FIC: As the World Shuffles Along (Multi-Fandom) December Set
WOOO! Final Set! Somehow I managed it! I did some 20000 words over 60 ficlets. And stretched my fandom muscles (multiple new fandoms written in, returned to some old ones too...).
But now I want to go back to some longer stories again....
Anyways, enjoy!
Title: Surreal
Fandom: Hunger Games
Characters: Primrose Everdeen
Timeframe: 74th Reaping
Theme: Trust Me - Doctor Who Season 6 soundtrack
~*~
“Primrose Everdeen!”
The immediate seconds after that pronouncement are among some of the most surreal of her life. She can almost feel the blood draining from her face, and her ears are ringing, blocking out the noise around her.
Prim feels rather than sees the girls around draw away from her, as though they too will suffer her fate by association alone.
Effie Trinket’s voice, urging her to come up, seems to come from far away. She sets her face as best she can, and starts the walk to the podium.
What is really a few short yards stretches out in front of her like it was a mile. She can feel the back her blouse working its way loose again, but is too nervous to tuck it back in, lest everyone see how badly her hands are shaking. Thinking back to this morning’s comment about her duck tail-the jokes on her, she may as well be a sitting duck waiting for slaughter-only makes her hands shake harder, and Prim clenches her fists together to stop them.
She dares not turn around to find Katniss’ face in the crowd of kids behind her. Prim knows that it would be her undoing. Her sister has done everything in her power to try and protect her.
But not even her strong, stubborn sister can protect her from this.
“Prim!”
Katniss’ voice makes her pause. She can’t turn around and see the fear and desperation in her face. She can already hear it in her voice.
“I volunteer!” desperation is thick in her sister’s voice, and Prim is suddenly being shielded physically by Katniss. “I volunteer as Tribute!”
For a minute, all the air has left Prim’s lungs. She can’t even choke out a protest as confusion appears on Effie Trinket’s face.
She launches herself at Katniss, and finds her voice again. She does not care that everyone can see her-screaming, pleading, begging-they don’t even register at this moment. Then Gale is pulling her away, and she is deposited in her mother’s arms.
Prim still wants to fight as the Katniss is accepted as this year’s female tribute. She cannot support sending her sister to die in her place.
Suddenly her reality has surpassed the horror of her nightmares in a way she hadn’t thought possible.
~*~
Title: Family History
Fandom: Tamora Pierce’s Tortall (Song of the Lioness)
Characters: Alanna of Pirate’s Swoop and Olau, Baron George Cooper of Pirate’s Swoop
Timeframe: Years between SotL and Immortals
Theme: Promises (/End Titles) - Amazing Spiderman Soundtrack
~*~
Alanna had recognised the signs last week.
Heartburn. Strange dreams. Tender breasts. The early stirrings of nausea.
She was pregnant again.
Maude figured it out within days too, and had clucked over her ever since, her eagle eye missing nothing. George was on a fact-finding mission, due back this week some time.
She wished he was here. George had a remarkable ability to smooth her worries and fears.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want more children. She loved her little Thom (she imagines her twin rolling his eyes at her choice of name), and he was just over a year old now. But Maude’s addition to her discovery, which she then confirmed herself, had her scared.
Twins.
She and George were having twins.
Which was why she found herself out here on this windswept balcony, thinking.
All her life, she had lived with the knowledge that her own mother had died giving birth to her and her twin. Would she have a similarly hard time? The thought, foolish as it may be, gnawed at her. She had given birth to Thom with no complications, surely she would be fine... But that was one babe, not two, a voice in her head said.
Alanna failed to notice her husband’s figure in the doorway, so wrapped up in her thoughts.
“Any particular reason you’re out here, ignoring the cold, may I add?” His tone was light, but there was a worried look in his hazel eyes.
Alanna automatically moved toward George’s arms.
“I’m... being silly,” she mumbled against his chest.
George’s chest rumbled as he chuckled softly. “You are rarely silly, Lass,”
Alanna sighed gently. “I’m pregnant, George,” she almost whispered. “With twins.”
She swore his grin warmed the balcony with it’s radiance, and she can’t help by smile in response, before he pulled back, and looked at his wife searchingly.
“You’re worried about twins?” he asks softly. She nods. “Because of your mother?” Another nod.
George wraps his arms around her, “Alanna, you’ll have Maude, Ma, anyone you want there. You did spectacularly when Thommy was born. I have no doubt you’ll be splendid.”
Alanna took the reassurance, letting George smooth the cracks and fears once again.
They both knew the topic was far from exhausted, but further discussion was for a later time.
“Let’s hope they don’t attract half the trouble of the last set of twins in this family,” George mused aloud, a smile in his voice, which graduated to chuckles when Alanna half-heartedly whacked his shoulder.
~*~
Title: Surface Value
Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Characters: Silena Beauregard, Aphrodite cabin
Timeframe: End of “The Last Olympian”
Theme: Enigma of River Song, Doctor Who season 6 soundtrack
~*~
There are no words of recrimination voiced in the aftermath.
All the Aphrodite campers had braced for it. Silena had spied within the camp itself, feeding information directly to Kronos towards their destruction, justifying herself with the promise (lie) that Beckendorf would make it through if she kept the information coming.
All the campers had seen Silena’s breakdown, but none knew the level of blame she had heaped on herself.
When it came time for Silena’s memorial, her siblings had gathered, grim faced, saying farewell to a sister who they loved, not really expecting the number of others who joined to pay their respects for someone they described as a true hero.
Aphrodite campers are used to being looked down on. Only good for looking pretty and charming their way around people. Both in and out of the world of Olympus and Camp Half-Blood.
Honestly, they’ve seen themselves as useless, too.
It;s not hard to see what drove Silena to her course of action.
She thought there was little she could do to protect those she loved, so she tried to offer what was at hand to guarantee the safety of those she held dearest. Failing that, she tried to make up for past mistakes in a way that no one had seen coming.
Clarisse had been the one to bear Silena’s body back to camp. No one even thought about commenting on the tears on her cheeks. The fiery daughter of Ares was the one who declared Silena a hero to the surviving demi-gods, backed up by Percy, Annabeth, and a number of others who had been present.
Silena was gone, but she would always hold a special place in the heart of the children of Aphrodite. One of their best of examples that the surface value of a Child of Aphrodite is not their whole value.
~*~
Title: Worry
Fandom: Tamora Pierce’s Tortall (Protector of the Small)
Characters: Duke Baird of Queenscove, Alanna of Pirate’s Swoop and Olau
Timeframe: Lady Knight
Theme: Orphan - Dark Knight Rises Soundtrack
~*~
Baird has only just arrived at Frasrland when the news comes through.
In the months since he’d left Haven, he’d seen enough bad reports come in to know that there was no good news when he saw the General’s face.
“What’s happened?” Alanna, blunt as usual, has also watched the man’s face pale with unease.
The General’s face is grim as he responds. “The refugee camp, it’s been taken. And Eighth Company was chewed up by four killing devices attempting to follow the Scanrans.”
Baird hears a dull roaring in his ears, suddenly glad he is already sitting. He didn’t hear anything past Haven had fallen.
Mithros, no. Not again. Great Merciful Mother, he could not lose another child!
The mere thought is a punch in the gut, and he feels the blood draining from his face. He is jolted back to reality by the awful scent of wakeflower coming from the small vial Alanna held.
“The report also said that all three of Haven’s knights are alive,” she told him quickly. “Apparently the Scanrans waited until Kel and Neal went to Mastiff for their regular reports.”
Thank Mithros, Goddess, and the Black God for sparing his son.
A weight lifted off his chest, and he was able to breathe.
“Sorry, I...” he began to apologise, only to Alanna brushed it off as unnecessary. “Do we know anything more?” he queried.
Alanna reluctantly handed over the missive, aware that the content would do nothing to soothe Baird’s worries for his son.
“What are they thinking?” Baird asked, almost to himself, as he finished.
“Are you really surprised that Kel went after them, or that the others followed?” Alanna asked softly from the other side of the room. “Not to mention the fact that even from a purely strategic stand point, two hundred children would fuel an awful number of Killing Devices in the hands of Blayce.”
The older healer sighed, rubbing his forehead in defeat, . “I know,” he replied. “That won’t stop me from worrying, though.”
“I know.”
Baird suddenly moves towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Alanna asks, slightly confused.
“Sounds like they need an experienced healer back there. And I intend to be there when that group comes back.”
It was a good thing Baird hadn’t unpacked his gear yet.
~*~
Title: Melting into Shadows
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Peter Pettigrew
Timeframe: First Wizarding War
Theme: Oblivion - 30 seconds to Mars
~*~
Under the burning sun I take a look around
Imagine if this all came down
~*~
Peter has never been ‘the bright one’. James and Sirius always took that limelight. Remus was the good, studious one. He was the one everyone overlooked.
And he’d been sort of okay with that. As the Marauders, the four of them had exploited it even. Few people imagined how cunning those years with the Marauders made young Peter Pettigrew.
But one thing Peter had always been able to do, was see where the safest paths lay.
And that no longer coincided with the Marauders. Indeed, the other three were throwing themselves into the path of least certainty.
He couldn’t do it anymore.
He looks at the deserted cemetery around him and shivers. On the other hand, this hardly seems safe either. They may well kill him where he stands when they arrive.
The air is full of rustling cloaks in the darkness, and Peter is frozen in place.
“So, this is the cowardly lion who wants to join?” A mocking voice says behind him. “Why should we believe you, scum?” the voice drips venom.
Somehow, Peter finds his voice. “I part of Dumbledore’s secret group. I can pass information directly to you-“ There is a sudden pressure on his throat, and his hands scrabble at his neck trying to free the invisible bonds.
“I said, why should we believe you?” the same voice hissed again.
The pressure was released, and as he gasped, Peter knew this was his last chance.
“Because I’ve been passed over and overlooked for years. I want to see all their petty plans thrown asunder,” he growled, surprised at just how much he meant it.
Rabastan Lestrange removed his mask, grinning ghoulishly.
“Maybe you can be of use then,” Lestrange’s eyes danced dangerously.
~*~
But now I want to go back to some longer stories again....
Anyways, enjoy!
Title: Surreal
Fandom: Hunger Games
Characters: Primrose Everdeen
Timeframe: 74th Reaping
Theme: Trust Me - Doctor Who Season 6 soundtrack
~*~
“Primrose Everdeen!”
The immediate seconds after that pronouncement are among some of the most surreal of her life. She can almost feel the blood draining from her face, and her ears are ringing, blocking out the noise around her.
Prim feels rather than sees the girls around draw away from her, as though they too will suffer her fate by association alone.
Effie Trinket’s voice, urging her to come up, seems to come from far away. She sets her face as best she can, and starts the walk to the podium.
What is really a few short yards stretches out in front of her like it was a mile. She can feel the back her blouse working its way loose again, but is too nervous to tuck it back in, lest everyone see how badly her hands are shaking. Thinking back to this morning’s comment about her duck tail-the jokes on her, she may as well be a sitting duck waiting for slaughter-only makes her hands shake harder, and Prim clenches her fists together to stop them.
She dares not turn around to find Katniss’ face in the crowd of kids behind her. Prim knows that it would be her undoing. Her sister has done everything in her power to try and protect her.
But not even her strong, stubborn sister can protect her from this.
“Prim!”
Katniss’ voice makes her pause. She can’t turn around and see the fear and desperation in her face. She can already hear it in her voice.
“I volunteer!” desperation is thick in her sister’s voice, and Prim is suddenly being shielded physically by Katniss. “I volunteer as Tribute!”
For a minute, all the air has left Prim’s lungs. She can’t even choke out a protest as confusion appears on Effie Trinket’s face.
She launches herself at Katniss, and finds her voice again. She does not care that everyone can see her-screaming, pleading, begging-they don’t even register at this moment. Then Gale is pulling her away, and she is deposited in her mother’s arms.
Prim still wants to fight as the Katniss is accepted as this year’s female tribute. She cannot support sending her sister to die in her place.
Suddenly her reality has surpassed the horror of her nightmares in a way she hadn’t thought possible.
~*~
Title: Family History
Fandom: Tamora Pierce’s Tortall (Song of the Lioness)
Characters: Alanna of Pirate’s Swoop and Olau, Baron George Cooper of Pirate’s Swoop
Timeframe: Years between SotL and Immortals
Theme: Promises (/End Titles) - Amazing Spiderman Soundtrack
~*~
Alanna had recognised the signs last week.
Heartburn. Strange dreams. Tender breasts. The early stirrings of nausea.
She was pregnant again.
Maude figured it out within days too, and had clucked over her ever since, her eagle eye missing nothing. George was on a fact-finding mission, due back this week some time.
She wished he was here. George had a remarkable ability to smooth her worries and fears.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want more children. She loved her little Thom (she imagines her twin rolling his eyes at her choice of name), and he was just over a year old now. But Maude’s addition to her discovery, which she then confirmed herself, had her scared.
Twins.
She and George were having twins.
Which was why she found herself out here on this windswept balcony, thinking.
All her life, she had lived with the knowledge that her own mother had died giving birth to her and her twin. Would she have a similarly hard time? The thought, foolish as it may be, gnawed at her. She had given birth to Thom with no complications, surely she would be fine... But that was one babe, not two, a voice in her head said.
Alanna failed to notice her husband’s figure in the doorway, so wrapped up in her thoughts.
“Any particular reason you’re out here, ignoring the cold, may I add?” His tone was light, but there was a worried look in his hazel eyes.
Alanna automatically moved toward George’s arms.
“I’m... being silly,” she mumbled against his chest.
George’s chest rumbled as he chuckled softly. “You are rarely silly, Lass,”
Alanna sighed gently. “I’m pregnant, George,” she almost whispered. “With twins.”
She swore his grin warmed the balcony with it’s radiance, and she can’t help by smile in response, before he pulled back, and looked at his wife searchingly.
“You’re worried about twins?” he asks softly. She nods. “Because of your mother?” Another nod.
George wraps his arms around her, “Alanna, you’ll have Maude, Ma, anyone you want there. You did spectacularly when Thommy was born. I have no doubt you’ll be splendid.”
Alanna took the reassurance, letting George smooth the cracks and fears once again.
They both knew the topic was far from exhausted, but further discussion was for a later time.
“Let’s hope they don’t attract half the trouble of the last set of twins in this family,” George mused aloud, a smile in his voice, which graduated to chuckles when Alanna half-heartedly whacked his shoulder.
~*~
Title: Surface Value
Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Characters: Silena Beauregard, Aphrodite cabin
Timeframe: End of “The Last Olympian”
Theme: Enigma of River Song, Doctor Who season 6 soundtrack
~*~
There are no words of recrimination voiced in the aftermath.
All the Aphrodite campers had braced for it. Silena had spied within the camp itself, feeding information directly to Kronos towards their destruction, justifying herself with the promise (lie) that Beckendorf would make it through if she kept the information coming.
All the campers had seen Silena’s breakdown, but none knew the level of blame she had heaped on herself.
When it came time for Silena’s memorial, her siblings had gathered, grim faced, saying farewell to a sister who they loved, not really expecting the number of others who joined to pay their respects for someone they described as a true hero.
Aphrodite campers are used to being looked down on. Only good for looking pretty and charming their way around people. Both in and out of the world of Olympus and Camp Half-Blood.
Honestly, they’ve seen themselves as useless, too.
It;s not hard to see what drove Silena to her course of action.
She thought there was little she could do to protect those she loved, so she tried to offer what was at hand to guarantee the safety of those she held dearest. Failing that, she tried to make up for past mistakes in a way that no one had seen coming.
Clarisse had been the one to bear Silena’s body back to camp. No one even thought about commenting on the tears on her cheeks. The fiery daughter of Ares was the one who declared Silena a hero to the surviving demi-gods, backed up by Percy, Annabeth, and a number of others who had been present.
Silena was gone, but she would always hold a special place in the heart of the children of Aphrodite. One of their best of examples that the surface value of a Child of Aphrodite is not their whole value.
~*~
Title: Worry
Fandom: Tamora Pierce’s Tortall (Protector of the Small)
Characters: Duke Baird of Queenscove, Alanna of Pirate’s Swoop and Olau
Timeframe: Lady Knight
Theme: Orphan - Dark Knight Rises Soundtrack
~*~
Baird has only just arrived at Frasrland when the news comes through.
In the months since he’d left Haven, he’d seen enough bad reports come in to know that there was no good news when he saw the General’s face.
“What’s happened?” Alanna, blunt as usual, has also watched the man’s face pale with unease.
The General’s face is grim as he responds. “The refugee camp, it’s been taken. And Eighth Company was chewed up by four killing devices attempting to follow the Scanrans.”
Baird hears a dull roaring in his ears, suddenly glad he is already sitting. He didn’t hear anything past Haven had fallen.
Mithros, no. Not again. Great Merciful Mother, he could not lose another child!
The mere thought is a punch in the gut, and he feels the blood draining from his face. He is jolted back to reality by the awful scent of wakeflower coming from the small vial Alanna held.
“The report also said that all three of Haven’s knights are alive,” she told him quickly. “Apparently the Scanrans waited until Kel and Neal went to Mastiff for their regular reports.”
Thank Mithros, Goddess, and the Black God for sparing his son.
A weight lifted off his chest, and he was able to breathe.
“Sorry, I...” he began to apologise, only to Alanna brushed it off as unnecessary. “Do we know anything more?” he queried.
Alanna reluctantly handed over the missive, aware that the content would do nothing to soothe Baird’s worries for his son.
“What are they thinking?” Baird asked, almost to himself, as he finished.
“Are you really surprised that Kel went after them, or that the others followed?” Alanna asked softly from the other side of the room. “Not to mention the fact that even from a purely strategic stand point, two hundred children would fuel an awful number of Killing Devices in the hands of Blayce.”
The older healer sighed, rubbing his forehead in defeat, . “I know,” he replied. “That won’t stop me from worrying, though.”
“I know.”
Baird suddenly moves towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Alanna asks, slightly confused.
“Sounds like they need an experienced healer back there. And I intend to be there when that group comes back.”
It was a good thing Baird hadn’t unpacked his gear yet.
~*~
Title: Melting into Shadows
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Peter Pettigrew
Timeframe: First Wizarding War
Theme: Oblivion - 30 seconds to Mars
~*~
Under the burning sun I take a look around
Imagine if this all came down
~*~
Peter has never been ‘the bright one’. James and Sirius always took that limelight. Remus was the good, studious one. He was the one everyone overlooked.
And he’d been sort of okay with that. As the Marauders, the four of them had exploited it even. Few people imagined how cunning those years with the Marauders made young Peter Pettigrew.
But one thing Peter had always been able to do, was see where the safest paths lay.
And that no longer coincided with the Marauders. Indeed, the other three were throwing themselves into the path of least certainty.
He couldn’t do it anymore.
He looks at the deserted cemetery around him and shivers. On the other hand, this hardly seems safe either. They may well kill him where he stands when they arrive.
The air is full of rustling cloaks in the darkness, and Peter is frozen in place.
“So, this is the cowardly lion who wants to join?” A mocking voice says behind him. “Why should we believe you, scum?” the voice drips venom.
Somehow, Peter finds his voice. “I part of Dumbledore’s secret group. I can pass information directly to you-“ There is a sudden pressure on his throat, and his hands scrabble at his neck trying to free the invisible bonds.
“I said, why should we believe you?” the same voice hissed again.
The pressure was released, and as he gasped, Peter knew this was his last chance.
“Because I’ve been passed over and overlooked for years. I want to see all their petty plans thrown asunder,” he growled, surprised at just how much he meant it.
Rabastan Lestrange removed his mask, grinning ghoulishly.
“Maybe you can be of use then,” Lestrange’s eyes danced dangerously.
~*~