You said I was your blue, blue baby and you were right

[newredshoes]

Oo, I've always wanted to do this meme! About to head home from work, but here we go! Yoinked from artaxastra, penknife and others:

Give me a story I've done, and a timestamp anything from a few minutes after/before to years after/before, and I'll write a quick ficlet related to it.

Master post is here, drabbles are here. I will respond as soon as I can! <3/♠/&c

Comments

[newredshoes]

OH. OH. There must be both. Holla!!!!!!

* * *

Norman Dike was lost again.

This was, he'd been led to believe, most problematic.

Dike was nothing if not a leader, though. He knew exactly what to do in a situation like this.

"First Sergeant Lipton!"

The woods were silent, save for, somewhere out of sight, that little radioman whom Dike had never seen without a cigarette. Dike planted his feet in the snow and his gloved hands on his hips. "First Sergeant Lipton!"

"Sir?"

He turned around to see Lipton watching him with a look of concern. The man was very compassionate, much easier to work with than any of the other lieutenants. Dike nodded authoritatively at him. "First Sergeant, the line has moved."

Lipton glanced over his shoulder. "I don't think it has, sir. This is how we get down every night."

Dike blinked. "In which case, who authorized the new cover?"

"No one, sir." Lipton cleared his throat. "Can I offer you some advice, sir?"

Dike frowned. "Take me to my foxhole. Certainly."

Lipton didn't move. "Today, sir, when doubt creeps in... Choose hope."

"I beg your pardon?"

"When fear creeps in... Choose faith." He pressed a fist to his chest. "When skepticism creeps in... Choose trust. Find a way."

Dike tilted his head, intrigued. "Is this what you tell the men?"

"Absolutely, sir." He began backtracking toward the base camp. "Today, compete with nobody except yourself. Push yourself to be your best. Not to meet somebody elses best. Your best -- your gift -- is needed."

Dike hurried after him, snow clumping up in his boots. "That's wise advice." It was also perhaps the nicest thing anyone had said to him since Colonel Sink had complimented him on his parade stance.

Lipton shrugged, adjusting his rifle on his shoulder. "Well, you know. Be a leader or a follower. Either one works. If you follow -- follow like a leader. If you lead -- do it for your followers. Not for you."

Dike stopped in his tracks, his eyes suddenly moist -- a reaction he regretted instantly, as it made his eyes that much colder. Lipton turned and looked at him. "Sir? Are you all right?"

"Yes," he said gamely, and sallied forth after Lipton. "Yes, I am. Thank you, First Sergeant."

"You ain't gotta do it yourself, baby," Lipton said, serious as ever.

Norman Dike was no longer lost.

[skew_whiff]

AAAAAAAAAAA. *flail*

Oh, Norman. OH DDUB. This was a work of staggering genius. Somebody put it in the Smithsonian. (Also, dammit, did you just make me sorta-kinda-not-really want to ship Dike and Donniefied-Lipton? That's just wrong. Actually, mostly, I think it just pushed the same 'oh, Dike just needs a hug' buttons the series did. I am far too fond of him.)

[newredshoes]

Muahahaha! I mean, er. I am glad you liked it! :-D (To be fair, the Dike I had in mind was totally the one from that Dike/Mothra cartoon? Would ddub honk if you grabbed his leg, or that an entirely different can of worms?)

Daemons to come below!

[foofighter0234]

I LOVE YOU. HAVE MY CHILD(S).