FK Bite-Sized Fic Round 2: FKFicfest '12 After-Party
Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 8, the 2012 round fkficfest will be over, which makes it time for the dead dog party for those still inspired by their recent FK writing and reading.
This is the post for the drabble/ficlet/comment-fic stories that will make up the Dead Dog Party for fkficfest 2012. ANYONE may participate by writing, reading and cheerleading (all you ( Read more... )
This is the post for the drabble/ficlet/comment-fic stories that will make up the Dead Dog Party for fkficfest 2012. ANYONE may participate by writing, reading and cheerleading (all you ( Read more... )
***
Natalie stood by the graveside. There were few mourners; and her attendance was obvious. After Patrick tossed a ritual handful into the grave, Peggy Bolger came over to speak to the stranger.
“I know she used to live in Toronto,” she said to Natalie. “Were you friends?”
“We had friends in common,” Natalie said, choosing her words.
Mrs Bolger turned to look at Patrick, who was staring at the men who waited, with tactful impatience, until his departure.
“Her brother never came.”
Although the woman strove for a level tone, Natalie could hear undertones of condemnation. Unless he were lying at death’s door in hospital, Janette’s brother should be here-but, of course, he wasn’t. And couldn’t be.
There was no way to explain.
“Do you know him?” Mrs Bolger asked.
“Yes,” Natalie admitted, to this woman as she had not done to Tracy. At some times, in some places, honesty is the only policy. She could not lie at the grave. It could, after all, so easily have been the woman’s own.
Or Patrick’s.
Natalie looked at the slight, short figure. He had loved Janette; and now he had lost her-his stepmother, she supposed he considered her-as well as his father, both within the month. He was left to the custody of an aunt he had only visited a few times. It was understandable that he looked bereft.
Mrs Bolger followed her eyes. “It’s hard for him,” she said. “You know, all he had in the world was packed in a suitcase and a couple of boxes; and we lost everything in the fire. He doesn’t even have a photograph of his father any more.”
She didn’t mention her own loss; but Natalie knew through the police grapevine that the insurance company was refusing payout, claiming liablity only for accidental fire coverage. And, of course, it had been arson.
***
Later, much later, she visited the grave again. By then, the ground had settled and so had Sun Life Insurance. A headstone had been erected: In memory of Janette de Brabant, it read. Why she had been using Nick’s name, Natalie had never found out. Nick claimed not to know; and Janette, of course, was no longer around to ask.
Whether she would see her again, she doubted. Vampires always move on.
Reply
Thank you for sharing "Truth and Consequences"! And thank you for your clear efforts to help this game go out with a happy flourish; I appreciate them.
Reply
Hmmm. Your comment suggests that the last line (Whether she would see her again, she doubted. Vampires always move on.) was badly phrased. For Natalie to think that she won't likely see Janette again because vampires always move on was intended to indicate that-whether Janette did or did not survive-Natalie thinks that she did (though as a vampire).
Mind you, I wrote all of FK4 under the impression that Janette had died. It was only after I joined FORKNI-L that I learned that the intention had been otherwise. Of course, I appreciated why fans were eager to agree that she'd been brought back over by Nick. Still, I didn't alter FK4: significant present events had been written that were predicated on Janette's death; I had therefore included her only in flashbacks.
Of course, there is a measure of ambiguity in "Truth or Consequences". However, I did not intend the reader to doubt Natalie's belief in Janette's re-found vampirity. Rather, since she has not actually met Janette post the events of "The Human Factor", she doesn't actually have proof-and presumably is going by Nick's account of events and her faith in his veracity.
"And thank you for your clear efforts to help this game go out with a happy flourish; I appreciate them."
I must admit, through most of September I had a hard time getting to write. My real computer problems (not to be confused with the fictional kerfluffly ones) lasted for several days and left me shattered. It took me a good two weeks to recover.
I always did intend to return to some of the fkcommentfic prompts-ones that intrigued me, but did not inspire instant drabbles, wanting something a little longer. Still, I never intended to be writing four ficlets in one day in order to make the deadline! I'm glad it made a "happy flourish" for you.
Reply
Leave a comment