Monday, October 15, 2012

WIP Blog Hop: Interview with Jie Yan

From CC member Nadinucca:
The rules are simple: answer these questions about your work in progress, and link others at the bottom so everybody can hop over to meet them.

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Cloverpuff materializes behind a short, lithe figure crouched on a rooftop.  From behind, with long, dark brown hair pinned up, it looks like an older child, or perhaps a young teenager.  Without even looking, the figure reaches back and snatches her up by the ears.

Cloverpuff hangs limp and rolls her eyes.  "Again?"

The person turns around, revealing an Asian girl who has not quite grown into womanhood.  She has sharp features and slightly tapered ears, betraying a hint of elf blood.  Her almond-shaped eyes narrow as she locks her gaze on Cloverpuff. She speaks in a whisper, even as her eyes begin to scan the roof line.  "Was that you talking?"

Cloverpuff lowers her voice.  "Yes.  Can you put me down now?  You're hurting my ears."

The girl sets Cloverpuff, not really paying heed to the rabbit while her eyes dart back and forth.  At last, she looks down, brow furrowed as Cloverpuff looks on expectantly.  "It really was you talking, wasn't it?  Not a ghost echo?"


"No um... ghost echo.  Yes, I get that all the time.  I came looking for you after Tian Zheng kept mentioning your name, Jie."
"He mentioned my name?"  A smile flits across the Jie's face before her forehead crinkles up again.


"Yes, he kept saying that you were playing a trick on him."
Jie frowns. "It wouldn't be the first time.  He may not be as gullible as when he first came to the Temple way back when, but it's not like I can't fool him when I want to.  So who are you?"

"I am a reporter, interviewing heroes and villains.   I assume you are a hero.  For the record, what is your name?"
Jie raises an eyebrow.  "A reporter? Is that like, a town crier?"

"Not exactly. I collect information--"
Jie's eyes light up.  "Oh, then we are kindred spirits.  My name is Jie Yan."

"Oh, a Chinese name."
"Huh?  Never heard of that.  It's a name in the language of Cathay.  In your language, my given name means Pure.  Maybe not exactly appropriate."  She grins, mischief sparkling in her eyes.   "My family name... well, it comes from the Master of the Black Lotus Temple who adopted me."

"Adopted?"
Jie's grin twists into a frown.  "Yes, my human mother died in childbirth, and my elf father was too busy with his adventures to be burdened by a baby.  He left me at the gates of the Temple when I was still a baby."

"Sorry to hear that, it must hurt."
" Not really, I have no memory of it.  I consider myself lucky to grow up the way I did."

"Anyway, I'd like to ask a few more questions. What were you doing when I came in?"
"I was stalking an enemy general."

"If I told you you had to do some spring cleaning right away, what would you throw out?"

"I have a magic pouch that has almost unlimited capacity.  I don't have to throw anything away."
 
"Look deep into my eyes... Do you have any secrets you'd like to confess?"
Jie rolls her eyes.  "What, are you trying Swaying Eyes of the Snake?  You're not very good at it, and won't get any secrets out of me like that."


"What?  No, no technique.  Just trying to learn a little more about you."

Jie winks.  "Well, I guess there's no harm in telling a bunny, because you're not going to tell anyone else, right?"

"...."
 "So you met Tian already.  I am hopelessly in love with him.  I have no idea how it happened, but all I know is that every time my eyes meet his, my heart skips a beat.  If he so much as touches my hand"


"Oh, that's sweet.  Does he know?"
Jie rolls her eyes again.  "I am sure that deep down inside, he does.  But he cares more about his work than personal feelings.  To him, I am just a little sister... even if I'm 9 years older than he is!"

"Nine years older?  You barely look 12!"
Jie puts her hands on her hips.  "Right?  That's what elf blood does for you."


"If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?"
"The aforementioned elf blood.  I am 30 years old, but still look like an adolescent.  Which is great if you don't want to be taken seriously, not so great if you want to be treated like an adult."


"And what do you like most about yourself?"
Jie grins and does a duck-face.  "What's not to like?  But if anything more than others, the fact that I can fight as well as any man, if not better."


"Is there anyone you really, really hate? Come on, you can tell me!"

"My father.  I never met him, but just the fact that he abandoned me.  Well, if I do meet him, I might hug him.... just so I can put a knife between his ribs."

"Imagine it's a typical Saturday afternoon. What are you doing?"

"Saturday?  What is that?"

"You know, a day off."
"There are no days off for a Black-Fist spy."

"I've heard that line before.  So, what's your strongest childhood memory? It can be good or bad."

"As children, we played games to improve our memory of details.  Once, my Master left something out of place, and when I went to investigate, I came across the strangest of arrowheads.  It was crystalline, with silver impurities veining in regular intervals through it.  When I picked it up, it felt warm in my hand; but then my Master yelled at me.  I think it's the only time he ever yelled at me."

"Well, thank you for your time! Before I head on back to my dimension, can you complete this sentence for me?  If I could be a domestic appliance, any appliance, I'd be a..."
"Domestic Appliance?  Is that one of those kinky toys you find in the Floating World?  If so, then I would be--"



"Hopping right along.  Now I'm going to visit:
Freddy Terra from Shane Jeffrey's The Park 
Robert from Nadine Deharbe's Serving Time 

1 comment:

  1. Ha! Jie with a duck face. Oh man, I could totally picture that. LOL. I don't blame her for hating her father. That no good... Anyway, I hope she puts that arrowhead to some good someday. ;)

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