100 Drabbles of 2011 #91-100
91) Author's Choice: threshold
Time Period: Victor & Alice's honeymoon
Notes: The idea of Alice carrying Victor for whatever reason amuses me. Rather than have it be the result of an injury, I decided to be nice and play around with wedding customs instead. Also, one of the jokes I like to make about my Victor is that, despite being amazingly thin, he eats a LOT. Metabolism of a hummingbird.
“So – er – shall we enter the bedroom, Mister Van Dort?”
“I suppose we should. . .but – am I supposed to carry you?”
“Pardon?”
“I know the tradition is that I carry you over the threshold of the front door. But does that apply to the bedroom door as well? I’ve heard conflicting things. . . .”
“Oh, no. You don’t carry me. I carry you.”
“What – oh! Alice!”
“Come on, it’s just a bit of fun – and you are surprisingly light. Where does all that food you eat go?”
“So many people have asked me that, and I can never give them an answer. . . .”
92) Author's Choice: food
Time Period: Anytime, really, though likely in the time period just after "Secundus"
Notes: The chip butty, otherwise known as a FRENCH FRY SANDWICH. The instant I learned of this thing, I just HAD to write something on it. XD Marty's reaction kinda mirrors my own. Marty's comment about "raisins on fire" refers to the game of snap-dragon, a Christmas game where raisins were put in a dish of brandy, set alight, and then people took turns grabbing them and eating them. This is where the "snapdragonfly" of "Alice In Wonderland" comes from. Black pudding should be a little more familiar to people over here, of course.
“Uh, Victor? What are you making?”
“A chip butty,” Victor said, continuing to butter his bread. “Would you like one?”
“Chip but– You mean that weird sandwich made out of fries?! You eat that?”
“Not often.” Victor finished with the butter and carefully laid his chips (or “fries,” as Marty called them) on the bread. “But sometimes I like to treat myself.”
“This is a treat?”
Victor smiled at Marty. “It really does taste good. You should try one.”
Marty stared back. “Victor, your people also eat raisins that are on fire. And don’t get me started on black pudding. . . .”
93) Author's Choice: delay
Time Period: Anytime after Victor confesses his love to Alice, probably during "Secundus" itself
Notes: This is a prompt I originally wrote for the Thursday prompt on charloft that's pulling double duty as I was feeling particularly uncreative. It took me a while to come up with something halfway decent for the word in question, but eventually I decided to do a piece on one of Victor's flaws -- his tendency to want to physically escape any awkward situation he gets in. The ending line refers to what happens in Chapter 10 of "Secundus," when Victor blurts out that he loves Alice.
It was easier to run, most of the time.
Victor knew it was a bad habit, but he couldn’t shake the urge to flee whenever a situation turned for the worse. He didn’t do well with embarrassment or adversity, especially in social situations. It always seemed easier to get out, to delay the confrontation for another day. Preferably a day when someone else, someone who knew what they were doing, could take over and fix things. He fought the urge when he could, but most of the time, he ended up running.
Thank God Alice had chased him that day.
94) Author's Choice: stretch
Time Period: Sometime before Victor and Alice get married -- likely in the gap between the end of "Secundus" and the epilogue
Notes: Oooh, this one. . .I got inspired by a great How To Train Your Dragon fic, Talking In Her Sleep. In that, both Astrid and Ruffnut go gaga over a newly tall and very handsome Hiccup. Astrid spends a lot of time drooling over the way his muscles flex, and how he looks shirtless in the forge. I got to thinking about how Alice might react if she saw Victor shirtless, and bam! XD Poor girl, she has no idea how to deal with lust. (But then again, neither does Victor, so. . .)
She shouldn’t be here. She shouldn’t be standing here watching him – why didn’t he have a shirt on? Oh God, why did he ever wear a shirt? He’s so pale and so thin and – so flexible. . .the way his muscles move as he stretches is just too much. . . .
He turns suddenly, and yelps. “Alice!”
“I’m sorry!” she yelps back. “I was--” don’t get distracted by his chest don’t get distracted by his chest “–I – I’ll go.”
She bolts before he can speak, looking for the nearest source of cold water. Damn him, why does he have to look like that?
95) Author's Choice: grandchildren
Time Period: Future, grandchildren era (natch)
Notes: Inspired by a conversation I was having with a friend about an early version of BTTF II's script. Norman was actually an alternate name for Marty Junior (Marlene's was Doris). I thought the name was funny and stole it for grandkid purposes. Electra actually comes from another piece of BTTF merchandise, the Card Game -- she's one of the player characters. For reference, Lorina (Victor's daughter) is married to Douglas (Marty's son, who here is not Marty Junior), and Marlene (Marty's daughter) is married to Jules (Doc's son). The latter are also Greek mythology fans, to explain the name.
“You’re naming him Norman?”
Lorina looked over at Marty. “What’s wrong with Norman?” she asked, in tones that indicated that she’d not gone through fifteen hours of labor to have her choice in names questioned. (Victor thought she sounded a lot like her mother just then.)
Marty shrugged. “I just think it sounds weird with ‘McFly’ attached.”
“Norman McFly,” Victor mused aloud. “I think it sounds fine.”
Lorina grinned. “Thanks Dad.”
Marty shrugged again. “It’s not a bad name, I guess. I still think it’s a little strange.”
“Didn’t Marlene name her first child Electra?” Victor pointed out.
“. . .Good point.”
96) Author's Choice: different path
Time Period: Anytime past Victor & Alice's wedding
Notes: I dunno really what inspired this one. I suspect I was just thinking about Corpse Bride canon couples and wondering what Victor would think of that relatively more normal life.
Sometimes, Victor wondered what might have happened had he chosen to go back, instead of staying in Secundus. He probably would have ended up marrying Victoria, just like their parents had planned. He also probably would have eventually taken over his father’s fish cannery. Life would have continued on as normal, quiet and uneventful. And if and when he and Victoria had had children, he would have entertained them with stories of his brief trip to the Mad Science Capital of the World.
It wouldn’t have been a horrible life, really. But it wouldn’t have been the best one, either.
97) Author's Choice: hysteria
Time Period: Newlywed Van Dorts
Notes: First off, this is probably the most risque one of the lot, so it's at least semi-Not Safe For Work. Secondly, this is all on the Girl Genius LJ community. Someone posted a link to the preview for a new romantic comedy called "Hysteria," and I'd direct you there but it's long gone. Essentially, it looked to be about the invention of the vibrator. XD My horrible brain started thinking of Alice and her "hysteria mode" in A:MR (which is her near-death super mode, get your mind out of the gutter), and this resulted. (Admittedly, the idea of Victor using his pianist fingers in dirty ways has lingered in my thoughts. . .)
She clung to him, fingers digging into his skin as he worked his magic. God, had he always been this good with his hands? She’d admired those long fingers for a while now, admittedly, but somehow she’d never really imagined. . . . Bloody hell, the things he was doing with them! He was being so gentle, and yet – Maybe he sees me as an instrument to be played, she thought, panting. I – oh – OH–
Afterwards, he pushed her sweaty hair out of her face, looking shy. “G-good?” he asked, voice soft.
“Oh Victor,” she breathed. “I am developing hysteria just for you.”
98) Author's Choice: clone
Time Period: Vague future, era of young children
Notes: I've actually had this same basic idea for a while -- never thought I'd use it for a drabble. I don't know why Victor and family are in Burtonsville, but they are. I just wanted to show that there are regrets on both sides about how things turned out (even if Nell won't acknowledge them). Also, another appearance of Chester, hence why this is called "clone." Way too easily influenced by BTTF II and Harry Potter, I am.
For a moment, Nell wonders if she’s somehow managed to step back in time. The little boy in front of her looks exactly as her son did when he was six. Same hair, same skin, same face, same nose – everything’s the same. Except for his eyes – those are green.
Those are that woman’s eyes. The one from Secundus. The one Victor chose over them.
Victor comes along then, and collects the boy. “Daddy, who was that?” the child asks as they walk away. Good riddance, Nell tells herself.
And adds that she doesn’t feel a pang when Victor replies, “Nobody.”
99) Author's Choice: mechanical shoes
Time Period: Anytime, really, likely during "Secundus" or right afterward
Notes: This one was inspired by a Munday charloft prompt about hands and feet. The last question, about whether Victor has ever worn peculiar shoes, got me thinking, and boom! Comedy piece. Victor is perhaps a little unVictorish at the end, but he's kind of frustrated by this point. There's a companion fic of sorts in "100) Author's Choice: payback" (yup, the only other pair that are right next to each other!).
“Aha! They work!”
“Yes they do,” Victor said, dangling from the ceiling by his feet. “May I please take them off now?”
“Of course,” Doc said, scribbling in his notebook. “I need to make improvements to the prototype.”
“Thank you.” Victor turned to walk down the wall.
Or, at least, he tried. Strain as he might, his feet wouldn’t move. “Doc?” he said. “I t-think I’m stuck. . . .”
“What? Oh, damn. Try the emergency release button.”
Victor did so – and promptly fell on the floor. “Great Scott! Victor, are you all right?”
Victor groaned. “Next time, ask Marty to help you.”
100) Author's Choice: payback
Time Period: Anytime post Victor & Alice's wedding, when Victor has his own lab
Notes: A companion fic to "99) Author's Choice: mechanical shoes," right above Shortly after writing that, I suddenly had a funny thought -- what if, after he went a bit Creative, Victor decided to turn the tables on Doc? Originally he claimed this was direct revenge for the mechanical shoes, but that put it over wordcount. Besides, I'm sure there were other experiments that didn't end quite well either, so. . . .
“Yes! They work! They really work!”
“Your new breed of silkworms do indeed work,” Doc said, looking down at his cocooned body. “Rather too well, I think.”
“Nonsense!” Doc raised an eyebrow. “Well, maybe. I can tweak them later.” He grabbed his sketchbook and began writing. “Thank you so much for helping me.”
“You’re welcome.” Doc wriggled. “Er – could you help me out of here?”
“Just a moment, please – science first.”
There was a brief silence. “. . .You’ve been planning this.”
Victor couldn’t help smirking. “Forgive me, but yes. Payback for a few experiments.”
“Well, can’t say I don’t deserve it.”
Time Period: Victor & Alice's honeymoon
Notes: The idea of Alice carrying Victor for whatever reason amuses me. Rather than have it be the result of an injury, I decided to be nice and play around with wedding customs instead. Also, one of the jokes I like to make about my Victor is that, despite being amazingly thin, he eats a LOT. Metabolism of a hummingbird.
“So – er – shall we enter the bedroom, Mister Van Dort?”
“I suppose we should. . .but – am I supposed to carry you?”
“Pardon?”
“I know the tradition is that I carry you over the threshold of the front door. But does that apply to the bedroom door as well? I’ve heard conflicting things. . . .”
“Oh, no. You don’t carry me. I carry you.”
“What – oh! Alice!”
“Come on, it’s just a bit of fun – and you are surprisingly light. Where does all that food you eat go?”
“So many people have asked me that, and I can never give them an answer. . . .”
92) Author's Choice: food
Time Period: Anytime, really, though likely in the time period just after "Secundus"
Notes: The chip butty, otherwise known as a FRENCH FRY SANDWICH. The instant I learned of this thing, I just HAD to write something on it. XD Marty's reaction kinda mirrors my own. Marty's comment about "raisins on fire" refers to the game of snap-dragon, a Christmas game where raisins were put in a dish of brandy, set alight, and then people took turns grabbing them and eating them. This is where the "snapdragonfly" of "Alice In Wonderland" comes from. Black pudding should be a little more familiar to people over here, of course.
“Uh, Victor? What are you making?”
“A chip butty,” Victor said, continuing to butter his bread. “Would you like one?”
“Chip but– You mean that weird sandwich made out of fries?! You eat that?”
“Not often.” Victor finished with the butter and carefully laid his chips (or “fries,” as Marty called them) on the bread. “But sometimes I like to treat myself.”
“This is a treat?”
Victor smiled at Marty. “It really does taste good. You should try one.”
Marty stared back. “Victor, your people also eat raisins that are on fire. And don’t get me started on black pudding. . . .”
93) Author's Choice: delay
Time Period: Anytime after Victor confesses his love to Alice, probably during "Secundus" itself
Notes: This is a prompt I originally wrote for the Thursday prompt on charloft that's pulling double duty as I was feeling particularly uncreative. It took me a while to come up with something halfway decent for the word in question, but eventually I decided to do a piece on one of Victor's flaws -- his tendency to want to physically escape any awkward situation he gets in. The ending line refers to what happens in Chapter 10 of "Secundus," when Victor blurts out that he loves Alice.
It was easier to run, most of the time.
Victor knew it was a bad habit, but he couldn’t shake the urge to flee whenever a situation turned for the worse. He didn’t do well with embarrassment or adversity, especially in social situations. It always seemed easier to get out, to delay the confrontation for another day. Preferably a day when someone else, someone who knew what they were doing, could take over and fix things. He fought the urge when he could, but most of the time, he ended up running.
Thank God Alice had chased him that day.
94) Author's Choice: stretch
Time Period: Sometime before Victor and Alice get married -- likely in the gap between the end of "Secundus" and the epilogue
Notes: Oooh, this one. . .I got inspired by a great How To Train Your Dragon fic, Talking In Her Sleep. In that, both Astrid and Ruffnut go gaga over a newly tall and very handsome Hiccup. Astrid spends a lot of time drooling over the way his muscles flex, and how he looks shirtless in the forge. I got to thinking about how Alice might react if she saw Victor shirtless, and bam! XD Poor girl, she has no idea how to deal with lust. (But then again, neither does Victor, so. . .)
She shouldn’t be here. She shouldn’t be standing here watching him – why didn’t he have a shirt on? Oh God, why did he ever wear a shirt? He’s so pale and so thin and – so flexible. . .the way his muscles move as he stretches is just too much. . . .
He turns suddenly, and yelps. “Alice!”
“I’m sorry!” she yelps back. “I was--” don’t get distracted by his chest don’t get distracted by his chest “–I – I’ll go.”
She bolts before he can speak, looking for the nearest source of cold water. Damn him, why does he have to look like that?
95) Author's Choice: grandchildren
Time Period: Future, grandchildren era (natch)
Notes: Inspired by a conversation I was having with a friend about an early version of BTTF II's script. Norman was actually an alternate name for Marty Junior (Marlene's was Doris). I thought the name was funny and stole it for grandkid purposes. Electra actually comes from another piece of BTTF merchandise, the Card Game -- she's one of the player characters. For reference, Lorina (Victor's daughter) is married to Douglas (Marty's son, who here is not Marty Junior), and Marlene (Marty's daughter) is married to Jules (Doc's son). The latter are also Greek mythology fans, to explain the name.
“You’re naming him Norman?”
Lorina looked over at Marty. “What’s wrong with Norman?” she asked, in tones that indicated that she’d not gone through fifteen hours of labor to have her choice in names questioned. (Victor thought she sounded a lot like her mother just then.)
Marty shrugged. “I just think it sounds weird with ‘McFly’ attached.”
“Norman McFly,” Victor mused aloud. “I think it sounds fine.”
Lorina grinned. “Thanks Dad.”
Marty shrugged again. “It’s not a bad name, I guess. I still think it’s a little strange.”
“Didn’t Marlene name her first child Electra?” Victor pointed out.
“. . .Good point.”
96) Author's Choice: different path
Time Period: Anytime past Victor & Alice's wedding
Notes: I dunno really what inspired this one. I suspect I was just thinking about Corpse Bride canon couples and wondering what Victor would think of that relatively more normal life.
Sometimes, Victor wondered what might have happened had he chosen to go back, instead of staying in Secundus. He probably would have ended up marrying Victoria, just like their parents had planned. He also probably would have eventually taken over his father’s fish cannery. Life would have continued on as normal, quiet and uneventful. And if and when he and Victoria had had children, he would have entertained them with stories of his brief trip to the Mad Science Capital of the World.
It wouldn’t have been a horrible life, really. But it wouldn’t have been the best one, either.
97) Author's Choice: hysteria
Time Period: Newlywed Van Dorts
Notes: First off, this is probably the most risque one of the lot, so it's at least semi-Not Safe For Work. Secondly, this is all on the Girl Genius LJ community. Someone posted a link to the preview for a new romantic comedy called "Hysteria," and I'd direct you there but it's long gone. Essentially, it looked to be about the invention of the vibrator. XD My horrible brain started thinking of Alice and her "hysteria mode" in A:MR (which is her near-death super mode, get your mind out of the gutter), and this resulted. (Admittedly, the idea of Victor using his pianist fingers in dirty ways has lingered in my thoughts. . .)
She clung to him, fingers digging into his skin as he worked his magic. God, had he always been this good with his hands? She’d admired those long fingers for a while now, admittedly, but somehow she’d never really imagined. . . . Bloody hell, the things he was doing with them! He was being so gentle, and yet – Maybe he sees me as an instrument to be played, she thought, panting. I – oh – OH–
Afterwards, he pushed her sweaty hair out of her face, looking shy. “G-good?” he asked, voice soft.
“Oh Victor,” she breathed. “I am developing hysteria just for you.”
98) Author's Choice: clone
Time Period: Vague future, era of young children
Notes: I've actually had this same basic idea for a while -- never thought I'd use it for a drabble. I don't know why Victor and family are in Burtonsville, but they are. I just wanted to show that there are regrets on both sides about how things turned out (even if Nell won't acknowledge them). Also, another appearance of Chester, hence why this is called "clone." Way too easily influenced by BTTF II and Harry Potter, I am.
For a moment, Nell wonders if she’s somehow managed to step back in time. The little boy in front of her looks exactly as her son did when he was six. Same hair, same skin, same face, same nose – everything’s the same. Except for his eyes – those are green.
Those are that woman’s eyes. The one from Secundus. The one Victor chose over them.
Victor comes along then, and collects the boy. “Daddy, who was that?” the child asks as they walk away. Good riddance, Nell tells herself.
And adds that she doesn’t feel a pang when Victor replies, “Nobody.”
99) Author's Choice: mechanical shoes
Time Period: Anytime, really, likely during "Secundus" or right afterward
Notes: This one was inspired by a Munday charloft prompt about hands and feet. The last question, about whether Victor has ever worn peculiar shoes, got me thinking, and boom! Comedy piece. Victor is perhaps a little unVictorish at the end, but he's kind of frustrated by this point. There's a companion fic of sorts in "100) Author's Choice: payback" (yup, the only other pair that are right next to each other!).
“Aha! They work!”
“Yes they do,” Victor said, dangling from the ceiling by his feet. “May I please take them off now?”
“Of course,” Doc said, scribbling in his notebook. “I need to make improvements to the prototype.”
“Thank you.” Victor turned to walk down the wall.
Or, at least, he tried. Strain as he might, his feet wouldn’t move. “Doc?” he said. “I t-think I’m stuck. . . .”
“What? Oh, damn. Try the emergency release button.”
Victor did so – and promptly fell on the floor. “Great Scott! Victor, are you all right?”
Victor groaned. “Next time, ask Marty to help you.”
100) Author's Choice: payback
Time Period: Anytime post Victor & Alice's wedding, when Victor has his own lab
Notes: A companion fic to "99) Author's Choice: mechanical shoes," right above Shortly after writing that, I suddenly had a funny thought -- what if, after he went a bit Creative, Victor decided to turn the tables on Doc? Originally he claimed this was direct revenge for the mechanical shoes, but that put it over wordcount. Besides, I'm sure there were other experiments that didn't end quite well either, so. . . .
“Yes! They work! They really work!”
“Your new breed of silkworms do indeed work,” Doc said, looking down at his cocooned body. “Rather too well, I think.”
“Nonsense!” Doc raised an eyebrow. “Well, maybe. I can tweak them later.” He grabbed his sketchbook and began writing. “Thank you so much for helping me.”
“You’re welcome.” Doc wriggled. “Er – could you help me out of here?”
“Just a moment, please – science first.”
There was a brief silence. “. . .You’ve been planning this.”
Victor couldn’t help smirking. “Forgive me, but yes. Payback for a few experiments.”
“Well, can’t say I don’t deserve it.”