frogs_of_war

Yesterday I got my first Christmas present. My husband took the kids Christmas shopping, so I got to be alone in the house for a few hours (the first time in at least a month). I’m calling it a Christmas present because I was supposed to work, but I was told to take the day off. (And I agreed before I thought about how much I now wouldn’t be making.) So it was kind of an expensive present, but I enjoyed myself and I was able to get this chapter written.

Title: Home
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred forty-three of one hundred forty-three
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: a view, exploring, water, snowmelt, sketches, decisions, conspiring, company, adventure, the way, kisses, love
Length: about 1,200 words
Summary: Peregrine keeps PDA to a minimum. Kurt has ideas. And Emil is loved.

Master list

( What are you two conspiring about? )
The End.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/130943.html

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for all of you.

Title: Breaking Barriers
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred forty-two of 145?
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: boredom, a go between commission, six, complaints, running hot, a scream, questions and statements, laughter, painting, commentary, portraits, compliments, breaking through, symphony, center of the universe, invitation, protection, food, confession
Length: about 3,300 words
Summary: Peregrine has a long, but fruitful evening.

Master list

( Who would buy this? )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/130403.html

I read the numbered novels by Janet Evanovich a while back. ( book rant )Do I really want to read a book by an author who thinks that’s funny?

Title: Keeper of the Keys
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred forty-one of 145?
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: excitement, friends, love, introductions, tours, joy, someone, all of the above, a production, arm candy, running hot, cold, gallantry, coffee, together
Length: about 2,900 words
Summary: Emil looks pretty. Kurt plays knight. And Peregrine has the time of his life.

Master list

( No bed is warmer than ours )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/130171.html

I've attempted to listen to two books on CD this week that I just didn't like well enough for disc 2. Both had too many "What is he doing, she wondered" instead of just "What was he doing?" the extra words distance the reader and I felt like I was being constantly clobber by one of those squeaker hammer every time I got interested. Plus some facts were being deliberately hidden. Rather than something getting in the way (a change of subject, loud noise, or other interruption) so thing weren't said or thought, the author pretty much stated that she wasn't going to tell. But theses are things I can overcome if the characters are interesting enough.

But in the first book the lady reading it gave the female lead an annoying whiny voice and then it turned out to be about horse racing. I am no fan of horses (which is funny as I spent my life trying to be as feminine as I could and girls are supposed to like horses) and I'm even less a fan of the race track. So that one got deleted from my phone. In the second book the male lead pretty much explains how he wants to rape the female lead, but as he's supposed to be broken and he doesn't actually do anything, I could almost forgive him/the story, but then the couple have sex and when he wakes up she lies to him about it (he had a fever at the time), which made me lose what little sympathy I had for her. I deleted that too.

Title: Pressing Concerns
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred forty of maybe 145
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: a call, information, mail, an offer, beautifying, kisses, saying hello, making dinner, facts, home, dessert, plans, truth, dinner, the past, invitations, love
Length: about 3,400 words
Summary: Emil is polite, mostly. Peregrine is confident. And Kurt states the facts.

Master list

( Is she in one of her moods? )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/129295.html

Does anyone know the etiquette for posting something original to AO3? I just got an account, but all the FAQ have to do with fanfics. My daughter says there’s original stuff on there, but the tag Original Work seems to be used with tags for series as often as not and Original Characters seems to be when people are added to an established story.

I’d like to get my stuff to a slightly wider audience, especially now that FP doesn’t do alerts (or at least I haven’t got once since August), but I’d like to at least pretend I know what I’m doing.

Title: Unwelcome Visitor
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred thirty-nine of a few more
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: painting, doorbell, demands, introduction, art, rushing, coffee, plans, declarations, kisses, interruption, family, the past
Length: about 3,200 words
Summary: Peregrine comes face to face with the woman who ruined his life. Emil can get on with anyone.

Master list

( Peregrine was going to drive her crazy. )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/128981.html

Now that my boss is back, everyone wants me to learn to be a floral manager. During my brief stint I gained back ten pounds of my hard last weight (and right before my annual weighing. I’m now right on the edge of having to pay nine more dollars a week for health insurance. This time last years I lost four pounds.) Being that stressed out is not good for my health. And I couldn’t even complain about it if I chose to do it.

If someone asks me (the floral manager, store manager, and district manager talked about this while I was at lunch), I’ve decided to tell them to ask again after my first book is published. (The answer will still be no, but they aren’t listening to my current no.) This is the book I’ve been working too much to rewrite. Free time ahead. Please.

On a totally different note, ( henna ) the whole process wasn’t nearly as big of a deal as I’d read.

Title: Waylaid
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Picture story
Genre: m/m/m romance, fantasy
Rating: PG
Content: hunger, a follower, searching, sadness, sunset, will-o-the-wisp, a beautiful man, compliments, need, worry, longing, screams, interruption, invitation, warmth, greed, another bite, questions, breakfast, answers, home
Length: about 1,800 words
Summary: Evgeni looks for sustenance. Pepik longs for something he can’t have. And Kaelan finds home at last.
Notes: from painting mentioned in chapter 10. This is the picture I first got the idea to write a story about.
Evgeni - (yehv GYEH nee) - incubus
Pepik - (puh PEEK) - fawn
Kaelan - (KAY lahn) – farmer/ beast

Master list

Evgeni surveyed the sleeping humans. He was still hungry. If six strong, virile men couldn’t fill him up with their lust, then who could?

( Sometimes impatience is a virtue. )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/128593.html

My boss is back! Twenty hours a week, but that is so much better than not at all.

Before she actually returned, I got stressed, worried about whether I would go from too many to too few hours. But the day she came back, everyone commented about how happy and relaxed I looked. Now we just need to figure out what I do and what she does, so nothing slips through the cracks. I felt good enough, knowing she'd be there, to take a three day weekend.

I may come in to a mess on Monday, but I'm going to enjoy the break.

Title: Two guardians
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Picture story
Genre: m/m/m romance, fantasy
Rating: R
Content: running, exhaustion, hunger, ideas, power, waking, flowers, smoke, a decision, will-o-wisp, safety, complaints, an argument, a dream, warmth, a welcome, joining, food
Length: about 2,900 words
Summary: Éimhín is running and he has two invisible spirits looking out for him.
Note: From a picture mentioned near the end that is based on a picture on my wall. If I can think of a better title, I'll change it.

Éimhín – eh Veen
Kliment – Klee ment
Pim — pim

Master list

Éimhín glanced behind him. He couldn’t hear the dogs or see the soldiers, but he knew they were there, in the forest somewhere. They couldn’t miss his trail. His palace slippers had worn out days ago and since then he’d left a trail of flowers in his wake.

( His gift never felt so much like a curse )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/128315.html

This story didn’t turn out as angsty as I planned and the ended came as a complete surprise even though I had an outline. If you’d like to see how different it is from what I planned, go here.

I came across a word new to me. Toxophilite. I like the extra it in the end. Everything seems to be –phile. It’s nice to have a slightly different suffix.

And because I forgot to ask before, it it possible for a king of the merfolk/sea people to have a footma?. I really wanted to write footman in the Andromeda story, but none of them have feet.

Title: Inches from Paradise
Series: Picture story
Genre: m/m romance,
Rating: PG
Content: angst, dawn, resolve, no embarrassment, memory, mud, dirt, the whip, pain, heat and cold, more pain, despair, mud, wild-goose-chase, annoyance, politeness, abuse, a deal, a tarp, a contract, goodbyes, swindled, water, music, home, chores, fire, food, warm water, coddling, advise, growing, warm bed, temptation, unforgiveable, questions, responses, answers, giving in, demands, morning, gossip, party, happiness
Length: about 3,200 words
Summary: Kip has led a hard life and he isn't about to lose Proctor.
Notes: from painting in chapter 34.
Kip(Kipling), Proctor
No Emil in this one.

Master list

Proctor avoided looking at the bed as he put on his clothes. Last night proved yet again he wasn’t the man he wished he was. The sky was brightening with a new dawn. Today he’d do better. Tonight… Tonight he’d give in to his baser instincts like last night and the night before.

( You've seen it all before )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/127970.html

I heard about a recent wedding that was outdoors (or the reception was) and the couple had tents put up on the lawn a ways from the celebration so couples could sneak away (my head added “in twos and threes” and my muse grinned). This was an after-college-everyone-return-to-your-hometown wedding, so many of the people guests hadn’t seen each other since high school. So who were the tents actually for? Established couples? High school sweethearts that drifted apart? (I’d love to hear the conversation where the guy tells his fiancée that he needs a few minutes to get reconnected to his high school girlfriend and see what drink the fiancée pours on him.) Or singles with people they couldn’t get the nerve to ask out in high school?

This was told to me by someone doing the flowers, who was also the mother of one of the guests. She was unimpressed and scandalized (her son is in a long term relationship and she didn’t see them near the tents, which eased her worry). I saw story potential. Hopefully I’ll remember this when I have time to write.

And my baby name site changed its format so I can no longer jump pages when looking at 1,234 words at 30 names a page. And it took me forever to find the meaning-lookup button. And some of the names are gone. Grr.

Title: Farewell
Series: Picture story
Genre: m/m/m romance, Ancient Persian
Rating: R
Content: wind, invasion, fear, foulness, laughter, hope, pleading, agreement, begging, despair, names, an audience, effort, questions, a dispute, a command, fighting, chaos, cleaning up, annoyance, a farewell, temptation
Length: about 1,300 words
Summary: Emanat remembers the day he met his lover and started his new life.
Note: From picture mentioned in Harmonies chapter 92.

Emanat (ah MAH naht)
Khursheed (KHUR sheed)
Parvaiz (par VAZE)

Master list

Emanat leaned against the stone balcony and let his scarlet robe blow open in the wind. Khursheed would love the view, but Khursheed and his men were marching through the city on their way to adventures. They would visit far off places, fight battles, and bring home treasures. Emanat had been one of those treasures not long ago.

( Please )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/127396.html

According to my mother, my niece is as happy as can be, which relieved some of my worry. But according to my dad, the place she lives might have mold in the walls. I sure hope it doesn't.

Title: Andromeda on the Rock
Series: Picture story
Genre: m/m/m romance, Ancient Greece
Rating: PG
Content: urgency, need, sacrifice, longing, arranged marriage, politics, art, pomp, speeches, duty, ropes, fear, hope, freedom, rescue, despair, heaven, nightmares, exploring, laughter, heartache, gifts, homesick, anguish, a knife, introductions, tears, accommodating, misunderstanding, cuddles, invitation, bets, plans
Length: about 4,000 words
Notes: Based on the painting described in chapters 74 and 81, but totally separate.
Summary: Philon wants his prince. Endymion gives up hope. And Kirill’s dreams come true.

Philon — Fee lohn
Endymion — en Dim ee un
Kirill — kee Reel

Master list

Philon looked out over the water. The sea was blue and the sky was almost purple with big fluffy clouds and enough wind that the ship raced along. But he couldn’t get home soon enough. He’d made his fortune, like he promised he would when he left home, but would the man he loved be free to marry him, now that Philon was finally rich enough to court a prince?

The first mate stepped up beside Philon. Didn’t he have work to do? The man was odious. “You’re Philon of Saphyros, fighter of monsters? I heard you beat a hydra. I don’t believe that.”

( How could Endymion not make that sacrifice? )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/127041.html

To try to get my mind off things I can do nothing about, here's a story.

Title: The King’s Dilemma
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Picture story
Genre: m/m/m romance, alternate universe, Medieval Asia
Rating: R
Content: a unwanted gift, comfort, pacing, questions, logic, pain, food, sleepiness, sounds, a gentle hand, words, a plan, action, translation, despair, a speech, introduction, a broken heart, more questions, begging, answers, an invitation, pleasre, happiness, a battle won
Length: about 3,300 words
Summary: When their enemy backs them into a corner, the king’s adviser has to break his own heart to save the day.
Notes: Based on the painting described in Breve at Pleasures.

Priam = Pry am
Eshan = Esh an
Konur = Kohn ur

Master list

Priam kept his face neutral in front of the Artatam ambassador. The man was up to something. Artatam and Madhyadeśi hadn’t been on friendly terms for three hundred years and their relations had grown even dicier since King Eshan’s grandfather had banned slavery, the so-called trade that brought Artatam most of its money.

( Will you accept it? )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/126759.html

I’m so tired (and I’ve only worked three days out of what may be a nine day stretch) that I can’t blog about any of the things that have been on my mind recently (like this book I listen to that started out wonderful and then was suddenly a story I wish I’d had in book form so I could throw it at the wall).

Title: Heaven
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred thirty-eight of one hundred thirty-eight
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: home, water, condescension, skinny ribs, easing, worship, remedy, relief, apology, rings, designs, attention, veggies, cooking, food and fun, joy, paint, humming, invitation, a plan, attention, a good life. The End.
Length: about 3,700 words
Summary:. Peregrine works on being a better man. Kurt feels pride. And Emil is in heaven on earth.

Master list

( Home was heaven )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/126295.html

Yesterday I came across the item “Russian housewife fitted with good working instruments” as something that all ladies of 1889 should take when traveling. I really want to know what it is (I think the Russian part isn't the important part. Other items were Russian ink and a Russian writing desk), but how do you Google something like that? Especially if you’re a little squeamish like me.

Title: Stoppered Words
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred thirty-seven of 142ish + sides
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: stoppered words, shared shower, despair, confusion, no words, restful sleep, muddling through, tears, a vow, one thing, worry, a long trip, important thing
Length: about 1,700 words
Summary: Peregrine can’t get his words out. Emil doesn’t understand. Kurt shares well.

Master list

( We are both the boyfriends )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/126136.html

It turns out that one of the customers who does a lot of special orders at our store (flowers, steaks, lobsters), but never shows up when he says he will (he said Thursday afternoon but came on Saturday), is the founder of a worldwide company and a multimillion- (or even billion-)aire. So I guess the answer to “if you could live anywhere…”, at least for one man, is my little neck of the woods.

And the end is in sight for Harmonies. It will have about 150 chapters depending on how many side/pictures stories and epilogues it has after it. If you have something you’d like to see let me know.

Title: Rights
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred thirty-six of about 150
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: dinner, interruption, argument, a quick escape, waking, tears, worry, homecoming, comfort, breakfast, dizziness, hunger, getting help, fixation, a disagreement, interrupted
Length: about 3,000 words
Summary: Kurt gets an urgent call. Peregrine has an idea. Emil argues.

Master list

( I'm not going anywhere )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/125864.html

I am so tired…

I listen to an item about jobs being automated and my job never could. People will always want flowers. Yesterday I helped a woman who spoke broken English (her daughter spoke better, but spelled like twelve year old) express what she wanted to say on the complimentary cards. It boiled down to “that’s for choosing [business]”. She said that’s what she meant, but that in Spanish you use more words (she had something about quality of service, but I couldn’t figure out how to add it). She apologized all over for making me work, but dealing with people, helping people, is one of the parts of my job I love best.

Off to work.

Title: Uncomfortable Chatter
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred thirty-five of lots
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: Christmas, breakfast, a discussion, worry, awkward conversation, interruptions, allies, lunch, pain, awakening, never letting, go, an invitation, heat, searching, despair
Length: about 3,100 words
Summary: Kurt negotiates family. Emil gets sicker. And Peregrine connects the dots.

Master list

( I wish I were a third cousin )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/125492.html

Being told I am doing a good job running the floral department (once a great job considering I was working the department alone) and that I was trusted (which I totally didn’t expect) and given thanks over and over for stepping up is all very nice, but when my already too thin hair falls out when I wash it and I gain the weight back that I worked so hard to lose, I wish I was the unreliable type.

Title: Overwhelming Family
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred thirty-four of maybe 150
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: ache, goodbyes, mother, crazy driving, gossip, painting, dinner, illness, interest, aggravation, bedtime, family, pain
Length: about 2,400 words
Summary: Kurt goes home. Peregrine is hard at work. And Emil doesn’t get better.

Master list

( What kind of crazy man does that? )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/125302.html

I’m reading body language books (only half way through the first one) to help define Kurt’s father for his story (I want him to be able to read people — except the man he loves) and I’m finding the action tags ( “[quote]” K stroked E’s neck) easier to write.

Of course last time I read one of these books (about gestures when people are attracted to each other), I read Havemercy by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennet (which I recommend) right afterward. One character uses all the body language to show that he’s in love with an arrogant bastard, who turns out to be his long lost older brother. Later my daughter read that originally the two were going to be a couple, but two gay couples were one too many for someone. But Thom spends the sequels being just as in love with his brother.

Title: Sharing
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred thirty-three of gobs
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: exhaustions, worry, rings, an idea, feast, dread, pain, comfort, insight, waking, painting, incorrigibleness, a promise
Length: about 2,200 words
Summary: Emil listen. Peregrine hurts in an effort to help. And Kurt coaxes Peregrine into bed.

Master list

( You to bow to her ever whim )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/125144.html

I realized yesterday I hadn’t been home when I wasn’t exhausted or sick in over a week as I got ready for yet another day trip. I like day trips, but this year our two week vacation became one week, so in order if fit most of our trips in we had to get rid of the rest days between. Then yesterday after a trip to the gorge, when we were about four miles from home, our car protested and died.

The kids and I and my daughter’s boyfriend walked home the long way through the trees past water fountains and bathrooms and not the quick, direct way without either. It was over 85° (29.4°C). This also put us at one point not far from the library where my kids decided to rest up with the bags as the boyfriend and I walked the last two or so miles back to the house. Then he went and got them.

Turns out there is nothing wrong with the car. It drove fine to the garage after a 45 minute rest and started fine today. Maybe the car was just as tired and cranky as the rest of us. Today is a rest day for both us and the car. And we decided not to go to the coast tomorrow, just in case the car acts up again.

Title: Party, part JJ
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred thirty-two of many
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: leaving, goodbyes, recharge, another guest, small talk, hard questions, a long night, determination, a hug, good night, a request
Length: about 3,000 words
Summary: Kurt sends the last of the guest on their way and Peregrine gets the kids in bed, but the night isn’t over yet.

Master list

( Sounds like fun, but not as much as we have planned )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/124653.html

This is a tearjerker of a chapter, so afterward you might want to head over to the new S2B2 issue and read Now It Can Be Told, which is truly everything a story should be. One of the illustrations is NSFW, so read with care if you aren't alone. But read.

Title: Party, part 8 (next to last)
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred thirty-one of hopefully not too many more
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: a kiss, an annoyance, firmness, a request, an audience, explosion, comfort, solidarity, winning, goodbye, playing host, yawns, cleaning, sleep, well trained, defensiveness, tears, hope
Length: about 4,000 words
Summary: Kurt wins. Emil falls asleep. And Peregrine breaks a heart.

Master list

( It just doesn’t make sense )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/124206.html

Today was supposed to be my last day of work before two weeks vacation, but a few days ago the floral manager was rear-ended so hard that the other car push her over two lanes an onto an exit. Yesterday she was diagnosed with a severe concussion and won’t be at work next week. No one can work next week (our third is also on vacation and the holiday helpers are all busy in other departments). So I volunteered.

But I’d been counting down the days (some of which have been awful). I’m back to eight days to freedom.

Title: Party, part 7
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter one hundred thirty of lots
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: a little guest, introductions, arrivals, compliments, teasing, ads, elevator, dancing, more guests, a brief introlude, relief, goodbyes, games
Length: about 3,200 words
Summary: Peregrine’s friends arrive. Kurt has his lap full. And Emil is surprised by pleasure.

Master list

( Why is he here? )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/123731.html

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frogs_of_war

the dawning of the rest of our lives

Entries tagged with three

A Balance of Harmonies: Home

A Balance of Harmonies: Breaking Barriers

A Balance of Harmonies: Keeper of the Keys

A Balance of Harmonies: Pressing Concerns

A Balance of Harmonies: Unwelcome visitor

Story: Waylaid

Story: Two Guardians

Story: Inches from Paradise

Story: Farewell

Story: Andromeda on the Rock

A Balance of Harmonies: Picture Story: The King's Dilemma

A Balance of Harmonies: Heaven

A Balance of Harmonies: Stoppered Words

A Balance of Harmonies: Rights

A Balance of Harmonies: Uncomfortable Chatter

A Balance of Harmonies: Overwhelming Family

A Balance of Harmonies: Sharing

A Balance of Harmonies: Party, part JJ

A Balance of Harmonies: Party, part 8

A Balance of Harmonies: Party, part 7

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