#vss365 She massaged her jaw, trying to relieve the tension. A presence appeared at her shoulder, leaning in close. "You know you #clench your jaw in your sleep." His words were barely a whisper. She looked across at the others,but they hadn't noticed a thing. "You were watching me?" He just smiled.

#vss365 "What do you have there?" He smiled as her head jerked up in surprise, blinking at the sunlight behind him. He caught the cover and his eyebrow went up. "You're reading a #novel? I assumed it was some physics textbook. What's it about?" "Err," she looked at the mage nervously. "Magic."

Episode 12 of the free series about a fallen angel turned detective! Surely fists are going to fly between Kezia and her old boss the archangel Rafael? Or should that be wings fly? #fantasy #authors #reading #fiction #angels open.substack.com/pub/lexikoni...

#vss365 "Happy birthday." "Oh. Um, thanks." He hadn't realised she even knew when it was. "Do you do big parties in Avalon?" "I don't really do birthdays." "Oh, right, me neither really." Someone called his name and she slipped away while he was distracted. Leaving his #gift beside him.

#vss365 "You okay?" She didn't look up. "Fine." "You seem #distant." He sat down, trying to close the gap between them with anyone else noticing. "No." "Look, I'm sorry, earlier..." "You were right, I should stay in my lane." He slumped. She was further away than ever and he'd pushed her there.

#vss365 He used his full authority to deliver a #quietus to the argument, acting as if he were the commanding officer here. Her silence spoke volumes making him waver. He opened his mouth, looking for a way to soften his words but the damage was done. Her tone was guarded. "Yes Captain."

I love #taskmaster but seriously, the scoring is getting outrageous. Every season recently it seems someone is robbed and someone else gets more points than their tasks deserve. I know it's all silly and fun but that tshirt was hilarious.

#vss365 She stared at him, overwhelmed by an all #consuming need to touch him. Her mouth was open slightly, as she studied him, fascinated. Eventually, she reached out, her fingers mere inches from his chin. "What are you doing?" His voice was like gravel. "You have a beard. When? Why?"

#vss365 "All this technology, suddenly we be at the #dawn of a new age by now? The one we saw on all the old shows where we explore all of space a better, enlightened society?" She turned off the news, cutting off the reels of violence and replied, "Apparently the fiction part wasn't spaceships."

#vss365 He pulled her along, half stumbling down the hillside. "Get under the #deadfall." He pointed and urged her on. Her eyes widened as she looked back at him. "What?" "The bugs and ticks that could be in there..." "Well the things chasing us will definitely kill us, so hide yourself."

#vss365 "To err is human..." "Yes," she held up a hand, "but so is to learn. From facts, from history, from the #horrors right in front of us. But we never do, do we. We are doomed to repeat the mistakes of our past, and why? Because we can make mistakes, God forbid we ever learn from them."

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#vss365 Lyle leaned back against the bar, a smile on his face as his eyes drifted over the dance floor. One girl in a red number waved. " #Cradle snatcher," a voice muttered beside him. "Jealous?" He turned to the irritated woman beside him. "You're at least two hundred years older than her."

D12 locations II is live!!! Another awesome 12 maps from @ways-unseen.bsky.social and intro text and tables from me! Perfect for use in your #ttrpg plans! Anyway, head over to Ways Unseen's pages for info on how to get your digital copy, or if you're in the UK physical copies are available.

Got a new zine out, created with @lexikonical.bsky.social! It's a collection of 12 strange and unexpected locations; both collections can be grabbed as part of a bundle - link below!

#vss365 "I have to go back tomorrow." He felt her stiffen under the arm draped over her shoulders. "Just for a couple of days." "Ok." "What is it?" She just shook her head. He shifted, pulling her round to face him. "I will always come back to you, I swear. You and me, we're #evermore."

#vss365 "What happened?" Rowan looked up as Elena finally reappeared. "He glowered at me for ages." "No yelling?" "No." "Victory then." Rowan smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. "Not quite. He told me he was very disappointed in me before leaving." She sighed."I preferred it when he yelled at me."

#vss365 She watched the screen through the shop window. The news rolled round and telling of the world. Things changing, positions pivoting, rules are shifting by the ones with the money and power. They #gamble but it is the everyday people who fall into debt.

#vss365 "It's just gone #midnight." "So?" "It's a new day." He pulled the laptop away from her. "Time still turns, the sun will rise soon. Not solving this, has not stopped that. Yesterday was not successful, but today is still full of potential. Get some rest. The world will still turn."

#vss365 They told stories of the time before the second dark age. It was hard to believe mankind had been capable of such innovation and teamwork. No one could pinpoint why civilisation began to regress, #primitive fears and anger taking hold. It was a cautionary tale, they were doomed to repeat.

#vss365 They all watched, nodding along as society was built back up. They listened as they were told all the things that were wrong with the world, choosing what truths to believe. By the time they realised what had happened, there were only #remnants of the world they used to rely upon.

#vss365 She held the phone in her hand, staring at the inert screen. She'd hung up nearly an hour ago and ignored the subsequent angry callbacks and voicemails. "You ok?" She pulled her teary gaze up to him. "I think the #rift with my family is now officially a chasm. And I think I'm done with it."

#vss365 "No he didn't like me." Thos looked up as the two women entered. "You wouldn't spot #signals from a man if he wrote them down and threw them at you." Rowan stormed away. Elena sighed. "He was looking at her. They always look at her." "I'm sure that's not true." He smiled as she blushed.

#vss365 Eyes turned to her as she entered and then away again as if they were too afraid to look, too afraid to spook her. But when they did look she was sure she could see it, the silent #judgement. But no-one could know what she had nearly done, could they? She turned, fled. It was all too much.

#vss365 She sat on the wall watching everyone go about their business. "Having fun?" She jerked forward and grabbed the wall to steady herself. "I wanted to #immerse myself in your culture." "From the wall?" She peered up at him. "Well it's not easy when everyone refuses to talk to you."

#vss365 "I refuse to be #tethered," Lucas declared, refusing to remain still. "Cousin, you are the very epitome of it. You fight so hard against any kind of connection, against settling anywhere for a moment. It is as if you are tethered to the clouds, pulling you along like a puppet."

#vss365 Her thoughts were a jumbled mess: too many, too fast. Ever since he'd entered the room, it was like her brain had hit fast forward. Her eyes flitted eveywhere not daring to #linger on him too long in case he realised. Yet she couldn't tear her gaze away. And he was staring right back.

#vss365 The door slammed behind her, sealing her in the house; alone again. That blasted man. Every time she thought they were finding some kind of accord, he shunned her again. He really thought her capable of such #betrayal? IF he did, then they all thought it. And like that, she was alone again.

#vss365 "Dr Smith." She kept walking away and turned into the lab. "Elena!" He huffed and hurried after her. She turned as soon as he entered. "You made your point. We don't need to discuss it." "It wasn't my #intent to upset you." "You're just very good at it." He looked away. "I don't mean to be."

#vss365 The others rushed forward to his side as she held back. She could tell from here he was hurt; his face so pale it almost looked #luminous. Cuts and bruises made a patchwork of his torso. He groaned as they tried to pull him up. She gasped in relief: they hadn't lost him.

Kezia relives a painful memory in the latest episode of the angelic police drama series. Read for free on my substack!!! #fantasy #angels #writing #free #fiction #writing open.substack.com/pub/lexikoni...

#vss365 "Why are you working in your cupboard?" She squinted, the light casting him in a shadow as she gazed up from her cave. "Is Rowan out there?" "No." She could hear the smirk."Why are you hiding from her?" "She's decided my life is #barren and joyless and is trying to force me to go clubbing."

Fancy some game prompts? Ways Unseen drew some awesome little maps and I provided the wordsmithery! #ttrpg #fantasy #art Link tohis itch page in the comments.

#vss365 Rowan dragged Kae onto the karaoke stage as the others watched on. Thos chuckled to himself as his friend sang gloriously out of tune. But Elle was frowning again. "Do you allow yourself even a second of #unalloyed relief?" "How did they..." "Tomorrow Elena, we'll figure it out tomorrow."

#vss365 " #Diligence used to be a desirable trait." She gestured at the pile of work. "Now it's work harder, faster, smarter. Never better, never more carefully. They want twice as much and they want it yesterday." He gave his most dsarming smile. "So now is not a good time to ask for a favour?"

#vss365 He paused and peered across the grass quad. A bemused smile played on his lips before he wandered over to the bench. "I thought you weren't working late for once?" Her head jerked up from her book in surprise. "Oh, I... out here at #evenfall is pretty peaceful. I get restless home alone."

#vss365 The words tumbled out of her like they normally did, far too many and far too fast. She could feel their interest wane and they had all long stopped understanding. Eventually, she got quieter until she trailed off into silence. But there: he smiled. It was #fleeting but she had seen it.

#vss365 "Have you been to see her yet?" Rowan looked away, ashamed. "I went over there once, just before she went home." "That's it?" The judgement in his tone wasn't hidden but she accepted it. "She just looked so #haunted. I couldn't bear it." She closed her eyes so she didn't see the scorn.

#vss365 The mirror was not kind. She knew she wasn't conventional so she tried to lean into it. Be one of the cool #misfits: edgy and punk. All the clothes, the jewellery, all looked good. Yet the result was always the same: trying too hard, looking just wrong. It was safer to lean into the shadows.

#vss365 "Everything ok?" "Fine." "Convincing." He snorted and slid into the seat next to her. "I'm sorry I'm not all sunshine and #moonbeams like Rowan," she snapped. He almost laughed. "I wouldn't want you to be." He leaned in. "You're more like starlight, always leading me to safety."

#vss365 "Greetings #dear cousin!" Lucian threw an arm round Myles' shoulders and squeezed. "What do you want?" "You wound me, Sir." He held a hand to his chest. "Whatever it is, I'm not doing it or paying for it." Myles pulled himself away. Lucian grinned. "I'll make it worth your while."

#vss365 She could still feel the weight of his hand over hers, like a #phantom limb. He'd left hours ago, promising it would all be okay and he'd be back soon. She didn't breathe again til he walked back in the room like nothing had happened. Only then could her world start turning again.

#vss365 "Thank you!" Rowan threw her arms around Elle. It took her a moment to realise the other woman was completely stiff. "What's wrong?" "Sorry, you just surprised me." She tried to relax. Rowan laughed, "When was the last time someone hugged you?" She didn't like the silence that followed.

#UKelections Dear everyone, voting happens this week. Please just turn up! Apathy is a curse, you need to get out and vote. Do not assume everyone else will do what needs to be done. Do not assume that sense will prevail. Recent times have proven that is not so.

#vss365 "What's going on with you?" "What's that supposed to mean?" He threw up his hands. "Since when were you this apathetic about everything? Where's the righteous #fury gone?" She stood up to square up to him, her voice full of ice. "You must have taken it with you when you left."

We're taught to mask our #fury Womankind They say angry girls get left behind But up here on the shelf We're having a blast Reading books Making art Things that last- Longer than an awkward tumble Or a protracted daliance With an insecure fellow Seeking trad-wife romance #Vss365 #poem #writerslife

#vss365 "What #name are you using today?" "You make me sound like a spy." He harumphed at her as they waited in the reception area. "If it walks like a duck..." His eyebrow rose as he stared at her. "You have an alias, we're going in here get access to their computers and, well, look at your suit."

#vss365 "I'm a mouse not a #lion Thos. I can't go in there and be commanding. You should ask Rowan, she's much better at... you know." She gestured with her hand. "I do not." "Dealing with other humans,making them like her and not looking like a freak." Sighing, he shook his head. "You're no mouse."

#vss365 She held her breath, willing him to stand. Her hand hovered by the weapon: they wouldn't take him. At first there were only sparks: pure brilliant white flashes. Finally, he got to one knee, his power gathering round his hand. Wild #lightning flashed as he struck. Only then couldshe breathe.