Santa

Dec9

To stryck‘s request to this call for Addergoole prompts.

Leithe first shows up here.

Christmas Morning, Year 10 of the Addergoole School

Leithe opened the door Christmas morning – Shang’s door, though he kept saying it was their door – to a stack of brightly-wrapped packages.

“Shang? Did you order… presents?” She tried not to sound hopeful. She tried not to feel hopeful. He wasn’t very good at this whole thing, and she still wasn’t sure he understood that he was supposed to be trying.

“Order? No, uh.” She heard something shuffling around in the room. “I didn’t order any. Why?”

“There’s a stack of presents out here. My name, your name.” She glanced down the hall. “Everyone has them.” In the other direction, she saw Orlaith picking up a stack from outside Accalon’s door. “Not all the same, I don’t think. But everyone has something.”

“Hunh. Well, it is… nope, no ticking. You can bring them in, if you want.”

“I wonder if they’re from my parents. The ones to me, I mean. My parents don’t really write or anything but maybe they sent presents…” She was doing that thing where she kept talking. She pressed her lips together, picked up the presents, and brought them back into the room.

She had to struggle with them – the presents were heavy, and bulky – and was surprised when she found Shang helping her, taking the bulkiest ones from her. “Here. Here, you didn’t say they were that big. What… Idu Unutu… hunh. No poison, no bombs. Over here.”

Over here surprised her again; there was a tiny fake tree on his desk, that hadn’t been there before, and four small presents underneath.

In the hallway, someone was shouting. “Someone got me the Supername CD I wanted. Santa got me the CD I wanted!”

Leithe looked at the presents in her arms, labelled From Santa. Then the looked at Shang.

“Are you smiling? Are you crying?” He looked nervous. That was new.

“Both?” She was pretty sure she was doing both.

“Is that good?”

“I… yes?” She rubbed at her eyes. “Yes. I think so.”

“Good…. that’s good. Merry Christmas, Leithe.”

Outside, another voice was shouting about a rare strand of black pearls. Leithe shut the door.

“Merry Christmas, Shang.”

This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/614246.html. You can comment here or there.

And Then There’s You

Dec6

To [personal profile] rix_scaedu‘s commissioned prompt in the My-Hobbies-Ran-Into-Each-Other-And-I-Blew-My-Gas-Money-Budget Emergency Fundraiser

After: Fridmar & Love
“That was a lovely speech you gave Ana.”

“You were not intended to hear it. Come in, then, Mikhaíl, rather than keep talking in the hallway.”

“Oh, but that’s all I wanted to say.” Looking innocent and entirely unbelievable in it, Mikhaíl the Linden-flower stepped into Agmund’s office and shut the door. “It was a lovely speech.”

“It was what she needed. Sit, then.”

“Woof.” Mikhaíl levered itself gracefully into chairs that had not been designed for its tail. “Yes, of course. What she needed, what Doug needed. A pity she doesn’t trust me, but, considering her antecedents, I’m not surprised. And I am Doug’s grandmother, as much as he glowers and tries to forget it.”

The Daeva wanted something, and Agmund would have no peace until he gave it. Whatever it was. “Doug glowers because he hurts. He glowers less when Anastasia is around.”

“You’ve noticed that, too? Of course you have. But yes, your answer was good, perfect for the situation and for both of them. All three of them, but that’s another story.”

Agmund did not rise to the bait. For one, he knew what the Daeva was talking about. For another, it wasn’t why Mikhaíl was here. “Da. It makes them happier.” Twist that one, horn-head.

“And a happier teacher is, in general, a useful teacher. Better for his Students. Better for his co-workers.”

“Maybe Luke we should be getting a girlfriend next.”

“Mmm.” And now it was the Daeva’s turn not to show anything. “Maybe. But it was not Luca I was thinking of.”

“Never it is Luca you are thinking of.” And if Mikhaíl could read the sarcasm or not, there would be a message there.

“Mmm.” The Daeva’s eyes focused on the wall for a heartbeat, and then back to Agmund they swung, undeterred. “What about you?”

Agmund had been expecting the attack. “And what about me? Doug is not my type, nor I his.”

“Of course not. Men.” Mikhaíl’s hand wave covered all of the gender in one dismissive gesture. “Agmund, when is the last time you loved, yourself?”

Agmund had been expecting this, and still didn’t want to answer it. He tried a dodge, knowing that in this form of combat, Mikhaíl was more skilled. “I do not ask you about masturbation, Mikhaíl. Do not ask me.”

“Very cute, Agmund. When’s the last time you loved someone else?”

“This is also not your business.”

“And here I am asking.” The Daeva leaned forward, undeterred.

“I am not in love with you, Mikhaíl. You are not my type, either.” Drop it, his tone said.

No way, Mikhaíl’s eyes said.

“Of course not. But there was Xanthia…”

“No, there was not. There was never Xanthia, because there was Hemlock for Xaviera.”

“What about Penstemon?”

“Rather occupied, and not interested. And again, you presume.” He leaned back and pushed against his desk. Go away, nosy Daeva.

“I know you, Agmund.” Mikhaíl leaned forward. Not going anywhere, grumpy bear.

“You know what you choose to see, what you think you see. There is nobody, Mikhaíl.”

“And if there truly was, I would go away.”

“This I will believe when I see it.” Agmund wanted to relax, but it felt as if Mikhaíl was circling for another angle of attack. Did the Daeva know?

“And then there is Fairuza.” Yes, damn its eyes. It knew.

This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/613959.html. You can comment here or there.

Things I Have Going Right Now: Stop on In

Dec6

I’m going to write 25 December Addergoole Drabbles Give me an Addergoole situation you’d like to see, any year, any canon characters, and I will write at least 50 words but no more than 500 on it.

For those written already, check out the DecDrabbles tag.

and, if you want to write something yourownself:

I have a Thornes-verses 3-Sentence Ficathon open. Post a prompt (verse/character or pairing/prompt theme) or answer one with your own three-sentence fic.

This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/613644.html. You can comment there.

Three-Sentence Alder-Fic-Athon

Dec5

Open here – a mini-fic-a-thon

This is a challenge where you answer a prompt with a fic consisting of only three sentences, set in any Alder-Thorne verse.

You can post and answer as many prompts as you like. Only one prompt per comment please.

Comment on DW, please.

Addergoole Drabble Treo: The Twins Are Asleep

Dec5

To [personal profile] wyld_dandelyon‘s request to this call for Addergoole prompts.

Early Fall, Year 6 of the Addergoole School

“Shhhh – the twins are finally sleeping!” Mabina slipped out of Kailani and Conrad’s room and closed the door very, very carefully. Vlad whispered a Working at the door as it shut.

“That ought to keep our noises out and let us know if they’re making noise.” He touched the door, lightly, with his fingers, as if apologizing to his children.

“Cool.” ‘Lisha hopped down from her stool and grabbed a tray of appetizers. “Time for the party? I invited a few new people…”

Kailani twisted her lips. “People?”

“Friends?” The girl paused, hands on hips, to look at Kai. “You know, people that we actually like.”

“I didn’t know we could invite friends.”

“I didn’t know you had friends.”

“‘Lisha, there’s no call for that. Kai, if you want to call Shahin-and-Emrys or Jamiain and Arna, you can go right ahead. This is a party, dear, and of course we can have friends.”

Kai glanced at Conrad; he shrugged back at her and touched the chain still around his neck. “It’s your call. You’re still in charge.”

“Only because you wouldn’t let me let you go.”

“Well, you had to know you were stuck with me when you agreed to Keep me.” He hugged her close. “Call Jaya. Arna could use the getting out.”

A noise from the designated nursery room stopped them all in their tracks. Mabina, Kailani, and ‘Lisha shared a glance that even Kai didn’t need help interpreting.

Conrad, however, answered the question they were all not asking. “It’s Min. She’s playing with the trucks.”

They all relaxed. Trucks! A thought bounced through Kai’s mind. “Could I buy her some toy horses? I liked them a lot when I was a girl.”

For a moment, she thought ‘Lisha was going to yell at her. Vlad’s Kept might have mellowed, but she still got snippy for no discernible reason.

Then she smiled, the biggest smile Kai had ever seen on her face. “That would be cool. Thank you.”

Mabina clapped her hands together. “And that’s party time.”

This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/613148.html. You can comment here or there.

Would you indulge me?

Dec5

I’d like to run something like this for my ‘verses –

This is a challenge where you answer a prompt with a fic consisting of only three sentences. It’s open to all fandoms and you can post and answer as many prompts as you like. Only one prompt per comment please.

When posting a prompt please format it this way:

fandom, character/pairing, prompt word/sentence.

Lastly, please pimp this to your flist, I’d like as many as possible to come and participate!

If I did, would people participate? *bounce* It’d be fuuuun?

This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/612960.html. You can comment here or there.

Addergoole in two lines

Dec4

Me: “And, really, things are going to suck here for a while, but they’re almost never fatal.” (quoting from WIP Mystery of the Missing Orders).

Sky: Addergoole, summed in one sentence.

This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/612840.html. You can comment here or there.

Addergoole Drabble Duo: Summer Snuggles

Dec3

To [personal profile] clare_dragonfly‘s request to this call for Addergoole prompts.

Summer After Year 9 of the Addergoole School

“Free at last.”

Jaya’s mother had the kids – all of them, which wasn’t a kind thing to do to any being, but she’d volunteered – and Arna was well and truly done with school, and Jaya was on summer break and had five days off from work. They were, in all practical senses free. They’d gone to the lake.

“Free at last,” Arna agreed. She had her lips against Jaya’s neck, her arm and one leg draped over Jaya, and her breasts pressed against Jaya’s side. She felt warm, and a bit sticky, and perfect. “And out of that place. I know.” She held up one hand lazily. “I had it good. I had you, I had Jovanna, I had an easy time of it. But it’s still nice to be out.”

“I know.” Jaya twisted until she could kiss her lover’s forehead. “I had Ty, I had you. I had an easy time of it. But it’s nice to have you out of it, too. It’s nice to be here.”

The cottage on the lake was a family property – Jaya’s stepdad’s family, but still family. Their bed was on the screened in porch, watching the lake; the chances of someone coming across them was almost zero. Still, it felt horribly daring as Jaya stretched, showing herself off to the water and the moose.

“It wouldn’t be this peaceful with the kids here.”

“Or with homework, and work, and everything else. But it’s a nice place to hide for a little while.” Arna tugged Jaya back to the bed. “Hide. And snuggle.”

“Mmm.” She pressed her lips against Arna’s collarbone in agreement.

This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/612530.html. You can comment here or there.

Addergoole Drabble Uno: Merry Christmas, Lee

Dec2

To @Dahob’s request to this call for Addergoole prompts.

Christmas, Year 11 of the Addergoole School

Lee wasn’t any good at this Keeping stuff, but he was trying hard.

He’d gotten Altaira by accident, really by accident, trying to keep her out of the hands of Silas, who wasn’t as bad as he could be but was a lot worst than he ought to be. Once he’d had her… he’d found he kind of liked having someone around. So he was trying to do this Keeping thing right, and, he hoped, only screwing it up most of the time.

But today was Christmas, and he really liked Christmas. He really liked presents. So he’d filled the space under the tree – a real tree! Tall enough that it hit the ceiling – with presents. Not all of them were for Altaira – about half were for his other friends, and five were for the baby that wouldn’t be born for another six months – but there were a lot for her.

He was out of bed before, in theory, the sun somewhere out there was above the horizon, re-arranging the presents, cooking – actually cooking; if there was one thing he’d learned in Addergoole, it was how to cook – a hearty breakfast casserole, something he remembered from childhood. Maybe he could get Altaira to eat.

He was already dishing it onto plates and making himself a pot of coffee when she woke. “Lee? What are you doing?”

He grinned at her and hurried over with a glass of orange juice. “Merry Christmas!”

He watched her take it all in – the tree, the presents, the breakfast, the juice. And then, miracles-do-happen, he watched her smile. “Merry Christmas, Lee.”

This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/612208.html. You can comment here or there.