Fic: Connections (S&S Prompt fic)
16 Oct 2012 08:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thisbluespiritWait, I said I was going to post fic, didn't I? Here's one I made earlier... (Um, two weeks ago, I don't know. I hoard fic on Word or something.)
Title: Connections
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lost_spook
Rating: All ages
Word Count: 1045
Characters/Pairings: Silver, Copper
Warnings Pre-canon, 1600s (but it doesn’t make much difference down a mine shaft)
Summary: An assignment’s gone badly wrong and now Silver is missing.
(Prompt 5: copper & silver - Confession in desperate situation & Timeloops)
***
Copper can see very little around him in this darkness; he has only a candle and sometimes it seems to throw more shadow than it does light. He is in a mine that was abandoned by the humans centuries ago. The tunnel he’s in is uneven and there are unexpected pools of water to watch out for, not to mention the rockfalls that have blocked other passages in years gone by. Nevertheless he walks a sure line, barely having to glance at his path. It is, after all, a place that feels more natural than most to him.
What he isn’t sure of, what he fears he might miss, and why he raises the candle about him is something else again. Copper searches on, though he tells himself he cannot even be certain that Silver is here.
… And that’s a lie, part of the game they play. He knows Silver is here, and now is not the time for that pretence.
Copper walks on and then, just before another dead end, he sees what he’s looking for. Silver is leaning back against the rock wall with his eyes closed, but he doesn’t move as Copper reaches him, doesn’t acknowledge his presence in any way.
“Silver,” says Copper, standing beside him. Silver still fails to react, so Copper gives a brief grimace, realising that he needs to try harder – and Copper usually aims to avoid contact with Silver. Silver never needs much encouragement, that’s what Copper thinks. Silver, it’s Copper.
The silence is unnerving, so he continues aloud: “Quartz returned without you. Without Bronze.”
Copper sighs; he’ll have to do more. He puts a hand to Silver’s shoulder and shakes him and when that’s no use, he moves the hand to Silver’s head and hopes he hasn’t arrived too late.
Silver is barely here at all, overwhelmed by something… Copper frowns and concentrates. This isn’t his area of expertise. It’s a sensation of terror, a voice repeating itself in his mind, the words going round and round. Bronze’s voice, reporting her findings but then disintegrating into pain and fear and finally silence before the cycle starts again.
Copper draws back and considers his next move. It’s a time loop, but not one that is present here. The echo of it is in Silver’s head in an ever-tightening circle that will shortly close in on his mind with a snap of finality, if Copper doesn’t break it.
I’m not surprised. He shakes Silver again. I’ve told you before. Be more objective, more careful. Be precise about your findings. You didn’t stop to examine the situation more fully before you walked into it, did you?
Silver twitches.
If you won’t listen to me, what else do you expect? Next time –
“Look before you leap,” says Silver and opens his eyes. “Only you, Copper, would try to lecture someone out of – out of –” He pauses and looks away to the side.
Copper faces him. “But Bronze? That was not a trick?”
“No,” Silver says and sags back against the rock. “Not a trick. She had found a book, an old illuminated volume – she thought something was hiding in the lettering, or even the dyes. She was right – it stole out and took her. I couldn’t reach her. There was a time loop –”
Copper knows where this is heading; he’s known all along or he would not have come. He looks at Silver; he doesn’t have to say it. He doesn’t have to voice the painful accusation.
“Yes,” says Silver and then shrugs. “Well, unless you believe there’s an…” He pauses and glances at the other and pulls a brief, wry face. “… An alternative explanation.”
Slowly, Copper smiles and Silver gives a short laugh in return. The fact that they are both here is an unspoken if unwilling confession of trust between them: Silver hiding where only Copper would know to look, and Copper coming in search of him. He never had any doubt in his mind about Silver, not in that respect.
“Quartz,” Silver says, and there’s a bitter twist to his mouth. Copper’s close enough to share the sudden wave of sadness that follows that admission.
Copper nods. She implied that you…
I suppose she would.
“Could you be mistaken?”
“No,” says Silver, aloud this time and on seeing Copper raise his eyebrow, he grimaces at him. “No. In theory, it could have been the entity – but, no. It was a trap. Quartz led us there and that time loop was her work. I couldn’t mistake that.”
“You should have…” Copper pauses, not entirely sure what would have been better, but not this running away, he thinks.
“I don’t know why yet. And I could hardly ask her, not then, not alone.”
Copper nods again. He considers that aspect of it: they don’t know why Quartz betrayed them. It’s possible she’s been tricked herself, or coerced, or possessed.
“Yes,” murmurs Silver, who had liked them both, Quartz and Bronze. Well, Copper’s always told Silver that sentiment isn’t useful, so he ignores Silver’s passing emotion; he dismisses the idea that he might share it.
Copper straightens himself. “In that case, I can see only one course of action. You can’t be trusted on your own, Silver. They said you destroyed that book without instructions – you’re a specialist, not an operator. I’ve told you before about your carelessness in that respect. You’ll be under my supervision from now on. Again.”
“Now, wait, Copper –” Silver raises his head in sudden indignation and the sense of sadness has fallen away into the shadows behind him.
“Until I decide you’ve learned your lesson,” Copper finishes. “Now, let’s leave and find Quartz.”
“A little sympathy wouldn’t go amiss,” says Silver. “Sometimes I don’t know why I like you at all.”
Copper looks over at him. He is amused, as Silver probably suspects, but he hopes it’s hidden deep enough for the other not to be sure. “There you are again. Liking is irrelevant.”
“And I don’t know how you exist with that attitude. But –”
Copper pauses, on the point of walking away.
Silver straightens himself, moves from the rock wall at last and gives Copper a brief smile. “Well. Perhaps some things are more important.”
***
Title: Connections
Author:
lost_spookRating: All ages
Word Count: 1045
Characters/Pairings: Silver, Copper
Warnings Pre-canon, 1600s (but it doesn’t make much difference down a mine shaft)
Summary: An assignment’s gone badly wrong and now Silver is missing.
(Prompt 5: copper & silver - Confession in desperate situation & Timeloops)
***
Copper can see very little around him in this darkness; he has only a candle and sometimes it seems to throw more shadow than it does light. He is in a mine that was abandoned by the humans centuries ago. The tunnel he’s in is uneven and there are unexpected pools of water to watch out for, not to mention the rockfalls that have blocked other passages in years gone by. Nevertheless he walks a sure line, barely having to glance at his path. It is, after all, a place that feels more natural than most to him.
What he isn’t sure of, what he fears he might miss, and why he raises the candle about him is something else again. Copper searches on, though he tells himself he cannot even be certain that Silver is here.
… And that’s a lie, part of the game they play. He knows Silver is here, and now is not the time for that pretence.
Copper walks on and then, just before another dead end, he sees what he’s looking for. Silver is leaning back against the rock wall with his eyes closed, but he doesn’t move as Copper reaches him, doesn’t acknowledge his presence in any way.
“Silver,” says Copper, standing beside him. Silver still fails to react, so Copper gives a brief grimace, realising that he needs to try harder – and Copper usually aims to avoid contact with Silver. Silver never needs much encouragement, that’s what Copper thinks. Silver, it’s Copper.
The silence is unnerving, so he continues aloud: “Quartz returned without you. Without Bronze.”
Copper sighs; he’ll have to do more. He puts a hand to Silver’s shoulder and shakes him and when that’s no use, he moves the hand to Silver’s head and hopes he hasn’t arrived too late.
Silver is barely here at all, overwhelmed by something… Copper frowns and concentrates. This isn’t his area of expertise. It’s a sensation of terror, a voice repeating itself in his mind, the words going round and round. Bronze’s voice, reporting her findings but then disintegrating into pain and fear and finally silence before the cycle starts again.
Copper draws back and considers his next move. It’s a time loop, but not one that is present here. The echo of it is in Silver’s head in an ever-tightening circle that will shortly close in on his mind with a snap of finality, if Copper doesn’t break it.
I’m not surprised. He shakes Silver again. I’ve told you before. Be more objective, more careful. Be precise about your findings. You didn’t stop to examine the situation more fully before you walked into it, did you?
Silver twitches.
If you won’t listen to me, what else do you expect? Next time –
“Look before you leap,” says Silver and opens his eyes. “Only you, Copper, would try to lecture someone out of – out of –” He pauses and looks away to the side.
Copper faces him. “But Bronze? That was not a trick?”
“No,” Silver says and sags back against the rock. “Not a trick. She had found a book, an old illuminated volume – she thought something was hiding in the lettering, or even the dyes. She was right – it stole out and took her. I couldn’t reach her. There was a time loop –”
Copper knows where this is heading; he’s known all along or he would not have come. He looks at Silver; he doesn’t have to say it. He doesn’t have to voice the painful accusation.
“Yes,” says Silver and then shrugs. “Well, unless you believe there’s an…” He pauses and glances at the other and pulls a brief, wry face. “… An alternative explanation.”
Slowly, Copper smiles and Silver gives a short laugh in return. The fact that they are both here is an unspoken if unwilling confession of trust between them: Silver hiding where only Copper would know to look, and Copper coming in search of him. He never had any doubt in his mind about Silver, not in that respect.
“Quartz,” Silver says, and there’s a bitter twist to his mouth. Copper’s close enough to share the sudden wave of sadness that follows that admission.
Copper nods. She implied that you…
I suppose she would.
“Could you be mistaken?”
“No,” says Silver, aloud this time and on seeing Copper raise his eyebrow, he grimaces at him. “No. In theory, it could have been the entity – but, no. It was a trap. Quartz led us there and that time loop was her work. I couldn’t mistake that.”
“You should have…” Copper pauses, not entirely sure what would have been better, but not this running away, he thinks.
“I don’t know why yet. And I could hardly ask her, not then, not alone.”
Copper nods again. He considers that aspect of it: they don’t know why Quartz betrayed them. It’s possible she’s been tricked herself, or coerced, or possessed.
“Yes,” murmurs Silver, who had liked them both, Quartz and Bronze. Well, Copper’s always told Silver that sentiment isn’t useful, so he ignores Silver’s passing emotion; he dismisses the idea that he might share it.
Copper straightens himself. “In that case, I can see only one course of action. You can’t be trusted on your own, Silver. They said you destroyed that book without instructions – you’re a specialist, not an operator. I’ve told you before about your carelessness in that respect. You’ll be under my supervision from now on. Again.”
“Now, wait, Copper –” Silver raises his head in sudden indignation and the sense of sadness has fallen away into the shadows behind him.
“Until I decide you’ve learned your lesson,” Copper finishes. “Now, let’s leave and find Quartz.”
“A little sympathy wouldn’t go amiss,” says Silver. “Sometimes I don’t know why I like you at all.”
Copper looks over at him. He is amused, as Silver probably suspects, but he hopes it’s hidden deep enough for the other not to be sure. “There you are again. Liking is irrelevant.”
“And I don’t know how you exist with that attitude. But –”
Copper pauses, on the point of walking away.
Silver straightens himself, moves from the rock wall at last and gives Copper a brief smile. “Well. Perhaps some things are more important.”
***
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 16 Oct 2012 07:26 pm (UTC)sometimes it seems it seems to throw more shadow than it does light.
You've got "it seems" twice.
no subject
Date: 16 Oct 2012 08:16 pm (UTC)Also thanks for the post-beta (I've been quite good lately, really, haven't I? :-D) AND I see you caught a post to
no subject
Date: 17 Oct 2012 05:52 am (UTC)And yes, I dealt with the post to the comm. I had to reject the first post though, and ask the author to re-submit in the comm's standard format.
no subject
Date: 16 Oct 2012 08:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Oct 2012 08:01 am (UTC)And also :lol: (because *sob*
Sorry, to explain, Copper is me making up OCs again, off the throwaway line in Assignment 1 and more detail in the audio Zero (which needed fixing, why, yes, I am hypocritical, but you knew that). And to confuse you: he is in fact Henry VII, a ghost and apparently an evil Amazon conspiracy against me.
It's been quite a saga even aside from all the fanfic. This is what I do when you're not looking. ;-p
no subject
Date: 17 Oct 2012 07:19 pm (UTC)Copper and his relationship with Silver are mentioned by Lead, aren't they? I remember now. But yes, whoever heard of creating OCs with long and involved backstories from throwaway onscreen refereces?? The very idea! (Why yes, I am hypocritical too).
Henry VII a ghost, and... I need to know more!
no subject
Date: 17 Oct 2012 08:07 pm (UTC)Yes. I think the collective canon and spin-off canon info about Copper that I started from is here, before the fic.
The funny thing with this one is that I came up with Copper, after listening to Zero - and had a clear idea of what I wanted and that I'd seen someone (an actor) who was exactly right, but had no idea who. In the meantime, after writing the Copper fic, I watched Shadow of the Tower with James Maxwell in - and then went and looked him up and the pic of Jackson came up and that was who I was thinking of. I just find this weird, because usually either people are out of my head, or I know who it is I'm using as a starting point. Doing it this way round is odd, like suddenly finding Nat or Tilly is actually real. (But I mean, literally true - I didn't have to alter a word of that fic or how I saw Copper to match James Maxwell once I tracked him down. This is a tale of freaky coincidence, my odd brain and hauntings, as you now know. :-D)
Well, not real. A ghost... :lol:
no subject
Date: 18 Oct 2012 09:27 pm (UTC)And that sort of weird synchronicity...again, very S&S, I would say. ;)
no subject
Date: 17 Oct 2012 08:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Oct 2012 07:31 pm (UTC)I know Mr Maxwell from Underworld, and I've probably seen in numerous other things, as is the way with 60s-70s telly actors, but the first thing that struck me is that in those pictures where he's playing Henry VII, he actually looks a little teeny tiny bit like David Collings, doesn't he? Well, maybe not, but he's got a similar shaped face and a Silver-like hairdo (even if its blond not red), so...they've even got that Sapphire-and-Steel-kind-of-looking-like-each-other-a-bit thing going on as well.
Silver and Copper...without looking anything up, but merely trying to recall very long ago school science lessons, isn't there some sort of chemical relationship between silver and copper, in that they're often found in the same mines? Or is that silver and arsenic? Hmm, Arsenic sounds like a fun guy or gal to go on an Assignment with...
And in your other post regarding Mr Maxwell (probably not) haunting the Royal Exchange in Manchester, this struck me:
Basically, there was supposed to have been a death there in Victorian times, and later (when it was still a trading exchange); it was also hit by a WWII bomb and later damaged by an IRA bomb in 1996. Therefore the energy from all these deaths cause Weird Stuff
Sounds like a case for Sapphire and Steel (or Silver and Copper)!
no subject
Date: 17 Oct 2012 08:15 pm (UTC)Aw. And I was going to bore you silly with the ghost story! ;-)
Hmm, well, they both have quite narrow faces, prominent noses and a seeming ability to grow their hair really fast for things? And I'm not sure about Silver and Copper being found together - I think not?? - but Silver, Copper and Gold are part of their own little group in the periodic table. Since, unlike me, you probably did more than 1 term of Chemistry at school, that may be what you are thinking of?
Heh, yes! Exactly what I thought! It's a note-perfect S&S plot, isn't it?
And actually, on reflection the ghost story is quite nice. Since he didn't die there as far as I can see, or end tragically (tho' a little young to go back in 1995) the only reason for making the story up is a) that's how much he cared about the theatre he helped set up and/or b) people like at the theatre like to think of him still being around.
no subject
Date: 18 Oct 2012 09:32 pm (UTC)I agree - if that's why the story grew up it speaks very well of Mr Maxwell. And while I don't for a second think ghosts are real, if somebody was going to haunt somewhere, that would be a far more positive reason than you usually get in such stories. However Sapphire and Steel wouldn't be so compassionate, I fear.
no subject
Date: 19 Oct 2012 08:42 pm (UTC)Well, there are lots of other ghosts in that theatre for them to deal with. (I can't remember which of my posts now, but one has a link with the hauntings in - you'd probably like that, short as it was - Victorian suicidal ladies throwing themselves off the balcony, WWII bombing victims and loads of other spectres. :-D) Which is kind of why on reflection, I think it does wind up as a funny sort of compliment. :-)
no subject
Date: 22 Oct 2012 08:43 pm (UTC)A bit like the railway station, really. And yes, I think you're probably right there.
no subject
Date: 23 Oct 2012 12:17 pm (UTC)I wonder about them being Elements, too - some Elements on the periodic table are listed as being transient. And since our Elements seem to be a fair mix of minerals, alloys and elements, that does leave a few going spare to be evil or something. But, yeah, I like the mystery. It's hard not to wonder, but then you don't know if you want actual answers... :-)
no subject
Date: 17 Oct 2012 03:38 pm (UTC)At least that's my take of what happened, or did I misunderstand? But of course, the interaction between Silver and Copper is great, although I wonder - hadn't you established somewhere else that Copper is an Operator, too?
Or maybe I hallucinated that? ;)
no subject
Date: 17 Oct 2012 04:42 pm (UTC)I have a female technician so far in Antimony. I'm not sure what Cerium actually is without checking. (My scientific ignorance...!)
And you know S&S, they always act as if the world has ended and then just reverse what happened two minutes later. So maybe Bronze will turn out to have escaped, I don't know. :-)
no subject
Date: 17 Oct 2012 06:13 pm (UTC)How remiss of me not to have thought of that. ;) So I can leisurely lean back and just wait for her resurrection. :D
Btw. I signed up for Yuletide today! I'm all excited about it. I can't wait to find out, whose request I get and which fandom. I offered six and I'd love to write for all of them!
no subject
Date: 17 Oct 2012 08:28 pm (UTC)\o/
Good luck! I'm still tweaking at my letter (it tends to get epic if I'm not careful) but I should hopefully sign up tomorrow or Friday.