Sunday Snippet: Long Time No See

Well, had a better week than the last one. Still not completely tip-top but feeling way better with the worst of the cold finally over. We got more snow this week, but warmer temperatures are around the corner. At least for a few days.

I got caught up on my work projects and lined up a potential new one. I'll be starting a new copy edit on one of my favorite mystery series and continuing my read through on the nonfiction project.

I'm setting up a storefront for Tip Jar Shorts. I'm kind of doing things a bit backward, but the more I thought about it, the more I figured a storefront would lend legitimacy to this endeavor. I wanted to keep things super simple and offer various methods of payment and I might still be able to do that, but I also thought it would be best to have immediate access to a downloadable file instead of waiting on a delivery to an inbox. We'll see which version works out the best.

Had an okay week of viewing. I didn't make a full cycle through of my shows, but I did get the back half watched. And I might be adding one additional show to the roster. I'll let everyone know if that happens.

Watched another episode of Elementary and rather enjoyed this one. Sherlock's dynamic with Joan is different and getting more settled. And Kitty is fitting in with both in ways I didn't expect.

Also caught an episode of Batman Beyond. I remembered this one and enjoyed it. I did forget the interaction with Terry and his brother so that was a nice reminder.

Enjoyed another new-to-me episode of Classic Rugrats. I sometimes wish Nickelodeon had continued with the plans for the pre-school show and added more of All Grown Up. The nostalgia is strong with this franchise. Instead, Spongebob and other weird stuff took off.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Long Time No See, a novella in a yet-to-be-named series.

Here's the miniblurb:

With Jonni on probation with the Marsoni clan and Val estranged from the Janis clan, the couple is forging their own path within the fae realm. The Vellas clan is on the warpath and Jonni receives a tip about who their next target is. She and Val have to decide if they're going to intervene or stay on the sidelines and not get involved, which could have serious ramifications for Val.

And a preview snippet…

Jonni Mars rolled her hips, drawing Val deeper into her core. "Damn, it's good to have you back." She planted her hands on the bed close to his shoulders, her fingers curling into her palms.

Val hissed out a breath. "Good to be back. Didn't enjoy tending to clan business, especially when I walked away for a reason." His head lifted and his lips latched on to her nipple.

Her eyes slid shut, pleasure spiraling through her. Val never failed to give her exactly what she needed to amp up the zinging awareness coursing along her nerve endings. He'd been cloistered with the Janis clan for two weeks, out of touch and unreachable. She started climbing the walls by day three because they'd spent nearly every day together for the last six months.

Being on probation sucked. She didn't realize how much space Val filled in her life … or how much of a distraction he provided, easing the huge void she'd landed in by being stuck on the sidelines. She couldn't even patrol without permission right now.

Val's lips traveled up to her shoulder. "Missed you." He nuzzled her collarbone.

Jonni changed the pace, slowing down and moving sensuously over the hard length buried deep inside her. "Yeah, same." Her head lowered and she met his lips.

Val slipped his tongue past her teeth to tangle with hers. His hips rose in counterpoint with her smooth rocking motion. Jonni slid closer to the edge of bliss. When Val skimmed his palms along her torso and around to cup her ass, he applied pressure to hold her in place. His groin bumped the hard nub of nerves, creating just the right amount of friction to send her over.

She broke the kiss on a gasp. "Ah, yes." A shiver rippled over her, and she came, her inner muscles gripping hard on his cock.

Val groaned. "So hot. Love to watch you lose control." He thrust upward two more times and shuddered under her.

Jonni collapsed atop his chest, her breath coming out in short bursts. Val wrapped his arms around her, his fingers drawing lazy circles on her skin. She loved basking in the afterglow with him.

The chirp of a phone broke the moment.

Her head popped up. "Yours or mine?" She glanced toward the nightstand beside the bed.

His phone screen stayed dark.

She sighed. "Ugh. It's mine." Sitting up, she leaned over and fished her device out of her pocket and swiped to answer, not bothering to check the ID. "Hello." The voice on the other end made her shoulders tense. "Yeah, okay. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

Val's eyebrows arched. "Everything okay?"

Jonni shook her head. "Probably not. But I've got a meeting I can't miss."

I've just starting really writing this one and I can't wait to dive in and see where things go.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Kindred Spirits

The winter blast is still underway. I'd love to send some of our precipitation out to California to combat the wildfires burning LA right now. Another 3-5 inches of snow in the next day or so. Thankfully, I don't have to really go out for anything until the end of the week.

I made progress on my side project. I have a few more things to upload and some links to get set, then I'll hopefully be ready to launch. I also did some future planning on what manuscripts to focus on next. At least it's movement!

Very light work week again. Still working on the readthrough for my friend and I completed a manuscript proofread. Hoping to have another new one to get started on this week.

Not a bad week for viewing. I had some distractions but nothing major. I also think I've found the next show I want to watch on one of my streamers.

Finished up the premier episode of London Kills. This is definitely going to be a wild season. Can't wait to see more.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. Kind of sad to see JP leaving but excited to see what happens next. Marlon is growing on me so that's a good thing.

Started the spinoff Beyond Paradise and enjoyed the opening episode. I'm interested to see where things go with Humphrey and Martha. Not sure about Martha's mom. So far, not a fan. I do love the team and look forward to more interactions with them.

Watched another episode of Elementary. Enjoyed the dynamic with the Sherlock regular, the math guy. Also kind of enjoyed the Joan and Kitty scenes. I'm not sure what's going on with Kitty but I don't think she's really committed to the group therapy thing. We'll see if I'm right about that…

Finished up the second part of the opening episodes of Batman Beyond. I'm excited about this rewatch. The theme song alone makes it worth another visit to this one.

Enjoyed another Classic Rugrats episode. This one was the launch of All Growed Up and I hadn't seen the bookend with the original babies. Such a fun episode.

Also finished up an episode of Peak Practice, which I ended up liking. Will is still a bit of a prat but and I really, really dislike the finance guy, but overall, this ended up being a great episode.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Kindred Spirits, a novella that mixes a little multiple partner fun with magic at a mage academy.

Here's the miniblurb:

Merrit Rhodes accepts a teaching position at the Athena Academy of Magic and Semblance to earn her rites. Vaughn Gregorvich and Kirby Selwig are best friends and fellow instructors who fall hard for the newest addition to the campus. Sparks literally fly when the trio decides to test the power of three after a night of drinking a powerfully potent new cocktail called Elixir.

And a preview snippet…

Merrit had a dilemma.

How did I even try to ignore the simmering awareness and sexual tension with these two guys?

Kirby put her at ease. His running commentary while they gathered what she'd need for uniforms and her new living space entertained and informed. He acted like a big goofball, but she didn't miss the agile way he moved or the controlled lion-like grace to his stride. He had an aura of openness and a flair for the dramatic. Merrit enjoyed his company.

But Vaughn … well … he made her hyperaware of his presence. He stalked through the stores with a panther-like quality, something almost regal, but deep and dark. Something about him stayed hidden in the shadows and he didn't feel like sharing. Walking a finely honed blade might be the way to describe the vibe she got from him. Instinct screamed one wrong move would send the knife plunging deep into her heart and mind.

The idea thrilled and terrified her in equal measure.

Fingers snapped in front of her. "Hello? Merrit, you still with us?" Kirby's raised eyebrow gave him a rakish look.

Merrit shook her head. "Sorry. Yes. What were you saying?" The men each had several shopping bags in hand, while she also carried two on either side.

Vaughn smirked. "He asked if you know what Dean Hargrove's first name is?"

Merrit paused a moment. "Honestly? I don't. None of the correspondence referred to him as anything but Dean Hargrove."

Kirby grinned. "That's his name."

Confused, Merrit stopped walking. "What is?"

Vaughn cracked a smile, a sly twist to his lips.

Merrit laughed. "You're kidding. His name is Dean Hargrove and he's the dean of Athertons?" Kind of a weird and wild coincidence.

Kirby nodded. "Absolutely!" He leaned in. "You're pretty quick on the uptake. Most new recruits don't catch on until at least the third of questioning back and forth."

Merrit shot a quick glance toward Vaughn. Had he meant to give away the joke? His wry response had clued her in.

She shrugged. "I'm just lucky, I guess." She always tried to downplay her intuitiveness.

Kirby snorted. "Or maybe you have strong oracle fu—like your mom."

Merrit raised her brows. "How much do you two know about me?" Her history had pockets of secrets.

Vaughn rolled a shoulder. "Not as much as you think. Kirby's talent is drawing people out, but you're proving to be a tough case."

She smiled. "Good."

Kirby blinked. "Good?" He made what she could only refer to as a confused dog sound.

Merrit gave a nod. "Yes. I have a feeling things come way too easily for you two. A challenge will keep you on your toes."

Kirby sputtered and mumbled something unintelligible.

But Vaughn surprised her. He threw his head back and laughed. The man needed to do that more often.

Holy shit.

I'm having so much fun writing this trio. The sages are having a good time feeding me this story.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Kindred Spirits

Wow. The month is half over already. October is flying by. Not complaining because I'm super busy with work projects and that makes me happy. I'm also making steady progress on the whole clean and organize project.

Had a solid week of television viewing again. I watched two lessons of Master Class with Brandon McMillan. I got more valuable insight in dog behavior and I hope I can translate that to working with my doggos.

Caught two episodes of Gilmore Girls: Year in the Life. Winter and spring were each enjoyable. I didn't know how they'd handle Richard's death, but I like what they did. I'm very curious how summer is going to play out, especially with Loralie's therapy deal.

Enjoyed two specials about Cher. Artist to Icon and Life in the Spotlight both had great footage and details. I remember watching Sonny and Cher and her solo show on television when I was a kid. I sometimes miss that type of variety show. I'm so not into the idols and voice-type shows.

Watched another episode of Star Trek: Discovery. I thoroughly enjoy how the plotlines are playing out. I have to admit I really didn't think they'd go where they went with the Tyler storyline but I love that they did. Took me back to Farscape a little bit.

Caught two episodes of Chicago Med and liked both. Rhodes keeps growing on me and I like how he stumbles every once in a while. I need to go back and do a crossover watch at some point also.

Thoroughly enjoyed an episode of Midsommer Murders. Old school in so many ways with being trapped on an island and having the case be about tabletop gaming. All in all, an excellent episode.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness and started a new two-parter. Great to have Leo back in the morgue and out on cases. I also remembered how much I love Nikki and Harry's bantery conversations.

Started season twenty of Classic Who and, hello, Tegan's back. I watched two four-episode arcs and actually loved both. The second arc brought the Maya back and I'd forgotten they did that sometimes in the original series.

Began a new series with UFOs Over Earth. The first two episodes were fun. Fayetteville and Bucks County were the areas MUFON investigated. I've seen bit and pieces about both sightings but got some new information about each. Always enjoy when that happens.

Watched two episodes of The Muppet Show. Dudley Moore and Arlo Guthrie were the guest stars. I'm enjoying season four so far.

Started the fifth season of Prime Suspect and I'm pretty sure I remember how this one plays out. I love how fallible Jane is and watching that unfold on screen.

Got another episode of Peak Practice watched. This one ended up being a lot calmer than the last one. I'm really enjoying the trio of partners.

Watched two episodes of Classic Rugrats. The first season has so many great moments and I love revisiting them.

Also got in another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries and finished up season four. I'll be starting season five this week. I still truly love this show so much. I miss Jared a little but I think he might be in at least one more episode and I'm hoping to actually get to meet Roxy at some point.

That's pretty much it for the weekly television update. Tonight's post is from Kindred Spirits, a novella with a friendly rivalry that turns into something deeper between the characters.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Merrit Rhodes accepts a teaching position at the Athena Academy of Magic and Semblance to earn her rites. Vaughn Gregorvich and Kirby Selwig are best friends and fellow instructors who fall hard for the newest addition to the campus. Sparks literally fly when the trio decides to test the power of three after a night of drinking a powerfully potent new cocktail called Elixir.

And a preview snippet…

Her beauty stunned Kirby. He didn't lack confidence, but someone like Merrit—who had enough raw talent to garner the special program—intimidated him. He'd man up and own that admission—if only to himself. So … he fell back on his standard practice—boyish charm and a steady flow of conversation.

He angled toward her. "You're not nervous, are you?" She came across as open but a little reserved.

Merrit's head wobbled back and forth a little. "Overwhelmed is a better definition." She swept her arms out. "This is a lot take in."

Kirby's lips curved. "You get used to it—pretty quickly, too. Vaughn and I were old hands by our second semester." And they ruled the campus by the end of the third.

Merrit tilted her head to one side. "When did you start?"

Kirby glanced in Vaughn's direction. "Hmm … how old were we, Vaughn? Ten?"

Vaughn gave him a vacant stare, which probably meant a private conversation with Hargrove. Kirby would find out what had held his friend up after they got Merrit settled. He didn't like being out of the loop.

Vaughn focused on the question a moment then nodded. "Yes. You'd just turned ten the week before, and I was only going to be ten for another week."

Merrit flashed a smile. "So, you're the same age for two whole weeks?"

Kirby smirked. "Exactly. Something old man Vaughn likes to tout—the vast maturity and experience he has over me."

Vaughn snorted. "I don't have to tout anything. Anyone with keen observational skills can figure out what they need to know about you and me."

Kirby narrowed his gaze. Translated meaning … Good luck, bro. The game is on. Which meant the trash talk would begin.

Kirby flung in arm around Merrit. "Let's get you some uniforms then we'll get you settled." He led her down the corridor.

Merrit happily agreed and stayed by his side.

Kirby tossed a vague smile of triumph in Vaughn's direction. First point, mine.

I love writing this group of characters. The vibe between the three is so much fun to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Whipped Cream and Chocolate Dreams

Welcome to October, the month with two full moons. Make of that what you will. I had a terrific week. Made a ton of progress on the cleanout and organization. Got a new set of rune stones. Met my two best friends for an evening of fun and laughter. And made headway on a work project.

Not a bad week for television. I watched a lot of Silent Witness. Finished up the third season and started on the fourth. It's shorter than the previous seasons, so I should be ready to start the fifth early this coming week.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. Apparently Nick's past has come calling. Not very far into yet but it's an interesting episode.

Watched part of the first episode of Bomb Girls. I'm excited about diving into this series. I've heard some great things about it.

I also watched a bunch of videos about rune casting again. They're very soothing, especially when I'm shredding paper.

Tonight's post is from Whipped Cream and Chocolate Dreams, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nita, Deacon, and Callen fall victim to Morpho, the Dream Tender, who plants vivid imagery in their minds while they slumber. When the trio wakes up primed and ready for action, they try to fight the erotic pull, but fail.

And a preview snippet…

Callen appreciated Nita calling him. And Deke. They'd been a trio every summer while growing up. Now that Nita inherited the ice cream shop from her gram, she'd be a permanent resident, like Deke and Callen.

He dusted off his hands. "I'm hungry. How's grilled chicken sound for dinner?" He'd brought some over from his place.

Nita made a yummy sound in her throat. "Awesome. I've got cabbage and can make a slaw." She glanced around before heading for the door.

Deke added his two cents. "Perfect for chicken tacos. Got any tortillas?" He closed the door and Nita locked up.

She gave a nod. "I do. Cal, you good with tacos?" She fell into step between them, just like when they were young.

His stomach growled. "Absolutely. Won't take long to grill up the chicken. You guys get the slaw and everything else ready?" He followed Nita into the house her grandmother left her, three blocks over from the ice cream shop.

Deke and Nita gave Callen a thumbs-up and he grabbed the marinated breasts from the fridge and fired up the grill. Deke brought a beer out and set it on the patio table. Callen popped the top and took a long swallow. Ten minutes later, he finished the brew and plated the meat.

Entering through the backdoor, he placed the platter on the counter. "Bird's cooked. Need help with anything else?" He tossed his bottle in the trash bin and grabbed another.

Nita glanced over her shoulder, her hair still damp from a shower. "We're good. If you wanna grab a shower, the water should be hot. I timed Deke to make sure he didn't hog it all." Her lips twitched.

Callen laughed. "Man, you're still doing that?" He shook his head and ducked into the small three-quarter bath off the kitchen.

He and Deke both had a couple changes of clothes stowed in the linen cabinet. They'd be here at least the rest of the week to help Nita get ready to reopen the shop.

After quickly rinsing the day's work off, he entered the kitchen and took his place in the assembly line for taco-making. Lots of laughter, reminiscing, and flirty banter between trips back for more and dinner counted as a success.

Deke leaned back in his chair and groaned. "Let's head outside. If I stay in here, I'll eat more and I'm stuffed." He scooted back and crossed over to the fridge. "I got some hard cider at the new place by the orchard. Let's have some."

Callen and Nita followed Deke out to the patio and settled in at the table.

Once everyone had a bottle of the cider, Callen lifted his. "Here's to picking up where we left off and the first weekend of operation reopen."

Deke and Nita tapped their bottles against Callen's. Nothing quite like good friends and being reunited.

This is a fun concept and I love mixing the otherworldly aspect in. The trio makes it easy for me, too. I love long-standing friendships.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Voltage

September 20, 2020

Kind of a crazy week. Honestly, 2020 can hurry up and be done. Thankfully, only a few more months.

Not a bad week for television. I finished up the first season of Silent Witness and got a running start on the second. I'll have it finished up this week.

I got to catch the behind the scenes video for Dirty, Sexy Saint. Really enjoyed the actors in that movie.

Also started a series of videos about casting runes. It's a topic I've long been interested in and I'm having fun learning about the practice.

Last but not least, I finally got to watch the series finale of Strike Back. There's so much I want to say about this episode! First and foremost, a heist. Seriously. That was actually a lot of fun. The double cross was also a nice little wrinkle. Breaking things down from the beginning. I loved how Coltrane got out of the gulag. Having Wyatt there and their banter was so awesome. I mean, who else but Coltrane would take a detour during a carefully planned escape? And horses! Excellent. Having Novin take on the entire casino security force also proved to be a wild ride. I'm going to miss her a lot. Loved the beats between the characters when she got back to the apartment and almost took out Wyatt.

The heist itself ended up being an awful lot of fun, with the exception of Gracie getting shot. The boat ride out ended up being beautifully filmed. Then, to find out the big reveal about the, well, I guess it's not really a double cross for the section twenty team, more a double cross of the Russians and Albanians and I love the double meaning behind the comment, "They'll never stop looking for us." Anyway … probably in my top five moments is when Coltrane blithely takes Arianna out then strolls nonchalantly past the pool boy. But my favorite moment is at the very end when the trio heads out to go their separate ways. I mean there can't be a heist episode without the going-off-in-different-directions pan out. Very reminiscent of shows like Leverage or Hustle. Good stuff. Seriously good stuff.

Some final thoughts … the only thing I would have loved as much as the actual ending would have been Coltrane finding Zarkova and / or Wyatt and Novin heading out for lots of adventures. The shipper in me will definitely let my imagination run wild on that front.

Also thoroughly enjoyed the Strike Back Declassified for the series end. I love shows that put behind the scenes or inside looks together for their fans. Having those extras is always a lot of fun, especially when the characters have become like second family.

And … that's pretty much it for television. Tonight's post is from Voltage, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tess Truvient, Gentry Malloway, and Hunter Keepman use their meta-human abilities for the cause of justice by working with a covert organization with a global reach. Tess and Hunter have a volatile relationship, on one day and off the next. Enter new recruit, Gentry, and Tess finds a much needed distraction—if only for a few months—except something about Gentry draws her in and she's caught off guard when it's time for him to ship out to his permanent post.

And a preview snippet…

Hunter strolled into the shower area and propped his shoulder on the row of lockers in the changing space. Tess emerged from the stalls and his gut clenched at the sight of her. Then jealousy kicked in.

He pushed away from the wall and folded his arms over his chest. "Looks like you've moved on with Malloway. How's that going?"

Tess whirled around, her hand drawn back to release a zap of energy. "Geez, Hunter. You gotta stop doing that. Sneaking up on someone with meta powers could get you killed." Then she cocked her head to the side. "Wait, what did you say?" A note of anger flashed in her gaze. "Did you just accuse me of something?" She planted her feet and fisted her hands on her hips.

Hunter opened his mouth to respond but Tess blasted him with both barrels instead.

She spoke slowly, a clear sign of her simmering temper. "I haven't moved on, as you so prettily put it." She waited a beat. "Not yet anyway. Since when would I sneak around behind your back?"

Okay, never. Tess always gave him fair warning if she planned to take a walkabout. He did the same for her. He'd fucked this whole situation up in a big way.

Tess pushed onward. "For that matter, when I have I ever been anything but honest with you? Or you with me?" She relaxed her stance but not her anger when she stalked to the lockers and yanked the door so hard it clanged outward to smash into the neighboring unit.

Hunter held up his hands. "You're right. You've always been truthful." His face flushed hotly. "Sometimes brutally so." Like now.

Nothing like having his ass handed to him.

She sent him an eye roll. "Exactly. So, what the hell, Hunter? Flinging accusations instead of stating a simple question like whether I'm interested in Gentry…" She angled her head to face him. "Which I am. But there's been no moving on because I do have the courtesy to talk to you first." Done for the moment, she dropped her towel and pulled a shirt over her head.

Hunter sucked in a breath. Damn. She wouldn't turn the tables on him. He needed to know where they stood.

He pushed back. "So … you want the new guy. Guess I should've expected some hot young stud to catch your eye sooner or later." Not like either of them had a lock on turning heads or having their heads turned.

Tess yanked her pants up. "You asshat. He's my age…" She turned and jabbed her finger in his shoulder. "Three years younger than you. Not like I've resorted to robbing the womb." Spinning back around, she shoved her shower gear into her duffel bag. "And I've never had my head turned before this, so shut up."

Okay, she had him there. No one—not any new recruit or veteran—had caught her attention before Malloway.

But Hunter didn't think he and Tess were done yet. He loved her, even when he couldn't be in the same room with her. That had to count for something.

He went for broke. "Look, you're right and I'm being a dick." He grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him. "But I love you and want you to think about that." He captured her face in his hands and meshed their lips together.

Writing metahumans is so much fun. I like to explore the pros and cons of having superpowers in a relationship.

That's it for this week.

 

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Consortium of Chaos

Ugh, what a week. The crazy weather has me completely out of sync and my sleep patterns are trashed. Here's hoping spring gets here and I find my footing again.

I missed Legends this week and need to catch up. Same goes for The Flash, Black Lightning, and Riverdale. Seriously, my head wasn't into it at all. Gotham is also still on my catch up list.

I did watch two more DVDs of Chicago Fire. I'm really loving season five, through every heartbreaking moment even. And, man, there's been a lot this season. LOL

Also up to episode six of Jessica Jones. Gotta say I'm pretty happy with how the season is progressing. It's good to get the backstory of Jessica became "super". I will say I'm not quite sure about Griffin, friend or foe? The whole engagement think might be a red herring, yeah?

Got to catch the latest Passionflix movie The Matchmaker's Playbook. Loved it! I'm excited for the next installment, especially with W. Tyler Johnson. While I enjoyed him in Afterburn / Aftershock, he truly rocked in Matchmaker. Now if they'd only cast a few of my other fave actors, I'll be thrilled to death.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Consortium of Chaos, a Chaos novella with a steampunk flair.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Remy Deeds never welshes on a bet, until she loses to Eli Rogers, who can't understand why she backs out. But a five minute kiss, with tongue, isn't something she wants to risk, because giving up her last pack of coffee is so much easier than possibly losing her heart.

And a preview snippet…

Esme listened intently when Ash related the tactics of Baron Morbid while eating his light meal. The stalling and outright ham handedness had most of the council scratching its collective head. Not even the studious Smithers had answers for how Mobride rose to power so quickly or how the man managed to maintain such a tight rein on the proceedings.

Ash didn't expect Smithers to have solutions, but sometimes he saw things at their simplest, which usually helped. The citizens needed advocacy and Ash did his best to make sure they had a voice. Smithers and Esme helped behind the scenes, knee deep in the trenches.

Esme, in particular, walked a fine line. A fringe noble by birth, she chose to work in the service class instead of living in genteel poverty. Her father, the musician laureate for the crown, didn’t come from money. He'd lived and raised two children on the stipend granted by the Ministry of Arts, which ceased to exist when the monarchy lost control.

His older son already lost to him, Hamish Von Staunton sent his daughter off to train as a pilot for the newly developed zeppelins, something that set the peerage on its ear. Once she completed her first year, Hamish ended his existence with an overdose of unrefined Olympus. Alone, Esme completed her training and Ash recruited her at the commencement.

Her piloting skills were not only handy for transporting goods and equipment; they provided a nice cover for their more covert activities. Namely, trying to stay abreast of what the common people went through. As a pilot, she became one of them and folks opened up to her.

She'd been busy today, browsing the shops and keeping an ear to the ground. She added her observations to the conversation.

"I'm telling you, the people are tired." She picked at the crust of bread on her plate. "Tired of worrying about where their next meal is coming from. Where their loved ones are. And how they'll make ends meet." She rose and gathered the remnants of their meal. "And they're more than tired at the lack of anything resembling progress since the fall of the monarchy." Picking up the plates, she made her way to the counter.

Smithers shot her a withering look, which she ignored. Things were never more right in the world unless she found a new way to needle him. Doing something he felt was his domain proved a great way to do that.

And it had been a shit day so she'd take a small measure of enjoyment where she could.

Dumping the dishes in the wash basin, she turned to head back toward the table but caught movement in the small window off to the side of the kitchen. Peering out into the darkness, she couldn't make anything out, but a short series of knocks followed by two thumps on the side entrance had her quickly moving to the door.

"Es, hold up." Ash shot to his feet, reaching for the blade tucked into his boot. "Okay, go."

Esme pulled the door open and the heavy weight of a man collapsed against her, almost dragging them to the floor. "Argh. Ash! Gimme a hand here." She caught the guy under his arms and tried to keep him upright.

I'm very excited to put this series together. With a total of four books, the progress is coming along nicely.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Whipped Cream and Chocolate Dreams

I'm loving the fall weather! Mild temperatures are so lovely and the pretty colors popping on the leaves are incredible.

Another great week in television. I completely forgot to mention Riverdale's premiere. Man… I love the show. I had so many questions after the premiere my head spun for a while.

But first… let's get to this week's shows. The Flash had a great episode. I like the new Cisco. I'm definitely looking forward to more of how Barry and Iris work out their issues. Legends of Tomorrow also had a great showing. I do truly enjoy the character's interactions.

Okay, Riverdale. Loved, loved, loved the premiere. I like where things are going and while I could do without Hiram, I'll be interested to see what kind of havoc he'll create. Having Archie take a darker path is also going to be fun. And whenever Dark Betty makes an appearance I notice. I loved her giving the lowdown to Cheryl. Speaking of… wow, Cheryl's got some issues, yeah? All in all, I'm excited to see what else happens. The dark hood killer will hopefully not take out any of my faves. I'm already a little miffed one of the characters I like might not be with us anymore.

Gotham keeps getting better. It always seems to throw in a twist I'm not expecting and I love it. Nice to see Lee back, whatever her drama might be.

Arrow is also throwing some nice twists into their plotlines. I'm down with Oliver being a dad, but I was very much hoping he would make Raisa William's guardian so he can still do his second job.

Continuing on with Midsomer Murders and also got my holiday movie and show list started. I plan to completely overdose on holiday fare this year.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Whipped Cream and Chocolate Dreams, a novella that started with a weird prompt about having the characters find an ice cream planet. I couldn't quite go that far afield but I like where the prompt took me.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nita, Deacon, and Callen fall victim to Morpho, the Dream Tender, who plants vivid imagery in their minds while they slumber. When the trio wakes up primed and ready for action, they try to fight the erotic pull, but fail.

And a preview snippet…

Nita Bouls blew a damp tendril of her bangs out of her face and finished scrubbing the base of the display case. "Hey, Cal, can you plug the freezer in? I finally got the scuff marks off the bottom."

Callen Le Beau popped his head around the corner. "Are you sure you didn't miss a spot? You've been working on that thing all afternoon."

Nita smirked. "I'm sure, you asshat." She threw the wet, soapy sponge in his direction.

Deacon Huffman picked that moment to walk through the space behind the counter, carrying a pile of used drop cloths. Nita's aimed missile smacked him in the side of the face, bounced off, and landed with a gloppy plop on the floor. Nita gasped and bit back an inappropriate laugh. Deke picked the wrong time to get between her and Callen.

Deacon shot her a scathing look. "What the hell, Nita? I'm not the asshat." He used his shoulder to wipe away the suds on his ear. "Your aim sucks."

Nita grabbed a towel from the back of a café chair and hurried over to Deacon. He presented such a comical picture, she didn't trust herself to say anything.

Deke let her dab at his cheek and neck. "Dammit, Cal. You never know when to dial it back about ten clicks, do you?" His lips twitched and he choked down a chuckle.

Callen did his best innocent impression. "Me? I only asked if she got everything. Not my fault it took her from lunch until two seconds ago to finish her job." He cracked a grin.

Deke waved Nita away and crossed the newly tiled floor to the huge carton they'd turned into a makeshift trash bin. "That freezer plugged in yet?" He shot a backward glance toward Cal when he stuffed the wadded up drop cloths inside.

A sheepish look crossed Callen's face. "Er, no. Getting it now." He disappeared around the corner.

A moment later the freezer hummed to life and Nita quickly checked to make sure the sliding doors were all closed.

Deke snagged the towel and finished getting the soapy residue off his face and neck. "Okay, Mr Mouth, I finished painting the trim. What, exactly, have you been working on all afternoon?"

Callen darted back out into the main parlor and motioned for Nita and Deacon to stay put. "Glad you asked, Deke." He held up a finger. "Be right back."

He ducked into the work area and came back out, carrying a large canvas covered object. He placed it on the floor in front of the display case.

He jerked his head. "Deke, come give me a hand here." Whipped off the canvas and Nita's eyes widened then her gaze flew to Cal's.

"Oh… I don't know what to say… except thank you."

Cal shrugged. "No need for thanks. I wanted you to have something of your gram's so I cleared most of the dry rot from the original door, cut it down, and made the sign." He nodded to Deke.

Deacon helped Cal turn the slab of wood.

"I did both sides… thought we could hang it in the big window so it's visible from the outside but you can still see the message from in here, too."

Touched by the gesture, tears sprang to Nita's eyes.

Cal reached out. "Shit, I've made you cry. I'm sorry."

She wrapped an arm around his waist. "No, don't be sorry. They're happy tears, not sad." She hugged him. "I love it." She grabbed Deke's hand. "You guys have been awesome helping me out here and getting the place ready to reopen." She shook her head. "Too many memories and too easy to get lost in them without having you two as a distraction. I couldn't have done any of it without you."

Deke pressed a kiss to her temple. "I'm glad you called."

She almost hadn't… and she would have regretted it for the rest of her life.

This one is a joy. I love having the camaraderie between the trio of friends.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye