Ficlet: Sardines
I wrote a ficlet almost more as a practice run for writing some Sapphire & Steel a while back, and even though it is rather plotless (for me), I decided I quite like it as a light bit of fic, so I will risk posting it here.
Title: Sardines
Author: lost_spook
Words: 917
Rating: All ages
Characters: Steel, Sapphire, Silver.
Summary: In which Sapphire, Silver and Steel hide in a cupboard, and there is only almost a plot (and not really much shippiness either. Sorry.)
***
“Oh, hide and seek,” said Silver, as Steel pulled the cupboard door to after the three of them. “What fun. Or is it sardines? I can never remember.”
Sardines? Steel frowned as he let go of the door cautiously, brushing against both Silver and Sapphire as he did so. There was not much space in here.
Sapphire smiled to herself in the darkness. Yes, you mean Sardines. She paused, and added: Sardines are fish, Steel.
More or less, added Silver.
Fish?
Silver gave a short cough. And what do we say if someone opens the door and finds us in here?
That isn’t likely, but I’m sure you’ll think of something.
We’re playing Sardines, put in Sapphire, amused. What else?
What else indeed?
The tone of Silver’s thoughts had begun to turn distinctly mischievous. Steel decided it was the moment for a reminder of what they actually were doing hiding in the cleaner’s cupboard. It mustn’t find us - yet. How much longer until that device of yours is ready?
Another ten minutes or so, and there’s no need to frown, Steel; these things can’t be rushed.
Sapphire leant forward, close enough to both for the movement to instantly catch their attention. Steel. Silver. It’s getting nearer again. I can feel it.
You still haven’t explained precisely what ‘it’ is.
Steel looked to the door. You may be about to find out.
I don’t think I want to, said Silver, pettishly, and vanished.
Silver?
Oh, I haven’t gone far, Steel, don’t worry. Not missing me, are you?
That didn’t warrant a reply, so Steel only inclined his head towards Sapphire in the gloom of the cupboard and murmured, “If it becomes aware of us, what we intend, this won’t work.”
I’m sure Silver knows what he’s doing, she said, and he could hear her amusement. She seemed nearer to him without having moved as far as he could tell.
Steel looked towards the door, visible by the line of light around it. As he did so, Silver reappeared, suddenly jammed awkwardly between the two of them.
“Oops,” muttered Silver, and then attempted to extricate himself with some difficulty. Steel, would you mind moving your elbow? Carefully… And your foot. Thank you.
What have you done?
Distracted it. He paused, raising a finger and listening for something. The other two also waited for a long minute during which time, nothing happened. “Oh,” said Silver. “I thought I had.”
Silver.
A minor electrical fault on the other side of the building, Silver explained. Or that was the intention. A few sparks and noises and broken light bulbs. It should give us those last few minutes we need. We don’t want it joining in this game, do we? I imagine it wouldn’t play fair at all.
Sapphire put out a hand. It’s still out there, in the corridor -
They all waited again, but before any more could be heard of the entity, there was a distant clatter and a muted but still sharp explosion.
Sapphire raised her head. It’s moving away, I think. Yes, I’m sure it is.
“Aha,” said Silver. “Good. Not that the company in here isn’t delightful, of course. Steel, can’t you be more careful with your elbow? That’s my ear this time.”
Steel edged backwards cautiously, and then paused. “Your ear?”
“Ah, well,” said Silver, who was now half crouched down, pocketing something from a shelf below him. “Only collecting a few odds and ends - you never know -” He straightened up as best as he could in the limited space, causing all three to have to shift about again.
Wait. Sapphire became still once more. There’s something -
The entity?
No, nothing like that. More immediate…
There’s smoke. Steel paused, and then gripped Silver’s arm. “Silver?”
“A slightly larger electrical fault, perhaps,” amended Silver, with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Anyway, the device will be ready any moment now.”
“Yes,” said Sapphire, distantly. “It’s gone.”
“The energy of the explosion drew it away,” said Steel. He didn’t need light to know that Silver was looking smug again, even while being squashed between the two of them, the shelves and an inconvenient mop handle.
Sapphire turned her head. “Then we can leave - time to stop playing Sardines.”
“Just when I was finally getting comfortable,” said Silver. He threaded his fingers through Sapphire’s briefly. “What a shame.”
“Wait,” said Steel, still nearest the door, and listening intently. “A few moments longer, to be certain.”
The three of them lapsed into silence, waiting; and then Steel said, despite himself, “What do the fish have to do with it?”
“Sardines is a game,” Silver explained, as he tried to slide past Steel to the door. He glanced back at him, and then pushed it open, illuminating their shabby surroundings.
“One person hides, and then the rest of the players search for him or her,” Sapphire continued. “Once they find them, they hide with them until everybody is in one place.”
Silver held the door open for them. “The fish don’t have anything to say to it,” he added. “They’re dead.” As the other two joined him in the corridor, he grinned at them. “Hiding together in cramped spaces - humans are so unaccountable.”
Sapphire touched Steel’s arm lightly, as Silver closed the door of the cupboard behind them, pausing only to throw a wicked look back at Sapphire.
“Let’s finish this before it realises what we’re doing,” said Steel, and the three of them walked away to resume the business of their assignment.
***
Title: Sardines
Author: lost_spook
Words: 917
Rating: All ages
Characters: Steel, Sapphire, Silver.
Summary: In which Sapphire, Silver and Steel hide in a cupboard, and there is only almost a plot (and not really much shippiness either. Sorry.)
***
“Oh, hide and seek,” said Silver, as Steel pulled the cupboard door to after the three of them. “What fun. Or is it sardines? I can never remember.”
Sardines? Steel frowned as he let go of the door cautiously, brushing against both Silver and Sapphire as he did so. There was not much space in here.
Sapphire smiled to herself in the darkness. Yes, you mean Sardines. She paused, and added: Sardines are fish, Steel.
More or less, added Silver.
Fish?
Silver gave a short cough. And what do we say if someone opens the door and finds us in here?
That isn’t likely, but I’m sure you’ll think of something.
We’re playing Sardines, put in Sapphire, amused. What else?
What else indeed?
The tone of Silver’s thoughts had begun to turn distinctly mischievous. Steel decided it was the moment for a reminder of what they actually were doing hiding in the cleaner’s cupboard. It mustn’t find us - yet. How much longer until that device of yours is ready?
Another ten minutes or so, and there’s no need to frown, Steel; these things can’t be rushed.
Sapphire leant forward, close enough to both for the movement to instantly catch their attention. Steel. Silver. It’s getting nearer again. I can feel it.
You still haven’t explained precisely what ‘it’ is.
Steel looked to the door. You may be about to find out.
I don’t think I want to, said Silver, pettishly, and vanished.
Silver?
Oh, I haven’t gone far, Steel, don’t worry. Not missing me, are you?
That didn’t warrant a reply, so Steel only inclined his head towards Sapphire in the gloom of the cupboard and murmured, “If it becomes aware of us, what we intend, this won’t work.”
I’m sure Silver knows what he’s doing, she said, and he could hear her amusement. She seemed nearer to him without having moved as far as he could tell.
Steel looked towards the door, visible by the line of light around it. As he did so, Silver reappeared, suddenly jammed awkwardly between the two of them.
“Oops,” muttered Silver, and then attempted to extricate himself with some difficulty. Steel, would you mind moving your elbow? Carefully… And your foot. Thank you.
What have you done?
Distracted it. He paused, raising a finger and listening for something. The other two also waited for a long minute during which time, nothing happened. “Oh,” said Silver. “I thought I had.”
Silver.
A minor electrical fault on the other side of the building, Silver explained. Or that was the intention. A few sparks and noises and broken light bulbs. It should give us those last few minutes we need. We don’t want it joining in this game, do we? I imagine it wouldn’t play fair at all.
Sapphire put out a hand. It’s still out there, in the corridor -
They all waited again, but before any more could be heard of the entity, there was a distant clatter and a muted but still sharp explosion.
Sapphire raised her head. It’s moving away, I think. Yes, I’m sure it is.
“Aha,” said Silver. “Good. Not that the company in here isn’t delightful, of course. Steel, can’t you be more careful with your elbow? That’s my ear this time.”
Steel edged backwards cautiously, and then paused. “Your ear?”
“Ah, well,” said Silver, who was now half crouched down, pocketing something from a shelf below him. “Only collecting a few odds and ends - you never know -” He straightened up as best as he could in the limited space, causing all three to have to shift about again.
Wait. Sapphire became still once more. There’s something -
The entity?
No, nothing like that. More immediate…
There’s smoke. Steel paused, and then gripped Silver’s arm. “Silver?”
“A slightly larger electrical fault, perhaps,” amended Silver, with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Anyway, the device will be ready any moment now.”
“Yes,” said Sapphire, distantly. “It’s gone.”
“The energy of the explosion drew it away,” said Steel. He didn’t need light to know that Silver was looking smug again, even while being squashed between the two of them, the shelves and an inconvenient mop handle.
Sapphire turned her head. “Then we can leave - time to stop playing Sardines.”
“Just when I was finally getting comfortable,” said Silver. He threaded his fingers through Sapphire’s briefly. “What a shame.”
“Wait,” said Steel, still nearest the door, and listening intently. “A few moments longer, to be certain.”
The three of them lapsed into silence, waiting; and then Steel said, despite himself, “What do the fish have to do with it?”
“Sardines is a game,” Silver explained, as he tried to slide past Steel to the door. He glanced back at him, and then pushed it open, illuminating their shabby surroundings.
“One person hides, and then the rest of the players search for him or her,” Sapphire continued. “Once they find them, they hide with them until everybody is in one place.”
Silver held the door open for them. “The fish don’t have anything to say to it,” he added. “They’re dead.” As the other two joined him in the corridor, he grinned at them. “Hiding together in cramped spaces - humans are so unaccountable.”
Sapphire touched Steel’s arm lightly, as Silver closed the door of the cupboard behind them, pausing only to throw a wicked look back at Sapphire.
“Let’s finish this before it realises what we’re doing,” said Steel, and the three of them walked away to resume the business of their assignment.
***