Sunday Snippet: Nothing Special

Getting a late start to my day because my sleep schedule is out of whack. This has affected my great cleanout project, and I'm still determined to get back on track and at least do small things each day. Stay tuned!

On a different note, I did get about ten pounds of ground beef cooked and in the freezer. Also got three bags of grapes cleaned and in the fridge. So, the cleanout project took a back burner, but I did get other things done.

Work is still busy with new projects coming in and I'm enjoying the variety of things I have right now. I've also been able to do some catchup on my own stuff. I've been striving for better balance between my editing work and my writing.

Had a solid viewing week and made a full round of my regular shows and my two back burner shows. I'll be starting a new one this week, I think. Looking forward to picking up with a new season of something.

Started the week with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed the episode and getting some Dr. Mac backstory.

Think I finished up the first season of Art Detectives. I really enjoyed this show and hope to see another season. They left enough seeds to pick up if they get one.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise and ended up really loving the mystery. Not a standard path and the twists were good.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. It's one I'd seen most of before and I remembered most of the plot. Good episode.

Watched an episode of Elementary. Gotta say I love Joan being totally unafraid of the elder Holmes. Their interactions were very fun. And her getting the goods on him rocked the entire episode.

Caught an episode of Batman Beyond. It's one I remembered but forgot about. Does that make sense. Great episode too.

Enjoyed an episode of Lower Decks. This show is kind of wonky but usually adorable. Just enough tongue in cheek to keep things interesting and fresh.

Watched the opening of Peak Practice season eleven. Sam is on a precarious journey, and I think his exit is set up nicely. Not really sure about Will and Kate. I'm not really interested in them becoming the new Andrew and whatever his partner's name is.

Also caught another episode of Reacher. Man. This show. If I ever find the time, I want to do a deep dive and dig into some of the themes and tropes I love.

And that's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Nothing Special, a novella where the characters edge closer to something that is special.

Here's the miniblurb:

Masha Tuck and Ryce Reynoldson work tirelessly around the winter solstice to help provide a meaningful celebration to their fae and non-fae neighbors. Masha uncovers the perfect gift for Ryce—just a book, nothing special—but if she gives it to him, it'll add depth to their weird relationship and she's not sure she's ready for them to be a thing.

And a preview snippet…

While Ryce stood gazing out the window in the kitchen, Masha gathered the plates and carried them to the sink. "What are you looking at?" She stood beside him.

He cocked his head and leaned forward a little, trying to get a better look outside. "Making sure the world didn't implode." He slid his gaze sideways. "It didn't." He used a deadpan tone, but his eyes were filled with humor.

She laughed. "Okay. I deserved that." She lifted her chin. "So … what's next in the grand having a moment deal?" Enjoying the evening, she threw the question out there.

Ryce's eyebrows arched. "Wine in front of the fire?" He nodded toward a full-bodied semisweet red sitting on his counter.

"Uh…" She hesitated.

Because she'd love to chill out and relax but the weather could turn nasty. Which meant they'd be needed.

He paused while reaching for the bottle. "Unless you have plans?" He started to withdraw his hand.

She snorted. "As if. I'm more worried about the weather. If it rains and the temperature drops like it's supposed to, we might have an icy mess to deal with." Then again, when didn't they have some kind of chaos on their hands. "You know what? Ignore that last comment. There's always something, right?"

He grunted. "Too true." He retrieved the wine and grabbed two stemless glasses.

She followed him into the living room where he had a fire banked already. He added a log and poked at the glowing embers. After they got settled, he poured the heady liquid and handed her a glass.

Easing back against the cushions, he angled toward her. "You didn't comment on dessert…"

Masha flashed a small smile. "I honestly don't have words. It reminded me so much of when my gram used to make it. One of the good moments I try to hold on to." She met his gaze. "Thank you for that trip down memory lane." She waited a beat before softly adding, "Almost as lovely as the brooch." Sliding it out of her pocket, she fingered the jewelry.

Ryce swallowed a sip of his wine. "I'm glad you like it. There were two. The moonstone and a quartz." He set his glass on the table.

Masha circled the crystal with her thumb. "What made you pick the moonstone?" A perfect option … she had an affinity for the faceted colors of the gem.

Ryce's lips quirked. "It symbolizes growth and balance. I don't know anyone as measured as you are. You seem to be everywhere at once yet you don't make anyone feel rushed."

Masha basked a little. "It helps that you're always there." She drew her lower lip between her teeth. "And I feel like I'm back on wobbly ground again." But the idea didn't unsettle her the way she expected it to.

Ryce chuckled. "It's good to be appreciated … even when it's for having a strong back or hot sex."

Masha sheepishly shrugged. "It's honestly more than that, which is the part I don't know what to do with."

Masha and Ryce are weighed down by their work and constantly pulled in a lot of different directions. Writing this scene ended up being a lot of fun.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nothing Special

Super-heavy workload this week. I'm actually thrilled to be scheduling on my planner again, color-codes and everything. It's been a while since I've had to use a hard copy for keeping track of my projects. I like being busy.

Had a bit of limited viewing time this week. More so from having a bout of insomnia and taking naps at weird times during the day.

I watched an episode of Star Trek: Discovery and I love how things are coming together. There's been so much packed into this season and I'm amazed by the storytelling. This is such a good show.

Watched two episodes of Chicago Med. Gotta say Will gets himself into some tricky situations. I'm kind of annoyed with the FBI agent being such a drama queen over everything. Also feel terrible for Rhodes. Between having his dad on the board and the new ED doctor, he's got a lot on his plate.

Caught another episode of Snoopy in Space: The Search for Life. This is such a great show for young science nerds who love anything to do with space.

Enjoyed another episode of Cuffs. I'm kind of intrigued by the various relationships and I quite like how they intercut the scenes. I'm liking this one.

Watched two episodes of Classic Who. We're getting close to the end of the season and I have sneaky suspicion the Master is going to rear his ugly mug at some point. Should be interesting to see if I'm right.

Finished up season sixteen of Silent Witness and, yep, we lost Leo. So sad to see his end. Kind of wish Harry had come back for that but I loved Nikki's eulogy. Started seventeen and, eh, not sure I like the new guy. Jury is out on that one.

Caught two episodes of Aliens in Alaska. I love getting into what people see and how the experience shapes them afterward. This is a good show.

Started Muppets Now and I kind of like it after watching two episodes. They've brought back some older characters and it's a very updated and modernized variety style. Fun stuff.

Watched two more episodes of Harrow and, dammit, they killed off one of my favorites. I'd actually like to see one of the other characters go but won't hold my breath on that one. I really enjoy the dynamic between Harrow and Fairley's niece. The blending of the case of the week and overarching mystery works well with this show.

Got an episode of Peak Practice in and it was a sad one but with other happy moments woven in. Loved the ending with the new doctor grieving with Joanna.

Caught two more MasterClass lessons with Es Devlin. I love how she covers scope when she talks about design. She's done some very interesting work and I'm learning a lot from watching her classes.

Watched two episodes of Young Wallander. It's a little uncanny how closely the plot line mirrors stuff going on right now and this show is set in Sweden. I love the lead in this one. He's understated and quiet but actually kind of funny and deep also.

Enjoyed two episodes of Classic Rugrats. I should be close to the end of season two and getting ready to start on three. I love revisiting this show. I'm pretty sure they leave out a few of the best episodes when they run encores of this.

Caught a bonus short for Queens of Mystery. The recap of season one had some pings that I'll look forward to playing out in season three, especially the ones that weren't solved in season two.

Last but not least, I watched another episode of Blue Heelers. An interesting dive into coming home after being gone for a long time and how some people don't wear or show their feelings for everyone to see.

That's pretty much it for this week's life update. Tonight's post is from Nothing Special, a sexy short with characters who become more than friends after exchanging small gifts that are supposed to be tokens of appreciation but end up being so much more.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Masha Tuck and Ryce Reynoldson work tirelessly around the winter solstice to help provide a meaningful celebration to their fae and non-fae neighbors. Masha uncovers the perfect gift for Ryce—just a book, nothing special—but if she gives it to him, it'll add depth to their weird relationship and she's not sure she's ready for them to be a thing.

And a preview snippet…

Ryce scrambled quickly to think of something that wouldn't send her running.

Tapping the book, he got up. "Next should be trying one of the recipes, or more than one. I'm well stocked. Let's have dinner." He thumbed through the book and found a one-skillet main dish.

Masha rose and followed him. "Dinner? As in a sit at a table and eat kind of thing?" Her head tilted to one side and her gaze drifted someplace far away.

Ryce gave a nod. "I know. It's a strange concept to consider, since we're usually grabbing something on the go and stuffing our faces in between stops." He couldn't remember the last time he'd sat down to eat. "Yeah, we'll share a meal … see if the world implodes or anything."

Masha laughed. "You truly get me, don't you?" Pulling out a chair, she settled behind the island separating the kitchen and dining nook. "The whole having a moment with you shakes my foundation." Turning the brooch over in her hands, her lips quirked.

Ryce propped the book open and started pulling out ingredients. "How about you read the instructions and I'll do the hard part." He chuckled when she stuck her tongue out.

Tucking the brooch into her shirt pocket, she spun the text toward her. "Fine. Also a wise choice. My culinary skills go as far as opening a box of cereal and pouring milk over it." She flipped through the pages, keeping her place with her finger. "Hey, this dressing looks kind of yummy." She read off the ingredients.

Ryce opened a cabinet. "I'll make it. I've got the stuff." He pulled out more items and added them to the counter. "See if there's anything appealing for dessert. Maybe something with apples."

She found a recipe for a buckwheat tart and mentioned having something similar when her grandmother used to visit.

He got everything started and roped Masha into helping by cutting up apples and showing her how to whisk the dressing. By the time he had the food ready, she'd set the table, poured water into the glasses, and spooned salad into bowls.

He carried the main dish to the table and nodded for her to grab the dressing.

She sat across from him, inhaling deeply. "Mmmm. Smells divine." Draping a napkin across her lap, she then drizzled dressing over the greens mix.

Ryce dished up the main course and had to agree—the mix of herbs and spices tantalized his senses. "Dig in." He motioned for her to get started.

She shook her head. "Nope. If we're sharing the moment, we need to synchronize our tasting." She scooped some of the food onto her fork and waited until he did the same. "To good food and home-cooked meals." Raising her utensil, she made a toasting gesture.

Ryce laughed. "Here-here." He lifted his fork then carefully timed taking a bite with her movements.

Masha's eyes slid closed and she moaned. "Oh my. This is excellent." Chewing, she gave a nod.

Ryce agreed. The old-world blend had just the right amount of flavor and didn't overwhelm his taste buds. He couldn't wait to try more recipes.

Halfway through another bite, he swallowed and met her gaze. "Thank you. Seriously. I'll be using the book as often as I can."

She smiled. "You're welcome." She glanced away and tucked back into her meal.

Ryce didn't attempt more conversation. Not yet. But he planned to engage her after they finished because he didn't want the evening to end.

I love the quiet depth of feeling between Ryce and Masha. This is a fun story to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Nothing Special

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. It's rainy and chilly in Ohio and a nice day to stay in and be pampered. A few quiet hours alone is on my agenda today.

Had a solid television watching week. Since I watched so many penultimate episodes last week, this week ended up putting me in the finale zone. I started with the final episode of Underbelly: Razor. I'll admit I ended up being pretty satisfied with how things turned out. Kate and Tillie ended up living to ripe old ages for the times and Nellie, oddly enough, had an ending that rather suited her. Big Jim definitely got his due as did Phil the Jew.

Caught two more episodes of Midsomer Murders and thoroughly enjoyed both. I do like John and his wife along with their dog Sykes. Also watched two more episodes of Peter Gunn.

Started a new show from the CW. In the Dark ended up being more than I expected and, honestly, I enjoyed it. The heroine is messy and prickly and I like her flaws. The supporting cast is excellent. I'll watch more and see how it goes. It's been renewed for another season so I hope I like the rest of this one.

Watched another episode of Blade and remembered most of this one. There were a few bits I missed the first time around so it's nice to have those blanks filled in.

Also caught two more episodes of Classic Who and finished out the time meddler episodes. If memory serves, this is really the first sighting of the Master. Kind of like his origin story.

Watched the finale of Strike Back and I'm happy to say everyone I lived that I wanted to see still standing at the end. With the exception of Wyatt's marriage, which I have a feeling didn't survive. I can't wait for the final season now.

Caught Chicago Fire and enjoyed the episode. I'm not sold on Grissom being an okay guy yet but here's hoping they go in that direction. I really don't want to see Severied used as a pawn on the chessboard so I'll be pissed if that happens.

Iron Fist had a decent episode. Danny and Colleen are walking a very fine line and I'm hopeful their relationship can withstand the coming nightmare of dealing with Davos. Joy and Ward had some personal growth and Mary's storyline meshed well with the others. Davos is Davos and I'm still struggling to find some kind of empathy with him. It's not working.

Caught a great episode of Arrow and thoroughly enjoyed. I'm not a big fan of Diggle and Lyla keeping big secrets but I'll hold back from judging too much. Really loved Oliver and Laurel's reckoning with past sins. I love Oliver the most when he's pushing to be better than his parents.

Watched the finale of Murdoch Mysteries and, whew, I'm so glad things worked out the way they did. Miss Hart should probably watch her step and I'm kind of hoping she ends up becoming a good character. Nice to see where everyone is at the end, mostly in great places with their personal relationships.

Caught another episode of The Murders and I'm really loving this show. I'm excited to find out who is messing with Kate and I liked seeing Nolan not dealing with his personal life. Also loved having Kate back him up.

Watched the finale to Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and, wow, I truly hoped the stupid superintendent would get what he deserved. Of course, he didn't and Peregrine might have lost her edge with him. We'll see what happens… if there's a second season. The chemistry between Steed and Peregrine is so delicious.

I'm nearing the end of my Painkiller Jane rewatch and I completely missed the episode I caught the first time around. Glad I got it in. I think there are two episodes left in this season, but I can't remember for certain.

Started another new show for me, Durham County. It's dark and twisty and I think I'm going to like it a lot. The first episode had a good mix of creepy happenings along with some good exposition. Looking forward to more.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Nothing Special, a holiday solstice sexy short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Masha Tuck and Ryce Reynoldson work tirelessly around the winter solstice to help provide a meaningful celebration to their fae and non-fae neighbors. Masha uncovers the perfect gift for Ryce—just a book, nothing special—but if she gives it to him, it'll add depth to their weird relationship and she's not sure she's ready for them to be a 'thing'.

And a preview snippet…

Masha's eyes widened. She didn't expect anything from him and didn't quite know how to react. The idea he'd thought enough to pick something up gave her… not a bad feeling… more like an unsettled one. Had this thing with Ryce become a thing?

Ryce nudged her shoulder. "The box won't bite, Masha. Go ahead. Take a look inside." He snagged the book, sliding it onto his lap.

Masha eyed it a moment longer before picking it up and popping it open to reveal an alchemized crystal. She let out a little gasp. Reaching with a gentle touch, she removed the crystal from the bed of green satin and turned it over.

She let out a surprised chuckle. "It's a brooch." How incredibly awesome!

She glanced up to catch a look of wonder on Ryce's face. Okay, the kicking boost to her confidence shouldn't matter so much. But she loved how much he seemed to love the gift.

His gaze flashed with something indefinable. "Where did you find this?" His fingers turned another page and the tips slid down the list of ingredients, carefully offset from the hand-drawn image beside it.

She grinned. "You'll never guess. At the dispo center, they have that room where they put all the donated items." Her fingers traced the crystal then played with the clasp on the back. "I had time to kill and spent a morning digging through boxes. Found the book and thought you'd get a kick out of it." She met his gaze. "Because you're always going on about how much of the ancient arts we've lost." The results of the constant struggle and mad power grabs between the dueling houses.

Ryce closed the book. "I do. I love it." He moved some items on the table and placed the tome in the center on prominent display. "I've been looking for something like this for a long, long time." His fingers traced the title, raised up on the leather cover.

He shifted sideways and tucked one foot under his opposite knee. Masha continued to study the brooch. The crystal alchemized two metals, silver and copper. Holding it in her palm, the piece attuned to her, the flow of energy began to transfer. She closed her hand and put it back on its satin bed.

Ryce nodded toward the box. "Oddly enough, I thought it was fortunate to stumble across the brooch given your affinity for the crystal. Now I'm thinking it was fortuitous, because I found it at the same place. The dispo center donation room."

The coincidence couldn't be an accident. Nor the timing. Masha didn't want to delve too deeply, but she might have to.

She met and held his gaze. "Are we having a moment?" The idea made her queasy but she swallowed the fear and let a little hope take its place. "Gotta admit I'm not sure I'm ready for big moments yet." Hell, any kind of moment would be a new thing with them.

Ryce didn't argue. "Is anyone ever ready?" His eyebrows shot up in question.

Masha shrugged. "I don't know about anyone else. I can only speak for myself. And big emotional moments aren't really in my wheelhouse." Hard to let anyone in when the present jammed up against an uncertain future.

Ryce reached over and grasped her hand. "Okay, then, how about starting with small moments? Like this one." He squeezed her fingers. "Thank you for the gift. It means so much and, whether you want it to or not, shows how much you get me." His lips twisted in a lopsided grin.

Her heart swelled to bursting. But, hey, it didn't explode or anything so points for progress there.

Masha returned the smile. "Okay, that wasn't so hard." She scooted forward, closing the space between them. "So… what's next in this grand experiment of having a moment?"

I like the small beats between this couple. They're slowly revealing what they want to say on the page and I enjoy waiting to see what they share with me.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nothing Special

July 31, 2016

The Last Ship might be the death of me. Last week's episode had my heart pounding. I forgot to breathe during the escape from the minefield, which happened toward the end of the episode. Then, I live tweeted that I'd be drinking like five shots of alcohol for fortitude because there was still time for something else crazy to happen—with only three minutes left in the show! And, of course, something else CRAZY did happen. LOL What a way to end.

Killjoys is seriously becoming one of my very favorite shows. I'm completely sucked into what's going on and in love with the subtle nuances and shifts in relationships. I have a sneaky suspicion there's going to be a big payoff for some of the dynamics being set into motion. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Dark Matter has a terrific cadre of women characters. I'm interested in the newest addition to the crew and hope she sticks around for a while. Not to take away anything from the men. They hold their own, too. Nice to see a familiar face acting alongside the android in this episode. Okay, maybe not alongside, but in the same vicinity. LOL

Still no Strike Back this week due to a crazy schedule again. But… with the sad news of Jerry Doyle's passing, I'm very happy to be in the middle of a Babylon 5 rewatch. Almost finished with season two and looking forward to starting the third.

Tonight's post is from Nothing Special, a sexy short that got a start with a prompt asking to write a story around the solstice having come and gone but one character has something for the other.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Masha Tuck and Ryce Reynoldson work tirelessly around the winter solstice to help provide a meaningful celebration to their fae and non-fae neighbors. Masha uncovers the perfect gift for Ryce—just a book, nothing special—but if she gives it to him, it'll add depth to their weird relationship and she's not sure she's ready for them to be a 'thing'.

And a preview snippet…

Ryce stepped back, inviting Masha into his cottage. "Hey. I didn't expect you until tomorrow." When she entered, he closed the door then turned and grasped her shoulders. "But I'm glad you're here." His hands slid up to cup her face.

Leaning in, his mouth closed over hers. She responded with a low moan, which always turned him on. Ryce didn't know why she'd stopped by, but he welcomed having her. The crazy schedule they'd kept from samhain to solstice didn't allow for much more than insanely hot sex and dodging the weather fronts when they moved through.

Never enough time to really sit down, relax, have a discussion. Not that Masha did the whole conversation thing to a great extent. She'd squirm in her seat then get up and pace the room when talk turned to anything personal or deeper than fae council business.

He deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue past her lips. Masha's hands grabbed moved up to his chest and one fisted in his t-shirt. He angled his head to one side and moved her further into the living room. She grasped his bicep to keep her balance and a muffled thunk followed.

Ryce eased away from her and glance down. Masha stooped and scooped up a large book, tucking it under her arm again. The bulk of her coat hid it from his view.

Curious.

He blinked and shook his head. "Sorry, Masha. Didn't realize you were carrying around heavy book." He nodded toward the sofa, fighting back a sheepish grin. "Then again, didn't give you time to say anything when you walked in either."

Masha's lips curved but a pink flush stained her cheeks. "Er, well… I rather liked the warm welcome." She eased away and placed the book on his ottoman before shrugging out of her outerwear. "The book's for you." Turning away, she draped her jacket over the arm of a chair, not meeting his gaze.

Ryce tilted his head to one side, eyeing her. Interesting. Hedging her bets? Not her style at all. What kind of book did she bring him?

The answer could wait for a moment. Ryce strolled over to his antique hutch and opened the top doors. He had a little something for her, too.

Masha finally settled on the sofa and lifted a shoulder when he turned around. "The book is nothing special. Just something I thought you'd like." She folded her hands in her lap.

Ryce paused mid-step. "How about I judge the significance?" He crossed the small distance and dropped down beside her on the couch. "I have a something small for you, too." He set an ornate box on the ottoman next to the book.

This one is fun. I love to write an internal conflict being overcome by love.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nothing Special

So… Orphan Black keeps blowing my mind. Seriously, I would have NEVER dreamed I'd be interested in seeing Vic the Dick again, but playing opposite Allison is such an interesting little twist. Angie, or whatever her name is, kinda continues to irritate me, but I'm totally along for the ride to see what she's trying to pull off.

The whole deal with Helena creeps me out, but keeps me riveted to the screen, too. LOL Then there's Sarah… I have so much love for her. The cold war between Rachel and Sarah and how it's dragging Helena and Cosima into the middle of it keeps me glued to the screen.

And let's talk about Paul. Without revealing too much, I sooooo want to know more about him, but I love the loosely defined loyalties he has and the way he's pulled from all directions.

Enough about television… tonight's post is from Nothing Special, a short story where my main characters are convinced they don't have anything special between them. Of course, they're wrong. LOL

Here's the tagline:

Masha Tuck and Ryce Reynoldson work tirelessly around the winter solstice to help provide a meaningful celebration to their fae and non-fae neighbors. Masha uncovers the perfect gift for Ryce—just a book, nothing special—but if she gives it to him, it'll add depth to their weird relationship and she's not sure she's ready for them to be a 'thing'.

And a preview snippet…

Masha stood outside Ryce's small cottage, trying to decide whether or not to knock on his front door. They'd finally completed all the tasks and the solstice had come and gone. And she still had the vintage book on ancient cooking arts. Masha felt a little foolish about giving it to him, especially since the holiday had passed. She'd totally bailed and couldn't get up the nerve on the actual day of celebration. Stupid. She'd found a book. Nothing special.

Except it could be construed as having meaning. Did she want to give the weird 'thing' between her and Ryce depth? He'd probably take it as a sign she'd been thinking of him. And well, she had. A lot. The guy filled her thoughts at the strangest times. Why else would she be compelled to dig through the donated box of goods at the disposition center?

Maybe because she and Ryce spent the bulk of their waking hours at the place. Then, occasionally, they spent the hours they should be sleeping having incredible sex. The physical aspect didn't happen all that often, but they had worked up to once or twice a week.

"No, it's nothing special. We're not a couple. Just friends." She waited a beat. "With really awesome benefits."

She tucked the book under her arm and lifted her hand, knocking on the door. It opened within moments, Ryce's quick grin giving her a warm greeting.

This will hopefully be a holiday release in December.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye