Two ficlets (Discworld, and Doctor Who)

[thisbluespirit]

For pitry who gave me the prompt: DEATH. "Out, damned giraffe! Out, I say!"

Title: Damned Giraffe
Author: lost_spook
Rating: All ages
Word Count: 100
Characters/Pairings:
Notes/Warnings: Contains an undead giraffe.
Summary: See the warning.

***

Death paused. The giraffe was still stubbornly there. He’d tried explaining the situation, but it wasn’t shifting from standing beside the fallen shape of its once-live self and doggedly trying to eat leaves. He circled it again, but it did not appear to be anything other than giraffe. It would catch up with its fate eventually, and in the meantime, Death had other appointments.

It was then that he caught the rustling of something small moving about at ground level and possibly a snigger.

AH, said Death, to the Death of Rats, YOU. I THINK THIS ONE IS ALL YOURS.

***


For john_elliott who gave me the prompt: Doctor Who: Ace and one of her friends-of-the-week - eavesdropping..

Title: Eavesdropping
Author: lost_spook
Rating: All ages/PG
Word Count: 326
Characters/Pairings: Ace/Gwendoline
Notes/Warnings: Refs to Ghostlight.
Summary: Gwendoline was always taught not to eavesdrop, but then she does many things now that she never used to.

***

“Listen,” said Gwendoline, putting out a hand to Ace. They were behind the screen now, midway through changing.

Ace stopped. “What?”

“I heard something.” Gwendoline had been taught not to eavesdrop, but it had become almost normal now for her to do many things she had never expected. In any case, even as a little girl she had never quite managed to resist that particular temptation – hiding in window seats and behind corners, hearing things she shouldn’t. And now she listened to conversations whenever she could without a thought. They never made any sense, not any more. Nothing made sense any more, but she wasn’t sure it ever had.

“It’s that weird bloke again. Isn’t it?” Ace gave her a worried look, obviously not sure what the matter was. “Redvers or something. Are you scared of him? Scared of somebody, is that it? Josiah?”

Gwendoline wasn’t scared. She was sure she should be, but then she should be finding Ace respectable clothes, not changing alongside her into these scandalous garments. She shouldn’t help Josiah, either, or arrange trips to Java. It was unaccustomed freedom, though as well as a cage, so if there was fear somewhere she refused to listen to its whispers. She did so again now, and kissed Ace, suddenly, on the mouth, and then fell back with a nervous laugh at her own daring.

It didn’t shock Ace. She only grinned back, and said, “Here, how’d you fix these ties? And why don’t the sleeves do up at the ends?”

“Allow me, Alice.”

“It’s Ace. I said. About six times.” Suddenly Ace drew back, and looked at her, really hard. Gwendoline suddenly had to turn away, pick up her dress and hang it up correctly. “It’s like… it’s like you’re not even listening to me.”

Gwendoline turned her head. “But of course I am, Alice.”

“Yeah,” said Ace under her breath, before they heard more noise from outside the room. “Yeah. ‘Course you are.”

***

Comments

[seriesfive]

The Discworld Drabble is brilliant! The image of Death standing in front of the giraffe, peering up at it in silent frustration was such a powerful image immediately popping into my mind.

[thisbluespirit]

Aw, thanks. I think pitry should get the credit - it was pretty much the prompt. (She has giraffe conspiracy theories, it's complicated. :lol:)

[cosmic_llin]

These are both adorable!

[thisbluespirit]

Thank you! :-)

[st_aurafina]

Oh, Ace! Gwendoline is so not okay right now.

[thisbluespirit]

No, she really isn't, is she? :-)

[pitry.livejournal.com]

Yes. Just so you know, I do believe I will love you forever.

Or, in other words: SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

[thisbluespirit]

Aw. I accept your undying love. ♥

:-)

[livii.livejournal.com]

Love the Ace and Gwendoline! I always refer to Ace's girlfriends of the week myself and was excited to see you use that interpretation too, hee. Anyway, nice mix of hard and soft and confusion, just like Ghost Light.

[thisbluespirit]

Thank you! :-)

I'm pretty sure it was someone of my flist who started referring to Ace/Girl of the week, and once you see it, it's hard to stop.

[ladymercury-10.livejournal.com]

These are neat stories. :)

[thisbluespirit]

Thank you! :-)

[john_amend_all]

I like the way you portray Gwendoline's not-all-thereness. Of course, when she does get Ace's name right, that's the time to start running...

[jjpor.livejournal.com]

Very nice. I like your portrayal of Gwendoline's, er...condition very much. Freedom as well as a cage. Also liked Ace's realisation that there is something not quite right about her.

And heheh, the Death of Rats has his/its work cut out...

[thisbluespirit]

Aw, thank you. Yes, Gwendoline was an odd one for me to choose, really. It just... went there.

:-D

[jjpor.livejournal.com]

She's an interesting character in a very good story, imho, so warrants some consideration, I think. And you portray her relationship with Ace very interestingly too. :)

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Good work...


Small beta-ish comment: Gwendoline suddenly had to turn away, pick up dress and hang it up correctly.

You need either a or the in front of dress.

[thisbluespirit]

Thank you! :-)

And I've fixed it, thanks. ♥

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

No worries.

[paranoidangel]

Death trying to deal with that giraffe is hilarious.

[thisbluespirit]

Thanks! You can blame pitry for that one. :-)