Overwhelmed by his Hope-notes

One time Puck had wandered into a Baptist ceremony in a small outback chapel. He had been keeping an eye on a poor soul there who was so overwhelmed by his hope-notes that he had the look of a would-be suicide written all over him as well.

But then, with the flash of brilliant consciousness he decided there and then to give himself up to God - and curiously, they dropped right off him, all shedding to the floor. He walked out of that Chapel feeling truly born again with his burdens now gone.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Mortals & Immortals Pin Hopes on People

Puck had pinned many hopes on Brogan from the first. Folk might think that is only an expression, but to the Fey it is a truth that they can see quite visibly.

Mortals and Immortals pin hopes on people everywhere, and some are so cluttered with them, they can look like they are wearing coats. They can even be read.

There are those that are more promissory karmic exchanges, but in the main, they are sentiments from mother to son, friend to friend, or from the public to the famed (and their burden is heavy).

These small spiritual post-it-notes travel all about them: with messages of expectation, desire, wish, want and vision for betterment.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

She Awoke with a Choking Sensation

Marley desperately needed to talk with someone, but
she didn't know whom to turn to.

It was only after she had returned back from the Island that it had dawned on her how unsavoury that time with 'the creature' had been. She would catch herself repeatedly thinking of him.

She soon developed nightmares where he would appear in the dark around midnight, pressing down upon her until she awoke with a choking sensation that left no breath to call out with.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series 

The Lion was Singing Still

The Lion was singing still. But now the song had once more changed. It was more like what we should call a tune, but it was also far wilder. It made you want to run and jump and climb. It made you want to shout. It made you want to rush at other people and either hug them or fight them.

— C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew

Product Placement was Big

Product placement was big. Coke cans and chicken wraps, vending machines - even zeppelins floated by conveying trademarks and slogans branded from the 'real' and very commercial world that was its parent.

Brogan had also wondered where Nervina now was and had gone the opposite direction in looking for him. He came upon a cock fight - which was one of the ways things played out in deciding small defeats - lower level members would use dogs, birds or even wild animals, pitted against each other to the death. The killing took place in small outdoor circular 'theatres' where the matches in the games were held.

There was blood everywhere, and a chicken torn at the throat was running around spurting onlookers from his spraying wound.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

The Empress of China eating a McDonald's Burger, Riding on a Harley

A cold wind passed through that was so strong that he almost fell over. Then came such a loud rumbling, he had taken for thunder, until he saw a tank fast approaching towards him. It was a military tank, painted with bright symbols and fierce emblems.

One of the characteristics of WAR was that not only was identity untraceable, but also time itself - it blended unashamedly time periods from history and myth and combined them altogether.

There you could find an empress of China - eating a McDonald's burger - riding on a Harley; a Marine walking through early Egypt, conversing with the Pharaohs in the marble baths of Thebes.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

A Penchant for the Arts

He had tried to 'sense' where Brogan was now, but the noise around him interrupted his clairvoyance. There was a constant sound of a metallic clinking - like coins dropping, followed by whispers and shouts coming from directions all over.

Every now and then a character would ride or fly by - either pursuing or fleeing another.

Disorientated he moved towards a statue that was standing central to the courtyard. It was extremely tall - about fourteen feet high - and looked to be made of bronze. It was of a man sitting on a world globe that was carved in marble and had the countries of Earth inlaid in gold. Out from his head sprouted two intricate and tall antlers, like those of a deer, or branches of a tree, and they had small, cute cherubim babies hanging from them like fruit, attached by umbilical cords connected to the spikes.

Nervina thought this embellishment was very nice - he had a penchant for the Arts and often enjoyed making his appraisals.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series