Book: Yes, I'd forgotten you're moonlighting as a criminal mastermind now. Got your next heist planned? Simon: No. But I'm thinking about growing a big black mustache. I'm a traditionalist.

'War Stories'


The Great Write Way, Chapter Two: Twice upon a time...  

A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.


Strix - Apr 19, 2005 8:11:44 am PDT #1231 of 10001
A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman but loose enough to flee from zombies. — Ginger

Discovery

Flying down the highway, music I hate screaming over the wind, on because it's angry and discordant and vitriolic, and it feeds my mood. How can I be so angry? Feckless and rude, I weave past slower cars, intent upon reckless speed and mastery.

Later, nursing a vodka as I watch them. I still am angry and reckless, but there's no vehicle this time to transmute spite to speed, and I still don't understand.

Tossing in my bed, alone, not as drunk as I need to be to slide into blissful unawareness. Finally, I drop off into dreams.

I don't dream about them, or her or him. I dream about me, and after all, isn't that what this is about? The lack of me, me not being wanted.

And when I wake up, it's clear and silent and the anger is gone. I'm not jealous of him wanting her, or vice versa.

I'm sad that no one wants me, right now. But it's all right again, because I've discovered it really isn't them that sparked this.

It's all about me.


Anne W. - Apr 19, 2005 8:15:00 am PDT #1232 of 10001
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.

still am angry and reckless, but there's no vehicle this time to transmute spite to speed, and I still don't understand.

I love this line.


erikaj - Apr 19, 2005 8:15:31 am PDT #1233 of 10001
Always Anti-fascist!

I still can't decide if I know any drabble-worthy "discoveries". When I first started online my postings were nicer, I know. I've gotten so crude...blame HBO. And trying to talk like a cop. Although it's crazy to think a grown person can still learn to talk from television, right, babe?


deborah grabien - Apr 19, 2005 11:54:48 am PDT #1234 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.

Scar Tissue

Listen to a song, peel away a layer.

tore up over you and I just can't find my way oh man, layer gone, find the raw flesh underneath, getting conked in the head with a flying Zildjian cymbal, New Years Eve 1975

the song is over, it's all behind me peel me like a sunburn, watching him go back to her, not having any weapons, hardening myself, congealing

under the piano, waiting for the band to come too much, I can't breathe, bleeding, sobbing, afraid to see what's hidden

she comes in colours red, blue, black, the language of finding out.


§ ita § - Apr 19, 2005 2:15:38 pm PDT #1235 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

Discovery Bay, Discovery Day

The water laps at her, pushing gently towards the shore, just as gently encouraging her back. Damp cotton clings to her legs, fashion sacrificed to sudden need for this view.

The traffic is silent now. Animal noises chase each other beyond her line of vision -- if she squints, the power lines disappear, the shack roofs sink into the greenery, and the scene shifts into timelessness.

War canoes, cinammon bodies brazen in the sun, challenging, strident, imposing enough to send the Portuguese ship to the south coast.

It doesn't matter. They die anyway. They all die. She marks the day.


deborah grabien - Apr 19, 2005 2:25:23 pm PDT #1236 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.

ita, that kicks some serious, serious hiney. It's gorgeous.


SailAweigh - Apr 19, 2005 2:43:13 pm PDT #1237 of 10001
Nana korobi, ya oki. (Fall down seven times, stand up eight.) ~Yuzuru Hanyu/Japanese proverb

What deb said, ita. Very compelling.


erikaj - Apr 19, 2005 2:54:35 pm PDT #1238 of 10001
Always Anti-fascist!

Here's one "discovery" from "A Model Citizen" . She was really dead, not just an actress smeared with stage blood waiting for some brilliant TV detective to try his skills. Then, I felt guilty. I looked and saw that blood was soaked into her hair, and that her beautiful face? Wasn't so beautiful anymore.

"Oh, crap," a uniform I couldn't identify said. "We've got another one back there. Looks like she fought like hell, too." It was April, so called flake, possible ex-felon attendant."Half of her fingernails are torn off. She must have scratched the hell out of this lowlife." My nerves were jangly and I felt both unreal and horrified about making these guys step around my vomit. The smell was not like a visit to the Body Shop, either, of course,especially added to the tang of blood. Maybe that was why I felt faint. Or maybe it was screaming for five minutes to get somebody to call the police.


deborah grabien - Apr 19, 2005 2:59:01 pm PDT #1239 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.

erika, holy shit.

Did I mention, BTW, that the winner of that contest we're going to enter "AMC" in come October gets a $10K book advance, and a book deal?


erikaj - Apr 19, 2005 3:05:58 pm PDT #1240 of 10001
Always Anti-fascist!

Another one, with a Jay Landsman homage in it:
Being "Beyond Bitch" had not been protection enough for April Riley. Whatever Jessica had thought of her, in the end she had tried to save her life.
"Well," Brian said. "That blows my suicide theory all to hell then." Petrosky and his sense of humor.

"Suicide?" the uniform, still wet behind the ears and academy serious said, "How do you figure?"

"Banging her head against a wall. Every year 24 Americans beat their own brains out. Don't you know anything?"

"I guess not, sir."The youngster shifted from foot to foot and looked uncomfortable. Probably wished he was writing traffic tickets...Phoenix has the highest per capita red light runners in the nation; we're very proud.