Spoils of War 25: Intent

Dec4

First: Spoils of War I: Surrender

PLEASE NOTE: I WENT BACK TO THE END OF CHAPTER 21 AND AM REWRITING FROM THAT POINT. 

“Okay, this is going to take some Working, but if I’m right about your Words and I can do what I want with my own – the first would be a bomb, but it would have to be really big or really properly targeted – best would be both – to actually take out the Mountain. 

“A missile…”  Nikol shook her head, picturing the entrances into and out of the Mountain’s main complex (also called the Mountain, just to confuse matters).  “No, we have no way of launching a missile and they have Force shields up, and obviously anything that big Long-Tail wouldn’t be able to drag through the vents. Or any other animal.  Sorry, kitty,” she added ruefully. “You’re really cool, but you’re not nearly that cool.” Continue reading →

Look a Theme Poll!

Dec4

Hidden Mall 93: Bookseller

Dec2

They were facing a bookshop, the blue woman behind the counter looking both surprised and worried. 

“You!” Liv complained.  “You! You took my life in a book!”

“You gave me your life in a book,” the woman countered.  She gestured at the book on the shelf. “And because you did, you can come back here.  Because you have written down your story, you’re anchored to this world.”

“Wait.”  A Vic stepped forward.  “Wait. Wait, you’re saying if we didn’t do the thing with the book-“

“Then it is much harder for you to find home, but much easier for you to step into another home.  Which it seems that you are doing, yes? I would suggest, if you wish to travel without this young lady, that you leave a book here of your life to pin you to this world.  You’re going to want something of the sort, I assure you.”

“So you-” Abseil frowned at her.  “You’re – you were doing us a favor.” Continue reading →

Purchase Negotiation 24 – Soft

Nov30

First: Purchased: Negotiation
Previous: User’s Manual

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He woke slowly, finding himself warm, comfortable, well-rested.  There was a warm pressure on his chest and shoulder.  

Leander opened his eyes slowly.  There was a tumble of auburn curls on his chest.  Sylviane was snuggled against him, her eyes closed, her breathing even. 

This, this he could get used to.  

The moment he had the thought, he wanted to slap himself.  She was beautiful, sure. She was very nice. She also, more or less, owned him.  He’d be an idiot to get attached. Eventually,  she was going to get bored, and things were going to get difficult. He didn’t have the temperament to kowtow and keep her entertained.  Continue reading →

Running in the Bear Empire 65: An Emperor Indeed

Nov29

First: Running in the Bear Empire
Previous: 64: A Long Journey Across the Hall
Next: 66: Father Snake
🐻

Mesaruxenne and Aucheria, his two bath-attendants and two Claw guards, stared at Deline as if she had gone insane. 

No, she realized in half a heartbeat.  They were ready for trouble already, weapons all aimed at the door, and were staring at her as if they’d nearly just shot her.  Three people she didn’t know cowered off to one side; five people lay unconscious or dead off to the other side. 

She tapped Carrone’s crossbow and he lowered it; she sheathed her blade and bowed deeply.  She could barely see Carrone doing the same to her right.  

The part of her mind that assessed risk pointed out that she was exposing herself to a bunch of people with weapons, trained fighters and mages, and if Mesaruxenne  wanted her dead, she’d just offered up her neck.  Continue reading →

Spoils of War 24: Plans

Nov27

First: Spoils of War I: Surrender

PLEASE NOTE: I WENT BACK TO THE END OF CHAPTER 21 AND AM REWRITING FROM THAT POINT. 

He had plans.  Aran had plans to take down the Mountain.  She really had slept a while.

“Plans.  Right.” She looked at the tray and mopped up the last corner of a roll.  “Let’s – where do you have everything?”

“Office.  It’s this way.”  He looked guilty, again.  “Do you think you can-?”

“I’d better find out fast.”  She lifted the tray and offered it to him.  “Thank you for breakfast. And uh, who made the bread?”

“Donnal.  He’s with Ford.  He figured out the whole like, wild yeast?  I don’t know, anyway, it was some doing but we made it happen.”  He took the tray from her, shifted to hold it one-handed, and offered her his other hand.  Continue reading →

It’s #WorldBuildingWednesday!

Nov27

It’s #WorldBuildingWednesday!

Today I am soliciting questions on my Rural Fantasy ‘Verse, the Aunt Family, and if you like specifics, specifically on the magic in that world.

 

The Aunt Family is one of the themes available for my Great NanoWrimo Prompt Call, which is still running!   See here on Ko-fi, and see many stories posted this month here on Patreon.

Hidden Mall 92: I LIKE PEOPLE

Nov25

In the end, they left with 10 people who weren’t (as far as they knew) from their home dimension, including ‘Via and a very cute Sandy who wanted to travel more – after she had a home base. 

“Do you wonder if our Vic and Sandy came through here?” Liv murmured to her.  “I mean, you know. If they followed us, if they’re around somewhere? This can’t be everyone-“

“Well, I guess we’ll find out,” Abseil murmured.  “Maybe. I mean, can you look at any of these people the same when we go back to school?”

“I mean, I’m going back to school with at least three people that look identical to me, so I don’t know.  Probably not,” Liv muttered. “I mean, everyone will be looking at us differently too, though.  Right?” Continue reading →

Purchase Negotiation 23 – User’s Manual

Nov23

First: Purchased: Negotiation
Previous: College Prep

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The problem was, Leander had no idea what Sylviane wanted, what she meant, or what she was thinking at any given moment.

That had been the case with almost everyone who had owned him, of course, but on the other hand, most of the other people who had owned him hadn’t wanted him to act like a person.  They certainly hadn’t cuddled him, with one notable, unpleasant, hopefully-forgettable exception.  Continue reading →

Worldbuilding Wednesday: TIR Talk (Fairy Odd Powers)

Nov21

So @Shutsumon started doing Worldbuilding Wednesday on Mastodon and that got me thinking and so then I started and…

well, here’s last week’s post. I’m going to try to post them a week after I toot (post on Mastodon) them.

Is anyone interested in these? They do not seem to be getting comments. 🎣

 

The mark of a royal[1] in Cali is generally considered to be threefold, with a fourth not widely acknowledged but no less real. Continue reading →