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amanuensis1 ([personal profile] amanuensis1) wrote2004-03-19 10:13 pm

Drabble Night, March 19, 2004

The theme: Three Little Words. Could be directly incorporated into the drabble, or just as inspiration.

I was dismayed to find that I'd made some unnecessary duplications in trying to get all the words/ideas into the drabbles, at least once, but I keep reminding myself that it's "Fifteen minutes and NO BETAS" on these things. Meh.



Plaintive, Luminary, Susurrus -- Remus/Sirius (challenge by [livejournal.com profile] cluegirl)

The nights are hell.

Remus knows what hell is now: Hell is not Sartre's other people; it is not even the absence of people. Hell is not brimstone or flame or nice geometrical divisions of sins and punishments.

Hell is dusk, when the candles in the parlor are poor luminaries to replace the comfort sunlight brings during the day. Hell is evening, when every susurrus of the old house is the voice of a ghost pleading to be heard, and gone the next moment. Hell is night, when there are no barriers between oneself and one's thoughts, and might-have-beens and should-have-dones and never-will-be-agains.

"I didn't get to tell him good-bye," Remus says plaintively to the quiet air.

There is no one to hear, and no one to witness him weeping.




Ornamental, taste, windowpane - Harry/Ron (challenge by isolde)

"Ginny had fun," said Ron.

"I think so." Harry was uncharacteristically hanging his robes up instead of tossing them on the floor, but then, these were formal and rented. "At least a dozen older witches told me how good we looked together."

Ron's reply came around a mouthful of toothpaste, but Harry understood it anyway: "You jus' go' a thing for re'heads."

"You're sure she didn't mind?" Harry asked for the thousandth time. "Being...you know...window-dressing?"

"Don' be--" *spit*--"daft. She's happy to do us favors. And she likes dressing up."

"I suppose..."

"Besides," added Ron. "she's still my little sister. I can put a toad in her bed if she refuses. D'you want to open that window; it's stuffy in here."

Nighttime rituals nearly completed, the two climbed into bed.

And, too tired for anything more that night, shared the last one:

"'Night, Harry." Kiss.

"'Night, you sexy redhead."




Draco/Ron, forgiveness, accident, delicate (challenge by [livejournal.com profile] goseaward)

"I've come to beg your forgiveness," said Draco.

"Why?" said Ron.

"Because it was an accident."

"No, I mean, why should I forgive you?"

Draco thought. "Because it was an accident," he repeated, stressing the first word just a bit differently.

"Ah."

"And I have very delicate feelings. So you should forgive me before I go and throw myself off the astronomy tower."

"Draco--" Ron shifted in the infirmary bed. "--it is very hard to cast a furnunculus charm onto someone's bum by accident."

"I know. Very, very hard. I had to practice for weeks before I could manage it accidentally. Am I forgiven yet?"

"Jesus. You know--"

"Right. Astronomy Tower. Tell my father I never loved him." He turned to go.

Ron caught Draco's sleeve. "Git. Give me a kiss. And don't mess up my pillows. It still hurts to sit."




Limpid, Apotheosis, Surcease -- Snape/Harry (challenge by [livejournal.com profile] cluegirl)

And so it has come to this.

Two days ago, Potter reached a hand out for his, and used what was surely his last conscious act to curl his fingers about Snape's.

Snape has not moved his hand in those two days. None have tried to make him do so.

He sees the remainder of his own days stretching out before him: untroubled, limpid. No one to disturb their neat order. No one to make a beloved nuisance of himself within that calendar.

No boy less than half his age climbing in and out of his bed, his rooms, his life.

Such a hideous apotheosis is not to be borne.

He watches Potter's chest rise and fall in breaths that come with ever more space between them.

Snape waits, not for death, it seems, but mere...surcease.

For both of them.

[identity profile] maeglinyedi.livejournal.com 2004-03-19 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
You hear that shattering noise? That's my heart which just broke into a thousand pieces while I read that Sirius/Remus drabble. Man...so SAD. Beautiful, but sad. Loved the rest as well, but that first one...*hurts*

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 06:59 am (UTC)(link)
I can't seem to stop wanting Remus Grieving For Sirius snippets. The word "plaintive" just pulled this one out of me full-formed. It's as if it's easier to write Remus's grief than it is Harry's grief, because to think of Sirius from Harry's head still feels so...numb. Or I'm forcing it to stay numb. Or something. Gah, I don't know. It's like I'm allowing the bleeding to come from a different source now. Pathetic, huh?

[identity profile] gmth.livejournal.com 2004-03-19 08:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Whoa, a fluff sammich with a slice of mangst on either side. That's impressive. ;-)

Seriously. The Snarry one killed me. And poor Remus... I wish someone had been there to huggle him. He so needs a shoulder to wipe his nose on.

What happened to the smut???

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 07:00 am (UTC)(link)
a fluff sammich with a slice of mangst on either side.

SPUTTER! Oh, that's fabulous.

And I don't know where the smut muse went! She kept looking at those words and going out for another latte, I guess. I'll see if I can tempt her back soon.

[identity profile] dphearson.livejournal.com 2004-03-19 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay!

I loved the Draco/Ron, and the Harry/Ron- great fun, and love the touches of established humor in both. Great job!

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 07:55 am (UTC)(link)
Here is where I should say something insightful about Established Relationship drabbles, but I'm clueless and grinning. So, thank you!
ext_1611: Isis statue (eep)

[identity profile] isiscolo.livejournal.com 2004-03-19 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)

Such a hideous apotheosis is not to be borne.


The Apotheosis Of The Amanuensis!!!

Yeah, ok, it's angst, but I just can't see that word without thinking of, um. I wish I could remember where I knew this from. It's a book title. I don't think it's an actual book, though.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 07:57 am (UTC)(link)
She said it, she said it!

...are you happy now? Hmm?

On a side note I discovered that if you Google "amanuensis", my livejournal is the second entry, and Despoiling Harry is the fifth. And the fourth is another fanfic author! Go us, whee!

[identity profile] fallingfortruth.livejournal.com 2004-03-19 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
*swoons* I heart you. Lots. Don't mind the crunching noise, it's just the bits resettling, it'll stop soon.

Also, I adore the Draco/Ron. And the Harry/Ron. *has strange Ron fixation* But the mangst is ghod.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 07:59 am (UTC)(link)
Aww! The mangst would not be denied. Sorry to whip it on everyone. Thank you so much!

[identity profile] kat-denton.livejournal.com 2004-03-19 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, the snarry one!!! There's such foreboding in the word "surcease". All of them are tightly crafted, but I especially liked the angsty ones.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:00 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, I blame Cluegirl for picking the words that screamed, "angst me, baby!" I'm quite sure she did it deliberately. Not that that's a bad thing. ^_^

[identity profile] satanbaker.livejournal.com 2004-03-19 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Weee. Very nice, my favorite was the Draco/Ron one, that was just amusing.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:01 am (UTC)(link)
I liked the idea of fixated!Draco not caring what Ron thought of him as long as he got all their arguments out of the way. Thanks!

[identity profile] jeddy83.livejournal.com 2004-03-19 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Man, the first and last drabbles damn near broke my heart. *whimper* Poor Remus and Severus.

And the Ron/Draco is like an AU of the one from last week in which Draco is only playfully malicious instead of just plain evil. The insincerity of his apology was just perfect.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, I didn't think of that! That it could have been the AU version! Yeah, and to Draco, the thing is that he doesn't know it's insincere. He's just saying words to get to the good part, and to him, that's a concession. Thank you!
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Re: Plaintive, etc...

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:04 am (UTC)(link)
I feel like that word pricked me and made me bleed all over the textpage. Just couldn't stop it.Thanks, hon.

[identity profile] elsajeni.livejournal.com 2004-03-19 10:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I wish, I wish, I wish you hadn't just killed me. Dammit, I was fine through the first 3. Even the Remus/Sirius. I guess I've gotten used to it. Why did you have to kill me?

Right. I'm going to go watch a Johnny Depp movie. That'll make me feel better.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:05 am (UTC)(link)
*supresses urge to suggest "From Hell" ^_~* I'm so sorry! The words just wouldn't let me write anything else.

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[identity profile] noblerot.livejournal.com 2004-03-19 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
The first drabble simply aches. Heaven is for the dead and hell is for those left behind.

Harry/Ron and Draco/Ron were great snapshots of two very different relationships and the types of specialized difficulties each entails -- of course romance between Draco and Ron would involve playful (and painful) battles.

And the Snape/Harry? It doesn't vent sorrow, it suppresses it, which is exactly how Snape would approach mourning. And this opening image... whew: Two days ago, Potter reached a hand out for his, and used what was surely his last conscious act to curl his fingers about Snape's.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:08 am (UTC)(link)
I want to come to your House of Literary Discussion and hang out so that I can absorb some smarts, okay? MAN, you always know just what to say, you know that?

Heaven is for the dead and hell is for those left behind. Wibble.

[identity profile] ygrane.livejournal.com 2004-03-19 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Mangst sounds like something dreadful that needs an ointment and an antibiotic. ^_~

Loved the drabbles. ^_^

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:10 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe an antifungal! Yeah, that's it. ^_^ Thank you!

[identity profile] glitterdemon.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
You know, I never realized that you only had 15 minutes for each drabble, which renders me completely speechless, because your drabbles are always perfection. Just a little side note.

I love these, as usual. The only thing unusual is that I'm completely unable to choose a favorite. Each one is beautiful in its own way, with a brilliant economy of words into emotion. Thank you for sharing. :)

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:17 am (UTC)(link)
I never realized that you only had 15 minutes for each drabble,

Oh! I'm glad I said something, then--'cuz I would NOT be writing, much less posting, some of these results were it not a "can you come up with anything at all for this in 15 minutes?" challenge. 'Cuz some of my results are mediocre crud, man. Wouldn't inflict those on a world that's already got tons of fanfic already! ^_^

Eep. Thank you so much for the blush-inducing words!

[identity profile] naltariel.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
Hell is when you read how devastated Remus is after losing Sirius...

*sniff*

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:18 am (UTC)(link)
I know! I can't stop thinking about R/S and how hideous it must be for Remus, and then I get all sick inside all over again. Can't keep from doing it to myself.

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[identity profile] hated-and-loved.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
Wow. I was all set to post about the Remus/Sirius, and how sad and aching it was, and then I got to the Snape/Harry. And. Oh. It's just beautiful.

I admire your ability to write powerfully while remaining concise. That's the challenge of drabbles—to tell an entire story in such a short space—and yet you never seem to falter. You're really a very talented short-story author; you know that, right?

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:35 am (UTC)(link)
*blush* Um, I keep working at it! And I do think the drabbles are a great way to exercise the writing--they make you get rid of excess wordage and (you hope) make you feel the reasons why every word is there. The part I really like, too, is trying to make it a contained story, not just a snippet or a character sketch, and that's HARD. I don't always get there--I don't think I even get there most of the time. But that's what the practice is for! ^_^

[identity profile] ntamara.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 04:17 am (UTC)(link)
"Right. Astronomy Tower. Tell my father I never loved him." He turned to go.

*g*

good ones!

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:35 am (UTC)(link)
Hee! I liked putting that line together. That drama queen!

[identity profile] percysowner.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
These were all great! The Snarry one just killed me though. SOB!

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:36 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! Yeah, I'm sorry for that one, but the words made me! Something about angsty Snape just holds me.

[identity profile] moshi.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, the Remus/Sirius and Harry/Snape are so sad, and very well written, I'm constantly in awe of you drabblers. I really liked the Draco/Ron -- that was funny, particularly Draco's sarcasm. :0)

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:40 am (UTC)(link)
Ha! And the funny thing is, Draco isn't really being sarcastic--he's being all rapid-fire and desperate and just wants everything to be okay. He's like a puppy going "Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme," and wants it given, even though he hasn't the faintest idea how to apologize sincerely.

[identity profile] crossmymind.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
Gah. I'm blubbering like a little baby over here. Well not exactly, but close enough. Remus/Sirius and Snape/Harry... *throws hands up* Heartbreakingly wonderful.

Note to self: Do not read fics of any sort when you are running on no sleep.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:43 am (UTC)(link)
I do apologize for inflicting my mangst on everyone! But it's partly cluegirl's fault, I keep maintaining. And we can ALL use your "note to self"! ^_^ Thanks.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 08:45 am (UTC)(link)
*pets, soothes*

[identity profile] misted-oracle.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 11:11 am (UTC)(link)
Oh just beautiful and sad as always. The first one almost made me cry, but was lovely.

Also loved the Ron/Harry one! That's always good too.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 11:30 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! It's too easy to slip into Remus grieving for Sirius when Teh Angst hits.

[identity profile] loony-moony.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 01:42 pm (UTC)(link)
*is sho shad now wah*

The Remus/Sirius - .....waaaaaaaaaah. waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. I don't miss Sirius. I just don't. *flees teh Ammeh Arrows bahahah* But Remus...wah, I love him, wah. *sniffles* Evil, sad drabble. *pouts to the extreme*

Harry/Ron - Well, that was an interesting way to write a drabble without accomodating the three words you were supposed to accomodate. *giggles and point at you* Silly, silly b00. Ron is also very silly. YOu know, this drabble is almost incestous in its brotherly-and-yet-not-brotherly love in it. Did I mention I don't like Harry/Ron (so stop making me like that either it's bad enough mimbi wrote Snarry Mpreg in my journal)?

Draco/Ron - Wheeeeee! Now that's what I like most about you! The silly, childish, loving humor with the smut that always somehow slips in. When you write in your lighter style, you can make me read just about every pairing you feel like writing (although my limit stretches at Dumbledore/Flitwick ick ick). :D

Snape/Harry - O_O Don't tell me Snape's just poisoned Harry because he was too erratic. I will just have to skin him alive if that's true. O_O

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
1. That's right, YOU may not miss him. But Remus does. In my universe, oh, how he does.

2. It wasn't necessary to incorporate the words--they could be incorporated as IDEAS! It was in the rules! Let's see, Snarry, Harry/Ron...can't write those...anything else I'm supposed to stop making you like? ^_^

3. Unless it is proposed as a challenge, I will do my best to avoid Dumbledore/Flitwick.

4. No, no poisoning! He's just dying. (Just. Oh, god.) And Snape is dealing. Or maybe he won't. That's the thing. Made ya look, ha!

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[identity profile] ex-trolleys.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 02:10 pm (UTC)(link)
...Thank goodness for dictionary.com ^_^; I think my new favorite word is susurrus.

#1 and #4 sledgehammered my heart, but that's nothing new in the world of Amanuensis drabbles. Wah.

Hooray for Harry/Ron, I say! And a goofy grin @ Ron/Draco! <3

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Yup, dictionary and thesaurus sites are my best friends! Isn't that a cool word, though? Inspiring much angst, I fear. ^_^ Thank you so much for not holding the sledgehammer thingy against me. I was kinda unsubtle. Mmmmwah.

[identity profile] laenij.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 05:26 pm (UTC)(link)
That last one just killed me...*sigh* So sad! How do you manage to get so much emotion into your wonderful, beautiful drabbles?!

<3 Loved them all.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-21 09:41 am (UTC)(link)
You dear! *stares at your icon, grinning* Sometimes the angst just POURS out!

[identity profile] sodomite.livejournal.com 2004-03-20 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
The first one was just beautiful. I love reading these kind of fics after OOTP, although I very rarely find anything good! Remus' sadness is wonderfully portrayed - I thought I might start tearing up.

The last one was especially nice as well.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2004-03-21 02:09 pm (UTC)(link)
*nods nods* The post-OotP environment demands this sort of thing before I can go on past it, yes! Thank you!

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