Punch Drunk Souls • •

[Lucien Carlisle Pendry]

Lucien still couldn’t believe he had things such as book signings and readings. It was surreal to him, even though he had e-mails from his editor several times a week usually, along with deadline reminders and responses from those he had reached out to for research. Lucien might have been an author of fiction, but he liked to make sure that details were accurate – even if he was going to manipulate them to fit into an alternate universe. He found it made a world more believable even if it was one built on fantasy. The book he held in his hand now was his fourth, and also the last in his current book deal. He was meeting next week to extend it, but this time it would be a new series. His characters from the very first foray into writing had come to the end of their tales. They had their happy endings, or at least some of them did. Others were ambiguously looking into the future like so many people did in real life. He hadn’t wanted to dress it up in a bow, leave it tidy and neat like fairy stories did. It was a reflection on reality after all. No one got through their life without wondering the what ifs, without settling for something that didn’t leave them completely thrilled with their lifestyle.

He understood that some of his readers might have wanted more. They might have been rooting for a character who had simply ended his path living a similar life to what he had started with. Over the course of four novels though, Lucien hoped that they could come to realise that a particular character was stuck like that because he lacked the ambition to go further, or was simply too lazy when someone challenged him. Lucien ran into people like that all the time. He had students like that. They took his class as an easy grade, but it was far from it. He challenged them each week, pulled apart their work and stitched it back together looking messier than before. He wanted them to take their first drafts and end up with something completely unlike it, but something that was so astoundingly better. Some of his students didn’t handle criticism very well, and they refused to listen to his advice. It hurt him to have to fail them, but there was no other choice for some.

There were a few of his students invited to tonight’s event, but he didn’t know how many would turn up – if any even did! There was very likely a party on somewhere that was probably far more appealing that sitting in a bookstore listening to Lucien read out the first three chapters of his latest work and then queue for a signature they had seen countless times on their graded papers. He wasn’t going to look out for them. Instead he’d be pleasantly surprised if any appeared at the signing table. The reading always went easier if he wasn’t looking for familiar faces anyway. Tonight, it went as smoothly as possible, and Lucien thanked the small crowd before he was ushered to the table the store had set out for him and the book signing. Sometimes he liked to hear back from the audience, but some of the slots he was given just didn’t allow for it. It was a case this time of closing hours. He knew the staff needed to be locking up an hour after his signing was due to finish, and he didn’t want to make them late because he insisted on having deep, meaningful conversations with his readers. Unfortunately, it might have to be another online Q&A, and Lucien disliked them a great deal. They felt so impersonal. He had his fingers crossed, as he took a seat at the polished table, that he might be able to fit in a question or two during the actual signing stage. He had his favourite pen, and a big bottle of water to see him through. The bookstore staff had everyone in a tidy line and they let the first person cross to the desk, book in hand.

• • •

TAGGED! Sorina Elisabeta Lupescu
WORDS! 694!
LYRICS! Taxi - - - The Maine
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Sorina Elisabeta Lupescu]

Sorina felt like she'd barely finished writing her final exam of the term before she was in her apartment and grabbing the bags she'd finished packing the night before. She was meant to be in Barbados for a swimwear photo shoot and because she was needed back in the city quickly, she couldn't get back to Romania for a visit, so her parents were going to meet her on the beach and check out the inner workings of what she did for a living. It had been nice having her parent there, though her sister was missed, Sorina understood that she was trying to get clean and sober and that required a commitment to the "spa" she was attending. Having an addiction wasn't a taboo conversation topic in the Lupescu household, in fact, that were very open about it because it required that level of open and welcoming conversation. They couldn't help her sister if they didn't know how she was feeling about it all and asking questions got them the answers they needed to understand and help her. None of them would ever know what it was like for her to feel like she needed to self-medicate so heavily but they were standing with Madalina, with every step she took towards recovery and sobriety, praised her for each new milestone she reached. It was going to take a long time but she would get there and they were all so unbelievably proud of her. But it did mean that she couldn't be there when trips like this happened. Sorina called her every week to see what she was up to and share how her week had been. They were still sisters but she did miss her and had said as much but Maddie had said as much as she wanted to be there on the beach with them, she knew she wasn't ready yet but she would be there for the next one and Sorina would hold her to it. She missed her sister.

Still, it had been a fun week full of all sorts of adventures and so many pictures it was ridiculous. But at the end of it, she packed up her bags again and said goodbye to her parents who got on a plane back to Romania while their eldest daughter caught one back to New York. Before they'd separated, however, her mother mentioned that Lucien had a new book out and in all the fun they'd been having, she'd forgotten to give her a copy of it because Rina preferred to read her books in Romanian though her library at home was filled with English written books as well. She had devoured it on the flight back to the city and by the time they were landing, she'd read every last word of it and wanted more. It was the final book in the series, that much was obvious but it had also had her craving for more though she understood why that was the case. He'd kept so much open-ended like real life and Sorina wasn't the type who could let that be; she needed answers. It probably stemmed from being in the hospital as a child, requiring answers to all her questions whenever a doctor came in with news, updates or results. Sorina found out shortly after landing that he had a book signing and quickly looked at her watch to see if she could make it before it was over, thanking Lexi for the news because she'd confided in her friend her adoration for the author and the day they'd met and she'd turned into a fangirl.

Bags in hand, she directed a cabbie to get her there in a timely fashion and offered a hefty tip for accomplishing this. He did so in an impressive time and Sorina handed over the correct bills, plus the offered tip and stepped out to the street. She could see there wasn't much time left, the shop would be closing in a little over an hour and she was probably already late but it didn't hurt to find out. She stepped in and saw that while she'd missed the reading, she hadn't missed the signing. Quietly, she stepped up to the back of the line and was quick, though very politely approached by an employee informing her that the person before her was the last to be seen. She smiled brilliantly and told the young girl who probably a test to study for or a party to get to that she was friends with Lucien, though not entirely accurate, and that she was simply there to surprise him as she'd just stepped off a plane from a business trip. The girl thought it was beautiful, clearly thought they were romantically involved, which as yet was not the case, but Rina didn't correct her. That wouldn't have helped her so she just smiled and stayed quiet and the girl stepped away, allowing her to stay at the end of the queue. As she got closer, she pulled the Romanian copy of his book from her bag, ready to set it down on the table when it was "her turn". Lucien politely asked the woman in front of him her name and signed the book accordingly whilst answering her simple question. They chatted for a few seconds before she thanked him and stepped away. He looked tired, seemed to be low on water and could probably use a decent burger. Still, with a sly smile on her lips, she stepped up to the table. "I just have one question. When are you taking this on tour?" She asked with a smirk, hoping that he would remember her and thinking belatedly that he probably ran into so many people, she was probably not even a blip on his radar, forgotten the second she'd left that cafe. Well, it was too late now, she'd started the interaction.

♦ ♦ ♦

TAG; Lucien Carlisle Pendry
WORDS; 988
LYRICS; Roses --Kelsea Ballerini
NOTES; <3

[Lucien Carlisle Pendry]

Lucien had scheduled his writing days around his lesson planning and grading days. He couldn’t overexert himself or else he may very well wake up in a hospital bed, having blacked out the last several hours and probably the seizure or two that came with it. It was strange, but he had come to learn the signs of when he was getting too stressed. Thoughts took longer to verbalise, and his reflexes because somewhat clumsy in appearance. Oftentimes, if he wasn’t entirely sure if a late night was becoming more than that, he tossed an old tennis ball against the wall and tried to catch it a few times. It worked well enough for him to know if he needed to go to bed, maybe cancel the morning lecture if it was already terribly late. His health came before writing deadlines and classes of half-asleep college kids. He had made that abundantly clear when he started working both with his publisher and with NYU. Thankfully, both employers understood that Lucien was almost always on top when it came to taking care of himself, which meant they were flexible with him when he needed them to be - which wasn’t all that often, thankfully.

Being as organised as he was, this book signing had been pencilled in for months, just so he knew not to plan around it. These events were surprisingly draining, and often he was exhausted and ready to sleep when they came around. It was why he typically tried to ensure they were close to the weekend, although Friday was always his preferred day. He wasn’t so famous in the literary world that there were queues down the street as people waited, but there was always a modest sized crowd in the store awaiting him. Lucien was always thankful to his readers, and the dedication in this one told them as much; “To my readers – I only started this story, but you allowed me to finish it.”
It was true, at least to him. If no one had bought his books then he wouldn’t have been able to write more of them. His publisher would have dropped him in a heartbeat and Lucien would have been the only audience to his own work. The writing process was an incredibly private one to him. No one saw his drafts, and even his editor needed to persuade him to send something in when it was unpolished and far from finished. Lucien liked to tweak things, to rework and freshen up huge chunks of his books. He had once told a reviewer that his final version was nothing like the first, and then shook his head when asked if anyone had a chance to see what he had originally envisioned. He had copies, of course, but Lucien kept them under lock and key. Most people had a safe for valuables, but Lucien just had piles of papers and a box of old, hastily scribbled notes.

So much work went into finishing a book, that this moment right now, was one of things that made it all worth it. To know that people wanted to meet him, to thank him for his words. His series has been somewhat based in fantasy, but that didn’t stop people saying how it changed their lives. Lucien wasn’t the type to judge, and if his books really did help people come to some life affirming realisation, then he was happy he could do that for a stranger. The person before him wasn’t a stranger though; he knew that from the book she placed before him and from her all too familiar voice. He grinned, flipping the cover open. His pen made a slight scratching noise as he scribbled across the cover page; “To Sorina, it’s your turn to buy the coffee.” And then his signature. “Alas, my students won’t be pleased if I vanish on tour.” He handed her the book back. “Or maybe they would, but they’d find themselves a few credits short for the semester.” He considered himself a good teacher, but he was sure there was one or two students who regretted being in his class.

• • •

TAGGED! Sorina Elisabeta Lupescu
WORDS! 697!
LYRICS! Taxi - - - The Maine
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Sorina Elisabeta Lupescu]

Sorina wouldn't change a think about the life she'd led so far. She might have had a scare when she was younger but she had overcome that, she had won her battle with cancer and was quite healthy and very well on the other side of that, some decade or so later. The what-if game she could play would probably drive people crazy because her what-ifs were things people actually did. What if she hadn't gotten sick, what if she'd gone to school? She would have had friends her own age and she might not have come to the same conclusions about her extended education but she also wouldn't have gotten to see so much of the world, learn so much and meet as many interesting people. As life rarely worked out in the favour you wanted, Sorina was just happy to have lived through it all and had the experiences she did. She knew better than most to count the blessing you did have because, at any given moment, they could be lost to you forever. Sorina did not want that to be the case so she rarely played those childish games anymore and instead focused on what her plans were going to be next. Rina loved having the next step, it meant progress and that, to her, meant living. She was alive and so she much progress.

When she'd stepped off the plane, she hadn't actually known if she was going to make it to the book signing. It was going to be a tight race but when she realised she had more time than she'd originally thought, she knew it was fate. She was meant to make it to the bookstore, just as she was meant to meet Lucien at that coffee shop. She might have teased her a little bit over her overly sweet coffee order but he'd been charming and willing to put up with a fan such as herself. She knew she had geeked out a little hard and while, she also knew she should have felt bad for that, she couldn't find it in her to do so. Sorina loved Lucien's books so much and because of that, she was always gifted advanced copies of it in her beloved Romanian from her mother. It was fun to see his words in the local bookstores while she was carrying around a version of the book most of the people of New York, and perhaps even Lucien himself, might not ever see.

Rina enjoyed reading in every language she knew. It was a pleasure for her to have various books all over her bookshelves at home in so many different languages. She spoke Romanian and English perfectly, but also spoke and read in a half dozen other languages. Modelling as a teenager gave her ample time backstage to talk to her friends and fellow models and learn their native tongues. She also had plenty of time to have books handy and whenever she would be talking to someone, she would ask them to speak to her in whatever their native tongue was so she might learn and go along with her books and dictionaries. It was had her absorbed information best and no one seemed to mind. In her experience, most people loved when others wanted to learn more about them and their culture. Sorina loved to learn and most of her friends had loved that about her, wanted to teach her because she was just so excitable whenever she finally figured something out. Sorina glanced at the scribbled note Lucien signed for her and smiled. "It's probably a bit late for coffee. How does dinner sound instead?" She asked with a grin. It was late and she had just gotten off a plane from some exotic locale. She really needed something to eat and she couldn't think of better company to share that meal with.

♦ ♦ ♦

TAG; Lucien Carlisle Pendry
WORDS; 651
LYRICS; Roses --Kelsea Ballerini
NOTES; <3

[Lucien Carlisle Pendry]

There were people his age who had a lot more than he did. Some had families, worked jobs that made them six figures. He had old school friends who owned their own homes, drove fancy cars, and when he had attended that ten-year reunion last year they had made most of his graduating class feel like they had wasted their lives so far. Lucien hadn’t been one of them. He didn’t care if he had a few relationships that hadn’t gone as planned, or if he had passed over a deal that might have seen his books in a bigger market, but would have tied him into a contract he wasn’t as happy with. He wrote because he enjoyed it, and he was a storyteller who wanted to see other people enjoy his work. He didn’t want to be bought by dollar signs, contracted to do more for the money when the story should have finished three books sooner. Lucien wasn’t a man who would sell his soul for wads of cash.

He was a simple guy. He didn’t need the bright lights of New York, and if something else was offered elsewhere, Lucien might very well take it up. He had come from a small town, a quiet community, and he didn’t need the constant hustle and bustle of the city to match the beat of his heart. It wasn’t the pulse of the concrete jungle that kept his blood pumping. If anything he moved at a much slower pace, existing in a bubble that was out of sync with the rest of the city. Even his classes were slower, where he encouraged his students to take their time. Lucien had a whole speech prepared – which most of them didn’t buy at first – about how he didn’t expect a finished novel at the end of the course. He just wanted to see them progress, for them to take his lessons and use them to create their own stories, their own worlds and characters. He didn’t expect novels, or anthologies of poetry. He also wouldn’t pass someone who tried to coast in his class. He always kept the first piece turned in and compared it to the final draft, comparing and showing it to each and every student to let them see their potential; he hoped it encouraged them to keep writing, even if it took them another ten years to finally reach the bookshelves.

Lucien grinned, tapping his pen against the palm of his hand. “I have to get through the rest of this line.” He confessed, never the type to let down those who came out for his book readings and signings. He was hardly some world famous author, but he was thankful for the fanbase he did have. They made it possible for him to keep writing, as well as teaching. “But if you’re not in any hurry I should only be another half an hour.” These things always ran to a schedule, mostly because the stores wanted to close on time and the staff wanted to leave and get back home, too. Lucien couldn’t blame them either. He had briefly worked retail one holiday season when he was a teenager and there had been nothing more exhausting; not to mention the stress had been a terrible trigger for his epilepsy and he had vowed never to put himself in a position like that again. It was a thankless job for the most part, which was why he always did he best to be nice to those who did work in the bookstores he found himself in for these events.

• • •

TAGGED! Sorina Elisabeta Lupescu
WORDS! 607!
LYRICS! Taxi - - - The Maine
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Sorina Elisabeta Lupescu]

Sorina's life was literally all over the map. There were some days when she woke up and genuinely couldn't remember where she was. It took her a few minutes to really wake up and figure it out but first thing in the morning, especially when she wasn't in her own bed, she had a jolt of fear. It wasn't her favourite way to wake up, she preferred coffee, but it happened. There were worse ways to wake up in the morning and at least when she did finally realise where she was, she got excited to explore. It never mattered if she'd been there before a dozen or more times or if it was her first time in the city, she loved to get out there and walk around and just see everything she possibly could when she wasn't required on a set. There was nothing quite like finding that little hole in the wall restaurant that's so far off the beaten path you're not even entirely sure you're still in the same city. Paris was always good for getting lost and finding the local restaurants. Prague was good, too. Sorina loved getting lost whether it was in the real world or between the pages of a book.

Rina's smile brightened considerably. She was in no rush though she probably should have run home to at least drop her luggage off. But she hadn't wanted to miss Lucien's book signing so she'd opted to just bring the bags with her. She had a couple of people she could call that would help her out in a pinch but she didn't want to bother anyone when it was getting on in the day; even if a fair few of them would be thrilled to hear why she needed their help. Luggage on a date, even if it was a non-date kind of date, was still quite the statement. Rina led a very active lifestyle. She was always rushing off to this place or that one. Most of the time her downtime was spent in lecture halls, listening to her professors wax poetic about nonsense that rarely had anything to do with business. "Sounds good to me. Come find me when you're all done." She said as she put her newly signed book back into her bag. She grabbed the handle of her roller bag and moved out of the line and towards the fiction section and her preferred reading choice.

She could spend the rest of the evening lost in the shelves full of books. Her favourite bookstores were always the little ones that had so many books crammed onto their shelves that it was a miracle to actually find anything at all. She could spend an entire day in a single shop and only leave because she's forced out. People need sleep. Reading had been how she'd gotten through the majority of her childhood. There had been a time when she wasn't sure if she would ever actually see beyond the children's hospital's walls again. So she'd taken on exploring hundreds of different worlds all from the discomfort of her hospital bed, or the window seat when she was feeling up to it. It wasn't long at all before the spine of a book caught her eye and she stopped to look it over. She had a rule, if her mum didn't suggest a book, that if she read a couple of pages at random, never the end, and it made her curious how they reached that point or made that decision, she would buy it and find out. If it didn't intrigue her, she set it back on the shelf and continued on. For the most part, however, she got her book recommendations from her mum because the woman knew her best of all.

♦ ♦ ♦

TAG; Lucien Carlisle Pendry
WORDS; 635
LYRICS; Roses --Kelsea Ballerini
NOTES; <3