LaPorte Caves

Thanks Circes! It's only a short scene with a few images. I'll let you have a look at it first for your approval before thinking about posting on the thread here.

circes_cup wrote: Monty, do me a favor and label it as “inspired by....” or “an extension of....” or something else that clarifies its relationship to the original story. The reason for that is mostly to help the reader reconcile any plot conflicts: I have several chapters yet to write before we can call this story done, and I’m revising the earlier stuff, so there is a good chance that your story and mine won’t mesh perfectly. Maybe I’m the only person that cares about plots meshing, but I do actually care about it.

I feel like I may be one of the critics, but I also hope you don't change it too much. I've gone back and re-read parts of it and I find my reaction is quite different depending on which character I choose to empathize and identify with at the time. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you can resolve the plot while staying true to the characters, I think you've really created a great story.

A short scene inspired by circes_cup’s brilliant work on La Porte Caves.


“Well, what do you think…?”




Howard looked up as Julia emerged from their bedroom in her Halloween costume. He chuckled “I love the supergirl outfit, very apt!”

It was good to be back home, back on Earth, back to ‘normality’. All of Julia’s superstrength had long since drained from her body, but she was more than happy (as was Howard) with her now slim, toned physique the Nourishment had left her with. She occasionally pined for those muscles, that body, those huge breasts, the Strength that would elevate her far beyond every human being here on earth. All just a sip away…if she wanted, but she knew her Howie wouldn’t approve. Unbeknownst to her boyfriend, Julia had carried gallons of the Nourishment single-handedly through the caves in a half-ton vat after yet another argument in the Weald. It had been stored in the loft, out of the way, out of reach, out of temptation…Perhaps…

“Are you ready to go, Julia?” as Howard waited impatiently in the car.

“Yes…ok dear, I’ll be right there. I’ll just fetch some more punch for the party”

“Julia! We’re now running late!”

“Sorry dear” as she opened the door, “I just wanted to bring an extra bottle.”

Howard’s younger brother Mark and his girlfriend were hosting the party which was in full swing when the couple arrived.

”Hey bro! Hi Julia! Where have you both been? We haven’t seen you for ages!”

“Ummm…we’ve both been on an extended hiking vacation” murmured Howard.

Julia giggled into her petite hand, Howard tutted.

Mark had been a good football player at college, working his way through a scholarship and at 6’ 2”, he was proud of his ‘strong’ physique. Howard’s brother towered above Julia flexing his arms by his side in his batman costume.

“I see you’ve lost a bit of weight with all the hiking Julia! Nice costume by the way, but you don’t look that super, Jules” chided Howard’s brother.

“Oh?....Really?” Julia replied as she made her way to the drinks table.

Howard sighed, if only his younger brother knew of the past misadventures he had worked through with his girlfriend.

“I’ve brought our own drinks with us, would you like to try some?” as she poured the first bottle knowingly and handed a glass to Mark. Mark looked at the glass with the strange liquid and sipped at the drink in his hand.

“UGH!” as he spat it out it. “That tastes gross Julia! What the hell is it?”

‘Glug, glug, glugglu…’

“Mmmmm” she closed her eyes and tilted her head back as she licked her lips.
“I think it tastes wonderful Mark! Don’t you agree?”

Mark looked on, mouth agape in disbelief as Julia’s arms began to burst at the very seams of her costume, those arms began to swell as she flexed her now huge super-enhanced Nourished muscles, her modest chest stretched out against the expanding ‘S’ on her costume. She soon towered above little Mark.



One finger of Julia's hand reached down to lift Howard’s brother off the floor...

“Great to see MY juice in action isn’t it Mark? Believe me, I am far way beyond what you termed ‘super’ now!”

“I didn’t think it would do much for you though” as she lowered him effortlessly to whisper in his ear.

“Would any of the ladies here care for a sip of my Punch?”

Howard’s head fell into his hands, ‘Oh no, Julia…’

Woodclaw wrote: Well, the story is certainly a very nice vignette with a smooth execution. I can see this being an "alternate reality" of sort to the main LaPorte storyline.

Putting it right next to the main story it gives me the creeps though. Considering how addictive the Nourishment is, Julia spinking the punch with it is a terrifying perspective.

Hi Woodclaw. The short short isn't 'right next to the main story'. If it was, it would be in the library, and not the story comments section where lots of interesting comments and ideas have been posted about circes's thought-provoking work. I had the short take of the vignette in my head for several months, but never got it down and posted here until I cleared the take with circes through pm's and e-mails.

Yes, when Woodclaw said “gives me the creeps”, I think he has saying it as a reader wondering what happens when this stuff gets into a punchbowl, not as an admin objecting to the presence of the story. Regardless, I’m fine with it.

Monty, thanks for offering up this fun little vignette. It’s got a light, tongue-in-cheeck feeling very similar to SteveTheZ’s stuff.... like “aw, gosh darn it, we just altered the fate of humanity”. I feel like I’ve seen other stories of yours, and liked them, but when I went back a few minutes ago, I couldn’t find any in the library. In any event, I hope you keep writing.

For those that wish to know, I’ve spent lots of time — too much time — trying to rework and finish LPC. I certainly haven’t forgotten about it. I have no idea when I’ll be posting more. You’ll know as soon as I do.

Circes

Any more images from Lowerbase to tide us over?

Pepper wrote: Any more images from Lowerbase to tide us over?

Just posted two images to my DeviantArt account. Check them out!

Hey, Circe! Hope all is well. Just wanted to check in on you. How are things coming along?

jnw550 wrote: Hey, Circe! Hope all is well. Just wanted to check in on you. How are things coming along?

Very slow. Real life has gotten in the way. But thanks for asking. Glad there is still interest out there.

Completely understand. Thanks for replying!

circes_cup wrote: Glad there is still interest out there.

Oh, yes. I've noticed a few recent comments to some earlier chapters on deviantart, and the latest picture. Thanks for those. I find it interesting that the story started off as something of a lark. You've certainly set up a fascinating world and relationships; I thought you'd have had more of an endgame in mind.

You offered once to share access to the online drafts, is that still an option? I suspect that might slow you down even further; seems like addressing all the feedback is one of the things that's taking so long.

Pepper wrote:

circes_cup wrote: Glad there is still interest out there.

Oh, yes. I've noticed a few recent comments to some earlier chapters on deviantart, and the latest picture. Thanks for those. I find it interesting that the story started off as something of a lark. You've certainly set up a fascinating world and relationships; I thought you'd have had more of an endgame in mind.

You offered once to share access to the online drafts, is that still an option? I suspect that might slow you down even further; seems like addressing all the feedback is one of the things that's taking so long.

Pepper, thanks for the note. I’ll send you a PM to discuss access to the drafts..

I noticed something with the latest picture on deviantart. All the images of the women in this world have the hair rather carefree or disheveled. Mostly that's understandable; they're either Mindy or Amanda, young girls who'd be quite carefree, or for Ruth and Julia they're on vacation or just completed some physical activity. The only picture that's in a professional setting is the doctor, but she also has wisps of hair hanging down on either side of her face.

I'm wondering how much of that is deliberate. Either it's meant to show that the women there are so naturally advantaged that they needn't put any effort into their look, or just the preference of the artist and illustrator. Sometimes a well-done coif can have a certain aristocratic elegance; pretty, but also reinforcing their elevated status. Not sure how it would work with lowerbase's style, though. Loose hair, even in a still picture, carries a hint of movement and lightness. A more formal 'do might just wind up looking like a helmet.

Hello circes_cup,

May I please trouble you for any news you may wish to share with those of us that truly enjoy and appreciate your awesome LaPorte Caves saga?

Best Regards,
STX

RevTekkX wrote: Hello circes_cup,

May I please trouble you for any news you may wish to share with those of us that truly enjoy and appreciate your awesome LaPorte Caves saga?

Best Regards,
STX

STX, 

It’s no trouble.  I do continue to chip away at it.  But the story is bigger than I ever intended it to be.  I don’t have the time or the skills to tacke such a big story, so it’s taking longer than I’d like.  

But nonetheles, I do enjoy what progreess I make.  There are so many incomplete stories and little vignettes out ther, it’s enjoyable to be working on something that (one day) will be both big and complete.

In the meantime, I can offer up another excellent rendering by Lowerbase, which also happens to be an actual scene from the story.  I’ll also put this on DA during the weekend.

Thanks again for the inquiry.

Cheeers!
Circes

Another excellent rendering by Lowerbase, which also happens to be another scene from the story!  It will go up on DA sometime soon as well.

circes_cup wrote: STX, 

It’s no trouble.  I do continue to chip away at it.  But the story is bigger than I ever intended it to be.  I don’t have the time or the skills to tacke such a big story, so it’s taking longer than I’d like.  

But nonetheles, I do enjoy what progreess I make.  There are so many incomplete stories and little vignettes out ther, it’s enjoyable to be working on something that (one day) will be both big and complete.

In the meantime, I can offer up another excellent rendering by Lowerbase, which also happens to be an actual scene from the story.  I’ll also put this on DA during the weekend.

Thanks again for the inquiry.

Cheeers!
Circes

You know, if you want us to stop bothering you for updates, you're going about it all wrong. Think Pavlov; if you post a new picture every time someone bumps this thread to ask "how's it coming", it's not really going to discourage us from asking.

circes_cup wrote: Another excellent rendering by Lowerbase, which also happens to be another scene from the story!  It will go up on DA sometime soon as well.

Great picture! It's lucky for Howard he hit the swamp and not those craggy rocks far below!

ETA Going to go find the boulder chapter to read again - Great Work Circes! 

Woodclaw wrote: I really like this picture. I'm sure if it's s trick of my mind, but I love that the various characters look a bit different in terms of size and structure. Julia looks a lot less imposing than Ruth and more homely, yet mature, than Mindy.

This was during the phase of the story after Julia had nourished, but while she was still discovering her new self and feeling a bit self-conscious about it. Either Lowerbase is capturing that well, or your knowledge of the story is leading you to project that onto the characters. It will be interesting to see if the pictures capture Julia's increased confidence once she goes fully native (if the images continue that far).

Pepper wrote:

Woodclaw wrote: I really like this picture. I'm sure if it's s trick of my mind, but I love that the various characters look a bit different in terms of size and structure. Julia looks a lot less imposing than Ruth and more homely, yet mature, than Mindy.

This was during the phase of the story after Julia had nourished, but while she was still discovering her new self and feeling a bit self-conscious about it. Either Lowerbase is capturing that well, or your knowledge of the story is leading you to project that onto the characters. It will be interesting to see if the pictures capture Julia's increased confidence once she goes fully native (if the images continue that far).

... like in the car lifting scene when the poor guy would have to carry all the shopping after his Nourished teen daughters had moved the house....another great scene!