wordsbyparker.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Anytime he closed his eyes, he saw the love of his life as #clear as day. Auburn hair, eyes of blue crystal, and a smile that dazzled like starlight. That's the vision he chose to see. Not the last time he held her. Not her final moments of agony as she left this world. #vss365 for Jul 16, 2021

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"This is #beyond my abilities, my liege," the court physician said with painful compassion. The magic used on the princess was something no one had seen before. The king's heart shattered in agony. Her younger brother hid his smile behind a clenched fist of false grief. #vss365 for Jul 15, 2021

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"Watch it, Marcy!" Sam shouted. The zombie's rotted claw of a hand #almost caught my arm as it swiped at me. I knocked it off balance & slammed the hunting knife through its brain. "Thanks," I said. "You're good at this." Sam looked pensive for a second. "I had to be." #vss365 for Jul 14, 2021

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Pinterest updated their terms of use and they're going to use all of the content you saved to train their AI. Go to options > your privacy rights > disable GenAI Please do it 🫠

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Emma looked defeated. Another hurdle with a slight step back. She felt like these moments were more of the norm lately. Her older-by-two-minutes brother Dylan sat down next to her. "I'm still proud of you, sis." The #sparkle came back into her eyes. "Thanks." #vss365 for Jul 13, 2021

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The Bethesda Gear store sent me an email to let me know that the sweet roll plush is on sale. So I thought, why not? I was thinking about getting one anyway. Turns out I had a $10 coupon in my account, so the item cost a good bit less than the shipping. I think I just stole their sweet roll.... 😎

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Deirdre grew tired of the #antagonistic glances they kept exchanging all night. Harrison's charming bluster clashed with her quiet yet aloof manner. At least the other partygoers would think they hated each other. She'd make him pay for it later, in kisses. For a start. #vss365 for Jul 12, 2021

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I missed some of the recent #vss365 prompts. Here goes nothing...! 😄 "Lost in IKEA" Incognito steps, I weave through the emporium, an outlier lost— past balustrades, fathoming shadows in the penumbra. Contour of regret, no exit in sight—just lamps. Send help. And meatballs.

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Toby's eyes glistened with tears. He sipped away from the painful view & into the dusk. Hannah glanced at the window in time to see a shadow move away. She ran to the door as fast as a #refined lady could. "Toby?" she called softly. "Are you there? Come back... please." #vss365 for Jul 11, 2021

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Hannah smiled & acknowledged the nobleman's compliment in genteel fashion, as if she was to the manor born. Not a hint of the #inelegant scamp she'd been in her youth. Toby watched his old friend, heart breaking in two. The gulf between them was too wide to cross now. #vss365 for Jul 11, 2021

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Lindsey took a deep breath, exhaling as she looked around. The sun left dainty touches of light on the flowers & grass as its rays poured through the canopy above. She wondered if this was #freedom or another illusion. She'd been fooled before. She took the chance & ran. #vss365 for Jul 9, 2021

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Shelby looked away. She couldn't stand seeing the #crestfallen glaze that coated his eyes. Daniel's heart shattered. Ten years of marriage dissolved in an instant. And it was nobody's fault, not really. He nodded, then stood up and walked away - and let his tears fall. #vss365 for Jul 9, 2021

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"It's just a suggestion." Dillon said in a pained, quiet voice. Amy glared at the one person who knew her best. She flung open the door & stormed out of the house. The #therapy talk again. He was right, & she knew it. But some of her secrets couldn't be shared. Ever. #vss365 for Jul 7, 2021

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Ethan gripped the sides of his head. Everything was coming #unraveled, nothing made sense anymore, & he knew it was only a matter of time before the world disappeared. How did this happen? Melina saved her changes to the new draft & sighed. She hated editing sometimes. #vss365 for Jul 6, 2021

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"Please, sweetheart." Max chose to be #compliant for once. He lay down in Katy's arms, his head on her chest, her fingers playing with his hair. When the tears came, and his body began to shake, she held him tighter, whispering encouragement and comfort into his ear. #vss365 for Jul 5, 2021

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Well, hello March. You got here awfully fast. Could you tell April to slow down on their way here, please? Thanks.

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It was hopeless, & Marty knew it. No amount of #reparations could ever make up for breaking that vase, the one from Edna's grandmother. What he didn't realize was that she hated that vase. Edna was glad to be rid of it, & tried to tell him so. Marty just wouldn't listen. #vss365 for Jul 4, 2021

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Anya looked at the planchette in fear, not wanting to touch it. "Come on, Ann," Dustin teased. "Not afraid you're going to be #spirited away if you use a Ouija board, are you?" He winked at Saul & Mary. They didn't know her family's secret. And Anya couldn't tell them. #vss365 for Jul 3, 2021

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"That idea is directly #oppositional to the overall plan. I'm afraid I must decline." The lady clasped her hands together, tears streaming down her face. "Please. I'll pay double." The assassin smirked. "Now what kind of businessman would I be if I broke a contract?" #vss365 for Jul 2, 2021

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The struggle is (all too often very) real, y'all.

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It's been said there are only seven basic plots for #stories: "Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, The Quest, Voyage & Return, Comedy, Tragedy, Rebirth". Seven basics, infinite possibilities & combinations. We see or read them every day. Some of us get to write them. #vss365 for Jul 1, 2021

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"Scrap Metal", an Appalachian Steampunk short story, is now available on my website! This was originally published in November 2024 as part of the sci-fi & omnibus editions of "To Appalachia With Love", a charity anthology to benefitting Western North Carolina. www.wordsbyparker.com/blog/scrap-m...

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Laughter bubbled up from her belly, the sunshine pouring in through the window made her smile, and she found herself dancing in the kitchen while waiting for the kettle to boil. Elizabeth stopped, a puzzled look crossing her face. Is this what #happy felt like? #vss365 for Jun 1, 2021

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Only a sprinkling of trauma! Might be a heavy sprinkling, but still! 🙂

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It all came down to this one event, one moment of #finality that would change the course of history. Harriet stared into Martin's eyes, both of them on the verge of tears. They held the detonator in their clasped hands, closing their eyes as they pressed the button. #vss365 for May 31, 2021

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Of all the things that could go wrong, it was having #dessert that ruined the evening. The appetizer? A perfect starter. The main course? An excellent middle ground. How was she supposed to know that her new boyfriend was allergic to strawberries? #vss365 for May 31, 2021

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"I'd wager that a #valiant heart beats in your chest," Princess Matilda said she tied a ribbon to the knight's lance. She gave him a slight wink and a warm smile. "Thank you, Your Highness," Sir Caedmon smiled and lowered his visor. Good to know he still had her fooled. #vss365 for May 31, 2021

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"Yes, but what do YOU think?" Marcy paused. She didn't care one way or the other, but it seemed important to him. "I think your #earlobe looks good with a piercing." She paused, then added, "But it looked good before too." Harold sighed in frustration. "Thanks, honey." #vss365 for May 31, 2021

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The twin girls stared at each other's reflection, smiling. Each was a #doppelganger for the other, so much alike no one couldn't tell them apart. A knock on the door broke their reverie. "Time for dinner, Suzanne." She looked back at the mirror, but her sister was gone. #vss365 for May 31, 2021

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I've made progress on the streaming gameplay project. Game video is being captured, but not game audio. I'm sure it's a setting in OBS, or I haven't added something properly (hardware or software). Still, I'm making progress! Every little bit forward is a little farther along than when I started. 🙂

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What ABBA never mentioned is that Dancing Queen is really a figurehead position. All the real power is in the hands of Dancing Parliament.

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The party showed no signs of stopping. The tables of food stayed full, and the #wine never ceased to flow. Laughter and merriment filled the hall. Lady McKenna smiled at her guests, then waved her steward over. "Yes, milady?" "Tell the captain it's time to strike." #vss365 for May 30, 2021

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Caroline watched the tourists wander through her hometown, wondrous smiles on their clueless faces. "Oh, I just love this little town. It's so #quaint." She gritted her teeth. She hated that word, that sentiment. It wasn't a compliment. It never was. #vss365 for May 30, 2021

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Akrysta pulled her hair back into a #ponytail, then twisted it into a tight bun. The last thing she needed was one of King Lucian's men grabbing it in the heat of battle. She looked at her reflection in the glass. Gone was the spoiled brat who'd never lifted a sword. #vss365 for May 30, 2021

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Ellen thought that Dr. Burkhardt spent an awful lot of time looking at her eyes. After an eternity he leaned back. "The color of the #iris is certainly unique. I've never seen anything like it." She couldn't tell if his expression was one of wonder or of fear. #vss365 for May 30, 2021

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The biggest problem with an echo chamber is not the lack of diversity of thoughts or ideas, it’s the #sonic hoax played upon you that, with the onslaught of repetition, you forget which thoughts and ideas were even your own in the first place. #vss365

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"There she goes, off to the East End again. Bet she's carrying on some #tawdry affair." "I wouldn't doubt it. No self-respecting young lady would be caught dead over there." Catherine choked down her fury. She didn't want the children at the orphanage to see her angry. #vss365 for May 30, 2021

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The answer should have been simple, easy. Nothing that required a lot of thought. But they hadn't expected such a #conundrum to foil their plans. "Okay, so our favorite diner is closed for renovations right now. How about we go to that new place on Highway 8 instead?" #vss365 for May 30, 2021

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Michelle descended the stairs, the #mustard color of her dress giving her a sunny glow. Henry's chest fluttered like it always did when she smiled at him. He took her hand as she reached the final step, amazed that he'd found such a wonderful woman to share his life. #vss365 for May 21, 2021

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The ship stayed on its #perpendicular course, the horizon a flat line in the distance. The first rays of sunrise began to paint faint colors on the water, hues that would darken as the day progressed. Siobhan consumed the salt air in great gulps. She'd missed her home. #vss365 for May 19, 2021

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He touched the flame to each candle, softly chanting the litany that pleased the goddess. The darkened room began to glow with warmth, illuminating a young woman's body surrounded by flowers & offerings. He knew this was an # idol but he hoped the goddess wouldn't mind. #vss365 for May 19, 2021

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Afternoon coffee turned into early supper and then into late night drinks, their #conversation moving from nervous laughter and small talk to eager lips and soft sighs. Even after 20 years, sometimes they acted like a couple of teenagers on a date night. #vss365 for May 18, 2021

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"Of all the..." Denise sputtered. "How could you make such a #colossal mistake?!" Evelyn shrugged. "Wasn't my target. You're the one always harping on me about stealing another hunter's prey." Denise huffed. The brat was right, but now they had two werewolves to find. #vss365 for May 16, 2021

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"Isn't it beautiful?" Luke gushed, so proud of his latest find. Melinda was speechless. Where they were going to put THIS monstrosity? She sighed. Other women dealt with new power tools or weird gadgets. No, her husband brought home things like a medieval #poleaxe. #vss365 for May 15, 2021

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