Angst, Fluff, and Inferno

[scribblemyname]

This entry is part 48 of 51 in the series 365 Challenge

Let's take the third first. Overhauling the story from inferno, aka "Dowse and Bleed," left me feeling drained and exhausted, but it's out to beta and may she not find any more structural issues that need addressing. For that matter, may I not!

On angst: I write a lot of it. I know that. I've been buried it in lately and I feel a desperate need for something light, fluffy, and humorous, so on to point two:

Anyway I need something light and fluffy to clear out some headspace. Anyone want to give me

1. A character or couple
2. A random word or object

And I will write you a drabble: 100 words. No more. That'll keep my headspace break from getting out of hand. :grins:

---

Completed Drabbles

Seven Days

• Lena/Wesley – Unshelved Books
• Lena/Wesley – How Can You Pick?
• Connor + Wesley/Lena – What You Don't Know
• Connor + Wesley – Of Seeds and Men
• Connor + Wesley – Technically Strangers
• Wesley + Connor/Ashelynn – A Matter of Taste
• Lena/Wesley – Just for a Minute
• Lena/Wesley – The Dream Box
• Lena/Wesley – Two
• Angelita + Lena/Wesley – Photographic Evidence
• Connor/Ashelynn – A Long Night
• Connor + Angelita + Lena/Wesley – Lost Cause

Kingdoms and Thorn

• Red Wolf/Whisper – Bedtime
• Rachelle/Justus – Uncivilized
• Red Wolf/Whisper – Bluegrass
• Rachelle/Justus – Breathing Room
• Ashen + Red Wolf/Whisper – I Think She Likes It
• Shift + daughter – Once There Was a Princess
• Sketch/Lightsculpt – Waiting
• Storm + team ensemble – Love, War, and Popcorn
• Rachelle/Justus – Shirt Theft
• Rachelle/Justus – Crashing the Party
• Rachelle/Justus – You're Hired
• Storm + Surge – Pint-Size
• Sketch + Lightsculpt – Sculpting the Minutes
• Red Wolf/Whisper – What Little Girls are Made Of
• Storm + team ensemble + Anya – Wrapped
• Shift + daughter – Birth of Wings
• Sear + team ensemble – Popcorn Thief
• Shift + Kilter + daughter – What's in a Name?
• Ashen + Red Wolf – Defining Relationships
• Sketch/Lightsculpt – Letters from War
• Rachelle/Justus – Protective Measures
• Rachelle + the cat – Ode on the Death of a Favorite Shirt, Torn in the Claws of Sophocles
• Rachelle + team ensemble – The Coming of Sophocles
• Keeper/Brushfire – Remember the Lullaby
• Red Wolf/Whisper – A Quiet Interlude
• Keeper/Brushfire – As Good as a Promise
• Sketch/Lightsculpt – Call It a Night
• Rachelle/Justus + Sophie – This Child

Kingdoms and Thorn/Fire and Water Crossover Fanfic

• Sophocles + Chocolate – Pets of the Unusually Gifted
• Clown Fish + Sophocles – And Then the Deluge

X-Men Movieverse

• Rogue/Remy – Date Night In

X-Men Evoverse

• Rogue/Remy – Where, Oh Where Has My Flatiron Gone?

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

Comments

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm picking a few people who have angsty backgrounds, but maybe you can find fluff for any or all of them.

1. Rachelle/Justus and coffee.
2. Lena/Wesley and books.
3. Red/Whisper and baby.

I suppose none of those are random words/objects, but... oh, well.

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Uncivilized

[scribblemyname]

The Database spat the dark liquid back into her mug and said with surprising heat, "Uncivilized heathen.”

Justus looked amused. "I'm guessing you like sugar and cream in your coffee."

She gave a withering glare, then ordered, "Up. Up. I've got to teach you how to cook."

"It's coffee," he said exasperated but followed her into the team kitchen. "What's to know?"

She tossed her auburn braid and handed him a bag of coffee. “Shut. Up. You've got two ears and one mouth.”

Justus tried again. “Data—”

“Use it for tasting.” She laughed then.

He found himself chuckling back.

#

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Bedtime

[scribblemyname]

"Alpha," Whisper said, soft laugh in her voice. "Hand over the baby."

Her husband was clearly quite comfortable with little Anya snuggled up against his chest as he read a story the newborn certainly couldn’t understand. He gave Whisper a boyish grin. "We're enjoying ourselves."

"I can see that," Whisper agreed, "but it's past her bedtime." An amused pause. "And yours."

She held out her arms until with a sigh, he sat up and handed Anya over.

"I don't have a bedtime," he said.

“Without enough sleep, you grouse more than she does.”

He hmphed but wisely did not argue.

#

Seven Days Ficlet: Unshelved Books

[scribblemyname]

Unshelved books had overflowed and taken over the entire area behind Lena's counter. "You really don't have to do this," she told Wesley again, a little nervous to have him in her space, even to help.

Wesley just smiled and gathered up a small handful of titles. He squinted at the binding. "Do you sort these by title, author, or topic?"

Lena suddenly realized what she had gotten herself in for. She blushed and admitted sheepishly, "I sort them by favorites."

He blinked. “Oh.” Wesley smiled then and held out a book. “So talk me through it.”

She smiled back.

#

[scribblemyname]

Thanks for these prompts! They were splendid and sweet and just right. Though it was hard to stay at 100 words!

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

Is it too much to add in one for Conner/Wesley having a brotherly moment?

I was thinking of adding teasing as the random word.

[scribblemyname]

Adding to prompts list. Expect more tomorrow! :grins:

Seven Days Ficlet: What You Don’t Know

[scribblemyname]

Connor stared at Wesley, then started chuckling. “You’ve got it bad.”

“I can’t,” Wesley reminded him, exasperated. It was the strangest feeling to know this stranger he met two days ago was his twin brother and best friend. How could that not extend to someone he knew even less? “I don’t even remember her.”

Connor rolled his eyes. “Wesley. You and I both know you don’t have to remember.”

Wesley stayed silent.

“Don’t tell me you’re not plotting to sneak over there first chance you get.”

Wesley opened his mouth to protest, then realized abruptly that Connor was startlingly right.

#

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

Okay, I really should have overstayed my welcome by now, but... You can always put these away for later, too, so...

1. Red/Whisper - baby number two
2. Rachelle/Justus - retrieving stolen property
3. Ashen + Red Wolf/Whisper - overprotective big brother
4. Shift + daughter - playground
5. Storm - he brings his own popcorn
6. Wesley/Lena - concert tickets
7. Conner + Wesley - (unwanted) fashion advice
8. Rogue/Remy - curls
9. Sketch/Lightsculpt - hope
10. Rachelle/Justus - cooking

[scribblemyname]

You cannot overstay your welcome. These are wonderful!

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Crashing the Party – Spoilers!

[scribblemyname]

A/N: Post-marriage. Double-drabble. I figured you wouldn’t mind two hundred words instead of one.

---

It was late by the time Justus got in and all he really wanted to do was throw the entire city of Riving in a river to wash away. Instead, he headed for the shower, then came out into the bedroom intent on crashing into a sound sleep.

Problem: Rachelle snuggled in bed already, her half of the bed but with his half of the covers in addition to her own. She was sleeping on one pillow and curled up around the other.

“Oh, no.” Justus tugged on one loose corner of the blanket. “Pillow Thief, wake up.”

He saw her tense, but otherwise, she did not move.

“Up some covers.” He tugged again.

This time more than body weight held them down. That had to be some telekinesis.

She’d told him once he couldn’t beat a woman in a fair fight, so he skipped past fair and went straight to dirty, tackling her for the covers.

Rachelle shrieked with surprise and fought him back, laughing the whole time until finally they’d sorted themselves into a somewhat equal arrangement.

“Crazy you,” she muttered, snuggling on top of him and still under all the covers.

“Crazy you,” he countered, chuckling back.

#

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: You’re Hired

[scribblemyname]

“You got something personal against breakfast?”Justus demanded out of nowhere.

The Database shrugged as she sat and sipped her coffee.

“You’ll waste away to nothing.” He stood up from his own plate of eggs and toast—how inspiring—and moved to the stove.

She rolled her eyes. “Not hungry. Besides you can’t cook.”

He hefted a skillet expertly and tossed back one of her own lines. “Who told you that?”

Twenty minutes later, she handed it to him. “You’re hired. Permanently.”

“I thought you had to teach me how to cook,” Justus teased.

She grimaced and admitted, “I hate cooking.”

#

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: What Little Girls are Made Of

[scribblemyname]

“Is it just me,” Red Wolf began slowly, “or is Sunshine sweeter than her older sister?”

Whisper glanced over to see Sunshine cooing happily in her daddy’s arms, waving a tiny fist, then thought of eighteen-month-old Anya currently grounded to her bed. “If you mean did she not bite Heather who woke her up for daring to not be Mommy...” She paused and let Wolf take that in. “Yes, Sunshine’s sweeter.”

“At least Anya doesn’t bite anymore,” he pointed out. Small consolation.

Whisper kissed little Sunshine’s cheek, then her husband’s mouth. “You know you’re in love with both of them.”

#

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Wrapped

[scribblemyname]

Heather claimed the first bowl of popcorn and Whisper took the other. Thankfully, both of those women shared; nevertheless, Rett came in carrying his own bowl and balanced it on his knee.

“Chili popcorn?” Maker asked, interested.

“My popcorn,” Rett corrected.

Red Wolf chuckled at that. It was technically Wolf and Whisper’s house, as they hosted the monthly movie nights, but after constantly having to cede popcorn rights to a female, Rett decided to take matters into his own hands.

Anya, Wolf’s three-year-old daughter, looked up at him with big brown eyes.

Rett sighed and let her have a handful.

#

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Birth of Wings

[scribblemyname]

A/N: So I’m fairly settled now on Elspeth as the name for Shift’s daughter, so I’m going to start using it if you don’t mind.

---

Elspeth was four years old the first time she ran into Shift’s arms, crying, “Mama!”—a gift Shift would always be grateful for to Elspeth’s foster parents.

She took Elspeth to the park for a fierce tickle war, a climb on the jungle gym, then finally the swings.

“How high?” Shift asked.

“Right in the clouds!”

Shift laughed and pushed Elspeth higher and higher. She could have said, “Don’t leave me. I need you here.” But she didn’t. She would’ve gladly given her wings.

“Mama, I’m flying!”

In that moment, everything Shift had ever done for her was worth it.

#

Seven Days Ficlet: A Matter of Taste

[scribblemyname]

Wesley stared at Connor, then suggested, “Try the other shirt.”

“I like this shirt,” Connor replied, keeping his tone as patient as he could. Wesley had infinite patience. Connor had to work at it.

Wesley shrugged and went back to reading his book.

Some would think as fraternal twins, the brothers should be closer than most. In a way they were, but that closeness did not extend to their taste in clothes, food, or girls.

“Ashelynn likes this shirt,” Connor tried again.

Wesley sniffed. “Poor taste.” Thoughtfully, “But she likes you. Mixed taste.”

Connor went back to working his jaw.

#

X-Men Evolution Commentfic: Where, Oh Where Has My Flatiron Gone?

[scribblemyname]

A/N: This one was too fun to write. Double-drabble.

---

“Where is mah flatiron?” a distinctly female southern voice shouted at enough volume to send all the younger residents of the mansion hightailing it out of the interrogation zone. A moment later, “Gambit!”

Jean winced and readied herself to deliver her arguments. Ever since the Cajun thief had showed up at Xavier’s, she had found herself doing this far too frequently for her liking.

The expected knock came and she opened the door, putting on the most sincere smile she could under the circumstances. “Sorry, Rogue, mine’s missing too.”

Rogue fumed, arms crossed and muttered unmentionables about a certain swamp rat. “Straightening gel?”

“Gone.”

She cursed.

“Rogue!”

“Save it, Jean. When Ah get mah hands on that—”

Jean held up a hand. “Please. I really don’t need to know.”

Rogue narrowed her eyes in a glare, then finally gave up, and went back to fuming and storming off down the hallway toward her room. Jean didn’t expect to see their implements of hair straightening until another couple days had passed—long enough for Gambit to enjoy the fruits of his heist without dying first.

Rogue’s hair was a riot of curls. To Gambit, perhaps, that was totally worth it.

#

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Defining Relationships

[scribblemyname]

A/N: Sorry, no Whisper.

---

“What is an overprotective big brother?” Ashen asked as she was sitting down to practice.

Red Wolf didn’t stop to blink. “Storm. Why?” He kept flipping through sheet music, looking for something specific.

“Because Michael thinks you are.”

Red Wolf did stop at that. He narrowed his eyes as he stared into the mirror over her head, then shrugged and handed her a sheet. “If I thought you were in mortal or emotional danger, what would I do?”

Ashen didn’t stop to blink. “Let me kill it.”

He laughed, if a trifle uncomfortably. “Yeah.” He gestured at the piano. “Play.”

#

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Two

[scribblemyname]

“So your brother’s a musician?” Lena asked.

Wesley paused, blinking, then shook his head seemingly to clear it. He wasn’t though; he was rattling around his memory banks, searching for any scrap or note he had read this last week that talked about his brother and music.

Music...

Wesley held up a finger and dug around in his bag for a moment before finding what he was looking for. Two tickets for a strings ensemble concert. He skimmed for Connor’s name and found it.

Two tickets. What had he been thinking?

He held them out. “Would you like to go?”

#

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

Um... I can't believe I forgot about this, but...

Remember the people = pillows thing that I seem to be obsessed with and you like?

Well... What about some with those?

Could probably do one for every couple, even some family ones...

[scribblemyname]

Oooh! Every couple? Everyone we've mentioned so far in this round?

Seven Days Ficlet: Just for a Minute

[scribblemyname]

A/N: The double-drabble strikes again.

---

“You sure you don’t want to just stop for a little while?” Lena asked for the third time that evening. She glanced at the clock and winced. “The books aren’t going anywhere and Angelita and I can just as easily hit this tomorrow.”

Wesley started to shake his head, then sighed. “Maybe I’ll just sit down for a minute.”

Wesley handed her a book as they sat on the couch, and Lena opened to where they’d left off and started to read aloud. A few minutes in, she realized Wesley wasn’t really listening any more. He had started to fall over and his head was leaning on her shoulder.

She set the book down and shifted enough for him to sleep comfortably. Strange almost that this was the first time they’d really touched. It was nice. She leaned against him and thought, just for a minute. He did need to get home sometime that night.

When Angelita came in through the front door the next morning, she stopped and raised an eyebrow, then sighed and went for the camera. Lena and Wesley had both fallen asleep on each other and she would need evidence for when they later denied it.

#

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: What’s in a Name?

[scribblemyname]

A/N: Not the best first look at Kilter, but think of it as the two of them putting on a good face for their daughter, because that's exactly what they're doing.

---

“What do you think of Lisbeth?” Elisabeth asked as she dropped onto the living room rug, crossed her arms on her dad, and leaned on her hands.

To Shift, Kilter commented, “I think she doesn’t like her name.” To his daughter, he pointed out, “I’m not a pillow.”

Elisabeth grinned. “But you’re really comfortable.”

“Really?” Shift asked from the couch where she was reading. “I never thought so.”

“Ouch. That stings.” Kilter sat up and Elisabeth squealed as she hit the carpet. “How about Elisabeth?”

“Sounds like an old lady,” she groused as she brushed herself off. “Lise?”

“Odd,” Shift replied.

Kilter sighed. “Why’d you name her Elisabeth anyway?”

Shift shrugged, not looking up from her book. “I made vows for her. It seemed fitting.”

“Lisabet?”

“Might as well be Elisabeth.” Shift turned the page.

“For once,” Kilter added, “we agree.”

Elisabeth sighed and leaned on him again. “Mama, can you read out loud?”

Kilter gave up on not being a pillow and turned to look at Shift. “What are you reading anyway?”

“A fairy tale romance.” Shift grinned at him, knowing that Kilter knew she generally liked anything but. She flipped back to the beginning. “Once upon a time...”

#

Seven Days Ficlet: A Long Night

[scribblemyname]

Connor was trying to focus on writing his thesis, this being a paramount task. He had his water and snacks on his desk and had been scribbling away long enough to develop some soreness, though he took breaks before cramp set in. He always worked best in longhand.

It would work perfectly, except... Ashelynn was done with her thesis and had decided to pull up a chair and use him for a pillow.

“That’s an awkward sentence,” she pointed out helpfully and leaned a little more weight against his shoulder.

He bit his tongue about how heavy she was when he was already hunched over. The cardinal rule of all human relationships involving a female was that weight and age were verboten. “I’ll fix it when I type it,” he replied.

“How long you going to be?” Ashelynn asked abruptly.

Connor straightened and earned a sharp look for the accidental eviction. “How long did it take you to write your thesis?” he asked with a perfectly straight face.

She crossed her arms.

“That’s what I thought.” He went back to writing, then almost lost his breath when she went back to leaning. It was going to be a long night.

#

Seven Days Ficlet: The Dream Box – Spoilers!

[scribblemyname]

A/N: So I’ll expand this later. I love it. I love that song you gave me and this is based on the last stanza. Additionally, it’s not a drabble. :grins:

---

Wesley was the one who kept the journals, enough of them to overflow the bookcases in their room and down the hall. They both wrote notes on different pictures, answers to the questions he woke with every week before he knew her again and knew that she was his.

But Lena kept the dream box.

Every week, when she was a little girl, she would add a new dream or wish into her box. Ten months after she married Wesley, she began making a monthly tradition of opening that box and slipping one perfect dream, one fulfilled wish into an envelope and telling him how he had made it come true.

When Lena opened the box this month and pulled out the very last slip of paper, she smiled but added no notes or comments, just tucked it in a pretty printed envelope and sealed it before laying it on her husband’s pillow.

Seven perfect years and they had talked about this and dreamed about it and even fought about it, but he had finally agreed and she had waited until Friday to give it to him. Though Wesley forgot almost everything every week, usually by Friday he was comfortable with the life he knew he had, regardless of how much he remembered it.

When Wesley saw the envelope that evening, he opened it and Lena worried at her lip with her teeth from the doorway until she saw the startled, wondering expression on his face.

A mother. She had wanted to be a mother.

He turned to her and looked at her, and she couldn’t read him, but somehow she knew he was not displeased or afraid.

She came and tucked her hands into his. “My dream box is empty.”

Wesley looked at her, reading her. He leaned closer and kissed her as he pulled her into his arms. “Are you sure about this?” he asked softly, worried.

Lena nodded against his shoulder. “You are exactly the father I want for my baby.”

Neither spoke for a long while. It seemed that they swayed gently together as if dancing to inaudible music.

#

Re: Seven Days Ficlet: The Dream Box – Spoilers!

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

Ooh, so sweet.

I like the dream box idea, and her sharing that with him was perfect.

And they get to have a baby. Cute. :)