Jean LeRoy

Tomorrow is not guaronteed. Procrastinate today! 

[eifangale-blog]

Mun&Muse adventures

“Please just take the test? It’s the last one today I promise.” I pleaded with him, holding out my cracked cell phone as if it were a prized possession. Jean glared at me yet took the phone anyway.

“This is the last one today, writer. These tests are boring.”

As Jean looked down at the screen and began to read, I knew this would be an entertaining exercise. The other two tests were easy. Under 10 questions and choosing colors. The Myers-Briggs is more in-depth, and I just knew he would have something to say about some of the questions. With such an analytical mind, he would easily see through the repetitive rephrasing.

“Vibrant events with lots of people? Is that supposed to be code for orgy? I have more important things to do.” He scoffs and clicks the largest bubble to the right. I stifled a giggle and waited for him to continue.

“There is no such thing as an unrealistic Idea. With the proper tools and a mind that can handle it, everything is possible.”

“While that may be true, to others your research might look a lot less realistic. I would agree with that one.” I encouraged. He did spend a lot of time researching ideas and concepts that lead to dead ends. Just because he had not given up on them did not mean that they were realistic.

I watched him click a couple more bubbles without commenting on the question. I decided to look over his shoulder at the screen.

“For your information, these questions are ridiculous. Who would go on a trip without knowing where they are going or when? It is a waste of time and resources if you ask me. Also, dwelling on conversations past has no uses. If you cannot articulate what should have been said, then bring it up again next time. Otherwise, you have missed your chance. Move on.”

“You leave little room for spontaneity Jean. Some people like not knowing what is coming.”

“Well some people won’t be going very far then, will they?” He responded matter of factly. I palmed my face and waited for the next question.

“Why would I not try to solve the problem!” He exclaimed, startling me.

“Some people put comfort and well being as a higher priority Jean. It is called being compassionate.”

“Well, it is out of order. Solve the problem first, then make them feel better about it.” He seemed confused and outraged at the very idea of not fixing whatever is wrong first.

“I know exactly what you mean by that, ya nasty. Move along and stop that, or you are going to spoil the story I’m writing.”  

“The story? Are you kidding me! Please tell me you are not going to be…” I slapped my hands over his mouth and took the phone from him.

“I’m going to write all sorts of things Jean. All sorts of fun, exciting, action-packed and romantic things Jean.”  His eyes grew wide. Under my hands, I could feel his skin beginning to flush.

“You are a terrible person, writer. I am not answering any more of these questions for you.” He proclaimed after prying my fingers away.

“But the readers are going to be so disappointed!” I pouted, looking at the measly 5 questions I had managed from him.

“I have research to do, and I am expected at the base tomorrow morning with a report on it. So, if you will excuse me, I must be on my way.” Jean stood and walked out of the front door of the laundry mat, leaving me with an incomplete questionnaire and endless frustration.

“Just wait, Jean. I will get this personality test finished eventually. You live in my brain, you can’t hide from me forever.”

[eifangale-blog]

Meet the muse

I have decided to host a single muse on this account for a little while. Jean LeRoy is a fairly new OC that I would like to flesh out more thoroughly. Problem is, I don’t do well with just jotting stats down on a page. My characters make themselves known in a more organic way, through writing with them. 

Jean as he first appeared to me, is 5′7′’ with deeply tanned skin from spending endless days in both battlefield and training. Auburn hair is kept pulled back into a tight ponytail to keep it from tangling in the chains that drip from his form. Age is currently unknown, yet he stands tall and exudes the confidence of an accomplished battle mage. In Unknown Origins, he is dressed in nothing more than the shortest of shorts and the chains he handcrafted himself. He embedded every precious stone he has ever acquired into any available cross-section of the chain.  The stones are charged with raw energy, or prepared spells depending on the stone itself. 

Jean’s demeanor is cold and calculative. Having missed out on a lot of social development and interaction, social cues tend to fly passed him unnoticed. He is a demisexual omega, yet hides this fact. In his world, he is considered abnormal and an outcast in civilian society. On the black market, if his secondary gender was ever revealed, he would be a prized possession for anyone with the balls to try and the skill to succeed. At the mage’s guild, he is a decorated warrior and considered the most valuable red mage in their ranks for his mastery of battle and restorative magic. 

At some point when I am more confident in my knowledge, I will commission some artwork of him to go with a propper bio section. 

[theforcekeepers]

DO NOT DO THIS.

This makes me so angry.

If you work in a movie theater and you do this I have no respect for you.

My younger brother is Type 1 Diabetic.

When we go to a movie theater, we always get him diet soda. If he were to get regular when we asked for diet, we would not give him the insulin he would need for it. If that happens, his blood sugar level could go so high he could go into a coma, go blind, or even die.

If somebody gave him regular soda instead of diet without telling us, that person could be responsible for a nine-year-old being killed or blinded.

Just thinking about that makes me so angry. I get scared every time we take him to a movie in case the people working there saw this picture and decide to do the same thing.

Please signal boost this so people know.

[wreckedupbarnes]

This also applies to baristas

[kimchicutie-deactivated20180618]

Fun story about the baristas doing this kind of shit. 

I am very sensitive to lactose, not Lactose intolerant but because of stomach ulcers that are still healing. A couple years ago I went to Starbucks right after my classes with some friends and asked for a green tea latte with soy milk. The barista, for some reason out of malice and/or hate for her life so she took it out on me, gave me whole milk in my latte.

5 minutes after my first sip of latte, my stomach cramped BAD. Not the “Oh! time to poop!” kind of cramp but it felt like someone had stabbed me with a knife and twisted it. Now I’ve had this happen before so I knew the cause of it. I went up to the barista clutching my gut screaming at her that she put dairy in my latte rather than soy LIKE I REQUESTED. She denied it and called me a “pretentious white girl for wanting soy”and so my friends got the manager. I had to explain that I had stomach ulcers that were still healing and if I were to go to the hospital for this incident, they would be responsible for it.

Manager flipped his shit and the barista was terrified out of her mind. Pretty sure both thought i was gonna sue. Manager actually fired her on the spot because of the negligence. My friends managed to get me home in one piece while I stayed home for 3 days in absolute agony and missed my midterm.

So remember kiddies, if someone is asking for Diet or “Skinny” or “soy” or anything that is not regular, give them what they requested because it may not be them being healthy, but a dietary need that can possibly be life or death

[housebuiltbyghosts-deactivated2]

also if they ARE trying to be healthy you should give it to them to!! Its not your decision to police or question others food choices!!! 

also im lactose intolerant AND ive had stomach infections/ulcers so i feel this. 

[cartoonkatelyn]

I have Celiac Disease, so I’m very gluten intolerant. When I go out to eat at restaurants a lot of people just assume that I asked for my food gluten free because of the gluten free diet fad (which is usually a bullshit diet btw). 

Last month I went out to dinner with a friend at an italian restaurant that had a small gluten free menu. I had been there once before and had their gluten free pasta and it was great! I think one of the managers had been there and was super helpful when taking my order to make sure that everything was gluten free for me. When I ordered the gluten free pasta again this time though, the waitress who took my order all but rolled her eyes at me. I didn’t think much of it at the time, because the restaurant was so accommodating before, I just assumed it would be the same this time.

But sure enough, they brought out my pasta, I ate it, and about an hour later I had extreme stomach pains and was throwing up (in a movie theater no less).

Barfing and agonizing pain aside, eating gluten when you have celiac causes a lot of internal damage that’s hard to notice. The biggest thing is that it damages your intestines, preventing your body from absorbing nutrients properly, which can take months to heal.

So PLEASE, if you work at a restaurant or anything with food and someone asks for something a certain way, please listen to them and don’t just disregard someone’s order. It’s not funny and it can have serious consequences.

[somethingnottooclever]

I will reblog this with every single story about someone getting sick because of an asshole giving them the opposite of what they ordered until it sinks in for everyone.

[sailornightfury]

Recently on the news a 16 year old boy with a dairy allergy had gone to eat at IHOP with his family. The specifically asked if they could make dairy free pancakes and they said yes. Not too long after he had a reaction and was rushed to the hospital. This kid died because the was dairy in his pancakes that they asked for no dairy. His epi pen that his mother had wasn’t enough to help him. I know working in fast food or any job that’s serves food and beverage sucks but not as much as causing someone to get sick over negligence.

[obstinate-nocturna]

My youngest cousin – who is now five, he just started kindergarten – has Celiac’s disease. You would not BELEIVE the amount of times I’ve heard my aunt say she’s ordered something gluten free, only to watch the waiter or waitress’s eyes go huge when she gives it to my cousin – my cousin with the medical id band on his tiny five year old wrist proclaiming I HAVE CELIACS and have to take it back. Shit like this could kill my cousin. Knock it the fuck off.

[iopele]

I cannot tolerate caffeine–it makes me have chest pain and a racing pulse, and also gives me horrible body pain, so I always ask for decaf if I order coffee when I’m out, and doublecheck with the waiter/ress when they bring it. but instead of saying “is this decaf like I asked for?” I always say “oh, did I remember to order decaf?” I shouldn’t have to act like I’m the forgetful one (because I know damn well I asked for decaf) but it seems to work better than implying that they screwed up when I take the blame on myself like that. and if there’s any hesitation when they answer, I tell them, “if there’s any doubt, please get another one, or just give me water–if this is regular, it’ll mess up my heart” and lots of times when I say that, they look alarmed and go change it or get another one. 

but I shouldn’t HAVE to share my personal medical history with strangers just to get my order right! no one should! how is it their business? it makes me really uncomfortable to have to do that. JUST GIVE PEOPLE WHAT THEY ORDER!

[minnigem]

I’ve reblogged this maaaany times before but there’s a few new stories on here so i’m doing it again.

cut this shit out

[willowfae82]

don’t be that kind of asshole.

[untapdtreasure]

As a diabetic, this would make me so beyond angry. Skinny doesn’t mean they don’t have a life threatening illness. Skinny doesn’t mean they can process sugar the way you do. People that do this are the worst kinds of people. DO NOT DO THIS!

[forgetsuperman]

Me and my family went to a restaurant a few years back and one of the dishes we ordered was made with wine vinegar, which I am allergic to, so we asked the waiter to skip it, and he said sure, no problem, that’s fine. So my food gets to the table, and I start eating and then my throat closes and I can’t breathe and then I start coughing and throwing up right there in the middle of the restaurant and it was very fortunate that I was with my family and they knew what was happening to me. I had to be rushed to the hospital, and admitted, and I came damn near close to having my throat cut open so I could breathe through a whole on my neck. Because they put wine vinegar in my food when I explicitly told them not to, because they were assholes, and I could have died. They probably didn’t mean to hurt me but they did. I missed class, and work, and, again, I COULD HAVE DIED.

[cowthropologist]

i have cyclic vomiting syndrome and can’t tolerate dairy or red meat. violating my dietary restrictions triggers an acute episode, and i have to be hospitalized and given iv saline, ativan, and anti-emetics to stop the (extremely painful and incapacitating) vomiting. if somebody put regular milk instead of soy milk in my latte and i didn’t notice the taste immediately, i could wind up in the er and then spend several days in bed recovering, eating nothing but saltines and dry toast and clear liquids until my body was able to tolerate food again, unable to work or go out or do anything besides rest. whenever i go to starbucks, i WATCH them make my drink. cvs episodes are horrible and i hate them, and i can prevent them if i do everything right, but that means my damn barista has to cooperate. if somebody decided i was a stuck up white girl and gave me whole milk instead of soy they could put me in the hospital and cost me days of income. give ppl the food they fuckin order. it’s not that hard.

[voltspice]

Reblogging because it’s so important. I’m “lucky” I don’t have any food allergies or intolerence, but it makes me mad when people take them not seriously, think you are picky or just following a “white girl diet fad”.

90% of people don’t take my cats and dog allergies seriously when I tell them I’m allergic and wondering if a cat or a dog is present at X place. They think it’s just watery eyes. Nope. Well yeah, watery and itchy eyes, but I start wo wheeze and have trouble breathing. They don’t give epi-pen for those (anyway you have to go to the hospital after) just inhaler. It’s no miracle, specially if I didn’t take other meds before.

When people tell you about their allergies or restriction, trust them!

[40yodater]

Reblogging for all the stories here because this is sooo important! 

I have a severe allergy to gluten and relate to MANY of the stories above. My daughter has a severe allergy to milk fat, and I have had to hold her hair many times while she vomits on the side of the road because we couldn’t even make it home from the “accidental” whole milk instead of skim. 

[greenteamoon]

I’m super lactose intolerant so accidental milk is always fun. Severe diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, and gas like you wouldn’t believe. Better than death you might say but, I have other medical conditions, so that diarrhea could lead to vomiting(it’s so bad the vomit comes out my mouth AND nose) and dehydration that in turn becomes low cortisol and adrenal crisis. A bitchy barista can land me in the hospital with an intramuscular shot and saline iv. Hun, it takes no time to listen and follow my order. It takes me at least 24 hours to get out of the hospital. Be nice.

[cleverclovers]

I’m allergic to pork. Legit allergic. I can’t count how many times I’ve had to ask it off my food only to receive it with bacon or ham or something on it.

Please respect peoples food requests. It costs 0.00$ to not be a dick.

[prismatic-bell]

I actually have customers who say they’ll only eat at my restaurant when I’m there, because they know I require all policy to be followed, as in “I will kick you the fuck off your shift if you skimp,” if someone says the words “I have an allergy.” I developed our allergy policies, for that matter, because what we had in place before was “I guess you shouldn’t change your gloves … . ?” On my shifts your gloves get changed, that line gets wiped down with a new cloth, paper under EVERY ITEM for the person with the allergy, bag their food separately to prevent contact. If there’s a risk of cross-contamination with an allergen, like tomatoes in the guac because stuff spills when you’re moving as fast as we do, I’ll open a new bag of food. I learned the ingredients in every item we serve so I could advise people on hidden allergens (e.g., there’s a small amount of wheat in our beef as a thickener; we fry with safflower oil). We have a grease pencil to mark special builds and I use it liberally on allergy orders. If all of this sounds like overkill, you’ve never watched a child suffer from anaphylaxis. I don’t play around.

Like, I bitch about my job a lot, but food allergies and special needs are not something I will ever bitch about. Even if you’re a complete asshole I won’t risk contaminating your food. (Although people with allergies seem to be way nicer than the general population, I gotta say.) Don’t do it. If someone’s a petty asshole to you, give them too much ice in their drink. Don’t play with their health.

[tired-philosopher]

DO NOT FUCKING SCROLL PAST THIS P L E A S E

[iambloggingthat]

Reblogging this again because it is important. Doing the right thing has no cost but doing the wrong thing can cost a person’s life. Don’t be a dick, give the person what they ordered

[insomniacapples]

I seriously wonder how these people got their jobs in the hospitality industry. Because they teach about the IMPORTANCE of getting special food orders right BECAUSE of things like this! To the point of even getting specified wait staff to handle special food orders solely to prevent mix ups and such.

Like come on! It’s like the VERY FIRST thing we learn when dealing with food and beverages is FOOD HEALTH AND SAFETY?! Just how can you be such a low life that you decide “you know what I want you to suffer for my bad day” and deliberately gives the wrong order?! Just why?! What do you get out of it?! 

Just… DON’T BE A FUCKING ASSHOLE TO ANYONE WITH ALLERGIES AND SPECIAL DIET NEEDS. IT’S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, JUST DO YOUR FUCKING JOB PROPERLY. 

[themissimmortal-deactivated2017]

As a Type 1 diabetic who has constantly been given regular coke instead of diet, I am really appreciative of this post. I am lucky enough to have super sensitive taste buds, so with one sip I know whether a soda is diet or not. Still, others are not so lucky and honestly its so freaking dangerous.

[pixie-skull]

I may not have diabetes yet I will reblog this, for THIS IS IMPORTANT! D= When I take orders at my job, even it is something like asking a customer if they want ice with their water, I check, why because you are not them, and this tiny thing could have huge consequences.

[pastel-elf-aphelion-deactivated]

I rather the taste of diet coke, just rather the taste. Plus, it’s better for me with all my health issues even if I’m not a type 1 diabetic.

[fragile-butterfly-baby1827-blog]

Do not scroll past this please reblog, Lovelies

[d34d404]

Damn pls don’t be such a bitch,just do your job right.

[transmxnfenris]

Always always always reblog

The amount of people who smirk at me when I tell them I’m allergic to capsicum so no peppers or anything please is fucking annoying

Like no listen its not that I can’t handle spice and I’m being silly I WILL LITERALLY HAVE MY THROAT SWELL UP.

[autisticfibromyass]

Fibromyalgia means I’m sensitive to both dairy and gluten. Sure, this really does make me look like a health-fad white girl when I order gluten-free vegan food but🤷🏼‍♀️ I have many times had problems with my food however where I have been given cheese or milk or gluten when I was very clear about my order. We know people make mistakes, it’s okay, but it is your job to be careful when taking someone’s order.

Above all that too, how about we just respect people’s decision to consume what they want? Even with no allergy, just be a decent human being and give the white girl a soy latte like she PAID YOU TO MAKE.

[jenroses]

I get a sore throat when people cut strawberries near me, let alone eating them. The last time I was really exposed in a big way, I asked the waiter if there was any strawberry in the fruit salad, because I couldn’t see any. He assured me there wasn’t. Three bites in and i find one on my fork… ended up with full asthma meds over that one. We were on a cruise so that was super exciting. After that they had me go through ONE waiter only for that kind of thing. We tipped him heavily. When a waiter comes back with “I’m sorry, such and such has wheat” or whatever, I tip them extra. Honestly. More if they bring out a chef or some such. I know I’m complicated. I don’t go out to eat very often. I usually call ahead. And restaurants which expose me to wheat just get taken off the list of restaurants my family can go to.  Mom had a contact allergy to onions and I couldn’t begin to tell you how many restaurants would bring out something with onions on it, get told no, and would take it back and take the onions off and then try to pass it off as new. That shit doesn’t cut it with allergies. Do not. My kid told me he was allergic to peanuts at age 5, and I was like, “Okay, I haven’t seen it, but if you say it makes you feel bad, we can certainly avoid peanuts.”

Fastforward two years and he gets an actual bite of something with peanut in it and breaks out in all over hives that require medical intervention. He reacts to cross contamination. Fortunately his school is proactive and he’s in a peanut free classroom (and was from the start.)

When someone tells you that a food makes them ill? 

LISTEN TO THEM. 

[phoenixwaller]

So I’m going to address something that hasn’t so far been mentioned. And this isn’t a cautionary tale for food workers, nor one for people with existing allergies. No, this is a tale for the people without food allergies who claim to have them when ordering.

The words “I’m allergic to…” and “I don’t like…” are NOT synonymous.

If you’re not allergic, don’t say you are and then order something else with the “allergen” and say it’s ok. 

Ok, now to explain that line. My mother’s a waitress, and several times a week she’ll have somebody order something and tell her to make sure the cooks know to hold an ingredient because they’re allergic (like they make a point of saying they’re allergic), only to have that same person order something else or a side dish later in the meal that has the same ingredient, but in a form that can’t be avoided. When she tells them that the second thing ordered has X, they respond with “oh that’s ok, I just don’t like it.”

That shit causes confusion in the kitchen, and worse, can lead some to not take food allergies seriously

Don’t cry allergy wolf. Leave the words “I’m allergic to…” to people who actually have food allergies. If you just don’t like something then use the proper words, “I don’t like…”

[eifangale-blog]

I work in food service, and let me tell you it is baffling to come out of a training class specifically on food allergies and then have a coworker just... Disregard it all. Ive watched one of my waitresses try the shit about picking an ingredient off. I asked what she was doing to my dish. She responded that the customer had allergies. I told her to give me the dish and id remake it. She tried to argue with me, and I laid into her. Apparently the whole restraunt could hear me dressing her down over some tomatoes, because my manager came back to see what the hell happened that my peaceful ass was so upset.

This is not a joke. This is not funny. This is litterally life or death. Dont be a royal fuck nugget.

[eifangale-blog]

Unknown origins

It was done. there was no turning back. The door to the chamber had been closed and locked by forces beyond their control. Compliance was no longer an option. Jean's team had squabled for nearly an hour on how to divide the them all for the upcoming task, one that could potentially kill half of them, or mate them for life.

As Jean looked about the room, he understood clearly why his comrads were so disorganized. None of them were open about their secondary genders, just as none of them were open about their sexuality. To be anything but a straight beta meant to be ostracized by the world at large, or used without consent. Most preffered to mask their scent and pass as a beta, or live entirely without a romantic partner. Freedom was a luxury only available to those willing to go to extreme lengths to pass in the outside world as average and normal.

"We draw straws." The gentle yet stern voice of their leader cut through the cacophony to gather their attention.

"The options are, we come clean about who we are and be potentially mated for life with a team mate, or we die. you all seem rather insistent on dying, so let's at least be organized about it."

A morbid hush fell on the room. No one was willing to say it so plainly, but they agreed with him. Death was preferable to what waited for them in the other side of honesty.

He looked around the room, searching desperately for someone willing to stand up and fight. Every gaze turned away, downcast in shame at the idea of what they were facing. Jean was the only one who stood his ground.

"Straws are too random. We risk loosing our entire team." Jean's voice shook a bit, nervous that the gentle giant before him would find his idea ridiculous. Or worse yet, his team would toss him into the river as soon as they crossed into the next room.

All eyes turned to him. Some curious, others hopeful, but Jean only had one person he wanted to pay attention. Morticai watched him carefully, his stance and demeanor welcoming. Jean dared to look into those dark chocolate eyes for a moment too long. Was he hopeful, or was that amusement he saw there? Taking a deep breath, he continued in the absence of opposition.

"We split into two groups: dominant personality, and supportive. Each support gives a token to a partner of their choosing. someone they would be ok facing the next challenges with. Dominant can choose to accept or deny and we pair off from there."

Morticai lit up almost instantly with pride and hope. "We are more likely to pair alphas with omegas by accident, and no one has to come clean on their own. It's brilliant Jean, we have a higher chance of survival."

The tension in the room seemed to ramp up as realization hit. before anyone could think twice, morticai had begun sorting their numbers in half. there were ten in total, with five pairs to make. Jean found himself standing on the support half of the room with three of their four women and one other man. He stopped and counted, then recounted. One pair would have to take the ultimate dive for this mission. The gender distribution was off center.

Panic reverberated through the support side, since the initial offers would be theirs to make. Jean gathered his courage and stepped forward. from his bag, he pulled a travel sized can of chips. Giggles rolled in subdued waves behind him at his token choice, but despite their amusement it was a fitting gift from him.

The dominant lineup was impressive, Morticai had chosen all of their heavy hitting brawlers, and he stood dead center to them all. To his right, the teams most fearsome berserker stood with pride squared into her shoulders.

Jean started walking towards her. her chin lifted as if she had anticipated his actions. The set of her jaw suggested she would rather jump from a cliff.

Jean stopped in front of the gap between her and the captain, and he slowly raised the can in his right hand.

"That had better not be for me." she warned in a heavy Russian accent. Jean smiled up at her, pleasant and sweet.

"Don't worry, it's not." he said in a low voice. her eyes shifted from defensive agression, to confusion, then, finally, to understanding. Jean took a deep breath, and held it as he turned his gaze, and his offering to the captain.

Gasps went around the room like a tsunami, and Morticai ignored them, a knowing smile quirked at his lips.

"How did you know?"

Jean reached foreward and grabbed his right hand, placing the snack into the upturned palm.

"Your nails. You keep a specific three on the right hand trimmed shorter than the rest. though they have been getting longer since Damien died." Jean said simply. Morticai's gaze dropped to the thing in his palm, a single tear dropping quietly onto his wrist.

"I accept." He said quietly, and wrapped Jean into a hug that seemed to say more than he could. about the lost comrad, the appreciation for attention to detail, and the bravery and loyalty that Jean showed in that moment.

[eifangale-blog]

More prompts. Because I can't shut my brain off.

I'm checking out at your store with a bunch of random looking items. Except you recognize that I'm building warm boxes for stray cats for the upcoming snowstorm, and you give me pointers on how to make it easier.

I haven't seen you in years, and we don't get along because your an asshole. But you had gotten sick, lost your good looks and made some adjustments to your attitude.

[eifangale-blog]

A character finds their soul mate. All of a sudden, they are incapable of their normally toxic behavior.

Writing prompt

[eifangale-blog]

"What did you do to be downgraded to boyfriend?"

Prompt of the day

[eifangale-blog]

Check Mate!!

Pull out a chess board and challenge a friend. Take notes while you play.

-If a piece is captured, take note of which piece captures which.

-If a piece is at risk of being taken, assign a risk value and take note of how long the piece stays in danger of being captured.

-If a piece has been pinned to another piece, make note of that too. ((Ie, if you move one piece, it will put another at risk simply by moving the first piece. ))

-Make note of how many times you or your opponent manages to take the other by surprise, vs how many predictable moves were made. A good indicator is how fast your opponent takes their next move. A quick movement without hesitation means that you were predictable and they have a plan.

Now take those notes and set them aside for a moment. Pull out your cast of characters for your story. Assign them to a chess piece based on their importance to the story and one another. Now the fun starts.

Go over your notes and compare the chess game to the character assignments. When you see a capture move on the game, assign an appropriate story element that would essentially "remove" a character from the drama. It could be a death or it could be a move away from the other characters. It's all up to your story and what is appropriate for the context.

If you see a piece sitting at risk of being taken, add a story element to reflect that. Suspense is a great way to go. Take an element that would eventually remove the character and draw out the drama according to your risk rating and length of the risk being taken.

If you see a pinned piece noted in the game, choose a risk rating based on the value of the pieces and the length of time it stays pinned. Add a story element that reflects the danger there.

Now pull out the parts about surprises. You guessed it, add a plot twist. So if you have a rook come flying out of nowhere to take your queen, then there should be an appropriate twist in the story.

Keep in mind the value of the pieces and their actions in the game. A pawn moving out of the way to allow a bishop to take your queen can manifest well.

For example. A woman's best friend makes the mild mistake of overlooking red flags about this person she is inviting into their home. The person notices things about the woman and uses that information to sell the woman to a third party that is invoed in human trafficking.  In a chess game that could look like a bishop that moved to accomplish something else, while a pawn moves forward to cover the square that you intend to place a rook into. If the player moving the bishop does not see the setup, they end up in checkmate. If they do see the setup and block it, then the character sees the red flags for herself and manages to narrowly escape being sold into a human trafficking ring.

You can randomize your elements a bit by pulling out a D20 and making lists of events. Plot twists, drama, suspense... Then roll a d20 whenever you need a story element from a certain category based off of the values that you assign to the chess pieces and certain moves. It you don't like a combination, you can reroll part or all of your results until you find inspiration.

This method is great for complex stories that run long. But you can take a particularly interesting snippet of a chess game to inspire your shorter stories.