And the winners are...

Congratulations to my winners from the Love Romance Cafe Halloween Party contest!

They are:  Paula L has won a copy of My Fair Vampire, and Beatrice has won A Special Christmas!

Let's give a big cheer for the winners. I'll be announcing the winner in the Halloween blog contest a little later today, stay tuned!

Sci Fi Sunday - Reality Check Continues

Good morning and welcome to another edition of Sci Fi Sunday with yours hostesses Julie Hayes and Sui Lynn. We present to you the next chapter of our joint sci fi story, Reality Check. Today the story continues as our heroes prepare to attend a welcome home reception for the young Prince. Not everyone seems to be pleased at the prospect. Enjoy! Don't forget to also visit Sui's blog, and our joint blog, Backdoor Divas!

Reality Check - Chapter Two

So much seems to have changed since I took my leave of Rhealliticzk four years ago. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, but it’s different. And not in a good way.

The shuttle that brought me down from the spaceliner was cramped and vile and it stank to the heavens of something very earthy and very offensive. The gods alone know what was last crammed into that tight space before I was. I’m not even sure I want to know. I would hardly even deign to allow that thing the designation of shuttle—it was more like a capsule of doom. I’m grateful that it didn’t burn up on entry into the planet’s atmosphere.

And talk about a faulty guidance system! Instead of taking me to the royal reception area, where my loved ones awaited my arrival, I found myself outside of the very city limits of New Harmony itself. I would have commandeered a horse and carriage to take me home, was I able to find one. But these natives have a propensity for making themselves scarce just when you find a use for them. Terribly inconvenient of them, to say the least.

So we walked! I can scare believe it, but I actually had to walk the vast distance into the city, miles and miles and miles of hard road, all the way to the Palace. Swyddogh offered to carry me part of the way, and I actually considered his offer, but decided it would not do. No dignity in the crown prince being carried like an infant, or a sack of rotten grindershoots being taken out for disposal. Definite lack of dignity and all that.

I am so happy to be back in my own room. That, at least, has remained the same. On my entry to the palace, I hasten there, deciding that I have to take care of my needs first, I can meet my parents later, and for that purpose I send for a basin of warm water, instructing that it be infused with specific scented oils. My feet are soaking in it now. I’m sitting at the end of my bed, wiggling my toes, as blessed relief steals through me.

A rustle of fabric, a slight scent of wildflowers, the sound of a hurried step. All my senses are now attuned toward the door and the figure that has so blithely entered my room without bothering to knock, or even allowing me the chance to give permission to enter my sanctuary, which is most unmannerly. Swyddogh’s hand goes to his weapon automatically—even here in the palace, one must be careful. Four years abroad has definitely taught me that much. But when I see who my visitor is, I wave to him to stand down as she is definitely not a threat.

“Liusaidh!” I cry out in delight, careful not to use the abhorred form of Lulu and mentally patting my back at my ability to remember that. I hold my arms out in welcome. I can’t move to greet her for obvious reasons, so naturally she must come to me. “How is my darling little sister?”

Little is what she isn’t, I discover, as she glides toward the bed—my goodness, where did she learn to move like that, it’s so… so adult. Yes, she’s in full length skirts now, the short skirts of childhood gone forever. Her hair is a lot longer than I remember, and it’s done in some intricate fashion, a flower tucked behind each ear. While her dark purple skirt is loose and flowing, her jacket fits her more closely, as is the custom among the women of our society. Not the native population, of course, they are practically heathens.

What’s this I see in her ear? Is that an earring? She’s gotten a piercing? My goodness, things have certainly changed. Not that I’m surprised that our parents have allowed that. They are very liberal spirits, I know. I got my first one when I was younger than she. I’ve been debating getting one in my private regions, but so far I haven’t managed to come to a decision regarding that.

She hikes up her skirts when she reaches me and before I can say yea or nay, she clambers over my footbath and straddles my lap, and then she throws her arms around me and begins to wail. Right beside my ear, no less! She has quite the pair of lungs for a young lady. I wince as I attempt to hold her to a more tolerable decibel level.

“What on earth is wrong?” I attempt to soothe her, rubbing her back in small circles, making clucking noises, murmuring her name—everything I can think of to do to calm a lady in distress. Something I have little experience with, I might add, other than with the members of my own family. She presses her forehead against mine, her blue eyes looking deeply disturbed and dangerously dewy.

“They want to marry me off, Kay! They’re deciding on my Fate even as we speak, brother!”

“They? Who are they?” I’m only asking to get her to focus, because the answer to the question is obvious. Our parents, who else?

She doesn’t dignify my stupidity with an answer.

“Tonight there will be men who will be looking at me like I’m some sort of a prize to compete for. You know the look I mean.”

Not really, but I let that pass.

“Don’t you want to get married?” I’m trying to be diplomatic and help her to see the practicality of the matter. Mostly I want her to calm down and quit bouncing on me. It’s not very pleasant.

“I do, Kay, I do! But only after I fall in love. You do believe in love, don’t you, brother?” Her sniffling lessens a bit, which is a good sign. She takes my face in her hands and continues the ocular exploration. “Don’t you want to find the perfect man for you? And not settle for anyone less?”

Well, of course. But it isn’t that easy, not when you’re a prince. I’m actually lucky that I haven’t been married off already, seeing as I’m the heir to the throne and all that. I’m also pretty damn lucky that my parents aren’t the pushy sort or I would be by now.

“You know they love you, right?”

“Yes,” she whimpers, rubbing her cheek against mine. I shift my feet in the tub; damn water’s getting cold.

“Then trust them. Besides, it takes a while for those negotiations to take place. It doesn’t happen overnight. So, let’s just enjoy the reception and have some fun, Luci?” The new nickname has slipped out, but she doesn’t object. So Luci it is. “I tell you what, you point out the suitors that offend you and I’ll make them feel so ridiculous they’ll never dare to bring up the subject of marriage with you ever again!”

Liusaidh giggles and I relax. The crisis is over. At least for now. I hold her a little longer, but I’m already thinking ahead to the reception, and what I intend to wear.

After my sister leaves to attend to her toilette, I begin my own. I look through every item in my wardrobe twice. My bed is piled high with the discards that I have deemed not good enough and I’m getting damned aggravated. If I had time, I’d go shopping, but I don’t. Good thing I picked up a few things off-planet, even if I didn’t get the chance to wear them there. I’ll make up for that now.

I finally settle on white, because I look good in it. Okay, I look good in every color, but I have to choose something, so white it is tonight. A satin skirt, with a royal blue lining. The skirt is longer in back than in front, which becomes a showcase for my legs. Did I mention that I have nice legs? I select a lovely pair of silver sandals for my poor sore feet, which I lace up my legs.

I choose my jacket to match the lining—double breasted with silver buttons. However, I leave it unbuttoned, the better to show off my gold belt, from which my ruby encrusted dagger hangs. I have no idea how to use it, but it flashes prettily in the sun. And it makes me look good.

Okay, now for the adornment. I sort through my jewelry critically—if I wear too much, I’ll come off as some sort of cheap doxy, too little and I’ll appear to be poor and that won’t do at all. I settle on two bracelets on each arm, of assorted jewels. One ring on each hand. A sapphire stud in my ear. And a matching sapphire necklace with the royal emblem emblazoned on it.

Makeup for tonight consists of midnight blue eyeliner, and I outline my lips in pale coral. Just enough to whet the appetite. Atop my head, I wear a black beret. I cock it at a jaunty angle, admiring myself in the mirror which Swyddogh holds. I am so very beautiful and I know it.

Time to meet my adoring public! Though the heavens alone know whom my parents have put on the guest list. They have a propensity to be strange sometimes. It wouldn’t surprise me to see some of the locals there. The wealthier ones, anyway. For balance or something. And because some of them work for us.

I have to make a grand entrance, of course. The reception is being held in the palace, for convenience sake.  Where else? I decide to arrive fashionably late, ignoring the dozen or so times my sister knocks at my door demanding to know if I am ready or not. I tell her to go on ahead, I’ll be there.

I know what I’m doing.

Finally, when I’ve decided that I’ve pushed the outer limits of etiquette and propriety to the limit, I nod to Swyddogh.  He goes ahead of me to tell the royal hooterers to do their thing. And as they trumpet the news to the assemblage, I begin my descent down the long curved staircase which will take me into the Grand Foyer, and thence to the Grand Ballroom.

I smile to myself at the knowledge that I am indeed the fairest one of them all.

§§§§§

The guardian is well past zenith when I decide I’ve basked in the glory long enough to put some color into my hair. It will have to be enough because I’ve certainly preened enough for one day. My father appears with a mirror as I begin to get ready to leave the gardens. I push past him without even glancing at the glass. As if I really care what I look like. This is all in preparation for a girl of all things! I’m being made to preen for a female! I can’t believe this horrendous turn of events. My only consolation will be that where there are eligible females, there will most certainly be males, and maybe some in similar circumstances to my own. Which will mean as long as the Princess doesn’t find me acceptable, there might be a male who will.

Those thoughts improve my spirits markedly. Now I have to come up with a way to put off the little poppet without being too obvious and getting my mother insulted. Not an easy thing to do. My first thought is to dress as casually as possible, but as I enter my room, I find that clothes have already been laid out for me. It’s a rather complicated mess of material and cinches in the human style, very fashionable from what I’ve seen of late at the castle. If it were any other occasion, I’d be thrilled to receive such a garment. I sigh, looking down at it in complete resignation.  I’ll have to think of something else.

I head for the bathing rooms. The cool scented waters will soothe my mood at the very least. As I enter, I see Jaou relaxing in his recuperative bath and I smile. The guardian was kind and his color is good and strong. There are even a few streaks of gold and red in his hair, Jaou would be in good form to attend the reception if I can convince him to come with me.

“Jaou, I am happy to see you, brother.” I walk over and give him a warm hug. Even if he is denied the chance to attend at my side, I am still very fond of Jaou. It has upset me more than I care to think that he’s gotten ill in the wastes. People don’t always recover from visits to the wastes. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better. The waste is growing at a phenomenal rate. I truly fear for the sentinel trees. So many of them are sickening.” Jaou’s eyes are clearly troubled with what he has seen.

“I must admit I’m concerned greatly, brother. But I’m more concerned for your health. I was very worried when Father told me you’d gone to check on the trees. The waste is no place for any Rhealliticzkian to be. You are lucky the guardian has been able to restore your health.”

“Please, Reno. I know my limits. I’m fine. Just a bit tired, and the guardian has fed my spirit. Heck, there are more colors in my hair today than I’ve carried since my blooming ceremony on my fifteenth birthday.” Jaou chuckles and watches as I add scented oils to the water and then pour some of the scented oils into Jaou’s recuperative bath.

“You do look quite attractive, my brother. You should come with me to the reception tonight, we’d make quite a sight. Besides, I haven’t gotten to spend any time with you lately and a party would be enjoyable with you at my side.” I ease into the bath. The cool soothing waters feel very refreshing after sunbathing in the guardian’s light for most of the day.

“I don’t know. I think you’ll be outshining all tonight my brother. You look… radiantly beautiful.” Jaou grins at me, rather smugly. “You’re sure to be able to have whatever belle you want tonight.”

“You know I’m not interested in any of the belles. I’m much more into beaus.” I laugh and splash water from my pool at my brother, who returns the favor and splashes back.

“Well, from what Mother has planned, you’d better be ready to entertain at least one belle at that party,” Jaou teases.

“Ugh… don’t remind me. The Princess of all people. I’m not even sure my pheromones will attract a female.”

“Well, if your pheromones don’t, you definitely look pretty enough, brother. Have you looked into the mirror? Your hair is full of blooming colors. The emerald green under-layer is there, but brother, I’ve never seen anyone with royal blue tones amongst the reds and golds. Your entire countenance is one of jewel tones. Mother will be pleased.”

“At least someone will.”

“Fine, I’ll go with you. Just quit pouting.” My brother laughs. “You’ll need a bodyguard with those colors proclaiming your intention to attract a companion.” Jaou steps out of the bathing pool. “The guardian hasn’t set yet. I’ll go sit in the gardens for a while and then join you in your rooms. The extra time I spend in basking will give me a bit more color and then you can help me choose an outfit for this party.”

“Thank you so much Jaou, you won’t regret this.”

“Then why am I already regretting it?” Jaou leaves the bathing room chuckling, leaving me to my musings and soaking.

Father enters the bathing room some time after Jaou has gone; he sits at the door.

“I don’t know if I can do this, Father.”

“We all do what we must. You will do no less, my son. I must say though, even if you are unsure, you look exceedingly beautiful.”

I stand and step from the pool; regardless of the task ahead, I do feel marvelous. I let the waters sluice down my body, the shiny deep viridian green of my skin surprises even me. My father hands me a towel and I pat myself dry. Glancing down, I notice the vibrant gold and royal blue of the petals that cover my sensitive pistils at the base of my cock. Even at rest with no others to attract, the colors practically thrum. Sorry buddy, you aren’t going to be getting the kind of attention you usually look for tonight, I think to myself and sigh, heading back to my room.

I begin to dress in the outfit my mother has procured for this event. I have to admit it’s quite exquisite, a caramel and red affair. Very dignified and pleasant, not ostentatious as much of the current fashion tends to be at the court. The shirt is a ruby red silk mesh that allows my skin to breathe and the viridian color to show through slightly. The kilt is a brushed linen pleated caramel with ruby threads embroidered throughout in the pattern of trees and leaves. It’s secured with onyx ties and buttons at my side. The jacket continues the theme, being brushed caramel with red embroidery and black buttons. If needed I can easily button the jacket if but I’ve decided to leave it open, as the evening is quite warm.

I eye my reflection critically in the mirror, pulling on the ruffled sleeves of my ruby shirt so they puff about my wrists. I secure the tight jacket cuffs with the onyx buttons, making the jacket swell a bit about my biceps. I look over at my dresser and choose a simple choker of amber, onyx and ruby beads for around my throat, while adding golden caps to my pointed ears, letting the onyx and amber beads dangling on golden threads cascade to the lobes. The kilt was a bit short for my taste, barely reaching halfway down my thighs in front but more than making up for it by hanging below my knees in the back. I secure a black leather belt with a black pouch with a golden clasp at my waist. I feel naked without my knife but as I am dressed to attract a companion, a weapon at my waist would be considered improper and could offend the royal household. Lastly I step into the offensive footwear mother has set out with the outfit. Usually I don’t have to wear shoes, not even at work, but for this formal reception they’ll be mandatory. Luckily they are just a light tan pair of sandals. I slide my foot into the leather and a ring wraps around my first toe. I tie the leather stays about my ankles to keep them from falling off.

I admire my reflection for a moment. I have to admit, I do look good. I pull my long hair back from my face and secure the long straight locks with a black band in what the humans call a ponytail. Having seen an actual pony’s tail, the reference is rather absurd in comparison to my multicolored hair in blues, reds, golds and emerald green, cascading from the top of my head to midway down my back. I can’t prevent my sigh of frustration as Jaou walks into my room. He’s dressed similarly, but his outfit of black and green only makes him appear pale.

“Are you sure you feel well enough to attend this farce?”

“Yes and knock it off, anyone would appear pale standing next to you tonight, my brother.”

“Mother got you a new outfit as well I see.” I mumble, stalling of course.

“Yes, it seems she assumed I would be the one to accompany you. Come on. Mother has had the horses called for and we need to go lest we be late.”

“Fine, let’s get this show on the road,” I grumble. Jaou pats me on the back and we walk out to face Mother’s inspection.

“You both look stunning. Reno, you will be the most beautiful man at the feast. Just remember why you are there. Attract the Princess and sweep her off her feet. I know you can do it, my beautiful son.”

“Yes, Mother,” I agree, even while my heart sinks.

She reaches up to my hair and pulls some of the emerald and blue strands loose to hang about my face. “Blue, I’d never have guessed you would bloom in royal blue,” she whispers, then turns to eye my brother critically.

“Come on Reno, let’s go.” Jaou grabs my bicep and pulls me out of the house to the black horses waiting for us. Sighing, I pull the back of the kilt between my legs and climb onto the rough woven cloth of the saddle. The two of us chirrup softly to the horses, turning their heads towards the palace.

The ride to the palace is thankfully short. Much longer and I’d have been wishing Mother would’ve called us a carriage. We enter the foyer and the footman announces our arrival to the throng of revelers as we enter.

Let the charade begin.

Thank you for joining us for another Sci Fi Sunday! We hope you enjoyed it! Have any comments? Any questions? Any thoughts or suggestions? We'd love to hear them!

Until next week, take care!

♥ Julie and Sui

Sci Fi Sunday - Reality Check Begins

Good morning and welcome to the first ever Sci Fi Sunday, brought to you by Sui Lynn and myself! Each Sunday we intend to bring you stories of sci fi interest, whether it's our own collaboration, our novel in progress Reality Check, or whether it's our opinions on different sci fi novels or films! This week the adventure begins in a galaxy far far away, and no, it isn't Star Wars! And now I give you - Reality Check!

Reality Check

Chapter One

You know what I’ve learned after four years of cramming my head with useless knowledge at some of the finest universities in the universe?

A hole is a hole is a hole.

Three guesses what I’ve been studying, and the first two don’t count.

Seriously. If you’ve seen one hole, you’ve seen them all. It doesn’t matter what type of male it’s attached to, they pretty well all feel the same, look the same, taste the same and they all take a cock in the  very same way.  In and out, you know, no other way to go. Well, there was that one guy on that one planet. I forget its name but I think that had it two, no three, suns. I’ve forgotten his name too, assuming I ever knew it.  I think his hole had teeth, but honestly, I try not to think about it too much. Still, a hole is a hole is a hole.  Is it any wonder I’m so bored with them all?

It’s really good to be going home. I think I’m ready to go back too. Back to Rhealliticzk. I miss my parents and I miss my little sister. How old is Lulu now? Damn. Eighteen already. She was just a little squirt last time I saw her. She’s probably wearing long skirts how. I bought her a doll anyway, for a coming home present. I couldn’t resist it, it looks just like her. And I better not let her hear me call her that. She says her name is Liusaidh Blommervermogen and that Lulu is a little girl name. She’s growing up too fast. Maybe she’ll let me call her Luci instead?

Funny, you’d never know we’re brother and sister to see us together.  Her hair is so long and red and I keep mine short and sleek. I think it’s a good look for me. So’s the streaks of grayish silver and blond that I have added whenever I get my hair done.  Matches the gray in my eyes.

I wonder if I should get another tattoo. If so, what of?

“Prince Cailean?”

I’m ripped from my inner monologue by the voice of my bodyguard, Swyddogh. He’s come into my cabin—he’s the only one who has that privilege. Anyone else has to request permission, and it’s generally denied.

“It’s time to prepare for landing, your royal highness.”

Right. I want to look my best for my return, don’t I? I’ll be so glad to get out of these pants, I don’t know how I’ve stood them for so long. What do other men see in them? I’ll never know.

Swyddogh is also my personal attendant/valet.  Where I go, he goes. He rummages through my clothes, which are already packed, before handing me a dark blue skirt, dotted with pale blue stones in a running diamond pattern. Good choice. I step into it, and my balls thank me for it, free from their confinement at long last.

Fashion? Pah, those barbarians have no idea what the word means.

Swyddogh pulls out a mirror and expands it to full-length so that I can admire myself in it. I turn this way and that, peering into my reflection carefully. Good, as always. My legs are looking fit, I must say. I did some nude sunbathing when I could, and they have a good color to them. Very nice, Kay, very nice. I smile at my reflection.

“When do we land?” I ask, thinking ahead to the huge feast that is undoubtedly even now being prepared for my arrival. My parents do love me very much. They’ll be overjoyed to see me.

“I’m afraid that we don’t.”

“What?”  I stop in the middle of smoothing down my skirt, still caught up in my image, and turn to face him.

Swyddogh may have a face that resembles the back end of a Fellaxxian sloth, and that’s saying quite a bit ‘cause they’re ugly as sin, but he’s loyal and brave and very strong as well as a good fighter, and that counts for a lot more than beauty. Our standing joke is that I’m the beauty, he’s the brawn.  He’s been in my service ever since I was born.  I’m sure he’s glad to be getting back too. If I remember correctly, he left behind a few girls he was more than passing fond of. At least one of those is a native, too. One of the ones that works in the royal palace. No accounting for taste, I guess.

He shrugs, as if to say go figure. “We’re being sent in the shuttle. Apparently there’s nothing being delivered. Other than your royal highness, that is.”

I frown, pulling at my lower lip with my thumb and forefinger, a sign that I’m not pleased. I’d expected this ship to be carrying supplies for home, surely.  Since when do we get bypassed like this?

Well, there’s nothing to be done for it at the moment. It is what it is. At least I’ll be getting off here, and that’s what counts.

“Have you taken care of everything?” I ask, even though I know the answer.

Swyddogh nods his shaggy head.  He has a mane of hair so thick that ordinary scissors are useless to penetrate their depths. But I hear that he can manipulate his long locks in a way that is quite pleasing to the ladies. Which explains his popularity with them, because, as I’ve said, he fails in the whole looks department.

“Everything is seen to,” he assures me. “All that remains is to bid the Captain farewell and bless the vessel.”

A nuisance, but necessary. I don’t remember how the custom started, but whenever a member of the royal family travels off-planet there is a ceremony that has to be gone through at the time of departure.

“Very well.” I can’t fight it, so I don’t try. It’s not worth the effort.

He offers me one last look in the mirror, before we make our way to the departure deck. The captain of this almost antiquated spaceship is attired in white and gold with epaulets and ribbons everywhere, and he has mutton chops so bushy they almost obscure his face.

He clicks to attention as I enter the area. As he should.

“It has been our great pleasure, Prince Cailean,” he begins, and then he drones on while I try to keep from falling asleep. My mind wanders from his words, which are boring me to death, and I’m thinking about what I’m going to eat first at the welcoming feast—I’m more than positive that they’ve made all my favorite dishes—when I feel a jab somewhere in the vicinity of my kidneys, and I realize that it’s my turn, and that my response is required. Tardily, I draw my attention back to the moment.

The captain is kneeling before me now, waiting. I make the appropriate signs with my fingers, say the right words, thereby blessing the vessel and all upon it, and more of the same. He’s satisfied, and bids me safe journey as I enter the smallish shuttle which will take me home.

Home. I never realized before how beautiful that word is. I’m home at last.

So, do you know what I’ve learned after these four years abroad?

There’s no place like home.

§§§§§

Why—why doesn’t she just give it up already? Parents are supposed to care about their children and nurture their children like the trees provide for us. I understand that, but I’ve told her repeatedly that I will not be a part of this messed up plan of hers. I will not be part of a unity with those meat creatures. Especially not a female of their violent hypocritical species.

“Be one with the trees… Be one with the grass… Be one with the universe and at peace.” I can’t believe I’m sitting here naked in my mother’s garden going through a ritual cleansing ceremony so my mother can dress me up and send me to that spatsory fucked welcome home feast for that spoiled rotten princeling.

“You, Renophoatien are one with the garden… The light of the guardian shines down upon you…  The blessed union of spirits flows from the trees…” My Father Josephinipsalon Sameeleon chants at me. It’s all I can do to keep from rolling my eyes. Okay, I can’t keep from doing it, I admit it, I’m rolling my eyes. But his are closed so he doesn’t see my rebellious sacrilege as I reply in chant. At least I’m getting my spirit bath in today. I haven’t been able to sit in the light of the guardian sun for more than half an hour at mid-day since I began working at the palace. It’s a pleasure to be able to open myself to the guardian and relax.

“I am one with the garden… I bathe in the light of the guardian… The spirit flows.” Damn I hate this crap. But it does feel good. My skin is glowing emerald green, my hair is becoming radiant, the flower within shooting color through my hair in hues of lavender, gold and a trace of red through the deep forest green. I’m sure it’s the reason mother insisted on this rite. The amount of time I devote to the guardian will ensure that the color remains in my hair for the next couple of days even if I only spend half an hour at my lunch basking in the guardian’s glow. She believes that the colors will be as attractive to the meat creatures as they are to a female of my own people. The more colors that appear, the more attractive the male, the easier it becomes to make a match.

Mother wishes to attract the meat creature female from the ruling family in the city. She hopes that by tying our family to such a powerful female within their people we can learn to control their actions. We’ve tried to explain how their behavior and waste is killing the trees but they don’t understand. I’ve tried to educate Mother that they are a violent race and do not understand the implications of their actions, nor do they seem to have the patience to learn. But hell, my own mother refuses to listen to me, so I guess in a sense we are no different from them.

“You are a good son, Reno. Honor your family and charm the female, Liusaidh Blommervermogen. Make us proud.” Father says.

“Father, you know I have no interest in females. Not of our species or theirs. Please get mother to choose one of my brothers for this task. There is no way I could even get my flower to open for a female, much less bloom.”

“I understand the problem and you will need to figure out a way to deal with it when the time comes. At this point my son all you need do is charm her. Speak with her. Bond with her intellectually and get her to accept you as a suitor.” Father puts his hands on my shoulders and I place mine on his. He draws me to him and we rest our foreheads together; he consoles me as he has since my childhood, letting his emotions flow through me from our contact. His love and support wrap around me, giving me strength to do what Mother asks of me.

“This isn’t an argument I can win, is it Father?” I shake my head resignedly.

“I’m afraid not, my son. Your mother is Sagotna, tribal mother. When she decides something is for the best of the tribe, we all must do our best to fulfill her desires.”

“But she’s wrong in this. If she wishes to tie us to the humans then she would do better to have me attempt an alliance with the Prince Cailean. Their society isn’t run by the females. He is the one who will be in power not Princess Liusaidh.”

“You may be correct my son, but Sagotna has chosen you for Liusaidh. She’s already spoken with King Liefde and Queen Kaerlighed. They have agreed to the match if you can persuade Princess Liusaidh to accept you as suitor.”

“Fine. I’ll go, but I’m taking Jaou with me. He can be my second for this insanity.”

“Jaouseptanetah has just returned from the wastes. He is tired and has black streaks in his hair. I don’t know if he is healthy enough to attend with you. He bathes as well, but in the healing temple. If his hair at least turns green, then I will support him joining you at the feast. I will not risk his health just so you have someone to listen to you complain.”

“I didn’t know he was ill. I’d never risk my brother.” I truly love my brother, I hadn’t known he’d gone to monitor the wastes. It’s getting harder and harder for any of us to get near the wastes and the area of desolation around it grows each year.

“Did he bring back any news?”

“The trees that surround the wastes are dying as we suspected. Once they fall, nothing will prevent the wastes’ growth into the plain of ferti. If the flowers of ferti die, then so will we all. Our cycle of life will be disrupted and the planet will die.”

“We are desperate then, are we not, Father?” My father rises to his feet and looks down on me with his all knowing green within green eyes.

“Yes my son, so bask in the guardian’s rays and become beautiful, bloom for this female and draw her to you. With the colors of our family and the pheromones you will be exuding, you will be irresistible. Use what the guardian is blessing you with, Reno.”

“But will I be irresistible to a female?” I mumble as my father goes into the house and I close my eyes and tip my head back to the guardian, my arms outstretched to take in all the light I can.

to be continued

Don't forget to check out Sui Lynn's blog at 2 Cents! We hope you enjoyed reading this as much as we enjoyed writing it! What do you think about it? Leave a comment, we'd love to hear from you! See you next week!

♥ Julie

When Did Three Become the New Two?

I have to say that I'm perplexed and more than a little puzzled at what I perceive to be a growing trend among "romance" novels, and yes, I'm withholding final judgment on whether they are actually romance or not, but you'll see what I mean as I go on. Menages have come out of the closet and are extremely prevalent, I've noticed. Not just menage a trois, but quatre or cinque or more.

Seriously? Sometimes they're same sex - all men or all women - and sometimes it's one person of one and the rest of the other. I have actually yet to see any with a bunch of women and one man, generally it's one woman and a ton of menfolks. Now take this for what it's worth, but in my opinion, one woman and seven men means a whole lot of slutting going on. How does this begin to be justified as romance? I do not understand.

It's in human nature to pair off, so a trio becomes awkward when that pairing occurs. I guess that with four, you can at least break off into two couples, but hell, why not have two monogamous couples, then, why the back and forth?

I don't believe that men, by their very nature, are willing to share one woman. I can see it more in a m/m relationship, because with some men it is nothing more than sex, and while they are faithful in their own way to their partners as far as their hearts are concerned, their dicks are allowed to roam cause it really doesn't mean anything. For example, Brian and Justin in Queer as Folk. They both do other people, sometimes in front of one another. But these others mean nothing, it is Brian and Justin who ultimately matter.

I don't see it, and I don't get it. This isn't romance. This is how many people and positions can I throw into a book, so I don't have the same two people doing all the pounding. That is not romance. Romance is passion and love and trust and fidelity. And when you're doing a whole slew of other people, where is that? Not to mention, sometimes these others are brothers!  WTF? Do you seriously see brothers as being willing to share someone they allegedly care about?

I just don't get it. And I don't read it. I like my couples to be couples - in twos. Whether m/m or m/f. If  you have an argument for more, feel free to fire away, but I don't guarantee that I'll ever be convinced.

Moving on....

Last night I went to my instant netflix queue for entertainment, and I ended up watching two disparate pieces of cinema. The first was a documentary on child killer/cannibal Albert Fish. It was very interesting, and I learned much about the man, who looked to be a harmless little old grandfather, but nothing could have been further from the truth. We'll never know how many children he did kill and/or torture. He was caught when he sent a letter to the mother of victim Grace Budd.  The things he did were unbelievable, so watch this knowing that parts of it may make your squirm. There is nothing visually graphic, but the discussion does delve into uncomfortable realms. That being said, I found it interesting.

My second film was Ice Blues: A Donald Strachey Mystery. I've read one of those, so I was interested in  seeing what they did with it on film. I wasn't disappointed. Chad Allen plays Don Strachey, a gay detective in New York (you may remember him from St. Elsewhere, as the autistic Tommy, whose weird dreamworld is what St. Elsewhere turns out to be in one of the worst series ending twists ever). Sebastian Spence plays his cute live-in lover Tim, a Senator's aide. The story begins when funding is cut from one of Tim's pet projects, involving children in need of help, and he needs to find 3 million to replace it. Suddenly he finds himself being given 3 million in Euro bonds from an anonymous source and everyone is out to get him. There are a lot of twists and turns, it's a good solid mystery, and very enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Don and Tim, their obvious affection, and the way that everyone treats it as normal. I recommend this one, I intend to watch others, and look for it on Amazon when I can afford it.

I'll probably talk Monday about the cooking stuff I'm watching, such as Master Chef, Next Network Food Star, and also the new Flipping Out.

Tomorrow is the start of Sci Fi Sunday, and the premiere of Reality Check. Hope to see you there.

As always, feel free to comment, ask questions, or simply say hi!  I'd love to hear from you!

♥ Julie

V.B. Rose, Volume 11 Review

Ageha innocently asks Kuromine and Arisaka, “So how long have you two been together?” She doesn’t mean it like it sounds, but the question seems to annoy Yukari and amuses Kuromine as we begin Volume 11 of V.B. Rose.

 Kuromine isn’t helping matters any when he reminds Yukari that they’ve almost made it to their tenth anniversary, the diamond anniversary. Luckily (or is it unluckily) for Arisaka, he is needed to help at Rosa, which leaves Kuromine free to wander down memory lane and to tell Ageha the story of how these two boys met.

According to Kuromine, there are four characteristics which girls use in order to determine a boy’s popularity:  1) good looking 2) athletic 3) funny 4) tall.  And in middle school, while Kuromine scores a perfect ten in those attributes, alas, Arisaka does not. Kuromine hasn’t even noticed him at first. But then he does, and he starts asking questions, learning about his famous actress mother. The first time he sees Arisaka smile, he is smitten.  A great bromance is born!

There’s only one problem—it’s very one-sided!  In fact, Arisaka seems intent on evading every attempt at friendship from Kuromine!  What’s up with that? Kuromine chases after him; when he catches him, he compliments Arisaka on his looks, comparing them to his famous mother—and receives a punch in return! Yukari tells him, “Anyone who underestimates me is going to end up in a world of pain.”

Kuromine ponders his words. When he encounters his little brother Shizuya, who is rather the worse for wear, he discovers that he’s been in a fight with a close friend, but all’s now well between them. Hmmm, is that what friendship means? Did he and Yukari have a fight? Mitsuya wonders.  He realizes that he is in possession of Arisaka’s book, the one he always carries with him, forgotten in the course of their fight. He must return it to him, of course, but first he looks inside—and what he sees will change the course of their lives forever!

It’s all about fashion design and making clothing. He had no idea Arisaka is into that stuff. Before he knows it, he’s devoured the book. But when he would return it to Arisaka, he’s not in school! A few days go by with no sign of the other boy, so Kuromine decides to go to his home and see what’s up!

 You can read my complete review at Anime Radius and Yaoi Radius!

Authors go wild at Love Romance Cafe - today at 12:00 EST

Have you ever wondered what the authors of Silver Publishing are like when they let their hair down? Come and find out today, we're hanging out at Love Romance Cafe, the Yahoo Group.  We've been released and given a day pass, come see what we're like!

Learn about our habits - good, bad, and ugly! Find out what we've written and what we're working on - if you dare!

Warning: Do not feed the authors! Keep your fingers away from their mouths!

Here is where we will be, at 12:00 EST http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveRomancesCafe/

Disclaimer: Not responsible for overdoses of fun that may be had at this event.