Artistic Endeavor...
Title: Artistic Endeavor
Author: Jaynedancing aka 9_things
Fandoms: Firefly/Spaced
Prompt: Abstract Expressionism for the firefly fanfic prompt-a-thon as donated by romanceguru
Characters: River, Brian.
Rating: U
Wordcount: 481
Disclaimer: Not mine, not paid, don't sue.
Notes: Not beta'd, sorry about that.
Artistic Endeavor
Paint, bodily fluids and liquids stolen from under Tim and Daisy’s sink slithered and dribbled from the canvas, sizzling gently and giving off fumes.
Brian pulled at his hair and whimpered in frustration. This particular artwork was not going well. He…
Someone was breathing on the back of his neck.
He froze, terror jellifying his legs. He’d locked the door, he always locked the door! Otherwise Marsha would be there, dangling two for the price of one red wine from one hand and breathing cigarette smoke over the back of his head. “Who’s there,” he rasped, breathlessly.
“Altered mental states created by absorption of complex chemicals synchronised to bridge time, space and reality,” the voice was female, soft and sweet. “Identity is irrelevant; there is a purpose to this fragile connection that must be discovered. What do you hope to achieve?”
She interrupted him before he could open his mouth, “Abstract Expressionism. Anger, pain, fear, aggression, you try to control emotions through art. This is something I find difficult. I will try your method.”
There was an immediate feeling of emptiness behind him. Brian forced himself to turn around, but there was no one there.
Carefully, looking around nervously at every step, he went to the window and forced it open.
Then he went to sit in the garden, until his head cleared.
~*~
River had searched the ship up and down but there was no paint anywhere. Whatever Kaylee had was gone and Inara hadn’t been back to the Training house to pick up her things.
She wandered vaguely into the galley, thinking furiously. No paint anywhere, not even a pencil or a stick she could burn to make charcoal.
She realised she was hungry and started exploring the cupboards, pausing briefly to consider the sauces and Mal’s probable reaction to her painting the walls with them.
Something caught her eye and held it. She lifted the box out of the cupboard considered it carefully. She had no notion why the idea was so fascinating, but it possessed her and she went with it, finding some protein mash, dried spices and vegetables to make the fillings and the little machine Kaylee had shown her months before.
Simon came in half an hour later and froze on the threshold. “River, what are you doing?”
River blew her hair off her face, cranking the machine handle vigorously and wondering if she’d put in enough chilli and onion to express her anger and frustration. “What does it look like?” she asked crossly.
Simon turned a little green, “I have no idea, but it looks disgusting.”
River rolled her eyes at him, “Processing concepts into strings of independent forms, dummy!”
Simon took a cautious step into the room, “I’m sorry, what?” He stumbled forward as Jayne buffeted him on the way past.
Jayne caught sight of the table, “Hey," he said delighted, "Sausages!”
If you are not that well aquainted with Brian or Spaced, you may wish to check this out.
~*~