“Who’s that?” one of the supermodels asked.
“Who do you mean?” DJ glanced up from where he was wiping down the bar with broad, easy strokes.
The redhead pointed to a figure standing in the shadows. He wore a white suit and had a white fedora tipped at a jaunty angle.
“He looks like an old-fashioned mobster, like Al Capone or something.” The brunette giggled.
“I have it on good authority that Al Capone wasn’t actually good-looking,” DJ said mildly. “If you like him, ask him to dance.”
The blonde tossed her head. “No. We don’t ask boys to dance. They ask us to dance.”
As if on cue, Asia materialized from the crowd, and she offered her hand to the boy. In one pass of the strobe lights, DJ saw his face. Tobias. Of course. Gabriel must have had a hand in it, then, that the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies came over the speakers. A crowd cleared, and then Tobias stepped into the spotlight. He guided Asia with sure hands and steady feet. Usually, he was one of the more graceless ones on the team, but something magical happened on the dancefloor, and then he moved like old-fashioned clockwork and speakeasy poetry.
The three supermodels gaped as Tobias spun Asia across the floor.
“Can any of you dance like that?” DJ asked.
They shook their heads.
“Shame,” DJ said. “I’m sure he’d have taught you how.”
(239 words)
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Strike Back
When DJ moved, it was like a dance. Celia couldn’t deny that she loved to watch him work his way through his forms. Her motivation was partially shallow, as he was shirtless for the entire exercise. But the way he transitioned from motion to motion, smooth like water - she was quite sure that if she set it to music, it would look like a veritable dance.
The smooth slide of muscle beneath skin as he shifted from block to strike, the poise and balance and grace; it was hard to believe that when he picked up the pace and was against an opponent what resulted was harsh and destructive, like a dissonant tone in a chord gone wrong.
Sometimes Celia wondered if he would ever dance with her.
And then, two nights later, Dragon and Seal squared off in an empty lot. Dragon’s blue eyes gleamed, and when Seal leapt at him, he slid to the side, smooth, graceful. Seal turned and bowed to him, the gesture mocking.
“May I have this dance?” she asked.
Her friends hooted.
Dragon answered with a flurry of lightning-fast punches.
So this was the best dance she would get. She would take it. She struck back.
(203 words)
The smooth slide of muscle beneath skin as he shifted from block to strike, the poise and balance and grace; it was hard to believe that when he picked up the pace and was against an opponent what resulted was harsh and destructive, like a dissonant tone in a chord gone wrong.
Sometimes Celia wondered if he would ever dance with her.
And then, two nights later, Dragon and Seal squared off in an empty lot. Dragon’s blue eyes gleamed, and when Seal leapt at him, he slid to the side, smooth, graceful. Seal turned and bowed to him, the gesture mocking.
“May I have this dance?” she asked.
Her friends hooted.
Dragon answered with a flurry of lightning-fast punches.
So this was the best dance she would get. She would take it. She struck back.
(203 words)
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Break Out
“You don’t look very impressed,” Amy said. She and Gabriel were in the library, peering out the window down to the street corner where some boys had laid out a linoleum and were showing off acrobatic tricks, spinning on their heads and flipping, tumbling, popping and locking.
“I used to dance like that,” Gabriel said. “Before they put me in here.”
“Do you still do it?” Amy peered at him, curious.
Gabriel wasn’t sure why he was even talking to her. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m in here. They don’t let us have real lives in here. Why else?” he snapped.
Amy shrugged, her shoulders hunched, a little defensive, and Gabriel felt a brief pang of guilt for being so rude.
“It’s just - some people lose things. In the experiments.” She turned her face up to his once more, and Gabriel was startled at how bright her eyes were. Golden. Could people really have eyes that color?
“What do you mean?”
“Like - Jenny used to be able to play piano. And sometimes - sometimes, after a long session in the iso tank I can’t tell time. I didn’t know if you’d lost something, going in there too. It’s just the two of us who go in there, see,” Amy said.
Gabriel watched the group of boys move in synch with each other and decided that he might break out, just for the day, so he could dance again.
(237 words)
“I used to dance like that,” Gabriel said. “Before they put me in here.”
“Do you still do it?” Amy peered at him, curious.
Gabriel wasn’t sure why he was even talking to her. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m in here. They don’t let us have real lives in here. Why else?” he snapped.
Amy shrugged, her shoulders hunched, a little defensive, and Gabriel felt a brief pang of guilt for being so rude.
“It’s just - some people lose things. In the experiments.” She turned her face up to his once more, and Gabriel was startled at how bright her eyes were. Golden. Could people really have eyes that color?
“What do you mean?”
“Like - Jenny used to be able to play piano. And sometimes - sometimes, after a long session in the iso tank I can’t tell time. I didn’t know if you’d lost something, going in there too. It’s just the two of us who go in there, see,” Amy said.
Gabriel watched the group of boys move in synch with each other and decided that he might break out, just for the day, so he could dance again.
(237 words)
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
There but not There
"Just go through the forms and you will be fine," Alec said as he patted Joe in the shoulder.
Joe straitened his ghee nervously, "what if I forget something?"
"How long have you been practicing this?"
"A long time."
"You know what to do. Now do it."
Joe took a deep breath and stepped out onto the mats to begin his trials.
"It was perfect," Alec said as Joe stepped off the mat, "It looked like a dance."
"Thanks Alec," Joe whispered and turned to look his brother that was no longer there. Only the memory and the feeling were there.
"Thanks Alec," Joe said again softly.
Joe straitened his ghee nervously, "what if I forget something?"
"How long have you been practicing this?"
"A long time."
"You know what to do. Now do it."
Joe took a deep breath and stepped out onto the mats to begin his trials.
"It was perfect," Alec said as Joe stepped off the mat, "It looked like a dance."
"Thanks Alec," Joe whispered and turned to look his brother that was no longer there. Only the memory and the feeling were there.
"Thanks Alec," Joe said again softly.
Can You Count to Three?
“I refuse,” Keith said. He crossed his arms over his chest and dared one of the other lads to oppose him.
“Look, old lady McConnell’s just going to make you. Might as well get it over with,” Ste said. He shot Duffy and Shannon pleading looks.
Shannon sighed impatiently. “Look, get out there and do it, and then one of us will follow.”
“How do I know that you won’t hang me out to dry? I won’t be the only one out there making a fool of myself,” Keith said. “If you’re so eager to dance, you pick partners.”
The other three exchanged helpless glances.
Keith started when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around and saw the new girl - Hannah or Holly or something - standing behind him. She studied him with solemn golden eyes. Then she broke into a wide grin.
“Heya, fancy a waltz?”
Keith said, “No.”
She tugged on his wrist. “That’s too bad. I’m not botching P.E. because you’re not man enough to step up and make the grade. Now waltz with me.”
“I don’t know how,” Keith protested.
“Can you count to three?”
“Yes.”
“Then you can waltz. On one...”
(198 words)
“Look, old lady McConnell’s just going to make you. Might as well get it over with,” Ste said. He shot Duffy and Shannon pleading looks.
Shannon sighed impatiently. “Look, get out there and do it, and then one of us will follow.”
“How do I know that you won’t hang me out to dry? I won’t be the only one out there making a fool of myself,” Keith said. “If you’re so eager to dance, you pick partners.”
The other three exchanged helpless glances.
Keith started when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around and saw the new girl - Hannah or Holly or something - standing behind him. She studied him with solemn golden eyes. Then she broke into a wide grin.
“Heya, fancy a waltz?”
Keith said, “No.”
She tugged on his wrist. “That’s too bad. I’m not botching P.E. because you’re not man enough to step up and make the grade. Now waltz with me.”
“I don’t know how,” Keith protested.
“Can you count to three?”
“Yes.”
“Then you can waltz. On one...”
(198 words)
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
All A Man Can Ask For
“Do you tango?” Angel asked.
Dani started and almost spilled her drink down the front of her dress. “Pardon?” She blinked at him over the top of a volume of Millay.
Angel smiled and offered a hand. “Tango. Will you?”
“With you?”
“I’d prefer if it were with me, but I’m sure if I were to step away, another man would ask in my place,” Angel said.
Dani looked flustered. Angel knew he was taking a risk, dancing with the Padrino’s daughter, but something about her sweet, bookwormish charm had caught his eye while he was in the Padrino’s house, and it had been a while since Angel had had decent conversation with a girl.
Girls in this era were finally starting to become educated and speak their minds again, and Angel had missed it something fierce. Of course, Dakshana had taken off right when Angel might have valued her company, but then they both had jobs to do, and Angel was here, doing his.
Right now, his job was to dance.
Dani accepted his hand. “I can try,” she said.
Angel pulled her into his arms. “That’s all a man can ask for.”
(194 words)
Dani started and almost spilled her drink down the front of her dress. “Pardon?” She blinked at him over the top of a volume of Millay.
Angel smiled and offered a hand. “Tango. Will you?”
“With you?”
“I’d prefer if it were with me, but I’m sure if I were to step away, another man would ask in my place,” Angel said.
Dani looked flustered. Angel knew he was taking a risk, dancing with the Padrino’s daughter, but something about her sweet, bookwormish charm had caught his eye while he was in the Padrino’s house, and it had been a while since Angel had had decent conversation with a girl.
Girls in this era were finally starting to become educated and speak their minds again, and Angel had missed it something fierce. Of course, Dakshana had taken off right when Angel might have valued her company, but then they both had jobs to do, and Angel was here, doing his.
Right now, his job was to dance.
Dani accepted his hand. “I can try,” she said.
Angel pulled her into his arms. “That’s all a man can ask for.”
(194 words)
Sturdier Shoes
“I cannot believe you talked me into this,” Christian grumbled.
“I didn’t talk you into it. You let yourself be convinced.” Anna straightened his tabard with deft hands. “Now get out there and be charming and win some more land for your father.”
“You’re distressingly amused by the thought of me marrying Lady Vivian.” Christian brushed a piece of imaginary lint from his shoulder.
“Yes, well, she’s a lady, you’re a lord, she has lots of land, what more can your father ask for?”
“Me to be happy.”
“Your brother Ranolfe was happy, and look where it got him? Dead.” Anna stood back and gave him one last once-over. “Time to go dance.”
“But I’m terrible at dancing,” Christian protested.
“Nonsense. You’re a swordsman and full of smooth, dancing grace. Don’t forget that the left turn is on the offbeat.” Anna smiled and pushed him out from behind the tapestries that hid the servants from view.
Halfway through the first song, Lady Vivian learned, up close and personally what on the offbeat meant. To Christian, it meant nothing to do with anything his tutors - or Anna - had taught him. From the sidelines, Anna mused that proper ladies should have learned to wear much sturdier shoes by now.
(208 words)
“I didn’t talk you into it. You let yourself be convinced.” Anna straightened his tabard with deft hands. “Now get out there and be charming and win some more land for your father.”
“You’re distressingly amused by the thought of me marrying Lady Vivian.” Christian brushed a piece of imaginary lint from his shoulder.
“Yes, well, she’s a lady, you’re a lord, she has lots of land, what more can your father ask for?”
“Me to be happy.”
“Your brother Ranolfe was happy, and look where it got him? Dead.” Anna stood back and gave him one last once-over. “Time to go dance.”
“But I’m terrible at dancing,” Christian protested.
“Nonsense. You’re a swordsman and full of smooth, dancing grace. Don’t forget that the left turn is on the offbeat.” Anna smiled and pushed him out from behind the tapestries that hid the servants from view.
Halfway through the first song, Lady Vivian learned, up close and personally what on the offbeat meant. To Christian, it meant nothing to do with anything his tutors - or Anna - had taught him. From the sidelines, Anna mused that proper ladies should have learned to wear much sturdier shoes by now.
(208 words)
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Abuse of Modly Powers
Here it is, another abuse of the modpost. Apparently the holidays derailed all of us, so we will continue this challenge through to the next week. Until then, keep on writing, and keep your characters on dancing!
Monday, December 28, 2009
The Club Twitch
“I cannot believe you talked me into this,” Riley said.
James grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. “It’ll be all right. Just - knock back a few shots of tequila and get out there. Shake your skinny arse to the beat.”
Riley pressed his lips into a thin line. “You really know how to build a man’s self-esteem.”
“The ladies love you and you know it,” James said. “C’mon - admit it. You’ve heard them coo all over you during episode screenings. And during interviews. You’re Riley Finn - they think you’re the cutest thing since puppies and bunnies.”
“Adorable does not equal sexy or - or a good dancer,” Riley said.
James shoved him toward the dance floor. “Go, go!”
Riley ducked his head and sighed, loped into the crowd of writhing bodies. As soon as he was out of James’s sight, he ducked off the dance floor and toward where Serena and Fiona were waiting.
“He’s here, then?” Fiona asked.
Riley nodded. “Yeah. I played nervous a bit, let him give me a good talking to, and so now he’ll be keeping an eye on the dancefloor to watch me make a fool of myself.”
“Good.” Serena nodded decisively. “Any moment now, Asia will be here. She promised us a demonstration of her dancing skills if we could find sufficient music. According to one of the make-up girls, Shakira is a perfectly acceptable substitute for traditional tribal music.”
As if on cue, Asia materialized from the crowd. “We have an agreement, yes? If I get out there and do one solo number, you have to join me on the next one.” She swiveled her hips and cast Serena and Fiona meaningful looks.
“An agreement?” Riley asked. “I know of no agreement.”
Asia smiled at him. “I didn’t realize you’d be here tonight. Didn’t Fiona and Serena tell you? They want to learn how to belly dance. I told them I’d teach them, but they said they refused to subscribe until I demonstrated my skills.”
“I didn’t realize you could do anything but the usual club twitch like the rest of us,” Riley said. “Isn’t bellydancing a bit...feminine for a girl who swings swords for a living?”
“Don’t make me punch you,” Asia said dryly. “Are you game, ladies?”
“We’re game,” Fiona said. “In fact, here comes your music right now.”
And Shakira poured from the speakers. Asia rolled her eyes. “In a place like this, I reckon this is the best you could get. Out to the dancefloor I go.”
“No one’s going to see you in that crowd - you’re too short,” Fiona said. She craned her neck.
Asia grinned. “I’ll clear a space. Just wait and see.” She started into the crowd.
Riley grinned. “I’m going to go stand by James. If I can get a shot on my camera, I will - the look on his face will be classic.”
It was.
(485 words)
James grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. “It’ll be all right. Just - knock back a few shots of tequila and get out there. Shake your skinny arse to the beat.”
Riley pressed his lips into a thin line. “You really know how to build a man’s self-esteem.”
“The ladies love you and you know it,” James said. “C’mon - admit it. You’ve heard them coo all over you during episode screenings. And during interviews. You’re Riley Finn - they think you’re the cutest thing since puppies and bunnies.”
“Adorable does not equal sexy or - or a good dancer,” Riley said.
James shoved him toward the dance floor. “Go, go!”
Riley ducked his head and sighed, loped into the crowd of writhing bodies. As soon as he was out of James’s sight, he ducked off the dance floor and toward where Serena and Fiona were waiting.
“He’s here, then?” Fiona asked.
Riley nodded. “Yeah. I played nervous a bit, let him give me a good talking to, and so now he’ll be keeping an eye on the dancefloor to watch me make a fool of myself.”
“Good.” Serena nodded decisively. “Any moment now, Asia will be here. She promised us a demonstration of her dancing skills if we could find sufficient music. According to one of the make-up girls, Shakira is a perfectly acceptable substitute for traditional tribal music.”
As if on cue, Asia materialized from the crowd. “We have an agreement, yes? If I get out there and do one solo number, you have to join me on the next one.” She swiveled her hips and cast Serena and Fiona meaningful looks.
“An agreement?” Riley asked. “I know of no agreement.”
Asia smiled at him. “I didn’t realize you’d be here tonight. Didn’t Fiona and Serena tell you? They want to learn how to belly dance. I told them I’d teach them, but they said they refused to subscribe until I demonstrated my skills.”
“I didn’t realize you could do anything but the usual club twitch like the rest of us,” Riley said. “Isn’t bellydancing a bit...feminine for a girl who swings swords for a living?”
“Don’t make me punch you,” Asia said dryly. “Are you game, ladies?”
“We’re game,” Fiona said. “In fact, here comes your music right now.”
And Shakira poured from the speakers. Asia rolled her eyes. “In a place like this, I reckon this is the best you could get. Out to the dancefloor I go.”
“No one’s going to see you in that crowd - you’re too short,” Fiona said. She craned her neck.
Asia grinned. “I’ll clear a space. Just wait and see.” She started into the crowd.
Riley grinned. “I’m going to go stand by James. If I can get a shot on my camera, I will - the look on his face will be classic.”
It was.
(485 words)
Night Out
Bryan's feet were twitching as soon as he got out of the car. He couldn't hear the music yet, but he could feel the vibrations in the cement beneath his feet, could feel it echoing in his body, thumping in time to his heartbeat.
The doormen smiled and waved him through as he approached the door, bypassing all the people still waiting in line. Bryan stepped from the dark night into a twilight; strobe lights only partly illuminated the large room that was filled to almost overflowing with people. A heavy beat was rocking through the room, he could feel it in the core of his bones. Bryan let his eyes slide closed as he nodded his head to the beat; felt his body begin to move, rocking in time to the music.
Bryan's eyes snapped open and he flowed onto the dance floor, moving with perfect precision between all the other dancers, his body moving sinuously. He paused now and then to dance with a not so pretty girl, spinning her around the floor before returning her to where they started. He smiled slyly and kissed their hands before slipping away into the crowds.
Bryan found himself near one of the platforms that people used to display their dancing skills. He grinned as he jumped up on the small stage and whipped off his shirt. He was dimly aware of the cheers that met this action as he showed off his tightly muscled core and sharply defined arms, but most of his mind was lost in the music. Bryan let his eyes close again and let his body move to the beat, not paying attention to how he looked or what he did.
After he was finished dancing Bryan jumped down from the stage only to find his shirt gone. He looked briefly around, then shrugged and walked towards the door.
"Hey Bryan, loose your shirt again?" John as he waved a couple more people through the doors.
Bryan shrugged again, "Guess I did," he said and grinned before dancing out into the night.
The doormen smiled and waved him through as he approached the door, bypassing all the people still waiting in line. Bryan stepped from the dark night into a twilight; strobe lights only partly illuminated the large room that was filled to almost overflowing with people. A heavy beat was rocking through the room, he could feel it in the core of his bones. Bryan let his eyes slide closed as he nodded his head to the beat; felt his body begin to move, rocking in time to the music.
Bryan's eyes snapped open and he flowed onto the dance floor, moving with perfect precision between all the other dancers, his body moving sinuously. He paused now and then to dance with a not so pretty girl, spinning her around the floor before returning her to where they started. He smiled slyly and kissed their hands before slipping away into the crowds.
Bryan found himself near one of the platforms that people used to display their dancing skills. He grinned as he jumped up on the small stage and whipped off his shirt. He was dimly aware of the cheers that met this action as he showed off his tightly muscled core and sharply defined arms, but most of his mind was lost in the music. Bryan let his eyes close again and let his body move to the beat, not paying attention to how he looked or what he did.
After he was finished dancing Bryan jumped down from the stage only to find his shirt gone. He looked briefly around, then shrugged and walked towards the door.
"Hey Bryan, loose your shirt again?" John as he waved a couple more people through the doors.
Bryan shrugged again, "Guess I did," he said and grinned before dancing out into the night.
Project Assignment # 54 - Dancing
Take your characters dancing. Do they dance alone or do they club? Do they never dance or are they always dancing?
Max 500
Max 500
Overview #53: Resolutions
At first I thought this would be easy, but then I realized it might border on painfully repetitive. After all, New Year's resolutions are made at new year, which meant all my stories would be set at the same time, and that seemed kinda lame. I tried switching up universes to give things a little variety, and I think combining Riley's birthday wish with Asia's new year's resolution was a nice touch. Possibly the best thing that came out of this week is that I finally came up with a decent end to the Carolyn-verse. That made me very, very happy. The juxtaposition of Bob's new year's resolutions when he's fresh off the end of his relationship with Carolyn to Carolyn's resolutions after she's married Bob were pretty powerful (or so I like to think), and even though this is a fractured universe, it's one that, in its fractured state, is done. I suspect that sometime down the road I'll come through and finish it off properly, like the fractured universe I started in high school. Maybe that's what I'm doomed to do - write fractured universes left and right and let them simmer before I come back to them years later.
This is precisely the sort of writing revelation that M&M is meant to inspire.
A few finishing notes on the Carolyn-verse: in my head, the story ends like this - Bob and Carolyn get married. Carolyn continues working as a lawyer, but she retires from heavy business litigation and becomes an estate planner. Bob goes back to school and gets his teaching degree and ends up teaching English at some nice school in the south, probably Tennessee because that's where Clay is working and recording still (after an unsuccessful gander at Hollywood). Dan and Joey stay up in Calgary and Dan eventually works his way up to detective. Scott gets engaged to a girl but then breaks it off when she cheats on him, and he still works as an EMT, though he continues to write music with his brothers and on his own. Thanksgiving is always at Shelley and Dinah's, and Kevin is usually invited. The boys spend Christmases with their own families, but once in a blue moon John crashes Carolyn and Bob's Christmas. Scott ends up marrying Carolyn's law school friend Melanie.
I guess, for once, this one ends happily ever after.
Sometimes John still has to shoot people to keep Bob alive.
This is precisely the sort of writing revelation that M&M is meant to inspire.
A few finishing notes on the Carolyn-verse: in my head, the story ends like this - Bob and Carolyn get married. Carolyn continues working as a lawyer, but she retires from heavy business litigation and becomes an estate planner. Bob goes back to school and gets his teaching degree and ends up teaching English at some nice school in the south, probably Tennessee because that's where Clay is working and recording still (after an unsuccessful gander at Hollywood). Dan and Joey stay up in Calgary and Dan eventually works his way up to detective. Scott gets engaged to a girl but then breaks it off when she cheats on him, and he still works as an EMT, though he continues to write music with his brothers and on his own. Thanksgiving is always at Shelley and Dinah's, and Kevin is usually invited. The boys spend Christmases with their own families, but once in a blue moon John crashes Carolyn and Bob's Christmas. Scott ends up marrying Carolyn's law school friend Melanie.
I guess, for once, this one ends happily ever after.
Sometimes John still has to shoot people to keep Bob alive.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Big Plans
Carolyn sat on the roof and waited for fireworks to light up the sky. Ten minutes before the show was set to start, Bob scrambled up the ladder and skimmed across the tiles to sit beside her. He was armed with a thermos and two mugs.
“Hot cocoa?” He smiled at her.
“Please.”
Once the hot cocoa was poured, Bob and Carolyn leaned into each other and clutched their mugs to absorb some of the warmth.
“Aren’t the others coming?” Carolyn asked.
“Joey hates the cold, so Dan’s trying to work his silver-tongued magic,” Bob said. “Scott and Clay will be here before too long. They’re probably trying to give us privacy or something.”
Carolyn pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth and laughed. “Even after all these years, they’re still bashful about catching us kissing. They never actually caught us in flagrante delicto, you know. I don’t know what they’re so worried about.”
“I’m sure they’re just being polite,” Bob said. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “So, what are your big plans for the new year?”
To not think about the past, Carolyn thought. To be able to close my eyes and dream of something other than felled bodies and blood on my hands. To wake without a lie on my lips. She said, “To remember to answer to Mrs. Summers.”
Just as Clay and Scott made it up the ladder, Bob leaned in and kissed her.
(243 words)
“Hot cocoa?” He smiled at her.
“Please.”
Once the hot cocoa was poured, Bob and Carolyn leaned into each other and clutched their mugs to absorb some of the warmth.
“Aren’t the others coming?” Carolyn asked.
“Joey hates the cold, so Dan’s trying to work his silver-tongued magic,” Bob said. “Scott and Clay will be here before too long. They’re probably trying to give us privacy or something.”
Carolyn pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth and laughed. “Even after all these years, they’re still bashful about catching us kissing. They never actually caught us in flagrante delicto, you know. I don’t know what they’re so worried about.”
“I’m sure they’re just being polite,” Bob said. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “So, what are your big plans for the new year?”
To not think about the past, Carolyn thought. To be able to close my eyes and dream of something other than felled bodies and blood on my hands. To wake without a lie on my lips. She said, “To remember to answer to Mrs. Summers.”
Just as Clay and Scott made it up the ladder, Bob leaned in and kissed her.
(243 words)
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wishes and Resolutions
“Happy Birthday, Riley.” Asia clinked her champagne glass with his. She wasn’t drunk in the least, even though she’d drained every glass someone had shoved at her. In retrospect, she should have been more cautious, because anyone who was sober would have realized she should have been passed out drunk after consuming as much as she had, yet she was still hanging onto Fiona’s keys and was nominated designated driver for the ladies.
“Happy New Year.” Riley’s blue eyes shone, and he finished off the champagne. “So, in the spirit of the new year, what vice are you going to give up? What new habit do you want to acquire?”
“What did you wish for when you blew out your candles?” Asia asked. Two could play at this game.
“I see you still have that whole quid pro quo thing going,” Riley said. “Fine. I will show you mine if you show me yours.”
“If I didn’t know you and how utterly sweet you are, I’d think you’d just made a dishonorable proposition,” Asia said. But she grinned. “This year, I am going to leave the past behind me.”
Riley blinked. “That’s all? That hardly seems much of a struggle.” Then he narrowed his eyes. “Of course, knowing our cipher of a stunt girl, that’s got some deeper meaning to it, doesn’t it?” He slung an arm around her shoulders. “Tell your Uncle Riley all about it, luv.”
“It just means that when I look at a man I’m not going to see a former love in his place, no matter how similar their faces appear,” Asia said.
“This former love break your heart?” Riley asked.
“No. He just died.” Asia nudged him lightly in the ribs. “What about you? What did you wish for?”
“True love,” Riley said promptly. “What else does a romantic actor wish for?”
(308 words)
“Happy New Year.” Riley’s blue eyes shone, and he finished off the champagne. “So, in the spirit of the new year, what vice are you going to give up? What new habit do you want to acquire?”
“What did you wish for when you blew out your candles?” Asia asked. Two could play at this game.
“I see you still have that whole quid pro quo thing going,” Riley said. “Fine. I will show you mine if you show me yours.”
“If I didn’t know you and how utterly sweet you are, I’d think you’d just made a dishonorable proposition,” Asia said. But she grinned. “This year, I am going to leave the past behind me.”
Riley blinked. “That’s all? That hardly seems much of a struggle.” Then he narrowed his eyes. “Of course, knowing our cipher of a stunt girl, that’s got some deeper meaning to it, doesn’t it?” He slung an arm around her shoulders. “Tell your Uncle Riley all about it, luv.”
“It just means that when I look at a man I’m not going to see a former love in his place, no matter how similar their faces appear,” Asia said.
“This former love break your heart?” Riley asked.
“No. He just died.” Asia nudged him lightly in the ribs. “What about you? What did you wish for?”
“True love,” Riley said promptly. “What else does a romantic actor wish for?”
(308 words)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
This Year is Your Year
“So,” Keith said. He was sprawled on the cool tile of Angel’s fancy kitchen. He had a champagne flute in one hand and an empty bottle of Bushmills in the other. “What’s your new year’s resolution?”
DJ, who was stubbornly clinging to a bottle of absinthe, said, “To stop drinking alcohol.”
Tobias, whose head was nestled next to DJ’s knee, let out an ungainly laugh. “Yeah right.” He waved his bottle of vodka to emphasize his point.
“In that case,” Christian said, “you’re welcome to take this as paint thinner.” He plunked down his mason jar of moonshine next to DJ’s ear.
“The day you stop drinking alcohol,” Gabriel said, “is the day Keith stops setting things on fire for fun.” He paused, then waved his shot glass. “That’s probably a good new year’s resolution for you, Keith. Because Asia’s gonna crumple you into a ball and throw you down the Marianna Trench if you keep burning her stuff.”
“Why do we even bother writing new year’s resolutions?” Keith asked. “We’re gonna live forever. If we actually followed through with any of them, we’d be perfect in a century, easy.”
“You know what my new year’s resolution is?” Tobias asked. “To get Asia to kiss me. Just one more time. Before I die.”
“You make it sound like you’re going to die sometime this year,” Christian said.
“He will, if he manages to get within kissing distance of her,” Gabriel said. “That’s killing distance too, you know.”
“It’d be nice to kiss her again, though,” Christian conceded.
“Then we should make it a team effort,” DJ said. “This year, Tobias gets his kiss. Next year, we nominate someone else.”
“I like it,” Tobias said.
“That’s because this year is your year,” Keith said. “But - all right. I’m in.”
“Happy new year, Tobias,” DJ said.
In the other room, crowded with Angel’s supermodels, starlets, and assorted floozies, people were cheering.
Six men stared up at the kitchen ceiling and contemplated the coming year.
(332 words)
DJ, who was stubbornly clinging to a bottle of absinthe, said, “To stop drinking alcohol.”
Tobias, whose head was nestled next to DJ’s knee, let out an ungainly laugh. “Yeah right.” He waved his bottle of vodka to emphasize his point.
“In that case,” Christian said, “you’re welcome to take this as paint thinner.” He plunked down his mason jar of moonshine next to DJ’s ear.
“The day you stop drinking alcohol,” Gabriel said, “is the day Keith stops setting things on fire for fun.” He paused, then waved his shot glass. “That’s probably a good new year’s resolution for you, Keith. Because Asia’s gonna crumple you into a ball and throw you down the Marianna Trench if you keep burning her stuff.”
“Why do we even bother writing new year’s resolutions?” Keith asked. “We’re gonna live forever. If we actually followed through with any of them, we’d be perfect in a century, easy.”
“You know what my new year’s resolution is?” Tobias asked. “To get Asia to kiss me. Just one more time. Before I die.”
“You make it sound like you’re going to die sometime this year,” Christian said.
“He will, if he manages to get within kissing distance of her,” Gabriel said. “That’s killing distance too, you know.”
“It’d be nice to kiss her again, though,” Christian conceded.
“Then we should make it a team effort,” DJ said. “This year, Tobias gets his kiss. Next year, we nominate someone else.”
“I like it,” Tobias said.
“That’s because this year is your year,” Keith said. “But - all right. I’m in.”
“Happy new year, Tobias,” DJ said.
In the other room, crowded with Angel’s supermodels, starlets, and assorted floozies, people were cheering.
Six men stared up at the kitchen ceiling and contemplated the coming year.
(332 words)
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Not Again; Next Year Another
Not again, Scott had told himself. Not again.
But sitting beside his brother’s hospital bed, listening to the dull roar-hiss of the machines keeping him alive, made him crave the bitter-sweet shock of absinthe and sambuca all the more.
“He’ll be all right,” Joey said in a low voice.
“He’s the best out of the four of us,” Scott said. “Trained the hardest, fought the longest, made the highest belt - he only had two more ranks to go before he made black. But he always panicked in a skirmish, and --”
Joey squeezed his shoulder.
Scott fell silent.
“How long has it been?” Joey asked.
“Nine months,” Scott said. “Since I tasted even a drop. I told myself that this year I’d make it to the one year mark.”
“How was it going?”
“At the party last night I was Designated Dave and proud of it.” Scott stood up. “Here. This seat is yours. I’m going outside for a smoke.”
“You should put cigarettes down on your new year do nots,” Joey said, but he sank down into the orange plastic chair anyway. “You’re a singer.”
Scott reached into his jacket and felt for his battered pack of smokes. He still had a neat little silver hip flask, but these days more often than not it was filled with coffee or that freaky herbal tea of Clay’s that he pretended he hated.
Scott stepped out onto the small balcony and shivered in the winter air; he’d forgone his coat like a macho idiot. When the first hit of nicotine spiked in his veins, he sighed in relief. He’d given up the worse of the two vices. Next year he’d give up another.
(283 words)
But sitting beside his brother’s hospital bed, listening to the dull roar-hiss of the machines keeping him alive, made him crave the bitter-sweet shock of absinthe and sambuca all the more.
“He’ll be all right,” Joey said in a low voice.
“He’s the best out of the four of us,” Scott said. “Trained the hardest, fought the longest, made the highest belt - he only had two more ranks to go before he made black. But he always panicked in a skirmish, and --”
Joey squeezed his shoulder.
Scott fell silent.
“How long has it been?” Joey asked.
“Nine months,” Scott said. “Since I tasted even a drop. I told myself that this year I’d make it to the one year mark.”
“How was it going?”
“At the party last night I was Designated Dave and proud of it.” Scott stood up. “Here. This seat is yours. I’m going outside for a smoke.”
“You should put cigarettes down on your new year do nots,” Joey said, but he sank down into the orange plastic chair anyway. “You’re a singer.”
Scott reached into his jacket and felt for his battered pack of smokes. He still had a neat little silver hip flask, but these days more often than not it was filled with coffee or that freaky herbal tea of Clay’s that he pretended he hated.
Scott stepped out onto the small balcony and shivered in the winter air; he’d forgone his coat like a macho idiot. When the first hit of nicotine spiked in his veins, he sighed in relief. He’d given up the worse of the two vices. Next year he’d give up another.
(283 words)
Monday, December 21, 2009
I Will Not
This year, Bob told himself, I will not think of her.
He lay in his hospital bed and stared at the IV where it hung beside its bed. Through the plastic and translucent liquid, the world beyond was concave, as if he were looking through a fishbowl. Idly, he wondered if this was what it really looked like for fish or if they constantly suffered from double vision because their eyes were on either side of their head.
The squeak of wheels on linoleum roused him from his contemplation, and he turned. A nurse - unfamiliar, if young and pretty - wheeled in a tray of food. She smiled brightly at him.
“Hey there, happy new year! Is your family coming to visit?”
“I think they said they’d come by for dinner,” Bob said. He pushed himself up into a sitting position and fidgeted with the blankets. If she’d been older and motherly, he might have let the nurse fluff his pillows and fuss over him, but she was young enough and pretty enough that Bob blushed, if only a little. He missed being able to hide behind his hair.
“That’ll be nice.” The nurse smiled at him and set the tray in front of him.
“Yeah,” Bob said. “Um...where’s Janice?”
“Home with her family,” the nurse said. “I’m low man on the totem pole, as it were, so I’m working the holiday. I’m Caroline, by the way.”
Bob felt his insides clench, but then he forced the sensation away. “It’s nice to meet you, Caroline.”
There. He’d done it. He’d said her name.
“You too. Enjoy your lunch!” And the nurse walked away.
Bob stared at the food for a long time, but he wasn’t hungry. He went back to looking at the IV bag.
(295 words)
He lay in his hospital bed and stared at the IV where it hung beside its bed. Through the plastic and translucent liquid, the world beyond was concave, as if he were looking through a fishbowl. Idly, he wondered if this was what it really looked like for fish or if they constantly suffered from double vision because their eyes were on either side of their head.
The squeak of wheels on linoleum roused him from his contemplation, and he turned. A nurse - unfamiliar, if young and pretty - wheeled in a tray of food. She smiled brightly at him.
“Hey there, happy new year! Is your family coming to visit?”
“I think they said they’d come by for dinner,” Bob said. He pushed himself up into a sitting position and fidgeted with the blankets. If she’d been older and motherly, he might have let the nurse fluff his pillows and fuss over him, but she was young enough and pretty enough that Bob blushed, if only a little. He missed being able to hide behind his hair.
“That’ll be nice.” The nurse smiled at him and set the tray in front of him.
“Yeah,” Bob said. “Um...where’s Janice?”
“Home with her family,” the nurse said. “I’m low man on the totem pole, as it were, so I’m working the holiday. I’m Caroline, by the way.”
Bob felt his insides clench, but then he forced the sensation away. “It’s nice to meet you, Caroline.”
There. He’d done it. He’d said her name.
“You too. Enjoy your lunch!” And the nurse walked away.
Bob stared at the food for a long time, but he wasn’t hungry. He went back to looking at the IV bag.
(295 words)
No More Drama
"I hereby resolve to not get involved with anyone this year!" Bryan exclaimed, his eyes bright from the sugar coursing through his system.
Mark snorted quietly into his own cup of Pepsi, "Yeah right Bry," he said as he turned to survey the room. It was crowded, bodies packed into the small space, the badly hung crepe not hiding the fact that it was a smelly old gym at a small school.
"I mean it!" Bryan said loudly, "I am through with girls, They are nothing but trouble, and drama, and enormous pests."
Mark looked his twin in the eye, "Bryan, if I know you at all, which I do, then you will fall for the next girl that you kiss. The only way to keep your resolution is to not kiss anyone. And I don't think that you can do that."
"Sure I can."
Mark shook his head, "You mean you won't kiss anyone tonight on the stroke of midnight?"
"Nope."
"Well, I guess we will see in about ten minutes if you can keep your promise. I bet you ten bucks that you can't keep from kissing anyone."
"Your on Bro."
3...
2...
1...
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!"
...."I knew you couldn't do it."
Mark snorted quietly into his own cup of Pepsi, "Yeah right Bry," he said as he turned to survey the room. It was crowded, bodies packed into the small space, the badly hung crepe not hiding the fact that it was a smelly old gym at a small school.
"I mean it!" Bryan said loudly, "I am through with girls, They are nothing but trouble, and drama, and enormous pests."
Mark looked his twin in the eye, "Bryan, if I know you at all, which I do, then you will fall for the next girl that you kiss. The only way to keep your resolution is to not kiss anyone. And I don't think that you can do that."
"Sure I can."
Mark shook his head, "You mean you won't kiss anyone tonight on the stroke of midnight?"
"Nope."
"Well, I guess we will see in about ten minutes if you can keep your promise. I bet you ten bucks that you can't keep from kissing anyone."
"Your on Bro."
3...
2...
1...
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!"
...."I knew you couldn't do it."
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Project #53: Resolutions
It's not the new year yet, but there's no harm in thinking ahead. What do you characters choose as a new year's resolution? How good are they at keeping it? What do their friends say about it? Why do they choose to make a certain resolution? You have 100-400 words to show how your characters are resolved. Write on!
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