Quill, Parchment, & Ink

Idea snagged from magisterequitum  but since she hasn’t posted hers yet…I’m making up my own guidelines.

Gather up all your WIPs from the last six months and post between 1 and 5 paragraphs from anywhere in the story. Include a word count and whether or not you think you will finish it.

Painting the Town
“Not a clue, but I know who we’re gonna call.” Hardison scooped up his cell and dialed the number of the one person he knew would have the information they’d need.

“What?” a familiar voice snapped in answer.

“Hey. I didn’t like wake you or anything. Cause…I can like google what I need or call Nate or…ya know never mind. I’ll get my information somewhere else,” Hardison babbled.

“Hardison. Hardison!” Eliot yelled. “What the hell are you talking about?” he asked more calmly when Hardison took a breath.

“Parker wants to paint her apartment and I figured you’d know where to get the paint,” Hardison explained. “Thought you could give us suggestions.”

Word Count: 2728
Yes I plan to finish this

A Very Leverage Family Christmas
Hardison messed around with the electronics for a few minutes, creating more noise than actual progress; at least from the perspective of the other two men. Finally he plopped down on the couch and pointed at the wall of screens with a flourish. “And now Alec’s Christmas Theater presents A Christmas Story,” he intoned, clicking the remote majestically. There was a whirl and a click and the screen went black. “Okay, that wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Maybe you should just play it like the information thingies,” Eliot suggested from the kitchen. “Since whatever you did didn’t work or just use a VCR like a normal person.”

“Hey! You stick to the punching and the kicking and let those of us with knowledge about these things run the electronics.” Hardison turned around to face his tormentor.

“You wanna eat today, geek boy?” Eliot asked.

Word Count: 1935
Yes I plan to finish this

Mile High Club *working title
“No, I’m fine,” he answered, setting his book aside as she turned, carefully pressing the Velcro against the door frame and hooking the covering in place. “I appreciate y’all letting me sit up here.”

“We like to keep customers…Americans…contendo…happy,” she told him. When she saw the comprehension in his face, she switched to Spanish. “If there is anything I can do to make your flight more pleasant, please let me know.”

Eliot’s eyebrows rose at her words. He wanted to be sure he didn’t misunderstand her. “What exactly were you offering?” he asked in the same language.

She slinked towards him, inching her skirt, which had fallen to her knees upwards. “Whatever senor might desire,” she explained.

“I didn’t know that was for offer,” he replied as she reached the couch where he reclined. He winced at his phrasing, realizing it might not come across the way he meant it. “Um.” He racked his brain, trying to remember the correct way to answer what she was offering. His Spanish was good, but probably wasn’t up to answering the questions she was asking. “I’m not…” He waved a hand, trying to convey his confusion.

Word Count: 951
I’d like to finish this…but I’ve been having trouble with it…so it’s on the back burner for now. That being said…its being written for havenward  so at some point I am going to have to finish it.


Doublemint Chaos
The girl—Lindsey—nodded slowly, before wiggling her fingers at Eliot. “Hi.”

“What. The. Hell?” Eliot demanded.

Lindsey gave a half-shrug. “I’m not sure. I mean I went to bed last night as…well, myself…but when I woke up this morning…” s/he lifted his shirt, flashing him. “I had breasts. Breasts, Eliot!”

He stared at the perky globes that were revealed for a moment before realizing who’s exactly he was looking at. “Put those away. You’re gonna put someone’s eyes out.” He groaned as he realized what had happened. “I’m going to Hell. Hell. I hit on my own brother.”

Lindsey grinned. “Hate to tell ya, Lot, but if that’s what you go to Hell for, we’re both screwed,” s/he replied.

Eliot pointed his finger at his sibling. “Three words for you, bro. Evil. Law. Firm.” He shuddered. “Okay, calling you ‘bro’ does not work in that form. What the hell happened?”

Word Count: 3000
Yes I plan to finish this and also do an outtake scene of Lindsey and Sophie shopping


Marry Me
The first time, he had just pulled her into his lap after a show when his face turned decidedly green. He shoved her forward and she hit the floor, just before he vomited all over the place. Since half the band got sick soon after, they decided it was a stomach bug and not too much alcohol. Royal had to admit she had more sympathy for him after learning that.

A few days later, Chris told her that he had something for her. Royal walked in to find him ripping the RV apart and cussing up a storm. When she finally got him calmed down, he explained that he had lost her gift. Royal had smiled and helped him put the place to rights again, pointing out to him that she didn’t need an expensive gift to know he loved her. He’d sighed, opening and closing his mouth a few times, obviously at a lost for how to explain things to her. In the end, he’d gathered her into his arms, kissed her tenderly and started to lead her into the back. A glance at the clock had started a new round of cursing as they both realized he was late for the sound check.

(skip break)

During a sound check the next week, Chris called her up onto stage. Pulling her against his body, he’d kissed her tenderly before saying, “I’ve gotten used to you being around.” As she pulled away, he stammered something out, but she was already shoving past Jason and Will, refusing to listen to him.

Steve clapped his hand on Chris’s shoulder as the other man bowed his head and then smacked himself in the forehead. “You, my friend, have truly screwed it this time.”

“Fuck off, Carlson,” Chris replied. He shrugged off the hand and stepped away.

“Chris…think about Royal…what does she mean to you?” Steve asked as his friend started to walk away.

Word Count: 3684
Yes I plan to finish this

Tying Royal Up *working title
One of Royal’s hands dropped, cupping him inside his jeans. “Absolutely. It’s incredibly sexy that you’re cooking for me. Anything I can do?”

He swallowed. “Um, as much as I love your hand where it is…you can move it so I don’t burn dinner? And set the table? Food’ll be ready in about five minutes.”

Royal pressed a kiss to his back before squeezing him gently and moving away. He turned to look over his shoulder at her and smiled as she stretched up to get plates out of the near-by cupboard. “You put those up high on purpose, don’t you?” she asked as she caught him looking.

Chris tried for innocent as he turned back to the stir fry he had been working on. “Who me?”

Word Count: 250
Yes I plan to finish this.

Shopping On-Line *working title
“But you did, didn’t you?” Sarah demanded. “That’s why Chris knows how to do all this.” She was almost gleeful in her questioning. “Royal, I didn’t know you had it in you!”

Royal smacked her friend with a throw pillow. “Shuddup, Sarah!”

Claire broke in, obviously confused, “You didn’t know Royal would do something like that? Did you date Chris first or something? I mean how would you know…” she trailed off, unsure how much to ask the two friends.

Sarah and Royal exchanged glances, both of them settling down in the face of the more serious question. “No,” Sarah told her. “I haven’t dated any of the guys in the band. Mostly because it would be bad business.”

“And Steve’s too vanilla for her,” Royal cracked.

Sarah hit Royal lightly in the shoulder. “I’m sure that’s not what Claire wanted to hear.” She hurried to explain, “Most of the boys are too vanilla for me. But I honestly wouldn’t date any of them anyway.”

Word count: 939
Yes I plan to finish this one.

At the Show *working title that will probably stick
Royal batted at the annoying noise by her head before realizing it was Chris’s cell phone. Without opening her eyes, she fumbled around on the nightstand until she found it and flipped it open, bringing it to her ear. “What?” she mumbled.

“I’m really hoping that you’re answering Chris’s phone cause the dumb ass left it at the condo and not because he’s still there,” Steve’s voice responded.

Royal’s head jerked up at the comment and she looked at the clock. “Shit,” she blurted out.

“I gather that means he’s still there.”

“He’s on his way, Steve. Give him like I dunno…ten minutes or so. I promise. He’s coming.”

“Waaay more information than I needed, Roy. We were supposed to start the sound check fifteen minutes ago. Tell him he’s lucky it’s Sarah’s place.”

Word Count: 3927
I will finish this…it’s just like the story that never ends.


The Power of Kane and the Evil Hand *Working Title
“Someone wanna get his highness a pillow for his frozen ass?” Tim called.

“Bite me, Denton,” Chris called back as he shifted uncomfortably.

“Just…” Tim looked up and waved his hand. “Entertain yourself for a few minutes. It’s not like I’m trying to drag this out.”

“Entertain myself he says. Don’t move he says. Stay here he says. Cause if I screw up his shot he’ll have to do it over he says,” Chris grumbled.

“Stop bitching he says,” Tim added good-naturedly, laughing when Chris flipped him off. He turned back to his assistant as the girl pointed something out to him, then said, “Stand up and stretch if you want, Kane, it’s going to be a few extra minutes. But don’t leave the doorway.” Nodding at whatever the girl was saying in a low voice, he moved off in his ground eating stride as Chris scrambled to his feet.
Word Count: 659 (of what I’m keeping—there’s some stuff that I have cut out)
Yes, I plan to finish this.


Signs of the Apocalypse
“We need things she doesn’t stock. Like clothes and if we pick up a few shells or what have you, who’s to care? We can stop and stock up more next time we’re in JD’s neighborhood.” Dean nodded towards Sam’s pack. “What’d the book say?”

Sam shifted the pack so it lay more comfortably. “Yeah. So I’m thinking zombies,” he admitted.

“Zombies? Night of the living dead…brains, I want to eat your brains? Zombies?” Dean questioned, his voice taking on a dragging tone on the second sentence.

Word Count: 424
Yes, I plan to finish this.


Shooting Lessons *working title
John was frowning as he entered the room. At thirteen, he just reached Dean’s shoulder and Dean was pretty sure he would reach Dean’s height soon. “Did Uncle Sam get home? Or what? How come you don’t want me to take my boots off?”

“Cause we’re headed out back and you can’t walk through the fields in sneakers. And no, Sam isn’t home yet.” Dean glanced at the calendar on the wall. “He’ll be another two days at least.”

John’s frown got deeper at the gun in Dean’s hands. “Something wrong, Dad? I mean…Uncle Sam seemed to think the hunt was just routine. There weren’t any like signs or anything.”

“Nothing’s wrong, John. I just thought it was time.”

“Time?” John set his backpack down on the table. “What are you talking about?”

Dean heaved himself to his feet. The years were starting to take a toll on his body and he didn’t move as quickly or easily as he used to, but he could still do this. “You’re a Winchester, John. And there are certain things you need to learn. I didn’t want to do this; I tried to protect you, but…” Dean sighed. “I can’t wait any longer. You need to learn how to shoot.”

Word Count: 339
Yes, I’ll probably finish it…I had forgotten I had this.



Summer Catch fic *untitled
Dale ran a hand along the side of it. “Sixty-six?” he questioned, admiring the lines of the truck. “It’s in really good shape.”

She shook her head. “Sixty-four. And it better be. If I get so much as a speck of dirt on it, Chip’ll kill me.”

He tossed his gear bag in the back of the truck and walked slowly around it; his hands running reverently over the body as his mouth automatically began to spill the specs. “(add specs)”

As he completed his circuit and ended up next to her, she smiled up at him. “Wanna take a ride, tiger?” she asked, hooking a finger in his belt loop as he came close enough.

He crowded up against her, pressing her into the side of the truck. Nipping her bottom lip, he laid his lips on hers. Resting his mouth against hers, he braced his arms on either side of her body, keeping his body flush against her. Parting his lips, he ran his tongue across hers, but when she didn’t respond; he pulled away. “Appetizer?” he offered, grinning down at her. “I believe you said something about a greasy dinner?”

“Get in the truck, Robin. You’ll get your food. And maybe more. One step at a time.” She pressed against him, forcing him to back up or use his weight against her.
Word count: 2059
I dunno if I’m gonna finish this…I haven’t looked at it in a while. It’ll depend on if I get the urge to play with it.


Leave: Abigail’s Story
I accepted the towel from Monty as I stepped from the ring, grinning from ear to ear. “How bad is he?” I asked as I wiped my face and shoulders.

Monty glanced over his own shoulder. “I think you embarrassed him more than you hurt him. Ya gotta stop doing this, Abs.”

I tossed my towel over his head. “Stop being a spoil sport, Monty. It was fun.” I grinned up at him. “Lemme buy you a beer.”

“How about I buy both of you a beer?” a voice asked from behind us. “To congratulate you for beating the shite out of my friend. Not often that anyone gets the drop on him.”

I stood up and motioned for Monty to step behind me. “Sorry, but I don’t accept beers from guys I don’t know.”

“Well, I’m Nick Wright. And the guy you beat up is Sebastian Connors.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder to indicate his friend. “Now you know us. How about that beer?”

Word Count: 1669
Yes, I plan to finish this.


Another Year Older *working title
“I thought you were enjoying your little lambs?”

I grinned at her description of my single sixth grade class—since she had found one of my girls wandering the hall in tears because she was lost—she had referred to my whole class as my ‘little lambs’. “Oh I love them, but goddess save me from my eighth graders who know it all and ‘rule the school’.” I frowned as I realized she was still bubbly even at three pm on a Friday. “Where did you get all your energy?”

She waggled her water bottle at me. “I found the fountain of youth.”

Standing up, trying not to groan aloud at the pain that shot through my muscles, I reached out for her bottle. “What are you talking about?”

Missy leaned away, pulling the bottle out of my grasp. “Oh, no. If you want to know, you have to come out with me tonight.”

I sighed. “I’m too tired for your games.”

“Just a sip, but you have to come out with me. It’s a discovery you’ll never forget.”

I frowned, but accepted the bottle, tipping it up and taking a sip. A few moments later, warmth infused my body. “What is it?” I asked.

“Come with me to Dante’s tonight and you’ll see,” she answered.

Word Count: 400
Um…I don’t remember the plot? So maybe…


Alexandrine and Nick *working title
She moaned as their bodies collided, skin touching skin that had long been denied. Nick shrugged out of his shirt, guiding her backwards towards the bed; his hands seemingly everywhere at once as his mouth traced along her pulse point, drawing more moans from her. “I have a surprise for you,” she whispered as they hit the wood of his bed frame.

“Your arrival wasn’t enough?”

She giggled and pushed gently, tumbling him down onto the waterbed. Leaning down, she licked across the tattoo that encircled his belly button; remembering holding his hands as he got it inked two days after the first night they had made love. Straightening up, she reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the can sitting there. Dipping her fingers inside, she scooped out a dollop of frosting and smeared it across his chest. “Since you broke out when we tried the body paint, I thought we try this.” Climbing onto the bed, she straddled his hips and studied her canvas for a moment before painting him with more of the icing. Leaning down, she began to lick him clean.

Nick moaned as her tongue flicked across his nipple and he cupped her hips, pressing her down against him as he began to harden. “Please, Andrine,” he ground out. “No teasing.”

She rubbed the icing across his lips. “Not teasing, cher. You’ll get what you want…eventually.”

Nick groaned, but knew she wouldn’t budge from her decision. Alexandrine was a perfect lady; except in bed. He’d never had any reason to complain though because when he suggested something, she was normally eager to try it or give him her own ideas. Lacing his hands behind his head, he decided to allow her to play.

Word Count: 870
Yes, I’d like to finish this. A lot of my files have gotten lost in the shuffle of moving stuff on my hard drive…this was one of them.


Wild Wild West Innocent *working title
“Hey, kid!” a voice called and Jesse looked up from the calf he was wrestling into position. He glared at the hated nickname, but no amount of complaining had stopped it; in fact it had probably made it worse. “Stop trying to baby that thing. We wanna get this done so we can go into town.”

“Does he think I’m trying to make this last longer?” Jesse grumbled to William as they flipped the calf over and Pete pressed the brand against its skin.

“No, kid, he’s just trying to annoy you,” William answered, checking the mark. “It’s good.” They released the calf and both stood and stretched.

“That’s the last of them,” Pete called after glancing around the pen. “Come on, boys.”

Jesse pulled his gloves off after they climbed out of the pen, smacking them against his legs and raising a cloud of dust. He fell back as the other men gathered together, talking about going into town as soon as they cleaned up. William noticed he was missing and pulled him forward. “Come on, kid,” he invited. “We’re not leaving you behind.”

Word count: 185
If I can get myself re-focused on this…I’ll finish it. Based off a prompt that was given to me (and yes, I do remember this prompt)


Leave: Jack’s Story
“I’m sure scuttlebutt has informed you that we are having a formal reception this Friday.”

“Aye, sir,” I replied. I had been intending to switch patrols with another pilot but it was beginning to look like I wouldn’t get out of it after all.

“Our guests of honor are Senator Christopher Witherspoon from Pennsylvania, his wife, their daughter, and her two school companions. Senator Witherspoon has requested that I have three officers standing by to escort the girls and see to their wishes.”

“Sir, I’m a fighter pilot, not an escort. Don’t you think someone a bit more refined would be a better choice?” I protested.

“The Senator specifically requested fighter pilots as escorts for the young ladies.”

I groaned. “Why, sir? I mean depending on who ends up with the short straws, we could really create a diplomatic incident.”

The Admiral passed a data pad over to me. “My thought was you, your wingman Mitchell, and Lieutenant Andrew Goram.”

Word Count: 2456
Yes, I plan to finish this one


Leave: Samantha’s Story
I was three steps into the room when I was grabbed from behind. Reacting automatically, I slammed my foot into his instep. As he let go, I spun around, intending to knee him in the groin. I stopped when I recognized my captain and lover. "Sorry, Hayden," I apologized as he rubbed his foot.

"You're dangerous," he grumbled.

"You shouldn't sneak up on me," I returned. "Are you all right?"

He limped over to a chair and sat down before answering, "I think I'll live."

"I didn't expect to see you until after we docked."

Word Count: 2536
Yes I plan to finish this one…but I’m probably going to re-write it since I didn’t like the way it was going.


Leave: Tristan’s Story
“You don't have any right to wear clan insignia. You aren't Clan!”

I dodged the punch aimed at my head and grabbed his arm on the follow through, twisting it up and behind his back. A little applied pressure forced him up on his toes with a squawk. “My name,” I growled in his ear, “is Tristan Christopher Carter Golden Eagle. My father is Galen Carter.” I twisted harder. “The only outsider ever accepted by Golden Eagle. I suggest you get your facts straight before you fling accusations around.” I released him with a shove and turned to the other cadets. “Anyone else want to make an issue of it?” I demanded. I glared around the room until they all found other things to do.

One of the boys approached me after a minute. “You just made yourself a dangerous enemy,” he commented. Holding out his hand, he continued, “Harry Ellis.”

“Tristan Carter,” I replied, accepting his hand. “And I don't give a frell. I came to fly.”

“Kinda hard when you piss off a Senior Cadet,” Ellis pointed out.

“Well, shit,” I responded, spinning around to look in the direction he had disappeared. I knew the ranking pips, but hadn't really paid attention.

Word Count: 3076
Yes I plan to finish this…if I can ever fix my plot hole.


Leave: Galen’s Story
I felt my ship respond easily as I touched the controls, guiding it in an arc until I fell in behind my wingman and best friend, Christopher Eagle. "Hey, Chris, that was a pretty good run," I called over the conn.

I could almost see his eyes rolling as he responded, "Ninety-eight percent accuracy is not 'pretty good', Galen, and I told you to stop calling me 'Chris'."

"So what am I supposed to call you, oh high and mighty Clansman?" I replied, cutting my eyes over so I could see his fighter, just above and beyond me. While I waited for Christopher to reply, I ran my eyes over his plane. After a second, I nudged my ship closer. I was convinced the colored sparks coming out of the tail weren't supposed to be there, but we rarely flew in atmosphere so at first I thought maybe it was just a light from the gases igniting in the clouds.

I jerked my fighter left and away as something exploded at the back of Christopher's ship. "Frell!" I shouted. "Chris, what was that?"

My wingman's voice was remarkably steady when he answered me, "I just lost both engines, Galen."

Word Count: 2379 (but it’s fucked up because I started re-writing)
Yes I plan to finish this…I need to fix the plot holes on this also.

So wow…I have a lot more started than I thought…and I need to sort my files and figure out what I want/need to work on. Almost all of these have a lot more to them than what I posted here…but I need to decide what I want to work on and where I’m going from here.

In addition to these…I have a few prompts and ideas I want to work on:
A threesome story with Parker, Lindsey, and Eliot based off Kyra’s Opposite Images (with her permission)
A follow up to my Syfy’s Alice story from a few weeks ago
And I want to get back more to my original stuff

But I dunno where I’m going from here…this was interesting to see what I have…first I need to sort my files and delete duplicates…and finish some of this stuff.