Exposition's a killer, isn't it? How much do you toss off in a paragraph of two and how much set-up do you actually write? Just enough to set the mood of the story, I know, but how can you figure out where that line is? And if you've written too much, how do you decide what to cut? Do you close your eyes, stick your finger on the page, and remove everything that doesn't have an inky fingerprint on it? I do, of course, know the answers to these questions.

I was just testing you.

You know how I can tell I'm writing something worth reading? I keep telling myself, "this is the dumbest thing I've ever done." Invariable those efforts turn out to be my best.

This is not one of those efforts.

And while we're talking about me, tell me, who are these people and why are they in my story? Does anyone really believe Mac would express a preference for bottled beer because "it's fizzier" even if he is undercover and behaving like a loon just to annoy Victor?

I don't believe it, and I wrote it. From pedantic to bizarre in 24 hours.

Overhead, Victor could hear the ring of stiletto heels against the metal stairs.

"Same old subject." The Director sailed down the stairs, way too sure of herself for a woman dressed like Little Red Riding Hood. "Don't you think it's time you both moved on with your lives?"

"I was just saying the same thing to Mac," Victor said quickly.

Hearing his name shook Mac out of his stunned trance.

"Ummm...excuse me?"

"Mr. Ramsey." The Director leaned over the table and smiled at him. "There is one thing you need to be really careful about."

"Only one?" Mac muttered.

"That is," she paused and stopped smiling. "Not asking questions you don't really want to hear the answers to."

Resisting temptation wasn't something Mac was good at, but he tried. He made at least ten seconds before the red cape was too much for him.

"Why do you look like a refugee from a nursery rhyme?"

"None of your business." She straightened up and walked away.

I dunno. That might work on-screen, but I'm not sure it works on paper.

I missed fandom. I really did, but I have to say this. Y'all need to get a bit more chatter going.

I think you should be aware that I'm accustomed to having a rather large audience for my idle ramblings these days.

My standards are higher than they were when I was fandom-blogging before. Back then, all I wanted was for no one I worked with to find my blog.

Today, I demand feedback. I demand that this be an interactive experience. Be thoughtful. Provoking. Intelligent. Insightful

And if you could, from time to time, send me flames via anonymous e-mail, telling me that I'm going to be first up against the wall when the revolution comes, I'd feel right at home.

But, most of all, make Mac stop talking like Charlie Brown. Please.