M.L. Skye's Blog, page 19

Sunday Snippet: We Have a Winner

I'm still working on keeping all the plates spinning in the air. Finished up a few work projects and started more. I'm definitely not complaining even if I wouldn't mind things slowing down a wee bit.

Had a light week for television. I've pretty much decided that getting through one round of my rotation is doing well at the moment. I have some home projects that need attention and that cuts into screen time.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. I like how the trauma with Alice is still prevalent. And the surgeon guy is an interesting addition to the cast.

Watched another MasterClass lesson with Neil deGrasse Tyson. I've noticed he has a number of fairly short lessons and I'm not sure why they're not a little longer. They do have some great information.

Started The Babysitters Club and liked the first episode. I've heard rave reviews about this show and I'm looking forward to getting into the storyline.

Enjoyed another episode of the Ready Room for Star Trek: Discovery. I like the interviews but the format could use a little work. I'm keeping in mind that these were more than likely filmed during the Covid shutdown.

Watched an episode of Chicago Med. Ended up being pretty tense and gnarly for the entire ED. I'm a little bummed there wasn't an end scene with Ethan and April.

Caught another episode of The Snoopy Show. I love this for quick breaks when my eyes need something different to focus on instead of words on a page.

Finished up the first season of Cuffs. Have to admit the finale ended up being terrific. I wouldn't mind seeing more of this group of characters.

Watched an episode of Silent Witness and honestly, I have no clue what's going on. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I hope some pieces fall into place in the conclusion.

Started a new arc of Classic Who. So far, it's kind of lame but I think this one will get better as it goes along. Here's hoping.

Began a new-to-me series with Most Terrifying Places in America. The first episode featured a haunted prison in Ohio. I actually had a friend who went for one of the weekend excursions not long after it opened for tours. I can't remember if they enjoyed it or not.

Finished up the first season of Hawkeye by watching the deleted scenes and gag reel. I truly enjoyed this show. If they have a second season, I'm in.

Last but not least, I started another episode of Harrowand I'm liking how things are coming together for this season. Not sure how much I'll like the whole long, lost son angle, but I'm interested for now.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from We Have a Winner, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Kella Yates and Weston Grogan can't fight their attraction and everyone knows it. The entire crew of their ship waits in anticipation for their inevitable hook-up. When they finally cave in to their lust, the winner of the when will it happen pool can be declared.

And a sneaky peek…

Weston Grogan strolled into the head and paused when he heard off-key whistling.

His lips curved into a grin. "She's here and no one else is … couldn't have timed things better." Making his way through the maze of stalls and sinks, he entered the changing area to find Kella Yates standing naked in front of the lockers, towel drying her hair.

He made his move and tested the waters, moving behind her and nuzzling her neck. Her head tilted to one side and the towel hit the floor. His palms skimmed over her shoulders still damp from the shower.

When she leaned back into him, he cupped her breasts, tweaking her nipples. Her hands reached behind her to fondle his hard length. His loose-fitting shorts gave her plenty of room to grip and stroke.

Kella turned and lifted her chin to meet his lips in a steamy kiss. Her tongue slipped inside and her fingers dipped under his waistband. She pushed the garment down past his hips then grasped his ass cheeks to pull him flush against her. He slid a hand between her legs, his mouth ghosting kisses over her collarbone.

The hatch clanged open and Kella sprang away from him to grab her tank top. He whipped a towel from a locker and wrapped it around his waist. He bunched the fabric in his fist, doing his best to hide his hard-on.

Weston cursed the intrusion. "Dammit." He'd been unable to coordinate his schedule with Kella's for closet to two weeks.

Kella gave him a disappointed look then quickly dragged her shirt over her head.

Melli Nichols entered the changing area, a curious look on her face.

Weston kept his gaze on Kella, whispering, "Later." Then he nodded to Melli on the way into the shower stalls.

Turning the water on, he shook his head. "Might be time to use the super-secret spot again." Soon … very soon.

I have a lot of fun with sexy shorts. Weston and Kella have no idea how much everyone wants to know what they get up to or how much money is riding on the outcome.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Wasted Credits (a Furlough 99 novella)

What a crazy week of weather. We had rain, rain, rain, which is probably great for the gardens—as long as the plants are hardy. We also had some close to freezing temps in the wee hours of the morning.

Another super-busy work week. Started a few new projects and I'm humming along on some others. I like having a variety of work and I definitely have that right now.

Another slower week for television. I got started again on doing some clearing out and sorting of stuff I've put off way too long. The good news is I've discovered a ton of missing socks, which makes me very happy.

I watched the second episode of Harrow's third season. So far, I really, really dislike the new boss. But … I kind of love the dynamic between Harrow and Fairley. Discovering Grace is married is something I'm on the fence with, but we'll see what happens there.

Caught another episode of Blue Heelers. I'm a little disappointed to find out I won't be able to watch the bulk of the series now. It seems to have been removed from the streaming service I've been watching it on. Maybe it'll pop back up again. I still have the season to finish then I'll see what happens.

Enjoyed another lesson of MasterClass with Neil deGrasse Tyson. This one talked about systems of beliefs.

Finished up Young Wallander: Killer's Shadow and it did not disappoint. I hope there's another season of this show.

Watched two episodes of Classic Rugrats. I enjoy having this show on in the background when I'm reading emails.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med and, wow, I'm starting to wonder a little if this is Conor's last season. Things seem to be ramping up quickly.

Enjoyed another episode of The Snoopy Show. This one had a bunch of spring-like vignettes.

Watched another episode of Loch Ness and there didn't seem to be a lot of forward momentum on the case, but little revelations popped up and into the storyline. I'm excited for the next episode.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness. I'm kind of happy Thomas didn't do something sketchy with the information he had on the ex's new boyfriend. Even though she pretty much deserves anything he hands out. She's a piece of work.

Managed to finish an arc of Classic Who. I'll be starting a new one this week. I'm still on the fence with Mel as a companion. She does a lot of screaming.

Also watched the last episode of The Laundry Guy. I actually hope he does another round of episodes. I thoroughly enjoyed the six available.

Watched the Marvel Assembled: The Making of Hawkeye. Honestly, I really loved the first season and I'm kind of hoping there will be another, even if it's primarily Clint-free. Some great groundwork is out there if they continue this.

Started a new episode of The Hardy Boys. I love the mystery of this season and I can't wait to finish this episode.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Wasted Credits, a novella set in the Furlough 99 universe and featuring some action on the mining colony.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Valora Prime can't figure out why a smart, attractive man like Hackett Barnes pays for sex. When she corners him to find the answer, his response catches her off guard and she has to make a quick decision. Let him in or let him go.

And a sneaky peek…

Her gaze didn't waver. Hackett stood before her, loosely holding her captive. Weirdly, she didn't want to be anywhere else. Something of a first for her.

Clearing her throat, she wet her lower lip. "So … it's all right in the open. Practically a standing invitation, right?" Putting herself out there scared the hell out of her.

How he responded would dictate everything from this point forward.

Hackett let go of her chin. "Can you accept it? The idea of this possibility without regret?"

She countered with her own question. "Can you? I'm not the one who thinks twelve steps ahead." Damn … that sounded terrible and not at all what she meant.

Hackett's lips curved in a half-smile. "Exactly my point." He leaned in, his mouth hovering close to hers. "I've thought this through every which way and back again."

Her breathing went shallow. "And what did you conclude?" When did his voice get all sexy and raspy?

He eased back, giving her space. "You're not wrong … but neither am I. So … I have a proposition for you." Stepping away, he moved to the seating unit and sat down.

Valora eyed him warily. "What did you have in mind?" Oddly, the room temperature grew warmer even though he sat five feet away from her.

Hackett waited one heartbeat. "One week. You and me. Right here on Furlough."

Her mind blanked. Did he actually suggest they spend seven days together on the space station? Why didn't the idea make her want to run? Because curiosity would be the end of her.

Yet … her brain shied away from the thought of spending that much intimate time with him. Because he did mean something to her.

Needing a moment, she hedged. "Did I hear you correctly? You want me to spend a week on Furlough with you?"

He gave her a bland look. "Your hearing is fine. What's the answer?"

She huffed out a breath. Shit. She had no idea how to respond.

So, she asked the only thing she could think of. "Why?"

I'm very happy with how this one is coming together. I love revisiting the Furlough space station and adding in a little more detail about the mining colony.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Wait No More

Well, hello May. I'm not quite sure where April went but it's nice to have a nice shiny new month to get started.

Had a very busy work week with lots of movement on my projects. I'm finalizing a few and getting ready to start new ones. I love have a full calendar!

Kind of a slow week for television. The weather got a little nicer and I tried to take advantage of getting outside for a while.

I watched an episode of Peak Practice and it ended up being really good. I think there might end up being a new doctor coming to the practice, which will make things interesting.

Caught another MasterClass with Neil deGrasse Tyson. He spoke of cultural bias and I ended up getting a lot out of the lesson.

Got another episode of Young Wallander: Killer's Shadowin and pieces started falling into place. I loved the reveal at the end of the episode and can't wait to see what happens next. I have a feeling Kurt is going to be on the hot seat through no fault of his own this time.

Enjoyed another episode of The Ready Room. Anthony Rapp is such a fun interviewee to watch and he offered up some great insight into his character.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med and found it kind of interesting. I really love how the episode title tends to be a through line for the whole episode.

Caught another episode of The Snoopy Show and enjoyed it. The three or four vignettes are a lot of fun.

Got another episode of Cuffs in and should be close to the final episode of the season. I'm kind of interested to where they end up leaving things for the characters.

Started season eighteen of Silent Witness and ended up loving it. There's a bit of a different vibe this season and I like how the characters are interacting. I can safely say I really don't like Thomas's wife and I'm kind of hoping there's not going to be a lot of his personal drama. That said, I totally get his concern for his daughter.

Watched another episode of Classic Who and I'm liking how this arc is moving along. Even though the budget for Seven's turn as the Doctor is kind of lacking, the actors do a darn good job with what they have.

Enjoyed another episode of The Laundry Guy. I'm truly hoping there will be more episodes of this show. If not, I guess I can scour YouTube to see if there's anything else with Patric.

Last but not least, I watched the finale of Hawkeye. Really happy with how the season ended. I loved the three-way conclusions and the intermingling with the LARPers. I so hope there will be more of them if another season ends up happening.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Wait No More, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Zoey Blythe pushes Cash Mateson out of her life when she sees how much good he can do as an elected official. Ten years later, their paths cross again and Zoey realizes she should have fought a little harder to stay by Cash's side. Heading up the security detail for Cash's campaign, Zoey feels the spark again, but marriages and careers are on the line, even if she doesn't want to wait anymore.

And a sneaky peek…

Zoey stripped off her clothes to change into something way more comfortable than her standard uniform. "Can't start over where we started." Meaning her in a uniform and Cash in a suit. "That would super-bad mojo."

A knock sounded on the door. Still naked, she debated throwing on a pair of shorts and a tank top, but she didn't expect anyone but Cash. She wrapped a blanket around her then went out to answer.

Cash stood outside. His eyes flared when she greeted him. He entered, never looking away. When he pushed the door shut, the change in the air became electric.

Zoey let the blanket fall; all bets were off this time. Each knew what cards were out on the table. Didn't mean the stakes weren't still high. Their future, whatever they made of it, would ride on what transpired from this moment forward.

Holding her gaze, Cash shrugged out of his jacket and loosened his tie while walking toward the bedroom.

There were still a few glitches, like officially ending his marriage and figuring out what the hell he would do now that the election had been lost. The former … all but a formality. The latter … didn't really matter in the moment. They were both on the same page with that. And each of them ended up where they wanted to be.

Needed to be.

Zoey's hands loosened Cash's belt while he unbuttoned his shirt, pulling the shirttails free. No illusion or pretext. No urgent sense of what-if or pretending this couldn't happen. They were beyond needing to do that now. Each step they took toward each other now would be of their own choice. Feels good.

And right.

Finally.

Zoey pushed Cash's pants and boxers past his hips, while he shed his shirt. Her hands grasped his erection, fondling the hard length as Cash stepped out of the bunched up clothing at his feet. She settled on the mattress and scooted back on the bed, letting her thighs fall open in welcome when he settled over her, pressing kisses along her shoulder and up her throat.

Her head fell back and all thoughts of where the future would go fled. Amazing how easy it is to focus on the here and now when I'm not worried about it anymore. At the moment, her only concern was making Cash feel the depths of pleasure he generated in her.

Running her hands down his back, she flattened them against his butt, urging him to enter, to consummate the feelings they shared. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she lifted her lips to meet his, slipping her tongue in his mouth, moaning deep in her throat.

Raising her groin to meet his, she arched against him, drowning in the sensations that spread throughout her body. Grasping his forearms, Zoey held her held her hips aloft, drawing Cash even deeper inside, every thrust teasing at her clit until she hovered on the brink. Grabbing his thighs, she moaned and cried out on the next inward plunge, shuddering and shaking when an orgasm tore through her.

Cash followed right behind, his body tensed and taut with pleasure when he broke, his ragged breathing coming in harsh gasps. His mouth descended, capturing hers in a kiss very tender and gentle but left no doubt there would be more to follow … as soon as they recovered.

When he settled down beside her, she turned and molded herself to his side, head and hand resting on his heart. His arms wrapped around her, holding her securely, but not tightly. He didn't have to worry she'd be gone in the morning.

They were moving forward, not back.

Together.

Finally.

Zoey and Cash think they have everything sorted out but there might be a few more hurdles to jump before they do.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

 

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Victory is Hollow

It's been a wild and busy week! I'm buried with work projects, which I'm thrilled to have—even if I could use about four more hours in each day. Good problems to have.

Had a slower than normal television viewing week, but I kind of expect that when I'm trying to keep plates spinning with work and only have a small wobble here and there.

I caught two episodes of Hawkeye and I'm kind of bummed there's only one left. I'm loving this show a lot.

Caught the season three premiere of Harrow and I already intensely dislike the new boss. That said, I kind of love the shifting dynamics of the character relationships. Fern could grow up just a little, but I like where everyone else is for the most part.

Watched another episode of Blue Heelers and liked the way everything played out. Really good case of the week on this one.

Enjoyed another MasterClass lesson with Neil de Grasse Tyson. Learned about cognitive bias and have a much better understanding of how that works.

Caught another episode of Young Wallander: Killer's Shadow. Poor Kurt gets his ass kicked on a regular basis. Glad to see Reza get bumped up to detective. Poor Rusk has a lot going on at the moment.

Got two more episodes of Classic Rugrats in and thoroughly enjoyed. I love the call outs to stuff from my younger years. That's why the original show is genius. Enjoyable for parents and kids.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med and things got interesting at the end. Not sure I'm down with Will possibly hooking up with Agent Lee. Really kind of squicked out by Nat's involvement with the dad of her former patient. But I love the whole saga of Daniel's ex and everything that's going on with that.

Enjoyed another episode of The Snoopy Show. I like how the short vignettes are themed around a topic. This one had Halloween stuff and it was a lot of fun.

Caught another episode of Loch Ness and I'm kind of amazed how things are moving forward but at what seems like a maddeningly slow pace. A couple of big reveals in this episode.

Finished up season seventeen of Silent Witness and should start eighteen this week. Have to say I quite liked how this one ended. Glad Jack will be sticking around.

Watched another episode of Classic Who. Poor Seven just doesn't have a lot to work with. That said, I'm kind of enjoying this arc.

Enjoyed another episode of The Laundry Guy. I think I could honestly watch multiple seasons of this show. Patric needs his own YouTube channel. I'd totally subscribe.

Also watched another episode of The Hardy Boys and have a lot of love for this show. It's so much fun to talk to my brother about the episodes after we see them. Brings back a lot of eighties memories.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Victory is Hollow, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Patience Clew and Del Mindhapel are elite arms instructors for their training academy and have a lot of tension bouncing back and forth. When two of their cadets go head to head in an illegal duel and one ends up with an almost mortal wound, the top teachers are confined to quarters and that's when the tension really goes out of control.

And a sneaky peek…

Del paced the length of their quarters, pissed off and ready to rumble.

He stopped and faced his counterpart. "I told you a duel was a stupid idea." More like colossally insane.

Patience shrugged. "How should I know one of the weapons had live rounds?" She flipped the latest issue of the Cutting Edge, a newsletter dedicated to promising advances in military technology.

Her lack of giving a shit kicked his anger up a notch.

Del flung out a hand. "Not you, Patience. We." He waved his hand between them. "Neither of us bothered to check." A rookie mistake when neither of them had seen newb status in a long while.

Her shoulders slumped. "Yeah. You're right." She shoved the publication aside. "Basic stuff and we miss it." Her gaze met his. "Not our best moment."

Nope. Not by a long shot.

He pulled out a chair and settled across from her. "Understatement. We have a cadet who's lucky they pulled through the surgery. And we're responsible." The weight of that wouldn't leave him.

And he needed to wrap his head around the reason Patience always did the opposite of the smart thing. Maybe if he understood they could get past constantly butting heads and never make the mistake they made earlier. At the very least, his blood pressure might not rise and fall on her whim.

He leaned forward a little. "Why do you always push boundaries and bump up against the regs? And I'm not judging here. I really want to understand where you're coming from."

She actually took a moment to answer. "To garner change. The status quo should always be tested." She listed a bunch of discoveries and new technology found when someone pushed hard at normal. "This newsletter is filled with great ideas, but genius isn't always foolproof."

Del couldn't argue. "Gotta admit, I'm impressed with your knowledge on the subject." She knew her stuff.

She rolled a shoulder. "Yeah, well, better to discover potential problems in a controlled environment like the academy than out in this field where a whole platoon could be lost." Her voice dropped and wobbled a little.

A light bulb went off for Del and any residual anger drained away. "Sounds like you're speaking from experience." Maybe he'd get a handle on what made her tick after all.

I'm having a lot of fun with this story. Del and Patience are pretty much polar opposites and getting them to see the advantage of that is making me happy.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Victory

To everyone celebrating a holiday, I hope it's incredible and lovely. To everyone not celebrating a holiday, I hope your weekend is incredible and lovely.

Had a crazy-busy week with a lot of distractions. I got a lot of work done but felt like I kept spinning my wheels, mainly because I'd get interrupted and have to review a lot so I didn't miss anything.

Kind of a slow week of television viewing. I watched two episodes of The Snoopy Show and rather enjoyed both. I'll definitely finish the season that's available.

Caught the second episode of Loch Ness and I'm pretty hooked. There's a lot going on and sometimes doesn't feel like anything is related, but I'm pretty sure there's one single thread that will pull everything together.

Watched two more episodes of Silent Witness. I like getting a little more information on Jack's backstory. He's an interesting character but kind of mysterious.

Finished up an arc of Classic Who and started a new one. Seven kind of gets a raw deal and I'm still not quite sure about Mel. The weird way she got introduced kind of throws me off.

Enjoyed two episodes of The Laundry Guy and have to say this is such a cool show. I don't know if they'll do more episodes, but I'm totally in if they do.

Caught another episode of Hawkeye. I'm very interesting in how they're exploring the Ronin angle. I haven't watched all the movies yet but I'm kind of current on what happened. Nice to see a little more detail about this aspect of Clint's character.

Watched the first episode of The Hardy Boys second season. A little disappointed they recast Fenton, but I love the actor who's taken on the role. I'm definitely interested in the new mystery and can't wait to watch more.

Started season eight of Peak Practice. A lot of changes with the move to the new building and a great case of the week. Feels like there might be a lot more drama with rescues and stuff this season.

Enjoyed another MasterClass lesson with Neil deGrasse Tyson. Asking questions is something I wish more people did on a regular basis, especially when mis or disinformation is now the standard.

Caught another episode of Young Wallander: Killer's Shadow. Kurt is kind of walking a fine line and I really do not like the new boss and how he's trying to get rid of Rusk. My one hope is Kurt's friendship with Rez better not go up in flames.

Watched another episode of the Ready Room and thoroughly enjoyed it. Getting to know the actress playing L'Rell was a lot of fun.

Enjoyed an episode of Chicago Med and I liked getting to see Daniel's ex-wife. I'm a little confused because it almost seemed like Robin is his only kid, but I'm certain he had another daughter in an earlier season. Maybe I missed something.

Caught another episode of Cuffs and, again, really enjoyed the character dynamics. I'm beginning to like Jo a lot and I'm still not quite certain what the hell the chief detective has going on in his life aside from the horrible relationship with his dad.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Victory, a sexy short that started with a writing community challenge.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nevin Fram and Chase Barlow put everything on the line when they wager who can get the drop on the other first with a hot kiss. Nevin executes a plan to catch Chase during a sparring match but he turns the tables on her and wins. Nevin wants to go double or nothing, but first her brain has to start functioning again.

And a sneaky peek…

Chase's lips curved upward and he planted his ass on a crate. "Oh, I'll like it. Trust me on that, Nevin."

A lap dance from Nevin definitely topped his list of fun things to do.

He nodded. "You can start now. Or wait and do a full-on naked version in the showers later." If he got lucky, maybe she'd do both.

Nevin tilted her head, studying him for several moments. "I vote for later. You have a job to do first." Her voice took on the sexy rasp that never failed to get him primed for action.

He quirked a brow. "I do? Care to fill me in?" As if he didn't know.

She slowly unzipped the athletic warm-up jacket. "Oh, absolutely." She shrugged out of the garment. "You got me all hot and ready, you're not really gonna leave me hanging, are you?" She crisscrossed her arms and tugged her sports bra over her head.

Chase blew out a long breath then cleared his throat. "Uh, no. That would be rude." He rose, crossed the short distance between them, and drew her close. "And I'm nothing if not the epitome of manners."

A wide grin crossed her face and she popped the button on his fatigues. "You have your moments." She shoved the pants past his hips then cupped his ass. "Now take care of this business and I'll figure out a way to rock your world with the stupid lap dance."

Chase chuckled. "Yes, ma'am." His fingers dipped under her waistband. "I aim to please." Pushing the loose-fitting fabric downward, his palm skimmed over her stomach.

She worked one leg free and nudged him back toward the bulkhead. He yanked his shirt over his head then braced his shoulders on the cool metal surface. Nevin grasped his erection and moved to straddle his thighs. He slid home with one smooth thrust.

She gripped his shoulder and met his gaze. "I take it this doesn't count as your lap dance, right?" Her hips rocked, drawing him deeper within her core.

His breath hissed out. "Nope. We won't last long enough for this to be considered a dance." His lips nuzzled her throat. "But nice try."

Honestly, I'm having so much fun writing this sexy short story. One of my favorite things is creating a fun scenario and letting the characters loose to decide how it will play out.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Vice

More weird weather this week. And some great news for the daughter. She ended up with three scholarships and two awards for her sophomore year. Amazing!

Solid work week with ongoing edits on two projects. I'm doing some new nonfiction work and I'm enjoying it so much.

Pretty good week of television also. I finished up the second season of Snoopy in Space: The Search for Life. I'd be happy if they did another run of episodes with this show.

Caught an episode of Cuffs and actually enjoyed it a lot even though the personal lives of the characters are all falling apart.

Watched two episodes of Silent Witness. I'm beginning to really enjoy Jack's tenaciousness. He won't let go when his hunches are biting down hard.

Enjoyed two episodes of Classic Who. I'd forgotten how the quality of the show suffered so much during Seven's tenure, which isn't a bash on the actors. They do an excellent job considering what they're given to work with.

Finished up Aliens in Alaska and really enjoyed the season. Wouldn't mind if they did more later.

Caught two episodes of Hawkeye and I'm sold. Love the interaction between the characters and enjoy the overarching plot point. Great show.

Finished up the second season of Harrow and I enjoyed it so much. One thing that really hits hard is the fact that Harrow has now murdered two people and as much as I love the character, I kind of want him to suffer some consequences for his actions. We'll see if season three offers any up for him.

Watched the Peak Practice season seven finale. Looks like some big changes for the next season with a new location for the practice. I'm looking forward to seeing where things go.

Started a quirky series with The Laundry Guy. Enjoyed seeing what he uses to bring stained items back to life. I'm definitely going to learn a lot from this show.

Caught an episode of Blue Heelers and enjoyed it. Really feeling the topic of the week vibes during this season, but it's not deal-breaking.

Consumed another MasterClass with Neil deGrasse Tyson and liked learning about the scientific method. As with Nye, Tyson has a way of putting information out there that doesn't make me feel stupid.

Watched another episode of Young Wallander: Killer's Shadow. I'm very invested in this season already and I kind of love where things are going.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. This rewatch definitely lets me find my happy place.

Also caught another episode of Chicago Med and I'm kind of still hating the new head of the ED. We'll see if that continues. I love that Rhodes is actually on to Ava and isn't really being duped … yet.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Vice, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Mercy Flynn and Bishop Hiller, two of Space Station Titania's brightest employees, have many vices, but the biggest one for either? Each other. They have to live and work together and avoiding the temptation to take things into personal territory wears on each, making the thin line of professionalism very blurry.

And a sneaky peek…

Mercy muttered under her breath. "Security detail, my ass. This is more like event coordination."

Bishop gave her the bullet-point details. Ivan Lemig, thirty-one, and newly elected as the youngest member of the Macrudite planetary delegation, the ultraconservative government of the planet Darbin. Coming from that background, Ivan spent two years dancing to the tune of the collective senate. Now he embarked a tour of the galaxy, starting with their space station.

Mercy shook her head. "And this particular dignitary is a flaming hedonist."

Ivan loved the sinful side of life—as he'd proven on the transport flight from his home world by engaging one of the flight attendants for a tryst. Being away from the prying eyes of his fellow elected brethren meant Ivan could spread his wings.

The man of the moment turned and faced Mercy. "Would you be available to spend the night in my quarters?" His tone left no room for doubt that sleep would not be on his agenda.

Mercy bit back a rebuke … no need to piss Lemig off and make her job that much harder.

Bishop made an angry sound and stepped in. "No way. Her number one priority is your security and protection, meaning she's not available for anything else." His hands balled into fists.

Mercy moved in front of her superior officer. "What he means is, as much as I'm sure I would enjoy spending time with you, I can't split my focus. It's much better if I blend in the background and manage your schedule instead of becoming part of it." She sent a narrow-eyed glance in Bishop's direction all but daring him to say more.

If he ruined the rapport she wanted to establish with Lemig, she'd punch Bishop.

He frowned but said nothing.

Mercy took that as a good moment to duck out and start setting up arrangements for Ivan's itinerary. "We're going to let you get settled for the night and I'll check in with you in the next hour or so. If you can get a list together of anything you'd like to experience on the station, I'll make the arrangements tomorrow." She paused. "The galley staff will bring your dinner whenever you're ready."

Ivan waved a hand, clearly unhappy with the idea of eating alone.

Mercy nudged Bishop toward the door and made a quick exit.

Once outside, she whirled to confront him. "What the hell, Bishop?"

His brow furrowed. "Meaning?"

Mercy quirked a brow. As if he didn't know. Being a dick to a visiting delegate didn't look good.

Bishop lifted his chin. "Oh, I see. Hey, if you wanted to stay, you could've said something."

She could do without the snarky tone.

She sighed. "Geez, Bishop. It's not about wanting to stay. I'm a little tired of you riding my ass." She put her hands on her hips. "Why pull me in if I'm such a problem?"

He paused mid-step. "You're not the problem. I trust you to get the job done." He continued forward. "I'm sure you'll handle Lemig, but I don't trust him not to try sneaking out to find some company."

Okay, he didn't doubt she could do the job. So … what had him in a lather? Eh, she'd figure it out later.

She gave a nod. "Look, I'll find some nubile companions and make sure Ivan is happy for the evening. Then I'll take a post outside the door." Wouldn't be the first time she'd literally played guard dog for the job.

Bishop grunted. "Make sure whoever you use, they're certified and locked into a confidentiality agreement." He made a left at the juncture but angled his head around. "Seriously, Mercy, tread carefully with him."

She didn't get a chance to respond because his comm unit buzzed. They parted ways and she studied him for a long moment before his warning sank in.

Then the light bulb went off in her mind. "He's worried about my stints in the dome. Probably wonders what I might do with Lemig if given the opportunity."

Wouldn't Bishop be shocked to know Ivan stood zero chance of ever gaining a foothold in her fantasy world?

I'm pretty pleased with how this story is coming together. I had several scenes that sort of came to me but they needed to be stitched together with some cohesive threads that pulled everything together. So far, so good.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Viable Options

Nothing like starting April with snow flurries and chilly weather. Prom weekend for the high schoolers ended up being very brisk. Brrrr.

Had a very busy work week but I made a ton of progress on a difficult edit. It's something kind of new for me and I'm thoroughly enjoying the project. Had a couple of great calls for some possible new work also. All in all a productive week.

Had a decent week of viewing television also. I'm more or less back on my regular schedule, which makes me happy.

Caught two episodes of Silent Witness. I'm very much liking the new season. Clarissa is fast becoming a favorite and they're not shoving the new guy in my face all the time. All in all, I'm still loving this show.

Finished up season twenty-three of Classic Who and started season twenty-four. I'd forgotten the weird way they morphed from Six to Seven. I actually might not have seen that one. Almost finished with the original run and then I have to decide if I'm going to start a rewatch of New Who. I might wait a while.

Watched two more episodes of Aliens in Alaska. I have one more to watch then it's on to something new. I might dive into something more space-related again. I'm not sure yet.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Muppets Now. I should have this finished up this week then I'll have to decide what to watch next. I might dive into the Marvelverse. I've been wanting to watch Hawkeye.

Caught two episodes of Harrow. Man, this season is a roller coaster. I have no clue what the hell is going on with Maxine but I'm not liking it. I love, love, love the kind of new dynamic with Fairley and I like the new assistant. I also enjoy the whole Daniel and Grace being unable to find their footing. Good stuff.

Watched an episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. I'll have this season finished up this week and should be ready to start season eight.

I started a new MasterClass with Neil deGrasse Tyson. I'm enjoying the way he explains things. Should be a very interesting class.

Finished the first season of Young Wallander and started the second. I gotta say I shouldn't have been surprised with how the first season ended but I was. That said, I loved the opening episode of season two. Kurt is a magnet for strange cases.

Enjoyed two episodes of Classic Rugrats. One of my favorites with Grandpa moving out followed by the legend of Satchmo made me really happy. One of the best things about the original show is how much grown-ups could enjoy the episodes right along with the little ones.

Caught two episodes of Chicago Med and, sadly, Will is beginning to annoy the crap out of me. Ethan is probably my favorite doctor even if he's a bit rigid sometimes. Not sure I like where they're taking April, but I'll hold judgment on that front for now.

Watched an episode of Snoopy in Space: The Search for Lifeand I'm down to having one more left. I'll have to decide what to watch next once I finish this series.

I started a new mystery, Loch Ness, and enjoyed the first episode. This one could go either way so I'm hoping it keeps my attention.

Also enjoyed another episode of Blue Heelers and liked it. I do not enjoy Monica but this one seemed to set up some stuff for the future so that might be fun to watch.

Began the Ready Room episodes for the second season of Star Trek: Discovery. Rather enjoyed the first one and I'll look forward to watching more.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Viable Options, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Karlin Hex and Jay Shaliman are trapped high in the mountains when their planet is attacked and left for ruin. Jay decides plan A is to find a ship, get off the planet, and find their way to the military fleet or a viable spaceport. Karlin finds the notion admirable but wonders what his backup option is. That's easy—plans B through Z are the same as plan A.

And a sneaky peek…

Jay traveled all night and finally came up on the remote outpost marked on his map. "I can probably restock on supplies and get more meds." He walked the perimeter and didn't see any vehicles. "Oh, well. Maybe I can find out what the hell happened once I get inside."

The eerie silence of his descent almost lulled him into thinking he could be wrong about the bombs dropping. But the quiet also reinforced the facts on the ground. Nuclear catastrophe pretty much eliminated technology. Even if he had a comm device, it wouldn't work at the moment. Maybe he'd get lucky at the outpost and find some old-school radios.

Dropping his rucksack outside the ramshackle building, he flung open the side door. "Hot damn." An all-terrain armored vehicle sat inside.

He poked around the garage area and stocked the truck with as many supplies as he could fit inside the back seat. Some MREs, anti-rad meds, bedding. He wanted some weapons and extra ammo, but he'd forage for that on the road. He grabbed the extra fuel cans, which—thank the universe—were full and stowed them in the bed of the unit.

He looked around for keys but couldn't find any on the work surface or in the vehicle. He also wondered what happened to the officer on duty. Possibly killed so they couldn't warn in advance of the attack? His stomach turned at the thought. Maybe he should check the interior rooms?

He shook his head. "It can wait. Better see if I can get out of here first." He'd have to see if his hot-wiring skills were still up to stuff.

He went back over to the all-terrain vehicle and crawled under the dash. He'd just turned his flashlight on when the cold barrel of a sidearm butted up against his head. Should've checked inside.

"Let's go. Come on out. Now!"

He slid out from under the dash, carefully avoiding the muzzle of the gun. His captor stepped back but took aim at his head. No messing around. She meant business.

Her brow arched. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Pitched low, her voice held a menacing tone, until she hiccupped. Hiccupped? What the hell?

His eyes narrowed and he moved fast, slapping the weapon away and grabbing it. "Are you drunk?" On closer inspection, she looked rough but more than capable of holding her own.

She snorted. "Hell, yes. The world just ended. Can you think of something better to do?" She finally clocked the dog tags hanging from his neck and grimaced.

She wore a Hendragon Galactic Forces uniform, a little rumpled but otherwise in pristine condition. Her ponytail hung crookedly, which made her question more audacious. Jay liked her on the spot, regardless of their less than stellar introduction.

Jay huffed out a breath. "I don't know. Get the hell off the planet and find survivors, or a habitable place to start over." He definitely didn't want to stay on the surface longer than necessary.

Karlin gave a weary nod. "Admirable plan A, but what's your backup idea?" Resignation laced her tone.

Jay shrugged. "Plans B through Z are the same as plan A. There are no other viable options." Not if they wanted to survive.

Something sad crossed her features but she rolled a shoulder. "Well, I hate to suggest this, but we'll need to wait until morning, because the bad news is … the enemy forces are between us and whatever spacecrafts are left on the planet." She gave him a wobbly smile.

For the first time, Jay slumped in defeat. He didn't want to wait, dammit. But he couldn't chance running into enemy forces with a drunk sidekick and limited resources.

His companion patted him on the back. "Yeah, I know. Sucks balls." She stuck her hand out. "Lieutenant Karlin Hex. Do not ever call me Karl."

His lips twitched and he grasped her palm. "Captain Jay Shaliman. Duly noted." He kind of wanted to meet the person who tried to shorten her name and probably had the scars to prove it.

She nodded to her right. "Come on. It's warmer inside." She entered the main section of the outpost and Jay followed.

Processing what happened to the planet wouldn't be easy but at least he didn't have to do it alone. If he didn't miss his guess, Karlin Hex would not let any moment become dull or boring.

I have this story all plotted out and really like where it's going. If it comes together the way I hope it will, there will be a sequel. Fingers crossed.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Veracity of War

Another busy week with multiple projects on all the burners. I've been doing oracle card readings every morning and, based on what I'm seeing, things won't be slowing down anytime soon. I'm totally okay with that.

We had a few lovely days of spring before winter came roaring back. Two days in the mid-thirties with rain and flurries. Bleh. Then again, when I'm still wearing shorts and flip-flops in October, I'll try to remember being cold in March.

Not a bad week of television viewing. I'm kind of off-schedule, but that happens sometimes. I have a couple of movies and musical specials I want to watch and that might swing things back to my usual show cycle.

I started the week with Star Trek: Discovery and, ugh, I got very emotional. I've got one final episode, I think, of season two and then I might dive into the Ready Room to get some insider details.

Caught two episodes of Chicago Med and I kind of like the tension building between everyone. Sad to see Will and Nat's wedding not happen and I really disliked the FBI agent overseeing him. Not sure how I feel about the whole Rhodes dynamic. But, knowing what I know about what happens later, it'll prove interesting to see how it all unfolds.

Watched two episodes of Snoopy in Space: The Search for Life. I'm still enjoying the science stuff mixed in with the antics of Snoopy and Woodstock. I'm always kind of in my happy place after I watch the short features.

I liked the Cuffs episode this week. There's a good mix of humor and drama in this show and I enjoy the partner dynamics. The detective stories are a blend of weird and gritty and I like those angles also.

Enjoyed two episodes of Silent Witness. Finished up the second episode of a two-parter and it didn't go in the direction I thought it would. I love when that happens. Started a new two-parter and it's kind of intense, which I like. The detective is a bit of a hard ass and that kind of annoys me, but it's good drama.

I'm almost finished with Classic Who season twenty-three. As expected, the Master made an appearance. I'm a little wobbly on the whole Doctor's darker side thing, but it's an interesting concept and gets a little work-in during the New Who series episodes.

Caught two more episodes of Aliens in Alaska and I like getting a bit of an education about the remote central interior of the state and the smaller towns. The UFO and alien stuff is just gravy.

Watched two more episodes of Muppets Now. This version of the show is growing on me and I like the repeat appearances by a couple of the guest stars along with one or two new ones that pop in. Of course, I love the Muppet Labs field testing, probably my favorite skit of the new version.

Harrow is really amping up the tension. I'm still so angry they killed off one of my favorite characters but I like how it makes Harrow do some soul-searching. I have no clue what the hell Maxine is doing but I hope there's a good reason for it. The one character that annoys me still annoys me so no change there.

Enjoyed another episode of Peak Practice. We're moving into the trauma of the week style and I'm kind of okay with that. There's enough carry through from previous episodes it still feels like the same show. I'm almost finished with season seven and I'm still liking the show.

Finished up MasterClass with Es Devlin. I thoroughly enjoyed her lessons and actually have some good information to apply to my work. Should be starting a new class this week and I'm planning on going with another science series.

Caught two episodes of Young Wallander and, wow, this show hits hard sometimes. I kind of guessed about who really had a hand in the killings and I'm glad that played out the way I thought it would. I won't rule out another twist though. I'm kind of expecting one.

I started season three of Classic Rugrats and watched several episodes. A couple are probably in my top five for this season—at least until I watch more.

Finished up Queens of Mystery with the final Behind the Scenes bonus. I'm actually glad I did watch because I wondered if they'd recast the lead character and they had. I might need to revisit so I have the details straight but the recast is fairly seamless.

Also watched another episode of Blue Heelers and really enjoyed it. Nice to get some additional backstory about Nick. I'm also such a fan of Chrissy and Adam's relationship. I hope that lasts for a while.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Veracity of War, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

The veracity of war takes a toll when Emerson Gamble assumes command of a military outpost after his captain loses his life. Sheena Tram wonders if they'll be able to maintain their relationship when the burden of responsibility always gets in the way.

And a sneaky peek…

Sheena worked out her frustration from the heated discussion with Emerson on a heavy bag. She grabbed a shower and cooled down but still didn't see a way forward with Emerson—not with him as the CO. Draping a towel over her shoulder, she exhaled slowly and braced to face Emerson in quarters.

She opened the hatch and stopped short—stunned. "What's all this?" A table with two entrees took center stage and the other two occupants of their space were nowhere to be found.

Emerson swept an arm out. "This is a special celebration for me and you." He nodded toward the seating arrangement. "We'll be disturbance free for the rest of the day." Pulling her chair out, he waited for her to sit then moved around to settle across from her.

Sheena bit her cheek against a snarky reply. Emerson put some effort into this and she'd be stupid to ruin a surprise … and a celebration?

Waiting until he removed the lids from their plates, she arched a brow. "How did you manage to pull this off? I only spent ninety minutes working out and showering." Her heart swelled a little … he remembered her love of simple food—kielbasa and pierogis with steamed green beans.

Emerson shrugged. "I had a little help, which I'll explain later. Let's dig in." He stabbed a piece of meat and took a bite.

Sheena followed suit. His gesture had her filling with hope. But she didn't let it get out of hand. Too much stood in their way.

They enjoyed their meal in companionable silence, only commenting on the delicious flavor of the ingredients and the perfect texture of the beans. Comfort food at its finest and something Sheena needed at the moment. She also needed answers.

Finishing her last bit of kielbasa, she set her fork aside. "Why? I mean, why are we having a celebration?" She slouched down a little, stomach full and curiosity piqued.

Emerson set his utensils down. "The colonel realized I'm a little overworked doing my old job and the captain's, so I get to pick my 2IC." He paused and held her gaze. "I want you."

Sheena blinked. "Can you do that?" Well, duh, of course he could.

But should he? She had more concern about what their unit would think than anything else.

Emerson rolled a shoulder. "At this point, what can the brass say? They're not sending anymore officers to the outpost."

Sheena shook her head. "Not who I mean. This is about our unit. They can look at this as a situation of you're sleeping with me and promoting me because of it." The idea left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Emerson waved off the concern. "No, look. We've proven we work well together. You know what I'm thinking before I do sometimes. We need that in the field." He leaned in a little closer. "They can't argue that point and they won't." He grabbed her hand. "They trust you. Us." His thumb brushed over her skin.

Sheena nodded. "Okay, valid reasons." And ones he'd obviously given a lot of thought.

Which meant he'd been weighing this option for a while now … waiting for the right opportunity to make it happen.

Emerson squeezed her fingers. "Then let's celebrate and take the night—just for us." He got up and slid around the table to tug her from her seat. "Won't be official until tomorrow, but we'll be sharing this space—alone—as the commanding officers of our unit.

Sheena's eyes widened. "How're Blant and Roma gonna feel about that." They'd have to pack and move, which always sucked.

Emerson cupped her face. "They're okay with the idea and I'm supposed to pass along their congratulations." His lips brushed over hers.

Sheena tilted her head back. "They already know?"

Emerson shook his head. "Not about the bump in rank. They're happy for us though."

Sheena grinned. "In that case, we have some business that needs taken care of." She caught his mouth in a hard kiss.

Emerson scooped her up and deposited her on a bunk then dragged his shirt over his head. "Gonna join me or what?"

I love the vibe between Sheena and Emerson. They're a fun couple to write.

 

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Unlawful Acts

Super-heavy workload this week. I'm actually thrilled to be scheduling on my planner again, color-codes and everything. It's been a while since I've had to use a hard copy for keeping track of my projects. I like being busy.

Had a bit of limited viewing time this week. More so from having a bout of insomnia and taking naps at weird times during the day.

I watched an episode of Star Trek: Discovery and I love how things are coming together. There's been so much packed into this season and I'm amazed by the storytelling. This is such a good show.

Watched two episodes of Chicago Med. Gotta say Will gets himself into some tricky situations. I'm kind of annoyed with the FBI agent being such a drama queen over everything. Also feel terrible for Rhodes. Between having his dad on the board and the new ED doctor, he's got a lot on his plate.

Caught another episode of Snoopy in Space: The Search for Life. This is such a great show for young science nerds who love anything to do with space.

Enjoyed another episode of Cuffs. I'm kind of intrigued by the various relationships and I quite like how they intercut the scenes. I'm liking this one.

Watched two episodes of Classic Who. We're getting close to the end of the season and I have sneaky suspicion the Master is going to rear his ugly mug at some point. Should be interesting to see if I'm right.

Finished up season sixteen of Silent Witness and, yep, we lost Leo. So sad to see his end. Kind of wish Harry had come back for that but I loved Nikki's eulogy. Started seventeen and, eh, not sure I like the new guy. Jury is out on that one.

Caught two episodes of Aliens in Alaska. I love getting into what people see and how the experience shapes them afterward. This is a good show.

Started Muppets Now and I kind of like it after watching two episodes. They've brought back some older characters and it's a very updated and modernized variety style. Fun stuff.

Watched two more episodes of Harrow and, dammit, they killed off one of my favorites. I'd actually like to see one of the other characters go but won't hold my breath on that one. I really enjoy the dynamic between Harrow and Fairley's niece. The blending of the case of the week and overarching mystery works well with this show.

Got an episode of Peak Practice in and it was a sad one but with other happy moments woven in. Loved the ending with the new doctor grieving with Joanna.

Caught two more MasterClass lessons with Es Devlin. I love how she covers scope when she talks about design. She's done some very interesting work and I'm learning a lot from watching her classes.

Watched two episodes of Young Wallander. It's a little uncanny how closely the plot line mirrors stuff going on right now and this show is set in Sweden. I love the lead in this one. He's understated and quiet but actually kind of funny and deep also.

Enjoyed two episodes of Classic Rugrats. I should be close to the end of season two and getting ready to start on three. I love revisiting this show. I'm pretty sure they leave out a few of the best episodes when they run encores of this.

Caught a bonus short for Queens of Mystery. The recap of season one had some pings that I'll look forward to playing out in season three, especially the ones that weren't solved in season two.

Last but not least, I watched another episode of Blue Heelers. An interesting dive into coming home after being gone for a long time and how some people don't wear or show their feelings for everyone to see.

That's pretty much it for this week's life update. Tonight's post is from Unlawful Acts, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Effy Carmichael, an up and coming officer, wants the job of Alpha Team Leader and deserves it, except she's a few years too young to hold the position. When the spot goes to one of her oldest friends, Jonah Kirkland, Effy has to swallow her pride and welcome him even while she fights the powerful attraction between them. Hooking up with Jonah is against regs, but it may be worth committing an unlawful act to finally realize one of her most closely held desires.

And a sneaky peek…

Jonah stopped short when he entered the storage locker. "Eff, what the hell?" He didn't expect to find her hanging onto the top of them trying to keep her balance and having little luck doing so.

Hell, he didn't actually expect to find her there.

Her feet clawed at the mesh storage units. "Shit." Legs swinging, her fingers tried to gain purchase on the flat, smooth surface.

His eyes took in the sight of the toppled ladder and the brief thought of setting it upright disappeared when she finally started to drop. A quick decision had him stepping up to break her fall. His fault she'd lost her balance when he'd called out her name.

She landed squarely in his arms. Nicely done, if I had to admit.

Clearly expecting to hit the floor, her surprised eyes flew to his. Her chest heaving with reaction, she gripped his shoulder with one hand.

He flashed a proud grin.

Effy rolled her eyes. "Smooth, Jonah." She wriggled a little. "Now put me down."

He thought about it, but decided the time had come to clear the air between them.

He shook his head. "Uh-uh." He tightened his hold when she began to squirm. "I've got you right where I want you for the moment." Turning, he walked toward a cluttered table. "And whatever happened to thanks for saving my ass?" He used his elbow to clear a spot, then turned and sat on the edge, Effy still in his arms.

She stopped struggling. "Considering I was trying to save your ass, you should be thanking me." She tilted her head and gave him a considering look.

He'd obviously caught her off guard and from the look of it, she enjoyed it.

Score one for him.

Her words registered. You should be thanking me.

Jonah shot her a confused look. "What, exactly, were you trying to save my ass from?" He had no idea what she might be talking about, but having her at his mercy ended up being rather much fun. Too much so to let her go just yet.

Effy shook her head sadly. "I was looking for a helmet for Popper's big celebratory bust, since you obviously have no idea what's going on."

Ah. A sweet move to try and protect him? Or another pitfall to trap him?

Didn't matter, since he'd found the elusive prop.

Jonah sent her a smug smile. Her eyes widened with understanding and she probably realized she owed him an explanation.

He leaned back and sat her up on his lap. "Yes, I already found a helmet, Lieutenant." He pointed to the file cabinet behind the door.

A battered and beat up head cover sat where he'd tossed it to catch her.

Shifting her on his lap, he positioned her so she faced him. "Any other snide remarks?"

She cast her eyes down. "Uh, no." Heaving a sigh, she glanced back up.

Jonah lifted a brow. "Ergo…"

Effy closed her eyes and bit back a grin. "All right … I'll figure out an appropriate way to thank you, later." She made a move to slide off his lap.

Jonah tightened his hold on her again. "Is there a reason you didn't tell me about the ceremony?" They weren't quite finished yet … he planned to have whatever had her holding back hammered out between them.

Right now.

She shook her head. "Not a good one." A note of shame filled her voice.

Jonah loosened his grip and let her slide to her feet. "Talk to me, Eff. Why are we working at cross purposes half the time?" He snagged her hand and tugged her forward but let her keep a little distance.

He really needed to know what had her all twisted and bent.

I have such a soft spot for this story. Effy and Jonah have some complicated issues but their history ties them together and will help them get through their drama.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Uniform Differences

Another heavy workload this week followed by some snow and really cold temperatures. Of course, we're supposed to be in the seventies by Thursday, which means my sinuses are going to hate me. Fun times.

Had a slower viewing schedule this week with television. Needed to focus on one of my projects to get it finished up in quick fashion.

I did get quite a few of my regular shows watched. Caught two episodes of Snoopy in Space: The Search for Life. One featured information on Europa and the other on Venus. I'm quite enjoying the mix of sciency goodness with the antics of the Peanuts gang.

Started a new-to-me show with Cuffs and liked the first episode. This one should be interesting and I'm looking forward to seeing more.

Got two episodes of Silent Witness in, finishing up a two-parter and starting another. I'm very curious about how this will end as the next show will be the season sixteen finale. I'm a little worried about Leo.

Enjoyed two episodes of Classic Who. I'm kind of dizzy with the loss of Peri and a new companion rolled into the overarching main story. I'm still a fan of how this season is playing out though.

Completed the last episode of The Alaska Triangle and rather enjoyed the focus on a haunted fairground. I wouldn't mind seeing more from this region of Alaska.

Finished up The Muppets and have to admit I really ended up enjoying the season. I'm not sure if I'll start a new muppet series or move on to some of the Marvel universe shows.

I started season two of Harrow and, wow, it got off with a big bang. I'm very intrigued about how the main mystery is going to play out. I like having a case of the week mixed with the background intrigue of who wants Daniel dead.

Enjoyed an episode of Peak Practice and like the sort of slow burn going on with Andrew and the receptionist. I have a feeling that could go to some interesting places.

I watched two MasterClass lessons with Es Devlin. I love her ideas and insight into putting huge projects together by starting with small-scaled ideas. This shouldn't be confused with the ideas being small, more like imagining them in miniature scale and then creating a huge piece from that.

I watched the last episode of Paranoid and ended up loving this series. The ending wrapped up everything and the evildoers got theirs. Can't ask for more.

Snuck in two episodes of Classic Rugrats. I'm close to finishing up season two and need to decide if I'm going to move up to three or switch over to new Rugrats. Stay tuned.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med and I really, really dislike the new chief of the ED. The guy is a complete ass. Here's hoping he'll get a big helping of something not nice in the near future.

I finished up Queens of Mystery and loved the final episode. Lots of new threads to explore in the next season, which I hope is soon. I even ended up not hating the fiancé by the end. I hope if she'd in the next series, she's a lot less obnoxious.

Started a new series with Aliens in Alaska. I'm not quite ready to let the big state go. So far, I'm enjoying the show and look forward to more.

Caught another episode of Blue Heelers and got a kick out of Hugh Jackman guest-starring as an attorney. Honestly, he hasn't changed much in the thirty years since this show aired. Amazing.

Also started Young Wallander based on a recommendation from my brother. I'm almost through the first episode and, so far, enjoy it. Season two came out recently so I have some good stuff to look forward to.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Uniform Differences, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When it comes to respect, Tegan Gruss and Ellsworth Boshuk have a few uniform differences when defining how to show it. Ellsworth is tired of her constantly busting his chops—he's her superior officer—but Tegan doesn't care about rank when someone isn't worthy of her time or effort and Ellsworth is very worthy.

And a sneaky peek…

Tegan Gruss narrowed her gaze when her commanding officer strolled into the briefing room in a full-on strut. "What the hell…" She glanced toward the lance corporal three seats down.

His mouth hung open so, yeah, her eyesight didn't need checked. Another quick look showed most of her unit in similar states of shock and confusion.

Logan Tipton with a bounce in his step defied belief.

Tegan sat a little straighter, not quite sure what to expect but preparing for anything.

Tipton bellied up to the podium. "Good, wonderful morning, unit seventeen." His hands grasped the sides of the metal holder.

Where are his notes? He always has notes.

Tipton had a wide smile on his face. "I'm happy to inform you your new CO will be arriving on base within the hour and I'll be moving on up to executive command." He tapped his pips. "I'll be sporting lieutenant colonel brass later today."

The room erupted in congratulations and several sighs of relief.

Tegan blinked at the news. How long had she and Tipton waged their back and forth battle? He refused to move forward with the times and she poked holes in his reasoning for not doing so.

The soon-to-be colonel quieted the room down. "Uh, I know everyone is going to miss my morning briefings"—he sent a pointed look in Tegan's direction—"but the new guy, Major Ellsworth Boshuk, will have the enviable fun of keeping you all awake now." He cracked another grin then launched into the regular briefing.

While he droned on about the schedule, whispers started with speculation about their new CO. Ellsworth Boshuk. What kind of name is Boshuk? Where is he from? Wonder if he'll be as stodgy as Tipton?

Tegan wrapped her head around having new blood and hopefully new ideas. Her unit sat atop the base roster. They drilled regularly and had a good rapport—despite Tipton's attempt to muck everything up. She rather liked the idea of having a new commanding officer.

By the time Tipton dismissed them, the notion of change settled in exciting waves around her.

She got up and the lance corporal quickly fell into step beside her.

He leaned in a little. "You looking forward to breaking in a new unit commander?"

She lifted her chin. "Are you kidding? Hell, yes." She paused outside the door. "But maybe not right away."

The lance corporal frowned. "Why not?"

She grinned. "Because our new CO's arrival means Tipton the toad won't be the first face we see every morning."

The frown deepened. "And that's bad why?"

She rolled a shoulder. "Come on, there was something reassuring about Tipton's craggy countenance standing behind the podium every day."

The guy's eyes widened. "You're joking, right?"

She laughed. "Absolutely." She lowered her voice. "I, for one, can't wait to see the back Mr. Stick-Up-His-Ass."

I have this story plotted out and like where it's going. Tegan is a fun character to write and Ellsworth will keep her guessing, which she does not like.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye