5/100 Prompt # 43 Time

[alwaysjbj]

Title: The fundamental things apply
Author: Always_jbj
Rating: PG
Character(s): Giles/Ethan
Prompt: # 43  Time
Word Count: 244
Prompts

 

The fundamental things apply.

 

It was an amazing thing really; stretching seemingly into eternity and yet passing by in the barest blink of an eye. Robbing and giving in equal measures. Stealing your youth, your verve, and the blazing fire of self-righteousness that had once burned so fiercely and giving in its place temperance, wisdom, and an easy sense of comfort in one’s own skin that the young never quite seemed to feel.

                     

Why then, with all that it gave and took, could it not take the pain, the sharp twist of grief for what once was and might yet have been? Why had it not robbed him of the profound yearning and the burning all-consuming regret for foolish youthful deeds that clutched at his heart? Why could it not give peace of mind?  Freedom from the memories that haunted him; waking him in the still of the night, trembling with the cold, dark emptiness that clutched at his soul, drenched in sweat, achingly hard, and sobbing his name?

 

With an effort he drew his mind back to the task at hand, focusing once more on the face before him, a face he had not seen in flesh for years, and yet one he knew as well as his own. “Time’s been good to you, Ethan,” he forced out blithely, hoping beyond hope that the other man wouldn’t notice the slight quaver in his voice or the way his hand trembled slightly on the crossbow in his hand.

Comments

[rayne-y-daze.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's shivery good stuff!

[jen-nsync-landl.livejournal.com]

Wow, this is *excellent*. :)

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I am so glad you liked it!

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

Thanks sweetie!! I am having so much fun with these!!!... *scratches head* this is not boding well for my rather overdue updates is it?

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

umm, as I said previously....a gift.

[talesofspike.livejournal.com]

Freaky! Guess which DVD I watched yesterday while I was waiting for the DHL man?

It's amazing how you manage to give so much insight in so few words. I think you have an obvious gift with these short pieces.

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

Thank you so very much!

I actually LOVE doing drabbles and little short pieces, it is fun to be able to capture a brief moment in time and you can delve so much deeper than you can in a long fic.. 'cause if you delved that deeply into each moment in a fic your chapters would be 30 000 words long! lol.

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

*squishes you!* Thank you sweetie!!

[talesofspike.livejournal.com]

Funny, I'd always though of drabbles as trying to condense something down rather than taking one instant and expanding it. It's like a whole different concept. Obviously one you apply wonderfully, though.

[semby.livejournal.com]

Ooh, such lovely use of words in this. The questions in the second paragraph are all so powerful, and I love the way you can just feel Giles trying to be strong and failing at the end there.

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

Thank you! When I saw the prompt those questions just came to mind and they seemed so appropriate to Giles and Ethan.

And yes Giles did try so hard, but it isn't easy to be strong in the face of one who, despite yourself, you can't help but love.