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

[scribblemyname]

Well, you can. They're short and that's what makes the difference. I'm not allowing them to sprawl! I've missed writing something light and this is delightful.

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

Okay. Feel free to try any of these:

1. Rogue/Remy - Southern comfort
2. Red/Whisper (and maybe baby) - music
3. Rachelle/Justus - shirt theft
4. Wesley/Lena - favorites

I wanted to ask for something for Ashen, but I'm not getting anywhere, same with Storm, but I don't know what to go with either of them or one of the others I don't know as much about like Ricki or Sketch or Sear.

And... this might go too angsty so I hesitate to suggest it, but...

Shift/her daughter and bedtime story

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Bluegrass

[scribblemyname]

“Bluegrass.” Red Wolf stared at the file.

It had taken years before Wolf was willing to deal with knowing who he used to be before his memory loss, but the last thing he had expected was, “I used to play bluegrass?”

“I take it you prefer other genres of music,” Whisper replied, eyes dancing with amusement.

He shook his head at the file—and his wife. There were more important things in there: his birth family, medical records, etc., but he couldn’t help but stop on the idea of actually playing, thus apparently liking… “Bluegrass.”

Whisper just laughed at him.

#

Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Bluegrass

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

I am kind of with Wolf there, having a hard time believing he used to play bluegrass, but that is funny all the same. :)

Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Bluegrass

[scribblemyname]

That wasn't the only thing he played, but it sure did stop him in his tracks! (I'm not fond of bluegrass either.) :giggles:

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Breathing Room

[scribblemyname]

A/N: I have to address the point of why she’s wearing them to keep it in character, but I’m having fun letting him tease her anyway. So yeah, logical explanation, but I wanted the fluff. So…

---

“Are you intending on making a habit of this?” Justus asked, indicating his green button-up shirt.

Rachelle had curled up on the couch with the cat—Sophocles—and a book, wearing said shirt. “God forbid,” she retorted, turning the page.

He raised both eyebrows at that. “They’re nice shirts.”

“They’re your shirts.” She scooted over to make room for him on the couch.

“Still wearing them,” he said, pointedly looking at the button-up.

Rachelle shrugged and returned to reading. “I don’t like robes and I need the breathing room.” True enough, but…

He chuckled and scratched behind Sophocles’ ears. “Sure.”

#

Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Breathing Room

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the reason why she does it is a bit angsty, but the last one was so cute I had to ask for another. :)

I like her stealing/wearing his shirts.

[scribblemyname]

On 1. are you talking about the drink or something else?

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

It could be the drink or any other interpretation of that you wanted. I was leaving it open.

I kind of figured a bit more of another sense than the drink, but if the drink inspires you... use that.

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: I Think She Likes It

[scribblemyname]

Ashen eyed the gift with deep suspicion. “If you gave me a kitten,” she began warningly.

“Don’t worry,” Whisper hushed her. “We know you’re not Rachelle.”

“Who didn’t even like said kitten,” Red Wolf pointed out.

Whisper protested with a laugh. “She kept him.”

Ashen carefully untied the bow, then stopped before lifting the lid. “Is it alive?”

He rolled his eyes. “You’ll see if you open it.”

She did so and stared at the music box inside. Then she slugged him, missing because he ducked.

“That’s for making me worry.” She turned the key and listened to it play.

#

Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: I Think She Likes It

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

Lol.

I like that they got her a music box (and Rachelle a kitten.)

A nice little family moment for them.

Seven Days Ficlet: How Can You Pick?

[scribblemyname]

“Favorite song?” Lena asked over her shoulder.

Wesley handed her a book and gave her a lift so she could reach the top shelf of the bookcase. Whatever had possessed her to buy anything this tall? She shook her head at herself. It wasn’t until he set her back down that she realized he hadn’t answered.

“Do you like music?” she asked cautiously.

Wesley hesitated, but then nodded. “My brother plays violin.”

“Your brother plays?” She hadn’t even known he had a brother.

Wesley shrugged with a small, helpless smile. “How can you pick a favorite from a favorite person?”

#

Re: Seven Days Ficlet: How Can You Pick?

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

That would be a hard choice, picking something from someone as close as a brother.

I'm glad none of my sisters do music, not that I could pick a favorite song/band, really, other than the Beatles.

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Once There Was a Princess

[scribblemyname]

A/N: Going to use the temporary name I’ve given Shift’s daughter, but I’m still all in the swithers about what’s it going to end up as.

---

“Mom.”

Shift paused in the doorway, hand still on the switch.

Seven-year-old Anna sat back up in bed. “Can you tell me a story?”

Shift laughed as she turned on the light and came back over. “One that isn’t about the princess going to sleep?”

“A long one,” Anna agreed. “Where the princess stays awake and goes on adventures.”

Shift snuggled Anna under one arm. “You know what? How about you tell me a story.”

Anna hesitated for a moment. “Once upon a time,” she finally said, “there was a princess who got lost, but the queen went after her…”

#

Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Once There Was a Princess

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

I like that she asked her daughter for a story.

Of course, then I start thinking about Shift and fairytales and... then it loses a bit of fluff, but this moment is nice.

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Waiting

[scribblemyname]

A/N: Preferred names to be dealt with later if I end up publishing this. Going to go with the handles you know for now.

---

Sketch sat curled up on subway station bench in an attitude of waiting. Every time a train pulled in, she studied intently the faces of the incoming travelers. She lingered on the young men.

She had escaped long before the Rebellion. Would she even recognize Lightsculpt, who had stayed?

But there he was, weary but her Lightsculpt.

She flew off the bench and into his arms almost before he had seen her, and finally, finally it was really him embracing her as she held on with all she had.

“You waited for me,” he murmured wonderingly.

Sketch whispered breathlessly, “Always.”

#

Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Waiting

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

Okay... So part of the reason I asked about Sketch was because I didn't know much about her, but... Now I'm going to have to know even more... and I don't think I know anything of Lightsculpt.

Though the idea of her always waiting... very sweet.

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Love, War, and Popcorn

[scribblemyname]

“Back away from the popcorn and no one will get hurt.”

Rett looked mildly incredulous. Minder narrowed her eyes in the expression that said she meant business.

Red Wolf waved at Rett from the couch. “You’re blocking the screen.”

If it wasn’t Wolf’s house… Rett shot him a look and surrendered the bowl to the redheaded mindreader of their team. Minder’s gift had always been painful to anyone she connected to.

It was movie night at Wolf and Whisper’s house, supposedly all in fun.

“Cheat,” Rett groused.

Minder laughed. “All’s fair in love and war.”

Ashen added, “And popcorn.”

#

Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Love, War, and Popcorn

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

Lol.

That was good. A nice family moment. :)

Storm/Rett can do fluff. :)

X-Men Movieverse Commentfic: Date Night In

[scribblemyname]

“Now dis is what I call southern comfort,” Remy said as he leaned back on the couch and wrapped one arm around Rogue.

She gave him a singularly underimpressed look. “Oh?”

“De southern belle, a bowl o’ popcorn, an’ no one else to steal the remote.”

“Remote’s mine, swamp rat,” Rogue reminded him curtly, but a smile was sneaking under her sternness.

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

It was nice, snuggling in on their off-nights when the other X-team took shift and the two of them managed to secure the media room.

She admitted comfortably, “I think you’re right.”

#

Re: X-Men Movieverse Commentfic: Date Night In

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

Ah, those quiet nights in. Very sweet.

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Pint-Size

[scribblemyname]

A/N: Another double-drabble.

---

“Hey, Pint-Size.” Rett knocked on the kitchen counter in front of his dimunitive teammate. He liked to visit frequently when he could. “Got a question for you.”

Heather, formerly known as Surge, was currently chopping vegetables, and she waved her knife at him admonishingly. “I weigh far more than a pint.”

He raised his eyebrows at that. “You weigh eighty-five pounds.”

“Eighty-seven!”

“And you come about halfway up my arm,” he added, ignoring her protest.

Heather’s knife made a whacking sound as it hit the cutting board. “You’re also six and a half feet tall.”

“Six point forty-two,” he corrected.

She glared at him.

He grinned. “Somehow that doesn’t seem intimidating.”

“What was your question, Storm?” She always called him by his handle when he irked her.

But he asked quite seriously, “How do I not fry my computer when I’m charged?” His electrical ability had some rather inconvenient side effects at times and Surge’s power was just similar enough that she sometimes had some pointers.

She sniffed and sliced. “Typing?”

“Yeah.”

“Just leave it on the counter and I’ll get it.”

“Thanks, Pint-Size.” Rett grinned at her and snatched a slice of tomato, then had to dodge her knife.

#

Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Pint-Size

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

Lol.

More Storm fluff. :)

He's funny when he teases his teammates.

Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Remember the Lullaby

[scribblemyname]

A/N: Another not so fluffy double-drabble, but sweet enough I hope. Wanted to get something with Ricki for you and finally opted for something a tiny bit introductory.

---

It was a soft humming that stopped Ricki in her tracks at the department store. She turned toward the sound and stood on her toes to see better. Could she glimpse someone familiar?

He could be anywhere in the store with her hearing but she looked anyway. The genetic experimentation that had destroyed her childhood had also given her enhanced senses and many whom she loved. They called her Keeper. They sang that song, the lullaby she’d remembered as a little girl to comfort them.

Straining, she could hear him... that way and changed directions abruptly. Past the women’s clothing department and the shoes towards the books, and then she saw Brushfire. Without stopping to ask any questions—do you remember? why are you here?—Ricki crossed the short distance to hug him hard.

The song stopped, but it was him, really him, and he pulled her back to look at her. She saw her own realization reflected in his eyes.

“Keeper?”

“I go by Ricalia now.”

He nodded, accepting that, then pulled her gently into another hug. He did remember her, did remember this.

“You could’ve come with me,” she chided softly.

Brushfire shook his head. “I’m here now.”

#

Re: Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Remember the Lullaby

[thecatisacritic.livejournal.com]

That's quite the introduction.

I think I am starting to be a sucker for reunion pieces, too, not just pillows...

And, of course, I have questions, as usual. Not sure I should ask them all, because I kind of want to see that moment with the remembered lullaby, but that's probably more angsty than fluffy, too.

Was Brushfire on Cate and Lightsculpt's team, too?