Sunday Snippet: Personal Involvement

Ugh. A long week again. At least it was more about recovery than ongoing crises. Had a flurry of work projects come in and I'm glad to have some new stuff to dive into.

Had a short week of television viewing. I started with The Brokenwood Mysteries and quite enjoyed the episode, which featured sharks and spiders and I'm not a huge fans of either so there's that.

Finished up an episode of Blue Heelers and started another one. I'm kind of amazed how themes from almost twenty years ago are even more prevalent today. The episode focuses on colonization and theft of indigenous artifacts. Very interesting.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness. I remembered bits of this one but not all of it. Should finish up the second part this week.

Caught the second to last arc of season 18 of Classic Who. The Master has returned and I'm pretty sure he'll be then end of Four. Sometimes I like not remembering how and when the regenerations occur.

Finished up UFO Witness and enjoyed the series overall. I'll be starting a new series this week but haven't decided what it'll be yet.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Helen Reddy and Harry Belefonte were the guest stars. I really enjoyed Harry's episode.

Started a rewatch of Prime Suspect. I'd forgotten how thoroughly asshattish the men were toward Jane in the early seasons. I wanted to kick all of them in the balls.

Finished out the week with Peak Practice. Can't say I'm a big fan of Will's lady friend but I can't quite put a finger on why I'm not fond of her. Overall a good episode.

That's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Personal Involvement, a novella with family drama and a hot romance in spite of it.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tarin Glade gets caught up in a nightmare when she's brought before a disciplinary council for her personal involvement with a student who failed basic flight. When Ellis Spector, the brother of the complainant, speaks on Tarin's behalf, it rocks the foundation of his family—especially since the commandant who brings the charges is Ellis's father.

And a sneaky peek…

Tarin Glade carefully counted down the minutes before she'd call her class to order. She loved teaching basic flight—even if she gave some of the old-timers heart palpitations with her unorthodox teaching methods. Someone needs to bring the curriculum into this century.

Her lips twitched. "Bet the fab four are even now going over my course material to see if they can find fault." The group of flight instructors used to be five men, but one of the old buzzards finally had to retire.

Fresh from the new instructor program, Tarin entered the school and set the fab four on their asses with an accelerated class schedule that put the students in simulators by the second week. The old guard battled back and beginning with her third class—the one she'd start in two minutes—she had to wait until week three to put her cadets in the cockpit.

Flipping open the roster, she started to run down the names of her newest recruits. Commotion at the door drew her attention and her mouth dropped open when her current flame, Eddie Spector, strolled into the room.

She snagged the file, jumped up, and cut him off before he cleared the back row of desks. "What are you doing here?" Her voice hissed between her lips.

Eddie smirked. "Hey, babe. I'm reporting to class."

She grabbed his arm and dragged him into the hall outside the classroom. "You're not in my class. And don't call me babe anywhere on campus. Ever." She hated the endearment and absolutely wouldn't tolerate anything resembling that kind of familiarity while Eddie went through training.

Eddie waved a piece of paper. "I'm definitely in your class." He nodded toward the folder tucked under her arm. "Check your roster, ba—er, Lieutenant. I'm there."

Sure enough, when she reviewed the names, Eddie's took up the bottom space on the page. Her heart sank. She couldn't have her significant other in her class—even if she regularly thumbed her nose at propriety.

Folding her arms over her chest, she shook her head. "This can't happen, Eddie. You're going to have to switch instructors." How in the world did he think this could work?

Eddie's lips formed a pout. "I can't switch now. I specifically requested you."

Her face flamed with anger. "Are you insane? Why would you think it was a good idea to request the person you're dating as your instructor?"

Eddie's mouth twisted into a grin. "Because I can earn all kinds of extra credit when I'm not in class."

The anger bloomed into red-alert status. "Geez, Eddie. No. No. Get your ass out of this building and think about what you just said. There's no way I'm going to let you into my classroom." She'd be stupid if she did.

"Is there a problem here?"

Her head angled around and she met the questioning gaze of Eddie's brother, Ellis.

Can this day get any worse?

I love writing family dynamics and Ellis is going to jump head-first into a hot mess between Tarin and his brother and the outcome might not be pretty.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Personal Involvement

April 29, 2018

I'm amazed we're at the end of April. I think because the weather has been so winter-like in Ohio, it doesn't feel like we should be four weeks away from summer vacation. Even yesterday, the chilly weather felt more like a warm winter day than spring. LOL

At least the ramp up to season-enders on television seems to be worth staying inside for. That said, I have to play catch-up. The lead up to the school musical took a lot of time this week along with several editing projects.

I'm almost finished with Blindspot's second season. I have one more DVD to watch. My only complaint would be how slippery Shepherd continues to be. I truly hope the takedown is worth watching and, you know, actually happens.

I'm catching some new to me episodes of Midsomer Murders and I'm excited to see what else Acorn TV has to offer. Also caught an episode of Chicago Fire and Chicago PD and enjoyed both. Nice to Casey move up the rank chain. Also great to have Antonio back at District 21.

I'm up to episode nine of Jessica Jones. So far, the second season has been a little slower than the first, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's given me time to really, really want to bitchslap Trish. I haven't decided how I feel about that yet. Usually it's Geri I want to smack really hard. LOL

Finally got to watch the musical episode of Riverdale. Watching Cheryl get her groove back? Excellent. I'm kind of on the fence about Hal and Alice. I had some investment in FP maybe finding some happy moments, you know? Archie and Fred being kind of on the same page made me happy, along with Betty and Veronica burying the hatchet. The ending though? Wow. Definitely some twisty shit.

I like Krypton. Seriously, the pacing is terrific so far with backstory being woven in with current plots moving forward. So far, so good. Also caught another episode of Ghost Squad and I'm a little on the fence with this one. The end of the episode threw me a little.

Endeavor is keeping my interest. I rather like seeing how Frost grew into his big shoes. Also started a subscription to BritBox and watched The Coroner. Really terrific first episode.

Today, I'm catching up on The Flash and hopefully Arrow. Also started Constantine: City of Demons. I'm gearing up for the character to be a regular on Legends next season.

That's it for television. Tonight's post is from Personal Involvement, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of writing a scene set around a disciplinary hearing.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tarin Glade gets caught up in a nightmare when she's brought before a disciplinary council for her personal involvement with a student who failed basic flight. When Ellis Spector, the brother of the complainant, speaks on Tarin's behalf, it rocks the foundation of his family—especially since the commandant who brings the charges is Ellis's father.

And a sneaky peek…

Ephram threw up his hands. "I just don't understand what you see in that woman. She ruined our family." He paced back and forth in front of the fire.

Ellis sighed. "No Dad, she didn't. That woman saved it." Why couldn't his father see what Tarin had done? "If you want to hold someone responsible, look at Eddie. Then look at me and you." He waved his hand between them. "We let him breeze through life too much and never held him accountable." Pinning his dad with hard stare, Ellis dared the man to deny the facts on the ground. "I'm guilty and so are you. That woman, Tarin, has more honor than the three of us put together. She didn't back down, didn't take your shit, and didn't even tell the court Eddie broke up with her. All to save my family name." Which happened to be Ephram's, too. "She recognized Eddie's lack of commitment and did what she had to do. She might use unorthodox methods to teach, but she's got the courage to back it up. And I've got news for you, Dad. She's got the balls to match that courage." He snorted out a laugh. "Anyone who can stand up to you and come away unscathed definitely has a brass set." And Ellis would Tarin against his dad any day.

Ephram's lips thinned. "Well, you helped out a little there, didn't you?" His voice lacked its usual censure though.

Ellis nodded. "You're goddamned right I did. You had no business butting in and trying to strong arm her into playing it your way." He moved to stand beside his dad. "If you took two seconds to talk to her first, you'd have saved everyone from the fiasco of a tribunal. But you did what you always do—charge forward with your guns blazing—and it backfired this time." Ellis wouldn't even get into what Eddie had done, taking a page from Ephram's book and trying to stack the deck by dating Tarin.

Ephram sighed. "Yes, it did. There's a very good chance I'll never make admiral now." The elder Spector gazed into the flames.

So, not the point, Dad. But Ellis would fight that battle another day.

Ellis put a hand on his father's shoulder. "There's also a good chance if you stop being a horse's ass, you could. Get over it." Or go down in flames.

Ephram's record should speak for itself once the sting to his ego went away.

Ephram angled his head toward Ellis. "You really have it bad for her, don't you?" A hint of resignation crept into his tone.

Ellis only waited a beat before answering. "Yeah, I think I do." He slid his dad a sideways glance. "And I don't give a shit if you have a problem with it. She's the best woman I've ever met and I mean to let her know that as often and frequently as possible." And show her… in a myriad of different, hopefully erotic, ways.

Ellis waited for the inevitable lecture about picking the wrong woman and how horrible Eddie would treat Tarin.

It didn't come.

After a quiet moment, Ephram sighed. "Then I wish you luck. You're gonna need it, I think." He slapped Ellis on the back and chuckled.

Ellis flashed a smile and returned his gaze to the fire. His dad's unexpected seal of approval gave Ellis hope. But the toughest challenge lurked in the shadows.

Keeping Eddie from trashing everything.

This one is still in the beginning stages, but I love the dynamic between the Spector men. Family drama is so much fun. LOL

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Personal Involvement

Hi!

Okay, I can't discuss Strike Back just yet, but I will say I love shows where NOBODY is safe. Speaking of no one being safe, Sons of Anarchy returns Tuesday and I'm ready to start marking the death toll. LOL

Now for something a little less morbid. J Tonight's post is from Personal Involvement and features one of my favorite angsty set-ups…personal involvement in the military and the fallout that smacks the characters in the face. J

Here's the tagline:

Tarin Glade gets caught up in a nightmare when she's brought before a disciplinary council for her personal involvement with a student who failed basic flight. When Ellis Spector, the brother of the complainant, speaks on Tarin's behalf, it rocks the foundation of his family—especially since the commandant who brought the charges is Ellis's father.

And a sneaky peek…

Ellis rose from his spot behind Tarin and strode to the docket. "Admiral Chekwick, Ellis Spector for the defense."

The admiral blinked and cocked his head. "Just a moment, Lieutenant Spector, you're here to give testimony on behalf of the defendant?" He shuffled the pages in the file folder. "But your brother is the complainant."

Ellis gave a terse nod. "Yes, Admiral."

Chekwick lifted a brow. "Care to explain that one, young man?"

Ellis heaved an inward sigh. "Sir, Ensign Glade, upheld her sworn duty. She recognized a lack of true commitment on Cadet Spector's part and wouldn't forward him on to the qualifications test." He paused. "She did this in spite of being under pressure from Commandant Spector to send his boy to earn his wings."

Ellis kept as much heat out of his voice as he could and prayed he'd succeeded.

The admiral studied Ellis. "You have strong feelings about this."

He made it a statement, but Ellis clarified. "I have strong feelings about my brother's life—which Ensign Glade saved by not passing him." He glanced toward his brother. "Regardless of the cost to her career, she wouldn't cave on her decision."

The admiral's mouth thinned to a straight slash across his face. "Lieutenant, are you daring to assume you know the outcome of this tribunal?"

Ellis shook his head. "Quite the contrary, Admiral. I'm speaking solely about the fact she'll suffer a black mark on her record whether she's cleared here or not." Ellis shot his father a direct look.

The admiral took notice. "Your old man has a lot of pull, Lieutenant."

Ellis nodded. "Yes, Sir, he does. And he's earned every bit of it." He stopped there, keeping his tone respectful.

The admiral's lips quirked. "He has. Let's hope he chooses to use that sway to the betterment of Ensign Glade's career instead of making it detrimental."

Ellis wanted to pump his fist in the air. Tarin would walk away from the tribunal free and clear. And the admiral basically laid it out for the old man. Don't screw with her—even commandants can earn black marks.

Checkwick asked an additional question. "Lieutenant, can you confirm, for the record, that the break-up between Ensign Glade and Cadet Spector has nothing to do with the flight qualifications?"

An unexpected turn, and possibly a tricky situation to avert. Ellis took a moment and gathered his words carefully. "If I may speak freely, Sir?"

The admiral nodded. "Go ahead, young man."

Ellis nodded toward his brother. "My brother entered Ensign Glade's class after they started dating. I can't state why he kept his enrollment a secret from her, but I can confirm she had no preconception he'd be there on the first day, and was, in fact, shocked to see him."

So shocked she'd all but dragged him out of the classroom to dress him down for not being where he should be.

Ellis continued. "From that first day, she informed Cadet Spector he wouldn't receive any kind of preferential treatment and would have to pull his weight or risk failure. I was headed for the classroom to wish Cadet Spector luck when I witnessed that conversation."

The admiral inclined his head. "Go on, Lieutenant."

Ellis finished his statement. "I can't, in good faith, say the break-up has nothing to do with the qualifications. I think it has everything to do with Eddie not being allowed to go forward. But he's the one who initiated the split—after Ensign Glade refused to sign off on his simulation scores."

Eddie stood up. "I never told you I'm the one who broke up with Ensign Glade."

Ellis prayed the admiral would take the opening provided.

The superior officer asked. "Were you, Cadet?"

Eddie realized his mistake too late. He had no choice but to answer truthfully or risk court martial for lying under oath.

Shoulders slumped, he answered. "Yes, Sir."

The admiral pressed forward. "When, exactly, did you inform Ensign Glade you no longer wanted to be in a relationship, Cadet?"

Eddie shot the elder Spector a sideways glance. "The same day Commandant Spector spoke with her and she refused to let me take the flight test."

Ephram rose, turned on his heel, and exited the room. Ellis had hoped for the reaction, wanting his dad to understand Eddie's deceit and put Tarin in the absolute clear. Ellis met the admiral's gaze, hoping the man understood why Ellis had taken some liberty with how he presented the facts. His old man needed to have his eyes opened and realize Eddie played both sides against the middle. And couldn't be allowed to do it anymore.

The admiral motioned for Ellis to be seated. "Ensign Glade."

Tarin rose from her seat and faced the admiral.

"The charges before me are hereby dismissed and you'll return to active duty at 0700 tomorrow morning." He lifted the gavel, ended the proceeding.

Ellis risked a glance toward Tarin. She kept her eyes ahead and shoulders straight even though she'd been cleared. Ellis admired the discipline she exhibited. So not her style, but maybe she'd learned a little something from tangled aftermath of dealing with his brother.

Once the admiral exited the room, Tarin turned and made her way to Ellis. "You're an idiot, but I can't thank you enough."

Ellis grinned. "Yes, you can. Have dinner with me then come to my place for movies and popcorn."

She chuckled. "A free meal and entertainment? How can I refuse?"

Ellis shook his head. "You can't. I'll pick you up at seven."

She laughed. "Make it five. I have an early day tomorrow."

He smiled. "Five it is." He started for the exit. "Carpathian seafood?"

Tarin nodded. "It's my favorite. And action movies. None of those lame comedies."

Ellis paused by the door. "I have an entire shelf of them. We'll go alphabetically."

He left to the sound of Tarin's peals of laughter.

Ahhh, seems like all is well, right? It's not. LOL But that's another post on a different day.

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

ML Skye