First off, let me apologize for the delay this week. It appears that Galactor agents have interfered with the scheduled prompt poster, but they aren't going to stop the Jar! No way, no how, nuh-uh!! So, let me take this moment to drag out my honkin'-huge medicine bottle and pull out a slip of paper.... This week's prompt is: Nail Polish Get those lovely, manicured fingers dancing over your keyboards!

I am SO SORRY, EW! My laptop's been acting up and I had a prompt ready and everything for this week, but I was only able to get on to the site just now (literally one minute ago!) after a day of trying! I couldn't tell if it was because it was the site or my laptop or maybe a bit of both ... Still, to make up for it, I would be more than willing to take three more weeks in September ... if you want me to ... I really am very truly sorry

"Just now," Jun marched up to Red Impulse. "You just put something in your pocket. What was it?" "It's nothing. Let's go," he said dismissively, heading towards the bridge. "What's the big deal? Why can't you just show me?" she yelled after him before stopping herself, clamping down on her anger. Throwing a tantrum would only justify his behavior, she reminded herself, taking in a deep breath, and she needed to use calm reason to get through to him. It would be the only thing he would listen to, and she knew it. "You know, if I found something and kept it from you, you wouldn't like it," she pointed out as she hurried to follow after him. "You did find something and kept it from me," he reminded her. "See? And you didn't like it, now, did you? Like it or not, we're partners in this now and we shouldn't keep things from each other. Maybe I can see something that you wouldn't." To her surprise, he stopped short so abruptly that she nearly walked into him. "Partners? You consider us partners, do you? Well, okay, partner, here it is," he said, reaching into his pocket. He held out his hand. On his palm was a small flat metal key. "Like I said, it's nothing." "If it's nothing, then you wouldn't be putting up such a fuss about it," Jun countered, frowning as she stared at the object, then plucked up it from his hand. "What's it go to?" "Damned if I know," Red Impulse said. "I found it on the driver's seat. Probably fell out of the guy's pocket. For all I know, it could be to his lunch box." Jun's frowned deepened as she turned the key over, examining it. "There's a number imprinted on it," she observed, squinting at the top of the key. Using her thumbnail, she scraped at the small dot of pearl pink nail polish just above the incised numbers. "Like it belongs to a piece of luggage or a safe or something." Red Impulse shrugged and held out his hand, palm up, waiting for the key. Jun briefly considered keeping it, but she knew if she did, he would probably never trust her again. Reluctantly, she dropped it back into his waiting hand. "It's possible. Then again, it's possible we may never find out," Red Impulse said, pocketing the key once more. "I just figured I'd take it with me just in case we ever ran into something that looks like it might need a key like this." Jun nodded and they headed back to their own car in silence. This time, however, Red Impulse went over to the driver's side. Shaken by the chase, and the fact that she had already driven the better part of two hours, Jun was more than a little relieved at letting him take over for the rest of the trip. She had had her fill of driving cars for a long, long time. Give me my bike any time, she thought as she slid into the passenger seat and breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Originally posted by RIgirl I am SO SORRY, EW! My laptop's been acting up and I had a prompt ready and everything for this week, but I was only able to get on to the site just now (literally one minute ago!) after a day of trying! I couldn't tell if it was because it was the site or my laptop or maybe a bit of both ... Still, to make up for it, I would be more than willing to take three more weeks in September ... if you want me to ... I really am very truly sorry

It's okay, RI! Things don't always go as we plan (and if I haven't learned THAT lesson by now...) Could you take Sept. 18?

[unrecoverable text]

RIgirl: Now let's see if they can stay out of trouble for 5 mins. KT: I'd be willing to bet that at least one of them will try to "fix" this, anyway.

KT: Love Jinpei -- nothing like embarrassing a sister as much as possible!

Originally posted by ElectricWhite

Originally posted by RIgirl I am SO SORRY, EW! My laptop's been acting up and I had a prompt ready and everything for this week, but I was only able to get on to the site just now (literally one minute ago!) after a day of trying! I couldn't tell if it was because it was the site or my laptop or maybe a bit of both ... Still, to make up for it, I would be more than willing to take three more weeks in September ... if you want me to ... I really am very truly sorry

It's okay, RI! Things don't always go as we plan (and if I haven't learned THAT lesson by now...) Could you take Sept. 18?

I most certainly can -- and will! -- barring any more unforeseen site crashes, computer glitches, and general mayhem on the web!

RiGirl:

Originally posted by RIgirl Give me my bike any time, she thought as she slid into the passenger seat and breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Yeah I don't blame her! I would probably run RI over with it!

Originally posted by RIgirl KT: Love Jinpei -- nothing like embarrassing a sister as much as possible!

I agree! That's what brothers are for....

Been awhile, but here goes! Dunno where it came from, just popped into my head.... ************************************* Bradbury's Jar 241 A warm breeze wafted over him, the scent of coconut and sand strong in his nostrils. The taste of sweet rum on his tongue. The ocean waves lapping at the shore, the sound of the pounding surf, growing louder and louder..... What was that noise? Joe wondered. It sounded like tribal drums beating in the distance. The noise increased, urging him toward consciousness and away from tropical paradise. It was then he grasped it was the thrumming of his own heartbeat pounding in his head. Speckled shades of red and gold blossomed and retreated behind his eyelids, the sun shining intermittently over his face. A muscle ached along his left shoulder and he groaned, shifting to seek a more comfortable position. But it was then he realized he couldn't move his arms. Or his legs. What.the.hell. Suddenly, a swirl of memories of the last evening thrust their way to the front of his mind. The crowded bar, the brunette twins, flowery perfume and many shots of tequila..... As the hammering of his heart slowed, and the brain fog cleared, he realized everything was silent. Warily he opened his eyes, slivers of blue-grey barely visible beneath the lids, as his gaze darted around the room. It was empty, save his clothes which lay in a heap on the floor by the door. There was no sign of the girls from prior evening. The only thing remaining of them was an acrid taste in his mouth. He mentally kicked himself, wincing as his back began to cramp. God he was usually so careful! Slightly turning his head, he saw the mechanism that lashed his wrists to the headboard. A frown marred his forehead. Where was he? Everything seemed to point to a seedy hotel. From the orange shag rug, to the water stained tan wallpaper and the brown blanket that was sliding off the bed. He cocked his head , straining to listen. No noises came from the bathroom to his right, the door open just enough for him to catch sight of a cracked mirror on the wall. All he could immediately hear was the wind coming through the open window, but as he concentrated he could hear the faint cadence of voices on the breeze as well as the sounds of cars, perhaps from a distant highway. Highway. How did he get there? He certainly didn't remember driving. And more importantly...WHERE WAS HIS CAR? Shit. He really fucked up this time. And good. His eyes traveled the length of the bed, the sheet that covered his middle, right down to the bonds that lashed his ankles to the short stubby posts of the footboard. "Oh hell....." he grumbled, voice rough, as his head fell heavily back against the pillow. He would have thrown his arm over his eyes, but of course he couldn't. Gritting his teeth, he tested his bonds, then pulled harder against them. Dammit, they were tight. There was no way for him to slide out of them, and judging from their construction, he didn't think he could break them. Joe squinted down his body, to the bottom of the bed, studying the knots that were used to tie him. It was then he realized....that he SAW..... His toenails were painted a bright fuchsia. The hideously garish nail polish fairly screamed out at him against his tanned skin. It only added insult to injury...... The thought of housekeeping finding him tied up thus almost made him chuckle, except for the fact where these kinds of places didn't usually have housekeeping. Only a tattooed bruiser with shaved head, armed with a dented slop bucket and a Glock stuffed down the back of his jeans. He had to get out of there. Quickly. And before Hakase caught wind of what happened... The cool metal of his wristband was soothing against his abraded skin. At least he still had it. The girls probably hadn't noticed it or had given no attention to the communicator, thinking it was some kind of watch. Joe drew back his wrist, getting ready to signal for a Bird Scramble, but at the last second, he hesitated, stopping just short of initiating the beacon. Who would answer? He had no idea. Joe could picture it all in his head. The looks, the voices, at the other end. He didn't know who would be worse. Would it would be Jun with her smugness? Or Ryu's "aw-shucks" reaction? Jinpei's sniggering? Or Ken's bright blue gaze, filled with mirth, saying NOTHING but knowing EVERYTHING? Or heaven forbid...Hakase? Drawing a deep breath, and steeling himself, he began to rap the face of the bracelet against the headboard.

Oh boy, Joe has certainly landed himself in it this time! I wonder what he was getting up to though.....( ??? )

Originally posted by KT1972 Oh boy, Joe has certainly landed himself in it this time! I wonder what he was getting up to though.....( ??? )

Oh the possibilities!

Joe, are you able to go an entire weekend without an incident revolving women? Not if the fandom has anything to say about it!