1.1A -- That Sinking Feeling

[songbird_cry]

The police would not help her. Maybe they'd burned too many bridges, given how often they had created problems by working outside the law. The residents wouldn't help, either. The one man to stand up to them all had already paid dearly.

Oliver was in that warehouse, and there were enough gang members to ensure there would be no quiet entry and breakout. She was willing to go it alone, for love. After all, Oliver had come for her when her life depended on it. The price he had paid to do so was now on her hands, her conscience, a reminder that love knew no bounds.

His life depended on her willingness to go in there and possibly make a lethal decision on his behalf. There could be no other choice but to do it.

`~`~`~`~`

Oliver was dying. They were outnumbered and outgunned. She still had bullets in the last weapon she had taken, was counting them down. After seeing the shape he was in, after being in that shape before, there was never a doubt in Dinah's mind what would come next. If setting off the explosion with the pressurized gas canister was not enough to give them a way out, Dinah would follow through twice to deprive them of any further tormenting pleasure.

She kept counting bullets as they kept coming.

`~`~`~`~`

Muse: Black Canary II / Dinah Lance
Fandom: DC Comics (The writer makes no claim of rights)
Word Count: 225

"Courage! I have shown it for years; think you I shall lose it at the moment when my sufferings are to end?" - Marie Antoinette

1.3a - What Do You See?

[starflower]

Muse: Ti'ana and Atrus
Fandom: Myst
Word Count: 329

The desert sky was filled with stars on the cloudless night. Though the sand still held some of the heat of day, the air was quickly becoming cool. Anna stood at the edge of the cleft, her eyes staring off into the endless distance.

"Anna, what do you see?"

It was the question she had heard over and over again throughout her life; to see the Whole, to observe the world around her. The more time passed, the less joy she saw when she looked across the barren desert which she called 'home'. The pain, the loss, the suffering, the guilt all laid upon her like chains, keeping her back from starting anew. It had taken her years to free herself from these bonds and only to have new ones form as her son, her own dear son, left her in spite and anger.

Atrus, her beloved grandson, would soon be fourteen. He grew up so quickly, they always did. Every day with him she worried, seeing that in his eyes was the same spirit of adventure that both his grandfather and she shared, and she knew that one day he would take his own path.

Anna was broken from her thoughts by the gentle touch of a hand on her arm. She did not turn, for she already knew who it was. "Atrus, what are you doing up so late?" she asked.

Atrus thought a moment and then said something that took her by suprise, "Grandmother, what do you see?"

She turned and stared at him a moment, unsure of what to say to this unexpected inquiry which she so often asked him. After what seemed like ages to Atrus but was, in truth, only minutes, a bit of a smile came across her lips and she said, "I see a young boy who needs his sleep." She met Atrus' eyes and treasured the moment, for his company and his love were nothing to be taken for granted.

Prompt Set #2

[ravensson]

1. Quotes:

A. "Change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal." - Arthur Schopenhauer
B. "When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained." -Mark Twain
C. "I can only assume that your editorial writer tripped over the First Amendment and thought it was the office cat." - E. B. White
D. "To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug." - Helen Keller
E. "Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children." - George Bernard Shaw
F. "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned." - William Congreve

2. Picture Prompts: Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3, Picture 4, or Picture 5

3. Word Prompts: Silence, Betrayal, Monsters, Midnight, Poison, Innocence, Sacrifice, Hunter, Oracle, Enchantment, Lust, or Haunting.

4. Role-Play Prompt: Have you ever wished you could be somewhere you weren't, or do something, forbidden to you? This is your chance, find a friend or enemy and test the waters while you have a chance. (Role-play can be carried out in the post on the community or in the character's journal. If role-play is to be carried out in a character journal, please provide us with a link!)

5. Mun Prompt: What, if anything, does your Muse do to drive you crazy? Is it their musical taste? Do they insist that you drink French roast coffee instead of espresso? Tell us some of the quirky things you have started doing yourself as a result of the relationship between you and the character you write.

Just a Reminder

[ravensson]

This is just a reminder to everyone. Be sure to join the out of character community, writersooc , to catch the latest updates from the admins.