Sunday Snippet: Mocking with a Side of Sarcasm

Memorial Day weekend, which doubles as graduation weekend in my little burg, is my signal that summer will be arriving soon. Looking forward to outside activities and longer nights.

Watched some great season finales this week. Gotham pulled out all the stops and I'm really looking forward to seeing what next season has in store for the characters.

The Flash kind of left me reeling. I'm really not sure how I feel about Barry's final move or how it's going to impact the upcoming season. With Supergirl moving to the CW in the fall, it'll be interesting to see what kind of crossover action is in store for the DC shows.

Arrow did not disappoint. This is probably my favorite season finale to date. I'm definitely interested in seeing the next season and hope to touch on Oliver's time in Russia for the flashbacks. Absolutely looking forward to what I hope won't be the final season for Arrow, but who knows.

Orphan Black's episode came across as very chaotic and I kind of loved it. It reminded me of someone shaking a bottle of something fizzy then letting go to watch the contents spill out all over the place. I love how gray and blurry all the lines are and how dark the layers get with this show.

Wynonna Earp continues to make me happy. Need to watch this week's episode but I've been distracted by marathons of NCIS: LA and The X-Files this weekend.

Banshee's series finale actually turned out to be exactly what I hoped for. I mean exactly what I hoped for. I had a gut feeling about who killed Rebecca and the writers did not disappoint me in the least with how that aspect turned out. I'm also completely down with how Proctor's story ended, letting viewers kind of imagine his fate. I loved Kurt's resolution with Calvin and, honestly, for being such a late arrival as a character, I fell in love with his story. Brock's new attitude about being sheriff is awesome and, of course, Sugar's retirement is well-earned and thanks to Job. And speaking of the sassy transvestite, his sunset strut ended up being perfect and spot on. And I'm thrilled with where things are left with Hood and Carrie. Seriously, I loved, loved, loved the ending. A satisfying four seasons of a kick ass show.

And that's it for television this week.

Tonight's post is from Mocking with a Side of Sarcasm, a novella started with the two word prompt of "Yes, sir."

Here's the mini-blurb:

Bentley Briggs is snarky on a good day, but when she becomes mocking and throws out a side of sarcasm, Vasek Barrett wants to know why. He discovers a secret Bentley doesn't want him to know and she'll elevate her vitriol to an art form, but it won't keep Vasek from lending a hand.

And a preview snippet…

Bentley didn't wait for an affirmative answer when the waitress brought four glasses to the table. She picked one up, downed it, and quickly chased it with the second one. Rolling her shoulders, she welcomed the slide of liquid hitting her stomach. She'd be right as rain as soon as it hit her bloodstream.

Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she nodded in Vasek's direction. "Thanks." Cuing up the balls, she broke and landed stripes.

Vasek stepped in front of her before she could take the next shot. "Wanna tell me what's going on?" He braced his palm on the side of the table and downed one of his drinks.

Bentley planted the cue on the floor. "Not really. But I won't be making the meeting with Teague." She moved in close to him. "And if you even think about sending out your pack of hounds, you'll be calling up a buttload of new recruits." She let the threat hang in the air, mainly to see how he'd react.

Vasek frowned. "I doubt that. They're well-trained." He drank his final shot and turned the glass upside down.

Bentley smirked. "Ah… but you forget, I know every single one of your patented moves." Setting the pool stick aside, she held his gaze. "Don't test me on this, Vas." Drawing in a deep breath, she patted him on the chest and started for the exit.

No need to stick around and get into drama with him. She wanted to keep her rage and anger directed at Teague, but Vasek would make himself an easy target if she stayed within his vicinity.

The man never left well enough alone.

Pushing the door open, she welcomed the blast of humidity hitting her in the face, even at this time of night. She made a left and paused at the end of the block. Maybe a nice midnight swim in Havers Lake would clear her head. If she didn't get a handle on the situation with Teague, one of them would end up in a world of hurt.

And it probably wouldn't be her.

Teague might bluster and blow, but he'd never do her harm. He had too much control. She, on the other hand, did not. She didn't trust herself and hated that she couldn't. And she truly loathed the reason why.

Familial connections sucked balls.

I'm having a great time figuring out how this world operates and working on the connection between Bentley and Teague and having Vasek slowly piece everything together.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Mister Mysterious

Whew. Some great television this past week. Gotham's episode ended up being pretty terrific. Fish Mooney rocks!

I missed The Flash, but plan to catch up before the finale this week. Agents of SHIELD went out with a bang. I'm rather liking how the movie 'verse affects the small screen 'verse.

Arrow's episode ended up being so awesome. Can't wait for the final showdown between Team Arrow and Darhk.

I was thrilled with Legends of Tomorrow. Still hoping to see great things next season. Orphan Black blew my mind as usual. So many things going on! I have a sneaky feeling the creepy engineer chick did something truly terrible to Sarah. Here's hoping she meets an untimely end very soon.

Still have Wynonna Earp and Banshee to watch from the past week. I'm saving Banshee for last since it's the final episode ever. I know how I want things to end, but have a strong doubt I'll get what I want. LOL

Watched the finale for Marcella and, eh, not as good as I hoped. That said, if there's a second series and Jamie Bamber is a cast member, I'll be there. :D

That's it for the television this week. Patiently waiting for The Last Ship to premiere and looking for new stuff to dive into over the summer.

Tonight's post is Mister Mysterious, a novella built on the following prompt: two characters out of their comfort zone. Give them a reason to work together and search for someone they discover is alive.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Marlow Spence loses her sister to a sinister spellbinder who believes the siblings have the power to control dreams. When Tharn Oliver shows up on her doorstep, there can be only one reason—Leo Tolstoy is back and he wants Marlow.

And a preview snippet…

Tharn winced and couldn't hold her bold stare. A sucker punch to the face would have hurt less, especially coming from Marlow. The woman packed a wallop when she used brute force. But she wielded words with surgical precision, cutting deep and going directly for the throat.

He inhaled deeply then exhaled slowly before providing a response. "As usual, you're dead right. But this time has to be different." He finally risked another glance in her direction and found she'd retreated into the sanctuary of her living room.

Not what he expected. He figured she'd shove him out and slam the door in his face. Not that he didn't deserve her scorn. But he would have stood out there, the weather raging around him, until the shock to his system over seeing her again wore off.

Probably take a full month, because damn, she looked good. Three years had changed her. Longer hair, sharper features, but gorgeous just the same. Still lithe and limber, she prowled around the room before coming to a halt, standing in front of the fire.

Apprehension licked at his heels and he followed her, carefully gauging her body language. Stiff shoulders, jerky hand movements, her gaze darting all around the room. Shit. She held something back, something dark and bad.

He stopped beside her, observing where her glance lingered. A small music box, a hefty tome, a wilting peony draped along the mantle. He didn't need to hear the tune or see the title of the book. The peony spoke volumes. Crap. How many more items had she received?

Staring into the flames, the rumble of thunder overhead, he pushed for answers. "When did it start?"

Her head jerked back, but she quickly recovered. "Two weeks ago." Turning away from the fire, she moved to the sofa and sank down, perching on the edge.

Tharn settled into the wingback chair opposite the couch. "Why didn't you contact me?" Stupid question. Why would she get in touch with him? "Never mind. But you could have at least let one of the watchers know." Then again, the elder group of guardians would have sounded the alarm, dragged Marlow to the estate, and lost any chance of catching Tolstoy and bringing him to justice.

Marlow shook her head. "Honestly? The anniversary of Charlotte's death is next week." Her fingers twisted in her lap. "Anyone could have sent the stuff."

He sent her a sharp, sideways glance. She didn't really think he'd believe that line of bullshit, did she?

She caught his look and flopped back on the cushions, heaving a sigh. "Yeah, yeah. Buy me a boat for the river in Egypt." Her fingers rubbed at her temples. "I didn't want to possibly consider Leo the bastard wanted another go around." Her eyes slid shut. "The son of a bitch should be dead."

I loved writing this scene. I have a goal to get better with using body language to convey mood in my work. I hope this one worked well.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Mirror of the Mist

Holy cheez-its! Ohio is back to chilly, where-did-spring-go weather again. We haven't even hit fifty degrees for the day. LOL

But, the brisk temperature makes for great television viewing. This week didn't turn out too badly either.

Gotham's episode moved the story along and I'm excited to see what this week holds.

The Flash had a great showing. I loved all the interactions with the characters. Quite a complicated mix but somehow the relationships all work. Agents of SHIELD ended a character I've grown fond of, but I thoroughly enjoyed the inside movie references and how they tied into the small screen story.

Arrow pulled off a great episode, at least the part I saw. I had an unavoidable meeting on Wednesday and haven't had a moment to really catch up on the beginning yet.

Legends of Tomorrow. Wow. I hope the whole time travel thing lets the sacrificed character return. If not, I'm going to be very disappointed. Truly great stuff, though. And Orphan Black continues to blow my mind each and every week. I LOVE this show.

All caught up on Banshee and Wynonna Earp, with the exception of this week's episodes. That will be rectified later today. Caught the trailer for season three of The Last Ship and I'm now eagerly awaiting June so I can dive back into this one.

And that's it for television this week.

Tonight's post is from Mirror of the Mist, a novella prompted on a modern day, urban riff of Snow White.

Here's the mini-blurb:

An urban riff on Snow White, Cecelia Dumond, a black arts priestess, tasks Dys Hunter to assassinate her counterpart, a mystic oracle named Lyric Song. Dys goes undercover in a fight club to gain access to the powerful beauty. Little does he know, she's the one to lead him home, back to his rightful place as heir to his father's empire.

And a preview snippet…

"Tea?" Dys pulled a skeptical face.

Her lips curved. "I'm in a very uncivilized business, Mr. Hunter. High tea is my way of keeping balance in my life." She nodded towards Nardo and Beltane who took their cue and quietly left the office.

Dys lifted a brow. "You've got quite a set-up here, Ms. Song. And your fighters are extremely well-trained. You don't even have to utter a word."

She smirked. "And you're thinking I lead them all around by their dicks, right?" She snorted. "I have a full roster, Mr. Hunter, minus one combatant. I train seven men daily, schedule their fights, get promotional spots set up, and personally check the venues to make sure they're up to my standards. I don't have the time to touch any of them… and neither do they during the fight season." She paused, tilting her head to the side. "It's insulting to think I spend my days, flat on my back with my legs spread, catering to their sexual needs. How could I possibly manage to get anything else done?"

Dys gave her a slow once over, head to toe. "Sure would be one hell of an incentive." A corner of his mouth twisted upward. "And no one said you had to be flat on your back. Up against a wall would be my first choice." He drained the mug of tea she'd given him.

Lyric fought a shudder. The man had a wicked way with words and her vivid imagination had no trouble envisioning a steamy encounter with Dys Hunter. Blinking the imagery away, she sipped her brew and resisted grabbing his cup and reading the leaves.

Instead she gave him a long, level look. "Let's be clear, Mr. Hunter. Your first choice is duly noted and filed away under not happening anytime soon. If you want to be part of this outfit, rule number one is understanding I'm not here to satisfy your sex drive." She pinned him with her gaze. "I'm your boss, which means if you can't deal, you should walk out the way you came in." Folding her hands in front of her, she waited for a response.

Dys quirked an eyebrow. "Do I get the goon squad as my escort again?" His words lacked heat, but his displeasure came through loud and clear.

Lyric shook her head. "Considering you'll end up working with the goon squad as part of the team, this might not be the best fit for you." She scooted back and rose from her chair. "You have an impressive record, Mr. Hunter, but your physical prowess is only one aspect of being part of this group. You have to respect process, the fighters, and me." Moving around the desk, she perched on the edge. "I have doubts on all three counts."

Her position forced Dys to look up in order to meet her gaze.

He crossed his arms over his chest, which emphasized his bulging biceps. "Look, Ms. Song, you might have doubts about me, but you're going to hire me anyway." He kicked his legs out, his booted feet landing against her black stiletto-clad heels.

Lyric arched an eyebrow. "Please, tell me why I should." Dammit, her voice sounded much raspier than she wanted it to.

Something tells me Lyric's voice will get reactive whenever Dys is in her vicinity. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Mendacium

Happy Mother's Day to all the terrific moms out there! Enjoy the day and may you all be pampered and treated to your fondest wishes.

This week in television had some terrific stuff. Starting on Monday with Gotham, which is supposed to get a third season—yay! Hunters is still kind of dragging for me, but I'll finish out the season just because.

Tuesday's episode of The Flash ended on quite the cliffhanger. Looking forward to this week's follow up to find out what, exactly, happened. Agents of SHIELD kind of disappointed me but I did like the interaction between Daisy and Mac. And Fitz and Simmons are completely adorable.

Wednesday's Arrow proved very interesting. I had a sneaky suspicion Alex would turn out to be kind of cagey. Here's hoping he's not a total asshat… or that Thea makes him hurt a lot if he is. J

Thursday's Legends of Tomorrow made me so happy. I really do love this show. And the team is starting to mesh together in a great way. Orphan Black continues to blow my mind in wonderful ways. I wish I could say the same about After the Black, but maybe they'll find a good footing in the near future.

Wynonna Earp is still one of the best shows on TV right now. I'm very intrigued about Dolls's situation and look forward to more revelations on that end. I'm still a little behind on Banshee, but slowly catching up. Considering it's the last season, I'm not in a huge hurry to say goodbye.

And that's it on the television front this week.

Tonight's post is from Mendacium, a novella based on the prompt of writing a story that involves a lie.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Kelby Svet and Reave Systevich work for Mendacium, a covert organization that monitors magical ability among the human population. When powers go out of control or get abused, Kelby and Reave deal with the fallout—until a betrayal puts them on different sides.

And a preview snippet…

What the hell am I thinking? Reave didn't regret asking Kelby to consider a life together, but the notion came from a place he usually kept locked up tight. I'm crazy to even ponder walking away. Like Kel said, we'd be moving targets with no protection. Except each other.

Honestly? Leaving Mendacium might stack the odds in their favor. Then again, a strike team could end up pulling their names for containment. He and Kelby knew where too many of the skeletons were hiding and in which closets. Going up against their team wouldn't be impossible, but Reave didn't want to test the probability of coming out on top in a skirmish.

Yet, the price for staying much longer taxed him. The old adage of knowledge being power always forgot to tack on the fact that having information often cost the keeper's life. He didn't figure he'd live to a ripe, old age, but a couple more decades would be nice.

He shifted his position, rolling to his side. Kelby snuggled in behind him, wrapping an arm around his waist. Her body molded against his, a perfect fit. How great would life be if they could hit a bed like this every night? Probably too much to ever hope for. Didn't mean the gut-deep wish would go away any time soon.

Kelby nuzzled her nose against his back. "Reave." Her lips ghosted over his skin. "I can practically hear you thinking. Go to sleep."

He bit back a grin. Only Kelby could make an order to go to sleep sound sexy. His eyes drifted shut and he exhaled slowly, letting the tension ease. She gave him an encouraging squeeze and he laced their fingers together, pulling her hand up to his chest.

Not a bad way to end the night.

Reave's night ends the way he wants, but the morning… well, not so much. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Melee

Welcome to May! I'm excited to have some warmer weather finally… enough to want to be outside and working on my yard. :D

Let's see, television this week ended up being a mixed bag. I want to really love Hunters, but eh, not quite sure I'm feeling the joy with that one. We'll see what ends up happening.

The Flash and Agents of SHIELD put out two good episodes. I'm truly interested in finally discovering who's under the mask in the Zoom's cage. Also hoping whoever it is, they're an ally. My jury is still out on AoS, but we'll see how the next few episodes go.

Arrow is breaking my heart, but wow, what terrific performances by the entire cast. My one small gripe has to do with showing Barry having his speed back when Tuesday's episode ended with Wells saying he'd help Barry get it back. Then again, schedules being what they are, they might not have had a choice. I'm just a little disappointed because they're usually so on top of small details like that.

Legends of Tomorrow remains pretty awesome. I'm so thrilled with the character interactions any disappointment I have over Savage being so smarmy as a villain are miniscule.

Wynonna Earp? Man… I love this show so much. It's acting as something of a replacement for Lost Girl with strong, kick ass females and the plotline is truly interesting. I love the sister dynamic and the fish out of water scenario Wynonna experiences on a regular basis. Looking forward to more revelations about Doc's deal with the devil and seeing how long he rides the fence.

Still behind on Banshee, but hoping to catch up soon. Also backed up on Marcella, but I rather love the twisty turns this series takes on a regular basis. Love not knowing if the heroine of the show is actually a villain, too. J

And that's it for television this week.

Tonight's post is from Melee, a novella based on the two-word prompt "Forget this." I already had the glimmer of an idea for meta-human based story and the prompt spurred the sages to release some creative ideas.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Josie Walls and Parson Parrington gain extraordinary skills when they're captured and experimented on in a remote laboratory in an icy tundra. Longing to be free, they put their newfound abilities to the test, escaping their prison and going on the run.

And a preview snippet…

Josie crept along the corridor, thankful to find the darkened space empty. She needed a moment to tamp down the raging burst of lust Parson's embrace left behind. Questions filled her head. Instead of draining her, the lip-lock supercharged not only her libido but also her power, if the tingling in her hands counted as an indication. Why and how crowded for dominance in her brain. Followed by a desire to kiss him again and see where they ended up. Hopefully in the throes of passion against a flat surface. She didn't care if they were horizontal or vertical as long as they got hot and heavy with a side of sexy action.

A strong hand grasping her shoulder jerked her out of her thoughts.

Parson leaned in close. "Careful, there, Jose. Listen." His fingers slid down, gripping her arm, tugging her into an alcove.

Footfalls echoed ahead and she'd almost missed the sound. "Right. Let me get a quick count." Peering around the wall, she estimated four guards were moving toward the training area.

Which begged the question… how many more would they have to get through? She angled her head around and held up four fingers then motioned for Parson to move further into the shadows. Clearing her mind, Josie focused then brought her hands up, making fists. She inhaled deeply then stepped out into the corridor ready to zap the men heading toward her. They walked in a solid wall, shoulder to shoulder, taking up the entire space.

Josie exhaled and made her move. The energy built faster than usual. Too fast. She flung double fireballs in the direction of the guards and the percussive force sent all four flying backwards.

Parson moved to stand beside her. "What the hell, Josie? How did you do that?" He moved forward, leaning down to check her handiwork.

She shook her head. "I have no idea. I couldn't control the force." Glancing down at her hands, she discovered blisters on the fingertips.

That's new. A sliver of worry skittered down her spine. If she couldn't control her ability, they might not make it out of the compound.

Parson lifted his head. "They're dead, Josie. We've gotta get moving." He rose up and motioned her to precede him.

She moved a little slower than usual, the weight of killing four men settling in her stomach. Not the plan at all.

Parson nudged her shoulder. "You good to go?"

She wanted to laugh, but bit back the sound. "Not sure, but we have to move, right?" Two more levels to get through in the rat-like maze.

Luckily for them, the security team would have to come from behind to catch up.

Parson slid his gaze toward her. "We do, but only if you're certain you can follow through." Concern etched his features. "Maybe I shouldn't have—"

Josie cut him off. "But you did and, yeah, I think the kiss had unexpected effects. I'll get my head around it, but not right now." She started forward, unwilling to dive into an in-depth conversation about locking lips with him. "If I'm careful, I can get us through. Once we're out, we can examine the hows and whys of what happened." And she could have a good old-fashioned freak out.

Parson followed behind her. "So… that probably means more kissing in our future, yeah?"

Josie bit back a laugh. Parson's sense of humor always kicked in when she needed a distraction. The worry and tension eased and she squared her shoulders. Get out of the building, find a safe zone, then see what would happen when they next locked lips.

The future looked much brighter than it had twenty-four hours ago.

Little longer than normal preview, but I liked the way this scene came together.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Maybe This Seems Familiar

A random observation to start things off. A new office chair totally makes a huge difference when it comes to comfort for writing or editing. Just saying. I got a new chair on Friday and I can already feel the difference. Nice!!

Busy week on the television front. Gotham had a great episode. I hope it gets renewed because I'm interested in where the characters will end up next.

The Flash moved the story forward and I'm looking forward to seeing the finale. Arrow did a repeat, but this week should be new. Legends of Tomorrow had a great new episode. I'm liking what they're doing with the character interaction.

Agents of SHIELD took another bizarre twist and I like it. My one quibble would be the somewhat constant pulling the rug out will get old if it happens all the time. I do get a little tired of turning good guys into bad guys and that's saying something because I love all the shades of gray between black and white.

Wynonna Earp continues to make me happy. And I got partially caught up on Banshee. Gotta say the first episode kind of blew my mind in a terrific way. Not at all what I expected. I'm about halfway through season two of X Company and I’m still enjoying everything about the show.

I didn't say anything about Orphan Black last week because my brain was still processing the premiere. But, wow, what a terrific episode! And the follow up kicked butt, too. Lovely to see Paul, if only briefly. I have so much love for this show and how they raise the stakes each season.

And that's it for television.

Tonight's post is from Maybe This Seems Familiar, a novella built around the two word prompt of "step back". Kind of a fun one to build a story around.

Here's the mini-blurb:

A tragic death sends Inyx Pic, an Adept Major, into a brittle shell of self-doubt. When Philo Batson, her Adept Master, pushes Inyx to get back to teaching, her armor of disillusionment cracks and anger and grief come pouring out, leaving Philo to handle the fallout.

And a preview snippet…

Inyx woke up groggy, her facial skin tight, her tongue dry and swollen. Blinking against the light streaming in from her window, she angled her head, a dull throb starting over her left eye. How the flaming hell did she end up in her room? And whose warm body stretched out on the other side of the bed?

Her gaze settled on Philo and she groaned. All the pieces clicked into place. Damn the man. He'd pushed her to face her drama and she'd blubbered like a baby.

The headache eased and she glanced up to find leafy green eyes staring in her direction, focused on the spot above her left eye. "Stop it. Quit coddling me." She raked her fingers through her tangled hair. "If you want to help, get me some water." She shook her head when he reached across the bed to retrieve a glass from the nightstand.

His smirk held humor. "Already anticipated the need." He pressed the cold glass against her cheek.

She wanted to smack him, but the coolness eased the taut skin on her face. Wrapping her fingers around the cup, she slid it forward and gulped half the contents down. The dry, parched desert of her mouth turned into a blissful oasis. Philo annoyed the hell out of her, but he always seemed to make the right moves when she hovered close to the edge.

And she teetered precariously at the moment.

Finishing the water, she placed the glass on the nightstand again. "You had nothing better to do than babysit me last night?" Dragging herself to an upright position, she tucked her legs under her. "No hot dates?"

Philo lifted a shoulder. "Nothing pressing." He glanced away. "Or all that interesting."

Inyx cracked a smile. "Madam Prissypants not cutting it anymore?" Fillomena Warrick ruled her own little corner of the realm.

And tried to slither her mental tentacles around Philo on a regular basis.

Philo's lips twisted in a grimace. "Are you going to say 'I told you so' now?" He'd failed to heed Inyx's warnings about the designs Fillomena had on him.

Inyx shook her head. "Nah, free pass this time." She angled a sideways glance in his direction. "Especially since I kinda ruined your night." Not quite ready to be grateful, she left her comment there.

Philo slid around, swinging his legs over the edge of the mattress. "Appreciated. Maybe next time you warn me off a potential nightmare, I'll listen." He stood up and stretched, the muscles in his shoulders flexing and bunching with movement.

Inyx looked away. The constant battle between her head and heart didn't rate on her list of things to worry about today. After all, Philo peeled the scab off the wound, leaving her raw and achy. The scar tissue would take time to heal.

I'm fond of Inyx and Philo. They're fun to write.

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