Life on Mars Drabbles: G-rated
Here's a collection of my Life on Mars drabbles (stories of 100 words exactly) that I made for the Friday Drabble challenges at lifein1973 for the last 4 months (up until 27 November 2009)
These are all rated G or 'White Cortina', I'll put up the higher-rated ones in the next post, meaning anything suggestive towards sex or actual sex or anything that puts them at a higher rating. Some of these have some suggestion towards a pairing, such as Sam/Gene but it's nothing explicit and just fluff or banter.
Title: Fruitcakes
Prompt: More than a Mouthful
“Five grapes! Beat that, Ray.”
“That’s easy, Chris… There, three strawberries.”
“I bet I can get in an orange.”
“Right, want me to push it in?”
“What… are you guys doing with that bowl of fruit?”
“Oh, hi Boss! We’re just playing a little game, that’s all.”
“Yeah, a little game to see who can fit the most fruit in their mouth. Care to join us, boss? I bet you can’t beat me.”
“I don’t know if-”
“Well, if you can’t…”
“Fine.”
“Whoa! A whole banana!”
“That’s … more than a mouthful.”
“Beat that!”
“Er, no thanks, Boss. You win.”
Title: Car Chase Consequences
Prompt: Taking the Bus Home
“Now you see where your reckless driving takes us?” Sam told the larger man in an irritated voice.
“Shut your gob and just pay for the bus tickets, Tyler.” Gene responded in an equally annoyed tone.
The DI grumbled as he produced his wallet “Why aren’t you paying, you got us into this mess… It’s a miracle we didn’t break anything.”
“Miracle!? What happened to my motor is far worse than you breaking a nail, Gladys!”
“It’s your own bloody fault!”
“Oi, my driving is perfect.”
“Perfect until you drive it down a stairway chasing after a fleeing bank robber.”
Title: Visit in the Future
Prompt: Switch
Now I know we’re all mad here, but I’m not particularly more mad than anyone else. He made us switch places, you see. He should be here, not me.
For one that claims to play by the rules, he sure knows how to bend them, the cheating sod. He even had the gall to visit me here. See how I was doing, labelled insane in his stead.
But I’ll repay the favour, you’ll see. In the future, from where he claims to be, not me, I’ll go pay Mr. Tyler a visit.
He hasn’t seen the last of Tony Crane.
Title: Awkward Date
Prompt: Knee
The evening had started out great, really. He had picked up Suzie from the flower shop she worked. Dinner was great, yeah, not too many uncomfortable silences, and he was not so drunk yet he threw up, that’s a plus. Then he’d taken her to the pub, to meet his friends. “Nice tits.” Ray told him with a wink. He drank while trying to work up the courage to ask her home, holding one hand on her knee under the table. But suddenly Sam looked strangely at him.
“Chris?”
“Yeah, boss?”
“I think your hand is on the wrong knee.”
Title: Night at the Theatre
Prompt: Bow
The call had come in just before beer o’ clock. To most of the team’s dismay, the Guv had to call it off since someone had just made a death threat to the diva that was supposed to perform in the theatre tonight.
“Ol’ lover with a bone to pick, no doubt.” Gene grumbled as they searched backstage before the show. Then there was a movement, a shout, a chase and a struggle as the DCI and DI together arrested the man right on stage.
“Got ya, you’re nicked!”
“Er… Guv?” The curtains had risen.
“Right. Take a bow, Gladys.”
Title: Bets
Prompt: Pluck
“I can’t believe bloody United won. I say the game was rigged, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you had anything to do with it.”
“I wouldn’t stoop that low, that sounds more up your alley.”
“Har bloody har. You seemed confident enough they’d win. Fine, here’s your fiver. You’d better buy me a round later.”
“Thanks, Guv. Well, cheer up, carpe diem and all that. Better luck next time.”
“Oi, don’t you spout French at me.”
“Not French, Guv, Latin. Pluck the day. Want to bet on the next Prime Minister?”
“Watch it or I’ll pluck something else, Gladys.”
Title: Skateboard
Prompt: Railing
Sammy eyed the railing in front of school, a couple of hours after class, clutching the now-worn skateboard his dad gave him on his birthday before he left, years ago. Robby had challenged him, saying he wouldn’t dare. Now that he was alone, he dared. But it didn’t go well, leaving Sammy with torn pants and a broken board.
“Oi, Gladys, what are you crying about?”
Sammy looked up at the big blonde man in front of him.
“Well, come on, lad, I’ll take you home.” He eyed the broken board the boy carried along “So… when’s your birthday again?”
Title: Sometimes
Prompt: Liar
Sometimes he was able to convince himself that he belonged. That the joy he felt at a job well done, at being praised by his peers, was genuine. He knew Annie liked him, and sometimes he thought her real enough to like her in return. Ray obviously disliked him, and sometimes he thought him real enough to bother hating him back. Gene… Gene was always real to him. He couldn’t avoid it, despite of the calls through the radio. Yes, sometimes, Gene could make him believe the whole world was so very real.
Sometimes he was a liar to himself.
Title: The Tunnel
Prompt: Proposal
“Where did you go?”
“What?” Sam looked over his pint to his Guv, who fixed him with a stare.
“That tunnel. You left, Sam.”
The younger man sighed “That doesn’t matter now.”
“No?” In those green eyes, Sam felt as if his soul was stripped bare.
“No. Because I came back.”
“Didn’t like what you saw on the other side?” Sam felt a cold shiver as he searched those eyes for that knowing. Did he? “So why’d you come back?”
“I wanted to stay. With you.”
“Are you proposing to me now, Gladys?”
Sam could only smile, partially in relief.
Title: Guilt and Determination
Prompt: Scar
He still thought about his brother sometimes, when he only had scotch for company. Stuart’s death weighed heavily upon him, like a scar upon his soul. An invisible wound that hurt more than a real one ever could. He always wondered if he could have kept his brother from destroying himself.
And now Tyler… His DI didn’t know, but Cartwright had told him about the suicide attempt she had barely managed to stop. Gene didn’t know what went on in the man’s head, why he did what he did, but he’d be damned if he’d let Sam become another scar.
Title: That Icecream Shop
Prompt: Memory
Gene wondered how come small, simple things turned complex and strange when he had his DI around. He had taken him to the match that Sunday afternoon, and even though City had won, his deputy was grinning like a loon. Gene didn’t mind though, he felt like he lived to see that genuine smile. Suddenly Sam halted.
“What is it now, Gladys, got your knickers in a twist?”
“No, that icecream shop... Dad took me here as a little kid, after the game.”
“Funny, Sam, that shop only opened five years ago.”
The smile faded.
Gene sighed “Vanilla or chocolate?”
Title: Snow White in the Morning
Prompt: Bashful, Sneezy, Sleepy, Grumpy, Happy, Doc, Dopey
“Don’t be so bashful, Guv, come out… Nice white … nightshirt?”
“Piss off… m’not feeling good.”
“You do keep sneezing… Maybe you caught a cold.”
“It’s Chris’ fault, the div… got the meeting place wrong with the snitch. Left me for hours in the rain for nought.”
“He can be a dope, but he meant well. No need to get grumpy.”
“Got every bloody right to be, Gladys. What are you so happy about anyway?”
“Not having my door kicked in for once. Should I call a doctor?”
“Like hell. M’just going to sleep now. Get lost.”
“G’night, Snow White.”
Title: Birthday Tradition
Prompt: Toffee
“Why are you looking so sour, Guv?” Sam joined him at the pub’s table.
Gene eyed him before replying “It’s my birthday tomorrow.”
“Isn’t that a happy occasion?” Sam’s grin faded when he saw Gene’s expression.
“Stu’s birthday was a week later. Our aunt would always buy us a big box of sweets and we made a tradition of sharing it on my birthday…” His DI remained silent, for which Gene was somewhat grateful.
However, when Gene entered his office the next morning, there was a box of toffees on his desk with a note “Let’s start a new tradition”
Title: Grandstand comes before the fall…
Prompt: Grandstand (to impress onlookers)
The mood in Hunt’s kingdom was foul as they had cracked down on a robbery on the biggest bank in Manchester, when RCS has swooped in, arrested the bandits and stole all the glory. Now Litton was parading around the station, and Gene couldn’t hit him without the Super noticing.
But when Sam went over the evidence, he looked closer at the guns “Hang on, these are fake. Props.”
“Now that you mention it, boss, there were these cameras…”
As if on cue, the irate director entered the station, demanding to know who the idiot was that ruined his film.
Title: Annoying Stake-outs
Prompt: Hiccup
“Will you quit with the blasted hiccupping, Marjorie?”
“I can’t help it, Guv, I’m trying.”
“Try holding your breath.”
“That doesn’t work, not without choking.”
“At least then I’d get some peace and quiet on this bloody stake-out.”
“It’s annoying for me too… and when’s the last time you got a bath.”
“Oi, at least I smell manly, you poof. Hey, isn’t that the suspect?”
“Where?” As Sam sat up to look, Gene hit the horn hard, causing him to jump and knock his head into the ceiling “Ow! You- … hey, I think that worked.”
“Finally!”
“HICCUP.”
“Bloody hell…”
Title: Déjà-vu
Prompt: Truncheon
Every year, Gene Hunt went up to Manchester. He missed his city, but some things were missing that hurt even more.
He’d just entered the station when the vision he saw froze him in his tracks. A young lad in uniform, fresh from the academy. Gene swallowed.
“So… Sam, ready to start, hey?”
The familiar face-splitting grin nearly broke his heart “Yes, sir! Just signed in, got my badge, my truncheon… Do I know you, sir?”
“Not yet, lad. I’ll see you later, alright?”
Sam was left wondering why that man seemed so familiar and how he knew his name.
These are all rated G or 'White Cortina', I'll put up the higher-rated ones in the next post, meaning anything suggestive towards sex or actual sex or anything that puts them at a higher rating. Some of these have some suggestion towards a pairing, such as Sam/Gene but it's nothing explicit and just fluff or banter.
Title: Fruitcakes
Prompt: More than a Mouthful
“Five grapes! Beat that, Ray.”
“That’s easy, Chris… There, three strawberries.”
“I bet I can get in an orange.”
“Right, want me to push it in?”
“What… are you guys doing with that bowl of fruit?”
“Oh, hi Boss! We’re just playing a little game, that’s all.”
“Yeah, a little game to see who can fit the most fruit in their mouth. Care to join us, boss? I bet you can’t beat me.”
“I don’t know if-”
“Well, if you can’t…”
“Fine.”
“Whoa! A whole banana!”
“That’s … more than a mouthful.”
“Beat that!”
“Er, no thanks, Boss. You win.”
Title: Car Chase Consequences
Prompt: Taking the Bus Home
“Now you see where your reckless driving takes us?” Sam told the larger man in an irritated voice.
“Shut your gob and just pay for the bus tickets, Tyler.” Gene responded in an equally annoyed tone.
The DI grumbled as he produced his wallet “Why aren’t you paying, you got us into this mess… It’s a miracle we didn’t break anything.”
“Miracle!? What happened to my motor is far worse than you breaking a nail, Gladys!”
“It’s your own bloody fault!”
“Oi, my driving is perfect.”
“Perfect until you drive it down a stairway chasing after a fleeing bank robber.”
Title: Visit in the Future
Prompt: Switch
Now I know we’re all mad here, but I’m not particularly more mad than anyone else. He made us switch places, you see. He should be here, not me.
For one that claims to play by the rules, he sure knows how to bend them, the cheating sod. He even had the gall to visit me here. See how I was doing, labelled insane in his stead.
But I’ll repay the favour, you’ll see. In the future, from where he claims to be, not me, I’ll go pay Mr. Tyler a visit.
He hasn’t seen the last of Tony Crane.
Title: Awkward Date
Prompt: Knee
The evening had started out great, really. He had picked up Suzie from the flower shop she worked. Dinner was great, yeah, not too many uncomfortable silences, and he was not so drunk yet he threw up, that’s a plus. Then he’d taken her to the pub, to meet his friends. “Nice tits.” Ray told him with a wink. He drank while trying to work up the courage to ask her home, holding one hand on her knee under the table. But suddenly Sam looked strangely at him.
“Chris?”
“Yeah, boss?”
“I think your hand is on the wrong knee.”
Title: Night at the Theatre
Prompt: Bow
The call had come in just before beer o’ clock. To most of the team’s dismay, the Guv had to call it off since someone had just made a death threat to the diva that was supposed to perform in the theatre tonight.
“Ol’ lover with a bone to pick, no doubt.” Gene grumbled as they searched backstage before the show. Then there was a movement, a shout, a chase and a struggle as the DCI and DI together arrested the man right on stage.
“Got ya, you’re nicked!”
“Er… Guv?” The curtains had risen.
“Right. Take a bow, Gladys.”
Title: Bets
Prompt: Pluck
“I can’t believe bloody United won. I say the game was rigged, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you had anything to do with it.”
“I wouldn’t stoop that low, that sounds more up your alley.”
“Har bloody har. You seemed confident enough they’d win. Fine, here’s your fiver. You’d better buy me a round later.”
“Thanks, Guv. Well, cheer up, carpe diem and all that. Better luck next time.”
“Oi, don’t you spout French at me.”
“Not French, Guv, Latin. Pluck the day. Want to bet on the next Prime Minister?”
“Watch it or I’ll pluck something else, Gladys.”
Title: Skateboard
Prompt: Railing
Sammy eyed the railing in front of school, a couple of hours after class, clutching the now-worn skateboard his dad gave him on his birthday before he left, years ago. Robby had challenged him, saying he wouldn’t dare. Now that he was alone, he dared. But it didn’t go well, leaving Sammy with torn pants and a broken board.
“Oi, Gladys, what are you crying about?”
Sammy looked up at the big blonde man in front of him.
“Well, come on, lad, I’ll take you home.” He eyed the broken board the boy carried along “So… when’s your birthday again?”
Title: Sometimes
Prompt: Liar
Sometimes he was able to convince himself that he belonged. That the joy he felt at a job well done, at being praised by his peers, was genuine. He knew Annie liked him, and sometimes he thought her real enough to like her in return. Ray obviously disliked him, and sometimes he thought him real enough to bother hating him back. Gene… Gene was always real to him. He couldn’t avoid it, despite of the calls through the radio. Yes, sometimes, Gene could make him believe the whole world was so very real.
Sometimes he was a liar to himself.
Title: The Tunnel
Prompt: Proposal
“Where did you go?”
“What?” Sam looked over his pint to his Guv, who fixed him with a stare.
“That tunnel. You left, Sam.”
The younger man sighed “That doesn’t matter now.”
“No?” In those green eyes, Sam felt as if his soul was stripped bare.
“No. Because I came back.”
“Didn’t like what you saw on the other side?” Sam felt a cold shiver as he searched those eyes for that knowing. Did he? “So why’d you come back?”
“I wanted to stay. With you.”
“Are you proposing to me now, Gladys?”
Sam could only smile, partially in relief.
Title: Guilt and Determination
Prompt: Scar
He still thought about his brother sometimes, when he only had scotch for company. Stuart’s death weighed heavily upon him, like a scar upon his soul. An invisible wound that hurt more than a real one ever could. He always wondered if he could have kept his brother from destroying himself.
And now Tyler… His DI didn’t know, but Cartwright had told him about the suicide attempt she had barely managed to stop. Gene didn’t know what went on in the man’s head, why he did what he did, but he’d be damned if he’d let Sam become another scar.
Title: That Icecream Shop
Prompt: Memory
Gene wondered how come small, simple things turned complex and strange when he had his DI around. He had taken him to the match that Sunday afternoon, and even though City had won, his deputy was grinning like a loon. Gene didn’t mind though, he felt like he lived to see that genuine smile. Suddenly Sam halted.
“What is it now, Gladys, got your knickers in a twist?”
“No, that icecream shop... Dad took me here as a little kid, after the game.”
“Funny, Sam, that shop only opened five years ago.”
The smile faded.
Gene sighed “Vanilla or chocolate?”
Title: Snow White in the Morning
Prompt: Bashful, Sneezy, Sleepy, Grumpy, Happy, Doc, Dopey
“Don’t be so bashful, Guv, come out… Nice white … nightshirt?”
“Piss off… m’not feeling good.”
“You do keep sneezing… Maybe you caught a cold.”
“It’s Chris’ fault, the div… got the meeting place wrong with the snitch. Left me for hours in the rain for nought.”
“He can be a dope, but he meant well. No need to get grumpy.”
“Got every bloody right to be, Gladys. What are you so happy about anyway?”
“Not having my door kicked in for once. Should I call a doctor?”
“Like hell. M’just going to sleep now. Get lost.”
“G’night, Snow White.”
Title: Birthday Tradition
Prompt: Toffee
“Why are you looking so sour, Guv?” Sam joined him at the pub’s table.
Gene eyed him before replying “It’s my birthday tomorrow.”
“Isn’t that a happy occasion?” Sam’s grin faded when he saw Gene’s expression.
“Stu’s birthday was a week later. Our aunt would always buy us a big box of sweets and we made a tradition of sharing it on my birthday…” His DI remained silent, for which Gene was somewhat grateful.
However, when Gene entered his office the next morning, there was a box of toffees on his desk with a note “Let’s start a new tradition”
Title: Grandstand comes before the fall…
Prompt: Grandstand (to impress onlookers)
The mood in Hunt’s kingdom was foul as they had cracked down on a robbery on the biggest bank in Manchester, when RCS has swooped in, arrested the bandits and stole all the glory. Now Litton was parading around the station, and Gene couldn’t hit him without the Super noticing.
But when Sam went over the evidence, he looked closer at the guns “Hang on, these are fake. Props.”
“Now that you mention it, boss, there were these cameras…”
As if on cue, the irate director entered the station, demanding to know who the idiot was that ruined his film.
Title: Annoying Stake-outs
Prompt: Hiccup
“Will you quit with the blasted hiccupping, Marjorie?”
“I can’t help it, Guv, I’m trying.”
“Try holding your breath.”
“That doesn’t work, not without choking.”
“At least then I’d get some peace and quiet on this bloody stake-out.”
“It’s annoying for me too… and when’s the last time you got a bath.”
“Oi, at least I smell manly, you poof. Hey, isn’t that the suspect?”
“Where?” As Sam sat up to look, Gene hit the horn hard, causing him to jump and knock his head into the ceiling “Ow! You- … hey, I think that worked.”
“Finally!”
“HICCUP.”
“Bloody hell…”
Title: Déjà-vu
Prompt: Truncheon
Every year, Gene Hunt went up to Manchester. He missed his city, but some things were missing that hurt even more.
He’d just entered the station when the vision he saw froze him in his tracks. A young lad in uniform, fresh from the academy. Gene swallowed.
“So… Sam, ready to start, hey?”
The familiar face-splitting grin nearly broke his heart “Yes, sir! Just signed in, got my badge, my truncheon… Do I know you, sir?”
“Not yet, lad. I’ll see you later, alright?”
Sam was left wondering why that man seemed so familiar and how he knew his name.