Mae  thank you for keeping things exciting and always checking in with me  i am so grateful for our friendship and AsPiRe to write like you (you see what i did there).

@Weaver of Lights the man. the myth. the legend. i had SO MUCH fun role playing with Aaron during Smedry HG and i will always appreciate your willingness to work with plot and general friendliness. chatting with you was so entertaining and i admire your energy to keep writing and engaging with characters, it's incredible. thank you for being my shardbuddy  

@LightRinger i need you to come back, seriously. i am so sad that you're leaving, but i will always remember the fun times we spent together here on the shard. you're so fun to be around, so thank you thank you thank you for making long school days a bit more tolerable  

HONARARY SHARBUDDIES: (for some reason i haven't asked you yet but you deserve a place here because you've made my life so much better too. also take this as a shardbuddy offer.) @Spark of Hope @Scars of Hathsin @J. Magi @The Bookwyrm @The Stormfather @TheRavenHasLanded @The Honorable One @Unintelligenius @Lord Spirit @Cash67 @RoyalBeeMage @Dragonheir @Experience + i might be missing people but you guys are such good writers and humans so thank you for being there in the HG w me and on the shard

and that's all of 'em folks. i can't believe i'm only hitting the two year mark. there are so many incredible people on the shard (see above) and i love this place so much. so thank you everyone, and here's to many more years with y'all!!!  

i'm also excited to meet new people on here and make new shardbuddies- hopefully by this time next year the list is longer <33

1K REP. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH I CANT BELIEVE ITS ONLY BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR CREATING SUCH A LOVING COMMUNITY HERE. MWAH.  

also whoa!! so many milestones this year!! 1k posts, 1k rep, winning the day, engaging in RPs.... i love the shard and this upcoming shardiversary will be a long long post  

thank you to every single gorgeous soul on here who has supported me these last few months  shoutout to everyone in the HG RPs and all my shardbuddies and followers i love you all so much and you are beautiful human beings- keep dancing through your life with your shining smile. no one can take it away from you. and if they try to, DM me.  

now that i dont get pinged when ppl i follow post status updates i feel so isolated  

[....yes ik i could just check unread content..... but that's far, far too hard  ]

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHARD AFTER MONTHS OF REFUSING TO DO SO <33

I Heard it Through the Grape Vine.

this song is me right now

idk why  

it's like

fun

spring

dionysus

friends

sunny

upbeat

warm

confidence

it's like. today.

it's a pretty good day  

as you can tell. i love spring.

(yes the song is about cheating but. it gives off good energy.)

 I NEED TO STOP DOING THIS IK 

i'm here for good now... but just to fill you in on the last few days

we were on vacation in caribbean islands and i actually got stranded on a small island (a cay) with 3 other members of my family (my parents and a sibling).

it was just us.

our boat that was taking us on a "tour" of the waters had left us abandoned there.

and as we were walking around the island's coast to call for help, my dad had the brilliant idea of walking alongside an area with sharp rocks.

so of course, with my bad luck, i sliced my foot open on one of them.

my dad, my brother and I didn't have shoes, but my mom had flip flops, so i sat there, crumpled, holding my foot, and simply asking her to give me her shoes.

i could tell they were freaking out so i told them not to worry as i slipped on the flip flops, but oh my there was quite a bit of blood.

and we walked on the sand, away from the rocks, but every time i stepped the sand would get bloodier.

there was no medical assistance in sight.

and there was no boat in sight.

no people.

this was so traumatizing and it was very painful but then we finally got a boat to bring us back to where we were staying and i properly bandaged my foot there. but long story short, this whole accident is what has kept me from coming back to the shard in so long.

WOW LIFE HIT ME IN THE FACE.

i'm so so sorry for being afk w/o warning the last few days have been so rough i'm sorry

Halfway through exams.

One more week.

And I'm done.

:tired_smile: <-- [how come this isn't an emoji yet]

Alright, it's almost spring break

Which means, for my school at least, it's almost finals

I have exams starting next week and they last for 2 weeks, each exam being 2 hours long

So I need to jump off the shard for a bit as I study... I'll still be on but don't expect me to be as active as usual

See y'all soon!!

so...

yk how i was the only freshman cast in the fall play and then i got into the musical? well now we've closed the last show and casting has begun for the spring play (much ado about nothing)

i auditioned, obviously, because 1. it's fun 2. i love theatre and 3. i've made so many friends there (many of whom are seniors and who i want to spend as much time as possible with)

the audition went so well and i was so happy with it but i noticed that there were many others who weren't in the cast the last two shows

but i was having a lot of fun as i read the sides... the director even laughed as i preformed a joke

i got a callback and went on friday, but that was when i realized the sheer amount of people who had auditioned... much more than there were characters

the rule at our school is that if someone needs to be cut the first to go are the freshmen (because we have many many more productions and chances to be on stage ahead of us)

so i already had a bad feeling

but i thought to myself "hey i got the last two, maybe i'll get something small like first watchman or something"

because i didn't want to think about being cut

so i go in, do the callback, and i feel it going terribly

the scene is losing energy, it's dragging on, the director isn't laughing and the stage manager is staring us down

she dismisses us after that one scene.

it's 3:45.

callbacks started at 3:30.

and they usually go until 6:30.

the freshmen were all dismissed at 3:45.

but i'm still comforting myself, blasting I Will Survive through my air pods, painting my nails

and the cast list doesn't come out

for two days

it's sunday night, finally she sends out an email about how sorry she is and that she'll send it monday morning

i am so stressed, because it's set in finally that i might actually get cut

which is crazy because theatre has been my life ever since school started... i couldn't imagine what it would be like without going down to the basement every day for 3 hours with my favorite people. i would have so much free time, but in a bad way-- all my friends would be busy working on the show and having fun.

now i know not to take it personally because the way this theatre works is that the freshmen need to be cut and the seniors need to be cast (it's just a tradition. they have less time, so that's the rule.)

but once the cast list came out this morning, i still felt as much shock and devastation when my name wasn't on it.

it still hasn't set in, really

but i don't know what to do

this is it.

my last time on the stage as a freshmen was closing night two weeks ago, but i didn't even realize it

and those seniors that i was getting to be friends with will graduate before performing with me ever again

i just got cut off from my friends

in one email.

AHH I WAS UNEXPECTEDLY AFK THE LAST FEW DAYS IM SORRY

reading through it all now!!

so my reputation has gone from 889 to 887 to 885.

guess the jokes got old, huh?