Sunday Snippet: Yearly Vigil

Well, hello there, June. To be honest, considering it's only the second day of the month, June isn't starting off too badly. We're actually having a spring in Ohio and it's oddly unsettling. LOL

Not a bad week of television viewing. Finished up the second episode of Banshee and started on the third of the first season. I want to search around and see if the mini-episodes of the origin storyline are available. Definitely filled in some blanks.

Caught two additional episodes of Blue Heelers and started a third. I really do enjoy this show a lot.

I'm almost finished with Chicago Fire's seventh season. I'm up to episode eighteen. I loved the focus on luck and also the interaction with Severied and Foster. Great to see Donna again too.

Gotta say, I'm actually pretty satisfied with Iron Fist's season finale. Well, I guess it's more of a series finale and I freely admit that disappoints me. That said, I'm thrilled with the potential for what could have been the third season's story elements. Misty ended up in a good place even if she's not completely certain where her career is going to take her. Joy and Walker could have some terrific potential for figuring themselves out. Colleen, quite simply, kicks ass no matter what she does. But the best part is where Danny and Ward ended up… on the adventure of a lifetime to figure out what their roles are in the big picture of life. So… I would have been thrilled and happy as hell to have a third season but I'm very okay with how the show ended this iteration of itself.

Caught the camping trip episode of Classic Roswell. I remembered this one and Kyle's snark coming out if full force was so much fun. I also enjoyed the interaction with Jim and his dad. Considering the episode is all about fathers, it was a great piece of the puzzle.

Watched the second episode of Frankie Drake and enjoyed it. The show feels different this season and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I'll see how the rest of the season goes.

Caught another episode of Riverdale and, man, it's so… poignant to see Luke Perry on screen. Being behind like I am, I've had time to deal with the loss of the actor but I haven't had the chance to deal with losing the character on the show… because it hasn't happened yet.

Arrow's episode ended up being excellent! Nice to finally have Black Star's name and to know her relationship with Oliver, Felicity, and William. Have to admit, my heart kind of broke when William decided to leave with his grandparents. And… I'm going to miss this show so much when it's over!

Watched the penultimate episode of The Murders and it definitely didn't disappoint. I'm excited to see if this show returns. I'm crossing my fingers because I really love the cast and the storylines.

Discovered I didn't watch the penultimate episode of Painkiller Jane. I'd forgotten this had a full season of twenty-two episodes. I'm ready to see what else happens now.

Caught the third episode of Durham County and, yeah, still dark. I truly love the character dynamics and watching Mike kind of fail at holding shit together is compelling. There's a very fine line he has to walk to stay sympathetic and so far the actor is pulling it off.

Midsomer Murders had a good episode featuring Jones in a way I haven't seen him before. I like it. Looking forward to another episode this week.

Caught two more episodes of Peter Gunn and Classic Who. I started the Gunfighters arc and it's not bad at all.

Watched two episodes of In the Dark and both were excellent. Good to see more of Darnell's story and I really like the detective and the bartender maybe getting together. As usual, I'm on the fence with Murphy… just when I get so damn pissed off at her, she had a moment of clarity or remorse and shows her softer side. I'm definitely intrigued and can't wait for another episode.

Caught another episode of Blade and remembered it from the first time around. Watching Krista deal with her mom kind of kicked hard and watching Chase completely screw over the pureblood did not surprise at all. Just saying.

And that's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Yearly Vigil, a novella that got its start with a writing community prompt of "write a scene at a cemetery one year after a character's death".

Here's the mini-blurb:

Venessa Broyles makes a yearly vigil to the graveside of her former lover, Hamish Blesdale, where she runs into his best friend, Hogan Baird. What starts out as an awkward stroll down memory lane eventually brings two lonely souls together.

And a sneaky peek…

Venessa Broyles sat, dry-eyed, at the side of Hamish Blesdale's grave. I'm not worthy to be here. The refrain played over and over in her mind.

But Hamish had no family. And they'd been together three years. Other than a few of the officers in his company squadron and his best friend, no one else had a connection to Hamish.

Why did I send him on that op?

Because the quick jaunt to pick up a few stragglers on a remote space station constituted as a "milk run". Hamish and his three-man team deserved a low-risk mission after spending four months on a planet with hot battle skirmishes every day.

Too bad his team got ambushed by a marauding enemy ship looking to cash-in on the decommissioning of the space station. They fought for nothing because the skeleton crew had already offloaded all the equipment and data. Didn't stop the stupid foes from following the small shuttle and eliminating the ten souls aboard.

The chaplain cleared his throat and Venessa glanced up, surprised to find him directly in front of her. He held the flag of nations and slowly held it out to her.

Venessa balked. "No, please…" Why hadn't she thought of this?

Of course, they'd think she'd want the flag of her fallen lover. But she didn't. And she hated the awkward situation.

She nodded toward the man next to her. Hogan Baird. Hamish's best friend.

He sent her a sharp look but accepted the tri-cornered flag.

Venessa got up and walked to the edge of the ground where Hamish would be laid to rest. The attendants began lowering the casket and she fought the wave of guilt threatening to consume her.

It's my fault. It's my fault. It's my fault.

A large form moved to stand next to her and Venessa closed her eyes. Hogan must hate her. The scuttlebutt made the rounds. His best friend's significant other basically sent him to his death.

A fact Venessa struggled to comprehend even now. Almost a week later.

Hogan tucked the flag under his arm and saluted when the casket found its final resting place. Venessa followed suit then turned, unable to watch the grave being filled. The sun sparkled in the cloudless blue sky, the weather definitely not fitting her mood.

A smoky bar with a dingy décor should do nicely.

Hogan fell into step beside her. "Why did you refuse the flag, Venessa?" His cool tone took some of the brightness out of the day.

Venessa sighed. He could address her by rank. They were at a military funeral. She didn't want the personal connection they shared right now.

She ignored the question and stopped by her car, hoping he'd get the message and continue on.

He didn't.

He paused by the hood of the vehicle. "It's a simple question. Why did you refuse?"

A simple question with a complicated answer. One she didn't feel like diving into.

She met his cool gaze. "Why do you care?"

Venessa's guilt is going to be a tangible thing and Hogan isn't going to let her off the hook right away because of it. I'm having a lot of fun with writing these two.

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye