Road trips with Peter and Neal

Shortly before the announcement that White Collar’s run was ending, there had been rumors about plotlines under consideration by the show’s creative team. One rumor mentioned Peter and Neal on a road trip. As much as I loved the show's use of the New York setting, there was so much possibility for the characters learning more about each on a visit to a new location. I regretted that a road trip episode didn't make it into the final season, and was inspired to send the duo on a few trips when I started writing about them.

Things That Go Bump in the Night

On Halloween, Penna forwarded me a tweet of a traditional Scottish prayer:

"From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!"

It was the perfect message for the day I posted the first chapter of Witches' Sabbath, and it also made me think about our characters' fear triggers.

The Hidden Power of Flowers

Neal avoids the use of firearms even though he's an expert marksman. Instead, he prefers the non-lethal weapons at his disposal—a glib tongue and lightning-quick reflexes. Criminals could view him as a lightweight, someone who can be easily intimidated. Compared with the arsenal Dean and Sam Winchester carry in their car trunk, Neal's defenses may seem no stronger than those of a flower. But the potential power of flowers shouldn't be dismissed.