@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

He looked at her and grinned. "Hungry, aren't you?" He cut a piece of steak and held it out. "Are you hungry enough to say, 'please'?"
Her pride wouldn't let her say it and she stood silently seething.
He popped the steak in his own mouth, then reached out with his bloody fingers. (3/4)

One it was full, she carried it carefully up the narrow steps, her bare feet chilly on the cold stone. She returned to the dining room and held it out to him.
He finished chewing a mouthful of rare steak, then accepted the tankard and took another deep draught.
Her stomach rumbled. (2/4)

She stood by the table with her head down while he ate. He tipped his head back, draining the tankard.
"Fetch me another, wench," he said, holding it out without looking at her.
She accepted it silently and went down to the cellar to refill it from the cask. (1/4)

#ScribesAndMakers Show us a book cover you like. What makes it special?

I particularly liked the cover of *Rewriting the Rules* by Niki Lenhart. All of the Revin's Heart covers have two motifs: looking through something and an airship visible in the distance. In this one, Revin is looking out toward the pier in Candlemain harbor. We worked a long time to get this one right and I really liked how it turned out.

They did some pruning today and I noticed that one section they cut down had a woodpecker cavity.

mention of alcohol

Our beloved sakura tree will be blooming soon and, for hanami, I usually get some sake to share with friends. With the proposed new 25% tariffs on Japan, we decided to go early and lay in supplies now. In addition to sake, someone wanted to get a bottle of Hatozaki (Japanese whisky finished in umeshu casks). To be honest, I've wanted to try it for years. It was a little pricey (OK. Very pricey.) But *very* smooth.

Read more about Lala and the rest in *Better Angels: Tour de Force*, only at the Truck Stop at the Center of the Galaxy! https://truckstop.waterdragonpublishing.com/product/better-angels-tour-de-force/

The #parrot stepped onto Lala's shoulder. She laughed, delighted, and the other Angels all turned green with envy.
"Does Polly want a cracker?" she asked the parrot.
"Well, for the sake of argument," the parrot replied. "Sure. But, personally, I find this entire act degrading." (3/3) #wss366

Lala caught the hat and offered it back to the street performer.
"Arr! Much obliged, missy," the actor said, not breaking character. "Is there any reward ye be wantin'?"
"May I hold the #parrot?"
"Aye!" the pirate said, extending his arm to Lala's shoulder. "Step lively, Cap'n Flint!" (2/3) #wss366

"Well, shiver me timbers!" growled the one-eyed pirate, working his way through the crowd.
"Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!" squawked the #parrot on his shoulder.
The Better Angels applauded, waiting in line for the amusement ride.
A sudden gust of wind blew the pirate's hat off. (1/3) #wss366

If you're going to recreate some extinct species, why not something cool like a giant ground sloth. Or Meganeura, that huge prehistoric dragonfly. Those would be awesome.

"Oh, yeah? Well, I'll cut off 104% of my face and see how I like it!"

Ooh! This looks like fun! The UMass Library is coordinating #WesternMass participation in the City Nature Challenge with iNaturalist: https://guides.library.umass.edu/c.php?g=1007933#s-lg-box-23594122

#ScribesAndMakers Share a song lyric you've written or heard that resonates with you.

Many Better Angels stories have songs:

While medicoids bustled back and forth, the Better Angels struck a pose all pointing at Sssindy who reared up and began to belt out the PuzzyCure Morning Song.
*When the sssun comesss up,*
*it'sss a ssspecial sssign…*
*The birdsss all sssing *
*in the 盛れてる pine…*
*Wake up! Wake up! *
*It'sss time to ssshine!*

(from *The Better Angels and the Nighty-Night Nurses*)

Omurice. Sorta.

*The Better Angels and the Complex CuddleTum Conundrum* is an omake story set on the Truck Stop at the Center of the Galaxy. It is not yet scheduled for publication. You can receive updates when it appears through my monthly newsletter. https://author-sdbrewer.micro.blog/subscribe/

"They declined to eat the krenoj, Captain Reckless."
"What are they eating, then?"
"The Barlek requested Fun Meals."
"The Barlek?"
"The CuddleTum Ambassador." Zaza pointed him out. He was lying on the floor, insensate, having already consumed his full measure of rum. (2/2)

"First Sergeant! What is going on?" David asked Zaza, looking around at the chaos. CuddleTums were dancing and singing in raucous voices.
"Situation normal, #Top. The rescuees have been given their rations and tot."
"Rations?" asked David.
"What about the krenoj?" asked Racy. (1/2) #wss366

A manga mentioned ehomaki, a kind of sushi served in Japan for setsubon, so I checked Google Maps to see if any local restaurants served it. Hmm. Perhaps not.

He spoke a single syllable. His staff lit up. The two men only had time to look surprised before they collapsed.
The old man gasped, leaning even more heavily on his staff.
"A month of my life gone, for that," he muttered.
He wearily recovered the coins, then shuffled ahead between the bodies. (3/3)