Tarnish (drabble collection), SB/VM
Jul. 7th, 2003 05:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
helens78 posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
rugbytackleArc: Tarnish (1-10)
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
helens78
Archive: journalfen.net/~helens78 -- anywhere else, just ask first
Category: SB/VM, with occasional others as means-to-an-end (this is me we're talking about here); drabble collection that takes us through a plot arc.
Rating: Let's give it an NC-17 just to be safe. We haven't been there yet, but we probably will eventually.
Summary: Something beautiful is tarnished, and the time it takes to put it back to rights.
Feedback: Yes, please! Positive or negative, all FB is gratefully welcomed.
Disclaimer: Fictional. Not real.
Notes: These are all going up as dailyporn on my JF -- http://www.journalfen.net/~helens78 -- so this is just a collection of bits that have already been posted elsewhere. I've wanted to do a collection of 100-word pieces that actually tracks through a plot arc for a while, so I'm really enjoying this!
1. Breaking
Viggo doesn't know if he can do this scene. It's hard enough acting with Sean now without having to play such a difficult, emotional moment out.
As far as anyone can tell, this is just another scene to Sean. He's doing his job just fine. He always does.
Aragorn's breakdown, thank Christ, is scripted. Viggo isn't sure he can do this scene at all, and only the fact that he's allowed to break -- required to break -- is going to keep him going.
Sean is lying there, looking at him, and there's no light in his eyes.
Somehow, breaking is easy.
+++++
2. Can't Not
Viggo watches Sean with Dominic. Watches Sean with Orlando. Watches Sean, the son of a bitch, with Cate. He's fairly certain Sean knows he's watching, knows he still has Viggo's complete attention, but Sean isn't doing anything about it.
Viggo would love to think Sean is oblivious. He'd love to give Sean the benefit of the doubt and assume this is about carelessness and thoughtlessness, not about deliberate cruelty. But it might be worse if it were about carelessness and thoughtlessness. Because that would mean Sean never gave a damn at all.
Viggo watches Sean. Can't help it. Can't not.
+++++
3. Remembering
Viggo knew about the landslide long before it hit the news. He remembers the way his heart raced when he first heard about it. He remembers the wave of terror, and that first night when he couldn't sleep. By the time it hit the papers, Viggo knew Sean was going to be fine. He knew Sean was coming back to him.
He keeps the clipping because he remembers that feeling. The pure, clear certainty that Sean was coming home. It hurts looking at it now. The relief hits, then the irony. He's not coming home. This isn't his home anymore.
+++++
4. Berlin
Sean doesn't get involved with people while filming. He'll meet people for drinks and friendly conversation, and a good hard fuck in someone's room isn't out of the question, either, but getting involved. -- no.
Christian shakes his head at Sean as Sean is dressing.
"What?"
"What are you doing, Sean?"
"Meaning...?"
Christian rolls his eyes. "What are you doing here in Berlin when you're so hung up on him you can't see straight?" Sean ignores that entirely, so Christian barrels on. "What are you afraid of, Sean?"
"Nothing."
"Bullshit."
Sean closes the door behind him. "Nothing," he murmurs. "Honestly, Christian."
+++++
5. Ash
Viggo has a fire going, and he has a shoebox full of clippings and photos and scribbled notes. He's been sitting in front of the fire for a good half-hour, adding more wood here and there, watching the flames, definitely not thinking about the box and what's in it.
He can't do it. He can't turn these things to ash. He can't watch his memories curl into black cinders and blow away like so much dust. He wants to, wants to badly, but he can't.
The phone rings, and he stumbles to his feet to answer it.
"Yeah?"
"...it's me."
+++++
6. Vacuum
...it's me.
Viggo holds the phone to his ear, waiting for more. He can't seem to catch his breath. It's as if all the air in the room has vanished. His chest hurts.
He holds out for more. He's waiting for the next words. But sound is a matter of vibrations in the air; that's why sound doesn't travel in a vacuum. He can't breathe, so maybe there's no air. Maybe there's no way for the sound to get to him.
"Viggo?"
He takes a very small breath at that.
"Yeah?"
"I need to talk to you."
"...all right. When?"
+++++
7. Quench
Viggo is early. He's been waiting at the restaurant for almost half an hour, on the off-chance Sean might come early, too. Sean is normally very punctual; Viggo normally operates on whatever time is handy, basing his arrival times on when he remembers he has an appointment.
Sean's punctuality has had Viggo sipping at a glass of water for half an hour. But then Sean appears and walks over to the table. And Viggo drinks in the sight of him, and remembers thirst.
"Hello," Viggo manages. He stands up.
Sean leans forward and kisses him. And the thirst is quenched.
+++++
8. Expectations
Sean sits down across from Viggo, wondering if he should be here at all. Viggo's eyes are bright... maybe too bright. Sean was expecting him to look angry. He wasn't expecting to see the look in his eyes and need to reach out for him. He wasn't expecting to need that kiss.
Moreover, he wasn't expecting it to rock him so badly. To feel as if the earth had moved under his feet. He wasn't expecting to see the hurt and the hope on Viggo's face, and find himself wishing that the earth would open up and swallow him whole.
+++++
9. Regards
It becomes obvious after a while that Sean isn't going to talk, so Viggo starts. "So." He clears his throat. "What have you been doing lately?"
Sean plays with his water glass a bit. "Finished my part of Equilbrium. Had a chance to meet a friend of yours."
"Christian? How is he?"
"He's fine." Sean smiles. "Sends his regards."
Viggo tips his water glass over. He curses, then picks it back up and blots at the water with his napkin. That smile...
Viggo sits back and tries not to clench his jaw. He knows exactly what that smile means.
Bastard.
+++++
10. Napkin
Viggo twists his napkin in his hands, fingers digging into the woven fabric. It's stiff and rough and scratchy against his palms. It's distracting; he needs that now.
When dinner's over and Sean asks if Viggo has plans, if he'd like to go somewhere, Viggo tosses the napkin onto the table. It's twisted into a messy, crumpled knot, and the seam at one edge has been picked out.
When Sean puts his napkin down, he folds it into a neat square before tucking it under the edge of his plate. It looks perfectly fine.
Viggo is not at all surprised.
Author:
helens78Archive: journalfen.net/~helens78 -- anywhere else, just ask first
Category: SB/VM, with occasional others as means-to-an-end (this is me we're talking about here); drabble collection that takes us through a plot arc.
Rating: Let's give it an NC-17 just to be safe. We haven't been there yet, but we probably will eventually.
Summary: Something beautiful is tarnished, and the time it takes to put it back to rights.
Feedback: Yes, please! Positive or negative, all FB is gratefully welcomed.
Disclaimer: Fictional. Not real.
Notes: These are all going up as dailyporn on my JF -- http://www.journalfen.net/~helens78 -- so this is just a collection of bits that have already been posted elsewhere. I've wanted to do a collection of 100-word pieces that actually tracks through a plot arc for a while, so I'm really enjoying this!
1. Breaking
Viggo doesn't know if he can do this scene. It's hard enough acting with Sean now without having to play such a difficult, emotional moment out.
As far as anyone can tell, this is just another scene to Sean. He's doing his job just fine. He always does.
Aragorn's breakdown, thank Christ, is scripted. Viggo isn't sure he can do this scene at all, and only the fact that he's allowed to break -- required to break -- is going to keep him going.
Sean is lying there, looking at him, and there's no light in his eyes.
Somehow, breaking is easy.
+++++
2. Can't Not
Viggo watches Sean with Dominic. Watches Sean with Orlando. Watches Sean, the son of a bitch, with Cate. He's fairly certain Sean knows he's watching, knows he still has Viggo's complete attention, but Sean isn't doing anything about it.
Viggo would love to think Sean is oblivious. He'd love to give Sean the benefit of the doubt and assume this is about carelessness and thoughtlessness, not about deliberate cruelty. But it might be worse if it were about carelessness and thoughtlessness. Because that would mean Sean never gave a damn at all.
Viggo watches Sean. Can't help it. Can't not.
+++++
3. Remembering
Viggo knew about the landslide long before it hit the news. He remembers the way his heart raced when he first heard about it. He remembers the wave of terror, and that first night when he couldn't sleep. By the time it hit the papers, Viggo knew Sean was going to be fine. He knew Sean was coming back to him.
He keeps the clipping because he remembers that feeling. The pure, clear certainty that Sean was coming home. It hurts looking at it now. The relief hits, then the irony. He's not coming home. This isn't his home anymore.
+++++
4. Berlin
Sean doesn't get involved with people while filming. He'll meet people for drinks and friendly conversation, and a good hard fuck in someone's room isn't out of the question, either, but getting involved. -- no.
Christian shakes his head at Sean as Sean is dressing.
"What?"
"What are you doing, Sean?"
"Meaning...?"
Christian rolls his eyes. "What are you doing here in Berlin when you're so hung up on him you can't see straight?" Sean ignores that entirely, so Christian barrels on. "What are you afraid of, Sean?"
"Nothing."
"Bullshit."
Sean closes the door behind him. "Nothing," he murmurs. "Honestly, Christian."
+++++
5. Ash
Viggo has a fire going, and he has a shoebox full of clippings and photos and scribbled notes. He's been sitting in front of the fire for a good half-hour, adding more wood here and there, watching the flames, definitely not thinking about the box and what's in it.
He can't do it. He can't turn these things to ash. He can't watch his memories curl into black cinders and blow away like so much dust. He wants to, wants to badly, but he can't.
The phone rings, and he stumbles to his feet to answer it.
"Yeah?"
"...it's me."
+++++
6. Vacuum
...it's me.
Viggo holds the phone to his ear, waiting for more. He can't seem to catch his breath. It's as if all the air in the room has vanished. His chest hurts.
He holds out for more. He's waiting for the next words. But sound is a matter of vibrations in the air; that's why sound doesn't travel in a vacuum. He can't breathe, so maybe there's no air. Maybe there's no way for the sound to get to him.
"Viggo?"
He takes a very small breath at that.
"Yeah?"
"I need to talk to you."
"...all right. When?"
+++++
7. Quench
Viggo is early. He's been waiting at the restaurant for almost half an hour, on the off-chance Sean might come early, too. Sean is normally very punctual; Viggo normally operates on whatever time is handy, basing his arrival times on when he remembers he has an appointment.
Sean's punctuality has had Viggo sipping at a glass of water for half an hour. But then Sean appears and walks over to the table. And Viggo drinks in the sight of him, and remembers thirst.
"Hello," Viggo manages. He stands up.
Sean leans forward and kisses him. And the thirst is quenched.
+++++
8. Expectations
Sean sits down across from Viggo, wondering if he should be here at all. Viggo's eyes are bright... maybe too bright. Sean was expecting him to look angry. He wasn't expecting to see the look in his eyes and need to reach out for him. He wasn't expecting to need that kiss.
Moreover, he wasn't expecting it to rock him so badly. To feel as if the earth had moved under his feet. He wasn't expecting to see the hurt and the hope on Viggo's face, and find himself wishing that the earth would open up and swallow him whole.
+++++
9. Regards
It becomes obvious after a while that Sean isn't going to talk, so Viggo starts. "So." He clears his throat. "What have you been doing lately?"
Sean plays with his water glass a bit. "Finished my part of Equilbrium. Had a chance to meet a friend of yours."
"Christian? How is he?"
"He's fine." Sean smiles. "Sends his regards."
Viggo tips his water glass over. He curses, then picks it back up and blots at the water with his napkin. That smile...
Viggo sits back and tries not to clench his jaw. He knows exactly what that smile means.
Bastard.
+++++
10. Napkin
Viggo twists his napkin in his hands, fingers digging into the woven fabric. It's stiff and rough and scratchy against his palms. It's distracting; he needs that now.
When dinner's over and Sean asks if Viggo has plans, if he'd like to go somewhere, Viggo tosses the napkin onto the table. It's twisted into a messy, crumpled knot, and the seam at one edge has been picked out.
When Sean puts his napkin down, he folds it into a neat square before tucking it under the edge of his plate. It looks perfectly fine.
Viggo is not at all surprised.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2003-07-07 11:15 pm (UTC)Pain
*whimpers*
Powerful.
Good.
Pain.
I'm always impresed when people can actually do a story-arch based on these things.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 09:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 03:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 03:36 am (UTC)You died, dammit. Over and over and over again. In just about every single film you've done. And broke my heart every single time. Damn you.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 04:02 am (UTC)*looks at your icon* *sniffles* Don't remind me.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 11:57 am (UTC)You, too, hunh? Stupid orcs.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 09:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 10:27 am (UTC)Damn, damn, damn.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 09:50 am (UTC)The Bale scene was for the "crossover" challenge -- these were based on the show-don't-tell challenge, the bitter challenge, the newspaper clipping challenge, the crossover challenge, the four elements challenges, the envy challenge, and the fabric challenge. As if it's not obvious, I'm going in order based on the
no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 03:48 am (UTC)This is SO good! I love suspense - almost as much as I love angst.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 09:52 am (UTC)I keep thinking the story's clear, but I think the snippets may be leaving little holes. But this is good -- it gives me things to fill in when I'm writing future stories. *jots down little notes about things to cover in the future* :)
no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 10:29 am (UTC)Aarrrgghhh!!
no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 02:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 03:10 pm (UTC)