Random: If a stranger comes to town ...

[nebroadwe]

Sniggled from Making Light, as usual -- the "Urban Arrivals" post by Abi Sutherland:A story starts when somebody comes to town

Comments

[evil_little_dog]

I think I love the last one an awful lot. :D

[seawasp]

Except it should end "and the maiden should get her Xena on."

[nebroadwe]

Unfortunately, I don't recall "getting your Xena on" as an option in most Child ballads. "Following the bastard through Hell and high water until you can rat him out to his liege lord" is about as close as it gets. (Counter-evidence welcomed -- I don't have the entire Child oeuvre at my fingertips.)

[nebroadwe]

Not that I object to the concept of getting one's Xena on in the face of a mysterious supernatural man, of course. It's one of the reasons I prefer Jim Hines to Stephenie Meyer.