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I woke up when the train passed over the points coming into the station. The car swayed & I realized I had been resting my head on the passenger next to me.
"I'm so sorry," I murmured, sitting back up.
"Not at all," she said.
I glanced over & then did a double take.
"I… Isabelle?"
She smiled. "It's been a long time. I'm surprised you remember."
"How could I ever forget! But… You're dead."
She smiled broadly showing a mouth full of needle-sharp teeth.
The whistle blew & I awoke for real.

#wss366

#WritersCoffeeClub Do you prefer euphemisms or technical terms to refer to genitalia in your writing?

I don't write explicit scenes unless they're really important for the story. Sometimes they are. I use technical terms, unless they're statements by a character in which using a euphemism would be in character for them.

And then there's my Butter Angels story in which one of the characters is named Mx Genie Talia.

#WritersCoffeeClub Do you have a favourite phrase or word that crops up in most of your work?

My characters probably blush too much. But, in all fairness, they do also sometimes flush. Or color up to the ears.

In the middle of the night, the lights snapped on in the kitchen. Booboo snuck in quietly & got to work. She turned on a burner, and then began to measure ingredients into a saucepan.
"What you make?" Mama-san said.
Booboo squealed, surprised, and then clapped her hand over her mouth. "Sssh!" she hissed.
Mama-san came over & inspected the ingredients: oranges, sugar, corn syrup, and chocolate. "Orangettes, huh?" she whispered.
"For Zsazsa." Booboo whispered. "For Valentines Day…"

#wss366

Sophie looked up, eyes full of tears. She leapt to her feet & threw her arms around Veronica, sobbing.
"It's okay, doll baby," Veronica whispered. "I got you. I won't ever let anyone hurt you."
"I was so scared," Sophie whimpered. "I just froze. I couldn't do *anything*."
"You need to learn to fight. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to teach you."
Sophie looked down. "Do you think I can learn?"
Veronica lifted Sophie's chin, meeting her #gaze.
"You can," she said. "You will. I promise."

#lesficfri

The new federal Title IX legislation requires me, as an educator, to report persons who are pregnant to the authorities. No, really. I'm not kidding.

"How are you?"
"I'm good."
"Well, actually, 'Good' is an adjective. You should use an adverb, like '#well' to describe your current state."
"Well, actually, language is just a convention and many people use 'good' idiomatically in this circumstance."
"Well, actually, it's still wrong."
"Well, actually, you're just an asshole."

#wss366

I have moved over to the sunny side of the patio. I am informed that one should always keep on the sunny side.

Today, I am performing among the most odious tasks a faculty member must do: completing the Annual Faculty Review where I list all of my "accomplishments" during the previous year in hopes that my performance will earn "merit pay" (which you might imagine would mean that it would increase your pay but, instead, determines how large of a pay cut you receive when cost of living increases fail to keep pace with inflation.) But we haven't had "merit pay" in seven years anyway. Shrug.

Read more about Revin and his companions in *Revin's Heart,* available from Water Dragon Publishing. https://waterdragonpublishing.com/product/revins-heart/ #books

"Look at that," he said pointing.
Will paled.
"Run! Run for high ground!"
Looking around, they were caught between the shore and unscalable cliffs. They started to run back the way they had come.
"Ahem," called the Professor.
Grip turned back, grabbed the Professor, and sprinted after the others.
Revin looked to the side and watched with horror as a gigantic #wave took shape on the horizon. He looked ahead. The steep path up to Nerha was still far ahead. They weren't going to make it.

#wss366

Revin walked along the rocky shoreline with Will and Grip. The Professor struggled to handwalk beside them with his arm braces over the rough terrain.
"They said it was near here," Revin said.
A loud report startled them, then the ground began to shake.
"It's a quake!" Will said.
The ground shook for a minute and then the tremors subsided. They struggled to maintain their footing.
Revin was looking out to sea, when the water level began to drop, receding out toward the horizon.

#wss366

I've occasionally seen my books selling at a premium at weird sites, but what did @ryansouthwick do to manage this?

Wallace typed the long, complicated password to mount the encrypted #file system. He reviewed the thousands of images and video files he had collected. Each file was meticulously organized and cataloged.
For Monica, he had several videos of her in the shower and a dozen nice stills that were particularly revealing. The camera he'd concealed in the dormitory shower had great detail, though he'd had to add a heating element to prevent the lens from fogging up.
Someone knocked at the door.

#wss366

#WritersCoffeeClub What’s your favourite food and drink combo when writing?

I don't eat while writing. I mean, I'll sometimes grab a piece of fruit, but…

I always have coffee in the morning. I have a nice thermosy mug by Zojirushi which keeps it warm for hours. Other than that, I just drink water. I would love to drink beer or cocktails in the evenings, but I'm trying to cut back.

I'm reminded of a friend of my dad's that had to give up wine, eventually. He used to say, "I've lost my friend…"

my cell-o-phone…
for a ball and chain,
so very tiny.

#senryu

#WordWeavers What is the bravest thing your MC does?

Revin turned the crank to lower the gangplank. Once it was level, he took a deep breath & ran out to the end. He could see a long rope depending from the balloon. But he couldn't reach it.
"One moment, lad!" Will called.
"No time," Revin yelled as he saw the end of the rope rising. 
"No, Revin!" Will shouted. But it was too late. Revin had backed up five steps, run forward, & launched himself off the gangplank into open space. (Revin's Heart)

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

David and Bebe walked back to Angels' Wings, with Bebe still clenching and unclenching her fists. Once they were inside, David turned.
"Are you ready?" David asked gently.
Bebe braced herself and nodded.
"Stand down, Bebe," David said.
Bebe collapsed to the deck, shaking with violent tremors as always happened when turning off the soldier modules. David tenderly scooped her up and carried her back to her cabin.
"Bebe really wanted a lollipop," Bebe pouted.

#wss366 4/4

Bebe sprinted back up the spaceway onto the Docking Ring. As the klaxons blared, Truck Stop Security officers converged on the ship, with David just behind.
"Go go go! Let's move!" bellowed Bebe, arm windmilling, directing them as they charged onto the ship.
Then Bebe waited with David.
Minutes later, the crew of the ship emerged from the spaceway in restraints and were escorted away by the officers.
Bebe spat on the deck.

#wss366 3/4