Business Unusual

Yeah I am not gonna lie… they are probably some of the most hateable characters I have ever written, and if you aren’t ready to crawl into the screen and punch them in the face by the end of this story, I will consider it a personal failure.

Oh man they are so sweet but also please buckle up because this story is going to be a fucking doozy.

So I answered a similar ask a few days ago, but I planning on publishing the first chapter of Long Road Home after the latest In Vino chapter is posted!

This is a little more than 7 lines, but I couldn’t help myself. Enjoy!!

“How old were you, when you moved in with your dad and stepmom?”

Elain watched as a muscle ticked in Az’s jaw, his fingers flexing against his glass as he said, “I always lived with them. Even before my mom died.”

Elain’s confusion must have shown, bc after a beat he explained, “My parents were never together. And my mom—“

He blew out a breath.

“She was…fragile. She’d originally planned to move back in with her folks in Tahlequah and raise me there, but when my dad told her no, she didn’t have it in her to fight him on it.”

“So she just…left you with him and your stepmom?”

“No, never,” Az said, fingers brushing the medallion he always wore at his neck. “She never would have left me. She just—we all lived there. Together. It’s a long story as to why, but that’s just how it was.”

Az glanced back at her then, a sad smile ghosting across his face.

You are so kind, thank you!

I am working on the next chapter now, I’d say I’m about 40% of the way through.

You will definitely get plenty of Nessian goodness in this chapter, but it’s also full of lots of other goodies, too.

For example…

How’s the new crib, Scrooge McDuck? Cash typed back.

Just had the servants fill up the pool with the last of daddy’s gold coins, Rhys replied. All the place is missing now is my painting. Tell Nesta I’ll give her fifteen grand to take it off her hands.

Cash didn’t need clarification on which painting Rhys was referring to, since his friend had barely been able to shut up about the thing since he’d first laid eyes on it months ago.

I wanted to let you know I adore all the stories that you wrote so far, both the longer ones and the one-shots! I love the way you write all the Elriel moments.

I have read all the stories so far and I think you have a unique way to present each character in the truest way possible! No pressure whatsoever, i recently read the teaser for Long Way Home and it is stuck in my head ever since and i would like to ask you, when do you plan to officially start the story.

Hi friend,

That’s very kind of you to say! I love getting to share my version of these characters with yall, so it means the world to me that you’re enjoying the journey as much as I am!

I am currently working on writing the latest In Vino Veritas chapter, but I plan to publish the first chapter of Long Road Home after than, and go back and forth between the two stories from there.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

Feyre wore a yellow satin dress adorned with an elegant cherry blossom print, the off-the-shoulder cut and trailing overskirt making her look so much older than her 21 years. Or perhaps it was the look in her steely blue eyes, the self-possession in them reminding him so much of Nesta he almost had to do a double take.

“You look lovely,” he said, extending the flute to her with a smile.

“Thanks,” she said, accepting it and taking a grateful swig. “The dress is Nesta’s, but she never wears it because—”

“—it’s not black,” they finished in unison.

Feyre laughed, taking another swig of her drink.

“She says that yellow makes her look like a toad.”

Now it was Cash’s turn to laugh.

“I highly doubt that, but I’d agree it suits your style better than it does hers.”

They lapsed into comfortable silence for a beat as Feyre studied him, her expression neutral but her gaze wary.

Tell Nes I’m sorry,” Elain said. “For ruining her big night.”

“You haven’t ruined anything,” Cash assured her. “And I know she can be overbearing at times, but try to be patient with her. She just wants you to be happy, is all.”

“I just wish she understood how intimidating she can be. She makes Gray nervous, and he gets weird when he’s nervous.”

Cash couldn’t help himself this time.

“If he really plans to go to law school, it might not be bad practice for him. I get the impression from your sister that litigation isn’t for the faint of heart.”

Elain rolled her eyes, but at least some of the tension had melted from her expression as she said, “that’s dangerously close to a lecture, and we both know it.”

“Fair enough, Cash said, grinning as he rose to his feet. “All I’m saying is that if Graysen thinks Nesta is a lot, he ought to try Eris Vanserra on for size.”

Elain’s cheeks flamed scarlet at Eris’s mention, and Cash felt his irritation reigniting.

“What are the odds that he’s going to be there tonight?” Elain asked, nose wrinkling. “He’s always impossible to shake when I don’t have some sort of buffer.”

“Unfortunately I’d say the odds are pretty high, but say the word and I will be your buffer.”

Elain worried at her plush lower lip, and Cash mentally kicked himself for adding to her troubles. He should have known better than to mention Vanserra in this house.

“Unfortunately he knows your Nesta’s boyfriend, which, in his mind, means you don’t pose a competitive threat,” Elain said, sounding resigned.

“How about this then,” Cash said, unable to fully keep the menace out of his voice. “You say the word and I knock his head off his fucking shoulders.”

Elain laughed, eyes a little brighter now.

“Thank you for the offer, but don’t worry about me. I know Nesta doesn’t think so, but I am a grown woman; I can fight my own battles.”

Cash didn’t doubt it, but he found himself tempted to mention that if she didn’t want him to play buffer, he knew someone coming tonight who’d likely be more than willing. In the end he decided to keep his mouth shut, not wanting to undermine Elain’s agency by suggesting she needed someone to play knight in shining armor. Still...

I am working on the latest In Vino Veritas chapter, and I’m looking for some feedback on a small (spoiler-free) section of the chapter to see if it reads well or if it should be tweaked.

If are interested in providing some honest feedback, please reach out to me via DM!

I joined tumblr to follow you and yay - there is more Elriel!! Tender jar was wonderful.

I saw the roses post and am not sure it how this works but any snippets from the Elriel (Oaklahoma) or Eloran (lawyers) would be amazing!🌹🌹🌹

Do you take any questions about your creative process?

Thank you again for sharing!

Ps apologies for gushing

Hi friend!

Sorry I never replied! Still, I really appreciate your kind words, and yes I am always happy to answer any and all questions about my creative process! You can always send me an ask, or a private DM if you’d rather! Hopefully we can catch up soon.

Thanks again for reaching out, here’s a saucy little snippet from Long Road Home!

“After everyone Pops and Marianne did for you, and you still end up just like your momma.”

“Don’t you dare talk about my mother.”

The door to the massive walk-in was closed, but the stormy orchestration and thundering bass vocals echoing from behind the door told Cash that Nesta was home, and that she was in a mood. In his experience, she only listened to Verdi when she was ticked off.

After a minute the current song ended, the music swelling in a cavalcade of furious strings that Cash recognized from Nesta’s “Rage Aria” playlist.