Fic, Drabblepost, part two
All the rest of the drabbles. And now I go to the conference. Wish me luck with public speaking and schmoozing.
(I should have internet access at the hotel. I hope.)
For qara_isuke, Kingdom Hearts 2, Elaeus and Goofy, "loyalty."
When the small king visits Ansem, a pair of companions accompany him. This day, Ienzo's project nearing completion, Elaeus finds himself speaking more than usual to the knight, an excellent listener.
"Your loyalty is to your king," Elaeus says.
"'Course."
"But what if you found yourself divided?"
The knight frowns. "How so?"
"If your friend Donald wished to go one way, and the king another -- then, what would your conscience tell you to do?"
Goofy thinks, rubbing his muzzle, and then says, "I don't see it'd ever be a problem, 'cause it wouldn't happen."
"One always hopes not," Elaeus says.
***
For liltigre, FFVII, Reeve/Vincent, "dancing."
"I can't -- "
"Yes you can. I happen to know it's part of standard Turk training, for infiltration and undercover work."
Vincent tried to glare at him, and failed.
"Reno waltzes beautifully, although he always looks hilariously put-upon."
Vincent tried not to smile, with half success.
"I'd feel foolish." Reeve didn't miss Vincent's glance down at his claw.
"We'll dance out here, on the balcony. No one has to see if you don't want them to."
Vincent smiled -- small and grudging but there. That was when Reeve knew he had won. "Only if I can lead."
"Oh, the sacrifices I make."
***
For darkersummons, FFVII, Elena/Tseng, "suspicion"
He didn't have time to scream. Elena's knife sliced clean through the mark's windpipe. She nudged him in the back with her knee so that he fell forward, flicking blood off the blade.
"You didn't even get bloody," Tseng said.
"On my hand, a little." Modestly. "He was acting suspicious."
"That he was," Tseng said, and stepped over the body to kiss her. Not surprising, given him and knives, but all the more reason to enjoy it. She wound her fingers through his hair, the knife in her other hand pressed flat against the back of his neck.
***
For voodoobob, Kingdom Hearts 2, Donald/Daisy, "steady."
It took Donald and Goofy most of two days to recount their travels. Mostly it was Donald who did the talking, with the occasional interjection and gentle correction from Goofy.
Afterward, puffed up, Donald said to Daisy, "That's pretty heroic, isn't it?"
"Mm-hm."
"What've you been up to?"
"Oh, keeping things steady here." She smiled.
"That's all?" Donald asked, rashly, and realized his mistake when Daisy's eyes sharpened and her webbed foot began to tap.
"If you think it's so easy, you can do it," she sniffed, which was why Donald spent his first week home overseeing the broom brigade.
***
For lassarina, FFVII, Rufus/Reno, "cold."
Reno's breath plumed the air -- so much so that at first Rufus thought he was smoking, but there was no cigarette to be seen -- but he was still in shirtsleeves, his jacket nowhere to be found.
"Aren't you cold?" Rufus asked.
Reno shrugged. "Nah. Used to it."
Rufus permitted himself a smile. "You know, I expected you to take the opportunity to make some inappropriate comment about getting me to keep you warm."
Reno rolled his head, suddenly wicked. "I was waiting for you to do that."
"Touché," Rufus said as Reno leaned in for a kiss.
***
For maho_kiwi, Kingdom Hearts 2, Xigbar/Demyx, "otters." (Okay, that wasn't your actual prompt, but could not help myself.)
The otters shot through the water, just feet away from Demyx -- unafraid of him. Xigbar wasn't much for Atlantica or animals, but he admired the way they moved, fast and fearless and playful.
"On my Other's world," Demyx said, turning over lazily, "we believed in reincarnation."
"Mm," Xigbar said.
"I always wanted to be reincarnated as an otter. They always look like they're having fun."
"Yeah, they do."
"I like to think my heart's somewhere," Demyx said, dreamily, "in the body of an otter. Having a good time."
Watching the otters, Xigbar wasn't sure it wasn't true. "Maybe it is."
***
For laylah, Digital Devil Saga, Argilla, "focus." (Disclaimer: spoilers for DDS through the Solids' base -- if you wind up going through he Solids' base more than once, this would be the first time through -- and also, that's as far as I've got, so no spoilers plz.)
One of the first things she had learned, when she started training with the rifle years ago (it seemed like longer, the lifetime before her demon body and monstrous hunger) was that you couldn't bring the garbage in your head into battle. You couldn't let regret impinge on what you were doing. Distraction killed.
But she couldn't stops seeing Jinana's blood and her own tears. (And she was still human, surely, if she could cry?) Blurring her edge.
Force it down. Feed it to the fire. Revenge will get you through this. Sorrow won't.
Make them bleed.
Focus.
***
For jessara40k, FFVII, Sephiroth, Zack, Cloud, "hair."
Sephiroth was a common topic of conversation among recruits, just as Odin was a common topic of conversation among acolytes. So Cloud didn't see anything funny about asking Zack, after the heart-stopping moment when Sephiroth passed them in the hall, "His hair must be tricky to take care of on campaign."
"Oh, he mostly just braids it," Zack said absently. Cloud stared. "What?"
"You actually know what his hair care routine is like?" Cloud asked, struggling to keep his voice from squeaking.
"Why, you want to know his shampoo brand?" Zack asked, and laughed when Cloud squawked indignantly.
***
For red_merganser, Kingdom Hearts 2, Cid, "fracture."
It was glorious the first time the Bronco took off. For about ten seconds. Then the ship lurched sideways, shuddered, and slammed back to the ground a hundred yards from where it had taken off.
Braig put his hand over his eyes.
Cid emerged from the ship -- still mostly in one piece -- and the obscenities coming out of his mouth very nearly left a visible cloud in the air. In between bursts of foul language, Braig divined that something had gone wrong with the navigation system.
"Also, I think the landing gear's fractured," Braig said, prompting another stream of curses.
And a bonus, for alba_aulbath, who was lamenting the lack of Saix/Xemnas today. Kingdom Hears 2.
It has nothing to do with feeling and everything to do with devotion. Devotion is not a feeling; devotion is an action, a habit, a decision.
So it is a decision when he comes to Xemnas, under the light of Kingdom Hearts (which is not truly a moon, but which is close enough). It is a decision when they strip each other of their cloaks and Saix strokes Xemnas' hair. They do not succumb to passion because they cannot, and this is no substitute and never will be, but for now it will nearly work.
It has to.
(I should have internet access at the hotel. I hope.)
For qara_isuke, Kingdom Hearts 2, Elaeus and Goofy, "loyalty."
When the small king visits Ansem, a pair of companions accompany him. This day, Ienzo's project nearing completion, Elaeus finds himself speaking more than usual to the knight, an excellent listener.
"Your loyalty is to your king," Elaeus says.
"'Course."
"But what if you found yourself divided?"
The knight frowns. "How so?"
"If your friend Donald wished to go one way, and the king another -- then, what would your conscience tell you to do?"
Goofy thinks, rubbing his muzzle, and then says, "I don't see it'd ever be a problem, 'cause it wouldn't happen."
"One always hopes not," Elaeus says.
***
For liltigre, FFVII, Reeve/Vincent, "dancing."
"I can't -- "
"Yes you can. I happen to know it's part of standard Turk training, for infiltration and undercover work."
Vincent tried to glare at him, and failed.
"Reno waltzes beautifully, although he always looks hilariously put-upon."
Vincent tried not to smile, with half success.
"I'd feel foolish." Reeve didn't miss Vincent's glance down at his claw.
"We'll dance out here, on the balcony. No one has to see if you don't want them to."
Vincent smiled -- small and grudging but there. That was when Reeve knew he had won. "Only if I can lead."
"Oh, the sacrifices I make."
***
For darkersummons, FFVII, Elena/Tseng, "suspicion"
He didn't have time to scream. Elena's knife sliced clean through the mark's windpipe. She nudged him in the back with her knee so that he fell forward, flicking blood off the blade.
"You didn't even get bloody," Tseng said.
"On my hand, a little." Modestly. "He was acting suspicious."
"That he was," Tseng said, and stepped over the body to kiss her. Not surprising, given him and knives, but all the more reason to enjoy it. She wound her fingers through his hair, the knife in her other hand pressed flat against the back of his neck.
***
For voodoobob, Kingdom Hearts 2, Donald/Daisy, "steady."
It took Donald and Goofy most of two days to recount their travels. Mostly it was Donald who did the talking, with the occasional interjection and gentle correction from Goofy.
Afterward, puffed up, Donald said to Daisy, "That's pretty heroic, isn't it?"
"Mm-hm."
"What've you been up to?"
"Oh, keeping things steady here." She smiled.
"That's all?" Donald asked, rashly, and realized his mistake when Daisy's eyes sharpened and her webbed foot began to tap.
"If you think it's so easy, you can do it," she sniffed, which was why Donald spent his first week home overseeing the broom brigade.
***
For lassarina, FFVII, Rufus/Reno, "cold."
Reno's breath plumed the air -- so much so that at first Rufus thought he was smoking, but there was no cigarette to be seen -- but he was still in shirtsleeves, his jacket nowhere to be found.
"Aren't you cold?" Rufus asked.
Reno shrugged. "Nah. Used to it."
Rufus permitted himself a smile. "You know, I expected you to take the opportunity to make some inappropriate comment about getting me to keep you warm."
Reno rolled his head, suddenly wicked. "I was waiting for you to do that."
"Touché," Rufus said as Reno leaned in for a kiss.
***
For maho_kiwi, Kingdom Hearts 2, Xigbar/Demyx, "otters." (Okay, that wasn't your actual prompt, but could not help myself.)
The otters shot through the water, just feet away from Demyx -- unafraid of him. Xigbar wasn't much for Atlantica or animals, but he admired the way they moved, fast and fearless and playful.
"On my Other's world," Demyx said, turning over lazily, "we believed in reincarnation."
"Mm," Xigbar said.
"I always wanted to be reincarnated as an otter. They always look like they're having fun."
"Yeah, they do."
"I like to think my heart's somewhere," Demyx said, dreamily, "in the body of an otter. Having a good time."
Watching the otters, Xigbar wasn't sure it wasn't true. "Maybe it is."
***
For laylah, Digital Devil Saga, Argilla, "focus." (Disclaimer: spoilers for DDS through the Solids' base -- if you wind up going through he Solids' base more than once, this would be the first time through -- and also, that's as far as I've got, so no spoilers plz.)
One of the first things she had learned, when she started training with the rifle years ago (it seemed like longer, the lifetime before her demon body and monstrous hunger) was that you couldn't bring the garbage in your head into battle. You couldn't let regret impinge on what you were doing. Distraction killed.
But she couldn't stops seeing Jinana's blood and her own tears. (And she was still human, surely, if she could cry?) Blurring her edge.
Force it down. Feed it to the fire. Revenge will get you through this. Sorrow won't.
Make them bleed.
Focus.
***
For jessara40k, FFVII, Sephiroth, Zack, Cloud, "hair."
Sephiroth was a common topic of conversation among recruits, just as Odin was a common topic of conversation among acolytes. So Cloud didn't see anything funny about asking Zack, after the heart-stopping moment when Sephiroth passed them in the hall, "His hair must be tricky to take care of on campaign."
"Oh, he mostly just braids it," Zack said absently. Cloud stared. "What?"
"You actually know what his hair care routine is like?" Cloud asked, struggling to keep his voice from squeaking.
"Why, you want to know his shampoo brand?" Zack asked, and laughed when Cloud squawked indignantly.
***
For red_merganser, Kingdom Hearts 2, Cid, "fracture."
It was glorious the first time the Bronco took off. For about ten seconds. Then the ship lurched sideways, shuddered, and slammed back to the ground a hundred yards from where it had taken off.
Braig put his hand over his eyes.
Cid emerged from the ship -- still mostly in one piece -- and the obscenities coming out of his mouth very nearly left a visible cloud in the air. In between bursts of foul language, Braig divined that something had gone wrong with the navigation system.
"Also, I think the landing gear's fractured," Braig said, prompting another stream of curses.
And a bonus, for alba_aulbath, who was lamenting the lack of Saix/Xemnas today. Kingdom Hears 2.
It has nothing to do with feeling and everything to do with devotion. Devotion is not a feeling; devotion is an action, a habit, a decision.
So it is a decision when he comes to Xemnas, under the light of Kingdom Hearts (which is not truly a moon, but which is close enough). It is a decision when they strip each other of their cloaks and Saix strokes Xemnas' hair. They do not succumb to passion because they cannot, and this is no substitute and never will be, but for now it will nearly work.
It has to.