Three AB drabbles

[mhalachai]

Posted originally (okay, three minutes ago) in abvh100. Drabblelicious.

Title: Bring Me Back
Word Count: 100
Characters: Nathaniel, Anita (Nathaniel POV)
Challenge: #24 - Silver

Anita doesn't understand. She thinks it hurts, and pain is bad, so it's bad to want this feeling of silver on my skin.

It hurts, it burns, and it's so fucking good, because I know I control it, I can make it stop if it's too much. But it's never too much. I always want to go one more minute, one step further. If I can stand it, just a little more, I know I'm alive.

It's a reminder, too, when it's a small burn. A reminder that I've had worse; that Anita is always there to bring me back.


Title: Quick Like Silver
Word Count: 100
Characters: Jean-Claude, Anita (Jean-Claude POV)
Challenge: #24 - Silver
Note: PG-16ish for teh nakedness.

I watch her as she sleeps. In my bed, after she has yielded herself to me, flesh, mind and spirit, she sleeps the sleep of the just.

I move her hair back from her face, her pale skin hot under my fingers. She is breathing slowly; her heart moves her blood through her veins. I trace over her skin, pulling the sheet down and gently brushing her naked breasts.

Even in her sleep, she responds to my caress. I run my fingers over her body as she wakes, already moving against me, my blood stirring like quicksilver in my veins.


Title: Nothing Wrong
Word Count: 200
Characters: Edward, other
Challenge: #24 - Silver

Bill Drimple was a good man, an honest druggist who ran a tight ship. He'd built his store from scratch, using the money he'd made in the army. It wasn't much, but it paid the bills.

Bill Drimple was also a smart man. So when the customer walked in, asking after silver nitrate, Bill Drimple was uneasy.

"What are you looking for using it?" Bill asked, sending his clerk back to the front of the store.

The customer smiled, but the light of his expression never made it to his cold blue eyes. "My sister wants to use some in her pool. Seems my nephew's allergic to chlorine."

It made sense, and after a lifetime behind the counter, Bill Drimple knew that such was a use for silver nitrate. Nothing about the man was wrong.

Still, Bill Drimple laid his hands, gnarled with the beginnings of arthritis, on the counter and said, "I'm to be frank with you, mister. The stuff we've got is the wrong concentration for pools and such."

A shadow slid through the man's eyes, but he nodded, all smiles. "Thanks for your time," he said, and made his way out the door.

Bill Drimple remained uneasy.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

The one with Bill Drimple is awesome. The way you described the characters in that drabble is simply amazing. It is a difficult task to introduce a new character effectively in so few words, but somehow you've managed it yet again. Brilliant.

Bessos,
E.A.V.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I've found that an effective way to look at characters anew is to see them through the eyes of strangers. Such as Bill Drimple here.

[sabriel-0405.livejournal.com]

These were all great. I thought Nothing Wrong was particularly interesting. But being a Jean-Claude/Anita fan, Quick Like Silver was my favorite. Though I prefer Anita's POV, I liked seeing the world out of Nathaniel's eyes. You captured his needs perfectly.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Thanks so very much, your comments mean so much to me :)

I'm a sucker for A/JC. And the more Inevitable and Switchback I write, the wors my ship gets.

[houses7177.livejournal.com]

Oh, Nothing Wrong is brilliant. What a great foil to use for Edward- to see him how 'normals' would see him. Very sublte, very graceful and human. Me likes!

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I was feeling all artsy last night. We only ever see Edward through the eyes of Anita or the monsters, never normal people. (Also, writing Bill Drimple was a hoot)

[houses7177.livejournal.com]

Besides, Drimple is a great name.