'cause they're hip to the bull and they're hip to the lies
So, I've pretty much dropped out of fanfiction writing the last year or so, you may or may not have noticed. Mostly because I haven't been following one fandom with any real gusto. I've been toying with original stuff and written a few spur of the moment comment fics, but otherwise...
So, I had some time this morning and went through my WIP list and the following is anything I decided was okay enough for posting - the rest I pretty much give up on. I doubt I'll ever finish them.
Which is not to say that I don't think I'll ever write fanfiction again, and more to say that I doubt I'm going to pick up and finish something I started 2 or more years ago.
Mind, this is all stuff I wrote at least a year ago and deemed not good enough to post. Don't expect anything good :P
title: Rewards
fandom: Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle
pairing: Syaoran/Kurogane
words: 221
spoilers/world: After Outo/Edonis and before Tokyo.
rating: G
notes: originally written 03/27/07
for 15pairings theme #04: practice makes perfect
Syaoran doesn't need to be a good swordsman. In fact, now that they no longer have to fight the Oni, Syaoran doesn't need to be a swordsman at all. His ability to fight barehanded has served him well all his life, and his mediocre sword skills, while they come in handy from time to time, have been demoted to nothing more than back-up.
There is no reason for Syaoran to become a good swordsman, yet he still diligently continues to practice, striving to become better and better with Hien without logical reason. He could almost see how this kind of personal betterment could become an addiction, and a little bit thinks he can maybe understand what it was that drove Kurogane to love fighting so dearly and hold it in such high regard not to be only good, but the best.
He could almost understand the older man's need to be the strongest.
The ache in his muscles is rewarding. Mastering a technique he'd been working on is also rewarding. He's proud when he wins battles using the skills he's learned. However those aren't the reasons he continues to push himself so hard to improve.
The slight quirk of Kurogane's lips and the vaguely impressed look in his eyes when Syaoran parries an attack unexpectedly is all the reward he needs.
---------------------
title: Close
fandom: Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle
pairing: Fai/Sakura
words: 253
spoilers / world: none; before Tokyo
rating: G
originally written: 03/28/07
for 15pairings theme #07: up close and personal
Fai doesn't understand the concept of personal space and Syaoran's blushing and Kurogane's yelling don't seem to have taught him any better. Though not for a lack of effort.
Sakura doesn't mind, merely expressing surprise when Fai comes too close at first, and eventually not even that. She becomes used to his presence around her and begins to wonder if maybe she'll miss this closeness if she ever returns to Clow without him.
She wants her memories back. She wants to fill in the blank spaces and empty chairs. She wants to know about the people she held dear. She wants to remember the lessons learned from the things she's done wrong and the ways in which she's brought happiness to others.
She wants to remember everything, but she also doesn't want this journey to end. Doesn't want to lose the people she's grown so close to. And sometimes, she thinks of the inevitable day on which they'll all part and Kurogane won't glare protectively and Syaoran won't smile and Mokona won't laugh and Fai won't be close. She thinks of that day and the loneliness suffocates her.
She thinks sometimes that Fai must be lonely too, when that seemingly uncharacteristic serious look crosses his face and his smile becomes a little less cheerful. The times when he seeks out companionship in his own way no matter how many times he's been rejected.
And when the tables turn and she begins to seek out his closeness instead of the other way around, she doesn't wonder too much whose loneliness she's trying to cure.
--------------------
title: Not Wrong, but Different
fandom: Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle
pairing: Kurograne/Fai
words: 169
spoilers / world: none; probably Yamano
rating: high end of PG
originally written: 06/05/06
for 40baisers theme #07; language
It's his accent that undoes you. The way he pronounces the vowels just slightly different from what you're used to hearing; the way he draws the sounds out into something much more languid than you've heard before. He's saying you're full name, for once, but it sounds like nothing you recognize.
His language itself doesn't help. Half the sounds are completely impossible in Japanese with consonants thrown together haphazardly and vowels in bizarre combinations. He mutters strings of unfamiliar words against your bare shoulder, hands pulling at clothing with hurried frustration.
And you wonder what you sound like to him. Japanese is as unfamiliar to him as whatever it is he's speaking is to you. If the way he groans is caused by your body against his or your voice against his ear, speaking nonsense because you know he won't understand. Whatever it is, it's drawn him to the same edge you're on, and the pair of you are left to dangle with only each other to cling to.
--------------------
title: Names
fandom: Firefly
pairing: could be one-sided River/Mal, if you wanted it to be. But it doesn't have to be
words: 248
originally written: 01/21/06
A/N: No spoilers, really, but it won't make sense if you haven't seen Serenity.
He finds her sitting alone in the infirmiry, cross-legged and reading a vast medical tome she must have found buried in his things.
"You can take the book down to your room, if you like," he offers, opening drawers as he begins taking out supplies.
She keeps her eyes glued to the book, "I like it here."
"But it'll be crowded soon, River. They should be back from the planet in a few minutes. Rumour has it the job went haywire."
"My name isn't River anymore," she informs him, ignoring the rest of his comment.
He stops short in his work and it takes him a couple of seconds to process this new information. "Then, what is your name now?" he asks slowly.
"Albatross," she answers, matter-of-fact.
"Why Albatross?"
"Because it's what the Captain calls me."
Simon smiles as her logic suddenly dawns on him and he can thankfully resume the role of teacher. "River, Albatross is a nickname the Captain's given you. It doesn't mean that you can't be River as well."
"But I like Albatross better."
"Why? I think River's a very pretty name."
She finally closes the book and glances up, only to roll her eyes and give him the look she reserves for when she thinks he's being especially stupid. "Because it's what the Captain calls me." In a fluid motion she slips off the examining table and heads out of the room with the book before he can even muster together a reply.
------------------
title: Untitled
fandom: Harry Potter
characters: Draco, Harry
words: 364
originally written: 07/25/07
spoilers: DH
You didn't expect anyone to be waiting.
Your parents are still in Azkaban, and all those you may have called "friends" have lost touch with the lack of a common goal. Slytherins aren't exactly the type to fall victim to sentimentality.
Somehow, though, as you step out of the Ministry courtroom, still marvelling at how warm the world can be when Dementors aren't lurking in the corridors outside your cell, you aren't surprised to find him there.
"Malfoy," he says by way of greeting.
"Potter," you return, with a slight nod of your head.
Silence reigns and you realize he's staring at you. For the first time, you wonder how much three years in Azkaban have altered your appearance. You walk past him, pointedly, and that knocks some sense back into his thick head. He falls into step beside you.
He doesn't speak, and you begin to wonder if he expects you to say something. Even if you wanted to, though, you don't think you could form your thoughts into words. But the silence is making you uncomfortable. Gaping between the two you, stretched by years of hatred. By dark magic and allegiances and choices you almost - almost - regret. Stretched by a bizarre, yet somehow characteristic rescue from certain, firey death.
For a moment, you entertain the ludicrous thought that he's waiting for you to thank him.
But then he's rustling in his robes and pulls out something familiar. Ten inches, hawthorn and unicorn hair. You feel your face heat in anger, realizing he's come to gloat. To lord over you that even though you're free of Azkaban, you still aren't really a wizard right now, pure-blooded or not.
But then he'd holding it out to you like a peace offering and you feel silly for expecting otherwise. "Thank you for - er - lending this to me."
For a moment you're shocked, but you come to your senses (too slowly, you think) and snatch the wand out of his fingers. "Lending?" you scoff, "I thought you were a Gryffindor? Be honest, at least, and call it stealing."
His turns red, but he doesn't protest or disagree. The small victory pleases you.
So, I had some time this morning and went through my WIP list and the following is anything I decided was okay enough for posting - the rest I pretty much give up on. I doubt I'll ever finish them.
Which is not to say that I don't think I'll ever write fanfiction again, and more to say that I doubt I'm going to pick up and finish something I started 2 or more years ago.
Mind, this is all stuff I wrote at least a year ago and deemed not good enough to post. Don't expect anything good :P
title: Rewards
fandom: Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle
pairing: Syaoran/Kurogane
words: 221
spoilers/world: After Outo/Edonis and before Tokyo.
rating: G
notes: originally written 03/27/07
for 15pairings theme #04: practice makes perfect
Syaoran doesn't need to be a good swordsman. In fact, now that they no longer have to fight the Oni, Syaoran doesn't need to be a swordsman at all. His ability to fight barehanded has served him well all his life, and his mediocre sword skills, while they come in handy from time to time, have been demoted to nothing more than back-up.
There is no reason for Syaoran to become a good swordsman, yet he still diligently continues to practice, striving to become better and better with Hien without logical reason. He could almost see how this kind of personal betterment could become an addiction, and a little bit thinks he can maybe understand what it was that drove Kurogane to love fighting so dearly and hold it in such high regard not to be only good, but the best.
He could almost understand the older man's need to be the strongest.
The ache in his muscles is rewarding. Mastering a technique he'd been working on is also rewarding. He's proud when he wins battles using the skills he's learned. However those aren't the reasons he continues to push himself so hard to improve.
The slight quirk of Kurogane's lips and the vaguely impressed look in his eyes when Syaoran parries an attack unexpectedly is all the reward he needs.
---------------------
title: Close
fandom: Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle
pairing: Fai/Sakura
words: 253
spoilers / world: none; before Tokyo
rating: G
originally written: 03/28/07
for 15pairings theme #07: up close and personal
Fai doesn't understand the concept of personal space and Syaoran's blushing and Kurogane's yelling don't seem to have taught him any better. Though not for a lack of effort.
Sakura doesn't mind, merely expressing surprise when Fai comes too close at first, and eventually not even that. She becomes used to his presence around her and begins to wonder if maybe she'll miss this closeness if she ever returns to Clow without him.
She wants her memories back. She wants to fill in the blank spaces and empty chairs. She wants to know about the people she held dear. She wants to remember the lessons learned from the things she's done wrong and the ways in which she's brought happiness to others.
She wants to remember everything, but she also doesn't want this journey to end. Doesn't want to lose the people she's grown so close to. And sometimes, she thinks of the inevitable day on which they'll all part and Kurogane won't glare protectively and Syaoran won't smile and Mokona won't laugh and Fai won't be close. She thinks of that day and the loneliness suffocates her.
She thinks sometimes that Fai must be lonely too, when that seemingly uncharacteristic serious look crosses his face and his smile becomes a little less cheerful. The times when he seeks out companionship in his own way no matter how many times he's been rejected.
And when the tables turn and she begins to seek out his closeness instead of the other way around, she doesn't wonder too much whose loneliness she's trying to cure.
--------------------
title: Not Wrong, but Different
fandom: Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle
pairing: Kurograne/Fai
words: 169
spoilers / world: none; probably Yamano
rating: high end of PG
originally written: 06/05/06
for 40baisers theme #07; language
It's his accent that undoes you. The way he pronounces the vowels just slightly different from what you're used to hearing; the way he draws the sounds out into something much more languid than you've heard before. He's saying you're full name, for once, but it sounds like nothing you recognize.
His language itself doesn't help. Half the sounds are completely impossible in Japanese with consonants thrown together haphazardly and vowels in bizarre combinations. He mutters strings of unfamiliar words against your bare shoulder, hands pulling at clothing with hurried frustration.
And you wonder what you sound like to him. Japanese is as unfamiliar to him as whatever it is he's speaking is to you. If the way he groans is caused by your body against his or your voice against his ear, speaking nonsense because you know he won't understand. Whatever it is, it's drawn him to the same edge you're on, and the pair of you are left to dangle with only each other to cling to.
--------------------
title: Names
fandom: Firefly
pairing: could be one-sided River/Mal, if you wanted it to be. But it doesn't have to be
words: 248
originally written: 01/21/06
A/N: No spoilers, really, but it won't make sense if you haven't seen Serenity.
He finds her sitting alone in the infirmiry, cross-legged and reading a vast medical tome she must have found buried in his things.
"You can take the book down to your room, if you like," he offers, opening drawers as he begins taking out supplies.
She keeps her eyes glued to the book, "I like it here."
"But it'll be crowded soon, River. They should be back from the planet in a few minutes. Rumour has it the job went haywire."
"My name isn't River anymore," she informs him, ignoring the rest of his comment.
He stops short in his work and it takes him a couple of seconds to process this new information. "Then, what is your name now?" he asks slowly.
"Albatross," she answers, matter-of-fact.
"Why Albatross?"
"Because it's what the Captain calls me."
Simon smiles as her logic suddenly dawns on him and he can thankfully resume the role of teacher. "River, Albatross is a nickname the Captain's given you. It doesn't mean that you can't be River as well."
"But I like Albatross better."
"Why? I think River's a very pretty name."
She finally closes the book and glances up, only to roll her eyes and give him the look she reserves for when she thinks he's being especially stupid. "Because it's what the Captain calls me." In a fluid motion she slips off the examining table and heads out of the room with the book before he can even muster together a reply.
------------------
title: Untitled
fandom: Harry Potter
characters: Draco, Harry
words: 364
originally written: 07/25/07
spoilers: DH
You didn't expect anyone to be waiting.
Your parents are still in Azkaban, and all those you may have called "friends" have lost touch with the lack of a common goal. Slytherins aren't exactly the type to fall victim to sentimentality.
Somehow, though, as you step out of the Ministry courtroom, still marvelling at how warm the world can be when Dementors aren't lurking in the corridors outside your cell, you aren't surprised to find him there.
"Malfoy," he says by way of greeting.
"Potter," you return, with a slight nod of your head.
Silence reigns and you realize he's staring at you. For the first time, you wonder how much three years in Azkaban have altered your appearance. You walk past him, pointedly, and that knocks some sense back into his thick head. He falls into step beside you.
He doesn't speak, and you begin to wonder if he expects you to say something. Even if you wanted to, though, you don't think you could form your thoughts into words. But the silence is making you uncomfortable. Gaping between the two you, stretched by years of hatred. By dark magic and allegiances and choices you almost - almost - regret. Stretched by a bizarre, yet somehow characteristic rescue from certain, firey death.
For a moment, you entertain the ludicrous thought that he's waiting for you to thank him.
But then he's rustling in his robes and pulls out something familiar. Ten inches, hawthorn and unicorn hair. You feel your face heat in anger, realizing he's come to gloat. To lord over you that even though you're free of Azkaban, you still aren't really a wizard right now, pure-blooded or not.
But then he'd holding it out to you like a peace offering and you feel silly for expecting otherwise. "Thank you for - er - lending this to me."
For a moment you're shocked, but you come to your senses (too slowly, you think) and snatch the wand out of his fingers. "Lending?" you scoff, "I thought you were a Gryffindor? Be honest, at least, and call it stealing."
His turns red, but he doesn't protest or disagree. The small victory pleases you.