After

[serai]

EEK! A drabble bunny bit my ankle on looking again at my last post. Here's what came of it.

---

After

The ice shocks my skin as he shapes the bag around my bruised wrist. Gently, with care, stroking my forearm with his other hand, not meeting my eyes yet. I lean my head against his, feel soft hair against my lips, smell sleep. It's late.

"Why?" One word, his voice rough. I can hear the pain.

"Sean, please," I beg. Not again. Not tonight.

His next breath is wet, the effort to stay calm all too clear. I ache for him, but what can I do? Say words like always, never? I promise? Lie?

"I'll get a towel," he whispers.

---

Have I mentioned how much I love my Muse lately?


Fic edited for clarity. Thanks, Singe! And thanks to Goldilocks for the conversation that knocked this fic loose. Love you, sweetie!

Comments

[singeaddams.livejournal.com]

He's not, um, cutting his wrist there, is he? If he is then I think the word I'm looking for is wibble!

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that word

[serai1.livejournal.com]

And as usual, I gotta say, you see what you see.

I myself have two different views on what's going on in this one, each related to the other. Who they are, what they're doing - it's up to the reader. :)

Rorshact fic!

[singeaddams.livejournal.com]

I think a 'wibble' is more than a whimper but less than a 'YEEK!'

And if it's up to the reader I should probably go see a psychiatrist.

Re: Rorshact fic!

[serai1.livejournal.com]

Yep, I'm afraid so. But if you really want a hint, take a look at my last post, that inspired it. That'll tell you something, at least about what I see in it. Partly. [eg]

Re: Rorshact fic!

[singeaddams.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhh!! Now I get...some of it. Y'know I'm one of those creeps who likes to have the past, present and future of a fic mapped out precisely so any unhappy confusion is entirely my fault.

This was truly well-written and emotional and I DID like it very much! Thank you!

Re: Rorshact fic!

[serai1.livejournal.com]

OK, freedom to interpret notwithstanding, I decided that if the fic veers that far in people's perceptions, there's a problem. So I made a slight adjustment to eliminate the unintentional suicide impression. (You're not the only one who saw that in it, by the way.)

Thanks for the feedback, hon - I appreciate it. :)

Re-read

[singeaddams.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with suicide? Uh, I mean, of course, literary suicide. It's still a very effective piece of dark!fic.

And no need to thank me, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable with it, I was being complimentary. (Now I've got GUILT!)

Re: Re-read

[serai1.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with suicide is that it's way too far from what I was actually writing, and if the impression of it is there, then the story I was writing is gone. And that's too much leeway, as far as I'm concerned. And you didn't make me uncomfortable, far from it. You made me aware of a deficiency, which I was glad to know about. Again, I say thank you!

And go have some chocolate for your guilt. :)

Okey doke!

[singeaddams.livejournal.com]

I don't need guilt to have chocolate! Mmmm...snarf!