apologies

I feel the need to say sorry for having just disappeared, lately. I'm woefully behind on my friends list, and haven't had two brain cells to rub together to make a spark to post anything here, either. Illness, and death, and that sweet seductive black dog--some of y'all know how that goes.

But I'm working on convincing myself I feel better, and I have a sweet beta gig at the moment, and I've got two timestamps--or maybe one, combined, and a sequel simmering away. The sequel's back burnered, but I've been poking at the timestamps, and may just get that posted and out of mind before hunkering down on the BB draft.

I write at the pace of glaciers anyway, so I do appreciate the patience of Readers Who Wait. There should be a club--or at least a patch, right? And a motto, "to those who wait, reward!" At least, sometimes.

I'm working on being more present, and engaged. I miss youse guys.

Okay, WIP meme, then.

When you see this, share random lines from 3 WIPs

"Home," he demanded, not breaking the molten gaze he shared with Jared. "Now." Jared moved to hold him, kiss him, and Jensen danced out of reach. "I want our bed, and clean sheets, and the moon through the window. I want to suck you and fuck you until you won't want to move before morning, if then."

Jared reached again, but Jensen kept away. "You want to sleep out here on the rocks and sand, Jared? Wake up naked for the gulls and the passing tourists to see, huh? Or we go home, I take you apart and put you back together, and bring you breakfast in bed?"

"You suck, Ackles," Jared pouted, and Jensen's grin spread all over his face.

"You betcha," he answered. "That's a promise."

*  *  *

"This child," he told them, holding eye contact with each one. "Is the property of its father. If it's an alpha, it'll be taken at five to the alpha school to learn how to compete with and understand other alphas. It will be returned to the household at twelve, to be schooled in the family's business and relationships with other houses. It will learn respect for the usefulness of betas. It will learn the value of family omegas."

He didn't allow their stunned expressions to halt their education. "If it's beta, it will be sent at seven to beta school, where it will remain through secondary education, and the college it shows aptitude for. At the end of its schooling it will be assigned a place in the function of the family's business and public interests, its availability for marriage will be made public, and suitors accepted. Alliances will be forged, or strengthened, by marriage to a beta or an alpha from another house."

"If it's omega, it will go at age four to omega school, where it will be trained for service, for compliance, for creating beauty, for the arts, both household and esoteric. It will become a decorative, valuable ornament to give ease and pleasure to an alpha, and will bring much revenue to the family from the purchase price set by the head of household, or much good will and increased reputation by being awarded to the alpha who earns such reward by service or favor to the house."

He waited till that sank in. "This will not be your grandchild. It won't come to spend summers at the pool, playing with the dogs in the back yard, and making cookies in the kitchen."

*  *  *

The backpack landed with excessive force on the countertop.

"Trey Rogers is an enormous jerk!"

Jensen merely watched, toweling his hands dry as Jared raided the fridge for apples and a slab of last night's ham. He demolished half an apple with one bite and chomped furiously, wiping the juice from his lips with the back of one wrist. He started to slam the fridge door, but caught Jensen's eye, and closed it more gently, sparing the cereal boxes on top from tumbling to the floor.