dragonyphoenix: Blackadder looking at scraps of paper, saying "It could use a beta" (Francine transcendant)
dragonyphoenix ([personal profile] dragonyphoenix) wrote2016-03-10 07:34 am
Entry tags:

Rules

Title: Rules
Disclaimer: They aren't mine but they will be, once I've taken over the world! Bwah-ha-ha!
Character: Willow
Summary: When it comes to Tara, Willow thinks rules don't matter.
Note: I'd meant to write a story for the last-line-first-line game at Giles Shorts, but I went off with the line to think of a story and came up with one about Willow, no Giles appearances whatsoever. *shakes head* Since the original game was to post a pure drabble, 100 words exactly, this diptych has 100 words in each section.

Some rules mattered, sure, but working a memory spell, that didn’t break any rules because there were no rules about spells. Anyway, it was of the good because reducing conflict, that meant less stress, and everyone knew that cortisol and epinephrine were bad for your health. So, really, she was helping.

And sneaking the Lethe’s Bramble into her pocket, that wasn’t really stealing. It wasn’t her fault that Anya was nosy and loud and couldn’t keep a secret even if you paid her. Well, maybe if you paid her. But this was private, Willow’s alone. Nobody else had to know.

***

She saw red. A hole, dark against the blue of the sweater. Tara on the floor. No. No no please no.

“By Osiris, I command you, bring her back!”

Tara. So still. Please come back. Please. Please.

Alone. Not good enough. Never good enough. Not good enough to have. Not good enough to keep. Alone again. Alone.

The wound. Gunshot. Not a demon. Human malice. Warren. Could have stopped him, but had to play by the rules. Look what that got you.

Tara. Please. Please.

He didn’t care about rules. Why should she? Rules didn’t matter. Rules were for fools.
ext_1707915: (Default)

[identity profile] rbfvid.livejournal.com 2016-03-10 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
This is heartbreaking. Poor Willow, whatever shi did - followed the rules or broke them, it never worked in her favor (

[identity profile] dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com 2016-03-10 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh, heartbreaking. Thanks.

[identity profile] snogged.livejournal.com 2016-03-12 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
This is so heartbreaking.
Well done.

[identity profile] dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com 2016-03-12 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you. I do like how the heartbreaking "tara. please." bits came out in the second section.
il_mio_capitano: (dickens)

[personal profile] il_mio_capitano 2016-03-12 11:57 am (UTC)(link)
Heartbreaking is the word!

And I love that shorts was the catalyst. That comm is all about trying to inspire ideas.

[identity profile] dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com 2016-03-12 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I felt a tad chagrined when I realized I was supposed to be writing a Giles story! ;-)

But I am working on one now.
il_mio_capitano: (shirt)

[personal profile] il_mio_capitano 2016-03-12 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay! I've noticed you're totally on a roll with Giles as the big bad.

[identity profile] dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com 2016-03-13 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, thanks. That is coming along nicely. ;-)