Sunday Snippet: Man Up

The work project abundance continues. I'm plugging along and chiseling away at the four current projects I have on my plate—two copy edits, a proofread, and a developmental edit are the main events. I also have a set of revisions to review and a read through to start. It's chaotic but also … fun? I love that everything I'm working on right now is so different. Not one of the manuscripts is similar to the other ones.

As usual, totally unhinged weather in Ohio. It's cold. It's hot. It's both in one day. Rain, sun, gloomy clouds, and hey, a chance for more snow. I did get lucky and had a mostly clear night for the recent blood moon eclipse, which was amazing to watch. Being a night owl comes in very hand sometimes.

Had a limited viewing schedule this week, mainly because I needed to focus on the words in the manuscripts. I did get a few things watched. I might have to give binge watching something for background noise a go for the next few weeks.

Finished up Beyond Paradise and thoroughly enjoyed the first season finale. They packed so much into this episode. The case, Humph and Archie fight, more shenanigans from the Chief Super, Esther and Hump bonding, Margo being Margo, Kelby being Kelby, and of course, the crew from Death in Paradise at the end. I can't wait to watch the first holiday episode this week!

Caught an episode of Elementary and quite enjoyed it. Interesting interactions between the consulting trio and the police duo and twisty bits thrown in to keep things rolling.

Enjoyed an episode of Batman Beyond. It's one I definitely remembered and liked during my first watch of this series.

Watched an episode of Classic Rugrats and actually remember this one, which is odd because most of the ninth season has been new-to-me stuff.

Started an episode of London Kills, the opener to the fourth season. I had to stop partway through because I need to pay attention and this isn't the week for me to do that.

Also binged a marathon of Peter Gunn on one of the live PlexTV channels. I've been hitting Plex up for a lot of viewing fare lately and I might end up using it over the next several weeks for background noise. Stay tuned.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Man Up, a novella that brings a couple together when they compete to see who can outdo who.

Here's the miniblurb:

Hattie Hale and Nero Palmer, instructors at the Academy of Light, are supposed to set the example, but can't quite get past their competitive natures. A drunken game of one-ups-manship goes all the way to the sleeping chamber because neither will admit to being outdone.

And a preview snippet…

Hattie wished she could sip her mug of coffee slowly, but she always inhaled the first blast of caffeine of the day. "Right, then. I'm ready for a refill. You can talk now." She reached for the carafe and filled her mug while carefully watching him through her lashes.

She had to give the guy props. He'd kept up with her last night and didn't seem too bad off. In fact, he appeared to be doing just fine. A notch of respect ticked up for him.

Nero's chin lifted. "Ground rules? Let's start there." He propped an ankle on his knee. "We need some surprises because we know each other's strengths and weaknesses in the classroom."

Hattie blinked. "Wow. You've given this some thought, haven't you?" She didn't care how they competed because her main goal had been to … what had been the original point?

Right. She kind of wanted to test the waters and see if anything developed between them. But … she didn't want to be obvious.

Nero arched his brows. "Why wouldn't I? You issued a challenge and, well, it could be fun to compete for something other than test grades." He nodded toward the pot on the ottoman. "Mind if I have more? The coffee really is excellent."

Hattie's lips twitched. "Can I count that as a win?" She scooted the carafe closer to him.

Nero laughed. "Why not? I have to concede it's better than anything I've ever brewed." He refilled his mug and shook his head.

An idea popped into her mind. "Okay. Let's make one of our ground rules competing in nonmagickal areas." She had a couple of super-secret recipes she could pull out and blow his mind with.

Nero pondered for a moment. "Yeah. I'm down with that. Like a mix of magick we don't use in the classroom and regular, everyday stuff." Sipping from the mug, he watched her over the rim of the cup.

Hattie hid a smirk. "All right. I'll cook dinner tonight. You can cook tomorrow. Monday … well, we'll see how it goes. We can use it as a tiebreaker if we need to." Warming up to the plan, she made another suggestion. "For something magickal, I think we should try something with runes. Set a ward and see if the other can break it." She loved puzzles.

Nero tilted his head. "Yeah, okay. For nonmagickal, I'm thinking darts? I have a board in my shed. We could go best two out of three." He paused a moment. "For something with magick, how about layered hexes? We'll start at the same time and see who finishes first?"

Hattie added a stipulation. "Somewhere neutral for the runes and hexes. That way neither of us has an advantage over the other." She flashed a smile. "I'm not worried about the darts. Two out of three makes it fair." Settling back, she sipped more coffee.

Nero set his empty cup on the ottoman. "I think we're good to go. Like you said, we can use Monday if we need tiebreakers for anything." He made to stand up.

Hattie held up a hand. "Hold up a minute. I'm already one ahead of you with the coffee. I think we should switch nights. You cook tonight and I'll cook tomorrow." She had to give him a shot at keeping things even.

Nero narrowed his gaze again. "You need to get groceries, don't you?" The sly twist to his lips gave away his teasing.

She snorted. "No, but I was thinking we could maybe get the dart game out of the way after dinner." Mainly because she wanted to see him in his own space to get some ideas for the layered hexes.

Nero shrugged. "Let's say seven for dinner." He got up and started for the door. "Don't be late."

She grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it. See you then."

Having a lot of fun with this one. Competing as a get to know each other outside of their professional setting is a hoot to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Man Up

Hope everyone had a terrific US holiday and a terrific week if not in the US. I got to spend time with my oldest and youngest kiddos and enjoyed being able to do so. I think I have two more gifts and maybe some odds and ends to pick up and I'm done with holiday shopping. Fairly pleased to be a little ahead of my usual last-minute rush.

Had a good week of television viewing. I watched another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. This show continues to make me so happy.

Got a two-part Silent Witness watched. This is one I didn't remember and I'm glad I got to watch it.

Got a full arc of Classic Who in and started a new one. I've discovered a couple of episodes were almost an hour in this season, which is actually kind of cool.

Started a new series with Mysteries of Apollo and the first episode focused on the Apollo 13 mission and some of the in-depth history of that experience.

Began season five of The Muppet Show and watched four episodes. Gene Kelly, Loretta Swit, Joan Baez, and Shirley Bassey were the guest hosts. Final season of the original.

Caught two episodes of Fantasy Island and I'm still thoroughly enjoying the show. I think I have one left in this first season and I'll look forward to the holiday episode.

Started season six of Peak Practice. Great episode that moved the timeline ahead a little. Being at the halfway mark of the entire run is a nice accomplishment.

Enjoyed another lesson of MasterClass with Brandon McMillan. Some great tips on housebreaking that I hope to put into effect after I get my downstairs area organized.

Season two of Glitch started out with an interesting twist. This show is very twisty and turny and I like that. Looking forward to getting more information on how everything works and finding out if Sarah is another one of the risen. If so, poor James. Two women in his life? That's a lot.

Remember when I thought I finished the first season of Star Trek: Discovery? Yeah, not the case. I had two more episodes. Watched the penultimate this week and, wow, what a mix of highs and lows. This show. Just saying.

Started season three of Chicago Med. I like how they moved the timeline ahead and seeing where everyone ended up. Conor breaks my heart. April breaks my heart. Wil and Nat make me happy. The horrible new surgical resident irritates the life out of me. So far, so good. LOL

Watched another episode of The Madame Blanc Mysteries. I really love the dynamic of this show and the mystery this week ended up being terrific. Also love the overarching mystery of who killed Jean's husband. Interesting show.

That's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Man Up, a fun tale of a game going too far in exactly the right way.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Hattie Hale and Nero Palmer, instructors at the Academy of Light, are supposed to set the example, but can't quite get past their competitive natures. A drunken game of one-ups-manship goes all the way to the sleeping chamber because neither will admit to being outdone.

And a preview snippet…

Around noon on Saturday, Nero stood outside Hattie's door. "I'm crazy to do this." But he wouldn't welsh on a bet.

He knocked and when no one answered he rapped on the wood again. Moments later, a thud sounded from inside and a scrape of metal against wood followed by a string of curses echoed behind the window.

Hattie pulled the door open, looking worse for the wear. "What the hell, Nero. Why are you here?" She squinted against the sunlight streaming through the trees.

He gave harsh exhale. "Did we really agree to having a one-upsmanship contest last night?" Maybe she'd forgotten.

Hattie winced. "Ugh. You're here at the asscrack of dawn to ask me that?" She ran a hand through her tangled hair.

Nero quirked a brow. "It's after noon, Hats. If we're doing this, we've got until Tuesday since we're on school holiday Monday." Seventy-two hours or so to figure out who really ruled.

She rolled her eyes. "Fine." She stepped back and swept her arm out, inviting him in. "But don't say another word until I get caffeinated." Shuffling across the floor, she headed for her kitchen.

He followed her inside and scoped out her living space. Surprisingly tidy and orderly, except for a chair bumped up against the coffee table. No doubt the source for the earlier commotion and swearing.

Why he thought her home would be mass chaos he couldn't honestly say. Okay, he'd admit having preconceived notions because she rarely if ever invited anyone into her personal space. And the way she ran her classes, with unbridled enthusiasm and raucous abandon fed into his perception.

He huffed out a breath. "Might have to alter the perspective a little."

She strolled back into the living room, carrying a huge mug of coffee in each hand. "Didn't know if you'd want some…" Reaching out, she lifted one of the cups.

Nero accepted the java. "Thank you. I probably don't need it, but I love a good cup of coffee." He took a sip and blinked in surprise. "Wow … this is excellent."

She toasted him. "Thanks." Settling on the couch, she tucked her feet under her thighs. "You might as well sit. I don't plan to move from this spot until the pot is empty." A flick of her wrist conjured a carafe onto the ottoman between the couch and two chairs.

Nero chose a chair and leaned against the cushion. "Okay, you don't have to move until the coffee is gone, but you only have until your first cup is empty for quiet time." He arched a brow, daring her to argue.

She narrowed her eyes but inclined her head.

Nero considered he'd won the first round and added a point to his win column.

I love the dynamic between Nero and Hattie. This is such a fun story to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Man Up

Man, what a week. Sixty-one degrees one day and twenty-two the next. Ohio is crazypants sometimes. Yesterday, it snowed and, since it's the first significant accumulation we've had this winter, everyone forgot how to get around in the white stuff. It is rather nice it waited until the weekend. Monday's commute should go smoother. LOL

Had a light viewing week for television shows. Caught another episode of Underbelly: Razor. I thoroughly enjoy getting a feel for Australia in the twenties. It's a very different vibe from Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and I like that.

Also caught another episode of Babylon 5. I've also been tuning into Comet occasionally to catch up there also. Also got to finally catch The Flash's 100th episode. Gotta say, the messing with the timeline gives me a headache. I'm invested in the characters though so I'll keep watching.

Watched the second part of Blade's pilot episode. I liked this series when it aired but never got to watch it all the way through in order. I'm looking forward to having the chance now.

Started season fourteen of Midsomer Murders. The changing of the guard from Barnaby one to Barnaby two is fun to watch. I didn't get to see that episode in its original run.

I'm almost finished with season one of Pensacola Wings of Gold. In all honesty, I'm not sure I'll stick it out for the other two or three seasons. It sometimes irritates me when they scrap an entire cast and almost start over.

Caught another episode of Lexx. I really forgot how cornball some of the series ended up being. Still… it's a great nostalgia thing. Back when Syfy was SciFi and I watched the channel almost exclusively. I miss those days.

Tried to watch Gotham's fifth season premiere and my app decided to crap out. Not sure what the problem was so I'll try again later this week.

And that's it for television. Tonight's post is from Man Up, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of write a scene where a drunken game of one-upmanship goes all the way because neither character can admit being outdone and put a stop to it.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Hattie Hale and Nero Palmer, instructors at the Academy of Light, are supposed to set the example, but can't quite get past their competitive natures. A drunken game of one-ups-manship goes all the way to the sleeping chamber because neither will admit to being outdone.

And a preview snippet…

I can't believe I said he has an awesome brain. To his face.

Hattie blamed her loose tongue on the alcohol. The thing with Stiltskin… inhibitions often flew out the window. Her rivalry with Nero, if she had to be honest, fueled her creativity and charged her up in ways she didn't want to examine too closely. He featured as the counterpoint in almost all of her personal and professional idea sessions.

And, okay, if pressed… she'd admit he played a role in some of her fantasies. Probably more than a healthy amount allowed. But, seriously, she couldn't control the dreams in her head.

Nero quirked a brow. "Should I be scared?" He drained his glass again.

Hattie tilted her head to one side. "About what?" Did she miss something? A question or comment?

Nero poured again. "Whatever's going through your mind right now."

She laughed. Oh, man, if he only knew. And, hey… did he just pull ahead of her on shots? She couldn't have that. In fact… a brilliant thought presented itself.

She quickly downed her glassful. "It depends on how daring you want to be." If she could get him to go along with her plan, they'd discover once and for all who ruled the AoL.

Nero narrowed his eyes. "I'm definitely terrified then." He leaned back in his seat. "But go on then… spill it."

She gave him a wide grin. "You and I are going to have a contest, we'll both man up so to speak."

Nero pursed his lips for a long moment then nodded. "Okay. I'm in. But we're definitely having some ground rules."

Hattie raised her glass. "Here's to finding out who has the most talent."

Nero smirked. "May the best man win." He tapped her glass, tilted his head back, and drank the shot.

Oh, Nero… you have no idea what you're in for.

I love where this one is going. I'm at a place where I need to plot out the rest of the scenes and nail the climax, no pun intended.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Man Up

Finally, a fairly lovely week. The weather took a turn for the better with mild temperatures and some sun.

Gotta say The Magicians finale shocked and surprised me. Loved it! The premiere of The Hunters has me intrigued so I'll continue watching to see how things pan out. No episode of Bitten this week, unless I missed the US viewing night. I've seen the next to last episode and some big twisty-turns I didn't expect.

Agents of SHIELD had a great episode. I have to give Brett Dalton credit for being so good at playing truly creepy. He's got the chops to pull it off.

Legends of Tomorrow also had another great episode. And finally, looks like we'll have a new / another villain. Glad to see the potential there.

Loving Wynonna Earp. I'm all caught up and really excited about the potential for this series. Still need to watch the first three episodes of Banshee, which I'm hoping to do later tonight. Also started a new ITV drama, Marcella, and so far, really like it. One of my favorite actors is starring so I'll be glued no matter what. LOL

And finally, I'm getting back into X Company, an excellent Canadian drama about WWII. Loving the second season so far.

And that's it for television this week.

Tonight's post is from Man Up, a novella built around the prompt of "a drunken game of one-upmanship goes all the way"

Here's the mini-blurb:

Hattie Hale and Nero Palmer, instructors at the Academy of Light, are supposed to set the example, but can't quite get past their competitive natures. A drunken game of one-ups-manship goes all the way to the sleeping chamber because neither will admit to being outdone.

And a preview snippet…

I must have a death wish. Why else would he accept the gauntlet Hattie had thrown down?

Entering the Scholar, the oldest, still in business bar in the community closest to the campus, Nero quickly scanned the surroundings and zeroed in on a corner booth. With a jerk of his head indicating his intent, he made a beeline for the empty spot. Hattie followed, hot on his heels. He had no doubt she'd already conjured up an order the moment they'd walked inside.

Sure enough, a bottle of Stiltskin's Gold Label and two rocks glasses held court in the center of the table. He slid in on one side of the booth and waited for Hattie to settle in across from him.

Eyeing the alcohol, he quirked an eyebrow. "Gold Label? Really?" He wanted to wash the bitter aftertaste of the tie away, not drink himself into a coma.

Hattie smirked. "Why not? We need something strong to counteract the stench of loser, right?" Tapping two fingers on the bottle, she dispersed the first round.

Nero lifted a shoulder. "Loser is a bit harsh, don't you think?" He sipped the smooth blend, waiting for after burn to kick in.

Because it always did. The family recipe obtained legendary status, the amber liquid lulling unsuspecting drinkers into a false sense of security before the alcohol bared its teeth, its fangs releasing a hot trail of venom that kicked hard and fast deep in the gut.

Hattie tossed back her drink and gave a three count before blowing out a harsh exhale. "Whew! Yeah, that'll burn through anything." She flicked her finger against the bottle again and shot a grin Nero's way. "You gonna keep up or what?" She brought the glass to her lips again.

Nero snorted. "Don't you worry about me. I'll get my fair share." He drained the contents and refilled.

Slow and steady won the race and if Hattie opted for fast and loose, he'd definitely drink her under the table. She talked a big game but he had yet to see anyone handle top shelf Stiltskin by rapidly consuming it. A small smile played about his lips.

Hattie narrowed her gaze. "What's going through that awesome brain of yours?" She blinked and corrected. "I mean twisted brain. Yeah, that's it." She drained her glass again.

Nero grinned but didn't comment on her slip. "Nothing complicated, Hattie. I'm having an internal debate about how long you can last slamming back the Stiltskin the way you are." He finished off his drink and refilled.

Hattie swirled her finger in a circle then jabbed it in his direction. "You just wait and see, Nero. I'm gonna blow your mind."

He gave her a level look but didn't reply. Mainly because he had a sneaking suspicion betting against her would be a mistake of epic proportions.

And, not being stupid, he wouldn't take a chance on losing.

Again.

Nero's a smart guy. Not betting against Hattie is a very wise move. Doesn't mean he won't get sucked into trying to outdo her though. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Man Up

Holy jeezits. Arrow blew my mind this week. My twitter feed was full of a bunch of not so great comments, but I loved, loved, loved everything about fourteen. And episode fifteen is supposed to be filled with even more bad-assery. And Bitten just keeps getting better and better. I seriously can't wait each week for the next episode. My fingers, and all other appendages, are crossed for a second season. Also read about the Flash pilot being filmed. Currently, that's the show I'm most looking forward to for next season.

I've also been enjoying seeing Jamie Bamber on my screen in The Smoke. He's so good at roles he can sink his teeth into, and playing Kev definitely gives him room to flex his acting chops. J

Tonight's post is from Man Up, a fantasy novella where my main characters are tied for the top honors at the Academy of Light and aren't happy about it.

Here's the tagline:

Hattie Hale and Nero Palmer, instructors at the Academy of Light, are supposed to set the example, but can't quite get past their competitive natures. A drunken game of one-ups-manship goes all the way to the sleeping chamber because neither will admit to being outdone.

And a preview snippet…

Hattie made a mad dash for the Preceptor's office. She had to get to the grade sheets for finals before Nero. Her class would be at the top of the list this term. They had to be.

She'd worked her cadets hard and they'd really come through for her.

Hattie's lips curved upward in a smile. Nothing like a little one-upsmanship to light a fire under a student's ass. Competing with Nero made being an instructor at the Academy of Light way more fun than it should be.

She stopped outside the door of Amblewood's office and blew out a calming breath. She knocked twice then entered when no response came forth. Ambly wouldn't care if she took a quick glance at the scores.

Rifling around on the desk, she found the folder containing the compilation of each class. She dug out hers and Nero's and dropped the folder on the desk. Holding the two charts side by side, her face fell.

She made a low growling sound. "No effing way."

"Did my class beat yours?"

Startled, Hattie's head whipped around. Nero stood with one shoulder propped against the door jamb, a sly smile on his face.

At least she'd get to remove the smug look. "Nope." She shoved the papers in his direction. "We tied."

His mouth dropped open. "What?" He snatched the pages and gave them a quick glance. "The AoL hasn't had two classes with the same score for finals in over a decade." He strode across the small office and slapped the grade sheets on top of the folder. "A draw. That's just… stupid."

Hattie couldn't agree more. "I know, right? Look at the breakdown. We go practically every other spot." She straightened the notes and pointed to the first line item. "See, my group kicked your ass in levitation." Her extra attention with several students paid off there. "But you top honors in conjuring."

He leaned over her shoulder. "And casting. My cadets were all over those spells." His finger traced the next score. "But your students did the best in combined applications. Double score for that one."

She nodded. "And yours took the top spot in elementals." She shot him a sideways glance. "I need to figure out how you get them to deftly control the wind. That's always the hardest to manage."

He grinned. "That's one trade secret I'll never share." He backed away, giving her a little breathing room.

She took advantage. "Don't be so certain. I'm going to keep a very sharp eye on your next term. I will discover your secret."

Nero smirked. "You're welcome to try." He gathered their sheets and stuffed them back inside the folder. "As for me, I'm gonna focus on the combined." He flipped the file closed and frowned. "But right now, I'm heading to the Scholar. I need to wash the bitter taste of sharing top score with you away."

Hattie snorted. "I think I'll join you." She lifted a brow. "Unless you're afraid I'll drink you under the table."

Nero cocked his head to one side. "Is that a challenge, Hattie?" He didn't wait for an answer. "You're on. Let's go."

I love writing characters that compete with each other, usually in the name of good fun. J

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye