5 Things Meme—of the Ficlet Variety

[scribblemyname]

This entry is part 44 of 51 in the series 365 Challenge

Gacked 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.

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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

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Originally published at Liana Mir. You can comment here or there.

Comments

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: The Nameless Below [2/2]

[scribblemyname]

She flipped open the first report without looking at him, lips mouthing the words before they tasted right enough to say, then, “That answer goes both ways.” She said it simply, neutrally, clearly trying to keep this from becoming an argument. She glanced up at him, but kept typing.

You never asked. I never answered. Neither of us ever thought about the question because this is my world, this is your world. We never knew any different.

He looked away, jaw tight. We never knew any different. She was right to say it, but it bothered him all the same because they should have known differently. They should have known they were playing by different rule books.

Trust was built on common understanding, so Marc did lean in closer this time and find her gaze again. “Your other ability?” he asked quietly, determined to bridge this gap, put it behind them.

Cate finished typing in the first report and set it aside, then leaned back in her chair, looking up into his eyes and clearly liking what she read there, she gave him that brilliant smile she often did when he least expected it. This wasn't the smile she gave everyone; it was the one she aimed at him when he had somehow been exactly what she had hoped.

“Blending," she said. "You’ve seen me do it, use someone else’s power with my own.”

She gestured in that fluid wrist motion that accompanied most forms of telekinesis. He recognized it from all the times she had been angry and taking it out on a punching bag or her coffee cup or the computer with powers and abilities he knew were not hers but hadn't asked about.

She leaned forward teasingly and called him on it. “You never asked.”

“Catherine.” He couldn’t deny the charge, but she had no reason to rub his nose in it.

Cate had never particularly needed a reason. “Was there something else?” She grinned at him.

“This isn’t simple,” he denied, exasperated, not comprehending her, how she could want it to be simple and simply... accepted.

She sobered instantly, that nameless agony flashing through greenish hazel eyes. “I know.”

#


A/N: So typos. Can't edit the ones in part 1.

Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: The Nameless Below [2/2]

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

I do like this a lot better from his perspective.

It managed to give his thoughts and also show depth to her as well.

Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: The Nameless Below [2/2]

[scribblemyname]

It makes sense. It's so normal to her, it's like breathing, and she's known for a long time that he's aware of her "borrowing" powers and never asked about it, so though I nodded at that history, it's clearer why she can enjoy that part of their exchange when HE mentions the realization that he's always known in a way, just never pried under the surface there.

It's often easier to delve into something new from the perspective of the one it's new to. Often. For me, it often isn't, but I'm glad you tilted my muse's axis on this one because I seriously like this side better.

As a writer, I saw all that under the surface from Cate's perspective and because she's a telepath, I captured more information by writing it from her first. But the picture came so much more into focus from his. :plunks chin on hands: An accidental, but delightful exercise. Thanks.

Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: The Nameless Below [2/2]

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

The clarity helps. Sometimes the insider is too far inside, and they need someone else to bring it out for them.

I think I tend toward putting it in the perspective of the new person. I have been told before that while I know all that's behind the story, the characters and the world, that I share too little of it, so I leave people filling in the blanks, and then they lose track of the story because it's not how they imagined it. So I try and find some angle that gives the explanation, and if there is an outsider who needs it, I jump at the chance for that.

I'm glad this one worked and came together for you and that it was... worth tilting because I said something.