MFontana
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Alright, I've finished up the quick rough drafts for the two most popular answers from Chapter 2's question ["Who is at the door?"]. All of which was received via DM's on Discord, or direct in-person votes from a few of my invested beta-readers, but the results were torn between two options (shared here below).
With no other reader input yet from folks here on Scribblehub and the deadline for starting the chapter in earnest closing in, I've got only one thing left that could tip the scales one way or the other.
Another poll here on the forums, which will be posted in both the Feedback channel, and the Reader-focused "Latest Chapter Discussion" channel, and the winner will be the result with the most cumulative votes between both polls. [Yes, you can vote in both for all I care, and voting is anonymous, so at most everyone gets two votes].
For this one, however, you've all got something more concrete to vote on besides just the names. I've drafted up two short samples of what the chapter's opening will look like, and you can vote on which one you like the most for the chapter.
Whichever result has the most votes by the time the poll closes next week, will be the opening, and direction, for Chapter 3.
Since this is time-sensitive, the poll will be open for six days, as I really do need to start writing this by next weekend if I'm going to finish the chapter on time.
And yes, the chapter names here are just place-holders for the chapter version. Also, these are early, unpolished, rough drafts and not finished products, so the final chapter may still be slightly different when it is posted.
The face that greeted him was that of one of Isabel's friends. Danielle. Dani as she preferred to be addressed.
Her auburn tresses framing her lightly freckled face as those bright pools of hazel locked onto his own as he could only stare at her, lost in the unexpected surprise of the sight of her here on his front porch. Uninvited.
Rather than shy away, she shifted on her heels only slightly, arching her hips to her left as she cocked her head slightly to the right. A subtle gesture paired with her inquisitive, appraising, gaze.
The subtle shift drew his gaze lower, first to the black band-merch cropped top that hugged the soft curves of her modest bust that gave a subtle arch to the band's name. Within Temptation.
From there, his gaze drifted lower to the gentle flare of her hips and the denim shorts that held tight around them, before her hand brought it back up to her bright and cheerful face.
"Well, are ya gonna invite me in Toby, or just let me stand here and look pretty?" She quipped with a half-shrug of her left hand. "I don't mind if ya stare ya know, but the view ain't free."
"I don't think that's a good idea right now, honestly. I've got a bit of a… situation going on here." He answered, raising a hand to brace it against the door frame while the other held the door open.
"Course ya do. Isabel told me all about it last night." Came Dani's lightning quick, almost planned, retort before the excuse had even left Tobias' lips. "And if ya think I'm just gonna ignore it when one of my friends is in a bind, you've got another thing comin mister." She finished, jabbing her fingers into his chest.
The worst possible visitor that he could have had here. Now.
Special Agent Stevens.
A face he more than recognized from the night before. A face he hoped to not see again anytime soon, even if he knew the exchange about the warrant would only buy him a little time. A day at most, he had figured.
"Good morning, Mr. Anderson. If that's even your real name." Lance stated more than asked, before thrusting a folded document against Tobias' chest and into his grip as his hands rose reflexively to take hold of the paper.
"There. That's your warrant. A warrant to search your home and surrounding property for any questionable objects that may have been tied to the unexplained incident last night."
"This is all under the purview of national security and public safety, so I'm sure you, as a law-abiding citizen, have no issues with this. Namely the thing we both know you've got out back."
Without even waiting for Tobias to look over the document, Stevens made a quick gesture with his right hand, and a number of men in suits piled out of the unmarked utility van parked across the road.
Parked directly in front of Isabel's own home here in town.
External Vote Talley (for transparency in the results)
Dani: +2 (Discord DM's: Ami, Moni)
Lance: +3 (Discord DM: Caitlyn & Text Message: Southy, Jeanne)
With no other reader input yet from folks here on Scribblehub and the deadline for starting the chapter in earnest closing in, I've got only one thing left that could tip the scales one way or the other.
Another poll here on the forums, which will be posted in both the Feedback channel, and the Reader-focused "Latest Chapter Discussion" channel, and the winner will be the result with the most cumulative votes between both polls. [Yes, you can vote in both for all I care, and voting is anonymous, so at most everyone gets two votes].
For this one, however, you've all got something more concrete to vote on besides just the names. I've drafted up two short samples of what the chapter's opening will look like, and you can vote on which one you like the most for the chapter.
Whichever result has the most votes by the time the poll closes next week, will be the opening, and direction, for Chapter 3.
Since this is time-sensitive, the poll will be open for six days, as I really do need to start writing this by next weekend if I'm going to finish the chapter on time.
And yes, the chapter names here are just place-holders for the chapter version. Also, these are early, unpolished, rough drafts and not finished products, so the final chapter may still be slightly different when it is posted.
Chapter 3 - "Dani"
Once he had reached it, Tobias took hold of the doorknob, gave a sharp twist and tugged it open to greet his early-morning visitor with a perplexed expression taking shape upon his face once his bright blue eyes met with those of his visitor.The face that greeted him was that of one of Isabel's friends. Danielle. Dani as she preferred to be addressed.
Her auburn tresses framing her lightly freckled face as those bright pools of hazel locked onto his own as he could only stare at her, lost in the unexpected surprise of the sight of her here on his front porch. Uninvited.
Rather than shy away, she shifted on her heels only slightly, arching her hips to her left as she cocked her head slightly to the right. A subtle gesture paired with her inquisitive, appraising, gaze.
The subtle shift drew his gaze lower, first to the black band-merch cropped top that hugged the soft curves of her modest bust that gave a subtle arch to the band's name. Within Temptation.
From there, his gaze drifted lower to the gentle flare of her hips and the denim shorts that held tight around them, before her hand brought it back up to her bright and cheerful face.
"Well, are ya gonna invite me in Toby, or just let me stand here and look pretty?" She quipped with a half-shrug of her left hand. "I don't mind if ya stare ya know, but the view ain't free."
"I don't think that's a good idea right now, honestly. I've got a bit of a… situation going on here." He answered, raising a hand to brace it against the door frame while the other held the door open.
"Course ya do. Isabel told me all about it last night." Came Dani's lightning quick, almost planned, retort before the excuse had even left Tobias' lips. "And if ya think I'm just gonna ignore it when one of my friends is in a bind, you've got another thing comin mister." She finished, jabbing her fingers into his chest.
Chapter 3 - "Lance"
Once he had reached it, Tobias took hold of the doorknob, gave a sharp twist and tugged it open to greet his early-morning visitor with a perplexed expression taking shape upon his face once his bright blue eyes met with those of his visitor.The worst possible visitor that he could have had here. Now.
Special Agent Stevens.
A face he more than recognized from the night before. A face he hoped to not see again anytime soon, even if he knew the exchange about the warrant would only buy him a little time. A day at most, he had figured.
"Good morning, Mr. Anderson. If that's even your real name." Lance stated more than asked, before thrusting a folded document against Tobias' chest and into his grip as his hands rose reflexively to take hold of the paper.
"There. That's your warrant. A warrant to search your home and surrounding property for any questionable objects that may have been tied to the unexplained incident last night."
"This is all under the purview of national security and public safety, so I'm sure you, as a law-abiding citizen, have no issues with this. Namely the thing we both know you've got out back."
Without even waiting for Tobias to look over the document, Stevens made a quick gesture with his right hand, and a number of men in suits piled out of the unmarked utility van parked across the road.
Parked directly in front of Isabel's own home here in town.
External Vote Talley (for transparency in the results)
Dani: +2 (Discord DM's: Ami, Moni)
Lance: +3 (Discord DM: Caitlyn & Text Message: Southy, Jeanne)
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