Optimist

Crimson Tide (MegaraFoxfire and I)

Roger jumped out of the carriage and ran over to the captain. He picked her up in his arms, without regards to the blood stains it caused on his green coat. "Margaret," he said, using her Christian name without realizing it. "Hold on, help will be here soon!" The baroness lead him up the stairs into her mansion. The front room was gigantic, and held a marble staircase, which wound up to a landing. The walls were painted light blue, with tiny silver buttercups in a line over the baseboards. The floor was marble as well.

The baroness lead him up the staircase. Roger found himself huffing a bit as he carried the captain, but he was in good condition. Soon, the baroness lead him to a bedroom with white washed walls and a small wood framed bed. A crucifix was over the bed and there was a table with medical implements and an open window. "This is my infirmary," she said, helping Roger to lower the captain onto the bed. "My late husband was sick for many years, before passing on. I had it built for him.

Night of the Comet (Camille Noir and I)

Randal chuckled. "Can't say as I mind, if they actually help me out, but the real problem is the gossip. You've only met Rosco, but you'll be the talk of the town tomorrow." He opened her truck door for her, but did not go so far as to offer to help her up into it. He almost wanted too, just to put his hands around her waist, but though he would be pushing things to far, to quickly. The only trouble was, if her damned car started, she would be back on the road and miles away in no time. He was not the sort to disable her car with intention to flirt, so chances where she would be gone sooner than later.

He chatted her up, as they drove back, asking if she wanted something else on the radio, what her favorite movies and books were, and the like. He thought that there was a classic rock station somewhere on the dial, but he knew that he would have to search for it to find it. As it was, he only had a local country station and the county news station programmed in. He wanted to get as many looks at her as he could, before she was gone, but did not take his eyes from the road. You never know what might come up out of the dark, be it a cow or some idiot racing their truck through the night, like he had been doing.

---

Renee stared at him, the gun all but forgotten and she slowly dropped it. What the Hell was happening? How was he still standing, let alone talking, with a hole in his chest? Finally she recovered her wits enough to draw her service revolver. She leveled it at him, and started firing into his head. She got off four shots, before she felt a pinch at her back, and then a sharp pain. Renee tried to reach around to see what was biting her, but could not get a look at it. Throwing herself backwards against a wall, she managed to dislodge a giant spider looking thing, but with only had six legs. It was the size of a grapefruit.

"Oh Hell no!" She started to run for the door, Mike and the murdered Molly all but forgotten. Renee was a brave woman, but she drew the line at spiders. Everyone has a phobia, and spiders were hers. As she ran, she heard a scuttling sound, and a small crowd of the little beasties cut her off at the door. She turned, and realized she was surrounded. She screamed, as they jumped at her, climbing all over her body. One latched onto her back, bite into her spin, and then everything started to make more sense.

She was still Renee, but she was also a host for the beings. They knew what she knew, at least somewhat, and she knew who they were and what they were after. "Come on boys" she said to the spiders. "We've got some shopping to do."

Night of the Comet (Camille Noir and I)

Yup, I am working on the post now. I kind of... broke poor Mike.

Once Upon a Time...

I will be on the pad for another hour or so than going to bed. Goat and the Silver, if you want to visit there, you are welcome. If no one shows, up, I am going to bed in about an hour. Goat, I will send you the link.

Fiddler's Green

I remember that first touch very well. It did not mean anything to her, in particular, but I was very aware of it, thank you very much!

I answered her questions as we drove, but she barely gave me time to ask any questions of my own. I told her about my family and about my sister Renee, who now lives in California and is with a wonderful woman named Anna. I even managed to mention their potbellied pig Tofu, before asked her next question. My favorite novel, as it turns out, is Anne of Green Gables, and with her chattering, she reminded me a bit of that character.

When we stopped at the little village for lunch, and I snapped pictures as we drove through main street. I am afraid that sometimes I can only really see what is around me through the lenses of my cameras. It did not matter that the village was not much to look at. I still photographed it.

The sandwich shop was wonderful! They had the best corned beef I have had outside of New York City. I can't imagine where they order it from. I supposed I should have done as the locals, and had the fried fish sandwich, but I am addicted to Reubens, especially with lots of sauerkraut. I probably had french fries and a Coke too, but I can't remember. These days I drink Diet Coke, but I have and always will be a Coke man. What, that did not sound right. Strike it from the record.

The interior of the sandwich shop was little more than a white counter, four white walls and white tables. There were poorly photographed pictures of food on the walls, a list of lunch specials, and men with weight problems grilling up the orders. It was, in truth, like every other little sandwich shop I have ever seen, until I tasted the food.

As she ate, I managed to ask about her family, and almost invite myself to meet them, all in the name of research of course. I also could not help looking at her, when she was not looking. It seems there was a lot of that going on that second day.

Fiddler's Green

I may not be going. Our car is in the shop and the estimate is $1000 dollars. That was our gas and hotel money. Oh well... I will keep you informed.

Hemlock Grove (LyricsKIss and I)

Shadrack had felt bad for the girl in the library. She obviously liked him, and he did not have the heart to shoot her down. She was... odd though. Maybe he would hang out with her, to make her feel better. After all, he did not have any other friends yet, and did not really care to make to many of them. They would not last, once it got around that he was a gypsy. Even here, in the States, they were looked down on. It was all bullshit of course. Everyone though that they would trick you, or do shoddy work. Bullshit.

He ran through the forest with his dog, dodging branches and leaping over underbrush, as only a lycanthrope could. He had not turned, but simply decided to run. His long strides and leaps kept him up with his German shepherd easily. They ran for miles, through the dark evening, running up and down hills and between the trees. Eventually, they hit the highway on the outskirts of town.

Shadrik paused, and called his dog to him. She was panting, but happy. He was wearing nothing more than garage sale running shoes and a cheap pair of running shorts. If he decided to turn, he did not want to leave valuable clothing behind. Besides, his mother was used to him showing up at the RV needing clothing, after one of his late night runs.

"What do you think girl?" She cocked her head at him. "I agree." He ditched the shorts and shoes alongside the highway, and headed back into the woods. Standing among the trees, his flesh started to warp and change. His bones started to mold into new shapes and shrink. Fur started to grow along his back, his limbs and even his face, as his nose and mouth started to elongate. He was covered in sweat as the transformation happened, and then he was simply not himself any more. In his place, stood a lean wolf with black fur. He turned to Sheba, and they started off together, crossing the highway at a dead run.

Their run took them into the woods again, and then across the lawn of some of the older, nicer houses in town. They were mere shadows as they moved, with little regards for anything but their running. The next thing you knew, they had a scent. It was rabbit. Both of them tore after the scent excitedly. The blood of rabbits was an excellent way to cap off their run.

Once Upon a Time...

We were using the same one that we were using in that joint post of seven people.

Murders In Braidwell (Sparrow and I)

He hugged her for a moment, and then let go. "Do you really need to ask lass? Of course. Tell me how I can help and I will do it." He could barely think of a way that he could help. He certainly could not prove her innocence. Sure, she could start over with a new name, in a new town, but she would have little in the way of worldly goods. Her house was guarded to heavily, and she could run away faster and safer as an animal, than as a human. "I could get some supplies together for you, but their watching me. I can not collect to much, or they will think I am planning to run away." He was feeling a bit desperate for his friend, of so many years.

Comatose Kingdom (High Fantasy Dreamland)

Hello Toaw. Nice to met you.