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meridian_rose2020-01-08 10:37 am
Entry tags:
Fic Snippet: Companionship
Romaine realises how important El's companionship has become to him.
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meridian_rose2020-01-08 10:37 ammeridian_rose2019-12-19 11:33 amEntry tags:
Flashback December: Hot Chocolate
Posted in advance as at present you cannot schedule a DW entry!
For this month I'm featuring some older works newcomers haven't seen and others might not remember. I'd love to see others share their past work; there's nothing wrong with celebrating earlier creations any more than there is re-reading a favourite book or re-watching a film!
Merry Christmas to those celebrating today!
Romaine watched El whisk the powdered drinking chocolate into the saucepan full of hot milk, adding a pinch of cinnamon and another of nutmeg. When she was satisfied, she poured the mixture into the mugs, filling them about half-way. She added a generous amount of brandy, some marshmallows, topped the mugs with a ton of whipped cream – he now realised why she'd purchased four cans - and finished the whole thing off with chocolate sprinkles.
"Hot chocolate," El said, beaming, offering him a mug.
"Well, somewhere under all that," Romaine said, grateful for the long-handled spoon she passed to him.
( Read more... )
For this month I'm featuring some older works newcomers haven't seen and others might not remember. I'd love to see others share their past work; there's nothing wrong with celebrating earlier creations any more than there is re-reading a favourite book or re-watching a film!
Merry Christmas to those celebrating today!
Romaine watched El whisk the powdered drinking chocolate into the saucepan full of hot milk, adding a pinch of cinnamon and another of nutmeg. When she was satisfied, she poured the mixture into the mugs, filling them about half-way. She added a generous amount of brandy, some marshmallows, topped the mugs with a ton of whipped cream – he now realised why she'd purchased four cans - and finished the whole thing off with chocolate sprinkles.
"Hot chocolate," El said, beaming, offering him a mug.
"Well, somewhere under all that," Romaine said, grateful for the long-handled spoon she passed to him.
( Read more... )
meridian_rose2019-12-11 10:22 amEntry tags:
Flashback December: Christmas is Coming
For this month I'm featuring some older works newcomers haven't seen and others might not remember. I'd love to see others share their past work; there's nothing wrong with celebrating earlier creations any more than there is re-reading a favourite book or re-watching a film!
This week I'm featuring a WRE ficlet with El's take on decorating.
"Where did all this come from?" Romaine stared at the myriad cardboard and plastic boxes filling the living room. He'd helped El move house twice now and never seen any of these items.
"I store it at my parent's house. They said now I have a proper house and not a small rental I have to keep it though." El rolled her eyes at the imposition.
Romaine pointed out two boxes. "Those are both artificial trees."
"Yes. And that's a mini one in the box there."
"You said you wanted to buy a real potted tree to put outside."
El nodded. "Four trees. Don't judge me. I warned you I like decorating for Yuletide."
"It's the fifteenth of November!"
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This week I'm featuring a WRE ficlet with El's take on decorating.
"Where did all this come from?" Romaine stared at the myriad cardboard and plastic boxes filling the living room. He'd helped El move house twice now and never seen any of these items.
"I store it at my parent's house. They said now I have a proper house and not a small rental I have to keep it though." El rolled her eyes at the imposition.
Romaine pointed out two boxes. "Those are both artificial trees."
"Yes. And that's a mini one in the box there."
"You said you wanted to buy a real potted tree to put outside."
El nodded. "Four trees. Don't judge me. I warned you I like decorating for Yuletide."
"It's the fifteenth of November!"
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meridian_rose2019-11-27 02:55 pmEntry tags:
Fic Snippet: Opening Paragraphs
It's NaNoWriMo and if you're participating, good luck! For this month I'm posting snippets of things I've worked on during previous NaNoWriMos.
I did rebel NaNoWriMo in 2016 and wrote original fiction and fanfic, counting all the words towards my overall goal.
This is from the start of a piece I wrote for an online challenge. I'm pleased with the descriptions since I always have to work harder at that aspect of writing; dialogue comes easier to me.
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I did rebel NaNoWriMo in 2016 and wrote original fiction and fanfic, counting all the words towards my overall goal.
This is from the start of a piece I wrote for an online challenge. I'm pleased with the descriptions since I always have to work harder at that aspect of writing; dialogue comes easier to me.
( Read more... )
meridian_rose2019-11-20 09:18 amEntry tags:
Fic Snippet: Other WiP
It’s NaNoWriMo and if you’re participating, good luck! For this month I’m posting snippets of things I’ve worked on during previous NaNoWriMos.
I did rebel NaNoWriMo in 2016 and wrote original fiction and fanfic, counting all the words towards my overall goal.
This snippet is from an original piece I’ve got some notes for but haven’t written much of the story. This conversation is between a woman with healing abilities who accidentally healed a man who now finds himself unable to be the disability advocate he’d become.
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I did rebel NaNoWriMo in 2016 and wrote original fiction and fanfic, counting all the words towards my overall goal.
This snippet is from an original piece I’ve got some notes for but haven’t written much of the story. This conversation is between a woman with healing abilities who accidentally healed a man who now finds himself unable to be the disability advocate he’d become.
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meridian_rose2019-11-13 10:14 amEntry tags:
Fic Snippet: WiP: WRE
It’s NaNoWriMo and if you’re participating, good luck! For this month I’m posting snippets of things I’ve worked on during previous NaNoWriMos.
WiP: WRE
“Fancy a walk?” Romaine asked.
El nodded. “Want me to walk the wolf?”
“Would you? Thanks.”
Romaine went upstairs to get ready, El saying she needed to use the toilet, tie up her hair, and find a coat.
A few minutes later she came to meet him, pushing the door which he’d left ajar open. She was wearing a grey hoodie with little ear sewn onto the hood and the slogan “I am a cat” across the front. Romaine, now in wolf form, snorted at the hiding in plan sight pun and then used his nose to nudge the collar and lead he’d found from a bottom drawer and put on the coffee table.
El put the collar on and the slip lead, a green and white striped hoped cord with a leather stopper which she didn’t bother to adjust since he wouldn’t be pulling at her, and a large loop at the other end for her to hold.
“Keys?” she asked. Romaine whined, having forgot about that and gestured to the key box.
El picked up his keys and slid them into her pocket alongside her own, clipped to a loop on her jeans. She pulled the door behind them and locked up. On the way out, they met Mrs Cavanaugh.
“Oh hello,” Mrs Cavanaugh said.”This must be that beautiful dog. Can I pet him?”
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WiP: WRE
“Fancy a walk?” Romaine asked.
El nodded. “Want me to walk the wolf?”
“Would you? Thanks.”
Romaine went upstairs to get ready, El saying she needed to use the toilet, tie up her hair, and find a coat.
A few minutes later she came to meet him, pushing the door which he’d left ajar open. She was wearing a grey hoodie with little ear sewn onto the hood and the slogan “I am a cat” across the front. Romaine, now in wolf form, snorted at the hiding in plan sight pun and then used his nose to nudge the collar and lead he’d found from a bottom drawer and put on the coffee table.
El put the collar on and the slip lead, a green and white striped hoped cord with a leather stopper which she didn’t bother to adjust since he wouldn’t be pulling at her, and a large loop at the other end for her to hold.
“Keys?” she asked. Romaine whined, having forgot about that and gestured to the key box.
El picked up his keys and slid them into her pocket alongside her own, clipped to a loop on her jeans. She pulled the door behind them and locked up. On the way out, they met Mrs Cavanaugh.
“Oh hello,” Mrs Cavanaugh said.”This must be that beautiful dog. Can I pet him?”
( Read more... )
meridian_rose2019-11-06 11:10 amEntry tags:
Fic Snippet: SA (previous NaNoWriMo)
It's NaNoWriMo and if you're participating, good luck! For this month I'm posting snippets of things I've worked on during previous NaNoWriMos.
WiP: Sorceress Apprentice
“Sir,” the mayor said, approaching Emeri. “Would you do us the honour?”
“It would be my pleasure,” Emeri said. “If Bryony wishes.”
"Me?" Bryony felt the world spin, grasped for stability using every trick she'd learnt these past weeks. She and Emeri, dance the fire dance? This was something she'd dreamt of, of being the Festival's Queen, of dancing with The Sorcerer, of being The Sorcerer's Queen.
It was too much. A dream wasn't supposed to be real. What if wasn't like her fantasies, what if she trod in the fire, she wasn't that great a dancer, what if she embarrassed herself, what if she embarrassed Emeri, what if –
"Who else?" Emeri asked, his hand still outstretched.
She swallowed, placed her hand in his. He gave her a warm smile as he closed his fingers over hers. He understood how much it meant to her.
They made their way to the ritual fire and there was a smattering of applause and then silence as they took their places.
WiP: Sorceress Apprentice
“Sir,” the mayor said, approaching Emeri. “Would you do us the honour?”
“It would be my pleasure,” Emeri said. “If Bryony wishes.”
"Me?" Bryony felt the world spin, grasped for stability using every trick she'd learnt these past weeks. She and Emeri, dance the fire dance? This was something she'd dreamt of, of being the Festival's Queen, of dancing with The Sorcerer, of being The Sorcerer's Queen.
It was too much. A dream wasn't supposed to be real. What if wasn't like her fantasies, what if she trod in the fire, she wasn't that great a dancer, what if she embarrassed herself, what if she embarrassed Emeri, what if –
"Who else?" Emeri asked, his hand still outstretched.
She swallowed, placed her hand in his. He gave her a warm smile as he closed his fingers over hers. He understood how much it meant to her.
They made their way to the ritual fire and there was a smattering of applause and then silence as they took their places.
meridian_rose2019-10-23 06:26 pmEntry tags:
Fic snippet: Secrecy (WRE)
This month's theme is 'gatekeeping'. Today's piece is a snippet from my WiP, WRE looking at gatekeeping around the supernatural community and why they try to hide their existence from humans.
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meridian_rose2019-06-26 10:12 amEntry tags:
Fic Snippet: Moving In
For #writingwednesday another fic snippet for this month’s theme, focussing on WiP:WRE and the relationship between friends and colleagues, El and Romaine.
moving-2537827_960_720
by MartinD23 at Pixabay
El savoured the mouthful of pancake, swallowed. “I wanted to ask you something.”
Romaine nodded. “Go on, then.”
“Why do we live in separate flats when we spend so much time in each other’s places?”
Romaine chewed slowly, surprised by the question.
“It would save on the rent,” El said. “If we moved in together.”
He swallowed. “There’s only one bedroom.”
“I didn’t mean here,” El said, gesturing. “There’s not room for both of our stuff in one of these flats, not with my clothes and coffee table and your desk.”
“And only one bed,” Romaine repeated.
“That too,” El said as if it was the least of her concerns. “We’d have to look for somewhere else, a two bedroom place. Maybe three, so we could have a home office, somewhere to put the desk and our books and things.”
Romaine cut another pancake up into bitesize pieces. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”
El nodded. “I guess I’d like it if we moved in together. I mean we spend most of our time together anyway.”
“Isn’t that a concern? Don’t you ever come home from work and need alone time?”
She shrugged. “We spend more time together after work than alone. And it feels like alone time. Or something. I don’t feel you’re someone I have to stress about being with.”
While the words were coming out odd, he understood what she meant and he was touched. If he stopped to think about it, he felt the same way. Being with El wasn’t like being with other colleagues or going to a party. It was soothing and he missed her when she wasn’t there.
“And sometimes you go out or I’m out,” El said, “and we’ll have our own bedrooms to go sit in if we need quiet time. What do you think?”
Romaine let out a long exhale. At least she’d acknowledged the need for multiple bedrooms. “I think I need to think about it more.”
“Okay.” El got up to pour more coffee. “At least it’s not an outright no.”
moving-2537827_960_720
by MartinD23 at Pixabay
El savoured the mouthful of pancake, swallowed. “I wanted to ask you something.”
Romaine nodded. “Go on, then.”
“Why do we live in separate flats when we spend so much time in each other’s places?”
Romaine chewed slowly, surprised by the question.
“It would save on the rent,” El said. “If we moved in together.”
He swallowed. “There’s only one bedroom.”
“I didn’t mean here,” El said, gesturing. “There’s not room for both of our stuff in one of these flats, not with my clothes and coffee table and your desk.”
“And only one bed,” Romaine repeated.
“That too,” El said as if it was the least of her concerns. “We’d have to look for somewhere else, a two bedroom place. Maybe three, so we could have a home office, somewhere to put the desk and our books and things.”
Romaine cut another pancake up into bitesize pieces. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”
El nodded. “I guess I’d like it if we moved in together. I mean we spend most of our time together anyway.”
“Isn’t that a concern? Don’t you ever come home from work and need alone time?”
She shrugged. “We spend more time together after work than alone. And it feels like alone time. Or something. I don’t feel you’re someone I have to stress about being with.”
While the words were coming out odd, he understood what she meant and he was touched. If he stopped to think about it, he felt the same way. Being with El wasn’t like being with other colleagues or going to a party. It was soothing and he missed her when she wasn’t there.
“And sometimes you go out or I’m out,” El said, “and we’ll have our own bedrooms to go sit in if we need quiet time. What do you think?”
Romaine let out a long exhale. At least she’d acknowledged the need for multiple bedrooms. “I think I need to think about it more.”
“Okay.” El got up to pour more coffee. “At least it’s not an outright no.”
meridian_rose2019-06-19 10:00 amEntry tags:
Fic Snippet: Comfort
For this week's #writingwednesday here's a fic snippet looking at the developing relationship between Bryony and Emeri in the WiP: Sorceress Apprentice.
Emeri knocked on the bedroom door, though it was open. Bryony turned to face him.
"When you've finished with that book," he said, "I thought you might like to read this one, The Prince and Princess of Pandark." He proffered a green leather book with gilt-edged pages. "One of my favourites. I warn you the first chapter is very slow. You can skim through it without missing much plot though, and the second chapter is where the action begins and doesn't let up. I think you'll find the ending very satisfying."
She took the book. "Thank you."
On impulse she leaned up and kissed his cheek. He gave her a look she couldn't immediately interpret. She wished she were better at reading people, or that Emeri were easier to read.
"Was that wrong?" she asked when he didn't move or speak.
He shook his head. "No." He paused before he added, "Only unexpected."
She placed the book on the bed to free up her hands, so that she could take his hand in hers. "We touch often," she said, and her brain raced ahead, trying to make sense of things that were only making themselves apparent now. Every hug, every hand-holding, every caress had been for comfort. "But only when we're hurting."
When he was hurting. When she'd held him while he wept, for example
"I don't want that. I want us to be happy, whenever we can be, and I don't think being happy should make us less – "
Damn, damn, what words did she need? She read voraciously, that was where she'd learnt the word voraciously, she knew hundreds or thousands of words. Yet so often when she opened her mouth it was as if she was five years old again, reduced to babbling trite phrases and lacking the vocabulary to fully express herself.
Emeri was still waiting for her to finish her thought.
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Emeri knocked on the bedroom door, though it was open. Bryony turned to face him.
"When you've finished with that book," he said, "I thought you might like to read this one, The Prince and Princess of Pandark." He proffered a green leather book with gilt-edged pages. "One of my favourites. I warn you the first chapter is very slow. You can skim through it without missing much plot though, and the second chapter is where the action begins and doesn't let up. I think you'll find the ending very satisfying."
She took the book. "Thank you."
On impulse she leaned up and kissed his cheek. He gave her a look she couldn't immediately interpret. She wished she were better at reading people, or that Emeri were easier to read.
"Was that wrong?" she asked when he didn't move or speak.
He shook his head. "No." He paused before he added, "Only unexpected."
She placed the book on the bed to free up her hands, so that she could take his hand in hers. "We touch often," she said, and her brain raced ahead, trying to make sense of things that were only making themselves apparent now. Every hug, every hand-holding, every caress had been for comfort. "But only when we're hurting."
When he was hurting. When she'd held him while he wept, for example
"I don't want that. I want us to be happy, whenever we can be, and I don't think being happy should make us less – "
Damn, damn, what words did she need? She read voraciously, that was where she'd learnt the word voraciously, she knew hundreds or thousands of words. Yet so often when she opened her mouth it was as if she was five years old again, reduced to babbling trite phrases and lacking the vocabulary to fully express herself.
Emeri was still waiting for her to finish her thought.
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meridian_rose2019-06-12 10:17 amEntry tags:
Fic Snippet: Distinctions
For this week’s #writingwednesday and in honour of Pride Month, a snippet from fantasy drama wip: Juliet where the protagonist’s daughter, Sophia, and the antagonist’s daughter, Iona, bond on their sea voyage and discuss the ways their two cultures approach sexuality.
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meridian_rose2019-02-27 01:02 pmEntry tags:
Fic Snippets
For the final writing Wednesday of February, I’m sharing snippets from my WiPs. I searched for those mentioning ‘spring’ as we approach springtime in the northern hemisphere.
Sorceress Apprentice (fantasy romance)
The only way this could be more perfect was if Kerine and Sabrina were here to enjoy it with them. And, of course, if Emeri were not sick. It was hard to believe he was dying on a night like tonight when he was happy and so very much alive.
The moon rose, and the Elder led the ritual by the fire. Thanks were given for the summer, for the harvest, for all the blessings in their lives. Regrets were expressed, sorrow for losses endured and apologies for wrongs done to each other. Wishes were made for the future, hope that the coming winter be not too harsh and that spring would return soon.
Bryony blinked away tears. There would be no Winter Solstice dance to honour the returning sun, not for her and Emeri. She would be expressing grief for her loss when the winter sun fell upon the village square and the ritual fire was kindled once more.
“And now,” the Elder said, “The Ritual Fire Dance!”
WRE (shapeshifters)
It was a warm spring evening and Romaine had decided to go to work in his wolf form.
The good thing about night shifts was that there were less people around. Romaine trotted happily down the street without seeing a single person and only one car. He turned right, into the park, ducked through some bushes, and found the old abandoned rail line. It would take him longer to get to work, but sometimes it was good to let go.
He gave in to the urge to run, powerful muscles giving him speed most dogs or wolves wouldn’t muster. Crickets chirped from their perches in the overgrowth, and mice scuttled about in the bushes. A bird trilled, maybe a nightingale. His ears heard the sound perfectly but Romaine was no expert on birdsong.
Halfway, he paused at a puddle. Wolves could drink rainwater without ill effects, much as dogs could. By their dual nature they had immunity to a whole range of illnesses and toxins that could endanger or kill either dogs, or humans, or both. Still, sometimes the human mind shied away from the wolf instincts, always a disconcerting experience. He didn’t like to think of himself as two people; he was a Wolf, always, regardless of the form he was currently in.
Thanks for reading! Maybe you’d like to search for ‘spring’ in your WiPs and post the results?
Sorceress Apprentice (fantasy romance)
The only way this could be more perfect was if Kerine and Sabrina were here to enjoy it with them. And, of course, if Emeri were not sick. It was hard to believe he was dying on a night like tonight when he was happy and so very much alive.
The moon rose, and the Elder led the ritual by the fire. Thanks were given for the summer, for the harvest, for all the blessings in their lives. Regrets were expressed, sorrow for losses endured and apologies for wrongs done to each other. Wishes were made for the future, hope that the coming winter be not too harsh and that spring would return soon.
Bryony blinked away tears. There would be no Winter Solstice dance to honour the returning sun, not for her and Emeri. She would be expressing grief for her loss when the winter sun fell upon the village square and the ritual fire was kindled once more.
“And now,” the Elder said, “The Ritual Fire Dance!”
WRE (shapeshifters)
It was a warm spring evening and Romaine had decided to go to work in his wolf form.
The good thing about night shifts was that there were less people around. Romaine trotted happily down the street without seeing a single person and only one car. He turned right, into the park, ducked through some bushes, and found the old abandoned rail line. It would take him longer to get to work, but sometimes it was good to let go.
He gave in to the urge to run, powerful muscles giving him speed most dogs or wolves wouldn’t muster. Crickets chirped from their perches in the overgrowth, and mice scuttled about in the bushes. A bird trilled, maybe a nightingale. His ears heard the sound perfectly but Romaine was no expert on birdsong.
Halfway, he paused at a puddle. Wolves could drink rainwater without ill effects, much as dogs could. By their dual nature they had immunity to a whole range of illnesses and toxins that could endanger or kill either dogs, or humans, or both. Still, sometimes the human mind shied away from the wolf instincts, always a disconcerting experience. He didn’t like to think of himself as two people; he was a Wolf, always, regardless of the form he was currently in.
Thanks for reading! Maybe you’d like to search for ‘spring’ in your WiPs and post the results?
meridian_rose2019-01-09 01:55 pmEntry tags:
Fic Snippet: An Invitation
A snippet from my supernatural drama WiP featuring shapeshifters and set in modern day UK, on the England-Wales border.
Romaine (Wolf) and El (Cat) are currently working at a supernatural helpline but Romaine was a field agent until taking leave after an incident, and El is biding time until her chance to make field agent.
El doesn't want to go to a family party alone; maybe her friend and colleague Romaine can help.
An Invitation
El glowered as she typed. “My family is having a party,” she said. “Anniversary party for my great-aunt Madelana and her husband Grant. They’ve hired a room at a social club, a DJ, catering, full bar.”
“Sounds nice?” Romaine ventured uncertainly, twisting on his swivel chair to look at her. El was upset about some aspect of this party.
“It might have been, except my cousin Laura will be there,” El fumed. “Laura whom I hate, not Laura I like. Nor Lana from Texas. Laura the smug asshole.”
Romaine typed a few things into the database, updating some records. El’s extended family seemed impossible to keep track of but he was fairly certain he’d not heard of hated!Laura before. “Right.”
“If I show up alone she’ll make a snide comment. She’s engaged to some dumbass but he’s always too busy to come anywhere with her. He’s supposedly jetsetting around the world, saving illiterate llamas or building toys for endangered children or something.” El shook her head. “Flashes her engagement ring, talks about her So Important work in finances in fucking London, and how Findus is combating climate change by travelling the world in aeroplanes and helicopters.”
Despite the obvious hyperbole and sarcasm, Romaine had to ask. “Findus?”
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meridian_rose2018-12-12 05:01 pmEntry tags:
All the Arts
All the Arts - fic snippet based on a Celtic Mythology deity in a modern au
She loved him the moment she laid eyes on him. He was sat on the stage, strumming a guitar, his golden hair lying around his shoulders, his eyes half-shut as he focused on the music.
Her friends were at least as interested if not as truly enraptured.
"I heard he's an Olympian," April said. "Javelin."
Kendra gave a sigh. "I heard he writes poetry."
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meridian_rose2018-08-15 09:33 amEntry tags:
Fic: Friendship
Ficlet from the WRE WiP. On duty at the call centre, Romaine and El talk about friendship, giving insight into their dynamic – and El’s relationships.
After the caller hung up, Romaine watched El for a while. At last she leaned back in her chair, rolling her head around her shoulders.
“You okay, Rommie?” she asked, catching his eye.
“Just thinking. We get a lot of calls about broken relationships, broken friendships, and issues that wouldn’t be so bad if someone had a close confidant to talk to. I’m used to being mostly alone but calls like that one make me wonder if I need more friends, or if the chances of finding someone who won’t stab me in the heart – metaphorically – are so low that it’s not worth the risk.”
Woods. He didn’t speak the name aloud; his ex-partner, whose inaction at best had led to Romaine getting shot.
El spun her chair around. “This job makes you think about things,” she said. “About your own life. And it’s good to reflect. But don’t let it change who you are. If you like being alone, so be it. And if you want friends then hey; I can’t promise never to piss you off, but I’m generally loyal and aren’t we already friends?”
Romaine blinked a few times. “Sure.”
“Sure?” El repeated, mock horror in her tone. “One word answers like that can be a sign of insincerity you know.”
“You took me by surprise.” Romaine shook his head. “How do you know when you’re friends? How do you know when you’re in love even? Or if you meet someone as a friend and then suddenly you’re dating?”
El shrugged. “I guess you just know? Things can develop gradually and no-one has to say ‘Hey, want to be friends’ because you just are. There’s no proposal, like when you get engaged, not for friendships. As for love, well, I distrust the idea of love at first sight. You have to get to know someone whether you’re dating or befriending them. There is the ‘I love you’ moment in a romantic relationship but love…that’s a big and complicated word. I love my parents, my sister, my nieces, and pizza, but all in different ways.”
The phone rang and she answered. Romaine got an email and as he opened it, he couldn’t help noting that El’s boyfriend hadn’t got a mention in the list of her loves.
Comments and shares are much appreciated!
After the caller hung up, Romaine watched El for a while. At last she leaned back in her chair, rolling her head around her shoulders.
“You okay, Rommie?” she asked, catching his eye.
“Just thinking. We get a lot of calls about broken relationships, broken friendships, and issues that wouldn’t be so bad if someone had a close confidant to talk to. I’m used to being mostly alone but calls like that one make me wonder if I need more friends, or if the chances of finding someone who won’t stab me in the heart – metaphorically – are so low that it’s not worth the risk.”
Woods. He didn’t speak the name aloud; his ex-partner, whose inaction at best had led to Romaine getting shot.
El spun her chair around. “This job makes you think about things,” she said. “About your own life. And it’s good to reflect. But don’t let it change who you are. If you like being alone, so be it. And if you want friends then hey; I can’t promise never to piss you off, but I’m generally loyal and aren’t we already friends?”
Romaine blinked a few times. “Sure.”
“Sure?” El repeated, mock horror in her tone. “One word answers like that can be a sign of insincerity you know.”
“You took me by surprise.” Romaine shook his head. “How do you know when you’re friends? How do you know when you’re in love even? Or if you meet someone as a friend and then suddenly you’re dating?”
El shrugged. “I guess you just know? Things can develop gradually and no-one has to say ‘Hey, want to be friends’ because you just are. There’s no proposal, like when you get engaged, not for friendships. As for love, well, I distrust the idea of love at first sight. You have to get to know someone whether you’re dating or befriending them. There is the ‘I love you’ moment in a romantic relationship but love…that’s a big and complicated word. I love my parents, my sister, my nieces, and pizza, but all in different ways.”
The phone rang and she answered. Romaine got an email and as he opened it, he couldn’t help noting that El’s boyfriend hadn’t got a mention in the list of her loves.
Comments and shares are much appreciated!
meridian_rose2018-07-25 08:12 amEntry tags:
Fic Snippet: Juliet
Opening paragraphs from my first novel WiP, working title “Juliet”
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meridian_rose2018-07-04 09:38 amEntry tags:
Fic Snippet: A Pleasant Afternoon
A pleasant afternoon
WiP: WRE fic snippet. Romaine and El spend a lazy Sunday together. (Note: Armand is Romaine's middle name.)
After lunch they slumped on El's sofa, drank more wine, listened to some music. El put the TV on and found a showing of Princess Bride, the movie only five minutes in, and they watched the rest. Halfway through El served up generous slices of chocolate cake and made coffee.
When El had finished her cake she tucked herself up on the sofa, feet on the cushion, knees against Romaine's leg, one arm against his, sharing his warmth.
After the movie, Romaine stretched, sorry to dislodge El but feeling stiff. "Fancy a walk?"
She nodded. "Want me to walk the Wolf?"
"Would you? Thanks."
Romaine went upstairs to get ready, El saying she needed to use the toilet, tie up her hair, and find a coat.
A few minutes later she came to meet him, pushing open the door which he'd left ajar. She was wearing a grey hoodie with the slogan "I am a cat" on it and the hood even had little ears sewed on it. Romaine, now in wolf form, snorted at the hiding in plain sight pun and then used his nose to nudge the collar and lead he'd found from a bottom drawer and put on the coffee table.
El put the collar on him but not too tightly. The lead was a slip lead, a green and white striped cord with a leather stopper which she didn't bother to adjust since he wouldn't be pulling at her, and a large hand holder loop.
"Keys?" she asked. Romaine whined, having forgot about that and gestured to the key box.
El picked up his keys and slid them into her pocket alongside her own, clipped to the belt loop on her trousers for security.
She pulled the door so it locked behind them. On the way out, they met Mrs Calloway, just coming back in with a newspaper tucked beneath her arm.
"Oh this must be that beautiful dog," Mrs Calloway said. "Can I pet him?"
( Read more... )
WiP: WRE fic snippet. Romaine and El spend a lazy Sunday together. (Note: Armand is Romaine's middle name.)
After lunch they slumped on El's sofa, drank more wine, listened to some music. El put the TV on and found a showing of Princess Bride, the movie only five minutes in, and they watched the rest. Halfway through El served up generous slices of chocolate cake and made coffee.
When El had finished her cake she tucked herself up on the sofa, feet on the cushion, knees against Romaine's leg, one arm against his, sharing his warmth.
After the movie, Romaine stretched, sorry to dislodge El but feeling stiff. "Fancy a walk?"
She nodded. "Want me to walk the Wolf?"
"Would you? Thanks."
Romaine went upstairs to get ready, El saying she needed to use the toilet, tie up her hair, and find a coat.
A few minutes later she came to meet him, pushing open the door which he'd left ajar. She was wearing a grey hoodie with the slogan "I am a cat" on it and the hood even had little ears sewed on it. Romaine, now in wolf form, snorted at the hiding in plain sight pun and then used his nose to nudge the collar and lead he'd found from a bottom drawer and put on the coffee table.
El put the collar on him but not too tightly. The lead was a slip lead, a green and white striped cord with a leather stopper which she didn't bother to adjust since he wouldn't be pulling at her, and a large hand holder loop.
"Keys?" she asked. Romaine whined, having forgot about that and gestured to the key box.
El picked up his keys and slid them into her pocket alongside her own, clipped to the belt loop on her trousers for security.
She pulled the door so it locked behind them. On the way out, they met Mrs Calloway, just coming back in with a newspaper tucked beneath her arm.
"Oh this must be that beautiful dog," Mrs Calloway said. "Can I pet him?"
( Read more... )
meridian_rose2018-06-27 09:56 amEntry tags:
Fic Snippet: Survival
(From my WiP Sorceress Apprentice a fantasy romance. Bryony’s sister, Kerine, has gone to bring home the dying Emeri’s sister, Sabrina. Bryony agreed to stay and keep the sorcerer company and found herself studying magic as well as beginning to fall in love with Emeri, but she still misses her sister during the months apart.)
Bryony stared at the ceiling after a restless night. The sunlight had awoken her not long after she’d finally fallen asleep, and for a moment she’d thought about asking Kerine to go with her to the river before breakfast, a pleasant walk to start the day.
But Kerine was not here.
This was what Emeri had meant, when he said waking up could be the worst thing. The realisation of abandonment all over again, though he also had the spectre of death to contend with.
Bryony tried to comfort herself with the thought that Kerine would come back, had to come back. That didn’t mean she couldn’t be sad at the separation however. “Pain is not a competition,” Naomi sometimes said and it made more sense to Bryony now.
She could ask Emeri to walk with her; if he was awake, if he was up to it, for some days were better than others. That could be nice.
Yet it wasn’t the same, not when she wanted her sister. The bond they shared could not be replaced, no matter how much she’d come to care for Emeri and enjoy spending time with him.
Emeri was in his study, making notes, when Bryony finally dragged herself from bed and went looking for him.
He glanced at her dishevelled appearance. “You didn’t sleep well?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know how you’ve survived this long without Sabrina,” she said, hating the tremble in her voice.
He looked away, fingers still marking a passage in the book he was studying, pen poised over the page of his journal. “People can survive many things,” he said. “But surviving isn’t the same as living.”
Another time she might have rolled her eyes and accused him of wordplay. But today she nodded and moved to stand at his side, pressing herself against him. He slipped one arm around her waist and they stayed close and silent for a long moment.
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