Snow drifts in no way resemble fluffy sheep
Sigh. I am such a geek.
And I so need to write something happy.
Four "drabbles" (err... word count? wazis word count?) starting with the line "On day one, he comes to take her away":
Early Edition | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Labyrinth | Smallville |
One: Early Edition
On day one, he comes to take her away. All it takes is a bold enough lie to send her on a wild goose chase. The headline changes from "Desktop Explosion Maims Woman" to "Suburbs vs City: Property Tax Divide.”
On day two, he comes to take it away. He isn’t really comfortable with stealing, but he does leave her hard drive. The headline changes from "Desktop Explosion Maims Woman" to "State Street Skate-a-palooza."
On day three, he is running late. The headline changes from “Three Killed by Road Rage” to “Homeless in Evanston.” Who knew that a Salvation Army lady could cause such a gaper’s block? By the time he gets back across town and to the library, there is an ambulance out front. The other local headline doesn’t change.
He slouches up the stairs of the hotel and glares at the cat, which is contentedly eating kibble. It makes a noise of displeasure when he throws his newspaper.
Two: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
On day one, he comes to take her away. He knew when the nibblet went missing that she’d gone to the slayer’s grave. He would lay into her for going out at night alone, but they’re both a bit raw for talking.
On day two, he is lounging on the front lawn with a cigarette when she comes outside. She looks through him, but doesn’t protest when he follows her. After all, they’re going to the same place. They stay there awhile and then he follows her home.
On day three, he is already at the grave himself when she shows up. He figures he should have brought flowers or something, but it’s not like the slayer would have appreciated it anyway. Kid sis doesn’t acknowledge his presence. Still, they stand there peaceably, and when he goes, so does she.
Spike isn’t sure if Buffy would call this “taking care” of Dawn, but it’ll do.
Three: Labyrinth
On day one, he comes to take her away. A king goes where he likes and takes what he likes, and she looks lovely sleeping there in her cradle, whispering her first sounds into the night. But her parents sat with her until she slept and the window is barred.
Time slips by quickly and by the time it is day two, she is a pretty girl-child: glossy black hair is bows, bright black eyes, and a cream-pale face still round with baby fat, singing quietly to herself. A king goes where he likes and takes what he wants, but though she is alone, the window is yet barred.
And so the days go, one past another, and he watches her covetously. Anticipation, he reassures himself, only makes the catch more piquant. She changes each time he comes, but some things are constant: her pale child’s face, the movement of her lips, the barred window.
In the future, she has unbound her black hair. In the future, she has forgotten to bar the window. In the future, she has raised her voice until even his servants in the otherworld have heard her and she has invited his possession.
It will take longer than he wishes, but a king goes where he likes and takes what he wants. Jareth has all the time in the world.
Four: Smallville
On day one, he comes to take her away. Mr. Carver is determined to give his little girl a bright future and there’s not much out here in the sticks. By the time they’re at the town limits, she’s getting fussy. Mrs. Carver, is doing her best to shush their baby, but the infant is turning red in the face and squalling by the time they’re an hour out.
Nothing comforts her; not food nor rocking nor clean diapers. She just cries until she falls asleep. Her parents, grateful for that quiet, are careful not to wake her as they drive on towards the city. But it’s only a matter of hours before she’s up again and the wailing resumes.
By day three, Mr. and Mrs. Carver are frantic with worry. They go so far as to consult a doctor. The man gives their little girl a whiff of nitrous oxide to make her happy and sleepy so they can get her to eat and relax, but when the gas begins to wear off, her unhappiness reasserts itself.
Day five, it’s agreed: they’re taking Mrs. Carver and the baby back home. Mrs. Carver’s mother will help her look after the baby’s brain-fever while Mr. Carver goes back to the city and chases that good life. He’ll come to take them away again when she’s well.
As they drive, the baby grows quieter. A few hours later, she’s gurgling happily.
Mr. and Mrs. Carver park and stare at their child. Mrs. Carver breaks the silence. “I think I’ll be staying in Smallville,” she says in a voice dulled with shock.
Mr. Carver doesn’t feel any better. “There’s no future here,” he protests, but weakly. He tries to imagine life in the city without his family while his baby girl coos and burbles.
On day twenty-seven thousand, three hundred eighty four, Cassandra Carver touches the hands of a man from the city. The last thing she sees before death comes to take her away is the rapidly-spreading pestilence and a downpour of blood.
Look, blame miscam! It was a challenge! How could I resist?
And I so need to write something happy.
Four "drabbles" (err... word count? wazis word count?) starting with the line "On day one, he comes to take her away":
Early Edition | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Labyrinth | Smallville |
One: Early Edition
On day one, he comes to take her away. All it takes is a bold enough lie to send her on a wild goose chase. The headline changes from "Desktop Explosion Maims Woman" to "Suburbs vs City: Property Tax Divide.”
On day two, he comes to take it away. He isn’t really comfortable with stealing, but he does leave her hard drive. The headline changes from "Desktop Explosion Maims Woman" to "State Street Skate-a-palooza."
On day three, he is running late. The headline changes from “Three Killed by Road Rage” to “Homeless in Evanston.” Who knew that a Salvation Army lady could cause such a gaper’s block? By the time he gets back across town and to the library, there is an ambulance out front. The other local headline doesn’t change.
He slouches up the stairs of the hotel and glares at the cat, which is contentedly eating kibble. It makes a noise of displeasure when he throws his newspaper.
Two: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
On day one, he comes to take her away. He knew when the nibblet went missing that she’d gone to the slayer’s grave. He would lay into her for going out at night alone, but they’re both a bit raw for talking.
On day two, he is lounging on the front lawn with a cigarette when she comes outside. She looks through him, but doesn’t protest when he follows her. After all, they’re going to the same place. They stay there awhile and then he follows her home.
On day three, he is already at the grave himself when she shows up. He figures he should have brought flowers or something, but it’s not like the slayer would have appreciated it anyway. Kid sis doesn’t acknowledge his presence. Still, they stand there peaceably, and when he goes, so does she.
Spike isn’t sure if Buffy would call this “taking care” of Dawn, but it’ll do.
Three: Labyrinth
On day one, he comes to take her away. A king goes where he likes and takes what he likes, and she looks lovely sleeping there in her cradle, whispering her first sounds into the night. But her parents sat with her until she slept and the window is barred.
Time slips by quickly and by the time it is day two, she is a pretty girl-child: glossy black hair is bows, bright black eyes, and a cream-pale face still round with baby fat, singing quietly to herself. A king goes where he likes and takes what he wants, but though she is alone, the window is yet barred.
And so the days go, one past another, and he watches her covetously. Anticipation, he reassures himself, only makes the catch more piquant. She changes each time he comes, but some things are constant: her pale child’s face, the movement of her lips, the barred window.
In the future, she has unbound her black hair. In the future, she has forgotten to bar the window. In the future, she has raised her voice until even his servants in the otherworld have heard her and she has invited his possession.
It will take longer than he wishes, but a king goes where he likes and takes what he wants. Jareth has all the time in the world.
Four: Smallville
On day one, he comes to take her away. Mr. Carver is determined to give his little girl a bright future and there’s not much out here in the sticks. By the time they’re at the town limits, she’s getting fussy. Mrs. Carver, is doing her best to shush their baby, but the infant is turning red in the face and squalling by the time they’re an hour out.
Nothing comforts her; not food nor rocking nor clean diapers. She just cries until she falls asleep. Her parents, grateful for that quiet, are careful not to wake her as they drive on towards the city. But it’s only a matter of hours before she’s up again and the wailing resumes.
By day three, Mr. and Mrs. Carver are frantic with worry. They go so far as to consult a doctor. The man gives their little girl a whiff of nitrous oxide to make her happy and sleepy so they can get her to eat and relax, but when the gas begins to wear off, her unhappiness reasserts itself.
Day five, it’s agreed: they’re taking Mrs. Carver and the baby back home. Mrs. Carver’s mother will help her look after the baby’s brain-fever while Mr. Carver goes back to the city and chases that good life. He’ll come to take them away again when she’s well.
As they drive, the baby grows quieter. A few hours later, she’s gurgling happily.
Mr. and Mrs. Carver park and stare at their child. Mrs. Carver breaks the silence. “I think I’ll be staying in Smallville,” she says in a voice dulled with shock.
Mr. Carver doesn’t feel any better. “There’s no future here,” he protests, but weakly. He tries to imagine life in the city without his family while his baby girl coos and burbles.
On day twenty-seven thousand, three hundred eighty four, Cassandra Carver touches the hands of a man from the city. The last thing she sees before death comes to take her away is the rapidly-spreading pestilence and a downpour of blood.
Look, blame miscam! It was a challenge! How could I resist?