writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia

It's more than five sentences but who cares?

Kunal decided to call it an early night. Paying his tab, he got up to leave, vacating his seat at the bar to the man who'd just approached. "All yours," he tossed over his shoulder. "I was just leaving."

"Well that's a shame. Here I was about to ask to buy you a drink."

Kunal paused to actually look at who was speaking and froze. He was right. It really was just a matter of time before he ran into someone he knew. Someone from Harmony. Someone who could recognize him.

I'm over 22K with this story. I feel so good about it :)

It's a bit more than five sentences but who cares? I FINALLY FINISHED THIS THING.

Nadir almost felt drunk. He was lightheaded and almost giddy from the sudden realization that perhaps he hadn't been imagining, hoping against hope at all. That there was something here and that Bastian felt it as much as he did.

Then Bastian's hand moved to slide along Nadir's jaw and creep into his hair and this time Nadir was the one fighting shivers and sounds as his eyes drifted shut. "Nadir," Bastian breathed and it felt like a benediction. He felt Bastian move, felt him shift nearer and opened his eyes in time to see Bastian's face so close it was distorted and wasn't that strange?

And that was the last thought Nadir had before Bastian exhaled against his lips and then kissed him.

I haven't posted writing in so long but I'm happy to post this, a snippet from Feint of Heart that will be PUBLISHED in Less Than three's upcoming Won't Back Down anthology! Wooo I'm getting published!

"Again."

Cal's eyes stung as sweat poured into them, but he didn't so much as raise a hand to wipe his brow. He could feel Sir Taren Veretti's eyes on him and he refused to look weak. So he blinked the sweat away as rapidly as he could, took his stance, and lunged again.

Once again his thrust was easily parried, but this time Taren slapped the blade further to the right, slid into close range, and smacked the flat of the blade against his stomach. "Hit. Were I an enemy, Cal Caison, you would be dead."

Cal gave in and shoved both his hair and a river of sweat from his eyes, but he didn't dare use stinging eyes and perspiration as an excuse. He'd seen Sir Taren fight with injuries that would have crippled a squire, and probably even a handful of Queen Selvia's other veteran knights. If he wanted to be half as good at Sir Taren, he had to be able to fight through discomfort.

This is a variation of something posted earlier, with a few lines more. I may post another snippet or two later, but as it's only ~15,200 words and it's being published for actual monies, I'd rather have as much of the whole story in tact in the anthology as possible.

I have had an extremely busy workweek and little time to write. I do have, however, more from that semi-abandoned bb_shousetsu project.

Klaus narrowed his eyes, watching the guy warily. "You followed me."

A snort. "Like I had to. I could have waited here for you to show up. I mean, if you're stupid enough to hide at your own apartment..."

Klaus stood up, the movement, slow as though he thought sudden movements might make this guy do whatever the hell it was he was here to do. It was a shame this was how they met: in any other circumstance, Klaus would have found him attractive.

So I missed my Sunday Six this week due to migraines so here's a longer-than-usual Friday Five.

Tessani didn't remember falling asleep. He barely remembered trudging back to the inn and going to his room. He did recall, however, talking to Jindra on the way back. After they were both able to stand, she showed him the mark on her hand. It was as he'd glimpsed, and it looked like it had been burned into her flesh from the outside.

"It felt like it too," she confessed, her voice low. "Like the very sun itself was burning my skin, making this mark. She said my tyro will have one that matched, like the other half of a full symbol." She smiled a bit then and Tessani watched her expression changed. "I'm not sure explain how different it feels now. It just feels like I'm being pulled somewhere, and wherever that is, my tyro is. I just know I have to go there. Soon."

Tessani's brow furrowed. "I don't understand."

"You will, Shadowbinder," Zara called from up ahead and Tessani started, surprised she could hear them. "After your ritual, you too will understand."

I stayed home today for various reasons, and almost forgot to post this. Here we go:

Only half an hour later he found them. Zara stood with her back to the tallest in a ring of imposing stones, while Jindra knelt in the center. Her head was bowed, but her body pulled taut as a bow string, cocked as though she were ready to fight at the first sign of something gone wrong. Tessani wouldn't have been surprised if that was exactly the case. He hadn't known her long, but she wasn't difficult to read.

In spite of - or perhaps because of - distressing news, I've kicked myself into gear a little more with Shadowbinder. I created some backstory that sets me up for some interesting world-building. At least, I hope it's interesting. That said, here's a wee Friday Five for you.

"Have you done this before?" Tessani asked, almost hesitantly.

Naj snorted. "Surely you don't think a tyro's life only begins the moment he's bound to a mage. I lived nineteen seasons before I met you. I am not new to this."

Have fun deciding what they're talking about :D

I'm a little late with my Friday Five today because I was off from work and was out and about. Anyway I'm at a computer now so here it is!

The shadows had taken control. Tessani could no longer keep them at back and with that last hold broken, they swarmed, covering his hands and feet, crawling up over his neck and head, pouring across his face until finally, they seeped into the very whites of his eyes. Tessani screamed, back arching up off the floor as his hand clenched tight, crushing Naj's fingers in his own. Naj bit back the cry of pain that threatened to come, watching as the last bit of deep warm brown in Tessani's eyes was eaten by swirling darkness.

Tessani screamed again, the sound suddenly changing to an echoing howl, a sound that couldn't come from a human throat.

There are more players in this game than previously thought. In fact a whole faction developed itself in a way I hadn't quite expected and am a bit irritated at myself for not realizing sooner. I may have to tweak a few major characters for this but it pretty much needs to happen.

This...means very little to anyone not living in my brain. Never mind; here's the Friday Five!

Tessani opened his mouth to say more, but Zara didn't so much as pause before she swept out of the tavern. "I still don't trust her," he commented darkly.

"Me either," Jindra agreed, "and I assume that's why you didn't tell her about the secret passageway. That aside, I don't know that she will be there when I go to meet her tomorrow."

"And what will you do if she isn't?" Tessani asked the question, curious about Jindra's answer.

Stuff!

TGIF people! I am so, so happy it's Friday, I cannot even tell you. Here's my Friday Five, and then it's back to work for me!

The tavern was loud, but not so noisy as the market place had been. This was the sort of din created by men and women who'd eaten hearty dinners and then forgone dessert for ale and wine instead. A bard towards the back played on a makeshift stage and some out the rowdier patrons sang along in coarse voices. A barmaid moved from table to table, taking orders and tips, her prettiness working very well in her favor, money-wise. Twice before Tessani could head for the bar, he saw someone pull her over to slip a coin into the pockets of her apron, to which she always responded with a quick grin and quicker sidestep to continue her job.

I'm debating whether this as yet unnamed barmaid is of any real importance. Knowing me? She will be.