@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

"There are two bodies," Veronica said.
"Figured. Cause of death?"
"There are no signs of trauma. Under other circumstances, I might say natural causes, but I suspect thaumaturgy."
"Why?" (2/4) #wss366

The Chief led Veronica out to the back yard. She pushed her geomantic awareness down and out. She could feel the Chief nearby but — There! and There! — she could feel wrongness. She walked to each place and described the extents. The Chief threw down markers at each corner. (1/4) #wss366

@u0421793 I'm not a developer, but I've used Scribus for a really long time. They started using Sourceforge on 2004-11-27, back when there were many fewer options (e.g. Github was only founded in 2008) and it was perhaps the best option then. And, like most things on the Internet, it has gradually gotten enshittified. On linux, you can typically install Scribus via package management (e.g. apt, snap, or flatpak) so you don't have to visit Sourceforge.

Edit: this was supposed to a reply.

I saw that Treehouse Brewing was running a Brewer versus Brewer competition. At first I thought this might be some commentary on my marriage, but in fact four of their brewers had each created a triple IPA to sample and vote. I drank Number 1 tonight. It was tasty. #WesternMass #beer

The rock. :-/

This is Tanuki-chan's I-have-a-rock-in-my-mouth-and-you-can't-have-it face. #DogsOfMastodon

My reading yesterday went well. https://stevendbrewer.com/a-well-attended-reading-in-elegant-surroundings/

I got to see @LJ read from her new book *Litany of a Broken World* at the Straw Dog Writers Guild January Showcase. And I bought a signed copy of her #book! https://www.ljcohen.net/litany.html

"Nonetheless! There are many other types of edible fungi we might collect so that we may dine together later."
Mr. Rokunai took Totemo aside.
"Please," he whimpered. "Make it stop talking!" (4/4) #wss366

"Would anyone care to share some later? They're delicious when braised with butter!"
Lambda sniffed and then barked again.
"*Melanogaster*?" Totemo said. "Aren't those toxic?"
"I'm certain I smelled some truffles around here somewhere," DIP continued. (3/4) #wss366

"The air is simply #redolent with refreshing odors."
Lambda barked.
"Yes," Totemo said. "That stockyard's sewage lagoon two kilometers east should be checked."
"Ho, ho! I believe I may also detect the delicate scent of truffles," DIP said, beginning to dig at the base of a tree. (2/4) #wss366

Totemo Isogashii and Lambda arrived at the field location to check on Mr. Rokunai and DIP. They had been directed to conduct a survey together and for Totemo and Lambda to check their results.
"What a delightful setting for our field work!" DIP was saying as they walked up. (1/4) #wss366

"What. What do you want?" #DogsOfMastodon

Note: You can read a bit more about Mr. Rokunai:
https://wandering.shop/@stevendbrewer/114365755201455721
https://wandering.shop/@stevendbrewer/114434867489451781

"See? That's why he'd be perfect!"
"Well, alright. I'll call him in."
As they walked back to her desk, they heard a high-pitched scream.
Lambda wagged her tail. (5/5) #wss366

"Since you have the most experience," the boss said, "I was thinking you'd be the perfect one to evaluate DIP."
Lambda's lips started to draw back from her teeth, but before she could snarl, Totemo said, "Oh, I think Mr. Rokunai would be the better choice."
"I thought he was deathly afraid of dogs." (4/5) #wss366

"I'm a non-human biological android with a new programming stack to support field work. We aim to make the use of biological dogs #redundant so they can serve as pets and companion animals."
Lambda snorted. (3/5) #wss366

"Ah! There you are," the boss said. "We got a request to evaluate a new potential innovation. Meet DIP."
"Hajimemashite," DIP said. "I'm pleased to meet you." He raised a paw to shake.
Lambda laid her ears back.
"DIP?" asked Totemo, shaking DIP's paw.
"Dog Innovations Perfected."(2/5) #wss366

A notification appeared on Totemo Isogashii's screen. She stood up and Lambda sprang to her feet.
"C'mon, Lambda," she said. "Let's go see what the boss wants."
They arrived at his office and found a strange dog standing next to his desk.
The hackles came up all along Lambda's back. (1/5) #wss366

Grip had removed the case from the #compass and pointed to a small object attached to the inside. Will pulled it off.
"Let's keep this quiet," Will whispered. "We seemingly have a saboteur on board. Until we can identify and neutralize them, let's proceed as though we're unaware." (4/4) #wss366