I spent the past
week wondering where half the year has gone quickly followed by feeling like
it's been a decade since January. Anyone else have that experience? It's kind
of insane how weird this year has been.
I did get a few
shows watched while I worked on several projects. I had a week where I wanted
some good background noise and got multiple episodes of Danger Man in. I truly enjoy this classic show.
I also started
another episode of Blue Heelers. I'm
almost through the second season of the show and I'm enjoying how things get
changed up. I also love seeing how rural Australia is portrayed.
Have almost all of Riverdale's "Tangerine" in the
watched column. Man, lots of reveals and good stuff in this episode. As much as
I loathe and dislike Hiram, I kind of loved how Veronica sticks it to him. That
said, I dread her storyline revolving around one-upping her dad all the time …
if that's the direction the story goes in. Cheryl's situation with her mummy
dearest ended up being a load of fun to watch. Archie's vigilantism biting him
on the ass ended up being better than I thought it would be. Also loved Jughead
finally getting to the bottom of the whole deal with his grandfather and the
mystery books. And Betty … not quite sure how I feel about everything going on
with her. I do have a theory about who's doing what to whom and I can't wait to
see if I'm right.
Last but not least
… I finally watched "Fadeout", the finale of Arrow. I have to say I couldn't have asked for a better end to the
series. I'm so sad to see this chapter of the Arrowverse close but I'm also
thrilled to have been a part of the experience from the very beginning. I got
to watch the characters grow and change and become who and what they're meant
to be. I think my favorite thing about this whole season are the callbacks to
previous seasons and the cavalcade of familiar faces from the past—seriously, I
don't think they missed anyone—and how they made Oliver's send-off worth its
weight in green arrows. The fadeout with Oliver and Felicity in Moira's office
ended up being pretty much a perfect endcap to the entire series. My glass is
raised and my pile of tissues is testament to the emotional journey I took with
the cast and crew of one of my very favorite shows ever.
Whew. I'm actually
getting a kick in the feels all over again.
And that's a good
note to wrap up television for this week. Tonight's post is from Uncommonly
Good, a novella that features the coming together of a couple from opposite
sides.
Here's the
mini-blurb:
Shelby Fewes and Creed Campanalla have a very friendly
rivalry vying for top name in their respective dark and light organizations.
When Creed is ordered to eliminate Shelby for retaliation, he makes a different
call and the duo have an uncommonly good time proving the two sides can live
and love together.
And a preview snippet…
Creed Campanalla entered the
study of Damon Gray, the light master, leader of the lightsider mages.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" His gaze swept the room, taking in some
recent changes.
Damon glanced up from a file on
his desk. "You're familiar with Shelby Tewes?" The folder made its
way over to Creed, along with a chair.
Creed sat, giving in to the
expectation he would do so. "I am. We've got something of a friendly
rivalry. She's at the top of the ranks on her side; I'm at the top on
mine." The quiet part rarely got said aloud … assassins didn't compete
openly.
At least lightsider ones didn't.
Damon tapped the packet of
information. "She's overstepped and needs to be dealt with." His gaze
met Creed's. "I want you to handle it." His tone didn't waver, but a
question entered his eyes.
Creed gave an inward sigh. He
didn't have to accept the assignment. His connection to the light master gave
him some leeway to pick and choose the type of work he did. Taking out a top
ranked darksider would put a target on Creed's back.
Creed set the file aside.
"Is this an elimination or extraction?" He didn't really have to ask
but making Gray verbally confirm would give Creed a kick of legitimacy.
Damon folded his hands on the desk. "An
elimination is warranted. She killed a protected mage and we can't let her get
away with doing so." His chin lifted. "Darksiders have no honor. But
this isn't a sanctioned accord. That's why I'm asking you to do this. I don't
trust anyone else to complete this task."
Creed bit back a scathing retort.
He'd gone down this road before. Damon's trust tended to be a double-edged
sword. Convenient for the light master to trot out when he needed something
done off book but otherwise held at bay when things really counted.
But Creed made a promise to his
mother long ago and wouldn't break it now. She finally had the life she
deserved … as long as he kept his place at Damon Gray's table.
Creed leaned back and folded his
arms over his chest. "What's the plan?" There would already be one or
Shelby's file wouldn't have been provided.
The light master's lips curved.
"You're going to join the next cage match and make sure she ends up as
your opponent." He shuffled the pages in his copy of the file.
"You'll take her out when she cheats to win. That way you're within your
rights and questions will be minimal." A very pleased look graced his
features.
Creed gave a nod and picked up
his folder. "I'll put my name on the roster." He started toward the
exit.
Damon shook his head. "No
need. It's already there."
Creed's step didn't falter but he
silently cursed the other man on his way out of the manor house. Creed liked to
handle his work without interference from anyone, including the light master. He'd
earned the right, dammit.
The trek to his quarters on the
grounds of the light master's estate, didn't take long and he'd cooled off by
the time he sat down to review every detail in the package of information. He
didn't question the need to do something about Shelby Tewes, but he did want to
thoroughly research her background. Anything to give him an edge in the cage.
By the time he finished the first
two pages, he let out a low whistle. "Man, she's in a crappy
situation." Paying off a debt her mom owed had turned her into an assassin
for the darksiders. "At the age of fifteen? Geez." Ten years later,
she'd become lethally proficient at her job. "And that's why I got called
in."
And if he had to be honest, this
assignment didn't sit well with him. Shelby did cross a line, but if she'd been
ordered to do so, making an example of her solved nothing. To avoid a
late-night visit from the light master, Creed needed to be somewhere else to
think and ponder how to handle everything … and to train for the upcoming cage
match.
Rising, he tucked the folder
under his arm and headed for the location he always found sanctuary. With the
blink of an eye, he stood inside his loft in the industrial section of the
city. The old factory building belonged to him and had become the only place he
called home.
I love this story!
Creed and Shelby have a lot at stake because family is involved. I like exploring
how characters will do what they have to in order to keep people they love safe
or to pay a debt of honor.
That's it for this
week.
Cheers!
Skye
