Variety Pack ficlets
Title: Happy Memories
Fandom: Gargoyles
Character(s) or Pairing: Elisa Maza
Prompt: 086, Choices
Rating: PG
Word Count: 254
Big Table: Big Table
Progress: 6/100
Elisa's fingertips lightly traveled through the silky hair of Cagney's coat. The cat purred in joy and knocked her head against Elisa's palm. "You like that don't you? Sorry, I don't have Goliath's claws to scratch you." Her mind drifted back to the first moment that she'd met Goliath and the other Gargoyles. Her life had changed so much since then, as had theirs. With Elisa's help, they'd begun to trust humans again.
"Elisa?"
She turned around to look over the back of the couch with a smile and saw Goliath standing on her balcony, his wings folded around him. "Hi." Her voice was soft and welcoming.
"Are you all right?"
She nodded with a quirk of her lips, "Just remembering. And thinking how glad I am that I went to see David Xanatos that day and met you."
"And I, you." Goliath stepped into her apartment with a smile, his gaze surveying her home. "I do not like to think how it would have turned out differently if another human had come that night."
Gently disengaging Cagney from her lap, Elisa stood from the couch and crossed the room to Goliath. "Me, too, big guy. Me, too." The thought of Demona and Xanatos' plan working on Goliath and the others, twisting them with the same hate that Demona harbored for centuries, turned her blood cold. "I'd like to think it was meant to be."
Goliath gently took Elisa's hand between his two huge claws, his eyes looking into hers, "I do as well."
Title: Practice Makes Perfect
Fandom: Angel the Series
Character(s) or Pairing: Gwen Raiden
Prompt: 089, Work
Rating: PG
Word Count: 209
Big Table: Big Table
Progress: 8/100
Gwen cursed softly as the safe door refused to open quickly. She'd been working hours trying to open the old fashioned safe in record time. "Come on, focus." The eighteen year old returned the stethoscope to the iron door and took a deep breath, concentrating on the sound of the tumblers. She'd need to have it opened quicker than she had been, if she was going to get in and get out before the guards noticed anything.
The satisfying click of the last tumbler fell into place and with a flick of her wrist, the iron door came open. Gwen's gaze slid to the clock on the wall and smiled at the time. It still wasn't within the parameter that she needed to do the job right, but it was leaps and bounds better than her first attempt.
Most people went high tech and electronic, thinking it was better security, but with her ability to manipulate subatomic particles, those safes were a piece of cake. Once she was able to open the old fashioned safes, her reputation would grow. Gwen knew that word of mouth was the only way, to rise among the ranks. Professional thief was a highly competitive world and Gwen planned to rise to the top.
Title: Welcomed and Special
Fandom: Smallville
Character(s) or Pairing: Lana Lang
Prompt: 036, Smell
Rating: PG
Word Count: 259
Big Table: Big Table
Progress: 10/100
Lana tucked her feet under her body as she curled onto the swing on the front porch of her aunt’s house. It swayed gently with her movement and the creaking of the chain brought a smile to her lips. Her aunt kept saying she was going to take WD-40 to it, but Lana thought the sound was comforting. Like the smell of fresh baked cookies that was coming over from the Kent farm on the evening air.
She closed her eyes and breathed deep, inhaling the scent. Her first memory of coming to live with her aunt, was Mrs. Kent standing on the front porch with a plate of chocolate chip cookies in her hands. The smell then made her feel welcomed and special, and the memory wrapped around her body like a warm blanket.
Her mind went back to the conversation that her aunt and she’d just had. Nell was going to move to Metropolis and sell the farm. Lana pillowed her cheek on her arm as it draped over the back of the swing. It was ironic that she’d dreamt about leaving Smallville, to see more of the world, and when it was a possibility she didn’t want to leave the farm or her friends. Lana wanted to sit on the porch swing and hear the Kent’s laughter on the night breeze along with the smell of fresh baked cookies, cakes and pies. She wanted to still feel welcomed and special.
The decision suddenly materialized within Lana’s wishes, she just hoped that her aunt Nell would agree.
Title: New Friends
Fandom: Gargoyles
Character(s) or Pairing: Elisa Maza
Prompt: 021, Friends
Rating: G
Word Count: 253
Big Table: Big Table
Progress: 11/100
Elisa blinked her eyes a few times, trying to dispel the sleep that still fogged her brain as she slowly came awake. The events of the night before played through her mind and she shook her head in disbelief. Gargoyles were real. She was an NYPD detective, believing only in the facts and not trusting anybody. But, the facts remained the same. Magical creatures existed in the heart of New York at the top of a building, on a castle owned by a billionaire. She’d met them.
She’d made plans to meet Goliath again. Her curiosity that had led her to finding the gargoyles was on overdrive, wanting to know more. They’d been asleep for a thousand years before Xanatos brought the castle to New York and placed it above the clouds. Elisa ran her hand through her dark locks, before wrapping her arms around her raised knees. The soft mewl of Cagney as she hopped on her bed, reminded her that while her life had changed since last night, the outside world continued.
“Okay, okay. I’m getting up.” Elisa gently lowered her cat to the floor and followed her out of the room and toward the kitchen. “I met a new friend last night. At least I think he’s a new friend. I guess I’ll find out tonight when I meet him again.”
Her only answer was Cagney’s body rubbing against her ankles and her cry of meow. Life went on, even if it was going on a new and exciting path.
Title: Alone
Fandom: Angel the Series
Character(s) or Pairing: Gwen Raiden
Prompt: 025, Strangers
Rating: PG
Word Count: 337
Big Table: Big Table
Progress: 12/100
Gwen sat in the window seat, leaning her back against the cool stone wall and stared out of the window. Thorpe's Academy had been her home for only a few days and she hated it. It wasn't the school's fault, it just wasn't home. The looks she got here were the same as the ones she received at home, but it was different when they were strangers. Gwen didn't miss the whispered word of 'freak' as she walked down the corridors in her parka, gloves and pants. She couldn't even have a roommate like the others, for fear of an accidental touch to her skin.
The frightened words of Oh Gwen kept echoing in her mind as the shocking of Jimmie played on a constant loop in her head. She hadn't meant to hurt him, she'd only wanted to eat her sandwich without a mitt covering her fingers. He was the only one that had come up to her, was willing to talk to her and not look at her like a freak. The young girl saw the image over and over of Jimmie handing her the small truck... "You can hold on to this if you want."
She bit her bottom lip to stop its trembling as she continued to stare sightlessly out of the window. Gwen wanted to go home, she wanted her grandfather, and she wanted the incident with Jimmie never to have happened. Raising her hand, Gwen looked at her fingers and the small electrical volts that were dancing along her fingertips. It was always that way when a thunderstorm was on the horizon. Her grandfather told her it was Mani'to calling to her, but sometimes she wished that the Lenape god of thunderstorms would leave her alone.
The electrical sparks danced in the window's reflection and Gwen became mesmerized. The tiny brunette moved her hands from side to side and watched as the volts followed. It was kind of fun to be different, but it didn't stem the desire to fit in.
Title: Confusion
Fandom: Smallville
Character(s) or Pairing: Lana Lang
Prompt: 081, How?
Rating: PG
Word Count: 202
Big Table: Big Table
Progress: 13/100
The first thing that Lana noticed as her eyes were forced open by the sound of hard pounding against wood was that she was back in her Paris apartment. Confusion, along with fear filled her body. She didn't remember returning. She didn't remember anything after she'd begun the charcoal rubbing of Margaret Isabelle Theroux. How had she got there? What was happening?
The pounding refused to stop, forcing her out of bed and she slowly made her way toward the door. Her fingers clumsily worked the locks before pulling open the door to see Jason's concerned face. A bit of relief flooded her, at least she knew that she'd not been out long or his concern would have been deeper.
"I-I'll meet you downstairs in twenty minutes." Lana forced the words out, her mind not focusing on the conversation, before she shut the door not allowing Jason time to answer. She needed to think, but most of all she needed to remember how she'd made it from the church to her apartment. Who was Margaret Isabelle Theroux and what was the symbol that had glowed before everything went blank? There were so many unanswered questions and Lana wasn’t sure where to begin.
Fandom: Gargoyles
Character(s) or Pairing: Elisa Maza
Prompt: 086, Choices
Rating: PG
Word Count: 254
Big Table: Big Table
Progress: 6/100
Elisa's fingertips lightly traveled through the silky hair of Cagney's coat. The cat purred in joy and knocked her head against Elisa's palm. "You like that don't you? Sorry, I don't have Goliath's claws to scratch you." Her mind drifted back to the first moment that she'd met Goliath and the other Gargoyles. Her life had changed so much since then, as had theirs. With Elisa's help, they'd begun to trust humans again.
"Elisa?"
She turned around to look over the back of the couch with a smile and saw Goliath standing on her balcony, his wings folded around him. "Hi." Her voice was soft and welcoming.
"Are you all right?"
She nodded with a quirk of her lips, "Just remembering. And thinking how glad I am that I went to see David Xanatos that day and met you."
"And I, you." Goliath stepped into her apartment with a smile, his gaze surveying her home. "I do not like to think how it would have turned out differently if another human had come that night."
Gently disengaging Cagney from her lap, Elisa stood from the couch and crossed the room to Goliath. "Me, too, big guy. Me, too." The thought of Demona and Xanatos' plan working on Goliath and the others, twisting them with the same hate that Demona harbored for centuries, turned her blood cold. "I'd like to think it was meant to be."
Goliath gently took Elisa's hand between his two huge claws, his eyes looking into hers, "I do as well."
Title: Practice Makes Perfect
Fandom: Angel the Series
Character(s) or Pairing: Gwen Raiden
Prompt: 089, Work
Rating: PG
Word Count: 209
Big Table: Big Table
Progress: 8/100
Gwen cursed softly as the safe door refused to open quickly. She'd been working hours trying to open the old fashioned safe in record time. "Come on, focus." The eighteen year old returned the stethoscope to the iron door and took a deep breath, concentrating on the sound of the tumblers. She'd need to have it opened quicker than she had been, if she was going to get in and get out before the guards noticed anything.
The satisfying click of the last tumbler fell into place and with a flick of her wrist, the iron door came open. Gwen's gaze slid to the clock on the wall and smiled at the time. It still wasn't within the parameter that she needed to do the job right, but it was leaps and bounds better than her first attempt.
Most people went high tech and electronic, thinking it was better security, but with her ability to manipulate subatomic particles, those safes were a piece of cake. Once she was able to open the old fashioned safes, her reputation would grow. Gwen knew that word of mouth was the only way, to rise among the ranks. Professional thief was a highly competitive world and Gwen planned to rise to the top.
Title: Welcomed and Special
Fandom: Smallville
Character(s) or Pairing: Lana Lang
Prompt: 036, Smell
Rating: PG
Word Count: 259
Big Table: Big Table
Progress: 10/100
Lana tucked her feet under her body as she curled onto the swing on the front porch of her aunt’s house. It swayed gently with her movement and the creaking of the chain brought a smile to her lips. Her aunt kept saying she was going to take WD-40 to it, but Lana thought the sound was comforting. Like the smell of fresh baked cookies that was coming over from the Kent farm on the evening air.
She closed her eyes and breathed deep, inhaling the scent. Her first memory of coming to live with her aunt, was Mrs. Kent standing on the front porch with a plate of chocolate chip cookies in her hands. The smell then made her feel welcomed and special, and the memory wrapped around her body like a warm blanket.
Her mind went back to the conversation that her aunt and she’d just had. Nell was going to move to Metropolis and sell the farm. Lana pillowed her cheek on her arm as it draped over the back of the swing. It was ironic that she’d dreamt about leaving Smallville, to see more of the world, and when it was a possibility she didn’t want to leave the farm or her friends. Lana wanted to sit on the porch swing and hear the Kent’s laughter on the night breeze along with the smell of fresh baked cookies, cakes and pies. She wanted to still feel welcomed and special.
The decision suddenly materialized within Lana’s wishes, she just hoped that her aunt Nell would agree.
Title: New Friends
Fandom: Gargoyles
Character(s) or Pairing: Elisa Maza
Prompt: 021, Friends
Rating: G
Word Count: 253
Big Table: Big Table
Progress: 11/100
Elisa blinked her eyes a few times, trying to dispel the sleep that still fogged her brain as she slowly came awake. The events of the night before played through her mind and she shook her head in disbelief. Gargoyles were real. She was an NYPD detective, believing only in the facts and not trusting anybody. But, the facts remained the same. Magical creatures existed in the heart of New York at the top of a building, on a castle owned by a billionaire. She’d met them.
She’d made plans to meet Goliath again. Her curiosity that had led her to finding the gargoyles was on overdrive, wanting to know more. They’d been asleep for a thousand years before Xanatos brought the castle to New York and placed it above the clouds. Elisa ran her hand through her dark locks, before wrapping her arms around her raised knees. The soft mewl of Cagney as she hopped on her bed, reminded her that while her life had changed since last night, the outside world continued.
“Okay, okay. I’m getting up.” Elisa gently lowered her cat to the floor and followed her out of the room and toward the kitchen. “I met a new friend last night. At least I think he’s a new friend. I guess I’ll find out tonight when I meet him again.”
Her only answer was Cagney’s body rubbing against her ankles and her cry of meow. Life went on, even if it was going on a new and exciting path.
Title: Alone
Fandom: Angel the Series
Character(s) or Pairing: Gwen Raiden
Prompt: 025, Strangers
Rating: PG
Word Count: 337
Big Table: Big Table
Progress: 12/100
Gwen sat in the window seat, leaning her back against the cool stone wall and stared out of the window. Thorpe's Academy had been her home for only a few days and she hated it. It wasn't the school's fault, it just wasn't home. The looks she got here were the same as the ones she received at home, but it was different when they were strangers. Gwen didn't miss the whispered word of 'freak' as she walked down the corridors in her parka, gloves and pants. She couldn't even have a roommate like the others, for fear of an accidental touch to her skin.
The frightened words of Oh Gwen kept echoing in her mind as the shocking of Jimmie played on a constant loop in her head. She hadn't meant to hurt him, she'd only wanted to eat her sandwich without a mitt covering her fingers. He was the only one that had come up to her, was willing to talk to her and not look at her like a freak. The young girl saw the image over and over of Jimmie handing her the small truck... "You can hold on to this if you want."
She bit her bottom lip to stop its trembling as she continued to stare sightlessly out of the window. Gwen wanted to go home, she wanted her grandfather, and she wanted the incident with Jimmie never to have happened. Raising her hand, Gwen looked at her fingers and the small electrical volts that were dancing along her fingertips. It was always that way when a thunderstorm was on the horizon. Her grandfather told her it was Mani'to calling to her, but sometimes she wished that the Lenape god of thunderstorms would leave her alone.
The electrical sparks danced in the window's reflection and Gwen became mesmerized. The tiny brunette moved her hands from side to side and watched as the volts followed. It was kind of fun to be different, but it didn't stem the desire to fit in.
Title: Confusion
Fandom: Smallville
Character(s) or Pairing: Lana Lang
Prompt: 081, How?
Rating: PG
Word Count: 202
Big Table: Big Table
Progress: 13/100
The first thing that Lana noticed as her eyes were forced open by the sound of hard pounding against wood was that she was back in her Paris apartment. Confusion, along with fear filled her body. She didn't remember returning. She didn't remember anything after she'd begun the charcoal rubbing of Margaret Isabelle Theroux. How had she got there? What was happening?
The pounding refused to stop, forcing her out of bed and she slowly made her way toward the door. Her fingers clumsily worked the locks before pulling open the door to see Jason's concerned face. A bit of relief flooded her, at least she knew that she'd not been out long or his concern would have been deeper.
"I-I'll meet you downstairs in twenty minutes." Lana forced the words out, her mind not focusing on the conversation, before she shut the door not allowing Jason time to answer. She needed to think, but most of all she needed to remember how she'd made it from the church to her apartment. Who was Margaret Isabelle Theroux and what was the symbol that had glowed before everything went blank? There were so many unanswered questions and Lana wasn’t sure where to begin.