Sunday Snippet: Seeing Red

May is shaping up to be a weird month. I'm feeling kind of rushed but at the same time like I'm bogged down in mud. I think that's a sign that big change is coming and I'm not always as go with the flow as I'd like to be. We'll see what the summer brings.

Work projects are in a good place. I finished up a proofread and only have a few random changes to check. Also moved a copy edit off my plate. I'm continuing work on a design proofread and started a manuscript proofread over the weekend. I have a client call this week on a memoir and a developmental edit I'm returning to after a bit of a break. All in all, shaping up to be a busy week.

Hoping to put in some work on my sorely neglected website to get things moving on one of the side hustles I've been working on for a long time. I'm putting this in writing as a motivator!

Had a really good viewing week. I got through my full slate of shows and got one of my back-burner ones in also.

Started out with finishing up Foyle's War and thoroughly enjoyed the episode. I'm not sure I actually got to see this one during my original run through.

Also caught another episode of Brokenwood Mysteries. Ended up really enjoying this one also. Very fun to see some previous characters return.

Watched an episode of Silent Witness and I love that Jack is considering teaching. That could end up being fun to watch. Also love his interactions with Kat.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. Poor Hastings has had a run of bad luck with his investments. Very fun to see Poirot not enjoy his health retreat until the mystery starts.

Elementary had another great episode. Season five has been very enjoyable with the cast gelling in a great way. Loved the guy getting his comeuppance because he couldn't resist leaving the country for a hockey match.

Watched another episode of Young Justice and I ended up really enjoying how the team worked together even while completely blowing their original mission.

Caught the season four premier of Star Trek: Lower Decks and enjoyed every moment. Fun to see the growth of the characters and also fun to see so many callbacks to other Trek shows.

Hit an episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. Really felt for Alex and Carrie. And I also really loved Will changing his mind about the case with the sisters. Then again, if he'd listened to Alex in the first place he wouldn't have had to.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Seeing Red, a novella that puts a couple with superpowers in a tricky situation that forces them to examine their feelings.

Here's the miniblurb:

Vesta Crock can't stand tension, and a major meta-human uprising puts everyone on edge. Jones Blaylock becomes her target for a series of supposedly fun pranks, but when a fellow member of their team gets injured, Jones sees red and that's not a good thing for the firestarter.

And a preview snippet…

By the third day of mixed-team training, Jones still didn't have his head wrapped around his situation with Vesta. "The timing is terrible." And wouldn't get any better.

Stan had the helm and ran simulations. Vesta bucked orders twice—arguing the scenes were too far off the grid. She made her point on the first throw down, getting up in Stan's grill.

But Jones stepped in on the second before Stan lost his shit. "Vesta, take five. Now."

She glared but walked off the floor.

Jones had to cut through the tension between them from the other night. Right. Exactly how to do that he hadn't figured out. Be nice if I had a guidebook or something.

He gave her five full minutes before he confronted her. "Look, we have to work every possibility. You know this. Why are you making it difficult?" And making his life problematic at the same time.

Vesta opened with a blazing volley. "Because this is stupid. You have two elite teams of meta-humans who've gone through the same training. At this point, we'll either have our shit together or we don't. Running endless sims accomplishes nothing other than having two groups get on each other's nerves." She paused a moment. "And with no outside downtime, it's like holding a match to a powder keg." She met his gaze. "Don't be shocked when it blows." Planting her hands on her hips, frustration and anger rolled off her in waves.

Jones blinked. Her righteous fury took his breath away and made his blood surge in his veins. He had to get a handle on his reaction to her. After he put her firmly in her place.

He leaned in close to her. "Look, it's a team-building exercise. Get your ass back over there and participate or forget about being in on the takedown." Which meant even longer in lockdown.

Vesta snarled. "Fine. But this is a waste of everyone's time." She stalked back to the floor and took point for the next simulation.

After the confrontation, Jones clasped the metal railing with an iron grip. He didn't notice his reaction, but Stan did. Jones heated the steel rod Stan had his elbows resting on.

Stan jerked upright. "Damn, man. You're gonna melt that if you're not careful." He rubbed at his chafed skin.

Jones winced and apologized. "Yeah, sorry. I need a minute." He got ready to leave, unsettled over the slip.

Stan grunted. "Yeah, don't blame you for losing control around your loud-mouthed hotheaded team member." He moved to the console and loaded up the next run through.

Jones didn't reply but the insult irritated him. Vesta could absolutely be a pain in the ass. Kind of came with the territory of having superpowers. But she didn't have a lock on the top spot.

And Stan definitely pushed the limit on repetitive scenarios. Something Jones would mention during their one-on-one debrief after the day's work. Right now, he needed a walk around the facility to cool off.

And figure out how to not heat up everything he came in contact with.

Having fun with this one. Vesta and Jones can be volatile, and their situation is a powder keg.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye