Chapter Ten [text]

[thebestseller]

Who: Richard Castle and YOU
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: N/A
When: October 25th. Ta to anarin for supplying suggestions.

[The following are uploaded to the network at various times during the day. Castle... tried to make them anonymous, but anybody could do the slightest bit of digging and see that RICHARD CASTLE is clearly listed as the author.]

COMING SOON FROM THE PEN OF TUCK CHINGLE

DIAMOND AND BEAU: A LOVE STORY

Have you ever wondered what our mysterious and intrepid hosts get up to OFF the clock? Do their carefully cultivated personas fall apart in the throes of passion, or do they remain the delightful, always upbeat hosts we know and love? Find out in this romantic thriller by Tuck Chingle.


ROBOTS IN LOVE

Dustsucker is from the Compass, and Scrubby is from the Conquer, two ships with two sets of robots caught in an intense rivalry. However, despite their "family"'s longtime differences, the two end up falling in love and must find a way to unite their crews so that they may be together.


SHUFFLED

Is it possible for objects to fall in love? You'll believe it when the One Fish and the Two Fish gain sentience and realize they've always had feelings for each other. However, fate and a rivalry between their crews seems to be conspiring to keep them apart.


MURDER ON THE MARSIVA EXPRESS

Something has been attacking the Drift Fleet's beloved pet foxes when their owners turn their back for a moment. Tensions rise and things escalate further when one of the Fleet members is killed trying to protect the fox. Was it one of their own, or is something more sinister afoot? Intrepid author Buck Trumble struggles to piece together the case and bring justice to the victim and their pet.

Comments

[revengeofthemordsith]

What does your usual fare entail?

[thebestseller]

I write mysteries. Crime, intrigue, adventure.

[revengeofthemordsith]

Why would people read about crime? That seems counterproductive.

[thebestseller]

Most people are, I find, drawn to the idea of figuring things out themselves. Following the clues, making guesses, seeing if they're right. It can be thrilling.

[revengeofthemordsith]

It seems that time could be put to more productive use than puzzle-solving.

[thebestseller]

But leisure is important.

[revengeofthemordsith]

How so?

[thebestseller]

Working all the time leads to decreased productivity, or so I've heard.

[revengeofthemordsith]

Well that's wrong.

[thebestseller]

"All work and no play makes Castle a dull boy."

[revengeofthemordsith]

That can't take very long then. If that's all required to make you dull.

[thebestseller]

Let me put it this way, then. I come from a world where I'm not constantly fighting for survival or what have you, so we have the luxury of leisure time. Does that make more sense?

[revengeofthemordsith]

No wonder you're all bored and in need of entertainment. What do you do with all that spare time?

[thebestseller]

Work for a living, and raise my kid. I wrote books as a profession.

[revengeofthemordsith]

That sounds like a nightmare I had once.

[thebestseller]

Which part? Because I thought having a kid would be a nightmare, too, til I actually became a parent. It was... still nightmarish at times, but rewarding, too.

[revengeofthemordsith]

That part certainly. But the idea of having to live in a house and have a job is anathema. It's not done for people like myself.

[thebestseller]

And I can't imagine NOT working. Or life without my kid, for that matter. See, I like my life, but I can understand how it might be unappealing, too.

[revengeofthemordsith]

It's true. It is different for all of us.

[thebestseller]

Which is one of the things I like about this place, honestly. Everyone has their own story.

[revengeofthemordsith]

Is that important to you?

[thebestseller]

Stories are my profession. Without them, well... what would I have? My daughter and my fiance, of course. But otherwise... life would be pretty boring.

[revengeofthemordsith]

You wouldn't want to live the life as seen in your stories?

[thebestseller]

I do to some extent. I help the police solve crimes- murders. But it's dangerous, too. If it was just me, I might be more willing to put my life at risk, but I've got a family to consider now.

[revengeofthemordsith]

Have you stopped?