Under the Sea: Science Fiction

Not being able to eat fish, she didn't mind so much, though she totally understood why the orbiting station had not one, not two, but 18 seafood restaurants (all very careful to explain that the fish was imported from worlds without sentient sea life). She did miss drinking alcohol, though, quite a bit. The explanation for why not was clear: it tainted the water they swam in, as if they'd doused themselves in a vat of vile perfume beforehand. Sure, she could drink and wait a week to go under, but that time period was pretty much only allowed on vacation. She knew some other underflyers did drink, bootleg whiskey tucked into their bunks at night, but she believed that it worsened their catch.

Inspiration: Discussing things I am and am not allowed to do.
Story Potential: Medium.
Notes: Interesting world-building, no actual story.

Swans in the Service of the Crown

Apparently, in England, (unmarked) swans belong to the Crown and are protected by it. Swans are ferocious fighters. There ought to be a fairytale link there. Her Majesty's Own Swans?

Steampunk Twitfic Published!

My steampunk twitfic is up at thaumatrope! http://twitter.com/thaumatrope/statuses/8159537369

It's a tiny tweet of a story.

The much longer inspiration for the story.