February is almost over and days are getting longer. At least for another couple of weeks and then we’ll be dragged back into darkness thanks to Daylight Saving Time, which saves nothing and only screws up everyone’s body clock. But, that’s not why we’re here today. Nope. Today is about new words and inspiration. The fun news is, I won last weeks’s Thursday Threads and this is what the judge had to say: Of all the wonderful pieces this week, this one feels the most layered and controlled. The domestic calm contrasts beautifully with the unsettling revelation about dreams. The worldbuilding is subtle but rich. The dialogue carries tension without exposition overload. The closing exchange lands cleanly and ominously. Loved it! His opinion did wonders for my ego! Here’s the prompt: *”You know what I mean?”*

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Ariel neatly sliced his French toast into exact squares. He had not doused the plate with syrup and three link sausages lined up with military precision next to a perfectly round fried egg, the yolk almost orange in color staring at him like the sun through a white cloud. He ignored Druic, regretting the fact he’d told the kid of his dream.

Druic looked everywhere but at the man sitting across the table from him. He poked at the pile of scrambled eggs on his plate then chased a piece of bacon across it. He sipped his coffee, drank his orange juice. And he fretted. Fae did not dream and the fact that not only had Ariel dreamed vividly, but that he was willing to discuss it put him on alert. In the back of his mind, he knew he should make note of this occurrence and notify Queen Titania but dreams were…bad. They were often the precursor to madness in his people. He didn’t want Ariel to be crazy. He jerked when Ariel spoke.

“I know what you’re thinking, Druic.”

He forced himself to look at the other fae. “I don’t want you to be mad!” He blurted the works without thinking.

Ariel nodded. “What do you know of dreams?”

The boy floundered so Ariel continued. “We don’t dream. But we can enter other’s dreams. Do you know what I mean?”

“No sir.”

“We—or at least some of us—have the ability to walk into another’s dreams. We can manipulate them. Guide them. Whisper to their subconscious and lure them into doing our bidding. It’s just another form of enchantment.”

Shocked, Druic could only ask, “Who?”

“My guess is Titania.”

“But why?”

“Because she can.”
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Yes, there are dreams involved, only they might not be dreams. And Titania is almost as persistent as Sade when it comes to interferring with Ariel’s Dang Book. Add in a nosy werewolf and a pesky dragon and it’s no wonder I keep chasing my tail on this one. Anyway, new words are welcome. Writers, grab the prompt if it sparks ideas. Readers, this is when I normally ask a question that pertains to the snippet but today? I got nuthin’. Know what I mean? 😉