Post by Satra on Jul 2, 2009 2:57:20 GMT -5
I've been working on this very a pretty long time now and had a random muse attack a few days ago and finished it up. It's the back story of Shift. Didn't cover some of the things I wanted it to, like her fascination with motorcycles... the flow of the story just kind of wrote itself. but I suppose that can be left for the prompts.
I'm pretty happy with it...a few rough spots here and there, but overall I'm pleased. I think my writing is actually improving. XD
Characters: Shift, some NPCs
Words: 3408
“You see, Gabby-dear, all the parts fit together, multitudes of pieces to make all the parts which all come together as one entity as a whole. Gestalt in it’s highest form. All of the parts and pieces reaching out to one another and working in harmony to accomplish what we design it to.” The man beamed at the sound manifestation of his accumulated wisdom as the automobile engine purred. He looked down at his daughter and was confused at the neutral expression that was being returned. Where was the delighted smile and eyes lit up with wonder and bewilderment? Surely, her tiny child mind was just overwhelmed. He pat her on the head.
The young bipedal Hummingbird was his pride and joy. He had feared his wife was not pregnant with his child... but the young girl here of his breed and color was proof the woman was faithful. She was the blinds he needed to ignore the facts.
“There is greatness in your future. I knew it from the day you were born,” he sniffed, eyes tearing in a dramatic fashion, “You will carry on the honor of the family name. Can you imagine, Gabby-dear? The honorable name Lombardi, prefaced by a title from the Court of our Suit?”
“It’s a prefix, not preface,” she stated bluntly, the six-year old bipedal Hummingbird only knowing that from an off-hand comment her teacher had made just yesterday. Still, it gave her a small amount of joy to correct him. He just stared blankly at her.
“You should go have a nap,” he told her, smiling again. Silly, delicate little girl. Didn’t know her limits. Had to be reminded of them. Obviously she was just irritable because she was tired. After some protesting and manhandling, Gabriella found herself in her bed, in her darkened room. She was fuming. She did NOT need sleep! She cursed her crippled spine. If she didn’t have it, no one would baby her.
As quietly as she could, she crawled out of bed to her bookshelf then back to bed, returning with a book she put so much faith in. She turned on her bed side lantern.
“Gabby-dear. Don’t play with those,” said the man again. He was beginning to regret wanting to teach her his trade. He dealt in machines. Big machines. Fast machines. Her pathetic little body wouldn’t be able to handle it. Not building one, not riding in one. Now here she was, playing with a sparkplug set up. He should’ve put more thought into raising her. Oh well, it didn’t matter. She would get used to being told ‘no’. She was just a cripple after all. It would be something she would have to come to terms with. The sooner the better.
“But you—“ she started, pointing out the obvious fallacy in his denying her.
“I’m your father, Gabby. I know what’s best.” She just stared at his back, too furious to speak. She stormed off as violently as her spine would allow. She slammed the door behind her and went straight to her bookshelf.
“What did you say?” the boy asked, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you.”
“I...I can’t play with you,” she said, blushing deeper, looking away from him. She felt the sting of hot tears as she stared at her lopsided shoulder. Damn this infliction. “Your game sounds really cool and fun, but I can’t play...” The boy just stared at her.
“Oh. Okay,” he blinked.
“C’mon, Jacob!” called one of the other children. He called back to them and ran off, leaving Gabriella alone. Her beak tightened as she tried not to cry. She let out a surprised gasp when the sudden weight of a gentle hand came down on her shoulder.
“Gabby-dear. I put your bag under that tree over there. Why don’t you go sit there and read your book?” he suggested with a smile. He walked off rather quickly. His wife was talking to a man she’d taken a bit too much of a liking to lately...
The awkward, bent girl just stood there, watching him leave. She turned her head back and watched the other kids play for a bit, then did as she was told. There was her chair, too, to ease the pain that would have been sitting on the ground. She sat in the chair and reached into her bag. She opened the book to the page she’d left her bookmark.
She had shut herself in her room. Her parents were arguing again. Something about marriage vows and faithfulness. Always ended in Father crying, begging her not to leave him. Her lies that there was no one else. His disillusion that the relationship was savable.
It was horribly distracting.
Shouting. Blatant denial. Door slam. Sobbing.
“Hey... I remember you!”
The awkwardly bent girl jumped at the voice then turned slowly to greet the voice. She blushed to see the young Canine from that company picnic. The one that invented really cool games.
“H-hi,” she stuttered, blushing, “I remember you, too. Jacob, right?” She couldn’t quite look him in the eye. Still, she couldn’t quite stop the corner of her mouth from curling just slightly. It was subtle due to her beak, but it was there. His tail have a wag.
“Yeah! How are you Jasmine?” Her smile instantly fell. She turned her head to him, giving him a hurt look. there was a long awkward silence.
“I’m fine,” she said curtly and turned slowly to walk off. She couldn’t move as quickly as him, though, and found her path suddenly blocked by the spry young man.
“Hey... what’s wrong? Did I say something?” he asked. She shook her head and tried to move around him, only to be blocked again, “No, wait... seriously. What’d I do?” She just shook her head in response.
“N-nothing, I just have to go. Please...” she begged in a timid voice as her attempt to leave was once again thwarted.
“That’s not it. C’mon, what’s wrong?”
“Please... just...” She felt the sting of tears again. She didn’t like this confrontation. Not only that, but she couldn’t stop herself from noticing how easily he could maneuver. How flexible and graceful he was with no effort at all.
She burst into tears as he blocked her way once again. It was too much.
“Gabby-dear, you haven’t come out of your room in a few days, is everything alright?”
“Everything’s fine, save for the fact you didn’t bother knocking,” she replied, not even looking up. His brows furrowed, but she didn’t notice it. She didn’t notice his bloodshot, baggy eyes, stooping posture, or hanging head, either.
“I just wanted to know if you needed anything... I feel we haven’t talked a whole lot these past few days...”
“Try the past few years,” she sniped, never looking up. He blinked and jolted back as if she’d electrocuted him. His already shallow breathing wavered.
“I... Gabby-dear, you know that’s not true. I’ve always been your friend as well as your father...” Her grip on the book and her jaw tightened. Her eyes flashed with anger, but she didn’t look up.
“I suppose know you’ll use some modified memory of your own delusion to use as an example of proof of your eternal generosity?”
“W-what?” the man stumbled over his own words, a stunned look on his face, “Gabriella...” A pair of blue eyes flashed as they were suddenly narrowed on him.
“I’m trying to read. Go away,” she stated bluntly. Her eyes were too preoccupied with the words in front of her to see his hurt expression as he looked back. A relaxed sigh escaped her nares as the door shut, blocking out the distracting light from the hallway.
“Oh, neat!” he exclaimed suddenly. Gabriella looked up.
“What is it, Jacob?” she asked her newest friend. He nudged the book in front of him around so she could see it, too.
“Well, light, like sound, moves in waves. And you know how stuff coming toward you really fast sounds different when it’s moving toward or away from you? Well, light does the same thing, except it looks different. When it comes at you, the color turns blue and when it goes away it turns red. It’s called a blue shift and red shift!” he exclaimed, quite excited at the new information.
“Wow...” she said breathlessly, “How... how would they even test something like that? Nothing I’ve ever seen does that...” He suddenly flushed and gathered his book back.
“Well... I mean... it’s just a hypothesis as of now. Nothing we have can move that fast to test it...” He seemed a touch embarrassed, “Heh, I guess I shouldn’t get too excited over something that hasn’t been formally tested yet...”
“No, that’s okay,” she smiled, “I think it’s neat. It’s because people get excited over things that makes people want to learn more and discover. The future will bring us that information. Just you wait and see.”
“It’s only my first rough draft...” she said quietly, waiting for the professional to voice his opinion. He nodded, removing his glasses.
“I’m impressed. the detail and thought put into this incredible. You really thought this through,” his eyes flicked, subconsciously looking her crooked frame up and down. And it’s hardly a wonder why... he thought. “May I write on this?” he asked, picking up a red pencil. She nodded eagerly, excited to get his opinion on the matter.
She’d woken up after a nap as the Doctor wrote on her paper. She’d pushed herself more than she’d thought, too excited over this project to really notice what her body needed. Groggy but giddy, she went back home, escorted by Jacob again, blueprints clutched against her body.
“Well you seem excited,” he said.
“Yeah,” she said in a small breath, “Everything’s... everything’s going to get better now.”
“G-Gabriella-?”
Her eyes went wide and she quickly shifted the book in her night stand over and closed her hand around the small straw in her hand.
“Jacob! I wasn’t expecting you tonight. What are you doing here?”
He looked between her and what he could see on her night stand. He couldn’t believe what he’d seen. He crawled in through the window the rest of the way, dropping the mask he’d meant to surprise her with.
“Gabriella...”
“Jacob, I’m happy to see you, but you should leave.”
“Gabriella.”
“I’m serious. What’s with you? It’s not like I’m doing anything.”
“Gabriella, what’s under the book?”
“It’s nothing. Just leave me alone.”
“Gabriella.” he hissed.
“Stop SAYING that!” she snapped back at him. There was a heavy silence between them.
“I will if you just show me.” After a moment of silence she rolled her eyes and made a “huff” noise, but obliged. Smashed lines of white powder and a small razor were revealed as the book was lifted.
“There. Happy now?”
“I—I don’t understand. how could... How could you do this to yourself?” he was beyond appalled. He knew she’d been acting a little strange lately, but he always believed her when she said there was new family bullshit.
“Doing what? Enjoying myself?” she snapped back, “Don’t judge me.”
“Enj—WHAT?!” he sputtered, “Gabriella, you’re just hurting yourself. Please. Just throw that stuff out and we can talk. We can work out your problems. You’re so close to freedom, don’t throw it all aw--” He was cut off by sudden harsh laughter.
“What the hell are you talking about? I’ve been working just fine. I’ll have my freedom just a quickly. Don’t pull this goody-goody bit on me.” He just stood there, staring at her, mouth open.
“How—how long has this been going on?”
“This specifically? Well, seeing as none of my lines are gone, I would say a few minutes.”
“That’s NOT funny!”
“Pfft, fine. About a year ago Travis gave me a joint, 3 months ago, he passed some of this along.”
The Canine’s hackles raised. Travis that... he shook his head and calmed down. He’d known about the marijuana for some time now, but she promised she didn’t do it often, that she was in control. It was only pot, and it was Gabriella making the promise. Why should he have believed anything different?
“This honestly explains a lot. Why you’ve been acting the way you have... you need to stop this...”
“Get out,” she growled.
“What?”
“Get OUT! You know what I go through here everyday. Hell! You know what I go through everyday outside of here! LOOK at me! I am forced to sit and watch as you get to run around and have fun. I have to cut down on my diet and the things I want because I can’t burn off any calories I intake! I’m perpetually babied by a man who can’t even hold his own fucking life together! I’ve had to put everything I want aside until I can fix the ONE THING that’s holding me back from it all. I didn’t ask for this! I’ve had to keep my research and all my drafts hidden because that bastard can’t stand the thought of me leaving. I’m the only thing left he has to smother to death, so why would he LET me go? Don’t judge me. You don’t know me. You think you can just stand there and... and JUDGE me?! I’ve told you everything I’ve ever gone through, but you don’t understand a damned thing, do you? JUST. GET. OUT!” He stood there, frozen, then sighed.
“Fine. If this is what you want, just do it. You know just as much as I do how wrong this is. You know that if you ever need me, I’ll be there for you.” He turned and left, picking up his mask on the way, then jumped out the first story window to the cool air outside. She sniffed in discontent then turned back to her night stand. She smoothed the lines back into order, removing the complication provided by messy lines. She had turned her head so her beak would be out of the way when suddenly her door burst open.
“Gabby-dear?! I heard yelling what’s—“ he then froze in horror at the sight before him.
“Dammit.”
It took forever, but she was finally in bed. Father did what he does best which was cry until Gabriella wanted to vomit. When asked why, he words came out jumbled, alibis confused. She didn’t know which way to go with it. She knew if she just pretended to be the good girl and let him believe he’d really saved her from something, he would let her off easy. At the same time... she was so sick of it. Sick of answering to someone she always knew better than. Sick of being the one responsible for fixing his problems only to have him turn around and tell her how little she knew of life when she told him the facts.
So sick of always being told ‘no’.
He looked at her confused, not understanding the point. After he raided her entire room, he walked away with her entire stash. She thanked Einstein’s Flyaway Hair she’d decided to find such a well-hidden for all of her blue prints. She kicked herself for not putting away her drugs after she broke them out, but at least she still had what could not be replaced. She went to bed, fuming. Why did she hesitate like that? She had all this anger built up, and yet she couldn’t just say it. She had to hide behind the facade of the good little girl she’d always been because there was no other option for her.
Things were changing. She did have an option now. Then why? WHY was she such a coward?
“Hey.”
“.........”
“Gabriella, come on.”
“...........”
“You can’t honestly still be mad about two nights ago.”
“Fuck off.”
“...seriously? What the hell, Gab—“
“Do you know how much that shit cost me?!”
“Depends. Are you only talking financially?”
“FUCK. YOU. Because of YOU my dad found out.”
“I kept my voice down. You were the one that started yelling.”
“You--- AUGH! You FUCKER. You stupid, selfish FUCK!”
“It’s the truth and you know it. Why are you trying to put the blame on me?”
“...........”
“Gabriella, please. You know I was only trying to help. I care about you. It hurt so much. More than I could possibly say to see you like that.”
“Yeah, well, you know what hurts? Seeing someone I thought was a friend show his true colors.”
“W-what?”
“You just don’t want to see me happy so that when the stress gets to me, I’ll just keep running back to you, begging for more affection. Well, guess what? I’m standing on my own two feet now. Oh and look. That’s two less than what you’ve got, Quaddy.”
“Gabriella! What the hell? Why are you acting like this?”
“Really? Because what I’m wondering is why I never did it before.”
“....I....”
“Yeah. You.”
It had been a few years since she’d returned to this street. Most people didn’t recognize her. She had a new form, a new spine, a new job, and a new set of friends. Life was good. That little pansy Jacob had left town to go work on some project or another. Too bad. She would have loved to show him what she’d become.
“Please... I’m short only three coppers. I can have it by tomorrow if you come back,” begged a man in the gutter.
“Sorry. No dough, no snow. That’s the way I work,” she shrugged and turned her back.
“Wait!” he cried, desperately. She smirked. This old man was one of her first customers. She just loved how broken he was. She turned around with a fake expression of disinterest on her face. He began crawling toward her.
“Please? Y-you know I always come back to you. How could I lie to you? You’re my favorite... please...” He was at her feet now, looking up.
“Hmmm~ well. There is one thing you can give me instead,” she smiled wickedly as she pointed to his inner jacket pocket. His eyes went wide in horror as he clutched his jacket closer to himself and shook his head, tears welling.
“Please no...” he begged, “Anything but that...”
“Anything?” she scoffed, “Don’t lie to yourself. It’s the only thing you got left.” He whimpered, torn between his addiction and what she was after. Another whimper escaped him as she pulled out a small bag and waved it in the air in front of him. He knew what it contained. His drawn face contorted, but he then gave in. He reached a violently shaking hand into the inner breast pocket of his coat and pulled out a photograph. She snatched it away and looked at the wrinkled, faded image.
“How cute,” she cooed, still holding the bag out of reach. The man then burst into tears.
“It’s not worth anything to you! Please! It’s only three coppers. Just let it slide... just this once... please... Gabby-dear...” Her face twisted from her cruel amusement to rage. She crumpled the photo in her fist as she landed a solid hit with her heavy boot to the side of his head.
“Don’t you EVER say that again to me, DO YOU HEAR ME?!” She shoved the bag back into her pocket and ripped the photograph in half, letting it fall to the ground. He crawled after her, begging her to stop, but she drowned his voice out with the roar of her motorcycle’s engine.
Crying and with shaking hands, he tried to put the two pieces together. Two Hummingbirds, a father and his young daughter smiled back at him from the wrinkled surface. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t hide the tear through the center. He broke down sobbing, unable to control himself.
I'm pretty happy with it...a few rough spots here and there, but overall I'm pleased. I think my writing is actually improving. XD
Characters: Shift, some NPCs
Words: 3408
All You Need to Know About Biomechanics
by Doctor Geppetto Gugliami
by Doctor Geppetto Gugliami
“You see, Gabby-dear, all the parts fit together, multitudes of pieces to make all the parts which all come together as one entity as a whole. Gestalt in it’s highest form. All of the parts and pieces reaching out to one another and working in harmony to accomplish what we design it to.” The man beamed at the sound manifestation of his accumulated wisdom as the automobile engine purred. He looked down at his daughter and was confused at the neutral expression that was being returned. Where was the delighted smile and eyes lit up with wonder and bewilderment? Surely, her tiny child mind was just overwhelmed. He pat her on the head.
The young bipedal Hummingbird was his pride and joy. He had feared his wife was not pregnant with his child... but the young girl here of his breed and color was proof the woman was faithful. She was the blinds he needed to ignore the facts.
“There is greatness in your future. I knew it from the day you were born,” he sniffed, eyes tearing in a dramatic fashion, “You will carry on the honor of the family name. Can you imagine, Gabby-dear? The honorable name Lombardi, prefaced by a title from the Court of our Suit?”
“It’s a prefix, not preface,” she stated bluntly, the six-year old bipedal Hummingbird only knowing that from an off-hand comment her teacher had made just yesterday. Still, it gave her a small amount of joy to correct him. He just stared blankly at her.
“You should go have a nap,” he told her, smiling again. Silly, delicate little girl. Didn’t know her limits. Had to be reminded of them. Obviously she was just irritable because she was tired. After some protesting and manhandling, Gabriella found herself in her bed, in her darkened room. She was fuming. She did NOT need sleep! She cursed her crippled spine. If she didn’t have it, no one would baby her.
As quietly as she could, she crawled out of bed to her bookshelf then back to bed, returning with a book she put so much faith in. She turned on her bed side lantern.
Chapter 1
Intro to Biomechanics
Intro to Biomechanics
“Gabby-dear. Don’t play with those,” said the man again. He was beginning to regret wanting to teach her his trade. He dealt in machines. Big machines. Fast machines. Her pathetic little body wouldn’t be able to handle it. Not building one, not riding in one. Now here she was, playing with a sparkplug set up. He should’ve put more thought into raising her. Oh well, it didn’t matter. She would get used to being told ‘no’. She was just a cripple after all. It would be something she would have to come to terms with. The sooner the better.
“But you—“ she started, pointing out the obvious fallacy in his denying her.
“I’m your father, Gabby. I know what’s best.” She just stared at his back, too furious to speak. She stormed off as violently as her spine would allow. She slammed the door behind her and went straight to her bookshelf.
Chapter 2
The Anatomy and Structure of the Natural Spine
The Anatomy and Structure of the Natural Spine
“What did you say?” the boy asked, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you.”
“I...I can’t play with you,” she said, blushing deeper, looking away from him. She felt the sting of hot tears as she stared at her lopsided shoulder. Damn this infliction. “Your game sounds really cool and fun, but I can’t play...” The boy just stared at her.
“Oh. Okay,” he blinked.
“C’mon, Jacob!” called one of the other children. He called back to them and ran off, leaving Gabriella alone. Her beak tightened as she tried not to cry. She let out a surprised gasp when the sudden weight of a gentle hand came down on her shoulder.
“Gabby-dear. I put your bag under that tree over there. Why don’t you go sit there and read your book?” he suggested with a smile. He walked off rather quickly. His wife was talking to a man she’d taken a bit too much of a liking to lately...
The awkward, bent girl just stood there, watching him leave. She turned her head back and watched the other kids play for a bit, then did as she was told. There was her chair, too, to ease the pain that would have been sitting on the ground. She sat in the chair and reached into her bag. She opened the book to the page she’d left her bookmark.
Chapter 3
Wiring: Artificial and Biological
How to Incorporate Machinery to the Nerves in the Natural Body
Wiring: Artificial and Biological
How to Incorporate Machinery to the Nerves in the Natural Body
She had shut herself in her room. Her parents were arguing again. Something about marriage vows and faithfulness. Always ended in Father crying, begging her not to leave him. Her lies that there was no one else. His disillusion that the relationship was savable.
It was horribly distracting.
Shouting. Blatant denial. Door slam. Sobbing.
Chapter 4
Casing: Techniques to Protect Wiring
Casing: Techniques to Protect Wiring
“Hey... I remember you!”
The awkwardly bent girl jumped at the voice then turned slowly to greet the voice. She blushed to see the young Canine from that company picnic. The one that invented really cool games.
“H-hi,” she stuttered, blushing, “I remember you, too. Jacob, right?” She couldn’t quite look him in the eye. Still, she couldn’t quite stop the corner of her mouth from curling just slightly. It was subtle due to her beak, but it was there. His tail have a wag.
“Yeah! How are you Jasmine?” Her smile instantly fell. She turned her head to him, giving him a hurt look. there was a long awkward silence.
“I’m fine,” she said curtly and turned slowly to walk off. She couldn’t move as quickly as him, though, and found her path suddenly blocked by the spry young man.
“Hey... what’s wrong? Did I say something?” he asked. She shook her head and tried to move around him, only to be blocked again, “No, wait... seriously. What’d I do?” She just shook her head in response.
“N-nothing, I just have to go. Please...” she begged in a timid voice as her attempt to leave was once again thwarted.
“That’s not it. C’mon, what’s wrong?”
“Please... just...” She felt the sting of tears again. She didn’t like this confrontation. Not only that, but she couldn’t stop herself from noticing how easily he could maneuver. How flexible and graceful he was with no effort at all.
She burst into tears as he blocked her way once again. It was too much.
Chapter 5
The Collaboration and Compromise Between Strength and Flexibility
The Collaboration and Compromise Between Strength and Flexibility
“Gabby-dear, you haven’t come out of your room in a few days, is everything alright?”
“Everything’s fine, save for the fact you didn’t bother knocking,” she replied, not even looking up. His brows furrowed, but she didn’t notice it. She didn’t notice his bloodshot, baggy eyes, stooping posture, or hanging head, either.
“I just wanted to know if you needed anything... I feel we haven’t talked a whole lot these past few days...”
“Try the past few years,” she sniped, never looking up. He blinked and jolted back as if she’d electrocuted him. His already shallow breathing wavered.
“I... Gabby-dear, you know that’s not true. I’ve always been your friend as well as your father...” Her grip on the book and her jaw tightened. Her eyes flashed with anger, but she didn’t look up.
“I suppose know you’ll use some modified memory of your own delusion to use as an example of proof of your eternal generosity?”
“W-what?” the man stumbled over his own words, a stunned look on his face, “Gabriella...” A pair of blue eyes flashed as they were suddenly narrowed on him.
“I’m trying to read. Go away,” she stated bluntly. Her eyes were too preoccupied with the words in front of her to see his hurt expression as he looked back. A relaxed sigh escaped her nares as the door shut, blocking out the distracting light from the hallway.
Chapter 6
Pre-Emptive Troubleshooting: Finding Problems Before They Arise
Pre-Emptive Troubleshooting: Finding Problems Before They Arise
“Oh, neat!” he exclaimed suddenly. Gabriella looked up.
“What is it, Jacob?” she asked her newest friend. He nudged the book in front of him around so she could see it, too.
“Well, light, like sound, moves in waves. And you know how stuff coming toward you really fast sounds different when it’s moving toward or away from you? Well, light does the same thing, except it looks different. When it comes at you, the color turns blue and when it goes away it turns red. It’s called a blue shift and red shift!” he exclaimed, quite excited at the new information.
“Wow...” she said breathlessly, “How... how would they even test something like that? Nothing I’ve ever seen does that...” He suddenly flushed and gathered his book back.
“Well... I mean... it’s just a hypothesis as of now. Nothing we have can move that fast to test it...” He seemed a touch embarrassed, “Heh, I guess I shouldn’t get too excited over something that hasn’t been formally tested yet...”
“No, that’s okay,” she smiled, “I think it’s neat. It’s because people get excited over things that makes people want to learn more and discover. The future will bring us that information. Just you wait and see.”
Chapter 7
Knowing the Limits of Your Creation
Knowing the Limits of Your Creation
“It’s only my first rough draft...” she said quietly, waiting for the professional to voice his opinion. He nodded, removing his glasses.
“I’m impressed. the detail and thought put into this incredible. You really thought this through,” his eyes flicked, subconsciously looking her crooked frame up and down. And it’s hardly a wonder why... he thought. “May I write on this?” he asked, picking up a red pencil. She nodded eagerly, excited to get his opinion on the matter.
She’d woken up after a nap as the Doctor wrote on her paper. She’d pushed herself more than she’d thought, too excited over this project to really notice what her body needed. Groggy but giddy, she went back home, escorted by Jacob again, blueprints clutched against her body.
“Well you seem excited,” he said.
“Yeah,” she said in a small breath, “Everything’s... everything’s going to get better now.”
Chapter 8
Drawing and Planning a Working Blueprint
Drawing and Planning a Working Blueprint
“G-Gabriella-?”
Her eyes went wide and she quickly shifted the book in her night stand over and closed her hand around the small straw in her hand.
“Jacob! I wasn’t expecting you tonight. What are you doing here?”
He looked between her and what he could see on her night stand. He couldn’t believe what he’d seen. He crawled in through the window the rest of the way, dropping the mask he’d meant to surprise her with.
“Gabriella...”
“Jacob, I’m happy to see you, but you should leave.”
“Gabriella.”
“I’m serious. What’s with you? It’s not like I’m doing anything.”
“Gabriella, what’s under the book?”
“It’s nothing. Just leave me alone.”
“Gabriella.” he hissed.
“Stop SAYING that!” she snapped back at him. There was a heavy silence between them.
“I will if you just show me.” After a moment of silence she rolled her eyes and made a “huff” noise, but obliged. Smashed lines of white powder and a small razor were revealed as the book was lifted.
“There. Happy now?”
“I—I don’t understand. how could... How could you do this to yourself?” he was beyond appalled. He knew she’d been acting a little strange lately, but he always believed her when she said there was new family bullshit.
“Doing what? Enjoying myself?” she snapped back, “Don’t judge me.”
“Enj—WHAT?!” he sputtered, “Gabriella, you’re just hurting yourself. Please. Just throw that stuff out and we can talk. We can work out your problems. You’re so close to freedom, don’t throw it all aw--” He was cut off by sudden harsh laughter.
“What the hell are you talking about? I’ve been working just fine. I’ll have my freedom just a quickly. Don’t pull this goody-goody bit on me.” He just stood there, staring at her, mouth open.
“How—how long has this been going on?”
“This specifically? Well, seeing as none of my lines are gone, I would say a few minutes.”
“That’s NOT funny!”
“Pfft, fine. About a year ago Travis gave me a joint, 3 months ago, he passed some of this along.”
The Canine’s hackles raised. Travis that... he shook his head and calmed down. He’d known about the marijuana for some time now, but she promised she didn’t do it often, that she was in control. It was only pot, and it was Gabriella making the promise. Why should he have believed anything different?
“This honestly explains a lot. Why you’ve been acting the way you have... you need to stop this...”
“Get out,” she growled.
“What?”
“Get OUT! You know what I go through here everyday. Hell! You know what I go through everyday outside of here! LOOK at me! I am forced to sit and watch as you get to run around and have fun. I have to cut down on my diet and the things I want because I can’t burn off any calories I intake! I’m perpetually babied by a man who can’t even hold his own fucking life together! I’ve had to put everything I want aside until I can fix the ONE THING that’s holding me back from it all. I didn’t ask for this! I’ve had to keep my research and all my drafts hidden because that bastard can’t stand the thought of me leaving. I’m the only thing left he has to smother to death, so why would he LET me go? Don’t judge me. You don’t know me. You think you can just stand there and... and JUDGE me?! I’ve told you everything I’ve ever gone through, but you don’t understand a damned thing, do you? JUST. GET. OUT!” He stood there, frozen, then sighed.
“Fine. If this is what you want, just do it. You know just as much as I do how wrong this is. You know that if you ever need me, I’ll be there for you.” He turned and left, picking up his mask on the way, then jumped out the first story window to the cool air outside. She sniffed in discontent then turned back to her night stand. She smoothed the lines back into order, removing the complication provided by messy lines. She had turned her head so her beak would be out of the way when suddenly her door burst open.
“Gabby-dear?! I heard yelling what’s—“ he then froze in horror at the sight before him.
“Dammit.”
Epilogue: Occam’s Razor
A Reminder of Something Everyone Knows and Yet...
A Reminder of Something Everyone Knows and Yet...
It took forever, but she was finally in bed. Father did what he does best which was cry until Gabriella wanted to vomit. When asked why, he words came out jumbled, alibis confused. She didn’t know which way to go with it. She knew if she just pretended to be the good girl and let him believe he’d really saved her from something, he would let her off easy. At the same time... she was so sick of it. Sick of answering to someone she always knew better than. Sick of being the one responsible for fixing his problems only to have him turn around and tell her how little she knew of life when she told him the facts.
So sick of always being told ‘no’.
He looked at her confused, not understanding the point. After he raided her entire room, he walked away with her entire stash. She thanked Einstein’s Flyaway Hair she’d decided to find such a well-hidden for all of her blue prints. She kicked herself for not putting away her drugs after she broke them out, but at least she still had what could not be replaced. She went to bed, fuming. Why did she hesitate like that? She had all this anger built up, and yet she couldn’t just say it. She had to hide behind the facade of the good little girl she’d always been because there was no other option for her.
Things were changing. She did have an option now. Then why? WHY was she such a coward?
New Spine
Rough Draft 1
Rough Draft 1
“Hey.”
“.........”
“Gabriella, come on.”
“...........”
“You can’t honestly still be mad about two nights ago.”
“Fuck off.”
“...seriously? What the hell, Gab—“
“Do you know how much that shit cost me?!”
“Depends. Are you only talking financially?”
“FUCK. YOU. Because of YOU my dad found out.”
“I kept my voice down. You were the one that started yelling.”
“You--- AUGH! You FUCKER. You stupid, selfish FUCK!”
“It’s the truth and you know it. Why are you trying to put the blame on me?”
“...........”
“Gabriella, please. You know I was only trying to help. I care about you. It hurt so much. More than I could possibly say to see you like that.”
“Yeah, well, you know what hurts? Seeing someone I thought was a friend show his true colors.”
“W-what?”
“You just don’t want to see me happy so that when the stress gets to me, I’ll just keep running back to you, begging for more affection. Well, guess what? I’m standing on my own two feet now. Oh and look. That’s two less than what you’ve got, Quaddy.”
“Gabriella! What the hell? Why are you acting like this?”
“Really? Because what I’m wondering is why I never did it before.”
“....I....”
“Yeah. You.”
New Spine
Rough Draft 2
Rough Draft 2
It had been a few years since she’d returned to this street. Most people didn’t recognize her. She had a new form, a new spine, a new job, and a new set of friends. Life was good. That little pansy Jacob had left town to go work on some project or another. Too bad. She would have loved to show him what she’d become.
“Please... I’m short only three coppers. I can have it by tomorrow if you come back,” begged a man in the gutter.
“Sorry. No dough, no snow. That’s the way I work,” she shrugged and turned her back.
“Wait!” he cried, desperately. She smirked. This old man was one of her first customers. She just loved how broken he was. She turned around with a fake expression of disinterest on her face. He began crawling toward her.
“Please? Y-you know I always come back to you. How could I lie to you? You’re my favorite... please...” He was at her feet now, looking up.
“Hmmm~ well. There is one thing you can give me instead,” she smiled wickedly as she pointed to his inner jacket pocket. His eyes went wide in horror as he clutched his jacket closer to himself and shook his head, tears welling.
“Please no...” he begged, “Anything but that...”
“Anything?” she scoffed, “Don’t lie to yourself. It’s the only thing you got left.” He whimpered, torn between his addiction and what she was after. Another whimper escaped him as she pulled out a small bag and waved it in the air in front of him. He knew what it contained. His drawn face contorted, but he then gave in. He reached a violently shaking hand into the inner breast pocket of his coat and pulled out a photograph. She snatched it away and looked at the wrinkled, faded image.
“How cute,” she cooed, still holding the bag out of reach. The man then burst into tears.
“It’s not worth anything to you! Please! It’s only three coppers. Just let it slide... just this once... please... Gabby-dear...” Her face twisted from her cruel amusement to rage. She crumpled the photo in her fist as she landed a solid hit with her heavy boot to the side of his head.
“Don’t you EVER say that again to me, DO YOU HEAR ME?!” She shoved the bag back into her pocket and ripped the photograph in half, letting it fall to the ground. He crawled after her, begging her to stop, but she drowned his voice out with the roar of her motorcycle’s engine.
Crying and with shaking hands, he tried to put the two pieces together. Two Hummingbirds, a father and his young daughter smiled back at him from the wrinkled surface. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t hide the tear through the center. He broke down sobbing, unable to control himself.
The Final Draft
