Anyone else watching Rings of Power and/or House of the Dragon? I'm enjoying both.

The ROP intro was a little slow but by the time the Harfoots were introduced I was hooked. The elves feel a little off, I'm not sure why (no it's not the hair, haha). I loved loved loved the dwarves. Durin's speech on the lift thing hit me unexpectedly in the feels. I know jack-shit about Tolkien's lore, though I'm aware they've changed stuff (hard not to be aware really). I'm looking forward to the rest.

The only complaint I have about HOD is the distracting wigs >_< The dragons are freaking awesome.

Trying to make my way back here.  Sorry for the super long absence (again  ). I'm doing my best to get back, hopefully I can find my muse again.

Life had been lonely.  Elyse was still with Ricky and Marta, and she felt grateful that she and Stinging Nose had a place to stay.  Still, Elyse wasn't sure that she had found her place.  Being wolfkin by itself was difficult, but since then, her family had abandoned her.  She had been hurt.  Sierra was gone and Elyse didn't know where she was.

With thought of Sierra came guilt.  Elyse was sure that if she tried, she would be able to find Sierra.  At the very least there was the dream world.  She found herself scared to go though and avoided it.  Stinging Nose had stated his concern for Elyse.  She was a pack animal that was isolating, and that was never good.

Elyse sighed and took a drink of the scotch in front of her.  Elyse wasn't sure what it was about Kallisti, but she found the place comforting.  It wasn't the place that she would usually find herself, yet the staff was very good at taking care of her.  She knew it was their jobs, but it still helped.

Today, Elyse had found a corner by herself.  A dancer was doing a routine on the stage, but Elyse wasn't paying attention.  She stared at the amber liquid that would match her eyes had she not been wearing colored lenses.  Elyse reached out and was able to find Stinging Nose.  She sent a brief message that she was okay.  There was incredulity in Sting's response back.  Deep down, Elyse knew she wasn't okay, but she didn't know what to do about it.

Today Asc noticed she wasn't getting notifications for PMs in other accounts.

I think we narrowed it down to a setting in your Account Settings having been toggled off.

Check to see that "Alert me with a notice when I receive a Private Message." is checked to keep receiving those notices.

Cruz left Manifest in a hurry.  He wanted to be away from the glitter and glamour and settle back into his own life again.  He tired of the boys who wanted to pretend they were rich and famous.  But more importantly he had a mystery to solve.

Once he made it home to his small yet upscale apartment he took a picture of the coin and sent it off to Sage.  His friend had been offline a while and Cruz was starting to worry.  Yet not enough to send out a search party.  There was no telling where Aiden had whisked Sage off too, they were two peas in a pod and yet when they had lived with him they had been stationary.  Same as Nox, he missed his friends.  Maybe it was time to throw an old fashioned party.  But Nox was off on some mission and Sage was missing in action.  Cruz sighed.  And all he had left were the annoying snot nosed wannabe rich kids.

There wasn't much left to do so Cruz took a shower and went to bed.  Waiting for Sage could be like waiting for water to drip a hole to the other side of the world.  No point in waiting, on to other things and a clean body and sleep were first on that list.

Another two months time and the construction will be completed, Dimitri’s message flashed across Aiden’s wallet, Are you quite sure you wish to remain in the city proper?

Aiden rolled his eyes as he took a drag from the cigarette dangling from his clenched jaw. Dimitri had been badgering him since he had returned to Moscow. That was not a negative trait in a personal assistant, but the repeated question had become tiring. Aiden had explained himself thoroughly in the few days that had passed since his return and Dimitri should have been professional enough to accept that.

I need to be here, Dim. I’ve told you already. Inspiration has hit me. I’ve got to start work on the sequel to ‘Russian Dolls’ while the idea is fresh, Aiden typed back on rote. Smoke streamed from his lips, the lights of Tverskaya emanating from the spaces between the blinds to illuminate the countless boxes that Dimitri had sent over.

But what if she comes back? She will look for you here, Dimitri sent back.

Aiden put his wallet down.

Gareth Rice, Rowan’s servant, had apparently been in contact with Dimitri during Aiden’s absence. It was not an unwelcome development, but Aiden would have preferred to facilitate it under normal circumstances. Gareth, before serving under Rowan, had been a family friend. Aiden had grown up with Gareth – he loved Gareth as his own brother. But Rowan had ensnared him. Not that that would have been hard for her to accomplish. Gareth was always pining after her during their teenage years; she was just too blind to give him a chance.

Rowan was gone and had wanted nothing to do with Aiden – despite him being the entire reason she had relocated to Moscow. Rowan was gone and had severed all ties – apparently – but Gareth could not accept that. He could not accept that and he could not find Aiden and so he had gotten into the head of Aiden’s personal assistant, Dimitri Alexeev; Dimitri had been all too eager.

Aiden was starting to think that Dimitri was taken with Gareth.

An unfortunate triangle that would be – Rowan had never been one to share.

Aiden finished his cigarette with a long, deep drag and snuffed it out into the glass ashtray to his side. He grabbed for his wallet, knowing full well that he should have left Dimitri on ‘read.’

I know you’ve given Gareth this address, Dim. What does it matter? Leave me to my books and my writings, Aiden responded before putting the wallet down once more and moving to the wet bar. Ice clinked and the whiskey flowed easily into his empty glass.

Aiden poured half a glass more than he should have – but who was there to judge him? He had told Sage that he needed a few days rest and relaxation and ‘no, don’t trouble yourself. I just need to sleep this out. I’ve never felt more exhausted.’ He had left Jaxen at the door to that condo with a half-hearted hug and a, ‘No, Jax. That is your prize to take. I have the spear; I don’t want your sword. Do what you will with it, just let me do my own thing with my own thing.’

The wallet vibrated and Aiden didn’t fight the urge to pick it back up. Dimitri again.

I’m sorry, Dimitri had replied. Aiden rolled his eyes. He expected the apology, but he didn’t need it. What Aiden needed now was time. Time to read and time to experiment with his new found treasure.

Don’t worry about it. Just make sure the manor is finished before the end of the year. I’m postponing my release tour btw. Call my legal team if Tor gives you problems. We can renegotiate for the spring, Aiden sent back. He drank half of the glass before moving into the back guest room. A stream of light passed over the cracked door, casting its brilliance upon Aiden’s foot as he moved to the opening. He paused as the wallet vibrated again.

Okay, now you’re talking crazy. I’m coming to see you. You don’t sound like yourself, Aiden, the screen read. Aiden rolled his eyes and tossed the wallet over his shoulder. It landed to the ground with a loud clatter as he opened the door.

The Spear revolved upon unseen hands in the middle of the room. All overhead lights had been switched off and the blinds had been thrown open to let in the evening glow of Tverskaya. Aiden felt a strange kinship with the weapon as he stared at the shinning black blade that capped its slender rod. The emanations of Fire and Spirit had grown weaker, but not its flame that Aiden could summon with the barest trickle of Light.

That was not to mention the dreams. The dreams of the man that blazed like the Sun. It was Lugh if the snake people were to be believed. Things had taken an even stranger turn since he had brought the Spear home and he was convinced that the answer was in the books the Dimitri had sent him.

The interweb is abuzz with Netflix's the Sandman - a show based off the comic of the same name. I never read the comic. Was never into comics really. But these ones are popular. Honestly, they don't look half bad. I haven't seen the show either. Axed Netflix a while back.

But you have to be fucking kidding me that almost the exact same time I unveil Adrian's alter ego as dreamworld Sandman, the show comes out. That sounds like my luck.

Im not ripping anything off. I swear. Don't worry. I have no qualms about ripping off good work. *wink and will do so without shame. But this time, I'm not doing it.  Hah

Their car pulled up to a street that surprised Danika. She thought all the best clubs were downtown or near the Kremlin district. She had seen the lights glowing the street with sunlight. She knew which streets to avoid when she left the lab late at night. It made the commute home all the longer to weave in and out of the crowds. Such a place was where she assumed they were heading when Maria and Godric insisted she go out with them. She’d turned them down so many times, but the same old excuse of “I have to work late” simply couldn’t fly anymore.

“Where’s the club?” she asked from the back seat. Godric had pulled over along an otherwise empty curb, powered down the vehicle and climbed out. Maria just smiled and ticked her head toward the window. Danika just shook her head and followed.

Danika hugged her little beaded jacket around her shoulders. The dress she wore was short and the heels as high as she could handle without falling all over herself. “I knew I should have wore pants,” she said to Maria, voice low although she had no idea why she had the urge to whisper. Meanwhile, Godric approached a door that for all of Danika’s purposes seemed completely shut up and abandoned.

Maria chuckled, “We’ll be inside in a moment. And you look incredible, Danika. Toughen the fuck up a little, eh?”
Danika gasped at the impropriety, but a playful nudge in the ribs followed.

Somehow the door opened and the next thing Danika knew, they were ushered through a maze of hallways. “Where are we going?” she said to Maria.

Godric looked over one shoulder at the two girls. He was so excited, Danika barely recognized her technician. “This is a side-entrance into Almaz,” he said with all the expertise of one who had been here before.

Maria squeezed Danika’s arm as they emerged into an area with tables and a strange view. A flare of surprise widened her eyes, "I do not belong here," she declared as they pulled her in further.

~~~

((roc: This is a fluff piece. Anyone is welcome to join!))