Yeah, so I've decided I want to write more - and if I just write 55,000 word Fragile-esque epics all the time I'd probably go insane. Granted, I still need to write the sequel to the Fragile - Paradise Belongs to You - but I'm having huge writer's block with that. So, for now, and as an exercise of some sorts, I'm going to focus on oneshots.
I'm going off of that 100 Themed challenge (where there was a lost of a whole bunch of keywords to form oneshots off of). I should note right now that it's highly unlikely I'll get all 100 done - I'm mostly using these themes as an exercise. Like, twice a week or so I'll choose a word and random and write an impromptu story off of it. All of these stories will be placed here, so I don't clutter up the board.
I'm going to start right now with #37 - Wind.
"Duck, stop tryin' to jump over da parking meters. You're short. Get over it."
After falling to the pavement at least five times, Duck wearily composed himself and brushed the urban dust off his clothing. He and Ace were dressed casually, as they usually were when they made off-dute travels into the city around them. But for superheroes their ventures were quite undignifying.
"Feh!" Duck shot back hastily, but could say little more. As some sort of form of spite, he proceeded to quack continuously in between every two parking meters.
"You're not exactly keeping a low profile, y'know," Ace said scornfully to the transporting mallard.
"Right," Duck sighed, and quickly made a final quack back to Ace's side. "Ace, what are we doing? No, really. We're the two biggest heroes in this whole city! Or, at least, ahem, one of us is. So what are we doing buying garbage from dime-a-dozen convinience stores when we could be getting stuff free at exclusive outlets that might not have vermin crawling around everywhere?"
Ace sighed. He'd been through this at least a dozen times before. "You're exaggeratin' again. And besides, you know it's important that we stay down to earth. Yeah, we might be superheroes, but we all started out as average joes. If we start indulgin' ourselves in glitzy stuff just 'cause we can we may end up, eh, I don't know, something like you?"
"Oh, touche, Mr. Big Ears. And that's some big talk coming from someone who spends all their free time working on your kung-fu or whatever in high-tech training labs, all while thinking of more 'witty' heroic lines to use against those freaks we fight."
"Quit running your bill, Duck. We're here."
Duck and Ace walked up to an average looking cornerstore. They'd all looked the same for centuries.
"Oh, let me tell you about the excitement rushing through me," Duck said bitterly as they entered.
A few food and snack items, lots of alcohol, cigarettes, a few auto-repair items, maybe some medication and lottery tickets. These were the basic necessities of your average convenience store - and this store was as average as they come.
"I don't care how famous you are, you could never get tired of ice cream," Ace said happily, heading straight for the freezer.
"Yeah, you tell 'em, dairy bandit," Duck muttered, sorting through the scratch-off lottery ticket shelf.
A few minutes later, the pair meant at the front counter and stacked their items for the cashier to scan.
"Is that all you're gettin'?" Ace inquired to Duck, pointing to his one, solitary scratch-off ticket.
"I wasn't going to get anything, but I might as well not make this lovely journey a total waste. And I think it's safe to assume that that's all you're getting?" Duck said, gesturing towards the half dozen cartons of ice cream Ace had in front him.
Ace didn't respond as the cashier began to scan the items. "Typical," Duck said to himself, handing over the required amount owed for the ticket. After the transaction was made, the two stepped back out into the city bustle. Out of the corner of his peripheral vision, Duck spied a single coin on the ground. He picked it up, whipped out his scratch-off ticket and pinned it against the store wall.
"You're doing that now?" Ace asked.
"Hey, might as well. I mean, if I win, the store's right here," Duck replied, scratching away.
"Well, suit yourself, doc, but it's not like anyone ever wins anything with those things anyway."
Duck let out a highly audible gasp. "I won!"
"Oh, ya gotta be kiddin' me," Ace said in bitter awe.
Duck held the ticket up in the air and eyed it with a look of pure ecstasy. "And not just 10 bucks or something like that, no no no, this is $25,000! Finally, all of my heroic duties are repaid! Karma does exist!"
Ace couldn't believe it, dropping his bag of ice cream to the ground. "Well... uh... that's... great! Really, really weird... but great! But I don't think you can exchange dat at this store, I think ya gotta go somewhere-"
"Oh please, Ace, don't ruin this most beautiful of moments! Oh, thank you, karma, for showing me mercy! This means - hey, wha?"
A sudden, powerful gust of wind broke through the tall buildings above and swept down onto the street. The breeze rushed past Duck, taking the lottery ticket with it.
"What?! No!" Duck attempted to use quantam quack to follow the ticket, but to no avail. The updraft carried it far beyond his reach.
"No! But - but! What?! No! No! No, no, no!" Duck stomped on the ground, frustrated tears welling in his eyes.
Ace was positively baffled by the whole scene. "Er, tough break there, Duck," Ace snickered, "but I guess karma realized it made a mistake."
"Oh, stuff some ice cream in it, will ya? I just lost $25,000!"
"Well, maybe, but think of it this way. That ticket's gonna land somewhere, and someone's gonna find it. You losin' that ticket is gonna really change someone's life. So, you're kinda a hero in that way! I guess."
Duck sighed. "Maybe that will work for me later. Let's just get back to H.Q."
"Alright, if you say so, let's je-"
"Don't start that again," Duck interrupted menacingly.
When the two arrived back to living quarters at H.Q., they immediately took sight upon Tech and Rev in yet another one of their verbal brawls.
"Hey, guys! Whoa, guys!" Ace shouted, running in between the two of them, "What's da big idea here?"
Rev immediately turned from Tech to Ace. "Well Tech and I were coming back from the hardware store when all the there was this really really really huge gust of wind I mean really it must have been close to hurricane force. But anyway things were flying everywhere when this little ticket just hits me in the face in and just stays there. Well Tech peeled it off of me and it turned out to be a lottery ticket and get this it was a winning ticket worth $25,000! I sure feel sorry for whoever lost that."
Duck opened his mouth to say something, but words escaped him, and he was interrupted anyway.
"Well Tech here says that he's entitled to the money since he was the one who peeled it off of me but I say I should get the cut because it was the one that hit me in face in the first place-"
"You were about to swipe it off of your face, Rev. It would have just continued to move in the direction of the wind. If I hadn't been there, we wouldn't have this ticket at all right now!"
"Well all that aside I was still the one who got hit with it and besides my parents are having a little financial trouble right now and I could actually really use that money-"
Ace whistled loudly. All eyes turned to him.
"Believe it or not, guys, that was Duck's ticket."
Tech and Rev looked stunned. "Really?" Tech spoke. "Wow! The odds of this are astronomical!"
"Astronomical though they may be," Duck cut in, swiping the ticket, "I believe you're still holding my ticket."
Voices rang out to argue once more, and Ace was forced to whistle again. Silence once again ensued.
"Guys, I really think this is a sign that we all should split this money as a team. I mean, what were the chances that Duck won big on a lottery ticket, then lost it, only to be found by Tech and Rev? No, this isn't one person's money. This is our money." Ace took the ticket from Duck.
"Yeah I guess that makes sense and I guess it would have been selfish of me to keep all of the money I'm sorry Tech," Rev said apologetically.
"What about me? I paid for the darn thing!" Duck interjected.
"Right. Here's $2.50," Ace said, handing Duck some change.
"You're despicable," Duck said, nonetheless taking the change.
"Oh, don't feel too robbed. You'll still get a lot from this. Hmm, 25,000 divided by six is, uh-"
"4,166.67," Tech answered.
"Yeah, that. See? Still a lot of money. And what would you have spend 25 grand on anyway? Nevermind, I don't wanna know. Anyway, I'm going to keep this in my office for safe-keeping in the mean time," Ace said, walking away.
"Feh, the furball's probably going to keep all the winnings for himself," Duck commented bitterly.
"Oh, don't be so suspicious. Ace is nothing if not honest," Tech replied.
"Wow I still can't believe you won that money!" Rev said, still in awe. "And now all of us are getting something from it wow this is just the break I needed thanks Duck!" Rev rushed over to give Duck a quick hug, with the mallard bitterly shook off, and then Rev rushed back to Tech.
"Anyway Tech we need to still put all of our equipment away so we might as well get to it." Rev said, proceeding to pick up all their bags and rush towards the lab. Tech shook his head, following much more slowly.
Duck was left alone in the lab. He was still disheartened, but he shrugged. "Well, I guess 4,000 isn't too bad." Duck departed to his room.
The next day, the ticket mysteriously disappeared from the office.
Accusations flew rampantly throughout H.Q., especially ones against Duck, but every party seemed to be innocent. That is, until 25 food catering trucks arrived at the entrance to Headquarters. Slam eagerly met their arrival with hungry, expecting eyes.
This one made me giggle so much! I don't care if it's not as long as your last story, it's still just as amazing! Luv it!
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I believe in Jesus Christ as my Saviour
Lucky: Why can't you Toons just enter a room normaly?! Bonkers: Us Toons don't do normaly things! That's what makes us sooo adorable! X3 Lucky: Yeah, like a trainwreck. -__________-
Cassidy and Dusk: Freaky siamese twins seperated at birth.... ~ Andrea
Many thanks to HCoyote for the awesome avatar! I love it! <3
Danni- Official supporter of Tessidy, Sethidy, Cassless, Duri, Seck, Ricy, Dapphire, Calric, and Cassaghu 83 And Maley D. Because it's wrong. \8D/
Cassidy: Haha, thanks. =D Although admittedly I don't think its very comparable to The Fragile, but as long as you like it that's all that matters!
Akira: Hehe, I'm all about anti-climaxes. I love them so hard. It seems like 75% of the comedies I write have them. Come to think of it I should do them less. Ah, well. Thanks for the feedback! =D
Emily: Aww c'mon it couldn't have been that great. Not that I'm complaining =D I actually have no idea where I cam up with the idea of lotto tickets. But a LOL a day keeps the doctor astray, so really that's what matters in this dime-a-day world.
The next story I'm writing won't be a comedy, though. Just sayin'.
Poor Duck. And Tech. And Rev. And apparently Brittany, for she does not know where the ticket went. XD
Me: -to britt- Read. The. ENDING! Britt: What? I didn't read the ending! Wait, what happened at the ending? Me: -face palm- Oh jeez... Britt: Where'd it go?
But really cute oneshot, D_W! Please put up another!
Dawg girl: Haha, thankies. :3 Brittany: Pssst, psssst, look to the big huge purple Tasmanian devil. Anyway, yes, I do plan to put up another story as soon as I can. But it won't be as cute. 3:
Akira: =D! I feel like a success whenever my quotes make signatures. *adds moment to the Jar of Good Times*
Rye: Heh, yep. I actually had no idea how I was going to end this story, but then I figured, "y'know, Slam doesn't get a lot of love," so then I just made it happen. Thanks for the feedback!
Emily: Slam really deserved to pwn some bitches after his general neglect, I think. And yay for your excitement! The fact that people actually may look forward to these makes them easier to write! =D
I want to write the next story tonight, because the idea's in my head and I really want to get it out there, but I still have like 5 chapters of psychology to read. If I manage my time, I'll write it tonight. If not, tomorrow for sure.
I had to restain my giggles cos my dad is working on a project behind me. XD
It was really great, Dragon Wing! I smiled really really wide when I got to the part where Duck was trying to jump over a parking meter. That was hilarious!
Update mare oneshots! I'll definitely be looking forward to it!
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Tessa Wolf is my sub-conscience. And yet we are two separate people. I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior.
Ruth: Thanks =D It's good to know that I am actually capable of writing something comedic (most of the stuff I write is usually pretty morbidly dark). And I actually have no idea why I decided to start out the story by having Duck jump parking meters - it's one of those things that just sort of happened. vov
Anyway I know I know I know I said I'd update today for sure but apparently my professors all had a meeting and said, "hey, wouldn't it be hilarious if we decided to kick all of the students' collective asses this week?" Thus I'm pretty much booked with homework until freaking Thursday. In the mean time I can't write today. =(
I'll try to make up for it by posting two new stories on Thursday as opposed to one. There's one story that I am really, really ready to write, and it sort of ticks me off that I don't have time right now. And so it goes...
Except I'm going to hold off the second story until tomorrow. I DID think of a great storyline while I was smoking hookah today (apparently a GREAT way to get inspiration), but the following story is really a story that needs to be posted alone, so it will have to wait.
Btw, I hope the name of that LU sport was Basherball, because I don't know for sure and I'm too lazy to look it up.
#85 - Teddy Bears
The sound of heavy, rapid beating plagued Ace's slumber. Wearily stretching, Ace forced himself out of bed, nearly collapsing under the weight of dazed lethargy. He stumbled meekly towards his bedroom door and turned the knob.
"Hey there Ace what took you so long to answer the door oh well it doesn't matter hey guess what today's July 13th do you know what that means?"
Ace stared blankly at Rev. "Uh-"
"Yep that's right Ace today's the day of the basherball semi finals and man am I stoked and I really think we should get a head start on it so wake up sleepy head time's a-wasting!"
"Rev, it's seven in the mornin'. I was plannin' on sleepin' in today. Besides, the game doesn't start til tonight-"
"Ah but that's what they'd all say wouldn't they and who is they anyway well I guess in this case we know that it's the other spectators going to the game but usually you don't know who 'they' are so my question still remains very pertinent-"
"Rev-"
"Oh right well I figured if we get there early we'll have the best seats and let's face it the closer you get to this kind of action the better but maybe I better bring my binoculars just in case oh shoot I lent them to Duck because he wanted to spy on Lexi for some reason come to think of it I probably shouldn't have done that anyway let me go get that real quick back in a flash!" Rev quickly disappeared from view.
"Right," Ace said groggily as he shut the door.
Rev arrived at the door of Duck's room within a second. He was smart enough to figure out that Duck was probably asleep as well, but he evidently didn't care. Excitement blinded his sense of common courtsey.
Rev rapped on the door, but with no answer.
"Duck are you in there I just wanted my binoculars back."
Still no answer.
Rev rapped on the door once again. "Aw c'mon Duck I'm leaving pretty soon and I really need those binoculars."
Only silence.
"Okay that's it I'm coming in," Rev said determinedly, figuring he could easily search, locate and retrieve the binoculars within a manner of milliseconds.
He opened the door, which was unlocked, and simply stopped in his tracks.
The Duck was, sitting on his bed, cuddling a teddy bear.
Rev let out a very audible gasp, which finally caught Duck's attention. He gazed at the intruding roadrunner wide-eyed for a few seconds before breaking out into a frenzy of unrestrained fury.
"Oh yeah, good job, you pestering snoot, discovering my little secret. Just laugh it up, will ya? Get your amusement fix in for the day." Duck spoke with a tone that was a far cry from usual tone of bitter sarcasm. It was nothing short of pure anger.
Rev was quick to notice this. He was amused at first, but now he was just frightened.
"Well um heh heh we all have our little guilty pleasures don't we really it's nothing to laugh about I mean OK I'll admit right now that I have a Tech pl-"
"Just shut up and get out," Duck interrupted severely with a tone that was all too quiet.
"I'm really really really really really sorry Duck I swear I won't tell anyone and I'll never invade your room again and-"
"Just get out!" Duck shouted, hurling a pillow (the nearest avaiable object) at the roadrunner. Rev got the message loud and clear that time, and he was gone almost instantaneously.
Duck punched his mattress in frustration. He may have felt he had faced some injustices with the team before, but never anything like this. How could any of them possibly understand, anyway?
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Dr. Lauster walked down the dreary eggshell white hallway, carrying a few files and a brown paper bag. He quickly perused one of the papers and sighed. He had never had problems with depression before, but this job was certainly making his days gloomy.
He was so used to going in and out of the director's office that he didn't even have to think about where he was going anymore. As if guided by some unconscious diety, he walked directly to the correct door without looking up and turned the handle. He entered the office, to which he immediately saw Dr. Miller sitting lazily in his leather EZ chair. His office, to a truth, was quite luxurious - in extreme disproportion to the rest of the facility.
"Another newcomber, eh Lauster?" Miller spoke boredly.
"You know, I don't know how you can just sit there and take all of this so casually. Can you even comprehend what the children have been through?" Lauser replied defensively.
"Oh yeah, the whole song and dance. Look, its not worth getting sentimental over every kid. If we did, we wouldn't have time to do anything."
"Be that as it may, Dr. Miller, these are still people, damn it. If they don't even have our respect and our sympathy, what do they have?"
Miller sighed and stood up. "Lauster, I'm getting sick of your lip. Just give me the kid's story and his registration info and get on with it."
Lauster knew there was nothing to win in this 'battle'. "Fine." He put down everything that was in his hands on the nearest table, save the one paper he was previously skimming. He held it a foot away from his face and read from the text.
"Orphan #68490 is an unidentified mallard child of about four years of age. His physical features include an orange bill, black feathers and downing and blue eyes. From what we could gather, the duck grew up with his mother and father. On the evening of July 13th, 2755, the family in question was visiting a shop in China town when there was a vehicular accident. The vehicle in question was attempting to avoid the pursuing authorities, and in doing so crashed directly into the said shop. In this action, the duck child's parents were killed immediately. The child sustained various injuries, but has since recovered in a local hospital. His survival may have been due to his parents' protection. All that was found at the scene aside from the victims was a small, brown teddy bear, which evidently belonged to the child, and the destructive vehicle. The perpetrator in question escaped.'"
Lauster ceased reading, and picked up the brown paper bag. He opened it to reveal a small, brown teddy bear.
"Ah, I heard about that accident, but I didn't know who the victims were. Damn shame, that," Miller said nonchalantly.
"Yep, very much a shame," Lauster affirmed more seriously.
"Well, okay, I really have to be going. I'm supposed to meet a few officials for lunch, so I really don't have time for all this. Just make sure everything gets into the right hands," Miller said distractedly, heading out of the office before Lauster could get a word in edgewise.
"Oh, everything will get into the right hands," Lauster said, and headed over to the orphanage living area.
The living area resembled a zoo more than it did an orphanage. It was a rather pitiful scene - all the children being shown off as they were some sort of display. Lauster always thought it seriously disparaged all of the residents of the orphanage.
Lauster found the duck child very quickly - he was one of the only children who sat alone, twiddling with his fingers.
Lauster approached him, but realized he had no idea what to call him. "Er... Duck?"
The child looked up.
"I believe this belongs to you," Lauster continued, holding out the teddy bear for the child to take. He smiled a little, reaching for the bear. He grabbed it and quickly embraced it.
"Thank you," the child said quietly.
Lauster had no words. It was all too tragic.
"Um, sir?" the child spoke.
Lauster had not expected further conversation. "Yes?"
"When will I get to see mommy and daddy again?"
This was the one question Lauster wished he wouldn't ask. Getting chills, Lauster could only shake his head.
"I don't know, duck... I don't know."
Lauster couldn't bear to face to face the child again. Regrettably, all he could do is walk away.
Much to Ace's surprise, Rev never came back to retrieve him. Instead, he actually had to leave his room to seek out Rev.
Rev sat shaking on a coach in the living quarters.
"Hey Rev, what's the deal, havin' a seizure or something?" Ace jested.
"No..." Rev said quietly. His unusual tone alarmed Ace.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Ace asked with concern.
"Oh... I was just at Duck's room and... well he had quite a temper."
"Well, maybe that's just what you get for bargin' into people's rooms, hmm?"
"I guess..." Rev said, his mind elsewhere.
"Well, I'm still not dressed right for the game. That's what happens when you have to rush outta bed. I'll be back in a few."
Rev didn't respond as Ace departed. His mind was still on Duck. He was such a mystery, really. He wondered if he'd ever figure him out.
Wow... that totally rocks my socks. Poor Duck. Being an orphan is never easy.
I liked how natural the conversation was between the two doctors. And I also liked the detail in it too. And once again, you have the talent of conveying emotion perfectly. I'm not sure whether my writing does the same thing but you nailed it girl! Nice work overall . I think this story might inspire me to do a fan fic after I finish "Loonatics Unleashed G".
BTW, Basherball is the name of the sport so you got it right.
I always felt that he was orphaned pretty much at birth; that his father abandoned his mother because he wasn’t supposed to be with her and after finding out that she was pregnant wanted nothing further to do with her… Then she went on to have it anyway but suffered complications during birth and died, subsequently leaving the child homeless.
I don’t know… I don’t think Duck has ever quite understood the concept of family, which could explain why he’s so distant to the ‘Tics and stuff… Just my opinion. =3
But this was truly tragic and definitely pulled at the heart-strings… AWE! IT MAKES ME SAD IN A GENIUNELY SAD SORT OF WAY.
I wanna adopt. No small child should ever have to endure a time without parents…
Because they end up pretty much broken. D8
*pokes Duck* You’s is broken, ain’t ya? :3
Duck: Go away. T_T
See? Classic coldness that has been observed in children raised within institutions. *shakes head sadly*
I KEEP DIGRESSING.
Beautiful story. I feel sorry for Rev, being the one who copped it and all… And Ace is stupidly oblivious, as usual. *sigh*
*hugs Duck* I never wanna let go. TT__TT
Duck: Can’t… Breathe… D8
…
When I wrote ‘Duck’ just then… My finger hit the letter just to the right of it… XD
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Andrea: ....I think my kidney laughed. Sye: Your bladder told it to stop. 83
Aww, I don't care for Duck aside from Emily's obvious obsession with him, BUT... that was really cute. ^___^; -snuggles stuffed elephant- I totally understand stuffed animal buddies. ...Yes, I'm 18 and I sleep with a toy. Back off. XD
Oh... I wish I could have reviewed earlier and I apologize for not doing so, but I just got back from a vacation in Vancouver.
Still no reason, but....
Poor Duck!! Oh.. I have some sort of idea on how you loose a parent; it's pretty tragic and it hurts like h***. But both? At the tiniest age of 4? Oh my gosh... I have no idea what to say.
*tries to pat Duck on the head, but Xtream pulls him away* Xtream: MAH DUCKIE!!! Me: Sorry! *trys to pat Duck's bear instead* Duck: *quickly snatches it up* MAH TEDDEH!!! Me: Sheesh! Alright then... no touchy... *backs away slowly*
But great story D_W; and it was kinda cute! In a: "OH MY GAWD! POOR LITTLE DUCKIE!!" kinda way.
Akira: Being a source of inspiration is always rewarding. =D And thanks. Well, I've been writing almost emotional stuff exclusively for the past 6 years or so, so I've probably just had practice. That's why I also want to do more comedic stuff.
Also, whew, I thought it was something with the word 'bash' in it, but I just wasn't sure if it was THAT.
Emily: Hmm, I guess there are a lot of ways to interpret Duck's orphan-age, since the show never really made it clear. I'm one of those people who thinks it's WORSE to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, because the equally cliche phrase 'ignorance is bliss' would go along with it. I thought Duck actually being in a real family once would be more depressing than, say, your scenario, and since I always like to go for the most dramatic thing and, indeed, I'm very depressing, I went with that. And I don't know, I've never seen Duck as necessarily 'distant' from the team. He just gets picked on a lot.
All that aside thanks =D
Ruth: I didn't even consider that! :O But a little traumagoes a long way, I guess. But I wouldn't want to be eaten either. D:
Soupapowah: Duck should be more depressed more often, I think. He's quite cuddly when he is!
But REV depressed makes me positively... I don't even know.
Rye: I actually wasn't for cute so much as I was going for bittersweet, but hey, it's not like cute's a bad thing! I've actually never had a stuffed animal myself BUT I'm glad someone can relate to it D:
As usual thanks for the input =D
Doggirl: Haha, no worries, all that matters is that you read and reviewed. Time's not an issue ;)
Yeah, I don't really know what its like to lose a parent (well, its never happened to me) but I do know what it's like to lose someone close to you regardless. And yeah, it does suck. I couldn't even imagine being in Duck's situation.
! I love the anti-climax where Slam's selflessness has been payed off XD . Just like the tale of "Death".
!
. I think this story might inspire me to do a fan fic after I finish "Loonatics Unleashed G".
