Sunday Snippet: Maybe This Seems Familiar

Even though Marchis my birth month and the birth month of my mom and one of my best friends, I'mkind of glad to kick it to the curb. It's been a wild ride this month. Thatsaid, it's also been intensely productive, so I'm really not complaining.

The weather is stilldrunk, wildly surging one direction then lurching back only to zing forwardagain. My sinuses hate me right now. And my throat has that I just swallowedglass with a gravel chaser sound at the moment.

Still buried withwork but I'm making great progress on all fronts. I added another new hourly projectto the pile and made a big dent in that one yesterday.

Not a bad week forviewing. I got through my usual slate and did a marathon watch to finish outthe week.

Ended up watchingtwo episodes of Elementary and both were actually terrific. I'm veryinterested in seeing how things with Kitty play out in the next few installments.

Caught two episodesof Batman Beyond. Always happy to see the Royal Flush show up and I likedthe throwback to Bane.

Also enjoyed two ClassicRugrats episodes. I'm about halfway through the final season and I thinkI'll pick back up with the new reboot once I'm finished up.

Caught another episodeof Death in Paradise and I'm enjoying having Darlene working with theteam. She's a great addition. Also glad to see Neville's sister exit. Maybeshe'll grow on me, but I didn't enjoy her at all.

Watched the first officialepisode of season two Beyond Paradise. Really enjoyed the way the mysteryunfolded. Also loved the resolution.

I ended up notquite finishing the episode of London Kills but I should have that onecompleted this week.

That's it for thelife update. Tonight's post is from Maybe This Seems Familiar, a novellathat pulls a couple together after a big loss.

Here's the miniblurb:

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

And a preview snippet…

Adept major Inyx Pic cast a recallspell. "No, Marlax. You're skipping steps and your ass is really gonnahurt when you get knocked on it from backlash." She absorbed the randomenergy from calling in the attempted conjure.Marlax Tillie snarled. "I'mnot a baby mage. I don't need the training wheels, Major Pic." Her eyesflashed with anger. "You're holding me back, and it's not fair." Sheflounced to her worktable.Inyx bit back a string of curses."Fair isn't why we're here. You can't move on to the next class if youdon't master the finer points of conjuring." How many times had Inyxlistened to lectures about finesse?And how many times had she wantedto smash her fist into Philo Batson's face because he never shut up aboutlearning the basics forward, backward, and upside down? Probably as many asshe'd wanted to strip him naked and make him passionate about something otherthan conjuring. Too bad she'd never pushed harder to make that happen.Then again, she had very goodreasons for not doing so. Even if he'd made it clear he'd be interested…"Major Pic? Am I free togo?" Marlax arched her winged brows.Inyx blinked and shook off thecobwebs. "You can leave after you've listed the ten steps to safelyconjure. Then come back tomorrow and we'll start again." She made her wayto the stool sitting at the head of the classroom. "The rest of you aredismissed. See you tomorrow." Sinking down, she tried to recalibrate andfind her center.Next time, she'd send the randomenergy out the window instead of taking it on. She'd spend the rest of the daywired one moment and dragging ass the next. At least she didn't have to teachany more this afternoon.Marlax slapped her notebook openand huffed out sigh. She scribbled the assigned list down the page, tore itout, and brought it to Inyx. She reviewed the steps and gave a nod.Marlax rolled her eyes. "It'snot that I don't know what they are. It's—"Inyx finished the thought for herstudent. "You think they're stupid. I don't need to be an oracle to figurethat out." She folded the paper and tucked it into Marlax's shirt pocket. "Comein tomorrow, do what you need to do, and you'll be golden." If Marlaxtried to leap ahead again, she'd be wearing the list on her forehead.Marlax snorted, whirled around, gatheredher stuff, and stomped out the door, nearly running Philo over when he entered.His brows went up. "Do I wantto know what that's about?" He propped his hip on the worktable acrossfrom her desk.Inyx sighed. "It's been a day.That one wants to fly before she can walk." And damn if the plebe didn'traise a bunch of red flags.Philo smirked. "That soundsfamiliar."

I think I finallyhave the tone I want for this story. Philo and Inyx have a long history ofdancing around each other and it's fun to write them edging closer together.

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye