Many drabbles (The Dark Is Rising, General)
Title: Better
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Owen Davies, John Rowlands (Owen/John)
Prompt: 004 First
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: Owen lied to John for the first time.
He never meant to kiss John. Never thought about it before that moment when he'd looked into John's eyes and seen how the bottom had dropped out of his friend's world, a pain he knew well. Suddenly he'd had to reach out -- to give -- as he hadn't in years, suddenly aware of all the things he'd never noticed about John, all the things that maybe -- maybe he would have noticed before, if not for Blodwen and Guinevere.
"It's alright," he said, quietly, as he pulled away, and then he lied to his friend for the first time. "It gets better."
Title: Home
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Will Stanton
Prompt: #036 Smell
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: A man stands in Huntercombe Lane.
The smell of cooking hangs in the air outside. A man stands in the lane. He's not old, and not young. Ageless. His round face and plain, straight brown hair in an unfashionable cut suggest awkward early-twenties, and yet in his eyes there's something ancient, something sad. He lifts his head a little, smelling the cooking, and smiles, wistfully. The house is a big one: made to hold a whole tribe of children. The current occupants seem almost to rattle around inside it.
He watches for a moment longer, and then quickly turns away. Only a moment later, he's gone.
Title: Make Of Him
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: The Lady, Merriman Lyon
Prompt: #049 Queen
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: The Lady and Merriman have been waiting for Will for a long time.
"Soon, ma'am," Merriman said. The Lady sat straighter, almost imperious -- an empress, a queen. Anyone who saw at her must feel at once the urge to kneel at her feet and the urge to stay standing, caught in her gaze as a fly in amber.
"Yes," she said, quietly, a smile in her voice. "He'll be here soon. Even now, he approaches the doors."
"I wonder what he will make of them," Merriman said, half-amused.
"I wonder what we will make of him," the Lady said, quieter again. At the end of the hall, the doors slowly began to open.
Title: Extra
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Barney Drew, Simon Drew, Jane Drew, Merriman Lyon
Prompt: #050 Joker
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: Left behind, and not for the first time.
Barney shoved his hands in his pockets. Simon and Jane were whispering together. He knew what was going to happen -- in just a second, they'd dart off: not intending to leave him behind, exactly, but making him feel unnecessary. The joker card, removed from the pack before they play. When they moved, then, he stayed still.
"Are you alright, Barnabas?" Gumerry asked, brows furrowing. Barney looked up and smiled.
"Oh, it's fine. I'm going to read. Do you mind if I keep you company?"
"Not at all," Gumerry said, something gentle in his voice. Barney ran to fetch his book.
Title: Rush
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Owen Davies, Bran Davies
Prompt: #056 Breakfast
Word Count: 100
Rating:
Summary: It was good to know that Bran had friends.
"Morning, Da," Bran said, his mouth full of toast. He seemed to be in a hurry about eating it, barely stopping for gulps of tea. Owen gave him a mystified look.
"Is there any tea left?"
"Yeah," Bran said, mouth still full.
"What's the hurry?"
"Will," he said, giving Owen a look as if it should've been obvious. He crammed the last bit of toast into his mouth, gulped down his tea, put the cup down next to the sink, and was out of the door before Owen could respond.
He found himself smiling, to know that Bran had friends.
Title: Fate
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Owen Davies, Guinevere, Bran Davies
Prompt: #070 Storm
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: A woman out in the storm.
She was soaked. Her clothes clung to her skin and she was shivering. Her dark hair was plastered to her head, tendrils of it sticking to her cheeks. She was holding a baby. Owen found that somehow, suddenly, he couldn't breathe. It felt like Fate.
"Is it -- "
"It's alright," he said, cutting her off. "Come on in. It's... wild, outside."
"Yes," she said. "My son -- "
Owen looked down at the little bundle she held and felt his heart stutter again. He swallowed and looked up, catching her blue, blue eyes. "Let's get you both warm and dry," he said, finally.
Title: Rules
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Will Stanton, Bran Davies
Prompt: #073 Light
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: The Light forgives, in such circumstances.
"I'm not supposed to be here," Bran says. For the moment he's still old -- his face lined -- but with every step they take he's smoothing out, becoming almost a boy again. Becoming eighteen again. Will holds his hand tightly: Will has not changed, and does not change even as they walk.
"No," he admits, "you're not. I'm breaking the rules, a little. But the Light forgives. And this is your birthright," fiercely, now, "this is what you deserve. And -- "
"And?"
Will stops, turning just a little. He's smiling. "I would miss you terribly, if you didn't come."
Title: Fall
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Merriman Lyon, The Rider
Prompt: #074 Dark
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: There was a man.
"There was a man," Merriman said. "And you let him fall."
There was an incredulous note in the Rider's voice, masked by a contemptuous laugh. "You seek vengeance?"
"Yes and no," Merriman said, calmly, completely unperturbed. "I seek what the Light always seeks: an end to the Dark. I would have been tireless before, but now..." There is a tight smile on his face that doesn't suit him. The Rider's face was blank.
"This is pointless. The Light is the Light. You would seek my death either way."
"No," Merriman said, soft with threat. "I seek your end."
Title: Watching
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Will Stanton
Prompt: #081 Blind
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: Will watches humanity, over the years.
Humans, Will thinks, with a painful distance, can be capable of such atrocities and such beauty. Such stupidity and such brilliant, blinding intelligence. Throughout his years as a watchman he's seen evil and good both, sometimes from the same people. He's seen humanity groping in the dark, blind and deaf and stupid, and still coming up with things of Light -- and he's seen humanity walk boldly into the Dark, willingly rushing into something that's more than they should handle, something that makes them less than human.
He wonders if it was worth it all, sometimes. But still, he watches, ceaselessly.
Title: Missing
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Will Stanton, Bran Davies
Prompt: #093 Thanksgiving
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: A year ago to the day.
Note: It being a British fandom, "Thanksgiving" isn't going to happen. So. General thanksgiving.
"A year ago today," Will says softly, to no one in particular. Bran waits a little way away, watching him with a confused kind of fondness. Will tries not to pay attention. He tips his head up a bit, feeling the wind in his hair. "Thank you, everyone," he says, at last. "But -- I miss you."
The sudden gust of wind might be a response. Will knows it isn't. He waits a moment longer, then turns to go join Bran.
"You're a strange one," Bran says, smiling. Will shrugs, sticking his hands in his pockets.
"And?"
Bran smiles. "And nothing."
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Owen Davies, John Rowlands (Owen/John)
Prompt: 004 First
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: Owen lied to John for the first time.
He never meant to kiss John. Never thought about it before that moment when he'd looked into John's eyes and seen how the bottom had dropped out of his friend's world, a pain he knew well. Suddenly he'd had to reach out -- to give -- as he hadn't in years, suddenly aware of all the things he'd never noticed about John, all the things that maybe -- maybe he would have noticed before, if not for Blodwen and Guinevere.
"It's alright," he said, quietly, as he pulled away, and then he lied to his friend for the first time. "It gets better."
Title: Home
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Will Stanton
Prompt: #036 Smell
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: A man stands in Huntercombe Lane.
The smell of cooking hangs in the air outside. A man stands in the lane. He's not old, and not young. Ageless. His round face and plain, straight brown hair in an unfashionable cut suggest awkward early-twenties, and yet in his eyes there's something ancient, something sad. He lifts his head a little, smelling the cooking, and smiles, wistfully. The house is a big one: made to hold a whole tribe of children. The current occupants seem almost to rattle around inside it.
He watches for a moment longer, and then quickly turns away. Only a moment later, he's gone.
Title: Make Of Him
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: The Lady, Merriman Lyon
Prompt: #049 Queen
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: The Lady and Merriman have been waiting for Will for a long time.
"Soon, ma'am," Merriman said. The Lady sat straighter, almost imperious -- an empress, a queen. Anyone who saw at her must feel at once the urge to kneel at her feet and the urge to stay standing, caught in her gaze as a fly in amber.
"Yes," she said, quietly, a smile in her voice. "He'll be here soon. Even now, he approaches the doors."
"I wonder what he will make of them," Merriman said, half-amused.
"I wonder what we will make of him," the Lady said, quieter again. At the end of the hall, the doors slowly began to open.
Title: Extra
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Barney Drew, Simon Drew, Jane Drew, Merriman Lyon
Prompt: #050 Joker
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: Left behind, and not for the first time.
Barney shoved his hands in his pockets. Simon and Jane were whispering together. He knew what was going to happen -- in just a second, they'd dart off: not intending to leave him behind, exactly, but making him feel unnecessary. The joker card, removed from the pack before they play. When they moved, then, he stayed still.
"Are you alright, Barnabas?" Gumerry asked, brows furrowing. Barney looked up and smiled.
"Oh, it's fine. I'm going to read. Do you mind if I keep you company?"
"Not at all," Gumerry said, something gentle in his voice. Barney ran to fetch his book.
Title: Rush
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Owen Davies, Bran Davies
Prompt: #056 Breakfast
Word Count: 100
Rating:
Summary: It was good to know that Bran had friends.
"Morning, Da," Bran said, his mouth full of toast. He seemed to be in a hurry about eating it, barely stopping for gulps of tea. Owen gave him a mystified look.
"Is there any tea left?"
"Yeah," Bran said, mouth still full.
"What's the hurry?"
"Will," he said, giving Owen a look as if it should've been obvious. He crammed the last bit of toast into his mouth, gulped down his tea, put the cup down next to the sink, and was out of the door before Owen could respond.
He found himself smiling, to know that Bran had friends.
Title: Fate
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Owen Davies, Guinevere, Bran Davies
Prompt: #070 Storm
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: A woman out in the storm.
She was soaked. Her clothes clung to her skin and she was shivering. Her dark hair was plastered to her head, tendrils of it sticking to her cheeks. She was holding a baby. Owen found that somehow, suddenly, he couldn't breathe. It felt like Fate.
"Is it -- "
"It's alright," he said, cutting her off. "Come on in. It's... wild, outside."
"Yes," she said. "My son -- "
Owen looked down at the little bundle she held and felt his heart stutter again. He swallowed and looked up, catching her blue, blue eyes. "Let's get you both warm and dry," he said, finally.
Title: Rules
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Will Stanton, Bran Davies
Prompt: #073 Light
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: The Light forgives, in such circumstances.
"I'm not supposed to be here," Bran says. For the moment he's still old -- his face lined -- but with every step they take he's smoothing out, becoming almost a boy again. Becoming eighteen again. Will holds his hand tightly: Will has not changed, and does not change even as they walk.
"No," he admits, "you're not. I'm breaking the rules, a little. But the Light forgives. And this is your birthright," fiercely, now, "this is what you deserve. And -- "
"And?"
Will stops, turning just a little. He's smiling. "I would miss you terribly, if you didn't come."
Title: Fall
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Merriman Lyon, The Rider
Prompt: #074 Dark
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: There was a man.
"There was a man," Merriman said. "And you let him fall."
There was an incredulous note in the Rider's voice, masked by a contemptuous laugh. "You seek vengeance?"
"Yes and no," Merriman said, calmly, completely unperturbed. "I seek what the Light always seeks: an end to the Dark. I would have been tireless before, but now..." There is a tight smile on his face that doesn't suit him. The Rider's face was blank.
"This is pointless. The Light is the Light. You would seek my death either way."
"No," Merriman said, soft with threat. "I seek your end."
Title: Watching
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Will Stanton
Prompt: #081 Blind
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: Will watches humanity, over the years.
Humans, Will thinks, with a painful distance, can be capable of such atrocities and such beauty. Such stupidity and such brilliant, blinding intelligence. Throughout his years as a watchman he's seen evil and good both, sometimes from the same people. He's seen humanity groping in the dark, blind and deaf and stupid, and still coming up with things of Light -- and he's seen humanity walk boldly into the Dark, willingly rushing into something that's more than they should handle, something that makes them less than human.
He wonders if it was worth it all, sometimes. But still, he watches, ceaselessly.
Title: Missing
Fandom: The Dark Is Rising
Claim: General
Characters: Will Stanton, Bran Davies
Prompt: #093 Thanksgiving
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Summary: A year ago to the day.
Note: It being a British fandom, "Thanksgiving" isn't going to happen. So. General thanksgiving.
"A year ago today," Will says softly, to no one in particular. Bran waits a little way away, watching him with a confused kind of fondness. Will tries not to pay attention. He tips his head up a bit, feeling the wind in his hair. "Thank you, everyone," he says, at last. "But -- I miss you."
The sudden gust of wind might be a response. Will knows it isn't. He waits a moment longer, then turns to go join Bran.
"You're a strange one," Bran says, smiling. Will shrugs, sticking his hands in his pockets.
"And?"
Bran smiles. "And nothing."