Flash Fiction Friday 3-16-12: "Our Place Always Smelt of Roses"

(Source image: "Forbidden Embrace" by Igor Vasiliadis)

"It's hopeless, then?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say that. The Chancellor may have forbidden it, but as long as we're careful to not reveal anything in public, we should be all right."

"I don't know. I love you, but I don't want to get popped into one of Creedy's black bags, either."

Valerie smiled. "Then we'll just have to be sure we do all of our loving here at home, where we're safe from prying eyes."

They sank down on the bed, clothes already falling free, and met in a tender, bruising embrace. Superheated skin met silken skin; fingers explored, caressed; tongues twined and danced. They molded together, melting and merging, casting caution and fear to the wind.

Forbidden or not, there was just no way they could deny this intensity, this connection.

This love.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Your challenge for today was to use the picture above and write a flash fiction of not more than 160 words. Additionally, I provided a key word I wanted to see used somewhere in the submission:

"...hopeless..."

Nobody's checking word counts, or for the key phrase, but you're only cheating yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're doing it to earn a spanking (in which case, see me after class).

Special Bonus Director's Commentary Track: 

The title of the picture determined where I went with this one. "Forbidden Embrace" gave me an idea, and then I took inspiration from elsewhere. Readers of Alan Moore and David Lloyd's seminal graphic novel "V for Vendetta", or for that matter viewers of the Wachowski Brothers' excellent film adaptation, will no doubt recognize where I got Valerie and her lover. If you haven't read the graphic novel or seen the movie, do so. Both are well worth taking in; although the story's crackdown on lesbians and gays is only a small part of the greater picture, I think it says a lot that when we start taking away rights from gays and lesbians and telling them they aren't free to love who they choose, it's only a short couple of steps from there to a totalitarian regime where no one is safe and nothing is allowed without the consent of the government. Fuck that.

If you are playing along this week, please leave your link below using the widget. It will appear in the text of the post itself, not in the comments, so everyone that's playing will be listed here. This frees me from having to chase people down to find out if they're playing or update the Friday post several times for late entries. Your cooperation is appreciated.

In any case, the participants list is below. Go check them out, and thanks to all who played along.



Please note: This will be the last FFF challenge (and probably the last post) from me for some time until probably mid- or possibly late April. I have some personal issues to deal with as well as severe crunch time at my workplace and can't devote any spare time to larking about as I might wish. Thanks for your understanding.


-- PB

Flash Fiction Friday Challenge for 3-16-12

(Source image: "Forbidden Embrace" by Igor Vasiliadis)

Your challenge for this Friday, 3-16-12, is to use the picture above to write a flash fiction of no more than 160 words. I would also like you to please use this phrase in your submission:

"...hopeless..."

As usual, nobody's checking word counts, or the key phrase, but you only cheat yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're breaking them to earn a spanking....in which case, see me after class.

My take on this pic will go up by 12:01 AM on Friday morning. If you are participating this week (and the more the merrier -- tell all your friends. Enemies, too, if you like), simply stop by any time after that and leave your link using the widget in the body of the post. Then everybody will know you're playing along and they'll come leave nice comments on your entry. Everyone wins!

Here's a button for you if you want to include that in your post. Use it to link back to the challenge post, if you like, or link to the Flash Fiction Friday FAQ if you'd rather do that. Please do provide a link back to either the challenge post, to my main page at http://insatiabear.blogspot.com/, or to the FAQ. That Flash Fiction Friday FAQ is also the link you should visit if you're new to the whole FFF thing and have questions. I want everybody to enjoy this, after all.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Please note: This will be the last FFF challenge from me for some time until probably mid-April. I have some personal issues to deal with as well as severe crunch time at my workplace and can't devote any spare time to larking about as I might wish. I'll see you folks this Friday, and then again in April.


 -- PB

Flash Fiction Friday 2-17-12: "A Ballet on Silk Sheets"

(Source image: unknown title, photo by Mina Bast)

"Now," she said. "Take me now. The rose is nice, and the dinner was excellent, but now I want dessert."

Time stretched, folded, twisted like taffy. She rocked atop me, hips moving slowly; then her legs were up over my shoulders as I thrust deeply inside; then she was gripping the bedframe as I pounded her from behind. A dance of decadence, a symphony of sensations, musk and sweat, heights of pleasure, cries of joy.

Afterwards we lay, spent, tangled together, hearts hammering. She sighed softly, contented.

"Happy Valentine's Day, love," I murmured.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Your challenge for today was to use the picture above and write a flash fiction of less than 100 words. Additionally, I provided a key word I wanted to see used somewhere in the submission:

"...folded..."

Nobody's checking word counts, or for the key phrase, but you're only cheating yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're doing it to earn a spanking (in which case, see me after class).

Special Bonus Director's Commentary Track:


I originally intended this to be much more raw and primal, more about animal lust than romantic love -- but then I saw the rose, and suddenly my viewpoint shifted in another completely different direction. I hope your own Valentine's Day was at least this lovely and more. If it wasn't, well, I hope you'll have some fun soon.


If you are playing along this week, please leave your link below using the widget. It will appear in the text of the post itself, not in the comments, so everyone that's playing will be listed here. This frees me from having to chase people down to find out if they're playing or update the Friday post several times for late entries. Your cooperation is appreciated.

In any case, the participants list is below. Go check them out, and thanks to all who played along.



Please note there will be no challenge next week and possibly the week after that. I will be occupied with personal and business matters and won't have the time or access to devote to FFF. Check with some of the other participants if you like, and be of good cheer; I shall return. 

-- PB

Flash Fiction Friday Challenge for 2-17-12

(Source image: unknown title, photo by Mina Bast)

Your challenge for this Friday, 2-17-12, is to use the picture above to write a flash fiction of less than 100 words. I would also like you to please use this phrase in your submission:

"...folded..."

As usual, nobody's checking word counts, or the key phrase, but you only cheat yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're breaking them to earn a spanking....in which case, see me after class.

My take on this pic will go up by 12:01 AM on Friday morning. If you are participating this week (and the more the merrier -- tell all your friends. Enemies, too, if you like), simply stop by any time after that and leave your link using the widget in the body of the post. Then everybody will know you're playing along and they'll come leave nice comments on your entry. Everyone wins!

Here's a button for you if you want to include that in your post. Use it to link back to the challenge post, if you like, or link to the Flash Fiction Friday FAQ if you'd rather do that. Please do provide a link back to either the challenge post, to my main page at http://insatiabear.blogspot.com/, or to the FAQ. That Flash Fiction Friday FAQ is also the link you should visit if you're new to the whole FFF thing and have questions. I want everybody to enjoy this, after all.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Check back here on Friday for the list of participants as well as my own take. And as always, if you have any photos or artwork you'd like to see used in an upcoming week, send them my way.

Please note that there will be no FFF next week or the week after as I will be preoccupied with business and personal matters. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves in the meantime, or maybe somebody else would like to host for those two weeks.

 -- PB

Flash Fiction Friday 2-10-12: "A Rose in the Battleground"

(Source image: "Offering" by Valery Bareta)

“It's no use,” she wept. “I'll never be any good to you.”

He smiled. “Don't be ridiculous. Your body knows what it wants. You just have to give it time.”

She shook her head, crying harder. “Dammit, just go. You've been so patient, I can't stand it.”

He stooped and lifted her effortlessly. “Not a chance. You're worth far too much to me for me to just leave now, when you need me so much.”

Wrapped in the warmth of his embrace, feeling the proof of his passion against her thigh, she felt suddenly light as a feather. Maybe he wasn't wrong, at that.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Your challenge for today was to use the picture above and write a flash fiction of 64-123 words. Additionally, I provided a key phrase I wanted to see used somewhere in the submission:

"...light as a feather..."

Nobody's checking word counts, or for the key phrase, but you're only cheating yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're doing it to earn a spanking (in which case, see me after class).

Special Bonus Director's Commentary Track:

This picture spoke to me very strongly. She looks so vulnerable, so broken, that this story sprang to mind almost fully formed. Clearly she was having issues of some kind and he, being the patient sort who recognizes a gem when he sees it, thinks she's worth the trouble. I like happy endings. I hope you do too.


If you are playing along this week, please leave your link below using the widget. It will appear in the text of the post itself, not in the comments, so everyone that's playing will be listed here. This frees me from having to chase people down to find out if they're playing or update the Friday post several times for late entries. Your cooperation is appreciated.

In any case, the participants list is below. Go check them out, and thanks to all who played along.



Check back here on Monday for the next challenge! And if you have any photos or artwork you'd like to see in a future challenge, please send them my way. 

-- PB

Flash Fiction Friday Challenge for 2-10-12

(Source image: "Offering" by Valery Bareta)

Your challenge for this Friday, 2-10-12, is to use the picture above to write a flash fiction of 64-123 words. I would also like you to please use this phrase in your submission:

"...light as a feather..."

As usual, nobody's checking word counts, or the key phrase, but you only cheat yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're breaking them to earn a spanking....in which case, see me after class.

My take on this pic will go up by 12:01 AM on Friday morning. If you are participating this week (and the more the merrier -- tell all your friends. Enemies, too, if you like), simply stop by any time after that and leave your link using the widget in the body of the post. Then everybody will know you're playing along and they'll come leave nice comments on your entry. Everyone wins!

Here's a button for you if you want to include that in your post. Use it to link back to the challenge post, if you like, or link to the Flash Fiction Friday FAQ if you'd rather do that. Please do provide a link back to either the challenge post, to my main page at http://insatiabear.blogspot.com/, or to the FAQ. That Flash Fiction Friday FAQ is also the link you should visit if you're new to the whole FFF thing and have questions. I want everybody to enjoy this, after all.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Check back here on Friday for the list of participants as well as my own take, and then again on Monday for the next FFF challenge! And as always, if you have any photos or artwork you'd like to see used in an upcoming week, send them my way.

 -- PB

Flash Fiction Friday 2-3-12: "Crystalline Dream"

(Image stolen from Lexi some time ago; title unknown, artist probably Adam Spizak)

She looked, curiously, at the pill in her palm. This was going to take her to places undreamed?

Almost without thinking, she put it to her mouth, swallowed.

************************************************

Waves of liquid light, sweeping, rising. Crystalline fire spiraling along her nerves, setting them aflame. Skin singing with sensation. A great gulf, filling with burning ice.

Scattered notes dancing in the swirling wind. Mighty gears turning, meshing, driving her higher. Globes of ecstasy, bubbling up and through her. Building and foaming, gyring and twisting, lithe and effortless. Floodflames as she neared the tautened edge, then crossed it in screams of wonder and joy.

(Click for details on FFF!)

Your challenge for today was to use the picture above and write a flash fiction of 85-105 words. Additionally, I provided a key phrase I wanted to see used somewhere in the submission:

"...crystalline..."

Nobody's checking word counts, or for the key phrase, but you're only cheating yourself if you break the rules. Unless you're doing it to earn a spanking (in which case, see me after class).

Special Bonus Director's Commentary Track:

This artwork fascinated me. Even though I've never done any hallucinogenics, it seemed to be a pretty good representation of how one might seem. I crossed that with my hazy ideas of what I think the female orgasm might feel like, and then stirred briskly with lyrical and poetic writing. The result, I think, speaks for itself. I hope you enjoyed it.

Understand that I don't advocate recreational drug use -- it seems to me to be an easy way to get lost in an "outside" world, while losing touch with the real world and, incidentally, blowing lots of money -- but I can't help but wonder what an acid trip, or a mescaline trip, might do for someone who was already sensually-minded.

The title comes from the song of the same name by Shadow Gallery. Prog-rock is very good at describing dream worlds, so it makes a good soundtrack.


If you are playing along this week, please leave your link below using the widget. It will appear in the text of the post itself, not in the comments, so everyone that's playing will be listed here. This frees me from having to chase people down to find out if they're playing or update the Friday post several times for late entries. Your cooperation is appreciated.

In any case, the participants list is below. Go check them out, and thanks to all who played along.



Check back here on Monday for the next challenge! And if you have any photos or artwork you'd like to see in a future challenge, please send them my way. Thanks to Lexi for providing this week's art.

-- PB