browncoat2x2 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
browncoat2x2) wrote2006-04-03 01:20 pm
browncoat2x2) wrote2006-04-03 01:20 pm
Entry tags:
Three Letters - FF_Friday Challenge 114 - Letters
Three Letters
by 2x2
Written for the FF_Friday challenge 114 – letters
Word count: 490
Rating: G
It took everything he had to write the letter.
He’d spent the better part of the four days before they reached postal station working on it, getting it just right. So innocent on the surface, but every line suffused with the longing, regret and ache he carried with him in her absence - a silent plea for her to return, to make him whole again.
He’d written it out three times after finally wording it the way he wanted, feeling clumsy as his fingers gripped the pen awkwardly, flushing the other two in frustration; he’d wanted it to be as perfect as he could make it, knew she would see the effort he’d taken with it, know what it meant.
Kaylee’s eyes had gone wide with surprise and unfettered joy as he’d handed her the envelope, asked her to address it. He could have done it himself, but giving it to Kaylee meant he couldn’t back out of it. His hands itched for the letter even as he put it in her hand, palms sweating and heart racing in fear and hope as he committed himself to sending the damn thing. She’d hugged him and kissed his cheek when she’d come back from mailing it, her smile the only thing that let him keep his lunch down.
Five weeks they’d been in the black since then, taking jobs as they came. He kept them away from the postal station at first; ‘didn’t want to seem too anxious even though he could barely keep himself from waving her just to see if she’d got it. When he couldn’t stand it a day longer, he’d turned them back, finally.
Kaylee bounced beside him in anticipation, her arm linked with his happily. He was full of nervous excitement himself, though it manifested more as a twisting in his gut than in smiles and happiness.
“Only a couple things,” said the man behind the counter. “Oh, an’ this,” the man added, making Mal’s heart lurch with what just may have been joy as a small envelope was placed in his hands.
He blinked as he turned it over, the tiny expectant grin he’d been unable to suppress slipping from his lips. He stared at it, uncomprehending, chest heaving in unexpected pain.
“Cap’n?” said Kaylee tentatively, noticing the change with concern. He looked up and Kaylee’s heart jumped in her throat at the look of devastation she saw on his face. Then the look was gone, closed off and he turned away. “Cap’n?” she called after him again, and he paused, handed her the envelope without looking back, and walked on.
Kaylee stared after him in confusion before looking at the small square of paper in her hand, tears pooling in her eyes at the three, immaculately formed letters written in fine red ink above the address:
R. T. S.
Return to Sender.
The girl closed her eyes, pressing the unopened letter to her breast, and cried.
by 2x2
Written for the FF_Friday challenge 114 – letters
Word count: 490
Rating: G
It took everything he had to write the letter.
He’d spent the better part of the four days before they reached postal station working on it, getting it just right. So innocent on the surface, but every line suffused with the longing, regret and ache he carried with him in her absence - a silent plea for her to return, to make him whole again.
He’d written it out three times after finally wording it the way he wanted, feeling clumsy as his fingers gripped the pen awkwardly, flushing the other two in frustration; he’d wanted it to be as perfect as he could make it, knew she would see the effort he’d taken with it, know what it meant.
Kaylee’s eyes had gone wide with surprise and unfettered joy as he’d handed her the envelope, asked her to address it. He could have done it himself, but giving it to Kaylee meant he couldn’t back out of it. His hands itched for the letter even as he put it in her hand, palms sweating and heart racing in fear and hope as he committed himself to sending the damn thing. She’d hugged him and kissed his cheek when she’d come back from mailing it, her smile the only thing that let him keep his lunch down.
Five weeks they’d been in the black since then, taking jobs as they came. He kept them away from the postal station at first; ‘didn’t want to seem too anxious even though he could barely keep himself from waving her just to see if she’d got it. When he couldn’t stand it a day longer, he’d turned them back, finally.
Kaylee bounced beside him in anticipation, her arm linked with his happily. He was full of nervous excitement himself, though it manifested more as a twisting in his gut than in smiles and happiness.
“Only a couple things,” said the man behind the counter. “Oh, an’ this,” the man added, making Mal’s heart lurch with what just may have been joy as a small envelope was placed in his hands.
He blinked as he turned it over, the tiny expectant grin he’d been unable to suppress slipping from his lips. He stared at it, uncomprehending, chest heaving in unexpected pain.
“Cap’n?” said Kaylee tentatively, noticing the change with concern. He looked up and Kaylee’s heart jumped in her throat at the look of devastation she saw on his face. Then the look was gone, closed off and he turned away. “Cap’n?” she called after him again, and he paused, handed her the envelope without looking back, and walked on.
Kaylee stared after him in confusion before looking at the small square of paper in her hand, tears pooling in her eyes at the three, immaculately formed letters written in fine red ink above the address:
R. T. S.
Return to Sender.
The girl closed her eyes, pressing the unopened letter to her breast, and cried.
no subject
no subject
Of course, I could always try to convert you, too *grin*
Thanks for commenting!
Warning: comment of the pathetic
Umm.. *wibble*
BUT...
That is soooo sad. Beautifully, terribly, heartbreakingly sad.
He blinked as he turned it over, the tiny expectant grin he’d been unable to suppress slipping from his lips. He stared at it, uncomprehending, chest heaving in unexpected pain.
*crack* went my little shippy self. Also, *ouch*.
What is it with you and these tiny evil moments? I mean.. gah!
And have a mentioned beautiful? :D
(Oh, also, how can I bribe you into writing a happy sequel to this? It doesn't have to be a real sequel, just some fluff and you tell me to pretend it's the happy resolution? *wibble*)
Re: Warning: comment of the pathetic
Umm.. *wibble*
BUT...
bwahahahahaaa!*grin*
What is it with you and these tiny evil moments? I mean.. gah!
Hey! *I'm* not the one who let Saffron get the better of Inara and leave her and Kaylee to face death, missy!!! *grins*
I write 'em as they come... what can I say, I *am* evil *evil grin*
And have a mentioned beautiful? :D
You did, but thanks for mentioning it again...
(Oh, also, how can I bribe you into writing a happy sequel to this? It doesn't have to be a real sequel, just some fluff and you tell me to pretend it's the happy resolution? *wibble*)
ahhhh, but you see, there's a sequel at work in my head already!! the whole thing came to last night as I tried to fall asleep... so there will be more to come! Will it be happy? We shall have to see!!
Re: Warning: comment of the pathetic
And we love you that way. *G*
ahhhh, but you see, there's a sequel at work in my head already!! the whole thing came to last night as I tried to fall asleep... so there will be more to come! Will it be happy?
We shall have to see!![YES! - inserted by unnamed party]And the land was a-squee with glee and joy and happiness and yay!
Re: Warning: comment of the pathetic
And we love you that way. *G*
Ahhhh *basks in the loveage*
[YES! - inserted by unnamed party]
And the land was a-squee with glee and joy and happiness and yay!
Now, how am I supposed to live up to the EVIL if I make it happy?? Ahh, but I know the answer to that too... I'll be sure to write some happy stories too, so that you won't know when the evil will strike! It will make the evil all the more evil!!
Re: Warning: comment of the pathetic
*mega nuclear power atomic death star puppy eyes*
Please?
Ahh, but I know the answer to that too... I'll be sure to write some happy stories too, so that you won't know when the evil will strike! It will make the evil all the more evil!!
Your logic is compelling and frightening at once... I will near all your works with elevated pulse and shaky feet. Will it bite? Will it take off my arm? Or will be it pretty-pretty and happy like a little puppy (of evil)?
Oh, the uncertainty! The ever-present doubt!
Re: Warning: comment of the pathetic
Please?
Aaauuuugg... the... crushing.... death star... POWER... aaaaahhh.... the ... puppy... eyes!!!!
Sigh. Oh, Okay... okay... *smirk*
Actually, it already was going to be happy, but I do loooove to see you pull out all the stops! ;o>
,i>Your logic is compelling and frightening at once... I will near all your works with elevated pulse and shaky feet. Will it bite? Will it take off my arm? Or will be it pretty-pretty and happy like a little puppy (of evil)?
Oh, the uncertainty! The ever-present doubt!
Ahhh, revenge for the pillow-phobic paranoia!! Sweet, sweet...
Re: Warning: comment of the pathetic
Oh, you haven't seen the half of it. ;)
;o>
Familiar face! *G*
Ahhh, revenge for the pillow-phobic paranoia!! Sweet, sweet...
Luckily for me, it's only your stories that will terrify me, while it is ALL fuzziness that strikes you with fear.
Bwahahaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh.. *cough, cough*
*adjusts halo of light and kindness*
Re: Warning: comment of the pathetic
Bwahahaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh.. *cough, cough*
*adjusts halo of light and kindness*
Curses!!! Out Evil-ed!!! Gorramit, you know my feet are cold now because I can't put my damn fuzzy slippers on!!! ;o>
Oh, you haven't seen the half of it. ;)
Hmmmm I am both intrigued and... nope, just all intrigued about that... ;o>
Re: Warning: comment of the pathetic
Maybe some kind of air-fluffed insulating material? I mean, fuzz is superior but since I'm not badness-enhanced, I would hate to see you catch a cold or such...
Hmmmm I am both intrigued and... nope, just all intrigued about that... ;o>
Only time will tell... Time and patience. Time and the future challenges of making you write happy-shippy instead of Pain!shippy. *g*
Re: Warning: comment of the pathetic
AHA! You know, I think that's it!! Fluffy is very close to fuzzy! Close enough that my mad paranoia has become confused! THAT's where my Pain!Shippy is coming from! I was writing FLUFF before that, but now, it's all about the PAIN!
Only time will tell... Time and patience. Time and the future challenges of making you write happy-shippy instead of Pain!shippy. *g*
Well, we'll have to see what I can come up with now that I've become aware of this cross contmination of phobias... I miss the happy!shippy myself, but I do so love the angsty-angst... I'm an angst lover at heart I think, so... as you say, time will tell!
Re: Warning: comment of the pathetic
Re: Warning: comment of the pathetic
Oh NO, OH NO, OH NO!!!
Dilemma of all dilemmas! Do I sacrifice happy!shippy for my own evil influence or do I release you from the threat of fuzzy and--
How scary do you consider plastic spoon factories?
as you say, time will tell!
"Tiiiiiiiiime. Tiiiiiime! I have a question!"
"What now, bratty one?"
"Will
"Maybe."
"Why not yes?"
"Because."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Why??"
"Because."
"WHY?"
"I can outlast you. I am TIME. Quit bugging me or I will slow down to a very solid crawl during the next office meeting."
"...!!!!"
"Uh huh."
"...chocolate?"
"That's more like it."
~~
Re: Warning: comment of the pathetic
you are Insane, woman!
you risked TIME's wrath! Good idea with the chocolate!
As to plastic spoon factories... ummm I have no idea. You'd have to give me a fear inducing description I guess... but, I can deal with the plastic spoon fear ;o)
no subject
But - oh, how I love your writing. The way you give enough details, making us feel Mal's hope, and then you stomp all over it at the end. *tear*
Five weeks they’d been in the black since then, taking jobs as they came. He kept them away from the postal station at first; ‘didn’t want to seem too anxious even though he could barely keep himself from waving her just to see if she’d got it. When he couldn’t stand it a day longer, he’d turned them back, finally.
I *love* that little paragraph. Waiting five weeks to keep from seeming anxious. Hiding behind his pride when it's really more about his inability to face the truth.
no subject
All of the above! *grin*
But - oh, how I love your writing. The way you give enough details, making us feel Mal's hope, and then you stomp all over it at the end. *tear*
Awwww *blushes evilly* thank-you!!!
I *love* that little paragraph. Waiting five weeks to keep from seeming anxious. Hiding behind his pride when it's really more about his inability to face the truth.
You know he so totally would, too.... :o)
Thanks!
no subject
*looks very innocent and non-threatening*
Very well written!
no subject
*looks very innocent and non-threatening*
It *always* is the innocent and non-threatening ones, isn't it.... :o)
Very well written!
Thank-you very much!!
no subject
I just can't M/I ship. Last time I even was tempted to give them a chance, my muse made me write Inara....and I was insane for a week afterward. Not doing that again.
Actually what I was going to say is that she's not a bright girl. Never would have figured on her sending his letter back. Of course it probably makes her a bit insane too. 'Cause HELLO! It's MAL! *DROOLS*
I'm going to go sit back over here in my corner with my Mal-muse and try to be non-threatening. *wink*
no subject
Don't worry, I wasn't fooled ;o)
I just can't M/I ship. Last time I even was tempted to give them a chance, my muse made me write Inara....and I was insane for a week afterward. Not doing that again.
How sad!!! I live in Inara's head on a daily basis myself, so, what does that say for me I wonder *crazy grin*
Actually what I was going to say is that she's not a bright girl. Never would have figured on her sending his letter back. Of course it probably makes her a bit insane too. 'Cause HELLO! It's MAL! *DROOLS*
Ohhhh, I hear you... Mal is the yummiest... As to how bright dear Inara is *grin* There'll be more to the story, and reasons for things will be explored... If it'd been me, though, I wouldn'tve got off the damn ship in the first place *GRIN*
I'm going to go sit back over here in my corner with my Mal-muse and try to be non-threatening. *wink*
I'm watching you over there... don't think I ain't ;o)
no subject
Ironically, while there was clearly attraction there, it's easier for me to see this aspect of Mal and Inara's relationship. They both seemed a little too good at inflicting pain on each other, and after something like this, I find it hard to imagine Mal reaching out again *sniffles*.
Powerful stuff! Thank you!
no subject
Ahhhh, what more could one ask for than to inspire Mal cuddles and comfort!!! Yummy!
Ironically, while there was clearly attraction there, it's easier for me to see this aspect of Mal and Inara's relationship. They both seemed a little too good at inflicting pain on each other, and after something like this, I find it hard to imagine Mal reaching out again *sniffles*.
Yes, realistically, I could too...and you're right, I don't know how Mal could ever reach out again... it took everything for him to do it the first time... *hands over tissues*
Powerful stuff! Thank you!
Oh, thank-you so much! I do try to make people feel what I write, it's so great to see that it comes across from time to time! Thanks!
no subject
Nice job. :)
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Thanks!
no subject
Yes, wow... sometimes it's very cool to see other people sum up your work in these neat little sentences. You're so right *g*
Thanks for reading! So sorry to hear you're not into the M/I, but I won't hold that against you... much *GRIN* (kidding)
Thanks alot!
no subject
no subject
Thank-you!