Other Weekly Drabbles #1-5
12/4/2010: Saturday Shopping Songs, They Can Also Do The Mario Theme
Prompt: Your character is shopping (in a mall, marketplace, or wherever they do their shopping) - and they hear a familiar (liked or hated) song played. 1) What is the song? and 2) What is their reaction to it? Bonus points: Write a short piece about the experience.
Time Period: Victor's childhood
Notes: The inspiration for this short comes from a certain headcanon I came up with for a post not long before this one:
On his first trip to London with his parents, Victor happened to catch a little of a local Touched's demonstration of his singing Tesla coils. Nell pulled him away before he could see more than a minute, but it planted the first germ of the idea that maybe Touched weren't monsters.
Victor's seven in this ficlet. His governess's name, Miss Horrocks, comes from Jane Horrocks, who voiced Black Widow Spider and Mrs. Plum in Corpse Bride. The passage she's reading at the beginning is from Alice's Adventures In Wonderland (well, it's technically from a Victorian history book, but we're all familiar with it because of Alice). And the title, which I just thought up, refers to me actually seeing a YouTube video with Tesla coils doing the Mario theme. (They're pretty awesome.)
“‘William the Conqueror, whose cause was favoured by the pope, was soon submitted to by the English, who wanted leaders, and had been of late much accustomed to usurpation and conquest. Edwin and Morcar, the–’ Victor, are you attending?”
“Yes, Miss Horrocks,” Victor said, not looking up from the ground.
“You must pay attention,” Miss Horrocks scolded. “History is very important.”
“I’m l-listening, Miss Horrocks.”
“Very well. ‘Edwin and Morcar, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria, declared for him, and even Stigand, the patriotic archbishop of Canterbury, found it advisable. . . .’”
Victor sighed a little as his mind wandered away from the dull, droning words. He felt a bit bad about not listening to the lesson, but the book his governess was reading from was so dry that Victor felt that, if you dropped it in a river, not a single page would get wet. Besides, it was hard to pay attention when you were in a city as big and scary as London was. He didn’t understand his Mummy’s fascination with it at all. She’d been going on and on all day about how she had to buy herself a whole new wardrobe, and new jewelry, and new dishes – new everything, it seemed. In fact, she and Daddy were in one of the stores on this street now, shopping for clothes. Mummy hadn’t wanted him underfoot, so he’d been forced to sit on a bench outside with Miss Horrocks, who had decided to use the time for a lesson. Victor wished she’d thought of taking him to the park instead. He was bored and uncomfortable and just wanted to –
His head jerked up as music reached his ears. Music that was at once familiar and unfamiliar. The tune being played was most definitely Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony – Victor knew it inside and out from practicing it diligently at home on his piano (no small feat for a seven-year-old). But the music itself was strange. There was a sort of buzzing crackle to it that he couldn’t place. What sort of instrument is that?
Miss Horrocks had noticed it too, looking up from the book and frowning. “Now where is that racket coming from?”
Victor thought it very unkind of Miss Horrocks to call that a racket. It was very obviously music, no matter how strange it sounded. And it seemed to be coming from around the corner. Curiosity triumphed over his usual nervous nature, and he slid off the bench and hurried down the street. “Victor!” Miss Horrocks cried, getting to her feet. “Come back here!”
“This is w-where the music’s coming from! Y-you wanted to know!” Victor called back, then rounded the corner. The sight that greeted him stopped him in his tracks. There was a large crowd there, all staring up at a gigantic stage set up in the middle of the street. It was big enough that even tiny Victor, if he tilted his head way up, could see what was on it. There was a man there, with goggles on and a funny white coat. There were also two big metal things shaped a bit like mushrooms, from which sparks of electricity were issuing. With a jolt, Victor realized that they were somehow causing the music – the sparks they shared seemed to produce the notes. He stared, enthralled as the buzzing tune filled his ears. “Wow. . . .”
“Victor Van Dort!”
He nearly jumped out of his skin as a hand fastened itself around his wrist. He looked up into the scowling face of his mother. “We leave you alone for five minutes, and already you’re getting into trouble!” she snapped. “Come along, we have more shopping to do!”
“B-but the m-music?” Victor said, pointing to the magical machines and the man operating them.
Mummy looked, then just scowled harder. “That’s a Touched, Victor,” she said, pulling him away. “You want nothing to do with them. They’re monsters, all of them.”
A Touched? Victor had heard about Touched. People at home were always saying how they took people away and cut them open and did all sorts of nasty things to them, or else were making terrible monsters that chased people and ate them or smushed them under their feet. Touched were bad people, and you didn’t want to be anywhere near them. He shuddered and obediently let Mummy take him over to where Miss Horrocks and Daddy (the latter laden with bags) were waiting. He didn’t want the Touched to notice him or turn him into an experiment – or, worse, risk more of Mummy’s wrath.
But he could still hear the music, even as they walked away to find the most fashionable hatter in town. And as it swirled around him, crackling in his ears, he couldn’t help entertaining a most treacherous thought for a moment: Could anyone who can make music like that really be that bad?
12/15/2010: Wednesday Picture Prompt, Perspective Flip
Prompt: For today's graphics related prompt, we challenge you to write something inspired by a picture of a man doing a handstand on a road – that's been flipped upside-down.
Time Period: Random incident likely after "Secundus"
Notes: Well, it's a world ruled by mad science, so. . . . I can't take credit for Richard's name, however. The first person to conceive of calling the "American McGee's Alice" Hatter "Richard" was a girl who went by NuttyIsa on devART. I just got used to thinking of him like that, and here we are.
“Hello, RichaAARRRGH!”
For one frightening moment, Victor had no idea what had happened. He’d just stepped over the threshold, and it was like the whole world had turned upside-down. Then he got his bearings and realized that – that actually was the case. Somehow, the inside of Mad Hatter Haberdashery had managed to flip itself so that the floor was the ceiling and vice-versa. The trouble was, gravity hadn’t been so kind as to orient itself in the new direction. The other trouble was, the ceiling of Mad Hatter Haberdashery wasn’t flat, but pointed. Victor found himself lying in a tangled heap in the very tip of the point. “Ow,” he mumbled.
“Victor! Sorry about that,” a voice came from above him. Victor looked up to see Richard hanging above him. His friend’s absurdly tall hat was open, and the mechanical hand inside of it was desperately clinging to a chair that was somehow still stuck to the floor. “It’s supposed to be an antigravity device,” the shop’s proprietor continued, doing his best to work on a piece of machinery that was now upside-down. “I don’t know why it did this, or why the gravity flip doesn’t effect humans. . .but not to worry, I’ll soon have it right! In the meantime, it would probably be best if you tried to climb up to the floor.”
Victor stared at Richard for a moment. “Why am I friends with you?” he finally asked, unable to help himself.
“Because my shop is the only place you can get squimberry tarts.”
“. . .All right, that’s a good enough reason.”
12/21/2010: Twosday Thoughts On Snow
Prompt: The snow is really coming down out there! Do you find it... frightful or delightful? Bonus points: Write a scene that features your love or hate for snow.
Time Period: Victor's childhood
Notes: Nothing particular for me to say here, but here's what Victor had to say in response to the prompt before I presented the ficlet:
I rather like snow overall. I have fond memories of making snowmen and snow angels and snow forts as a child. I will admit that I don't like to be out in it for too long, however – I get cold easily. And the novelty wears off around early March.
Victor pressed a hand against the glass, watching the snow drift down. The flakes were the large, fluffy kind, the kind that promised a world wreathed in white in the near future. Already the ground was starting to vanish under the gentle but relentless assault. The trees and buildings too were altered, looking as if they’d been dusted with sugar. Victor smiled, admiring the slow change of the landscape, thinking ahead to the creation of snowmen and snow angels once the clouds had done their work. Yes, he liked snow.
Of course, he’d also admit he liked snow a bit better when he was watching it from inside a nice warm house.
1/12/2011: Wednesday Up A Tree, To The Top
Prompt:A picture speaks a thousand words... sometimes. For today, look at this picture of a lone bare tree in the snow and let it inspire you to write something about your characters.
Time Period: Victor and Alice's courtship in "Secundus"
Notes: This basic idea had been kicking around in my head for a while. Victor has mad climbing skills. Seriously, look at the part where he's climbing that cliff in the movie again – he is SPIDER-MAN.
Victor looked up into the solitary tree’s branches. It was rather majestic, the way it reached toward the sky. Even in this cold weather, there was something beautiful about it. Victor examined it, trying to imagine how it would look with the bright greens of spring and the brilliant colors of autumn. Would leaves add to the tree’s beauty, or somehow detract from it?
“Thinking of climbing it?”
He turned to see Alice standing behind him, grinning. “No, just admiring it.”
“Ah.” Alice moved a little closer, casting her own contemplative look on the branches. “It is a pretty tree.”
“Are you thinking of climbing it?” Victor had to ask.
“Maybe,” Alice admitted with a little smirk. “I’ve climbed my fair share of trees.”
“So have I,” Victor said with a chuckle. “Probably far more than you.”
“Probably, but I’m very good at it.”
“So am I.” Victor felt suddenly playful. “Fancy a race to the top?”
“You’re on!” Alice promptly grabbed the branch closest to her and started up.
Victor did much the same, scrambling up the tree with practiced ease. He glanced down as he came to the last safe branch to sit on – Alice was good, especially for someone climbing in a skirt. She was only one branch below him. Though she seemed to be having a bit of trouble figuring out how to get to his branch now. Ever the gentleman, he extended a hand.
Alice blinked at him a moment, then accepted it. He pulled her into place next to him. “You are good,” she said as she got settled. “What are you, part spider?”
“No,” Victor said, looking at the ground. “Just very, very experienced at getting away from bullies.”
1/18/2011: Twosday Borrowing Or Lending?
Prompt: Do you tend to be a borrower or a lender? Bonus points: Write about a time you needed to borrow something, or loaned something to someone else.
Time Period: Random incident in "Secundus"
Notes: Again, let's have Victor's thoughts on the prompt:
I suppose I'm more of a lender, as I don't think I've ever really needed to borrow something. I've always had whatever I need provided for me by my parents. I admittedly don't do much lending of physical objects, but I do try to lend my help to anyone who needs it. I'm doing quite a lot of that now here in Secundus, thanks to my new job.
And then I ended up writing something about him realizing just how much borrowing he's actually doing while living in Secundus with Doc and Marty. XD Though it does start off with him lending some money! Speaking of which, the original version had Victor lending Marty a pound for just a notebook – if you wanted any clearer proof of how little I knew about Victorian money back then, well, there it is.
“One, two, three, and – one, two, three. . . . Uh, Victor, can I borrow a shilling? I’m just short here.”
“Of course,” Victor said, taking out his own wallet and handing over the asked-for money.
“Thanks.” Marty handed it to the clerk, who in turn handed over the bag containing the notebook, pens, and ruler he'd just bought. “I’ll give it right back once we get home,” he said as they exited the store.
“Oh, it’s really no trouble,” Victor assured him with a smile. “I was happy to help.”
Marty grinned back. “Yeah, but I don’t want to stiff you. I know you’ve been saving up your salary, and you do get less than me. . . .”
Victor opened his mouth to say something, then stopped as he realized – Marty was right. He did get less than him. And here in Secundus, he didn’t have access to the Van Dort fortune. If he wanted to buy something, he had to rely on his own savings. Granted, he didn’t usually buy much, and the only things he wanted were quite cheap, but – what if he did want something more expensive one day? What about his reoccurring thought about finding his own flat? He’d need plenty of money for that, and on his current salary. . . .
“Hey, you okay?”
Victor snapped back to reality to see Marty watching him with a frown. “You just stopped walking there,” he added.
“I just – it really hit me for the first time that, right here and now, I’m not rich anymore,” Victor said slowly. “It’s a bit of a thing to w-wrap my head around.” Then, suddenly worried Marty would take offense, he quickly added, “N-not that I regret lending you the shilling or anything–”
Marty chuckled. “Relax, Victor, I know what you’re saying. Don’t worry about it, though – Doc and I will keep a roof over your head and all that.” Then he playfully nudged his friend. “Though considering you’ve been sleeping on our couch and only just realized you’re living the poor life. . . .”
“Yes, yes, laugh at my obliviousness. . . .”
Prompt: Your character is shopping (in a mall, marketplace, or wherever they do their shopping) - and they hear a familiar (liked or hated) song played. 1) What is the song? and 2) What is their reaction to it? Bonus points: Write a short piece about the experience.
Time Period: Victor's childhood
Notes: The inspiration for this short comes from a certain headcanon I came up with for a post not long before this one:
On his first trip to London with his parents, Victor happened to catch a little of a local Touched's demonstration of his singing Tesla coils. Nell pulled him away before he could see more than a minute, but it planted the first germ of the idea that maybe Touched weren't monsters.
Victor's seven in this ficlet. His governess's name, Miss Horrocks, comes from Jane Horrocks, who voiced Black Widow Spider and Mrs. Plum in Corpse Bride. The passage she's reading at the beginning is from Alice's Adventures In Wonderland (well, it's technically from a Victorian history book, but we're all familiar with it because of Alice). And the title, which I just thought up, refers to me actually seeing a YouTube video with Tesla coils doing the Mario theme. (They're pretty awesome.)
“‘William the Conqueror, whose cause was favoured by the pope, was soon submitted to by the English, who wanted leaders, and had been of late much accustomed to usurpation and conquest. Edwin and Morcar, the–’ Victor, are you attending?”
“Yes, Miss Horrocks,” Victor said, not looking up from the ground.
“You must pay attention,” Miss Horrocks scolded. “History is very important.”
“I’m l-listening, Miss Horrocks.”
“Very well. ‘Edwin and Morcar, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria, declared for him, and even Stigand, the patriotic archbishop of Canterbury, found it advisable. . . .’”
Victor sighed a little as his mind wandered away from the dull, droning words. He felt a bit bad about not listening to the lesson, but the book his governess was reading from was so dry that Victor felt that, if you dropped it in a river, not a single page would get wet. Besides, it was hard to pay attention when you were in a city as big and scary as London was. He didn’t understand his Mummy’s fascination with it at all. She’d been going on and on all day about how she had to buy herself a whole new wardrobe, and new jewelry, and new dishes – new everything, it seemed. In fact, she and Daddy were in one of the stores on this street now, shopping for clothes. Mummy hadn’t wanted him underfoot, so he’d been forced to sit on a bench outside with Miss Horrocks, who had decided to use the time for a lesson. Victor wished she’d thought of taking him to the park instead. He was bored and uncomfortable and just wanted to –
His head jerked up as music reached his ears. Music that was at once familiar and unfamiliar. The tune being played was most definitely Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony – Victor knew it inside and out from practicing it diligently at home on his piano (no small feat for a seven-year-old). But the music itself was strange. There was a sort of buzzing crackle to it that he couldn’t place. What sort of instrument is that?
Miss Horrocks had noticed it too, looking up from the book and frowning. “Now where is that racket coming from?”
Victor thought it very unkind of Miss Horrocks to call that a racket. It was very obviously music, no matter how strange it sounded. And it seemed to be coming from around the corner. Curiosity triumphed over his usual nervous nature, and he slid off the bench and hurried down the street. “Victor!” Miss Horrocks cried, getting to her feet. “Come back here!”
“This is w-where the music’s coming from! Y-you wanted to know!” Victor called back, then rounded the corner. The sight that greeted him stopped him in his tracks. There was a large crowd there, all staring up at a gigantic stage set up in the middle of the street. It was big enough that even tiny Victor, if he tilted his head way up, could see what was on it. There was a man there, with goggles on and a funny white coat. There were also two big metal things shaped a bit like mushrooms, from which sparks of electricity were issuing. With a jolt, Victor realized that they were somehow causing the music – the sparks they shared seemed to produce the notes. He stared, enthralled as the buzzing tune filled his ears. “Wow. . . .”
“Victor Van Dort!”
He nearly jumped out of his skin as a hand fastened itself around his wrist. He looked up into the scowling face of his mother. “We leave you alone for five minutes, and already you’re getting into trouble!” she snapped. “Come along, we have more shopping to do!”
“B-but the m-music?” Victor said, pointing to the magical machines and the man operating them.
Mummy looked, then just scowled harder. “That’s a Touched, Victor,” she said, pulling him away. “You want nothing to do with them. They’re monsters, all of them.”
A Touched? Victor had heard about Touched. People at home were always saying how they took people away and cut them open and did all sorts of nasty things to them, or else were making terrible monsters that chased people and ate them or smushed them under their feet. Touched were bad people, and you didn’t want to be anywhere near them. He shuddered and obediently let Mummy take him over to where Miss Horrocks and Daddy (the latter laden with bags) were waiting. He didn’t want the Touched to notice him or turn him into an experiment – or, worse, risk more of Mummy’s wrath.
But he could still hear the music, even as they walked away to find the most fashionable hatter in town. And as it swirled around him, crackling in his ears, he couldn’t help entertaining a most treacherous thought for a moment: Could anyone who can make music like that really be that bad?
12/15/2010: Wednesday Picture Prompt, Perspective Flip
Prompt: For today's graphics related prompt, we challenge you to write something inspired by a picture of a man doing a handstand on a road – that's been flipped upside-down.
Time Period: Random incident likely after "Secundus"
Notes: Well, it's a world ruled by mad science, so. . . . I can't take credit for Richard's name, however. The first person to conceive of calling the "American McGee's Alice" Hatter "Richard" was a girl who went by NuttyIsa on devART. I just got used to thinking of him like that, and here we are.
“Hello, RichaAARRRGH!”
For one frightening moment, Victor had no idea what had happened. He’d just stepped over the threshold, and it was like the whole world had turned upside-down. Then he got his bearings and realized that – that actually was the case. Somehow, the inside of Mad Hatter Haberdashery had managed to flip itself so that the floor was the ceiling and vice-versa. The trouble was, gravity hadn’t been so kind as to orient itself in the new direction. The other trouble was, the ceiling of Mad Hatter Haberdashery wasn’t flat, but pointed. Victor found himself lying in a tangled heap in the very tip of the point. “Ow,” he mumbled.
“Victor! Sorry about that,” a voice came from above him. Victor looked up to see Richard hanging above him. His friend’s absurdly tall hat was open, and the mechanical hand inside of it was desperately clinging to a chair that was somehow still stuck to the floor. “It’s supposed to be an antigravity device,” the shop’s proprietor continued, doing his best to work on a piece of machinery that was now upside-down. “I don’t know why it did this, or why the gravity flip doesn’t effect humans. . .but not to worry, I’ll soon have it right! In the meantime, it would probably be best if you tried to climb up to the floor.”
Victor stared at Richard for a moment. “Why am I friends with you?” he finally asked, unable to help himself.
“Because my shop is the only place you can get squimberry tarts.”
“. . .All right, that’s a good enough reason.”
12/21/2010: Twosday Thoughts On Snow
Prompt: The snow is really coming down out there! Do you find it... frightful or delightful? Bonus points: Write a scene that features your love or hate for snow.
Time Period: Victor's childhood
Notes: Nothing particular for me to say here, but here's what Victor had to say in response to the prompt before I presented the ficlet:
I rather like snow overall. I have fond memories of making snowmen and snow angels and snow forts as a child. I will admit that I don't like to be out in it for too long, however – I get cold easily. And the novelty wears off around early March.
Victor pressed a hand against the glass, watching the snow drift down. The flakes were the large, fluffy kind, the kind that promised a world wreathed in white in the near future. Already the ground was starting to vanish under the gentle but relentless assault. The trees and buildings too were altered, looking as if they’d been dusted with sugar. Victor smiled, admiring the slow change of the landscape, thinking ahead to the creation of snowmen and snow angels once the clouds had done their work. Yes, he liked snow.
Of course, he’d also admit he liked snow a bit better when he was watching it from inside a nice warm house.
1/12/2011: Wednesday Up A Tree, To The Top
Prompt:A picture speaks a thousand words... sometimes. For today, look at this picture of a lone bare tree in the snow and let it inspire you to write something about your characters.
Time Period: Victor and Alice's courtship in "Secundus"
Notes: This basic idea had been kicking around in my head for a while. Victor has mad climbing skills. Seriously, look at the part where he's climbing that cliff in the movie again – he is SPIDER-MAN.
Victor looked up into the solitary tree’s branches. It was rather majestic, the way it reached toward the sky. Even in this cold weather, there was something beautiful about it. Victor examined it, trying to imagine how it would look with the bright greens of spring and the brilliant colors of autumn. Would leaves add to the tree’s beauty, or somehow detract from it?
“Thinking of climbing it?”
He turned to see Alice standing behind him, grinning. “No, just admiring it.”
“Ah.” Alice moved a little closer, casting her own contemplative look on the branches. “It is a pretty tree.”
“Are you thinking of climbing it?” Victor had to ask.
“Maybe,” Alice admitted with a little smirk. “I’ve climbed my fair share of trees.”
“So have I,” Victor said with a chuckle. “Probably far more than you.”
“Probably, but I’m very good at it.”
“So am I.” Victor felt suddenly playful. “Fancy a race to the top?”
“You’re on!” Alice promptly grabbed the branch closest to her and started up.
Victor did much the same, scrambling up the tree with practiced ease. He glanced down as he came to the last safe branch to sit on – Alice was good, especially for someone climbing in a skirt. She was only one branch below him. Though she seemed to be having a bit of trouble figuring out how to get to his branch now. Ever the gentleman, he extended a hand.
Alice blinked at him a moment, then accepted it. He pulled her into place next to him. “You are good,” she said as she got settled. “What are you, part spider?”
“No,” Victor said, looking at the ground. “Just very, very experienced at getting away from bullies.”
1/18/2011: Twosday Borrowing Or Lending?
Prompt: Do you tend to be a borrower or a lender? Bonus points: Write about a time you needed to borrow something, or loaned something to someone else.
Time Period: Random incident in "Secundus"
Notes: Again, let's have Victor's thoughts on the prompt:
I suppose I'm more of a lender, as I don't think I've ever really needed to borrow something. I've always had whatever I need provided for me by my parents. I admittedly don't do much lending of physical objects, but I do try to lend my help to anyone who needs it. I'm doing quite a lot of that now here in Secundus, thanks to my new job.
And then I ended up writing something about him realizing just how much borrowing he's actually doing while living in Secundus with Doc and Marty. XD Though it does start off with him lending some money! Speaking of which, the original version had Victor lending Marty a pound for just a notebook – if you wanted any clearer proof of how little I knew about Victorian money back then, well, there it is.
“One, two, three, and – one, two, three. . . . Uh, Victor, can I borrow a shilling? I’m just short here.”
“Of course,” Victor said, taking out his own wallet and handing over the asked-for money.
“Thanks.” Marty handed it to the clerk, who in turn handed over the bag containing the notebook, pens, and ruler he'd just bought. “I’ll give it right back once we get home,” he said as they exited the store.
“Oh, it’s really no trouble,” Victor assured him with a smile. “I was happy to help.”
Marty grinned back. “Yeah, but I don’t want to stiff you. I know you’ve been saving up your salary, and you do get less than me. . . .”
Victor opened his mouth to say something, then stopped as he realized – Marty was right. He did get less than him. And here in Secundus, he didn’t have access to the Van Dort fortune. If he wanted to buy something, he had to rely on his own savings. Granted, he didn’t usually buy much, and the only things he wanted were quite cheap, but – what if he did want something more expensive one day? What about his reoccurring thought about finding his own flat? He’d need plenty of money for that, and on his current salary. . . .
“Hey, you okay?”
Victor snapped back to reality to see Marty watching him with a frown. “You just stopped walking there,” he added.
“I just – it really hit me for the first time that, right here and now, I’m not rich anymore,” Victor said slowly. “It’s a bit of a thing to w-wrap my head around.” Then, suddenly worried Marty would take offense, he quickly added, “N-not that I regret lending you the shilling or anything–”
Marty chuckled. “Relax, Victor, I know what you’re saying. Don’t worry about it, though – Doc and I will keep a roof over your head and all that.” Then he playfully nudged his friend. “Though considering you’ve been sleeping on our couch and only just realized you’re living the poor life. . . .”
“Yes, yes, laugh at my obliviousness. . . .”