Snippet
I finished my story for SSBB! Yay! And today I went over it and noticed all the mistakes I had left behind, less yay. Also, someone left a very nice comment on the story that prompted useless Xander/Tarim fluff. Which can be found under the cut.
Une chanson douce
There was music playing. Nothing he would have pegged Tarim as liking. It was slow and gentle. In a language Xander hadn't heard before. If the curtains hadn't been right in front of his nose Xander might have thought he had the wrong room. But the curtains were there and he wouldn't confuse the door to their room even if he had had to make his way in complete darkness.
Curious, he closed the door behind him and went in the room. Tarim was there, holding a box. On further examination it wasn't just a box, it was one of those old music player. Xander had found out that the ship contained a strangely high number of old tech. Even the music sounded like old tech. The voice wasn't enhanced or distorted in any way, the accompaniment was simple, just one guitar and something that went scri-scri-scritch. Tarim was holding the thing close to his chest and hunched over it as if to better protect it, rocking slightly in time with the music. His face was set into a frown.
Xander made some noise to announce his arrival and crossed the room to go stand at the foot of Tarim's bed. "Hello." He greeted with a smile.
Tarim smiled back. "Hi." He said in a small voice.
"Is something wrong? Bad day, asshole opening his mouth and all that?"
That got another, more genuine smile. "Something like that."
"Captain's got anything to say on the matter?" Xander teased.
Tarim snorted and the lines disappeared from his forehead for good. "Captain's always got something to say. Which bit are you interested in?"
Xander made his best attempt at a sultry smile and lowered his voice "Any advice that includes a bed?"
That got a laugh out of Tarim. "No, nothing of the like." He showed the box "Captain's advice was calming music and hopefully some rest."
Xander pouted "Not even something about tiring you out? Oh well, guess I'll have to make do with cuddling then." He sat on the bed where Tarim was scooting away to give him space. "What are you listening to?"
Tarim hesitated, looked down, "Just a lullaby" he said shyly.
So cute. Xander laid down on the bed and took Tarim in his arms. "Does it have a name?" The Special Unit mumbled something Xander didn't catch. "Sorry?"
"I said 'une chanson douce'. It means 'a soft song'."
The title stirred something in Xander's memory. "Do you understand what it says?" he sked, while trying to recall where he might have heard this already.
"A bit." Tarim rested the boy on Xander's chest, next to his head "mainly I like the melody. It's soothing." The song ended and started again.
When the song played again for the third time Xander remembered where he had learned of the song before. He didn't have to listen to it for a whole day, when Tarim fell asleep, he was able to shut the box off.
Une chanson douce
There was music playing. Nothing he would have pegged Tarim as liking. It was slow and gentle. In a language Xander hadn't heard before. If the curtains hadn't been right in front of his nose Xander might have thought he had the wrong room. But the curtains were there and he wouldn't confuse the door to their room even if he had had to make his way in complete darkness.
Curious, he closed the door behind him and went in the room. Tarim was there, holding a box. On further examination it wasn't just a box, it was one of those old music player. Xander had found out that the ship contained a strangely high number of old tech. Even the music sounded like old tech. The voice wasn't enhanced or distorted in any way, the accompaniment was simple, just one guitar and something that went scri-scri-scritch. Tarim was holding the thing close to his chest and hunched over it as if to better protect it, rocking slightly in time with the music. His face was set into a frown.
Xander made some noise to announce his arrival and crossed the room to go stand at the foot of Tarim's bed. "Hello." He greeted with a smile.
Tarim smiled back. "Hi." He said in a small voice.
"Is something wrong? Bad day, asshole opening his mouth and all that?"
That got another, more genuine smile. "Something like that."
"Captain's got anything to say on the matter?" Xander teased.
Tarim snorted and the lines disappeared from his forehead for good. "Captain's always got something to say. Which bit are you interested in?"
Xander made his best attempt at a sultry smile and lowered his voice "Any advice that includes a bed?"
That got a laugh out of Tarim. "No, nothing of the like." He showed the box "Captain's advice was calming music and hopefully some rest."
Xander pouted "Not even something about tiring you out? Oh well, guess I'll have to make do with cuddling then." He sat on the bed where Tarim was scooting away to give him space. "What are you listening to?"
Tarim hesitated, looked down, "Just a lullaby" he said shyly.
So cute. Xander laid down on the bed and took Tarim in his arms. "Does it have a name?" The Special Unit mumbled something Xander didn't catch. "Sorry?"
"I said 'une chanson douce'. It means 'a soft song'."
The title stirred something in Xander's memory. "Do you understand what it says?" he sked, while trying to recall where he might have heard this already.
"A bit." Tarim rested the boy on Xander's chest, next to his head "mainly I like the melody. It's soothing." The song ended and started again.
When the song played again for the third time Xander remembered where he had learned of the song before. He didn't have to listen to it for a whole day, when Tarim fell asleep, he was able to shut the box off.