Alpha Release Media

dumping grounds for my skill builder projects

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Daily Doodles for 6/21/26 - 6/25/26

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Daily Drabbles for 6/21/26 - 6/25/26

6/21/26 Magic was another thing that Mom was weird about. For years Lily had been interested in studying it and Mom had always shot her down. She had a big thing about how corrupting magic could be and how one bad mage could cause a lot of damage. Lily had finally worn Mom down though and she'd agreed to let Lily at least start learning the basics. Blake was honestly surprised that Lily had managed to get that much from her. Sometimes it seemed like Mom wanted to keep them as sheltered as possible. Like nothing outside their hometown even mattered.

6/22/26 All things considered Chance got off a lot easier than he might have. With as much damage as his kart took, he could have been injured far more seriously or even worse… Trix didn't want to think about how bad things could have been. The point was Chance would be fine even if he couldn't race this season with his arm in a sling. There was always next year. They'd have plenty of time to rebuild his kart. Chance really was lucky. The other two karts that had started the crash hadn't had such luck. It was a real tragedy.

6/23/26 While she may not have enjoyed their classes very much, there were at least teachers at the school that Cara did get along with. Most of the time anyway… Cara had always had a knack for getting into trouble that didn't make her popular with adults but she didn't care about that. Her history teacher didn't seem to mind much. Cara thought he was pretty cool. Cara could even get along with their strictest teacher most of the time. She didn't stand for acting out, but she could be understanding if you gave her a good reason for your behavior.

6/24/26 Iris Dodger was a bounty hunter by trade. Finding those who did not want to be found was her specialty. So helping Maxine and Dan get away from Dice would be the exact opposite of Dodger's usual work. Dan may have been right not to trust her, but she had already helped Maxine when she had been separated from Dan, and Dodger did know the territory better than most. Her price was steep, but Maxine's father was wealthy, and with an engagement gift for a down payment Dodger had agreed to take them as far north as the Undwine river.

6/25/26 Jordan told Taylor that his crystal had been glowing when he got home from school the same as hers. They both thought it was pretty weird but couldn't explain it. Taylor thought that maybe it was somehow connected to the bizarre storm that had suddenly popped up over their town. Jordan wondered if it had anything to do with whatever was going on downtown that Austin had been texting him about. Taylor hadn't heard about any of this. Jordan couldn't tell her much. All around there was just a bunch of strange things happening that Jordan couldn't understand at all.

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Daily Doodles for 6/16/26 - 6/20/26

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Daily Drabbles for 6/16/26 - 6/20/26

6/16/26 Hugh was so happy to see Tori when she came out in her improvised Wednesday Addams costume that it was all immediately worth it. Tori had picked a good time too, most of the crowds had died down so she didn't have that many people to deal with as she helped Hugh hand out candy. Not that that really mattered though, the point was to spend time with Hugh who had clearly made an effort to make her favorite holiday a memorable one. Tori could appreciate that and meet him halfway. It was the least she could do for him.

6/17/26 Vina could see at once that she had made the right call bringing in Arsus. As soon as he started chatting with the apple cart vendor Delia began to relax. Arsus was even able to draw her into the conversation and soon they had al the apples they needed and a much happier and calmer Delia. Vina didn't know how Arsus did it, but she was glad to have him. She wished she had his skills for dealing with people. Vina never knew what to say. That was something she needed to work on. As priestess she'd talk a lot.

6/18/26 It was only after Tabby had caught up on all her schoolwork for the day that Cheyenne finally texted her with a promising lead on a potential ghost. If Tabby didn't know better she might accuse Marcus of having some kind of deal with Cheyenne to not send them any cases until after they finished their homework. But Tabby had finished before Marcus and Cheyenne couldn't care less about that kind of thing. She'd text in the middle of class if she thought she had something interesting to share. Cheyenne had even done it while sitting right next to Tabby.

6/19/26 There was one creepy in particular that really annoyed Poppy though. She wasn't afraid of him, but she was starting to understand why Crazy Great Grandpa Harry had moved across an ocean and changed his name and ranted to anyone who would listen about how the family was cursed. The family was cursed and his name was Skeeves. Well, that's what Poppy called him anyway. She hadn't given him a chance to tell her his real name. He'd slipped out of the shadows one night while Poppy was walking to work and she hadn't been able to shake him off.

6/20/26 Sark ran around the inside of the shrine a couple of times to confirm that there really wasn't anything interesting in there other than the orb. Sark didn't care if it was some kind of magic orb, for as long as the old man had prattled on about it he expected it to do more than just sit there and glow. Mochi was a little more generous. He believed that the orb still had the potential to be awesome if the right circumstances came along. It was supposed to protect the town after all. Sark still had his doubts though.

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The Ingenuities of Debt – Robert Frost

These I assume were words so deeply meant They cut themselves in stone for permanent Like trouble in the brow above the eyes: TAKE CARE TO SELL YOUR HORSE BEFORE HE DIES THE ART OF LIFE IS PASSING LOSSES ON. The city saying it was Ctesiphon, Which may a little while by war and trade Have kept from being caught with the decayed, Infirm, worn-out, and broken on its hands; But judging by what little of it stands, Not even the ingenuities of debt Could save it from its losses being met. Sand has been thrusting in the square of door Across the tessellation of the floor, And only rests, a serpent on its chin, Content with contemplating, taking in, Till it can muster breath inside a hall To rear against the inscription on the wall.

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The Touch of the Master's Hand – Myra Brooks Welch

'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer Thought it scarcely worth his while To waste much time on the old violin, But held it up with a smile: "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried, "Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar"; then "Two!" "Only two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice; Going for three–––" But no, From the room, far back, a gray-haired man Came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, And tightening the loose strings, He played a melody pure and sweet As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, With a voice that was quiet and low, Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow. "A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, And going, and gone," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understand What changed its worth." Swift came the reply "The touch of a master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune, And battered and scarred with sin, Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, Much like the old violin. A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine; A game–and he travels on. He is "going" once, and "going" twice, He's "going" and almost "gone." But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd Never can quite understand The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought By the touch of the Master's hand.

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Daily Doodles for 6/11/26 - 6/15/26

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Daily Drabbles for 6/11/26 - 6/15/26

6/11/26 Of course, my stories won't be good for anything if I cannot figure out how to get Captain Dash out of the predicament I've placed him in. Whenever I am stuck on a scene, or on any problem really, I find that taking a moment to focus on other things and then coming back with a fresh mind is most helpful to finding a solution. It seems contradictory that thinking less, rather than more, on a problem should yield better results, but the human mind is a strange thing. I'm sure that I will find a way to save Dash.

6/12/26 It took over half the night, an alarming amount of alcohol, and far too many embarrassing stories about Sim's youth told to his peers before Dan was finally willing to open up about why he had come to see Sim. Sim was right, it wasn't about birthday month and it was big. Dan was worried about their big sister Tes. She'd kept in touch with Sim when he'd first started school, but her letters had been coming fewer and farther between over time. Sim hadn't actually heard from her in months. Neither had Dan apparently. He was worried about her.

6/13/26 The mountains were nothing but menacing to Kella now, but she couldn't leave them. She had dug up every record she could find on who owned the land on the mountain where Anzo and Sefu had died and found nothing. The small towns and villages at the base of the mountain were still reporting the same strange disappearances and sicknesses that had sent Kella and her companions up the mountain in the first place. The only thing Kella knew now that she hadn't before was that whoever was behind this was more than willing to kill to keep their secrets.

6/14/26 After all the trouble he'd put her through, Tiffany thought she'd get more enjoyment out of Detective Raven needing her help. He was just far too calm about the whole thing. Completely confident that Internal Affairs would come to the right conclusions and that he had nothing to worry about because he hadn't done anything wrong. While Tiffany did actually believe that Raven was innocent, she didn't share his confidence that his colleagues could be trusted to help. Neither did Raven's friend Chaz apparently. He was the one who had hired Tiffany, though she wasn't sure he could afford her.

6/15/26 The zombie uncle had immediately turned into a zombie the way Howard had suddenly found himself with magic powers. Howard and his uncle had lived pretty normally for a while, actually. Then a passing hoard of zombies had caught Howard's uncle off guard while he was outside tending to his rose bushes and he had been bitten. Howard had tried to use his magic to save his uncle and while he didn't stop him from becoming a zombie, at least he still had his mind intact. According to Howard his uncle was the same as before, just a little slower.

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U.S. 1946 King's X – Robert Frost

Having inventing a new Holocaust, And been the first with it to win a war, How they make haste to cry with fingers crossed, King's X—no fairs to use it anymore!

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Daily Doodles for 6/6/26 - 6/10/26

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Daily Drabbles for 6/6/26 - 6/10/26

6/6/26 The Hill Folk were a troupe of fairies that traveled the countryside luring in the unsuspecting with their music. Those who heeded the song of the Hill Folk were likely to be never seen again. And even those who did find their way back home were almost certain to soon die of wasting disease. The Hill Folk used to come around Kettlebrook county once a century or so, but with the growth of towns and cities their territory had been shrinking such that they could be expected about every thirty years now. It was getting to be a real problem.

6/7/26 Ella and Jack started out as competitors on the same heist. They were both after the same treasure. Some sort of golden trinket I think. It's not important. The point is they both wanted it and they were determined to get it before the other one did. They led one another on a merry chase for some time as they traded the gold back and forth between them. And all the while they were busy stealing it from each other the police were completely unable to help the original owner. He'd lose much more once Ella and Jack teamed up.

6/8/26 Sara was glad to have Elaine on this expedition. Elaine was a wiz with ancient and dead languages, if anyone could figure out if the carvings on the pillars were just decorative or some kind of language Elaine could. Arthur was also nice to have along on adventures because he was very good at carrying heavy things. No, but Arthur was very good at keeping their very modern equipment in working order and up to date. There were a lot of machines Sara used to analyze the many samples she took and Arthur understood exactly how all of them worked.

6/9/26 Emily was still getting her bearings in the local politics of Chestnut. It was an old town with a long history and longer memories from the older residents. There had been pushback against the hotel back when Emily's grandfather had first tried to build it and of course that resistance had returned when Emily came to town to try to finish what her grandfather had started. Folks were worried about Chestnut becoming a tourist town and driving out the locals with rising prices as rich vacationers took over. They'd all seen what had happened to Aspen Creek two valleys over.

6/10/26 Simone was kind enough to offer to drive Janet to her uncle's house, even though he lived a little ways out of town down by the Carter Preserve, and well out of Simone's way Janet suspected. Janet had been waiting long enough now that she was pretty sure her uncle wasn't coming to pick her up at the bus stop though, so she decided to take advantage of Simone's friendliness. Besides, it was nice talking to another girl her own age. Janet already really liked Simone and was glad that she'd know at least one person when she started school.

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Bursting Rapture – Robert Frost

I went to the physician to complain, The time had been when anyone could turn To farming for a simple way to earn; But now 'twas there as elsewhere, any gain Was made by getting science on the brain; There was so much more every day to learn, The discipline of farming was so stern, It seemed as if I couldn't stand the strain. But the physician's answer was, "There, there, What you complain of, all the nations share. Their effort is a mounting ecstasy That when it gets too exquisite to bear Will find relief in one burst. You shall see. That's what a certain bomb was sent to be."

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Daily Doodles for 6/1/26 - 6/5/26

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Daily Drabbles for 6/1/26 - 6/5/26

6/1/26 The giant salamander men (Salamen, if you will) were perfectly normal other than the fact that they were salamanders. They spoke English just like normal people. They wore normal clothes, albeit modified to accommodate their tails. And while they were giant for salamanders they were about the same size as regular humans. They even talked about normal boring adult stuff while they played normal basketball the same as where Joe was from. Joe found himself both fascinated and slightly terrified by them. Sure, giant salamander men (or Salamen rather) sounded cool until they were standing right in front of you.

6/2/26 The forest wasn't so kind to Pippers as she raced back towards the palace grounds. She tripped over roots and her dress snagged on branches. Squeakers was squeaking like crazy. Pippers held on to him tightly. She didn't want to lose him in the woods. As Pippers reached the edge of the trees she slid to a halt and stared in astonishment. The palace was on fire. Great orange flames poured out of the windows, reaching up to the sky in alarmingly tall pillars. There was a lot of movement around the grounds, but Pippers couldn't see her family anywhere.

6/3/26 Proper funding and basically unlimited authority had gotten Evander a lot farther in his quest for the Artifacts than he had ever gotten on his own, but being at the beck and call of the Empire did get annoying sometimes. Especially when they sent him on assignments with Col. Those were always the worst. Which made it all the more annoying when the assignment itself actually sounded promising. There were rumors that Dragonslayer, the emperor before Eligus, had found one of the Artifacts himself, and now someone had gone and dug up the son of one of Dragonslayer's old companions.

6/4/26 Halley skated down the busy street on her roller blades. Angry adults yelled for her to be careful as she swerved around them without slowing down. Fortunately, the foot traffic started to thin out the closer to Val's shop Halley skated. Val lived and worked in a quieter part of Foundation, off the main streets. There were also plenty of empty lots great for skating around. That's how Halley had met Val originally. She had been out skating and found the repair shop. Which ended up great for them. Halley was as good with software as Val was with hardware.

6/5/26 Zaku crossed his arms and glowered out the window of the van as the desert hurtled by. He was still sour about having to let those bandits just get away like that. He was also feeling sour about Eyuna stealing the front seat from him, but he didn't want her to know that so he complained about the bandits again. Even though he knew Mo was right and there was nothing else they could have done. The next time they stopped for gas they could call the local cops, but that was about all they could do. It really sucked.

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Her Answer – John Bennett

Today, dear heart, but just today, The sunshine over all, The roses crimsoning the air Along the garden wall! Then let the dream and dreamer die Whate're shall be, shall be— Today will still be thine and mine To all eternity.

And oh, there is no glory, dear, When all the world is done; There is no splendor lasteth out The sinking of the sun; There is no thing that lasts, not one, When we have turned to clay, But this: you loved me—all the rest Fades with the world away.

So little while, so little while, This world shall last for us: There is no way to keep it, dear, But just to spend it thus: There is no hand may stop the sand From flowing fast away, But his who turns the whole glass down And dreams 'tis all today!

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Daily Doodles for 5/26/26 - 5/31/26

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Daily Drabbles for 5/26/26 - 5/31/26

5/26/26 Lucky was annoyed but there wasn't much he could do about it. The mountain would wait for them to figure out that it was their best option. No one from Golf was going to take it. Lucky was confident in his ability to reclaim it from anyone who tried to move in while he was out getting his people back. He wouldn't bother arguing with them. Well, maybe he'd argue with Denise, but just for fun. Lucky would follow them to Echo and all the other bases if that was what it took. They'd come back to the mountain. Eventually.

5/27/26 Aubra hadn't meant to kill her. She had only wanted to cause a distraction. Aubra and Crobus had spent weeks carefully planning their escape. Crobus was the one who had figured out how to get their hands on the explosives. Aubra was the one who had planted them. She may have overdone it a little. There had been two explosions. One for a distraction, and one to break open the prison walls. The distraction was where things had gone awry. Or gone horribly right maybe. Either way Aubra really hadn't meant to drop an entire building on their wicked warden.

5/28/26 With Riley's boss turning up dead there was nothing they could do to keep the police from getting involved. And of course like the idiots they always were the police decided that Riley or Sonia or both of them had to be guilty because they knew too much. Sonia didn't have much faith in the cops figuring out this one. Especially since she was still pretty sure that Riley's boss had killed someone and finding them was the key to solving everything. It would be tough though since Sonia was the only one who even believed in this other victim.

5/29/26 Arid and Sanity wandered aimlessly around downtown in the waning evening light as they chatted casually with each other. Sanity kept Arid up to date on all the local politics and gossip on the mountain. Arid kept Sanity up to date on the latest litter of piglets and how they were getting on. Most of the breeding sows on the farm had already had their litters for the season, but one pig had delivered late so Arid was able to give them extra attention. Sanity was always enamored with the piglets. Arid had to remind her how big they grew.

5/30/26 Jack wasn't sure that fudge counted as a candy, but he wasn't about to say anything about it to Candy. Jack was hopeful that the fudge was just the beginning of Candy branching out into a whole world of sweet treats. There were baked goods of course, pies and cakes and pastries and things. Jack wouldn't mind tasting Candy's take on those. Personally though, he was hoping to get her into frozen deserts. Ice cream and sorbets or whatever would be nice. Popsicles would be better. Snow cones would be best. Jack thought that would be perfect for them both.

5/31/26 The world was a ghost in the dawn's early light. Pale and ethereal. The half demolished stucco buildings rose up like monoliths, standing silent and empty over the deserted city. A slight breeze blew sand and debris across the cracked and parched ground. Strips of torn fabric hanging from windows and doorways fluttered softly. In the distance gunfire and explosions rattled and boomed in a constant rhythm through the air. But only in the distance. As golden rays slipped over the horizon and ignited the rooftops in a warm glow birds flitted about on budding branches singing their morning hymns.