an_alien_sky (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} an_alien_sky) wrote,@ 2005-11-13 00:35:00 |
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batteries not included
a drabble taken from an exchange between me and Barb Stearns of the Journey Library...
-----------------
There was a primal howl, followed by a running Steve, disheveled and shirt ripped open to the waist, his eyes wide. He staggered, tripped and fell against Neal. "Good freakin' GOD -- that chick wanted me to--to--"
Neal hauled him upright, shoved him towards the door. "Can it. Get your ass in gear--"
"--she was gonna freakin' put that pommel up--"
"Look out!" Smitty shouted, and shoved both Steve and Neal to one side.
Something whizzed by to thunk into the wall. A dagger impaled itself there, quivering slightly...and it was followed into the room by the barbarian Khrys. She was naked from the waist up. Her chest heaved, her eyes glowered, her lips snarled. She didn't look happy.
As one, the band cringed back -- only to find that the Wizard of Evil Design blocked the doorway again, and they were trapped in the middle.
"Sorry," the Wizard said. "But if I let you go, that gives her a clear shot at ME."
"I say we just give the chick in chainmail what she wants," Ross said. "Can't be that bad."
"Says YOU," Steve snapped.
"And you're the one who's the big Xena fan --" Ross started, but the Wizard of Evil Design cleared her throat.
"We seem to be at an impasse, barbarian. I can't compete with you physically, and you're no match for my magic."
The barbarian Khrys halted. She still glowered at Steve. She was fingering the pommel of the broadsword.
"I've got some Ayo-cane," Smitty said, but shut up real quick with the glower turned on him.
"Silence, bald one," Khrys said. "Or you're next."
"He can be FIRST," Steve muttered.
But Khrys's gaze had moved back to the Wizard. "You have placed the Curse of Many Words on me. For that --"
"For that," the Wizard said smoothly, "you need the tongue of a singer, the hands of a harper, and the soul of a healer --"
"Boiled in the blood of an Englishman?" Ross said.
"Ross," Smitty's voice shook, "shut UP."
"Bugger that." Khrys advanced a single step. The floor shook. "Give me the rest of the story!"
"These..." The Wizard gestured at the band, "...are the key to breaking the Curse. Not I, bold one."
Khrys's gaze returned to Steve.
"You already had my tongue...?" Steve said hopefully.
Khrys took another step. She didn't look convinced. She was back to fingering the sword pommel again.
As one, the band looked at each other.
"Run like hell," Neal said.
a drabble taken from an exchange between me and Barb Stearns of the Journey Library...
-----------------
There was a primal howl, followed by a running Steve, disheveled and shirt ripped open to the waist, his eyes wide. He staggered, tripped and fell against Neal. "Good freakin' GOD -- that chick wanted me to--to--"
Neal hauled him upright, shoved him towards the door. "Can it. Get your ass in gear--"
"--she was gonna freakin' put that pommel up--"
"Look out!" Smitty shouted, and shoved both Steve and Neal to one side.
Something whizzed by to thunk into the wall. A dagger impaled itself there, quivering slightly...and it was followed into the room by the barbarian Khrys. She was naked from the waist up. Her chest heaved, her eyes glowered, her lips snarled. She didn't look happy.
As one, the band cringed back -- only to find that the Wizard of Evil Design blocked the doorway again, and they were trapped in the middle.
"Sorry," the Wizard said. "But if I let you go, that gives her a clear shot at ME."
"I say we just give the chick in chainmail what she wants," Ross said. "Can't be that bad."
"Says YOU," Steve snapped.
"And you're the one who's the big Xena fan --" Ross started, but the Wizard of Evil Design cleared her throat.
"We seem to be at an impasse, barbarian. I can't compete with you physically, and you're no match for my magic."
The barbarian Khrys halted. She still glowered at Steve. She was fingering the pommel of the broadsword.
"I've got some Ayo-cane," Smitty said, but shut up real quick with the glower turned on him.
"Silence, bald one," Khrys said. "Or you're next."
"He can be FIRST," Steve muttered.
But Khrys's gaze had moved back to the Wizard. "You have placed the Curse of Many Words on me. For that --"
"For that," the Wizard said smoothly, "you need the tongue of a singer, the hands of a harper, and the soul of a healer --"
"Boiled in the blood of an Englishman?" Ross said.
"Ross," Smitty's voice shook, "shut UP."
"Bugger that." Khrys advanced a single step. The floor shook. "Give me the rest of the story!"
"These..." The Wizard gestured at the band, "...are the key to breaking the Curse. Not I, bold one."
Khrys's gaze returned to Steve.
"You already had my tongue...?" Steve said hopefully.
Khrys took another step. She didn't look convinced. She was back to fingering the sword pommel again.
As one, the band looked at each other.
"Run like hell," Neal said.
