Sage like the Pumpkin Spice
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sagecollins.bsky.social
Sage like the Pumpkin Spice
@sagecollins.bsky.social
450 followers 150 following 3.9K posts
Mad scientist, testing H2O to keep it safe from supervillains & polluters. Prolly posting about writing, workouts, games/tv, or cats. Maybe about mud. She/her. No LLMs/AI allowed
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sagecollins.bsky.social
🎶 Snoopy sobbing skeleton 🎵

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From The Magic in Our Bones 🦴😭
Black text, green background, “system” highlighted pink Nico enters, wearing his Charlie Brown pajama top, the yellow one with the dark squiggle at the bottom, and navy-blue pants with tiny images of the whole Peanuts gang. He doesn't have to point to my bed for me to know what he wants. When we were about ten, Nico was plagued by nightmares, and every night he would end up sleeping in my bed, just holding me like I was his security blanket... making the Peanuts pajamas he wore at the time apt (though Linus was only represented in miniature). Even though he doesn't sleep and can't have nightmares, I bet his brain is cycling through the day just like mine is, minus the Azura stuff. Though who knows what he and Mom had to deal with at the end of the Council meeting after I bailed? Bailing on them wasn't cool. Scooching over in bed is the least I can do. He lies down behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. It definitely feels different, just his humerus and radius around my middle, instead of his biceps and triceps. But it also feels normal. Just Nico, my brother, after a nightmare of a day. Then he buries his face into my back, while his body is wracked with inaudible sobs. The pit in my stomach that was already growing into quite a black hole after today, doubles in size at the feel of his convulsing body. I let him get it out of his SYSTEM; Nico always needs to cry it out before I try to calm him down.
November 25, 2025 at 8:38 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Overall Progress Shows a circle with a purple line 83.5% of the way around it and the words "50,100 words 83.5%" inside. Then: Words left to go: 9900 words Your average pace so far is: 2088 words/day So you'll hit your goal after: 5 days During which Usain Bolt could run: 5088.83 km
November 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Azura has some opinions on the education system & English lit

“Introduce” instead of “debut”

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From The Magic in Our Bones 🦴📚
Black text, green background, “introduce” highlighted pink Nico grins and mimes reading, then gives her a thumbs up with a questioning look. "He wants to know if you like English, like this weirdo does." "I don't dislike it. There's a lot of interesting literature out there, but I wish we read more recent things, and not just the classics... which basically consist of fiction by white people, mostly guys." Nico mimes reading again, then makes a hand heart. He pokes me, and I again read the question in his expression. "What do you like to read?" "There's all sorts of great young adult fiction out there these days. They could interject more of a love of reading if we were to analyze something that teens like to read. And I think there's a lot to be said for translated fiction. Like we could read Gabriel García Márquez, and I think it would constitute a classic." "But would it be on the AP test?" I say, because that's all my AP teachers seems to care about these days. "Education should be about more than getting a certain score on a test. It should be about getting students to love what they're learning so that they go out into the world and keep learning. It should foster curiosity and INTRODUCE different types of ideas so that students don't all think the same things because that's what they were, every single one of them, taught." Nico's eyes are shining, and if I didn't know better, I'd think that she just inspired the next generation of teacher. But teaching is not in his future, for obvious reasons. Still, he gives her another hand heart.
November 24, 2025 at 9:03 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
I didn’t think I had this word, even though I had a crystal ball as the emoji until I changed the title

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From The Magic in Our Bones 🦴🔮
Black text, green background, “crystal” highlighted pink On the screen is a lot of information about potion witches. "Is that a real thing?" I ask. It sounds like something in fantasy stories about witches. Cauldrons bubbling, witches combining disgusting ingredients like "eye of newt" and "blood of a firstborn prince" or whatever. Real classic MacBeth or Hocus Pocus. Not the stuff of actual witches. Most magic is imperceptible to normies. You won't catch us pulling out a glass ball to talk to the spirits or center our chakras with crystals or telling your fortune with tea leaves. Some specialties do better with a hand motion or whispered words, but more powerful witches of those specialties don't even need those. No normie was going to spot Nico imbuing plants with power so that they'd grow faster and more vibrantly. The only reason normies know about my power is that I advertise it, at least the matchmaking portion. If I took anyone's hands in mine, I'd see their match, though my eventual pronouncement would out me quickly.
November 22, 2025 at 9:03 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Fact: Nico is a skeleton

Fiction: He did not get in a fight with Damien

Speculation: Lilia’d be starting her own fight if she wasn’t currently bound

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From The Magic in Our Bones 🦴💩
Black text, green background, “direction” highlighted pink "I can't say whether Nico's a skeleton or not." He looks sideways at my brother, sizing him up and down. "But whatever Mr. Clearborne did to him is definitely dark in nature, and I have proof." So this is how it's going to be. He's going to claim that this imaginary strength Nico used on him was because he was a zombie or demon or something. Not a skeleton. I notice that he dismissed that as being too weak to break his arm. But something else, that he can say has hidden strength. I fight to open my mouth, to get out of my invisible bonds. I'm not going to stand here and let him tell lies about my brother to assuage his ego. "Today, Nico and I got into a fight." My brother's skull finally raises up and looks in his DIRECTION. Even Nico can smell the bullshit coming, and that's saying something. "He grabbed my wrist during the fight and snapped it in half." "No, he didn't." Goddess bless Azura and her tiny quiet voice breaking through that piece of turd testimony.
November 21, 2025 at 8:40 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Nico’s first day back to school & his normie friends are curious about his “illness”

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From The Magic in Our Bones 🦴🎺
Black text, green background, “special” in pink "Nico, aren't you going to eat?" Tina is considering the hot dog the cafeteria served her while she considers why my brother isn't eating. Even though every single person at this table has already fawned over him, delighted that he's back from the "illness" that he suffered for the past year, his glamoured face lights up when she addresses him. He shakes his head, then points to the base of his throat. "He has to have a special diet," I say. This is the cover story we've made up for eating, for talking. "His throat's so screwed up, you know? It really sucks." "So, you can't play anymore?" Dylan asks. He lowers his eyes and shakes his head. Everybody at this table, except Melody and me, are in the marching band, as was Nico. But due to his lack of lips, much less lungs, he's not going to be playing the trumpet ever again. "Maybe you could learn something new," Melody says, picking at her chickpea salad sandwich. She doesn't like lying, even if it's by omission. Knowing that Nico is dead when everyone around us doesn't is eating away at her. "You could play the drums." Nico shakes his head and points to Caleb. No, he wouldn't steal someone else's position just so he could march around under the stadium lights. The season's over, anyway.
November 20, 2025 at 9:04 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Lilia being a bit selfish here. She’s just caught Nico sneaking back in after he visited her best friend

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From The Magic in Our Bones 🦴🥉
Black text, green background, “third” highlighted pink It feels good to laugh about it. I'm not going to lie, now that I'm over my fear of where Nico was, I've moved on to another emotion. Something about their relationship does make me...sad, I guess. It was always me and Nico. And me and Melody. We've been a trio for ages, and it's true that she's always loved Nico, but when it came to duos, it was me and him or me and her. Now, suddenly, it's him and her, and I'm the THIRD wheel, left on the sidelines. If he was still alive, they would have soulmated. I'm not dying to get a soulmate or anything, but where would that leave me, with the two people I'm closest to now the most important part of each other's lives? And it's selfish of me. Because I would give anything for that to be the reality now. Because nobody's going to be a more important part of Nico's unlife than me. *My soulmate is Nico.* Down in my soul, I know that that's what I had always expected. Even when I was told that wasn't possible because a love witch needs a romantic soulmate. Part of me is clairvoyant. Maybe I could dodge expectations. But, even ignoring his death, his soulmate was Melody, so it was never going to be me. And there's a petty part of me that's mad about that and an even pettier part of me that's glad that at least the three of us will be soulmate-less together.
November 19, 2025 at 8:41 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
The Council’s really pushing this soulmate thing

Nico translation context: Lilia met Azura earlier & passed out when she took her hands

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From The Magic in Our Bones 🦴🙅‍♀️
Black text, green background, “spend” highlighted pink "We want you to SPEND time with Damien Troy." Even Nico rolls his eyes, and you have to have come up with something entirely ridiculous to get an eyeroll from him. "I know who Damien's current match is, and it's not me, so you're going to have to try harder to hook me up with a witch in town." At least I don't have to explain what aromantic is to them. If they run out of candidates, how can they complain? No, I'm obviously not in love with my best friend. And Willa is "about my age" in that she's a teenager, way too young. Nico's face suddenly changes, furrowed in thought. I glance at him with a "what?" in my face. He touches his hands together, palm-to-palm in the opposite direction, then touches his forehead. Mine throbs in response. Oh, are you freaking kidding me? "There is a new witch your age. Azura Orelo registered with us last week. She's a love witch, like you. A perfect pair, wouldn't you say?" Kill me now.
November 17, 2025 at 8:49 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Nico is just a constant series of emojis, no matter how you try to communicate with him

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From Magic in Our Bones 🦴👍🏻

(was Ace of Cups🔮)
Black text, green background, “run” highlighted pink With a few taps, he pulls up his messenger app and shows it to me. M: Can u come over? I miss u. (Right justified) N: [run emoji] [dash cloud emoji] M: Don't b ridiculous. I'll pick u up. (Right justified) N: [thumbs up emoji] "You were with Mel." I don't know if I'm relieved that he was somewhere so innocuous or pissed again that they still seem to be hiding their relationship. My uncertainty must be clear, because he gives me a worried but hopeful smile. He points to me, then folds his hands against his head that he's cocked, his eyes closed. Next he points to "Mel" on the phone, and makes a fake phone out of his hand that he puts to his ear, then makes an X with his hands. "Melody wanted to call, but didn't want to wake me," I guess. He beams with a thumbs up.
November 16, 2025 at 8:40 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
In a book full of torture, this is the most violent on-screen

Context: BigBad was just cutting Ace's hair (Fuzzy Wuzzy scene)

❗CW: mutilation by knife and stomping on bones❗

From Master/Puppet 🦹🔪
His face snaps to me, and I realize too late that l miscalculated. The tears still stain his cheeks, but his eyes aren't dejected. They're angry. He launches himself off the chair. He doesn't need his legs to work right, just enough leverage to knock me to the ground with him on top of me. The fingers of both hands wrap around my throat, his thumbs pressing in above my Adam's apple and blocking off my air flow. For one wild second, I panic as every plan I made is thwarted by a weakling avenging his lost hair, and then get my hands to Ace's, grab his left pinkie at the knuckle and slice the knife clean through the bone. He screams and releases me, falling back to the ground, cradling his bleeding hand. "Here, let me help you with that," I say. I slit the rope at his wrists, kick his arm out so the bleeding hand hits the ground, and stomp hard on it. The crunch of his bones is satisfying. As are his screams. He writhes on the ground as he manages to get his hand cradled against his chest again, but I don't let it stay there. I tie his hands together and hang him back up, and except for when I grip his hand, he barely fights me. "K-Kill m-m-me," he stammers. It's not a plea to kill him forever. I've tried, trust me. We both know that when he dies, his wounds are scarred over when he comes back. It's a plea to stop his current agony. "I'm sorry, but you have to learn your lesson. Tongue twisters are no call for trying to kill your host.
November 15, 2025 at 10:27 PM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Jealousy!
A gray tortie stands on a quilt covering my legs looking at my hand petting the calico who got to my lap first. A laptop on the side suggests I should be writing, but cats!
November 15, 2025 at 3:56 PM
sagecollins.bsky.social
The final decomposition of Nico (more peaceful than you would expect)

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From Ace of Cups 🔮🏕️
Black text, green background, “week” highlighted pink Mom tried keeping it cold in the house at first, to delay the inevitable. It wasn't a mercy. Nico needed to get to skeletonization to return to his sense of sanity. Neither he nor I were fooled by Mom's attempts to glamour him. It couldn't mask the smell. It couldn't hide the feel of the tissues deteriorating as bacteria finally found him. He came to me and asked for me to help. And as disgusted as I was by the knowledge of what he was, I also knew who he was. It was summer break and the weather was ungodly hot outside, if not in the Arctic Circle that was our house. I took him camping. I hate camping as a rule, but he loved it. I will definitely not be going camping again. Far from Mom, her glamour couldn't reach him, so I watched the whole thing. Nico laying down on the forest floor, letting the bugs and bacteria and fungi take what was left of him. He was a green witch, and it made sense that here, perhaps, he could get some rest. I knelt by him and sang his favorite songs, watching the peace fill what was left of his face. Watching the rest of his tissues deteriorate. I only stopped singing to take care of my basic needs, eating, drinking, sleeping, and so on. He could go without, but I was still human. We were there all WEEK. When we walked out of the forest, I had no voice left, and he had nothing but bones.
November 14, 2025 at 8:38 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
I joined the crowd and did a #bubbel
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November 14, 2025 at 3:38 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Melody has definitely not guessed right

Meanwhile, there’s another match in this scene that Lilia’s failed to spot

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From Ace of Cups 🔮💘
Black text, green background, “build” highlighted pink He's not the only one who's happy he's here. "Nico!" Melody screams from across the hall, and I wince. Guess we're not keeping a low profile about my brother. I probably should have warned her he was coming. She's all blues as she runs up to him and grabs him in a hug so hard, I'm worried she's going to rearrange his bones. "Okay, that was weird." She laughs. He can't laugh, but his mouth and chest make the motions anyway, his eyes dancing. She shoves me playfully. "You didn't want to tell me Nico was back at school?" "I just found out he was coming this morning, and I have other things to think about. Where's my post-New Year's resolution slash pre-Valentine's Day crowd?" "Oh, you know they'll swarm us during lunch." "They better." I'm counting on the money we make this season. I only have one semester before graduation, and this is my best chance to build up the money I need to get out of here. "Once Queen K uses your services..." She spins her lock. "You know she's dying to. She can't be single for the Valentine's Day dance. They're selling tickets next week. I think she's actually on the dance committee and how would that look? There's no way she'll go the whole day without finding out her match. Who do you think it is?" "I can't just pull these things out of midair." She pouts. "It's fun to speculate before you know. I have my guess."
November 13, 2025 at 8:48 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Thanks for this chance to show off how adorkable Nico is

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From Ace of Cups 🔮🧑‍🌾
Black text, green background, “shirt” x2 highlighted pink "Get in, loser, we're going to school," I say with a grin, all hints of annoyance gone. I can't deny my brother the freedom he craves, when he's standing there all full of hope. He bounces on the balls of his feet--or his metatarsals, whatever. "You going in your pjs?" He lifts up a finger and his clothes change from the pajamas he was wearing (why? He doesn't sleep, but it gives him a sense of normalcy) to a t-SHIRT and jeans. He has clothes in his dresser that he can't wear anymore, but the glamour that makes him look human gives him the ability to make whatever clothes he wants, and this t-SHIRT is a replica of one from last year's Christmas wishlist. The heather green tee announces, “I love gardening from my head to-matoes." "That's better than your Captain America pjs?" He gives me a thumbs up.
November 12, 2025 at 9:23 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want!

From the WIP…
Of all the emotions that war inside me when Mom says, "Lilia, take Nico to school with you," I'm annoyed to find that pity for my undead brother beats out anger at the suggestion.
November 11, 2025 at 6:07 PM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Blake would be cat (see below).

It’s Ren who would be the puppy, begging for attention & jumping on the furniture with his big puppy dog eyes so hopeful you’ll give him some love.

#Novmemeber #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
Ren perks up. "Animals? Is Joy turning you into a dog? I'll scratch your ears all the time, Blake! You will always get a treat, and a belly rub if you want it." "A cat. Nothing to do but stretch out on the bed and sleep all day." "Boring." "But you'd still scratch my ears, right?" The moment it's out, I swallow and flip on to my back so I'm not looking at him. I'm overreacting, I know I am. But it's asking him for affection, in earshot of Joy, no less. "And give you catnip," he says, giving me an out. "You should be a crazy cat who plays with me all the time." "You should be a crazy cat who plays all the time." "Your *face* should be a crazy cat who plays all the time," he finishes on cue.
November 11, 2025 at 1:42 PM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Today is Luna's Gotcha Day (her Lunaversary)!

Here she is on the day I got her 😽
A gray and tan tortie sits in front of a matching husband pillow on top of a (mostly) peach and white quilt. She stares at the camera
November 3, 2025 at 3:50 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Fun, one of the fields changes. I wondered why fortnights.
So you'll hit your goal after: 46 days Which on mars would be? 46.36 sols
November 2, 2025 at 1:47 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Very nice, gives you the feel of the old November writing event.
Shows a graph with a diagonal line going from November 1 (not labeled) to November 30, rising from 0 to 60K. A tiny bar represents 1004 words on November 1 Goals > AWNoNo 2025 is at the top. Under is Overall progress Words left to go: 58,996 Your average pace so far is: 1,004 words per day So you'll hit your goal after 59 days Which works out to 4.20 fortnights Today's progress: Today is: day 1 of 30 Pace needed to hit your goal: 2,000 words per day Versus your average, you have: 996 words to go (get it going!) Progress circles for overall and daily word count vs total are shown.
November 2, 2025 at 1:06 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Continuing with “Ace Pride Week. Wrong answers only”

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From Master/Puppet 🦹🏼💅
Black text, green background, “charge” highlighted blue But Evie saying my name that way... I curl my right hand into a fist, and my jagged nails bite into my palm. I bring that hand up to my face. My nails are too long and broken. There was a time they were perfectly manicured, I wouldn't have it any other way. Another symptom of what I've been reduced to. No. I am not worthless. I am not naked, beaten, cut, broken. That is not who I am. I am Ace Freaking Starr, and I won't lie here and take this. I push myself up with my good arm and painfully, slowly, quietly get to my feet. The knife lies beside me, and every movement to reach it is slow and quiet. I can't kill him forever, but maybe once is enough to take charge. I raise it and take two steps towards [BigBad].
October 22, 2025 at 8:05 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Blake did a working to switch places (ghost vs human) with Ren for his birthday. Ren’s coming to terms with some things

Ren’s not sensitive so he can’t see ghosts now that he’s human…but they can still always touch

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From A Paranormal Bromance 3 👻🍃
Black text, green background, “second” x4 highlighted blue He stares at the table, and I've gone from time speeding up and slowing down to feeling every SECOND pass. Every SECOND we try not to think about it. Every SECOND he doesn't choose something to do. Every SECOND he wastes of his limited time as human. "I can't," he says softly. "I-I'm sorry." He pushes off the booth and runs out of the restaurant. Joy stays seated, maybe in shock, but I fly after him. It's the only thing I know how to do. He's outside the restaurant, crouched in the grass and tearing up stalks, like he wants to destroy something and that was the most harmless thing he could find. "Are you here?" he asks. "Yeah." He seems to know, even though he can't see, hear, or sense me. "I'm sorry, Blake. I'm sorry. This is amazing, but... it's not enough time. I don't have enough time." "I know," I say quietly. He pushes himself up and kicks at the grass. "I didn't have enough time! It was stolen from me! | wasn't supposed to die! I was supposed to have more time!" "I know, Ren." This tantrum's seventy-something years in the making - or at least several months, since he learned how he died - and he's probably due it, but I take his hand and unclench it from around the grass, which falls through my fingers to the ground. "I know," I whisper. "I know." He pulls me into him and somehow finds my shoulder to cry into. "It isn't fair. I was supposed to have more time."
October 21, 2025 at 8:27 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Having found out he’s alive, Evie’s let Ace have control of their shared shapeshifting body so they can get answers, & she’s afforded Danny all the protection. But, remember, poor Ace has been tortured for the entire book so far

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From Master/Puppet 🦹🏼🔪
Black text, green background, “might” highlighted blue I raise my chin and say, "You can put away that knife. I won't hurt you." "Right. Your credibility is kind of shot." He steps in front of the closet, and the knife, shit, the knife, I can't stop looking at it. Still, I won't ask again. I won't beg. Not Danny. He doesn't know how to hold it. If I was Evie, she could disarm him fast. But still it's there, and I see him again and again and again, coming at me. I try to look elsewhere, anywhere. Oh. The mirror. Danny says, "Evie has some questions for you," but I'm lost in my reflection. I'm beautiful, gorgeous, perfect. My hair shines, long and white-hot. My face is untouched, both sides without carvings. Everything smooth and lovely. My chest is covered, but I can feel his initials removed from over my heart. My shoulders finally process how wonderful it is not to be hanging from the ceiling, not to have a bullet imbedded in the muscles. My nails are manicured. If I sigh, it's to clear the sob from my throat. Danny moves, and my attention snaps back to him, and I'm broken, naked, hideous again. I struggle to hold on to the form Evie gifted me with. I will not be that person in front of Danny. That thought allows me to keep my beauty. "Ace?" He MIGHT have said it several times. Very calmly, I say, "I'm not answering any questions until you put down the knife." There. I hold all the power. No begging.
October 16, 2025 at 8:23 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Completely invisible (but not literally) throughout his childhood, Ace really doesn’t believe he can be loved unless he’s brainwashing folks.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From Super/Human 🦹🏼🙅🏼
Black text, green background, “care” x 7 highlighted blue. "Ace." Something about her tone makes me finally look up from my work. Her arms are crossed, and she's glaring at me. "Why did you rescue Bug?" "I didn't. You may remember that I got him captured, and then Evie rescued him. I didn't rescue anyone." "You dove out of a car and in front of a fireball for him!" I lower my eyes. "I needed to get back in, just like you said. I didn't save him." "You tried. I watched you try. Stop pushing us away. I throw the pliers across the room. "Why do you care so much why I did it? Stop making me out to be something I'm not. I'm no hero, do you hear me? And I don't have friends. All I need is me and Evie, got it? I don't care." "Ace..." she says, moving towards me. "No, I don't care. I don't care, I DON'T CARE!” I'm screaming, but that doesn't stop Nineteen from embracing me. I startle at her touch, but she doesn't let go. "You care way too much. You care so much that everyone, that anyone loves you that you can't handle it when they do. And I think it's the saddest thing I've ever seen." She creates seventeen copies of herself, all surrounding us in a hug.
October 15, 2025 at 8:06 AM
sagecollins.bsky.social
Oh, Ren, honey, you do deserve better!

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity
From A Paranormal Bromance 3 👻😚
Black text, green background, “push” x3 highlighted blue Did he need me to PUSH him, the one time I didn't PUSH at all? I was so scared I'd PUSH him away. It'd just take one mistake, one confession of feelings he doesn't share to destroy the relationship we have, and I love that relationship too. I could've been happy without more. Every time I've considered what it'd be like to have him love me, what it'd be like to kiss him, I've replaced that thought with some sort of joke or prank. It's easy for me. I'm very good at redirecting my attention so I don't feel sad or scared. I have eighty years of practice. So I haven't let myself dwell on how much I wanted, at least once, to kiss that sarcastic mouth of his. Not like this, though. Not while he's drunk. Not while his head is swimming and his inhibitions are down and he sees me as myself for the first time in days and his questions are all right there in his brain begging to be answered and he's all, *Why not?* That's not love. It's just beer. I deserve better.
October 13, 2025 at 8:18 AM