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"Three helicopter gunships came and shot all of the enemy forces. By the time we got outside, there was no one left." She laughed merrily, as Jimmy covered his face in mock shame.
Colette returned with Coral's water. She took a cautious sip.
"And now to work," the Duchess pronounced. (5/5) #wss366

The Duchess let out a girlish giggle. "There we were! Trapped in a burning building! Surrounded by the enemy! As your father reloaded his pistol, he growled, 'We may not survive, but at least we'll go out in a #blaze of glory!'"
"What happened?" Coral asked, intrigued in spite of herself. (4/5) #wss366

"Just water for me," Coral said.
After she poured for the others, Colette went to fetch some water.
"Before we get to the tedious reason that brought you here," the Duchess said, "may I tell your fillete how we met?"
"Oh, no," Jimmy groaned. "Not that story again!" (3/5) #wss366

"Oui, Madame," she said. She offered to pour for Coral.
"What is it?" Coral asked.
"Sangria, mademoiselle," she said.
"Sangria?" Coral said, looking at Jimmy uncertainly.
"It's wine mixed with fresh fruit juice," Jimmy said.
"We add a little Cointreau too," the Duchess said. (2/5) #wss366

A small table was set with three glasses and a pitcher. A circumspect young woman stood to the side with her hands clasped behind her back. Jimmy held a chair for the Duchess, then he and Coral sat.
"S'il vous plait, Colette," the Duchess said. (1/5) #wss366

I will be attending the @SFWA Nebula Awards Conference June 3-7, 2026 and participate in an author signing event June 5 from 8-10pm. I will bring my fancy fountain pen and try not to squirt ink all over anyone brave enough to come talk with me. https://nebulas.sfwa.org/nebula-conference/

RE: https://mstdn.social/@grickle/116613402405445333

It's not easy being green…

She led them down a long hallway that seemed dim after the outdoors light, but then opened up into colonnade along a glorious shady courtyard with a fountain. Flowering vines with showy blossoms created a riot of #color that surrounded the entire space. Coral turned around in wonder. (2/2) #wss366

The Duchess guided them into a grand entrance hall between striped pillars, decorated with enormous statues and carved stone archways. Their footsteps echoed in the shadowy, cavernous space. The two men with automatic weapons shadowed them. (1/2) #wss366

A bench along the route we walk Tanuki-chan is infested with carpenter bees. There are a dozen or more of the big, charismatic, shiny bees hovering and diving at one another. They're currently expanding their galleries and you see little piles of sawdust everywhere. I love watching them, but we always worry Tanuki will try to catch the spicy sky beans.

Someone thinks something might need to be barked at. #DogsOfMastodon

"If you haven't already, please watch this ~23 minute video…"

Sigh…

"Bah!" she said, then turned a dazzling smile onto Coral. "I shan't hold it against you, Darling. Welcome to Montagnété, my summer retreat. It is a pun, you see. Come! Come inside!"
"Thank you very much," Coral said, rather overwhelmed. (7/7) #wss366

"And who is this child?" she went on.
"Please allow me to introduce my daughter, Coral," he said.
"I regret to #inform you that that terrible woman is her mother." (6/7) #wss366

"Darling!" She spread her arms out for a hug.
"Ah, my little turtle dove!" Jimmy said, and swept her off her feet.
"Are you still with that terrible woman?" she said, when he set her back on her feet.
"I think that was two wives ago," he admitted. (5/7) #wss366

Coral wondered if she had been genuinely surprised by their arrival or if her appearance were calculated to make it seem like she had come as she was.
"But madame!" Francoise protested.
"But nothing!" she said, as she made shooing motions. Then she looked at Jimmy and her face simply lit up. (4/7) #wss366

She wore a loose, green house dress and had a lot of silver jewelry: rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. She was very lightly made up with lipstick, eyeliner, and eye shadow. (3/7) #wss366

He quickly frisked Coral and then turned to Jimmy.
"Francoise!" called a woman's voice. "That will not be necessary."
Coral studied her as she approached the party. She was a small elderly woman with silver hair piled up in a bun. (2/7) #wss366

Inside the walls of the compound was an exotic garden with lush plantings. The driveway wound upward and ended in a large circular loop under an elegant portico.
Three men were waiting for them. Two stood back with automatic weapons while the other gestured for them to get out. (1/7) #wss366

The US has indicted Raul Castro for murder for shooting down two planes and, at the same time, the US President has ordered that dozens of small boats be blown up killing hundreds of people. The hypocrisy is embarrassing. We don't have a judicial system anymore: just a rubber stamp for a fascist dictator.