prompt for July 26th - Rent
And this, I think, is part three of three.
(PS: I changed my mind about the prompt, after realising I'd written for the original. If the October tag sticks around, pls to change it, lovely mod person?)
Prompt for July 26:
The leaves are changing color.
It's not New York - but then, that was the idea.
Cincinnati has a charm all its own, actually, which isn't entirely surprising; most places of this size do, if they're doing it right. If Collins were of a mind to completely uproot himself, he'd strongly consider it, but he's a New Yorker at heart, and he can't leave Mark and everyone else hanging for too long. He just needs to clear his head, somewhere that he's not expecting Angel around every corner.
(Besides, the lack of a subway system, or in fact much mass transit at all, would probably be a deal-breaker.)
In his dream, the park down by the river is positively swarming with people, sitting two and three deep onto the walkway, and on the grassy rise behind it. It's late summer, and just starting to get dark; from what he can see of the other bank, it's pretty packed, too. There's a very long barge in the middle of the river, and a conspicuously empty blanket on the top of the retaining wall; must be his cue to sit down.
Some people are talking, some are waving glow sticks, some are tossing beach balls around, some have their radios cranked up - but everyone's clearly waiting for something. Just what it is doesn't become apparent until just after it's properly dark; what follows is nothing short of magic.
It's easily the best damn fireworks show Collins has ever seen. He didn't even know fireworks came in some of those colors; when he can hear bits of people's radios under the blasts, he can tell the two are actually coordinated, which is damned impressive. The cascade off of one of the bridges is particularly nice.
Not far into it, Collins feels a hand settle on his. He doesn't look, partly because he couldn't tear his eyes away from the display if he tried and partly because he's afraid it would ruin the entire dream - but he doesn't have to look. He knows exactly who it is.
The show seems to go on forever, but eventually, there's a final barrage (damn near bringing back daylight), and then it's over. He doesn't move as the majority of the crowd disperses; there's no point, yet.
After a while, Angel leans over, kisses his cheek, and slips a piece of paper into his hand. Then she's gone, but it doesn't hurt as much as he thought it might. And that's even before he reads the note: Don't think you're rid of me yet.
Collins wakes up smiling for the first time since Angel went into the hospital.
(PS: I changed my mind about the prompt, after realising I'd written for the original. If the October tag sticks around, pls to change it, lovely mod person?)
Prompt for July 26:
The leaves are changing color.
It's not New York - but then, that was the idea.
Cincinnati has a charm all its own, actually, which isn't entirely surprising; most places of this size do, if they're doing it right. If Collins were of a mind to completely uproot himself, he'd strongly consider it, but he's a New Yorker at heart, and he can't leave Mark and everyone else hanging for too long. He just needs to clear his head, somewhere that he's not expecting Angel around every corner.
(Besides, the lack of a subway system, or in fact much mass transit at all, would probably be a deal-breaker.)
In his dream, the park down by the river is positively swarming with people, sitting two and three deep onto the walkway, and on the grassy rise behind it. It's late summer, and just starting to get dark; from what he can see of the other bank, it's pretty packed, too. There's a very long barge in the middle of the river, and a conspicuously empty blanket on the top of the retaining wall; must be his cue to sit down.
Some people are talking, some are waving glow sticks, some are tossing beach balls around, some have their radios cranked up - but everyone's clearly waiting for something. Just what it is doesn't become apparent until just after it's properly dark; what follows is nothing short of magic.
It's easily the best damn fireworks show Collins has ever seen. He didn't even know fireworks came in some of those colors; when he can hear bits of people's radios under the blasts, he can tell the two are actually coordinated, which is damned impressive. The cascade off of one of the bridges is particularly nice.
Not far into it, Collins feels a hand settle on his. He doesn't look, partly because he couldn't tear his eyes away from the display if he tried and partly because he's afraid it would ruin the entire dream - but he doesn't have to look. He knows exactly who it is.
The show seems to go on forever, but eventually, there's a final barrage (damn near bringing back daylight), and then it's over. He doesn't move as the majority of the crowd disperses; there's no point, yet.
After a while, Angel leans over, kisses his cheek, and slips a piece of paper into his hand. Then she's gone, but it doesn't hurt as much as he thought it might. And that's even before he reads the note: Don't think you're rid of me yet.
Collins wakes up smiling for the first time since Angel went into the hospital.