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Sketch Links

May15

[personal profile] meeks (meeksp) has declared that the most linked picture every month of her crowdfunded sketches will get more work, so I present to you the two she has done for me:

Ayla and Ioanna (Lj Link) at the end of a recent chapter of Addergoole.

Aaand, from my Rin & Girey series (see tag below), Rin contemplating, Girey in the backgroun (LJ Link).

I really enjoy [personal profile] meeks work (the icon, as mentioned, is also her work, as is YsabetWordsmith’s new icon). Comments (on her stuff, not here) and linkbacks are love, and if you link to her work from somewhere other than in LJ, please ping her and let her know.

She’s still doing scene illustrations, too, so if you’re an author/poet, drop in and give her a scene to illustrate

This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/42605.html. You can comment here or there.

Worldbuilding: Population Bottlenecks, Founder Effect

May10

[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith posted an interesting discussion on population bottlenecks.

While the article is rather interesting (“North America was populated by no more than 70 people 14,000 years ago, claims stunning new DNA research”), I find the links to Minimum Viable Population and Population Bottleneck more interesting.

World-building-wise, when discussing the exodus that landed people on Reiassan (as well as in contemplating the blue-haired McAliens in Vas’ World), I’ve had to keep in mind such concepts to be sure the populations are viable. But the Founder Effect gives me some fun grist for my mill…

This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/42137.html. You can comment here or there.

15 minute ficlet: I Serve (Content warning: Implied abuse)

May8

Originally posted here in response to the prompt “smear.” It’s, ah, um, fan-fiction for a roleplay in my Tir na Cali setting that [personal profile] kc_obrien is running for me.

Anascha smeared the lotion down Castor’s back in long, gentle movements, minding the welts and bruises, and the lacerated rough patches by his shoulders. “Damnit, Cass, what did you do this time?” she muttered into his ear. She didn’t think anyone was listening, but you never really knew. Not here. Not in the Lady’s household, where having friends was a luxury none of them could afford. Not when even the Lady couldn’t trust anyone… and if their owner wasn’t allowed that freedom, then her slaves wouldn’t be, either.

“I…” he groaned, and then put his face back on the pillow. “Gods below, Ann, that stings.”

“I know, but it will numb everything in a moment.” She worked with a quick and practiced hand, spreading the goo over his whole back, his ass, his upper thighs. She’d done this before, and damn the risk in helping others. Even Castor. “What happened? You didn’t…?”

“I’m not a complete moron,” he hissed, as the lotion touched an open laceration. “There’s no way out, and I’m not going to sell what little integrity I have at a bullshit attempt. No.”

“I know, I know,” she soothed, moving up to his neck and working in above and below his heavy steel collar. “I just thought… she’s going to be angry at you for a really long time, you know.”

“I know.” He flopped against the bed with a sigh. “She has every right to be. But I belong to her now, Anascha. We both do. And I’m going to serve her as loyally as I served her sister. My honor demands it.”

“Right up to the assassination attempts?” she murmured against his ear. He stiffened again, and shook his head.

“Of course,” he muttered tiredly. “I will do what my lady demands of me. I always have.”

This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/40957.html. You can comment here or there.

15 minute ficlet: Reasons

May8

Originally posted here in response to the Lyrics Prompt “I don’t need your reasons – I know you’re good.”

“I don’t need your reasons.” Junji took the photo from the too-thin, too-blonde woman. “I’m here to do a job.”

“But…” She gestured with manicured hands, fruitlessly.

“But?” Junji shrugged, studied the picture, and handed it back. “You have something you need done, and you’re willing to pay for having it done well. Right?”

“I know you’re good… I mean, I heard you were good,” she faltered. “You come really well recommended. And,” she muttered, “no one else would take the job.”

“Well,” Junji shrugged philosophically, “it’s that sort of job. That’s what I get called in for.”

“You don’t mind?” She seemed to be saying I’d mind.

“Why should I?” She didn’t answer You learn to stop caring. “It’s money they aren’t getting, and I am, and after all…”

“A girl’s got to do what she’s got to do to survive.” The blonde nodded, understanding. “Even if you have to take the jobs no-one else wants.”

Junji eyed her, beginning to understand the client. That wasn’t good. She didn’t like the kinship-feeling. She didn’t like thinking of her clients as people, or her targets. They were money-in, money-out. They were what she had to do to survive.

Ack. She looked at the picture again, studied the way his nose tilted just to one side, the expensive suit that didn’t actually suit him, the very very charming blue eyes. “Not your son. Not your husband. Not your ex, or your lover.”

“The boss’s son,” she murmured, gratified and embarrassed all at once. “I’m divorced, single, and my daughters live with their father.”

“And he’s…” Not a rival. Too far above her in the hierarchy to be that, and too young. They were on different tracks completely.

“Really, really good with his tongue,” the woman whispered, her blush suggesting the blonde had once been normal.

“Ah.” It helped, Junji was surprised to find, to know something about their reasons. “I’ll deliver him to you tomorrow, as per our agreement.” And probably not take the opportunity to try out that tongue herself.

“I know you will,” the woman smiled. “You’re the best.”

This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/40612.html. You can comment here or there.