LJ Idol Week 40: Distance

[crisp_sobriety]

Part One: Margaret

Depending on who one asked, I was born sick, or I was born cursed.

My father favored the latter, and that’s why he left, I suppose. My mother, on the other hand, had clear childhood memories of her great-aunt, the last such creature before me. Said great-aunt used to walk off into the moonlight in nothing but her nightgown,

Comments

[crisp_sobriety]

Background Fact: I do in fact have a great-great aunt who used to run off into the woods in her nightgown, disappear for days, and then break into people's houses to have tea when she wanted it. She would fight anyone who tried to bring her home. One time she sprained her ankle, and when she wandered off that night everyone thought she was going to seriously hurt herself --but it turned out she wasn't running away, she just wanted to sleep with her foot in a cold stream, and that cured the sprain overnight.

So, yeah.

ETA: OH YEAH. So there's this little aside to the werewolf myth that I find quite neat, this old idea that if someone they loved stood before them and said their name, they would regain their human form. I decided the ultimate showing of love for someone who'd been dangerous their whole life would be to have someone else willingly make themselves completely vulnerable to them.

And that person would have to be one brave little dumbass.

[murielle]

I didn't want it to end, but I really liked the ending. I really liked the story.

[crisp_sobriety]

Thanks so much!

[bleodswean]

Oh! I was hoping someone would take "wolf" out of the prompt and turn it on its transformative head! Great job with this - I love how you weave metaphor and symbol into your very real characters and their interactions.

[crisp_sobriety]

Hee!

This is part the literal 'wolf' part of the prompt, and part the 'making threats to intimidate someone' definition --in this case, trying to intimidate them for their own good. Doesn't work, though.

Thank you!

[anyonesghost]

I like this a lot. I admit, I wanted to "see" more: hear your descriptions of what was in my head, rather than letting the world be guided by their voices. And I (per your comment) hadn't ever heard that part of the myth, so I was a little confused at the end ... if the ending of the curse was metaphorical or literal. (I mean, it ended either way, so hooray happy ending regardless. :-) ) But your narration and dialogue are fantastic, and they carry the story really well. Good job. :-)

[crisp_sobriety]

Thank you! I'm glad it worked for you, despite being mostly dialogue focused. :3

[dmousey]

I enjoyed this piece. The interaction between charcters is believable, especially taking into account teen age girls. :)

Am so glad the curse was broken, and aren't all people in love "little dumbasses?"

[crisp_sobriety]

aren't all people in love "little dumbasses?"

Absolutely! That's what's so charming about them. :3

Thanks so much for this comment!