content: add monoceros (novel)

content/stories/nanowrimo/emma-the-narwhal.md

@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+---
+title: "Emma the Narwhal"
+date: 2024-12-01
+tags:
+- nanowrimo
+- "monoceros (novel)"
+- "emma the narwhal"
+---
+
+**Summary:** Emma the narwhal. April paused. For the first time in a long, long while, she saw it. In her mind's eye, she could see Emma's entire life, from her first narwhal date to her first beaching to her first narwhal war.
+
+Holy shit. This was a *banger* of an idea. Who knew that a strange fish in a coffee shop would give her the laxatives she needed?
+
+<!-- more -->
+
+---
+
+April almost made it four pages into Jane Austen's *Emma* before her mind wandered off back to Thailand where they had sessions to watch pineapples grow in real time that were more interesting than trying to follow Emma's ramblings.
+
+She sighed, putting the book back on the shelf. If only Emma was like a narwhal, swimming in the skies, going on adventures to save the ocean from those toxic humans — maybe then it'd be a more interesting story.
+
+Emma the narwhal. She paused. For the first time in a long, long while, she saw it. In her mind's eye, she could see Emma's entire life, from her first narwhal date to her first beaching to her first narwhal war.
+
+Holy shit. This was a *banger* of an idea. Who knew that a strange fish in a coffee shop would give her the laxatives she needed?
+
+---
+
+*Emma sailed across the Herculean Sea, her tusk dipping in and out of the clouds flowing around her.*
+
+No, that was too ambiguous. 
+
+*Emma the narwhal, freshly orphaned by the death of her parents in a tragic accident involving the betrayal of her best sky narwhal friend, moped around the Sea of Clouds.* 
+
+Too much fantasy. Also it spoiled the entire plot, and April couldn't have that, oh no, certainly not. 
+
+*Once upon a time, in a sky far far away...* 
+
+---
+
+"It's only ten thousand gold," Emma insisted. "Come on, please?" She batted her eyelids this time. 
+
+"I'm sorry, miss," the bank teller said. "I can't make an exception for you, no matter who your mother is. Now, I must ask that you leave the premises." He lowered his tusk at them, marking the end of the discussion.
+
+But Emma wasn't done with him yet, absolutely not. She had ten thousand gold in her bank account and she was not about to be swindled by some rainbow-headed narwhal with his head below the clouds. 
+
+Harriet nudged Emma's side before she could raise more objections. "It's not worth it, Emma. We'll find another way to get your treasure." She side-eyed the teller. "Mister Kingsley might know something." 
+
+Emma huffed, but followed Harriet back to their sky-cave. "What a dingus." 
+
+"I mean, you're four years old and definitely look it. But yeah. Fuck that guy." 
+
+---
+
+And thus Emma and Harriet returned home to their sky caves, scheming under the faint rays of sun that seeped past the clouds around them.
+
+"What are we looking for, Emma?" said Harriet.
+
+Emma consulted the will once more. It was frustratingly unclear. What could "Chase the light that pierced the clouds" possibly mean? The sun was the only light she could imagine, and the sun went through every cloud.
+
+Emma knew her parents had a fun sense of humour, but she thought they knew that there was a time and place. At least they could have told her what the reward was, just in case she didn't want to spend her teenage years chasing the gold at the end of the rainbow. She could stay in her cushy office job, pushing her cushy little buttons, and not risk a single thing. She was comfortable.
+
+---
+
+"I don't know who you are anymore," Emma whispered. "Harriet, how long did you hide this from me? From my parents?"
+
+Harriet chortled, a strange, unnatural sound that Emma had never heard from her best friend before. "Oh, Emma, dear, did you really think *no one* knew about their will? Where there's a will, there's a way. For people to find out about the money."
+
+---
+
+"All of those years. Was it all for nothing? Was it ever real?" Emma said in a daze, floating without any real direction, letting the wind current take her as it pleased.
+
+Harriet prodded her from behind. "Keep swimming. That's right, Emma. I never loved you one bit," she spat. "You should have listened to Lan. He was trying to warn you, you know." Her eyes glittered. "But you never listened. Pushed him away, even. He was protected when he was close to you. We couldn't touch him. But you...all I had to do was plant the smallest seed of doubt in your mind and you nurtured it, let it grow until it towered over any feelings you might have had for that boy," she crowed.
+
+"What have I done?" Emma whispered.
+
+---
+
+The end of the journey was nearly here. Emma the narwhal had escaped her captor's grasp, betrayed and cast aside once she was no longer needed like her parents before her, and built her way back up in the underground. She was hardened. She was rugged. She wasn't the old Emma anymore. No, there was no light left for her in this world. The shadows of the criminal empire she'd created after overthrowing shark kingpin Jesse Pinkfong could not match the darkness in her heart.
+
+She'd killed Harriet herself. She almost couldn't believe Emma had ever been captured by Harriet and her motley band of mercenaries. It had been downright easy to kill off every single one of them one by one.
+
+The way Harriet had screamed, begged,* pleaded *with her when she'd had her brought before her had almost caused her to chuckle. She'd sawed off Harriet's tusk herself.
+
+She had been at the peak of her revenge. Her enemies sortied, her power absolute, she was on top of the world. The earth bowed to her, her destiny manifest.
+
+Yet no matter how high she rose, no matter how much influence she wielded — it could never bring the old Emma back. She had died when the hope had faded from her eyes long, long ago, and all that was left was a hollow monster puppeting her body. She was not Emma any longer. That name did not belong to her.
+
+Although she was not Emma, perhaps she could fulfill some of the girl's dreams, in her honour. In memory of the narwhal who loved the world but the world did not love back, she would move heaven and earth for her.
+
+She would bring to the narwhal race a new order. She would be christened…
+
+Skyler, Monarch of the Sky Narwhals.

content/stories/shorts/glorious-pain.md

@@ -2,15 +2,17 @@
 title: Glorious Pain
 date: "2024-11-22"
 tags:
-- birdseye
+  - birdseye
-- nanowrimo
+  - nanowrimo
-- featured
+  - featured
 ---
 
 **Summary:** Liz, Archie, Sialia, and William J. Swainson watch a human who insists that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And, well, who wouldn't want to be stronger?
 
 <!-- more -->
 
+---
+
 Good morning to you, child, Sialia, Mr. Swainson. Shall we start the day?
 
 "Why, but of course. Are you all prepared for human-watching? Have you everything you need?"
@@ -25,13 +27,13 @@ What accessible architecture! The highs and tumbles all mesh together beautifull
 
 Let us listen in, then. What an angry woman, pulling her friend close to her like that. That other man might be getting a little too close to them for comfort.
 
-"Get your hands off of him! How *dare* you insult him like that? Do you know what he's been through?"
+"Get your hands off of him! How _dare_ you insult him like that? Do you know what he's been through?"
 
 "Woah, dude. Take a chill pill. I didn't even touch your friend there. I just called him out for being rich. Y'know, got his whole life sorted out before the age of ten by his parents and all that. You don't gotta act like I slept with your mom last night."
 
 "Um, Sera, it's okay. Isn't this a bit of an overreaction…?"
 
-"No! Absolutely not, Leo. If anything, I can't believe that you aren't reacting more! How can you let him say that to you? You lived in poverty since you were three. You scrimped and saved and worked as hard as you could just so you could feed both yourself and your family while going to school. *You deserve nice things.* It's okay to want for things."
+"No! Absolutely not, Leo. If anything, I can't believe that you aren't reacting more! How can you let him say that to you? You lived in poverty since you were three. You scrimped and saved and worked as hard as you could just so you could feed both yourself and your family while going to school. _You deserve nice things._ It's okay to want for things."
 
 "Damn, man. I didn't know you had a backstory like that. Sorry, bro."
 
@@ -39,9 +41,9 @@ Let us listen in, then. What an angry woman, pulling her friend close to her lik
 
 "Come on, Sera. I'm sure he didn't mean any harm. People are staring. Let's just go."
 
-"Hmph. You value yourself *way* too little. This world is full of injustices. I just want to see you succeed, Leo."
+"Hmph. You value yourself _way_ too little. This world is full of injustices. I just want to see you succeed, Leo."
 
-I daresay that this might be the most interesting human yet, this *Sera*. A blunt and direct person, isn't she? Let us follow these two as they leave the malls.
+I daresay that this might be the most interesting human yet, this _Sera_. A blunt and direct person, isn't she? Let us follow these two as they leave the malls.
 
 "Seraphina!" A new girl.
 
@@ -49,7 +51,7 @@ I daresay that this might be the most interesting human yet, this *Sera*. A blun
 
 "Heya. Great to meet you!"
 
-"Nice to meet you too, Leo. Seraphi — sorry, I mean, *Sera*, I was gonna go shopping with Phoebe today. Wanna join us?"
+"Nice to meet you too, Leo. Seraphi — sorry, I mean, _Sera_, I was gonna go shopping with Phoebe today. Wanna join us?"
 
 Out of all of the noses I've seen, Sera's nose is up there for most expressive. That wrinkling is remarkably clear, even to birds such as myself.
 
@@ -95,41 +97,41 @@ For now, let us find a nice open window to eavesdrop from. Oh! Actually, we can
 
 It's going to be difficult to squeeze by them. Shall we head to the window to continue their conversation?
 
-"…and then I told my mom, so she was like, 'Do you need a new one?' And of *course* I'm not gonna say no to a new phone, right? Sera, is something wrong? You've been kinda smug this whole time. I know that we've had our disagreements sometimes, but *surely* you're over it now?"
+"…and then I told my mom, so she was like, 'Do you need a new one?' And of _course_ I'm not gonna say no to a new phone, right? Sera, is something wrong? You've been kinda smug this whole time. I know that we've had our disagreements sometimes, but _surely_ you're over it now?"
 
-"Oh, but of course. How could our *little princess* here be troubled? *Everything* must end up perfectly for her. Oh, the horror? How could you possibly be bothered by something as trivial as *disagreements?* 'No,' she says, 'look at me! I'm so perfect and smart and pretty and I have so many friends!' Even though you haven't done a single *damn* thing to deserve it. Acting so high and mighty like that — it disgusts me."
+"Oh, but of course. How could our _little princess_ here be troubled? _Everything_ must end up perfectly for her. Oh, the horror? How could you possibly be bothered by something as trivial as _disagreements?_ 'No,' she says, 'look at me! I'm so perfect and smart and pretty and I have so many friends!' Even though you haven't done a single _damn_ thing to deserve it. Acting so high and mighty like that — it disgusts me."
 
 "What are you on about? Did I do something to you?"
 
-" *'Did I do something to you,'* she asks. More like what you *didn't* do. *You're* probably just here because you're Amara's friend. Honestly, I don't know what she sees in you. Have you ever been grateful for anything or worked a *single* day of hard work in your entire life?"
+" _'Did I do something to you,'_ she asks. More like what you _didn't_ do. _You're_ probably just here because you're Amara's friend. Honestly, I don't know what she sees in you. Have you ever been grateful for anything or worked a _single_ day of hard work in your entire life?"
 
 "Hey! Don't mock me. Look, I don't know what your problem is, but this is getting out of hand."
 
-*"My* problem is that *you* don't realise just how good you've got it while you brag about all of the *nice things* you have to other people. Actually *good* other people, unlike you. See Amara here? She *chooses* to be kind even though she's experienced first-hand how cruel the world is. She lost the bright, innocent spark in the eyes of her childhood when her parents died, when *no one* wanted to help her, and when her closest friend betrayed her. Yet *still —* still she has ten times the heart that you do."
+_"My_ problem is that _you_ don't realise just how good you've got it while you brag about all of the _nice things_ you have to other people. Actually _good_ other people, unlike you. See Amara here? She _chooses_ to be kind even though she's experienced first-hand how cruel the world is. She lost the bright, innocent spark in the eyes of her childhood when her parents died, when _no one_ wanted to help her, and when her closest friend betrayed her. Yet _still —_ still she has ten times the heart that you do."
 
-"Sera, *please* calm down…"
+"Sera, _please_ calm down…"
 
 What a proud human. But strangely…not for herself. She's proud of the people around her. Quite refreshing. I'd say that I've rather had enough of the usual narcissists. And, if I may say, with rather strong, correct opinions too. Listen closely to every word she says, child. There is much you can take from her insights.
 
-"I will *not* calm down, Amara! How can you possibly be so calm when there's someone like *her* right in front of you, spouting things off like she knows everything?"
+"I will _not_ calm down, Amara! How can you possibly be so calm when there's someone like _her_ right in front of you, spouting things off like she knows everything?"
 
 "I'm just a normal girl, Sera. It's not that big of a deal."
 
-"Have you seen her *house*, Amara? She practically lives in a mansion. Her whole life, she's never had to worry about food, about having a roof over her head, about if she'll be alive tomorrow. And now she *dares* enter into your lives without even a single sacrifice?"
+"Have you seen her _house_, Amara? She practically lives in a mansion. Her whole life, she's never had to worry about food, about having a roof over her head, about if she'll be alive tomorrow. And now she _dares_ enter into your lives without even a single sacrifice?"
 
-All excellent points. Child, no matter how old you may be, you will remain a child in my eyes until you suffer true hardship. Learn that there is no free lunch in this world. Learn that if you truly want something, you need to *work* for it. If you don't work for it, you won't get it. It's as simple as that.
+All excellent points. Child, no matter how old you may be, you will remain a child in my eyes until you suffer true hardship. Learn that there is no free lunch in this world. Learn that if you truly want something, you need to _work_ for it. If you don't work for it, you won't get it. It's as simple as that.
 
 There is no sense believing that all of the puzzle pieces will align one day, and suddenly everything will fall into place. That's at best a fantasy that should be relegated to stories. How can you possibly be happy if you've never been truly sad? How can you recognise success if you've never failed?
 
-…Respectfully, *William*, I must disagree. Life is nothing without suffering. If one does not suffer, they cannot understand how other people who truly *do* suffer feel. Those who experience more suffering are objectively better. Not knowing that only means that you have not experienced enough to understand the incredibly large range of emotions and experiences one can go through. I'd recommend going out and travelling more.
+…Respectfully, _William_, I must disagree. Life is nothing without suffering. If one does not suffer, they cannot understand how other people who truly _do_ suffer feel. Those who experience more suffering are objectively better. Not knowing that only means that you have not experienced enough to understand the incredibly large range of emotions and experiences one can go through. I'd recommend going out and travelling more.
 
-"Woah, woah! What's going on here? Ladies, ladies, calm down! It's a birthday party — let's not get too aggressive." Oh, go away, new boy. Don't break up the debate *now*. It was just starting to get interesting!
+"Woah, woah! What's going on here? Ladies, ladies, calm down! It's a birthday party — let's not get too aggressive." Oh, go away, new boy. Don't break up the debate _now_. It was just starting to get interesting!
 
-"Even if you're the birthday boy, Ethan, this isn't something I can back down on. Look, Phoebe. If Amara has her own reasons why she keeps you around, fine. I'll respect that. But why should you, someone who's been sheltered all their life by *mommy* and *daddy*, knowing nothing but their love, never having to worry about food or shelter or survival be here over someone like Leo?"
+"Even if you're the birthday boy, Ethan, this isn't something I can back down on. Look, Phoebe. If Amara has her own reasons why she keeps you around, fine. I'll respect that. But why should you, someone who's been sheltered all their life by _mommy_ and _daddy_, knowing nothing but their love, never having to worry about food or shelter or survival be here over someone like Leo?"
 
-"I gotta say, Sera, I'm on Phoebe's side here. It's not *wrong* to be normal. In fact, I think that normal people are great! I love normal people. I feel like it'd be better if people *didn't* have to go through things just to have nice things, y'know?"
+"I gotta say, Sera, I'm on Phoebe's side here. It's not _wrong_ to be normal. In fact, I think that normal people are great! I love normal people. I feel like it'd be better if people _didn't_ have to go through things just to have nice things, y'know?"
 
-"Huh? That makes no sense. What about all of the people who *do* go through things? How is that fair? I disagree with my parents on a lot of things, but being grateful for what you have is something that we both share an opinion on."
+"Huh? That makes no sense. What about all of the people who _do_ go through things? How is that fair? I disagree with my parents on a lot of things, but being grateful for what you have is something that we both share an opinion on."
 
 "Why would you ever want to want to bring people down?"
 
@@ -137,7 +139,7 @@ There is no sense believing that all of the puzzle pieces will align one day, an
 
 "I get trying to lift up people in pain, Sera. I do. But why would you ever want to push down happy people? I don't think that life is transactional like that. Phoebe and I equally don't deserve to get murdered."
 
-"I agree. *Murder* might be a stretch. But it's not equal. Things should be equal. Why aren't they equal?"
+"I agree. _Murder_ might be a stretch. But it's not equal. Things should be equal. Why aren't they equal?"
 
 "If you really want to have this conversation, why don't we have it in the room over there?"
 
@@ -145,27 +147,27 @@ There is no sense believing that all of the puzzle pieces will align one day, an
 
 "Oh my god, Sera. Why are you such a drama queen?"
 
-"Ex*cuse* me? How am *I* the drama queen? What about you? You chose to defend Phoebe by *yourself.*"
+"Ex*cuse* me? How am _I_ the drama queen? What about you? You chose to defend Phoebe by _yourself._"
 
 "Sera, I like you a lot, I really do — I might reconsider after this conversation though, depending on how it goes — but you gotta come back down from your outlandish opinions, girl."
 
 "All of the people you've talked to, Ethan and me and Chelsea and Ken and the many, many more I'm sure I don't know, we're all really grateful that you're so understanding toward us. But — well, I don't want to assume, but for me personally — I don't want to be treated differently. I just want what happened to go away. I'd rather not talk about it, y'know?"
 
-"Why not? It should be a badge of honour. You should totally share it! You'd be way cooler to other people. Dark and brooding. *So* interesting."
+"Why not? It should be a badge of honour. You should totally share it! You'd be way cooler to other people. Dark and brooding. _So_ interesting."
 
 "…Is this how you thought the entire time?"
 
 "Duh? I don't know why you're trying to stop me, Amara. You're all the way up there with so many more worldly experiences and perspectives, but I'm just here trying to get us lowly peasants up there so we can understand you better. It's hard to do that when you keep pushing us back down."
 
-"Oh, Sera. Please tell me you're kidding. I didn't — there's no way you could possibly be *below* me. It's…it's not helpful. At all. All I want is to just be a normal person in a normal world. That's it. You don't need to be that person for me. Don't — don't hurt yourself doing that. It's not healthy. And it's never worth it."
+"Oh, Sera. Please tell me you're kidding. I didn't — there's no way you could possibly be _below_ me. It's…it's not helpful. At all. All I want is to just be a normal person in a normal world. That's it. You don't need to be that person for me. Don't — don't hurt yourself doing that. It's not healthy. And it's never worth it."
 
 "There is no such thing as normal in this world. Everyone has their perspective, their side, their story. Everyone is different."
 
-"Oh, no. Trust me. There is *absolutely* a normal. And I strived for that for *so very long*, Sera. Way before I met you. Please trust me when I say that no one wants to experience trauma. It's *never* a good thing."
+"Oh, no. Trust me. There is _absolutely_ a normal. And I strived for that for _so very long_, Sera. Way before I met you. Please trust me when I say that no one wants to experience trauma. It's _never_ a good thing."
 
-"You're telling me that what I've been through wasn't *real* trauma? When I asked my dad to shove my head underwater for fifteen seconds? When I asked George to tie me up against a board for a few hours? Drat. Maybe I should poison myself instead, that might have a stronger lasting impact…"
+"You're telling me that what I've been through wasn't _real_ trauma? When I asked my dad to shove my head underwater for fifteen seconds? When I asked George to tie me up against a board for a few hours? Drat. Maybe I should poison myself instead, that might have a stronger lasting impact…"
 
-"You did *what??"*
+"You did _what??"_
 
 "Oh, whew. You didn't know. Thank god. I thought it wasn't gonna count and I'd have to pull out all the stops to join the cool kids club."
 
@@ -185,7 +187,7 @@ There is no sense believing that all of the puzzle pieces will align one day, an
 
 "She taught me that I have a lot of room to improve. Not as much as you, Phoebe, but there is still a great distance between me and her."
 
-"Er… That's not *bad*, I think. So why was making an expression like she wanted to vomit?"
+"Er… That's not _bad_, I think. So why was making an expression like she wanted to vomit?"
 
 "Oh, y'know. People with checkered pasts often relapse into it, they get sad after something reminds them of it, and it's a true journey and a clear example of humans thriving through adversity that lets them overcome it. I'm really impressed by how she handled it, myself."
 
@@ -203,7 +205,7 @@ To hurt is to live. How can one possibly know happiness if they are never sad? H
 
 Ah, another sane human.
 
-"Eh. Lucas, you don't count. You're not even at my level, let alone *them*. Glad you have the right mindset though. If you listen to me, you'll be able to understand the world more. Understand people more. And how could that possibly be a bad thing? I simply want people to broaden their perspective."
+"Eh. Lucas, you don't count. You're not even at my level, let alone _them_. Glad you have the right mindset though. If you listen to me, you'll be able to understand the world more. Understand people more. And how could that possibly be a bad thing? I simply want people to broaden their perspective."
 
 The other girl returns.
 
@@ -225,25 +227,25 @@ Hey. These are Sera's friends, aren't they? Why aren't they sticking up for her?
 
 "You should be grateful that you even have the opportunity to go to such a frivolous event. When I was your age, I was already married and working, not fooling around and spending lavishly on snacks and treats. Consider yourself lucky."
 
-"You keep telling me over and over again. I *get* it, ma. Unlike some other people."
+"You keep telling me over and over again. I _get_ it, ma. Unlike some other people."
 
 "Oh, sweetie. I know. There's not much you can do about it if they really don't want to change. You have to be willing to look at the flaws inside you, and it seems like these people just don't want to do that. It's a shame that there are so many like them out in the world."
 
 "I told one of them that they should broaden their perspective and be more considerate, and she almost punched me!"
 
-"Hmph. Ungrateful rats. Their parents must have been too protective of them. Didn't want them to get their hands dirty in the real world. Probably only went to the *sanitised* plastic playgrounds. No, they were the ones *sanitising* the playgrounds."
+"Hmph. Ungrateful rats. Their parents must have been too protective of them. Didn't want them to get their hands dirty in the real world. Probably only went to the _sanitised_ plastic playgrounds. No, they were the ones _sanitising_ the playgrounds."
 
 "They gotta be."
 
 ---
 
-Sialia, I know that *you* never wanted kids, but Mr. Swainson, I cannot believe you. I thought that as a fine, distinguished gentleman, you would have had the orthodox mentality that one must experience as many things in life as possible. This is an impossibility.
+Sialia, I know that _you_ never wanted kids, but Mr. Swainson, I cannot believe you. I thought that as a fine, distinguished gentleman, you would have had the orthodox mentality that one must experience as many things in life as possible. This is an impossibility.
 
 "Elizabeth, let me be frank. I have seen enough of the world, and I would rather my children not have to see the parts that they do not need to see. There are some things better left unsaid."
 
 You are much too protective.
 
-"There are things that birds *should not* experience. It would be incredibly traumatic and have a terrible effect on their mental health."
+"There are things that birds _should not_ experience. It would be incredibly traumatic and have a terrible effect on their mental health."
 
 Mental health? What are you talking about? Birds can function perfectly fine no matter what Garuda throws at them. It's how we thrive as a species. Why, my eldest daughter flew straight into a travelling car's windshield and she values her life all the more for it. I myself tried the same — with a slower car, to minimise the risk of injury — and found myself with a greater appreciation with the world.
 
@@ -255,7 +257,7 @@ To understand her and the experience. How could you be so aghast about this?
 
 If one never hurts, how can one love? Emotions are relative. A bird with the emotional range as wide as a feather will never feel true, unadulterated joy. Birds — and humans for that matter — have to hurt sometimes.
 
-That is what pain is — a reflection of happiness. Pain *helps* us feel happy, Sialia, Mr. Swainson. It is a very good thing.
+That is what pain is — a reflection of happiness. Pain _helps_ us feel happy, Sialia, Mr. Swainson. It is a very good thing.
 
 "Elizabeth. Let me ask you this. I understand that it may be difficult to change your mind —"
 
@@ -265,11 +267,11 @@ Absolutely.
 
 No! Didn't you hear a single word I said?
 
-"Liz, I almost forgot to bring this up because of all the other crazy philosophical stuff you went on, but let me remind you that Juliette is *not okay.* I have no doubt that if you asked her, she would agree in a heartbeat to not have had her beak crushed in. She didn't and still doesn't *want* that memory, Liz. Pain is something Garuda blessed us with so that we know what to avoid."
+"Liz, I almost forgot to bring this up because of all the other crazy philosophical stuff you went on, but let me remind you that Juliette is _not okay._ I have no doubt that if you asked her, she would agree in a heartbeat to not have had her beak crushed in. She didn't and still doesn't _want_ that memory, Liz. Pain is something Garuda blessed us with so that we know what to avoid."
 
 She can absolutely have memories that she'd rather not have but still are better for her in the long run. Children never want to do work around the nest, but you would still encourage them to do that, wouldn't you?
 
-"That's what I'm trying to say. It's *not* better for her in the long run. I can't believe I have to explain to you why making your children do chores is not at all comparable to She's deathly afraid of any moving object now. Don't you know that that's why she stopped human-watching with you? Why she avoids flying? Why she moved to Florida? She's so afraid that she never wants to experience anything like that again. She barely talks to the other birds, Liz. When was the last time you visited her?"
+"That's what I'm trying to say. It's _not_ better for her in the long run. I can't believe I have to explain to you why making your children do chores is not at all comparable to She's deathly afraid of any moving object now. Don't you know that that's why she stopped human-watching with you? Why she avoids flying? Why she moved to Florida? She's so afraid that she never wants to experience anything like that again. She barely talks to the other birds, Liz. When was the last time you visited her?"
 
 I… It must have been nearly three years now. I was not aware of this. Regardless, if she tries harder, she can overcome any obstacle. Give it some more time and she will surely rise up to the occasion and rise through the ashes like a phoenix to her new self. Stronger than ever before.
 

data/tagInfo.ts

@@ -66,5 +66,14 @@ export const tagInfo: Record<string, TagData> = {
     name: "Featured",
     description: "Works that are less rambly and more actually good!",
   },
+  "monoceros (novel)": {
+    name: "Monoceros (novel)",
+    description: "A coffee shop where six students meet and become friends.",
+  },
+  "emma the narwhal": {
+    name: "Emma the Narwhal",
+    description:
+      'A mystery-betrayal story April writes in <a href="/tags/stories/monoceros (novel)"><em>Monoceros</em> (novel)</a>.',
+  },
 };
 export default tagInfo;