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Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365 Addiction always finds a way. Some people's daily battle was refusing to take that drink, roll that dice or shoot that shot. But mine was a struggle with #reality.
Though it was expressly forbidden, once the 'All-or-nothing 2000', aka YOLO unit had been developed for quantum exploration,...

A screenshot of a long skeet draft. It reads: "#vss365 Addiction always finds a way. Some people's daily battle was refusing to take that drink, roll that dice or shoot that shot. But mine was a struggle with #reality.
Though it was expressly forbidden, once the 'All-or-nothing 2000', aka YOLO unit had been developed for quantum exploration, it was impossible to resist some extracurricular tripping through the multiverse.
It was intoxicating to explore each wonderful, twisted new horizon and imagine a life there. Though inevitably, the havoc and causing quantum collisions I caused in our world was sobering. After all how does one explain the concept of Crump and the entire blowjobgate scandal as anything other than cosmic damage? "

November 18, 2025 at 8:10 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365 His #goal was to find the hidden keys to decrypt the Baphomet code. To that end, he sought out every ancient text and tome throughout his lifetime, all in an effort to find the man behind the curtain.
He experimented with numerology, to tell the contrived from the magickal,....

A screenshot of a long skeet draft. It reads: "#vss365 His #goal was to find the hidden keys to decrypt the Baphomet code. To that end, he sought out every ancient text and tome throughout his lifetime, all in an effort to find the man behind the curtain.
He experimented with numerology, to tell the contrived from the magickal, until finally he felt he had cracked it. He documented it all in his journal - and I have it right here!
Oh, yes him? He's not dead. He's just missing.
And if only I can decode it too, I might just find out what happened to him!"

November 17, 2025 at 10:01 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365
We descended where the sun never shines, into a world of endless night. Shadow figures that moved with insubstantial form. False creatures that craved our place in the light.
The only #issue was that they could never truly pass for human. Though it was their desire to do so...

A screenshot of a long skeet draft. It reads: "We descended where the sun never shines, into a world of endless night. Shadow figures that moved with insubstantial form. False creatures that craved our place in the light.
The only #issue was that they could never truly pass for human. Though it was their desire to do so. So as long as we stuck to the light, we could outrun them.
We use candles in the dark now. Surround ourselves with light, and put someone on watch through the night. For they are patient. Always watching from the dark, lest our candles blow out. "

November 16, 2025 at 10:51 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

THE HOLDOVERS (2023) #tonightsviewing #movies

November 15, 2025 at 8:35 PM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365 All we saw behind us was wreckage. The dark detritus of warfighting and lives erased. Bruised and beaten, we tended to our fallen brothers as the shields came up.
From orbit, a fountain of tracer fire lit up the night sky as our dropship formed up into a limping #transport convoy. ...

A screenshot of a long skeet draft. it readas: "#vss365 All we saw behind us was wreckage. The dark detritus of warfighting and lives erased. Bruised and beaten, we tended to our fallen brothers as the shields came up.
From orbit, a fountain of tracer fire lit up the night sky as our dropship formed up into a limping #transport convoy. Eventually, as a stray round found them, the unluckiest of us silently winked out of existence.
Dawn revealed the landmasses below us before we found safety. We lost three ships and countless lives before all were safely back inside the mothership. Enough time to refuel and rearm, because to command, our defeat was not an option."

November 15, 2025 at 11:15 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365
people didn't care
....
to pay mind to the #science
...

A screenshot of a long skeet draft. "#vss365
people didn't care
enough to wait
until they wiped
to consume their media
they avoided confrontation
from new ideas
preferring fake emotion
unless something popped
the social bubble
of their insular lives
they just didn't care
enough to reflect
to pay mind to the #science
to act in time
to work together
before they too
were wiped out"

November 14, 2025 at 10:49 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365 Traceability was key. From donation egg to womb, to farm fed and plated, the entire lifecycle was encoded in one simple #numerical barcode.
Food and comfort were both carrot and stick. Obedience was rewarded with larger portions and warm and dry hay. ...

A screenshot of a long skeet draft. It reads: "#vss365 Traceability was key. From donation egg to womb, to farm fed and plated, the entire lifecycle was encoded in one simple #numerical barcode.
Food and comfort were both carrot and stick. Obedience was rewarded with larger portions and warm and dry hay. And reducing or withdrawing privileges brought swift correction.
The scanners provided instant analysis, down to single-cell level - far beyond DNA. To alert when most tender, delicious or the greatest nutritional value had been reached.
It was commonplace for the bots to cart us away and begin the preparations, when the master became peckish.
He liked the males most of all. Liked to look us in the eye as he sucked on the juices from their other orb. "

November 13, 2025 at 8:44 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365
The band disappeared after a night which went down in the annals of Heavy Metal legend, with a body and occult paraphernalia left behind.
They went unseen and unheard of for decades, other than #mythical sightings in the darkest realms, on a quest to find the most evil sound...

A screenshot of a skeet draft. It reads: "#vss365
The band disappeared after a night which went down in the annals of Heavy Metal legend, with a body and occult paraphernalia left behind.
They went unseen and unheard of for decades, other than #mythical sightings in the darkest realms, on a quest to find the most evil sound - that is until the video surfaced.
We assumed it was a marketing ploy to herald the release of their latest album. No one saw it as a warning. A promise.
The premiere festival slot brought the house down and the world followed swiftly, on the backs of the slughost plague."

November 12, 2025 at 9:56 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

Nocturnicorn books are next to put out a Christmas horror anthology. So that's what I'm going to be working on a piece for tonight. #shortstories #poetry #xmas #horror

The illustrated cover for The Wicker Yule: A Horror Anthology - edited by Alex S. Jonson, Introduced by Rissa Miller, with a cover of a fairy inked in black and white

November 11, 2025 at 12:35 PM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

Actual lols. From HOW NOT TO WRITE A NOVEL - by Sandra Newman and Howard Mittelmark

A photo of an extract of text which says: ” This particular blunder is known as deus ex machina, which is French for "Are you fucking kidding me?"

November 11, 2025 at 11:57 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365 ...something was amiss. The twisted homunculus failed to reanimate...
They cast their eyes back over the ingredients, the steps of the ritual and were truly vexed to find nothing amiss. Until they saw the fine print.
#measure twice cook once.

A long screenshot draft. It reads "#vss365
The reliquary bubbled and spat, as flames licked at the base. A foul vapour rolled down from it, to the floor and discoloured the stone as the contents were stirred.
They'd finished the incantations. But something was amiss. The twisted homunculus failed to reanimate, despite the demonic voices that urged it to take life once again.
They cast their eyes back over the ingredients, the steps of the ritual and were truly vexed to find nothing amiss. Until they saw the fine print.
#measure twice cook once. "

November 11, 2025 at 9:02 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365 Each day began with the same checks. So when the first signs appeared, he consulted the handbooks to confirm his diagnosis. He'd read the #literature. He knew the odds of survival and the decision was far from easy.
For years, he'd been focussed on securing a future,...

A screenshot of a long skeet draft. It reads: "#vss365 Each day began with the same checks. So when the first signs appeared, he consulted the handbooks to confirm his diagnosis. He'd read the #literature. He knew the odds of survival and the decision was far from easy.
For years, he'd been focussed on securing a future, despite the worsening global outlook. The shelter had been his baby. His one shot at securing survival for those he loved. So they were all surprised when he refused to enter, as the sirens began and the door closed.
Alone, he walked towards the suns, as the first strikes lit up the horizon. "

November 10, 2025 at 8:19 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365
...Stones rained down. Nooses snapped taught. Yet blaming fingers still sought out new victims.
In months, the old ways had returned. The only way to be pardoned from these #laws was to never pass judgment. Even the patriarchy feared their rule when the zealots craved more bloodshed.

A long skeet draft. It reads: "#vss365
Justice was swift and biblical, but blind these days. For it was at the hands of the mob that it was served.
A careless flash of anger behind tired eyes. A dash of sarcasm or God forbid a careless smile was seen as a slight. Many had been damned for less.
Stones rained down. Nooses snapped taught. Yet blaming fingers still sought out new victims.
In months, the old ways had returned. The only way to be pardoned from these #laws was to never pass judgment. Even the patriarchy feared their rule when the zealots craved more bloodshed."

November 9, 2025 at 10:56 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365 ... he had a gift for arcane #languages.
He couldn't converse with his fellow man. Cursed by a painful stammer, dreadful insecurity and lack of schooling. Though alone, surrounded by ancient text, his world came alive in countless forbidden tongues.

A screenshot of a long skeet draft. It reads: "#vss365 He couldn't remember formulae or the names for things. But he had a gift for arcane #languages.
He couldn't converse with his fellow man. Cursed by a painful stammer, dreadful insecurity and lack of schooling. Though alone, surrounded by ancient text, his world came alive in countless forbidden tongues.
For him, the secrets unveiled themselves. Rabbit holes opened for his descension. Until he could finally speak with those who sought him out.
Though as imps flayed the skin from his dying husk, he took little comfort in knowing that he would live on as parchment bait for future bibliophiles."

November 8, 2025 at 10:26 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365 ...he persisted. Endured. Eternally tilled his fields and paid fealty to an endless succession of feet. As all around him, the land beneath his own also evolved.
To Clem #history was the persistent after image of an extinguished light in the darkness. ...

A long skeet draft. It reads: "#vss365
To those with agency, they believed they alone wrote the future they desired. At least it was how it appeared to Clem. He marvelled at their naked ambition, yet he alone remained stuck fast. A broken spoke in the wheel of time.
It brought cold comfort, as he witnessed the lands change hands, the lord's face became that of another as often as the seasons changed.
Yet he persisted. Endured. Eternally tilled his fields and paid fealty to an endless succession of feet. As all around him, the land beneath his own also evolved.
To Clem #history was the persistent after image of an extinguished light in the darkness. A fleeting memory that passes with the eyes that beheld it. "

November 7, 2025 at 8:32 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365 It was his moment. Destiny was calling. Or rather, the lead singer of his favourite band was calling. Although #geography wasn't his strong suit, as he found them on the map on his wall, he was damn sure that he had some serious thinking to do....

A long skeet draft. It reads: "#vss365 It was his moment. Destiny was calling. Or rather, the lead singer of his favourite band was calling. Although #geography wasn't his strong suit, as he found them on the map on his wall, he was damn sure that he had some serious thinking to do.
Could he drop everything & move cross country for his shot at fame?"

November 6, 2025 at 10:48 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

many thanks for the reskeets and love for Black Diadem 🖤🖤🖤🙏🦇

@masatokanasashi.bsky.social
@danielmaldonado.bsky.social
@birdwriterwrites.bsky.social
@kenstark.bsky.social
@prystauk.bsky.social
@viana-do-castelo.bsky.social

The front cover of BLAD DIADEM: MAGAZINE OF THE FANTASTIQUE - Vol 1 Issue 1 Fall/Winter 2025/2026 - from Nocturnicorn Books and Darkest Wine Media

November 5, 2025 at 10:19 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365
#famous

So close. She'd failed. But as darkness welcomed her in its cold embrace, she smiled through her pain at the others in her party, knowing her name would live on.

Seconds later, the others gawped in confusion as the remains of the beast they had bested but moments ago...

A screenshot of a skeet draft. It reads: "#vss365
#famous

So close. She'd failed. But as darkness welcomed her in its cold embrace, she smiled through her pain at the others in her party, knowing her name would live on.

Seconds later, the others gawped in confusion as the remains of the beast they had bested but moments ago were stirred by an unnatural wind. Ash rose from the dirt, reconsituted to bone and snapped back into place.

The Dracolich once again breathed fire, battled foes and fed. Its power restored, it took to the skies. There were settlements to raise to the ground and scheming kings to roast. "

November 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

THE BRUTALIST (2024) #tonightsviewing #filmsky

THE BRUTALIST - film poster showing the first view of tje statue of liberty, as seen by immigrants, upside down, with brutalist typography

November 4, 2025 at 8:36 PM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365 #education
if they were the best of times
and they have such value
for our development and our personal growth
why is it that so many
undermine and undervalue it?
and seek to take it away for others
those less fortunate
those looking for a helping hand
those who dare to climb...

The first part of a long screengrab of text. It reads: "if they were the best of times
and they have such value
for our development and our personal growth
why is it that so many
undermine and undervalue it?
and seek to take it away for others
those less fortunate
those looking for a helping hand
those who dare to climb

why do they fear equality?
what did they learn?
what do they value?
why do they shun logic and science?
why do they read between the words
of the books they hold sacred?
always failing to appreciate
what they took for granted
what they took open-handed
and now close their ears and hearts to"

A screengrab of more text. It reads: "

our minds were once open books
the pages not yet written
please let this be the dark before the light
let them remember
the purity of a smile they once shared
and the happiness of those formative times
before they knew bigotry and greed
and put on the blinkers of dogma
and sought to burn the books
that would light a warm soul fire
in those most in need of its light"

November 4, 2025 at 8:45 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365 He'd waited all month for the retro double bill #creature feature. Though missed the start of the first film due to traffic.
Once he'd found his seat, he'd hoped to relax and enjoy the schlock, but he realised something was very wrong.
These were fan edits of violent horror, ...

A screenshot of a long skeet draft. It reads: "#vss365 He'd waited all month for the retro double bill #creature feature. Though missed the start of the first film due to traffic.
Once he'd found his seat, he'd hoped to relax and enjoy the schlock, but he realised something was very wrong.
These were fan edits of violent horror, where the humans died to roaring cheers and the monsters always won. They never died.
He saw that the restive crowd tossed dried finger food and roasted ears were anything but human. Bob shrunk in his seat, aiming for invisible, dreading the house lights coming back on."

November 2, 2025 at 10:17 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

THE LONG WALK (2025) #tonightsviewing #horrormovies waited a long time to see this adapted from the Bachman novel #filmsky

November 1, 2025 at 1:59 PM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

THE NEIGHBOUR (2016) #tonightsviewing #horrormovies - this was a great movie. Well worth a peek #filmsky

The film poster showing a man in a ransom style mask and hoodie and a terrified man and woman below

November 1, 2025 at 1:16 PM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

#vss365 It was a nasty #business, he mused as he washed the putrescence off. But it was the family trade. How else would they find the materials for their crafts?
As he cleaned and prepped his tools for the coming day, he caught himself sighing. The Ghouls were getting to be a regular problem....

A screenshot of a long skeet draft. it reads: "#vss365 It was a nasty #business, he mused as he washed the putrescence off. But it was the family trade. How else would they find the materials for their crafts?
As he cleaned and prepped his tools for the coming day, he caught himself sighing. The Ghouls were getting to be a regular problem. There was a time they used to wait for him to finish digging before they fed. Not any more. Not since momma passed.
Slipping into repose, he comforted himself with the knowledge that one day, if lucky, he might pass in his sleep. And they'd get to him long before the worms did."

November 1, 2025 at 11:20 AM

Lee Bailes

@leebaileswriter.bsky.social

HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1982) #tonightsviewing #horrormpvies

The Halloween 3 poster showing a skull, a pumpkin and witch mask with a background of a flaming pumpkin

October 31, 2025 at 1:36 PM

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