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Updated on 14 May 2015
Welcome to my launching point. I am “Dialecticdreamer” on this site, Sarah Williams in the boring world of bills and politics and running errands. A note for anyone who subscribes: I don't have hidden posts unless I'm actively wrestling with the HTML/editing on same. This whole blog is as up front as I try to be in person; read at your own peril!
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Fiction:Practice, Practice, Practice (part 1 of 1, complete)
Wednesday, 19 July 2017 21:10Practice, Practice, Practice
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1, complete
word count (story only): 1179
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, this story happens across several hours of the family's Sunday in the Maldives, but should not conflict with previously published items in the Maldives story arc. Written for a prompt during the July Magpie Monday. ::
::Pay Special Attention: This story focuses on worried, worried parents as Aida prepares to go back to her internship on Monday morning. ::
“She's in the pool,” Elisabeth whispered. One fingertip touched the glass pane on the sliding door, but somehow, she kept her professional, neutral mask in place.
“With the new gear?” Graham's eyes widened. “Already?”
His wife laughed, a sweet, mellow sound that felt like kisses. “I guess we're the ones with too many nervous thoughts, too many worries. At least this time.”
“She wasn't…. Elisabeth, it could have been so… “ Graham draped an arm lightly at his wife's waist, asking for her, silently. She turned toward him at the first brush of his fingertips, kissing the tiny scar hidden just below the corner of his mouth on the right side.
“Please, don't remind me? Don't borrow trouble, either,” she whispered.
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1, complete
word count (story only): 1179
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, this story happens across several hours of the family's Sunday in the Maldives, but should not conflict with previously published items in the Maldives story arc. Written for a prompt during the July Magpie Monday. ::
::Pay Special Attention: This story focuses on worried, worried parents as Aida prepares to go back to her internship on Monday morning. ::
“She's in the pool,” Elisabeth whispered. One fingertip touched the glass pane on the sliding door, but somehow, she kept her professional, neutral mask in place.
“With the new gear?” Graham's eyes widened. “Already?”
His wife laughed, a sweet, mellow sound that felt like kisses. “I guess we're the ones with too many nervous thoughts, too many worries. At least this time.”
“She wasn't…. Elisabeth, it could have been so… “ Graham draped an arm lightly at his wife's waist, asking for her, silently. She turned toward him at the first brush of his fingertips, kissing the tiny scar hidden just below the corner of his mouth on the right side.
“Please, don't remind me? Don't borrow trouble, either,” she whispered.
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fiction: Serve and Protect (part 1 of 1, complete)
Tuesday, 18 July 2017 21:41Serve and Protect
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1, complete
word count (story only): 1737
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, this finally connects the Road Trip with the young person Halley was chatting with in “One Pebble Falls...” which brings everything 'full circle,' as it were,because the Road Trip crew are from Mercedes. ::
:: Pay Special Attention:: Some cape-political bigotry, stopped early, which will actually have repercussions for the staff and the individual expressing those opinions, (No one is “getting away with” that kind of crap on my watch!) Playfulness with unusual pronouns, and G generally playing the card. ::
The grumble that drifted over Joshua's shoulder was hardly louder than the sigh of his jeans shifting over his legs as he took a seat on the deck, one hand balancing a tray while the other held a thermal coffee mug with silicone lid that still felt nearly too hot to touch. However, the voice sent all of the hairs on the back of his neck standing straight and shrill. Joshua leaned back, clearly getting comfortable while every scrap of his hearing screened and sifted and filtered, trying to make out anything that might have set off his cop alerts.
“I said,” the grumbler repeated in a menacing hiss, “all you super-villain trash should NOT be allowed to take up valuable healers' time!”
Joshua calmly set his plate down, then his coffee. He turned, taking in the dark-skinned woman with small breasts and a linebacker's shoulders, and worst of all, the flush of tears on the woman's face. “I'm not a--” she began.
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1, complete
word count (story only): 1737
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, this finally connects the Road Trip with the young person Halley was chatting with in “One Pebble Falls...” which brings everything 'full circle,' as it were,because the Road Trip crew are from Mercedes. ::
:: Pay Special Attention:: Some cape-political bigotry, stopped early, which will actually have repercussions for the staff and the individual expressing those opinions, (No one is “getting away with” that kind of crap on my watch!) Playfulness with unusual pronouns, and G generally playing the card. ::
The grumble that drifted over Joshua's shoulder was hardly louder than the sigh of his jeans shifting over his legs as he took a seat on the deck, one hand balancing a tray while the other held a thermal coffee mug with silicone lid that still felt nearly too hot to touch. However, the voice sent all of the hairs on the back of his neck standing straight and shrill. Joshua leaned back, clearly getting comfortable while every scrap of his hearing screened and sifted and filtered, trying to make out anything that might have set off his cop alerts.
“I said,” the grumbler repeated in a menacing hiss, “all you super-villain trash should NOT be allowed to take up valuable healers' time!”
Joshua calmly set his plate down, then his coffee. He turned, taking in the dark-skinned woman with small breasts and a linebacker's shoulders, and worst of all, the flush of tears on the woman's face. “I'm not a--” she began.
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Fiction: A Spark of Joy (part 1 of 1, complete)
Monday, 17 July 2017 20:44A Spark of Joy
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1, complete
word count (story only): 1104
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, this is a bridging story to connect “One Pebble Falls...” to the Road Trip set of stories. Dani, aka "Minion for Mone¥"isn't alone on xir side of the keyboard; this story picks up just as the previous one ends, but has a far different tone. ::
Minion for Mone¥ shut down the computer, then waited for it to reboot, automatically scrubbing the entire browser history, including that pesky little nanny-chip hidden on most every piece of hardware coming out of Taiwan, Korea, and China now. This machine was really little better than the kiddie tablets parents bought for preschoolers, but it gave her a private way to chat, even from the nosy Parkers infesting BlackSheep like fleas, because it was so cheap she could afford to break one up for scrap after every chat, each time using a new machine.
Even Capricorn could be unbearably curious. Maybe especially Capricorn.
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1, complete
word count (story only): 1104
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, this is a bridging story to connect “One Pebble Falls...” to the Road Trip set of stories. Dani, aka "Minion for Mone¥"isn't alone on xir side of the keyboard; this story picks up just as the previous one ends, but has a far different tone. ::
Minion for Mone¥ shut down the computer, then waited for it to reboot, automatically scrubbing the entire browser history, including that pesky little nanny-chip hidden on most every piece of hardware coming out of Taiwan, Korea, and China now. This machine was really little better than the kiddie tablets parents bought for preschoolers, but it gave her a private way to chat, even from the nosy Parkers infesting BlackSheep like fleas, because it was so cheap she could afford to break one up for scrap after every chat, each time using a new machine.
Even Capricorn could be unbearably curious. Maybe especially Capricorn.
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July Report for the Magpie Monday
Sunday, 16 July 2017 22:07Opening the Magpie Moday was a short post, on the 10th of July, 304 words long, which set the ball rolling nicely, and culminated in sending the last prompt fill on the 15th of July. A total of (Holy Hannah!) 19,143 words were written over those six days, many of which are either stepping stones, short little stories that build on one another, or the core of a much longer story which will probably clock in at well over 10k when finished.
I'm going to divide them by whether they are posted or not, with the exception of the Shiv's Gigantic Meltdown, because that's going to take some work before the first draft is finished.
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I'm going to divide them by whether they are posted or not, with the exception of the Shiv's Gigantic Meltdown, because that's going to take some work before the first draft is finished.
( Read more... )
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Fiction: One Pebble Falls... (part 1 of 1, complete)
Saturday, 15 July 2017 21:03One Pebble Falls…
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1 (complete)
word count (story only): 1097
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and the Mercedes story group, this tale happens on the same day Cash, Joshua and G start their Road Trip, and as such, is part of that story arc. Sometimes, someone needs just the smallest nudge to shift their perspective. ::
Halley perked up as the chat program chimed. “Hey,” thon typed quickly, “I thought you would be asleep! It's five in the morning there!”
Someone with the user name “Minion for Mone¥” typed back, “I couldn't sleep all night, because, DRUMROLL, I've got the money!”
“Wow, that's great!” Halley returned, rolling onto thon's stomach and tugging the tablet down to rest on the mattress. Disconnecting from the dock automatically activated the internal microphone and Halley had only edited two lines of code. Even Edison could do that. “When are you going to It's Your Body Shop?”
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by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1 (complete)
word count (story only): 1097
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and the Mercedes story group, this tale happens on the same day Cash, Joshua and G start their Road Trip, and as such, is part of that story arc. Sometimes, someone needs just the smallest nudge to shift their perspective. ::
Halley perked up as the chat program chimed. “Hey,” thon typed quickly, “I thought you would be asleep! It's five in the morning there!”
Someone with the user name “Minion for Mone¥” typed back, “I couldn't sleep all night, because, DRUMROLL, I've got the money!”
“Wow, that's great!” Halley returned, rolling onto thon's stomach and tugging the tablet down to rest on the mattress. Disconnecting from the dock automatically activated the internal microphone and Halley had only edited two lines of code. Even Edison could do that. “When are you going to It's Your Body Shop?”
( Read more... )
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Cleaning Up the Disaster Zone
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 2 of 2, complete
word count (story only): 1424
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and the Mercedes story group, this picks up a few months before Shiv is released, less than a week after the Finns return from the Maldives. ::
:: Pay Special Attention: Graham is being very, very hard on himself, and expresses a bit of unrealistic expectations (of himself), but it's a sense of guilt writ large, rather than a permanent issue. ::
Donna returned with two bottles of water, and the snaps as the safety seals broke followed in near perfect unison. “All right,” she began, taking a fortifying breath, “Shiv wants that book destroyed. I get that. But…. Frankly, I suspect that those are the only pictures he has of his childhood. We don't even have photos for every year he attended school, because he often attended four or five schools in one school year, bouncing from district to district. As he got older, the gaps got wider.”
Graham pressed his lips together. “I get that,” he whispered. “My kids… I think I take pictures of the younger ones maybe once a week, or more if something unusual happens. Or funny,” he admitted, a laugh creeping out in tentative huffs. “I made a rule when our oldest boy went to college that he had to email a picture of himself every week for the same reason.”
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 2 of 2, complete
word count (story only): 1424
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and the Mercedes story group, this picks up a few months before Shiv is released, less than a week after the Finns return from the Maldives. ::
:: Pay Special Attention: Graham is being very, very hard on himself, and expresses a bit of unrealistic expectations (of himself), but it's a sense of guilt writ large, rather than a permanent issue. ::
Donna returned with two bottles of water, and the snaps as the safety seals broke followed in near perfect unison. “All right,” she began, taking a fortifying breath, “Shiv wants that book destroyed. I get that. But…. Frankly, I suspect that those are the only pictures he has of his childhood. We don't even have photos for every year he attended school, because he often attended four or five schools in one school year, bouncing from district to district. As he got older, the gaps got wider.”
Graham pressed his lips together. “I get that,” he whispered. “My kids… I think I take pictures of the younger ones maybe once a week, or more if something unusual happens. Or funny,” he admitted, a laugh creeping out in tentative huffs. “I made a rule when our oldest boy went to college that he had to email a picture of himself every week for the same reason.”
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Fiction: Cleaning Up the Disaster Zone (part 1 of 2, complete)
Thursday, 13 July 2017 23:44Cleaning Up the Disaster Zone
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 2, complete
word count (story only): 1414
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and the Mercedes story group, this picks up a few months before Shiv is released, less than a week after the Finns return from the Maldives. ::
:: Pay Special Attention: Graham is being very, very hard on himself, and expresses a bit of unrealistic expectations (of himself), but it's a sense of guilt writ large, rather than a permanent issue. ::
Graham shifted his grip on the privacy shield as the glass doors closed behind him. He paused at the large directory, frowning at the gaudy brass lettering on the black background, but made his way quickly to the correct office, fortunately just a few doors down, between the fire stairs and the elevator. He opened that glass door, smudged with an assortment of children's hand and palm prints from the crosswise metal handle to the metal frame at the bottom.
Inside, two steps from the door, was a long Formica counter probably manufactured the year that he and Tolliver were born. The white top had been smudged and worn away to the black under layer, and large chips had been broken away at the toe kick, revealing the same black surface. “Hello, I'd like to speak with Irene DeGeorge, please. My name is Doctor Graham Finn.”
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 2, complete
word count (story only): 1414
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and the Mercedes story group, this picks up a few months before Shiv is released, less than a week after the Finns return from the Maldives. ::
:: Pay Special Attention: Graham is being very, very hard on himself, and expresses a bit of unrealistic expectations (of himself), but it's a sense of guilt writ large, rather than a permanent issue. ::
Graham shifted his grip on the privacy shield as the glass doors closed behind him. He paused at the large directory, frowning at the gaudy brass lettering on the black background, but made his way quickly to the correct office, fortunately just a few doors down, between the fire stairs and the elevator. He opened that glass door, smudged with an assortment of children's hand and palm prints from the crosswise metal handle to the metal frame at the bottom.
Inside, two steps from the door, was a long Formica counter probably manufactured the year that he and Tolliver were born. The white top had been smudged and worn away to the black under layer, and large chips had been broken away at the toe kick, revealing the same black surface. “Hello, I'd like to speak with Irene DeGeorge, please. My name is Doctor Graham Finn.”
( Read more... )
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Fiction: Walking a Broken Road (part 1 of 1, complete)
Wednesday, 12 July 2017 22:37Walking a Broken Road
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1 (complete)
word count (story only): 1358
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, the Mercedes story group, and the Road Trip story arc. This time, we're getting a glimpse of the effects of the fire on Bennett, who offered to pack Joshua and G's house, right down to the tennis balls for the dryer, but now has to contend with his feelings about his role in the whole fiasco. In short, he's carrying a truckload of guilt, but his friends won't let him carry it alone. ::
Bennett's hands shook as he locked the roll-up metal door to the storage space Joshua had planned to hold the contents of his entire house. Inside, there was still enough room to park a truck, beside the two beds disassembled and propped against one metal wall with their mattresses leaning over them protectively.
G's handheld game, left abandoned on the bathroom vanity had ended up in Bennett's pocket for the same reason that Jules' markers always did, but now, there was nowhere to stash the device except in one of the boxes marked “G's room.”
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1 (complete)
word count (story only): 1358
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, the Mercedes story group, and the Road Trip story arc. This time, we're getting a glimpse of the effects of the fire on Bennett, who offered to pack Joshua and G's house, right down to the tennis balls for the dryer, but now has to contend with his feelings about his role in the whole fiasco. In short, he's carrying a truckload of guilt, but his friends won't let him carry it alone. ::
Bennett's hands shook as he locked the roll-up metal door to the storage space Joshua had planned to hold the contents of his entire house. Inside, there was still enough room to park a truck, beside the two beds disassembled and propped against one metal wall with their mattresses leaning over them protectively.
G's handheld game, left abandoned on the bathroom vanity had ended up in Bennett's pocket for the same reason that Jules' markers always did, but now, there was nowhere to stash the device except in one of the boxes marked “G's room.”
( Read more... )
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Fiction: Beyond the Book Club (part 1 of 1, complete)
Tuesday, 11 July 2017 21:43Beyond the Book Club
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1, complete
word count (story only): 1395
::Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and the Mercedes story group, this one could fall any time during the summer. Based on a prompt from Librarygeek for the July Magpie Monday, posted as the freebie because I just couldn't resist showing Mercedes as a community.::
Pay Special Attention: Asking for help and getting it. A friend playing 'matchmaker' in a platonic sense (for a change). ::
“I'm not really sure about this, Marti,” Luisa declared, leaning heavily on the four-footed cane gripped tightly in her left hand. “I've only been to a few of the book club meetings—Oh, hi, Bennett.” Her free hand reached up to the graying, once auburn ponytail that ran to her waist. “I wasn't… I mean...”
Bennett chuckled softly, but the sound grew louder every time Luisa tried to backpedal. He pointed toward the extra long, camel-backed black sofa, adding a flick of his fingers as he said, “Sit down, please. Since it's obviously your first visit to my shop, would you like a cup of tea or coffee? Oh, and hello to you, too, Marti. Did you decide to spring this on her?”
“No, I'm springing her on you,” the younger woman corrected playfully, already gliding past him toward the credenza which held the tea urn and the coffee pot, along with an assortment of treats. She paused, then slid open the credenza to reveal a dorm fridge. From inside that, she retrieved a bottle of orange juice dusted with tiny frost crystals. “She's feeling worse than she's letting on, Bennett, and I don't have time to help her with the grocery shopping. Do you have any clients this afternoon?”
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1, complete
word count (story only): 1395
::Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and the Mercedes story group, this one could fall any time during the summer. Based on a prompt from Librarygeek for the July Magpie Monday, posted as the freebie because I just couldn't resist showing Mercedes as a community.::
Pay Special Attention: Asking for help and getting it. A friend playing 'matchmaker' in a platonic sense (for a change). ::
“I'm not really sure about this, Marti,” Luisa declared, leaning heavily on the four-footed cane gripped tightly in her left hand. “I've only been to a few of the book club meetings—Oh, hi, Bennett.” Her free hand reached up to the graying, once auburn ponytail that ran to her waist. “I wasn't… I mean...”
Bennett chuckled softly, but the sound grew louder every time Luisa tried to backpedal. He pointed toward the extra long, camel-backed black sofa, adding a flick of his fingers as he said, “Sit down, please. Since it's obviously your first visit to my shop, would you like a cup of tea or coffee? Oh, and hello to you, too, Marti. Did you decide to spring this on her?”
“No, I'm springing her on you,” the younger woman corrected playfully, already gliding past him toward the credenza which held the tea urn and the coffee pot, along with an assortment of treats. She paused, then slid open the credenza to reveal a dorm fridge. From inside that, she retrieved a bottle of orange juice dusted with tiny frost crystals. “She's feeling worse than she's letting on, Bennett, and I don't have time to help her with the grocery shopping. Do you have any clients this afternoon?”
( Read more... )
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Maybe Friends, Maybe a Favor
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 2 of 2, complete
word count (story only): 1145
::Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, the Mercedes story group, and the Road Trip arc. No warnings, but there is some tension about names, a stranger's reaction to the name problem, and signs that the teenage girl is more than a little bit scared of police officers. This story is posted as the freebie for Magpie Monday, to keep the story together, and another freebie will be posted on Tuesday. ::
“Nooo,” the older man explained slowly, “I'm past that to horribly ticklish,” he admitted. “You can check if you like. I'm giving you permission.” Slowly, he lifted his arms away from his body a few inches. “Pretty much anywhere my shirt is covers a ticklish spot.”
Laughter burbled out of the dark-haired girl. “Really? I've never thought that a… cop,” she used the word reluctantly, “would be so… normal, I guess.”
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 2 of 2, complete
word count (story only): 1145
::Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, the Mercedes story group, and the Road Trip arc. No warnings, but there is some tension about names, a stranger's reaction to the name problem, and signs that the teenage girl is more than a little bit scared of police officers. This story is posted as the freebie for Magpie Monday, to keep the story together, and another freebie will be posted on Tuesday. ::
“Nooo,” the older man explained slowly, “I'm past that to horribly ticklish,” he admitted. “You can check if you like. I'm giving you permission.” Slowly, he lifted his arms away from his body a few inches. “Pretty much anywhere my shirt is covers a ticklish spot.”
Laughter burbled out of the dark-haired girl. “Really? I've never thought that a… cop,” she used the word reluctantly, “would be so… normal, I guess.”
( Read more... )
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July Magpie Monday!
Monday, 10 July 2017 12:12Welcome to the July Magpie Monday!
Yes, it's BACK!
Because an appointment dragged on interminably, I'm posting this nooon(ish) on Monday. That means I'll be accepting prompts through Wednesday, 12 July at midnight, just so everyone has plenty of time to participate!
Here's how the magpie gathers story ideas, bright and shiny as new pennies: first, someone gives me a prompt (or more than one, in which case I'll pick among them) and I write 500 words minimum. For those who boost the signal by advertising Magpie Monday in their corner(s) of the Internet, I'll add a hundred words per signal boost. How do know about it?
( Read more... )
Yes, it's BACK!
Because an appointment dragged on interminably, I'm posting this nooon(ish) on Monday. That means I'll be accepting prompts through Wednesday, 12 July at midnight, just so everyone has plenty of time to participate!
Here's how the magpie gathers story ideas, bright and shiny as new pennies: first, someone gives me a prompt (or more than one, in which case I'll pick among them) and I write 500 words minimum. For those who boost the signal by advertising Magpie Monday in their corner(s) of the Internet, I'll add a hundred words per signal boost. How do know about it?
( Read more... )
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Maybe Friends, Maybe a Favor
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 2, complete
word count (story only): 1007
::Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, the Mercedes story group, and the Road Trip arc. No warnings, but there is some tension about names, a stranger's reaction to the name problem, and signs that the teenage girl is more than a little bit scared of police officers. ::
:: BECAUSE-- the Magpie Monday is tomorrow, the second half will post as a freebie, after the Magpie instruction post is up. ::
G led Ignacio to their room, hardly slowing down to knock on the frame. “Dad?” G sighed, pausing in the doorway. “He's not here, so let's grab the name books and some paper,” the teen suggested.
Ignacio nodded, and as G jogged over to the duffel parked beside the bed, she slipped into the cabin. As the blond began pulling clothing out, laying the items neatly on the bed, Ignacio froze. “Your… Is that… Is… your...” She shivered.
“Are you okay?” G asked softly. He straightened the collar on his father's uniform shirt.
“Your dad is a COP?” Ignacio's voice went from a whisper to a strangled shriek.
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 2, complete
word count (story only): 1007
::Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, the Mercedes story group, and the Road Trip arc. No warnings, but there is some tension about names, a stranger's reaction to the name problem, and signs that the teenage girl is more than a little bit scared of police officers. ::
:: BECAUSE-- the Magpie Monday is tomorrow, the second half will post as a freebie, after the Magpie instruction post is up. ::
G led Ignacio to their room, hardly slowing down to knock on the frame. “Dad?” G sighed, pausing in the doorway. “He's not here, so let's grab the name books and some paper,” the teen suggested.
Ignacio nodded, and as G jogged over to the duffel parked beside the bed, she slipped into the cabin. As the blond began pulling clothing out, laying the items neatly on the bed, Ignacio froze. “Your… Is that… Is… your...” She shivered.
“Are you okay?” G asked softly. He straightened the collar on his father's uniform shirt.
“Your dad is a COP?” Ignacio's voice went from a whisper to a strangled shriek.
( Read more... )
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Fiction: Getting an Early Start (part 1 of 1, complete)
Saturday, 8 July 2017 22:38Getting An Early Start
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1, complete
word count (story only): 1275
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and my Mercedes story group, this is one of the last tales in the Road Trip. Surprisingly light and fluffy, but Cash is just this side of giddy because the Body Shop has healed the last of the tremors, which will in turn free Turi for other work. ::
Morning sunlight lit the thin vinyl screen covering the porthole in the examination room, making it glow a warm orange. Cash rolled his head first clockwise, then counterclockwise as he followed the healer's instructions, working from his head toward his toes to look for any lingering tremors or stiffness. “I haven't felt this good since the last time I got laid,” Cash admitted, laughing.
Doctor Lavoie stretched, but her stomach rumbled loudly as her body shifted. “Sorry about that,” she offered, shaking her head. “Right now, I could eat half a hippogriff.”
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 1, complete
word count (story only): 1275
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and my Mercedes story group, this is one of the last tales in the Road Trip. Surprisingly light and fluffy, but Cash is just this side of giddy because the Body Shop has healed the last of the tremors, which will in turn free Turi for other work. ::
Morning sunlight lit the thin vinyl screen covering the porthole in the examination room, making it glow a warm orange. Cash rolled his head first clockwise, then counterclockwise as he followed the healer's instructions, working from his head toward his toes to look for any lingering tremors or stiffness. “I haven't felt this good since the last time I got laid,” Cash admitted, laughing.
Doctor Lavoie stretched, but her stomach rumbled loudly as her body shifted. “Sorry about that,” she offered, shaking her head. “Right now, I could eat half a hippogriff.”
( Read more... )
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fiction: A Little Payback (part 3 of 3, complete)
Friday, 7 July 2017 21:58A Little Payback
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 3 of 3, complete
word count (story only): 1415
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and my Mercedes story group, this is one of the last tales in the Road Trip. As such, people aren't usually at their best when dealing with medical issues, no matter how eagerly they've sought the opportunity they have. This section blossomed into two parts during editing. (I'm not really sorry, either!) ::
:: Pay Special Attention: THIS DETAIL IS A SPOILER, please highlight to read why
In this part, the jumpy teenager explains, briefly, what she calls getting 'hassled' by the cops for being trans. She does not parse the incident as verbal abuse, physical abuse, and especially abuse under the color of authority,
I think she's got a really good view of the Nile riverbed and top notch SCUBA gear. ::
Cash shook his head, lacing his hands together in his lap to decrease whatever threat she might perceive. “Actually, no,” he admitted. “I was never scared of the cops when I was on a job, and the one bozo cop who did attack me, well, the local cops put a guard on my door for my protection while I was unconscious, but they sound like the guy who interviewed you: friendly, professional, and some of them had really quirky senses of humor. What was the gift card about? A joke? A bet, maybe?” A tiny warble crept into his voice, a terrible tell, but he wasn't afraid of the police now… just a touch more cautious about them.
Ignacio leapt on it with all the finesse of a wolf pup. “You didn't figure it out?” Her voice took on a faintly superior, teasing tone, despite the difference in their ages. “He bet which of the three of us would snap at him for the 'patriarchal, ageist claptrap,' my mom called it.”
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 3 of 3, complete
word count (story only): 1415
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and my Mercedes story group, this is one of the last tales in the Road Trip. As such, people aren't usually at their best when dealing with medical issues, no matter how eagerly they've sought the opportunity they have. This section blossomed into two parts during editing. (I'm not really sorry, either!) ::
:: Pay Special Attention: THIS DETAIL IS A SPOILER, please highlight to read why
In this part, the jumpy teenager explains, briefly, what she calls getting 'hassled' by the cops for being trans. She does not parse the incident as verbal abuse, physical abuse, and especially abuse under the color of authority,
I think she's got a really good view of the Nile riverbed and top notch SCUBA gear. ::
Cash shook his head, lacing his hands together in his lap to decrease whatever threat she might perceive. “Actually, no,” he admitted. “I was never scared of the cops when I was on a job, and the one bozo cop who did attack me, well, the local cops put a guard on my door for my protection while I was unconscious, but they sound like the guy who interviewed you: friendly, professional, and some of them had really quirky senses of humor. What was the gift card about? A joke? A bet, maybe?” A tiny warble crept into his voice, a terrible tell, but he wasn't afraid of the police now… just a touch more cautious about them.
Ignacio leapt on it with all the finesse of a wolf pup. “You didn't figure it out?” Her voice took on a faintly superior, teasing tone, despite the difference in their ages. “He bet which of the three of us would snap at him for the 'patriarchal, ageist claptrap,' my mom called it.”
( Read more... )
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fiction: A Little Payback (part 2 of 3, complete)
Thursday, 6 July 2017 22:09A Little Payback
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 2 of 3, complete
word count (story only): 1060
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and my Mercedes story group, this is one of the last tales in the Road Trip. As such, people aren't usually at their best when dealing with medical issues, no matter how eagerly they've sought the opportunity they have. This section blossomed into two parts when editing for clarity. (I'm not really sorry, either!) ::
:: Pay Special Attention: THIS DETAIL IS A SPOILER, please highlight to read why
In this part, the jumpy teenager explains, briefly, what she calls getting 'hassled' by the cops for being trans. She does not parse the incident as verbal abuse, physical abuse, and especially abuse under the color of authority,
I think she's got a really good view of the Nile riverbed and top notch SCUBA gear. ::
They slipped into a room, with a glimpse at the placard naming it for procedure-something. Cash guided the girl to sit on the exam table, then backed up to push the door nearly closed, leaving only a few inches of space between the frame and the edge. “Okay, let's breathe for a minute.” Cash began firmly, and letting his shoulders rise as he took his own advice.
“I'm okay,” she insisted.
“Yeah, not quite yet,” Cash returned, frowning. “I can't call you “eye' or even frame that sentence correctly without using a name. Could we dust off your old name for a bit? Can I call you Girl instead of Guy?” he added in a lighter, bemused tone.
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 2 of 3, complete
word count (story only): 1060
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and my Mercedes story group, this is one of the last tales in the Road Trip. As such, people aren't usually at their best when dealing with medical issues, no matter how eagerly they've sought the opportunity they have. This section blossomed into two parts when editing for clarity. (I'm not really sorry, either!) ::
:: Pay Special Attention: THIS DETAIL IS A SPOILER, please highlight to read why
In this part, the jumpy teenager explains, briefly, what she calls getting 'hassled' by the cops for being trans. She does not parse the incident as verbal abuse, physical abuse, and especially abuse under the color of authority,
I think she's got a really good view of the Nile riverbed and top notch SCUBA gear. ::
They slipped into a room, with a glimpse at the placard naming it for procedure-something. Cash guided the girl to sit on the exam table, then backed up to push the door nearly closed, leaving only a few inches of space between the frame and the edge. “Okay, let's breathe for a minute.” Cash began firmly, and letting his shoulders rise as he took his own advice.
“I'm okay,” she insisted.
“Yeah, not quite yet,” Cash returned, frowning. “I can't call you “eye' or even frame that sentence correctly without using a name. Could we dust off your old name for a bit? Can I call you Girl instead of Guy?” he added in a lighter, bemused tone.
( Read more... )
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fiction: A Little Payback (part 1 of 2, complete)
Wednesday, 5 July 2017 23:29A Little Payback
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 2, complete
word count (story only): 1497
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and my Mercedes story group, this is one of the last tales in the Road Trip. As such, people aren't usually at their best when dealing with medical issues, no matter how eagerly they've sought the opportunity they have. ::
Pay Special Attention: I'm hinting that one passenger is reacting differently to her social changes than G is, but the hint is in the differing circumstances between them. Another passenger is an outright airbag, so Cash lets his villainy out to play a little.
Cash rolled wearily out of the meeting with the healer who would be repairing the last of the nerve damage in his body, save for his ruined eye. It didn't hurt to move, but he was so tired that his hands dropped heavily onto the armrests. The slap noise made another passenger in the hallway pause, mid-stride, to take in his posture, and the electric wheelchair. The teen jogged over, shaking her head. “Man, they should stick warning labels on the doors to the interview room, shouldn't they?”
“May cause reality to implode,” Cash intoned seriously. He eyed the splint on the girl's right arm. “You need to loosen that up, because your fingers aren't turning red, but they are darker than the ones on your left.”
The girl giggled, then studied the vrip strips and plastic buckles. “Can you help with the buckles? I'm working one-handed.”
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 2, complete
word count (story only): 1497
:: Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and my Mercedes story group, this is one of the last tales in the Road Trip. As such, people aren't usually at their best when dealing with medical issues, no matter how eagerly they've sought the opportunity they have. ::
Pay Special Attention: I'm hinting that one passenger is reacting differently to her social changes than G is, but the hint is in the differing circumstances between them. Another passenger is an outright airbag, so Cash lets his villainy out to play a little.
Cash rolled wearily out of the meeting with the healer who would be repairing the last of the nerve damage in his body, save for his ruined eye. It didn't hurt to move, but he was so tired that his hands dropped heavily onto the armrests. The slap noise made another passenger in the hallway pause, mid-stride, to take in his posture, and the electric wheelchair. The teen jogged over, shaking her head. “Man, they should stick warning labels on the doors to the interview room, shouldn't they?”
“May cause reality to implode,” Cash intoned seriously. He eyed the splint on the girl's right arm. “You need to loosen that up, because your fingers aren't turning red, but they are darker than the ones on your left.”
The girl giggled, then studied the vrip strips and plastic buckles. “Can you help with the buckles? I'm working one-handed.”
( Read more... )
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July Poetry Fishbowl Linkback is LIVE!
Tuesday, 4 July 2017 15:24For the American Fourth of July, I am celebrating my independence by doing exactly what I want most to be doing today: hosting the Poetry Fishbowl Linkback for ![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ysabetwordsmith. Today's poem is about social “melting pots” and assimilation, differences and fault tolerances, but it's also a simple story of choices, and independence. In short, I think it's a creative expression perfectly suited to the day.
( Read more... )
ysabetwordsmith. Today's poem is about social “melting pots” and assimilation, differences and fault tolerances, but it's also a simple story of choices, and independence. In short, I think it's a creative expression perfectly suited to the day. ( Read more... )
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Fiction: The Afternoon Unravels (part 2 of 2, complete)
Monday, 3 July 2017 22:09The Afternoon Unravels
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 2 of 2 (complete)
word count (story only): 1737
:: This is part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, my Mercedes story arc, and the Road Trip series. In checking it for the spatial error someone noticed in part one, I ended up adding, at last, the explanation for Kais' strange behaviors. Oh, and another 500 words. ::
:: Pay Special Attention: Madelyn discusses the transformation from one soup ability to another, as the result of a curse. Some people might be squicked. ::
“At least people have heard of you, Cash. I can yell my cape name from the roof and nobody would recognize it but you.” Madelyn waved a hand at him, then separated the check from the book, and drew the slate control from right to left to save the imprint of every pen stroke, along with the more common digital update to the account. She held the check toward Joshua. “Here, for the property that burned. Did Cash explain that I'm going to build from scratch?” She grinned. “I'm thinking rammed earth Hobbit house… or is that too tame for your neighborhood?”
“He did,” Joshua agreed, but made no move to reach for the check. “The ground is mostly peat, and there are fungi in it that make it totally unsuitable for building rammed earth style homes,” he warned. "Valley Fever isn't anything to joke about."
At the same moment, Cash scratched his chin before blurting, “What was your cape name again?” Laughter sparkled in his eyes as he grinned at her.
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 2 of 2 (complete)
word count (story only): 1737
:: This is part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, my Mercedes story arc, and the Road Trip series. In checking it for the spatial error someone noticed in part one, I ended up adding, at last, the explanation for Kais' strange behaviors. Oh, and another 500 words. ::
:: Pay Special Attention: Madelyn discusses the transformation from one soup ability to another, as the result of a curse. Some people might be squicked. ::
“At least people have heard of you, Cash. I can yell my cape name from the roof and nobody would recognize it but you.” Madelyn waved a hand at him, then separated the check from the book, and drew the slate control from right to left to save the imprint of every pen stroke, along with the more common digital update to the account. She held the check toward Joshua. “Here, for the property that burned. Did Cash explain that I'm going to build from scratch?” She grinned. “I'm thinking rammed earth Hobbit house… or is that too tame for your neighborhood?”
“He did,” Joshua agreed, but made no move to reach for the check. “The ground is mostly peat, and there are fungi in it that make it totally unsuitable for building rammed earth style homes,” he warned. "Valley Fever isn't anything to joke about."
At the same moment, Cash scratched his chin before blurting, “What was your cape name again?” Laughter sparkled in his eyes as he grinned at her.
( Read more... )
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Fiction: The Afternoon Unravels (part 1 of 2, complete)
Sunday, 2 July 2017 23:27The Afternoon Unravels
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 2 (complete)
word count (story only): 1184
:: This is part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, my Mercedes story arc, and the Road Trip series. ::
The beach was a singular playground, as though set aside for the two people diligently working on a sand castle, several feet away from the wet sand that marked the current tide. The teenager slouched as he knelt, while the little girl ran back and forth to collect the sand dollars littering the wet sand.
Cash frowned at the rough wooden pier, and the long wooden 'stairs' that marked out the gradual slope down from scrub grass to beach. “Any suggestions?” he asked the driver of the pickup truck. He fumbled open his wallet with a shaking hand, passing a pair of bills to the young woman with smudges of oil on her cheek and on the beautiful silver cross hanging low on her chest.
( Read more... )
by Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
part 1 of 2 (complete)
word count (story only): 1184
:: This is part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, my Mercedes story arc, and the Road Trip series. ::
The beach was a singular playground, as though set aside for the two people diligently working on a sand castle, several feet away from the wet sand that marked the current tide. The teenager slouched as he knelt, while the little girl ran back and forth to collect the sand dollars littering the wet sand.
Cash frowned at the rough wooden pier, and the long wooden 'stairs' that marked out the gradual slope down from scrub grass to beach. “Any suggestions?” he asked the driver of the pickup truck. He fumbled open his wallet with a shaking hand, passing a pair of bills to the young woman with smudges of oil on her cheek and on the beautiful silver cross hanging low on her chest.
( Read more... )
Tags:
Notice: Crowdfunding in July!
Sunday, 2 July 2017 21:37Crowdfunding Events in July!
In chronological order, I am:
- Hosting the Poetry Fishbowl Linkback on Tuesday, 4 July. (American Independence Day) and the usual process will make the day's entry pop with surprises, but they're MUCH quieter (and more fun) than fireworks, I assure you all!
- Magpie Monday will be on Monday, 10 July. I missed the festival-creativity of it, terribly, and will be continuing this through the end of the year, at the very least. This month's theme is “independence,” so if you want to celebrate the signs of independence, the freedom of choice and the consequences thereof, or even the traditional American picnic and fireworks in fiction, this is the month! What about those tiny little moments that matter most to only one person? They're the test, and the lesson, the opportunity and the sweetness that we point to as signs of independence.
For those still debating whether to helpalexseanchai, they are still offering fiction at $0.04 per word, four cents to the word, and for anyone who donates to them, PM me to tell me the amount and give me a prompt, and I will pennysmith ($0.01/word) a story to say thank you. This will be ongoing through the 31st of July, so contributors to a worthy cause have ample time to join in, and they will get a bonus story!
In chronological order, I am:
- Hosting the Poetry Fishbowl Linkback on Tuesday, 4 July. (American Independence Day) and the usual process will make the day's entry pop with surprises, but they're MUCH quieter (and more fun) than fireworks, I assure you all!
- Magpie Monday will be on Monday, 10 July. I missed the festival-creativity of it, terribly, and will be continuing this through the end of the year, at the very least. This month's theme is “independence,” so if you want to celebrate the signs of independence, the freedom of choice and the consequences thereof, or even the traditional American picnic and fireworks in fiction, this is the month! What about those tiny little moments that matter most to only one person? They're the test, and the lesson, the opportunity and the sweetness that we point to as signs of independence.
For those still debating whether to help
alexseanchai, they are still offering fiction at $0.04 per word, four cents to the word, and for anyone who donates to them, PM me to tell me the amount and give me a prompt, and I will pennysmith ($0.01/word) a story to say thank you. This will be ongoing through the 31st of July, so contributors to a worthy cause have ample time to join in, and they will get a bonus story!
