Author: FORTHRIGHT

Winners

Photo Challenge. Abundant thanks to everyone who participated in August’s two Photo Challenges. I poked through the resulting pile, assigned every entry a number, then used a handy dandy random number generator to draw names. Here are our winners:

Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal

Leslie (the audiophile)
Alice

Tamiko and the Two Janitors

Mariana
Saholia
Lexie

Congratulations!

1 2 3 Totes

Tote Bags. Yes, I have a few more totes, but quantities are extremely limited. First come, first served. Cost in the US is $25 (includes shipping). Email me with questions or orders – always.forthright @ gmail.com

by Categories: Amaranthine Saga 3 Comments

LMM 36: Wherewithal

Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially for the favorite uncle.

36
Wherewithal

Jacques dug in his heels almost as hard as he gripped Argent’s hand. “I can’t.” Continue reading →

by Categories: Amaranthine InterludesTags: 4 Comments

LMM 35: Face Your Monsters

Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.)  Indulge the lot of us, especially the one who still has nightmares.

35
Face Your Monsters

“This is what Lapis meant. Dragons lie with words. Foxes use illusions.” Continue reading →

by Categories: Amaranthine InterludesTags: 3 Comments

LMM 34: Have it Out

Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the one who’s been drawn in.

34
Have it Out

Jacques stormed out, but Argent Continue reading →

by Categories: Amaranthine InterludesTags: 3 Comments

LMM 33: Painfully Honest

Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.)  Indulge the lot of us, especially for the susceptible one.

33
Painfully Honest

“Oh, very well.” Lapis set aside his tea. Continue reading →

by Categories: Amaranthine InterludesTags: 5 Comments

LMM 32: Devilishly Unfair

Claimer: I do hereby claim all rights and responsibility for the characters in this series of vignettes because the Amaranthine Saga is mine. (Which means I should probably behave myself since anything I say or do could be taken as canon.) Indulge the lot of us, especially the trustworthy one.

32
Devilishly Unfair

Quite sure he was playing with fire, Jacques dared to question Lord Mossberne. Continue reading →

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Jackie and Bon-Bon

Jacques Smythe of the Uppington Smythes. In my mind, he barely resembles the character from Impeccable who shares his name, but since readers sometimes like knowing “behind the scenes” details, here’s something that even many of my fandom readers didn’t pick up on. In InuYasha, there’s a group of villains known as the Band of Seven.

Bankotsu and Jakotsu

Jakotsu & Bankotsu from InuYasha

In Impeccable, members of the Band of Seven were “cleverly” disguised among the Smythe relations (some of whom had the surname Kotsu). Doctor Stewart “Stewie” Smythe (Suikotsu) and brothers Boniface (Bankotsu) and Jacques (Jakotsu) carried their basic roles from my fanfic into Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox, where they claimed new lives with new meaning.

Especially Jacques.

• • •

But the one at the door had no reaver sense. Argent seriously doubted he had any sense at all.

Jacques Smythe executed a precise little bow. “Welcome home, honored master.”

“Still here?”

“Well spotted, sir.” The young man’s gaze swept over his attire, his face. Admiration seemed at war with simple awe. “Is that the Amaranthine equivalent of formal wear?”

“These are my clan’s colors.” Argent studied the silvered tips of his claws. There had been little time to change before their hasty departure. And Twineshaft had encouraged him to retain his finery. For Tsumiko’s sake.

Jacques mouth worked for several moments, as if sifting past all the flippant, flirtatious things he might usually to say. Lowering his eyes, he earnestly declared, “Truly sir, you are a tribute to Stately House.”

Someone had been coaching him in diplomacy. And Jacques was actually applying it? At this early hour? And in a very different sort of formal attire. Argent was almost afraid to ask. “What are you playing at?”

—Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox (Amaranthine Saga, #1)

• • •

Lord Mettlebright’s Man will be resuming today. The story is set immediately after the events of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox. Updates will be daily. Prompts for September are selected, but you can always add to my options for future installments. Prompt Post! For now, it’s posting exclusively here, on the blog. (If the Amaranthine Saga ever shows up on fanfiction.net, I’ll add LMM in a hot second.) In the meantime, if you need to refresh your memory, Jacques’ story STARTS HERE >>

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