A Week of Secundus Christmas, Day Seven: Carols
This was another one that was sparked by my having to think up ideas for the Holiday Special drabble over at Charloft. I honestly had no idea what I was even going to write for the "prompt" at first -- I couldn't think of how to pervert any carols. Luckily, stumbling upon the idea of "God rest ye merry scientists" saved me, and the rest of the fic more or less just flowed from there. Though Marty originally said "I've invented a new steam turbine" for the "Joy to the World" rework, but I changed it because I couldn't get that line to fit the meter no matter how I tried. And of course I had to throw in an anachronistic reference to Rudolph -- mad scientists, remember?
“God rest ye merry scientists/May nothing you dismay/Your giant death ray laser/Will charge upon this day/Granting you ultimate power/And the world beneath your sway--”
“I refuse to believe people actually sing that.”
“Actually, I’m pretty sure Madblood’s got a variation for his army of identical clockwork Automatons.”
Victor arched an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yeah! The guy’s big into battle anthems.” Marty grinned. “Okay, how about this one: Deck the halls with gears and cogs/fa la la la la, la la la la/Tis the season to mutate frogs/fa la la la la, la la la la/Don we now our coats and goggles--”
“Do you even remember any normal carols?” Emily asked, poorly hiding her giggles behind her hand.
“What, you’ve never heard of: Joy to the world, my Fabricated lives!/Let the peasants form a mob--”
“These have to be sacrilegious,” Victoria said, although she was smiling.
“Father Gale never seems to take issue with them,” Sir Christopher told her.
“Indeed! I’ve heard him singing one about three Automatons visiting the manger before Christmas Mass,” Richard said, pouring more tea for everyone.
“I think it’s accepted around here that we Touched can pervert anything to our whims – even Christmas carols,” Doc added with a chuckle. “Not that I’ve ever tried; Marty’s the musician.”
“Makes me wonder why you’ve never tried applying your talents to your music,” Alice said, sitting next to Victor on the piano bench.
“Oh, I’ve considered it. I’m still working on butterflies that would follow flight paths based on musical notes. Their nervous systems are so primitive that it’s rather hard going at times, I’m afraid.”
“Just keep at it,” Doc said encouragingly. “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.”
“Thank you.” Victor looked around the room and smiled. “It’s – it’s really lovely, being able to spend the holidays with all of you. This is probably the nicest Christmas I’ve ever had. Even with Marty making up the strangest carols I’ve ever heard,” he added, winking at his friend.
“Oh come on – save that judgement until you’ve heard the one about the red-nosed reindeer.”
“I refuse to believe people actually sing that.”
“Actually, I’m pretty sure Madblood’s got a variation for his army of identical clockwork Automatons.”
Victor arched an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yeah! The guy’s big into battle anthems.” Marty grinned. “Okay, how about this one: Deck the halls with gears and cogs/fa la la la la, la la la la/Tis the season to mutate frogs/fa la la la la, la la la la/Don we now our coats and goggles--”
“Do you even remember any normal carols?” Emily asked, poorly hiding her giggles behind her hand.
“What, you’ve never heard of: Joy to the world, my Fabricated lives!/Let the peasants form a mob--”
“These have to be sacrilegious,” Victoria said, although she was smiling.
“Father Gale never seems to take issue with them,” Sir Christopher told her.
“Indeed! I’ve heard him singing one about three Automatons visiting the manger before Christmas Mass,” Richard said, pouring more tea for everyone.
“I think it’s accepted around here that we Touched can pervert anything to our whims – even Christmas carols,” Doc added with a chuckle. “Not that I’ve ever tried; Marty’s the musician.”
“Makes me wonder why you’ve never tried applying your talents to your music,” Alice said, sitting next to Victor on the piano bench.
“Oh, I’ve considered it. I’m still working on butterflies that would follow flight paths based on musical notes. Their nervous systems are so primitive that it’s rather hard going at times, I’m afraid.”
“Just keep at it,” Doc said encouragingly. “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.”
“Thank you.” Victor looked around the room and smiled. “It’s – it’s really lovely, being able to spend the holidays with all of you. This is probably the nicest Christmas I’ve ever had. Even with Marty making up the strangest carols I’ve ever heard,” he added, winking at his friend.
“Oh come on – save that judgement until you’ve heard the one about the red-nosed reindeer.”