It's an interesting experience, smoking a cig. The whole ordeal actually.

The jingle of change and keys as you dig your pack from your pocket. The smooth box, flip the top, orderly perfection awaiting. Pack to mouth, lips to cig, the pull, like drawing your weapon for battle, the sword sliding from its sheath.

Hand snakes down, returning your arsenal to its storage. Hand swaps pack for lighter, smooth plastic topped with a catch.

The shift in weight, free hand covering the powder as you light the wick for your musket. Fingers roll over cold metal, catching on the tiny tracks, pulling the flame forth.

The fire touches. The first breath, assuring the flame catches. The ember flares as you release the flame back to its container. Lighter pocketed. Dominate hand up, to hold steady, for the first feel good drag.

And then the bullets fired. The brain triggers. You blink. The world freezes for a moment, but freezes you with it. And then a haze, kicked back from behind your ears.

For a moment your mind clouds. And then, exhale. The world bursts. Time speeds up. Everything dull is sharp, everything dim is bright. Your heart ticks to the beat of the world around you.

And then inhale, to drag the haze and chase it away again.

Instinctively after the second puff, your hand drops. Wrist tightened. Jaw ticks. A quick flick. And in a world so much smaller than your own ash plumes into the sky, followed by the bright glow of light as air touches the ember.

The fog chokes the battlefield. Hot metal rains. You miss chance once, coughing the acrid death away from you.

And then your fingers feel heated, the battle over. One last bullet flies, making sure the enemy is fled. A pinch, between thumb and middle finger. Pent energy bursts, and your one battle weapon flies from you.

A few breaths, the first few looking for the haze, expecting the bullets to come flying by. But it's gone. Gone.


I have 1 hour and 8 minutes until my next battle.

So are you going to war for the sake of war, or can you not avoid the battle? (The writing is beautiful, don't let my question fool you)

Heh, after THIS war... I hope you get ready for the next war: the Battle with Cancer.

Props on this.

This is directed towards Alto, but I'm sure Lantis can take something away from this as well.

I guess you can say I'm thoroughly addicted to war. Even though the battles avoidable, I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Even at the price of your own life? (assuming the most extreme scenario)

I liked this one a lot.

@Jay - You honestly asking me that one right now?

well, I know the answer... and it's selfish to those who love you.

Lol, if I cared to look for the statistics I could show you the percents and possible ways I can die far before cancer takes me....

But I know your argument for that. And I feel it's sufficient to say that currently smoking focuses me enough in my life right now to allow me to not only make it through things, but to be happy as well (not saying smoking makes me happy, I'm saying smoking helps keep my head out of the clouds).

This is a perfect example of short term and long term gratifications. I was lucky to keep my father as long as I have... but soon he's not going to be around anymore. Not able to support my mother, and leaving behind in his wake much pain for his family and loved ones just so that earlier in his life he could say in some vague way that it helps him though things that he could have very well managed without having to smoke.

Yes, you could die other ways (driving accedent or whatever), but that doesn't mean you should use other forms of death as a crutch to validate this one.

Typically I'm an apathetic individual when it comes to attacks on my lifestyle. But when it's a friend that does said "attacking" it itches me the wrong way.

I could go ahead and say that at least I don't over load my life with stress like you do and therefore am missing out on that added risk of a heart attack.

I could point out that at least I have the guts to actually make a decision and live my life. But I won't tack anything on to that one.

And I could also say that while your care is appreciated you approach, as usual, is lame, and usually rife with your own personal feelings. Feelings that are not in regard to an actual concern for me, but for your own personal mistakes and misgivings.

Ty and have a nice day. I'm currently talking to you on gmail anyways.

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To everyone else in their various forms. Thank you for reading the disclaimer and either appreciating the written piece or ignoring it

His approach may be lame, but his reasoning is valid. There's a reason most of the people I know who smoked when they were younger tell you to never start, I'd say quit now while you still can without causing too much bodily harm It's your life and your body though. There's just more healthier calming methods than smoking cigarettes, so don't fool yourself with that logic. Cigarette/cigar smoking I don't have a problem with if you just smoke tobacco. That's a life choice, if you also smoke all the poisons, tar, and nicotine that get put into the cigarettes with them, that's when I have a problem. But once again, it's your life, but if the people you care about(not me, mind you) are telling you to look at other options.....

Interesting and very well-written piece, congrats. ^^

About the topic at hand, meh. I don't think I could say anything more important than what's been said by all the people close to you who are probably telling you to stop all the time. I disapprove of addiction. Harming oneself is never a good idea, really.

I love how you called it an ordeal, it makes sense if you consider the addiction part, the loved one's harassing part, the bad for the health part.....yup, definitely an ordeal.

I especially like how you compared smoking to a battle in war, a spot-on comparison actually, but I'm sure it was done intentionally.

As for smoking being bad for your body.......EVERYTHING is 'bad' for your body. It doesn't matter what you do or don't do, there is always a possibility for anyone to die in any way. The atmosphere that we live in today can be just as harmful as any poisons that we put in our bodies.

Its good to let people know how you feel about their 'not so good habits', but there is a boundary one would eventually cross, and once crossed, can evolve into just plain nagging.

If you are a smoker, then I'm sure you are aware of the risks. If your not, please don't act like you have been excluded from the risks.

It is selfish to try to extend someone else's life for your own financial or emotional security (either directly relative to you or indirectly by referring to the effect that one's negative behavior has on your loved one(s)) and especially to use guilt to try to persuade them is very selfish.

I am selfish for stating my piece.

Selfishness is not a persuasive argument when it doesn't appeal to criteria that the audience doesn't value.

as technically bitchy as that point is...it's still a valid point....even if I personally wouldn't want to use it...even in my own defense.