Consultation 129.
Seated across from me was exactly who I expected to see, Author. | Haaaah. Judging by the look on her face, the tehe, Author Fool’s line didn’t get me off the hook.
- So, God, do you like my gift?
- Your gift? What do you mean?
- Ugh, I’m already starting to feel sick.
- What? | She feels sick? Was that related to the gift she just mentioned?
- Sorry, it’s nothing, please forget I said anything.
- Okay... if you say so. | I don’t buy it, she’s definitely hiding something. What could it be though?
Despite being curious, I decided to not probe into the origin of her sickness. I instinctively felt I’d feel the same way as her if I knew. But still, the gift she mentioned had me on edge.
- Uh, what exactly was the gift you brought up just now?
- Oh, you mean you haven’t heard yet?
- Heard what?
- Congratulations.
- Congratulations? What are you congratulating me for?
A grin floated to her face that made all the hair on my body stand on ends.
- What is it! Tell me! What the hell did you do, Author!
Author took out a single piece of paper and placed it on the desk in front of me It took a minute to register in my head as I couldn’t believe my eyes.
- No.
- Yes.
- You didn’t.
- Yes. Yes, I did.
- Why?
- It was meant to be. It is your destiny.
Life gradually drained from my eyes as reality sunk in.
- Author, this isn’t funny you know. Author Fool’s has already come and gone.
- Yes, I know that.
- If you say Author Fool’s now that makes you the fool, you know.
- Naturally, I’m aware of that. But there is no need to say Author Fool’s here.
On the piece of paper, my name was written. The problem wasn’t that my name was written on it. The problem was that another name was written on it beside mine with Author’s stamp of approval.
-This is an abuse of power! I had nothing to do with the cover! It was all her!
A nasty smile formed on Author's face as she said
- Yes, so I am merely punishing her for it.
- How is this punishing her? Isn’t this just punishing me? Rather than a punishment for her, isn’t this more of a reward?
- What are you talking about? Isn’t a forced arranged marriage considered a punishment for a woman? She doesn’t get to choose her partner this way, right?
- Don’t give me that, that’s bullshit and you know it!
- So what? I’m the one and only Author, if I say it, then it shall be as such.| Screw you! Why don’t you get married and see what it’s really like!
She raised her hand and pat me on the shoulder while looking into my eyes.
- Relax, I’m sure it’ll be fun. Two women fighting for your attention, it must be nice.
- Does being stabbed when you’re asleep sound like fun to you?
- Haha. Well, good luck with that. | Good luck your mother!
After delivering the documents showing I was now married to Goddess Grandparents, Author left while laughing to herself over the misfortune she’d bestowed upon me. | Why me? Why couldn’t you just marry her off to someone else for a punishment? This was exactly what I feared would happen.
- Haaaaah. | I’m really not looking forward to going home today.
Guess I'm old fashioned, but I for one prefer your previous formats. I found this shorthand distracting. That's just my opinion, however. Others may prefer this or not.
"Haaah". I'm really not looking forward to going home today. (As an example Seems more readable to me)
Regardless thanks for the story and some of the subtle commentary often buried within.
Agreed. My thoughts exactly.
Only bad writers do this format.
I don't want to say bad writers, I'd rather say... eccentrics who think too highly of themselves and think they're going to start the next big thing by trying something new which actually just ends up being a pain in the ass to read.
@KiraMinoru Bad writers & clueless novices, then. Where do they pick this “style” up? It’s horrific.
So since the title page hasn't changed, and Author knows about it, does this mean Author secretly approves of the changed picture?
Besides the beginning where I was thinking the sick part was a thought, this was surprisingly fine. Your note should have given examples though. I was expecting you to use "-" for dialogue and "–" for thoughts (there's a difference between the two, I swear). Maybe you should specify you meant vertical lines?
Author's approval? Author is more like falling on her hands and knees failing to comprehend life at the moment as she tries to figure out how after posting this chapter it got 6 new readers in a day, the most gained in a single day for the last month. Then there's also the part where this story gets a significantly higher spot on trending on days where it gets much fewer new readers, comments and favorites(131 compared to the usual 5-6) in a single day. Though it's probably the views because it went from about 1k to only a bit higher at about 1.1k from one day to the next rather than the usual up down pattern.
Edit: Never mind, trending still works the way I expected, it was just delayed by a day more than I expected it would be in terms of its calculation.
But the real question is, what the hell was there that even pulled in new readers? The cover, the janky format, the second wife, the long ass author note, the time it was posted(which I've posted a few times in the past with no new readers)? Author does not understand and is forced to bow down in defeat to the might of Goddess Grandparents' in your face look on the cover.
I'm not really going to write like this for future chapters, it triggers me. This was just a one off thing.
I personally think your old way is better. First this felt like cancer since im used to your old way of writing which was good formatting in the first place. Second the| are something that felt aggravating to read feeling like they be better in a power point than a chapter. Third Thx for a chapter
Yes, I can certainly agree it feels like cancer. The lines(|) piss me off too. They’re just distracting. They can also just randomly end up on a new line all on their own as well and look completely out of place.