Drabbles: 4-6
Thursday, August 21st, 2008 04:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tsaikoI'm doing these slightly out of order. It really depends on what I feel like writing. And since I haven't had the urge to write in awhile, I'm not going to try and make it do something it doesn't want to.
4. Mizwatson: Monster and goblins and slash, oh my!
Alexo stood guard outside a club called the Night Sky, arms crossed and glaring at the line of people being held back by velvet ropes.
There weren't many jobs available to minotaurs. The problem was that most people also assumed that they were stupid. It was a common misconception. Trolls were big, strong and stupid. Golems? Big, strong and stupid. The large breeds of ogres? Ditto. Even Cyclopes, which looked more human than most monster and so according to normal people might possibly be intelligent, were big, strong and stupid. People took one look at a minotaur, saw the big and strong and assumed the stupid.
Minotaurs were not stupid. They were large, strong, agile, and had something of a temper, but they were not stupid. That didn’t stop people from stereotyping them. For some reason, most people just couldn’t see a minotaur working at a flower shop or an IT specialist or an accountant.
Luckily, bouncer was a common occupational niche for minotaurs. Alexo liked being a bouncer. He got paid to stand around, look intimidating, and punch people when they were acting like an ass. His only complaint was that it was often boring. For some reason, most people and monsters tended not to make trouble when 290lbs of solid bull-man was breathing down their neck.
It was the laughter that first caught his attention. At the back of the line an entire group of college kids were crowded together. Laughing. Alexo rolled his eyes. This group was bound to be trouble.
A few minutes later, one of the girls from the group sauntered forward. Alexo had seen more cloth in a dish towel then the girl was wearing. She walked with an exaggerated sway that caused more than one pair of eyes to follow her. When the girl stopped in front of him and drew a breath to speak, Alexo cut her off.
“Sorry honey. I don’t make enough to pay for a hooker.” The crowd waiting in line cracked up. “Especially one that doesn’t have the equipment I want.”
Fury turned the girl’s eyes red, and Alexo wondered what she was. Vampire? If she was a vampire, she was newly turned. He leaned back slightly, daring her to attack. “Try it and I can guarantee you’ll never see the inside of this club.”
“Asshole.” She turned on her heel and stomped back to her group.
Alexo thought that that would be the end of it. Hope was short lived. Before too long, another of the group was walking forward. At least this one was male. His skin was green and his ears large, which made Alexo think goblin. The way he walked, though, made the minotaur think nymph or incubus. Probably half-goblin and half-something else.
“Hello,” the half-goblin said, looking up through dark lashes. Alexo shook his head. It couldn’t be more obvious that the half-goblin was trying to seduce him. And failing. “My friends and I… we were wondering…”
“The answer is no, kid. You can drop the act as well. I know you’re not interested in me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the half-goblin said. Alexo snorted. The kid did know what he was talking about. It was there in his yellow eyes. “Of course, I’m interested in you. Who wouldn’t be?”
“Really?” Alexo said. Then the minotaur reached out. The half-goblin flinched back, which really pissed Alexo off. Knowing the kid was faking interest and seeing the proof were two totally different things. The minotaur grabbed the kid’s arm and gave him a slight shake.
Something seemed to happen as soon as he touched skin. The half-goblin’s eyes went hazy, softening around the edges. Long, green fingers reached up and gently stroked his nose. His very bull-like nose.
“Soft...” the half-goblin said in a dreamy voice. Alexo felt like he’d been hit up the back of the head with an iron mace. There was no faking the want in the half-goblin’s eyes. That was real. This was real.
The minotaur tossed his head and stomped one hoofed foot. That seemed to break whatever was happening. The half-goblin jerked back, his cheeks stained dark green from a blush. He was shaking.
“I still can’t let you in,” Alexo told him. Gently. Fuck, the kid looked like he’d just been traumatized. The half-goblin nodded once, turned, and stumbled back to the group. Less than a minute later they left, the vampire girl glaring at him the whole time.
What had just happened?
5. Maderr: Ritter! Ritter!
By the time Ritter made it back to where they’d camped the night before – because that was always the back up plan should they ever need to leave town in a hurry – Aavon had worked himself into a full blown fit. He really didn’t even get a chance to dismount before the dragon turned on him.
“You are a knight!” Aavon yelled. The dragon had turned back into a human at some point. Probably so he could yell better. “All this time, I’ve been sleeping with a knight.”
Lilith tossed her head and backed up a step. Ritter didn’t blame her. He’d never seen Aavon this mad before. “I told you what I was. Numerous times. This should not be such a shock.”
“I didn’t think you were telling the truth,” Aavon said. “I thought you were lying. Or trying to impress me in some sort of strange, human way. I didn’t… I mean… you were so bad at it when you tried to kill me that first time…”
It didn’t even really hurt Ritter’s pride to hear that. Much. He had been bad: out of practice, hung over, and still grieving for a life long lost. “I got better.”
Aavon looked at him like he’d just grown a second head. “You got better?”
Ritter dismounted, one hand holding Lilith’s reins to keep the mare from wandering off. “I’ve been practicing, cobbling together armor and weapons where ever I could find them. I even bought a charger. A knight’s horse.” Aavon just stared. “I know you know about all this. Hell, dragon, you watched me do it. Even loaned me the money to get Lilith.”
“I thought you were pretending,” Aavon replied. Ritter barely kept himself from giving Aavon an annoyed look. This was not the time.
“I’m not. I really am a knight. I even had a coat of arms at one point.”
“You don’t look much like a monster,” Aavon said. It was the tone of voice little boy who had just found out that a creature of legend he’d always heard about was nothing more than a man in a suit of armor.
“You haven’t ever seen me drunk,” Ritter replied. It was only when Aavon broke into laughter that he stepped forward, dropping Lilith’s reins and wrapping his arms around his lover.
And if the laughter had the slightest bit of hysteria in it, Ritter pretended not to notice.
6. Stoplightgodess: STFU drabble
Matt was in the middle of writing a paper for his English class when the power died. One second there was light and music and four pages of speculation on why Heathcliff was a closet sadist and the next there was darkness. Poof. His paper was gone. He hadn’t even saved yet.
“My paper…”
From out in the hallway Matt heard a loud thud, what sounded like claws on tile, then a series of hisses. He looked towards where his door stood open.
There was a velociraptor standing in the doorway
A velociraptor. At his door. Looking at him. Even in the half gloom of twilight with the lights out, Matt recognized that shape. His brother’s favorite movie was Jurassic Park. Part of him wanted to start screaming. A bigger part of him wanted to run. Instead he just sat there, staring stupidly at something that by all rights should not exist.
The velociraptor cocked his head one way, then another, like a bird. Then it let out a low trilling sound before turning and leaving. Matt was still staring when Tessa appeared.
“Do you need a flashlight? The lights are out for the entire west side of campus.”
“There was a velociraptor. It was just here. I saw it.” His voice came out strained.
Tessa gave him a long considering look. When she spoke, there was a strange cadence to her words. “No, there wasn’t. Someone came in to check on you, but that was it. That’s all that happened until I showed up. There was no velociraptor.”
He felt something slide over his skin, like electricity, and settle into place. But it didn’t change the fact that he had seen it. Right there. At his door. Tessa seemed to be waiting for some kind of answer. Matt’s voice came out normal and steady when he replied. “Okay. Thanks for the offer. I think I’ve got a flashlight in my drawer though.”
“Good.” Tessa’s voice was bright, almost cheerful, when she spoke. “If you need extra batteries, let me know. I’ve got spares. Take care”
As soon as she was gone, as soon as he was alone, Matt put his head down on the desk. “This place is so fucking weird.”
4. Mizwatson: Monster and goblins and slash, oh my!
Alexo stood guard outside a club called the Night Sky, arms crossed and glaring at the line of people being held back by velvet ropes.
There weren't many jobs available to minotaurs. The problem was that most people also assumed that they were stupid. It was a common misconception. Trolls were big, strong and stupid. Golems? Big, strong and stupid. The large breeds of ogres? Ditto. Even Cyclopes, which looked more human than most monster and so according to normal people might possibly be intelligent, were big, strong and stupid. People took one look at a minotaur, saw the big and strong and assumed the stupid.
Minotaurs were not stupid. They were large, strong, agile, and had something of a temper, but they were not stupid. That didn’t stop people from stereotyping them. For some reason, most people just couldn’t see a minotaur working at a flower shop or an IT specialist or an accountant.
Luckily, bouncer was a common occupational niche for minotaurs. Alexo liked being a bouncer. He got paid to stand around, look intimidating, and punch people when they were acting like an ass. His only complaint was that it was often boring. For some reason, most people and monsters tended not to make trouble when 290lbs of solid bull-man was breathing down their neck.
It was the laughter that first caught his attention. At the back of the line an entire group of college kids were crowded together. Laughing. Alexo rolled his eyes. This group was bound to be trouble.
A few minutes later, one of the girls from the group sauntered forward. Alexo had seen more cloth in a dish towel then the girl was wearing. She walked with an exaggerated sway that caused more than one pair of eyes to follow her. When the girl stopped in front of him and drew a breath to speak, Alexo cut her off.
“Sorry honey. I don’t make enough to pay for a hooker.” The crowd waiting in line cracked up. “Especially one that doesn’t have the equipment I want.”
Fury turned the girl’s eyes red, and Alexo wondered what she was. Vampire? If she was a vampire, she was newly turned. He leaned back slightly, daring her to attack. “Try it and I can guarantee you’ll never see the inside of this club.”
“Asshole.” She turned on her heel and stomped back to her group.
Alexo thought that that would be the end of it. Hope was short lived. Before too long, another of the group was walking forward. At least this one was male. His skin was green and his ears large, which made Alexo think goblin. The way he walked, though, made the minotaur think nymph or incubus. Probably half-goblin and half-something else.
“Hello,” the half-goblin said, looking up through dark lashes. Alexo shook his head. It couldn’t be more obvious that the half-goblin was trying to seduce him. And failing. “My friends and I… we were wondering…”
“The answer is no, kid. You can drop the act as well. I know you’re not interested in me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the half-goblin said. Alexo snorted. The kid did know what he was talking about. It was there in his yellow eyes. “Of course, I’m interested in you. Who wouldn’t be?”
“Really?” Alexo said. Then the minotaur reached out. The half-goblin flinched back, which really pissed Alexo off. Knowing the kid was faking interest and seeing the proof were two totally different things. The minotaur grabbed the kid’s arm and gave him a slight shake.
Something seemed to happen as soon as he touched skin. The half-goblin’s eyes went hazy, softening around the edges. Long, green fingers reached up and gently stroked his nose. His very bull-like nose.
“Soft...” the half-goblin said in a dreamy voice. Alexo felt like he’d been hit up the back of the head with an iron mace. There was no faking the want in the half-goblin’s eyes. That was real. This was real.
The minotaur tossed his head and stomped one hoofed foot. That seemed to break whatever was happening. The half-goblin jerked back, his cheeks stained dark green from a blush. He was shaking.
“I still can’t let you in,” Alexo told him. Gently. Fuck, the kid looked like he’d just been traumatized. The half-goblin nodded once, turned, and stumbled back to the group. Less than a minute later they left, the vampire girl glaring at him the whole time.
What had just happened?
5. Maderr: Ritter! Ritter!
By the time Ritter made it back to where they’d camped the night before – because that was always the back up plan should they ever need to leave town in a hurry – Aavon had worked himself into a full blown fit. He really didn’t even get a chance to dismount before the dragon turned on him.
“You are a knight!” Aavon yelled. The dragon had turned back into a human at some point. Probably so he could yell better. “All this time, I’ve been sleeping with a knight.”
Lilith tossed her head and backed up a step. Ritter didn’t blame her. He’d never seen Aavon this mad before. “I told you what I was. Numerous times. This should not be such a shock.”
“I didn’t think you were telling the truth,” Aavon said. “I thought you were lying. Or trying to impress me in some sort of strange, human way. I didn’t… I mean… you were so bad at it when you tried to kill me that first time…”
It didn’t even really hurt Ritter’s pride to hear that. Much. He had been bad: out of practice, hung over, and still grieving for a life long lost. “I got better.”
Aavon looked at him like he’d just grown a second head. “You got better?”
Ritter dismounted, one hand holding Lilith’s reins to keep the mare from wandering off. “I’ve been practicing, cobbling together armor and weapons where ever I could find them. I even bought a charger. A knight’s horse.” Aavon just stared. “I know you know about all this. Hell, dragon, you watched me do it. Even loaned me the money to get Lilith.”
“I thought you were pretending,” Aavon replied. Ritter barely kept himself from giving Aavon an annoyed look. This was not the time.
“I’m not. I really am a knight. I even had a coat of arms at one point.”
“You don’t look much like a monster,” Aavon said. It was the tone of voice little boy who had just found out that a creature of legend he’d always heard about was nothing more than a man in a suit of armor.
“You haven’t ever seen me drunk,” Ritter replied. It was only when Aavon broke into laughter that he stepped forward, dropping Lilith’s reins and wrapping his arms around his lover.
And if the laughter had the slightest bit of hysteria in it, Ritter pretended not to notice.
6. Stoplightgodess: STFU drabble
Matt was in the middle of writing a paper for his English class when the power died. One second there was light and music and four pages of speculation on why Heathcliff was a closet sadist and the next there was darkness. Poof. His paper was gone. He hadn’t even saved yet.
“My paper…”
From out in the hallway Matt heard a loud thud, what sounded like claws on tile, then a series of hisses. He looked towards where his door stood open.
There was a velociraptor standing in the doorway
A velociraptor. At his door. Looking at him. Even in the half gloom of twilight with the lights out, Matt recognized that shape. His brother’s favorite movie was Jurassic Park. Part of him wanted to start screaming. A bigger part of him wanted to run. Instead he just sat there, staring stupidly at something that by all rights should not exist.
The velociraptor cocked his head one way, then another, like a bird. Then it let out a low trilling sound before turning and leaving. Matt was still staring when Tessa appeared.
“Do you need a flashlight? The lights are out for the entire west side of campus.”
“There was a velociraptor. It was just here. I saw it.” His voice came out strained.
Tessa gave him a long considering look. When she spoke, there was a strange cadence to her words. “No, there wasn’t. Someone came in to check on you, but that was it. That’s all that happened until I showed up. There was no velociraptor.”
He felt something slide over his skin, like electricity, and settle into place. But it didn’t change the fact that he had seen it. Right there. At his door. Tessa seemed to be waiting for some kind of answer. Matt’s voice came out normal and steady when he replied. “Okay. Thanks for the offer. I think I’ve got a flashlight in my drawer though.”
“Good.” Tessa’s voice was bright, almost cheerful, when she spoke. “If you need extra batteries, let me know. I’ve got spares. Take care”
As soon as she was gone, as soon as he was alone, Matt put his head down on the desk. “This place is so fucking weird.”
