5 Things Meme—of the Ficlet Variety
Aug. 4th, 2013 01:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
scribblemynameGacked from penknife:
You post a topic, list, category, whatever, in comments. (examples: "Five SG-1 Mission Reports That Were Less Than Entirely Truthful", or "Five Times Bruce Banner Lost His Toothbrush," or "Five Ways Nikola Tesla Failed to Take Over the World"). I'll answer with a list of five things.
Ideally fandoms that I know something about, unless you want me to guess, which could be entertaining but probably not the way you want. Or (and preferably) original fiction. All storyworlds on the table, i.e. Seven Days, Kingdoms and Thorn, the Alliance, Vardin, etc.
Completed Ficlets & Scenes
Kingdoms and Thorn:
- Rachelle + Justus – Without a Reason
- Shift + Justus + Red Wolf – It's Own Absolution
- Rachelle + Justus – It Came Up
- Rachelle/Justus – Simply Because
- Rachelle + Justus – Defining Love
- Rachelle + Shift + Meld – Playing with Knives
- Killinger + Special Unit ensemble – Technicalities
- Killinger + Special Unit ensemble – Call Me If You Need Me
- Killinger + Special Unit ensemble – Element of Uncertainty
- Marc + Cate – A Simple Question
- Marc + Cate – The Nameless Below
- Killinger + Special Unit ensemble – Tracing Trouble
Originally published at Liana Mir. You can comment here or there.
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Date: 2013-08-07 02:48 am (UTC)(A part of me wants to add a one time she was because that's what those five fics always seem to do, but... I'm not even sure this works because of how Rachelle thinks of herself and love, but... eh... This was the best I could come up with.)
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Date: 2013-08-07 02:51 am (UTC)no subject
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From:Kingdoms & Thorn: 22.02 Without a Reason [1/2]
Date: 2013-08-12 05:54 pm (UTC)Rachelle could have been surprised that Wolf and Whisper had invited her team to meet Anya, their first and much-beloved infant daughter, but there was more respect between the two teams than it would at first seem to an outside observer.
She nodded her greetings to Rett upon entering before joining Ashen near the counter, leaning over said counter, and raiding the coffee pot just on the other side.
“Predictable,” Rett commented.
Rachelle shrugged and poured herself a mugful. “Head over heels yet?”
Rett chuckled while Ashen gave them both a puzzled look.
“Cute kid,” he commented, “but I’ve a feeling she’s going to be as stubborn as their parents.”
Rachelle shot him a glance, then looked back to Whisper’s head bent over her daughter and Red Wolf beside her, looking the epitome of extremely nice guy next door. “They’re strong,” she said in an assessing tone. But stubborn?
Mirth sparked in Rett’s eyes. “They’re alphas and I made him leader for a reason.”
A brief knock and the three of them watched one of the girls let Protector and Justus in the front door, both from Rachelle’s team, the first closer to Justus than to her.
Red Wolf nodded curtly. “Justus.”
“Wolf.” Justus nodded as curtly back.
The exchange was less hostile than usual. Amazing how a baby could lower the hackles between two men who had reportedly known each other before. What was it Justus always said? Forgetfulness is its own absolution.
Rachelle watched the interchange intently until Ashen quietly interjected, “I do not understand your relationship with him.”
Re: Kingdoms & Thorn: 22.02 Without a Reason [2/2]
Date: 2013-08-12 05:55 pm (UTC)“That’s because you’re not general purpose,” Rachelle retorted.
Ashen looked troubled, a fleeting surprised flinch in her gaze. It took a great deal to hurt her, and Rachelle exhaled regret. The two of them got along solely because of their taste in books and their own shut-down ways of coping with the hand they’d been dealt by the Department, but there was respect there and Rachelle hadn’t meant to undermine it.
Rett glanced between Ashen and Rachelle, then excused himself. He did understand and Rachelle couldn’t exactly blame him for making an exit.
Rachelle took another scalding sip of coffee. Most people didn’t understand her team relationships, but they eventually got what they were at least and that, for some reason, they worked for Rachelle and those she was close to.
But Ashen’s response was slow and hesitant, still grappling though she too had been an operative. “You love Meld,” she began leadingly.
“He’s my brother.” Rachelle shrugged. “Justus isn’t.”
Ashen thought about that then asked, “Do you love him?”
Rachelle nearly choked on her coffee. Love Justus? She turned to study him once again from her vantage point. He was holding Anya with an intense look in his eyes of something like longing, something like loss. He had had family once, birth family—brothers and sisters and parents and a plenitude of friends. Now he had a team.
The words were true. Rachelle loved Meld. He was her brother in all but blood, sitting quietly and observantly beside Protector, waiting his turn to hold the baby. She would do anything for him. But Justus... Ever since he moved to Riving and settled in there, cities away from where Rachelle lived, she would not likely go out of her way to to see him without a reason, unless she thought he needed her.
Of course, he did.
“I care about him,” she said abruptly. “He’s my team member.” Never bothered to say, even to herself, just how much.
Ashen’s brow remained furrowed. Rachelle set her mug on the counter and went to the couch where Justus was.
He was reluctant to give up Anya, but let Rachelle hold the tiny little life, that precious girl who didn’t have the weight of their awful, messed up history hanging over her head. Rachelle surprised Justus by settling in beside him and tucking herself under his arm. She snuggled the baby against her and let him feel that sense of belonging again for this one moment.
“I didn’t know you liked children,” Justus commented dryly. The words were laughable. He knew exactly how she felt about children—or almost exactly.
She lifted one shoulder in a semblance of a shrug, a gesture that wouldn’t disturb the sleeping child. “I can take them or leave them,” she said, as she had said about so many things—romance, marriage, children. “But once they’re here, how can you not love them?”
Whisper smiled at the sincerity in Rachelle’s words. Wolf held Whisper in much the way Justus held Rachelle, and nobody commented on the difference.
Re: Kingdoms & Thorn: 22.02 Without a Reason [2/2]
Date: 2013-08-13 03:50 am (UTC)Minor typo: I’ve a feeling she’s going to be as stubborn as their parents.”
Should be her, yes?
I don't know that I should say this, but I want to know more of the animosity between Justus and Red Wolf. I know you mentioned it before, but this just made me more curious about it.
Am also a bit curious about where Shift is as this is going on.
I like the images of him holding the baby and her holding it, and also the parallel between her and Justus and Whisper/Red Wolf. That is such a great moment.
Re: Kingdoms & Thorn: 22.02 Without a Reason [2/2]
Date: 2013-08-13 03:55 am (UTC)Thanks for catching that typo!
She likes it! She likes it! :throws confetti:
As for Shift, she is present but not really there for Justus, so hauling her in brings in a whopper amount of complications I didn't want to get into. They've a three-way dynamic (not threesome, mind) that would have been tough to balance.
Will have to find a ficlet to show off why those two don't get along, though it's hinted at in what Justus always says about it.
This. I have succeeded. :grins:
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From:Forgetfulness Is Its Own Absolution [1/?]
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From:Kingdoms & Thorn Commentfic: It Came Up
Date: 2013-08-30 09:24 pm (UTC)It wasn’t something team members did often, stop and evaluate how close they were, but in the constant line of fire, it came up so to speak, and it came up again when the Database was watching through the hacked security cameras as Defender and Sear mowed down a stream of hostiles giving chase to the impossible target of Shift heading for where Kismet would step any moment. It came up when she saw a stray bullet tear into his side, saw him go down—bloodily, felt the cool impassivity of too much experience with this sort of thing and kept doing her job because it was the only way to maybe get him out alive.
Sear’s mouth was moving, and so was her arm as she shoved it under Defender’s, but she couldn’t shoot a semi-automatic with one hand.
Kismet rocked forward slightly, barely more than an intense breath, but waited, waited, watching the computer screen with her.
The Database imagined she could feel the lick of intensifying heat as Sear’s eyes burned darker and redder and hostiles started going down smoldering instead of shot. Shift hit the rendezvous and dove under Sear’s cover.
Kismet’s hands parted, lightning-like streams flickering between her hands, then stepped and a portal opened between the two locations. Shift slid inside and Sear shoved behind her, taking Defender with her. Kismet slammed the portal shut, halving the gun of a hostile that close on their tails.
And suddenly, the Database could move again, could be human, could reach out and check Justus over herself. He was Justus again, not Defender, and breathing ragged blood out of his mouth. She didn’t have time to wait for Meld, so she grabbed the entire lot of healing gifts she had running, chugging through her system, and used them one after another after another. She poured her life into his, she prodded his own body’s regeneration, she knit together the broken blood vessels, the damaged organs—she healed him in a way any one healer never could. Only five seconds after five seconds after five seconds of so many stolen powers lined up in a row, and then he pulled away from her, studying her to make sure she hadn’t compromised her own health.
Shift shoved herself to her feet, satisfied her team member was alive and would be, and ordered the Database, “Work clean-up.”
The Database obeyed. Justus turned away, stood, and did his own clean up.
If the Database was the kind of woman to love a man, she would love him for that, the ability to do what he needed to do. She was the kind of woman to love and sacrifice for her own, but as she glanced over to see Shift handling him, handling her team, she mused to herself briefly that Justus wasn’t hers. He was Shift’s. She couldn’t really say she minded.
Re: Kingdoms & Thorn Commentfic: It Came Up
Date: 2013-08-31 03:33 am (UTC)Well... I guess it just seems like more than that with the two of them.
A part of me wants to say, "but he's not Shift's and you should mind," but... that's just me.
Re: Kingdoms & Thorn Commentfic: It Came Up
Date: 2013-09-01 02:19 am (UTC)Note: this is waaaaaaay early on in their relationship. At this point in time, Shift owns him. She trained him and she can and does play him as she needs to. Note: their relationship is messed up, but not romantic. Shift is only in love with one man (who she hates just as much), and it isn't Justus.
Rachelle chose to intervene in that relationship for a good reason, but I haven't figured out how to fully address the way that dynamic works yet in fiction. At least fiction you'll like. Still working on it. I got this far, then realized the bit worked on its own for the prompt, so posted it.
Re: Kingdoms & Thorn Commentfic: It Came Up
Date: 2013-09-03 06:48 pm (UTC)I have to admit, I'm a bit intrigued but also scared by the idea of Shift loving someone, especially when you say it like that. Though... I admit, I'm relieved it's not Justus because... I could see her needing someone like him and he did remind her that she had a heart, so I'd almost want him to pick her because she seems more damaged by what happened and what she did and would need him more if that makes sense.
It is interesting that she chose to intervene.
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From:Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Simply Because – Spoilers
Date: 2013-09-10 10:23 pm (UTC)“So when did you fall in love with my brother?” Justus’ younger sister Charity asked.
Rachelle would peg that one at about fourteen or fifteen years old. This was the first time in years that his family was all together under one roof and the first she had ever met them.
Justus glanced quickly at Rachelle.
She gave Charity a somewhat puzzled look, even though a part of her knew that children tended toward that assumption. “I didn’t.”
Joseph, the oldest brother, coughed and nearly lost his coffee. Justus’ parents looked startled. Charity and her two slightly older sisters seemed frozen altogether. The youngest boy, Patrick, screwed up his face in confusion.
“I’m not in love with him,” Rachelle said, amusement slowly taking over the mild surprise at their reactions.
“Then why did you marry him?” Sarah, the oldest sister, asked, thoroughly bewildered.
Rachelle shrugged and met Justus’ even gaze. He hadn’t been taken by surprise. “Because I love him.” It was as simple as that.
Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Simply Because – Spoilers
Date: 2013-09-10 10:37 pm (UTC)but Justus does. :)
Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Simply Because – Spoilers
Date: 2013-09-10 11:47 pm (UTC)As for the family... Poor family: got it in one. :grins:
Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Simply Because – Spoilers
Date: 2013-09-11 12:00 am (UTC)There might have to be some fluff pieces with the family when it's fest time again.
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From:Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Defining Love
Date: 2013-09-10 11:43 pm (UTC)"We're posing as a married couple?" he repeated the words from the paper. "They do that here?"
The Database's reply was as scathing as her look. "They do everything here. Could've spared me that one."
His face went unreadable and she suddenly realized he had a tell, and those were not acceptable.
"Justus—"
He started right as she did. "Why is that a problem?"
She stared at him.
He shrugged, leaned one arm against the wall as if this was casual. "It's not as if we don't..." His voice trailed off, then he shrugged.
Justus had a problem with most of what they did. He had been raised to be patriotic and believe in the military and defending his country, but that had been with parameters of decency and the Department wasn't known for those. But despite that, he had never had a problem with her. D— it. How had she screwed that up?
"Justus." She reached for him then, caught the back of his neck with her hand, and pulled his head against hers. She held him the same way she held her brother, Meld, when he needed something, anything to hold onto.
"I care about you," she told him. "You're my team member. I care."
She could see the confusion glimmering in his eyes.
His hands tightened on her waist. "What's the difference?" His voice rumbled through her and she realized he understood that she loved Meld.
Let's keep this simple. "What would I say if you asked me to marry you?" It was a question he knew the answer to.
His expression turned incredulous. "Battery Acid," he called her, his favorite handle hold her by. "You are not the marrying type."
She shrugged at that. "If I loved you, Justus, I'd do anything for you." Seeing him sober, she pressed the point. "Anything."
Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Defining Love
Date: 2013-09-11 12:07 am (UTC)And I almost want to ask (but don't want to all the same) to see where they went on that assignment.
I feel like something's missing here: "Battery Acid," he called her, his favorite handle hold her by.
Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Defining Love
Date: 2013-09-11 12:12 am (UTC)I don't know what they did on that assignment. To be honest, I wasn't sure I wanted to ask either.
And Re: typo
Drat it. I typed that in and CTRL+BACKSPACE went a word too far on me. Ah, well. I'll fix the typo when I post/publish elsewhere.
Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Defining Love
Date: 2013-09-11 12:24 am (UTC)It has the potential to be very... awkward and even unpleasant, though some of the moments where they were pretending to be married might have been nice/sweet.
It wasn't that bad. I just let you know so you could fix it later.
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From:Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Playing with Knives
Date: 2013-09-11 08:08 pm (UTC)“You sure you can handle this?” Shift asked, eyebrow lifting. She hated dumping off the marriage assignment, but she was needed for an assassination overseas.
The Database just gave her a look. “I clean up after you, don’t I?” she said bitingly.
Meld glanced between the two women. They weren’t particularly close, though close enough. Too alike in the way they thought and too unalike in their execution, Shift and the Database worked smoothly together but always with that too easily definable difference of how much they had the taste for blood.
“I’ve got it,” the Database said, voice and expression hard.
Shift nodded in acceptance. “Keep an eye on her, Meld,” she said to him.
The Database’s eyes narrowed at those parting words. He reached out and brushed her arm with the back of his hand.
She cares about you. So much went with that single touch: the reality of the feelings Shift held toward the Database, swirled with the bald problematic nature of this assignment, mixed with his own protectiveness of his chosen sister, and bound up in fragmented memory and thought.
They were playing with knives, all of them, for the sake of survival: Shift reinforcing the conditioning she’d given Justus, binding him to herself and the team with comfort and pleasure and violence, then passing him to the Database to loosen those moorings and keep him anchored and grounded but not to any one individual. The Database watched Meld to keep him from killing himself with healing and supported him when his body wanted to give out, but he watched the Database with equal concern some days. They counted on her dispassion too much. One day, it would stretch too thin.
He held out his hand in peace offering. He held the thought, the feeling, the love until it filled him. I’ll be here.
“I don’t love him,” she said quietly.
He nodded, forced to agree. Right now, what made her practical and clinical and uncaring held thick. But he couldn’t think on that. Not yet.
She twined her fingers with his and squeezed. He felt the echo of himself in her and the softening inside, I know.
Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Playing with Knives
Date: 2013-09-11 08:21 pm (UTC)Meld is a very interesting character. I would like to see more of him.
Shift and Rachelle in the same piece. I like that Meld pointed out that Shift cared about her.
Kind of miss his realization that she will, but this does well to show the interconnection between these four.
Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Playing with Knives
Date: 2013-09-11 08:27 pm (UTC)I'm glad you like him. I made a conscious decision to throw him in there when I realized he'd been mentioned, but you'd never asked about him and he's one of MY favorites, so I thought, I'll see if you do like him.
I think I've got those two successfully separated in my head and I'm glad I finally got the dynamic worked out without having to spell it all out. It's screwed up, to put it mildly, but even they know that.
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Date: 2013-09-12 03:08 am (UTC)Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Playing with Knives
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