David accepted her business card.
"I'm #Oleander," she said. "Oleander Rex."
"I'm David," David said. "And these are the Better Angels."
The girls peeked out around him.
"You're a bad person," Zaza said, pointing her finger.
Oleander crouched & said, "Agents always are."
#vss365
Tagvss365
"Heh. I wrote #diaphanous in my WIP last night."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I've never used it before. I read these terrible books as a kid where voluptuous slave girls always wore diaphanous silks and…"
"Just what were you writing about last night?"
"Whoops! Look at the time!"
#vss365
Feeling a #yen for some peace & quiet, David took the Better Angels to an onsen. He sighed relaxing in the hot spring. Then they arrived on the women's side.
"Where's David? Are you there? We can't see you, David!"
He slipped under the water until only his nose protruded.
#vss365
"#Bubble gum?" the Better Angels pleaded, pulling at David's sleeves & shirt.
"What?" he said. "I thought you wanted lollipops!"
"Lollipops!" shrieked half.
"Bubble gum!" squealed the others.
"Bubble pops! Lolligum!" they all shouted.
David covered his ears & sighed.
#vss365
"If I do #vss365 I'll pick a bunch of non-English words."
"Like what?"
"Oh, I'll start with slang like #fundi & then English-adjacent words like #hiraeth."
"Yeah?"
"Then I'll blow 'em away with #ŝanĝi & #おやすみなさい ."
"Is this some kind of sick game to you?"
"Yes."
"Oh, OK."
"Did your story get accepted for Corporate #Catharsis II?"
"I dunno. They haven't responded yet."
"They probably need extra time because you're so weird."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't give me that! I read Better Angels. I've got your number, buddy!"
#vss365 h/t @waterdragonpub
As the Queen descended, Revin heard hoofbeats & saw a detachment of cavalry approaching.
"One-Four!" Tiny barked. The girls shifted, braced their spears, & lowered the tips toward the horsemen.
Revin feared even Tiny's #savvy wouldn't be enough to protect the girls.
#vss365
David paced anxiously awaiting the delivery. When he heard the tone, he triggered the hatch rubbing his hands.
"What is it?" Zaza asked as rest of the Better Angels crowded around.
"Tonight, I thought we could have Fun Dinners!"
"No!" they shrieked. "Fun Meals!"
#vss365 #fundi
In the #twilight of the darkened stadium, first drums began to beat. Then the bass kicked in & lights started to throb. The spotlights stabbed down & illuminated the Better Angels on the stage. The audience screamed with excitement.
David cheered too until he was hoarse.
#vss365
David crept through the cabin in a white goatee for the holiday #season. He left a red-&-white bucket & stocking stuffed with gifts for each sleeping Better Angel. He had just finished when they erupted from the floor & leapt on him squealing, "We caught Thunder Cross!"
#vss365