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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 7h

G'afternoon #TFOTsnip! Here we see Milly, still entirely new to the whole supernatural world thing, be given some critical survival advice. #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

“Oh.” This isn’t what I expected at all. “Uh, yeah. He said some other names. A few of them, actually. Mil-“
“WAIT!” Val shouts suddenly, and I nearly jump upright in alarm, along with everyone else in the dining hall. I turn on him, angry at the noise and the unwarranted alarm, and I see him holding up both his arms in placation.
“Wait! Please, listen, this is important! Before you say anything, you said he mentioned several names for you?”
“Yes?”
“Well, alright, but I need to be very clear on this, you can not tell anyone your full set of names, ever! Use only one or two, your main name and your father’s family name. Never say your full name out loud to anyone, not even members of the Formless Assembly! Do you understand?”
The intensity with which Val says all this makes me takes a step back on reflex. I look around to see the students all nod together, as if this is the most natural but critical information that could be given to any of them. “Okay? Why?”
“Because names can be used with certain magics as a channelling component. These are usually very bad, harmful and above all offensive magics, which you will have no defence against as it will hit you directly at the center of your being. Do you understand?”

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 18h

Hey #Writingcommunity and #Writesky, I know I haven't updated on #TLC2 's progress in a bit, but that's because I was so focused on it that Week 5 blew right by me. Also... IT'S FINISHED! 81,081 words total from Chapter 1 to Epilogue! That makes 8 first drafts in 3 years. Can I make it 9 before Jan?

Trackbear stats for #TLC2 (Longing for TLC) complete at 81,081 words written over 40 days.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

G'afternoon #TFOTsnip! Cut to Milly here in the middle of fighting a vicious weird animal intruder inside the manor in a hallway. #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

It takes a few steps back of its own, then lunges up and to it’s left, half running up the wall. My now empty hand closes on the other intact table leg as the animal drifts across the open hallway, twisting in mid air as it does so to land on the opposite wall feet first. I can see what it’s doing, and I decide to make one last counter, here and now. I pull back the table low and behind me, opening myself up to the animal.
It rebounds off the wall, leaving deep scratch marks in the wood, and launches right at my face, mouth open and snarling, but the table meets it halfway. I swing as hard as I can, nearly overbalancing with how much power I’m putting into it, and the table shatters completely apart, leaving me holding only two chair legs. The animal flies backwards down the hallway and hits the terminating wall there with a series of yelps of pain, but I can’t let it get it’s bearings again and charge at it again with both table legs held above my head and screaming like a crazed caveman.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! Milly really going through it in this snip, but it's only the start of her no good, very bad day. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

What am I?
As if this was the cue it had been waiting for, the resistance surges to a new height, pushing the green further and further back than ever. At the same time the taloned hands reach up and grasp something on my forehead, as if they’re trying to remove a hat or a pair of glasses. They grasp something both tangible and ethereal at the same time, something that sparks and flickers right above my eyes as it protests the attempted eviction.
“What are you doing?” I can no longer tell who is saying what, as the whole of my mind is now focused on this one act of removal, of defiance, of asserting autonomy once again. The green energy is pushed out completely, and my hands rip off something… something that I hold in both hands in front of me. It crackles and splutters as it decays from the onslaught, and I quickly drop it too the floor where it dances and burns like a lump of sodium dropped into water. Marks are left on the wooden floor as it jumps around, giving no doubt to my mind that whatever happened is indeed real, that there are real life markings that can bear witness to it.
My mind, my soul, my body and everything inbetween is filled with the furiously defiant purple, and I stand there with my still betaloned hands held in front of me. These are mine, I’m sure of it, but how?

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

#Octember D8 Oh, Milly is quite obviously constellation Draco, being half dragon as I've said before. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity

A picture of the northern night sky with the constellation Draco lined out in the relevant stars and the word Draco.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

G'afternoon #TFOTsnip! A short discussion and divvying up of tasks before the final confrontation, or so they think. #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

“Me as well, I have a debt to repay,” Sibu says from beside Gizelda, making her jump in surprise. A barely perceptible bruise blooms on the side of his face.
“Six should be enough, two for each tunnel! The rest of us will stay out here in case those things come back! Go quickly!” Irena says, then turns around and lifts her arms up, summoning four more of those water tendrils from the ground. Lightning streaks across the sky above in response to the movement, and then just stays there, not fading or anything but casting a constant white glow over the whole area.
“What the hell?” I ask, as if this is the most astounding thing to happen tonight.
“No, go inside, we’ll talk later!” Irena says, and we head to the mine entrance. I look back to see those left, Irena and Julie and Ari and Christine and the two Fae soldiers, taking up a picket line near the entrance behind us, supported by the four water tendrils. Whoever comes for them is gonna suffer, I’m guessing.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! Milly and the gang being in a spot of bother after taking off in pursuit of a big gribbly that kidnapped one of them. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

It gives a small derisive snort in his general direction and paws the ground, and I have to reach over to Craig and clamp down on his shoulder as he seems ready to launch himself at the creature.
“No, you stay back!” I tell him.
“What? No!”
“Do as I say! We’ll take care of it!” I say, and throw quick glances at Gizelda and Irena, who nod and step forward. “You guys stay here and- oh crap.”
Movement from the gate and the roof of one of the buildings catches my eye as a hodgepodge humanoid creatures, all covered in that same purple-green tendril stuff, emerges from the night. Lizards, birds, weird antelope, dog and bear like things, all bipedal with crude weapons in their hands, shuffling towards us from behind. We’re caught in a trap.
“I guess you guys have to focus on those,” I point out, and Craig has the decency to gulp at the sight of it all.
“You can put me down now, Nephilim,” Vran says in Ari’s arms, who hurriedly complies. The soldier still seems a bit shaken but once again on his feet, if favouring the injured foot a bit. “Lady Eve, we’ll take care of these, kill the creature!”

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

#WriterShareWednesday I present to you, for your consideration, a Published pitch: MOVING DAY (short story) 😠Defiant female protagonist 🏭A dying earth 👾Aliens! 📜Escaping the mistakes of the past 🏡Finding a new home 🏛️Preserving what culture remains Now available at: www.wwadcreative.com/anthology

Background of a starry night sky over a polluted earth.
Title: Moving Day
A Sci-Fi story of a woman defying her bloodline to save humanity from the mistakes of the past
Featuring: Space Ships, Aliens, saving what can be saved and the message to never stop defying!

Published as part of the We Write At Dawn Anthology Volume One, now available.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! Here we see Milly being gently lead towards a restorative meal and some explanations to come. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“In a bit,” Irena interrupts, holding up a hand as she does so, “first we eat and reunite with our students. Also, someone needs to apologise to you. But first, I need to ask you, would you want the explanation in private, away from your students? Or do you want them included?”
What a strange question. I feel like the answer should be obvious, but I find that I’m actually considering both choices seriously as we round a corner and enter the kitchen through a small side door, as the larger entrances through the dining hall is mostly blocked off with one normal door width left open to walk through. I see the students busy with their routines, concentration paramount as they attempt to break each other’s hold-locks. They all look like they’ve been matched up to equal physical power levels, and I see Val walking through all of them, keeping a careful eye on the proceedings. Cook on the other hand is busy preparing some sort of meal that smells like it involves chicken and maybe some rice, and my stomach rumbles again, causing him to spin around.
“Holy crap, up and walking around already? What are you made out of, then?” he asks, and with my new reality somewhat revealed, I can tell that the question has a whole different meaning to it now.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

G'afternoon #TFOTSnip! Gonna have to go with a long-shot vibe post here, i got none of the word here. #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

“Clara!” I call out, and I can hear myself clearly, sounding scared and alone like a frightened child, looking for the one person that could help set the world right.
“Clara!” I shout louder, my heart racing with the thought that she might not be here.
“Milly? Is that you?” I hear a voice from the next room, then see Clara walk through that doorway. She freezes on the spot and stares at me in disbelief.
“Milly! What happened?” she exclaims and rushes too me, worming her shoulder in under mine. I’m usually the one doing the supporting when her ailment gets the better of her, and I’ve never experienced this side of the equation before. It feels weird, but comforting.
“I- I-“ I try to speak, to explain everything, but words don’t make much sense yet.
“Okay, just take a deep breath and think about words before saying them, okay?” she says as she guides me to sit on the white couch. A momentary thought scribbles across my mind that I’ve probably just ruined this thing completely, that Jenine will have to replace it now. The thought flickers and dies in the turmoil.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! Milly here continuing a conversation with a figment person claiming to be her father. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

I feel his grip tighten on my clothes, his hands and fingers shaking as if in a sudden rage, then relax again into the gentle hug again. “The wording of the deal. I should have looked closer. Riley was to be protected until you were born. Someone stole you from here? Where is he now?”
“Dead. Mounties shot him.”
“Ah. Good. I am so sorry, Milly, truly I am. I can’t imagine what kind of horror you’ve gone through until now, and I sense there’s a lot of it, a deep, terror filled ocean. I am so sorry I could not return to you. I have failed so badly as a parent.”
“Where can I find you?” I ask suddenly, feeling the need to salvage something from this horrible mess.
“Do not!” His voice instantly turns stern, and I take a step back out of the embrace to see his expression now angry and commanding.
“What?”
“You will not try to find me! Where I am now, people don’t come back from if they’re not invited! If I’m not out by now, it means I could not find a loophole in the contract and I am stuck in there for the duration! That’s all there is to it! If you try, you will die and I will not have that!”

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

G'afternoon #TFOTSnip! Scene with Milly doing a 'perimeter sweep' type of thing around the manor grounds. #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

I stifle a yawn, the breakfast coffee had done little to wake me up completely after I’d emerged from unconsciousness at six yet again, as I continue my observations of the area. It’s not quite like what I did inside the manor, as that doesn’t work in open spaces without built structures. I see no evidence of trails of any kind in the forest around here, though. By my own admittedly inexpert view, this place is avoided by the local populace. Even the wildlife seems scares here.
I do still hear the occasional rustle of animal movement in the undergrowth or the impression of watchful gazes, but I never spot anything. Presumably just hidden critters. Still, better play it safe and make sure the kids also play it safe and never come out here alone, or even in just pairs.
Other than feelings, I see nothing really untoward, so I make my way back to the manor in order to go over my notes for my ‘planned’ first lesson, and I have a deep nagging feeling that I’m going to do them a disservice with what I’m about to teach the students.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! Don't have 'petal' in any place I haven't snipped previously, so going with just flower instead. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“Are we really doing this?” Ari asks behind me as I follow the clear trail.
“You can stay if you want, Ari, no one will think less of you, but we’re going to get XX,” I say, glancing briefly at the others. They nod at me and I start running. The corridor, or rather tunnel, as I realise this is deep enough to be underground, is straight and long, and it takes several minutes before before we see anything more than just candles, footprints, flowers and brickwork. A set of weird writing I don’t know, carved into the brickwork on all four sides of the tunnel, glowing brightly with a sickly yellow glow. I think for a bit while examining them and come to a conclusion as my following students reach me.
“This is under the edge of the magic dome,” I say. “Someone prepared this ahead of time, someone that knew about this tunnel. I don’t think Irena knew, even.”
Galilah growled, in every sense of the word imaginable. I glance at her and see the most enraged I’ve ever seen a person be, and something clicks for me.
“You know who did this?” I ask her.
“No, but I won’t be surprised if it is who I think it is,” she answers.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

G'afternoon #TFOTsnip! Milly and Irena here speaking about the aftermath of a vote the school just had on whether to stay open or not. #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

“No, everything is secure as far as I can tell. I do have one question, though?”
“Yes?” she says, and I can tell she’s expecting me to ask something specifically.
“Why entertain the students back there and not veto them to force the place so they can go home to safety? I mean, I get some of their home lives aren’t at all good, but its better than trained attack dogs breaking into the place, and who knows what else might come next?” We walk towards the central corridor on the ground floor leading to one of several basement entrances, which is Irena’s next destination.
“Ah, yes, I see why you would think that. The thing is, Milly, this school services a very small and select community of people, and reputation by word of mouth goes a very long way in it. If the school closes down, something that has never happened before, a lot of doubt will be cast on it and us being able to protect our students, as questions of why the school is closing would be asked.”
“Okay,” I answer, not liking that upholding reputation is one of the reasons. Irena evidently sees that I don’t like her answer, and she continues.
“There’s also the fact that the students lightly threatened me with badmouthing the school to their parents should we close down.”
I stop walking and stare at Irena as she walks a few more steps, realises I’m not beside her anymore, stops as well and turns to face me. “Well shit, I didn’t expect blackmail of all things! But wouldn’t that risk their own ability to come back next year?”

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! Here we see Milly *once again* in the middle of a bit of a pickle, along with two of her students who'd tagged along despite her warnings. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Goran is a mound of crawling winged insects. He keeps slapping himself, crushing them by the dozen, but the holes keep being filled with more writhing.
I feel another few stings on the small of my back, and something doesn’t seem right to me. They’re concentrating on the two students the most, when they could overwhelm the spell here and now. It’s almost as if they see them as bigger threats.
Or someone is directing their efforts?
It’s not like they’re making a mistake or anything. I think I see something ahead, up in the canopy, but I’m going to be dead before I get ten meters closer. I swipe at more hornets, more out of habit than any hope of making any dent in their numbers. “You two, get back to the manor!” I yell at them, but I don’t think they can hear me anymore. Should have called it sooner.
Two more stings, and the strings around me disappear. I am now a vulnerable six foot four wall of very delicate skin, as I doubt the hornets will concentrate on only stinging my arms. They clear an area around me, like a wave rebounding from a cliff wall, but it’s only temporary. Their numbers fill up to a crescendo and start to fall back in on me, a hundred stingers leading the way.
Well fuck. And I was just getting used to having a fully working mind again.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

END OF SEPTEMBER UPDATE! Added two more short stories to the roster keeping up with the monthly challenge. Wrote a WIP not on the card and added another 50k month. TLC edited and headed to feedback group. Card seems to be filling #Writingcommunity #Writesky #NewYearsResolutions #Amwriting #Writersky

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

G'afternoon #TFOTsnip! Here we see part of Milly and her one student Genevieve have a little heart-to-heart. #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

“Who’s Jasper?” Gen asks me, and I have to mentally change gears to calculate having him in the conversation too.
“He’s… a very strange person that’s sorta been keeping an eye on me since we were rescued from that basement. Always dresses in a yellow suit, never stays around for more than a day, but things always got better after he checked in. He’d sometimes be gone for a year or two, and sometimes show up every month. I was always weirded out by him, especially after Beth, but now I’m thinking he’s actually just been a good guy now.”
“Like a guardian?” Gen asks, and I honestly can’t think of anything to refute that assessment.
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“Oh. That’s… that’s a lot.” She looks down at her own feet, at the dirty scuffed green sneakers she always wears when training. She always wears some sort of green, now that I think about it.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! A teeny bit late, but the morning's been full and i had to edit this snip a bit before i could post it. Tiny bit of worldbuilding loredump, where the students explain the world that just opened up for Milly. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“Hell is real?”
The confused silence that fills my room speaks volumes. “…yes?” Craig continues. “That’s the thing. For just about every Celestial realm, there’s a mirroring Infernal realm. With a few exceptions. They come in like a package deal. These all fall under the umbrella of the Immortal Realms, alongside full Dragons and various immortal individuals who hold immortal power by themselves.”
“Wait, dragons and half-dragons are separate?”
Galilah speaks up this time, because the subject matter is important to her. “Yes. Half-dragons or Draakkin can die of old age or severe sickness like mortals, but Dragons are functionally immortal and very powerful, but can be killed by injury. Anyway, there are other Realms as well. Father falls under the Fae realms, which include the four Courts and various unaffiliated Fae. Then there are the Realms of Undeath, with the various different types of undead falling under that.”
“Like vampires, ghouls, mummies, zombies and all of that kind of thing. Julie falls under that umbrella, for instance,” Craig comments, and Galilah shoots him a venomous glance.
“That was not your information to reveal, Selkie!” she hisses, and I see anger and defiance flash in his eyes before he calms down and holds up his hands in contrition.
“You’re right, that was my mistake.”

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

G'afternoon #TFOTsnip! Milly not feeling all that stable after a bit of an encounter with some strange animal behavior. #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

A flood of water invades my mouth and nose, and I splutter and cough back into consciousness in a panicked rush. I sit upright but feel a multitude of hands hold me stable on the back and shoulders, and moments pass before I’m able to clearly take in my surroundings. Those surroundings are occupied by my students standing in a circle around me, looking down on my sitting ass with far more concern than I deserve.
“What the- what happened? Everyone okay?” I ask, gaining me some confused looks.
“Yeah, we’re fine, are you okay?” Christine asks, clearly baffled and holding a dripping but empty bucket. I look at her, then set my mind to searching around my body for any sensory evidence of injury, besides the cold and wet from the water just used to revive me. Aside from soreness that I assume is from the fall, I don’t think I’ve been bitten by any of the snakes, although I’m unsure as to what that’d feel like.
Snakes.
Holy crap, we must be surrounded by snakes!

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

G'afternoon #TFOTsnip! Milly and co on their way to track *something* down in less than ideal conditions. #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

It’s the cellar. The one I fell into in the woods. The door I just ripped open is in the stone box under the fireplace, on the side I didn’t look at. There it is, the open door where Val got me out through. I guess those bits of crap on the floor wasn’t from rebellious teenagers after all.
“Isn’t this-“ Galilah starts.
“Yeah. The footprints lead up and out,” I say and head towards the open doors leading outside into a thin drizzle that carries the promise of far more substantial rainfall to come. I climb up those steps for a second time without first climbing down them, a fact I briefly find amusing, and then we’re all out into the dripping forest at night. At least the soft ground gives us easy tracks to follow, big huge four toed feet with big claws of their own, and for a second I remember watching Jurassic Park as a kid. I was the only one back then who hadn’t been scared or gotten nightmares, and these deep footprints remind me of that movie.
They head north, and so do I.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! A serious topic of discussion is being held, with the subject being put up for a vote. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

This turned out to not be the case. Irena’s office door opens and both walked out, with Val walking off to the side and giving me a hard look, but allowing Irena to take center stage for all of us waiting, including those that had not been in the woods with us. They looked annoyed in the crowded hallway, and now also tense with expectation.
“Students, I have something to ask you. There have been… strange occurrences here at our little school, as well as some evidence of strangers on the property. I must ask you all, first and foremost since you all chose to be here, even bent the rules and borderline harassment to get in here.” Irena’s eyes to where the sisters were standing against the wall. “In any case, there might be some risk to continuing this year’s fall class. We have two choices: continue on and hope for the best, as in no more incidents, or cancel this class and resume next April, on the spring-“
“NO!” Genevieve’s voice rang out suddenly, cutting off Irena’s speech. The entire room turned to look at her, and she bloomed a bright, glossy red and tried to hide behind Gesa, who stays as cool and calm as always.
“Yes, I fully expect there to be opinions for and against. Which is why I am putting this all to a vote to you, since you’re the ones who could be at risk.”

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Week 4 progress on #TLC2, have broken 60K in just about a month! Slowed down this past week due to health concerns, but right back at it again! Also, I might be in the final confrontation ark at this point, so this might be a short WIP anyway. #Writingcommunity #Writesky #Amwriting

Week 4 progress on #TLC2 (Longing for TLC), 60963 words total written, 2254 words on day 28 with an average of 2177 words written per day!

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

G'afternoon #TFOTSnip! Milly in the middle of her job interview. now some might think that this is going badly for her, and normally you'd be right, but not this time, this time this is exactly what her prospective new boss is looking for! #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

“Okay, hold on a second,” I say, holding my hand up in the air, “first off, how would you know that, and secondly how do you know there’s any threat? Did you get bomb threats? Threatening mail? Online harassment? An increase in trespassers on the property? Vandalism?”
Somehow Irena looks pleased at the questions, and she glances down at the folder. “To answer your first question, I’ve had an interest in you for this position for a while now. Your history shows several characteristics that would serve admirably.”
I look at the file directly for the first time. There’s a black and white picture covering one corner of the first page, and I can see even from this angle that it’s a mugshot picture of me, probably from several years ago.
“That’s my file,” I state rather than ask.
“Correct.”
“That should have been sealed, at least the juvenile part of it. I’m assuming you have people you can ask favours to get it for you anyway?” I ask, feeling heat rising on my face.
“Oh, yes indeed.”
“So which parts exactly were you drawn to? The assaults, which were actually me defending myself? The long list of inflicted broken bones? Me being labelled as a ‘hazard to society’ by several law enforcement figures?”

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! I finally have something from the first two chapters that will quite probably remain unchanged when the BIG edits come! #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“Yes! I know just who to call!” she jumps up with her phone magically appearing in her hand and starts scrolling through her contacts.
“Wai-“
“Got it!” her phone starts making that dialling noise and is almost instantly answered by an indistinct woman’s voice from the other side.
“Hello? Yes, hello Miss Jenine! It’s Clara! Yes, that Clara!” The line blows up with happy and enthusiastic noises, and Clara steps a way from the couch.
“Wha-“
“Yes, I’ve been good Jenine! Yes, I’m calling to hear if you still have those beds open for- yes, both? Oh that’s wonderful! Yes, I’d like to book the beds for October-“
“Hey wait a minu-“
“Oh, I’m sorry, there was an interruption,” Clara says and shoots me a sideways look before continuing, “yes, both separate beds, not one bed, no it’s not like that.” I feel my cheeks glow red. Clara and I have never been that and probably never will be, that’s not her thing.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

G'afternoon #TFOTsnip! Milly meeting with Clara for some more backup with the class thing, plus manor research. #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

“That seems weirdly straightforward,” I respond and stand upright. “Makes sense, though. I think I’ve made a decision. Are you still good here?”
“All still perfectly fine,” she answers in a tone that immediately puts me at ease. “I’m actually enjoying this whole research thing again, kinda missed it from college even if I still get tired fast.”
“I’m happy to hear it, really I am. You still got enough cash on you?” I ask her, and she nods.
“Yes. Also, I have this for you,” she says and reaches for a nightstand drawer and pulls out another smaller folder with neatly arranged papers in it. “A condensed class plan and manor history, all in one, enough for you to go over and through until you need to see me next. No go on, get back to work!, and wipe your feet next time you come visit, I have to clean the floors now!”

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! Milly running into two of the students showing each other things, then ducking behind a corner to have a crisis when she sees something she believes can't exist. #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WriteSky

“It is, but I have to be careful with it,” Christine comments and the red light flickers out. “Now you said you’d show me yours?”
“I did indeed! Observe!” Ari says, followed by several heartbeats of silence, then a gasp, a guttural growl of disgust and then a very loud slap.
“Pig! I should have known!” Christine thunders and storms away, thankfully in the other direction towards the girl half.
“Wait, I was only joking!” Ari says and follows her, leaving me alone with my confused jumble of thoughts. I haven’t really taken in what’s been said since that flame, and my mind is waging a war trying to explain away what just couldn’t be possible.
It must have been some sort of lighter. Right? But I didn’t see one? Oh, Christine is from Vegas, right? That must have been some sort of magician trick, like what I’ve seen online before with flash paper sort of thing! She probably learned it there and made something similar! That’s really impressive for a teenager! But she didn’t say anything about magician tricks and stuff? Well, no one here has talked much about their lives yet, at least to me, so I wouldn’t really know, now would I? But I should probably talk to her about doing anything fire related inside the manor. Although she did seem reluctant to use the trick inside if it wasn’t for Ari insisting, the tall little troublemaker!

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

G'afternoon #TFOTSnip! I got your indication right here! Something BMW drivers will never understand. #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

“Oh, crap, you had this all along?” I ask, examining the screen over her shoulder. It shows a detailed layout of the manor, with a host of little dots and bars over several parts of it.
“Yes,” Irena answers and grimaces with distaste. “I was advised to install it a handful of years ago for a reason that never materialised. I’ve been contemplating having it removed. I don’t like having it around, it’s too much like a prison for my tastes, but part of this system is used for securing the first floor from intrusion, including metal screens over the windows. That includes the basement. We can use this for nighttime, plus there are hidden cameras outside. If someth- someone attempts anything overnight, they’ll be faced with a fortress.”
“We got Fort Knox up our sleeves this whole time?”
“Yes, and I hated it. Installing this system harmed the soul of my home, and removing it would have harmed it even more. In any case, we need to call the students and explain to them the changes that are needed from this day forward. I am not relishing the change in atmosphere this will bring.” Irena turns around and heads to the landing with what I assume is the intent to call the students below’s attention, while the wood panel slides closed behind her again, showing no indication that anything was even there a moment before.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Mornin' #WIPSnips! Milly and Irena apparently discussing state secrets here, although Milly has no clue as to why. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“My Seahorse! I just got her serviced and detailed, almost good as new!”
“Seahorse?” I ask, half amused by the name. I see her face cloud over with sudden confusion, tension and regret as if she’s just given away some grand state secret, but it quickly passes and she laughs. “Yes! Like the sea creatures! I love the name, don’t you?”
“They’re fine I guess,” I respond, puzzled at her reaction. “Where are we going?”
“To town to pick up the journals, like I said.” She opens the drivers side door, and I go for the passenger side door. The interior is immaculate, just like the outside.
“Sure. Alright. But I have to tell you I don’t think I can give up my phone for this month,” I tell her directly, and it’s mostly the truth. I’m still waiting on that internal investigation and disciplinary review after all.
“And why is that?” Irena asks as the truck roars to life and she pulls out into the open air. I see a path made of two tire track laid into the lawn running down the right side of the manor, leading to the front.
“Well, like I said I’m kinda out of a job, but not technically as of this moment. I’m on administrative leave while they investigate, which might take all month if Jessica has any say in it. She’ll be doing her best to get my yeeted out onto the street, I know that much!”

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! Milly getting informed of a few details here and there, now that she's at the point of the story where she Knows. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“But how do people get into heaven after they die?” I ask as that particular old detail sticks out for me.
“They don’t?”
“What?”
“You see,” Craig says from where he’s now standing upright, “when people die, they don’t exactly go where all the religions say they go, like heaven or hell or the various afterlives. All of that is more like propaganda, to be honest. Souls go… somewhere else when people die. No one is exactly sure where or how, no one has the magic to interfere with that, as far as we know.”
“Hell is real?”
The confused silence that fills my room speaks volumes. “…yes? That’s the thing. For just about every Celestial realm, there’s a mirroring Infernal realm. With a few exceptions. They come in like a package deal. These all fall under the umbrella of the Immortal Realms, alongside full Dragons and various immortal individuals who hold immortal power by themselves.”
“Wait, dragons and half-dragons are separate?”

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips. Milly here is in a dream... or it's more of a memory? But not her own? It's really strange, even in context with the rest of the chapter. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“Shh, calm please. Very well,” the man says and then gives a sigh. He then turns fully towards me and straightens up into a proper upright posture. “Millicent Adams, I am your father.”
“Bullshit! My father is dead.”
He falters, as if the whiplash response is not what he expected. Even his well-proportioned face dissolves into confusion. “Excuse me?”
“He’s dead. Either that or a lousy worthless deadbeat. I never had a real father. I’m an orphan.” The words tumble out of me in a steady stream as anger builds inside my chest. What this man is saying is nothing more than a taunt, an insult, some sick joke at my expense.
“Oh. I see. I need to explain more. Please, look at this child. What do you see?” he says and gestures at the baby he’d been looking at. I glance down at the same moment as the baby opens its… her eyes. She’s wrapped in a pink blanket, so she’s probably a her, considering the surroundings. Her eyes… her eyes are something else. Purple, just like mine. I stare into them every morning in the mirror, and these look identical. I glance down at the name tag hanging off the side of the crib.
‘Millicent Adams’
“What is this?” I ask.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! Gone with something a tad more vibey today, what with the lack of the actual word or synonyms in this WIP. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“You want something?” I ask Irena, gesturing towards the now lighter table.
“No, thank you, go ahead.”
I nod and do just that, walking over the entire length of the dance floor. There’s a fine layer of sand and ash on it, a few bits of moisture and one or two dropped flowers. The students are going to love cleaning all this up tomorrow.
Tomorrow. It’s actually Halloween tomorrow! I count the days and yes, we’ve all been here almost a month already! Holy crap does time fly when you’re going through a whole mental breakdown, reconstruction and reorienting. I think about how much I’ve changed over this past month as I reach the table. I take a paper cup and fill it up with punch, which to my surprise has not been spiked. I shake my head at college memories corrupting my expectations and down it in one go.
Yeah, I’ve changed so much, and I cringe inwardly when I consider how I must have looked from the outside with how I acted. I turn and spot Clara, sitting on a chair near the entrance to the kitchen, where Cook is working. Clara looks exhausted already from the festivities, but is smiling widely at everyone involved. I wonder how ridiculous the last six years have been, living with me not being able to see those fox ears right in front of my face every day.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Hello there #Writesky and #Writingcommunity! I have week 3's progress report on #TLC2 for you, and I've managed to catch up on the loss of momentum from week two, and then some! The slump is over for now! #Amwriting

Trackbear.app project, described as this:

Longing for TLC
Yesterday, Jennifer Carpenter had it all. Newly married and fresh from her honeymoon, co-partner of a wildly successful new human-centric PMC on the galactic stage and surrounded by a host of found Family. Now, however, she finds herself stranded on a planet covered with hidden unexploded ordinance, staked immovably into the prototype mech suit she got to drive for a momentary demonstration, and is now being hunted by a rival mercenary organisation hellbent on finding the location of Earth through any means necessary, including torturing her when they finally find her.

50388 words completed as of day 21 of the project at an average pace of 2399 words a day, with today's total being 4187 words alone! The daily graph tempo has a far more steep curve to it signifying an uptick of word rate.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! Here we have Milly busy using one of her strange abilities she's not capable of consciously acknowledging quite yet. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Once or twice I feel eyes on me, but I pay them no mind while I find my way down to the basement from the kitchen, almost by instinct, and I begin to snake my way through the extensive maze of rooms down there. It takes an hour before I finish and make my way back to the first or ground floor, whatever you’re supposed to call it, to continue what I started there. Then the second floor, and then the top one. Every room with a door that’ll open, I sweep with this process, not taking in any conscious detail as I do so. A bright conduit of sensation rushes up and down the fingers that are in constant contact with the building, helping shape and fill in the surrounding sensations as I go, like a tiny moving stream filling in the space between dry gravel.
By the time I’m finished with the ground floor, I’m already achieving a vague understanding of it all, one that becomes sharper and clearer the more I proceed. I skip past the in-use classroom as its door is closed, because I know very well that trying this with everyone present will cause far too much confusion.
Many more rooms have been passed over like this, and these are details to be filled in at a later occasion. Today, however, I finish at Irena’s office door. Like a violin string that finally snaps after years of dedicated service to music, the valley dissolves, and my conscious mind floods back to reality.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

G'evening #TFOTSnip! Milly trying to cope with the training regiment she and Val cooked up after her mid-book mental re-arrangement. #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

Val is right, we’re getting nowhere, and I hate to agree with him on anything. I shake my head, trying to get feeling back into it, or at least into my mouth so I can speak without slurring, or just do anything with my mouth without excessive drooling.
“What else do you suggest?” I ask him, and he grows quiet for a few seconds.
“I have been thinking… the Remembrance you have… do you still remember it?”
I look him full in the face as I consider how to tell him that that single memory gets replayed to me every night, digging a deeper and deeper groove into my mind that I’ll never be able to forget, no matter how much I might want to at some point. Do I get snarky? Ironic? Evasive? What do I want from this man right now, and the entire school as it is? The training session has turned more into a spectator sport than anything, and Clara even came down to watch as we ‘trained’.
She’s sitting between Gesa and Galilah right now, talking with the two sisters while shooting me another concerned look. I guess she doesn’t like what we’re doing right now.
“Yes, I remember it. Every word like it happened five minutes ago,” I answer him, deciding on being as direct as possible.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

G'afternoon #TFOTSnip! Miss Irena addressing the newly arrived students of the school, laying down the situation for them for the month that is to come, firstly by dismissing the manor staff for a month-long holiday (except for Cook). #writesky #writingprompts #writingcommunity

As if on cue, the line of servants takes a bow and then proceeds to exit through the front door, walking past the confused students. I catch a glimpse of a waiting minivan waiting for them outside, doors open and luggage already inside. Only the man in brown and another, more scruffy looking older man in the well-worn remains of a black and white uniform remains where the group of adults stood.
“You may be wondering why I just did that,” Irena continues, and she’s not wrong. “The ones who have returned know well why, as do a few others. For the rest, a part of this month will consists of you learning about the prepared materials as well as learning to respect your surroundings, especially if they are the property of other people. Now you won’t be employed to perform such burdensome tasks such as polishing all the silverware or re-shingling the roof or any such task, but you will be expected to clean up after yourselves and keep the place tidy.” A few rumbles of discontent creep up, but the group seems mostly accepting of this.
“And to make sure that all bring their side to this agreement, Jeffrey will keep a watchful eye on all for this purpose,” Irena says then gestures back towards where the creature is standing on his shelf on the one wall, in plain view of everyone below. He takes the opportunity to stand up on his back legs to grasp at the air excitedly like a raccoon would do. Strange animal.

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L.M. du Plessis 📚💙 ‪✨Writing TLC Sequel✨ @smoking-gnu.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

G'morning #WIPSnips! Scene from one of the several in-danger incidents Milly experience while employed at this school. #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

“Milly!” I hear Genevieve’s muffled cries from inside the manor, the sound stifled from the closed doors and windows. “Milly, we’re inside and closing everything! Run away! Get away from them!”
Good idea. But there’s nowhere to run to, as I’m almost hemmed in from all sides and almost against the manor wall. Individual snakes are again leaping at me somehow, something normal snakes aren’t capable of.
The constrictor’s body separates from my hand, covering it in dark goo after one last strike, and the throng surges towards me in anticipation. I give it all one last look, then turn around and leap for the nearby gutter pipe ascending up the side of the building towards the roof. I’m really hoping I can get in through a window on the second or third floor at least.
My boots are really no made for this kind of activity, but I make it up to the second floor with some difficulty, nearly slipping and falling because of my gore-hand, but I make it to a window that I can access with my clean hand. I try to pull it open by force and, when it doesn’t budge, try to break the glass by slapping it with my hand. It doesn’t even budge, but a slight blue glow flashes over it every time I hit it, followed by an almost electric sounding tone.

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