“Does it have a name?” James asked.
“Finley,” Tobias said, and sprinkled a few flakes on the surface of the water.
Finley, all blazing blue and violet tail and fins, swam a swift flurry of a circle, trying to chase down his food.
James, sprawled across his bed with a copy of Waiting For Godot open on his lap, shook his head, amused. “Doesn’t it realize it should just wait till the food drops beneath the surface?”
Tobias closed the jar of fish food and sat back. “Finley’s a fish, not a genius. If it amuses him to swim like that, I won’t deny him the pleasure.”
“You’re such an accommodating owner,” James said, and then he turned back to his script, studying the lines, imagining tone and inflection and gestures.
Tobias peered in the bowl at Finley, and he knew he wasn’t an accommodating owner as much as jailer.
(150 words)
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Isn't It?
“Is it a pet?” Ciaran asked.
Brenna cast him a dark look and continued walking through the trees. The massive raven perched on her shoulder cast him a similarly dark look and then tipped its head back, let out a caw. Brenna didn’t even flinch at the sound; Ciaran jumped. It made his skin crawl.
“Does it have a name?”
“Depends,” Brenna said.
“On what?”
“On what I need it to do.”
“Oh. What does it do?” Ciaran knew he wasn’t supposed to be out roaming the woods with a woman painted blue, but she’d rescued him, and he was...curious about it.
“On same days it is Thought, on other days Memory, on same days Death, on better days War.” Brenna reached up and stroked the bird’s crest; it preened and pressed its head into her touch.
Ciaran blinked. “That’s...a lot of names.”
Brenna smiled. “Isn’t it?”
Brenna cast him a dark look and continued walking through the trees. The massive raven perched on her shoulder cast him a similarly dark look and then tipped its head back, let out a caw. Brenna didn’t even flinch at the sound; Ciaran jumped. It made his skin crawl.
“Does it have a name?”
“Depends,” Brenna said.
“On what?”
“On what I need it to do.”
“Oh. What does it do?” Ciaran knew he wasn’t supposed to be out roaming the woods with a woman painted blue, but she’d rescued him, and he was...curious about it.
“On same days it is Thought, on other days Memory, on same days Death, on better days War.” Brenna reached up and stroked the bird’s crest; it preened and pressed its head into her touch.
Ciaran blinked. “That’s...a lot of names.”
Brenna smiled. “Isn’t it?”
Springtime Run
Wind whipped through Ariana's hair, invisible fingers tugging at the long blond strands, and her stomach seemed to drop through her feet as she briefly became airborne. She laughed with breathless joy at the speed and the freedom she felt. Long silky strands of black hair brushed her face and her body rocked rhythmically in time to the thundering of hooves.
Ariana released one hand from the reins to let her fingers rest against the surging muscles of her favorite stallion, Skychaser.
She pulled back gently on the reins and Skychaser immediately slowed down to a trot as they came to a wide, shallow stream. Ariana jumped down from the horses back and patted his neck as he bent to drink from the stream, laughed when he snorted and shook himself out.
Ariana breathed in deeply of the springtime breeze and wished life could always be this simple.
Ariana released one hand from the reins to let her fingers rest against the surging muscles of her favorite stallion, Skychaser.
She pulled back gently on the reins and Skychaser immediately slowed down to a trot as they came to a wide, shallow stream. Ariana jumped down from the horses back and patted his neck as he bent to drink from the stream, laughed when he snorted and shook himself out.
Ariana breathed in deeply of the springtime breeze and wished life could always be this simple.
In Heaven
Steve couldn't stop crying as his father held him tightly. "It's alright son," his father murmured as he stroked his young son's head, "It's alright. Dash was an old dog. It was just his time to go."
"But Dad," Steve sniffled, "who's going to keep away the monsters from my room at night? Dash always slept right at the foot of my bed so that no monsters would dare to come in. Who's going to run with me, or play catch, or hunt for bunnies?" Steve's eyes filled up with tears again at the thought of his best friend in a hole in the backyard.
"I know it hurts son, but sometimes those that we love the most have to leave us so that we can grow and become stronger," his dad said as he wrapped Steve in a tight embrace.
"Dad?" Steve asked.
"Yes Steve?"
"Will I see Dash when I get to heaven?" Steve asked
"I know you will," his father said and hugged him again.
"But Dad," Steve sniffled, "who's going to keep away the monsters from my room at night? Dash always slept right at the foot of my bed so that no monsters would dare to come in. Who's going to run with me, or play catch, or hunt for bunnies?" Steve's eyes filled up with tears again at the thought of his best friend in a hole in the backyard.
"I know it hurts son, but sometimes those that we love the most have to leave us so that we can grow and become stronger," his dad said as he wrapped Steve in a tight embrace.
"Dad?" Steve asked.
"Yes Steve?"
"Will I see Dash when I get to heaven?" Steve asked
"I know you will," his father said and hugged him again.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
As Much of a Pet
“She doesn’t like you,” Keith said easily.
Gabriel drew his hand back from the rumpled orange tabby that was curled on the arm of Keith’s recliner. Keith was curled up with a blanket and a wireless controller, enjoying the mindless destructiveness of Assassin’s Creed.
“She might like me,” Gabriel offered. “She didn’t hiss at me or anything.”
“Doesn’t mean a thing,” Keith said, and shrugged, killed a guard.
“Actually,” Tobias said, “the fact that she didn’t hiss means she’s feral. If you’d actually gotten a hand on her, she’d have had your eyes.”
Gabriel winced and took a healthy step back. “I thought she was Keith’s new pet.”
“As much of a pet as a feral cat can be,” Tobias said.
(121 words)
Gabriel drew his hand back from the rumpled orange tabby that was curled on the arm of Keith’s recliner. Keith was curled up with a blanket and a wireless controller, enjoying the mindless destructiveness of Assassin’s Creed.
“She might like me,” Gabriel offered. “She didn’t hiss at me or anything.”
“Doesn’t mean a thing,” Keith said, and shrugged, killed a guard.
“Actually,” Tobias said, “the fact that she didn’t hiss means she’s feral. If you’d actually gotten a hand on her, she’d have had your eyes.”
Gabriel winced and took a healthy step back. “I thought she was Keith’s new pet.”
“As much of a pet as a feral cat can be,” Tobias said.
(121 words)
Monday, April 19, 2010
Can I Keep It?
"He followed me home Sir," Joe said in response to his commanders questioning look. David had stopped Joe as he tried to walk quietly through the dining room and to his own room. He was holding a small ball of fluff and petting it gently with one finger.
Joe had tried to sneak it past his commander and into his room, hoping to keep the little creature a secret for a while. He held the kitten close to his chest, cupping it in both hands as if to protect it.
"Can I keep it Sir?" Joe asked in a small voice, his eyes large and pleading.
David stopped and carefully considered his answer before he gave it. He knew how hard their job was, how much it was important to having something to care about, something that cared about you. Cared unconditionally.
"Alright Joe," David said, "You can keep it."
Joe had tried to sneak it past his commander and into his room, hoping to keep the little creature a secret for a while. He held the kitten close to his chest, cupping it in both hands as if to protect it.
"Can I keep it Sir?" Joe asked in a small voice, his eyes large and pleading.
David stopped and carefully considered his answer before he gave it. He knew how hard their job was, how much it was important to having something to care about, something that cared about you. Cared unconditionally.
"Alright Joe," David said, "You can keep it."
Cafall
“What should I name him?” Christian asked.
Anna shrugged. “Him who?”
“My new hound,” Christian said. “Hunter didn’t survive his encounter with that boar.” He looked mournful, but Anna could see hints of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he held the brown pup.
Anna reached out and scratched the pup behind the ears; it wagged its tail and licked her hand. “How about...Cafall?”
Christian blinked, sounded it out. “Is that...Welsh?”
“Perhaps.”
“Why would you suggest that?”
“Cafall was the faithful hound of a mighty king,” Anna said. “Perhaps naming your dog after him will make him a better hunting companion.”
Christian hummed thoughtfully. “All right. Cafall it is.” He scooped up the pup and headed toward the kennels, calling for the lead houndsman.
Anna smiled and watched him, remembered the original Cafall, bounding at his master’s heels. Christian’s dog would be fine.
(149 words)
Anna shrugged. “Him who?”
“My new hound,” Christian said. “Hunter didn’t survive his encounter with that boar.” He looked mournful, but Anna could see hints of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he held the brown pup.
Anna reached out and scratched the pup behind the ears; it wagged its tail and licked her hand. “How about...Cafall?”
Christian blinked, sounded it out. “Is that...Welsh?”
“Perhaps.”
“Why would you suggest that?”
“Cafall was the faithful hound of a mighty king,” Anna said. “Perhaps naming your dog after him will make him a better hunting companion.”
Christian hummed thoughtfully. “All right. Cafall it is.” He scooped up the pup and headed toward the kennels, calling for the lead houndsman.
Anna smiled and watched him, remembered the original Cafall, bounding at his master’s heels. Christian’s dog would be fine.
(149 words)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Project Assignment # 68 - Pets
If you characters were to have pets what would they be? what would be their reasoning? Do they even have a reason?
This week let's go for fun in 150 words
This week let's go for fun in 150 words
Overview #67: Mythology Remix
This was short and sweet. Like so many in the western world, my best sense of mythology is Greco-Roman mythology, so I had to fight hard to pick mythologies from other traditions. It was fun to see how things could be remixed and rewrote. The cheap thing about having such a limited wordcount is that I didn't have to play out the consequences of a remix, especially when I hit up epics like the Iliad and the Odyssey. I had fun researching other mythologies, though, so that was good times.
Of course, where there is mythology and me, there is a nod to Arthurian legends. I'm just sad I didn't think to try for anything Norse.
Of course, where there is mythology and me, there is a nod to Arthurian legends. I'm just sad I didn't think to try for anything Norse.
Defeated
"I will avenge you, my brother in arms," Owain vowed solemnly, slicing open the palm of his hand to let his blood drip on Cynon's grave, "I will bring you justice; your soul peace. I will find the Black Knight and kill him," he whispered.
......
Sir Owain staggered back from the Black Knight, a sword through his chest, his breathing wet and labored as he struggled to rise from where he had fallen.
"No," he whispered, "it's not supposed to end this way," Owain said.
"No one defeats the Black Knight," the Knight declared as he delivered the final blow.
......
Sir Owain staggered back from the Black Knight, a sword through his chest, his breathing wet and labored as he struggled to rise from where he had fallen.
"No," he whispered, "it's not supposed to end this way," Owain said.
"No one defeats the Black Knight," the Knight declared as he delivered the final blow.
Sun and Moon
“Well, this is a fine mess,” Amaterasu said. She perched on the edge of a cloud and stared down at the mortals who were blearily going about their day, dragging their feet.
“They haven’t been sleeping,” Tsukiyomi said. He balanced a silver globe on one palm, spun it idly. “They’re not very good at sleeping when it’s so bright outside.”
Amaterasu tossed her head, and golden rays shimmered on the ground. “I can’t change who I am.”
“Neither can I,” Tsukiyomi said.
“What are we going to do? We can’t go through eternity never seeing each other.”
“Indeed.” Tsukiyomi sighed.
“They haven’t been sleeping,” Tsukiyomi said. He balanced a silver globe on one palm, spun it idly. “They’re not very good at sleeping when it’s so bright outside.”
Amaterasu tossed her head, and golden rays shimmered on the ground. “I can’t change who I am.”
“Neither can I,” Tsukiyomi said.
“What are we going to do? We can’t go through eternity never seeing each other.”
“Indeed.” Tsukiyomi sighed.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Calendar Reshuffle
“This is all your fault,” Ox said.
Rat perched on the bank of the river and cleaned his whiskers with delicate paws, shrugged innocently. “How?”
“You couldn’t even figure out how to lie to Lion?” Snake asked.
The rest of the Animals were scattered across the garden while Lion had a long chat with the Kitchen God about being the first animal in the calendar for the humans.
“I didn’t want to,” Rat said.
“She could have eaten you,” Rabbit pointed out.
“She didn’t,” Rat said.
Tiger shook her head. “Two big cats in one calendar? That’s a terrible idea.”
Rat perched on the bank of the river and cleaned his whiskers with delicate paws, shrugged innocently. “How?”
“You couldn’t even figure out how to lie to Lion?” Snake asked.
The rest of the Animals were scattered across the garden while Lion had a long chat with the Kitchen God about being the first animal in the calendar for the humans.
“I didn’t want to,” Rat said.
“She could have eaten you,” Rabbit pointed out.
“She didn’t,” Rat said.
Tiger shook her head. “Two big cats in one calendar? That’s a terrible idea.”
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The Fruits of Acquiescence
“So we’re going out on Friday night?” Apollo asked.
Cassandra nodded. “Pick me up at eight?”
Apollo broke into a wide smile, then snapped the reins of his chariot, and the sun took off across the sky.
“What now?” Hecuba asked.
Cassandra leaned over the battlements of the city walls and watched the Greek soldiers hauling the giant wooden gift horse into place.
“I guess I should tell Father and the others that the horse is a trap,” she said.
Hecuba looked skeptical. “You’re a woman. Why would they believe you?”
“Because I can see things,” Cassandra said. “Important things.”
Cassandra nodded. “Pick me up at eight?”
Apollo broke into a wide smile, then snapped the reins of his chariot, and the sun took off across the sky.
“What now?” Hecuba asked.
Cassandra leaned over the battlements of the city walls and watched the Greek soldiers hauling the giant wooden gift horse into place.
“I guess I should tell Father and the others that the horse is a trap,” she said.
Hecuba looked skeptical. “You’re a woman. Why would they believe you?”
“Because I can see things,” Cassandra said. “Important things.”
Out of the Box
"Didn't I tell you not to open that box!" Zeus thundered at Pandora.
"I was just curious," she said as she hung her head in shame, "all I let out was hope, charity, love, kindness, and all those other things. Aren't they good things?" she asked timidly.
"Yes they are," Zeus said, "but you also listened to the last voice in the box and let it out."
"It said it was a good thing too," Pandora defended herself.
"I suppose I can't get to mad at you," Zeus said.
"What did I let out of the box?" Pandora asked.
"Deceit."
"I was just curious," she said as she hung her head in shame, "all I let out was hope, charity, love, kindness, and all those other things. Aren't they good things?" she asked timidly.
"Yes they are," Zeus said, "but you also listened to the last voice in the box and let it out."
"It said it was a good thing too," Pandora defended herself.
"I suppose I can't get to mad at you," Zeus said.
"What did I let out of the box?" Pandora asked.
"Deceit."
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Ascension of Isis
“Did you find it?” Horus asked.
Isis thought of the beautiful box, gold and cedar, inlaid with lapis lazuli and agate. She thought of the limbs and joints, muscles and sinews and bones, broken apart like puzzle pieces and laid gently on a cushion of linens and silks in that box.
She thought of the dark tomb, dug furtively on the sands, where the box had been lowered in the dead of night.
“No,” Isis said. “Osiris is gone forever.” Screaming in the underworld, in the afterlife.
Horus gazed up at the empty throne. After a few moments, Isis sat.
Isis thought of the beautiful box, gold and cedar, inlaid with lapis lazuli and agate. She thought of the limbs and joints, muscles and sinews and bones, broken apart like puzzle pieces and laid gently on a cushion of linens and silks in that box.
She thought of the dark tomb, dug furtively on the sands, where the box had been lowered in the dead of night.
“No,” Isis said. “Osiris is gone forever.” Screaming in the underworld, in the afterlife.
Horus gazed up at the empty throne. After a few moments, Isis sat.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Impassioned Youth
I will rescue the fair Andromeda!" Perseus exclaimed as he entered the throne room of King Cepheus.
King Cepheus looked up from where he had been hunched over in despair at the fate of his only daughter, "and why would you do this?" he asked. He knew that Poseidon had decreed the death of his daughter.
"She is more beautiful than the glittering stars," Perseus declared, "more radiant than the sun, more lovely than the moon, More..."
King Cepheus glanced away from the impassioned youth out the window. Saw the monster devour Andromeda.
Perseus continued speaking.
"To late," Cepheus thought.
King Cepheus looked up from where he had been hunched over in despair at the fate of his only daughter, "and why would you do this?" he asked. He knew that Poseidon had decreed the death of his daughter.
"She is more beautiful than the glittering stars," Perseus declared, "more radiant than the sun, more lovely than the moon, More..."
King Cepheus glanced away from the impassioned youth out the window. Saw the monster devour Andromeda.
Perseus continued speaking.
"To late," Cepheus thought.
Discord
“Choose,” Aphrodite said.
Paris took a deep breath and studied the three goddesses. Athena offered wisdom, battle glory. Hera offered land. And Aphrodite, she offered...Helen. Of Troy.
Eris stood on the sidelines, tossing the golden apple up and down in one hand, grinning.
Paris glanced over his shoulder to where Helen was standing, and goodness gracious, she was beautiful.
“Who is it going to be?” Hera demanded. Her eyes flashed with impatience, with immortal power.
Paris studied the three women once more. Then he grinned, winked, and said, “I choose Eris.”
Eris dropped the apple.
Helen started to laugh.
Paris took a deep breath and studied the three goddesses. Athena offered wisdom, battle glory. Hera offered land. And Aphrodite, she offered...Helen. Of Troy.
Eris stood on the sidelines, tossing the golden apple up and down in one hand, grinning.
Paris glanced over his shoulder to where Helen was standing, and goodness gracious, she was beautiful.
“Who is it going to be?” Hera demanded. Her eyes flashed with impatience, with immortal power.
Paris studied the three women once more. Then he grinned, winked, and said, “I choose Eris.”
Eris dropped the apple.
Helen started to laugh.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Bad Hair Day
"Are you going to come out?" Persephone called through the door a second after knocking, "you're going to be late for school."
"I'm not going!" came the shouted reply.
Persephone jerked her head back in surprise, "why ever not?" she asked with a puzzled frown, "you always said you loved school."
"I love learning, I hate the people," the rich voice said, "besides, I can't go. I look positively terrible."
"It can't be all that bad Adonis," Persephone said as she turned the handle and opened the door.
"Yes it can," Adonis said mournfully.
Persephone gasped at his horrendous bedhead.
"I'm not going!" came the shouted reply.
Persephone jerked her head back in surprise, "why ever not?" she asked with a puzzled frown, "you always said you loved school."
"I love learning, I hate the people," the rich voice said, "besides, I can't go. I look positively terrible."
"It can't be all that bad Adonis," Persephone said as she turned the handle and opened the door.
"Yes it can," Adonis said mournfully.
Persephone gasped at his horrendous bedhead.
The Once and Future Queen
Merlin stared at the stone. Arthur looked at the sword for a little longer, shrugged, then stepped back.
“I don’t know why anyone thought I’d be king,” Arthur said. “I’m just an orphan after all.”
Merlin felt his heart climb into his throat. What now?
Then someone stepped out of the crowd of knights, golden-haired, noble-featured, beautiful, tall.
“I’ll give it a try,” Morgause said, and tugged.
The sword slid free.
Kay bowed first, followed by Ector, and Arthur bowed too. He whispered to Merlin,
“Can a girl be king, or will we have to call her Queen?”
“I don’t know why anyone thought I’d be king,” Arthur said. “I’m just an orphan after all.”
Merlin felt his heart climb into his throat. What now?
Then someone stepped out of the crowd of knights, golden-haired, noble-featured, beautiful, tall.
“I’ll give it a try,” Morgause said, and tugged.
The sword slid free.
Kay bowed first, followed by Ector, and Arthur bowed too. He whispered to Merlin,
“Can a girl be king, or will we have to call her Queen?”
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Project #67: Mythology Remix
So we've done fairytale remixes. This week it'll be mythology remixes in 100 words, no more, no less. What does Merlin say when Arthur can't get the sword out of the stone? How does Apollo deal with Cassandra says "all right" to his flirtations? What if Sigfried didn't kill the dragon? What if Loki escaped from the snake before Ragnarok? Think about it. Write it. Remix it. Enjoy. Do a little research if necessary. Maybe post a link if you picked obscured mythology.
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